Became a God-Level Martial Artist Chapter 288 : Disgusting

Chapter 288: Disgusting

King of Assassins looked down upon everyone like an absolute ruler.

He was a man worthy of doing so.

Whether it was the Bat brothers—Public Enemies of Murim—or Divine Slaughter, Shadowless, the Vice Master of Deathshroud.

Even if they all joined forces and attacked together, they would still be unable to do anything to King of Assassins.

There were only a handful in the world capable of threatening him, and thus the leisure embedded within every one of his actions felt entirely natural.

“If you wish, I could take you back in again.”

King of Assassins spoke while glancing at Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s right shoulder.

Judging by its state, it would take considerable ti to recover his forr strength.

Perhaps it might even be impossible.

However, Deathshroud had enough patience to wait.

The mont Divine Slaughter, Shadowless placed his na under Deathshroud once more, petty insects would no longer dare target him.

“No need.”

Divine Slaughter, Shadowless replied shortly.

Despite the decisiveness of that response, King of Assassins rely nodded calmly.

Alongside Seo Yu-gyeom, he was one of the people who understood Divine Slaughter, Shadowless best.

That kind of reaction was sothing he had already expected to so extent.

“Then I shall witness your death with my own eyes. That would be proper courtesy between old friends.”

After saying that, King of Assassins sat down heavily in empty air.

He appeared perfectly comfortable, as though there were an invisible floor beneath him.

Silence briefly descended upon the battlefield.

Third Bat and the others awkwardly hesitated, unable to act while watching King of Assassins carefully.

To King of Assassins, they were insects.

Even among the Twenty-Seven Heavens, there were scarcely any martial artists comparable to him.

Watching them from above, King of Assassins spoke quietly.

“Continue.”

“......”

Third Bat hesitated.

Judging from the conversation earlier, there had been no hostility whatsoever between the two n.

It was impossible to predict whether that man would truly remain idle and simply watch Divine Slaughter, Shadowless die.

If King of Assassins suddenly changed his mind and killed them all on a whim—

If they failed to kill Divine Slaughter, Shadowless because of it—

There could be no more aningless death for the Bat brothers.

As they continued hesitating, King of Assassins spoke in an irritated tone.

“I said continue. If you win fairly, I will let you leave. You have committed quite the massacre lately, so before long Deathshroud will receive requests to kill you. Soone’s child, parent, or friend will surely spend sleepless nights in resentnt.”

King of Assassins did not hate the Eight Bats.

Two were already dead, yet six still remained, did they not?

He could collect paynt according to headcount, making them profitable Demons.

“What are you doing? Prove your worth. If you waste more ti, I may kill you imdiately.”

The mont King of Assassins’s cold voice fell, the Bat brothers finally moved.

Third Bat, Fifth Bat, and Seventh Bat.

As though prearranged, they all charged simultaneously toward Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.

With King of Assassins present, they had no room to leisurely enjoy the battle.

Tang So-yeon scattered dense poison toward the front.

Even as she did, she secretly glanced upward to gauge King of Assassins’s reaction.

In truth, it was not only the Bat brothers who feared him.

Seeing this, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless spoke.

“You need not worry. That man has no interest in your lives.”

Just as King of Assassins knew Divine Slaughter, Shadowless well, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless also understood King of Assassins.

He did not kill indiscriminately.

Though he appeared to accept every request, he only did so after thoroughly calculating the consequences.

That was especially true for matters involving the Five Great Clans and the Nine Sects and One Gang.

If soone requested the assassination of Poison Phoenix Tang So-yeon, he would refuse.

Killing her would inevitably an waging war against the entire Tang Clan.

Accepting paynt for one target while starting such a war would be a loss.

Therefore, anyone wishing to kill Poison Phoenix through Deathshroud would need to commission the annihilation of the entire Tang Clan instead.

Naturally, now that Myriad Gold Manor had collapsed, there were virtually no forces left capable of paying such a price.

“If Elder says so, then so it is.”

Seomun Ak spoke as he launched himself forward.

Thanks to King of Assassins’s arrival, everyone had finally managed to catch their breath.

At so point, his way of addressing Divine Slaughter, Shadowless had changed into “Elder.”

It had already been difficult when he was rely his friend’s master, but after receiving direct guidance for several days, Seomun Ak had beco even more respectful.

Once Seomun Ak and Moyong Hyeon resud fighting without paying attention to King of Assassins, the other Later-generation Prodigies also gradually erased his existence from their minds.

As a result, the only ones truly conscious of King of Assassins were the Bat brothers, who trusted no one.

The chaotic lee continued.

Baek Sang and Baek Seol utilized the profound principles of Wudang Swordsmanship to the utmost, avoiding direct confrontation.

