Chapter 1059: Your Voice Won't Reach Him (Part 4)

The earth screamed, and the sky trembled. Under consecutive shocks, not only the practitioners of the demonic sect but also the disciples of Mount Hua were thrown back and pushed away. Considering the distance between the battleground and them, it was an inconceivable situation.

"Chung Myung...,"

Baek Cheon's hands trembled uncontrollably.

No matter how skilled Chung Myung was, could anyone survive such an attack head-on? If not... Baek Cheon's reason faded into the distance before he could even imagine an undesirable conclusion.

"Sahyung! Look there!"

At the voice that reached him, Baek Cheon's head turned sharply. Jo Gol was pointing. And at the end of his finger was... Chung Myung, half-squatting, touching the ground with one hand.

"Ah..."

It was a moment when strength drained from his entire body. But it was not a time for relief.

"What kind of inner strength..."

Cold sweat poured from Baek Cheon's forehead like rain. Factors discussing the strength of a martial artist generally revolve around two things. One is how perfectly one has mastered their martial arts, and the other is how strong their inner strength is. According to Chung Myung's theory, elements such as tactics, adaptability, and mental strength would be added here, but fundamentally, these two determine the strength of a martial artist.

It wasn't a good sign if one of these aspects is significantly ahead of the other. The most important thing is the harmony between martial arts and inner strength. At least, that's what Baek Cheon believed.

But watching this scene, he couldn't bring himself to say such words. The destructive power emanating from an overwhelmingly powerful inner strength shattered Baek Cheon's common sense about martial arts.

'So, this is why...'

The practitioners of the demonic sect knew. How strong that bishop was. What inner strength he concealed.

That's why even in a situation where their bishop was being overwhelmingly targeted, they could remain unshaken.

"Sahyung..."

Tang Soso's quivering voice was heard.

"Can we really win against that monster? Against him?"

Baek Cheon couldn't answer. He couldn't even bring out words expressing belief in Chung Myung without a plan. That wouldn't be trust; it would be recklessness.

Instead, Baek Cheon clenched his teeth and said, "Listen carefully, Soso."

Soso remained silent.

"He must not be allowed to live, absolutely."

"Sahyung."

"If... if by any chance, even Chung Myung and Jang Ilso can't handle him... everyone here must rush in and somehow kill him."

It was indeed a harsh statement. But when you think about it, there is hardly a wrong aspect. Anyway, when those two are defeated, those left here have no future. The practitioners won't just let them go.

Then at least they must find some value in their deaths.

But...

'When will that be?'

Baek Cheon thought hard, clenching his fist.

Was it really the right choice to delay time here? Weren't they burdening Chung Myung too much right now? Maybe it was better to act together right now...

As Baek Cheon, driven by impatience, unknowingly took a step forward, someone firmly grabbed the sleeve of his robe.

"Sase."

Yoo Iseol had a stern expression on her face.

"Wait, Sahyung."

"...?"

"Sajil is still fighting."

At those words, Baek Cheon's gaze returned to Chung Myung.

Even from this distance, it was clear. The intense light emanating from Chung Myung's lowered eyes.

"...Okay."

Baek Cheon eventually nodded heavily.

"But I can't wait too long. I have no intention of seeking revenge after he dies."

"I'll go ahead at that time."

Yoo Iseol's voice was resolute. Baek Cheon stared at Chung Myung with bloodshot eyes.

'Chung Myung...'

"Hoo... hoo..."

Sweat mixed with blood trickled down Chung Myung's chin. His entire body was in pain, contorted as if it would collapse, and, incredibly, it felt heavy. It was as if all the moisture in his body had drained away.

Chung Myung glanced down at his feet. His right foot was partially crushed.

In the moment the demonic energy exploded, he threw the sword into the air, and with the recoil, managed to evade. However, by a mere graze, his right foot was swept away by the demonic energy.

'...Is it fortunate that it's the right foot?'

For someone using a superior sword, the left foot was where the weight was placed for a sword strike. If the left foot was injured, the sword could exert its full power. The right foot also had an impact, but at least it was better than the left foot.

But... the important thing was not the force applied to the sword. Getting hit in the foot meant there was a problem with mobility. He lost one of the biggest weapons that allowed him to drive Danjagang forward until now.

Why? Why did this result occur?

Thud!

Plunging the sword into the ground, he struggled to rise with an arrogant stride towards Danjagang, and said as if spitting it out.

"...You, have you mastered Suction Essence Arts? (吸精魔功)"

At his words, Danjagang's eyes widened.

"It seems you're quite knowledgeable about the sect."

"...Looks like the Demonic Sect is over. Giving Suction Essence Arts to a brat like you."

Chung Myung bit his lips.

It wasn't a mistake. It was just something he hadn't thought of. The current Demonic Cult was different from the past. If it were the past sect, they wouldn't have given Suction Essence Arts to a young bishop like him.

Suction Essence Arts was the most imperfect and dangerous magic that absorbed the internal energy of others to increase one's own, but it also drove the user's spirit into chaos.

Someone who has absorbed internal energy through Suction Essence Arts doesn't become a madman obsessed with the sect and faith but turns into a real lunatic, a beast that runs rampant, not distinguishing friend from foe.

So even in a sect that pursues power and fanaticism, such a technique is not easily permitted. However...

'I was foolish.'

He should have thought about it. The current sect was different from the past.

A hundred years ago, the war did not cease, and therefore, those who could not handle the absorption of internal energy through Suction Essence Arts appeared.

However, in the current sect, living in isolation from others, there is only one target for suction.

