Chapter 287: Chapter 287
The surroundings of Bokho Temple.
The aftermath of the clash between the forces of the Four Black Alliances and the martial artists gathered at the Emei Sect was massive.
Countless temples and hermitages that boasted a long history were losing their antique and classic appearance due to the fierce clashes of martial artists happening everywhere.
It was a sight of gradual ruin.
Clang! Clang!
The clashes continued incessantly.
It was a situation where neither side could afford to lose.
However, the tide of battle was gradually flowing unfavorably for the Emei Sect.
Two thousand versus seven hundred.
With the difference in combat power being so clear, it could perhaps be considered a natural outcome.
The forces of the Four Black Alliances, spearheaded by the Blood Shadow Squad and the Ghost Shadow Squad, pressured the Emei Sect nuns who were defending Bokho Temple, as well as the martial artists who came to help them.
As the tightly maintained balance of power gradually tilted toward the forces of the Four Black Alliances with the passage of time.
A change occurred at the rear of the Four Black Alliances’ forces.
“When did they get behind…!”
The Ghost Shadow Squad members in charge of the rear were flustered by the current situation.
Slash!
Blood splattered everywhere.
“Who on earth are those guys…!”
The Ghost Shadow Squad members glared at the unidentified group that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
It was then.
“Do not act rashly.”
A man who seemed to be their leader whispered to his squad members, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
“At most, there are less than a hundred enemies.”
Contrary to his words, his tense eyes turned toward the group running wild right now.
Those wearing pure white cloaks stained with blood here and there.
And what captured his vision even more than them was the young man at the lead.
He alone was not wearing a cloak.
Instead, he wore a pitch-black Taoist robe with a red plum blossom emblem drawn on it.
‘Why is the Mount Hua Sect here…’
The moment his eyes took in the Mount Hua robe and raised a question.
Suddenly!
The robe he was looking at suddenly grew enormously large.
‘No, right in front of my nose…’
That was his last conscious thought.
Thud!
“Hmm. Have I killed about ten percent now?”
Cheon-hwi, who instantly took the man’s life, muttered while roughly swinging Hwawol as if shooing away an insect.
“Keuk!”
The neck of a man who tried to ambush him by jumping down from a tree branch above was pierced.
The moment blood poured down.
Whoosh…
A fierce killing intent tickled his skin.
Those who were looking for an opportunity from all directions rushed in simultaneously, thinking this was the moment.
It was lightning-like speed.
Two men from the front and six men and women from the sides attacked while each unfolding their martial arts, and their sharp wave of force was considerable.
Among them, one middle-aged man rushing from the side thrust his narrow sword forward as if shooting an arrow, while two men and women next to him swung their long short spears diagonally.
That wasn’t all.
The others also swung their respective weapons, fists, and palms, unleashing a blow with all their might.
Woooong…
At the joint attack executed while in mid-air, the air vibrated as the Unorthodox Faction’s unique evil aura and killing intent intertwined.
When their joint attack filled with strong internal energy was about to tear Cheon-hwi to pieces.
Tap.
Belatedly, Cheon-hwi moved his feet.
It was a very late movement.
At that, some snorted, thinking he was at least struggling.
However, they were soon forced to stop laughing.
Instead, their mouths dropped wide open.
It was because Cheon-hwi’s form suddenly began to split into several, leaving only afterimages.
Illusion Ring Traceless Steps.
The lost martial art that only remained in the Dark Fragrance Secret Cave of the Mount Hua Sect revealed its appearance on Mount Emei, skipping over hundreds of years of time.
“…!”
“What!”
When those fighting Cheon-hwi freaked out.
Swish…
Hwawol swayed slightly left and right.
A very minute tremor.
The moment a tremor appeared that one wouldn’t even think moved if not looked at closely.
Swoosh…
A light breeze brushed past them.
A small breeze that would only flutter hair.
However, the breeze soon suddenly grew fiercer, and then swallowed their bodies.
