Chapter 358
“Attack!”
At the signal from Biryong, the commander in charge of the entire operation, the Biryong warriors who had been preparing surged forward in unison toward Jeomchang Mountain.
“Waaahhh!”
“Let’s go!”
“Let’s end this fight!”
“Exterminate the Blood Sect scum!”
Their fierce momentum was enough to shake even the mountains themselves.
Before them, determined to bring this long battle to a close, no obstacle seemed capable of standing in their way.
But the Blood Sect warriors were just as resolute, fighting with the same desperate resolve.
While the righteous warriors fought for final victory, the Blood Sect fought for their very survival.
Their desperation and fervor seemed capable of conjuring miracles.
Moreover, Jeomchang Mountain—the battleground—was a natural fortress.
A narrow, steep path led up the high, rugged mountain.
The righteous warriors ascending this path found themselves surrounded by a far greater number of Blood Sect fighters waiting in the open above.
The Blood Sect warriors charged all at once, swarming the righteous fighters like a pack of wild dogs.
“Righteous bastards! Die!”
“Rush them! They’re only a handful!”
“Kyahhh!”
From all sides, the Blood Sect’s weapons rained down on the lead warrior from the Martial Alliance who was breaking through the path.
It was impossible to block every strike; his death seemed inevitable.
The Blood Sect fighters, striking his body with swords and blades, were utterly confident of their victory after the initial clash.
At least, that’s what they thought—until the moment their weapons struck.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
“Huh?!”
“What the—?!”
They were momentarily stunned.
Though their blades had hit flesh, they heard the unmistakable sound of metal ringing.
Not only that, their weapons vibrated violently and bounced off as if striking a solid iron object.
“What on earth…?”
“Could it be…?”
They stared blankly at their opponent’s face.
There stood a towering man, like an iron pillar, with a shadowed expression and a sinister grin aimed right at them.
It was the kind of smile that sent chills down their spines.
Having confirmed that none of the enemies had used any energy-based attacks, Bae Jong-kwan had simply taken their blows barehanded.
The instant their weapons bounced off, he grinned and swung his crescent blade wide.
“Uaaahhh!”
A wave of blood erupted from him like a fountain, spraying out in all directions.
Pffft!
“Gahhh!”
“Arrgh!”
“Aaahhh!”
The Blood Sect fighters hadn’t anticipated that Bae Jong-kwan’s bare hands could repel their weapons, so they were caught completely off guard by his counterattack.
The result was brutal.
Within a radius of about six meters around Bae Jong-kwan, the ground was instantly soaked in blood.
And that was only the beginning.
Having cleaved through all nearby enemies, Bae Jong-kwan didn’t stop—he charged forward like a cannonball.
“Yaaahhh!”
Seeing this, the Blood Sect warriors shouted in alarm.
“Th-That’s the Diamond Rain Technique! Use your energy!”
“Hurry, use your energy! Without it, attacks won’t land!”
Hearing this, the Blood Sect fighters, each enveloping their weapons in red energy, struck down at the charging Bae Jong-kwan with body tackles.
But at that moment—
A brilliant golden protective aura burst forth from Bae Jong-kwan’s body.
Fwahhh!
His martial art was the Hwangryong Musang Energy, a secret technique passed down by Sun Woo-jin and Bi Sa-yeong.
It was the unique martial art of Mu-hwang, one of the absolute masters from a century ago during the era of the Sword God and Thunder God.
Hwangryong Musang Energy was famed for its absolute defense, symbolized by the Diamond Dragon Scale Armor.
For Bae Jong-kwan, the strongest external martial artist, to have mastered this technique meant his defense was beyond question.
The Blood Sect’s energy-imbued sword and blade strikes bounced off his protective aura with utter helplessness.
Thunk! Thunk-thunk!
“Ugh?!”
“P-Protective energy?!”
And those who failed to land their attacks had no second chance.
The next moment, the massive golden cannonball that was Bae Jong-kwan barreled forward, splitting body and soul apart.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Gahhh!”
“Arrgh!”
The Blood Sect’s defensive line collapsed helplessly.
All because of one monstrous warrior named Bae Jong-kwan.
“A m-monster…”
“Take him down first!”
They felt a growing panic—if they let him through, who knew how far he’d break their lines.
The Blood Sect fighters threw themselves at Bae Jong-kwan with all their might.
But even that was no easy task.
