Chapter 167
The Loyal Heart Alliance decided to travel to Suzhou by sea. Going there by land would have been faster due to distance and topography, but sailing to their destination was safer. The Lee Households information network would have likely caught wind of them if they traveled by land. At sea, the Loyal Heart Alliance could use merchant ships to cover their tracks.
The Loyal Heart Alliances six hundred martial artists sailed on a total of twelve ships, which the Hangzhou Merchant Company and the Eun Merchant Group mobilized. They set sail at Hangzhou, disembarked at Taicang, and immediately advanced to Suzhou. It would take them two days to reach their destination.
Meanwhile, the Asura Cults Patriarch, Asura Divine Demon Seob Go-Won, appointed the outlaw groups three Absolute-Realm masters as Demonic Monarchs. The Asura Cult had always been the weakest among the Nine Celestial Demons Sects factions. To make matters worse, Baek Mu-Gun had already killed three of their five Demonic Monarchs. Asura Sword Monarch Wi Ji-Wook and Asura Saber Monarch Yeon Ja-Gwang, who were in charge of the Lee Household and the Taiyun Household respectively, were the only Demonic Monarchs left in the Asura Cult.
Taking advantage of that, the outlaw groups three Absolute-Realm masters hoped to jump onto the Asura Cults bandwagon. They used to be under the Blood-Crazed Clan and Myriad Tribulations Clans control, but those clans did nothing when the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin and the Changjiang Waterway Alliance were wiped out. Instead, they left the three Absolute-Realm masters to the Invincible Clan, which in turn used them until even all their elite forces were killed.
Feeling betrayed, the three realized that they had to find a clan in the Nine Celestial Demons Sect that would accept them as comrades, not treat them as tools. Hence, they came to the Asura Cult, which was the weakest among the Nine Celestial Demons Sects factions. They thought that the Asura Cult would listen to their demands since they needed their skills. Hence, they joined the Asura Cult under the condition that they would be appointed Demonic Monarchs and taught the Asura Cults ultimate skill.
They thought that their demands would make them true members of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, thereby preventing anyone from treating them recklessly like what the three factions previously did. The Asura Divine Demon, who was trying to increase the Asura Cults power, welcomed them with open arms. The Blood-Crazed Clan and the Myriad Tribulations Clan, which used to control them, would probably protest, but the Asura Cult could just ignore their complaints.
The Asura Divine Demon personally visited the Lee Household to accept the three Absolute-Realm masters into their ranks. As soon as he arrived, he met up with them.
So in exchange for joining us, you want to be appointed Demonic Monarchs and learn the Asura Cults ultimate skill? Go-Won confirmed.
That is correct. We want to become true members of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, not hunting dogs to be used and abandoned, which is why we demand those two things. Please give us a chance to truly help achieve the great cause of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. We are determined to give our lives for the Nine Celestial Demons Sect and the Asura Cult, Lulin Heavenly King Jang Sah-Myung said as their groups representative.
Does everyone feel the same way? Go-Won asked.
Yes.
I acknowledge your devotion to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. The Nine Celestial Demons Sect normally do not grant the status of Demonic Monarchs to those who do not possess demonic blood. Are you aware of that?
We are.
However, your devotion has moved my heart. I will make an exception for you three.
That means?!
Yes. I will appoint you three as Demonic Monarchs of the Asura Cult. I, Asura Divine Demon Seob Go-Won, grant you all the status of Demonic Monarch and demonic blood lineage.
Thank you. I swear my undying loyalty to you, esteemed Divine Demon, Sah-Myung fervently promised.
I offer you my loyalty as well The others followed suit.
It is time I bestow upon you your new title and identity plaque. Come forward, Jang Sah-Myung.
Sah-Myung came up to the front and knelt.
You are hereby dubbed Asura Green Monarch. Accept this identity plaque.
Thank you.
