Chapter 477 – Ultimate Wickedness (2)

The place where four absolute masters and the flood dragon had departed.

White hazy mirages repeatedly coiled like snakes and disappeared.

Hissssss—

It was earth roughly eroded. Occasionally, the sound of thunder rolling into the murky air was thick.

Scattered fallen leaves rolled around between weeds on the completely ruined ground.

Two people were facing each other.

One was Invincible. As if the air had become stuffy, she pulled down her pure white scarf below her collarbone and wore a bored expression.

Her snow-white windflower robe wrapped around her entire body without gaps, revealing not a single stain.

Her temperament was flawless.

“You persistently hold me back. I don’t understand.”

Clear pronunciation with a rough voice. She very naturally scratched her throat with internal energy. It was different from when she exchanged words with Jeong Yeon-shin.

“I know what kind of madman you are. Since you’re the type who was called the greatest of all time among Blood Flame Cult nobles, being drawn to Jeong Yeon-shin through martial arts is plausible enough, but……”

Whoosh—

Dark mist wrapped around Invincible’s left arm, then began to spread irregular energy waves like blood vessels.

It was a bewitching temperament different from tyrannical demonic energy. With crackling sounds, stone fragments bounced violently off the ground.

The form was completely identical to Blood Flame Cult martial arts.

“Your goodwill should be the same toward our cult’s leader to be consistent.”

Her words continued slowly.

“Despite having such lowly qualities, you’ve become this strong without any particular price, so in your eyes, I and Jeong Yeon-shin wouldn’t be different.”

There was no answer.

Only low laughter spread into the air. Invincible didn’t particularly take such mockery-tinged sound to heart.

“Embrace me.”

She spoke plainly.

“I’ll show you the extremes of martial arts. I possess a different bliss than Jeong Yeon-shin. Don’t you want to feel such completely different temperaments?”

A calm yet seductive voice tickled the atmosphere. The temperament of Demon that bewitches people.

Suddenly, the long robe of the Seventh Apostle who had been facing her fluttered behind her back.

Still bright red and smooth fabric, but it was pierced here and there with bloodstains. Even jet-black soot had flowed down to various places like decorations, proving her disadvantage.

The only thing intact among them was the Seventh Apostle’s pale white skin. It was thanks to her overwhelming regenerative abilities.

“Bliss.”

She slowly moved her lips.

“Is already inside my body?”

Her words ended with a slight rise. It was madness with an unknown destination.

Bang!

Internal energy tailored specifically for her within the Seventh Apostle’s body burst forth powerful energy waves. Instantly, dust spreading in concentric circles spat out suppressed vibrations.

As the ground shook with rumbling sounds, the Seventh Apostle’s body trembled anew as if savoring extremely thick ecstasy.

Jet-black hair rippled along the back hem of the Pure Blood Robe.

“Yeon-shin is mine.”

She whispered with a smile.

“We breathe together, both inside and outside the body.”

“Jeong Yeon-shin……”

Invincible made a strange expression, then soon raised one corner of her mouth faintly.

“That reckless fellow is worse than me. To spread his martial veins this much, he won’t be forgotten in any way. A very good method.”

“You talkative thing, don’t dare try to fathom him. Yeon-shin has no such thoughts at all.”

“I’m sorry to that friend, but… you must die.”

Invincible’s tone became dry and tasteless. An air that there was no more value in exchanging words.

Soon after, when the black flames wrapped around her hand distorted the air, and the Seventh Apostle kicked the ground with one foot while bursting energy waves of reddish True Blood Technique, it happened.

Step.

Heavy footsteps echoed from far away.

* * *

All directions were hazy.

Whoooooosh!

Energy sweeping like a storm and sword winds rushing up from the flood dragon’s massive movements.

Tremendous explosions continuously struck the sky, and three people traversed the air within dense wind streams where the surrounding scenery became indiscernible.

Before they knew it, they were in Zhejiang.

A long waterway flowed beside Hangzhou.

It was also the place where Jeong Yeon-shin had once fallen after being struck by the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader and Dark Heaven Emperor. Though all directions were dark, the river water sparkled heavily like a mirror illuminating the night.

Jeong Yeon-shin kicked the void and threw Remaining Thunder downward forcefully.

With a humming resonant sound, the divine sword transformed into a beam of light and raced through space, then passed by supporting the sock-covered feet of Lady Lu Xian, which contained powerful energy waves.

He had boosted her Void Stepping Technique. Simultaneously, Remaining Thunder was sucked into Jeong Yeon-shin’s grip through the suction technique of Myriad Flowers Rain.

Clack.

The sword energy was hot.

It was because it had moved ceaselessly and continuously contained tremendous internal energy. It was bound to be heated.

