Chapter 46: Potala Palace
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46: Potala Palace
Elder Cheongun Jinin of the Kunlun Sect let out a deep sigh at the Sect Leader’s order to patrol the area with the first-generation disciples.
It stood to reason. Even if they were located in Qinghai Province, neither the Demonic Cult nor the various powers of the Outlands would dare invade the Central Plains directly unless they were prepared for an all-out war.
The Central Plains was currently enjoying an unprecedented era of peace.
Perhaps because of this, most martial artists had grown complacent, viewing the fundamental duties they should take for granted as nothing more than a nuisance.
“There’s no way those bastards from the Outlands would make it all the way into Qinghai.”
“Still, isn't it nice to get out for a patrol like this every once in a while?”
The first-generation disciples began to snicker among themselves.
From their perspective, they seemed to be enjoying the chance to slack off from their training.
“Ahem. Did I not tell you that this, too, is a part of your cultivation?”
“Yes, Elder.”
At Cheongun Jinin’s stern word, the disciples fell silent.
Wanting to quickly report that everything was clear and get some rest, they scanned the surroundings half-heartedly, when—
“Hm?”
“Elder, there are traces of someone passing through here!”
At the shout from a sharp-eyed disciple, Cheongun Jinin turned his gaze toward the spot.
Ssh—
Signs of human passage were visible among the fallen leaves.
And there was a lingering warmth.
It was evidence that someone had been here until just moments ago.
“Search the area!”
Cheongun Jinin’s expression hardened instantly.
There was no reason for anyone to be in the remote wilds of Qinghai.
Is it really the people from the Ice Palace?
Not long ago, carrier pigeons of unknown origin had been sent to the Nine Sects and One Clan and the Five Great Families.
The messages warned that the Ice Palace might be starting to stir once again.
Upon seeing those letters, the warriors of the Martial Alliance were reminded of the events of a hundred years ago.
The fear that a disaster like the Martial God of the North Sea might target the martial world once more.
The pressure was real.
Rather than searching for the sender of the letters, the Martial Alliance, driven by a sense of unease, had ordered each sect to conduct patrols.
That was why Kunlun was out here now.
If there were traces of people here, there was a high possibility that a power from the Outlands, like the Ice Palace, had indeed crossed into Qinghai.
“I don’t sense any presence nearby.”
“The warmth remains; they couldn't have gone far. Quickly—”
Swish!
At that moment, men in black wielding swords erupted from the ground.
“Gah!”
In an instant, one of the first-generation Kunlun disciples was killed.
“Un-a!”
As Cheongun Jinin drew his sword and moved, the men in black began to flee.
They scattered dark, ink-like Demonic Qi as they retreated.
It wasn't the Ice Palace mentioned in the letters; it was the Demonic Cult that had been lying in ambush in Qinghai.
“It’s definitely the Demonic Cult! Do not let them escape!!”
After the Kunlun warriors departed.
Rustle.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s group, who had been watching the situation from the trees, bushes, and underground burrows, revealed themselves one by one.
“…What exactly is going on?”
“I wonder.”
The men in black had appeared, killed a Kunlun warrior, and fled.
“Are they really from the Demonic Cult?”
The eyes of the Little Snow Unit members turned toward Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
—How strange.
—I agree.
He could see the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress tilting their heads in confusion.
“No, the ones who fled aren't cultists.”
If they were true Demon Artists, they wouldn't have fled while scattering Demonic Qi so clumsily.
If someone who had entered Qinghai to carry out a secret mission had been discovered,
They would have killed everyone.
And they would have done it very discreetly.
Therefore, those men could never be from the Demonic Cult.
Is this Hyeok Ryeon-geuk’s handiwork?
During his time living in the Demonic Cult in his previous life, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had mastered his martial arts under the elders.
When he was in secluded meditation, living and breathing with the elders, he hadn't been able to pay attention to outside affairs.
He remembered that even back then, Hyeok Ryeon-geuk had been very busy.
