Chapter 166: Chapter 166
“Who made it?”
Cheon-hwi tilted his head as he pierced through the Blood Dragon Sect Leader and his disciples.
He had seen numerous energies so far.
Not only energies based on Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, such as Confucian Qigong, Daoist Qigong, and Buddhist Qigong.
But also Heaven-defying energies like Demonic Qi, Evil Qi, and Blood Qi.
However, that one was on a different level.
It was not Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, nor was it a Heaven-defying energy.
It simply was not of this world.
As if it was artificially created.
‘It’s closer to a shell imitating Qi.’
Cheon-hwi’s pupils contained them.
The energy they exuded was ‘something’ that felt like someone had forcibly stuffed it inside.
At that moment, they straightened their bodies.
Their red whites of the eyes, which had lost reason and drooled, gradually recovered.
Pupils sharply divided into black and white revealed themselves. However, their eyes did not point anywhere precisely.
They were just looking forward.
‘Their eyes have become clear, but are they still in a state of having lost their reason?’
Outwardly, they looked fine, but inside, they seemed completely empty.
Just like the energy they were emitting right now.
“False Heart Art……!”
At that time, an excited voice was heard.
Looking over, Heavenly Ear Beggar was sparkling his eyes as he looked at the Blood Dragon Sect Leader and his disciples.
He could not hide his joy.
“As expected, this place was right…….”
“False Heart Art?”
“Uack!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar was startled by Cheon-hwi, who suddenly appeared, and grumbled while putting his hand on his still pounding heart.
“Why do you appear so suddenly like this! I thought my heart was going to drop!”
Cheon-hwi ignored Heavenly Ear Beggar’s snapping words and asked what he was curious about.
“What kind of mental method is that? By the looks of it, it’s not an ordinary mental method.”
At the question, Heavenly Ear Beggar raised the corners of his mouth.
“Why, do you want to know?”
Smiling insidiously, he looked straight at Cheon-hwi and smacked his lips.
“That is…….”
It was when he was about to say something.
Ta-at!
The Blood Dragon Sect Leader and his disciples jumped in.
However, it was strange.
They did not aim at Cheon-hwi, who had defeated them, but only at Heavenly Ear Beggar.
Heavenly Ear Beggar’s face contorted fiercely.
“This damn it!”
Spitting out a curse in a husky voice, he drew up his internal energy and moved his feet.
Seu-reu-reuk…
In an instant, his body swayed as if he was drunk and created afterimages.
It was the Eight Drunken Immortals Footwork, evaluated as the most unique footwork even in the Beggars’ Sect.
“Why are you aiming at me! The one who defeated you is not me, but that guy!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar, who was avoiding their continuous attacks, shouted maliciously.
From his perspective, it was simply unfair.
Far from laying a hand on them, he had not done anything at all!
And yet they were only attacking him.
However, the Blood Dragon Sect Leader and his disciples swung the weapons in their hands roughly towards Heavenly Ear Beggar with their mouths closed, as if they could not hear his words at all.
Veins bulged on Heavenly Ear Beggar’s forehead as he avoided their attacks with the Eight Drunken Immortals Footwork.
“These bastards…….”
Heavenly Ear Beggar trembled all over, then clenched his two fists and gritted his teeth.
“Are you looking down on me because I’m an old beggar! Fine, come at me then!”
Only then did his momentum change drastically.
Pure white energy bloomed from his body and slowly wrapped around his hands.
Cheon-hwi’s eyes focused on him.
‘Isn’t that the Eight Drunken Immortals Footwork?’
Interest dwelled in his eyes.
The Eight Drunken Immortals Footwork was an eccentric art that extremely few people in the Beggars’ Sect had learned.
That was because the learning process was unique and there were few who wanted to learn it.
A pure white smile formed on his lips.
Could there be anything more interesting than this?
‘A clash between an energy I’ve never seen before in my life and the Eight Drunken Immortals Footwork……. This will be fun.’
Just in time, Heavenly Ear Beggar stepped on the ground.
Ku-ung!
Along with a loud noise, his figure turned into a stream of wind.
Shooting forward at an incredible speed, he aimed for the Blood Dragon Sect Leader in front of him first.
