Chapter 461

Chapter 461 – Everyone Has a Reason They Cannot Retreat (2)

Rain drizzled since night.

Rain falling at autumn's end. Probably after this rain ended, cold wind would blow and winter would arrive.

Shaolin Temple monks and Martial Alliance martial artists stood guard wearing rain cloaks. From continuous fierce battles, their faces were full of fatigue.

They didn't know how many comrades they'd lost. Each time the Demon Cult attacked, countless people died and faces of nearby comrades changed.

At first they felt anger, then fear afterward. That's why their faces looked tired now. They were trying to hide fear's emotion with tired faces.

One Martial Alliance martial artist on guard grumbled trying to hide his troubled heart.

"Damn it! If it's going to rain, rain properly, it's drizzling annoyingly. Like someone's piss."

"You talking about your piss? You also piss in dribbles, don't you?"

"You saw? You saw? My piss is a downpour. What do you know to talk?"

When his companion teased, the first martial artist got heated. Then his companion thrust out his crotch boasting.

"If that's a downpour, I'm a waterfall. At least this size of equipment can send out a waterfall. Heh!"

"What crap."

"Why, shall I show you?"

"What would I do with that tiny thing?"

The martial artist waved his hands. A smile appeared on his face. Exchanging even silly jokes loosened his heart somewhat. But the companion who'd been joking was rather more stiffened than before.

"What's wrong?"

"Th-there!"

"What?"

The martial artist looked where his companion looked and opened his eyes wide. Though rain was clearly falling, fire floated in midair.

"That's?"

A phenomenon the martial artist's common sense couldn't understand. Though drizzling, still full of moisture yet fire floated in midair. The fire was rapidly approaching.

Instantly the martial artist realized the fire's identity.

"F-fire arrows."

"Attack."

They hurriedly hid behind cover. Right after, burning arrows stuck where they'd been.

"Stupid fools. Shooting fire arrows on a rainy day."

"Indeed."

The Martial Alliance martial artists who barely saved their lives mocked those who shot arrows.

That was when.

Clang!

Sounds of something breaking came from arrows stuck in the ground. The martial artists looked in shock to see small porcelain bottles at arrow tips broken with black oil flowing out. The oil spread riding rainwater instantly wetting their feet.

"Don't tell me?"

Puhwahak!

That moment the arrow's fire transferred to oil. The fire instantly shot skyward then soon engulfed martial artists on guard.

"Kyaaaak!"

"Save me!"

Martial artists wrapped in flames without knowing any better let out desperate screams. They rolled on wet ground trying to extinguish fire but uselessly. Mixed with water, it rather burned more fiercely.

Flames that didn't extinguish with water but rather burned more fiercely instantly swallowed everything nearby. Not only defense lines the Martial Alliance made but even martial artists on guard.

Right now throughout Mount Song, situations like this occurred simultaneously. Defense nets the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple laid in layers were instantly neutralized by inextinguishable flames.

Demon Cult martial artists ran through Mount Song breaking through collapsed defense nets.

Though several Demon Cult offensives existed until now, this time was on a different level. All Demon Cult forces camped below Mount Song were mobilized.

Four Great Commanders, the new Seven Great Demon Blades, even the Inner Circle, all available masters participated in this fight.

They sprinted through rain.

Their target was Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance.

At their center stood Sang Han-cheon.

Sang Han-cheon also climbed Mount Song receiving numerous martial artists' escort. He muttered watching flames burning in rain.

"Hell Fire. Once it catches, hell's flame that absolutely won't extinguish. I didn't want to use Hell Fire if possible, but there's no choice."

Everything has lines that must be kept.

Hell Fire was taboo beyond that line. Hell Fire created after long years of research absolutely won't extinguish once it transfers to a human body. It can't be extinguished with water, only extinguishing by itself after living beings become completely ash.

Therefore even in the Demon Cult, Hell Fire was designated a forbidden item. Yet Sang Han-cheon deploying Hell Fire was because he harbored that much deadly intent.

If fighting continued longer with battle lines stalemated, the Demon Cult's sacrifices would grow that much larger. To prevent more sacrifices, this fight had to end quickly. So Sang Han-cheon bet the match today.

"Kraaaak!"

"Block them!"

Everywhere Demon Cult and Martial Alliance martial artists clashed.

