Chapter 470: The Wrong Path Taken
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A heavy silence instantly swallowed the space.
Startled by the unexpected appearance?
The entire Southern Heaven Division, including the Commander, fell into silence while gazing at the Blood Demon Cult Leader standing on the roof in his blood-red robe.
Nature too held its breath.
Blood Demon Cult.
A formidable demonic faction among the elite of the frontier demonic Jianghu.
No one didn’t know, now as before, how it had first come into being.
Why.
Because it was a cult born from absolute worship toward the protagonist of an era called the Blood God Reign Period.
Yes.
The object of worship was none other than Blood God Mu-wol.
Along with Heavenly Demon, Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, and Martial Immortal, the supreme beings who were the strongest in martial history……
Thus born, Blood Demon Cult’s fame and status were always higher than Asura Demon Cult or Illusion Demon Cult.
Some evaluated it as second only to Heavenly Demon Cult……
Though it was the most recently founded, that meant the power it possessed was tremendous.
Thus, its short history rather made Blood Demon Cult stand out.
The world of martial artists called the Jianghu, regardless of ancient or modern, frontier or Jianghu, strongly operated on the logic of ‘the strong survive (???), the weak perish (???).’
But.
Blood Demon Cult had survived that and was standing until now.
Moreover, while making a great name.
If the power they possessed had been weak, they probably would have closed their doors long ago.
That alone fully proved Blood Demon Cult’s formidable forces.
Hence, its short tradition was not a flaw at all.
Above all, the current Blood Demon Cult forces were especially so.
Because the current Blood Demon Cult Leader was lauded as decidedly the strongest among all cult leaders throughout history.
His name was Gi Cheon-geuk, his epithet Blood Rain Demon Lord.
From his relaxed posture standing on the roof with hands clasped behind his back, not even the smallest opening could be found.
Everyone held their breath deeply and took in the appearance of the owner who governed the current Blood Demon Cult.
A truly tall stature, eyes deep as the deep sea, a beard hanging like a curtain, a massive-feeling frame……
The manly contours of his face were very strong, and the aura wrapping his crimson form was like a wind of blood.
Indeed, befitting one of the uppermost demons of demonic Jianghu, it was a domineering and imposing figure and intangible bearing.
From his face to all of it, it seemed to give the feeling of perfectly meeting the conditions of a formidable ruler in name and reality.
The robes draped down had no pattern that might hint at his identity or status.
But they didn’t doubt he was the current Blood Demon Cult Leader, Blood Rain Demon Lord Gi Cheon-geuk.
Why?
The reason was simple.
Because of the faint red haze flowing around and wrapping his clothes.
Also.
Wasn’t a blood scent even being emitted from him?
That fully testified to the properties of the Blood Stream Divine Demon Art’s unique demonic energy.
Moreover, the majority of the Southern Heaven Division’s corps including the Commander had advance knowledge of information related to Gi Cheon-geuk’s appearance and characteristics.
The person who had let out the earlier cry of shock was one of the Great General-rank officers among them.
The light spreading from behind Gi Cheon-geuk created a large, long shadow on the ground in front of the roof.
The shadow cast like that of a giant seemed to exude some kind of majesty.
SAA…… SAA……
The night wind caressed both cheeks of the crowd and passed by.
Simultaneously.
OSAK.
The members felt goosebumps crawling all over their bodies.
Not for nothing… Each felt bumps rising and standing up in the blink of an eye.
It was because Gi Cheon-geuk had suddenly amplified his intangible aura with demonic power accompanied by blood fragrance.
Bodies flinching quietly.
KKULKEOK……
From somewhere, the sounds of several people swallowing dryly were heard.
That was proving the tense atmosphere.
The darkness that the torches had swept away seemed to change into something else and approach thickly.
Something like a deepening night.
On the other hand, it was also hot.
As if the midday sun was lurking in the darkness.
A feeling of intangible aura embodying those two coexisting things binding the whole body.
Most of the members had clearly startled looks.
Setting aside the presence of Gi Cheon-geuk there, the current situation itself was delivering a strange ominousness.
Wasn’t it so.
This was not a place for Gi Cheon-geuk to appear.
