Chapter 235: Precious Sword (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 235: Precious Sword (8)
It was a low murmur, sounding almost like a whisper to himself.
But to an ultimate expert, it was anything but. They possessed a Path of Senses that ordinary people could hardly fathom.
The new Commander of the Demonlight Wing was no exception. As a Black Rank junior to the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon, he could easily hear it.
And indeed, he did.
"My apologies, Senior Jin."
His calm voice, infused with True Qi, resonated deeply. Jin Myeong-jo's pale face turned even whiter.
It felt as if his junior, who stood quite a distance away, was speaking directly into his ear. The voice was crystal clear.
If taken just a step further, it would become the rare Six Harmonies Sound Transmission—a realm where a voice amplified by internal power echoed in all directions.
One could not even attempt this without exceptionally pure True Qi. It was proof of the sheer depth of his Internal Cultivation. Regardless of his Accumulated Qi Amount, his achievements in his Inner Cultivation Method were immense.
Jin Myeong-jo's lips twitched.
Tsk...
A wave of internal energy had rippled out from the voice, fully laden with Dharma Power.
The new Commander of the Demonlight Wing stood with his back to the faintly spreading dawn. With his cloak draped loosely over his shoulders, invisible waves rippled outward with his every step.
It was a True Qi that only Jin Myeong-jo could feel, yet it felt almost tangible.
Damn it.
Whew—
He quickly drew a breath, circulating his Inner Cultivation Method to protect his body. The revulsion brought on by that wave of energy was immense.
By the time the cold air had cycled through his lungs a few times, a pitch-black figure landed before him. It was the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, his long cloak fluttering behind him.
His steps were perfectly natural. His achievements in the Body Protection Scripture, which resembled the movements of the Brightfolk, were clearly improving. His Martial Attainment seemed even deeper than when he had first departed from the main fortress.
What a monster, Jin Myeong-jo thought, narrowing his eyes. Even before facing the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing, he had kept his gaze sharp and straight.
With this calculated expression, he exuded the mysterious yet robust aura of a senior. It was a temperament fitting for his noble internal power.
He tilted his head slightly, like a noble greeting another of equal standing.
"The Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect is staying at Imjobu."
He brought up the topic before his junior could draw any closer. It was a subtle, clever move.
The eyes of his junior, the Flash Art, narrowed. Jin Myeong-jo flinched inwardly, but soon realized that his junior's attention had shifted entirely to the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect.
The brief wave of relief was immense. He let out a silent sigh.
Then, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing spoke.
"Imjobu. The western edge of Shaanxi."
"That is where the main branch of the Hegemon Sword Sect is located. There are rumors that he has entered secluded cultivation. Since I haven't seen him walk out from beneath the sect's plaque, and judging by his energy waves, it is likely true. The rumors of him being mad about the sword are correct."
Jin Myeong-jo spoke in a flat, monotone voice.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded.
"Thank you for your hard work traveling back and forth. And for taking on the most dangerous task..."
It was the task of personally monitoring the Lords of the Thirteen Heavens. Unless one was the Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit, who had refined Yin Energy to its absolute limit, even approaching them would be nearly impossible. It was the most dangerous of all scouting missions.
The skill required to conceal one's internal power within the domain of peerless experts of the Purple Rank was entirely different from hiding one's energy from amateurs.
It was a mission that Jeong Yeon-shin, who had not yet achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak, would have found difficult to carry out himself.
"You speak out of turn."
Senior Jin, the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon, curled his lips slightly into a cool smile.
"Regardless of how outstanding your skills are, you must understand something. There is no hierarchy of importance in a Unit Commander's duties. The work of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing and the Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit are equal. Your concern is my disgrace. Keep that in mind."
"..."
Jeong Yeon-shin raised an eyebrow.
In that moment, even the way his senior tucked his chin felt like a deeply meaningful gesture.
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes widened slightly. None of the masters of the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall had been like this senior. He was deeply impressed.
His words and actions encouraged his junior while remaining fiercely faithful to his duties. His noble bearing was incredibly elegant.
