Chapter 204

Chapter 204

Central Zone. A great hall where mirrors were lined up in abundance.

“They’re starting to stand out.”

Sado Alliance Leader, who glanced at the mirrors lined up on both sides, wore a small smile at the scenes reflected inside the mirrors. Because, as expected, those distinguishing themselves were starting to appear.

“At the current point, comprehensively advancing the most is Hwasan.”

Hwasan Sect Leader, Jeokhajinin, whose ability is evaluated as comparable even to the Ten Heavens.

She, who is said to have reached the ultimate meaning of Plum Blossom Sword Arts, quickly gathered points from the start and focused on rallying Hwasan’s sword masters. Therefore, Hwasan Sect, excluding a few who fell behind early on, were all gathered together with Jeokhajinin.

Having quickly formed a group, there are no opponents to face them. Hwasan Sect is quickly resolving large-scale missions while regaining their original strength.

Then what about other places?

“Jeokrim rather chose to scatter.”

Jeokrim’s numbers aren’t particularly outstanding. However, don’t they have three-inch tongues and outstanding brains?

Already in various places, alliances centered on Jeokrim are being created. Though they’re merely thin temporary alliances, if they gather one by one to form a grand alliance, they would surely display great power.

That’s not all.

The Nine Sects and One Gang as the Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Families as the Five Great Families, Chilmun-iga as Chilmun-iga.

Each particularly active place is prominently appearing. Excluding Daesageom, Hyeolgeommun isn’t exerting strength as much as expected, but Cheolhyeolmun without Taeak is growing while destroying everything around with overwhelming power. Is that all?

Geomgak Master Geomhu Cheon Seoryeong, Dokgo Sega Head Dokgo Cheon, Hyeolgeommun Master Daesageom Hyeong Seo, and even Bulgoe.

Those who entered alone are each distinguishing themselves and massacring their surroundings. Appearances not inferior even against forces single-handedly.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say they are at, or will stand at, the pinnacle of the martial world. After finishing his judgment, Sado Alliance Leader stroked his chin.

“It’s about time to reveal themselves.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ah, you’ve come?”

At the voice heard from his shadow, Sado Alliance Leader chuckled and leaned his body sideways while sitting on the throne. His body leaning as if buried in the large chair.

“I was thinking about the rat bastards who must have infiltrated.”

“Do you mean Demonic Cult followers?”

“Yes.”

Wasn’t that one of the original purposes? To identify Demonic Cult spies who infiltrated the martial world.

After waving his hand briefly, Sado Alliance Leader asked quietly.

“Was there any progress? Since looking from this side doesn’t show everything.”

“Yes. I’ve made a list of those who are distinguishing themselves.”

“Just those distinguishing themselves?”

“No. Those distinguishing themselves compared to their reputation known in the martial world.”

“I see.”

At his subordinate’s words, Sado Alliance Leader nodded and glanced at the list. Famous names everyone knows listed in a row.

“Most are those who’ve been active for a long time.”

“Yes.”

“Demonic Cult spies can’t stay long in the Central Plains. These people couldn’t really be Demonic Cult spies…… You think they’re using Body Transformation Technique?”

“That’s correct. Wasn’t the reason my lord installed the formation restricting inner power also for that reason?”

“It was.”

Unlike others, Demonic Cult spies can’t infiltrate forces for long periods. For them who made the‘Promise,’ setting foot in the Central Plains for long isn’t just painful but impossible.

Therefore, Demonic Cult spies have two methods of infiltration. Either simply hiding their identity and infiltrating, or killing an already known famous person and disguising themselves as that famous person.

“There’s no way all these many people are Demonic Cult spies, so are there particularly suspicious ones?”

“Yes.”

The shadow, who answered calmly at Sado Alliance Leader’s question, listed names.

“There are five suspicious ones in total. Yeomwangjeon Vice Master Gong Yung. Dokgo Sega Head Dokgo Cheon. Qingcheng Sect Leader Songbyeok Jinin. Neutral territory’s Heukryongju. And Uicheonmun Master.”

Dokgo Cheon and Songbyeok Jinin. Heukryongju. Uicheonmun Master.

“Gong Yung is someone who had almost no external activities so that’s understandable, but the rest are puzzling names. As I know, they’re not people with such outstanding reputations.”

“Yes. Of course, their names are quite renowned in the martial world.”

The shadow, who quietly bowed his head, continued.

“But even so, they’re not at a level to be active here. Isn’t this a place where sect leaders, sect masters, and family heads from all sects have gathered?”

“That’s right.”