Hwi-ik!
Digging through the swirling blades and swords, he brought his two fists together into one.
‘If I strike the head first…….’
Recalling the method engraved in his head through numerous fierce battles, he put internal force into his right fist and threw it in an instant.
Huu-u-ung…
The fist force that flew while crushing the empty air carried a powerful momentum.
That momentum became fiercer the more it was thrust, creating a vortex.
Eventually, it reached the chest of the Blood Dragon Sect Leader.
Peo-eo-eok!
With a terrible sound, the Blood Dragon Sect Leader’s body flew backward and crashed into the wall.
Kwa-a-ang!
Soon he was buried in the broken debris.
“Frivolous! No matter how much I am famous as an information broker rather than my martial arts skills, did you think I would be worse than a guy like you.”
Heavenly Ear Beggar grinned and brushed his hands.
His surroundings were a mess.
How strong internal force and power he had put into his fist, the ground he stepped on with his left foot was cracked like a spider’s web.
And due to its aftermath, the Blood Dragon Sect disciples could not even approach closely and were bounced back and fell.
“Now that I’ve caught your tails, I need to find out what your true identity is. Ah! Before that, I should destroy your dantian…….”
The moment he was about to proudly approach the Blood Dragon Sect Leader.
Tu-du-duk…
He frowned at the sound he heard.
The debris squirmed, and the Blood Dragon Sect Leader was raising his body.
Heavenly Ear Beggar’s lips twitched.
Because he did not like him raising his body right now at all.
“……You withstood the Jade Shattering Fist?”
The Jade Shattering Fist he unfolded was a fist art that was counted on one hand for its destructive power in the Beggars’ Sect.
It was something that was hit head-on enough for even a peak master to instantly faint.
Yet that weak guy not only withstood it but stood up perfectly fine.
“Did you learn an external art or something…….”
Heavenly Ear Beggar closed his mouth.
To be exact, he had no choice but to close it.
Because the state of the Blood Dragon Sect Leader who stood up was unusual.
“How did he stand up in that state?”
The mark of the Jade Shattering Fist remained clearly on his chest.
And blood flowed continuously from his mouth.
It was a severe injury where bones were broken and internal injuries were suffered, yet he stood up with an expression that he was completely fine.
“You stupid bastard! Stay right there! Your body condition is the worst right now. If you move more in that state, you will die!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar shouted urgently.
His purpose for coming here was to collect information, not the death of the Blood Dragon Sect Leader.
It was then.
An unbelievable change occurred.
U-du-duk…
When he thought a terrifying sound echoed, white steam bloomed from his mouth.
Following that, his body turned bright red like blood. At the same time, the sound of a heartbeat spread.
The next moment, pure white vapor was spewed from his entire body, and the wound on his chest healed at a rapid pace.
“What bizarre…….”
Heavenly Ear Beggar’s soul left him for a moment.
If it were not for the torn martial arts uniform on his chest, he looked so peaceful that it was hard to believe he was hit by the Jade Shattering Fist.
The wound suffered from the Jade Shattering Fist was a severe injury that would require him to be bedridden for at least half a year.
But he recovers so quickly like that?
It was an impossible thing even if he took some kind of spiritual medicine.
Around the time Heavenly Ear Beggar stared blankly.
“It’s fascinating.”
Cheon-hwi’s eyes shone eerily.
To be exact, his eyes were fixed on the changes taking place inside him.
“Just now, Innate True Qi rose up and wrapped around his body, recovering quickly.”
At a glance, it looked like the wound just healed, but the energy inside him mixed with the Innate True Qi and manifested.
‘No matter how much Innate True Qi he used, such recovery is impossible. Then that means that energy is taking the lead.’
“You said it was the False Heart Art?”
Cheon-hwi harbored a faint smile as he ruminated on the name of the martial art Heavenly Ear Beggar mentioned.
His interest deepened further.
In that energy, and the creator of the mental method that created that energy.
At that time, the Blood Dragon Sect Leader rushed in again.
It was a speed incomparable to before.
Running only forward, unfolding a footwork close to madness, he unfolded a sharp claw art towards Heavenly Ear Beggar’s head.
Heavenly Ear Beggar’s eyes widened.
