Chapter 145: Chapter 145
The Kunlun Sect, where a few small pavilions were all that existed.
In that place, now made shabby with even those burned to the ground, a suffocating silence settled.
Thud, thud.
While Cheon Woo-jin walked.
Neither the orthodox martial artists nor the demons of the Demonic Cult could move in the slightest. Nor was it that he flared his momentum to pressure them, or took a threatening posture as if ready to attack at any moment.
He merely walked.
Where Cheon Woo-jin’s steps came to a halt was before the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect, whose torso had been cleaved in two.
Having lived his entire life in bitter grief, even in death, he was looking up at Cheon Woo-jin with eyes that had not shaken off all of that resentment.
Cheon Woo-jin placed his hand upon his face.
After closing his eyes, he stood up once more.
Around the time that series of actions concluded.
Someone among the crowd of demonic martial artists shouted thus.
“S-Strike…!”
Although it was a voice squeezed out to shake off fear, even its end trembled. Because of that, no one moved. Rather, the tension on the field only grew tighter.
Cheon Woo-jin looked at them with his characteristically impassive gaze.
Dark Heavens Qi, blossoming like flames from his dangling hands, soon spread branches luxuriantly into the surroundings.
Whoosh!
Blackish flames spanning a ten-foot radius flared up.
It was so ferocious that the red flames that burned down the entire Kunlun Sect paled in comparison, an ominous energy that sent instinctive anxiety creeping through even demonic martial artists who had practiced demonic arts all their lives.
Cheon Woo-jin took a light step forward.
To the demonic martial artists, that brief moment felt like eternity.
Raising their vigilance to the extreme, they observed every single one of Cheon Woo-jin’s movements with tremendous concentration.
Soon, the moment his taking step touched the ground.
Boom!
A massive crater formed in the spot his foot touched.
At the same time, Cheon Woo-jin’s figure vanished.
The demonic martial artists widened their eyes in shock.
‘W-Where did he…’
In an instant, a breeze was felt.
And before wide-open eyes, everything turned pitch-black.
More accurately, something drove into the eyeballs.
Squelch!
Cheon Woo-jin’s fingers blinded the demonic martial artist. There was no time for him to feel pain. Before he could even let out a scream, his body tilted into empty air.
Soon, an indescribable wind pressure was felt against his back, and he slammed violently into something. Because it was so intense, his body snapped in half like the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect, and the three or four demonic martial artists he slammed into were the same.
Before anyone realized, a sword was held in Cheon Woo-jin’s hand.
It belonged to the demonic martial artist who had snapped in half and died.
The reddish blade symbolizing the Demonic Cult was seized by Dark Heavens Qi and dyed pitch-black.
Not all the demonic martial artists were fools. One among them with some grit kicked off the ground and charged toward Cheon Woo-jin’s back.
As if having eyes in the back of his head, Cheon Woo-jin held the sword in a reverse grip and thrust backward.
Thud!
At the unexpected attack, the charging demonic martial artist’s solar plexus was pierced straight through.
Soon, Cheon Woo-jin began taking action in earnest.
His movements were simple.
Roughly kicking off the ground, he closed in swiftly.
He slashed, thrust, and tore.
Yet because it was so fast, the demonic martial artists could not see.
The saber qi and sword qi unleashed against him split futilely before a single thin blade.
Not long after the slaughter began, the demonic martial artists sank into helplessness. Beyond terror, feelings of awe even began to rise. For the Heavenly Demon Cult was fundamentally a religion that revered martial might.
Among them, those with high religious devotion chose suicide to cast off that impious emotion.
“Long live the Heavenly Demon, let ten thousand demons submit! Long live the Heavenly Demon, let ten thousand demons submit…”
Muttering rapidly, one demonic martial artist raised his blade toward himself. Soon, he shut his eyes tightly and thrust the sword toward his own heart.
However, the sword could not pierce his heart.
A power far greater than his faith stopped the sword. The demonic martial artist opened his eyes. Before him stood the Heartless Wanderer with an impassive expression. The moment he looked into those abyss-like eyes.
The unshakeable ideology he had believed in without doubt his entire life wavered. An evil far greater than that great and sacred existence called the Heavenly Demon stood before his eyes.
