Chapter 186: Ties of Fate
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 186: Ties of Fate
The Perfected Heavenly Pillar once mentioned that, due to a severe internal injury, his strength had fallen to match Jeong Yeon-shin's. He was referring to the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, with whom he had exchanged four clashes.
But that was no longer the case.
The boy had grown stronger. While he was still no match for the Perfected Heavenly Pillar at his absolute peak, a duel between martial artists always carried many variables. At this moment, by anyone's standards, the victory belonged to the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
Jeong Yeon-shin took a deep breath. In his mind, he retraced his newly created sword path.
He needed a moment to breathe. It was time to organize his thoughts on the third form—the only one that had actually been given a name.
His muscles, swollen from the intense exertion, pulsed continuously. The breeze caressing his bare skin felt more distinct than the sting of his sword wounds. It was a rather refreshing sensation.
‘I’ve created three forms.’
The boy recalled the three trajectories. The realization flashed through his mind like a ray of light.
The first form was a rapid-attack sword technique. He had conceptualized it after witnessing the Azure Qilin's Imperial Sword Form. It amplified the power of full-body fa jin, projecting it in all directions. It acted as a shockwave that supercharged his sword force. A heavy strike delivered from a high stance could instantly transform into an extremely swift thrust.
It allowed him to strike second yet arrive first. Even if he unleashed his blade after his opponent, it would find its mark before theirs did.
The second form originated from Baek Seo-gun, the Yeongcheon Sword Ghost.
It was a counterattack. He had created it after observing her sword-like physique—a body honed to match the prestigious title of Sword Venerable. The principle relied on directly utilizing the shockwaves accumulated from repeated clashes.
Using the Jeong Family Dynamic Art, he fine-tuned the muscles running from his triceps down to the extensors below his thumb. This allowed him to store kinetic force through minute movements. By channeling all the residual shockwaves from fighting a powerful foe entirely into his right hand, he could unleash a strike that surpassed even the first form.
‘The Azure Flame First Form is a bit different.’
It was the third form. A single-strike, sure-kill technique.
It condensed all the principles of the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style into a single, flawless line of the sword path. Even muscles tempered by the Jeong Family Dynamic Art would be left exhausted after just one swing. It was a trajectory that drew out his sword force to its absolute limit. A single strike stimulated his entire body to such an extreme degree that it might even further refine his limbs, which had recently begun to grow longer.
All three forms specialized in containing the Law-Transcending Halo Qi. This remained true even if the sword forms themselves were tyrannical, standing in stark contrast to his auspicious true qi.
It was a martial art truly worthy of the Desolate Fortress's Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
He had no interest in the holistic cultivation of mind and body practiced by the Nine Sects. These forms were created for one sole purpose: to crush and defeat the enemy.
With three distinct forms, it could rightfully be called a complete sword art. At this moment, the boy had become a Black Rank swordsman. He was a Unit Commander of the Desolate Fortress who possessed the right to debate the world with a single blade.
"A name with a story behind it, is it? Quite resolute. If this humble Taoist offered to bestow a name upon a technique, there are many who would present several sacks of rice for the honor."
The amused voice of the Perfected Heavenly Pillar drifted over. "This humble Taoist" was how the Sword Absolute referred to himself—a modest expression used by ascetics or monks to downplay their own virtue.
Perhaps because they had just crossed swords, the Sword Absolute's voice had grown noticeably more benevolent. Just as Jeong Yeon-shin had Ma Jin, Yu-hyeon had his martial uncle, the Perfected Heavenly Pillar. Through their shared ties, the Sword Absolute was almost like an uncle to the boy as well.
The Perfected Heavenly Pillar seemed to be feeling a unique swell of emotion.
"I am deeply astonished. In all my life, there have been few times I have been as shocked as I am today."
He had also been present when the third form of the Infinite Flower of Time Hand was created—the Fist Flower. It was a fist technique derived from the Falling Petal Palm Technique demonstrated by Yu-hyeon. The boy who had worn a white martial uniform back then was now clad in a black robe.
As the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, he had crossed swords on equal terms with the Hwasan Sword Excellence. The time he had exchanged fist and palm techniques with Yu-hyeon paled in comparison to this.
Even in a martial world teeming with wonders like spirit medicines and spirit beasts, this rate of growth was an incredibly bizarre occurrence.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his eyes. The noble Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect came into view. The sharp-featured, middle-aged swordsman was smiling gently.
"This humble Taoist has lost. I concede defeat."
"My thanks to the Sword Absolute. I have learned much from this exchange."
"To call it a learning experience makes me feel self-conscious," the Perfected Heavenly Pillar replied. "The martial world is truly mysterious. To think the boy from that day would discuss swords with this humble Taoist... and before even reaching adulthood."
