Chapter 337: Preliminary Skirmish
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The forest, as darkness began to settle, exuded an eerie atmosphere.
The expressions of the rising masters, mixed with tension, excitement, and fighting spirit.
The sound of wind sharply brushing against their ears as they moved forward, skimming across the ground.
Thus, twenty-two people including Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, and Cui Lan closed the distance ahead.
Everyone knew well.
The bizarre abilities of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
A group that despised bright daylight and only moved after nightfall, and moreover survived by drinking human blood…
Hence, they were also called the Running Frenzy Blood Clan.
The group had familiarized themselves with various information including the clan’s strengths and weaknesses through Gun Mu-ak and Cheol Ryu-heun.
The Darkness-Craving Blood Clan’s power was stronger at night than during daylight.
That was an immutable law – inborn characteristics.
Also, those who had their blood drained followed with complete devotion of mind and body, like slaves under prohibition.
In exchange.
They gained fearsome power.
Along with some physical changes, the energy of their entire body was enhanced.
Above all, the application of muscles and veins was so.
Their bodies rapidly developed like beasts, displaying superhuman strength similar to external arts masters.
The greater the martial prowess of the victim, the more that application was maximized.
It was enhancement fortune obtained as the price of becoming a loyal slave.
Given that the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan itself could manifest such abilities, one could only imagine the superhuman strength of the clan’s upper echelons.
It went without saying.
After all, the mainline existence was stronger by nature.
Records of that tremendous power still remained.
The first records were from one thousand years ago, about the Blood-Sucking Demon King – one of the Four Dharma Protectors favored by the first Heavenly Demon Cult Progenitor, the Heavenly Demon.
At that time, his martial prowess, having enjoyed fresh human blood as his staple, surpassed the vast majority of Jianghu masters.
Someone had written it down thus.
That his whole body was solid as iron, his teeth and nails were truly peerless treasured swords, and whenever he drank blood, he transformed into an invincible monster…
On the other hand.
Just as there were distinct advantages, the disadvantages were also prominent.
One was the time during which their natural superhuman strength manifested.
The Darkness-Craving Blood Clan was quick to exhaust their power.
And that wasn’t replenished through Energy Circulation and Breath Regulation.
It was blood.
Without drinking human blood, power recovery was quite slow.
And another was the sun.
That is, during daylight hours, their natural abilities and superhuman strength dropped to less than half.
Moreover, those who had become slaves were said to have these disadvantages intensified further.
Just as the truth of Mother Nature dictates that perfection doesn’t exist in this world.
Of course, the warriors positioned at the upper ranks within the clan were at a powerful level despite these disadvantages.
The great Patriarch Bodhidharma of Shaolin Temple in those ancient times had seen through the clan’s weaknesses and successfully exploited them.
If not for the Divine Martial Sword owner, the Heavenly Demon, the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan would have faced annihilation.
In fact, at that time, Shaolin Temple actively utilized the clan’s weaknesses and won victory after victory.
And Blood-Sucking Demon King, one of the Four Dharma Protectors in name, received a fatal injury from the legendary eminent monk Bodhidharma.
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon realized.
That he alone was the only one capable of fighting Bodhidharma…
From then, the two competed for nearly several decades.
However, from the moment the Heavenly Demon perfectly awakened the Divine Martial Sword’s divine power, the balance began to tip.
And in the end, history was written with the Heavenly Demon Cult as the victor.
But that event also established Bodhidharma’s Shaolin Temple as a brilliant light of the Jianghu.
After that, a long time passed.
After the Heavenly Demon died, the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan that had vanished reappeared in this land.
It was approximately five hundred years ago from now.
The Darkness-Craving Blood Clan had secretly expanded their influence for a long time.
They were truly powerful.
The clan’s numbers were also large, and they had even created a massive slave army.
The Jianghu, which had no idea the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan would return, was flustered and pushed back again and again.
It was a bloody calamity of terror.
The combined forces of the pure-blooded clan and their slaves threatened both Orthodox and Unorthodox factions as a whole.
At that time, the demonic path beyond the border publically announced their position and drew a line.
That the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan’s invasion of the Jianghu was unrelated to their will.
That was because the demonic path had been devastated by the alliance formed by Thousand-Sword Castle Lord Evil Emperor Yul-Cheon, and had spent one hundred years reorganizing their forces and nurturing talents.
They too hadn’t anticipated the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan’s reappearance.
So they drew a line and kept their distance, maintaining neutrality.
For the Orthodox and Unorthodox sides, it was fortunate amid misfortune.
However.
The momentum of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan, having prepared for revival for long years, was fierce.
Everyone without exception was swept into the vortex of chaos and lost their way.
Still, there was hope.
As always, a light of salvation appeared in the Jianghu.
A person who would end the blood-red troubled times…
The protagonist was a supremely powerful sword path master of Orthodox origin – Hidden Dragon Sword Tak Wi-yeon.
