novelaction Chapter 287 : While Unable to Bear It
Chapter 287 : While Unable to Bear It
A strange light flickered through Jin Seong-un’s eyes.After hearing that these people drank blood, it was impossible for him not to think of Blood Demon.
However, he had never once heard Blood Demon mention disciples or successors.
‘Well, he is not someone who talks much.’
For the first time in a while, Jin Seong-un found himself curious about Blood Demon’s life.
As he nodded slightly while thinking that, Fourth Bat’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Surely you do not mean to say you do not know the name Blood Demon?”
The reactions he had seen whenever he mentioned Blood Demon until now were vastly different from Jin Seong-un’s.
Blood Demon’s name itself carried the meaning of fear.
After all, Blood Demon was the only person in history to single-handedly kill all Ten Great Masters of an era.
Jin Seong-un shrugged.
“Of course I know. How did you learn Blood Demon’s martial arts?”
Fourth Bat briefly looked around.
He appeared to be spreading his senses to check whether other pursuers were nearby.
“Our late eldest brother inherited Blood Demon’s true transmission.”
He spoke as though declaring some enormous and terrifying secret of the world.
Naturally, he expected the young Jin Seong-un before him to tremble in fear.
Of course, the reaction he desired never came.
“I see.”
As always, Jin Seong-un nodded indifferently.
There was no reason to continue the conversation any longer.
To begin with, he had no way of knowing whether the man’s words were true or false, nor any reason to take them seriously.
Jin Seong-un abruptly charged toward Fourth Bat.
At some point, the black Wolf Fang Saber had already appeared in his hand.
Jin Seong-un lightly floated into the air before suddenly dropping downward like a massive chunk of iron.
Slaaash—!
Black Thunder Flash.
A single straight saber descended like lightning itself.
Fourth Bat’s crimson-black energy-clad hand caught it head-on.
Kaaang—!
Though blade and flesh collided, the sound resembled clashing metal.
For a brief moment, Moonlight Energy and Fourth Bat’s aura struggled against one another, scattering lightning in every direction.
“Excellent.”
Fourth Bat did not lose his composure.
Over the past few days, he had consumed blood and Internal Energy beyond excess, leaving power overflowing through his entire body.
The bastard reached out his demonic hand toward Jin Seong-un’s ankle.
Jin Seong-un kicked off empty air and retreated backward in a single bound, causing a strange glimmer to briefly appear in Fourth Bat’s eyes.
“To think someone your age has reached such a realm.”
Though it was praise acknowledging his opponent, the attitude behind it was so casual that it instead felt like the leisure of a superior being.
Landing upon the ground, Jin Seong-un asked,
“Are the others as strong as you?”
“My older brothers are stronger.”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
He was not particularly worried about Divine Slaughter, Shadowless or Seo Yu-gyeom, but the other martial artists might be in danger.
‘I need to hurry.’
With that thought, Jin Seong-un wrapped red flames around Wolf Fang Saber.
Fire Dragon Vanishing Sword.
Even Sword Immortal would likely marvel upon witnessing it executed not with a sword, but with a saber.
Jin Seong-un deliberately revealed his intent to end the battle in a single strike.
As terrifying energy exploded outward in all directions, even Fourth Bat’s expression became serious.
He too had no reason to drag this out, since the Murim Alliance or other martial artists could arrive in pursuit at any moment.
With their interests aligned, the two charged toward one another blindly.
Swaaaaaang—!
Their speeds were so fast that it felt as though the space between them warped and crumpled.
The martial art of Sword Immortal, meant to slay Demons.
And Fourth Bat’s martial art, whether truly Blood Demon’s or not, which pursued demonic power.
The two opposing martial arts surged forward with the singular intent to kill each other in one exchange.
Wolf Fang Saber slipped from Jin Seong-un’s hand.
At first glance, it appeared as though the tremendous force had overwhelmed his grip.
But then came the chilling sound of flesh being pierced.