An astonishment he couldn't fully articulate lingered in his voice. His tone was higher than when they had first met. Just as he said, he was profoundly shocked. The highly cultivated, transcendent swordsman of the Mount Hua Sect could not hide his awe. The sharp edge he had projected when they first met alongside Yu-hyeon had softened considerably.
"I still have a long way to go compared to the Sword Absolute," Jeong Yeon-shin said.
Inwardly, he wondered who could have inflicted such a severe internal injury on the Perfected Heavenly Pillar. At his peak, the Sword Absolute had been evenly matched with the former Commander of the Demonlight Wing. Considering the terrifying reputation the Naraka Reaper Ma Jin cast over the martial world, encountering an opponent capable of matching him while wandering the earth was an extremely rare event.
The Sword Absolute was a supreme expert, an invincible force in almost any region. As vast as the world was, only a handful of individuals could look down on him.
The Perfected Heavenly Pillar merely laughed.
"The Commander of the Demonlight Wing is teasing an old Taoist. Did this humble one not just lose? It was truly an exquisite sword path."
"I have broadened my horizons through the sword of Mount Hua."
"Nonsense. There is much left unsaid, so I will visit your quarters with Yu-hyeon in the near future. I have something urgent to tell you. It is a conversation meant for Jeong Yeon-shin, not the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. What this humble Taoist experienced is connected to you as well."
He seemed to be referring to the circumstances surrounding his internal injury. If it was a matter concerning Jeong Yeon-shin rather than the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, it meant they were entangled in a personal affair. For what reason had a Great Sect expert of the Hwasan Sword Excellence's caliber ended up in such a state?
"…I will prepare a place and await your arrival."
The boy clasped his hands in a formal salute. The Perfected Heavenly Pillar returned the gesture, placing his palm over his fist.
The attitude the Commander of the Demonlight Wing displayed here was remarkably different from before. Was he showing complete respect to the Great Sects? Unlike his demeanor when dealing with the experts of various noble families, he was extremely polite. It was a completely different side of him. Even with his upper body exposed, he exuded an undeniable air of elegance.
The crowd in the spectator stands remained in a daze for a long moment.
The sight of the young Commander of the Demonlight Wing was truly striking. A raw, untamed wildness breathed through his bare upper torso—a physique one would be lucky to witness even once in a lifetime. It was incredibly captivating.
Even after achieving an unbelievable victory, he remained aloof, radiating an overwhelming presence. The blood from his sword wounds pooling over his defined abdominal muscles only added to his mystique. In stark contrast to his exposed upper body, his black lower garments were perfectly neat and tidy, creating a bizarre yet striking impression.
The vast crowd finally broke their silence. One by one, they began to murmur.
"…His figure looks as if it stepped right out of a painting. I couldn't see a single thing during the duel, but it must have been swordsmanship of the master's realm. Along with the Hwasan Sword Excellence, he dwells in the upper echelons of the martial world. It's an entirely different realm."
"He doesn't even look human..."
"The Commander of the Demonlight Wing won! I should have bet my entire fortune instead of just pocket change!"
"I lost everything."
"An immortal of the Mount Hua Sect... defeated by that boy..."
The rising heat gradually ignited the atmosphere. Awe soon transformed into deafening cheers. The vibrations rising from tens of thousands of throats echoed in all directions.
Waaaaaaah!
The roar was earth-shattering, despite the fact that almost no one had been able to properly perceive the moves of the supreme experts. The sheer volume spread more powerfully than the shockwaves generated by their martial arts, practically battering the eardrums.
The martial world was a realm of the strange, the violent, the chaotic, and the supernatural.
The spectators had witnessed a renowned expert fighting with bared skin, a sight that stirred a soaring, primal spirit within them. Beings who lived in a world beyond ordinary humanity had exerted their full strength right before their eyes.
The fact that a young warrior had defeated a veteran expert of Mount Hua only amplified the frenzy. It evoked a strange, profound emotion in the hearts of all who watched.
It was the exact moment the martial world welcomed a new powerhouse.
He was known as Flash Art, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
"Let the Desolate Fortress take charge of the people's livelihood! To possess such martial prowess at that age! The only faction capable of ensuring the stability of the martial world is indeed the Desolate Fortress! Does his bearing not perfectly match the dignity of a Great Sect?!"
"Please look over here just once! I adore you!"
"Clear Cloud Martial Hall! Please visit the Clear Cloud Martial Hall! We beg for guidance from the Commander of the Demonlight Wing!"
Overly excited individuals clamored from the stands. The fervor was absolute. The air was as giddy as if the Sect Founding Ceremony had already been conquered. People poured out all kinds of passionate remarks. After all, this was a world with few forms of true entertainment.
At this moment, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing and the Hwasan Sword Excellence stood at the very center of the world.
