Chapter 145. Myeol Sa Army (5)
Splat!
Yeon Hojeong turned his head after cleaving through the last Yin Evil Squad member in close range with an axe strike like splitting firewood.
Clang! Clang!
The iron chains that had bound his massive upper body snapped into pieces and fell to the ground.
Neighhh!
The horse let out a panicked whinny. It was terrified by the ominous aura emanating from the man it carried.
That was when the man swung his massive fist.
Splat!
The horse's head exploded, and it folded its legs like it was collapsing. The man dismounted naturally onto the ground.
"Hoo."
Exhaling roughly once, he stared blankly ahead. He had killed the horse without hesitation, yet now he seemed like a soulless puppet. A bizarre figure.
He exuded an indescribable ominous presence, yet his eyes were dull and vacant. At a glance, he almost seemed like an idiot.
Yeon Hojeong's gaze deepened.
What the hell is this guy?
Before he moved, his presence had been utterly faint. But after breaking the chains, he was radiating a powerful aura rivaling any master.
He's strong.
After his regression, the strongest foe he'd faced was Myeong Cheon. But Myeong Cheon had practiced a mutated Vermilion Bird Art. His realm was comparable to Yeon Hojeong's father's, but he was helpless against Yeon Hojeong's techniques, which countered it perfectly.
Moreover, his upper dantian had been ruined by Vermilion Bird Qi from the start, preventing him from showing his full strength. That was why Myeong Cheon lost to Yeon Hojeong.
Excluding Myeong Cheon, the most memorable master was Mong Ui. He'd captured him in an instant with Muk Bi, but at the time, even in a one-on-one frontal clash, victory wasn't guaranteed against Mong Ui's skill.
This man felt even stronger than Mong Ui, judging purely by his aura.
At least one realm above.
Then, A-gwang shouted.
"Pyeong-san! As your master, I command you! Kill them all!"
Whoosh!
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the hulking man called Pyeong-san appeared before Yeon Hojeong.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
Incredible speed!
Boom!
Pyeong-san's fist shattered the ground. Lightning-fast movement and brutish fist technique. If Yeon Hojeong hadn't retreated three steps in time, his left shoulder would have been pulverized.
A-gwang's eyes widened.
"Deal with that guy later! Kill those Nine Great Sect trash first!"
Bang!
Pyeong-san charged at Yeon Hojeong again. Astonishingly, he ignored A-gwang's order. His previously vacant eyes were fixed solely on Yeon Hojeong.
"Th-that bastard!"
A-gwang panicked. Meanwhile, Yeon Hojeong inwardly sighed in relief.
Better this way.
If a master like this targeted the later-generation disciples with intent, it would spell trouble. He wouldn't let anyone die, but it risked letting their leader escape.
In other words...
One-on-one. Just take this guy down.
The conclusion guided Yeon Hojeong's body instantly.
Flash!
Splat!
Pyeong-san's body shook violently. Yeon Hojeong, having shoved him away with a high kick, surged forward like a gale and unleashed Reversed Dragon Palm.
Dooong!
Not a strike, but a repelling force. Pyeong-san's massive frame floated up and flew backward.
Good.
The threat to the later-generation disciples had receded further. Now he could go all out.
Boom!
A powerful stance that could shake Mount Tai, accompanied by a white whirlwind. At last, he drew upon the Four Gods Martial Arts: the White Tiger Art's Tiger King Nine Thunder Strikes unfolded.
Vroooom!
The Gwang Yong Bu slicing through the air targeted Pyeong-san's upper body like a tiger's paw.
Madness flickered in Pyeong-san's eyes.
Craaaack!
He countered the ferocious seven strikes with both fists.
Splat!
Faint blood smeared Pyeong-san's fists. He hadn't fully deflected the Gwang Yong Bu's aggressive assault.
But that alone was astonishing. Yeon Hojeong's internal energy, skill, and the Gwang Yong Bu—which could earn the title of divine weapon—would obliterate most masters in five exchanges. Blocking it bare-handed was no small feat.
