Chapter 356: Strength Against Strength
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PPEUDEUK, PPEUDEODEUK-!
One Yellow Armored Crocodile carcass lying at the water’s edge was trampled and burst open by the enormous being’s foot.
It hadn’t used particular force.
It was merely footsteps coming out of the water.
However, by the pressure accompanying the enormous being’s tremendous weight, the Yellow Armored Crocodile carcass was flattened and burst like a plank.
KUNG, KUNG, KUNG-
The sound and vibration of footsteps shook the grass thicket like battlefield drums.
Byeok Song-ha, having confirmed the true form of that large being, widened her eyes greatly.
‘Ah, that beast is…!’
The rest of the Wild Chrysanthemum Sword Squad also reacted likewise.
An enormously massive body like a living moving gray boulder, a thick and long trunk like a bundle of rope, ears drooping like a large fan spread wide open, four legs reminiscent of logs, and tusks jutting and curving out from beside its mouth.
It was none other than an elephant, the animal evaluated as the strongest on land.
Meng Wang, having at some point taken the Green Fang Poison Horn from his back into both hands, let out a quiet laugh.
“Hoohoot, it’s an elephant specially raised for combat.”
Immediately after, Byeok Song-ha, having adjusted her expression, quickly asked.
“Is it a Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant?”
“That’s right.”
At Meng Wang’s answer, Byeok Song-ha along with the Chrysanthemum Martial Hall martial artists were impressed.
The so-called Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant was a rare species unique to the southern forest, said to exhibit terrifying monstrous strength like a martial artist possessing extreme external martial arts.
Moreover, its status was said to rival the legendary divine and venomous creature of the ancient southern forest, the Green Wave Elephant.
Setting aside its strength that could easily crush even iron, befitting its large body, its hide was also very thick, so swords and arrows couldn’t even make a small scratch.
Also, the same went even when a Jianghu high master attacked using enormous supreme Internal energy.
The Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant was, as its name indicated, the living incarnation of a rock.
Its entire body was no different from an unbreakable boulder.
Was that all?
Befitting a famous divine creature of the southern forest since ancient times, it also possessed toxicity.
It wasn’t always armed with poison like the legendary Green Wave Elephant, but depending on circumstances, its pair of tusks would turn blue and emit poison energy.
Of course, whether the opponent was human or beast, most could be crushed to death with pure strength alone without needing to use poison.
At the appearance of the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant, the Silver-Furred Divine Apes each went into a frenzy and screamed.
“Kuheong!”
“Kuheoong, kuheoong!”
Tension and wariness could be seen behind that violent behavior.
An instinctive reaction that appears when facing a threatening species.
The Silver-Furred Divine Apes also possessed strong physiques.
To the point of neutralizing even Internal energy attacks with their steel-like outer skin.
Therefore, they didn’t flee.
Rather, they all emitted belligerent eye light.
As if they could press down on the elephant no matter how big it was with their own strength.
KUNG, KUNG, KUNG-
The moment the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant, which had approached quickly while shaking the ground, wedged itself into the gap between the two confronting sides.
PAK, PAPAK!
Two Silver-Furred Divine Apes flashed their silver fur and charged, aiming for the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s head.
Quick movement characteristic of the ape species.
A savage rush tracing curves from left and right.
The stout fists of the two Silver-Furred Divine Apes that had closed in head-on drove into the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s brow and chin.
PEOK- PEOPEOK-!
Just hearing it, it was a heavy sound.
Forceful punching sounds burst out in succession.
PEOK, PEOPEOK, PEOK-!
Yet the two Silver-Furred Divine Apes that had been attacking its head displayed pained expressions.
One had its fist completely crushed.
Like a tree branch breaking and flying off upon hitting a boulder.
The Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s outer skin boasted solidity in a truly different dimension.
Immediately after.
HOOWOOWOONG!
When the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s thick and long trunk crossed through space.
PEOGEOHEOK, PEOGEOEOEOK!
The two Silver-Furred Divine Apes’ large bodies simultaneously flew sideways and crashed into ancient trees before collapsing with a TEOLPPEODAK!
