Chapter 462: Heaven's Tremor (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 462: Heaven's Tremor (6)
The sword that had hurtled down from the heavens pierced straight into the earth and vanished without a trace.
Immediately after, the earth shook violently as a shockwave trailing down from the dizzying heights of the sky slammed into the ground.
Fwooooosh!
The backdraft of the collision drew faint concentric circles in the air.
Infused with the unique spirituality of a Divine Sword, the wind was visible to the naked eye, rippling like a shockwave unleashed by a martial artist.
“...”
The bamboo hat of the Lord of Heaven's Bane, which had been slung over his back, rattled.
Lady Yul-ha silently watched him, tucking a few damp strands of hair behind her ear. Meanwhile, the figure of the Seventh Apostle, who had been perched in a tree, vanished before anyone noticed.
Step.
Where the sword had dug into the earth, a black leather shoe stained with dark red blood stepped onto the ground.
The hem of a brilliant crimson robe fluttered against the dirt. The Seventh Apostle, master of the Blood Flame Cult's Pure Blood Robe, slowly parted her lips.
A bloody madness flickered in her single eye. It was the glow of her Blood Art True Qi.
“...Lingering Thunder.”
It was right after she muttered those words.
“Lord of Heaven's Bane.”
Lady Yul-ha, who was sitting cross-legged in the distance, called out to the blind man in the bamboo hat.
“What do you intend to do?”
“Ah.”
The corners of the Lord of Heaven's Bane's mouth curved upward. He untied the cord of the scabbard fastened to his waist and gripped his sword, sheath and all.
As if he were about to plunge into a lake at any moment.
Indeed, to him, there would be no difference between the underground and underwater. For he was a peerless swordsman said to sever even the laws of all creation.
“Is it not strange? I shall go down and see for myself. It seems a new tale will be added to this storyteller's pack of tales.”
The aura of the blind man, known as the First Sword of the Outer Paths, was subtly different from before.
His face, tinged with a hint of disbelief, wore a slightly excited expression, as if something he had long anticipated was finally drawing near.
Originally, the new Purple Rank was a man destined to write a legend with a single blade, but he had met his end due to his presumptuous actions.
It was one of two things: either he failed to measure his own limits, or he prioritized the lives of the common folk and Lady Yul-ha over his own.
Either way, he was a complete fool.
“It weighed on my mind that I couldn't show a junior who knows his way around a blade the path of dedicating oneself to a single well. Even if those outside call it the Outer Path, shouldn't someone born with such talent naturally reach the pinnacle of the sword?”
Thud.
A faint wave of energy erupted from the Lord of Heaven's Bane's entire body. He had instantly surged a massive amount of internal energy.
He was the one who had handed Jeong Yeon-shin his very first defeat during a mission.
The bond forged in a life-and-death duel is deeper than any other. It could be said that he had shared the deepest connection with Jeong Yeon-shin in the land of Hangzhou.
“Do nothing.”
It was a warning from the seated Lady Yul-ha.
But the Lord of Heaven's Bane merely offered a faint smirk.
“If he truly is alive, he revealed his presence far too early. As the leader of the Heterodox Sects, I can hardly turn a blind eye, can I?”
He should have recovered his body more before showing himself.
That was his unspoken thought. At the implication of his survival, a purple light flashed in Lady Yul-ha's eyes, which had been clouded with quiet anger, bewilderment, a strange excitement, and a sliver of hope.
Just as the Lord of Heaven's Bane drew his sword above his head as if to slash through space itself, a premature sunset descended upon the clearing—a soft, spreading red light. He had just taken a starting stance as exaggerated as a theatrical play.
BOOM!
Suddenly, an explosive roar erupted within that red light, and the Lord of Heaven's Bane's body was blasted far away like a cannonball.
Lady Yul-ha, who had already drawn and swung her sword, vanished over the ridge in pursuit of him.
As if she had melted even the internal energy needed to dry her dampness into her sword strikes and lightness skill, she left behind only a few water droplets and a misty purple shockwave on the ground.
It was a preemptive strike by the Mount Hua Sect Leader.
If Jeong Yeon-shin was truly alive, and if he was ascending from a depth where not even a trace of his aura could be felt, she had to buy him time to steady his breathing and align his acupoints.
Thus, the two of them vanished.
The Seventh Apostle did not even glance in the direction they had gone.