Unimaginable power concentrated in those fists.
Their martial arts clashed head-on.
Craaaack! Rumble!
Over the resonant clang of metal on metal came thunderous roars. No evasion or counter—just pure, combative fury. A raw clash of strength bent solely on smashing the opponent.
Splatter!
Pyeong-san's forearms split open, drenched in blood. His skin couldn't withstand the White Tiger Qi's savage pressure.
Shrrrip!
Yeon Hojeong's sleeves tore to shreds. His exposed arms were as bloodied as Pyeong-san's.
A deadlock of monstrous strength. Pure power alone wouldn't decide the victor.
Channeling the Tiger King's momentum, Yeon Hojeong unleashed relentless assaults before suddenly spinning his body.
Whap-whap-whap!
Shifting from power to speed. Kicks to thighs, flanks, arms, and shoulders stalled Pyeong-san's attacks.
Opening!
A flawlessly linked gap. Yeon Hojeong seized it.
Whoosh!
In an instant, he burrowed into Pyeong-san's guard. Even in a position awkward for swinging the axe, his killing intent burned fierce.
Pyeong-san instinctively raised his knee.
That was when the white gale transformed into the Black Tortoise's shell.
Bang!
The immense rebound shattered Pyeong-san's stance effortlessly. Absolute defense: the Black Tortoise Qi's North Heaven Twelve Walls.
Immediate offense switch? No.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Stamping forward with the fearsome White Tiger advance, the shell's form grew clearer atop Yeon Hojeong's upper body. Astonishingly, he propelled forward with Black Tortoise Qi at its limit.
Not White Tiger or Vermilion Bird, but defensive Black Tortoise for attack.
Pyeong-san's face darkened with the black-blue glow.
Boom!
Pyeong-san's body soared and crashed into the ground.
"Puhak!"
Blood gushed from his nose and mouth. The North Heaven Twelve Walls' rebound had inflicted severe internal injuries.
Good.
Perfect defense becomes invincible offense. Too heavy for casual use, but timed right, it yielded this power.
Plenty of results.
As time passed, his shifts between arts grew swifter, his body tougher to handle the strain. Before arriving at the Martial Alliance, two months of refining his arts had elevated Yeon Hojeong's prowess to this level.
And it didn't end there.
Roooar!
Flames erupted from Yeon Hojeong's eyes, once shrouded in northern darkness, blazing with solar killing intent.
"Graaaah!"
Pyeong-san rose spewing blood and charged again. Resorting once more to power and destructive fists.
Whoosh!
Confusion flickered in Pyeong-san's eyes. Yeon Hojeong had vanished from before him.
Where?
Flash!
Yeon Hojeong flanked him with the Four Gods Martial Arts' fastest step, Blood Wing Swing Heaven. Crimson true energy blazed from the swung Gwang Yong Bu like flames.
Splat-splat-splat!
Invisible speed. Crouched low, axe raised high—Yeon Hojeong embodied a Vermilion Bird folding its wings.
Drip.
Red lines traced Pyeong-san's body.
Moments later.
Splatter!
Pyeong-san's body split into twelve pieces, meeting death.
Shh.
Straightening, Yeon Hojeong took a deep breath.
Perfect hit.
The Southern Ruler's absolute killing art, Vermilion Bird's Crimson Flame Six Kills Art, manifested in flawless form—following White Tiger's Tiger King Nine Thunder Strikes and Black Tortoise's North Heaven Twelve Walls.
But.
Gazing at Pyeong-san's mangled corpse, a strange expression crossed Yeon Hojeong's face.
Did this guy learn from him?
One of the Heavenly Thirteen Seats. The Fighting King Yang Cheon—the only Black Path demon among the Divine Immortal Emperors—his martial art faintly resembled.
...Not important now.
