Chapter 262

Judging roughly, the Western Heaven City seemed to have already completely fallen into her grasp, losing its original function.

Surprisingly, Cheong Joohwa was beside the Great Specter of the Western Heaven, appearing as if under some kind of mental control, but in that brief moment, I could tell from her glance that she hadn’t lost control of her body.

“Taoist Method, Eight Trigrams Star Sky.”

“Soul Rending Slash!”

We exchanged glances and immediately entered combat, while Shin Pyoeul began casting her Art Formula a step later.

However, this turned into an exquisitely timed attack, and the Great Specter of the Western Heaven showed a momentary look of panic.

“Kgh.”

Sssch!

Sssch!

Kwa-ddeuddeudeuk—!

She sliced through the Art Formula with her sharply drawn claws and used a mysterious technique to disperse its energy, but because it was a sudden combined attack, we managed to inflict considerable damage.

Only then could I catch my breath and check the opponent’s information.

【Radiant Consort】

▶Level 74

Clearly stronger than Kongha, but inferior to the Great Specters Bikang and Cheonho I had encountered in the modern era.

Though a formidable foe, it was certain that with our current forces, we could somehow manage to confront her.

After briefly tending to her wounds, Radiant Consort, with a strange glint in her bewitching eyes, looked at Cheong Joohwa.

“…Impressive. To think you’ve been deceiving my eyes all this time.”

“Didn’t you know? Actually, I’ve been debating whether to slap your face a few times during this period.”

“Judging by the atmosphere, they are your comrades. I had a hunch from the moment they suddenly appeared before me, but it seems you have quite a few secrets.”

Listening to the conversation, I could roughly understand the circumstances.

Perhaps Cheong Joohwa, truly unlucky, had encountered Radiant Consort immediately upon entering the World of Forbidden Techniques.

‘…Then couldn’t the others have ended up in similar situations as well?’

This was a more serious matter than I had thought.

Of course, no one in our group was weak enough to be easily defeated by a Specter, but if by some chance misfortune had struck, it would have meant irreversible loss.

Though an extreme probability, it wasn’t impossible that one of them had faced a situation even worse than Cheong Joohwa’s.

‘…I think we need to search for traces a bit more actively.’

With that resolve, I met Cheong Joohwa’s gaze after a brief exchange.

She spoke in an astonished voice.

“Everyone in this city is that woman’s puppet. She might try something, so don’t hold back if she approaches.”

“Understood.”

“…So it seems this entire Western Heaven already belonged to her.”

The decisive battle was unavoidable.

Fortunately, we had succeeded in seizing the initiative, so now we had to press on without respite.

Kiiing!

Chwarureureuk!

“One Trigram. Raging Downpour!”

“Clear Chain Binding! Linked Wave Slicing Strikes!”

A sound like interlocking machinery echoed as torrents of rain poured from the sky, striking down at Bihee.

Seeing this, Cheong Joohwa swiftly sent the chains of Clear Chain Binding flying while simultaneously using strange rings that shot out from talismans to hinder Bihee’s movements.

“Kgh—!”

“Kongsami.”

Sreureuk.

Puhwahak!

Hwarureureureuk—!

Thanks to the growth from previous battles, Kongsami’s fireball now possessed a majesty almost akin to a dragon’s breath.

Overwhelmed by the relentless attacks, Bihee, struggling to respond, deliberately created a large distance and began tending to her injured body once more.

“I cannot… comprehend. I shouldn’t be unaware of a group of Taoist Masters of your caliber. More than that, are you permitted to act like this?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Even if you are not the subjects of the covenant, provoking me provides ample justification. Do you wish for the Age of Chaos to descend once more?”

Her words were incomprehensible.

However, I could perceive that she possessed some unexpected information.

“I’d like to hear more about that.”

“No, surely not. Could it be you were unaware…? Though hard to believe, if that’s the case, I can say no more.”

Radiant Consort closed her mouth, frowning with an enchanting expression as if refusing to answer.

Since it was clearly the response of someone who had already made up their mind, I had no choice but to resign myself.

As the battle was about to resume, Shin Pyoeul interjected a remark.

“…We can definitely win. Let’s press her simultaneously.”

“No. From what I know, I think the real fight is about to begin now.”

“Huh?”

For some reason, Cheong Joohwa seemed to be wary of Bihee more than necessary.

And the reason became clear through her following words.

“It’s today. The day for the periodic ritual she conducts.”

“Is that… related to the people underground?”

“Yes. For some reason, she continuously loses strength and youth over a month. And to mitigate that, she sacrifices people every three or four days, but when the full moon rises, she regains her due and returns to her optimal state.”

Cheong Joohwa said she had directly witnessed that situation when she first fell here.

And the day one cycle had come around was today.

‘…No wonder it felt easier than expected. So that was it.’

Indeed, Bihee had maintained a strangely relaxed demeanor despite being consistently pushed back, so Cheong Joohwa’s words likely weren’t wrong.

“…Huhu, having been by my side every day, you know well. That is correct.”

Simultaneously, a subtle light flowing from above the Western Heaven City began to envelop Bihee’s entire body.

Huuung!

Sreuk.

