Chapter 172: Battle-Axe Breaker (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 172: Battle-Axe Breaker (1)
Taewol Fortress.
This was the mountain stronghold ruled directly by the Grand Stronghold Leader of the Great-Axe Green Forest, the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor.
Naturally, Taewol Fortress, the largest in the Great-Axe Green Forest, was located on Mount Munbong in Shanxi Province. It was not, however, built on a mere portion of the mountain like an ordinary stronghold.
Taewol Fortress had swallowed Mount Munbong whole.
From the foot of the mountain to its peak, wooden walls and watchtowers were erected along every major path, with bandits strategically deployed between them. In other words, Taewol Fortress was, in itself, a massive mountain fortress.
The Mokseong Stronghold Leader, who had envied its immense scale, had built his own stronghold in imitation of it, but it was a pale comparison to the real thing.
Surveying the terrain of Mount Munbong, Namgung Jun spoke in a chilling voice.
“For a bandit, this is a truly grand dwelling.”
“That’s because the Grand Stronghold Leader fancies himself a king.”
Kang Gok already held an axe in each hand. He must have been channeling his internal energy, as a faint light flickered on the axe blades. The Qi Waves rippling from them grew clearer by the moment, revealing their formidable power.
He looked ready to unleash his full strength at a moment’s notice.
“Will the Azure Firmament Hall take the lead?”
“No. No hall is better suited for the vanguard than the Crushing Hall.”
“I'll show them the true power of the Crushing Hall's axe-work.”
As if to replenish his strength, Kang Gok quickly devoured some dumplings he had packed from an inn they visited before arriving. As Namgung Jun watched the dumplings rapidly disappear, he glanced back.
Hyeokri Yu and the rest of the Nether-Fathoming Hall were gathered in the shade of the trees. Despite the significant number of people, their combined presence was almost undetectable.
“I’ll leave the distractions and scouting to you.”
Hanging upside down from a tree branch, Hyeokri Yu blinked once in acknowledgment.
The Crushing Hall and the Nether-Fathoming Hall. They’ve done better than I expected.
The rapid fall of major strongholds, each guarded by a supreme expert, was no small feat.
Judging by the bandits they had encountered at Jeonggun Fortress, the members of the Great-Axe Green Forest were elites, but they were still a step or two behind the martial artists of the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers. Of course, they compensated for their slightly lacking martial prowess with overwhelming numbers, so they couldn't be taken lightly.
Yet, the Crushing Hall and the Nether-Fathoming Hall had torn down Mokseong Stronghold and Poison Tiger Stronghold with minimal casualties. Since they belonged to the Ten Halls, whose members could rival the elites of any great sect, their overall strength was superior. But the fact that the two Hall Masters had slain supreme expert stronghold leaders without much trouble was particularly significant.
It offered a glimpse into the experience and martial prowess the two Hall Masters had forged as supreme experts. If Kang Gok and Hyeokri Yu had lacked skill, they would have struggled against stronghold leaders who had achieved Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.
“Let us begin.”
At Namgung Jun's words, the two Hall Masters nodded.
Simultaneously, the flagbearers of the three halls raised their flags high.
Azure Firmament, Crushing, Nether-Fathoming.
The flags representing the three halls whipped fiercely in the wind.
[From this moment on, we shall retrieve the Flying Swiftness Hall Master.]
Namgung Jun's concise command spread via the Six Harmonies Voice Transmission. His voice, infused with profound internal energy, echoed past the fields where the three halls stood and reverberated across all of Mount Munbong.
Boom!
The moment his command fell, the three halls kicked off the ground and surged forward. Thick clouds of dust billowed up from their lightfoot techniques.
The three halls advanced in formation, with the Crushing Hall in the lead, followed by the Azure Firmament Hall, and the Nether-Fathoming Hall at the rear.
“Smash them!”
At Kang Gok's command, the Crushing Hall charged forward, their momentum exceptionally fierce.
Wooden walls and watchtowers blocked their path as they scaled the foot of the mountain in an instant. Charging with the force of a raging torrent, the Crushing Hall only accelerated, raising their axes high.
Crash! Craaaash!
The wooden walls shook violently before shattering. Though built from thick timber, they were no different from the flimsy walls of an inn before the axes of the Crushing Hall.
