Chapter 398

Chapter 398

Chapter Title: Propaganda (6)

A span of several days prior to the arrival of the message in Lanzhou.

The primary army of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, having advanced into Shaanxi Province, had completely encircled Mount Zhongnan.

Positioned at the vanguard, Cult Leader Wi Jin-hak observed the towering summit for a brief moment before offering a somber nod, channeling his internal reserves into a booming declaration.

“The hour has arrived to execute divine retribution upon these deceitful Taoists who oppress the defenseless populace and hunger for their riches!!”

His echoing cry, infused with immense inner power, reverberated across the expanses of Mount Zhongnan, prompting an instantaneous, unified roar from the gathered cultists.

“The Heavenly Demon descends!!”

“Ten thousand demons awaken!!!”

The collective shouts of thousands of combatants surged up the slopes, reaching the entry points halfway up the peak.

Standing before the gates of the Zhongnan Sect—a prominent member of the Nine Great Sects—roughly seven hundred individuals looked down upon the tightly massed ranks of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

The majority of those present exhibited intense anxiety or expressions dripping with profound regret.

I must have lost my sanity to willingly step into a slaughterhouse.

These individuals comprised the worldly followers of the Zhongnan Sect along with those possessing direct or indirect ties to the institution.

Much like the circumstances involving the Wudang and Zhuge families within Hunan, the Zhongnan Sect typically commanded an army totaling no less than two thousand when accounting for their external branches and security agencies.

Such was the immense influence of an ancient, revered organization that had dominated the landscape for generations.

However, due to the incredibly rapid movement of the Cult, numerous allies had failed to arrive in time. A number of others had flatly ignored the call to assemble, showcasing their lack of loyalty.

Consequently, they were left to withstand the full might of the Cult’s main vanguard with a mere three hundred traditional Zhongnan Taoists and roughly one hundred secular fighters.

“Ha!!”

“The honorable Zhongnan Sect will never succumb to mere heretical zealots!”

Noticing that the worldly fighters were losing their resolve, various Zhongnan Taoists barked orders from different positions to restore morale.

Positioned among them was Sect Leader Amgak, an individual who had narrowly escaped destruction during the previous conflict in Qinghai, his features twisted in severe irritation.

‘Curse that Huashan Sect.’

Amgak had previously traveled to the Huashan Sect with a straightforward proposition: combine forces on Mount Zhongnan to halt the progression of the heretical army.

From his perspective, the strategy was entirely sound. Given the route from Gansu to Shaanxi, the initial target for the invaders was bound to be Zhongnan.

Yet, the leadership of Huashan had flatly declined.

-If we entrench ourselves on Zhongnan, what prevents them from dispatching a separate force to incinerate the home of Huashan? What benefit does that bring? Instead, is it not wiser to immediately consolidate our defenses at Huashan? We must delay them to allow reinforcements to gather—it is far better to protect the rear as effectively as possible, is it not?

The only response they provided was this preposterous alternative.

-In doing so, our ancestral home at Zhongnan will be reduced to ash!

-It is destined to burn regardless if we remain divided. By adopting this strategy, we ensure our survival to build anew.

-If you refuse to cooperate, your home will suffer the exact same fate!

-Which is precisely why I suggest: allow your external followers time to assemble, and we will anchor the defense at Huashan.

Ultimately, the discussions between Huashan and Zhongnan failed to find common ground and completely broke down. As a direct result, Zhongnan was abandoned to confront the incoming horde entirely on its own.

As Amgak burned with anger remembering the failed talks, the commanding roar of the enemy leader struck his ears once more.

“On this day, we shall utterly demolish Zhongnan and continue our advance toward Huashan!”

Bizarrely, the commander who issued this thunderous declaration instantly deployed rapid movement techniques, spearheading the charge himself.

He advanced directly toward the primary entrance of Zhongnan, following the path of the pilgrims in a straight, unswerving trajectory.

