novelraw Chapter 62 : Chapter 62
Chapter 62 : Chapter 62
Chapter 62 Wudang is Taiji (9)
“Keuheuk...!?”
Sal-yeong, feeling his insides being shaken by the impact, gathered his energy with shocked eyes.
He hadn't expected Jaun, who was using a sword, to suddenly throw a punch.
Unlike the lacerations that healed quickly, the shock from the punch did not dissipate easily.
“This rat-like bastard!”
Sal-yeong’s sword, flashing as it flew, barely grazed Jaun’s shoulder. Jaun, turning his body as he was, extended his fist towards Sal-yeong.
─ Kwaaang!
As the two men's attacks, fully charged with energy, collided once again, a fierce wind exploded into the surroundings.
Piercing through the wind scattering in all directions, Sal-yeong approached and slashed upward at Jaun like lightning.
─ Pit.
The sword swung by Sal-yeong grazed Jaun’s cheek.
This time, Jaun, exploding his energy while stomping the ground, jumped into Sal-yeong’s bosom.
─ Kwaang!
─ Peoak!
Jaun’s Soul Severing Spirit Crushing Fist struck Sal-yeong’s abdomen in succession, and Sal-yeong’s body swayed this way and that from the impact.
“...Keu keuk. How long do you think the same attack will work?”
Although he had clearly dealt a blow strong enough to shake the insides, the Blood Energy pouring violently from the altar was healing Sal-yeong’s body in an instant.
‘Tsk. This method only consumes Internal Energy.’
Just as Jaun was about to raise his energy to the maximum to regain the momentum of the battle, even if it meant overexerting himself, someone’s loud shout was heard from behind.
“Sanghapheodogun , Wonshicheonjon !”
Following the loud Daoist chant, dozens of Wudang disciples filled the sky, their robes fluttering.
Some of the Daoists who flew in discovered the fallen third-generation disciples and rushed toward them in a flock.
The Inner Affairs Hall Master, the Foreign Affairs Hall Master, and the first-generation disciples who approached Jaun pointed their swords at Sal-yeong and Cheong-eum-sa.
“...Who are these people emitting such wicked energy?”
The Inner Affairs Hall Master asked Jaun while keeping his sword pointed.
“Remnants of the Demonic Cult. They are those who use the martial arts of the Blood Cult. They are also the culprits who kidnapped the third-generation disciples.”
At Jaun’s words, the Inner Affairs Hall Master bit his lip tightly.
“To think we were completely unaware that such bastards were right under Wudang's nose all this time...”
The Inner Affairs Hall Master inhaled deeply and shouted, infusing his voice with energy.
“Listen, disciples of Wudang! Capture these people immediately and transport them to Wudang!”
As soon as the Inner Affairs Hall Master’s order fell, the Daoists standing behind threw themselves forward, surrounding the area, and drew their swords in unison.
“Unfold the Nine Palaces Sword Formation!”
At the Inner Affairs Hall Master’s command, the Daoists surrounding the area quickly spread out in all directions.
Watching the Daoists beginning to encircle them, Sal-yeong and Cheong-eum-sa, the two men, clicked their tongues.
“Tsk. This has become troublesome. We shouldn't have dragged out time like this here...”
A look of difficulty appeared in the eyes of the two old men who had intended to leave before Wudang discovered them.
Even borrowing the power of Blood Energy, facing dozens of Wudang Daoists at once was burdensome.
Sal-yeong, who was glaring at Jaun while biting his lip tightly, signaled Cheong-eum-sa with his eyes.
Aiming for the instant just before the sword formation was completed, the two old men rushed toward the flank of the yet-unfinished formation.
“Where do you think you're going!”
Seeing this, the Foreign Affairs Hall Master chased after the two and blocked the flank of the sword formation.
─ Kwaaaaang!
A huge shockwave erupted from the collision between the sword formation and the two old men.
The Daoists, including the Foreign Affairs Hall Master, gathered their Internal Energy and barely blocked the combined attack of the two, but the figures of most Daoists forming the sword formation were shaking greatly.
“Don't tell me, they are demon practitioners who have reached the Peak Realm...?”
The Foreign Affairs Hall Master’s eyes widened, having felt the power contained in the blow just now.
Hearing the Foreign Affairs Hall Master’s muttering, the Inner Affairs Hall Master’s complexion changed.
The Inner Affairs Hall Master shouted loudly toward the Daoists.
“All second-generation disciples, fall back!”
If the opponents were at the level of the Peak Realm, there was a high possibility that the second-generation disciples would fall into danger.
Therefore, having pulled back the second-generation disciples, the Inner Affairs Hall Master threw himself to fill the empty spots in the sword formation instead.
─ Kuuung!
As the Foreign Affairs Hall Master and the Inner Affairs Hall Master added their strength, Wudang's sword formation began to create a whitish mist.
Seeing the completed sword formation, shadows cast over the faces of the two old men.
“Because of the Blood Energy rushing in from the altar, it won't be easy to take them down unless you destroy their Dantians or end their lives.”
At Jaun’s words, the Inner Affairs Hall Master frowned.
