Chapter 249: The Majesty of the Buddhist Sect
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A distance of roughly ten steps.
There stood Ximen Yue, pointing the tip of Wind Blowing Sword – one of the Three Great Wind Swords of Ximen Family – forward.
A posture filled with hostility.
Saying our relationship is over…
A light filled with murderous intent rose densely in Yeom Sang-ah’s beautiful eyes.
A phrase suddenly flashed through her mind.
“Give your body but don’t give your whole heart. Young Master Ximen may also change in ways we can’t predict in the future.”
Advice from her direct attendant, Lewd Cruel Demon Servant Yo Mong-ji.
Was it a prophecy?
Yes, in the end it turned out that way.
Suddenly.
PAPAPAT!
A single swordsman charged rapidly.
A vertical sword technique.
An ambush targeting behind Yeom Sang-ah.
KKAGAGANG-!
Yeom Sang-ah, having spun around, pulled her chain to block.
KKIRIRIRIRIK-
No sooner had friction sound arise than Yeom Sang-ah’s right foot shot up.
THWACK!
The swordsman, kicked hard in the jaw, sprawled backward.
Simultaneously.
SHUHAAAAT- PPUDEUDEUK!
The chained sickle wrapped in black energy flow ruthlessly bisected his waist.
THUMP.
Bitter blood fountain dyed the ground red.
The swordsman whose upper and lower body separated and died was a Swift Wind Squad member.
At that moment.
SSWAEAEK!
A piercing sound fiercely split the air.
The furious sword strike of Ximen Yue, who had at some point closed in from behind.
Yeom Sang-ah spun around again and thrust out the chained sickle gripped with both hands.
JJEOEOEONG- KKWAWUUOONG…!
Black and white shimmer mixed together and expanded like great ripples.
From then on, their sword and chained sickle danced, emitting flashing cold light.
CHAECHAENG, KKANG, JJEOJEOJEONG- BOOM, PEOPONG, KKWAGWAGWANG-!
Fierce transitions of attack and defense.
Just like that, they passed ten-some exchanges in an instant.
Ximen Yue was a peerless genius, a dragon among men.
But.
The talent Yeom Sang-ah possessed was no less than his.
No, perhaps in terms of pure martial level, hers was higher.
As if to teach him that, from twenty exchanges onward, Ximen Yue was pushed back step by step.
‘This kind of power…!’
Inwardly surprised, Ximen Yue executed a technique with massive power to barely restore balance to the battle.
Then.
CHWAREURUREUK-
The chain instantly coiled around Ximen Yue’s Wind Blowing Sword.
KIKING!
Yeom Sang-ah displayed truly exquisite hand technique.
KKIGIK- KKIGIGIK-
An unpleasant friction sound followed.
In the midst of the internal forces loaded into blade and chain conducting a tug-of-war.
PEOHEOEOEONG!
When Yeom Sang-ah explosively released even stronger internal force, Ximen Yue’s form retreated five or six steps.
“HU. Weaker than I expected. Or have you gotten weaker?”
At Yeom Sang-ah’s scoffing words, Ximen Yue replied in a heavy voice.
“I acknowledge it. Meanwhile you’ve been hiding your power.”
“You knew anyway, didn’t you. So tell me, what’s the price of betrayal?”
“There is none.”
“What? That’s funny.”
“Don’t you know why I’ve become weaker?”
“Could it be…”
“I’ve completely cleansed the demonic energy that was dwelling in my body.”
“…!”
“There’s no price for this fight. I’m simply doing what’s right. With the mindset of giving up everything.”
“Giving up everything?”
“Yes, when this is over, I’ll give up my status and quietly withdraw.”
Ximen Yue’s eyes swirled with clear, bright light.
Eyes that seemed to represent a newly steeled resolve.
Seeing that, Yeom Sang-ah sneered and responded.
“That person is truly foolish too. He shouldn’t have taken you in from the start.”
“Behind your beauty hides a demonic evil heart – I looked back on myself when I newly realized that. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“The way First Seat performed his missions.”
“…”
“He tortured and slaughtered. Without regard for old or young.”
“HMPH. So what do you want me to do? It wasn’t something I did. Am I supposed to feel sorry now?”
“GAL! No matter how demonic you are, the bare minimum should…!”
CHWARARARARAK- JJEOEOEONG!
Before the chained sickle that flew in like lightning, Ximen Yue’s body bent far backward.
He managed to block with his sword, but tingling pain wrapped around his wrist.
