Chapter 183: Attack (3)

In an instant, Tongpung Daeseong unleashed dozens of punches before opening his mouth and exhaling.

The wind that began from his small mouth transformed into a violent storm.

That tremendous force blew apart part of the Floating Stronghold, pushing Yeogongbaek outward into the void.

“Kyahahaha!”

Tongpung Daeseong’s laughter echoed in all directions. Immediately, he became the wind itself. He turned into a sharp gale aimed at his opponent’s throat, and at times a raging typhoon that swept over him.

The atmosphere around the Floating Stronghold turned unstable. For anyone weak in martial arts, simply being nearby would be enough to shred their body into pieces.

Tongpung Daeseong moved swiftly, pouring out attacks.

Blades of wind and qi-filled fists surrounded Yeogongbaek from all sides.

Kwa-gwagwang!

A thunderous roar shook heaven and earth, but in truth, not a single attack had broken through.

Aside from the very first strike that aimed at his neck, Tongpung Daeseong’s attacks hadn’t even touched Yeogongbaek’s armor. The defensive sorcery spread around him blocked every single blow.

“Uhahahaha!”

Still, Tongpung Daeseong laughed as if delighted, continuing his onslaught. Rather than frustrated, he seemed pleased with the sturdy sorcery that refused to break easily.

Following the storm-like assault of the Great Monster came Mak Ya-wol’s chain scythe.

Heukcheon Gyoryong Sickle.

A black scythe attached to chains that extended almost infinitely—it was Mak Ya-wol’s signature weapon and a supreme dharma treasure.

True to its name, “Dragon-Slaying Sickle,” the chain scythe moved as if alive, surging up from beneath Yeogongbaek’s feet. The sickle at the end of the chain suddenly spun, tearing through the defensive sorcery.

【For an insect, you do have one trick.】

Yeogongbaek’s golden eyes turned to Mak Ya-wol, and he extended his hand.

【Blazing Heat Barrier.】

Krrrung—

As the sorcery was invoked, the atmosphere trembled.

The world turned crimson. Empowered by the force of a True Immortal, Yeogongbaek’s spell threatened to burn everything within his sight.

But—

Before the spell even completed, the sound of something being severed rang out, and the spell itself was nullified.

Yeogongbaek frowned at the incomprehensible situation.

Among the martial artists of the Realm of Immeasurability, some could use Space Severance, which cuts through souls and rends the laws of existence.

But that was possible only under normal conditions. Right now, Yeogongbaek’s spell had been reinforced with the power of a True Immortal. It should not have been so easily nullified.

‘The root of the sorcery was severed.’

Yeogongbaek’s gaze snapped toward the one who had cut it.

It was none other than Cheonrin Sword Alliance’s Jang Woo-hyun, an enemy no different from a mortal nemesis to the Ascension Cult. He closed the distance and swung his sword.

Kududuk!

Yeogongbaek layered defensive sorceries to block Jang Woo-hyun’s sword strike, then immediately retreated hundreds of jang.

But that wasn’t the end. While he focused on Jang Woo-hyun, another caught up to him.

“I am Mak Ya-wol!”

Mak Ya-wol swung his chain scythe, shouting his own name over and over.

As the weapon cleaved the air and came crashing down, Yeogongbaek was flung backward once again, and Tongpung Daeseong’s attacks followed right after.

After only a few exchanges, they had already moved dozens of li away from the Floating Stronghold.

Then, from above, a massive net descended upon Yeogongbaek—Mak Ya-wol’s endless chain scythe forming the attack.

From the front, Tongpung Daeseong, cloaked in storms, closed in and threw a punch.

Even under the combined assault, Yeogongbaek only laughed, as if amused.

【Inferno Fills the Heavens.】

The second sorcery spread swiftly. This time, not even Jang Woo-hyun could cut it.

The sky turned crimson as torrents of fire cascaded down like waterfalls. It was as if hundreds of pillars of flame were holding up the bloody sky.

Then Yeogongbaek invoked the power of the True Immortal itself.

From behind his back, a silver hand burst forth and grasped the void.

Kwa-gwang!

The space itself was torn apart.

A hole opened, revealing black emptiness.

The net of qi that had descended from above vanished.

