Chapter 446: The Sunset Flag (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 446: The Sunset Flag (8)
The Heavenly Market Demon Star, Hyeokryeon Daeso, hurriedly reached out his arm.
Fortunately, his second technique activated flawlessly. From the breast of the headless Celestial Star of the Supreme Palace, dozens of sheets of Sophora Paper and a small Yellow Jade bead flew out.
It was Void Grab, powerfully enhanced by the profound principles of sorcery martial arts. With a crisp rustle, the stack of Sophora Paper and the yellow bead flew seamlessly into Hyeokryeon Daeso's robes.
Immediately, the Yellow Jade hummed, resonating with the single Red Jade he already possessed.
Divine weaponry. They were Dharma Treasures imbued with true spirituality. The peerless internal power of the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress, which had been slumbering within the two gems, surged through his mind in a wave.
— No matter what natural disaster you face, you shall return safely at least once.
Such was the intent sealed within the gems.
'It worked...!
Whoosh!
He instantly retreated thirty jang backward through the air.
Though its speed had a limit, this sorcery martial arts Body Protection Scripture was capable of mimicking even the form of Kunlun's Eight Cloud Dragon Forms.
Fortunately, it cast properly this time as well. Because the Lotus Nezha didn't spare him a single glance—as if lost in deep thought after using his Flash Art—he managed to secure a safe combat distance.
With the immediate danger passed, Hyeokryeon Daeso began to reconstruct the situation that had just unfolded.
'What was that?'
The flow of his internal power had been temporarily severed.
To be exact, the entire process of twisting the harmony of heaven and earth through sheer force had been blocked.
Unlike ordinary martial arts, sorcery martial arts required a noisy, external tuning of true qi, and those energy waves had been miserably disrupted. It only lasted for an instant, but it was a moment of sheer, blinding helplessness.
'Now I understand why martial artists who lose their lower dantian commit suicide.'
Even though Hyeokryeon Daeso had cultivated his composure over many long years, he never wanted to experience such a sensation again.
As a long-lived sorcerer, he had to comb through a lifetime of knowledge to devise a countermeasure.
Kiiing!
A blue light flashed in his eyes. He activated the Tongyu True Formula, a secret technique of Taemo Mountain Fortress.
It was an upper dantian martial art that accelerated his flow of thought to an extreme speed.
While Hyeokryeon Daeso was engrossed in analyzing the new Purple Rank's technique, Ak Su-rim—having completely shaken off the flames conjured by the Celestial Star of the Supreme Palace—looked up at Jeong Yeon-shin from the ground. Her face was tinged with unprecedented worry.
"Why did you come? You should have rested a bit longer."
Only after her clear, resonant voice rang out did Jeong Yeon-shin slowly part his lips, which had looked as if they would remain sealed forever.
"...It was long enough."
"With only two days?"
"No one died, so I cannot remain in seclusion for three whole days. Especially not as the one who must take the place of Unit Commander Yong."
His words were unusually long, contrasting with his indifferent expression. There was a faint trace of strength in the first syllable of his reply.
Soon after, Ak Su-rim reached out and snatched the short spear she had pulled from the belly of the Celestial Star of the Supreme Palace and thrown down.
The headless body of the old master finally collapsed, hitting the ground with a dull thud. Gushing blood stained the dirt floor dark red.
The dozens of Hanzhong Martial World Alliance experts standing around were struck with utter horror.
Ak Su-rim paid no mind to their reactions. She simply stared at the young junior who had now become her superior before speaking again.
"I'll handle it. It's not like I was being pushed back."
"I know."
"Right, you could see through the World Tree, couldn't you? That's why you arrived so timely."
The leadership of the Desolate Fortress was discussing something far beyond common sense. It was a conversation that made even a practitioner of sorcery martial arts prick up his ears.
'The World Tree...!'
Hyeokryeon Daeso, who had been eavesdropping while analyzing the new Purple Rank's technique, widened his eyes to their limits.
Beneath his eyelids, his feverish gaze trembled.
[Did you just say the World Tree? Do you truly know how to utilize the branches of the World Tree? How such a thing could be permitted to someone who is not of the Brightfolk, this Hyeokryeon cannot comprehend. If you would grant me a brief conversation, I am willing to answer anything. Not only the reason why the world's greatest Sword Saint was reduced to a living corpse, but also what is happening in Hangzhou today, and for what reason the Lord of Heaven's Bane accepted our fortress's proposal for a joint attack...]
He was one of the Three Arts Great Seats of Taemo Mountain Fortress. Throughout his life, he had rarely suppressed his curiosity.
Furthermore, having secured his safety by taking possession of two of his sect's three existing Dharma Treasures, he felt no need to treat the new Purple Rank and the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress with excessive caution.
"..."
At least, not until the clear eyes of the Lotus Nezha shifted toward him.
[...Oh dear.]
Hyeokryeon Daeso's upper dantian sounded a blaring alarm.
The miraculous spirit residing beneath his Baihui Point began to whisper softly.
