Chapter 150
However, the Heretical Emperor Hall made a move before the Great Ximen Family and the Sichuan Tang Family did. The Heretical Emperor Hall disposed of the Great Ximen Family and the Sichuan Tang Familys informants, which they had identified while observing the situation. In the dead of the night, they then headed to where the Great Ximen Family and the Sichuan Tang Family had set up camp. Having lost all their informants, the Great Ximen Family and the Sichuan Tang Family no longer received reports on the Heretical Emperor Halls movements.
Fortunately, however, the Heavenly Secret Halls informant did not draw the attention of the Heretical Emperor Hall, allowing him to immediately relay the information to the Nanchang branch after confirming the Heretical Emperor Halls movement. The Nanchang branch then delivered the information to Baek Mu-Gun through the informant they had planted at the Great Ximen Family and the Sichuan Tang Family.
After understanding the Heretical Emperor Halls movement from the Heavenly Secret Hall, Mu-Gun urgently asked the executives of the Great Ximen Family and the Sichuan Tang Family to gather.
Why did you call for us at this hour? Ximen Ying, who just woke up, asked.
The other three looked at Mu-Gun with a curious stare.
I received information that the Heretical Emperor Hall is advancing toward this place, Mu-Gun briefed them.
What? Our informants would have immediately informed us about that, Ximen Ying said, finding it impossible for them not to receive any news.
The two Great Families informants within the Heretical Emperor Hall have already been eliminated, Mu-Gun explained.
How do you know that?
I received this information from an intelligence syndicate that I personally keep in touch with, Mu-Gun said.
I cant believe it
Is the information from that intelligence syndicate certain?
They provide much more accurate information than the two esteemed Great Families, so it is safe to believe them.
If the Heretical Emperor Hall is really on their way here, then the Heavenly Killer Sects Absolute-Realm demonic practitioners have likely joined the Heretical Emperor Hall, Tang Sa-Dok said with a hardened expression.
We will have to check that, but considering the suddenness of their attack, they must have grasped a clear chance of winning against us.
Shouldnt we quickly retreat now? Ximen Ying said worryingly.
Before we do, how about I personally confirm it? Mu-Gun suggested.
You want to confirm it yourself? How do you plan to do that?
I will identify the forces of the Heretical Emperor Hall with my own eyes.
Why would you do that? It would be great if you did, but wouldnt it be too dangerous? Tang Ho-Rim welcomed Mu-Guns kind gesture, but he was concerned.
You dont have to worry about my safety. No matter what happens, I am confident that I will be able to run away. Mu-Gun reassured them.
If you're really determined, then we will respect your decision. Is there anything we can do to support you? Ximen Ying asked.
Can you prepare a set of stealth clothes and some black cloth for me?
I understand why you would require the stealth clothes, but why do you need black cloth?
Because my shield is a little flashy. I am going to use the black cloth to cover it up.
I see. I will have it prepared immediately. Ximen Ying called for his subordinates and ordered them to prepare a set of stealth clothes and some black cloth.
They brought the items soon after, and Mu-Gun changed into stealth clothes. He then attached a sword and the Flying Golden Shield, which was covered with a black cloth, on his back.
Are you sure you will be fine? Ho-Rim anxiously asked again. As a senior of murim, it bothered him that he had to leave such dangerous tasks to Mu-Gun, who was many years his junior.
Dont worry too much, I will escape as soon as it becomes dangerous. Mu-Gun once again reassured Ho-Rim. Just to be sure, however, please have your forces retreat in the direction of Gaoan first.
Are you asking us to let you shoulder such a dangerous task alone and move to safety ourselves?
It is just a countermeasure in case the Heretical Emperor Halls forces are too strong for us to handle. We must not suffer any losses just for loyalty, must we? Mu-Gun dissuaded them.
That is true, but
In exchange, if I judge that it is worth fighting against the Heretical Emperor Halls forces, please fight with all your might. That is all I ask for. Mu-Gun requested.