With both hands, Sah-Myung politely accepted the identity plaque that the Asura Divine Demon handed to him. Following Sah-Myung, Sim Cheon and Ga Jin-Ok were given identity plaques and the title of Asura Dragon Monarch and Asura River Monarch respectively.
Afterward, Go-Won passed down the ultimate skill of the Asura Cult. The trio had Ascension-Realm martial arts, but even they were inferior to the Asura Cults ultimate skill.
Go-Won selected and passed down the suitable ultimate skill for each of them. The Asura Cults ultimate skills were extremely different from the trios current martial arts. After all, the ultimate skills were demonic arts. Perhaps that was why the trio had a hard time understanding it.
The trio took longer than expected to learn the martial arts. Fortunately, instead of constantly rushing or scolding them, the Asura Divine Demon surprisingly remained calm and kind while teaching them. As a result, they learned the martial arts without feeling pressured. However, their comfort did not last long. After some time, they received a report that the Loyal Heart Alliances elite forces were advancing to Suzhou.
Reducing their time for sleep, the Loyal Heart Alliance reached Suzhou within a day and a half. Since the Lee Household wasnt expecting them to attack and they did everything they could to hide their presence from the Lee Household, the Loyal Heart Alliances movements went unnoticed until they were already quite close to Suzhou.
What happened? Why is the Loyal Heart Alliance suddenly marching toward this place? the Asura Divine Demon asked, unable to understand the reason behind the Loyal Heart Alliances actions.
Most likely because of the new demonic Monarchs, Asura Sword Monarch Wi Ji-Wook replied while looking at Sah-Myung and the others.
Youre blaming us? Sah-Myung asked in a displeased tone.
Catching you coming all the way here would be enough to connect the Lee Household to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. The result of that is this problem we now face.
No way. We moved as stealthily as possible. They could not have detected us, Sah-Myung refuted.
The Loyal Heart Allianceno, the Baek Sword Sect is receiving help from an excellent intelligence syndicate called the Heavenly Secret Hall. No matter how carefully you three moved, the Heavenly Secret Hall could track you down.
The trios expressions hardened. If Ji-Wook was right, then they were the direct cause of the Asura Cults current crisis.
Lets discuss this later. We have to prioritize discussing how to fend off the Loyal Heart Alliances attack, Go-Won said, choosing not to hold anyone responsible for now. Preparing countermeasures against the Loyal Heart Alliances attack was much more important now.
With all due respect, stopping them with our current strength is impossible if the Thunder Gods successor is with them, Ji-Wook cautiously said.
What do you mean by that? The esteemed Divine Demon is here, so why would the Thunder Gods successor be a problem? Sah-Myung replied, flattering Go-Won. He could only say that because he did not know just how strong the Thunder Gods successor truly was, however, and because he wanted to stand out before the Asura Divine Demon.
The Thunder Gods successor is so strong that even if the Nine Celestial Demons Sects Nine Great Demon Kings fought him together, it would still be impossible to guarantee victory. Although I am currently in the Supreme Demonic Realm, it will be difficult for me to defeat him alone. Go-Won smiled bitterly.
The Asura Divine Demon recently reached the Supreme Demonic Realm, which he longed for all this while. Nevertheless, he still wasnt completely confident that he could win against the Thunder Gods successor.
Is the Thunder Gods successor really that strong? I find it hard to believe that such a young man can stand against the esteemed Divine Demon, who is currently in the Supreme Demonic Realm. Sah-Myung seemed astonished. He knew that Mu-Gun was strong, but he did not expect him to be strong enough to give the Asura Divine Demon a hard time.
Age does not matter when it comes to the Thunder Gods successor. All that does is the fact that he is the Thunder Gods successor. Moreover, there is no need for me to take this risk alone, Go-Won replied.
I agree, esteemed Divine Demon. You are the symbol of the Asura Cult itself. Protecting you should be our top priority. It would be best to avoid the Thunder Gods successor and escape for now, Ji-Wook said in support of the Asura Divine Demons decision.