Puhk—!
Fourth Bat lowered his gaze toward his own chest.
The straight saber that had pierced through from his back was clearly visible.
Sword Control Through Qi.
No—Saber Control Through Qi.
Compared to Sword Immortal’s Sword Control Art, which manipulated hundreds of blades simultaneously, it was still lacking by a great margin.
Yet this too was undeniably the realm of Sword Control.
In other words, Jin Seong-un had already begun glimpsing the realm of the Transcendent Realm.
Fourth Bat, his heart pierced through, stared at the blade for a moment before suddenly curling his lips upward.
“Got you.”
His hand had firmly seized Jin Seong-un’s forearm.
It felt as though his arm had been trapped between mountains and would not budge in the slightest.
Fourth Bat continued.
“Child. Did I not tell you this was Blood Demon’s martial art? I care not if all my limbs are severed and my organs torn apart. I can simply refill them afterward.”
His eyes turned crimson.
Sinister energy crushed the surroundings, and Jin Seong-un’s Internal Energy began flowing through Fourth Bat’s hand against his will.
Jin Seong-un frowned faintly.
It was an utterly unpleasant sensation.
Any ordinary martial artist would already be dizzy and mentally disoriented, but Jin Seong-un’s Moonlight Energy was no ordinary force.
Even Fourth Bat wore the most shocked expression he had shown so far.
“H-how much Internal Energy do you even possess?”
Enough time had passed to turn three or four Supreme Realm experts into mummies, yet Jin Seong-un’s Internal Energy still surged endlessly like a vast ocean.
Jin Seong-un resisted briefly before realizing it would be difficult to escape the man’s grip.
He unleashed Saber Control Art once more, swinging Wolf Fang Saber again.
Puhk, puhk, puhk, puhk—!
The pitch-black saber floated through the air as though alive, hacking Fourth Bat apart relentlessly.
It repeatedly pierced his neck and waist, yet the wounds healed instantly.
Naturally so, since he was continuously absorbing Jin Seong-un’s endless Internal Energy through his Essence Absorption Art.
“...Disgusting.”
Jin Seong-un muttered quietly.
Fourth Bat burst into delighted laughter.
“Hahahaha! I have encountered a heavenly fortune here!”
If he absorbed all this Internal Energy, how powerful would he become?
Perhaps he could tear Divine Slaughter, Shadowless apart by himself and even slaughter the Murim Alliance pursuit forces afterward.
The dream lost when their eldest brother died to Divine Slaughter, Shadowless slowly rekindled within him.
To surpass Blood Demon himself and become the greatest Demon in all history.
Then—
Realizing ordinary attacks were useless, Jin Seong-un suppressed his Moonlight Energy.
Fourth Bat’s Essence Absorption Art kept reaching greedily toward the Moonlight Energy.
So instead—
He offered something else.
Jin Seong-un’s eyes turned crimson.
Compared to Fourth Bat’s murky red eyes, these were incomparably clearer, deeper, and more vivid.
The moment Fourth Bat saw them, his body trembled violently.
Sensing something ominous, he hurriedly tried to release his grip—
Tak.
Instead, Jin Seong-un grabbed his wrist.
‘W-what monstrous grip strength...?!’
Then Blood Demon Energy flowed into the bastard’s body.
The Essence Absorption Art absorbed the Blood Demon Energy like a fish thrown into water.
“Ugh!”
Fourth Bat groaned.
In an instant, horrifying agony spread throughout his entire body, as though all his organs were melting.
Bulging blood vessels grotesquely protruded across his skin, and every capillary in his eyes burst, causing bloody tears to stream downward.
It did not even require much time.
Compared to the amount Jin Seong-un carried within himself, only an insignificant quantity of Blood Demon Energy had entered Fourth Bat—
Yet his entire body rapidly collapsed.
“Guuuugh...!”
Jin Seong-un released Fourth Bat’s wrist.