The sudden intuition that that man does not view you as a human being pierced his mind, chilling him to the bone.
There was no room for negotiation.
'Even Ma Yeon-jeok in his prime did not look at people like that.'
It was then.
The sword carrying the new Purple Rank glided toward him.
He looked like the very image of Master Pure Yang, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism. Like the legendary Sword Immortal Lü Dongbin, he slowly traversed the void, standing with both feet upon a pure white divine sword.
The Lotus Nezha was also an extraordinary fist master. He could easily perform acrobatics in midair using Sword Flight and his Body Protection Scripture to slay his enemies.
Hyeokryeon Daeso made his decision.
'I will retreat unscathed.'
It was entirely possible. Even if he were facing the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps instead of the new Purple Rank, the same would apply.
He possessed two Dharma Treasures that assisted his sorcery martial arts. They were gifts bestowed by the 'Enlightened One,' the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress—invaluable treasures of his sect that could hardly be recreated.
Right now, the gems held in his hands would allow him to unleash techniques that surpassed his actual level of attainment.
Since he had two Dharma Treasures, they could be used as two single-use expendables.
Hyeokryeon Daeso poured their power entirely into a single casting.
Woo-woong—!
The Red Jade and Yellow Jade in his left palm erupted with a hazy wave of energy. The two Dharma Treasures continuously spat out translucent, concentric shockwaves, instantly completing a spell formation.
With that, the priceless treasures crumbled into dust.
[Void Displacement.]
With a brief mantra, Hyeokryeon Daeso's body began to blur like smoke.
His right hand did not remain idle either. Clutching the crumpled stack of Sophora Paper, he formed a hand seal—the hallmark of sorcery martial arts.
He stood his index and middle fingers straight in a Sword Secret Finger, bringing the tips of his remaining three fingers together.
It was a hand seal that guided internal energy into a specific flow. The heavens reacted to that lightning-fast movement.
[Nine Venerables Divine Art.]
The void flashed white, and a deep blue bolt of lightning struck down toward Jeong Yeon-shin, who had already drawn near to Hyeokryeon Daeso.
[Thunderclap.]
Crack-crackle—!
It was incredibly thick.
The bluish beam of light, scattering azure branches of electricity, plunged straight into Jeong Yeon-shin.
Boom!
The atmosphere lit up brilliantly.
Lightning crackled, violently scraping the air. The martial artists of the Hanzhong Martial World Alliance on the ground scattered in all directions using their swift Body Protection Scriptures.
Even amidst the chaos, they looked up anxiously at the sky where the two clashed. Only Ak Su-rim, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, stood in place with her arms crossed.
[Composure. The privilege of the strong. It is indeed fitting for someone of the Desolate Fortress's Purple Rank to possess it.]
Hyeokryeon Daeso glanced at his own fading limbs and smiled faintly.
[In any case, thanks to your generous patience, I shall depart for Hangzhou intact. Though I have suffered a great loss and feel some regret, I suppose I should thank you for broadening my horizons...]
He could not finish his sentence.
A whitish aura of light diffused through the column of deep blue lightning.
Within it, a figure that seemed woven from starlight shimmered, instantly taking the form of Jeong Yeon-shin as he casually stepped out of the lightning.
Even at that moment, the new Purple Rank showed no change in expression. He was utterly indifferent.
'He blocked it with his Body Protection Qi?'
Hyeokryeon Daeso's blue eyes flickered like a candle flame in the wind.
The Flash Art, the Lotus Nezha.
His assumption that the youth could not repeatedly use the technique that had initially disrupted his sorcery martial arts had been correct. After all, every sorcery technique had activated normally since then. Had the lightning bolt not struck down perfectly?
'Even so, this is a matter I must report to the Fortress Master for consideration. He is a dangerous man.'
Those hailed as peerless masters in the Jianghu each possessed different attainments and wielded all kinds of bizarre martial arts, but the technique the new Purple Rank had displayed earlier was exceptionally lethal.
This was especially true for Taemo Mountain Fortress, which aimed to claim the title of the world's greatest through their profound attainments. The Fortress Master and the Young Fortress Master, who should already be in Hangzhou, had to know of this.
"..."
Hyeokryeon Daeso stared intently at Jeong Yeon-shin, who was now locking eyes with him from mere inches away. He wanted to observe the temperament of the new Purple Rank.
He was not without a sliver of anxiety regarding the disruption of his sorcery.
However, Void Displacement was a technique of an entirely different caliber.
It was the pinnacle of evasion—dispersing the physical body like a spirit, followed by the function of the Earth-Shrinking Art to physically cross space.
To begin with, such a complex spell formation and energy wave could not be woven and completed by a single person's ability. It required borrowing the power of Dharma Treasures that could not be bought even with mountains of gold.
It was a technique that clearly transcended the human realm. It was completely impossible for human senses to interfere with such high-dimensional waves of internal power.
'No matter how great the Lotus Nezha is, there is nothing he can do about a Void Displacement that has already been activated...'
Just then.
