Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Arc 5. The Wind Relentlessly Shakes the Branches of the Great Tree (1)
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Mount Aeno in Yunnan Province was a treacherous peak.
Its deep and rugged terrain made it difficult for human feet to tread, and year-round mists and clouds shrouded its summits, obscuring its true form.
The Heavenly Flower Palace perched atop Mount Aeno's main peak, a sect shrouded in mystery. It rarely meddled in the affairs of the martial world, but its formidable hidden strength commanded respect from all.
As one of the Nine Great Sects, the Heavenly Flower Palace had maintained steady exchanges with the Jeomchang Sect, another Yunnan-based faction, earning it recognition as a righteous sect.
Traditionally, the palace had far more female disciples than male. Consequently, its palace lords were almost always women.
The current lord of the Heavenly Flower Palace was Jang Hwa-kyung.
Even in her sixties, Jang Hwa-kyung possessed such profound inner energy that she appeared to be in her early forties.
The Cloud Weaver Pavilion, located in the deepest part of the Heavenly Flower Palace, served essentially as her residence.
Whether in joy or sorrow, Jang Hwa-kyung would retreat to the Cloud Weaver Pavilion to gather her thoughts. It was a place as familiar to her as her own skin.
Today, too, she strolled through the garden before the pavilion.
This beautiful garden was the work of her lifetime. Filled with rare flowers and exotic plants seldom seen in Yunnan, it boasted a splendor fit for the heavens.
Jang Hwa-kyung bent down to gaze at a small orchid growing alone in a crevice between rocks.
"It won't be long before the Celestial Orchid blooms."
This delicate orchid was a treasure known as the flower sent from the heavens. She had arduously obtained it from the harsh depths of the distant Tianshan Mountains.
Taking root in Yunnan's eternally warm climate was no easy feat for a flower that thrived only in cold environs.
Jang Hwa-kyung had nurtured it with utmost devotion. After years of tireless effort, it was finally bearing fruit, filling her with unparalleled joy.
The Celestial Orchid was said to be a flower bestowed by the heavens themselves. Legend held that its bloom brought great fortune.
"What fortune will it bring?"
Jang Hwa-kyung smiled as she gently caressed the orchid. Its leaves trembled shyly in response.
She was still admiring the leaves when—
Boom!
A sudden surge of intense energy rippled through the air.
It came from the direction of the palace's main gate.
"What?"
Jang Hwa-kyung's face paled instantly.
The murderous aura gripped her heart like a vise, sending chills racing across her skin.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The emergency bells began to toll. They rang only when a great enemy invaded.
"Who dares invade the Heavenly Flower Palace?"
She hurried toward the main gate.
"Palace Lord!"
Disciples of the Heavenly Flower Palace joined her one after another.
Their numbers swelled from dozens to hundreds.
A fearsome aura emanated from every one of them. In moments, they reached the main gate.
The sight that greeted them made Jang Hwa-kyung's eyes widen in shock.
The warriors tasked with guarding the Heavenly Flower Palace lay strewn across the ground. Blood pooled everywhere, and the massive gate lay shattered into unrecognizable fragments.
In the places where sentries should have stood, warriors clad in blood-red robes now stood.
There were only about a hundred of them. Yet the energy radiating from their bodies was so overwhelming it stole the breath away.
At their center stood a man scattering crimson glints from his eyes.
In his hand was a spear engraved with a coiling dragon motif, from which an intensely murderous sharpness emanated.
Its mere presence pierced the heart like a thrust. It was a weapon worthy of being called a divine spear. Its wielder was no ordinary man.
Suppressing her boiling rage, Jang Hwa-kyung spoke.
"Who are you to dare wreak havoc in the Heavenly Flower Palace?"
"My name is Yun Du-gwang."
"Yun Du-gwang."
"Indeed. You've likely never heard it before. This is my first time stepping into the world."
Jang Hwa-kyung's brow furrowed.
"Have we some grudge against you?"
"None at all!"
"Then why?"
"A declaration of war requires a fitting sacrifice."
"A declaration of war?"
"So decreed our Cult Leader."
"Cult Leader?"
Jang Hwa-kyung's eyes flew wide open.
Countless sects dotted the world, but few called their leader "Cult Leader."
Only one organization used that term.
The Demonic Cult.
"From... the Demonic Cult?"
"You're not entirely clueless, then."
"Why the Demonic Cult?"
"I told you. A declaration of war demands a sacrifice."
Yun Du-gwang's lips curled into a sneer. A viscous killing intent seeped out, blanketing the area.
"Gasp!"
"Ugh!"
The Heavenly Flower Palace warriors, caught defenseless in the aura, shuddered.
"Has the Demonic Cult finally revealed its ambitions?"
"You struck first."
"What do you mean?"
"Had it not been for you, we would have continued living quietly, as we always have."
Yun Du-gwang gripped his spear tightly. Thick veins like earthworms bulged across the back of his hand.
"Hmph! Making excuses like a coward? I don't know why the Demonic Cult targeted our palace as its sacrifice, but you'll soon learn we're no easy prey."
Jang Hwa-kyung raised her hand. Her warriors drew their weapons, aiming at Yun Du-gwang and the Demonic Cult members.
Yun Du-gwang formed a fist salute while holding his spear.
"I am Yun Du-gwang, Lord of the Hidden Dragon Hall of the Divine Cult. In the Cult Leader's stead, I shall eradicate the Heavenly Flower Palace from the earth."
"Absurd. Don't underestimate our palace's power. All disciples, annihilate the Demonic Cult filth!"
Jang Hwa-kyung snorted derisively and issued the command.
"Waaah!"
