Chapter 295 : War (3)
Chapter 295: War (3)
Standing atop the roof of the Great Thunder Fortress, Jang Woo-hyun surveyed the surroundings.
Now, without even needing to expand his spiritual senses, merely thinking about observing the area caused the surrounding situation to naturally flow into his mind.
Currently accompanying Jang Woo-hyun were the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division, the Beast King Sect vanguard led by Dan Moon, and the martial artists of the Sun Palace.
The Beast King Sect’s main force and the Five Wheels Five Elements Cult were facing off against the Sovereign Family dozens of li away.
‘He’s not here.’
There were strong martial artists scattered throughout the battlefield, but he could not sense Yong Cheon-myeong’s presence.
Either the man was extremely far away—far enough that even Jang Woo-hyun could not sense him—or he was somewhere else entirely.
However, that did not mean Jang Woo-hyun relaxed his guard.
Using Shrinking Earth, Yong Cheon-myeong could instantly cross vast distances and suddenly appear at any moment.
‘The most dangerous side is probably over there.’
A powerful presence could be felt from where the Sovereign Family had stationed themselves.
Someone possessing this level of power could only be the Sovereign Family’s Supreme Clan Head, the Black Blood Divine Lord.
The Black Blood Divine Lord possessed enough strength to fight even Jang Woo-hyun himself, so Jang Woo-hyun originally intended to move there first.
However, Seo Gyeong-mu noticed his intentions and contacted him beforehand.
-We’ll handle this side ourselves. Leave it to me.
The Black Blood Divine Lord was one of the Ten Seats.
Without the Five Wheels Guardian Gods, the Five Wheels Five Elements Cult should not have been able to stop him.
Yet Seo Gyeong-mu spoke with unwavering certainty, as though he possessed some sort of method.
-Understood.
Though worried, Jang Woo-hyun chose to trust Seo Gyeong-mu.
Even without fully understanding how strong Jang Woo-hyun had become, the Five Wheels Five Elements Cult still lent their strength to this battle.
Just as they had trusted him, now it was Jang Woo-hyun’s turn to trust Seo Gyeong-mu.
Aside from the Black Blood Divine Lord, the Sovereign Family’s forces were at a level that the upper echelon of the Beast King Sect and the Five Wheels Five Elements Cult could handle well enough.
After gazing toward his distant comrades, Jang Woo-hyun turned his head.
The Divine Dragon Family stood on the opposite side.
‘About three.’
That was the number of experts from the Divine Dragon Family who caught Jang Woo-hyun’s attention.
Divine Dragon Family Clan Head Yong Wi-gun, along with the two powerful presences approaching from afar.
Only those three truly entered Jang Woo-hyun’s sight.
The rest of the forces were nothing more than numbers.
The two martial artists approaching were the real issue, but fortunately, support was coming to their side as well.
‘It must be the person Seo-hee mentioned.’
From behind the Great Thunder Fortress, a dragon presumed to be Yong Seo-hee’s grandfather was rapidly approaching.
While Jang Woo-hyun observed the battlefield, the Divine Dragon Family moved first.
A single dragon rose from the Divine Dragon Family’s formation.
After arriving roughly midway between the positions occupied by the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division and the Divine Dragon Family, the dragon transformed into a middle-aged man carrying a massive axe.
【I am Yong Shin-hu of the Divine Dragon Family. Who shall be the first to come forth and face me?】
Unlike the usual battles where skirmishes erupted throughout various territories, this time the full strength of multiple sects was about to collide directly.
Before the war truly began—
To raise allied morale and crush the enemy’s spirit, Yong Shin-hu proposed a one-on-one duel.
An ordinary martial artist would have hesitated to step forward carelessly under the gaze of so many observers.
After all, defeat could damage their faction’s morale.
But there were always those who did not care about such things.
“I’ll go.”
“And why are you going, old man?”
“Seriously, why are you stepping out?”
“Because I’m the vanguard of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division.”
“You’re temporary! Temporary! Now then, temporary member, step aside for a moment. I’ll go first and gauge the strength of those Divine Dragon Family bastards.”
