Chapter 220
Chapter 220
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 220
Chapter Title: Mount Song Blood Battle (4)
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As the vanguard Buk Ri-deung, who had been rampaging fiercely, fell to a sudden appearance of a master, Buk Ri-hwang stepped forward from the rear where he had been observing the battlefield.
The moment Buk Ri-hwang moved, the Three Wolf Troops finally sprang into action.
The Three Wolf Troops—collectively referring to the Blood Wolves, Blue Wolves, and White Wolves—were the true power of the North Sea Ice Palace, which completely dominated and ruled the North Sea martial world.
Unlike the prosperous Central Plains martial world, everything in the North Sea martial world was harsh. Survival competitions were correspondingly brutal. Moreover, the law of the jungle reigned even more fiercely than in great factions like the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Fierce clashes erupted everywhere almost daily, but as long as no one crossed certain lines, the North Sea Ice Palace didn't interfere much. They merely mediated moderately to maintain order.
All forces under the North Sea martial world respected and feared the North Sea Ice Palace, but occasionally, some crossed the line or challenged its authority. The group that punished such forces was the Blood Wolf Troops.
When the Blood Wolf Troops, clad in blood-red martial robes deeper than crimson, mobilized, the entire North Sea martial world trembled in fear. But the sacrifices among them were no small matter. New recruits were added yearly, yet survival rates were low.
Those who endured twenty years in the Blood Wolf Troops rose to the Blue Wolf Troops.
The Blue Wolf Troops rarely ventured outside.
Their mobilization signaled a grave crisis for the North Sea Ice Palace or the North Sea martial world itself.
The White Wolf Troops consisted of those who spent another ten years in the Blue Wolf Troops, treated on par with elders, though their numbers were exceedingly few.
The instant Buk Ri-hwang moved, the Blood Wolf Troops and Blue Wolf Troops began rampaging like mad.
Ordinary riffraff stood no chance against them.
Even the Beggars' Sect, under the command of the Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar, couldn't exert much force. The North Sea Ice Palace warriors were strong, but the effects of days-long stomach ailments couldn't be ignored. Even Shaolin disciples were weary from battling foes.
The Blood Wolf Troops' merciless slaughter slowed only after the Arhat Hall's arhats stepped up.
But numerically superior and battle-hardened from life-and-death fields—unlike the temple-trained arhats—the Blood Wolves had a vast edge in combat experience, regardless of raw skill. Already at full momentum, they overwhelmed the arhats, who struggled to hold despite their efforts, signs of strain evident.
The Heavenly Kings Hall masters facing the Blue Wolf Troops fought desperately too.
Just as Blue Wolf eligibility required surviving twenty years in Blood Wolves, only elite arhats from Arhat Hall joined Heavenly Kings Hall. Though perhaps less experienced, their pure skill arguably surpassed the Blue Wolves, making the fight evenly matched.
The fiercest clash was between the White Wolves and the Eight Vajras and Four Heavenly Kings.
Numerically outnumbered, the Eight Vajras and Four Heavenly Kings were Shaolin's pinnacle arhats—its present and future warrior monks. Unleashing Shaolin ultimate techniques without fear of the precept against killing, they embodied guardian deities defending the Dharma.
Yet the White Wolves, who terrorized the North Sea martial world, were no pushovers.
Battle ghosts who survived endless wars, the White Wolves faced the mountain-like pressure of the Eight Vajras and Four Heavenly Kings without yielding an inch.
With North Sea Ice Palace's Three Wolf Troops entangled against Shaolin's Arhat Hall and Heavenly Kings Hall elites, the battlefield grew far more intense and ferocious than before.
'Did Shaolin have such murderous techniques?'
Buk Ri-hwang's pupils shook violently.
The technique Won Jin displayed flustered even the North Sea's absolute ruler, Buk Ri-hwang—fierce yet overflowing with killing intent, befitting the moniker "Shaolin's Sword," its aura suffocating.
'I see why Uncle sought him so urgently.'
After fierce exchanges, Buk Ri-hwang instinctively sensed Won Jin wasn't his inferior—perhaps even superior.
'I thought no one else like that existed.'
He recalled the Blood Cult Leader he'd met before.
A monster who made the world-conquering Buk Ri-hwang feel an insurmountable wall. The problem was the opponent before him harbored comparable aura.
Unlike the rattled Buk Ri-hwang, Won Jin calmly held his staff at an angle.
Buk Ri-hwang gritted his teeth.
No matter the foe's skill, retreat was impossible.
Buk Ri-hwang channeled his Ice Heaven Divine Art to full power.
This wasn't an opponent for half-measures. Victory demanded staking his life.
As his full inner energy flowed into his cherished sword Ice Soul, a sharp sword cry rang out, and bone-chilling cold spread, flaying flesh.
"Hah!"
With a low shout, Ice Soul cleaved air, white light from the tip targeting Won Jin's throat.
Just before the space-slicing beam struck, Won Jin's form shimmered mirage-like, vanishing like smoke.
Buk Ri-hwang's gaze and Ice Soul swung left—but it was an afterimage.
Consecutive strikes failed; startled by a rear thrust, he twisted desperately, swinging Ice Soul.
Kwarung!
A massive explosion and shockwave ravaged surroundings.
Shhss!
