Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: That's Enough
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Rumble, rumble.
The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.
The Sword Demon and Hwaok looked at Byeok Taesan in surprise.
They hadn't imagined he could cause an earthquake powerful enough to shake a mountain with a single, light stomp of his foot.
But they soon realized that wasn't it.
Byeok Taesan's stomp had been powerful, but the cause of the current tremor lay elsewhere.
Otherwise, the ground wouldn't continue to shake for so long.
As the ground trembled, the people who had followed Byeok Taesan's group were also startled, lowering their stances and looking toward him.
The space in front of Byeok Taesan shattered like breaking glass.
Crackle!
Spiderweb-like cracks spread through the air before it all came crumbling down.
And once that layer of the world collapsed, an entirely new scene unfolded.
A rather high cliff had appeared.
But it wasn't just any cliff. This was clearly a cliff that had been touched by human hands—in other words, a man-made one.
Everyone watched the scene in awe.
But no one dared to approach recklessly.
Instead, they slowly backed away.
They all watched Byeok Taesan's party intently from a distance.
A massive cave was bored into the center of the cliff.
The cave was so well-made that it seemed to boast of being carved by a master craftsman.
The entrance was quite large, spacious enough for about ten adults to walk through side by side.
Byeok Taesan scanned the cliff and the cave entrance.
Meanwhile, Hwaok observed the others.
They were all watching this way intently, but they showed no intention of approaching rashly.
It was easy to see why they were acting this way.
'They're afraid of getting caught if a mechanism or formation is triggered.'
Hwaok's gaze stopped on Bang Durip.
The moment she saw the look in his eyes, a flicker of interest appeared in hers.
'That man is a little different.'
There was a certain conviction in Bang Durip's eyes—a conviction that something was definitely about to happen.
In fact, she knew that Bang Durip was connected to the Golden Moon Trading Company in some way.
So it was highly likely he had a role to play in this matter as well.
While Hwaok was observing the hesitant crowd, Byeok Taesan finished his cursory scan of the cliff and started to approach it.
"Young Master, it could be dangerous."
The Sword Demon stepped forward first to stop Byeok Taesan.
Hwaok then joined him.
"Bang Durip's expression and gaze were unusual. There's a high chance there's something near the entrance."
Byeok Taesan said calmly.
"It's already too late."
"Pardon?"
"What do you mean by that…."
"This is already the center of the formation."
At Byeok Taesan's words, Hwaok's and the Sword Demon's eyes widened.
What did he mean, they were already at the center of the formation? Hadn't the world just shattered like a mirror, revealing this cliff?
That meant the formation concealing the cliff had been broken, and the entrance to the Heavenly Demon's secret cavern had been opened.
At least, that's what Hwaok and the Sword Demon believed.
No, perhaps everyone watching here believed the same thing.
Even Bang Durip, who was watching with a meaningful glint in his eyes.
"A formation within a formation. They prepared multiple layers from the start. You have to give them credit for putting this much effort into a trap."
Byeok Taesan remained utterly calm even as he said this.
Seeing his attitude, Hwaok and the Sword Demon also felt their own minds settle.
Hwaok then reminded herself once again just who she was with.
She quietly closed her mouth and awaited Byeok Taesan's next instruction.
The Sword Demon was momentarily confused by the sudden change in Hwaok's attitude and atmosphere, but he too quickly composed himself and waited in silence.
Byeok Taesan casually glanced around.
He wasn't just admiring the scenery; he was grasping the flow of ki.
He didn't know much about formations, but he could discern how much power they contained, their approximate range, and where the center of that power was located.
And also, that destroying the core power of the formation would dispel it.
"Since I've been invited, I should give them a gift."
At Byeok Taesan's mutter, Hwaok and the Sword Demon flinched and looked at him.
His words were incredibly calm, yet the atmosphere had somehow turned chilling.
Byeok Taesan activated the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts and channeled it into his Golden Gauntlets.
There were three overlapping formations, and naturally, there were three cores of power serving as their axes.
He could find and destroy them one by one with much less effort, but he had no intention of going through that trouble.
