Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Ant Hell
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"Damn it all! Is there really no other way!?"
"W-We’re searching for a method, but none of us here have deep knowledge of mechanisms—"
"Gui Jegal! Doesn’t the Nine Dragons Branch Family have a Gui Jegal? Bring him here!"
"The area’s too chaotic, so we’re still trying to locate him! Just give us a little more time—"
"What nonsense is this? Move faster! The longer this drags on, the more danger your branch leader’s in!!"
Do-sa Division Leader Han In-su let out a deep sigh as he watched the Lion Beast King rampage like a wild animal.
Even just after the sect leader had sparred with Un Hwi, he’d felt like he was soaring through the clouds.
Finally, the sect leader had stepped onto the cusp of the pinnacle realm he’d longed for, now poised to surpass the sacred domain.
Han In-su knew better than anyone how much the sect leader had agonized and strived since his defeat at the hands of the Azure Sky Sword Emperor.
For the Lion Sect disciples, the greatest joy wasn’t that they’d gained an absolute expert rivaling the Ten Great Masters of the world—it was seeing their lord smile.
Hadn’t his once razor-sharp temper softened considerably?
The sight of the senior disciples’ stunned faces, as if they were seeing a different man, was still vivid in his mind.
Yet now the Lion Beast King had cast aside that brief positive change and reverted to his old self.
No, he was unleashing a ferocity beyond anything before, his murderous intent so savage that even standing beside him was a trial.
Small wonder the less skilled disciples were pale-faced or retching discreetly.
If they let him go on like this, that killing intent might twist into heart demons.
And it was all because Un Hwi had suddenly vanished.
How bewildered they’d been when the Black Bone Lion King and the other puppets disappeared without a trace.
No matter how keenly they sharpened their senses, they detected nothing—as if he’d evaporated from the world.
They knew it was some formation trick, but being unable to act and just stand there helplessly was the problem.
The Lion Beast King was howling for a formation master, but where could they find one amid this chaos?
They couldn’t dare leave their posts, lest Un Hwi reappear gravely injured.
Stuck in limbo, unable to advance or retreat.
All they could do was wait for the enemies to dispel the formation and emerge.
"You cowardly bastards! When you can’t win one-on-one, you gang up with numbers to bully the righteous! And you dare call yourselves martial artists!?"
The Lion Beast King’s aura roared toward the sky, truly like beholding the king of beasts in the flesh.
"If you’ve laid a finger on my sworn brother, I won’t let it stand……!! I’ll rip the heads off every last demonic cult scum!"
His golden lion aura spread like a spiderweb, sharp as his blade.
Gulp!
It was then, as the Do-sa Division disciples fervently prayed for Un Hwi’s safety.
Riiip!
The air tore open as if sliced by a sword.
"The formation’s collapsing!"
"The enemies are coming out!"
"Do-sa Division, form up!"
The Do-sa Division swiftly arrayed into the Demon-Slaying Lion Formation.
The Lion Beast King gripped his Fierce Lion Blade tightly, glaring with bloodshot eyes.
The small rift yawned wide, spilling out what lay within.
He swung to strike—then froze, eyes bulging.
"Huh? Sworn brother?"
"Brother, you’re safe!"
He’d expected a horde of puppets to pour out, but only Un Hwi emerged.
Thud!
The Lion Beast King landed lightly and quickly scanned Un Hwi’s body.
"Any injuries? Hurt anywhere??"
"As you see, I’m fine. Oh, this blood isn’t mine."
"What are you talking about? You’re covered in wounds!!"
The Lion Beast King recoiled at the gash on his forearm.
His face twisted as if the world had ended.
He looked ready to vent fury on his sworn brother’s murderers.
It was a wonder flames didn’t erupt from his mouth.
Han In-su hurried over to assess the injury.
A severe wound would be disastrous, and if poisoned by puppet corpse toxin, treatment was urgent.
Above all, he couldn’t bear watching the Lion Beast King rage any longer.
But—
‘…This… is an injury……?’
It was an injury, technically.
So tiny—a mere scratch—you’d miss it without tilting your head.
No, couldn’t you just call it a scrape……?
Han In-su meticulously checked for overlooked wounds or internal damage from some technique, but found nothing.
The Lion Beast King was genuinely furious over this scrape.
"……."
"……."
"……."
The other disciples, confirming the injury themselves, fell into profound silence.
‘Brother-obsessed idiot…….’
Somehow, it felt wrong to mention the sect leader here.
"I swore on my honor! If a single hair on my precious sworn brother’s jade body was harmed, I’d crush every demonic head!!"
"I’m really fine—"
"I decide that! Sworn brother, just rest here quietly!"
"……."
"More importantly, where’d those scoundrels go? The ones who kidnapped you!"
Un Hwi didn’t mention how those scoundrels had all ended up beheaded by the golden chains or devoured by the toad. He answered calmly.
