Chapter 557

Chapter 557

Jin Ja-gang's techniques were cunning, and poison needles shot out dizzily. However, Baek Li-jung watched and counted each one.

What flew over wasn't thirty needles but twenty-nine.

Where was the remaining one?

Left! Baek Li-jung sensed a faint trace of killing intent.

Swish! From outside his left field of vision, one fast point flew in drawing a long parabola.

And simultaneously, Jin Ja-gang was charging diagonally from his right.

"Obvious trick!"

Baek Li-jung tried to strike down the poison needle barehanded, then realized Jin Ja-gang's needle technique had a method of inflicting pain. So he crossed his arms in reverse, switched his sword grip, and swept away the poison needle flying from the left with Nine Winds Evil Destruction Sword's sword wind. And simultaneously with his right hand, he unleashed tremendous internal energy with Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm. Jin Ja-gang met Collapsing Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm with his own palm.

However, before their palms even touched, Baek Li-jung felt pain as if his entire body would shatter from the elbow.

Clink!

One needle wedged into the bone of his elbow.

He could endure the poison, but from the extreme pain of Piercing Strand Flash Severance, internal energy momentarily disconnected from elbow to fingertips. Jin Ja-gang pressed his palm against Baek Li-jung's weakened palm and poured in palm force.

Baek Li-jung's elbow made a cracking sound as it tried to bend backward. Blood vessels in his forearm swelled. His arm seemed about to break any moment from Jin Ja-gang's palm force.

"Kuaaaat!"

Baek Li-jung shouted a kiai and forcibly poured internal energy into his arm.

Drrrrr! Both their arms vibrated and trembled. The forcibly injected internal energy pushed out Jin Ja-gang's internal energy that had taken position first. Jin Ja-gang's palm slightly separated from Baek Li-jung's palm. Considering Jin Ja-gang's internal energy was by no means small, Baek Li-jung's internal energy amount was absurdly enormous.

In the brief gap when their palms separated, Baek Li-jung hastily withdrew his arm and pulled back his body. Though he prevented his arm from breaking, the pain remained.

Jin Ja-gang didn't miss the chance and followed closely, muttering.

"Not twenty-nine, but thirty-one."

"You bastard...!"

It was too close to slash with a sword. Baek Li-jung pulled back his aching hand and threw the sword with his other hand. When Jin Ja-gang twisted his head to dodge the sword, he flicked his fingers. The thrown sword returned and aimed for Jin Ja-gang's back of the head. Jin Ja-gang stood on tiptoe and jumped up.

Baek Li-jung extended his palm.

Rummmmmble! Rummmmmble!

Baek Li-jung fired Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm, which consumed heavy internal energy, as effortlessly as breathing. Jin Ja-gang extended Asura Divine Scripture and stabbed it into the ground while freely twisting his body in midair. Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm failed to hit Jin Ja-gang and flew in all directions.

Boom! Boom!

Whether poison energy, corpses, or puddles of melted blood, the ground exploded and was swept away entirely. Even thick flagstones crumbled like boiled beans and floated up. All kinds of filth spread through the air and poured toward the martial artists.

"Uwaaaat!"

"Uah!"

Martial artists fled in all directions. The wind Jin Ja-gang created only brought poison energy, but the palm force Baek Li-jung unleashed with tremendous power sent even more terrible things flying. It was a technique that showed no consideration for those behind.

Part of the great training ground became a wasteland as if a meteor had fallen. However, Jin Ja-gang moved gracefully, shooting Asura Divine Scripture here and there, avoiding all Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm Palm. He stuck so close that it was hard to shake him off. There, mixed with Reverse Afterimage Soul Movement Technique, movements couldn't be followed with eyes.

Baek Li-jung spread internal energy in all directions, setting up a spider web. It was a method using tremendous internal energy that gushed endlessly no matter how much he spread it. Jin Ja-gang's presence finally caught on Baek Li-jung's senses. Baek Li-jung retreated then jumped up and repeatedly kicked at Jin Ja-gang. Each kick contained power capable of crushing even rocks. Even the air burst, interfering with Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang touched Baek Li-jung's toes with his fingers.

