Chapter 189: Annihilation Squad

Three martial artists soared through the skies aboard a Flying Apparatus.

Their skills were far inferior to Jang Woo-hyun’s group. Yet, they did not shrink back. Instead, they descended confidently upon the Floating Stronghold, exuding formidable pressure.

“This place is the domain of the Demon Gathering Hall.”

They neither revealed their identities nor inquired about their opponents’. They merely declared the name of their group, the Demon Gathering Hall, as if that alone was enough to justify anything.

“Since when did Cheongwol City become part of the Demon Gathering Hall’s territory? I was under the impression this area was under the Cheongwol Sword Sect’s jurisdiction.”

One of the Fighting Ghost Unit martial artists asked.

“Since recently, it has become our domain. Once again, this is the territory of the Demon Gathering Hall. I’ve said what I came to say.”

He offered no further explanation, as if no more needed to be said.

That was the Demon Gathering Hall’s way. And up until now, such conduct had resolved everything.

Their demeanor exuded fighting spirit, as though they were ready to brawl. Even in smaller numbers, they stood proud, unafraid of battle.

Typically, the mere name of the Demon Gathering Hall and the tyrannical aura of demonic practitioners would be enough to intimidate onlookers.

But not this time.

These opponents were no ordinary folks. Nor were they the type to sit quietly and watch demonic practitioners behave this way.

“You think we’re a joke?”

Before anyone realized it, Seo Ryeom had moved.

He stood behind the Demon Gathering Hall martial artist who had just spoken and pressed a blade to his neck.

The eyes of the Demon Gathering Hall martial artists widened as if about to tear. They hadn’t even sensed Seo Ryeom’s movement.

They were momentarily startled, but quickly regained their composure.

“We are the Demon Gathering Hall. Can you handle us?”

“Demon Gathering Hall? So what?”

The Demon Gathering Hall’s reputation for strength was well-known throughout the Central Heavens Martial Realm. Their demonic arts were infamous for their viciousness.

That was why most sects avoided direct conflict with them.

But that only applied to ordinary martial artists.

Seo Ryeom belonged to the Fighting Ghost Unit, the division considered the most insane even within the Baekmu Society, which was filled with battle-mad warriors. He didn’t care if it was the Demon Gathering Hall or anyone else.

“Time to fix that nasty habit of yours.”

As Seo Ryeom’s aura shifted, the man he held tried to move. But Seo Ryeom was faster.

“Keugh!”

Seo Ryeom severed the man’s left arm as he tried to flee. The thick arm, trained over many years, landed with a thud on the ground of the Floating Stronghold.

“You lunatic… Are you from the Baekmu Society?”

The other two martial artists who had come with the severed man drew their weapons. Though Jang Woo-hyun’s group outnumbered them, the two showed no signs of fear.

“No, I’m no longer part of the Baekmu Society. We are…”

Seo Ryeom paused, glancing briefly at Jang Woo-hyun before continuing.

“We are the Annihilation Squad.”

The name was finally spoken. Jang Woo-hyun scowled slightly at the sound, while Seo Ryeom beamed broadly.

“Annihilation Squad? Whatever you call yourselves, you were the ones who struck first in our territory. Can you handle war with us—ugh!”

Jang Woo-hyun had approached unnoticed and seized the man’s mouth and jaw, cutting off his words.

The other two tried to leap forward, but Seo Ryeom blocked their path.

“Move, and you die.”

At Seo Ryeom’s warning, the two froze.

Not out of fear or unwillingness to fight. Rather, Seo Ryeom’s Will-Form Qi Projection had already seized the surrounding space, leaving them no choice but to stop.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“Mmgh! Mmmph!”

“Oh right, your mouth’s covered.”

Jang Woo-hyun lowered his hand slightly, gripping the man’s throat instead.

“What the hell are you—?”

Shhhk!

As the startled man reached for his sword, Jang Woo-hyun merely looked at him, and his remaining arm was sliced off.

The moment their eyes met, the man fell silent under an overwhelming sense of fear.

“Who did that?”

Jang Woo-hyun gestured toward the shattered section of Cheongwol City.

“They did that on purpose, didn’t they? They could’ve subdued them without going that far.”

Crushed by the pressure, the man confessed everything.

“…The Heavenly Demon gave them a chance, but the Cheongwol Sword Sect Leader didn’t surrender. So, as a warning, the city and their sect were obliterated in one blow.”

Just as Jang Woo-hyun had expected.

“Where’s that bastard now?”

“……”

“I said, where’s that so-called Heavenly Demon?”

The fear-stricken man’s expression changed to one of disbelief, as if saying, “What kind of lunatic is this?”

That someone could act this way even after hearing the name of the Demon Gathering Hall’s Heavenly Demon was incomprehensible.

