Chapter 224: Vast Art Formula (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 224: Vast Art Formula (4)
The new Commander of the Demonlight Wing paid no mind to the peculiar expression on the face of the Head of the Desolate Shin Clan. He knew exactly what she was thinking; her muttered words alone made it obvious.
‘They say the reverse is also common.’
If Jeong Yeon-shin had been a woman, he would have been expected to take a husband to produce an heir. Since ancient times, faction leaders across the world had expanded their influence through marriage.
That was how deeply they valued their clans. For the strong in this chaotic era, for noble martial artists, gender made no difference. This was a martial world where the strong preyed upon the weak—a climate where people risked everything to elevate their faction's honor and solidify their power.
None of this mattered to Jeong Yeon-shin. His only concern was making the Demonlight Wing whole and flawless.
It was his family. His home.
The incident at Sichuan's City of Master Craftsmen had made that clear. The seniors who had fallen on that battlefield still lingered in his mind. The sense of loss he had tried so hard to ignore was now branded onto his heart. This recent incident had only cemented that realization.
From now on, every single spot had to be filled. Unless absolutely unavoidable, there would be no more empty seats.
The warmth he had encountered so late in life was like seawater—something he had never seen before, yet exactly as the saying went: the more you drank, the thirstier you became. The Demonlight Wing was the same.
They were alive. They were not like the Jeong Family Dynamic Art, an illusion chasing after his mother's departed soul. They were real.
'I won't lose anyone else.'
Ironically, the words and actions of Shin Seol-ha, the Head of the Desolate Shin Clan, had spurred Jeong Yeon-shin's awakening. Within his heart, the vessel of a true leader began to bud like a flower.
The absence of even a single person—Shin So-bin—had forced him to reflect on the past. It didn't matter that he had never led a large group before. It was enough that he finally realized just how precious they were to him.
'My seniors, my peers, and my juniors must grow stronger. So that they will stay by my side of their own accord.'
So that, one way or another, they would never have to leave the embrace of the Demonlight Wing.
As Jeong Yeon-shin, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, made this vow, it felt as though his upper dantian was filling with a tiny, radiant brilliance. This was the exact moment he resolved, for the very first time, to create a martial art for others.
Deep within his heart, the martial artist known as the Flash Art truly donned the mantle of a grandmaster, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. In this silent moment, the vessel of a generational grandmaster took shape.
Having waded through his years at the Jeong Family Manor, where loneliness had stretched out like an endless mire, he finally bloomed like a lotus rising from the swamp.
A small catalyst had brought about a massive change. Suddenly, a realization struck him: Jeong Yeon-shin had never created a martial art for someone else to use.
Not once. Until now, his monstrous talent had been used solely for himself. Even so, he had managed to establish a martial lineage.
'But simply tossing my martial arts to them won't yield any real utility.'
He fell deep into thought.
'From the very beginning, it must be a martial art that represents the Demonlight Wing...'
It would be best to weave the principles of the Flash Art martial arts and the Demonlight Formula together. This was necessary because both the veteran and rookie martial artists of the Demonlight Wing needed to be able to practice it.
Furthermore, it had to be lofty and profound. Just as the experts of the Demonlight Wing were often compared to the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, their martial art deserved to stand on the exact same level as the Plum Blossom Sword Art. Only then would it be worthy of the Demonlight Wing.
"Commander Jeong?"
Shin Seol-ha's call broke his meditation.
He raised his head, her bewildered expression entering his field of vision.
"Yes, I will take her," Jeong Yeon-shin said calmly.
He stood up. A faint, grating noise echoed—the sound of the stone chair, a design unique to the Desolate Fortress, scraping against the floor. It rang through the quiet room with singular clarity.
"..."
A strange light flickered in Shin Seol-ha's eyes.
As the grandmaster of a clan, she was highly sensitive to changes in the temperament of those she faced.
Having blossomed a new realization, Jeong Yeon-shin's demeanor had shifted. The aura of a peak expert who breathed through a divine art naturally followed their mental image. Now, a subtle elegance infused even his smallest gestures. He was the Flash Art of Huguang, the Hidden King Amidst Flowers of Sichuan.
