Chapter 247: Toward Great Victory
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Demon god’s martial arts?
Aryun-nan raised his form while harboring that question.
CHEOK, CHEOK, CHEOK…
The sound of Cheol Ryu-heun’s slow, approaching footsteps.
Was it the composure of a warrior who had gained martial superiority?
Each step seemed to whisper that the fight was already over.
KWAK!
Aryun-nan gritted his teeth and re-gripped his sword handle.
Immediately after, as he channeled his peak internal power.
GOOOOO, GOOOOOO-
The invisible current in the arena settled heavy as rock, creating tremors.
The aftermath of internal injuries made his energy channels throughout his body throb hotly.
Still, he had to fight.
He couldn’t easily retreat.
After all, how long had he prepared for this.
Crisis is opportunity.
If only he could take down that monster before him, his worries would vanish.
Setting aside internal injuries, he had plenty left in reserve.
His body could still fight.
However.
The problem was the opponent’s martial level.
Aryun-nan inwardly acknowledged it.
That it was entirely his own blunder.
Cheol Ryu-heun’s power was at a level beyond expectation.
He had thought he could drain it all with Star-Absorbing Great Art, but when he actually experienced it, it was far too deep and vast an inner strength.
That ultimately brought failure.
Although Star-Absorbing Great Art displays the strange ability to absorb all energy, there’s a condition attached: the difference in internal power between the practitioner and target must not be too great.
Before today, there had been none.
No one who overwhelmingly surpassed his own internal power level after achieving rejuvenation twice…
That’s why he had smoothly increased his power through Star-Absorbing Great Art until now.
But the exceptional existence called Cheol Ryu-heun appeared.
One who possessed outrageous power that even Star-Absorbing Great Art’s excellent application couldn’t handle.
A martial artist who had reached unprecedented territory, freely utilizing internal power regardless of its attribute…
He was the greatest adversary of his lifetime.
As long as he existed, the conquest and dominance of the orthodox-unorthodox martial world would remain a distant dream.
‘A skill that has transcended even the essence of the Yang Heart Divine Technique… But what is that demonic energy? Moreover, how does he know our cult’s Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique? It’s also strange that he found our cult’s nest so quickly!’
As Aryun-nan ruminated over these questions.
“First Seat gave me the clue.”
Cheol Ryu-heun spoke without stopping his leisurely steps, as if reading his thoughts.
‘First Seat did…? What nonsense!’
Strong disbelief rose in Aryun-nan’s eyes.
Are you saying the trusted subordinate he had brainwashed with the great technique suddenly betrayed him?
That was absurd.
Cheol Ryu-heun continued forward and said.
“I peeked into his mind.”
“…!”
“Did you think the mental seal arranged by your brainwashing great technique was flawless?”
Suddenly Aryun-nan flashed his eyes and let out a voice.
“KEUKKEUK… Don’t prattle on as if you know everything.”
“I do know everything. Even that the Zhongnan Sect Sect Leader and the disciples you brainwashed have headed for Mount Hua Sect.”
Once again, Aryun-nan’s eyes wavered.
“…!”
An ominous premonition swept through his mind.
Sure enough. Cheol Ryu-heun bluntly stated.
“I sent personnel to Mount Hua Sect early on. So this has become convenient for me.”
“Conven… ient?”
“Everyone remaining here is the Sun Moon Demon Cult, so I just need to kill them all.”
“…”
“Fate is sealed. Fight and you die, run and you die. It’s the price of overconfidence in your own martial prowess and the essence of the Star-Absorbing Great Art.”
With those words, Cheol Ryu-heun raised the sword in his right hand at an angle.
GULP.
Having swallowed dryly, Aryun-nan powerfully drew up his maximum internal power.
Just then.
FLUTTER, FLUTTER-
The sound of flapping robes was heard, and three figures suddenly appeared around Aryun-nan.
A formidable aura swirled unexpectedly.
Cheol Ryu-heun, having stopped his steps, captured the three figures in his eyes.
They were elders wearing black robes.
The gaps between them were about two jang.
Darkness once again fell upon this ruined space.
Due to the appearance of those three…
Power comparable to Aryun-nan’s was detected.
All three were like that.
A very deep cultivation built through years of experience.
A sinister light radiated from the eyes of the three elders positioned in a triangular formation around Aryun-nan.
