Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Battle of Sorrowful Cry Valley 2
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-Sorrowful Cry Valley
An hour before the Flame Demon Cho Yeom-wi arrived.
Flowing Water Sword Ho-ryang had reached the pinnacle of the peak level. No, he was now on the verge of breaking through the wall to the transcendent level.
The reason he, a naturally diligent man, could grow so strong so quickly was that he had met Mu-heun. It was during the sparring match between the Azure Dragon Unit and Mu-heun's party before the Divine Dragon Assembly.
His opponent was Pa-sun, who had only just begun to learn martial arts. He had started the fight expecting an easy victory. But what he got was a humiliating defeat. A bitter taste. The realization of his own weakness.
The humiliation of being defeated by Pa-sun's tyrannical spear was devastating.
However.
That feeling vanished as if by magic after he witnessed Mu-heun's true power. What Ho-ryang felt was being 'overwhelmed'.
Whether it was his visible martial prowess or the sheer capacity of his spirit, every aspect of him was overwhelming.
And so…
‘I lost simply because I was weak.’
‘If I am weak, then I just need to become stronger.’
That was the thought that ignited the fire in Ho-ryang's heart.
He trained, cutting back on sleep, and never neglected circulating his internal energy to cultivate it. He volunteered for dangerous missions to avoid being caught off guard in real combat and worked hard to increase the strength of his unit members.
The sword formation created through such efforts.
It made the swords of his eight unit members flow like a single river. When their power was combined, it was enough to subdue even a transcendent-level martial artist. He named it the Flowing Water Sword Formation, after his own moniker.
He knew this from testing it against the Unit Leader, who was transitioning from transcendent to demonic levels, and the Deputy Unit Leader, who was at the peak of the transcendent level. With this, they could easily face a single transcendent master.
‘In that case... we have a chance!’
Ho-ryang was confident, even facing one of the masters from the Red Pearl Four Demons before him.
"Flowing Water Sword Formation!"
Furthermore, Ho-ryang wasn't the only one who thought so.
"Iron Wind Sword Formation!"
Iron Wind Sword Seo-bong.
A low-ranking member of the Azure Dragon Unit, his life changed after meeting Mu-heun.
While his own efforts played a part, the elixir and energy circulation technique Mu-heun had given him were highly effective.
Therefore, Seo-bong was the most proactive in taking on tasks that could be of help to Mu-heun.
‘I can do it! I can be of help to him too!’
Seo-bong gripped his beloved new weapon, the Iron Wind Sword, tightly.
He would stain it red with the blood of his enemies.
There would be no retreat.
Even if it was a battle of life and death!
On this battlefield, there was one thing in common. It was that all who were gathered here had their lives as martial artists changed after meeting Baek Mu-heun, the Pavilion Lord of the Dragon Demon Pavilion.
Their leader, Azure Dragon Unit Leader Cheon Ga-rak, was no exception. He had changed completely after his defeat by Mu-heun. Through blood-boiling effort, he had attained the skill of an Elder.
"Kekeke, to think I can be so calm even before the Red Pearl Four Demons, whom I once thought only dangerous. Power is truly a wonderful thing!"
Cheon Ga-rak shouted towards the masters of the Red Pearl Four Demons, whose numbers had dwindled from four to two thanks to Ho-ryang and Seo-bong.
"Come at me!"
Cheon Ga-rak's heart pounded for the first time in a long while. They were worthy opponents to test the achievements of his recent past.
***
"Maple Leaf Unit, ascend the valley!"
"Stop the trash coming up!"
Maple Leaf Unit Leader Un-gak led his men up the valley, and the First of the Ice White Seven ordered an attack on the ascending Maple Leaf Unit using ice arts.
However.
"Blade Wind! Ascension!"
Un-gak's blade energy, now at the demonic level, was on par with that of the Blade Leaf Demon who had pierced through the Golden Fang Poison Claw's Myriad Blossoms Shower back in Blade Leaf Valley.
Kra-ka-ka-ka-kowm!
And that wasn't all.
"Blade Wind Ascension!"
"Blade Leaf Wind!"
"Blade Leaf Great Wind Slash!"
"Leaf Cutting Wind!"
"Leaf Death Myriad Wind!"
The Maple Leaf Unit charged forward, evading the ice arts of the Ice White Seven like leaves fluttering in the wind. They were men of sturdy build with instincts like beasts.
Feeling the flow of energy, evading, and attacking.
They were men who charged like ferocious beasts, like a biting wind.
Kwaaang!
Kwaaaang!
