Chapter 436
Chapter 436
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 436
Chapter Title: The New Matriarch
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Hwajeong, the Palace Lord, who had been about to start the meeting, suddenly wore an expression as if she had just been slapped across the face.
Just as the meeting was about to begin, the Young Matriarch, Jeokmumi, had burst in to announce that she had found the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir of their founder, the Blazing Sage.
She had even acquired the martial arts he had left behind in the secret palace—a truly shocking declaration.
—This palace's long-held wish is to recover the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir and the Grand True Qi of the Blazing Sage. Whoever recovers them, no matter who they are, shall become the Lord of this palace.
It was a decree that had been passed down through the Blazing Sage Palace, as binding as iron.
But for Jeokmumi to have suddenly accomplished both?
Did that not mean Hwajeong would have to step down from her position as Palace Lord?
“If that is so, it would be a blessing for this palace. May I see the proof?”
At Hwajeong's question, Jeokmumi extended her right hand without a word.
A red glow spread from her palm, soon coalescing into a vermilion, flute-shaped rod.
Its mere appearance unleashed a wave of heat that seemed capable of melting the very earth, spreading in all directions.
It was undoubtedly the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir, forged from the Blazing Sage Energy.
—The Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir! The Blazing Sage has returned!
—Finally, the Sage's martial arts and sacred artifact!
Witnessing the sight, the leaders of the Blazing Sage Palace all wore expressions of sheer joy.
With the lost sacred artifact and martial arts recovered, the Blazing Sage Palace would reclaim its former glory.
“Congratulations.”
In the end, Hwajeong smiled and nodded.
“Since the Young Matriarch has recovered our founder's sacred artifact and martial arts, it is only right that she ascends to the position of Palace Lord.”
Her voice was calm, her expression sincere.
“Now that we have recovered the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir and the Grand True Qi of the Blazing Sage, the name of our palace will soon echo throughout the world.”
“Thank you.”
As Jeokmumi replied with a smile, Hwajeong clasped her hands together.
“Although our relationship has not always been amicable, I will continue to strive for the good of this palace.”
No matter how sacred a tradition passed down through generations, it was no easy feat to relinquish the seat of power simply because a sacred artifact and martial arts had been found.
But Hwajeong showed no hint of greed.
Did she not display a generous yet firm attitude in ceding the position to Jeokmumi?
Her demeanor moved the leaders in the meeting hall, drawing gasps of admiration and emotion.
“Indeed!”
“Let us forget the past and forge a new history for our palace.”
Hwajeong smiled and nodded.
“Then my final command as Palace Lord will be to hold a grand banquet.”
At that, everyone in the meeting hall broke into smiles.
With such a smooth transition of power between the old and new generations… the Blazing Sage Palace was sure to enjoy great prosperity in the years to come.
But how could they have known?
That a deep, dark shadow, one not easily swept away, had already fallen over the Blazing Sage Palace.
In front of the Blazing Wheel Pavilion of the Blazing Sage Palace.
A banquet attended by all the leaders of the palace had been going on for three days.
Having recovered the lost sacred artifact and martial arts of the Blazing Sage, every disciple was unable to contain their excitement.
By using the power of the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir to clear their meridians, they could achieve a breakthrough in their Conception Vessel in an instant. By diligently training in the martial arts, they could even transform into a Body of Sacred Flames.
Their martial prowess would skyrocket, and the might of the Blazing Sage Palace would soar to the heavens.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been in the prison, was also released with Jeokmumi’s help.
However, it was on the condition that he leave the Blazing Sage Palace immediately upon his release.
It was a great occasion for the palace, but the incident had been unsettling.
The reason given was to protect Palace Lord Hwajeong's reputation.
A low murmur filled the air.
The leaders gathered before the Blazing Wheel Pavilion clustered around Jeokmumi, the future Palace Lord, talking ceaselessly.
Unlike before, they maintained a consistently friendly tone and attitude.
She had recovered both the sacred artifact and the secret arts of the Blazing Sage and inherited them, meaning she would soon become the second Blazing Sage.
