Chapter 196
"The Heavenly Killer Sect deploys a joint attack formation called the Ten Surface Ambush Formation. If they employ it with a resolve to sacrifice their lives, we might face a formidable challenge," Zhuge Wen responded to Jin Gwang-Cheon's question.
"No matter how formidable the Ten Surface Ambush Formation is, I don't believe it poses a threat to the four of us," Namgung Byeok declared with confidence.
"If it were just the Ten Surface Ambush Formation, that might be true. However, the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon is in their ranks. If the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon targets us in secret while they activate the Ten Surface Ambush Formation, it could pose a danger to us," Zhuge Wen replied.
And we provoked the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon when it's this dangerous? Ximen Zong asked.
"While there's certainly some risk, it could also be an opportunity to eliminate the Heavenly Killer Sect in one decisive move," Zhuge Wen expressed his opinion.
"That implies the potential gains are substantial, despite the accompanying risk, right?"
Also, if we remain vigilant and composed, we wont have any food offerings served to our altars just yet.
Dont worry. We'll fight with all our might, like a tiger hunting a rabbit. Ximen Zong said after hearing Zhuge Wens remarks.
"I believe they're here," Namgung Byeok remarked just then.
Then, a grating sound of metal echoed outside the inn. Soon after, hooks attached to chains pierced through the inn. These hooks, once embedded, were swiftly tightened, tearing and demolishing the entire inn. As each side of the inn was ripped away, the roof descended upon the four members of the Seven Saints inside. In a quick response, Ximen Zong swung his saber at the plummeting roof.
The vajra qi discharged by his saber cleaved the roof in two, sending the halves hurtling sideways. The halved inn's roof crashed to the ground, triggering an explosion.
Everyone, be careful!
Amidst Namgung Byeok's shouts, black shadows swooped in from all angles, hurling various concealed weapons toward the four Saints. These projectiles, resembling a swarm of bees, aimed for the Saints. Zhuge Wen swiftly swung the fan in his hand, conjuring a potent whirlwind that intercepted and redirected all the incoming weapons into the air.
Simultaneously, the remaining three Saints leaped in separate directions, launching sword qi, saber qi, and fist qi. The energies unleashed by the trio filled the air, sweeping over the encroaching black shadows.
The black shadows, initial throwers of hidden weapons, swiftly withdrew, replaced by others wielding large shields forming a defensive barrier. The attacks from the three martial arts masters incessantly pounded the shields of the black shadows. The impact forced the black shadows to retreat significantly.
In the midst of this, a different set of black shadows vaulted over their comrades, releasing dozens of hidden weapons toward the four Saints. Accompanied by a deafening noise, a barrage of concealed projectiles once again hurtled from all directions. However, the Seven Saints, unflinching, chose not to intercept the incoming hidden weapons.
Cloaked in protective vajra qi, the Seven Saints surged through the shower of hidden weapons, leaping toward the black shadows. Subsequently, they unleashed a coordinated assault, each employing sword, saber, fist, and fan energies in distinct directions. The black shadows, now with blackish-gray shields, advanced once more, creating a formidable barrier to intercept the Saints' attacks.
The collision between the Saints' strikes and the shields resonated in a thunderous roar. The black shadows bearing the shields were forcefully propelled backward, tumbling across the floor, unable to withstand the intense impact.
The four Saints, determined to counterattack, leaped into the air and directed their strikes toward the ground. The Earth Killer Sect's assassins, employing the Earth Burrow Movement Art, aiming at the Saints' feet, were shredded by the onslaught, reduced to scattered fragments. Simultaneously, the space around the Saints became distorted, inducing dizzinessa technique from the Phantom Death Sect.
In response, hidden arrows and weapons descended from all directions. Undeterred, the four Saints unleashed attacks in random directions while maintaining their protective vajra qi. The illusionary arts of the Phantom Death Sect crumbled under the assault, restoring the distorted space to its original state.