Not the crimson sky revered by the Heavenly Demon Cult, but a pitch-black sky where nothing existed.
“D-Dark Heavens…”
Cheon Woo-jin frowned.
Soon, he applied force to the hand gripping the blade and snapped the sword. Naturally, the broken blade was driven straight into the demonic martial artist’s neck.
Cheon Woo-jin did not grant them even a noble sacrifice.
Because they were people who did not possess the qualification.
.
.
.
It did not take even a few breaths to slaughter all the demonic martial artists. And understandably so, because in the first place, the caliber of the demonic martial artists was not all that high.
With their strength, they could not have killed the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect.
It meant there was another high master.
Looking over the ruined Kunlun Sect, Cheon Woo-jin asked.
“Is Dok-ra-su dead?”
Surely Dok-ra-su had remained at the Kunlun Sect. He had even ascended to a new realm by assimilating the Sun-Rivaling Flower. If Dok-ra-su had fought risking his life, there was also a possibility that no one would have died until Cheon Woo-jin arrived.
At the silence of the Hidden Dragon Squad members, Cheon Woo-jin asked once more.
“Where is Dok-ra-su?”
“…He fled.”
Song Yi-yeon replied with a hollow voice.
As if having anticipated it, Cheon Woo-jin let out a small sigh.
* * *
Shortly after Cheon Woo-jin left for the Qinghai Branch.
Those remaining at the Kunlun Sect stood at the cliff, watching the burning sight of the Qinghai Branch.
“Sect Leader, it seems we must go to the Qinghai Branch. Since the Squad Leader went, the squad members cannot just remain here waiting.”
Song Yi-yeon spoke thus.
Namgung Jin and Jin Un had also packed their respective swords.
Although the patient, the Courier Hall Master, was here, since the Sect Leader and martial artists of the Kunlun Sect were guarding him, they thought there would be no great danger.
Just as the three offered their courtesies to the Sect Leader and were about to depart with rather solemn hearts.
Black things climbing the cliff exceedingly fast came into view.
At first, they thought they were something like cockroaches. Because they were very small, fast, and above all, their numbers were so pitch-black that they covered the rocky mountain.
However, the moment they channeled their internal energy to check once more.
Demonic martial artists climbing the rocky mountain terrifyingly with mad eyes entered their vision. Soon, they began pouring oil and setting fires all over the rocky mountain. As if to ensure that no one could descend from Mount Kunlun.
The demonic martial artists who climbed while setting fires soon arrived at the Kunlun Sect.
Those who met them first were the Hidden Dragon Squad members and the martial artists of the Kunlun Sect.
Fortunately, though the number of demonic martial artists was exceedingly large, their realms were not high.
Song Yi-yeon, Jin Un, and Namgung Jin were somewhat overwhelmed by the opponent’s sheer numbers, but they responded calmly with the help of the Kunlun Sect martial artists.
Soon, Dok-ra-su appeared. His expression was full of triumph. Having tasted a new realm by taking the Sun-Rivaling Flower, Dok-ra-su unleashed poison arts, which were already advantageous against large numbers, to his heart’s content.
Each time his hand swept out, poison qi heavily imbued with extreme yang energy burned the demonic martial artists to death.
“Hahaha! I am the contemporary world’s foremost…”
Dok-ra-su paused. Thinking about it, as long as the Poison King was alive, he could not yet claim to be the world’s foremost.
Thus, he slurred the end of his words subtly.
“The world’s sec… mmph! Poison Master!”
For a moment, the demonic martial artists wondered what kind of nonsense that was, but at least the green glow gleaming menacingly amidst the blackish demonic qi felt quite terrifying.
In this way, with Dok-ra-su’s joining, the battle tilted.
Despite the overwhelming difference in numbers, in a chaotic melee, the advantage created by a single poison arts master was massive.
The Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect also spurred on the slaying of demons.
Each time the Sect Leader’s arrows were loosed, demonic martial artists died. He displayed a bizarre movement technique that shifted directions in midair as if flying.
