Chapter 193
Chapter 193
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Altar of Flames (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Indeed, he was properly pissed off.
I tried to brush it off lightly, but Dokgo Yul's separation anxiety was worse than I thought.
[You left me with that righteous sect mountain bandit and had all the fun by yourself?]
What do you mean, all the fun by myself?
[After all my hard work finding the bride, it turns out the lord was off having an affair.]
Affair, my ass. Don't go pinning that on innocent people.
[I'm hurt. Didn't we promise not to devour the martial world without me? Wah...]
He looked like he wouldn't bleed even if pricked with a needle, but this subordinate had surprisingly delicate sensibilities. Chu Un-hwi quickly asked,
[Hey. Hey. You think I'd do that?]
[You held a Hundred Ghosts Night Parade without me. Even brought along the White Lily Sect's 153rd girl.]
[...I told you it's a misunderstanding.]
[This is an affair. Uncharted territory. Betrayal.]
Seeing the moisture welling up in Dokgo Yul's eyes again, Chu Un-hwi changed the subject.
[Where's the bride?]
[I left her just up ahead. This place seemed too dangerous.]
Good call.
[Above all, I thought the one who should show off in front of the bride is the lord. So I left her with those old men who lack both skill and charm.]
[Smart thinking. I'll praise you for it.]
Dokgo Yul finally calmed down.
They say praise makes even a whale dance, and it seemed even more effective on the cleverer-than-a-whale Dokgo Yul.
The heat rising in those previously sulky eyes was proof.
[Why'd you bring the Flame Light Blade Demon along?]
[He latched on like a leech. No choice.]
His irritated reaction suggested he really wasn't thrilled about it.
[Damn righteous sect bastard. If it weren't for the lord, I'd have skinned that sleeping fool headfirst long ago.]
[Hold back on that one.]
[He keeps clinging, insisting on drinks, groping me. If I could, I'd wring his neck, drink his blood, tear off his flesh...]
Hey. Hey. That's going too far.
Roooar!
Ma Gil-sang, who had swept away the enemies with his ferocious swordsmanship alongside the Flame Dragon, wiped his brow as he approached.
"Haha! Thanks to you."
"Yeah. Urp."
The sight of him slapping backs and draping arms around necks to flaunt their camaraderie made the onlookers' eyes glaze over dreamily.
"You two seem to get along quite well."
"Haha. Looks like the righteous duo have become sworn friends."
"Quite the rare sight."
Unlike the general comments, Chu Un-hwi noticed Dokgo Yul's fingertips trembling and inching toward his scabbard. He quickly sent a transmission.
[Hey. Hey. Hand down.]
[Grrrr. This rat-faced thief interrupting my talk with the lord.]
[I said hold it.]
At any rate, things here seemed mostly wrapped up.
***
Roooar!
The emergence of the massive Flame Dragon was visible even from afar.
"The Flame Light Blade Demon is here!"
"Ahh, we're saved."
Relief spread through the eyes of the instructors and students who saw the light of hope.
"Flame Dragon Emergence. To witness it with my own eyes."
The Soaring Heaven Hundred Sword Squadron members, who had been fighting exhaustedly, cracked rare smiles on their stern faces.
The moment the immense aura shook the surroundings, announcing its presence, the oppressive killing intent of the predawn dissipated.
"Looks like they realized their situation's gone south too."
"Whew. What a long day."
Thud. Thud.
As instructors and students slumped against walls here and there, catching their breaths from exhaustion.
Wang-u alone stared intently at one spot.
The object of his gaze was a girl with skinny limbs.
"Young Hero Im. Get up. The fight isn't over yet."
Her jet-black hair swayed as she shouted fiercely, wiping the soot from her face with her sleeve.
Where the soot vanished, skin as white and radiant as her name gleamed brightly.
'Jin Seol-hyang. So this girl's the official wife?'
A bit smaller than 182 times.
'If we're talking flair, she doesn't measure up to 196 or even 235.'
Clothes were an emotional factor too.
Her oversized garments hung loosely, like a child forced into adult attire.
'Heard she was poor, but this is worse than expected.'
