Chapter 203
"Die-e-e-e-e!"
Pusha-a-a-a-ak!
"Die-e-e-e-e-e-e!"
Kwa-jik!!
"Die, you bastards!"
Gansu cult branch...
The battlefield was truly a scene of carnage.
Thousands of people and hundreds of demonic beasts.
Also, in the chaos of blood and screams where about a thousand zombies were mixed together, each craving the other's death.
No one could remain calm.
"You trashy things!"
"I will erase you from the world!"
"Amitabha!"
Even people like Abbess Hongryeon, Baek In-hwa, and Master Gong-seung, who had never shown a light side, had their minds and bodies clouded by the continuous killing.
War was like that.
It was on a different level from a duel to gauge the opponent's martial arts.
Even a duel of life and death was different from war.
The moment human lives became a handful of lonely souls in an instant, and their blood was scattered in all directions, the souls of the subjugation force were soaked in a thick madness.
The pros and cons of victory or defeat.
The sense of mission to save the martial world and the people.
Were gradually fading in the hearts of the subjugation force.
"Die, you demonic beast bastards-a-a-a!!!"
Only, to cut and cut again, and to cut...
If you don't cut, you die.
If you don't want to die, you have to kill the opponent.
To die, or to live.
At the crossroads of life and death, the subjugation force fought fiercely by instinct.
And sometimes...
...instinct becomes the best and last resort that surpasses reason.
Like now.
The sword light that originated from around Myo-seon's body had no limit.
The Sunflower Manual was a divine art that was highly effective in a battle of many because it exerted a powerful attack with a small amount of internal energy.
Although the heads of the zombies were being pierced by the endlessly unfolding sword light, Myo-seon did not let her guard down.
Furthermore, So-ah's friends were currently performing a great feat that was worthy of being called a match for a thousand.
Many people had already died, and the faces of all the members of the subjugation force were clearly tired.
But,
"Come on, you monster bastards!"
So-ah's friends were emitting a constant force from the beginning until now, when time had passed.
'I can endure it.'
'I'm still okay.'
'If I think back to the training, I can swing it ten thousand more times.'
—The amount of blood you will shed on the battlefield will decrease as much as the sweat you shed in peacetime!
The words that So-ah had always emphasized and emphasized again.
Only then could his friends understand the true meaning of those words.
Their blades, which were still vigorously running wild, cut the necks of the demonic beasts, the zombies, and the heretical cult members.
But,
...even if they cut and cut and cut again.
...the number of demonic beasts did not decrease easily.
Even in the midst of the great feast of the spells of Baek In-hwa and the monks, the resistance of the sorcerers of the White Lotus Cult was not to be trifled with.
'How on earth could they have gathered so many skilled sorcerers!'
Baek In-hwa's heart was miserable.
Sorcery was not something that could be learned just by practicing it like martial arts.
...in addition to the innate spiritual sense, the intelligence to understand the essence of things.
...also, one had to have a superior body that could acquire magical power and the courage to stand up to even wicked things to be able to use the 'sorcery' that went against the laws of the universe.
Therefore, sorcerers were very precious beings, unlike the common martial artists who were as common as the sand of the Yangtze River.
But surprisingly, the number of sorcerers that the White Lotus Cult possessed was astonishing, and they were controlling the demonic beasts while hiding their main bodies and interfering with the spells of Baek In-hwa and the monks of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall.
'If this continues, it will be insufficient. Humans are bound to get tired, but on the other hand, the opponents are monsters with no physical limitations. If the fight continues for a long time, the subjugation force will be defeated!'
The general, Zhuge Hyuk, could not shake off his anxious thoughts even while he was engrossed in the fight.
Thanks to So-ah, who had taken away the most difficult enemy, the Blood Demon, the worst situation was avoided, but the problem appeared in an unexpected place.
Stamina.
Even a person with excellent martial arts could not overcome the limit of stamina.
If they could not reduce the number of demonic beasts exponentially, the subjugation force would not be able to win.
Zhuge Hyuk's deliberation only deepened.
In that moment,
"Kwa-a-ak!"