When expectations go astray, one is naturally bewildered.
But.
The General corps led by the Commander was already maintaining composure.
The surprise had been only for a very brief moment.
The Commander stepped forward and let out a heavy voice.
“Don’t be shaken by something like this. I have my reputation. Think of it as if he is watching your appearance.”
Thereupon everyone seemed to feel the tension in their hearts subside as if by magic.
Look at that.
All the members were regaining calm, sharpening their killing intent, and shooting sharp light from their eyes.
Just by mentioning ‘Him,’ the object of blind loyalty… The Heaven Emperor Society Lord.
Immediately after.
-I’m curious what you’re up to.
The Commander’s such transmission of thought transformed into an echo.
Clearly enough to be heard even in White Peak Sword Sect beyond the gate.
Gi Cheon-geuk also responded with a sonorous transmission of thought.
-An enemy ambushing White Peak Sword sect is an enemy of this cult.
At that, the Commander became newly alert.
It was an incomprehensible relationship.
What benefit did Blood Demon Cult have in helping White Peak Sword Sect.
Soon the Commander let out a voice instead of transmission.
“How interesting. Cooperation between the Orthodox and the Demonic……”
Thereupon Gi Cheon-geuk spoke with a proud gaze.
“I wish to make one proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes. It won’t be bad for either side.”
“……”
“Come into the Tiger’s den. Let’s decide the outcome in a head-on battle here.”
No sooner had those words ended.
DEOLKEONG… KKIIIIK!
White Peak Sword Sect’s main gate opened its maw and revealed the interior scene.
Light poured out from the widely opened door.
The Commander gazed forward with eyes narrowed to slits.
Three swordsmen who had opened the gate were visible.
Each of their appearances was extremely hideous.
Right then, one of the Southern Heaven Division officers said.
“He’s brought along savage demons under his command too.”
At that same moment, the three at the main gate flared up.
“Gal! Shut up!”
“Demon my foot! Are your eyes crooked or What!”
“That’s right! We obviously look Righteous!”
The identity of the ferocious-faced (??) swordsmen was none other than the three Guyang brothers.
In the midst of that, the Commander’s gaze turned to the space beyond the three.
There, another outstanding demonic path expert was visible, holding his ground.
The owner of the Demon-Devouring Sword and one from the Nine Demon Alliance, Gal Jung-heon.
At that moment, the majority of Southern Heaven Division members experienced an optical illusion.
A giant hungry ghost quietly overlapping above Gal Jung-heon’s figure……
It was clearly an illusion, yet it felt as if it truly existed.
That much terrifying intangible aura was seething in Gal Jung-heon’s one body.
However.
That wasn’t all.
Pure white mountains were also visible.
On both sides of Gal Jung-heon.
It was what the tremendous intangible aura of two people had created.
The majesty of white mountains rising with the hungry ghost at the center, so to speak.
The swordsmen on both sides were White Peak Sword Sect’s Elder White Mountain Sword Paragon Yeop Hwon and Grand Steward White Flash Sword Hero Hyeop Mu-geuk.
It wasn’t over yet.
The optical illusion continued.
Due to the personnel arrayed like a folding screen on both left and right of them.
For the first time, the Commander’s expression changed.
‘……!’
What was captured in the Southern Heaven Division’s field of vision was the Ak-mu Assembly.
The intangible aura emitted by Assembly Leader Gwak Woon-bi, Vice Assembly Leader Yeong Ho-woong and all the members was also stately, but.
‘This is…… Different from the existing information.’
White Peak Sword Sect’s forces had suddenly risen sharply.
Yes.
Just reading that intangible aura flowing largely together told him.
The fact that previous information was now meaningless.
Right then, Southern Heaven Division’s Second Commander sent a transmission.
At that moment, the Commander recalled in his mind the order of the one addressed as Grand Elder, Bung Hyeon.
-You must complete that mission and return no matter what. Even if it means dying.
‘Hut…… Do you even need to ask.’
He who had quietly worn a smile shot out a fierce killing intent and a chilling gaze.
‘Yes, I won’t refuse. If we just smash everything with our power, that’s that.’
Suddenly the ground and air trembled violently.
DEUDEUDEUDEUDEU…… KUKUKUKUKU……!
