A monster wolf with its snout torn off, dead. No, a fierce Beast, a Horned Beast. This thing hadn't been released to be killed.
It had been released for them to survive from it. But to think it was now dead.
Hah...
It was truly dumbfounding. For a moment, no one could speak at the sight. Then, one of the red-belted guards asked the exhausted boys.
"Who did this?"
At his question, the boys' gazes naturally turned to someone. They all looked similar, but one handsome boy was particularly covered in blood from head to toe. He was Mok Gyeong-un. ...
Him again?
A strange light flashed in the eyes of the red-belted guards. They had taken an interest in him because of what he had shown during the battle for the steel beads, but this time they couldn't help but be astonished.
"Senior... does this even make sense?"
One guard whispered as if he couldn't understand. It made sense, as a fierce Beast of that size would be difficult to handle even for someone with considerable martial prowess, let alone with their internal energy sealed. But to think he did that with his Qi gates blocked?
No matter how much one trains in external arts, that...
It's impossible.
It would be questionable if one could face it even when properly armed. The most senior among the red-belted guards looked Mok Gyeong-un up and down. The other boys looked not just worn out but utterly exhausted, yet his eyes were uniquely alive.
No, he didn't look tired at all. Could it be? The senior guard's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
He then spoke.
"You. Come here."
"Is there a problem?"
"Who said you could talk back?"
"..."
Mok Gyeong-un shrugged and approached the senior guard. The senior guard roughly snatched Mok Gyeong-un's wrist and immediately checked the condition of his body. It was to check whether his Qi gates were blocked.
But, ... They're blocked.
He had wondered if the boy had unblocked his Qi gates himself, but that wasn't the case. They were still blocked. Confirming this made it all the more astounding.
To think a place like the mere Lotuswood Sword Manor raised a boy like this? Even if it was a prestigious martial family, it wasn't one of the great sects. This would likely cause quite a stir.
It was the first time something like this had happened since Corpse Blood Valley was established.
The corpse of the fierce Beast, the Horned Beast, its snout and head torn off and completely separated from its lower jaw. An Occultist in a Daoist robe looked at it with an expression of disbelief. He had already taken measures, using his occult arts at the break of dawn to signal the Horned Beast to return.
But when the creature didn't return, he felt something was strange and came up here himself. Then, someone spoke to him.
"Is this possible?"
"Pardon?"
"I asked if it's possible."
The one who asked the question was none other than the Corpse Blood Valley Master, wearing a demon mask. Having climbed the mountain later, he had arrived here after receiving a report from the red-belted guards and was now examining the Horned Beast's corpse. He, too, couldn't help but be inwardly shocked.
Originally, the role of the fierce Beast, the Horned Beast, was to be an ordeal for the boys. It was meant to push them into a more extreme situation to maximize their will to live. But to kill it.
"This... hah..."
The Occultist in the Daoist robe couldn't answer. If a martial artist who had trained in martial arts had done this, he could have at least replied that they possessed great martial prowess. But this was truly unexpected.
Should I tell him? What was more problematic was the Horned Beast's condition. ... It became an adult.
He had thought it was getting close to adulthood anyway. But he had deployed it thinking it wasn't quite there yet and would need another couple of months. But in that short time, it had become a full adult.
It had become a fierce Beast, not a lesser beast. This is insane. How did he do this?
Even a lesser beast is hard for trained Occultists or third-rate and second-rate martial artists to handle. But once it reached the level of a fierce Beast, it would be difficult to capture unless first-rate masters joined forces. He couldn't bring himself to believe that one of the boys with blocked Qi gates had caught it.
He had to report this, but the Occultist couldn't bring himself to do it. It made sense, as even a lesser beast was an extreme ordeal. Even with the protective space of the flags, a fierce Beast would have turned it into something close to a massacre.
Should I say we were lucky? It was fortunate that this thing was killed before it could cause more trouble. However, it was hard to report this fact completely.
So, leaving that part out, he spoke.
"To be honest, even I don't understand how it was caught."
"You don't understand?"
"Which part of the human body do you think has the most strength?"
"... Are you referring to the mouth?"
"That's right. The biting force is the strongest. Do you think it's any different for beasts or these evil spirit monsters? Things called beasts have lived in the wild, unlike humans, and have developed a bite force strong enough to chew through bone."
Humans debone their food and eat the meat. But many beasts eat the bones as well. Naturally, the shape of their teeth and their bite force developed accordingly.
"If he was lucky and stabbed its core, which is its heart, with something sharp, I could understand, but this is impossible with just a little more strength."
It would only be possible to tear it apart with strength that surpasses the bite force of a fierce Beast like the Horned Beast. The demon mask nodded at that.
"I see."
"Could you tell me who did it..."
"That's enough."
"Pardon?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said that's enough. Take its corpse and go."
He had heard what he wanted to. So, there was no need to hear anything more.
"... Understood. Then I'll borrow a few men."
"Do as you please."
As the Occultist and a few guards collected the corpse, the senior guard of the captain rank who assisted him approached with a frown and spoke.
"I've checked."
"Are the Forbidden Gate Locks still in place?"
