Chapter 204. A Mountain of Corpses Will Pile Up and Blood Will Form a Sea

“We must do so.”

Dharma Emperor Awangra readily accepted Jin Cheon’s proposal.

In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that Dharma Emperor Awangra had no other choice either.

Why?

Because he did not have the power to end the civil war of the Potala Palace.

That did not mean he was weak.

‘Reaching the same realm as me at barely eighteen. Repeating reincarnation is truly preposterous.’

Masters recognize masters.

In Jin Cheon’s view, Awangra’s level of martial arts was above the Mysterious Realm.

To the eyes of those who had not reached the same realm as Jin Cheon, he looked like nothing special at all, just a prodigy not even twenty yet.

But that was only because the spirit did not reveal itself outwardly due to reaching the Realm of Returning to True Simplicity.

‘Indeed. Since he has enlightenment gained through repeating reincarnation, recovering his martial prowess provided the inner energy supports it will be only a matter of time.’

But no matter that, perfecting martial arts at an age not even twenty was a tremendous thing.

“Instead, there is a condition.”

“Condition implies…….”

“When the work is done, recognize the Southern Tianshan Road area as the territory of the Cult for at least the next 100 years, and do not interfere.”

Jin Cheon had no intention of giving up the interests of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult even while trying to join hands with Dharma Emperor Awangra.

Frankly speaking, it was because he also had in mind the method of killing Dharma Emperor Awangra here even if it was a bit burdensome, and fighting a war with the Potala Palace.

“I will do so.”

Dharma Emperor Awangra readily responded to Jin Cheon’s proposal this time as well.

“Ho, Holiness!”

“It is an excessive concession.”

“How could you make such a decision. Please reconsider.”

Rather, the Left Guardian, Right Guardian, and Great Guardian who came with Dharma Emperor Awangra were greatly surprised and even dissuaded him.

“It is fine. We are receiving help, so can we not do even that much? We do not have the power to reclaim the Palace and unify the Western Regions by ourselves.”

Dharma Emperor Awangra smiled gently and soothed the three Guardians.

“As a Buddhist disciple following Buddha, I have an obligation to save suffering sentient beings. Pursuing profit beyond that would be a luxury.”

“…….”

As Dharma Emperor Awangra spoke of the Dharma, the three Guardians quietly put their palms together and bowed their heads.

In their expressions, some emotion of repentance could be seen, and Jin Cheon did not miss it.

‘A monk is a monk, huh.’

Jin Cheon saw Dharma Emperor Awangra and the three Guardians anew.

They were not simple martial artists or royals.

Although they practiced martial arts, their root was strictly studying Buddhist law.

In other words, since they were monks, their way of thinking was bound to be different from ordinary people.

“Indeed, like a Buddhist disciple.”

Jin Cheon smiled gently and said to Dharma Emperor Awangra.

“But why did you fight with the Cult over the supremacy of the Southern Tianshan Road in the past?”

“I do not mean to blame, but the responsibility for that long conflict lies with your noble Cult. Recalling that the history of this Palace is longer, there is no need to even point out right and wrong.”

“Ah.”

Jin Cheon made a troubled expression as if he took a hit.

To think the long conflict with the Potala Palace was eventually because of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult…….

However, thinking again, it was not a very strange thing.

‘Indeed. It is not a new thing for demonic practitioners who learned demonic arts to invade others’ territory.’

Thinking so, Jin Cheon said to Dharma Emperor Awangra.

“Then I will concede about thirty percent of the profits coming from the Southern Tianshan Road area. Then the Potala Palace might be satisfied too.”

The reason Jin Cheon proposed so was because the environment of the Western Regions was extremely barren.

Since the Western Regions were located in a much higher mountainous area than the Tianshan area where the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was located, it was a barren land with extremely low capacity to support the population.

It wasn’t for nothing that they had pursued profit by mediating trade between the Central Plains and the Western Regions through the Southern Tianshan Road.