Following that, Yeom Sang-ah’s icy voice was heard.
“Were you going to lecture about minimum decency? That’s sophistry. Coming from someone who secretly learned demonic arts with the intention of eliminating his own blood relatives.”
“I don’t deny that!”
“Knowing this, that’s why I didn’t tell you. You’re a weak person by nature. Separate from your outstanding martial talent.”
“Shut up!”
Having roared, Ximen Yue compressed the gap in one breath.
SHUKAAAAAK!
Wind Blowing Sword drew a flash of light.
A blade that fell fiercely straight down – terrifying wind and flashing light derived along its path.
It was Heavenly Severing Wild Wind Sword, a slashing-essence ultimate move within the Heavenly Wind Thirteen Swords.
The ground shattered and shook wildly from the sword energy and wind pressure raging frantically.
Not to be outdone, Yeom Sang-ah swung her chained sickle.
HUHUHUHUHUHUNG!
The sickle blade, having rapidly drawn a circle, released jet-black demonic energy.
As if sun and moon had transformed into a great black shield, rotating to block ahead.
It was Sun Moon Demon Heart Shield, a defensive technique of the Sun Moon Wheel Demon Art that only Yeom Sang-ah had mastered.
PEOPEOPEOPEOPEOPONG-!
Along with explosive sounds echoing all around.
“WOOT!”
Ximen Yue, having uttered a short exclamation, was pushed far back.
JIIIIIIK, JIIIIIIIK-
Footprints carved long into the ground.
TEOTEONG!
Just as Ximen Yue barely stopped by putting strength in his legs, a sharp chained sickle suddenly flew toward his front like an arrow.
OH NO!
He had exposed an opening.
Yeom Sang-ah’s rapid transition from defense to offense was truly admirable.
PUPUK!
A revolting sound of something digging deep into flesh.
“AAAAK!”
The owner of the pained scream was not Ximen Yue.
“Squad Leader Nu!”
The wounded one was Nu-heum.
In that critical moment, he had taken the attack in his master’s place.
Where the sickle blade had been driven in was his right side.
“How devoted. HUT.”
Yeom Sang-ah snorted and yanked the chain.
TUDUDUDUK-!
The chained sickle tore out flesh as it returned to her side.
Ximen Yue quickly extended his arm to support Nu-heum.
“Squad Leader Nu, what reckless thing…!”
“KKEUKKEUK… Young Master… are you alright?”
“Stop! Don’t say anymore! Your body comes first!”
Fortunately he had avoided a vital point.
But the bleeding was heavy.
Just as Yeom Sang-ah was about to throw the chained sickle again to exploit the opening.
A voice transmission in an urgent tone.
It was Lewd Cruel Demon Servant Yo Mong-ji.
Yeom Sang-ah quickly surveyed her surroundings.
The gray smoke from the smoke bombs was dispersing amid the martial aura each warrior exuded.
Through the gaps, the visible battle situation was tilting to one side.
Then one figure caught her eye.
‘That person is…!’
An old monk releasing a golden glow while displaying transcendent martial prowess.
Ten precept marks on his forehead, long trailing white eyebrows and beard, prayer beads around his neck, and a yellow robe with red kasaya wrapping his body…
He was a martial monk belonging to Shaolin Temple, the thousand-year nemesis of the demonic martial world.
Moreover, his status within the temple was like heaven itself.
‘Dharma Master Won-gong!’
Yeom Sang-ah’s eyes wavered as she inwardly exclaimed.
Dharma Master Won-gong.
The current Abbot of Shaolin Temple, the supreme Buddhist master who had achieved the ultimate state in mastering dozens of supreme techniques.
There was no need to go ask him.
That it was Dharma Master Won-gong.
Look.
Every time the old monk waved his hands, Sun Moon Demon Cult’s elite personnel flew about and collapsed like falling leaves.
His hand techniques flowed with speed and slowness, heaviness and lightness, roughness and softness all contained within.
What was attack and what was defense?
It was utterly unpredictable.
An martial prowess beyond reach.
It was Buddhist power overwhelming demonic power.
What martial monk in the world could display such power?
Definitely only one person – Dharma Master Won-gong.
This is commonly said.
In this era, only those whose martial prowess equals or surpasses Dharma Master Won-gong are qualified to discuss being at the pinnacle of the martial world.
That’s how elevated a name it was.
Dharma Master Won-gong’s reputation across not just Henan region but all under heaven was practically the strongest of this generation.
‘This will be difficult!’
