Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 218
Chapter Title: Blood Battle at Mount Song (2)
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“They're not to be taken lightly after all.”
Buk Rihwang's expression was slightly tense as he stared at the battlefield with calm, settled eyes.
The initial momentum that had swept through like a storm at the start of the full-scale battle had already vanished.
“It's Shaolin, of all places.”
Buk Rihwang nodded at Mo Gongjeong's words.
“Exactly. Shaolin it is.”
The Heavenly Tiger Sect and Cloud Mountain Sect, who had boosted their morale with an early victory, were thoroughly blocked by Shaolin disciples who had rushed over upon detecting the North Sea Ice Palace's assault.
When the Iron Blood Palace and North Sea Ice Palace's attacks had loomed, the leaders of the gathered factions had devised a plan: the coalition forces centered on the Zhongnan Sect, Huashan Sect, and Wudang would handle the Iron Blood Palace, while the forces centered on Shaolin and the Beggars' Sect would take on the North Sea Ice Palace.
Though some of Shaolin's forces had shifted to the Iron Blood Palace due to their unexpected raid, the Arhat Hall and the Heavenly Kings Hall experts—Shaolin's strongest—had all mobilized against the North Sea Ice Palace.
“The center should hold without much worry, but the flanks look like they'll struggle to endure.”
Buk Rije spoke while eyeing the Heavenly Tiger Sect and Cloud Mountain Sect formations, which were crumbling bit by bit. The North Sea martial clans were supporting them fervently, but they were clearly losing in momentum. The center, where the North Sea Ice Palace elites had engaged, was faring better, but contrary to Buk Rije's assessment, Buk Rihwang judged the central mood as poor too. Buk Ridung's momentum had been halted by the Heavenly Kings Hall Leader, Gong Hu.
“It's rare to see Uncle struggling like that. He seems to have the upper hand on the surface, but it doesn't look easy.”
“He's certainly strong. On par with that expert we saw at the Shandong Yak Clan before.”
Mo Gongjeong, who had watched Buk Ridung and Gong Hu's fight from the start, voiced his genuine admiration.
“Who? That guy called the Divine Spear?”
“Yeah. If circumstances had been different, I'd have wanted a proper match with him.”
Mo Gongjeong revealed his regret as he recalled the Demon Palace's demise.
“There's plenty of worthy opponents here too. Honestly, I never imagined Uncle would be held back so early. Makes you wonder just how many experts they have.”
“Worry? More like anticipation.”
Buk Rihwang let out a smirk at Mo Gongjeong's words.
“True enough. You can't get this kind of thrill in the North Sea.”
Buk Rihwang slowly raised his sword.
As he prepared to fully engage, the North Sea Ice Palace warriors waiting behind him simultaneously heightened their auras.
“Hmph! Slippery rat!”
Buk Ridung's irritation peaked at Gong Hu's ability to evade his relentless attacks with ease.
Grinding his teeth, Buk Ridung thrust his sword in rapid succession.
A chilling aura colder and more sinister than a North Sea gale targeted Gong Hu's vital points across his body.
Gong Hu swung his stone staff to block, but each time, the sword changed direction, relentlessly aiming for his life.
Gong Hu poured all his energy into defending against Buk Ridung's onslaught, which left no room to breathe.
Though forced into defense by the barrage powered by immense inner strength, he wasn't simply pushed back. Whenever an opening appeared, he countered fiercely, sending chills down Buk Ridung's spine. Overall momentum favored Buk Ridung, but effective strikes landed more from Gong Hu.
“Tch!”
A gasp escaped Buk Ridung amid his furious assault.
A momentary lapse in guard.
Ssssk!
With a sharp whoosh, the stone staff sliced through the air, exploiting the gap.
Buk Ridung sucked in a breath and twisted his body in a phantom-like motion, deflecting the staff. He took significant wounds to his nape and shoulder from the redirected strike but ignored them, launching an immediate counterattack.
Gong Hu, having scored a solid hit, tried to retreat without overextending.
But something snagged his foot.
Before he could confirm it was a corpse, Buk Ridung's sword flew at him.
Boom!
The full-force sword clashed with the staff, producing a thunderous impact.
“Ngh.”
A low groan leaked from Gong Hu's lips.
The collision in his unbalanced stance caused massive damage. The shockwave rippled through his body via the staff. Buk Ridung wouldn't miss it.
The Cold Heaven Sword Technique's ultimate move, Glacier Bullet, unfolded.
Dozens of sword streams scattered in all directions before converging on Gong Hu.
Gong Hu spun his staff like a windmill for defense, but a few streams grazed him.
“Urk!”
A pained groan burst from Gong Hu.
Unspeakable cold flooded from the wounds inflicted by Buk Ridung's attack. He hurriedly circulated his inner energy to resist, but the invading chill lingered stubbornly.
“Kuhahaha! Die!”
Judging victory assured, Buk Ridung cackled maniacally and charged.
Gong Hu moved to escape the onslaught, but far slower than before.