While Bae Jong-kwan drew their attention, others had already slipped through their ranks and begun a slaughter.
From the side of the Blood Sect fighters trying to ambush Bae Jong-kwan, Sa Gun-il flew in like a streak of light.
“Hah!”
Shuak!
Nine simultaneous strikes pierced the air from his sword.
This was the final form of his signature sword technique, the Sa-il Sword Method: the Descendant of Sa-gu-il.
“Th-That’s Jeomchang Sword Dragon! Gahhh!”
“No, no! Aaahhh!”
On the opposite side, Cheon Ju-eun, fluttering like a butterfly, gracefully evaded the enemy’s assault and then struck like a biting wind, cleaving through the Blood Sect warriors.
“Yahhh!”
Pffft!
“That’s the Swift Blade Myorang!”
“That woman…! Aaahhh!”
The Martial Alliance warriors broke through the Blood Sect lines with unstoppable momentum, ascending Jeomchang Mountain.
Their advance was irresistible.
“Charge!”
“Let’s go!”
“Today, we end the Blood Sect’s reign!”
The Blood Sect’s commanders were forced into disarray by the overwhelming breakthrough.
They had expected resistance, but nothing like this.
In the end, they had no choice but to unleash their secret weapon.
At the front, Bae Jong-kwan swept through enemies like a war machine.
Suddenly, a red beam charged at him from ahead.
He summoned all his strength and expanded his protective energy.
“Hah!”
Fwahhh!
A new figure pierced through the golden aura, radiating red energy like lightning.
Ka-BOOM!
The strike was so powerful it seemed capable of piercing a mountain.
Bae Jong-kwan was forced to stagger backward for the first time.
“Ugh!”
The man who had forced Bae Jong-kwan back landed briefly, then bounced forward again like a spring.
His face was expressionless, like a doll’s.
Those nearby shouted in alarm.
“Blood Demon!”
“It’s the Blood Demon!”
Originally an ultra-powerful master, the Blood Demon now wielded strength at the early Hwa-gyeong level.
It meant Bae Jong-kwan, still at the peak, couldn’t handle him alone.
Fortunately, he wasn’t alone.
Especially those who had been holding back until the Blood Demon appeared.
“Shinryong Unit, advance!”
Bi Sa-yeong, the Shinryong Unit’s leader, who had been trailing quietly among the crowd, shouted sharply and shot forward like a streak of light.
Shiiik!
Though not yet at the Hwa-gyeong level, his speed rivaled the world’s fastest blades.
Shak!
The Blood Demon instinctively glanced back as Bi Sa-yeong streaked past his side.
But what he saw was a golden blade already aimed at his chest.
Ka-BOOM!
The powerful strike slammed into his chest, forcing the Blood Demon to stagger.
Though he instinctively released protective energy to avoid being cut, he momentarily lost his balance.
But it was only momentary.
He quickly regained his footing.
If not for the next blow—
Ka-BOOM!
A series of strikes landed on his right leg, and the Blood Demon finally lost his balance.
It was Bi Sa-yeong’s lightning-fast assault.
And this was only the beginning.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bi Sa-yeong, moving like a beam of light, struck the Blood Demon’s entire body relentlessly, as if standing still and delivering a continuous barrage.
Already off balance, the Blood Demon staggered drunkenly in place, unable to stand or fall.
Completely overwhelmed, he was thrown into utter confusion.
All the members of the suppression squad who witnessed this new technique could only marvel.
“Wow, is that really the speed of the world’s fastest blade?”
“I can’t even see it!”
“I’d only heard about it, but it’s incredible!”
“Truly, the Divine Wind Blade!”
And Bi Sa-yeong wasn’t alone in the Shinryong Unit.
While he distracted the Blood Demon, Jeung Chil charged at nearly the same speed.
In his hands were two throwing knives; his eyes locked solely on the Blood Demon’s.
“Chah!”
Closing in to close range, Jeung Chil threw both knives without interference.
Aimed straight for the blinded eyes.
Pew!
“Gahhh!”
The two knives sank deep into the Blood Demon’s eyes, eliciting a horrific scream as he clutched his face.
Seizing the moment, Gam Jak-hyung, wielding a massive trident, charged in.
“Hyaah!”
Thud!
The Blood Demon collapsed to the ground, his body crushed like a frog.
Next up was Shin Geom-rang Lee Geon.
