27 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

### Chapter 27 A short while later, the impact from the clash with the Mountain-Crushing Fist caused the wall to collapse entirely. **Boom—** The followers of the Conquering King School, who had been momentarily dumbfounded by the shocking result, snapped back to reality with the loud noise and began to move in perfect unison. "Ma-master!" "Are you all right?" As they scrambled to dig out the Mountain-Crushing Fist, buried under the rubble of the fallen wall. "......" Except for the Red Sword and Seol Ran, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen were staring at Chun Hui with expressions that couldn't quite tell if they were dreaming or awake. It was a martial prowess so outstanding it left them entranced. Of course, the martial skills displayed at the Five Peaks Gathering five years ago were also shocking, but this was a level of impact that was incomparable. "It's nothing like back then." "Such martial skills..." "This is why our senior brother and sister were always so rapt when Elder Chun Hui spoke." While others were in awe, Red Sword and Seol Ran, who had been smiling brightly since Chun Hui's appearance, muttered casually to themselves. "As expected of the mentor." "Indeed, it's just like the mentor." The two exchanged a small smile and nodded as they repeated the same sentiment. "......!" At that moment, Red Sword's eyes widened dramatically as he looked over Seol Ran's shoulder. "Senior Brother?" As Seol Ran was about to call out, startled at Red Sword's suddenly changing expression— **Thud!** Red Sword kicked off the ground with force. Following Red Sword as he employed the energy-consuming Leaf-Sweeping Step, Seol Ran turned her head. And then she understood the reason. At the edge of her vision, Red Sword and two others were embracing each other tightly. "Family..." Observing the happy sight of Red Sword, a bitter smile involuntarily formed at her lips. Just then, a strange sound was heard. **Crackle—** The ruined wall began to heave violently, revealing the Mountain-Crushing Fist. The Conquering Discipline members, who had been clearing away the stones, exhaled in relief, staring at the seemingly unhurt Mountain-Crushing Fist. "Hnn." But the Mountain-Crushing Fist let out a pained groan, clutching at his abdomen, where he had sustained internal injuries. "Master!" "A-are you all right?" As the Conquering King School members rushed to support him, the Mountain-Crushing Fist lifted his enormous, lid-like hand to stop them. Though he appeared unscathed, his insides were thoroughly shaken by Chun Hui's Internal Weight Heavy Palm technique, leaving him in a bad state. **Crunch—** Determined to withstand the pain, the Mountain-Crushing Fist spoke with effort. "I'm... fine." Gritting his teeth, he mustered all his inner energy from the Tai Mountain Art to subdue the internal injuries. Thanks to suppressing his injuries with his internal energy, his complexion had somewhat improved, though his expression remained stern. 'To think one single attack amounted to this...' Finally settled, he glared at Chun Hui. Just a single strike. But even that was enough for him, a master of fists, to gauge just how strong this young Taoist was. Wrinkles formed deeply on his forehead. 'An enemy never to be underestimated.' Meanwhile, Chun Hui glanced at the Mountain-Crushing Fist and those surrounding him. 'He's really the leader?' Chun Hui tilted his head in confusion. For someone called the master, the Mountain-Crushing Fist's aura and skill seemed unimpressive. To Chun Hui, he appeared no different than those standing beside him. "Who are you?" At that moment, the Mountain-Crushing Fist addressed him. "Me?" Chun Hui snickered and shook his sleeve, upon which a red plum blossom was embroidered. "You can't see this? Or are you just too ignorant to recognize it?" The Mountain-Crushing Fist's face flushed red with embarrassment. It was already infuriating to have been bested by a young Taoist, and now he was being openly mocked, which made his blood boil. "To think such a person is a Taoist of Huashan Sect!" Seeing the trembling Mountain-Crushing Fist fuming, Chun Hui stopped shaking his hand. "Oh, you do know." **Crack!** Far from ceasing, the unabated taunting only intensified, flushing the Mountain-Crushing Fist's face even more with rage. "You little—!" Unable to contain his anger any longer, he stomped heavily on the ground. "Form ranks, everyone!" His roaring command echoed like a lion's roar. "Aye!" With a spirited shout, the Conquering Discipline members—or rather, the Conquering Regiment members—dissipated in all directions, forming a circle. 'Go on, do your worst.' Chun Hui waited for their next move. Soon, the Conquering Regiment members surrounding him took offensive stances, exuding a potent, murderous aura. Chun Hui's eyes narrowed. The atmosphere was far sharper than before, yet... 'I had expectations, but I'm disappointed.' Chun Hui felt deflated. He didn't expect something like the Demonic Sword Formation or the Plum Blossom Sword Formation. He just wanted to find a bit more interest in facing them, but even that was lacking. 'I regret waiting.' Chun Hui's expression soured noticeably. Yet to others, his demeanor appeared entirely different. 'Haha, he's frozen under the pressure of the Conquering Sight Formation!' The Mountain-Crushing Fist's tense face loosened. No matter how skilled, one couldn't ignore the power of numbers. "Even if you're a master, you will never escape the Conquering Sight Formation!" His voice brimming with newfound confidence lifted the spirits of the Conquering Regiment members. "Attack!" Riding the momentum, the Mountain-Crushing Fist issued his command. **Thud! Thud!