Chapter 454

Chapter 454

The followers who didn’t raise their heads pressed their foreheads to the ground and trembled.

Thud thud thud…

Human fragments continued falling above them.

The amount of fragments gradually decreased.

That meant the number of followers raising their heads was decreasing.

Before long, Jin Ja-gang could pass by the followers without even swinging Asura Scripture.

Just like Yelu Huan walking through the prostrated followers, he could walk without any resistance.

Two people walking through prostrated people, it was quite a strange sight.

Yelu Huan’s plan to have hundreds of followers block the path had completely fallen through.

Anyone in the martial world would feel psychological burden if told to kill hundreds, but Jin Ja-gang did not.

Moreover, because he turned those who rushed at him into poison or fragments, they couldn’t even physically block or cling to delay him.

Yelu Huan’s face hardened severely. However, he didn’t stop and kept walking. Now, no matter who looked, it clearly seemed like he was avoiding Jin Ja-gang.

Midway, Yelu Huan changed direction. Leaving the flat road, he entered a narrow mountain path. Jin Ja-gang also followed behind Yelu Huan.

The followers, frightened, couldn’t even look back and simply remained prostrated like that.

***

Yelu Huan continued climbing the mountain until a suitable clearing appeared.

Jin Ja-gang, who had been following while gasping for breath, said.

“This seems enough, so please stop going. It’s hard to follow too.”

Only then did Yelu Huan stop walking and turn around.

Jin Ja-gang knew he had climbed the mountain to avoid the followers’ attention.

“Should I thank you for following even though you knew?”

“You don’t need to ask that. If you’re grateful, just say thank you.”

“Thank you.”

“Understood.”

Yelu Huan looked at Jin Ja-gang for a long while.

“You’re truly remarkable. If we hadn’t met as enemies, we could have had a good relationship.”

Jin Ja-gang answered while touching his throbbing ribs and pierced side.

“Even now, we don’t have to be enemies.”

“Well. For that, one of two things must be possible.”

“Speak.”

“First, you must join the Zoroastrian Cult.”

“That won’t work.”

“Do you also think our Zoroastrian Cult is an evil cult? Though our influence in the Central Plains has greatly diminished, we are the origin and root of all religions.”

“I don’t know that much. It’s just that I plan to retire after my revenge, so I have no intention of being bound.”

“Retire?”

Yelu Huan made a slightly absurd expression, then shook his head.

“Then there’s no need to hear the second option.”

“What’s the second?”

“You become the Cult Leader of our religion.”

“So that’s what you meant by no need to hear it. Not only do I know nothing about the Zoroastrian Cult, I can’t take responsibility for the peaceful rest of all those dead people.”

Yelu Huan smiled very faintly.

“Do you think you can avoid it?”

“What do you mean?”

Yelu Huan spoke with deep eyes.

“A storm is coming. A massive storm sweeping through the martial world. Then inevitably, those who lose their way will emerge. Now, where will those shipwrecked and drifted go?”

Jin Ja-gang just listened impassively.

Yelu Huan continued.

“If our Zoroastrian Cult had become Sichuan’s breakwater, you wouldn’t have had to worry at all. But by not doing so, you and the Tang Family will face the storm head-on.”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“Hiding behind others, or borrowing others’ strength to achieve my goals… I’ve known for a while how futile that is. Unless you build your own strength and fight even if it’s difficult, you’ll eventually just become someone else’s prey.”

“Sometimes compromise is advantageous.”

“I won’t deny that either. However, I try not to compromise for my own benefit.”

“It will become very troublesome.”

“That troublesome moment might be the only opportunity left to me. If so, being troubled is better than dying without trying anything.”

Yelu Huan asked with a different attitude than before.

“I respect your thoughts. Then what’s the way to not be enemies, as you say?”

“I’ll take back my words about never letting anyone live who said they’d settle things later. Return.”

Jin Ja-gang said.

“Return without wanting anything from me or the Tang Family. Don’t try to exploit the chaos in the martial world, and don’t instigate chaos either. Isn’t that degree possible if you abandon greed?”

