Chapter 556

Chapter 556

Baek Li-jung glared at Jin Ja-gang with his face more stiffened than before. The back of his hand throbbed, and blood vessels bulged prominently all the way to his wrist and elbow. Only after flexing his hand several times and shaking his wrist did the swollen veins subside.

King of Hell’s Energy Destruction Technique.

Piercing Strand Flash Severance.

This mere small collision brought pain that pierced through his entire body. For a very brief moment, Baek Li-jung became completely defenseless. Yet Jin Ja-gang didn't attack.

Jin Ja-gang's eyes were still aimed not at Baek Li-jung but at beady-eyes behind him. Unless he was deliberately scratching Baek Li-jung's nerves, there was no way he'd miss such a good opportunity.

Baek Li-jung's anger flared at Jin Ja-gang's unbearably arrogant provocation.

"How dare..."

Jin Ja-gang received Baek Li-jung's gaze and drew out poison needles as if asking what about it.

Even the onlookers were now getting fed up.

The beady-eyed martial artist couldn't stand it anymore and shouted.

"Please stop! Why are you doing this to me!"

Jin Ja-gang replied.

"I'm trying to kill you. Didn't you know I've been trying to kill you all along?"

The beady-eyed martial artist was momentarily speechless.

"That's not what I'm asking...!"

Baek Li-jung turned his head and glared at beady-eyes. Facing the fury in Baek Li-jung's eyes, beady-eyes' voice caught in his throat and wouldn't come out.

Baek Li-jung became even angrier. These idiots kept talking and falling for Jin Ja-gang's psychological warfare!

These useless fools! Just shut up and praise me!

Suddenly ten poison needles grazed past Baek Li-jung. Baek Li-jung turned his body and vigorously swung both arms.

He deployed Nine Winds Evil Destruction Sword barehanded.

Kwaaaaah! An airflow like a whirlwind strong enough to sweep up even people formed, and the poured poison needles all bounced away. He wouldn't make the mistake of letting them touch his skin directly and deflect them like before!

However, two needles using Flying Knives Twelve Branches' principles drew a large semicircle from afar, circling outside the Nine Winds Evil Destruction Sword's sphere of influence. The stupid beady-eyes hadn't even noticed the poison needles flying toward him. If left alone, he'd die instantly.

Baek Li-jung's eyebrows twisted.

Should he move his body to save that one creature? If he moved his feet now, wouldn't it look like he lost to Jin Ja-gang?

No, wait. Looking like he lost wasn't the problem.

What if Jin Ja-gang attacked the moment he turned his back?

He'd have no choice but to show a flustered appearance at the surprise attack. His dignity would be damaged.

Jin Ja-gang was naturally the type to pull such tricks and apply mental pressure!

Baek Li-jung frowned at beady-eyes.

To throw away dignity to save such a lowly wretch!

Once stopped, he'd have to keep being swayed by the likes of Jin Ja-gang. Needless to say how humiliating that would be.

So Baek Li-jung didn't agonize much.

Just don't fall for Jin Ja-gang's trap.

Baek Li-jung did nothing.

The price of Baek Li-jung's negligence caused an obvious result. The beady-eyed martial artist screamed.

"Kyaaaaaa! Kyaa!"

The beady-eyed martial artist with poison needles stuck in both temples writhed desperately and screamed.

"Save me! Save me!"

Bloody pus streamed from the seven orifices of eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. There was no way he could survive. Martial artists fled in horror from beady-eyes.

Baek Li-jung didn't even pretend to hear beady-eyes' screams.

He spoke to Jin Ja-gang as if amused.

"Trying to trap me with such shallow tricks. Do I look that foolish to you?"

Jin Ja-gang stared coldly at Baek Li-jung, then asked back only after a long while.

"You still can't assess the situation properly?"

"What?"

Baek Li-jung glanced around following Jin Ja-gang's gaze.

The Murim Alliance's martial artists were looking at Baek Li-jung with strange eyes.

The heads of Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Martial Families on the platform also looked dumbfounded. Their bewildered expressions were evident.

Why didn't Baek Li-jung save someone he could save?

After acting like he could save anyone all along?

Wasn't his behavior too strange from earlier... Acting however he pleased without any standards, this way and that.

Baek Li-jung showed an uncomfortable expression at their suspicious gazes.

So I should suffer losses because of you bastards? Become a laughingstock?

Jin Ja-gang called to Baek Li-jung.

"Unbreakable Heavenly Sword. You must be puzzled. I did nothing wrong, so why do they look at you like that?"

Baek Li-jung asked in a low voice.

"What are you trying to say?"

"It's because you, your thoughts, your beliefs are not normal."

Baek Li-jung laughed loudly.

"Again trying to ensnare me with nonsense! But such shallow tricks won't work. All the brothers who came to this place already saw your tricks! Even now they're seething with rage seeing brothers melting into puddles of poison. How dare you try to slander me with your silver tongue! Know that no one here will fall for your tricks."

Baek Li-jung's words confused others even more.

He kept saying brothers, brothers, but who would just leave their brothers to die? Moreover, not caring about dead brothers and only talking about himself...

Jin Ja-gang spoke calmly.

"Your words and actions have been erratic for quite some time. But you yourself don't notice the strangeness. Why would that be?"

Baek Li-jung snorted.

"I can guess without listening. You're going to spout more nonsense about me being consumed by the Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit."

Bright righteous light leaked from Baek Li-jung's eyes and pure, orthodox internal energy burst out in all directions. To anyone watching, he looked like someone who practiced purely orthodox righteous sect martial arts.

Baek Li-jung shouted with internal energy.