They focused solely on deflecting, redirecting, and blocking.

Though utterly exhausted, Hwamyeong still forced out his characteristic flashy and unpredictable Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.

Seomun Ak and Moyong Hyeon led the front lines while Tang So-yeon’s daggers and poison filled the gaps.

Divine Slaughter, Shadowless—having effectively lost one arm—appeared sowhat unstable, yet he compensated for his inconvenience with sheer experience and drove the Bat brothers back.

The tilted balance began returning to equilibrium.

King of Assassins’s existence itself had caused that.

The battle continued between those who did not need to concern themselves with the absolute ruler watching from above, and those who were forced to remain intensely conscious of him.

Third Bat cursed inwardly.

‘It feels as though we’ve beco clowns.’

His certainty of killing Divine Slaughter, Shadowless was steadily fading.

Instead, the attitude of that King of Assassins watching them from above felt deeply unpleasant and terrifying.

The one he wished most to tear apart was Divine Slaughter, Shadowless—

But the one who had accepted the request and set everything in motion, King of Assassins himself, was equally their enemy.

Third Bat’s fury surged to the top of his head.

Though he had never originally been hot-tempered, the sheer amount of blood and Internal Energy he had consud recently seed to be eroding his reason.

“You bastards...”

Even while fighting, Third Bat continuously muttered curses.

Everyone realized sothing was wrong with him.

Third Bat’s movents were becoming larger and increasingly crude.

The Demonic Energy within each strike grew denser and more sinister, yet his techniques had beco so exaggerated that they were ironically easier to deal with.

“Brother.”

Even Fifth Bat noticed the change.

He quietly called out to his eldest brother, but the only thing that returned was cursing.

“You fucking bastards...!”

Third Bat felt wronged.

The eight brothers had been born into poverty and oppression, living miserable lives from birth.

Their parents had not raised them like children, but livestock.

Because they were poor, they had simply produced many children to exploit as labor.

They barely fed them.

Whenever they beca too sick to work, they were beaten with bamboo rods.

Even their nas were carelessly given like stray dogs—First Bat, Second Bat, and so on.

When they were finally old enough to think for themselves, First Bat had picked up a single martial arts manual.

He claid it was Blood Demon’s martial art.

Whether that was true or not did not matter.

What mattered was that it was salvation from their wretched lives.

The brothers practiced the martial art together.

And together, they descended into madness.

Whenever they regained their senses, they always found themselves standing amidst seas of blood.

They killed their parents.

They killed everyone in their village.

Even while pursued by governnt authorities, they kept killing.

Even while hunted by Murim factions, they kept killing.

First Bat—gifted with exceptional talent—eventually created a thod to suppress the madness.

Thanks to that, they had sohow managed to retain their sanity.

But First Bat died.

All that remained afterward was the title of Public Enemy of Murim, an unrealized dream, and Demonic Arts accompanied by insanity.

Third Bat believed himself to be the victim.

The authorities and Orthodox Murim who oppressed them were the true perpetrators and hypocrites.

Even King of Assassins watching him from above was no different.

That bastard and they themselves were all beings who lived off the deaths of others.

So why were they forced to live in hiding, endlessly hunted, while that bastard sat loftily above them looking down?

“Fuck... fucking hell...!”

As Third Bat spat curses, his eyes turned blood-red.

Then suddenly, he grabbed Fifth Bat by the back of the neck and began absorbing his essence.

“Aaaaagh!”

Fifth Bat had never imagined his own elder brother—whom he had spent his entire life beside—would turn his demonic hand against him.

In an instant, all his blood and Internal Energy were drained away.

Sinister energy surged violently from Third Bat’s body.

He turned his gaze toward Seventh Bat.

The sight of his eldest brother absorbing their second brother was utterly horrifying.

“B-brother...”

“Let us settle our grudge.”

After saying that, Third Bat charged like a ferocious tiger.

Seventh Bat tried to flee, but Third Bat’s martial prowess had always far surpassed his.

In an instant, he caught him from behind and absorbed him as well.

“Ughhh...”

A monstrous howl echoed lowly.

It did not co from the dying Seventh Bat—

It ca from Third Bat himself after devouring his younger brothers.

He raised his head and looked toward Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.

“Hah.”

Divine Slaughter, Shadowless let out a quiet sigh.

There was no longer any reason left in that bastard’s eyes.

The aura pouring from him was no longer martial power, but the raw and unrefined aura of a beast.

Dangerous.

The instincts of a man who had spent his entire life as an assassin scread endless warnings.

“Ru—”

He tried to say “Run.”

But before the word could finish—

Third Bat’s figure had already reached right in front of Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.

Jjeooooong—!

