Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Will Stronger Than Poison Exists (2)

The protective poison aura surrounding Sa Woo-yeon heaved violently.

Cracks appeared on its surface, as though fractures were spreading across a glass wall. A similar crack appeared on Sa Woo-yeon's face as well.

"Insolent!"

Sa Woo-yeon roared in fury and spread his palm wide.

BOOM!

Blood-Layer Poison Palm.

It was a palm technique that channeled the toxin accumulated within his body.

Even before the palm force reached him, Dam Ho could feel the overwhelming poison. The toxin flowing through Sa Woo-yeon's blood was more potent than any poison in existence. A single drop of his blood could kill dozens of grown men.

Such a lethal poison was packed into this single palm strike. It could not be blocked by any conventional means. Dam Ho was no exception. That was why he deployed the Void Wall.

A technique that struck the air to produce ultrasonic waves beyond the range of human hearing—

BOOM!

The shockwave generated by the impact shattered the toxin contained in the Blood-Layer Poison Palm in an instant.

The shockwave rolled over Sa Woo-yeon, rippling his features. But Sa Woo-yeon was a master who had reached the absolute realm. His response was truly dazzling.

Deploying the ultimate technique of the Blood-Layer Poison Palm—Poison King Dominance—he blocked Dam Ho's fist, then opened his mouth wide.

WHOOSH!

Toxic energy that had gathered in his mouth shot forth with his breath, engulfing Dam Ho's face.

He had believed that by sealing his mouth and nose, he had blocked the toxin completely, yet his eyes stung. If he remained exposed to this energy for any longer, no amount of internal energy protection would prevent blindness. The toxin was beyond imagination.

Dam Ho closed his eyes.

Light vanished, and darkness descended. But Dam Ho did not panic.

He had spent a full twelve years in darkness. Darkness was more familiar to him than light, and by sensing the movement of air alone, he could discern the situation around him.

WHAM!

A powerful strike erupted from Dam Ho.

It was the air strike—a technique that struck the enemy through the air. Any who considered themselves masters in the Murim knew this common technique, but in Dam Ho's hands, its power was extraordinary.

Sa Woo-yeon staggered backward as though struck by a massive hammer. Dam Ho pressed forward.

Black hair whipping in the wind, fierce light gleaming between his eyes, and killing intent that consumed everything around him.

An ordinary person would have collapsed on the spot simply from meeting Dam Ho's gaze. But Sa Woo-yeon was no ordinary man.

As he retreated, a green glow flashed around his body.

Heaven Poison Aura.

He had forged an energy barrier from poison.

The Heaven Poison Aura surged toward Dam Ho. There was no place to dodge. In this desperate situation, what Dam Ho chose was a shield.

In a state of extreme vibration, his body collided with the Heaven Poison Aura.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion erupted, and Dam Ho's body shuddered violently. A faint trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. His complexion turned ashen.

Though he had nullified the force of the energy itself, the toxic energy had struck his body unimpeded.

The toxin, infiltrating through his pores into his blood vessels, spread with terrifying speed, threatening to poison his internal organs at any moment. In that instant, a powerful energy surged from within Dam Ho's body and circulated throughout him.

The Dark Soul Heart Method had activated. The energy generated by the Dark Soul Heart Method burned away the toxin that had penetrated his body.

When he had been poisoned before, Dam Ho had found a method to combat the toxin and had successfully applied it.

The toxin that Sa Woo-yeon emanated was incomparably more severe than what he had encountered previously. But at its core, it was identical—as though cast from the same mold.

Sa Woo-yeon's expression shifted slightly. Dam Ho was enduring his poison far better than he had anticipated.

'Does this one have an immunity to poison?'

There were occasionally those who did. Those with extensive knowledge of poison cultivation, or those whose internal energy methods contained the principles of toxin suppression.

Such individuals naturally possessed strong resistance to poison. Those who had learned only rudimentary poison techniques would find themselves at a severe disadvantage when encountering such beings. But Sa Woo-yeon was no amateur practitioner.

"I will show you precisely why I am called the Heaven Poison Emperor."

RUMBLE!

In that instant, the power of the Heaven Poison Aura emanating from Sa Woo-yeon surged dramatically. The ground began to melt, and the air turned black.