Until he took his first steps outside, Shin Seol-ha did not say another word. The intuition she had honed as a clan head demanded silence.
If she added unnecessary words now, she would surely pay dearly for it. The sheer dignity of a Black Rank peak expert was something the people of the Desolate Fortress understood better than anyone.
Jeong Yeon-shin was the first to speak.
"As Shin So-bin's superior, I express my respect. You raised a precious subordinate. For that, I am grateful."
"Ours is a family that has produced the Head of the Main Fortress Elder Council for generations. If one carries the bloodline of the most prominent family in the main fortress, that level of skill is the bare minimum," Shin Seol-ha joked lightly, the corners of her mouth curving upward.
Jeong Yeon-shin did not look at her. He reflexively focused his sense of qi on the empty air right after hearing the phrase "most prominent in the main fortress."
There seemed to be no one there, but it was a meaningless effort anyway. If his maternal grandfather was truly hiding nearby, it would be difficult for Jeong Yeon-shin to notice him regardless. It was enough that no trouble had broken out immediately.
"I will send spirit herbs and internal injury medicine to the Demonlight Wing. It will serve as valuable support," Shin Seol-ha said as she walked ahead toward the door.
Jeong Yeon-shin stared blankly at her back.
"For what reason?"
"To repay a debt. Since Commander Jeong has been going on missions without rest, I haven't had the opportunity to return the favor. If you hadn't achieved those merits in Sichuan, something terrible would have happened to the Head of the Elder Council."
"Your attitude has changed."
"It is only right. Quite apart from So-bin's matter."
Jeong Yeon-shin did not refuse. The supplies would be necessary when the members of the Demonlight Wing began engraving the new martial art into their bodies.
A martial artist's training, after all, was a grueling process of carving away at one's own flesh.
To quickly master a profound martial art, good food and excellent medicinal herbs were essential. However, this was a time when food and supplies had become scarce due to poor harvests.
Even through the Chief Steward's Office, it was difficult to obtain more than a modest allowance of spirit herbs and internal injury medicine to aid in bodily nourishment. He had already requested them as a reward for the mission to conquer the Sect Founding Ceremony, but there was no telling how much he would actually receive.
'The more, the better.'
Because he had to create that kind of martial art, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
A soft laugh echoed from ahead. It was Shin Seol-ha.
"Let us go."
He stepped out through the door she opened for him. Immediately, he felt a presence flinch back.
Shin So-bin's compact wave of qi was strangely disrupted. It seemed she had taken some meaningless words to heart.
"Let's go," he said, looking down at her small face. She was a girl with strikingly clear eyes.
Shin So-bin nodded slightly.
"It's been a really long time. I'm glad you're safe."
"You've trained your body using the Infinite Flower of Time Fist. It is well-structured. Your energy is firm."
"You recognized it right away."
Her lips curved into a bright smile. To have one's achievements praised by the very creator of the martial art—it was hard for a martial artist to experience any greater joy.
Usually, the grandmasters who authored profound martial arts were long-dead ancestors. This was a luxury rarely enjoyed in one's own lifetime.
Behind her, the Blue-Ranked Expert, Sin Baek, stared at them with complex eyes.
As a collateral Blue Rank, he had no authority to block the clan head's decision. Nor did he feel inclined to do so. He was simply haunted by that voice—a voice that, despite speaking of a subordinate as if she were his own possession, had been undeniably warm.
'I would rather...'
Just as he flinched at the sudden thought crossing his mind, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing brushed past him. A pitch-black sleeve fluttered slightly beside him.
It was the first time the weight of a black robe had felt so tangibly real to him. This was a man who ran freely across the vast, sprawling martial world.
The peak expert's wave of qi swept over the surroundings like a biting winter wind before subsiding. None of the gathered martial artists dared to move.
"I won't be back for a long time," Shin So-bin declared boldly. Her gaze, as she looked up at Clan Head Shin Seol-ha, was straight and clear.
