Chapter 390: Darkness and Light
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Hu-ra, positioned within the darkness, twisted her lips.
“Hmph! You’re one who boasts even facing death.”
Of course, she acknowledged Cheol Ryu-heun’s formidable martial prowess.
He seemed to be at a level approaching Gun Mu-ak.
However, a dark night had descended upon this place.
As a result, her overall functions had risen sharply.
That was precisely the terrifying thing about the supreme special abilities possessed by the top tier of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
Physical enhancement, Internal energy amplification, sixth sense improvement, injury recovery, movement acceleration, and so on…
Thus, all the elements related to martial prowess level rose simultaneously to an incomprehensible level.
And the Three Spirits each possessed separate specialized abilities.
In Hu-ra’s case, that was the creation of doppelgangers that seemed real.
In other words, it wasn’t simply deriving illusions that deceived the eyes.
Not only were the number of doppelgangers numerous, but each one emitted a thick Aura.
Also.
They even released internal energy techniques like the main body.
It was so-called a study of splitting the soul.
In other words, all the doppelgangers she created were pieces of spiritual psyche generated through a unique Internal energy.
A power no different from bewitching special ability in a literal sense.
The essential condition for operating that was night.
Hu-ra was confident.
At least there would be no case of being miserably defeated here.
SASASASASA…
Hu-ra began to move quietly.
A pace neither slow nor fast.
As if circling around Cheol Ryu-heun at the center.
Hu-ra saw this space as a bright light green.
It was the vision unique to the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan, specialized for nighttime.
“You prattled that you can see everything, right? Well, can you see brighter than me? Huhut.”
She who mocked as she giggled.
At that moment.
The Gan Jiang Sword that Cheol Ryu-heun held gleamed.
Following that, white energy poured out from the blade.
At last, that spot became bright.
However.
Before the darkness that utterly covered all directions, it was too small a light.
Hu-ra, who saw that, quietly mocked.
“Uhuhut, what’s this? The method you’ve thought up is relying on that sword energy’s light? For someone who was boasting, it’s quite crude.”
No sooner had the words ended.
SEUSYUT, SEUSYUT…
Doppelgangers were created one by one with her advancing steps.
Identical Hu-ras derived following her path.
Each had a completely identical appearance from head to toe.
Moreover, presences even felt like real…
It was the deployment of lofty Doppelganger Combined Attack Art.
Was it aligned with the ultimate art Phantom Body Illusion Art that Cui Lan had recently mastered, of Slaughter Goddess Pung Woo-hui?
No, while the operational form was similar, they were of a different quality and track.
Hu-ra, having thus made one large circuit, quietly stopped in one place.
A total of thirty-six doppelgangers.
Each one was radiating the power of internal energy techniques.
Soon, Hu-ra spoke quietly while smoothing her hair.
“This is your first time seeing something like this, right?”
It was clearly a mocking tone.
But Cheol Ryu-heun’s expression was unchanged.
The voice spat out was also…
“I’ve seen it until I’m sick of it.”
It was the extreme of indifference.
At that, Hu-ra’s fuming mood became even more twisted.
“You’re a ridiculous fellow.”
But Cheol Ryu-heun’s words were true.
He had seen it until he was sick of it.
A thousand years ago, through the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan leadership under the Heavenly Demon when he reigned over the Jianghu.
That’s right.
The one who completed the essence and mystical application of the Doppelganger Combined Attack Art was the first Cult Master, the Heavenly Demon.
Also, Cheol Ryu-heun himself had watched the entire process as the Divine Martial Sword in the past.
The owner of that time was none other than the Heavenly Demon.
Hu-ra’s wave attack began.
PAPAPAPA, PAPAPAPA…
Doppelgangers charging in an encirclement formation.
The fierce momentum seemed as if they would sacrifice themselves like mutual destruction.
The main body Hu-ra, at a three Zhang distance in Cheol Ryu-heun’s front direction, was in a waiting stance, watching.
Not to be outdone, Cheol Ryu-heun spun his sword in place.
Along with that, his body also rotated round and round quickly.
CHWACHWACHWACHWACHA… CHWACHWACHWACHWACHA… !
Sword shadows like light beams were released like a giant sphere, enveloping Cheol Ryu-heun’s body.
