Kwaaah!
The trembling rock, unable to withstand the tremendous wind pressure, shot up into the sky. It's rare to see a rock larger than a person soaring through the air, but an even more spectacular sight followed.
Kwa-ga-ga-gak!
The moment the black demonic qi storm swallowed the rock, the solid stone shattered instantly into pieces and crumbled.
The swirling black demonic qi—no, it should rightly be called demonic enhance—not only broke the unyieldingly hard rock but crushed it into dust in an instant.
If the rock suffered that fate, what chance would a human body have? To leap into that storm was nothing less than an act of suicide. No sane person would ever choose that.
Yet, here in this place, there were two such insane humans.
Paaaah!
With his red long robe fluttering, Jang Il-so charged forward, a chilling murderous aura blazing from his eyes. At that moment, thousands of black demonic enhanced blades poured toward him like countless knives.
Kkiaaaaaak!
The sound of the demonic enhance tearing through the air echoed like a haunting wail.
"Hmph!"
Jang Il-so's unique enhanced qi technique, Slaughtering Blue Flame Enhanced, flared fiercely as blue flames erupted from both his hands.
The blazing blue flames collided head-on with the incoming black demonic enhance.
Kwaaaaang!
Demonic Enhance and Evil Enhance!
At the moment the ultimate qi of Demon and Evil clashed, terrifying killing intent and qi explosively spread in all directions.
Ka-ga-ga-gak! Ka-ga-ga-gak!
As the pain of hundreds of daggers seemed to carve his hands, a chilling killing intent appeared on Jang Il-so's face.
Kwang!
He stomped the ground again and charged forward even more fiercely, thrusting both hands ahead. The blue flames blossoming from his body licked like a demon's tongue, wrapping around the flying demonic enhance.
Ka-ga-ga-gak!
It was a scene like legendary swords clashing fiercely in midair, unmatched anywhere in the world. Jang Il-so's qi, forged by refining his innate killing intent to the extreme, even twisted and broke Dan Ja-Kang's demonic qi.
The twisted demonic enhance that flew in instantly shredded Jang Il-so's fluttering splendid robe to tatters. Yet Jang Il-so didn't even glance aside and pressed forward.
His face, smiling pure white, evoked not just eeriness but even a sense of ruthlessness.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak!
Jang Il-so thrust his hand into the demonic qi surging and suddenly spread both arms wide, tearing apart the demonic steel that swept him and creating a large space straight ahead.
It was truly just a brief gap. Tearing the demonic qi was indeed a great feat, but the swirling qi would fill that gap in an instant.
But behind Jang Il-so, there was someone who did not miss even that fleeting moment.
Paaaah!
Chung Myung threw his body like a flash of light through the gap Jang Il-so created and raised his sword high into the sky.
Kwaaaaaah!
The fiercely flying demonic steel strands were harder than steel and sharper than a fine sword. The fragile body of Chung Myung seemed like it wouldn't leave a trace in an instant.
Yet even within that storm, Chung Myung's sword traced an endlessly smooth circle.
From top to bottom.
What the sword tip drew was just a single semicircle movement. Nothing special, nothing extraordinary. That semicircle was as natural as a flowing river.
The red line blossomed like the sun hanging at the red-tinted horizon, smoothly slicing through the black swirling demonic qi storm.
Chwaaaaaak!
The demonic enhance, which should never be cut, split like a silk curtain sliced by a single sword.
Through the space torn open, Chung Myung's and Dan Ja-Kang's eyes met briefly. Seeing Chung Myung's smile, a fierce anger instantly filled Dan Ja-Kang's face.
Dan Ja-Kang had fully expected they would break through the demonic enhance. They too were warriors difficult to match in this murim world.
But even if it was possible, the process should not be so simple. His demonic enhance was a blessing bestowed by the Heavenly Demon to the Cult. It was a blade to make the unbelievers who learned martial arts pay the price for their disbelief.
Yet those unbelievers dared to tarnish the blessing given by the Heavenly Demon?
Kwang!
Dan Ja-Kang's eyes emitted streams of blood-red light.
Even if forbidden doubts existed within him, he was still one who devoted everything to the Heavenly Demon. He was not so treacherous as to stand by while the sacredness of the Heavenly Demon was defiled by filthy unbelievers!
"How dare you!"
He stretched his hand forward.
The repulsive force created by his fingertips momentarily pushed back Chung Myung and Jang Il-so, who tried to leap into the torn space.
"Tear apart!"
At the same time, the spinning demonic enhance emitted a chilling wail and began to surge violently.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak!
The speeding demonic enhance scraped the land and tore the air. The black storm instantly engulfed the momentarily hesitating Chung Myung and Jang Il-so.
Dan Ja-Kang clenched his fist tightly. He felt a definite sensation at his fingertips.
How dare these mere mortals open their mouths against him?
But at that very moment.
Hwaaaaak!
Something fiercely blossomed.
At first, it looked just like red blood. If blood gushed from a shattered body, it would take exactly that form.
But soon it became clear it was not human blood. It did not scatter.
