Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Martial Emperor Fortress
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I’d been pondering this for a long time.
On what kind of battlefield do the War King Arts display their greatest power?
A one-on-one duel where life and death hang on a single move?
A battle of many against many, using formations and tactics?
No.
The true essence of the War King Arts cannot be savored on such battlefields.
The stage where the War King Arts can unleash their true power is a chaotic melee. Especially when facing those weaker than myself.
The reason is simple.
The War King Arts are not a style that engages in a battle of techniques based on profound forms.
One hit, one kill.
It's a martial art that delivers death to its enemies with single strikes powerful enough to tear steel and shatter rock.
On top of that, the cheat-like mechanism of the Core supplied mana in real-time, allowing for the continuous use of the War King Arts.
Just like right now.
*Swish!*
Blue, ferocious sword energies embroidered the air, pouring down relentlessly.
*Whoosh.*
A formidable energy aimed for my back.
“Hup!”
*Boom.*
But none of them could reach me. The War King Step, empowered by the force of the Chain Ring, had granted me superhuman speed.
Escaping the enemy's attack range, I flicked my little finger.
*Thunk.*
Though I had infused almost no internal energy, the Battle Lord Arrow pierced one man's neck.
Such was the power of a divine weapon forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron.
And then.
“Hah!”
*Swoooosh!*
A horizontally extended Ultimate Death Force flew towards the waists of five men.
My opponents hadn't earned the title of the Lion Alliance's elite for nothing; three of the five succeeded in blocking the Ultimate Death Force.
Judging by their blue sword energy, it was highly likely they were a combat unit from the Namgung family, the clan of the Lion Alliance's leader.
However, the assault of the War King Arts, supreme in a chaotic melee, did not end there.
War King Thirteen Strikes.
*Pow!*
The fighting technique, each strike boasting enough power to pierce rock, hammered the enemies who were stiff from blocking the Ultimate Death Force.
The result.
*Thud-thud-thud.*
The bodies of the three who had blocked the Ultimate Death Force were instantly torn apart.
“Hoo.”
*Whoosh!*
A sword aura flew at me as I was catching my breath.
Its color was deeper than before, a clear difference in power.
But there was no way this attack would ever reach me.
*Kwoooar!*
Because the War Dragon Energy shot out and devoured the blue sword aura.
“What?!”
What one receives, one must return.
I dove into the heart of the battle between the Blue Martial Unit and the enemies.
*Clang. Crack.*
As I threw punches in all directions, the enemies retreated in confusion, their swords held high.
*Whoosh.*
As if pursuing them, the War Dragon Energy spat out the sword aura it had just swallowed.
*Kwoooar! Krrrrumble.*
The wave of energy spreading in all directions swept over the enemies.
“Dodge it!”
I couldn't just stop here.
“Die, you bastards!”
I slammed an Explosive Death Force, backed by all my strength, into the center of the enemy ranks.
*KABOOM. Whoosh.*
A gravitational pull was generated with the explosion.
However, the enemy's losses were smaller than I expected.
It was because their leader had unleashed a blue protective aura, steadfastly blocking the Explosive Death Force.
And then.
The man’s sword, extended behind his back, swung forward in a wide arc.
*Boom.*
At the same time, I felt a pressure.
A force pressing down on my entire body restricted my movements.
‘So this is it.’
The Boundless Azure Sky Sword Art I'd only ever seen in martial arts novels.
A long, blue sword aura began to descend toward the crown of my head.
Resisting the pressure, which was enough to crush Mount Tai, the War Dragon Energy shot out and opened its maw.
*Kwoooar! Crack!*
A showdown between the War Dragon Energy trying to devour it and the sword aura trying to crush it.
The winner was the War Dragon Energy.
It was because the man's level was lower than mine.
*Crrrack.*
With the sound of something breaking, the pressure was released.
“Hoo.”
At the same time, something long, thick, and black coiled around my body.
“...”
Seeing this, the enemies halted.
Their instincts, sensing fear, had overridden their reason.
“What are you doing? Not coming at me.”
“...You're no easy opponent.”
“You can think of me as being on par with the Grim Reaper.”
