Formation! The Cheonmu Trio (4)
Looking back, the situation wasn't entirely bleak. The enemy, the Nine Yin Demon Lord Neung Sae-geuk, was at the pinnacle of the super-first-class realm, top-tier even among those.
'In contrast, I'm at the early-to-mid super-first-class level, Peng Jincheon is at the beginner stage, and Meng Yuon is still just a peak first-class expert.'
Even so, if the three of us showed perfect synergy, we might just pull off a reversal.
'The outcome of a fight isn't solely determined by cultivation realms.'
If higher realms always guaranteed victory, all those legendary tales of the jianghu would be nothing but lies or boasts. Besides, didn't I have skills and techniques beyond mere cultivation? It was worth a shot.
"Kuhahaha! Come at me? You dare challenge me, the captain of the Demonic Cult's Nine Yin Squad?"
As we assumed combat stances, Neung Sae-geuk snorted in disdain, clearly unimpressed. And who could blame him? To his eyes, we must have looked like cornered pups yapping at a tiger just because we had numbers.
'Especially since he's underestimating us completely.'
With his sharp instincts, he'd likely pegged us as disciples from the righteous Cheonmu Academy, whose students typically ranged from first-class to low super-first-class—barely a snack for him. That overconfidence would be a huge factor in our reversal.
"They say even a cornered rat will bite a cat. But... have you ever seen the cat lose?"
Neung Sae-geuk, who had been laughing like a madman with his head thrown back, suddenly sobered. Shwaaaa!
He unleashed his signature demonic art, the thick, ominous aura of the Nine Yin Asura Demonic Art.
A chill ran down my spine! The energy was so intense and chilling that, for the first time since entering the super-first-class realm, I felt a stark, icy threat.
If I was like this, how must Meng Yuon—our weakest in martial prowess—have felt?
"Oh my god."
He instinctively stepped back, his whole body trembling. It wasn't cowardice or lack of courage; as a skilled warrior, it was pure instinct.
Sneer!
Delighted by our intimidated reactions, the Nine Yin Demon Lord flashed a satisfied grin, pondering how to properly devour these hairless pups.
Strategy remains the same. I'll go all out—you two target his openings. Neither of you push too hard!
I hammered the point home via transmission. With my Taeryeok Cheolgang Gong and Divine Transformation Heart Method, I was confident I wouldn't die even in the worst case. But they were different. Above all, I ordered them to prioritize their own lives.
Nod!
Overcoming the encroaching dread, they nodded.
'If we take down Neung Sae-geuk here—the future Demonic Cult Elder—it'll be a massive boon against the cult later.'
Wasn't this part of the remake's grand flow? I silently prayed once more to my Maternal Uncle, the creator of this world, for aid.
Now was the time to strike. But instead of ambush or preemptive attack, I chose the opposite.
"As a Demonic Cult captain, you're far senior to us..."
I shifted to maximize his complacency.
"Shouldn't you at least yield the first move?"
I feigned appeal to jianghu etiquette to lure him into overconfidence.
"Kuhahaha!"
He laughed maniacally again, then boomed magnanimously.
"Of course! Not just the first—I'll yield three moves. Attack away, juniors."
Provoking him verbally worked perfectly. Even this bluffer, who'd boast to his grave, graciously offered three free strikes. Ideal.
"Very well. Though our paths differ, as a jianghu senior, I trust you won't lie."
At my prodding,
"If I break my word, I'll quit the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
Demonic Cultists loathed being called just "Demonic Cult"—they insisted on Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Even Neung Sae-geuk wasn't exempt. Invoking that name meant no trap; it was a binding vow.
"Understood."
With his firm pledge, I prepared. We'd agreed I'd use all three strikes, signaling them to guard Instructor Huang Yi-cheon meanwhile. We'd join for a pincer later.
"Heh, let's see the skills of these righteous youngsters."
As predicted, the Nine Yin Demon Lord mocked us with utter arrogance.
His face would change soon enough. With three free moves, I'd shatter his leisure.
