Chapter 341: Comeback (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 341: Comeback (1)
Comeback
SLAM!
A tremendous impact shook the mountain, throwing the Heavenly Dragon Academy into chaos.
Dense clouds of Dao Qi billowed through the air, swirling violently as a strange phenomenon gripped the area. Any martial artist would recognize the palpable energy saturating the atmosphere. But for one’s Qi to manifest so visibly… just how powerful did one have to be? The martial artists present, each having long surpassed the limits of ordinary humans, could only wonder.
Drip…
As buildings crumbled around them…
Drip…
An old man knelt on one knee, blood dripping steadily as he surveyed the devastation. The once-proud Heavenly Dragon Academy, which had stood strong for generations, was now battered and scarred. Deep cracks snaked across its structures, threatening to bring everything crashing down at any moment.
This is…
The old man, known as the Qinghai Sword, let out a spiritless sigh as he watched the destruction unfold. The grand buildings that had stood for so many years now looked as fragile as poorly-built shacks.
Then…
Tap.
Something landed directly within the old man’s line of sight. He let out a hollow laugh. It was his own severed left arm. His left shoulder was now a bloody stump, and despite his attempts to stem the bleeding with his Qi, the flow refused to cease entirely.
Just then, someone approached the Qinghai Sword.
“What a disappointment.”
An old man with roughly tied hair stepped forward, a massive sword resting casually on his shoulder. He grinned, revealing a set of yellowed teeth.
“You have your attention elsewhere, so it isn’t that fun.”
“…”
The Qinghai Sword stared at his opponent with a grave expression. This man was a figure from a bygone era, one who had vanished long ago. He was the first to unite the Unorthodox Faction, a master who had once invaded Sichuan in a bid to claim the Central Plains. He had supposedly been stopped and killed by the Sword Venerable of that time, the Wind Sword.
“…Black Dragon.”
The old man was known as the Black Dragon. He smirked at the Qinghai Sword’s words.
“Surely your sword isn’t this lame. I’m starting to feel disappointment.”
Swish.
Black Dragon’s great sword sliced through the air, its tip coming to rest aimed directly at the Qinghai Sword.
“What are you so concerned about?”
“…”
The Qinghai Sword remained silent. Black Dragon’s expression twisted into one of disappointment.
Finally, the Qinghai Sword spoke, his voice tinged with anger. “How come you are alive?”
It was said that the Black Dragon had been killed by the Sword Venerable, his neck sliced open by the Wind Sword’s blade. The Murim Alliance had even paraded his severed head before the Unorthodox Faction. That act had cemented the Wind Sword’s status as Sword Venerable, and he had soon become the Alliance Leader. So how was the Black Dragon standing here, alive?
“Are you curious about that? But I don’t think you are in a position to be asking questions.”
Chuckle.
The Black Dragon chuckled, clearly amused by the Qinghai Sword’s reaction. The Qinghai Sword frowned in response. More than the pain of his severed arm, he was troubled by something else.
The students are in danger.
With the Black Dragon’s arrival, a black aura had begun to engulf the sky, dismantling the Academy’s protective formations in the process. Judging by its scale, the aura had spread all the way to the mountains where the students were located. Sensing other Unorthodox Qi nearby, the Qinghai Sword realized this was a carefully planned ambush.
He wasn’t worried about himself. He needed to reach the students as soon as possible. But escape wasn’t an option; the Black Dragon was far stronger than he had anticipated.
“…What is your goal?”
“My goal?”
“Why did you ambush this place?”
What reason could the Black Dragon possibly have for attacking the Heavenly Dragon Academy after hiding for so many years?
“Goal, you say…”
Thud.
The Black Dragon planted his great sword into the ground and looked around. “I’m not sure what kind of grand reason you’re expecting. The timing just happened to be perfect.”
“…Timing?”
What was he talking about? The Qinghai Sword soon got his answer. The Black Dragon pulled his great sword free from the earth.
“The perfect time to show the world that I, Black Dragon, am still alive.”
Swoosh-!
A powerful wave of energy blasted outwards as the Black Dragon swung his sword with immense force.
Slaaam-!
“Moreover, this is also me letting the world know that I haven’t given up on my dreams. This seemed like a suitable place for it.”
The Black Dragon found it amusing that the Qinghai Sword even wanted a reason. Did there really need to be one? The Orthodox Faction always sought rationality, always needed justification for everything. The Black Dragon was happy to see that some things never changed.
“Since you asked for my goal, I’ll try my best to answer.” The Orthodox Faction in the past were just a bunch of garbage wearing masks, and he was delighted to see they still maintained those facades. He almost respected them for sticking to their roots.
