Chapter 1285


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1267——————==

Soul of the Evil God

As our forces began to appear in the village, the atmosphere inside the hall changed drastically. I could see the experts visibly startled at the presence of Dokgo Seong’s martial prowess. Perhaps that’s why the two Peak Experts, who seemed ready to confront the Master of the Shadowless Sword, suddenly switched to flight mode.

Swish

With their disappearance, the Master of Shadowless Sword was about to chase after them but hesitated awkwardly in place, as if checking my reaction, before speaking out.

“W-who is Seo Mun-hye?”

At that, the attention of the crowd turned to Seo Mun-hye, who looked bewildered. She stuttered a response.

“Who might you be, Elder?”

“……!! Um.”

The Master of Shadowless Sword fell silent for a moment, then glared at me.

“Village Chief Baek Woong! I’ve come to settle the blood debt of our Namgung Clan with you, but it seems it’s not the right time. We will meet again soon!”

He tried to vanish like the others, but unlike the two previous guys, I had no intention of letting the Master of Shadowless Sword escape so easily. So before he could flee, I called out to him.

“Master of Shadowless Sword, the reason I annihilated the Namgung Clan is solely due to the demons of the martial world who cruelly torment countless weaklings!”

“What!? You, the enemy of my clan!! Don’t misuse the dead’s silence to fabricate your tales!!”

Seeing the Master of Shadowless Sword react angrily as he took my words as a provocation, I swiftly turned my gaze to Seo Mun-hye, who seemed to understand the context of our conversation instantly and stepped forward to speak.

“What the Chief says is true. My father and I will stake our honor, along with that of the Shadowless Gate, on this. Women who were cruelly mistreated by the Namgung Clan have been rescued thanks to the Chief. They currently reside in Soeul Village, and some are heading to the main sect to testify about the Namgung Clan’s evil deeds in the martial world.”

“……!!”

“You must have mentioned this to Namgung Hwan, but it appears he hasn’t relayed this scandal to the elders of the clan.”

“I… I can’t believe it! What credibility do those witnesses have? If they conspire together, they can easily manipulate their stories!”

“There are over thirty women who suffered similar fates. They were continuously raped and murdered in the Namgung Clan’s hidden chambers, and we have evidence of these atrocious deeds. Who would dare fabricate such despicable acts? Our Shadowless Gate already recognized their testimonies by several Great Sects.”

It seemed the Master of Shadowless Sword found himself at a loss for words upon hearing that the Sword Demon was meticulous in his work. Knowing that the leader of the heretical sect openly collaborated with orthodox sects meant that undeniable evidence and witnesses were abundant.

“……”

“Believing is up to you, Elder, but if Namgung Hwan were truly innocent, he would have at least offered some explanation regarding these circumstances when enlisting your help for revenge. He must have intentionally hidden the ugly truth and used you for his own personal vendetta, don’t you think?”

“Ugh… Ugh.”

The Master of Shadowless Sword appeared engulfed in immense turmoil. Being a wise individual, he was slowly realizing that the chances of us lying in this situation were slim. It seemed Seo Mun-hye sensed his inner conflict and added a statement that threw him off further.

“And if Namgung Hwan is indeed the rightful heir, would he have sent you here to seek revenge while the Hebei Peng Clan and Hwangbo Clan invaded Anhui? He only seeks to satisfy personal grudges while the remains of your clan are being slaughtered by the other Great Families. It seems he didn’t mention any of this.”

“Wha… what?! The Hebei Peng Clan and Hwangbo Clan?! I haven’t heard such things! Could it be that the main family is…?”

“You should’ve heard this news a while back. Recently, the remnants of the Namgung Clan suffered defeat at the hands of the Hebei Peng Clan’s Dragon-Destruction Squad, with most killed or surrendering. Furthermore, after their victory, the allied Hwangbo Clan abducted the weaker survivors of the Namgung Clan to use as servants. The Namgung Clan has truly been annihilated, disappearing from the history of the martial world….”

“……!!”

“Truly, it’s poetic justice. However, if Namgung Hwan had not sent you here unnecessarily, perhaps the Namgung Clan could have maintained at least a semblance of existence.”

Seo Mun-hye’s words rang true. If Namgung Hwan had not sent the Master of Shadowless Sword to Soeul Village and instead directed him to face the invading forces, he might have been able to preserve the surviving clan members against the Hebei Peng Clan and Hwangbo Clan. Yet Namgung Hwan, already aware that the Namgung Clan was finished, had orchestrated it all to fulfill only his personal vengeance.

