Chapter 154
And then,
A cave shaped as if a demon had opened its maw wide.
A middle-aged man was just emerging from within.
*Hoo... This place should be fine for now, I suppose.*
He was the Heavenly Seer.
He was moving to read another Heavenly Secret and lay down a new arrangement.
No one would know what the Heavenly Seer was doing for Under Heaven, dedicating his entire life.
They must be in the thick of it by now.
With profound eyes, he gazed at the sky for a long time.
*Please... Please, let my mission not go awry this time.*
With those enigmatic words, the Heavenly Seer once again moved on.
*Oh no, has it already begun?*
Just then, Jin So-baek arrived at the Peng Family, leading the elite warriors of the Hao Sect he had hastily gathered.
In front of the Peng Family manor, a massive battle was already underway.
Jin So-baek rushed over, his face pale with alarm upon realizing the Demonic Cult had arrived earlier than expected.
But then, his expression brightened.
*The Five Great Families are here?*
For some reason, all of the Five Great Families were fighting alongside the Peng Family.
It was truly astonishing how they knew to come to their aid at just the right time.
However, this was no time to be lost in thought.
I must go and help them quickly.
Don't you dare die! If you feel yourselves getting pushed back, don't look back, just retreat, then charge in again!
*Haha.* That's really encouraging, isn't it? Couldn't you say something a little cooler in a situation like this?
Bae Cho-jin, standing next to Jin So-baek, shook his head as if exasperated.
Just survive, no matter what. That's what I mean. Because that's how you fight well and win well. Understood?
With those words, Jin So-baek took the lead and leaped into the battlefield.
*Then why did you bring us along? Tsk.*
Alright, everyone! Let's go!
"Yes, sir!"
And so, the elite unit of the Hao Sect finally joined the battle.
For the Peng Family!
The Hao Sect has come to help us!
The faces of the Peng Family members brightened considerably at the sight.
Naturally, the more allies they had, the better.
*Meanwhile, the battle grew even fiercer.*
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
It was truly a war.
Everyone fought, bringing forth everything they had to survive and to win.
Amidst the chaos, there was one exchange of blows that stood out.
Sky-Piercing Flying Star!
Heaven Burning Thunder Sword!
Sword Emperor Namgung Hwan faced the Sword Demon.
Heavenly King's Three Fists!
Rakshasa Ice Soul Palm!
Gale Divine Fist Hwangbo Gyun confronted the Cold Demon.
Chain Twelve Slashes!
Asura Eighteen Claws!
And among them, Poison Rain Tang Jinwoo, who had been observing the battlefield most cautiously, was locked in a fierce struggle with the Red Demon, who was equally formidable.
And then,
How dare you lay a hand on my family and kin!
Peng Mugang snarled at the Demon Chaser with fierce eyes.
*Hmph. What a pity. I wanted to see what kind of face you'd make when those you cherish so much die before your eyes.*
Nonsense! It is you who will die here today!
Peng Mugang's fierce attack lunged towards the Demon Chaser.
White Tiger Blade Art!
Blood Wolf Twelve Swords!
But the Demon Chaser retaliated as if unwilling to be outdone.
Though the Demon Chaser was inferior to the Sword Demon in offense, he was superior in defense.
Thus, unlike in the fight with the Sword Demon, a clear victor was not easily decided.
And so, the battle between the Family Heads of the Five Great Families and the Ten Great Demon Stars saw no one easily backing down.
Half of the Young Dragon Sword Squad is to protect the Peng Family's kin; the other half is to support the Red Moon Unit and the White Martial Squad.
Yes, sir!
*Meanwhile, Heavenly Brain Jegal Sung was reading the ever-changing flow and dynamics of the battlefield, deploying and supporting forces in various locations.*
*At the same time, the Successors of the Five Great Families were leading their respective elite Martial Force Units, fiercely battling the Demonic Cultists.*
Die, you Demonic Cultist bastards!
Aren't you a little too excited?
If it's about beating those rotten Demonic Cultist bastards to death, shouldn't we be excited?
That's a fair point.
Heavenly Dragon Namgung Sanghyeok and Poison Dragon Tang Mujun, Mighty Dragon Hwangbo Cheonwoo and Hidden Dragon Jegal Woojin were with Mad Dragon Peng Seo-jin.
They had all come to this place voluntarily.
Despite being the ones to inherit from their respective families, they came without a moment's hesitation.
It was solely for the Peng Family.
And their opponents were none other than the Demonic Cultists.
If the Demonic Alliance was a clash of interests and ideologies, the Demonic Cult was merely a group of fanatics obsessed with murder.
They were simply enemies with whom no compromise was possible.
Their rage towards them was justice.
No one doubted it.
Mommy!
*Meanwhile, Yul-i burrowed deeper into Peng Seo-yeon's embrace.*
Her small body was trembling.
It's all right, Yul-a.
Peng Seo-yeon held Yul-i close, trying to shield her daughter from the bloody battle, but even so, the sounds and atmosphere of a battlefield where life and death hung in the balance were too much for young Yul-i to bear.
