Chapter 369
Chapter 369
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 369
Chapter Title: Rehearsal (2)
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A nearby village bordering Beijing.
A group of people gathered on that land, which had fallen into ruin after its residents long ago fled and it received no maintenance.
"Hahaha. Come on in, Layman Gwak."
One of their leaders, Shaolin's abbot Mujin—the grand master of the orthodox martial world—greeted the newly arrived middle-aged man with a one-handed prayer gesture.
"I heard about your plight, Abbot, but... this is worse than I imagined. Can you really fight properly like this?"
"Amitabha. Though my cultivation is lacking and led me to this state, this poor monk still has one arm and two legs left, no? Haha, I won't be a burden, so don't worry too much."
"Hmph, fair enough. It'd be ridiculous for others to question you when you're confident you can handle it."
The middle-aged man's words were rough enough to feel rude, but no one called him out on it.
Despite his appearance, he was around the same age as Abbot Mujin, and his status was no less impressive.
He was Gwak Cheol, former leader of the dismantled Demonic Alliance Sadorian—now defunct like the Martial Alliance—and hailed as the greatest of the demonic sects: the Heavenrend Blade Sovereign.
That was the identity of the man who had just arrived.
'...Even on the way here, I felt it, but... it's terrifying. No wonder all the reports were in a frenzy.'
His gaze turned toward the sky over Beijing.
There, pitch-black clouds that looked unnatural even at a glance piled up thickly, completely blocking the sunlight pouring down from above.
Rumble—
Not only that, but the intermittent bursts of ominous thunder and violet flashes leaking from between the clouds instilled an instinctive sense of dread and chills in anyone who saw them.
As if facing the hellish skies from legend.
"The weaklings would lose their minds just looking at that. And for demonic energy like this to persist for days... The Demonic Cult is dead serious this time."
The Heavenrend Blade Sovereign's face hardened as he murmured softly.
He had come here in person after recognizing the severity of the situation, but a corner of his mind had still held onto some optimism.
Even if the Heavenly Demon was hailed as the world's greatest by the masses, he was confident he wouldn't lose in a direct clash.
But now, feeling the aura emanating from 'that' directly...
'No ritual alone could produce this level of pressure. The horrific presence and lofty stature contained within... Could the Heavenly Demon really have reached the Mythic Realm?'
After staring at the dark sky for a moment, his gaze shifted back to the assembled group.
A rough count showed at least a few hundred people.
Each one exuded sharply honed auras.
They were renowned masters from every corner of the continent, gathered with the aid of Taoist experts using the Earth Contraction Technique...
Normally, he would have nodded in admiration at their caliber, but after gauging the aura leaking from 'that,' he wasn't sure if they could stand against it.
'Abbot Mujin, Sword Saint, Asura Blood Lord, Righteous Heaven Grand General, and me... That's all five Transcendents we have.'
As he scanned the standout figures among them, his expression soured unconsciously.
There were fewer than he had anticipated.
'Did something happen to them, or are they sitting this out to protect themselves?'
Even in this long war, where many had perished, those who reached lofty realms would make their status known somehow.
Just a year ago, talk of the Ten Great Masters of the World had been commonplace.
'This is troubling.'
Whether they had fallen amid the chaos, been assassinated in the Demonic Cult's preemptive strikes, or simply chickened out, it was bad news either way.
It meant their odds had dropped that much.
"Hm?"
As the Heavenrend Blade Sovereign grimly surveyed the more than a dozen Peak Realm experts, his face twitched suddenly.
His gaze was drawn naturally toward the dense woods, as if pulled by something.
Rustle— Rustle—
His keen hearing picked up the sound of foliage being pushed aside, rapidly approaching from afar.
Something dangerous enough to stimulate his instincts.
As the distance closed, his body instinctively tensed.
'This is...'
He wasn't the only one reacting.
Starting with those with sensitive senses, everyone's attention turned that way.
Some had already drawn their weapons.
"On guard! Something's coming...!"
"Ugh, Demonic Cultists?!"
The approach was so swift that they didn't have to wait long.
Amid the focused stares and heightened alertness, someone burst out from the brush.
"Whoa! Looks like a ton of you are already here! Kahaha! We're a bit late to the party!"
He shattered the tense atmosphere with his carefree laughter.
Even facing down armed warriors with weapons trained on him, he showed no hesitation.
No, he didn't seem to care about such trivialities at all.
As if those blades couldn't harm him.
"Sigh, isn't this all because you dragged your feet? Eating and eating without end... You planning to devour every wild beast in these mountains?"
"Kruhng! No fierce predators around here, and everything's so plump and juicy. How could I resist?"
"...Eat in moderation. I can't fathom how that much meat fits in your gut."
"Kahaha! You're embarrassing me!"
The brute bantered idly with his companions emerging from the brush behind him.
But the Heavenrend Blade Sovereign spared them no glance. He couldn't.
His eyes were glued to the first man.
'I've heard of him. Godlight Fiend, right? I dismissed the rumors as exaggerations, but...'
He knew instinctively.
This opponent was no inferior to him.
Towering so tall even the lanky sovereign had to look up, with broad shoulders, ferocious muscles bulging across his frame, and tattoos and garb accentuating his feral vibe.
His striking appearance drew the eye, but that wasn't the point now.
What truly mattered was whatever unknown 'thing' lurked within that giant's body, coiling around him.
'What is that?'
He pondered as he watched Shaolin's abbot welcome the brute.
Is that really human?
'No way.'
He was certain.
That lifeform, that monster wore human shape but was no human.
