Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Eighteen Blade Guests (2)
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“Not bad. You actually used your head for once.”
Chu Seung, who had been watching the battle with keen interest, let out a sigh of admiration as he saw Yujin Gyoju's strike.
But unfortunately, the target of his admiration was someone else entirely.
The moment Yujin Gyoju's attack aimed for the flaw in the Eight Directions Severing Barrier Formation, a blade came whistling out of nowhere.
Yujin Gyoju, who had thrown everything into avenging his subordinates, never imagined a knife flying straight at his side.
Before Yujin Gyoju's sword could pierce the heart of one of the Eighteen Blade Guests exposed by that opening, a swift blade sliced into his flank.
“Keurk!”
His mouth gaped open in agony from a pain unlike anything he'd ever felt before.
His bloodshot eyes turned toward his side.
Gwak Chung, the leader of the Eighteen Blade Guests maintaining the Eight Directions Severing Barrier Formation, twisted the knife buried in Yujin Gyoju's side with a sneer.
“Kwaaak!”
Another scream tore from Yujin Gyoju's lips.
“Sect Leader!”
“Sect Leader!”
The Zaha Sect's top leaders cried out in horror and rushed to save him, but none could break through the Eight Directions Severing Barrier Formation.
“Farewell.”
Gwak Chung yanked the blade free with a savage twist and lopped off the staggering Yujin Gyoju's head.
The fight was as good as over the moment Yujin Gyoju's head flew into the air and rolled across the ground.
The Zaha Sect had been crumbling pathetically ever since the battle began and they'd lost the initiative in an instant. They'd only held out this long thanks to the desperate efforts of Yujin Gyoju and his leaders. But now their sect leader was dead, and most of those leaders had been caught in the Eight Directions Severing Barrier Formation and lost their lives pointlessly. There was no one left to lead them.
“Don't leave a single one alive.”
No sooner had Gwak Chung given the order than the Eighteen Blade Guests scattered from their formation. They then began massacring the Zaha Sect warriors, who wandered in confusion without a central command.
The slaughter only stopped when Sanggwan Baek, the Bicheon Stronghold's supreme elder and a true master, grasped the situation late and arrived with reinforcements alongside the Beggars' Sect's inspector.
Sanggwan Baek pressed the Eighteen Blade Guests fiercely.
When one of the scattered Eighteen Blade Guests fell to a sudden attack, Gwak Chung rescued him and hurriedly rallied the rest.
The moment the Eighteen Blade Guests reformed the Eight Directions Severing Barrier Formation, the tide turned in an instant.
Even giving it their all, Sanggwan Baek was the one being pushed back. Without the help of the inspector, and Sanggwan Hong and Sanggwan Gyeol who arrived late, he might have been the one to fall.
'Their teamwork is flawless—enough to send chills down my spine.'
Sanggwan Baek fell back slightly and stared at the Eighteen Blade Guests with a look of utter dismay.
He had once witnessed the Wudang Sect's Wall of Swords Formation, and he was certain the Eight Directions Severing Barrier Formation was just as formidable.
As Sanggwan Baek steadied his breathing with a grim expression and moved to advance on the Eighteen Blade Guests—
A chilling aura prickled his instincts.
Turning on instinct, Sanggwan Baek found Dark Thunder Blade Chu Seung walking right toward him.
Chu Seung toyed with nine throwing knives as if they were playthings. What was astonishing was that no knife ever stayed in his hand for more than a moment.
The knives danced freely around his head, shoulders, and waist.
“So you're Dark Thunder Blade Chu Seung.”
Chu Seung looked mildly surprised at Sanggwan Baek's words.
“Ho! You know this old man?”
“Not intimately. Our territories never overlapped much. But it's only polite to know the names of your enemy's leaders. Seeing those knives confirms it.”
“Haha! Suddenly I'm the rude old fool. And who might you be?”
“Sanggwan Baek.”
“Even a quick scan shows you're one of the few true masters here. I hope you live up to a name worth remembering.”
Sanggwan Baek felt no urge to protest, even if those words sounded dismissive.
He had already sensed it.
The man before him was a superior master.
“I'll give you my all.”
Sanggwan Baek raised his sword toward Chu Seung, vowing it to himself.
“No issues over there.”
The Blood Light Martial Emperor turned away as Chu Seung and Sanggwan Baek began their duel.
As expected, the Eighteen Blade Guests had performed brilliantly, completely crippling one of the enemy's wings.
With Chu Seung, who scanned the battlefield like a beast hunting prey, now engaged with a worthy opponent, victory was only a matter of time.
“This side looks fine too.”
Unlike the Eighteen Blade Guests under Gwak Chung, who had crushed the Zaha Sect in moments, the group on the right led by Wang Heonji hadn't achieved as much.
The reason was simple.
The Bicheon Stronghold had deployed far more forces around Yongho Pavilion, which was weaker than the Zaha Sect. On top of that, the timely arrival of the Hyeongsan Sect's reinforcements—though few in number but arriving almost simultaneously with the Ha Hu Clan's support—proved decisive.
The Hyeongsan Sect's Celestial Martial Sword Array, executed by five as one, couldn't surpass the Eight Directions Severing Barrier Formation but could at least hold its own.
Emboldened by the Hyeongsan Sect's stand with the array, the Yongho Pavilion warriors and rogue experts surrounded and attacked from all sides.