You want to just abandon the Lee Household? Sah-Myung asked.
Quite the contrary. The Lee Household will inevitably be associated with us if we stay here. However, if we leave now, the enemy will find no evidence that the Lee Household is connected to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. That would allow them to stop the Loyal Heart Alliances attack.
I see. Where will we go, though?
We have a safe house in Lake Tai, Ji-Wook answered, then turned to Go-Won. We should leave before the Thunder Gods successor storms in.
Lets go now, then. The Asura Divine Demon stood up. With him in the lead, the five Demonic Monarchs left the Lee Household with the Asura Sword Monarch and Asura Saber Monarchs Higher Demons. Not long after, a flare shot up and illuminated the sky.
The Loyal Heart Alliances martial arts masters are probably moving ahead of their forces. We have to pick up the pace, Ji-Wook said.
Move as fast as you can, Go-Won told them, then sped up. As he did, a golden Thunderbolt Sword flew toward him like a ray of light from his left side. In response, he immediately extended his left hand to block the golden Thunderbolt Sword. Red vajra qi enveloped his hand, but it shattered when the golden Thunderbolt Sword collided with it.
The Asura Divine Demon frowned as he squeezed his hands in the aftermath of the explosion. Before him, Mu-Gun appeared with a shield on his back and a sword in one hand. The Loyal Heart Alliances elite forces just entered Suzhou, but its Absolute-Realm masters and Upper-Peak-Realm masters moved ahead of them. They expected the Nine Celestial Demons Sects martial arts masters to run away as soon as they noticed the Loyal Heart Alliance was marching toward the Lee Household.
The Loyal Heart Alliances martial arts masters surrounded the Lee Household and thoroughly monitored everyone leaving the area. Unaware of that, the Asura Divine Demon and the Demonic Monarchs were caught in their surveillance network.
A Divine Demon, huh? This is an unexpectedly big catch. Mu-Gun smiled upon learning about the Asura Divine Demons identity through their short clash earlier.
Go-Won frowned. So youre the Thunder Gods successor.
That is correct, Mu-Gun confidently said.
Now that things have turned out like this, I will have to get rid of you here, Go-Won threatened.
I dont think you should be saying that, considering you were frantically running away just moments ago. Mu-Gun laughed.
I was running not because I am afraid of you, bastard. It just was not the right time to face you.
Is that so?
Let me prove it to you. Go-Won extended his hand toward Mu-Gun. The space above Mu-Guns head was split in half, and a huge blood-colored blade fell like lightning from it. At the same time, enormous pressure surrounded Mu-Gun, trapping him in a single spot. Unable to move, he was left helpless as the blade fell on him.
The blade let out an earth-shattering blast, completely devastating the area within fifty feet of it. At the same time, a cloud of dust spanning hundreds of feet soared up into the sky, evidencing the great power that the Asura Divine Demons attack contained.
The Asura Divine Demon had just executed the Asura Divine Demon Blade, which boasted power so unparalleled that it could devastate everything. As evidenced by the destruction it caused, it was the Asura Cults strongest technique.
The Asura Divine Demon Blades power shocked the five Demonic Monarchs and eight Higher Demons standing behind the Asura Divine Demon beyond belief. They thought that surviving that was impossible even for the Thunder Gods successor.
The Loyal Heart Alliances martial arts masters had the same thought. Having gathered where the signal flare came from, they stood rooted to the ground when they witnessed the power of the Asura Divine Demon Blade. No matter how amazing Mu-Gun was, they could not help but think that it would be difficult for him to survive being struck head-on by it.
Assuming Mu-Gun got killed, the Loyal Heart Alliances martial arts masters fell into despair. They doubted that they could stop that attack if the Asura Divine Demon used it on them.
Meanwhile, as the cloud of dust disappeared, a figure could be seen standing in the middle of it.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