Carrying dense demonic nature and killing intent.
The elder on the left was a giant approaching a full eight cheok.
He was so massive that the long iron sword hanging at his waist looked small.
As if boasting transcendent strength despite his age.
In contrast, the elder on the right resembled a slender pole.
His body was that thin, yet the weapon he carried was a heavy, hulking iron club.
And.
The appearance of the elder at the very front was mysterious.
The bearing of a celestial being with long silver beard and silver hair trailing down.
But as if proving he was a demon practitioner, murky energy flowed from his body.
His unique weapon was a pair of Universe Rings (blade rings shaped like hoops).
What he held in his right hand resembled the sun, what he held in his left resembled the moon – the edges had different shapes.
‘They’ve come at just the right time!’
Joy lit up Aryun-nan’s face.
The Three Elder Lords, Sun Moon Demon Cult’s secret force.
Three elders who had held key positions in the previous generation.
Of the triangular formation, the frontmost elder was Light Demon Elder, the leftmost was Sun Demon Elder, and the rightmost was Moon Demon Elder.
Each had names, but for now they were simply called that.
Light Demon Elder, his gaze fixed on Cheol Ryu-heun ahead, skipped the greeting and urgently reported.
“Cult Leader, I briefly observed the battle situation on the way here. Ximen Family’s third son has betrayed our cult.”
At that, Aryun-nan’s expression immediately hardened.
“What! Yue has…?”
Following that, Sun Demon Elder and Moon Demon Elder said.
“The majority of famous experts from other regions in the orthodox and unorthodox world had joined up. Including the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province…”
“If we delay, it will be disadvantageous. So we must eliminate him here as quickly as possible.”
Then Light Demon Elder at the front added a meaningful statement.
“Our thousand-year enemy has also joined. If not for us, it will be difficult to stop him.”
At that moment, Aryun-nan’s expression changed completely.
His eyes sank heavily.
Thousand-year enemy.
He well knew what that meant.
Suddenly an emotionless voice reached across the distance.
“Planning to die protecting him? How touching.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, Light Demon Elder coldly retorted.
“Do not mock our pure loyalty.”
Immediately after, not just Light Demon Elder but Sun Demon Elder and Moon Demon Elder channeled their maximum internal power in combat readiness.
DEUDEUDEUDEU, DEUDEUDEUDEUDEUDEU…
The broken ground trembled and wailed savagely.
Fighting spirit and killing intent expanded like a hundred beasts roaring.
“Cult Leader, this is not a sparring match but a battle. Please do not mind too much.”
At Light Demon Elder’s quiet voice, Aryun-nan nodded silently.
Exactly so.
This fight was not a place to compare one-on-one martial prowess.
It was a bloody battle between groups.
Kill or be killed…
Therefore, even if multiple forces combined to attack, there was no need to feel ashamed.
In other words, this combined attack was simply due to unavoidable circumstances, and the honor and dignity of the supreme position of Cult Leader would not be tarnished by it.
Having grasped the true meaning, Aryun-nan steeled himself anew.
‘Yes, I just need to win at any cost! Thank goodness these three at least saved my face.’
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun casually taunted.
“You can bring more if you want.”
Aryun-nan, who had raised one eyebrow, recalled words he had heard earlier.
“It’s the price of overconfidence in your own martial prowess and the essence of the Star-Absorbing Great Art.”
Soon his voice seeped out coldly through his lips.
“Cheol Ryu-heun… that overconfidence will lead you to destruction.”
Simultaneously, Light Demon Elder, Sun Demon Elder, and Moon Demon Elder assumed battle stances while channeling peak internal power.
“You lot, you don’t know what true destruction is. What I’m about to unleash from now on is destruction itself.”
No sooner had Cheol Ryu-heun spoken than.
KUKUKUKU, KUKUKUKUKU-!
Jet-black shimmer enveloped his body and surged upward.
Along with that.
UREUREUREUREURUNG…!
The ground and atmosphere vibrated in unison, playing a thunderous symphony.
Pressure that fiercely pressed down on all sides.
The black energy flow that had risen above Cheol Ryu-heun’s body rippled and danced, then transformed into something like a giant.
Seeing that, Aryun-nan and the others instinctively hunched their shoulders.
‘That power is…!’
Just looking at it raised goosebumps all over.
A domineering danger emanated from the massive black energy flow that had taken human form.
