Chapter 036. Murong Gang (2)
The grasslands of the North are very vast.
If an ordinary person gets lost, it is not an exaggeration to say they could wander there for a lifetime.
Even if the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable Un Wol-hyang is an expert who has stepped into the transcendental realm, she cannot be completely free from the vastness of the grasslands.
Therefore, although she rushed over, putting aside everything after receiving Dam Jeok-san's message, finding him is a very difficult task.
Since she doesn't have a signal flare, nor does a cursed object that can track him exist.
However, the sense of an expert of the Entering Transformation Realm sometimes displays superpowers comparable to those.
Especially if there is an intense fluctuation of qi, detection is possible without fail.
Of course, at the point such a fluctuation occurs, it could be seen as facing an irreversible crisis, but.......
Un Wol-hyang decided to trust her martial nephew.
* * *
The pouring pressure.
And the demonic energy swelling as if to burst.
A sword strike rushes in, where just being swept by the aftermath makes life and death uncertain.
It is truly a desperate situation.
However,
'The killing intent is faint.'
Dam Jeok-san examined that sword with calm eyes until the end.
There is an intention to kill, but not immediately. He intends to torture and ridicule. Since he hasn't shaken off his deep-seated grudge.
It is the clear arrogance of the strong. Because the bastard thinks of him as a toy to play with. But what Dam Jeok-san relied on was also only that arrogance.
Grind. Dam Jeok-san gritted his teeth but held his sword upright. He must endure. Even by relying on that arrogance.
If he doesn't endure, the Black Panther Spear and Gyeong-won, who followed trusting him, will die first.
Dam Jeok-san took a step forward and extended his sword towards Murong Gang.
Starting from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Tension enters his entire body tightly.
WHOOOOOSH!
All the energy drawn up from his whole body dwells in his sword blade. The Sword Flame, reminiscent of the dark blue night sky, spread out widely and solidly like a shield.
And Murong Gang's sword falling down on top of it.
As the boiling demonic energy, like the scorching sun, fell above Dam Jeok-san's head, it felt mysterious as if watching the sun illuminate the night sky.
But that was only for a moment.
THUD!
Simultaneously with the two swords clashing, a formidable pressure weighed down on Dam Jeok-san.
A heavy feeling as if a rock weighing about tens of thousands of catties fell on his head. Beyond the sword, pain came as if his whole body was being crushed, and blood surged beyond his throat.
CRACKLE—
Along with that, cracks begin to appear on the shield woven by Dam Jeok-san's Sword Flame. Red hairlines spreading on the dark blue night sky.
The sky unfolded by Dam Jeok-san was precarious as if it would collapse at any moment.
"Quite impressive."
Looking down at such a Dam Jeok-san, Murong Gang suddenly opened his mouth.
"......."
"Quite tough."
Although he thought he wouldn't last even a moment.
He continued speaking in a tone that indicated he didn't like it. However, contrary to his tone, a very bright smile hung on Murong Gang's lips.
"Those who achieved this much at your age must be countable on one hand."
"......."
"If I kill you, I could give a great sense of loss to that Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle too."
Ah, was it for that reason?
Dam Jeok-san, who hadn't even been able to open his mouth to maintain the precarious defense that seemed likely to break at any moment, could only then understand Murong Gang's words.
Well, would Master grieve for his death? He might regret the talent a bit. Just as he did when he lost his dantian. However, the bastard won't be able to achieve what he wants.
Because the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle was not the kind of human to feel sorrow, even if he felt regret over a disciple's death.
Of course, Dam Jeok-san didn't bother to chatter about that fact. Since doing so wouldn't likely instill disappointment in Murong Gang's eyes filled with expectation.
He simply added strength to his sword steadfastly.
"Tough."
Murong Gang revealed a neurotic sign looking at Dam Jeok-san who hadn't been pushed back even a step yet.
Should I pour out my full power and kill him like this? An attitude briefly revealing such passion. It means his heart was shaken even a little. Although he too fell into the trap he dug himself.
Dam Jeok-san muttered inwardly 'It's now.' and pushed his sword straight up.
It wasn't even a tight balance, and the situation was overwhelming.
Dam Jeok-san's sword path wriggled bizarrely, digging into the sun of demonic energy emitted by Murong Gang like a snake climbing a tree.
Something that should have been impossible originally happened.
That is soon evidence that the Exploding Star, one of the Five Great Ultimate Techniques of the Murong Clan, was partially broken!
"......!"
Deep astonishment filled Murong Gang's eyes.
Dam Jeok-san could also understand the doubt dwelling in his eyes.
The Exploding Star is a secret technique forged over hundreds of years by the Murong Clan, which was once one of the Five Great Families.
That is, the essence containing hundreds of years of Murong history.
