Chapter 369: Chapter 369

A village near Beijing, its inhabitants long gone, abandoned and neglected.

A group of people gathered in this desolate place.

“Welcome, Benefactor Gwak.”

Master Wu Jin, the Abbot of the Shaolin Temple, one of the leaders of the righteous Murim, greeted a newly arrived middle-aged man with a clasped hand.

“Master Wu Jin, I heard about your… misfortune… but your condition seems worse than I expected. Are you sure you can fight?”

“Amitabha, though my cultivation is lacking, I still have one arm and two legs. Haha, don’t worry, I won’t be a burden.”

“Hmm, well, I can’t argue with that.”

The middle-aged man’s words were blunt, almost rude, but no one dared to question him.

Despite his appearance, he was of similar age and status to Master Wu Jin.

That was the identity of the newly arrived man.

‘…I felt it on the way here, but… this is… unsettling. Now I understand why the reports were so… exaggerated.’

His gaze shifted towards the sky above Beijing.

Thick, black storm clouds, clearly unnatural, had gathered, completely blocking out the sunlight.

And the occasional flashes of purple lightning and the ominous rumbles of thunder only amplified the sense of dread and foreboding.

It was like… the sky above hell.

“The weaker ones would lose their minds just by looking at it. And this demonic energy… it’s been lingering for days… The Demonic Cult is serious this time.”

The Heavenly Crushing Sword Emperor’s face hardened as he muttered softly.

He had come here personally, recognizing the gravity of the situation, but he had still been somewhat optimistic.

He was confident he could match the Heavenly Demon, even though he was hailed as the strongest in the world.

But the aura emanating from ‘that’…

‘This isn’t just from a ritual. That ominous presence, that overwhelming power… Could it be… Has the Heavenly Demon reached the Divine Transformation Realm?’

His gaze shifted from the dark sky to the people gathered here.

Hundreds of them, their auras sharp and focused.

Master-level experts from all over the continent, gathered with the help of Taoist priests who could use teleportation techniques.

He would have been impressed under normal circumstances… but after sensing the power emanating from the storm clouds, he wasn't so sure.

‘Master Wu Jin, Sword Saint Namgung Woo, Blood Asura, Heavenly General… and me… We’re the only Mysterious Realm experts here.’

He scanned the crowd, identifying the most powerful individuals, and his brow furrowed slightly.

There were fewer than he had expected.

‘Did something happen to them? Or are they just… afraid to come?’

Even with the countless casualties of the long war, the names of high-level experts were still known.

Just a year ago, there had been talk of the ‘Top Ten Masters of the World’…

‘This is troublesome.’

Whether they had perished in the chaos, been assassinated by the Demonic Cult, or simply chosen not to participate out of fear… it wasn't good.

It meant their chances of victory were lower.

And then, as he was observing the Master Realm experts, his gaze suddenly shifted, drawn towards a dense cluster of trees.

His sharp hearing detected a faint rustling sound, approaching rapidly.

Something dangerous, something that triggered his instincts.

His body tensed involuntarily.

He wasn’t the only one who reacted.

Those with heightened senses, the martial artists and sorcerers, began to turn their heads, their gazes following the source of the sound.

Some even drew their weapons.

“Alert! Something’s approaching…!”

“Ugh, is it the Demonic Cult?!”

The approaching figure was moving too fast for them to wait.

As everyone’s attention was focused on the rustling bushes, a figure suddenly emerged.

“Oh! You’re all here already! Hahaha! It seems we’re a bit late!”

A casual voice, a cheerful laughter, disrupting the tense atmosphere.

The figure, a massive, muscular man, his body covered in tattoos and strange attire, showed no signs of fear or hesitation as he faced the numerous warriors who had drawn their weapons, their faces grim and determined.

As if he didn't even notice the sharp blades pointed at him.

“Huu, it’s all your fault. You were too busy eating… Are you planning to devour every wild animal in the mountains?”

“Hmph! They’re all so plump and juicy! How can I resist?”

“…Just how much can you eat? I don’t understand how all that meat fits in your stomach.”

“Hahaha! You’re embarrassing me!”

The stranger exchanged lighthearted banter with his companions, who emerged from the bushes behind him.

But the Heavenly Crushing Sword Emperor didn't even glance at them. He couldn’t.

His gaze was fixed on the first newcomer.

‘I’ve heard of him. The new Mad Demon, wasn’t it? I dismissed the rumors as exaggerations, but…’

He instinctively knew.

That his opponent wasn't someone he could underestimate.

A towering figure, even taller than him, his broad shoulders and massive muscles accentuated by his savage tattoos and attire.

His appearance was striking, but that wasn't important.

What truly mattered was the… ‘something’ that resided within him, the unknown power that emanated from his body.

He frowned, watching as Master Wu Jin approached the stranger.

That creature, that monster, was not human, despite its human form.

“Huh? Hey, old man, do you have something to say to me?”

The stranger’s casual demeanor, his seemingly carefree attitude, and his eyes, like bottomless pits, filled with an endless, incomprehensible madness.

‘…I see. It doesn’t matter anymore.’

He had changed his mind.

…wasn't entirely hopeless.

Harley finally joined the Murim Alliance forces.

‘There are more than I expected. My hard work paid off.’

While Hans was preparing the final stage and the Murim warriors were gathering from all over the continent, he hadn't been idle.

His task was to… provide free counseling services to the factions that were hesitant to cooperate, visiting their homes and offering his… assistance.

Like a teacher making a house call to a student who refused to attend school.

Of course, unlike ordinary teachers, his counseling sessions often involved a bit of… forceful persuasion.