Thinking that he should emulate him, Jeong Yeon-shin parted his lips.
"There hasn't been much movement on my end, either. We struck one of the local Unorthodox Factions' strongholds, but there was no immediate retaliation. They were different from the usual thugs of the Black Way. They suggested settling things in three days... They were extremely cautious," Jeong Yeon-shin calmly concluded.
This was a meeting to share their respective situations. The Spirit Beasts gifted by the Imperial Family were currently busy traveling between the Bloodkeeper Unit, the Demonlight Wing, and the main fortress of the Desolate Fortress.
For Unit Commanders with superior Body Protection Scriptures, it was faster and safer to simply meet in person.
"Cautious? Of course they would be, assuming they have eyes in their heads."
"Pardon?"
"It is nothing."
The inner thoughts of Senior Jin, the Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit, were still hard to read. Perhaps his veins ran with cold iron and blood.
He sometimes says things that are hard to understand.
Jeong Yeon-shin soon brushed the thought aside.
"The Heterodox Sects in Xi'an are exactly as the main fortress's intelligence described. The Exalted Remaining Lands Sect, the Burnt-White Sect, the Severing Pavilion, the Great Spirit Awe Sect, the Sword Demon Sect, the End-of-Heaven Saber Sect, the Hwiwol Clan..."
Jeong Yeon-shin shared the current situation in Shaanxi with Jin Myeong-jo through a conversation focused strictly on the essentials. It was a world where travel was slow.
There were not many sources of information. The Lightness Skills of ultimate experts were the fastest means of exchanging intelligence, second only to Spirit Beasts.
For this mission, Jeong Yeon-shin had run for ten days straight from Huguang Province to strike directly at the core.
He had come knowing that the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect was a subordinate sect of Lingering Spirit. The Thirteen Heavens' Lingering Spirit was famous among the great wicked sects for its vast intelligence network and cunning schemes.
If he wanted to find Jeong Hye's whereabouts, starting here would be his best bet.
Using his authority as a Unit Commander, he had altered the priority of his mission.
He postponed his originally assigned mission, obtaining permission from the Lord of the Desolate Fortress through the Grand Steward. He was told that such occurrences were not rare. The discretionary power of the seventeen Unit Commanders of the Divine Sword Corps was much greater than expected.
If a Unit Commander deemed a matter to be the main fortress's business, the fortress would issue a new mission after a brief deliberation. Such was the status of a Black Rank ultimate expert.
The same applied to the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
These were the deployment orders of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. The first clause was directly linked to Jeong Hye's safety.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought, If I keep cutting off heads, something is bound to turn up.
Murderous intent began to seep from the body of the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
The seventeen Unit Commanders of the Divine Sword Corps were a group of ultimate experts whose thoughts immediately manifested as their temperament. It was a realm where the internal power dwelling within their entire bodies naturally pressured their surroundings.
Flinch.
Jin Myeong-jo, who was standing on thin ice, stumbled slightly. Only the nearby water rippled transparently, but his overall balance was not disrupted.
Was it because his Lightness Skill was so profound? Jeong Yeon-shin admired him inwardly. He is always practicing his Body Protection Scripture.
He is as elegant as the Moon-Shooting Bow Ghost.
He recalled Wi Ye-ryeong, who had joined the Demonlight Wing from the Immortal Wood Spirit. She was a Blue Rank archery expert.
True to her Brightfolk heritage, her profound movements had given Jeong Yeon-shin a great deal of inspiration. Right now, she would be waiting with the other seniors of the Demonlight Wing.
"You can handle this alone, right?"
As Jeong Yeon-shin looked puzzled, Jin Myeong-jo clarified.
"The Xi'an martial world."
"Ah."
"It is a Jianghu of the Unit Commander level. The scale is different. If you accomplish this, you will definitively enter the echelon of those who discuss the fate of the world. Your fame will reach the entirety of the northern Central Plains, and you will only be assigned missions that match your name. Keep that in mind, and I wish you success."
"...Yes."
"I will send word the moment the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect moves. Do not die to some random bastards."
"I wish you martial fortune, Senior Jin."
