Chapter 338: Confrontation (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 338: Confrontation (2)
Locating his target was no challenge for the Palace Lord.
The students here were, at best, at the Peak Realm. The rest were merely First or Second-Rate martial artists. The Dark King and the Great King had assured him they would handle the only real threats: the Sword Queen and the Qinghai Sword. With those two occupied, the Palace Lord’s task was simple: find the Poison Phoenix and bring her back.
A black aura, prepared by the Great King, had begun to spread, engulfing the mountain's Qi and warping the very landscape.
What manner of power is this?
The Lord of the Black Palace watched as the darkness slowly consumed the sky. It felt similar to his own, yet distinct from the energy bestowed upon him by his ‘Heaven.’ It was clear the aura was actively altering the environment.
This was Henan, meaning both the Murim Alliance and the Shaolin Sect were nearby. The mission was extremely dangerous, given the potential opposition. Yet, the Great King had told him not to worry. It seemed this black aura, functioning like a formation, was dealing with that very problem.
Which meant his only remaining task was to capture the Academy instructors. Even that was being handled by the Great King’s underlings.
The Lord of the Black Palace had to admit the aura felt thick and vile.
The Black Dragon Army…
They were once an army of Unorthodox martial artists, all supposedly slain long ago by the Sword Venerable—known then as the Wind Sword. Yet, somehow, not only was the Great King alive, but his army marched again.
The Palace Lord watched for a brief moment.
It is not my concern.
He turned away. There was no time to dwell on such matters. His only goal was to complete his mission and return to his Heaven as swiftly as possible. He was only here to repay his debt to the Great King and because he’d heard the Dark King would be joining. Of course, he was a little curious himself.
He had a vague idea of the Great King’s goal, but he wondered why the man wanted the Tang Clan’s Poison Phoenix. He never asked outright.
As the black formation finished spreading across the sky, the figure beside him spoke.
“Let us go.”
The Palace Lord frowned.
“Do not give me orders.”
Clicking his tongue, he leaped from the cliff, soaring toward the forest below. As he moved, he sharpened his senses. His Fusion Realm perception instantly expanded, covering nearly the entire mountain. His Qi control was rough; if the Sword Queen or Qinghai Sword were present, they would have noticed immediately.
But they weren’t. Even if they were nearby, they wouldn’t be in a position to move freely. With that thought, he continued to expand his senses.
I found her.
Just as he expected. Through the trees, he spotted a glint of dark green hair. Her faint Poison Qi confirmed she was a blood relative of the Tang Clan. Her level was unimpressive; he could kill her in an instant if he wished.
The Palace Lord’s body merged with the wind, disappearing into an aura. In mere moments, he was upon his target. He paused just before extending his hand.
Did he tell me not to harm her? I believe he said it was fine as long as she was alive. But just in case…
His attention shifted to the Young Prodigy standing beside the Poison Phoenix. Her appearance and attire marked her instantly as a blood relative of the Peng Clan. She wasn’t on the list of individuals to be wary of.
Then it might be better to kill her to make this easier.
As the Tang girl scanned her surroundings, the Palace Lord silently formed a sharp spike from his aura. He planned to shoot it directly through her companion’s head.
With a slight motion of his hand, the sharp aura shot unerringly toward Peng Ah-hee. Death would claim her before she could react.
Just as the Palace Lord had that thought—
“Ah-hee!”
What?
Something unexpected happened. To his surprise, the Poison Phoenix darted in front of the Young Prodigy, moving despite his belief that she wouldn't notice.
Swish!
The Palace Lord swiftly redirected his hand, shifting the attack’s trajectory at the last moment to spare his primary target.
“S…Soyeol!”
“Hghhh…”
The Poison Phoenix sustained a severe wound on her arm. Peng Ah-hee, panicked by the sudden attack, quickly moved to staunch the bleeding.
Watching the scene unfold, the Palace Lord materialized before Tang Soyeol with a soft tap.
“Girl.”
Hearing his deep, resonant voice, Peng Ah-hee looked up in shock.
“How did you know?” the Palace Lord asked. “Someone at your level shouldn’t have been able to notice.”
Tang Soyeol turned, meeting his gaze, her pupils wide with fear. She seemed to instantly grasp the vast gulf in power between them.
“…W-Who are you…”
“There is no need for you to know that.”
A spark of curiosity lit within him. How did she notice? She was, at best, a First-Rate martial artist.
“Are you the Poison Phoenix of the Tang Clan?”
