ALL NOVEL Ch 32
Jang Il-ryong was completely disoriented.
**PAPA! PAPA! PAPA!**
The whip lashed out, striking like a spear at first, then splitting and twisting like a snake in ways unimaginable, cutting into directions that defied expectation.
“Is this the difficulty of facing such a weapon?” Jang Il-ryong thought.
**Whoosh!**
“AHHHH!”
A powerful blow, like being hit by a trebuchet, surged through his shoulder.
Jang Il-ryong glanced at his shoulder, only to find a bruise spreading like rippling waves of blood.
‘Spinning force?’ he thought, shivers running down his spine.
It was one thing for a sword or spear to have rotational power, but for such a long whip to carry it?
A martial artist could not simply unleash such a powerful force by being skilled alone; it required innate talent, a profound, almost supernatural connection with the weapon, to achieve such mastery.
That old man, the Poisoned Arrow King, was indeed a natural martial genius.
**Swoosh!**
The Poisoned Arrow King, with a sinister smile, expertly flicked the whip again.
“Quite a sturdy body. To take a hit from my Blood Strength Whip and not lose your arm,” he said, his voice cold and mocking.
With that, the Poisoned Arrow King swiftly swung the whip, showing the precision of his movements without a single unnecessary motion, his thorough and meticulous nature clearly evident.
**Ssss!**
**PAPAPAPAP!**
Jang Il-ryong was no fool.
A whip was a weapon that easily dominated the space around it, capable of making sharp, erratic movements, but it had the weakness of being easily bound.
With all his might, Jang Il-ryong gripped the whip, his palms tearing as immense pain shot through his hands, but he refused to release it.
However, the level of mastery displayed by his opponent far exceeded his expectations.
As the tremendous force from the whip poured into him, Jang Il-ryong’s hands, already torn apart, finally broke.
“AHHHH!”
His hands, now mostly stripped of flesh, exposed white bone, and he looked at his mutilated hands in horror, a surge of blood rising in his throat.
The attacks from a master who had reached the level of *Hwa Gyeong* (The Peak) were simply impossible to block. Even with his *Yeong Se Cheol Gap Shin* (Steel Skin Technique), it was futile.
Moreover, the terrifying assassins standing by, their eyes glowing fiercely, hadn’t even moved yet.
**Fear!**
For the first time since leaving the martial world, Jang Il-ryong felt the overwhelming presence of fear rising from the pit of his stomach.
With a twisted, vicious expression, he gritted his teeth and mustered every last ounce of his strength.
“You bastard! I’ll kill you before I die!”
No matter how powerful you are, you can’t disregard the soul of Mount Daesan!
With that, Jang Il-ryong unleashed an overwhelming burst of energy, forcing the Poisoned Arrow King to retrieve his whip, not daring to underestimate his foe.
“Be careful!” the Poisoned Arrow King shouted.
All the elite assassins in the vicinity quickly positioned themselves behind the Poisoned Arrow King, recognizing the danger.
Jang Il-ryong’s entire body glowed, releasing hot steam as he unleashed his full power. The *Jin Mu Yeok Cheon Gwon* (True Martial Reverse Heaven Fist) was terrifying because it was paired with the *Yeong Se Cheol Gap Shin*.
As the intense energy enveloped his body, Jang Il-ryong’s fighting spirit manifested through the mark of *Hwa Gyeong*.
**Boom!**
The ground shook with a deafening roar as Jang Il-ryong stomped, and his body shot forward like a cannonball, fists raised, exposing his shattered hands.
An enormous shockwave erupted as his fists transformed into dozens of giant, energy-infused strikes, creating a massive martial force.
**Jin Mu Yeok Cheon Gwon.**
**The Sixth Fist.**
**The Path of the Conqueror: Infinite Destruction.**
With this single technique, the Green Forest King dominated Mount Daesan.
**Boom! Boom! Boom!**
The ground erupted with dozens of craters, creating a scene of utter devastation.
This was the power of a Heavenly Conqueror!
The Poisoned Arrow King’s *Blood Strength Whip* clashed with the fierce winds generated by Jang Il-ryong’s strikes, creating a whirl of shadows as they collided.
**Boom!**
Dust and debris filled the air, and when the Poisoned Arrow King turned to assess the situation, he felt a chill run down his spine.
There, Jang Il-ryong, like a beast, charged forward, revealing his yellowed teeth in a menacing grin.
Some elite assassins tried to attack him, but Jang Il-ryong’s eyes were fixed solely on the Poisoned Arrow King.
With three swords stabbed into his back and waist, Jang Il-ryong continued his charge towards the Poisoned Arrow King.
The Poisoned Arrow King, horrified, swung his whip in defense.
But—
**Thud!**
Jang Il-ryong grabbed the whip with one hand and charged directly into the Poisoned Arrow King, ramming his head into him.
**Crack!**
“Ugh!”
It felt like steel had collided with steel!
