After several days of long conversation, the truth they had found out was enough to excite Gwak Myeong and his party.

And they were absolutely short on time.

“We have to let everyone know this fact right now.”

“I will let them know through the fast-footed ones.”

“First, the Martial Alliance is the top priority…”

Ilmun, in front of Gwak Myeong and Gu Yong, who were unusually excited, said calmly.

“I don’t think you need to hurry so much.”

“What?”

Before Gwak Myeong and Gu Yong could say anything, the door closed.

The flustered Gwak Myeong ran to the iron door and knocked on it hard.

But the door, made of a mixture of black iron and hyeoncheol, did not even get a scratch no matter how hard he hit it.

“Sect Master! What is the meaning of this!!”

“Did you not expect this to happen?”

Ilmun’s voice came from outside the door.

Gwak Myeong became even more excited and shouted.

“Why are you doing this!”

“Great Master Gwak. You are a wise person, so you will understand me. The Wudang Sect has been imprisoning Dan Mugi, who was thought to be dead, for a very long time…? Then what will the people of the world think of our Wudang?”

“Sect Master!!”

“Don’t worry. Thanks to your efforts, we have found out the secret of the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon, so leave it to Wudang now. When everything is over… then I will release you again.”

“You son of a bitch!!”

Gwak Myeong drew his sword and struck the door.

Kwareureureung—!!

As the blade imbued with a strong sword ki struck the iron door, Tianzhu Peak rang.

At the same time, a piece of stone fell from above their heads.

At that, Ilmun’s voice was heard again.

“Oh my… I forgot to mention. That prison was made to deal with none other than the sect master of the Ming Cult. If you try to break through the door by force, the entire prison will collapse. So, Great Master Gwak, please do not act like your title.”

The Wave-Breaking Sword, Gwak Myeong.

He could not bring himself to break the door.

If he used all his strength, he might be able to break the iron door made of a mixture of black iron and hyeoncheol a little, but then the prison would collapse.

Gwak Myeong, who had realized that he could not open the door, put down his sword and came close to the door.

“We don’t matter… at least let the Martial Alliance… no! Let Jin Sohyun know how to deal with the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon!”

“Jin Sohyun… we will take care of that, so don’t worry and wait.”

“Sect Master!!”

There was no further answer.

Gwak Myeong tore his hair and stepped back.

In the meantime, Ryang shrugged his shoulders and said to Gu Yong.

“It seems my brother doesn’t have to keep his promise. We’ll all die here anyway.”

“Shut… up…”

Gu Yong’s head throbbed.

‘I can’t believe he would come out like this…’

In the first place, it was suspicious that he was imprisoning Dan Mugi and asking about the Blood Jade, but Gwak Myeong and Gu Yong had believed that the Wudang Sect was a faction of the righteous path and a sect with the longest history.

They were always on the side of justice.

And they were the ones who had presented the right path and had walked it first.

“Why did Wudang…”

“Hehehehe… hehehe! What a sight.”

As Gwak Myeong looked back with hateful eyes, Dan Mugi smiled, revealing his rotten teeth.

“That’s the scary thing about the Blood Jade. No matter how famous the Daoists are, if they learn even a little about the Blood Jade, they will immediately lose their minds.”

“Dan Mugi… tell me… what on earth is the Blood Jade that you’re doing this.”

“The Blood Jade is a gift from God.”

“A gift from God?”

“A gift that allows one to stand at the pinnacle of all humans… no! Now it is a… heavenly disaster that has come down to you.”

***

“Sect Master.”

Elder Ilseong approached Ilmun, who had finished his business and had returned.

“What is it?”

“The Martial Alliance has come.”

The place that Ilseong and he had gone to was where the martial artists holding the flag of the Martial Alliance were standing, and in the center of them was a stranger.

But Ilmun recognized who he was at once.

‘White Moon Divine Lord.’

The master of the White Moon Palace and the person closest to being the number one in the world.

He was now leading the Martial Alliance and had come to the Wudang Sect.

“I greet the White Moon Divine Lord.”

“Sect Master.”