"If you ever hit your limits, you are always welcome to return and ask for guidance on the Great Sage Martial Scripture. It is nothing to be ashamed of. No matter how much of the Flash Art lineage and the Demonlight Formula you learn, I will not interfere," Shin Seol-ha replied with a smile. It was an astonishingly benevolent expression.
Scoff.
Snorting, Shin So-bin turned around. Her footsteps were light as she immediately hurried after her commander.
A White Rank and a Black Rank, a disciple and a grandmaster, left the garden together.
* * *
Having retrieved his subordinate, the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing shut himself away.
Once he entered his pavilion, he did not come out. He had all his meals brought directly to the commander's quarters.
Only the servants of the Demonlight Wing who delivered his food caught even a glimpse of him. For days on end, he did not show his face.
It was a complete closed-door seclusion.
Even Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo were flustered by this unprecedented behavior. However, there was nothing they could do. The Flash Art was their commander, and they had to obey his strict orders to let no one inside.
The sun rose and set repeatedly. The shadow of the sunset stretching across the pavilion brushed past the heads of the Demonlight Wing's experts nine times.
"It's already the ninth day. Could he have suffered Qi Deviation?"
"That's plausible. They said he fought a fierce battle at the Shin Clan, so maybe he's quietly healing his internal injuries..."
"To avoid worrying us? That sounds exactly like our commander's personality. He never shows any sign of weakness."
It was dusk once again.
A warm orange light settled over the area. It was a peaceful evening, the clear air wrapping itself in the sunset like a blanket.
Beneath the towering walls that enclosed three sides of the Great Training Ground, the experts of the Demonlight Wing clashed weapons or immersed themselves in intense training.
Many others watched from above. Some squatted on the high walls, while others stood tall on the roof of the opposite pavilion.
Those standing on the roof tiles mostly kept their eyes fixed on the commander's quarters. This relaxed, unstructured atmosphere was the signature style of the Demonlight Wing—a stark contrast to the rigid discipline of the prestigious orthodox sects.
There were about thirty of them gathered now. Even those who had been out on solo missions had returned.
"Rumor has it he only faced the clan head. They say it was a one-on-one duel between our commander and her."
"Is the Head of the Shin Clan skilled enough to inflict internal injuries on our commander? I thought she was below the Black Rank."
"She is still the head of a prestigious family. She must have had at least one life-saving herb hidden away. Or perhaps she activated a hidden mechanism formation."
"Stop talking about internal injuries. If that were really the case, the Blue-Eyed Demon Sword would have noticed immediately. Forget it. Let's just help those guys train. He'll come out when he's ready."
The martial artists, who had been chatting in various relaxed postures, turned their heads.
Their gazes converged on a single spot below.
Kang Chang-mu, wielding a greatsword, and Wi Ye-ryeong, holding a bow, were sparring. A massive Han man and a nimble Brightfolk expert.
As their footwork intertwined, a heavy blade brushed against a blue sleeve.
They were Blue-Ranked Experts—the Dawn Tree Sword and the Moon-Shooting Bow Ghost—and the martial arts they deployed were the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style and the Radiant Wing Step.
Thud!
Kang Chang-mu's greatsword slammed downward. The shockwave of the heavy strike rushed in a straight line, splitting to the left and right just inches in front of Wi Ye-ryeong's legs.
Only a cloud of dust brushed against her feet. It was the Radiant Wing Step, executed at the absolute peak of mastery.
The same level of mastery applied to the Dawn Tree Sword, Kang Chang-mu's Radiant Brilliance Sword Style. A very faint haze of light enveloped his blade.
As he immediately reversed his downward slash, swinging the massive greatsword upward, the sound of the blade tearing through the air was deafening. It sounded as if stone fragments were exploding in all directions.
"This is where it diverges," Wi Ye-ryeong muttered, her hands casually clasped behind her back.
She did not move. Standing tall and aloof, she faced the incoming shockwave of the sword strike head-on. Her wide, clear eyes reflected a fierce courage that perfectly matched her sharply pointed ears.
