132
Chapter 132: We Properly Proved Their Worth.
Swoosh—!
Seong Hwi’s sword violently surged up and down, revealing the form of a sword technique modeled after the turbulent waves of the South Sea. The wall of sword energy, stirring the waves, clashed against the five surging strands of sword energy and a massive force of power.
"Kgh—!"
Whether it was too much to handle, Seong Hwi slightly bent his waist and was pushed back, sliding across the ground. The Righteous Heaven Unit scout Leader supported Seong Hwi’s back.
"Are you alright?"
Unable to even muster the strength to answer, Seong Hwi only wiped the blood from his lips while sweating cold beads. The Righteous Heaven Unit Scout Leader's complexion, too, was far from normal. Barely enduring the combined assault of the Paewangseong Seven Great Swords and the Ten Thousand Blood Unit Leaders, he had only just caught his breath when Seong Hwi joined the fray.
Just how much longer can we hold out?
The Righteous Heaven Unit scout Leader tightened his grip on his sword, tasting the metallic tang in his mouth as he watched the Righteous Heaven Unit Scout fighting desperately around him.
No one had fallen yet, but most had suffered injuries ranging from moderate to severe. They were barely holding on, relying on sheer willpower—an unstable factor that could flicker out at any moment.
Amidst this disadvantage, the heroic efforts of the late-stage foundation level disciples breathed new life into the Righteous Heaven Unit Scout.
The Righteous Heaven Unit scout Leader turned his head at the sudden scent of plum blossoms. There, weaving through the Ten Thousand Blood Unit and scattering purple petals in all directions, was a female swordswoman.
Mu-hwa, moving with such ferocity that even the Ten Thousand Blood Unit couldn’t keep up, rampaged through the enemy ranks like a storm.
Just a little more!
Mu-hwa’s Plum Blossom Robe was torn in multiple places. With every swing of her sword, droplets of blood fell. She had already suffered over five wounds across her body, but she refused to stop.
Her reckless charge into enemy lines drew attention, giving others room to breathe. Though she wasn’t dealing significant damage, the fact that such actions were necessary spoke volumes about the dire state of the Martial Alliance.
"You insolent wench!"
"She’s lost all fear, relying solely on her agility!"
Just as the Ten Thousand Blood Unit swords closed in to tear her apart, an overwhelming fragrance of plum blossoms surged from behind her.
Kwa-Ka-Kang!
Two massive plum blossom swords bloomed, followed by ten more—a fusion of the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique and the Iron Plum Sword Technique, erupting in the heart of the battlefield.
"Mu-hwa! That’s enough!"
"Fall back!"
Mu-cheol and Mujin rushed into the Ten Thousand Blood Unit warriors, covering Mu-hwa’s retreat. But the Ten Thousand Blood Unit wasn’t so easily shaken by two late-stage foundation level disciples. Their intervention only served as a momentary distraction.
"You brats!"
Crimson sword energy poured from three directions simultaneously. Mujin desperately deflected left and right with his Plum Blossom Sword, but the moment he retracted his blade, a sword wind pierced through the opening.
Damn. Too late.
Whether it was due to his body reaching its limit, his mind and eyes could process the danger, but his body moved sluggishly. Gritting his teeth, Mujin tried to move his left hand when—
Thud-Thud-Thump!
Suddenly, standing before him was Woo Tae-gang, arms crossed in the ultimate Iron Mountain Stance, blocking three strands of sword energy.
Behind him, bloodied Xian Yun and Baekri Sang rushed in, guarding Mu-cheol’s flanks as he fought alone.
"Mu-cheol! Your back is wounded!"
"Focus on enduring, not defeating the enemy!"
Nodding stiffly at their voices, Mu-cheol swung his heavy Plum Blossom Sword.
"Move!"
Peng Ho-yeon lunged forward in Mu-cheol’s stead, scattering crimson lightning to repel the attacking Ten Thousand Blood Unit.
The fierce sword strikes created an opening in the Ten Thousand Blood Unit, allowing Mu-hwa to reunite with the other disciples.
"Disciple Peng... Thank you."
"No need. Compared to you risking your life, this is nothing."
The disciples stood shoulder-to-shoulder, glaring at the Seven Great Sword and Ten Thousand Blood Unit exuding murderous intent.
Unlike their enemies, whose sword energy still shimmered brightly, the weapons and internal energy of the prodigies had grown faint. Their stamina and energy were at their limits.
Mujin suppressed his pounding heart, trying to steady his breathing.
‘Thanks to the Six Harmonies Heart Technique, we’ve lasted this long... But this is the end.’
He looked down at his Plum Blossom Sword, now devoid of falling petals, with darkened eyes. The others were no different.
Xian Yun’s once-dense white fist energy had thinned like mist, and the crimson lightning that once crackled around Peng Ho-yeon’s sword had long since quieted.
