The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 673

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 673.
―The candidates for Mu Cheon Danjoo are to lead their direct subordinate units to designated locations and defend against the incoming enemy forces.
Just as Gong Son Dan Gyeong had foreseen.
Vice Alliance Master Buk Ri Seung had resumed the examination concerning the Danjoo candidates.
Through a defensive siege warfare rather than an offensive one—it seemed the intention was to assess the candidates’ command abilities and the results of their training of the team members thus far.
―The defensive siege warfare will commence at the designated location two days hence. All of you must prepare accordingly.
As this rumor spread, the Danjoo candidates began hastily summoning their subordinates.
Deung Mu Jeon, Great Conference Hall.
Inside were Yuk Jang Cheon and his subordinate lords, and on one side sat Yuk Cheong Ah.
Though Yuk Cheong Ah served as Vice Master of Yong Ban Jeon, she had chosen to stand with Yuk Jang Cheon.
Therefore, she attended the Deung Mu Jeon conference without hesitation.
―What is the meaning of this?
The lords of Deung Mu Jeon exchanged glances, unable to conceal their discomfort.
The two were parent and child, and in the past had worked in concert to lead Deung Mu Jeon.
But when the figure known as Seon Woo Jin appeared, the distance between the two became irreversible.
They had ultimately split completely, growling at each other like enemies.
Yet now they were joining forces again as though nothing had happened?
The lords were so bewildered they were on the verge of bursting into hollow laughter, but they could not voice objections to Yuk Jang Cheon’s decision.
Yuk Cheong Ah was simply too exceptional a talent.
“Hahaha.”
Upon hearing the contents relayed by Vice Alliance Master Buk Ri Seung, Yuk Jang Cheon burst into hearty laughter, pleased.
Direct subordinate units referred only to the subordinates under one’s command.
Seon Woo Jin received treatment as a lord, yet had never once requested reinforcements, maintaining his status as a Dae Ju while leading the Elite Division.
Thus, even calling it a direct unit meant he had only some twenty information division members at most.
In contrast, Baek Mu Sung’s Tae Seong Dang numbered one hundred.
The Cheong Myeong Unit under Mu Gyeol likewise had eighty subordinates.
But Yuk Jang Cheon’s Deung Mu Jeon numbered a full five hundred.
Even after selecting elite forces and separating the wheat from the chaff, he could command at least two hundred troops.
“This is nothing less than a test designed for Ben Jeon’s master.”
It was a natural fact that defensive warfare favored those with greater numbers.
Moreover, the defensive siege warfare of martial artists differed from conventional military strategy.
One could layer and deploy formation arrays, and through mysterious martial techniques,
one could employ various tactics that ordinary soldiers could never execute.
“Perhaps this examination is not meant to elevate the master, but rather to eliminate Seon Woo Dae Ju.”
Yuk Cheong Ah spoke with a grave expression.
“It cannot be unrelated to the Alliance Master’s decision to put forward the Cheong Myeong lord.”
She, true to her talent, was already anticipating a shift in the Alliance Master’s intentions.
“Then Ben Jeon’s master should reduce the number of participants in the defensive siege to at least one hundred. That would be fair.”
Yuk Cheong Ah pondered for a moment, then shook her head.
“No. All five hundred must be deployed.”
“What did you say?”
“If fairness were truly the concern, you would never have used the term ‘direct subordinates.’ It means that testing Fang Sheng Jeon’s abilities isn’t the sole purpose of this examination.”
Yuk Cheong Ah spoke after a moment of contemplation.
“This mission likely conceals ulterior motives beneath the surface. Since we cannot predict what unforeseen circumstances might arise, it would be wise to bring all forces, including the Lords, and assess the situation as it develops.”
“Understood.”
Yuk Jang Cheon smiled with satisfaction.
When she had been an enemy, she was so troublesome and vexing, but now that she was an ally, there was nothing more reassuring.
―What kind of meeting is this, anyway?
All the Lords watching could not hide their displeasure.
This was the conference hall of Deng Wu Dian, and they were the direct Lords of Deng Wu Dian.
No matter that Yuk Cheong Ah was the Danjoo’s own daughter, or that she had once served as a strategist for Deng Wu Dian.
