Chapter 196 : The Cult Leader’s Decision

Palmi ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Venerable was completely out of his mind.

Yul ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Han’s attacks had neither a fixed form nor a pattern.

Just ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍when I thought it was one martial art, another burst out; just when I thought it would come from here, a blade flew from over there.

If ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I barely dodged, before I knew it, a kick came flying into that very spot.

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍some point, the only thing Palmi Venerable could do was to endure attacks that didn’t seem fatal by trusting his Protective Energy Barrier and taking them with his body, while desperately dodging only those that felt like they would kill him.

Counterattacking, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍fighting back—everything was impossible.

This was not an opponent he could face.

Even with a completed body, to be reduced to this—Palmi Venerable felt shock and despair.

Piercing through that brief moment of despair, Yul Han’s sword dug into Palmi Venerable’s chest.

Thud!

The sword drove in so deeply that it reached the end of the hilt, and the force contained within it churned through Palmi Venerable’s body.

At the moment when I felt a sense of self-loathing, wondering if this body, perfected by severing nearly a million lives, amounted to nothing more than this—

Palmi Venerable’s eyes snapped open.

Something he had failed to realize bloomed within his despair.

Sensing that Palmi Venerable was about to cause something, Yul Han’s Lightning Cloud Blade struck down like lightning.

Kwarrrrr—

So much power was contained within it that thunder and lightning crashed across the area.

It was not merely the Lightning Cloud Blade—it was as if real thunder and lightning from the heavens had descended.

It struck the very spot where Palmi Venerable had been.

But at the last moment, I realized.

‘Something is wrong!’

Almost simultaneously with that thought, I clearly saw Palmi Venerable’s form scatter away like ash.

Especially his lips, forming the words:

“Let’s meet again.”

Crackle—

Lightning swept through, but by then Palmi Venerable had already dispersed completely like drifting ash.

I realized that Palmi Venerable had escaped, but to everyone else, it only appeared as if my Lightning Cloud Blade had burned him to death.

Only then did reactions erupt among those who had frozen in shock since part of the fortress wall collapsed.

Though it sounded lengthy, in reality, the time it took for me to appear, cut down the Three Venerable Demon King, and crush Palmi Venerable was no more than two deep breaths.

“V-Vice Cult Leader!”

At someone’s shout, cheers burst from the Bright Cult martial artists.

“Waaaaaa!”

To those Bright Cult martial artists, my command fell.

“Cut down the enemy!”

“Waaaaaa!”

They say battle is about momentum.

The Bright Cult martial artists, their courage multiplied, mercilessly drove back the Tibetan martial monks.

It was destructive to the point that it was hard to believe they were the same people who had just been helplessly slaughtered and pushed back.

Of course, the shock and despair of the Tibetan martial monks also played a major role.

After all, Palmi Venerable, who had led them, had been burned before their eyes by lightning.

On top of that, as I rampaged in fury, the situation spiraled out of control.

The Tibetan martial monks on the fortress wall were swept away in groups.

Even the Left-Hand Slaughter King, who had arrived a step late despite being in the Profound Realm, crossed over the wall and began hunting down the Tibetan martial monks who had infiltrated inside while assisting the Bright Cult martial artists holding the gate.

The Tibetan martial monks outside the fortress, who should have rushed to aid their comrades, suddenly fled with their tails tucked.

I realized it wasn’t mere fear that drove them to flee, but I did not pursue.

I couldn’t know what trick they might be planning to lure me outside.

Thus, as I stood atop the wall watching, the Tibetan martial monks outside fled, while those who had infiltrated inside died miserably.

My judgment was correct.

Right after I and the Possessed Martial Artists left, the masters of the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens, who had seemed to retreat, reappeared around the Ghost Lotus Sect.

The Three Venerables of the Honor Pavilion—Corpse Demon, Blade Emperor, and Dark War Emperor—were absent, but it didn’t matter much.

Among the remaining experts of the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens were many at the Transcendent Realm and Peak Master level.

They were confident they alone could wipe out the Ghost Lotus Sect now that the Bright Cult’s reinforcements had left.

That confidence led to misjudgment.

One shijin after a Bright Cult messenger entered the Ghost Lotus Sect—

After confirming that enough time had passed for the reinforcements to leave, and that some martial artists had hurriedly departed the sect—

Although fewer had left than entered, they judged that acceptable, their confidence again the root.

“Attack!”

At the command of the Deputy Pavilion Lord of the Honor Pavilion, around fifty Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens masters leapt over the walls of the Ghost Lotus Sect.

And battle erupted immediately.

They had expected a one-sided slaughter.

But the moment they crossed the walls, they realized the one-sidedness was against them.

Inside stood Pageuk, who had reached the Profound Realm, and Mahwa, along with five Transcendent Realm masters and nine Peak Masters.

They were the Thirteen Bloods.

It wasn’t only Iron Shatter Blood, Ghost Spirit Blood, Flashing Light Blood, and Cold Blade Blood—who had already reached the Transcendent Realm—that were dangerous.

All of the Thirteen Bloods were top-tier Peak Masters on the verge of the Transcendent Realm, directly trained by the Vice Cult Leader.

Fifteen Bright Cult masters, including the Thirteen Bloods, overwhelmingly suppressed fifty Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens masters.

The Ghost Lotus Sect martial artists, who had been lined up in tense formation, didn’t even get the chance to step in—the attacks of the Bright Cult were savage and relentless.

Because they vented all the anger and resentment of being unable to rush to the aid of the main fortress.