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin was about to clasp his hands in greeting, Jin Myeong-jo, the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon, shook his head slightly.
Thud!
Right in front of his junior, he kicked off the thin ice beneath his feet. It was a leap laden with monstrous internal power. It seemed as if he had used the explosion of True Qi itself as a stepping stone.
The Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit, his pitch-black robes fluttering, soared vertically into the air. It was a Body Protection Scripture reminiscent of a bat taking flight.
The sunlight scattered into glittering fragments over the water splashing around him.
Damn it, even my skin is going to burn. I can't stand this. Let's get out of here, Jin Myeong-jo thought.
"I should be the one wishing you martial fortune."
Muttering with an indifferent expression, he snapped his sleeves elegantly. A fluttering sound echoed.
Using the recoil of his True Qi, he changed direction in midair. Turning his back, Jin Myeong-jo vanished into the distance in an instant, utilizing a Body Protection Scripture as graceful as a bird's wings.
Whoosh!
It was a divine skill close to Void Treading. It seemed to be a master-level technique that every Unit Commander of the Desolate Fortress possessed. It was incredibly mysterious, appearing almost like a supernatural ability.
So such a thing exists.
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes gleamed.
He received great inspiration in that moment. Senior Jin was indeed different. From his conduct to his techniques, there was nothing that shouldn't be emulated.
Today was no different. He now knew what his own Eye Technique should strive for. He had completely grasped the direction.
It was a great achievement.
Now, with just one catalyst, I can become even...
...stronger.
* * *
The news of the Chivalrous Sword Gal Do-jin and the Young Hero of Xi'an, So Yu-rang, spread far and wide. They had been utterly defeated by someone said to be the leader of the outsiders.
There were simply too many witnesses. None of the people in the inn had been harmed, but the rumors of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect's humiliation spread like wildfire.
Xi'an, Shaanxi.
Although it had become tense recently, it was still a metropolis. Its massive area meant there were plenty of places to hide and whisper about the rumors.
It wasn't just in one or two places. Those who gathered away from the prying eyes of the Unorthodox Factions whispered with great interest.
"The Demon Soldier So Yu-rang was defeated in a single strike!"
"I heard Gal Do-jin couldn't even draw his sword properly."
"That's an exaggeration. He is the Ominous Sword, after all. I heard his sword was forced back into its scabbard the moment he drew it."
"They say it was the work of two people, but now two more have joined them. They seem to be a group of highly skilled rogue cultivators. They probably drifted here looking for a livelihood."
"With skills like that, they could easily make a living..."
"Of course, that goes without saying."
"There are only a few of them, but they've given us some entertainment for once. They might hold out for quite a while."
This was the inner chamber of a manor. It was a very spacious room.
Wi Il-hwa, the Lord of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect, sat on a dark brown Grandmaster's Chair, listening to the voices.
She chuckled and crossed her legs.
Cool sunlight streamed in from all directions, illuminating the floating dust motes. The air itself was heavy enough to be felt.
At least, to those trembling before Wi Il-hwa, it certainly felt that way.
"Could they be on par with the Lord of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect...?"
"No way... You don't know the Demon-Sprinkling Sword well enough... Though they might be able to embarrass her..."
The sunlight falling through the window illuminated the mouths of over a dozen people. It touched them with a searing intensity.
Commoners and rogue cultivators alike. They were repeatedly reciting the exact words they had uttered right before being captured. They knelt before the Lord of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect, their faces pale with sheer terror.
The corners of Wi Il-hwa's mouth curled upward.
"Keep going. Keep talking."
She savored the faces and voices of those who had been captured and dragged here. Her mind, steeped in the evil arts, was sweetly intoxicated.
It was a high that even opium couldn't match. It felt as if sweet tanghulu was melting inside her head.
This was her eccentricity—slowly tormenting people to death. Among the twisted pleasures of the Heterodox Sect leaders, this was actually considered relatively mild.
Jang Il-gi, the Lord of the Burnt-White Sect, had once slowly decapitated ten commoners right in front of the Ghost Soul Divine Sword of the Hegemon Sword Sect.
