Chapter 174 Immortal Demon (4)

Chapter 174 Immortal Demon (4)

”Quite an interesting aura you have… I was certain I smashed your skull.”

As if the aftereffects lingered, the Immortal Demon clenched and unclenched his fist.

Seeing this, Muming’s face twisted horribly, but he did not charge forward, consumed by rage.

He had just realized, through their exchange, that his capabilities fell short compared to the Immortal Demon.

Moreover, he wasn’t alone.

Seeing Wei Jinchuan’s expression ease slightly, Nameless clicked his tongue.

“Some fight through hellish hardship, yet this so-called disciple…”

At those words, Gu Yangji’s face stiffened.

When Nameless had deflected the Immortal Demon’s martial arts, he’d seemed composed, but a slight tremor was now detectable in his voice.

This was bad. If Kwon Seong, who had built a reputation in the martial world, were defeated in one fell swoop, morale would plummet.

Gu Yangje’s lips twitched.

-Kang Hao?

-Yeah.

Was it because he was forced to relive the dizzying sensation he’d been trying to push away?

Wuming’s shoulder twitched slightly.

-Imagination . Damn it, I secretly looked down on those Shaolin monks, but how could I…!

-The martial artists present here now are no slouches either.

-Hmph.

Wuming snorted in response.

-I’d rather face the joint assault of the extermination squad than fight that bastard. Never seen such a hopeless case before.

As he spoke, Muwang recalled Mantongja’s words.

That the Heavenly Dunsin Yewong was created specifically to oppose the Eight Palms, and had been bound to the Heavenly Martial Peak to remain unknown to the martial world.

‘Damn it… If only some idiot hadn’t broken the rules.’

Hadn’t the lost Heavenly Dull Heart Art’s internal energy been over a hundred years old?

Gazing at the formidable, unstoppable demon, Mumeong felt a pang of regret.

Had that power been his, he could have fought such a monster to a respectable draw.

‘If only… that had been possible.’

As the fleeting thought passed, heat seeped into Mumeong’s breath.

The battle with the formidable opponent he had long dreamed of was finally before him.

Even if it was a demonic beast beyond human power to oppose, it remained the formidable foe Nameless had always desired.

No, precisely because of that, it was all the more worthwhile.

Martial prowess only truly shines when there is someone worthy to receive it.

A clear, powerful energy began to gather in Nameless’s fist.

Kuuuuu…

The Immortal Demon frowned at the inner energy of the Heavenly Dunsimyeongong, purer than the essence of nature itself. Yet beneath that frown, a faint smile played upon its lips.

“Fine energy.”

Despite the extermination squad, including Pang Chien-wu, closing in on him, the Immortal Demon focused his gaze solely on the nameless man.

Within that, Ku Yang-jeok found himself in an ambiguous position.

He had no experience coordinating with the extermination squad, nor did he have the slightest intention of engaging the Immortal Demon in close combat like the nameless man.

Hadn’t the sect leader, Bai Dan-hyeon, said it?

Don’t get hurt.

Never forget you are a Taoist of Huashan Sect.

‘…Hard words to keep.’

Gu Yangjie closed his eyes briefly, thinking.

Staying unharmed against the Immortal Demon was practically impossible, and as a Huashan Taoist, he must not retreat before a demonic being.

A peculiar smile appeared on Gu Yangjie’s face.

He had struggled desperately to defeat stronger foes many times in his past life, and in the end, he had won.

Had he made even a single mistake, he would have died as a nameless nobody, let alone a master.

Through that process, Gu Yangjie realized what his greatest strength was.

It was becoming ruthless.

And the audacity to execute the plans he endlessly schemed and devised.

When Gu Yangjeok’s eyes opened again, a pebble no bigger than two finger joints was already clutched in his hand.

‘That leg.’

Gu Yangjeok’s gaze fixed on one of the Fire-Slaying Demon’s legs.