'How does the weak beat the strong?'
Many ways: seize initiative, unpredictable strikes... and poison or hidden weapons.
"Haaap!"
My first attack launched. So confident was Neung Sae-geuk that he even tucked one arm behind his back—claiming he could block with one.
I unleashed a Tu Gye Jin Kwon form.
A seemingly ordinary, unremarkable strike.
"That all you got?"
Even Neung Sae-geuk, forced to block, dismissed it scornfully. Most would question such a bland opener, but I had a plan: hide extraordinary formless poison in a mundane form.
Thud!
He blocked my fist wind with one arm showily, but I wouldn't miss the flesh-on-flesh contact.
Infusing invisible poison.
My poison art came straight from Invincible Poison Dang Gwan Wol, one of the Ten Great Warriors. If the Demonic Cult had Ten Elders, the jianghu had Ten Greats. Among the world's sneakiest poisons, even the Nine Yin Demon Lord couldn't shrug it off.
"Wha—?"
As a demonic cultivator versed in all ambushes, he sensed my immature poison instantly.
"Poison?!"
He recoiled, but not before inhaling a dose of the formless toxin.
His smug face twisted as the poison invaded his body, darkening with rigidity.
'Serves you right!'
From leisure to panic in seconds. But my assault wasn't over.
That Tu Gye Jin Kwon feint wasn't just for poison.
Shweeeee!
A slicing air sound from nowhere—my hidden weapon after ages: Ho Jeop Bi Pyo (Butterfly Flying Swift).
As I'd said, poison and projectiles were prime weak-vs-strong tools. I deployed both in strike one, exploiting his guard-down perfectly.
Bam!
Neung Sae-geuk took it head-on, staggering back. His protective aura blunted lethality, but blood trickled from his brow.
"You... you donkey bastard?!"
Midworld's vilest curse signaled his rage. Enemy fury was good for me.
Closing distance.
Mad knee strike, ferocious onslaught.
"Argh!"
Bound by his word, Neung Sae-geuk couldn't counter—had to yield all three. Breaking it meant quitting the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult; ignoring it mocked his own cult. Stuck.
I savored that honeyed bind.
"Die!"
Final strike: finger wind curving exquisitely to whip him.
I chose Moon Palace Finger for one reason.
'He won't drop from this.'
Too close risked counter. Spot on.
"Three moves done..."
Tremble!
His face raged like stormy waves from the thrashing. No more leisure or playfulness. The brief barrage poisoned and wounded him badly.
Drip!
Blood ran down his back, ignored in fury.
"Today, I'll chew you three to bits right here."
Declaring grand ambition, he unleashed his cursed demonic art.
The Demonic Cult ultimate on the cusp of completion surged through him.
Flash!
Normally, it'd blaze darker, more bone-chilling... but something was off. Meant to erupt massively, it fizzled like cute fireworks.
"Wha—why?!"
Unable to control the weak display, the Nine Yin Demon Lord panicked, shaken.
Want me to explain?
'The poison I fed you is qi-dispersing toxin—but not ordinary.'
Sichuan Dang Clan's famed Dang Ga San Gong Dok (Dang Family Qi-Dispersing Poison). Their best dissolved martial arts. Its terror: power builds but never peaks.
'Even a superhuman like Neung Sae-geuk holds up.'
Any lesser would've collapsed, inner energy stalled.
"Nine Yin Captain Neung Sae-geuk. You die here today."
Unlike the Southeastern Color Demon Hwa Wol-un I'd caught before, Neung Sae-geuk was untamable beast. Dogs can be captured; beasts must be slain on-site.
Against his demonic art, my heart method—with demon-subduing supremacy.
All-out scorching, ferocious claws.
And we had numbers to exploit.
&
The Cheonmu Trio's full-force barrage poured down.
'As a top expert, his poisoned state won't last long.'
My Mu Hyeong Dok Gong wasn't perfected, so the effect was brief. In that window, we had to fell the absolute villain, Neung Sae-geuk.