Almighty God of War - Chapter 163
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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163
The flames and heat of Hongnyeom-ro were unbearable, causing most of the Gun-ung to retreat, but a few were different.
A middle-aged warrior with a sturdy build wearing red martial robes stepped forward.
“Hmph, this level of heat is nothing!”
Someone among the Gun-ung shouted.
“It’s Jeok Yeomsu Sonbo!”
Jeok Yeomsu Sonbo was a supreme master who ranked among the top ten in the Hebei Region for his heat-based martial arts.
His face was filled with confidence.
“No matter how fierce the fire, it cannot stop me!”
Shouting loudly, he leaped toward Hongnyeom-ro.
Seeing this, over ten warriors urgently launched their body movements.
They were those who had grown impatient, fearing Sonbo would claim the treasure first.
They had all learned fire-attribute martial arts, so they did not fear the flames of Hongnyeom-ro.
However, the moment they crossed the stone gate and set foot in Hongnyeom-ro, taking three steps,
Whoooooosh!
A terrifying tsunami of flames beyond imagination swallowed them.
“Aaaahhh!”
Desperate screams filled the passage.
One of them, feeling the terror of death, instinctively tried to retreat, but the wall of fire blocked him as if it were alive.
Boom!
No one could exit through the stone gate again.
Engulfed in red flames, they turned to ash and scattered on the floor in the blink of an eye.
All dozen or so, including Sonbo, couldn’t even last the time it takes to count to three.
“Gasp!”
“Th-that!”
The Gun-ung were horrified witnessing masters who had learned fire-attribute martial arts instantly turn to ash without any resistance.
Ju Jaryeom muttered in a grave tone.
“So once you enter, you cannot retreat?”
Namgung Gyeol nodded.
“It seems you either move forward or die as ash – one of the two.”
Unrest arose among the Gun-ung.
“This is impossible!”
“How can we possibly get through that!”
More than half of the three thousand warriors looked at each other with pale faces and began retreating one by one.
In the end, about fifteen hundred gave up on entering Hongnyeom-ro.
What remained were the elites of the Six Great Families, the masters of the Changcheon Martial Alliance, the strong ones from the Gunma Alliance and Cheonsa Bu, the renowned masters of Gangho, and only those who trusted in their own martial arts.
Jegal Ryong folded his fan and spoke.
“Wise choices. Not overreaching is also courage.”
He swept the Gun-ung with cold eyes and continued.
“As you all saw, that fire cannot be blocked simply by learning fire-attribute martial arts.”
“Then what should we do!”
Someone shouted.
Jegal Ryong opened his fan and said.
“Each of you must find your own way to pass through that place alive. Surely you weren’t thinking of getting that answer from me too? It’s not too late now. If you value your life, retreat.”
At his signal, the warriors of the Six Great Families and Changcheon Martial Alliance gathered and began forming a formation.
As if it had been arranged before coming here, their movements were perfectly coordinated.
Seeing this, the eyes of the Gunma Alliance and Cheonsa Bu warriors grew intense.
Realizing they intended to counter the flames and heat with the power of formation, they too silently began forming their own independent formation.
One of the renowned masters of Gangho stepped forward.
He was Roh Gangho, whose hair and beard were all white as snow, with eyes cold and sharp as frost.
“This old man is called Mok Jin, the Frigid Heaven Divine Hand.”
A stir arose among the Gun-ung.
Frigid Heaven Divine Hand Mok Jin was a warrior from the previous generation who had retired thirty years ago, known as a peerless master whose martial arts had reached the early stage of Transformation Realm.
Mok Jin continued calmly.
“It’s impossible for us to immediately unite and deploy a formation. So we must find another method.”
Someone asked.
“Master Mok, what kind of method are you referring to?”
Mok Jin replied.
“There must be those here who possess treasures containing cold energy, and those who have learned Yin Cold martial arts. Let us gather our strength around such people. If we combine forces of the same attribute, we can overcome those flames.”
The other renowned masters looked around at each other hesitantly, then spoke up after a moment.
“I have learned the Mysterious Sound Palm.”
“I possess a Thousand-Year Cold Ice Jade.”
“I too have cultivated Yin Cold Energy.”
Those who had learned Yin Cold martial arts and those who possessed cold energy treasures gathered around Mok Jin.
The renowned masters of Gangho were those who kept some distance from factions, and therefore had no intention of allying with the Changcheon Martial Alliance.
A stir arose among the Gun-ung.
Those with the most powerful strength had found their own method.
Seeing the renowned masters’ response, the Gun-ung who didn’t belong to any faction also began forming temporary alliances.
“Is there anyone who has Cold Ice Jade?”
“I have learned the Yin Cold Palm. Anyone want to go together?”
“I have talismans that block heat. I can take up to three people with me.”
Those who possessed treasures that suppressed heat or had learned Yin Cold martial arts became centers around which groups formed.
The hall became noisy.
Guyang Cheongang only watched this without moving.
He had no intention of belonging to any group.
It was then.
Someone approached Guyang Cheongang’s side.
“Young Master Guyang.”
Turning his head, he could see Jongnoeu with a tense expression.
Jongnoeu looked around and asked.
“Did you leave your disciple outside?”
Guyang Cheongang nodded.
“I couldn’t bring that child into a place of death.”
“A wise decision.”
“You said you were looking for other companions – did that fail?”
“That’s what happened.”
Jongnoeu continued asking.
“Everyone is forming groups, but you’re alone, Young Master. Have you perhaps given up on entering?”
“No. I will enter.”
Jongnoeu’s eyes sparkled like stars.
“Then how about we go together?”
“You’re suggesting we travel together?”
“Yes.”
