Chapter 336: Let's See Your Skills
Read more at Nineheavens.org
Hu-ra licked her blood-stained lips seductively and spoke.
“Ohoho. I like him very much. Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body… worth more than just a slave.”
At that, Snake-Robed Hwa-rang wore a faint smile.
“Hoot. Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body… our cult’s masterpiece.”
At that moment, his younger sister Snake-Robed Hwa-nong spoke softly.
“No, to be precise, it’s a creation made by us siblings.”
“Yes, you’re right. A masterpiece born from long years of effort. Defying the opposition of the cowardly former Cult Leader…”
The former Cult Leader meant Shin So-sul.
Judging by their conversation, the sorcery related to Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body seemed to be forbidden sorcery.
In the meantime, Earth Gate Assassin Hwal-bae kept growling like a ferocious beast.
As if he had lost his reason.
His appearance was different from before.
His build had grown larger due to skeletal changes, his fangs and nails had become long and pointed, and his bleary eyes emitted a dark blue light.
What to say – it felt like only murderous instinct existed in his heart.
Hu-ra brushed back her bangs and cast a meaningful look.
“You two, speaking like that makes me feel left out.”
Snake-Robed Hwa-rang, meeting that gaze, wore another smile.
“My apologies. Of course, I acknowledge it. Without the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan’s help… it would have been impossible.”
“Hmm, good. Don’t forget that gratitude.”
In an instant, Snake-Robed Hwa-rang’s expression completely changed.
“Lust-Blood Seductive Ghost. Likewise, your clan must also remember.”
“Of course. Thanks to you two, we’ve nested here. Our symbiotic relationship will be eternal. Hoho. Let’s live on good terms, giving and taking from each other. For our singular goal.”
“I like that.”
Right after that, Snake-Robed Hwa-nong approached directly in front of the growling Hwal-bae.
“One thing still remains.”
Speaking those words, she gently closed her eyes and soon clasped both hands together before her chest.
It was a sorcery incantation hand seal.
As she began chanting some spell.
CHEUCHEUCHEUCHEUEU…
A sinister and mystical smoke was released from Snake-Robed Hwa-nong’s crown and connected to Hwal-bae’s upper dantian.
In the blink of an eye.
FLASH!
Hwal-bae’s eyes, which had been emitting deep blue light, regained their focus.
As if the murderous desire writhing in his heart had been brought under control.
“Brother, I’ve finished.”
Snake-Robed Hwa-nong spoke softly and then retreated backward.
She looked somewhat tired, as if she had expended a considerable amount of energy.
Following that, Snake-Robed Hwa-rang’s gaze lingered on Hwal-bae.
“Hall Master Hwal, are you satisfied?”
At that, a smile formed on Hwal-bae’s face.
“Hoho… immense energy is surging within my body. Have you given me new power?”
Deferential polite speech came from his mouth.
It was the attitude of serving his master with blind loyalty.
Probably, the incantation Snake-Robed Hwa-nong had cast had placed a prohibition on the mental realm of his upper dantian.
“That’s right. It’s a kind of blessing. You are now our hunting dog. One that will gather prey in one place…”
“I am honored. I will perform my utmost.”
Hwal-bae, whose mind and body had been enslaved, lowered his head and paid respectful courtesy.
Thus, he had become a loyal servant.
Having forgotten his martial reputation and position as one of the Three Martial Arms of Guangxi and hall master of Shadow Cliff Assassin Hall…
At that moment.
PIT.
Along with a faint sound, one man appeared in the rear.
He was a middle-aged sorcerer dressed in a black long robe.
“Cult Leader, Vice Cult Leader. It’s Wood Direction Master.”
Wood Direction Master was one of the Heretic Cult leadership’s Five Elements Direction Masters.
“Has the Dokgo Sword Family party headed toward the Ghost Spirit White Valley formation?”
At Snake-Robed Hwa-rang’s question, the Wood Direction Master flinched and answered.
“The thing is… I’m afraid to report, but an interferer appeared…”
At that moment, Snake-Robed Hwa-nong spoke with a cold attitude.
“You failed?”
“I’m sorry.”
Wood Direction Master immediately prostrated himself and showed a flustered expression.
At that, Snake-Robed Hwa-nong’s gaze grew even colder.
“You ruined the meal we prepared. Let’s hear your excuse.”
