Chapter 459
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 459
Chapter Title: Not Too Late
"M-M-Mad..."
Chu Geum-neung spat out a curse, completely forgetting about the enemy right in front of him.
He had no choice.
The sight before his eyes left him no other reaction.
The mysterious master was swinging his sword alone, sweeping away countless jiangshi in a frenzy.
Even Dark Blood Jiangshi were among them.
It was an overwhelming display of martial prowess that Chu Geum-neung himself couldn't even follow.
The problem was that this divine might had come after a prolonged battle against Dongbang Un, the Dark Blood Jiangshi, and the Iron Jiangshi.
How much power was he still hiding?
Chu Geum-neung glanced back.
His senses picked up six Protector Gods racing toward this spot.
They were closing in fast.
If they could just hold out a little longer, they could join forces.
'Elder Duggo still hasn't arrived?'
Among them, the First Protector God, Duggo Yapa, was absent.
He had already headed north, beyond Chu Geum-neung's sensory range.
That's what he figured.
Even so.
With himself plus six Protector Gods.
They could surely handle that monster.
Chu Geum-neung's gaze shifted to So Hwi-woong.
He too was utterly entranced by the old man's overwhelming display.
Thanks to that, their own duel had ground to a temporary halt.
Chu Geum-neung scanned the surroundings.
The Dark Blood and Iron Jiangshi that had been aiding him lay scattered and defeated.
So Hwi-woong.
He had to admit it.
Though he'd dismissed him as laughable, the man was every bit his equal.
A Heaven-Exterminating Jiangshi and Protector God like himself, matched by this foe.
Even against the Cult Leader, he would have had confidence in victory.
Chu Geum-neung stared at So Hwi-woong.
At that moment.
So Hwi-woong met his gaze and raised his blade once more.
Stimulated by Wi Ji-gun's divine prowess, no doubt.
The aura emanating from his body raged even more fiercely.
"Shall we continue?"
The Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade began to move in a new form.
Soaring Heaven Demon Extermination.
The ultimate technique of the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade, aimed at finishing off this damned jiangshi.
Chu Geum-neung read So Hwi-woong's intent clearly.
And so he drew up his own energy to the fullest.
Gray qi coiled around his body like roiling clouds.
So Hwi-woong swung his blade lightly.
A truly casual swing, as if it were nothing.
The motion seemed unremarkable, but the result was anything but.
A storm of crimson blade qi erupted into blazing flames, surging toward Chu Geum-neung.
Chu Geum-neung unleashed his prepared fists.
His gray qi coalesced into a massive dark cloud, clashing against the flames.
Kuwaaaaaang!
A massive explosion rang out.
In the instant the flames and dark cloud intertwined into a raging typhoon.
Chu Geum-neung rode the blast and hurled himself backward.
"What?"
So Hwi-woong furrowed his brow.
He hadn't expected an escape like this.
"See you again soon."
Chu Geum-neung flashed a grin and murmured calmly before turning and kicking off the ground.
Or rather.
He tried to.
Ssaeng!
Seokeok!
Were it not for the sword that flew in at that moment, severing both his legs below the knees.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Landing between So Hwi-woong and Chu Geum-neung was a sturdy old man with white hair and white beard.
Wi Ji-gun.
"Hoo."
He let out a long sigh.
Exhaustion was plain on his face.
His sword floated in the air.
"Kuhk."
Chu Geum-neung grimaced fiercely.
When?
When had he unleashed that sword?
Even for a flying sword technique.
To move at such speed and stealth that he hadn't sensed a thing.
"May I finish him?"
Wi Ji-gun asked So Hwi-woong.
Truth be told, So Hwi-woong wanted to end it himself.
But the foe had slipped his grasp already.
So Hwi-woong nodded.
At that signal, Wi Ji-gun's flying sword shot into the air.
Then hurtled toward Chu Geum-neung at blinding speed.
"Th-This isn't the end! You bastards will follow me..."
Kwajik.
Chu Geum-neung's words cut off there.
Wi Ji-gun's flying sword had embedded itself in the center of his face.
Shattering it utterly.
Wi Ji-gun flicked his hand once more.
The sword stirred, cleaving Chu Geum-neung clean in half.
"Hoooou."
With a deep breath, Wi Ji-gun recalled his sword and staggered slightly.
"Master!"
Ha Seol-ran rushed to his side in alarm, supporting him.