A lofty technique of performing omnidirectional offense and defense in place – a sword curtain was being executed.
This was different from the commonly known sword curtain.
The mystical application of convergence to keep one from leaving a certain range, and opposite to that, the mystical application of release to strike those approaching by spreading out – were happening all at once.
It was skill that destroyed the common sense of internal energy techniques on top of the mixture of sword energy and sword wind.
However, Hu-ra had a relaxed expression.
She had already figured it out.
That the sword curtain Cheol Ryu-heun was using was the true transmission of Evil Emperor Yul-Cheon.
First, ten doppelgangers collided and created explosions.
KKWAGWAGWAGWANG, KKWAGWAGWAGWAGWANG… !
At that heavy power, the sword curtain flickered and shook intensely.
Immediately after, Hu-ra’s Secret Sound Transmission echoing through space.
-Can you manage with that?
In an instant, Cheol Ryu-heun’s sword curtain changed.
The series of energy constituting the sphere had transformed.
All kinds of energy with different hues poured out mixed together.
Various techniques of various attributes.
It was a wondrous level of sword curtain with Orthodox techniques, Unorthodox techniques, and even demonic techniques all mixed together.
But Hu-ra didn’t look flustered.
Danmok Cheon had told her about that too.
What was in her creepy gaze was saying.
I expected that.
It’s what I already anticipated.
At that moment, a second great explosion occurred.
KKWAGWAGWAGWANG, KKWAGWAGWAGWAGWANG… !
Ten doppelgangers had again collided with the sword curtain.
Cheol Ryu-heun’s body swayed faintly.
Simultaneously, the surface of the sword curtain became blurry.
A gap had formed in that flawless-looking technique.
With no time to catch a breath, a third explosion occurred, fiercely shaking the thick darkness.
KKWAGWAGWAGWANG, KKWAGWAGWAGWAGWANG… !
More than half of the sword curtain was shattered.
And the remaining six doppelgangers surged and exploded, creating a great sound.
KKWAGWAGWAGWAGWAGWANG… !
The sword curtain was completely destroyed and gone.
Along with that, Cheol Ryu-heun’s form was revealed.
In an instant.
CHYUCHYUCHYUCHYUCHYU… !
A pitch-black object flew toward Cheol Ryu-heun’s back.
Like a wave of darkness.
It was precisely the hair that Hu-ra had released across the distance.
The main body, who had been positioned in front, had moved to the rear at some point.
CHAECHAECHAECHAECHAENG… PEOPEOPEOPEOPEONG… KKAGAGAGAGANG… KUKUKUKUNG!
When the bundles of hair, gathered strand by strand, slammed into his back, Cheol Ryu-heun was knocked forward as if struck.
But.
CHWEEREEREEREEK… CHWEEREEREEREEREEK!
Dozens of strands of hair, twisted together like thick rope, stretched out and tightly bound Cheol Ryu-heun’s torso, arms, and legs.
And then.
PIIIIIIIIIIING… !
When she rapidly retracted the extended hair, the bound Cheol Ryu-heun’s form was pulled toward her.
Thus, with his back showing, he was drawn right up to Hu-ra’s front.
PUK, PUPUK… !
The sound of something pointed digging deeply into flesh rang out.
Hu-ra had lowered her head directly and bit into Cheol Ryu-heun’s nape.
‘Uhuhut! It’s over!’
Having sunk in her long fangs, Hu-ra laughed inwardly and began drinking blood.
GULLEONGKULLEONG, BEOLKEOKBEOLKEOK…
At the scent of fresh blood, Hu-ra’s gaze became hazy.
She was in ecstasy.
It was a warm, refreshing taste of blood she had never felt before.
Extreme excitement and sense of conquest from having subdued the formidable enemy Cheol Ryu-heun.
Perhaps because of that, even a somewhat sensual moan-like muttering leaked out.
“Heueung…”
As if intoxicated with a sensation of pleasure.
She knew well that one couldn’t move when bitten.
Because.
The energy like a toxin that only the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan possessed flowed through the fangs into the prey’s body, paralyzing all pressure points.
In other words, it was a power that forcibly suppressed the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Primary Channels.
