Chapter 347

Chapter 347 – I'm Not Weak Enough to Be Manipulated (1)

Wiiiing!

Suddenly tinnitus struck.

The source of the ringing in his ears was precisely Taoist Cheong-wol. He still looked at Dam Ho with a smiling face. But his eyes weren't laughing at all.

Dam Ho looked straight into his eyes and spoke:

"Become Wudang's sword?"

"You could misunderstand it that way. Let me correct that. Become the martial world's sword."

"What's the difference?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. I'm asking you to lead for the greater cause. Then the Wudang Sect will become your strength. If you wish, you could even become the Martial Alliance Leader."

"……"

Dam Ho silently looked at Taoist Cheong-wol. Perhaps thinking Dam Ho's attitude was a positive sign, Taoist Cheong-wol's smile deepened.

"There's no need to think so complexly. No need to think difficultly. If you cooperate with us, we'll cooperate too. It wouldn't be bad for anyone, rather it would become a mutually beneficial relationship. Furthermore, relations with Mount Hua Sect would become closer. Our Wudang Sect has the heart to provide great support to Mount Hua Sect."

Three years ago, Mount Hua Sect closed its gates and cut off exchanges with the world. Because of this, many people thought Mount Hua Sect had suffered irreparable damage. The Wudang Sect thought the same.

The distance between the Wudang Sect and Mount Hua Sect was thousands of li. Once Mount Hua Sect closed its gates, there was no way to know the internal situation. So they thought Mount Hua Sect had lost all strength and was continuing its disgraceful seclusion.

Taoist Cheong-wol waited confidently with a smile for Dam Ho to open his mouth.

And finally Dam Ho's mouth opened.

"Did you do it then too?"

"What do you mean?"

"During the First Orthodox-Demon War."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"At that time, all the sects that stepped forward suffered near-annihilation. Mount Hua Sect and many other sects…"

Suddenly the smile lingering at Taoist Cheong-wol's lips gradually disappeared. Dam Ho stared intently at Taoist Cheong-wol's face as he continued speaking.

"I was curious."

"……"

"At that time, Mount Hua Sect lost all important personnel and went through the worst dark period, but why was the Wudang Sect so intact?"

As Dam Ho continued speaking, red energy gradually spread from Taoist Cheong-wol's eyes.

"But now I understand."

"……"

"It was probably the same then. You put someone forward to replace Wudang. Someone to shed blood in place of Wudang…"

"Stop insulting Wudang there. You are now insulting the thousand-year-old Wudang."

"So you achieved today's prosperity with the strength preserved that way? You must be proud."

"I clearly warned you. You are far crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed."

The red energy that started in Taoist Cheong-wol's eyes spread throughout his entire face. Cracks appeared in his previously benevolent expression.

No one had ever dared speak so arbitrarily until now. They had conducted themselves properly and been careful.

He had always been respected and only received reverent gazes.

This was the first time anyone had sharpened their blade toward him in such a public place, and in the Wudang Sect's territory at that. So anger unconsciously filled his expression.

"Wudang is not a place with such a good heart that it should accept insults from you. If you still continue, I will hold your sect, Mount Hua, accountable for that sin."

"You won't even be able to cross Mount Hua's threshold."

"What?"

"Do you know why?"

"……"

"Because you won't even be able to leave Wudang Mountain today."

"Shout!"

Suddenly Taoist Cheong-wol's roar echoed thunderously throughout Wudang Mountain. The martial artists gathered in the training ground were shocked and their complexions changed at his roar.

It was the moment when the mask that had been protecting Taoist Cheong-wol until now shattered. The benevolent and gentle smile no longer existed. His face was twisted so menacingly it was unbelievable he was the Wudang Sect's leader.

Seeing that appearance, Dam Ho spoke:

"Yes! That's your real face. A petty old man content within Wudang's walls."

"How dare you insult Wudang."

Kuuuu!

Tremendous momentum burst from Taoist Cheong-wol's entire body.

The tremendous internal energy accumulated through the Pure Yang Infinite Technique was released externally.

"Sect Leader."