Breaking through the walls, they saw bandits blocking the winding mountain path ahead. However, Kang Gok paid them no mind. Quickly scanning his surroundings, he chose a completely different direction.
His gaze landed on a steep, sloping hill.
“This way.”
The Crushing Hall ignored the well-trodden mountain path. They simply carved a straight line through the mountain’s terrain. Any trees or boulders blocking their way were split apart by their axe strikes. Dealing with the bandits they left behind was the job of the Azure Firmament Hall.
Cra-crack!
The path the Crushing Hall carved soon became a new trail up the mountain. Naturally, the bandits of Taewol Fortress were thrown into confusion.
“Fire the signal flare! At this rate, our rear will be completely exposed!”
“Those ignorant bastards! How dare they move like that!”
Seeing the three halls advance in such an unexpected manner, the bandits waiting in ambush scrambled to reposition themselves. As they smashed through the bandits who rushed to intercept them, Kang Gok's eyes flashed, directing the Crushing Hall's path.
“He seems quite relaxed. Is he looking down on us?”
Whoosh!
A sinister Qi Wave swept down from the upper reaches of Mount Munbong like a fierce gale. The pressure was so dense and threatening that the warriors of the Clouds flinched just from being exposed to it.
“The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor.”
Feeling a tingling sensation crawl over his skin, Namgung Jun raised his gaze toward the summit. The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor was broadcasting his Qi Wave, announcing his location to everyone on Mount Munbong.
It was as if he were daring them to come before him.
Conversely, it also had the effect of boosting the bandits' morale. The bandits swarming from all directions seemed to move with renewed vigor.
“The bandits are reacting quickly. They’re gathering fast.”
“If we had attacked along the mountain path, we would have had a difficult time.”
Despite their unconventional approach, the fact remained that they had entered Taewol Fortress.
“Over here!”
“Block their movements!”
Bandits popped out from everywhere, trying to halt the three halls' advance. From a distance, they clumsily shot arrows and threw hidden weapons, even dropping pre-prepared boulders.
Sensing the bandits' encirclement gradually tightening, Hyeokri Yu flicked his hand.
“Scatter.”
With that one cold word, the Nether-Fathoming Hall, which had been guarding the rear, dispersed at once.
Despite it being midday, the dense canopy of trees blocked out most of the sunlight. In an instant, the Nether-Fathoming Hall melted into the shadows, vanishing from sight. The only one who remained visible was Hyeokri Yu, who joined the main ranks.
Thuck!
Splurt!
“Argh!”
“Behind! They’re behind us!”
Moving stealthily between the shadows of trees and boulders, the Nether-Fathoming Hall began to disrupt the bandits' reinforcements and tear apart the encirclement from within. Whenever the bandits showed signs of stopping to fight, they immediately vanished. This made the bandits hesitate, unable to move with confidence.
They never knew when or from where twin swords and hidden weapons might strike. Mount Munbong, which they used to roam as if it were their own home, began to feel incredibly unfamiliar and terrifying.
However, the Crushing Hall's charge was not entirely smooth sailing. Not only were they forcing their way through pathless terrain, but the bandits of Taewol Fortress were undeniably strong. True to their reputation as the elites of the Great-Axe Green Forest, they did not yield easily.
As they climbed higher, the tightening encirclement of bandits began to slow the Crushing Hall's charge.
Yet, despite this, they continued to forge ahead. Although the Azure Firmament Hall could have assisted, Namgung Jun simply watched, having entrusted the role of the vanguard to the Crushing Hall.
“The Third Squad will remain here and hold them back.”
“Yes, Hall Master!”
As they neared the summit, countless bandits appeared no matter which way they turned. In the end, the Crushing Hall had to split into squads, scattering to delay the enemy reinforcements at each path.
Even when only the First Squad of the Crushing Hall was left to clear the way, neither the Crushing Hall Master nor the Nether-Fathoming Hall Master exerted themselves. They merely offered light assistance, leaving the majority of the fighting to their subordinates.
They were conserving their strength for the life-and-death battle with the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor.
The same went for Namgung Jun.
“You’ve managed to reach this far! Halt!”
The First Squad of the Crushing Hall and the Azure Firmament Hall entered a valley. It seemed that once they crossed it, they would reach the summit of Mount Munbong.
However, a group was guarding the entrance to the valley. A middle-aged man had completely blocked the waterway, accompanied by about fifty bandits. Judging by the aura he exuded, he was also a supreme expert who had achieved Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.