**Jin Mu Yeok Cheon Gwon (True Martial Reverse Heaven Fist).**
**Second Fist.**
**Gwi Gap Chil Ryeon Ta (Turtle Shell Seven Strikes).**
The power of the Green Forest King’s ultimate martial technique, **Gwi Gap Chil Ryeon Ta**, was undeniably legendary.
**Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah!**
The explosive sound echoed as it reverberated from the Poisoned Arrow King’s body.
Seven strikes, flowing one after the other like water!
The Poisoned Arrow King staggered back, coughing up red blood.
“Ugh!”
He fell to his knees in disbelief.
The Poisoned Arrow King quickly checked his own condition, his face filled with more astonishment than fear.
A crushing pain in his chest!
It felt like at least three or four of his ribs had been shattered.
Moreover, the energy of the strike had twisted his internal organs, and the damage was severe.
‘This damn brat…!’
The strength in Jang Il-ryong’s hands was hard to believe, especially given his relatively young age in the late stages of his martial training.
Such talent was bound to be a threat in the future!
But still, this attack felt reckless.
He had exhausted all his strength, and now it was like his life had been drained away.
Yet, Jang Il-ryong was smiling.
**Heh.**
Suddenly, the air in the room turned cold, chilling enough to be palpable.
The Poisoned Arrow King, who had been tilting his head in confusion, suddenly looked up into the air.
A white, frosty energy began to shimmer and swirl!
Jang Il-ryong bared his yellowed teeth.
“It’s ice, you bastards!”
Those who encountered Jang Il-ryong’s brutal size and crude language often mistakenly believed he was slow-witted.
But that was a misconception.
**A mere moment!**
In the blink of an eye, a sound pierced the air—it was Han Seol-hyun’s mysterious voice.
She was now at the peak of her energy control, her aura reaching its limits.
What had seemed like Jang Il-ryong’s clumsy movements were, in fact, part of a well-calculated strategy to buy time, an orchestrated plan to gain that precious moment.
Suddenly, white hair fluttered in the air, as Han Seol-hyun appeared like a mirage, her elegant form descending gracefully.
From her delicate hands, a brilliant white light radiated.
A cold, bone-chilling energy spread through the air.
**Bing Baek Shin Jang (Ice White Divine Palm).**
**The Fifth Decision.**
**Seol Seol Baek Cheon Ha (Snow Snow White Under Heaven).**
The northern winds howled, and the area was soon blanketed in pure white frost.
**Swoosh!**
It was as if the world itself had frozen in an instant.
The terrifying power of Han Seol-hyun’s **Bing Baek Shin Jang** covered the entire area, freezing everything in its path, a technique that had been perfected over centuries and now unleashed in the martial world.
—
For Jo Hwi, the greatest concern was Han Seol-hyun.
If something happened to her, the entire effort to establish the Jiang family’s influence in the West would collapse.
He had driven the **Cheon Sang Un Cha** (Heavenly Carriage) forward, so he was sure she was somewhere near the border of Guan-do.
**Boom!**
The overwhelming power of the **Gyeom Cheon Jeon Neung Bo** (Sword Heaven Full Power) was truly incredible.
In the past, he had refrained from using it due to the significant energy consumption, but after learning the **Ma Shin Gong** (Demon Arts), his energy reserves seemed endless no matter how much he activated his movement techniques.
However, as he sped through Guan-do, the pressure around him began to intensify.
There were many deadly auras surrounding him.
Clearly, the Jiang family’s employees were losing their lives somewhere in the vicinity.
**Boom!**
Before long, Jo Hwi stood frozen at the center of Guan-do.
It felt as if he was being forced to make a choice.
‘Damn it!’
After some contemplation, Jo Hwi once again activated his new technique.
**Boom!**
This time, he shot off toward the direction of **Poyang Lake**.
It was a necessary choice.
Although Han Seol-hyun was a valuable talent and a woman, she was still one of two with Jang Il-ryong. Moreover, they were both martial artists from the martial world, and Han Seol-hyun had even reached the realm of a high-level master.
On the other hand, in the area around Poyang Lake, there were thousands of sect members desperately waiting for a helping hand.
Given the number of lives that could be saved, it was almost a sin to hesitate.
At that moment, Jo Hwi could only pray for Han Seol-hyun and Jang Il-ryong’s safety.
“Please, just stay alive!”
As Jo Hwi pushed forward with desperate determination, he finally saw a group of his sect members at the corner of an alley.
“President! President!”
“Ugh, President!”
The sect members collapsed, crying upon seeing Jo Hwi.
“Agok! Yeon Cheon-gi! Moon Ho-won! Are you all alright? Is anyone injured?”
Their clothing was soaked with blood.
The sect members were momentarily stunned by how well their president remembered each of their names but quickly regained their composure.
“We were lucky to escape! Please, hurry and check the shops! Ugh, many of our comrades have died!”
Jo Hwi clenched his teeth.
“Move to the sect’s **Bun Ta** (safe zone) immediately! It will be protected by the **Jeol-se Ga’s** formation! Hurry! Quickly!”
**Boom!**
A massive pit appeared as Jo Hwi vanished like a ghost, and the faces of his sect members turned pale.