The future of the Blazing Sage Palace was bright, and in a few years… there would be few in the martial world who could stand in her way.
As the banquet was in full swing,
*Swoosh.*
Meanwhile, a large ship was cutting through the waves, heading for the docks of Chukyung Island.
It was the Blazing Wheel, the finest of the six ships owned by the Blazing Sage Palace, reserved for the Palace Lord.
Aboard the Blazing Wheel were a hundred assassins dressed in black, each one exuding a sharp killing intent.
“Hm?”
The guards on duty at the outpost near the docks spotted the approaching Blazing Wheel and frowned in confusion.
“The Palace Lord is only returning now?”
Since the inauguration ceremony had not yet been held, Hwajeong still held the title of Palace Lord.
During the banquet, she had personally taken a ship and left Chukyung Island to prepare for Jeokmumi’s ceremony.
But to return so late, and so suddenly?
*Thud.*
The Blazing Wheel began to dock, and soon, Hwajeong, dressed in a magnificent red robe, disembarked.
“Palace Lord.”
She looked at the guards who came out from the outpost and bowed their heads, giving a slight nod.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Then, she suddenly stretched out both hands.
*Boom! Boom!*
With two loud bangs, the guards who had been paying their respects widened their eyes, coughed up blood from all seven orifices, and collapsed to the ground.
She had unleashed a formidable palm force, killing them in an instant.
“Palace Lord, what is the meaning of this—!”
Just as the guards standing behind them cried out in alarm,
*Shhhk!*
The assassins disembarked from the ship, swarmed the outpost, and began cutting down the guards in a single, swift motion.
*Thud. Thud.*
In the blink of an eye, all the warriors in the outpost became headless corpses, strewn across the ground.
[Are the preparations complete?]
Just then, a masked figure exuding a mysterious aura stepped forward from among the assassins.
It was the Emissary of the Three Realms.
“The leaders of the Blazing Sage Palace are all at the banquet hall, and most of the troops have been moved outside.”
She had ordered a banquet for the leaders at the Blazing Wheel Pavilion, while the palace's troops and commanders were to drink outside the palace walls.
“If we kill and subdue the leadership at once, the disciples will naturally have no choice but to follow.”
Taking a deep breath, she spoke coldly.
“Go in stealthily and slaughter every last one of them.”
She planned to deploy the assassins from the Three Realms into the banquet hall.
She would kill the leaders in one fell swoop and swallow the Blazing Sage Palace once more.
The Palace Lord of the Blazing Sage Palace.
Maintaining this position was as important as the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir itself.
Unless they were to crush the Blazing Sage Palace by force, it would be impossible to install another puppet Palace Lord to their liking.
“Except for one person.”
These assassins had all consumed the Artificial Internal Elixir and had dissolved a significant portion of it, so they would be able to handle their targets without issue.
“Jeokmumi, the one who possesses the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir, must not be killed.”
[Hmph. To think the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir wasn't a sacred artifact, but a form of materialized essence stored within the body.]
The emissary shook his head and gave an order to the assassins behind him.
“Jeokmumi. Leave her alive. Wipe out everyone else in the banquet hall, down to the last ant.”
No matter how formidable an army, it is useless without a head to command it.
The Blazing Sage Palace had long remained secluded from the world, and its disciples lacked combat experience.
In other words, by simply eliminating the leadership, they could easily take control of the large but headless Blazing Sage Palace once more.
***
In the banquet hall, the leaders of the Blazing Sage Palace were drinking and enjoying themselves.
Just then, with a sound like shifting sand, a hundred assassins seeped into the banquet hall.
“Who goes there?!”
Jeokmumi shouted upon spotting them, but the assassins merely surrounded the leaders, their red eyes glinting.
“Huu, huu.”
The assassins' eyes were bloodshot, and their ragged breaths escaped from behind their masks.
An indescribably sharp killing intent radiated from their bodies.
The Artificial Internal Elixir.
All one hundred of these assassins had swallowed the elixir, and using its incredible power, they had flawlessly carried out their missions time and again.