One had its temple caved in, and the other had its ribs brutally smashed.
Instant death.
Before a mere single swing.
The Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant, turning its enormous body, burst out an angry cry toward the remaining Silver-Furred Divine Apes.
“Ppuuuuu, ppuuuuuu!”
At that moment, another one, having at some point climbed a high tree, dropped down onto the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s back.
A clever attack targeting the blind spot of its vision.
TEOTEOK!
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape, standing on the broad back, raised both fists tightly clenched high above its head and then repeatedly struck downward hard.
PEOK, PEOK, PEOK, PEOK-!
But then.
HWIWHWIT-!
The Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s thick and long trunk curved upward backward in an instant, heading for its own back.
SYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYU-!
From its large nostrils, fearsomely compressed wind was discharged like a cannon and swept over the Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s body.
PUHAAAAK!
Rapidly shot out, the mighty wind pressure’s force tore the Silver-Furred Divine Ape apart as it was hurled far backward.
HUDUDUDUDUDUK, HUDUDUDUDUDUK……
The eerie sound of flesh chunks and bone fragments rolling on the ground.
Before the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s terrifying monstrous strength, the Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s steel-like outer skin was useless.
PABAK, PABABAK!
Two other Silver-Furred Divine Apes zigzagged their movement and approached the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s rear.
One looked ready to grab and tear off its tail, and the other intended to drive its fist into the vital point of its buttocks.
Befitting top-tier venomous creatures of the ape species, it was a cunning judgment.
That wasn’t all.
Simultaneously, two more executed nimble movement and flanked the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant’s head from both sides.
Likewise, a cleverly targeted surprise attack aiming for both eyeballs.
It was an attack assaulting front and rear simultaneously, but the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant again revealed its terrifying aspect befitting a divine creature of the highest and strongest tier of the southern forest.
PEOK- PEOPEOK-!
Its large and wide ears covered and protected both eyes like iron shields.
PEOHEOEOEOK-!
By lightly extending one rear leg backward, it pushed away the two Silver-Furred Divine Apes behind it.
At first glance, it seemed like a simple motion without much force, but its power was terrifying enough to exceed a heavy cannonball.
“Kak!”
“Kakak!”
The two Silver-Furred Divine Apes, struck by the back kick, let out sharp screams as they flew backward and collapsed.
Trembling.
Those two, apparently having had their entire upper body bones crushed by the light kick, made small trembles before simultaneously drawing their last breaths.
Strength proving a different level.
Meanwhile, the Silver-Furred Divine Apes that had targeted both eyeballs had their wrists bent at right angles, tearing their skin.
Moreover, even the bones inside had broken and protruded outward, spurting fishy blood.
In the midst of that, the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant immediately retreated slightly and shook its head left and right.
PUHAK- PUHAK-!
The sound of the long and large pair of tusks skewering the two Silver-Furred Divine Apes’ large bodies like kebabs.
Thus, when the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant shook its head again.
WAJIKKUN, WAJIKKUN-
The two Silver-Furred Divine Apes flew in different directions far away, smashing ancient trees before collapsing powerlessly to the ground and dying.
“Ppuuuuu, ppuuuuuu!”
Soon, the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant that had screamed supported its massive body on its hind legs and rose, then immediately struck the ground with its front feet.
KKWANG, KWAKWANG- UREUREUREUREREU, UREUREUREUREREU……!
A thunderous roar echoing in all directions.
Along with spider-web-like large cracks, hazy dust covered the front.
It was the mystical application of a stomp.
Pushed by that fierce vibration and wind pressure, the remaining Silver-Furred Divine Apes all retreated a bit and stood while crying out.
“Kawoong!”
“Kawung!”
“Kawoong, kawung!”
The Chrysanthemum Martial Hall party who saw that sight had lost expressions.
“Wow…!”
“Incredible!”
“Indeed, the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant…”
Suddenly, the Silver-Furred Divine Ape that had earlier fought Meng Wang charged fiercely.
But its target was not the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant.