As a result, none of the corpses of the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens masters who crossed the wall remained intact.

Each had been stabbed at least five or six times, and in some cases dozens, shredded beyond recognition.

It showed just how furious Mahwa and the Thirteen Bloods were.

As fierce as the traditional Bright Cult martial artists, Pageuk also rampaged wildly.

I was enraged that I had been held back here instead of protecting Namgung Hee-yeon, my lord’s woman.

The Deputy Pavilion Lord, who had been on the verge of the Profound Realm, was shredded under Pageuk’s blade.

Even then, it seemed not enough—Pageuk roared viciously.

“Chop them all to pieces!”

Stimulated by his ferocity, terrifying demonic energy burst forth from the Thirteen Bloods.

The Ghost Lotus Sect martial artists watched in terror as they rampaged like fiends.

The Tibetan martial monks did not retreat briefly.

They withdrew far, as if returning to Tibet.

The agents of the Institute of Reason, battered and wounded, followed them from a distance.

Though they had lost many comrades and suffered injuries themselves, they could not neglect their mission.

As the Tibetan martial monks withdrew, I left the main fortress after organizing the battlefield and sought out the Kunlun martial artists who were tending to their wounds at a distance.

“Thank you for your assistance.”

As I cupped my fists respectfully, Shin Jijinren returned the gesture.

“It is the tradition of the Central Plains Martial World to unite against foreign invasion. Do not trouble yourself.”

He was right. The issue was timing.

Knowing that, I could easily infer how great a decision Kunlun had made.

That was why.

“I promise this—if Kunlun faces difficulty from foreign invasion in the future, the Bright Cult will never turn away.”

“Those are grateful words. I will remember them.”

Nodding at Shin Jijinren’s calm reply, I swept my gaze over the injured Kunlun martial artists groaning in pain.

“You’ve suffered greatly.”

“The enemy was too strong.”

Shin Jijinren glanced at me anew, recalling how I had easily eliminated that powerful enemy.

Feeling burdened by that gaze, I turned my eyes—and spotted someone unexpected.

“Venerable.”

“It has been a while. Amitabha.”

Venerable Miru pressed his palms together.

“How did you come to be here?”

It was Shin Jijinren who answered.

“He was the one who informed Kunlun of the Potala Palace’s invasion.”

“Then the Heavenly Dragon Temple…?”

“Yes. They stood against the injustice, but were outnumbered…”

A bitter smile appeared on Venerable Miru’s face, filled with sorrow and loss.

It seemed that most of the Heavenly Dragon Temple martial monks, except those present here, had been killed.

Though it wasn’t even an attack against themselves, they had suffered such losses to stop the advance toward the Central Plains.

At their righteousness, I bowed deeply.

“I am unworthy, but on behalf of the Central Plains, I offer my deepest gratitude and condolences.”

“I will remember your words deeply, Vice Cult Leader.”

Venerable Miru asked, meeting my firm gaze.

“Now that it has been blocked, will it end here?”

At that question filled with lingering regret, I smiled coldly.

“The Bright Cult does not leave grudges unpaid.”

“Meaning…?”

“If we’ve received, we repay. Immediately—with double, triple interest added!”

At my resolve to punish the Potala Palace, Venerable Miru’s face brightened.

He likely saw hope for rebuilding the Heavenly Dragon Temple.

I placed a hand on his shoulder.

A sign that I would help.

At that, the faces of the Heavenly Dragon Temple martial monks brightened.

Their decision to block the Potala Palace had not been in vain.

Preparing for contingencies, I remained at the main fortress and sent the Possessed Martial Artists to Cheonghajin, where the Cult Leader was.

Their mission was simple.

Assist the Cult Leader.

When they arrived, the Cult Leader immediately left Cheonghajin.

He personally sought out the steppe tribes that had pinned him down.

That day, the heads of thirty-two tribal chiefs and warrior chiefs of the steppe tribes were severed.

The Cult Leader rampaged with demonic energy spread like wings.

Rumors spread among the scattered steppe warriors.

<The Tengri of southern Xinjiang has descended.>

Tengri was a god revered among the steppe tribes.

In other words, they mistook the Cult Leader for a god.

That was how overwhelming his combat power was.

Soon, with five thousand surviving cavalry of Cheonghajin, the Cult Leader moved.

He did not return to the Bright Cult as expected.

Instead, he appeared at the Fire Ghost Unit—one of the Five Regions of Xinjiang.

The Fire Ghost Unit, which had allied with the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens, was engulfed in flames.

One thousand five hundred martial artists and seven thousand of their families were thrown into the fire.

After annihilating them, the Cult Leader crossed into Qinghai.

The Ghost Lotus Sect joined him.

The Cult Leader permitted it.

Soon, rumors spread—

The Cult Leader, leading the forces of Cheonghajin and the Ghost Lotus Sect, had crossed into Qinghai.

The Nine Demonic Sects of Qinghai fell into fear.

The Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens, which had promised strength, did not appear.

Betrayal.

They realized they had been betrayed as well.

The Temple of the Mad Gale rushed first.

Begging for mercy, the sect leader’s head was cut off on the spot—along with all masters of Unit Commander rank and above.

The rest were spared.

“Serve loyally and atone.”

At the Cult Leader’s command, they smashed their foreheads against the ground and swore loyalty.

Next came the Fierce Camel Alliance.

Gwang Woong’s head fell, along with fifteen bandit leaders.

The rest were absorbed into the army.

No more came.

They realized surrender would not save them.

After waiting two more days—

The Cult Leader’s sword was drawn once more.