Swish-!!
Boom-!!
Gangqi swirls at the tip of the massive fist.
The coiled and compressed mass plummets rapidly.
And soon strikes the ground.
Craaack-! Rumbleeee---!!!
The floor explodes, scattering debris in all directions. The energy erupts simultaneously, kicking up a fierce gale.
A massive vortex.
Terrifying destructive power is clearly visible within it.
Furthermore.
Boom-!
Boom, boom-!!
As if the impact wasn't the end of it, roars continued to belch out.
Snap-! Craaack-!!
The sound catches up only after the movements are executed.
A high speed exceeding the speed of sound.
The speed displayed by the two was precisely in that realm.
Flutter-! A yellow robe flutters as the giant hunches his body.
Yellow qi surges from the tips of his lowered feet.
Menghu Doulongda.
Grrrrr---!!!
Swinging his fist using the recoil, the energy took the shape of tigers, and several of them charged at his opponent.
"Keuk-!"
Seeing this, the old man violently swung his blunt weapon to shatter the tigers, but unable to block them all, he had to take the impact.
Boom-!
His body, struck by the energy, shook and plummeted from mid-air.
Seeing this, the man. Menghu Jiuquan Hwangbo Yeol-wi quickly leaped toward the falling old man.
Clench-!
Energy once again gathers in his clenched fist.
Menghu Lianji.
The fists, coiled like a tiger, rapidly pour down toward the old man.
A situation where dodging was impossible.
Seeing this, the old man gritted his teeth and
Swish-!
One hand.
He displayed a peculiar movement, joining his index and middle fingers.
At that moment.
Kwaaaaa---!!!
Hwangbo Yeol-wi's fist strikes directly. A heavy destructive power bursts out in all directions, but...
"Hm!"
Looking at the fist he swung, Hwangbo Yeol-wi furrowed his brow.
He looked displeased.
It couldn't be helped.
"What are you?"
At the sound, Hwangbo Yeol-wi turned around.
There, the old man who had just been attacked was speaking to him.
This meant. That the attack hadn't hit.
"I'm asking what the hell you are."
The old man asked Hwangbo Yeol-wi with a scowl, as if in disbelief.
"I am the Patriarch of the Hwangbo Clan..."
"That's not what I'm asking."
From the introduction earlier, he could already tell that much.
He didn't ask to hear a parroted response.
"How can you see me?"
It was an expression of disbelief.
Just how on earth could that guy see him?
The old man was full of questions about this.
Even while speaking, he swept a hand over his chest.
Ooong.
A faint qi that others couldn't feel.
Confirming this, his doubts only deepened.
'Clearly, the spell is intact.'
Before entering the fray, it was a spell engraved on his body over seven days and nights.
Originally, it should have lasted at least one shichen, and unless they were inside the Jeongak, no one should have been able to detect him.
What the hell is that guy?
'Just what is he... to be looking straight at me?'
It was an incomprehensible matter.
Also, there were others who couldn't believe this situation.
"Was the Hwangbo Patriarch this strong...?"
"Just now... what was that strike?"
They were the ones watching the battle from inside the barrier.
The suddenly started battle.
It seemed the Hwangbo Patriarch, who was not positioned at the Jeongak, had intervened and was blocking it.
Everyone had to widen their eyes at the martial prowess displayed by the Hwangbo Patriarch.
"Was Menghu Jiuquan this strong?"
"Rumors said he was in a frail state... were they all false?"
"Frail my foot... it seems he gained immense enlightenment over the past few years."
Everyone knew that the Hwangbo Clan's martial arts were highly destructive.
Because of that burden, generations of Hwangbo martial artists retired at an earlier age than average.
Thus, seeing Hwangbo Yeol-wi, who hadn't shown his face for several years, many judged that he was no different.
"That appearance right now is..."
As if all those rumors were completely false.
Hwangbo Yeol-wi was showing a much more powerful appearance.
Everyone watching knew because they were strong themselves.
Each and every move of Hwangbo Yeol-wi possessed tremendous power.
He looked several times stronger than his past appearance.
"Huu."
Hwangbo Yeol-wi inhales.
The question of how he could see the old man. He didn't bother to answer it.
He merely tunes his body for what he must do.
Clench.
He slightly extends his clenched fist and puts strength into his eyes.
His whole body is light.
The surging energy was enough to heat the body. Unlike the heavy energy, his feet were incomparably light.
It extends as he wishes to extend.
The power bursts stronger than desired.
It felt as if he had crossed a wall.
Or perhaps, his fallen prime had returned.
Things that couldn't be done before are accomplished naturally; how splendid is this.
Hwangbo Yeol-wi felt like he'd go crazy wanting to explode his power right away, but he was holding it back with all his might.
