Chapter 266

Chapter 266

I’ll cut the sky.

When Baek Risan heard those words, despite highly evaluating Nakcheon’s abilities, he thought it was some kind of metaphor. That was because the sky wasn’t actually something that could be cut.

Even the sky that seems close enough to touch is actually far beyond reach when you actually try. When even successfully cutting through clouds was enough to be praised as the world’s best, how could cutting the sky beyond that be possible?

No matter how strong Nakcheon was, he was just one yokai.

Saying he would cut the sky was too exaggerated. Since it couldn’t be cut in the first place, he probably just said it as a metaphor meaning he would make it look like the sky was cut. Even just that would be enough to draw everyone’s attention.

“……What is this, exactly.”

Having just witnessed the sun split in two by Nakcheon, Baek Risan clearly realized.

That at this very moment, Nakcheon had truly cut the sky.

Or at least, that the sky no longer existed here.

“Is this even possible with the power of a mere created being……?”

Darkness descends.

At Songbyeok Jinin’s bewildered voice, Baek Risan involuntarily looked around and clenched his fist. The approaching darkness.

‘It’s not martial arts.’

Could the sun actually be cut?

Probably not. According to those who observe the heavens, the sun is ultimately an amorphous star.

Even if an enormously giant sword energy penetrated through and split the sun in half, the sun wouldn’t split. Like cutting water with a blade, it would just pass through.

But then what was this current situation?

‘Sorcery.’

Nakcheon’s strike took the form of a sword stroke, but the result was not from a sword stroke. If the sun had been cut by a sword and disappeared, it meant the sun had been temporarily hidden from here.

A truly tremendous strike.

“What is he doing right now?”

Poke!

While blankly admiring Nakcheon’s hidden power, Dokgo Cheon, who had frowned, jabbed Baek Risan’s back with his sword sheath.

“What are you doing……!”

“Rather, I want to ask you. Don’t you understand what situation this is?”

“What situation? Nakcheon just…….”

“Whether that monster-like yokai is even stronger than expected isn’t what’s important in this situation.”

“……Ah.”

Thinking about it, that was right. He’d been momentarily entranced by the tremendous spectacle created by Nakcheon’s strike, but wasn’t this situation originally created to attack Ilnachar?

‘Where is Ilnachar?’

“Over there.”

“That’s where.”

At Dokgo Cheon’s gesture indicating a direction with his chin, understanding what he was looking for, he pointed with his chin. In the direction Dokgo Cheon indicated, Ilnachar stared up at the sky with a hardened face.

“……We have to do it now.”

“I know.”

In the dim world, Dokgo Cheon drew his sword and exchanged glances with Songbyeok Jinin as he moved forward. The sword blade that would normally have gleamed reflecting light quietly bared its fangs while hiding its sharpness in the world where the sun had disappeared.

Two hundred bo. One hundred bo. Fifty bo. Thirty bo.

The group slowly closed the distance toward the frozen Ilnachar and drew up their internal energy. No matter how much Ilnachar possessed martial prowess comparable to the Sipcheon, he hadn’t completely entered the realm of the Sipcheon.

If they suddenly attacked and could deal great damage, they could gain momentum.

-Now!

Songbyeok Jinin, who had exchanged voice transmissions, charged forward and drew his sword long. And.

Cheongwoonjeokha Sword

Cheongsongneungpung

‘Got him!’

Finally, the moment Songbyeok Jinin, having reached Ilnachar’s back, brought down his sword.

“Aah.”

With a smile.

A low voice flowed from Ilnachar’s lips.

“You’ve finally come.”

Ilnachar is being attacked.

“That’s…….”

“Do you see anything?”

At Bulgoe’s groan as he surveyed the enemy camp with his eyesight drawn to maximum, Cheon Seoryeong, who was gripping her sword handle ready to respond at any time, asked Bulgoe. Then Bulgoe nodded.

“It’s as the letter said. The enemy’s leader is being attacked.”