“If so, I am only grateful.”

Dharma Emperor Awangra smiled as if satisfied.

* * *

As Dharma Emperor Awangra said, the alliance between his force and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult proceeded smoothly as if it were a scheduled procedure.

Since Jin Cheon’s opinion and Dharma Emperor Awangra’s opinion matched, cooperation could be achieved without any noise.

Accordingly, Jin Cheon discussed the attack on the Potala Palace with Dharma Emperor Awangra.

“The Cult has many martial artists but does not possess an army, so the troops must inevitably be resolved on your side.”

“I will do so.”

“Instead, the Cult will deploy three or more top-tier martial groups and mobilize lower martial groups to match a number of at least five thousand. This seems sufficient, is it not?”

“Since it is neither overflowing nor lacking, I cannot help but agree.”

“Good.”

Jin Cheon smiled broadly as the talk went better than he thought.

“Then I will request support from the Cult right now. And…… Ilpagyeon will be handled by me and you.”

Ilpagyeon was the title referring to the Dharma Emperor currently occupying the Potala Palace.

“That too must be so. For the only ones who can deal with him are you and me.”

“Then before starting the work, I intend to match movements a little.”

“By matching movements, you mean…….”

“Because I need to know.”

Jin Cheon was no different from the sum of all martial arts in the Central Plains under the heavens.

Not to mention demonic arts, his understanding was such that there was no match other than the Iron-Blooded Demonic God or Dokgo Seong.

Moreover, didn’t he have experience handling most major martial arts that could be called righteous arts, including Buddhist and Taoist martial arts as well as secular martial arts?

If there was a form of martial arts Jin Cheon did not know, it was the martial arts of the Western Regions.

Especially, since he had never learned or fought against the martial arts of the Potala Palace, there was a need to study them in advance.

The difference between being hit while knowing and being hit while not knowing would be distinct.

“I understand.”

Dharma Emperor Awangra nodded.

Since it is said that if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles, knowing each other’s martial arts was a very wise judgment.

“When we have time, let’s match movements simply, and teach and learn this and that from each other. Since there are still ten days left.”

“Good.”

It was when Jin Cheon and Dharma Emperor Awangra were talking about martial arts.

“My Lord.”

Danmok Cheong approached quietly and whispered to Jin Cheon.

“An urgent report flew in.”

“Urgent report?”

“It is said Shaolin and Wudang have emptied their main mountains.”

“……!”

“The situation in the Central Plains is unusual.”

“Let’s talk about martial arts later.”

Jin Cheon asked for Dharma Emperor Awangra’s understanding and moved to a separate place to talk with Danmok Cheong.

Because matters regarding the situation of the Central Plains were irrelevant to Dharma Emperor Awangra as well as this Western Region, there was no need to talk in a place where everyone was together.

“What happened?”

“According to freshly arrived information, Wudang and Shaolin emptied their main mountains and scattered due to pressure from the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Imperial Family.”

“Pressure from the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Imperial Family? Ah!”

Only then did Jin Cheon realize what had happened and nodded.

‘No wonder it was unusual. The newly ascended Emperor is Dokgo Seong.’

Since he confirmed through the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box that another Dokgo Seong was in the Imperial Palace, that would be a clear fact, not a guess.

‘If the Imperial Family and the Heavenly Dao Alliance joined hands…… it wouldn’t be strange at all for something like this to happen.’

Thinking so, Jin Cheon’s face hardened stiffly and even turned pale.

The reason was simple.

‘Do I have to deal with the entire Central Plains now?’

If the Imperial Family and the Heavenly Dao Alliance joined hands, it was truly a big trouble.

Dealing with the Heavenly Dao Alliance alone is not easy, but to deal with government troops as well?

From the perspective of Jin Cheon who had to execute Dokgo Seong, it was truly the worst result.

Even advancing to the Imperial Palace, it was impossible to even gauge how many sacrifices would have to be paid.