"They fled, it seems."
"What? They ran?"
"Yes. They were trapped in some strange formation, arguing fiercely, and I thought it too dangerous to stay… Then they all suddenly scattered like startled animals after hearing something."
"?"
"I found it odd too, but thanks to that, I escaped unharmed."
"???"
Doubt clouded the Lion Beast King’s face.
With his vast rivers-and-lakes experience, he couldn’t fathom why the Heavenly Mountain devils would abandon a captured target and vanish.
It implied some unavoidable circumstance on their end, but nothing came to mind.
Of course, Un Hwi might have defeated them single-handedly.
‘But that’s impossible, isn’t it? Sure, my sworn brother’s achievements outshine his peers, but the foe was the Black Bone Lion King, sect leader of the Seventy-Two Earthly Sects. No chance of victory. And with those bizarre puppets? Death was the only outcome.’
Even emotionally shaken, the Lion Beast King could judge the situation coolly.
Un Hwi was still at the peak realm.
A step from super-peak, but the gap was vast.
Far from enough to capture the Black Bone Lion King.
Moreover, if Un Hwi had used some stratagem to defeat them, he’d boast proudly—no reason to hide it.
It’d be his chance to spread the fame of the Resurrection Half-Wicked beyond Sichuan to the world.
Perhaps even yielding the title of Sichuan’s top young expert from Yi Cheolsan.
Thus, the Lion Beast King harbored no doubt about Un Hwi’s words.
Un Hwi said,
"This is just my personal hunch, but—"
"Got some inkling?"
The Lion Beast King itched to track them down and smash their skulls.
"Maybe they heard your fierce lion roar and tucked tail?"
"Huh?"
It was too earnest to be a joke.
"No matter their strength, it’s only impressive against weaklings like us. To you, gazing toward the sacred domain, they’re mere demonic rabble that’d scatter like autumn leaves before one majestic swing of your blade."
"Th-That’s true?"
"So they must’ve been terrified deep down, scared shitless. Unsure when you’d tear through their formation and harvest their necks like autumn rice."
"Harvest…?"
"Yes. Weren’t you just about to charge in yourself?"
"F-Formation entrance? Ah! R-Right! H-Hahaha! A mere devil formation can’t fool this brother’s lion-sharp eyes!!"
His eyes shook violently for a moment, but the Do-sa disciples discreetly looked away.
"So they tried to kill me but chickened out midway and fled. Facing you, they’d suffer massive losses. Hell, before capturing me, their own sect was on the brink of collapse. No time for missions when survival’s at stake."
"Hmm! Your insight rings true, brother!"
"Demonic grunts have no loyalty to speak of. Self-preservation comes first."
"Spot on! This brother can only admire—nay, bow in awe—to your sharp insight piercing the foes’ hearts and plights!"
"What nonsense? Without you coming to save this weakling, even this much wouldn’t have been possible."
"Still impressive!"
"They say like brother, like brother. I’ve just picked up scraps peeking over your shoulder. I learn from you every time."
"Is that so? Hahaha! Having a brother like you brings this one true joy!"
"I’m honored beyond three lifetimes to have a brother like you. Must’ve saved a nation in my past life to meet you."
"Thinking the same! Splendid!"
"Brother!"
"Brother!!"
Embracing, they danced in circles, trading praises.
"Ehehehehe!"
"Eho ho ho ho!"
Their laughter filled the compound.
Han In-su and the other Do-sa disciples averted their gazes.
Somehow, intruding on their world felt taboo.
Even the ghost puppets shook their heads in unison.
* * *
"Shouldn’t we head back now? Talk’s cheap, but their forces aren’t to be trifled with. We’d best hurry and assist."
"Please wait a moment."
"What for?"
"Just a bit."
The Lion Beast King tilted his head, baffled.
I smiled silently and extended my hand.
On cue, Old Demon Ma’s voice echoed from above.
「Are you planning to intervene directly in the Nine Dragons Binding Formation?」
‘Yeah. Need to wrap this up fast.’
The Nine Dragons Binding Formation blanketed the Nine Dragons Branch Family compound.
Designed by Gui Jegal and me for the anti-demonic battle, infused covertly with Ghost Prince Book spells to favor me alone.
It was thanks to this that I’d kidnapped the Black Bone Lion King into the Wicked Ghost Hell Formation.
Now, using intel beaten from him, I planned to remodel the Nine Dragons Binding Formation.
Add spells to nullify or reverse the Soul-Ice Possession Great Law, and the North Sea Old Freaks would crumble on their own.
Their main force was those living puppets, after all.
I’d turn this place into their ant hell.
They could enter freely, but once in, no escape……
I flung open the Violet Desire Demon Eye and traced the air with my index finger.
The hidden sub-world revealed itself, streams of qi tangled like yarn.
I reached deep inside.
Clank!
Something turned with a grind.
Reincarnation Demon God Chronicles