Soho wore a blank expression for a moment.
There was no way to escape this deadly encirclement, yet he was telling him to become his disciple if he survived in the midst of it?
'He thinks I am afraid.'
He thought that Tak Ilhon was comforting him with hopeful words, even in a situation facing death.
"I am not afraid of death, Sir."
Misunderstanding Tak Ilhon's words, Soho spoke with an earnest expression.
"It is just that I am sorry that you are risking your life for a vagrant like me, Sir."
It was not unreasonable to think this way. This area was completely surrounded, and there was absolutely no way to shake off the pursuit.
"It is not good to hold vague hopes, but you should not give up easily either."
Seeing through Soho's inner thoughts, Tak Ilhon chuckled and said.
"Because a desperate moment is an everyday occurrence for a martial artist."
And rousing his internal energy again, he said.
"First survive, and then let us talk again."
Vwoom.
But at that moment.
Tak Ilhon's super-senses, no, his intuition, detected something.
"Hahaha."
He suddenly let out a low laugh and nodded.
"No, shall we close the distance as much as possible and then fight again."
"Yes?"
Float.
Once again holding Soho and the unconscious Seulgae in both arms, Tak Ilhon,
Rumblllle!
Broke through the formation nearing completion in all directions with his body and was escaping this area once again.
"His movement technique is incredible."
On a hill overlooking the ruined forest, there was a shadow looking at Tak Ilhon while hiding its appearance.
It was a masked man with deep-set eyes and a prominent nose like a Hui person.
"No matter if he is the Flying Demon, he cannot withstand this military force alone."
In the martial world, the realm of a movement technique is by no means a measure of martial prowess.
Even if one crosses a thousand li (里) without leaving a single footprint, one cannot command the world with those movement arts.
What is given to one who has reached the ultimate pinnacle of qinggong is not the seat of a conqueror, but merely the title of a master of movement techniques.
Furthermore, the masked man's faction held intelligence networks like the nets of heaven and a mighty military force.
Even if Tak Ilhon's movement technique was astounding, it was merely an afterimage that momentarily dazzled the eyes.
He could never escape the encirclement.
And as if to prove that fact.
Bang!
Along with an explosive roar, Tak Ilhon, who was trying to escape the area as a streak of black line, ultimately fell to the ground.
He had been struck squarely by the hidden weapons fired by the subordinates.
"Sir. Please put us down."
Clinging to Tak Ilhon's arm, Soho spoke desperately.
He had realized that Tak Ilhon could not dodge the attacks because he was running while holding them.
Swaaassh!
Tak Ilhon instead doubled his movement technique.
But instead of escaping this area, he circled widely, drawing a large circle.
Since it was a situation where he could not escape anyway, he was observing the enemy's situation once again.
Thud-thud-thud.
Using his internal energy intermittently, he piled up the surrounding branches and stones in a circle.
Then, at some point, light began to shine from there.
He had deployed a formation using surrounding objects while performing a high-speed movement technique.
Whisk.
When the formation was completed, he quickly put Soho and Seulgae inside.
Then, the figures of the two people disappeared in an instant.
Ta-ak.
Landing on the ground, Tak Ilhon drew his dagger with a relieved expression.
"Shall we play for a bit!"
Swaaassh!
Transforming into a streak of light, he began striking down the pursuers.
His speed was so fast that those who were attacked would move normally with red lines drawn on their bodies.
Before belatedly spewing blood and collapsing.
"Hmm."
The masked man observing the situation from the hill stroked his chin.
"Was the Flying Demon's martial arts at that level?"
It was known that in his old age, he had entered Majeon to live comfortably by clinging to the prestige of the Martial Soul Command Lord.
But he was cultivating movement techniques and martial arts incomparable to the past?
Pondering for a moment, he blew a loud whistle.
Then, martial artists holding poisoned swords heavily smeared with deadly poison appeared from the empty air and surrounded Tak Ilhon once again.
But there was something they were also mistaken about.
Masters of movement arts who can instantaneously move quickly are particularly strong in one-versus-many battles.
They are adept at compressing their muscles like springs and using them explosively to extract maximum speed.
They possess superhuman horizontal balance.
Even when changing directions sharply or stopping suddenly, they do not lose their center of gravity.
Because they move at high speeds, they possess transcendent reflexes and dynamic visual acuity.
Pa-pa-pat!
Tak Ilhon cut down twenty masked men once again.
But dozens of red blood lines were drawn on his body as well.
No matter how fast he moved.
Ultimately, because he was guarding the perimeter of where Soho was hidden, it was not difficult to gauge his trajectory.
