Chapter 404
Chapter 404
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 106
>Chapter Title: The Three Veins Ceremony (3)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hahaha. To say my disciple lacks a foundation—how intriguing."
At Island Poison King Baek Sa-ha's words, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
-Whoa whoa!
"Did the Island Poison King just call him his disciple?"
"He definitely did."
"What is this?"
And rightly so. Even the Dark Sect Leader—one of the Three Sect Leaders, the upper echelons—taking Mok Kyung-un, a hostage from the orthodox sects, as a disciple had sparked massive controversy.
Yet the Island Poison King was one of the Five Kings, the pinnacle of the Heaven-Earth Society's forces.
For him to step forward in this emergency assembly—practically an official event—and publicly declare Mok Kyung-un his disciple was a proclamation in itself.
'He's finally revealing it.'
Mo Yak clicked her tongue inwardly.
In truth, she had known of some connection between the Island Poison King and Mok Kyung-un, thanks to something the Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang had mentioned after regaining consciousness from his injuries.
But she had assumed he was keeping it under wraps out of consideration for Mok Kyung-un's origins.
She hadn't expected him to step up at such a pivotal moment.
-Roooar!
The Island Poison King Baek Sa-ha unleashed his signature aura as he spoke.
"If foundation is the issue, the Baek Family stands ready to provide all the support needed. No one will dare belittle my disciple."
His overwhelming presence silenced the whispering crowd in an instant.
The Baek Family, masters of poison, commanded prestige among the Heaven-Earth Society's top five powers, so it was only natural that most members yielded to them.
But Mo Yak didn't show much reaction.
'It's fine.'
She had anticipated this much.
The addition of the Island Poison King's Baek Family forces to the Dark Sect was no small matter, but opposition to a hostage from the orthodox sects participating in the Three Veins Ceremony still held greater sway.
Moreover, with the Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang's faction and the Earth Vein Patriarch's supporters overwhelmingly dominant, a little more negative momentum could...
But right then.
"Oh dear, oh dear... It seems you've all forgotten already."
-Snap!
The Heaven-Earth Society Leader's second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, elegantly unfurled his fan and stepped forward.
All eyes turned to him.
Come to think of it, he was the one who had first introduced Mok Kyung-un as the Moon Vein's successor.
'What scheme is this?'
Na Yul-ryang had already been wondering why this guy—who overreached for the Leader's seat despite his skills—had suddenly elevated Mok Kyung-un, heir to the Moon Vein's martial legacy, into this fray.
Was the goal to scatter the factions as much as possible?
But that would only dilute his own faction. What was the play?
-Zing!
At that moment, Na Yul-ryang, glaring at Jang Neung-ak, furrowed his brow and brought a hand to his right eye.
What was that?
His eyepatch covered it, and he hadn't unsealed his demonic eye, yet a strange dissonance stung his eye.
Puzzled, Na Yul-ryang sharpened his gaze and fixed it on his second junior brother, Jang Neung-ak.
'...No way?'
It was then.
An unexpected declaration burst from Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak's lips.
"Though I, Jang Neung-ak, am the Leader's second disciple, I have been moved by the character and martial prowess of Moon Vein successor Mok Kyung-un here and have decided to serve him."
'!!!!!!'
His bombshell statement sent the plaza into another uproar.
Everyone had assumed the capricious, scheming Jang Neung-ak had some ulterior motive for bringing Mok Kyung-un, heir to the Moon Vein's legacy, into the mix.
This unforeseen twist left them all stunned.
"What? The Second Young Master is...?"
"Taking a hostage from the orthodox sects as his lord?"
"Hah."
The impact was enormous.
This wasn't just anyone—it was one of the Leader's disciples.
Jang Neung-ak, the second-most likely successor after Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang, was now backing someone else entirely. Confusion was inevitable.
And moreover,
Jang Neung-ak's followers from the Five Peaks Society gathered around him.
First Peak's Hegemony Brigade Grand Leader Go Yeon-hu, Fourth Peak's Serene Brigade Leader Seo Hye-in, and Fifth Peak's Giant Rock Fist were there.
