Chapter 49

Hai Gonggong (Sea Elder)

Guangguang was cutting down the disoriented swordsmen as the formation was broken. However, he suddenly felt something strange and his body moved to the side without him realizing it. At the same moment...

“Ugh!”

Although he had avoided the vital points, it was a powerful blow.

‘What’s going on? To penetrate my Bi Xia Di Liu Gang (Wall Evil Emperor Flow Steel) and give me a shock, could it be...’

As Guangguang looked around, a figure in black was approaching from the other side.

‘It’s him. An incredible expert.’

Guangguang instantly cut down four swordsmen attacking from the side and waited for the new formidable opponent. A thin stream of blood trickled from his mouth.

‘My internal energy is severely depleted. And that无形无音 (Invisible and Silent) strike just now. Although I didn’t suffer major damage, my internal organs are ringing. Could I really end up burying my bones here...’

At this moment, Hai Gonggong, who had been intently watching Guangguang, said to Neng Biji.

“Hey, can’t you let me have a go?”

“Huh?”

“Haha, an expert of this caliber is not easy to come by. I want to test my skills in this opportunity...”

Neng Biji nodded with a reluctant expression, as he couldn’t refuse Hai Gonggong’s request.

“Sure, I’ll let you have it.”

“Give me a sword.”

A warrior in red, standing nearby, drew his sword and handed it to Hai Gonggong. Without taking a defensive stance, Hai Gonggong approached Guangguang step by step. Neng Biji was flabbergasted.

‘What is he relying on? The imperial palace’s martial arts are nothing special... The Fa Huang Tian Liu Dao (Crush the Vast Heaven Flow Dao) was impressive just now, but it seems to consume more internal energy than our sect’s martial arts. There’s little chance of winning... It’s not a big loss if that guy dies, but who will keep the secret agreement with the imperial palace?’

However, once Hai Gonggong stepped forward, there was no way to stop him. Hai Gonggong, though little known, was the leader of the Imperial Guard, responsible for the emperor’s security, and one of the most powerful figures in the imperial palace. The Imperial Guard was a group of a few dozen extremely powerful experts, and it was generally believed that there were no more than a hundred of them, even among the Three Secret Services, which handled intelligence.

Once the intense battle between Guangguang and Hai Gonggong began, all of Neng Biji’s worries proved to be groundless.

‘Of course, he must have some confidence to face that monster.’

Hai Gonggong’s sword technique was characterized by speed. However, it wasn’t just about being incredibly fast; it was also incredibly powerful. Hai Gonggong’s sword emitted a bluish glow, revealing that a powerful internal energy was continuously supplied. Combined with an incredibly fast footwork... Neng Biji was shocked to see Guangguang gradually being pushed back.

‘Incredible, such martial arts exist in the imperial palace...’

He couldn’t help but ask the warrior in red standing next to him.

“What martial arts is that?”

The warrior in red replied arrogantly.

“That’s the divine skill of the Gui Hua Bao Zhan (Guihua Treasure Hall).”

Seeing the other’s smug attitude, Neng Biji flattered him even more. People tend to say things they shouldn’t when they feel good.

“Truly remarkable martial arts. I can’t understand why there aren’t more experts in the imperial palace with such powerful martial arts.”

The warrior in red smiled bitterly in response to Neng Biji’s question.

“There’s a reason for that.”

“A reason?”

“This martial art, though possessing supreme power, requires a physical restriction.”

“Restriction? Does it need to be learned from a very young age, or does it require a special physique?”

“No, only eunuchs can learn it. Only the experts of the Imperial Guard can master this martial art.”

“Why is that? I’m very curious.”

“The Gui Hua Bao Zhan can cause male practitioners to fall into madness due to the rapid rise of yin energy. For women, the intense yin energy makes it impossible to endure the extreme yin state. However, eunuchs have the yang energy to control the intense yin energy without the desire that comes with the rise in yin energy, making them the only ones who can practice it. But because it is extremely powerful, only the eunuchs of the Imperial Guard, who guard the emperor day and night, are allowed to practice it. Do you understand now?”

