Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Demonic Alliance Crushed
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‘Indeed, most of the Ten Great Masters are obsessed with martial arts. That’s why they keep getting stronger like this. The Sword King is at least as powerful as the Alliance Leader, if not more...’
Thinking that way made him feel a bit more at ease. With the Sword King and Sword Demon joining forces, they weren’t just Ten Great Masters—they were overwhelmingly supreme ones. That must be why even the Tyrant Dragon met such a futile end.
Suddenly, Jegal Jung-cheon recalled the contents of the letter Jegal Lin had sent him. It stated that he would absolutely be safe, so there was no need to worry.
‘That guy...’
Jegal Jung-cheon couldn’t help but smile faintly at the thought of the letter. He figured it was just something she’d said to reassure him. Naturally, since he had no knowledge of Dan Hyeong-u’s existence.
If he had even half the insight into Dan Hyeong-u that Jegal Lin did, his worries would have been far less.
Gal Cheon-ak ground his teeth.
“Grrrh! Why the hell are the Sword King and Sword Demon together?!”
Shouting about it wouldn’t change a thing. They were already together—what could he do? The Sword King and Sword Demon were truly formidable. Even one alone was nearly invincible, but their clever synergy made them far more terrifying.
The Black Warriors near the Sword King and Sword Demon barely had a chance to fight back before falling.
Black Warriors were trained in formations specifically for facing masters. But against the Sword King and Sword Demon, those formations were useless. If only one were present or if they were separated, it might have worked—but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
“This is driving me mad.”
Gal Cheon-ak muttered as he scanned his surroundings. The Righteous Heaven Alliance warriors near him had long been torn to shreds.
Though not quite a Ten Great Master, Gal Cheon-ak had been approaching that level. And as a Black Warrior, he’d grown even stronger. He believed he could defeat even a Ten Great Master.
Naturally, the average Righteous Heaven Alliance warriors couldn’t handle him. Even the experts from minor sects had fallen countless times to his blade.
Gal Cheon-ak ground his teeth again and surveyed the area. Then, far off, he spotted lightning pouring down.
Crrrackle!
Innumerable bolts rained down, ravaging the Demonic Alliance’s Black Warriors.
“What the hell is that?!”
This was far beyond his initial expectations. He hadn’t imagined there would be so many masters. He’d believed they could easily sweep away the Righteous Heaven Alliance, but that confidence had shattered.
“Come to think of it, Shadowless is nowhere in sight either.”
Gal Cheon-ak’s expression grew grave. At some point, Shadowless had vanished. Perhaps even before the battle began. No, that had to be it.
His usually sluggish mind raced furiously.
“So there was some other scheme from the start.”
That scheme was clearly to make the Demonic Alliance and Righteous Heaven Alliance clash. What Shadowless gained from it was unclear, but things had gone exactly as he intended.
“We still need to crush the Martial Alliance too.”
Gal Cheon-ak’s face twisted in frustration. The momentum had turned against them. If he’d brought the Iron Golems, they might not have been pushed back this far. But he’d sent them elsewhere on Shadowless’s orders.
“Damn it, nothing’s going right.”
Gal Cheon-ak roared in fury as he watched his subordinates dying. His rage exploded outward, sending qi swirling in all directions.
Whoooosh!
Gal Cheon-ak’s aura was so immense it rivaled any Ten Great Master.
“I’ll just kill them all!”
Gal Cheon-ak launched himself toward the densest cluster of Righteous Heaven Alliance warriors.
Yeom Hye-mi clung tightly to Dan Hyeong-u’s side, gazing fearfully at the battlefield. If she was resolved to live as a martial artist from now on, she couldn’t afford to fear blood.
When Yeom Hye-mi first insisted on going to the battlefield, the Sword King had opposed it fiercely. But even he couldn’t break his granddaughter’s stubbornness. So, he’d set one condition and allowed it.
Yeom Hye-mi glanced sideways at Dan Hyeong-u beside her. The Sword King’s condition was that she not separate from him.
