Chapter 456
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 456
Chapter Title: Smash That First
Morning sunlight shone down pleasantly.
The clear blue sky was pristine without a single cloud.
Two figures stood atop the ramparts.
So Hwi-woong and Wi Ji-gun.
The pair stared calmly straight ahead.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
The jiangshi were slowly approaching the ramparts.
The Demon-Sealing Corps, Fierce Dragon Corps, and Dragon Training Pavilion disciples were lined up on either side of the ramparts, hiding their bodies.
In a situation where even a child's hand would be missed,
they too were preparing for battle atop the ramparts.
Gwan Ha-kyeong's body trembled faintly.
That energy he had felt that day...
was right there before him now.
Chu Geum-neung led the jiangshi horde from the vanguard.
When they reached five zhang from the ramparts,
he halted his steps.
And the jiangshi stopped as well.
No, more precisely, the jiangshi's advance had slowed dramatically, forcing them to a halt.
"It's... because of the ramparts, right?"
Chu Geum-neung muttered as he gazed up at the ramparts.
"Just looking at it sours my mood."
Dongbang Un grimaced fiercely as he spoke.
"It's a spell. But it feels different from last time."
In that brief span of time,
Ma Jin-gi had reinforced the spell to a considerable degree.
That was why the jiangshi's speed had slowed, ultimately grinding to a stop.
"Smash that first."
Chu Geum-neung looked up at the two figures standing proudly atop the ramparts.
The two strongest humans he had sensed in this forest.
One of them had concealed his energy so subtly that it had been hard to detect.
He hadn't noticed a thing until they drew fairly close.
Even so.
That was all.
Just smash them.
Chu Geum-neung raised his right hand.
Energy from his entire body gathered there.
He had no internal energy now that he was a jiangshi.
But.
The power of the Blood Art granted him far greater strength than his living internal energy ever had.
Chu Geum-neung thrust out his fist just like that.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The moment the tremendous fist power hurtled toward the ramparts,
So Hwi-woong leaped into the air.
Sword energy enveloped his blade.
Bam!
With a single slash, he blocked Chu Geum-neung's fist power and landed boldly.
Dongbang Un raised both hands.
A storm-like palm force swirled out from his extended palms.
Whoooosh!
Whoosh.
Wi Ji-gun drew his sword from atop the ramparts and leaped down silently.
Slash!
With sword energy coating his blade, he effortlessly cleaved through the palm force.
Those atop the ramparts could only gape in awe at the astonishing sight.
The attacking jiangshi.
And the alliance leader and elder blocking them.
Both were extraordinary.
Especially the Fierce Dragon Corps and Dragon Training Pavilion disciples who recognized the elder—their shock was beyond words.
The reason was simple.
It was a face they knew.
Particularly, some disciples from the Hidden Dragon Corps and Wa Dragon Corps had dismissed the old man as a lowly laborer.
"How is Elder Wi..."
Someone muttered in disbelief.
But Namgung Ji-hu watched the scene with calm eyes.
After the final spar at the Summer Combat Festival,
it was that man who had advised him when he was on the verge of falling to inner demons.
"I figured he was someone special... but I never imagined he was that strong."
From beside him,
came Namgung Ji-yu's murmur of surprise.
She had subtly sensed Wi Ji-gun's extraordinary nature,
but she hadn't expected him to match So Hwi-woong blow for blow.
"Kill them."
Chu Geum-neung, staring at the two standing tall, spoke curtly before launching himself forward.
The opponent he chose was So Hwi-woong.
'This one's easier. Take him down fast and move to the other.'
Hoping Dongbang Un would buy as much time as possible,
an ominous gray energy rose from both of his fists.
Red sword energy blazed from So Hwi-woong's blade.
The sword given to him as a sixtieth birthday gift at the Myriad Things Pavilion.
Now his cherished weapon, it radiated sword energy.
The blade, gleaming with a pure crimson light, moved.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
A massive roar echoed out.
So Hwi-woong gritted his teeth.
He had anticipated great strength and unleashed full power from the start.
But it was no pushover.
'Mu-baek took down a guy like this back then...'
He knew it was strong,
yet Ha Mu-baek always exceeded expectations.
Wondering just how far he had come now,
he glanced at Wi Ji-gun.
