Chapter 145
Jaseong activated the Samadhi Eyes, reading the flow of energy as he headed toward the deepest part.
There, he found the study.
The study was filled with all sorts of ancient books and documents.
Jaseong stood in the center of the room, scanning his surroundings.
Saaa—
In the vision granted by the Samadhi Eyes, he detected a minuscule flow of energy seeping from behind the bookshelf.
'Over there.'
Without hesitation, Jaseong approached the bookshelf. When he touched a particular book, there was a clicking sound and the shelf slid to the side.
Behind it, a secret space hidden discreetly was revealed.
Inside the secret chamber, countless ledgers and correspondence were stored in chests.
Jaseong swiftly pulled out a ledger and opened it.
Rustle.
Jaseong's gaze rapidly scanned the documents. Soon enough, his eyes sharpened with fierce intensity.
'... These are!'
The ledger meticulously detailed the production volumes at Soul-Bewildering Powder, distribution routes, and the earnings collected from pleasure districts in each region.
Its scale was beyond imagination. It was dirty money earned by addicting tens of thousands of commoners.
And on the very last page of the ledger, the purpose of this operation was written in clear terms.
[Cut off Hao Sect's financial resources to prevent them from coming into the light. At the same time, create enormous profits for the revival of the clan. A plan that kills two birds with one stone.]
"Ha...."
Dry laughter escaped Jaseong's lips.
Those who prided themselves as the righteous sects were sacrificing commoners as pawns merely to protect their own vested interests.
But the surprises didn't end there.
Deep within the chest, Jaseong found a letter sealed with a red stamp.
A vivid seal at the bottom of the letter. It belonged to the alliance leader of the Murim Alliance.
[Collaborate with the Sichuan Tang Clan and accelerate the production at Soul-Bewildering Powder. Use whatever means are necessary; stopping the expansion of the Hao Sect's influence is the top priority. And blame Poison Valley.]
Namgung Cheon-rui. That old fox had personally issued these orders.
A chilly fury flickered in Jaseong's eyes.
'Even the Murim Alliance is involved... No, the alliance leader himself is pulling the strings.'
The Murong Clan, Hebei Peng Clan, Sichuan Tang Clan, and now even the alliance leader.
The pillars of the orthodox factions, all acting in concert, committing this vile conspiracy.
Crack!
Jaseong gripped the letter so hard that it crumpled in his hand.
"Branch chief, I've gathered everything we need,"
Gu Janghu said, putting the ledgers and letters away in his clothes, his expression equally grim.
"Let's go. With this evidence, we can tear off their masks."
Nodding, Jaseong gently stroked Mansul and activated the concealment technique.
Since even Mansul could not use the technique indefinitely, they needed to hurry and escape this place.
But just as they were about to leave the manor building—
"Someone's here."
A cold, weighty voice pressed down on the air of the study.
"......!"
Both Jaseong and Gu Janghu froze at once. A chill of murderous intent ran down their spines.
Creak—
The tightly closed study door slowly opened. Beyond it, an old man appeared.
A robust frame with white hair swept back.
His face was deeply etched with wrinkles—traces of many years—but his eyes remained as sharp as a beast's.
With each step he took, the floor seemed to tremble, so fierce was his presence.
He was the elder of the Hebei Peng Clan and current commander of the Iron Wall Squad—Iron Wall Demon Palm, Peng Mugeuk.
Staring into the empty study, he fixed his gaze exactly where Jaseong and Gu Janghu stood.
"You're not martial masters... Are you sorcerers from the Deviant Path?"
"......"
"Vermin playing at impressive concealment techniques, I see. But you are far from deceiving someone who's lived in the martial world for decades."
Peng Mugeuk clenched his fist.
With a cracking sound, a shimmering, heatwave-like enhanced energy billowed around his hand.
"Reveal yourselves. Unless you want to be torn to pieces by my hand."
Jaseong bit his lip. An expert capable of seeing through even Mansul's concealment.
It was a super-sensory ability that only those at the late peak realm could possess.