Buk Ridung swung his sword with murderous intent.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Though dawn had long broken, vivid sparks flew everywhere.
When the sword met the staff, he unhesitatingly kicked out.
Thud!
With a sound of ripping flesh, Gong Hu's body soared three zhang before crashing.
“Ha! Damn bald donkey!”
Buk Ridung stared at his shattered left shoulder in disbelief.
The moment his foot slammed Gong Hu's side, a strand of energy shot in. Had he not instinctively avoided turning his head, it would've pierced his throat instead.
Gong Hu, facing the oncoming Buk Ridung with a demonic visage, sensed his end. His Diamond Finger had successfully pulverized the shoulder, but regret lingered.
Amitabha!
Chanting the invocation, he slowly closed his eyes.
“Not bad at all, monk!”
With a victor's smile, Buk Ridung swung at Gong Hu's neck.
“Danger!”
A warning shout rang out.
Buk Ridung twisted without time to wonder if it was for him.
His chest burned like fire.
Buk Ridung staggered.
“Grandfather!”
Buk Rido rushed over and caught the falling Buk Ridung.
“W-Which bastard……”
Clutched in Buk Rido's arms, Buk Ridung desperately craned his neck to find his attacker.
And he saw.
An old monk, incongruous amid the blood-soaked, flesh-tearing battlefield chaos, followed by a young monk.
Seeing the sword in the old monk's hand, Buk Ridung instantly knew his assailant.
A chill ran down his spine, making him shudder involuntarily.
Gripping Buk Rido's arm tightly, he shouted.
“Call the Palace Lord. Now.” ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Urk!”
Amid violent coughs, red blood clots poured from Plum Blossom Sword Immortal Un Hak's mouth.
Whether from exposure or poison, the blood turned black instantly upon hitting the ground.
Leaning on his broken sword to barely support his collapsing body, Un Hak slowly raised his head.
Three zhang away stood a man, aloof and unscathed, showing no signs of fatigue despite their fierce clash.
A monster.
Experts recognize experts, as they say.
From their first encounter with Yin Jeok So, Un Hak had already sensed defeat. Still, he believed he could take a limb at least.
It didn't take long to realize that was overconfidence.
After intense exchanges, he landed a blow—not fatal, but substantial. Yet when the sword that should have pierced the side bounced harmlessly, the unfamiliar sensation defied description.
Afterward, he exerted himself fully to breach the indestructible body.
Even resolving to become a cripple by drawing on his origin energy to compensate for depleted inner strength, his attacks failed.
Un Hak's gaze swept the surroundings.
Under the twelve Poison Blood Demons' onslaught, Huashan Sect disciples fell helplessly.
To avenge their sect and uphold martial justice, the Huashan disciples burned their lives without reserve. But their efforts crumbled pathetically before the monstrous Poison Blood Demons.
The sight of the last Huashan disciples charging with death cries was no more.
Un Hak closed his eyes at his disciples' mangled corpses. His own body, holding out till the end, finally gave way.
With the Zhongnan Sect already fallen and the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal—alongside Huashan disciples—who shone brightest on the field now dead, the coalition panicked greatly.
Among those facing the Iron Blood Palace, the top martial artists were Wudang Sword God Hyeon So and Plum Blossom Sword Immortal Un Hak. Their defeat by the Iron Blood Palace Lord meant no one left to stop him.
Even as Shaolin disciples failed to gain the edge against Iron Blood Palace warriors, the Poison Blood Demons resumed their rampage after massacring Zhongnan and Huashan, enveloping the coalition in ultimate terror.
“Abbot Gong Jin, any reinforcements?”
Hyeon Jin, leading Wudang, rushed over desperately.
“I don't know. They've all gone to block the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“Then……”
“I've sent someone just in case. Let's wait. If they have spare strength, reinforcements might come.”
He said so, but Gong Jin seemed unconvinced himself. The North Sea Ice Palace's might matched the Iron Blood Palace's.
“Amitabha!”
Hyeon Jin unwittingly uttered the chant, scanning around. The coalition's numbers remained substantial—at least double the Iron Blood Palace's.
The problem was the core leaders like Zhongnan and Huashan were wiped out. Wudang, avoiding direct clashes with Poison Blood Demons, escaped the worst but had already suffered heavy losses engaging first.
“The monsters are the urgent issue. Without stopping them, we can't halt the Iron Blood Palace's momentum.”
Hyeon Jin pointed at the Poison Blood Demons massacring the coalition after Huashan.
“We'll handle those monsters somehow. Priest, please lead the coalition.”
Gong Jin leaped away without awaiting a reply.
“Form the Arhat Formations.”
Lacking numbers and space for the invincible 108 Arhats, three 18 Arhat Formations encircled the Poison Blood Demons.
One by the Unja Class disciples, two by the Gwangja Class—each surrounding three or four Poison Blood Demons successfully.
“Hm.”
Gong Jin's expression soured as he calmly observed the formations pressuring the roaring, rampaging Poison Blood Demons.
Unlike the Unja Class's steady formation, the Gwangja Class ones had many unstable elements.