“……Isn’t there a possibility it’s the enemy’s scheme?”

“That possibility seems unlikely. Songbyeok Jinin is fighting at the very front.”

“Songbyeok Jinin…….”

Cheongseong Sect Leader Songbyeok Jinin.

Though his martial prowess fell short of the Sipcheon, the reputation he built in the martial world was by no means inferior to the Sipcheon. Since Sipcheon wasn’t determined simply by reputation or achievements but by ability, one could even say his reputation was higher than the Sword Sovereign, who had only recently become Sipcheon.

“No matter how much his life is in danger, he’s not someone who would endanger the search party. Then.”

“It’s safe to say Eungryong betrayed them as the letter stated. If Songbyeok Jinin is there responding, we can consider their forces split in half.”

The situation where they had been thinking of securing a retreat route by breaking through the encirclement because frontal battle would result in too much damage.

However, if the force difference was overturned like this, they could take the gamble. Could they even leave behind Songbyeok Jinin fighting to the death?

“Sword Emperor. What do you plan to do?”

“We’ll break through to the front.”

At Bulgoe’s question, Baek Rigang drew his sword as if it were obvious and pointed forward.

“If Eungryong betrayed them, their left wing will be completely breached. Bulgoe, I’d like you to block the right wing. You’ll have the advantage against Ambi.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Sword Sovereign, charge straight ahead like this and join up with Songbyeok Jinin. It seems he has supporters, but with just that level of force, it will be difficult to handle Ilnachar and get out.”

“Understood. Then you……?”

“I’ll block Hyeolgyeom.”

“Is that possible? He’s not an easy opponent.”

Chilryun Hyeolgyeom.

Unlike Ambi, whose name had only been heard relatively recently, or Eungryong, who specialized in sorcery, Hyeolgyeom was a true Chilryun. The Sword Sovereign would face certain defeat in a frontal confrontation, and even Bulgoe, who was among the strong even within the Sipcheon, couldn’t guarantee victory against him.

“I wouldn’t have brought it up if it didn’t seem possible.”

“Is that so.”

Then he would trust him.

Bulgoe, who confirmed Baek Rigang’s heavy gaze, stretched his form long and flew rapidly toward the right wing as if understanding. And watching Bulgoe’s retreating figure, Cheon Seoryeong bit her lip and gave her gaze to Baek Rigang.

“……Elder Sister still won’t want you to follow.”

“That’s right.”

“Senior. Don’t die. I’ll finish off Ilnachar and come rescue you right away.”

“This side will finish first.”

“Your words are always slick.”

While grumbling, Cheon Seoryeong smiled slightly, took her gaze off Baek Rigang, and shot her form straight forward, infiltrating into enemy lines. Cheon Seoryeong’s figure moving freely among enemies while scattering energy like starlight in the darkened world.

“Hu.”

A small breath.

Feeling everyone’s attention focusing on him, Baek Rigang felt the cool sensation of his sword handle and took a step forward. Soon after, Baek Rigang spoke softly.

“I won’t waste words since there’s no time.”

“Originally this would be a situation we couldn’t even attempt to fight. The situation has improved. If we fight with determination to die, we’ll end without dying. So.”

Let’s fight. Since that’s all martial artists can do.

Chaeaeng!!

With the low declaration, everyone confirmed Baek Rigang’s drawing his sword and took out their beloved weapons one by one. And.

“Show the Blood Cult followers what the Central Plains’ power is like.”

The moment Baek Rigang’s declaration fell.

Everyone began charging forward in unison.

–Waaaaaah—!!!

Shouts released to cast away fear.

While listening to that sound scraping up from everyone’s throats, Baek Rigang drew his eyesight to the extreme and looked around. To find his opponent in the darkened world.

‘Where is Hyeolgyeom?’

Finding him wasn’t difficult. Originally, throughout the Central Plains, those who used giant scythes as their weapons were so few they wouldn’t even number a few hundred.