Jeon Woo-chi, who was dealing with a demonic beast, was struck by the tail of a flood dragon and, letting out a groan, flew five feet and was thrown to the ground.
"Jeon Woo-chi!!"
Seeing the fallen Jeon Woo-chi, the faces of the people who were fighting against the demonic beasts in the same rank turned pale.
But no one could take care of Jeon Woo-chi.
Because the Ghost Demon Jiangshi and the blood zombies were rushing towards the subjugation force like an overflowing wave.
'I have to get up...'
Red blood flowed from the corner of Jeon Woo-chi's mouth, whose ribs were broken in one blow.
He tried to get up, but perhaps because his legs were also broken, he could not get up from his seat at all.
'Damn it... am I going to die so absurdly?'
In an instant, Jeon Woo-chi's consciousness flickered.
***
—Woo-chi-ya. What is a Taoist?
—Hmm... Master. A Taoist is one who explores the truth, delves into the substantive truth of things, and understands the phenomena of the universe...
—Woo-chi-ya!
—Yes?
—Don't say things you don't mean.
—Ah! Master...
—You just have to think about what you think a Taoist is.
—What I think a Taoist is...
—...
—So... that Taoist, you know...
—Hoho! Go on, try to say it.
—A Taoist is a mysterious being who crosses the sea, mountains, and flies in the sky, a person who has reached the heavenly ki. Isn't he a special being who goes against the great principles of nature? Hahaha!
—Kehkehkeh! That's a very you-like answer.
—Master...
—Then, you must become such a Taoist.
—Can I become such a Taoist?
—Of course. You can become such a Taoist. Definitely.
—I will keep that in mind, disciple! Hahaha!!
'Hah...! What? Was it a dream?'
Jeon Woo-chi, who had briefly lost consciousness, regained his consciousness...
...or so he thought, but,
'Huh? Am I still unconscious?'
Although his mind was clear, only a black curtain was hanging in front of his eyes.
Moreover,
"[email protected]#$%^&*(()"
...a very familiar voice was echoing in his ears.
Low, but clear.
The voice was none other than Jeon Woo-chi's own.
'What is it?!'
It was strange.
Confusing, difficult, and dizzying.
What state am I in right now?
Why is a black curtain blocking my vision, and why is my voice echoing in my ears?
But,
'...!'
...soon, Jeon Woo-chi was able to be freed from all his questions and anguish.
'This is?'
In the vision that had been filled with darkness, shining dots began to glow one by one.
The light was beautiful.
Some dots burned their bodies brightly with light, and some dots flickered and emitted a faint light.
'This is...'
Those dots of light gradually filled Jeon Woo-chi's vision.
'The universe!'
Pitch-black darkness...
...the light points that were clearly unfolding in that darkness formed a huge light beam.
A rare sight that he had never seen before.
But Jeon Woo-chi knew by instinct that this vast sight was the universe.
And when he opened his eyes again…
...with a roar that tore the eardrums, a sight of about 1,000 of himself.
...no, his clones, lined up with exorcism swords, unfolded in his vision.
'Then was that spell the spell of the clone technique...'
"...!"
Thousands of gazes, without distinction of friend or foe, were directed at Jeon Woo-chi.
Although Baek In-hwa had once unfolded his clone technique and had dealt with the great demonic blood formation, the people could not help but be surprised.
Because they had never seen or heard of a crazy spell that summoned about 1,000 clones.
Jeon Woo-chi was also dumbfounded.
What on earth was going on?
But what was important now was.
'Let's just deal with it first, deal with it!'
To crush the Gansu cult branch.
"Now! Let's go, my brats! To catch the monsters!"
Jeon Woo-chi and his clones adorned the empty air, uttering a one sentence that was not befitting of a Taoist.
***
'Hah... this is a complete mess.'
'...'
So-ah was astonished, and Wi-ji Chan let out a silent sigh as they looked at the Blood Demon, who had turned into a monster with tentacles sprouting from all over his body.
The two's joint attack was truly perfect.
So-ah had never poured out the ultimate moves of the Ten-Second Invincible Arts on someone like this before, and Wi-ji Chan had also performed the Sword-Riding Art with 12-star strength for the first time.