Despite the continuous barrage of hidden weapons from the black shadows, none managed to breach the protective vajra qi enveloping the four Saints. However, a new wave of black shadows descended from the sky, launching a relentless assault. Merging with their swords, they plummeted toward the four Saints, each one resolved to meet their end.
This sacrificial technique was employed in an attempt to perish alongside the four Saints.
"I'll handle those coming from above!" Ximen Zong shouted to the other three Saints and swung his saber upward.
A colossal dragon materialized from Ximen Zong's saber, soaring into the sky and consuming the descending black shadows. Torn apart by the dragon-shaped vajra qi, the black shadows painted the sky momentarily blood-red. Amidst this spectacle, the remaining black shadows persisted in their assault.
While those with shields defended against the Saints' attacks, others continuously launched hidden arrows and weapons. Simultaneously, attempts were made to exploit openings in the Saints' defense by utilizing the Earth Burrow Movement Art to burrow beneath their feet and distorting space through illusionary arts.
As the four Saints defended against the ongoing onslaught, the more formidable demonic practitioners within the Heavenly Killer Sect targeted them with the intent to deal a fatal blow, prepared to meet their demise in the process. The relentless attacks formed a suffocating web around the four Saints, keeping them under constant pressure.
If they were at the Absolute Realm, enduring the Heavenly Killer Sect's assault would likely have been beyond their capacity. In fact, even as Supreme Realm masters, facing this situation with only one or two of them present would have proven challenging.
Despite the formidable nature of the Heavenly Killer Sect's Ten Surface Ambush Formation, facing four Supreme Realm masters rendered it ineffective. As time passed, the casualties among the demonic practitioners increased. However, the Heavenly Killer Sect's followers continued their relentless assault on the four Saints, unafraid of death.
The Saints, in turn, maintained their vigilance, never lowering their guard, uncertain of when the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon and the demonic monarchs might strike. Yet, even after an extended duration, there was no sign of an attack from the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon and the demonic monarchs.
Zhuge Wen sensed that something was amiss.
Are they waiting for us to lose energy?
Facing the entire Heavenly Killer Sect, even as Supreme Realm masters, meant an inevitable drain on their energy. There was a possibility that the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon and the demonic monarchs were biding their time for a strategic moment. If sacrificing all the demonic practitioners of the Heavenly Killer Sect meant securing the demise of the four Saints, it could be deemed a gain.
Yet, Zhuge Wen couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the plan than met the eyean unsettling suspicion that they were prolonging the encounter for an unforeseen attack by the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon.
We cannot let this drag on any further.
It appears they are planning something, so it would be better to deal with the Ten Surface Ambush Formation quickly. Zhuge Wen said to the other tree Saints.
Got it.
It is too late!
The other three Saints nodded in agreement with Zhuge Wen's words, attempting to gather their strength to conclude the battle swiftly. However, just at that crucial moment, the resonating voice of the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon filled the surroundings. Suddenly, darkness engulfed the area, stripping away all sensory perceptions. Sight and sound became nonexistent.
The Heavenly Dark Sky Killing Art, a transcendental martial art wielded by the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon, had been unleashed.
What is this? What happened?
Everyone, be careful!
The abrupt deprivation of their senses left the four Saints disoriented. Losing their senses not only constrained their movements but also rendered them unable to perceive the enemy's actions. In such a predicament, escape became an impractical notion how could they flee without sight or sensation?
The sole recourse for the four Saints in this predicament was to staunchly defend themselves until the shroud of darkness, robbing them of their senses, dissipated.
Unable to discern the enemy's movements, the four Saints found themselves in the dark, unaware of when or where the enemy would strike. Left with no alternative, they relied on instinct, unfolding their martial arts blindly to defend against potential attacks.
Despite the disoriented circumstances, the four Saints adeptly grasped the situation, unleashing their vajra qi in all directions. The silent explosions of their vajra qi resonated within the encompassing veil of darkness, dispersing its energy.