Because the Blood Dragon Sect Leader’s internal energy had risen significantly compared to before.
‘He got stronger than earlier. Is this the identity of the bizarre power that the False Heart Art has?’
He hastily drew up his internal energy.
Following that, he thrust out his twin palms towards the claw art bearing sharp intent that seemed like it would cut off his head.
It was the Jade Shattering Divine Palm.
Soon, their hands clashed.
Kwa-ang!
The Blood Dragon Sect Leader’s wrist twisted.
However, soon his hand returned to its original state, and he immediately inflicted continuous attacks.
“This damn it……!”
A curse came out spontaneously.
As Heavenly Ear Beggar sharply turned his head, a sharp wind brushed past his cheek.
Following that, a terrible killing intent was felt.
Before he knew it, the Blood Dragon Sect disciples were surrounding him and narrowing the distance.
“Do not resent me even if you die!”
He unfolded the Eight Drunken Immortals Footwork again.
With a step like a drunkard, Heavenly Ear Beggar avoided the weapons of the rushing Blood Dragon Sect disciples by a hair’s breadth and thrust out his palms.
Peo-eok! Peo-eok!
Godlike palm winds unfolded consecutively.
Due to that, the Blood Dragon Sect disciples bounced back and rolled on the floor, but…….
Heavenly Ear Beggar’s expression was not good.
‘Why did these guys become so hard!’
His hands tingled.
As if hitting a hard rock, the shock was fully felt on his palms.
Was that all?
The Blood Dragon Sect disciples who collapsed on the floor were slowly raising their bodies again.
“You crazy bastards! Don’t stand up anymore! Otherwise, you’ll die! I’m telling you, you’ll die!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar shouted angrily.
However, despite his cry, they began to attack again.
“It’s not like these guys are really crazy to die.”
Making an appalled expression, he turned his head and shouted at Cheon-hwi.
“Until when are you going to watch! Do you want to see this old man die!”
It was an absurd sound.
No matter how much they continued to recover and show off attacks, their limits were clear.
Because Innate True Qi was not infinite.
On top of that, Heavenly Ear Beggar’s skills were already on a different level from them.
Far from dying, he would not even get a scratch.
However, whether the situation was like that or not, Heavenly Ear Beggar shouted one more time.
“Hurry up and help me! Don’t we have to make these guys come to their senses!”
It was a remark he would have normally ignored.
However, Cheon-hwi prepared to step forward.
Not to help Heavenly Ear Beggar, but because he was interested in those guys.
“I want to clash with that energy once. Even if it is to find out what kind of energy it is made of.”
Cheon-hwi’s eyes sparkled clearly.
Following that, he took a step forward.
Jeo-beok…
At that moment, the atmosphere changed abruptly.
The Blood Dragon Sect Leader and his disciples, who had tried to attack Heavenly Ear Beggar, turned their heads toward Cheon-hwi for the first time and hesitated.
Their instincts had sent a warning.
Not to approach that person!
Seeing them, Cheon-hwi chuckled.
“Why are you so scared? If you lost your reason, you should come in instinctively.”
He spoke in an intentionally defenseless posture.
However, the Blood Dragon Sect Leader and his disciples trembled mercilessly and could not move.
Was it because they lost their reason?
They were in a situation where they relied on instinct more than anything else right now.
That is why they could not move.
Just like a deer freezing up like a dead tree when it sees a tiger.
“This is a bust.”
Cheon-hwi smacked his lips.
He wanted to know exactly what kind of energy they were exuding. To do that, the most important thing was for them to attack with full force, but…….
“Is there no other way.”
While Cheon-hwi was trying to think of a way.
“Did you do something? Well done!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar, not knowing his mind, was very pleased that they stopped.
“You just stay there. If I just destroy these guys’ dantian, their minds…….”
The moment he excitedly tried to approach the Blood Dragon Sect Leader and his disciples.
Hwi-i-ik…
A whistling sound was heard from afar.
The sound carrying subtle internal energy vibrated the air and soon arrived quickly.
‘Sound Art?’
The moment Cheon-hwi, who read the internal energy contained in the whistling sound piercing his ears, turned his head in that direction.
“What is it……!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar shouted.