Though two among them—Second Peak's Unyielding Sword Wi Maeng-cheon and Third Peak's Annihilation Brigade Grand Leader O Kang-bu-seom Ho Jong-hyeok—had lost their lives, their forces remained intact with him.
Naturally,
"Doesn't this mean even Guard Sect Leader Go Yeon-byeok, father of Grand Leader Go Yeon-hu, is effectively on board?"
Guard Sect Leader Go Yeon-byeok, one of the Three Sect Leaders.
Known as the Iron-Blood Fist Master, he bore the heavy responsibility of defending the Heaven-Earth Society's outer fortress.
-Grit!
Mo Yak bit her lip hard.
Anyone else, but why did it have to be Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak pulling this?
She never imagined the man who had never hidden his ambition for the Leader's seat would abandon it.
Especially since he was allied with Wi So-yeon. What lightning bolt was this?
Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak's entire faction had effectively swung to Mok Kyung-un.
'Wait... No way?'
Mo Yak hurriedly scanned the crowd for the Leader's youngest disciple, Wi So-yeon.
Recently, through intrigue, she had killed Axe Fury King's son Ho Jong-hyeok and planted traces of Bright Sun Swordsmanship—Nam Do King's signature art—to shatter their alliance.
But she wasn't sure if they had seen through the ploy or were just playacting, so she searched for Wi So-yeon with a sliver of doubt.
If even Wi So-yeon's faction broke expectations and backed Mok Kyung-un, it would mean nearly half the society was united.
But,
'She's not here.'
Wi So-yeon was nowhere in sight.
Even Nam Do King Son Yun, her supporter, and his disciples were absent.
Wi So-yeon's confidante Gi Ok-ryeon was predictably missing as well.
Her father, Bright Rock Valley Lord, was coincidentally away on a mission, absent from the society.
'It worked in the Elders' Hall.'
Come to think of it, they had said they secured Wi So-yeon there.
That might explain her absence despite the emergency assembly.
Either way, her not showing up to signal support was a small mercy.
And furthermore,
-Swish!
Mo Yak turned to look at a female executive behind Na Yul-ryang.
She was Verdant Valley Lord Hang Yeo-ryang, one of the Four Valleys Leaders.
Originally, Hang Yeo-ryang had publicly backed Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak.
The reason: rivalry with Nam Do King Son Yun, backer of the youngest disciple Wi So-yeon.
But once Jang Neung-ak allied with Wi So-yeon, Mo Yak had wedged in and successfully pulled Verdant Valley Lord Hang Yeo-ryang into their fold.
'The Young Master wasn't thrilled, but it was the right call.'
Verdant Valley Lord was so willful that everyone in the society avoided her.
Yet her forces were far from negligible.
'We're still way ahead.'
She had to admit it.
That boy's caliber wasn't suited to serving under anyone, politics aside.
But they hadn't been idle either.
They had an ace up their sleeve that even the Elders' Hall hadn't sniffed out.
She had planned to hold it back for emergencies, but with things like this, to decisively overwhelm in numbers...
-Thud!
Then someone approached, slamming a massive axe onto the ground.
It was Axe Fury King Ho Tae-gang, one of the Five Kings—and one of only two in the Heaven-Earth Society to hold the Eight Stars title.
Covered head to toe in blood, his appearance left everyone speechless.
Yet he strode to Mok Kyung-un without a care, dropped to one knee, placed a hand over his chest, and paid formal respects.
-Whoa whoa!
The sight drew awed murmurs from the members once more.
Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak's endorsement was one thing, but seeing this beast of a man—proud enough for the Eight Stars title—kneel was breathtaking.
But it didn't end there.
-Rumble rumble!
Another group approached from the plaza entrance.
Leading them was none other than,
"Blood Eye Valley Lord?"
Red robes billowing beneath a demon mask, it was Blood Eye Valley Lord Lee Ji-yeom.
Stationed farthest on the outer fortress, he had just arrived.