“Such immense martial arts power from the president!”
“Those bastards! Kill them all!”
With that, Jo Hwi leaped into the air, targeting each of the murderous auras one by one.
He avoided areas where the remaining masters of the **Namgung Se Ga** (Namgung Clan) were fighting and concealed places where the sect members were hastily fleeing.
Finally, a deadly aura enveloped his eyes.
From his sword, subtle tremors grew, spreading endlessly.
Suddenly, numerous points appeared in mid-air!
A spatial compression point, a form of **Heavenly Public Justice**, emerged in front of almost every master of **Heukcheon Ryeon** (Black Heaven League).
The experienced masters of **Heukcheon Ryeon**, trembling with a strange premonition, began to expand the spatial compression points and were all sucked into them.
“AAHHH!!”
“Kreeehhh!!”
**Thud-thud-thud.**
The lucky few who survived the vacuum-like pull of the points looked utterly lifeless, their faces drained of color.
The comrades they had just fought with were instantly sucked into the air, only to be turned into blood and fall like raindrops.
This is martial arts?
In the chaos, the **Cheonsal** (Heavenly Killer) **Sasa Sal-hon** (Evil Soul Killer) **Ak Moolin**, who was commanding the battle, shouted toward all directions.
“This is **Yi-nyeon Gong** (Mind Energy Technique)! The Demon Spirit has appeared!”
All of today’s operations had been aimed at drawing out the **Evil Demon Spirit** from the **Jiang family**.
Ak Moolin grinned as he took out a signal flare and shot it into the sky.
**Pewwwwwww!**
He laughed sinisterly. The mission was finally complete.
Although he was part of a villainous faction, he never enjoyed killing ordinary civilians who hadn’t mastered martial arts.
“The Demon Spirit will be dealt with by the **Ryeon-joo** and the **Palwang**! Fall back and deal with the remaining forces!”
In that moment.
A chilling sensation struck him, and he quickly turned his head.
A dark, suffocating energy suddenly filled his vision.
**Whoooshhh.**
Dark waves of energy expanded from the crown of his head, eyes, mouth, and neck, progressively swallowing him up.
“Ugh…”
His voice couldn’t even make a sound, only blood and foam escaping from his mouth.
**Thud-thud-thud!**
In the end, Ak Moolin turned into a handful of blood and fell to the ground.
**Boom!**
Just like falling from the sky, Jo Hwi arrived at the scene, raising his iron sword and glaring fiercely.
The atmosphere froze.
Not all **Cheonsal** are equal in rank.
Sasa Sal-hon Ak Moolin was a high-ranking **Cheonsal** from the Great Hall, one who worked closely with the **Ryeon-joo** and participated in discussions with the masters of the **Hwa Gyeong** (Flower Realm).
Such a powerful master of the **Hwa Gyeong** had barely raised his sword before being turned into a handful of blood.
This was the level of **Yi-nyeon**, a technique from a completely different world.
And what were those violet demon flames burning in Jo Hwi’s eyes?
They radiated an overwhelming presence that felt otherworldly—something far beyond the power of even the **Heukcheon Daesal** (Black Heaven Great Killers), who were the top figures of their sect.
**Thud-thud.**
The **Heukcheon Ryeon** masters threw down their weapons and kneeled in fear.
“What was that signal flare just now?” one of the masters asked, slamming his head against the floor, crying out.
“It was the signal that the **Evil Demon Spirit** has appeared!”
“…The **Evil Demon Spirit**?”
Jo Hwi’s face was becoming increasingly distorted.
“So the reason for killing all these people… was just to draw me out?”
“Please, just spare my life!”
Once again, Jo Hwi’s sword hummed with a faint vibration.
Dark spots began to fill the vision of all the masters of **Heukcheon Ryeon** who were kneeling before him.
“No, no!”
“Shit, shittttt!!”
**Thud-thud-thud!**
Jo Hwi stared at his sword with hollow eyes.
No matter how filled with murderous intent his heart was, why was killing so easy? It felt almost natural, like awakening something he had been doing for a long time.
Just a short while ago, he had been reluctant.
‘Is it because of the **Ma Shin Gong**?’ (Demon King’s martial arts)
The martial arts of the Demon King, the ruler of evil.
“Not bad, though.”
In fact, it felt as if he had cut away some of his weakness.
Soon, Jo Hwi looked at the burning shops around him, his eyes glowing brighter with a deeper shade of violet demon fire.
“Fucking bastards.”
**Boom!**
He activated **Cheoncheon Jeon-neungbo** (Sky Sword Form), leaping into the air, but just as he was about to sense the killing intent again, eight masters rushed toward him like madmen.
They were headed toward the direction of the signal flare, which was where Jo Hwi had just been.
**Thud!**
Landing back on the ground, Jo Hwi unleashed his internal energy, gazing indifferently at the approaching figures.
**Shaa sha sha shaak!**
The eight masters of **Heukcheon Ryeon** had arrived and surrounded Jo Hwi in all directions.
Jo Hwi fixed his gaze on the one standing in front of him.