Divine Slaughter, Shadowless crossed his arms to block the punch.

Yet it felt as though he had been struck by a gigantic battering ram, sending him flying backward helplessly.

The arm bones that had t the fist seed completely shattered.

“KRAAAAAAH!”

Third Bat let out savage roars.

It was impossible to tell whether they were cries of pain or rage.

After unleashing energy wildly in all directions, Third Bat suddenly soared into the air.

He threw a punch toward King of Assassins.

King of Assassins rose from his seat and swung his personal weapon—

Soul-Slaying Dagger.

Jjeong—!

With a thunderous explosion, Third Bat and King of Assassins were blasted away from each other in opposite directions.

King of Assassins then looked down at Third Bat with cold eyes.

“Do you wish to die?”

“......”

Third Bat glared murderously upward at King of Assassins before eventually averting his gaze.

Even this resembled a beast.

No matter how savage a wild predator might be, it could not recklessly challenge an opponent obviously stronger than itself.

King of Assassins clicked his tongue.

“You are little different from a monster.”

The na Bat no longer suited him.

Blood Monster.

He truly resembled a monster ford entirely from coagulated blood.

King of Assassins briefly considered whether he should kill the thing.

Even if left alive, it had completely lost its reason and would no longer be capable of cleverly escaping.

Sooner or later, soone like the Alliance Leader or Sword King would inevitably find and kill it.

In other words—

It was no longer profitable.

Then—

“B-brother! Brother!!”

Youngest Bat hurriedly ran toward them while shouting frantically.

Behind him, Seo Yu-gyeom pursued with the grin of a madman.

Youngest Bat had always been the weakest among the brothers.

Naturally so, considering the enormous age gap between them.

Now that Seo Yu-gyeom had reached a level comparable to Divine Slaughter, Shadowless, dealing with him was hardly difficult.

Seo Yu-gyeom leisurely chased Youngest Bat before suddenly stopping after sensing the atmosphere.

“What the hell is that?”

Upon seeing Blood Monster, Seo Yu-gyeom’s expression beca serious.

Youngest Bat reacted similarly.

The mont his eyes t Blood Monster’s, his entire body froze.

Instinctively, he understood.

That thing was no longer the brother he once knew.

His hesitation was brief.

His action was swift.

Youngest Bat imdiately changed direction and fled.

Death waited behind him.

Death waited ahead of him.

So he ran sideways instead.

But Blood Monster was faster.

It leaped into the air and shot toward Youngest Bat.

After already absorbing two younger brothers, naturally it sought to devour the youngest as well and grow even stronger.

Blood Monster tore through the air and grabbed Youngest Bat’s head in one hand.

“G-guaaaagh!”

Youngest Bat scread in utter terror.

His entire body gradually began shriveling up.

anwhile, the aura surrounding Blood Monster slowly turned an even deeper crimson.

Everyone stared silently at the sight.

It was truly grotesque and revolting.

Then suddenly, Seomun Ak shouted.

“No!”

That thing had already beco a monster.

No one could even imagine how much more horrifying it would beco after devouring one more person.

Seomun Ak’s greatest strength was that there was almost no delay between thought and action.

His greatest weakness was that sotis his actions moved faster than his thoughts.

Attempting to stop the absorption, Seomun Ak rushed forward—

Only to wedge himself directly between Blood Monster and Youngest Bat.

“Damn it!”

Seo Yu-gyeom and Divine Slaughter, Shadowless imdiately rushed over and unleashed waves of Saber Aura.

Baek Sang, Baek Seol, and Hwamyeong poured out Sword Aura while Tang So-yeon hurled daggers.

Blood Monster’s back was shredded like rags—

Yet none of their weapons managed to cut through it.

“AAAAAAAH!”

Seomun Ak scread violently.

Having foolishly wedged himself between them, Seomun Ak was now being absorbed together with Youngest Bat.

More precisely, Youngest Bat’s Blood Energy flowed through Seomun Ak’s body into Blood Monster.

For the body of an Orthodox martial artist to withstand such grotesque Demonic Energy was nearly impossible.

Seomun Ak’s eyes turned crimson.

Bulging blood vessels grotesquely protruded all over his body.

It was an extrely dangerous sight.

Divine Slaughter, Shadowless looked urgently toward King of Assassins.

His gaze clearly conveyed—

Do whatever you want later, but do sothing about that now.

The instant King of Assassins rose from his seat—

Kwagagagagak—!

Amid a bizarre tearing sound, a black saber shot toward Blood Monster.

Contrary to its dark blade, it was enveloped in radiant white Saber Aura.

Slash—!

The black saber sliced into Blood Monster’s wrist.

However, Blood Monster’s skin was so thick and tough that it only managed to sever halfway through.

