Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Demolish the Great Bow Sect (3)
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Anyway, Gyuho had no other choice.
Between being overrun like this or, dubious as it was, absorbing the Great Bow Sect's main base after Hangsan Sect survived—it had to be the latter.
"I will follow."
In the end, Gyuho decided to trust the Phantom Bow Corps and the Heavenly Demon.
No, to be precise, it wasn't the dubious young warrior Gunryong whom the Phantom Bow Corps served as their lord—it was the Phantom Bow Corps itself.
The plan was devised by the seasoned Cheok Cheon and the Heavenly Demon: lure them to the outer hall, where there was a wide clearing overgrown with dense bushes that made distinguishing friend from foe difficult.
Disguising as Great Bow Sect disciples—what was there to worry about with over a hundred corpses' clothes, massive bows, and Great Bows left behind?
Hangsan Sect and its leader Gyuho put on an act of knowing nothing, successfully luring in the Great Bow Sect and its sect leader, Jo Baek-ho.
"I... I got tricked?"
Returning to the starting point and realizing he'd been duped, Jo Baek-ho blinked his eyes, clouded with panic.
"You mad bastards! How dare you deceive me?"
Jo Baek-ho, seething with genuine rage, gripped his cherished weapon and bow, the Blood Heaven Great Bow, before he could even issue orders to his subordinates.
The bow known as Blood Heaven Great Bow was so difficult to draw that without innate strength and deep internal energy as a foundation, even stringing it was impossible.
Jo Baek-ho fired the Blood Heaven Great Bow as if launching an iron cannon forged like artillery.
Despite the arrow being larger and thicker than an adult's arm, the loading, aiming, and drawing were so swift and nimble that an ordinary person couldn't even react.
Kwaaaaaang!
The arrow of the Blood Bow Iron Cannon carried all of Jo Baek-ho's fury and rage from falling into the trap.
It was called an arrow, but its power rivaled a catapult.
So overwhelming was its might that even Gyuho, who had absolute confidence he wouldn't lose in a one-on-one frontal clash unless at long range, felt himself shrinking back for a moment.
Sruruk!
But as the Blood Bow Iron Cannon's arrow approached the Heavenly Demon, it vanished completely.
This was only natural!
Overlord Destruction Qi Art!
Aggressive Protective Aura
It was possible because the Heavenly Demon's Overlord Destruction Qi Art—an aggressive protective aura technique rivaling Shaolin's Diamond Indestructible Art—had activated.
Even seeing it again, it was hard to believe it was one of the strongest protective auras.
"......!!"
"No, how?!"
With the Overlord Destruction Qi Art effortlessly nullifying even the Blood Bow Iron Cannon's arrow, Jo Baek-ho and the Great Bow Sect disciples panicked just like the others before them.
"Huk! Heuk!"
Gyuho, who had inwardly harbored doubts upon seeing the young Gunryong, was equally stunned.
He had wondered just how skilled someone must be for Cheok Cheon, the Phantom Bow Corps leader, to serve so devoutly—but this was beyond imagination.
"To use such evil sorcery, you vile scum!"
Meanwhile, with his sure-kill strike rendered futile by the Overlord Destruction Qi Art, Jo Baek-ho ground his teeth, dismissing the Heavenly Demon's power as some wicked illusion.
He acknowledged the young warrior before him wielded strange power, but he couldn't accept it being stronger than himself, who dreamed of being Shanxi's top master.
"What are you all doing? Hurry up......"
Having already witnessed the Heavenly Demon's uncanny power once, Jo Baek-ho fell back warily, then berated his innocent subordinates.
Under that pressure, his men had no choice but to draw their bows—
"Follow your comrades to the place they departed first."
With those meaningful words from the Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Lord Demon Dragon Sword finally spat fire.
The true assault was just beginning.
Last time, their numbers were too great, so he had used the earnest Heavenly Demon Asura Heart Sword; this time, with fewer foes, he drew the Dark Heaven Thunder Sword Art.
Kurururung!
