Chapter 61
The moment Murong Dangcheon summoned his violet sword aura—
Suddenly, Sa Mihyang raised the corners of her lips and spoke.
"That thick and vivid sword aura... As expected of someone who became the youngest elder of the Murong clan."
A deep interest glimmered in Sa Mihyang's eyes. As if she had discovered a fascinating toy, her gaze became greedily gleaming.
"This changes things, doesn't it?"
"?"
"Murong Dangcheon, if you want to save your life, then listen closely."
"What...?"
"Finish what the Three Souls Hall failed to do. If you gather the children again and offer them to our cult, you will receive the protection of the Demonic Cult and become a conqueror of the Central Plains."
"......!"
"But if you refuse even this offer, I can no longer let you live."
Murong Dangcheon's pupils trembled.
'To be sponsored by the Demonic Cult...?'
The reason Sa Mihyang suddenly proposed such a deal was simple.
Currently, under the new Heavenly Demon, the Demonic Cult was secretly expanding its influence.
If a Righteous sect like the Mocheon Sect sided with them, their plans in the Central Plains would proceed much more smoothly, especially with infiltrating spies into the Murim Alliance.
The moment Sa Mihyang made that sweet offer—
"Haha... Hahahahahaha!"
Murong Dangcheon suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.
"What's so amusing?"
"You said you're the Demonic Radiance Hall leader, didn't you."
"?"
"Do you even know who I am, and yet dare to make such a proposal?"
Murong Dangcheon released an intense murderous intent. His eyes gleamed with profound indignation.
Anyone would see him as a villain, but he never saw himself that way.
He was a descendant of the great Murong, one of the Five Great Clans, and believed himself to be a star supporting the Righteous world.
Yet to someone like him, they speak nonsense about becoming a minion of the Demonic Cult!
'How dare you spew such nonsense to the blood of the great Murong!'
Murong Dangcheon was about to unleash his killing move, brimming with murderous intent.
The very next moment—
'?!'
A stir came from behind Murong Dangcheon. Several energies were swiftly approaching.
It was Jaseong's group and the Seven Sages of the South Sea.
They were already passing the entrance to Gui Lin Valley, closing in rapidly.
Sensing their presence, Murong Dangcheon had a sudden idea.
Fight poison with poison.
Pacify barbarians with barbarians.
Sss—
Next, Murong Dangcheon extinguished the violet sword aura he had summoned to his sword hilt.
The resplendent energy vanished instantly, and his sword reverted to an ordinary piece of iron.
"Hoo... Fine."
"?"
"If you all have the ability to handle the pursuers coming after me, I'll consider joining the Demonic Cult."
The Demonic Cultists looked puzzled by the sudden withdrawal of murderous intent and change of mind.
In contrast, Demonic Radiance Hall leader Sa Mihyang gave a wry smile.
She could roughly guess the scheme behind Murong Dangcheon's abrupt shift.
'He still doesn't fully grasp the terror of our cult.'
For now, Sa Mihyang nodded with a smirk.
"Very well. Whoever the pursuers are, I'll slice them to bits for you."
An inscrutable smile played at her lips.
* * *
At the very moment Murong Dangcheon and Sa Mihyang struck their deal, Jaseong's group sensed something in the forest had shifted.
"Hold up."
Mu Gangpyeon, third Elder of the Seven Sages of the South Sea, stopped the group.
His sharp eyes stared ahead.
"Can you all feel this energy? The enemy is not just Murong Dangcheon."
At his words, the other elders nodded one by one.
True experts, they spread their senses wide and detected the energies of their foes.
"Tremendous ki... and something seems off about it..."
Second Elder Jin Yeongbong muttered as he gripped his staff.
At that moment, both Jaseong and Lee Rin activated their Seeking Light in the Darkness.
Soon, they sensed not just Murong Dangcheon, but more than a dozen enemies about fifty zhang ahead.
[So even Murong Dangcheon, who's been fleeing from us, suddenly has reinforcements... Where did these backup come from?]
Lee Rin used sound transmission, her face puzzling as she couldn't quite understand.