**Heukcheon Daesal** (Black Heaven Great Killer) **Lee Kyung-jin**.
He was likely the one who had orchestrated everything.
When Jo Hwi silently raised his sword, **Heukcheon Daesal** pulled a signal flare from his sleeve.
“This is a signal flare to stop the retreat and resume the attack on all the stores of **Jo Ga Dae Sang Hoe**.”
“…”
When Jo Hwi remained silent, **Heukcheon Daesal** smiled grimly.
“Unless your body has hundreds of clones, you can’t stop all of us.”
Jo Hwi lowered his sword and looked at each of the masters surrounding him.
“The **Ryeon-joo** and **Palwang** are here. But one is missing.”
Jo Hwi had already faced the **Palwang**, so he was familiar with their appearance.
However, the **Dokpyeonsalwang** (Poison Arrow King) was absent.
**Heukcheon Daesal** sneered.
“I’ve already figured out your movements. It’s basic strategy to leave no future problems behind when you strike.”
Jo Hwi quickly inferred the true meaning behind his words.
Since they mentioned movements, it was an external attack.
That meant it wasn’t **Je Gyeol Un**, **Namgung Jang-ho**, or **Jin Ga-hee**, who had been with him just a moment ago.
It was likely **Jang Il-ryong** or **Han Seol-hyun**, who was probably traveling through **Gwan-do**. **Yeom Sang-rok**, who had gone out to drink, was less likely.
Sending a **Palwang** to **Yeom Sang-rok** would be a waste of resources.
Moreover, the **Mu Yeong Wang** (Shadow King), who had been spying on numerous meetings, would have surely reported to the **Ryeon-joo** how important **Han Seol-hyun** was to **Jo Ga Dae Sang Hoe**.
“Truly astonishing. I never expected that the master of the **Evil Demon Spirit** would be none other than the president of **Jo Ga Dae Sang Hoe**. To have reached the level of **Jeol Je Gyeong** at such a young age? We may need to rewrite the history of the martial world.”
**Heukcheon Daesal** gave a bitter smile as he took a document out from his coat.
“I don’t want to kill you, a member of the **Namgung** family. We aren’t ready to confront the **Namgung** clan just yet.”
He slowly walked up and extended the document toward Jo Hwi.
“With just one flare from me, the slaughter will begin again. Your **Ice Princess** must be in grave danger by now. This is a deadlock. You have no choice but to accept it.”
However, **Cheol Gwon Wang** (Iron Fist King) firmly expressed his refusal.
“**Ryeon-joo**! We must kill that bastard! He’ll be a huge threat later!”
**Cheol Gwon Wang** had closely watched how Jo Hwi swallowed the **Gangseo** region.
He had witnessed him raid the warehouses of the **Jeil Ji Bu** (First Division) and the **Palwang** clan, investigate the relationships with the imperial relatives, and pressure the **Ryeon-joo**, all while manipulating them with false tricks.
The offer of exclusive trading rights for **Oh Hal** (a rare material) was also a trap.
It was nothing but a play to limit the supply beyond **Oh Hal**, an amount perfectly calculated to meet the consumption of **Heukcheon Ryeon’s** eight thousand masters.
The truth was that this villain never intended to share profits with **Heukcheon Ryeon**.
But for all that to happen, it was clear he had to have unlimited confidence in the products he could supply.
That was the most terrifying aspect of this man.
His cunning mind was matched only by his immense abilities.
And now, to have mastered martial arts to the point of achieving **Jeol Je Gyeong**?
The only solution was to kill him now.
What would happen if such a madman aged twenty more years?
When he surpassed forty, the martial world would no longer be known as the martial world but as the **Merchant’s Forest**.
And the ruler of that forest would undoubtedly be him.
**Heukcheon Daesal**’s face grew cold as he murmured.
“To kill that bastard, half of us will have to die. Are you confident?”
After hearing the words, **Cheol Gwon Wang** froze in disbelief.
**Heukcheon Daesal** was a legend.
His absolute killing technique, **Hwi Hwi Sal Cheon Jeol Ye** (Gray Gray Killing Sky Ending Art), was the stuff of martial world folklore.
He was the absolute ruler of the **Safa**, having wiped out the **Mo San Gok** (Mossan Valley) with just himself. This was the legendary **Heukcheon Daesal** speaking, saying that he could not guarantee victory.
Was he that powerful?
In truth, the person most fearful at this moment was **Heukcheon Daesal**.
Only someone at the same level of **Jeol Je Gyeong** could fully understand the magnitude of Jo Hwi’s power.
The **Hwa Gyeong** (Flower Realm) experts couldn’t possibly comprehend it.
They had no idea just how overwhelmingly formidable the young man in front of them truly was.
The fear of **Namgung** was nothing but an excuse and nonsense.
It was absurd to think that those who became part of the **Safa** would have the foresight to plan for the future while blinded by immediate gains.
Jo Hwi calmly watched the actions of **Heukcheon Daesal** and the **Palwang**.
Soon, his eyes gleamed coldly, like stars in the winter sky.
