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In that moment —

Lee Cheong-un was the first to activate the Thunder Spirit, turning the nearby Su Shin Sect elder into a mushy mess. The speed of that Thunder Spirit was so insane that it made normal martial arts seem like a snail race, resulting in the elder’s face and chest exploding into a fountain of blood. But just a heartbeat later, he stretched out his hand to launch a mega blast of force at Lee Cheong-un. That Eldritch power was basically a natural disaster, even someone like Lee Cheong-un had to dodge.

The blast spread out over a range of several yards and shot a gigantic pillar into the sky.

Crash!

“What the?!

This is not how a normal human would react! That guy should be dead by now, but he’s just counterattacking like it’s no big deal. The word ‘undying’ flashed through my mind as Cheon Woo-jin raised his hand.

“Defense.”

With a shout, a solid white barrier suddenly surrounded Cheon Woo-jin and me. When Yeodong-bin locked his gaze on Cheon Woo-jin, the latter said with a serious look, “Sword Saint. The power of the ‘Old Ruler’ is leaking from the altar; they’re currently in an immortal state. I can only cut their immortality for a short time. Seize that window!”

[Got it.]

It appeared that the Illusory God, Cheon Woo-jin, had figured out the situation from just that single hit by Lee Cheong-un. The task given to Yeodong-bin was clear: wait for the moment Cheon Woo-jin nullified their immortality and then strike the Dharma Protectors with a lethal blow!

Bang!

A terrifying sound and vibration echoed from outside the white barrier. The Dharma Protectors unleashed a joint attack, probably trying to shatter our shield. Cheon Woo-jin bled at the corner of his mouth and formed a hand seal.

“Go!”

Smash!

As the barrier broke, Yeodong-bin shot forward. The Fire Dragon Sword erupted with a surge of flames, piercing through the nearest Su Shin elder. It was Dokgo Woo, emanating a menacing aura behind his mask, shouting, “I fear no Sword Saint!!”

From Dokgo Woo’s dual palms, a swirling strong energy emerged, distorting the air before launching forth with incredible speed. That had to be his unique Mind Control Technique. But in that split second, Yeodong-bin unleashed the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, deftly parrying Dokgo Woo’s transformations, and in the next instant, stabbed the sword tip into Dokgo Woo’s throat.

Thump!

The result was instant, but it felt like the culmination of countless calculations. Dokgo Woo’s understanding was no match for Yeodong-bin, leaving him to expose his fatal weakness. He spat blood with a look of despair. His body bore a seal from Cheon Woo-jin’s sorcery, meaning his immortal form was shattered.

[Gah… Sect Leader… Please…!]

As an intense glow erupted from Dokgo Woo’s entire being, normally he wouldn’t have been able to evade in time.

Crash!

But Yeodong-bin quickly stepped back, knowing from experience this was a final explosion technique from a supreme master. The resulting blast of destructive energy was massive, but even then, Yeodong-bin’s combat experience was on another level, transcending humanity.

[Hah!]

Meanwhile, I could tell Yeodong-bin was drawing huge power from the National Seal. No matter how much of a Sword Saint he was, tapping into the forces of Cheon Ryung Dan while maintaining extreme focus on that power would surely drain his physical abilities a lot. I admired him thinking he might just single-handedly take out all the Dharma Protectors.

‘Wait! Why hasn’t he used the Fire Dragon Sword or Moon Sovereign’s powers?’

Strangely, it seemed Yeodong-bin was focusing on recovering the National Seal. The Fire Dragon Sword and Moon Sovereign were divine treasures too, so what gives? My thoughts raced as the chaotic battle unfolded in the arena.

Clang!

Bang!

A distance away, Han Baek-ryeong and two other Dharma Protectors were collaborating to attack Lee Cheong-un. Lee Cheong-un seemed cautious about excessively using the Thunder Spirit; he initially dealt severe blows to them but shifted to dodging with rapidity. Even he had no means to finish off an undying form.

[Sword Saint!!]

Suddenly, Su Shin’s Dokgo Jun rushed at Yeodong-bin and threw a punch. Yeodong-bin sensed that Dokgo Jun’s martial mastery exceeded Dokgo Woo’s, swiftly avoiding direct confrontation.

Dokgo Jun, determined, accelerated and unleashed a series of punch techniques.

Yeodong-bin observed Dokgo Jun’s attacks, raising an eyebrow.

[Seven Stars Shadow!]

[This is the technique passed down by the Sect Leader. Prepare yourself!]

In that moment, I sensed Dokgo Jun’s actions were blurring and fracturing. This must have been a new Absolute Slash derived by combining Su Shin’s footwork with the Seven Stars Shadow. Yeodong-bin coolly assessed the essence of the technique and quickly pierced through to blast Dokgo Jun away.

[Gah!]

Dokgo Jun, despite suffering devastating damage, felt a rush of recovery due to his Sword Mastery. He glared at Yeodong-bin as he caught his breath.

