Chapter 201

The Sichuan Tang Family and the Nine Prominent Sects Ami Sect, Qingcheng Sect, Kongtong Sect, Dianchang Sect, and Kunlun Sect gathered at the Western Sky Branch in Sichuan Province. Compared to the Northern and Southern Sky Branches, quite a lot of the Nine Prominent Sects were stationed at the Western Sky Branch, resulting in insufficient personnel. Unlike the Seven Great Families, the Nine Prominent Sects had a limited number of disciples. They also deployed martial artists from their subsidiary branches, but their skills and numbers paled to the Seven Great Families.

However, despite their inferior numbers, the martial artists of the Nine Prominent Sects factions were much better than the Seven Great Families. Although the Western Sky Branch had fewer people than the other two branches, they had more Absolute-Realm masters.

The Sichuan Tang Familys Tang Cheon-Oh, one of the Seven Saints, was their only Supreme-Realm master. Compared to the other branches, the Western Sky Branch had the weakest force right now, second only to the Southern Sky Branch, which they were not aware yet had just lost its four Saints.

The Western Sky Branch kept a close eye on the Myriad Tribulations Clan, which had departed from Guizhou Province but stopped advancing when they reached the borders of Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces. The Western Sky Branch easily figured out the Myriad Tribulations Clans plan. They were trying to tie down the branchs feet to prevent them from sending reinforcements to the other branches.

The Western Sky Branch had a dispute over whether to attack the Myriad Tribulations Clan or not. The Sichuan Tang Family insisted on eliminating the enemy instead of waiting, but the five Prominent Sects preferred to monitor the situation for now. Unable to overturn the five sects decision alone, the Sichuan Tang Family was forced to just wait and observe as well.

The shocking news about the Southern Sky Branch losing their four Saints and fleeing to Hubei Province soon reached them. They also received a request from the Northern Sky Branch to launch a joint attack. Through a series of discussions, the executives of the Western Sky Branch decided to accept.

Since the situation would be disadvantageous for them if the Myriad Tribulations Clan at Guizhou Province joined forces with three of the Nine Celestial Demons Sects factions, they decided to launch a preemptive strike and eliminate the three factions at Shaanxi Province first. After finishing all their preparations, they led martial artists above the First-Rate Realm to Bazhong, which was at the border of Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces.

Catching wind of their movements, the Myriad Tribulations Clan immediately invaded Sichuan Province, then quickly made their way to its capital, where the headquarters of the Sichuan Tang Family was. They hoped the Sichuan Tang Family would turn around to protect its home.

However, the Sichuan Tang Family had no intention of returning to the capital. When they left for Bazhong, they were already prepared to have their home attacked. Losing it was a pity since they spent quite a long time developing it, but keeping murim safe took priority. They could just rebuild their headquarters, but if the Nine Celestial Demons Sect succeeded in conquering murim, it would be difficult to reclaim it. More importantly, they would not be at a loss anyway if they could eliminate the three Nine Celestial Demons Sect factions coming down from Shaanxi Province in exchange for losing their home.

The three Nine Celestial Demons Sect factions fell into a dilemma. The Western and Northern Sky Branches were coming from their front and back, respectively, for a joint attack. The Tyrant Cult, Underworld Sect, and Blood-Crazed Clan eventually decided to send their three Divine Demons and demonic monarchs to attack the Western Sky Branch first.

Considering they would not be able to win if they were against the two Branches, they concluded that their best course of action was destroying one of them before they could initiate their joint attack. Naturally, they chose to target the Western Sky Branch. The Thunder Gods successor and two of the Saints were with the Northern Sky Branch. Even with three Divine Demons, they still could not guarantee victory. Meanwhile, the only Supreme-Realm Master in the Western Sky Branch was Tang Cheon-Oh of the Sichuan Tang Family.

Together, the three Divine Demons could certainly kill Cheon-Oh and obliterate the Western Sky Branch. If they then joined the Myriad Tribulations Clan before duking it out with the Northern Sky Branch, they would have a fighting chance.

Along with the Underworld Sect and Blood-Crazed Clans Demonic Monarchs and Higher Demons, Tyrant Divine Demon Gu Pae-Cheon, Blood-Crazed Divine Demon Hyeok Ryeon-Pae, and Underworld Divine Demon Jong Ja-Ryang secretly headed to where the Western Sky Branchs forces were.