Jaseong was equally at a loss.
[They can't be disciples of Mocheon Sect. They couldn't possibly have this much energy.]
[I agree. Still, with over fifteen enemies of such internal power appearing, we need a strategy... What do you think, great Hero?]
While Jaseong pondered coldly, second Elder Hae Punggeon cracked his metal gloves together and spoke.
"No matter how many enemies there are, it doesn't matter. I will cut down that beast in human form who heartlessly cut down even his own son in his desperation to live!"
It was just like Hae Punggeon, famed as the most hot-blooded of the Seven Sages.
At his words, the other elders nodded as well.
It would not suit their reputation to halt the pursuit simply because their enemy's numbers increased.
"Let's go!"
Led by First Elder Hae Cheoldo, the group of old experts rushed into the forest.
[Leader. What shall we do?]
Gu Janghu asked.
[Let's follow them for now.]
Jaseong replied after a brief thought. But as he followed behind the Seven Sages, he was already plotting something else in secret.
'I have an odd feeling about this. At times like this, first...'
With his Samadhi Eyes activated, Jaseong's gaze was searching in a direction different from that of the Seven Sages.
* * *
About half an hour after, at last, the Seven Sages came face to face with Murong Dangcheon.
Whoosh—
In the darkness of the gorge, Murong Dangcheon was standing tall, beside him a seductive woman covered in crimson tattoos.
'This demonic energy...'
First Elder Hae Cheoldo's eyes widened.
'Could it be the Demonic Cult...?!'
Mu Gangpyeon's iron staff trembled.
Having survived the Great Heavenly Demon War, these old experts instantly recognized the demonic energy of Sa Mihyang standing beside Murong Dangcheon.
The moment they realized Murong Dangcheon's backup was the Demonic Cult, a tide of fury swept across the Seven Sages' faces.
"... For all the sacrifice and destruction the Demonic Cult suffered in that Great Heavenly Demon War, to think you worms still exist in the Central Plains."
"......"
"Murong Dangcheon. Not only did you collude with the Three Souls Hall, now you've become a dog to the Demonic Cult?"
First Elder Hae Cheoldo thundered, his white hair bristling like a lion's mane from rage.
"There's no need to take you to the Murim Alliance! In the name of Hainan, I will execute you right here!"
Hae Cheoldo drew the Haecheoljungdo from his back, raising it high. The heavy blade shone with an icy blue light.
An overpowering ki burst from the old expert, yet Murong Dangcheon didn't budge.
Instead, he turned to look at Sa Mihyang.
"You said you'd show your skill. They are the Seven Sages of the South Sea, elders of the Hainan Sect. Can you kill them?"
Sa Mihyang flashed a sly smile, her fingers lightly caressing the Blood Glamour Thread at her waist.
"So that's the Seven Sages... I've heard of them. Those bumpkins from southern Hainan Province making a fuss above their standing, right?"
"Bumpkin?!"
Second Elder Jin Yeongbong burst out in fury. At that moment, Sa Mihyang lightly flicked her hand.
"Blood Glamour Ten Thousand Threads!"
Crimson threads exploded from her fingertips.
Tens of thousands of blood threads spread through the air like a spiderweb, surrounding the Seven Sages.
On each and every strand, sharp sword energy vibrated—a testament to the enormity of Sa Mihyang's internal power.
Facing this, Hae Cheoldo was the first to swing his blade.
"Reverse Wave Saber—Breaker Thunder of the Shattering Sea!"
A blue sword energy rushed like waves, slashing apart the blood threads before his eyes.
"Sea Wave Fist—Ten Thousand Tides at Dusk!"
Next up, Hae Punggeon thrust his gauntleted fists forward.
Fist energy layered like ten thousand waves, sweeping away Sa Mihyang's threads.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Mu Gangpyeon's iron staff whirled, aiming at Sa Mihyang.
Jin Yeongbong's staff followed, while Fifth Elder Hae Gwangyong's spear spun fiercely, targeting Sa Mihyang's back.
But the counterattacks of the three elders ended in futility—sixteen subordinates of Demonic Radiance Hall blocked their way.