Alright. I promise you that.
Then that is good enough. It will be troublesome if I delay any longer, so I will be leaving now. Mu-Gun bid the four Absolute-Realm masters farewell, then headed to Nanchang.
Others could have found Mu-Guns actions reckless. However, Mu-Gun was actually quite confident. It was pitch-black right now. Mu-Gun could use the Dark Specter Stealth Art, which boasted the strongest power in the dark. It would allow him to confirm the number of the Heretical Emperor Halls forces without being caught. Moreover, if he exerted himself a little, he could even assassinate the Nine Celestial Demons Sects Absolute-Realm demonic practitioners.
He did have the desire to kill as many Absolute-Realm demonic practitioners as possible before the factions of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect joined forces, so he could not deny that he was also being slightly reckless. However, nothing could be gained without taking risks in this war against the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
Four hours later, Mu-Gun finally found the Heretical Emperor Halls forces, which had already covered normally a days worth of distance because they advanced at full speed and didnt rest throughout the night. As a result, Mu-Gun found them much faster than expected.
Mu-Gun activated the Dark Specter Stealth Art and infiltrated into the midst of the Heretical Emperor Halls forces. None of the Heretical Emperor Halls martial artists noticed him at all. Mu-Gun wandered among the enemy to find the Nine Celestial Demons Sects demonic practitioners.
Not long after, he finally found the Nine Celestial Demons Sects demonic practitioners moving behind the Heretical Emperor Halls forces. Mu-Gun examined them in detail while keeping his distance from them. There were nine people who seemed to be in the Absolute Realm. Among them, five gave off the Nine Celestial Demons Sects unique dense demonic qi, and two of those five were the Heavenly Killer Sects Demonic Monarchs whom he had seen before at Mount Yuhua. As Sa-Dok predicted, the Heavenly Killer Sects Demonic Monarchs had joined up with the Heretical Emperor Hall.
Mu-Gun assumed the other four to be the Heretical Emperor Hall Patriarch and the Three Great Slayer Kings. Mu-Gun estimated his distance from them to be a little under a hundred feet. He wondered if he could kill them if he used the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword Art, but he couldnt be certain. They were not aware of his existence at all, so it seemed as if Mu-Gun could succeed in killing them. However, the distance made him think that they would be able to block against Mu-Guns attack.
Mu-Gun decided to close the distance a little more. Once the distance between them was narrowed down to fifty feet, the probability of his success would increase to more than ninety percent. Mu-Gun slowly narrowed the distance while the Dark Specter Stealth Art was still activated. The distance between them was reduced from a hundred feet to ninety feet, then to eighty feet. However, as the distance between them narrowed down to seventy feet, one of the Three Great Slayer Kings standing behind the Nine Celestial Demons Sects demonic practitioners stared at Mu-Guns direction with a wary gaze.
Mu-Gun tensed up for a moment and just watched him. After staring for a while, the man turned his eyes away.
He must be the Specter Sects patriarch.
The Dark Specter Stealth Art was the famed exclusive martial art of the Specter Sect. Having learned the Dark Specter Stealth Art as well, the Specter Sect Patriarch could sense a trace of the Dark Specter Stealth Art. However, Mu-Guns mastery of it was higher than his, so he still failed to notice Mu-Guns presence.
It would be impractical to get any closer.
If Mu-Gun narrowed the distance any further, the Specter Sect Patriarch would notice him.
I have to attack from here.
The probability of his success was reduced, but it was better than being caught. Mu-Gun unleashed the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword Art at the Nine Celestial Demons Sects five demonic practitioners. A golden ray soon fiercely soared around him and took the form of a sword. It wrapped around Mu-Gun, creating a huge golden wheel. The Heretical Emperor Halls martial artists around him were sucked into the huge golden wheel, and a golden Thunderbolt Sword tore them apart.