Tang Soyeol swallowed nervously.
“I won’t ask twice.”
The Palace Lord formed another sharp spike, this time aiming it at Peng Ah-hee. A more efficient approach. Peng Ah-hee flinched instinctively.
Tang Soyeol quickly spoke up.
“Don’t you… already know? I’m not sure why a superior senior like you is doing this to us.”
“You sure know how to run your mouth. Is it because you are from a noble clan?”
A superior senior, huh? Like many in the Orthodox Faction, she had a silver tongue. The Palace Lord found it irksome.
Step.
He stepped toward Tang Soyeol, as if he’d heard enough. Peng Ah-hee moved futilely to shield her friend.
“I don’t have much time, so I hope you don’t fight back. I hate when things get in my way.”
“…”
As black spikes materialized around him once more, Peng Ah-hee stood her ground. How heartwarming. Their friendship would turn cold once she died.
Just as the Palace Lord was about to eliminate the obstacle and take his prize, he halted abruptly.
Pause.
He gazed into the forest.
“A familiar presence.”
He sensed a guest approaching. He wondered how she’d detected him; he’d concealed his presence to avoid interference. Someone was closing in, fast. It was a sharp, familiar Lightning Qi.
There are two.
He redirected the spike meant for Peng Ah-hee toward the source of the Qi.
Pwoosh!
As the spike shot forth, the approaching girl shoved her companion aside and deflected it with her sword.
Oh?
Not a bad reaction. She was clearly skilled enough for such a maneuver. He sent another attack, more powerful than the last. As his heavy aura stabbed into the forest—
Craaaack-!
Her Lightning Qi clashed with his attack, a violent sound echoing through the trees. After the impactful collision—
Slash-!
His attack was sliced apart. She had cut through an attack from a Fusion Realm martial artist.
Impressive.
He was genuinely taken aback.
Moments later, the owner of the Lightning Qi emerged from the forest.
…As I expected.
The Palace Lord studied her face.
“I could’ve sworn I’ve felt this Qi before. It was none other than the blood relative of the Sword King.”
The daughter of the Sword King. A girl he had fought before.
“I presume you have some business with me?” he asked.
As she emerged, she tied back her white hair, pointed her sword at him, and cast a glance at Tang Soyeol, who was struggling to breathe as she leaned against a rock.
“It’s been a while. I believe we’ve met before.”
Her face was familiar. Back in the main palace he’d intended to discard, she’d been wandering with the Flaming Demon’s child.
“Do you remember me?”
Namgung Bi-ah nodded in response.
“…I do.”
“Yet you still raise your sword against me.”
He felt mocked. It seemed even a young child like her, despite the vast difference in their power, saw him as a target.
“Do I look like a joke to you?”
“…”
“Or maybe it’s because I lost to the Flaming Demon that day.”
Black aura began to pour from his feet, sharpening into lethal forms. He felt looked down upon by a mere Young Prodigy.
“…Even though I am the Lord of the Black Palace.”
An ominous smile spread across his face.
His mission was to capture the Poison Phoenix, but the Namgung Clan served the Sword King. She was the daughter of that annoyingly verbose man. This turn of events wasn't bad at all for the Palace Lord.
I’m in debt to the Sword King anyway.
“If you’d just walked away, pretending not to notice… you might have lived. How fooli-“
“…Is it you?” she interrupted, her voice cold.
“What?”
“…The one responsible for putting that girl in that state…”
“The Poison Phoenix? That’s right, I am the one-“
Swoosh-!
A flash of light erupted before him as he responded. Namgung Bi-ah had unleashed her Lightning Qi, striking at him with her sword.
Craaack-!
The Palace Lord defended with his aura, observing her closely. Her Qi was far more powerful than he had expected.
This much power at such a young age.
His earlier impression was correct. Namgung Bi-ah’s level was incomparable to other Young Prodigies her age.
Clang-! Craack.
As her sword clashed with his aura, she angled her blade on her next strike, adapting after being blocked.
Ha.
Her quick judgment was impressive, but the sheer killing intent behind each strike was even more remarkable. She was serious about killing him. This wasn't the usual ferocity of a Young Prodigy, nor was it typical of the Orthodox Faction.
When she closed the distance, a heavy aura bound the Palace Lord’s feet.
Master of Swords, huh?
This was the Namgung Clan’s Secret Art, taught only to its bloodline. It was said to consume a vast amount of Qi and was extremely difficult, yet this girl used it with casual ease. Explosive Lightning Qi filled the air, yet her sword remained calm and sharp. It impressed even him.