He was the current era’s owner of the Divine Martial Sword and possessor of the legendary divine body Nine Grade Martial Bones.
After defeating the Unorthodox warrior Sword Heaven Wild King Gu Cha-gi, he rose as the undisputed greatest master of the Jianghu.
Blood-Sucking Demon Spirit, the leader of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan at that time, continued to advance toward him as his target.
Ultimately to steal the symbol of hegemony, the Divine Martial Sword.
At that time, Tak Wi-yeon actively resisted, rallying the Orthodox and Unorthodox to devise a meticulous operation.
To reduce losses and reverse everything in a single battle.
Blood-Sucking Demon Spirit fell into a trap and died after struggling.
The fearsome martial force of Tak Wi-yeon, who had awakened the potential of Nine Grade Martial Bones with the Divine Martial Sword’s divine power, was the decisive cause of defeat.
Blood-Sucking Demon Spirit’s power was at a tremendous level.
However.
The physical abilities of Tak Wi-yeon, who had perfectly mastered Nine Grade Martial Bones, were special.
It was almost like an invincible iron wall.
Because of that, Blood-Sucking Demon Spirit rapidly exhausted his energy and became worn out.
Thus, he was ultimately beheaded and killed.
The effect of the leader’s death appeared immediately.
After that, the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan suffered defeat after defeat everywhere.
Everyone couldn’t find their bearings and was thrown into confusion.
On the other hand.
Tak Wi-yeon even assembled an elite force for a decisive strike and raided the enemy’s base.
Bashu Mountain in the Sichuan region.
It was the final decisive battle of all-or-nothing stakes.
And.
The result of the large-scale bloody battle was victory for Orthodox and Unorthodox.
This was the event recorded in history as the Great Victory of Bashu Seeking Light.
Yet here was another person with a body like Tak Wi-yeon’s.
The legitimate bloodline of Namgung Family, Namgung Sang-rin.
His two eyes, piercing through the dark forest shade, flashed.
‘There are many!’
Sharpened energy sense caught the hidden presences.
About fifty people in total.
More than double their numbers.
But Namgung Sang-rin dashed forward swiftly with an even more combative stance.
PAPAPAPAK-!
As if there wasn’t even a nail’s worth of fear in his heart.
Everyone else was the same.
None of them had the numerical disadvantage in mind.
Their gazes blazing like flames demonstrated that.
There was only one thought.
Annihilation.
Everything in sight would be cut down, toppled, and killed.
The moment the group reached a certain point.
TUTUTUTUT, TUTUTUTUDUT…
Countless human shadows burst out of the dense thickets in all directions, tearing through them.
Lower-ranked underlings of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
It felt like a pack of starving beasts charging in a group.
The momentum of their movements alone was chilling.
“Kahaak!”
“Have you come, prey!”
“Let’s taste some blood!”
“Heheh!”
Shouts filled with thick murderous intent.
Calling them underlings was meaningless.
Why?
Because though they were underlings, they were different from ordinary underlings.
After all, every single one possessed superhuman strength beyond common sense.
The inherent nature of the clan itself was such.
Therefore, they couldn’t be underestimated.
One had to face them thinking they were similar to first-rate martial artists.
Namgung Sang-rin operated superior internal power.
‘Carelessness is forbidden!’
From now on, they would target weaknesses.
With overwhelming martial force that would make the enemy’s superhuman strength drain rapidly.
SYUKAAAAAK-!
Namgung Sang-rin’s Heaven Reliance Sword crossed the front as the vanguard of the group.
Blue light burst out along the blade.
It was vast.
Also.
It was fierce.
Power beyond his age was contained within.
Furthermore, the grandeur and vital energy of majestic nature even seemed to be felt.
Truly, pure energy representing righteousness was exploding toward the enemy.
The moment clear azure radiance dyed the space.
PUHAAK, PUHAAK!
A sound like slicing chunks of meat struck their ears.
In an instant, a pungent smell spread and stimulated their nostrils.
Four Darkness-Craving Blood Clan underlings ahead simultaneously had their waists bisected and sprawled on the ground, spurting fresh blood.
The power of sword technique deploying fully half his energy.
Namgung Sang-rin’s martial force, having realized the essence of the Heaven Emperor Sword Path, was truly head and shoulders above the rest.
Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae also began their exploits beside him.
Also, the Murong Seol and Murong Song sisters of Murong Family deployed their family’s representative sword arts against the approaching enemies.
Simultaneously, in another direction.
CHYACHYACHYACHYA, CHYACHYACHYACHYA-!
Blue sky-colored sword energy filled the air.
PEOPEOPEOPEOPEOPEONG-!
Heat haze of fiercely exploding energy waves.
Two of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan were sent flying backward and collided with boulders.
