Madongpil's face was filled with surprise and emotion.
"Young Master!"
Seoryang did not look at him. His gaze was fixed on the distant hill.
As always, he wore pure white clothes. The sleeves were stained with blood, whose origin was unknown, and in his hand was a long sword emitting a faint, precious light.
"Jeong Il-ryong."
Finally, he was meeting the Great Elder of the Yicheon Alliance.
The man who had once shone with eyes tainted by greed and had blown away his right leg stood there.
Crackle! Flash!
Even without conscious effort, demonic energy surged. His hair stood on end. The anger towards his opponent made the area under his eyes burn. He wanted to rush over and cut the man to pieces immediately.
Clang!
Seoryang drew his sword and pointed it at Jeong Il-ryong. The sword, five feet long and several times thicker than an ordinary blade, exuded immense power.
The murderous intent emanating from the sword's tip screamed a single will.
'Wait.'
Jeong Il-ryong's face hardened by the second. Yullang frowned.
"A demon, is it?"
The young man who summoned oppressive lightning. Was it because of the forcibly suppressed murderous aura, or was it his overly youthful appearance? Yullang thought he was dangerous but not enough to affect the situation.
"I don't know where you popped out from, but if you're a demon too..."
Thud!
Yullang's eyes widened as if they would tear apart.
"What are these bastards? Why are they so tough?"
Seoryang massaged his right wrist with his left hand. Following the slight movement of his hand, the large sword nodded. And the sword was covered in bright red blood. In an instant, he had moved to the rear and beheaded one of the Blood Wolves.
Madongpil showed a blank expression. Not only the fallen Ju-hwa but also the transport team and the guards were shocked, their mouths agape.
'How, how?'
The bodies of those red wolves boasted the hardness of steel. They were monsters that were hard to scratch even with a sword.
No, weren't they originally difficult opponents even for top martial artists?
To behead such a wolf with a single stroke? Even if it was a heavy weapon, was this possible?
But how could their surprise compare to Yullang's?
"...What is this?"
Even though he had been staring with wide eyes, he hadn't seen how it moved. Though not yet complete, the neck of the Blood Wolf, trained with the Suwang Technique, was severed too easily.
'A master!'
Screech.
The Blood Wolves lowered their heads and retreated.
This was also surprising. They were creatures that would jump into a sea of fire if ordered, yet they were retreating in fear.
Seoryang frowned.
"Just big bodies, but mere dogs."
He was wrong. Blood Wolves were not creatures that feared the death of their comrades. Moreover, weren't they spiritually connected with Yullang? Therefore, they were not afraid of Seoryang.
Swoosh.
A fox appeared at Seoryang's feet before anyone noticed. The eyes of the golden fox, boasting a subtle golden glow, shone in five colors as it looked at the wolves.
Gone was its usual cuteness, and an overwhelming majesty emanated from the golden fox, which swayed its tail as large as its body, scanning the surroundings. Even humans felt their legs weaken.
Whoosh.
Seoryang held the sword in reverse.
"Anyway, I can't just leave it like this."
Crackle!
A red glow flowed along the blade.
Startled, Yullang moved.
"You bastard!"
Whoosh!
Yullang rushed towards Seoryang at high speed, but the sword had already left Seoryang's hand, spinning rapidly towards the Blood Wolves.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Ten large wolf heads soared into the sky. It was the final move of the Dancheon Three Blades, Whirlwind Slash.
Bang!
Simultaneously, Yullang's fist flew towards Seoryang's face.
Seoryang sneered.
Crack!
"Ugh!"
Yullang slid to the left.
'Heavy!'
With a single kick, his large body was pushed a whole length to the side. If he hadn't instinctively defended, all the ribs on his right side would have shattered.
Clang!
The sword that had beheaded ten wolves returned to Seoryang.
Shiver.
The Blood Wolves trembled.
Seoryang nodded.
"Yes, stay quiet like that."
Whoosh!
The sword spun and flew again.
