Chapter 330: Darkness Returns (5)
Wooooong. Wooooooong.
The Yeon Clan’s Divine Elixir softly spat out a cry.
As he finished circulating his qi and adjusting his breathing, which approached nearly four shichen, there was a reaction from the Yeon Clan’s Divine Elixir. The healing of his internal injuries had reached its final stage.
“It is already morning.”
He had stayed up all night, but he wasn’t tired at all. It was because the Four Gods’ Qi, which had gained momentum, activated his internal organs and blew away his fatigue.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who stood up from his seat, headed straight to the training ground of the Evil-Annihilating Army.
As he approached the vicinity of the training ground, Muk Bi’s resounding voice could be heard.
“North! Kill!”
Chiriririring! Whoosh!
The wind shrieked at the murderous weapon techniques of the fifty soldiers.
Although the martial arts each of them used were different, surprisingly, the sense of unity of the formation itself was incredible.
Muk Bi shouted again.
“West! Press!”
Wooooosh! Rumble!
All the soldiers quickly and naturally changed direction.
This was also an amazing thing. The footwork they had learned was different, their skills were different, and their internal energy was also different, but from the moment they changed direction to the moment they swung their weapons, they moved as if they were one body.
They were showing ideal harmony through extreme training. They hadn’t used it in an actual battle yet, but their group combat ability seemed to have increased doubly compared to before.
‘Since when did they get to that point?’
Yeon Ho-jeong couldn’t hide his internal surprise.
He heard that they had disassembled some of the highest-grade formation techniques of the Zhuge Clan, combined their basics, and improved them to fit the Evil-Annihilating Army.
No matter how much they modified it to be easy to learn, considering the time and the gap in abilities among the members, it was a ridiculously fast achievement.
“Right!”
Swish!
The Evil-Annihilating Army, which had been storming in all directions for a long time, instantly lined up in the center of the training ground. It was a natural and clean movement.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled and approached the training ground.
Muk Bi smacked her lips.
“Are you here?”
“Yeah.”
“You come right as everything is finished.”
“Indeed. Of course, I didn’t aim for this.”
“Hmph.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at the Evil-Annihilating Army.
A few soldiers looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with welcoming eyes. However, no one opened their mouths. It was because the Formation Master had not ordered them to dismiss.
Muk Bi shouted.
“Dismiss.”
As if waiting, the soldiers relaxed their posture.
“Army Commander!”
“Wow! Hasn’t it been too long?”
“Where have you been playing to only come now?!”
“I’m going to forget your face, forget your face.”
The soldiers each expressed their gladness and approached Yeon Ho-jeong.
They were subordinates he was meeting after a really long time. A bright smile also filled Yeon Ho-jeong’s face after a long time.
“I’m sorry. I should always be with you, but there were a lot of things going on.”
If he grumbled as a joke but they responded like this, one would naturally feel awkward.
Usually, it’s like that.
“Of course you should! You forgot your responsibility!”
“Geez, he must have gone around eating good things secretly without us. Look at the fat on his face.”
“Did you perhaps go around beating up weak kids? You look radiant.”
Instead of feeling awkward, they took it a step further. At such appearances of the soldiers, Yeon Ho-jeong actually felt better.
“You brats. Do you know how busy I was being called here and there. The things I had to solve were not just one or two… Huh?”
Yeon Ho-jeong blinked his eyes.
“What’s that? Why is that guy here?”
At the end of the training ground, Gang-ryang was leaning against the stone wall. Gang-ryang smiled and waved his hand.
Ok-cheong said.
“We are taking turns sparring with swords with him. Brother Gang’s sword technique is amazing. Thanks to him, it is a great help to us. Of course, to himself as well.”
“Hoo, sparring with swords?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s smile deepened.
‘Commendable guy.’
He found a way to grow on his own. That was something much more important than talent.
At that time, Muk Bi intervened.
“Since you’ve neglected your duties quite a bit so far, how about showing your side as an Army Commander even now?”
“I should.”
“Right now.”
“Right now? How right now?”
The soldiers smiled meaningfully.
Muk Bi shouted.
“Right!”
Flutter!
The Evil-Annihilating Army moved to the end of the training ground and formed a formation.
It wasn’t that the ranks and files were perfectly aligned. At first glance, it was a natural lineup that seemed lax.
However, their temperament was exceptional.
Woooooong.
The cold mountain wind seemed to heat up in an instant.
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Muk Bi.
Muk Bi smiled, pulling up the corners of her mouth.
“There is no opponent as good as the Army Commander for our first actual battle, right? Please entertain us.”
Eventually, Yeon Ho-jeong also chuckled.
“I can’t stop you.”
He went up to the training ground and stood on the opposite side of the Evil-Annihilating Army. The training ground itself was so wide that the distance between them was twenty zhang.
Muk Bi asked.