** The Conquering Regiment members charged from all directions in unison as though they were of a single body. Chun Hui appraised them with a sweeping gaze. Swords, sabers, fists, and palms rained down. Their weapons and unique martial arts were varied yet unified. **Swish—** Chun Hui brought up his forefinger while observing. Instead of drawing a sword, he suddenly raised his forefinger, causing the faces of the Conquering Regiment members to glint with frosty amusement. But they were unaware. That it was the pronouncement of their ultimate fate. **Flash!** Red light illuminated the surroundings, as beautiful plum blossoms bloomed radiantly all around. A breathtakingly beautiful spectacle that left them mesmerized. But the outcome was devastating. **Thud— Thud—** Bodies with holes in their foreheads fell lifelessly to the ground in heaps. "That is!" Go Gye-ryoung, who had just ended his reunion with Red Sword, widened his eyes as he looked ahead. 'That's right! That red light from his finger pierced Cold Steel Ghost.' Red Sword, watching beside him, was also astonished. "Wh-what in the world is that...?" Having served Chun Hui for five years, he thought he had known him well. However, that was a grave misunderstanding. 'Did Huashan Sect ever have such techniques?' Red Sword recalled the technique he had just witnessed. The red light, accompanied by flowering plum blossoms emanating from Chun Hui's fingertip, was as beautiful as it was ruthless. 'When did he acquire such martial skills...?' Red Sword calmed his astonished heart. And today was not the first time—he had often felt this way, always unable even to think of keeping up with Chun Hui. Having been handpicked directly by the master, he believed his talent was exceptional, but meeting Chun Hui made him realize something. Compared to Chun Hui, his talent was no brighter than a firefly next to the sun. 'That's our mentor for you.' As Red Sword accepted this truth— "......!" The remaining Plum Blossom Swordsmen were bewildered by the technique Chun Hui had just demonstrated. Stunned by the martial prowess they had never seen before, they quickly turned to Seol Ran, assuming she might know more about the situation. "Sister, what is that?" "Did our sect ever have such techniques?" "Do you know, sister?" Seol Ran shook her head in response to her senior brothers' questions. "I don't know either." Her mouth felt dry as dust. 'The foes that overwhelmed us were all dealt with in the blink of an eye.' She, too, just like the other Plum Blossom Swordsmen, felt her heart pounding with amazement. 'What I've seen of Elder Chun Hui was not everything. Just how far does his ability reach?' Her eyes, fixed on Chun Hui, shone with deepened respect. Just then. **Whoosh!** Chun Hui's figure vanished. "......!" The Charging Regiment members widened their eyes at the sudden disappearance of Chun Hui's form. **Swish!** Quickly following the sound of air being cleaved, sharp noises cut through the air behind them. **Bang!** Their bodies bent as if sliced by a sickle. Appearing and disappearing like a mirage, Chun Hui moved among them effortlessly, ending their lives one by one. "Th-the Conquering Sight Formation..." The Mountain-Crushing Fist stood aghast, mouth agape. The Conquering Sight Formation was a battle array designed to amplify the inner strength of the regiment members. 'To break it with sheer power...' A chill ran down his spine. Could even he overpower the Conquering Sight Formation with force alone? He shook his head. Though he possessed enough inner strength for an entire house, the formation was sustained by over fifty members. "If this continues..." Realizing that both he and the Charging Regiment were rapidly being outmaneuvered, the Mountain-Crushing Fist hastily gathered his inner energy. He then focused his gaze on Chun Hui, who was slaughtering his men, and waited for an opening. 'Only one chance for a decisive strike!' His eyes narrowed to slits. There remained only one method. The execution of the ultimate technique that had earned him the moniker "Mountain-Crushing Fist" in the past—the Heavenly True Fist. As he gathered all his inner energy into his fist, he watched Chun Hui closely. 'Now!' The instant Chun Hui gripped a Charging Regiment member's neck, he pounced, kicking off the ground with full force. With it, he launched his formidable right fist. **Whoooooooooosh!** A fierce storm arose. A tremendous palm projection surged forth like a wave to engulf Chun Hui. "Been wondering when you'd show up," Chun Hui remarked, waving his hand lazily. **Boom!** The air between them exploded. "......!" The Mountain-Crushing Fist's jaw dropped open. The Heavenly True Fist, unleashed with all his strength, was neutralized mid-air by a mere gesture. "Unbelievable..." As the Mountain-Crushing Fist stood in shock, Chun Hui reached out and grasped his throat. "Ugh!" The Mountain-Crushing Fist desperately gripped Chun Hui's right hand with both hands, trying to break free. "Hrk, hrk!" As Chun Hui observed the veins bulging on the man's forearms, he tilted his head slightly and murmured. "Why are they so weak?" "......!" The Mountain-Crushing Fist glared with wide eyes. What kind of statement was that? 'Weak? It's you who's monstrously strong!' "Mm, mmph!" Yet his thoughts were stifled by the hand gripping his throat, unable to translate into words. "Not even rousing." Watching the Mountain-Crushing Fist struggle pitifully, Chun Hui tightened his grip. **Snap—crack!** His neck bones shattered, and he died instantly. After one last glance at the lifeless eyes of the Mountain-Crushing Fist, Chun Hui tossed him aside. The corpse flew a short distance, landing in the center of the Charging Regiment members. **Gulp—** They swallowed hard, rendered speechless by the sight of their master's lifeless body.