Chapter 383: Confrontation Within Confrontation
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Killing light silently swirled over the grayish-white two eyes.
Flames of passion arose in Tae-pa’s chest.
HWAREOK, HWARUREUK.
An invisible fire, his unique competitive spirit was burning hot.
His whole body had tendons protruding as if to prove that feeling.
Bulging.
It looked like he would burst out at any moment.
Tae-pa suddenly thought of the words he heard earlier.
– If Southern Embrace Poison Palace’s purpose is not the Divine Martial Sword… it’s surely to serve as Cheol Ryu-heun’s support force. So it would be right to exercise restraint in engagement until their intentions are confirmed. If you discover him, just observe the situation. Suppress that competitive nature of yours for a while…
It was the admonition of Blood-Robbing Deep Ghost Gin-gyun, the eldest among the Three Spirits of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
Recalling that, Tae-pa smirked.
‘Timid old man.’
It was mockery toward Gin-gyun’s overcautiousness.
That admonition was probably because past events weighed on his mind.
Decades ago, Gin-gyun had headed to the Southern Forests for poison immunity research.
There, he had experienced the external martial technique ultimate art, Elephant Skin Great Iron Bone, of the current Southern Embrace Poison Palace Lord Meng Wang.
At that time, he truly marveled at the powerful might comparable to the Bat Demon Great King Heuk Ma-yung’s Conjoined Blood Iron Plate Body.
That story was only heard today for the first time.
‘That’s why he’s particularly wary. But…’
As could be seen, Meng Wang was alone.
There was no other Aura around.
Then wasn’t this the optimal condition for a one-on-one fight?
‘Yet I’m known as the Blood Clan’s vanguard.’
His competitive spirit heightened.
Yes, how could he just let this good opportunity slip by?
However, he couldn’t completely ignore the admonition he heard earlier either.
A brief moment of contemplation.
‘I’ll fight!’
Soon Tae-pa made up his mind.
He wanted to kill Meng Wang and earn merit.
No.
Honestly, his desire to compare whose strength was greater was actually bigger than that.
Also.
He was certain of his victory.
It was absolute confidence.
Because his body had become even more powerful through Snake-Robed Hwa-rang and Snake-Robed Hwa-nong’s sorcery arts upon coming here.
‘We just need to guard against Cheol Ryu-heun and Gun Mu-ak!’
Just as he was about to flash his eyes fiercely and dash forward.
Pause.
He turned his head at the Aura of someone approaching from the rear.
Immediately after.
SAT, SASAT…
One who showed swift but quiet movement soon approached and stood beside him.
It was the appearance of Dense Blood Ghost Shadow Tae-ryak, a high-ranking expert of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan and Tae-pa’s relative.
He briefly observed the standoff in the distance and sent a Secret Sound Transmission.
Tae-pa’s gaze turned to the distant front again.
Then he continued the Secret Sound Transmission.
Tae-pa nodded his head and recalled Heuk Ma-yung’s words.
– Using the forces that came here in reverse will be considerable help. The Detached Three Army Corps and Eastern Heaven Division are also merely sacrifices for the grand plan’s realization. No matter how their fights go, we just need to separate the wheat from the chaff. Huhut.
‘So he ordered personnel rotation under that pretext to disperse the forces. Hu.’
Having laughed inwardly, Tae-pa swiftly turned around and said.
Thus, the two quietly moved and disappeared into the rear forest.
Meanwhile.
The Eastern Heaven Division Eighth Great General threw off his bamboo hat and took a belligerent sword-drawing stance.
“Looking at your appearance… you must be the Southern Embrace Poison Palace Lord.”
Meng Wang, having smiled broadly in response, looked back.
“Be at ease. I came to help.”
At that, Xiahou Family Lord Cloud Valley Sword Elder Xiahou Jeol’s pupils widened.
“What do you mean…?”
The reaction of his dozen or so subordinate martial artists was the same.
It was an incomprehensible situation.
It was surprising that the giant was the Southern Embrace Poison Palace Lord, but to hear he came here to save them…
Was this unconditional goodwill? What on earth was the reason…?
Meng Wang, turning his eyes back to the front, spoke.