The Sword King gave birth to an unbelievable child.
What was her level? It seemed well beyond the Peak Realm. The precision of her Qi control made it clear she had broken through her limits, perfecting the Peak Realm.
She’s a monster.
To achieve a perfected Peak Realm in her early twenties meant she was a talent sent by the heavens themselves.
As he blocked her relentless swordplay with his aura, a thought solidified in his mind.
I must get rid of her.
If she had already reached this level, he had no choice. She would become a grave problem in the future.
Claaang-!
Her Lightning Qi multiplied, intensifying. The Qi in her sword was firm and powerful. What a Sword Force she wielded. She moved with swift, silent steps, showing she had perfected her movement as well.
Dodging each surge of his aura, Namgung Bi-ah swung her sword with relentless precision. Even a graze was dangerous, yet she showed no hesitation. She sliced through his aura, carving a path for herself.
Craaack-!
She charged through, her Lightning Qi blazing in her wake. She accelerated with Qi and transitioned seamlessly into her sword strikes, a testament to her rigorous training. Her movements were fluid, but her attacks were razor-sharp.
Slash-!
Once again, she sliced through his aura, opening a clear path toward him. Seeing the opening, she charged, her sword brimming with Qi, aimed directly at his neck.
“You definitely are outstanding above others.”
Just as her Lightning Qi-enhanced sword was about to make contact—
“But that is where it ends.”
Crack-!
A sudden burst of aura struck Namgung Bi-ah’s flank.
“Ugh…!”
Thud!
The impact sent her flying, but she managed to land on her feet, fixing her posture and gathering her Qi once more. But she had no time to rest. The Palace Lord’s attacks continued to rush toward her.
“Even in that moment, you protected your vitals with your Qi. I am very shocked.”
His attacks grew harsher, as if his previous strike had only been a warm-up.
Rumble-!
They were so violent and fast they kicked up a thick cloud of dust from the ground.
“Your quick judgment is also impressive. If this was a different situation, I might’ve asked you to join my side.”
He was being honest. Talents like hers were rare in the Central Plains; he would have shackled her to him if he could. That was how impressive she was.
“But I can’t do that because of this unfortunate timing.”
The Palace Lord had to become somewhat serious. Namgung Bi-ah wasn’t someone he could play with. He was glad to have found her now rather than later, when she’d be even more formidable. While his mission was to capture the Poison Phoenix, he was killing two birds with one stone.
Charging his aura, the Palace Lord paused, believing he’d gathered enough power to finish her. He may have been shocked by her prowess, but in the end, she was only at the Peak Realm. The gap between Peak Realm and Fusion Realm was absolute.
Just as he prepared to unleash his final attack, something shot through the thick veil of dust.
Swoosh-!
A sword strike sliced through the air, aimed directly at his neck.
Splat.
Blood splattered. It came from the Palace Lord’s neck. It seemed her attack had found its mark.
“You little…”
But it hadn't been fully successful. Her strike was swift and strong, but the protective aura around him had dulled its impact; it had only wounded him, sparing his life.
He looked at her, his expression one of shock.
“…Ha.”
Before him, unbelievable furrows carved by her attacks scarred the ground. Namgung Bi-ah stood bleeding from multiple wounds, having protected herself with her Qi. The only emotion left in her eyes was stark disappointment.
The Palace Lord quickly concealed his shock at her gaze.
Is this what she planned?
She knew she stood no chance in a direct confrontation, so she had waited for him to lower his guard for a single, decisive strike. If that was her strategy from the start, then this girl was truly terrifying. She had endured all that pain just for this one opportunity.
So she planned this ever since the start of our battle.
“You must die here.”
The Palace Lord was no longer surprised, merely weary. He had thought it before, but now he was certain. He had to kill her here, no matter what.
Namgung Bi-ah swayed, unable to hold herself up any longer, and collapsed to the ground. She had risked everything for that single strike.
The Palace Lord approached her prone form. He had to eliminate this future threat.
As he charged his Qi with that final thought—
Shing.
A sharp sound came from where the Poison Phoenix was.
The Palace Lord turned his gaze, wondering what was happening now.
“…!”
He quickly concealed his shock at the sight before him.
“What are you… doing right now?”
Tang Soyeol, who had been slumped against the rock, had stabbed a dagger into her own thigh and now held the bloodied blade against her neck. Her eyes were fierce and resolute.