Chapter 327
Chapter 327
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 327
Chapter Title: Crushing Thunder of the Nine Springs
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Even an action that seemed light at first glance could produce sublime results if infused with the intent of a supreme master who had reached profound heights.
That was exactly what Cheonhwi was doing right now.
He had merely taken steps forward, but the result was truly wondrous.
Thud. Thud.
Each time his footfall touched the floor, a powerful vibration spread out like waves.
The vibrations that began this way traversed pillars and walls, eventually transmitting evenly throughout the entire Hwacheon Tower.
Groooan—
The Hwacheon Tower shuddered and shook.
Dust rose from between the creaking pillars, walls, ceiling, and floor.
Clouds of white dust spread like mist.
It was a scene as if an earthquake had struck this bloodless street.
But it was no earthquake. It was merely a phenomenon created by a single person.
And the perpetrator, Cheonhwi, continued his leisurely steps.
Toward Pungri.
Thud. Thud.
Pungri's eyebrows twitched sharply at the increasingly amplified sound of footsteps.
His eyes, which had regained their composure as if the shaking had never happened, fixed on Cheonhwi approaching through the faint dust.
The sword dangling at his side scattered the yellow lantern light in all directions.
Because of this, his quietly advancing figure resembled a divine sword reflecting the sunset glow as it drew near.
Pungri, who had been silent, moved his lips.
"Your tone suggests you could kill me at any moment."
A rough, cracked voice leaked from between his slightly parted lips.
It was laced with intense inner energy.
Whoooosh—
In an instant, the air around him warped, repelling the dust falling from the ceiling before it could touch his body.
It was a precise and refined manipulation of internal energy.
Even seeing this, Cheonhwi opened his mouth with an unchanged expression.
"You know it well."
It was a voice utterly flat, as if stating the obvious.
At the same time, Cheonhwi stopped.
The distance between them was merely a single chang.
A range where, if either unleashed killing intent and attacked, they would clash immediately.
Yet Pungri did not act rashly.
Because striking first did not guarantee success.
'If I strike first, a gap might open, and I could fall to a counterattack.'
He focused his mind and tensed.
His head, calmly assessing the situation, grew perfectly cold.
The one before him was a master.
Not just any master, but a warrior rivaling the pinnacle among all he had seen so far.
Yet for him to enter this close range without striking first clearly meant some scheme.
Pungri's gently upturned lips gradually tilted downward.
They formed a straight line and hardened. His mouth slowly opened.
It was an utterly chilling expressionless face.
"I acknowledge your presence."
Pungri glared at Cheonhwi and continued.
"But do you think this seat will fall easily...?"
But before he could finish.
Flash!
Suddenly, his vision turned to light.
Pure white everywhere.
It was blinding.
'This is...'
Feeling an ominous aura, his face grew urgent.
'I need to create distance!'
The moment the thought formed and he tried to leap back, an endless horizon abruptly appeared in the white field of view.
A dreamlike line dividing heaven and earth.
It was a sword scar cleaving the world.
Spash!
Blood bloomed like petals in all directions.
"Kuh!"
Pungri staggered backward.
Clutching his chest with his hand.
Pungri looked down at his chest.
It was a gruesome sight.
The padded warrior's robe was torn to shreds, revealing a blood-soaked wound.
Drip—
Pungri narrowed his brow at the blood gushing between his fingers.
At that moment.
Swoosh—
The pure white energy draped over the padded robe like an overcoat suddenly stirred, enveloping his entire body.
It resembled donning armor of pristine white.
After a moment, he released his hand from his chest.
Drip.
The flowing blood stopped.
It was an utterly bizarre occurrence.
The wound on his chest was clearly visible, yet the bleeding had completely ceased.
"You've cultivated a peculiar technique."
Cheonhwi muttered, stroking his chin and scratching it with his hand.
Meeting the eyes of Pungri, who urgently raised his head at the chilling voice, Cheonhwi spoke with indifferent eyes.
"A technique that consumes innate qi and life force—looks like you don't plan to live long?"
Pungri flinched at Cheonhwi's words.
Because the young-looking youth had pierced it in one go.
The Spirit Death Heart Knot he had cultivated.
"But there's no need to expend your innate qi like that. I told you earlier."
Cheonhwi continued with a cold smile.
"I won't let you die easily."
A chilling killing intent descended.
Sensing the threat, Pungri scowled and shouted.
"Black Ghost Squad!"
Right after.
Piiiing!
Sharp sounds rang out from all directions.
Arrows.
The arrows shot like beams of light pierced the walls like paper, flying toward Cheonhwi.
It was archery infused with energy.
Seeing the arrows approach in an instant, Cheonhwi calmly raised his sword.
Murmuring in a low voice.
"Pointless antics."
At that moment.
Flash!
A single trajectory etched in the air.
Cheonhwi had struck out immediately.
Moon Flower emitted a faint crimson light as it cleaved the air in one breath, generating a current.
A vortex like a storm.
Whoooosh!
The fierce energy sent objects in the room floating into the air.
Not just tables and chairs—even bottles, cups, and food were swept into the vortex.
As the clattering crashes of colliding and shattering objects mingled and the gale grew fiercer.
Krunch!
In an instant, space compressed.
"That is...!"