“Impossible.”

“Why?”

“I inherited the position of Cult Leader because there was the fervor of followers who desire the expansion of our influence in the Central Plains. We must save more people and pray for the descent of the good god. So that countless people can receive eternal life and enjoy great blessings in that world.”

“Then isn’t the method wrong?”

“The eyes that view methods differ between those standing at the forefront of standards and those standing on the opposite side.”

“In the end, the conclusion is…”

“Mutual impossibility.”

“Then one of us must die here.”

Jin Ja-gang drew poison up from his dantian. He clasped both hands together and raised heat with Scorching Twin Phosphor Palm. A faint heat haze rose from Jin Ja-gang’s body.

The color of blood flowing from Jin Ja-gang’s body deepened, and hazy blood mist began forming.

He had created poison mist.

In response, Yelu Huan also raised his internal energy and lifted the Persian Ancient Sword.

He couldn’t face Jin Ja-gang wrapped in poison mist barehanded. The more he attacked, the more Yelu Huan would be harmed by the poison mist instead.

Soon the inscriptions engraved on the Persian Ancient Sword glittered and clear sword energy emerged. The sword energy gradually thickened then thinned, becoming extremely condensed into a finger-thick sword force.

“Forgive me. I myself cannot keep my word and am speaking from both sides of my mouth.”

Using sword force meant Yelu Huan would no longer look back. Kill Jin Ja-gang before using up all his internal energy, or exhaust all internal energy and be defeated by Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“I forgive you.”

Objectively, his martial prowess was much higher, and looking at the damage sustained, Yelu Huan was in an absolutely advantageous situation. However, Yelu Huan showed a humble attitude as if facing a master stronger than himself.

Yelu Huan confronted Jin Ja-gang, circling around.

Click.

The moment Asura Scripture was released from Jin Ja-gang’s wrist, Yelu Huan flicked his finger.

Pierce!

Lightning Thunder Extreme Point’s finger wind pierced a hole in Jin Ja-gang’s right shoulder. Jin Ja-gang didn’t dodge. He widened his eyes and watched Yelu Huan’s actions closely.

The moment Yelu Huan shot Lightning Thunder Extreme Point, he rotated his upper body greatly and swung the Persian Ancient Sword. Jin Ja-gang rather leaned to the right where he was hit. The sword force Yelu Huan released instantly lengthened several times and grazed Jin Ja-gang’s left side.

Boom! Space was cut at tremendous speed. With complete spatial severance, even sound didn’t reach Jin Ja-gang’s side. However, on the opposite side, the forest trembled from the sound of splitting air.

Even the trees behind were cut together and fell.

Thud, crash.

Heaven-Shocking Single Energy Technique.

It happened in less than a blink of an eye. Yelu Huan had put tremendous effort into that single strike just now. If he had tried to dodge Lightning Thunder Extreme Point, some part would have been cut off.

Belatedly, the severance was restored and thunder rang out.

Rumble!

Jin Ja-gang shot Asura Scripture at the ground. Asura Scripture, which had burrowed into the ground, emerged from beneath Yelu Huan’s feet. Yelu Huan swung the Persian Ancient Sword downward. The ground in front of his feet was gouged out and Asura Scripture was caught in the Persian Ancient Sword’s energy and dragged out.

Jin Ja-gang supported his right arm, which couldn’t move because his shoulder was penetrated, with his left arm and drew up internal energy.

Asura World-Destroying Soul!

Asura Scripture whipped about wildly.

Crackle! Asura Scripture caught in the sword energy carried Jin Ja-gang’s internal energy and clashed violently. That created vibrations that were transmitted to both Yelu Huan and Jin Ja-gang.

Yelu Huan gripped the Persian Ancient Sword with both hands and endured. Jin Ja-gang’s arms trembled violently. Yelu Huan rotated the Persian Ancient Sword with his wrist and knocked away the whipping Asura Scripture.

Clang clang! Clang!