No matter how outstanding his talent, it is not a martial art that can be broken in an instant.
If a Half-Demon hadn't unfolded it, if it hadn't been twisted by being soaked in demonic energy.
Then surely it would have been so.
However, the demonic energy created cracks. All martial achievements Murong Gang attained were due to demonic energy, and Dam Jeok-san's 'eyes' could pierce through that.
What he broke was not the hundreds of years of Murong Clan history, but the Half-Demon named Murong Gang.
KABOOOOOOOM!
Dam Jeok-san's sword finally completely countered the Exploding Star's demonic energy.
When it reached there.
Dam Jeok-san's intensely burning Sword Flame was completely worn away.
Blade and blade, with demonic energy and Sword Flame extinguished, collide.
CLANG!
A primitive metallic sound strikes their eardrums. What remains after the fierce genuine qi disappears is only a single sword.
What decided superiority in their confrontation was also swordsmanship.
A very rare occurrence in confrontations between martial artists who have surpassed a certain level.
Murong Gang's sword pressing down arrogantly from top to bottom, and Dam Jeok-san's sword rising from bottom to top as if surging.
The two people's swordsmanship was surprisingly on par. Even if Dam Jeok-san possessed innate talent, the years Murong Gang had accumulated could not be ignored.
What created the difference then was the crude breaking method Dam Jeok-san created.
The movement of qi also originates from swordsmanship.
Therefore, the method to break an attack wielding destructive genuine qi remained effective even when competing in swordsmanship.
SCREEEEECH!
With the sound of metal scraping, Dam Jeok-san's sword rode up Murong Gang's sword blade and deeply cut his shoulder.
SLASH!
Fresh blood splatters from where Dam Jeok-san's sword passed.
"Ha......."
An indescribably complex exclamation burst out from Murong Gang's mouth.
"I didn't know I would see blood, I was too complacent. Blinded by the pleasure of revenge I haven't even taken yet."
A desolate glint sprang up from his vermilion eyes. Dam Jeok-san instinctively realized that it was pure killing intent.
"Disciple of the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle, I will kill you first. Nothing will be done before killing you. Well, I will listen to your last words at least."
Murong Gang aimed his sword at Dam Jeok-san, disregarding the wound on his shoulder.
WHOOOOM! Along with the vibration, formidable demonic energy dwells in the sword blade. A level of power once again on a different track from before.
It seemed Murong Gang also forcibly drew out his full power.
There was a reason for that.
That is the precursor of the Falling Star Calamity Destruction, the ultimate technique most specialized in annihilation even among the Five Great Ultimate Techniques of the Murong Clan.
'I will definitely die from this......?'
Indeed, befitting a martial art unparalleled in history, known to be difficult to unfold easily even for the previous Murong Family Head who reached the Entering Transformation Realm.
One can find a way out only when it is somewhat manageable. With that scale, there is absolutely no way to endure.
'......I just need to overcome this crisis.'
If it is the aftermath of such an ultimate technique, there is no way Un Wol-hyang, an expert of the Entering Transformation Realm, would not detect it.
Based on time, it is clear as day that she has arrived near here. If I endure, I survive.
Regardless of means and methods.
"Last words, good."
Dam Jeok-san giggled and opened his mouth.
"Do you know that? Such a memoir remains in the main castle."
"Memoir?"
"The memoir of the previous Castle Lord involved in the annihilation of the Murong Clan at that time. According to it, there were traces of the Soul-Consuming Restriction, a sorcery of the Yin God Cult, on the Murong Family Head's corpse."
He continued speaking casually.
"......!"
For a moment, astonishment dwelt in Murong Gang's eyes.
Because the Soul-Consuming Restriction is a unique sorcery passed down in the lineage of Cardinal Wi Cheon-rak, whom he serves.
However, the ripple was only momentary.
"To think the last words you leave are a petty estrangement plot. The status of the Martial Sovereign Castle was only this much."
Soon Murong Gang sneered with eyes without a speck of delusion.
However, Dam Jeok-san was not discouraged.
'Since I didn't hope for him to believe my words anyway.'
If the previous Castle Lord's memoir is true, Murong Gang, who served Wi Cheon-rak for decades, must also be feeling doubt to some extent.
His words are merely a role to amplify the delusion.
There is no need to turn suspicion into conviction. He just needs to plant a little delusion.
Martial arts is a study that starts from the mental image, connects to the body, and finally alters reality. Delusion shakes the mental image, and that shaking will twist the technique.
Then the gap Dam Jeok-san wants will be created.
"I finished what I have to say. Think as you wish."
Dam Jeok-san muttered so and raised his sword.
[Everyone, get as far away as possible. So as not to get swept away.]
At the same time, Dam Jeok-san's telepathic message rang in his companions' minds.