173
Chapter 173: A Day? Not a Chance.
"Mukyacheon..."
Mu Hwi unfolded the book. Watching him, Munyeong continued his explanation.
"At first, I thought the inclusion of night (夜) in the sect's name was just a coincidence."
Mu Hwi narrowed his eyes as he spotted a familiar name in the book's passages.
- The master of Mukyacheon practiced a demonic technique called the Black Heaven Divine Technique (黑天神功). This Black Heaven Divine Technique can be considered the root of Mukyacheon's demonic techniques.
"But after learning that the culprit behind the Sword King's death was named Heukcheon (Black Heaven), my thoughts changed."
Mu Hwi nodded.
Heukcheon had indeed said as much—that it was the name of the demonic path he had inherited. As Mu Hwi flipped through the pages, his conviction grew stronger.
Mukyacheon and Black Night Palace only differed slightly in name, but they shared the same root: Heukcheon.
"These persistent demons. They keep showing up again and again."
"They're like insects. Vile and terrifying."
Mu Hwi's eyes widened as he turned the next page. He now understood why Munyeong had gone through the trouble of transcribing and compiling this into a book rather than just explaining it verbally.
"An annotation on the Black Heaven Divine Technique?"
It contained detailed records of the Heavenly Killing Emperor's experiences, analyses, and methods to counter each technique after directly facing the Black Heaven Divine Technique.
'Some aspects may have changed over time, but being able to glimpse the Black Heaven Divine Technique in advance is a huge advantage.'
In the current martial arts world, almost nothing was known about Heukcheon's martial arts. In that regard, this book Munyeong had brought was like a divine revelation.
'I’ll need to study this thoroughly over time.'
Recalling Heukcheon's emotionless face, Mu Hwi looked at Munyeong.
"Aside from the Black Heaven Divine Technique, there are also insights from the Heavenly Killing Emperor mixed in here. This is truly precious—are you sure I can take this?"
Upon closer inspection, the deeper analyses of the Black Heaven Divine Technique naturally contained the Heavenly Killing Emperor's martial theories and insights.
Of course, Mu Hwi had never practiced the martial arts of the Thousand Killer Chosen Sect, but at the highest levels, all martial paths eventually converge.
Just skimming through the insights, it was clear that the Heavenly Killing Emperor was no ordinary martial artist.
Even now, having reached the absolute peak, Mu Hwi was certain there was still much to gain from the Heavenly Killing Emperor's insights. They were that profound.
"I don’t possess martial arts like Shadow Emperor, where I can step forward directly. No matter how much I read, it’s of no use to me. It’s only right that it goes to someone who can truly utilize it."
Mu Hwi nodded solemnly.
"I’ll strive to ensure the Heavenly Killing Emperor’s records do not go to waste."
Munyeong also smiled and bowed his head.
Seeing this, Mu Hwi added,
"It’s not exactly a repayment, but after studying the Heavenly Killing Emperor’s insights, I’ll add my own annotations and return this book to you. I hope it will be of help to future disciples of the Thousand Killer Chosen Sect."
Mu Hwi recalled the martial arts displayed by Dark Monkey.
If he recorded the counter-techniques he had used against Dark Monkey’s moves alongside the Heavenly Killing Emperor's insights, it would be quite useful. After all, one could refine their martial arts by studying counter-techniques.
Moreover, he rather liked that the Thousand Killer Chosen Sect pursued something different from ordinary assassin sects.
At Mu Hwi’s suggestion, Munyeong smiled.
"If the Graceful One would do that, I would be nothing but grateful."
***
Mu Hwi walked alone.
Occasionally, messenger hawks and eagles flew overhead, but he ignored them.
Munyeong had said that the Shinwa region was completely under Black Night Palace’s control, with their eyes and ears everywhere.
The demonic warriors in Shinwa would have already detected the movements of the Hwasan Sect.
As he drew closer to Shinwa, Mu Hwi’s steady footsteps suddenly halted.
Demonic warriors emerged from all directions, emanating demonic energy.
Though the exact number was unclear, there were at least three hundred.
And this wasn’t the end. From afar, the presence of even more approaching figures could be sensed—at least another hundred.
The dark blue uniforms worn by the demonic warriors were embroidered with the characters Jinryeong (眞囹).
"Utterly inhuman," Mu Hwi muttered as he observed the Jinryeong sect’s members.
Whatever training they had undergone, despite numbering in the hundreds, not a single gesture or step deviated from the group’s unified movements.