* * *

After separating from the Northern Sky Branchs elite forces, Baek Mu-Gun activated the Thunder God's Shadow and headed to Hubei Province. Never stopping to sleep or rest, He reached the Great Zhuge Familys manor at Mount Longzhong, where the Southern Sky Branch had retreated, in just seven days. He arrived earlier than the Loyal Heart Alliances martial arts masters even though they departed from Jiangsu Province much earlier.

The Southern Sky Branchs executives were more delighted than anyone to have his help. As Dan Seol-Young and the Northern Sky Branchs executives predicted, although they tried to request support from the Wudan Sect and Shaolin Temples previous generation of martial arts masters, who were living in seclusion in the deepest parts of Mount Song and Mount Wudang, just looking for them was already an arduous task in itself. Now that the Sky Beast Palace and three of the Nine Celestial Demons Sects factions had taken control of Hunan Province and were crossing over to Hubei Province, the Southern Sky Branch could not come up with any countermeasures.

They were hoping to at least receive reinforcements from the Northern and Western Sky Branches, but they were not in a situation to help either. Hence, when Mu-Gun, the Thunder Gods successor, joined them, they felt as if they had just received a reinforcement of a thousand troops. However, their joy only lasted for a while. Soon, the Southern Sky Branchs executives were once again overwhelmed with worry.

The three enemy factions coming for them had three Divine Demons in their army, making it questionable if even Mu-Gun could hold his ground against them alone. In truth, they found such a feat impossible because the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon was with the enemythe person who annihilated four of the Seven Saints alone. Mu-Gun was the Thunder Gods successor, but it should be difficult to defeat such a powerful opponent even for him. To make matters worse, he would have to deal with two more Divine Demons as well.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The Southern Sky Branchs executives thought that they had no chance of winning, but they had to confirm with Mu-Gun first to be sure.

I am well aware that you have amazing skills, but we will be fighting three Divine Demons, Patriarch Zhuge Bo began. He had a wooden splint over his injuries. Can you really handle them all by yourself?

Yes.

Are you speaking the truth?

I will be putting my life on the line for this. If I had no chance of winning, I would not have thought of taking this matter into my own hands in the first place, Mu-Gun firmly replied.

Fair enough. If the battle would be reckless, you definitely would not try it.

However, to do that, I need my presence here to be a complete secret.

Mu-Gun intended to assassinate one of the three Divine Demons. For that to happen, they absolutely had to be unaware that he was with the Southern Sky Branch. If they found out, they would be on alert at all times, dramatically decreasing his assassination attempts chance of success.

Do not worry. I will make sure no one but the executives knows about your existence here, Zhuge Bo replied, getting a gist of what Mu-Gun was trying to do despite receiving no explanation,

Thank you.

We are the ones who should be thanking you. You came here to help us instead of turning a blind eye despite our unfavorable situation.

You do not have to thank me. Anyway, the Loyal Heart Alliances martial arts masters will also be arriving in two days. With their strength, stopping the Sky Beast Palace and the Nine Celestial Demons Sects forces would not be difficult.

On his way to the Zhuge Familys manor, Mu-Gun confirmed through the Heavenly Secret Halls information network that the Loyal Heart Alliances Absolute-Realm masters were on their way to Hubei Province to support the Southern Sky Branch.

Thats as good of a news as you joining us. I will make preparations so that they can rest comfortably as soon as they arrive, Zhuge Bo delightedly said.

I did not mean it in that way.

I know. Still, they have come a long way to help us. This is the least I can do. I will take care of it, so dont worry about it.

Got it. Have you come up with a plan to deal with the incoming enemy army?

I was going to delay their invasion with our familys Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array and look for the Wudang Sect and Shaolin Temples previous generation of martial arts masters to ask them for help.

Failing to find them or get their help would have resulted in your annihilation, Mu-Gun replied, his tone serious.

I know, but it was the best option we had. It would have been meaningless to wait for the Northern or Western Sky Branch to help us under the circumstances. It is fortunate that you came to help us.

We will have to form new plans, then, Mu-Gun said.

Then to start, we will still activate the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array.

Mu-Gun thought about it, eventually concluding, You are trying to make the enemy believe that the Southern Sky Branch no longer has any Supreme-Realm masters.

If we confront them head-on, they will suspect that we have a martial arts master capable of fighting the Divine Demons, making them increasingly wary. Activating the array will also induce them to lower their guard. They would think that we would not attack them during the fifteen days that the array is active.

