Chapter 242: Radiant Light Sect (2)

‘They are coming. When will the Sect Leader arrive?’

At the urgent voice, Geok-su’s face crumpled.

‘Just how long are you going to keep looking for the Sect Leader? More than enough troops are already gathering.’

‘It’s the Immortal-Slaying Brigade, the Immortal-Slaying Brigade! They’re led by the Cheonrin Sword Alliance and include the Great Monster, Wind-Passing Great Sage!’

Je Yeong-jeong raised his voice in agitation.

‘Your worries are excessive.’

‘……’

At Geok-su’s calm attitude, Je Yeong-jeong frowned.

‘Do you still not understand?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘The Immortal-Slaying Brigade is coming. And they’ve come deep into the territory of the Radiant Light Sect.’

‘So?’

‘You fool! When they’ve come in like this, we should wipe them out. Why isn’t the Sect Leader coming? This is a chance to eliminate the Immortal-Slaying Brigade and the Cheonrin Sword Alliance!’

As if frustrated, Je Yeong-jeong beat his chest and continued.

‘There has to be a reason for missing such an opportunity. Do you not understand? Leaving us like this means we’re being used as bait! We could send troops and deal with them!’

‘What?’

At Je Yeong-jeong’s speculation, Geok-su could not hold back his laughter.

‘Hahahahahaha!’

He had not expected such a foolish thought.

Je Yeong-jeong’s judgment was not entirely wrong. As he said, now that the Immortal-Slaying Brigade was separated from the Five Elements Cult, it was certainly a good opportunity to deal with them.

However, the Sect Leader had other matters to attend to, and unlike the Cult of Ascension, the Immortal-Slaying Brigade was not their objective. What the Radiant Light Sect truly targeted was the Five Elements Cult.

‘Bait? That was an amusing story.’

‘If not that, then why isn’t he coming? This is a good chance to eliminate the Immortal-Slaying Brigade.’

At Je Yeong-jeong’s words, Geok-su’s face hardened.

‘Hah, you seem to be mistaken about something.’

Boom!

A considerable wave of power spread out from around Geok-su.

‘I acknowledge that the Immortal-Slaying Brigade is strong, but the sorcerers of the Radiant Light Sect are gathering here. And I am here as well. Dealing with fewer than a hundred of them will not be difficult.’

Geok-su straightened his body and squared his shoulders.

One of the Ten Elders of the Radiant Light Sect. Wherever one went in the Central Heavens Martial Realm, it was a name that carried sufficient weight.

‘The Cheonrin Sword Alliance? The Wind-Passing Great Sage? It doesn’t matter if they all come. We are already prepared. And do you know why we’ve deployed this formation?’

Contrary to Jang Woo-hyun’s group’s expectations, the reason the forces had been spread out was not because of any special preparation.

-Protect Je Yeong-jeong. He will be of great help to us in what lies ahead.

Hyeonwol had highly valued Je Yeong-jeong’s ability to create Dharma Treasures and had received much help from him. And since he would also be needed in the future, Hyeonwol intended to protect him.

The widely spread formation’s primary purpose was to conceal and protect Je Yeong-jeong. Encircling the enemy through coordinated movement when attacked was merely a secondary method of offense.

Of course, Geok-su was not thinking solely about protecting Je Yeong-jeong. He also intended to use this opportunity to eliminate the Immortal-Slaying Brigade.

‘For that side’s sake, troops are gathering, so there is no need to worry so much.’

‘Fine. I will withdraw as promised.’

It had been agreed that if problems arose, Je Yeong-jeong would flee.

‘Is it truly necessary to go that far? Even if you stay here, it should not be particularly dangerous.’

‘No. I will withdraw for now—’

Kuuung!

Je Yeong-jeong stopped speaking at the sudden wave he felt. Geok-su also turned his head to look in one direction.

‘They’ve arrived.’

Just as reported, the Immortal-Slaying Brigade had crossed space and arrived nearby.

‘I shall take my leave now. Handle the rest yourself.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘As far away from here as possible.’

‘If that makes you comfortable, then do so. But before you go, transfer full ownership of the Tower.’

Geok-su believed that with the Tower Je Yeong-jeong had created, he could face anyone.

After a moment’s hesitation, Je Yeong-jeong handed him a palm-sized key.

‘Be careful. I made it, but it is not easy to handle.’

‘You need not worry.’

Je Yeong-jeong hurriedly left, and Geok-su, holding the key, slowly headed outside.

He intended to show the Immortal-Slaying Brigade the power of the Radiant Light Sect.

The one who blocked the Wind-Passing Great Sage as he advanced while stirring up a storm was a giant made of white jade.

The White Jade Colossus.

A Dharma Treasure created by Je Yeong-jeong, in which ten giants moved as one.

Three of the colossi holding shields stepped forward. The Wind-Passing Great Sage’s body slam struck the shields.