The man said to be Ha Mu-baek's master.
How strong could he be?
Dongbang Un swung his palms wreathed in ominous gray energy at Wi Ji-gun.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Ringing sounds echoed in succession.
White sword energy flowed naturally, blocking Dongbang Un's attacks.
Fierce battles raged in two places.
Clearly,
So Hwi-woong was locked in an even match, while Wi Ji-gun appeared to have a slight edge.
Chu Geum-neung frowned.
To think...
They were stronger than he had thought.
The gray energy rising from his fist enveloped his entire body.
Fists and feet flew relentlessly at So Hwi-woong.
Blood Heaven Blood Sea Battle Blood Art.
The brutal fist technique he had mastered in life.
The blood energy that once shone vivid crimson had turned to gray as a jiangshi,
yet the power contained within was more than double what it had been.
Even so, the opponent before him endured.
So Hwi-woong's blade danced wildly without cease.
Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.
His swordsmanship, having reached a new realm, unleashed strike after strike of devastating power.
With every exchange of blows,
a chill ran down his spine.
Not because he couldn't handle the current attacks.
It was the realization that, before reaching this new realm—just days ago—
he would surely have been at a disadvantage.
'So this is the power of an Extermination Heavenly Jiangshi...'
So Hwi-woong's fighting spirit blazed even fiercer.
Ha Seol-ran watched their duel with an anxious expression.
And she had every reason to.
Another massive power was rapidly approaching from this direction.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-bam!
Ku-ku-ku-kung!
Amid it all, the fierce battles between the two men and two jiangshi produced deafening explosions and tremors,
sending beasts from all corners of the forest fleeing in every direction.
Flocks of birds took to the skies, blotting out the sunlight and casting shadows below.
Ma Jin-gi frowned as he observed their duel.
"To think jiangshi like that exist..."
The might of the Extermination Heavenly Jiangshi he witnessed firsthand exceeded his expectations.
Fighting So Hwi-woong on even terms meant
they rivaled the Blood Cult Leader in strength.
Wi Ji-gun was surprised as well.
The jiangshi's power
was greater than he had anticipated.
Had years passed without real combat,
leaving his sword dull,
even he might have been in trouble.
The spar with Ha Mu-baek,
and his subsequent training,
had honed Wi Ji-gun's sword to razor sharpness.
Thus,
he began slowly overwhelming Dongbang Un.
Chu Geum-neung glanced at the scene.
'Stronger than I expected.'
He was inwardly startled.
He had anticipated strength,
but not that they could handle Protector Gods—Extermination Heavenly Jiangshi—so easily.
Prolonging the fight would put them at a disadvantage.
If Dongbang Un fell first, Chu Geum-neung would face a one-against-two.
[Withdraw.]
After mentally commanding Dongbang Un, Chu Geum-neung leaped back.
The two jiangshi melted into the horde.
"Attack!"
At Chu Geum-neung's shout,
the Dark Blood Jiangshi launched from the vanguard.
The ramparts' spell blocked their approach,
but So Hwi-woong and Wi Ji-gun had pursued the retreating Chu and Dongbang.
Thus, the jiangshi swarmed toward them.
Hmph!
So Hwi-woong's blade moved savagely.
Sword energy surged even larger.
With a single swing,
Murk Iron Jiangshi and Blood Jiangshi were sliced apart.
The Dark Blood Jiangshi blocked So Hwi-woong's blade strike.
Wi Ji-gun too swung his massive sword energy.
'Infinite Freedom Eight Severing Sword Wave. Five Severing Heaven Splitter!'
The very strike Ha Mu-baek had used against Hyun-wang.
Now unleashed from Wi Ji-gun's hand.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-bam!!!
An enormous sword force swept through the surroundings.
Yet the Dark Blood Jiangshi stood firm.
Though one arm was severed.
So Hwi-woong nodded faintly at the sight.
As expected of Ha Mu-baek's master.
He had seen that sword form several times in the previous war.
Even in the final battle against Blood Cult Leader Gae Hong-cheon.
'I can't lose.'
So Hwi-woong's blade surged once more.
Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.
Ten Thousand Demons Sever.
The technique that cleaved ten thousand demons.
Unleashed from So Hwi-woong's hand,
and
slash slash.
The jiangshi blocking the front split apart and collapsed.
