"He’s not the one."
Kang Jung-ryang, a Taoist of the Kongtong Sect who had been closely examining the fallen middle-aged man, shook his head.
"The Ten Demons Warrior who killed Junior Brother Pyeong couldn’t possibly fail to block the Single Slash of Mount Severance."
Clang!
Suddenly, a metallic sound echoed from the opposite entrance. There stood a young man attempting to stealthily slip out of the manor. Blocking his path were Taoists clad in blue robes.
They were from the Zhongnan Sect.
Clash, clash, clash!
The young man, left with no choice, drew his sword and attacked the Zhongnan Sect Taoists. With every clash of weapons, hot steam rose from the man’s body.
Yet, his face, as if covered by a human skin mask, showed not a single bead of sweat.
"The assassination sword technique of the Extreme Slaughter Sect. That’s the Ten Demons Warrior." Kang Jung-ryang shouted to the Kongtong Sect disciples. "Help them attack the Ten Demons Warrior!"
Whoosh.
The Kongtong Sect Taoists rushed forward, joining the assault on the young man.
Ssssss!
As the Zhongnan and Kongtong Sect Taoists surrounded him from both sides, the young man thrust both hands forward with force.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
At the same time, a barrage of hair-thin needles and a poisonous mist poured forth. However, the Taoists, seemingly prepared for poison and hidden weapons, covered their noses and mouths with cloths soaked in antidote.
Clang, clang, clang!
The Zhongnan and Kongtong Sect Taoists, deflecting all the hair-thin needles, began to press the young man. Their sword techniques were not only exceptional but maintained a sophisticated formation.
Slash!
Finally, a sword grazed the man’s shoulder, forcing him to retreat hastily.
"Zhongnan and Kongtong, huh." Muttering with a frustrated expression, the young man was approached by Han Seong, who had been observing from behind.
"Are you the Ten Demons Warrior?"
"Indeed." The young man lightly swept his sleeve across his face, transforming his ordinary appearance into a cold, sharp visage.
It was none other than Seok Woohaeng, the Ten Demons Warrior of the Extreme Slaughter Sect.
"You set a trap specifically to catch me." Han Seong smiled coldly at Seok Woohaeng’s words.
"Of course. A top assassin from the Extreme Slaughter Sect wouldn’t miss such a perfect opportunity." In the confined space of Janggeom Mountain Manor, with a Great Righteous Master as the target.
Moreover, with the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony drawing crowds from various sects… A skilled assassin would never let such an opportunity pass.
"Did you kill Junior Sister Yeo?" At that moment, a middle-aged man with an air of transcendence stepped forward from the Zhongnan Sect group, his robes fluttering.
It was Du Yue, the third of the Seven Swords of Zhongnan.
"Answer me." Seok Woohaeng smirked as he met Du Yue’s stern gaze.
"Does it matter who killed her?"
"What?"
"After all, you and I are nothing but pawns on a chessboard." He raised his assassin’s sword forward and spoke calmly. "Let’s see this to the end."
"You’re overly confident." Han Seong, eyeing Seok Woohaeng’s torn shoulder clothing, spoke coldly. "Do you think you can take on all the masters here alone?"
"..."
"You’re arrogant." Han Seong stared at Seok Woohaeng with a steady gaze. "You probably anticipated there’d be a trap here. And you likely believed you could break through it."
He let out a low scoff.
"But you never imagined that not only the masters of this manor but also those of Zhongnan and Kongtong would surround you, did you?"
"Heh heh heh." Seok Woohaeng, who had been listening silently, suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha! You think I’m arrogant?"
He glanced at Han Seong, Kang Jung-ryang, and Du Yue one by one, speaking slowly.
"My sect never taught me arrogance. And I already anticipated that Zhongnan and Kongtong lackeys would be waiting here."
"What did you say?"
"How long are you going to keep flapping your mouths?" Raising his assassin’s sword, Seok Woohaeng curled his lips coldly. "I’m starting to get bored."
At that, veins bulged on the foreheads of Han Seong, Kang Jung-ryang, and Du Yue simultaneously.
"Die!" With a shout, the warriors of Zhongnan, Kongtong, and Janggeom Mountain Manor all launched their attacks on Seok Woohaeng.