[Our White Lotus Sect stands here with everything we have. Are you, an immortal, really just a pitiful pretender standing in our way?]

Yeodong-bin replied coolly.

[As I said, the Demon Path can’t save humanity. Regardless of your noble intentions, you’ve become nothing but monsters.]

[…]

[It is my duty to eliminate monsters.]

While Yeodong-bin’s words seemed calm, they carried an eerie chill. In that moment, I realized Yeodong-bin had transformed into a relentless killing machine, having cast aside compassion and humanity. With no distracting thoughts to muddle his head, he was stronger than ever.

[Seven Great Techniques]

Dokgo Jun, while trying to hold Yeodong-bin back, appeared to be channeling everything he had into defeating Lee Cheong-un alongside the two others. Though it wouldn’t match the power of the King of Spiders that the Sect Leader once deployed, from his hands, energy surged like a Go board, ready to explode.

Once unleashed, the Spider King would wreak havoc, slaughtering everything in its wake; I was well aware of its capabilities. Yet, Yeodong-bin nonchalantly leveled the Fire Dragon Sword and countered.

[If it doesn’t scare the leader, then it’ll be impossible for you!]

In that instant, Yeodong-bin’s Sword Form seemed to split into thirty-six. The Sword Shadows spread immeasurably wide, culminating into something akin to Sword Clouds. As Yeodong-bin displayed countless sword forms, the Sword Clouds sliced through Dokgo Jun’s attack before consuming him whole.

Bang!

[Gahhh!!]

Dokgo Jun, crushed by the Spider King technique, screamed as he flew backward. But because of the undying body, he instantly healed from what should have been a fatal wound, manifesting ten water dragons to launch at Yeodong-bin. As Yeodong-bin evaded, glancing over his shoulder, he saw Cheon Woo-jin, gritting his teeth, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

“Damn… The powers of the altar are increasing, making the immortal seal stronger.”

[What do you mean?]

“Sword Saint! If we don’t tear him apart quickly, we won’t be able to disrupt their immortality.”

[Got it.]

Yeodong-bin unleashed more white energy, channeling even greater power into the Fire Dragon Sword. The pressure radiating from Yeodong-bin jumped massively, making Dokgo Jun seem anxious. He braced himself, shouting, “I won’t give up! I won’t let you anywhere near the Sect Leader!”

As Yeodong-bin unleashed the Seven Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram in a flurry of relentless strikes, Dokgo Jun desperately resisted. Techniques fueled by Cheon Ryung Dan’s immense power managed to somewhat counter the Seven Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram, but even that came with incessant damage and torture, rending his limbs apart repeatedly. After about fifteen such instances, where any regular human would have died countless times over, Dokgo Jun kept rising like a champion boxer.

He spat blood.

[I… can’t… go… on…]

I watched, horrified, as Yeodong-bin overwhelmingly pushed Dokgo Jun back. This monstrous figure, who could have very well been hailed as the world’s strongest, was getting wrecked by the Sword Saint?!

Yeodong-bin remarked, “You’re a fine warrior.”

Their eyes met, and Yeodong-bin regarded Dokgo Jun with a serene gaze.

[In a world where even your kind becomes sacrificial pawns, it’s clearly gone mad…]

After about fifty seconds of dodging the Seven Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram relentlessly, Dokgo Jun could no longer withstand it and was utterly torn to pieces. Meanwhile, Cheon Woo-jin successfully dispelled the undying state right after, watching as Dokgo Jun completely ceased to exist.

As Yeodong-bin approached the remaining three Dharma Protectors, they all wore determined expressions. Despite transforming into bloodthirsty beings, they seemed to believe they had no chance against a peak master.

[Gah.]

[Do you think you’ll win?]

Up to now, Lee Cheong-un, who had been dodging attacks at the speed of the Thunder Spirit, ceased his movements. He sighed and said, “Han Baek-ryeong, why risk your life in such cruel affairs?”

“…”

Among the Cheon Ryung Dan wielders, Han Baek-ryeong was unusually unharmed, it seemed like all of Lee Cheong-un’s Thunder Spirit attacks were swept away without a scratch. Her eyes shone intensely, almost like they were glowing with fire. Watching her, Lee Cheong-un asked, “Using the Fire Spirit while also depleting the Cheon Ryung Dan? You’ve lost your mind.”

“To keep up with your speed, it’s my only option.”

“Using such reckless techniques without consideration for the future…”

Lee Cheong-un uttered incredulously while gaze remained fixed on her.

“The Sect Leader sacrificed even the Fire Spirit users. Are you still going to follow him?”

“You bastard… What do you even know?” Han Baek-ryeong spat with disdain.

“It wasn’t my choice to remain. Every possibility was blocked, so now, I have no option but to go all the way!”

She was ready to fight until her last breath.

Yeodong-bin calmly assessed them and suddenly took a large step forward. I could feel him rapidly drawing power from the National Seal.

