Chapter 24 – Battle

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Swish!

Beom Chang, who flew over in an instant, looked around the wasteland and frowned.

As if firmly angered, he spoke in a voice full of irritation.

“Why is there no one? Did you not say that you had captured Jin So-myeong and kept him here?”

“Uh… p-please wait a moment. I will look for him.”

So Yo-gwang, perhaps because he was properly flustered, even broke out in a cold sweat.

Although they hurriedly searched here and there, Jin So-myeong did not step forward hastily.

Maintaining his stealth spell, he quietly guarded beyond the horizon.

This was because if things went wrong and even the Foundation Establishment old monster had followed, he had to flee immediately.

Although he intended to take some risks, he did not want to confront a Foundation Establishment monster head-on.

After almost a minute had passed.

‘Is there no one…?’

Only then did Jin So-myeong breathe a sigh of relief inwardly.

He had strengthened his senses with the Supreme Great Ability to inspect the surroundings meticulously, but no one had followed.

‘True. There’s no way a Foundation Establishment cultivator would come to catch a single Qi Condensation kid.’

Having felt relieved, he took out a formation disc from his chest pocket.

If he activated this, which he purchased from the market, he would be able to suppress the opponent.

Just when he was thinking of stepping out slowly.

“So Yo-gwang! What are you trying to do now? Does it make sense that you claim you suppressed Jin So-myeong yourself, yet you don’t even know the location properly?”

“Uh… th-that is because.”

Beom Chang, whose face turned icy cold, glared at So Yo-gwang.

The way he retreated three steps in an instant and stood on guard was by no means the attitude of treating an ally.

“So Yo-gwang. Do I still have to call you brother?”

“Br-Brother! Actually, I did not tell you because I was afraid of being scolded! I definitely tied Jin So-myeong up here, but he suddenly vanished.”

“Hmm…?”

“It seems the fellow used some means to escape my binding dharma treasure!”

Beom Chang’s expression, which was even tinged with killing intent, relaxed slightly. He narrowed his eyes like a snake and asked as if interrogating.

“Isn’t that kid at the early stage of Qi Condensation? He shouldn’t even be able to handle spells properly, so how did he escape?”

“I do not know well either. Ah! When I caught the fellow, he did struggle, saying I would regret it because he has a friend.”

“A friend…?”

Beom Chang frowned at the nonsense So Yo-gwang spat out randomly.

Seeing him contemplate something, Jin So-myeong finally stepped forward.

He drew the Horse-Slaying Saber slowly so as not to make a sound.

After secretly activating the formation.

He quietly moved his footsteps. Drawing a large circle, he moved to Beom Chang’s rear.

“Kh. What a joke.”

“Yes…?”

“So Yo-gwang. You seem exceptionally tense today of all days; is there any problem? You are even breaking out in a cold sweat.”

Gulp.

At that moment when only the sound of someone swallowing saliva was heard in the quiet wasteland.

“Let all that is insidious reveal its form!”

Beom Chang shouted loudly. He pulled out a blue bell from his storage pouch and struck it without a single second of delay.

Clang!

The sound of the bell containing mystery vibrated in all directions. It was a sound wave attack that carried spiritual Qi and took on actual power!

Hum!

The vibration that arose from the blue bell amplified rapidly, then spread in all directions and bombarded the surroundings indiscriminately.

‘Ugh!’

Jin So-myeong, who was just about to launch a surprise attack, was no exception. The moment the intangible sound wave struck him, he almost vomited blood.

He gritted his teeth at the tingling pain rising from his dantian.

He controlled the spiritual Qi that was trying to run wild at its own whim with all his might. He barely managed to prevent his meridians from being damaged.

With the blow just now, even the formations and various traps that Jin So-myeong had activated turned into dust and vanished.

The power of the Rank 1 highest-grade dharma treasure was much stronger than what So Yo-gwang had described!

“Hahaha! As expected, a rat was hiding!”

The figure of Jin So-myeong, whose stealth spell was broken, was revealed. It was unavoidable because of the wide-range bombardment that did not distinguish between friend and foe.

Beom Chang’s gaze, which sneered at him, turned toward So Yo-gwang.

“Br-Brother. Why even me…?”

The condition of So Yo-gwang, who was doused in most of the sound waves from the closest distance, was wretched.