“It’s the arrangement of the current White Peak Sword Sect Master.”
“Ah…!”
At the moment Xiahou Jeol’s party gave short exclamations.
PEOLLEOKPEOLLEOK, PEOLLEOKPEOLLEOK…
Numerous robes fluttering clamorous sounds beat against their eardrums.
Blood-robed figures rapidly appearing behind the Eighth Captain.
About twenty Eastern Heaven Division forces.
One colonel, two squad leaders, and the rest were subordinate soldiers.
That wasn’t the end.
Swordsmen clad in brown martial uniforms also appeared.
About twenty elite from the Detached Three Army Corps.
Xiahou Jeol felt his chest tension intensify again.
‘This is… difficult!’
He knew well the skill of Hegemon of Poison Paramount Meng Wang, but wasn’t this a situation where they were overwhelmed by the enemy’s numbers?
Moreover, the intangible Aura/Aura/bearing one person among the brown-uniformed swordsmen radiated was threatening.
An old man with disheveled hair and holding a long sword.
He resembled a snake.
Not just his features but even the energy surrounding his body…
It felt like a large snake was sharply glaring while targeting prey.
It was hard to estimate his age from appearance alone.
At that time, the disheveled old Swordsman coldly asked.
“Do you remember Breaking Snake Forest?”
At that, the complexions of the Xiahou Family martial artists hardened.
Breaking Snake Forest, a great Unorthodox Jianghu power that existed fifty years ago.
However, it was destroyed and vanished by Dragon Martial Gate Master Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon, the Divine Martial Sword possessor of that time.
‘Could it be!’
At the moment Xiahou Jeol inwardly exclaimed briefly.
“Snake Eye Sword Demon.”
When the old Swordsman mentioned the sobriquet, Xiahou Jeol and others were shocked.
Snake Eye Sword Demon meant Mo Dok-jae, the owner of Breaking Snake Forest fifty years ago.
The old Swordsman confirmed it again.
“It is this old man’s sobriquet.”
Everyone had faces as if struck dumb.
They hadn’t known he was still alive and well.
Mo Dok-jae was famous in the past for wicked martial arts close to Demonic arts.
And he always committed wicked deeds like a fallen demon.
That’s how he got the sobriquet Snake Eye Sword Demon.
Dragon Martial Gate Master Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon couldn’t leave him alone, and picked a day to clash head-on with Breaking Snake Forest.
It was a large-scale battle recorded in martial history texts as Heaven Dragon Ground Snake Phase Fight.
That battle ended with the complete destruction of Breaking Snake Forest.
Also.
Snake Eye Sword Demon Mo Dok-jae narrowly escaped death and went into hiding.
Since he didn’t show himself afterward, everyone thought he had died somewhere in hiding.
Xiahou Jeol had an expression of disbelief.
‘How…!’
Mo Dok-jae was an incredible warrior even at that time.
If Breaking Snake Forest hadn’t been destroyed then, he would have been placed in the upper tier of the Jianghu Thirteen Seats.
He didn’t know the inside story.
That Mo Dok-jae was currently one of the Division Commanders within the Detached Three Army Corps…
Yet.
Meng Wang’s expression was still relaxed.
Rather, he was spewing Fighting spirit as if wanting to start the fight already.
Was it overconfidence in his personal martial prowess?
“Snake Eye Sword Demon? Never heard of it.”
When Meng Wang spoke dismissively, Mo Dok-jae countered with mockery.
“Hut, it means to know this body’s sobriquet before you leave. To the netherworld. Here, killing only you will end things.”
At that moment, Meng Wang said while operating Internal energy.
“Stupid, did you forget who’s on our side?”
No sooner had those words ended.
Ripple.
A transparent ripple was generated behind Meng Wang.
Following that, a figure walked out from it step by step.
It was former Heretic Cult Master Against-Heaven Priest Wind Shin So-sul.
A peculiar light gathered in Mo Dok-jae’s two eyes.
‘Right, he wasn’t alone! Then…’
When Shin So-sul, who had gone to Meng Wang’s side, waved both hands.
SASASASASA, SASASASASA…
The surrounding scenery rapidly changed.
