Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Overlord Emperor
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"I know where the Assembly Leader's quarters are."
With the temporary alliance sealed, Ibija revealed what he knew.
It made sense. After all, he was once the man who'd attempted to assassinate the Leader—he'd naturally know where he lived.
"This way."
Ibija took the lead, and Mok Yangil moved to follow him.
"Urgh!"
But a groan of agony escaped from Mok Yangil, who had barely managed to stand.
His wounds from the successive battles hadn't healed properly yet.
Hyeok Mulin approached him and pressed on a few acupoints, gradually easing the pain.
Mok Yangil stared at him with wide eyes.
"You went looking for a physician, yet Master Mu has some real skill in medicine too!"
Wearing an expression of utter amazement, he swung his limbs around vigorously.
The pain had noticeably lessened compared to before, with no lingering issues.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you!"
"It's just a temporary fix to erase the pain for the next few days. You'll need proper rest to make a full recovery."
"That's more than enough. I finally feel alive again."
"Then let's get moving."
Once Mok Yangil was ready, they set off under Ibija's guidance.
With the pain gone, Mok Yangil's mouth moved as swiftly as a swift sword once more.
"We've met before, but this is the first time we're traveling together. Over there is the great hero Ibija, as you know, and this is Master Mu the Nameless Wanderer."
"Good to see you again."
"Likewise."
After a brief round of introductions, silence fell once more. Unable to bear the quiet atmosphere, Mok Yangil struck up a new topic.
"Come to think of it, Master Mu, you don't know who the Leader of the Dominion Overlord Assembly is, do you?"
"That's right."
"This time, it's a name even you couldn't avoid knowing."
With a mix of confidence that Hyeok Mulin would surely recognize it and a hint of fear, he continued.
"The Leader who brought unprecedented chaos to this Millennium Prison... He is none other than the Overlord Emperor, Go Jeoksa."
"...!"
Hyeok Mulin's pupils flashed for an instant at those words.
Just as he'd boasted, it was someone Hyeok Mulin knew.
In truth, any martial artist in the jianghu would find it harder not to know him.
The Overlord Emperor was the final sect leader of the Tyrant Evil Sect, which had once dominated half of the unorthodox factions alongside the Four Black Alliances.
'To think he was here.'
It was the first time Hyeok Mulin had been truly surprised since hearing rumors of someone inside after entering the Millennium Prison.
Superhuman experts like him were rarely captured alive; they were usually killed outright with full force.
Overlord Emperor Go Jeoksa.
He was the epitome of evil.
Unlike the current Four Black Alliances, who compromised somewhat with the orthodox sects and mingled among them, the Tyrant Evil Sect had dreamed of total unorthodox domination, committing all manner of atrocities.
Arson, plunder—they showed no mercy to children, women, or the elderly, slaughtering without hesitation anyone who defied their orders.
The martial alliance had finally had enough and prepared a massive war.
'Ironically, it was fellow unorthodox forces that brought them down.'
There couldn't be two suns under the heavens.
The Four Black Alliances and Tyrant Evil Sect, who had split the unorthodox world, eventually clashed a dozen years ago to determine the true master of evil a decade years prior.
They poured their full might into a brutal war.
And at the end of that bloody conflict, the Tyrant Evil Sect was utterly crushed.
Afterward, they were nearly eradicated and absorbed into the Four Black Alliances, with their sect leader's whereabouts unknown ever since.
Yet to think such a man had been captured by the martial alliance and imprisoned in the Millennium Prison.
Having gained this new information, Hyeok Mulin turned back to Ibija.
"But why did you try to assassinate the Leader? I heard you've been living alone here all this time."
"Before entering the Millennium Prison, I had a personal grudge. I just felt the time had come."
A personal grudge.
That was understandable.
In the jianghu, it was commonplace for families, sects, masters, or kin to be slaughtered.
Mok Yangil nodded thoughtfully and asked cautiously.
"Mind if I ask what it was?"
Ibija fell silent for a moment before answering.
"Every morning, a child who sold tanghulu on the streets and greeted me... He died by their hands."
"...That's it?"
"Yes. That's the whole story."
Mok Yangil was deeply shocked by the response.
A nameless child on the streets who just said hello.
It was a connection so tenuous it barely qualified as one.
Not even a relative or acquaintance—more like a stranger.
