Chapter 194: The Altar of Flames (4)

(TLN: We got DMCA nuked So all korean novels will be removed this week If you want to get updated on What might happen join the discord or Kofi If you can )

He was definitely sulking.

Cho Un-hwi had tried to smooth things over, but Dokgo Yul’s separation anxiety was more severe than expected.

[Did you leave me to deal with that mountain bandit while you had fun on your own?]

What fun on my own?

[After all the hard work, I found your lady, but you were off having an affair.]

An affair? Don’t accuse me wrongly.

[I’m disappointed. Didn’t you promise not to enjoy Jianghu without me?.]

Despite looking like someone who wouldn’t bleed even if pricked with a needle, Cho Un-hwi quickly tried to placate his sensitive subordinate.

[Hey, hey. Would I really do that?]

[You did the night parade of a hundred ghosts without me. Even took the 173rd woman of the Hao Clan.]

[…It’s a misunderstanding, I swear.]

[This is betrayal. Unprecedented. Treachery.]

Seeing the tears welling up in his single eye, Cho Un-hwi changed the subject.

[Where is the lady?]

[I left her just ahead. It seemed dangerous here.]

Good job.

[Moreover, I thought it should be you showing off in front of her, so I left her with those old men with neither skill nor charm.]

[Smart move. I commend you.]

Dokgo Yul finally calmed down.

Praise indeed makes even a whale dance, and it seemed even more effective on the smarter-than-a-whale Dokgo Yul.

Seeing the warmth return to his once sulking eye.

[Why did the Light Of flame come along?]

[He clung like a leech, so I had no choice.]

His irritated response showed he wasn’t pleased.

[If it weren’t for you, I’d have taken his head long ago.]

[Please hold off on that.]

[He keeps pestering me to drink and touching me. I’d like to slit his throat, drink his blood, and chew his flesh….]

Hey, hey. That’s not right.

*Boom!*

Ma Gil-sang, who had been sweeping away the enemies with his flame dragon and unstoppable blade techniques, wiped his forehead and approached.

“Haha! Thanks to you.”

“Yes. Ugh.”

Patting his back and wrapping an arm around his neck, his show of camaraderie made those around them look dazed.

“You two seem to get along well.”

“Haha. It seems the two righteous men have become close friends.”

“This is a rare and joyous occasion.”

Contrary to the general sentiment, Cho Un-hwi noticed Dokgo Yul’s fingers trembling as they repeatedly reached for his sword sheath.

[Hey, hey. Put your hand down.]

[Ugh. That mountain bandit-looking guy is interrupting my conversation with you.]

[Just hold on.]

Anyway, it seemed the situation here was roughly under control.

***

*Boom!*

The appearance of the giant flame dragon was witnessed even from afar.

“The Light Of flame is here!”

“Ah, we’re saved.”

Relief spread among the instructors and disciples who saw the beacon of hope.

“I never thought I’d see the Flame Dragon Emergence with my own eyes.”

Even the usually stoic members of the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad smiled.

As the immense energy echoed in all directions, the ominous killing intent of the dawn dissipated.

“They must have realized the situation has turned against them.”

“Phew. It’s been a long day.”

*Plop. Plop.*

As the exhausted instructors and disciples leaned against anything available, catching their breath, Wang Woo was staring intently at one spot.

What he was looking at was a figure with slender limbs.

“Disciple Im. Get up. The fight isn’t over yet.”

With her black hair swaying, the girl firmly wiped the soot from her face with her sleeve.

Where the soot was wiped away, her skin shone so brightly it was almost blinding.

‘Jin Seol-hyang. Is this girl the main wife?’

She’s slightly shorter than 182.

‘In terms of grandeur, she doesn’t compare to 196 or 235.’

Her attire also matters.

Her oversized clothes made her look like a child wearing an adult’s outfit.

‘I heard she was poor, but it’s worse than I thought.’

Seeing the patched elbows, Sima Bai pondered.

Despite her shabby appearance, there was something that caught his eye.

“……”

Her bright, large eyes were striking.

He had observed that she never backed down, even when fighting enemies, and never looked back even in desperate situations.

Despite struggling to ensure her own safety, she gritted her teeth and protected those around her.

Her determination was as bright as her eyes.

Having seen many people, Sima Bai knew this was a rare quality.

‘So this is your taste.’

After hearing it several times, the sight of her scrunching her nose and forming wrinkles around her eyes was quite endearing.

‘It’s no wonder he doesn’t look at the flowers of the Heavenly Demon Sect when he has such a righteous and warm person in his heart.’

As he continued his pleasant thoughts.

*Flinch!*

Sensing the rapidly approaching killing intent, he furrowed his brows.

“…Is it the Apostle?”

Of all times….

“I can’t hand over the Blood Tear Stone so easily.”

Gripping his sword sheath, he leaped forward.

***

*Boom!*

The appearance of the giant flame dragon was also witnessed by Jeokmu-gyeong, the Eight Heavenly Apostles.

“The Light Of flame?”

Determining the direction, Jeokmu-gyeong clenched his teeth.

“They said the sword of the top ten martial artists was terrifying, and they were right.”

The appearance of the flame dragon from the altar shattered Jeokmu-gyeong’s last bit of patience.

And his anger turned towards the figure before him.

“Ugh. Ugh.”

An old man with disheveled hair, barely holding his sword.

Surprisingly, it was the battered Sword Saint, Namgung Chan.

“Haha. It seems I’ve won.”

“Hahaha! Hahaha!”

Jeokmu-gyeong, laughing like a madman, suddenly stopped.

“I’ll admit one thing.”

“…What is it?”

“I underestimated you.”

“……”

Though arrogant, Namgung Chan couldn’t deny it.

The opponent had a powerful martial art that even he couldn’t handle.

