Chapter 294: Lotus (13)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 294: Lotus (13)
Blood dripped from thin air.
The ground, a patchwork of white snow and yellow-brown earth, was already stained dark red. A heavy crunch echoed through the silence.
Crunch.
"Ugh."
Jin Myeong-jo, Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit, staggered, pressing his index finger against his thigh.
A massive chunk of flesh had been gouged out. From the gaping wound, red steam and an auspicious current rose in tandem, violently clashing. The regenerative power of his bloodline was desperately fighting off the lingering remnants of sorcery martial arts.
[Divine Blood Ultimate Demon. I know your secret technique is linked to the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps. Did you really think I would let you unleash it so easily? Try channeling your true qi just one more time. I shall show you the Eight Hot Hells befitting your clan.]
The voice dripped with mockery, yet it sounded intensely human.
The blades of grass beneath their feet and the surrounding tree branches trembled in response. It was a blatant boast, a display of a realm that could influence Mother Nature herself. The mystical Six Harmonies Sound Transmission slowly continued.
[This is my domain. Even the Sword Saint cannot oppose me on this land. You will not leave here in one piece.]
"Don't make me laugh. You ink-stained bastards are masters of exaggeration. You're just getting cocky because you managed to withstand a few of old man Hyeon's sword strikes."
Ak Su-rim slammed the butt of her spear into the ground.
A clear, resonant laugh drifted down from the sky.
[Ak Su-rim, Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress. You know your words are false. Did achieving rejuvenation degrade your mind to that of a novice? By the way, I can see right through your little trick.]
"What trick?" she spat, tilting her head.
[You are searching for me. The ripples of your energy wave betray your urgency. But it is not enough. Just like your short legs, your reach falls pitifully short.]
"You son of a bitch..."
[I am not hiding out of fear. I merely sensed you from afar while traveling. Since you walked into the jaws of death of your own accord, your demise will surely shake the Desolate Fortress.]
"Listen to this guy talk. Does he think he's the Heavenly Emperor or something? You're acting like you own the world just because the old Sword Saint isn't here, aren't you?"
[Indeed, talking to you makes me feel as though my own age is regressing. But you guessed correctly. Here in Shanxi, I am a heavenly god. Furthermore, I am the Yama who will one day seize the World Tree from your Lord.]
"You lunatic!"
An earth-shattering wave of energy erupted from Ak Su-rim's body.
Boom!
The sheer force triggered a thunderous roar, snapping the towering conifers that blocked the sky and sending them crashing down in all directions. The snow-covered ground was gouged out in wide concentric circles, and the very sky seemed to split wide open.
"You cheap bastard! Your actual martial arts are barely a step ahead of mine!"
[Foolish girl, this too is martial prowess. If you were to face me in person, it would be even harder for you to bear.]
"Shut up. How long do you think you can hide? The ones you are facing are the Black Ranks of the Desolate Fortress!"
[Whether the Duke of Eminent Fists comes to me, or you lot die before that... those are the only two outcomes you face.]
"Eon Hwa-ryeon can't beat our youngest. She'll be dead before the sun sets. And then, we'll start by cutting off your limbs."
[Ak Su-rim, you are truly foolish.]
High up in the distant sky, a scholar standing upon the clouds spread his fan to cover his face. Beneath his pitch-black bamboo hat and translucent veil, the lips of the Jegal Clan Leader curved into a smooth smile.
[What is mine cannot be broken without my permission. Why do you think my clan sought me out, even knowing they were at a disadvantage in overall strength? Simply because our martial arts were leaked? No. The reason the Eight Families are called the Eight Great Families lies with me. She will not lose. Not under the protection of Jegal Muhu.]
Ak Su-rim's delicate eyelashes fluttered upward in realization.
"A Dharma treasure...?! You handed over a family heirloom to an outsider?"
[I am complete on my own, so it is only natural to look after tools that are not.]
Jegal Muhu's White Crane Fan swayed elegantly. Following the gesture of the peerless master, the clouds were drawn out like long strips of fabric.
[That is enough. Further conversation is useless. Both you and I have gathered sufficient strength.]
Sssss—
Suddenly, a colorless radiance bloomed, sucking in the surrounding clouds and rapidly expanding. It was a colorless thundercloud. The strike was unleashed in an instant.
A thick pillar of light connecting heaven and earth was engraved in the air at a speed from a completely different dimension. Jin Myeong-jo twisted his body in a split second, but he failed to evade it entirely.
It was different from before. This time, there were two streaks.
Whoosh!
One of the pillars pierced straight through his upper body.
* * *
In just a single exchange, the overwhelming dignity of the youngest Black Rank was laid bare. Right now, the hand of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing was akin to a devastating cannon.
Many of Shanxi's local aristocrats watched from beneath the awning with glittering eyes, looking like gamblers at a fighting arena. Jeong Yeon-shin's strike kicked up dust that settled over their fine silk robes. Even though they knew this was a revenge match for the Eon Family's Number One Fist, these aristocrats had not predicted her defeat. They intimately knew the martial prowess, achievements, and talent of the Duke of Eminent Fists, a legacy passed down through the Eight Great Families for generations.