And a mad wind raged.
Slaaash!
At the same time, bloodstains were horizontally carved across their entire bodies, scattering blood everywhere.
A puddle of blood that gathered on the ground in an instant.
Cheon-hwi looked at the Extermination Unit without even sparing a glance at the fallen corpses.
“Leave the rear to me!”
“If you are heavily injured, fall back!”
The Extermination Unit was fighting well against the martial artists in black martial suits, the Ghost Shadow Squad.
Of course, they were not exactly dominating.
Rather, it could be said they were at a disadvantage.
Im Ha Yul and the other Extermination Unit members whose martial prowess was on the lower end had severe injuries.
The opponents were the Ghost Shadow Squad.
They were the elite unit of the Four Black Alliances, so no matter how promising the rising stars of each sect were, there was a difference.
Of course, it would be a different story if Cheon-hwi intervened, but the person in question had no intention of doing so.
Taking care of them one by one?
That was not the squad leader’s role.
‘If they die, it can’t be helped.’
Cheon-hwi thought so.
Although the goal was for everyone to survive, it couldn’t be helped even if someone died.
Jianghu was a place where one lived with life and death right beside them.
To live, one had to become stronger.
‘And I did teach them some things.’
Cheon-hwi’s eyes narrowed.
It had been short days, but the Extermination Unit’s skills were far stronger than when they first met.
Perhaps it was a matter of course.
If one repeatedly sparred with an expert of a supreme realm, their eyes would naturally be elevated.
They had fully enjoyed that benefit.
As proof of that, wasn’t the Extermination Unit actually fighting well against the elite unit of the Four Black Alliances right now?
If they still had their initial skills, they would have been annihilated long ago.
‘Though they themselves would know best.’
The Extermination Unit’s eyes were fiercely shining and alive.
In the past, they would have been terrified just by meeting enemies of this level, but their appearance now was completely different.
“Huu.”
Im Ha Yul raised her sword.
She seemed to have difficulty moving as she suffered a heavy injury to her left arm, but she did not stop.
Her opponent was far stronger than her.
However, she didn’t feel like she would lose at all.
“…I can win.”
Her eyes as she muttered shone intensely.
The attacks of the Ghost Shadow Squad members flying in now were certainly fierce and sharp, but they did not feel that threatening to her.
“Haap!”
She powerfully stretched out her right foot.
Stomping the ground with all her might, she swung the sword in her hand up diagonally.
A swift strike carrying a faint sword qi.
The single strike, which wouldn’t have even cut the wind properly in the past, perfectly slashed the chest of the rushing Ghost Shadow Squad member.
Slash!
Im Ha Yul was drenched in blood.
The moment she hurriedly raised her sleeve to wipe off the blood on her face.
“…!”
A shadow was cast in front of her.
A Ghost Shadow Squad member who aimed for that brief moment of carelessness thrust his short spear forward.
Im Ha Yul gritted her teeth.
It was already too late to evade.
When she moved with the thought of just giving up her side to at least avoid a fatal wound.
Clang!
A sharp sword light appeared.
At the same time, the short spear was split in half and the body of the Ghost Shadow Squad member swinging it collapsed.
Thud…
“Huu, huu. Do not lower your guard.”
Danli Gwan-cheon, who cut down the Ghost Shadow Squad member aiming for Im Ha Yul, panted heavily.
“Vice Squad Leader. Thank you…”
“I will receive the thanks later.”
Danli Gwan-cheon spoke coldly.
It was an attitude and tone that seemed cold at a glance, but Im Ha Yul immediately understood his meaning and spread out her senses.
Saying to see each other later meant to survive.
She stood back-to-back with Danli Gwan-cheon, who was swinging his sword forward, and raised her sword.
There were no words.
It was an action done as if it was natural.
The method they became accustomed to through sparring with Cheon-hwi brought out their current appearance.