“There is no feast in this world that does not end. It is time for the finale.”
“Palace Lord Hwajeong?”
The leaders in the banquet hall could not hide their confusion.
Why was Palace Lord Hwajeong walking calmly from among those assassins?
“Palace Lord, what are you doing over there?”
“Surely, you aren’t playing a joke on us?”
As the leaders rushed forward, Hwajeong surveyed her surroundings with a cold smile.
“Lost in a sweet dream, oblivious to the situation.”
Jeokmumi glared at Hwajeong and spoke coldly.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“What am I doing?”
Hwajeong let out a cold laugh.
“To become Palace Lord and find the sacred artifact, I had to act as a clan head for over a decade and endure living with that smelly old man for three years. Do you really think I’d stand by and watch his daughter become the Palace Lord?”
Her words left the leadership utterly dumbfounded.
Hwajeong had always maintained her elegance, and even after becoming Palace Lord, she had been benevolent and generous.
But her tone and expression now were as if a noble saint had transformed into a wicked witch.
“Hwajeong.”
Jeokmumi’s voice was stern.
“Those words are an admission that you are a traitor to this palace.”
“There’s nothing to betray.”
Hwajeong said frigidly.
“I seduced that old fool Jeoksa from the very beginning to steal the sacred artifact.”
Hearing this, the expressions of the leaders hardened into stone.
With her generosity and elegance, Hwajeong had earned the firm trust and support of the Blazing Sage Palace's leadership.
That was why many of them were displeased that the Young Matriarch, Jeokmumi, who had always maintained an arrogant attitude, was to become the new Palace Lord simply because she had found the sacred artifact.
But to think that Hwajeong, whom they had trusted so much, was actually a spy who had infiltrated to steal the artifact?
—What in the world…
As the members of the Blazing Sage Palace stood frozen in disbelief, Hwajeong spoke coldly.
“Enough talk. Cut off their heads at once.”
*Shing.*
The assassins immediately drew their swords.
The blades were not only stained black but also emitted a foul stench, suggesting they were coated in a potent poison.
“Hngh.”
As they drew their swords, the killing intent flowing from the assassins intensified.
It seemed the significant dissolution of the internal elixir was causing an explosive murderous impulse to erupt.
“I didn’t expect you to have assassins prepared.”
“If you understand, then offer your neck.”
“Hmph. You should try saying that after facing this palace's elite.”
“Elite? Do you think these are ordinary assassins?”
“Hmph.”
Jeokmumi scoffed and raised her hand.
*Thwack.*
As she raised her hand,
*Rumble.*
A thousand warriors suddenly poured out from the surroundings of the Blazing Wheel Pavilion where the banquet was being held.
Their eyes were full of vigor, and a powerful, volcanic Yang energy flowed from their bodies.
“How can this be?”
Hwajeong was greatly surprised.
She had confirmed that the main forces of the Blazing Sage Palace had left Chukyung Island before she entered.
How could a thousand disciples be hiding near the Blazing Wheel Pavilion?
“I see. You used the mechanisms of the secret palace.”
Hwajeong bit her lip as if she had realized something.
“The Blazing River's Thousand Flying Swords Brigade…”
“You know of them.”
As Jeokmumi smiled coldly, Hwajeong swallowed hard and muttered.
“Gwangyangja. That old man's dream has finally come true.”
Then, her eyes narrowed.
“You pretended to readily accept the banquet to buy time, and in that time, you used the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir.”
“Of course. You’re a spy from that grand organization, the Three Realms. I knew you’d make one last desperate move.”
Hwajeong was shocked.
Until now, the name of the Three Realms had not been revealed to the martial world, and the people of the Blazing Sage Palace, secluded on Chukyung Island, would know even less about it.
But Jeokmumi knew about the Three Realms?
“I see. That man from the Martial Alliance must have tipped you off.”
Hwajeong’s eyes narrowed as if she understood everything.
Jeokmumi could not have known about the Three Realms, nor was she ever such a meticulous person.
