"Ah-mi-ta-bul!!"
A fervent Buddhist prayer erupted as if resonating with the forces of evil.
The Shaolin monks charging at the forefront emitted a momentum that would be hard to perceive as mere Buddhists for any ordinary soldier. While it might appear majestic to the soldiers, to those who tread the same path of Buddhism, it seemed overly aggressive, furrowing brows in disapproval.
But for the Shaolin monks, it was only natural.
Hadn't they endured the most hardships under the Yangtze River Disaster? They had lost honor and set aside pride. They even had to split among themselves, causing division among fellow Shaolin monks.
Despite having done nothing wrong themselves, they had to bear the cruelty of those consequences throughout their bodies.
And now, the culprit behind all these events stood right before them.
"Paeguuuuuun!"
Someone's shout resonated like an explosion.
The eyes of the Shaolin monks sharpened instinctively.
Yes, it was that person. The root of all evils that plunged the world into chaos, claimed countless lives, and even tarnished Shaolin in the mud!
"Evil must be exterminated!"
The aftermath of the anger left by the word 'evade' was more significant than expected. Even Beok Gye, who always led the soldiers calmly, could not contain his anger at this moment, raising his momentum.
And the anger and enmity surged even higher as they stared squarely at Jang Ilso, who stood there observing them.
Yes, it was that person!
That person caused all this havoc and, to top it off, ravaged the world with arrogance.
The glorious red banners stood out vividly amidst the chaotic melee, even in the confusion of so many people mixed together.
Everyone, including Shaolin, felt a burning thirst as they looked at that distinct red hue.
That neck!
Even if it meant enduring any hardship, if they could just sever that neck, all this could be ended.
Then the world would return to what they knew, and Nine Sects, including Shaolin, could once again receive the world's praise.
If only they could kill that person...!
Blood vessels bulged in the eyes of some Shaolin monks.
"Amitabha!"
Beok Gye, suspended in the air, shouted his battle cry. The external force pouring from his palm formed a giant palm shape in the air and shot towards the approaching forces of the Four Tyrants Alliance.
"Namu Amitabul!"
The Red Dogs charging at the forefront were struck by Beok Gye's external force, spraying blood as they were repelled.
"There is no mercy here! Do not hesitate to unleash the killing intent!"
"Amitabha!"
The Shaolin monks raised their momentum, their courage multiplying.
"Follow Shaolin!"
The momentum infused not only Shaolin but also the Peng Family and the cave, who followed suit with shouts of admiration for the Shaolin monks' momentum.
Nine Sects and One Union.
A name that one could never hope for. The pride under that name was exploding on this land.
On the other hand, those who met them at the forefront looked quite different.
Ta-dah-dat!
The Red Dogs charged forward like hunting dogs chasing prey. Their bloodshot eyes and glimmering killing intent were terrifyingly intense, but they didn't hesitate to prepare or ignite their boiling fighting spirit.
Fighting, tearing, trampling, and defending.
For them, it was as natural as breathing. Just as no special preparation or action was needed for breathing or eating, there was no need for any other ritual for battle.
If ordered, they fight, if ordered, they die. No matter who the opponent is. Even if all they gain in return is a worthless death.
Therefore, they continued their advance without stopping, even as they witnessed the spreading blaze pouring onto the earth.
"Kill them."
The two armies, like piercing spears, collided with each other without any deceleration.
Boom!
Blood sprayed from someone's body like fireworks in the air. It was redder than dusk. The Arhat Fist of Shaolin's One Sect unleashed its power towards the oncoming enemies. Their golden fists, drenched in power, mercilessly struck the bodies of the approaching Red Dogs.
Kooong!
A dull, heavy sound, like striking a giant bell with a hammer.
The Red Dogs, who were aiming to end the lives of the Shaolin monks with a single blow, were repelled even faster than they could charge, unable even to scream.
What was imbued in the fiery fists was weight, not just to crush, tear, or slash, but to push the enemy away with a weight as heavy as the life they had lived!