Jo Hwi began flipping through the documents **Heukcheon Ryeon** had presented, one by one.
“Immediate repayment of three hundred thousand **gold**. A vow never to mention the imperial family again. All businesses to be handed over to **Heukcheon Ryeon**, and the matter to be forgotten in **Heibi**.”
Jo Hwi couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it.
“Furthermore, hand over all the recipes of **Jo Ga Seong Sim Dang** and **Jo Ga Yang Jo Jang**. At least **Cheol Bang** is not mentioned. Is that the last bit of your conscience?”
**Fwoosh!**
The documents were completely burned to ashes by Jo Hwi’s **Sammae Jin Hwa** (Meditation Transformation).
In that instant, an unimaginable energy began to radiate from his entire body.
**Heukcheon Daesal’s** eyes widened in shock.
“What? What did you say?”
That enormous energy was not the end?
As Jo Hwi’s pupils glowed again in deep violet, an explosion of energy erupted.
**Whooooosh!**
“Argh!”
The hand of **Heukcheon Daesal**, which held the signal flare, was blown apart.
* * *
Throughout the long history of the martial world, there were several martial arts that went beyond the conventional and defied the norms.
The martial arts of the **Three Gods** were so mythical in nature that they did not need special mention, but among all the other arts, the **North Wind Divine Skill** (**Bukpung Shin Gi**), also known as **Bingbaek Shinjang** (Ice White Divine Form), was overwhelmingly powerful.
With this single martial art, the ancient **Saeoeo Pae** (New Five Great Heroes) had caused a bloodstorm in the central plains of the martial world.
**Swooooosh!**
Blindingly white waves of ice rushed in every direction.
The **Dokpyeonsalwang** (Poison Arrow King) swung his **Hyeolgangpyeon** (Blood Dragon Whip) desperately, trying to counter the chilling cold energy of **Han Eum Bing Gi** (Cold Yin Ice Energy), but the speed at which the ice crystals clung to his weapon was far faster than the rate at which he could dispel them.
“Ugh!”
**Whooooosh!**
In the end, the **Dokpyeonsalwang** couldn’t dispel the **Han Eum Bing Gi**, and the ice wrapped around his entire body.
The ice continued to tighten around his form, seeping deep into his body with a terrible coldness.
He was stunned, and in desperation, he tried to circulate his internal energy to fight the cold, but this was the true terror of **Bingbaek Shinjang**.
Those who had never experienced **Bukpung Shin Gi** would often think:
**Bingbaek Shinjang?**
If you’re a martial artist with strong internal energy, isn’t it just a matter of breaking the ice and coming out of it?
When the martial world first heard the legend of the **New Five Great Heroes**, many shared the same thoughts.
They couldn’t understand how past masters, who had been trapped in the ice, couldn’t move.
But that was because they didn’t understand the **Bingbaek Shin Gong**’s extreme ice energy.
The internal energy of the ice practitioners, forged in the bitter snowstorms of the **North Sea** over many years, was something the human body, made of flesh and blood, simply could not withstand.
From the moment it struck, the unimaginable power of the ice energy infiltrated the body.
All that could be done was to muster all of one’s internal energy and fight against the extreme force in a battle of attrition.
After that, it was a relentless back-and-forth struggle for survival.
This was precisely why the **Dokpyeonsalwang** was now immobilized.
Struggling to move his eyes, he looked around at his subordinates.
‘How could this be! Everyone…!’
Except for a few lucky ones, everyone was trapped in the ice, fighting against the **Han Eum Bing Gi** (Cold Yin Ice Energy).
Some of them had already turned pale and were dying, unable to resist the ice energy that was invading their bodies.
**”Khh!”**
The **Dokpyeonsalwang** (Poison Arrow King) felt a desire to **publicly execute** **Cheon Heo Ja** (the Celestial Void), who had described the **Saeoe Daegyeon** (Great Battle of the New Five Heroes).
His description was lacking, wasn’t it?
It was all his fault.
**Han Seol Hyeon**, having lightly landed on the ground, hurriedly checked the condition of **Jang Il Ryong**.
“Are you alright?”
**Jang Il Ryong** was more shocked by the sight, as if the world had turned to ice, than by the physical pain of his body being torn apart.
Sparkling.
“Wow, damn.”
In **Bingbaek Shinjang**’s hands, there were no exceptions.
Even the trees, plants, and most of **Heukcheon Ryeon**’s minions had turned into ice crystals.
What kind of martial art is this, or is it some kind of **disaster**?!
It was as if the wrath of nature itself had struck them all at once.
**Jang Il Ryong**, staring up at **Han Seol Hyeon**, couldn’t help but be astonished by her delicate figure, slender fingers, and beautiful face, as she killed so many of **Heukcheon Ryeon**’s elites with a single palm!
I’m sorry. Someone like her is far too good for me.
Just being able to admire her for a moment is an honor for my family…
At that moment, a sudden crackling sound cut through the air.
**Shaa-shaa-shack!**
**Jin Ga Hee** and **Yeom Sang Rok** appeared, their eyes shining fiercely, and immediately attacked the ice.
“Kill them!”