Within a radius of more than twenty zhang centered on Sa Woo-yeon, everything became a field of death. The air itself transformed into poison, rendering it impossible for any living thing to survive.

Dam Ho stood at the center.

No matter how great a master Dam Ho was, he could not hold his breath forever. The poison-laden air pressed against his entire body like a swamp pulling him under.

Then, Sa Woo-yeon launched another Heaven Poison Aura at Dam Ho.

CREAK!

Dam Ho's feet sank deep into the ground, which had softened from the poison. His calves swelled visibly, and thick veins bulged along his neck and the backs of his hands.

WHAM!

He kicked off from the earth.

Sa Woo-yeon sneered at what appeared to be Dam Ho's desperate struggle.

"Hmph! A last-ditch effort? It is useless."

Sa Woo-yeon intensified his toxic energy.

The Hell Blood Toxin—the most fundamental poison dormant within his body—erupted like a storm.

Hell Blood Toxin was the crystallization of every poison he had ever absorbed. It was the foundation of his being, the most potent absolute toxin in the world.

To ensure Dam Ho's elimination, he had deployed his trump card.

The moment the Hell Blood Toxin descended upon Dam Ho like a storm—

RUMBLE!

Dam Ho's entire body trembled, and a vortex of energy erupted around him.

A violent tempest of qi, savage as the fangs of a predator, exploded outward.

Explosive Demon Energy.

A unified offensive-defensive form combining the Void Wall, Five Finger Rock Breaking Technique, and the Shield.

The battle against the Namgung Family's elite and the Sword King Namgung Cheon had left Dam Ho with both a tremendous burden and profound insight.

To face countless enemies while maintaining overwhelming martial might, and to unleash absolute power against absolute masters—the result of that synthesis was the Explosive Demon Energy.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The internal energy accumulated through the Dark Soul Heart Method whirled in a vortex around Dam Ho's body, clashing fiercely with the current of Hell Blood Toxin.

Sparks erupted, and the surrounding area was bathed in red.

Dam Ho, advancing with Explosive Demon Energy; Sa Woo-yeon, releasing Hell Blood Toxin to halt him.

Their gazes met in midair.

Where Sa Woo-yeon was visibly shaken, Dam Ho's eyes held not the slightest tremor.

Sa Woo-yeon was unquestionably an absolute master.

Had he faced an ordinary martial artist, they would have been paralyzed with fear before even engaging. In truth, none of the martial artists who had confronted Sa Woo-yeon in the past had been able to unleash their true strength.

But Dam Ho was different. Through countless fierce battles, Dam Ho had forged indomitable courage and an unyielding spirit that could never be broken.

That difference manifested in his eyes.

The moment he met Dam Ho's gaze—one that seemed to beckon even death—Sa Woo-yeon felt a chill run down his spine.

'Danger!'

BOOM!

In that instant, they collided head-on.

A storm of toxic energy erupted in all directions, devastating a radius of more than fifty zhang. The ground and rocks melted away, and ancient trees rotted from their roots.

GAG!

Dam Ho dropped to one knee and coughed blood.

His chest and knees were stained crimson. Tears streamed ceaselessly from his eyes. But Dam Ho felt only relief.

The toxin remaining in his body had been expelled through blood and tears. Catching his ragged breath, he looked forward.

Three zhang ahead, an arm lay severed on the ground. Dam Ho knew its owner.

'Sa Woo-yeon.'

He had fled, sacrificing an arm like a lizard shedding its tail.

Hssss!

The severed arm dissolved in the toxic energy.

Dam Ho clenched his teeth and forced himself to his feet. Dragging one leg, he tracked Sa Woo-yeon's trail.

The clash with Sa Woo-yeon had inflicted severe internal injuries. Though most of the toxin that had penetrated his body had been expelled, he still needed to circulate his energy and receive proper treatment to prevent lasting damage.

Dam Ho knew this. But he ignored the body's cries of pain and pressed on.

"Halt!"

A group of martial artists appeared from somewhere.

They were members of the Demonic Cult who had moved to secure Sa Woo-yeon's escape route. Their faces were etched with consternation.

Sa Woo-yeon was someone they looked up to as though he were the heavens. The Cult had dispatched them to support him, though in ordinary circumstances they would never have been called upon.

