On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons-Chapter 257: #A Master and Disciple’s Forbidden XX (1)

It was my first time seeing Demon Lord in the flesh. Although, I’d probably seen him through a dream in my previous life. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

“What nonsense is that?”

Wow, his aura is intimidating.

He was the very incarnation of a tiger. Though he was said to be in his mid-sixties, his skin remained smooth and unlined, his complexion as fair as that of a young man.

Scratching his urchin-like hair, Demon Lord scrutinized me with sharp, piercing eyes. “I don’t recall ever accepting a pig as my disciple.”

My anger surged.

Huh?! Pig? Pig...?! You’re going too far! Pork is delicious!

Just then, something flashed across his eyes.

“Hoo... Quite a unique aura you have there. I sense the energy of the Three Pure Ones? Is that what they call divine power?”

Did I absorb too much of the Three Pure Ones’ divine power?

“Honestly, I was looking forward to seeing you. The self-proclaimed Demon Lord who wanted to compete against the real deal. Still, to sense such a suspicious aura on you...”

Things seemed to have derailed.

“Uhm, sir. I can explain...”

Demon Lord burst into laughter. “Kekeke! Yeah sure, all good! Everything is possible, right?”

“Haha! Right? Sir, you're magnanimous indeed!”

“Yeah. If you really are my disciple, you should be able to succeed, right?”

“Pardon?”

Was he going to send me on an errand?

Roooooar!

Did I just hallucinate? A fierce aura soared around him, sending chills all over me. He grinned sinisterly, full of madness, revealing his pearly white teeth.

“Keke. Survive my attacks.”

Demon Lord stepped hard with his right foot.

Baaam! Ruuuumble!

A single kick caused the cliff that spanned hundreds of meters tall to collapse like a sandcastle.

“Aaargh!”

Startled, I hurriedly leaped into the air. However, perhaps due to my current weight, flying felt much harder now, but I could still manage—

Swaaa!

A black sword aura cut through the air like a predator’s fangs, aiming for my throat. I instinctively drew the sword at my waist.

Claaaang!

The sword and sword aura clashed, sending sparks flying wildly.

“Ho, you blocked my attack?” Demon lord laughed smugly.

Even the slightest mistake could cost me my head! Damn it! This old fool! He wouldn’t listen to me, huh!

“I won’t hold myself back then! Demon Lord’s Punch!”

My skill, which had subdued countless opponents, went for the old man’s jaw. Though calling it martial arts would be a stretch, its power rivaled even the most legendary of techniques!

Baaaam!

Demon Lord was sent flying by almost two hundred meters. Rather than being impressed, he shot me a confused look.

“Demon Lord’s Punch? What a strange name. Also, this is not a martial art. You’re just using divine power like those Three Pure Ones. And you call yourself my disciple?”

“This is the real deal!” I swung the sword that I had drawn earlier. “Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword, First Stance. Demon Lord’s Descent!”

Demon Lord’s eyes went wide. “D-did you just say Demon Lord’s Descent?”

Woooosh!

With a single strike, I tore through the clouds veiling the night sky. That blow could literally split the world, but I was far from done!

“Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword, Second Stance. Demon Lord’s Pratāpana!”

Crackle!

Infernal flames from the depths of hell raged in the pitch-black, silent night sky.

“Ho, even my Demon Lord’s Pratāpana?”

Kwaaaa!

Seeing the sword aura and infernal flames raining pouring down upon him like tsunami, the old man finally showed a hint of panic.

“Urk. This is nothing!” Demon Lord clenched his teeth, raising his sword. “Demon Lord’s Descent! Demon Lord’s Pratāpana!”

With a deafening roar that shook heaven and earth, all the clouds in the night sky vanished.

“Phew.” I let out a sigh and sheathed my sword.

The winner of the stance was clearly me, as Demon Lord’s sword was reduced to a shattered hilt. It was worth bringing the legendary sword from Wudang Sect, Yitian Divine Sword.

Pointing my sword at the old man, I urged him to surrender. “It’s over, sir.”

“Kekeke. Kehahaha!” Despite losing his sword, Demon Lord threw his head back, laughing heartily. “Interesting! I have no clue how you learned my secret techniques, but it doesn’t matter! You’re the first person in fifty years to entertain me to this extent!”

Demon Lord tossed aside the sword hilt. “Alright, if it’s you, I probably wouldn’t die even if I gave my all.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. He had been holding back? And was it just me, but Demon Lord’s robes seemed to be swelling up...

Riiiip!

His robes were torn to shreds, revealing his muscular upper body. If Il-Ho’s muscles were sculpted from consistent training, even the smallest of Demon Lord’s muscles were so defined, honed by real battles.

“Keke. Actually, my fist is stronger!”

I think I've heard that a lot somewhere...

Slash at the weakness, not the flesh.

To abandon is the ultimate of the sword.

Beyond humans, slash at the sea, the sky, and lastly, the god.

Actually, my fist is stronger!

Ah! I recall it now! Those were the same lines from All-Cutting Heavenly Sword’s whacky Demon Lord's Heavenly Sword secret technique book!

