landbeastnovel Chapter 271 : Descent of the Malevolent God (2)
Chapter 271 : Descent of the Malevolent God (2)
Chapter 271: Descent of the Malevolent God (2)
Shaanxi.
Blood Cult encampment.
“Kuahahaha! Not only Ice Palace Lord Jisal Sosu, but even Destruction Spirit Demonic Craftsman Sa Bul and Black Bone Witch Yo Uirim are dead? Then the Henan front has completely failed.”
Roaring laughter erupted from the commanders’ quarters within the Blood Cult encampment, where banners emblazoned with the character for blood fluttered violently.
It was a report of a catastrophic defeat from another battlefield, yet the Mad Wolf Blood Blade burst into laughter from the depths of his heart.
“Tsk tsk, to die even after receiving the power of Grace. Utterly pathetic. Well, if things turned out like this, our master would only value our merits even more. Frankly speaking, that suited me just fine. Heh heh.”
As he spoke, a greedy gleam burned fiercely in the Mad Wolf Blood Blade’s eyes.
The Blood Demon had declared it clearly: greater Grace would be bestowed upon the one who achieved the greatest merit.
And unlike the disastrous defeat on the Henan front, the Shaanxi front under his command had not suffered a single loss since the moment he entered the war.
In fact, in the most recent battle, he had even succeeded in inflicting a grave injury upon the newly appointed Murim Alliance Leader, the Subduing Tiger Divine Physician.
Leaning back into his chair, his posture overflowed with extreme arrogance, as though he had already foreseen victory.
“You should not take it so lightly.”
At that moment, Blood Brain Ghost Shadow spoke in a low voice.
Hearing the heavy contempt embedded in that tone, the Mad Wolf Blood Blade’s brow furrowed.
“According to the reports, the strength of the Dominance-Heaven Assembly, including Beast Palace Lord Umun Geol, far exceeded our expectations. Without the power of Grace in play, such an outcome would be impossible. That means ‘that bastard’ must have played another trick.”
“That bastard” naturally referred to Tang Sewoon, the Chairman of the Dominance-Heaven Assembly.
Tsk, again with the Dark Heaven Venerable nonsense.
The Mad Wolf Blood Blade found it utterly ridiculous.
Ghost Shadow repeatedly referred to Tang Clan rabble at every opportunity, dampening the soaring morale.
“At best, it just means a few more mayflies will die soon. How stifling. For someone called a strategist of the Blood Cult to be this timid, is that really acceptable?”
“What did you say?”
“Did I say anything wrong? Henan’s defeat was not because of those Dominance-Heaven Assembly bastards, but because that Heavenly Fist Tathagata stepped onto the threshold of the Life and Death Realm. It had nothing to do with the Tang Clan Head who humiliated you.”
“You…!”
At the Mad Wolf Blood Blade’s mockery, Ghost Shadow’s face stiffened into icy rigidity.
Yet the Mad Wolf Blood Blade did not retreat in the slightest, twisting his lips into a sneer.
He slung his massive Blood Blade over his shoulder and stared at Ghost Shadow with a chilling gaze.
The Mad Wolf Blood Blade and Ghost Shadow utterly despised one another.
Even among the elders of the Blood Cult, the Mad Wolf Blood Blade pursued domination through force, while Ghost Shadow valued strategy above all else.
‘That fool with noodles for brains! A moron who cannot even guess Tang Sewoon’s schemes!’
Just as Ghost Shadow ground his teeth in fury—
“Enough.”
“…!”
A different, cold voice rang out.
The destructive pressure carried within that voice silenced both the Mad Wolf Blood Blade and Ghost Shadow at once.
White bones and a body shriveled thin like a mummy.
Yet the old man clad in pitch-black robes possessed eyes like a bottomless abyss, and from his body erupted demonic qi so destructive it seemed capable of devouring everything.
One of the two Great Protectors of the Blood Cult.
The Left Protector, Gu Eum Majon.
A great demonic practitioner who had slain thousands of martial artists, devoured their hearts, and accumulated deathly energy within his body.
Licking the blood clinging to his fingernails, Gu Eum Majon stared into the empty space between the two with a sinister gaze.
Both men strained their ears for his next words.
Depending on the Left Protector’s stance, the direction in which their future forces would be led would be decided.