Sima Baek pondered as he eyed the elbow patched and repatched so many times the seams remained.
Yet, amid the raggedness, something caught his eye.
"......"
It was the bright light in her large, clear black-and-white eyes.
From what he'd observed, she never backed down against any foe, never looked back even in desperate straits.
Even struggling to protect herself, she gritted her teeth to guard those beside her.
The spirit that confronted to the end matched the brightness in her eyes.
Sima Baek, who had seen many people, knew this was no common trait.
'So this is his type.'
The way her nose wrinkled when she scrunched it was pretty cute too.
'No wonder his eyes don't wander to the Heavenly Demon Cult's flowers when he's got this righteous type in his heart.'
But what about up to 150 times?
As he indulged in amusing fantasies.
Twitch!
A fast-approaching killing intent from afar furrowed his brow.
"...The Apostle has arrived?"
Of all the timing...
"Can't hand over the Bloodstone that easily."
Gripping his scabbard, he launched himself forward.
***
Roooar.
The Eight Thousand Apostles had also witnessed the massive Flame Dragon's emergence.
"Flame Light Blade Demon?"
Jeok Mu-gyeong, gauging the direction, ground his teeth.
"They say the blade of one of the Ten Great Wanderer Swordsmen strikes fear, and indeed it does."
The Flame Dragon rising from the altar snapped even Jeok Mu-gyeong's last thread of patience.
And that rage turned toward the one before him.
"Huff. Huff."
An old man, disheveled and creaking, holding his sword aloft.
Incredibly, it was the Sword Saint Nangong Chan, battered beyond recognition.
"Heh heh. Looks like this old man has won."
"Heh heh heh. Ha ha ha ha!"
Jeok Mu-gyeong, laughing maniacally at the air, abruptly stopped.
"I'll give you one point."
"...What do you mean?"
"That I underestimated you lot."
"......"
It was utter madness, but Nangong Chan couldn't deny it.
This foe possessed martial arts powerful enough to overwhelm even him effortlessly.
"Guess the martial world isn't as boring as I thought."
"...Even with your life hanging by a thread, you're quite relaxed."
"My life hanging by a thread? Ha ha ha ha!"
His eyes gleaming with murderous intent swept over Nangong Chan and the Soaring Heaven Hundred Sword Squadron behind him.
"Not bad jokes. But don't get cocky just because I gave you some leeway."
Whoosh!
Jeok Mu-gyeong flicked his hand, and a crescent blade aura grazed Nangong Chan's side before sweeping into the Soaring Heaven squadron behind.
"Gahk!"
"Kuhk!"
In an instant, five spewed blood, their torsos severed, collapsing.
"Since it's come to this, no sacrifices or whatever—I'll just kill you all."
Boom!
As he stomped, Nangong Chan gasped at the scattering afterimage and shot his form into the air.
Slash! Spurt!
Even as Jeok Mu-gyeong severed five more Soaring Heaven members' necks, Nangong Chan raised his sword toward his back.
"You worm!"
Flipping midair, a brilliant white blade aura flashed at Nangong Chan's sword tip.
And that wasn't the end.
"Shall you taste the Emperor's Sword?"
Boom boom boom boom!
Blade auras layered upon blade auras, heavy sword cries roaring through the arena repeatedly.
Screeeeech!
The Nangong Family's secret art, which one could only begin to comprehend after surpassing the absolute peak.
"Heh heh. Emperor Sword Form?"
Unlike Nangong Mu-san's labored attempts.
Boom boom boom boom!
The white blade aura turned transparent, ripples emanating from the sword shaking everything within twenty zhang.
"The Emperor's pinnacle conquers all weapons!"
The energy spreading from the sword resonated with every weapon within twenty zhang, creating massive ripples.
Hummm. Hummm.
Hummm. Hummm.
"Impressive."
Swords and stones scattered within twenty zhang floated into the air as if alive.
This was the realm of Spirit Sword Control, achievable only by the world's elite, infusing will into swords and weapons—a supreme miracle unfolding from Nangong Chan's hand.
Greeeeek!
