Chapter 43: The Sword Demon’s Blood Sausage
“Iron Ring Invincible Sword Formation! Deploy!”
Clang clang clang!
At Geuk Jiryang’s command, the Iron Sword Squad quickly formed their battle formation.
Eight members formed a diamond shape on the outside, while two stood back-to-back at the center.
Originally, the Iron Ring Invincible Sword Formation was known as a defensive formation meant to protect the two in the center.
Standing at the center, Geuk Jiryang, one of the two, smiled faintly as he looked at the waves of enemies closing in.
He recalled what Young Lord Namgung Hoyeon once said when he came to see the Iron Sword Squad:
“Is this ‘Iron Ring Invincible’ or ‘Iron Ring Ignorance’? Are the two in the center just scarecrows? If you say it’s invincible, you should be cutting down your enemies, not just cowering.”
Hehe, I’ll show you the power of this formation after the improvements you made, Young Lord!
Geuk Jiryang shouted:
“Iron Ring Amplification!”
“Iron Ring Amplification!”
In unison, the Iron Sword Squad echoed back and thrust their swords forward.
But the direction was strange. The eight swords pointed not at the enemies, but at the two allies in the center.
“What’s this?”
“Is this suicide?”
“They’re attacking their own allies!”
The surrounding lower-level martial artists were shocked, but the Iron Sword Squad members’ faces held firm conviction.
At the center stood Geuk Jiryang and Squad Leader Hyung Muung.
They were the highest-ranked among the group, which was why they stood at the center.
Because—
Clang! Clang clang clang!
Only they could withstand the full force of their comrades’ strikes.
And as a result, the reflected force was imbued into the Ten Swords.
Zzzzzing—!
Iron Sword Resonance!
“Haaaa!”
Tak! Whoosh!
A martial artist from Baekyak Mountain stronghold swung down his massive twin axes to break the formation in a single strike.
Against him, the Iron Sword Squad member’s sword looked like a fragile twig.
However—
Clang—! Crack!
“What?!”
When the sword and axe clashed, the axe split apart instead.
Thud!
The sword that pierced the enemy’s heart swung back toward the rear, where Geuk Jiryang struck it with all his might to send it forward again.
Clang! Zzzzing!
Slash!
With the renewed reflected force, the Iron Sword Squad member sliced through the enemy’s spear and cut him in half at the waist.
Clang clang clang clang!
Slash! Slash!
Shred shred shred shred!
The swords, replenished with reflected force from the center, vibrated finely, amplifying their power as they cut down the charging enemies without resistance.
They moved like a well-designed machine, with gears interlocking without a single gap.
“Holy crap!”
“What are they doing?!”
“Was the Iron Sword Squad always this strong?!”
The lower-level martial artists were in awe of the Iron Ring Invincible Sword Formation’s might.
The clashing of steel echoed without pause, each member swinging an invincible sword.
At that moment—
“Damn it! Don’t get close! Don’t clash swords with them!”
A man in a yellow headscarf, seemingly the commander, began controlling the Baekyak Mountain warriors.
“Hidden Weapons Unit forward! Poison Fog Unit forward! Hook Chain Unit forward!”
Clang clang clang!
At his command, three squads moved forward.
“Hidden Weapons Unit, attack from range! Poison Fog Unit, deploy poison smoke now! Hook Chain Unit, bind their movements!”
Shh shh shh!
Boom!
Various hidden weapons flew toward the Iron Sword Squad, and poison bombs exploded, releasing a green mist.
“Iron Sword Invincible!”
“Namgung Unrivaled!”
Clang clang!
Whoosh! Whoooosh!
At Geuk Jiryang’s shout, the Iron Sword Squad roared, cutting down the hidden weapons and dispersing the poison mist with gusts from their swords.
“Hook Chain Unit, what are you waiting for?! Move!”
“Yes!”
But when the Hook Chain Unit appeared, tension appeared on the Iron Sword Squad’s faces.