“The roots of the Orthodox Faction. The so-called ‘Young Prodigies’ who are hailed as the future of the world.” They called it the Meteor Generation, didn’t they? What a grand title, born from the flood of geniuses in this era.
How pointless.
In the end, they were just trophies to adorn the Orthodox Faction’s display. “What would happen if I brought a bloody storm down upon these children?”
The blood relatives of the Four Noble Clans, the descendants of the Ten Sect Alliance, the scions of other noble clans who donated heavily to the Orthodox cause… All those talented, privileged youths were gathered here. They weren’t called the future of the Orthodox Faction for nothing. They were destined to become the key figures of the world.
But what if they all died here, by the Black Dragon’s hand?
“If I did that, how would the Orthodox Faction react? Aren’t you curious, Qinghai Sword? I certainly am.” This was the perfect stage to announce his return and prove his dreams were very much alive. He could wipe out the Orthodox Faction’s entire future in one stroke. Why hesitate? He had hidden himself for decades. Now was the right time. His moment had finally arrived.
The swords of the Orthodox Faction had rusted over time, dulled and softened by years of peace. “The same goes for you.”
Chuckle.
The Black Dragon chuckled. Hearing him…
Crack.
The Qinghai Sword forced himself upright and shouted, “Black Dragon…!”
“So you still have the strength left to scream.”
“Why are you trying to kill innocent children?”
“Why do you think they are innocent?”
Their only sin was being the future of the Orthodox Faction. “Do you think anything will change if you keep nurturing these rotten roots? I don’t.” They wore noble masks, yet behind them, they were vile and corrupt. And yet, they pretended to be heroes by helping others? What a joke. Deep down, they likely knew they were no heroes; they’d lost that right long ago. There was no more justice.
Unlike them, the Black Dragon remained loyal to his desires. He desired to stand above everyone else, to erase a pointless past and shatter their masks. That was the path he had chosen.
“You bastard…!”
The Qinghai Sword moved his exhausted body and swung his sword once more. His Dao Qi held steady, and his blade did not waver. Losing an arm wouldn’t make him weaker. A storm gathered around his sword as the surrounding Dao Qi concentrated into a single, glowing point.
Craaaack-!
With a fierce sound, the sword wave tore forward, grinding the ground as it charged at the Black Dragon. In response, the Black Dragon’s attitude shifted.
Slam!
The impact sounded far too heavy for mere swords clashing. The Qinghai Sword realized it instantly as their blades met.
He’s strong.
The Black Dragon was powerful. He was different from his past self, who had been known as a Peak Realm martial artist. It was clear he had reached the Fusion Realm, or perhaps a level even beyond. The historical records about him were likely wrong. If the strange Qi saturating the area belonged to the Black Dragon, then extreme danger loomed.
My Dao Qi isn’t listening.
The Qinghai Sword felt his energy growing heavier as the battle wore on.
The sky, too.
The strange formation that turned the sky black… Was this the Black Dragon’s doing as well? They weren’t far from the Murim Alliance headquarters. Surely, the Alliance would send reinforcements under a sky like this, yet the Black Dragon seemed unconcerned. Perhaps he was confident he could defeat anyone, but the Qinghai Sword saw it differently. It seemed as though the black sky itself was up to something.
Slam-! Cgkkk-!
Sparks flew as steel met steel, sending powerful waves of Qi blasting through the surroundings.
“So you won’t run anymore.” The Black Dragon grinned, feeling the increased weight behind the Qinghai Sword’s attacks. “Did you give up on the idea? Or if that’s not the case—” The Qinghai Sword kept swinging, allowing the Black Dragon no space to breathe. “Are you perhaps waiting for the girl from Mount Hua?”
“…!”
Slam-!
The Black Dragon’s fist struck the Qinghai Sword’s chest. With one arm gone, the Qinghai Sword couldn’t defend himself properly.
“Ugh!”
His defense shattered, and he was sent flying. He couldn’t even land properly, tumbling roughly across the ground. The Black Dragon frowned as he watched the Qinghai Sword roll in the dirt.
“Despite this, you still refuse to retrieve your Qi. How foolish.” The Qinghai Sword’s Qi was almost fully devoured by the black sky. That energy hovered high above, shielding the students. The Black Dragon Army had already breached the Qi barrier and begun their ambush, yet the Qinghai Sword still refused to withdraw his power. Even with one arm lost and blood spilling from his mouth, he fought on.
What a foolish old man.
Even if he used all of his strength, his chance of winning was negligible.
Drip.
Dark blood began to drip from the Qinghai Sword’s mouth.
“Are you holding on just to wait for the Sword Queen?” The Black Dragon already knew the Sword Queen was present at the Academy. He wasn’t sure why she was here, but it made sense for the Qinghai Sword to act this way if he was counting on the Sword Queen of Mount Hua. Was he stalling, knowing she would come to save him? Or was he buying time so she could find a way to save the students?