He was vomiting blood with a face whose skin was torn to reveal his cheekbones, and whether his internal injuries were severe, he was even throwing up dark red chunks of flesh.

Looking down at the figure struggling on the ground, Beom Chang spoke in an icy voice.

“Hmph. Do you still try to deceive your master wretchedly? To lure me to this place and act as if you know nothing. You disgusting traitor!”

Glance.

Glancing at Jin So-myeong with a relaxed attitude as if showing off, Beom Chang struck the blue bell once more.

Clang! Clang!

Intangible sound waves carrying spiritual Qi condensed in the air. Becoming a massive blade with substance, it hung over So Yo-gwang’s neck.

“Brother? I-I was wrong! Please spare—”

Slice!

The sharp blade plunged down like a guillotine. He had killed So Yo-gwang without listening to a single word of excuse.

“You piece of trash who cannot even act as a proper dog. Be grateful just that I sent you off painlessly.”

Thud!

Jin So-myeong narrowed his eyes at the sight of him kicking the corpse mockingly.

“…Did you kill him without even hearing the reason? He might have betrayed you really out of no choice.”

“Puhahat! Your thoughts are shallow, just like your lowly birth. Let me give you a lesson. Reasons are not important. Just the fact that a raised dog bit its master makes it deserve to die!”

“Isn’t it because your capacity is narrow to the bursting point?”

Beom Chang’s brow twitched. The corners of his mouth pulled down as if he had become displeased.

The fellow spoke in an admonishing tone.

“Foolish! People are not to be corrected and reused. A guy who betrayed once will again—”

“Narrow-minded fellow. You spout the words drifting around the world as if they were truth. You have no quality of a superior. How great of a person do you intend to become by killing even someone you called brother.”

“…”

Beom Chang’s mouth shut in a straight line. He glared at him with eyes tinged with killing intent, appearing quite angry.

‘Hmm.’

Jin So-myeong, who pointed the Horse-Slaying Saber forward, observed the opponent.

In fact, he also thought that traitors must not be forgiven.

The words just now were merely an exploratory battle to grasp strengths and weaknesses before the fight.

It was a sound thrown out randomly just to provoke him, but it worked better than expected.

‘Is that blue bell dharma treasure the Shadow-Shattering Bell So Yo-gwang spoke of? He said it is capable of all-directional attacks, and its power becomes stronger as the distance gets closer.’

In the wasteland that had soon grown quiet.

Tread. Tread.

Jin So-myeong slowly approached.

This was because he had to step closer by three more steps for the Flying Swallow Flash combined with the Wind Control Art to display its maximum power.

One step, two steps…

Just as he was about to move the final step.

“Hahaha. Fine! I will accept your advice. Jin So-myeong. If you swear to become my subordinate, I will spare you. In fact, it cannot even be said that you betrayed me, so there is nothing I cannot forgive. But if you refuse…”

Seeing him shake the blue bell threateningly, Jin So-myeong lowered his stance.

Did he yield? Not at all!

Pointing the tip of the Horse-Slaying Saber set forward like a spear, he spread the spiritual Qi boiling in his dantian to his entire body.

The spiritual Qi flowed along the meridians and permeated every single fiber of his muscles, strengthening his physical strength.

“Impudent! You mean to die even when this young master is giving you an opportunity? You are foolish beyond measure!”

Although a cold voice was heard at the clear battle readiness, he ignored it.

‘It’s a bluff.’

Rather, applying strength to his thigh muscles, he took a stance as if he would charge at any moment.

‘Now is the opportunity.’

Seeing Beom Chang, who clearly had a bad personality, trying to placate him, he became more confident instead.

The dharma treasure called the Shadow-Shattering Bell possessed immense power. It was a majesty worthy of a Rank 1 highest-grade dharma treasure given by a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator for self-defense.

But there is a price to pay for everything.

There was no way that a dharma treasure of this level would have low spiritual Qi consumption.

‘He must be exhausted.’

Once he entered the battle situation, his natural talent shone.

The opponent’s purpose was as clear as the palm of his hand. The fellow needed time to recover!

This very moment was when Beom Chang was at his weakest.

Bang!

Simultaneously with taking the final step. His figure disappeared along with an explosive sound.

Charging like a fierce tiger that captured its prey, he thrust out the Flying Swallow Flash stance.

Whoosh—

The swift sword of the limit. It was so fast that an optical illusion of the afterimage stretching long occurred.

