Chapter 325: Deepening Darkness
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Two people could be seen in the forest where darkness was slowly creeping in.
They were the legion commanders of the Third Army among the Detached Three Army Corps under the Heaven Emperor Society – Great Sword Tyrant Lord Danmok Cheon and Unorthodox Saber Master Yu Ma-jong, who were the Thirteen Seats of the World from the previous generation.
“I just received an urgent message from the Central Heaven Division.”
At Yu Ma-jong’s soft voice, Danmok Cheon’s eyes flashed.
“What did it say? Surely it wasn’t telling us to stop?”
“Hoot, what… it said the Eastern Heaven Division would provide full support.”
“Bung-hyeon’s endorsement?”
The name Bung-hyeon referred to Master Bung-ya, the confidant of the wanderer who had destroyed the Divine Martial Sword – the Heaven Emperor Society’s master.
“So it seems. Anyway, it’s good for us. The more people, the more advantageous.”
“Indeed, adding that monster there as well. Hehehe.”
The moment Danmok Cheon raised his lip corners in a smile.
“He’s arrived just in time.”
Yu Ma-jong spoke those words while gazing to the side.
At that moment.
PASASAT-
One figure emerged, parting the thick brush.
It was the Second Unit Leader of the Eastern Heaven Division, wearing a black cape.
“Eastern Heaven Division Second Unit Leader Yeol-sun pays respects to the two Legion Commanders.”
When he approached and paid respectful courtesy, Yu Ma-jong threw out a question with curious eyes.
“Did you arrive first? What about the Division Commander…?”
“He was killed in battle. Therefore I have come to lead this division.”
“What did you say? So you’re saying Murong Kang did it?”
“It was not the Murong Family Head but the White Peak Sword Sect Leader’s doing.”
At those words, Yu Ma-jong flinched.
KWAK.
Danmok Cheon, having clenched his fist, sneered.
“Hoot. That guy is really an eyesore…”
A violent force as if murderous intent was swirling in his heart.
Yu Ma-jong soon spoke while lightly stroking his chin.
“That content was omitted from the urgent message.”
At that, Danmok Cheon nodded and glared with both eyes.
“Bung-hyeon is looking down on us too much. Did he deliberately not tell us, worried we’d get scared? That insolent bastard…”
Suddenly, the sound of long cloth fluttering was heard.
FLUTTER FLUTTER-
A figure in brown martial attire appeared nearby.
An elderly swordsman with long indigo hair.
Elongated, sharply slit eyes, a pointed hawk nose, thin and darkish lips, and a chin jutting out like the tip of a hoe… he was a man with an extremely sharp appearance.
Danmok Cheon and Yu Ma-jong took salute stances and greeted him in unison.
“Welcome, Commander.”
Commander was the title signifying the highest position of each army.
That’s right.
The middle-aged man was the head of the Third Army among the Detached Three Army Corps.
Befitting Danmok Cheon and Yu Ma-jong’s superior, his intangible aura was truly majestic.
A suffocating pressure.
So tyrannical that his martial prowess level couldn’t be readily estimated.
He too was one of the martial artists from the previous generation.
To be precise, he was a Transcendent master from before the era when the first Dragon Martial Gate Master Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon and the Thirteen Seats of the World were active.
Also.
He was from the demonic path, not the Jianghu.
Nine Springs Demon Dragon Sang-jan.
A transcendent demonic figure who had operated alone between the gaps of giant demonic powers like the Heavenly Demon Cult, Asura Demon Cult, and Illusion Demon Cult, displaying both notoriety and martial fame.
An old demon chief who had exceeded one hundred forty years this year had appeared.
His name had never been widely known in this land.
It was natural.
Because Nine Springs Demon Dragon Sang-jan was a figure who had only been active beyond the border before suddenly disappearing.
However, those who knew, knew.
The incident where the palace master of the Kunlun Divine Palace, Chaotic Hemp Immortal, had died when his external and internal injuries worsened after fighting fiercely with him…
A solemn voice leaked from between Nine Springs Demon Dragon Sang-jan’s lips.
“That can be questioned later. For now, focus on dealing with that guy.”
At those words, Danmok Cheon and Yu Ma-jong bowed their heads.
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Soon Sang-jan quietly turned his head and gazed at Yeol-sun.
“You lead the Eastern Heaven Division and depart. The assembly location is Fog-Covered Valley at the northeast of the Shiwan Mountains.”
“By your command!”