One Inch Force!

Bwong. Baek Li-jung's foot bounced away. His internal energy was so deep it was close to diamond indestructibility itself, so even One Inch Force couldn't inflict major injury. In terms of internal energy, even Great Buddha clearly wouldn't match Baek Li-jung.

Jin Ja-gang's fingers also bounced from the recoil. Baek Li-jung tried to forcibly twist his body using internal energy's power and kick repeatedly. However, suddenly his foot was pulled and his center collapsed. Asura Divine Scripture was already wrapped around the foot where Jin Ja-gang had applied One Inch Force. Baek Li-jung's internal energy was so profound that even Asura True Scripture couldn't dig into flesh. However, it was enough to disturb his posture. Baek Li-jung was dragged to Jin Ja-gang with his posture disrupted in midair. Simultaneously, Jin Ja-gang's fist exploded into Baek Li-jung's chin.

Crack!

With a sound of his jaw dislocating, Baek Li-jung's neck turned. His body bounced backward as if blown away.

Whirl! While Baek Li-jung flew away dizzyingly, Asura Divine Scripture wrapped around even his arms this time. Jin Ja-gang forcefully pulled the Asura Divine Scripture wrapped around Baek Li-jung's arms and legs.

Baek Li-jung stopped flying and was dragged back again.

Bang! Jin Ja-gang struck Baek Li-jung's face. Baek Li-jung flew backward again. Jin Ja-gang pulled Asura Divine Scripture again, dragging Baek Li-jung back.

Bang!

Baek Li-jung got hit dizzyingly, flew away, and was pulled back, getting hit three times repeatedly. When Jin Ja-gang pulled Asura Divine Scripture again, Baek Li-jung angrily forced his elbow with the poison needle stuck in it to bend. The needle stuck in the elbow bone bent and was forcibly ejected.

Baek Li-jung roughly joined both hands. The space right in front of Baek Li-jung distorted. However, Jin Ja-gang had already jumped much higher, avoiding Baek Li-jung's attack. He jumped over Baek Li-jung and pulled Asura True Scripture. Baek Li-jung was dragged into the air. Jin Ja-gang shouldered Asura Divine Scripture and executed a shoulder throw, slamming Baek Li-jung straight to the ground.

Bang! Baek Li-jung sprawled spread-eagle on the ground. Jin Ja-gang spun once, jumped down, and struck Baek Li-jung's abdomen with his knee. Even ribs made a cracking sound.

"Kuhuk!"

Baek Li-jung let out a groan. Jin Ja-gang struck down Baek Li-jung's head with his elbow.

Bang! Bang! With each elbow strike, Baek Li-jung's head was buried in the ground and dust puffed up. Baek Li-jung extended his hand. A tremendous energy wave shot vertically with Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm. Jin Ja-gang had already retreated. The Asura Divine Scripture connected to Baek Li-jung remained. No, rather, one more line was wrapped around his neck.

Jin Ja-gang landed and pulled Asura Divine Scripture. Baek Li-jung, embedded in the ground, was pulled out and dragged. Baek Li-jung was dragged head-first, then turned his body, planted his feet on the ground, and endured with weighted body technique. Jin Ja-gang stood on tiptoe. Then it became a situation where Baek Li-jung was actually pulling Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang flew in at explosive speed with his own force added and kicked up Baek Li-jung's chin. When Baek Li-jung turned his head, it struck his cheekbone instead of chin.

Crack! Baek Li-jung's upper body swayed and tilted sideways.

Thud. Jin Ja-gang grabbed Baek Li-jung's hair and repeatedly raised his knees. Each time, Baek Li-jung's head shook violently. Baek Li-jung vigorously swung his arms trying to shake off Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang grabbed the Asura Divine Scripture wrapped around Baek Li-jung's neck, rotated his body as if sliding, and circled behind Baek Li-jung. Then he grabbed Baek Li-jung's head and strongly struck the back of his neck with his knee. Jin Ja-gang's knee precisely struck the Fengfu acupoint in the gap connecting neck and head.

Snap!

