Chapter 365: Ten Perfections (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 365: Ten Perfections (6)
A brief silence fell.
There was no sound of a collision.
Only the colorless distortion of the air remained as streams of flame whipped in all directions.
An immense, deafening pressure crushed against his ears. A flowing silk of internal energy, emitting a faint light of its own, wrapped around Jeong Yeon-shin's entire body, endlessly absorbing the flames.
His Body Protection Qi—the Exquisite Shining Star Heaven.
Wuuuuung—!
The breath exhaled by the shadow of the Flood Dragon could not spread to the surroundings.
The writhing thunderbolts of fire were forcibly dragged into the cluster of stars rotating like beams of light, unleashing a monstrous shockwave.
Faster...!
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes sharpened.
His head felt hot; it was the heat radiating from his upper dantian.
The profound principles and mental imagery of the divine ultimate technique born in this very moment were woven into a single thread, interlocking fiercely.
The temporary disassembly of the halo, full-body fa jin, the Myriad Blossoms Rain: Absorption Technique, the passage of time shown by the Ghost-Howling Hegemon, and the siblings standing beneath the faint night mist—all of it merged.
Kwaaaaah—!
The flames were ground away by the faint cluster of light. It was a defensive stance of his Body Protection Qi, capable of withstanding wide-area attacks.
Not a single spark could touch the bodies of the siblings behind him.
The surroundings vibrated violently. Even the ground began to sink with a low, rumbling groan.
The hundreds of people positioned behind Jeong Yeon-shin faltered.
"That...?!"
"The Commander of the Demonlight Wing...!"
The martial artists of the previous generation, the short blacksmith clan, and the panicked commoners were disappearing one by one, swept into the invisible formation's life gate.
Many of them witnessed Jeong Yeon-shin's Body Protection Qi, if only for a brief moment.
It was as if an ancient legend from the Classic of Mountains and Seas had manifested in the present era. Everyone who saw it wore an expression of utter disbelief.
He had bestowed upon them the grace of saving their lives.
Some wished to express their gratitude even amidst their shock, but most vanished on the spot just as they raised their hands in a polite bow and opened their mouths to speak.
Among them, only the King of Divine Wisdom chuckled and left a final word.
"I shall repay this debt when we meet outside."
He mouthed the words with an astonishingly rapid technique before vanishing from his spot just like the others.
He had successfully entered the formation's function.
"You...?"
At that moment, the very person who had completed the world-shaking sorcery formation faltered in place instead of fading away. Her body flickered translucently like a ghost.
The Young Sect Leader of the Ming Cult.
The Heaven-Smiling Invincible's white cloak and scarf fluttered wildly, buffeted by the aftermath of the fiery thunderbolts.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Armor...?
The Young Sect Leader raised an eyebrow beneath her silver mask. She felt a sensation similar to the divine art she had mastered to its peak as a direct descendant of the Ming Cult.
There was a slight resemblance in how he utilized his true qi.
The weave of the technique, seemingly loose at a glance yet completely watertight; the vibration of the Body Protection Qi, which would be unthinkable without terrifying control over internal energy; and the high-level principles breathing within those currents as if they had been one from the very beginning...
Yet, their composition and mental imagery were fundamentally different.
Even their outward appearance differed, and the profound loneliness felt through the upper dantian was a far cry from the Heavenly Demon Divine Armor.
Only the sheer arrogance carried by the divine art's unique spirituality felt the same.
I have many things to ask you.
The eyes behind the silver mask curved into crescents.
The Young Sect Leader muttered to herself, His body doesn't seem to be in good shape either. I can't let him die as soon as he gets out.
Woong—
The Young Sect Leader turned around, tracing a strange pattern with her long fingers, and abruptly vanished from the spot, taking the white, fluttering tip of her scarf with her.
"Flash Art, that divine art...!"
"Are you alright?"
By then, the figures of Hahu Wi-jin and Cheon So-so, who had landed on either side of Jeong Yeon-shin, were also fading.
The commoners lined up behind them had just vanished without a trace. This was the ability of the Ming Cult's Young Sect Leader. She had departed only after completely opening the life gate of the Flood Dragon's formation.
Kwaaaaah—!
While the hellfire of the Flood Dragon still blocked their vision, flickering its tongue chillingly, Jeong Yeon-shin spoke without even looking back.
"Let us go."
He felt them nod heavily.
Hahu Wi-jin and Cheon So-so had been holding out, forcibly resisting the power of the sorcery formation with the massive reserves of qi characteristic of Brightfolk experts. His seniors were always reliable.
"Right, see you outside."
"If we get separated, let's meet at the Tang Clan."
At the same time, the presence of the two disappeared. The heavy internal power waves they had been emitting vanished completely in an instant.
Soon after, a thick wind blew in to fill the empty space they left behind. It was a mystery of the martial world that now felt all too familiar.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly turned around and bent down.