She was now unmistakably the Vice-Master of Yong Ban Jeon.
Yet here she stood beside the Deng Wu Dian Master, dictating their fates.
“Master.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Sang Gu Baek, the Tae Seong Dang Master and strategist of Deng Wu Dian, spoke.
“Deploying all of Deng Wu Dian’s forces at once is no simple matter.”
He spoke carefully, his gaze fixed upon Yuk Jang Cheon.
“Would it not be prudent to conduct a thorough discussion with the Lords first?”
“Is there truly a need for that?”
Yuk Jang Cheon waved his hand dismissively.
“Since it is a public examination, completing it will suffice. If fairness were truly desired, such orders would never have been issued in the first place.”
“We share that view. That is precisely why we believe a discussion is necessary to uncover the hidden intentions behind this examination.”
“Understanding the intentions is well and good, but deploying all of Deng Wu Dian’s forces to Fang Sheng Jeon will require considerable time.”
It was then that Yuk Cheong Ah spoke.
“We must arrive by the day after tomorrow, so the team members need to begin preparations now. Even if variables arise, it would be best to resolve them immediately upon arrival.”
Sang Gu Baek fell silent.
He acknowledged that Yuk Cheong Ah’s strategic brilliance was indeed exceptional.
But the fact that she, the leader of another organization, was issuing commands to them.
And that Yuk Jang Cheon himself was prioritizing her counsel while dismissing his own subordinates’ opinions.
This was an act that would demoralize his men.
‘I stepped forward believing the Master would intervene at this point.’
Sang Gu Baek had presented an opportunity for Yuk Jang Cheon to assert himself, for the sake of his subordinates’ morale.
Yet here he was, simply nodding contentedly at Yuk Cheong Ah’s words.
“Very well.”
As Sang Gu Baek bowed his head, all the Lords followed suit.
Hanam, Yeoyeong Province.
Upon the ridge of Gwanryong Mountain’s highest peak stands a small temple called Gongdeok Temple.
It is renowned for the beautiful stone pagodas erected throughout its grounds, and there is an intriguing legend associated with them.
A man named Gong Rim, upon hearing the dharma discourse of an unknown monk, attained great enlightenment and began carving the rocks of Gwanryong Mountain to construct pagodas.
Though he built pagodas ceaselessly, a sudden landslide destroyed them all, or so the tale goes.
In the end, he attempted to carve away the stone once more, but never completed it.
According to legend, Gong Rim eventually passed away while carving the tower.
However, moved by such devotion, the Buddha transformed all the fragments of the tower that Gong Rim had carved into complete towers.
Those countless towers were erected along the ridge, and the monks who witnessed them built a temple there.
This is the legend of how it came to be named Gongdeok Temple.
But as time passed, Gongdeok Temple fell into ruin, leaving only broken stone pagodas behind.
“This place will be difficult to defend.”
Tae Mu Ryong took a deep breath while surveying the temple grounds in front of the Daeung Hall.
Though the temple itself was quite small, the walls were low and four gates stood open on all sides.
Defending such a place perfectly with merely twenty team members was nearly impossible.
“If we deploy the Saramirjin formation, we should be able to hold out for a while at least.”
Bu Eunseol nodded in agreement.
This test was meant to assess the team members’ coordination and command capabilities.
It was not meant to prove Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess.
“Jeong Jong Do, I’ll have you command the Saramirjin formation. I’ll handle the enemies pouring in from the front alongside the Dae Ju.”
At Tae Mu Ryong’s words, Jeong Jong Do nodded.
“That would be the better approach.”
Then Gye Muk, one of the team members, spoke up.
“What if instead we divided the team members into four groups and deployed the Okcheonshingeum formation in each of the four directions?”
Tae Mu Ryong shook his head.
“I’ve considered that, but it would place too much burden on the team members. We don’t know how the Alliance will deploy their forces.”
“Isn’t this exactly what we’ve been training for all this time?”
Gye Muk turned to face the team members and called out.
“The defense test won’t be easy, so should we keep relying solely on the Dae Ju? Isn’t that right?”
The team members responded with agreement, nodding and voicing their assent.