'I can't avoid this.'
Jaseong slowly gripped his sword hilt.
If he was to bring out the evidence of the Hebei Peng Clan's and Murong Clan's creation and distribution of Soul-Bewildering Powder, he had to surpass this mountain of an obstacle.
* * *
At last, Peng Mugeuk unleashed a fist wind at the place where Jaseong and Gu Janghu were hiding.
Boom!
With a heavy tearing air sound splitting the void, an invisible, giant fist struck the space.
Crash! Crash!
Cracks began to spread in Mansul's concealment barrier. Like glass shattering, spiderweb-like fissures spread through the air.
"Kiruruk?!"
Mansul cried out in pain.
The small creature trembled all over, crimson blood trickling down from its mouth.
It had taken the brunt of a late peak expert's ki-charged strike head-on.
'At this rate, Mansul is in danger.'
Jaseong made a split-second decision. He could no longer remain hidden.
"Mansul. Release the concealment."
At Jaseong's command, the white glow at Mansul's tail faded away.
Ssssk—
As the air rippled, Jaseong and Gu Janghu's forms slowly appeared. They faced Peng Mugeuk directly.
Peng Mugeuk briefly frowned.
"Not only did you use concealment techniques, you even wore a human-skin mask. Truly sinister characters. Who the hell are you?"
Instead of replying, Jaseong recalled the information on the Hebei Peng Clan that Hyang had sent him.
'Elder of the Hebei Peng Clan, Peng Mugeuk.
Alias: Iron Wall Demon Palm.
A late peak expert, renowned for his mastery of the Peng Clan's fist techniques.'
Peng Mugeuk's martial arts were well known even throughout the martial world.
Ten years ago, he had slain one of the Ten Demonic Generals, the Blood-Handed Demon, in under a hundred seconds, spreading his fame far and wide.
He had also once taken on seven unorthodox experts at once and defeated them all.
"So that's it. That sinister combination of concealment techniques and human-skin mask... You lot are Hao Sect rats, aren't you?"
Peng Mugeuk sneered as he spoke, his gaze crawling over Jaseong and Gu Janghu like looking down at insects.
Jaseong answered with icy eyes of his own.
"The real rats are your Hebei Peng Clan and Sichuan Tang Clan, aren't they? You've spread drugs throughout the pleasure districts of the Central Plains with your underhanded schemes."
"That's all for the stability of the martial world! People like you from Hao Sect want to venture into the martial world? You who used to do nothing but sell your bodies and wait tables? No! You belong in darkness forever!"
Peng Mugeuk's eyes were now bloodshot with murderous intent.
At that sight, the Eternal Divine Physician's final words flashed across Jaseong's mind.
—Never use that power the way those hypocrites do.
As his master's last words came to him, Jaseong drew the Wicked Flame Sword.
The jet-black blade gleamed with a cold light, resonating with its master's wrath.
"Your force is impressive, but to think you'd break into a secret Hebei Peng Clan villa. You must not value your life!"
Peng Mugeuk moved first.
Boom!
When the old man stamped his foot, the entire study shook as if hit by an earthquake.
Whoosh!
Peng Mugeuk's huge frame lunged toward Jaseong, leaving only afterimages. His speed was unbelievable for a man his size.
"Iron Mountain Crushing Fist!"
With the pressure of a falling mountain, Peng Mugeuk's fist came crashing down at Jaseong's head.
This was no simple punch—the destructive force within could powder stone.
Jaseong did not retreat. He swung the Wicked Flame Sword and blocked the attack head-on.
Kaaang!
Sword and fist collided, releasing a deafening boom.
The shockwave blasted outward, toppling the study's bookshelves.
Jaseong's body was pushed backward, his feet carving deep grooves into the wooden floor.
'As expected, a late peak master from the Peng Clan's top three... That power is overwhelming.'
Feeling his wrist go numb, Jaseong muttered to himself.
At that moment, Gu Janghu drew his throwing blade to assist.
But Peng Mugeuk did not give him a chance, his other hand flashing like lightning.