Mu-Gun nodded in agreement. If he used that opportunity to carry out his assassination attempts, he would be able to kill one of the three Divine Demons. Of course, it would not be as easy as it sounded.

Have you thought about what to do once the Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array is lifted? Mu-Gun asked.

When that time comes, the enemy will definitely push straight into our manor. We will activate our secret trap arrays to cause initial damage, then lure them to the grand training hall in the center of our manor to annihilate them with a siege attack.

The Forbidden Soul Destroyer Array was not the only array formation the Zhuge Family had in their manor. They also had trap arrays set up in every building, each one the culmination of their capabilities. Zhuge Bo planned to activate the trap arrays to wound the enemies and lure them into where the Zhuge Family could annihilate them all at once.

The arrays alone would not be enough to do that, though. They required people to lure them and the three Divine Demons to be stopped. Although the Zhuge Family had outstanding arrays, those three combatants could destroy them before they could even fulfill their role.

One way or another, Mu-Gun had to deal with the three Divine Demons. Fortunately, he was determined to take them down. If all else failed, he would not even think twice about using the Thunder Gods Descent.

Two days after Mu-Gun arrived, sixteen Absolute-Realm masters from the Loyal Heart Alliance reached the Zhuge Familys manor. Mu-Gun personally greeted them.

Thank you all for coming all the way here.

Why are you here, Young Patriarch Baek? Peerless Wanderer Jin Yoo-Sung asked in surprise.

I came when I heard about the Southern Sky Branchs situation.

So our strength alone is not enough, huh.

Your skills are indeed excellent, but it is still too far-fetched for you all to deal with the Divine Demons, who are in the Supreme Realm.

Can you deal with them alone? the Wudang Sects Taichi Sword Immortal, Supreme Elder Tae Heo, asked with a concerned expression.

I will. Somehow.

You look like you have a plan.

Mu-Gun just responded with a smile.

Lets talk about the details later. Lets head to the residence we prepared for you to rest in for now.

Zhuge Bo instructed his subordinates to guide the Loyal Heart Alliances Absolute-Realm masters to the best residence they could offer. It was the least they could do to repay their kindness for coming all the way here from Jiangsu Province without hesitation.

The Zhuge Family also prepared a hearty dinner for the Loyal Heart Alliances Absolute-Realm masters, who could not eat properly during their journey due to their tight schedule, finally allowing them to eat their fill for the first time in so long.

After dinner, Mu-Gun gathered the Four Peerless Wanderers.

How do you plan to deal with the three Divine Demons? Sunset Sword Jin Yoo-Sung asked.

I will start by assassinating one of them, Mu-Gun said.

Can that work on a Divine Demon? Nine Dragons Fist Hwang Rei questioned.

Well, it wont be easy, but it is worth a try.

And after that?

I will face the remaining Divine Demons at the same time, Mu-Gun nonchalantly answered.

Are you confident that you can win? Thunderous Wind Palm Han Baek wondered.

I will try my best. If all else fails, I am not above borrowing the power of the Thunder God.

Isnt that bad for you?

I have to put up with at least that much if I want to kill the Nine Celestial Demons Sects Divine Demons.

How about we do this? Yoo-Sung offered.

Do what?

Together with the Qiankun Hands and Daybreak Swordmaster, we will activate the Six Dimension Destroyers Formation.

With the Six Dimension Destroyers Formation, even six Absolute-Realm masters can fight a Supreme-Realm master. The other Peerless Wanderers thought it was a good idea as well, but Mu-Gun shook his head.

It requires the six people to have the same internal energy cultivation method. Otherwise, activating it will be impossible.

Hmm

, that did not cross my mind.

Like I said, I will take care of the Divine Demons. You all do not have to worry so much, Mu-Gun reassured them.

Sorry.

For what?

We are far too weak to be of any help to you.

Why say something that does not fit you? You four are already of great help, so you should not have such negative thoughts.

That is a relief, then.

The Four Peerless Wanderers did not have to apologize for failing to reach the Supreme Realm. It was not something to be sorry about in the first place. All that mattered was that they had the dedication to fight the Nine Celestial Demons Sect for the sake of protecting murim.

Even though they had not reached the Supreme Realm, they would still be playing an active role anyway since they were Absolute-Realm masters. Their presence alone was already helping Mu-Gun quite a lot.