Chapter 183: Contrasting Qingcheng and Diancang (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 183: Contrasting Qingcheng and Diancang (1)
Lanzhou.
The Samu Alliance was a massive coalition of numerous Unorthodox groups from across the Central Plains. Here in Lanzhou, just outside the borders of Sichuan, their banners fluttered boldly for all to see.
Step, step.
Jeon Yi-yeong entered one of the four-story pavilions.
His steps as he climbed the stairs were a blend of leisure and lethargy—the satisfying exhaustion that follows a job well done.
Step.
“…….”
Reaching the top floor, Jeon Yi-yeong’s gaze settled on the window.
A woman sat gracefully by the frame, looking down at the world below.
Her beauty was of the sort that could topple nations. However, her true value lay not in her looks, but in her martial arts and her unique constitution.
Publicly, she was the successor to the Samu Alliance, but in reality, she was the Black Lord, the one who wielded the greatest influence within the organization.
“How did it go?” the Black Lord asked, her eyes still fixed on the view below.
“According to plan,” Jeon Yi-yeong replied.
He nodded with a satisfied smile.
“I delivered it to the Alliance Leader’s bodyguard. He’ll be suspicious, but he’ll report it regardless. Then, naturally, they will find a use for it….”
Mid-sentence, Jeon Yi-yeong’s smile flickered.
For a brief moment, he saw a thick surge of killing intent bloom across the Black Lord’s expressionless face.
It was one of the many side effects of the Demonic Energy Absorption Art: mental instability.
“Everything is proceeding smoothly. What troubles you?”
He approached the window as he spoke.
The Black Lord’s achievements were reaching greater heights, but as a result, she would occasionally become excessively sensitive. Because of this, he had to soothe her from time to time.
In a way, it was a minor issue, but the problem was that the frequency of these episodes was increasing.
“…Even if Go Ju-gang is one thing, the Diancang Sect will find it hard to accept. They’ll demand to know where it came from.”
“You needn't worry about that. The seat of the Martial Alliance Leader isn't occupied by a fool.”
Jeon Yi-yeong spoke with conviction, dismissing the Black Lord’s concern. He knew exactly what kind of man the current Alliance Leader, Go Ju-gang, was.
He was a man who would use any means or methods to achieve his goals. He was also a man with a profound obsession with his own sect.
It was somewhat contradictory, but Go Ju-gang was the type who would unhesitatingly kill even the Sect Leader of Mount Hua if it were for the sake of the Mount Hua Sect.
He might be the head of the Orthodox Faction, but in character, he was more like the Unorthodox members of the Samu Alliance.
“…That is how he managed to manipulate the Sect Leader of Diancang. Heh heh heh… To think it would be this easy to bring down one of the Nine Great Sects. It’s almost a shame that such a wicked man isn't on our side.”
Despite his explanation based on the intelligence they had gathered, the Black Lord’s expression did not soften.
“…That isn't the only thing that’s a shame.”
“Is it because of the annotations for the Absorption Art we handed over to them?”
“Of course. You know how many years and how many lives were sacrificed to get us this far.”
Slowly.
Only then did the Black Lord turn her head to look at Jeon Yi-yeong.
“The potential of the Orthodox Faction cannot be ignored. And we handed over data and research results that we’ve accumulated over generations. If they somehow manage to perfectly supplement the Demonic Energy Absorption Art….”
It would be like admitting that all their past efforts and time had been a mistake. Seeing her fall into such self-deprecation, Jeon Yi-yeong shook his head.
“That would be fine in its own way.”
“What?”
The Black Lord’s face twisted in displeasure.
Ssssh.
Along with her expression, a killing intent began to slowly radiate from her. Jeon Yi-yeong ignored her aura and spoke with a calm face.
“Do you know what the prerequisite is if we want to make the Jianghu ours?”
“…Gathering enough power to crush our enemies,” the Black Lord answered.
“Correct. However, there is a limit to gathering that power.”
Jeon Yi-yeong nodded and turned his gaze toward the window.
The Jianghu was vast.
The Nine Great Sects, the representatives of the Orthodox Faction, had secular branches and friendly organizations that were as numerous as grains of sand, beyond just their direct disciples.
Even looking at Shaolin alone, it was common knowledge that the number of elder masters practicing silent meditation behind closed walls was double the number of experts known to the world.
But even that number and power were just the tip of the iceberg. There were countless others who were neither Orthodox nor Unorthodox, living leisurely lives while hiding themselves from the secular world.
“Others say that the current strength of the Samu Alliance is enough to fight, but I know better. Their hidden strength is far greater than what is revealed.”
“So? What is your point?”
Fshhh.
The Black Lord’s killing intent subsided slightly. Jeon Yi-yeong smiled and nodded.
“Patience. And a rift.”
“Internal strife….”