“Now, try to stop me, self-proclaimed disciple of mine. This is the ultimate fist technique I’ve recently mastered.”

Demon Lord clenched his fist, then twisted himself diagonally.

Craaaack!

Then, his muscles—unimaginable for an old man like him—twitched as if they were alive. They even bore the face of a demon from hell.

“Demon Lord’s Asura Heaven Shattering Punch.”

Crimson aura surged violently from him, coalescing into what seemed like Asura from Buddhist mythology.

W-what? I’ve never seen that technique before!

The power felt incomparable to Demon Lord’s Heaven-Splitting Fist.

Plus, it was mixed with divine power!

I had underestimated him.

After all, some had even worshipped him as a martial god in this world. Unbeknownst to the Demon Lord, he was the last divine being remaining after the departure of the Three Pure Ones. The aura I sensed from him was that of a Mid-tier god—no, perhaps even a High-tier one. I once believed I could easily defeat him in a duel. How foolish I was!

“W-wait! Sir! No, Teacher Demon Lord! L-let’s talk it out! Please!”

“Nonsense! A man speaks with his fists!” Demon Lord declared, unleashing the divine energy embedded in his fist without mercy. “Mwahahaha! Die, you pig!”

Waaaah! This old man is being serious! I’m going to die!

I had no time to dodge.

Kwaaaaa!

I mean, the force was so terrifying, it nearly swallowed the entire sky! How was I supposed to dodge that?! There was only one way for me to survive. Clenching my teeth, I tightened my grip on the Yitian Divine Sword.

“Demon Lord’s Heavenly Technique, Ultimate Stance. Demon Lord’s Disintegration!”

Baaaam!

The strongest sword technique I knew collided against Demon Lord’s qi like a dragon battling a tiger.

***

My eyes flung open. A familiar old man was looking down at me.

“Oh, you’re still alive, my pig disciple.” Demon Lord chuckled.

Yeah, I wasn’t dead... somehow. Meanwhile, the Yitian Divine Sword had disintegrated into the air, and my bones felt like they were broken. Yet, I was alive.

Plop!

Demon Lord sat on my stomach, treating it like a cushion.

Squish squish!

“Ho! Just as I thought, soft and comfortable.”

“Waaaah!”

I could feel the broken ribs piercing my internal organs, causing excruciating pain.

“Tsk, tsk. Stop whining. Aren’t you a man? Come on, tell me your story, Pig Disciple. I’m in a good mood after finally using my powers, so I’ll listen to you for a bit.”

“W-wait. H-Healing Ring Finger of God!” I hurriedly used my healing skill on myself.

Demon Lord marveled while the white divine power enveloped me.

“Phew. Now I feel much better.”

“Ho. That’s another unique ability. Your wound healed in an instant. You’re quite a capable pig.”

“Stop calling me a pig! Anyway, here's what happened, Demon Lord Elder...”

I began telling him all of my story, from my past life, to how I had ended up here through the Tower of Gods.

Demon Lord clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes in disbelief. “How ridiculous. Why would I be defeated by that God of Destroyer thing and get turned into a sword?”

Damn. As expected, he didn’t believe me. Just as I was wallowing in disappointment, Demon Lord grinned and pulled at my thick lips.

“Ugh! It hurts!”

“Normally, I’d rip off your lips for talking nonsense, but since you managed to unleash a fraction of Demon Lord’s Disintegration, which I’ve only been creating in my mind, that claim doesn’t sound entirely baseless. Since I’m free, I’ll grant you the honor of hanging out with you.”

“R-really?”

It was like a much-needed rain during a drought.

“On one condition.”

“W-what is it?”

Demon Lord suddenly grabbed my thick chest.

Ah, I’m sensitive there!

“Tsk, tsk. You can’t even exert half of your power because of this massive body. I’ll teach you a few moves, and we’ll fight again after you shed those excess fats. That’s my condition.”

“Alright! I’ll gladly go on a diet!”

“Di... et? What’s that?”

Anyway, I was overjoyed. Surely, with the help of this old man, overcoming the Trial of Wind would be a breeze! However, he said something that I couldn’t overlook.

“Oh, but sir... What did you mean by a fraction? Is my Demon Lord’s Disintegration incomplete?”

Demon Lord clicked his tongue. “It isn’t a simple technique. The true Demon Lord’s Disintegration changes the laws of the world, an ultimate...”

“Master, new Demon Lord! We’re in huge trouble!”

Just then, a messenger cut through the sky with a thunderous roar, charging toward us. It was Luo Hanyi, Demon Lord’s disciple and leader of the Demon Lord Heavenly Cult.

The old man looked down at his disciple, who was catching his breath.

“Why are you making such a fuss, you old fool. If you claim to be the leader of a sect, you should at least act with dignity...”

With a pale face, Luo Hanyi cut off Demon Lord, shouting urgently, “There is no time, Master! His Highness—no, the youngest, our fourth sister, says that a rebellion has occurred in the Vermillion Empire!”

Crush!

Demon Lord’s calm face contorted like a demon’s.