He had gripped it so tightly that the wrist had already been crushed beyond repair.
Fourth Bat writhed upon the ground in agony.
Each movement smeared blood across the earth.
After a short while, even those painful convulsions ceased.
Jin Seong-un calmly looked down at him and quietly spoke.
“And yet you could not even endure this tiny amount of Blood Demon Energy.”
A successor of Blood Demon?
What a laughable story.
Soon after, Jin Seong-un turned and walked away, leaving behind the corpse that had completely melted apart.
---
A quiet forest road.
The sounds of clashing weapons rang out continuously.
Three of the fleeing Bats had regrouped and were now facing Divine Slaughter, Shadowless together with the Orthodox Faction Later-generation Prodigies.
Kang—!
Moyong Hyeon barely blocked a demonic strike before stumbling backward.
At the same moment, Seventh Bat reached out to twist and crush Moyong Hyeon’s neck.
“Seomun Ak!”
Moyong Hyeon shouted almost hysterically.
Seomun Ak, who had been struggling to catch his breath, swallowed blood and charged forward.
Jjeoong—!
His crude Fist Aura struck Seventh Bat’s wrist.
Using that brief opening, Moyong Hyeon hastily retreated.
Seomun Ak and Moyong Hyeon stood side by side, breathing heavily.
Both had already squeezed their Internal Energy beyond its limits, leaving their entire bodies wracked with pain.
The situation was dire.
At least Divine Slaughter, Shadowless was managing to occupy one of the Bats alone.
However, their battle was so evenly matched that expecting help from him seemed impossible.
Tang So-yeon, Hwamyeong, Baek Sang, and Baek Seol were in even worse condition.
Though four of them had surrounded a single opponent and attacked together, they were instead being pushed back.
Baek Seol—the weakest among them—already had her white Daoist robes soaked in blood.
Only Tang So-yeon’s Poison Arts, dangerous regardless of cultivation level, allowed them to endure.
“Hah, what an annoyance.”
Fifth Bat clicked his tongue and stomped down with a True Step.
Dark green poisonous mist instantly spread in every direction.
Because of it, Hwamyeong, Baek Sang, and Baek Seol all had to retreat hurriedly to avoid the poison.
Poison did not distinguish between ally and enemy.
Tang So-yeon alone remained behind.
Fifth Bat charged toward her.
His momentum was so overwhelming that Tang So-yeon’s body stiffened involuntarily.
“Young Lady!”
The shocked Hwamyeong rushed forward, his sword blooming with faint plum blossoms.
Hwamyeong too had exhausted nearly all his Internal Energy and could no longer manifest vivid plum blossoms.
Just as Hwamyeong’s Plum Blossom Sword hurriedly shot toward Fifth Bat’s back—
Fifth Bat’s lips curled upward slightly.
Seeing that expression, Tang So-yeon shouted urgently,
“D-dodge!”
But before she could even finish—
Fifth Bat suddenly changed direction and grabbed Hwamyeong’s Plum Blossom Sword.
If it had been Seo Yu-gyeom or Jin Seong-un, they would have released the sword instantly.
But Orthodox martial artists were taught from childhood that dropping one’s sword was deeply shameful.
Because of that, Hwamyeong’s judgment was slightly delayed.
He tried belatedly to release the weapon, but before he could—
Fifth Bat’s hand seized his shoulder.
“I wonder what plum blossoms taste like.”
His eyes turned crimson.
Baek Sang and Baek Seol’s swords, together with Tang So-yeon’s daggers, stabbed repeatedly into his waist and back—
But it was meaningless.
Hwamyeong groaned.
Fifth Bat regenerated his wounds using Hwamyeong’s Internal Energy.
The shadow of death descended across the battlefield.
Seomun Ak and Moyong Hyeon had no room to assist.
Neither did Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.
Chaechaechaechang—!
Third Bat, exchanging blows with Divine Slaughter, Shadowless, raised his aura even further.
