Chapter 341
Chapter 342: The Return of the Abyss
Boom-!
As a massive tremor resonated from the direction of the mountains.
The place known as Shinryong Temple had turned into complete chaos.
The Taoist Qi that permeated the area was so thick that it floated in the air like fog.
Something was swirling around, creating a maelstrom.
If you were a martial artist, you’d know—this swirling phenomenon was all my energy.
How high must one’s realm be?
And how pure must their Qi be?
For such a form to manifest.
These were the limits one could reach as an ordinary human.
Only those at such a level could witness this manifestation.
Thud…
Amidst the collapsed and crumbling buildings.
Thud…
An elder, bleeding, knelt on one knee, scanning the surroundings.
The once solid Shinryong Temple was now deeply dented.
Cracks snaked along the walls, threatening to collapse at any moment.
“This…”
The elder, Cheonghae Ilgeom, let out a hollow sigh as he surveyed the destruction around him.
The grand structure that had boasted majesty was in such a dilapidated state.
Before the elder, something plummeted with a thud.
As he confirmed what it was, he couldn’t help but smile sadly.
What had fallen was indeed the elder’s left arm.
His left shoulder was empty, blood dripping profusely.
Though he tried to staunch the bleeding with energy,
For some reason, it wasn’t working properly.
Someone approached Cheonghae Ilgeom.
“What a pity.”
An old man, with a massive sword resting on his shoulder,
Tied his wild hair tightly back.
He displayed a grin, revealing yellowed teeth, and spoke to the weary Cheonghae Ilgeom.
“You seem preoccupied; it must be rather dull, no?”
Cheonghae Ilgeom frowned as he looked at the opponent.
This was someone from the past, a figure that had now scattered into obscurity.
The first to unify the Demonic Faction and,
A master who had set foot upon the land of Sichuan to invade the Central Plains,
Currently known as the Sword Sovereign—
And the very being who had been slain by the Gale Sword.
“…Black Dragon Sword.”
The elder’s title was Black Dragon Sword.
Upon hearing Cheonghae Ilgeom’s call, the Black Dragon Sword chuckled.
“Your sword shouldn’t be this lukewarm. I’m rather disappointed.”
Thunk.
The Black Dragon Sword swung his massive blade, slicing through the wind.
The enormous sword tip was directed toward Cheonghae Ilgeom.
“What troubles you so much?”
Qiu…
Cheonghae Ilgeom said nothing in response.
Seeing his silence, the Black Dragon Sword wore a bored expression.
It disappointed him, after all.
Recognizing the Black Dragon Sword’s expression, Cheonghae Ilgeom asked with a hint of anger,
“How can you still be alive?”
The Black Dragon Sword was known to have been decapitated by none other than the Sword Sovereign.
To make matters worse, a severed head was publicly displayed among the Demonic Faction members as a trophy.
That incident had boosted the reputation of the Gale Sword, aiding it in ascending to the title of Sword Sovereign,
Eventually leading to its status as the leader of the Martial Alliance.
How could the Black Dragon Sword be standing there so brazenly alive?
“Curious, are we? Now isn’t the time to ponder such things.”
Hehe.
Seeing Cheonghae Ilgeom’s reaction, the Black Dragon Sword erupted into laughter.
This only made Cheonghae Ilgeom frown deeper.
More concerning than his severed arm and crippling pain—
‘The Gwandosaengs are in danger.’
With the appearance of the Black Dragon Sword and the nullification of the protective formation surrounding Shinryong Temple, a sinister black Qi loomed overhead.
Judging by its range, it had spread to Mount Tai, where the Late-Stage Talents were gathering.
Not just the Black Dragon Sword, but other malignant presences hinted that this was not a solitary ambush.
It seemed to be a coordinated strike.
Thus, for Cheonghae Ilgeom, preserving his own safety was no longer the priority.
He needed to reach the children, and quickly.
The Black Dragon Sword’s power was more formidable than anticipated,
Leaving Cheonghae Ilgeom, bound to protect so much, unable to escape.
“…What is your objective?”
“Objective?”
