Chapter 334: Gae-yang (1)

-KWA-KWA-KWA-BOOM!

The pillars of the grand hall were collapsing in utter chaos.

Red lightning surged upward as Emperor Geumsangje and Elder Biseon were flung away.

Prince Gyeong, who had just moments ago been drowning in despair, couldn't hide his shock at the sight.

'That figure… What in the world…'

To Gyeong's eyes, Yeonsaeng looked no different from a being beyond human.

-Shuuu! Crackle!

Her hair, dyed blood-red, fluttered upward; steam rose from her overheated skin, and crimson lightning burst out from her entire body.

It was a breathtaking sight—like something out of a legend. If an Asura existed, it would surely look like this.

'Can Yeonsaeng really handle Elder Biseon?'

Gyeong knew that Elder Biseon, the hidden force of the imperial family, had protected it for centuries.

Whether Yeonsaeng could manage such a monstrous foe remained uncertain.

But based on the sheer force she was exuding now, it didn't seem she would lose.

'So that's why she told me to stay out of it and survive on my own.'

Any moment now, he could be swept into this battle and be in grave danger.

Gyeong looked toward the throne.

Emperor Manseongje, Ju Geum-bok, stood dazed, while the man beside him, his face wrapped in bandages, guarded him like a steel wall.

'Did His Majesty give up on Man Sa-shin-ui and the Empress?'

Understandable.

If he got caught up in their mess, even his life would be at stake.

In that case, Gyeong thought he too might have abandoned the hostages and chosen his own safety.

'Hostages…'

They weren't the only ones.

At the entrance of the grand hall stood the Empress and the adopted daughter of Man Sa-shin-ui.

-Flinch!

They, too, seemed overwhelmed by Yeonsaeng's presence.

It was impossible to tear their eyes away otherwise.

Just as Gyeong expected, those guarding the hostages were also visibly shaken.

> "What is that form…?"

> "No way… Our lord is not losing, right?"

But not everyone was rattled.

Among them, Mongju—who had given up his hearing and couldn't hear the chaos—stood firm without a flicker of doubt.

He had seen the true power of Emperor Geumsangje.

It had surpassed human limits, and he was certain it would not be overcome by a descendant of the Sword Sage.

-Sizzle!

Then, Mongju saw Geumsangje walking calmly out from the rubble of broken pillars.

He looked completely unscathed, as if the massive impact had not touched him.

'As expected!'

His faith had not been betrayed.

However, unlike Mongju's confidence, Geumsangje's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

'She said she'd ignore everything else and face only me?'

He couldn't take those words lightly.

The current situation overwhelmingly favored him.

He had captured Man Sa-shin-ui—something the girl desperately wanted—and even had Elder Biseon at his command.

'A cornered rat bites the cat. Is she really going all in like that?'

It was possible.

In the same situation, he too would have resolutely abandoned the hostages.

The question was—was she bluffing?

He could test that easily.

-Slide!

Geumsangje raised his hand and signaled Mongju.

The signal: kill the Empress and Man Sa-shin-ui's adopted daughter.

If that happened, Man Sa-shin-ui would resent the Sword Sage's descendant and never aid her again.

Mongju nodded and moved to execute the hostages.

'Let's see how she reacts…'

But then—

-Crackle!

Yeonsaeng hurled her body—not toward the hostages, but directly at him.

The speed was beyond imagination.

'What?'

Was she truly abandoning the hostages?

Geumsangje couldn't hide his surprise at her choice.

'Are you no different from me, after all?'

If so, the tactic of using hostages was meaningless from the start.

The only viable strategy was to kill her directly.

His golden eyes locked on the fast-approaching girl.

'I see it.'

These eyes could perceive the flow of energy completely.

What she was unleashing was a single, overwhelming sword strike, purged of all distractions.

'She aims only for me.'

His gaze sharpened.

For over 300 years, he had disciplined himself and mastered martial arts relentlessly.

Though an emperor, Geumsangje had possessed a natural genius for martial prowess and dedicated himself to erasing past humiliations.

'I've mastered every supreme art regardless of origin.'

He had learned and perfected hundreds of martial techniques.

Using them, he had created his own ultimate sword style—Jehwang Geomgyeong (Imperial Sword Scripture).

'Jehwang Geomgyeong is invincible.'

Though not yet immortal, his martial arts were complete.

To ensure perfect victory, he had sought immortality—but for this moment, it wasn't needed.

If he killed her now, everything would be over.

He gripped his sword tightly.

'I, born with the greatest talent, honed this to kill you alone.'

-Flash!