It presented the absolute embodiment of an elite master’s martial display.

A segment of the warriors trailed their commander up the mountain trail, while the greater part of the army simply bellowed in unison and held their positions.

‘Curse it all.’

Being an organization steeped in ancient heritage, Zhongnan possessed numerous defensive formations hidden across the mountain terrain to intercept uninvited trespassers.

By advancing in a single file line along the pilgrim route, the attackers rendered those specific formations completely ineffective.

Furthermore, upon closer inspection, it became clear they were not merely moving blindly along the path.

Positioned among the cultists surrounding the slopes, a group of mystics moved to the front and commenced chanting incantations.

They were clearly locating and neutralizing the hidden mechanisms of Zhongnan one after another.

After monitoring the approaching forces for a brief spell, the Zhongnan Taoists shifted their gaze—and turned pale with sheer terror.

The enemy leader, spearheading the assault, had already covered half the distance up the mountain.

“What are you waiting for?!”

“Organize the defensive lines! They are approaching in a single file!”

“Our goal is to halt them at the entrance, nothing more!!”

In response to the desperate commands of the sect leader and the governing elders, the disciples of Zhongnan scrambled to form lines, while the secular fighters forced away their dread and readied themselves for the clash.

The instant the cult leader advanced within a distance of ten zhang from the main entrance.

“Strike!!”

Following Amgak’s screaming command, those stationed at the threshold unleashed their weapons simultaneously.

Every single one was an expert of the peak realm or beyond, sending a dense wave of sword energy and saber auras hurtling directly at Wi Jin-hak.

Scores of energy projections converged tightly upon him, yet a mocking grin appeared on the face of Wi Jin-hak.

“Tragic!”

Unsheathing the Heavenly Demon Sword from his hip, dark, malevolent flames instantly erupted along the length of the weapon.

Whoosh.

With a massive sweep from Wi Jin-hak, the dark flames tore straight through the air.

The defending Zhongnan combatants who had launched the assault watched in a state of stunned disbelief.

Their concentrated projectile energy dissolved into nothingness like a fading illusion the moment it came into contact with the dark fire.

Whoosh.

The inferno, maintaining its destructive momentum, slammed directly into the grand entrance, detonating with a thunderous roar.

Boom!!

Slicing cleanly through the massive cloud of debris generated by the blast, the cult leader leaped into the air as though stepping onto invisible clouds, effortlessly penetrating the inner sanctuary of Zhongnan.

“Any individual who relinquishes their armament and surrenders shall be granted clemency—do not throw away your existence for nothing!”

Remaining suspended in midair utilizing advanced aerial steps, his commanding presence struck fear into both allies and adversaries.

“Argh! Silence your tongue!!”

A particular Zhongnan Taoist collected his thoughts, shouted out, utilized his movement arts, and leaped directly toward the airborne Wi Jin-hak.

Channelling his core energy, he managed to manifest a sharp blade aura and delivered a powerful swing.

Slash!

However, the Taoist was cleanly sliced in two alongside his weapon by the edge of the Heavenly Demon Sword.

Abyssal flames immediately danced once more upon the weapon of Wi Jin-hak.

While the remaining Zhongnan combatants stared up at his incredible martial capabilities in absolute awe.

“Assault!”

The primary shock troops of the Cult, tracing the mountain path, surged through the shattered entryway into the compound.

“Grant no quarter to these corrupt Zhongnan Taoists—obliterate them completely! However, for the worldly commoners forced into this conflict: lay down your gear and submit immediately, and safety shall be granted to you!”

Even as the voice of Wi Jin-hak boomed from above, agonizing shrieks began to rise from every corner of the battlefield.

The forces dismantling the defensive systems below were merely a contingency plan to intercept those attempting to hide or flee.

Choosing a direct breakthrough, Wi Jin-hak had accompanied only a compact group of elites to keep casualties to a minimum.