Executing the Hundred Golden Lightning Wheel Wave, the fourth technique of the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword Art, allowed the Nine Celestial Demons Sects five demonic practitioners to confirm Mu-Guns presence. They were taken aback by the surprise attack, but the Nine Celestial Demons Sects five demonic practitioners immediately snapped back to their senses and responded accordingly. However, the Underworld Sects three Demonic Monarchs and the Heavenly Killer Sects two Demonic Monarchs took different actions. The Underworld Sects Demonic Monarchs flew toward Mu-Gun to attack him, while the Heavenly Killer Sects Demonic Monarchs hurriedly rushed away from Mu-Gun.
The Heretical Emperor Hall Patriarch and the Three Great Slayer Kings also had different reactions. The Heretical Emperor Hall Patriarch joined the Underworld Sects Demonic Monarchs, while the Three Great Slayer Kings widened the distance between them and Mu-Gun as much as possible, just like the Heavenly Killer Sects Demonic Monarchs. Evidently, those who ran away had seen Mu-Guns Hundred Golden Lightning Wheel Wave in person before, while those who charged ahead had only ever seen it now.
Unaware of the danger they were facing, the Underworld Sects Demonic Monarchs and the Heretical Emperor Hall Patriarch fearlessly charged at Mu-Gun. As a result of their ignorance, they were met with severe consequences. The golden Thunderbolt Swords that gave shape to the huge golden wheel simultaneously flew toward the four of them.
The faces of the four turned pale white when close to a hundred golden Thunderbolt Swords flew toward them like lightning. Unable to avoid it any longer, they unleashed the most powerful technique that they could use. Waves of vajra qi filled the space and blocked the golden Thunderbolt Sword, their collision resulting in a thunderous roar.
The waves of vajra qi were able to withstand the golden Thunderbolt Swords, but they soon cracked and eventually dispersed. Having shattered the obstacle before them, the golden Thunderbolt Swords pierced through the four Absolute-Realm masters, causing them to collapse to the ground. The indiscriminate bombardment had riddled their bodies with holes. The four masters let out painful gestures before drooping lifelessly.
The Heavenly Killer Sects Demonic Monarchs and the Three Great Slayer Kings, who evaded as soon as they saw the Hundred Golden Lightning Wheel Wave, realized that they had made the right choice when they witnessed the horrible deaths of their fellow Absolute-Realm masters. If they had attacked Mu-Gun without knowing better, they would have suffered death as terrible as theirs.
Mu-Gun let out a chuckle at those who kept their distance from him. Seeing the Heavenly Killer Sects Demonic Monarchs and the Three Great Slayer Kings, known as the epitome of fear, scared and chickening out is truly quite the spectacle. Arent you bastards ashamed of your subordinates who trust and follow you?
There is no shame in retreat when one is against the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor, Life-Stealing Demonic Monarch Bi Jong-Hae said.
It makes me feel proud somehow that a Demonic Monarch of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect regards the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sect so highly, Mu-Gun sarcastically replied.
Enjoy it as much as you want. Now that we know that you are the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor, the Nine Celestial Demons Sect will do everything in our power to kill you. I wonder if you and your family will be able to handle the full force of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, Jong-Hae warned.
Before that, I think you should worry about your own lives first.
What? You bastard, dont tell me?! Bi Jong-Hae, immediately snapped back to his senses due to an ominous thought. Everyone, get away! No, run!
At that moment, Mu-Guns eyes shone in gold, and a flash of golden lightning soared around him like a thunderstorm. Mu-Gun had just activated the Thunder God's Descentthe strongest martial arts of the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sect. Feeling the overwhelming energy Mu-Gun emitted, Life-Stealing Demonic Monarch Bi Jong-Hae and the Crazy-Killing Demonic Monarch Dong Ryun had goosebumps all over. Their strength would never be enough to stop such an uncontrollable wave of energy.
