Chapter 526: The Southern Venerable (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 526: The Southern Venerable (5)
A land shrouded entirely in twilight.
A fireball the size of a house burned with a vivid blue light. Occasionally, it let out a long, roaring cry like a dragon. But it was only brief; the blue flame soon swelled explosively and vanished in an instant.
Soon after, a deep, bizarre shriek crept across the ground like a shadow before scattering into nothingness.
Something had been annihilated within the fire. At the same time, a massive arm rolled onto the ground.
Thud!
Dark green skin. The ridges of muscle from the upper arm down to the forearm were as deep as furrows in a plowed field. Even a single glance proved it belonged to an entity possessing transcendent strength.
Step.
A man in a pink robe landed on the back of that massive hand. He stood just below the knuckle of the middle finger, which was wider than the span of his feet.
The bizarre, violent, chaotic, and supernatural entity that had just died was so colossal it looked like a child of Pangu, the giant of ancient myth.
"Weren't you a bit excessively enraged? All because that thick fist happened to luckily brush against the Senior Elder's bosom."
The man spoke from above the head of Ma Yeon-jeok, the Hegemon Hero. He looked down at Ma Yeon-jeok with a smirk.
He sat askew on a floating stone grandmaster's chair. His somewhat faded, scholar-style purple robe fluttered gently, as if to tease his companion.
Ma Yeon-jeok replied gruffly.
"Is my own body the only thing in my bosom?"
"I only say that because the way you cherish it makes it look like a sacred ancestral tablet. Even if it is the sophora paper your grandson used to carry around."
"Didn't you take a sheet for yourself as well?"
"Certainly, no one would refuse a highly effective talisman. If our junior's vigorous fortune rubs off on me, wouldn't I be able to hold onto the seat of the Sword of Divine Attainment for a long time?"
Yong Hee-myung flicked the sword hanging at his waist with a finger.
Yet, not even a dull thud came from the blackish hilt. It was as if the weapon swallowed all miscellaneous melodies entirely.
"It's nothing short of a demonic sword."
Yong Hee-myung chuckled as he muttered.
Ma Yeon-jeok did not deny it. He merely tossed out a brief remark.
"Be prepared. More will come."
"Of course they will. The world has truly gone to ruin lately. Anyway... about that fellow."
Yong Hee-myung continued slowly.
"You felt it too, didn't you, Senior Elder? Up close, the spirit in his upper dantian was emitting an immense pressure... to the point where I wonder how he is even maintaining the unity of essence, qi, and spirit."
As always, there were few topics of common interest between the two. One of them was Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art.
Ma Yeon-jeok snorted immediately.
"It is a sensation he has already stepped into once. Unlike you, Yeon-shin never misses even a fleeting realization. Do you really think he would lose a realm he has long since internalized?"
His tone brooked no argument. Upon hearing this, Yong Hee-myung shifted his crossed legs on the grandmaster's chair. Then, he asked back in a dry voice, "Holding onto the state of the three flowers gathering at the peak through mere sensation and talent? Since when was such a thing possible?"
Suddenly, Ma Yeon-jeok fell silent.
Yong Hee-myung did not.
"Is that talent? No. It should be called a divine power that covets the realm of the Buddha."
"……"
"Zen Master Bodhidharma's nine years of wall-facing."
Yong Hee-myung turned his gaze toward the distant horizon as he continued.
From the dark wilderness, a clear, resonant roar like a bamboo flute was already surging in. It was the energy of other bizarre, violent, chaotic, and supernatural entities.
"What if that wall-facing cultivation, the most famous in the world throughout all of history, was actually to keep himself sane? To protect himself from the power filling his head."
He concluded.
Soon after, Ma Yeon-jeok slowly shook his head.
"He is strong to his very core. He will not be consumed by his own talent."
"I hear the Little Heavenly Demon of the Ming Cult has already lost his mind. Unless he has gone completely mad, he couldn't have committed such acts in Hangzhou. Perhaps our friend Yeon-shin, too..."
"Are they not of different breeds?" Ma Yeon-jeok asked back. He was referring to his own bloodline.
Yong Hee-myung, momentarily at a loss for words, suddenly spread his fingers.
"Let's count them down. That audacious junior of ours. From a family that was worse than having none, to a maternal family that literally did not exist."