It was Meng Wang.
Having been pushed back once by its own strength earlier, it had looked down on him as easy prey and targeted him again.
The speed of its surprise charge was as fast as an ultra-first-rate master.
‘Ah!’
The moment the surrounding party flinched in surprise.
PAPAT!
The corners of Meng Wang’s mouth curled up as he also dashed forward quickly.
In the blink of an eye, the Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s two fists that had compressed the gap came slicing through the wind.
PEOGEOK, PEOGEOEOK!
With a dull sound, the fists landed precisely on both sides of Meng Wang’s jaw.
But that was the end of it.
Despite being tremendously powerful punches, Meng Wang stood holding his ground, unlike before.
He hadn’t even turned his head to the side from being hit.
Immovable.
It was like tiny insects flying in and striking a large, unmoving tree.
The reason he was unscathed was one thing: the mystical application of Elephant Skin Great Iron Bone combined with supreme internal energy operation.
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape clearly showed a flustered expression at such an opponent’s appearance.
That momentary reaction revealed a vulnerability.
Immediately after, a heavy wind arose.
BUWOOOK- KKWADEUDEUK-!
A sound of piercing through skin and crushing bone rang out.
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape, which had opened its mouth wide in fierce pain, thrashed about while screaming wildly.
“Kkwoek, kkwoeek!”
“Noisy!”
Meng Wang, having shouted briefly, flashed his tiger eyes, and the Green Fang Poison Horn discharged deep blue heat haze.
At that, the Silver-Furred Divine Ape, having gone into extreme convulsions, let out a CHICHIK, CHICHIK! burning sound as it melted away like sticky porridge.
The mystical and marvelous toxicity of the Green Fang Poison Horn, difficult to handle if not Meng Wang, had been displayed.
At that moment, one Silver-Furred Divine Ape rushed toward the flank.
“Kihuuung!”
Simultaneously, one figure blocked its path.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
With a PEOK! sound, the Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s head spun around.
It was a powerful and exquisite kick technique.
The owner of that kick was Meng Min, youngest daughter of Palace Master Meng Wang and greatest talent within Southern Embrace Poison Palace.
The Silver-Furred Divine Ape staggered its body from the shock of its brain being rattled.
“You’re still far from matching my father’s level!”
Having shouted sharply, Meng Min swiftly gripped the pair of tusks and thrust them toward the Silver-Furred Divine Ape.
PUWOOK, PUWOOOK!
Thus, the two tusks dug into both sides of the Silver-Furred Divine Ape’s ribs.
Befitting the bloodline of Meng Wang, it was truly tremendous arm strength and power.
Everyone saw.
The scene of Meng Min’s entire body muscles suddenly swelling noticeably and hardening like stone.
It was a scene proving that superhuman monstrous strength was being displayed through the harmony of internal and external arts.
PPEUDEUK, PPEUDEUK…… CHYUHAAAAK-!
Thus, the Silver-Furred Divine Ape, stabbed by the pair of tusks, was ripped in half, spilling fresh blood and entrails.
Byeok Song-ha clicked her tongue at that surprising strength.
‘To overwhelm that Silver-Furred Divine Ape with strength… she’s a child with extraordinary qualities!’
She was newly feeling Southern Embrace Poison Palace’s depth of potential.
Cheol Ryu-heun had once said.
-Southern Embrace Poison Palace is far more powerful than you think. From our standpoint, they’re more reliable reinforcements than anywhere else. You’ll probably realize it immediately when you directly see their combat strength.
Having recalled that, a faint smile formed on Byeok Song-ha’s lips.
‘Yes, that’s right. Just as you said…’
Following that, a certain premonition suddenly flashed through her mind.
That no matter how fierce the blood tribulation that would arrive in this era, if it’s Cheol Ryu-heun’s capabilities, he could capably put an end to it.
‘And if even that formidable person who should be at White Peak Sword Sect by now joins hands and moves… we can capably handle the unknown enemy lurking behind the Heretic Cult and Darkness-Craving Blood Clan as well! Yes, indeed, victory is ours!’