The terrified Wood Direction Master reported the situation while staying prone.
“The interferer’s identity was the Chrysanthemum Martial Hall Master.”
“Byeok Song-ha?”
“Yes, the one called the Chrysanthemum Fragrance Sword Mother…”
Snake-Robed Hwa-nong tilted her head and asked again.
“So you’re saying Byeok Song-ha saw through the transformation technique and rescued the Dokgo Sword Family party? That’s hard to readily understand.”
“I tried to lure them using the Righteous Sea Martial Gate Master’s appearance. That was probably the cause of being discovered.”
“Wait, you mean the hunting dog we lost is being hidden and protected by that woman somewhere?”
The lost hunting dog.
That referred to Danli Yeol, the gate master of the Righteous Sea Martial Gate.
“I-I believe so. Well… it seems so.”
“Hmm, that makes sense… How do you explain not being able to withstand that woman’s martial force? That’s absurd. With our formations in effect everywhere. How will you excuse that?”
“An unexpected variable occurred.”
At that, Snake-Robed Hwa-rang showed interest.
“A variable?”
“Amazingly, she was freely commanding a Ghost Cloud Great Bee swarm.”
At those words, both Snake-Robed Hwa-rang and Snake-Robed Hwa-nong’s gazes changed.
“You’re right. That is a variable.”
“How could she control Ghost Cloud Great Bees that even we have difficulty with…?”
The moment the two people expressed their puzzlement, Hu-ra mentioned what she had surmised.
“Right, that woman must have obtained the sphere.”
The Wood Direction Master, who had just raised his head, widened his eyes.
“Ah, how did you know? That’s right. She had some kind of sphere. She definitely used that to control the Ghost Cloud Great Bee swarm. Because of that… the plan to lure them to Ghost Spirit White Valley failed.”
Snake-Robed Hwa-rang looked as if he finally understood.
“Could it be the Charm Light Pearl…?”
Hu-ra nodded as she answered.
“Yes, that’s it. Most likely.”
“There’s… a hidden helper behind her.”
The moment Snake-Robed Hwa-nong murmured as if reciting.
-The occurrence of a variable… interesting.
One strand of strange Sound Transmission resonated through the space.
Following that, one person appeared quietly nearby.
A giant as tall as Hu-ra.
“What brings you here?”
At Hu-ra’s gesture, the giant responded with a nod.
“I stopped by on my way passing through.”
The giant who had appeared was Blood-Holding Fighting Ghost Tae-pa, who like Lust-Blood Seductive Ghost Hu-ra was among the Three Spirits.
“Passing through where?”
“The west… precisely, the vicinity of Ink Bird Ridge.”
“Ink Bird Ridge? Did the Bat Demon Great King give separate orders?”
“Yes. I hear the poisonous creatures we specially arranged have been disappearing one by one.”
“Ho-oh, that’s strange. Is it a series of variables?”
“I’ll find out when I go and investigate.”
Tae-pa then stared at Snake-Robed Hwa-rang’s face.
“Do you know about this?”
“About what?”
“Shin So-sul broke the seal on his secret chamber and escaped and is active.”
At that, not only Snake-Robed Hwa-rang but even Snake-Robed Hwa-nong’s expression hardened.
Seeing that, Tae-pa smirked.
“Hoho, isn’t it interesting?”
Snake-Robed Hwa-rang immediately asked back.
“When?”
“A while ago. While the sun was still up earlier. Moreover, his skill is still good. Good enough to summon the Iron-Armored Earth-Governing Demon without difficulty.”
“Hmm… is that so? It seems he’s recovered to a considerable level.”
“Because of that, we lost the Do father and son.”
“He took them?”
“Yes. The insolent bastard. If I see him again, I plan to drink my fill of his blood and kill him.”
“Nonsense, that won’t do.”
Snake-Robed Hwa-rang spoke softly and indicated Hwal-bae with a look.
“He must be made into a hunting dog. His power will be of great use.”
“Kahahahaha! Reborn Shin So-sul into a Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body too? As expected, that’s a thought worthy of you.”
Tae-pa asked with a meaningful expression.
“I hear we’re finally approaching completion?”
This time, Snake-Robed Hwa-nong answered instead of Snake-Robed Hwa-rang.
“If we extract and combine the soul energy of those who have set foot here, we can advance the timeline further.”