Having already studied the information from the Bright Affinity Pavilion, Namgung Jun knew the man's identity.
The Surging Great Axe. The Vice Stronghold Leader of Taewol Fortress.
He was the one who ran Taewol Fortress whenever the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor was away inspecting other strongholds. He was also one of the disciples who had caught the Emperor’s eye and received direct teachings from him.
“You must defeat me to meet the Grand Stronghold Leader!” the Surging Great Axe bellowed, thrusting his large axe forward and glaring at the Hall Masters.
However, the three Hall Masters showed no reaction.
Instead, Gong Jun-am spoke in a blunt voice.
“Hall Master. We will handle this.”
“I leave it to you.”
The Surging Great Axe roared when he saw the Hall Masters attempt to bypass the valley.
“Are you mocking me?! You think some grunts who aren't even Hall Masters can stop me?!”
He lunged forward to block the leaders, but the Third Clouds were already in his way. Baekri Cheong blocked his front, while Gong Jun-am and Jang Mun-hyeok sealed his flanks. Wi Hyeon-su and Heo Il took up positions in the rear.
The Azure Firmament Hall had formed a joint attack formation to face the Surging Great Axe. The remaining members of the hall and the First Squad of the Crushing Hall engaged the elites he had brought with him.
“Azure Firmament Hall Master. Let us go.”
“Yes.”
Trusting their subordinates, the three Hall Masters continued toward the summit, with only Samyeop following them.
When they finally arrived, they saw a tall wooden pillar erected in the center of the peak. Hanging from it was the corpse of the Flying Swiftness Hall Master. One leg was severed, and his chest was slashed open, caked in dried blood. His disheveled hair obscured his face.
Only four cloud embroideries remained faintly visible on the sleeves of his tattered uniform.
“You pierced through Taewol Fortress quite cleanly. As expected of the Ten Halls of the Azure Heaven Association. For that, I shall praise you.”
An old man with a rugged face, who had been sitting beneath the pillar, raised his head. His roughly cropped hair was ash-gray with age, but the body revealed by his gleaming black leather clothes was robust and powerful, as if frozen in its prime.
Rising to his feet, the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor gauged the position of the sun before looking at the three Hall Masters.
“Why were you in such a hurry? Don’t you know this is your gravesite?”
The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor stroked his chin and chuckled.
“One of the Four Demon Kings of Bright Heaven of the Demonic Cult is on his way here. He should be quite close by now. Will you bastards be able to make it in time?”
Despite his sudden words, the three Hall Masters did not budge. They merely continued to channel their internal energy.
Whoosh!
In the midst of the tense silence, Namgung Jun charged toward the Grand Stronghold Leader alone, executing the Thousand-Li Lake Journey to its absolute limit.
The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's eyes tracked Namgung Jun perfectly as he closed the distance with incredible speed.
Swish!
The massive axe in the Emperor's hand swung, seeking to slash Namgung Jun at the waist. At that moment, the water mist rising from beneath Namgung Jun’s feet grew denser, and his speed increased even further.
The axe blade brushed past by a hair's breadth. A few strands of his hair, touched by the sharp energy radiating from the axe blade, were sliced away and turned to dust.
Passing the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor in an instant, Namgung Jun soared up the wooden pillar and severed the chains binding the Flying Swiftness Hall Master's corpse.
Finally cradling the body in his arms, Namgung Jun used the pillar as a springboard and leaped high into the air. The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor did not strike him from behind, instead watching with an intrigued expression.
“Senior Samyeop.”
Returning with the corpse, Namgung Jun called out. Samyeop, who had been waiting at the rear, immediately ran over and took the body from him.
“Thank you, Hall Master.”
Placing a hand on Samyeop's shoulder, Namgung Jun walked past him, his eyes fixed on the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor.
Shring!
The sound of the Eternal Righteous Sword slowly being drawn from its sheath was exceptionally chilling. The expression on Namgung Jun's face as he gripped the hilt was just as cold.
Watching this, the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor sneered.
“Running around like a headless chicken while your elder is speaking. You're a brat with no manners.”
“Do not expect any respect from this Hall Master.”
The tip of the Eternal Righteous Sword gleamed blue as it pointed toward the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor.
“The only thing that will pass between us is steel and blood.”