Chapter 104 : We Were Hit

Chapter 104: We Were Hit

The location of the Ice Palace had never been revealed to the outside world.

To be precise, people knew roughly where it was, but because it stood in the middle of a vast land of nothing but ice, there was no reference point by which to pinpoint its exact position.

If there had at least been a mountain or a river nearby, one could have used that as a standard—so many li north, so many li east—but there was nothing of the sort.

As a result, even without deliberately hiding it, the location of the Ice Palace had never naturally come to light.

Of course, anyone who had visited before or who used a message hawk trained by the Ice Palace could find the way, but that was limited.

That had been the most decisive reason why even the Cult Leader and Yul Han had not been able to shake off the Ice Heaven Blade King and rush ahead on their own.

Because of that, the group’s pace had been adjusted to match the Ice Heaven Blade King.

And then another problem arose.

“Are you all right?”

At Yul Han’s question, the Ice Heaven Blade King—who had applied medicinal herbs obtained from a nearby tribe and wrapped his wound with cotton cloth—nodded.

“I am fine. Several months have already passed, and it has healed quite a bit.”

That was true. The Ice Heaven Blade King had been injured. He said it was a wound he had suffered in a clash with a Ghostly Being before his escape.

Perhaps because of that, even after several months, the wound continued to fester and healed slowly.

“So you saw the Ghostly Being.”

“I faced it head-on. I still remember those eyes—red as if filled entirely with blood.”

“What was it wearing?”

“Clothing? Ah! Now that you mention it, it was a monk’s robe. Not attire from the Central Plains… A lama! Yes. It was the garb of a lama monk.”

At the Ice Heaven Blade King’s answer, Yul Han’s expression darkened as he turned to look at the Cult Leader. Knowing the meaning behind that glance, the Cult Leader stepped forward.

“Have you ever seen Monk Eightfold Confusion of Tibet?”

“No.”

At the Ice Heaven Blade King’s reply, the Cult Leader spoke with regret in his eyes.

“The possibility has grown, but it is not yet at the stage of certainty. Monk Eightfold Confusion is not the only lama in this world.”

The Cult Leader hoped that even the smallest sliver of hope remained. To be honest, that hope was not out of concern for Monk Eightfold Confusion’s safety.

If a master who had reached the Manifestation Realm had become a Blood Corpse… it was impossible to easily estimate the extent of his abilities.

Thus, the Cult Leader’s hope was for their own safety—or, to be more honest, for the safety of his junior brother, Yul Han.

Judging by his expression, Yul Han looked ready to charge at the enemy the moment they met, regardless of the opponent’s power.

Whether he knew the Cult Leader’s thoughts or not, Yul Han continued questioning the Ice Heaven Blade King about the Blood Corpse.

He asked much, but the answers were always the same.

The Ice Heaven Blade King said it had felt like striking an iron tower, and he simply could not match its speed or destructive force.

After all, he had clashed with it head-on once, been injured, and then been dragged away in retreat by several elders.

In short, he had been thoroughly beaten and had fled in disgrace.

Realizing that, Yul Han asked no more.

Perhaps thanks to the delay caused by the Ice Heaven Blade King, by the time the sun was setting, Iron Demon and the others who had been following behind caught up with them.

Regardless of whether they would be of help or not, the mere fact that they had come chasing after them to face whatever dangers might lurk ahead filled Yul Han’s chest with emotion.

The Cult Leader did not seem displeased either. When he briefly disappeared and returned, he was holding several bottles of liquor.

Thanks to that, while they did not drink enough to become fully drunk, enough alcohol passed around to lift their spirits.

It was nothing more than a campsite prepared on a small clearing at the foot of a low hill, but beneath the pouring starlight, sitting together and tilting bottles of liquor had its own charm.

Unfortunately, among the group was someone who could not afford even such a small moment of ease.

The Ice Heaven Blade King declined the drinking, citing his wounds, and lay down early to sleep.

Before doing so, he said that from tomorrow onward, there would be no more delays caused by him.

Watching him, the Ghost Demon muttered,

“His pride has been wounded.”

At those words, Iron Demon nodded.

