He wanted to ask. To those who always spout the obvious phrase that you must do your best against any enemy, he wanted to show them this scene and ask: do you really have the confidence that your fighting spirit won't break even after witnessing this sight?
Namgung Do-Wei stared, mesmerized by the swirling demonic qi, the red plum blossom petals, and the soaring blue flames.
'Is this really a fight between humans?'
Rather than a clash of warriors, it looked more like a scene from a myth.
As the heir of the Namgung Family, he could understand all this—he had no choice but to grasp it intellectually. Since childhood, his father had told him countless times that martial arts are similar from beginning to end, but once a certain level is surpassed, they transform into a completely different form.
However… Namgung Do-Wei was now certain that even Namgung Hwang, who had told him those words, would not have reacted much differently upon seeing this scene.
Kwaaahhh!
The sound of qi colliding and exploding repeatedly struck his eardrums. Without internal qi protecting his body, his eardrums would surely have been torn.
He used the Namgung Family's sword style, so in terms of power, he was confident he was not inferior to any martial artist in the world. Yet, the pride he had carried all his life shattered instantly before this sight.
Above all, what troubled Namgung Do-Wei was…
'How can they charge right into that?'
It was the actions of Chung Myung and Jang Ilso who plunged without hesitation into that terrible and dreadful storm of demonic qi. This torment had followed him since arriving at Hangzhou.
Is that something anyone can do just by being strong? Absolutely not. The desire to survive is something everyone has, strong or weak. It's an instinct born with us. So to run into that hellish place, which makes your spine chill and knees buckle just by watching, requires something beyond mere strength.
It was at that very moment.
Whoooosh!
The demonic qi that had been endlessly growing and swirling began to shatter, covered by red flowers and blue flames. Then, in an instant, it vanished.
"Ah!"
Namgung Do-Wei saw it.
Chung Myung rushing at Dan Ja-Kang with terrifying speed.
Kaaahhh!
The sword swung upward collided head-on with Dan Ja-Kang's hand.
Kagak! Kagagak!
A harsh, grating sound rang continuously, and fragments of demonic qi and sword qi scattered like sparks everywhere.
Dan Ja-Kang's face twisted. Just as he tried to grasp the sword that touched his palm, Chung Myung's sword suddenly withdrew as if it were an illusion. Then it transformed into dozens of sword shadows and poured over Dan Ja-Kang's entire body.
Dan Ja-Kang's hand also split into dozens in response.
Shaking only the sword tip to create changes versus swinging the hand directly—there's no need to ponder which is easier. Still, Dan Ja-Kang's hand was following Chung Myung's created changes without much difficulty.
But that was only for a moment.
Paaaah!
The split sword tips of Chung Myung trembled simultaneously, then divided into thousands of petals and attacked Dan Ja-Kang.
Dan Ja-Kang's eyes filled with shock.
'Here?'
He couldn't block it. No one could stop such a torrent, especially not with just their hands.
Dan Ja-Kang withdrew his outstretched hand and let out a loud shout. At the same time, the demonic qi emanating from his body suppressed and knocked down the fiercely spinning petals around him.
'Each one is not strong!'
Dan Ja-Kang poured more internal qi into his demonic qi.
Paaaah!
But then, through the spinning demonic qi, a pure white sword blade suddenly appeared.
'What?'
Even the mighty Dan Ja-Kang was startled by this unexpected attack. He hastily raised his hand and barely blocked it. But that was all.
"Ugh!"
Dan Ja-Kang was pushed back little by little in that state.
Chung Myung gave him no chance to catch his breath. When Dan Ja-Kang reflexively shot out his energy, Chung Myung lowered his body flat to dodge and flew just above the ground like a swallow. Then he clung tightly to Dan Ja-Kang.
"You!"
Kwaaahhh!
The demonic qi Dan Ja-Kang had just unleashed was fired powerfully again toward Chung Myung. It was an attack filled with certainty that no one charging at that speed could evade it.
But then Chung Myung threw the Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword to the ground.
The sword, which had bent as if about to break, snapped back resiliently, and using that rebound, Chung Myung leapt high into the air.
Kwaaahhh!
Dan Ja-Kang's demonic qi shattered only the innocent ground miserably. Before the echo of that roar ended, dozens of sword auras burst forth from Chung Myung's sword tip.
Blood-red sword auras flew fiercely toward Dan Ja-Kang, as if intending to pierce his body instantly.
'Careless.'
A bleak light flashed in Dan Ja-Kang's eyes.
That such a predictable attack would work…
But then, behind him, a huge cracking sound arose.
'What?'
He hurriedly turned and clearly saw ten golden bracelets flying toward him at terrifying speed.
Kwaaahhhhh!
The ground overturned and soared high, and the forcibly lifted earth soon poured down like an avalanche.
Whoooosh.
The bracelets returned to Jang Ilso with a clear rustling sound, settling back on his wrists.
"Hmm."
Jang Ilso snorted as if intrigued. But his eyes were dark and sunken.
"At this point, I'm curious what exactly that body is made of."
Dan Ja-Kang appeared amidst the fallen earth. Despite being caught in such a massive explosion, there wasn't a single visible wound.