‘How dare a mere Third-Rank Leader know of our organization.’
Swallowing her surprise and confusion, Hwajeong spoke.
“Pretending to send him away was also part of your plan.”
“You catch on quick.”
Jeokmumi’s lips curled into a smirk.
As Hwajeong had guessed, everything up to this point had been orchestrated by Bu Eun-seol.
—The Three Realms will never allow Hwajeong to step down as Palace Lord. However, they cannot mobilize a large army, nor can they reveal themselves…
Bu Eun-seol had told Jeokmumi.
—They will surely use the banquet as an opportunity to neutralize the leadership in one fell swoop.
In the Blazing Sage Palace’s current state, simply eliminating the leadership would allow them to easily reclaim the position of Palace Lord.
And so, during the banquet, Bu Eun-seol had used the power of the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir to complete the creation of the Blazing Sage Palace’s ultimate elite unit, which Gwangyangja had prepared.
The Blazing River's Thousand Flying Swords Brigade.
[You are mistaken.]
The Emissary of the Three Realms, who had been watching from behind, shook his head.
He had discerned not only that all thousand warriors pouring out of the Blazing Wheel Pavilion had opened their Conception Vessels…
But also that Jeokmumi’s body contained not a single trace of the Blazing Sage Energy.
[She distributed the power of the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir among her disciples.]
The emissary bit his lip.
With things having come to this, his plan to obtain the power of the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir was now in ruins.
“Have you also trained in the arts of extreme Yang?”
Hearing the emissary’s murmur, Jeokmumi raised an eyebrow.
“Seeing as you can sense the Blazing Sage Energy.”
[This one has sought the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir for a long time. How could I not recognize the power contained within it?]
The emissary’s voice was laced with disappointment.
He had spent years of effort to obtain the Blazing Sage Energy contained in the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir.
But in that time, the elixir had passed to another, and its energy had been distributed among a thousand disciples.
“No need to drag this out. Wipe them out at once!”
At Jeokmumi’s shout, the warriors of the Blazing River's Thousand Flying Swords Brigade began to overwhelm the assassins.
*Fwoosh!*
The martial arts of the Blazing Sage Palace were formidable because their power was incomparable to ordinary extreme Yang arts.
They could not be blocked by any force, and they carried not only the energy of extreme Yang but also a powerful vibration.
Whether a person or an object, it could incinerate everything from the inside out.
The prowess of the assassins who had consumed the Artificial Internal Elixir was great, but they had been trained by Gwangyangja for a long time.
They were no match for the thousand elite disciples who had gained the Blazing Sage Energy and achieved breakthroughs in their Conception Vessels.
[Hmph.]
The emissary snorted and shook his head.
If the Blazing Sage Energy had remained in Jeokmumi’s body, he would have captured her alive, even if it meant annihilating the Blazing Sage Palace.
But now that the energy was distributed among a thousand disciples… there was no point.
[The only way to create the perfect Artificial Internal Elixir…]
The emissary’s sole objective had been the Blazing Sage Energy within the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir.
Only with it could he create a perfect elixir without side effects.
But with the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir gone, there was nothing to gain, even if he were to wipe out the likes of the Blazing Sage Palace.
And the justification for eliminating the successor of the Demon Hall, who had upset the balance of the Mortal and Celestial Realms and repeatedly confronted the Three Realms, was also gone.
‘Is the time not yet right?’
Furthermore, with the reason to prevent the creation of puppets gone, the Soulless would soon appear like mushrooms after a rain all over the martial world again.
[Well, this must be fate.]
As the emissary muttered calmly,
“I’ll get rid of you first!”
Jeokmumi rushed forward, unleashing the ultimate techniques of the Blazing Sage in a single burst.
[A futile effort.]
The emissary lightly flicked his sleeve, and the heat that Jeokmumi had unleashed vanished in an instant.
It was truly astonishing martial prowess.
[Let us end this uninteresting fight.]
The emissary stared at Jeokmumi, his voice devoid of excitement.
[If my assassins were to fight to the death, the Blazing Sage Palace would also be decimated.]