Yet for that one person alone, he'd attempted revenge against a superhuman expert. It said everything about the kind of man Ibija was.
Afterward, they pressed on under Mok Yangil's lead, exchanging light banter.
Several days of steady travel later, they finally reached their destination.
Roarrr—!
A massive waterfall thundered down there.
Barren cliffs layered around it, pocked with irregular holes everywhere.
And from those various openings, countless gazes fixed upon them.
"The Leader is inside that waterfall."
They headed toward the spot Ibija indicated.
Yet even as they approached, the Dominion Overlord Assembly warriors merely watched, making no move.
"They're not coming at us."
Mok Yangil nodded at Hyeok Mulin's words and spoke.
"Word of you wiping out their subordinates and the Nine Fiends must have spread. They know they can't stop you with their own power. They're not loyal enough to throw their lives away for the Assembly, so they're just biding their time, watching how things play out."
Mok Yangil's explanation rang true.
The Dominion Overlord Assembly wasn't bound by shared goals or bonds—it was a group dragged together by the Leader's ambitions.
Ibija glanced sidelong at them and said,
"Still, they need to hold the entrance. If we get surrounded front and back after entering the waterfall, it'll cramp our movements badly."
"Then I'll go alone. You all hold this spot."
Mok Yangil looked worried at Hyeok Mulin's words.
"You sure? Your skills are impressive from what I've seen, but facing the Overlord Emperor solo seems like a heavy burden."
"Coming with?"
"Safe travels. I'll block the entrance here so those vultures can't interfere."
Mok Yangil answered promptly, and Hyeok Mulin smirked.
"Count on you."
Finishing his words, Hyeok Mulin scanned the area, then hefted a massive boulder and hurled it toward the waterfall.
The rock lodged midway, diverting the falling water to either side.
This revealed the cave entrance beneath it clearly.
As Hyeok Mulin stepped forward, the others bowed with stern faces.
"Our best wishes."
"Come back in one piece."
With that, Mok Yangil and Ibija turned their backs to the waterfall, facing off against the remaining Dominion Overlord Assembly warriors.
Hyeok Mulin left them behind and entered the cave within the waterfall.
"Ho..."
The interior was nothing like expected.
Stalactites glowed like night pearls, lining the path in rows, brighter even than the sunlit outside world.
The straight tunnel stretched onward, so Hyeok Mulin walked and walked.
After quite some time, he entered a vast cavern deep inside.
At its ceiling's center hung an enormous stalactite unlike any other, and below it stood a middle-aged man with hands clasped behind his back.
"I've been waiting."
His robust frame rivaled Lady Thunder's, with eyes sharp as blades, a broad blunt nose, coarse protruding beard, and feral gleam in his pupils—like facing a living tiger.
"You're Go Jeoksa?"
"That's me. But..."
He glanced behind Hyeok Mulin and said,
"You came alone?"
"Afraid so."
"Hah..."
Go Jeoksa scoffed in disbelief and asked Hyeok Mulin,
"You plan to face me by yourself?"
"You've got it backward."
Hyeok Mulin stared steadily at him and continued.
"It's not me facing you alone—it's you facing me alone."
"Puhahaha!"
Go Jeoksa burst into laughter.
He eyed Hyeok Mulin with curiosity, as if beholding some rare freak.
"Who the hell are you? Why storm the Dominion Overlord Assembly?"
"No need for names. They struck first—I just return the favor."
He hadn't planned to kill them at first.
But now that he'd come this far, turning back wasn't an option.
Only way was forward.
"Upset over a little prank? You've got a fragile heart."
Go Jeoksa smirked and proposed,
"Fine. I'll gladly compensate for all the attacks on you. Why not join us even now...?"
"My turn to ask."
Hyeok Mulin cut him off sharply.
Go Jeoksa's brow furrowed slightly, annoyed.
But Hyeok Mulin continued impassively.
"Know any physicians on this island who can heal a dantian?"
"...Dantian?"
Go Jeoksa's forehead wrinkled at the unexpected question.
But only briefly—he soon twisted his lips into a sneer.
"I'll tell you."
Go Jeoksa drew the Giant Dragon Shattering Extreme Blade from his waist.
Unsheathing the majestic sword that looked forged from a massive dragon's fang, he added,
"If you can beat me."
Hyeok Mulin smirked and assumed a stance facing him squarely.
It suited him just as well.
In the tension-thick air, the two warriors began circling slowly.
