But at the mont when Zhong Yeob was about to bring down the Seven Stars Sword—
"Master!"
Suddenly, a young woman's voice was heard.
It was Lee Rin, the Little Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace and disciple of the Eternal Divine Physician.
Shwiiik! Papapap!
Lee Rin, along with the North Sea's law enforcers, charged directly at Zhong Yeob while unleashing the Ice Lord Asura Sword Art.
As a result, an intense chill swept in around Zhong Yeob.
'This is the North Sea Ice Palace's...?!'
Zhong Yeob frowned.
For now, he swung the Seven Stars Sword and parried the attacks of Lee Rin and the North Sea law enforcers with a sharp, chattering sound.
But in that instant—
Swiik!
Another unexpected attack flew at him.
Gu Janghu had thrown a flying blade from the underbrush, aiming for Zhong Yeob's blind spot.
'Guryong Flying Blade, Fourth Form—Swimming Dragon Rules the World!'
An enhanced willow-leaf flying blade, imbued with energy, shot forth in a shifting, serpentine trajectory like a dragon writhing through the air.
Chuaaak!
Zhong Yeob tried to knock the flying blade aside by channeling strength into the back of his hand.
But in that instant, the willow-leaf flying blade suddenly swerved sharply.
'?!'
Zhong Yeob twisted his eyes, quickly redirecting his hand like lightning.
He then unleashed the supre peak-level martial arts he was known for, blocking a hidden technique that even the master of Killing Valley could not block.
Kaaang!
With a sharp tallic clang, Gu Janghu's willow-leaf flying blade lost its trajectory and was deflected.
Instead, blood stread down the back of Zhong Yeob's hand.
"An attendant, you say? So the Eternal Divine Physician was indeed plotting! To even drag the North Sea Ice Palace into this!"
Zhong Yeob's face twisted with rage.
Enraged, he imdiately charged at Lee Rin.
Ssak!
"?!"
With a supre peak expert's full power rushing in, Lee Rin could not even follow his movent with her eyes.
By the ti her pupils rolled once, Zhong Yeob had already arrived right before her nose.
Kaaaang!
"Kyaaah!"
Lee Rin dropped her sword and was thrown backwards.
Wham! She slamd into a tree and coughed up blood.
Next, it was Gu Janghu's turn.
Ssak!
Appearing in front of Gu Janghu as if teleporting, Zhong Yeob stabbed deeply into his thigh.
"Gehk!"
Blood gushed from Gu Janghu's thigh.
After that, the North Sea's law protectors fell one by one.
Chuak! Chuaaak!!
Every ti Zhong Yeob swung his sword, a fountain of blood erupted.
Especially Han Soweol, who was gravely slashed from shoulder to chest and hovered at death's door.
"Nursemaid...!"
Lee Rin, coughing blood, shouted out.
The rims of her eyes turned red.
The nursemaid she'd spent her life with was at death's doorstep.
Yet there was nothing she could do.
Though she had defeated the valley lord of Killing Valley, before the Zhongnan Sect's sect leader—an apex expert in the martial world—she was simply powerless.
Zhong Yeob spoke in a voice filled with killing intent.
"I ca alone to quietly deal with the Eternal Divine Physician. Yet you people make such a ruckus."
"...!"
"Now, everyone die."
Zhong Yeob's sword aid for Lee Rin's neck.
Swiik!
Just as the sword light was about to fly at Lee Rin's neck—
Kwaaaang!!!
An enormous golden ki exploded out, blocking Zhong Yeob's sword.
'What is this guy now?!'
Zhong Yeob's eyes widened.
In front of him stood a young martial artist, looking as though he had just passed the age of twenty.
It was Red Light Calamity, Jaseong.
Thanks to the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula, he had fully recovered his vitality, lted away the 60-year cycle internal energy, and even ford his middle dantian—the golden aura was sweeping across his body like a storm.
'... The enemies of my eldest brother and sister-in-law. And the foe who hard Master and my companions...! I will kill him no matter what!'
In Jaseong's eyes, surveying the area, burned trendous rage and venom.
Lee Rin, his companions, and the Eternal Divine Physician—who had beco a ntor to him—all lay fallen and bleeding.
The sight was reminiscent of the bloody day at the Red Light District, when he lost his eldest brother and sister-in-law.
Saaa—
Jaseong imdiately activated Samadhi Eyes.
The world began to slow down.
He could now see the blue intent of Zhong Yeob.
As befitting an apex expert, Zhong Yeob's intent spread like a dense circle, covering dozens of feet around them.
'Tenth Gate, Heaven's Gate open.'
Jaseong imdiately opened the maximum number of Immortal Gates he could.
