Pae Jin-gwang faced off against the four black-clad figures simultaneously.

He blocked a sword aura with his forearm, then threw a single punch.

BOOOOM────────!!

One of the black-clad figures was hurled backward by the overwhelming force. But in an instant, the remaining three exploited openings in Pae Jin-gwang’s defense.

A long spear aimed for his abdomen, a curved blade for his shoulder, and clawed fingers for his leg.

Pae Jin-gwang twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the spear and blade, but he couldn’t evade the claws.

RIP-!

The claws tore a chunk out of Pae Jin-gwang’s pants. He scratched his now-reddened thigh.

"Annoying bastards."

Surprisingly, all four of the black-clad figures wielded aura. They were at the Pinnacle Stage (Chojeoljeong).

However, their movements were somewhat awkward, not fluid enough to be truly considered at that level. Subtle interruptions marred their flow.

Frowning, Pae Jin-gwang quickly assessed the situation.

Seo-jun and the others didn’t seem likely to fall easily. That Shihyeol Mancheon was undoubtedly a formidable master, but Seo-jun wasn’t one to be underestimated.

Wasn’t he the kind of guy whose head could be chopped off only to reattach itself as if nothing had happened? Given that, it seemed wise to wrap things up on this end quickly and then join the others to drive Shihyeol Mancheon away.

While Pae Jin-gwang was weighing his options, the black-clad figure who had been flung away returned.

Pae Jin-gwang’s eyes narrowed sharply.

"That’s…."

The figure’s mask had been knocked off from the impact. The lifeless face beneath was disturbingly familiar.

Wasn’t that Quickblade Annihilation Sword (Kwaejin Myeolgeom)?

A master from ages past. He had disappeared without a trace at some point….

"I never imagined he’d end up like this."

Pae Jin-gwang sighed. The figure before him was neither alive nor truly dead. Such beings were commonly referred to as Living Jiangshi (Saenggangsi).

Ordinary Jiangshi were ineffective against warriors at the Pinnacle Stage. They were little more than puppets to pad enemy numbers. Even if a Jiangshi had been a master in life, it made little difference.

But Living Jiangshi were different.

These were closer to living warriors who had been brainwashed and reforged into something monstrous. While they couldn’t fully retain their original skills, they still possessed a considerable portion of their former strength.

Of course, even Living Jiangshi were ineffective against those at the Transformation Stage (Hwagyeong). Pae Jin-gwang, however, had yet to reach that level. But he was on the cusp, having grasped the key to something greater.

"What a waste. I’ll send you off properly."

Clicking his tongue, Pae Jin-gwang clenched his fists tightly.

He had intended to take more time before attempting this, but now wasn’t the time for caution.

"Hmph…!"

For a brief moment, Pae Jin-gwang’s eyes glowed blue. He utilized the refined Dominating Demon Deity Art (Paeryeok Gwisinmu) that Seo-jun had modified, wrapping a faint layer of aura around his fists. He then focused on a slightly unfamiliar energy.

The Divine (Shin) was not as straightforward as Qi—it required the right circumstances. He intensely concentrated on his half-opened upper dantian, pulling both Qi and Divine energy downward.

CRUNCH—

A vast, almost overwhelming Essence (Jeong) enveloped the metaphorical soil of his foundation, into which Qi and Divine energy were planted like seeds.

Essence absorbed the Qi and Divine energy.

Though still immature and temporary, at this moment, Pae Jin-gwang had stepped into a new realm.

"Huuh…."

Pae Jin-gwang exhaled a hot breath. The blue aura that had surrounded his fists vanished without a trace.

Instinctively sensing something amiss, the Living Jiangshi became wary. But when they noticed Pae Jin-gwang’s aura weakening, they immediately lunged.

THUD!

The one using claws led the charge. Behind him came the ones wielding a sword and blade, with the spear-wielding Jiangshi at the rear.

Pae Jin-gwang remained motionless in his stance. Only when the lead Jiangshi came within striking distance did he act.

WHOOSH—!

His fist cut through the air.

The claws, sword, blade, and spear struck Pae Jin-gwang’s body simultaneously. CLANG! His clothing was torn, but his body remained unscathed.

Pae Jin-gwang smirked.

"One down."

CRAAAAACK────────

The force of his punch rippled through the air. A pure, physical shockwave extended outward.

SPLAT!

The spear-wielding Jiangshi was blown apart, its body reduced to shattered pieces. Rotten blood splattered everywhere, filling the air with a foul stench.

Wiping the blood off his face, Pae Jin-gwang bared his teeth.

"Come on. I’ll send you back to where you belong."

The dead belong in the grave.

+++++

 

When Seo-jun briefly regained his clarity, the battle was already in full swing.

Jang Geuk and Namgung Hyeok were desperately holding Shihyeol Mancheon at bay, while Seo-jun’s martial arts and sorcery suppressed Shihyeol Mancheon’s Qi techniques.

Yet, Shihyeol Mancheon’s strength, wielded without restraint, was extraordinary.

Two masters near the Transformation Stage, plus another at the Pinnacle Stage.

Even so, Shihyeol Mancheon dominated.

"Cough…!"

Jang Geuk spat blood, his left shoulder dangling unnaturally. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to purge the poison that had infiltrated his body.

Even though the lord is suppressing his Qi techniques….

Shihyeol Mancheon was overwhelming them with sheer mastery of palm techniques and poison arts.

Though his expertise in these arts seemed less refined than his Qi techniques, even that was enough to leave Pinnacle Stage masters struggling to respond.

Clenching his teeth, Jang Geuk raised the curved blade in his right hand.

Namgung Hyeok, meanwhile, was barely holding on, relying on the domain of energy enveloping his sword.