Rumble.
The earth was still shaking.
Staring blankly down at her feet, she struck downward with her hand. Instantly, the ground caved in with a loud bang.
That was the beginning.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each time the palm force unleashed from her hands synchronized with the vibrations rising from the ground, the Seventh Apostle's pale face brightened.
A mad joy. There was even a hint of her panting in some sort of ecstasy. A sensation as if she were pressing her palms against someone else's rippled through her red sleeves.
She was completely immersed. She was in a state of selflessness.
“I'll help you, I'll help you...”
All things were pushed out of the Seventh Apostle's world. Her extreme martial talent, her madness, and the obsession accumulated over long years narrowed her vision.
The immersion of a madman who had reached the peerless realm treated even the presence of the group approaching nearby as nothing more than trivial pebbles.
Step.
Over thirty sorcerers, including the Young Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress, fifty-nine corpses raised by Heaven-Defying Sorcery Martial Arts, and the experts of the Thirteen Heavens' Heaven's Bane rushing in from another direction.
Even as they approached, the Seventh Apostle did not so much as lift her head.
* * *
It was a space filled entirely with stone and earth.
It was damp. Darkness loomed in all directions.
[Why isn't it coming? Did you call it properly?]
“I told you to shut up.”
Jeong Yeon-shin could vividly feel it—the presence of Lingering Thunder, which had soared high into the sky and begun to burrow into the earth the moment it located the ley line.
The blade, forged from the calluses of the Tang Clan siblings, was now completely like his own limbs. In a special sense, it could truly be called the Unity of Body and Sword.
[I know a thing or two about Sword Control myself. How about having a Sword Discussion with this Cult Leader here? Just two people about to die, talking until our lifespans run out.]
The Heaven-Smiling Invincible curled up one corner of her mouth as she added. That would have its own charm, wouldn't it?
Her translucent body was soaring upward alongside Jeong Yeon-shin.
At some point, she had once again donned a pure white cape embroidered with long, pitch-black tassels. With her hands casually clasped behind her back, she looked like an idle wanderer.
But Jeong Yeon-shin focused solely on ascending. He kept his Brilliant River constantly active in both hands.
That sight was reflected in the Heaven-Smiling Invincible's hazy eyes.
A spectacle of a supernatural entity made entirely of light, swimming gracefully through the abyss.
Crash!
Each time he swung his arms heavily from top to bottom, the stone walls parted like water. His body, enveloped in a soft halo of light, deflected falling rocks as if they were nothing.
It was his Body Protection Qi. Some boulders fell toward Jeong Yeon-shin's head, only to be shattered to pieces by the rebounding force instead.
Getting out... is possible.
What mattered right now was the explosive force accumulated after dozens of hand gestures.
Rumble—
As if an infinite swarm of bees were nested in his hands, a massive, buzzing roar gradually shook the underground.
The essence of the Lightning-Flash Sword Ridge Style: Nine Azure Rivers, which accumulates shockwaves, was infused into his Brilliant River. More precisely, into his palms laden with the Brilliant River.
Jeong Yeon-shin had realized a certain truth from the traces left behind by Perfected Zhang Sanfeng.
And at this moment, as he carved his way through the unfathomable depths of the earth, he was gradually embodying that essence. Every single second was a form of training.
[A handsome face and a grand aura certainly matter. If that old man from the Beggar Sect had done what you're doing, it would have looked terribly unseemly. Regardless of the sheer ferocity of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.]
“...”
[Hey there, handsome young man. The mnemonic you've devised is quite intriguing. You know, there's no one worse than a writer who only pens the preface and stops. So, with that in mind...]
The Heaven-Smiling Invincible, who had been joking continuously, whispered slyly.
[‘I shall eventually transcend those laws...’ Do you have any intention of telling me what comes after that?]
She was openly asking for the mnemonic of his Divine Art. An unconventional move befitting a member of the Ming Cult. But Jeong Yeon-shin did not answer.
He merely raised both arms slowly and released the power condensed in his palms.
BOOM!
A thick pillar of light erupted upward, centering around his body.
At the same time, a sword engraved with wavy patterns pierced through the light, falling down like a single drop of rain.
It was the Divine Sword, Lingering Thunder.
How many more times must I do this?
Jeong Yeon-shin thought to himself as he watched the illusions of the Tang Clan siblings descending toward him.