From the sides, Zhongnan and Kongtong Sect warriors. From the front, Janggeom Mountain Manor warriors brandished their gleaming swords. No matter how skilled Seok Woohaeng was, he couldn’t withstand such an onslaught. Yet, a relaxed smile lingered on his face.
"If I die, you won’t get to kill Han Seong!" In the midst of swinging his sword, Seok Woohaeng shouted inexplicably into the air. "When are you going to make your move?!"
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a silent palm strike surged from behind the warriors. The palm force was so soft and subtle it seemed like mist pouring forth.
"Argh!" As the warriors turned, a man in a gray robe moved like a ghost, dismantling their formation.
"That palm technique?" Han Seong’s eyes flashed as he observed.
Unlike typical palm strikes that hit directly, the gray-robed man’s palm force spread like mist. Those struck by it vomited blood and collapsed.
"The Annihilation Palm?" Han Seong shouted, watching the silent, spreading palm force. "It’s the Ten Demons Warrior of the Annihilation Palace!"
The shadowy figure in gray was none other than Myo Cheon-woo, the Ten Demons Warrior of the Annihilation Palace.
"Seok Woohaeng!" Myo Cheon-woo, unleashing rapid and stealthy palm strikes, called out calmly.
"As promised, Han Seong’s head is mine!"
Anticipating a trap at Janggeom Mountain Manor, Seok Woohaeng had contacted Myo Cheon-woo, one of the surviving Ten Demon Warrior, before infiltrating. He promised to let Myo Cheon-woo take Han Seong in exchange for joining forces against the hidden masters of the sects.
—Why make such a losing proposition to me?
When Myo Cheon-woo asked, Seok Woohaeng answered promptly.
—Zhongnan and Kongtong are relentlessly pursuing me. If I don’t deal with them this time, my future actions will be heavily restricted.
—Why me? If you’re teaming up, Bu Eunseol would be the better choice.
—Bu Eunseol...
Seok Woohaeng’s eyes blazed as he spoke coldly.
—He’s just a rival I’ll have to defeat someday!
After much deliberation, Myo Cheon-woo accepted the proposal. He had no ambition to become the Demonic Sect’s successor. He only wished to survive this forced battle. When Zhongnan and Kongtong masters appeared, he kept his promise, assisting Seok Woohaeng in taking them down.
Whoosh!
Myo Cheon-woo felled Janggeom Mountain Manor warriors like straw. With whirlwind-like movement, he unleashed palm strikes at the Zhongnan and Kongtong Taoists as well.
His Annihilation Palm had surpassed the Heaven-Turning realm, reaching the Blood-Heaven realm. The moment it struck, sharp inner energy pierced the body, tearing vital channels and destroying organs.
"Urgh!"
"Aaagh!" The formations of Zhongnan and Kongtong Taoists were all aimed at Seok Woohaeng.
But with Myo Cheon-woo’s sudden appearance, unleashing Annihilation Palms from outside, their ranks collapsed helplessly.
"I’ll handle him!" As the formation teetered on collapse, Han Seong stepped forward to face Myo Cheon-woo.
Shing!
Drawing his sword instantly, Han Seong unleashed the Flowing Dragon Sword Technique, the supreme art of Janggeom Mountain Manor. After a dozen moves, the sword aura of the Flowing Dragon Technique faded, and the mist-like Annihilation Palm force began to envelop Han Seong’s body.
The Flowing Dragon Sword Technique couldn’t counter the Annihilation Palm.
"Help Seong!" At Han Yeongbaek’s shout, Han Seong quickly responded.
"Don’t worry, Father! I can handle this one alone!"
"Ugh." Han Yeongbaek, seeing through his son’s bravado, let out a groan.
Janggeom Mountain Manor was a renowned sword sect, but it hadn’t produced an outstanding swordsman in ages. Contrary to widespread belief, its fame wasn’t particularly high. Han Seong intended to defeat the Ten Demons Warrior single-handedly to elevate Janggeom Mountain Manor’s name.
"Take this!" Pushed to the defensive, Han Seong let out a battle cry and changed his sword technique.
A look of surprise crossed Myo Cheon-woo’s face, who had been unleashing relentless palm strikes. It wasn’t the Flowing Dragon Sword Technique but the Cloud-Severing Sword of the Emei Sect.