Kwaaaang!

A shockwave erupted, and the colossi that had blocked him staggered, losing their balance.

‘Oh!’

Individually, they were inferior to the Bronze Giant or the Golden Giant, but the ten White Jade Colossi moving together were sturdier than expected.

However, they were not unbreakable.

When the Wind-Passing Great Sage wrapped his fists in wind and hammered them, they shattered one by one.

Kuuung—

When only two White Jade Colossi remained, a massive metal giant descended near the Wind-Passing Great Sage.

It was the same Giant-Type Dharma Tool they had faced before arriving here.

The Bronze Giant and the Golden Giant charged.

As a house-sized fist fell toward him, the Wind-Passing Great Sage kicked off the air and thrust out his own fist.

Kwaaang!

With an explosive crash, the Bronze Giant tilted and was pushed back.

Immediately after, the enormous sword of the Golden Giant moved. Facing a great blade that seemed capable of cutting the world itself, the Wind-Passing Great Sage laughed uproariously.

‘Kuhahahahaha!’

Curling his fingers and slashing through the air, he generated blades of wind that collided with the massive sword.

Kwaang!

Shockwaves spread in all directions.

As if that were the signal, the martial artists of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade and the sorcerers of the Radiant Light Sect clashed.

Each sorcerer stood atop a wide, circular Flying Apparatus, combining their strength through it.

Martial artists could also produce great power in numbers through Qi Resonance Transmission or Formation Tactics, but it was incomparable to the sorcerers. With far greater efficiency than martial artists, the sorcerers unleashed their sorcery.

The sky was dyed in many colors.

Spears of fire flew, and ice spikes poured down like rain. Spheres of water and birds of flame with massive wings soared upward.

Seeds thrown into the air sprouted vines that transformed into tree giants the size of two jang, while various beasts made of earth and shields of metal moved to protect the sorcerers.

The number of circular Flying Apparatus floating in the air exceeded two hundred.

Countless sorceries unfolded and formed a single barrier that targeted Thunder Fortress and the martial artists of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade.

Jang Woo-hyun, who had not yet stepped forward, took a step as he watched the sorcery that covered the sky.

Jang Woo-hyun, transformed into light, instantly stood before a massive bird of fire. Extending his hand, he operated the Five Elements Qi.

The fire energy turned into earth, and when he reversed that energy once more, a ten-jang-long serpent of water that seemed to glide through the air burst forth with a boom!

Using the Five Elements Qi in the same manner, he nullified the incoming sorceries, and those he could not block, he slashed apart with his sword, cutting the sorcery itself.

‘……’

The sorcery vanished.

It did not explode, nor was it blocked. Before it could even properly activate, every spell was disappearing.

Without difficulty, and without expending great strength, Jang Woo-hyun controlled all energy.

‘An attack……’

Was impossible.

The sorcery most commonly used by shamans was the Yin-Yang Five Elements Art.

Specialized for offense and battle, the Yin-Yang Five Elements Art was, as its name implied, the ability to manipulate the energies of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements.

However, sorcery-based attacks did not work on Jang Woo-hyun. Because he could handle all Five Elements, he nullified every technique of the Yin-Yang Five Elements Art.

‘I-If we deploy different sorcery……’

Kwaaaang!

At the explosive roar, the one who had been speaking shut his mouth.

There were also those here who had mastered the Demon Beast Contract Technique instead of the Yin-Yang Five Elements Art, but they too could not exert much strength.

On the opposing side stood the Wind-Passing Great Sage, a Great Monster of the Demonic Spirit Realm. If they summoned ordinary monsters, they would lose control of them.

The Yin-Yang Five Elements Art was nullified, and the Demon Beast Contract Technique was sealed.

A Great Monster and a martial artist who perfectly controlled the Five Elements Qi.

For the Radiant Light Sect, the opponent was far too unfavorable.

As the sorcery pouring from all directions disappeared, the martial artists of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade charged at the shamans.

The shamans attempted to block the attacks with Defensive Sorcery, but facing the relentless martial artists of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade was not easy.

Under the Immortal-Slaying Brigade’s assault, the circular Flying Apparatus suspended in the air shattered and fell. Naturally, the shamans standing atop them could not escape death.

With the appearance of Jang Woo-hyun alone, the tide had completely turned. Once momentum began to shift, it did not easily recover.

Though the Radiant Light Sect had far greater numbers, Jang Woo-hyun and the Wind-Passing Great Sage were overwhelming them all.

Just as the sense of defeat deepened—

‘You fools, get a hold of yourselves!’

Lightning fell upon the martial artists of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade who were attacking the shamans. Dozens of lightning bolts struck precisely and only the Immortal-Slaying Brigade.

‘What he controls is the Five Elements Qi. Focus on northwind-type sorcery and lightning-type sorcery, and summon only monsters that will not go mad under the Wind-Passing Great Sage’s aura! If you summon water-aligned monsters, they will follow your control, so do not panic and move!’