Sword control technique was impossible to deploy.

There weren’t just two divine dragons in his mental image. If he released the Fan Dragon Flower Treading Technique now, there was no knowing what would happen.

Racing around the flood dragon’s vicinity while pouring out sword strikes or deflecting lightning and harsh winds presented tremendous recoil with every move.

Boom!

The atmosphere became even heavier.

At this moment, it was due to the energy wave vibrations the flood dragon emitted while bursting forth a thunderous roar. Simultaneously, dark blue lightning flickered in all directions, the same color as dragon scales.

Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the Emperor Sword Form of the Namgung Family Head he had indirectly encountered during his Blue Rank days. The pressure pressing on his skin now was similar.

‘Tremendous, but.’

He didn’t feel the same gap as that day. Even if overwhelming, it wasn’t to the degree that response was impossible. That was enough for Jeong Yeon-shin.

The problem lay elsewhere.

Whoooooosh!

The flood dragon’s tail tore through the air like a typhoon. It felt like the fortress walls of the northern Great Wall had been swung while containing tremendous internal energy.

Lady Lu Xian, who had been right beside it, disappeared like a mirage then revealed herself beside Jeong Yeon-shin. It was Dark Fragrance Step deployed through the mystery of Void Stepping Technique.

“Are you alright?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked quickly.

Lady Lu Xian’s complexion was gradually becoming pallid.

Even if she could deploy the Transcendent Martial Art ‘Crimson Horizon’ multiple times with the extremely refined Mount Hua studies, the first and second times couldn’t be the same… Both the power of the life-saving ultimate technique and the strength draining from her entire body were like that. In reality, from the second Crimson Horizon onward, it was closer to an enormously wide sword curtain rather than a Transcendent Martial Art.

If she had deployed it as an offensive technique, it would have displayed power of a different class, but for them, getting away from the city of common people came first. Energy depletion was inevitable.

“I’ll endure with the Abbot. Please regulate your breathing from a distance for even a moment…”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s words were cut off. It was because Lady Lu Xian’s lips drew a crescent curve.

“You underestimate my stamina. Though I may look like this, I achieved great mastery of Purple Dawn Divine Skill in my youth and stopped the time of my entire body, so I have vitality as abundant as yours.”

The youngest sect leader among the Nine Great Sects. Since even the abilities of Purple Dawn Divine Skill accompanied her, she was in her prime.

But today’s battle was a life-and-death duel fought against something non-human.

The flood dragon was sluggish.

With a body that filled all of Zhejiang, it was bound to be slow. Compared to the protective stepping of absolute masters, it was even more so. But the air surrounding the supreme spiritual being was different.

Originally, dragons were said to be beings that summoned wind and rain as naturally as breathing.

Crack!

A lightning bolt that fell in a straight line split the two apart.

In the light mass that briefly illuminated the surroundings pale white, the faces of Jeong Yeon-shin and Lady Lu Xian were reflected. Each was graceful yet bloodless.

The realm beyond human.

To endure the pressure the flood dragon emitted, they had to continuously circulate Great Circulation throughout their bodies. Not only internal energy but mental strength consumption was tremendous.

The three people aimed at the flood dragon’s head and delivered fist strikes or unleashed slashing attacks, and each time brilliant sparks flew up roughly but couldn’t pierce the scales.

At best, Divine Monk Beomheo’s Shaolin Reverse Zen Hand emitted brilliant radiance and managed to tear away part of the area between the eyes.

Dragon scales.

The dragon’s scales shone coolly even in the storm of energy waves. Without being given time to build up striking power, it was literally difficult to even make a scratch.

It was only after about half a time period had passed.

Whoosh.

Above their heads.

A human shadow wrapped thickly in white windflower robes suddenly revealed itself. A spirit projection made entirely of bones. It was Dark Heaven Emperor.

[Harmonious Power Rising.]

Had he taken being caught up in the joint attack of Jeong Yeon-shin and Lady Lu Xian as an opportunity instead?

As soon as he manifested, he spread dozens of streams of white flames like a net toward Divine Monk Beomheo, and the flames that made space bend here and there while producing even eerie roars were scattered into pieces by a strike of Hundred Steps Divine Fist.

Whoooooosh!

Divine Monk Beomheo sitting cross-legged while raising his fist.

Golden waves extending from a single fist tore through even the dark clouds and brightened the sunlight. Meanwhile, below, the flood dragon was opening its mouth and containing the breath of fire lightning.

The blue light rippling in Dark Heaven Emperor’s eye sockets was only cold. He looked like he had gathered and brought even more sorcery techniques from somewhere.

[Beomheo.]

Dark Heaven Emperor’s intent resonated quietly.