Despite founding merits, he had drifted from power, commanding significant forces yet exiled to the outer reaches like a prisoner in his own sect.
Thanks to the emergency assembly, he had finally entered the inner fortress after ages.
And upon reaching the plaza's center,
-Thump!
"Blood Eye Valley Lord Lee Ji-yeom pays respects to his lord, Mok Kyung-un."
'!!!!!!'
Seeing Lee Ji-yeom kneel before Mok Kyung-un left everyone beyond shocked—dumbfounded.
Even Vice Leader Mong Seo-cheon, watching from the headquarters atop the plaza, was the same.
"What in the world is..."
He had been surprised by Mok Kyung-un's support base, but he never dreamed Eight Stars Axe Fury King Ho Tae-gang, let alone Blood Eye Valley Lord, would follow.
The Leader himself seemed taken aback by Mok Kyung-un's exceeding support, his eyes gleaming.
'Blood Eye Valley Lord... Ah, so that's it.'
They had backed the Moon Vein long ago.
That had shackled them; despite founding merits, they were pushed outside.
If the boy was indeed the Wraith's will as he suspected, Blood Eye Valley Lord Lee Ji-yeom's loyalty made sense.
However,
'Impressive no longer covers it.'
In merely half a year—and less if excluding classified missions—he had drawn so many followers.
His leadership qualities were astounding.
'So that's why.'
The Leader's gaze grew enigmatic.
-Grit!
Mo Yak bit her lip so fiercely that blood trickled from her mouth.
She had schemed to sway opinion and block Mok Kyung-un's participation by highlighting his orthodox hostage origins.
But it was already too late.
Mok Kyung-un's supporters now exceeded half the Heaven-Earth Society.
'Damn it.'
Even revealing their ace wouldn't overturn the support; there was no way to stop his participation.
Frustration welled tears in her eyes.
She had racked her brains to pave Na Yul-ryang's path to Leader, and now it crumbled.
-Tap!
Someone placed a hand on her shoulder.
"This is enough."
It was Na Yul-ryang.
"Young Master..."
"Mo Yak, you've fulfilled your role as my Zhang Zifang admirably."
Zhang Zifang.
The strategist of Han Dynasty's founding emperor, Zhang Liang.
Even his high praise couldn't console her failure; tears streamed down her face.
Na Yul-ryang removed his hand from her shoulder and strode to the empty plaza center, eyes burning with resolve, voice booming.
"With Heaven Vein, Earth Vein, and Moon Vein all present, what more hesitation? Let the Three Veins Ceremony commence!"
Earth Vein Patriarch Yang Jeong stepped forward at his words.
"I've been waiting for this. Through the Three Veins Ceremony, let us see which—Earth, Heaven, or Moon Vein—is fit to lead our society!"
His hearty, spirited voice belied a less bright expression than before.
The Moon Vein's century-revived successor had far more support than anticipated.
Even at peak Earth Vein strength, so many followers psychologically daunted him.
But he soon cleared his mind of distractions.
The Ceremony was what mattered.
Supporters be damned—the final victor here would be the society's next master.
-Step step!
Then Mok Kyung-un walked to the plaza's center.
The atmosphere surged; was the ceremony to decide the next successor finally beginning?
As he advanced, Mok Kyung-un spoke.
"With the Moon Vein's revival announced before all, the initial goal is achieved."
"Initial goal... Hmph!"
Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang scoffed.
Resolved to fight to the death here regardless.
Even if Mok Kyung-un outmatched him, without unsealing his demonic eye, it was uncertain.
But then,
"The sideshow ends now."
"What?"
-Thud!
Reaching the center, Mok Kyung-un arrogantly clasped his hands behind his back and projected his voice with infused qi for all to hear.
"I declare to everyone."
His voice echoed like thunder.
The qi riding it was so potent that weaker cultivators clutched their ears in pain.
And Mok Kyung-un's following words stunned the entire plaza.
"The Heaven-Earth Society ends today in the hands of I, the Heavenly Demon."
'!!!!!!'
End of Chapter 106: The Three Veins Ceremony (3)