Chapter 159

Chapter 159
## Chapter 159: The Eighteen Blade Guests (3)

The Bloodlight Emperor began his measured approach.

His blade, Radiance, rested across his shoulder, greedily drinking in the sparse moonlight and reflecting a murderous, icy sheen.

There was a jarring disconnect between the Bloodlight Emperor’s calm gait and the hellish landscape of the war zone, which resembled a screaming pit of despair.

Strangely, his path remained entirely unobstructed.

Despite the hundreds of combatants locked in a shrieking, lethal struggle, not a single soul dared to cross him.

The masses parted before him like water for a divine traveler.

At the terminus of that cleared path stood Ha Hu Hyo.

The moment the Bloodlight Emperor had started his advance, Ha Hu Hyo had already detected his murderous intent.

“Ugh!”

A high-ranking member of the Nether King Sect slumped to the ground, life extinguished.

Ha Hu Hyo stepped past the fallen man without a glance. His focus was entirely consumed by the Bloodlight Emperor.

One stride followed another.

As the Bloodlight Emperor and Ha Hu Hyo closed the distance, both felt the exhilarating prickle of the other’s spiritual pressure.

Regardless of their allegiances, the prospect of facing a peerless warrior in combat was enough to make their pulses race with anticipation.

At last, the two titans stood face-to-face.

“I go by the title Bloodlight Emperor. I presume you are Ha Hu Hyo.”

The Bloodlight Emperor spoke, Radiance still perched casually on his shoulder.

“That is correct.”

“Word reached me that you are the greatest talent of the Ha Hu Clan, second only to the Sword Ghost. Your presence confirms those whispers.”

The Bloodlight Emperor’s eyes flickered toward the area behind Ha Hu Hyo.

In a terrifyingly brief window, a significant number of men had perished by his hand. Given that these were leaders of various sects, the impact of their deaths was staggering.

“You are no different. Your name has been known to me for many years.”

“Ha, I am flattered.”

With a soft snort of amusement, the Bloodlight Emperor finally transitioned Radiance into a proper combat grip.

Dialogue was now a spent currency.

The only thing left was the violent verification of their respective strengths.

“I shall grant you the opening strike.”

The Bloodlight Emperor settled into a relaxed, yet ready, posture.

Ha Hu Hyo did not spurn the offer.

Relinquishing the initiative was a luxury reserved for the truly powerful.

In his heart, Ha Hu Hyo already conceded that the Bloodlight Emperor held the superior hand.

“Hah!”

With a roar that shook the air, Ha Hu Hyo pushed the Heaven-Earth Infernal Divine Art to its absolute peak and unleashed the final secret of the Nine Dragons Sword Technique, known as Nine Dragons Blood.

Nine streaks of deep red energy spiraled from his blade, viciously seeking out the Bloodlight Emperor’s vital points.

Before that strike even landed, he followed with another.

Vwoom!

The atmosphere began to churn in a violent vortex.

A localized tempest erupted around Ha Hu Hyo.

In the blink of an eye, the storm coalesced.

Crimson dragons surged through the air, gnashing their teeth as they dove toward the Bloodlight Emperor.

“Magnificent!”

The Bloodlight Emperor parried the initial flurry with ease and shouted his approval at the following devastation.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Waves of blade energy erupted from the Bloodlight Emperor’s prized weapon, slamming into the incoming red torrents and creating ear-splitting detonations.

Ha Hu Hyo bit his lip as his strike—an attack capable of leveling peaks—was neutralized like a fading dream. He swung his weapon again.

Nine Dragons Fury, Nine Dragons Whirl, Nine Dragons Slash—the grandest forms of his art flowed one after the other.

The Nine Dragons Sword Technique, the work of a lifetime further sharpened by the wisdom of Ha Hu Gok, had attained the Twelfth Realm of Perfection. While not yet flawless, its speed, cruelty, and raw force were terrifying to behold.