Peng Seo-yeon did her best to comfort Yul-i.
It's alright. It will be alright, because everyone has come to help us.
*But what is this uneasy feeling?*
She watched the battlefield with an ominous gaze.
What in the world... This is truly maddening.
Gwak Un-do, observing the flow of the battle, now wore a very flustered expression.
This was because the situation was unfolding in a completely unexpected direction.
For him, the sudden appearance of all the Five Great Families and even the Hao Sect, leading their full forces, was simply absurd.
And it was as if they had been waiting.
It was truly unbelievable.
How could all the Five Great Families, each located across the Central Plains, gather here like this?
He simply couldn't comprehend it.
Even as he pondered, the situation seemed to be turning increasingly unfavorable for the Demonic Cult.
This cannot be. It seems, after all... that 'thing' must be used.
It seems the situation has come to the point where 'that' must be used.
Did my father perhaps foresee this situation?
For now, it is impossible to know.
In any case, he could no longer simply stand by and watch the situation unfold.
Prepare *it*.
Not long after Gwak Un-do's command, a massive cart appeared from somewhere.
However, what it carried was not visible.
This was because the entire cart was covered with a large cloth.
*Hmm. What is that?*
At the appearance of the cart, which exuded an unusual aura, the eyes of those engaged in battle turned towards it.
*At that moment,*
A gigantic hand shot out from inside the cart and grabbed the head of a nearby Demonic Cultist.
*Ugh... Aaaargh!*
The screaming Demonic Cultist's head instantly burst open like a watermelon.
*Hiiieek!*
Seeing this, the Demonic Cultists recoiled from the cart in fear.
*What in the world is inside there?*
When no one dared to move, Gwak Un-do, unable to bear it any longer, roared fiercely.
What are you doing?! If you don't want to die by my hand right now, open it quickly!
*Ugh...*
In the end, the Demonic Cultists had no choice but to cautiously approach the cart.
The cloth flapped and was pulled back, revealing a massive, cage-like iron prison.
Then, as the Demonic Cultists removed the chains and latches that tightly bound it,
*Thud!*
The cage's restraints were completely released.
*Clink!*
Gwak Un-do looked at the cage, then pulled out a small bell with an intricate pattern and shook it.
The cage rattled and moved.
A confident smile had already spread across his lips.
Yes. As long as this exists, this is a battle we absolutely cannot lose. It's even better this way. I will annihilate not just one of the Five Great Families, but the entire combined force of the Five Great Families present here. That is something no Cult Leader in history has ever accomplished. Once this is over and I return, my becoming the Young Cult Master will be as good as fact.
Thus, Gwak Un-do grinned, imagining a future that had not yet arrived.
He shook the bell in his hand once more.
*Rattle!*
This time, something that had been cowering inside slowly rose to its feet.
Its face was covered by long, white hair and a beard, and its entire body glowed crimson.
*KUOOOOOOOH!*
It then roared towards the sky.
*G-gh... That... What in the world is that?*
Everyone on the battlefield widened their eyes at the colossal wave of *qi* that erupted with its roar.
A human? No... It's not. It's a Monster.
The atmosphere of the battlefield changed drastically just with the appearance of the Monster.
Go! Go and wipe out all those Five Great Families bastards!
As Gwak Un-do rattled the bell and shouted, the Monster's gaze turned towards those who possessed righteous *qi*.
And then,
*KWOOOOOM!*
The Monster's body shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
Ugh...
The Monster's first target was Sword Emperor Namgung Hwan.
While Namgung Hwan was fighting the Sword Demon, the Monster suddenly burst in and swung its massive fist. Namgung Hwan hastily blocked the attack with his sword.
But,
*CRASH!*
The power of that attack was beyond imagination.
Namgung Hwan was sent flying backward.
*Ugh!*
Namgung Hwan quickly regained his posture and attempted a counterattack.
Emperor's Invincible Sword Aura!
His attack struck the Monster's body directly.
But then,
*How can this be?*
The Monster, completely unharmed, charged straight at Namgung Hwan.
And it fiercely continued its assault.
*CRASH!*
*CRASH!*
Each blow, each blow contained an unimaginable, immense power.
Eventually, Namgung Hwan's sword was knocked away, leaving him completely defenseless.
The Monster's attack sent Namgung Hwan flying, with the Monster not missing the opportunity.
You fiend!
Hwangbo Gyun, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward.
Giant Strength Heaven-Breaking Fist!
He unleashed his ultimate technique directly onto the Monster's body.
But,
*Huh?*
Just like with Namgung Hwan, not a single scratch appeared on the Monster's body.
And then,
*CRASH!*
Hwangbo Gyun, too, was struck down by the Monster's attack.
It was truly overwhelming martial power.
*At that moment, the sky turned dark.*
Tang Jinwoo soared high into the air and unleashed the greatest secret technique he possessed.
Ten Thousand Flowers Rain!
Immediately, an immense number of Hidden Weapons, seemingly covering the sky, flew towards the Monster.
But the Monster vanished from that spot with a *whoosh*.