The Master of Shadowless Sword, with a determined expression, spoke up.

“I can’t believe it! I will meet with these supposed witnesses myself! If it turns out they’re lying, none of you will be spared!”

I smiled at his challenging words and replied.

“Do as you wish.”

I then led the Master of Shadowless Sword to meet with all of the victims residing in Soeul Village. As he listened to their harrowing tales, his face gradually stiffened, and eventually, he sank to the ground, staring blankly at the wall.

“……”

“They might have burned buildings down in the Hebei Peng Clan’s territory, but if you’d like, I can take you to the very places where they exploited women. Perhaps Namgung Hwan didn’t want you to see the truth.”

“Ugh… I’m not a fool.”

The Master of Shadowless Sword finally broke down in tears as he cried out.

“Aaaahhhh!! I had no idea while my clan turned a blind eye they became a wretched, bloodthirsty band! I, Namgung Jo, have wasted my life!!”

At that moment, the Master of Shadowless Sword drew his own sword before the women, declaring,

“I sincerely apologize for the atrocities committed by my clan. I, Namgung Jo, will atone by taking my life as a true warrior!!”

Clank

Just as he was about to stab himself, he was stopped by Dokgo Seong, who had been watching from beside him.

“No!! What are you doing?!”

Startled, the Master of Shadowless Sword looked at him as Dokgo Seong fixed him with a gaze as cold as ice.

“Master of Shadowless Sword! Don’t think dying will bring you peace. True warriors take responsibility for their clan’s wrongdoings while living!”

“……!!”

“Consider your life forfeit here—now you must help us.”

For Dokgo Seong, the Master of Shadowless Sword’s matter didn’t seem foreign at all. I joined in as he successfully restrained the Master of Shadowless Sword’s suicidal impulse to suggest,

“As Dokgo Seong said, it’s not your fault the clan wronged others. Since things have come to this, help us out!”

“What…?”

“If you die here, you’ll just leave us to deal with the mess you brought, returning all your problems to us—how can you just throw that onto our shoulders and die?”

“Ugh.”

The Master of Shadowless Sword seemed to clench his eyes shut. Then, sounding defeated, he murmured,

“…They are indeed from the Small Thunder Temple and the Asuhyeol Sect’s experts. All top-tier sects on the mainland. However, they suddenly approached me, proposing to join forces and attack Soeul Village.”

“I’ve heard about the Small Thunder Temple, but what about this Asuhyeol Sect?”

“It’s a mystical sect said to have been founded by the legendary peerless master of the mainland. The Small Thunder Temple has some elite members, but the Asuhyeol Sect is even stronger. There are only about twenty members, yet each one is remarkably powerful.”

“Hmmm.”

“Anyway, we met unexpectedly and forged an alliance, but I don’t know much about them. But it’s clear they were already aiming for Soeul Village. They have positioned their elite forces not far from the village.”

“Do you know their location?”

“I’m sorry. They don’t trust me enough to tell me.”

“Well, that makes sense. So, you will help us?”

“…Yes.”

“Great! Then from now on, you are one of us from Soeul Village.”

I successfully drew in the Master of Shadowless Sword and thought to myself.

‘Hmmm. I wonder why the mainland guys suddenly have their sights set on Soeul Village?’

Nobody expected them to be particularly daunting, so part of me thought letting the villagers gain combat experience would be a good idea. But, it might just become a troublesome situation. I resolved to hold back on giving them an easy way out when I next saw them while speaking to Mangnyang, who stood nearby.

“Mangnyang. It seems the mainland martial artists are about to launch a surprise attack; what should we do?”

“If we know about the ambush in advance, it shouldn’t be too hard to manage. Can you give me command?”

“Of course.”

“Alright! Then from now on, I will command the defensive strategy in place of Chief Baek Woong.”

With that, Mangnyang extended his hand and began reciting a sacred incantation. Moments later, a large light barrier enveloped Soeul Village. I looked on, fascinated by the glowing wall.

“What’s this?”

“I took the soil bags you received earlier, which have low-quality spirit energy, and sprinkled them around the village. I used those as the focus point to activate a high-level Eight Trigrams Formation.”

“Wow!!”

“From now on, anyone attacking Soeul Village will get trapped within the Eight Trigrams Formation. I’ll place the village’s experts within the formation to intercept them.”

“Thank you, Mangnyang!”