The golden blade carrying the Supreme Great Ability rushed in like a meteor!

“…!”

Beom Chang’s eyes widened. Even his pupils could not keep up and only stared at the place he had already passed.

He could not react.

Along with a moment of certainty. Just before slashing the fellow’s upper body with the Horse-Slaying Saber.

Boom!

At the tremendous impact, his vision turned pitch white.

Due to an unidentified repulsive force, he was sent flying backward faster than he had charged.

‘Kh!’

He gritted his teeth at the pain that made him feel like fainting. It was hard to come to his senses from the impact, which felt like being struck by a massive force.

The Horse-Slaying Saber he held in his hand was now reduced to only the hilt. The precious saber, harder than steel, was broken.

Thud.

At that moment when he threw away the handle which had also become useless.

“…Kahahahaha! Foolish bastard. To jump at me without knowing your place! Serves you right!”

A beat late, Beom Chang’s mockery was heard.

Jin So-myeong, whose right arm swung loosely with a dislocated joint, spat out blood.

Ignoring the opponent’s ridicule, he focused on grasping the situation.

‘How did he block it? I think he couldn’t react.’

He forced himself to gather his mind, which was trying to turn hazy from pain.

Narrowing his eyes, he observed Beom Chang. At a glance it was a looking-down expression, but looking closely, it was different.

In a corner of his face, the emotion of being horrified was clearly revealed.

It was clear he was astonished by the unexpected power of the swift saber technique of the limit, the Flying Swallow Flash.

‘If he blocked an attack he didn’t even detect… it must be a dharma treasure.’

It seemed there was a defensive dharma treasure that even So Yo-gwang did not know about. As he inspected with suspicion, a definitely fishy point was captured.

A faint spiritual light shone from the necklace Beom Chang wore.

Recalling the moment of collision just now, it felt certain that something had spread out from that necklace.

Whoosh!

He took out the flying sword he usually rode from his sub-space and gripped it with his left hand.

The moment he pointed it forward.

Beom Chang, whose face contorted violently, shouted.

“Damn orphan bastard, how dare you! If you want to die that much, I will grant your wish!”

The moment the enraged Beom Chang raised the Shadow-Shattering Bell.

Clang!

A roaring sound exploded. A massive blade generated in an instant flew like an arrow.

Even under the pressure of the sword larger than a house, Jin So-myeong was not discouraged.

Rather, he captured the opportunity. As long as it was not an attack sweeping all directions, he could avoid it!

Crackle!

He activated the Supreme Great Ability. He amplified the physical recovery capability that he had steadily strengthened.

Injecting strength into his exhausted muscles, he used the Wind Control Art and the Rising Dragon Steps simultaneously.

Whoosh!

Jin So-myeong, who became as light as the wind, lowered his stance as if collapsing and ran.

Narrowing avoiding the blade that grazed the nape of his neck. Gathering all his power, he kicked the ground.

Boom!

A terrifying shockwave exploded behind his back, but he ignored it.

Holding the flying sword gripped in his left hand like a spear, he squeezed out all his strength to thrust the swift sword stance.

Whoosh!

A heated wind brushed past his cheek. In the world that slowed down under extreme concentration.

The moment of collision approached once again.

Hummm!

The necklace of Beom Chang, which reacted nimbly to protect its master, was visible. The moment the sword tip collided with the Qi barrier formed in an instant.

Bang!

He loosened the strength in his left hand and let go of the flying sword.

Ignoring the sword that flew away after being bounced high into the sky, he clenched his right hand, which had recovered before he knew it.

Crunch!

Stomping, he clenched a straight fist. Containing the destructive power created by the charge entirely, he thrust out the Collapsing Fist.

“Keo-heok!?”

A moment in time. The consecutively thrown attack struck the fellow’s dantian.

This time, not only Beom Chang but even the necklace could not react.

The moment he suppressed the dantian with the spiritual Qi injected through the fist.

“N-No!”

Slap!

He slapped the face of Beom Chang, who tried to flee after reacting late.

He slung the fellow, who let out a groan and fainted, over his shoulder.

“Whew.”

Jin So-myeong, whose face had turned pale, forced himself to catch his breath. He prepared to quickly clean up the surroundings and leave the spot.

Although there were twists and turns, he eventually won.

Since the hardship was over now, it was time to eat the sweet fruit.