184
Chapter 184: A Life as Brilliant as Lightning
At the Martial Alliance’s Changsha branch, Zhuge Jin was receiving real-time reports on the frontlines from the military affairs department.
“The Zhuzhou forces have retreated with far fewer casualties than expected. The Plum Blossom Swordsmen played a significant role.”
“The Yiling forces have suffered considerable damage. However, Dokgo Yul has killed the Black Night Palace’s Left Guardian.”
Zhuzhou and Yiling were key frontline regions south of Changsha. Hearing good news from the two fronts he was most concerned about, Zhuge Jin let out a sigh of relief.
“Is there still no updated information from the Jiangsu side?”
“No. The last report was that the Alliance Leader decided to stay in the rear due to the Black Night Palace’s fierce offensive.”
“Hmm. The Alliance Leader will handle it wisely.”
Zhuge Jin tapped the desk with his fingers, lost in thought, then stood up.
“After staying up for four nights straight, my head isn’t working right. I’ll take a short walk.”
The scholars around him looked worried and asked, “Military Advisor, please rest a little instead.”
“It’s fine. When I was young, I could go even longer without sleep and still function.”
Waving his hand, Zhuge Jin left the hall and walked through the branch grounds. As he did, he looked up at the sky.
A crescent moon shone faintly through the clouds. Zhuge Jin admired it slowly, but soon the moon was gradually obscured by the clouds.
“Hmm. As the moon disappears, it grows dark immediately.”
Though the moonlight had been faint, the sudden darkness made him realize how much light it had provided.
Clang!
A metallic sound suddenly rang out right in front of Zhuge Jin.
Before he knew it, he had drawn an iron fan from his sleeve and deflected a hidden weapon aimed at his forehead.
With that sharp clang as the signal, the surrounding darkness writhed and surged toward him.
Whoosh!
The iron fan unfurled completely, unleashing a massive gust of wind. A powerful gale infused with internal energy swept outward, pushing back the encroaching darkness.
Whiiing!
Hidden weapons and sword energies that shot out from the darkness were swallowed and dissipated by the wind Zhuge Jin had summoned. Amid the fierce wind, sounds of tearing and explosions could occasionally be heard.
Hearing this, Zhuge Jin’s eyes turned icy.
“Quite a few rats have sneaked in.”
At the same time, five long spikes burst from the ground. Zhuge Jin folded his fan and struck them all at once.
Crouching Dragon Fan Technique (臥龍扇法).
Zhuge Jin used the folded fan like a blade to stab and slash, and when fully unfolded, he wielded it like a shield or a wheel to deflect attacks.
Swish!
With every flick and fold of the iron fan, the heads of assassins around him fell one by one. As over a dozen assassins died—
An assassin had stealthily slipped into Zhuge Jin’s blind spot.
‘This one’s the real deal.’
By the time Zhuge Jin noticed and turned, the assassin’s blade was already aimed at his throat.
Slash!
What fell with the slicing sound was not Zhuge Jin’s head but the assassin’s, who had been targeting his back. As the headless body slumped forward, the figure of Jin Young holding twin blades became visible behind it.
“My apologies. These guys were more skilled than expected. I was delayed dealing with the ones in the rear.”
Jin Young, who was supposed to be guarding Zhuge Jin, had been eliminating other assassins in their own manner before revealing himself.
“No. I realized they weren’t ordinary foes while fighting them myself. It seems these are…”
“Yes. They’re likely demonic warriors from the Midnight Sect. There must be assassinations happening elsewhere too.”
Zhuge Jin nodded. The only silver lining was that assassins from the Thousand killer Chosen Sect were stationed throughout the Changsha branch.
“Let’s head to the Alliance Leader first.”
“Agreed.”
Jin Young vanished back into the shadows, while Zhuge Jin rushed toward where Kang Ho-baek was.
When Zhuge Jin and Jin Young arrived at the hall where Kang Ho-baek was staying, the sight left them speechless.
“Advisor. You’ve arrived?”
Around Kang Ho-baek, who had stepped outside the hall, corpses were piled high. A rough estimate put the number at over fifty.
While other alliance members were clearing the bodies, Kang Ho-baek was reading a letter.
“I apologize. Even with our forces stretched thin, allowing this many demonic warriors to infiltrate is unacceptable.”
The martial artists remaining at the Changsha branch were the bare minimum. Even the Righteous Heaven Unit Scout, tasked with guarding the Alliance Leader, had been sent to the frontlines.
Zhuge Jin had set up formations throughout the branch, but even that hadn’t been enough.
“Enough. Advisor, read this letter instead. It’s a direct message for the Alliance Leader.”
Kang Ho-baek waved his hand, and the letter fluttered straight into Zhuge Jin’s grasp. As he took it, his eyes narrowed.
“The Paewangseong Castle… And the Paewangseong Lord himself has taken the field?”
The letter Kang Ho-baek handed him had come from Sacheon. The tightly sealed gates of the Paewangseong had reopened, and the Paewangseong Lord, along with his forces, were all heading east.
