“Try it.”
“Then die!”
A strike descended, bearing weight enough to cleave heaven and earth asunder.
In the fraction of a second before impact, Jin Cheon-hee recognized the sublime martial principle woven into the attack. This was no simple swing of a blade; it was a blow that sheared through the fabric of time and space, heavy with the accumulated momentum of a nomadic Great Chieftain who had spent decades bathing the steppes in blood.
But I will not yield.
Jin Cheon-hee channeled the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. It was a feat only possible because he had faced, fought, and integrated his Inner Demon. Now, the principles of that dark art flowed seamlessly within him, binding the Five-Elemental Divine Art and the Heaven-Conquering Supreme Divine Art together.
Three supreme arts surged in unison.
Within his body, a combustion of energy occurred that defied the common sense of the Murim. Sword aura flooded the Ice Clarity Sword with such intensity that the blade’s energy flickered, unstable and voracious, struggling to maintain its form against the overload.
Taiji Wisdom Sword, Supreme Unity Void Reversal.
The techniques collided. The mountain-cleaving weight of the Khan’s Moon Blade met the absolute redirection of the Void Reversal.
Rummmble!
The kinetic energy didn’t vanish; it shattered. The immense force was redirected forward, backward, left, and right, exploding outward in a chaotic shockwave that left the direct path to Jin Cheon-hee clear. However, even he could not fully negate the sheer pressure of the detonation. His body screamed, every muscle fiber tearing under the strain as if beaten by a hundred hammers. Yet, thanks to his formidable external cultivation and the armored treasure he wore, he escaped with only severe flesh wounds.
Khahurai Khan’s massive steed was shoved back by the recoil.
“What kind of bizarre sorcery…”
“Taiji Wisdom Sword, Supreme Unity Void Reversal,” Jin Cheon-hee gasped, blood staining his lips. “A supreme art of the Wudang Sect. Though I suppose a barbarian wouldn’t know the difference.”
“Impressive. However, you are wounded, while I am not.”
“Still. I can buy time.”
“Hmph. Since you possess such skill, taking your head here won’t be a loss for me either!”
The Giant Horse charged again. This time, the Moon Blade blurred, swinging three times in a single heartbeat. But this time, attacks flying from completely different directions intercepted the slaughter.
Dazzling golden light and a monochromatic aura of black and white crashed into the Khan’s offense.
Crash!
“You cockroaches! Have you come to interfere again?!”
“Hyung! You’re alive, right?!”
“We meet again~ My shitty Great Chieftain customer?”
Sama Hyeon. Cheon Woo.
The two landed beside Jin Cheon-hee. This muddy, gore-streaked battlefield had become the eye of the storm, and his younger brothers were not men who would ignore the center of the cyclone.
Jin Cheon-hee’s gaze flicked over the scars, large and small, etched onto his brothers’ bodies. I want to treat them. The instinct of the physician rose, but he suppressed it. It wasn’t easy, but hadn’t his Master ordered him to set aside the Physician’s needle for the warrior’s sword?
***
Abnormal strength. He’s become even stronger than before.
Jin Cheon-hee rapidly processed the tactical data gathered during the duel. Khahurai Khan was evolving in real-time. The principle was unclear, but he had consumed the Blood Creation Fruit, an artifact of the Blood Immortal Cult. It wouldn’t be strange if that vile sect had infused him with even more wicked power.
From the start, his physique alone granted him monster-like strength that made first-rate martial artists look like children. Combined with a mastery of the Horse Spirit Art, he was already a tier above typical masters of the Transformation Realm. But now, he was transcending even that.
Crack. Crunnnch.
Look at reality.
The ground beneath Khahurai Khan was crumbling into dust, and a protective aura—excessively powerful, reminiscent of the Asura Blood Jiangshi—swirled around him like a crimson tide.
It’s certain the Blood Immortal Cult bestowed some sorcery on him. Likely something that replenishes energy and strengthens him in proportion to the death surrounding him.
Usually, religion grants power through faith. Even the Demonic Cult operated on faith in the Living God, the Heavenly Demon; the Junior Cult Leaders and Demonic Heads gained power through the Heavenly Demon Divine Art bestowed by him. It was a tool to select the strongest, a path where the talented risked their lives to ascend. That was the faith of the Demonic Cult.
However, the Blood Immortal Cult possessed no such philosophy. Even those without faith or loyalty to the Blood Immortal received blessings simply by slaughtering and preparing a stage for rituals.
Truly hostile to humanity.
Since animal corpses didn’t seem to count, it was a “religion” optimized for depopulation. Whether such an abomination could even be called a religion was debatable.
[Hyung, do you have a plan?]
Cheon Woo projected his voice telepathically as he stepped forward. When his massive frame moved, it felt as though a fortress wall was advancing.
[It’s being revised, but I’m putting something together,] Jin Cheon-hee replied.
Cheon Woo’s blue eyes shone like water pooled in a snowy field. The Ice Clarity Sword in his hand remained frigid, snow fluttering wherever the blade’s path grazed the air—a phenomenon of a divine weapon breathing out Extreme Cold True Qi.
[Hyeon, how are the Heavenly Silkworm Gloves?]
[The battle was so boring there isn’t even a scratch~]
[Hahaha, I really made them well.]
Jin Cheon-hee praised himself briefly. In that split second, he simulated dozens of plans and hundreds of execution methods, measured them, discarded them, and decided.
Taiji Wisdom Sword. Golden Hand and Thousand Changes Sword, Ten Thousand Skills. Plus Jin Cheon-hee’s own martial arts.
How much damage has Wangya Ju accumulated on him? That is our only variable for victory.
[Cheon Woo, take the front left and right with me. Hyeon, stay behind and flank him. Target the horse first!]
