Chapter 53
Three breaths before the barrage of hidden weapons from the men in black clothes.
The White-haired Blade Elder and the three leaders of Three Souls Hall were locked in a bloody battle, unaware of who might be lurking nearby.
Kang! Kaang!
The blade of White-haired Blade Elder clashed fiercely with the swords of the Three Souls Hall leaders, sending out sharp sparks.
"Urgh...!"
Second Soul gritted his teeth and was flung backward.
His Dark Soul Slash was overpowered by the sword energy of White-haired Blade Elder and scattered in midair.
"Ugh...!"
Third Soul swung his sword as he retreated.
Beneath his mask, beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
'Damn this old man... We've been fighting for hours and he's still completely fine! He really is a monster!'
The only one who could stand up to the blade energy of White-haired Blade Elder was First Soul.
His sword movements writhed like a viper, constantly seeking out the elder's blind spots.
Then suddenly—
Shuak! Shuak! Shuak! Shuak! Shuak! Shuak!
Sharp hidden weapons flew out of the darkness, hurtling toward White-haired Blade Elder.
The weapons caught the moonlight, flashing like black streaks.
'Poison...!'
As a peak expert, White-haired Blade Elder instantly sensed the poison and hurriedly leaped back.
He then swung his blade in a wide horizontal arc.
KAAAAANG!!!!
Divine Claw Blade Art—Seventh form: Sun's Return Splitting the Mountain.
The sword energy from this move knocked away over a dozen hidden weapons at once.
The ensuing gale instantly scattered the poisonous fumes and swept over the rooftop.
It was a display befitting the renowned name of Shadowless Divine Thief.
'Who the hell are those people...?'
White-haired Blade Elder wondered inwardly as he stared in the direction the hidden weapons had come from.
Men in black clothes with black masks emerged from the darkness.
'They don't seem to be members of Three Souls Hall that I've identified so far...'
The true identity of the black-clad attackers who ambushed White-haired Blade Elder:
They were the subordinates and henchmen of Faceless Ghost, the elite assassin working for Murong Dangcheon, master of the Mocheon Sect.
These people had always operated in the shadows of the Murong clan.
Their reason for appearing in Wandering Warrior Village was simple.
Murong Dangcheon had sent them out of concern that he might repeat his failure at the Kaiyang Society.
[You boasted so much, yet you still struggle. Was Three Souls Hall's renowned name just for show?]
Faceless Ghost frowned and sent a silent message to the three leaders of Three Souls Hall.
At this, Third Soul scowled in turn and replied in the same manner.
[Then why don't you try facing this old man yourself?]
Faceless Ghost gave no answer.
Naturally, he too could immediately tell that White-haired Blade Elder was a martial artist of peerless skill.
To be honest, even he himself would not dare challenge such a master.
'I had heard rumors that a reclusive expert called White-haired Blade Elder lived in Wandering Warrior Village... But to think his skill was this monstrous. Why on earth would someone like that hide out here?'
Not realizing that White-haired Blade Elder was Shadowless Divine Thief himself, Faceless Ghost muttered to himself.
Even so, Faceless Ghost judged that the odds were in his favor.
He was known as a master swordsman even by the standards of the Murong clan.
If he, the three leaders of Three Souls Hall, and the Mocheon Sect's elites joined forces, surely they could take down White-haired Blade Elder.
But just as Faceless Ghost and his subordinates were about to surround White-haired Blade Elder—
[Stay out of this.]
First Soul radiated deadly intent and sent a silent warning toward Faceless Ghost.
His eyes beneath the mask gleamed with poison.
[If we don't interfere, how do you three expect to defeat that old man?]
[We're about to take care of it.]
[What? Says the ones who've been fighting all night! What ridiculous bravado!]
Faceless Ghost sent his reply with a scowl.
Instead of answering, First Soul pulled a small jade vial from his breast.
〈Devil Soul Frenzy Elixir〉
This name was engraved on the outside of the vial.
First Soul brought the vial to his lips and gulped it down.
Immediately, a deep, black energy began to emanate from his body.
The air atop the roof gradually became thick and ominous.
"That energy... Don't tell me... did you obtain a demonic elixir from the Demonic Cult?!"
White-haired Blade Elder's eyes widened in shock.
As someone who had been active since the Great Heavenly Demon War, he recognized at once the elixir First Soul consumed.
First Soul responded coldly.
"I gained a stroke of fortune."
"A fortune? Do you call a demonic elixir a fortune without even knowing how dangerous it is?!"
"I don't care. Even if this elixir shortens my lifespan... grrk?!"
First Soul's voice was cut off.
Crunch! Crack!
His body made strange noises as it swelled.