With a sound like something breaking, Baek Li-jung's eyes tried to roll back. Whites covered his eyes. Facial muscles stiffened and eye corners trembled.

"Keuuk..."

The Murim Alliance's martial artists opened their eyes wide.

"Uh...?"

They couldn't believe it. Baek Li-jung was so confident, yet they didn't know he'd be so one-sidedly beaten by Jin Ja-gang. Of course, though getting hit, he seemed to have suffered almost no injuries, so it couldn't be called losing.

However, it was indeed very unsettling.

Moreover, Baek Li-jung had been acting strangely and saying strange things from earlier.

No matter how much of a master he became, still, for a righteous path martial sect leader to say he transcended the demonic path and achieved unity of god and demon... that he overcame the hunger called by demons of the brain... saying such things, wasn't that wrong?

That was rather becoming evidence supporting the justification Jin Ja-gang put forward.

Baek Li-jung couldn't believe the current situation.

From Venerable Woo-am to Northern Li Sword Immortal, Great Buddha Beom-bon, and the countless masters of Baek Li Manor. The internal energy accumulated through them was extreme. Internal energy enough to fight day and night for a thousand days without tiring. He thought no one in the world could defeat him.

Yet... he still couldn't crush the likes of Poison Dragon?

Me?

Could it be, still insufficient? Not complete? Must he possess even more internal energy than now to become the world's greatest that no one dares challenge?

Baek Li-jung suddenly realized.

Poison Dragon is the finest prey.

If he takes Poison Dragon, only then can he become the perfect, flawless world's greatest!

Suddenly extreme hunger struck.

Grrrrr!

Without further thought, Baek Li-jung opened his mouth wide enough for his jaw to dislocate... and as he always did, he chomped down on what was in front of him.

Chomp!

Then he shook his head wildly trying to tear off flesh. It was tough and wouldn't tear well. Hot blood gushed into his mouth.

It was spicy and stinging. His entire face burned hot enough to jolt him awake.

Baek Li-jung's rolled-back pupils returned.

At that moment, the first thing that entered Baek Li-jung's eyes was Jin Ja-gang's smiling face.

Jin Ja-gang wore an extremely satisfying expression, irritating enough to annoy Baek Li-jung.

"I told you."

Jin Ja-gang pursed his lips and silently mouthed the rest.

You're not normal.

Baek Li-jung couldn't retort. Not because he had nothing to say, but because he had Jin Ja-gang's wrist in his mouth. Because he bit down so hard that Jin Ja-gang's arm was stuffed full in his mouth.

Baek Li-jung slowly rolled his eyeballs to look left and right.

Those who had been on his side until just now fell quiet.

When eyes met, they flinched and averted their gaze.

Whether looking left or right, it was the same.

The leaders of Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families on the platform looked on with expressions of seeing something even more terrible.

However, it wasn't an expression of seeing a madman who suddenly bit off a perfectly fine person's arm.

Rather, they were reproaching Baek Li-jung.

You idiot! How will you handle this situation!

In truth, they thought the suspicions Jin Ja-gang raised could be somewhat true. But they ignored it. Since they decided to follow Baek Li-jung anyway, ignoring it was natural.

However, seeing such a sight before their eyes, wasn't it difficult to take sides even if they tried!

But there was a way.

There was a way to overcome all this ambiguity and vague circumstances Baek Li-jung revealed.

Killing Jin Ja-gang.

If they just killed Jin Ja-gang, Baek Li-jung would simply remain as the alliance leader of the Murim Alliance, the righteous path's greatest coalition. Jin Ja-gang would die as a demonic cult member and they would remain as righteous sect heroes.

So they had to bury it.

Had to shut their mouths.

If they just killed Jin Ja-gang, they could do that. Today's events that Baek Li-jung carried out would never leak outside.

No one would gossip outside about what happened here. If you say your alliance leader is a monster, you just become a monster following a monster.

One quick-witted person shouted.

"Kill the Poison Dragon!"

Starting with that, others shouted too.

"Kill him!"

"We absolutely cannot let him live!"

"Alliance Leader! For the righteous path, Poison Dragon must die!"