Once again, Yullang couldn't block the ruthless attack.
Splash!
Blood sprayed everywhere, and headless bodies collapsed.
With just two moves, over twenty Blood Wolves met their end. It was hard to believe these were the monsters that had pushed over eighty demons to the brink just moments ago.
A death as futile as it was empty.
Crackle!
Lightning flashed from Seoryang's body once more. It wasn't due to murderous intent but because excessive internal energy consumption caused demonic energy to burst out. Killing over twenty Blood Wolves with just two moves was no easy feat, even for him.
"I've seen all sorts of strange monsters in my life."
Seoryang turned his gaze to Yullang.
Yullang flinched. The opponent had already proven his strength with two sword moves and a single kick. It was difficult to recklessly charge in.
"But what are you? You're huge."
"..."
"Well, there's no point in introducing myself to someone I'm going to kill anyway."
It wasn't indifference or mockery. It was a calm demeanor, as if he were merely splitting firewood at night.
That languid ease tore a person's pride to shreds.
"...How dare you."
Swoosh!
A beastly stench emanated from Yullang's body. It was a primal ferocity that one might only feel from an actual beast.
His eyes flashed.
Flash!
The last remaining Blood Wolf, the Blood Wolf Leader, charged towards Seoryang's rear at terrifying speed. The plan was to create an opening using the Blood Wolf Leader as bait and launch an attack.
At that moment, a fierce wrinkle formed on the bridge of the golden fox's nose.
"Kaang!!"
"Argh!"
"Gasp!"
"Ahhh!"
All the demons in the area clutched their ears and crouched down.
The golden fox's roar spread loudly and explosively.
Crunch!
The Blood Wolf Leader, who had been charging with its mouth wide open, rolled its eyes and collapsed. It had been running so fast that its front legs broke as soon as it hit the ground.
Swoosh.
The golden fox walked over to the Blood Wolf Leader, sat down, and snorted. It had preserved the pride of a true spiritual creature, once called a divine beast.
Drip.
Blood dripped from Yullang's lips. He had bitten them without realizing it.
'What is that beast?'
Seoryang's presence was so overwhelming that he only noticed it now. Once he realized, an unbelievable shock hit him.
The golden fox looked at Yullang.
Flinch!
Yullang involuntarily took a step back.
The pair of eyes shining in five colors emitted the radiance of a god, far surpassing the realm of beasts.
'It's not an ordinary beast. No, it's just wearing the guise of a beast, but it's not a beast.'
Yullang's complexion turned pale.
'A spiritual creature?!'
It was a true spiritual creature, often mentioned by gossip-loving storytellers. It was undoubtedly a divine beast or a demonic beast, causing all sorts of wonders in myths and legends.
'Did such a spiritual creature really exist?'
The Beast Palace, which went beyond communicating with beasts to dominate and refine them into beings close to spiritual creatures.
It couldn't compare to any of the beasts of the Beast Palace.
Even the Tiger King, who communicated with the current palace lord, felt insignificant. Moreover, wasn't that fox still just a cub?
Seoryang smiled.
"It wasn't an ordinary fox after all."
Despite the golden fox's roar, which would make any living creature's legs weaken regardless of species, he was unaffected.
Not because he was strong, but because he shared energy with the golden fox.
"Well, let's talk about this later."
Sizzle!
White smoke rose from the sword.
Seoryang's eyes flashed.
"Now, let's finish you off too..."
"Who are you?"
"What?"
Yullang shouted.
"Who the hell are you? What are you to be traveling with such a monster?!"
It was a roar-like shout. But his voice trembled severely.
Seoryang's lips curled up.
"I said I wouldn't introduce myself."
Whoosh!
Seoryang leaped towards Yullang in an instant.
Due to excessive internal energy consumption, he couldn't move at the same speed as before. However, the level of his martial arts and the burning murderous intent remained unchanged.
The mere act of approaching was a threat and a terror.
Yullang shouted once more.
"You bastard!"
Bang!