After a moment of contemplation, Tae Mu Ryong looked toward Bu Eunseol.
“Dae Ju, do you think it’s possible?”
The Okcheonshingeum formation could be deployed with five members in each of four groups, forming a massive energy barrier.
With fewer numbers, they could block many more enemies.
However, in a situation where the number of incoming enemies was unknown, such perfect defense was not necessarily the right tactical approach.
If even one position were breached, all four directions would collapse simultaneously.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
“It’s only a test, not a matter of life and death. I think it’s better to let the team members proceed as they wish.”
“But if something goes wrong, couldn’t you be eliminated from consideration as a Danjoo candidate?”
“That won’t happen.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“And having the team members find their own methods and determine what they can accomplish will yield far better results than if I directed them myself.”
I was more confident in what the team members could research and decide for themselves
than in my own strategy, believing it would produce far superior outcomes.
“Understood.”
Tae Mu Ryong took a deep breath and addressed the team members.
“From now on, we’ll form groups of five and deploy the Ok Cheong Divine Gold Formation. I’ll select a leader for each group—rally around them and defend with everything you have.”
He drew another breath, then bellowed across the assembly.
“Remember—the success or failure of this trial rests entirely in your hands.”
―Yes, sir!
The team members surged with renewed spirit and began preparing the formation.
A faint shimmer rippled through the air.
Just then, a shadow came rushing toward Gongdeok Temple with a piercing sound of wind.
It was a messenger from the Murim Alliance.
“The trial will begin shortly.”
“Understood.”
As Bu Eunseol replied, the messenger extended a sealed letter.
“Furthermore, for this siege defense, all Danjoo candidates are ordered to refrain from commanding and wait outside the temple.”
In that instant, every member of the Elite Division except Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened in shock.
With only twenty-odd soldiers, the Elite Division could mount a siege defense only because Bu Eunseol was present—she was their fighting strength.
But to order the core force itself, the division commander, to withdraw? This made no sense whatsoever.
A distant rumbling echoed across the earth.
Countless martial artists in black robes came charging toward them, their footsteps thundering like a stampede.
“There are so many?”
Jeong Jong Do, watching the distant figures approach, let his jaw fall open.
The Murim Alliance warriors in black martial robes—easily over two hundred strong—made their allegiance unmistakable.
And their faces were familiar.
They had participated in the suppression of the Cheon In Sect in the past.
These were the warriors of the Shin Wi Dan—the unit whose training was legendary throughout the realm.
―They’ve deliberately arranged this to eliminate our Danjoo!
The faces of the team members drained of all color.
“Don’t panic. Execute what you’ve trained for.”
Bu Eunseol’s voice cut through the tension, calling out to her soldiers.
“You’ve all given your utmost effort. Regardless of victory or defeat, leave nothing unsaid—give everything you have!”
―We obey!
Hearing Bu Eunseol’s encouragement and support, fire blazed anew in the eyes of every team member.
―Our Danjoo’s rise depends on us!
―Whoever breaks through dies by my hand!
―If you’ve got breath to waste on talk, use it to focus on defense!
Until now, they had cultivated their strength under Bu Eunseol’s protection.
But now the time had come for them to step forward and shield her instead.
In this siege defense, they would stake their very lives to hold the line.
Flames flickered and danced.
Fire kindled in Tae Mu Ryong’s eyes as he gazed upon his soldiers.
“Open formation!”
Tae Mu Ryong’s cry rang through the heavens like thunder, his presence crackling with the force of lightning.
“Even if you must become a wandering spirit in death, hold your assigned position!”
―Waaaaah!
The battle cry of the Team Members became thunder itself, shaking heaven and earth, their momentum transforming into the clear, cloudless spirit of the azure sky.
Crack crack crack.
Scorching heat radiated from the bodies of the Team Members as they formed their formation.
Since its establishment, the Elite Division had always fought from disadvantageous positions, yet they had overcome adversity and seized victory time and again.
The Team Members had gradually come to resemble their commander Bu Eunseol, now pursuing victory even in the midst of trials.
“Heh.”
At the summit of Gwanryong Mountain.