‘You said you’d collect your debt from me.’

Outwardly, it seemed perfectly normal, but inside, it might be different.

Otherwise, why would he use a perfectly good leg to play psychological games?

Even if not, it would be an annoying hindrance to the Immortal Demon.

Gu Yangjeok, who had been gauging the situation, took a deep breath.

“Huuu…”

Without anyone noticing, he gathered all his strength and hurled the pebble clenched in his right hand.

Pang!

The pebble, imbued with the power of the Purple Sea Spirit, shattered the air, tearing it apart. Its terrifying force created a shockwave as it flew toward the Immortal Demon.

“…Damn!”

The Immortal Demon clicked his tongue and swung his left arm fiercely.

It was a completely unexpected move, but his intent was to use it to break through the formation of the nameless figure before him and the approaching Jinfa.

However, the nameless figure’s reaction was faster.

“Where!”

Thud!

As the Immortal Demon seemed to stagger back momentarily, the nameless figure unleashed his leg techniques, thrusting forward.

Simultaneously, his left foot stomped fiercely on the ground. He shattered the very ground the Immortal Demon stood on, shaking his balance.

‘Trickery.’

The Immortal Demon silently pursed his lips.

Each move was peak skill. No, beyond that.

The Immortal Demon’s eyes narrowed.

‘These worthless scum…!’

Even the path to slaying a crow stretches endlessly ahead, yet how dare these vermin try to block his way?

If he explained the situation and asked them to step aside, they might easily comply.

Not only would it reveal the other Palma’s true nature, but it would also be a prime opportunity to weaken each other. It was a sweet temptation, one he had no reason to refuse on principle.

But the Unkilled Demon God clenched his teeth. His pride and self-respect wouldn’t allow it.

“Come at me!”

Kuh-eong-!

The demonic energy unleashed by the Unkilled Demon God solidified, erupting with a tiger’s roar.

“…Guh.”

Even the extermination squad at a distance let out groans; how much worse must it be for Moo-myeong directly in front?

Yet, surprisingly, Moo-myeong’s expression remained utterly serene.

Swoosh.

His body was pushed back by the overwhelming shockwave, but that was all.

Moo-myeong grinned and thrust his right fist forward.

“Having tried everything else, now you’re resorting to barking?”

“……You bastard!”

Kwaaang!

The fist Mu-myeong unleashed shattered the air and vanished in an instant.

He had once described it as a fist strike reaching its ultimate limit. Gu Yang-jeok fiddled with the pebble in his right hand, keeping a close watch on the Unkillable Demon.

Realizing it was time for the extermination squad to gradually close in, they stealthily advanced forward.

To ensure a flawless execution, Pang Chuanwu coordinated the entry timing via hand signals.

Then. The sky roared.

Kurururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururururur

Mumyeong exhaled sharply, glaring at the Immortal Demon.

Irritation mixed with boredom, anger directed at someone other than himself.

Mumyeong sensed the Immortal Demon had business elsewhere.

“Anxious?”

“Foolish words.”

The Immortal Demon murmured softly, fidgeting with his fingers.

To some, it might appear he was performing a ritual…

Mumyeong’s gaze shifted to the Immortal Demon’s bulging muscles. The densely woven veins pulsed.

The moment he closed and opened his eyes, the Unnamed One’s finger, now extended, reached toward the Unnamed One’s vital point.

……Ping!

Like an arrow leaving the bowstring, the finger technique the Immortal Demon unfolded spread at a speed never seen before.

By the name he himself boasted of, the Soul-Snatching Finger.

As a technique that did not rely on demonic energy, it was an unavoidable strike if one was trapped by the preconception that it was merely a palm strike.

The expression on Myeong-ui’s face hardened.

“You bastard!”

Myeong-ui roared furiously and activated the Heavenly Dull Heart Piercing Palm. He didn’t know what that thing was, but it was already too late to evade. Therefore, he had to block it with his formidable protective energy, forged from immense internal power.