Then at some point, the Asura Scripture strands began snapping one by one.

Gulp. Jin Ja-gang vomited blood. The internal energy connected to Asura Scripture was shocked and his internal injuries worsened. Jin Ja-gang nearly fell but barely maintained his balance and extended his left hand to the sky.

Asura Scripture wrapped around a tree, spun around, and poured down onto Yelu Huan from above. Yelu Huan’s arms multiplied into dozens. The multiplied arms moved in round circles.

Zoroastrian Cult Secret Transmission, Four Heavens Mandala!

He swung the Persian Ancient Sword at tremendous speed and knocked away all the Asura Scripture pouring down like dots.

The deflected Asura Scripture lost strength and fluttered in midair.

Yelu Huan slashed at Jin Ja-gang with sword energy. Jin Ja-gang again created a wall of Asura Scripture in front with Asura World-Destroying Soul. The Persian Ancient Sword’s energy was drawn as if to cut both Asura Scripture and Jin Ja-gang simultaneously, but it only deflected Asura Scripture and didn’t reach Jin Ja-gang.

Asura Scripture was becoming Jin Ja-gang’s defensive barrier.

Yelu Huan leaped into the air to deal with the cumbersome Asura Scripture first. The deflected Asura Scripture had briefly lost strength and was fluttering. Yelu Huan cut Asura Scripture with sword energy. Even Asura Scripture that had endured once couldn’t withstand sword energy in its weakened state and was cut.

Yelu Huan leaped again, turned his head downward from the sky, and plunged toward Jin Ja-gang while thrusting sword energy downward.

Jin Ja-gang took a deep breath and gathered poison energy in his right palm center. Internal energy and poison mixed in the dike of his right palm center, swirling as if about to burst. He supported his right arm with his left arm and prepared to shoot a poison palm.

Yelu Huan’s falling speed accelerated further. The sword energy lengthened and penetrated Jin Ja-gang’s crown.

Squelch! The sword energy burrowed straight into the ground.

The afterimage of Jin Ja-gang pierced by sword energy faded.

Reverse Afterimage Soul Body Technique.

Jin Ja-gang appeared behind Yelu Huan and extended his right arm downward. Yelu Huan turned his body and met Jin Ja-gang’s right palm with his left palm.

Thwack!

Blood spray arose and poison mist spread. In exchange, Jin Ja-gang’s right arm dislocated again.

Yelu Huan stopped breathing and swung his right arm to slash Jin Ja-gang’s neck with the Persian Ancient Sword. Jin Ja-gang released energy from his left fingertips and pressed on Yelu Huan’s right elbow.

Thud!

The elbow swelled up then bent in the opposite direction with a crack. The Persian Ancient Sword spun away. Jin Ja-gang headbutted Yelu Huan’s face.

The blood flowing from wounds on Jin Ja-gang’s face… the poison… splattered onto Yelu Huan’s face. Yelu Huan’s neck tilted back. Even in the midst of that, Yelu Huan grabbed Jin Ja-gang’s left shoulder with his left hand that had met Jin Ja-gang’s palm.

Jin Ja-gang pressed Yelu Huan’s chest with his left hand.

The energy release from Jin Ja-gang’s hand and Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder bone crushing occurred almost simultaneously.

Crunch!

Jin Ja-gang’s left shoulder bone was crushed, and Yelu Huan fell with his chest bone shattered.

Crash!

Yelu Huan crashed into the ground and vomited blood, and Jin Ja-gang also fell and rolled on the ground.

Jin Ja-gang knelt and vomited blood again.

A hole in his right shoulder with the arm dislocated, and his left shoulder bone shattered. He couldn’t raise either arm.

Yelu Huan’s right elbow was broken so he couldn’t use his hand, and his left palm was poisoned from meeting the poison palm, with skin peeling and pus flowing. His chest was dented and he gasped for breath. Most of all, poison blood had splattered on his face when Jin Ja-gang headbutted him, swelling one eye and obscuring his vision so he could barely see.

Completely battered.

