KURURUNG!

The palm force unleashed from a lightly extended palm destroyed everything it struck.

He’s impressive.

Tang Gwan, who had evaded Yo Roe’s palm art with the Thunder-Chasing Movement Art, looked at his opponent with cold eyes.

HWARURURUK!

Yo Roe, who was emitting crimson Fire energy from his entire body, had transformed into a mass of flame.

The firepower he poured out was so intense that Tang Gwan’s skin prickled even from ten zhang away. It was True Qi of such high heat that one would not dare even think of approaching unless one protected the body with a powerful Inner Qi shield.

He can emit that much Fire energy and his main body is still unharmed?

Those who trained poison arts always had to be wary of the balance between resistance and poison qi.

If one increased the concentration of poison qi without possessing resistance to deadly poison, the body would melt away. And that was true not only of poison qi, but of every martial art in the world.

If the body did not possess enough sturdiness to withstand dense True Qi, then no matter how extraordinary an enlightenment one obtained, the body could not endure it. In other words, qi and flesh would fall out of balance. The realm called the Wall of Martial Arts did not exist for nothing. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Yo Roe’s heat-yang arts would be the same. This was not a matter of martial-art type, but of principle.

In other words, his body has enough heat resistance to remain unharmed even against most fire attacks.

BOOOOOM!

Once again, the palm force Yo Roe unleashed burned through empty air.

The earth’s surface burst apart beneath that tyrannical palm force, and countless trees were swallowed by flames from the fragments flying in every direction. The area around the Divine Flame Cult’s primary intelligence base turned into a sea of fire in an instant.

As if enraged by the unexpected blow Tang Gwan had landed on him earlier, each of Yo Roe’s strikes was filled with no ordinary Killing Intent. He was using his martial arts for the Cult rather than for competitive spirit, but he was still human, so he could not help growing angry.

BOOM! BOOOOOM!

Explosions burst in succession, and firelight shot into the sky.

His stamina was truly remarkable. Even while unleashing palm arts whose every strike possessed such tremendous power, not even the sound of his breathing changed.

His stamina, Inner Qi, mental fortitude—everything was top class. And even so, he watched every one of Tang Gwan’s evasive movements without missing a single one.

Aside from his suppressed desire and competitive spirit, Yo Roe wielded a martial art nearly complete as a martial artist. He was displaying the qualities of one of the Divine Flame Cult’s Eighteen Warrior-Generals without reserve.

“So that’s how it is.”

Yo Roe, who had been unleashing countless palm forces, finally relaxed his stance.

A sneer appeared on his face.

“A rat without even the courage to strike back. It seems the only thing you know how to do is footwork.”

Tang Gwan chuckled.

“I’m observing you. This robe is expensive. It would be a shame to dirty it just to catch a bug.”

“I’ll at least acknowledge that mouth of yours.”

KURURURUNG!

Even stronger Fire energy surged from Yo Roe’s body.

It was the Divine Flame Cult’s supreme martial art, the Red Lotus Pure Fire Art. Yo Roe had drawn his power to the extreme, and the Fire energy pouring from him spread a halo in a shape like a crimson lotus.

Tang Gwan’s eyes narrowed.

Certainly.

His strength, at least, was extraordinary. Not only the completion of his physical body, but his Inner Qi was remarkable as well.

At the very least, his amount of Inner Qi might surpass Tang Gwan’s own. That absolute firepower poured out without limit. Any ordinary master would suffer severe burns if they entered within a certain distance.

But that was exactly where it ended.

My robe.

Tang Gwan lightly touched his sleeve.

This long robe had been the first garment Tang Sang-a had recently gifted him. Its quality was good, and it was far more comfortable than he had expected, so he had enjoyed wearing it.

Ridiculous.

He had spoken that way, but Tang Gwan knew as well. Without revealing his true ability, he would never be able to defeat Yo Roe.

Yo Roe was that strong. Strong enough that even Tang Gwan of all people had to put aside his arrogance for a moment.

“No choice, then.”

HOOOOOOONG!

The chilling True Qi of the Guiding-Reversal Three-Yang Return-to-Origin Art wrapped around Tang Gwan’s entire body.