Even so, the Eight Directions Severing Barrier Formation didn't crumble easily. The Ghost Blade Squad warriors, who had moved to the center of the battlefield, shifted right to find space to shine, and the Dharma Protectors Black-White Twin Fiends, who slipped away like Dark Thunder Blade Chu Seung to pick their foes, helped seize the advantage.
“The problem is the center.”
The Blood Light Martial Emperor frowned at the central battlefield, where the fighting was fiercer than anywhere else.
The elites of the Myeongwang Gate and Bicheon Stronghold clashed head-on in a gruesome melee.
Though the battle had raged for less than half an hour since starting, casualties were already staggering on both sides.
The forces of the Myeongwang Gate and Bicheon Stronghold were evenly matched. The difference lay in the Ha Hu Clan warriors supporting the Bicheon Stronghold outclassing those from Mansagok aiding the Myeongwang Gate.
Mansagok had nearly twice the numbers, but individual skill gaps were significant.
Proving their fame as equals to the Five Great Clans, the Ha Hu Clan warriors flaunted their prowess freely.
Especially Ha Hu Hyo, their leader, stood head and shoulders above the rest. The Mansagok elders facing him were skilled masters in their own right and fought with all they had, but it wasn't enough.
After Sword Ghost Ha Hu Gok's death, Ha Hu Hyo was hailed as the clan's top master. Moreover, breakthroughs from insights Ha Hu Gok left before dying had elevated him to a higher realm. His martial prowess was beyond what they could handle.
“Tch, if we hadn't lost the Wind Demon Division, this fight would've been over already.”
The Blood Light Martial Emperor clicked his tongue in displeasure at the stalemate and began walking slowly.
His gaze on Ha Hu Hyo ignited with fervor. Though he'd lost a decent foe to Chu Seung, finding someone far superior stirred his long-dormant fighting spirit.
“Gah!”
A stifled cry escaped as one of the Dark Shadow operatives, holding his breath in hiding, slumped lifelessly.
“These creepy bastards. How many of them are crawling around?”
Cheol Woo shook his head at the man who'd died with a throwing knife through his brow from Sima Geon's Thunderclap Point.
“This makes seven already. It's no exaggeration to say they're watching every inch of the area.”
Noe Jeon wiped the sweat streaming down like lightning bolts and turned to Manchu and Gwayu, who looked half-dead.
“You guys okay?”
“N-no idea. Feels like I'm dying.”
Manchu, doubled over and gasping, waved weakly without lifting his head.
“Holding up.”
Despite his words, Gwayu looked worse than Manchu. His breathing was ragged, face pale—not to mention his legs trembling uncontrollably.
“You good?”
Cheol Woo asked Noe Jeon.
“Of course. This is nothing...”
Noe Jeon boasted confidently, but cracked a wry smile when Cheol Woo tilted his head.
“I'm done. Need a break, or I'm finished.”
Noe Jeon collapsed onto the ground.
“You?”
Cheol Woo turned to So Surin.
She'd once wielded arts similar to Noe Jeon's but had been reborn through Yin Energy Point, emerging as a new person. Unlike him, not a drop of sweat beaded her skin.
“I'm fine.”
“She says she's good, boss.”
Cheol Woo shot Sima Geon a questioning look about what to do.
“Hoo.”
A heavy sigh escaped Sima Geon.
The moment they learned of the Blood Light Martial Emperor via scouting, they'd set off for Bicheon Stronghold. He couldn't ignore the deep ties with the Ha Hu Clan. Yet even with Noe Jeon—one of the Divine Demon Division's toughest marchers—they hadn't made it in time despite the grueling pace.
“How far to Bicheon Stronghold?”
Sima Geon asked Dang Cheonhwa.
“At this speed, about half a shichen more.”
“According to the last operative, the fight's already started. Half a shichen is too late.”
Sima Geon couldn't hide his anxiety. The intel from the latest Dark Shadow captive had pinpointed the Heavenly Demon Cult's arrival time.
With the Blood Light Martial Emperor and his shadow-like Eighteen Blade Guests, Bicheon Stronghold's battle was effectively decided. No telling how long they could hold.
Not that he underestimated the gathered rogues or Ha Hu Clan warriors—the Blood Light Martial Emperor's presence was just that overwhelming.
“We need to pick up the pace.”
“This old man can manage, but those kids can't.”
Dang Cheonhwa pointed at the utterly exhausted Noe Jeon and others resting.
Sima Geon had no choice but to hesitate. Taking them would be too slow; leaving them risked unexpected enemies.
“I'll stay behind, Division Leader.”
So Surin spoke, reading his dilemma.
“Pushing faster from here, I wouldn't keep up anyway.”
Sima Geon didn't waver.
“Got it. Stay safe.”
“Don't worry.”
So Surin smiled and waved them off.
“This old man will lead. Follow.”
Knowing the urgency, Dang Cheonhwa didn't dawdle.
His movement toward Bicheon Stronghold was on another level from before. Cheol Woo whistled at Dang Cheonhwa's vanishing form.
“That old timer's no joke.”
“No time to waste. Let's go.”
Sima Geon launched after Dang Cheonhwa, and Cheol Woo unleashed his full lightness skill.
Manchu gaped in disbelief as the three vanished in a blink.
“Thought we came fast, but watching them? We've just been crawling till now.”
Noe Jeon chuckled, clapping Manchu's shoulder.
“No need to feel down. For folks like us, that's normal thinking. Just see them as freakish outliers.”