"Mmm!"

Even the Wudang Sect's elders staggered, swept up by the energy wave. But Dam Ho, who faced the energy wave head-on, didn't even blink an eye.

Even such tremendous energy waves couldn't affect Dam Ho at all and dissipated. At that, Taoist Cheong-wol's eyes trembled finely. Because Dam Ho's internal energy was deeper than he had thought.

But it was like riding a tiger.

Once mounted on a tiger's back, he had to go to the end.

Having shown his angry face to the assembled heroes, he couldn't show a cowardly retreat now.

He shouted loudly:

"Seven True Martial receive my command."

His voice echoed thunderously throughout the training ground.

"Seven True Martial, we receive the Sect Leader's command."

Suddenly seven Taoists sprang out from among the Wudang Sect Taoists. Each one displayed sharp momentum like well-forged famous swords. They boasted outstanding presence even among the Wudang Sect's numerous Taoists.

Seven True Martial.

They were representatives of the Wudang Sect's military power, to the extent that people said if Mount Hua had the Plum Blossom Sword Masters, the Wudang Sect had the Seven True Martial.

They were martial artists strategically cultivated by the Wudang Sect. Especially the Seven True Martial Absolute Formation deployed by the seven was said to boast the greatest power in the martial world as a formation against individuals.

"Seven True Martial, subdue the Fist Demon and widely spread the Wudang Sect's dignity throughout the martial world."

"We will carry out the Sect Leader's command."

Mu-gung, the leader of the Seven True Martial, answered vigorously.

Mu-gung was a disciple personally taught by Taoist Cheong-wol. Though he wasn't well known in the martial world, overshadowed by Jin Mu-yeong, one of the Nine Martial Dragons, his talent was also outstanding enough to pierce the heavens.

Under Mu-gung's command, the Seven True Martial surrounded Dam Ho. They surrounded Dam Ho in the form of the Seven Star Formation, but Dam Ho didn't even glance at them.

His gaze was still directed at Taoist Cheong-wol, trembling with rage.

"Is it alright? Even if they all die."

"You keep wagging only your tongue to the end. What are you doing? Seven True Martial, quickly make that insolent fellow kneel."

"We obey!"

Suddenly the Seven True Martial moved.

Whoosh!

They whirled around Dam Ho as the center.

The Seven True Martial Absolute Formation was a formation created by imitating the movement of seven stars revolving around the North Star. Therefore, the Seven True Martial's movements also closely resembled the Big Dipper.

Kuuuu!

Tremendous pressure was added to Dam Ho, making his black long robe flutter. But Dam Ho didn't move a muscle like a stone statue.

His gaze was still fixed on Taoist Cheong-wol, the Wudang Sect's leader. That appearance made Taoist Cheong-wol uneasy. But the dice had already been thrown. There was no turning back.

From the beginning, the reason he had forcibly brought Dam Ho to the Wudang Sect was also to punish Dam Ho and elevate the Wudang Sect's status.

If he could make the world's Fist Demon submit, the Wudang Sect's status would rise accordingly, and his position as Hubei Province's alliance leader would become more solid.

Then Mu-gung shouted vigorously:

"Open formation. Seven Star Invincible."

Swish!

At his shout, the Seven True Martial drew their swords and attacked Dam Ho. Suddenly, dazzling light like a constellation burst from their swords.

"Wow!"

"As expected of the Seven True Martial. Such sword energy."

The martial artists who saw this burst into admiration.

The already tremendous sword energy was doubled by the Seven True Martial Absolute Formation.

Sword energy extending nearly four zhang attacked Dam Ho's vital points.

Crack crack crack!

Their offensive came interlocked without a single gap like turning gears. Ordinary martial artists would have been overwhelmed by their offensive and their minds would have gone blank.

But the opponent was Dam Ho.

In the current martial world, no one had shed more blood or fought more than him.

The Seven True Martial might think it perfect, but Dam Ho saw three or four weaknesses. Because they hadn't experienced real combat, their movements were unnecessarily too large.

The Seven True Martial were trying to subdue Dam Ho with the most spectacular techniques and formation operations for others to see.

