Chapter 248
Chapter 248
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Filling the Heart (1)
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Whooooo.
The air was thick with over a thousand warriors surrounding them.
Their unified killing intent prickled the skin like needles. If their gazes carried physical force, it would be enough to tear a body to shreds in an instant.
'What an odd fellow.'
Ya Yul-cheok felt a strange emotion as he glanced at the man beside him.
Setting aside the vague sense of familiarity or nostalgia, he'd never seen someone whose expression didn't even twitch in such a dire situation.
'Is he without fear?'
Like himself, who thought death was just death and showed no agitation.
'No, is he enjoying this?'
He was exactly like him—someone who sought out places to die.
This was the first time he'd encountered such a person. Even those renowned for their iron guts or bravery usually paled and backed away when faced with his venomous aura.
"Aren't you afraid?"
"Far from it—I'm relieved. I've gained a fine subordinate."
"I haven't agreed to become your subordinate yet."
In exchange for completing his revenge, he would entrust his future. But right now, not only was revenge unfinished, they were pinned down before this den of venomous serpents.
"You'll see. Anyway, what swordsmanship are you practicing?"
"Flame King Nine Heavens Swordsmanship."
Since he might die anyway, there was no need for secrets, so he answered.
"The Flame King's heir's unique martial art? Impressive that it's survived."
Ya Yul-cheok was inwardly surprised.
'The Flame King's heir was a master from two hundred years ago.'
His insight was astonishing, but he showed no greed even after hearing of such a supreme art.
On the contrary, the corners of his mouth beneath the deathly pallor curved in admiration.
"So you obtained a great opportunity—quite the card."
"I nearly fell into qi deviation while practicing it."
"Good things are bad if hogged alone."
"Is that so?"
Surprisingly, as they conversed, Ya Yul-cheok felt himself being drawn in.
Swoosh.
Raising his head to survey the surroundings, he saw countless Net Sect warriors charging with roars.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
The wave of assailants rushing in unison sent a chill down his spine, and strength instinctively gathered in his toes.
'To think there's someone with even greater nerve than me.'
As he thought that, an unexpected voice spoke.
"It's been a while, so I'm not sure if it'll go well."
"What are you going to do?"
"Flame King Nine Heavens Sword."
"You know the Flame King Nine Heavens Sword?"
"Of course. I know the technique well enough."
"Hah. Ridiculous. I didn't even get a complete manual. It was worn and tattered, missing parts even I couldn't recover."
The Flame King's heir wouldn't have left another manual.
The martial art left by that ragged corpse was a single volume written in blood.
"Watch and see. I don't have a hobby of empty boasting."
Swish swish. Trembling the tip of his held white sword finely, he stepped forward.
"The first form was Flame King Emerging from Earth, right?"
Boom!
The moment he thought it was a clumsy sword art unfolding.
Over a dozen Net Sect warriors charging in screamed and were flung into the air.
'Impossible!'
"Second form. Flame King Roaring Wrath."
Boom!
Ya Yul-cheok's eyes widened at the frost-like energy bursting from the grounded stance.
***
"What?!"
Fukien One Menace gaped at the sight of limbs severed and bodies flung into the air.
Flipping over a dozen men at once was shocking enough, but what seized his gaze was the eerie swordsmanship.
"What the hell is that sword art?!"
The ferocious aura, savage enough to question if it came from the same man with the bland energy moments ago, radiated brutal menace.
'A truly profound sword art, but not without openings.'
Boom! Slash!
The problem was that the sword art was evolving.
At first, it seemed like a mediocre swordsman imitating a deep art.
Pop pop pop! Slash slash slash!
But as time passed, it grew more refined, and at some point, he moved freely through the gaps in the precisely pouring strikes, slicing the disciples' vital points.
As if the Flame King were devouring souls across the nine heavens.
'It's continually changing. Like a master hiding his skill.'
In just over thirty exchanges, the crude swordplay had transformed into first-rate swordsmanship.
"Wh-what are you Thousand Sword Branch Masters doing?!"
As the panicked Net Sect Leader shouted, the Thousand Sword Branch Masters waiting in the rear stepped forward.
Unlike the numerous third-rate disciples, he believed these properly trained ones could stop the rampaging Dark Venerable.
Slash slash slash slash slash!
"Argh!"
But they couldn't halt the Dark Venerable's straight charge.
'I must stop him. Now.'
Originally, the Ten Swords were to engage after wearing him down, but seeing the evolving sword, an ominous premonition told him he couldn't wait.
The other White Swords felt the same.
"Merchant A, we can't just stand here."
"His martial arts are truly astonishing, so we must attack together from the start."
"He's getting stronger as time passes, so we need to break his momentum."
A Jin-geol, regaining composure, shouted quickly.
"We need to deploy the Gold Dragon Great Formation."
"The Gold Dragon Great Formation?"
"It might be overkill, but killing the enemy comes first."
At the mention of Gold Dragon Great Formation, the Net Sect Leader's jaw dropped.
As well it should—the formation, named for caging dragons, was designed to counter peerless masters.
Ten White Swords surrounded on all ten sides, but even half that number could slay foes several levels superior.
-Kill a dragon? Quite bold.
Rumor had it that Iron Chain Alliance Leader Cheol Mu-hon, witnessing its power, suspected it was made to kill him.
A deadly formation taught only to White Swords, not easily deployed, but now there was no choice.
"The situation is urgent. We'll deal with the crime of deploying the Gold Dragon Great Formation without orders later."
