The location of the third decisive battle was a wide plain.

Two-thirds of the heretic martial world’s power had already been consumed.

In contrast, the power of the Martial Alliance and the righteous martial world was still intact.

The flag of the Martial Alliance, held high, fluttered powerfully in the cold winter wind.

Despite the arrival of winter, hot breaths burst from the open mouths of the martial artists.

“Hoo— hoo—!”

The hearts of the martial artists, who were on the verge of what might be their last battle, pounded violently, and the blood flowing through their meridians grew hot.

Veins popped out on the backs of their hands that held their swords.

“How are the martial artists?”

At Cheon Yusin’s question, Dokgo Jeokmyeong answered.

“They are heated up enough to fight right away. Their morale is so high it could pierce the sky.”

“Hmm.”

Cheon Yusin’s gaze fell on the righteous path martial artists standing on the vast plain.

As Dokgo Jeokmyeong had said, their bodies were heated up enough to fight right away, and their morale was soaring to the sky due to the consecutive victories.

“What about the possibility of an ambush?”

Gu Daepil, who had returned, answered.

“I don’t see any. They didn’t have time to set up an ambush in the first place, and I don’t see any traps or formations either.”

“Umm…”

Cheon Yusin crossed his arms and looked at the heretic martial world lined up on the opposite side.

At their center was the Heretic Path's Alliance Leader, Ju Cheon.

Although their morale should have been low due to the continuous defeats, Ju Cheon did not show the appearance of a defeated general.

‘What have you hidden?’

Not only Cheon Yusin, but also the internal and external general managers of the alliance, Dokgo Jeokmyeong and Zhuge Goun.

And Zhuge Yeop and the White Fan Children of the Zhuge Clan.

They were not fools.

Nor were they naive.

They had already noticed to some extent that the heretic martial world and the Heretic Path's Alliance had lured them here while being defeated.

The problem was…

‘There shouldn’t be anything they can hide.’

The problem was that the hidden card that the enemies were holding was not visible.

There was no ambush, and no formation.

If this had been a canyon, they might have dreamed of a one-shot reversal by using thunder bombs to drop rocks, but this was a plain.

‘Unless they have thousands of thunder bombs… there are no traps that can threaten us on a plain.’

In the first place, thunder bombs were made with a very small amount of sulfur that was secretly leaked from the sulfur mines strictly managed and supervised by the imperial family.

Because of this, thunder bombs did not have high destructive power on their own and were only used for assassination.

Then was it poison?

With the fall of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the only place that could be called the main sect of poison was the Poison Sect.

Since they knew the manufacturing method of the Formless Killing Poison, they could use the Iron Poison Pills as they did at the Sichuan branch.

‘They wouldn’t have come this far just by relying on poison.’

Cheon Yusin erased the threat of poison from his mind.

To win a war using the Formless Killing Poison, a poison that could fill a deep lake was needed.

Of course, it was impossible that they had created that much poison.

“Whatever they have prepared… it’s a futile effort.”

Cheon Yusin felt a little disappointed.

For him, the crisis of the righteous martial world was an opportunity.

In the distant past, by cutting off the head of Dan Yegang, who was the young sect master of the Ming Cult, Cheon Yusin was able to put his name on the list of the number one under heaven.

Dan Yegang was a crisis for the righteous martial world, but for Cheon Yusin, it was an opportunity.

And this time too, the leader of the enemies, the Heretic Path's Alliance Leader Ju Cheon, was a crisis for the martial world, but for Cheon Yusin, it was an opportunity.

And the one who would kill him…

‘You have to do it.’

Cheon Yusin’s gaze fell on the small number of young martial artists located behind the main force.

They were the young late-stage prospects of the Four Daoist Daoist Temple.

In fact, they were children who had no role to play in this war.

For now, since the main force was winning one victory after another, there was no need for them to step forward, but as for cutting off Ju Cheon’s head, he or Cheon Gasung had to do it.

Only then could he make Cheon Gasung’s name widely known with the appearance of a new hero.

‘The Blood Demon is a pity… but I have to leave him to them.’