"… That viper-like bastard has even eaten his own followers."

If the target for absorption was a martial artist who had mastered the same technique, the side effects would have been minimized. Of course, that doesn't mean complete freedom from the side effects of Suction Essence Art, but it could have been reduced.

Because of this oversight, even Chung Myung failed to realize the fact that the internal energy of the bishop far surpassed his imagination.

All expectations are based on one's common sense and experience. Therefore, unexpected events beyond one's common sense are not anticipated. What Chung Myung is now doing to the bishop is what those who faced him used to do.

"What, are the crazy people of the sect not in their right minds? Even in the past, they didn't mess with fellow practitioners. Why? Were they afraid that the Heavenly Demon baby would just rot and crumble after it died?"

"..."

"Answer me. How did it feel to eat up fellow practitioners? Did you ever properly see their faces when you sucked in the energy of those who were screaming?"

Danjagang tightly closed his eyes.

'How was it?'

That guy had no idea. He didn't understand at all. Although he appeared to have knowledge of the religion, he had no understanding of it at all.

'I guess he can't know.'

To him, the faces of those who willingly offered their internal energy and were dying in ecstasy. When the Heavenly Demon arrived, they believed those dying in ecstasy could become fertilizer.

What he couldn't endure, on the contrary...

Danjagang's gaze darkened.

"You pitiful, Central Plains man."

"..."

"Beasts don't show weakness until the moment of death. No matter how painful, they endure until the moment they can bear it."

"..."

"Otherwise, they get abandoned and become targets again. So, why haven't you shown a moment of weakness despite what you've been through?"

Thud.

Chung Myung sharpened his words.

"Don't just babble."

Chung Myung's voice sounded like the moaning of someone whose lungs were pierced.

After taking a few short breaths, the calm Chung Myung walked towards Danjagang. His injured foot dragged on the ground.

"This is why they say you shouldn't mess with inexperienced brats."

"..."

"Why, do you already feel like you've won?"

Chung Myung let out a cute smile.

"Let me tell you, you idiot. There's no such thing as victory or defeat on the battlefield. There is only one choice: kill or be killed."

These wounds were nothing. He had fought with much worse injuries and still defeated his opponents. It's not something to fuss over just because one foot was mangled. There was no reason to utter weak words about it now.

But Danjagang simply looked at Chung Myung with calm eyes.

"We waited for the advent."

"..."

"For a long time. Just waiting... and waiting again. Clinging to a glimmer of hope that someday, He would answer our faith. The truly difficult part is not the waiting. The real challenge is the weight of the lives dying without even hearing a single word of response."

"Kook..."

Chung Myung's shoulders, which had been silently listening, suddenly shook..

Danjagang's eyes momentarily darkened. It was because he sensed that the laughter wasn't a deliberate provocation.

"What's amusing?"

He asked the question, but Chung Myung, who still couldn't seem to calm down, continued to laugh for a while before stifling it.

"Ah, sorry."

Even after the laughter subsided, the figure soaked in blood remained clearly visible.

"It's like watching a human fishing for meat above the clouds."

"What does that mean?"

"Everything is wrong."

Chung Myung gripped the sword.

"You will never be repaid."

"..."

"Even if the Heavenly Demon descends, it won't matter. Your voice won't reach him. At least not to that guy."

Danjagang's face twisted.

Chung Myung echoed Danjagang's words back to him.

"Pitiful."

"...You..."

"The foolish ones who don't even know what they believe in, what they worship. Your gods don't care about you. Your cries mean nothing to your gods."

Thud!

With this sound, Danjagang's face twisted like a demon.

He knew. There was no need to listen to the words of that guy. There was no reason to be swayed by the words of someone who knew nothing about the teachings, nothing about the Heavenly Demon.

Yet, there was only one reason he couldn't contain his anger now.

It was because what Chung Myung just said was the last thing he wanted to hear.

Like a dragon pierced by a spear, the energy flowing through him began to boil uncontrollably.

"This... this! You filthy unbeliever!"

"That's right. In your eyes, I'm just an unbeliever. Dirty and vile. But you should know one thing."

Chung Myung chuckled.

"The nonbelievers you consider so vile, or you who lick the feet of the Heavenly Demon at the risk of your lives... In the eyes of that crazy bastard Heavenly Demon, there is no difference."

"This...!"

Bloodshot rage erupted from Danjagang's eyes.

"Well done! Well done! Those words! Well done!"

"I'm curious at this point."

Chung Myung shook his shoulders and laughed, even wiping away his tears.

"What expression you'll make when someone like you, who doesn't even know what the Heavenly Demon is, sees the Heavenly Demon with those two eyes. You're just a wretched bastard who doesn't even know what the believing god is."

"No-ooooo!"

In response to Danjagang's anger, demonic energy surged explosively. It was like a huge waterfall shooting up into the sky. Enveloped in uncontrollable anger, Danjagang flipped his eyes and leaped wildly.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! After twisting that deluded mouth, I'll crush every bit of your flesh without leaving a trace! You've not only insulted the teachings but also insulted the Heavenly Demon, I'll also never leave even your soul!"

"If you can, give it a try, you moron...!"

Chung Myung also shouted harshly and was about to rush forward, but someone blocked his way.

A man in a torn red robe, Jang Ilso.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your friendly conversation, but you still need to rest a bit more."

"What?"

"I'm tired of listening to that nonsense. Just for a moment, I'll create an opening for you. Don't miss it."

With a sly smile, Jang Ilso clenched his fist. And with the sound of a rattle, he unleashed an enormous aura and charged towards Danjagang, who was rushing towards him.