Chapter 324: Admirable Talents

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The gazes of Beon-sa, Hwa-seong, On-ga, and everyone else surged briefly like transparent waves.

What was he saying?

That he had become an ally of the group…

Even hearing it directly, it was a statement hard to readily believe.

Because it was none other than the Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate who had said such a thing.

At that moment, Hae Su-yeon wore a faint smile.

“I think I understand what happened.”

At that, Namgung Sang-rin beside her nodded.

The reactions of Mun Bin, Cui Lan, Seol Pan-gyo, Mae Yak-bang and others nearby were not much different.

Everyone had immediately figured it out.

That Cheol Ryu-heun had recruited him.

It was close to certainty.

Of course, such a thing couldn’t possibly happen suddenly otherwise.

Though they didn’t know the inside story.

Sure enough, Gun Mu-ak, Extreme Heaven Demon Emperor, spoke briefly.

“It was Cheol Ryu-heun’s proposal. I accepted it.”

At that, everyone let out soft exclamations and spoke inwardly.

Sect Leader Cheol has displayed his amazing skill again.

But when did he meet and talk with him again?

Really, one moment in the east, next moment in the west.

Soon Gun Mu-ak, hands clasped behind his back, gave a chin gesture.

“Are you still suspicious?”

It meant to put away the weapons each had drawn.

‘Urk…’

Several people flinched at his form.

Because his soft voice once again approached like auditory hallucination, magnified.

Through the effect of his fearsome presence.

CHEOLEOK.

Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon and others all put away their swords at once and began formal introductions.

As soon as the group’s brief introductions were finished, Gun Mu-ak cast an indifferent gaze.

‘Everyone is outstanding.’

Personnel who particularly drew his eyes.

It was the group of White Peak Sword Sect guests, and Mun Bin who possessed the Ink God Robe.

Especially.

Among the guests, Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon were impressive.

He had already heard the rumors.

Those two were born with the legendary Nine Grade Martial Bones and Heavenly Demon Incarnation body.

He suddenly recalled a conversation exchanged with Cheol Ryu-heun in the past.

-Let me tell you one thing – in our sect, there are two rare talents who will rise to positions above Sword Emperor and Sword Empress.

-Is that so… truly an interesting place.

-So if you’re planning to compete with us, you’d better prepare thoroughly. Otherwise…

-We’ll be devoured instead?

-As expected, you’re easy to talk to.

Now he understood clearly.

Who those two he had spoken of – the materials for Sword Emperor and Sword Empress – were.

Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon.

He had expected it to some degree.

Those two had obtained magnificent and splendid Jianghu epithets – Azure Heaven Sword Dragon and Heaven-Summoning Sword Phoenix – after the battle with the Sun Moon Demon Cult ended.

‘The dragon and phoenix born from White Peak… indeed, outstanding bearing. The two Attendants would have a hard time.’

It meant that Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon’s true martial prowess level surpassed Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji.

That was both intuition and as good as certainty.

Perhaps they were at a level approaching the Four Dharma-Protecting Kings.

No, perhaps equal martial force…

In the meantime, one more person caught his eye.

A woman eighteen years old this year with a face that hadn’t yet fully shed its youthful look.

It was Cui Lan, the sole disciple of Head-Severing Yama Seop Pyo – the previous generation Jianghu’s transcendent, ultra-first-rate great assassin.

To be precise, her potential was quite impressive.

Something he felt upon first sight.

That in Cui Lan’s body, some kind of energy not yet fully awakened was quietly hiding and crouching.

He had readily discerned it even without using energy sensing.

Excellent talent that showed the possibility of surpassing the master.

The intangible aura flowing around and enveloping her body taught him that.

Two figures who had left great footprints in martial history as blade wielders came to mind.

The Outside Heaven God-Slayer Muyeon from around four hundred years ago, and the Slaughter Guanyin Pung Wu-hui from around three hundred years ago.

Didn’t Cheol Ryu-heun perhaps even know the authentic transmissions of those two people?

