157 - Mission, Pursuit (7) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

Mok Riwon, racing forth, was able to spot Dang Hwa-seo and her party entangled with demonic cultivators. Among the dozens, six were at their peak. Given that the entirety of their opponents were peak practitioners, the situation was significantly unfavorable for the Yongbong Clan, with its members relying on Je Gal San's formation to tread on a fine line. "Lady!" A murk-colored energy wave spread around Mok Riwon. And his body blazed bright white. Simeui Yuseongmanri. His martial arts mastery, having reached its zenith, tore through the attacking demonic cultivators without exception. "Guhuk!" His killing intent was not formidable, as it was focused on incapacitating rather than killing. But it added speed, and before long, Mok Riwon reached in front of Dang Hwa-seo. With a thwack! he struck down a demonic cultivator on the head with the sheath of his sword, the cultivator collapsing. Mok Riwon then focused his efforts on taking down the peak demonic cultivators first. By the time he had dealt with four, "It's late." Namgung Jincheon appeared. He executed a downward slash, holding his sword high above in the sky, and with a tear, the remaining two peak demonic cultivators were split vertically. "Killing one or two shouldn't matter." Having said so, Namgung Jincheon sheathed his sword. The situation was thus resolved. Mok Riwon immediately checked on Dang Hwa-seo’s condition. "Are you alright? Have you been injured anywhere...?" "I'm fine." Dang Hwa-seo gave a small smile. "What about the demonic cultivators we were pursuing?" "...I'm sorry. It seemed more urgent here, so I left them be." Dang Hwa-seo sighed, a look of guilt crossing her face. "It seems we've become a hindrance. If only we were stronger..." "It's not that! Besides, even if we did not capture the supreme demonic cultivator, have we not captured many others!" Mok Riwon deliberately brightened his expression to comfort Dang Hwa-seo. After all, wasn't it true? Although it was regrettable that they missed the six demonic cultivators, capturing so many was indeed an achievement. "Tie these people up! We must interrogate them and get something out of them! Also, I have brought another piece of information." "What is it?" "The transcendent demonic cultivator currently fighting with our Clan Leader! He is said to be a junior sect leader of the demonic sect!" "A junior sect...!" The atmosphere froze. Mok Riwon understood the sentiment. After all, this was the future leader of the demonic sect the entire ordeal centered around. The fact that such a figure was hiding in the Central Plains was indeed astonishing. But they couldn't afford to be stagnant. "Let's quickly report this!" At Mok Riwon's words, the team swiftly mobilized. * Pae Woong Chu, with his fists wrapped tight in a sleeve torn from his top, dashed forward, eventually rendezvousing with the battered Yeon Rigeon. "You're a mess!" He exclaimed jovially, to which Yeon Rigeon replied, "The affinity was unfavorable." "Excuses! To a martial artist, only victory or defeat matters!" Indeed, Pae Woong Chu was a man who held such a value as truth. Only victory mattered, and in the face of victory, affinity was but a hurdle to be overcome. Born into a family of swordsmen and having abandoned the sword for the fist, Pae Woong Chu saw Yeon Rigeon's reason as nothing but an excuse. However, even someone like Pae Woong Chu noticed a change. 'There's life in his eyes!' Normally, Yeon Rigeon's eyes were nearly lifeless. But today, he was filled with intense emotions, a sight Pae Woong Chu had never seen before. 'Interesting...' A fascinating scene. The so-called Sword Dragon was indeed worthwhile. Despite having primarily focused on the Heaven-killing Star, Pae Woong Chu suddenly found himself intrigued by the Imperial Star, though not as appealing as Mok Riwon. Pae Woong Chu pondered over how to confront Mok Riwon next as he neared the boundary of Shingang. "...Wait." Yeon Rigeon said. Only then did Pae Woong Chu snap out of his thoughts. "This energy..." Both their movements froze. A tingling demonic energy crept over their bodies, and at that moment, their hearts clenched tight, with not only their steps but also their thoughts freezing over. Amidst this, Pae Woong Chu muttered, "...The Seventh Elder." The energy belonged to the Ghost Screaming Sword, Gu Kyung Oh of the Heavenly Demon Sect's seventh elder. And it was rapidly closing in. Pae Woong Chu's thoughts accelerated. 'How so soon?' They hadn't even reached Shingang yet. Since Shingang was still a two-day journey ahead without rest, it was expected. But how did the elder arrive here already? The thought that came up was about Mok Riwon. 'He will be caught.' The moment the location of the Heaven-killing Star was exposed, the seventh elder would go after him. This was not a pleasant prospect for Pae Woong Chu. Mok Riwon should not be captured. His identity must also remain concealed. He needed to grow stronger within this sanctuary and confront the next struggle together. Amidst these thoughts, the elder appeared before Pae Woong Chu like a ghost. "Sword Demon, Fist Demon." Startled, Pae Woong Chu lifted his head to look at him. He was like a withered tree, that old man. Even as his wide, black robe fluttered, it was apparent how emaciated his body was beneath. Under the lengthy beard of a hermit, his blackened sclera were revealed. "I've come to meet the junior sect leader. Where is he?" Upon hearing this, Pae Woong Chu felt relief. 