Chapter 348 : Immortal Emperor (3)
Chapter 348: Immortal Emperor (3)
To withstand the pressure crushing him, Jang Woo-hyun raised his energy.
Creeeak.
His shattered body recovered, and the overwhelming pressure pressing down on him was gradually pushed back.
【This is bad. Really bad.】
Even without the Dark Immortal Emperor's voice coming from the floating black sphere beside him, Jang Woo-hyun already knew he was in an extremely difficult situation.
Even excluding the Dark Immortal Emperor, who had no intention of attacking, there were still five Immortal Emperors.
The Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable's scheme no longer mattered.
Escaping this crisis came first.
【Hurry and use what you prepared. At this rate, you're really going to die.】
The black sphere continued speaking incomprehensible words.
"What exactly did I prepare?"
【The thing you prepared for this fight. You can't do it alone.】
"So tell me what that—"
While speaking with the childlike Dark Immortal Emperor, an overwhelming killing intent suddenly swept over him.
Unlike the others, who merely watched, the Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor exploded with savage energy as he moved.
Crack.
The instant two pairs of wings spread from his back—
He disappeared from where he stood and instantly appeared directly before Jang Woo-hyun.
He had neither flown nor kicked through space.
He had simply leaped across space itself.
The eagle-headed Immortal Emperor let out a roar and threw a massive punch.
Jang Woo-hyun responded by drawing out every ounce of his power.
Microcosm.
Sword Forest of Dosan.
Microcosm.
Cycle Taiji.
Microcosm.
Eight-Direction Heavenly Sword Divine Manifestation.
A giant wielded eight swords.
Yin and Yang merged into one and erupted in an explosion.
Within the world of blades, countless mandala patterns emerged, pouring forth techniques that filled the universe.
While opening all three Microcosms simultaneously—
Jang Woo-hyun unleashed the Star-Destroying Fist capable of shattering stars and swung a sword that split the world apart.
Kwarrrrrng!!
Cracks spread through space.
Even dimensions themselves shattered.
Overwhelming power.
Having surpassed the Realm of Immortality and become the Martial God of the Upper Realm, Jang Woo-hyun's strength felt capable of destroying everything in existence.
But his opponents stood at the pinnacle of the Upper Realm.
Every Immortal Emperor possessed strength equal to his own.
The Immortal Emperors who had merely watched now joined the battle.
【The very essence of swordsmanship.】
The Sword Tree Immortal Emperor crossed swords with the eight-armed giant.
He answered supreme speed with supreme speed.
Boom!
When their sword strikes collided, a massive scar split the universe apart.
Before the world's restorative power could repair the damage, overwhelming force crushed everything nearby.
The Sword Tree Immortal Emperor stepped forward and swung his sword upward.
KWAAAAAANG!
The scar engraved upon reality disappeared.
The dimension itself shattered like glass.
【Excellent!】
Powerful sword against powerful sword.
Illusory sword against illusory sword.
Every attack launched by the giant was answered with the exact same sword.
As their battle continued, the arms of the Eight-Direction Heavenly Sword Divine Manifestation were severed one after another.
Eventually, the giant embodying the ultimate essence of swordsmanship collapsed after losing all eight arms.
Within the world where Yin and Yang revolved after transcending the Five Elements—
The Azure Lotus Immortal Emperor looked around with great interest.
【No matter how many times I see the Microcosm, it's fascinating.】
It was a world created by martial artists after the appearance of the True Martial God.
From the perspective of the Immortal Emperors, it was a recently developed power.
Watching this strength, completely different from that of cultivators, the Azure Lotus Immortal Emperor smiled.
She waved her hand toward the Cycle Taiji.
Beside her, the Radiant Sun Immortal Emperor threw a punch.
Though they possessed completely opposite natures and powers—
When they fought together, no pair possessed greater harmony.
The Cycle Taiji, where massive Yin and Yang revolved beyond the Five Elements, collided with the combined powers of Azure Lotus and Radiant Sun.
The Radiant Sun Immortal Emperor's flames burned away the Five Elements.
The Azure Lotus Immortal Emperor's cold froze all four seasons.
Neither heaven, earth, sea, nor even Yin and Yang escaped.
The Cycle Taiji Microcosm vanished before the combined power of the two Immortal Emperors.
【Worship our god.】
【Defile the world and devour the living.】
Into the world filled entirely with blades marched an army of corpses.
Even as their bodies were sliced apart by countless blades, the undead army trampled through the silver world.
【Kyaaaaaaah!】
The countless techniques pouring from the mandala patterns collided with shrieking evil spirits drifting through the air.
Hundreds of millions of techniques covered everything in sight.
Yet the number of evil spirits and ghost spirits was no less overwhelming.
A gigantic flesh giant stitched together from enormous corpses blocked the massive swords falling from the sky.