Seuk.
He placed a hand on the shoulders of the Tang Clan siblings, who stood with their eyes closed. The touch against his fingertips was cold.
The breath exhaled by the Flood Dragon's Nascent Soul poured down so heavily it felt as if it would snap his back, but it was still bearable.
Only the heat, which had begun to sear his skin before he knew it, was growing uncomfortable.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips. "I'll take you home."
Just then.
"Stop chasing me, you Taoist bastard! Where did the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit go?! Leave the sapling and get lost!"
A frivolous, elderly voice rang out. Jeong Yeon-shin raised his eyes slightly and saw an old beggar rushing toward him, executing a lightness skill.
What was originally just a small dot grew larger in an instant.
Their eyes met.
Ghost Lord Man Hu-gae, one of the Twin Kings and Three Lords.
He was infamous for stealing and fleeing with the secret manuals of the Dog-Beating Staff Technique and the Eight Drunken Immortals Steps—arts said to be passed down exclusively to the Beggar Sect's Leader and Successor.
He still looked wretched, his face distorted like a demon's.
"I cannot leave this place until I break the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect's Dragon Slaying Scale-Treading Movement Technique! Hand over the sapling... Oh ho!"
The wrinkled mouth of Man Hu-gae suddenly curved into a smile as he ran.
His gaze had landed on a specific spot: the corpses of the Tang Clan siblings, resting there without a single scorch mark.
"Perfect!"
Man Hu-gae grinned and accelerated his sprint.
His eyes darted continuously between Jeong Yeon-shin, who was bearing the fierce fiery thunderbolts alone, and the siblings. The old beggar's grin grew wider.
"It seems the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit treasures you, calling you a senior! If I capture you alive, you'll be worth more than the sapling!"
His raw emotions were laid bare: the madness of a cornered man, the stubbornness forged by time, and an extreme dread of the Beggar Sect Leader and the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect.
With the collapse of the formation imminent, he had lost all reason. This was despite the fact that he had previously turned his back and fled, fearing mutual destruction after witnessing Jeong Yeon-shin's martial prowess.
It was a dilemma.
To entrust himself to the sorcery formation, Jeong Yeon-shin had to suppress the power of his Law-Transcending Halo Qi. But if he lowered his internal energy in front of a powerhouse like the Ghost Lord, things would not end well.
I can kill him, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
But no matter how the fight unfolded, the corpses of the Tang Clan siblings would inevitably be damaged in the crossfire.
Man Hu-gae's expression was extremely vicious as he charged recklessly, completely disregarding the combat interval.
He looked poised to pressure Jeong Yeon-shin by any means necessary. He had completely lost his mind.
Kung!
Gripping his staff, Man Hu-gae kicked off the ground and flew forward. Translucent waves of true qi exploded noisily around him.
He truly intended to fight to the death.
Why was he acting like this? Just how much desperation had he lived with?
"You want to die."
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes sharpened with a murderous edge—
—Fellow Taoist, you may go.
An archaic way of speaking.
Suddenly, the hem of a fluttering Taoist robe blocked Jeong Yeon-shin's view.
It was a natural Void Treading, smooth as swimming through water. It was the Cloud Dragon Eight Forms of the Kunlun Sect, a faction famous as a pillar of the Nine Sects before its destruction.
It was the Dark Lord, Perfected Emptiness.
—I entered to observe the movements of the Flood Dragon. This poor Taoist's duty remains unchanged, regardless of what happens to the formation. Even if this place disappears.
The old Taoist's voice rang out with a divine quality. It carried a profound spirituality; not a single speck of evil could be felt from it.
Jeong Yeon-shin furrowed his brow.
"I can kill him in a single strike. Let us go together."
—A spirit beast that has failed to ascend carries ferocity in its heart, and one never knows when it might emerge into the world and cause great harm. I must observe and report beforehand. That is the Heavenly Mandate bestowed upon this poor Taoist when I first held my master's hand and passed through the mountain gate of the Kunlun Sect.
He truly possessed the aspect of an immortal of the Nine Sects.
Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the Sword Immortal of the Zhongnan Sect he had seen in the past. They were strikingly similar.
Perhaps the ancient masters of the Nine Great Sects of Jianghu controlled the chaos of the world in this manner—ever since the gate of heaven was said to have opened during the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
Tjejejeong—!
A violent shockwave rippled over the shoulder of the old Taoist, who stood with his back to Jeong Yeon-shin.
He had clashed with Ghost Lord Man Hu-gae. The old beggar's voice spewed a stream of unintelligible curses.
—Commander of the Demonlight Wing, you shall now discuss the world.
Amidst it all, Perfected Emptiness's voice remained noble.
—I have a request for the peerless expert of the Desolate Fortress. Please remember one thing.
"What is it?"
—One day, you may have to cut down the base of the World Tree. Though it may not come to that...
"...?"
