Rebirth of the Thunder God

-Puhak!

Jang Hwang's eyes widened as he looked at the black hand that had pierced through Namgung Hui's chest.

Even when he looked again at the unbelievable reality, the hand blade stuck in Namgung Hui's chest was still in place.

"Hahaha! You must be wondering how I disappeared and reappeared, right? This is also an application of the transformation art. I turned into a tiny bird and then returned to my original form. Of course, it's not a talent that just anyone can perform. It's a talent that only I can do."

Cheongsu, who had great pride.

As he said, being able to change one's appearance so freely would be impossible unless one were an immortal of the Great Kunlun.

Namgung Hui, as if he were also impressed, continued with a surprised expression.

"Keuleok! You're truly amazing. Cheongsu. If you had continued to learn the transformation art instead of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art with that talent, you would have surely set foot in the immortal realm."

"Hmph! I have no interest in the immortal realm."

"Why is that? Isn't it the goal of a Daoist to enter the immortal realm?"

"The immortal realm? That place will surely be more boring than here. I was sick and tired of life in the Kunlun Mountains. I wasn't a criminal, but I lived as if I were in a prison just because I was a disciple of the Kunlun Sect. What's so great about that seal? You can go to that kind of immortal realm. I'll personally send you there with these hands."

Namgung Hui somewhat sympathized with Cheongsu's words.

Hadn't he also devoted himself only to training for over 40 years at the Thunder God Sect on Mount Hua?

Because of that boredom, Namgung Hui had also wanted to descend the mountain quickly.

"So you transformed into the Heavenly Dao Immortal and went down to the mortal world?"

"Well, since I'm about to die, I'll tell you frankly. Yes. My transformation art is so outstanding that even Senior Brother Sect Leader can't distinguish it. Thanks to that, I created the identity of the Heavenly Dao Immortal and wandered here and there. I beat up bandit groups, crossed deserts, and even embraced women. There was really no other paradise. I even regretted not having lived like this from the start."

Cheongsu, who had been making a pitiful expression for a moment, straightened his expression and continued.

"In the meantime, I turned into a small mountain beast and climbed the Supreme Purity Peak. I don't know if you know because you've been there, but there were many useful martial arts among the legacies of the ancestors. In fact, this transformation art that I learned was also obtained by digging up the remains of an ancestor when I was young."

"Was that so? I thought the transformation art was unusual. So whose tomb did you dig up this time?"

"The Azure Sky Sword Emperor. I dug up his tomb. Foolishly, he died in another sect's place, yet he only thought of his own family. I was annoyed, so I searched his tomb even more, and what should come out but the legendary demonic art called the Heavenly Demon Divine Art? Reading the incantation, it seemed to be genuine for sure, and just in case, I had my junior brother Cheongheo casually search the Sword Emperor's tomb. He probably thought he was the first to discover it. Haha! Everyone was playing in the palm of my hand."

After that, even without Cheongsu's explanation, he knew how things had gone.

Perhaps the restriction art that Cheongsu had learned was also a Daoist art left by his ancestors. He had used this to seal the traces of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Perhaps Cheongheo's Qi deviation was also not a side effect of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, but a result of the restriction.

The reason Namgung Hui had faintly noticed that was when he had entered Cheongheo's subconscious world.

‘The fact that he showed me his memories as if to show off doesn't make sense. And he even pointed out the suspiciousness of the Heavenly Dao Immortal and the scene about the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.’

A sight of him expressing his injustice.

The moment Cheongheo was subjected to the restriction, he must have realized the true nature of the Heavenly Dao Immortal.

"So you're saying you did all this just because you were bored?"

"Yes. I did it because life was boring. I lived like a criminal. Do you think committing a few sins will change anything? Look. I'm still fine... Keoheok!"

This time, a single black dagger pierced through Cheongsu's back.

Jang Hwang was also a long way off. Who on earth had stabbed Cheongsu in the back?

Cheongsu, with an unbelieving expression, slowly turned his head.

"N-No. You again? Twins... no. It's a wicked art!"

Cheongsu realized that the Namgung Hui who had been pierced by his hand.

And the Namgung Hui who had stabbed him from behind were not just twins, but the exact same person.

This was a technique that could not be performed unless it were a wicked art or an illusion art.

Since it had a real body, this was by no means an illusion art.

‘Phew... The consumption of internal energy is severe, but. Anyway, Dividing Thunder Flashing Shadow. It was a success.’

The moment the dust became thick.

Namgung Hui had created a clone through the Dividing Thunder Flashing Shadow.

And he had the clone hold the Thunder God Sword, while he himself picked up a dagger that had fallen on the floor and watched for an opportunity.

It wasn't just to finish off Cheongsu, but to find out if he was a spy for the Hoicheon Association.

As a result, Cheongsu was just a personal deviation and was fortunately not involved with the Hoicheon Association.

