Chapter 188: The Great Inferno Battle (4)

*Clang! Clang clang clang!*

Baek Ri Seol moved gracefully among the four swords she had thrown into the air, as if she were dancing.

“You don’t know your place, do you?”

As the young girl fearlessly charged, the enemy, swinging his sleeves to generate heat, roared in anger.

“You fearless brat! I’ll melt that pretty face of yours!”

*Boom boom boom!*

Three enemies simultaneously unleashed their dual-palm techniques, sending swirling flames targeting Baek Ri Seol’s vital points.

“disciple Baek Ri! Be careful!”

Instructor Yang of the Nine Hundred Iron Fist technique quickly joined in, but the force contained in the dual-palm techniques was extraordinary.

*Bang! Bang bang!*

Even as he deflected the energy, the impact sent countless stones and embers flying up to a height of ten feet.

*Thud!*

“Phew. Not enough to boast about.”

But surprisingly, Baek Ri Seol’s dance remained unbroken.

Instead, she spun gracefully on her toes, gliding across the ground and executing her sword dance through the dust.

Even the flames seemed to tremble in fear, scattering helplessly before the sword dancer’s path.

Someone once said,

– The legend of the South Sea.

I saw the shadow of the Sword Queen.

The ancient talent that the Crimson Witch coveted had already blossomed fully upon meeting Cho Un-hwi.

– Flame Goddess Jang Ok-bin.

Such a genius had inherited the legendary Phoenix Dance and brought it to life in the present.

“Hahaha!”

The clear sword energy bursting from beneath her fluttering sleeves was so extraordinary that even the most formidable enemies were helpless.

“A-a young brat!”

Since standing under the sky of the Heavenly Destruction Society, the Red Flame Squad had never found a worthy opponent with their powerful internal energy and elemental qi.

But even they were no match for the extraordinary swordsmanship of this young girl.

“We’ll use our internal energy.”

Finally, abandoning their sword techniques, they gathered all their internal energy.

No matter how talented, they believed there were limits to the internal energy one could accumulate over time.

“Beautiful flames. But flames only add to the Phoenix’s dance.”

*Swish! Swish swish!*

As her fluttering sleeves extinguished the heat and scattered the flames, the faces of the Red Flame Squad members turned ashen.

“She’s not just any young disciple.”

“Fight her with the mindset of facing a martial arts master.”

“Form the sword formation and kill her with all our might!”

It was truly shameful, but they had no choice but to use the sword formation designed to kill supreme masters against a mere young girl.

‘We must contain her elusive movements!’

But they didn’t know.

The moment they tried to form the sword formation, the young girl would leap into their midst as if she had been waiting.

“Haha! I’ve been waiting for this!”

Baek Ri Seol, who had jumped into the center of the formation, swung her arms and twisted her body.

“Die, all of you!”

Phoenix Flame Heaven Dance.

– First move. Phoenix Ascending.

The sword dancer, along with her four swords, unleashed dozens of sword winds in a spiral, sweeping through the Red Flame Squad.

***

“It’s starting again.”

Jegal Tan shook his head at the sound of the bells ringing.

“What, are we just going to stand here?”

Eon Ho-seung, snorting like a bull ready to charge, grumbled.

“It’s fine. Our goal is to find survivors.”

As they looked at those following behind, they quickly moved forward.

Ahead, the enemy’s killing intent surged, and several enemies landed on the ground.

*Fwoosh.*

With each step, flames ignited in their footprints.

Such formidable Solar Yang Palm.

“…This is quite exciting.”

Eon Ho-seung, pounding his fists together, stood beside Im So-jeong and the twins.

“The signal is to throw the hidden weapons.”

Tang Gan stepped back, reaching into his sleeve.

Seo Ok-rang and Il-pyo also drew their swords with trembling hands.

They were facing an opponent far stronger than the instructors.

Moreover, they had to engage in a sudden life-and-death battle, so they couldn’t help but be nervous.

Among them, only Jegal Tan remained calm.

“No need to be tense.”

*Swish.*

*Flicker flicker!*

As small sparks appeared on his sword, the enemies watching them tilted their heads, then lowered their guard.

“…A formation?”

“You know it well.”

Jegal Tan, with a cynical smile, quickly signaled.

“The traces have disappeared.”

“Where did they go?”

Pointing at the enemies chatting just ten feet away, Jegal Tan muttered.

“Remember your positions? When I signal, Eon Ho-seung goes left, Miss Im goes right, and the rest block the rear.”

As they remembered their positions and tensed their toes, Im So-jeong, shaking off her drowsiness, tilted her head.

“Then what about you, Jegal?”

“Oh, didn’t I mention it?”

*Swish!*

*Swish! Swish!*

As he swung his sleeve, the formation disappeared like peeling off a layer.

*Swish!*

*Slash! Slash!*

In an instant, Jegal Tan slipped between the enemies and stabbed them with his sword.

“I’m taking the front.”

*Splash!*

Blood hotter than the flames gushed beside the cold Jegal Tan.

***

“This is incredible.”

The leader of the assault squad, part of the Red Flame Squad, clicked his tongue as he looked at his fallen comrades lying in pools of blood.

“The brave soldiers of the Eight Heavenly Apostles, defeated by brats.”

Lifting his burning gaze, he looked ahead.

There, the cheeky brat responsible for this carnage was sitting on a small rock, grinning.

“What, happy to see your friends?”

“You’re insane.”

He had to admit the brat was strong.

Killing all the Red Flame Squad members with a single strike each was no small feat.

“But it seems you’ve grown too bold for your age.”

“If you grow too bold, you die.”

“I acknowledge your courage. But.”