Truly, both were completely battered.

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The followers who didn’t raise their heads pressed their foreheads to the ground and trembled.

Thud thud thud…

Human fragments continued falling above them.

The amount of fragments gradually decreased.

That meant the number of followers raising their heads was decreasing.

Before long, Jin Ja-gang could pass by the followers without even swinging Asura Scripture.

Just like Yelu Huan walking through the prostrated followers, he could walk without any resistance.

Two people walking through prostrated people, it was quite a strange sight.

Yelu Huan’s plan to have hundreds of followers block the path had completely fallen through.

Anyone in the martial world would feel psychological burden if told to kill hundreds, but Jin Ja-gang did not.

Moreover, because he turned those who rushed at him into poison or fragments, they couldn’t even physically block or cling to delay him.

Yelu Huan’s face hardened severely. However, he didn’t stop and kept walking. Now, no matter who looked, it clearly seemed like he was avoiding Jin Ja-gang.

Midway, Yelu Huan changed direction. Leaving the flat road, he entered a narrow mountain path. Jin Ja-gang also followed behind Yelu Huan.

The followers, frightened, couldn’t even look back and simply remained prostrated like that.

***

Yelu Huan continued climbing the mountain until a suitable clearing appeared.

Jin Ja-gang, who had been following while gasping for breath, said.

“This seems enough, so please stop going. It’s hard to follow too.”

Only then did Yelu Huan stop walking and turn around.

Jin Ja-gang knew he had climbed the mountain to avoid the followers’ attention.

“Should I thank you for following even though you knew?”

“You don’t need to ask that. If you’re grateful, just say thank you.”

“Thank you.”

“Understood.”

Yelu Huan looked at Jin Ja-gang for a long while.

“You’re truly remarkable. If we hadn’t met as enemies, we could have had a good relationship.”

Jin Ja-gang answered while touching his throbbing ribs and pierced side.

“Even now, we don’t have to be enemies.”

“Well. For that, one of two things must be possible.”

“Speak.”

“First, you must join the Zoroastrian Cult.”

“That won’t work.”

“Do you also think our Zoroastrian Cult is an evil cult? Though our influence in the Central Plains has greatly diminished, we are the origin and root of all religions.”

“I don’t know that much. It’s just that I plan to retire after my revenge, so I have no intention of being bound.”

“Retire?”

Yelu Huan made a slightly absurd expression, then shook his head.

“Then there’s no need to hear the second option.”

“What’s the second?”

“You become the Cult Leader of our religion.”

“So that’s what you meant by no need to hear it. Not only do I know nothing about the Zoroastrian Cult, I can’t take responsibility for the peaceful rest of all those dead people.”

Yelu Huan smiled very faintly.

“Do you think you can avoid it?”

“What do you mean?”

Yelu Huan spoke with deep eyes.

“A storm is coming. A massive storm sweeping through the martial world. Then inevitably, those who lose their way will emerge. Now, where will those shipwrecked and drifted go?”

Jin Ja-gang just listened impassively.

Yelu Huan continued.

“If our Zoroastrian Cult had become Sichuan’s breakwater, you wouldn’t have had to worry at all. But by not doing so, you and the Tang Family will face the storm head-on.”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“Hiding behind others, or borrowing others’ strength to achieve my goals… I’ve known for a while how futile that is. Unless you build your own strength and fight even if it’s difficult, you’ll eventually just become someone else’s prey.”

“Sometimes compromise is advantageous.”

“I won’t deny that either. However, I try not to compromise for my own benefit.”

“It will become very troublesome.”

“That troublesome moment might be the only opportunity left to me. If so, being troubled is better than dying without trying anything.”

Yelu Huan asked with a different attitude than before.

“I respect your thoughts. Then what’s the way to not be enemies, as you say?”

“I’ll take back my words about never letting anyone live who said they’d settle things later. Return.”

Jin Ja-gang said.

“Return without wanting anything from me or the Tang Family. Don’t try to exploit the chaos in the martial world, and don’t instigate chaos either. Isn’t that degree possible if you abandon greed?”