‘Is this man really that strong?’
Yeom Hye-mi couldn’t fully grasp the attitudes of the Sword King, Sword Demon, or the others toward him. Dan Hyeong-u looked no older than twenty.
No matter how much of a genius one was, overcoming the wall of time wasn’t easy. Besides, the so-called Ten Great Masters were all geniuses themselves.
It wasn’t easy to believe Dan Hyeong-u surpassed them. What she found hard to understand wasn’t just faith in his strength—it was outright devotion.
‘Just who is this man?’
But no one could answer that question. If she asked now, he’d reply, but she could already predict what he’d say.
‘Escort Leader.’
Dan Hyeong-u would surely answer that way. The Henan Escort Bureau suddenly felt incredibly impressive.
Yeom Hye-mi turned her eyes back to the battlefield. She needed to observe how her companions fought.
Her gaze landed on Jegal Lin. Her movements were breathtakingly beautiful. Jegal Lin wasn’t just pretty-faced—her very motions were elegant. With that grace, she bewitched and slew her enemies.
But no matter how remarkable Jegal Lin was—worthy of the title Hundred Phoenix—the number of Black Warriors surrounding her was overwhelming.
“Ah...!”
An anguished groan escaped Yeom Hye-mi’s lips. One more Black Warrior had joined, pushing Jegal Lin into a defensive struggle in an instant. Even to Yeom Hye-mi’s eyes, the intruder was a tremendous master. At this rate, Jegal Lin was in danger.
The Black Warrior’s sword came slashing down toward Jegal Lin’s shoulder. Yeom Hye-mi squeezed her eyes shut at the heartbreaking sight.
Flash!
Yeom Hye-mi stared in bewilderment. A bolt of lightning like a streak of light cleaved the Black Warrior in two. Jegal Lin swiftly turned the tide. With her threat gone, the fight had eased.
Yeom Hye-mi looked at Dan Hyeong-u in shock. But he stood in the exact same pose, expression unchanged, his sword still sheathed. Tilting her head, she turned back to the battlefield.
Yeom Hye-mi was practically in the center of the fray. Yet no one came near her or Dan Hyeong-u. She should have found that odd first.
Afterward, she kept scanning for her companions. Each time one faced peril, an inexplicable bolt of lightning struck, safeguarding them.
As the battle neared its end, Yeom Hye-mi couldn’t help but revere those lightning strikes. Of course, she never imagined Dan Hyeong-u was behind them. He hadn’t moved an inch.
Bloodshot veins bulged in Gal Cheon-ak’s eyes. He’d just slaughtered another group of warriors around him. Black Warriors still remained. He believed if he pushed a little harder, he could turn the tide.
As Gal Cheon-ak whipped his head around, his eyes met a man’s. That man had been staring solely at him from the start. The mockery in the man’s gaze ignited Gal Cheon-ak’s fury once more.
“I’ll kill you!”
Gal Cheon-ak charged at the man.
The man, Cheon Yeong, drew his sword as if he’d been waiting.
“Haaah!”
Cheon Yeong shouted with great vigor, swinging his blade.
Claaang!
Gal Cheon-ak’s and Cheon Yeong’s swords clashed, unleashing a massive shockwave.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground exploded around them.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each clash of their swords erupted with thunderous blasts, qi fragments scattering everywhere.
Gal Cheon-ak and Cheon Yeong’s duel halted all other fighting nearby. It was that ferocious.
The tangled melee of Demonic Alliance Black Warriors and Righteous Heaven Alliance warriors split into two sides.
With both factions’ hopes pinned on them, their swords clashed relentlessly.
Despair washed over Gal Cheon-ak. Cheon Yeong was a master far above him. He’d inwardly believed he could beat a Ten Great Master, but nothing worked against Cheon Yeong. Futility overwhelmed him.
Cheon Yeong was dragging it out, drawing all eyes.
