Chapter 253
Chapter 253
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: Storming the Heavenly Cliff
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Staring at the Heavenly Cliff Precipice, which looked like it had cleaved the mountain in two, Five Poisons Sect Leader Cheop Cheongwon bulged his eyes at his subordinate's report.
"The Poison Harmony Twins are dead?!"
The Poison Harmony Twins ranked among the top five elders of the Five Poisons Sect.
They were masters renowned in the Southern Frontier as death gods, feared for their ferocity and martial prowess. It was impossible not to be shocked by news of their demise.
"Who did it? That Tang Ui-cheon bastard? Or Tang Ui-geum? Tang Ui-ok? Or was it one of their elders?"
"It was a man named Namgung Hyeok who... took down the elder."
"Namgung Hyeok?"
"He's known as the Radiant Dragon, a later-generation talent. He won the Justice Heaven Alliance's martial tournament..."
"What? How could some later-generation whelp possibly kill the Poison Harmony Twins!"
Wiping out the Thousand Poisons Squad was an entirely different matter.
Being the best among later-generation disciples was just that—among their peers.
They had shown exceptional promise, and with continued training, they might one day become supreme experts.
Once they matured fully, they could become a pillar of the martial world.
It was merely the potential to reach that level someday.
But right now?
A tiger rules the mountains once grown, but fewer than one in ten cubs survive to adulthood.
Before maturity, they were frail beings exposed to countless dangers, liable to die at any moment.
Even a veteran third-rate warrior could defeat a later-generation disciple.
Yet one had toppled a fully realized master. It was utterly unbelievable.
"Now I understand why the Council paid those bastards any mind."
Murderous intent gleamed in Cheop Cheongwon's eyes.
He turned his head.
The Heavenly Cliff Precipice was dyed red by the setting sun.
At that moment, Ma Yeong emerged from within the precipice, his back to the sunset.
Thud. Thud!
Ten Ghost Beasts—warriors of the Council—followed behind him.
Cheop Cheongwon bowed deeply.
"Why are you here...?"
Ma Yeong waved a hand lightly.
"Flies are buzzing about."
"Leave it to me, my lord. I will handle them."
"I told you to strengthen the perimeter."
"I-I'm sorry."
The Millennium Scarlet Crane spat out the poison condensed in its body once every thousand years, in a single instant.
It was extremely sensitive during this period when it prepared to release its venom.
In the worst case, it might abandon this nesting site and flee elsewhere.
If that happened, there would be no way to predict when the Millennium Scarlet Crane would unleash its poison.
They had to eliminate the intruders before they ruined the grand plan.
With steely eyes, Ma Yeong said,
"Normally, I would cut their throats myself, but I must guard against a single lapse in a thousand considerations until the crane produces its crest scarlet. Stay at your post."
"Yes."
"Do not let those bastards climb the absolute cliff. The moment you do, I will wipe out your entire line!"
At Ma Yeong's chilling voice, Cheop Cheongwon flattened himself to the ground.
His killing intent made Cheop Cheongwon's body stiffen as if frozen.
'He's on another level from the other envoys.'
He had seen the Twelve Envoys more than once or twice, but Ma Yeong stood out among them.
His mood shifts even induced illusions of the soul freezing over.
It was clear why the Death Commander, leader of the Twelve Envoys, trusted this man.
Then a sudden doubt arose.
'Why is someone like him so obsessed with mere poison?'
And why poison of all things?
In Cheop Cheongwon's eyes, Ma Yeong possessed the dignity of an absolute being.
Though Cheop Cheongwon was the sect leader of the Five Poisons Sect, masters of venom, he couldn't fathom what such poison meant to a warrior like Ma Yeong.
Ma Yeong gazed indifferently toward the gorge, lost in thought.
'A trap.'
A strange light flickered and vanished in his eyes.
Contemplating the worst-case scenario, Ma Yeong spat in a cold voice,
"I'll lend you the Ghost Beasts. Hold this position at all costs."
He gestured to the Ghost Beasts, issuing orders, then vanished into the Heavenly Cliff Precipice.
Cheop Cheongwon finally raised his head and exhaled.
Staring tensely at the precipice where Ma Yeong had disappeared, he froze.
Boom.
It started with a heavy rumble.
Boom!
Next came a strong vibration that shook the ground lightly.
KABOOM!
The rumbles grew louder.
The intervals between sounds shortened.
Soon, lightning flashed at the base of a distant peak.
KABOOM!
With thunderous noise, pillars of dust erupted explosively.
Flash!
Blue and red lightning burst forth, flinging the Ghost Beasts at the pass as if struck by cannon fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Arrrgh!"
"Gaaack!"
"Urrgh!"
Cheop Cheongwon stared in bewilderment at the dust cloud sweeping in like a sandstorm.
A massive black shadow expanded rapidly as it approached.