A rigid furrow creased the corners of Ma Yeon-jeok's mouth. It was certainly far from a smile.
"Furthermore, the Demonlight Wing, which he joined and considered his true home... most of them met their deaths in the City of Master Craftsmen in Sichuan."
"……"
"And as for the origins of the Brilliant River and the Fan Dragon Lotus Art... anyone in the main fortress who ought to know is well aware."
"They were nothing but trash from the Eight Families. Do you really think the deaths of those children would deal a blow to Yeon-shin?"
"Let's look further. Just as he was beginning to feel a sense of belonging to the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall, he thoroughly investigated the Unified Martial Transcendence that sent the former Commander of the Heaven-Aligned Wing, Ha Do-un, to the underworld... He must know better than anyone with what power and by what principles his senior's body was shattered to pieces."
"Stop."
Yong Hee-myung paid no heed to his former superior's words. Instead, he merely let out a dry laugh. "Ha!"
"They say that while he was in a position of responsibility, receiving reports of the countless deaths of the main fortress's warriors, he had his subordinate—who was like a sister to him—snatched away right before his eyes by a madman of the Ming Cult. The Ancient Sword, with whom he once shared a drink to seal their friendship, has also passed away. He even tasted defeat during a mission, I hear."
"……"
"And when he returned, the heads of Yu Jeong-myeong and Hyeong-wol were hanging from some bandit's waist, and the people of the main fortress—the Purple Ranks and those who looked after him as their youngest—were dying before his very eyes..."
The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps spoke the names of Yu Jeong-myeong, Commander of the Searing Abyss Unit, and Hyeong-wol, Commander of the Netherflow Unit.
Yet, Yong Hee-myung's expression remained calm. He was assessing the state of his designated successor in his capacity as the current Lord of the Sword of Divine Attainment.
Naturally, he harbored no personal feelings. Even as he finished speaking.
"And amidst all that, the power of the upper dantian is filling his head. An absurdly dense and mighty spirit."
Yong Hee-myung's leather shoe tapped against the grandmaster's chair. The brown leather surface was somewhat worn, but the same was true for Ma Yeon-jeok's.
So too were the leather shoes of Shin Cheon-hwa and Jeong Yeon-shin, who were not present.
"We sent him off because time was short, but in truth, we should have stayed with him a little longer. Of all things, for Zen Master Bodhidharma's wall-facing cultivation to come to mind now," Yong Hee-myung muttered. His face betrayed nothing of his thoughts. Only the sound of him tapping the back of the floating grandmaster's chair echoed.
"……"
Glancing at the silent Ma Yeon-jeok, Yong Hee-myung spoke once more.
"In any case, didn't you tell him to meet the old man Hyeon-gong? When one's head is cluttered, nothing beats the qigong of a Taoist martial lineage. It would be best if that old Taoist has already realized the Three Pure Powers of Taoism, but even the lesser Peach Blossom Power or Namhwa Heavenly Way Power would be quite..."
"To truly converse with a madman, one must become mad oneself. That old man will be of no help..."
Ma Yeon-jeok stopped mid-sentence and shook his head. Then, he added a rather lengthy remark. "Do not judge that child by his age. His resolve is already firmer than this old man's. Naturally, his sanity will remain steadfast as well."
"Well, it is likely a needless worry. When I saw him before, his mind seemed no different than usual. Our junior is nothing like that Ming Cult brat, after all..."
"You state the obvious."
"Let us get back to our work."
Whoosh—!
Instantly, all directions were dyed in white light.
In a mere split second, all kinds of roars clamored, and a hazy, razor-sharp wind swept in all directions like a typhoon.
The manifestation of yet another bizarre, violent, chaotic, and supernatural entity was just that sudden. Dry dust billowed up, surrounding them on all sides.
"Three Imugi. I will take two..."
"One is already dead."
Thud!
Before long, the figures of the two men vanished, blending into the thick dust.
* * *
Xinye County is in the southern part of Henan Province.
Its distorted terrain borders the northern part of Huguang Province. Naturally, rumors about the immortals of Wudang abound.
And finally.
I have set foot on Mount Wudang, a place I yearned for as a child.
Even the streams were crystal clear.