“What is the purpose of the assault on this place?”
If the Black Dragon Sword survived,
Then why had it remained hidden for so long only to unexpectedly attack Shinryong Temple now?
“An objective…”
Thud.
Driving his sword into the ground, the Black Dragon Sword surveyed the area with keen eyes.
“I don’t know if you’re hoping for a grand reason, but the timing was simply right.”
“…Timing?”
What timing could he be referring to?
The answer would come soon.
The sword plunged into the earth was swiftly pulled from its depths.
“To show that the Black Dragon Sword is very much alive.”
Whoosh-!
The Black Dragon Sword swung his blade with ferocity,
Overwhelming energy surged forth, radiating outward.
Boom-!
“To serve as a warning that I have not lost my dreams. This place was merely opportune for the display.”
Cheonghae Ilgeom’s quest for answers was laughable.
Was a monumental reason even necessary?
Righteous factions always sought justification for their actions,
Furiously rationalizing their motives even now, it seemed, and the Black Dragon Sword found that amusing.
“Since you’ve asked about my ultimate goal, I might as well conjure something up.”
The righteous people of the past were akin to maggots in masks,
And as time continued to flow, they maintained that facade.
How refreshing, he thought, that they still clung to their original intentions.
“The Late-Stage Talents, the roots of the Righteous Faction, are the future.”
Was it called the Yuseong generation?
Such a shiny name, indeed.
It was said that geniuses flooded forth, hence the title.
‘How trivial.’
In the end, wasn’t this simply the exclusive domain of the Righteous?
“Here, where they have all gathered, wouldn’t it be interesting if a bloodstorm blew through?”
The bloodlines of the Four Great Clans, the successors of Gu Paibang.
Children of renowned families, heirs to great houses that generously supported the Righteous Faction.
Given the caliber of those present, it was no wonder that they could indeed lay claim to being the future of the Righteous.
If such successors were to be massacred here,
And this bloodstorm combined with the Black Dragon Sword’s arrival…
“What do you think would happen to the Righteous Faction, Cheonghae Ilgeom? Are you not curious? I certainly am.”
To declare to the world that he still existed.
To announce that the dreams he harbored hadn’t been forgotten.
This, he figured, was the most fitting place to do so.
Right?
Just one moment could wipe away the entire future of the Righteous.
Why would he hesitate?
He had lived clandestinely for dozens of years.
Now, the time had come.
The moment he had long awaited.
The swords that had protected the Central Plains had rusted over with age.
Soaked in peace, they had forgotten their sharpness.
“You too, I suppose.”
…
.
….
…
Hehe.
The Black Dragon Sword smiled at that thought.
Hearing this, Cheonghae Ilgeom, with great effort, lifted himself and shouted at the Black Dragon Sword.
“Black Dragon Sword…!”
“It seems you still have some fight left in you.”
“Are you planning to kill all the innocent children?”
“Innocents? Why would they be?”
To be born Righteous and become part of their future,
That was the sin of the Late-Stage Talents.
“Do you think you can continue nurturing a rotting root? Will anything change? I don’t believe so.”
Pretending to be virtuous wearing a mask,
Behind the scenes, they were the dirtiest of individuals.
Guarding the powerless and negotiating?
What a baseless justification.
Such hollow justifications had long since ceased to be upheld, and they were surely aware of this.
How long had it been since they lost their form of cooperation?
Yet Cheonghae Ilgeom was still faithfully indulging in desire.
Erasing the futile history,
Shattering the masks,
Yearning to stand taller than anyone else—that was his motivation.
“Curse you…!”
Cheonghae Ilgeom strained against his fatigue, wielding his sword once more.
The Taoist Qi inherent within him remained pure.
Furthermore, it was unyielding.
Cheonghae Ilgeom’s sword path was unwavering.
The absence of one arm didn’t imply imminent collapse.
A storm coiled within his sword path.
The scattered Taoist Qi gathered, converging into a dazzling light.
Crack-a-boom-!
Making heavy sounds, the ground split under the might of the sword as it surged towards the Black Dragon Sword.
In response, the Black Dragon Sword’s weapon moved as well.