Geumsangje lunged forward toward the descendant of the Sword Sage, who was charging at him.

It was time to unleash his greatest strength.

> "Behold!"

-Slash!

With a swing of his sword, the air itself split, and the space rippled.

The sheer power of the strike made the floor beneath him collapse nearly three feet, and a windstorm of deadly energy surged outward.

'Jehwang Geomgyeong—Mugeukjisal (Ultimate Killing Slash)!'

A single slash meant to obliterate everything in its path.

He had no doubt she would be cut down instantly—

-Screeeeech! KABOOM!

'!?'

Before he realized, his sword had been knocked upward.

His eyes trembled.

The ceiling of Okhyeon Palace's grand hall had blown off entirely, revealing the night sky.

'She blocked my strike?'

That meant she was not merely equal—but possibly stronger in martial power.

As the Sword Sage's descendant countered his attack, she aimed a kick at his head.

At the last second, Elder Biseon intercepted it.

-Bang!

But even so, Elder Biseon was pushed back nearly three steps by the force.

'She surpasses even Elder Biseon in power?'

Geumsangje quickly leapt back.

He began to ready another form of Jehwang Geomgyeong against her—

But at that moment, Yeonsaeng's form suddenly elongated.

-Shushushushuk!

'What's this?'

The figure had split into eight.

There was no doubt—it was Pung Yeong Pal Ryu, the secret technique of Mujang Seong's lord, Mujeong Pungshin Jin Seongbaek.

He hadn't expected him to have even mastered Mujang Seong's ultimate martial art.

-Shushushushushushu!

Like a mirage, the eight clones split—four attacked Biseon No-ong, and the remaining four launched techniques at him.

And each of those techniques rivaled even the Imperial Sword Technique in power and finesse.

'These aren't just techniques of Pung Yeong Pal Ryu...'

The Emperor's hunch was correct.

They were peerless techniques passed down from the Eight Immortals of Do Hwa Seon.

The Emperor hastily executed the most defensive stance of the Imperial Sword Technique, Muyon Paejung's Ultimate Form, to fend off the assaulting Jin Unhwi.

-Chwachwachwachwachwachwa!

His sword moves, forming a dense mesh with countless afterimages.

But just as one of the clones stabbed his sword into the ground—

-Pachichichik! Kwarururung!

'Kuhk!'

Thunderbolt-like lightning erupted from the ground, electrocuting his body and slightly dulling his movements.

It was only slight, but in a match between peerless masters, even the slightest delay could tip the scales.

Through the small gap in his sword mesh, a spear strike from Geumchang Jingyeong slithered like a snake—and slashed his right hand.

-Chwak!

His right hand was sliced, and his treasured sword fell.

Though his hand healed almost instantly, there was no time to wait in this fleeting moment.

In desperation, the Emperor thrust with his left hand's sword seal at Jin Unhwi's chest.

-Sreuk!

But it was merely an afterimage.

The sword seal passed through like mist.

And then—

Jin Unhwi's knee slammed into the Emperor's face.

-Puk!

"Guhk!"

His nose broke, and his head was flung back.

Despite the pain, the Emperor flicked his hidden weapon, Palryeon Swae, aiming at Jin Unhwi's head using Tanjishingtong technique.

-Shuk!

'A clone again?'

The projectile passed right through Jin Unhwi's body.

The Emperor was stunned by the absurdly fast movement technique.

'Where is he?'

Three clones had disappeared—one had to be real.

Then he heard a voice above him.

"You said you'd kill only me, right?"

-Pachichichichik!

Jin Unhwi's sword rose into the air, sparking with crimson lightning, forming an enormous blade over a jang (about 3.3 meters) long.

-Flinch!

That crimson lightning blade was dangerous—he couldn't block it in his current state.

In a split-second decision, the Emperor clenched his teeth.

'...You dare force me to use this.'

There was something the Thunder Minister had once offered to him, calling it an ancient technique of sages.

Its name: Demonic Awakening.

Once invoked, his energy would increase exponentially—beyond imagination.

But the backlash would leave his entire body drained and vulnerable afterward.

'I'll have to trust Biseon No-ong and that man.'

As long as the swordsman's descendant was dead, no one could stop him.

With this resolve, the Emperor invoked Demonic Awakening.

A wicked aura erupted from his body, turning his skin black.

-Gooooooo!

His power skyrocketed beyond comparison.

'Indeed!'

The Emperor smirked.

With this power, he could topple mountains.

He hurled his body into the air and slashed a crescent-shaped black energy blade toward the descending crimson lightning sword.

-Pachichichichichi!

The crimson lightning and black energy collided, producing a deafening shockwave.

