Chapter 98
Ma Yong-Seong’s expression hardened when what seemed to be an endlessly huge tsunami made its way toward him. He unleashed the Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands again in response, manifesting a demonic hand and blocking the Heavenly Sea Waves Saber Art’s Thousand Waves Qi. However, his demonic hand was pushed back, unable to withstand the Thousand Waves Qi’s relentless rampage.
Baek Mu-Gun’s martial arts perplexed Yong-Seong and exceeded his expectation. He unleashed even more internal energy, increasing the pitch-black hand’s size and pushing even harder against the Thousand Waves Qi, their head-on collision almost like a tug-of-war.
Amid it all, the four Upper Peak Realm demonic practitioners, who had been pushed back some distance away, rushed toward Mu-Gun as soon as they recovered from the impact. Despite being stuck in a contest of strength against Yong-Seong, Mu-Gun was forced to shake off his sword and take a step back.
The four Upper Peak Realm demonic practitioners chased after and attacked Mu-Gun, black hands forming out of their hands and striking at him from all directions. The hands they manifested resembled Yong-Seong’s Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands, but their sizes and shapes paled in comparison not only because their martial prowess was at a lower level but also because the martial art they learned was the Blood-Crazed Black Demon Hands, which was a rank lower than the Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands. Regardless, the Blood-Crazed Black Demon Hands was by no means insignificant. Although it was weaker than the Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands, it was still a powerful martial art in its own right.
Mu-Gun defended against their attack without underestimating it. He used the Celestial Moonlight Sword Art this time, which was perfect for blocking block attacks coming from various directions. Rays of moonlight sword qi extended in all directions and clashed with the Upper Peak Realm demonic practitioners’ black hands. Explosions and shockwave blasts simultaneously appeared on all sides.
The shockwaves pushed back the four Upper Peak Realm demonic practitioners even though they attacked Mu-Gun at the same time, evidencing that his internal energy and martial prowess were greater than all four of them combined. Mu-Gun pursued them as they were blasted away, then hurriedly raised the Flying Golden Shield when a huge black hand ran rampant toward him.
Their clash unleashed a thunderous roar. For the first time since their battle began, Yong-Seong successfully pushed Mu-Gun back a few steps. Not missing a beat, he chased after Mu-Gun and invoked the Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands in succession. The black hands, which seemed to be evil incarnates, penetrated through Mu-Gun’s flanks.
Mu-Gun blocked Yong-Seong’s attack with the Flying Golden Shield again, and just like before, he was pushed back a few steps. Thinking his attacks were finally making an impact on Mu-Gun, Yong-Seong believed Mu-Gun would eventually falter if he just kept attacking. However, contrary to his expectations, Mu-Gun did not receive any damage whatsoever. The Flying Golden Shield absorbed most of the impact, and he easily negated whatever remained of it since he was reinforced by the Iron Blood Vajra Body Cultivation Technique.
Mu-Gun was deliberately allowing Yong-Seong to go on the offensive. After all, although the Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands was very powerful, it also consumed a lot of internal energy. He didn’t know how much internal energy Yong-Seong possessed, but it didn’t matter since he would eventually run out of it if he kept attacking without much thought.
Mu-Gun waited for Yong-Seong’s internal energy to be depleted. He didn’t really have to use such a troublesome method, considering he could have quickly put an end to their fight using the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword, but he had to experience this sort of battle so he would be prepared if ever there came a time when he couldn’t use the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sword. However, Yong-Seong proved hard to deal with. After several attacks, he saw through Mu-Gun’s goal when he noticed Mu-Gun just focused on defense using the Flying Golden Shield.
“You’re much more cunning than you look, greenhorn brat.”
Yong-Seong gritted his teeth, thinking Mu-Gun, who was younger than him, looked down on him.
“Your martial arts are weaker than I expected. It seems the Nine Celestial Demons Sect has significantly weakened.”
Mu-Gun’s provoking remarks made Yong-Seong’s expression harden. However, putting his martial arts aside, Yong-Seong realized that there was something different about Mu-Gun, considering he had already deduced who Yong-Seong was.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Baek Mu-Gun, the young patriarch of the Baek Sword Sect.”
“That’s not what I meant. What is your true identity?”
“Let me show you.”
Along with that response, Mu-Gun sheathed his sword and hung his shield behind his back.
“What are you trying to do?” Yong-Seong was baffled.
“My sword and shield aren’t my only weapons.”
Mu-Gun snickered and began gathering Thunder God Qi. As he did, golden lightning formed around him, accumulated over both his palms, and took the shape of huge hands. He had just executed the Heavenly Descent Thunder Strike, one of the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sect’s secret techniques that could destroy everything in its path. Yong-Seong’s eyes widened at the sight of it.