It was the Cloud Dragon Eight Great Forms, the peerless movement technique unique to the Kunlun Sect. Once leaping into the air, one changed direction a total of eight times in midair. However, because its trajectory was so dazzling that it was utterly unpredictable, it was difficult to counter even while watching with one’s eyes.
In this manner, after the Sect Leader changed directions seven times while slaughtering demonic martial artists.
Around the time he launched his final leap.
Swish!
A massive energy surged forward.
The Sect Leader turned his head to check, but because it was his final leap, he could no longer change direction.
Soon, that massive energy pierced through the Sect Leader’s waist.
Thud, thud.
The torso cleaved in two in midair fell to the ground with a slight time difference.
In an instant, the area fell silent.
The Hidden Dragon Squad members, Dok-ra-su, and the Kunlun Sect martial artists all stared at the Sect Leader’s corpse as if they could not possibly believe it.
Soon, an old man descended onto the field.
He was an existence who swayed the atmosphere of the battlefield merely by revealing his presence. A realm called the Realm Beyond the Heavens in the Central Plains, and the Realm of Supreme Demonic Might in the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The stooped old man was Yeo Hu-in, Patriarch of the Yeo Clan.
The Yeo Clan was one of the six families called the pillars of the Demonic Cult, beings who stood at opposite poles to the Five Great Clans of the Righteous Path.
Having severed the Kunlun Sect Leader in two with a single blow, he looked over the Hidden Dragon Squad members, the Kunlun Sect martial artists, and Dok-ra-su in turn with a bored gaze.
Dok-ra-su, who met his eyes at the end, flinched heavily.
He was also a martial artist who had weathered all kinds of storms in the martial world.
He realized instinctively. Even though he had assimilated the Sun-Rivaling Flower completely, this was a high master he could never face. This remained true even if the Hidden Dragon Squad members and the greenhorns of Kunlun helped him.
‘…At this level, he must be at least the Patriarch of one of the Six Demonic Families.’
Dok-ra-su shook his head. To face the Patriarch of one of the Six Demonic Families, at least his younger brother, the Poison King, had to come to even attempt a contest.
His judgment was swift, and his actions were even faster.
Pouring out poison qi in front of him, Dok-ra-su immediately turned around and began to flee. In the midst of that, he took along the Divine Physician who had been treating the Courier Hall Master. In any case, to treat the Poison King’s dementia, the Divine Physician was an absolute necessity.
‘I… I cannot die here.’
When he had finally obtained the Sun-Rivaling Flower.
When he had finally become a Yang Poison Master.
When his younger brother’s treatment was right before his eyes.
‘How could I possibly die!’
Although his nephew…
No, although he would not receive Cheon Woo-jin’s help, in any case, as long as he stayed alive, he could attempt the treatment even by raising his realm on his own.
Thinking so, Dok-ra-su merely ran looking straight ahead.
The faces of the Hidden Dragon Squad members and the Kunlun Sect martial artists, tinged with futility and a sense of betrayal, kept coming to mind, but he struggled to erase them from his head.
He had originally lived his entire life running away. Yes, this was the kind of person that suited him. Since when had he ever gotten along with the Righteous Path bastards?
In this manner, Dok-ra-su fled completely from Mount Kunlun.
Watching that sight, Patriarch Yeo clicked his tongue.
“What is that pathetic bastard?”
Because he was so pathetic, he didn’t even feel the urge to give chase.
It felt as though he had seen that fellow somewhere before, but…
After pondering for a moment, Patriarch Yeo soon shook his head.
“Looking at it, only bug-like fellows remain. Take care of them yourselves, burn everything to the ground, and return.”
He had personally killed the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect, and the pathetic fellow using poison arts had fled long ago. What remained were a few Kunlun Sect martial artists and three greenhorns who had not even lost their baby fat.
Even without this, while the young masters were fighting a bloody battle for the throne, the fact that he, the Patriarch of the Yeo Clan, had to come to such a place was exceedingly displeasing.
One of the young masters chosen by the Cult Leader was the eldest son of the Yeo Clan.
He was in a situation where he had to make the eldest son of the Yeo Clan the Young Cult Leader without fail. If he failed to take the seat, he would die. That was the succession battle among the young masters of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Waving his hand casually, Patriarch Yeo departed.