The hall split apart, storms raged—it was utter chaos.

'I'll cut through!'

The outcome of their nearly equal clash in midair—

-Chyaeeeeeeeng!

The Emperor won.

The crimson lightning sword was deflected, and a gap appeared.

The Emperor wasted no time, unleashing a storm of black energy blades toward his enemy.

-Chwachwachwachwachwachwa!

Jin Unhwi's clone smashed through the palace wall, thrown outside Okhyeon Palace.

The Emperor followed and kept firing energy blades.

-Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!

Nearby palace buildings like Jeongun Palace were obliterated in the process.

But the Emperor didn't care.

Jin Unhwi had to be eliminated here and now.

As the destruction escalated, royal guards and eunuchs from all over the palace began to gather.

"What on earth is happening!?"

"How can a human have that kind of power..."

They had come to protect the Emperor but stood frozen at the overwhelming power on display.

Each swing of the Emperor's hand sent black crescent blades demolishing everything in sight.

-Kwakwakwakwang!

None dared approach.

The Emperor only stopped when Biseon No-ong approached him.

His robes were scorched—he, too, had evidently fought fiercely against Jin Unhwi's clones.

"Ahhh..."

Looking at the devastated palace, Biseon No-ong sighed.

The jade color had left his eyes—signaling that Jin Unhwi was dead and that he'd regained his original will.

He looked at the darkened Emperor and asked,

"How did you come to master demonic arts?"

The Emperor chuckled and replied,

"Judging by your knowledge of Demonic Awakening, this really must be the bane of Taoists, huh?"

"Bane? What you've mastered is nothing short of catastrophe..."

Just then, the jade hue returned to Biseon No-ong's eyes.

The Emperor turned his gaze to the ruins of the palace.

There stood Jin Unhwi, tattered and bloodied—but alive.

"That woman... What is she?"

"She survived that?"

The guards and eunuchs were shocked.

Meanwhile, the Emperor clicked his tongue.

"She endured that too? Ridiculous."

-Gooooooo!

He drew even more power.

Until now, he had limited himself to the Eight Stars' power to prevent overload—but now he went full force.

The ground shook under the wind pressure and aura surrounding him.

Without turning his head, he said,

"Bind her. Kill her if you must."

He really just needed her held down.

Using her as a shield, he'd strike the killing blow.

-Pat!

Biseon No-ong dashed toward Jin Unhwi on command.

And then—

-Kwachik!

His staff shattered mid-swing.

Then, with a kick from Jin Unhwi, he was sent flying like a cannonball.

-Kwakwakwakwakwang!

He crashed through multiple palace buildings, the sound fading far into the distance.

No one could tell how far he had gone.

The guards and eunuchs watching were left gaping.

But something even more shocking occurred—

"You... bastard?"

-Pachik! Pachik!

Jin Unhwi's entire body had turned black—just like the Emperor's.

But not only that—the crimson lightning had turned dark red and even more ominous.

The Emperor stared in disbelief.

"You... How do you know Demonic Awakening...?"

Just then—

-Sreuk!

Jin Unhwi suddenly appeared before him.

'!?'

Startled, the Emperor tried to move—

-Puk!

A powerful uppercut sent his jaw flying upward.

Had his body not become like steel from Demonic Awakening, his jaw would've been shattered.

Then—

'When did I—'

-Sreuk!

Suddenly, she appeared above him again.

As he tried to cross his arms to block—

-Kwaaaang!

"Guhk!"

A massive blow sent the Emperor crashing downward.

Blood spewed from his mouth from the impact.

As he staggered to stay conscious, he noticed that the floor had caved in across a dozen spans around him.

"Struck with intent to kill, and still standing?"

Looking up, he saw Jin Unhwi peering down at him.

"You... how could this be..."

Everything was collapsing.

Just a moment ago, he had been confident of victory—now, he was speechless at the overwhelming gap.

Then Jin Unhwi reached out a hand.

"You're the first... to make me use my sixth form, Gaeyang."

"What...?"

Then something shocking happened—

-Twitch! Twitch!

"N-No way?"

"The swords... moving on their own?"

The guards watching couldn't believe their eyes.

Swords flew out of their scabbards and gathered around the woman.

-Doom! Doom!

Nearly a hundred swords floated in the air, pointing at the Emperor.

His pupils shook violently.

As Jin Unhwi reached out—

-Pachichichik!

Black-red lightning arcs formed like tangled roots among the airborne blades.

"This is... impossible..."

"What... is this...?"

It was a breathtaking sight.

But for the Emperor, looking up from below—

It was a vision of hell.