[Ha!]

With a deafening roar, the moment he executed the move, both Han Baek-ryeong and the elder staggered back. Not missing that opening, Yeodong-bin slashed quickly, and before they knew it, both had their consciousnesses seized due to overpowering physical control.

Lee Cheong-un gasped, “Sword Saint, how did you…”

[It’s the Spirit Sword.]

“But that technique doesn’t work against a master of Cheon Ryung Dan.”

Lee Cheong-un questioned, still dubious.

[I’d say it wouldn’t have worked on the original beings. But against those who embraced chaos and darkness with the Heart Sword technique, it struck true. Especially if one’s emotions are fluctuating and they’re recognizing defeat…]

As Yeodong-bin clarified, he looked up toward the altar and addressed Cheon Woo-jin, “Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin, can’t you breach the top barrier yet?”

“Not yet.”

It seems Cheon Woo-jin was eliminating the immortal seals from the Dharma Protectors while working to crack the barrier over the altar where the Sect Leader stood. Had he not been here, defeating the Sect Leader would have been utterly impossible.

Cheon Woo-jin was drenched in sweat, showing signs of fatigue as his limbs trembled. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he remarked, “That barrier is truly formidable. It’s directly linked to the Throne of Chaos…”

In the bleak center of that dark barrier, the Sect Leader was chanting some sort of incantation, concentratинg hard. As Zhuge Sa had mentioned, the Sect Leader seemed weak now, unable to participate directly in the fight, hence setting up such a defense in advance. In simpler terms, if we broke through that barrier, it would feel as easy as twisting a child’s wrist to off the Sect Leader.

“We might not be able to break through as it is.”

[Hmm…]

“That’s the kind of magic only an apostle can conjure.”

It was the first time I’d witnessed Cheon Woo-jin expressing such doubt. So, I was surprised when Yeodong-bin mumbled, “That makes sense. Tying the fate of tens of thousands of lives to connect with the Old Ruler means the power cultivated is immense. But without breaking that barrier, the mortal realm is doomed.”

“Sword Saint, Lee Cheong-un, we only have one option: Break the barrier with our full might.”

[…]

Yeodong-bin fell silent, as did Lee Cheong-un. Their silence indicated they both understood that pursuing Cheon Woo-jin’s proposal could be the sole choice, yet that even their chances of success were exceedingly grim. No matter how many resources Yeodong-bin possessed, the chaos barrier was an entirely different beast. There was no guarantee of success.

But we had no other options.

Yeodong-bin focused all the power of the Moon Sovereign and Fire Dragon Sword into his Sword Technique. After some deep concentration, he suddenly opened his eyes wide, charging towards the altar.

Crashhh!

With one powerful shock, the dark force surrounding the altar cracked significantly. A being of transcendent power was channeling the might of the Seven Luminaries along with the treasures, so this wouldn’t hold against any apostle-level barrier.

However, Yeodong-bin murmured, “[This is dangerous…]”

Following suit, Cheon Woo-jin and Lee Cheong-un launched separate attacks at the crack, but it didn’t seem to deal any meaningful damage. That barrier clearly possessed unearthly defensive capabilities. Yeodong-bin concentrated his spirit again, gathering power from the Moon Sovereign.

“Han-yeon. The battle about to unfold will likely be catastrophic.”

[Huh?]

[If we lose, Han-yeon, you must escape without hesitation…]

Before I could respond, Yeodong-bin lunged towards the altar again.

Crash!

Finally, the barrier around the altar shattered! As darkness and chaos scattered away, the translucent image of the Sect Leader came into view. But immediately after breaking the barrier, Yeodong-bin didn’t attack the Sect Leader’s neck; neither did Lee Cheong-un or Cheon Woo-jin. They merely gazed at the Sect Leader standing on the pinnacle of the altar.

Why the hold-up?

The Sect Leader, standing still, surveyed the surroundings, uttering, “[That was close. If the Dharma Protectors hadn’t held off for just a while, I would have been dead.]”

Then suddenly, Cheon Woo-jin vanished.

It was abrupt.

With a brief explosion, Cheon Woo-jin’s physical form dissolved into nothing but dust, but neither Yeodong-bin nor Lee Cheong-un could tear their eyes away from the Sect Leader.

The Sect Leader transformed into something utterly unrecognizable and twisted by chaos, no longer resembling a human.

[I will not waste their sacrifices.]

In that moment, Yeodong-bin’s combat experience screamed warning signs.

The Sect Leader, originally a formidable Demon Sorcerer, now was presumed to be an apostle-level being. If he’d once again amassed power through the sacrifice of tens of thousands of lives and was granted the strength and blessings of an apostle…

Before my eyes stood the Sect Leader, who was arguably the strongest divine apostle of all time.

With resolute intent, the Sect Leader proclaimed, “[I will definitely achieve True Martial Home!]”

 

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