Chapter 362: It Must Be Somewhere
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The boastful declaration that he would become the natural enemy of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
Suddenly, Great Lake Sword Elder Byeok Woo-ham, Flash Blade Tyrant Do Woo-pung, and New Province Sword Saint Dokgo In-wang were seized by shivers.
‘He means it!’
The three were saying the same thing inwardly.
Though his gaze was emotionless, it was filled with conviction.
That characteristic nonchalant voice of his instead gave a feeling of trustworthiness.
Yet the White Peak Sword Sect guests showed no particular reaction.
As if it were natural.
Their attitude was such that if it was Cheol Ryu-heun’s word, even if he called that moon the sun, they would simply believe it.
That’s why it inspired even more trust.
Meanwhile,
A distinctive light passed through Gun Mu-ak’s two eyes.
‘Techniques that only the Blood God could perform… Yes, similar to the First Cult Leader…’
In that ancient past, the Heavenly Demon had also created them.
Unique absolute techniques outside of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Ultimate Demonic arts born from awakening the divine power of the Divine Martial Sword to its extreme.
After the Heavenly Demon’s death, no one had mastered them.
The reason was simple.
Because mastery was only possible with the Divine Martial Sword’s divine power.
The Blood God’s unique technique that Cheol Ryu-heun just mentioned was probably the same in principle.
It was certainly the ultimate demonic study requiring the Divine Martial Sword’s divine power.
He could roughly guess what it was.
Blood Demon Dominion Curtain.
The terrifying killing technique that had routed Heavenly Demon Cult’s elite forces two hundred years ago…
The Grand Prelate of that time, Heaven-Shaking Divine Demon Bol Eul-ha, had been an extremely powerful demonic person who had acquired the essence of the Ultra-High Vacuum Configuration, said to be the final stage of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
But he ultimately fell to Blood God Mu-wol’s Blood Demon Dominion Curtain.
Having been so defeated, the Heavenly Demon Cult had once again deeply realized.
The meaning of the saying that whoever possesses the Divine Martial Sword gains the world…
That had become the starting point for the plan to create the Demon God Sword.
In any case, a new question had arisen for Gun Mu-ak.
Was what Cheol Ryu-heun mentioned really the Blood Demon Dominion Curtain?
But the question remained just a question.
It didn’t develop into thick suspicion.
Because Cheol Ryu-heun’s unprecedented talent had already been verified.
In the past, the five who had achieved spiritual communication with the Divine Martial Sword, being the uniquely supreme tier in martial history, each created unprecedented techniques in their respective eras.
Cheol Ryu-heun proficiently wielded the Immortal Wandering Sword Energy of Martial Immortal Dongbang Ya and the Sword Steel of Sword Emperor Buk Ga-shin among them, didn’t he?
Those two were speculated to be techniques created through the Divine Martial Sword’s divine power, but no precise records remained.
Yet Cheol Ryu-heun used the Immortal Wandering Sword Energy and Sword Steel without the Divine Martial Sword.
If so, wouldn’t mastery of Blood God Mu-wol’s ultimate secret technique, the Blood Demon Dominion Curtain, also be possible?
Probably the key was his unprecedented body.
Gun Mu-ak suddenly thought.
That he might in the future reach an unprecedented realm combining the peak eras of Heavenly Demon, Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, Martial Immortal, and Blood God all together…
He had seen signs of that.
Since he possessed the energies of Heavenly Demon, Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, Martial Immortal, and Blood God in one body.
‘If so, I too should set my future goals higher.’
Subsequently, he recalled in his mind what he had seen earlier.
The illusory shape floating above the trees that were arranged large and round as if forming a circular formation in the Mystic Region… the Divine Martial Sword.
That was swirling in his chest as yet another question.
He recalled Cheol Ryu-heun’s words.
-That is a fragment of Martial Immortal’s soul energy. In other words, it is spiritual energy that was arranged so that it cannot be taken except by a true successor, and it’s influencing others. That’s why everyone sees it differently. If you’re tempted by what you see and think it’s energy related to your own martial arts and touch it, you’ll suffer great calamity. Depending on the degree, you might die instantly.
‘Others encountered various illusions related to their martial arts, but… only I was different.’
His martial prowess was outstanding.
Among the people gathered here, excluding Cheol Ryu-heun, there was no one who could be called a match.
Although some martial artists including Mun Bin, Namgung Sang-rin, and Hae Su-yeon were also at an excellent level, they were below him.
