Chapter 363: Heating Up

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The expressions of the two young men who had mentioned the enemy’s appearance were for some reason unwavering.

The attitude of an unmoving heart.

The gazes of those two, Zhuge Bi and Son Ja-ryong, soon turned to the side.

Simultaneously.

FLUTTER-

One young man threw aside the tent flap and strode inside.

His apparent age from his appearance was similar to Zhuge Bi and Son Ja-ryong.

The identity of the young Swordsman was one of the core experts within the Zhejiang Son Family and a promising talent.

Twenty-four years old this year, his name was Son Jung-chaek.

He was the cousin of Family Lord Son Ja-ryong, commanding the ‘Hegemon Heaven Sword Assembly,’ the family lord’s personal guard martial group.

Son Jung-chaek clasped both hands before his chest and reported.

“Family Lord, the enemy has just invaded.”

At that, Son Ja-ryong immediately waved his left hand.

“I already sensed it.”

“Ah, as expected.”

“What’s the damage?”

“There is none yet. But there are quite a number of them. By rough count, it seems to be about fifty or sixty.”

“Quite many. Where did they come from?”

When Son Ja-ryong asked about the enemy’s identity, Son Jung-chaek wore a troubled expression.

“Ah, um, that’s…”

At that moment, Zhuge Bi struck at the heart of the matter.

“Unexpected enemies, I see.”

“Yes… It is as Young Master Zhuge says. Their affiliated martial organization is unclear, but they all appear to be of Jianghu origin. Additionally, they all share identical visible characteristics.”

At those words, Son Ja-ryong asked with puzzled eyes.

“Identical visible characteristics? What does that mean?”

“I think it would be better if you saw with your own two eyes. Should we go outside? Or you could see after we’ve dealt with them…”

Son Ja-ryong shook his head and picked up the Dragon Throne Sword.

“No. Let’s go. I cannot push all that burden onto my subordinates.”

Then he looked at Zhuge Bi to the side and grinned.

‘Hoot. Foolish bastards, they’ve entered the grave on their own accord. Into the swamp-like trap Bi has prepared…’

Thus the three left the tent and went outside.

The camping formation spread across the spacious grounds that was once an ancient castle site.

The tents the Zhejiang Son Family had set up were orderly.

But it was different from an ordinary camping formation.

Rather than a rectangular shape with a fence erected, it was arranged in an overall circular form.

And the gaps between tents were considerably wide.

As if a main road had been paved.

That wasn’t a form arranged merely for camping overnight.

Everything had been laid out after being meticulously calculated.

To put it more simply, it could be called a formation disguised as a campsite.

That’s right.

The wisdom of ascension formation methods was embedded in the circular tent arrangement.

It was precisely the handiwork of Zhuge Bi, the descendant of the Zhuge Family and a genius of formations.

He had deliberately instructed them not to erect a fence from the start.

So that anyone could freely come and go.

In other words, it was an intentional trap.

So that if anyone trespassed without permission, the formation would activate and spare the night watch personnel their trouble.

Son Ja-ryong, who had quickly surveyed the surroundings, slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

“They’re all caught in your trap and don’t know what to do.”

The unidentified enemies were scurrying this way and that along the paths between tents, clearly in a state of confusion.

Each letting out strange cries while doing so.

“Kreurr…”

“Kreuk, kreureuk.”

“Kreureuk.”

Without exception, they all passed right by the Zhejiang Son Family martial artists and tents.

Constantly looking around as if searching for people.

They appeared to be wandering through some maze created by illusions.

Indeed, the enemies were currently unable to see the camping formation.

Initially, they had discovered the campsite.

But the moment they actually set foot inside, it vanished from their eyes.

Was that all?

Sound and smell had completely vanished as well.

It was because the excellent mystical application of this formation had confused their five senses.

Zhuge Bi, having patted Son Ja-ryong’s shoulder, wore a hint of a smile.

“How about it, am I trustworthy?”

“Absolutely, I say.”

“It’s a formation I created by applying part of the essence of my family’s secret transmission, the Thirty-Six Thousand Recovery Six Harmonies Heavenly Gate Grand Formation, compacting it into a small scale. Looking at the exterior, it seems like a simple arrangement, but the reality is ingenious and complex beyond measure.”