The onlookers watching with bated breath began to grin with confidence, certain that victory was within reach.

Yet, despite the onslaught, the Bloodlight Emperor remained unfazed. In fact, a small smirk played on his mouth.

Thud!

When the Bloodlight Emperor planted his foot, the very earth shivered.

A tide of blade energy poured from Radiance.

The Mixed Origin Thunderclap Blade Method—the legendary art that had secured Iron Blood Song’s status—was finally revealed.

Hummmm!

Following a piercing metallic cry that rattled the ribs, the Thunderous Lightning struck the world below.

Blinding streaks of blue light flared out, systematically dismantling every wave of energy sent his way.

Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!

The core principles of the Nine Dragons Sword Technique collided with the Bloodlight Emperor’s thunderous blade, vibrating through both the heavens and the soil.

Violent shockwaves radiated from the center of the clash.

The lethal pressure incinerated everything within a ten-meter radius. Nearby warriors scrambled back in terror. Those too slow to flee suffered internal ruptures, falling to their knees and spraying blood. Many died instantly from the sheer force.

“Everyone, retreat!”

“Get back! Move further away!”

Desperate cries rang out from both armies. The grand melee halted for a heartbeat.

Truly incredible.

Ha Hu Hyo felt a genuine sense of awe at how comfortably the Bloodlight Emperor defended himself.

Bitterly, his intuition that this man was his better proved true.

He looked briefly at the moon above.

As if it couldn’t bear to watch the slaughter, it hid itself behind the passing clouds.

A melancholy smile crossed Ha Hu Hyo’s face.

This might be the end of the road for me.

And yet, he could not turn away.

His honor as a martial artist wouldn’t allow it, and practically speaking, if he withdrew, there was no one left to contain the Bloodlight Emperor. Even if he couldn’t win, he had to keep the man pinned to this spot.

He tightened his hold on the hilt.

Drawing upon his final reservoirs of power, his feet began to move in a rhythmic pattern.

Utilizing the Dragon Riding Step, Ha Hu Hyo’s movements became ghostly and erratic—shifting like a desert hallucination, yet as relentless as a gale at sea. The secret techniques of the Nine Dragons Sword Technique were unleashed in an unending stream.

The Bloodlight Emperor responded with total composure, using his own Mixed Origin Thunderclap Blade secrets to meet every blow.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ringing of steel on steel was constant.

The outbursts, sounding like an active volcano, grew in volume and the resulting shockwaves became more savage.

The grueling exchange, where neither warrior gave a single inch, lasted for dozens of rounds before a slight tilt in the balance appeared.

Though Ha Hu Hyo’s offense was still fierce, it was slowly losing its edge against the lightning-fast blade energy of his opponent. Eventually, the signs of physical drain were impossible to hide.

“Ugh.”

A strangled sound left Ha Hu Hyo’s throat.

A dull, throbbing ache flared in his right shoulder.

The enemy blade energy, having broken through his guard with power to spare, had sliced his skin.

Ha Hu Hyo’s expression grew grim.

The strength in his sword arm was fading fast. Conversely, the Bloodlight Emperor’s pressure only seemed to grow.

Struggling against the suffocating weight and pressure crushing his frame, Ha Hu Hyo gathered his remaining internal force and gave a defiant shout.

“Come then!”

“Excellent! He has finally taken control of the flow.”

A shout of joy came from Jang Gon, who was observing from a distance.

“That stubborn old fool!”

Jang Gon wiped his clammy palms on his robe and shook his head in disbelief.

The Bloodlight Emperor was among the five strongest masters in the Heavenly Demon Cult. No one anticipated he would be pushed this hard. Ha Hu Hyo’s skill had left Jang Gon genuinely worried about an upset.

“The moment that old man perishes, the conflict is decided.”

Aside from Ha Hu Hyo, there was no one present capable of standing against the Bloodlight Emperor. Even the remaining experts would eventually fall to the Vice Commander and the Black-White Twin Assassins. Fully aware of how a single supreme master can dictate the outcome of a war, Jang Gon felt victory was certain.

