hotmtlnovel Chapter 196
Chapter 196
Hwan Ba-ho of the Namgung Clan’s Cheonpung Squad was renowned for his exceptional skills as a guide, making him an indispensable asset on the battlefield.
Following his lead, it was possible to evade enemy forces, ambush their main army, or strike supply lines with stealth.
Truly, he was a godsend of a guide!
Currently, the righteous faction’s forces were advancing north along the Yellow River, aiming to isolate the Giyeon Sect.
The Supreme Commander of the Martial Alliance had declared his intention to secure victory in the west and pierce through the enemy’s main camp in one decisive strike. This made the role of elite units, tasked with launching a surprise attack under the cover of darkness, crucial.
Naturally, Hwan Ba-ho’s role in guiding these elite troops was of utmost importance.
[This way.]
Hwan Ba-ho successfully led the elite unit through the Black Lotus Alliance’s perimeter, bringing them close to the enemy’s main camp.
The night was still long. It was the perfect opportunity to catch the unsuspecting enemies off guard and eliminate their top martial artists.
As Hwan Ba-ho nodded, the leader of the unit, Hyun Geuk, an exceptional martial artist of the Wudang Sect, gave the order.
[Begin.]
The martial artists unleashed techniques capable of striking from a distance. Hyun Geuk concentrated his inner energy into his drawn sword, preparing his attack.
At the moment Hyun Geuk swung his sword, countless attacks rained down upon the Black Lotus Alliance’s main camp.
BOOOOOOM────────!!
Aaargh—! Amidst the thunderous explosions, screams rang out. Hyun Geuk clenched his fist.
“It worked! Sweep them away at once!”
Leading the charge, Hyun Geuk dashed forward, his sword gleaming as he leapt into the Black Lotus Alliance’s camp.
“What the...?”
But what greeted him was a field of countless scarecrows. Each scarecrow had a talisman attached to its head. Realizing what it meant, Hyun Geuk shouted.
“It’s a trap...! Everyone, retreat!”
But he was a step too late. The Giyeon Sect’s formation activated.
[Foolish ones! You couldn’t escape the predictions of the great strategist, Sama!]
As the voice echoed from all directions, the energy in the area began to surge wildly.
[Farewell.]
Wooooooom──────!!
Hyun Geuk’s face turned pale. The unit currently embedded in the Black Lotus Alliance’s camp was made up of elite forces. Losing them all at once would be a catastrophic blow.
“I’ll clear a path!”
Hyun Geuk prepared to unleash the Tai Chi Sword, but before he could act, a massive explosion shook the area.
BOOOOOOM────────!!
The Giyeon Sect’s formation crumbled. Hyun Geuk, who hadn’t yet done anything, looked around in bewilderment.
In that brief moment, the forest had been reduced to ashes. The martial artists of the Black Lotus Alliance, who had seemingly surrounded them, were now fleeing in all directions in panic.
“What on earth...?”
BOOOOOOOM────────!!
This time, Hyun Geuk saw it. A man waved his hand, and the martial artists of the Black Lotus Alliance were swept away in an instant.
Aaargh—!
“Why... why is the Demonic Cult here?!”
Three demonic cultivators followed closely behind the man, launching their attacks.
Though aimed at the man, their strikes missed and obliterated the surrounding Black Lotus Alliance troops instead.
In the chaos, Hyun Geuk discreetly backed away and whispered urgently.
“Hwan Ba-ho! Where’s Hwan Ba-ho?!”
“Here!”
“Retreat immediately.”
“Yes!”
The elite unit of the righteous faction withdrew as if nothing had happened.
At the front, Hwan Ba-ho glanced back briefly.
‘Young master?’
But what he saw was the Demonic Cult’s Grand Archdemon, with extreme-level demonic cultivators causing havoc.
‘Such blasphemous thoughts.’
Shaking his head, Hwan Ba-ho resumed leading the way.
Regardless, the mission was a success.
*****
It seemed Chunbong’s divine bloodline was either thicker or had other peculiarities, just as the Priestess suggested.
“Why bring this up all of a sudden? Getting bored?”