Perhaps the internal energy of Perfected Zhang Sanfeng was mixed into the water; the scent of grass drifted down the mountainside, tickling my nose the entire time.
Whoosh!
Despite it being the dead of winter, Wudang's vegetation had not withered. Though they flashed past rapidly due to my lightness skill, the scenery scratched at my vision in streaks of brown and green.
The headquarters of the world's greatest Taoist Sect.
It is beautiful enough to make me wish to discuss the arts and elegance with Brother Heonwon, if my lifespan ever permits.
A landscape whose superb beauty is obvious even without stopping to look. Furthermore, my eye technique is designed to imprint the entire field of vision perfectly into my mind, even while running with lightness skills. After all, the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps must always be on the move.
[Jeong Yeon-shin.]
A voice called to me.
The voice of the great senior of the main fortress echoed from the foot of the mountain. An immediate reply was only natural.
"Yes."
[Do not overexert yourself. Assessing the situation comes first. It is the same for all missions.]
"Thank you for the advice."
I replied instantly, without hesitation.
Prostrating oneself before seniority smoothly opens the path to success. Those were the words of my always-proud friend.
Yu-hyeon.
I had to follow his advice. For despite possessing a regrettable combat interval, he was chosen as a direct disciple by Lady Yul-ha and ultimately became a famous, slick Plum Blossom Swordsman. Fortunately, his limbs have grown quite long by now.
He must be practicing the Purple Mist Divine Art, right?
Suddenly, I missed his blank face. Mount Hua, the Mount Hua Sect. Does Lady Yul-ha really dissolve the ingredients of the Purple Grace Pill into his bathwater? What would it feel like to soak in that and look down upon Mount Hua?
I miss Her Ladyship, too.
[Turn left six paces ahead.]
It was the great senior. Unlike the Sight of the Lowly, he was observing the path ahead of me with an eye technique that overlooked the entire battlefield.
Boom!
Following his words, I took six rapid steps and veered left. With a soft whoosh, a path that hadn't been there before opened wide.
Even I only noticed it upon reaching close proximity; it must be a formation art that hides the Taoist temples from the mortal world. Rumors say the entire massive mountain range of Wudang is no different from the immortal realm.
But...
By the way, who gave the great senior his courtesy name?
My name is a bit humble, but the word "Cheon-hwa" is also strange. Who on earth splashes disaster? As long as their surnames aren't Ma or Yong, the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps is a blessed existence... The only ones to trust are the Shins and the Jeongs.
Suddenly, I felt a sense of closeness. To think he had a name as bizarre as mine.
In any case, there was no need to worry about the great senior's Nascent Soul. He said he only needed to stay within seventeen li of me. He was on a completely different level from that rascal Mang-jong, who used one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems as his life-saving herb.
Just then.
—Do. Not. Seek. Me.
A halting, elderly voice.
"……!"
Crash!
The stream beside me surged high into the air, resembling a tidal wave. A thick moisture emanated from the white foam. Meanwhile, I had to bear the voice that instantly pierced my mind.
It was a thunderous resonance.
A powerful shiver ran down my spine. It was incredibly chilling.
I had experienced something similar once before.
Abbot Beomheo's Wisdom Light Mind Speak had felt like this.
However, the Abbot's voice had not affected his surroundings like this. It had only struck directly into my head. This meant it was restrained.
And it was warm.
Its nature was the exact opposite of this one.
Where is it?
I extended my sense of qi in all directions.
Yet, the only presences caught by my senses right now were one hundred and eighty-seven people. Since they were all immortals of Mount Wudang, including the young Taoist acolytes, every single one of them was enveloped in a profound energy.
However, not a trace of a Sword Immortal capable of slicing an entire mountain peak vertically could be felt.
It was clear that his Return to Simplicity was close to Senior Jin's level. I felt a slight chill of fear. I must ensure I never have to cross swords with such a person.
In any case.
It would be difficult to find him like this. The mountainside was incredibly vast.
Just then, the great senior's voice rang out.
[He has slipped past my sense of qi as well. Let us talk for a moment.]
I stopped immediately.
Only then did the scenery of Mount Wudang truly enter my sight.
Quiet Taoist temples were scattered here and there amidst the sheer, verdant canyons. Below them, a sea of pure white clouds was spread out like a cotton quilt.