If so, Seop Pyo and Cui Lan, master and disciple, could someday establish themselves as the new Outside Heaven God-Slayer and Slaughter Guanyin of this era.

Gun Mu-ak let out an inward laugh.

‘Hoo, this will be interesting. Going forward.’

At that moment, Namgung Sang-rin broke the awkward silence.

“But why did you come here alone? Where did you leave the two Attendants who were following you…”

His manner of speech had naturally changed to formal speech between equals.

As evidence of trust in his words about being on the same side.

“They’re following behind.”

No sooner had Gun Mu-ak spoken those words than presences cutting through the wind.

Four in total.

SSYASSYASSYASSYASSYAT- CHYACHYACHYACHYACHYAT-

The reed field parted and screamed wildly.

Due to the four’s rapid movement.

Unlike Gun Mu-ak earlier, it was a noisy movement.

As if competing over who could run better.

‘They’re all fast!’

When the group was inwardly admiring, the four figures appeared nearby.

Simultaneously, the expressions of the Unorthodox members including Mun Bin, Gongse Dan-yeong, and Hwa-seong changed rapidly.

“Huh?”

“What!”

“Those two are…”

Their gazes were filled with surprise.

Because two completely unexpected people had appeared.

Several people immediately recognized those two’s faces.

Iron Blood Martial Alliance Leader Sword Wheel Crown Prince Gwi Je-shin, Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord Beop-yeol.

While the group wore bewildered expressions at the unexpected appearance, a somewhat seductive-sounding female voice was heard.

“Ho ho, unfortunately it’s a tie.”

It was the voice uttered by Delusional Seductive Demoness Ya Baek-ji, who had appeared together with Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol.

Following that, Little-Face Bell Demoness Eun Yi-bi beside her added.

“It was quite an interesting race.”

Those two women then approached Gun Mu-ak’s side.

Meanwhile.

Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol inwardly praised Gun Mu-ak.

‘Impressive. To get so far ahead of us while conserving his strength… befitting the youngest-ever Grand Prelate, his lightness arts alone are overwhelming.’

‘Hmm, freshly frightening. If such a person someday becomes the enemy of the Jianghu… unless it’s Sect Leader Cheol, it would be hard to handle.’

Hwa-seong, On-ga and others greeted Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol.

“We pay respects to the two of you.”

Thus brief greetings passed.

SEUK.

Gwi Je-shin, having turned his head, gazed at one person.

The target was none other than Mun Bin.

Beop-yeol beside him was also focusing on him.

‘Indeed…’

The two let slip admiring gazes without making it obvious.

They had heard about Mun Bin, but this was their first time directly meeting him face to face.

But.

Now that they had faced him, they understood.

The meaning of what Cheol Ryu-heun had said.

-In my view, Mun Bin is the foremost among the entire Unorthodox faction of the Jiangnan Jianghu. And he still has room for further development too.

‘He’s a titan!’

It was Gwi Je-shin’s honest impression.

Beop-yeol’s heart was no different.

‘First-class! Sect Leader Cheol’s words were by no means an exaggeration!’

Mun Bin’s heroic bearing and outstanding aura struck them that much as a fresh shock.

However.

This place wasn’t one where only he stood out.

Due to their friendship with Black Silken Sword Sovereign Wei Ta-gong, they were acquainted with Hwa-seong, and the intangible aura he currently exuded was also quite powerful.

His martial prowess level had probably risen sharply.

It was the same with Gongse Dan-yeong and Beon-sa, whom they had also met before.

But more than anything, the group of White Peak Sword Sect guests most drew their attention.

Among them, Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon were by far cranes among chickens.

At that moment, Hwa-seong spoke with a curious expression.

“What brings you two here? Did you perhaps also meet Sect Leader Cheol?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Gwi Je-shin replied briefly, then glanced at Gun Mu-ak and continued aloud.

“We too have decided to accompany the Heavenly Demon Cult. Having chased a groundless rumor and realized it was false, we decided to pursue the truth…”

“Ah…!”