“……A mountain of corpses will pile up and blood will form a sea.”

Jin Cheon muttered to himself, foreseeing that a wind of blood would blow.

No, it would not be a simple wind of blood but a great tribulation that would drive the world into a vortex of chaos.

If war begins, how many lives will fade away…….

“Captain Dan.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Send an urgent report right now. Mobilize all assets of the Bat Squad in the Central Plains to support the disciples of Shaolin and Wudang.”

The reason Jin Cheon gave such an order was because in a situation like now, Shaolin and Wudang were no longer enemies but allies.

Just as there is a saying that the enemy of an enemy is my comrade, if he intends to deal with the huge enemies called the Imperial Family and Heavenly Dao Alliance seized by Dokgo Seong, Wudang and Shaolin would become very reliable allies for Jin Cheon as well.

Because for them too, there would be no hill to lean on other than the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“Probably, Shaolin and Wudang also made the decision expecting support from the Cult to some extent, so there will be no noise in the process.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Set the assembly point for Shaolin and Wudang as Sichuan, and send a letter to Emei and the Tang Clan to prepare a place for them to stay. Sichuan will become our assembly place.”

“Your command.”

As soon as Jin Cheon’s order fell, Danmok Cheong sent urgent reports to all secret branches and Bat Squad members in the Central Plains.

* * *

While waiting for the troops of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to arrive, Jin Cheon sparred with Dharma Emperor Awangra to refine his combat sense and exchanged information about each other’s martial arts to prepare for the coming fight.

‘Similar to Shaolin martial arts yet different. More domineering and powerful. One blow, one blow is enough to break Mount Tai.’

The martial arts of Dharma Emperor Awangra that Jin Cheon saw were tremendous in power, unlike Buddhist martial arts.

That was probably because the Potala Palace had been in conflict with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult for a long time, and in that process, Dokgo Seong and the Dalai Dharma Emperor had competed for supremacy several times.

Like that, ten days passed quickly and…….

“We greet the First Young Master!”

“We greet the First Young Master!”

“We greet the First Young Master!”

Masters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult began to arrive one after another.

At Jin Cheon’s request, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult made a bold move to deploy top-tier martial groups: Asura Blood Sword Unit, Rakshasa Troupe, Hellish Evil Ghost Squad, and even the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.

Since the opponent was who it was, it was an expression of will to deploy maximum available power and completely devastate the Potala Palace.

And…….

“It’s been a long time.”

Cheol Yu-ra, who came with the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad, gave a welcome greeting to the fellow disciples including Jin Cheon.

After being dominated in body by Dokgo Seong and wandering on the verge of death, she finally recovered and regained her healthy appearance thanks to Jin Cheon’s active role.

“Senior Sister!”

Jin Cheon approached Cheol Yu-ra with a smile.

How long had it been since he saw this face…….

Of course, it wasn’t that he hadn’t seen Cheol Yu-ra.

He had merely seen her lying on the sickbed unconscious.

“Thanks to you, I lived.”

As soon as Cheol Yu-ra saw Jin Cheon, she conveyed words of gratitude first.

“I will not forget the grace of saving my life for my entire life. You are indeed my benefactor.”

“No.”

Jin Cheon shook his head.

“I merely did what I ought to do as a Junior Brother; how can that be grace? I could not protect everyone. Rather, I feel apologetic.”

Jin Cheon spoke recalling the dead father of Cheol Yu-ra, the Clan Head of the Frigid Iron Clan, Cheol Ja-ryang.

“That is not so.”

Cheol Yu-ra shook her head.

“Father’s death…… implies a truly heartbreaking and resentful matter. But how is that your fault? You saved my life. I am only grateful for that.”

“Senior Sister…….”

“Thank you, and thank you again. I will never forget it for my life, and even if I die, I will surely repay it.”

On Cheol Yu-ra’s face saying so, heartfelt gratitude had risen.

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