Soon, the two raised their internal energy.
This was a battlefield.
It was a place where one could not let their guard down.
Cheon-hwi, who watched them, half-opened his eyes.
Not only Im Ha Yul and Danli Gwan-cheon, but the entire Extermination Unit did not let down their guard.
At the same time, it was very much to his liking that they were ready to run away at any time.
“I guess I can just leave them to take care of themselves now.”
The Extermination Unit’s mission was simple.
Hit and run in the name of defeating the enemies one by one.
The combat method devised to shake up the forces of the Four Black Alliances was successful so far.
“They will take care of their own lives.”
From now on, it was up to them.
Cheon-hwi withdrew his gaze from the Extermination Unit and took a step forward again.
Step.
His leather shoes stepped on a puddle of blood.
However, he felt nothing.
It was because the internal energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art naturally made him step on the empty space about an inch above the blood puddle.
It was a Body Preserving Realm that reached a supreme level.
Cheon-hwi, who unconsciously displayed an exceptional realm, stared straight ahead.
Those who numbered beyond tens and hundreds, reaching two thousand.
Cheon-hwi, who gazed fixedly at the forces of the Four Black Alliances, smelled the scent of blood blowing in the wind and wore a refreshing smile on his lips.
Killing intent and evil aura, excitement and the scent of blood.
It was a scenery that reminded him of his past life.
“Then shall I finish up my own work.”
Cheon-hwi’s gaze slowly moved up.
Toward the mountain gate of Subduing Tiger Temple.
His the corners of his mouth curled up at the clash of intense energy spreading from there.
There were very covetable things.
* * *
Boom!
A sound like a drum bursting rang out.
Following that, a Blood Shadow Squad member flew away while bouncing off the ground a few times, and then fell flat.
Everyone’s eyes focused.
There, Abbess So-hye stood still with her palm stretched forward.
Abbess So-hye, who had squarely struck the abdomen of the charging Blood Shadow Squad member with the Golden Summit Cotton Palm, let out a Demon Subduing Roar.
“Disciples of Emei, stop that wicked group from entering the interior of the Subduing Tiger Temple!”
At the same time, golden light flowed out from her body, and a majestic Buddhist power surged up.
Buddhist Soul Palm Leaf Art.
Then, Abbess So-hye opened her eyes wide.
Flash!
Crystal light imbued with Buddhist power flowed out from her eyes, emitting a heavy aura.
As the Buddhist power of the Emei Sect’s divine art raged like a fierce storm, the Blood Shadow Squad members who were storming in while attacking unwittingly flinched.
It was an immediate reaction.
The materialized Buddhist power was overwhelming.
The majesty of an expert who had reached the Limitless Realm.
That was not an aura and presence that mere Blood Shadow Squad members could counter.
“Amitabha.”
“Amitabha.”
The Emei disciples quietly muttered and put their hands together in prayer.
And.
Whoooosh!
The clear energy that the Emei Sect boasted radiantly bloomed from their entire bodies.
Small Clear Divine Art.
The tide of battle was gradually tilting due to the forces driving in without rest, and the Emei Sect nuns who were biting their lips at this were stimulated by Abbess So-hye’s shout and brought out all their respective internal energy.
Perhaps thanks to that.
Golden light was added to the Demon Subduing Hidden Dragon Formation they were unfolding, and Buddhist power raged.
Right now, their momentum was not pushed back at all by the forces of the Four Black Alliances surrounding them from all directions.
At that time.
Stab!
A chilling sound was heard right behind Abbess So-hye.
It was the sound of piercing flesh.
The startled Abbess So-hye quickly turned her head.
And her face was dyed in bewilderment and anger at the sight she immediately saw.
“Seo-ryeong…!”
A sword blade was protruding from the abdomen of Wi Seo-ryeong, one of the Emei Sect disciples.
It was a fatal wound that she could not avoid death from.