Leaves gently rustled against one another in the breeze. Was this the spirit of Wudang? Even the chirping of the small birds felt somehow warm and welcoming.
I spent about half a gack admiring the view.
Step.
The great senior approached from behind, his hands clasped behind his back, his long sleeves fluttering.
The three who had accompanied us to Mount Wudang—Ju Se-hwa, as well as the two Perfected ones, Jade Gaze and Jade Radiance—also stepped onto the path.
"How did you know of this path? It was hidden by our sect's formation art," Perfected Jade Radiance asked, his eyes wide.
He was a man whose lips always held a trace of a smile. A middle-aged man, he had long legs like Senior Yu, the Commander of the Searing Abyss Unit, and was said to be a master of the Wudang Sect's Five Elements Ultimate Leg, which used the feet like swords.
Senior Yu.
He was someone who had died because the acting commander's skills were lacking. I had met a horse-riding bandit before. If only I had taken his head beforehand...
No, did I only hear about him?
In any case, it was indeed my fault. He was one of my people.
"Lord Jeong...?" Perfected Jade Radiance called out.
I did not bother to hide the truth. "I simply walked where my feet led me."
—A wise decision. No matter how great Wudang is, they are still people of the Jianghu. There is no need to reveal our main fortress's eye technique to them.
Leaving behind the great senior's cryptic voice transmission, I conversed with the group.
It was a strange situation. We had reached the very doorstep of the Wudang Sect's temples, yet there was no one to receive us. Ju Se-hwa summed up the situation in a single sentence.
"...It seems the Perfected Sect Leader's Demonic Possession has deepened."
"Ah."
No wonder the presences filling the mountainside were moving in such disarray.
Furthermore, some of them were wandering here and there, descending toward us with steps as profound as those of immortals.
I had heard from Elder Divine Beggar when I was staying in Hangzhou. He said that if the Wudang Cloud-Ladder Step was combined with the Seven Stars Evasion footwork, even the lightness skill masters of the Beggar Sect would find it difficult to catch the hem of a Wudang disciple's robe.
—Then what happens if the Wudang Sect Leader competes in the Body Protection Scripture with the dead-drunk Dragon Head Leader? I heard the variations of the Divine Beggar of the Great Wilds are the best under heaven.
—There would be no need to compete in the Body Protection Scripture. He would sober up instantly from the Ten Stages of Brocade suddenly thrust upon him.
—What about against me...?
—Would it be any different just because of your Brilliant River?
There were two presences currently descending the path. I could feel an energy no weaker than Ju Se-hwa's.
[Un-hyeon! You were only supposed to bring that person back, yet you have stubbornly allowed outsiders onto our main mountain!]
A person's voice spread via the Six Harmonies Sound Transmission.
Rumble—
Instantly, the ground shook. It must be one of Wudang's Seven Star Venerables of Taehwa. They might even be executing the Wudang Cloud-Ladder Step and the Seven Stars Evasion simultaneously.
"Lord Jeong."
Ju Se-hwa suddenly parted her lips and turned her gaze toward me. A hint of fluster was visible in her eyes. Un-hyeon was her Taoist name.
I glanced to the side.
[The sect's stance hasn't been settled. For a place that calls itself the world's greatest sword sect... their Sect Leader is practically mad.]
Her long, cascading black hair swayed slightly from side to side. She was the purple-robed woman who, before setting out, had entrusted the use of force to her far-junior. Amusement was evident in the slight upward curve of her lips.
[Still, let us call him out. After all, it takes a madman to communicate with a madman...]
"……?"
Under the gaze of the previous generation elder, I turned my eyes to the south.
The direction of the main fortress. It was said that overcoming a deep heart demon would bring great achievements. The same would surely apply to Brother Namgung, the White Qilin.
If I could realize the Three Pure Powers here, it would be more than enough to restore his mind. Therein lay the duty of the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, who had to look after his comrades.
Slick.
I gripped the hilt of Lingering Thunder.
It was a method that had been quite effective in Hangzhou. If the result is exceptionally good, it cannot be considered rude. Since this was the heart of the world's greatest sword sect, someone who appreciated it might emerge. Perhaps I would even find a kindred spirit.
Hummmmm—!
I recalled the melody of the Sword House.