Buk Ri Seung, who had been observing the siege warfare between the Shin Wi Dan warriors and the Elite Division members, let out a sigh.
“How in the world did Seon Woo Dae Ju train his subordinates?”
Twenty against two hundred.
It was a disadvantageous situation that should have collapsed in an instant.
Rather, it was as if a handful of children.
Were holding back dozens of advancing adults.
Yet even after more than a quarter hour had passed, the formations defending the four entrances…
showed not the slightest sign of crumbling.
Murmur murmur.
Even the Lords standing behind them all clicked their tongues in amazement.
“Setting aside their martial power, the individual martial skill level of each member… it seems not that of the Information Division, but rather the level of a special operations unit conducting covert missions?”
“Considering when the Elite Division was established, this makes no sense.”
“At that level, they should be reassigned immediately from the Information Division to a special operations unit.”
As the Lords murmured among themselves, Buk Ri Seung felt the strangeness of it all and spoke to the Man Gyeong Jeon Master.
“Were the Elite Division members perhaps specially selected from a secret organization?”
“No.”
The Man Gyeong Jeon Master shook his head, recalling the records detailing the backgrounds of the Elite Division members.
“Only one besides the Deputy Commander entered through the Renowned Martial Artists Tournament, and the rest were all selected from lower-ranked martial artists. In fact… they are all orphans from unremarkable, third-rate sects.”
“Heheheh.”
Buk Ri Seung burst into hollow laughter.
So that meant.
They had entered the Elite Division and undergone harsh training under Seon Woo Jin.
And as a result, they had all become formidable masters. How could such a thing even be possible?
“Indeed, the Sovereign praised him so.”
Buk Ri Seung smiled warmly, recalling Beok Goong Ryung, who never tired of praising Seon Woo Jin.
“But it is unfortunate.”
He spoke in a low voice, his eyes enhanced to observe the Elite Division members.
“This trial is not merely about defending the gates.”
No matter how successfully they defend.
Yet the true intent hidden beneath the surface was something entirely different.
Moreover, this was merely a preliminary trial created for someone in particular.
I could only hope that the efforts of the Elite Division members would not go to waste.
Whoooosh!
In the meantime, Tae Mu Ryong had shifted the formation of the team members from the Ok Cheong Divine Gold Formation to the Ok Cheong Miri Gold Armor Formation.
This was an absolute formation created by Ok Cheong, a Taoist master from the Taesan Sect in ages past.
When the Taesan Sect had fewer disciples, they devised it as a defensive and protective formation to guard against enemy assaults.
The Ok Cheong Miri Gold Armor Formation was a formation technique that amplified the power of the Ok Cheong Divine Gold Formation several times over.
Each unit of four members could operate independently.
It could defend anywhere from as little as twenty paces to as much as eighty paces of space.
“Uuugh…”
Groans escaped from the lips of the team members.
Thanks to the conversion to the Ok Cheong Miri Gold Armor Formation, their defensive power had surged dramatically, but in exchange,
their inner energy was being consumed more than twice as rapidly compared to the Ok Cheong Divine Gold Formation.

―Ugh…
How much better it would be if I could simply cut down the enemies pouring toward us.
Since they attack only for the sake of the trial, I must focus solely on defense.
Thus, the Elite Division members had no choice but to
frantically expend their inner energy to maintain the formation while executing their sword techniques.
―This is unbearable.
The members felt as though their bodies would be torn asunder.
The enemies numbered two hundred.
In other words, the Elite Division members had to withstand the pressure and attacks unleashed by ten times their number of highly trained soldiers.
Fortunately, the Ok Cheong Miri Gold Armor Formation generated a massive barrier of vital energy while they poured forth their inner power.
Thus, they managed to endure even against the relentless wave of assaults.
“You must never fall!”
The squad leaders of each unit continuously encouraged their members.
The twenty-odd Elite Division members were comparable in scale to a third-tier division of the Murim Alliance, yet their individual strength was truly formidable—each worth a hundred ordinary soldiers.
They had not only undergone grueling training, but had also deeply mastered the diverse martial arts innovated by Bu Eunseol.
Whenever the formation threatened to collapse, they unleashed exquisite sword techniques to force the enemies to retreat, and
then repeated the process of reestablishing the formation.