Cheon Yusin decided to leave the Blood Demon, Ma Seongun, to the leaders of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, including Namgung Muhyeok.

No matter how strong he was, he couldn’t face all the leaders of the righteous path.

Cheon Yusin gripped his sword hilt tightly.

‘If only I am given a chance.’

Vowing to cut off the Blood Demon’s head himself.

“Advance.”

“Advance!”

With the shout of Cheon Yusin, who was now officially called the Martial Alliance Leader, the wave of white began to cross the plain.

And Ju Cheon, who was facing this, smiled.

“In the end, you couldn’t make it in time.”

Ju Cheon swept his hair back and called for Mu Yu.

Mu Yu, who was called, quickly approached and bowed his waist.

“Mu Yu.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“Bring me wine and a cup.”

“…?”

Mu Yu had a blank expression for a moment at the incomprehensible command.

Right in front of them, the righteous path group was marching to trample them.

But in this situation, to bring wine and a cup?

Although it was an incomprehensible command, Mu Yu hurriedly brought wine and a cup and handed the cup filled with wine to Ju Cheon.

“Alliance Leader.”

“Don’t you have a cup?”

“What? Ah, mine is…”

“Take this.”

Ju Cheon handed the cup he was holding to Mu Yu and then drank the wine, holding the neck of the bottle.

At this, Mu Yu swallowed the wine in the cup with a sigh.

The strong liquor unique to Sichuan flowed hotly down his throat.

He could feel his body, which had cooled down in an instant, getting hot.

“Great General Manager.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader. Please give your command.”

“From now on, watch carefully with your eyes wide open. The wind of Cheonjung will fell the dragon.”

“The wind of Cheonjung… the dragon…”

Mu Yu knew that the dragon meant the Martial Alliance.

But the wind of Cheonjung?

As Mu Yu was pondering, the wave of white had already approached right in front of him.

Ju Cheon completely emptied the wine he was holding and stood up from his seat.

And he walked.

He walked alone, stopping the heretic path.

Ju Cheon, who was walking alone, carving his footprints on the lightly piled snow, stopped when the face of Cheon Yusin, who was at the forefront of the Martial Alliance, became clearly visible.

Cheon Yusin also stopped in his place.

“Heretic Path's Alliance Leader!”

“White Moon Divine Lord. No, you have become a proper Martial Alliance Leader now. Cheon Yusin.”

“Is this the end of the prank you have prepared? Or is there more to show?”

“What do you think?”

“Whatever you have prepared is a futile effort.”

Cheon Yusin said, slowly lowering his sword.

“In the end, you will meet your end before my blade.”

“I know you well, Cheon Yusin. The reason you chased me so hastily… must be because you didn’t like an easy fight.”

Ju Cheon stared at Cheon Yusin with emotionless eyes, as if he were seeing through him.

Even at his sharp gaze, Cheon Yusin did not waver or retreat, but faced him proudly.

“As expected of the White Moon Divine Lord. The one closest to the number one under heaven.”

“If you have something prepared, show it. I will watch the last struggle of the heretic martial world.”

Ju Cheon smiled slyly as he drew his sword from his waist.

“Let me give you a piece of advice.”

“Advice to me?”

“Yes.”

Ju Cheon’s sword was drawn from its scabbard and soared as if to pierce the sky.

And then Ju Cheon’s two hands gripped the sword hilt in a reverse grip and pointed the tip of the sword towards the ground.

Seeing that, Cheon Yusin felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

‘I can’t let him do it.’

As the impulse to stop Ju Cheon was shaking Cheon Yusin’s strong mind and body, Ju Cheon’s voice flowed into his ears on the wind.

“Two steps. Come forward.”

Cheon Yusin had no intention of listening to Ju Cheon’s advice.

However, following his instinct to stop him, he drew his sword and moved forward.

At the same time, Ju Cheon’s sword was stuck in the ground.

So deep that the blade could not be seen.

“What is it?”

Namgung Muhyeok, who was watching the conversation between Ju Cheon and Cheon Yusin from behind, felt an inexplicable anxiety and looked down at his feet.

He himself did not know why he had looked at the ground.

However, his sensitive senses were shouting.

Right here, right now.