"Thank you, Elder."
So Hwi-woong clasped his hands in a bow, his voice filled with admiration and sincerity.
His prowess was nothing short of divine.
"It's not over yet."
Wi Ji-gun's gaze turned toward the forest's heart.
He could sense six auras charging madly toward them.
So Hwi-woong's eyes followed.
And his expression changed.
Now even he could feel it.
"H-How..."
They had struggled this much against just two.
And now six more were approaching.
"Prepare yourselves."
Wi Ji-gun said this and turned.
So Hwi-woong did the same, readying for the next fight.
Under So Hwi-woong's command, they moved with disciplined precision once more.
But they wouldn't be of much help in the coming battle.
Numbers meant nothing against Heaven-Exterminating Jiangshi.
Only absolute powerhouses mattered.
"Master, are you alright?"
"My internal energy is depleted... but that one is coming, isn't he? We just have to hold until then."
Ha Seol-ran nodded at Wi Ji-gun's words.
The presence of her brother, delayed in detection because it manifested as a solid form.
He was racing toward them now at insane speeds.
The issue was.
The six monsters would arrive first.
Wi Ji-gun closed his eyes and entered meditation.
To recover even a sliver of internal energy.
A massive wall appeared before Duggo Yapa.
A barrier infused with spells to block jiangshi.
"Pointless efforts."
Duggo Yapa sneered and raised his hand.
A casual wave.
Kwakwakwa kwang!
The wall exploded.
Thud. Thud.
Duggo Yapa strode boldly through the gaping breach.
He sensed human presences beyond.
The sudden massive explosion threw the Demon-Sealing Corps into chaos.
Someone in the watchtower focused their internal energy into their eyes to check the wall.
Then shouted in shock.
"Th-The wall's collapsed!!!"
Panic spread at the cry.
And for good reason.
The Demon-Sealing Corps and Dragon Training Pavilion trainees had raced here at full speed upon hearing of the anomaly at the forest's edge.
The news had reached Do Sim-geuk immediately.
He gritted his teeth.
Without Yang Bi-chang, his right-hand strategist.
And now even the Mountain-Crossing Great Wall had fallen.
The implication was clear.
A monster beyond their power had breached it.
His deliberation was brief, his decision firm.
"Full retreat, everyone."
"Pardon?"
The Demon-Sealing Corps members stared in shock at Do Sim-geuk's order.
"Everyone, retreat at full speed in all directions. Regroup at Cheongjeon and prepare a counterattack."
"C-Corps Leader."
A subordinate tried to speak.
But Do Sim-geuk rose and bolted without listening.
To maximize survival odds, he acted first upon issuing the command.
The stunned subordinate gaped after him.
"Fuck. That guy's our Corps Leader..."
A curse slipped out naturally.
"Retreat! Everyone retreat! Run as far as you can!"
He bellowed with infused qi.
He didn't specify the rendezvous.
Knowing it was pointless anyway.
And then he too fled at full speed.
Il No hurried to the secret chamber where the Cult Leader resided.
Drawn by the signal from his dantian.
"H-How can this be..."
Was it a backlash from the spell's long dormancy?
The sluggish ritual had suddenly accelerated dramatically.
It was now at ninety percent completion.
Astonishing.
Il No stared down at Gae Hong-cheon's corpse in disbelief.
"Then soon..."
The ritual's pace quickened even further.
Surpassing ninety percent and accelerating still.
There was only one meaning.
Soon.
The Asura Blood Heaven Jiangshi would be complete.
Ecstasy gleamed in Il No's eyes.
With the Asura Blood Heaven Jiangshi.
They could place the world beneath their feet.
Ha Mu-baek was already beneath notice.
The Heaven-Exterminating Jiangshi Protectors he'd awakened and sent would surely smash that bastard.
People stole glances at Wi Ji-gun.
Though he sat with eyes closed in meditative trance.
They couldn't forget the divine might he'd just displayed.
Sweeping away all those jiangshi.
Even now, on the verge of exhaustion, meditating to recover.
One thing was clear.
He was stronger than Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong.
To think such a mysterious master existed in the jianghu.
They'd assumed So Hwi-woong was the unrivaled best under heaven.
Their worldview shattered.
Then.
Wi Ji-gun opened his eyes.
Ha Seol-ran, tense, looked at him.
"What's wrong?"
Yeon Ha-min asked cautiously.
