Chapter 160: Sun and Moon Intersect

Thud…! Thud…!

The flying dagger vanished without a trace, and as the split body of the Demon King of the Netherworld fell to the ground, the Demon King brushed the dust off one knee and rose.

At that moment, everyone’s gaze turned toward Mahon Jongju. He was clapping as he looked at the Demon King.

“Excellent.”

The Demon King turned to his two right-hand men. As if urging either one to step forward, he looked at them. This time, the Blood Demon, the left-hand man, rose without any particular fear.

The entire Demon Clan remained utterly silent regarding the dead.

Blood Demon looked at the stage, at the Martial King, Jin Sohye, and Yi Neungso. He was confident he could win no matter who came forward, as long as it wasn’t Baek Moo-jin. Moreover, didn’t he have the Left Lion and the Demon King behind him? Blood Demon felt at ease, knowing Baek Moo-jin wouldn’t appear immediately.

After killing Tal Myeongmajon, the Demon King descended the stage. He briefly sensed the Blood Demon’s presence and shook his head. He would have preferred to face him himself, but the one who had ascended the stage was no ordinary opponent.

Only then did the Demon King feel uneasy about having slain Tal Myeongmajon.

‘I should have faced this one myself… My lineup was wrong.’

But the King of Tao couldn’t voice this thought aloud.

In any case, it was now time for the King of Power, Jin Sohye, and Lee Neungso to step forward.

Blood Demon smiled as he looked at Baek Moo-jin’s group.

“Demon-slaying ceremony. Who will step forward?”

The moment Baek Moo-jin saw Woo Sa-ja, the events at Sunghwa Palace came flooding back. Since descending the mountain, the only opponent Baek Moo-jin had failed to defeat was the Blood Demon, Woo Sa-ja.

Having already clashed with Wu Sha, Baek Moo-jin understood him more clearly than the other three.

Baek Moo-jin’s eyes flashed as he quickly assessed the situation.

‘Wusa is no lesser than the Fist King. The Sword King needs time to recover, and Lee Neung-so’s skill… even if rated highly, it’s likely comparable to the Fist King.’

Baek Moo-jin looked at Jin So-hye.

‘Then… I must introduce a variable.’

As Jin Sohye stood up as if to volunteer, Baek Moo-jin looked at her and suddenly blurted out this unexpected remark.

“So-hye.”

“Yes.”

“It’s time for Ilwol to step forward.”

“Ah… Is that okay?”

He was asking if she was okay with facing this battle and then taking on the Demon King next. Baek Moo-jin smiled and even managed a joke in the midst of it all.

“Who? The enemies?”

Jin Sohye nodded and moved lightly onto the stage. No one but Jin Sohye could understand Baek Moo-jin’s words. Baek Moo-jin revealed his plan to Jin Sohye.

Turn this duel into a fight between Lee Dae-i and Yi Wol.

Baek Moo-jin, Jin So-hye, and Ilwol would step forward to eliminate both opponents simultaneously.

Jin Sohye looked at the Blood Demon and said.

“Demon-blooded warrior, we have scores to settle, don’t we?”

“Indeed. Young Princess… I didn’t expect you to show up.”

Jin Sohye crossed her arms behind her back with a coy expression, then casually strolled around the area, tossing out her words as if they were nothing.

“Let’s do this. I want to face both of the Demon Clan’s left and right generals at once. Of course, one more from our side will step forward too.”

Baek Moo-jin, who had assumed Jin Sohye would unconditionally face the Demon Clan Leader, snorted in disbelief.

“You want to go one-on-one?”

Blood Demon watched Jin Sohye’s back as he thought.

‘What kind of stupid proposal is this?’

When Blood Demon turned to look at the Demon Lord, the Demon Lord extended a hand lightly, as if to say, “Do as you wish.”

Blood Demon addressed the Left Lion with formal courtesy.

“…Would you join us?”

“I will.”

The Left Lion rose.

Even if Yi Neung-so or Kwon Wang stepped forward, the Left Lion still believed they held the upper hand.

With both the Left and Right Lions—the highest masters aside from the leader—simultaneously taking the stage, the Demon Clan could not help but be certain of victory.

And there was one who laughed alongside them.

Blood Demon spoke.

“So… who will be the opponent to face the Young Master?”

At that moment, Baek Moo-jin’s figure landed noisily on the stage. He had deliberately flown at breakneck speed and used Seol-i’s cunning to touch down. Kwon Wang and Lee Neung-so didn’t even have a moment to utter a word. As Baek Moo-jin stepped onto the stage, a dead silence fell over the Demon Clan.

Baek Moo-jin’s sudden appearance left the Demon Clan utterly bewildered. This was something even they couldn’t comprehend. Even the Demon Clan Leader tilted his head in confusion at Baek Moo-jin’s arrival.

Blood Demon inquired of Baek Moo-jin.

“What the hell is this?”