“What about the Crazy Dragon Axe?”
“Do I have a reason to kill the kids.”
Clatter!
A blackish-gray iron chain flowed out from inside Yeon Ho-jeong’s sleeve.
“I’ll do it with this.”
“You’ll lose.”
“If I get hit, let’s say my skills were lacking. No matter how much it’s a spar like a real battle, I can’t blow off the kids’ limbs.”
“You are very considerate. I heard you broke the arm of that Shaolin monk named Beom-woon or Beom-ohn or whatever.”
“I didn’t cut off his arm, did I. So, when are you going to start?”
Muk Bi chuckled.
“East, Posture.”
Chaaang!
The soldiers each drew their weapons.
Their eyes changed instantly.
‘…’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s face also became serious.
‘Look at these guys?’
The eyes of the soldiers glaring at him were filled with fighting spirit and an imposing aura. Other than that, no other emotions could be seen.
They weren’t excited, but they hadn’t relaxed their tension either. The moment the formation unfolded, they would simply deal with the enemy strictly according to the formation.
They were trained like that.
“Good.”
Step.
Yeon Ho-jeong lowered his posture.
“Very good.”
Muk Bi spoke in a cold voice.
“Direct Attack Posture.”
Paaaaang!
As soon as Muk Bi’s order fell, the fifty soldiers of the Evil-Annihilating Army simultaneously rushed toward Yeon Ho-jeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was about to run to face them, was startled for a moment.
Woooooong!
It felt like an invisible energy was infiltrating his entire body, slowly tightening his bones, blood vessels, and muscles.
‘The formation power is…?!’
Strong.
Just by forming a formation and rushing in, an incredible spirit was emitted. And that spirit soon became intangible true qi, forming an atmospheric pressure that entangled the opponent’s physical body.
Simply swinging weapons wasn’t the only attack. Their positions, the momentum itself radiating with one mind and purpose, was another weapon.
There was no need to go easy on them, nor was there any face to save.
Whiiiiiing!
The Yeon Clan’s Divine Elixir rotated at a terrifying speed, spewing out formidable true qi.
Woooooong!
The White Tiger Qi, spewed out receiving the momentum of the Yeon Clan’s Divine Elixir and the Dragon Robe Divine Art, roared fiercely.
Roar!
It was as if a giant tiger the size of a house somewhere far away was roaring with determination. The cry of the Sovereign Tiger spreading beyond the training ground to a radius of tens of zhang caused a thrill.
Yeon Ho-jeong stepped forward forcefully.
Thump!
Along with a powerful single step, his left palm headed to the front. It was the Reverse Dragon Palm, a secret art of the Yeon Clan.
The Reverse Dragon Palm is excellent for attacking, but it was a supreme martial art whose true value was revealed when counterattacking.
Nevertheless, the reason Yeon Ho-jeong used the Reverse Dragon Palm was because he considered the formation power itself as an attack. And his thought was accurate.
Rumble!
The formation power and the palm force clashed, bursting a massive explosion.
It was an explosion louder than the sound of thunder. The intense shock slightly reduced the Evil-Annihilating Army’s charging speed, and Yeon Ho-jeong retreated three steps backward.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes glowed fiercely.
‘What incredible power.’
It was a qi wave poured out by fifty peak experts becoming one. Even though they hadn’t actually launched a physical attack, the Reverse Dragon Palm he had performed with some power was pushed back without showing much strength.
If it’s this much just with momentum, how strong will it be when their weapons actually clash?
Flicker!
The pure white strong wind was instantly dyed with blood-red flames.
At the same time, Yeon Ho-jeong’s body moved at an incredible speed.
Paaaang!
He advanced while raising red and white flames. It was the Blood Wing Sweeping Heavens of the Vermilion Bird Art.
Because the atmospheric pressure of the formation was so strong, the same speed as before didn’t come out, but it was still as fast as lightning. Yeon Ho-jeong instantly dashed into the front of the Evil-Annihilating Army.
He forcefully swung his fist. His footwork was the Vermilion Bird, and his fist technique was the Sovereign Tiger’s Nine Thunderclaps of the White Tiger.
Yeo-guk, who was at the forefront, swung his sword coldly.
Claaaaang!
‘Gasp!’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body staggered greatly.
‘What is this?!’
It was a terrifying power.
An intense pain remained in his fist wrapped with the Flood Dragon Chain. Even though it was a fist armed with the Dragon Robe Divine Art and White Tiger Qi!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body rotated terrifyingly.
Papapapang!
It was a kick technique to check five soldiers at the same time. It was not a practical close-combat kick technique, but Azure Dragon Crossing the Sea of the Azure Dragon Art, a free form.
However.
Bang!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body was bounced backward.
The power of the soldiers was so strong. If he had gritted his teeth and applied force, he could have kicked the chests of two of them, but even so, it would end with contusions. In exchange, sword cuts would have been engraved on Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.