His muscles expanded abnormally, and his eyes turned bloodshot.
"......!"
A gasp rippled through those present as First Soul's body twisted grotesquely.
The one most shocked was White-haired Blade Elder, who had been in the midst of fighting First Soul.
He paused, thinking for a moment that his disciple was succumbing to ki deviation.
But just as White-haired Blade Elder was about to say something to First Soul—
"Shadowless Sword Art, first form Sun Leaves Traceless!"
First Soul's swordlight flowed with a black hue beneath the moon, sweeping over White-haired Blade Elder.
KAAANG!
White-haired Blade Elder quickly raised his blade and adopted a defensive stance.
But at the moment of contact, his body was pushed back with a sharp sliding sound.
'Ugh?! His internal strength is vastly stronger than before!'
White-haired Blade Elder's arm tingled faintly.
That was how much stronger First Soul's internal power had become.
Meanwhile, Jaseong and his companions, who lay hidden on another rooftop, also widened their eyes at the scene.
[What was that elixir the leader of Three Souls Hall just drank? How could his power suddenly shoot up like that?]
Lee Rin asked via sound transmission.
Dark Needle Venom Empress answered in a low voice:
[It's most likely the demonic elixir Devil Soul Frenzy.]
[Devil Soul Frenzy?]
[Yes. It forcibly expands the energy channels and makes your energy surge explosively. But the side effects are brutal. Not only does it shorten your lifespan, if you overdose, you'll lose your mind and become a monster like the demonic humans of the Great Heavenly Demon War!]
[Monsters...?]
[In any case, for the leader of Three Souls Hall to possess Devil Soul Frenzy... It looks like he's even more closely tied to the Demonic Cult than the rumors claimed!]
Hearing this, chills ran through Jaseong's eyes.
After all, the Demonic Cult was the enemy that killed his sister-in-law and unborn nephew.
[Leader. What should we do?]
[We move, now.]
[Which way, great hero?]
[First, let's take care of those men in black clothes.]
Just as Jaseong replied, the men in black clothes were already preparing to throw more hidden weapons.
Their poisoned needles glinted in the moonlight, aimed at White-haired Blade Elder.
At Jaseong's signal, Dark Needle Venom Empress and Gu Janghu nodded and produced hidden weapons of their own.
The next moment—
Shuak! Shuak! Shuak! Shuak!
Dark Needle Venom Empress unleashed her trump technique, the Twelve Celestial Needles.
Twelve hidden weapon needles ripped through the darkness like shooting stars, targeting the men in black clothes.
Gu Janghu also displayed Killing Valley's assassination art, the Shadowed Flying Art.
Scarlet trails from his willow-leaf flying blades zeroed in on the opponents' vital points.
Pshk! Pshk!
"Gurk?!"
"Khek?!"
Two Mocheon Sect elites instantly poured blood fountains from their necks and collapsed.
They were completely unprepared—never expecting anyone to ambush them.
But Faceless Ghost was different.
He reflexively swung his sword—Ka-ka-kang!—deflecting the hidden weapons.
With reflexes worthy of Murong Dangcheon's most trusted henchman, he proved himself a true expert.
"Who are you people?!"
Faceless Ghost shouted, his gaze under the mask burning with killing intent.
The one who stepped forward was Lee Rin, her face hidden beneath her mask.
A thin white breath spilled from her nose and mouth.
'Ice Lord Asura Sword Art, Ninth Form: Heavenly Snow Falling Petals.'
Lee Rin leapt from the rooftop, sword slashing.
Her blade tore through the air, scattering thousands of snow blossoms.
The swordlight flowed as gently as a carpet of petals, but within it dwelled a cold that chilled to the bone.
KAAANG!
Faceless Ghost reflexively raised his sword and blocked Lee Rin's surprise attack.
But at that instant—
'Ugh?!'
The moment their blades met, searing cold flowed through the sword hilt and froze both of Faceless Ghost's hands.
It was the effect of North Sea Ice Palace's secret art: Ice Lord Asura Sword Art.
Nonetheless, living up to his role as the right hand of the Mocheon Sect leader, Faceless Ghost promptly circulated his internal power to drive out the cold.
To conceal his identity, he used not the Murong clan's sword art but Shadow Wind Sword Art.
Papapapat!!!
A tempest of sharp strikes from the Shadow Wind Sword Art flooded toward Lee Rin.
He truly was a master bladesman who had resolved the Murong clan's secrets from the shadows for years.
But Lee Rin did not back down.
There was no need.
Ka-ka-kang!
The next moment, Gu Janghu joined the fray, blocking the sword barrage from Faceless Ghost.
He exhibited Killing Valley's secret footwork, concealed Shadow Drifting Art.
