Jjjeeeoong—!
Radiant Demon Squad's breakthrough swept through the flank, creating a massive shockwave that swallowed every sound in its path.
It seemed as if the light had transformed into cannon blasts, exploding everywhere. The martial forces of the Demonic Faction, gathered in one place, were shredded apart.
They were completely obliterated. The sounds of flesh tearing and bones crushing echoed from all directions. The range of the impact was immense.
—Kraaagh!
—Huff!
The charge itself was a true advance. Silhouettes of flailing arms faintly flickered.
This was due to the light mirages bursting whenever they collided with the myriad bizarre weapons of the Demonic Faction.
Even within the shattered fragments of blades, the sight of glaring eyes was chilling to the core.
Radiant Demon Squad, nearly at his full strength, had manifested.
Three in white, and twenty-five in blue.
Bang! Peeeooook—!
With terrible noises, flesh and blood splattered everywhere. The formation of the Demonic Faction crumbled in an instant. The strikes from the Radiant Demon Arts showed no mercy.
Fist strikes and sword slashes extended simultaneously, both infused with destructive force. The atmosphere violently stirred, causing the surrounding vegetation to bow. Weapons and corpses were flung around and scattered.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The canyon trembled. The continuous vibrations spread in all directions. This was the aftermath of the advancing charge.
After completely penetrating the formation, they immediately turned back and struck down the enemies once more. Their movements were graceful and fluid.
Legs enveloped in light stomped the ground following the principles of the Splendid Wings Step. Between the white radiance of the shockwaves, clouds of dust scattered.
The glowing torrents of light were akin to waves.
They swept away those trying to flee.
The twenty-eight warriors advancing together moved as one. They struck with full momentum, and no one could block even a single step.
Their movements, flickering between the streams of light, painted sporadic trajectories.
Every point of contact from sword slashes or palm strikes erupted into shockwaves, embedding fragments of their opponents' weapons into their chests.
At this moment, they were invincible.
Their opponents were neither the elite of the Nine Great Sects nor the Thirteen Celestial Demons. Their slaughter was facilitated by the Radiant Demon Arts, synchronized with the Lightning Genius' inner power. One breakthrough was nearly a complete annihilation.
The canyon.
In the blink of an eye, it had turned into a hellish scene. Screams of agony filled the air.
"Are they heavenly warriors…?"
"What… what is that…?"
"There are people like them in the world?"
Those watching the battlefield from the cliffside widened their eyes. Some stood frozen with their mouths agape.
Their reactions came only after the Radiant Swords had manifested and the chaotic charge was well underway. It was inevitable.
The spectacle before them lacked any sense of reality. From the initial strike to the blinding charge, everything seemed surreal.
Most of the people from Xian were there as spectators, expecting to witness a public execution. However, what unfolded far exceeded their expectations. The impact was terrifying.
"Save me… Gahk!"
"Kyaaaah!"
The mouths of the arrogant martial artists from the Demonic Faction were now screaming in terror. Not a single person could properly counter a blow from the Radiant Demon Arts. This was the difference between a major sect and a mid-level sect.
The disparity was extreme. The ribs of a warrior from Sublime Land Sect were shattered by Shin So-bin's fist, her long braided hair whipping behind her. It was a short, precise strike.
Bang!
"Did you think you could win?"
She shouted with exhilaration as she killed, displaying the boldness befitting a scion of a prestigious clan.
She was naturally proficient in the Radiant Demon Arts and the Infinite Blossom Fist Strike. The synergy of her martial arts was layered and dense.
Her mastery of the Radiant Demon Arts surpassed that of her seniors. She had reaped tremendous benefits as one of the white-rank warriors.
There was no issue with her leading a wing of the charge.
That was the level of skill among the white-rank warriors. The blue-rank experts wreaked havoc, embedding destructive single strikes in rapid succession while handling multiple opponents.
One sword slash decapitated three heads, and a palm strike smashed both weapons and flesh.
It was an execution. The roles had simply reversed. It was the execution of the martial artists from the Demonic Faction.
At the forefront of the formation.
The sect leaders of the Seven Demonic Sects of Xian stood silently. Despite being the highest-ranking warriors, they did not move to protect their subordinates.
With grave expressions, none of them uttered a word.
They couldn't muster the courage to enter the battlefield. They didn't even look back.
They stood rigid, their hands gripping their weapons, their luxurious silk robes fluttering. All seven were like this.
The man before them was the Radiant Demon Squad's leader of Desolate Fortress.