Pungri's eyes widened.
Cheonhwi gazed steadily at Pungri and unleashed the strike that compressed space toward him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Boom!
The earth shook with the explosion.
Those on the bloodless street stared aghast at the exploding top floor of Hwacheon Tower, swallowing dryly.
It was an abrupt calamity.
A fierce gale had suddenly swept from the top floor, exploding in one go.
"F-Fucking hell..."
"What the hell happened?"
Some collapsed in shock from the blast.
Their legs gave out facing the tremendous sight.
And that was a grave mistake.
Platter!
Wood shards, broken bottle fragments, and all sorts of debris rained down from above.
"H-Huh?!"
Those who had collapsed near Hwacheon Tower froze in terror facing the falling debris.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, rough hands grabbed their napes and yanked them up.
Wi Jeokyang and the Hao Clan disciples who had cultivated martial arts moved to rescue them on their leader's orders.
But only for a moment.
"At this rate..."
Their eyes quickly turned grim.
There were at least twice as many people near Hwacheon Tower compared to the Hao Clan disciples who knew martial arts.
Their numbers were woefully insufficient.
"We can't save them all."
As Wi Jeokyang gazed regretfully at those yet to be saved.
Swoosh!
Shadows abruptly appeared in the air.
Dozens of them.
They snatched the trembling people's napes and swiftly hoisted them onto their shoulders.
Pat pat pat!
The dozens of shadows moved in perfect unison, passing him and rescuing people.
In the blink of an eye.
Wi Jeokyang's eyes widened.
Just their footwork showed they were no ordinary folk.
'When did such experts arrive in the bloodless street...?'
As Wi Jeokyang stared blankly at the sudden rescuers.
"Don't slack off—move!"
A woman with her face covered in cloth snapped at him to snap out of it. She then sped past him, four courtesans slung over her shoulders, her movements urgent.
"You'll get swept away!"
Wi Jeokyang belatedly came to his senses at the woman's urgent cry as she passed, then looked back in alarm.
'These monsters...!'
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
A fierce energy wave pouring from Hwacheon Tower was flooding toward him.
It made his flesh crawl.
'I-I need to hurry!'
Wi Jeokyang quickly tucked those he had grabbed under his arms and kicked off the ground.
Unleashing his movement technique.
Yet his eyes wavered as he moved hastily.
Even as he rapidly widened the distance, the energy wave pursued him.
As if ready to devour him any second.
Tat tat tat!
Fleeing as if chased, he shouted at those staring blankly at Hwacheon Tower ahead.
"Everyone, run back!"
"Gasp!"
"U-Uwaaak!"
At Wi Jeokyang's lion's roar, the gathered crowd jolted in panic and fled in terror.
In an instant, those around Hwacheon Tower receded like the tide, creating distance.
It happened in a flash.
"Hah, hah."
Arriving at a safe distance from Hwacheon Tower, Wi Jeokyang dumped those under his arms onto the ground and caught his breath heavily.
His body was drenched in sweat.
After catching his breath briefly, he turned back.
Hwacheon Tower was visible in the distance.
Its appearance was different from usual.
The top floor, once brightly lit with red and yellow lanterns, was completely shattered.
Seeing it, Wi Jeokyang shuddered.
Even at this great distance, the waves of energy felt vividly—as if detached from reality.
It was an aura that sent chills down the spine.
'...To think I didn't recognize such a person.'
As he held his breath and watched.
"We express our gratitude."
A familiar voice came.
"Thanks to you and your group, there were no casualties."
Ju Wolhyang was bowing her head in thanks to the cloth-masked woman who had helped them.
"It's only natural."
The woman, Cheonhyang, waved it off.
Her eyes were fixed on Hwacheon Tower.
Dust billowed from Hwacheon Tower.
It was undoubtedly the result of Cheonhwi's actions.
'I want to help right away, but.'
She shook her head.
'It would only hinder him.'
Among those gathered on the bloodless street, she knew Cheonhwi better than anyone.
He needed no aid from the Extinction Division.
'We just need to follow our martial brother's orders well.'
Recalling the command Cheonhwi had given, she nodded.
"Eighty in total?"
Cheonhwi, standing on the top floor of Hwacheon Tower, murmured lowly.
Looking upward.
With the ceiling that had covered the night sky now cleanly breached, it revealed the stars and moon.
A single strike.
That one strike had utterly demolished Hwacheon Tower's roof, pillars, and walls.
At the same time, he lowered his chin.
Pungri stood before him.
His hair splayed wildly like a mane, eyes gleaming fiercely through the strands.
"You bastard, how did you learn that?"
His voice growled.
Like a beast's cry.
His eyes shook violently.
With utter disbelief.
"This?"
Unlike Pungri's great shock, Cheonhwi spoke nonchalantly.
Lightly shaking his sword.
At that moment, the wind pressure from the sword tip coalesced into a sphere.
Laden with astonishing energy.
Pungri's eyebrows shot up.
He hadn't been mistaken.
That was the qi art known only to the Evil-Black Alliance Leader and the White Ghost Divine, the two of them...
Nine Springs Crushing Thunder.
"How do you know that!"
Seeing the shocked Pungri, Cheonhwi grinned.
Spewing mocking words.
"If you're curious, find out for yourself."