“If we retreat, will you let us go?”
“That's unexpected.”
“Pride doesn't save lives.”
It was a decision I could fully understand from a commander's perspective.
He must have felt that dealing with me was one thing, but taking on the Cheong family as well was too much.
The mission would fail nine times out of ten, and it was highly likely that not only he but all his subordinates would die.
He must have thought it better to at least save their lives and return.
It seemed to be a cultural difference between the Lion Alliance and the Ten Demon Alliance.
Those crazy demonic bastards have a tendency to keep charging, no matter who dies.
“So, what will it be?”
“Fine. Go back before I change my mind.”
“Understood.”
He raised his hand and had his subordinates fall back.
“By the way, what's your name?”
“...Namgung So.”
“Namgung? Same as the Lion Alliance's leader.”
“He is a distant uncle of mine.”
“So you were from the main bloodline, then.”
“...I don't know what you're talking about.”
“If you don't know, just go.”
I turned and headed toward the Cheong family's formation.
“Let's be on our way, too.”
*Rustle.*
The warriors of the Cheong family sheathed their weapons.
Acheon, standing at the very front, muttered.
“It's a shame to let him go like this...”
“Do you know him?”
“The Blue-Faced Sword. He's infamous in the Anhui region as a killing demon.”
“A bad guy, then.”
“He's a far worse man than you think, Clan Lord Jin.”
“Don't worry. That infamy will end today.”
“...?”
“No matter what happens, do not intervene.”
In truth, I never intended to just let them go from the start.
I had only taken a step back to gain momentum.
I turned my head, my gaze shifting to Namgung So.
I could see that he, too, hadn't taken his eyes off me.
*Smirk.*
As I gave him a slight smile and a wave.
*Boom.*
I stomped my foot, combining the War King Step with the Flying Heavenly Wind.
*Fwoosh.*
Phantom Step.
With a supreme movement technique, I instantly appeared right in front of him.
“...!”
The astonished Namgung So thrust his sword at a fatal angle.
Reflexes and experience worthy of a supreme master.
I took his sword with my body.
*Thud!*
Despite wearing the Dragon Scale Armor, I felt my insides shake from the considerable force.
This was exactly what I was aiming for. Not giving him time to use his sword aura.
As long as it wasn't a sword aura, the Dragon Scale Armor could block it.
*Bang. Splatter.*
With a lightning-fast Explosive Death Force, I blew off his right shoulder.
*Splat.*
Beyond the fountain of blood scattering in all directions, I saw the dumbfounded faces of the enemies.
“You despicable...!”
“To uphold justice in the martial world, don't apostles of justice like me sometimes have to do cowardly things?”
*Crack! Thump.*
Leaving the fallen man behind, I advanced.
“...”
The remaining forty enemies drew their weapons.
They were remarkably rational, even though one might expect them to charge in a frenzy.
“The grim reapers are going to be very busy today.”
The blood-red sunset entered my vision.
* * *
“Hah...”
*Trickle, trickle.*
The blood flowing from the enemies' bodies formed a small stream.
“I guess I won't have to fertilize for a while.”
Since the ground has soaked up all this nutritious blood.
*Thump.*
As I grabbed my trembling thighs and collapsed, the Cheong Family Head rushed over to support me.
“What were you thinking, taking them all on by yourself?”
“Wouldn't it be dangerous if someone got injured here? You still have to go to the Righteous Path Alliance and the Martial Emperor Fortress.”
“Still, it was too reckless.”
“I know. Ugh... I'm dead.”
He was right.
The Lion Alliance bastards used an incomparably profound sword art, and each and every one of them had reached the pinnacle of martial skill.
If I didn't have the Dragon Scale Armor, if the martial art I learned wasn't the War King Arts, I wouldn't have even dreamed of wiping them out alone.
“Please wake that guy over there. I have something to ask him.”
I pointed at Namgung So, who had lost his entire right arm.
“Alright.”
I approached Namgung So, who was lying haphazardly on the ground.
“I'll give you some space.”
“Thank you.”
The man regained consciousness, scanned his surroundings, and then glared at me with bloodshot eyes.
“The Blood Sword of the Lion Alliance will come for you.”
