Chapter 466
Chapter 466
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 120
>Chapter Title: The Beginning of the Disaster (2)
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The primordial forbidden sorcery, Space-Sealing Celestial Ritual.
This was a ritual that sacrificed the lives of thousands of superhumans possessing intricate formations, a thousand yin energies, and a thousand yang energies, using their power as the foundation.
The preparation process for this sorcery was this arduous, but since it fundamentally pledged the caster's own life as collateral, it was a technique that had vanished long ago.
Mok Gan had once easily sealed one of the Six Demons, the King of Corpse Calamity Gu Hwan-cheon-gu, using this sorcery.
Though it required immense sacrifice, once sealed, no one could escape without a complex unsealing ritual. That was the terror of this sorcery.
Even an avatar would be no exception.
After all, this sorcery had been created specifically to imprison otherworldly beings.
But then, something utterly unforeseen occurred.
-Stab!
The moment Mok Gan's clone locked eyes with the sharp glint in Mok Kyung-un's pupils, it felt a pain as if a blade had pierced its heart.
The clone's eyes shook wildly.
Trapped in the Space-Sealing Celestial Ritual, the enemy should have been utterly immobile.
Yet in that state, the only thing capable of inflicting a sword-like wound to its heart was one single possibility.
“...Impossible. The Sword of the Heart?”
The Sword of the Heart.
It was also known as the Heart Sword.
At the pinnacle of swordsmanship, it was said to be the formless sword where even one's qi became one with the blade.
But there was always a higher realm beyond.
Upon crossing the boundary between life and death to assimilate with the great laws of nature, a human's will transcended limits, allowing one to wield a sword with mere thought.
“That can't be... No matter how much... Even if his growth speed surpassed humanity, he hasn't crossed into the Life-Death Realm. The Boundless Potential is merely...!?”
In that instant, Mok Gan's clone's eyes widened.
This guy wasn't following the orthodox path of assimilating with nature—he had forged his own way.
That was the Boundless Potential, the path of will.
-Gulp!
Its mouth went dry, forcing down a dry swallow.
A true monster, through and through.
By mastering the Boundless Potential to maximize his own capabilities through sheer will alone, had he even approached the Sword of the Heart, transcending those limits?
Then, another stab of pain pierced its heart.
-Stab! Stab!
-Swish!
Realizing he couldn't endure it, Mok Gan's clone put distance between itself and Mok Kyung-un.
As the gap widened, the throbbing heart pain subsided, and it soon felt the wound regenerating.
Through this, it realized one fact.
“Not perfect yet.”
If it had truly been the legendary Heart Sword, the piercing sword intent would have shattered the mind beyond mere agony, spreading through the entire body to render movement impossible.
But now, it stopped at pain alone.
Of course, the pain was severe enough to force retreat.
“Damn it.”
Mok Gan's clone was dumbfounded.
The moment it became unable to move, this punk had stepped into a realm beyond its current limits.
What kind of monster was this?
Even it, having cycled through countless bodies and absorbed the martial arts of numerous martial world grandmasters, had never approached...
-Stab!
“Urk!”
With another stab to the chest, Mok Gan's clone widened the distance further.
An incomplete Sword of the Heart causing this much trouble—it was infuriating.
The goal had been to seal him with the Space-Sealing Celestial Ritual and reclaim Liu So-wol's soul.
Then, inflict unimaginable torment upon him. But now, even approaching was difficult.
It had him sealed, yet couldn't do anything with him.
“What to do?”
Ordinary pain could be endured through sheer force of will.
But the pain from the Sword of the Heart was beyond even that endurance, forcing distance.
In truth, as a clone, it could push through.
However, acting rashly was unwise—if in this process, he truly surpassed expectations and perfected the Sword of the Heart, it would create an even bigger problem.
“Blocking this Lord's path to the very end...”
-Flinch!
In that moment, as Mok Gan's clone spoke, its gaze shifted from Mok Kyung-un to elsewhere.
It was outside the Space-Sealing Celestial Ritual.
There, naturally expected to be in Mok Kyung-un's embrace, Cheongnyeong had manifested, extending her index finger toward the ritual.
It seemed she had unleashed the Empty Suppression form of the Thought-Breaking Eight Forms.
Even the supreme secret art known as the Thought-Breaking Eight Forms couldn't penetrate the Space-Sealing Celestial Ritual, an ancient forbidden art that severed space itself.
However, thanks to her unleashing the Empty Suppression form, it now realized she was outside.
-Smile!
The corners of Mok Gan's clone's mouth split into a grin.
It had thought this monstrous variable would hinder reclaiming the soul, but such fortune arising here.
-Swish!
Mok Gan moved his body toward Cheongnyeong.
Mok Kyung-un, to block this, projected a fierce will, visualizing thrusting a sword at the clone.
But with the distance opened, it no longer affected Mok Gan.
Thus, Mok Kyung-un cried out to Cheongnyeong in his mind.
‘Cheongnyeong!’
Leave him and flee, he meant.
But with the bond of master and familiar severed, his will couldn't reach her.
‘My liege.’
Cheongnyeong, watching such a Mok Kyung-un, was equally frantic and anxious.
In that split second when beams of light had descended, Mok Kyung-un had thrown the wooden doll to escape.
Yet he himself remained trapped in this ironic situation, leaving her with only the thought of somehow saving him.
So she had unleashed the Empty Suppression form, but it failed.
‘What to do?’
She had thought influencing space might crack this massive formation, but if even this didn't work, how could she save her liege?
Then, she spotted a three-eyed old man—presumably Mok Gan's clone—approaching her position.
-Grit!
Cheongnyeong glared at the approaching figure, unleashing murderous resentment.