Only those who had cultivated poison techniques could even approach Sa Woo-yeon's side. Their duty was simply to follow at a distance and handle after-the-fact matters.

That Sa Woo-yeon had been defeated and forced to flee was an event beyond even their wildest dreams.

Their opponent was a monster who had severed the arm of the absolute poison master, Sa Woo-yeon. Prepared to die, they confronted Dam Ho.

Dam Ho threw himself at them like a battering ram.

BOOM!

An explosive sound erupted.

Those who had blocked his path were sent flying in every direction, reduced to mounds of flesh.

Not a single one among the fallen retained a recognizable form.

Dam Ho walked past their corpses.

Though his limp prevented him from running at full speed, Dam Ho possessed an unyielding spirit and indomitable perseverance that never surrendered.

The wolf named Dam Ho pursued Sa Woo-yeon's trail.

"Krrgh!"

Losing an arm and channeling his movement technique, Sa Woo-yeon's face was twisted with a mixture of bewilderment and terror.

He could not believe his situation. Though he did not belong to the Four Great Generals or the Seven Great Demons, within the Demonic Cult his prestige was comparable to theirs.

Because of the unique nature of his poison abilities, the Demonic Cult classified Sa Woo-yeon as even more dangerous than the Seven Great Demons.

And now Sa Woo-yeon had lost an arm and was fleeing like a dog with its tail between its legs. He felt as though he were trapped in a nightmare. He wished for it to end quickly.

Ahead, a cliff came into view. Below it flowed a great river, and a boat waited at the riverbank.

The cliff stood over fifty zhang tall. Though his need was urgent, he had to take the long way around. This delay cost him precious time, but safety was the priority now.

At last, Sa Woo-yeon reached the riverbank after a considerable detour.

"Hurry aboard, Poison Master!"

A member of the Demonic Cult who had been notified in advance and prepared the boat greeted him. Sa Woo-yeon, without even the composure to reply, boarded the vessel.

CREAK!

The moment he stepped aboard, the man took up the oars. The boat drifted slowly from the shore. Only then did Sa Woo-yeon let out a sigh of relief.

"Gahhh!"

Once the relief subsided, shame and fury surged upward.

"Scum! I will never forgive you!"

He could not forgive Dam Ho for doing this to him. The fact that he had, even for an instant, been frightened by Dam Ho was unbearable.

Then came the pain from the shoulder where his arm had been severed.

Splash!

Blood from his wound dripped into the river and onto the boat's deck.

"Urrgh!"

The oarsman, poisoned by the toxin in the blood, collapsed and died. In the river, dead fish floated belly-up.

"Damn it!"

Sa Woo-yeon's face twisted with irritation. With the oarsman dead, he would have to row himself.

He blamed Dam Ho for everything.

"You scum! From this day forth, you will never sleep soundly again. I will poison every drop of water you drink, every morsel of food you eat. I will poison and kill every person connected to you. Anyone who so much as touches a single finger to you will die the most wretched death in the world. Bwahahaha!"

His mad laughter echoed across the river when—

Thud!

Suddenly, a black shadow shot upward from the top of the cliff. Soaring high into the sky, the dark figure plunged downward toward Sa Woo-yeon's boat with terrifying speed.

SHRIEK!

Falling like a meteor from a height of more than fifty zhang, the black shadow was none other than Dam Ho, wreathed in Explosive Demon Energy.

The tremendous acceleration caused his robes to flutter wildly, and the space around the Explosive Demon Energy glowed red-hot. At such a height, even one possessing extraordinary physical resilience could not survive.

And yet Dam Ho's gaze held no hesitation, no wavering—only the iron will to kill Sa Woo-yeon.

Sa Woo-yeon, seeing that gaze, muttered in a daze.

"Madman…"

BOOM!

In that instant, Dam Ho crashed down upon Sa Woo-yeon.

The boat splintered to pieces, and a column of water shot high into the air.

The river, unsettled and trembling, was stained black with blood.

Death had fallen upon the river that had once nurtured countless lives. Fish floated belly-up in droves.

Splash!

Moments later, Dam Ho emerged from the blackened river.

He staggered as though he might collapse at any moment, his entire body drenched in blood, but his eyes still burned with fierce intensity.

Behind him, a mangled, crushed corpse bobbed to the surface.