But for some reason.

Clang!

Like a ceramic vase hitting the floor, the protective force Mu-myeong deployed shattered without any resistance.

Pang Cheon-woo, who had held a quiet trust in Mu-myeong, gaped in shock.

“Attack!”

As if that word was a signal, the extermination squad charged at the Immortal Demon of Fire, maintaining their formation.

In that instant, Gu Yang-jeok’s right hand swung.

Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Pssssss-

The pebble shattered into dust. Meanwhile, Wuming took half a step back to steady his breath.

In this hair-trigger situation, had Gu Yangjie been the wisest?

‘After this is over… I’ll be the laughingstock.’

Watching Gu Yangjie’s smirk, Wuming flicked his wrist sharply.

If he fought with renewed resolve from now on, he wouldn’t allow a single second to slip away as futilely as just now.

Above all, hadn’t he long dreamed of a situation like this?

Nameless’s figure vanished in an instant, as if melting into the surroundings.

“…!”

The Immortal Demon had anticipated Nameless’s ambush and darted his eyes sharply.

But now, the situation had changed.

Swoosh!

Pang Cheon-woo, who had been conserving his strength and observing the situation, realized the Immortal Demon’s weakness and ordered the extermination squad forward.

Because of this, the Immortal Demon’s movements became even more frequent and chaotic. At times, he had to wastefully expend his demonic energy to block blind strikes.

There were some who were particularly bothersome.

Thwack!

The slightest opening was met with pebbles thrown to distract, and even when none existed, they relentlessly hurled stones at his feet.

Had their angles been sloppy, he might have exploited them, but both Gu Yangji and Yu Zhangming repeated this tactic incessantly from their perch atop the giant tree.

“Coward!”

The fury unleashed by the Immortal Demon of Fire and Blood became a spear forged from magic energy and shot forth. But Gu Yangjeok simply drew his sword and parried it away, then went to pick up the pebble.

Above all, there were words that turned the Immortal Demon of Fire and Blood’s insides out.

-I’m just a selfish person, but you Eight Palms are trying to disrupt the very foundation of Zhonghua.

-How irritating… Can’t you just shut up!

-Well, I wouldn’t call myself righteous.

Gu Yangji smiled faintly.

-If you’re the great evil and I’m the lesser evil, wouldn’t it be better for the latter to win?

Gu Yangji’s right hand swung lightly.

It wasn’t to restrain the Immortal Demon of Fire and Death; it was merely a throw.

Only, the target was extremely poor.

-Well, well, it seems the demon lacks that.

-You… are you trying to insult me now?!

Completely unaware of this exchange, Yu Zhangming saw the pebble fall between the Immortal Demon of Fire and Death’s legs and burst out laughing.

Crack.

It was the sound of a crack forming in the prosthetic leg concealed by his clothing.

Simultaneously, it signaled the complete shattering of the Immortal Demon’s patience.

“I swear by this demon’s name, I will kill every last one of you before I go!”

Roar…

Ignoring even the fight with the crow, the Immortal Demon God unleashed its full power, its divine aura becoming a veritable hellscape.

Black light flared in the Immortal Demon God’s pupils.

“All of you, get out of my way!”

Boom!!

The demonic energy that erupted as the Immortal Demon God stamped its foot was enough to bind all the surrounding warriors at once.

The Soul-Chasing Demon Shadow—a variant of the Soul-Summoning Demon Wall and a large-scale binding spell.

The demonic energy consumed by this single move was roughly this much.

The Immortal Demon God decided to postpone dealing with the crows.

“If you don’t come down immediately, I’ll kill every last one of you!”

“…He sure is impatient.”

Gu Yangji descended from beneath the giant tree with a leisurely smile.

Yu Zhangming likewise drew his Dragon Roar Sword, pointing its tip at the Unkillable Demon God.