Because the command given to him was not that.
-Th-that person is... the Hwangbo Patriarch?
-Why is the Hwangbo Patriarch suddenly...
-Who is he fighting with? I can't see anyone...
Voices are heard.
They were the spectators who hadn't managed to escape yet. They were looking at Hwangbo Yeol-wi with expressions full of anxiety.
He had said it.
That those watching right now would become excellent mouths in the future.
And that through them, he would be able to obtain what he desired.
He had said so.
Recalling this, Hwangbo Yeol-wi simply took a step forward.
Thud-!
A short leap.
The sound catches up belatedly the moment his body approaches the old man.
Hulie Injiao.
Swish-!!
The leg, clustered with Gangqi, extends toward the old man.
The old man raised his blunt weapon to defend against it.
Smash--!!
The blunt weapon couldn't absorb all the impact.
The old man's body, having failed to defend, was sent flying and bounced off the ground.
Thud-! Craaack-!
"Ugh!"
He barely supports his body by grabbing the ground.
If he had been a little slower, the impact would have penetrated his internal organs.
'This...'
The old man fiercely contorted his wrinkled brow.
An unexpected problem.
The fact that the Hwangbo Patriarch could see him through his spell was a problem, but the fact that he was an existence somewhat overwhelming for him to handle was also a problem.
'...There is still time left before the spell is completed.'
He looked up at the sky.
The lines were much clearer than at first, and it looked like they would completely connect soon, but there was still a little time left.
The old man grasped this and gritted his teeth.
Can he endure that time?
'It's the point where I caused a commotion. Then, probably the Daeju will arrive earlier than calculated.'
He had tangled the spell formation to buy time until the other Daeju arrived here.
So originally, it would have been no problem.
'Things got twisted because of that guy's appearance.'
The fact that the Hwangbo Patriarch was in Henan, he also knew as he had information on the people here.
But he hadn't expected that he would come here and fight him in this situation.
Furthermore.
'To be this strong.'
It was completely different from the level he had previously grasped.
At best, a level slightly better than the early stage of Hwagyeong.
Since his body was weakening past his prime, he definitely thought it would be around that level.
'This is...'
Engaging in close combat, it was absolutely not that level.
At this level.
'It's a level that should have been put in the Jeongak and tied up together.'
How could the Hwangbo Patriarch possess such power?
It was highly doubtful, but now was not the time to ponder such things.
First.
'It's better to get out of here.'
His pride was hurt because the long-prepared task went awry.
It was ridiculous that a problem occurred because of just one guy like that.
'I can't ruin the work just to protect my petty pride.'
The old man kept in mind something more important than his pride.
Rather than handling the variable, he avoids the spot for now.
Originally, he was only going to deliver a message and leave, so this was also correct in terms of the plan.
So, as he was about to join his index and middle fingers again to make a move,
"Hm!"
Boom-!!
"...Hah!"
As if he had no intention of falling for it twice, Hwangbo Yeol-wi rushed in, smashing the ground.
Fast.
At that speed, he would reach him before he could even attempt the spell.
"Tch!"
The moment the old man, having finished his judgment, hastily raised his blunt weapon to defend.
[That's far enough.]
"...!"
"...!!"
Halt-!
Whoosh---!!!
Hwangbo Yeol-wi's fist stopped right in front of the old man's nose.
The coiled internal qi burst into wind and swept through the surroundings.
-Uwaaaah-!
Some people screamed at the wind mixed with debris.
Hwangbo Yeol-wi, who had suddenly come to a halt, began to break out in a cold sweat.
What was going on?
It was clearly a strange situation.
However, the people inside the barrier were all too busy staring at the sky rather than Hwangbo Yeol-wi.
"...Something... There's something there."
"Who is it? Don't tell me... have reinforcements arrived?"
At the center of the sky where everyone's gaze was focused.
There was something there.
Uuuuong---!!!
The first thing seen was a blackened sphere.
Under the bizarre lines and dark clouds.
An unidentifiable sphere was floating far in the sky, and below it, just like the old man, someone could be seen floating.
Black martial clothes again.
With his hands behind his back and his clothes quietly fluttering, his appearance wasn't much different from the old man's.
However, everyone who confirmed this had to harden their expressions without exception.
"Th-that is... what on earth is that."
It's different.
Something was on a different level.
Thump-! Thump-!
The heart trembles.
An intense presence was felt.
It was a sensation where just looking at it made every hair on their bodies stand on end.
Soon, intuition hit them.
The reason Hwangbo Yeol-wi had frozen with his fist extended.
Was it perhaps because of that unknown existence?
Even though Menghu Jiuquan had just displayed such martial prowess, for some reason, he was still stiffly frozen and couldn't move at all.