“You invade someone else’s territory, and now that things aren’t going your way, you want to just pack up and leave?”
[Do you wish to try?]
Given Jeokmumi’s past personality, she would have undoubtedly fought to wipe out these assassins, even at the cost of her own life.
But she had already heard everything about the Three Realms from Bu Eun-seol.
Their power was immense, but they were extremely reluctant to reveal themselves.
And if they could not obtain what they wanted, they would retreat immediately without hesitation.
‘There is no need to fight them to the death and sacrifice my disciples.’
The assassins of the Three Realms, who had consumed the Artificial Internal Elixir, were as strong as her disciples who had opened their Conception Vessels.
Although victory was likely due to superior numbers, what if they chose to fight to the last man?
The Blazing River's Thousand Flying Swords Brigade would have to suffer some losses.
“Very well. However.”
Jeokmumi’s voice was cold and dignified.
“Tell your master. No matter how far he extends his grasp, this palace will never yield.”
[You speak nonsense.]
The emissary scoffed and raised his hand.
As if waiting for the signal, the assassins simultaneously ceased their movements.
*Ssk.*
As the emissary turned, the assassins also turned and slowly began to exit the Blazing Sage Palace.
A deathly silence fell over the banquet hall.
After all the assassins had left, only Hwajeong, who had failed to get away, remained.
“It seems you weren’t an important figure in the Three Realms after all.”
At Jeokmumi’s taunt, Hwajeong scoffed.
“You think you’ve won?”
She spoke calmly, as if it were nothing.
“They possess infinite power and authority. A victory like this, or a defeat… it means nothing to them.”
“If they are so great, why aren’t they saving you?”
At Jeokmumi’s question, Hwajeong looked up at the distant sky with a resentful expression.
“Because they don’t extend a hand to those who have failed.”
*Shuuu.*
Suddenly, her eyes flew open, and blood spurted from the area around her heart.
There was nothing more to say, nothing more she could do. Cornered, Hwajeong had severed her own heart meridian, choosing suicide.
*Thud.*
Hwajeong died with a resentful glare frozen on her face.
Jeokmumi watched her for a moment, then turned to the leaders and declared in a loud voice.
“The traitor Hwajeong has been dealt with. And there will be no more interference from outside forces in this palace.”
Jeokmumi already displayed the calm and composed demeanor of a Palace Lord.
And she had the Blazing River's Thousand Flying Swords Brigade, the strongest force capable of confronting any sect.
“From now on, this palace will stand tall in the martial world!”
The leaders stared blankly at each other for a moment.
Jeokmumi, who had always been difficult and single-minded, had found the legacy of the Blazing Sage.
She had seen through the wicked scheme of the traitor Hwajeong and dealt with them.
The true qualities of a leader are revealed in a crisis.
Jeokmumi was now displaying the qualities and authority of the Blazing Sage Palace Lord, lacking in nothing.
*Thwack.*
The leaders all bowed their heads in respect.
They did not doubt for a moment that she was the new Palace Lord who would restore their past glory.
Having concluded everything, Jeokmumi walked towards the entrance of the secret passage leading outside the Blazing Sage Palace.
A carriage was waiting in front of the passage, and before it stood a man in white robes.
It was Bu Eun-seol, who was believed to have fled to the Martial Alliance.
“Everything went as you predicted.”
Jeokmumi smiled.
Everything that had happened thus far had proceeded under Bu Eun-seol’s direction.
“If it weren’t for your advice, the leaders of this palace would have all been killed at once.”
When Bu Eun-seol heard that Hwajeong was holding a three-day banquet, he had surmised that she planned to secretly move the Blazing Sage Palace’s forces out and then subdue the leadership in one fell swoop.
He had not left the Blazing Sage Palace but had watched as Jeokmumi handled and resolved the entire situation.
There were two reasons why he absolutely could not intervene in this matter.
First, Jeokmumi might be seen as having ascended to the position of Palace Lord with outside help.
That would greatly diminish the prestige of the Palace Lord who was to rule the Blazing Sage Palace.
