Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Secret Technique
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-Rumble...
A fierce explosion swept through the area near the Subduing Demon Hall.
Amid the thick dust filling the air from all directions, two Monstrous Beings and a boy and girl revealed themselves.
"Phew... somehow managed to block the explosion. Thanks, Son Mu. And Har."
Just before the blast, Maeng Yeon had summoned Son Mu in his vessel form, placing the immortal-bodied Monstrous Being in front of them to absorb the initial shockwave.
Then, using Har's abilities, she created a wind barrier to shield herself and Baek Hyun, successfully protecting their bodies completely from the aftermath.
Son Mu, who had blocked the explosion almost reflexively without fully grasping the situation, dusted off his hands with a bewildered expression and spoke.
Then, which side are all those humans gathered around us on?
Son Mu pointed to the black-clad figures who had suddenly swarmed the surroundings and spoke.
Mysterious black-clad individuals had scattered in all directions and gathered like clouds the instant the explosion occurred.
They appeared to be at least at the Peak realm, each gripping their own weapons as they silently watched Baek Hyun and Maeng Yeon.
"...Damn, these are the guys I saw once before. Wheel-Breaking Temple's lackeys. Definitely our enemies."
Responding to Son Mu's question was Baek Hyun, the boy who had protected his body from the explosion thanks to the two Monstrous Beings' efforts.
He opened his upper dantian to quickly assess the black-clad intruders' numbers and armament, recalling the invaders from Starpoint Mountain he had encountered before.
Though details like clothing and gear differed, the overall vibe was identical to those Starpoint Mountain intruders from years ago.
They had likely been hiding in formations scattered across the mountain, drawn here by the explosion caused by that scholar.
The reason they hadn't shown their faces until now but suddenly swarmed was obvious...
"Probably here to snatch the spoils in place of their leaders."
The one trophy that the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace—no, Wheel-Breaking Temple—had sought to seize from Starpoint Sect.
-Rumble... clank!
At that moment, the doors of the Subduing Demon Hall, which had withstood the intense explosion head-on, shook violently before swinging wide open.
And what emerged was...
-Whoosh...
A massive fireball blazing with flames purer than anything in this world.
The instant that sun-like mass, traversing eons of time to reappear in the world...
Baek Hyun felt all moisture around him vanish in an instant.
From the faint vapor in the air to the water essential for countless plants and animals to sustain life—everything.
An extreme heat, like the blood in one's body boiling and evaporating, spread across the entire Starpoint Mountain in a flash.
Thanks to his Solar Body, he possessed heat resistance incomparable to others, yet this was the first time since possession that he felt 'hot'—such an intense blaze.
Accompanied by a roar that tore at the eardrums, the massive fireball slowly began ascending into the sky.
Baek Hyun forgot to even watch the surrounding black-clad foes, simply biting his lip.
The worst-case scenario he had feared.
The Subduing Demon Hall had taken the previous explosion as the start of the trial and released a fitting Monstrous Being.
The strongest entity sealed within, matching the unprecedented explosive inner force he had unleashed.
Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, Rank 1
Three-Legged Crow
Long ago, ten suns rose into the sky simultaneously, bringing chaos to the world.
The immense heat from the ten suns caused a horrific drought across the land, felling not only humans but even powerful Monstrous Beings in unimaginable flames.
Unable to bear the sight, the Heavenly Emperor commanded the divine archer Hou Yi to resolve the suns disrupting the world.
Hou Yi, possessing exceptional power among immortals, succeeded in shooting down nine of the ten suns.
But to maintain the world's balance, he spared the final one.
That surviving last sun.
The final Three-Legged Crow left in this world.
That was the true identity of this second sun descending upon the world.
The Three-Legged Crow, awakened from long slumber, flapped its massive wings freely, reveling in long-lost freedom.
Wings of brilliant golden light, cloaked in overwhelming flames matching the sun.
Each movement sent intense radiance scorching centuries-old giant trees to ash in an instant.
"This... it's a living nuke...!"
Maeng Yeon, lacking even Baek Hyun's heat resistance, could only writhe in the unimaginable inferno.
Despite Har's thick wind barrier, the Three-Legged Crow's overwhelming heat pierced the fierce gales effortlessly, threatening her.
Its lethality and destructive power far surpassed even that flying beast earlier.
A calamity no human power could handle.
The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace followers were swept up in agitation, fine—but how had Wheel-Breaking Temple dared tame such a terrifying being?
-Rustle...
The problem was that using the 'divine relic' passed down in the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace made it not entirely impossible.
The Wheel-Breaking Temple members, confirming the Three-Legged Crow's descent, donned pre-prepared black protective suits to block the heat as much as possible and surrounded it from all sides.
No, it was less a surround and more a desperate scramble to divert its attention among themselves.
Even dozens at the Peak realm were less than insects before the Three-Legged Crow.
Even with the Black Mane Legion and the scholar added as planned, little would change.
Yet they half-believed in capturing it for a simple reason.
-Hum...
They possessed a 'divine relic' that could subdue any Monstrous Being.