“Of course it has. If he were unaffected after being reduced to that state, that would be stranger.”

Whether in agreement or with a different thought entirely, the Ghost Demon merely let out a faint chuckle.

Turning his gaze from the Ghost Demon to the Ice Heaven Blade King lying at one side of the campsite trying to sleep, Iron Demon spoke with concern.

“Still… if the Ice Heaven Blade King was driven out after having even his inner sanctum plundered, we must assume the enemy is truly strong, right?”

“That is why he sought the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.”

At the Ghost Demon’s nodding reply, Iron Demon cast his eyes toward the Cult Leader, who was sitting some distance away drinking with the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

“That Ghostly Being—whether it is a Blood Corpse or a Blood Demon—the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult will handle it. Then does that mean the Cult Leader will take on the Man-Sa Calamity Emperor?”

The Ghost Demon quickly grasped Iron Demon’s meaning.

“If that happens, it will be a clash between the Four Heavenly Forces. Will that be all right?”

The ranking among the Four Heavenly Forces had never been decided.

In the past, when the Cult Leader had been the Young Cult Leader, there had been a minor clash with Monk Eightfold Confusion of Tibet, but that had been no more than childish sparring.

There had never been a battle fought with full power in a fight to the death.

That was why they were uneasy.

“Shouldn’t we step in to help?”

“If we try that, knowing the Cult Leader’s temperament, his blade will fly at us first.”

“Then what do we do?”

“If there are supporting forces, we block them. Make sure no one interferes.”

“You mean the Living Zombies?”

At the Ghost Demon’s question, Iron Demon nodded.

“The Ice Heaven Blade King did not see any, but it is not impossible. So tell me again—how did you handle them? You said you froze them and the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult shattered them?”

“Ah! The method for dealing with Living Zombies? Right. I freeze them like this…”

As he spoke, the Ghost Demon spread Black Cloud Phantasm filled with icy energy and froze a small branch. Continuing, he struck the frozen branch with his hand.

“And then the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult… Ah, this may be beyond my ability after all.”

The branch only snapped in the middle. At the Ghost Demon’s self-deprecating remark, Iron Demon asked,

“How is it supposed to turn out?”

“It should shatter into pieces. When the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult taps it like this, it explodes apart.”

“Try using Penetrating Force. If you inject internal energy, it will have no choice but to break apart.”

“What do you think I just hit the branch with?”

At the Ghost Demon’s question, Iron Demon’s expression turned surprised.

“You used Penetrating Force, and it only broke?”

“When I freeze something with the icy energy of the Thousand-Year Ice Essence, it is different from ordinary ice. It becomes as hard as a lump of iron. That is why those Living Zombies freeze solid without resistance.”

Instead of merely freezing, its hardness increased beyond imagination.

Since, as the Ghost Demon had said, any Living Zombies that appeared would ultimately fall to them, Iron Demon rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.

“Freeze that again. I will try.”

At Iron Demon’s words, the Ghost Demon froze another nearby branch. Iron Demon repeatedly tried to smash it into pieces.

The Profound Demon watched the two of them in silence, his gaze complicated.

The perfect opportunity to drive a dagger into the Cult Leader’s back was approaching.

While the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult fought the Ghostly Being, and Iron Demon and the Ghost Demon blocked the Living Zombies or other supporters, the Cult Leader’s back would be exposed as he faced the Man-Sa Calamity Emperor.

In such a situation, the Profound Demon’s revenge would not be difficult at all.

The problem was the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, who sat some distance away tilting a liquor bottle with the Cult Leader.

Why had the soul fragment of the Blood Demon Ancestor settled within that man? Why did Ghost Eyes dwell within him? That much had yet to be uncovered.

So then…

‘I will wait a little longer. If not this time, another opportunity will come.’

With difficulty, the Profound Demon turned his heart away and slipped the dagger he had half-drawn back into his robes.

Not yet. Not yet the time to use it—he justified himself over and over.

The Ice Heaven Blade King, who had once wandered for months unable to find the proper direction and path on his way to the Bright Cult, felt almost hollow at how quickly we reached the Ice Palace.

The Cult Leader knew the road to the Three Northeastern Provinces like the back of his hand.