Jin Seong-un flew forward, grabbing Seomun Ak’s collar with one hand and Blood Monster’s half-severed wrist with the other before forcibly tearing them apart through sheer strength.

Krrrack, krrrck—!

With horrifying sounds, Seomun Ak was finally separated.

However, his skin had already decayed into a bluish color, and all elasticity had vanished from his muscles, leaving him nearly mummified.

Everyone knew.

Seomun Ak could not survive.

Yet Jin Seong-un silently approached him and carefully examined his condition.

“Hold it back.”

At Jin Seong-un’s quiet command, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless and Seo Yu-gyeom imdiately unleashed waves of Saber Aura toward Blood Monster.

They intended to prevent the creature from approaching Jin Seong-un and Seomun Ak.

The Orthodox martial artists belatedly realized his intention and joined the assault as well.

Jin Seong-un placed his hand upon Seomun Ak’s back.

Most of his original energy had already been destroyed.

His ridians—even the smallest secondary channels throughout his body—had all been torn apart.

Worse still, the sinister Demonic Energy influenced by Youngest Bat and Blood Monster was devouring Seomun Ak from within.

The amount of Demonic Energy was overwhelming, causing Seomun Ak to die rapidly.

Jin Seong-un circulated Moonlight Energy.

Radiant white energy blood like lotus flowers from the hand resting upon Seomun Ak’s back.

Original True Face Art.

A Qi Art that restored all things to the state they possessed at birth.

“AAAAAAAH!”

Seomun Ak scread again.

But unlike the earlier screams caused by Demonic Energy, this was a strangely familiar scream.

Original True Face Art naturally ca accompanied by screaming.

Jin Seong-un briefly pondered what to do with the Demonic Energy inside Seomun Ak before deciding to restore it to its original state.

The essence of Original True Face Art lay in transforming Moonlight Energy into Innate Qi and stimulating the entire body.

If so—

Perhaps the Demonic Energy inside Seomun Ak could also be refined into the desired form.

It might fail.

But there was no other option anyway.

Cold sweat slowly ford down Jin Seong-un’s back.

Even as explosions and monstrous roars erupted everywhere around them, he closed his eyes and focused solely on Seomun Ak.

It was astonishing concentration.

It felt as though only Jin Seong-un and Seomun Ak existed in the entire world.

How much ti passed?

Eventually, Jin Seong-un slowly opened his eyes.

Seomun Ak’s screams gradually subsided as well.

The bluish decay faded from his skin, returning to its original color.

His shriveled muscles regained their firmness.

Life returned to Seomun Ak’s eyes—

Then, beyond rely returning to normal, a newfound sharpness began to erge.

The enormous energies of Blood Monster and Youngest Bat.

The force that had been destroying Seomun Ak’s body had been completely transford by Original True Face Art into Seomun Ak’s own Internal Energy, accumulating neatly within his dantian.

Recently, Seomun Ak had remained stuck in an unstable Supre Realm.

Compared to his enlightennt, his Internal Energy had been pitifully insufficient.

When Seomun Ak opened and closed his eyes, a gleam flickered briefly within them.

For an instant, he began sensing the energies drifting throughout the surroundings.

Seomun Ak realized his senses had completely changed.

“Are you alright?”

Jin Seong-un asked.

Seomun Ak did not answer.

He simply clenched and unclenched his fists several tis before finally raising his energy.

Crimson Fist Aura enveloped his coarse, pot-lid-sized fists.

It was vastly larger and clearer than even his father Seomun Jeok’s Fist Aura.

Seomun Ak lightly leaped forward.

At that mont, he felt as though this single fist could shatter the entire world.

“Move.”

Seomun Ak—

No, Seomun Fist Hero spoke quietly.

Divine Slaughter, Shadowless, Seo Yu-gyeom, and the others instinctively stepped aside.

Then Seomun Ak’s fist struck Blood Monster.

Jjeong—!

Instead, Seomun Ak was blown away after being punched by Blood Monster.

Sotis people’s confidence surpasses reality.

That was precisely Seomun Ak’s current state.

If rely reaching the complete Supre Realm were enough to kill Blood Monster, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless and Seo Yu-gyeom would have resolved this long ago.

Seomun Ak crashed backward, shattering a boulder with his back.

Then laughter echoed from within the thick dust cloud.

“Hehehe... It hurts less when using Protective Aura.”

The joy of fully reaching the Supre Realm was enough to make him forget even the agony of his back nearly breaking apart.

Jin Seong-un stared at Seomun Ak with an exhausted expression for a mont before turning his gaze back toward Blood Monster.

“Disgusting.”

Whether he ant Blood Monster or Seomun Ak—

Only Jin Seong-un himself would know.