"We understand your intent, sir."
"Focus on killing him."
The five White Swords raised their auras and drew their swords in unison.
White Swords.
Fierce sword energies blazed over the pale sword blades, and for the first time, the rampaging Dark Venerable halted.
"Oh? Can't ignore this."
The moment a pleased smile rose beneath his deathly pallor.
"Die!"
The five White Swords charged simultaneously.
***
'That's the Flame King Nine Heavens Sword?'
Ya Yul-cheok, watching, couldn't continue his words at the sight of the long-cherished swordsmanship completing before his eyes.
Whiiiir whiiiir whiiiir.
A sword art opening the gates of hell with its wailing cries.
'It was definitely a lost art.'
The swordsmanship from the formulas the Flame King's heir scrawled in blood before death was coming alive in a fresh way.
At first, it wasn't particularly noteworthy.
"It's been a while, so I'm not sure if it'll go well."
As he'd said, there were many awkward parts. But as forms progressed, flaws vanished, evolving toward perfection—the shadow of the completed Flame King Nine Heavens Sword seemed visible.
"...Impossible..."
It was an art he'd practiced alone, nearly dying countless times.
The Flame King Nine Heavens Swordsmanship lived up to its name in ferocity, utterly heedless of the practitioner's bodily stability.
Thus, after repeated failures, he'd barely reached the third stage—yet what was that?
"...First stage, second stage. Now fourth?"
Ya Yul-cheok, knowing the formulas, realized at some point that the Dark Venerable's swordsmanship had surpassed his own achievement.
Shiiiish.
Surpassing the fourth to reach the fifth stage, as written in the formulas, a sword-red mist formed like haze over the blade.
Pop pop pop pop.
Ruthlessly tearing the flesh of those approaching.
Slash slash slash slash slash!
Sixth stage! Before long, the Dark Venerable wielding the sword was swallowed by the sword-red mist—no human form visible, only the swirling fog remained.
"Seventh stage!"
Lost in trance, chasing the sword formulas unconsciously, Ya Yul-cheok snapped to at the voice resounding in his mind.
[You won't just up and die on me if I leave you alone, right?]
At the playful tone, Ya Yul-cheok grinned.
[I'll survive to the end and witness the completed sword.]
"Die!"
Clang!
Facing the sword slicing at his neck, Ya Yul-cheok slid back.
***
'He's holding his own, more or less.'
While observing Ya Yul-cheok entangled with the Net Sect Leader, five sword auras flew viciously.
"Another combined assault? How embarrassing."
"Kill!"
Unlike the start, the White Swords pressing in formation didn't fall for it.
Batting away the neck-slicing blade with swirling blood mist, he drove a palm into a chest.
"Not a chance!"
Boom!
Two swords suddenly appeared to block the palm.
Slash! Splurt!
Another two sword gleams targeted both shoulders.
Pop pop pop!
Swiftly retracting his sword art, drawing a circular arc overhead, twisting his body to escape the sword momentum—then four swords simultaneously aimed at heart, lungs, forehead, and dantian.
"What a brutal world."
Clang! Clang clang!
Twisting his wrists to deflect two swords, he tried to evade again, but a sticky energy bound his entire body.
"A formation?"
His body felt languid, as if stuck in viscous grass; Chu Un-hwi furrowed his brows.
"It's the Gold Dragon Sword Formation. No matter how great a master you are, can you endure it?"
"Sword art didn't work, so now a formation?"
"What are the Thousand Swords doing?!"
Slash slash slash!
At the White Sword's shout, the Thousand Swords regrouped their auras and spun their swords like pinwheels.
Following was a barrage like interlocking gears turning precisely.
Clang! Clang clang clang!
Deflect one, and four or five swords follow.
Boom! Pop pop!
Meet five swords, and they scatter like illusions, dozens of strikes raining on his back.
"What a pain."
Chu Un-hwi, missing for the first time, smacked his lips; a jubilant laugh followed.
"The peerless formation that cages dragons."
"Impressive name."
"We'll slowly strangle you within the formation."
Squeee! At the whistle laced with inner power, the paused formation whirled anew.
Seeing hundreds of flashing sword afterimages from all directions, Chu Un-hwi cracked his neck.
"About time for a change."
"Die...! Huh?! Phantom Shadow Shift?!"
As he propelled his body forward, one White Sword, eyes stolen by the flickering afterimage, let out a shrill scream.
"One down."
Pierce.
"Gah!"
"You bastard!"
To the sword stabbing his back, Chu Un-hwi instantly reversed, grabbed the blade barehanded.
"Snap it with fingers... Huh?"
Pretending to grab the blade, riding sword energy up his right hand seized the man's collar; he screamed.
Crack.
"Gurgle."
Twisting the neck, the convulsing body went limp.
Swoosh.
Casually tossing the limp body, Chu Un-hwi cracked his neck again.
"Formation or whatever?"
"......"
The experts, who even stunned the Iron Chain Alliance Leader, couldn't close their mouths as he slipped through the formation's gap in an instant.
"Looks like it's not even a perfect formation."
"How did he find the formation's weakness so easily."
"You think this is my first or second time diving into a formation?"
Oh, and by the way.
"All those who babbled about formations to me are in hell."
Whiiiir whiiiir.
The sword wailing fiercer split into countless sword shadows.
"Dodge!"
Boom!
Losing two White Swords, the creaking formation began splitting apart entirely.