At that time.
[It was a fairly entertaining trick to watch, but...]
Slide...
The one floating in the air slowly descended to the ground. As the distance closed, the person's features began to become clear.
"...Hah!"
"That guy is...!!"
Reactions erupted here and there as the person's features were confirmed.
A physique looking over eight chi tall.
Black martial clothes and ink-black long hair.
And.
An unidentifiable cracked mask.
It was an appearance they had all heard of somewhere.
In particular, the expression of Geomseon, who saw this, couldn't help but be intense.
"...That bastard..."
The features of the eccentric who attacked Wudang in the past.
Because it was exactly the same.
Purple eyes shining from beyond the white mask.
The man who stole everyone's attention with his intense presence, looked at the barrier and continued speaking.
[It was nothing but a jest.]
Rumble---!!!
As he spoke, vibrations rang out simultaneously.
It was impossible to tell if it was a vibration that had been ringing from the beginning, or one he had created.
Whoosh-!
Instantly, black qi soared into the sky from his shoulders.
A vast qi at a glance.
The qi seeped into the floating black sphere, and soon.
Huaaaaaa---!!!
Using the black sphere as a launchpad, it began to create a domain in all directions.
A time that wouldn't even amount to a few seconds.
After that brief time passed, an unidentifiable darkness had settled over the surrounding area.
-Heek... heeek...
-W-what is this... What is this...!
The declaration of an unidentifiable qi.
The blackish mist and domain were enough to strike terror into the bystanders.
The mouths of those who were screaming to move or begging for help were shut tight by it.
Overwhelming terror makes one unable to even make a sound.
Thud.
The man's feet finally landed on the ground.
Exactly between Hwangbo Yeol-wi and the old man.
[I apologize for interfering with your pathetic festival.]
The internal qi contained in the voice was so great that it made their ears tingle.
Swipe.
The man released his hands from behind his back and lowered one hand.
[Originally. I had no intention of intervening like this... but unfortunately, a problem arose.]
At that moment.
"...Keuk-heuk!"
Instantly, Hwangbo Yeol-wi, who was next to him, screamed and bounced backward.
Moreover, that wasn't all.
Boom-! Bang! Craaack-!!
He was bounced back with such violent force that his massive body shattered the floor and rolled far away.
"...Cough!!"
He continuously vomited blood.
Slump-!
He finally collapsed on the ground, trembled a few times, and went limp.
It seemed he had lost consciousness.
"...That's...!!"
Someone inside the barrier shouted in surprise.
"W-when did he even attack?"
He couldn't hide the cold sweat flowing down.
To him, it only looked like he lowered his arm from behind his back, yet Hwangbo Yeol-wi collapsed so violently right after!
"...I didn't see the moment he attacked."
"For it to look like he was standing still. Just how fast was it...?"
"W-what in the world is that guy's identity?"
It was only moments ago that they were appalled by the Hwangbo Patriarch's level.
Meaning they were shocked by the Hwangbo Patriarch, who had become an incredible master, just a moment ago.
And yet, that same Hwangbo Yeol-wi fell so miserably.
They didn't even see the moment he attacked.
Because of that, something beyond horror was filling the faces of the others.
And.
'...Hmm....'
This was the masked person himself.
Gu Yang-cheon was no different.
He looked at the fallen Hwangbo Yeol-wi with an unseen sidelong glance and thought.
'...That middle-aged man.'
Just why.
'...Why is he acting so well?'
It was a genuinely felt question.
He just told him to pretend to pass out moderately, but who would have known he'd suddenly scream and collapse like that.
Thanks to that, he was so flustered his jaw dropped.
It was a relief he was wearing a mask; if he hadn't been, his face would have given it all away.
"...S-Sect Leader..."
Beside him, Pilduma was looking at me with sparkling eyes, as if deeply impressed.
I didn't want to receive such a gaze from an old man past his prime.
Anyway.
Gu Yang-cheon, hiding his bewilderment, looked at the barrier.
Without exception, their expressions were a sight to behold.
Was it because Hwangbo Yeol-wi acted several times better than he expected? The reactions were no joke.
Yes, exactly the expressions Gu Yang-cheon had hoped for.
No, perhaps even more excessive than what he had hoped for.
It didn't matter.
It was better to overdo it than underdo it.
Thus, Gu Yang-cheon.
[It is a pleasure.]
Brought up the words he really wanted to say to them.
This was the starting point of a plan prepared for a very long time.
[I am.]
On a certain day similar to today in his past life.
[The sky of the Demonic Cult that you will fear and praise from now on.]
The curse spoken by the woman who appeared tearing through the Magyeongmun above the Murim Alliance.
[Cheonma.]
It was exactly the same words.