“All of it is pointless.”
Either way, it was futile. “The Sword Queen is probably already dead.”
“…What… did you say?”
The Qinghai Sword’s eyes widened in shock. In response, the Black Dragon grinned, baring his yellowed teeth, amused by the reaction.
“Do you know who I sent to deal with her?” The Sword Queen of Mount Hua had vanished for years before reappearing in the world. People had cheered her return, and her name had spread once more, a testament to her strength. She was a powerful martial artist, and even the Black Dragon acknowledged that. However, “I sent the Dark King. He’s the one I dispatched to kill her.”
“…!”
She stood no chance against the ruler of the night. Especially in a situation like this. The Qinghai Sword’s expression shifted dramatically at the Black Dragon’s words. It was a mix of horror and utter disbelief.
“…Dark King?” the Qinghai Sword whispered quietly.
“So give up your hope in the Sword Queen. Worry about saving your own life instead.”
Though of course, I’ll be taking your head myself.
Shing.
The Black Dragon tightened his grip on his great sword. Yet, the Qinghai Sword remained still. Had he given up? It didn’t seem so, as his Dao Qi still lingered in the air, protecting the students.
“…Ha.”
The Black Dragon chuckled at the sight. Even in such a humiliated state, he wouldn’t yield? How utterly foolish. “I expected more from you. How disappointing.” He was considered one of the greatest swordsmen in the world, a Leader of one of the Ten Sect Alliance. The Black Dragon knew that killing him and the Young Prodigies would shock the Central Plains, but he didn’t want the Qinghai Sword to go down so easily.
The Black Dragon stared at the Qinghai Sword’s cold expression as he slowly approached. “I guess giving up on yourself is a death in itself.” He planned to sever the Qinghai Sword’s head and hang it at the Heavenly Dragon Academy, eager to see the Murim Alliance’s reaction when they arrived too late.
“Close your eyes now.”
It would be a quick, clean cut. The Black Dragon still needed to meet the Palace Lord after he dealt with the Qinghai Sword. With that thought, he took the final steps forward.
This took less time than I expected.
Contrary to his expectations, the Qinghai Sword was just a foolish old man; it hadn’t taken long to defeat him. By now, the Palace Lord should have succeeded in capturing the Poison Phoenix. The Black Dragon didn’t worry about the Dark King. He believed there was nothing in the world the Dark King couldn’t kill.
Shing.
He reached the Qinghai Sword, his blade poised for the final strike.
Now, I just have to cut his neck and—
Slaaaam-!
“…?”
The Black Dragon’s head snapped toward the mountain, sensing a deep, powerful vibration that made the hairs on his arm stand on end. The Combat Qi he sensed was clear and distinct, even from a distance.
“What is that…”
That was the location where the Palace Lord and the Black Dragon Army should be. Why was such a powerful wave of Qi emanating from there? And that wasn’t all.
Craaack-!
“…What?”
The black formation in the sky began to crack. Then…
Crack-
Something began to fall from the fissures. Pieces of the formation crumbled away and fell to the earth.
“What is this…!”
Was this a result of the earlier vibration? No, that wasn’t it. That wasn’t what the Black Dragon was feeling.
Rumble-
Something was happening beyond the formation. Through the cracks, a mysterious red light pulsed. What was that? It was too early for sunset. And what was this fierce Qi that felt like pure Combat Qi? It was warm. Or… was it hot? It was somewhere in between. Whatever it was, something significant was occurring.
“Just what is going on?”
This was completely unexpected. The Black Dragon raised his sword high, intending to finish off the Qinghai Sword immediately and head toward the disturbance.
“Wow, fuck…”
“…!”
The Black Dragon whipped his head around at the unexpected voice. Standing there was a figure, breathing heavily and cursing aloud.
“I seriously almost died.”
Where had he come from? The Black Dragon hadn’t sensed his approach. It was as if he had fallen straight from the sky. The newcomer was a young man with black hair and red eyes, appearing no older than twenty.
“Not doing that bullshit again. Now, where am I—wait, what the…what’s going on here?”
Seeing him, the Black Dragon masked his shock.
…What is this?
This was the reason the hairs on his skin had stood on end. He knew it wasn’t the distant Combat Qi causing it. It was definitely because of the bastard—no, that thing—standing before him.
The Black Dragon tensed, sensing something profoundly ominous from the young man. Just as he raised his sword, the young man glanced around and locked eyes with him.
“Huh?”
The young man glanced between the Black Dragon and the Qinghai Sword, then frowned. Even the Black Dragon nearly flinched at the demonic expression on the young man’s face.