'Damn cultists...! We slaughtered so many, where do they keep crawling out from?!'
These sixteen Demonic Radiance Hall subordinates following Sa Mihyang were at least in the mid- to late-First-rate.
Even the Seven Sages couldn't cut them down lightly.
At that moment, Murong Dangcheon moved.
"Heaven and Earth Hundred Ultimate Sword Solution: First Move, creation of Heaven and Earth!"
A massive violet sword aura slashed down from the sky.
Boom!
The ground split and trees were uprooted. 6th Elder Jinmyeong barely dodged, yet shock shone in his eyes.
'For Murong Dangcheon's power to be at this level...!'
And the Heaven and Earth Hundred Ultimate Sword Solution was only getting started.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
The Murong sword aura cleaved the world—displaying a hundred techniques that left no doubt as to how he became the Murong clan's youngest elder.
Combined with Sa Mihyang's blood threads and the joint formation of Demonic Radiance Hall experts, the Seven Sages were under dire threat.
Each of the Seven Sages brought out their ultimate moves in resistance, beads of sweat on their brows.
'... Up until we were chasing Murong Dangcheon I thought we had a fair chance.'
'But for the Demonic Cult to appear and disrupt everything...!'
'Where did the young leader from the Hao Sect, who came with us, disappear to? Did he sense danger and run away...?!'
Mu Gangpyeon glanced around.
But at this moment, Jaseong's party was nowhere to be seen.
* * *
Meanwhile, Gu Janghu and Lee Rin were watching the fierce battle from behind the bushes.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Deafening booms tore at their ears, broken stone splinters flew everywhere.
'Just what has the young leader gone off to do?'
Gu Janghu muttered with a nervous expression.
While the Seven Sages risked their lives in a deathmatch with Murong Dangcheon and the cultists, Jaseong had suddenly vanished, leaving Lee Rin and Gu Janghu unable to join the fight—only dryly swallowing as they waited for him to return.
Then, Lee Rin sound-transmitted to Gu Janghu.
[Great hero Gu, I'd long heard Murong Dangcheon was an immense expert... but seeing it in person, he's even greater than I imagined...? And to think we were trying to hunt such a peak-level expert....]
At that, Gu Janghu replied as he kept a wary eye on Sa Mihyang.
[And the cultists aren't ordinary experts either. Especially that red-tattooed woman—she looks like a rakshasa dragged up from hell.]
[Even if we help the Seven Sages, will we stand a chance? With sixteen experts from the cult on the field....]
[But how long must we keep watching? At this rate the Seven Sages might all fall....]
As soon as Gu Janghu finished sending his worried transmission, chaos erupted.
Splurt!
"Ugh!!"
Second Elder Jin Yeongbong among the Seven Sages let out a cry in the gorge.
A fountain of crimson blood spurted from his right shoulder—Sa Mihyang's blood thread had deeply slashed him.
That wasn't all. The martial robes of the other elders were stained with blood as well.
Hae Cheoldo's white hair was matted with sweat and blood, Hae Punggeon's left arm was covered in a deep sword wound.
The cultists were not unscathed either. Four Demonic Radiance Hall experts lay headless on the ground.
Murong Dangcheon, too, staggered and spat blood after taking Hae Punggeon's fist energy head-on.
Yet the Seven Sages had no hope of victory, for Demonic Radiance Hall leader Sa Mihyang was still standing.
Her blood threads coiled through the air like tens of thousands of serpents, the sharp sword aura on each end driving the Seven Sages into constant retreat.
Her power overwhelmed anyone present.
At that moment—
Rustle—
A shadow silently emerged from the bushes.
Jaseong had returned by silently stepping with the Shadowless Body Technique.
[Great Hero! Where have you been?!]
Lee Rin asked with a sigh of relief.
Jaseong was holding a leather pouch in his hand, heavy and tightly bound.
[I was late obtaining this.]
[What is that?]
[Spores of the Hell Bell Mushroom.]
[What...?]
Lee Rin and Gu Janghu's eyes widened at the same time.