However, the dozen or so experts seated in the Alliance's VIP spectator stands reacted differently. Only an occasional word broke their heavy silence. They could not afford to easily show their reactions. The leadership seating area, its canopy having been blown away during the clash, was quietly subdued.
"He broke the Floating Fragrance. And with a sword form I've never seen in my life. He is an incredibly dangerous boy. I have no idea how far he will grow."
Only after the Jegal Clan Leader spoke did other voices begin to leak out. The influential figures of the noble families chimed in one by one.
"He created a sword form...? The Sword Absolute's words didn't sound like an exaggeration."
"Did you see that sword path?"
"I couldn't capture it fully with my eyes. The Sword Absolute's shockwaves were simply too dazzling."
"The fate of the Great Restoration Pill has become precarious."
"Where is the Eon Family's Number One Fist? Isn't she the one who should be observing Flash Art's martial arts most closely right now?"
"She might be passed out in some tavern for all we know. It's nothing new. Is there anyone left who still expects sincerity from Heroine Eon?"
"She has been like that since she was a rising star. Dissolute yet a genius. The fist techniques she displayed while drunk were astonishingly profound."
A faint laugh rippled through the influential figures of the noble families. It felt like a deliberate attempt to ignore their currently difficult situation.
"I remember it clearly as well. Since her martial arts were insanely good, it wasn't easy to criticize her behavior. And because she had quite a few secret admirers, it was hard to find fault with her at all. If my seniority were half a generation lower, I might have thrown away my dignity and challenged her to a bout. Well, no. If I had, it would have been my certain defeat."
"Indeed. It's hard to guess just how much more mature her martial prowess has become."
"Let us return our focus. The Grand Chief Strategist of the Inner Court has begun to make her move. She is indeed overflowing with wit."
"At this point, it is worth attempting to seek peace with the Desolate Fortress, at least on the surface. It is always good to broaden our options. Did the Jegal Clan Leader order this?"
Snap.
The Jegal Clan Leader snapped open a fan embroidered with a white crane and shook his head. He slightly covered his mouth with the tip of the fan.
"It seems to be Miss Ye's own improvisation. I saw her stand up before the final ultimate techniques even clashed. It is a natural wit and quickness of mind. If only my own son could learn even half of it."
"The Clan Leader is likely the only one in the world who considers Seon-ryong lacking. If you speak of her so highly, how about marrying him to the Grand Chief Strategist of the Inner Court?" the Moyong Clan Head asked with amusement.
The Jegal Clan Leader's lips curved into an arc.
"That is for the Ye Clan Leader to decide. My family sent a matchmaker long ago."
"…I merely leave it to my niece's wishes," the Ye Clan Leader replied bluntly from his seat.
The Moyong Clan Head tilted his angular face slightly.
"Did the Ye Family not rise to power early on through political marriages? I understand you used many such moves to expand your commercial influence. Are your collateral relatives not spread across the entire Central Plains? Or perhaps, do you shrink from the Jegal Clan?"
"It is simply because I cherish my niece dearly."
"Ah, I forgot that the Ye Clan Leader has no children of his own. I apologize for my oversight. The Grand Chief Strategist of the Inner Court must be like a daughter to you."
"You have hit the mark."
"In that case, the Jegal Clan must prepare no ordinary betrothal gifts. Though Seon-ryong Jegal Hyeon is a man who falls short of no one," the Moyong Clan Head said, raising the corners of his mouth.
The Jegal Clan Leader, who had folded his fan at some point, merely smiled faintly. His expression made it impossible to guess his true intentions.
Around that time, an unusual sight was unfolding on the duel stage.
While Jeong Yeon-shin and the Perfected Heavenly Pillar were turned toward each other, conversing in low voices, a white hem fluttered from the side. A woman stepped onto the ruined floor of the stage with agile grace.
With soft footsteps, the cherished daughter of the Ye Family walked forward, holding a plain cotton cloth. The profound principles of advanced footwork emanated from her long legs. A faint wave of energy spread from her feet like rising steam.
She looked like a descended celestial maiden. Sunlight rippled through the long black hair cascading past her shoulders. Even the white cloth blindfolding her eyes only added to her profound mystique.
The crowd gasped at her ethereal temperament, which stood in stark contrast to the wild aura of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
The conversation between the two supreme experts ceased. The boy silently watched the woman walking toward him.
"I’ve opened my eyes, you see," Miss Ye said.
She had approached quite closely. The energy carried in her shallow breath felt soft and warm. Her hand, holding the white cloth, gently touched Jeong Yeon-shin’s bloodied abdomen.
The boy, who had been staring blankly, flinched.
The corners of her mouth curved up into a smooth smile.
"You have to continue with the next duel, don’t you? I am the Grand Chief Strategist of the Inner Court, and you are the most precious guest among the envoys."
"There’s no need to—"
"It is the courtesy befitting your status. You must maintain your dignity as well. After all, aren’t you the only one?"