Yullang's fist, charging towards Seoryang, emitted vicious energy.
The giant sword and the giant fist, as large as a child's head, collided.
Boom!
With a strong explosion, Yullang staggered back.
A fairly deep sword wound was engraved on his fist. The shock traveled from his fist to his elbow and shoulder, causing his entire body to creak.
Yullang, who was about to charge forward, flinched at the pain rising from his ankle. The shock had transmitted to his lower body.
'Damn!'
He prided himself on being second to none in strength, except for the Bear King branch, but he was mistaken. This wasn't about internal energy or skill; he was purely overpowered in strength.
Whoosh!
Yullang raised his head.
Unlike himself, who was affected by the shock, the opponent showed no signs of difficulty as he leaped into the air and immediately swung the giant sword down.
Yullang spread his palms. There was no time to shout a battle cry.
Crash!
His body was flung backward. It was an irresistible blow.
Splash!
Blood spewed as Yullang retreated, and he saw Seoryang already closing in on him.
'This, this...!'
It seemed like the opponent was fighting without even breathing.
'Hup!'
Bang!
Just by stomping the ground to support his body, he suffered internal injuries. This meant the shock was that great, and it also meant he had to do so to block the opponent.
Yullang, who had steadied himself, immediately swung his fist.
Whoosh!
It seemed as if the air was being sucked in by the giant fist. It was the Namlang Divine Fist, the martial art Yullang could most confidently display.
Seoryang's eyes flashed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Yullang's eyes widened.
Before the fist wind of the Namlang Divine Fist could even be fired, Seoryang's body scattered like a ghost. The Nine Heavens Shrinking Ground Technique was manifested.
Boom!
The ground was deeply dented by the powerful fist wind.
'Where?!'
Thud!
Yullang's mouth gaped open.
It was so painful that he couldn't even scream. With a single kick, his waist bent in half. It felt as if all strength had drained from his limbs and his dantian was paralyzed.
Thunk.
The heavy blade touched his neck.
"Now I remember. The mysterious sect that controls beasts, one of the strongest forces outside the central plains, comparable to the great sects of Zhongyuan."
Seoryang grinned.
"Namman Beast Palace... Well, it doesn't matter to me."
"Cough!"
"Farewell."
It was a merciless statement.
Yullang urgently raised his head. He wanted to say to wait a moment, that he wasn't ready yet.
But Seoryang's sword strike was as merciless as his words.
Slash! Splash!
Blood spurted like a fountain from the severed neck.
It was the futile end of Yullang, a candidate for the successor of the Beast Palace, who had rendered Ju-hwa combat incapable and dominated the battlefield in an instant.
He hadn't even had the chance to use the technique he prided himself on, the Heavenly Wolf Eye.
The battle between the candidate for the successor of the Heavenly Demon Cult and the candidate for the successor of the Beast Palace.
The result was revealed all too easily. As if to say this was the level of the two groups, it was Seoryang's overwhelming victory.
Naturally, Seoryang felt no excitement from this battle. He had intervened and swept them away because Madongpil was about to die, but his original purpose lay elsewhere.
Madongpil staggered forward.
"Young..."
At that moment, his complexion turned pale.
Seoryang still did not look at him.
His eyes were focused solely on one place, on the old man standing on the hill, looking down at him.
Madongpil felt a chill for the first time from Seoryang, that ferocious, no, far more vicious and heated demonic gaze than before.
He glared. At one of his countless enemies.
Throb, throb.
Rising murderous intent, surging demonic energy, and the energy waves spreading in all directions.
"Jeong Il-ryong!!"
It was a shout filled with overwhelming anger. Jeong Il-ryong, standing on the hill, flinched without realizing it.
The illusion of a demon flashed across Seoryang's face as he bared his white teeth in a grin.
Though he had closed the gate of the Underworld, the demon that had burst out when he opened it was still melted into his majesty.
"I've waited a long time, you bastard!"
Boom!
Seoryang's charge, faster and more intense than ever, began.