With that, kwaa! The golden ki poured out even more powerfully.
Normally, Jaseong would not have been able to keep the Tenth Gate, Heaven's Gate, open for long.
But thanks to the treatnt by the Eternal Divine Physician, now endowed with two cycles' worth of internal energy, he could use it freely.
As a result, even without using the Celestial Gate Opening Art, the once peak-level master Jaseong had now reached the supre peak realm.
'To think the Eternal Divine Physician had such a disciple... Where did this brat even co from? He looks sohow familiar...'
Unlike when facing Lee Rin and Gu Janghu, Zhong Yeob raised the Seven Stars Sword with a wary look in his eyes.
That instant—
Sreuk! Sreuk! Sreuk! Sreuk! Sreuk! Sreuk!
Jaseong's movent created fifteen shadows.
He had activated the Heaven Evading Phantom Step.
"So illusion art, huh? You little brat, you have so tricks!"
But it did not work at all on Zhong Yeob.
As an apex expert, he pierced Jaseong's true form at once.
Chang!
Zhong Yeob's sword flew straight at Jaseong's real body.
Jaseong swung his sword swiftly in response.
Changchangchangchang!!
Heaven Evading Flash Sword, Third Form: Hundred Descending Calamities.
With ultra-high-speed consecutive slashes, dozens of golden afterimages filled the air.
'What incredible sword speed...!'
Zhong Yeob's eyes twitched in surprise.
But he imdiately switched sword styles.
Thirty-Six Heavenly Sword Art, twelfth Form: Thousand Peaks and Ten Thousand Ridges!
Heavy sword pressure bore down on Jaseong.
Kwajik!
Jaseong's feet were driven into the ground.
'Urgh...!'
Jaseong quickly used Heaven Evading Phantom Step to retreat.
Then, he unleashed the secret technique taught to him by the Sword Demon.
Heaven Evading Shadow Annihilation Sword!
Chuchuchuchuchuchuchu!
Nine thrusts were unleashed simultaneously.
Nine golden sword lights aid at Zhong Yeob's vital points.
"...!"
At Jaseong's astonishing skill, Zhong Yeob's eyes sharpened.
Changchangchangchangchang!!
But Zhong Yeob blocked all nine sword lights with just his Seven Stars Sword.
"It's a fine sword art. But it's still not enough! My sword carries the weight of the martial world!"
With a shout, Zhong Yeob exploded his entire internal power and unleashed the Thirty-Six Heavenly Sword Art.
The sword pressure now pressed down on all sides of Jaseong as if Mount Tai were upon him.
Jaseong unleashed the Heaven Evading Flash Sword, cultivated to its highest limits, eting Zhong Yeob's sword pressure head-on.
Their bout extended over a thousand moves—but at one point—
Chuak!
Zhong Yeob's sword aura grazed Jaseong's flank.
'Kgh!'
Jaseong swallowed a groan and retreated.
He tried to counterattack imdiately, but—
Kakakakakang! Chaechachachachaeng! Chuaak! Chuak! Chuk!
Amid the clashing steel, wounds piled up all over Jaseong's body.
On his arms, shoulders, thighs—blood continually seeped out.
"Haa... haa...."
Jaseong's breath grew rough and shallow.
He glared at Zhong Yeob, his eyes streaming blood.
Zhong Yeob, too, was panting.
Still, his energy remained formidable.
As could be expected of the Zhongnan Sect's sect leader, one who ranked near the top among the Ten Great Experts of the orthodox world—a true apex expert.
Jaseong had thought himself strong enough, but the gap with such an apex master remained this great.
'This won't do....'
Jaseong considered even using the mutual destruction technique he had resorted to in the past against the Heavenly Demon's disciple, Yeom Musa.
With ti slowed by Samadhi Eyes, if his opponent's intent tried to slash his arm or flank, Jaseong would aim for their neck or heart—their vital point.
Of course, Zhong Yeob was several levels above even Yeom Musa.
Just getting grazed on the side wouldn't let Jaseong pierce his vital point.
He might lose an arm. Maybe even both arms.
But Jaseong did not retreat.
'I absolutely cannot lose...! I can't collapse before the enemy I've sought for so long! Even at the cost of my life...!'
Then, at that mont—
–Master... I shall lend you my strength.
Suddenly, the voice of the Wicked Fla Sword sounded in Jaseong's head.
'......!'
It was the voice the Night Cat Celestial Spirit had warned about.
He had just recovered his vitality; if he borrowed the Wicked Fla Sword's power now, he would burn his life out even faster and risk falling into ki deviation.
Even so...
Jaseong gripped the sword hilt tighter.
