Chapter 280
Chapter 280
Walking through the valley, Mu-Gun abruptly stopped in his tracks. In the distance, he could see people in Wudang Sect uniforms on the ground. Noticing they were covered in blood, he immediately checked their breathing and pulse, but they were already dead.
Mu-Gun moved on, leaving the dead ascetics behind. However, a short while later, he stopped again, finding more Wudang Sect members on the ground. Unlike the group before, their bodies were entangled with lifeless bizarre-looking creatures that looked like giant wolves covered in shadows.
Although he had never seen such beasts before, the memories inside the Thunder Gods divinity made it easy to identify them. These monsters were known as Black Demonic Wolves. Their species was one of the demonic beasts under the control of Sirius[1], one of Hell Realms Thirty-Six Demon Gods.
Information regarding the Black Demonic Wolves popped in his mind as soon as he saw them, making him wonder if the key to unlocking the memories inside the Thunder Gods divinity was coming across things related to them.
According to his newly obtained intel, the Black Demonic Wolves were assassination geniuses who could sneak in and take out their targets in complete silence. Even the weakest of their kind possessed Peak-Realm strength.
Using their expertise in stealth, the Black Demonic Wolves wiped out the first group of ascetics to enter the cave, which consisted of martial artists in the Peak and First Rate Realms. Unable to detect the monsters, the Peak-Realm masters were taken out without much of a fight.
Fortunately, the second Wudang Sect party was far more formidable. They were composed of Peak-Realm martial artists and one Absolute-Realm masterImmortal[2] Hyun Gwang. With their sharp senses, they detected the Black Demonic Wolves closing in on them, allowing them to launch a counterattack and defeat them.
Made of shadows, the Black Demonic Wolves could not be cut down with swords or sabers. One would have to hit them with some type of energy, like sword qi or saber qi, to kill them.
Finding these monsters here, Mu-Gun concluded that this place was truly related to the Demon Gods. He quickly walked deeper into the valley, going down its intricately intertwined, maze-like paths. Not long after, he summoned wind spirits and used them to fly to the castle deep inside the cave, eliminating his chances of getting lost in the paths.
Coursing through the air, he found Black Demonic Wolf corpses, each one brutally torn apart, at every corner of the valley. He occasionally came across dead Wudang Sect members as well. He counted ten bodies in totalthe exact number of senior disciples that joined the second party. However, he had yet to find Hyun Gwang.
Since Hyun Gwang was an Absolute-Realm master, he was probably still holding his own against the Black Demonic Wolves by himself. However, nobody could survive being ganged up on forever. Eventually, he would succumb to the Black Demonic Wolves attacks.
Hoping to find Hyun Gwang before it was too late, Mu-Gun picked up the pace. Not long after, he heard an explosion go off.
Mu-Gun rushed toward where the sound came from. Arriving at a basin surrounded by black rocks, he found Hyun Gwang and a few Black Demonic Wolves engaged in fierce combat.
As the monsters charged at him from all sides, Hyun Gwang fired blue vajra qi at them, knocking them away. However, he was far too outnumbered. With exhaustion quickly catching up to him, the blue vajra qi enveloping his sword gradually weakened, its color fading. He also noticeably slowed down.
Although Hyun Gwang had been doing quite well, it would only be a matter of time before he could no longer keep up with the beasts fast and stealthy movements. Hence, Mu-Gun immediately jumped to his rescue.
Holding out his hand, Mu-Gun sent golden lights raining down on the Black Demonic Wolves. The monsters tried to escape as soon as they noticed the attack, but it was useless. The blinding rain punched through their heads and bodies, engulfing them in blazing thunder. Like smoke, they disappeared into thin air.
Surprised, Hyun Gwang looked back, finding Mu-Gun approaching him.
Youre!
Long time no see, Mu-Gun greeted.
What just happened? How do you know about this place? Hyun Gwang asked, curiosity and relief evident in his voice.
I found out about this cave while I was sightseeing at Mount Wudang. I came here to investigate.
I see. Well, do you know anything about this place?
We might be inside the territory of Sirius, one of the Hell Realms Thirty-Six Demon Gods.
Hell Realm?
A world vastly different from the one we live in. The demonic species under the Demon Gods dominance live here. The cave that appeared in Mount Wudang probably serves as a door that connects our world and the Hell Realm.
I would have found that hard to believe had I not seen this myself, Hyun Gwang said. You seem to know a lot about the Hell Realm, though.
The Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects true mission is to stop the Demon Gods.
Your sect truly is the guardian of the Central Plainswait, did you just say that there are thirty-six Demon Gods?
Thats correct.
There could be other caves in Mount Wudang that are connected to the Hell Realm too, then.
We certainly cannot rule out that possibility yet.
Can the Demon Gods and demonic beasts come out of these caves?
If the assimilation of our world and the Hell Realm progresses, they might gain the ability to, Mu-Gun admitted.
That would put the Central Plains in danger.
Even just a few of the thirty-six Demon Gods is enough to threaten our worlds survival. If they all descend, Central Plains will be destroyed.
How do we stop them?
The only way would be to eliminate them all before they can come out of the caves.
Is that even possible? Hyun Gwang asked, concern written all over his face. Considering how powerful these wolves were, the Demon Gods would likely possess power far beyond what we could ever achieve.
Unlike murim's Divine Demons, who are demons in name only, the Demon Gods are literal demons who have risen to the ranks of Gods.