The key was that. Not whether he could find him but how quickly he could find him. How much he could reduce the damage to allies until he confronted Hyeolgyeom.

‘Not the front.’

‘Not the flanks either.’

‘The path to circle to the rear is blocked.’

He couldn’t sense him.

Hyeolgyeom’s distinctive figure wasn’t visible anywhere on the battlefield where energy sensings were mixed. He definitely should have participated in this battlefield, yet Hyeolgyeom’s figure wasn’t visible on the ground. Then where?

‘Underground?’

There were some who had learned Earth Evasion Arts, but Hyeolgyeom’s weapon was a great scythe whose attacks consisted of swinging, striking, and pulling.

Attacking from the ground would be ineffective. Then what remained was just one thing.

“The sky!”

Daecheonjeokheolsurajgeom

Susuiljeokhak

Kagagagagak—!!!!!

At the same time he recognized Hyeolgyeom’s position, Baek Rigang received the scythe energy pouring down and frowned. The overwhelming impact made his wrist ache.

“You’re quick-witted. Central Plains swordsman.”

“Because my level is shallow.”

Watching Hyeolgyeom descending from the sky as if flying, Baek Rigang gripped his sword tightly. The aura he felt was formidable.

‘Can I win?’

I will win.

Though he’d spoken boldly to Cheon Seoryeong, Baek Rigang estimated his chances of victory at fifty-fifty. His opponent was famously known among the Chilryun for extreme offensive power, so it was uncertain how long he could receive such bizarre and monstrous attacks.

‘More than I thought……’

His offensive power was strong. Enduring was impossible. Then what should he do?

He had to break through.

Having organized the situation, Baek Rigang pointed his sword at Hyeolgyeom. And watching that, Hyeolgyeom muttered gloomily.

“You’ve steeled your resolve.”

“Yes. If one is a martial artist, one must be so. One must firmly steel one’s will and raise one’s weapon to accomplish one’s goal. One must never be swayed by others…….”

“That’s laughable. Is that something you, being swayed by the Blood Cult, should say?”

“……Huhu. I know. That I’m being swayed and all.”

At Baek Rigang’s sharp words, Hyeolgyeom let it pass with a self-deprecating bitter smile and shouldered his great scythe.

“The Blood Cult followers’ purpose is changing their own origins. Everything besides that purpose is treated as side branches. But my purpose is different. I came here to kill you Central Plains people.”

“I, this old man, find you Central Plains people detestable.”

He’d never thought deeply about shouldering duties. For Hyeolgyeom, it was a natural thing.

Up until a few decades ago, Hyeolgyeom had actually been relatively friendly toward Central Plains people. Though ‘friendly’ just meant he’d let them live and send them away rather than killing them when encountering them, he definitely hadn’t held ill feelings toward Central Plains people. He hadn’t lived with emotions intense enough to hold ill feelings toward anyone in the first place.

That changed ten years ago.

When the grandson he’d obtained in his old age returned injured from a battle with yokai and encountered Central Plains people.

And died in battle.

“This old man wants to kill every last Central Plains person. It’s impossible with this old man’s power alone.”

“I don’t see how cooperating with the Blood Cult leads to killing every last Central Plains person. Even if the Great Seal breaks, it won’t cause tremendous damage to Central Plains people, will it?”

“That’s right. ‘At first.'”

Ominous.

“At first?”

Seogeak—!

At Hyeolgyeom’s tone seeming to hide something, Baek Rigang, who questioned to gather information, reflexively pulled back his body at the white flash glinting near his neck. Watching Baek Rigang’s quick reaction, Hyeolgyeom muttered gloomily.

“Idle talk ends here. Sword Emperor.”

“This old man will kill you and accomplish his purpose. If you want to know more facts, come try to kill me.”

Kill and hear the truth.

Saying so, watching Hyeolgyeom take a combat stance, Baek Rigang let out a deep breath. And.

“That’s what I hoped for.”

Baek Rigang, confirming the blood energy slowly rising, drew up his internal energy.

White flames leaped up.