“Why are you going first? I’m here too.”
“Former Division Leader, stay here. The captain won’t participate in this battle, so you should stay put and calm the kids down a bit.”
“What do you mean calm them down? These bastards would charge like mad dogs the moment someone shouts ‘attack.’”
Just like always, the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division was once again arguing over who would fight.
While Gongsun Jung-rak, Seo Ryeom, and Mak Ya-wol ignored Yong Shin-hu entirely and debated why they themselves should be the one to fight—
Someone else moved first.
Above Yong Shin-hu’s head—
A stream of flames poured down from the sky.
A fireball twice the size of a human formed before him, then suddenly exploded.
Puh-ung!
From within the flames scattering like flower petals, a man walked out.
On the chest and back of his crimson robes was the simplified symbol of a sun.
It was the emblem of the Sun Palace.
A young man with intense eyes stepped forward and clasped his fists toward Yong Shin-hu.
“I am Hwa Jin-myung, Young Palace Master of the Sun Palace.”
Appearing in such a flashy manner and boldly announcing his name—
The countless observers engraved that name into their memories.
From the moment he heard the words “Young Palace Master,” Yong Shin-hu had already frowned.
“The Sun Palace’s Young Palace Master? Your courage is admirable, but you are not at a level fit for this battlefield. I shall show mercy, so step back. Cheok Hwa-hong should be the one stepping forward, not you.”
At Yong Shin-hu’s words, Hwa Jin-myung’s expression changed.
Just moments ago, he had been smiling faintly.
Now he looked at his opponent with disdain.
“So the level of the Divine Dragon Eight Swords is only this much?”
“What?”
“To fail to properly judge even the strength of the enemy standing before you. Was the name Shaking Mountain Great Dragon merely empty fame?”
Letting out a small sigh, Hwa Jin-myung stepped onto the air.
Tuuung!
Centered around him, waves of fire spread outward in concentric circles.
It was Hwa Jin-myung’s unique energy, something even Jang Woo-hyun had personally experienced before—
Flames carrying immense weight.
As waves of fire spread in all directions, Hwa Jin-myung released his Qi.
Even from afar, despite being protected by defensive Qi, the heat could still be felt.
At the scorching heat washing over him, Yong Shin-hu’s brows rose.
Hwa Jin-myung was no mere junior martial artist.
Even if he wandered the Middle Heavens Murim at this very moment, he possessed enough strength to spread his name throughout the world.
---
“Huh…… so he possessed such strength?”
Gongsun Jung-rak was shocked by the aura Hwa Jin-myung emitted.
He had already roughly estimated the young man’s strength, yet Hwa Jin-myung far exceeded his expectations.
“To think someone like that still hasn’t made his name known.”
“I heard he remained secluded inside the palace until recently.”
“I thought Ye-ju was already exceptional, yet there was an even more outstanding youngster.”
Gongsun Jung-rak had sparred with Maeng Ye-ju before and held her abilities in extremely high regard.
Even among the Hundred Martial Assembly, there were not many stronger than her.
And in terms of talent or potential, even Seo Ryeom, Mak Ya-wol, and Gongsun Jung-rak himself likely could not compare to her.
Yet now he had encountered a younger martial artist even more extraordinary.
“Another monster.”
“What monster? Let’s just call him a genius.”
“That’s right. Not a monster. Just an ordinary genius, I’d say.”
“……If he’s a genius, then he’s a genius. What the hell is an ordinary genius?”
When Gongsun Jung-rak asked, Seo Ryeom tilted his head backward and pointed behind them.
Behind them stood the Great Thunder Fortress.
And atop it—
Jang Woo-hyun.
“…….”
“See? Ordinary genius, right?”
Unable to argue, Gongsun Jung-rak nodded repeatedly.
Because the true monster was someone else entirely.
“You three shouldn’t casually decide whether another sect’s Young Palace Master is a monster or genius.”
Cheok Hwa-hong approached the trio as they chatted.
“The old monster of the Sun Palace. Still alive after all this time, huh?”