Once he had everyone’s attention, light began to gather on Cheon Yeong’s sword.
Flaaare!
The light intensified blindingly. No one could look directly at him.
The light engulfing the area faded.
The crowd spotted Gal Cheon-ak’s head on the ground. The battle was over.
Though incomplete, those who’d participated in the grand war witnessed the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader’s awe-inspiring might firsthand. It rippled fiercely through their hearts.
Having etched that divine presence into their minds, they elevated him to the ranks of the new Ten Great Masters. He was more than worthy.
As soon as the fight ended, Jegal Lin hurriedly gathered the group. Since they’d never strayed too far, it was easy.
Even in that fierce clash with the Demonic Alliance, they’d kept a set distance from Dan Hyeong-u, never exceeding it. To receive his aid, it was unavoidable.
Still, they’d achieved more than anyone in the Righteous Heaven Alliance. Of course, the Demonic Alliance Leader Gal Cheon-ak had fallen to the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader’s hand.
“Is anyone hurt?”
At the Sword King’s question, the group carefully checked each other. No one was injured. They marveled anew at Dan Hyeong-u’s prowess. Though he’d stood motionless, their safety was entirely thanks to him.
“Good. Or rather, it was to be expected?”
The Sword King chuckled lightly, glancing at Dan Hyeong-u. Fighting alongside the Sword Demon, he’d forgotten his own presence. It was uncanny. Their synergy was perfect, as if they’d trained paired techniques from the start—their movements always fluid and organic.
The Sword King and Sword Demon’s faces flushed with long-lost accomplishment. Such a feeling was rare nowadays. And it was all thanks to Dan Hyeong-u.
“So, we can head back now?”
Jegal Lin nodded at the Sword King’s words. They’d fulfilled all promises to the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader. They’d seen the Demonic Alliance’s power. Now, only return remained. First, though, the Black Warriors’ corpses needed handling.
In truth, this was the biggest reason Jegal Lin had joined the Demonic Alliance fight.
“We must dispose of all the Demonic Alliance bodies. Burning them to ash completely would be best.”
The Sword King and Sword Demon flinched at Jegal Lin’s words, staring at her. But they soon nodded.
“If that’s your judgment, then so be it.”
It was right to handle it thoroughly. And for some reason—perhaps due to Jegal Lin—the Sword King distrusted the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader.
“Best hurry.”
At the Sword King’s urging, Jegal Lin quickly approached the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader.
“A great victory, congratulations.”
Cheon Yeong beamed, welcoming her.
“Haha, it’s all thanks to your group’s efforts. Truly remarkable people.”
Cheon Yeong praised Jegal Lin’s companions with pure sincerity. After a brief thanks, Jegal Lin cut to the chase. She’d seen Righteous Heaven Alliance warriors starting to move.
“Burning the Black Warriors’ bodies would be best. We’ll help.”
Cheon Yeong shook his head.
“Of course, but we’ll handle it ourselves. We can’t trouble you with that. Haha, go rest easy.”
As Cheon Yeong laughed it off, Jegal Lin smiled and shook her head.
“What trouble? Just gather and burn them. We still have energy left, so it’s fine. Thank you for your concern.”
She bowed slightly, signaling they’d proceed regardless.
Cheon Yeong’s face stiffened imperceptibly. Jegal Lin caught it. Her suspicions confirmed: the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader planned to use the bodies.
“Come on, hurry before the work vanishes.”
Jegal Lin urged the group, who sensed the unease and moved quickly.
Though Righteous Heaven Alliance warriors began carrying bodies, Jegal Lin took charge. It bordered on insolence toward the alliance, but no one stopped her.
Mounds of Black Warrior corpses piled up like mountains.
Then, fire was set to the pyres.
The bodies didn’t burn easily. Their specially treated skin was fire-resistant. But persistent flames eventually crackled through them.
Once ignited, they turned to ash swiftly. The blaze roared, scattering cinders everywhere.