"Yes. His Qi gates are blocked, so true energy cannot circulate in his body."
"And yet he did that."
"To say he's as strong as a bull is an understatement. He might even be stronger than that boy from the Secret Mirror Sect."
"Hmm."
Was this something to be understood as him just being strong? The demon mask had experience fighting something called an evil spirit monster when he was younger. Recalling that memory, it was still a mystery.
To do this without any internal energy. I'll have to keep an eye on him. He had thought the boy was no ordinary person, but this made him even more interested.
There seemed to be something about him that couldn't be explained just by his origin from a prestigious righteous path family. The demon mask changed the subject.
"Are the rest all gathered?"
"Yes."
"Total number?"
"The total number of survivors is 259." Nearly half of the total 468 had died.
At the senior guard's report, the demon mask nodded and started walking. Climbing up the mountain ridge, there was a large clearing where boys were sitting in neat rows and columns. But this was just the number of survivors; they were again divided in half.
Of the 259, 200 were on the right side, and 59 were on the left. The majority of 200 had relaxed faces, while the remaining 59 were pale and trembling. The reason was that they were the ones who had failed to find a flag by dawn.
Dammit.
Is this how I die? That was why they were afraid. The result had already been foretold.
It was death. The demon mask standing before them opened his mouth.
"Congratulations on successfully defending your flags. And to the fifty-nine pieces of trash on the left, you've suffered much to survive the night while accomplishing nothing."
Even the way he addressed them was drastically different. In truth, the 59 boys didn't even hear his words. They just wanted to live.
The demon mask then turned his head towards them.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Their hearts pounded loudly. The moment the demon mask gave the order, it felt as if the red-belted guards would cut off their heads. But, "The fifty-nine pieces of trash will follow that Occultist down." !?
At his command, the 59 boys' eyes widened. They had naturally expected to be killed on the spot, so being told to follow the Occultist in the Daoist robe down the mountain was baffling. Could it be that he was sparing them?
Murmur! Murmur!
Color began to return to their faces. Seeing this, the red-belted guards shook their heads. Being told to follow the Occultist was by no means a good thing.
They didn't want to tell them what was about to happen when they were so happy about extending their lives for just a little while.
"Shut up and get lost."
The rejoicing boys quickly shut their mouths at the demon mask's reprimand. Although, of course, they still couldn't hide their grins. And so, the 59 boys followed the procession that was collecting the corpse of the Horned Beast and the bodies of the dead, pulling a cart down the mountain.
Why are they making those faces?
Something's up.
The ones going down didn't know, but the 200 boys who saw the expressions on the red-belted guards' faces could roughly guess the situation. They felt relieved that they weren't among those going down. Just then, the demon mask spoke again.
"Now. Are these the ones who found the flags?"
"..."
"You finally have some decent looks in your eyes."
The demon mask said in a satisfied tone. It was understandable, as the boys' gazes were distinctly different from last night. Before the battle for the steel beads, they had a strong air of naivety, but now, even though they were all exhausted, their gazes had become more feral.
Getting blood on their hands and suffering had made them fierce. It was worth weeding them out. This was why Corpse Blood Valley was, in a sense, a selection process.
But among them, one person stood out.
"..."
It was Mok Gyeong-un. He had so much blood on him that his clothes had turned dark red. But while many of the other boys were so gaunt they were still catching their breath, he alone seemed exceptionally calm.
Moreover, his expression was uniquely relaxed compared to the others. On the other hand, Tremble! The members of Mok Gyeong-un's group were particularly wary of him.
Their attitude suggested they were reluctant to be near Mok Gyeong-un.
They're afraid.
The demon mask could guess the reason for their reaction. Normally, if they had succeeded in defending the flag by cooperating, they would show trust in their group members. But for them to be so afraid was unusual.
What did you do? He grew curious. But he couldn't show particular interest in one person right now.
The demon mask continued speaking.
"Good. It's time for another selection."
Selection?
At the word 'selection', the relieved boys' expressions turned to confusion. Of course, not everyone was like that. Some groups, here and there, seemed to have anticipated this and were cheering inwardly.
Just then, the demon mask pointed to the left and said.
"Those who have realized the true meaning of the flags, go to the left."
"True meaning?"
"What's he talking about?"
Murmur! Murmur!
The boys stirred. Just then, some of them stood up from their spots. Then, with triumphant expressions, they moved to the left side.
Of course, Mok Gyeong-un's group did the same. Seeing the boys who had moved, a few other groups, without knowing the reason, were about to move to the left side as well, thinking 'what the heck', but, "If you are caught moving without knowing the true meaning, you will be executed on the spot."
Flinch!
They had no choice but to stop at this warning. And so, the boys were once again divided into left and right. Of the 200, there were 80 boys on the left and 120 on the right.
What on earth is this true meaning? Haven't we passed? The 120 boys on the right couldn't hide their anxiety.
From the moment the word 'selection' was used, they feared they might die if they didn't pass this stage. Just then, the demon mask looked at the boys remaining on the right and spoke.
"This is your limit."
"..."
"But be grateful. From this moment on, you have become low-rank guards of this Heaven and Earth Society." !?