“I thought Jianghu was too boring, but I was wrong.”

“…You’re quite relaxed for someone whose life is hanging by a thread.”

“My life hanging by a thread? Hahaha!”

With eyes gleaming with killing intent, Jeokmu-gyeong looked at Namgung Chan and the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad behind him.

“Don’t get cocky just because I gave you some leeway.”

*Swish!*

As Jeokmu-gyeong waved his hand, a crescent-shaped energy swept past Namgung Chan and struck the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad behind him.

“Ugh!”

“Gah!”

In an instant, five members spewed blood and fell, their bodies split.

“Now that it’s come to this, I’ll kill you all, sacrifices or not.”

*Boom!*

As he stomped the ground, his figure blurred, and Namgung Chan leaped into the air, drawing his sword.

*Slash!*

Namgung Chan raised his sword, aiming at Jeokmu-gyeong’s back, who had already decapitated five more members.

“Bastard!”

Flipping in mid-air, a brilliant white energy flashed at the tip of Namgung Chan’s sword.

But that wasn’t the end.

“Face the Emperor’s Sword!”

*Boom boom boom boom!*

Layer upon layer of heavy sword energy filled the air with a deafening roar.

*Swish!*

The secret technique of the Namgung Clan, which one can only begin to learn after reaching the transcendent realm.

“Haha. The Emperor Sword Technique?”

It was different from the technique Namgung Musan had struggled to master.

*Boom boom boom boom!*

The white energy turned transparent, and the ripples from the sword shook everything within twenty feet.

“The essence of the Emperor’s Sword is the king of all weapons!”

The energy from the sword resonated with all the weapons within twenty feet, creating massive waves.

*Boom boom boom boom.*

*Boom boom boom boom.*

“This is quite impressive.”

The swords and stones scattered within twenty feet floated as if alive.

This was the realm of controlling objects with one’s will, a miracle only the top martial artists could achieve.

Even the sword in his hand turned towards his neck, and Jeokmu-gyeong muttered in awe.

“Truly worthy of the Sword Saint.”

To control the will of all swords within his range.

“Truly fitting for the title of Emperor.”

Even as his sword trembled, aiming at his neck, Jeokmu-gyeong laughed.

“Indeed, it’s an overwhelming realm even among those who have reached the divine transformation.”

The divine transformation realm.

A state where one transcends the human shell and glimpses the realm of gods.

A state that requires heavenly luck to achieve, yet the Sword Saint looked down on it.

“To project one’s will within their range. A magnificent sword technique.”

But.

“Do you think a king among fools can match the will of one who defies the heavens?”

*Boom!*

A sudden explosion of heat engulfed a thirty-foot radius.

“I, Jeokmu-gyeong of the Eight Heavenly Apostles, wield a power that defies the heavens.”

*Boom!*

As the overwhelming will shattered the Emperor’s will, Namgung Chan spewed blood.

“Cough!”

As the Emperor’s will scattered, the swords that had floated fell helplessly.

“Enjoyed the show, Sword Saint.”

*Boom!*

As the fierce flames surged, Namgung Chan realized.

‘The meaning of the Heavenly Destruction Society.’

Was it to break the laws of martial arts and the heavens?

*Boom!*

Falling into the flames, Namgung Chan was thrown ten feet away.

***

“Father!”

Seeing Namgung Chan spewing blood and being thrown, Namgung Musan screamed.

Though forty members of the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad remained, the situation was dire.

Each one was pushing their limits with desperate determination.

*Swish.*

Jeokmu-gyeong, having defeated Namgung Chan, turned to face them.

“Now you understand, my patience is thin.”

“Who… are you?”

He raised his hand.

Surprisingly, a red stone was embedded in Jeokmu-gyeong’s palm.

*Throb. Throb.*

The stone, pulsing like it had a life of its own, absorbed blood, emanating an even more sinister aura.

*Crack.*

As it fed on its owner’s blood, it transformed into an even more horrifying sight.

“Because of you, it consumed an incomplete power.”

My thirst is immense.

Even as blood vessels burst in his eyes, Jeokmu-gyeong, consumed by madness, shouted in ecstasy.

“To quench this thirst, I need what you have.”

Seeing his blood-red tongue, the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad thought of death.

But they couldn’t let this monster take it.

‘If he takes this dangerous item, it will bring disaster to Jianghu.’

Finally, the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad, thinking of their end, raised their swords.

“If you want it, come and take it.”

“tsk. If you insist on drinking the punishment wine.”

As Jeokmu-gyeong took a step forward.

*Swish!*

A figure leaped into the air, unleashing a brilliant sword energy.

*Swish!*

The force within the sword energy made Jeokmu-gyeong take a step back.

“Elder Wang Woo!”

Landing beside the blood-spitting Namgung Musan, Wang Woo quickly scattered the sword energy and shouted.

“Give me the Blood Tear Stone!”

“Elder Wang?”

“Hurry!”

Reluctantly handing over the stone, Jeokmu-gyeong raised his arms, his figure shimmering.

“Damn it!”

Quickly receiving the Blood Tear Stone, Wang Woo leaped into the air.

*Boom!*

“Damn bastard!”

As the enraged Jeokmu-gyeong unleashed a barrage of fiery energy.

*Boom boom boom boom!*

Wang Woo, leaping into the air, changed direction eight times, quickly widening the distance.

“The Eight Steps of the Cloud Dragon?”

Seeing the erratic movement as if stepping on walls in mid-air, Jeokmu-gyeong’s eyes widened.

“A trickster from the Kunlun Sect!”

*Swish!*

As Wang Woo’s figure zigzagged through the air, Jeokmu-gyeong stomped the ground.

*Boom!*

With a single step, Jeokmu-gyeong’s figure shot forward, leaving a massive wall of flames in his wake.