Hell Bell Mushroom—a deadly black fungus, the most dangerous in Gui Lin Valley. Its spores induced violent hallucinations, eventually rendering one unconscious.
Back when he was a junior guard, Jaseong had often picked Hell Bell Mushrooms while passing through Gui Lin Valley.
Physicians used the hallucinogenic spores to anesthetize patients.
They fetched a high price, but harvesting them was so dangerous that even experienced escort warriors avoided them—one mishap, and they'd be poisoned.
But as a child, Jaseong had risked his life to pick the mushroom spores—doing whatever it took to survive.
Now, that experience formed the basis for his clever plan.
[Hold your breath, all of you.]
With internal energy, Jaseong threw the pouch straight into the frantic melee.
Whish!
The pouch cut through the air, flying toward Murong Dangcheon.
'?!'
Even amid battle, Murong Dangcheon sensed the object flying at him. Like lightning, he slashed it open with sword light. In that instant—
Rip! Fsss—
A hazy fog filled the gorge. The spores of Hell Bell Mushroom burst forth all at once.
"Ghh?!"
Murong Dangcheon and the Seven Sages reflexively held their breath, using internal energy to burn away the spores seeping through their skin.
But Demonic Radiance Hall's subordinates couldn't manage this.
Though First-rate experts, their internal energy couldn't match the masters, and they succumbed to the Mushroom's violent hallucinations.
"Gah! Kek!"
"M-my eyes! I can't see...!"
"Eheheh... this brothel..."
The cult experts' eyes started losing focus. Taking this chance, Gu Janghu rose from the bushes.
'Shadowed Flying Art—Three-Flash Blood Shadow!'
Gu Janghu's flexing blade drew crimson arcs, raining down upon the cult experts.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Lost in hallucinations, the First-rate cultists collapsed in one blow, blood spurting from their throats.
Each strike precisely targeted the carotid.
"Frost Jade Palm!"
Lee Rin exhaled frosty air through nose and mouth, launching a palm wind infused with chilling energy.
White cold burst forth from her palm with a roar, freezing the air ahead for over ten zhang in a raging blizzard.
"Aaaargh!"
"Kegh!!"
The freezing power made the cult experts scream as their bodies turned to ice.
'What is this...?!'
For the first time, the ever-confident Sa Mihyang showed a look of true dismay at Jaseong's group's sudden ambush.
The very subordinates she counted among the cult's elite were being wiped out almost in vain.
Murong Dangcheon's eyes shook as well.
'Who are they?! Where did these experts suddenly appear from...?!'
As Murong Dangcheon faltered—
Boom!
A massive energy rushed toward Murong Dangcheon's back—a golden sword light tearing through the darkness like lightning.
Clang!!!
Murong Dangcheon twisted just in time to block the ambush. Sword clashed with sword, sparks flying.
"Who are you?!"
Murong Dangcheon scowled.
Jaseong replied coldly.
"I am the leader of Hao Sect Ansun Branch."
"... Hao Sect branch leader? Don't tell me you're the one who interfered in the Mocheon Sect's operations all this time...?!"
"That's right. The Kaiyang Society, the Three Souls Hall—they all fell by my hand. And now, I've left you in that sorry state."
At Jaseong's words, Murong Dangcheon's face twisted.
"... How convenient. I was just thinking of killing you, and you've come waltzing in yourself!"
"Likewise."
"What?"
"I've wanted to kill you. Very much so."
As Jaseong calmly spoke, blue light blazed in his eyes. At that moment, memories from his past flashed before him.
—Jaseong, eat a lot. Your big brother is already full, heh heh.
His stupidly selfless eldest big brother, always giving up his own share for his little brother.
—Young master, tonight's dinner is your favorite—dumplings. Come, sit quickly.
His sister-in-law, who doted on Jaseong as her own brother. The warm meals she served, the laughter-filled evenings despite their poverty.
Recalling all those memories, Jaseong lifted his sword high.
'... I made a promise.
To become an expert that could shake the world,
to tear apart the limbs of those who killed my eldest brother and sister-in-law,
and to wipe out everything related to them.
Finally... today is the day to keep that promise!'