Trailing closely behind Gam Jak-hyung, the moment the Blood Demon hit the ground screaming, Lee Geon smoothly plunged his sword into the inside of the Blood Demon’s mouth.
Shuuuk!
“Gahhh!”
The blade pierced the roof of his mouth and tore into his brain, causing the Blood Demon to thrash wildly like a trapped beast.
But that was a purely instinctive reaction, devoid of reason—the moment when a Blood Demon, boasting the brute strength of an early-stage Fiery Realm warrior, was instantly neutralized.
The warriors of the Martial Alliance who witnessed the scene erupted into cheers.
“Wooooah!”
“Incredible!”
“As expected of the Divine Dragon Squad!”
At the same time, the Blood Cultists were thrown into disarray.
Especially their leader, who was commanding from the summit, clenched his teeth in frustration.
He had held back his strongest Blood Demon, sending out only one at first—but it had been crushed so helplessly.
It was a worse outcome than if he had sent them all in at once.
Expecting a prolonged battle, he had to admit his judgment was flawed.
If they couldn’t break the enemy’s momentum now, they wouldn’t last a day, let alone a drawn-out fight.
So, he resolved to unleash all the Blood Demons he had been saving.
He himself was no different.
He ordered the Blood Demons arrayed around him.
“Everyone, go! Smash them to pieces!”
Without expression, the Blood Demons suddenly transformed into beams of light and shot down the mountain.
Whoooosh!
There were six of them.
The first to notice their approach was Bi Sayoung, who had mastered the Mind’s Eye.
He shouted urgently to his comrades as the massive presences charged at incredible speed.
“Rapid retreat! Everyone, evade!”
Unlike Bi Sayoung, who possessed the Mind’s Eye, the other Divine Dragon members failed to sense the Blood Demons’ charge.
Still, at Bi Sayoung’s command, they tried to withdraw swiftly from the battlefield.
But even that was too late.
Among the Divine Dragon warriors, the least skilled in divine arts—Sam Ji-shinchang Gam Jak-hyung and Gui Do Baek Gi-ryang—were caught off guard and forced to face the Blood Demons’ assault.
Like crimson meteors, the Blood Demons swung their blades toward them.
Shu-shak!
“!”
“Gah!”
Gam Jak-hyung and Baek Gi-ryang desperately unleashed their protective qi to block the attacks.
But defending against the strikes of early-stage Fiery Realm Blood Demons was impossible.
Shaaak!
They could only watch helplessly as the blades sliced through their defenses.
It was over.
Hwaaaak!
Kwahaaang!
Both men stood stunned for a moment.
Just when they thought it was the end, two figures appeared and saved them.
Gam Jak-hyung stared blankly at Bi Sayoung, who had appeared a step ahead of the Blood Demons and pushed him aside.
Thanks to Bi Sayoung’s intervention, the Blood Demon’s blade cut through empty air.
He had narrowly escaped death.
Bi Sayoung, having saved Gam Jak-hyung, transformed into a beam of light and darted between the Blood Demons, shouting.
“Fall back, Master Gam!”
Snapping back to his senses, he retreated while glancing toward where Baek Gi-ryang stood.
Unlike himself, who had been pushed back by Bi Sayoung, Baek Gi-ryang remained rooted in place.
Yet, he was spared from attack.
A man suddenly appeared before him and struck the Blood Demons away.
Baek Gi-ryang, watching the young warrior who had saved him now pounce on the Blood Demons like a wild beast, muttered in disbelief.
“My lord…”
Puff-puff-puff-pow!
Spinning fiercely like a whirlwind, the young man’s powerful strikes sent the Blood Demons flying in all directions.
His eyes blazed with a fierce red light, his momentum like a dragon’s fist windstorm—Seolpung.
At his arrival, Bae Jong-kwan and Cheon Ju-eun called out joyfully.
“Captain!”
“As expected!”
But despite their warm greetings, Seolpung’s heart was far from light.
Just as the Blood Cult treasured their Blood Demons, Seolpung had been waiting for the right moment.
According to the original plan, he should have appeared when meeting Gu Woo-jeol of the White-Faced Shima.
But six Blood Demons? That far exceeded expectations, and he could no longer afford to wait.
‘No choice,’ he thought.
He decided to stop dwelling on it and focus on the situation at hand.