The surroundings began to染 with blood-red.
However, with her spiritual power not yet fully restored, she couldn't fully deploy the Ghost Domain.
To such a her, Mok Gan's clone spoke.
“So-wol. Give it up now. Trapped in the complete Space-Sealing Celestial Ritual, he can never escape.”
-Release my liege at once.
“You know such a demand won't work, right?”
“Just how far does your madness intend to go?”
“You know. Once you return to my side, I'll never cause you pain again. Ah, of course, that one's separate.”
Mok Gan's clone pointed at Mok Kyung-un with his thumb, sneering.
Cheongnyeong glared at him and said.
-You can never have me.
“No, soon you will.”
-Snap!
With those words, Mok Gan's clone lightly snapped his fingers.
-Hummmm!
Then, in the direction his fingers flicked, an illusion began to appear.
Seeing what manifested in the illusion, Cheongnyeong's expression hardened.
It was because she saw countless—nearly tens of thousands—of people arrayed in formation, marching forward.
Amid them fluttered numerous flags:
Wudang Sect, Beggars' Sect, Mount Hua Sect, Emei Sect, Zhongnan Sect, Kunlun Sect, Dian Cang Sect, Qingcheng Sect, Murong Family, Zhuge Family, Huangfu Family, Jinju Yan Family.
Flags of nearly a hundred mid- and small sects were visible as well.
And at the forefront, massive flags billowed:
Justice Alliance.
These were the united forces of the righteous martial world, the Justice Alliance.
“What... the hell?”
What was this?
Why were so many Justice Alliance martial artists marching in such formation?
Bewildered, Mok Gan's clone chuckled.
“Did you think this Lord only targeted the Heaven-Earth Society all this time?”
“You...”
“The human heart isn't as steadfast as one thinks. A little nudge, and they succumb to desire or madness in an instant.”
“What are you scheming?”
“They're marching south right now.”
“South?”
“To crush the new Heaven-Earth Society led by the Heavenly Demon, scourge of the martial world, and restore justice.”
!?
At those words, Cheongnyeong said in disbelief.
-Scourge of the martial world? What the hell have you done?
“No need to scheme. He brought it on himself. Conquering Shaolin's One Hundred Eight Arhats alone wasn't enough; he sealed the Sichuan Tang Clan, and even claimed Spirit Sword Manor under the Seven Days' leader. You think the Justice Alliance would just watch unless they're idiots? Ah, of course, they prattle about justice and righteousness, so this Lord merely provided a slight impetus.”
-Grip!
At his words, Cheongnyeong couldn't contain her rage.
Indeed, he could no longer be seen as the former Pyo Pyo-hun.
His madness toward her had persisted for ages, but even for him, once the Heavenly Vein Clan Head, the Heaven-Earth Society was his foundation and lifelong dream.
To destroy it through conspiracy like this—he had completely deviated from the being she knew.
“...All that's left for you is madness and destruction.”
To such words from her, Mok Gan's clone replied without a care.
“Didn't I say? This is all your doing.”
“My doing...? You're insane.”
“Call it what you will. Soon, things will return to how they were.”
Mok Gan's clone—no, Mok Gan himself—was convinced of everything.
He probably had more preparations beyond this.
Moving the Justice Alliance was to shake the newly fortified Heaven-Earth Society after eliminating his pawns.
If in that state, his true intended great calamity unfolded...
‘!!!!!!’
Cheongnyeong's pupils shook.
She now grasped his real intent.
“...Your true body is heading to the Heaven-Earth Society too.”
At her words, as if correct, Mok Gan's clone curled his lips slyly.
Even without a heart, it felt like one pounded.
-Grip!
Cheongnyeong bit her lip hard.
This madness-consumed being wasn't content with claiming her—he was fully prepared to ravage the world.
-Swish!
Cheongnyeong turned her gaze to meet Mok Kyung-un's eyes.
‘My liege...’
In the halted space, Mok Kyung-un's gaze still burned undefeated.
That must be why even he, with this immense trap, couldn't deal with her liege.
Gazing at Mok Kyung-un, Cheongnyeong resolved in her heart.
‘...I trust you.’
-Swish!
Believing they shared the same will, Cheongnyeong immediately launched herself in the opposite direction.
Toward the southeast, where the Heaven-Earth Society lay.
Seeing this, Mok Gan scoffed.
“Think I'll let you go?”
-Swish!
Though the caster had pledged his life, binding most of his energy to the Space-Sealing Celestial Ritual, and he himself couldn't escape from within, this much was still possible.
-Swish!
Mok Gan gripped his sword formula and thrust toward Cheongnyeong.
-Hummmm!
In that instant, an utterly transparent formless sword materialized in the air, hurtling toward her at tremendous speed.
“Urk!”
Cheongnyeong twisted her body, swinging her blood staff.
Blood mist erupted in the air, forming a vortex that became a shield to block the incoming formless sword.
However,
-Pierce!
With her spiritual power not yet restored, Cheongnyeong's power was incomplete.
The formless sword pierced the blood vortex in an instant, closing to within six paces of her.
‘Got you.’
Mok Gan smirked triumphantly.
But right then—
-Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!
Multiple explosions rocked the air, something intercepting the formless sword.
The blasts were so powerful even the formless sword couldn't breach them easily, and in the meantime, Cheongnyeong was pulling farther away.
‘Damn it!’
Then, amid the explosions, someone with half-white hair fluttering revealed themselves.
Seeing this, Mok Gan's eyes blazed with fury.
That someone was none other than Milhoe's top executive, the First Division's Chun-chu.
“You dare!”
“Yeah. Daring to interfere with you. You damned three-eyed bastard.”