“Altar? What nonsense is that again?”
Before Jaun could answer, the Foreign Affairs Hall Master opened his mouth as if he remembered something.
“Come to think of it, there was a secret report from the Murim Alliance that the martial arts of the Blood Cult had reappeared. I thought it was groundless news, but seeing now, it seems the remnants of the Blood Cult have truly emerged in the Jianghu.”
At the Foreign Affairs Hall Master’s answer, the Inner Affairs Hall Master’s expression hardened stiffly.
“Blood Cult? You mean those bastards who kidnapped the third-generation disciples are the remnants of the cursed Blood Cult?”
The Inner Affairs Hall Master, readjusting his grip on the sword with a cold expression, shouted loudly.
“Close all Gates of Life! These are the remnants of the Blood Cult and the enemies who kidnapped the disciples of Wudang. Everyone, do not show mercy with your swords!”
At the Inner Affairs Hall Master’s shout, the Daoists quickly moved their positions and took their places.
As the sword formation changed, sharp energy began to pour toward the two old men.
“Form Formation !”
As the Inner Affairs Hall Master’s command fell, the swords of the Daoists who took a step forward soared into the sky in unison.
Feeling the energy pouring down around their bodies like a net, Sal-yeong and Cheong-eum-sa, the two old men, looked back at each other with stiff expressions.
“Damn it. What kind of disgrace is this? I have no face to see the Demonic Brain.”
Sal-yeong, who was muttering, sent a signal with his eyes to Cheong-eum-sa.
“There is no good in dragging out time. We must end this immediately. To do that...”
Confirming the will contained in Sal-yeong’s eyes, Cheong-eum-sa nodded with anxious eyes.
“Understood. It can't be helped.”
Withstanding the energy of the sword formation, the two men looked back at the Daoists and Jaun once, then simultaneously stretched their hands straight forward.
“...Even if this place becomes our end, we will clearly show you that the Blood Cult has returned!”
As Cheong-eum-sa, reciting in a cracking voice, raised his hand upward, Sal-yeong also raised his hand upward following him.
Then, the two men struck near their own hearts hard at the same time.
─ Peoak!
The blood that gushed out from the old men’s mouths turned into mist and wrapped around their bodies.
The red energy emanating from the two began to amplify explosively.
“What is that again...?”
Leaving Baek-myo’s muttering behind, Jaun dug into the Nine Palaces Sword Formation with a pale face.
“What are you doing! It's interfering, so step back!”
The Inner Affairs Hall Master turned his head and shouted at Jaun.
“There is no time for this. They are trying to draw out the power of the altar all at once by burning their own life force right now!”
“Burning life force?”
The Inner Affairs Hall Master, not understanding Jaun’s words, tilted his head.
Even in that short time, the blood flowing from the old men’s mouths turned into Blood Energy and was growing in size every moment.
The situation was not good.
The surroundings were already filled with the energy of the sword formation containing Wudang's Celestial Energy.
A situation where Jaun would inevitably be affected by the sword formation if he raised his Demonic Energy to deal with those old men.
‘It's impossible to suppress them by raising Demonic Energy. Then... I have no choice but to use Wudang's sword formation instead.’
Jaun, observing Wudang's energy spread all around, soon nodded and shouted.
“Everyone, focus your strength on the sword formation!”
Feeling that the energy pouring out from the two old men was extraordinary, the Inner Affairs Hall Master and the Foreign Affairs Hall Master also raised their swords with pale faces.
“Slash !”
The swords of the Daoists floating in the sky fell downward.
─ Kwaaaaang!
The whitish energy containing the Internal Energy of dozens of Daoists poured directly onto the bodies of Sal-yeong and Cheong-eum-sa.
Dust rose thick in all directions.
“.......”
Silence flowed for a moment, and then, eerie laughter was heard from beyond the rising dust.
“Keu heu heu.”
Sal-yeong’s Sword Energy, breaking through the mist, shot rapidly toward the flank of the sword formation.
“Watch out!”
“Keoheok!”
Sal-yeong’s Sword Energy was several times faster than the Inner Affairs Hall Master’s shout.
Several Daoists, who suffered significant injuries from the Sword Energy unleashed by Sal-yeong, collapsed on the spot.
Subsequently, seeing Sal-yeong swinging his sword once again, the Foreign Affairs Hall Master threw his body forward and raised his sword.
─ Kwaaang!
The Foreign Affairs Hall Master, having received the energy emitted by Sal-yeong, was pushed back significantly.
“Keueuk...”
Blood trickled down the corner of the mouth of the Foreign Affairs Hall Master, who barely blocked the Sword Energy.
The Daoists gathered their wits and poured energy into the sword formation once again.
A mass of whitish energy created again blocked the surroundings of the two old men.
“Do you think you can hold us with just this much!”
Simultaneously with Sal-yeong’s shout, this time Cheong-eum-sa’s Sword Energy was scattered to the opposite side.
With screams, several Daoists collapsed again.
“You bastards!”
Checking the falling disciples, the Inner Affairs Hall Master clenched his teeth and shot toward the two old men.