Compared to that bastard...
Wi Il-hwa parted her lips.
"The reputation of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect has been severely damaged."
"..."
Silence spread in an instant. The disciples standing behind the commoners held their breath.
It was because of what that so-called 'leader' had done.
Respect for the Heterodox Sects stemmed entirely from the fear of their ruthless actions and sheer martial prowess, but this incident was akin to throwing all of that into a cesspool.
Even if sudden fights were common in the Jianghu, this was a major incident. If they couldn't resolve this, it would be difficult for them to maintain their position as a rising local power.
It was better to launch a joint attack. In the unorthodox Jianghu, the power of public sentiment was no different from martial force.
"Send this letter to that leader fellow in three days... and add a separate note to Jang Il-gi, the Lord of the Burnt-White Sect, that traitor of Zhongnan. Tell him that since I am considering calling upon Shaanxi's Number One Demon, he might need to contact the Ghost Soul Divine Sword of the Hegemon Sword Sect. Tell everyone to keep their heads down for now."
She responded strictly in the manner of the unorthodox path. She devised a scheme to completely dismantle the powerful outsider who had entered Xi'an and use him as fertilizer to grow her own sect.
"A swordsman who manipulates a single sword with Sword Kinesis is not the only kind of strongman. If there is someone who can mobilize a thousand swords, that person is also a peerless expert. Just like me."
Wi Il-hwa left several orders for her subordinates.
And then, she hid herself here.
All powerful figures had their own safe houses. The Lord of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect possessed a remote safe house passed down through generations—a pavilion built harmoniously into the mountains.
She had retreated temporarily. She simply did not have the confidence to survive if an unidentified ultimate expert were to barge in on her.
There was no need to be stubborn. The unorthodox had their own laws. It was enough to crush and kill him in the manner of the Heterodox Sects.
Scritch.
Her fingertips gently scratched the armrest.
How many rogue cultivators like the Sword Saint could there truly be in the world? Most of them died long before becoming peerless experts. That was just how it usually went.
"It's not like this is the first or second time."
Her amused murmur was swallowed by the chirping of mountain birds.
* * *
Three days later.
Jegal Hyeon, who had entered the city disguised as a merchant, felt it clearly. The moment he set foot in Xi'an, he got the distinct impression that the city's atmosphere had shifted.
It was highly unusual.
Merchants were packing up their stalls. The waiters who used to noisily solicit customers on the official roads had vanished.
They had retreated into shops and inns, showing no sign of coming out.
In the corner of an alley, two posters were pasted to the wall.
[The group of rogue cultivators occupying Gwaun shall face the judgment of our brothers beneath the Great Moon Gorge at noon on the day of Minor Snow. Our comrades who follow righteousness have united. If you know shame, it would be best to withdraw first. We have resolved to strictly punish and expel the lawless outsiders, so the solemn blades of Xi'an are now aimed at you.
—Wi Il-hwa, the Demon-Sprinkling Sword, Lord of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect]
[Bullshit.
—Jin Hyeong, Acting Leader of the Vast Art Stronghold]
Beneath the posters, pine needles that had fallen from a nearby tree rolled across the ground.
They looked lifeless, already withered to a dry yellow. A low, cool wind was blowing.
The bustling city had fallen completely silent. It was as if the people were united in fear.
"What in the world..."
A peerlessly handsome man with a scholarly air adjusted his sleeves.
It was Seon-ryong Jegal Hyeon.
"It was so lively when the Zhongnan Sect was here."
"Young Master, that is a name you must not speak lightly. Xi'an is now referred to by derogatory terms like 'demon's den'..."
The man walking beside Seon-ryong spoke. He was also wearing yellow padded clothes, with his hands tucked into his sleeves like a merchant.
As a warrior of the Jegal Clan's Worthy Heaven Unit, he was highly skilled at concealing his energy.
The eldest son, who had refined the clan's Eye Technique, had come in person. He had softened the structure of his eyes using the Bone-Shrinking Art, a sorcery martial art.
There were many such mysterious martial arts in the martial lineage of the Jegal successors.