"..."
Baek Mu-ryang, who had previously spoken of strategy, was speechless.
His lips, hidden behind his snow-white beard, had dried up. The lips that had once taught Jung Yeonshin about the logic of the martial world were now stiff and unmoving.
He had previously spoken of the black-rank warriors from Desolate Fortress.
He had dismissed it as a joke. Even though it was plausible, he didn't believe it. The world was vast.
A person from Shaanxi wouldn't prepare a bamboo hat just because someone said it was hailing in Henan.
Even knowing that weather affects everyone equally, this was human nature.
He had considered the possibility that the opponent could be a high-ranking martial artist belonging to a sect. Yet, there was no other solution.
There was no room to retreat. A life-and-death struggle was not exclusive to the righteous sects. For the Demonic Faction, it was an essential virtue.
Even during a famine, it was their strength and honor that ensured they kept their place at the table.
This was more important than life. Showing weakness was not an option. Such was the nature of the martial world within the Demonic Faction.
"Are they really… Radiant Demon Squad's warriors? They're using techniques I've never even heard of…"
The Sword Demon Sect's leader muttered, having briefly glanced back.
He was a man in a yellow robe with a sharp gaze. Sweat dripped down his slender chin.
Yet, as befitted a leader of the Demonic Faction, he seemed bold enough to speak to Jung Yeonshin. In his hand, he casually gripped a radiant white sword.
"Not many sects dare to tarnish the name of Desolate Fortress. That's why your identity doesn't matter."
"…There was a rumor that the new Radiant Demon Squad's leader was incredibly young."
Baek Mu-ryang murmured.
This was happening as his subordinates and disciples were being slaughtered.
The sect leaders prioritized survival.
An unexpected and unprecedented threat had appeared. They deliberately spoke, using their experience to create a sense of calm.
The most important virtue when facing a grandmaster was maintaining composure.
They had to sharpen their minds like swords. Succumbing to panic would result in a meaningless death.
The old man, who had ruled the martial world of Shaanxi for decades, spoke again.
"Have we not been lured into a trap and handed over, Sect Leader Wei?"
"..."
Wei Il-hwa, the Demon Scattering Sword, did not respond. She merely bit her lower lip.
"They, too, are warriors with momentum."
Jung Yeonshin quietly remarked.
His words recalled Baek Mu-ryang's earlier advice.
—Look here. A battle involving martial artists without momentum is… complex and nerve-wracking. It's different from one-on-one duels. There's no romanticism in such fights. If you retreat now, no one will blame you.
It was as if Jung Yeonshin was throwing the words of a Demonic Faction master back at them.
Baek Mu-ryang's white eyebrows twitched.
"You insolent…"
"Now that things have simplified, stop talking and come at me."
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader assumed the initial stance of the Supreme Monarch Palm.
Swoosh.
He clenched his right fist at his waist.
As he stepped forward with his left foot, pebbles shifted, and when he angled his left fist downward toward his thigh, the surrounding vegetation trembled.
Whooosh—
Even the smallest movements were transformed into shockwaves. His entire body's internal channels were filled with energy.
An invisible wave of energy radiated from his body, pushing dust outward in all directions.
The black-rank warrior of Desolate Fortress.
A master of martial arts stood before the rulers of Xian.
"Hm."
"Is he truly…"
The sect leaders murmured in low tones.
There was someone who could suffocate them with just an initial stance. The Radiant Demon Squad's leader standing directly in front of them was such a person.
The reason they had delayed engaging while their subordinates and disciples were dying was now evident. The attack of a grandmaster was extremely dangerous.
Life and death were decided in an instant. If they couldn't fully comprehend the grandmaster before them, they would suffer fatal wounds before exchanging even two moves.
"Sect Leader Wei, have you seen enough?"
Baek Mu-ryang asked while keeping his gaze fixed ahead.
Wei Il-hwa, the leader of the Sublime Land Sect, had mastered the Dark Moon Overstepping Technique of the Thirteen Celestial Demons. It was known as a supreme sensory technique.
Properly mastered, it was said to allow one to stand on equal footing with top-tier opponents.
"…It's difficult, but I'm watching."
Wei Il-hwa replied softly, calming the fire within her. The authority she had built over the years had been shattered by those whose rank within Desolate Fortress wasn't even clear.
Only the sinister heart unique to the Demonic Faction remained. No matter how she killed the man in front of her, it would never be enough to appease her rage. They had become mortal enemies at first sight.
The Dark Moon Overstepping Technique.