News of the Demon Cult's surprise attack reached the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple too. Waiting martial artists grabbed weapons rushing out.

"Repel the Demon Cult followers."

"Daring to set filthy feet on Mount Song, absolutely unforgivable."

Knowing the Demon Cult would attack again anytime, no mercy existed in hands wielding weapons.

Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple masters fought meeting Demon Cult martial artists surging like tides. But no matter how much they killed and killed again, endlessly surging Demon Cult forces gradually pushed them back.

"Somehow hold on."

"Damn it!"

Martial artists gritted teeth trying to hold their positions. But when fire arrows with Hell Fire shot again, they had no choice but to dodge swallowing bitter tears.

Hwaleuleuk!

Hell Fire instantly swelled in rain.

Martial Alliance buildings painstakingly made became Hell Fire's prey. Several martial artists who approached to extinguish fire also became Hell Fire victims.

"Euaaaak!"

"Save me!"

Like separate Asura hell paintings.

This place was hell now.

Cho Yeon-woon couldn't take his eyes off hell.

He saw Hae So-wol and Cheong-un fighting hard. They each faced Demon Cult masters displaying mighty power. But before rapidly tilting war circumstances, their struggles only looked meaningless.

"Shaolin, retreat to Shaolin!"

Martial Alliance leadership shouted. Scattered martial artists hurriedly retreated toward Shaolin Temple.

Though separated by just one wall, Shaolin Temple had built an iron fortress within its grounds for a thousand years.

One Hundred Eight Arhats stepped forward buying time for Martial Alliance martial artists to retreat. Thanks to them, considerable numbers could escape to Shaolin Temple.

Gwang-cheon shouted.

"Activate the Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation."

"Activate."

Kuuuuu!

Instantly strange sounds echoed throughout Shaolin Temple.

Walls moved and floors collapsed. And thick mist rose covering all of Shaolin.

Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation.

Shaolin's last ace left behind.

Created precisely for that moment pushed to the end when annihilation couldn't be avoided was the Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation.

Looking from outside it appeared merely a large temple, but actually Shaolin was an iron fortress built on mechanism formations. From pavilion placement, everything was built thoroughly according to Yin Yang Five Elements principles, and countless mechanisms unknown to the world were installed.

For the past hundreds of years, Shaolin had secretly renovated mechanism formations. That such fact wasn't known to the world was because Shaolin had never been pushed to crisis enough to use them.

Pyupyupyut!

"Kyaaaak!"

"Eheuk!"

From ordinary walls, dozens of spears suddenly protruded piercing Demon Cult martial artists' bodies.

Intact floors collapsed falling over ten zhang underground, and mists tangled direction sense making them wander wrong places.

Demon Cult forces surging like tides all at once had no choice but to split into dozens of pieces the moment they entered Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple monks and Martial Alliance warriors ambushed Demon Cult forces split into small groups. Beginning individual destruction.

With unexpected mechanisms added to formations, Shaolin Temple instantly transformed into an iron fortress. Like its name "Buddha's radiance illuminates heaven sweeping all demons," Demon Cult troops were swept away.

"Annoying!"

When conquering Shaolin Temple delayed blocked by Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation, cracks appeared in Sang Han-cheon's expression.

As time passed, damage increased.

Without special measures, far from occupying Shaolin Temple, they might rather suffer huge damage retreating.

The moment he felt crisis, Sang Han-cheon personally stepped forward. Then four martial artists escorted him.

Three men one woman uniformly emanating extraordinary momentum. The Demon Cult called them Four Great Commanders.

Lightning Demon Blade Gang Wi.

Blood Wheel Witch Yo Sa-ran.

Ten Thousand Shadow Divine Lord Im Hak.

Life Death Magistrate Jang Mu-gyeong.

Even one stepping forward could overturn the world, four absolute masters escorted Sang Han-cheon.

"The Demon Cult's leadership."

"If we kill just them, we can seize victory."

Shaolin Temple and Martial Alliance leadership watching from inside Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation recognized their identities.

"Amitabha! Sect Leader, please send me out."

"No. I'll go cut off those bastards' heads."

Monks and martial artists clamored each wanting to step forward. But Gwang-cheon's choice wasn't them but One Hundred Eight Arhats.

"One Hundred Eight Arhats, annihilate the enemy leaders."