“That’s my line. I never expected to see you here.”
No one was more devoted to the Hundred Martial Assembly than Gongsun Jung-rak.
Thus, seeing him together with the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division was completely unexpected.
“Well, things just sort of turned out that way. To think you hid such an outstanding Young Palace Master all this time. You must’ve had quite a bit of fun fooling people.”
The corners of Cheok Hwa-hong’s lips lifted slightly.
Personally, he did not particularly like Gongsun Jung-rak or the Hundred Martial Assembly.
But he acknowledged their strength.
So hearing Gongsun Jung-rak praise the Young Palace Master naturally filled him with pride.
“We never hid him. He spent a long time training and has only now emerged. And he received help from the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division. No, to be exact, he received help from the Sword Hero.”
“Sword Hero? You mean our Division Leader?”
“Division Leader? Don’t tell me you’re part of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division too?”
At Cheok Hwa-hong’s question, Gongsun Jung-rak grinned broadly.
“That’s right. I am Gongsun Jung-rak, vanguard of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division.”
“Temporary. Temporary.”
“Why are you leaving out the temporary part? You keep trying to slip past it.”
The moment Gongsun Jung-rak proudly announced his position, objections immediately flew in from both sides.
“You bastards, can’t you just let it slide for once? Not a single time do you ever let things go.”
Gongsun Jung-rak grumbled at Seo Ryeom and Mak Ya-wol’s corrections, but the two insisted that details mattered and stubbornly corrected him back to temporary vanguard.
“Oh?”
“……!”
The three, who had been arguing over trivial matters, simultaneously turned their heads in the same direction as though by prior agreement.
A tremendous power had erupted from where the Five Wheels Five Elements Cult and the Beast King Sect were stationed.
“This is…….”
It was a completely unexpected aura.
Even Hwa Jin-myung and Yong Shin-hu stopped fighting and turned toward it.
“Looks like things have started over there too.”
“We don’t have time to keep standing around either. My blood’s heating up already. Let’s begin.”
Seo Ryeom stepped into the air and walked forward.
Then he took a deep breath and announced the beginning of war.
“Hear me, Divine Dragon Family!”
Despite his appearance as a rat beastman, his voice was naturally loud enough for not only allies but even distant enemies to hear clearly.
“The Divine Dragon Family has brought chaos upon the Middle Heavens Murim! Countless people have died, and many others have suffered!”
As Seo Ryeom began speaking, Hwa Jin-myung and Yong Shin-hu naturally ceased fighting.
“But! That’s none of our business!”
Everyone else frowned at the absurd statement, but the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division martial artists raised the corners of their lips.
“What matters is that the Divine Dragon Family attacked us! And we came here for revenge!”
Seo Ryeom’s momentum rose higher and higher.
In response, the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division martial artists, including Gongsun Jung-rak and Mak Ya-wol, also raised their Qi.
“So die! We are the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division led by the Invincible Divine Sword Jang Woo-hyun!”
Casually slipping in Jang Woo-hyun’s new title, Seo Ryeom fully unleashed his presence.
At the same time, everyone else released their full power as well.
Hwaaaaaak!
Massive Qi surged upward.
Though few in number, each member of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division was an expert, and the combined pressure they emitted resembled Mount Tai itself.
“Demon-Immortal Slaughter Divisiooon! Atta-”
【Who dares speak of death to the great bloodline?】
Kuuung!
A colossal spiritual will interrupted Seo Ryeom’s voice.
The atmosphere itself trembled violently.
In an instant, the heavens split apart as an enormous existence revealed itself.
A gigantic body filling the entire sky—
A colossal dragon seemingly ten li long.
【Inferior races who defy the will of the Divine Dragon, die here. I shall personally grant you peace.】
The mountain-like dragon looked down upon the battlefield.
Merely meeting its gaze produced overwhelming pressure.
A being stronger than even Seo Ryeom and Mak Ya-wol—
One of the Divine Dragon Family’s elders.
Great Mountain Colossal Dragon Yong Moon-geuk appeared above the battlefield with another elder riding upon his head.