“Keu, keuheok. Ma, Martial Aunt…”
When Wi Seo-ryeong spoke while vomiting blood.
“Your life is tenacious.”
The man who stabbed the sword into Wi Seo-ryeong’s abdomen spoke callously, and slashed the protruding sword to the side.
Slash!
Blood splattered, and Wi Seo-ryeong collapsed.
A sight that took place in an extremely short moment.
“Junior Sister!”
“Senior Sister!”
Belatedly, the other Emei Sect disciples also grasped the situation and swung their swords.
Chaotic Wind Cloak Sword Art.
The swift and unpredictable sword art was swung as if it would tear to shreds the person who had stabbed the blade into Wi Seo-ryeong’s abdomen.
However.
Flash!
The man unleashed a stronger sword strike.
It was an incomparable sword strike.
The moment the five sword strikes swung in an instant scattered black waves of force and clashed with the Emei Sect disciples’ swords.
Claaang!
The Emei Sect disciples ended up being defeated.
The swords shattered to pieces, scattering sword fragments everywhere, and some disciples retreated while clutching their chests as if they suffered internal injuries.
The man glanced at them, then raised the sword he had swung the strikes with again.
And immediately slashed it sideways.
Slash! Slash!
Thin red lines were drawn on the necks of the retreating Emei Sect disciples.
Following that, their heads fell to the ground.
The materialized black sword qi, the wave of force, had taken their lives in a single stroke.
In no time, the six Emei Sect disciples who were around the man had transformed into corpses.
A massacre that took place in an extremely short time.
“You baaaastard!”
Abbess So-hye kicked the ground.
The internal energy of the Buddhist Soul Palm Leaf Art laden with deep anger spread from her soles, and she shot forward.
The manifestation of the footwork, Shadow Gliding Divine Transformation.
Suddenly, her figure disappeared in an instant as if she had used earth-shrinking magic, and dashed at the man at high speed.
Ten zhang, five zhang, one zhang…
She was right in front of him in a flash.
Abbess So-hye opened her right hand wide and fully contained the internal energy of the Buddhist Soul Palm Leaf Art there.
Woooong.
A majestic Buddhist power was laden on her palm.
Non-Self Divine Palm.
The moment her palm advanced straight.
“You let your guard down.”
A voice was heard from behind her back.
At the same time.
Slash!
Her right hand soared into the sky.
“Martial Aunt!”
“Se, Senior Sister!”
Those who were watching opened their eyes wide.
Before anyone knew it, an old man wearing a red martial suit had appeared behind Abbess Sohye, holding a sickle.
The old man twisted the corners of his mouth while looking at the man wearing the black martial suit.
“It was a good provocation. Ghost Shadow Squad Leader.”
The man called Ghost Shadow Squad Leader looked at the old man and smiled back.
“Fufu, I didn’t know she would show such a gap to this extent.”
“Isn’t it because her love for her disciples is so extreme?”
At the conversation containing ridicule, Abbess So-hye opened her eyes wide and stretched out her left hand.
However.
Tap!
The old man lightly jumped backward and dodged.
“Reason should always be kept cold, but you still haven’t understood it.”
At the old man’s words, Abbess So-hye gritted her teeth and tried to press her acupoints to stop the bleeding first.
“Not so fast!”
The Ghost Shadow Squad Leader rushed in.
The moment the sword swung toward Abbess So-hye’s neck reached close distance and was just about to touch it.
Swoooosh…
The Ghost Shadow Squad Leader flinched.
It was because plum blossom fragrance suddenly tickled his nose.
‘D, don’t tell me…?’
The moment he opened his eyes wide.
Slash!
A long bloodstain was carved diagonally from his shoulder blade to his waist.
Blood bloomed like flower petals.
And behind that.
A young man stood there with his sword hanging down.
Abbess So-hye and the nuns who confirmed his appearance opened their eyes wide.
“Plum Blossom Divine Hero!”
“Young Hero!”