Even within the Central Heavens Martial Realm, the name Heavenly Demon was not taken lightly. They stood at the pinnacle of the demonic path.

“Do you even know what you’re saying right now? You’re the ones invading our territory. This is a declaration of war. Can you really handle that?”

At those words, Jang Woo-hyun threw him aside.

“War? You call that a war?”

It wasn’t even martial artists who had perished. Innocents who knew nothing had been swept away and killed without reason.

Jang Woo-hyun couldn’t comprehend such actions.

‘Just because they have power, they act like tyrants.’

He had seen the same in the city on the way to Cho-su’s house, and even among cultivators, who treated people like tools or livestock.

And just recently, he had witnessed True Immortals slaughter countless people.

‘Disgusting bastards.’

He loathed those who used their strength to harm innocents.

– The Murim is in chaos. Many are suffering. If you see someone in need, please help them.

He had no intention of blindly obeying Cheon Heo-jin’s words. He didn’t consider himself that virtuous.

But Jang Woo-hyun wasn’t the type to turn a blind eye to what was right in front of him.

‘If this is how you do things, then I’ll play your game.’

He would also respond with strength. While he couldn’t stop every battle, he vowed to crush conflicts wherever he went using their own methods—through overwhelming force.

Jang Woo-hyun turned his gaze toward the three Demon Gathering Hall demonic practitioners.

He wasn’t even releasing pressure, yet the three recoiled under his stare.

“Go back and tell them. If it’s war they want, we’re happy to oblige. Just let me see the face of the bastard who did that.”

Though overwhelmed by the aura, the three demonic practitioners gritted their teeth and replied.

“You’ll regret this. War with us won’t be easy.”

“Man, you talk too much. If you don’t get moving, I’ll cut off your legs too.”

At Seo Ryeom’s threat, the three demonic practitioners quickly fled aboard their Flying Apparatus.

“Is the Demon Gathering Hall our opponent this time?”

Seo Ryeom asked, eyeing Jang Woo-hyun’s hardened expression.

“I just want to see the face of the bastard who did that.”

Just then, Mak Ya-wol approached the two as they spoke.

“Those bastards won’t retreat so easily.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve fought the Demon Gathering Hall a few times. It only ends when they’re all dead. That’s the kind they are.”

If it was war, it could only end with their deaths. Those bastards didn’t know how to retreat. What Mak Ya-wol was really asking was—was he okay with that?

Jang Woo-hyun said it didn’t matter. If it was war, there was no need to show mercy.

And Jang Woo-hyun, once he deemed someone an enemy, would crush them without hesitation.

Just as he finished his conversation with Mak Ya-wol—

Boom!

From afar, someone had sent a signal.

A massive qi wave surged in like a tidal wave.

A master of the Realm of Immeasurability. The one who had destroyed Cheongwol City had revealed his strength.

Responding to that pressure, the group moved. Leaving Cheongwol City behind, the Floating Stronghold descended to the ground.

“Cho-su, please watch over the city.”

“Don’t worry.”

As Jang Woo-hyun stepped onto the ground, Cho-su’s reply echoed from inside.

Soon, hundreds of small devices poured out, forming a barrier around the city.

Once he confirmed that, Jang Woo-hyun turned and began walking away from the city. In the sky ahead, hundreds of people were approaching aboard Flying Apparatuses.

His gaze locked onto one shaped like a ship, with a large flag fluttering.

“Sixth Heaven (육천)?”

He unconsciously read the characters written on the flag.

Frowning at the unfamiliar term, Jin Ha-un stepped up beside him.

“That’s Sixth Heaven Demon of the Demon Gathering Hall.”

“Sixth Heaven Demon? What’s that?”

“Hyung-nim, this is the Central Heavens Realm. Of course, there’s more than one Heavenly Demon who ascended from the Lower Realm.”

“Ah…”

The Demonic Cult, Tianshan Demon Cult, Demonic Heaven Castle, Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Radiant Divine Cult, Asura Demon Cult, Mad Heaven Demon Cult—from the Lower Realm alone, countless Heavenly Demons had ascended.

And those who stood out among them gathered at the heart of the demonic path—Demon Gathering Hall.

‘Makes sense,’ Jang Woo-hyun muttered, quickly grasping the situation.

“How many of them are there?”

“At one point, over twenty. Now there are nine. Up to the Ninth Heaven Demon.”

“Then the one coming now isn’t even halfway up the ranks.”

As he looked again, someone leapt off the ship-shaped Flying Apparatus.

Walking slowly through the air, he descended to the ground.

“Oh! The Sixth Heaven Demon! Then I’ll—”

Jang Woo-hyun grabbed Seo Ryeom’s arm just as he was about to leap out.

“This one’s mine.”