He intended to prevent Divine Slaughter, Shadowless from helping those Later-generation Prodigies.
“Hah, this tiresome ill-fated connection finally ends today.”
The moment even one or two of them died, the balance of this deadlocked battle would collapse completely.
The blade sharpened for over ten years would finally sever Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s neck.
Then—
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless suddenly turned his back on Third Bat and sprinted away.
It was madness.
Even revealing the slightest opening in this battle could cost him his life.
Without hesitation, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless launched himself forward.
Deathshroud’s ultimate technique—
Formless Assassination.
Slash—!
With a chilling sound, Fifth Bat’s wrist was severed as he absorbed Hwamyeong’s essence.
Hwamyeong collapsed to the ground, gasping roughly.
At the same moment, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless spun his body.
Crunch—!
However, he could not completely evade Third Bat’s viciously incoming demonic hand.
Though he avoided being grabbed directly, a chunk of flesh was torn from his right shoulder, scattering blood and meat across the ground.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless frowned and retreated.
Clang—!
The dagger in his hand fell powerlessly to the ground.
The meaning of that sight was obvious.
He could no longer hold a blade with his right hand.
Hwamyeong—whose life had been saved by Divine Slaughter, Shadowless—as well as Baek Sang, Baek Seol, and Tang So-yeon, who had narrowly escaped death thanks to him, all stared in shock.
Third Bat’s lips curled upward.
Without concern, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless picked up the dagger with his left hand.
It looked incredibly awkward.
There was a reason martial artists primarily wielded blades with their dominant hand.
Of course, as an assassin of Deathshroud, he had trained both hands.
But that did not mean he could use them equally well.
“Pull yourselves together.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless spoke calmly.
Though everyone else was shaken, he himself showed not the slightest emotion.
Even now, he remained a veteran assassin.
His voice—cold as ice—snapped the Orthodox Faction Later-generation Prodigies back to reality.
They had received life-saving grace from the very assassin they had despised so deeply.
Countless emotions churned through their minds, but this was not the time for emotions.
They tightened their grips upon their weapons and assumed their stances once more.
However, with Divine Slaughter, Shadowless—their greatest force—now crippled, the balance of the battle had shifted considerably.
Third Bat clicked his tongue toward Fifth Bat, who clutched his severed wrist.
“Simply kill these brats and absorb them. Stop making such a fuss.”
“...Yes.”
After roughly sealing the severed area with pressure point strikes, Fifth Bat glared murderously at Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless thought quickly.
‘My disciple... or Guest Dragon must arrive.’
That was the best possible outcome.
However, judging from the enemies’ strength, their battles likely would not end quickly either.
And in the worst case—
If both of them had already fallen...
Total annihilation.
There would be no chance of victory.
Everyone here would be torn apart and killed.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless spoke.
“That woman is the Young Clan Head of the Tang Clan. Do you truly believe you can continue living in this world after killing the precious jewel of the Tang Clan?”
At his quiet question, the Bats scoffed.
“You seem mistaken.”
“......”
“We no longer care whether we survive. If we can kill you, we desire nothing more.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s gaze deepened further.
He now understood their intentions completely.
These bastards did not fear retaliation from the Five Great Clans or the Nine Sects and One Gang.
They were willing to sacrifice even their own lives if it meant settling this ancient grudge.
There was only one method left.
He needed to lure all of them away himself.
Just as Divine Slaughter, Shadowless reached his decision—
A voice suddenly descended from the sky.
“Is this truly the life you desired?”
Everyone jerked their heads upward in shock.
There stood a man gazing down at them with an indifferent expression.
For one of the rare times in his life, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless visibly flinched.
Meanwhile, despair spread across the Bat brothers’ faces.
The man stood upon empty air as though it were solid ground.
They desperately wished it was not that person—
But Divine Slaughter, Shadowless shattered their hopes immediately.
“King of Assassins, what brings you here?”