Chapter 159 : Blood Lord

Blood ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Lord

Absurdity, rage, interest, curiosity, exhilaration.......

Jeong-un saw a variety of emotions appear and vanish on the face of his opponent.

On the surface, the man seemed as solid as a well-built wall.

During their earlier conversation, he had shamelessly uttered nonsense and shown a sneering expression, but even that looked slightly awkward, as if he were unaccustomed to displaying emotion.

But now, the man's face was disturbingly vivid.

In truth, as he gazed upon Jeong-un, he was feeling an incredibly intense surge of emotion for the first time in ages.

Usually, upon reaching the peak transcendent realm, one could not help but become indifferent to the various aspects of life.

Nothing one did could possibly offer as much stimulation as the enormous martial arts achievements already experienced.

It was often for this reason that martial artists of the martial world would suddenly act odd and eccentric—their lives became unbearably dull in comparison to their overflowing strength.

However, for orthodox martial artists who had trained their minds and matured their spirits through devoted practice since childhood, such ennui was not a grave problem.

From the start, their martial arts were grounded in mental cultivation.

But it was different with the unorthodox faction.

These were fiends of samawae who had pursued nothing but power. They had no rational reins to control their swollen might.

They were, by nature, people who lived lives far removed from patience.

Having gained great power, they could not withstand their boredom and committed atrocious acts without hesitation or reason.

It was in this way that, from time to time, notorious demonic humans would suddenly emerge in the martial world and cause bloody massacres, prompting the orthodox experts to band together and stop them.

In that sense, the vivid expression on this man's face was by no means a good omen for Jeong-un.

At some point, the man had come to believe himself a savior descended to the earth and created a baseless and chilling new faith.

He thought it a grand undertaking, but, of course, that drive too had its roots in a weariness with life.

In light of this, the current events brought a huge stimulus to the Blood Lord.

In his mind, the warriors of the Heavenly Martial Hall were but fools who had come to obstruct his grand work.

He had already completed the content of the sutra he would deliver to more people after defeating them.

He even wondered if he should find a talented scholar and make them write it out for him.

And this fellow before his eyes.

He already knew of him well from repeated reports—the one who first exposed the Blood Cult to the outside world.

But facing him in person exceeded all expectations.

The man possessed inner energy of a magnitude utterly unthinkable for his age, brimming with exceptionally pure, clear true ki.

'The timing could not be more perfect.'

Challenge had appeared, but so had the proper reward.

At this point, it almost felt like a revelation.

He could clearly imagine himself taking this one's blood and flesh and slaughtering all those who dared trespass into his domain.

If he could only do that, it would only be a matter of time before he brought the entire martial world beneath his feet.

Thus, at this very moment, Jeong-un's very existence was an overwhelming stimulus to the Blood Lord.

'Disgusting.'

Jeong-un frowned slightly and muttered to himself.

Even now, he was enduring the man's tremendous cultivated power as it pressed against him head-on.

It was a rather strange contest of strength—the man was blatantly focusing all his force on the upper body, pressing down as if to pin him in place.

Thanks to that, his lower body was completely defenseless, but it was a calculated move.

If the man shifted even one hand away to attack, Jeong-un planned to instantly surge his cultivated power and snatch the arm away, sacrificing flesh to take bone.

Chakagagagang!

But the man only stared at him with inexplicable, burning eyes, filled with an unplaceable yearning.

His eyes glowed not just red, but a deep crimson-black.

That strange, clear expression in the eyes stirred an instinctive aversion.

'Should I recalculate my blade path?'

It was a bizarre form, abandoning defense of the center and pressing down from above with swordsmanship.

Even if the man used that shield-like martial technique again, Jeong-un was unafraid—he was confident in his swift sword.

The real problem was the man's attitude.

He did nothing but stand there, making no choices, only watching Jeong-un.

He was already a giant of a man. Meeting those sticky eyes head-on was suffocating.

Uuuung!

Unable to bear it any longer, Jeong-un roused his energy first.

He added even more force to his swordsmanship, which had been pressing down from above, and shoved the man away roughly.

Kagang!

With the recoil, he used the whoosh of force to spring back and open some distance.

Even as the vision widened, the man's unwavering stare remained.

Finally, the man spoke.

"I have a proposal for you."

He pierced Jeong-un with his chilling gaze. His hands, once brimming with immense true ki, now hung quietly at his sides.

"To be honest, I'd hate to shatter your body and let all that energy go to waste."

"What?"

Jeong-un frowned at the cryptic statement. The man continued, even more animated.

"My martial arts include the Star-Absorbing Grand Art. It's an ultimate skill I developed with tremendous effort. For the victim, it delivers painless rest; for me, it allows me to absorb their life energy intact."

"......?"

Jeong-un stared at the man in disbelief, finally grasping his meaning. Unconsciously, his head tilted askew.

"Come here and accept death quietly. I promise you a death far sweeter than sleep. I will take your internal energy without waste, and you, as a martial artist, will gain the greatest luxury of all: peaceful, eternal rest. Where could you find a transaction more perfect than that?"

"... And you're opening your mouth, expecting me to accept that?"

Is this guy insane?

Jeong-un stared at the man in utter astonishment.

The martial world had its fair share of eccentric peerless experts, but this was extreme even by those standards.

He could hardly believe what he was hearing, even though the words echoed right in his ear.

'Is this some kind of advanced provocation?'