A divine technique created by a former sect leader of the Thirteen Celestial Demons, it had been developed and refined over generations.
Wooong.
A faint image formed in Wei Il-hwa's vision. In her mind, she could see all the potential movements of the enemy in front of her, creating illusions that surrounded his form.
The afterimages of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader were layered around him.
The illusions moved slightly in various directions, allowing her to anticipate the trajectory before he even made a move.
She constantly observed his breathing, energy fluctuations, and muscular shifts. It was an extraordinary sensory technique.
She opened her mouth without thinking.
"There are too many trajectories. Far too many… more than I've ever seen."
At first, she saw six layers.
Even that was suffocating.
The Dark Moon Overstepping Technique was not a lenient sensory technique. It filtered out unnecessary possibilities from the mnemonic verse, making it an ultimate art.
The structure of the technique combined intent and energy flow in such a way that only meaningful afterimages appeared in the practitioner's vision.
This meant it was reduced to a level that the practitioner could respond to, granting immense benefits to its users and their disciples.
Until now, Wei Il-hwa had never seen anyone in Xian's martial world with more than five afterimages. Even Baek Mu-ryang, the leader of the Radiant Moon Clan, only had four layers.
This was why the Radiant Demon Arts displayed such rapid growth among the elite. Even in his forties, Baek Mu-ryang had the appearance of an old man due to his intense cultivation. It was only natural.
Having three or more optimal trajectories in an instant was enough to qualify one as the leader of a mid-level sect.
In terms of martial skill, Baek Mu-ryang was the strongest among the Radiant Moon Clan of Xian.
But then…
'Fifteen, twenty… thirty-two, no, several times that number...?'
The energy of the Dark Moon Overstepping Technique flared around her eyes, as if the Zan Zhu Acupoint at the center of her forehead were burning white-hot.
The more she overheated the Tongziliao Acupoint with internal energy, the more afterimages of the enemy appeared. The interweaving of true energy within the sensory technique was almost suspicious. Her mental momentum swelled rapidly in an instant.
How was he moving his body like that?
At this point, predicting his moves in advance was meaningless. His very existence was the nemesis of the Dark Moon Overstepping Technique.
Was he generating shockwaves with his entire body? If that were truly the case, even calling him a genius would be an understatement.
He was different from the masters of past generations who left no afterimages.
She had never seen anything like this before. Was this even real?
'This is insane…!'
While Wei Il-hwa floundered in panic, the Radiant Demon Squad's leader furrowed his brow as he maintained his initial stance.
"I showed mercy on the way here."
To most, it would sound like a random, meaningless statement. But to the sect leaders of the Demonic Faction, it was piercingly direct.
It meant he had been considerate enough to allow them to save face. If they made the first move, they could at least go down fighting with dignity.
Before they were effortlessly slaughtered, that is.
"Bastard!"
The Sword Demon Sect's leader roared, his voice filled with rage.
He began striding forward alone, accompanied by an overwhelming presence.
His patience had reached its limit. The man who had summoned the Radiant Swords was truly vicious. With just a few words, he had issued a terrifying provocation, rivaling even that of the typical Demonic Faction member.
At this point, maintaining composure was no longer a concern. The hierarchy of martial arts techniques no longer mattered.
The charge came first. The Sword Demon Sect's leader stomped his foot down.
Boom!
The force beneath his foot was immense. Dust and debris erupted through the vegetation.
He immediately followed up with a sword draw. The long, white blade extended straight from his grip. As he raised it, sunlight past noon shimmered along the blade like woven frost.
He swung the sword outward from his waist. The trajectory of the strike blurred. It advanced with incredible speed.
Whooo—
He exhaled deeply as he executed the sword strike, a sign of profound internal breathing.
He was, indeed, someone worthy of being called the ruler of Xian.
The Sword Demon Sect of Shaanxi Province was famous for its "Victory Over the Lone Sunset Sword Style", known for its extreme killing intent. It was unlike typical assassination techniques.
It incorporated vicious feints into swift sword strikes. It used rapid, precise attacks to confuse the eyes and lacerate the body.
Behind him, Wei Il-hwa adjusted her grip on her sword, keeping her eyes fixed on the two figures about to clash.
She also confirmed the surge of energy at the feet of the other sect leaders, who were prepared to launch themselves like cannonballs.
'I'll see this through.'
She intended to dissect every aspect of his technique and shred him to pieces.
Wei Il-hwa, one of the three greatest masters of Xian, had a vengeful determination that transcended the countless afterimages the enemy displayed.