Whoosh—!
A fierce wind swept across her face. Wi Ye-ryeong's blue eyes flashed coldly. It was just a gust; the sharp sword wind had vanished.
Lowering his greatsword, Kang Chang-mu slightly raised the corners of his mouth. It wasn't out of joy. It was a hollow, frustrated smile.
"According to the principles of the Demonlight Formula, an upward strike is the appropriate follow-up, but..."
"I know. Connecting the consecutive strikes is difficult," Wi Ye-ryeong replied, crossing her arms.
Clack!
Lowering his head, Kang Chang-mu sheathed his greatsword into the scabbard on his back. It was an incredibly swift, fluid motion, executed without even glancing over his shoulder.
In an instant, the heavy blade blurred and vanished. It was a sheathing technique at the level of a true master, a clear testament to his profound sword skills.
He spoke up.
"It seems you weren't in a state to continuously execute the Radiant Wing Step either."
"Correct. I need to disperse my internal power up and down from the Taixi Point — Great Ravine near the ankle, but I had already used it once. My fine meridians didn't react immediately. If it were a real battle, I would have just fallen back on my own martial arts."
"My sword path was blocked as well. It was difficult to extend it any further. The problem wasn't my acupoints, but the muscle tension in my forearm. To continue the consecutive strikes, I have to finely tune and trigger an internal Fa Jin. Only when that becomes possible can we even begin to discuss the tenth-stage mastery of the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style. In the end, that Hwangbo bastard wasn't wrong," Kang Chang-mu said, glancing upward.
The Lazy Flame Dragon, lying lazily on the edge of the roof, was chewing on a poppy stem. He had effectively made the roof tiles of the Commander's pavilion his personal bed.
Ever since his duel with Kang Chang-mu, he hadn't spared a single glance toward the Flash Art lineage. With his completely relaxed posture, he looked as though he were merely acting as Jeong Yeon-shin's Dharma Protection.
Wi Ye-ryeong uncrossed her arms.
"The Flash Art martial arts are all like that. Because they emphasize a single, decisive strike, they are inherently one-off techniques. Only our commander can string them together consecutively. It's a fundamental difference in talent. That's something you only truly realize after mastering it to a certain degree..."
Her voice trailed off.
Terrifying waves of qi suddenly surged from beyond the walls of the Great Training Ground. It was a magnitude of power that could never be measured by the achievements of a mere Blue Rank.
In an instant, an immense pressure sliced through the surroundings.
In the martial world, there were those who, despite being human, manifested an irresistible, overwhelming power.
In the Desolate Fortress, these monsters wore pitch-black robes. They were the Black Rank peak experts. Their vivid, suffocating presence spread from beyond the wall.
"He's in here, right? How can someone not reply at all, even after being formally notified? Is he bothered by me calling him my nemesis? Wait, what if he really is?"
"If he is in closed-door cultivation, it is only right that we turn back."
"Don't be ridiculous. So-yu, you were the one who wanted to come. You were so eager for the... ahem, the books. Blood Ghost, you say something too. Our cute youngest even skipped the meeting."
"It does not matter to me. I am merely curious about the well-being of the subordinates I sent to the Demonlight Wing. Since I heard Commander Jeong happened to be in seclusion..."
"Are you scared of our Flash Art?"
"I merely respect my junior's private time."
These were voices and presences that everyone instantly recognized.
It was the arrival of the Vice Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, the Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit, and the Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit. The experts of the Demonlight Wing, who had been lounging freely just moments ago, slowly stood up.
They could not dare to greet the commanders of other units in a lazy posture.
It was then.
Perhaps reacting to the powerful waves of qi radiating from the visiting commanders, a fine, razor-sharp wave of internal power arose. Beyond the walls of the Great Training Ground, it budded from the gaps in the doors of the grandly built commander's pavilion.
It was as if a spark of absolute brilliance had suddenly ignited. It even pierced through the gaps in the roof tiles where the Lazy Flame Dragon lay resting.
Then, radiant streams of light forged from pure shockwaves began to drift out from the pavilion like smoke.