For a moment, Jeong-un truly wondered, the man was so brazen.

All the while, the man continued undisturbed.

"Is there any reason to refuse? Think about it. Of all the martial artists in this land, how many die peacefully of old age? The higher one's realm and fame, the less likely it becomes. Have you ever imagined the moment of your own death? Surely, you weren't hoping for a comfortable end atop bedding, were you? Your death, too, will be miserable."

"......."

Jeong-un, feeling it wasn't even worth a response, silently drew forth his energy.

To die considering a peaceful death a luxury—what a laughable, twisted argument.

'This is going badly.'

His body was already far from normal.

His muscles were torn from overexertion, and his insides were battered as well.

Even the circulation of his internal energy for recovery was sluggish.

It was the price for pouring his all into every sword move.

Even after returning, he might need long convalescence.

'I need to be faster.'

Even so, he weighed his next move. Speed was all he had over his opponent now.

The man's cultivated power was so overwhelming it was chilling.

The hand gripping his sword guard was already shredded.

At that moment, the man who had been raving on for so long suddenly became somber.

"My proposal doesn't appeal to you, I see."

"Right now, the only thing in my head is the image of me cutting yours off."

"... You truly refuse my hospitality."

Once again, ki waves surged from the man's entire body like a storm.

It was just as before his earlier assault, though now even more immense energy pressed down on the atmosphere.

'Let's try overlaying the speed of Moonlight Swift Steps onto my swordsmanship.'

Jeong-un gazed back indifferently.

He intended to use everything he had, breaking down the next bodily movement with microscopic precision, even to the tensest muscle fiber.

At some point, his hand had quietly grasped the hilt of the black sword again.

'Whenever he unleashes a strike, his right arm's angle is slightly higher. There must be some subtle imbalance.'

Jeong-un recalled even the smallest trait he'd spotted during their earlier clash, incorporating it into his predictions.

He intended to throw everything in—instinct told him a drawn-out fight would only disadvantage him.

Just as the man moved again—

Paaang—!

Jeong-un was the first to launch himself forward in a sudden surge.

He focused all subtlety of Moonlight Swift Steps into pure speed—racing forward so fiercely it seemed to rip the air apart.

In an instant, the giant filled his vision.

Srrrng—

Sparks flew as the sword scraped violently from its scabbard, bursting into a golden flash.

With half the sword blade revealed—

Bang!

Right in front of the man's nose, Jeong-un used a forcible stride, gathering all accelerated mass into the sword tip.

The golden strike exploded as it was swung.

Hwaak—! Kwagagagang!

The man struck at the sword strike with the edge of his hand, as if chopping down.

Even though it was a supremely swift sword attack, the response was smooth, his expression serene as if he had anticipated it.

Myriad Streams Return to Blood Palm.

From elbow to fingertips, his arm was thickly wrapped in crimson enhanced energy.

The unique secret technique wielded by the head of the Blood Cult, the crusher of so many orthodox experts' heads, was unleashed.

'I'll shatter it and take his energy.'

That was the Blood Lord's thought.

The golden aura was dazzlingly, unpleasantly bright—so brilliant it seemed as if a piece of sunlight had been stolen and made his own.

That was why the Blood Lord resolved to shatter that sword with Myriad Streams Return to Blood Palm.

That piercing golden light was unbearably irritating.

"......?"

But the trajectory was off.

The golden flash that had shot out in a straight line suddenly curved, swirling like a wave.

'What—?'

The Blood Lord's palm technique cleaved through empty air, missing the sword which bent away in a strange arc.

Hwaaak—

With that, the forceful blow missed and his upper body pitched forward.

'Now!'

The sword, whirling in a curve, lifted sharply.

From that angle, the closest point of the man's body was his opposite shoulder.

Kagang!

The sword strike pierced from below upward, breaching his body-protecting enhanced ki.

With a screech like scraping iron, the golden blade started to cut into flesh.

"You dare!"

The man's left hand exploded with energy, clearly preparing to manifest that shield of true ki again.

Jeong-un paid it no mind—his sword had already plunged in deep.

Kagang! Slash!

A vivid slicing sound rang out, and at that instant, a bright red spout of blood burst from the man's forearm.

"You madman!"

The Blood Lord, having retrieved the right hand he'd swung, brought down Myriad Streams Return to Blood Palm on Jeong-un's head, his face twisted with rage.

But Jeong-un's expression was equally grim.

'It went wide.'

The moment his sword strike hit the man's shoulder, the shield the man summoned with his left hand wrenched the blade off course.

He had failed to sever the bone completely.

He had pierced the hard body-protecting enhanced ki, and the blade had dug into flesh, but at the crucial instant, the shield's form pushed the blade out.

Though it felt like he'd sliced halfway through the forearm, he'd failed to sever it.

Kwaaaang!

Without time for further thought, the palm strike slammed into the spot where Jeong-un had been.

The ground caved in and dirt exploded upward.

It was a close call.

Jeong-un used the repelling force of his redirected sword strike to twist his waist and leap backward, just as the palm was about to hit his crown.

At that instant, a streak of red energy grazed the tip of his nose, and blood trickled down his face.

"......"

The Blood Lord looked down at his shoulder in disbelief. Crimson blood soaked and ran down his clothes.

"You dare draw a blade on my body...."

Several paces away, Jeong-un, catching his breath in a lowered stance, spoke.

"Next time, it'll be your neck."