The combined pressure of the two Divine Dragon Family elders crushed the momentum of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division.
Cheok Hwa-hong and the Sun Palace martial artists beside them also released their strength.
Only then did the balance of power stabilize somewhat.
“All the old monsters are gathering today.”
Even while feeling the pressure, Seo Ryeom laughed mischievously.
The strength and Qi of Yong Moon-geuk and the other elder no longer truly frightened him.
Within the Blood Devouring Realm, the entire world itself had tried to kill him.
Compared to that, this level of pressure could now be laughed off.
“What fun is an easy fight? It has to be at least this difficult.”
At Seo Ryeom’s words, Gongsun Jung-rak and Mak Ya-wol smiled in agreement.
“We’ll open the path.”
At Mak Ya-wol’s declaration, every member of the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division gripped their weapons.
This would not be an easy battle.
Yet Yong Cheon-myeong had not even appeared yet.
The path Jang Woo-hyun needed to walk—
They had to open it themselves.
Just as they prepared to launch themselves toward the dragon covering the heavens—
A massive Qi wave surged from behind them.
The pressure emitted by the Divine Dragon Family elders was pushed back.
The newly arrived aura strengthened the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division and Sun Palace martial artists instead.
【I too shall not follow the will of the Divine Dragon.】
From behind the Great Thunder Fortress, a dragon with blue scales rapidly approached.
Those who had not heard Yong Seo-hee’s explanation beforehand could not understand what was happening.
They did not know who this blue-scaled dragon was.
While everyone remained confused—
Rage erupted from the colossal dragon filling the sky.
【Yong Woon! You truly intend to betray the family to the very end?!】
【My granddaughter made a request of me.】
The blue-scaled dragon—
Yong Seo-hee’s grandfather and one of the Divine Dragon Family elders, Yong Woon—
Had chosen to stand with the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division.
After passing the Great Thunder Fortress, the blue-scaled dragon transformed into a human and descended near the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division.
“And because if not today, then the family’s rampage may never be stopped.”
【Silence! How dare you speak of the family’s future with that filthy mouth!】
“I won’t waste more words. Let us settle everything here today.”
At Yong Woon’s words, the colossal dragon moved.
Its body was so enormous that the sky itself screamed merely from its motion.
The direction of the wind changed, and whirlwinds formed.
Its overwhelming size alone inspired terror.
As everyone tensed—
A casual voice suddenly interrupted.
“Now that everyone’s here, I’ll remove one of them.”
Words spoken as lightly as casual conversation over tea.
Yet what followed was anything but light.
────────!!
An indescribable sound rang out.
And the gigantic dragon vanished.
No—
To be precise, it had been struck by Jang Woo-hyun’s attack and blasted so far away it disappeared from sight entirely.
Only afterward did the shockwave and aftereffects crash through the place where the dragon had once been.
The violent winds forced every martial artist to use their full strength just to maintain footing.
The storm-like gusts were strong enough to push even the Great Thunder Fortress backward.
“…….”
“…….”
Silence instantly descended over the battlefield.
No one had properly seen the attack.
No one could even estimate its power.
The event was simply too overwhelming.
Everyone stood there blankly.
Except for one person—
No, one beastman.
“What do I care about battles between monsters?! Demon-Immortal Slaughter Divisiooon! Chargeee!”
Still grinning wildly, Seo Ryeom rushed forward.
Those who regained their senses followed behind him.
Only then did the Divine Dragon Family martial artists also charge toward the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division.
* * *
Before the Demon-Immortal Slaughter Division’s battle began—
Far away, the Beast King Sect’s main force and the Five Wheels Five Elements Cult stood facing the Sovereign Family.
As everyone released killing intent and tensions rose—
One man from the Sovereign Family calmly walked through the air toward them.
As though merely out for a leisurely stroll, he approached the leaders of the Five Wheels Five Elements Cult and Beast King Sect without the slightest hesitation.
“Oh! Hong, long time no see.”
Spotting Dan Hong, the man waved enthusiastically.