At the time, he had thought Hyeok Ryeon-geuk was just wandering around instead of training, and believed he could easily defeat him.
Was he laying the groundwork even then?
Qinghai was the bridgehead for an invasion of the Central Plains.
If the Demonic Cult wanted to invade the Central Plains, the first sect they had to deal with was the Kunlun Sect of the Nine Sects and One Clan.
But for what purpose?
If Hyeok Ryeon-geuk had planned this, there had to be a reason.
Informing the Martial Alliance that Demon Artists are crossing into the Central Plains wouldn't change anything.
He needed to find out why they were putting on such a performance. However…
“What should we do, Captain?”
He truly wanted to give chase, but unfortunately, they were pressed for time.
As he was debating his options, the Sword Venerable spoke up.
—Just head to Potala Palace.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom flinched slightly.
—It’s not like you’re going to get into a scuffle with Kunlun anyway. If you just want to see what’s happening, my disciple and I will handle it. You lot keep moving.
You can move around like that?
—There’s a distance limit, but as long as you don’t leave Qinghai Province, we can certainly manage some spying.
The Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress were souls bound to the artifacts.
If the distance between them and the Snow Extreme Sword or the Cold Snow Demon Queen’s mirror became too great, they would be pulled back.
Very well.
“Ignore them. We’re using our lightness techniques to head straight for Potala Palace.”
Deciding to leave the information gathering to the two ghosts, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom chose to continue running toward the Western Region and Potala Palace with the Little Snow Unit.
Whoosh—
Watching the members of the Little Snow Unit run off, the Sword Venerable muttered.
—Heh heh, shall we get moving then?
—Yes, Master. This brings back memories.
Shuuu—
The Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress, needing to gather as much information as possible before Hyeok Ryeon-yeom got too far away, flew through the air to pursue the Taoists of the Kunlun Sect.
“Halt right there!”
The Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress found the Kunlun "goat-beard" Taoists not far away.
—It looks a bit like a lure, doesn't it?
The man in black was maintaining just enough distance for the Taoists to keep up, all while trailing Demonic Qi.
It was as if…
—It’s as if he’s trying to show them that they’re in a pursuit with a Demon Artist and that the Demonic Cult is dangerous.
It was strange.
As the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress watched the situation, unable to discern the intent…
Stop.
The man in black came to a halt.
“Elder, the bastard has stopped!”
The man in black drew his sword, scanned his surroundings for a moment, and then smirked.
They clearly saw his eyes, which weren't covered by his mask, curve upward.
“You’re laughing?”
“Avenge Un-a!”
The moment the first-generation disciples moved back to form a sword formation…
—What!
—No way!
The Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress cried out in shock.
What erupted from the man was not Demonic Qi, as they had expected.
It was a vicious, biting cold.
It wasn't a demonic art; it was an Ice Art.
Cr-cr-crack—
The surroundings began to freeze, centered around the man.
“You… what are you! Were you really… the Ice Palace bastard mentioned in the letters?!”
“Kill him!”
“Open the formation!”
The first-generation Kunlun disciples deployed their sword formation and lunged at the man.
However…
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The unfamiliar chill made them hesitate, and the man took advantage of that opening to begin slaughtering the Taoists with his sword.
“You monster!”
Seeing this, Cheongun Jinin performed the Cloud Dragon Eight Forms and dropped from the air.
But…
Clang!
He, too, was forced back by the Rebound Force pouring out of the man.
He was strong.
And he was unfamiliar.
This was Kunlun’s first encounter with the power of an Outland warrior.
Soon…
Swish!
The man in black began to flee once again.
The Kunlun Taoists were in no position to even think about pursuing him.
—How treacherous, whoever they are.
—This isn't something we can just ignore. Someone using our palace’s Ice Arts while scattering Demonic Qi… We need to tell him immediately.
Having witnessed the entire scene, the two Martial Gods returned to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
The next day, at noon.
The outskirts of Potala Palace.
—It’s hot.
—I think this every time I come here, but the environment is the complete opposite of the North Sea.