Even the sword in his own hand turned toward his neck, prompting Jeok Mu-gyeong to mutter in admiration.
"Worthy of the title Sword Saint."
Dominating the will of every sword in the space.
"Truly befitting the Emperor's name."
Even as his own sword trembled, aiming for his throat, Jeok Mu-gyeong laughed instead.
"Among those who reached Mythic Realm, yours is overwhelmingly superior."
Mythic Realm.
The stage peeking into divinity, shedding human skin.
Even shedding mortal bonds required heaven's fortune, yet the Sword Saint looked down upon it casually.
"Projecting will within perceptual range. Quite the splendid sword art."
But.
"Do you think a mere king among fools can defy me, who overturned heaven's will?"
Boom!
Heat exploded outward, instantly engulfing a thirty-zhang radius.
"My will, Jeok Mu-gyeong of the Eight Thousand Apostles, defies the heavens."
Kaboom!
Feeling his Emperor's will shattered by the fiercer, more savage will, Nangong Chan vomited blood.
"Cough!"
As the Emperor's will dispersed, the floating swords clattered uselessly from the sky.
"Good show, Sword Saint."
Kaboom!
In the whirlwind of fierce flames, Nangong Chan realized.
'The meaning of "Defying Heaven" they speak of.'
Shattering even martial laws and the heavens?
Kurung kaboom!
Amid the daze, Nangong Chan, engulfed in flames, was flung over ten zhang and slammed into the ground.
***
"Father!"
Nangong Mu-san cried out as Nangong Chan flew back spewing blood.
Forty Soaring Heaven Hundred Sword Squadron members remained at his side, but the situation was dire.
All they could muster were final bursts of desperate resolve in their hopeless eyes.
Swish.
Jeok Mu-gyeong, having routed Nangong Chan, turned to face them.
"Now you know my patience is thin."
"Y-You... "
He spread his hand.
Incredibly, a red stone was embedded in Jeok Mu-gyeong's palm.
Throb. Throb.
The stone pulsed like a living thing, absorbing blood and radiating even more eerie energy.
Crunch.
Veins sprouting, feeding on its master's blood, it transformed into an even more horrifying sight.
"Because of you lot, I had to consume incomplete power."
My thirst is excruciating.
Even as blood vessels burst in his eyes, Jeok Mu-gyeong, gripped by madness, shouted in ecstasy.
"To quench this thirst, I need what's in your possession."
Seeing his blood-red tongue, the entire Soaring Heaven Hundred Sword Squadron envisioned death.
But even in death, they couldn't hand this to that monster.
'The moment this dangerous item is taken, calamity will befall the martial world.'
In the end, the Soaring Heaven squadron raised their swords, steeling for their last stand.
"If you want it, come take it."
"Heh heh. If you insist on drinking the penalty."
As Jeok Mu-gyeong stepped forward.
Screech!
A figure kicked off the air, raining down blade auras like beams of light!
Shiiiing!
As Jeok Mu-gyeong retreated a step from the force in the sword strike.
"Instructor Wang-u!"
Wang-u landed beside Nangong Mu-san, who was swallowing blood, and rapidly scattered chaotic blade auras while shouting.
"Hand me the Bloodstone quickly!"
"I-Instructor Wang?"
"Now!"
As he reluctantly passed the stone, Jeok Mu-gyeong spread his arms wide and shot upward.
"Tch!"
Wang-u swiftly received the Bloodstone and launched into the air.
Boom boom!
"Damn you!"
The enraged Jeok Mu-gyeong whipped out thunderbolt strikes, pouring out flame-like auras, but.
Boom boom boom boom!
Wang-u, leaping high, shifted direction eight times midair like kicking off walls, swiftly widening the gap.
"Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms?"
Jeok Mu-gyeong's eyes widened at the erratic aerial movement.
"The Kunlun Sect's snout playing tricks!"
Whoosh!
Following Wang-u's form as it traced a zig-zag in the air and vanished, Jeok Mu-gyeong stomped heavily.
Rumble rumble rumble!
With one stomp propelling him over ten zhang explosively, a massive wall of flames surged behind Jeok Mu-gyeong's form.