Beyond the shroud of darkness, the Heavenly Killer Sect's demonic practitioners observed the four Saints expelling vajra qi into what seemed like an empty space. The Heavenly Killer Divine Demon and the demonic monarchs, choosing not to strike immediately, opted to monitor the unfolding situation. The four Saints, fueled by frustration, were unwittingly depleting their own energy.
With no immediate need to engage, there was no incentive for the Heavenly Killer Sect to launch an attack at this juncture. In Go-Seong's current martial realm, the Heavenly Dark Sky Killing Art could be sustained for a maximum of seven to eight minutes.
Planning to exhaust the four Saints to the fullest, Go-Seong and the demonic monarchs intended to unleash a relentless onslaught once the Saints were drained.
Despite the absence of sensory perception, the four Saints anticipated feeling the impact of attacks penetrating their protective vajra qi. However, to their surprise, no impact was registered. It seemed highly improbable that all the enemy's strikes could be thwarted by their indiscriminate, random counterattacks.
Swiftly realizing that the enemy wasn't engaging them directly, the seasoned martial arts masters understood the situation. Yet, unable to perceive the enemy's movements, they persevered in launching attacks blindly, unwilling to stay idle in the veil of darkness.
As time elapsed, the four Saints started to sense the strain on their stamina. Despite being Supreme Realm masters, their internal energy had limits. Persistently releasing vajra qi in their current state would inevitably deplete their internal energy. It would be a stroke of luck if the veil of darkness, robbing them of their senses, dissipated before reaching that point.
However, if it persisted, the likelihood of their internal energy being exhausted, leaving them vulnerable to the enemy's assault, grew significantly.
"Now is the time! Everyone, attack!" The Heavenly Killer Divine Demon, gauging the opportune moment, commanded the four demonic monarchs and the two Slayer Kings.
The four demonic monarchs and the two Slayer Kings unleashed a coordinated assault on the four Saints ensnared within the shroud of darkness. Following suit, the Higher Demons, under the demonic monarchs' lead, targeted Zhuge Wen, recognizing him as the least formidable among the four.
Simultaneously, the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon took swift action, closing in on Namgung Byeok, acknowledged as the most powerful among the Saints. Despite the relentless discharge of vajra qi, Namgung Byeok showed no signs of exhaustion. Even his seemingly random swings effectively sealed off space, leaving no openings.
Breaking through Namgung Byeok's vajra qi would prove challenging for even Absolute Realm masters, let alone approaching him.
However, the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon possessed a trump cardthe Divine Spectrum Killing Step, a technique enabling movement faster than light. Spotting an opening between the cascading waves of vajra qi released by Namgung Byeok, Go-Seong swiftly activated the Divine Spectrum Killing Step.
Transforming into a beam of light, he traversed the gap within the vajra qi waves, beyond Namgung Byeok's visual and sensory reach. Unaware and unable to evade, Namgung Byeok fell victim to Go-Seong's sword, which effortlessly sliced through his protective vajra qi and plunged into his chest.
Kugh!
Namgung Byeok groaned, his body arching backward like a bow in response to the piercing pain in his chest. The sound of Namgung Byeok's pain was audible only to Go-Seong.
Ugh! Die!
Despite his deteriorating state, Namgung Byeok launched a final, blind attack in Go-Seong's direction, his body succumbing to the damage. However, Go-Seong had already withdrawn his sword from Namgung Byeok's chest and distanced himself.
The vajra qi released from Namgung Byeok's sword collided with the unyielding ground, echoing in a thunderous roar. Subsequently, Namgung Byeok knelt on the floor, body hunched forward, blood spattering from the wound where Go-Seong had extracted his sword.
In this manner, the life of Namgung Byeok, the Sword Emperor who had led the Great Namgung Family to an era of prosperity as one of the Seven Saints, came to an end.
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by (f)reew𝒆b(n)ovel.com