"Behold! This seat has already transcended humanity through unity of god and demon! Do you dare try to fathom this seat's profound thoughts with a mortal's narrow insight!"

"I have one question."

Jin Ja-gang asked without waiting for an answer.

"Your internal energy advanced several times over in a short period. How could that be possible?"

Baek Li-jung answered with a snort.

"As I said, this seat achieved unity of god and demon. The driving force came from the desire to denounce and punish your evil deeds, so I should even thank you."

"Thinking you achieved unity of god and demon just because internal energy increased is delusion."

"Delusion?"

Baek Li-jung flicked his finger.

"Come. I'll show you my words are not false."

Jin Ja-gang's eyes flashed.

"I'll give you a chance to prove it."

"Arrogant fool."

Jin Ja-gang kicked off the ground and shot forward.

Bang!

Baek Li-jung elegantly extended his hand and grasped the air. The space where Jin Ja-gang was rushing became distorted and crumpled. Jin Ja-gang's afterimage crumpled and Jin Ja-gang appeared behind Baek Li-jung with their backs facing each other.

Reverse Afterimage Soul Movement Technique.

Jin Ja-gang leaned back and lifted his foot to kick Baek Li-jung's back of the head in reverse.

Ppeogeok! Baek Li-jung raised his left arm to block. Then he pushed Jin Ja-gang with his arm and pressed him to the ground. Jin Ja-gang fell on his back to the ground, spun, and repeatedly kicked Baek Li-jung's knee. Baek Li-jung didn't lift his feet but stood in place, inhaling through his teeth with a "Sssss, uhp!" and extended one palm straight down.

Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm!

Rummmmmble. With a sound like a huge rocky mountain collapsing and stones rolling, palm force poured down right above Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang didn't dodge but rather sprang up, lowered his body, and struck Baek Li-jung's chin with his fist.

Kwaaaaaa!

The narrowly grazing Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm created a pit behind Jin Ja-gang large enough for over ten people to lie down. Jin Ja-gang's extended fist passed right in front of Baek Li-jung's nose. Baek Li-jung's hair fluttered in the fist wind raised by Jin Ja-gang's punch like blowing in the wind.

Though Baek Li-jung clearly dodged Jin Ja-gang's fist, Jin Ja-gang stopped in that state and looked at Baek Li-jung. Baek Li-jung also stared intently at Jin Ja-gang.

As their gazes met in midair, Baek Li-jung's eyes briefly lowered to look at Jin Ja-gang's white wrist.

Jin Ja-gang didn't withdraw his arm for a while. At the slight smile forming at Jin Ja-gang's lips, Baek Li-jung finally understood and vigorously kicked Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang easily retreated backward.

Baek Li-jung laughed heartily as if finding it absurd.

"I overcame the thirst and hunger called by the demons of the brain long ago. How pathetic, how insignificant. Did you tell me to prove myself with just this? Did you hope I'd bite your arm as if craving human flesh?"

Jin Ja-gang silently raised his internal energy to the maximum.

Jade Void Nine Light Five Thunder Toad Art, Nine Light Dikes.

Primal Unity.

Gooooo. Wind arose around Jin Ja-gang's entire body due to internal energy raised to the extreme.

Baek Li-jung crossed both arms then spread them, deploying an energy cultivation stance. He extended fist and palm then gathered them, transformed into sword fingers, and took a firm posture. Along with his vigorously fluttering collar, Baek Li-jung's internal energy also surged to the extreme.

Jade Void Nine Light Five Thunder Toad Art, Nine Light Dikes.

Unity of God and Demon.

They gave off the same atmosphere but the feeling was completely different. If the feeling Jin Ja-gang emitted had both profound mystique and fierce killing intent together, only a warm and benevolent feeling came from Baek Li-jung's internal energy. At first glance, he'd be believed even if called a Buddhist disciple.

Jin Ja-gang crossed both arms forward. Ten poison needles protruded between his fingers.

Spinnnnn!

And then ten more poison needles popped out between the rotating needles.

A total of twenty poison needles spun round and round across his fingers, palms, and backs of hands.

Jin Ja-gang spread both arms left and right. Spinnn! Ten more poison needles popped out from his sleeves and joined. The needles moved around Jin Ja-gang's palms and backs of hands as if alive.

It was truly the essence of Heaven Earth Eight Defeats. Even Oh Tae, head of Hao Sect's Gubok Village who taught Heaven Earth Eight Defeats to Jin Ja-gang, would have to concede.

Jin Ja-gang pulled his shoulders back fully then thrust them forward.

Poison needles poured toward Baek Li-jung in droves. Not randomly but each move containing precise principles. Some in straight lines, some in parabolas, others spinning round and round flying with unpredictable trajectories. The poison needles flew combining Flash Severance and Flying Knives Twelve Branches' wondrous uses appropriately, covering Baek Li-jung like a net and aiming at vital acupoints all over his body.

Baek Li-jung raised his hand to the sky. The old sword he wore spontaneously unsheathed and was grasped in Baek Li-jung's hand.

From Baek Li-jung's hand too, noble sword energy burst forth. Baek Li-jung stopped breathing and slashed the air dozens of times in an instant.

Kakakakaak! Though swinging through empty air, it sounded like something was catching. The sword swinging speed was so fast the blade surface created friction and instantly turned pitch black, and the soot from burning repeatedly got scraped off by the air. In that process, countless sparks and ash scattered.

Space was shredded to pieces, and even the scenery visible within became distorted as if hundreds of levels of steps formed. The flying poison needles all got finely cut and scattered like pollen.

Yet in the midst of that, Baek Li-jung's eyebrows twitched as he felt something uncomfortable.

'Twenty-nine!'