"We receive the Abbot's command."

One Hundred Eight Arhats deployed.

Shaolin's proudest strongest force was One Hundred Eight Arhats. The One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation they deployed was the strongest single person absolute formation, but also displayed great power against many. Especially as opponents grew stronger, it displayed stronger counter-force making them difficult to face.

"Hmm! One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation? I've disliked monks' formations since long ago."

Among Four Great Commanders, Ten Thousand Shadow Divine Lord Im Hak stepped forward muttering. The remaining three just watched while escorting Sang Han-cheon. That appearance stoked One Hundred Eight Arhats' anger.

"Daring to look down on One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation?"

"Is there reason for everyone to step forward just to break One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation? I alone am enough."

Im Hak's lips curled up.

Instantly humiliated expressions appeared on One Hundred Eight Arhats' faces.

No matter how much opponents were one of the Demon Cult's leaders, they didn't expect One Hundred Eight Arhats to be ignored this much.

Chwareuleuk!

One Hundred Eight Arhats suppressed anger dispersing. Trying to deploy One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation. That moment something they didn't expect happened.

Kkaang!

Because Im Hak suddenly appeared attacking the youngest monk among One Hundred Eight Arhats. Im Hak's ultimate technique Iron Flash Step had instant movement mystery comparable to Shaolin Temple's Immovable Wisdom King Step. From the receiving position's view he seemed to suddenly appear tearing through space, but actually it was a phenomenon extreme swiftness created.

The monk hurriedly raised his palm blocking Im Hak's attack, but his body slid backward and formations broke before One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation could even deploy.

"Cowardly!"

"Kut! Where's cowardice in life and death fights? Winning is enough."

Im Hak mocked One Hundred Eight Arhats deploying martial arts.

Like his alias Ten Thousand Shadow Divine Lord, when he deployed martial arts, instantly hundreds, thousands of shadows simultaneously rose appearing to face One Hundred Eight Arhats.

One Hundred Eight Arhats couldn't get bearings on Im Hak's martial arts beyond common sense wandering confused. Im Hak didn't miss that gap persistently penetrating.

While Im Hak toyed with One Hundred Eight Arhats, Sang Han-cheon began breaking Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation.

"That place!"

Kwang!

Gang Wi destroyed where Sang Han-cheon pointed. Then one mechanism tormenting the Demon Cult stopped.

Sang Han-cheon's finger this time pointed at a large stone statue erected by the training ground.

"Destroy the statue's head."

"This time I'll do it."

Jang Mu-gyeong jumped out sending palm force. A statue easily over two zhang in size was destroyed at once. Then mechanisms firing spears ceaselessly stopped operating.

Yo Sa-ran didn't stay still either. She also destroyed where Sang Han-cheon pointed. Then again one mechanism composing Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation stopped operating.

Sang Han-cheon's steps were unhesitating. He grasped Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation's principles at once, moving Four Great Commanders to appropriate places destroying them.

Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation gradually began losing function, and Demon Cult martial artists began displaying power again escaping shackles binding them.

"Eek!"

"Stop them!"

Unable to watch, Shaolin elders and Martial Alliance leadership stepped forward trying to stop them but uselessly.

Four Great Commanders were the Demon Cult's proudest supreme masters. Their martial prowess was more than sufficient to overturn heaven and earth. Those who could face them head-on under heaven numbered few.

"Amitabha!"

Troubled expressions appeared on Gwang-cheon and other Shaolin Temple elders' faces. They didn't expect Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation Shaolin boasted to be neutralized this easily. Only then did crisis strike their hearts.

Buddha Light Illuminates Heaven Sweeping Demons Great Absolute Formation could no longer protect them and the gathered heroes.

Shaolin Temple's Abbot Gwang-cheon suddenly thought it was cold.

Eerily cold wind scratched across his chest.

Cho Yeon-woon's advice suddenly came to mind. Feeling self-reproach that he should have listened to those words earlier. But already the situation was racing toward worst without return or control.

"Amitabha! All elders face enemy leaders with full power."

"We receive the Abbot's command."

"Amitabha!"

Elders rushed toward Four Great Commanders and Sang Han-cheon. But Gwang-cheon didn't move. Because he had other work to do.

He gave orders to disciples still guarding his side.

"Amitabha! Summon Hero Cho."