That was by no means arrogance.
It was an undeniable fact proven through a series of martial demonstrations.
Crystal clear.
Was that why?
The reason why the Divine Martial Sword, with which he had no connection, was visible…
In other words, like a kind of prophetic phenomenon that only those with exceptional talent encounter through the mysterious energy emitted by Martial Immortal’s soul energy fragment.
‘If the Divine Martial Sword exists within Cheol Ryu-heun’s body…’
But then he inwardly snickered.
What nonsense.
It was wild speculation.
Gun Mu-ak quietly discarded the idle thoughts.
‘If I wait and see, I’ll come to know something.’
Cheol Ryu-heun had perceived those intentions early on.
‘That fellow, he probably saw the Divine Martial Sword. It seems he has doubts about it. Well, if I hadn’t been destroyed, he would have…’
Therefore, if that Gun Mu-ak had possessed the Divine Martial Sword… he would have even achieved spiritual communication at the ultimate realm.
It was only natural.
Because Gun Mu-ak had completed the Demon Extreme Sacred Body, the essence of demonic studies that the past Heavenly Demon had left incomplete.
That referred to a terrifying body that manifested abilities similar to Orthodox Jianghu’s Nature Assimilation Realm.
A so-called study of consuming corrupted soul energy to improve martial power.
One that was impossible to master unless one was an absolute demonic person…
Of course, it was likely a study he completed while creating the Demon God Sword.
Also, the black dragon’s blood must have played a decisive role in that.
‘Truly an interesting era.’
It really was a truly unprecedented and interesting era.
For the Demon Extreme Sacred Body, True Ink Heaven Meridians, Nine Grade Martial Bones, Heavenly Demon Incarnation Body, Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians, Blood Star Physique and such to appear simultaneously in the same era…
Through that, he once again deeply realized.
The fact that since such possessors of transcendent talent had poured out all at once like this, a blood-colored chaos unlike any before would arrive.
Cheol Ryu-heun soon looked around at the crowd and emitted his unconcerned voice.
“It’s getting late. Let’s wrap up one last thing and end this gathering.”
Subsequently, his gaze rested on Shin So-sul’s face.
“When exactly did you escape?”
“Yes, it was around morning two weeks ago. But infiltrating the central area of the cult was difficult. I tried, but because of the restriction, Severed Meridian Disease would suddenly occur just by approaching that vicinity and it was agonizing. Of course, I also couldn’t confirm what the Ink Blood Heart looks like… So I decided to hide and operate covertly. Then by chance, I encountered the Chrysanthemum Martial Hall party.”
He promptly gave a brief explanation of the process of cooperating with Chrysanthemum Fragrance Sword Mother and others to rescue a series of personnel, then added more.
“Heuk Ma-yung’s power was tremendous. And the power of his subordinate Three Spirits as well…”
Then he glanced at Gun Mu-ak to the side.
“I formally apologize. I… thought the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan was the Heavenly Demon Cult’s secret advance party. Sent to prepare a bridgehead for invading this land… I now withdraw my suspicions.”
Gun Mu-ak substituted his answer with a silent nod of his head.
Meaning he didn’t mind.
Cheol Ryu-heun’s voice struck Gun Mu-ak’s ears.
“One mystery has been solved. The reason the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan forces settled here early yet their series of actions went undetected was precisely thanks to the Ink Blood Heart.”
“Right. Because of that, our cult also took considerable time to determine Heuk Ma-yung’s location. If they had craved blood and steadily increased slaves, we would have determined it faster…”
“What I’m certain of is that each has different purposes.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean the purposes of that Darkness-Craving Blood Clan and Heretic Cult, and the purpose of the behind-the-scenes group. They each have different ulterior motives.”
“But isn’t it too early to be so certain?”
“Most likely, no, I’m certain.”
“…”
“What, don’t you believe me?”
“You have some reason?”
“Absolutely.”
As he said, Cheol Ryu-heun had reason to be so certain.
He had separately called Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae to confirm the truth.
The person and object the two had been tracking had no connection to the Heretic Cult’s research.
That had become even clearer after hearing the story about the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
Ju Yu-gang hadn’t said anything before, but Namgung Heon-rin had told him part of it.
-Our mission was to secure the Imperial Iridescent Stone, an artifact from ancient imperial tombs.
-Is it alright to tell me that?