In that moment.

“Strategist.”

Jang Gon spun around at the sound of his title.

Gang Hwang, responsible for the Dark Fragrance spies surrounding Heavenly Canopy Hall, sprinted over with a panicked look.

A terrible feeling settled in Jang Gon’s gut.

“Speak.”

“Well, sir…”

As Gang Hwang faltered, Jang Gon roared at him.

“Out with it! What has occurred?!”

“W-we have lost all contact with the operatives tracking the Divine Demon Leader.”

Jang Gon’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

This was a priority the Bloodlight Emperor had emphasized constantly, and one Jang Gon had watched over personally.

“Lost contact? Since when?”

“There were subtle indicators since the afternoon, but the distance was vast and the chaos of battle reports caused us to assume there was simply a delay in communication.”

“You idiot! Did I not tell you to treat even the smallest anomaly as a crisis?”

Jang Gon exploded in fury, but the damage was already done.

“Where was the final report location?”

“No news from the Death Squad. It hasn’t been long, so perhaps…”

Gang Hwang kept talking, but Jang Gon had stopped listening.

The Death Squad is located less than half a day’s march from here. Perhaps two hours at most. If they have already moved past…

Jang Gon’s complexion turned ghostly pale.

He turned his head instinctively toward where the Bloodlight Emperor was fighting.

“We have to alert the Supreme Elder immediately. They might arrive at any moment.”

Seizing Gang Hwang by his tunic, Jang Gon’s voice shook with pure dread.

Sang Gwan Baek’s martial talent was the pinnacle of Heavenly Canopy Hall and the entire surrounding region.

Regrettably, his foe, the Dark Thunder Vice Commander, was one of the elite of the Heavenly Demon Cult. His mastery of the flying saber arts, controlling nine blades simultaneously, was legendary in the history of demonic arts.

With the Purple Flower Gate effectively destroyed, a loss here would trigger a catastrophe. Sang Gwan Baek felt the crushing weight of that reality.

Carrying the burden of his clan and allies, he resolved to stand his ground, pouring every ounce of his being into the fight.

He unleashed his most guarded ultimate forms at maximum intensity.

Each movement was fueled by his very life force.

However, Sang Gwan Baek’s strikes were repeatedly frustrated by the Vice Commander’s nimble, chaotic footwork and the nine sabers that orbited him like a shield, failing to draw blood.

In this manner, roughly a quarter-hour passed.

As Sang Gwan Baek’s relentless assault—which hadn’t paused for a second—began to show the first signs of flagging, the Vice Commander, who had been content to defend, leaped backward and spoke.

“My turn now.”

With a freezing smirk, the Vice Commander flipped the script from defense to offense.

With a simple movement of his wrist, the nine sabers began to rotate violently, launching forward like pillars of light.

Suddenly, the grouped blades broke formation and scattered everywhere.

They flew high, low, and to the sides—some even grazed the dirt.

Three zipped straight for his chest; the other six vanished from his sight in a heartbeat.

Sang Gwan Baek maintained his composure.

His sharpened instincts tracked the invisible blades.

Clang!

A ringing sound filled the air as he swatted away the frontal attack.

He snapped his sword downward, parrying the blade rising from the ground.

But the saber he thought he had deflected suddenly reversed its trajectory, darting toward his stomach.

From his blind spots and rear, the other blades closed in.

Shocked, Sang Gwan Baek contorted his body and swung his sword in a frantic arc.

Clang clang clang!

The rapid-fire impact of steel pushed the sabers back temporarily.

“Argh!”

A sharp pang of pain forced a cry from Sang Gwan Baek.

He looked down in shock at a saber buried in his leg.

He was positive he had moved out of its path.

How was this possible?

Sang Gwan Baek could not wrap his mind around how a blade he had clearly evaded had still found his thigh.

He only discovered the terrifying reason after several more of the same strikes landed.