“Exactly. That is why it was necessary to throw them the annotations of the Demonic Energy Absorption Art. If Diancang succeeds in completely controlling the art, how do you think Kunlun, Kongtong, or Emei will react?”
“…….”
The Black Lord pondered his words. This was the classic strategy of pitting two tigers against each other.
“Martial artists desire and worship power. If they can steal it, they will use any means necessary—framing others, spreading rumors. Eventually, they will form an alliance and invade.”
Just as they did to our cult in the past, the Black Lord muttered to herself.
“Yes. Without us even needing to lift a finger, all the martial artists will be consumed by greed and kill one another. When that happens, the eccentric masters hidden everywhere and the absolute masters who have been keeping a low profile will come crawling out.”
And even they would clash and fight.
Even among the masters of the previous generation or the absolute masters, some would be friends, and others would hold grudges. Once the fire was lit, it would not be easily extinguished.
Affiliations and vendettas would become intricately tangled, and at the very end of that endless conflict, the Samu Alliance would make its appearance.
That was Jeon Yi-yeong’s plan.
“There is one problem. What if they actually supplement the Demonic Energy Absorption Art so perfectly that we can no longer intervene?” the Black Lord asked cautiously.
Jeon Yi-yeong let out a low chuckle.
“That will never happen. It isn't a heterodox art, but a demonic one. Even if they try to suppress the Demonic Qi with their Origin Qi, a clash of energies is inevitable at some point. At most, they might last a year. Once they learn this art, they will suffer a total collapse before the year is out.”
Qi Deviation.
As long as the manual for the Demonic Energy Absorption Art was cast into the world, chaos would follow. In the midst of their infighting, some might even gain more complete control over the demonic art.
However, the cases of those failing to control it and turning into Geomma would be several times more frequent.
“That is why your role is so important, Black Lord. Do you not have the power to command those who have become Geomma?”
“…….”
The Black Lord nodded silently.
Topple the Nine Sects and One Gang. Make them fight each other. And those who fall in that fight will become part of their own strength.
The first spark of that massive inferno was the Martial Alliance Leader, Go Ju-gang. He would undoubtedly move exactly as they intended. However, even so...
“Qingcheng is a problem once again.”
The Black Lord’s eyes sharpened once more.
“They can perfectly control the Absorption Art. Especially Seok Myeong. He is the problem.”
A top-tier Geomma, created from the fusion of dozens of others. A Taoist from Qingcheng had withered such a monster to death in a contest of internal strength.
As long as Seok Myeong existed, this plan could go awry. He had to be eliminated somehow.
As the Black Lord grew anxious, Jeon Yi-yeong bared his teeth and continued.
“Go Ju-gang will handle him as well.”
He went on.
“Are Qingcheng and the Martial Alliance not already like cats and dogs? Diancang has begun to move. Perhaps… I don't know about the next one, but the one after that will surely be Mount Hua.”
Go Ju-gang would certainly try to complete the Demonic Energy Absorption Art, even if it was a heart method stitched together like a rag. And he would try to combine it with Mount Hua’s lost divine art, the Violet Mist Divine Art.
The result would inevitably lead to a clash with Qingcheng.
“I see.”
Only then did the Black Lord smile.
No matter how strong Qingcheng was, no matter how strong Seok Myeong was, they could not remain unscathed after defeating Diancang and Mount Hua—two of the Nine Great Sects—in succession.
And even if, by some miracle, they survived...
“Then we shall crush them with something even greater. We still have many cards left to play.”
“Indeed.”
At the Black Lord’s sinister smile, Jeon Yi-yeong bared his teeth and laughed along.
*
“It is thirty-three percent.”
Nok Gwi-bo reported gloomily after confirming the numbers.
Normally, this would have been considered good news. But reporting the deaths of disciples that occurred during the process was a torment, regardless of the reason.
Literally, out of ninety who challenged it, exactly thirty survived.
“Which heart methods were the survivors using?”
Won Hyo-ja, who had become completely numb to the loss, asked. Nok Gwi-bo squeezed his eyes shut and spoke as if spitting blood.
“Twelve used the Violet Mist Divine Art, six used the Reverse Qi Blood Technique, and as for the Cinnabar Wood Heart Method and the Golden Clamp Heart Technique… all of them… but the twelve children who were given the Six Meridians Heart Method all survived.”
At those words, Won Hyo-ja’s eyebrows twitched.
“Wait. Did you say all of them? The ones who learned the Six Meridians Heart Method?”
“Yes. Not a single one among those who specifically learned the Six Meridians Heart Method has died.”
“Ho.”
Go Ju-gang, who had been listening, also let out a gasp of surprise. His eyes flashed as he asked Won Hyo-ja.
“Sect Leader of Diancang. Is that Six Meridians Heart Method the same martial art I know? The one from the Dali Kingdom’s royal family, the Duan clan….”
“Alliance Leader.”