So what was its true nature...?
"Huh? Hey, big guy, got something to say to me?"
At that moment.
His scrutinizing gaze clashed head-on with the other's, who sauntered over like a sated predator.
Those bottomless eyes, at odds with his nonchalant demeanor.
'...I see. At this point, it doesn't matter anymore.'
And after confronting the infinite madness dwelling within—madness so vast he couldn't grasp how the man retained his sanity.
The sovereign revised his thinking.
Perhaps this battle.
Their odds weren't so bad after all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Harley had finally joined the Murim alliance warriors.
'More gathered than expected. Good thing I hustled.'
While Hans prepared the final stage and warriors flocked from across the continent, he hadn't idled.
His task: visit uncooperative or lukewarm factions, offer free consultations on any issues holding them back.
Put simply, like a teacher making house calls to truant students.
Of course, unlike real teachers, his consultations involved a touch of coercion and violence.
'This is just loving discipline. Way better than total annihilation later, right?'
How overflowing with love and mercy!
Even extending this final lifeline required effort, so if they still refused to join the cause, they'd face collective punishment—no helping it.
Leaving such nuisances would only hinder this world's harmony and peace.
'I set up extra stages for latecomers too. Let's see—everything else should be ready by now.'
What Hans left in the Kanghwan Realm wasn't just Beijing's stage.
To draw more into this grand event, he prepared minor venues across the continent, awaiting their debut.
Demonic Cult branches in each province would nominally support the Beijing ritual.
Beijing was key, but attackers could still feel purposeful.
'Of course, the trials are surmountable with proper force allocation. If they unite, they can wipe out the cultists with minimal losses.'
Failure would mean someone slacked.
Then, use the remnants to strike the holdouts' bases.
Win-win.
"Amitabha. It seems everyone who was coming has arrived."
As Harley mused alone.
A resonant voice heavy with aura drew all eyes.
"Then let's move. Time is short."
Heroes gathered here for a righteous cause against worldly peril.
Their gazes followed Abbot Mujin's lead toward Beijing.
Grrrumble—
The land still shrouded in pitch-black clouds had swallowed surrounding light, plunged into midnight blackness.
As if a line divided day and night.
Even these top-tier masters had never witnessed such an oddity.
"...That place, a hell where hope is captive."
A short while later.
Hundreds of figures leaped into the shadowed land.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'It's started.'
The Kanghwan Realm's finest elites pierced Beijing's heart in perfect formation.
Including Zhuge Clan and Mount Mo Sect sorcerers specialized in formations.
"This way!"
Guided by the Zhuge head, formation experts, they advanced without breaking ranks.
Resisting the Demonic Realm's inner force disruption, encroaching demonic energy, and maze formation illusions.
'Impressive. Who knew formations could adapt like this? Even Golden Crow Island didn't teach this.'
Mastering formations normally required years of teamwork.
Not feasible for strangers like this.
Let alone synchronizing hundreds as one.
'As expected of a great clan. Without top masters, they'd dominate lower skirmishes.'
The Zhuge overcame this by integrating sorcery.
They refined tricky communication spells for ease, linking surface subconscious minds with thin threads.
Warriors intuitively knew their positions, moving flawlessly without training.
'They can even detect allies in peril, reform ranks instantly. Top operators in this world.'
Thus, the alliance approached the Demonic Realm's core far smoother than anticipated.
Normally, they'd stumble blindly to the ritual site.
'Not bad. Time to get serious?'
The hundreds advanced rapidly in formation.
But nearing Beijing's ritual center, their momentum halted.
"Huuu—You slithered all the way here, ignorant it's your grave."
A one-eyed elder with a black sword etched in ghostly runes sneered, blocking them.
Backed by thousands.
"Ghostblade Demon Emperor Yeo Muncheol..."
Sword Saint Namgung Woo, with history against him, scowled.
Expected, but facing him soured the mood.
"Palebone Demon Army, Azure Water Demon Army, even Thousand Wolf Demon Queen..."
"All infamous Peak Realm fiends. And that old monster is Blood Mountain Old Man from the previous generation. The Blood Cult allied with the Demonic Cult?"
"Wait! That jiangshi—why is our elder there?!"
Facing the Demonic Cult horde, the alliance's fervor waned.
Their Peak Realm foes matched numbers, and missing/presumed-dead allies appeared as jiangshi, shaking morale.
And leading them—
"...Blood Demon."
The Heavenrend Blade Sovereign spat lowly at the advancing jiangshi vanguard.
His longtime rival stood before him.
Gone was the vitality from their last encounter; now a waxen, rigid corpse.
Not fond due to clashing natures, but he respected the skill.
To think even that powerhouse fell to such a state...
'Not allied—conquered and absorbed. How long have they planned?'
But the turmoil was brief.
Seasoned elites quickly reformed ranks, gripping weapons, sorcerers readying talismans against cult spells.
Tension mounted with rising killing intent.
That instant.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "So you've finally crawled here, vermin of Murim." "Kuh!"
"Th-this voice...!"
"Guh!"
Weaker experts staggered, struggling to steady churning innards.
Some even trailed thin blood from their mouths.
A sinister voice shaking the very space.
Like a whisper from hell, it polluted minds and disrupted inner force just by hearing.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Since you've struggled here, your host shall welcome you grandly." The current world's greatest, Demonic Cult Leader: Heavenly Demon.
The scenario's final boss made his entrance.
'Perfect. A debut needs impact.'
From behind the curtain, the battlefield conductor.
Hans's meticulously crafted staging.