But Jeong Yeon-shin was in no position to care about their expectations.
"Ugh!"
It was Eon Hwa-ryeon's groan. The sound echoed from extremely close by. Her sharp, hissing breath brushed past Jeong Yeon-shin's shoulder just before she retreated at an absurd speed.
Whew.
Having widened the distance, she smiled. She pulled something from her robes and casually tossed it behind her.
Thud.
A pebble rolled across the ground. It was engraved with characters so ancient they looked more like drawings, and a faint radiance clung to each stroke, exuding a mystical energy. Even at a glance, it was clearly extraordinary.
Because it had fallen outside the martial duel stage, the eyes of the aristocrats locked onto it. It had landed quite close to where they sat.
This was an artifact held by an extremely noble figure of the Eight Great Families. Doubt and greed began to seep into their gathering gazes.
Jeong Yeon-shin gave a small nod of his chin.
"What is that?"
"An object proving how cunning I am... but now it's just a distraction. Don't mind it," Eon Hwa-ryeon said. Despite the immense pain she must have been feeling in her fists, her expression remained remarkably indifferent.
It seems to be one of those sorcery martial tools I've only heard rumors of.
Jeong Yeon-shin started to say something but stopped. Looking at her face, it was obvious she knew nothing about its true nature. From the very moment he first clashed with Eon Hwa-ryeon, he had been experiencing a bizarre sensation. The streams of internal energy flowing through her body, the martial intent whipping her power into a frenzy at astonishing speeds—he could feel it all.
It was similar to when he had eaten a piece of the World Tree's fruit given to him by the Lord of the Desolate Fortress. Flashes of sensation flowed into him, making him feel as though he had temporarily become the Duke of Eminent Fists himself. Because of this, he could read her movements faster and anticipate her forms a step ahead. It was an incredibly peculiar sensation.
Still... I must end this quickly.
Just as his eyes sharpened, a sound tore through the air.
Whoosh!
The extremely swift Body Protection Scripture unique to the Eon Family's martial lineage unfolded once more. Eon Hwa-ryeon's wildly fluttering hair filled his vision. From beneath her feet, a rotating shockwave of Silk-Reeling Power erupted. She closed the distance, spinning like a violent gale. It was the movement of a master from the Eight Great Families—terrifyingly stable footwork.
It was only a glancing blow. Her Body Protection Qi is exceptional.
Smack!
Her hand swept back, viciously grabbing Jeong Yeon-shin's right armpit from below.
"Hup!"
In an instant, the Zhongfu point beneath his shoulder was sealed, draining the strength from his limb. Because the Body Protection Qi around his arm had already been shattered by his own strike of Brilliant River, he could feel the rough texture of her calloused hand directly against his skin. Within her iron grip, the explosive power of the Eon Family Fist surged. It was an extremely aggressive stance.
Did she think my right hand would just follow my left?
By then, the edge of Jeong Yeon-shin's left palm was already pressed against Eon Hwa-ryeon's lower back. With four fingers pressed tightly together, he twisted his hand, violently distorting the fabric of her clothes. It was the precursor to a heavy strike rarely seen in this world.
Brilliant River.
The battles between the world's supreme masters were bizarre in this manner.
Boom!
Another massive shockwave erupted. It was the absolute pinnacle of a heavy strike.
A translucent, colorless wave rolled outward, crushing the fabric of Jeong Yeon-shin's chest, while Eon Hwa-ryeon, who had been in the middle of extending a follow-up strike, widened her eyes and violently coughed up blood.
At this point, several of the aristocrats who had been sitting with feigned nobility shot up from their luxurious red sandalwood chairs, completely failing to hide their bewildered expressions.
"What on earth is that?"
"Is that not a martial art that defies natural laws? How can he use such a thing again? How much time has even passed since he last unleashed it...?"
"A Demonic art! Are you saying it's a demonic art?"
"Cut the foolish talk. I'm too embarrassed to even sit with you. One must properly sense the energy wave before speaking if they want their words to hold any weight."
"I have heard of it. Brilliant River... the very technique that sent the Azure Qilin of the Namgung Clan to the Sanzu River..."
"I understand Sect Leader Guan's surprise. How can he unleash a heavy strike of such immense power once more...?"
Men and women dressed in luxurious silk martial uniforms spoke in grave tones. They were beginning to realize that this fight would, in one way or another, have a massive impact on the entire Shanxi martial world.
But that was the world outside the duel stage.
A single strike isn't enough to deal a fatal blow.
Jeong Yeon-shin's thoughts branched out as rapidly as falling rain. He perceived the structure of his opponent's power, anticipated the martial forms she would unleash next, and examined the precise condition of his own fine meridians and muscles. He had no time to care about his disheveled clothes.
The Eon Family's Number One Fist was an entirely different person compared to how she had been during the Sect Founding Ceremony.
It only managed to dismantle her Body Protection Qi, even though my Law-Transcending Halo Qi has grown much stronger than before.
It was said that the body protection arts of renowned fist masters held spears and swords in utter contempt. Needless to say, the internal energy barrier of a top master from the Jinju Eon Family was incredibly formidable. The proof lay in her fist, which had not lost its form even after taking a direct hit from the Brilliant River.
