Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Township
Whoosh!
Geukho, Myeong Ryong-ja, and Cheongwol—the three experts—were racing urgently toward somewhere. Myeong Ryong-ja pushed his Ultimate Cloud Sect divine footwork to its limits as he ran, shouting at Geukho.
“You really plan to follow that guy’s scheme?”
“……”
“It’s suicide! When we should be banding together just to stand a chance, what kind of—”
Myeong Ryong-ja and Cheongwol followed the strategist’s orders for now, but their faces were etched with clear unease. As Baek-Woong’s comrades, they knew the full situation and were well aware of the emergence of the ultra-powerful Eight Legions. Yet the final directive from the Zhuge Strategist was utterly beyond their expectations.
Geukho gripped his spear tightly and spoke.
“Don’t worry, seniors. For a martial artist, isn’t it a luxury just to choose one’s own place of death?”
“Hmph! So you’ve avenged yourself against Yong Bi-cheon, and that’s that. But I haven’t killed the cult leader yet, so dying like this feels a bit unfair.”
“Who knows? Besides, according to the Zhuge Strategist’s calculations, there’s a high chance the cult leader dies right here too.”
“You trust that guy?”
“If I said I trust the Mad Scribe, I’d be called the craziest bastard in the world…”
Geukho grinned.
“Let’s not overthink it, seniors. The mission he’s given us isn’t a walk in the park anyway.”
“Hmm. Fair enough.”
Cheongwol nodded readily. In this chaotic mess, no martial artist could fully decipher the strategist’s intentions and act accordingly. Plus, as Geukho said, executing that “suicide mission” was no easy feat itself.
Boom…
Myeong Ryong-ja’s eyebrows twitched at the sight of the massive horde of ghost generals looming before them.
‘The Zhuge Strategist was right.’
As predicted, a powerful barrier had been set up here by the Twelve Canons Lord and the Ten Thousand Ghostly Spirit Gate. The ghost generals were combat constructs summoned by high-rank sorcerers—far stronger than ordinary martial artists, making them a favorite for self-defense. He tested them by unleashing a crescent-shaped sword beam infused with his internal energy.
Boom!
The massive energy mass, spanning three zhang in radius, collided with an explosion, sending ghost generals flying as corpses. But unlike humans, the ghosts showed no panic or loss of momentum; they formed battle lines and charged. After all, these were combat spirit soldiers summoned from the netherworld, devoid of human emotions or weaknesses.
Screee—
“Hah!”
Boom!
Cheongwol roared, unleashing the Thunder God Style advanced technique Thunderclap Twin Wheel Palms, obliterating ten ghost generals in one go. It took about the time of one incense stick to wipe out the hundreds-strong ghost army. Geukho wiped sweat from his forehead and addressed the two.
“Seniors, how much internal energy do you have left?”
“About two or three tenths used, I’d say.”
Geukho smacked his lips and scratched his head. They’d expended more energy on this first barrier than expected.
“No time for meditation recovery. Instead, circulate your qi and blood while we move to restore yourselves. Myeong Ryong-ja, use the Nine Palaces Divine Art. Senior Cheongwol, employ the Thunder Dragon Absorbing Moon.”
Myeong Ryong-ja looked puzzled.
“We can manage that, of course, but… while moving? Is the situation that urgent?”
“Yes. We’re already quite late.”
Geukho gazed up at the upper branches of a massive tree amid the misty mountains.
“We slip through this chaos to the top of the World Tree. That’s our mission.”
===============================================
Rumble...
Space warped and shattered, and from the rift emerged a colossal arm that stepped forth. It was no human limb—its size and shape were like a demon beast clutching a mountain.
The Eight Legions' Yaksha, revealing its true form for the first time, swung its arm down.
Boom!
The first clash! The power in Yaksha’s strike hammered the barrier protecting the World Tree, shaking it violently. Yaksha slowly dragged its body into the air, grinning hideously.
[World Tree... the most perfect life of chaos... So a mere human possessed a treasure even gods covet.]
It seemed to have perfectly blocked the Eight Legions member’s attack, but fine cracks like spiderwebs had formed in the barrier. At least a tenth of its durability had been shaved off.
Soon, all six remaining Eight Legions would manifest their true forms in this realm. At this rate, the World Tree and the Divine City would be utterly destroyed. As Yaksha leisurely summoned its body to the ground in anticipation of victory—
Fwoosh!
[......!!]
Yaksha flinched and swung its scythe at a flame flying from somewhere. But soon, it screamed as it burst into flames midair.
[Graaaah...]
Explosive blaze!
Yaksha could have extinguished any mundane flame with its demonic power, but this fire bore the properties of an entirely alien realm. Caught off guard by the overwhelming assault, Yaksha poured all its power into defense. Meanwhile, the other Eight Legions subtly revealed their true forms one by one.
Craaack!
Garuda’s eyes flashed as it spewed flames from its beak. The flames engulfed Yaksha, clashing wildly with the explosive blaze before settling. A rare sight—fire contending with fire.
Kinnara, gazing at the distant sky, spoke.
[The avatar of the Flame King.]
[Strong?]
[Unclear... Depends on the sacrifices and constraints involved.]
Gandharva of the Eight Legions said.
[We can’t let the Ruler’s avatar tie us down forever. How about splitting into two groups?]
[Agreed.]
The group’s strategist, Kinnara, issued the order.
[I, Yaksha, and Gandharva will shatter the World Tree’s barrier. Garuda, Deva, and Mahoraga—take down the Ruler’s avatar.]
[Got it.]
Whoosh!
Without hesitation, they split and headed to their tasks. Moments later, as the Flame King avatar transformed into a massive black dragon in the sky, Garuda—birdlike—appeared before it, flanked by Deva and Mahoraga.
