Chapter 329
Chapter 329
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 329
Chapter Title: Murim Alliance Gathering (3)
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Deep in a remote mountain valley of the Three Gates Alliance, over a hundred miles from the Shaolin Temple, stood a solitary thatched hut.
"It must be starting about now."
Inside, an elderly man with an immortal's demeanor gently stroked his white beard and murmured softly.
Beyond the small window he gazed through lay nothing but an ordinary forest scene, yet his profound eyes encompassed not this narrow plot of land, but the vast world beyond.
"No oversights in the preparations, I trust? The Cult Leader himself will be stepping in. There mustn't be the slightest deviation."
"Yes, Strategist. We've confirmed and verified everything multiple times. The Cult Leader was pleased and has given the order to proceed."
"Good. Truly fortunate. All our efforts have paid off."
The old man nodded slowly, closing his eyes as he reminisced about the past.
It had been a truly long time.
Twenty-two years since the imperial palace bloodbath that twisted this world's fate.
The persistent interference from those 'Golden Crow Island' bastards had delayed their full mobilization until now, but it had made their preparations even more meticulous—not entirely a bad thing.
Toppling the Kunlun Sect, the vanguard of the Central Plains martial world, had been part of that plan.
And the timing had aligned perfectly with that major event...
"How utterly foolish. Friendly exchanges at a time like this."
The old man chuckled heartily and shook his head. The masked figure kneeling before him bowed silently.
The gathering that now carried on the name of the disbanded Murim Alliance.
Not a bad choice in the long term, of course.
Assuming the martial world's situation didn't worsen further and the power balance remained as it was.
"Heh heh heh. Peace has lasted too long."
For peace, there hadn't been a single bloodless day by his standards, but that was just the whining of the well-fed.
How long had it been since the world's upheaval? To already chase stability—what an astoundingly shortsighted notion.
In this chaotic era, only power defined justice.
Peace and stability could only be dreamed of under absolute force.
Yet they obsessed over pointless camaraderie. How could that not be folly?
'Logically, avoiding the gathering date would suit our goals better...'
But the Cult Leader sought no such half-measures.
He craved absolute dominion built on overwhelming might and violence.
For that, they needed to utterly shatter the lingering ghosts still bound by the name of the Murim Alliance.
'With the Cult's Protectors and elites following the Leader, there shouldn't be any issues.'
Today would mark the complete end of the Murim Alliance's remnants.
Thus, his focus now was ensuring the other plans progressed without hitch—not the Shaolin Temple side.
"No more delays. Transmit to all branches at once. The time has come. Initiate the plan."
"As you command! Heavenly Demon's Return! Ten Thousand Demons Rise to Arms!"
With those words, the masked figure vanished like smoke.
"Heh heh heh. It's almost here."
The old man—the Heavenly Demon Cult's Strategist, Heavenly Mechanism Demon Immortal Yajulhwan—closed his eyes and let out a low laugh.
Thinking how little time remained until their long wait bore fruit.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The situation escalated rapidly.
"Form the 108 Arhats Formation!"
"These scum defy the Cult's will. Hunt them all down!"
"How dare they commit such vile atrocities in this sacred precinct!"
"Heavenly Demon's Return! Ten Thousand Demons Rise to Arms!"
"You filthy Demonic Cult bastards!"
The venue, moments ago a place for friendly exchanges, had turned into a hellscape.
Filled with shouts, screams, and curses hurled at one another.
Kaboom—!
Amid the chaos, the relentless explosions from the outer gates at Shaolin's mountain entrance hinted that this crisis wouldn't end easily.
The overwhelming clash of auras from there, birthing storms of energy, was terrifyingly fierce.
"Ugh, how could the Demonic Cult invade Shaolin on Mount Song...!"
It was the signal flare for their longtime enemy's full resurgence.
In the worst possible form, beyond imagination.
"Guh!"
"Don't push yourself! Just hold the line!"
"These bastards... what sorcery is this...!"
Those attending the gathering for the first time faced the sudden crisis with some confidence.
Not the absolute best from their sects, but elites who had overcome trials to reach here.
Yet the Demonic Cult dared assault them en masse!
They burned with battle spirit, clashing with the cultists swarming from all sides.
And soon sensed something amiss.
"Don't clash weapons with them! Their energy disrupts your internal energy flow... Ack!"
"S-Senior Brother! These... these damned—!"
It was puzzling, really.
This was Shaolin Temple, pillar of the martial world and hegemon of Henan Province.
Even the Demonic Cult, strongest and most vile faction, would hesitate to strike head-on.
Not to mention the other forces present here.
Clang—
In the tumult, Namgung Soran gritted her teeth as her sword met a masked cultist's.
'Ugh, what is this? Scattering Powder? Soul-Draining Technique? No, not that. It's shaking me at a more fundamental level...'
