Let's Meet Again as Brothers!
Under Neung Han's group's vigilant protection, Yeop Hyeon's aura expanded rapidly. At that moment, the Spirit Water Sword trembled violently in his body, madly absorbing the power of the Great Black Sword.
Great Black Sword absorbed!
Yeop Hyeon couldn't spare a thought for the outside situation right now.
What he needed most was a breakthrough in his realm.
He had judged that his current Soaring Realm was insufficient to overcome this crisis.
Thus, he had to reach the Penetrating Nether Realm immediately.
The warriors in the hall finally realized that Yeop Hyeon was merely at the Soaring Realm.
If a man who could already slay Divine Fusion Realm experts at the Soaring Realm advanced to the Penetrating Nether Realm...!?
It would bring utter terror to his enemies.
As signs of the situation turning strange emerged, Mo Qingxian's once-calm face gradually darkened.
'If Yeop Hyeon at the Soaring Realm becomes Penetrating Nether Realm...'
The mere thought was horrifying.
Mo Qingxian suddenly widened his eyes and shouted toward someone.
"If you kill him now, I'll add one hundred million taels to the original reward—plus five hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones!"
But there was no notable movement anywhere.
As his subordinates failed to act on his command, Mo Qingxian's expression hardened further.
Meanwhile, Luk Ban-jang and the others guarded Yeop Hyeon with eyes blazing like fire. Ahead of them, a thousand Danguk heavy cavalry charged, shaking the ground. Mixed among them were nineteen Chang Mok Academy Dao soldiers!
Moreover, assassins from the Dark Realm could pop out from anywhere at any time.
And watching all this with a relaxed expression was O Yeop, one of Mubang's top three powerhouses!
No matter how you looked at it, Yeop Hyeon's side held not a shred of advantage.
Yet the eleven, including Luk Ban-jang, stuck to Yeop Hyeon without retreating a single step, as if resolved to die.
In this tense moment, Luk Ban-jang suddenly stomped forward powerfully.
Boom!
With a grim expression, she pulled out a massive rice cake, took a fierce bite, and tucked it back into her bosom.
"......"
Suddenly, Luk Ban-jang collapsed to the ground and pressed her right palm to the floor. She didn't move a muscle.
The next instant, she threw her head back and slammed her palm into the earth with all her might.
"Great Earth Collapse!"
Boom—!
With a massive roar, the ground within a hundred zhang shook violently. Soon, the earth split open like a yawning maw beneath her feet. At the same time, a colossal surge of energy erupted from the crumbling ground, halting the charging heavy cavalry. The lead riders and their horses smashed head-on into the force, shattering into dozens of pieces.
But it wasn't over. Luk Ban-jang's figure had already appeared above the heads of the heavy cavalrymen calming their startled horses. She plummeted downward, body oriented straight for the ground.
Boom—!
With a thunderous crash, the heavy cavalry around her were flung in all directions.
Watching this, Mo Qingxian pointed at Yeop Hyeon and bellowed.
"Take that bastard out first!"
At his command, the Dao soldiers targeted Yeop Hyeon in unison.
"Seize Yeop Hyeon!"
With that cry, the Chang Mok Academy Dao soldiers shot toward Yeop Hyeon like arrows. Nearby Shadow Phantoms and several powerhouses joined the assault.
At that moment, Neung Han stepped forward, gripping his spear tightly. He glared at the charging Dao soldiers and grinned ferociously.
"Brothers, even if we all die here today, let's meet again as brothers in the next life!"
With those words, his figure soared into the air. A tremendous aura poured from his entire body as the long spear in his hand plunged downward. Where spear light and spear intent converged, a massive explosion rocked the area.
Ya Ri and the others behind him likewise kicked off the ground in an instant, leaping skyward.
Nineteen Dao soldiers, a thousand heavy cavalry, and assassins appearing out of nowhere. Neung Han's group couldn't overcome the numerical disadvantage and quickly fell into a defensive scramble.
Luk Ban-jang tried to rush to their side, but she was soon surrounded by the swarming heavy cavalry.
Thud—!
A man rolled into Yeop Hyeon's path. Coughing up blood nonstop, he pried a pouch from his hand and placed it at Yeop Hyeon's feet.
"Brother Yeop, it's Wang Myeong. Inside here are the things I've saved up—please deliver them to my mother. And tell her... I'm sorry I went first..."
Finishing those words, Wang Myeong sprang up and charged madly into the enemy ranks. But before he could take a few steps, a long spear flew and pierced his chest.
His body stiffened as he gazed pathetically at the sky, then collapsed to the ground.
The Dao soldier who killed Wang Myeong yanked his spear free from the corpse and charged at Yeop Hyeon. As the spear tip reached right before Yeop Hyeon, another man blocked his path.
Squelch—!
The man let the spear pierce his abdomen. Still impaled, he pressed forward and finally drove a dagger into the Dao soldier's throat.
