Chapter 204
Ten days had passed since the Great Zhuge Family activated the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array at Mount Longzhong. During that period, the Nine Celestial Demons Sect and the Sky Beast Palace had set up camp at the foot of Mount Longzhong. They were just waiting for it to deactivate now.
They remained on high alert day and night for any surprise attacks, but as the days went by, the vigilance of those assigned to guard duty gradually lowered. Although the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array made it impossible to get into the Zhuge Familys manor, it also made it impossible to leave. The Southern Sky Branchs forces would have a difficult time launching a surprise attack while it was active.
Only the Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect actually posed a threat to them right now, but the Nine Celestial Demons Sects forces were closely monitoring those factions as a preventative measure. They had not detected any suspicious movementsnot even subtle signsfrom the Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect yet. Given the situation, the Nine Celestial Demons Sect and the Sky Beast Palace inevitably dropped their guard.
However, that was the moment that Baek Mu-Gun was aiming for. On the eleventh day since the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Arrays activation, Mu-Gun and the Specter Slayer King mobilized. Mu-Gun had contacted the Specter Slayer King through the Heavenly Secret Hall a while back, ordering him to head to Hubei Province with the Loyal Heart Alliances Absolute-Realm masters. At Mu-Guns request, he then joined the assassination mission.
How do you plan to get past the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array? the Specter Slayer King, who was following Mu-Gun, asked when they reached the arrays border.
Dont worry. I will not let you die in it.
Why would I be worried? I am just wondering what your plan is.
It is a trade secret, so dont bother trying to find out. Stay on your toes and follow behind me, and youll pass through it before you realize it, Mu-Gun answered as he activated the Thunder God's Heavenly Eyes, turning his eyes golden.
Mu-Gun concentrated when he started to see the energy that was forming the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array. Much like in his previous life, locating the entry point of such an incomprehensible array formation proved difficult, but he persevered.
Mu-Gun had been closely examining it with the Thunder Gods Heavenly Eyes for the past ten days. Although it was supposed to have no entry path, that was only true from the perspective of humans. No matter how perfect an array was, a god was bound to find a loophole in it.
The Thunder God's Heavenly Eyes allowed Mu-Gun to see the world through a gods Divine Eyes. With them, he looked for the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Arrays entry path, which a human could never have found otherwise.
Soon, he exited the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array, and the Specter Slayer King followed closely behind to avoid losing sight of him. Mu-Gun had not been paying any attention to him since he had to put all his focus on figuring out the entry path.
During their time in the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array, Mu-Gun was so engrossed in his task that he was left defenseless. If the Specter Slayer King harbored ill intentions, he could have easily killed him. Even so, Mu-Gun was not worried at all. After all, without him, the array would trap and kill the Specter Slayer King. It would have turned out differently if he was determined to perish with Mu-Gun, but that was highly unlikely.
It took a little more than fifteen minutes for Mu-Gun and the Specter Slayer King to pass through the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array in one piece. They immediately sneaked their way to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect and Sky Beast Palaces campsite and arrived after a while.
Mu-Gun closely examined their camp. Lit torches were in every corner, and they had assigned guards to every strategic point.
They really put a lot of thought into this, the Specter Slayer King nonchalantly commented, examining the campsites security next to Mu-Gun.
Can you infiltrate them? Mu-Gun asked.
Why are you asking the obvious? It does not matter how tight their security is. If I put my mind to it, there is no place I cannot infiltrate.
Still, dont be too complacent. You havent forgotten my instructions, have you?
Dont worry. I will take down a big shot to shake them up.
Dont overdo it. It will be troublesome if things go south.
Are you worrying about me right now?
Say what you want, but let us not waste any more time and get moving already.
The Specter Slayer King chuckled, then began the mission. Activating the Dark Specter Stealth Art, he blended into the darkness and infiltrated the campsite. Although the torches kept the area well-lit, limiting the reach of the shadows, he still managed to get past the guards with his excellent underground movement.
After watching him for a bit, Mu-Gun activated the Dark Specter Stealth Art at a much higher level, preventing anyone from noticing him. He then infiltrated the campsite and went deeper inside, hoping to get rid of one of the Divine Demons. He could defeat three Divine Demons alone if he used the Thunder God's Descent, but he would rather avoid resorting to it unless he had no other choice. Even if he did get forced to use it, fighting just two Divine Demons would decrease the time he would have to keep it active.
We are under attack!
The Patriarch has been assassinated!
Find the assassin!
Over there! Hes running away!
The Specter Slayer King sparked a commotion opposite from where Mu-Gun was heading. Mu-Gun had ordered him earlier to assassinate one of the enemys martial artists whose death would have the strongest impact so he could roam around the camp far more easily. Much to his surprise, the Specter Slayer King chose the Sky Beast Palace Patriarch.
As a result, not only the Sky Beast Palaces martial arts masters but even the Demonic Monarchs took action to find the assassin. With their eyes and ears focused elsewhere, Mu-Gun was able to move inside the camp more effortlessly. Still, he did not let his guard down. If he did and it leaked traces of his presence, the Divine Demons would certainly detect him.
Hiding his presence as best as he could, he continued to search for the Divine Demons energy.
That side!
