Chapter 343: Crumpled
Read more at Nineheavens.org
Again, a roar like a faint echo reached the party’s ears.
-Kkwang… Peopeong…!
At that, Namgung Sang-rin furrowed his brows.
‘Too far.’
It was difficult to estimate the distance by sound alone.
Moreover, that exact direction was also hard to pinpoint.
Everyone else was the same.
Yet Cheol Ryu-heun had disappeared with an air of having figured it out precisely.
If so, it must certainly be somewhere beyond that direction.
It was impossible that Cheol Ryu-heun of all people had misjudged the direction of the epicenter.
At that moment, Gun Mu-ak withdrew his gaze and said.
“Most likely, it’s the noise of a space where some kind of formation has been activated. That’s why calculating the distance or direction is tricky.”
Simultaneously, all the rising talents of the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions exclaimed in admiration.
“Ah…!”
He really was an impressive person.
To know even such things.
“Can you roughly estimate how far it is?”
When Gwi Je-shin asked probingly, Gun Mu-ak immediately replied.
“Roughly beyond three hundred Zhang. Moreover, a powerful ominous energy based on sorcery is being transmitted. You lot wouldn’t be able to feel anything, though.”
At the unexpected words, everyone’s complexions stiffened with a start.
Sorcery-based powerful ominous energy?
That was being transmitted across three hundred Zhang?
They finally realized.
Why he had spoken like that earlier.
-Did you sense it too?
Everyone seemed newly alert.
At Gun Mu-ak’s remarkable ability…
Among everyone, the surprise of the White Peak Sword Sect guests including Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, and Cui Lan was the greatest.
‘Transcendent senses on par with Sect Master Cheol…’
It was all the more shocking because they knew Cheol Ryu-heun’s divine prowess well.
However, they weren’t afraid.
Why?
Because Cheol Ryu-heun would continue to develop going forward.
Indeed, wasn’t he someone who would walk a path no one had ever traversed before?
Fear was rather the Heavenly Demon Cult’s lot.
Meanwhile.
Gun Mu-ak was also inwardly admiring Cheol Ryu-heun’s ability.
‘That bastard, he sensed that force before I did. Is it because of his extraordinary body? Anyway, it was fortunate he wasn’t an enemy. Though it’s only temporary.’
However, if the moment they clash swords arrives, he would not back down.
Because the Heavenly Demon Cult’s long-cherished wish, his ultimate goal, was conquest and domination of the Jianghu…
But suddenly, the eyes of Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon changed.
“Huh?”
“Ah, I really feel it!”
Immediately after, even Mun Bin and Cui Lan.
“I can feel it!”
“Yes, yes! Me too!”
They had finally sensed the sorcery-based powerful ominous energy.
Mountain Shattering Sword, Black Cloud Young Master Hwa-seong, Central Peak Morning Star Hyo-gak, Three Absolutes Azure Crane Chang-woon and others were dumbfounded.
‘Good heavens…!’
‘They felt that belatedly?’
‘Wow…’
They were simply amazed.
They themselves still felt nothing touching their bodies…
In the meantime, Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol clicked their tongues.
“Goodness, impressive. Even I only just felt it.”
“Indeed so. They were faster than us.”
Suddenly, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji exchanged Sound Transmissions.
Hae Su-yeon, whose eyes had sparkled, quietly turned her head.
“This ominous energy… isn’t ordinary. How can it reach this far?”
Her voice was quietly directed toward Gun Mu-ak positioned on the other side.
He soon received her words with an emotionless expression.
“It means they’re that strong.”
“Do you think… it’s the Heretic Cult leadership?”
“Well, it could also be a soul-stolen ghost thing.”
“…!”
“Let’s wait. For the results that Cheol Ryu-heun brings.”
Having said that, Gun Mu-ak suddenly descended to the ground.
“It seems we won’t be able to rest while waiting.”
Following him, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon and others swiftly spread out like a folding screen.
Because they had sensed extremely covert presences approaching this place.
Sure enough.
-Welcome to hell.
Along with a grand Sound Transmission-like sound, a ghost-like human shadow appeared ahead.
An old man shrouded in hazy smoke.
His long, drooping white hair, white eyebrows, white beard… everything about his entire body was pure white.
Even his clothing was white, reminiscent of clouds.
A mysterious figure impossible to tell if real or an illusion.
Upon seeing him, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji’s gazes wavered.
“That person is…”
“Phantom Demon Emperor…?”