Hwa-seong and the rest of the group each felt as if they’d gained an army of a thousand.

“Wow! This is exciting…?”

“I know, right. Ha ha!”

On the other hand, they were again surprised by Cheol Ryu-heun’s skill.

To recruit not only Gun Mu-ak, the Extreme Heaven Demon Emperor from the Demonic path, but even Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol…

Meanwhile, the guest group had a relatively calm reaction like before.

As if there was no need to be newly surprised and exclaim.

Soon Murong Seol casually asked Namgung Sang-rin standing beside her.

“What, your reaction is lukewarm. Is this not something that surprising for you?”

At that, Namgung Sang-rin smirked and nodded slightly.

“No, it is surprising. It’s just that I’ve experienced things like this so many times.”

“I suppose…”

Murong Seol nodded in agreement.

Yes, she understood.

Living with Cheol Ryu-heun, he must have experienced even more surprising things in abundance.

Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol alternately explained the circumstances.

Finally, when the two’s not-very-long story was finished.

FLASH.

A mass of white light appeared in the sky beyond, which had already grown dusky.

Hae Su-yeon, having spotted it just then, brightened and raised her voice.

“Oh my! He’s coming!”

At that, everyone’s gazes shifted to the sky at once.

“Ah, I see him!”

“Oh…!”

“He’s arriving right on time!”

Everyone recognized what that light mass was as soon as they saw it.

The white light that had crossed the sky like lightning soon dropped to the ground near the group.

HWIIIIIK- KKUGUGUNG!

The fierce wind pressure strongly shook not just the grassland but even the reed field.

The identity of the white light was Cheol Ryu-heun and Divine Wind.

That wasn’t all.

Nine people bound by rope – the young dragons of the Nine Great Sects – also revealed themselves together.

CHEOK.

Cheol Ryu-heun, having set foot on the ground, asked the assembled group with an apathetic gaze.

“Everyone’s here without missing anyone?”

Immediately after, Namgung Sang-rin answered on behalf of the group.

“Yes! Sect Leader.”

Cheol Ryu-heun nodded and pointed at the bonfire.

“Make the fire bigger. That way we can grill nicely to eat.”

At those words, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon and others tilted their heads.

“Pardon?”

Cheol Ryu-heun immediately pulled a bundle from the saddle with intangible energy.

DEOPSEOK!

Based on what was inside, at a glance it was extremely large.

Soon, when he untied the knot, the group’s eyes went wide.

“Huk!”

“Th-that is…?”

“Could it be… divine creatures?”

What came out of the bundle was three huge fish.

Moreover, each was different in appearance and color.

Beop-yeol pointed at one giant carp and exclaimed in shock.

“A, a Hundred-Year Fire Carp…!”

Hundred-Year Fire Carp was a rare divine creature said to hold extreme yang energy.

It was so precious that it was even said ordinary people would live long in good health just from eating a little of its flesh.

Following that, Gwi Je-shin also let out an exclamation of surprise.

“That one seems to be a Human-Face Purple Beauty Fish…!”

Human-Face Purple Beauty Fish was a legendary fish said to resemble a human face, as its name implied.

According to old records, it had tremendous efficacy in triggering potential to the extreme regardless of internal power attribute.

In the meantime, Gun Mu-ak also added expressionlessly.

“How did you obtain that Thousand-Year Ice Fish King?”

In that moment, everyone’s minds felt dizzy.

A Thousand-Year Ice Fish King…!

If compared to rare iron materials, wasn’t it a supreme divine creature no different from Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron or Adamantine Unbreakable Iron grade?

Each of those bones, flesh pieces, and fins was practically the same as an all-purpose elixir that improved internal energy cultivation.

Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged and answered.

“Well, I just picked them up on the way.”

He then waved his hand and spoke brusquely.

“What are you doing, not moving? Hurry up and gather kindling and branches. I’m starving to death. After we eat, everyone will be overflowing with energy.”