Even the grandfather of the Vajra Bronze-Man would not have been able to survive in such an attack.
"Keu... kekeke!"
The Blood Demon, who had strangely transformed his body, let out a disgusting laugh and looked at the two with bloodshot eyes.
Moreover,
'Whether that old man has become a monster or not! I have to be able to move my body to do something!'
'It's the first time. For my soul to be frozen by such an overwhelming fear!'
The problem was that So-ah and Wi-ji Chan were now unable to even move.
So-ah and Wi-ji Chan were people who had grown up without knowing a crisis.
In the first place, So-ah had achieved the state of harmony from the time he came into the world, and Wi-ji Chan was a genius who had a huge background and formidable martial arts, so there was no way a crisis would come to them.
But the encounter with the Blood Demon became the first crisis for the two.
Because the thick demonic aura that was emanating from his body had the power to completely paralyze a person's five senses.
'Please... just move!'
It was the first time that the great So-ah had felt fear.
And,
"Farewell, disciple of the God of War. Grandson of the Heavenly Demon!"
The Blood Demon's one-sided killing unfolded.
A huge tentacle that stretched out from the Blood Demon's side struck So-ah's body.
'Keuk!'
At that, So-ah's body flew away like a rotten old tree without any resistance and was thrown to the ground.
'The Soft-Armored Mail... is dented?'
So-ah felt his heart sink.
The Soft-Armored Mail that he had obtained from the trial of the second room of the Ghost Valley.
Its elasticity was so solid that it was not damaged even after receiving No Yeong-myeong's Heaven-Shattering Demonic Emperor Sword head-on...
The Blood Demon's tentacle was so destructive that it could not even be judged by human common sense, and it had dented the Soft-Armored Mail in one go.
"Kekeke! You're wearing something interesting. But will something like that be of any use?"
The moment the tentacle struck So-ah's upper body, the Blood Demon had noticed that he was wearing a protective gear.
But it was not important.
"The fact that you will die will not change!"
Once again, the Blood Demon's tentacle flew towards So-ah, and,
The tentacle, in an instant, completely wrapped around the fallen So-ah's body and lifted him up into the air.
At the same time,
The lightning that originated from the root of the tentacle.
That lightning electrocuted So-ah's entire body.
"Kwa-a-ak!"
"So-ah!!"
A scream flowed from So-ah's mouth.
To be sure, it was the first time that So-ah had screamed through someone since he had entered the martial world.
Wi-ji Chan bit his lips hard.
Red blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, but unfortunately, Wi-ji Chan was still unable to move.
'Damn it! I have to move. I have to save So-ah!!'
But Wi-ji Chan's body was separated from his reason and instinct, and he could not overcome the state of paralysis.
"It's useless! My Blood God Demonic Heavenly Gang is a spell that seals the movements of all living creatures... it is a providence of nature that cannot be overcome with martial arts. Kekeke!"
The corners of the Blood Demon's lips twisted sinisterly.
At the same time, his left palm released gang-ki (罡氣) and was shot at So-ah's abdomen.
Although So-ah's entire body was surrounded by the protective gang-ki of the Supreme Meridian Energy, the Blood Demon's one palm shattered the protective gang-ki and penetrated his chest.
"Kwa-a-ak!"
Once again, a scream burst from So-ah's mouth...
...and furthermore, red blood poured out like a fountain, but even in the midst of that, So-ah did not lose consciousness.
"What a great will. To maintain your consciousness! Yes. Kekeke. That's right, the disciple of the God of War. That way, this old man will also have something to enjoy! Kwahahahaha!!"
The Blood Demon's loud laugh echoed in the sky.
So-ah's chest bones were all broken by the tentacle attack, and his skin was burned by the lightning.
Moreover, since a palm force that could turn even a huge rock into powder had hit So-ah, it was a miracle that So-ah was alive.
But,
"Keut... hey. Old man. Are you laughing?"
"?"
"Try it one more time. You monster bastard. When I was nine years old, I was the one who was beaten with a raw tree for two hours a day. I'll endure it, so try it again, you ugly old man!"
Even if he was covered in blood.
So-ah.
...did not lose his smile.
(End of Chapter)