“Impossible.”

“Why?”

“I inherited the position of Cult Leader because there was the fervor of followers who desire the expansion of our influence in the Central Plains. We must save more people and pray for the descent of the good god. So that countless people can receive eternal life and enjoy great blessings in that world.”

“Then isn’t the method wrong?”

“The eyes that view methods differ between those standing at the forefront of standards and those standing on the opposite side.”

“In the end, the conclusion is…”

“Mutual impossibility.”

“Then one of us must die here.”

Jin Ja-gang drew poison up from his dantian. He clasped both hands together and raised heat with Scorching Twin Phosphor Palm. A faint heat haze rose from Jin Ja-gang’s body.

The color of blood flowing from Jin Ja-gang’s body deepened, and hazy blood mist began forming.

He had created poison mist.

In response, Yelu Huan also raised his internal energy and lifted the Persian Ancient Sword.

He couldn’t face Jin Ja-gang wrapped in poison mist barehanded. The more he attacked, the more Yelu Huan would be harmed by the poison mist instead.

Soon the inscriptions engraved on the Persian Ancient Sword glittered and clear sword energy emerged. The sword energy gradually thickened then thinned, becoming extremely condensed into a finger-thick sword force.

“Forgive me. I myself cannot keep my word and am speaking from both sides of my mouth.”

Using sword force meant Yelu Huan would no longer look back. Kill Jin Ja-gang before using up all his internal energy, or exhaust all internal energy and be defeated by Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“I forgive you.”

Objectively, his martial prowess was much higher, and looking at the damage sustained, Yelu Huan was in an absolutely advantageous situation. However, Yelu Huan showed a humble attitude as if facing a master stronger than himself.

Yelu Huan confronted Jin Ja-gang, circling around.

Click.

The moment Asura Scripture was released from Jin Ja-gang’s wrist, Yelu Huan flicked his finger.

Pierce!

Lightning Thunder Extreme Point’s finger wind pierced a hole in Jin Ja-gang’s right shoulder. Jin Ja-gang didn’t dodge. He widened his eyes and watched Yelu Huan’s actions closely.

The moment Yelu Huan shot Lightning Thunder Extreme Point, he rotated his upper body greatly and swung the Persian Ancient Sword. Jin Ja-gang rather leaned to the right where he was hit. The sword force Yelu Huan released instantly lengthened several times and grazed Jin Ja-gang’s left side.

Boom! Space was cut at tremendous speed. With complete spatial severance, even sound didn’t reach Jin Ja-gang’s side. However, on the opposite side, the forest trembled from the sound of splitting air.

Even the trees behind were cut together and fell.

Thud, crash.

Heaven-Shocking Single Energy Technique.

It happened in less than a blink of an eye. Yelu Huan had put tremendous effort into that single strike just now. If he had tried to dodge Lightning Thunder Extreme Point, some part would have been cut off.

Belatedly, the severance was restored and thunder rang out.

Rumble!

Jin Ja-gang shot Asura Scripture at the ground. Asura Scripture, which had burrowed into the ground, emerged from beneath Yelu Huan’s feet. Yelu Huan swung the Persian Ancient Sword downward. The ground in front of his feet was gouged out and Asura Scripture was caught in the Persian Ancient Sword’s energy and dragged out.

Jin Ja-gang supported his right arm, which couldn’t move because his shoulder was penetrated, with his left arm and drew up internal energy.

Asura World-Destroying Soul!

Asura Scripture whipped about wildly.

Crackle! Asura Scripture caught in the sword energy carried Jin Ja-gang’s internal energy and clashed violently. That created vibrations that were transmitted to both Yelu Huan and Jin Ja-gang.

Yelu Huan gripped the Persian Ancient Sword with both hands and endured. Jin Ja-gang’s arms trembled violently. Yelu Huan rotated the Persian Ancient Sword with his wrist and knocked away the whipping Asura Scripture.

Clang clang! Clang!

Then at some point, the Asura Scripture strands began snapping one by one.