Something like this just needed to be crushed all at once.
The immensely amplified power of the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts gathered in Byeok Taesan's hand.
And it began to rotate fiercely.
Seeing this, Hwaok and the Sword Demon swallowed dryly.
Just in case, they glanced at the people watching from afar.
They truly knew nothing.
Even with such a powerful force spinning right here.
It was a testament to his incredible control over his power.
After all, only they, standing right next to him, could barely perceive it.
As he rotated the power, Byeok Taesan said nonchalantly.
"A formation is dispelled when its central axis of power is destroyed."
At his words, Hwaok and the Sword Demon nodded in unison. It was a fact they were both well aware of.
"And there's also this method."
Byeok Taesan looked at the Sword Demon as he spoke.
The moment the Sword Demon flinched, the power spinning in Byeok Taesan's hand exploded.
KABOOM!
A massive wave of ki spread out widely, with Byeok Taesan at its center.
The Sword Demon and Hwaok were startled and braced themselves.
A fierce storm of ki washed over them, nearly knocking them off their feet.
But that was all. It was just a wave of ki brushing past their bodies.
The people watching from afar also experienced the immense storm of ki, but they merely wore curious expressions, not seeming particularly surprised.
However, they couldn't help but gape at the scene that followed.
As if the world was being repainted with new colors, the surrounding landscape was wiped away, and a new scene began to emerge.
The change had started from the outermost edge of the formation, so it took some time for those in the center, like them, to notice.
As the surroundings changed, everyone was greatly surprised.
Mechanisms had been installed everywhere.
Their design was crude. Their internal structures were completely exposed, and they weren't properly concealed.
It seemed that since they intended to hide them using the formation, they had judged it unnecessary to put effort into such things.
In any case, near where Bang Durip and the Heavenly Sword Brigade were, there was a mechanism packed with arrows, and right in front of them, ten spears were embedded deep in the ground, ready to shoot out at any moment.
There were many other unfamiliar devices, but among the gathered crowd, there were some who knew a thing or two about mechanisms, and their surprised shouts could be heard continuously.
"That's definitely a mechanism that spews poisonous smoke! I once took part in making a similar one, so I know it well!"
"This one sweeps at your ankles with blades. I designed something similar to this once!"
"Look up there! If that falls, everyone will die screaming!"
The man pointed to a massive chunk of iron hanging above. At a glance, it looked to weigh dozens of *gwan*.
Anyone crushed by that, no matter how supreme a master, would find it hard to escape unscathed. That is, if they were caught completely off guard.
A block of iron of that size, even someone like Bang Durip could slice it in two in an instant.
In any case, besides that, there were all sorts of other traps.
There were deep pits everywhere, and plenty of mechanisms that covered the pits with wide, sturdy panels.
When certain conditions were met, the panels would disappear, causing people to fall into the pits.
Naturally, the bottom of the pits was lined with sharp, densely packed spears.
Everyone broke into a cold sweat and looked around.
They carefully moved, finding places that the mechanisms weren't targeting, and repositioned themselves.
Of course, it would be best to disable all these mechanisms, but if they touched them recklessly and all the traps activated at once, it would be a disaster.
Hwaok calmly looked around and commented.
"It seems they planned to use this place for quite some time."
The Sword Demon nodded in agreement.
"They probably would have kept spreading rumors to lure more people in."
"Then the Martial Alliance or the Black Alliance wouldn't have been able to remain so passive."
At Hwaok's words, the Sword Demon's eyes widened slightly.
"So, you think the purpose of this was to make the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance move?"
"Yes. That's what I think."
Byeok Taesan, who had been listening quietly to their conversation, started walking.
"Let's go."
"Pardon? Where are you going? It's dangerous. There are too many mechanisms."
At the Sword Demon's words, Byeok Taesan looked at him.
"Why do you think I brought you here?"
The Sword Demon couldn't answer right away. He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Honestly... I don't know. I don't think the situation would have been any different if you had come alone, Young Master."
"I brought you here to watch closely. So watch closely."
