759 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The earth quaked with each scream, echoing throughout the vicinity. "Ugh!" "Argh...!!!" "Gah...!!" The oppressive aura embedded in the voice inflicted damage on the warriors. They clasped their ears and curled up defensively. Some even coughed up blood. Those with lower cultivation levels couldn't withstand the recoil and were overwhelmed by the energy. 'Damn it.' Realizing the peril, I quickly channelled strength into my body. Boom--!!! Heat radiated from my body, dispersing the energy around me. It was to suppress the raging vibrations. As if declaring a domain, I filled the area with my ki, helping those around me regain some stability. It was a dangerous moment. 'If it had continued, they would've succumbed to energy deviation.' Warriors below first-rate would have faced an energy backlash leading to inner turmoil. Which means... 'First-rate warriors can't even approach near that.' First-rate. While I had reached a point where I could kill them in a single blow, it wasn’t an insignificant achievement. It's a level esteemed as masterful by many. Even first-rate warriors would live a worry-free life financially tied to escort agencies, clans, or sects. 'Yet such people were dying like insects.' Just from a single scream like that. 'That lunatic.' A chuckle escaped me. With this level of destruction, it truly resembled a calamity. Casting a glance at the staggering figures, I raised my voice. "Those who experienced energy recoil, retreat now. Staying here would be a pointless death." Surely, this was enough to make them understand it wasn't a time for bravado. The stunned expressions of those who almost faced inner turmoil were a spectacle. It was dangerous. To think they almost died not by combat, but by a shout. Indeed, it would've been a senseless death. "If you're thinking of dying uselessly here, go to the shelter and help manage the people. That's a more meaningful choice." "Grr…." Chided, they hesitated but eventually moved with a sense of guilt in their steps. Yes, if they refused to go, I would've kicked them out, so now was just right. 'You should pick your battles wisely.' If they were willing to throw away their lives so easily, they might as well use it for something else. With the departure of several first-rate and some supreme warriors, the ranks nearly halved. It didn't matter. They would've died in battle anyway. Their absence made no difference. At this level, it was acceptable. 'The real battle starts now.' [Aaaaaah----!!!!] The persistent screaming continued. I focused my gaze on the beast. Goat's head. Human body. Beastly hands and tail. And butterfly wings. A form and size unprecedented among the creatures I'd encountered so far. 'Excluding the wings, the body size is approximately nine feet.' Large for a human, diminutely small for a higher-level creature. Was that truly a hundred-level beast? It raised doubts but was only natural. 'If that's not a hundred-level, what is?' With such tremors and recoil. If it wasn't a hundred-level, it would be absurd. [Aah...aaaah….] After a long series of cries, the creature gradually lowered its voice. As the sound subsided, my tension heightened. [Ah.] Silence. And then. The creature’s eyes locked directly onto me. [Kyaaaaah---!!!] Boom-!! "Damn it-!" I cursed, veering my head aside. Swoosh--!!! Sharp claws grazed my nose tip. The approach was swift. A moment's delay and my neck would’ve been severed. Slash-!! “…!” The building beyond the slashed area split apart. As if five beams of sword energy had passed through. I confirmed it. It was something to be wary of. I clenched my fist and swung immediately. Boom-! [Screeeee-!!] The creature howled after taking a hit to the face. But. 'It was shallow.' The impact was less than anticipated. The reason was clear. 'Energy shielding.' Just as expected. Similar to last time. Only mixing in mental energy could break the energy shield, and a genuine attack would register only after it's broken. That held for this creature as well. Due to hastily using mental fists, the force was weak enough to only crack the shield a bit. No further damage could be dealt. Then. [Screeee!!] 'Damn it.' The creature swiftly moved again due to the light recoil. Attempting an attack at close range. It was challenging to evade entirely. Should I sacrifice my upper body? 'That won't do.' Recklessly relying on regeneration risked instant death. After brief deliberation, I raised my left arm. Sacrifice an arm. That was the thought as I moved. Crackle-! Swoosh- clang-! [Screee?] Astonishingly, its attack missed. Simultaneously, azure-white hair fluttered ahead, discharging electric energy. It was Namgoong Bi-ah, rushing forward to block the assault. Not only that. Swish-! A golden sword light followed, penetrating through. Another sword strike sliced through the air. The illuminated sword blade fiercely struck Namgoong Bi-ah’s sword. Clang-! [Screeee-!!] From the shock, her sword soared upwards. The creature’s hand violently flung upward. The torso was exposed. "Young Master-!" A voice came from behind. I instinctively reacted to the sound. Mental Fist (心拳). A wave-engulfing fist collided with the creature's torso. Crunch--!! [Screeeeee-!] The energy shield shattered, slightly caving in the torso. A successful hit. Not bad, I thought at that moment. Sssswl-! The broken energy shield started to recover. Right before it fully restored. Swoosh-!! Something slipped past my cheek into the shield. Thud-! A dagger. It pierced into the creature's torso. Subsequently, someone