Bang!
The crash of swords clashing was astoundingly heavy.
The moment their blades met,
Cheonghae Ilgeom immediately realized.
‘He’s strong.’
The Black Dragon Sword was formidable.
Different from the peak recorded in history.
Having reached the Transformation Realm, he was aspiring to something even greater.
At this level,
The records once inscribed were now on the brink of being falsehoods.
The disparate energies swirling in the vicinity,
Belonging to the Black Dragon Sword, emanated an exceedingly dangerous aura.
‘The energy isn’t moving right.’
The energy contained in his Lower Dantian,
The more he engaged in combat with the Black Dragon Sword, the heavier the energy felt.
‘That sky is…’
The blue expanse above had been cloaked,
Transformed into an ominous night by the curious formation which the Black Dragon Sword had unleashed.
Though he wasn’t within striking distance,
The Martial Alliance was not far.
If such an event unfolded,
It wouldn’t be long before they sensed it and rushed to aid.
The Black Dragon Sword appeared unfazed.
Perhaps it was confidence in his ability to triumph over any who came,
But to Cheonghae Ilgeom, it was something different.
That darkened sky—
Seemed to be playing some sort of role.
Bang-! Crack-crack-!
Steel clashed against steel, sparking,
As immense energy radiated, asserting its presence in each direction.
“It seems you made up your mind to not flee.”
Sensing the weight of the sword heavier than before, the Black Dragon Sword smiled.
“Have you given up? Or is there another reason?”
Shunting Cheonghae Ilgeom’s sword aside, he pressed closer.
“Are you awaiting the Hwasan girl?”
Boom-!
The Black Dragon Sword’s fist struck Cheonghae Ilgeom’s chest.
Without the ability to properly defend with an arm missing,
“Gah!”
His defensive energy shattered, sending Cheonghae Ilgeom flying backward.
He couldn’t even manage the proper roll on the ground as he crashed.
As Cheonghae Ilgeom tumbled through the dust,
The Black Dragon Sword grimaced.
“You’re still unwilling to retrieve your Taoist Qi, huh? Truly foolish.”
Cheonghae Ilgeom’s Taoist Qi, nearly devoured,
Drifted in the air under the ruse of protecting the Gwandosaengs.
The Black Dragon Squad could have swooped in to pull their swords out long ago.
Yet Cheonghae Ilgeom still hadn’t reclaimed the remaining energy.
Even with a severed arm,
While coughing blood, he continued to fight him.
Truly a foolish old man.
No one knew what would happen if he gave his all.
Drip.
Black blood flowed out of Cheonghae Ilgeom’s mouth.
“The reason you’re holding on so desperately is because you’re awaiting the Sword Demoness?”
He had already known that the Sword Demoness was within Shinryong Temple.
Though he didn’t know the purpose of her arrival,
Given that it was Hwasan’s sword demon, it made sense for Cheonghae Ilgeom to act the way he was.
Was he stalling for her to come rescue him?
If not,
Was he hoping that the Sword Demoness would find a way to save the Late-Stage Talents?
“Such efforts are all in vain.”
If so, nothing would go right.
“The Sword Demoness must surely be dead by now.”
“…What?”
At the Black Dragon Sword’s mockery,
Cheonghae Ilgeom’s eyes widened.
His reaction amused the Black Dragon Sword.
“Who did I send to deal with that woman?”
The Hwasan Sword Demoness.
Though she had gone missing for years before resurfacing,
As she made her return, people cheered, claiming she began to announce her return with her unchanged power and demeanor.
A strong woman, recognized even by the Black Dragon Sword himself.
Yet, even so, that woman—
“The King of Demons has moved to take her life.”
“…!”
There was nothing that could be done to the master of the night.
Especially in moments like these.
Cheonghae Ilgeom’s expression shifted as he listened to the Black Dragon Sword’s words.
It looked as if he were crumpling slightly.
In another light, he wore a face of disbelief.
“…The King of Demons?”
Cheonghae Ilgeom whispered softly.
“Forget the thought of the Sword Demoness coming here. You should focus on your own life right now.”