Was this the ultimate state of demonic nature?
A formidable aura as if it would cover heaven and earth in darkness.
Jet-black flames rose massively.
Around where Cheol Ryu-heun stood.
HWAAAAAAAK, HWAAAAAAAK, HWAAAAAAAK…!
Aryun-nan’s party, faces turned pale white, stumbled backward.
It was movement driven by fear.
Only one thing came to their minds.
The progenitor of the demonic martial world, the absolute demon god, the ultimate master who first possessed the Divine Martial Sword.
That tremendous being’s martial arts dwelled in Cheol Ryu-heun’s body.
‘Hea… Heavenly Demon…!’
* * *
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Along with the sharp shout.
SHUKAAAAAK-!
A blade flew in like a flash of light.
Straight toward the face of Grinning Ghost Blade Sa Am, one of the Shaanxi Four Great Martial Fiercest and Band Master of Night Smoke Band.
JJEOEOEOEONG- KWAAAAANG!
The fierce explosive force generated by the collision of sword energies.
Sa Am’s form, pushed by that power, bounced far back.
‘EUUK…!’
It was truly a heavy sword force.
Heavy enough to make him retreat despite being a Martial Fiercest.
The owner of the formidable sword technique was Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin, the new Hall Master of the Dark Hall.
KAKANG, KANG, KAKANG- PONG, PEOPONG, PONG-!
Before Mun Bin’s continuous sword strikes, Sa Am retreated again.
The gap in power was clearly revealed.
Sa Am steadily retreated while admiring.
It was amazing.
That Mun Bin’s martial prowess was at such a transcendent level.
The battle situation was unfavorable.
No, it was essentially over.
Two-thirds of the personnel who had proudly advanced toward Mount Hua Sect had surrendered or died.
At the hands of the combined orthodox and unorthodox forces who had cleverly been lying in ambush.
It was a massive force led by the Mount Hua Sect’s elite, Dark Hall’s Dark Soul Sword Squad, seven disciples from the Eight knots rank of the Beggar Sect and their subordinate beggar Squads numbering several hundred, plus elite personnel from over ten orthodox-unorthodox sects in the Shaanxi region.
Furthermore, as Cheol Ryu-heun had requested, the Ximen Family had joined the fight with everyone except Ximen Yue and the Divine Wind third Squad – Family Head Ximen Jwa, eldest son Ximen Ang, second son Ximen Yu, and the Gale Wind Squad.
Moreover.
Even a group that normally wouldn’t step forward unless it was something important had broken their silence and appeared here.
Shaolin Temple was the protagonist.
The personnel specially dispatched by the current Abbot to thwart the Mount Hua Sect conquest operation were the Hundred and Eight Arhat Monks, a monk Squad famous as the strongest within the temple.
The prowess of Shaolin Temple’s elite masters, who had mastered over ten supreme techniques including fist, palm, leg, and body methods, was tremendous.
Each one could handle a full hundred experts.
The power of the Hundred and Eight Arhat Formation employed by the Hundred and Eight Arhat Monks was an invincible iron sword and an invincible iron wall.
An overwhelming combined attack that could neither be blocked nor penetrated, they swept the enemy and quickly ended this fight.
And there was more.
Ye Woon-rang, guest of White Peak Sword Sect and successor of the Dragon Martial Gate.
His sword work demonstrated the power of the advanced Four Dragon Sword Style arranged by Cheol Ryu-heun, flowing without hesitation.
Sa Am fell into deep despair.
‘At this rate…!’
Still, as a final struggle, he unleashed a blade technique.
Toward Mun Bin who was closing in on him.
As his blade traced a horizontal arc.
SHUSHUSHUSHUSHUSHUT-!
Blade energy containing over eighty percent of his substantial power was released.
But.
PARARARARARAK-!
The moment Mun Bin quickly pulled his robe forward to cover his body, a massive blue-green flame exploded.
HWAAAAAAAK- PEOEOEOEOEOONG!
It was the Phosphorus Fire energy unique to the Ten Great Heavenly Weapons’ Ink God Robe.
FLUTTER.
Having pushed the Ink God Robe aside again, Mun Bin spoke coldly.
“My master was like you too. The ending is one. Death!”
Simultaneously, having stamped the ground with a BOOM!, he charged forward at ferocious speed, generating violet flames.
TUHAAAAK-!