“Yes!”
**Thud! Thud!**
With swift movements, **Jin Ga Hee** and **Yeom Sang Rok** shattered the ice, working together like they had trained their movements for a long time, their coordination dazzling.
But wasn’t it as if their movements had been calculated in advance?
“Those bastards…!”
Seeing this, **Jang Il Ryong** immediately realized.
They had been watching this place for a long time.
**Dokpyeonsalwang**, the highest-ranking of the **Palwang**, and the **Heukcheon Ryeon**’s special forces, the **Cheongyo Gyeong** (Death Ghost Brigade), had clearly been hiding and waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Guess they’re really part of the **Safa** after all.”
Despite a bitter laugh, **Jang Il Ryong** was glad to see them.
“Damn!”
**Dokpyeonsalwang**, trapped in the ice with a bloodshot face, used all his remaining strength, summoning every bit of his martial power.
“AAARRGH!”
**Thud!**
Suddenly, **Dokpyeonsalwang** broke free from the ice, and both **Han Seol Hyeon** and **Jang Il Ryong** were stunned.
When **Han Seol Hyeon** raised her hands to release the cold of the **North Sea**, **Dokpyeonsalwang** performed a light-body technique and threw himself towards the bushes.
**Jang Il Ryong**’s face froze in disbelief.
“Running away?”
Just a moment ago, **Heukcheon Ryeon**’s **Palwang**, who had been pressuring him with divine might, was now fleeing as soon as **Han Seol Hyeon**’s ice energy began to gather in her hands.
These **Safa** people really didn’t understand the pride of martial artists.
If it were **Namgung Su** (a master of the righteous path), even if his life was hanging by a thread, he would have poured all his beliefs into his sword and charged at the enemy!
I miss you, **Changcheon Gyeom Hyup** (Great Sword of the Sky).
“Ugh!”
Having distanced himself into the bushes, **Dokpyeonsalwang** looked down at his feet and winced.
The edge of an ice shard had pierced through his shoe.
He had said he would escape, but it seemed not everything could be avoided.
**Shaa!**
With a whip, he used the **Sado Chiljeol Pyeon** technique to shatter the surrounding ice.
“Ughhh!”
“Ahhhh!”
The members of the **Cheongyo Gyeong** (Death Ghost Brigade), who had been struggling desperately against the intense cold, were suddenly relieved as they felt the ice break and their bodies freed.
**Dokpyeonsalwang**’s skill in selectively breaking only the ice without harming his subordinates was indeed the mark of a **Palwang**!
After saving as many as he could, **Dokpyeonsalwang** shouted roughly in all directions.
“Retreat! We retreat!”
**Dokpyeonsalwang** was known for fighting only battles he could win.
Seeing the power of **Han Seol Hyeon**’s **Bingbaek Shinjang**, he had no desire to continue fighting.
Having survived countless life-and-death battles in the dangerous world of **Safa**, it was no surprise that his survival instincts were extraordinary.
**Whirr!**
The few remaining members of the **Cheongyo Gyeong** disappeared in an instant, vanishing into the distance using a special technique.
All of this was thanks to the terrifying power of **Han Seol Hyeon**’s **Bingbaek Shin Gong**!
Soon, **Yeom Sang Rok**’s face, which had joined **Han Seol Hyeon**, was filled with fear.
“Wow… what the hell is all this?”
The scene unfolding in **Gwan Do Byeon** (the Pass of the River) looked like a living hell.
The bodies of those who had exploded with the ice crystals were gruesome beyond belief.
Even someone like **Yeom Sang Rok**, who had seen all kinds of death, was shaken by the sight.
“Damn, even while their comrades are dying, they’re hiding and just watching like this.”
In response to **Jang Il Ryong**’s criticism, **Yeom Sang Rok** retorted defensively.
“Don’t you know what happens when you move recklessly in this treacherous martial world? I was just waiting for the right moment!”
“So you’re saying you’re just a slimy **Safa** bastard? Ugh.”
**Jang Il Ryong**, loosening his armor, began pulling the swords from his back one by one.
“While your friend is being torn apart, you didn’t even come out to help, huh?”
“Sorry.”
**Jang Il Ryong**’s heavy arm rested on **Yeom Sang Rok**’s shoulder.
“I’ll teach you what it means to have the spirit of the righteous path.”
“Damn, you’re from a bandit background too, aren’t you?”
“I’ve washed my hands of that, bastard.”
At that moment, **Jin Ga Hee**’s voice echoed.
“Hehe! Don’t be too hard on them. They could’ve been in danger too. After all, they dropped everything and came running to help.”
**Jang Il Ryong** widened his eyes.
“…What are you doing?”
Amidst the gruesome, ice-exploded corpses, **Jin Ga Hee** was carefully collecting blood with a white cloth.
She smiled awkwardly.
“Hehe, what a waste.”
**Yeom Sang Rok** shook his head in disbelief.
“She’s really aiming for the ultimate technique, isn’t she?”