It was the skill of Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo, who had rapidly grown through Cheol Ryu-heun’s arrangement recently.
Jade Robe Swallow Lady Mae Yak-bang beside him was the same.
CHYUT, CHYUCHYUT-!
When sword technique possessing both delicacy and fierceness scattered flashes.
PEOHEOEOONG!
Heat haze spread like transparent waves.
“Keok!”
“Keukeuk!”
Two underlings who took Mae Yak-bang’s sword energy head-on let out groans.
Right at that moment.
SEUSUT…
One figure appeared like a ghost.
To the rear of the two in pain.
It was Cui Lan.
SEOGEOK, SEOGEOOOK-!
A death sword that didn’t even give the two time to turn around.
Bright red blood gushed out.
TUK, TUTUK.
Neatly severed heads rolled across the ground.
Three other underlings rapidly charged from left and right.
SHWIK, SHWISHWIK!
Each extended their nails and fiercely swung their arms.
Thus, Cui Lan’s body was sharply scratched.
But then.
HOOWOONG, HOOOWOONG, HOOWOONG!
Their attacks merely sliced empty air futilely.
Cui Lan’s figure was an illusion.
It was vivid but a mirage.
A transcendent technique surpassing the simple application of afterimages.
It was the deployment of Phantom Body Illusion Technique – the unique supreme art of Slaughter Guanyin Pung Woo-hee from the past.
She had perfectly replicated her own form as an illusion while moving her body somewhere else.
The outcome of futile attacks was singular.
Death.
Sure enough, Cui Lan, having taken position behind them, slashed one underling’s neck.
The moment the startled remaining two spun around, a black figure dropped down from above like a flash of light.
PEOLLEOK-
It was Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin.
He positioned himself between the two people.
The two underlings immediately swung their arms and attacked.
In that instant.
UDUDEUDUK, UDUDEUDUK-!
A blue-green flame-like energy resembling will-o’-wisps rapidly wrapped around both their arms and snapped them like branches.
“Euaak!”
“Keuheuk!”
It was the mystical application of Ink God Robe’s unique divine power that protected its owner – Fire Phosphorus Energy.
Immediately after, violet energy waves were fiercely released from Mun Bin’s entire body.
It was Ghost Phosphorus Energy, paired with Fire Phosphorus Energy.
Before that power, the two underlings’ bodies exploded with a PEONG! sound.
Following that, sword techniques accompanied by ghostly wails were scattered.
WOOOWOOOWOOOWOOO-!
And that wailing swallowed the lives of the enemies whole.
In the meantime, White Dream Beauty, Mountain Shattering Sword, Black Cloud Young Master Hwa-seong, Divine Kun Saber Talent On-ga, and Violent Wolf Blade of the Unorthodox camp also showed off their respective skills.
The same went for the Orthodox camp.
Central Peak Morning Star Hyo-gak and Three Absolutes Azure Crane Chang-woon employed their sect’s supreme techniques from the start for overwhelming victory.
Shaolin Temple’s supreme finger technique Flicking Finger Divine energy skill and Wudang Sect’s supreme sword path Taiji Twelve Wave Sword.
Buddha Crown Martial Flower Myo Jeong-mun from Potalsa Temple, Prosperous Flower Sword Son Im Kang-yu from Mount Hua Sect, Shadowless Swift Guest Pa-pyeong from Mount Huang Sect, Seven Yin Sword Jing-hyeon from Kongtong Sect, Shu Gold Great Pillar Han-sol from Emei Sect, and Small Pure Spirit Hero Geon-ram from Taishan Sect also displayed their inherent outstanding martial prowess befitting young dragons of the Nine Great Sects.
Mount Heng Sect’s Baek Lim, who had made rapid progress, was the same.
The essence of his sect’s transcendent sword studies, Mount Heng Six Harmony Sword, danced brilliantly from his hand and demonstrated his advanced martial prowess.
However, some among them secretly envied one woman upon glimpsing her form.
That target was none other than Hae Su-yeon, called Heaven-Summoning Sword Phoenix.
“Oh my, no. Go away. I told you not to come near.”
She frowned and wielded the Ten Great Heavenly Weapon Enchanting Flower Sword as softly as a butterfly.
HWARARARARAK, HWARARARARAK…!
Following her hand movements, petal-like heat haze fluttered chaotically.
And each time, the eyes of the enemies approaching her became hazy, and then they soon fought each other as if to kill.
Having forgotten they were on the same side.
It was the effect of being hit by the powerful enchanting energy created from the harmony of the legendary Heavenly Demon Incarnation Body and the Enchanting Flower Sword’s divine power.
For mere underlings, they couldn’t withstand that power.
Those who saw that inwardly clicked their tongues.
Wow… so that’s what “blowing your nose without touching it” looks like.
With that level of ability, isn’t it basically cheating?
We want to fight as comfortably as she does.