‘Haha, so there are fewer than a hundred who have mastered the Gui Hua Bao Zhan. And this guy’s skills are far inferior to Hai Gonggong’s... Maybe the Gui Hua Bao Zhan isn’t that impressive after all.’

But he ended up praising the other, as it was valuable information.

“Oh, I see. I feel like I’ve broadened my horizons today. Truly remarkable martial arts.”

While they were having this conversation, the battle between Hai Gonggong and Guangguang was reaching its climax. Their battle demonstrated the limits of human speed. Guangguang used the pinnacle of imperial palace martial arts, the Bi Xia Di Liu Gang (Wall Evil Emperor Flow Steel) with a faint golden glow and the Jin Huang Shen Bao (Golden Vastness Divine Steps), the fastest technique in the imperial palace. On the other hand, Hai Gonggong used a bizarre and evil martial art that was hard to consider part of the imperial palace’s martial arts. If someone saw it, they might think it was a battle between a demon from the evil sect and a divine general from the imperial palace.

However, the battle was nearing its end. Their skills were evenly matched, or rather, on an instinctual level, Guangguang maintained a near-perfect state, having the upper hand in evasion and reflexive movements. But Hai Gonggong, knowing the imperial palace’s martial arts well, could easily avoid Guangguang’s attacks. After half an hour of sword exchanges, Guangguang could clearly feel one thing.

‘My movements are being read. The longer this goes on, the more advantageous it is for that monster. I don’t have much internal energy left. I also have some internal injuries. It’s time to use my secret technique...’

Hai Gonggong noticed that the opponent’s movements were slightly slower.

‘Haha, he’s conserving his internal energy. He’ll probably launch a decisive strike soon. What should I do?’

After witnessing Guangguang’s strongest attack, the Fa Huang Tian Liu Dao, Hai Gonggong couldn’t afford to be complacent. He maximized the strongest defensive technique recorded in the treasure hall, the Hua Cheng Shou Luo Gang Qi (Flower Displaying Guardian Steel Qi). As a result, his speed also slowed down, and the battle resumed on a parallel course. Then, at a certain moment...

“Kya!”

A brilliant golden light shot out, illuminating the night sky. Five finger winds rushed towards Hai Gonggong in the blinding light. He narrowly avoided three of them, but two hit his body.

“Ugh!”

However, the finger winds couldn’t penetrate the Hua Cheng Shou Luo Gang Qi. They only caused a slight shock... Staggering, Hai Gonggong quickly regained his composure and launched a sword strike.

“Ya!”

‘Strange...’

His sword strike hit nothing.

‘Haha, he’s trying to run away.’

Soon, Hai Gonggong, who had recovered his vision, saw Guangguang, emitting a golden light, fleeing into the distance.

“Take this!”

At the same time, Hai Gonggong’s sword shot straight into the air with a piercing sound.

Thud!

Guangguang felt the sharp aura (銳氣) coming from behind and tried his best to dodge, but the sword followed him and pierced through his back.

“Ugh!”

Guangguang, with the sword embedded in his body, used his internal energy to prevent Hai Gonggong from playing any tricks and clutched the protruding blade, fleeing desperately.

“Damn it, we’ll see...”

‘Haha, I never thought I’d say “we’ll see”...’

But Guangguang had no other way to vent his frustration except through curses.

“Chase him!”

At the same time, the figures in black and red began to chase after Guangguang like lightning. The figures in yellow, who had determined that there was nothing left to kill in the mansion, followed behind.

The mansion was left with no living soul. General Yu Yingzhen’s body lay in a corner, his head severed. The generals of the hundred-man units and above, who had been summoned under the pretext of a strategy meeting, were all killed. Every man, woman, and child, including the servants and even the dogs, were not spared from death.