Her energy, built steadily with elixirs from a prestigious clan and superior cultivation methods, was fracturing.
Forcing the disrupted flow consumed excessive stamina and qi.
No wonder even mighty Shaolin was crumbling so helplessly under the surprise attack.
'If this persists for everyone...'
Internal energy was essential in peak experts' duels; restricting one side unilaterally made fair fights impossible.
They deserved praise just for holding out in such conditions.
"Hup!"
Skreech—
Deep breath drawn, Namgung Soran forcibly rallied her qi and stepped forward powerfully, swords locked.
It burned several times her usual energy, but restored smooth flow momentarily.
'Great Soaring Flight!'
Slash—!
Her surging deep blue sword aura sliced through the air, cleaving the tenacious foe.
"Hoo, hoo."
But even after felling the enemy with such effort, she couldn't rejoice.
This was just a lowly footsoldier among the invading cultists.
'...Dangerous. At this rate...'
She couldn't expect aid from her guardian, Sword Saint Namgung Woo.
Kaboom—!
The massive energy fluxes from the outskirts carried her grandfather's aura, signaling his grueling battle.
Undoubtedly far fiercer than here.
'An opponent making a Transcendent like Grandpa struggle... That means...!'
But she had no time for calm analysis.
"There—the Sword Saint's granddaughter! Seize her!"
"Eek!"
Three more cultists of similar caliber swarmed her.
She glanced around frantically and bit her lip.
'...Mistake. Got too separated from the group, focused on the fight.'
Desperate resistance began, but struggling against one was hard enough—three sealed her fate.
Exhausted, her sword flew from her grasp.
"Sorana!"
Her brother's desperate shout came from afar as he tried approaching, but she lacked the face to meet him.
Hadn't she just hindered him after insisting on coming?
Who knew her whim to see the world would become her grave.
She glared at the emotionless weapons charging, eyes wide.
'Ah... If I'd known, I should've just asked outright.'
Even learning about that otherworlder Ha Seung-hun's abilities she had her eye on.
Not that it mattered now, yet she regretted leaving without knowing.
Slash—!
Perhaps that's why.
As stray thoughts filled her mind in that split second, a grisly slicing sound rang out, and blood splattered her.
"Always check your surroundings in battle and stay in formation with allies, Lady Namgung. Acting on your own like this spells disaster."
"...Ha Gong-ja? Wha—what just...?"
"Namgung Clan warriors are heading this way. Let's join them first."
She stared blankly at the man she'd just regretted not knowing better—blood from someone else speckling her, ignored.
Facing his back, which suddenly felt infinitely vast.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After saving the Namgung lady, Hugo kept moving briskly.
He hadn't planned to go this far, but the melee naturally pulled him in.
'Their energy disrupts internal energy on contact, right?'
He scanned the battlefield again.
Seeing peak experts from his side flounder against mere first-rate cultists explained the rout.
But.
Swoosh—Clang!
Splatter!
His swing effortlessly parried the enemy's blade and severed its neck.
Clean, without excess motion.
'Why am I fine?'
Unlike allies crumbling like poison-rats, he felt no issues against cultists.
His foes, assuming he'd falter, grew careless and died pointlessly.
'Something to consider.'
The key difference: him being an otherworlder Awakener.
If that let him evade their method...
'Whew, details later.'
First, help everyone here while he could.
And make an impression.
"Kuh, grateful for the aid, young hero."
"Hoo—You saved my life. I'll repay you later."
"Heh, impressive. Such skill in this mess. Worth remembering. Ha Seung-hun of the Zhuge Clan..."
It quickly boosted his reputation.
Slipping in amid the struggle, helping casually then leaving—unforgettable for recipients.
'Can't handle real powerhouses, but enough to lift morale.'
But as he worked to steady things.
A change even he couldn't handle struck.
Swoosh—
Kaboom—!
A figure rocketed in at blinding speed, smashing into a nearby hall with a roar.
Too fast for even Hugo's senses.
All eyes turned warily there.
And right after.
"Divine Victory Mujin, is this all you've got? Shaolin's fame is but a bygone tale."
A man's icy voice echoed through the grounds.
Only after it fully resounded did they register him.
Unnoticed by any, he was already there.
Draped in black robes, long black hair whipping in the wind.
"That one... could it be...?"
"Master Mujin...?"
No one here knew his face, yet sight alone revealed his identity.
His presence was overwhelmingly unique.
Arrogant aura as if scorning the world just by existing.
Emperor of all evils, embracing every shadow.
The devil descended from heaven to claim the earth.
As the world called him—
"Heavenly Demon..."
Everyone froze at the arrival of this world's ultimate villain.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And at the same time.
"Whoa! Finally here! Man, it's blazing hot! Kahaha!"
"...Gah! What's that over there? Total chaos! What the hell's going on?"
Two burly men finally entered Mount Song.