swiftly approached. A flash of light green hair visible amidst the movement. Tang Soyeol, appearing out of nowhere, twisted towards the dagger lodged in its chest. Her toes traced a circular arc towards the dagger hilt. Thud-!! [Screeeeeee!!!] Under successive blows, the creature screamed and was sent crashing into the ruins. Boom--!!! Smashing through pillars, the building crumbled down. Thud thud thud-!! Amidst flying debris and rising dust, it collapsed into ruins. For a moment, my attention was ensnared by the spectacle before me. Yet, there was no time to dwell. Whoosh---!! Flames gathered in my palm, rapidly forming into a Fire Orb (염옥). I compressed it further and further, investing a considerable amount of my energy to maximize its destructive power. It needed to strike hard before the creature’s shield could regenerate. This Fire Orb was prepared for that very purpose, but— “Master! Can I use this!?” “…What? Wait!” Innocent words rang out. Swoosh-!! Crash-!! Out of nowhere, Bongsoon appeared, swinging her staff to bat the Fire Orb away. "Screw you, you crazy woman—!!" I was about to hurl curses at the absurdity. Boommm---!!!! “…" I had to hold my tongue at the explosion. The damage was far greater than expected. The intensity of the compression and the external force amplified the explosion's power. “Huh? What’s wrong?” Bongsoon asked innocently as if baffled by my swearing. “…No, you did well.” I responded with an embarrassed smile. Such a reckless method actually worked. …I might need to adapt this next time. Anyway. ‘Phew.’ I calmed my breath and looked around. Despite its suddenness, the attack was extremely effective. ‘…Had they practiced somehow?’ How are they so seamlessly in sync? I marveled at the three women. Shockingly, they seemed unfazed by my amazed gaze. All their focus lay beyond. The three gazed only at where the beast should have fallen. Am I the only one losing concentration here? Or is it…. ‘Was telling them to leave if they’d be of no help a mistake?’ Could that have stung their pride? Their eyes blazed even more intensely than usual. It seems I might have put my foot in my mouth. ‘Ugh.’ Swallowing my discomfort, I redirected my glance. Right, it was time for me to focus on the beast as well. Whhhhoooosh.... The ruins burned as debris scattered from the blast. In the aftermath of the Fire Orb explosion, the space was filled with blue flames. […Kiii…] The creature, seemingly weary, was trying to rise. Yet. ‘Something seems off?’ Its appearance struck me with oddity. Barely pulling up its body, the beast. Its flesh seemed unusual. ‘…What?’ Cracks riddled its form. Looking as though it could shatter at any moment, puzzlement gripped me as I viewed its cracked form. The recent attack wasn’t weak by any means, yet... No matter how I looked, I couldn’t comprehend it. How was it last time with that thing in the North Sea? It took three martial experts, including the Peerless Sword and myself, to barely tear its shield. Only then did we manage to inflict small wounds. ‘And now it looks like this from just that?’ Impossible. Could durability differ so wildly? [Kiee….] A form that seemed it could be slain with just a tap. ‘Its power and speed surely belong to a hundred-level beast….’ Is the durability its only flaw? Or was that other creature singularly strong? How could I know, having seldom faced hundred-level creatures? Bemused by the unexpected turn of events, a thought struck me. ‘…Or perhaps.’ One idea suddenly emerged. ‘Did that spear strike at the beginning have an effect?’ Before it transformed. I’d seen it taking damage when relentless bombardment struck the white mass. Yet, assuming it was swiftly recovering, I deemed it inconsequential. ‘…Those strikes might have been advantageous after all.’ Should the initial bombardment have compromised its durability, it was a sizable advantage. ‘Something’s brewing.’ A feeling, subtle yet discernible, welled up within me. ‘Could I alter my tactics?’ Originally, the plan was to endure and leave the creature’s defeat to others. Almost defeated, the scenario now shifts. ‘…Could I be the one to slay it?’ Initially, it seemed an unattainable goal prompting the strategy. Now, it was a different story if it could be caught. ‘Given the impact just now….’ Perhaps capturing it isn’t out of reach. Not only us, but others yet to join too. This may well be a viable hunt. Alright. ‘Let’s try this.’ With that resolve, I shouted to my allies. “From now on-!” Or rather, I tried to shout. [KIIIIAAAAHHHH---!!] But the creature let out a piercing cry first. At that instant. Whum. “Hmm?” A familiar vibration resonated. Rumble-!! A series of tremors followed. Though seemingly similar to before, this was different. Thump—! Thump—! No doubt, my demonic energy was responding. This sensation was unmistakably…. “Oh…!” “This, this is…!” All around, people reacted, reaching into their garments for something. Martial artists—in particular, those of the Sword Corps in Zhongyuan—kept this item without fail. '...The Demon Gate Talisman.' A talisman developed by Wudang to forewarn of the appearance of the Demon Gate—tearing through dimensions. That was what everyone had drawn out. Thus, this meant the origin of these tremors, to which my demonic energy responded, was... ‘No way.’ Realization struck as I turned my gaze. [Kiiiaaaa---!!] Sizzle-!! My ominous premonition proved accurate. Behind the creature, the Demon Gate began opening. Worse yet, it wasn’t just one. There were dozens of them. Sizzle-! Sizzle-sizzle---!!! Countless Demon Gates filled the sky dauntingly. “Sigh.” A hollow laugh escaped me at the sight. Dozens of Demon Gates filled the void, their hues: “This is absolute madness.” All colored with red (赤色). ****************** At a location far removed from Hanam. Placed in stark opposition to populated shelters and closer to the fighting grounds. There, atop an abandoned building emptied of people, a young man sat, sipping from his drink. He'd taken some bamboo leaf wine and dried snacks from an empty tavern. For the young man, this sufficed. Sip after sip, he indulged freely in both. Truthfully, he required no snacks. The spectacle unfolding before him was more than enough to wash down the wine. “Hmm.” Gulp. After swallowing a mouthful, he gazed far into the distance. The sky was filled with countless Demon Gates. A chuckle escaped the young man's lips as he gazed upon the crimson-tinted scene before him. "Things sure have gone to hell, haven't they?" It was a sight of chaos. What on earth had happened to cause such a spectacle? "He sure never does anything halfway. Tsk tsk, quite the fellow." Should he be praised for making such a grand mess? Or scolded for causing such a huge ruckus? It was hard to say. "Without a doubt, I've been cursed in my later years." No other explanation made sense for his only disciple being such a troublemaker. Fortune, perhaps, but to Patriarch Jeon, sitting there with his drink, it didn't feel like any fortune. "Humph." He chewed another piece of squid thoughtfully and propped his chin on his hand. What should he do? He pondered. 'Should I lend a hand?' Frankly, he preferred not to get involved. His ragged body took forever to heal from internal injuries. Even with divine assistance, recovery was hopeless. 'The aftermath of using the Heavenly Destruction Technique was too severe.' He'd used power he shouldn't have, merely to demonstrate it to his disciple. As a result, Jeon's body had reached its limit. Needing perhaps half a year of rest, Jeon's body, sensitive beyond any other, could still walk and run. Someone else in his shoes would be crippled. Considering he needed to take care of his body, the thoughts dashed aside due to his disciple's actions. 'That damn brat.' His one and only disciple certainly hadn't aided him. Judging by his antics, he seemed to have stirred up trouble once again. 'He truly can't live quietly, can he?' He could have simply focused on martial arts training. Instead, why did he keep running into the storm? Ah, perhaps— ‘Is he the storm himself?’ By this point, that seemed to be the truth. "Sigh." Not a moment's peace. Accepting one troublesome disciple, what madness had this led to? Yet, he couldn't abandon him. Thus, Jeon set down his drink and rose. "This time, he deserves a scolding." Was it because he hadn't disciplined him enough? If he survives this ordeal, he should definitely be reprimanded. Jeon resolved to jump into action when— "Stay seated." "…!" Jeon froze in mid-motion. "You seemed to be resting peacefully. Why disturb such a pleasant flow?" "...Well, well." Despite his internal injuries, Jeon hadn't sensed the approach of his visitor. This revelation astounded him. Relieving his tensed posture, he turned his head. “…It seems you've finally finished your little adventure." The figure who had spoken knew all along. It was rare for Jeon to show such respect in speech. In current Zhongyuan, there were at most ten people he would honor in speech. The voice addressed came from one of those ten. “Senior.” The term made the elder smile. An elder with pristine white hair and a dignified stance. Jeon couldn’t help but wonder why he was wearing crimson martial attire instead of his usual blue. It didn’t matter. Beyond the attire, the aura around him identified him unmistakably. “You mentioned taking a break for a while… What brings you here?” Jeon asked candidly, to which the elder responded. “I did plan on doing so… But unfortunately, our young master summoned this old man.” "…" At the mention of the 'young master,' Jeon's expression soured. "He summoned you?" "Come now, don't get too upset. He's kindly provided me food and lodging. Shouldn't I return the favor with some help?" “If your grandson and those old folks heard that, they’d cough up blood.” “Do kindly keep that a secret.” “...” His somewhat sly manner shifted Jeon's expression. “You’ve changed quite a bit.” Was it a compliment? The elder sensed it as such and laughed. “I’ll take that as a positive.” The elder began to walk away. Was it an illusion? Crash! Boom! Each step seemed to echo with the sound of thunder striking from afar. “Anyway… This is for this old man to handle. You rest a little longer here.” “...” “If you were younger, you might have considered cutting down on the drinking.” Jeon offered no rebuttal. For others, perhaps; however, with this elder, anything seemed possible. ‘Let’s see what unfolds.’ It had been a long time since he'd joined hands with this elder. Curious to see how time had honed and transformed the blade he deemed dull and rusted, he watched intently. Thud. He sat back down silently. By then, the elder had vanished. Gazing at the space he had occupied, Jeon whispered quietly, “…He’s my disciple, but truly a madman.” The elder summoned by his disciple. Known as Anhui's Thunder and a presence that had graced the skies for more than half a century. The mainstay and heart of the Namgung family, ever seeking the pinnacle of their brilliance. The Thunder Wall, now relegated as a doorkeeper of the Sansho family. Summoned by the rogue of the Sansho family, he had arrived in Hanam.