Everyone’s at their limit. That we’ve held out this long is a miracle.
Zhuge Myung’s expression darkened as he assessed the disciples' conditions. He racked his brain, but no miraculous strategy came to mind.
"Haaah—!"
As Peng Ho-yeon roared and swung his sword at a Ten Thousand Blood Unit—
Kwa-Ru-Ru-Rung!
A deafening thunderclap shook the heavens.
All eyes turned to Peng Ho-Yeon, who blinked in confusion.
"Was that... Your Thunder Sword Technique?"
"No. I don’t have the energy left to unleash thunder like that."
Even at full strength, producing such an ear-splitting thunderclap was beyond Peng Ho-Yeon’s current level.
As Zhuge Myung questioned him, another thunderclap roared.
This time, a vivid crimson lightning bolt streaked across the sky—aimed directly at the Righteous Heaven Unit Scout.
The Ten Thousand Blood Unit cried out in horror.
"Righteous Heaven Unit Scout Leader!"
***
The Unfolding Storm
In Sima Gang’s hand, space itself trembled.
A dark brown halo stretched from the vibrating space, soon taking the form of a long spear.
The fact that Sima Gang could forge a weapon from pure internal energy was nothing short of miraculous.
Among swordsmen, this realm, where one could create and wield intangible weapons, was often referred to as the Formless Sword realm.
The beginning of the Heart Sword.
So many walls left to climb.
Mu Hwi forced his numb arms to move, raising the Sim-myeong Sword vertically. Just as Sima Gang prepared to strike with his Formless Spear, the weapon suddenly shot skyward.
Kwa-Ru-Ru-Rung!
The Formless Spear split the massive crimson lightning bolt descending from the heavens in two, but the divided bolt then fractured into five strands, lashing out at Sima Gang.
Kwa-Ka-Kang!
The overwhelming sword force forced Sima Gang to spin his spear wildly as he retreated.
Koo-Oong!
Before Mu Hwi stood a towering old man.
His rugged, muscular physique defied his age.
Clad in a red martial robe embroidered with a massive tiger, the old man’s fierce tiger-like eyes matched the beast on his attire.
Sima Gang smirked at the crimson sword in the old man’s hand.
"Sword Master. I thought you’d kicked the bucket by now. First, the Sword Immortal, now you—just how long do you old geezers plan to cling to life?"
"I’m a full decade younger than the Sword Immortal, you brat."
The Sword Master glanced at Peng Ho-Yeon in the distance before pointing his Crimson sword at Sima Gang.
"The youngest grandson of the Hebei Peng Clan is in danger. What kind of idle old man would I be if I didn’t come to help?"
Kwa-Aa-Aang!
Sima Gang narrowed his eyes at the distant explosion. An old man had just reshaped the sandy terrain with a single fist, joining the battle between the Paewangseong Leader and Kang Ho-baek.
The Iron Mountain Fist King and his disciple.
Though the Martial Alliance’s other forces remained tied down in Hunan, their absence hardly mattered now.
With these two absolute masters here, the tide had turned.
"How’d you get here? The Shadow Emperor and the Frozen Sound King should’ve blocked your path in Hunan."
If Paewangseong had sent the Shadow Emperor, the Sacheon Alliance must’ve deployed the Frost Sound Demon King.
This wasn’t just about blocking reinforcements—it was a strategic move to push the Martial Alliance out of Hunan in coordination with the Paewangseong.
For these two to arrive unscathed meant they’d overcome those obstacles.
"Heh. Sword Immortal is handling those two."
"The Sword Immortal left Wudang Mountain?"
The Wudang Sword Immortal hadn’t been seen in the martial arts world for over twenty years. Though hard to believe, the Sword Master’s words carried weight.
At the mention of the Sword Immortal, Sima Gang’s smirk vanished.
The Sword Master glanced at the Kang Ho-baek standing beside the Iron Mountain Fist King.
"Seems the Alliance Leader prepared for the worst. I didn’t expect him to drag out Sword Immortal, too. Well, given this worst-case scenario—the Sacheon Alliance and Paewangseong joining hands—it makes sense."
In short, the Shadow Emperor and Frost Sound Demon King were now tied up fighting the Sword Immortal, allowing the Iron Mountain Fist King and Sword Master to rush south.
"How’d you even get the Sword Immortal to move? That old man’s as stubborn as a mule."
"He heard the younger generation was heading to their deaths and couldn’t sit still. That damn Alliance Leader must’ve played the same card."
The Sword Master laughed, shooting Kang Ho-baek a wry look.
"No wonder you didn’t even try to flee. You had a plan all along."
Sima Gang’s final remark was directed at Kang Ho-baek. Though separated by distance, Kang Ho-baek responded immediately.
"The burdens I carry are heavy. Especially the lives of the younger generation. As Alliance Leader, I had to use every resource available."
Sima Gang finally burst out laughing at Kang Ho-baek’s words.
