Chapter 46 – In Search of a Fateful Encounter (3)

Yu-jin, Ye-jin, Seol-rin, and Ran arrived at the entrance of Cheongjin Valley.

“From here, it looks like an ordinary valley, but that’s just its surface. It’s incredibly dangerous inside. Numerous grand formation masters have created various arrays and perilous traps to prevent grave robbing.”

Despite Yu-jin’s words, the three women showed no reaction. As long as they were with Yu-jin, there was no need to fear mere formations or traps. Satisfied with their response, Yu-jin spoke again.

“Alright, let’s head in. But it would be wise for everyone to be careful. The creators of this Emperor’s Tomb did not wish for its artifacts to be stolen.”

This kind of fortunate encounter, though called a fortune, was essentially no different from grave robbing. That was why countless deadly formations and traps had been installed.

At the warning from Yu-jin, a master of the Profound Realm, the three women couldn’t hide their tension. However, Yu-jin entered the valley with a relaxed smile, and the three women followed him.

Inside the valley stood nine colossal Buddha statues. Each one was immense, appearing to be at least ten feet tall.

“Oh?”

Yu-jin looked on with curiosity, but the women couldn’t share his sentiment. The stone statues were all frozen in strange martial arts stances, looking as if they were targeting them.

Moreover, the statues emanated a bizarre aura that felt inexplicably chilling. It was then.

“Trespassers, withdraw! This is the resting place of a sacred being. Disturb his slumber, and you will not escape death! This is the only mercy we can offer!”

Who was shouting? Aside from Ran, who was not yet adept at spreading her energy, Eun Seol-rin and Na Ye-jin cast their senses in all directions, but they could detect no one else but themselves.

Only Yu-jin was smiling as if he found it amusing. Then, he finally took a step forward.

“Yu-jin!”

“Master!”

The terrified women cried out urgently, but Yu-jin waved his hand to reassure them. Not forgetting to give a warning, he spoke.

“None of you come any closer. I’ll handle this. Instead, protect yourselves with an aura barrier. If you get swept up in this, I can’t guarantee your lives.”

After cautioning the women, Yu-jin continued forward, and at that moment, something astonishing happened. The motionless stone statues slowly began to move.

“For those who ignore the warning, there is only death!”

The strange voice echoed once more, and the nine Buddha statues charged toward Yu-jin. They didn’t just rush forward; they moved according to the patterns of a peculiar formation.

Instantly surrounded by the nine statues, Yu-jin could feel an immense pressure bearing down on him.

“Shaolin?”

It was the activation of Shaolin’s Vajra Barrier Seal, said to suppress and seal all demons and evil beings.

Though its energy was antithetical to his Nine Heavens Divine Demonic Arts, Yu-jin’s smile did not fade. He was simply delighted to have another chance to reveal his full power.

“Losing to the Heavenly Demon has left a bitter taste in my mouth. I need to wash it away! Nine Linked Buddha Statues of Shaolin, show me everything you’ve got!”

The Nine Linked Buddha Statues were creations into which Shaolin had poured its heart and soul. Yet here they were, in an Emperor’s Tomb, statues whose existence was no longer known even within Shaolin itself.

Each statue possessed power comparable to a warrior at the Transformation Realm, which could have endangered Yu-jin’s life, but he remained utterly confident.

*Kuuuuuooooo!*

With a loud roar, Yu-jin unleashed the Black Heaven Hand with his right and the Heaven-Shattering Demonic Fist with his left. Instantly, two different shades of black energy, identical in color yet completely different in feel, coiled around his hands.

As if waiting for Yu-jin to finish his preparations, the nine Buddha statues charged at him.

*Swoosh!*

One statue thrust with its hand, another with a fist, and another with a kick, all aimed at Yu-jin.

But Yu-jin lightly employed the Flying Heaven Dance to evade all their attacks. He reappeared with a relaxed expression, just as one of the statues rushed toward him.

A dragon-shaped aura formed in the charging statue’s hand, cutting off all of Yu-jin’s escape routes, leaving him unable to dodge.

Without hesitation, Yu-jin thrust forward his Black Heaven Hand. In an instant, the hands of the statue and the man intertwined.

*Crack!*

With a gruesome crunch, the statue’s right hand was completely shattered. Had the statue been a living person, it would have screamed in agony.

But the statue was not human, and it silently attacked with its other hand. However, Yu-jin, as if anticipating it, ducked to avoid the attack and drove his fist into the statue’s chest.

*Booooom!*

With an explosive sound, the statue’s chest shattered. But Yu-jin knew that wasn’t enough to finish it. He used his Black Heaven Hand to destroy one of its legs.

At that moment, from another direction, two statues rushed at Yu-jin, unleashing a pure white palm energy.

It was the Thousand Hands Buddha Palm, a technique Jin Won-ho had once used, but its power was on a completely different level. Yu-jin countered by channeling the Black Heaven Hand to unleash the Black Heaven Divine Palm.

*Bang!*

The two streams of white palm energy merged and collided with Yu-jin’s black divine palm. The clash, however, was brief. Yu-jin’s Black Heaven Divine Palm blew right through the white energy and struck the statues.

*Booooom!*

A massive explosion of energy rang out as the statues, their bodies shattered in various places, slammed into the wall. The other statues rushed in hastily, but Yu-jin was faster, dashing to the statues embedded in the wall and landing another blow.