“Hoot. Yes, you may boast to your heart’s content. But…”

Son Ja-ryong, having trailed off like that, narrowed his two eyes.

“…Those bastards, their fangs and fingernails are unusually long and extended.”

At that, Hegemon Heaven Sword Assembly Master Son Jung-chaek, standing beside, seized the moment to respond.

“The visible characteristic I mentioned earlier is precisely that. As you can see, they’re all the same.”

Son Ja-ryong, having placed his hand on his sword hilt, quietly nodded his head.

“Yes, their momentum is also quite violent like their appearance. It almost feels like facing beasts, somehow?”

“Looking at them, they don’t seem to be the Heretic Cult we’ve been wary of.”

At Zhuge Bi’s words, Son Ja-ryong immediately agreed.

“Probably if it were the Heretic Cult, they would have seen through that this camping formation was arranged based on formation studies.”

“Hmm, that would be the case for the higher-ranked sorcerers within the Heretic Cult. For ordinary followers, distinguishing the Death Gates and Life Gates isn’t easy.”

Pride was visible in Zhuge Bi’s expression.

Then, Son Ja-ryong muttered meaningfully.

“Could they be… the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan?”

At that, the complexions of Zhuge Bi and Son Jung-chaek hardened.

“Hmph…!”

“Surely… not.”

In the midst of that, the enemies who had been wandering in confusion were being tormented by illusions.

A fierce wind like a whirlpool and dust that dazzled the eyes, and a path that kept twisting and winding, and ground that kept shaking.

Because of that, the enemies’ behavior changed.

Each stopped in their tracks and wildly flailed both hands.

As if trying to break through the illusory storm with strength.

Considerable power was felt from their hand movements.

Son Jung-chaek immediately became vigilant.

“Shall we strike?”

“No. Wait. We must make them tire out more.”

No sooner had Son Ja-ryong’s words ended than Zhuge Bi picked up a stick from one side.

“Don’t worry. The formation’s mystical application is only the beginning. From now on, if I invert the positions of the sixty-four hexagram lines and scatter the Seven Star Seats in reverse…”

Zhuge Bi plunged the stick into the ground.

KWAKWAK!

It wasn’t just once.

KWAK, KWAK, KWAK, KWAK!

He repeatedly moved to different stepping positions in succession, pulling out the stick then plunging it back into the ground.

Each time, transparent currents based on internal energy arts spread widely like circular ripples.

“…Now the Jade Scale, Celestial Pivot, Golden Orb, Dark Star, Open Sun, Merak, and Flickering Light will transform into an Extraordinary Gate Grand Formation through their reversal.”

Zhuge Bi thus spoke and threw the stick into the air.

HWIIIK- JJAJJAJJAK!

The stick instantly shattered and scattered in all directions.

Following that.

-Ureung, ureureung-!

A magnificent sound like thunder echoed.

Simultaneously, the enemies’ expressions contorted.

It was precisely because of the intangible pressure the formation had bestowed.

Of course, it wasn’t real but an illusion.

In other words, the mystical application of confusing the senses had been maximized.

“I changed the scale. Into a grand formation where the power of the Nine Palaces has been layered.”

At Zhuge Bi’s brief explanation, Son Ja-ryong beside him drew a slight smile.

“I told you, didn’t I? You’re a rare genius in this world. Just from this alone.”

“It’s not easy for me either. I just poured forty percent of my cultivation here.”

“Forty percent? That seems too excessive.”

“Perfection must be sought. So that there are no enemies escaping outside. If those vermin really are the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan… they must all be destroyed.”

“Right. Allowing the Divine Martial Sword to fall into the hands of a corrupted group is absolutely unacceptable.”

Son Ja-ryong, having fiercely flashed his two eyes, soon raised the Dragon Throne Sword and burst out a shout.

“Strike those bastards!”

At that, the personnel standing before tents here and there answered in unison resoundingly and drew their swords.

“Your command!”

* * *

At the clamorous appearance of Meng Wang, Meng Min and the reinforcements, the party inside the house poured out into the yard.

Thus, conversation that doubled as greetings went back and forth between the two sides once again.

In the midst of that, Cheol Ryu-heun sent an eye signal.

The targets were the sect’s guests including Namgung Sang-rin.