Though the ambush had pushed them back, six Blood Demons with Fiery Realm-level strength were no trivial force.
No matter how much he amplified his power with the Red-Eyed Blood Attack and the Wheel of Battle, they were formidable.
‘This calls for a swift, decisive strike.’
With that resolve, Seolpung concentrated all his strength.
“Sayoung! Draw their attention! Satae! It’s time for you to step in!”
Hearing this, Bi Sayoung transformed into a beam of light and charged into the midst of the Blood Demons, shouting.
“On it!”
Shashashashak!
Bi Sayoung’s new form split into seven afterimages—one more than the number of Blood Demons.
Instinctively, the Blood Demons attacked the illusions, their focus scattered.
Seolpung seized the opportunity without hesitation.
Pah-bak!
He charged at one Blood Demon.
From his fist, the claws of the Fierce Tiger suddenly emerged after a long absence.
“Haaah!”
Chaaak! Chaaak! Chaaak!
Seolpung’s tiger claws struck like a flying tiger, relentlessly tearing into the Blood Demon.
Though the Blood Demon tried to defend with protective qi, the spinning red claws, like a dragon’s fist wind, found every opening and shredded him helplessly.
No matter how wildly it flailed, it was useless.
“Kyaaaah!”
Nearby, another Blood Demon broke off from Bi Sayoung’s distraction and charged at Seolpung.
Sshhhk!
This was a critical moment—if things continued like this, Seolpung wouldn’t finish off his target and would have to retreat.
But Seolpung paid no mind to the charging Blood Demon.
Someone else was meant to handle it.
“Stop!”
“!”
The red blade aimed at Seolpung was suddenly blocked.
A white sword qi appeared, intercepting the attack.
Kwahaaang!
The clash of blade qi erupted into brilliant white and red flames.
The power was evenly matched.
In the next moment, a white-masked figure was flung back alongside the Blood Demon and shouted toward Seolpung.
“Leave this to me, Master Seol!”
She was Gyeol Heo Satae, former head of the Amipa sect.
Once turned into a Blood Demon by the merciless Hwa Yeong-bin, she was now aiding Seolpung against the Blood Demons.
Having lost all her past memories upon becoming a Blood Demon, she couldn’t return to Amipa.
Even if she did, she wouldn’t be able to adapt, and revealing her transformation would be undesirable.
For a while, attempts were made to restore her memories.
But like Jeong Seon, Hwa Yeong-bin’s lover, no matter how hard they tried, the memories wouldn’t return.
Even Sun Woo-jin’s efforts alongside her were in vain.
Ultimately, all they could do was explain who she had been and what had happened.
Accepting this, she made a surprising choice—not to return to Amipa.
‘If that’s true, then I am a disgraceful sinner who fell into the enemy’s trap and caused the death of my sect’s disciples. Now, I’m barely even human. How could I face my sect again? Please, do not reveal my existence to the main sect.’
With that, she swore vengeance against the Blood Cult.
Her fierce will was to think of her own life only after completing her revenge.
Her stubborn nature and unyielding pride, well-known since her days as Amipa’s head, remained unchanged even as a Blood Demon.
Sun Woo-jin and Seolpung decided to respect her resolve.
Though it was sad that she considered herself a sinner dedicating her life to atonement, her presence—wielding Fiery Realm-level power—was a welcome reinforcement.
“Haaah!”
Kwahaaang!
As Gyeol Heo Satae clashed with a Blood Demon, buying time, Seolpung pressed his assault even harder.
“Uaaah!”
Chaaak! Chok! Chaaak! Chaaak!
Repeatedly slashing the Blood Demon’s arm with his tiger claws, Seolpung finally succeeded.
He severed the creature’s arm muscles completely.
Now, it could no longer wield its weapon.
“!”
The Blood Demon panicked at its useless limb.
Seolpung’s tiger claws pierced unimpeded beneath its jaw.
Pfuuk!
The red energy claw tore through the Blood Demon’s brain.
No matter how great its regenerative powers, this was fatal.
The Blood Demon’s eyes rolled back as it thrashed wildly—an empty body writhing without will.
Seolpung left the crazed creature behind and sought another target.
With Bi Sayoung drawing their attention, he needed to reduce their numbers as quickly as possible.
‘Five left now.’
But just as he prepared to strike the next Blood Demon, a chilling sensation crept up his neck.
“!”
He spun around and slashed with his tiger claws.