Then, fixing a chilling stare upon one of them, the Left Protector continued.
“Listening to this, it seems Elder Lee has a habit of frightening himself unnecessarily.”
“…!”
Gu Eum Majon sided with the Mad Wolf Blood Blade.
Blatant displeasure surfaced on his face as he looked at Ghost Shadow.
Unlike the flustered Ghost Shadow, the Mad Wolf Blood Blade twisted his mouth upward in delight.
“What reason would our cult have to fear those filthy Sichuan rabble? It is nothing more than Shaolin insects revealing themselves after being driven into a corner.”
“N-no, Left Protector. That is not what I meant—”
“Did I not tell you to stop speaking?”
“…!”
The Left Protector’s voice, laden with terrifying force, echoed throughout the chamber.
Overwhelmed by that pressure, Ghost Shadow involuntarily let out a groan.
One of the Blood Cult’s greatest sources of power—the Two Great Protectors.
Among them, the martial prowess of the Left Protector standing before him was something Ghost Shadow could not even begin to compare himself to.
Even before receiving Grace, Gu Eum Majon had already reached the Manifestation Realm, and his current martial state stood at the very entrance of the Life and Death Realm—an utterly absurd level.
“To show fear toward those disgusting unbelievers. Having so gloriously inherited our master’s power, yet daring to utter weakness—I cannot tolerate that.”
“…!”
“In the last battle, the Divine Physician of Mount Emei suffered a fatal wound. In the next battle, we will kill that woman and offer all those Murim Alliance bastards as sacrifices.”
“Yes, sir—!!”
At the Left Protector’s words, the Mad Wolf Blood Blade roared in exhilaration, gripping his Blood Blade tightly.
He was already trembling with excitement, as though he could smell blood.
In contrast, Ghost Shadow’s face turned deathly pale.
A heavy shadow loomed over his thoughts.
‘This is dangerous. If things proceed like this, we will never be able to deal with that man…’
The instincts he had cultivated over decades were screaming in alarm.
He sensed that the events in Henan were no mere coincidence.
Even so, in the end, he had no choice but to obey the Left Protector’s command.
Deep night.
Murim Alliance encampment.
Agonized groans echoed throughout the Murim Alliance camp.
The most recent battle had been exceptionally brutal, resulting in devastating losses.
Those groans resonated just as strongly within the commander’s tent.
“Khk.”
“Master. Please, just a little longer—please endure it just a bit more…”
Geum Hwa Satae, disciple of the Subduing Tiger Divine Physician and Sect Leader of Mount Emei, devoted herself to treatment beside her grievously wounded master, her expression filled with even greater anguish.
The gentle energy flowing from her hands slowly healed the Subduing Tiger Divine Physician’s wounds, but the pace of recovery was painfully slow and stagnant.
Yet there was nothing to be done.
The Subduing Tiger Divine Physician’s condition had truly reached its limit.
Even facing Gu Eum Majon alone—whose power surpassed her own—would have been overwhelming, but the endlessly multiplying Jiangshi had forced her to overexert herself in every battle.
In the end, the treatment progressed no further than thirty percent.
“Master, this truly will not do… You must withdraw now—”
“That is enough. I am not so weak as to fall from something like this.”
Yet the voice with which the Subduing Tiger Divine Physician spoke was painfully lacking in strength.
After the death of the Sword Emperor, deep wrinkles were etched into her face, as though she had visibly aged.
Her eyes, too, were filled with nothing but worry.
The crushing responsibility of having to lead both the Murim Alliance and the battlefield, combined with a hopeless situation with no end in sight, weighed heavily upon her.
At that moment, the sound of someone approaching came from outside the door.
“Alliance Leader, this is the Shrine Maiden Sect Leader. May I come in?”
“Please, come in.”
As the Subduing Tiger Divine Physician steadied herself and spoke, the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden, the Shrine Maiden Sect Leader, entered the room.
Along with her came a senior officer of the Dominance–Heaven Assembly who had joined the battlefield together with her—the Chairman of the Martial Exalt Union, Gong Taemun.
“How is your condition?”
“I am fine. I have improved considerably, so there is no need to worry.”
“…Is that so.”
Even so, the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden’s expression did not brighten.