“If he's coming all the way from over three thousand li for revenge, I should at least entertain him.”
With that much sincerity, I have to fight him.
*Smirk.*
“Just answer my questions.”
“I won't say a single...”
*Crack! Crunch.*
“Kugh!”
I smashed a fist-sized rock into his knee, and the man let out a suppressed scream.
“Your right arm is gone, you'll limp on your left leg for the rest of your life, and your dantian is shattered. I wonder if you'll even be able to make it back to Anhui.”
“J-Just kill me.”
“Only if you answer.”
*Smirk.*
I looked straight into the man's eyes, which seemed to hold a hint of resignation.
* * *
“Ahem... Hmm... Did you really have to go that far...?”
“Weren't you just saying he was a villain who deserved to die?”
“That's true, but... he's a martial artist, after all. I was just thinking we should allow him some dignity.”
Acheon shook his head as he looked at the completely mangled Namgung So.
“Whether he dies this way or that way, he's still dying, so what does it matter?”
“Still...”
“Geez, stop nagging me. I'm already annoyed that I couldn't get an answer.”
“...”
Acheon cleared his throat and held out two small pills.
“Ah, thank you.”
*Gulp.*
After I tossed them into my mouth, he asked with a hesitant expression.
“By the way. D-did you perhaps learn a demonic art? You know, the kind where you get excited at the sight of blood...”
“No.”
“If it is, the Cheong family's medical skills can cure you.”
This guy is really pushing it.
“It's not a demonic art. It's a righteous art, created based on the purest principles of orthodox martial arts. A righteous art.”
“I-I see.”
“Geez, talking about things you know nothing about...”
“My apologies.”
“As long as you know.”
“But what are you doing?”
“What do you mean? We won, so I have to collect the spoils of war.”
The Cheong Family Head looked disgusted, but I ignored him and rummaged through Namgung So's clothes, taking his money pouch, emergency medicine, weapon, and other items.
“Oh, a famous sword! This should fetch at least fifty nyang. Look at this thick money pouch. What's this? An elixir? Hey, what are you all doing? Don't just stand there, give me a hand.”
A short while later.
We departed for the Righteous Path Alliance, with the spoils of war loaded onto Whitey's back.
For some reason, the Cheong family warriors were silent. The way they looked at me seemed a bit strange, too.
But, it was fine.
‘Hehehe. I've earned at least three hundred nyang.’
Because the amount I'd looted from a single fight was over three hundred nyang.
Thanks to this, I'd be able to buy plenty of gifts on my way back to Hanzhong.
For the record, the gifts I'm talking about aren't for anyone else, but for me.
I ran around like a dog; I deserve this much of a reward.
As I was chuckling to myself, the Cheong Family Head approached, exuding his signature handsome, middle-aged man aura.
“We survived thanks to you. We almost died without knowing anything.”
“If you're grateful, you can give me money...”
I was about to speak but shook my head.
‘Oops.’
I, Jin Mujeon, Clan Lord of the War King Sect and a renowned master in the martial world, was no longer a mere Outer Hall warrior guarding the fortress gate.
I couldn't be a blatant, low-class money-grubber like before.
“I hear rumors that the Cheong family is the wealthiest in all of Hubei and Hunan...”
“...I will be sure to reward you in the near future.”
As long as I put it subtly like this.
“By the way, what will you do when you arrive at the Righteous Path Alliance? Do you know anyone there?”
The Cheong Family Head spoke, showing his confidence.
“The Nine Dragons Fortress has agreed to help, so I believe things will be better than before. It's all thanks to you.”
His lips curved into a smile, and he bowed his head once more.
“Hey, why are you bowing twice...”
“I am expressing the gratitude of Hunan Province.”
“But you don't even live in Hunan.”
“My ancestral burial grounds are there.”
“Well, in that case, I'll accept it.”
If it's for his ancestral grounds, I'll allow it.
“All that's left now is to nurture the spark of hope you've given us and not let it die out.”
“If all else fails, you can just give them a ton of money and hire a combat unit. They're dirt-poor Taoists and monks; won't they jump at the chance?”
“...”
Yep, that's right.