Chapter 96. The Beginning of the Bashun Festival (5)

Thud, thud.

The imposing presence emanating from the massive red figure was truly formidable.

Is this what a legendary red horse would be like? The red horse, with an overwhelming aura that even a mountain tiger would not dare to challenge, surveyed its surroundings with a composed gaze.

And the person atop it was a man who possessed a dignity befitting such a red horse.

"…Master of the Demon Sword Family."

Chi Yun Hui.

The current head of the Demon Sword Family and a supreme expert known as the Sword King of the Demon Path.

His dignified bearing, neatly trimmed beard, and hair that showed no sign of graying suggested he had just passed his forties.

However, his actual age was close to sixty. Thanks to his powerful demon arts and deep inner strength, he looked twenty years younger than his age.

Whoosh.

The demon followers parted to either side.

All of them held their breath at the appearance of the Demon Sword Family’s head.

It was not just because he was a prominent figure. The aura Chi Yun Hui exuded was truly lethal, and even accomplished experts found it hard to withstand the pressure.

From a distance, Ma Dong Phi silently marveled.

‘Impressive.’

He had seen him from afar before, but this was the first time he was so close.

The martial arts of the Demon Sword Family’s head, seen up close, were shocking. It was natural for him to display the demeanor of a supreme expert,

and he also possessed strict decorum and unshakable dignity.

He was not just strong. The qualities of a conqueror who had ruled over all people overflowed from Chi Yun Hui.

‘This is the head of the Seven Families, the highest in the martial world of the Demon Path. Indeed, this imposing presence…! I came here for a good reason.’

As a fellow swordsman, Chi Yun Hui’s aura was giving Ma Dong Phi a tremendous stimulus.

In the past, he would have been purely amazed, but now, seeing such a great expert, his competitive spirit was ignited.

A small but significant change.

It was the dawn of the destiny of a swordsman that Ma Dong Phi would pursue in the future.

At that moment, Chi Yun Hui’s gaze turned to Ma Dong Phi.

Instantly, Chi Yun Hui’s eyes widened.

Flash!

In the fiery gaze, there was a pure sense of surprise. He realized that the swordsman, who looked to be in his early thirties, had a power that rivaled the elders of the family.

Chi Yun Hui nodded slightly.

Ma Dong Phi bowed slightly.

Regardless of being the father of a true expert, Chi Yun Hui was a great figure who recognized him. It was natural to show this level of respect.

As Chi Yun Hui passed by, the people’s gazes naturally followed him.

Ten steps behind the leading Chi Yun Hui, numerous swordsmen were walking.

Two handsome young men and over a hundred swordsmen walked in perfect formation, each radiating a formidable aura.

“The Demon Sword Family’s Sword Echo Team!”

“The strongest organization in the Demon Sword Family…!”

“Amazing.”

“Look at their eyes! They are all sword demons.”

The Demon Sword Family, which had not participated in the Bashun Festival for several years, brought the Sword Echo Team this time.

The audience, sensing the unusual atmosphere, fell silent. They felt they should keep their mouths shut.

A faint smile appeared on Chi Yun Hui’s face as he looked down at the audience. He realized that even in the outer arena, this was enough to show sufficient strength to the new sect.

However, he, and the demon followers,

had no idea about the incredible events that would unfold here.

Even the closest bodyguard of the one who would cause these events had no idea what was about to happen.

So, seeing Xiang Liang walking down the split path, Ma Dong Phi was extremely flustered.

‘Young Master? Young Master!’

It was just a silent echo. He was so flustered that he even forgot to use telepathy.

‘Hmm?’

Chi Yun Hui’s eyebrows twitched. He had noticed a young man standing confidently thirty steps ahead.

“Ho.”

He couldn’t help but exclaim.

It wasn’t because of the handsome appearance. Chi Yun Hui was genuinely impressed by the physique of the young man who stood in his way.