Sreureureuk.

“Originally, I had no wish to use this power in mere combat… but given the circumstances, it seems unavoidable.”

Her presence was distinctly different from just moments ago.

Her appearance, which had felt somewhat awkward as if deliberately adorned, transformed into something akin to the embodiment of beauty.

Somehow, merely looking at her form evoked a sense of awe, and it possessed a dizzying allure that could completely captivate ordinary people.

And proportionally, the purity of the Spectral Energy she possessed also grew intensely dense.

“Th-this is……”

“Ugh, it’s come to this after all. I had hoped to finish it before this.”

Shin Pyoeul took a step back, overwhelmed by the pressure, while Cheong Joohwa sighed and shuddered.

And I, too, changed my expression to a grave one regarding the danger Bihee now posed.

“I will use a Grand Art. I request your cooperation.”

Since we also had a brief moment of respite, it would be nonsensical not to utilize it.

I immediately began reciting the Jooeon for Hectail’s Grand Art, Death Transcending Wheel, which could receive Forbidden Technique Value adjustments, while the other two also began preparations for a simultaneous bombardment.

“The Wheel of the Three Realms and Six Paths revolves for eternity.”

“Nine Mountain Clear, Five Paths Six Boundaries. Seven Retributions Eight Resentments.”

“Seven Trigrams, Supreme Light.”

Soon, Bihee, having absorbed all the power, looked at us with an exceedingly sinister gaze, and three massive forces were launched toward her.

Sswae-aek!

Kwagagagak!

Kiiing—!

A deathly aura that seemed to swallow everything, ten wedges containing clear power, and a pure light that shone down as if annihilating sinister energies.

The moment all those Cursed Techniques struck, a tremendous roar erupted, causing sensory confusion and blocking our vision.

“Ugh, cough! Cough!”

“…I, I thought I was going to die.”

I was equally startled.

Indeed, this was practically the first time I had concentrated our full power into a combined attack in actual combat.

Its might was truly formidable; I thought even a Special-Rank Specter standing before it would have been reduced to a handful of ashes.

“What happened… to her?”

Shin Pyoeul narrowed her eyes, looking into the nearly half-destroyed interior of the Western Heaven City, while Cheong Joohwa calmly employed a Detection Spell.

However, with my heightened sensing ability due to the Phantom Body Trait, I intuitively realized.

Bihee was not dead yet; on the contrary, she still retained that power intact.

“…Huhu. Truly remarkable. Just defending against that consumed over twenty percent of my energy. Would you believe this is the first time in my life I’ve received such an attack?”

Surprisingly, she was completely unharmed, without a single wound.

Had I taken that combined attack earlier, even I wouldn’t have remained unscathed. It was truly an unbelievable defensive capability.

‘…No, strictly speaking, it’s different.’

It probably differed somewhat from the meaning of enduring or blocking an attack.

The secret of her absolute defense likely lay in the energy that flowed from above the Western Heaven City earlier and the ritual that was its source.

Though uncertain, it seemed closer to an ability that sacrificed a certain amount of that energy to nullify attacks.

“How… are you unharmed?”

“Do not tremble so; I too was truly astonished. It seems I must not show any leisure against you all.”

Sswae-aek!

As she said, Bihee began continuing her attacks without any further restraint.

Clicking my tongue, I summoned Shikigami to respond and, together with the two, continuously fired Art Formulas, but we couldn’t create a situation to push back the current her.

“…Even in this state, it’s difficult to determine superiority. You are undoubtedly the most threatening enemies I have ever faced.”

“……”

Though she said that, the side clearly being pushed back was ours.

Though not to the level of being completely overwhelmed, there was definitely a gap difficult to overturn.

If only we had one more comrade, we could have created an opening, and that thought was regrettable at this point.

‘Lady Verdi, would it be possible?’

[I’m sorry. While I might manage simple assistance, materialization still seems difficult.]

About a week ago, there was a somewhat troublesome Specter, and I borrowed Verdi’s power; unintentionally, that had become a painful miscalculation.

Clicking my tongue in rising frustration, I soon felt a thought pierce through my mind and turned to look at Cheong Joohwa.

Come to think of it, it existed.

A powerful force that was not inferior to our current selves, rather, one that could surpass it.

“…By any chance, could you summon Azure Dragon?”

“Ah, that. It’s not that I’m deliberately not summoning, but to protect me from the mental control, the power was…”

If that was the issue, it posed no problem. Only now did I remember I intended to return the item I had promised.

“Azure Dragon. I believe it’s possible now. Isn’t that right?”

At those words, a stream of mist flowed from the Cheongsimok in Cheong Joohwa’s embrace, taking shape.

[…I think the same. Originally, I wished to wait a little longer, but it seems there is no time for that.]

It was undoubtedly a sign of consent.

Looking at me as I reached into the Formless Pouch I carried, Azure Dragon confidently demanded the fulfillment of our promise.

[Hand over the Yeoijoo. Then I will take responsibility and crush that insignificant Old Fiend.]

One of the Four Divine Beasts, a noble existence that had long reigned as the guardian deity of the Cheong Family.

The moment for Azure Dragon to regain its true form had arrived.