'Subdue the Fist Demon and elevate the Wudang Sect's status.'

'Now the world will know how great the Wudang Sect's power is.'

The light of ecstasy rose in the eyes of the Seven True Martial attacking Dam Ho.

In their eyes, they seemed to clearly see Dam Ho spilling blood and kneeling.

While they were intoxicated with such sweet fantasies, Dam Ho moved.

Bang!

Thunder echoed throughout Wudang Mountain.

"Krek!"

Following that, the scream of Seol-gung, one of the Seven True Martial, burst out. The sword that had been radiating brilliant sword energy from his hand was shattered like glass, and his chest was deeply dented.

Charging technique followed by Shattering Palm Strike.

With a single blow, Seol-gung, the youngest of the Seven True Martial, was severely injured.

"Youngest!"

"Seol-gung!"

The voices of the other Seven True Martial burst out belatedly. Several of them reached out to Seol-gung. They intended to support him first. But this caused the formation to become slightly disrupted.

They thought it was nothing, but for an absolute master like Dam Ho, it was like an eternity.

Dam Ho leaped among them while wrapping his entire body in violent energy.

Kwaaa!

A storm raged.

The storm created by the Seven True Martial Absolute Formation was instantly devoured by the storm Dam Ho created. From that shock, the Seven True Martial all staggered in unison.

Mu-gung, the leader of the Seven True Martial, urgently shouted:

"Get it together! Deploy the Seven Star Return!"

Thud!

At that moment, Dam Ho's two hands grabbed his collar.

"Kek!"

Dam Ho's grip was so intense that Mu-gung's breath was instantly blocked. But Mu-gung was one of the Seven True Martial. Though surprised, he wasn't flustered. He deployed a palm strike to shake off Dam Ho's hands.

Crack!

However, the palm strike he deployed vanished without a trace in the violent energy, and instead Mu-gung's wrist was dislocated. And his two legs were uprooted from the earth like radishes.

Dam Ho had deployed the Earth Shattering Strike.

"No!"

"Senior Brother!"

The Seven True Martial urgently grabbed Mu-gung's hands and feet. They knew that once the Earth Shattering Strike was deployed, life couldn't be guaranteed.

Kuuuu!

"Krek!"

"N-no!"

But even though they all grabbed and held on, they couldn't prevent Mu-gung from being dragged by Dam Ho. Rather, they were all dragged along together.

Swoosh!

Dam Ho's waist spun like a top. Starting with Mu-gung, the rest of the Seven True Martial were dragged along. Only then did the Seven True Martial realize something had gone wrong and try to let go, but it was useless. The strange pulling force formed from Dam Ho's body wouldn't let them go.

The Seven True Martial, all seven, were slammed head-first into the ground. The Earth Shattering Strike exploded.

Kwaaaaang!

With a roar, the seven were slammed into the ground and scattered.

Their heads were smashed, their arms and legs twisted unnaturally as their bodies tangled together. Some drooled with their mouths open, some rolled their eyes back and lost consciousness.

At the disgraceful sight of the Seven True Martial, called the Wudang Sect's future, the assembled heroes held their breath.

The time it took from the deployment of the Seven True Martial Absolute Formation to its destruction was truly just an instant. To the assembled heroes, it seemed they had just blinked once and the Seven True Martial were completely annihilated.

"Ugh!"

"Impossible. For the Seven True Martial to be so easily…"

Disbelief was clearly visible on their faces. But no matter how great their surprise, it couldn't compare to the Wudang Sect's Taoists.

Especially Taoist Cheong-wol's face was filled with a rotten stench, and his pupils were shaking as if they had met a storm.

"The Seven True… Martial…"

The sight of the Seven True Martial, whom he had been confident were the Wudang Sect's future, scattered on the ground in miserable condition gave him tremendous shock and fear.

That's when it happened.

Thud!

Dam Ho took a step forward with his right foot toward Taoist Cheong-wol.

Scraaape!

Following that, the sound of his left leg dragging across the ground echoed through the training ground.

Gulp!