Short hair, and a gaze looking down upon the battlefield.

With the appearance of Geok-su, one of the Ten Elders of the Radiant Light Sect, the completely extinguished momentum flared back to life. The shamans regained their composure and began using sorcery again.

Unlike earlier, when they had panicked and failed to respond properly, the shamans now moved swiftly. Sorcery poured forth once more, and monsters they could control were summoned one by one.

They had briefly lost their senses before Jang Woo-hyun’s overwhelming skill, but those gathered here were the elite of the Radiant Light Sect. Once they regained their focus and displayed their abilities, the fewer-numbered Immortal-Slaying Brigade began to be pushed back.

To reverse the situation, a powerhouse from the Immortal-Slaying Brigade stepped forward.

‘This time, I will go first!’

Seo Ryeom closed the distance and thrust his sword forward.

Kwaddeuk!

When his sword stopped against an unseen force, Geok-su’s gaze turned toward him.

‘Seo Ryeom of the Hundred Martial Assembly? To dare challenge me with such meager strength—you still have a long way to go.’

‘What? Is this bastard insane? You blocked it once and now you’re boasting?’

‘Do you think I merely blocked it?’

Behind Geok-su’s smile, an ominous energy rose from beneath his feet.

Kuuuuuu—

A massive structure flew swiftly behind him.

It was a cylindrical Tower built of red stone.

At the sight of the Tower, Seo Ryeom unconsciously stepped back.

Beyond the ominous and sinister aura it emitted, the Tower itself fundamentally provoked revulsion. It felt like looking at filthy waste or a rotting corpse.

And his instincts screamed that the Tower was dangerous.

Reading Seo Ryeom’s thoughts from his eyes, Geok-su smiled faintly.

‘For a rat, you’re quite perceptive.’

He raised his hand and cast sorcery.

‘Art of Red Fire.’

Even at the childish sight of him shouting the name of his sorcery, Seo Ryeom could not laugh.

Art of Red Fire Art of Red Fire Art of Red Fire.

The same sound echoed hundreds of times in Seo Ryeom’s ears, as if someone were whispering.

It was not Geok-su’s voice from earlier. The voices were all different.

A Spell Formation floated before Geok-su.

【Sparrow Dragon Cannon.】

The voice he had shouted echoed repeatedly once more.

Among the Yin-Yang Five Elements Art, the Art of Red Fire governed fire energy.

The Sparrow Dragon Cannon was an advanced sorcery, but against Seo Ryeom, a master at the Boundless Realm, it should not have been able to inflict proper damage.

But now, it was different.

‘……!’

Above the red Tower behind Geok-su, hundreds of Spell Formations formed and began spewing fire.

Flame dragons with wings where horns should have been.

Hundreds of flame dragons targeted Seo Ryeom.

An attack that ordinarily could not even pierce Protective Energy.

However, as hundreds of spells overlapped, their power was amplified beyond reason.

Kwaaaang!

With a massive explosion, Seo Ryeom was blown away.

Leaving him behind, Jang Woo-hyun, sensing unease, charged toward Geok-su.

He closed the distance in an instant and thrust his sword, but Geok-su had already prepared his next sorcery.

【Art of Black Water. Ninefold Flowing Wall.】

Though clearly spoken by one person, hundreds of faint voices were heard.

A water barrier layered nine times over.

Once again, the same sorcery overlapped hundreds of times and was reinforced.

Jang Woo-hyun manifested a five-colored halo and resonated with Water Qi. But at that moment, lightning spears rained down from the sky.

Before he could manipulate the energy with Five Elements Qi, the very nature of the water sorcery had been altered.

In that case, even Jang Woo-hyun could not nullify the sorcery, so he immediately swung the Black Wilds Sword and shattered the water barrier.

Peoong!

Behind the burst water barrier—

Geok-su stood boldly, as if waiting for Jang Woo-hyun.

Jang Woo-hyun’s gaze passed him and turned to the red Tower behind.

‘The Tower is assisting him.’

Each time Geok-su cast sorcery, hundreds of whispering voices were heard, and from the Tower, hundreds of identical spells poured forth.

A Tower built of red stone.

Each stone was the size of a human head.

Focusing his mind against the aura that seemed to dull his senses, he realized something strange about the red stones.

‘That… are those eyes?’

It was not only eyes. Some red stones had human ears attached, others had noses or hands.

As Jang Woo-hyun expanded his senses and examined more closely, he gripped the Black Wilds Sword tightly and unconsciously clenched his teeth.

The red stones bearing ears and eyes. The eyes blinked as if alive, and the noses were breathing.

‘These insane bastards…….’

At what the cultivator bastards had done, nausea rose within him.

The red stones forming the Tower.

They had been made from humans.

And they were still alive.

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