"The young master of Janggeom Mountain Manor became a disciple of Emei?" Despite Myo Cheon-woo’s mocking, Han Seong silently pressed on with the Cloud-Severing Sword.
The Martial Alliance’s instructors had intensively taught him the essence of Emei’s Cloud-Severing Sword. Why? Because the Flowing Dragon Sword Technique he had practiced since childhood was the pinnacle of Cloud Swordsmanship, sharply redirecting sword aura.
It was remarkably similar to Emei’s Cloud-Severing Sword.
"Hah!" As Han Seong unleashed the Cloud-Severing Sword, Myo Cheon-woo was quickly pushed to the defensive.
Slash, slash, slash!
The sword strikes targeted the neck and chest, while the sword aura struck from the left and waist. Unable to predict the direction of the strikes, Myo Cheon-woo had no choice but to retreat, unleashing palm strikes.
"That’s Emei’s Cloud Swordsmanship..." Martial artists watching from afar let out exclamations of awe.
Cloud Swordsmanship was similar yet distinct from Zhongnan’s Flowing Swordsmanship. If Flowing Swordsmanship was like a breeze carrying all force, Cloud Swordsmanship was like clouds that vanished and reappeared suddenly.
"If that’s the case..." A purple gleam flared in Myo Cheon-woo’s eyes as he continued defending. "If I can’t predict the direction, I’ll just seize the initiative!"
Myo Cheon-woo, who had been on the defensive, unleashed another barrage of Annihilation Palms.
The Annihilation Palm force, initially spreading like mist, now hovered in the air as if frozen, brimming with power. Using the Eternal Annihilation Heart-Piercing technique, one of the Annihilation Palm’s ultimate moves, he countered the Cloud-Severing Sword’s strikes.
Clang! Whoosh!
The vanishing palm and sword auras swirled and reappeared, dazzling the onlookers.
The Annihilation Palm and Cloud-Severing Sword were evenly matched. Despite relentless exchanges, neither side could gain the upper hand.
"Aaagh!"
"Urgh!" Screams erupted from an unexpected direction.
Seok Woohaeng was steadily cutting down Zhongnan and Kongtong warriors one by one.
"You fiend!" The Zhongnan and Kongtong Taoists were thrown into disarray.
They were all skilled warriors, with Du Yue, one of the Seven Swords of Zhongnan, and Kang Jung-ryang of Kongtong boasting near-transcendent abilities.
Yet, they couldn’t overpower Seok Woohaeng and were instead pushed back, which was incomprehensible.
"Those trained only in temple martial arts can’t possibly match our sect’s techniques."
The Extreme Slaughter Sect specialized in assassination arts, and its martial techniques were no less formidable than those of other Ten Demonic Sects.
Using a variety of poisons and hidden weapons skillfully, Seok Woohaeng overwhelmed them despite being outnumbered.
"Help them!" Han Yeongbaek shouted, but most of Janggeom Mountain Manor’s warriors had already fallen.
"Can’t we take down just these two with this many people?!" Han Yeongbaek clenched his fists tightly.
His son, a Great Righteous Master, the manor’s warriors, and the aid of Zhongnan and Kongtong—yet they were losing!
Perhaps it was inevitable.
The Ten Demon Warrior were battle-hardened veterans who had survived countless skirmishes since Hell Island. Unless they were on the level of a Great Righteous Master, few could push them into a corner.
"Argh!" With a final short scream, more Zhongnan and Kongtong Taoists fell, spraying blood.
Now, only Kang Jung-ryang, Du Yue, and five Taoists from each sect remained.
"Master Han, we’ll lend a hand!" At that moment, dozens of martial artists among the guests drew their swords and spoke to Han Yeongbaek.
"It seems they’re outnumbered, so we’ll help too!" The guests at Janggeom Mountain Manor numbered around three hundred.
If they all joined in, not even the grandfather of the Ten Demon Warrior could stand against them.
"So they’re not coming after all." Muttering an enigmatic soliloquy, Han Yeongbaek nodded reluctantly.
"Ugh." Suddenly, the martial artists began to retch.
"Urk!" Once the retching started, even those who had been fine began vomiting.
"There’s poison in the food!" Someone shouted.
All the food served had been laced with poison.
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