The Illusion King stared at Geom Mugeuk with an expression of utter disbelief.
‘He broke through all those gates?’
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader said to the Illusion King, “Didn’t I tell you? It’s because you don’t know this man.”
The Demon Buddha's gate had been difficult, but he had been certain that the gate blocking Geom Mugeuk was absolutely impassable.
Especially when he thought of the gate with the Blood Venom Giant Serpent.
“You can’t pass without a body invulnerable to all poisons.”
He thought Geom Mugeuk wouldn't even attempt it because of the poison.
That was why he had judged that he could tie up the Young Cult Master without killing him.
Geom Mugeuk stood side-by-side with the Wind Heaven Sect Leader and said, “It’s because I’m close with the Poison King.”
The Demon Buddha also stood beside the Wind Heaven Sect Leader. “I’m close with the Poison King too.”
Seeing the two men standing reliably to his left and right, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader felt a joy he had never experienced in his life.
Just a moment ago, he had been prepared for death.
Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Buddha were the ones who had rushed to save him from that desperate situation.
How could words possibly express this overwhelming emotion?
After the rush of joy, the next feeling that washed over him was this.
‘The Young Cult Master is here!’
For some reason, he had faith that Geom Mugeuk could rescue So Baek-ta.
Wasn't that why he had gotten entangled with him, chanting Second Young Master, Second Young Master, Young Cult Master, Young Cult Master?
‘Young Cult Master, I beg of you.’
As if to show that his joy and faith were not in vain, Geom Mugeuk’s next action swept the Wind Heaven Sect Leader into an even greater storm of emotion.
Geom Mugeuk secretly placed a hand on his back and began to treat his internal injuries by sending in a stream of inner energy.
‘You truly are!’
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader could now be certain.
This man, Geom Mugeuk, was a different kind of person.
His consideration in worrying about his internal injuries at this moment, and his boldness in infusing inner energy while standing.
In this situation, it was something an ordinary person could not even think of doing.
Thanks to this, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader’s insides grew calm, and his complexion improved.
Finally, Geom Mugeuk’s telepathic message arrived.
—It is fine if we lose him, so please do not overexert yourself.
To Geom Mugeuk, chasing the Illusion King and saving So Baek-ta were important, but the Wind Heaven Sect Leader’s safety was the most important.
The Illusion King was completely hidden behind So Baek-ta.
So Baek-ta was still a hostage, but his expression was brighter than ever.
‘Since those two are here, Master will be safe.’
As happy as he was, his heart was also heavy.
If the three of them attacked together, how could the Illusion King possibly withstand it? The problem was himself.
As his face flushed with shame, Geom Mugeuk comforted him. “The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign was defeated at the Main Sect, and the Martial Alliance Leader’s grandson was also defeated. You have no need to be ashamed. It’s because they approached so meticulously.”
The Illusion King brought a finger to So Baek-ta’s neck and threatened him. “Leave now. If you don’t want to kill your disciple.”
It looked as if his finger would pierce So Baek-ta’s neck at any moment.
Geom Mugeuk said to the Wind Heaven Sect Leader, “The Main Sect has other disciples, so it should be fine if we lose one, shouldn't it?”
Before the Wind Heaven Sect Leader could answer, the Illusion King spoke first. “Your bluff won't work. I already know how much the Sect Leader treasures his disciple.”
The Illusion King was getting anxious.
The three men standing before him were people he could not afford to be careless against even in a one-on-one fight.
What was fortunate for him was that the Wind Heaven Sect Leader was internally injured, and the other two must have also expended a lot of their inner energy.
They had rushed here, so they wouldn’t have had time to recover their inner energy.
But even so, facing three people alone was not easy.
Even if the sum of their inner energy was less than his, how could that possibly be an advantageous situation for him? His opponents were supreme masters from whom one couldn’t predict what would emerge even from a sliver of inner energy.
To the Illusion King’s threat, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader showed an unexpected reaction. “Given who our opponent is, let's say our goodbyes in advance. I'm sorry I couldn't save you.”
Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Buddha glanced at the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
They sensed this was not some scheme to save his disciple.
He was truly saying farewell to his disciple.
From the gaze directed at him, So Baek-ta felt his master’s heart.
These words would be more than enough for him.
“Even if I were to be reborn, I would live my life to become Master’s disciple again.”
As the two of them acted this way, the Illusion King’s expression naturally hardened.
The more So Baek-ta lost his value as a hostage, the higher the probability of his own death would become.
If the Wind Heaven Sect Leader weren't here, he might be able to escape with his Illusion Arts.
But because the Wind Heaven Sect Leader was here, even that would not be easy.
In such a situation, he couldn’t rashly leave this space.
His martial arts were far more powerful in this space than fighting outside.
What he trusted was the legacy of the Blood Sect, this very place.
“Are you going to stoop to fighting three against one?”
The one who responded to the Illusion King's words was So Baek-ta. “You coward! How can you say that while hiding behind me? Kill me and then kill yourself. You and I, both pathetic lives, let's die together!”
Ignoring his words, the Illusion King looked at Geom Mugeuk.
His gaze seemed to say, "The decision is yours anyway."
Geom Mugeuk shook his head.
“Don’t look at me. Frankly, the person you’re holding hostage isn't important to me. If you were going to take a hostage, you should have taken one of these two gentlemen….”
He turned his head toward the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
The Illusion King’s gaze naturally followed his, and at that very moment.
Geom Mugeuk’s figure flashed as he charged toward the Illusion King.
Swaaaaaa.
It was a surprise attack, timed for the very moment it seemed he would not attack.
It was an attack that showed he didn’t care if So Baek-ta died.
The Illusion King was caught off guard, not expecting an attack at this moment.
He instinctively started to kill So Baek-ta but then gave up.
Geom Mugeuk’s movement was so fast that he felt he would lose at least an arm.
If his instincts had worked properly, he should have used So Baek-ta as a shield instead of dodging.
In the moment the Illusion King vanished, Geom Mugeuk grabbed So Baek-ta and dashed backward.
Swish, swish, swish!
He swung his sword toward the spot where he was about to land, considering the possibility that the Illusion King might have hidden there.
Just then, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader shouted, “Danger!”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader thrust out a palm.
The place his palm strike was aimed at was So Baek-ta’s shadow.
The Illusion King, who had been hiding in So Baek-ta’s shadow, was rising to launch a surprise attack on Geom Mugeuk.
Thwack!
The shadow vanished, and So Baek-ta’s shadow returned to normal.
Geom Mugeuk quickly released the seal on So Baek-ta’s inner energy.
Only then could he use his inner energy.
Thanks to Geom Mugeuk's bold decision, they had succeeded in rescuing So Baek-ta.
But there was no time to share the joy of his rescue.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader signaled to everyone that the Illusion King was hiding in this space.
The Illusion King’s stealth was truly at its peak.
The Blood Wind Hidden Shadow Art he was using was a martial art at the pinnacle of the Blood Sect’s stealth techniques.
In terms of stealth alone, his skills were not at all inferior to those of Hwi, his father’s guard.
Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathic message to the Demon Buddha.
—I need some light!
The Demon Buddha quickly formed a hand seal.
Radiant Dharma Seal!
Light erupted from the Demon Buddha’s body, illuminating the space.
In that fleeting moment, Geom Mugeuk activated his Divine Eye Technique.
And he saw it.
A spot where the light reflected differently from everywhere else.
Swoosh.
Splat!
Blood splattered in the air, and the Illusion King’s form was revealed.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader rushed in to pull him out, but he managed to hide again by a hair’s breadth.
However, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader plunged his hand into the empty air again and dragged him out.
Thwack, thwack, thwack!
The revealed Illusion King and the Wind Heaven Sect Leader exchanged palm strikes in mid-air.
The Illusion King was not pushed back by the Wind Heaven Sect Leader at all.
Due to his internal injuries, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader was actually at a disadvantage in terms of inner energy.
Therefore, Geom Mugeuk flew forward to assist him.
