Chapter 472: Martial Assembly

Read more at Nineheavens.org

Gal Jung-heon’s shout that shook the air became the signal.

Along with it came a series of sounds.

Clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter… !

About a hundred ordinary disciples, including Gwak Woon-bi and Yeong Ho-woong… The members of the Mountain Martial Assembly who had formed the circular formation… Assumed an assault stance in unison.

Until not long ago, every one of them had been ordinary.

But not anymore.

Each and every one had been reborn as outstanding swordsmen.

Indeed.

Just from the strong fighting spirit flowing together as one, it was evident.

Their majesty truly evoked a sense of dramatic change from the past.

Gwak Woon-bi, the young Mountain Martial Assembly Leader gripping his sword hilt tight, quietly exhaled.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

Though he couldn’t hear it, there was a sound he could clearly feel.

Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump, thump thump…!

It was the sound of his own heartbeat.

His heart was pounding wildly at the hair-trigger war atmosphere.

An assault of tension he had never experienced before.

It was only natural.

This was his first time being deployed in such real combat.

So unlike usual, his heart couldn’t help but beat more intensely.

Even though the fight hadn’t started yet, his palms were already drenched in sweat.

The others were the same.

“Hoo, hoo…”

“Inhale… Exhale…”

Each was circulating their internal energy while regulating their breathing to control their tension.

At that moment, the young man beside Gwak Woon-bi muttered.

“Today, I must repay Sect Master Cheol even a little bit of the debt of gratitude. With power that has improved more than before.”

Those words seemed to bring a strange sense of calm for an instant.

Gwak Woon-bi slightly turned his head and responded.

“That’s right, Elder Brother Ho-woong.”

“The words Sect Master Cheol spoke on the day we received our reward vacation… I remember them vividly. You do too, right?”

“Yes.”

Having nodded briefly, Gwak Woon-bi recalled that day.

-Forget how you lived like beggars; now you all need to experience what it feels like to return home in glory.

At that time, Cheol Ryu-heun had gifted each disciple a Green Dew Fruit and five hundred nyang of silver under the name of vacation allowance.

What he said right after that was the real highlight.

-Your health is just as important as money. Take it home and give it to someone who is sick. Well, if there’s no patient, you can just sell it. Take care of the money yourself, but make sure nobody takes it from you. If something like that happens… Don’t be afraid of causing trouble and tell me, understand?

-…!

-What are you looking so bewildered for? Remember, someone who suffers in silence when there’s a strong sect master to rely on isn’t being virtuous… They’re being stupid. Like I was before I changed.

-Yes! We shall engrave it in our hearts!

-Stand up straight. I’ll take care of all the consequences. You only need to think about the advancement of your martial arts. That’s why I’m giving so generously.

-Yes, Sect Master!

-The vacation period is half a month. Within that time, do everything you can do, everything you want to do, and everything you need to do, then empty out anything that could weigh on your heart and come back. That’s all. Dismissed.

As he said, everyone did everything they could, wanted to, and needed to do within that time and returned.

Even after spending to their hearts’ content, they still had surplus money left over, making it feel like a dream.

Recalling that time, the corners of Gwak Woon-bi’s mouth rose slightly.

‘Ha.’

A smile formed naturally.

His respect for Sect Master Cheol Ryu-heun grew anew.

Thinking about it again, it was amazing.

Who else in this land could do something like that?

Soon, Gwak Woon-bi’s expression changed to one of grim determination.

The voice that followed, murmured low, was equally so.

“As the leader of this Assembly… I command you. Everyone, display the martial prowess you possess without reservation. Tonight’s battle will mark the official revival of the Mountain Martial Assembly, to be known throughout the world.”

At that changed manner of speech, everyone including Yeong Ho-woong heightened the fighting spirit in their hearts even further and flashed their eyes.

It was a silent answer, accepting the young leader’s command.

Amidst that.

Rumble rumble, rumble rumble…

The vibration of the training ground’s surface and atmosphere intensified.

It was the effect of even the officer-level personnel of the Southern Heaven Division, led by the Commander, operating their enhanced maximum internal power through gu poison activation.

As the formless energy released by the powerhouses of both camps continuously shook the arena.

The moment the war atmosphere reached its peak.

“Strike!”

At the Commander’s thunderous command, the entire Southern Heaven Division began their charge.

Accordingly, the Jianghu faction led by White Peak Sword Sect also rushed fiercely in all directions.

Clang clang clang clang… Ching ching ching ching… Boom boom boom boom… Crash crash crash crash!

Thunderous sounds echoed noisily under the night sky.

As the bloody battle resumed, the training ground of White Peak Sword Sect instantly transformed into a chaotic hellscape.