“In Gong Yung’s case, it’s somewhat understandable. Yeomwangjeon are those who focused on external arts training. Given the characteristics of this Opening Gate ceremony, if external arts are outstanding, they can advance higher than their actual skill level, can’t they?”

“Mm.”

That’s also true. Without inner power, those who learned external arts have no choice but to be advantageous.

Sado Alliance Leader, who nodded, threw out another question.

“What about Dokgo Sega Head?”

“From the beginning, he’s been repeatedly striking strongly without hesitation. It seems he used a strategy of deliberately attacking those gathered to steal points and snowball with that. In terms of skill level…….”

“If he infiltrated as a spy, he would have hidden properly. Just tell me if it’s within acceptable range.”

“Yes. It doesn’t seem to be at a level that’s incomprehensible by common sense.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. And regarding Songbyeok Jinin.”

After pausing briefly, the shadow continued.

“In Songbyeok Jinin’s case, it’s the opposite. Rather, he’s not bringing out all his skill. He’s in a situation where he’s earning just enough points to advance to the Central Zone.”

“Not bringing out his skill, but earning enough points to advance to the Central Zone? That is suspicious.”

“Yes. That’s why we’re keeping close watch.”

“Keep checking. He’s not someone who would easily fall for it, but if the Demonic Cult is determined to infiltrate, it’s not impossible, so it wouldn’t be strange.”

Then two remain.

After briefly calculating, Sado Alliance Leader casually asked.

“What about Heukryongju?”

“Since so little is known about him, I can’t say definitively, but they say he uses bizarre martial arts.”

“Bizarre martial arts?”

“Yes. It seems to be a type of Internal Energy Borrowing Art, but even with rat’s tail-like inner strength, it shows great power.”

“Hmm.”

“Judging by how he doesn’t avoid standing out, he doesn’t seem to be a Demonic Cult follower, but it seems necessary to keep close watch. I’ll also attach surveillance to this side.”

“Do as you wish. Then it’s roughly finished.”

“Uicheonmun Master still remains.”

“Ah, Uicheonmun Master?”

At the shadow’s words, Sado Alliance Leader chuckled and shook his head. The following answer.

“That person is fine. No need to check.”

“However, it’s true he’s been greatly active compared to his reputation.”

“It’s fine. He’s originally like that.”

“Pardon?”

“It means his reputation couldn’t contain him. It was like that two years ago, and it’s like that now.”

Master of Divine Weapon Strange Energy? Former Changcheon Corps Commander?

Such words are merely epithets that can’t properly contain even one facet of Uicheonmun Master Baek Riyun. What’s frightening about Baek Riyun is that he doesn’t show off. Yet when he needs to show, he doesn’t hesitate.

“A crouching dragon that was crouched is merely starting to stretch. Didn’t they say Uicheonmun Master even broke the Sword King’s sword?”

“Though it was a joint attack with Geomhu, that’s correct.”

“Then you know. That person isn’t a spy or anything like that. He’s not someone who would fall for it so easily.”

Even excluding emotional aspects, there’s plenty of evidence. Even if someone killed Uicheonmun Master and disguised themselves as him, they wouldn’t have received even the authority of Divine Weapon Strange Energy.

“You can stop worrying about Uicheonmun Master’s side.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s see.”

Sado Alliance Leader, who stroked his humming, resonating sword with his fingertips after finishing the questioning, turned his gaze to the mirror. Scenes starting to appear now.

“The matter regarding Demonic Cult followers is settled with this, so now it’s time to watch.”

“……Time to watch, you say?”

“Master knows too, right? This event is not only to display this alliance’s power, but also to confirm the Central Plains martial world’s strength.”

Restrict inner power, restrict situations.

Nevertheless, the outline appears. Individuals or groups that distinguish themselves.

Things like iceberg tips gather and gather to reveal the appearance of the Central Plains martial world. It means you can guess what level the total power of the Central Plains martial world, combining Orthodox Path, Unorthodox Path, and neutral territory all together, is at.

“It’s been nearly a thousand years since the Promise was made.”

“The Promise’s effectiveness is weakening. And the Divine Cult’s martyrs who made the Promise themselves are now transforming into Demonic Cult followers trying to push into the Central Plains.”

It’s a cruel and merciless story. That one must force sacrifice again upon those who sacrificed themselves. That’s truly cruel. But what can be done?

“We can’t empty Xinjiang.”

“But we also can’t guard Xinjiang ourselves. Apart from whether we want to or not……that’s impossible for us.”

In this vast world, the Central Plains is one of the few lands permitted to humans. If this land doesn’t exist, humans would have to return to that time of living as yokai’s livestock.