At the same time, all of Southern Heaven Division was filled with awe.
The overpowering energy rapidly spreading in all directions.
Intangible energy waves loaded with terrifying power swallowed the forest whole.
It was the Commander having operated his supreme internal energy.
Not to be outdone, all officers at the Great General, Middle General, and Young General levels raised their internal power to maximum.
The ground, shaking precariously as if an untimely major earthquake had occurred, seemed about to collapse at any moment.
The Commander soon let out a transmission.
-Hut, did you think we’d avoid a head-on battle? Whether it’s a trap or whatever…… We’ll destroy everything in our way.
In turn, Blood Rain Demon Lord Gi Cheon-geuk also resonated a transmission.
-As befitting a leader, you show a bold stance. The path of retreat is gone anyway.
CHEOK, CHEOK, CHEOK, CHEOK……
The sound of the Commander stepping forward.
As he took the lead, the subordinates followed behind.
In the meantime, Gi Cheon-geuk and the three Guyang brothers had joined the formation at the training ground.
Before long, when the entire Southern Heaven Division had entered inside.
KKWANG… CHEOLKEODEOK!
The gate was closed by someone’s Void-Seizing Technique.
It was Hyeop Mu-geuk’s handiwork.
Seeing that, a strange light flickered past the Commander’s pupils.
He realized anew.
That the martial prowess of everyone in White Peak Sword Sect had improved.
But this side still held the numerical advantage.
White Peak Sword Sect’s head count was insufficient.
While he and some of the Great General-level officers dealt with Gi Cheon-geuk and Gal Jung-heon, if the remaining officers and subordinate forces handled the sect’s personnel, it would be over.
The Commander spoke with a smirk while letting loose murderous intent.
“Hut, let’s have a bit of fun together.”
But right then.
HWIHWIK, HWIK, HWIHWIK…
Along with a series of wind sounds, human shadows appeared like rays of light.
Seven persons who had leaped over the main gate and the walls connecting left and right positioned themselves as if blocking the rear.
Seeing them, the Southern Heaven Division officers and subordinates’ complexions hardened.
The identity of the seven was the sect leaders from nine great sects.
The appearance of top-tier Orthodox faction experts representing the Orthodox faction… Ten Ultimate Martial Saint Immortal Muhyeon Master from Wudang Sect, White Cloud Sword Duke Taoist Cheon Mu from Mount Heng Sect, Taoist Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet Man-hae Master from Mount Heng Sect, and others.
To make matters worse, even Thunderbolt Sect Master Thunder Cloud Sword Duke and Azure Heaven Sword Sect Master Azure Prodigy Sword Master-Seol Hu Yong……
Moreover, those two had even brought their elite subordinates.
More people added to an already mighty force.
They were Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, Seol Pan-gyo, and Mae Yak-bang.
For some reason, Cui Lan was not here.
She had already left on a separate mission.
Even the normally composed Commander had a look in his eyes showing bewilderment at the current situation.
The moment he saw the young retainers, he understood.
That the matters in the Shiwan Mountains had failed.
Suddenly, a mysterious group of monks appeared, leaping over the walls on both sides.
It was Potala Palace, a formidable faction of the frontier Jianghu.
Thereupon Southern Heaven Division was seized by a great sense of crisis.
Right then, someone’s transmission of thought struck the members’ ears.
-The Heaven Emperor Society, that’s what you’re called?
The Commander found it now difficult to suppress his surprised expression.
“How do you know that……!”
The one who had sent the transmission was Gal Jung-heon.
SEURUNG.
When Gal Jung-heon drew the Demon-Devouring Sword, suddenly the blade vibrated.
WOONG!
Following that, demonic energy in the shape of a hungry ghost spread luxuriantly along the blade.
-I’m hungry. So hungry I could die. But there’s plenty to eat here. Ke-ke-ke-keuk, ke-ke-ke-keuk……
An auditory hallucination delivered by the Corpse-Devouring Sword’s vicious unique demonic energy.
Gal Jung-heon raised the sword straight before his chest.
“The Heaven Emperor Society people who went to the Shiwan Mountains are all dead. Now you too will follow in their footsteps.”