But his gaze was clearly different from when the battle began.
'Is this the Central Plains?'
Dan Ja-Kang's gaze fixed on one side.
'Especially that swordsman.'
Chung Myung was catching his rough breath, watching this way. The sword techniques Chung Myung had just displayed still vividly flashed in Dan Ja-Kang's mind.
To those with little understanding of martial arts, it might have seemed like just a rapid chain attack. But within it was a hidden, incredible secret of advancement.
From Strength to Change. From Change to Illusion. Then to Speed.
In barely the time of a single breath, four different secrets were unleashed.
It's not hard for a swift sword user to strike dozens of swift sword attacks. But for that user to momentarily unfold a sword technique with strength and then create numerous changes again is nearly impossible.
No, most swordsmen can't even reach that peak by honing just one style their whole life. But that swordsman was doing that impossible feat effortlessly.
The frustration felt when the opponent's sword style changes instantly is unimaginable to anyone who hasn't experienced it.
And… Dan Ja-Kang's gaze now turned to Jang Ilso.
The venomous snake-like gaze and the extremely sinister aura kept irritating Dan Ja-Kang's mind. Just facing him felt like a poisoned dagger was aimed at his back.
A fierce killing intent, rarely seen even in the Demonic Cult, transcended martial skill and hardened a person.
Considering the meaning of 'threatening,' that person's presence irritated Dan Ja-Kang even more than the swordsman. If even a slight gap appeared, that venomous snake's fangs would surely pierce it.
The only commonality between those two, who were like opposites, was one thing.
'They are skilled.'
By watching their sword techniques and their sense of targeting the opponent's gaps, one can immediately tell. Both are extremely experienced fighters.
Bang!
At that moment, Chung Myung literally became a ray of light and rushed toward Dan Ja-Kang. He didn't miss even the brief moment Dan Ja-Kang's gaze shifted to Jang Ilso.
Paaaah!
Chung Myung's sword, filled with sunset-like sword aura, fell toward Dan Ja-Kang's head.
'A predictable move!'
Dan Ja-Kang reached out his hand covered in demonic qi to snatch the flying sword. But at that moment.
Fwaaak!
With a sound like roaring flames, Chung Myung's sword blurred and pierced through Dan Ja-Kang's hand.
'What…'
Swaaaak!
Chung Myung's sword regained its form above Dan Ja-Kang's head. Then it twisted again like a venomous snake and flew toward Dan Ja-Kang's neck.
Dan Ja-Kang urgently twisted his neck to dodge the sword.
"Ugh!"
It wasn't some magic. When Dan Ja-Kang tried to block the sword, it momentarily bent its path and slipped past his hand. The process was so fast and natural that it seemed as if the sword disappeared.
It's easy to say but nearly impossible to perform in reality. This is not just a technique, but close to divine technique.
Paaaah!
The sword that narrowly grazed Dan Ja-Kang's neck stopped abruptly in midair like a lie, then moved horizontally as if to slice his neck.
Thrust, stop, slash.
Though these should be three separate moves, the entire process was fast and natural as if it were one from the start. Is there a better textbook to explain how aiming processes combine into a technique?
Kagagagak!
At that moment, Dan Ja-Kang grabbed the sword flying toward his neck. He clearly understood it wouldn't be good to let Chung Myung run wild anymore. His dark hand began to squeeze the sword tightly, preventing any movement.
'Damn!'
Gripping the sword with his black hand, Dan Ja-Kang pulled hard, intending to strike Chung Myung's face with a punch.
But Chung Myung simply released the sword in midair.
Dan Ja-Kang, who had exerted all his strength aware of the opponent's resistance, staggered for a moment.
"No way!"
Then a chilling voice came from behind.
Jang Ilso's red long robe fluttered like a flag.
Bang!
Jang Ilso, having stepped into his true form, unleashed a barrage of chained strikes like torrential rain on Dan Ja-Kang's back, while Chung Myung flipped in midair and rained down chained kicks like a waterfall on Dan Ja-Kang's head.
"Ugh!"
Realizing he couldn't handle it with one hand, Dan Ja-Kang threw the sword he was holding upward and spread both hands. The demonic qi rising like thick smoke blocked Jang Ilso's fists and Chung Myung's kicks.
Kwakwakwakwang!
Chung Myung's foot, having delivered over ten chained kicks in one breath, descended fiercely. Seeing that, Dan Ja-Kang momentarily drew up his internal qi to counter!
Tak!
Chung Myung suddenly relaxed his descending leg, stepped on Dan Ja-Kang's demonic energy like a stepping stone, jumped up, and snatched the Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword floating in midair.
Kwaang!
Turning his body and kicking the air, Chung Myung shot toward Dan Ja-Kang like a falcon diving after prey. His eyes flashed with killing intent.
Finally, the Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword fiercely slashed down from above.
Thhuuuuddddddd!
The sword tip struck the ground.
A suffocating silence flowed.
And Dan Ja-Kang's eyes trembled greatly for a moment.
Chwaaak!
One of Dan Ja-Kang's shoulders split open with a crack, blood spraying out like a fountain.