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Chapter 302: Prelude to Invasion

A peaceful morning.

The residents of Cheonghae Castle started their day as usual.

Merchants, with dreams of a sold-out day, arranged their wares, while herbalists gathered in groups, heading to the mountains to dig for rare herbs.

“Damn it. Why does this mountain terrain seem to grow rougher by the day?”

A middle-aged man with a bushy beard cursed.

His breath smelled sour from an arduous hike.

“Quiet down. It’s a blessing that the damned Demon Cultists can’t easily come over here because of this terrain.”

“True, with these treacherous paths, those scoundrels wouldn’t dare to approach us.”

The rugged and narrow mountain paths were a natural fortification.

Thus, the Kunlun faction was able to effectively prepare for any advance by the Heavenly Demon Cult.

But just then—

“Argh!”

An old man up ahead let out a choking gasp.

“What’s going on?”

“What happened?”

All eyes were on him.

“I, I’ve found it! A ginseng, a giant ginseng!”

It was a centuries-old ginseng.

“Ohooo!”

“I knew I felt lucky today!”

Beaming smiles appeared on everyone’s faces.

Selling such a ginseng could provide a comfortable life for a lifetime.

But their joy was short-lived…

Crunch!

A hand darkened with blood burst through the abdomen of one of the shouting men.

Blood dripped from the arm.

“Keugh… eeugh?”

A Jiangshi covered in red blood. A Bloody Corpse.

“It’s the Demon Cult!”

“Aaaagh!”

“Run away!”

The herbalists tried to flee in terror.

However, taking even a few steps was brutally difficult for them.

Thud, thud, thud!

The forest quickly stained red with blood.

And shortly after, amid still-warm bodies, a group of shadows appeared.

Leading the group in a long black robe was the ‘Heart Demon Commander’.

Around him were handpicked experts from the Specter Corps and more Jiangshi.

“Any others?”

“No, it seems we’ve caught all the herbalists.”

“Good.”

The Heart Demon Commander nodded in satisfaction.

“Have we scouted the size of the enemy’s forces in the village?”

“While the Head of the Unburdened Faction is at the peak level, if we exclude him, there are no particularly formidable individuals.”

“The remnants of the Kunlun Sect can be dealt with by simply entrusting three Yin-Yang Corpse to me. I’ll sweep them all away.”

“Let’s kill them all before sunset. Hehehe.”

They all spoke with ardent fervor.

Anxious from a prolonged seclusion to wield their swords and kill, malevolent intent surged within them.

“The hour of Hai is ours. Dispose of all of them. We shall spend the night here.”

“Understood!”

At the Heart Demon Commander’s command, massive dark clouds began to loom over the mountain.

***

When Jong Mu-Ryang received the report of the Demon Cult’s attack, the situation had already spiraled out of control.

“There are three hundred Blood Corpses… and over twenty Yin-Yang Corpses.”

“And there are even new types of Corpse that we’ve never seen before. Looks like they’ve been developing them in hiding.”

“The biggest problem is that the Heart Demon Commander, ranked fourth in the Demon Cult, is leading the charge personally. This isn’t just provocation; they’re hellbent on destruction.”

“Head… we must make a decision.”

The mood turned serious.

Although messages were sent to the Kunlun and the Wu-Lin Alliance, the chances of surviving until their arrival seemed slim.

Yet fleeing would brand them cowards and dishonorable for life.

For a warrior, pride and honor were worth more than life itself.

Therefore…

The only choice left was to kill as many as possible even in death.

“I’ve decided.”

Swoosh!

Jong Mu-Ryang drew his sword.

“Let’s wipe out these filthy Demon Cult bastards. Who will stand with me?”

“Ooooh!”

“We’ll stand with you, Head!”

“I’ll send at least five with me on this journey!”

As their fighting spirit soared—

Boom!

The Unburdened Faction’s gate shattered.

An ominous voice echoed amidst the dusty rubble.

“No need to go far. This place shall be where you lay to rest.”

“How did they…!”

“Did they take down everyone outside already?”

Though they expected to hold out for at least an hour.

The breach was too quick.

Unnaturally so.

“Apostle Ak, from the Specter Corps. At least know who’s reaping your lives.”

A hulking man with teeth-like swords stepped forward.

Beside him stood around thirty Bloody Corpses, drenched in blood from numerous kills.

“Kuk! To think that right after ending our seclusion, we’d stir up another war. Will there never be peace against your brutal kind?”

“Such a long tongue you have. In a world where the weak are prey to the strong, cruelty and cowardice… are but the nonsense of the weak. What are you waiting for? Kill them all.”

As Apostle Ak nodded, the Jiangshi, drooling a dark fluid, charged forward.

Talk was unnecessary, this was a battle for life and death.

Boom! Clash!