It was not as splendid as Yo Roe’s Red Lotus Pure Fire Art, but it was an energy that constantly emanated an unknowable ominousness.

Poison won’t work, you say?

Yeon Hojeong had once said that since the Divine Flame Cult bastards had mastered heat-yang arts, it would be wise not to use poison.

Tang Gwan wore a sneer.

The world did not know how far the Tang Clan’s poison and hidden weapons had developed. No one would know that they had already far surpassed worldly common sense.

“I’ve had a good look, so shall we slowly begin?”

Hup!

Tang Gwan’s figure moved like lightning.

At least in movement arts, Tang Gwan was far above Yo Roe. Yo Roe’s reflexes were also excellent, so he did not lose track of Tang Gwan’s movements, but being unable to move at that speed was a major weakness.

Tang Gwan’s hand pierced through Yo Roe’s Fire energy.

BOOOOOOM!

Yo Roe’s body took two or three steps back.

Chiiiiik!

Whitish smoke rose from Tang Gwan’s hand and sleeve.

The corners of Yo Roe’s mouth rose.

“Your speed is astonishing, but could an attack of that level even scratch this body?”

Tang Gwan did not answer.

PABABABABAK!

Lightning never struck in a straight line. It was lightning’s nature to bend endlessly through several angles and plunge into the earth.

Tang Gwan’s movement art was like that. As befitted its name, a movement art that chased lightning, his body occupied countless blind spots and moved as if folding space.

Tang Gwan, who had circled behind Yo Roe at some point, moved his foot like a whip.

BAM-BAM-BAM!

Yo Roe’s body shook again.

But that was all. He had allowed three linked kicks, but he merely felt a dull pain and took no particular damage.

Yo Roe’s hand swept horizontally.

FLASH! KURURUNG!

It was a cleaving strike from a hand blade containing Fire energy. The instant a red crescent moon rose in the air, four or five trees caught within that area were split apart.

RUMBLE! KWAAAAANG!

The split trees fell, scattering countless sparks.

It was brute force beyond belief.

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

Rustle.

Tang Gwan, who had once again retreated more than ten zhang away, landed with a light step.

Yo Roe frowned.

“Your attacks are far too light. With martial arts like that, you can’t inflict any shock on my body.”

Tang Gwan smiled.

“That body of yours is certainly sturdy, at least.”

“...I’ll praise you for this. Seeing as your hands and feet are still intact despite piercing through the Red Lotus Flame’s Inner Qi barrier, you do indeed seem fit to be the head of a prestigious clan.”

It was confidence, not arrogance.

If one cultivated the Divine Flame Cult’s heat-yang arts to the extreme, one could emit fiery protective astral qi.

That protective astral qi was difficult for even a Transcendent Peak master to pierce unless that master attacked with intent. Moreover, since it contained high-temperature Fire energy, it was only natural that not only piercing it, but even approaching it, would be difficult.

In other words, Tang Gwan had driven his hands and feet several times into the body of a living fire god and still remained unharmed.

“But if that is all.”

KOOOONG!

Yo Roe’s powerful Stamping Step seemed to shake the entire mountain peak.

A strange light flashed in Tang Gwan’s eyes.

Stamping Step?

Was there an element like Stamping Step even in martial arts beyond the frontier?

“You can never defeat me.”

PAAAAAK!

Yo Roe, who had blocked Tang Gwan’s approach with long-range attacks, now closed the distance without hesitation.

He could not compare to Tang Gwan, but his movement art was also at an astonishing level. Tang Gwan had merely shown speed outside the standard; Yo Roe, too, possessed grandmaster-class martial arts.

Yo Roe’s enormous fist moved, tearing the wind.

It was the fist art Gyu Jeok had used before—the Divine Flame Cult’s ultimate technique, the Flame King Eight Fists.

BOOOOOM! BOOOOOM!

Flaming fist strikes burst the air and generated terrifying shockwaves.

Yo Roe’s Flame King Fist was different from Gyu Jeok’s. If Gyu Jeok had used a sharp fist art, Yo Roe used one that was endlessly strong and heavy.

Even when two people learned the same martial art, its nature could change depending on the difference in interpretation.

It was worthy of the fist art of the Fifth Warrior-General, said to be the foremost forceful fist among the Eighteen Warrior-Generals.