‘This can’t be.’
Yeon Ho-jeong was truly greatly surprised.
‘Can they gather qi of different natures into one and amplify it just by training in one formation?!’
Even during his time as the Dark Emperor, he had never experienced such a formation.
Of course, it was not a formation useful on a battlefield where screams and flesh flew about. They might somehow be able to block up to two hundred, no, three hundred enemies, but beyond that, its effectiveness was bound to decrease.
However, in a many-versus-one match, the story was different.
Muk Bi shouted.
“Slash!!”
Flash!
The radiances of blades and swords cleaved the empty air.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body scattered like smoke.
Pababababang!
Dozens of blade and sword marks appeared on the floor of the training ground.
Considering the original skills of each individual soldier, it was a ridiculous power. They were amplifying the power of each other’s true qi to maximize the power of their Force Emission.
‘This is no joke.’
Swish!
Yeon Ho-jeong, floating high in the empty air, before he knew it, the Flood Dragon Chain was held long in his hand.
Muk Bi shouted.
“Heaven Pierce!!”
Flash!
Dozens of blade and sword qi, and over ten fist winds poured toward Yeon Ho-jeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong rapidly rotated the Flood Dragon Chain.
Papapapang!
Sword qi and fist winds smashed and scattered like bursting firecrackers on the defensive barrier of the Flood Dragon Chain rotating at incredible speed.
‘Keugh!’
Thick blood vessels bulged on Yeon Ho-jeong’s forehead.
Even though he squeezed out the power of the Dragon Robe Divine Art to block it, the shock was transmitted to his entire upper body. Even if power was added, since there was a difference in the density of internal energy, there shouldn’t be much difficulty in blocking it, but his whole body throbbed as if he was bruised.
Whiiiiiiing!
A pure white strong wind arose over Yeon Ho-jeong’s entire body. He had raised the White Tiger Qi to its absolute limit.
“I’m really going.”
Paaaaang!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body fell at a tremendous speed.
Kwang!
It was a Thousand Catty Drop powerful enough to shake the entire floor of the training ground.
He, who had descended to the earth in one breath, swung the Flood Dragon Chain again.
Papapang! Clang!
The Flood Dragon Chain was strong.
Whipping while occupying all directions as if swinging a whip, the sound of air bursting rang out even before reaching the striking point. Its speed and power were beyond imagination.
And yet it was blocked.
Chiring! Clang! Clang, clang, clang!
The peak sword techniques of Mount Hua, Kunlun, and Wudang primarily blocked the shockwaves of the Flood Dragon Chain.
Woooooosh! Papapang!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body swayed. He was hit by palm force and fist wind that pierced through the gap.
Although it was a glancing blow, the impact was considerable. If his reaction speed had been slightly slower, they were precise attacks that almost shook his Three Dantians.
‘Amazing.’
On Yeon Ho-jeong’s face, who was attacking the Evil-Annihilating Army with the Flood Dragon Chain and dynamic fists and kicks, a feeling of enjoyment emerged for the first time in a while.
‘To reach this extent in a short time…!’
It was then.
Kakang!!
It was a chilling sound. It was the sound piercing through the circular defense of the Flood Dragon Chain.
Startled, Yeon Ho-jeong looked back.
The best practical spear technique of the Emei Sect, the Demon-Subduing Spear of Song Yeon-gyeong, who was said to have the best skills among the secular disciples, flew in like lightning and aimed for his neck.
It was too late to dodge. Yeon Ho-jeong’s two arms bent like snakes and wrapped around the iron spear.
Formidable Force Emission burst from his two hands.
Paaang! Smack!
In the process of deflecting the iron spear, he was hit by three fist winds on his back.
Gulp!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who vomited blood once, stepped on the White Tiger’s Sovereign Step.
Kwaaaang!
“Ugh!”
“Th-this!”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who bounced off five soldiers with an ignorant advance, quickly reached the end of the training ground.
“Phew.”
Yeon Ho-jeong wiping the blood flowing from his mouth.
His expression gradually became dyed with joy.
“This is good!”
Muk Bi, who was smiling while looking at the training ground from afar, instantly hardened her expression.
‘Uh?’
Her extremely trained eyes captured Yeon Ho-jeong’s gaze.
‘What is this?’
A gaze gradually being dyed with pitch-black darkness.
It was a gaze she had never seen before, feeling a terrifying madness.
‘…!!’
In an instant, Muk Bi felt goosebumps all over her body. The qi Yeon Ho-jeong emitted gradually began to take on a murderous intent.
“Come at me, you brats!”
Dash!
The Evil-Annihilating Army rushed in at a terrifying speed again.
Muk Bi shouted without realizing it.
“Stop!!”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s fist pierced the empty air.
Rumble!