Tang Jinwoo's eyes widened.
*Huh? Where is it?*
*At that moment, Tang Jinwoo's vision went dark.*
The Monster had appeared directly above his head.
Just as Tang Jinwoo was about to be struck by the Monster,
*SWISH!*
A fierce Sword Energy separated the Monster and Tang Jinwoo.
You're running wild, aren't you?
Peng Mugang had stepped forward.
Peng Mugang, meeting Tang Jinwoo's gaze, launched a joint attack.
Their combined effort was surprisingly excellent.
Gradually, the Monster seemed to be getting pushed back.
*Grrr...*
Then, suddenly, the Monster's eyes glowed blue.
It was an ominous atmosphere.
Next, the Monster's two hands glowed crimson,
Heavenly Demon Blood Snake Palm!
A massive red serpent erupted from the hands.
With unimaginable speed.
Ultimately,
Tang Jinwoo and Peng Mugang, unable to withstand the attack, collapsed.
Their bodies could no longer move.
But there was something even more surprising.
They had learned the Monster's true identity.
The Martial Arts the Monster had just used was none other than the unique technique of the Former Demonic Cult Leader.
The Former Demonic Cult Leader, Gwak Cheon-gang, the Pajeon Suraje.
He was a figure who once held a seat among the Twelve Venerables, and was known to have been killed by the current Cult Leader, but now he has appeared here in the form of a Monster.
In truth, the Former Cult Leader, who had once dreamed of becoming the Zenith, had ultimately lost his reason and gone completely mad while recklessly cultivating Demonic Martial Arts.
And the Demonic Cult had bound such a Former Cult Leader with a spell, weaponizing him.
Should I say, “typical Demonic Cult”? They're truly insane. How can they do this while wearing the guise of humans, no matter that they're the Demonic Cult?
*Meanwhile, Gwak Cheon-gang, no, now merely a Monster who has lost his reason, grabbed the neck of Tang Jinwoo, who was nearby, and lifted him.*
*G-gh...*
An immense force threatened to crush his neck.
*CRASH!*
*At that moment, a Fist Aura flew towards the Monster's face.*
The Monster's gaze turned in that direction.
It was Peng Mugang, already covered in blood.
*Grrr...*
The Monster roughly tossed Tang Jinwoo aside and turned back towards Peng Mugang.
As if to kill him.
But then,
"Wait."
The Sword Demon approached Gwak Un-do.
Gwak Un-do then shook the bell, stopping the Monster.
What is it, Third Young Master?
Third Young Master, I absolutely want to kill that man with my own hands. I beg you.
At such a moment, the Sword Demon was being stubborn.
He wanted to personally kill Peng Mugang, who had inflicted the shame of defeat upon him in front of everyone.
Ha. Gwak Un-do was dumbfounded, but after calculating that by granting this request, he would gain something from the Sword Demon later, he nodded.
*Clink!*
As the bell rang, the Monster retreated.
And the Sword Demon grinned, approaching Peng Mugang.
*Tsk tsk.* So, you're finally going to die by my hand. How does it feel?
You shameless bastard. *Tsk tsk.*
What did you say? Even in this situation, you keep running your mouth. Fine. Good.
The Sword Demon raised his sword.
At that sight, everyone's eyes widened.
And screams erupted from various places.
Namgung Hwan and Tang Jinwoo both collapsed on the ground, unable to move their bodies.
Furthermore, Peng Seo-jin and the other warriors were all blocked by Demonic Cultists, unable to move or act.
*Ugh...*
The fallen Hwangbo Gyun barely managed to push himself up.
The sight of the Peng Family's kin, including Peng Seo-yeon and Dan Hee-young, wailing entered his vision.
Deep despair had already spread across his face.
Heavenly Seer... My friend... What in the world happened? I clearly thought that with all the Five Great Families here, we would surely overcome them. But what is this situation?
Remember this: If all the Five Great Families come, you will be able to endure somehow. So, everyone must come. Understood?
*Hmm...*
Suddenly, Hwangbo Gyun finally realized that the Heavenly Seer's words had been strange.
*Not that they could stop the Demonic Cult if all the Five Great Families came, but that they could endure.*
What does that mean?
*Meanwhile,*
*Mm-hmm...*
Yul-i, who had turned away from the battlefield at the sight of Peng Seo-yeon and her grandmother stomping their feet in distress, eventually saw it too.
*Grandpa!* Grandpa!
A cruel smile spread across the Sword Demon's face.
Die, Tiger of Hebei! Miserably, in front of everyone! *Hahahaha!*
The Sword Demon's sword was about to strike Peng Mugang's neck.
It seemed no one could stop the Sword Demon's sword now.
At that sight, Yul-i, with tears welling in her eyes, screamed.
*NOOOOOOO!*
*At that moment,*
*KWOOOOOOOM!*
The air on the battlefield changed.
The atmosphere trembled.
*Grrr...*
The Monster was the first to raise its head at the sudden, strange phenomenon.
And then,
*CRASH!*
Just then, a golden dragon descended from the high heavens to the ground.
He had arrived.