Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: The Eighteen Blade Guests (3)
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The Bloodlight Emperor slowly advanced.
The sword draped over his shoulder, Radiance, greedily absorbed the peeking moonlight and gleamed with a chilling light.
The Bloodlight Emperor's leisurely stride didn't fit at all with the hellish chaos of the battlefield, like a wailing abyss.
Yet what was strange was that no obstacles appeared in his path whatsoever.
Even amid hundreds of warriors screaming and slaughtering each other, not a single one approached him.
The crowd parted like the sea splitting open.
And at the end of that path stood Ha Hu Hyo.
The moment the Bloodlight Emperor began to move, Ha Hu Hyo had already sensed his presence.
"Grgh!"
A elder of the Nether King Sect collapsed powerlessly.
Ha Hu Hyo passed by him indifferently. His eyes were fixed not on the elder, but on the Bloodlight Emperor.
One step. Another step.
As the Bloodlight Emperor and Ha Hu Hyo advanced toward each other, they both felt a thrilling shiver from the opponent's aura.
Regardless of ally or foe, encountering a worthy opponent as a true warrior was enough to set their blood ablaze.
Finally, the two faced each other.
"They call me the Bloodlight Emperor. You must be Ha Hu Hyo."
The Bloodlight Emperor asked with Radiance still slung over his shoulder.
"I am."
"I've heard you're the pinnacle of the Ha Hu Clan, following the Sword Ghost. Your skill lives up to the rumors."
The Bloodlight Emperor's gaze shifted behind Ha Hu Hyo.
In that short time, a considerable number had fallen to him. Considering they were all leaders of their factions, the losses were far from trivial.
"You're no different. I've known your reputation for a long time."
"Heh, an honor."
With a light chuckle, the Bloodlight Emperor properly gripped Radiance.
There was no more need for words.
All that remained was to test each other's strength.
"I'll yield the first move."
The Bloodlight Emperor casually assumed his stance.
Ha Hu Hyo did not refuse the courtesy.
Yielding the initiative was the privilege of the strong.
Ha Hu Hyo already acknowledged to some extent that the Bloodlight Emperor was superior.
"Ha!"
With a mighty shout, Ha Hu Hyo unleashed the Heaven-Earth Infernal Divine Art to its limit and executed the Nine Dragons Sword Technique's ultimate move, Nine Dragons Blood.
Nine strands of crimson energy erupted from his sword, viciously targeting the Bloodlight Emperor's entire body.
Before the attack even finished, he swung again.
Whoooosh!
The air churned violently.
A storm raged around Ha Hu Hyo.
It took only an instant for the storm to take shape.
Crimson dragons dominated the surrounding space, baring their fangs as they lunged at the Bloodlight Emperor.
"Impressive!"
The Bloodlight Emperor easily neutralized the initial strike and exclaimed in admiration at the incoming assault.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Blade aura burst from the Bloodlight Emperor's cherished sword, clashing with the oncoming crimson energy and producing deafening explosions.
Ha Hu Hyo bit his lip as his attack—which could have toppled a mountain—vanished like a mirage. He swung his sword once more.
Nine Dragons Fury, Nine Dragons Whirl, Nine Dragons Slash—the ultimate techniques flowed in sequence.
The Nine Dragons Sword Technique, honed over a lifetime and refined further with insights from Ha Hu Gok, had finally reached the Twelfth Realm of Perfection. It wasn't flawless yet, but its sharpness, ferocity, and power were beyond imagination.
Those watching anxiously broke into triumphant smiles, foreseeing victory.
Contrary to their expectations, the Bloodlight Emperor showed no disturbance. Instead, a faint smile curved his lips.
Thud!
As the Bloodlight Emperor took a heavy step, the ground trembled.
Blade aura surged from Radiance.
The Mixed Origin Thunderclap Blade Method—the technique that elevated Iron Blood Song to its current heights—unfolded.
Hummmm!
Accompanied by a chilling sword cry that pierced the chest, the Thunderous Lightning descended upon the earth.
Dazzling azure light erupted in strands, perfectly shattering every incoming surge of energy.
Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!
The essence of the Nine Dragons Sword Technique clashed with the Bloodlight Emperor's unleashed thunderclap, shaking heaven and earth.
Fierce shockwaves blasted outward.
The devastating force scorched everything within a dozen paces. Nearby fighters recoiled in horror. Those who couldn't evade suffered fatal internal injuries, collapsing and vomiting blood. Many perished on the spot.
"E-everyone, fall back!"
"Get away—far away!"
Warnings erupted from both sides. The fierce battle halted momentarily.
Remarkable.
Ha Hu Hyo was genuinely awed by the Bloodlight Emperor's effortless defense.
Regrettably, his sense that the man was stronger proved correct.
He glanced up at the moon.
As if unwilling to witness the tragedy below, it kept slipping behind clouds.
A bitter smile touched Ha Hu Hyo's lips.
This may be our last meeting.
Yet he couldn't retreat.
His pride as a warrior forbade it, and above all, if he fell back, no one else could hold the Bloodlight Emperor. He might not win, but he had to keep the man's attention fixed here.
His grip tightened on his sword.
He unleashed his full power, his feet dancing.