When building Heukje-seong in his past life, Yang Cheon was the final obstacle. Killing him and establishing the castle earned Yeon Hojeong recognition as the Black Path Grandmaster.
We'll clash anyway while unifying the Black Path. Not the time to worry about him.
Yeon Hojeong turned to A-gwang.
Terror dyed A-gwang's eyes.
"M-monster!"
Even before fighting Pyeong-san, this guy had overwhelmed him. Now it seemed he hadn't even shown his full power then.
Yeon Hojeong's true arts formed a complete school.
Yeon Hojeong aimed the Gwang Yong Bu at A-gwang.
A-gwang flinched back a couple steps in shock.
"Time to end this."
Splat!
A-gwang bolted toward the valley entrance without looking back. The piled rocks made it hard to pass, but facing Yeon Hojeong was worse.
Sang-yo followed.
No point in further fighting. Preserve life first.
Yeon Hojeong said calmly,
"Muk Bi."
Tweeeeng!
Splat!
Two arrows grazed past Yeon Hojeong's face and pierced A-gwang and Sang-yo's heads precisely.
Battle over.
* * *
"Whew, that was rough."
Setting down the Gwang Yong Bu and sitting on the bare ground, Yeon Hojeong looked at the later-generation disciples.
Their faces were smeared with indescribable shock. Understandably so.
They were from the Nine Great Sects, pillars of the Orthodox Factions, trained for years in proud martial arts. Yet in real combat, they couldn't even use half. The blow was massive.
And fifty of them protected by just Yeon Hojeong and Muk Bi.
Mental wounds outweighed the physical.
"Pretty brutal, huh? Real battle."
More than brutal. Enemies charging heedless of reason—their blades were terror incarnate. Hard to execute even ingrained forms.
"Sorry for not warning you. But know this: I didn't expect you'd be so helpless."
Words pricking pride. Yet they couldn't even get angry.
Their shock and despair were that deep.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes chilled.
"Want a shocking fact?"
"......"
"This archer, my friend Muk Bi, hasn't seen much real combat either. But she used over eighty percent of her skill in battle."
Muk Bi's arts were strong, sure. But they'd learned mindset trumped skill level in combat.
Even the world's best panics and dies. Jianghu blades don't yield three moves or pause at throats.
That's real battle. Kill before being killed to survive.
In short, they owed Yeon Hojeong their lives.
Even if forced into this life-or-death trial.
Gazing at them with clear black-and-white eyes, Yeon Hojeong spoke.
"Follow me, and this'll happen endlessly. Planning to target only the vilest Black Path scum."
"......!"
"As I said, I hold your life-and-death authority. Backed by the Martial Alliance's alliance laws."
"......"
"From following me, you're mine. But..."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"If you're half-assed idiots who can't swing a sword properly against greenhorns like them, it'll be a problem. So, last chance."
"......"
"Counting to ten. Those still here after join me in purging the Black Path."
A wicked grin crossed Yeon Hojeong's face.
"One, two, ten."
"......?"
"Oh? None left? True to Nine Great Sects, you've got guts."
Yun Ho said incredulously,
"Wha—? You said you'd count to ten? From two straight to ten?"
"My call, punk. Don't bitch."
"Th-this."
Flustered Yun Ho. Mischievous Yeon Hojeong.
The later-generation disciples chuckled unwittingly. The heavy mood softened at the light joke.
With the tension eased, Yeon Hojeong said seriously,
"You're here, so ditch excuses and fight proper. As commander, I won't let you die shamefully."
Song Yeon-gyeong smiled and asked,
"Not guaranteeing survival?"
"Life on a knife's edge. Who knows what'll hit? Won't make promises I can't keep."
Yeon Hojeong stood.
In their eyes, he was no longer just Yeon family's eldest son.
Yeoguk asked bluntly,
"What's the name?"
"Name?"
"Our elite unit."
Politer tone, "our" included.
Yeon Hojeong grinned.
"Myeol Sa Army. That's us."