Hundreds of strands of demonic energy intertwined.
The dark blue demonic energy emitted by the Jinryeong sect gathered and overlapped, gradually darkening the surroundings.
Though it was midday, the area where Mu Hwi stood rapidly turned into midnight. The sun in the center of the sky was slowly obscured by the demonic energy, disappearing from sight.
The sight made the Jinryeongdan seem like a single monstrous entity.
"Sword Saint."
An old man emerged from among the demonic warriors. Following him, elders appeared one by one from each direction.
"The Plum Blossom Swordsmen who was with you are nowhere to be seen. Did you come alone to draw attention and rescue the Cheonryu Merchant Group’s young mistress from an empty Shinwa?"
Another elder from a different direction spoke.
"A futile effort. Im Su-ryeon has already left Shinwa and moved elsewhere. Your information is far too late."
"The Plum Blossom Swordsmen are heading to Soyang."
At Mu Hwi’s words, the elders’ eyes darkened.
Soyang.
A place south of Shinwa, one of Black Night Palace’s major gathering points.
Upon hearing of the Hwasan Sect’s southward movement, Black Night Palace had decided to relocate Im Su-ryeon to Soyang.
But thanks to the intelligence network of the Thousand Killer Chosen Sect, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen had bypassed Shinwa and headed straight south, swiftly tracking Im Su-ryeon.
Mu Hwi gripped the Sim-myeong Sword as he observed the Jinryeong sect.
"You should worry about yourselves. The reason I stayed behind wasn’t to draw attention—it was to wipe you out in advance."
Killing intent erupted from Mu Hwi’s entire body.
The dense killing intent surged like a storm in all directions, causing the surrounding grass to flatten.
However, beyond a certain radius, Mu Hwi’s killing intent could not extend. He focused on the demonic energy around him, which had completely blotted out even the sunlight.
"We didn’t come simply to stop you either," the elders said, their withered lips twisting unpleasantly.
"Charging blindly at an absolute master like you would be meaningless, no matter our numbers. So, our palace spent centuries researching to create a formation."
"The Dark Night True Prison Formation. A formation designed to confront and restrain an absolute master. It wouldn’t lose to Shaolin’s 108 Arhat Formation."
The demonic energy grew thicker, and the voices of the elders from each direction echoed alternately.
"Today. We’ll hold you here until the Great Guardian arrives."
With that, all sound, including the elders’ voices, vanished. The encroaching darkness swallowed even the Jinryeong sect’s members.
There was nothing around—only darkness. Even when Mu Hwi heightened his internal energy and maximized his vision-enhancing techniques, he couldn’t pierce through the surrounding blackness.
As he slowly surveyed the darkness, Mu Hwi recalled the elders’ words.
'Great Guardian. I thought there were only Left and Right Guardians. Did the palace lord hide this one naturally?'
The moment the Sim-myeong Sword emitted a purple light, the surrounding darkness rippled, and immense pressure crashed down on Mu Hwi.
BOOM!
The ground beneath Mu Hwi’s feet collapsed. Yet, his body didn’t even tremble.
It seemed the formation’s function was to gather the internal energy and energy waves of the hundreds of demonic warriors forming the formation and focus them entirely on Mu Hwi.
As Mu Hwi raised his internal energy to resist the pressure, the surrounding darkness unleashed a barrage of attacks.
Dozens of sword winds and sword energies surged like waves, followed by massive fist storms.
Amidst these loud and overwhelming assaults, subtle and insidious techniques—like an assassin’s hidden strikes—suddenly appeared.
Some attacks came from twenty paces away, while others erupted at point-blank range.
Some flickered in and out of sight, obscured by momentary darkness, while others were completely invisible from the start, like an assassin’s strikes.
And yet, still, not a single sound could be heard.
"What an annoying formation."
Mu Hwi tilted his sword, still feeling the formation’s pressure weighing down on him.
With the formation fully activated, the onslaught from all directions showed no sign of stopping.
As he deflected the sword winds raining down like a storm, Mu Hwi suddenly leaped into the air.
Belatedly, dozens of demonic energy spikes shot up from the ground, piercing the spot where he had stood.
WHOOSH!
Mu Hwi dispersed the demonic energy with Purple Sunset Divine Energy and unfolded the Plum Endures Snow’s Cold to block the storm of attacks.
'As expected, it’s not just a formation—it seems to incorporate demonic sorcery as well. Even natural energy is cut off inside this formation.'