As much as the evil sect had gathered strength haphazardly to become stronger, their internal strength was as crude as it could be. It couldn't withstand the refined internal strength of the Shaolin monks, which was incomparable in purity.
When strength clashed with strength, density overwhelmed size.
However, the Red Dogs didn't gain their reputation for nothing.
Even as their chest was struck by massive, iron-like fists, their swords swung. Not at the opponent's neck, but at the opponent's wrist that struck their chest.
Crack!
Their arms, strengthened by internal strength, were as solid as steel, but they couldn't completely withstand the full force of the Red Dogs' strikes.
The price was a single wound.
Rather than cutting flesh and bone, they exchanged bones for flesh.
The role of a hunting dog is not to cut off the prey's throat. It is to wound and drive them.
True to their name, the Red Dogs didn't have the slightest hesitation in their attacks.
But even the most skilled hunting dog cannot withstand a great tiger.
The power they had to contend with was too immense for them to be satisfied with just one wound.
"Amitabha!"
Trained in austerity and discipline, and with bodies tempered in rigorous training, the fists of the Shaolin monks surged with anger towards the enemy.
Kwaaaang!
The Red Dogs were sent flying, blood splattering.
A Thousand Years of Shaolin.
Like the Great Peng, who sleeps for a thousand years but soars when awakened. Once they began to unleash their power, Shaolin was indeed formidable.
As a hunting dog under Jang Ilso, the evil sect, including the notorious Red Dogs, could not withstand the power of the Shaolin monks.
"Press on!"
Kooong!
Beok Gye stomped his staff and raised both hands.
Thousand Buddha Hands!
Dozens, hundreds of palm energies created by him swept towards the enemies like the hands of Thousand-armed Guanyin driving away demons.
Beok Gye's tremendous shout erupted as dozens of enemies were swept away in an instant.
"Punish the evildoers and establish the law again!"
It wasn't just the Shaolin monks but also the cave sect and the Peng Family who were intoxicated by the sight.
'Indeed, Shaolin…!'
As the spectacle of power unfolded before him, Jongli Hyeong, the leader of the cave sect, trembled incessantly.
They were powerful. Overwhelmingly powerful.
It was incomprehensible why they had remained silent until now with such strength.
Of course, the battle had just begun, and Shaolin's exploits were merely the beginning of the momentum of war.
But isn't the beginning half the battle? Having brought such enormous momentum to this great fight, the advantages were beyond measure.
"We cannot lose either! Do not leave everything to Shaolin!"
"Yes, sect leader!"
The sword masters of the Kongtong Sect also had pride in being the backbone of the Nine Sects and One Union. They couldn't let Shaolin take all the credit.
But there were those here who were even swifter.
"Sweep them away!"
"Peng Family Lord, Peng Yeob!"
Under Peng Yeob's leadership, the martial artists of the Peng Family plunged into the enemy's flank with their momentum.
If judged by aggressiveness, there was nowhere in the Murim where one could find a place as fierce as the Peng Family. The mighty blows emanating from their giant poles struck the enemies' vital points from all directions.
Crack!
Like chopping wood with an axe, the bisected bodies of the enemies fell to the sides like split firewood.
Unlike Shaolin, who pushed the enemy back, theirs was a cruel killing move that showed no mercy. Regardless of the moral implications, the results of their tremendous blows were more threatening than Shaolin's.
"Ooooo!"
Peng Yeob's sword slashed horizontally. Several Myriad Man House members had their waists cut. The upper halves of their bodies, severed, rotated in the air, spraying blood in all directions.
The calmness usually seen in him was nowhere to be found, only a fierce determination! It seemed as if the blood of the Peng Family was flowing through his veins, proving his allegiance.
Peng Yeob roared like a beast.
"Today, we will seize the greatest name under heaven! Crush them all!"
Shaolin, Peng Family, and the cave sect.