Frost-like killing intent burst out from everywhere.

The Mountain Martial Assembly, having formed a circular formation, plunged fiercely into the center of that mayhem.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…

It was the movement of about a hundred people gathered together like a massive storm.

Not to be outdone, the Deaf-Mute gang struck hard at the Mountain Martial Assembly Leader’s perimeter with combined attack formations composed of small groups.

Clang clang clang clang… Clang clang clang clang… Clang clang clang clang… !

As swords clashed against each other, crimson sparks flew incessantly.

It was a sight like multiple small whirlwinds fiercely swirling around the edge of a large vortex.

However.

The Mountain Martial Assembly Leader’s circular defensive formation was solid.

Had the greatly rotating sword formation surrounded itself with a shield of white mountain ranges?

A pure white light flashed as if connected as one, deflecting all the violent sword strikes of the Deaf-Mute gang.

Order within disorder.

Not a single gap could be found in it.

That was proof.

That the Mountain Martial Assembly had finally been revived.

Even if it still fell short of Cheol Ryu-heun’s standards.

After several exchanges, the corpses of Deaf-Mute Blood Wind Person rolled on the training ground surface.

More than twenty had died while forcefully trying to break through the Mountain Martial Assembly Leader’s solid defensive formation.

At that moment.

The Mountain Martial Assembly Leader’s counterattack began.

Tap tap tap tap tap… Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh… !

Disciples advancing with footwork swift as the wind.

The rapid rotation of the circular formation switched to the reverse direction.

And pure white light burst from each of their swords.

It was a gale of powerful sword energy spreading in all directions.

Shing shing shing shing shing, shing shing shing shing shing… !

As the Deaf Mute forces retreated under that power.

Splurt, splurt, splurt…!

Pungent fountains of blood shot up chaotically.

Those who couldn’t dodge in time were killed.

Their torsos sliced off.

From then on, the Mountain Martial Assembly began to sweep through their front without hesitation.

Their morale had risen to its peak after slaying many.

“Ha-hap!”

“Chaaaat!”

“Hiyah, hiyaaaah!”

The spirited battle cries that followed seemed to represent the confidence of all the disciples.

The tide of battle had turned.

At a glance, the Deaf Mute gang had more numbers than the Mountain Martial Assembly.

Yet despite that, the combined attack formations formed in groups were being broken apart or retreating one after another.

Truly, it was a moment when the phrase “outnumbered” became meaningless.

Such was the ferocity of the Mountain Martial Assembly Leader’s charge accompanied by rotation.

Not a single disciple showed any sign of letting their guard down.

Movement as if literally everyone had become one body with one mind.

The firm resolve of each could be glimpsed there.

Among them, the two with particularly exceptional determination were none other than Gwak Woon-bi and Yeong Ho-woong.

-From this day forward, I officially appoint you as the Mountain Martial Assembly Leader.

-Yes! Sect Master! I will do my utmost from now on!

-The Vice Master is Yeong Ho-woong.

-Yes! I will live up to your expectations!

-Positions can change at any time. Focus your mind and train.

From then on, the two men trained with exceptional dedication and maintained their positions without allowing anyone to surpass them.

While the enemy’s combined attack formations continued to be pushed back by the Mountain Martial Assembly Leader’s power, Gwak Woon-bi let out a spirited shout.

“The moment has come to finally demonstrate what Sect Master spoke of!”

Everyone in the Mountain Martial Assembly immediately understood what that meant and answered in unison.

“Yes!”

Once upon a time, Cheol Ryu-heun had said this.

-Do not set your heart’s goal low. The reputation and status I desire for the Mountain Martial Assembly is that of the supreme first-rate swordsmen group of the current Jianghu.

-A Mountain Martial Assembly that freely wields the three ultimate techniques of the White Peak Sword Arts. How about it? Isn’t it thrilling just to imagine? You have to be at least that level to properly call yourselves elite swordsmen of this sect.

The entire Mountain Martial Assembly simultaneously operated their peak internal power.

Suddenly, the momentum of the rotating circular formation grew even stronger.

Crash crash crash crash crash… Crash crash crash crash crash… !

A sword formation spinning fiercely like a giant saw blade.

And white currents danced from their blades.

The disciples were arming themselves with the first technique among the three ultimate techniques of the White Peak Sword Arts’ final chapter.

Following the great rotating formation, about a hundred swords thrust outward.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh… !

It spread rapidly across a precisely calculated range.

Mountain Coming.

The pressure of sword wind and the power of sword energy united as one.

It was an ultimate technique where the magnificent current of great mountains charged in a circle toward enemies in all directions.