Baek Moo-jin looked at the Usaja and replied.

“Wusa, we need to settle the outcome of our last contest.”

At Baek Mujin’s words, Woosa smiled and said.

“Lord Baek, have you lost your mind? If you die, your entire group dies too. You plan to face me and then face the Sect Leader?”

Baek Moo-jin retorted.

“Wusa, you wouldn’t underestimate me… Are you underestimating the Young Princess? Why are you worrying about me?”

“What?”

Blood Demon smiled. Upon reflection, Baek Moo-jin was right. Moreover, Blood Demon knew that Left Lion was stronger than himself. He planned to kill Jin So-hye first, seeing it as an opportunity for Left and Right Lions to attack Baek Moo-jin together.

The Left Lion shared the same thought.

However, with Baek Moo-jin intervening, he couldn’t afford to be careless and was warning the Right Lion.

“Don’t let your guard down. Our offensive and defensive strategies will be the same as yours.”

Blood Demon nodded.

‘Of course. Jin Sohye first…’

At this moment, all four men felt confident about this battle, which was also a strange thing.

As Baek Moo-jin’s group and the demon hybrid watched on…

Baek Moo-jin extended his hand.

And when Jin So-hye briefly held that hand…

The attack from the two guardians erupted like a thunderbolt.

They had launched a surprise attack against Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye, who wielded weapons, while they themselves used martial arts and palm techniques.

However, Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye had no intention of drawing their weapons in the first place. Baek Moo-jin pulled Jin So-hye back while thrusting his double palms forward.

As the external energy manifestation surged forth, the left and right lions were startled and countered Baek Moo-jin’s palm strike.

Kwaaaaang!

The deafening roar erupted, and immediately Jin Sohye charged in, with Baek Mujin supporting her from behind. The two crossed positions without creating distance, unleashing their martial energy. To the onlookers, their transitions between offense and defense seemed as fluid as if they had practiced them for years. Sometimes they unleashed their techniques side by side. When Baek Moo-jin took the lead, Jin So-hye supported him. When Jin So-hye unleashed her Yemhwa-gi, Baek Moo-jin would scatter his Baekhwa-jang at the feet of the two lions.

Thus, it became clear to everyone that Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye’s partnership was an overwhelmingly dominant combination, far exceeding expectations.

Blood Demon unleashed the Blood God Palm to attack Baek Moo-jin, while the Left Lion employed palm force imbued with colossal internal energy, reminiscent of Jeong Jong’s martial prowess.

However, Baek Moo-jin utilized the coldness of the White Flower Powder for defense, while Jin So-hye added the blazing heat of her fire-breathing technique to their assault. In between, Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye moved as if they were one person, unleashing crimson and white palm forces across the stage like performers in a show.

Red flames surged and swirled.

White snowflakes poured down.

Baek Moo-jin’s white and Jin So-hye’s red became two brushes, transforming the stage itself into a single painting. Moreover, that painting contained moving actions, making it dazzling beyond compare.

Could martial arts honed to kill another human being be this visually beautiful? Moreover, unlike the heavy combination of the Blood Demon and the Left Lion, Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye were beautiful young man and woman. The beauty they created was instead stealing the soul of the Demon-Demon Sect.

2.

The four fought over forty exchanges as they crisscrossed the stage. Having gauged each other’s strength, they advanced and retreated repeatedly, each waiting for the chance to finish the other off.

The two left and right guardians, while facing Baek Moo-jin, were thinking that if given just one chance… they would immediately unleash the Seongmyeongjeokgi on Jin So-hye.

However, Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye were quicker than them, their minds perfectly in sync. They intended to unleash the Sun-Moon Divine Palm before their opponents could make their move. That moment, the instant the Blood Demon or the Left Lion prepared their Seongmyeongjeolgi, was precisely the fleeting chance for counterattack.

Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye needed no words.

Their intentions were conveyed through each other’s movements.

The moment Baek Moo-jin glanced at Blood Demon’s state, he realized the demon was about to unleash its technique. He prepared by gathering his energy.

The moment Jin Sohye, locked in a struggle of force with the Left Lion, momentarily moved away from Baek Moo-jin’s side…

Blood Demon crossed his twin blades, then unleashed the Blood Flow Drifting Corpse technique toward the front. Countless blood-red raindrops, stained crimson, poured diagonally from the blood-filled void formed in the air. It was a truly grotesque and horrific scene.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

Blood Demon thought there was no way out.

He planned to force his way through. Believing the momentary explosive power of the Left Lion surpassed his own, he intended to temporarily pin Baek Moo-jin down, forcing him to focus solely on defense.

Then, as they had anticipated, Baek Moo-jin deployed a spray-like ice barrier, blocking the pouring blood rain.

Each time the blood mist touched the pure white ice barrier, a sharp, piercing sound echoed.