Ha Hu Hyo's movements, employing the Dragon Riding Step, grew eerily unpredictable—like a desert mirage, mystical and relentless as an ocean storm. Ultimate techniques of the Nine Dragons Sword Technique poured forth endlessly.
The Bloodlight Emperor countered freely with his own ultimate Mixed Origin Thunderclap Blade techniques.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ceaseless clashes rang out.
The explosions, like a volcano erupting, grew louder over time, the shockwaves more ferocious.
The unrelenting exchange, without an inch yielded, surpassed dozens of exchanges before a slight advantage began to emerge.
Ha Hu Hyo's offense remained fierce, but it was gradually losing momentum against the blade aura emerging with the thunderous lightning. At some point, signs of exhaustion became evident.
"Ngh."
A low groan escaped Ha Hu Hyo.
A heavy pain throbbed in his right shoulder.
The blade aura, having neutralized his attack with power to spare, had grazed it.
Ha Hu Hyo's face hardened.
Strength rapidly drained from his sword hand. Meanwhile, the Bloodlight Emperor's assault intensified.
Enduring the crushing shock and pressure bearing down on his body, Ha Hu Hyo summoned his last reserves of inner energy and shouted.
"Come on!"
"Good! You've finally seized the momentum."
A cheer burst from Jang Gon, watching from afar.
"That stubborn old bastard!"
Jang Gon wiped his sweat-soaked hands on his clothes and shook his head.
The Bloodlight Emperor was one of the top five experts in the Heavenly Demon Cult. No one had expected him to struggle this much. Ha Hu Hyo's prowess had Jang Gon anxious about a possible defeat.
"Once that old man falls, the battle ends."
Excluding Ha Hu Hyo, no one could match the Bloodlight Emperor. Even the other skilled fighters would fall to the Vice Commander and Black-White Twin Assassins. Knowing full well the impact of an absolute expert on the battlefield, Jang Gon was certain of victory.
It was then.
"Strategist."
Jang Gon turned at the call.
Gang Hwang, who oversaw the Dark Fragrance agents around Heavenly Canopy Hall, rushed up with a grave expression.
A foreboding premonition gripped Jang Gon as he swallowed hard.
"What is it?"
"Well..."
As Gang Hwang hesitated, Jang Gon bellowed.
"What happened?!"
"C-contact with the agents watching the Divine Demon Leader has been lost."
Jang Gon's eyes widened.
This was something the Bloodlight Emperor had repeatedly emphasized, and he'd been personally vigilant about.
"Lost contact? Since when?"
"There were signs since afternoon, but the distance was great and reports were flooding in, so we thought it was just a delay."
"You fool! Didn't I say not to overlook even the slightest suspicion?"
Jang Gon vented his rage, but the water was already spilled.
"Where was the last cutoff?"
"No word from the Death Squad. It hasn't been long yet, so..."
Gang Hwang continued explaining, but it fell on deaf ears.
The Death Squad is less than half a day's journey from here. Two hours at most. If they've already passed...
Jang Gon's face paled.
He instinctively turned toward the Bloodlight Emperor.
"We must inform the Supreme Elder now. They could arrive anytime."
Grabbing Gang Hwang by the collar, Jang Gon's voice trembled with fear.
Sang Gwan Baek's martial prowess was the highest not just in Heavenly Canopy Hall, but in the surrounding area.
Unfortunately, his opponent, the Dark Thunder Vice Commander, was among the Heavenly Demon Cult's elite. His flying saber arts with nine sabers were unrivaled in demonic history.
With the Purple Flower Gate effectively crumbled, defeat here would have uncontrollable repercussions. Sang Gwan Baek felt an immense burden of responsibility.
He bore the weight of duty, determined to hold out, and gave his all.
He unleashed his lifelong ultimate techniques with full power.
Every form poured his heart's blood.
Yet Sang Gwan Baek's attacks were blocked by the Vice Commander's swift, unpredictable footwork and the nine sabers swirling around him, yielding no real results.
Thus, about fifteen minutes passed.
As Sang Gwan Baek's relentless barrage, unbroken since the start, began to weaken slightly, the Vice Commander—who had focused on defense—leaped back and declared.
"Now it's my turn."
With a cold smile, the Vice Commander shifted from defense to offense.
A casual flick of his hand sent the nine sabers spinning fiercely, shooting like beams of light.
But the clustered sabers suddenly scattered in all directions.
Upward, left, right—even skimming the ground.
Three flew straight at him; six vanished from sight in an instant.
Sang Gwan Baek didn't panic.
His honed senses pinpointed the vanished sabers.
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring echoed as the frontal saber was deflected.
His sword whipped downward, blocking the one rising from below.
But the seemingly deflected saber abruptly changed course, aiming for his lower abdomen.
From behind and the sides, more sabers lunged.
Startled, Sang Gwan Baek twisted desperately, swinging his sword.
Clang clang clang!
Continuous metallic clashes scattered the sabers.
"Urk!"
A sudden pain drew a groan from Sang Gwan Baek.
In disbelief, he stared at the saber embedded in his thigh.
He was certain he'd dodged it.
How...?
Sang Gwan Baek couldn't comprehend how a dodged saber had struck his thigh.
He learned the reason only after enduring several similar strikes.