Run away.

“Everyone, get away!!”

Namgung Muhyeok’s shout, filled with internal energy, rang out loudly, but his desperate shout was soon buried and disappeared in the huge explosion that began.

Kwa—aaang—!!

Kwaang—!!

Explosions began from all directions.

The ground soared and explosions occurred one after another.

Kwang— kwang—!!

The ground, which had hardened like a rock in the cold wind, grew hot and surged.

The blast wave created by the explosion tore apart the men in white.

In the huge explosion, humans were nothing more than lumps of meat.

No matter how much they protected their bodies with internal energy, it was meaningless in an explosion that could not be compared to a thunder bomb.

“Keukheok!”

In the explosions that occurred one after another, Namgung Muhyeok could not come to his senses.

‘What on earth is happening?’

His ears were ringing due to the sound of thunder that was ringing out from all directions.

The ground was shaking like a wave, making it difficult to stand properly.

Namgung Muhyeok tried to get a grip on himself, lowered his posture, and stuck the tip of his sword into the ground to support his body.

‘It’s explosives! An explosion with a power that can’t be compared to a thunder bomb…!’

Namgung Muhyeok realized that the righteous martial world had fallen into a trap, but it was already too late.

‘I have to get out of here!’

Namgung Muhyeok thought this and turned his gaze.

In front of his eyes, he saw the face of the Azure Sky Unit Leader of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Doun.

“Azure Sky Unit Leader! Right now, from here…!”

“Family Head!!”

Namgung Doun threw even the sword he was holding and threw his body.

He pushed Namgung Muhyeok with both arms, and at the same time, an explosion occurred under their feet.

Kwareureureung—!!

“Keuaak!”

Namgung Muhyeok, who was blown away by the blast wave and rolled on the ground, quickly corrected his posture, as befitting a peerless master.

And in front of his eyes, Namgung Doun flew.

Namgung Muhyeok caught the flying Namgung Doun with both arms.

“Azure Sky Unit Leader! Are you okay!?”

“Family… Head… sir…”

Namgung Muhyeok felt that Namgung Doun was too light.

His gaze moved to Namgung Doun’s empty lower body.

Namgung Doun’s body was not visible below his waist.

“Azure Sky… Unit Leader…”

There were no words.

Namgung Muhyeok held Namgung Doun in both hands and raised his head.

The explosion that seemed to tear apart the heavens and the earth had now stopped. But the disaster was just beginning.

The ground, which had been ruined by the explosion, quickly sank.

The surviving, or rather, not yet dead, righteous path martial artists were sucked into the huge pit.

“Keuk!”

Namgung Muhyeok bit his lower lip and stomped his feet to avoid being sucked into the dirt and sand, holding his sword in one hand and Namgung Doun in the other.

Kureureureung—!

Namgung Muhyeok, who had barely stood on the collapsed ground, put down Namgung Doun he was holding and looked around.

On the plain that had been ruined by the explosion, a small number of surviving martial artists were staggering.

They looked around with bewildered faces.

‘It’s not… over yet.’

Namgung Muhyeok raised his head at the sharp killing intent that was piercing his whole body.

On the sunken ground, the men in black were looking down at the surviving righteous path martial artists with faces full of hatred and killing intent.

“Damn it…”

This was a prison.

It was hell that had come to the righteous path martial artists.

“How… is this…”

Cheon Yusin looked at the devastated plain with disbelieving eyes.

The righteous martial world, which had been crossing the plain with a high morale as if to conquer the entire martial world, was no more.

“Cheon Yusin.”

Ju Cheon, who had stood up, leaving his sword behind, smiled brightly in front of the turned Cheon Yusin.

“Struggle. Until everything is over.”

“Ju Cheon…”

Behind the smiling Ju Cheon, five martial artists revealed themselves.

Each and every one of them was a person with an extraordinary aura.

Cheon Yusin felt their strength with his skin and gripped his sword again.

Ju Cheon, who had entrusted Cheon Yusin to the Five Evils, looked over the battlefield with his hands behind his back.

The wind of Cheonjung had finally felled the dragon.

“The fun starts now.”

(End of Chapter)