Though it was phrased as east, anyone could guess they were moving toward Hunan.
“Based on the plan the Advisor laid out, if we calculate the time, four major forces will converge around Changsha.”
“I agree.”
Kang Ho-baek watched as the crescent moon, previously hidden by clouds, began to shine again and spoke.
“Has the Paewangseong joined hands with the Black Night Palace?”
“The Paewangseong’s forces are currently the weakest. They lost many elites, including the Five Armies, in Sacheon. I doubt they’d willingly ally with the Black Night Palace in this state.”
Of the four major forces, the Black Night Palace was now the strongest. If the Martial Alliance collapsed here, the balance of the martial world would be completely overturned—a disastrous outcome even for the Paewangseong.
Kang Ho-baek, who knew the Paewangseong Lord well, nodded.
“That makes sense. He’s a man who understands the martial world’s dynamics… But we shouldn’t be too optimistic.”
“Agreed.”
Suddenly, Kang Ho-baek let out a hollow laugh.
“How did it come to this? Four major forces gathering in one place. Not just our subordinates, but all the top experts of the martial arts world.”
Though Kang Ho-baek laughed, Zhuge Jin’s expression was complicated. Their only clear enemy was the Black Night Palace. The Sacheon Alliance and the Paewangseong could swing either way—or betray either side at any moment.
It was pure chaos.
In such a situation, Zhuge Jin, who had to prepare countermeasures for every possible scenario, felt a throbbing headache.
‘It’s dangerous to assume the Paewangseong Lord and the Sacheon Alliance Leader are simply allying with us to stop the Black Night Palace. We need a plan…’
Seeing Zhuge Jin pressing his temples, Kang Ho-baek spoke.
“Advisor, don’t overcomplicate it. This is the martial arts world after all. No matter what schemes we prepare, the final decision may come down to martial might.”
Zhuge Jin smiled wryly and nodded.
“True.”
“I’ll enter closed-door training for the final time. I need to fully internalize this new realization. The time is coming for me to fulfill my role as Alliance Leader.”
“Understood, Alliance Leader.”
***
Boom!
As crimson lightning struck, the entire cliff trembled violently. Only one demon remained standing after enduring the Thunder Lord’s lightning.
“You’re still worth your salt even in old age. To wipe out over two hundred demons and still be this lively.”
The Mountain Crusher laughed as he looked at his left arm, severed below the elbow.
“Are you insane? You’re laughing after losing an arm?”
“What else can I do? The thought of taking down the Thunder Lord with my own hands is exhilarating!”
The Mountain Crusher grinned while staring at the Thunder Lord’s caved-in right chest.
In response, crimson lightning began swirling violently around the Thunder Lord’s body. His Divine Thunderbolt Technique was being pushed to its limits.
“You think a wound like this can take me down? I am the Thunder Lord.”
With a crackle of red lightning, the Thunder Lord’s white hair stood on end. The Mountain Crusher’s laughter deepened at the overwhelming energy.
“Heh. We’ve already exchanged three hundred blows. Let’s end this.”
As the Mountain Crusher lowered his stance and clenched his right fist, darkness surged from behind. Sensing it, he turned.
“Palace Lord?”
“You haven’t finished off the Thunder Lord yet.”
The Black Night Palace Lord emerged from the shadows, grinning as he glanced between the Mountain Crusher and the Thunder Lord.
“Just wait there. I’ll take him down soon.”
“No. Now is the perfect time.”
At the Palace Lord’s words, the Mountain Crusher slowly turned his head back toward the Thunder Lord. As he did, the Black Night Palace Lord’s dark palm rapidly expanded in his vision.
Crash!
The Mountain Crusher barely managed to counter with a punch, but the Palace Lord’s assault didn’t stop.
“Palace Lord! You’re attacking me now?”
Even as the Palace Lord ambushed him, the Mountain Crusher found it strange yet unsurprising.
At the same time, the Mountain Crusher unleashed his full power toward the Palace Lord without hesitation.
Boom!
Fist strikes infused with his full strength erupted one after another, but they were swallowed by the darkness emanating from the Palace Lord’s grasp.
An opponent he couldn’t defeat even at full strength. Now, with his left arm gone and his energy depleted from fighting the Thunder Lord, the Mountain Crusher had no way out.
“Is there a problem with me claiming you for the Demon Realm’s Dominion?”
The Palace Lord’s lips split grotesquely as he spoke. The Mountain Crusher’s remaining fist exploded, and thick darkness gushed from the Palace Lord’s body.
Kaaaboom!
Watching the Mountain Crusher get consumed by darkness, the Thunder Lord shook his head.
“You demons are truly devils. Even devouring your own subordinates?”
“Wrong, Thunder Lord. I’m devouring him precisely because he’s not my subordinate. The old ones in the Black Night Palace are all just dogs of the Black Heaven.”
The Thunder Lord’s eyes narrowed at the Palace Lord’s words before he suddenly laughed.
“What a mess you demons are.”