Several bolts of fierce lightning crashed down amid the dark, rugged peaks of Mount Hang.
Coincidentally, every bolt targeted those with massive bows slung over their shoulders.
In other words, the Great Bow Sect warriors.
"Aaaahhh!"
"Keuk! Khek!"
As a result, not a single Great Bow Sect warrior escaped: struck by lightning like receiving heaven's judgment, their bodies electrocuted, they spewed blood from eyes, nose, ears—every orifice—before perishing entirely.
Juruk!
The blood that poured was pitch-black from death, making the scene all the more chilling.
'As expected of the First Heavenly Demon!'
Witnessing this up close once more, the Black-Clothed Bow King Cheok Cheon and the Phantom Bow Corps felt a thrilling ecstasy at having found their true liege, the First Heavenly Demon.
Was this how their ancestors and forebears felt 200 years ago when setting out to conquer the Central Plains?
With the First Heavenly Demon Gunryong at their side, it felt not merely like commanding a thousand troops and ten thousand horses, but marching with an army of immortals.
"Who are you? Just who the hell are you?!"
At this point, Great Bow Sect Leader Jo Baek-ho was beyond fear, teetering on madness.
With one swing of the young warrior's sword, dozens of his elite Great Bow Sect guards protecting him had died without exception.
Was this even a conceivable scene?
"You still don't know who this is?"
Stepping forward in response to Jo Baek-ho's question was not the Heavenly Demon, but Phantom Bow Corps Leader Cheok Cheon.
Cheok Cheon confronted Jo Baek-ho, with whom he had once shared a meal, on the Heavenly Demon's behalf.
"That's why I'm asking—who...... Huh?"
Fuming and flustered, Jo Baek-ho spat out words hastily, only for a sudden realization to strike.
It was what Cheok Cheon had once said.
"Apologies, but there are only two I can serve in all the world."
The one inheriting the late Fourth Heavenly Demon's will to become the Fifth Heavenly Demon... or the sealed First Heavenly Demon. Only those two.
That declaration that his lord must be a Heavenly Demon.
Only now did it flash clearly in his mind.
"Then this man is......"
Realizing the truth too late, Jo Baek-ho turned to the Heavenly Demon with utter shock.
"Indeed. This seat is the Heavenly Demon."
The Heavenly Demon revealed his identity straightforwardly.
The reason was simple.
In the Heavenly Demon's eyes, Jo Baek-ho was no longer a living man, but a corpse.
What words couldn't he share with one soon to die?
"......!!"
Hangsan Sect Leader Gyuho was equally stunned by the word "Heavenly Demon."
He had suspected as much, but confirmation that the Heavenly Demon had truly returned left him reeling.
Especially since he couldn't distinguish if this was a new Heavenly Demon—the Fifth—or the First revived.
Both Gyuho and Jo Baek-ho seemed to perceive Gunryong as the Fifth Heavenly Demon nine times out of ten.
"You are the Heavenly Demon......"
Jo Baek-ho was genuinely shocked, unable to close his mouth.
What came next was even more astonishing.
"Not content with coveting my cult's precious asset and comrade, the Phantom Bow Corps, you even tried to take my kin as subordinates?"
"Th-that's......"
As the Heavenly Demon approached, enumerating his crimes, Jo Baek-ho recoiled in terror, as if the King of Hell had descended.
The leader of one of Shanxi's top sects, the Great Bow Sect.
The bow ghost called Blood Heaven Bow Fiend, wielder of the Blood Heaven Great Bow—reduced to such frailty by none other than the Heavenly Demon.
"For that sin... accept it gladly."
The Heavenly Demon wasted no words on corpses.
He believed corpses belonged not among the living, but returned to the earth.
Srigeok!
With a simple swing of the Heavenly Lord Demon Dragon Sword, he cleaved Jo Baek-ho—who had given up resistance or flight.
In an instant, Jo Baek-ho was bisected, his upper and lower halves scattering pathetically as he collapsed.
Ooooh! Ooooooh!