Whenever pieces of the giant were severed or exploded apart—
Its flesh and blood gathered together once more, giving birth to new monsters.
The silver world of the Sword Forest of Dosan became dyed crimson with blood.
The world created by the Martial God crumbled.
The Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor passed through the Microcosm and stood directly before Jang Woo-hyun.
The violent aura he released caused the surrounding space to burst and tear apart.
Jang Woo-hyun attacked using the power of the Star-Destroying Fist.
The Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor blocked it with ease.
Even slashes that transcended space were endured by his incomparably durable body.
Neither his limbs were severed—
Nor did sword slashes erupt from inside his body.
KWAAAAANG!
Every exchange between Jang Woo-hyun and the Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor created explosions too enormous to describe.
The countless explosions born from their clash filled the black universe like the Milky Way.
After destroying the Sword Forest of Dosan, the Sawed Corpse Immortal Emperor turned toward Jang Woo-hyun before entering the battle.
【This ends here.】
At his command, the army of corpses moved.
Countless corpses merged together in an instant, transforming into a gigantic mouth that swallowed the Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor whole.
Before Jang Woo-hyun, a mountain of corpses and bones rose from the ground.
Every corpse screamed in endless agony.
At the summit of the mountain—
The Sawed Corpse Immortal Emperor sat upon his throne of skulls.
Without anyone noticing—
The surroundings had already changed.
No longer was it the universe.
Instead, it was a world overflowing with corpses, blood, bones, and flesh.
Dozens of dark crimson moons floated in the sky.
Gigantic trees made from blood vessels and intestines stretched into the heavens.
【Remarkable.】
Curiosity filled the Sawed Corpse Immortal Emperor's eyes.
【Even now, you still insist on calling yourself human. That very heart will become your greatest weakness.】
Though he had long since transcended humanity and become a supreme being—
Jang Woo-hyun still considered himself human.
From the Sawed Corpse Immortal Emperor's perspective, it made no sense.
Yet that very peculiarity fascinated him.
【I admire that heart. Martial God who still possesses a human heart... you shall become part of me. You shall be reborn as my new vanguard.】
Anyone who drew the Sawed Corpse Immortal Emperor's interest eventually became one of his servants.
There was a reason he had first blown away the Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor before isolating Jang Woo-hyun from the others.
The Sawed Corpse Immortal Emperor rose to his feet, lifting the enormous serrated blade resting beside his throne.
Jang Woo-hyun could not even follow his movement.
Yet the giant blade was already descending toward him.
BOOOOM!
The ground of living flesh split apart, releasing horrifying screams.
The shockwave crushed the flesh beneath them into a swamp of blood.
Kagagagagak!
The serrated teeth of the massive blade ground violently against Baekmu.
Curses powerful enough to destroy a small nation burst like sparks from the collision between sword and blade.
Thousands of curses scattered in every direction.
Breaking through the curses blocking his path, Jang Woo-hyun advanced.
In that instant—
Countless trajectories appeared before his eyes.
Following each trajectory, evil spirits were born.
Corpse Energy and curses surged toward him like a tidal wave.
Jang Woo-hyun tightly gripped Baekmu and thrust directly into the approaching tide of curses and spirits.
BOOOOM!
Every trajectory before him disappeared.
Every evil spirit exploded.
Every curse vanished.
Baekmu knocked aside the enormous serrated blade.
Jang Woo-hyun charged forward.
His next attack aimed directly at the Sawed Corpse Immortal Emperor's chest.
At that very moment—
The moons floating in the sky began to move.
Human faces without pupils appeared across their writhing surfaces.
The hollow eyes all turned toward Jang Woo-hyun.
Clunk!
Baekmu suddenly stopped as though caught by something invisible.
Thump! Thump!
Each time another moon focused its empty gaze upon him, the restraining force grew stronger.
【From this moment onward, you shall remain with me for eternity.】
The Sawed Corpse Immortal Emperor extended his hand.
At that same moment—
Another voice echoed through the world.
【Impossible.】
It was both a declaration and a prophecy.
It was the will of the oldest Immortal Emperor.
Every moon floating in the sky was cut cleanly in half.
KWAAAAANG!
Part of the world created by the Sawed Corpse Immortal Emperor collapsed.
The Sword Tree Immortal Emperor emerged.
【That one is destined to become my sword. Stand aside.】
He swung his sword once more.
Cracks spread throughout the world.
Immediately afterward, the Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor and the others shattered the world itself.
【You intend to keep such an interesting opponent all to yourself after all this time? That's unacceptable!】
The Radiant Sun Immortal Emperor laughed loudly as he charged toward Jang Woo-hyun.
The Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor followed close behind.
The Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor advanced while releasing overwhelming savagery.
The Radiant Sun Immortal Emperor burned with the will to incinerate everything.
Jang Woo-hyun did not retreat.
He confronted both of them head-on.
He deflected the Fierce Demon's claw.