【Come forth.】

Yeogongbaek faced the storming Tongpung Daeseong head-on.

In his hand now burned a whip of fire.

When he lashed it, a massive wave of flames rose from the void, blocking Tongpung Daeseong’s path.

The Great Monster shattered the fiery wave with his wind and rushed in. But Yeogongbaek had already leapt ten li away.

In one hand, Yeogongbaek held the Chukyung Whip, said to be forged with the power of a Fire God. With the other, he cast a new spell.

【Inferno Illusionary Flame Dragon!】

At his cry, a colossal force shook the world.

Krrrrrrung!

The crimson sky split open. The torrents of flame converged into one. From within the enormous column of fire, a dragon composed entirely of flames emerged.

The moment it appeared, the flame dragon opened its jaws at Mak Ya-wol. A red beam blasted forth from its maw.

Mak Ya-wol did not evade, but met it head-on. His chain scythe clashed with the beam, and a massive explosion erupted.

Kwaaaang!

Flame streams surged in all directions. Where Mak Ya-wol had just stood now hovered a blazing sphere of fire, like a miniature sun.

“Kyahahaha!”

Tongpung Daeseong charged again through the explosion. The flame dragon barred his way.

As Jang Woo-hyun moved to assist Tongpung Daeseong by striking the flame dragon, Yeogongbaek invoked the True Immortal’s power once more.

A translucent silver hand blocked Jang Woo-hyun’s strike. Not even his blade could sever it easily.

【Die, insects.】

Yeogongbaek defended with the True Immortal’s power, summoned the flame dragon to assist him, and pressed his foes back with both the Chukyung Whip and his sorcery.

Jang Woo-hyun, Mak Ya-wol, Tongpung Daeseong.

Together, the three were forces unmatched anywhere in the Central Heavens, yet they were being pushed back by Yeogongbaek.

Even while holding them at bay, Yeogongbaek ceaselessly unleashed sorceries.

The result was a transformed battlefield.

All around floated massive orbs of fire, like miniature suns. Flame pillars erupted in every direction. Tidal waves of fire rolled outward endlessly.

A moment ago they had been fighting in midair—now it was no different from a blazing hell.

‘So this is a Cultivator’s battle.’

He was not like those idiotic cultivators who began with “this bastard, that bastard,” then ended up crying “Senior” in defeat.

Once, the former Maeng Ye-ju had explained that unlike martial artists of the Murim who specialized solely in offense, cultivators were closer to being all-rounded.

What Yeogongbaek now displayed was exactly that.

Summoning beasts, casting sorceries, wielding dharma treasures in direct combat.

Nothing biased to one side—everything was possible. This was the true power of a cultivator.

And on top of that, Yeogongbaek wielded power borrowed from the True Immortal.

That was the gravest issue. Whenever the translucent silver hand barred their way, it was nearly impossible to break through.

And Yeogongbaek knew it. He reserved that power only for defense or obstruction.

Enduring, but unable to land a blow.

Jang Woo-hyun thought of Sa Do-woong, the Evil Tiger, whom Tongpung Daeseong had first fought when summoned.

‘It’s similar to that time.’

But there was also a difference.

When fighting Sa Do-woong, he had to borrow power from outside. Now, it was different. Jang Woo-hyun had a martial art capable of overturning the situation.

“Monkey! At this rate, you’ll dry up and die!”

Hearing Jang Woo-hyun’s words, Tongpung Daeseong laughed. He understood exactly what that meant. After all, those were the same words spoken when he fought Sa Do-woong.

“I am the attack!”

Catching his intent, Tongpung Daeseong leapt into the air.

A wave of fire rose before him, but instead of avoiding it, he rammed through with his body.

If Jang Woo-hyun was the attack, then Tongpung Daeseong’s role was defense.

Though his method of defense was anything but ordinary.

Sensing the sudden shift in rhythm, Mak Ya-wol matched their tempo. He swung his chain scythe wide, shattering Yeogongbaek’s sorcery that blocked Tongpung Daeseong.

While the two stalled from the front—

Jang Woo-hyun extended his will and swung his sword.

A slash without limit tore through everything.

‘First, clear the field.’