“Now it’s your turn, Thunder Lord.”
“Was it your doing? Using the Soul-Stealing Demon Technique on the Frost Sound Demon King, the Sacheon Alliance elders, the Martial Alliance Leader, and the veteran experts?”
“It’s called the Midnight Demon Technique. I’m curious how it’ll feel to devour you, who’s mastered divine techniques.”
Boom!
As the Thunder Lord stamped his foot, the Palace Lord’s shoulders shuddered. The pressure of the Mountain King’s Dominance Step began crushing him. But the Palace Lord stepped forward as if unfazed.
Crackle!
The Thunder Lord’s blade, infused with the Divine Thunderbolt Technique, unleashed crimson lightning in all directions, but it was sucked into the darkness the Palace Lord had spread. The Palace Lord filled the void with a black palm strike.
Thud!
After twenty exchanges, the Palace Lord’s palm struck the Thunder Lord’s chest.
“Guh!”
Staggering back, the Thunder Lord paused in thought before taking a deep breath.
Bzzzt!
With that breath, the lightning energy around him rapidly expanded.
The red lightning imbued in his blade grew brighter, illuminating the dark gorge.
Despite vomiting blood, the Thunder Lord channeled even stronger lightning through his body. His figure became obscured by the crackling energy.
At that moment, the Thunder Lord looked like a lightning god descending to earth, having drawn out every last bit of his Divine Thunderbolt Technique.
“Good. Very good. Since this is the end, I’ll burn it all away.”
The Palace Lord slowly advanced, as if savoring the Thunder Lord’s final struggle.
The Thunder Lord’s blade moved, and the Palace Lord prepared to counter his last strike—the lightning energy was anything but ordinary.
As darkness swirled around the Black Night Palace Lord’s hands, the Thunder Lord’s blade veered in a completely unexpected direction.
“Thunder Lord!”
The Palace Lord shouted and lunged forward, but the blade had already pierced the Thunder Lord’s dantian.
“Heh. You want to devour me? Go ahead.”
The lightning energy in the blade had already shattered his dantian, scattering even the remnants of his power.
‘Senior. Junior. This is the best I can do.’
The Thunder Lord thought of the Sword Saint and the Sword Immortal.
Leaving the rest to them was the right choice.
‘Still, dying while swinging my blade to the end… Not a bad way to go.’
With a single worn-out blade, he had risen to challenge all swords in the martial arts world and established his legacy. He had no regrets.
The incomplete martial arts he left behind in the Five Tiger Cave of the Hebei Peng Family weighed on his mind, but he had no doubt his descendants would fulfill his will.
“A life as brilliant as lightning.”
As his dantian shattered and his internal energy dissipated completely, the Thunder Lord bowed his head, remaining in his final stance.
When the Thunder Lord’s heartbeat could no longer be heard, the Palace Lord tilted his head.
“A brilliant life, you say?”
The Palace Lord stared at the Thunder Lord’s lifeless body before bursting into mad laughter.
“What kind of life have I lived, I wonder? What kind of life have I lived, Master?!”
His roar echoed through the gorge, but no answer came. The Palace Lord’s laughter cut off abruptly as he slowly faded into the darkness.
The time to demand that answer in person would come soon.
***
Yuelu Mountain (岳麓山).
Yuelu Mountain stood just west of Changsha.
With its towering cliffs and scenic foothills, it was a mountain renowned for its beauty.
At its highest peak, the Black Heaven stood alone, hands clasped behind his back.
From this lofty vantage point, with the vision of a supreme master, he gazed down upon the world below.
“At last, the stage is set.”
In the Black Heaven’s eyes, four banners stood out clearly.
The banner of the Martial Alliance, positioned on the Yuelu Plains beside the mountain.
The banner of the Sacheon Alliance, advancing from the east.
The banner of the Black Night Palace, pressing from the south.
The banner of the Paewangseong, marching from the west.
The martial arts world’s four great powers were converging on the Yuelu Plains.
For these colossal forces to gather in one place meant that the world’s greatest masters would assemble as one.
“It’s been a long time coming. Let’s see how this unfolds…”
Muttering to himself, the Black Heaven silently watched as the four banners drew closer. His gaze lingered on the fluttering banner of the Martial Alliance.
While the Black Heaven observed the Martial Alliance’s camp, Mu Hwi was also taking in the distant silhouette of Yuelu Mountain.
“What’s on your mind?”
When the Sword Immortal asked, Mu Hwi shook his head.
“Nothing.”
Having rejoined the Martial Alliance’s forces, Mu Hwi sighed as he recalled the recent developments Kang Ho-baek had shared.
Four great powers gathering at the Yuelu Plains.
No matter how vast the plains were, they felt cramped with such forces assembled. It was as if the martial world’s strength had concentrated into a single point.
‘Is this the stage you spoke of?’
Mu Hwi gritted his teeth, thinking of the Black Heaven.
The Shaanxi Bloodshed’s schemes were child’s play compared to the colossal stage now unfolding before him.