―What in the world are these people?
Ho Mun Jung, the Shin Wi Dan commander overseeing a portion of the forces, could not hide his bewilderment.
He had come with a light heart.
Unlike other locations, Gongdeok Temple was defended by merely an Elite Division of twenty-odd members, and
above all, he had heard that the leaders of each organization would be absent from the siege warfare.
If that were the case, then that renowned young master, Seon Woo Jin, would not be participating, and
merely twenty members of the Information Division would prepare the defense—
there was no way they could withstand two hundred soldiers.
Yet an unexpected result had emerged.
Two hundred elite martial artists were unable to break through the formation created by merely twenty Team Members?
“This won’t do.”
Ho Mun Jung bit his lip.
If this continued, the higher-ups wouldn’t praise the Elite Division’s prowess, but rather…
they would question his own command abilities.
He absolutely could not allow such a situation to unfold before his eyes.
“Show no mercy!”
Ho Mun Jung bellowed to the martial artists under his command.
“Bring down the formation with everything you have!”
―Raaaaaaah!
The Shin Wi Dan martial artists, who had been maintaining successive wave attacks over time, now launched a total offensive.
“We can’t break through!”
As the two hundred martial artists pressed forward with all their might, flames seemed to ignite across the Elite Division members’ bodies.
Clang clang clang clang!
As they wielded their blades in frenzied arcs, the form of the energy barrier became increasingly distinct.
The Shin Wi Dan martial artists attempted to forcibly shatter these barriers and approach the Mountain Gate.
But each time, members burst forth from the formation and unleashed devastating sword techniques.
Their martial prowess transcended imagination, and with each strike, the Shin Wi Dan martial artists were instead pushed backward.
“Uuuaaaah!”
The Elite Division members’ eyes had all rolled back in their heads.
They had only ever handled intelligence work and endured harsh training.
In all that time, they’d experienced genuine combat only once—their clash with Hell Blood Sect.
Now that they faced such a full-powered confrontation, they felt an exhilarating rush instead.
―Hyaaaaaah!
As time passed, the energy barrier of the Elite Division’s Jade Clarity Armor Formation grew even denser.
Their eyes were bloodshot crimson, and saliva dripped from their mouths like wild beasts.
They drew their power to its maximum, pushing back the Shin Wi Dan with their energy barrier, and at times they dissolved the formation entirely, charging forth to swing their blades indiscriminately.
“Now’s the moment!”
But then the western flank began to crumble, and a passage started to open.
Ho Mun Jung immediately attempted to lead his martial artists through that gap.
“Kaaah!”
Yet Elite Division members suddenly appeared and began executing frenzied sword dances.
“Come in!”
Hesitantly, they faltered.
Faced with such desperate madness, the Shin Wi Dan members instead began retreating.
This was merely a defensive battle; they couldn’t employ lethal techniques.
But if they entered that space… it seemed these warriors would unhesitatingly charge and tear out their throats.
“This is a test for the Danjoo candidate! There’s no need to be excited…”
As Ho Mun Jung shouted in panic,
“Get in here, quickly!”
Jeong Jong Do, wielding that grotesque Hyeong Do blade, bellowed through flared nostrils.
“I’ll sever your necks and then tear up my ties with the Murim Alliance altogether!”
Momentum.
The frenzy and overwhelming force of the Elite Division members left Ho Mun Jung paralyzed at the threshold, unable to cross despite the path lying open.
He had witnessed countless battlefields throughout his life, yet never had he encountered madmen so utterly consumed by such derangement.
“Ugh…”
Moreover, the warriors of the Shin Wi Dan had all lost their will to fight, hesitating in their assault.
“It’s over.”
Ho Mun Jung stood motionless, his expression hollow with defeat.
No matter how he commanded his forces in this state, there was no way to breach Gongdeok Temple.
―Buuuuu!
Then a great horn blast echoed across the grounds,
―The siege is hereby concluded!
The voice of a Murim Alliance herald, infused with inner power, resonated thunderously around Gongdeok Temple.
In the end, even two hundred soldiers of the Shin Wi Dan could not breach the defense of twenty Elite Division members.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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