From the annihilation of the Great Bow Sect elites to their leader Jo Baek-ho's death—this entire sequence, witnessed up close by Hangsan Sect and Gyuho, left them unable to do anything but praise in unison.
'A War God. No... perhaps something even greater!'
Hangsan Sect Leader One Pine Child Gyuho had confidence he wouldn't yield easily to anyone in close quarters.
He even inwardly acknowledged Jo Baek-ho as a cut above, yet believed he'd win if fighting at close range without doubt.
But the perpetrator before his eyes, the youth who proclaimed himself Heavenly Demon, was different.
No matter how he simulated it in his mind, even granting himself favorable conditions and clashing hundreds or thousands of times, he couldn't envision a single victory.
This young Heavenly Demon was a transcendent warrior who devoured even the imagination of triumph.
'Cheok Dae-yeon. Are you watching? Even after 200 years, I kept my promise.'
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon glanced skyward, recalling his old friend and subordinate, Phantom Bow Flying King Cheok Dae-yeon, long departed.
Though Cheok Dae-yeon had been gone ages, the Heavenly Demon had not forgotten their vow, preserving his descendants and kin—so he believed Cheok Dae-yeon smiled from heaven.
"This should suffice for thrashing the Great Bow Sect, right?"
Having reminisced about Cheok Dae-yeon and prayed for his blessings, the Heavenly Demon turned to his direct descendant, Cheok Cheon, and asked.
Had Cheok Cheon been unsatisfied, he would have gone to the Great Bow Sect's stronghold and erased its very existence.
"Yes, of course."
Cheok Cheon and all the Phantom Bow Corps members beamed with satisfaction.
What could be a more perfect revenge?
The remnants of the Great Bow Sect no longer mattered.
"Then we're done. Hangsan Sect Leader?"
"One Pine Child Gyuho, at your service."
"Right, Gyuho. The Great Bow Sect has lost its leader, sub-leaders, and elites. With this, you should have the confidence to push them out soon, yes?"
The Heavenly Demon glanced at Gyuho and asked.
Hangsan Sect's situation was poor; they couldn't destroy the Great Bow Sect immediately. But having witnessed the Heavenly Demon's terrifying handiwork firsthand, he dared not interject.
"Y-yes. It's fine."
"Good. Without a leader, the Great Bow Sect will crumble fast, even if Hangsan Sect's terms aren't favorable. Do your best."
"Thank you."
The Heavenly Demon patted Gyuho's shoulder, and strangely, Gyuho found the Heavenly Demon—who seemed like his own son—treating him casually feel utterly natural and comfortable.
As the Heavenly Demon turned to retrace his steps, leading the Phantom Bow Corps back to Ghost Sword Manor—
"Heavenly Demon!"
Gyuho, who had been gazing wistfully at his retreating figure, called out.
"Hm? What is it?"
"If you ever return to Shanxi Province... please visit Hangsan Sect! We will serve you with utmost devotion."
Sensing the sincerity from Gyuho and Hangsan Sect, the Heavenly Demon couldn't help but smile.
He hadn't expected such words from an orthodox sect leader.
'200 years ago, when dreaming of Central Plains conquest, this was unheard of.'
Yet hearing it now—perhaps even Heavenly Demon Gunryong had grown?
"Sure, thanks. If things get tough, head to Ghost Sword Manor in Liaoning."
"Yes! I will remember!"
Thus ended the encounter between Hangsan Sect and the Heavenly Demon, but they never forgot his martial prowess or greatness.
For instance, shortly after the Heavenly Demon and Phantom Bow Corps departed, Hangsan Sect not only repaired their damage but—
A year later, finally toppled the Great Bow Sect, rising as Shanxi's foremost sect. Thus dawned Hangsan Sect's golden age, kindling hopes of joining the Nine Great Sects.
Ironically, the orthodox Hangsan Sect's survival owed itself to Heavenly Demon Gunryong's aid.
Not just Hangsan Sect—Ghost Sword Manor now boasted the Phantom Bow Corps, one of the Demonic Cult's Five Great Powers of old. Its might now rivaled the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans, undeniable.