The two exchanged greetings by cupping their hands lightly.

Although they had smiles on their faces, there were no martial artists who did not notice the subtle current flowing between the two.

The sect master of Wudang, who was called the head of the Nine Great Sects along with the Shaolin Temple.

And the master of the White Moon Palace, who was trying to reign over such Nine Great Sects.

Since it was a meeting of the two pinnacles, a sense of tension could not help but flow in the hall.

“To think that the White Moon Divine Lord has come leading the Martial Alliance… it’s interesting.”

“Ah, it seems you haven’t heard the news yet. Unfortunately, the former alliance leader, Great Master Gwak, stepped down from his position and was seriously injured in a fight with the Heretic Path's Alliance Leader, and is currently undergoing treatment. So I am temporarily in charge of the alliance leader position.”

“Temporary alliance leader…”

As Ilmun trailed off his words in a voice that could barely be heard, Cheon Yusin smiled faintly.

“Don’t worry. As the sect master is concerned, I have no intention of continuing to serve as the alliance leader.”

“That’s something we don’t know. When a crisis like this has come to the Central Plains, if a capable person like Great Master Cheon takes on the role of the alliance leader and overcomes the crisis wonderfully, wouldn’t it be a blessing for the righteous martial world for him to become the real alliance leader, not a temporary one?”

The gazes of the two leaders crossed fiercely.

‘This old raccoon has a different intention in his heart.’

‘There must be a reason why the fox of the frontier is not coveting the position of the alliance leader.’

They did not trust each other.

Nevertheless, they did not show it on the outside.

But at that moment, the internal general manager, Zhuge Goun, looked around with a puzzled face.

At that, Ilmun asked first.

“Is there something you’re looking for?”

“Ah, I am the internal general manager of the Martial Alliance, Zhuge Goun.”

“I know.”

“It’s nothing… but have the Wave-Breaking Sword, Great Master Gwak, and a beggar of the Beggars' Sect named Gu Yong not come to Wudang?”

“They came, and they left just a few hours ago. I personally guided them.”

“Ah…”

Zhuge Goun nodded his head and stepped back.

Although his face was still full of questions, Ilmun did not pay much attention.

“But what is the temporary alliance leader’s business at the Wudang Sect?”

“It’s nothing… I came to borrow your strength. Since the Alliance Friend Order has been issued and you were preparing for war, it must not be something you didn’t expect. Isn’t that right?”

“If you need the sword of Wudang, I will lend you my strength as much as you want.”

“The heretic path is breaking the righteous path one by one while they are divided. So I plan to gather our strength into one. For the true unity of the righteous path.”

“That’s a good idea. Since all the preparations for the expedition have been completed, I will take the lead and lead the Wudang Sect to help the alliance leader.”

“Good.”

The conversation between the two leaders proceeded quickly and came to an end.

The masters of Wudang, who had already been selected, gathered with their swords sheathed, and they raised the black and white flag that symbolized Wudang high.

“Wudang, listen! From now on, it is our turn to raise the sword of Wudang against the cunning heretic martial world that is trying to trample on the righteous path and the Central Plains martial world. There is no retreat. Everything is for the righteous cause.”

“For the righteous cause!”

The gathered martial artists of the Wudang Sect joined the Martial Alliance.

Ilmun, who had joined the Martial Alliance, leading the Wudang Sect, stood next to Cheon Yusin and asked.

“What happened to the rest?”

Ilmun’s way of speaking to Cheon Yusin had changed slightly.

It also meant that he was subtly acknowledging Cheon Yusin as the alliance leader of the Martial Alliance.

Cheon Yusin naturally accepted his changed attitude and answered.

“Huashan and Jongnam will join as soon as they have recovered from their damages, and Kunlun, Kongtong, and even Diancang have decided to gather in Sichuan.”

“What happened to the Five Great Families?”

“The Hebei Peng Clan and the Namgung Clan have joined, and they are also heading to Sichuan. Of course, many other vassal sects and martial factions belonging to the righteous path are also joining… so the power of the Martial Alliance will become even greater.”

“The gathering place is Sichuan…”

All the power of the righteous path was gathering towards Sichuan.