In his days as the Young Cult Leader, he had roamed the entire Central Plains, and had visited the Three Northeastern Provinces several times.

And from the northeasternmost edge of the Central Plains, the Three Northeastern Provinces, to the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea, the path was exceedingly familiar to the Ice Heaven Blade King.

That was why we were able to reach the Ice Palace in less than ten days after departing from the Bright Cult.

The sight of the Ice Palace, almost papered over with corpses, was horrific.

Because of the freezing cold, even though several months had passed, the bodies remained as they were. At the pale, drained appearances of the corpses, the Ice Heaven Blade King finally shed tears.

Leaving him behind, the Cult Leader and the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult met eyes and entered the deepest part of the Ice Palace.

Prepared for the possibility that the Man-Sa Calamity Emperor and the Blood Corpse would be there.

But.

Not in the deepest chamber of the Ice Palace, nor anywhere within it, were the Man-Sa Calamity Emperor or the Blood Corpse to be found.

“It seems they have left, Cult Leader.”

At Iron Demon’s words after searching the Ice Palace with the others, the Cult Leader nodded.

“Having accomplished what he came for, he must have seen no reason to remain.”

The corpses left behind were all pale beyond reason.

To attribute it merely to death was too simple. They were too white. Their blood had been completely drained. As if that fascinated him, the Ghost Demon examined them closely—then his eyes widened.

“Ah! Th-that.”

At the Ghost Demon’s voice, Iron Demon turned his head.

“What? What is it?”

“That corpse. I think its hand just moved like this.”

Iron Demon scrutinized the corpse the Ghost Demon pointed at.

With Living Zombies appearing these days, there was no rule saying a dead corpse could not rise again.

But.

No matter how long he stared, the corpse did not move in the slightest.

Finally, turning back to the Ghost Demon, Iron Demon clicked his tongue.

“I hear the youngsters these days train while starving themselves. Are you doing that too? Eat properly. When you go hungry, you start seeing things.”

Whether it was concern or reproach, he threw the words out and lost interest. The Profound Demon, looking startled, approached and whispered quietly.

“There is a corpse in that room over there whose fingers are moving.”

Iron Demon glanced at him and grumbled.

“You too? Do not skip meals. You fools.”

Having been scolded without reason, the Profound Demon protested with an aggrieved expression.

“What, you think I am seeing things? No. I am telling you, it is real.”

Seeing how genuinely wronged he looked, Iron Demon finally stepped forward.

“If it is not true, I will not let you off easily…”

His voice trailed off there.

From the room the Profound Demon had indicated, a staggering corpse was walking out.

In his shock, Iron Demon muttered,

“Wh-what is that? A survivor?”

“No. Something is wrong.”

At the Profound Demon’s words as he nudged Iron Demon’s side, Iron Demon turned his head—and saw corpses all around them staggering to their feet.

Unnatural, tottering movements—and some even began hopping.

Jiangshi.

Bodies of the dead animated by some great forbidden art.

Being already dead, they felt neither fear nor pain. Even if one arm were severed as they lunged, their attack would not cease.

Even if their heads were cut off, they would continue to move.

They were not easy opponents, but considering our abilities, the several dozen that had revealed themselves inside the Grand Hall of the Ice Palace posed no real difficulty.

As if to prove that, we all drew our swords at once.

Chaaang.

Just as we were about to charge and clash with the Jiangshi, our eyes widened.

Boom!

The entrance to the Grand Hall exploded inward, and hundreds—no, thousands—of Jiangshi surged in.

Moreover, these Jiangshi did not stagger or hop. Whatever method had created them, they were faster and more agile than living humans.

Watching them, the Profound Demon recalled a single word from memory.

“Corpse Ghouls!”

At his shout, everyone’s expressions hardened.

Corpse Ghouls.

They were dead, yet not dead.

What made them terrifying was not merely their speed and agility. They attacked all living beings.

And every living creature struck by them would die—only to rise again as a Corpse Ghoul.

In the entire history of the martial world, there had been only one time when the Demonic Path and the Hundred Paths had formed an alliance.

It had been seven hundred years ago, during the Rebellion of Shigweol.