"My lord…! I’ll clear a path…!"

Jang Geuk knew he couldn’t last much longer. If the battle dragged on, he would become a burden. That was the last thing he wanted.

He had already accepted his death.

A torrent of blood, shaped into countless spikes, rained down.

Jang Geuk didn’t care. He kicked off the ground.

BOOM!

His figure shot forward like a nimble tiger, blood spikes closing in from all sides. Then, they stopped midair. His lord’s doing.

Advancing further, Jang Geuk poured his all into the blade in his hand. Great Spirit Divine Art (Georyeong Singong). A newly created technique, its power worthy of being called divine, filled every fiber of his being.

With a flash, flames ignited in his dantian, burning his latent potential and inflating his strength to its peak.

From this point forward, even his lord could no longer intervene. Jang Geuk’s extraordinary instincts sharpened to their limit.

"Get lost…!"

Shihyeol Mancheon’s palm strike flew toward him. Jang Geuk was already twisting his body to avoid it.

Swish—!

The palm strike grazed his temple. Jang Geuk ducked again, moving before Shihyeol Mancheon had even completed his next motion.

Whoosh!

A whip of blood lashed out from Shihyeol Mancheon’s sleeve, slicing through the air.

Entrusting himself entirely to his instincts, Jang Geuk found his target within striking range.

Gripping the hilt of his blade so tightly it seemed it would snap, he swung.

BOOOOOOOM─────────!!

The martial arts he had honed over a lifetime, combined with the Great Spirit Divine Art, merged into one cohesive force. For an instant, a massive wall of energy formed.

However—

"A pesky fly… you’re quite irritating."

Shihyeol Mancheon’s hand spread wide, grabbing hold of the immense wall. His blood-formed hand shattered it instantly.

CRACK!

Fragments of shattered energy scattered. Jang Geuk’s eyes widened as Shihyeol Mancheon’s hand closed in. Even if it was his last act, he would land a hit. Screaming in defiance, he threw a desperate punch.

"Urgh…!"

But before he could connect, his body was yanked backward. Whoosh—! Shihyeol Mancheon’s hand slashed through empty air.

It was Seo-jun’s blood-threaded hand, stretching out to snatch Jang Geuk and pull him away.

"That’s enough for now."

Seo-jun exhaled a long breath, steadying his faltering body.

Jang Geuk and Namgung Hyeok were already battered and broken. They had bought enough time. It was sufficient.

"Have you finally given up?"

Shihyeol Mancheon bared his teeth in a savage grin. He wasn’t faring much better. Time wasn’t on his side.

If the battle dragged on, unexpected complications might arise. If another Transformation Stage master sensed the commotion and arrived, the situation would turn dire.

Creak—

Seo-jun’s eyes, along with the countless eyeballs blooming from the three grotesque flowers behind him, all fixed on Shihyeol Mancheon.

Shihyeol Mancheon grimaced.

"What an unsettling creature…."

WHOOSH—! A crimson mist erupted from his body, spreading across the area. It was a lethal poison, instant death for Pinnacle Stage warriors on contact, and even higher-level masters would suffer severe internal damage if they inhaled it.

Seo-jun didn’t blink as he stepped forward.

Through his eyes and the eyes on the flowers, he saw everything. With the horns on his head, he perceived it all.

The essence of Blood Arts at the Transformation Stage—he couldn’t replicate it yet, but he felt confident he could do something similar.

Hoooh—!

A wave of energy surged across the battlefield as Seo-jun’s inner core shattered. The overwhelming Qi expanded outward, distorting the air around it.

By discarding the balance of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, Seo-jun forced Qi to fulfill its role as a pure medium.

Qi, the bridge between Essence and Spirit, became an overwhelming force connecting all things.

Seo-jun’s Qi swelled, binding Essence and Spirit together with tremendous force.

Suddenly, his vision brightened.

His body felt weightless—or rather, parts of it had been replaced by Qi itself. A single mistake would cause his entire physical form to disintegrate. Yet, there was no room for error. Seo-jun was a master of Qi.

"I see."

The voice resonated, not through air, but through vibration in Qi. Seo-jun’s vocal cords had ceased functioning, replaced by this resonance.

Each of his six hands formed unique seals.

WHOOOOOOOOOOSH—

The poisonous mist permeating the area was drawn into Seo-jun’s body.

For a brief moment, his flesh turned a deep crimson before returning to normal.

He understood now.

The essence of Shihyeol Mancheon’s existence.

At the same time, his reasoning began to blur.

As Qi consumed his Essence and Spirit, he grew ever closer to the world itself.

"What witchcraft is this…!"

Shihyeol Mancheon snarled, extending his palm.

Seo-jun moved.

The strengthened connection between body and soul meant his body moved as swiftly as his intent.

When Shihyeol Mancheon’s arm stretched out, Seo-jun was already in front of him, staring into his eyes.

"Vermin."

The moment Seo-jun’s foot shifted—

BOOOOOOOOM────────!!!

Shihyeol Mancheon’s body was sent hurtling into the sky.

"You sought that which should not be sought. Even death is a mercy compared to your sins."

The three flowers behind Seo-jun laughed, grotesque grins stretching across their petals. Their countless eyes darkened before unleashing a torrent of Reverse Celestial Sun and Moon Art (Yeokcheon Ilwolgong).

WHOOOOOOOOOOSH────────

Hundreds of streams of energy bombarded Shihyeol Mancheon.

As Seo-jun’s reasoning faded further, the Qi that formed his body drew him closer to the world’s natural flow.

One singular thought took root as he surrendered to his instincts.

"Kill."

And it didn’t seem difficult.