Chapter 174
Again, the Night Cat Celestial Spirit's yellow eyes gleamed as she spoke.
"Ghost Mother of the Nine Heavens's blood was used as a sacrifice to summon the Celestial Realm's opportunity. If you open the dimension of samadhi with your special eyes and look upon the altar, you will see that elixir."
At those words, Jaseong asked.
"Do the Demonic Cult members know about this as well?"
"At the moment, it seems they do not. However, you must hurry. If you don't...."
"If I don't?"
"Eventually, the Demonic Cult will discover and take it. Then the cult will gain new power, and your Heaven's Mandate will end in failure."
Jaseong furrowed his brow.
'Things have gotten tangled.'
Jaseong had just killed Ghost Mother of the Nine Heavens at that very place and escaped.
Although Demonic Blood Exalted One had let them leave without resistance, the Demonic Cult's vigilance must have tightened in case Jaseong's group tried to return.
"Great hero. What are you doing there?"
At that moment, Lee Rin approached Jaseong, who was talking with the Night Cat Celestial Spirit inside the cave.
In that instant, the Night Cat Celestial Spirit vanished in a streak of pure white light.
"Rin. We now have to return to the Demonic Cult's lair."
At Jaseong's words, Lee Rin's eyes widened.
"What...? Why? Are we going to rescue the civilians imprisoned there?"
"That's part of it. There's also an item we have to retrieve there."
"What item?"
"The Celestial Realm's elixir."
"What...?"
At that moment, Gal Seo-ryeong, who had been silently listening to the conversation between Jaseong and Lee Rin, spoke with a grave expression.
"Sect Leader, I am certain the entire Demonic Cult is on high alert right now. Since a Protector was assassinated, the security would only have gotten tighter."
Gu Janghu also nodded.
"This time even stealth techniques might not work. They'll be going all out to sense any intruders."
To return there now, when enemy vigilance was at its peak, was like walking into a tiger's den with one's own feet.
But Jaseong could not retreat.
The Heaven-Transforming Creation Elixir.
It was the key that would lead him to the transformation realm and a mandatory condition for accomplishing his Heaven's Mandate.
'I must do whatever it takes to break through and obtain it.'
All of Jaseong's comrades clearly sensed his resolve.
So the next moment, Gal Seo-ryeong offered a suggestion.
"If we must go, we'll need a special strategy."
"Do you have a good idea, Right Protector?"
"There are too many risks in charging in head-on. The entire Demonic Cult is already on alert. So, we should use a diversion—strike the east to attack the west."
Jaseong nodded.
A diversion.
Draw the enemy's gaze elsewhere and use the gap to approach the altar.
For now, that seemed the best course.
"How specifically will we do it?"
Gal Seo-ryeong began to draw a rough map of the Ten-Thousand-Mountain Range on the cave floor with a twig.
Her fingertip traced the rugged terrain and the Demonic Cult's major bases.
"Here, on the northern cliff of the Ten-Thousand-Mountain Range, is the Demonic Cult's gunpowder warehouse. They store mining explosives and 'thunderfire bombs' meant for wartime there. If we blow it up, it will cause a disturbance large enough to shake the entire range."
She pointed at the spot and continued.
"When the explosion happens, the Demonic Cult's attention and forces will inevitably be drawn there. That will be the only chance to infiltrate the altar."
Gu Janghu immediately raised his hand.
"Then I'll take that job. Setting off the explosives and drawing attention is best done by someone skilled in stealth. Sect Leader, you head to the altar—"
But Jaseong shook his head.
"No, I'll go to the warehouse."
"What?"
"Right Protector and Protector Han Soweol, please head to the prison where the civilians are held. Gu Janghu, join them."
At Jaseong's firm words, Gal Seo-ryeong looked puzzled.
"Why? Isn't your goal to get the Celestial Realm's elixir at the altar?"
"There will definitely be elite experts from the Demonic Cult guarding the warehouse.
And among us, I have the highest might. Only I have the skill to take them out instantaneously, so I will go."
Jaseong's logic was sound. Thus, Gal Seo-ryeong and Gu Janghu nodded without complaint.
At that moment, Lee Rin asked.
"Great hero, where should I go?"
"Rin, you're coming with me."
Lee Rin's face brightened. It was the most dangerous mission, but being by Jaseong's side made her happy.
Jaseong pointed to the map again and continued.
"Let's review the plan. If Rin and I blow up the warehouse, the Ten-Thousand-Mountain Range will erupt in chaos. The remaining three of you should take that chance to go to the prison and break the civilians out."
Gal Seo-ryeong nodded silently.
"Once the civilians are freed, the enemy will scatter their forces to pursue the escapees. The confusion will only multiply."
Next, Han Soweol asked.
"When do we begin? We must finish everything before dawn, right?"
Jaseong glanced outside the cave. The sky was still shrouded in pitch-black darkness.
"The hour of the tiger—between 3 and 5 a.m. It's when the cultists are the most lethargic and their vigilance is lax. That's when we should strike."
At his words, everyone nodded.
'This will be the last time. Once I get the Heaven-Transforming Creation Elixir, we'll leave this place for good.'
* * *
Hour of the tiger.
The time when the deepest darkness covered the world.
The entire Ten-Thousand-Mountain Range was shrouded in silence.
The chaos caused by Ghost Mother of the Nine Heavens's death had settled, and the Demonic Cultists, exhausted, had lowered their guard.