Of course, he would soon have his head severed anyway.
That was inevitable.
The Black Dragon Sword adjusted his grip on his weapon.
While under such circumstances, Cheonghae Ilgeom still hadn’t risen.
Had he given up?
To have given up seemed unfitting; after all, his energy continued to vacate in the air.
…
Ah.
Sensing this, the Black Dragon Sword chuckled softly.
Even in such a state,
He still couldn’t let go?
Truly foolish, indeed.
“You waited this long and yet have become a mere joke.”
A sword master of notable standing, a leader of Gu Paibang.
If he were to kill such a figure along with the Late-Stage Talents,
It would undoubtedly create an uproar in his ambitions for the Central Plains.
But he had not anticipated seeing him collapse so effortlessly.
The Black Dragon Sword, still observing Cheonghae Ilgeom’s frozen expression, let out a sigh.
“If you’ve chosen to give up, then that itself is your death.”
In one decisive stroke, he would behead him,
Hanging Cheonghae Ilgeom’s head at Shinryong Temple.
For the late-arriving members of the alliance to respond.
“Let it end here.”
With one swift execution, it would all conclude.
After dealing with Cheonghae Ilgeom, he would immediately regroup with the Gungju.
Contemplating this, the Black Dragon Sword walked toward Cheonghae Ilgeom.
‘It didn’t take as long as I thought.’
To disable Cheonghae Ilgeom, he had estimated it would require substantial time.
But this foolish old man had fallen much quicker than he expected.
By now, the Gungju should be leading the Poison Phoenix to their destination.
He felt no concern regarding the King of Demons.
He thought that if he moved personally, there would be no one he couldn’t kill.
Swoosh.
As he approached Cheonghae Ilgeom, ready to strike—
Boom-!
“…What?”
The vibrations felt caused the Black Dragon Sword to look toward Mount Tai.
An enormous tremor. He could feel the hair on his arm standing up.
The energy was so powerful it resonated from afar.
“What the hell…
If they’re talking about Mount Tai, that’s the direction Gungju and the Black Dragon Squad headed.
How could such energy be felt?
But that wasn’t the only anomaly.
Crack-!
“…What?”
Somewhere within the black formation stretching across the sky,
Cracks began to appear.
And then.
Tok-.
From the place where the cracks formed, something fell.
It was a fragment of energy.
“What is that…?”
Was it a consequence of the tremors just felt?
No, it couldn’t be.
The Black Dragon Sword realized he wasn’t sensing that at all.
Thud.
Beyond the formation, something was beginning to unfold.
Through the gaps of the fallen fragments,
A mysterious red light began to seep in.
What was that?
It was still too early for the sunset.
And then, what energy felt akin to that of a phoenix?
Warm. No, perhaps even hot?
It felt like being caught in the middle of both heats.
Whatever it was, it was clear that a remarkable event was unfolding.
“What is happening?”
This situation was utterly unexpected.
The Black Dragon Sword raised his sword.
First, he needed to deal with Cheonghae Ilgeom,
Then head to where the energy was erupting…
“Damn…”
“…!”
A voice rang out from somewhere,
And the Black Dragon Sword turned toward the sound.
There stood someone, panting heavily, cursing.
“I almost died there.”
When did they even show up?
The Black Dragon Sword hadn’t felt the arrival of this person at all.
It was as if they had dropped from the heavens.
This newcomer,
A young man with black hair and red eyes,
Looked barely older than a child.
“Just don’t make a fuss here. What is…what is this? Why is it all like this?”
The Black Dragon Sword let out a long breath.
‘…What is he?’
The reason his hair stood on end wasn’t because of the distant energy or aura.
It was undoubtedly that.
Something emanating from that being was causing his body to tense with anxiety.
Just as the Black Dragon Sword was about to readjust his weapon,
That figure, having been scanning the surroundings, suddenly looked his way.
“Hmm?,” switching between glancing at the Black Dragon Sword and the downed Cheonghae Ilgeom.
It scrunched up its face in disgust.
That devilish visage made the Black Dragon Sword flinch for a moment.