The Jinryeong sect’s Dark Night True Prison Formation.
Though its exact functions were unclear, it was undeniable that this was no ordinary formation, just as the Jinryeong sect had boasted.
By severing the natural energy that existed everywhere in the universe, it blocked an absolute master’s ability to replenish expended internal energy by directly communicating with natural energy.
This formation even interfered with the principles of nature itself. It truly deserved to be called a formation designed to counter absolute masters.
'How should I break it?'
Since it was designed to counter absolute masters, brute force alone likely wouldn’t suffice.
While analyzing the Dark Night True Prison Formation, Mu Hwi’s body never stopped moving. The Jinryeong sect didn’t allow him even half a breath of respite.
They pressed him relentlessly, like an endless storm. It seemed their plan was to stall until the Great Guardian arrived.
"Black Heaven Night Field."
Suddenly, Mu Hwi recalled a technique from the Black Heaven Divine Technique mentioned in the book Munyeong had given him.
Black Heaven Night Field (黑天夜場).
A technique that turned the user into a living formation, creating a domain advantageous to the Black Heaven Divine Technique.
There were quite a few similarities between the Black Heaven Night Field and the Dark Night True Prison Formation. Almost as if they were related.
The countermeasures recorded in the book surfaced vividly in Mu Hwi’s mind.
"Worth a try."
Mu Hwi released his sword stance, and the Sim-myeong Sword floated upward, soaring into the air. Despite the violent pressure and demonic energy swirling above, nothing could stop the sword’s ascent.
At the center of the sky, where the sun had been obscured, the Sim-myeong Sword released waves of deep purple light.
By now, purple sunset had elongated in Mu Hwi’s hand, taking the form of a sword.
Sim-myeong Sword and the formless sword simultaneously began scattering purple energy.
Fragrance Blossom Unmoved by Wind.
Army-Seeking Destruction.
Purple energy spread fiercely in all directions.
Sim-myeong Sword, now positioned where the sun had been, scattered purple energy in place of sunlight. Hundreds of purple light rays extended across thirty-six directions.
Above the purple branches, plum blossoms bloomed extravagantly, filling the darkness.
Meanwhile, the formless sword carved wide arcs across the ground, its slashes continuing endlessly.
The unbroken waves of sword energy devoured the demonic energy like a colossal dragon, endlessly expanding its domain.
It looked almost like a purple mist spreading far and wide.
The Jinryeong sect’s attacks were instantly incinerated in the face of this.
By applying the countermeasures from the book, anomalies began occurring in the formation.
RUMBLE!
For the first time, screams echoed within the Dark Night True Prison Formation, which had maintained silence despite all previous clashes.
"A day? Not a chance."
***
Liling, Hunan Province.
Located south of Changsha, where the Martial Alliance’s forces were gathered, Liling was a region on the border between Hunan and Jiangxi.
Here, the forces of the Sacheon were marching in formation, having crossed from Jiangxi into Hunan.
"Any news from Hunan?"
"Localized clashes between martial forces are frequent, centered in central and western Hunan. The Martial Alliance’s resistance is strong, but Black Night Palace’s hidden forces are overpowering them."
The Sacheon Lord shook his head upon hearing the report.
"Not that. What about the newly revealed masters from Black Night Palace?"
"My apologies. The Great Guardian and Jinamma—both their whereabouts remain unknown. The only recent activity was Goesanma clashing with the Iron Mountain Fist King before retreating."
"Producing even one absolute master is an extremely rare feat for a sect. I suppose this is what makes them the demonic path? Their obsession, fueled by forbidden demonic technique and centuries of accumulated power, must be acknowledged."
A subordinate listening to the Sacheon Lord asked,
"Might I ask which side you intend to support?"
Given the current situation, if the Martial Alliance collapsed, the next targets would undoubtedly be the Sacheon Alliance or the Paewangseong.
Thus, the martial artists of Sacheon who had crossed into Jiangxi with their lord likely assumed they would aid the Martial Alliance.
But the Sacheon Lord had no such intention.
From the beginning, the balance and politics of the martial arts world had never been within his purview.
If he had cared about such things, he wouldn’t have deviated so far from the strategy of confronting Black Night Palace first and then clashing with the Martial Alliance later.
To the Sacheon Lord, Sacheon Alliance was nothing more than a massive toy to amuse himself with.
"Let’s wait and see. I’ll think about which move will make things more interesting."
The Sacheon Lord fiddled with his spear, his eyes gleaming as he searched for new entertainment.