"Hey, Paewangseong Lord. Things just got complicated."
The arrival of even one absolute master would’ve disrupted their plans. But these two were no ordinary figures.
The Iron Mountain Fist King and the Sword Master.
The Iron Mountain Fist King was self-explanatory, and the Sword Master, though among the oldest of the absolute masters, was the same Iron-Blooded sword who had slain two other sword-wielding absolute masters: the Wheel-Severing Sword Master and the Silent Sword Master.
Old tigers, but their fangs and claws remained sharp.
"Paewangseong Lord. What now? Your plan’s fallen apart quite spectacularly."
The Paewangseong Lord observed the Iron Mountain Fist King, Kang Ho-baek, the Sword Master, and Hwasan Sword Saint before shaking his head.
"I didn’t expect you to use the old men like this. The Sword Master, maybe—but the Sword Immortal? My oversight."
"Normally, you’d be right. Even as Alliance Leader, one must respect semi-retired seniors. But I don’t care for such formalities. Lives matter more than etiquette."
Kang Ho-baek had his priorities straight as Alliance Leader. Or perhaps he’d always been this way, knowing full well that protecting everything was impossible.
"Kang Ho-baek. You saw through me, while I failed to see all of you. That’s where the gap in our strategies lies."
As Paewangseong Lord raised his hand, the Seven Great Sword, who had halted their assault upon the arrival of the two absolute masters, quickly retreated. The Sacheon Alliance’s Ten Thousand Blood Unit followed suit.
Mu Hwi and the Sword Master rejoined the Martial Alliance’s warriors, and the three forces regrouped, facing each other once more.
The Paewangseong Lord alternated his gaze between the Martial Alliance and the Sacheon Alliance before settling on Kang Ho-baek at the forefront.
"Kang Ho-baek—no, Alliance Leader. Today’s battle is our defeat."
"Hold on, Paewangseong. We merely lent a hand to the Paewangseong' Castle’s event. Don’t lump us in."
Ignored by the Paewangseong Lord, Sima Gang turned to Mu Hwi, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the absolute masters.
"Hwasan Sword Saint. You’ve proven your title’s worth. Let’s make our next meeting more entertaining."
"Next time, I’ll split your neck instead of your spear."
Despite Mu Hwi’s threat, Sima Gang laughed and led the Ten Thousand Blood Unit eastward.
The Paewangseong Lord stared at Mu Hwi, who had withstood the Spear Sovereign’s might. Though Kang Ho-baek had prepared by mobilizing even the Wudang Sword Immortal, the two absolute masters had arrived late.
Had Mu Hwi failed to hold out, the battle would’ve ended before their arrival.
‘The Wudang Sword Immortal and the Hwasan Sword Saint. Two unexpected variables.’
The Martial Alliance’s envoy, including the Sword Immortal, had been noted, but even the Paewangseong Lord hadn’t anticipated a newly-transcended junior matching one of the Three Seats.
With burning eyes, the Paewangseong Lord spoke.
"Sword Immortal. As I said on Hwasan, I’ll be waiting. I’ll always reign supreme in my castle’s tower."
With that, the Paewangseong Lord led the Seven Great Swords’ warriors westward.
As the Sacheon Alliance and Paewangseong Castle disappeared, the Martial Alliance collectively exhaled.
"Huff... Is it over?"
"We survived."
"Tend to the wounded!"
The Righteous Heaven Unit Scout sprang into action while the disciples collapsed where they stood.
"Grandmaster!"
"Master!"
Peng Ho-yeon and Woo Tae-gang rushed toward the Sword Master and Iron Mountain Fist King, who looked upon their disciples with pride.
"Mu-cheol. How’s your back?"
"I’m fine, Senior Disciple."
After checking Mu-cheol’s condition, Mu Hwi turned to Mujin and Mu-hwa. Both were on the verge of collapse but had no life-threatening injuries.
Their tattered Heavenly Silkworm Plum Blossom Robes spoke volumes of the battle’s intensity.
"Senior Disciple... Can this robe be fixed?"
Mu-hwa hugged her torn robe, on the verge of tears.
"You’ve all done well."
"You too, Senior Disciple. You fought hard."
Mu Hwi chuckled at Mujin’s words.
Kang Ho-baek sighed in relief as he observed Mu Hwi and the disciples, then removed his bamboo hat.
Battered beyond repair from his clash with the Paewangseong Lord, the Alliance Leader set it aside without regret.
He could always get a new hat. What mattered was protecting what couldn’t be replaced.
"Alliance Leader. Are you alright?"
At the Righteous Heaven Unit Scout Leader’s question, Kang Ho-baek nodded.
"Crossing blades with the Paewangseong Lord after so long was dizzying. But everyone performed admirably."
As the Righteous Heaven Unit Scouts Leader nodded, Kang Ho-baek turned north.
"Let’s go home. Back to the Martial Alliance."