Won Hyo-ja coldly cut him off.
“You seem excessively interested in my sect’s foundation. Was the work we were doing not originally to supplement your Mount Hua Sect’s Violet Mist Divine Art? Now that progress has appeared in a different direction, are you coveting the Six Meridians Heart Method as well?”
“Ah… no, that’s not it. Ahem.”
Embarrassed, Go Ju-gang cleared his throat. His expression had stiffened slightly.
There were ninety first-generation disciples of Diancang put into the experiment of practicing the Absorption Art. Among them, forty-five had learned Mount Hua’s Violet Mist Divine Art. The other forty-five were those using Diancang’s own heart methods.
This approach was designed to anticipate and respond to the side effects of the Absorption Art. They had distributed the heart methods to see which one would not be overwhelmed by the side effects and instead produce a more beneficial result.
Among the forty-five divided according to Diancang’s four major heart methods, only the Six Meridians Heart Method saw all twelve disciples survive without issue.
Diancang… had a hidden card after all.
Go Ju-gang’s eyes darted around.
It wasn't certain yet, but based on the results so far, it meant the Six Meridians Heart Method was the most efficient for integrating the Absorption Art—even more so than the incomplete Violet Mist Divine Art that Go Ju-gang himself had been so proud of.
“Then, may I ask about the disciples who learned the Violet Mist Divine Art?”
“…….”
Won Hyo-ja remained silent. Instead, Nok Gwi-bo nodded.
“Among those who learned the Violet Mist Divine Art, when did those who died show symptoms, and what were they?”
“Well… the disciples practicing the Violet Mist Divine Art all experienced intense fire energy within their bodies. It happened roughly at the beginning of the middle stage.”
“I see….”
Go Ju-gang’s face was full of disappointment. It was hard to believe that the Violet Mist Divine Art and the Absorption Art did not harmonize well.
Fundamentally, Diancang was also of the Taoist lineage. If so, this experiment proved one thing: either the Violet Mist Divine Art and the Absorption Art were completely different in nature, or they were incompatible martial arts—like Yin and Yang—where learning one meant you could not learn the other.
“I see. Truly a shame. It seems my sect’s secret art was of little help.”
Having no more questions, Go Ju-gang stood up as if he had no choice.
Slide.
He walked past Nok Gwi-bo, then suddenly glanced back and spoke.
“And… please keep the disciples who learned the Absorption Art under separate control within Diancang. If a misunderstanding arises, it would be awkward for both the Sect Leader and me, would it not?”
“…….”
Won Hyo-ja said nothing. Thinking that the man had understood well enough, Go Ju-gang opened the door and left.
*
“Was it truly the disciples who learned the Six Meridians Heart Method?”
After the Alliance Leader left, Won Hyo-ja asked once more. This was a crucial point for him.
Won Hyo-ja had selected four heart methods to turn the Absorption Art into his sect’s own martial art. Diancang, like Qingcheng, possessed many renowned heart methods.
The Cinnabar Wood Heart Method, which made the energy gentle, blocked evil energy, and protected the body. The Golden Clamp Heart Method, which hardened the body and prevented external turbid energy from invading. The Reverse Qi Blood Technique, which reversed the body’s energy flow, changing Yang to Yin and vice versa. And the Six Meridians Heart Method, which harmonized energy by dispersing it through the six meridians.
If Qingcheng had absorbed the advantages of the Absorption Art to make it their own, Diancang had also thought of such methods to control it and gain great power. It was a crude countermeasure, but they needed a way to be certain.
Thus, they accepted the result that the Six Meridians Heart Method had succeeded in primarily blocking the side effects of the Absorption Art.
“It was indeed the Six Meridians Heart Method,” Nok Gwi-bo answered with a voice full of conviction. At this, Won Hyo-ja asked again.
“What is the condition of the disciples who learned the Absorption Art?”
“They say they are in peak physical condition. Furthermore, their internal strength is increasing at an incredible speed, making them unbelievably strong.”
“No other turbid energy?”
“We haven't found any anomalies yet. The energy is being harmonized into Diancang’s energy rather than remaining turbid, so it is truly good news.”
“That is enough….”
Tremble!
Won Hyo-ja’s fists shook slightly. Following that, his blinking eyes were thick with watery discharge.
“Do not get ahead of yourself. Let us observe them for about a month. And if it truly is possible, I will have the Rising Stars learn that martial art.”
There were several representatives among Diancang’s Rising Stars, but the greatest among them was Lee Gon. If the Absorption Art could be properly controlled, and if he were to learn it, he would gain enough power to face the one called Seok Myeong.
And if everyone could harmonize the Demonic Qi into Diancang’s energy without side effects…
“Qingcheng… the time to settle the score I owe you is not far off.”
Becoming the number one sect in the Martial World was now only a matter of time.
For Diancang, not Qingcheng.