"Flying Demon, that guy must be killed without fail."
Behind the Flying Demon was the Martial Soul Command Lord.
Not only did the Martial Soul Command Lord possess great intellect, but he also operated a mighty intelligence organization.
If that guy survived here?
Their tail would be caught, and the faction he belonged to could suffer ruin.
Bu Eunseol. That guy had accomplished things thought impossible until now, after all.
"It is not completed yet, but."
The masked man's eyes turned cold as ice.
"It cannot be helped."
And as he reached out a hand, a white air current spread out, and Tak Ilhon, who was continuing the offensive and defensive battle, staggered for a moment.
As the masked man standing on the hill exerted his power, Tak Ilhon's movements became noticeably slower.
Pat! Pat!
He still faced the enemies with lightning-like movements, but the energy the masked man emanated made his figure sluggish every time.
Because of that, his footsteps tangled and his movements became slow, and it was even clearly exposed how his legs moved and how he changed directions.
The profound context of that movement technique could now be clearly observed from the outside.
'What kind of ghost-like trick is this?'
Amidst the fierce blood battle, Tak Ilhon's eyes flashed wide open.
An unknown energy poured in from all directions, heavily pressing down on his body, and even time seemed to slow down.
Because of that, the profound principles of the movement arts he had cultivated were being completely exposed.
'I cannot expose the Command Lord's martial arts to the outside.'
Even if he were defeated, such a thing must never happen.
Clang.
Ultimately, Tak Ilhon withdrew his specialty movement technique and began to continue the fight standing in place.
Vwoom, vwoom.
At some point, a mysterious light repeatedly blinked in his eyes.
Far from victory, as his secret movement arts were on the verge of being thoroughly observed and stolen by another.
Unable to retreat any further, Tak Ilhon roused the Powerful Dragon Pulse-Destroying Soul.
"He is trying to use the Powerful Dragon Pulse-Destroying Soul. Dodge!"
As the masked man who was watching the fight while hidden on the hill shouted,
"It was there!"
Swaaash!
Tak Ilhon's figure flashed like lightning and flew toward that spot.
Trying to use the Powerful Dragon Pulse-Destroying Soul was a trick from the beginning, in order to find the source of the energy making his body sluggish.
"You bastard!"
Flying in like a bird, Tak Ilhon spread his five fingers sharply, attempting to grab the top of the masked man's head.
In a situation like this, the easiest way to escape was to subdue the leader.
"You use your head like an old ginger."
As the masked man's eyes flashed, Tak Ilhon's movement technique became even more sluggish.
Pat!
Not missing that opportunity, the masked man struck.
Tak Ilhon fiercely rotated his body to dodge the strike, but a long wound was left on his shoulder.
"Are you the One Hundred and Eight Stars."
"One Hundred and Eight Stars? Hahaha."
The masked man wore a sneer.
"The era of swaggering with just the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars has long passed."
The masked man narrowed his eyes into half-moons.
"Because so many powerful individuals have emerged in this era."
Tak Ilhon's eyes flashed.
When the One Hundred and Eight Stars first appeared, they boasted invincible majesty, but.
As the limitations of their power only manifesting within specific domains, and the fatal weakness of neglecting acquired training by relying on innate strength, were revealed.
They were no longer a threat to the super-powerhouses of the martial world.
"To overcome that weakness, our main family has been researching methods to implant the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars into masters who have cultivated outstanding martial arts."
Perhaps thinking Tak Ilhon was a caught fish, the masked man revealed his affiliation without hesitation.
'Main family.'
The factions that had continuously brought the One Hundred and Eight Stars into the martial world were the Jungson family or the Yangseol family.
In other words, the probability was high that this guy belonged to one of those two places.
"Are you an individual of the Three Families."
"Well."
The masked man narrowed his eyes into half-moons.
"Ask that to King Yama in the netherworld."
Whoosh.
As the masked man spread both arms, a macabre energy rose.
What he wielded was not simply the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
It saw through the enemy's flow of true energy and circulation of energy and blood, and melted the physical body from its root.
It was a new preternatural power combined with martial arts.
Vwooom!
In an instant, a light pressure that seemed to unify heaven and earth poured from his palms.
It looked like light, but.
In reality, it bound Tak Ilhon's limbs like invisible iron chains and twisted his energy and blood.
Thud, thud.
Tak Ilhon hardened like stone and became unable to move.
The suppressed energy and blood flowed in reverse like flames, burning his skin and spreading heat deep into his bones.
Starfire Blood-Chains.
He had activated the technique combining martial arts and the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
Tremble, tremble.