"They're here..."
Ha Seol-ran's gaze shifted to one side.
There, as if they'd appeared from nowhere.
Stood six Heaven-Exterminating Jiangshi.
Upon arrival, they assessed the situation instantly.
Raising both hands in martial stances.
Intent on wiping out the gathering in one go.
Wi Ji-gun and So Hwi-woong kicked off the ground, rising.
Tremendous energy gathered in their sword and blade.
Kurururung!!!
In that instant, the six Heaven-Exterminating Jiangshi unleashed a torrent of attacks.
Eight Absolutes Infinite.
Soaring Heaven Demon Extermination.
Wi Ji-gun and So Hwi-woong unleashed their ultimate techniques.
Clashing at the midpoint.
Kwakwakwakwa kwang! Ururung kwang!!!
The heavens roared, the earth quaked.
Yet the clash of energies persisted.
Wi Ji-gun and So Hwi-woong gritted their teeth.
Pouring every last ounce of strength.
"J-Just a bit longer..."
Ha Seol-ran watched with bated breath.
But.
Two hands could not overcome six.
Slowly, the Heaven-Exterminating Jiangshi's energy gained the upper hand.
The Demon-Sealing Corps, Fierce Dragon Corps, and Dragon Training Pavilion cadets saw it clearly.
Dam Mu-hyeon bit his lip hard.
He wanted to join in.
But he couldn't dare insert himself into that cataclysmic clash.
He'd only get in the way.
Jeureureuk.
Wi Ji-gun and So Hwi-woong's forms inched backward.
"Ahh..."
A sigh escaped someone.
That instant.
Kwakwakwakwakwa kwang!
A deafening roar erupted.
All six jiangshi were blasted back.
The echoes faded.
Thick dust clouds obscured vision.
But one thing was certain.
An earth-shattering impact had occurred.
Silence fell.
Stunned by the sudden turn, people looked around blankly.
"Ah, ah."
Only Ha Seol-ran clutched her hands tightly.
Staring at the explosion's center.
Tears streamed from her eyes.
"Not too late."
The calm murmur was hard to hear.
Over the distance and noise.
But some caught it clearly.
"Leave the rest to me. Hoo."
Wi Ji-gun sighed deeply, lowering his sword.
Ha Mu-baek turned at his master's voice.
"Sorry for the delay."
He bowed deeply, then straightened.
Only then.
Did the pervasive dust begin to settle.
And the others finally spotted Ha Mu-baek.
"I-Instructor!!"
Dang Jin-san shouted in surprise.
"Damn. If only he'd hurried up, that guy..."
Dam Mu-hyeon muttered, working his bitten lip.
His eyes smiled.
"Hoo."
So Hwi-woong simply sighed deeply.
"W-We lived."
Pung Geon felt hope at Ha Mu-baek's appearance.
He slapped the back of Yu Gwi-gwang, who stared blankly at his torn portrait, head bowed.
"Gwi-gwang! Look, the instructor's here! We're saved!"
Only then did Yu Gwi-gwang lift his hollow, dead gaze.
In that desperate moment, dodging the Iron Jiangshi's claw, his robe tore, spilling his daughter's portrait.
It covered the jiangshi's face, blinding it.
The claw that followed rent the portrait instead.
In that split-second gap, Gwan Ha-gyeong's blade severed its neck.
But.
The instant his daughter's portrait tore in half.
His eyes died.
It mirrored his own end, or so it seemed.
Right after.
Wi Ji-gun swept away the jiangshi horde.
Then came the despairing news, leaving Yu Gwi-gwang's head perpetually bowed.
"A portrait's just a portrait, Gwi-gwang. It actually saved you! And now Instructor Ha's here! That means we can live. You can go home and see your daughter. So snap out of it. If you zone out and get killed by some blind jiangshi, it's really over!"
Pung Geon shook Yu Gwi-gwang fiercely.
Only then did focus slowly return to Yu Gwi-gwang's eyes.
At that moment.
The six Heaven-Exterminating Jiangshi.
Gathered once more.
Ha Mu-baek faced them down.
"These fucking things... six of them, huh."
Strength gripped his sword hand.
Tahat!
In that instant.
The six Heaven-Exterminating Jiangshi lunged from all directions.
Sensing Ha Mu-baek's danger instinctively, they attacked without hesitation.
Ha Mu-baek's eyes gleamed murderously.