The Flying Claw Hundred-Forged Chains.
A weapon known as the Flying Claw, it was a cavalry tool with iron claws on both ends of a chain.
Rather than killing, it was meant to capture enemies by hooking onto their bodies or weapons, or to poison them by coating the claws with venom.
In other words, it was specialized in restricting the enemy’s movements and slowly killing them.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Snap!
One member swung the Flying Claw through the air and threw it at the Iron Sword Squad.
If even one of them got caught, the formation would collapse, and in the ensuing chaos, the Iron Sword Squad would stand no chance.
At that moment—
“Haaap!”
A clear voice rang out as a woman in white, with a palace bow on her back, charged forward like a wild horse.
Her long legs took only a few steps before she closed the distance with incredible speed.
Shing!
She drew her sword from her waist, a green aura like dewdrops forming on the blade, releasing a fresh sandalwood scent.
Slash! Shing!
The woman in white cut the chains of the Flying Claw and landed lightly.
Her black hair, dark as the night sky, fluttered behind her, and her brown eyes shone with fierce determination.
“Hyunwon Light Body Technique? The Zegale Clan!”
The man in the yellow headscarf recognized her martial art and shouted.
“How dare the Zegale Clan’s daughter interfere! Do you intend to become enemies with the Baekyak Mountain stronghold, the Liaoning Eight Lords, and even the Muryong Clan?!”
At his threat, Zegale Ahyeon let out a small laugh and replied,
“I’m not here as the Zegale Clan’s daughter.”
“What?”
“I’m here to fulfill my duty as Namgung Hoyeon’s fiancée.”
Chak!
She took her stance, raising her sword in the Small Heavenly Star Sword Style.
“I’m certain you are the Guedong Bandits. Because the Hoyeon I know never lies!”
“You…!”
“She’s right! Brother Hoyeon is a righteous man. The Baekyak Mountain stronghold is definitely the Guedong Bandits. Don’t be deceived by these villains tarnishing the Muryong Clan’s name!”
Clang!
At that moment, Muryong Yul stepped forward, unable to stand by, drawing his sword.
“The Zegale Clan too…!”
“So the Fourth Captain, Muryong Yul, has joined. Didn’t you usually stay with Fifth Captain Namgung Hoyeon?”
“They must have found evidence!”
As the situation developed, the martial artists began to believe Namgung Hoyeon’s claims.
They turned their eyes toward the First Captain, Muryong Hu, and the Second Captain, Muryong Cheol.
Depending on the captains’ choices, they would decide whether to join the fight.
“Hmmm…”
“…”
But Muryong Hu hesitated, unable to decide, while Muryong Cheol silently stared at Zegale Ahyeon.
At that moment—
Rumble—!
A thunderous noise from the direction of the Refining Chamber caught everyone’s attention.
[Refining Chamber Scene]
“Gaaah!”
Crackle crackle!
Covered in white lightning, Baek Jongu screamed in pain as he was thrown backward.
Even though he had quickly wrapped himself in protective energy, a sharp, needle-like pain pierced his entire body.
Crash! Thud!
Breaking through a pillar in the Refining Chamber, he glared at Hoyeon with clenched teeth.
Chak!
Hoyeon caught the Heavenly Thunder Sword descending from the air and stepped forward.
His body stretched forward lightly and swiftly, like a leaf in the wind.
Crackle!
The Heavenly Thunder Sword’s aura condensed from scattered lightning into a single, quiet, yet powerful strand of electricity.
As expected, the Heavenly Thunder Energy is too much to handle. I need to end this quickly!
As the extreme lightning energy surged through him, his limited internal energy drained like a broken dam.
“Huuuup!”
Shing!
Hoyeon rushed at Baek Jongu, slashing diagonally from below.
The slash turned into a white Line of Death, aiming for Baek Jongu’s chest.
Flash Thunder Strike.
Clang!
Crackle!
“Grrr!”