The sword qi, dyed red beyond sunset hues like blood itself, bloomed like a phantom within the black demonic qi storm. The scattering red sword qi looked as if a giant brush had splattered it across the void.
Even Dan Ja-Kang was momentarily stunned watching that scene.
'Flowers…?'
Like plum blossoms dyed red across the whole mountain, scattered by a wind from somewhere, they dyed the entire world red.
The plum blossom petals fiercely blocked the flying demonic enhance.
That sight looked like a futile resistance. Fragile petals would just be torn apart and swept away by that fierce storm.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak!
As if to prove that prediction right, the demonic enhance crushed the blossoming petals in an instant. Thousands of petals shattered and flickered out.
But they bloomed again.
Each one was so fragile, utterly insignificant compared to the malevolent demonic enhance.
Yet the petals gathered. As if fully aware of their weakness, they united in one place to resist the overwhelming pressure.
Originally, martial arts existed so the weak could resist those born strong. In other words, filling what is lacking is the essence of martial arts, isn't it?
Hundreds, thousands of petals bloomed again simultaneously, blocking the demonic enhance. A huge wall made of petals and the rushing black storm crashing against it. It was a sight that seemed impossible in this world.
Wuuuuuuuuuuung!
The fierce storm struck the wall of petals. Though the petals seemed about to be pushed back, they staggered and ultimately surged forward again, twisting the demonic qi storm.
As the demonic qi began to shatter, Dan Ja-Kang's face hardened.
'Being pushed back?'
It was incomprehensible.
Of course, he knew how great that swordsmanship was. It was the pinnacle of phantom swordsmanship that forced a complete reassessment of that swordsman. Rather than flashy, it was more fitting to call it ruthless.
But no matter what, it made no sense that his demonic qi couldn't trample such a mere amount of qi.
'Scattered? My demonic qi?'
Dan Ja-Kang's face twisted fiercely.
The moment his demonic qi touched those red petals, it withered like fire doused with water. It wasn't losing in strength; it felt like a fight he could never win from the start.
"Opposition…?"
That qi seemed to suppress the demonic qi. But that too made no sense.
It was none other than Dan Ja-Kang's demonic qi.
Of course, there is always compatibility in the world. But before overwhelming power differences, even compatibility becomes meaningless.
Water opposes fire by extinguishing it. But a great blaze can evaporate water instead.
But… his demonic qi can't function against such mere qi?
'What on earth?'
Just as Dan Ja-Kang's eyes filled with doubt.
In the center of the fierce clash between red and black qi, a streak of blue flame rose. Though it was fire, it was colder than the northern sea's chill wind and sharper than a blade. The blue flame mercilessly engulfed Dan Ja-Kang's demonic qi that the petals had been blocking.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
A deafening sound of heaven's collapse erupted.
The tremendous aftermath of the clash of immense qi forced even the mighty Dan Ja-Kang to take a step back.
His entire body's demonic qi began to churn wildly. A pain he had never felt since becoming a High priest came upon him.
That familiar yet strange sensation momentarily distracted Dan Ja-Kang. He lost track of the two presences.
"Ugh!"
Realizing his mistake immediately, Dan Ja-Kang quickly summoned his demonic qi. But before it could manifest, a white sword suddenly appeared before his face.
Dan Ja-Kang widened his eyes and reached out like lightning. As he blocked the flying sword, a loud metallic clang echoed.
Ka-gaaaang!
The white sword pierced Dan Ja-Kang's palm.
Chung Myung's blazing eyes and Dan Ja-Kang's furious gaze clashed fiercely in the air as Chung Myung struck down with his sword.
"Th-this…!"
Just as Dan Ja-Kang was about to strike Chung Myung with raging fury, a golden meteor flew toward his face.
Kwang!
Dan Ja-Kang's body was pushed far back, leaving a long mark on the ground. Without even glancing at the two, he looked down at his hand.
Splat.
Blood trickled down his deeply cut palm and fell to the floor. A faint scent of blood brushed his nose. A burning pain spread through his palm.
After a moment of staring at his hand, Dan Ja-Kang slowly raised his head and stared at the two standing before him.
"Well, well. It seems the great High priest is flustered."
Jang Ilso wiped his mouth with his sleeve. His pale skin was stained with red blood.
A streak of blood also flowed from Chung Myung's mouth.
"Why? Seems like no one in the Demonic Cult fought properly today?"
Chung Myung sneered, baring his teeth fiercely.
"But don't be too disheartened. You'll soon find out."
Chung Myung raised his sword, aiming at the High priest's neck.
"What it really means to fight with your life on the line."
Dan Ja-Kang clenched his fist as if gripping the wound. A fierce light began to explode from his eyes again.
"You damn mayflies!"
Roaring, Dan Ja-Kang looked no different from a wounded beast.
"I will tear you all to pieces!"
"Oh?"
Seeing that, a strange madness flashed in Chung Myung's eyes.
"Now… this is the High priest I know! Hahaha!"
Chung Myung gripped his sword backward, burst into a loud mad laugh, and shot toward Dan Ja-Kang.