Supporting **Jang Il Ryong**, **Yeom Sang Rok** glanced at **Han Seol Hyeon**.
“**Poyang Lake** is burning. We should hurry.”
As **Jin Ga Hee** spat and stood up, she brushed off her clothes.
“Tch, those little bastards. All talk, no action. Let’s go!”
In an instant, the elite members of the **Cheongyo Gyeong** had been reduced to nothing.
For **Jin Ga Hee**, with her supreme martial prowess, their blood didn’t make much difference.
As **Yeom Sang Rok** helped **Jang Il Ryong** aboard the celestial carriage, **Han Seol Hyeon** and **Jin Ga Hee** performed brilliant light-body techniques, shooting off toward **Poyang Lake**.
Dawn was slowly approaching as the darkness receded.
* * *
‘What is this…!’
Heukcheon Daesal stared in shock at his right hand, which had exploded.
He hadn’t even sensed the opponent’s intention.
When the tingling sensation suddenly came to his palm, it was already too late.
A point that was rapidly contracting with immense force swallowed his right hand in an instant.
In disbelief, he couldn’t even feel the pain.
Nearby, Iron Fist King screamed in a shrill voice.
“What… What is that?!”
The scene, completely outside the realm of ordinary martial arts, shocked the rest of the Eight Kings as well.
But they had no time to be shocked.
As Jo Hwi’s sword trembled at an incredible speed, countless dots appeared in the air once again.
“That’s his spiritual intent technique! Dodge!”
The Eight Kings, who had created the Three Patches of Heaven with Yeonju, were no ordinary martial artists.
The horrifying sensation transmitted through their sense of power made them instinctively aware of the danger.
The Eight Kings, shivering in fear, quickly began to retreat from the radius of the dots.
However, the weaker kings, such as Weak King and Ghost Face King, could not avoid Jo Hwi’s dots in time.
The upper body of Ghost Face King was sucked into the point that rapidly contracted.
He activated his internal energy to break free with all his might, but his ribs cracked, and part of his upper body was absorbed by the point.
“Ahhh!”
Weak King’s situation was even worse.
His attempt to escape by using light body movement was fine, but the hem of his pants brushed against the dot.
Soon, both of his legs were sucked into the point, and blood poured out as they fell.
“Ahhh!”
Weak King, who had lost both legs in the blink of an eye, clutched his pelvis and screamed madly.
At that moment, Heukcheon Daesal, who had activated extreme spiritual intent to escape the battlefield, suddenly recalled a legend.
“Empty Sky Sword?”
A sword that controls space!
An impossible level of swordsmanship that could not be conceived from mere martial arts.
The martial world knew this as the “Empty Sky Sword,” a trace of the divine.
“Sword God! He’s a descendant of the Sword God!”
Heukcheon Daesal screamed in horror.
The Eight Kings, who had been catching their breath and avoiding the attacks, were also astonished.
“What?!”
“That can’t be!”
The descendant of the Sword God, the strongest among the Three Gods?
Shivers ran down their spines.
In the martial world, the title “God” was not to be taken lightly. No faction or force could rival the power of a God.
And even Heukcheon Ryun was no exception.
“Retreat…!”
At Heukcheon Daesal’s command, Jo Hwi’s form blinked out of existence in an instant.
Pah!
In the blink of an eye, Jo Hwi appeared between the Eight Kings.
His eyes gleamed with violet power, like an erupting volcano.
The sound of countless dots forming in the air echoed.
And there were hundreds of them!
Dots appeared in all thirty-six directions surrounding Heukcheon Daesal and the Eight Kings.
As Jo Hwi watched the countless dots appear, he spoke coldly.
“Die.”
With the fusion of the Sword God’s sword techniques and the demonic arts of the Demon God, Jo Hwi was truly invincible.
Sword Tyrant Wang Masapyeong desperately raised his stance to block Heukcheon Daesal’s front.
Heukcheon Daesal, who had once crossed life and death with him, immediately understood his intentions.
He was trying to buy time.
The price would be his life.
“Ahhh!”
Thud!
The two space-compressing points tore his limbs apart, and his blood fell to the ground.
The death of the Sword Tyrant, once the top contender for the position of the Eight Kings, was an unimaginable and tragic end.
Heukcheon Daesal, with gritted teeth, let out a furious sigh as blood trickled between his teeth.
Since his six years of seclusion and confronting the great inner demons, he had never felt such overwhelming emotional pain.
The grayish energy that began to form in his eyes turned into suffocating killing intent.
His martial arts, honed through countless kills, had turned gray like burnt ashes.
His eyes, filled with intense rage, turned into a deadly glare aimed directly at Jo Hwi.
The Gray Eye Kill Technique.
The Ninth Kill.
Heavenly Devil Killing Wheel.
The Heavenly Devil Killing Wheel was a lethal technique that had once taken the life of Mo Sang-gokju, the secretive leader of the orthodox sect.
It was a powerful technique that had turned the Eight Kings into mere pawns.
As dozens of long swords surrounded him, a cold killing energy filled the air.
Swooosh!