[Hyung~ That’s not a plan, that’s just mobbing him~]
[Got it, Hyung.]
[Let’s go!]
They moved, folding the ground beneath them like lightning with the Heavenly Energy Bewildering Footwork. Cheon Woo sliced through space with the Cloud-Stepping Leap, moving like a gliding storm cloud.
Boom!
Two figures approached with ferocious momentum. However, Khahurai Khan drove his horse forward, his eyes burning with madness.
Whuuung! Whoosh-whoosh!
The air tore apart as the Moon Blade descended like a thunderbolt. The target was Jin Cheon-hee. The Khan slashed diagonally, aiming to split the skull of the man who had dared to lunge at his mount.
Block, and deflect.
Jin Cheon-hee wrapped his internal energy around his arms, layering the protection of the treasured garment beneath. The Iron Dragon Scales martial art, his original external cultivation, hardened his skin, imbuing him with defense beyond imagination.
The Moon Blade and Jin Cheon-hee’s arms collided.
Too… strong!
In an instant, Jin Cheon-hee’s feet were driven deep into the earth.
Cruuunch—
Nasal membranes burst, spraying a mist of red, and blood welled up in his throat. He should have deflected the force using the principles of Taiji, but the sheer weight of the attack overwhelmed the technique, slamming the kinetic energy directly into his skeleton. A dull agony washed through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians; muscles screamed and bones groaned under the pressure.
Despite possessing a body impenetrable to swords and spears, wrapped in protective aura, Iron Dragon Scales, and a legendary garment, he took this much impact.
If it were the Thieving Phantom, he would have been split in two with a single strike! Of course, the Thieving Phantom wouldn’t have been hit in the first place!
Keup! Here… Heaven-Conquering Supreme Divine Art!
Abandoning the Five-Elemental Divine Art, which utilized vast power in a stable flow, he shifted his true energy into the explosive volatile state of the Heaven-Conquering Supreme Divine Art. Although the energy remained elemental, the change in operation altered its very nature.
His muscles bulged, density increasing instantly as his slender frame transformed into a physique of raw, condensed power. Pushing back the Moon Blade with brute strength, he opened his mouth.
“Haat!”
Seven Demonic Zither, A Single Lamenting Note.
The terrifying sound did not leak into the surroundings. It was a focused lance of sonic energy that traveled only to Khahurai Khan’s ears and detonated. Exceeding the standard Thousand Li Voice Transmission, this supreme technique struck with sound imbued with pure Qi.
Pop!
Blood sprayed from Khahurai Khan’s ears as his eardrums ruptured. He staggered, his balance betraying him. No matter how strong his protective aura, the sudden loss of hearing and the equilibrium shock created a fatal opening.
They dug into that breach.
“Kuak!”
In that moment of faltering, Cheon Woo thrust his sword at the Giant Horse.
Don’t hesitate. Mind calm like Taiji. I am executing Brother’s order.
The sword, coated in lethal aura, surged toward the beast. However, shockingly, the Giant Horse opened its maw and bit down on the incoming blade.
Grrr-krak-krak!
A bizarre sound rang out. The aura collided with the Giant Horse’s teeth, sparking chaotic energy waves.
Crazy! A horse’s teeth can withstand sword aura?!
“Don’t lose your composure~”
A languid voice drifted from the sky. Simultaneously, a golden palm descended, striking the horse’s skull with the weight of a falling star.
Clang!
The horse’s head snapped back sharply. It spat out the blade it had clamped between its jaws, blood streaming from its eyes, yet the monstrous beast remained standing.
“No, seriously, what kind of horse head withstands aura~?”
“You annoying gnat-like bastards!”
“Dodge!”
The Moon Blade swept toward them like the shadow of a grim reaper, its speed terrifying. Unable to evade, Sama Hyeon and Cheon Woo unleashed their respective supreme arts directly at Khahurai Khan.
Golden Hand, Golden Palm!
A palm-shaped aura of heavy, golden radiance poured down. Beside it, the sword aura created by Cheon Woo’s Taiji Wisdom Sword shot out like a beam of frost.
Ka-boom!
The collision triggered a massive explosion. The destructive power was enough to pulverize the bones of an ordinary man just by grazing them. Both Cheon Woo and Sama Hyeon were thrown backward, swept up in the volatile shockwave. Their clothes were tattered, their bodies streaked with blood—a horrific sight to any observer.
But they could still fight.
The two stood, wiping blood from their chins.
“Is this guy in the Profound Realm or something~? Why is he so damn strong!?” Sama Hyeon grumbled, his expression fed up. But beneath the complaints, a deep, cold killing intent swirled in his eyes.
Khahurai Khan, looking down at them, wasn’t unscathed either. Blood flowed freely from his ruptured ears, and his body was a tapestry of lacerations. Withstanding aura didn’t mean ignoring the damage. He looked like a demon born of blood.
However, his eyes remained ferocious, his vitality undimmed.
“Annoying things. Then…”
Khahurai Khan muttered to himself in the guttural dialect of the Suksin tribe. Naturally, the brothers didn’t understand the words. Only Jin Cheon-hee grasped a fragment, but the pronunciation was too rapid and slurred to decipher fully.
Suddenly, the Giant Horse surged forward, running wildly. Ignoring the three martial artists, the Khan attempted to rush into the center of the melee to slaughter the common soldiers.
Jin Cheon-hee stuck to him like a shadow.
“You aren’t going anywhere!”
Taiji Wisdom Sword, Reversal Supreme Sword Strike.
It was a supreme art that inverted the principles of the sword to sever that which could not be cut. It wasn’t simply a projection of aura; it was a technique so profound it could be called a Realm of Martial Mind in itself.
It was then.