At a glance, it was clear that the Subduing Tiger Divine Physician’s complexion—despite her forced smile—was far too poor.
“My greetings are late, Chairman of the Martial Exalt Union. Allow me to express my gratitude, even if belatedly. If it were not for you and the martial artists of your organization, the previous battle would have been truly difficult.”
“Hm. There is no need to thank me. I merely follow the orders of our Chairman.”
“…!”
The voice of Gong Taemun, who had rallied the martial artists of his organization, was firm and unwavering.
Though he belonged to the unorthodox sects, his gaze appeared more upright and resolute than that of any martial artist from the righteous path.
‘The Martial Exalt Union was among the unorthodox groups closest to the righteous–unorthodox middle ground. And yet, in such a short time, to bind the heart of a man like this so firmly…’
The Subduing Tiger Divine Physician could only find Sewoon astonishing.
At that moment, the Shrine Maiden Sect Leader spoke carefully.
“Alliance Leader, in truth, there is something I wished to present to you, which is why I have come.”
“Hm?”
The Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden took out an object wrapped in silk from her robes.
As the Subduing Tiger Divine Physician looked on in puzzlement at the sudden turn of events, the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden spoke words she had not expected.
“This was sent by the Chairman of the Dominance–Heaven Assembly.”
“…!”
One hour later.
Kwaaang!!
A tremendous explosion suddenly resounded throughout the Murim Alliance encampment.
“Kuahahaha! You idiots!”
“Kill them all!!”
“Do not leave a single one alive!!”
At the same time, the shouts of demonic practitioners erupted from all directions.
The Blood Cult had launched a surprise assault.
“Kuahahaha! Where is the insect of Mount Emei?! Come out at once, or I will butcher your subordinates!!”
At the vanguard, the Mad Wolf Blood Blade rampaged through the Murim Alliance formation, swinging his massive Blood Blade.
Kwaaarrrr!
Kwa-gagagaga!
With a single brutal blade strike, countless Murim Alliance martial artists collapsed, vomiting blood.
Empowered by the Grace bestowed by the Blood Demon, his martial attainment had risen, and he had reached full maturity within the Manifestation Realm.
Yet despite his mad rampage and relentless blade swings, the Subduing Tiger Divine Physician did not reveal herself.
But whether she appeared or not did not matter.
‘If that woman cowers in fear and hides, the morale of these fools will naturally crash to the ground!’
In truth, he had already gained enough.
From the tip of his blade, Murim Alliance martial artists turned into cold corpses amid horrific screams.
And then—
Churcheok!
Cheo-cheok!
“Ah… Aah…”
“No. No!!”
The fallen corpses of the martial artists soon began to rise once more, driven by the sorcery of the Reverse Life-and-Death Wheel.
As the entire encampment filled with a ghastly aura,
upon land steeped in the Blood Demon’s curse, the corpses of martial artists rose again as new Jiangshi, attacking their former comrades.
The eyes of the Jiangshi already belonged to the dead.
Grrrk!
Grrrgrr!
From their mouths poured horrific cries, like those of wild beasts.
The Murim Alliance martial artists staggered backward in terror.
The dreadful sight of comrades who had been fighting alongside them only moments ago turning into enemies and attacking them caused their fighting spirit to collapse.
Watching this, the Mad Wolf Blood Blade burst into wild laughter. It was a scene he never tired of.
Swaeaeaeak!
“…!!”
At that moment, a single piercing sound through the air startled him mid-laughter.
In an instant, a flash of light burst before his eyes, and a destructive sword strike flew toward him.
The Mad Wolf Blood Blade halted his motion of cutting down his enemy and hurriedly retreated, narrowly evading the attack by a hair’s breadth.
At the same time, a man revealed himself.
“I will deal with you!”
Killing intent flickered in the Mad Wolf Blood Blade’s eyes.
It was a familiar face.
‘Gong Taemun, Chairman of the Martial Exalt Union.’
The man who had fought Blood Brain Ghost Shadow in the previous battle.
Back then, seeing Ghost Shadow pushed back in martial force, he had mocked him—but now that he faced Gong Taemun directly, his thoughts changed.
‘…This man has crossed the wall of the Manifestation Realm?’
Gong Taemun was releasing an aura that, astonishingly, rivaled his own.