"I heard all kinds of unorthodox sects are on the move. Just to capture a single rogue cultivator suspected of being an ultimate expert."
"Thanks to that, there are many opportunities for our Secret Line to infiltrate. It has become easier to gather information. It's like a typhoon blowing around a single inn."
They lowered their voices to near-telepathy and walked briskly.
"The name of that place?"
"They call it the Gwaun Inn."
The Hanzhong Martial World Alliance, like the Zhongnan Sect, was based in Xi'an. Upon hearing of the disturbance, they had no choice but to come out and investigate.
They had also heard the rumors of the rogue cultivators who had deeply humiliated the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect.
"It would be best to take a look. To plan for the future, we need to know the extent of their martial strength."
"We are almost there. They say not even an ant dares to approach right now."
It was then.
"I'll pay you double."
"I am sorry. I have committed a capital offense..."
"No, I'm telling you to just sell it. I said I'll give you silver!"
"My apologies. I am truly sorry..."
In the middle of the increasingly deserted street, a merchant in a shabby yellow robe, ill-suited for the winter, was arguing with someone.
The argument was happening in front of a stall laden with dried grains, a business he likely couldn't afford to close. He was clearly terrified, unwilling to deal with the man who stood before him like a common thug—an unorthodox warrior by the looks of him.
Jegal Hyeon’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“Why is that fellow here?”
“That is the Lazy Flame…” Seon-ryong’s subordinate trailed off, his eyes fixed ahead.
Sure enough, the Hwangbo Clan’s Lazy Flame Dragon was crouching in front of the stall. To any observer, he looked like a ruffian from the Black Way. He even chewed on nothing, as if working a wad of opium in his mouth.
“Were you ordered not to sell to us? Who was it? Those bastards from the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect? I didn’t know Xi’an was this territorial. The morals of the Jianghu have really hit rock bottom.”
“Great Hero, even if you say that to me…!”
“I’ve got a growing kid at home! His limbs are worth a thousand gold. Are you going to take responsibility if he doesn’t grow tall enough? And here I am, offering you silver! This world has truly gone to hell!”
The merchant’s face went pale, and he looked ready to protest.
It was then that Jegal Hyeon approached the two.
“What is all this commotion about in broad daylight?”
“If you don’t know, just shut up and… Hm?”
Turning his head slightly, the Lazy Flame Dragon’s eyebrows shot up in surprise as he recognized Jegal Hyeon. As some of the most prominent geniuses of the noble families, the Azure Qilin, Seon-ryong, and the Lazy Flame Dragon were well-acquainted. They had often gathered under the leadership of the Azure Qilin, Namgung Se-jin. Their familiarity ran deep enough that they could recognize each other even through disguises and the Bone-Shrinking Art.
“What a strange coincidence,” the Lazy Flame Dragon smirked.
Just then—
“D-Duck! Get down!” the merchant, who had been nervously glancing at the sky, suddenly shrieked.
Rumble—!
A long, roaring sound echoed from high above, near the clouds. Glancing upward, both the Lazy Flame Dragon and Jegal Hyeon’s eyes widened.
In the distant sky, an old woman was visible, riding on a single sword.
She was a one-armed swordmaster, her ears as pointed as the tips of a blade. Even though she was far enough away to appear as a mere dot, a monstrous presence washed over them.
She cut a straight line across the vast, blue-tinged sky. From the hilt of the sword beneath her feet, a long blue tassel fluttered in tandem with her empty sleeve. Mysterious ripples spread out from her, as if her Sword Flight was being replicated by some profound art.
She didn't even cast a glance downward, like an immortal with no interest in the mortal realm. At least, that was the impression she gave.
Jegal Hyeon groaned.
“Sword Flight… the Ghost Soul Divine Sword…!”
“An ultimate expert of the Thirteen Heavens from the unorthodox sects of Xi’an,” the Lazy Flame Dragon muttered, his brow deeply furrowed.
For a long time, none of them could move. They simply stood in silence with the merchant on the quiet street.
Only the winter wind brushing past the pine needles rustled loudly, sounding like a dry whistle.