* * *
Taemo Mountain Fortress and Heaven's Bane surrounded the Seventh Apostle.
Sorcerers with their hair tied up in sheer mesh headbands, the dead enveloped in a chilly blue light, and Thunder Sword along with the swordsmen of Heaven's Bane, who were said to have inherited the insights left by the First Sword of the Outer Paths...
Whoosh—
Just by standing there, wind blew from all directions. It was due to the waves of internal power they were emitting. The air felt gritty.
However, while it looked like a siege, the reality was slightly different.
To be precise, they had surrounded the ground where the Magic Sword, Lingering Thunder, was presumed to have vanished. They had no business with the Seventh Apostle, who was digging up the earth with her palm force.
At least, not for now. That was the reason Taemo Mountain Fortress and Heaven's Bane had met.
“We are a step too late. That monster is after the Magic Sword as well.”
The boy sitting in the palanquin muttered.
It was the Young Master, Cho Il-seo. He had no intention of letting the Seventh Apostle off—she who had practically annihilated the Jiaxing branch of Taemo Mountain Fortress—but he also had no desire to handle more than two things beyond his capabilities at once.
The Seventh Apostle and Lingering Thunder?
Looking at the two, the immediate priority was retrieving Lingering Thunder.
A weapon symbolizing that a Purple Rank of the Desolate Fortress had been slain by their hands. A tool to sweep up disciples and subordinate sects like a rake.
After all, the Desolate Fortress wouldn't be able to dispatch a large force all the way to Zhejiang.
Such was the limit of those bound to the state. After the recent gathering of the Black Ranks, this had become even more pronounced.
Ak Su-rim, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, has to worry about the King of Fathomless Light. Even if she entered Shaoxing after making an enemy of the King, she is likely alone. Which means we can defeat them one by one.
Cho Il-seo thought.
There is a massive difference between facing a hostile peak expert in a foreign land versus facing them at one's own sect. The odds of victory in the latter are exponentially higher.
And Hangzhou was close to Taemo Mountain Fortress's main base. This was because they had buried the Dharma Treasures of their Sorcery Martial Arts along all kinds of official roads and mountainous terrains.
Furthermore, if Blade-Net Venerable of the Five Sword Masters of the Heavens brought the head of the Tang Clan Leader, things would become even easier.
“What should we do with that blood ghost...?”
He muttered aloud on purpose, glancing to his side.
A swordsman in a sleeveless white martial uniform, Thunder Sword of the Five Sword Masters of the Heavens, was staring at the Seventh Apostle with a deep gaze.
Is she measuring her achievements? Cho Il-seo clicked his tongue inwardly.
Though she exuded an aura as sharp as a Divine Sword as the chief disciple of the Lord of Heaven's Bane, she was no match for a True Blood Physique, who was born a supernatural entity.
She merely possessed the potential to become a peerless expert a bit later in life.
“If you wish to capture her... there is no way other than a joint attack,” Cho Il-seo said firmly.
“...”
“Competitive pride is useless. Even Wilderness Sunfall, who was said to be so powerful, died without becoming a giant of the era. At best, he only made a grand name for himself for a year or two.”
“...Is he truly dead?”
At Thunder Sword's self-muttering question, Cho Il-seo shook his head.
“The point is that the world has entered a chaotic age. Those who survive will inevitably grow stronger, while the lives of those who die young stop right there. But time is on our side, so one day, you and I will look down upon the Wilderness Sunfall of today.”
Like the Dark Sky Emperor and the Lord of Heaven's Bane.
With a faint curl of his lips, Cho Il-seo gestured forward with his chin.
“Actually, this is for the best. I shall test the power of the Overflowing Jiangshi Technique here. Though they look like this, they will be far stronger than the jiangshi of the ancient Maoshan Sect.”
The jiangshi of the Overflowing Jiangshi Technique present here were all they had.
One could not infinitely manufacture living Dharma Treasures that mimicked the Vajra Indestructible Body. That was why they were rare, and as powerful as they were rare.
“Does it matter if my sect does not lend a hand?” Thunder Sword asked quietly.
Cho Il-seo asked her back instead.
“Do you intend not to?”
“...”
“Disciples of the fortress, prepare. The jiangshi will take the vanguard.”
Thud!
The moment his words fell, a loud roar echoed. The jiangshi lined up around them kicked off the ground in unison.