The two statues’ heads snapped back and then exploded. Not satisfied, Yu-jin struck twice more, completely obliterating their chests. Only then did the statues fall completely silent.

*Swoosh!*

“They don’t give me a moment’s rest!”

Seeing the Finger Flicking Arts launched by the statues, Yu-jin conjured a protective aura using the Green Phosphorus Poison Flame. The dark green flames incinerated the energy of the attack.

Before the immense power of the Green Phosphorus Poison Flame, which could burn away even an opponent’s aura, one of Shaolin’s ultimate techniques was rendered meaningless.

However, the statue that had fired the Finger Flicking Arts at Yu-jin did not give up and channeled its energy in a different way.

*Swoosh!*

By adding rotation to the standard energy of the Finger Flicking Arts, the statue unleashed an even more powerful version, showering Yu-jin with it.

White projectiles of light rained down on Yu-jin. Enveloped in the Green Phosphorus Poison Flame, he had no choice but to endure the barrage. The number of projectiles increased steadily, soon completely covering the green flames.

“Yu-jin!”

“Master!”

The three women screamed as they watched, but the statue continued its relentless assault. Then, the six remaining statues, including the one Yu-jin had partially destroyed, rushed in and unleashed their own martial arts.

Except for the statue skilled in the Thousand Hands Buddha Palm that Yu-jin had just destroyed, each of the Nine Linked Buddha Statues had mastered a different martial art. Nevertheless, their techniques struck Yu-jin with precision and efficiency.

*Crash!*

Unable to withstand the numerous attacks, the wall crumbled, burying Yu-jin completely. Believing it was finally over, the statues ceased their attack.

The women watching the scene shed tears without realizing it. They thought that even someone like Yu-jin could not have survived such an overwhelming assault.

“Hmm, you may be close to the Transformation Realm, but this is all you’ve got.”

*Boooooooom!*

Dark green flames instantly melted and annihilated the massive pile of rubble. From within the tremendous inferno, Yu-jin slowly walked out. Though his clothes were torn in many places, his body was unharmed.

The protective aura, created by the fusion of the Green Phosphorus Poison Flame and his immense internal energy, had withstood the statues’ powerful attacks.

“Master!”

“Yu-jin!”

Seeing Yu-jin unharmed, the women called out to him loudly. Yu-jin waved to reassure them. Then he turned back to the statues and spoke.

“So the Nine Heavens Buddha Statues are nothing special after all.”

There were not many in the world who could break through nine statues bordering on the Transformation Realm.

“I don’t even need to use the Profound Heaven Ink Phosphorus Sword to deal with the likes of you.”

If Yu-jin were to unleash the Profound Heaven Ink Phosphorus Sword, there was a chance the entire valley could collapse. Of course, it was also true that he felt no need to use it.

“Alright, playtime is over, you statues.”

With the Black Heaven Hand and the Heaven-Shattering Demonic Fist active in each hand, Yu-jin protected his body with the Green Phosphorus Poison Flame and moved his legs with the Flying Heaven Dance.

If any other martial artist had witnessed this, they would have been unable to hide their shock.

To see one person simultaneously utilizing multiple martial arts was unheard of. Most warriors, even when learning techniques of the same nature, could not use them at the same time.

Yet, Yu-jin was simultaneously wielding four different martial arts, each with a distinct nature despite their similar appearances. It was an incredible feat.

‘Occasionally, talents of the Great Ultimate appear in the martial world, warriors who can command opposing energies, but even they are limited to using two techniques at once. Just who are you, Yu-jin…?’

Na Ye-jin was at a loss for words before Yu-jin’s overwhelming presence. Moving at a frightening speed, he charged toward the statue he had previously half-destroyed.

No, it had been half-destroyed, but now it was already fully regenerated. The power of the Vajra Barrier Seal was restoring the stone statues.

It was clear they would regenerate endlessly unless completely silenced. But Yu-jin continued his charge, his form like a black meteor hurtling through the air.

*Baaaaam!*

No technique was needed to destroy the statue. A simple body slam, empowered by his tremendous speed, was enough to shatter it to pieces.

Did the mere stone statues feel fear at such a terrifying display? They began to launch a coordinated assault, something they had rarely done until now, rushing toward Yu-jin while unleashing their ultimate techniques.

“Yes! That’s more like it!”

His defeat in the battle against the Heavenly Demon had not been in vain. Yu-jin had learned how to utilize his martial arts to achieve more effective results.

As a result, he now overwhelmed the Nine Linked Buddha Statues, which might have posed a threat even to masters of the Profound Realm.

*Baaang!*

Yu-jin’s Heaven-Shattering Demonic Fist shattered a statue’s chest. The power of the Vajra Barrier Seal tried to regenerate it, but at that moment, the Green Phosphorus Poison Flame traveled down Yu-jin’s arm and engulfed the statue.

The moment it was enveloped by the Green Phosphorus Poison Flame, whose destructive power surpassed its regenerative ability, the statue seemed to melt before crumbling away.

What unfolded before the women’s eyes next was a scene of overwhelming destruction. The statues, armed with an energy purer than any other, were continuously shattered before the absolute darkness that was Yu-jin.