The attacks of the Ice White Seven rained down into the valley, but they couldn't stop the rising whirlwind and the pack of leopards.
"Kugh!"
Their ice arts were not specialized for long-range attacks in the first place, so they were ill-equipped to stop the Maple Leaf Unit, who unleashed blade winds like a storm, from a distance.
Before long.
Kwang!
The Maple Leaf Unit reached the top of the valley.
Un-gak confirmed his subordinates had followed him up and shouted.
"Great Wind Demon Massacre Formation, Twin Wings!"
"""Sir!"""
His subordinates were all peak-level masters or higher. However, their opponents were the Ice White Seven. It was impossible for them to win in one-on-one fights against masters of the transcendent level.
"We attack together! Press them with the Twin Wings, and if it looks bad, fall back and provide cover!"
"Yes, sir!"
Maple Leaf Unit Leader Un-gak, now strong enough to fight alongside the Blade Leaf Demon. He too was one of those whose life had changed after meeting Mu-heun.
No, it was only natural, as Mu-heun had breathed new life into him when he was as good as dead.
***
Tatatatatatak!
As soon as the chaotic battle began, there were those who fled with their tails between their legs.
These were the comrades of those who had been torn apart by Un-pyo's blade and shredded by the Maple Leaf Unit's blade wind. They were men who had not the slightest interest in the affairs of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and had desperately tried to avoid getting involved.
Hong-rin, the leader of the Flower Snake Sect, sent a telepathic message to his subordinates after the melee started, just before the Maple Leaf Unit reached the top of the valley.
[This is our chance! Run! If you don't want to die, run without looking back!]
As they fled until their legs felt like they would break, Hong-rin, the head of the Flower Snake Sect, and his men thought.
‘Staying there is suicide!!’
"Run!"
"Yes, sir!"
Ma-i, the leader of the Blue Eye Sect, felt it too. Pa-sun's tyrannical spearmanship. Un-pyo's heavy greatsword. He knew that those two were beings that the entire Blue Eye Sect, including himself, could not defeat even if they all attacked at once.
A few of his men had been cut down by the greatsword, but there was no time to grieve. Ma-i gathered the survivors and immediately fled. They escaped along a side path of the valley and dashed into the forest trail.
However, a greater death awaited these two sects as they fled, leaving death behind them.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?"
A woman appeared before the survivors of the Flower Snake Sect. A chill that seemed to freeze time itself. A fear like being submerged in the lightless depths of the sea.
Facing the Ice Demon, Hong-rin and his men couldn't move. Their bodies were frozen with extreme terror. But soon, it wasn't fear but a real chill that crept into their arms and legs.
Saaaaaa
Like a gentle mist, yet faster than the eye could perceive, pure white ice flowers bloomed.
Crack, crackle
Hong-rin watched his own limbs freezing over and begged for his life.
"P-please... s-spare... m—..."
"Ah~ you really don't listen, do you? Just stay put. You won't die if you circulate your internal energy."
Ice Demon Yeon Ah-ryeong. She didn't like the idea of the scapegoats she'd need if things went south later running away.
‘But I can't just kill them all.’
"You lot."
Hong-rin trembled at the Ice Demon's annoyed tone and spoke.
"Yes! Y-yes!"
"There won't be a next time."
"Yes! Yes! Yes! We'll do exactly as you say!"
"If you disobey me and run away one more time, I'll just kill you."
"Yes! We pledge our loyalty! Our utmost loyalty!"
Gripped by extreme fear, Hong-rin shouted his obedience to the Ice Demon's words. The Ice Demon watched him and curled the corner of her lip.
Her eyes looked as if they were seeing something disgusting, and with the corner of her lip curled up, her expression became exceedingly bizarre.
Meanwhile, Ma-i, the leader of the Blue Eye Sect, was also just gaping, unable to say a word.
While fleeing with his subordinates, enormous fire snakes had rushed them. Because of that, more than half of his men were dead.
"Hah! You really don't listen, do you!?"
In Ma-i's eyes, an incarnation of hell had appeared.
The Flame Demon Cho Yeom-wi, a warrior of flames who had reached the pinnacle of the extreme demonic level.
Fwoooooosh
Ma-i's eyes reflected his subordinates burning fiercely. A fire demon from a hellscape where skin, flesh, and even bone melted away, leaving not even ash behind... a sight that would dry up one's very tear ducts, was approaching.
"Do you know what I do when words don't work~?"
At the Flame Demon's playful question, Ma-i wet himself, his limbs trembling uncontrollably as he spoke.
"S-spare... me..."