The Demon Buddha moved in front of So Baek-ta to protect him, as the Illusion King might target him again.
The Illusion King put all his strength into a twin palm strike.
Kwaang! Kwang!
The Illusion King, after pushing back Geom Mugeuk and the Wind Heaven Sect Leader, unleashed his trump card.
If he held back his secret technique, he would die without ever getting to use it.
Whoosh.
A blood-red mist enveloped the Illusion King's body, and when the mist dissipated, his appearance had changed.
His skin had turned as if made of red steel.
His eyes had also turned crimson, emitting a dreadful blood qi.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader, recognizing the martial art the Illusion King had unleashed, shouted a warning. “Be careful! That's the Iron Blood Heaven-Shattering Art!”
The Blood Sect’s demonic arts had various schools and branches.
The demonic art the Illusion King had inherited was from the Blood Spirit Art lineage.
The Iron Blood Heaven-Shattering Art was the final secret technique of the Blood Spirit Art, which drew out all the body's inner energy and blood qi to make the body like steel for a certain period while simultaneously exerting several times its original power.
Unleashed in this space, its power was even greater.
Swaaaaaa!
The Illusion King charged toward Geom Mugeuk without hesitation.
Wham, wham, wham, wham, wham!
The Illusion King rushed in, delivering a continuous barrage of punches.
It was so fast and powerful that there was no time to use a sword.
Geom Mugeuk raised his protective energy and fought back with his fist technique.
As it was the Illusion King’s final secret technique, the impact that coursed through his entire body with each punch was enormous.
Geom Mugeuk unleashed Diamond Asura, the defensive form of the Thunder Asura Fist, and also activated the Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art.
He was hard-pressed just to block, let alone attack.
The formless energy that flew from the Wind Heaven Sect Leader’s hand accurately struck the Illusion King’s back.
However, the Illusion King only staggered for a moment and did not stop his attack.
He poured everything he had into Geom Mugeuk.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
The Demon Buddha did not stand idly by either.
Radiant Killing Seal!
A force of energy swirled.
Just before it hit, the Illusion King dodged to the side.
The force then flew straight toward Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk also dodged in the opposite direction.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
The spot where they had been was swept away.
The Illusion King immediately flew at Geom Mugeuk again.
Using the Iron Blood Heaven-Shattering Art, the Illusion King was keeping up with the movements of the Four Divine Wind Steps.
The Illusion King was aiming only for Geom Mugeuk.
He knew.
Among the four of them, Geom Mugeuk was the most threatening.
He knew that once the Nine Calamities Demon Art was unleashed, the Blood Sect's demonic arts could never block it.
That was why he was trying to kill Geom Mugeuk first, no matter what.
So Baek-ta also looked for an opportunity to attack, but with Geom Mugeuk and the Illusion King entangled in battle, he could not attack recklessly.
The Demon Buddha looked at the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
His gaze revealed his intentions.
The moment the Wind Heaven Sect Leader recited the formula!
The Illusion King tried to sink into somewhere but then shot up.
A black hole had appeared at his feet.
It wasn't a trap to make him fall.
Its purpose was to make him pause his attack for just a moment.
That fleeting moment was enough.
Just as Geom Mugeuk leaped back to create distance!
The Demon Buddha’s hand seal was complete.
Demon Palm Annihilation Seal!
A giant palm slammed down on the Illusion King.
Kwaaaaaang!
But the Illusion King raised both hands and blocked it.
Both the Demon Buddha and the Illusion King raised their inner energy.
Just as the one pressing down and the one resisting were locked in a stalemate, the situation the Illusion King had feared most unfolded.
From Geom Mugeuk, who had bought himself distance and time, the First Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art—Annihilation Form—was unleashed.
Shuk! Shuk! Shuk! Shuk!
Four evil spirits appeared from the east, west, south, and north, and slashed at the Illusion King.
Craaack!
A sound like shattering ice was heard, and the red skin on his body cracked like pieces of metal and began to crumble away.
The person revealed from within was the Illusion King.