"Drive out the Demonic Cult!"
The Heavenly Flower Palace warriors charged at the Demonic Cult members with raised spirits. Until then, the Demonic Cult warriors arrayed behind Yun Du-gwang had not stirred.
They moved only after his order.
"In the name of the Divine Cult, we eradicate the Heavenly Flower Palace. Commence the holy war."
"Understood!"
Whoosh!
The warriors, silent as ghosts until now, billowed their blood-red robes as they surged toward the Heavenly Flower Palace forces.
Slash!
Hands thrust out from beneath the robes. In them gleamed bizarre weapons called Soul-Chasing Claws, with three blade-tips like talons.
Devastating in close quarters, they were hard to master and even harder to wield in real combat, making them rare in the martial world.
Yet the Demonic Cult warriors handled the Soul-Chasing Claws with expert ease.
Scree!
"Urk!"
"Aaagh!"
With every slash through the air, Heavenly Flower Palace warriors fell, spraying blood. Without fail, it was the palace disciples who died, while the Demonic Cult warriors emerged unscathed.
Like wolves among sheep, they dominated utterly.
"Tch!"
Jang Hwa-kyung bit her lip until it bled.
Her disciples were dying before her eyes. In disbelief at the unfolding reality, she roared.
"I won't let you get away with this, Demonic Cult dogs!"
Her pale hand cleaved the air.
Demon-Subduing Manifestation Hand. The ultimate technique, known only to the palace lord.
Swoosh!
Her hand shadows blanketed the sky.
At its peak, the Demon-Subduing Manifestation Hand could pulverize house-sized boulders.
In that instant, Yun Du-gwang thrust his spear skyward.
A crimson glow rode the spear's length, erupting from the tip.
Spear qi had been unleashed.
Flame-Quenching Spear, Fifth Form: Blood Flower Rain—Yun Du-gwang's signature technique.
Kwaaa!
The two colossal energies clashed in midair.
Blinding light exploded outward, unleashing shockwaves in all directions.
Some were swept away, tumbling across the ground. A wall barely holding its shape collapsed entirely.
Thud!
Someone crashed heavily to the earth soon after.
"Groan..."
The woman groaning and twitching intermittently was none other than Palace Lord Jang Hwa-kyung.
Her right arm was severed from the shoulder, gone entirely. Her body was drenched in blood, her face unrecognizable.
"Ah..."
Tears streamed from her eyes.
Her disciples were dying.
The Heavenly Flower Palace, with centuries of history, was crumbling.
Yun Du-gwang looked down at her and murmured coldly.
"No need to feel so wronged. Many sects will fall like the Heavenly Flower Palace."
"You... demons!"
"We lost everything and hid at the world's edge. That was our last sanctuary. But you pursued us even there, stripping away our final refuge. All we have left is our last shred of pride and our venom. Anyone in that situation would become a demon."
"Urgh!"
"Call us demons, revile us for plunging the martial world into bloodshed—it matters not. We fight for our survival."
It was a battle for existence.
Countless would bleed upon this land.
Even if it meant the Divine Cult forever bearing the stigma of the Demonic Cult.
"Leave no one alive. Show the world the fate of all who oppose the Divine Cult."
Yun Du-gwang's command rang out, and that day, the Heavenly Flower Palace was utterly annihilated, without a single survivor.
***
Atop Lotus Peak, shrouded in mist, the upper hall hosted the Mount Hua Sect's leadership in full assembly.
Dozens gathered, yet not one dared breathe loudly.
The annihilation of the Heavenly Flower Palace had shaken the world.
Though classified as a mysterious sect for its reclusiveness, its power surpassed most Central Plains factions.
Yet it had been wiped out overnight. Not one survivor, not even a foundation stone left intact.
Sects across the land were on high alert. The Mount Hua Sect was no exception.
Having suffered the greatest losses against the Demonic Cult decades prior, their fear and rage burned fiercer.
After a long silence, True Person Hyeoncheon spoke.
"The Demonic Cult's invasion has become reality. Today it's the Heavenly Flower Palace—tomorrow, who knows whose turn it will be. It could even be our Mount Hua Sect."
"Mmm."
The elders fell silent.
Unspoken, they felt the crisis's gravity most acutely.
True Person Hyeoncheon surveyed them and issued orders.
"Recall all disciples to Mount Hua, save those dispatched to the Martial Alliance."
"Understood."
"And relay to Junior Brother Hyeongeom: it's time to end his seclusion."
"Yes!"
True Person Hyeongeom was Mount Hua's greatest swordsman. His strength was essential to defend against the Demonic Cult.
Then, someone hesitantly spoke.
"But..."
"What is it?"
"What of Cheonkyeong?"
The speaker was True Person Hyeonkyeong, lord of Taepyeong Palace, seated lowest among the leadership.
All eyes turned to him. Cheonkyeong referred to none other than Damho.
The Blazing Demon, Damho.
The name scorching the martial world hottest, yet a burdensome one to claim.
Moreover, Myeongkyeong had recently returned after boldly venturing out, admitting defeat to Damho and entering secluded training.
The events had rocked Mount Hua profoundly. Gatherings of two or more inevitably sparked debate.
Some argued Damho should be accepted as a Mount Hua disciple; others insisted they could not harbor a martial world public enemy.
Both sides had merit, leaving the leadership undecided.
Too hot to embrace, yet missed if absent.
Such was Damho's position at Mount Hua now.
The leadership discussed his fate without regard for his own wishes. Yet the meeting ended without resolution.
True Person Hyeoncheon, presiding, let his gaze deepen.
'I hope Unkyeong finds Junior Brother Hyeonso soon.'