'If I can cut down my enemy, whatever the cost, I'll accept it...!'
Perhaps in response to Jaseong's tenacity, the Wicked Fla Sword spoke again.
–Just once, you can wield it. If you use your feeble middle dantian.
'The middle dantian...?'
Jaseong finally recalled the power nestled near his heart.
A tiny strength he never knew how to use before.
The innate true ki of the middle dantian.
Whoosh!
It flared pure white as the Wicked Fla Sword spoke.
An incredible energy erupted from near Jaseong's heart.
–As tired as you are, so too is your enemy. So... stake everything on this blow!
Listening to the Wicked Fla Sword, Jaseong searched for an opening in the veil of intent Zhong Yeob had cast, using Samadhi Eyes.
'There...!'
The left side of Zhong Yeob's nape. He saw a tiny gap there.
At once, Jaseong charged toward Zhong Yeob.
"You're getting desperate now!"
Zhong Yeob thrust at Jaseong's right shoulder.
Jaseong did not block.
He had no energy left to pay attention to defense.
Chuak!
Jaseong's shoulder was pierced.
'Kgh!'
He clenched his teeth, enduring the pain.
And then—
Whoooosh!!!
He awakened the Wicked Fla Sword, black flas flaring along the blade.
To it, he added the golden aura of the Heaven Evading Way.
Kwaaaa!!!!
A truly brilliant Black-Gold Sword Aura.
The innate true ki of the middle dantian, the demonic energy of the Wicked Fla Sword, and the immortal energy of the Heaven Evading Way all fused into one.
With that, Jaseong's sword trajectory suddenly beca incomparably faster.
Shwishhh!!
'What the...?!'
Zhong Yeob was flustered.
With Jaseong's sword abruptly several tis faster, even the greatest sword expert could be caught off guard.
Because of it—
Chuaaaak!
With the cruel sound of flesh and bone being sliced, Zhong Yeob's neck was severed.
His head, flying through the air, was fixed with a look of utter disbelief.
', Zhong Yeob... The one who survived both the War of Orthodox and Unorthodox and the Great Heavenly Demon War... Defeated by such a young brat...?'
Zhong Yeob, sect leader of the Zhongnan Sect and ranked among the upper echelons of the Ten Great Experts of the orthodox world.
This was the mont he was annihilated by that Calamity Sent from Heaven, the prodigy of the Red Light District.
* * *
Thunk!
Zhong Yeob's body slumped to the ground.
Blood poured out from the beheaded neck.
"... Haa... haa...."
Jaseong fell to his knees, breathing raggedly.
His entire body was drenched in blood.
His right shoulder was completely ruined.
Yet, his energy was not depleted.
Just as the Wicked Fla Sword had said, using the innate true ki of the middle dantian had saved him.
Otherwise, Jaseong would have collapsed long ago, coughing up blood.
'I really did get stronger... Strong enough to take down Zhong Yeob, the "Celestial Sword of Supre Void", sect leader of the Zhongnan Sect and one of the top Ten Great Experts of the orthodox world....'
It was thanks to eting the Eternal Divine Physician and being healed with all sorts of elixirs.
And thanks to forming the middle dantian through the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula.
Luck played a part, too.
If Zhong Yeob hadn't exhausted himself against the Eternal Divine Physician and the others, Jaseong could never have won alone.
But so what?
Zhong Yeob was dead, and Jaseong had survived.
In the martial world, that was all that truly mattered.
Now, Jaseong slowly walked toward the fallen Zhong Yeob.
Without realizing it, his eyes began to tear up.
The Zhongnan Sect, the Murong Clan, the Hebei Peng Clan, the Demonic Cult—all responsible for the deaths of his eldest brother and sister-in-law.
He had taken down the leader of one of them.
It was the mont when all the hardship and bitter training he had endured finally felt worthwhile.
Step, step—
With each step, mories flashed through Jaseong's mind.
His family, slaughtered by bandits, leaving only him and his eldest brother to escape together.
The days spent in the depths of the Red Light District, penniless but still laughing and getting by.
The smiling faces of his brother and sister-in-law, eagerly awaiting the birth of his nephew.
Everything shimred before his eyes.
Crunch!
Even though Zhong Yeob was already dead, Jaseong poured sword aura into the Wicked Fla Sword and crushed Zhong Yeob's skull.
Then, swallowing back his rising sobs, he muttered in a low voice.
"... Big brother. Sister-in-law. Your little brother has finally done it. I've cut down the first of our enemies. I'll send the rest after him soon, so you and my nephew won't be lonely."
Jaseong raised his head.
In his eyes, more sorrow than anger flickered, searching already for his next enemy.
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