“Haha, I’m looking forward to it. That historic day when the Demon God from the other world descends upon this realm…”
No sooner had Tae-pa’s words ended than Snake-Robed Hwa-rang’s gaze sank deep.
“For that, we must beware of variable occurrences from now on. Whether large or small.”
“I hope the prize catch we’re hoping for gets hooked.”
Hu-ra, having grasped the meaning hidden in his words, wore a bewitching and seductive smile as she murmured.
“Heuuung… my heart is already pounding. I wonder how ecstatic that Cheol Ryu-heun ‘s blood will taste…”
* * *
“It’s an ecstatic feeling! Truly!”
“I feel the same way!”
It was Iron Blood Martial Alliance Leader Sword Wheel Crown Prince Gwi Je-shin and Sun Yang Sword Castle Lord Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord Beop-yeol.
The two had just completed Energy Circulation and Breath Regulation and shouted like that.
After leaving Life-Stealing Mist Cliff, the party had settled in a quiet flatland.
Then Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol, having each consumed ten Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng, proceeded with mental cultivation training through meditation until nightfall.
It was Energy Circulation and Breath Regulation performed according to Cheol Ryu-heun’s advice.
And they had finally obtained the enlightenment they truly desired.
The inner energy cultivation essence of the Unorthodox warriors from eight hundred years ago – Heaven Steel Iron Martial Ancestor and Fire Power Sword Hegemon Master…
From that, they had additionally realized even the divine power’s mysteries possessed by Iron Spirit Bizarre Sword and Blazing Fire Sword.
The process had been extremely painful.
However, the result was, as they said, ecstatic beyond words.
They hadn’t expected their martial prowess to improve this quickly.
Cheol Ryu-heun, positioned in front, let out his characteristic indifferent voice.
“It’s still incomplete, but you can master the remaining parts when we go to the Ten Directions Ghost Road Lost Soul Formation.”
Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol, excited by their achievement, answered in unison.
“Yes!”
Now they both had completely loyal attitudes as if they had become Cheol Ryu-heun’s subordinates.
Seeing that, Gun Mu-ak laughed inwardly.
‘How easy. For that bastard…’
Then a conversation he’d had with him suddenly came to mind.
A conversation about the mysterious transcendent of unknown origin…
-In the current era… is there anyone stronger than you?
-You’re plenty strong yourself, why ask.
-You know that’s not what I meant.
-There is. Just one.
-Who is it?
-I don’t know the identity yet. Also…
-…
-It’s too early to say.
-Is there a connection to that secretive mysterious organization?
-Uncertain.
-That wasn’t the answer I was hoping for. Have you met that one in person?
-You heard me. I said it’s too early to say. But one certain fact is… even if you and I join forces right now, it would be difficult to defeat that person.
Who could it be?
Cheol Ryu-heun’s power rivaled his own, and yet there was a new powerhouse who surpassed him…
Was it a divine being who had transcended the superhuman realm?
It was hard to believe.
Yet that man wasn’t one to spout nonsense.
Meeting the mysterious warrior was certainly a fact.
He had said he would tell him when the time came.
Though perhaps not everything.
At that time, Gun Mu-ak himself had asked.
-However… do you have a plan to counter such a person?
Cheol Ryu-heun’s answer had been simple.
-Just get stronger than now.
That bastard really makes everything sound easy.
But.
He really does make it happen easily, as he says.
That’s why he had expectations.
About what kind of martial achievement Cheol Ryu-heun would accomplish at the Ten Directions Ghost Road Lost Soul Formation…
At that moment.
Cheol Ryu-heun gazed at the darkness-shrouded forest.
“They’ve started moving.”
Gun Mu-ak also shifted his gaze.
“Seeing how they look, they’re underlings.”
Everyone realized what that meant.
Beyond that darkness, a Darkness-Craving Blood Clan group had appeared.
They could vaguely sense it.
The presence of a group approaching like stealthily rising smoke…
Cheol Ryu-heun, leisurely clasping his hands behind his back, spoke softly to the rising talents.
“Now, shall we see your skills?”
At that, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon and the others all operated their internal power and gripped their weapons.
Following that.
PAK, PAPAK, PAK-!
Led by the White Peak Sword Sect guests, all the Orthodox and Unorthodox talents armed themselves with killing intent and fighting spirit as they rapidly charged forward.