A transparent barrier shimmered and revealed the forces in the rear.
KUNG, KUNG, KUNG, KUNG… !
A giant shadow approaching while emitting heavy tremors.
The Stone Cliff Supreme Elephant of the Southern Forests, said to be the strongest among the world’s mightiest beasts, the elephant.
And that wasn’t all.
Ten Monstrous Iron Hippos and all kinds of venomous creatures surged forward and took positions near Meng Wang.
Moreover, about fifty Southern Embrace Poison Palace elite experts had also joined.
At the numerical advantage instantly reversed, Xiahou Jeol’s party trembled.
‘Wow…!’
This time, it was the enemy who sensed the threat and looked tense.
Mo Dok-jae, having flashed his snake-like eyes, gritted his teeth and muttered.
“That fellow’s sorcery art disrupted energy sense.”
He meant precisely Shin So-sul.
At that time, Meng Wang’s gaze rested on the side.
“It was successful. Good work.”
Shin So-sul answered with a very exhausted expression.
“Mm, I can no longer help you. My physical condition has worsened… I ask you.”
“It’s fine. Leave it to us and fall back.”
Meng Wang, saying so, fixed his gaze forward and spoke.
“We used the trap in reverse.”
At that, the Eighth Captain shot fireworks into the sky.
It was a signal summoning remaining personnel.
In an instant.
KUKUKU, KUKUKUKU…
The atmosphere and ground vibrated.
It was the effect of Meng Wang explosively radiating powerful Formless Energy.
A power that felt as if it would shake heaven and earth before shattering them completely.
Befitting the owner of the grand sobriquet Hegemon of Poison Paramount, it was a truly overwhelming and hegemonic momentum.
In the midst of that, Meng Wang spoke again.
“Keukut. How does it feel to have become prey while targeting prey? Snake old man.”
“Did you think we’d retreat easily? We are quite different from the snakes you’ve fought until now.”
Simultaneously, both camps charged fiercely.
PAPAPAPA, PAPAPAPA…
* * *
About thirty Eastern Heaven Division blood-robed figures gathered in the forest.
They were personnel including Middle General-level and Young General-level cadres.
The one among them who was the leader let out a low voice.
“The traces of the martial artists were erased around here.”
It was the Eastern Heaven Division Fourth Great General
Right at that moment.
About twenty swordsmen in brown martial uniforms moved like ghosts from a nearby spot, revealing themselves.
An elite unit of the Detached Three Army Corps.
The commander at the front of the group was one possessing a fearsome great sword.
It was a blade so huge it rivaled an adult’s height.
His intangible Aura/Aura/bearing was also weighty like that sword.
And in his two eyes, murderous madness was squirming wildly.
The physique and dignity of a ferocious and brutal ruler.
The commander’s identity was Great Sword Tyrant Lord Danmok Cheon, a Great General of the Detached Three Army Corps and formerly a warrior in the upper tier of the Jianghu Thirteen Seats.
“Did we lose them?”
At Danmok Cheon’s question, a Middle General bowed his head.
“Yes, they definitely fled this way, but…”
At that moment, someone’s Secret Sound Transmission was heard.
– You came at the right time.
The gazes of everyone, including Danmok Cheon, turned forward.
Everyone had sensed the rapidly approaching presences.
Before long, two people appeared before them.
About one zhang of distance.
Peak warriors representing the Northern Unorthodox Jianghu, Sword Wheel Crown Prince Gwi Je-shin and Solar Great Lord Beop-yeol.
Following that, Little-Face Bell Demoness Eun Yi-bi and Delusional Seductive Demoness Ya Baek-ji of the Heavenly Demon Cult also took positions nearby.
And… a beautiful youth exuding an indescribably terrifying and overwhelming Aura quietly stepped forward to the front.
It was Grand Prelate of the Heavenly Demon Cult, Extreme Heaven Demon Emperor Gun Mu-ak, definitively the current strongest of the Outer Region demonic Jianghu.
He, clasping his hands behind his back, regarded Danmok Cheon and spoke in an emotionless voice.
“Are you the dog who tucked tail and ran from Cheol Ryu-heun’s martial prowess?”