At their whispers, the eyes of the party also wavered.
It couldn’t be helped.
Phantom Demon Emperor was the epithet of the mysterious demon Hap-hwa, who had once stirred up the Jianghu about sixty years ago and then suddenly vanished.
History recorded it thus.
Hap-hwa, whose origins were unknown, was a demon with the appearance of an immortal at that time, and the essence of his martial arts seemed to be a mysterious fusion of immortal path and demonic path…
His period of activity was extremely short at one year.
Nevertheless, he had obtained the grandiose epithet of Phantom Demon Emperor.
At that moment, Gun Mu-ak spoke in a heavy voice.
“How interesting. You weren’t dead?”
-Heoheo… how could I die so easily. When I have a debt that must be repaid.
Hap-hwa’s voice rang like Sound Transmission.
There seemed to be some history between him and the Heavenly Demon Cult.
SEUREUNG.
The Demon God Sword in Gun Mu-ak’s hand was drawn.
“Then… I’ll kill you for certain this time.”
-Tsk, isn’t question and answer the proper order? You’re too hasty.
“There’s nothing I need to hear from you. And the debt… is something I should bring up.”
With those words, Gun Mu-ak strode forward, and then.
SYUKAAAAAK-!
Before anyone knew it, Gun Mu-ak’s Demon God Sword, having compressed a gap of two Zhang, vertically split Phantom Demon Emperor Hap-hwa.
KKWAUWOONG!
* * *
PEOPEONG!
Heavy blade energy exploded.
KUKUNG, KUNG, KUKUNG…
Four people caught in it flew back and crashed into old trees consecutively before collapsing.
They were a gang who had become slaves of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
The figure in blue martial attire who had just executed the formidable blade strike shouted while operating internal power.
“Come at me! My blade will not be easily broken!”
An elderly blade expert with a long, drooping black beard.
At that, the four who had fallen rose again and fiercely charged.
Not to be outdone, the elderly blade expert horizontally slashed his right hand’s short blade.
HOOWOOWOONG!
Along the swung blade, a light loaded with tremendous pressure extended sharply.
CHYUHAAK, CHYUHAAK-!
Two had their torsos bisected, and two had their heads severed.
A fearsome bisecting blade technique of formidable application.
The elderly blade expert who resembled the ancient famous general Guan Yu was Chopping Wave Saber Tiger Ji Jang-jong.
He was the Gang Leader of the Nine Tiger Blade Gang and a warrior of the Unorthodox camp who contested for first among Five Elegants of Jiangxi.
Currently, the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan slave corpses were strewn all around.
It was Ji Jang-jong’s work.
He had been lost since some time, and while wandering, he was attacked by the enemy and fought without rest.
But there was no end.
After killing one group, another group appeared from somewhere.
As if trying to exhaust his internal power and stamina through human-wave tactics.
But his martial force wasn’t to be trifled with.
The Darkness-Craving Blood Clan slave corpses he’d accumulated thus had easily surpassed fifty.
The problem was that increasingly stronger groups appeared.
It was certainly a tactic intended by the enemy.
SASAT, SAT, SASAT-
Rapidly approaching movements from within the darkness ahead.
“Hat!”
Ji Jang-jong, having let out a spirited cry, infused massive true energy into his blade.
The meridians and energy channels connected within his body stung slightly.
It was proof that strain was occurring.
However, he should properly try what he could.
‘I cannot die here!’
At that moment, savage roars were heard.
“Kachak!”
“Kihaaaak!”
Five Darkness-Craving Blood Clan slaves, seized by murderous instinct, charged while unleashing their offensive.
SHWIK, SHWISHWIK, SHWIK-!
Looking at their attire, Orthodox and Unorthodox factions were mixed.
Ji Jang-jong evaded the offensive agilely and thought.
‘None of them are normal! There’s no choice…!’
Thus, his blade spewed fire.
SYUSYUK, SYUK, SYUSYUK!
Continuous blade trajectories.
When blade energy loaded with peak internal power descended upon the enemy.
KKWANG, KWAKKWANG, KKWANG…!
Five people with split bodies sprayed blood.
Chopping Wave Saber Tiger – an ultra-first-rate blade expert whose blade, when swung, cleaved everything like a tiger.
It was truly fearsome bladework befitting the owner of that epithet.
At that moment, a covert voice reached his ears.
It was Sound Transmission To Ear mixed with an unpleasant small laugh.
‘He was watching me all along!’