Their minds were screaming at them to run away, but their legs did not budge an inch. It was as if they were caught in a spider web. Mu-Guns energy was stifling them. They tried their best to shake off Mu-Guns energy but to no avail. The Three Great Slayer Kings were no different.
While the five Absolute-Realm masters were unable to move, the Higher Demons of both the Underworld Sect and the Heavenly Killer Sect attacked Mu-Gun. Unlike the assassins of the Three Greatest Assassin Organizations, who were so afraid of Mu-Guns martial prowess that they did not dare attack, the Higher Demons were not afraid of death at all. They were willing to give up their life at any given moment for the sake of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. Mu-Gun, who was trying to end the life of the five Absolute-Realm masters, had no choice but to turn and face the Higher Demons attack. The moment he raised his hand, a bolt of golden lightning fell from the sky far faster than the Higher Demons could evade. Directly struck by it, the Higher Demons running toward Mu-Gun collapsed to the ground.
Torn apart by the golden lightning, they were left in a state that was difficult to recognize. After killing all the Higher Demons, Mu-Gun turned to the Heavenly Killer Sects two Demonic Monarchs and the Three Great Slayer Kings. They had all scattered and were running away in different directions. In response, Mu-Gun flew without delay, crossing dozens of feet at once as if he had folded space itself.
Mu-Gun caught up to Crazy-Killing Demonic Monarch Dong Ryun in an instant. Executing the Heavenly Descent Thunder Strike, he unleashed a golden Star Aura Hand that spread out and enveloped Dong Ryun with rays of thunder qi.
Dong-Ryun swung his sword with all his might, sending a violent wave of crimson vajra qi to block the golden Star Aura Hand. However, the incoming attack was far too powerful. It split the vajra qi in half and easily severed his head. Dong Ryuns lifeless body collapsed to the ground with a fountain of blood spurting from his neck. Wasting no time, Mu-Gun once again flew around and chased after Life-Stealing Demonic Monarch Bi Jong-Hae.
Engulfed in golden thunder qi, Mu-Gun used Thunder Gods Shadow to jump over the space as if he was teleporting. Bi Jong-Hae tried to run away with all his might, but he could not overcome Mu-Guns formidable speed. Mu-Gun then executed the Thunder Sword Cannon, sending a golden Thunderbolt Sword flying across like a ray of light.
As Jong-Hae rolled to his side to avoid it, Mu-Gun caught up with him and unleashed a wave of golden Thunderbolt Swords. Realizing that he could not evade the golden lightning raining down on him, Jong-Hae emitted a wave of protective vajra qi in an effort to defend himself. Wave after wave of golden lightning bombarded the protective vajra qi enveloping Jong-Hae.
Jong-Haes protective vajra qi shook greatly whenever a bolt of golden lightning struck it. Eventually, it slowly began to crack.
No! Jong-Hae shouted with a despairing look upon seeing the cracks, but it was useless. His protective vajra qi shattered, and in that small gap, a bolt of golden lightning penetrated through his head, breaking it like tofu as his body fell sideways. Even as he hit the ground, golden lightning still poured down on him, riddling him with holes.
When the bombardment finally stopped, all that remained was an unrecognizable mass of flesh. However, after eliminating Dong Ryun and Bi Jong-Hae, Mu-Gun sensed that he had exhausted all the internal energy in his dantian. If he delayed any further, the Thunder Gods Descent would be deactivated. That would mean that he would fall into a defenseless state. He had to get out of here before that.
Mu-Gun decided to give up on chasing after the Three Great Slayer Kings, who were now out of sight, and instead dashed in the opposite direction. Activating the Thunder Gods Shadow, he turned into a ray of light and disappeared. The Heretical Emperor Halls martial artists, who thought that they would die helplessly due to Mu-Guns formidable martial prowess, were stunned when Mu-Gun left them alone and disappeared. For a moment, the Heretical Emperor Halls martial artists cheered simply because they survived.
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