The group alongside him included: the Silver Wing Pavilion Lord, his personal vanguard, the Left and Right Protectors, the leader of the Hyeok-ryeon Clan named Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang, the leader of the Guyang Clan named Guyang Pae, the master of the Demonic Path Academy named Yeom Ga-hwi, his own martial brother and master of the Shadow Wing Pavilion named Seo Wan-pyeong, and the leader of the Hwangbo Clan named Hwangbo Ak.

Every individual was a combatant of the highest caliber—equivalent to setting a pack of wolves loose upon defenseless sheep.

No, more akin to tigers among a flock of sheep.

Shrieks, brutal combat, and torrents of blood dominated the environment for a brief duration.

In less than fifteen minutes, more than a hundred defenders lay lifeless. The individuals who had arrived to support Zhongnan began casting aside their armaments with terror written across their features.

“I beg of you, grant me life!”

“Spare me, please…”

Dropping to their knees to plead for survival, the sight twisted the stomach of those watching.

“So you are the leader of the Zhongnan Sect!”

Identifying his primary target, Wi Jin-hak utilized his aerial movement to descend directly toward him.

“Halt his advance!”

“Safeguard the sect leader!!”

Terrified Zhongnan Taoists scrambled forward to form a defensive wall around Amgak—yet.

Slash!

Not a single person possessed the capability to deflect even one strike from Wi Jin-hak.

As his followers perished one after the other, Amgak turned around in absolute panic and attempted to escape.

“Deserting your own followers to save your skin? And you dare call yourself a sect leader?!”

Wi Jin-hak bellowed in righteous anger and launched the Heavenly Demon Sword forward.

Amgak threw himself onto the earth, narrowly avoiding the lethal projectile in a humiliating fashion.

Yet, his sense of relief was incredibly brief.

The weapon altered its trajectory midair past his position and came sweeping back toward him.

Dark flames burst forth once more on the returning blade.

Amgak swung his weapon wildly in a final, desperate attempt to parry, but the Heavenly Demon Sword impaled his torso alongside his own defensive weapon.

With the head of the Zhongnan Sect suffering such a disgraceful demise, a freezing quiet instantly enveloped the entirety of the grounds.

“S-Slay him!”

“Avenge the fallen sect leader!”

A handful of furious Taoists threw themselves at Wi Jin-hak, but the vast majority of the surviving combatants discarded their gear and dropped to their knees in submission.

Slash.

Even those final, stubborn resistors were quickly added to the widening pool of gore.

Il-mok carefully inspected the information detailed within the correspondence.

To summarize the text: both Zhongnan and Huashan were completely annihilated within a twenty-four-hour window. Zhongnan was overcome by midday; the forces immediately advanced toward Huashan, neutralizing it by the break of dawn.

Despite being diminished from earlier conflicts that claimed many of their elite forces, the operation yielded a shockingly effortless triumph.

However, Il-mok experienced no sense of astonishment.

The strategic choices made by Huashan and Zhongnan were utterly ridiculous. To harbor the belief that they could independently repel the Cult—an entity that a coalition of numerous organizations had barely managed to contain—was foolish.

‘The true challenge presents itself hereafter.’

While highly effective against fellow martial artists, when dealing with the administrative forces of the imperial court, the genuine trial was only just beginning.

They were required to assert total authority over Shaanxi Province prior to the arrival of official governmental mandates at the regional bureaus.

Precisely as Il-mok had previously managed to manipulate Gansu’s Left Guard Commander and the regional Provincial Commander to secure control over Gansu.

In instances where subversion proved unsuccessful, rapid liquidation remained the primary solution. The absolute worst outcome would involve facing resistance from both external armies and internal rebels simultaneously.

Subduing that specific domestic hazard was the explicit task assigned to Il-mok, stationed in the rear territory.

“Call for the presence of the Left Guard Commander and the Provincial Commander.”

For that exact purpose, he maintained several contingencies prepared for execution.