'So he came for the junior sect leader!' It seemed Cheonsalseong wasn't the target after all. He swallowed dryly and immediately prostrated himself on the ground, shouting, "He is currently contending with two transcendent beings of the Central Plains!" "Ah, and his body is yet to fully recover." The Seventh Elder stroked his beard. "Indeed. I have not left the seclusion chamber's entrance, but I have always been listening. I hear the junior sect leader hasn't left the side of his practice chamber for even a moment." His tone was as gentle as a kind grandfather’s. However, a trace of irritation was hidden within. "All of this, it's all because of that damned High Priest. How could he dream of betrayal the moment the sect leader went into seclusion." Blood Demon Duan Cheon-hwa. This was the name she was known by in the Central Plains, but within the sect, she was still referred to as the High Priest. The Seventh Elder was fuming with rage over this. "The junior sect leader must have been deeply sorrowed. Since the sect leader has commanded it, let us return to the sect together, and we shall discuss how to reclaim Cheonsalseong once again." With those words, the Seventh Elder passed by the two. "Proceed ahead to the sect. You seem unwell, make sure to focus on recuperation." Shortly after, the Seventh Elder disappeared from Pae Woong Chu's presence. 'Still as ghost-like as ever.' Pae Woong Chu felt a chill run down his spine as sweat trickled down his back. * Wi Gwang-cheon did not keep track of the days and nights. He simply ran, occasionally repelling the transcendent beings of the Central Plains that attacked him as he made his way towards Shingang. This was one of those instances. It felt like he had barely managed to repel two transcendent beings when more followed, attacking him with their swords. Wi Gwang-cheon retaliated by unleashing his demonic energy, affecting the ground beneath them. With a rumble, the mountain ranges around them collapsed - though such occurrences had been far too common in recent days. Wi Gwang-cheon frowned as he rode along the falling trees caused by the landslide. 'My demonic energy is depleting.' He felt an imminent sense of crisis. Without reinforcement, he might well fall into their hands within days. However, even in such times, there was a silver lining. 'My senses are returning.' Fifteen years was a long time. Spending that duration erasing one's demonic energy through cultivation and filling oneself with unrefined natural energy would undoubtedly take a toll on one's bodily condition and spiritual perception. In this way, this battle could also be seen as an opportunity. During the fifteen years of absence, his sharpness had dulled, but facing two transcendent beings simultaneously seemed to be reviving his prowess back to its prime. 'If only reinforcements would arrive.' If he could return to the sect, complete recovery was not a dream. "How long do you plan to run!" In the midst of this, Jin Geon, enveloped in his martial spirit, charged forward. Wi Gwang-cheon coiled his martial spirit around his arm and crouched. Boom! With a sound, Wi Gwang-cheon's body was thrown back. Jin Geon made a regretful face due to the created distance, but it was too late. Wi Gwang-cheon, regaining his balance, ran again. "Where do you think you're going!" Interior Chief Gyeon Gweol stepped forward, thrusting with his martial spirit wrapped around him, having learned from the last exchange that slashing was a bad move. Wi Gwang-cheon gritted his teeth and spun his body. The sword missed. But what followed was Gyeon Gweol's leg technique. "You lowlife...!" Wi Gwang-cheon struck Gyeon Gweol's thigh squarely with his fist. Boom! Once again, a loud noise rang out, and Gyeon Gweol's posture was disrupted. Now there were two options. Press on here, or seize this chance to make for Shingang once more. There was no need to ponder. 'Head for Shingang.' If he could fully recover his bodily condition, these two could be dealt with anytime. This was different from being intoxicated on the power of medicine. Wi Gwang-cheon was not so foolish as to make a wrong decision in a moment of impulse. "Be thankful for your luck." Wi Gwang-cheon turned and fled. Feeling the two energies pursuing him from behind, he infused more demonic energy into his lower limbs. Each step thundered, consuming the surroundings with demonic energy, sowing confusion among his pursuers. Still, it was too ambitious. Before even covering a hundred li, Jin Geon caught up to him. No, Jin Geon and Gyeon Gweol both did. The energies of the two transcendent beings surged more ferociously than ever, as if preparing for a final showdown. The option of escape was fading for Wi Gwang-cheon. 'Escape is not possible.' Showing them his back would mean getting struck by their combined assault and being incapacitated. That would be the end. It was infuriating that his only option was to confront them head-on. However, what could be done? Wi Gwang-cheon squeezed out all the demonic energy from his dantian, wrapping it around his body. 'I will not be taken down miserably.' He would surely escape this place and plan for the future. Wi Gwang-cheon steadied his breath, preparing to employ a technique he had given up on due to the dulling of his senses. "Ssseuh..." As he exhaled through his teeth, the black demonic energy further swelled. That's when it happened. "Please hold back. Shouldn't you preserve your precious body?" Tsk tsk, the hoarse voice of the old man reverberated through the space, sounding eerily like the lament of a ghost. Wi Gwang-cheon's eyes widened to their limits. 'That voice...' It was a voice Wi Gwang-cheon unmistakably recognized. Soon, the faintly flickering figure of the old man intervened, blocking the transcendent beings from the Central Plains that were charging at him. "The old servant has arrived. Be at ease." His sword was drawn with a whoosh. "Is your noble body well?" He laughed heartily, and in that moment, his arm became a blur. Clink clink clink! With the sound of the sword ringing, a sword wind swept through the space. "What’s this now!!!" Jin Geon grumbled. To which the old man said, "Ghost Screaming Sword." The old man's gaze upon Jin Geon was as cold as a serpent's. "I am the Seventh Elder of my grand Heavenly Demon Sect." Wi Gwang-cheon laughed. Reinforcements had finally arrived.