They soon quietly moved to one side and gathered together.

Cheol Ryu-heun soon rummaged through his bosom and handed out talismans one by one as he spoke.

“Here, everyone takes one each. You’ll need this tomorrow.”

Cui Lan, who received it, tilted her head.

“What kind of task is it?”

“It means your help is needed for the achievement process. Using the power the talismans possess.”

At that, Hae Su-yeon asked with a serious expression.

“Is the process perhaps dangerous…?”

“It is dangerous. You all should know well. Nothing is obtained for free.”

“Ah… Yes. That’s right.”

“But don’t worry too much. This is merely a method to shorten the time for achievement.”

At Cheol Ryu-heun’s unconcerned words, all of them seemed relieved.

“If you look at the back of the talisman, there’s a mental technique I devised written on it. It’s not long, so memorize it. And tomorrow when dawn breaks, assemble at the place where we saw Martial Immortal’s soul energy fragment earlier. When your help is needed, you’ll realize it when you see the changes in my body.”

At that, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, Cui Lan, Seol Pan-gyo, and Mae Yak-bang were inwardly pleased.

Here, besides the sect’s guests, there were many other strong ones who could help.

Setting aside Gun Mu-ak from Heavenly Demon Cult, there were Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin, Hegemon of Poison Paramount Meng Wang, Sword Wheel Crown Prince Gwi Je-shin, Sun Pattern Great Lord Beop-yeol, New Province Sword Saint Dokgo In-wang and so on…

But Cheol Ryu-heun was choosing and asking the guests.

That was precisely proof that he trusted them most among anyone gathered here.

Namgung Sang-rin, having nodded, put away the talisman as he spoke.

“Tomorrow… is it alright if we don’t separately stand guard just in case?”

“Why bother? It’s fine. The Heavenly Demon Cult side won’t change their minds until they achieve their purpose either. Well, what else could particularly happen tomorrow?”

“Yes, understood.”

“Everyone, get to sleep now. Tomorrow will effectively be the last day of rest.”

Cheol Ryu-heun, having spoken thus, soon strode toward the dilapidated house.

* * *

Around the time when the sky cleared away the hazy light of dawn and brightened.

Cheol Ryu-heun, who had been lying flat, opened his two eyes.

Soon his body rose up and his two eyes moved toward the door.

‘…’

What was this?

An unpleasantly quiet stillness that didn’t suit the morning had settled beyond the door.

But… it somehow wasn’t unfamiliar.

Cheol Ryu-heun quietly moved his steps, leaving behind the companions who had not yet awakened from sleep.

KIIIIK-

The door with traces of long years made a creaking sound as it opened.

CHUK.

Cheol Ryu-heun closed the door and stepped into the yard, immediately gripping the Gan Jiang Sword’s hilt tightly.

A space where nature’s vitality had vanished.

The atmosphere was as if this world had stopped.

In front of this yard, where dim sunlight was beginning to peek out, stood an existence that had brought heavy stillness.

That was why he had suddenly gripped the sword hilt.

BULGGEUN.

Tendons bulging all over his body.

The calm that had been as solid as an iron wall until now collapsed.

Because of the being before his eyes.

“You bastard…”

Cheol Ryu-heun stepped forward a few paces while emitting a low voice.

His gaze was blazing like hot flames.

His body also heated up instantly.

It was an uncharacteristically intense reaction for him.

Why?

The uninvited guest who had broken through the secret zone of the Shiwan Mountains, the Ten Directions Ghost Road Lost Soul Formation, was none other than the unidentified wanderer who had destroyed the Divine Martial Sword.

THUMP THUMP… THUMP THUMP…

The one and only being who made Cheol Ryu-heun burn with competitive spirit and Fighting spirit had appeared without warning.

The wanderer, who had deeply pressed down his bamboo hat, revealed only his lower jaw as he spoke.

“I stopped by to confirm something separately.”

With his voice and mere exhalation, immense qi burst out and blanketed the heavens and earth in all directions.

That was of a different caliber from crude Fighting spirit or killing intent.

Powerful and fierce amidst the calm.

The majesty of one without equal.

That voice which Cheol Ryu-heun could never forget knocked at his ears once more.

“Interesting. Were you reborn as a person?”