‘It’s just… tough love. It’s better than being completely annihilated later, right?’

Such a kind and compassionate act!

If they still refused to cooperate after he had gone through all this trouble, offering them a lifeline… then they had no one to blame but themselves.

After all, they were disrupting the peace and harmony of this world.

‘I’ve also prepared some… side stages for those who can’t make it to Beijing. Let’s see… the others should be ready by now.’

Hans, who was still in Ganghwange, hadn’t just prepared the main stage in Beijing.

He had also set up smaller stages throughout the continent, to allow more people to participate in this grand event.

The Demonic Cult branches in each province would serve as… branch offices, supporting the main ritual in Beijing.

The main event was in Beijing, but the other participants also needed a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

‘Of course, I’ve adjusted the difficulty accordingly. They should be able to clear the stages without too much trouble if they work together.’

He would use the remaining Demonic Cult forces to attack the uncooperative factions’ headquarters.

Two birds with one stone.

“Amitabha, it seems everyone has arrived.”

As Harley was lost in thought,

…a deep, resonating voice echoed through the air, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Then let’s move. We don’t have much time.”

The heroes, gathered here with a common purpose,

…turned their gazes towards Master Wu Jin, who was leading the way, his eyes fixed on Beijing.

The sky above Beijing, still covered in dark storm clouds, was like night, even in broad daylight.

As if day and night had been reversed along some invisible boundary.

It was an unprecedented phenomenon, even for them, some of the strongest warriors in this world.

“…To that hell, where hope is imprisoned.”

And so, after a while,

…hundreds of figures leaped into the air, heading towards the darkness.

The elites of Ganghwange, their movements swift and coordinated, charged towards the heart of Beijing.

And among them were skilled sorcerers from the Zhuge Clan and the Maoshan Sect.

They followed the Zhuge Clan representative, their formation intact, their movements precise, as they navigated the treacherous terrain, resisting the disruptive effects of the demonic realm, the insidious demonic energy that tried to seep into their bodies, and the disorienting illusions of the labyrinthine formation.

‘…Impressive. To think they could use this technique in this way. I didn’t learn this from the Golden Island Sect.’

To properly utilize formations, one needed years of training and coordination.

It wasn’t something that could be done with a group of strangers who had just met.

Let alone hundreds of people moving in perfect unison.

‘Well, they’re a great clan for a reason. This would give them an absolute advantage in battles against weaker opponents, as long as there’s no interference from a master-level expert.’

But the Zhuge Clan had overcome that limitation by incorporating sorcery into their formations.

They had modified the complex and difficult communication spells, making them easier to cast, and then connected the warriors’ subconscious minds through a subtle, invisible link.

It allowed them to instinctively know their positions within the formation and move in perfect synchronization without any prior training.

‘And they can instantly identify the locations of their injured allies and adjust their formation accordingly. They’re like… a high-tech command center.’

Thanks to that, the Murim Alliance was approaching the heart of the demonic realm much faster than he had anticipated.

They would have been struggling, lost and confused, if it wasn’t for the Zhuge Clan’s guidance.

‘Well, this is also… interesting. Now then, shall we begin?’

Hundreds of figures, marching forward in perfect formation.

But as they neared their destination, the center of Beijing where the ritual was taking place, their advance was halted.

“Hmph, you’ve finally arrived. Oblivious to the fact that this is your burial ground.”

As if he had been waiting for them, a one-eyed old man, wielding a black sword engraved with a demonic visage, stood before them, blocking their path.

And behind him, an army of thousands.

“Demon Sword Master Yeo Mun-cheol…”

Sword Saint Namgung Woo frowned, his voice low and menacing.

He had expected him to be here, but it was still… unsettling to face him.

“The White Bone Army, the Azure Water Army… and even the Heavenly Wolf Marquis…”

“All infamous Master Realm demons… And that’s… the Blood Mountain Elder, from the previous generation. Even the Blood Cult has joined forces with the Demonic Cult.”

“Wait! That jiangshi! That’s our Elder…!”

The Murim Alliance’s momentum faltered as they faced the Demonic Cult’s forces.

There were as many Master Realm experts on their side… and then there were the jiangshi, some of whom were familiar faces, warriors who had been presumed dead or missing.

The Heavenly Crushing Sword Emperor muttered, his voice barely a whisper, as he saw the figure at the front of the jiangshi army.

A familiar face, a rival he had clashed with several times.

But the Blood Demon’s once vibrant and energetic aura was gone, his face stiff and expressionless, like a wax figure.

He had respected his skills, even though they weren’t allies.

And now, he had been turned into a jiangshi…

‘He wasn’t just an ally, he was… absorbed. How long have they been preparing for this?’

But the Murim Alliance’s momentary hesitation didn’t last long.

They were seasoned veterans, and they quickly recovered their composure, forming a battle formation.

The warriors gripped their weapons, their auras flaring, and the sorcerers prepared their talismans and ritual tools, their minds focused.

The air crackled with tension, the two forces on the verge of clashing.

[“So you’ve finally arrived, Murim scum.”]

…a sinister voice, amplified by a dark and powerful energy, echoed through the battlefield.

Those with weaker constitutions stumbled and staggered, their internal energy disrupted by the ominous voice.

Some even coughed up blood.

The voice, like a chilling whisper from the depths of hell, seemed to contaminate their very souls, twisting and distorting their energy flow.

[“I shall greet you properly, as your host.”]

The Heavenly Demon, the current strongest warrior in the world, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

The final boss of the scenario had arrived.

‘Excellent. First impressions are important.’

The one who orchestrated the entire event, manipulating the situation from behind the scenes.

Hans, pleased with his own stagecraft.