“Truly an impressive body.”

Standing over six feet tall with a perfectly proportioned build, his physique was dazzling. Even though it was hidden by clothing, it was undoubtedly a body tightly packed with compressed muscles.

‘Even in the main family, there is no one with a physique as well-trained as this. However…’

Chi Yun Hui tilted his head.

‘What? This ambiguous aura?’

He had clearly cultivated inner strength, but the aura he felt was ambiguous.

It seemed quite strong, but at the same time, it felt insignificant. His appearance exuded nobility, but his posture seemed a bit loose.

A swordsman trained by a prestigious family would never stand so loosely.

At least, he could tell that the young man was not of high status. Therefore, Chi Yun Hui naturally spoke in a condescending manner.

“Who are you?”

The young man, Xiang Liang, smiled.

“Head of the Demon Sword Family?”

“…?”

“Yes, that’s right. Nice to meet you. It’s my first time seeing you.”

“…”

“I, ah, suffered a serious injury in the past and lost a lot of my memories. I might have met you before, but I don’t remember. Anyway, nice to meet you.”

What is this, this outrageous rudeness?

Chi Yun Hui’s eyes narrowed.

“I don’t know who you are, but I think you are aware of the great rudeness you are committing.”

“What rudeness? What rudeness did I commit?”

“You have a foul mouth, young man.”

“You call it foul when I ask for a reason? It’s the kind of behavior sometimes shown by fussy old men.”

“…”

“Old?”

At this point, even a person with considerable patience would find it hard to endure.

Of course, Chi Yun Hui was a person who wouldn’t be swayed by such provocation and rudeness.

However, the swordsmen behind him were different.

Swoosh!

In an instant, the intense aura of a hundred swordsmen erupted, like a storm.

The demon followers, who had already parted to either side, murmured and retreated even further due to the overwhelming aura.

Xiang Liang shrugged.

“Would a tiger be scared just because wolves fluff up their fur?”

“…!”

This time, even Chi Yun Hui was surprised.

‘Unshaken? Even in front of the Sword Echo Team’s aura?’

The reason the Sword Echo Team is called the strongest is not just because of their skills but because they are true swordsmen.

Devoted to the sword, these sword demons. The aura they emit when they decide to do so far surpasses their actual strength.

Not just one, but a hundred. If a young man could remain unshaken in front of the aura of a hundred sword demons, it was proof that his martial arts had reached at least the peak realm.

“Indeed, you are a skilled young man. I don’t know why you are committing such rudeness.”

“I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“I will not tolerate wordplay. I will overlook your rudeness so far, but step aside now….”

“Enough, let me ask you one thing.”

“…”

“As a father, if you witnessed your child committing a heinous crime, what would you do?”

“…”

“Is it hard to answer?”

“I avoid pointless conversations.”

Chi Yun Hui raised one hand.

“It’s the first day of the Bashun Festival. I will overlook this rudeness. So, step aside now.”

Rumble!

Instantly, a powerful demonic aura concentrated at the tip of Chi Yun Hui’s fingers.

At the same time, the demon followers, who had already retreated, took a few more steps back. A suffocating aura began to envelop the area, making it hard to bear even for those with clear minds.

Xiang Liang’s eyes flashed.

‘Indeed.’

Just by creating a hand sword to amplify his aura, he could achieve this much. It was a swordsman whose prowess could be expected to be even more formidable when he actually drew his sword.

“Surprising, but not beyond imagination.”

“…!”

“You haven’t answered my question. Stop playing around and answer quickly.”

Chi Yun Hui’s eyes widened.

‘Unshaken? Even in front of the Sword Wave Hand Technique?’

The Sword Wave Hand Technique is a martial art that emits sword energy from the hands.

However, it doesn’t actually swing the sword. It’s a high-level technique that melts the sword energy into an aura, making the opponent retreat on their own.

At Chi Yun Hui’s level, even a peak expert should find it hard to withstand.