Thats what I am trying to say. How can mere human beings like us stop them? Hyun Gwang sounded as if he was starting to become frustrated.
Do you know about the Three Greatest Mysterious Sects?
I do.
They were given a mission to stop the Demon Gods as Gods incarnation.
Are you perhaps? Hyun Gwang asked with his eyes shining.
Thats right. The Thunder God has granted me, his incarnation, divinity.
Does that mean you can take down the Demon Gods?
That remains to be seen. but I believe I am more than capable enough to do that.
According to the memory in the Thunder Gods divinity, dimensional interference had destabilized this part of the Hell Realm. As a result, the power of the Demon Gods and the demonic beasts under their command had been limited.
However, over time, the dimensional interference would weaken and the assimilation of this world and the Hell Realm would progress, allowing them to recover their original power. They would have to defeat the Demon Gods before then.
What a relief.
For now, lets focus on eliminating Sirius, the lord of this territory, Mu-Gun said.
I will go with you, but I dont know how helpful I will be.
Your willingness to fight by my side is already more than I can ask for, Mu-Gun reassured Hyun Gwang.
Im glad.
Mu-Gun and Hyun Gwang headed to the castle. On the way, they came across a pack of wolves made of silver shadows. However, Mu-Gun made quick work of them by unleashing golden moonlight qi through his Infinite God Sword.
The Black Demonic Wolves werent the only demonic beasts in the valley. Mu-Gun and Hyun Gwang also fought Red, Blue, and Silver Demonic Wolves, which were made of fire, ice, and thunder qi, respectively. They all differed in size and power depending on their color. Black Demonic Wolves were ten cheok[3]in size, Blue Demonic Wolves fifteen, Red Demonic Wolves twenty, and Silver Demonic Wolves twenty-five.
Moreover, the bigger they were, the more power they could exert. The Red Demonic Wolves were as strong as Upper-Peak-Realm masters, and the Blue Demonic Wolves were equal to Absolute-Realm masters. The strongest of them all were the Silver Demonic Wolves, which were as powerful as Supreme-Realm masters.
Most martial artists would not have even dared fight the Blue Demonic Wolves, which were not only powerful but also hunted in huge packs. Mu-Gun and Hyun Gwang encountered over a thousand Blue Demonic Wolves just passing through the valley. Not even a Supreme-Realm master could handle that many demonic beasts. The Silver Demonic Wolves were even worse.
However, that only applied to normal martial arts masters. Mu-Gun, who had gone beyond the Mythic Realm and risen to the rank of a True God, had no problem dealing with the wolves, no matter the color of their fur. One swing from his Infinite God Sword slaughtered them with ease.
Hyun Gwang couldnt help but stare at him in admiration. After all, although born human, Mu-Gun had become a supreme being strong enough to walk among Gods.
After wiping out more than a hundred Silver Demonic Wolves with a single stroke of his sword, Mu-Gun finally reached the castle.
The malicious and overbearing demonic qi flowing from the castle provoked Mu-Guns senses. It was proof that there was a strong presence inside the castle.
Mu-Gun turned to Hyun Gwang. Please wait here.
As you wish. I know I will only hinder you if I go with you anyway. I know you have to defeat the Demon Gods, but please come back safely. You are the only one who can save the Central Plains.
I understand.
Mu-Gun entered the castle, leaving Hyun Gwang behind. He walked down the long corridor and stopped in front of the huge door at the end of it. Sensing a large amount of demonic qi on the other side, Mu-Gun summoned the Dragon Scale Divine Armor, which he had stored in his Subspace.
Before returning to the Central Plains, he had the Dragons teach him Subspace Magic, which was a more advanced form of the Space Magic that Knights used to store their Chevalier Armor. The Subspace Magic allowed him to keep the Dragon Scale Divine Armor.
After wearing the Dragon Scale Divine Armor, Mu-Gun opened the huge door and went inside, finding a hall so big that he could not see the end of it. He could sense the energy of powerful beings all around the hall, hidden in a shroud of demonic qi that made them invisible to the naked eye.
Using the Thunder Gods Heavenly Eyes, Mu-Gun saw creatures over thirty cheok tall. They had a wolfs head and black wings on their shoulders. Known as the Alpha Demonic Wolves, these beasts were created by Sirius himself. He had even imbued them with his divinity.
Mu-Gun also noticed someone sitting on the huge throne at the end of the grand hall. The being looked just like the Alpha Demonic Wolves, except he was twice their size. He also had a pair of black horns on his head, which served as symbols of a Demon God.
Mu-Gun launched himself off the floor as soon as he found Sirius. At the same time, a flash of golden light erupted out of him, quickly took the form of a sword, and attempted to strike Sirius down. To block it, the Alpha Demonic Wolves breathed out Demonic Qi Flares toward the golden sword qi, but their attacks quickly shattered on impact.
As Mu-Guns technique cut through their still-open jaws, they tried to weaken its momentum using their own bodies. However, it easily sliced through them, popping out through their legs.
Despite being superior to the Silver Demonic Wolves and possessing Mythical-Realm strength, the Alpha Demonic Wolves were as helpless as insects in the face of Mu-Guns power.
1. Also known as Dog Star, Sirius is a star of the constellation Canis Major. It is the brightest star in the sky.
2. [ref]Immortal in this context refers to one who has attained the Tao.
3. Cheok is a Korean measurement. It is about 30.3 centimeters or 11.9 inches. Ten cheok is approximately 300cm.