And he walked forward slowly. The distance between them was still a few hundred jang.

Seeing him approach, the Sixth Heaven Demon stomped hard on the ground.

Boom!

A shockwave exploded, shaking the earth.

At the same time, a giant wave of dirt surged forth, rushing at the group with the qi wave.

Jang Woo-hyun took a single step forward.

Sliding effortlessly, he glided several hundred jang ahead and stood before the oncoming wave of dirt.

‘Some kind of Heavenly Demon Sovereign Step, perhaps.’

Then he walked again.

Jang Woo-hyun possessed a martial art no less powerful than the Heavenly Demon Sovereign Step.

Third Step of the Horse King’s Third Step: Sovereign Ruling – Lotus Blossom (연화).

The improved third step of the Six-Legged Horse King’s Step.

Boom!

The moment he stepped down, an immense qi wave erupted.

Blossoming like a lotus, the qi wave enveloped Jang Woo-hyun and expanded to a size of dozens of jang.

Roooom—

Like petals becoming a palm, it split and pushed back the wave of dirt.

The once-surging wave calmed, and Jang Woo-hyun resumed walking.

In the next moment, his figure vanished.

Horse King’s Second Step – Blitz Radiance.

Suddenly, Jang Woo-hyun stood in front of the Sixth Heaven Demon.

His fist struck the stunned opponent’s face just a beat too late.

Boom!

The sound that shook the heavens filled the space as the Sixth Heaven Demon’s smashed face soared through the air.

Jang Woo-hyun had destroyed one of the Heavenly Demons representing the Demon Gathering Hall with a single blow.

“One Sword, One Kill…”

Jin Ha-un muttered unconsciously.

He hadn’t used a sword. But it didn’t matter. He had obliterated one of the Heavenly Demons in a single move.

“…Invincible Divine Sword.”

Jang Woo-hyun’s current appearance was just like the one he’d shown in the Lower Realm.

Jin Ha-un’s sworn brother—the man he had always chased after.

The invincible sword now stood before him once again.

From afar, the fallen Sixth Heaven Demon sent ripples of qi through the air as Jang Woo-hyun’s pressure surged.

Fwaaah—

His Will-Form Qi Projection spread in all directions. Just watching him from a distance made their bodies tremble.

Everyone—from his comrades to the demonic practitioners of the Demon Gathering Hall—fixed their gazes on Jang Woo-hyun.

Receiving every gaze, Jang Woo-hyun slowly opened his mouth and voiced his thoughts.

If those with power acted lawlessly, then so would he. Peace in the Murim? Justice? Cooperation? He didn’t know about any of that. But if those with power ran wild, then he would crush them with his own strength.

“If there’s a fight on the road ahead—”

Just then, from the direction where the Sixth Heaven Demon had flown, a tremendous pressure erupted. Though he had taken the blow, he wasn’t dead yet.

The shocked demonic practitioners of the Demon Gathering Hall also responded to the Heavenly Demon’s energy and raised their auras.

Their Will-Form Qi, killing intent, and gazes all focused on Jang Woo-hyun.

Despite sensing all that, Jang Woo-hyun continued speaking as if nothing fazed him.

“I’ll end every one of those fights.”

Faces filled with question marks.

How would he end them? Where? When? With what? Amidst countless questions, Jang Woo-hyun calmly declared:

“With the strength I have, even if I have to crush them.”

At a time when the entire Central Heavens Martial Realm was in chaos—

One man had declared that he would suppress all conflicts and upheavals with his own power.

Some might call it nonsense, others arrogance. Some wouldn’t believe him.

But among them, there was one who welcomed the bold declaration more than anyone else.

Though not human, he was the first to react.

A massive monkey monster split its mouth wide in laughter that shook the skies.

“Kya-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

As the Wind-Passing Great Sage burst into laughter—

The Baekmu Society martial artists around him either laughed or shouted. All were stirred by Jang Woo-hyun’s boldness.

Some struck the ground with their weapons, others roared.

In that clamor, Seo Ryeom shouted:

“Annihilation Squaaad!”

Even if Jang Woo-hyun disliked it, the name of their group was now set.

“Chaaarge!”

The martial artists who had once been Fighting Ghost Unit under Baekmu Society but now bore the new name Annihilation Squad responded to Seo Ryeom’s cry by unleashing their auras.

“Uwaaaa!”

“Let’s go!”

“Let’s fight!”

“Kill them all!”

With the Wind-Passing Great Sage charging first, everyone followed.

The great monster of the Demonic Spirit Realm, mad with battle, and the uncontrollable Fighting Ghost Unit martial artists moved as one toward a single purpose.

And that day—

The demonic practitioners led by the Sixth Heaven Demon of the Demon Gathering Hall were completely annihilated.

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