He didn’t know who it was, but hot anger welled up.
Suddenly, the surrounding scenery changed.
SEUSEUSEUSEU, SEUSEUSEUSEU…
Instead of forest, enormous castle walls appeared in all directions.
‘What!’
The moment Ji Jang-jong wavered before the strange phenomenon.
SSWAESSYANG!
A long blade flew in suddenly from behind.
Startled, Ji Jang-jong quickly turned around.
KKAAANG- PEOHEOENG!
He barely defended with his blade, but the rebound force pushed his body back.
It was a distance of over twenty steps.
CHEOCHEOK!
Ji Jang-jong barely regained his balance and looked ahead.
“Keureu…”
A figure making beast-like sounds entered his vision.
A martial artist with a massive build, long fangs, and nails.
Dark blue light was gathered in his two eyes.
By his facial features, he looked over fifty years old.
The mysterious martial artist charged while emitting a savage roar.
“Ooeoeok!”
Ji Jang-jong also advanced to meet him and fiercely slashed his blade.
JJEOJJEONG- KWAKKWANG!
“Euk!”
Ji Jang-jong, having let out a groan, retreated another Zhang.
He was lacking in strength.
No, it was because the martial artist’s sword force was tremendously beyond expectations.
To the point his wrist bone had nearly cracked.
‘Such power…!’
Again the martial artist charged and rained down sword strikes.
KANG, KAKANG, KANG…!
Ji Jang-jong stumbled backward dangerously in time with the sounds.
Then he executed a decisive blade technique with peak internal power and struck the opponent’s front.
Massive blade energy in the shape of a giant cleaver, symbolizing the sword studies he possessed.
Their weapons collided.
KKAAANG- KWARUREUNG!
The martial artist, engulfed in heat haze, retreated one Zhang back.
But he appeared completely unaffected by the impact.
Then at that moment, the owner of the Sound Transmission appeared to one side.
He was a middle-aged sorcerer dressed in a black long robe.
Gold Direction Master.
He was one of the Five Elements Direction Masters, the Heretic Cult’s leadership.
“Indeed, Chopping Wave Saber Tiger’s martial prowess is first-rate. Impressive. Truly superhuman internal power and stamina.”
He then indicated the beast-like mysterious martial artist with a gesture of his chin and spoke again.
“Let me introduce you. This is our cult’s first Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body.”
The first Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body birthed by current Heretic Cult Leader Snake-Robed Hwa-rang and Vice Cult Leader Snake-Robed Hwa-nong siblings.
The very first created test subject was him.
Ji Jang-jong shouted while again operating ascending internal power.
“The Heretic Cult!”
“Yes, you know well. I’ll make you like this too soon. No, you’ll become even more. Into an evolved Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body. Now, struggle all you can until then. I’ll be watching from here… kkihihit.”
But at that moment, an apathetic-sounding voice was heard.
“Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body?”
As Gold Direction Master startled, the scenery rapidly changed.
SEUSEUSEUSEU, SEUSEUSEUSEU…
The high castle walls in all directions returned to the original scenery.
And not far away… a young man in black stood relaxed.
Upon discovering him, Gold Direction Master’s expression hardened rapidly.
Black clothes with a white mountain depicted on a black background.
Upon seeing the attire, he realized who he was.
‘Heuk! Ch-Cheol Ryu-heun…!’
That was the same for Ji Jang-jong.
“White Peak Sword Sect Master…?”
At that moment, the Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body floated into the air.
“Kkeo-kkeok… kkeok…!”
He was flailing about, making pained sounds as if his windpipe was blocked.
Before anyone knew it, Cheol Ryu-heun had executed powerful telekinesis.
“You made something like garbage.”
Having said that, the moment Cheol Ryu-heun clenched his left hand.
PPEUDEUK, PPEUDEUDUK, PPEUDEUK- PUSYUT, PUSYUSYUT, PUSYUT-
The Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body scattered blood and flesh as it was mercilessly crumpled like a paper ball.
Fearsome internal power that didn’t even give time for a pained scream.
KKUNG-
The corpse of the Forbidden Soul Ghost Thing Body, crumpled to the maximum, fell to the ground and rolled around, gushing blood.
Gold Direction Master’s mind turned blank as white paper.
His brain’s cognition was paralyzed before the overwhelming and wondrous martial prowess.
In the midst of that, Cheol Ryu-heun threw out an indifferent voice.
“Bring them all. I’ll crumple and destroy every single one.”