Each of these names alone was enough to shake the world. As such, their power was indeed beyond imagination.
Even the formidable martial artists of the Myriad Man House, who boasted greater fame than assassins south of the river, could not dare to oppose them and retreated without hesitation.
They knew well that Jang Ilso stood behind them.
"Eugh, eueuagh!"
"Where are you going, you evildoers of this evil sect!"
Shaolin's fists showed no mercy even to those retreating.
Wooooong!
Successive bursts of Void Palm shattered the bodies of those retreating. The Divine Fist, unleashed as if it were divine, crushed even those beyond the reach of its fists.
It was truly the momentum of breaking bamboo. It was a one-sided unfolding.
"Jang Ilsooooo!"
At that moment, Beok Gye let out a shout and leaped into the air.
He had spotted a man dressed in enemy attire calmly standing far back on the battlefield.
"Ooooo!"
The authority extended from his fist flew straight towards Jang Ilso, with a momentum that could make one's body contort with just a graze!
However, Jang Ilso, who stood before him, didn't even bat an eyelash and simply watched the incoming authority without a word.
"You don't understand your place."
Instead of Jang Ilso, Jeok Ho, who was standing behind him, stepped forward.
Gyiiiiing!
With an ear-piercing sound, his taoist surged out, cutting through the flying authority with utmost ferocity.
It seemed as if Beok Gye's authority couldn't even be an adequate match for Jang Ilso.
That thought might not have been wrong. But surely, there existed someone here who could be a match for Jang Ilso.
"Amitabha."
A whispered Buddhist prayer echoed softly.
At that moment, Jeok Ho felt the hairs on his whole body stand on end. And then, he saw it.
In the midst of the battlefield, behind enemy lines, the colossal form of a golden Buddha began to materialize like an illusion. It was as if the Buddha had manifested himself.
Jeok Ho's eyes widened in shock.
He saw the colossal form of the golden Buddha and the person behind it who was creating that form.
"B-B-Beok Jeong!"
At that moment, the golden radiance emanating from the golden Buddha's form surged towards Jeok Ho... No, precisely towards Jang Ilso, who was behind Jeok Ho.
"Eugh, euaaaah!"
A sense of imminent danger surged through Jeok Ho's entire body.
But instead of dodging, Jeok Ho wielded his sword with all his might towards the flying Buddha.
Kaaaaaang!
However, even with the authority that easily sliced through Beok Gye's, they couldn't divert the flying Buddha's path. At best, they could slightly alter its direction.
"Alliance Lord! You must...!"
Kwaaaaaaaang!
The golden Buddha flew towards Jang Ilso and caused a massive explosion.
"Sir Alliance Lord!"
Hu Jiaming, who had been nonchalant until now, rushed to Jang Ilso in astonishment.
If he were hit by that absurd true qi, no matter how powerful Jang Ilso was...!
"Sir Alliance Lord! Are you alright, sir Alliance Lord!"
Hu Jiaming pushed through the billowing dust cloud, his concern evident.
Eventually, due to the tumultuous atmosphere of the battlefield, the wind picked up. As the thick dust cloud dispersed, Hu Jiaming froze in place.
It wasn't just the incredible power that Beok Jeong displayed by causing the massive explosion that astonished him.
It was Jang Ilso, who remained impassive, not even twitching an eyebrow, silently observing the battlefield instead of the golden radiance of true qi about to fall upon him. His eyes, colder than the wind blowing from the North Sea, even froze Hu Jiaming.
"Sir Alliance Lord..."
Jang Ilso wasn't looking at a person from Shaolin, nor Beok Gye, nor even Beok Jeong.
He was merely observing the tumultuous battlefield. It was a battlefield where the Four Tyrants Alliance's blood was spilt and where chaos reigned like a blackened flower.
"Quite... impressive."
The corners of his red lips curled up ominously.
"It seems that he has become quite... divine."
His eyes, sunk into a gloomy gaze, emitted a sinister gleam like a serpent's.