"The Black Mane Legion Lord fell to the heretics... but thanks to the scholar's sacrificial blaze, His Highness's grand plan won't be delayed."
The man who seemed the leader among the black-clad figures watched the Three-Legged Crow up close and pulled a small wooden box from his bosom.
Inside, despite ages past, a ring gleamed with radiant light.
The supreme shackle imbued with Avalokitesvara's power, which had bound even the mightiest Monstrous Being in history without fail.
Tightening Hoop
Discovered long ago by the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace's founder, it had been passed down among the southern tribes to this day.
"...! ...!! ......!!"
The man chanted the Tightening Curse to activate the Tightening Hoop and extended his arm toward the Three-Legged Crow.
At the same time, his subordinates desperately drew its gaze in the murderous heat to keep its attention from him.
The moment the Three-Legged Crow finally recognized the humans around it...
-Ping—!!
The Tightening Hoop, trembling finely in the wooden box, shot toward the Three-Legged Crow at tremendous speed.
The man smirked in triumph.
The Tightening Hoop was too precious a treasure to rot in the hands of foolish southern barbarians.
Once bound by it, even the Three-Legged Crow would have no choice but to submit to them.
Its terrifying power would serve His Highness fully.
Then His Highness's ascension to the throne would come even sooner...
-Thwack!!
In that instant, a massive palm snatched the Tightening Hoop hurtling toward the Three-Legged Crow.
While most there were busy enduring the immense heat, only one could casually intercept the flying relic.
-Slash!!
Recognizing the Monstrous Being, the Tightening Hoop swiftly climbed Son Mu's arm and wrapped around his head.
Once activated, the Tightening Hoop could not be stopped.
However, if another Monstrous Being's body intercepted it at high speed right after activation, redirecting its target was possible.
That was the Tightening Hoop's sole countermeasure.
"Ha... knew you'd use that sometime."
"Y-You bastaaard—!!!"
Maeng Yeon, aware of this, had long devised a strategy to neutralize the Tightening Hoop via Son Mu.
Binding Son Mu with it would neutralize him too, but with the Emperor's Tomb penalty, he wasn't a long-term card anyway.
Moreover, this body was merely a vessel containing his will, not the original.
To tie up their trump card on such a disposable body, Maeng Yeon had strained to extend Son Mu's summoning time with all her might.
"Good work, Son Mu. Rest now."
-Rumble...
Only then did Maeng Yeon release the Emperor's Tomb activation, and Son Mu's body, having fulfilled its role, slowly sank into the ground and faded away.
Son Mu glanced between the blazing Three-Legged Crow and his own sinking body, then met Baek Hyun's eyes and spoke.
His gaze held lingering fear, but also thicker trust than anyone's.
I'm counting on you, Sword God.
With those final words, Son Mu vanished completely into the earth, Tightening Hoop and all.
"I'd love to say 'leave it to me'..."
Baek Hyun gave a troubled smile at Son Mu's—Maeng Yeon's parting words and swallowed hard.
Son Mu—no, Maeng Yeon—had perfectly fulfilled her role.
Providing overwhelming firepower via Har to the party, serving as the sole counter to the flying beast's poison.
Using the special reward to annihilate the Beast Palace Lord's main force and perfectly neutralizing Wheel-Breaking Temple's deadliest scheme—she had more than pulled her weight for three people.
The problem was...
"...What do we do about that thing now."
The situation had deteriorated beyond even Maeng Yeon's hard carry.
"Wh-Why did the Tightening Hoop...! Gahhh...!!"
"Retreat! Retreat! No way to catch it now...! Kyaaak!!"
Baek Hyun watched the Three-Legged Crow massacre Wheel-Breaking Temple members at blinding speed, feeling utter despair.
A mature Ten Great Ferocious Beast akin to a natural disaster.
The rank 1 monster among monsters, calamity among calamities.
Though his Solar Body gave him a favorable matchup, he was still short of Peak realm—toppling that absurd beast was impossible.
"Hah... huff... what now? I can't fight anymore. Can't even move..."
"...Don't worry. I still have a card left."
Plus, the backlash from overusing the special reward had left Maeng Yeon near retirement.
She had endured penalties that would render movement impossible just to maintain the summons—it was almost expected.
The situation was utterly hopeless... but not without options entirely.
"As expected... you're gonna use 'that,' right?"
"Yeah. I'll use 'that.'"
In a flash, the Three-Legged Crow finished off all Wheel-Breaking Temple members and turned its gaze to Baek Hyun.
Baek Hyun took a short deep breath, crouched low, and prepared to bolt.
'Didn't want to use it if possible, but no choice now.'
Maeng Yeon had done her part fully.
Now it was his turn to resolve this.
One chance only.
Squeezing every ounce of remaining strength and focus to the limit...
Run.
-Bang!!
Baek Hyun hoisted the collapsed Maeng Yeon onto his back and fled with all his might.
"...Huh?"
-...Grng?
"What are you doing, Har?! If you don't wanna die, run—!!!"
Maeng Yeon and Har plunged into confusion.