After a while, Mu-Gun sensed an energy source he assumed belonged to a Divine Demon in one of the tents. He approached it until he was only fifty feet away from it, then immediately executed the Heavenly Thunder Storm Burst, the fifth technique of the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword Art.
A wave of golden Thunder God qi coursed through Mu-Guns sword and soared to the sky, forming a thousand golden Thunderbolt Swords, which then rained down on the tent below it at lightning speed.
The shower of swords caused a series of thunderous explosions as they tore apart the tent until it disintegrated into specks. Amid the devastated land, a cloud of dust rose a hundred feet into the air. At the same time, the golden Thunderbolt Swords created a lightning storm that massacred everyone within a radius of fifty feet. The cloud dust and the lightning storm intertwined as the area was engulfed in pandemonium.
Mu-Gun flew away before even confirming the Divine Demons death in hopes of getting away before the other two Divine Demons came. The Nine Celestial Demons Sects demonic practitioners ran out after hearing the thunderous roar and tried to attack Mu-Gun upon finding him, but his Thunder Gods Shadow made it impossible for them to catch up to him. The same applied to the two Divine Demons.
Left with no other choice but to let Mu-Gun escape, Myriad Poison Divine Demon Gal Cheon-Dok and Invincible Divine Demon So Geuk-Sang checked on Heavenly Killer Divine Demon Dok Go-Seong. The Heavenly Thunder Storm Burst had destroyed his tent.
When the dust cloud and the lightning storm subsided, the two Divine Demons saw Go-Seong lying on the ground with holes all over his body like a honeycomb. Cheon-Dok and Geuk-Sangs expressions contorted partly because of Go-Seongs death but mainly because of his killers identity.
Why is the Thunder Gods successor here? Shouldnt he be at the Northern Sky Branch? Geuk-Sang said with a stiff expression.
That is what I would like to ask too. I did not expect him to be at the Zhuge Familys manor.
Now that the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon is dead, we can no longer defeat him, Geuk-Sang dejectedly said.
That may not necessarily be the case.
What do you mean?
The Thunder Gods successor fled to avoid us. Does that not mean that he does not have a chance of winning if he fights us at the same time?
After pondering about it for a moment, Geuk-Sang shook his head.
I doubt it. He was in the middle of the enemy camp. He most likely ran away to avoid fighting us in such a disadvantageous location. If he had the Southern Sky Branchs Absolute-Realm masters with him, the situation would be different.
What do you plan to do, then? You want us to just tuck tail and run because you are afraid of him? Cheon-Dok asked, sounding displeased.
That is a hundred times better than letting our pride make us fight a losing battle, Geuk-Sang answered. He seemed infuriated as well.
You cannot tell which of us is stronger unless we actually give it a shot. Immediately assuming that we will lose even before we actually fight him is unbecoming of a Divine Demon, Cheon-Deok argued, implying that Geuk-Sang was not qualified to be a Divine Demon.
Geuk-Sang was enraged, but this was not the right time to let his emotions get the better of him and create internal strife. He took a deep breath and calmed himself down. It is not a hasty assumption. The Thunder Gods successor has already killed the Asura Divine Demon, Spindle Divine Demon, and now, the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon. Those three were not inferior to us in combat. We certainly have a chance of winning if we launch a joint attack, but our compatibility is not good enough to do that. Your transcendental martial art damages both enemy and ally, which will make it hard for us to work together.
Cheon-Dok found it hard to refute Geuk-Sangs remarks. His transcendental martial art was based on poison, an attribute that did not distinguish between enemy and ally. It would be a menace not only to Mu-Gun but to Geuk-Sang as well. Fundamentally, Cheon-Dok and Geuk-Sang were far too incompatible to launch a joint attack. Since their victory was not guaranteed even if they fought Mu-Gun together, it was better to avoid this fight.
Hmm, you do have a point, but if we retreat now, they will not just sit by and watch us leave, Cheon-Dok replied despite already being convinced.
I am also worried about that, but if we just stay here, we do not know when the Thunder Gods successor will try to assassinate us next. Even if he cannot harm us, he can easily annihilate the Demonic Monarchs and Higher Demons. It would be better to back off before we suffer more losses. Geuk-Sang said truthfully.
Rather than that, why dont we wait for the Thunder Gods successor to attempt another surprise attack and counterattack at that moment? Cheon-Dok suggested.
Considering he managed to assassinate one of us, I doubt Absolute-Realm masters can detect him when using his stealth art.
That is true. Even the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon could not detect him despite using martial arts of the same nature.
For now, its best we retreat as soon as we can.
If we retreat, where do you plan to go? Cheon-Dok asked.
We should head to Wuchang first and seek cooperation from the other factions.
I wonder if they are doing well on their end.
Four of them are together, so they should not be having troubles. Moreover, since the Thunder Gods successor is here, even if the Western and Northern Sky Branches join forces, they will still have difficulties stopping four Divine Demons. Geuk-Sang answered.
I hope youre right. If things have gone wrong on their end, we will find ourselves isolated.
Lets worry about that later and just retreat for now.
Okay.
Reaching a decision, the two Divine Demons immediately summoned and ordered the Demonic Monarchs and the Sky Beast Palaces Twelve Beast Kings to withdraw. After making all preparations to retreat, they left Mount Longzhong.
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