"W-What is that?"
He gaped as it bowled over the Council's warriors guarding the perimeter like balls.
Whoosh!
Piercing the sandstorm with a deafening roar, a black silhouette leaped out, bellowing ferociously.
"Get out of my way!"
KABOOM!
Namgung Hyeok smashed a Ghost Beast's head with his fist, his bloodshot eyes sweeping the surroundings.
Boom!
Amid the fading sunset, Namgung Hyeok glared at the foes standing firm.
His gaze quickly scanned the area.
'Are these bastards the last of them?'
But where's the Millennium Scarlet Crane?
Where the hell is my crane head?
Why isn't it showing?
Why no crane...
Madness flickered in Namgung Hyeok's bloodshot eyes. His gaze swept the entire area.
Cheop Cheongwon's brow twitched at Namgung Hyeok's attitude, as if they were beneath notice.
Baring his teeth at the charging Namgung Hyeok, he snarled,
"That arrogant fool dares! Kill him!"
Three Five Poisons Sect elders and his Shadow Flame Corps guards bared their venom fangs at Namgung Hyeok.
The Shadow Flame Corps formed the Shadow Flame Ten Directions Formation to block the onrushing Namgung Hyeok.
Poison mists rose in front, while flaming poison bats were unleashed from behind.
These were bats raised on the Five Poisons Sect's venomous creatures, inflicting burning agony.
As they swarmed like flies, the Shadow Flame Corps drew hidden weapons and charged at Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok swung his demonic sword vigorously, blazing like fire.
Shwaaaa!
KABOOM!
The poison mist and flaming poison bats were swept away by his demonic sword.
Plop plop!
Trampling the falling bats, Namgung Hyeok leaped forward powerfully.
Boom!
His Blood Wind Divine Step at peak unleashed a gale.
Shwoooom!
Namgung Hyeok exploded forward.
His shadow stretched like taffy as he brushed past the Shadow Flame Ten Directions Formation.
His gaze quickly scanned the surroundings.
His energy sense expanded rapidly.
In an instant, it stretched ten paces out.
Even while executing Blood Wind Divine Step, he sensed everything around him as if grasping it in his hand.
Namgung Hyeok's eyes turned to the Heavenly Cliff Precipice.
As dusk fell and darkness settled, an auspicious glow shone atop the precipice.
Pure, transparent energy.
Namgung Hyeok's eyes widened.
'There it is!'
He didn't need his brain to be sure in this situation.
Foes blocking the way who were fairly strong, and the auspicious energy rising from the Heavenly Cliff Precipice!
My crane!
So that's where my crane is!
With a mighty thud, Namgung Hyeok stomped and charged toward the Heavenly Cliff Precipice.
"You worm!"
The Bloodblood Poison Hand lunged from the front, swinging his sword. Dripping with venom, it was swatted away by Namgung Hyeok's demonic sword like an insect.
Clang!
KABOOM!
"Gack!"
The Bloodblood Poison Hand groaned in pain and was pushed back.
"Die!"
"Haaap!"
As the Bloodblood Poison Hand retreated, two Five Poisons Sect elders charged from left and right.
Namgung Hyeok scowled.
"Scram!"
He parried their attacks with his demonic sword and unleashed Soul-Crushing Fist with his left fist.
Clang!
Like striking a great bell, the two elders twisted and flew back.
Namgung Hyeok dashed straight for the cliff.
He ran along the wall as if on flat ground.
Tap tap tap!
His movements were as nimble as a mountain goat scaling a sheer rock face.
The Five Poisons Sect warriors, reduced to chasing chickens, had veins bulging in their necks.
"Catch that bastard!"
"Grab him!"
"Don't let him reach the cliff!"
The elders sprinted along the ground, while the Shadow Flame Corps split in half to climb the cliff.
But none could match Namgung Hyeok's lightness skill.
Namgung Hyeok smirked.
As if!
Do you know how many years I've been scaling cliffs?
Back in my day, I even slept on cliffs, you punks!
As Namgung Hyeok grinned gleefully, Cheop Cheongwon ground his teeth and bellowed,
"Monkey bastard! Block him!"
At his shout, ten Ghost Beasts leaped atop the cliff in a single bound, blocking Namgung Hyeok's path.
"Outta my way!"
Namgung Hyeok unleashed the Triple Thunder Sword Method, shoving the Ghost Beasts aside.
Clang clang clang!
Rumble rumble!
Three Ghost Beasts, engulfed in lightning, plummeted below. Seizing the gap, the Bloodblood Poison Hand and elders unleashed poison arts at Namgung Hyeok.
Scattering hidden weapons and shooting venom plagued him.
Tension creased Namgung Hyeok's brow.
The Shadow Flame Corps had somehow climbed atop the cliff to fire projectiles, while below, the Bloodblood Poison Hand and others waited greedily with open maws.