Tak Ilhon fought back with all his might, but.
He was helpless before the power of the Starfire Blood-Chains, which bound the circulation of true energy and preternatural power to burn even his energy and blood.
Pa-at!
At that moment, a small shadow suddenly popped out of the transparent veil and blocked the light pouring onto Tak Ilhon's body.
As Tak Ilhon's life hung in the balance, Soho, unable to just watch, had blocked his front.
"Uwaaaah!"
To try and block the power of the Starfire Blood-Chains, which even a master like Tak Ilhon found overwhelming, with the body of a young boy who had just grown up?
It was too reckless an attempt.
"Sir...... please dodge!"
Soho shouted with the veins all over his body popping out tightly.
He could not stand by and watch a peerless master like Tak Ilhon vainly lose his life to save a vagrant like himself.
"How pitiful."
The masked man snorted and spread the pressure even more intensely.
But Soho's patience was incredible, and.
He gritted his teeth and held on until Tak Ilhon could move to some extent.
Trickle.
Eventually, blood flowed from Soho's eyes.
No matter how incredible his patience and will.
A boy who had not properly mastered martial arts could not block the power of the Starfire Blood-Chains.
"I'm sorry."
Even as his consciousness blurred, Soho apologized to Tak Ilhon.
"Because this happened due to us."
"Hmm."
At that moment, Tak Ilhon, who had been crouching with a painful expression, let out a sigh.
And as he reached out his hand,
Vwoom.
Suddenly, Soho felt his Dazhui acupoint becoming warm, and the pouring pressure became effortless.
Not only that, but wasn't the power of the Starfire Blood-Chains flowing down his waist and disappearing into the ground?
"What?"
As Tak Ilhon blocked the power of the Starfire Blood-Chains with a completely fine expression and his waist perfectly straight, the masked man glared with wide eyes.
"How?"
"Did you think this Protector would be defeated by a rat like you? However......."
He sighed while looking around.
"Since there were so many of your comrades spread out around, I just tried to buy some time moderately."
Although he earned the byname Flying Demon because of his exceptional qinggong, he was a martial arts fanatic crazy enough about martial arts to go to Shaolin to steal secret manuals.
Having mastered all kinds of demonic arts while imprisoned in Shaolin, and having repeatedly undergone shedding of his mortal shell with Bu Eunseol's help, he.
Had already rapidly risen as one of the hidden super-powerhouses of the martial world. There was no way he would struggle against a single technique of the Starfire Blood-Chains.
"Farewell."
A red light rose from Tak Ilhon's dagger.
It was the Life-Reaving Soul-Chase, a variant of the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form passed down by Bu Eunseol.
In an instant, the masked man glared with wide eyes.
Before he knew it, the dagger that had been in Tak Ilhon's hand was embedded in his own neck.
The masked man, who had been glaring at Tak Ilhon for a long time,
Pshhh.
Pulled out the blade as if frustrated and shouted loudly.
"You too will die soon anyway!"
The fresh blood pouring from his neck flowed copiously, dyeing his whole body red.
Swaaaa.
At that moment, the surroundings darkened, and over forty masked men surrounded Tak Ilhon.
They were the comrades of the masked men who had not stepped forward until now.
"You guys are now......."
The masked man who was about to shout loudly.
Suddenly trembled as if struck by lightning, and with a thudding sound, died instantly just like that.
Vwoom.
Then, a pure white light flowed from the eyes of the masked men surrounding the area.
Knowing that Tak Ilhon was an incredible master, they were going to strike all at once.
Tremble.
Tak Ilhon looked down at his lightly trembling right hand.
In fact, the martial prowess of the masked man just now was incredible, to the level where Tak Ilhon had to fight with all his might.
Also, although the Life-Reaving Soul-Chase Form was incredibly powerful enough to strike down an enemy a level higher in a single breath and boasted perfect accuracy.
It had to be backed by internal energy of at least eight gapja.
Since he did not have such internal energy yet, he deployed it by instantly exploding all the power in his body in one breath, and.
Ultimately, he was so exhausted that even moving a finger was difficult.
"It is fine now."
At that moment, Tak Ilhon said while looking at Soho.
"Because everything is over."
'He is trying to comfort me.'
Thinking that Tak Ilhon was being considerate so that he, facing death, would not be afraid, Soho,
"Yes."
Answered confidently and courageously with his chest puffed out by Tak Ilhon's side.
"I am not afraid of death."
As if finding such an appearance of Soho admirable, Tak Ilhon patted his head and said.
"No, I meant it is really fine."
"Yes?"
"Because that person has come."