“There’s one thing we must do.”

Make a Promise.

“Endure the next thousand years. By forcing sacrifice upon the Demonic Cult followers.”

There’s only one method. The method of binding those who don’t want to make the Promise to the Promise has always been only one since ancient times, hasn’t it?

“Force it through with strength.”

Wouldn’t that be better than everyone dying together?

“To do that, the Central Plains must first become strong.”

At least to the extent of not being completely destroyed while caught up in a self-created typhoon.

Sado Alliance Leader, who smiled bitterly, quietly looked inside the mirror.

Hoping that no unexpected incidents occur.

“Huk. Heo-eok……!”

Running away.

Yeomyeong, a sword master of Emei Sect, who was gasping for breath while deploying lightness skill, unknowingly took one step back at the shadow falling before her. And shadows covering over that.

“Where are you running to so urgently, young Taoist friend?”

Not just one or two. Yeomyeong, who counted the numbers, ground her teeth and raised her sword tip forward.

“Benefactors are truly despicable……! To pursue someone who can’t even fight properly with so many people……!”

“Wandering vagabonds are despicable, so should we be fair and square then? Does that earn money?”

The Gwillanggok martial artist who giggled and laughed quietly rested his great sword on his shoulder.

“Hey. Taoist friend. We have no ill feelings toward you, friend. Really.”

“……Then why on earth? I don’t even have many points……! Even if you chase me like this, you won’t gain proper benefits!”

“If we just look at you alone, that would be so, right?”

“……What do you mean?”

“You’re from Emei Sect, aren’t you? There are about two strong people from Emei origins in this zone.”

Orthodox Path sects have a strong sense of martial brotherhood. Especially Taoist sects that don’t have many martial siblings even more so.

“A situation where a sajae is captured by vagabonds. Moreover, in a situation where harm could be done without even tearing off the bracelet, how many could fight properly?”

“……Could it be, using me as a hostage?”

“Correct. Your head works well. There’s no need to take the difficult path when there’s an easy one, right?”

If you can easily catch strong martial artists by catching one weak martial artist, there’s no need to deliberately take the long way around. That’s the vagabonds’ method.

At the Gwillanggok man’s words, Yeomyeong bit her lips and immediately moved her hand to tear off her own bracelet. However, even before that motion finished, the Gwillanggok martial artist grabbed Yeomyeong’s forearm.

“Oops. That won’t do. The precious commodity’s value would drop.”

“You, despicable ones……!”

“For us, being called despicable is a compliment, so know that, friend. Don’t worry. We also don’t plan to make enemies of Emei Sect. Whether it’s that side or you, friend, if you just comply obediently, there won’t be any bodily harm. Just献上 points to us.”

How about it? Isn’t it reasonable?

At the Gwillanggok martial artist’s shameless smiling appearance, Yeomyeong ground her teeth and tightly closed her eyes. Martial siblings’ faces flashing before her eyes.

‘I’m sorry, Sahyeong…… Sajeo……!’

How can I be this powerless? How?

Watching the Gwillanggok martial artists giggling while binding her body with rope, Yeomyeong shed tears of rage at the rising sense of helplessness. And.

“Now, let’s go find this friend’s martial siblings.”

Finally, the moment the Gwillanggok martial artists who finished binding started to set out.

“That won’t do, will it?”

An overwhelming number of shadows filled the surroundings.

“……Who are you friends again?”

“Us?”

At the Gwillanggok martial artist’s question filled with wariness, one of the shadows stepped forward. Soon revealing the appearance of a young white-robed woman.

“I’m Baek Risan. This bear here is Wang Pal.”

“……Baek Ri Sega? Why would Baek Ri Sega be.”

“Sorry, but I’m not here as Baek Ri Sega’s representative.”

“Then who are all these people?”

“Who, you ask?”

At the Gwillanggok martial artist’s coldly sunken appearance, Baek Risan chuckled.

“It’s simple.”

“An alliance.”

“An alliance to beat us up?”

“No. We need to accept you too into the alliance, you know?”

“……What?”

“Including that Emei martial artist over there.”

Otherwise, the objective can’t be achieved.

At Baek Risan speaking that way, the dumbfounded Gwillanggok martial artist questioned back.

“Just what kind of alliance would it be for that…… Is there anything to gain?”

“There’s nothing to gain. But there is something to do.”

“What in the…….”

“We’re the Zone Twenty-Seven Liberation Alliance. Our target is Bulgoe.”

“What?”

“Our objective is one. Nakcheon.”

The heavens of the martial world.

Drop the Ten Heavens.

“Shut up and follow. If you want to survive.”