Following Mangnyang’s leadership, Dokgo Seong, the Master of Shadowless Sword, Lee Kwang, Yeon Jong-hwi, Jin So-cheong, Seo Mun-hye, and others moved in perfect unison. Though not quite as skilled, those we rescued from the Great Thunder Valley also participated in the operation. Soon, as warriors took their positions throughout the lightly misty Soeul Village, General Hwang Yeon stepped forward with admiration.

“Impressive. A supreme formation indeed.”

“General Hwang Yeon, it’s dangerous; please stay inside.”

“But the truly remarkable thing is right here…”

“Huh?”

“Your martial skills are powerful enough to defeat the mainland martial artists single-handedly. And yet, you keep your claws hidden as much as possible…. Even with the power of an Emperor, your caution is extraordinary. What’s going on?”

“……”

“Haha… I only wish you would refrain from destroying the Great Ming Empire….”

Hwang Yeon seemed to have grasped what I truly sought, and I felt a twinge of guilt. So with a sigh, I replied,

“I wish the same.”

As Hwang Yeon pointed out, destroying the Great Ming Empire would mean chaos, akin to a rampage. I could forcibly deploy my full power at the Imperial Palace and take everything down, perhaps even bring about the empire’s demise. But that was absolutely not my goal for this life; I simply wanted to maintain a peaceful existence. Extreme actions like annihilating the Great Ming Empire were decidedly not preferred.

After some time spent deploying the formation, we finally waited, and Mangnyang, stationed at the center of Soeul Village, waved a flag and shouted.

“The enemy has attacked! Activate the Eight Trigrams Formation!!”

Boom!

Suddenly, a multicolored array appeared in the air, dividing the incoming forces as observed from afar. The enemy’s throng split into three factions, each heading toward the positions where Dokgo Seong, the Master of Shadowless Sword, and the Thunder God Lineage experts were stationed.

Clang! Clang!!

The clanging of weapons and bursting energies rang in the distance. Originally, the enemy forces would have had overwhelming numbers and strength compared to us, yet with the Eight Trigrams Formation set up beforehand, we enjoyed a significant tactical advantage. It seemed that as the enemy’s forces were divided by the formation, Dokgo Seong and the Master of Shadowless Sword were holding their ground quite well.

‘Hmmm. But those who appeared to be the leader of the Small Thunder Temple and the Master of the Asuhyeol Sect were experts greatly comparable to the Master of Shadowless Sword. If left unchecked, they could prove to be a danger…’

Did Mangnyang share the same concern? He raised the Eight Trigrams flag and began shifting the formation dramatically.

Swish!

Once again, the Eight Trigrams Formation shimmered and the enemy forces became even more fragmented. I felt concerned, and turned to Mangnyang.

“Mangnyang. Individual attacks are fine, but it seems the Asuhyeol Sect’s members are all Peak Experts, and our average combat strength might not be enough to handle them.”

To have almost twenty Peak Experts, especially high-level fighters, the Asuhyeol Sect was no joke. Were they in the Central Plains martial world, they might already be known as a major force.

“That’s not much of a problem. As you know, in our first battle, thanks to Dokgo Seong, the Master of Shadowless Sword, and Lee Kwang’s efforts, they already reduced the enemy’s strength by about 20%. The reduced numbers make it much easier to handle. Truly, the ancient formation techniques from the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate are powerful.”

After consuming the Black and White Lotus, Mangnyang’s internal force skyrocketed, granting him the ability to use the advanced formation techniques.

“So what’s the actual problem then?”

“It’s Jin So-cheong. Baek Woong, it seems you’re not too fond of Jin So-cheong’s growth. Considering this, I’m pondering how we can win without giving her real combat experience. Limiting opportunities for Jin So-cheong feels like a complicated task.”

“……”

I widened my eyes in shock, staring at Mangnyang.

Huh. How did he know?

“Huh. You look surprised.”

“…Oh, it’s just—”

“I’m not a fool. I know you’re trying to prevent Jin So-cheong from gaining enlightenment. I initially thought you did it because you disliked her, but upon noticing her talent, it became clear—she’s an amazing martial genius the likes of which I’ve never seen in my life.”

“……”

“I won’t ask for your reasons. With talent like that, it’s likely you have a valid justification for wanting to restrain her growth. Nevertheless, I’m here as Soeul Village’s strategist, respecting your opinion as the chief.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me and spoke.

“Uh… since you’ve figured it out, I suppose there’s no helping it. Feel free to call me petty. However, for now, I really don’t want Jin So-cheong to grow rapidly.”

“Opposite approach.”

“Huh?”