─ Chaaeng.
The Inner Affairs Hall Master’s sword shot in brilliantly, but it was blocked by the two old men’s swords and bounced off every time.
Jaun, who had been observing the sword formation for a while and slightly mixed his energy with the energy of the sword formation, nodded, raised his dagger, and shouted.
“It's impossible alone. Please come back and join the sword formation!”
Jaun’s dagger drew a round circle.
Then, countless small circles began to be drawn inside the large circle drawn by the dagger.
‘Rather than mixing Demonic Energy, it's better to utilize this energy instead. This must be the reason the Sword Immortal gave me teachings. Perhaps, he wanted to finish this matter with Wudang's martial arts.’
Recalling the Sword Immortal’s movements one by one in his mind, Jaun drew circles.
The Inner Affairs Hall Master, who had returned to the sword formation, checked Jaun’s appearance and watched with his mouth agape.
The energy gathered in the sword formation shimmered and began to flow into the circle Jaun had drawn.
“How do you, the energy of Taiji...?”
Jaun’s dagger repeatedly drew circles, and a tremendous amount of energy filling the Nine Palaces Sword Formation gathered and wriggled around Jaun.
“There is no time to explain now. Please send the energy of the sword formation towards me.”
The Inner Affairs Hall Master, unable to take his eyes off Jaun’s sword, muttered.
“Primordial Celestial Worthy... Just what is going on?”
Briefly confused, the Inner Affairs Hall Master looked at the perfect Taiji created by Jaun’s sword and bit his lip slightly.
Then, the Inner Affairs Hall Master shouted to the Daoists.
“One Source Taiji !”
At the Inner Affairs Hall Master’s shout, the Daoists' swords soared from bottom to top simultaneously.
Then, the energy filling the sword formation began to pour toward the tip of Jaun’s dagger like a huge wave.
The Daoist Celestial Energy gathered at the tip of Jaun’s dagger, taking on a vivid blue hue.
Jaun, lifting his trembling arm with difficulty, drew a large Taiji once again.
The Celestial Energy flowing around Jaun’s body sparked this way and that with crackling sounds.
Feeling the energy of the sword formation gathering toward Jaun, the two old men frowned.
“That brat, was he a Wudang guy? No wonder Demonic Energy wasn't listening properly.”
The two men, gathering the amplified Blood Energy into one place, slowly thrust their swords in the direction where Jaun was.
Blood Energy and Celestial Energy .
The two colossal condensed energies met in the center, creating whitish smoke with a sizzling sound.
Even amidst that, the two energies gradually grew in size.
Jaun, having gathered the energy of the sword formation into one place to the point where his dagger was trembling, thrust the dagger forward with a loud shout.
“Haaaaaap!”
At the same time as Jaun thrust his dagger forward, the two old men also slashed their swords down in the direction where Jaun was, as if splitting the sky.
Then, the two condensed energies rushed toward each other explosively.
─ Deudeudeudeuk.
The two energies that met in the center began to be compressed into a single point from a certain moment.
Fierce winds raged in all directions.
Not only the Daoists composing the sword formation but also the bodies of the two old men shooting out Blood Energy began to shake this way and that.
At the moment when the two energies became as small as a fist and emitted light.
Jaun stepped forward through the wind and slashed his dagger upward from below at a speed like lightning.
─ Kwaaaaaaaaang!
Along with a massive explosion, bright light filled the surroundings in an instant.
It was an explosion huge enough to feel as if the entire Mount Wudang was shaking.
Dust rose thick in all directions, followed by a tremendous afterstorm sweeping through the area.
Daoists were flung in all directions, and blood gushed out from the mouth of Jaun, who stood firm in the center.
‘Celestial Energy is... definitely not a good match.’
Jaun spat out saliva mixed with blood onto the ground with a Ptoo.
After a little time passed and the dust settled, the figures of the two old men rolling on the ground were revealed.
“Ugh...”
Sal-yeong and Cheong-eum-sa, covered in blood, were wriggling on the ground and trembling.
Watching that, Jaun wiped his mouth and began to walk towards the two old men with heavy steps.
‘This is it.’
Although the Blood Energy rushing from the altar was still wrapping around the bodies of the two old men, their bodies, having received a massive shock, were unable to properly accept the Blood Energy.
Jaun raised his energy without hesitation and extended his dagger.
─ Pu-uk!
Jaun’s dagger, shot out like lightning, pierced the Dantians of the two old men rolling on the ground.
“Aaaaaaaak!”
From the shattered Dantians of the two men, Blood Energy fluctuated and scattered in all directions.
“N-No...”
The two old men struggled to somehow grasp the Blood Energy scattering into the air.
Wrinkles became distinct on the old men’s skin, and with cracking sounds, even their skeletal structure began to shrink.
“P-Please...! Aah...”
Like air escaping from a balloon, the arms of the two old men, who became frail in an instant, began to fall gradually from top to bottom.
─ Thud.
The arms of the two old men, who had been struggling for a long time, finally touched the ground.
The eyes of the two old men, who had become white-haired before anyone noticed, began to close slowly.