And that meant.

‘It means the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon is also in Sichuan.’

Ilmun’s eyes narrowed.

‘I don’t know about the others, but I have to deal with the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon myself.’

Now that he had found out the only weakness of the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon, he had to kill him and then take the Blood Jade without anyone knowing.

If he could just get his hands on the Blood Jade.

‘No one will dare to look down on the Wudang Sect anymore. No one.’

Ilmun’s eyes landed on the back of Cheon Yusin’s head.

‘Even a fox of the frontier like you.’

The martial artists holding the flag of the Martial Alliance, hiding their respective intentions, moved towards Sichuan at a fast speed.

***

As he had said.

Ma Seongun killed the martial artists of the alliance at a very slow speed.

Although he was called the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon, he did not take people’s blood.

He just killed the martial artists of the alliance with his heartless gaze and sword line.

“Over a hundred people have already died…!”

The number of corpses lying on the floor exceeded a hundred.

Nevertheless, not even a small scratch was made on Ma Seongun’s body.

And his breathing was not even disturbed.

‘Isn’t it like a herd of rabbits rushing at a tiger.’

The Qingyu True Man felt despair.

No matter how many rabbits there were, they could never harm a tiger with their teeth and claws.

No.

Like they couldn’t even make a small wound.

Even if the martial artists of the alliance rushed in, risking their lives, they could not even scratch Ma Seongun’s body.

The lives of many were fading away in vain.

“At this rate, we’ll all be annihilated.”

The Qingyu True Man felt that the time had come to make a decision and gripped his sword.

“Finally.”

Ma Seongun raised his head at the strong aura he felt from somewhere.

For the first time since he had arrived at the Qingcheng Sect, he felt interested.

“Are you the sect master of the Qingcheng Sect?”

“That’s right. I am the sect master of the Qingcheng Sect.”

“At least you will be my entertainment.”

The elders of the Qingcheng Sect stood side by side next to the Qingyu True Man. And next to them, the Jingyu Master, who had barely recovered, and the Demon-Subduing Sword joined.

“Your power is abnormally strong. And since it’s a war situation right now…”

“Attack me as much as you want. There’s no need to make excuses. In the end, life and death are more important than such old-fashioned customs, aren’t they.”

Although the Qingyu True Man did not want to admit it, he had no choice but to admit Ma Seongun’s words right now.

Right now, he had to save even one more martial artist of the alliance.

The Qingyu True Man nodded his head and looked back.

The Qingxu True Man, who had met his gaze, nodded his head together.

And Ma Seongun, who was watching this, smiled slyly.

“Hmph… no. No.”

A ferocious killing intent erupted from Ma Seongun’s body as if it would explode.

The martial artists of the alliance, who had faced his killing intent head-on, had their hair stand on end and their whole bodies froze, unable to move.

“The power of a person who has prepared for death is very strong. But the power of those who try to protect their precious ones is even stronger.”

“Blood-Sucking Sword Demon!”

“From now on, not a single one of you should leave this place.”

“…!”

At the unexpected situation, the Qingyu True Man was greatly flustered.

In the meantime, Ma Seongun swung his sword wide, and everything that his sword path touched was shattered by the sword ki and exploded.

Kwagagang—!!

With a rough explosion, the martial artists who were standing nearby were thrown away or were crushed and died, unable to withstand the pressure of the force.

‘What kind of power is this!’

At Ma Seongun’s power, which was beyond human, the Qingyu True Man felt as if his soul would leave him.

“Sect Master.”

The Qingyu True Man’s eyes flowed weakly to Ma Seongun.

From Ma Seongun’s face, which he had faced, he could feel pure evil and hunger.

“If you want to protect everyone, fight me and win. That is the only way you can protect what you have.”

Ma Seongun let his sword hang loosely and tilted his head.

“You can attack me together, or you can use the poison of the Tang Clan. Do whatever you can. Instead…”

Soon, Ma Seongun’s blood-red blade was aimed at the alliance.

“Either you all die, or I die… one of the two will surely die.”

(End of Chapter)