Rumblllle.
A roaring sound was heard from the end of the horizon.
Swaaaash!
At first, it was like the sound of thunder heard from afar, but.
In the blink of an eye, it turned into an eardrum-tearing explosive sound that seemed to rip the atmosphere.
As Soho raised his head, a single purple flash was flying like a comet from afar.
Along the trajectory the flash passed, huge trees blew away like paper, and the surrounding rocks shattered into pieces due to the spreading shockwave.
Goooooo!
And behind that purple flash.
A black meteor followed closely behind, creating a ring of white vapor.
Bang! Crash!
A streak of purple lightning and the black meteor descended to the ground almost simultaneously.
Then, the roaring sound stopped like a lie.
Within the shadow burning with purple flames, eyes harboring a chill that seemed to freeze the whole world could be seen, and.
The black shadow stood side by side next to it, as if attending.
Sizzle, crackle.
As the purple flames scattered.
The figure of a peerless handsome man wearing a red robe fluttering elegantly in the wind was seen.
Just looking at it felt like being endlessly sucked in, like looking into the abyss of a deep night that permitted not a single speck of light.
The one attending by his side was.
A woman wrapped from head to toe in black night clothes.
Paradoxically, the black night clothes revealed her beauty even more clearly.
The tight-fitting clothes perfectly showed her slender shoulder line and narrow waist, as well as the power and flexibility condensed within her small frame.
Her martial prowess also seemed to have reached an incredible realm.
She was exuding an energy like a well-sharpened blade... harboring both the taut tension right before leaving the bowstring, and a flowing softness like water.
It was none other than Bu Eunseol and Soyo.
"Command Lord."
Tak Ilhon respectfully offered a greeting to Bu Eunseol.
"You came after seeing the signal."
Bu Eunseol nodded.
The emergency signal of the Death Spirit Corps members was what he was most wary of, and a signal that must never ring out.
Upon hearing from Soyo the message that it had burst in Jiuquan close to the Jade Gate Pass, he had rushed here by unleashing his qinggong with all his might.
'That person is the Martial Soul Command Lord!'
Soho, who was looking at Bu Eunseol from Tak Ilhon's side, drooled from his mouth.
―The eternally immortal sun of the demonic path martial world, the brilliant commander of a hundred victories in a hundred battles, the peerless great man whose tale will be passed down through centuries and generations......
When Tak Ilhon said such words earlier, it felt somewhat exaggerated and strange.
But facing that peerless visage, didn't those expressions rather feel lacking?
'I suppose that person is his spouse.'
Soho's eyes looking at Soyo became unfocused.
Even the mask could not completely contain her beauty.
The two eyes revealed above the mask were like a deep and cool night lake, and a piece of moonlight was contained in the pitch-black pupils, shining coolly.
Her gaze harbored an indistinct deep sorrow along with a sharpness that seemed to pierce through everything.
Every time her long and delicate eyelashes fluttered slightly, her shaded eyes emitted a breathtaking allure.
Occasionally when the wind blew, a single strand of silken silver hair escaped from the side of her mask and faintly sparkled under the sunlight.
Although her face could not be seen properly.
That alone was enough to guess how noble and beautiful she would be.
"Boy, you must offer a greeting to the Command Lord."
At Tak Ilhon's words, Soho finally snapped to his senses and prostrated himself flat beneath the feet of Bu Eunseol and Soyo.
"I greet the Command Lord and the Madam!"
"No, that person is not the Madam but......."
As a flustered Tak Ilhon waved both hands and stopped Soho,
In an instant, Soyo's previously soft eyes sank coldly.
Catching that mood, Tak Ilhon said in a trailing voice.
"......The lady who will one day be the Madam."
Clang.
At that moment, the masked men surrounding the area drew their poisoned swords.
"Those guys."
Tak Ilhon clicked his tongue and pointed at the masked men.
"It seems they came from the Three Families. They are using the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars and the power of martial arts simultaneously."
But that sound did not reach Bu Eunseol's ears.
He had discovered the sharp wounds covering the bodies of Tak Ilhon and Soho.
Vwoom.
In an instant, a blood-red light spread from his eyes.
There are rules implicitly observed in the martial world.
Such as not touching children and women who do not know martial arts, or not using forbidden hidden weapons that exert vicious power......
And recently, one more bloody unwritten rule was spreading in the martial world.
―If you want to die quickly without pain, touch the people of the Martial Soul Command Lord.
There were people who had touched the Martial Soul Command Lord and lived, but.
There was not a single person who had touched the people of the Martial Soul Command Lord and survived.
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