-This much is fine. Of course, in principle it’s not allowed, but… Sect Master Cheol is our benefactor, so it’s only right that I speak honestly. Haha. Though I cannot reveal everything…
-Understood. Then let me ask directly. Does that Imperial Iridescent Stone also have a connection to the sword Ju Yu-gang possesses?
-Ah! H-how did you know?
-Well, you can tell by looking. It seemed like an artifact with dangerous power.
-Yes… That’s right. Related to an ancient strange tale…
-Is it something difficult to talk about?
-…
-Don’t worry. I won’t ask further. I just need to confirm one thing. Does that ancient strange tale have some kind of connection with the Heretic Cult’s research?
-No. At first, we suspected the person we were pursuing might be a minion of the Heretic Cult, but… circumstantially something seems off.
-Really? Then we have our answer.
-Pardon?
-The mysterious group, Darkness-Craving Blood Clan, and Heretic Cult are merely in a cooperative relationship with different purposes from each other. Like a temporary alliance out of necessity.
Cheol Ryu-heun again spoke unconcernedly.
“Don’t ask anymore.”
At that, Gun Mu-ak also responded unconcernedly.
“I won’t. In any case, I just need to kill those defectors.”
“How do you evaluate Heuk Ma-yung’s martial power?”
“He’s powerful. The same goes for the Three Spirits, his trusted subordinates.”
“How do the Three Spirits compare in power to the two attendants?”
“In the past they were evenly matched, but…”
“Now they would be stronger?”
“That’s what I think. Probably they rapidly improved through the Heretic Cult’s strange and unpredictable sorcery.”
“Had Heuk Ma-yung achieved great completion of the Conjoined Blood Iron Plate Body before he betrayed the Heavenly Demon Cult?”
“Yes.”
Gun Mu-ak, having answered with a nod, spoke again.
“He too must have advanced further. No, the martial power of the entire Darkness-Craving Blood Clan must have improved.”
“Well, probably so. But our reinforcements are no pushover either.”
Cheol Ryu-heun quietly shifted his gaze somewhere along with those words.
Then, from the distant direction, countless presences began touching the energy senses of the White Peak Sword Sect guests.
Cheol Ryu-heun quietly looked toward that direction and spoke low.
“They’ve come just in time.”
At that sound, the crowd suddenly realized the true nature of the countless presences.
‘Ah!’
‘Finally…’
KUNG, KUNG, KUNG, KUNG, KUNG…
Clamorous sounds rapidly approaching from across the distance.
Before long, a group of people and beasts mixed together revealed itself.
The poison masters of Southern Embrace Poison Palace, and the swordsmen of Chrysanthemum Martial Hall.
Along with their appearance, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon and others inwardly marveled.
‘Wow! They’re incredible!’
‘My! What a tremendous Aura!’
It was because of the mighty intangible Aura/Aura/bearing of Hegemon of Poison Paramount Meng Wang, lord of the southern forest beyond the borders and master of Southern Embrace Poison Palace, at the group’s forefront.
That wasn’t all.
The same went for the high masters including youngest daughter Meng Min.
Each and every one of them was emitting outstanding intangible Aura/Aura/bearing.
On top of that, the majesty of the Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant, Chunk Iron Hippos, Red Earth Poison Eagles and such was too terrifying as well.
“Sect Master Cheol! We finally meet!”
Meng Wang, who had let out a resounding voice, showed proper courtesy.
Thus, greetings were exchanged between both sides.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“I have long heard of your lofty martial fame.”
“Indeed, Southern Embrace Poison Palace’s reputation is well-deserved.”
“Thank you for the reinforcements. It truly feels like gaining a great army.”
Thus Mun Bin, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, Cui Lan and others offered greetings.
Of course, Gun Mu-ak had his usual dry reaction.
In the midst of that, Cheol Ryu-heun muttered inwardly.
‘If only an owner of the Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body were to join, it would be the icing on the cake.’
Probably such a person was somewhere in this land.
Of course, since True Ink Heaven Meridians, Nine Grade Martial Bones, Heavenly Demon Incarnation Body, Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians and such had already appeared, after all.
No, perhaps they might even already be here without anyone knowing.
If he was indeed destined to pacify this chaotic era, then inevitably…
* * *
Rustle.
Zhuge Bi, who had been lying in the temporary tent, whispered while pulling aside the blanket.
“Did you hear?”
Son Ja-ryong of the Zhejiang Son Family, who had also pulled aside the blanket and risen, had his two eyes gleam sharply.
“Yes… The enemy has come.”