However, what he had not anticipated was:
That the potential of those greenhorns who had not even lost their baby fat finally shone brightly in this battle through crossing the line between life and death countless times.
And that the demonic martial artists dispatched to shake the Qinghai Branch had been torn to pieces by an existence beyond common sense.
Song Yi-yeon endured with the resolve to protect his master, the Courier Hall Master. The Pure Yang Boy Art, the most pure internal art under heaven, held dominance over demonic arts.
Jin Un felt purer fury than anyone else at the fact that Mount Kunlun, called the origin of all Daoist sects under heaven, was dyed in the blood of Daoists. Plum blossoms fluttered ceaselessly upon the barren Mount Kunlun where only rocks existed.
Namgung Jin kept recalling for some reason the smile his aunt, the Sword Maiden, had shown for the first time in his life. For that reason alone, he could not possibly stop his sword. Even though his internal energy had hit rock bottom long ago, the Namgung Clan’s ultimate technique, the Emperor Sword Form, unfolded endlessly, however unrefined.
In this way, the three endured through anger toward the Demonic Cult, the desire for survival, and grief for the Kunlun Sect.
Even in that short battle, they crossed their limits countless times, ascending steps time and again as their realms rose bit by bit.
All three were geniuses overshadowed by Cheon Woo-jin.
However.
No matter how outstanding as martial artists they were, they were still at an age far from thirty. If several decades passed, they were talents who would gaze upon the apex of the Righteous Path, but right now, they were merely young saplings.
“Phew…”
They had slaughtered dozens of demonic martial artists.
Naturally, their internal energy hit rock bottom.
The weapons held in their hands were as heavy as Mount Tai, and their legs would not move as if someone were pulling them down.
Squelch!
The first to suffer was Jin Un.
His shoulder was pierced by the sword of a demonic martial artist.
Gritting his teeth in pain, Jin Un thrust his Plum Blossom Sword. However, the blade failed to reach. Just as he was engulfed in despair, a pure white blade severed the demonic martial artist’s neck.
It was Song Yi-yeon’s White Flower Saber.
Jin Un and Song Yi-yeon’s eyes met. They felt it instinctively. That all three had met a limit they could no longer overcome.
And then.
Cheon Woo-jin appeared.
* * *
“That is how it happened.”
Having explained the situation, Song Yi-yeon collapsed onto his knees on the ground. Not only did he lack the strength to stand any longer, but seeing the carnage in his surroundings, his legs gave out.
Both body and mind were thoroughly worn down.
The gruesome sight of the Kunlun Daoists entered his vision.
Tears streamed down Song Yi-yeon’s pale cheeks.
“If I… if I were as strong as you, Young Hero, this would not have happened. In the end, the ones sacrificed once more were the Kunlun Sect. As a member of the Martial Alliance, I survived without even shame. They are so pitiful, and I feel so sorry that I cannot bear it.”
Jin Un and Namgung Jin also wore the same expression, merely without shedding tears. There was no fault of theirs. They had simply survived.
Even so, looking upon the corpses of the Kunlun Daoists, they felt sorry and distressed as members of the Martial Alliance and martial artists of the Righteous Path.
Cheon Woo-jin looked at the three for a moment, then gazed at the Qinghai Branch beyond the cliff. The fire also appeared to have been completely extinguished.
In the first place, if it was a high master capable of killing the Kunlun Sect Leader, the Hidden Dragon Squad members and Dok-ra-su could not have matched him even if they attacked simultaneously.
Looking at the Hidden Dragon Squad members for a moment, Cheon Woo-jin asked in a low voice.
“Where did that high master go?”
“…”
The three raised their heads and looked at Cheon Woo-jin.
That high master had vanished long ago. No matter how extraordinary Cheon Woo-jin was, he would not be able to pursue him. Furthermore, how could they easily send their friend Cheon Woo-jin after such a high master?
However, Cheon Woo-jin asked once more.
“Where did he go?”
Soon, the three looked toward one place.
To the west, the direction where the Heavenly Demon Cult was situated.
Cheon Woo-jin also looked in that direction for a moment, then took two or three steps before vanishing into thin air.