—Go now. It was a pleasure.
Hwaaaaak!
"—thanks to witnessing the outstanding divine art of a junior," the old Taoist's voice rapidly receded as he finished his sentence.
His vision went pitch-black. Upon hearing the mention of the World Tree, Jeong Yeon-shin had unconsciously released the power of his halo.
Kwang!
Man Hu-gae, whose staff was blocked by Perfected Emptiness's palm, shrieked in rage.
"Brat, stop! I'll give you the Eight Drunken Immortals Steps, so bring the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit here! Do you hear me? You goddamn...!"
"The old man is lucky," Jeong Yeon-shin said calmly.
"What?"
"Because if you die there, your corpse will at least remain intact."
He meant that if the beggar had managed to reach him, his body would not have been preserved.
Suddenly, Man Hu-gae's energy wave cut off. A violent coughing sound echoed through the air.
Perhaps it was because the truth had been delivered so plainly. The way he quickly took a moment for self-reflection was characteristic of an old expert.
A few words are enough to avoid having to lift a finger.
Jeong Yeon-shin had unintentionally realized the way of a gentleman.
It was all thanks to the Tang Clan siblings. He was taking many things away from the Flood Dragon's formation.
Maintaining the dignity of a high-ranking official of the Desolate Fortress even in this urgent moment, he surrendered his body entirely to the sorcery of the formation.
Koong!
A roaring sound echoed in his head. He felt a heavy pressure weighing down on his entire body, but it could not touch his skin, perfectly protected by the Exquisite Shining Star Heaven. It merely hummed.
He was passing through the life gate.
He tightly gripped the shoulders of Tang Yeo-hwa and Tang Ryeo-ryeo. He could never let go.
It's different from when I entered.
It was extremely violent. It felt as if his entire body was being bounced around inside the belly of some colossal entity.
An incredibly dense spirituality erupted in fluctuating waves outside his body, chilling Jeong Yeon-shin's upper dantian.
In the midst of absolute darkness, an eternity seemed to flow down his spine. It was an immensely heavy sensation.
How much time had passed like that?
Saaaa—
A refreshing breeze began to tickle his face. Even the natural qi carried in the air was different. It felt light and leisurely.
I'm out.
He had finally returned.
Something chirped at his feet. The sound of grass insects. When he opened his eyes, a completely different landscape met his gaze.
Green mountain ridges stretched out against a backdrop of mist.
Long, dense patches of grass swayed in the sunlight, and the sound of a waterfall pouring down coolly—as if breaking thin ice—drifted through the clear air.
As expected, this was not the Golden Wing Sect. How much time had passed?
He recalled the words of the Young Sect Leader, who had clicked her tongue while Jeong Yeon-shin was lost in meditation.
—The Golden Wing Sect isn't the only one that can open the Flood Dragon's formation, so there's a high chance you'll drop into a completely different place. Since there wasn't just one entrance to begin with, the exits are all different too. Well, I'll try my best to avoid the Golden Wing Sect, so rest assured.
Jeong Yeon-shin lightly held the shoulders of the Tang Clan siblings and looked around.
It was a wide mountain path. With sparse grass and flat terrain, it was practically an official road.
It must be a place with a lot of foot traffic.
He needed to head down to a nearby city. He didn't know how the situation in the martial world was unfolding.
But there was something he had to do first.
He couldn't carry the siblings' corpses around like this. He had to at least make coffins.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly spoke.
"Come out."
The surroundings were quiet. There was barely anyone around. However, he glanced at his shadow and parted his lips again.
"How long do you think the Young Sect Leader's sorcery will last?"
"..."
It was then.
A group kicking up dust as they ran from the other side of the hill came into view.
There were five of them, haphazardly carrying large swords and sabers. Their panting revealed that their internal energy breathing was sorely lacking compared to their leg strength.
"That guy! Let's catch that guy!"
"Pant, pant...! He looks like he knows how to handle a blade, though? Look at his posture."
"Shut up!"
"Chief, my eye for people is..."
"Fool! Then would you rather get skewered by those Qingcheng Taoist bastards?"
"No, but at a glance, that guy is also a martial artist... Uh, uh? The character 'Hwang'! The character 'Hwang'! Black Rank!"
"What?"
"Chief, you crazy bastard! Let's go back!"
Jeong Yeon-shin quietly watched these low-class martial artists—the likes of whom he had never encountered before—and carefully laid the siblings on the ground.
Step.
He slowly took a step forward.
Two powerful energy waves were rushing toward him from afar. Behind them, he could also feel the youthful internal energy characteristic of the Orthodox Factions' rising stars.
Only the leading two were worth Jeong Yeon-shin's attention. But as he spread his sense of qi wide, he could feel that this kind of chase wasn't just happening in one or two places.
The entire surrounding area was in turmoil. A fishy scent of blood began to mix into the once-clear air.
It was a chaotic world.