Just then, Eon Hwa-ryeon's lips twitched.
Whoosh!
A colorless wave enveloped her entire body and surged upward. In the blink of an eye, her right arm and back glowed brightly. Her dismantled Body Protection Qi had been instantly restored and replenished.
Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit; Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak.
The speed of her internal energy's deployment perfectly matched the speed of her thoughts.
She is different, Jeong Yeon-shin thought in that brief instant.
She properly utilized the absolute state of Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit—far more so than any opponent he had slain so far.
The Eon Family's Number One Fist. She truly deserved her reputation as one of the greatest fist masters among the Eight Great Families.
With lips stained bright red with blood, she grabbed Jeong Yeon-shin's wrist and armpit, lifting his entire body off the ground. Her close-combat form exuded a terrifying combative subtlety.
180-Move Eon Family Divine Fist: Twin Brightness Moving Mountains.
"Ha!"
A short, sharp shout burst from her lips.
In that split second of extreme speed, Jeong Yeon-shin was enduring the heavy recoil of repeatedly using Brilliant River. The strain tore from his grip to his shoulders, and all the way down to his waist—a physical toll entirely separate from his capacity to continuously unleash ultimate strikes.
The master of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak, who had refined the Eon Family Fist to the absolute pinnacle of mastery, ruthlessly exploited that fraction of a second.
Whoosh!
Jeong Yeon-shin's vision flipped upside down. The sky was cast below, and the white peaks of the snowy mountains stretching beyond the duel stage plummeted downward. A wild wind swept fiercely past his ears. He was on the verge of being slammed headfirst into the earth.
A streak of light flashed through his mind. He thought with intense, hyper-accelerated focus. How could he land a proper blow from this position? How should he execute the next form?
Thump!
He flicked the Law-Transcending Halo Qi that had gathered at the tips of his free fingers. He had begun channeling it the very moment his arm was grabbed; calculation and insight were absolutely essential when dealing with masters of the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, who always seemed to be a step ahead of him.
A faint finger wind struck Eon Hwa-ryeon's shoulder repeatedly. As her clothes wrinkled in succession from the rapid impacts, the strength in her iron grip rapidly loosened.
Crash!
Even so, he was ruthlessly slammed down onto his back. The impact, which threatened to snap his waist, surged violently up his spine.
Even though he had managed to weaken the blow, it still felt like being hit by a blazing cannonball. Debris from the shattered duel stage soared past both sides of his vision.
Yet, in that split second of impact, Jeong Yeon-shin twisted the fine muscles from his latissimus dorsi to his trapezius, generating a wave of power through his acupoints.
Wind God Movement Technique.
Jeong Yeon-shin redirected a significant portion of the kinetic force. The dust that rose beneath his back was swept violently to the left and right. This was the profound realm of using the Harmony Realm through a full-body force release.
The moment Eon Hwa-ryeon, who was staring down at Jeong Yeon-shin's chest, widened her eyes in shock, his feet—which had soared high outside his black robe—slammed directly into the ground.
Thud!
Bundles of tendons throughout his body contracted and relaxed repeatedly, guided purely by martial instinct. This rapid succession of power and muscle manipulation completely reversed the flow of force in a brief instant.
While the absorption of Myriad Blossoms Rain occurred at the Yongquan Point beneath his feet, his abdominal muscles and arms channeled the divine strength of the Law-Transcending Halo Qi.
"...!"
Eon Hwa-ryeon was suddenly lifted upside down. Her right fist, which had been extending to deliver a brutal follow-up blow, struck nothing but empty air.
A piercing blue light flashed in the eyes of Jeong Yeon-shin. He sat straight up without even using his hands, simultaneously slamming Eon Hwa-ryeon down in reverse.
Crash.
He twisted his arm with immense force, simultaneously unleashing a Propulsion Shockwave through the Neiguan Point on his wrist. It was an entirely new path of energy circulation.
The close-combat mastery of the Eon Family Fist was rapidly evolving in the hands of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. Eon Hwa-ryeon's black hair, which brushed past his arm as she hung suspended in the air, flared up violently.
Rumble! Crash!
"Cough!"
The duel stage split in all directions as if struck by a massive earthquake. Dust immediately raced along the jagged cracks, rising into a thick, choking cloud. This happened a split second after blood splattered from the mouth of the slammed-down Eon Hwa-ryeon. There was a limit to the cushioning power of her Body Protection Qi.
Yet, her eyes snapped open, and her body reacted with terrifying agility once more. The movements of an elite master trained to the pinnacle of close-quarters combat were like a flash of light.
Just as she slammed her feet onto the ground exactly as Jeong Yeon-shin had done, she tensed her arm muscles, channeling power that erupted like a beam of light from her captured hand—
Suddenly, the greatest fist master of the prestigious clan met those flashing blue eyes.
The faint energy wave gathering in both hands of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing—who still held her left arm captive—was distorting into a violent spiral. She had not misseen it. It was definitely in both his right and left hands.
Ultimate techniques that pressed down heavily on the skin even before being unleashed were incredibly rare.
"...!"
It was Brilliant River once more.