“The Thunder God’s successor!” he realized as he stared at the Heavenly Descent Thunder Strike.
“Now that you know who I really am, you better not think you can still leave this place alive.” Mu-Gun approached Yong-Seong and extended his hand. The golden lightning hands sprang out like a thunderbolt and struck Yong-Seong.
“Everyone, dodge!” Yong-Seong urgently shouted at the four Upper Peak Realm demonic practitioners as he executed the Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands again. The black hand that appeared collided with the golden lightning hands, which were rampaging right on top of them. The golden lightning hands unleashed a thunderous blast that pierced through the black hand, causing it to distort and disappear. As it did, the four Upper Peak Realm demonic practitioners attacked Mu-Gun again.
“We’ll take care of the weaklings.”
At that moment, four figures dashed forward from behind Mu-Gun and blocked the four Upper Peak Realm demonic practitioners’ attacks. The Four Peerless Wanderers had come running after defeating the four Commanders of Lulin. Leaving the other enemies to the Four Peerless Wanderers, Mu-Gun focused on his fight with Yong-Seong. Mu-Gun’s golden lightning hands and Yong-Seong’s pitch-black hands collided over and over again, creating continuous streaks of explosions.
“Cough.”
Yong-Seong swallowed a groan as he lost ground when the Heavenly Descent Thunder Strike overwhelmed the Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands. He tried to maintain the Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands with all his might, but he was soon forced to step away, unable to overcome the difference in power. At that moment, Yong-Seong realized he had no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation and that the only way he could defeat Mu-Gun was to utilize his movement arts to the best of his ability until he found a chance to attack Mu-Gun’s weak spots.
Instead of charging straight at Mu-Gun, Yong-Seong targeted Mu-Gun’s sides and back by using his movement arts. However, Mu-Gun was already expecting him to switch to such a tactic, and his movement arts were no match for Mu-Gun’s. He snorted at Yong-Seong’s attempt to turn the tables around using his movement arts, then activated the Thunder God's Aerial Steps. Exuding a flash of golden lightning, he moved in a completely unpredictable trajectory and dug through Yong-Seong’s flank.
Yong-Seong was greatly surprised when Mu-Gun pierced through his defenses with a single move. He reached out his hands in response, but Mu-Gun was already far too close. Before he could even invoke the Blood-Crazed Monarch Hands, the Heavenly Descent Thunder Strike had already struck him directly, destroying the barely manifested black hand in the process. Unable to withstand the impact, Yong-Seong got crushed before being blasted into the distance, already reduced to a state so miserable it was as if he had been torn apart. He lay on the ground, dying before he could even let out a groan.
After confirming Yong-Seong’s death, Mu-Gun glanced over at the Four Peerless Wanderers, who were still fighting Yong-Seong’s underlings. They were overpowering Yong-Seong’s men so much that it seemed it wouldn’t take long before they were done as well.
As Mu-Gun had expected, Yong-Seong’s men all fell soon after, putting an end to the fight.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Mu-Gun expressed gratitude toward the Four Peerless Wanderers for coming to help him.
“Are you going to keep acting alone? If you’re going to do everything by yourself anyway, why did you even bother calling us over?” Hwang Rei criticized Mu-Gun for acting arbitrarily and fighting Yong-Seong and his subordinates alone.
“I’m sorry. I had no choice because I couldn’t let them get away.”
“Who are these people?”
“They’re demonic practitioners of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.”
“The Nine Celestial Demons Sect? Does that mean that they’re really the ones pulling Lulin’s strings?”
“Considering there were even Absolute Demonic Realm masters among their ranks instead of just normal demonic practitioners, I’m certain the Nine Celestial Demons Sect is involved.”
“Hmmm, considering the Nine Celestial Demons Sect has also taken control of Lulin, we should be suspicious of other factions too,” Jin Yoo-Sung said with a serious expression.
“What do you mean?” Mu-Gun asked.
“I’m referring to factions like the Changjiang Waterway Alliance or the Four Seas Gang.”
“He has a point. If they could take control of the mountain bandits, they could probably do that to thieves and pirates as well,” Hwang Rei agreed with Yoo-Sung.
“That definitely makes sense. I think we should check it out. How’s the battle situation so far, though?”
“It should be coming to an end by now.”
“What about the damages?”
“There’s nothing to worry about. We stirred things up in the beginning and immediately took down all the martial arts masters, so there shouldn’t be that much.”