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been silently watching the gradually fading Hyeokryeon Daeso, reached out his hand.
Slide.
He placed it directly against Hyeokryeon Daeso's face, as if intending to palm the head of a man who had already lost his physical form like a ghost.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.
"Leave it behind."
His voice was flat, devoid of any inflection.
[...!]
The eyes of the Taemo Mountain Fortress's Great Seat widened as if they would tear.
The impossible had occurred. Just as the intelligence reports regarding his Marrow Cleansing and Bone Rebirth had suggested, the physical sensation of a smooth palm suddenly clamped down on him.
A somewhat rough warmth radiated from the hand gripping Hyeokryeon Daeso's entire face.
It was the true qi reinforcing Jeong Yeon-shin's grip.
"No...!"
The moment Hyeokryeon Daeso—whose face alone had suddenly become vivid and solid—cried out in panic, the Void Displacement he had activated earlier fully executed.
Fwoosh—!
His body, clad in black robes, rapidly dispersed.
But his head did not.
With the sickening sound of tearing flesh, his body vanished to the lands of Hangzhou, but his face, caught in Jeong Yeon-shin's grasp, remained behind with its mouth agape.
His trembling, twitching cheeks were crushed beneath firm fingers.
Soon, blood dripped down to the ground. At this very moment, the Master and Young Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress would be witnessing the headless body of the Heavenly Market Demon Star returning to them.
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly released his grip.
Thud.
Hyeokryeon Daeso's head rolled across the lightning-scorched earth.
"..."
The experts of the Martial World Alliance who had witnessed the sequence of events fell entirely silent. Not a single person dared to open their mouth.
Because the display of power had been so transcendent, the martial artists were left numb, reacting as if they had merely witnessed a simple, ordinary duel.
It was the total annihilation of the Three Arts Great Seats of Taemo Mountain Fortress.
The Heavenly Market Demon Star and the Celestial Star of the Supreme Palace had died in the exact same place.
The Purple Tenuity Celestial Star, the final pillar of the Three Arts Great Seats, had lent his hand to the Net of Heaven and Earth in Lingering Spirit, only to be slaughtered by the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, Yong Hee-myung.
Events that were once rare were now happening openly.
It was a turbulent age of upheaval.
Now, no great sect cared about the opinions of others. They struck without any regard for joint attacks, alliances, or coalitions.
At this moment, the blood dripping from the new Purple Rank's hand was a testament to the changing flow of the times.
Upon the ground where the battle had taken place, Jegal Cheong-a and Gongson Min showed a rare moment of synchronicity. A dry gulp passed down both their throats.
"You look healthy," Jeong Yeon-shin said in a low voice, scanning the two of them. Then, he stared at the coffin loaded onto the cart for a brief moment.
"...You may bring him to the main fortress. I shall welcome him as an honored guest."
Only after hearing those words could Jegal Cheong-a finally take a step forward.
Step.
"Unit Commander, congratulations on your promotion. It has been a while."
"Promotion?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked, as if he had heard something completely unexpected.
This was because he was inwardly blaming himself. Despite engaging in the battle with a fair amount of composure, he had been forced to slay the sorcerers—even though capturing them alive would have been the best course of action.
His skill had been lacking.
Among the three Purple Ranks, if it had been Yong Hee-myung, capturing them alive would have been possible. Though for the remaining one, such a thing would be impossible for reasons entirely different from Jeong Yeon-shin's.
'Still, I have grasped the thread.'
Jeong Yeon-shin clenched and unclenched his hand. He could feel the ticklish breath of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, who had once taught him the Heart Sword.
"Congratulations? Nonsense. Child of the Jegal Clan, our new Purple Rank has yet to hold his official promotion ceremony," Ak Su-rim interjected.
"Pardon...?"
"Because he is currently locked in a battle of nerves with the King of Fathomless Light."
A figure who enjoyed the sole favor of the Emperor had been mentioned.
A Feudatory King who had intervened in all kinds of major affairs in the Jianghu, including the founding of the Deep Martial Alliance.
At the mention of a tale that scaled to such endless heights, bewilderment washed over the faces of the Martial World Alliance experts, Jegal Cheong-a included. Yet, Jeong Yeon-shin merely turned his head indifferently toward the main fortress.
"Senior Ak."
"Yeah?"
"My contemplation was long. I intend to set out for Hangzhou today."
"What about the King of Fathomless Light? Even the old men of the Elder's Council and the hairy fellow from the Chief Steward's Office are walking on eggshells around him. Right now, it's no exaggeration to say that man is the government itself."
"I have heard that the government must not interfere in the affairs of the Murim."
"..."
While everyone except Jeong Yeon-shin was left speechless, each wearing a different expression of shock, he spoke again.
"I shall go ahead."
He silently soared into the air, stepping upon Lingering Thunder.
The divine sword, which had now become the symbol of the Lotus Nezha, let out a low, humming vibration.
The sunlight brushing past its blade bent and warped haphazardly, as if the very light had lost its mind.