[No matter how infinite the power of the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic may be, how can it compare to a flood dragon? Even if Shaolin and Mount Hua join hands. All three of the Nine Great Sects should have gathered completely… but they cannot replace Wudang, the black sword of the imperial family that is only versed in actual combat.]

Before those words were even finished, a pillar of fire connecting the surface of Zhejiang and the dark clouds swallowed Divine Monk Beomheo.

Steam rose fiercely along the intensely burning surface. It was a thick pillar of flames that seemed to fill all of Zhejiang.

The flood dragon’s breath.

The strike was timed precisely. The movements of the supreme spiritual being had changed as if awakening from a dream. Naturally, it was Dark Heaven Emperor’s sorcery.

[This battle will not exceed half a day.]

The moment the absolute master who had crafted an immortal spirit projection from bones declared this.

Whooom!

Suddenly, golden flower petals descended on the flood dragon’s brow and formed into the figure of Divine Monk Beomheo sitting upright.

Divine skill secret technique, Vajra Immovable Body Technique. The old monk naturally sat in the exact center of the massive eyes. It was as if he had made the blue-green standing scales into a temple hall.

Instantly, the flood dragon’s vast body jerked to a stop. It looked like being strangled in Buddha’s grasp.

[Wisdom Great Power…!]

It was when anger mixed into Dark Heaven Emperor’s intent.

[Strike.]

Divine Monk Beomheo’s Six Harmonies Voice.

The flood dragon’s body that had been continuously sweeping through the atmosphere froze as if frozen in the void without moving.

It was like stopping a natural disaster with martial arts. It was a sight that even the Emperor Sword Form at its extreme would find difficult to create.

Boom!

Jeong Yeon-shin, who suddenly took position behind Dark Heaven Emperor and trampled his back to bounce him downward, was inwardly convinced. Among the figures who had set foot on Hangzhou land recently, the greatest master was undoubtedly Divine Monk Beomheo.

‘Strike to your heart’s content?’

The Luminous Wheel in Jeong Yeon-shin’s heart rotated like light. A movement that drew internal energy to its extreme. The power layering and rising in all the acupoints throughout his body was of a different dimension than before.

All that power was transferred in an instant to the Mingmen acupoint on his back, the Yongquan acupoint on his toes, and the Laogong acupoint in his grip.

His innate qualities controlled the energy waves that rose like the great sea as if they were waterways that confined water to channels.

‘Heavenly Cascade.’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s form, which had kicked the void in reverse, created massive ripples, then suddenly was driven vertically into the middle of the flood dragon’s body.

Whoooooooosh!

The massive body bent downward. It was accompanied by a roar like dozens of thunder and lightning overlapping.

The surface of Zhejiang was hollowed beneath the long body. The concentrated sword strike energy waves had completely penetrated the scales.

Instantly, with a suppressed boom, exploding waves. Rainbow-colored foam bounced up following the sunlight that rippled like thin curtains.

[……]

Amidst the murmuring of crowds who had been looking up at the fierce battle from the distant ground, Dark Heaven Emperor’s silence swept over the waterway.

At this moment, the wrinkled eyes of Divine Monk Beomheo sitting on the flood dragon’s brow showed even the slightest light of surprise.

Desolate Fortress purple.

Profaning a spiritual being with a blade.

The series of flows of joining hands with the immortals of the Nine Great Sects and converting defense to offense was natural.

It was natural for a nation’s sword. The long robe bestowed by the Emperor to Jeong Yeon-shin was still intact in purple.

[Child of Desolate Fortress.]

… Finally, Dark Heaven Emperor’s gaze fell from Divine Monk Beomheo. The ghost fire burning blue-green while filling his eye sockets began to look directly down at Jeong Yeon-shin.

[You have qualities too precious to meet your end here. I acknowledge it. You too, along with Beomheo, are worthy of becoming a step toward Three Peak.]

Desolation seeped from the gaze of the immortal who had completed hundreds of years of preparation. It was eye light that embraced extremely distant years.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly intuited.

Everyone was thinking the same thing, including both enemy and ally. Not only Divine Monk Beomheo and Dark Heaven Emperor, but also Lady Lu Xian, who had somehow hidden herself among the clouds, had no intention of dragging the battle out.

Considering the impact on common people, their respective stamina, and all sorts of variables, it was a battle that needed to be cut short.

“You.”

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.

“Said you’ve met Taoist Three Peak, right?”

Swish.

His left hand slowly descended while stepping on the large scales, then soon gripped the sword guard of the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword.

The old pine pattern disappeared between his fingers that had become full of calluses.

Instantly, the river water beneath the feet of the absolute masters distorted in a streamlined shape.