"Correct! I burn them to death!"
The Flame Demon didn't even listen to Ma-i's plea and snapped his fingers. And then,
Fwoosh-
A crimson flame like the sun erased the entire Blue Eye Sect from the world.
The Flame Demon stood before the blazing inferno. The playful look from before was completely gone from his face.
"Spare you? Pathetic insects."
The Flame Demon kicked off the ground and soared into the air. With an intense burst of flame and a sonic boom, he flew to where the Ice Demon Yeon Ah-ryeong was.
He spoke again, his face full of mischief.
"Elder Sister? You kept those guys alive, right? For later."
"Of course. You kept them alive too, didn't you?"
"Ah? Me? No? Haha! Well, you see..."
"You son of a bitch!"
"No, no, no, it's just...! You know my power isn't suited for subduing people like yours, Elder Sister. Haha. Please let it slide just this once."
Yeon Ah-ryeong narrowed her eyes. Disgusting bastard. Still, she had no choice but to speak again.
"Anyway, are you sure it'll be okay?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"I'm talking about your subordinates. It looks like they might all get wiped out."
"Excuse me? What... do you mean?"
A small but distinct vein popped on Cho Yeom-wi's forehead. Yeon Ah-ryeong didn't miss it and spoke, beating around the bush.
"Well~ my Ice White Seven will be fine, but your subordinates~ the Red Pearl Four Demons and the Dark Soul Assassination Squad~ looked like they might get comple~tely wiped out~"
"Haha! Hahaha..."
The Flame Demon immediately expanded his senses.
He felt the entire valley. And the Ice White Seven.
‘The brats from Blade Leaf Valley and the Ice White Seven... this side won't be easy either.’
Below the valley. The leader of the Dark Soul Assassination Squad. Two transcendent-level martial artists. The Azure Dragon Unit...
‘What the... are these the same guys I saw at the Divine Dragon Assembly? And was Cheon Ga-rak's prowess always this great?’
Cho Yeom-wi soon realized Yeon Ah-ryeong's words weren't the full story.
"Well~ Baek Mu-heun's subordinates are stronger than I thought. If all your men die... well. It would be a shame, wouldn't it?"
"Haha! That will absolutely not happen."
"Are you so sure?"
"Of course~ However!"
Cho Yeom-wi suppressed the vein on his forehead and spoke.
"It seems the Ice White Seven are about to get wiped out, hm? I'll help you. Hehe."
"..."
"Elder Sister? You owe me one, right? Hehe."
The Ice Demon watched Cho Yeom-wi from behind and sneered.
Cho Yeom-wi kicked off the ground and flew off, and Yeon Ah-ryeong sneered at his retreating back.
‘Hmph~ If I play my cards right, I might be able to use him more.’
Un-gak, who was holding his own against the Ice White Seven with his nearly twenty-strong Maple Leaf Unit, felt something approaching.
Just then, the First of the Ice White Seven shouted.
"Fall back! He is taking action himself!"
The Ice White Seven, who had been locked in a fierce close-quarters battle just moments ago, took a step back. Un-gak had an ominous feeling.
"Maple Leaf Unit!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Something's wrong. Ready your forma—!?"
Kwaaang!
A flame fell from the sky.
Fwoooooosh
The Flame Demon had Un-gak by the throat. It didn't even take a fraction of a moment for the master of crimson flames to shatter the Maple Leaf Unit.
He spoke towards the valley.
"Enough."
It wasn't a loud voice, but everyone held their breath, lowered their bodies, and stared at the Flame Demon.
***
-Sichuan Provincial Martial Alliance Branch.
"It's been a while, Gam Pa-pa."
"Hoho, it has been a while."
"It has been a long time for you as well, my benefactor. Seol Ha-ryeong, you've escaped the Soul-Stealing Arts, I see, keuk keuk. By the way, how was your journey to Hubei?"
"It was very... eventful. But the Orthodox Sects of the martial world will become one through this incident. No, to be precise, it would be more accurate to say we've taken the first step towards becoming one."
"Keuk keuk keuk. That is good to hear. I apologize for this, as you've just arrived, but Divine Doctor, you must come with me. The head of the Cheonbu Merchant Guild is waiting."
"Ah, is that so? It must be related to the trade route to Xinjiang."
"Yes. It seems so."
"I understand. I'll go at once. Lady Ha-ryeong, please wait on the outskirts of Chengdu. We will be departing soon, so let us meet up and go together."
"Hoho, it is true that my presence would not be looked upon favorably..."
"Haha, it's not that, but rather... I feel we must hurry."