Yeom Sang-ah’s judgment.
No one but the Sun Moon Demon Saint Aryun-nan could handle that level of martial prowess.
But he was tied up over there.
That was still fine.
If Cult Leader Aryun-nan and the Sun Moon Demon Cult were annihilated here, the cult’s authority in the main stronghold would become hers.
CHIRIK, CHIRIRIK, CHIRIK!
Having wound the chain around her forearm, Yeom Sang-ah immediately tried to make her escape.
At that moment, Ximen Yue charged in with terrifying momentum.
“How dare you!”
Wind Blowing Sword crossed the air.
An attack loaded with fury.
JJEOJEONG- KKWAWUOONG-!
Suddenly one figure appeared and deflected Ximen Yue’s sword technique.
A demon practitioner in his mid-forties with distinct features and carrying a long sword.
He was the Third Apostle , one of the Eight Great Apostles leadership and a secret confidant.
Having heard the Third Apostle’s voice transmission, Yeom Sang-ah spun around.
And so she fled while detonating smoke bombs.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Ximen Yue roared and tried to pursue, but Third Apostle’s long sword wouldn’t permit it.
JJENG, JJENG, JJEOJJEONG-!
Before the continuous attack techniques, Ximen Yue’s form retreated.
‘UGH, this one is…’
The power loaded into Third Priest’s sword work was formidable.
Perhaps comparable to Yeom Sang-ah’s level.
At that moment, Azure Heaven Sword Sect Leader Azure Edge Sword Expert Seol Hu-yong appeared.
“I’ll take him! You hurry and tend to Squad Leader Nu’s body!”
Seol Hu-yong, befitting one of the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province, began exchanging blows with the Third Apostle through powerful sword techniques.
Meanwhile, Ximen Yue moved, taking the injured Nu-heum with him.
Elsewhere.
Three of the Sun Moon Eighteen Elite, the rank just below Eight Great Apostles, headed somewhere.
They intended to combine their strength to strike one person.
The target was none other than Dharma Master Won-gong.
PAT, PAPAPAT, PAPAPAT-!
The three who had moved rapidly surrounded him in triangular formation and thrust swords loaded with demonic energy.
In an instant.
WUUUUUUUWOONG-
Brilliant golden light enveloped Dharma Master Won-gong’s form.
Simultaneously, the three’s expressions turned pale.
KKIRIRIRIK, KKIRIRIRIK, KKIRIRIK…
The swords they had thrust out forcefully bent like bamboo and then snapped.
He hadn’t even moved his hands to release energy.
It was incomprehensible.
He had just stood still emitting golden light.
Vajra Immovable Divine Art.
A supreme Shaolin technique that displays truly powerful effects through the essence of stillness in motion.
Immediately after.
TITITING- TITITITITING-!
Three swords shattered into pieces all at once.
PEOBEOBEOBEOBEOBONG…!
The three flew off in three directions, vomiting blood as if struck by massive cannonballs.
It was the wondrous majesty of Vajra Immovable Divine Art, called the essence of Buddhist martial arts.
Soon Dharma Master Won-gong’s gaze rested on the distance.
It was the northern pavilion within the compound.
Suddenly.
CHILL.
Something eerie touched his body.
It was far too dark.
It felt like a power that would destroy this world.
Surely demonic energy.
It was rare.
For him to feel such stimulation.
Even though his body was perfectly armed with sacred Buddhist power.
‘This is… the power of Heavenly Demon Divine Art!’
* * *
“How bothersome.”
Cheol Ryu-heun’s casual voice.
KWAAAAAAAAA-
An entrance of darkness opened in the space to the right where his blade tip pointed.
Simultaneously.
“UGH!”
Moon Demon Elder, who had uttered a cry, was drawn in by the formidable gravitational force of the darkness.
The moment the darkness Cheol Ryu-heun had created absorbed and imprisoned him.
KWADEUK, KWADEUDEUK, KWADEUK-!
Moon Demon Elder’s slender form was ruthlessly contorted.
As his body was maximally compressed, breaking into pieces and scattering like powder, impossible to recognize its shape.
SEUSEUSEUSEU, SEUSEUSEUSEU…
The dreadful vacuum pressure contained within the black demonic energy.
Aryun-nan, Light Demon Elder, and Sun Demon Elder not far ahead wore faces soaked in wonder and terror.
‘Hea… Heavenly Demon Divine Art…!’
Cheol Ryu-heun, his gaze fixed ahead, spoke expressionlessly.
“Now, who’s next.”