Heukcheon Daesal, accompanied by dozens of swords, shot toward Jo Hwi like arrows from a bow.
He couldn’t afford to waste the space created by his friend’s death.
The swords, wrapped in the same deadly aura, flew toward Jo Hwi.
In that moment, the violet power in Jo Hwi’s eyes grew even stronger.
Boom!
With a sound like thunder, the swords split the air, narrowly missing him.
Heukcheon Daesal looked around in madness.
Suddenly, a tearing sound came from behind him.
Heukcheon Daesal desperately turned his head.
Swoosh!
A steel sword skimmed his cheek, cutting it open.
For the first time in his life, he saw an expression of fear on his face.
“Me?! Heukcheon Daesal…!”
Such a look of terror was unimaginable for a man like him.
At that moment, Jo Hwi raised his sword in front of his forehead, his eyes shining with a fierce glow.
Around him, a dark aura like the deepest night surrounded him.
Heukcheon Daesal felt his heart twist as he gazed into Jo Hwi’s eyes.
Only those who had reached the same absolute level could understand the significance of that gaze.
An immense spiritual aura surrounded Jo Hwi like armor.
The vastness of it was beyond belief.
How could anyone maintain such powerful spiritual intent while keeping their sanity and internal energy intact?
In that moment, Heukcheon Daesal realized he could momentarily possess such intent.
But to maintain such overwhelming energy continuously was an entirely different level of difficulty.
Grabbing his torn cheek, Heukcheon Daesal stared at Jo Hwi, his heart pounding in terror.
Among the Eight Kings, the Second King was dissolving into blood.
The remaining kings were far from normal.
Iron Fist King was pressing his torn arm with a pale face, trying to stop the bleeding, while Poison Eye King had lost his entire right shoulder.
Surprisingly, the already injured Ghost Face King and Weak King were still alive.
‘Did he show mercy in his hands?’
Even so, they had lost the Sword Tyrant King and Ghost King.
King Ma Gyeom was fortunate enough to have escaped far away, using light body movement.
Effectively, the Eight Kings were all out of combat.
He himself couldn’t think of a way to break through that vast spiritual intent and pierce them with the blades.
Finally, the unbelievable words left his mouth.
“…We’ve lost.”
Heukcheon Daesal, the absolute being who had divided the forces of the Devil Sect, dropped his swords and surrendered.
“We will retreat from the Southwest. Our territories will be fully offered to you.”
For Heukcheon Daesal, it was necessary to save the remaining kings. If they all died here, the core of the Black Heaven Alliance would collapse.
Jo Hwi’s eyes, shining through the sword, radiated an extremely cold light.
“After retreating to Zhejiang, what then? Will those who were once eating to their fill suddenly be able to live in hunger?”
“…”
“What you will do is obvious. Just like before, you’ll rush to the Evil Heaven Society or the Green Forest Sect and propose an alliance. You’ll remove the Zhou Grand Assembly and split the Southwest in half.”
Heukcheon Daesal, with a bitter smile, spoke.
“I will announce it in the name of the Black Heaven Sect.”
Jo Hwi smiled coldly.
“Such a declaration can be overturned at any time. Especially since you’ve killed so many of our people.”
Tsk tsk tsk.
As Jo Hwi’s sword began to gather spiritual energy again, Heukcheon Daesal’s eyes ignited with gray flames, and his form began to blur.
Bang!
Heukcheon Daesal quickly grabbed the surviving Eight Kings and escaped from the battlefield.
Jo Hwi didn’t chase them.
Now was not the time to pursue the enemy; he first needed to stabilize the Grand Assembly.
Even now, the screams of the sect members dying in pain echoed.
At that moment, familiar auras were detected within Jo Hwi’s spiritual sense.
Han Seol-hyun and Jin Ga-hee, who had displayed dazzling light body movement, were arriving!
Jin Ga-hee, upon discovering the horrifying scene, looked shocked.
The severely crumpled chain sickles and torn battle armor, along with the tattered pieces of the Black Dragon Cloak that only the Eight Kings could wear, were scattered around as remnants.
Jin Ga-hee immediately recognized who Jo Hwi had faced.
“My heavens! Did all the Eight Kings come here? Huh? This is the symbol of Yeonju! Even Heukcheon Daesal?”
Surrounded by pools of blood, Jin Ga-hee licked her lips, but didn’t move hastily under Jo Hwi’s intense gaze. This was the first time she had seen Jo Hwi with such a serious expression.
“Where’s Chief Zhang?”
“He’s… coming. But he’s badly injured.”
Jo Hwi turned his gaze to Han Seol-hyun.
“Are you injured?”
“I’m fine.”
Jo Hwi then shifted his gaze back to Jin Ga-hee and spoke coldly.
“Don’t think about playing vampire games. First, stabilize the Grand Assembly. I’ll check the shops on the eastern side of Poyang Lake. You take the northern side. Miss Han, could you tend to the injured on the western side?”
“Understood…,” she responded.
“Yes. I will.”
Boom!
A massive pit formed as Jo Hwi’s form disappeared toward the eastern side.