Following the rush of the dead, bluish air currents were carved into the empty air.
A total of fifty streaks, amounting to thirty percent of Taemo Mountain Fortress's power accumulated over a long time. In an instant, they surrounded the Seventh Apostle and struck out with their hands and feet.
Some even unleashed invisible explosive force.
Clang-clang-clang!
Thick red light splattered in all directions like lightning. Instantly, the Seventh Apostle's figure faltered.
No matter how peerless an expert was, none would take the attacks of underlings with their bare bodies. These were blows she had allowed due to her state of selflessness and madness.
“The Body Protection Qi of her Blood Art True Qi... is indeed as tremendous as rumored, but...”
Watching from afar, Cho Il-seo's smile deepened.
A clean hit had landed.
This was extremely important. If the enemy was a peerless expert, landing the very first blow cleanly was always the hardest part.
The crack resulting from that will open up her internal energy barrier, eventually allowing a fatal wound to...
Cho Il-seo's thoughts could go no further. The ground, which had been vibrating since they first arrived, suddenly shook violently.
There was no time to anticipate or think of any countermeasure. A tremor as fierce as an earthquake grew incredibly intense in an instant, immediately reaching its peak.
BOOM!
In an instant, one side of the clearing crumbled in a massive circle, and an incredibly thick, colorless pillar erupted from the ground that had split open like a canyon.
It was incredibly high, as if it would reach the heavens.
“...!”
Just as Cho Il-seo's eyes widened as he overlooked the clearing.
A shadow suddenly shot up in the center of the encirclement, and the back of the Seventh Apostle's shoulder brushed against the chest of that figure. In that instant, their clothes rustled softly.
He was a man whose upper body was nearly bare.
His features could not be clearly seen. It was because his back was against the rising pillar of shockwaves, which still blocked out the bright sunlight.
Only the faint fragments of pouring sunlight mingled with his long black hair.
The figure bowed his head slightly.
“The village ahead must not be swept away.”
The breath flowing from his mouth brushed past the Seventh Apostle's ear. Instantly, the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Her body was completely frozen.
“You will have to handle these ones.”
“Huh...?”
“I'm short-handed. I shall give you the mnemonic I promised.”
His words and actions carried a hint of gentleness.
Meanwhile, sweat had broken out on Cho Il-seo's hand, which was now holding the Sophora Paper.
The moment the intruder stepped onto the ground, all the jiangshi froze like boulders.
A sight that made those who had compiled the ancient Maoshan Sect's sorcery studies doubt their own eyes. This was not something possible through sheer ferocity alone.
“The laws of nature...?”
It was just as Cho Il-seo's mouth twitched slightly.
Step.
“Wilderness Sunfall of the Desolate Fortress. There are many who have come looking for you.”
Thunder Sword stepped forward, her eyes flashing with a light that flickered like fire. At this moment, her judgment shone the brightest in the clearing.
“But this is a land the world calls Pandemonium. Therefore, if you wish to properly ensure their safety, even having two bodies would not be enough. Rather than blindly showing off your divine prowess, it would be better to find a separate place. We shall guide you.”
There was no tremor in Thunder Sword's tone. The figure, staring blankly at her, slowly opened his mouth.
“And the Mount Hua Sect Leader?”
“Her life cannot be guaranteed. No matter how strong the Saint Flower Sword God is, she is no match for the First Sword of the Outer Paths. However, if you wish to go directly to her, first...”
Just then.
The figure slowly parted his lips.
There is no need to go.
“What did you just...?”
Thunder Sword stopped mid-sentence and closed her mouth.
Before anyone realized, a sword was floating beside the figure.
It was the Divine Sword, Lingering Thunder, which had been at the center of the struggle. A strange sound began to spread from its silver-rippling blade.
A vibrating sound, like an imugi that had finally obtained its dragon orb, crying out. It felt incredibly heavy. Soon, the resonance transformed into a monotonous melody and spread far and wide.
Wrooooooooom!!
It was as if it were announcing that he was here.
It wasn't just Thunder Sword's intuition.
In truth, the shadow that had shattered the earth and broken into the clearing—Jeong Yeon-shin, who had ascended back to Hangzhou—infused a similar mental image into his Sword Song at this moment.
An intent that any expert with a developed Upper Dantian could not help but feel.
― Come, all of you.