His form flowed like a shadow, slipping into Faceless Ghost's blind side.
Lee Rin too displayed the swordsmanship of the North Sea to its fullest, pressing Faceless Ghost hard.
Her blade drove forward like a snowstorm, radiating deadly cold.
'Who the hell are these freaks?! Where did such experts just spring up from?!'
Overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of two young masters, Faceless Ghost found himself pushed to the defensive.
He hoped for aid from his subordinates—unfortunately, they were already locked in mortal combat with Dark Needle Venom Empress.
Now, Faceless Ghost looked toward the three leaders of Three Souls Hall.
Only they could help him now.
At that time, First Soul used the power of Devil Soul Frenzy to unleash an overwhelming surge of force against White-haired Blade Elder.
But as a seasoned veteran, White-haired Blade Elder wielded the essence of Flow, deflecting all of First Soul's attacks.
But when Second Soul and Third Soul joined in, White-haired Blade Elder began to be pushed back.
Worse yet, next moment—
"?!"
Second Soul and Third Soul also drew small jade vials from their sleeves.
Not only First Soul, but they too had obtained Devil Soul Frenzy from the Demonic Cult.
Gulp! Gulp!
"Grrraaaagh!"
"Aaaargh!"
As Second Soul and Third Soul drank the Devil Soul Frenzy, their bodies twisted with strange noises.
Their muscles bulged grotesquely, eyes turned red,
and black energy oozed all around them.
"Even those two... I can't believe they also had Devil Soul Frenzy...!"
Dark Needle Venom Empress muttered in shock.
"This is bad! We can't win this! We have to retreat!"
Her voice trembled with fear.
No one knew the effects of Devil Soul Frenzy better than she did.
With three people having consumed that overwhelming elixir, it was natural for her to panic.
Even Lee Rin and Gu Janghu, engaged in battle, turned grim eyes toward the three leaders of Three Souls Hall.
"How did you fall so far?! Instead of walking the way of Shadowless I taught, you rely on the Demonic Cult's sorcery...!!!"
White-haired Blade Elder's voice was soaked with deep regret and sorrow.
A single tear rolled from the elderly master's eyes.
He had tried until the end to save his disciples, but they had gone too far.
Ka-ka-ka-kang! Ka-ka-ka-kang! KWANG!
Seeing three disciples drive their master into a corner using the Demonic Cult's power—it was a tragic sight.
The White-haired Blade Elder's white hair was soaked with blood and sweat, heavy with grief.
Each time their moves clashed, he was pushed one step back.
'Is this the end...?'
* * *
But just as White-haired Blade Elder fell into despair—
FLASH! KWAKANG!!!
A blinding flash exploded before his eyes.
Then, like lightning, someone appeared and blocked all of Three Souls Hall's attacks.
"Y-you...?!"
White-haired Blade Elder's eyes widened in utter shock.
Standing before him was Jaseong.
An overwhelming golden energy radiated from his whole body.
He had opened the seventh gate—the Gate of Shock—of the Celestial Gate Opening Art.
This was the strength he had been reserving, waiting on the rooftop until the right moment.
"How did you climb up from those cliffs?! Or rather, what is that power?!"
White-haired Blade Elder exclaimed in disbelief.
Jaseong replied calmly.
"Shadowless Divine Thief. I heard about your situation from Dark Needle Venom Empress."
"...!"
"You wanted to deal with your fallen disciples with your own hands. Or perhaps save them one last time."
"...!"
"Well, whatever your reasons, you're not the only one who has business with those people."
Jaseong turned his eyes to the three leaders of Three Souls Hall.
"So you're the Three Souls Hall trash I've heard about."
His taunt made the leaders' faces twist with anger.
"Who the hell are you?"
First Soul asked, emanating a dangerous aura.
Jaseong answered calmly.
"Hao Sect Ansun Branch leader."
"... Hao Sect? What brings the Hao Sect here?"
"Garbage collection."
"What...?"
"Human trafficking, plundering wealth, murdering innocents... The reasons you scum deserve to die today are endless. But above all... Consorting with the Demonic Cult is a karma worthy of death a thousand times over!"
WHOOOSH!
The air above the roof quaked, howling from Jaseong's killing intent.
Recalling the day the Demonic Cult took his sister-in-law and unborn nephew, his eyes burned icy blue.
'I swore...
To erase everyone involved with the Demonic Cult that killed my sister-in-law and everyone connected to them...
And today, I finally get to keep one of those promises.'
The calamity of the Red Light District, a disaster sent by heaven.
The greatest prodigy to inherit Heaven's Mandate had come to punish the infamous black path Three Souls Hall of the Central Plains.