Yeol-sun spoke as if shouting, then deployed lightness arts and quickly disappeared.
Danmok Cheon, having raised his head, carefully spoke up.
“But… will it be alright for you to go with us?”
“Are you treating me like a useless old man?”
“No. What are you saying… I was just worried it might be troublesome for you…”
“Carelessness is forbidden. A tiger uses all its strength even when catching a single rabbit. Fighting strength lacking me cannot be called full force.”
“Ah…”
“Hoot. I am the Commander in name, so how can I just issue orders and watch?”
“Hearing those words gives me even more strength.”
“I’ve already sent a messenger to Heuk Ma-yung. Telling him to deliver the news that the Heavenly Demon Cult’s Grand Prelate has set foot in this land.”
“Could the Grand Prelate have grasped Heuk Ma-yung’s hiding place?”
“Who knows? Don’t pay it much mind. The Shiwan Mountains will become a prison and hell anyway. He probably won’t escape unscathed either.”
“Hehehe… you’re right.”
“Now, let’s go there and repay our debts. This matter is… an opportunity to achieve merit. It’s also an opportunity to repay the Heaven Emperor’s grace.”
At Sang-jan’s words, Danmok Cheon and Yu Ma-jong’s eyes blazed.
“Yes.”
“Definitely…”
* * *
Before long, Cheol Ryu-heun’s party had finished eating.
“Burp.”
“Ah, so full…”
“Divine creatures are truly delicacies indeed.”
“Right, this is my first time eating such delicious fish.”
“It melted the moment it entered my mouth.”
All the martial talents each patted their full bellies and rested.
While doing so, they exchanged stories they hadn’t fully shared.
In the meantime.
The personnel from Nine Great Sects like Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect marveled at the outstanding bearing and aura of the peer martial artists present.
What particularly caught their attention was the White Peak Sword Sect guests.
Of course, the nine young dragons like Shaolin Temple’s Central Peak Morning Star Hyo-gak, Wudang Sect’s Three Absolutes Azure Crane Chang-woon, and Putuo Temple’s Buddha Crown Martial Flower Myo Jeong-mun were also excellent talents.
However, they didn’t compare to Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon who had already leaped to the highest-tier swordsman ranks.
‘Azure Heaven Sword Dragon… they say he’s the material to rebuild the Namgung Family, and seeing him directly, his reputation is not false.’
‘Enchanting Flower Sword’s owner, Heaven-Summoning Sword Phoenix… beautiful as I heard. Sect Leader Cheol said she’s a Sword Empress candidate…’
‘When this matter is finished, I’d like to have a friendly spar. To see how different the dimension is…’
Suddenly, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke expressionlessly.
“Attention.”
At that, everyone stopped talking and turned their gazes.
“The reason I had you consume the three divine creatures was to heighten resistance to various poisons. Increased energy on top of that is a bonus. Later, when signals come to each of your bodies, I’ll perform Pushing the Palace Through the Acupoints. Using a method the Martial Immortal of the past researched and created.”
At that, exclamations leaked out here and there.
Cheol Ryu-heun suddenly gazed to one side and spoke.
“Though increased energy is the most basic effect… there are differences between individuals, and cases where it’s practically meaningless too. Like that guy.”
He was pointing at Gun Mu-ak.
It meant the effect of increased energy itself was insignificant for such a transcendent being.
Unless he ate all three by himself, perhaps.
At that moment, Cui Lan asked with a puzzled expression.
“But don’t I already have more than enough resistance to poison? Since I have the Ten Thousand Poisons Impervious body.”
“No. The Shiwan Mountains has poisonous substances the world doesn’t know of. You need to develop resistance to those as well.”
“Ah… so Ten Thousand Poisons Impervious Body isn’t perfect.”
“There are stages to everything. Now you will finally reach a perfect level.”
“Stages…?”
“Yes. It’s called the Ten Complete Anti-Poison Steel Body.”
Simultaneously, everyone was astonished.
“H-heavens!”
“Wow…!”
Ten Complete Anti-Poison Steel Body.
That referred to a legendary body that could absorb any toxicity and transform it into internal power.
In martial history, only one martial artist had achieved Ten Complete Anti-Poison Steel Body.
Tang Se-hwa, the Poison Sovereign, a Jianghu hegemon from three hundred sixty years ago.
The owner of the Divine Martial Sword at that time and the first family head of the Sichuan Tang Family…
Cui Lan was seized by thrilling chills.
“Thank you! Sect Leader Cheol!”