It was a strike of immense power.
Yet the gathered jiangshi numbered many.
They charged relentlessly.
Blood Jiangshi, Poison Jiangshi, Corpse Jiangshi too.
Now pressing with sheer numbers.
From the rearmost position, Chu Geum-neung watched silently.
Because they were stronger than expected,
casualties were mounting rapidly.
Energy from all over his body gathered in his fist.
As if hatching a plan,
he amassed power, and more power.
'The ramparts' spell. It's stronger than last time.'
He sensed it instinctively.
Having tested the ramparts once before,
his target now was the wall behind them.
The countless rats atop the ramparts.
That was the pair's weakness.
The reason they led the charge was obvious.
They had much to protect.
So destroy what they had to protect first.
Their focus would scatter.
Dongbang Un too compressed and gathered energy in both hands.
Wi Ji-gun glanced at the pair.
Sensing their power growing ever stronger,
he circulated his internal energy as well.
Anticipating he might have to face their prepared ultimate strikes amid battling countless jiangshi.
Of course, striking first would be ideal,
but the swarming jiangshi were too numerous.
As if every jiangshi in Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest had come.
Even Corpse Jiangshi charged madly,
and already, the corpses of jiangshi felled by So Hwi-woong and Wi Ji-gun around them formed small hills.
***
A single crow alighted on the ground.
After surveying its surroundings, the crow spotted a small hole and dove underground without hesitation.
Faced with several forks, it navigated the path skillfully, greeted by:
"You've come."
It was Il-no.
A messenger from the Blood Cult's herbalists scattered throughout Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
His eyes gleamed as he unfurled and read the contents.
'Not just So Hwi-woong...'
He couldn't identify who,
but a powerhouse gaining the upper hand against another Protector God.
As long as it wasn't Ha Mu-baek, it didn't matter.
And they were all gathered at that rampart, preparing to face the jiangshi horde.
"Perfect."
Il-no hurried to the chamber where the Protector Gods resided.
Suddenly, the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh Protector Gods
opened their eyes almost simultaneously.
He explained for them to head to Chu Geum-neung.
And.
Moments later,
finally, the last Protector God opened his eyes.
"Who are you?"
A heavy, solemn voice emanated from the Protector God's mouth.
"I am Il-no of the Blood Cult."
Il-no bowed politely in answer.
The Protector God nodded.
The founding Protector God, Dokgo Ya-pae.
Il-no swiftly explained the current situation.
Dokgo Ya-pae's face hardened as he listened silently.
"Fools."
He seemed displeased with the Blood Cult's present state.
Defeated by the orthodox sects and hiding in the forest—
unthinkable compared to the cult's glory in his living days.
"So. What do you want from me? After waking all the Protector Gods?"
"Please head north, Your Excellency. Beyond the ramparts lies the Demon-Sealing Corps, the Righteous Heaven Alliance's martial force managing this place. Annihilate them. Then raze the Righteous Heaven Alliance headquarters in Luoyang."
Il-no had changed plans.
With all forces gathered in one spot, plus So Hwi-woong and the mystery expert.
Ha Mu-baek's whereabouts were unknown, but
the Righteous Heaven Alliance was all but empty.
With Chu Geum-neung locked in battle with So Hwi-woong,
the other five Protector Gods joining would settle that front.
In the meantime, move the strongest, Dokgo Ya-pae, to clean out the virtually unguarded alliance headquarters.
"When all is done, Il-no, prepare yourself. For ruining the cult like this. The responsibility is not light."
Leaving those words, Dokgo Ya-pae leaped away.
Emerging through a hidden entrance to the surface, he surveyed the surroundings with bitter eyes.
To think.
The glorious Blood Cult headquarters reduced to such ruins.
With a cold expression, he dashed north.
***
'Got it.'
'Perfect.'
The power of the ramparts' spell, sensed intuitively.
Chu Geum-neung and Dongbang Un had amassed enough strength to shatter it in one blow.
The pair launched forward.
Like bolts of lightning, they hurtled ahead, swinging fists and thrusting palms with full power.
So Hwi-woong and Wi Ji-gun were startled by their movements.
They had expected attacks aimed at themselves.
But no.
Toward Mountain-Crossing Great Wall's ramparts
their tremendous strikes flew.