In fact, Ma Dong Phi, standing far behind, was already tense, his hand on his sword.

‘Why? How?’

Xiang Liang, who silently looked up at Chi Yun Hui,

soon showed a look of annoyance.

“Damn.”

Swoosh.

His right foot slowly lifted.

Instantly, Chi Yun Hui’s face showed urgency.

“Back…!”

Boom!

With a tremendous shock, the ground split open.

Neigh!

The red horse let out a fierce cry. Even the red horse, which had never been frightened in its life, was helpless in the face of this natural disaster.

Snap!

Chi Yun Hui instantly flew into the sky and slowly descended.

Controlling his descent with pure inner strength, this was a divine skill comparable to the ability to manipulate objects in mid-air.

Rustle.

Finally, when Chi Yun Hui landed, his eyes were filled with killing intent.

“Do you dare to attack me with your meager martial arts?”

Xiang Liang smirked.

“Attack? You were the first to attack.”

“You brat!”

“So, I retaliated in kind. I didn’t touch your body, so I controlled the force of the shockwave.”

Xiang Liang pointed to the side of Chi Yun Hui.

“Look.”

Chi Yun Hui, who had been glaring at him with a murderous gaze, turned his eyes to where Xiang Liang pointed.

Instantly, his eyes widened.

‘How is this possible?’

The crack in the ground stopped right in front of the red horse’s hoof. The strong vibration, loud explosion, and fierce aura had only made everyone believe it was more severe.

Chi Yun Hui’s Sword Wave Hand Technique was cold and sharp. In contrast, Xiang Liang’s shockwave was fiery and fierce.

Despite the difference in methods, the degree of warning they gave to each other was similar.

‘How could this young man control his inner energy like this?’

If the crack had reached the Sword Echo Team, he wouldn’t have been as surprised. Even if he was stronger than expected, he could still be subdued with a serious effort.

However, the fact that the crack stopped exactly where he intended proved that his martial arts were beyond imagination.

‘He didn’t even use a weapon. If he could control the aftereffects with just a shockwave…’

His fists clenched involuntarily.

‘A peak expert!’

Perhaps he was not much weaker than himself.

‘How could this be?’

He couldn’t be more than thirty in appearance. To reach the peak realm at that age? It was impossible by common sense.

Chi Yun Hui, who had been staring blankly at Xiang Liang,

adjusted his posture.

“Who are you?”

“Answer to my question first.”

“I have no obligation to answer a question from someone whose identity I don’t know.”

“Hmm? Ah, I see.”

“…”

“You’re right. Thinking about it, I was too abrupt.”

“Speak. Who are you?”

Flash!

A demonic aura flashed in Xiang Liang’s eyes.

The intense demonic gaze made Chi Yun Hui, the two young men behind him, and the Sword Echo Team all tremble.

“I am not someone who deserves such unpleasant words from you.”

At that moment, Ma Dong Phi stepped forward.

Swoosh!

The Black King Sword, drawn, shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

Snap!

The Black King Sword was soon embedded deep into the ground.

And Ma Dong Phi knelt beside it.

“Invincible New Sect, Ten Thousand Demons Bow! I greet the Third Young Master of the New Sect!”

Instantly, everyone’s faces showed shock.

Xiang Liang grinned like a rascal.

“So, that’s it.”

* * *

“Now?”

“Yes. He is currently facing off against the head of the Demon Sword Family.”

For the first time in years, Gao Gou almost let out a curse.

After a few deep breaths to calm himself, he spoke firmly.

“An emergency situation might arise. Send the members to the outer arena without the disciples knowing. Immediately!”

“I understand!”

Gao Gou turned his gaze to the window.

His eyes were shaking uncontrollably.

“…It’s not just a double-edged sword.”

He had not said a word about taking the initiative like this.

Gao Gou already felt a headache from Xiang Liang’s impromptu response.