He split apart the flames unleashed by the Radiant Sun Immortal Emperor.
But that was not the end.
The Azure Lotus Immortal Emperor, arriving a moment later, restrained Jang Woo-hyun's movements.
Everything around them froze.
Even time itself seemed frozen, flowing sluggishly.
The three Immortal Emperors smiled as they advanced together.
The situation was now the complete opposite of when he had fought the Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable.
This time—
Jang Woo-hyun was the one being overwhelmed.
He opened the Microcosm once more and unleashed Evil-Slaying Single Flash in every direction.
The entire world was swallowed by light.
Yet the Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor roared and charged straight through it.
Crunch!
Slowed by the Azure Lotus Immortal Emperor's freezing power, Jang Woo-hyun reacted a fraction too late.
The price was his left arm.
Even so—
He refused to retreat.
Clinging relentlessly to the Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor, he severed both of his wings.
The Radiant Sun Immortal Emperor struck at the perfect moment, blowing away half of Jang Woo-hyun's face.
The Azure Lotus Immortal Emperor's sharp attack tore open his side.
He shattered Azure Lotus's ice.
He knocked aside the Sword Tree Immortal Emperor's blade after he joined the battle.
As for the corpses raining down and obscuring his vision—
He had cut down so many that he no longer remembered the number.
The longer the battle continued—
The more injuries accumulated across Jang Woo-hyun's body.
He had already reached a realm where even losing his head or having his heart destroyed could be restored.
But these opponents were his equals.
Damage inflicted upon his soul and origin could not be healed so easily.
Half his face was gone.
Only one arm remained.
His side had been torn open.
Below the knee, his right leg no longer existed.
Even so—
Jang Woo-hyun did not retreat.
The single remaining eye still blazed with fighting spirit.
Even in this hopeless situation—
He neither feared nor faltered.
Standing proudly, he faced his enemies.
This might truly become the end of Jang Woo-hyun.
Even so—
He had no intention of giving up.
'I'm taking at least one or two of them with me.'
The Three Thousand Radiant Silver Treasure Heavenly Venerable's scheme.
His future plans.
A way to survive.
None of it mattered anymore.
He would simply do what he could.
Swing his sword.
Destroy his enemies.
Nothing more.
Ironically—
It was the Immortal Emperors who became unsettled.
【.......】
Jang Woo-hyun's figure reminded them of that terrifying man.
The True Martial God, Lee Tae-seong.
The man who had stood alone against the entire Upper Realm.
The circumstances were different.
His power was still lacking.
Yet somehow—
His image overlapped with Lee Tae-seong's.
【I withdraw my offer to make you my sword. You are far too dangerous.】
Even the beast-like Fierce Demon Immortal Emperor silently agreed with the Sword Tree Immortal Emperor's judgment.
Though they held the advantage—
Fear slowly began to take root within the Immortal Emperors' hearts.
【Your dazzling talent is regrettable... but this is where it ends.】
The possibility of another True Martial God being born united all five Immortal Emperors.
The outcome had already been decided.
All they needed to do was finish him.
What had frightened them was not Jang Woo-hyun's current strength.
It was the presence and spirit that reminded them of Lee Tae-seong.
Beginning with the Sword Tree Immortal Emperor—
The remaining Immortal Emperors attacked together.
Gripping Baekmu tightly, Jang Woo-hyun prepared to face every attack.
No matter how impossible the odds—
He had no intention of dying without resistance.
Out of long habit, Jang Woo-hyun stepped forward.
Though his origin had been damaged and he could no longer unleash his full strength—
He still advanced.
Just before Jang Woo-hyun and the five Immortal Emperors collided—
【Defend!】
Countless black holes suddenly appeared between them.
Every attack was swallowed into the black holes.
【Dark! What trick are you playing?!】
Recognizing the identity of the black holes, the Sword Tree Immortal Emperor shouted toward their creator.
His voice carried intense anger.
The person in question, however, seemed completely unconcerned.
A humanoid figure, as though formed entirely from condensed darkness, appeared before Jang Woo-hyun.
【Ugh... Even for me, blocking all of those is exhausting.】
The Dark Immortal Emperor.
The mysterious Immortal Emperor who had only watched until now—
Finally entered the battle.
【What trick? Nothing like that. I just think things will be more entertaining if they go this way.】
【I have no intention of indulging your games.】
The five Immortal Emperors attacked once more.
【Defend! Defend! Defend!】
The Dark Immortal Emperor continuously created black holes, blocking every attack.
【Aaaagh! I'm going to die!】
After blocking several more attacks—
The Dark Immortal Emperor let out an exaggerated scream before turning toward Jang Woo-hyun.
Though his face had neither eyes, nose, nor mouth—
Jang Woo-hyun somehow felt that he was smiling.
【See? You really did have something hidden.】
As though those words were the signal—
A brilliant golden light erupted from Jang Woo-hyun's chest.