Moreover, Hu-ra was in the top tier within the Clan.
Accordingly, that paralysis-attribute energy was stronger than anyone’s.
The moment one was bitten by the fangs, movement became impossible regardless of martial prowess level.
Yes, for any human.
Yet Cheol Ryu-heun didn’t fall within such categories.
“Is it the taste you expected?”
At the bland voice, Hu-ra’s complexion hardened like a statue.
‘How can this be!’
Her thoughts in her mind suddenly felt frozen.
He had opened his mouth and spoken words.
Cheol Ryu-heun, who should have had his entire body paralyzed…
In the midst of that, his voice flowed into her ears again.
“The attempt was good. But it’s futile.”
At that moment, Hu-ra was seized by a strange sense of fear.
Unbelievable.
How could he be fine?
Hu-ra didn’t know.
That within his body, there were no Eight Extraordinary Meridians or Twelve Primary Channels.
That’s right.
That it was an unprecedented body without pressure points at all.
And… she didn’t know something else.
That currently, red energy light was forming and swirling in Cheol Ryu-heun’s eyes, though his back was turned.
DEOKSEOK!
Cheol Ryu-heun’s left hand grabbed Hu-ra’s hair like lightning.
HWAAK… !
At the fierce hand motion throwing her forward again, Hu-ra’s large frame flew over his head.
KUKUNG… !
The form crashed far to the front.
“Kuk…!”
Hu-ra, feeling no time for the impact, sprang up and concentrated cultivation into her hair.
PIPIT, PIT, PIPIT… CHIRING, CHIRIRING, CHIRING… !
The hair standing on end like blades played metallic sounds.
Before she knew it, Cheol Ryu-heun had encroached into her field of vision.
Movement faster than a beam of light.
The Gan Jiang Sword was also surging at terrifying speed.
The hair was wielded like countless weapons.
CHICHING, CHING, CHICHING, CHING… KWANG, KWAKWANG, KWANG, KWAKWANG… !
Following the successive metallic sounds and explosive noise.
PIIING… KKWADEUDUK!
Hu-ra, having flown backward from the chain of slashes, collided with a rock in the darkness.
Heavy pain penetrating her enhanced body.
‘Euuuk!’
Hu-ra’s sense of crisis and fear intensified.
She realized she couldn’t win.
If so, she should briefly trap him and escape.
But Cheol Ryu-heun was ahead of that thought.
SSAESSAENG!
He compressed the gap in one breath and horizontally swept the Gan Jiang Sword in his right hand.
JJEOGEOEOUNG… CHYUHAAK!
The blade pierced through Hu-ra’s side.
Even though the body was strengthened several times over.
“Aaak!”
Having shrieked, she pulled back with a spasmodic motion.
She swiftly retreated a distance of three Zhang.
But Cheol Ryu-heun, who had been in front, was nowhere to be seen.
‘At!’
At the moment her heart dropped, a hand popped out from behind.
KWAK!
A hand seizing the blade-like hair as if crumpling paper.
It was Cheol Ryu-heun.
WARAK… !
Hu-ra, who was no less than nine cheok, was pressed down by brute strength, then her head was repeatedly smashed against the ground in succession.
KKWANG, KKWANG, KKWANG, KKWANG, KKWANG… !
The ground shattered, and her forehead shattered too.
Pungent drops of fresh blood flew in all directions.
Cheol Ryu-heun’s motion stopped, then a dull sound was heard.
PEOGEOEOK… UDEUDUK!
“Kkiaaak!”
It was the sound of Hu-ra’s left shoulder being bent backward.
“Noisy.”
Cheol Ryu-heun moved his right foot to strike her face.
PEOPEOK… !
At that force, Hu-ra’s large body flew again.
WAJIKKEUN, WAJIKKEUN, WAJIKKEUN… !
The sound of her body successively crashing into dead trees.
At that moment.
Cheol Ryu-heun, having raised the Gan Jiang Sword vertically, spoke in an indifferent voice.
“I’ll erase it for you. Night and all.”
Simultaneously, a brilliant flash soared into the sky.
SYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYUSYU…
A whirlwind of light spread widely, completely sweeping away the darkness.
As if singing of hope that would repel the bloody age of chaos.