“Hahap!”
Jjaeng!
Seolpung barely deflected a hidden throwing blade aimed at his back.
His skin crawled.
The blade had come from the shadows of a nearby tree.
Anyone who could sneak this close, evading Seolpung’s Mind’s Eye, needed no introduction.
Seolpung spat out the name.
“Ji Gi-eum.”
From the shadows, a man cloaked in black blood wind robes slowly rose.
Ji Gi-eum of the Nine Serpent Demons.
“Long time no see, rookie. Should’ve killed you back then, but you’ve grown too much since.”
Seolpung slipped through the blood demons like an eel, casting a quick glance at Bisa-yeong, who was drawing their attention, before speaking to Jigieum.
“So, you didn’t go to where the Commander Sima is.”
Jigieum scoffed.
“Hmph! Did you really think I’d fall into such an obvious trap? Wasting your full strength on a stunt like that will be recorded as the reason for your defeat someday.”
Seolpung smirked in response.
“Reason for defeat, huh… You’re not exactly winning yet.”
Looking at the current balance of power, it was undeniable that the Murim Alliance was at a disadvantage.
With five blood demons at the early Huagyeong level and Jigieum, a Gu-yu Eumma, it was impossible for Seolpung and Gyeolheosatae to handle them alone.
And Baekmyeon Sima hadn’t even shown up yet.
But the situation didn’t end there.
Jigieum replied firmly to Seolpung’s words.
“No, you’ve already lost. Seolpung, you won’t be able to do anything on your own.”
Then, suddenly, Jigieum turned to Gyeolheosatae, who was glaring at him with murderous intent beside Seolpung, and spoke.
“Blood Sect, long live the world’s prosperity.”
The moment he finished speaking, Gyeolheosatae’s expression went blank.
The fierce killing aura she had been radiating just moments ago vanished as if washed away.
Seolpung immediately realized what was happening.
“You… don’t mean—?!”
Jigieum answered with a cold smile.
“You already lost one blood demon. Did you really think I wouldn’t place this kind of binding spell on the others? How lazy and foolish. That will be recorded as your second reason for defeat.”
Seolpung hurriedly called out to Gyeolheosatae.
“Satae, can you hear me?!”
But she didn’t respond at all.
The only voice she reacted to was Jigieum’s.
“Everyone, gather behind me.”
At his command, the five blood demons chasing Bisa-yeong all regrouped behind Jigieum without hesitation.
Their response was immediate and flawless.
Seeing their movement, Bisa-yeong could no longer attack and landed behind Seolpung.
His entire body was soaked in sweat from the relentless exertion.
Bisa-yeong scanned the six opponents—Jigieum, a Gu-yu Eumma with mid-Huagyeong strength, and the five early Huagyeong blood demons including Gyeolheosatae—and said to Seolpung,
“This looks like a total mess, boss.”
Seolpung gave a weary laugh.
“Yeah, just as the commander predicted.”
Jigieum grinned triumphantly.
“Exactly. Now you all are—”
But then he noticed something odd in what Seolpung had just said.
“What did you say?”
At that moment, from the shadows of the trees behind Jigieum, someone silently sprang out.
Shhaaak!
They struck down the blood demons lined up behind Jigieum.
Chaaak!
Startled by the sudden sound behind him, Jigieum spun around in alarm.
But by the time he turned, one blood demon had already been split in two.
The attacker was already bringing his sword down on a second blood demon.
The strike tore through the very air itself—an opening move of the Mukrang Sword Technique.
Chaaak!
Jigieum shouted urgently.
“Fall back!”
At his command, Gyeolheosatae and three blood demons scattered quickly.
But their strength had already been halved in an instant.
Jigieum stood frozen, staring with stunned eyes at the man grinning at him.
“The… Sword Master…?”
At that moment, the Murim Alliance warriors watching the scene couldn’t contain their excitement and erupted in cheers.
“Wooooah!”
“The Sword Master! The Sword Master is here!”
“Cheonrang Sword Master!”
“Cheonrang Sword Master Seon Woojin!”
“Wooooah!”
That’s right.
He was Seon Woojin, the Cheonrang Sword Master, known as one of the absolute strongest in the current Murim world.
He was the very man who had been guarding Commander Sima Yeo-ryang during this operation—and now he had appeared here.
The morale of the Murim Alliance warriors soared to the heavens.