Through dust clouds engulfing heaven and earth, a golden flash gleamed.
Buk Ri-hwang instinctively swung Ice Soul.
Clang!
A chilling clash; excruciating pain surged through his sword-grip hand.
Before shock at the Diamond Grip's brute force, Buk Ri-hwang hastily corrected stance.
Oppressive pressure like a heavenly net trapped him; a rending aura assaulted.
Maximizing Ice Heaven Divine Art, Buk Ri-hwang swung Ice Soul repeatedly.
Dozens of icy strands from Ice Soul whipped up a blizzard toward Won Jin.
"Ice Soul Star Arrows!"
Buk Ri-deung, watching from a tree, cried in astonishment.
Ice Soul Star Arrows—the North Heaven Emperor's ultimate of Cold Heaven Swordsmanship, elevating North Sea Ice Palace. Unusable without mastering all twelve forms, it was the final technique.
'Impressive.'
Won Jin, pressuring Buk Ri-hwang with Shaolin's secret Damo Three Swords—passed only to Damo Wonju—couldn't hide admiration at the Ice Soul Star Arrows.
A cold that could freeze the world instantly.
Many ice arts faced, but Buk Ri-hwang's dwarfed them. Terrifyingly, it manifested through sword.
One lapse could prove fatal; channeling full Brahmic Heaven Divine Art, Won Jin unleashed Damo Three Swords in succession.
Golden qi from Won Jin's staff and pure white qi from Ice Soul began dominating the world.
Clashing fiercely, they shook heaven and earth with thunderous booms.
Unscattered, the qi rampaged outward.
"Everyone, evade!"
A desperate cry erupted.
Both sides, lost in frenzy, ignored it—or lacked leisure to heed.
The horrific shockwave swept all.
Golden qi shredded bodies fatally; white qi froze victims mid-fall.
Around the duo, a dozen-zhang radius was cleared of all life.
As shockwaves raged, a low groan escaped staggering Buk Ri-hwang.
His body vividly showed the battle's ferocity with Won Jin.
Leaning on Ice Soul to barely stand, his once-snow-white robe was shredded, stained with blood and dirt.
Blood streamed from a gash from left temple to jaw; lip-seeping blood soaked clothes.
His broken left arm dangled limply with breaths; chest, flank, thigh wounds bled ceaselessly. From head to toe, no inch unscathed.
Buk Ri-hae's face twisted in rage.
Not mere defeat.
His fury targeted not the calm Won Jin staring at the sword piercing his chest, but its wielder.
Five zhang away, Mok Gong-jeong struggled to rise.
Buk Ri-hwang and Won Jin waged an all-or-nothing duel.
Perfectly balanced, Buk Ri-hwang unleashed Ice Soul Star Arrows—Cold Heaven Swordsmanship's pinnacle. Yet even full-power failed against Damo Three Swords.
Watching gravely, Mok Gong-jeong envisioned Buk Ri-hwang's defeat and death.
Unable to watch, he moved instinctively, saving Buk Ri-hwang while landing a fatal strike on Won Jin. But the counterattack left him gravely wounded too.
"Why!"
Buk Ri-hwang's rage exploded.
"Grandmaster!"
Won Jin's successor, the next Damo Wonju, who shone brightest, rushed like wind, swinging his staff.
"Guhk!"
A sharp cry from Buk Ri-hwang.
He blocked instinctively with Ice Soul, but his battered body made the blow lethal. Had the warrior not passed to check Won Jin, relentless attacks would have ended him.
"Protect the Palace Lord!"
Alarmed Buk Ri-deung bellowed; Buk Ri-jin and others, reforming ranks, rushed to shield Buk Ri-hwang and unconscious Mok Gong-jeong, retreating.
The warrior holding Won Jin withdrew too. Pursuit tempted, but checking Won Jin came first.
"Grand... master."
Clutching rapidly fading Won Jin, the warrior asked.
"I'm fine. Don't fuss."
"Senior Brother!"
After felling North Sea Ice Palace elder in fierce fight, then treating wounds, Jijang Hall Master Won Il arrived. With him, Apothecary Hall Master Gong Cho urgently checked pulse. Grim-faced, Gong Cho shook head weakly.
"No need for that face. Even Hua Tuo reborn couldn't heal this."
Won Jin joked lightly, calling the grave Abbot Gong Su.
"Abbot."
"Yes, Martial Uncle."
"This foolish uncle's strength ends here. I did my best, but seems we can't avoid the calamity striking headquarters."
"All due to this abbot's inadequacy."
Gong Su bowed head.
"Not your fault—don't blame yourself. Just ill-timed. Our karma to bear."
Breaths ragged, Won Jin asked laboredly.
"Preparations ready?"
Gong Su knew what he meant.
"Yes. Returning from inspection."
"Good work. Though today's calamity unavoidable, Shaolin's line mustn't... end..."
Won Jin's voice weakened; eyes lost focus.
"Grandmaster."
The warrior's wail briefly revived light in Won Jin's eyes.
"Don't lose... to the monster within. You'll guard Shaolin henceforth. Promise...?"
"Grandmaster..."
"Thank... you. All days together... joyful."
Won Jin caressed the warrior's face with trembling hand. Then to all:
"Don't forget... we have another sword..."
Shaolin's Sword, Damo Wonju Won Jin's final words.