*Clang.*

Drawing his massive sword, the enemy declared ominously.

“I’ll peel your flesh piece by piece and burn it.”

“Ha-. That’s too scary.”

*Shiver.*

Feigning exaggerated fear, the leader gritted his teeth.

‘He’s insane.’

*Woooooo.*

As his killing intent exploded, his sword glowed red-hot.

The ultimate Solar Yang Palm was unleashed.

At the same time, he pressed his left hand on the sword tip and lowered his body.

‘This is the martial art personally taught by the Apostle. Too much for a brat.’

*Drip. Drip.*

As the sword melted from the heat, he pulled it to its limit, bending his body like a bow.

If he charged and cut him in one move, the fight would be over.

“Oh.”

But the opponent’s reaction to his stance was unusual.

“Extreme Solar Slash. Not bad.”

“!”

The unique martial art of the Sun Demon Lord, who once terrified the world.

‘How does he know this technique?’

It was a martial art forgotten for over a hundred years.

“You’ve learned it well. Seems you’ve reached the third level.”

Not only recognizing the stance but also estimating his mastery?

‘Danger!’

As his mind screamed a warning, he instinctively tried to pour all his energy into the strike.

“Finally, someone who knows something. You kept me waiting.”

*Shriek!*

With a chilling scream, the blood-red eyes under the tousled hair exploded with intensity.

The moment their eyes met, his spirit wavered, and his energy surged with overwhelming fear.

‘Oh no. This monster…’

Was he lured here?

*Goooooo.*

In his trembling vision, a massive figure rose like a mountain, casting a shadow.

*Crack!*

The last thing he heard was the sound of his neck breaking in the tilted world.

***

After the battle, Instructor Yang ran to inform Mo Yong Seon-ya.

“All enemies have been dealt with.”

“…Good work.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya looked around.

Seeing the bodies cooling around her, she clicked her tongue.

“I expected a tough fight…”

To think it would be handled so easily.

“…I’m truly surprised. I didn’t expect Instructor Cho to be so strong.”

It wasn’t just about strength.

‘It was as if he knew everything about this place and dealt with it skillfully.’

If he hadn’t moved as if he knew where the enemies were hiding, they would have suffered significant losses.

“The disciples are amazing. They didn’t just hold their own they overwhelmed the enemies.”

“I thought they were just kids, but now I’m looking forward to their future.”

Listening to Jo Hyeon and Yeo Mae-hong’s conversation, Mo Yong Seon-ya turned her gaze.

There, the disciples were meticulously cleaning up and keeping watch.

They no longer looked like young disciples who needed constant supervision but seasoned martial artists.

“Let’s move. The signal flares went off over there.”

As Namgung Il-jun spoke, Mo Yong Seon-ya hastened her steps.

*Swish!*

Moving like a flying squirrel through the trees, Mo Yong So-hye leaped down from the air.

“Sister! I found him!”

“Found who?”

“Instructor Shim!”

The news brought a surge of energy to their weary bodies and minds.

***

“Phew.”

Looking pale from the struggle, Instructor Shim glanced around.

“You broke through on your own?”

“Well, it wasn’t just us.”

Honestly, one person’s contribution was overwhelming.

“Instructor Shim, did you see the senior instructor?”

“Yes. We parted ways at a herbalist’s hut and moved separately.”

“The situation is urgent. We don’t have time to explain, so please join us.”

Though he seemed exhausted, Instructor Shim glanced at the disciples and nodded.

“Alright. I’ll help as much as I can.”

***

Instructor Shim’s support was just the beginning.

“Wow! We’re saved!”

Gradually, more disciples and instructors joined them.

Though they had suffered greatly from the sudden ambush, fortunately, there weren’t many critically injured.

The instructors had risked their lives to protect the disciples.

“Seon-ya! Why did you come back to this place?”

Seeing her father, who had been fighting with burns and injuries, Mo Yong Seon-ya finally broke into tears.

Beside him, Jang Cheol-sim, who had been protecting the disciples with all his might, collapsed upon seeing a familiar face.

“Phew. I really thought I was done for.”

“Senior Instructor, I’m sorry, but this isn’t the time to rest.”

“I know. You said there are still many missing?”

They didn’t know when the demons of the Heavenly Destruction Society would return.

“Let’s regroup and recover at the rendezvous point. Then we’ll reorganize and move out.”

With the exhausted disciples, those who had teetered on the brink of life and death began to rise.

***

*Whistle! Whistle!*

Watching the smoke rising from the mountainside, the blood-robed man tilted his head.

“This is strange.”

If the ambush had succeeded, they should have heard something by now.

“Could it have failed?”

With the forces deployed here, they could turn an average sect to ashes in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

There was no way the young disciples of Shinmu Academy or their caretaking instructors could handle it.

“tsk. I don’t understand.”

The events in Suzhou and the Invisible Sword Hall didn’t go as planned.

But that was the extent of it.

Though there were minor anomalies, he had no doubt that the outcome would align with the will of the Apostle.

“With the Apostle involved, the result is always the same.”

The Apostle of the Eight Heavenly Apostles was the new ruler of the heavens.

The Apostle’s strategies, reaching the heavens, could handle minor anomalies.

“I’ll send three more squads.”

With this, they could even challenge the Namgung Clan.

Capturing young and foolish sacrifices would be easy.

*Snap!*

As he snapped his fingers to summon a Red Flame Squad member.

‘Huh? No one’s here?’

He couldn’t sense the presence of his subordinates who should always be on standby.

‘I’ll have to request a thorough reeducation when I return to the Apostle.’

Furrowing his brows, he was about to raise his voice in irritation when.

“Wow, what a view.”

Startled by the voice from behind, he turned sharply.