"Heaven Thunder Palm Wind!"
Crack-crack-crack!
A flurry of palm winds split the air. Gu Janghu was blown backward before he could even throw his blade.
"Guh!"
Gu Janghu groaned as he slammed into the wall.
"You stay out of this. You're not even worth my time."
Peng Mugeuk sneered, refocusing on Jaseong. He pressed the assault without a pause.
Boom-boom-boom-boom!
A flurry of crushing fist strikes rained down like a storm.
In the slowed world granted by the Samadhi Eyes, Jaseong barely evaded by using the Heaven Evading Phantom Step.
Still, Peng Mugeuk's oppressive force weighed down the very space itself; just dodging rapidly drained Jaseong's stamina.
'I'm still not strong enough.'
Muttering to himself, Jaseong decided he'd tested his abilities far enough.
Most importantly, if he dragged this out any longer, the Iron Wall Squad would swarm in.
And it would take a long time before Mansul's concealment could be used again.
'I'll have to bring out my secret arts.'
Jaseong's eyes flashed. First, he activated the Celestial Gate Opening Art.
Wooooom—
An overwhelming energy exploded from Jaseong's body. The air vibrated, the atmosphere in the study turning heavy and thick.
'First gate, opening Gate!
Second gate, resting Gate!
Third gate, life Gate!
...
Ninth gate, opening Gate!'
In an instant, nine gates opened. Jaseong's energy surged wildly, but he didn't stop.
'Tenth gate, Heaven's Gate!'
BOOM!
A dazzling burst of golden ki exploded from Jaseong's body. Ten gates of the Celestial Gate Opening Art, all the way to Heaven's Gate unlocked in one go.
This was a power that reached beyond the human realm, touching the territory of the supreme peak.
And Jaseong didn't stop there. He began drawing up the innate true ki from his middle dantian.
It felt like a white flame blazing in his heart. With the raised true ki, he awakened the Wicked Flame Sword.
Crackle-hiss!
Black flames erupted along the sword.
It was the moment when the power of the Wicked Flame Sword, one of the Eight Great Treasures of the martial world, was awakened.
"What... What is this energy?!"
Peng Mugeuk, who had until now appeared so at ease, was in shock.
Jaseong's energy, which he'd thought was clearly beneath his own, was now skyrocketing to—and perhaps beyond—his own level.
Overwhelmed by the crushing pressure, Peng Mugeuk broke out in a cold sweat down his spine.
'A mere youngster is exuding an energy like this...! This is on par with the clan head!'
Watching the stunned Peng Mugeuk, Jaseong lowered his stance.
He leveled his sword horizontally—a stance for the Heaven Evading Shadow Annihilation Sword, the secret technique of the Heaven Evading Flash Sword.
Sssss—
It was as if all the light in the surroundings was being drawn into the Wicked Flame Sword.
The energy radiating from the blade seemed to warp the very space.
In the stillness, as if time itself had stopped, only Jaseong and Peng Mugeuk remained.
In that moment, Peng Mugeuk's seasoned instincts warned him: everything would be decided by this single move.
If he couldn't withstand it, he would die.
'I absolutely cannot let that happen!'
Peng Mugeuk gathered his entire internal power. His body swelled, becoming as firm as steel.
The Peng Clan's greatest defensive art: Iron Wall Diamond Body!
His entire body transformed, enveloped in a thick golden ki—it was an absolute defense, impervious to any attack.
'I'll block this move, counterattack at once, and subdue him!'
Peng Mugeuk gritted his teeth, placing his faith in his defensive art.
Until now, no sword nor fist had ever pierced his Iron Wall Diamond Body.
"Heaven Evading Shadow Annihilation Sword."
Jaseong whispered in a low voice.
BOOOOOOOM!
For a moment, it felt as though all the world's light had vanished, as Jaseong's sword shot forth like a flash.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
I feel the story is about to end...
With the Peng and Tang clans being ordered by the Murim Alliance leader...
But there are still the immortals, so maybe not....
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】