Jongnoeu took out a palm-sized jade box from within her sleeve and opened the lid.
Whoooosh-
A chillingly cold energy flowed out.
As if a winter’s cold wind was blowing, the surrounding temperature dropped instantly.
Inside the jade box was a single jade pendant with mountains and valleys carved in relief.
Cold energy continuously emanated from the jade pendant that glowed with a bluish light.
Guyang Cheongang sighed inwardly.
‘A woman with no experience in Gangho.’
Revealing treasures so openly like that was a foolish act.
Sure enough.
The atmosphere around them changed subtly.
What had initially been curious gazes began to be tainted with greed.
They possessed alone a treasure that emitted the cold energy essential for passing through Hongnyeom-ro.
If Guyang Cheongang and Jongnoeu were part of a group, no one would dare think of laying hands on them.
But since there were only two of them, they would appear as easy prey to snatch from.
Guyang Cheongang’s gaze swept the surroundings.
Over ten warriors were stealthily approaching.
Their eyes, with hands moving toward their weapons, were filled with greed.
Not all among Gun-ung were from righteous sects.
Warriors from evil sects and demonic paths were mixed in as well.
And even if they were from righteous sects, it wasn’t easy to maintain chivalrous conduct when lives were at stake.
Guyang Cheongang pretended not to notice and muttered.
“It’s made from Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade.”
Jongnoeu’s eyes widened.
“You recognize it at a glance. That’s right. This is an item called Seongsureong made from Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade. It has the power to suppress heat. With just this, we should be able to pass through Hongnyeom-ro.”
Guyang Cheongang asked.
“If you have such a treasure, why do you want to accompany me?”
Jongnoeu smiled brightly and answered.
“To be honest, it’s because I’m afraid to go alone. No matter how great a treasure I have, there seem to be limits to going by myself.”
It was a sincere answer.
Akasha’s voice was heard.
[Doctor, combining the cold energy of Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade with the Yin Cold Energy of Transcendent Impermanence Divine Art should make passing through Hongnyeom-ro much easier.]
‘That would be the case.’
[The fact that she’s a woman disguised as a man is bothersome, but it’s not a bad proposal.]
Guyang Cheongang nodded and spoke.
“Very well. Let’s go together.”
Jongnoeu, whose complexion brightened considerably, grasped his hand firmly.
“Thank you, Young Hero Guyang!”
The slender and soft touch was indeed a woman’s hand.
Just then.
Tap-tap-tap-
Footsteps were heard as over ten warriors surrounded them in an encircling formation.
The man leading them, holding a thin blade in his hand, looked at the jade box in Jongnoeu’s hand and said.
“Hand over that jade box.”
Jongnoeu’s face hardened as she hid the jade box in her sleeve and shouted.
“How can you think of robbery even in a place like this!”
His voice was filled with anger.
It was a situation where one couldn’t help but be furious.
However, the bandits only sneered and showed no signs of backing down.
“If you hand over the jade box obediently, we’ll spare your life.”
Guyang Cheongang, who had been listening silently, stepped forward.
The jawline revealed beneath his bamboo hat was coldly hardened.
He said.
“Get lost.”
It was a short and resolute statement.
The man with the thin blade smirked.
“Refusing the toast only to receive punishment instead, what a foolish fellow.”
He gestured.
“Kill them!”
Over ten bandits moved in unison.
Swords and blades flashed as killing intent rose greatly.
The martial arts of those present here were at minimum first-rate.
Those who couldn’t meet that standard had already given up entering before the Gimun Daejin.
However, they didn’t know that attacking Guyang Cheongang with their skills was like throwing eggs at a rock.
Whoooosh!
Guyang Cheongang’s body movement became blurred as he penetrated among the bandits.
It was a speed invisible to the eye.
Thud!
The first bandit couldn’t even scream as his head was smashed.
Guyang Cheongang’s Gale Flash Technique had struck precisely at the man’s temple.
His hands moved without rest.
There was no hesitation whatsoever, and even less mercy.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-
The sounds of impact continued as if strung together.
The bandits flew about and tumbled like leaves caught in a typhoon.
Their appearance was horrific.
Every single one was missing their head above the neck.
A mist of blood hung thick in midair, and the floor was stained red.
No one survived.
Silence descended.
Jongnoeu’s lips trembled as she stared at Guyang Cheongang with a frozen expression.
“Gu… Young Hero Guyang…”
Guyang Cheongang spoke with an indifferent expression.
“Those who try to kill must also be prepared to die.”
The eyes of the surrounding Murim people, which had been soaked in greed after witnessing that scene, filled with terror.
No one dared approach carelessly.
Guyang Cheongang slowly looked around his surroundings.
The jawline revealed beneath his bamboo hat remained coldly hardened.
He could have killed the bandits more easily and simply.
Having reached the intermediate level of Transformation Realm, he was capable of killing living beings within five zhang with just his mind.
It was the authority of a Transformation Realm warrior, Heart-Death.
However, he didn’t use that method this time.
To instill fear in those targeting the jade pendant, nothing was as reliably effective as fresh blood.
The surrounding atmosphere indicated that his thinking was correct.
Guyang Cheongang looked at Jongnoeu and said.
“Now there won’t be anyone who dares to touch us carelessly. Of course, the situation will change once we go inside, but… let’s go.”
Jongnoeu nodded frantically and answered.
“Yes, yes.”
The two people walked toward Hongnyeom-ro.
The surrounding Murim people parted left and right like an ebbing tide, creating a path.
Already, the main forces of the Six Great Families and Changcheon Martial Alliance, led by Jegal Ryong and Ju Jaryeom, were entering through the stone gate.
The groups from Gunma Alliance, Heavenly Death Department, and Renowned Masters followed behind them.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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