As they faced off tautly, spinning round and round.
Boom!
Spotting an opening simultaneously, they charged straight ahead without warning.
Go Jeoksa, gripping the Giant Dragon Shattering Extreme Blade with both hands, unleashed the Black Flame Shattering Slash Blade first.
It was a ferocious horizontal sweep aimed to cleave his torso.
A normal warrior's response would be to duck or retreat.
But Hyeok Mulin leaped upward instead, defying common sense.
Stepping on the blade that whistled perilously past his feet, he double-jumped into the air.
Thrusting his right hand to his side, he loaded a single strike and drove in the Exploding Thunder Divine Fist.
Kaboom!
Dirt and dust billowed from the terrifying force, but Hyeok Mulin immediately pulled back.
No hit landed on his foe.
Instead, his collar tore slightly.
Go Jeoksa had retracted the blade in a flash, twisting the fist's trajectory artfully for a counterstrike.
"Not bad. To reach this level at your age."
Eyeing Hyeok Mulin with interest, Go Jeoksa pressed forward again.
Blade versus fist.
As they clashed hands in a battle of wits, their eyes met.
While gauging each other, Go Jeoksa's sword suddenly whirled like saw teeth.
Crimson sword aura rose from his surging Blood Shadow Fragmenting Blade.
'Got him.'
Concentrating his qi in an instant, Go Jeoksa was certain of victory.
His spinning blade raced toward the opponent's neck.
But then.
Tap!
Hyeok Mulin withdrew backward a step ahead, as if anticipating it.
A move impossible without knowing he was concealing his qi.
Go Jeoksa's pupils narrowed slightly as he spoke.
"...How did you know I had internal energy?"
"How could I not? Your bloodlust-filled qi is churning deep within."
"Good instincts."
The ambush failed, but nothing changed.
Go Jeoksa no longer hid his qi, unleashing crimson sword force.
Kaboom!
Hyeok Mulin circled the cavern evading, then used Extreme Swift Step to close in instantly.
The moment he grabbed Go Jeoksa's shoulder, he unleashed the Ice White Soul Extracting Palm.
Crack!
Go Jeoksa's eyes widened at the unbelievable sight. He wrenched his body free with mighty force.
His shoulder was already frozen solid, the chill mere moments from his throat.
Confirming it, Go Jeoksa stared at Hyeok Mulin and said,
"You're from those northern ice folk."
"... "
"Using internal energy, no less. And your lower dantian isn't shattered."
In that brief contact, Go Jeoksa had sensed his qi flow.
He was a monster befitting the Tyrant Evil Sect leader and Dominion Overlord Assembly head.
As Hyeok Mulin stayed silent, Go Jeoksa pressed.
"Where the hell did you come from? Were you really captured by the martial alliance?"
"Curious?"
"...Yes."
"Then I'll tell you."
Hyeok Mulin smirked and continued.
"If you beat me."
Go Jeoksa's face hardened at having his own words thrown back.
His bloodlust-filled gaze fixed ahead as he raised his razor-sharp blade.
"Fine. I'll wring the answer from your mouth."
Now both knew the other had internal energy—no more hiding.
Go Jeoksa went all-out, pressing Hyeok Mulin relentlessly.
Each clash of fist and blade sparked like striking steel.
Clang clang clang!
But as time passed, the tide slowly turned.
In the ongoing fight, Go Jeoksa gradually gained the upper hand.
He had recovered his internal energy like the Pale Ghost.
But unlike the Pale Ghost, he hadn't mastered using the middle dantian.
Somehow, he'd partially repaired his ruined lower dantian.
Thus, he'd already regained seventy percent of his lost power.
The gap with Hyeok Mulin was still slim, but in superhuman battles, that sliver was everything.
Confident of victory, Go Jeoksa pushed hard and said,
"Surrender now, and I'll take you under my wing."
But Hyeok Mulin offered no reply, kicking the blade away to create distance.
Now three zhang apart, Go Jeoksa smirked triumphantly.
Hyeok Mulin glanced at his hands briefly, then murmured softly.
"...No choice, then."
"...?"
As Go Jeoksa furrowed one brow, uncomprehending.
Shing—
Hyeok Mulin placed a hand on his waist and slowly drew the Heaven Splitting Demon Sword.
And the moment that pitch-black blade was revealed to the world.
"...Huh?"
The world went dark for an instant.