That terrifying momentum carried truly invincible majesty.

Crash crash crash crash crash crash crash crash!

With explosive sounds, blood-soaked Ajas collapsed.

The number killed that way easily exceeded thirty.

But it was only the beginning.

The Mountain Martial Assembly Leader’s fierce and valiant sword dance continued.

Armed with Mountain Coming, they continuously swept their surroundings.

Boom boom boom, boom boom boom boom…!

The remaining ultimate techniques were still immature and couldn’t be executed perfectly.

However, Mountain Coming alone seemed sufficient to make one appreciate the possibility of becoming the supreme, first-rate swordsmen group of the Jianghu that Cheol Ryu-heun had once proclaimed.

Seeing the Mountain Martial Assembly Leader’s exploits from his position elsewhere, Sect Elder Yeop Hweon felt his heart swell with emotion.

‘Are you watching, Sect Master Sagong Woon?!’

The previous sect master, White Gate Sword Gentleman Sagong Woon, who must be in heaven, would surely be pleased too.

At the sight of the disciples who had grown into fine elite swordsmen…

Around that Yeop Hweon, corpses of Deaf Mute Blood Wind Person were piled high.

While the Mountain Martial Assembly had been fighting, he too had displayed his might by killing all those many enemies.

At that moment.

Swish!

A sharp sword point rapidly attacked from behind his back.

At the same time, Yeop Hweon twisted his upper body.

A movement barely avoiding the sword point.

But that momentary movement felt leisurely.

The one who had launched the surprise sword attack was a Young General.

In an instant.

Ting… !

Yeop Hweon’s left hand struck the opponent’s blade.

The weighty internal power contained in that simple movement.

“Kugh!”

With a piercing sound, the Young General was flung away along with his sword.

Whoosh… Thud!

The Young General who slammed his back into the ground immediately tried to get up urgently but staggered.

Blood flowing from his mouth.

He had suffered internal injuries from just a single exchange.

That signified the gap in internal power between him and Yeop Hweon.

From the start, it was martial prowess he couldn’t handle.

Yeop Hweon’s current martial prowess was stronger than even the average sect masters of the Nine Great Sects.

The Young Generalwiped the blood from his mouth and glared.

“Grr… Damn it…”

Yeop Hweon, who had already approached to within three or four paces, spoke.

“Before this old man obtained the power I now possess, I wailed ‘waaaaah’ more than hundreds of times.”

‘Wa, waaaah…? What is he saying? This crazy old man…’

The moment the Young General cursed inwardly.

Slice, slice, slice!

Three swords flew in like rays of light and cut off his arms, legs, and head.

At the same time, the gu poison exploded.

Kaboom!

Yeop Hweon swiftly protected his body with an energy barrier and retreated to avoid the flames.

At that moment.

Whoooosh…!

The flames, swept up by a fierce wind, soared into the air and scattered, disappearing.

It was the aura released by the three swordsmen who had just attacked.

The identities of those three were the sect’s Three Instructors: Guyang Cheon, Guyang Ji, and Guyang In.

“Oh my, are you alright?”

“You were nearly in danger from the enemy’s attack!”

“You were saved because we appeared!”

At those words, Yeop Hweon was dumbfounded.

“No, what danger…”

Yet those three only said what they wanted to say.

“Please take shelter somewhere safe!”

“Yes, we’ll take care of everything from here!”

“You must consider your age!”

Then they hurriedly flew off to the other side.

Left alone like that, Yeop Hweon wore an expression of having lost his words.

Meanwhile.

The owner of the fearsome Demon-Devouring Sword, Gal Jung-heon, annihilated more than ten Young and Middle Level Generals with overwhelming martial prowess, then faced the Commander.

“As you can see, your Southern Heaven Division cannot avoid annihilation.”

At Gal Jung-heon’s arrogant words, the Commander immediately sneered.

“Ha, I was prepared for this. Dying isn’t scary. But there’s something you don’t know. The fact that we will also take companions with us to the underworld. By now…”

“Foolish. With such limited vision, you dared to assume the position of Commander?”

“What…?”

“You mean the families of the disciples living within Baizhou.”

“…!”

“Preparations have been made there too. Forces centered on the God of Death who governs death are protecting the families.”

“That’s…”

The moment the Commander showed an expression of dismay, the Demon-Devouring Sword sang fiercely.

Hum, hummmm… !

And a gray current released along the blade created the form of a massive hungry ghost.

It was enormous.

So large it couldn’t be taken in at a single glance.

As if the incarnation of a hungry ghost had descended…

Immediately after, Gal Jung-heon spoke in a chilling voice.

“Now be devoured by my sword and go to the underworld.”