PAAAAANG! KURURURUNG!

Overlapping fist force amplified its power and caused an explosion strong enough to steal one’s breath.

Each fist brought a fire bomb to mind. Tang Gwan retreated repeatedly and evaded his punches, but under the downpour of fist techniques, even Tang Gwan’s movement finally began to be restricted.

A bitter smile appeared on Yo Roe’s face.

Got you.

There was nowhere left to retreat. Behind him was a cliff, and even if Tang Gwan tried to leap over Yo Roe and seize the rear, the flames of the Red Lotus Flame would snare his lower body.

That is why you people are no good.

The reason the Tang Clan of Sichuan had been able to reign through fear was poison and hidden weapons.

But hidden weapons would be of little use against a master who could raise protective astral qi of this level. On top of that, because of poison’s nature, before Fire energy, all poison qi would have no choice but to evaporate.

Even if they were in similar realms, he held the advantage in compatibility. Yo Roe had no doubt of his victory.

KOOONG!

At last, Tang Gwan’s foot reached the edge of the cliff.

HWARURURUK!

Walls of crimson flame formed to Yo Roe’s left and right. He had cut off every direction in which Tang Gwan could escape.

Tang Gwan glared at Yo Roe with cold eyes.

Meeting that gaze, Yo Roe spoke in a voice cold in contrast to his martial art.

“It’s over, poisonous snake.”

KOOONG!

Just as he was about to pour out the final blow with a powerful Stamping Step.

......?

In that instant, Yo Roe’s eyes trembled.

What is this?

The internal force surging from his dantian suddenly shook violently like a raft caught in a storm.

In a moment split into the smallest sliver of an instant.

Yo Roe was swept into a terrible hesitation over whether he should extend this fist or not. He trusted his own power, trusted the Cult’s martial arts, and trusted the history of training he had accumulated until now.

Nothing could go wrong. His internal force had simply shaken for a moment. He just had to strike.

His reason thought that. But his instinct was different.

The intuition of a beast whispered.

No. Don’t extend it.

Before he knew it, his True Qi was flowing from his chest into his right shoulder according to the formula of the Flame King Eight Fists.

And his True Qi was creating even fiercer waves the closer it approached his fist.

If you extend that fist, it will be dangerous!

Goosebumps rose chillingly over him.

He did not know why he felt that way. But Yo Roe felt a clear danger.

And Yo Roe—

What nonsense!

—decided to ignore the warning his instinct was screaming. Because with this one blow, he would be able to crush that arrogant bastard.

Yo Roe forcefully thrust out his fist.

THUD!

“......?!”

Silence fell.

Tang Gwan looked at Yo Roe with pitiful eyes. And Yo Roe looked down at his own fist with an expression full of disbelief.

His fist had exploded from the inside and was crushed enough to expose bone.

Chiiiiik!

The surging flames cauterized the wound and evaporated the blood.

It was clear the pain had to be tremendous. Even so, Yo Roe merely stared blankly at his fist.

“If your head is empty, you should at least have caution, yet you don’t even have that.”

“...What did you do?”

“None of your concern. You wouldn’t understand anyway.”

Tang Gwan raised his right hand.

He pressed his index finger and thumb together, then flicked his fingers hard.

Snap!

Along with the crisp sound, Yo Roe’s face turned blue.

“Uweeegh!”

He vomited a bowlful of blood.

Hup!

That was not all. The Fire energy that had been burning the entire world around them began to die down at terrifying speed.

The Fire energy, which narrowed its range around its master, soon began condensing into his back and both forearms.

Those were the areas where Tang Gwan’s palm arts and kicking arts had struck him earlier.

Danger!!

Tang Gwan grinned.

“Poison doesn’t work? How amusing.”

WOOOOOOONG!

The True Qi of the Guiding-Reversal Three-Yang Return-to-Origin Art pouring from his body penetrated directly into Yo Roe’s pores.

In that instant, white light exploded from Yo Roe’s body.

KURURURUNG!!

With a tremendous explosion, a vortex of flame soared all the way into the sky.

Tang Gwan shook out his sleeve. Fortunately, there was nothing wrong with his long robe.

“There is no person poison does not work on. As long as it is not used clumsily.”