Gulp. Jin Ja-gang vomited blood. The internal energy connected to Asura Scripture was shocked and his internal injuries worsened. Jin Ja-gang nearly fell but barely maintained his balance and extended his left hand to the sky.

Asura Scripture wrapped around a tree, spun around, and poured down onto Yelu Huan from above. Yelu Huan’s arms multiplied into dozens. The multiplied arms moved in round circles.

Zoroastrian Cult Secret Transmission, Four Heavens Mandala!

He swung the Persian Ancient Sword at tremendous speed and knocked away all the Asura Scripture pouring down like dots.

The deflected Asura Scripture lost strength and fluttered in midair.

Yelu Huan slashed at Jin Ja-gang with sword energy. Jin Ja-gang again created a wall of Asura Scripture in front with Asura World-Destroying Soul. The Persian Ancient Sword’s energy was drawn as if to cut both Asura Scripture and Jin Ja-gang simultaneously, but it only deflected Asura Scripture and didn’t reach Jin Ja-gang.

Asura Scripture was becoming Jin Ja-gang’s defensive barrier.

Yelu Huan leaped into the air to deal with the cumbersome Asura Scripture first. The deflected Asura Scripture had briefly lost strength and was fluttering. Yelu Huan cut Asura Scripture with sword energy. Even Asura Scripture that had endured once couldn’t withstand sword energy in its weakened state and was cut.

Yelu Huan leaped again, turned his head downward from the sky, and plunged toward Jin Ja-gang while thrusting sword energy downward.

Jin Ja-gang took a deep breath and gathered poison energy in his right palm center. Internal energy and poison mixed in the dike of his right palm center, swirling as if about to burst. He supported his right arm with his left arm and prepared to shoot a poison palm.

Yelu Huan’s falling speed accelerated further. The sword energy lengthened and penetrated Jin Ja-gang’s crown.

Squelch! The sword energy burrowed straight into the ground.

The afterimage of Jin Ja-gang pierced by sword energy faded.

Reverse Afterimage Soul Body Technique.

Jin Ja-gang appeared behind Yelu Huan and extended his right arm downward. Yelu Huan turned his body and met Jin Ja-gang’s right palm with his left palm.

Thwack!

Blood spray arose and poison mist spread. In exchange, Jin Ja-gang’s right arm dislocated again.

Yelu Huan stopped breathing and swung his right arm to slash Jin Ja-gang’s neck with the Persian Ancient Sword. Jin Ja-gang released energy from his left fingertips and pressed on Yelu Huan’s right elbow.

Thud!

The elbow swelled up then bent in the opposite direction with a crack. The Persian Ancient Sword spun away. Jin Ja-gang headbutted Yelu Huan’s face.

The blood flowing from wounds on Jin Ja-gang’s face… the poison… splattered onto Yelu Huan’s face. Yelu Huan’s neck tilted back. Even in the midst of that, Yelu Huan grabbed Jin Ja-gang’s left shoulder with his left hand that had met Jin Ja-gang’s palm.

Jin Ja-gang pressed Yelu Huan’s chest with his left hand.

The energy release from Jin Ja-gang’s hand and Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder bone crushing occurred almost simultaneously.

Crunch!

Jin Ja-gang’s left shoulder bone was crushed, and Yelu Huan fell with his chest bone shattered.

Crash!

Yelu Huan crashed into the ground and vomited blood, and Jin Ja-gang also fell and rolled on the ground.

Jin Ja-gang knelt and vomited blood again.

A hole in his right shoulder with the arm dislocated, and his left shoulder bone shattered. He couldn’t raise either arm.

Yelu Huan’s right elbow was broken so he couldn’t use his hand, and his left palm was poisoned from meeting the poison palm, with skin peeling and pus flowing. His chest was dented and he gasped for breath. Most of all, poison blood had splattered on his face when Jin Ja-gang headbutted him, swelling one eye and obscuring his vision so he could barely see.

Completely battered.

Truly, both were completely battered.

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