Splatter—!
The two men's fresh blood painted the surroundings red in an instant.
The man who slew the Dao soldier staggered back toward Yeop Hyeon, placed his pouch at his feet, and said,
"It's Yi Bong..."
With that, Yi Bong's eyes slowly closed.
At that moment, a black shadow landed beside Yeop Hyeon. It was Neung Han. His body was covered in sword wounds, especially his right arm, mangled beyond use for a spear.
Neung Han turned his back to Yeop Hyeon and faced the six charging Dao soldiers.
"Brother Yeop, we did our best."
Finishing, he dropped his pouch before Yeop Hyeon and charged the Dao soldiers with a savage expression.
Right then, a hand gripped his shoulder.
It was Yeop Hyeon.
Halting Neung Han, Yeop Hyeon walked slowly toward the Dao soldiers. He paused upon seeing Yi Bong's corpse at his feet. Seizing the opening, the six Dao soldiers rushed him.
Yeop Hyeon lifted his head toward them, tears already streaming down his face.
Suddenly, he threw his head back and roared like a feral beast.
"I'll kill you! All of youuuu!!!!"
Riiing—
A clear sword cry echoed through the hall, and a blade shot from somewhere, severing one Dao soldier's head.
Watching this, Mo Qingxian cried out in shock.
"Penetrating Nether Realm peak! True Sword!"
Right then, Yeop Hyeon's figure vanished, and another Dao soldier's head flew high.
Instant kill!
Without a breath's pause, the Spirit Water Sword flew at another Dao soldier. He swiftly raised his spear to block the tip. But the moment the weapons' sharpest edges met, the long spear split softly like tofu.
And the sword light flashed.
Slice—!
The opponent's head came clean off, blood spraying everywhere.
In the blink of an eye, he had butchered all six Dao soldiers.
Afterward, corpses piled up wherever Yeop Hyeon passed. Each swing of his sword claimed a head, and no one could turn back his blade.
Once Yeop Hyeon joined the fray, the tide completely reversed.
Mo Qingxian's face grew paler by the second. Even at Penetrating Nether Realm peak, the Chang Mok Academy Dao soldiers crumbled in a single exchange. If he reached Divine Fusion Realm, who could stop him!?
Realizing this, Mo Qingxian scowled and opened his right hand. A paper slip lay in his palm; as he circulated his true qi, it burst into flames. Soon, a fiery signal bloomed in the sky above his head.
Beacon fire!
Mo Qingxian slowly closed his eyes.
"That bastard must die..."
Meanwhile, like a murderous demon, Yeop Hyeon slaughtered without rest. His body was drenched in others' blood, and a stream of it flowed around him.
No one could block his sword.
Having absorbed the Great Black Sword, Yeop Hyeon had reached a level where he could behead Penetrating Nether Realm experts in one stroke, even without borrowing the earth's power.
Yeop Hyeon was strong, and his sword was terrifying.
Before long, the remaining soldiers' numbers had dwindled sharply, and the rest, along with warriors from Qingzhou, scrambled backward.
He was a monster.
Yeop Hyeon cut down everyone in his path without mercy.
Unlike the others, however, the Dao soldiers never retreated.
After the first six fell, their numbers kept dropping. Now, only four or five remained.
"Retreat!"
Mo Qingxian bellowed.
But the remaining Dao soldiers didn't withdraw—instead, they charged Yeop Hyeon.
Furious, Mo Qingxian roared,
"You idiots!"
At that moment, one Dao soldier turned to Mo Qingxian and shouted,
"We are the Dao soldiers who guard Chang Mok Academy's dignity!"
With that, he soared toward Yeop Hyeon.
Yeop Hyeon's figure blurred, and a streak of sword light flew, decapitating the Dao soldier.
Appearing behind him, Yeop Hyeon extended his left hand, and the Spirit Water Sword returned to his grasp.
Then, the remaining four Dao soldiers leaped at him simultaneously. Yeop Hyeon stood firm and snapped his eyes wide.
Whoosh—
Two beams of sword light shot from his eyes, piercing the brows of two Dao soldiers.
The speed was impossible to follow.
The lightning-fast sword light struck at close range; the two couldn't react and perished on the spot.
As the sword light embedded in their brows, Yeop Hyeon's figure had already vanished from his position.
And again!
Slice—!
Slice—!
The bodies of the final two Dao soldiers slowly tilted, their heads thudding to the ground. Now, not a single Dao soldier remained in the hall.
Yeop Hyeon looked as if he'd been doused head to toe in blood. Especially his shoulder, pierced by a massive spear wound.
Catching his breath briefly, Yeop Hyeon turned toward Neung Han. Neung Han clutched his spear with both hands, head bowed against the shaft. His breathing was faint.
Seeing this, Yeop Hyeon dropped to his knees and began slamming his head against the ground. Then, like a child, he wailed loudly.
"Waaaaahhhhhh!!!!"