But Cheol Ryu-heun’s response was merely indifferent.
“Skip the thanks, just earn your keep there.”
“Yes! By the way, how many poisonous substances exist there?”
“Even I can’t count them all.”
Having replied thus, Cheol Ryu-heun again looked at the martial talents and spoke.
“Anyway, even at this moment while we’re here, there are probably countless people suffering from the Shiwan Mountains’ poisonous substances. So I had you eat in advance to prevent such a sorry state. So when we do Pushing the Palace Through the Acupoints later, keep your minds sharp.”
At that, the Orthodox and Unorthodox rising talents shouted in unison.
“We’ll keep it in mind!”
Cheol Ryu-heun soon turned his head and gazed at the infinitely distant place beyond the river.
‘By now, the advance party should have arrived and started their activities.’
* * *
In a deep valley somewhere in the Shiwan Mountains.
A spine-chilling night had arrived.
The expression of Do Woo-pung, one of the Four Pillars of Guangdong and current hall master of Crow Pattern Sword Hall bearing the epithet Flash Blade Tyrant, completely changed.
‘Urk.’
SASASASA, SASASASA…
Eerie winds rushed in from all directions, delivering cold.
With his hair standing on end, he rolled his eyes while heightening his energy sense.
However.
His energy sense was useless.
Nothing was being detected.
But his intuition warned him.
That danger awaited.
He was currently alone.
He had been separated from his original group including Flash Blade Sword Do Jwa-baek.
The reason was one – the formations.
This was in fact a foreseen matter.
Because the various formations here were in a state of being activated as if moving alive.
Trapped inside and wandering lost, everyone had ultimately scattered in all directions.
‘I don’t know if everyone is safe.’
Having muttered inwardly, he soon raised his sword before his chest.
‘Though nothing is detected, if I let my guard down, I’ll be in trouble.’
A stillness that heightened the sense of crisis in his heart.
Suddenly.
KKOREUREUK-
His hungry stomach growled.
Since the food he had prepared was all gone, it was time he had to hunt.
At that moment, the sound of parting brush was heard not far to the side.
PASASAK.
Startled, Do Woo-pung fiercely moved the sword in his right hand.
SYUKAAAAK!
The blade swung toward where the sound came from.
One streak of sharp sword energy pierced the darkness.
But nothing was visible.
‘Hmm, there was definitely something…!’
Suddenly a familiar voice was heard.
“Father.”
He immediately recognized who the owner of that soft voice was.
“Baek… ah?”
Sure enough, Do Jwa-baek revealed himself to the side.
“Ah, we meet again like this! Are you alright?”
At Do Woo-pung’s brightened words, Do Jwa-baek smiled.
“Yes, I’m fine. I couldn’t be better.”
At those words, Do Woo-pung’s expression hardened with a flinch.
Because he sensed something was wrong.
Do Woo-pung stopped his steps approaching his son and thought.
‘Could it be… Baek-ah was attacked by the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan?’
As always, ominous premonitions proved accurate.
SSIIK.
Do Jwa-baek’s long fangs gleamed as he opened his mouth and smiled.
Like a beast’s.
It was a change that proved he had been attacked by the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
That Do Jwa-baek spoke.
“Come, let’s go together.”
“What…!”
“If you serve that person, you’ll gain tremendous power. Like me…”
At that moment, a bizarre Sound Transmission rang.
-I hear your epithet is Flash Blade Tyrant.
Could it be the method of Six-Directional Sound Transmission?
It was a strange sound whose direction was hard to readily gauge.
How could this be?
He, Do Woo-pung, was one of the warriors representing the Guangdong region…
Could it be a supernatural ability of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan that disrupted energy sense?
HOO-OOP, SEU-EUP.
Do Woo-pung, having steadied his breathing, operated superior internal power and burst out a shout.
“You! Show yourself!”
The atmosphere shook from the internal force in his loud voice.
Immediately after.
SSEUT-
Along with a faint sound of wind, one figure appeared.
He who suddenly appeared behind Do Jwa-baek’s back boasted an enormous height.
A middle-aged man standing fully nine feet tall.
His appearance was also unique.
Sharp features with a smooth chin without a beard, a pair of pupils dyed cloudy grayish-white, pale white skin with not a trace of blood color…
There was no human vitality.
It was like an aura of a walking corpse, perhaps.
He, standing while harboring thick darkness, spoke while scattering a chilling gaze.
“This Lord’s name is… Heuk Ma-yung.”