Seo-jun unleashed the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword at full strength. A harmony of vertical slashes, horizontal strikes, and thrusts imbued with the balance of heaven, earth, and man imbued each swing with immense power capable of splitting the heavens.
Naturally, the Sword Demon deflected it without much effort.
Shiiing—!
Rip—!
Reattaching his severed right arm, Seo-jun activated the Mixed Origin Step once more.
BOOOOOOOM──────────!!
The scenery blurred as cold winds grazed his cheeks.
‘Am I near the North Sea yet?’
With his cultivation advancing, the Mixed Origin Step had become ridiculously fast. Not only had its output increased, but by clearing the air in his path using natural energy, his speed had reached a near-unbelievable level.
And yet, the Demonic Cult pursuers weren’t shaken off.
The reasons were simple: constant interference and the Sword Demon, flying with the Self-Wielding Sword Technique, maintaining a speed that, while not quite as fast as Seo-jun’s, was close enough to keep up.
“It’s not boredom...!”
The Priestess’s eyes gleamed as sacred flames swirled in her gaze, filling the entire space around them with fire.
“It’s to ensure that, as the Seed of the Ten Thousand Demonic Lord, you are prepared for any unforeseen threats.”
Seo-jun scattered the three blooming flowers behind him, sending thousands of petals into the air. Crunch—! The mouths on some of the petals began devouring the sacred flames that filled the area.
“That’s...!”
The Greed Demon was horrified.
“Greedy God Devours It All! How did you learn my technique?!”
“With how much you’ve shown me, wouldn’t it be strange if I couldn’t copy it?”
With a smirk, Seo-jun turned the absorbed flames toward the Sword Demon.
Fwoooosh—!
Sacred flames erupted from thousands of petals, engulfing the Sword Demon. Naturally, that madman slashed through all of it as he charged forward.
“Damn it, can’t you stop for once?”
A thrust aimed at Seo-jun’s chest. Seo-jun hastily grabbed hold of heaven and earth, shifting himself to another position.
Great Heaven and Earth Reversal.
The Sword Demon clicked his tongue as his view flipped upside down, stabbing in the opposite direction from where he had aimed.
“I thought I recognized that technique.”
Seo-jun raised an eyebrow, briefly breaking his persona before snapping back into it.
“You recognize it?”
It was his own creation, not something he borrowed.
“I saw it once before. The Cult Leader moved heaven and earth just like that.”
“The Cult Leader... Do you mean the Heavenly Demon?”
“Correct.”
Shiiing—!
Seo-jun caught his severed fingers midair with a technique and reattached them. Scratching his chin, he remarked,
“That’s fascinating.”
It seemed even the Heavenly Demon had similar ideas.
As he glanced around, Seo-jun noticed a dazzling white city in the distance amidst the snow. It was unmistakably the North Sea Ice Palace.
The Priestess, apparently upset at being ignored while Seo-jun sparred verbally with the Sword Demon, shouted,
“As I’ve said before, we have many things prepared for you in the Cult! If you return with us—”
“I think I’ve gained enough already.”
It wasn’t an empty remark. The growth he had achieved during this chase alone was absurd.
Perhaps it was because of demonic cultivation, or simply the life-and-death stakes, but Seo-jun felt confident that he could now defeat his pre-chase self even in a 2-on-1 fight.
“Your talent is already abundantly clear! So please—”
“Hold on.”
“...What now?”
“Let me call a friend.”
In an instant, Seo-jun used the Mixed Origin Step to widen the gap between him and the Sword Demon. Aligning the rings of the Five Qi Convergence into a straight line, he began his next move.
Whoooosh—!
Thousands of petals scattered in the air—half adorned with mouths, the other half with eyes.
The petals with eyes unleashed beams of Reversal Celestial Sun and Moon Art, while Seo-jun launched his own massive attack from both hands.
Swooooooosh──────────!!
A gigantic beam merged with thousands of smaller streams, twisting like the branches of a tree as they passed through the five rings of the Five Qi Convergence one by one.
BOOOOOOOM────────!!
The North Sea Ice Palace—specifically, what appeared to be the main hall—was left with a massive hole.
“Ding-dong!”
The doorbell had been rung. Time for the North Sea Ice Palace Lord to make an appearance!