Second, he was, for all intents and purposes, a member of the Martial Alliance’s Third-Rank Vanguard.
He absolutely could not reveal his true identity or display abilities beyond his station in front of many people.
“But will they really retreat like this?”
The Blazing Sage Palace had been on a path of decline for a long time and had only just recovered the secret arts of the Blazing Sage and completed the Blazing River's Thousand Flying Swords Brigade.
It would still take a lot of time to reclaim their past glory.
“It will be fine. What the Three Realms wanted was the power of the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“They always wish to obtain or control what they desire. If they had wanted to rule the sects, they would have had them in their grasp long ago.”
Bu Eun-seol knew the nature of the Three Realms well.
“Because they wish to reign over the world for eternity, they never reveal themselves and do not directly rule over the sects.”
“Then that masked man wasn’t a key figure in the Three Realms either?”
“That’s right. They use agents called emissaries to simply convey their orders and control everything.”
Jeokmumi’s mouth fell open.
The masked man possessed an aura that surpassed even the former Palace Lord and her father, Jeoksa.
But to think that even such a master was merely an agent who delivered orders.
“If they knew the Blazing Sage Energy was in your body, Palace Lord, the Three Realms would have tried to seize it, even if it meant suffering immense losses.”
They had spent three years scheming to steal the Blazing Sage Energy.
If that power remained in Jeokmumi’s body, they would never have left it alone.
Therefore, instead of infusing all the power of the Blazing Wheel Divine Elixir into Jeokmumi, Bu Eun-seol had left just enough for her to form the shape of the elixir.
The rest he had distributed evenly among the elite warriors of the Blazing River's Thousand Flying Swords Brigade, which Gwangyangja had prepared with all his might.
“You can rest assured. Now that they know the Blazing Sage Energy they desired has been distributed among the disciples, they won’t bother the Blazing Sage Palace again.”
“Do you have any regrets?”
Jeokmumi smiled at Bu Eun-seol.
Because he had opened the blood vessels of a thousand disciples, all the Blazing Sage Energy that had been stored in his body was gone.
“It wasn’t mine to begin with. And I have no need to learn extreme Yang martial arts.”
“Thank you.”
Jeokmumi smiled.
“As promised, I will form an alliance with the Martial Alliance.”
“Thank you.”
“And in the future…”
Jeokmumi said in a low voice.
“If you ever need the power of this palace, you may ask for help.”
Bu Eun-seol looked puzzled.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you take me for a fool?”
Jeokmumi smiled.
“I would bet everything that your true identity is not a Third-Rank Leader of the Martial Alliance.”
If nothing else, the ability to contain enough Blazing Sage Energy to awaken a thousand disciples…
That alone proved that Bu Eun-seol’s abilities far surpassed those of a Third-Rank Leader of the Martial Alliance.
“You must be in the middle of something big. You are.”
Jeokmumi’s eyes blazed like the sun.
Despite her young age, she had constantly opposed Hwajeong and possessed the outstanding talent and sense to lead the Blazing Sage Palace.
She also had an incredible intuition, which allowed her to guess that behind that gentle face lay the makings of a hero.
“That is my condition for forming an alliance with the Martial Alliance.”
Bu Eun-seol was moved.
To think she would show such deep loyalty, even knowing he had another identity, even knowing he might not be a member of the Martial Alliance.
“Thank you.”
“Surely, you don’t think it’s just out of loyalty, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
“This palace has a few rules and precepts that are not known to the outside world.”
“What rules are you referring to?”
Jeokmumi’s eyes sparkled like jewels reflecting a brilliant light.
“Let’s talk about that the next time we meet.”
He didn’t know why, but he felt a prickle of unease. Bu Eun-seol vowed to himself, ‘There will absolutely be no next time,’ and clasped his hands together.
“I understand. Well then.”
He quickly climbed into the carriage.
Jeokmumi watched the departing carriage with a faint but bright smile, her gaze lingering long after it was gone.
As if she were already waiting for the day Bu Eun-seol would return.