As he spoke, Byeok Taesan activated the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts. He amplified it in his Golden Gauntlets, then moved the power down to his legs.
Byeok Taesan looked at Hwaok and asked.
"Where do you think the Hyeoncheon Sword might be?"
Hwaok's eyes sparkled as she looked around once more. She had already identified the destination when the mechanisms were revealed, but she checked again to be more certain.
"I believe we should head this way."
The place Hwaok pointed to was a dense cluster of mechanisms. A narrow path ran between them, and she indicated they should follow it.
Byeok Taesan nodded and took a step in that direction.
THUD!
A powerful energy poured out from Byeok Taesan's foot, spreading across the ground in all directions.
Like a wide blanket being laid on the floor, Byeok Taesan's power meticulously covered the ground.
And that power traveled up everything connected to the ground.
Byeok Taesan's power enveloped every mechanism nearby, every single one within his line of sight.
Byeok Taesan took a second step.
CRUNCH!
All the mechanisms twisted at once.
At the sudden event, everyone was startled and looked around frantically.
But what could they possibly figure out?
All they could see were the nearby mechanisms twisting bizarrely.
Byeok Taesan took a third step.
CRUNCH!
The twisting mechanisms were compressed as if by some immense pressure.
As Byeok Taesan took his fourth step, everything was crushed and pressed deep into the ground.
Every mechanism that had been there was destroyed.
Byeok Taesan strode forward briskly.
As he walked, he asked the Sword Demon following behind him.
"Did you see?"
The Sword Demon couldn't answer. How could he possibly do something like this?
He knew Byeok Taesan probably didn't expect him to replicate it exactly—to be able to destroy so many meticulously placed mechanisms over such a wide area all at once.
It would likely be enough if he could just learn to destroy a few mechanisms in this manner.
The problem was, even that was no ordinary feat.
The Sword Demon clenched his jaw.
"I will achieve it."
Byeok Taesan smiled faintly.
"That's enough."
And Hwaok, who was quietly following the two, watched them with curious eyes.
This was the first time she had seen Byeok Taesan treat someone this way.
It was a strange feeling.
* * *
Bang Durip looked around, his expression hardened.
'How dare they...!'
He hadn't been given any notice.
No one had told him that traps were installed over such a wide area.
At the very least, Pyeong Jarim, the Master of the Golden Moon Trading Company who had summoned him here, should have given him some kind of warning.
If speaking directly was difficult, he should have found an indirect way.
But what was this?
It sent a shiver down his spine to think that just moments ago, he had been standing in the middle of these terrifying mechanisms.
"Brigade Leader, what should we do?"
At his vice-leader's question, Bang Durip scowled.
An answer didn't come quickly.
He looked around and saw the wreckage of the broken mechanisms.
"Now that the mechanisms are all broken, shouldn't we go get the Hyeoncheon Sword?"
Bang Durip observed the other people.
They were all cautiously watching each other.
It was because they didn't know who had shattered the formation and destroyed the mechanisms.
They were worried that power might be turned on them.
As Bang Durip was contemplating, the vice-leader's voice reached his ears.
"Those guys who came earlier are on the move."
Bang Durip turned his head to confirm and saw Byeok Taesan's party walking straight ahead.
At that moment, some of the people who had been hesitating started to run in a rush.
"We're going too. Hurry!"
Bang Durip shouted and immediately shot forward.
As Bang Durip cut through the wind, the warriors of the Black Alliance and the Five Great Families also hurriedly unleashed their movement arts and followed him.
Only then did the remaining people also rush forward in a hurry.
They still didn't know where the treasure was. From now on, the first person to find it would be its owner.
Bang Durip, running at the very front, gave an order to the Heavenly Sword Brigade.
"Block them."
The vice-leader and the squad leaders of the Heavenly Sword Brigade didn't even reply as they turned and unleashed their power.
KABOOM!
They didn't strike the people, but the ground.
Stones, wood, and dirt scattered and flew everywhere.
The martial artists charged forward, cutting through the flying debris.
CLANG! CLASH!
Weapons entangled in a chaotic mess.
A free-for-all had begun.
< That's Enough > End