At the same time, the Blood Dragon Sect Leader rushed at Cheon-hwi, as if he had forgotten his instinct.
“So that was it.”
At that time, when Cheon-hwi secretly looked at the person holding his breath after going up on the eaves.
Hwi-i-ik!
The Blood Dragon Sect Leader’s hand swung.
The moment he tried to swing the Blood Dragon Claw, Cheon-hwi was already moving.
Deop-sseok.
Cheon-hwi, who gently looked at the Blood Dragon Claw, raised his left hand and grabbed his wrist.
“Cheer up a little more. It’s unsightly to do this after drawing up even your Innate True Qi.”
Veins popped out on the Blood Dragon Sect Leader’s arm.
Following that, internal energy flared up along with the sound of muscles rupturing.
White vapor rising up.
At the same time, his muscles repeated collapsing and restoring for a moment.
“Is this the end?”
Cheon-hwi spoke as if tossing out a remark.
Because before he knew it, the wrinkles on the Blood Dragon Sect Leader’s face had deepened, and half of his hair had turned white.
“Is this the limit? Hmm, it’s a bit disappointing for something unfolded at the cost of Innate True Qi. No, if we consider the original skills, is it rather surprising?”
Cheon-hwi gave strength and pulled the Blood Dragon Sect Leader while stretching his right hand forward.
Ppa-gak!
His palm crushed his face.
Following that, he released the hand that grabbed his wrist and slammed his body onto the floor in that state.
Kwa-jik!
When the back of his head was stuck about an inch into the floor, a crack occurred in the ground.
“Don’t let your guard down! That guy will get up again!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar shouted urgently.
And as he said.
The Blood Dragon Sect Leader stood up while pressing his two palms on the floor and met eyes with Cheon-hwi.
And the moment he raised his hand.
Ju-reu-reuk…
A bowl of blood poured out from his mouth.
The darkish blood painted over the martial arts uniform with a bright red blood dragon drawn on it, and he collapsed forward just like that.
Cheon-hwi turned his body.
The Blood Dragon Sect Leader passed Cheon-hwi, burying his face in the floor as he collapsed just like that.
“……!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar’s mouth dropped wide open.
He was in the middle of feeling how hard he was while exchanging attacks and defenses with the Blood Dragon Sect Leader.
Yet to think he would fall in just one blow.
“It’s similar to the Yin-Yang Gu.”
Cheon-hwi looked at the fallen Blood Dragon Sect Leader.
The one strike he unfolded just before.
The momentum contained within it read the energy dominating the Blood Dragon Sect Leader’s body.
Cheon-hwi’s gaze turned upwards.
To be exact, it was on the eaves.
“Are you manipulating the ones who learned the False Heart Art as you please with that Sound Art?”
“…….”
There was no answer to the question.
“Am I wrong?”
“…….”
He remained silent.
“I gave you a chance, but you keep refusing.”
Cheon-hwi stretched out his palm along with the words.
Kwa-a-ang!
The eaves shattered, and the shattered debris fell downward.
“Uwa! What are you doing right now?”
Around the time Heavenly Ear Beggar was startled by the sudden palm force and dodged the falling debris.
“Since when did you notice?”
A dismal voice flowed out.
As if it was the person who whistled just before, subtle internal energy was contained in the voice.
“Since you hid by the wall like a rat and secretly watched the situation.”
“…….”
“More than that, until when are you going to hide and unfold that useless Sound Art? The guys you were trying to control are frozen completely and won’t even listen to your words.”
Cheon-hwi pointed at the Blood Dragon Sect disciples.
Even though they received the command of the Sound Art, they could not move like the Blood Dragon Sect Leader.
“Such incompetent fools.”
A cold voice struck.
“I gave such insignificant bastards the power they desired so much, yet they cannot even properly carry out a simple command like this…….”
“Isn’t it because the Sound Art is weak?”
“…….”
“And it’s what you wanted anyway. Trying to use those guys as puppets. Of course, you failed because your skills are lowly.”
“……You do not know how scary the world is.”
“Yeah. I haven’t experienced that so far. So, would you like to let me know?”
Cheon-hwi grinned.
“Just how scary the world is.”
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