“That’s a relief. Let’s head back to where the Zhejiang Martial Alliance’s martial artists are for now.”
“What about these guys?”
“We should take them with us. They’re proof that the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin is in collusion with the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.”
Mu-Gun and the Four Peerless Wanderers took the corpses of Yong-Seong and the others and headed to where the Zhejiang Martial Alliance’s martial artists were. Just like what Yoo-Sung had said, the battle between the Zhejiang Martial Alliance and Lulin had already ended. It seemed when the battle tilted in the Zhejiang Martial Alliance’s favor, the Lulin members dropped their weapons and surrendered.
After instructing the Zhejiang Martial Alliance’s warriors to clean up the area, Mu-Gun discussed their next course of action with the Byeok Sword Manor’s new patriarch Byeok Cheol-Seong, Wind Saber Sect Patriarch Tae Gong-Pyo, and the Baek Sword Sect’s Baek Cheon-Gi. Mu-Gun first showed the corpses of Yong-Seong and his underlings to them, then informed them that the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin were being controlled by the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. Hearing those two factions were connected surprised them.
“I’m worried. The Nine Celestial Demons Sect would retaliate against the Zhejiang Martial Alliance because of this incident.” Cheol-Seong expressed his concern.
“That’s why we have to make a move first before that happens.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“We have to inform murim that the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin are connected with the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, then attack the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin.”
“Won’t that further hasten the Nine Celestial Demons Sect’s retaliation?”
“If we publicly announce the relationship between the Nine Celestial Demons Sect and the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin, murim’s attention will inevitably be focused on that. Unless the Nine Celestial Demons Sect decides to step out in the open at that moment, they’ll be busy saving their own asses. Furthermore, if they learn through this incident that the Four Peerless Wanderers have joined the Baek Sword Sect, even the Nine Celestial Demons Sect won’t be able to think lightly of the Zhejiang Martial Alliance.”
Cheol-Seong and Gong-Pyo agreed with Mu-Gun. The Nine Celestial Demons Sect’s movements were restricted since they operated behind the scenes, so they would likely be concerned about attracting Murim’s attention, which had been searching for them. Taking that into consideration, the Four Peerless Wanderers, who were all Absolute Realm masters, would be a difficult obstacle for them to overcome. Of course, it would be a different story if they decided to finally step into the limelight.
“Will we begin the raid on the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin once the Ten Clans of Zhejiang have gathered, then?” Gong-Pyo asked.
Right after Lulin made a move earlier, a carrier pigeon was immediately sent to the clans that had gone back to their respective homes, asking them to return to Hangzhou.
“That’s right. We will marshal our members for the upcoming battle and wait until the other clans arrive. While waiting, we’ll also inform the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families that the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin are connected to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect and come up with follow-up measures.”
“The moment the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families begin to take this seriously would be the end of the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin.”
“We will have to wait and see if they will actively take action.”
“Will they really leave the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin once it has been revealed that they’re colluding with the Nine Celestial Demons Sect?”
“Some of the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin members have a considerable amount of power. Even the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families would feel pressured to attack them. Hence, it’s possible they will just keep trying to pass on the responsibility instead of immediately taking action.”
“Do you really think they will do something like that? The Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families should know very well that leaving the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin unattended could bring forth even more problems once the Nine Celestial Demons Sect makes a move later on. Hence, won’t they just join hands in punishing the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin?”
“He’s right. They are still the pillars who lead murim, so they would probably feel obligated to do so.” Cheol-Seong said, agreeing with Gong-Pyo’s comment.
“It would be a relief if that happens. Anyway, we just have to do our part.”
“Isn’t eliminating Lulin’s forces in Zhejiang Province already enough?”
“We will start with the bandit strongholds in Zhejiang Province, then we will decide on whether to attack the bandit strongholds in other regions based on the situation.”
Four out of the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin were in Zhejiang Province, namely the Fury Tiger Stronghold of Mount Tianmu, the Blood Wolf Stronghold of Mount Mogan, the Ghost Tiger Stronghold of Mount Dayang, and the Nine Dragons Stronghold of Mount Jiulong.
The Nine Dragons Stronghold had already been wiped out, and the Fury Tiger Stronghold had lost its elite members, including their chief, in the Battle of West Lake, so they were just walking down a path of ruin at this point. That left them with two other targets for them to pay attention to within Zhejiang Province.
However, those two strongholds were relatively few in numbers even among the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Lulin, so it wouldn’t be that hard to bring them down. The question was whether to attack the powerful bandit strongholds in other regions, but it wasn’t a pressing matter just yet, considering they were yet to decide on it.
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