Unable to fully deflect the previous lightning strike, Baek Jongu’s arms trembled as he blocked this attack at close range.
Shlak!
But Hoyeon didn’t give him time to recover.
The Heavenly Thunder Sword suddenly descended from above like a lightning bolt.
Falling Thunder Pursuit.
Flash! Boom!
“You bastard!”
“Die!”
Crackle crackle!
Hoyeon forcefully collided the yang and yin energies within him, drawing out an explosive surge of Heavenly Thunder Energy.
Raging Thunder Consecutive Strikes!
While the Heavenly Thunder Sword roared with excitement, Hoyeon launched rapid, horizontal slashes at Baek Jongu like a running lightning bolt.
Clang! Clang clang clang!
“Gaaaah!”
Baek Jongu swung his dual blades desperately to block, but his arms had already gone numb.
Slash! Slash!
Crackle!
Wounds began to appear on Baek Jongu’s body, and the thunder energy pierced through his defenses, searing him with burning pain.
Am I… going to die?
In Hoyeon’s fierce assault, Baek Jongu saw the face of death.
Bullshit! I won’t die! I’ll kill you instead!
Cornered, Baek Jongu lost his reason and used his final technique.
A secret taught to him by Gwa Myeong, the Black Gate Lord of the Dark Blood Pavilion who had fled the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Demonic Soul Burst.
Crack!
Breaking the balance of yin and yang within him, Baek Jongu began reverse circulation, causing his veins to stand out and his muscles to swell painfully.
Rustle!
His silver aura turned into black demonic energy, and dark moonlight surged from his blades.
“You crazy bastard?!”
“GRAAAAH!”
Seeing Baek Jongu’s eyes roll back white, Hoyeon realized what he had done.
In the past, when cutting down demon cultists, they would all explode their latent power in their final moments.
Rustle! Rustle! Fwoosh!
The black moonlight that fluttered like threads merged into a single dark curtain.
It looked mystical, like a weaver gathering starlight into silk.
False Force…!
Shing! Clang!
“Urgh! Cough!”
Struck by Baek Jongu’s blade imbued with False Force, Hoyeon spat blood as he suffered internal injuries.
“Gahahaha!”
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Clang! Clang! Boom!
Each strike from Baek Jongu caused blood to surge within Hoyeon, his vision flashing as his body felt like it was being crushed.
Ah, you brat! My old back is breaking!
The Heavenly Thunder Sword screamed internally but could not help.
Though called “false force,” it was a brute force of internal energy lacking only in enlightenment.
Its destructive power far exceeded typical sword energy and strikes.
Without the help of a divine weapon like the Heavenly Thunder Sword, it was impossible to overcome.
“DIE!”
“…You insane bastard!”
As Baek Jongu charged forward with False Force, Hoyeon, at his limit, formed a sword seal with his index and middle fingers.
If you’re going to go insane, I will too!
Vrrrrr!
His upper dantian heated up.
A sense of omnipotence, as if he could control the world, surged within him.
At the peak of his focus, he raised the sword seal high.
“OUT OF THE WAY!”
“What?!”
“You madman!”
Flying like a bird, Hoyeon merged with his sword, unleashing the final form of the Iron Sword Ten Styles:
Iron Soul Unification.
With unstoppable momentum, Muryong Hu and Muryong Cheol leapt aside.
Shing!
Hoyeon’s Heavenly Thunder Sword swung down slowly yet swiftly, passing by Baek Jongu.
“Gaaah?”
As Baek Jongu turned his rolled-back eyes, looking behind him—
Slash! Splurt!
His body split cleanly in two from the crown of his head, spraying blood and entrails like fireworks.
“Huff, huff, huff…”
The battlefield paused for a moment, all eyes turning to Hoyeon.
Shock.
Horror.
Disbelief.
Receiving all those gazes, Hoyeon caught his breath, then smirked and muttered:
“Damn. Forget the water spinach soup. Turns out you were stuffed full like blood sausage.”
If you want:
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