“If you try to hinder her growth, she will simply grow more. It seems you’re unfamiliar with how to obstruct someone successfully.”

I was taken aback by Mangnyang’s response. Naturally, by not giving her any enlightenment and only letting her meditate, her progress would be impeded, right? Mangnyang’s assertion was completely incomprehensible to me. Then he gave a wry smile.

“Hmm. There’s not some concrete theory behind it, but it’s just a feeling I have. I’m not a big fan of ‘gut feelings’, but Jin So-cheong seems to bear some resemblance to me. And in such cases, inadequate obstacles laid down by others might instead ignite a fierce drive for growth.”

“Hmm…”

“Those self-imposed limits do not apply to the extraordinary.”

Was it because Mangnyang was also a genius? He seemed to understand something about Jin So-cheong.

“Here, just give Jin So-cheong combat experience. It’s the same moving forward. Don’t be stingy in providing experiences.”

“Is that alright?”

“My intuition suggests that what may hinder Jin So-cheong’s ascent are realms far beyond mere combat experience. You needn’t go through such lengths and risk blame just to withhold experience. If you’d like, I’ll later share methods on how to restrain Jin So-cheong.”

“……!! Understood.”

“Now let’s resume our formation strategy.”

Swish!

With Mangnyang once again deploying the formation, we continuously shaped the battlefield to our advantage while stifling the numbers of the mainland martial artists. After a while, the number of their forces dwindled, and I knew it was time for me to step onto the front lines.

Bang!

As I moved toward the front lines, I found myself amidst the main experts of our side engaged in a fierce battle with the leaders of the invading forces. Thanks to Mangnyang’s formation, our side had suffered no casualties, while the bodies of the enemy lay strewn around us.

The leader of the Small Thunder Temple gritted his teeth and shouted at me.

“You coward!… Using formations to drive us to death. You, who cannot face us without such tricks!”

“Sorry for being sneaky. If you still remember who ordered the raid on Soeul Village, maybe we can let you live.”

“Don’t joke! You’ll regret showing your face here!”

Bang!

The remaining shadow experts surged forward to attack me all at once. A few were at the onset of Peak Expert level, and almost all of them were at least Peak Experts, resulting in a suffocating assault. Even Dokgo Seong and the Master of Shadowless Sword flinched at the intensity, but I merely chuckled and spoke confidently.

“Do you think I used tricks out of fear?”

Thunder Spirit Seal!

Bang!

I drastically reduced the scope of the Thunder Spirit Seal while increasing its power as I launched it at the leader of the Small Thunder Temple, who attempted to counter with his own mystical technique.

“Huh, ohhh!!!”

Then came a blinding flash, and with a swish, one of the Temple leader’s arms was caught within the trajectory of my Thunder Spirit Seal and vanished in an instant. His wide-eyed gaze flickered in disbelief, astonished by the power of the Thunder Spirit Seal, far superior to what he had unleashed.

As I swiftly incapacitated the leader of the Small Thunder Temple, the tide of battle turned immediately, and soon the army of experts from the mainland were either killed or captured. The last resistance from the Asuhyeol Sect leader was feeble as he clutched his signature weapon, the Azure Demonic Whip, while bloodied and gasping as I held his neck.

“Ugh… Ugh… this… this isn’t what I heard… Is this… a true peerless master… on par with that other…?”

“That other…?”

“……”

The master of the Asuhyeol Sect would not answer, attempting to bite his own tongue to take his life. However, since I had already utilized the Soul Exchange Technique on him, I could not allow his self-destruction.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I tossed the fading master of the Asuhyeol Sect onto the ground and let out a sigh.

“I was hoping for a quiet life, but it’s becoming bothersome from the get-go. Should I bury all these guys to keep their backers quiet?”

At my words, Dokgo Seong shook his head vehemently.

“Absolutely not, Priest. Those who have attacked here could match the might of three or four Great Sects. If such power were to vanish suddenly, that’s when the backers would decide to take drastic action.”

“Damn it. I didn’t want things to escalate further.”

“We’d better interrogate them to gather information, Priest.”

“Alright.”

I locked up all the mainland martial artists in a facility designed as a prison and promptly took the leader of the Small Thunder Temple and the master of the Asuhyeol Sect to utilize the Soul Exchange Technique for interrogation.

“Hey, who ordered the raid on Soeul Village?”

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Almost simultaneously, the questions forced from their minds resulted in identical responses.

“By the grace of the great Brahman, the commands of the goddess, Parvati…”


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