At the demon mask's declaration, the boys' eyes widened. They had been afraid they would die for not passing the gate. But the result was completely unexpected.
However, relieved that they had survived instead of dying, some of them collapsed to the ground as their legs gave out.
"Haah..."
"I-I'm alive."
Corpse Blood Valley, where most who entered were said to leave as corpses. The ecstasy of having survived this place was immense. On the other hand, nearly half of them didn't look too pleased, their expressions souring.
It made sense, Damn it! A low-rank guard. The purpose for most who entered Corpse Blood Valley was never to become a mere low-rank guard.
The purpose of risking their lives to pass the gate was to be chosen. But they had failed.
Fools.
They saw the test too simply. Watching them, the 80 who had realized the true meaning of the gate looked at them with mocking expressions. It was because they had earned the right to go to a higher place.
Just then, the demon mask took something out from within his robes. It was a silver token with the character for 'two' written on it.
Ah!
Recognizing it, the eyes of a few, including Yeom-ga of Killing Curse Valley, lit up. It was the token given to the one who passed the gate at the top of their class. Is he going to decide the top student?
If so, they couldn't help but be interested. They already knew that having that token would be a great advantage in the end. But unlike the battle for the steel beads, there was no clear way to determine superiority this time.
The only thing was figuring out there were two types of flags, but even then, there were 80 of them, which was a lot. What's he going to do? As they were wondering, the demon mask muttered.
"How should I decide the top student? Perhaps the one who memorized the incantation."
At these words, a few, including Yeom-ga, flinched their shoulders. It was because they had secured both types of flags with incantations early on and had succeeded in memorizing them beforehand. If that was the case, they were confident.
"Or maybe the one who can perform the incantation the best."
At the continued muttering, some of the twitching shoulders settled down. Throughout the night, they were busy defending and snatching flags, so while they had managed to memorize the incantation, they hadn't had time to practice. This was the same for Yeom-ga of Killing Curse Valley and Yeon Mu-ung of the Secret Mirror Sect.
They could perform the move according to the memorized incantation right away, but since it would be their first time, they weren't confident they could do it perfectly. In fact, it would be the same for anyone. Still, the conditions are the same for everyone.
If he told them to perform the move, they were determined to try no matter what. Just then, the demon mask spoke.
"Alright. This will have to do. Is there anyone among you who can properly explain what the incantation on the flag is?"
At that question, as if he had been waiting, someone raised his hand and quickly stood up first.
Fwoosh!
"It's a Sword Art!"
At this shout, snorts of derision erupted here and there. It made sense, as anyone who had memorized or even just seen the incantation would know it was a Sword Art.
"Do you even call that an answer?"
Just by looking at the demon mask's cold glare, the boy realized his mistake and quietly sat back down. Then, Yeom-ga of Killing Curse Valley raised his hand and stood up.
"It is a swift sword art where offense and defense, targeting the three vital points on the centerline and the six great vital points, are integrated, and the variations of the moves are diverse depending on its application."
Ah...
At Yeom-ga's explanation, Yeon Mu-ung of the Secret Mirror Sect smacked his lips in disappointment. The others were the same. He had concisely and accurately explained the characteristics of the Sword Art.
No further explanation was necessary. How about that? Yeom-ga of Killing Curse Valley looked at Mok Gyeong-un and Yeon Mu-ung of the Secret Mirror Sect in turn with a triumphant expression.
There was no need to look at Mo Ha-rang of the Ensnaring Flower Room, as she was lying down for treatment. He was sure this token was his. The demon mask opened his mouth.
"To have figured that much out in the midst of all that, quite impressive."
Yes.
Yeom-ga of Killing Curse Valley cheered inwardly. Judging from the demon mask's reaction, it seemed his analysis was more or less correct. A strange light flashed in Mok Yu-cheon's eyes.
He didn't have any greed for the top spot, so he hadn't spoken up first. But more than that, He has a sharp eye for incantations. It was almost identical to his own analysis.
Although he was a cunning fellow, his talent for martial arts was certainly not inferior to his own. He wondered what his level would be once the Forbidden Gate Locks were removed.
"Hmph."
Just then, the demon mask glanced at the senior guard of the captain rank. The senior guard also nodded. After all, these boys had fought a life-and-death battle for nearly six hours, defending the flags without rest or sleep.
Figuring out this much was impressive enough. The demon mask held out the silver token and said.
"Alright. For this gate..."
Before he could finish his words.
"Isn't it not just a Sword Art, but a sword formation?" !?
The demon mask frowned and turned his head. Who just said that? He wondered, and the one who had spoken was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.
Ha!
At this, the demon mask clicked his tongue in disbelief. It made sense, because the forms of this Sword Art were simple, making it impossible to tell if it could be performed as a sword formation just by looking at the incantation.
At the very least, it would be difficult for anyone other than a swordsman who had reached a high realm with the sword to notice. But a greenhorn brat distinguished this with just the incantation?
Wh-what?
Yeom-ga had inwardly scoffed at the word "sword formation" that came out of Mok Gyeong-un's mouth out of nowhere. But what was this reaction from the demon mask?