And ahead, Ghost Beasts charged straight at him.
"Tch!"
Namgung Hyeok flipped his body and plummeted downward.
At that instant.
Shwoooom!
KABOOM!
A powerful steel needle whistled through the air, grazing his side and embedding in the wall.
Cheop Cheongwon gnashed his teeth.
'Dodged that?'
To twist his body in that split second and evade the Golden Mold Poison Needle!
Gripping another Golden Mold Poison Needle, he roared,
"Seize him!"
As Namgung Hyeok scowled and fell five paces, the Bloodblood Poison Hand and others pounced as if waiting.
Clang clang clang! Shiiiing!
Rumble rumble rumble!
The Bloodblood Poison Hand attacked fiercely, abandoning any underestimation.
His venomous sword fluid, capable of melting green stone in an instant, gripped the demonic sword.
A triumphant smile spread across the Bloodblood Poison Hand's face.
Sizzle!
Green smoke and a foul stench rose from the demonic sword.
"Kahahaha! Got you, you bastard!"
"Idiot!"
"You bastard! I'll melt this damned sword right—"
"I've got fists too, punk!"
Crunch!
KABOOM!
"Guh...!"
The Soul-Crushing Fist to the temple caved in the Bloodblood Poison Hand's skull.
Shing!
The demonic sword yanked free, severing the Bloodblood Poison Hand's hand cleanly.
Pushing back approaching elders with Triple Thunder Sword Method, Namgung Hyeok resumed dashing toward the Heavenly Cliff Precipice.
His gaze fixed on the upper precipice.
The emanating light had grown stronger than before.
Something feels off.
...Really damn off?
He battered the swarming foes while climbing the cliff.
Rage burned in Cheop Cheongwon's eyes.
"Damnable cur!"
He circulated the Shadow King Poison Flame Art, the Five Poisons Sect leader's signature poison martial art, and pursued Namgung Hyeok from behind.
His fist, wrapped in black poison flames, targeted Namgung Hyeok.
KABOOM!
Sizzle!
A section of the cliff crumbled, the poison flames melting debris.
Namgung Hyeok utilized Wall Tiger Body Technique to sprint along the cliff.
"You worm!"
Cheop Cheongwon's Shadow King Poison Flame Palm created dozens of poison palms in midair, raining down like a shower.
Climbing the cliff, Namgung Hyeok urgently raised his demonic sword to block.
Ting ting ting ting ting! KABOOM!
Sizzle!
The heavy impact traveled up his arm, narrowing Namgung Hyeok's brow.
Shockwaves from the poison palms melted spots on the cliff, belching acrid smoke.
With a face twisted like a vicious demon, Cheop Cheongwon assaulted Namgung Hyeok.
Thousands of venomous insects swarmed around him.
Puff puff!
Sizzle!
The insects exploded, spraying acidic fluid.
Namgung Hyeok swatted them with his demonic sword, then gritted his teeth.
"Argh, you bug bastards!"
"Haaap!"
The Shadow King Poison Flame Palm unleashed tremendous attractive force.
One hundred eight palm shadows battered the cliff in an instant.
Shwaaaa!
Namgung Hyeok countered with his demonic sword.
Rumble rumble!
The shockwave rippled the cliff like water, crumbling it in concentric circles. Namgung Hyeok jammed his sword into a ledge like a monkey and dangled.
Cheop Cheongwon landed on the ground and ground his teeth furiously.
Namgung Hyeok sighed.
It was a total mess.
Seven Ghost Beasts, dozens of Shadow Flame Corps, two Five Poisons Sect elders, Cheop Cheongwon.
Glaring at the pack closing in like dogs, Namgung Hyeok tensed his arms.
"I never thought it'd be easy pickings anyway!"
As Namgung Hyeok channeled Wall Tiger Power to climb, one Five Poisons Sect elder lunged, swinging at his back.
Namgung Hyeok spun like lightning, decapitating him in one stroke.
Splurt!
In the instant blood mist obscured his vision.
Shwoooom!
KABOOM!
"Gaaack!"
"Uwaaak!"
A black sphere, the Heavenly Thunder Orb, flew from the gorge and exploded, spewing hidden weapons.
Hundreds of whistling steel needles blanketed the Five Poisons Sect in an instant amid the blast.
"Sichuan Tang Clan!"
Cheop Cheongwon bulged his eyes.
Sichuan Tang Clan warriors poured into the gorge, with the Thunder Dragon Squad revealing itself led by Namgung Ryong.
In that moment, Namgung Hyeok and Namgung Ryong's eyes met in midair.
'It's yours.'
Leave the bottom to Namgung Ryong and the Thunder Dragon Squad—he'd go devour the Millennium Scarlet Crane.
Namgung Hyeok leaped powerfully atop the cliff.