Meanwhile, a deep breath, drawn from the depths, escaped from the left lion’s mouth. The ground beneath the left lion’s feet began to tremble violently. The stones beneath its feet started to fly off, and its entire body was enveloped in a maelstrom of energy.

Baek Moo-jin watched the left lion.

He sensed the ominous aura emanating from the left-hand lion was far from ordinary. While fending off the Blood Demon’s attacks, he waited for Jin Sohye’s judgment.

At that moment, Jin Sohye approached Baek Moo-jin with a light movement, pushed off the ground, grabbed Baek Moo-jin’s shoulder, and ascended vertically.

She was showing him the way.

Understanding her intent, Baek Mujin soared into the air, evading the ominous demonic energy emitted by the Left Lion.

Blood rain poured down where Baek Moo-jin had stood, and the Zha Sha’s blazing energy swept across the stage, making the blood rain vanish without a trace.

What kind of martial skill was that?

Just how far had it flown?

A distant rumble sounded, like a building’s wall had been struck, followed by the collapse of a structure.

Baek Moo-jin, who had soared later than Jin So-hye, caught up to her at an even faster speed. In that instant, Jin So-hye’s arm and Baek Moo-jin’s arm intertwined midair. Their figures spun several times before clashing head-on.

Whoooooosh!

From their respective stances, the White Flower Divine Art and the Heaven-Shattering Flame Technique erupted simultaneously. Then, as they had practiced, the two fell vertically.

There was no way the Blood Wolf and the Left Lion would not attack the two falling figures.

They anticipated a formidable attack would descend, but the Left and Right Lions held a far more advantageous position. The two unleashed their pure, concentrated power into the air.

A crimson-colored energy surged into the void, followed by a jet-black beam of light.

It was power potent enough to reduce Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye’s very existence to dust in the void.

In that instant, Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye’s forms were enveloped in light.

The moment the White Flower Divine Art and the Heaven-Shattering Flame Technique were generated from their two hands, they transformed into the Sun-Moon Divine Form. People could see the strange pattern of the Taiji formed in the air.

It was small in size.

Yet the two energies spun violently before plunging into the very center of the force field emitted by the left and right guardians.

To any observer, the power of the Taegeuk pattern emitted by Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye appeared weak.

Yet, the fierce swirling Sun-Moon Divine Array sucked in the left and right lions’ force. Like a heavy ball hitting the ground, the Taegeuk sphere of the Sun-Moon Divine Array dropped with a thud between the Blood Demon and the left lion.

It had absorbed the ‘seasonal energy’ of Blood Demon and Left Lion.

Instantly, Blood Demon and Left Lion’s gazes fixed on the unidentified sphere.

The moment Blood Demon saw that bizarre form of energy, the most primal expression of human bewilderment escaped his lips.

“Huh?”

This was the last thought passing through Zusa’s mind.

‘Sun-Moon Demon Art…?’

It was at that very moment.

The reverse taiji pattern expanded with a swish-swish sound within the radius where the Blood Demon and Zuo Sha stood, swallowing them whole and violently pulsating. Still in their standing positions, the Blood Demon and Zuo Sha spun round and round in midair as they were sucked into the Sun-Moon Divine Field. However, the parts of their bodies being pulled in were shattering into pieces, as if being torn apart.

Thud…!

At that moment, Jin Sohye and Baek Mujin landed at the edge of the arena and locked eyes. The sphere of the Sun-Moon Divine Array still lingered over the arena. It would explode soon. Sending it to the Demon Clan or to the Demon Clan Leader could inflict immense damage.

However, it must be sent by wind, not by direct impact.

They had practiced this many times before, so it posed no difficulty.

It was at that very moment.

The Demon Lord, who had been seated, appeared before the Sun-Moon Divine General’s sphere at an incredible speed. Planting one foot on the ground, he unleashed a short, staccato-like wind blast toward the sphere.

A tremendous wind arose.

Whoosh…!

Those behind the Sun-Moon Divine General’s sphere were simultaneously blown away by the palm strike the Demon Lord unleashed.

Even before that, the Sun-Moon Divine General’s sphere, spinning violently, shot skyward toward the Soryuho at tremendous speed, then exploded with a deafening roar.

BOOM!

In that instant, onlookers were knocked down, their qi tangled by the shockwave, spitting blood from their mouths and ears. Many simply couldn’t withstand even the shockwave.

Baek Moo-jin’s group and the remaining Demon Cultists all turned to look at the Demon Cult Leader at that instant.

The Demon Lord, having sent the Sun-Moon Divine General flying, placed one hand on his forehead and wore a satisfied smile as he watched the explosion unfold.

In his usual tone, the Demon Lord offered this assessment of the Sun-Moon Divine General.

“Phew, that was a close call.”

Though there were many ways to express it, at this very moment, whether Baek Moo-jin’s group or the demonic hybrids, they all shared the same thought.

It was the appearance of a non-human.