At the Demon Empress’s words, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom asked:
Have you visited Potala Palace before?
—Briefly, in my younger days. There was someone I wanted to beat up.
Did you beat them up thoroughly?
—Of course!
Judging by her reaction, it seemed Potala Palace wouldn't be particularly fond of people from the Ice Palace either.
“Whew, we’ve arrived.”
Weizhi Young wiped away her sweat.
Perhaps because they had been moving at a frantic pace using their lightness techniques, everyone looked exhausted.
Baek Mu-yong was sighing repeatedly in the sweltering heat, and Tae Un-seo had his face scrunched up in a grimace.
“Is it that tough?”
“I’m hungry. I want to hurry up and make something cool to eat.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom found it almost chilling that Tae Un-seo’s focus was on "making something to eat" rather than just eating.
More importantly…
Is it really that hot?
Perhaps due to the characteristics of his Extreme Yang Body, he didn't feel the heat much, just as he hadn't felt the cold.
Seeing him like this, the members of the Little Snow Unit assumed Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had reached the realm of being Invulnerable to Heat and Cold.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom and the unit members gazed ahead.
A massive palace rose up amidst floating red clouds.
It looked like a sacred temple.
The base of the fortress consisted of dazzlingly white walls, but the orange and vermilion pagodas built atop them seemed to touch the sky, exhaling a golden mist whenever they caught the setting sun.
It looked like they would have to climb dozens of stone steps to enter that palace.
I need to meet the Young Palace Lord of Potala as quickly as possible to find out what the problem is.
There was the issue of the engagement ceremony, and the information he had received from the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress weighed on his mind.
—Those men in black were using Ice Arts while emitting Demonic Qi. That’s the problem.
—Yes. It means you, a person from the Ice Palace who originated from the Demonic Cult, are in the perfect position to be suspected. Regardless of whether you actually use cold energy or not.
In other words, someone—whoever they were—had deployed a man trained in Ice Arts to Kunlun to spread rumors that Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was a threat.
However…
They must not know I have the Extreme Yang Body.
If they had wanted to mimic him perfectly, they would have used fire arts, not Ice Arts.
Regardless, given the situation, he would need to examine things closely on the way back to the North Sea.
I have to have the engagement ceremony, too. There’s so much to do.
The engagement ceremony that would take place once he returned to the North Sea.
Since it was an engagement, word would surely reach the Cult Leader.
By now, Hyeok Ryeon-mu would have arrived back at the Demonic Cult and told them about Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
He wondered how Hyeok Ryeon-geuk and the Cult Leader would react when they learned that Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was doing well.
“Are you going in right away?”
They could see a monk guarding the main gate of Potala Palace.
Currently, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom and the Little Snow Unit were keeping themselves hidden.
They knew that most people from the Outlands did not look kindly upon outsiders.
Furthermore…
They said I just have to say I’m here to see the Young Palace Lord once I arrive at Potala Palace.
That meant he had to just walk up to Potala Palace and announce, "I'm here from the North Sea."
“What should we do?”
“Wouldn't it be best to just try talking to them first?”
“Who wants to do it?”
“I will.”
Tae Un-seo stepped forward readily.
It seemed he wanted to move quickly because he was hungry.
“Will it be okay?”
“Well, out of all of us, Tae Un-seo probably looks the least threatening.”
Baek Mu-yong was too large and intimidating.
Since the people of Potala Palace were monks, they might be wary of a woman like Weizhi Young. In the end, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom decided to send Tae Un-seo to the monk.
“Tell them you’re from the North Sea Ice Palace and ask what we need to do to see the Young Palace Lord.”
“Yes, sir.”
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s command, Tae Un-seo approached the monk at the gate.
Soon, the two began to converse.
Then, suddenly, Tae Un-seo pulled out his kitchen knife.
“Ah.”
The moment Hyeok Ryeon-yeom realized something had gone wrong…
Dash!
Tae Un-seo used his lightness technique to sprint back toward where they were hiding.
At the same time…
Rumble—
A swarm of monks began to pour out from Potala Palace.