Standing there with a pale face, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The combined attack of Geom Mugeuk, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader, and the Demon Buddha moments ago had been as perfect as if they had practiced it countless times, but it was a combination unleashed with spontaneous wit.
With opponents like Geom Mugeuk, the Demon Buddha, and the Wind Heaven Sect Leader, the fight was not going to proceed as he wished.
Sssssst!
Despite his serious injuries, he vanished suddenly, and in his place, three doors appeared.
Even while watching it with his own eyes, his mastery of Illusion Arts, which had reached the ultimate state, was admirable.
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Wind Heaven Sect Leader and said seriously, “You cannot go alone this time.”
“I won’t go even if you push me.”
“Which door should we take?”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader fell into thought for a moment, then pointed to the third door.
“That way.”
The four of them flew toward the door in a line.
After they disappeared, something amazing happened.
Sssssst.
The Illusion King reappeared in that spot.
He quickly made all three of the doors he had summoned disappear.
Only then did he cough up a bowlful of blood.
He had suffered severe internal injuries as the Iron Blood Heaven-Shattering Art was broken.
But on the Illusion King’s face was a smile of accomplishment.
“Whichever door they enter, they will be led to the last remaining gate of this place. It will take them at least two hours to get out.”
It was the Illusion King's trick.
They had entered through three doors before.
He might not have fled through those doors, and he had used the three doors to create that illusion.
First, he would escape this place and run far away where they couldn't find him.
Next time, I will definitely get my revenge!
Just as he was about to recite the formula to leave this place.
Puuuk!
A single sword pierced his heart.
When the Illusion King looked up, Geom Mugeuk was standing before him.
Beside him were the Wind Heaven Sect Leader, the Demon Buddha, and So Baek-ta.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader said to the Illusion King, “I saw through your trick.”
While pretending to enter the door, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader took the three of them into the Space-Time Displacement Art.
Just as Geom Mugeuk had tricked So Baek-ta with the Space-Time Displacement Art earlier, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader had tricked the Illusion King.
Just as the Illusion King was about to part his lips to say something, Geom Mugeuk’s consistent attitude when dealing with villains was no different for the Illusion King.
There was no need to listen to the curses that villains leave behind before they die.
Swiiiiiish!
Shuk!
Without hesitation, Geom Mugeuk pulled out the sword embedded in his heart and sliced off his neck.
The Illusion King's head, eyes wide open, rolled across the floor.
This was the moment the Illusion King was finally eliminated.
“First, let’s get out of here.”
When the Wind Heaven Sect Leader recited the formula, the four of them were standing in front of the painting.
Everyone let out a light sigh, thinking that they had finally escaped from this dreadful painting.
So Baek-ta prostrated himself before the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
“Master.”
A flood of emotions washed over him.
He truly hadn't thought he would live.
He was so grateful to his master who had risked his life to come and save him.
He was also grateful to Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Buddha.
After expressing his gratitude to everyone, he conveyed his true feelings to his master.
“Inside the illusion, I vowed countless times. If I survived, I would live for you, Master. Please, just say the word. I will live the rest of my life according to your will.”
Then, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader spoke with a gentle gaze and a calm tone, “Do you think that’s what I want? If I were that kind of person, would I have abandoned my position as Sect Leader and left?”
“…Master.”
“You must live for yourself. If you live as the Wind Heaven Sect Leader, you'll be living for the you who became the Sect Leader. If you run away like me, you'll be living for the you who ran away.”
The last thing the Wind Heaven Sect Leader had to say was this.
It was also something he was saying to himself.
“Even if you run away, try to live diligently, and then run away.”
So Baek-ta could not lift his head.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader helped his disciple to his feet.
Geom Mugeuk, who had been watching the two, crumpled up the painting of the Illusion King and placed it on his palm.
Fwoosh.
As he looked up at the ashes rising as they burned in the Samadhi True Fire, Geom Mugeuk said, “Don't believe in secret societies for the revival of the Blood Sect anymore. From today on, it's all conspiracy theories and rumors.”