Torches burned here and there, feebly pushing back the darkness.
Jaseong and Lee Rin approached the northern warehouse relying on Mansul's stealth technique.
A transparent veil enveloped them, so that even patrolling guards passing right by them would not notice their presence.
The warehouse was an enormous stone cave nestled midway up the cliff.
Four Demonic Cult guards stood at the entrance holding torches. They were chatting and yawning.
"Ugh, I'm so sleepy. Isn't it time to switch yet?"
"Hang in there. Dawn is almost here."
Jaseong sent a telepathic message to Lee Rin.
[Rin, when I signal, take out the two on the left. I'll handle the ones on the right.]
[Understood.]
Lee Rin nodded. A cold gleam shone from the sword in her hand.
Jaseong calmed his breath and drew the Wicked Flame Sword.
Maintaining his stealth, he silently approached the guards.
Not even the wind made a sound.
The guards were completely unaware of his approach, staring blankly into space.
'Now.'
Jaseong's eyes turned icy cold.
Shu-shuk! Pshuk!
With lightning speed, two Demonic Cultists were beheaded.
The sword stroke was so fast not even a flash of the blade could be seen.
Both collapsed, clutching their throats, dying without a single scream.
At the same time, Lee Rin moved.
Her sword shot forward like a flash of light, striking the vital points of the remaining two cultists with perfect accuracy.
Infused with the icy cold of the Ice-Blood Divine Arts, the sword hilts froze the wounds as they pierced, preventing even a drop of blood from splattering.
"Kuugh..."
With only brief groans, all four guards fell. It had happened in an instant.
[Contrary to my concern, their skills are lacking. At most, they're only 1st-rate level.]
[We've just grown that strong. Even 1st-rate experts can't stand before us now....]
Jaseong and Lee Rin hurried into the warehouse.
Inside was even larger than expected.
Dozens of massive powder barrels and mines were stacked densely.
The pungent smell of gunpowder stung their noses.
Jaseong murmured.
"With this much, they could blow up a whole mountain. Were the cultists planning to go to war?"
Jaseong quickly began rearranging the powder barrels.
Rather than just igniting them, he strung them for a chain reaction to maximize the explosive force.
He lined up the barrels from the cave entrance all the way to the depths, planting mines in between.
Then he set a long fuse, leading it out of the cave.
"Rin, ready?"
"Yes, great hero. I'm ready to run whenever you say."
"All right, let's go."
The two exited the warehouse.
Jaseong gripped the end of the fuse tightly.
Unlike usual, it somehow felt as if things were going more smoothly than expected.
* * *
At that time, on the southern side of the Ten-Thousand-Mountain Range.
Gal Seo-ryeong, Gu Janghu, and Han Soweol arrived at the entrance to the prison holding the civilians.
Concealing themselves in the darkness, they surveyed the situation.
There, too, five Demonic Cultists stood guard at the entrance.
They gripped spears and looked around warily, but were so drowsy they could hardly keep upright.
Gu Janghu muttered quietly.
[Let's take care of those men first. Silently.]
Gal Seo-ryeong nodded, drawing a small poisoned needle from her sleeve.
Since Hao Sect had become the main sect of the Unorthodox Alliance, Poison Valley had gifted them some secret poison needles.
Shu-shu-shuk!
The needles sliced through the darkness in a silent ambush.
They struck perfectly at the guards' throats and chests.
"Guh...!"
"Ugh..."
The guards fell without a single scream.
It was a merciful death—no time to feel pain.
The three moved quickly into the prison.
Inside, it was dank and dark.
The stench of rotting straw and excrement filled the air.
Under a faint torchlight, hundreds of civilians sat curled up, their ankles shackled in chains.
They all looked emaciated.
Long captivity and torture had left them utterly drained.
Their eyes were hollow, as though even their will to live had been stripped away.
One civilian looked at Gal Seo-ryeong's group and asked in a frightened voice,
"Are you... here to torture us again?"
Gu Janghu raised a finger to his lips and softly spoke.
"Shhh. Please keep quiet. We're here to rescue you."
The civilians' eyes widened.
They wore disbelieving expressions.
Never had they dared to hope for a rescuer.
Gal Seo-ryeong swung her sword, cutting the chains.
Clang! Kaaang!
As the chains broke, the captives were freed one by one.
They hugged each other and wept silent tears.
Gal Seo-ryeong spoke urgently.
"We have no time. All of you, run for the north gate."
"Thank you...!"
"Soon there will be a great disturbance. Don't miss your chance. This is all we can do."
The civilians nodded.
In their eyes, a light of gratitude and hope was rekindled.
At that moment—
Outside the northern warehouse, Jaseong finally lit the end of the fuse.
Chiiii—
Fire raced along the fuse, snaking into the warehouse.
The flame disappeared into the darkness like a serpent slithering away.
Jaseong shouted to Lee Rin.
"Rin, run!"
The two of them dashed away with all their strength.
They instantly put distance between themselves and the warehouse, diving into the forest.
And then—
KWA-AAANG!!!
An explosion thundered so loudly it seemed as if the sky itself was falling, shaking the entire Ten-Thousand-Mountain Range.
A massive pillar of flame engulfed the northern cliff.
The impact triggered landslides, shattering boulders.
The night sky was lit up as if it were midday.
At the heart of the Demonic Cult stronghold, in the midst of the Ten-Thousand-Mountain Range, Jaseong's plan had finally begun.