Chapter 067
Thunderous explosions erupted one after another. The darkness seemed to scream as it was torn apart by the explosions created when force and sword energy collided.
Fortunately, Gal Yerung was guiding the man's sword away from Cheongpyo and Red Tides, preventing it from turning in their direction. She was clearly at a disadvantage. This was evident in how she was pushed back with each exchange, proving just how powerful the Blood-Robed Man known as the Fourth Elder truly was.
Ugh...
Her entire body resonated with each exchange. Even though she was protecting herself with internal energy, the impacts still broke through and struck her. This showed that the Blood-Robed Man's internal energy cultivation was quite substantial. He wasn't called the Fourth Elder for nothing.
Among the Blood Cult's warriors, excluding the main elders, the Fourth Elder ranked as a mid-tier master. It was well known that the Fourth Elder's martial prowess had reached the peak level, and many had reached the very end of that peak level.
If Gal Yerung hadn't gained insights while watching the Wudang Sword Hero, she would have been completely overwhelmed.
Being around Master Baek is proving helpful in times like this!
Gal Yerung joined both hands, drawing in the man's sword energy and instantly extinguishing its force. After erasing the sword energy using the Ming Wang True Formula—a signature technique of the Ming Wang Society—she quickly crossed her hands.
"Snake Summon!"
The crimson aura surrounding Gal Yerung, powered by her "Red Snake Blood Tassel Art" pushed to its limit, transformed into eight snakes.
These eight snakes were made purely of internal energy. Each one was formed from massive internal energy, and the fact that they had taken shape meant she had reached the realm of manifesting mental images through her internal energy. However, the images were blurry and not fully solid.
The Blood-Robed Man narrowed his eyes.
"You're creating forms with astral energy? You've forcibly elevated your realm. Since when does the Hao Sect possess such secret arts?"
The power accumulated within the body is internal energy. When accumulated cultivation is converted to power, it becomes internal force. This is the foundation of martial arts power, commonly referred to as qi force, internal force, or internal energy.
When one surrounds oneself with power invisible to others, it's called kinetic force. When internal force is channeled through a weapon to manifest visibly, it becomes what's commonly known as sword qi, blade qi, or qi force. This realm is typically called Sword Qi Manifestation or Visible Sword Qi.
As one's realm advances and gains complete control over oneself, one begins to handle not qi force but condensed internal energy—Congealed Qi Becoming Astral—in other words, astral energy.
However, Gal Yerung's manifestation of forms using astral energy was different.
"So what?"
Gal Yerung smiled.
She was in a situation where Red Tides and Cheongpyo had fallen, and she alone was facing this Blood Cult Fourth Elder. Naturally, this was no time to be picky about methods.
Creating forms with astral energy signifies crossing beyond the peak realm into the Super-Peak Realm. To exaggerate slightly, it was evidence of stepping onto the threshold of a realm whose existence was uncertain, beyond even the super-peak.
The Blood-Robed Man's sword changed. The wet, sticky blood-like energy became a burning blood-red blaze of killing intent.
"I've changed my mind."
His sword, infused with the "Blood Heaven Mara Art," trembled and emitted a strange noise.
"I'll have to capture you and take you with me."
As sticky killing intent spread like a net, the eight snakes surrounding Gal Yerung stretched like whips and lunged at the man.
Crash! Crunch!
The astral energy snakes crushed stone and wood alike, slithering and intertwining as they formed a massive sphere around the Fourth Elder.
Even as he cut them down, new heads sprouted, attacking again and again.
"Khaaat!"
A bright red flash cut through the coiled sphere of snakes.
"Sun-Scattering Slash!"
Fragments of astral energy exploded outward, turning into tens, hundreds, thousands of blades that shredded the air.
...
With a heavy explosion, Gal Yerung was thrown back, rolling across the ground.
Her hair was disheveled. Blood streamed from cuts across her body. Her limbs trembled.
Beyond the dust cloud, a figure flickered.
"Kekekeke, damn woman. Did you really think you could do anything against me, the Fourth Elder?"
His robe was torn, and one arm had been severed completely. Blood flowed unnaturally toward the wound as flesh grotesquely regenerated.
A demonic ability that shouldn't exist in the human world.
"Lady Gal!"
"Master Baek?"
"What is... are you alright?!"
Gal Yerung's expression sharpened.
"Master Baek, get away...!"
The Fourth Elder smiled broadly.
"Oh, is that Baek Sugyeong!"
"Submit quietly...!"
He lunged like a hawk.
Baek Sugyeong fell backward.
The Fourth Elder's hand missed.
At the same moment, Baek Sugyeong's foot struck the Fourth Elder's groin.
"Arghhhh!"
Crash!
The Fourth Elder slammed into the wall.
Gal Yerung stared.
Of all things...?
"Master Baek!"
"Lady Gal!"
She rushed to his side.
"What are you doing here? Why didn't you escape?"
"This isn't a situation for escape! Besides, Lady Gal disappeared without a word!"
The Blood Cult warriors roared.
"The Fourth Elder has been defeated!"
"Revenge!"
"Kill them all!!"
A heavy demonic energy pressed down on the battlefield.
Namgung Somin and So Ssanga arrived.
"Namgung, something's coming."
"Heavy demonic energy..."
A cold, laughing voice echoed.
"How laughable that the remnants of the Asura Cult dare to set foot in the Central Plains."
Hundreds of black-robed warriors spread out.
"Heavenly Demon Rules the World!"
"Eternal Reign!"
"Divine Presence Graces Us!"
"All People Bow in Reverence!"
"The Sun and Moon Return, the Sacred One Appears!"
"We serve the one and only sovereign of the Sun Moon Divine Cult!"
Thud.
The man landed lightly, holding a book.
"King of Hell Unit."
"We await the Sacred One's command!"
The Sun-Moon Cult Master smiled.
"Clear away these Asura Cult remnants. They're interfering with my meeting with Sugyeong."
"We obey!"
The black-robed warriors rose as one.
Suffocating demonic energy engulfed the arena.
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📚 Author's Note:
Big thanks to Daoist_fungust for the 3 shiny Power Stones!
🐧