Jang Woo-hyun aimed to wipe out Yeogongbaek’s sorceries spread across the area.

Massive spheres of fire. Flame pillars holding up the heavens. Black clouds pouring down rain of fire. Waves of flame filling the gaps between pillars. Even the crimson-stained sky.

All of it was severed by Jang Woo-hyun’s Transcendental Sword.

Some sorceries exploded in detonation, others vanished like candles blown out.

Krrrung—

As countless sorceries erupted at once, space itself destabilized. Heaven and earth qi raged, and shockwaves burst forth from the aftermath of explosions.

‘Overwhelm with force.’

Within it all, Jang Woo-hyun used the Giant’s Breathing Technique.

This martial art, modeled after the breathing of giants, pulled in all the raging qi around him.

A vortex of qi swirled around Jang Woo-hyun, expanding in size.

Chrrrk.

Then came hundreds of blade scales, scattering outward.

Each one brimming with power.

Wooooom.

The surroundings trembled under the immense force. Feeling that power from afar, Tongpung Daeseong and Mak Ya-wol instinctively ceased their attacks and turned toward Jang Woo-hyun.

Sensing danger, Yeogongbaek invoked the True Immortal’s power.

At the same time, Jang Woo-hyun thrust forth the arm he had drawn back.

Annihilation Slash.

From the two hundred blade scales, radiant light burst forth.

Greater in number than when facing the falling hand of the True Immortal, the Annihilation Slash engulfed the entire world.

‘……!’

Within the onrushing light, a fleeting thought crossed Yeogongbaek’s mind—he might actually lose.

‘H-how…….’

Yeogongbaek’s face twisted.

‘This can’t be. This can’t be happening!’

He had borrowed the power of a great being. These foes should not have been his match.

But reality was different.

“Kyahahahaha!”

A monkey monster laughing with a mouth torn open.

His arm severed, half his face crushed, yet uncaring as he charged forward.

And it wasn’t just the monster.

“I am Mak Ya-wol of the Fighting Ghost Unit!”

That madman who shouted his own name every time he attacked. His body riddled with holes, yet he refused to fall back, charging endlessly.

And lastly—

Jang Woo-hyun, wordless and expressionless, striking relentlessly.

‘What is that man?’

A human standing against a great being of the Upper Realm. His strength was grotesque.

Yeogongbaek wielded borrowed power from a True Immortal. That was not something easily opposed.

At first, none of the three could withstand it. It wasn’t merely a matter of strength, but a gulf in realm itself.

Like how no matter how sharp the blade, it cannot cut through a giant tree trunk.

But Jang Woo-hyun was different.

He overcame that disparity with sheer force.

Hundreds of sharp blades fused into a colossal axe, smashing down upon the great tree.

‘How can such a thing be possible?’

An attack beyond reason. A destructive force no martial artist of the Realm of Immeasurability could ever display.

Incomprehensible. Unlike before, Yeogongbaek grew agitated.

【You! I will not accept this!】

He invoked the True Immortal’s power. Unless it was the Six Heavens or the Ten Thrones—the skies of the Central Heavens—there should be no one capable of standing before him.

How much time had he spent, how many subordinates and lifeforces had he ground away? To lose against the likes of these was impossible.

His voice thundered with emotion. Yeogongbaek’s fury spread outward, bursting space apart as torrents of power swirled violently.

He gathered every shred of power and unleashed sorcery.

The void split open as burning meteors rained down. Black clouds formed, pouring fire. Towering walls of flame rose in every direction.

And it did not stop there. From his back sprouted silver arms, which joined together in prayer.

Kwoong!

From the clasped silver hands, a shockwave spread outward in concentric ripples.

As the palms fell once more, within them glimmered a radiant star.

【Die, insects.】

Yeogongbaek prepared to hurl the condensed star of True Immortal power.

But then, sensing a sudden energy, he looked up.

Above his head—the heavens.

A massive formation was drawn, adorned with radiant patterns.

【A spell formation……?】

Mesmerized for a moment by its beauty, Yeogongbaek snapped back at the ominous energy.

He immediately hurled the radiant star upward.

At that moment—

The formation blazed with light, and hundreds of thousands of martial techniques poured down.

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