The Flame King's avatar laughed upon seeing them.
[Krahahaha... You dare bar my path, mere chicks?]
[Are you in a position to mock us? As the avatar of a [Former Ruler], we're equals.]
A pure being of light without eyes, nose, or mouth, shrouded in clouds—that was the form Deva, the Celestial Three Zhang Sorcerer, took. As Deva lightly retorted, the Flame King's avatar spat black flames in displeasure.
[You... Think I don't know your master is second-rate? Do you believe you can stand equal to one born from primordial chaos, who has warred among the constellations since the beginning?]
[......]
[Don't overreach your station. No matter how you fawn over greater beings, vermin like you remain vermin!]
Arrogant words, yet none of the Eight Legions refuted them outright. Whether because it was true or simply beneath notice, who could say? Instead, Mahoraga—in serpentine humanoid form—spoke.
[We've clashed endlessly with scum like you in the shadows of Central Plains history. But you fail to grasp the essence of this battle... No matter whose avatar you are, you'll die by our hands.]
[Insolent fools!!]
Boom!
[Graaaah.]
In the battlefield flashing with radiant flames, the black dragon—avatar of the Flame King—spewed black fire madly. The pillars were hundreds of zhang wide, erupting simultaneously from its body like a natural disaster. A single focused blast could pierce mountains.
Garuda offset the flames with its own light blaze, but there were limits. The [Former Ruler] known as the Flame King was of lofty stature, making its avatar inherently powerful. Bolstered by the White Lotus Cult Leader's ample sacrifices, its strength was undiminished. The Eight Legions, forcibly manifested on earth, were weakened, widening the power gap.
Pew!
Boom!
[Mahoraga!!]
Deva glanced back in alarm. Sure enough, Mahoraga had taken a massive hit from the recent black flame, its spirit body torn to shreds. Though Mahoraga ranked low in raw power among the Eight Legions, Deva hadn't expected a single avatar strike to fell it, and panic set in.
Garuda growled.
[The mortal's summoned quite the nuisance... Take this!]
Roar!
Garuda's divine flames counterattacked the Flame King's avatar, but its incredible speed let it evade entirely. Garuda prided itself on velocity, yet the avatar's was superior, leaving it shocked. As the avatar exhaled black breath once more, Garuda fell victim too.
Flash!
[Graaaah...]
Garuda charred black and plummeted. The avatar surged toward Deva, laughing.
[Kehhehe... The Eight Legions, nothing special.]
[......]
Boom!
Zing—
Deva calmly defended with space-time sorcery. At the pinnacle of spellcraft, Deva unleashed ancient arts from east and west alike, staving off even the Flame King's avatar. After holding out awhile, its egg-like ghostly white face twisted into a smirk.
[You know nothing about us...]
[What?]
As Deva spoke—
Flash!
Light poured from the sky, and Garuda and Mahoraga reappeared.
The Flame King's avatar stared blankly ahead at the impossible sight. Moments later, it spoke in confusion.
[Wha... I definitely erased you...]
[Kehhehe.]
Deva grinned wickedly.
[Keep wasting your power as you are. It's working in our favor.]
[Ridiculous!]
Boom!
The battle reignited.
“……”
From afar, Twelfth Canon Lord Ha Eunchun watched. Everywhere within dozens of li of the Divine City fell under his gaze and ears—the authority of the Liberation Wood Essential's master. Thus, he overheard the Eight Legions' conversation, gathering intelligence.
The Twelfth Canon Lord glanced at Wind Elder beside him.
“Be more careful.”
“What do you—”
Fwoosh!
Ha Eunchun thrust a palm at Wind Elder's chest, and dark energy billowed from his back. Wind Elder whipped around in shock. Ha Eunchun tried to capture it with sorcery, but it clung stubbornly.
The Canon Lord gave a wry smile.
[Kehehe, you've been eavesdropping awhile now. So the Zhuge Strategist has heard the Eight Legions' talk too...]
“Ugh. You mean that demon sorcerer cast magic on me? Impossible!!”
Wind Elder panicked. It couldn't be.
Setting aside spell differences, he and the other Three Masters were divine beings, not human—special existences. Their spell resistance dwarfed mortals'. Nothing short of a [Former Ruler]'s apostle or avatar could harm them with sorcery or magic.
The Canon Lord then said.
“Zhuge Strategist. You're probably hearing this now. I suspect you realize this magic isn't purely your doing. You contracted a demon behind you, staking it as a trump card. Contracts let you surpass a sorcerer's limits via constraints.”
He pointed at the dark energy.
“Listen well. You're not worms in a tiger's gut—you're mere mice in poison. I'll crush you first, then deal with the Eight Legions. You can never steal my Seven Essentials.”
Pop!
The dark energy burst.
Thud!
At that instant, the Zhuge Strategist—walking somewhere—flinched and dropped to his knees.
Drip...
[Kehhehe... As expected of the Twelfth Canon Lord, Eastern Supreme... You caught on faster than I thought. I figured it'd be around when the Eight Legions' fight ends...]
The Strategist felt his right eye go blind, thick blood streaming from the socket. As the Canon Lord said, he'd planted dark energy in the Three Masters for eavesdropping via a pact with the Demon King, wagering his right eye as collateral. With the magic dispelled, the eye was forfeit.
The Strategist muttered.
“Well... I did consider stealing the Seven Essentials. Offering my soul and imposing harsh terms might've made it possible. But that's not my goal now.”
He smirked.
The Canon Lord had acted sooner than expected, but he still believed he held the advantage.
Because the Canon Lord didn't know where he was, where he was headed, or what he sought.
“Shall we...?”
Step.
Step.
The Zhuge Strategist walked the dark, sticky secret passage.
Convinced victory lay at its end.
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