"Cheongsu. Have you lost the treasure map or smuggled it out?"

"Keuleok! Y-You bastard. Do you think I'll tell you that obediently? Hehehe! The one who has it will be rushing here! And he'll be leading the forces that the Sword Emperor feared so much."

Namgung Hui took out the treasure map from his bosom and waved it in front of Cheongsu's eyes.

"Are you talking about this?"

"No! Where did you get that? I definitely sent it to a place called the Association..."

Namgung Hui was about to refute that it wasn't, but he decided to tease Cheongsu a little more.

This time, he took out the envoy's plaque and said.

"Yes. I am one of the envoys of the Hoicheon Association. Thanks to you, I found out the whereabouts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and came here. Do you think I would have asked the Sect Leader to let me climb the Supreme Purity Peak for no reason? As Cheongyo Jin-in said, our Hoicheon Association pretended to return the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art to you and thus seized the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Thank you. Cheongsu. No. Since you'll be entering the immortal realm soon, I'll call you the Heavenly Dao Immortal. Hahaha."

Budeul, budeul.

Cheongsu, who was trembling in shame.

He was about to breathe his last, and because of his extreme anger, his complexion was not just pale, but was becoming ashen.

Cheongsu, who spat out blood from his chest, knelt down and said.

"Fellow! It's not over yet. The place I sent the treasure map to... is not just the Hoicheon Association. Hehe...! By now, the Blood Cult fellows would have also received it..."

Teolseok.

Cheongsu, who breathed his last.

Namgung Hui checked his body again and confirmed that his breath had definitely been cut off.

Still, something was not right, so he destroyed his Dantian and even cut off his head.

And then he called Jang Hwang, who was waiting behind, and began the verification work.

"Brother. Please check if this is a transformation art."

"Wait a moment."

Jang Hwang, who had chanted an incantation, soon nodded his head and said.

"This is the main body. It's not like he used a cicada shedding its skin trick like you. He's definitely dead, and his soul has left. By the way, when did you learn such a clone technique? This older brother was so surprised that I almost fell into Qi deviation."

"Brother. That's enough of your exaggeration. For now, we have to break the barrier that's spread here and get out."

"No. There's no need for that. The barrier was already shattered during the fight."

If Cheongsu had spread the barrier wider, it would be a different story.

But since he had spread it in a narrow space, it could not withstand the energy of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and Namgung Hui's Thunder Ki.

"Then now the people..."

Hudadadadak!

The Daoists of the Kunlun Sect, who rushed in all at once.

Not only the first-generation disciples of the Cheong generation, but even the second-generation disciples all rushed in.

They surrounded Namgung Hui, looked at the decapitated Cheongsu, and said.

"Namgung Daoist friend! How dare you commit murder in our sect! If you really coveted the martial arts of the Kunlun Sect, you should have asked politely. Considering your contribution, we were going to give you a couple. How could you betray us like this?"

Cheongjin Jin-in, who was giving a passionate speech.

As much as he had a good heart, he was speaking politely even at this moment.

But that was only Cheongjin. The other first-generation disciples, including Cheongyo, all drew their weapons and took a stance as if they would rush at Namgung Hui at any moment.

At that moment, the Sect Leader opened his mouth.

"I will hear your final argument. Child of the Namgung family. What is this? The treatment of your party will also be decided depending on your answer, so answer carefully."

Still, the Sect Leader knew that the reason Namgung Hui had done this was not for a simple reason.

Hadn't he just been with him and disappeared a moment ago?

The fact that he had suddenly killed Cheongsu meant that there was a reason for it.

Namgung Hui, pushing Jang Hwang back, was about to continue his explanation.

Suddenly, a half-corpse walked from the opposite side and spat out in a hoarse voice.

"Senior Brother Sect Leader... I will explain that."

"Cheongheo. You? What's a fellow whose body isn't even well... Hey! Someone help Cheongheo."

Unhak, who quickly ran to Cheongheo.

As he lent his shoulder, Cheongheo took a deep breath and continued.

"Senior Brother Cheongsu..."

The story that began like that was not much different from what Namgung Hui had guessed.

To put it simply, Cheongsu, who was bored with life in the Kunlun Sect, had deceived his junior brother, Cheongheo, and taken him as a disciple, making him work hard.

So Cheongheo had not learned the transformation art that Nahi and Mungchi had inherited.

And he had only become a test subject for the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

And the reason Cheongheo had tried so hard to become a disciple of the Heavenly Dao Immortal was.

‘It was to go out to the mortal world. Since he had declared the sealing of the gates, it would be difficult for him to go out to find his daughter.’

If a Daoist of the sealed Kunlun Sect were to be captured outside, it would be really troublesome.

If by any chance the internal secrets of the Kunlun Sect were to be leaked, the Kunlun Sect could walk the path of annihilation again.