The Unburdened Faction’s experts, wielding blades of energy, collided head-on with the Jiangshi.

“Screams!”

“Screams!”

Blood and flesh flew, while screams pierced the sky.

The swords merely scratched the Jiangshi, yet they tore the warriors from the Unburdened Faction limb from limb.

“How could these Corpses be so powerful…”

“They’re immune to energy…”

“These aren’t ordinary Blood Corpses. Be cautious!”

The Blood Corpses, enhanced by the Demon Cult’s secret techniques and the Heart Demon Commander’s unique martial arts, were three times stronger than typical Blood Corpses.

Even those experienced in war were caught off guard.

Boom boom boom!

The tide of battle quickly turned.

The venom concocted by the Heart Demon Commander was so vicious, a mere scratch twisted the life force, sending victims into madness.

Those with stronger inner energy lasted a few exchanges, but the less skilled fell into frenzy and death.

“Gugh…”

“Screams!”

“Cough! Cough! Kuk!”

More than half of the experts had perished.

Only one.

Jong Mu-Ryang continued to slash through Jiangshi with his energized sword.

Five Blood Corpses scattered into pieces.

“Impressive. They said there was someone beyond the peak. You must be that Jong Mu-Ryang.”

“If you think you can break the sword of the Proper Faction by fighting dead corpses, you’re gravely mistaken.”

“Heh. Good. Entertaining. I was worried I wouldn’t have a chance to use this one. ‘Pale Specter,’ it’s your turn.”

Silence…

A new Jiangshi stepped forward.

Its eyes were sewn shut, and its body was pale as snow.

Blue veins writhed as if the mere sight induced nausea.

“Huuh…”

Jong Mu-Ryang regulated his breath.

This Jiangshi must be the unfamiliar type reported.

‘Can’t be careless.’

Lacking a life force, it was impossible to gauge its depth.

He assumed it was stronger than expected and prepared to invest everything in his first move.

Fwooosh!

Refined energy flowed through his meridians, flaring intensely.

[Activate the 5-star ‘Taehu Dragon Slaying Sword Technique’!]

A signature technique of the Kunlun Sect.

His sword filled with 5-star energy, aimed to slice the heavens.

Now!

Jong Mu-Ryang moved like lightning.

His trajectory drew an elegant arc.

And then…

Thud.

This became his last move in the world.

“Ah…”

He hadn’t seen how the adversary attacked or how he himself had fallen.

The end was swift—the mere result of death.

The realms were entirely different.

“Monster… like…”

On the brink of consciousness, Jong Mu-Ryang thought:

The wars he had fought in the past… were nothing compared to the massacre about to unfold.

***

Fresh from his vacation outside the Tower, Jinhyuk headed straight to the middle layers.

‘So, this is Luoyang.’

The location of the headquarters of the Martial Alliance and, concurrently, the palace of the current emperor.

‘It’s more impressive at night. Several times larger and more ornate than the Imperial Capital.’

When Jinhyuk reached his destination, night had already fully fallen.

As expected, nobody could enter or leave the city after sunset.

[1 large Protective Array and 72 medium-grade defensive formations are currently activated in the ‘Luoyang’ stronghold.]

Appropriate defenses for the capital were in place.

‘It’ll be impossible to just march through the main gates then.’

The watch was too strict to find another feasible entry.

“Damn. I have goods to deliver inside by tonight. I’ll catch an earful for missing the deadline.”

“It can’t be helped. Even the nobles aren’t allowed in after hours.”

Those nearby commented, all just missing the cut-off time.

Yet their grumbling was but momentary, as all soon sought lodgings with resigned steps.

Jinhyuk alone remained on the empty streets.

Or more precisely, there was one other.

“Aren’t you giving up too easy?”

A shaggy-haired man approached him.

Young.

Barely past twenty, his scruffy appearance suggested a rogue or a beggar.

“I’m not fond of sleeping rough, plus I’m short on time. I have to get inside tonight if possible.”

“Then why didn’t you come earlier? You knew about the curfew.”

Indeed.

If he had wished, he could have arrived earlier.

But—

“That wouldn’t be fun, would it?”

“…Pardon?”

“They say these city walls are the strongest in the middle layers, right? I want to see if the reputation holds true.”

A new challenge was always thrilling, especially if it was something he hadn’t tried before.

After all, back then, with the Heavenly Demon and such, he didn’t have the leisure for this.

“Puhahaha! Man, you’re something else. I thought you were a bit odd, but turns out you’re beyond that, quite the character!”

The man laughed heartily, delighted by the response.

Yet, Jinhyuk was pleasantly surprised, too—not expecting this encounter.

‘Who would’ve thought I’d meet this man here? Coincidence really is a surprise.’

Jinhyuk’s lips curled into a smile.