There was a way to counter him. As soon as he initiated any movement, the number of afterimages would surely decrease.
No one could execute a sword strike and a palm strike simultaneously. This was where the opportunity lay.
With six other top-tier masters present, they planned to strike precisely as the afterimages dwindled.
They would not be sitting ducks. They only needed to shorten the time it took to deploy the Dark Moon Overstepping Technique.
The combined assault of the seven sect leaders only required them to seize the right moment.
'I'll tear this bastard apart…!'
She heightened the sensory capabilities of the technique to their extreme, locking her gaze on the enemy.
His movement was peculiar. He placed one hand on the sword of the Sword Demon Sect's leader, as if he were suppressing it. His motion wasn't particularly fast.
In fact, it was oddly slow. For someone with such immense energy, he should have been capable of lightning-fast strikes, even without specialized techniques.
At the same time, afterimages began to form around him. They appeared within the field of vision governed by the Dark Moon Overstepping Technique.
An afterimage of him pressing down on the sword blade with one hand lingered in her mind, following the technique's mnemonic principles.
Almost simultaneously, his actual movement overlapped with the afterimage. He pressed down on the sword blade exactly as predicted. This was the power of the supreme sensory technique.
'I've got him!'
A slight smirk began to form on Wei Il-hwa's lips in that fleeting moment.
She had already calculated his next move. Victory was within her grasp.
As long as she wasn't fighting him alone, as long as she had six other top-tier warriors by her side, she could lead the warriors of the Demonic Faction to victory.
'His next technique will be…'
Energy radiated from his grip as if he intended to completely suppress the Sword Demon Sect's leader's sword.
He would likely execute a sword draw next. The sensory technique had revealed as much, it suggested that was his only option.
'His balance will briefly waver. I'll stab his lower body right there. If I unleash all my power into that strike, I can slit his throat sooner than expected.'
She activated the Art of Lip Synchronization to convey her plan instantly.
She had already channeled her energy through the meridians running from her tongue to her throat, enabling her to deliver rapid, machine-gun-like instructions in the realm of high-level combat.
Then it happened.
Suddenly, the enemy's long, black hair rippled like a wave, its jet-black sheen strangely beautiful.
He lowered his stance as if preparing for a powerful strike. His right foot and left foot, along with the Sword Demon Sect's leader's position, formed a straight line in a perfect horse-riding stance.
He only turned his head slightly, locking eyes with the Sword Demon Sect's leader.
The enemy.
With his left hand still pressing down on the sword blade, he fully extended his right hand, palm open, thrusting it forward.
In that moment, the enemy's hands in Wei Il-hwa's vision fragmented. They flared like moth wings reflecting bursts of light. The rapidly multiplying afterimages swayed erratically.
Had the Dark Moon Overstepping Technique malfunctioned? This was the kind of sight one would expect to see in a neutral stance just before an attack. It implied entirely new possibilities.
There was no other explanation.
The initial stance held no inherent value. Every stance was as fluid as a natural position.
The moment energy surged from the enemy's left hand, which was pressing down on the sword blade—
Jjjeeeooong—!
The Sword Demon Sect's leader's sword shattered into pieces.
The sunlight, which had clung brilliantly to the blade, fragmented into nothingness. The enemy thrust his right hand forward, aiming at that very spot. A massive surge of force spiraled from the center of his palm.
Kwak—!
A short, explosive sound rang out. The fragments of the shattered sword were propelled forward by the force of his palm, hurtling toward the Sword Demon Sect's leader's abdomen.
It was as if his palm strike had absorbed and controlled the sunlight. The sight was chilling.
As the enemy's hand extended, his eyes flashed, and Wei Il-hwa's focus shattered from sheer shock.
Kwak kwak kwak kwak!
The shards of the sword embedded themselves deeply into the Sword Demon Sect's leader's torso. His body convulsed violently under the tremendous force.
And then.
"Guh…!"
With a short groan, he collapsed. A dull thud echoed as he hit the ground.
Even amid the distant screams and the crashing sound of shockwaves, the noise stood out distinctly. Dust belatedly rose, enveloping the Sword Demon Sect's leader's fallen body.
The scene evoked silence.
Jung Yeonshin glanced at Wei Il-hwa, his gaze precisely scanning her facial acupoints. His eyes, contrasting in black and white, flickered with an electric blue spark, a prelude to something ominous.
"Did you miss that part?"
Radiant Demon Squad's leader asked quietly.
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