This was not just a groundless fear, but it was even more dangerous at this point in time.

‘If Cheongsu had informed the Blood Cult of the existence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, they would immediately invade here...!’

He had made a real mess before he died.

It was a fatal blow, so much so that it was laughable that Namgung Hui had angered him until now.

Of course, the Hundred Thousand Mountains of Guangdong Province and the Kunlun Mountains of Qinghai Province were almost at opposite ends of the Central Plains.

Just leading a large army would take at least a month.

But it was just a suspended sentence. It was a clear fact that the Blood Cult would rush to recover the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Moreover, if the reality was that they were fighting with the Demonic Heaven of the Hoicheon Association over legitimacy, it was even more so.

For the Young Cult Leader, who would soon ascend to the position of Cult Leader, there would be nothing more desperate and necessary than this.

When Cheongheo's explanation ended, the gazes of the Kunlun Sect Daoists now turned to Namgung Hui again.

"So you're saying that the martial art that Cheongsu coveted so much as to do all this is in the bosom of that Namgung Daoist friend?"

"Yes. My memory is not intact, so I don't remember the name, but it is certain that it is a very great martial art."

Namgung Hui scratched his cheek at the sharp gazes pouring in from all directions.

Since the place Cheongheo had dug up was no different from Namgung Hui's ancestor's tomb, he didn't have to disclose it to them.

Or he could just show them the True Emperor Sword Form and make a suitable excuse.

But since Cheongsu had leaked the information to the Blood Cult, if he were to just hide this, the Kunlun Sect would not be able to avoid the path of annihilation.

Namgung Hui took out the manual he had seized from Cheongsu's bosom.

"It's because of this manual. In fact, the reason I wanted to climb the Supreme Purity Peak was also because of this."

"Heavenly Demon...? Divine Art...!?"

"Heavenly Demon Divine Art! Namgung Daoist friend! Isn't this joke going too far?"

Murmur, murmur.

They were whispering among themselves about its authenticity.

As much as that, the appearance of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art itself was an unrealistic situation.

Not just any other sect, but the martial art of an enemy was appearing in the Kunlun Sect?

"Now, now. If you all hear this story, you will roughly understand."

Namgung Hui started with the story of the Sword Emperor and explained step by step why Cheongsu had done this.

And what they should do in the future.

"So you're saying all this happened because of Cheongsu's deviation? If Cheongsu hadn't smuggled the treasure map outside, you wouldn't have known this fact either."

The reason Cheongsu Daoist had sent the treasure map to the Hoicheon Association.

It wasn't because there was another reason, but because they were one of the beings who would covet the manual of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art the most.

The other, the Blood Cult, would of course be looking for the Heavenly Demon Divine Art more than anyone.

Cheongsu had spread the treasure map to these two places and wanted to watch them fight.

Even if the battlefield became the Kunlun Sect.

‘He probably hoped that the Kunlun Sect would turn into ruins and the prison that bound him would disappear. The process would just be a source of amusement.’

"That's right. It seems Cheongsu Daoist was trying to make the Hoicheon Association and the Blood Cult fight, but anyway. I got my hands on the Hoicheon Association's one, and now the people of the Blood Cult will rush here after seeing the treasure map that arrived at the Blood Cult. As it is, the Young Cult Leader would have been inaugurated as the Cult Leader recently. The mighty power of the Cult Leader originates from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. To unite the forces of the Demonic Heaven, including the Blood Cult, the legitimacy of this Heavenly Demon Divine Art will be absolutely necessary."

"Ahem. This might be a reenactment of the Righteous-Demonic War of 60 years ago."

The expressions of the disciples of the Kunlun Sect all began to darken.

How they had overcome and won the trial, and now another hardship was about to begin.

Had heaven really abandoned the Kunlun Sect? This time, they would surely resent heaven.

"Still, the Hundred Thousand Mountains where the Blood Cult is located is very far from Qinghai Province. It's not an exaggeration to say it's at opposite ends of the Central Plains. I've been there myself, so I can guarantee it."

"But it's like a suspended sentence. Doesn't it mean that they will arrive here someday? We've barely restored our power. As a single force, we still can't stop the Blood Cult. Isn't that right?"

"Unlike the Righteous-Demonic War... no. Unlike the Righteous-Demonic War, we already know the information in advance this time, don't we? If we cooperate with the Martial Arts Alliance, we can surely stop them."

"Ahem. As you said, aren't there also spies of the Hoicheon Association in the Martial Arts Alliance? I'm afraid it will turn into a three-way battle. Cheongsu was also aiming for that."

The Kunlun Sect, which had suddenly turned into a funeral atmosphere.

But even in that situation, Namgung Hui still had not lost his brightness.

As if he had a clever plan.

"So I'd like to propose a plan. Would you like to hear it?”

(End of Chapter)