CHAPTER 65

Hwa-ak!

In the next moment, Jung Yeonshin stood before the cult leader. It was an incredibly swift body technique.

The delayed gust of wind caused the Blood Flame Cult Leader's white hair to scatter loosely.

Was faith in the cult leader equivalent to belief in an absolute being? No one dared to act recklessly.

Jung Yeonshin slowly reached out and grasped the pill.

The Blood Flame Cult Leader did not stop him. He simply opened his palm and gazed at Jung Yeonshin with apparent interest.

"Narrowing the blood channels?"

Jung Yeonshin muttered quietly.

The pill clenched in his palm was vividly clear. It was dark red, like congealed, murky blood.

He spoke.

"What happens if the energy flow is blocked? Calling it poison is fitting, it kills people."

"It will be useful when you ascend to the level of an Apostle. Refine all the blood channels throughout your body with energy. You'll be able to withstand it."

"You must know that the upper dantian plays a major role in creating martial arts techniques. Won't this render me useless?"

"Even with your exceptional talent, it will take considerable time. By then, wouldn't this cult have already overcome one of its weaknesses?"

The Blood Flame Cult Leader raised the corners of his mouth as he spoke. It was an enigmatic smile.

'Trust this man? That's absurd.'

Jung Yeonshin assessed the situation.

When the flow of battle shifted, he had been slashed while the Namgoong Clan stood by.

It was uncharacteristic of the Namgoong Family, known for the upright character of White Qilin, Namgoong Hwashin.

They were nearly as indifferent as the Hwangbo Family.

Now that his distrust of orthodox martial sects had become clear, even the words of an unorthodox sect leader seemed sincere.

It was hard to trust anything. The martial world was a place of deceit.

Even this so-called poison, which couldn't be consumed immediately, had uncertain uses.

'You need to be at least an Apostle to consume it? The Blood Flame Cult's Apostles are barely different from the black ranks in Desolate Fortress. They're saying I should spend years as a slave to martial arts.'

But in this situation, compliance was necessary.

Jung Yeonshin slowly nodded and placed the pill in his robes.

The Blood Flame Cult Leader, looking satisfied, clapped his hands once more.

"Possessing the Blood Summoning Art as a common cult member is natural. However, your vessel is far too small to hold the talents of the ancient era."

At his gesture, another attendant approached.

Jung Yeonshin gazed at the two books offered by the attendant.

"Demon Roaring Blood Art. I bestow upon you the Apostle's secret manual."

The Blood Flame Cult Leader concluded his words with a faintly amused voice.

Jung Yeonshin silently took the Demon Roaring Blood Art's secret instructions.

It seemed to have been copied recently. The texture of the paper felt new.

'The internal energy cultivation method of the Blood Flame Cult's Apostles...'

A supreme martial arts manual of the unorthodox sect was now in his hands.

Jung Yeonshin instinctively sensed the magnitude of the event unfolding.

The blood-red river flowing down the thirty-six steps beneath the cult leader's hall flashed through his mind.

Was it foresight granted by his upper dantian? Or merely imagination?

Yet, not a trace of concern was visible in the eyes of the numerous martial masters gathered here.

It was likely the boldness of deeply trained cultists, honed through years in the martial world, combined with supreme martial skills and discerning insight.

This place truly was their sanctuary.

'For now.'

Escaping on his own was impossible.

However, he might be able to inflict damage. Using Desolate Fortress's unique methods.

What merit could he gain by striking the Blood Flame Cult's main hall?

'Maybe they'd grant me at least a small reward.'

Jung Yeonshin wasn't worried about his survival.

'Blood Flame Cult. By capturing me, they've exposed the location of their main forces.'

The image of the Desolate Fortress' Lord surfaced in his mind, an absolute being at the pinnacle of the noble clans who wielded immense power.

Despite his distrust of the martial world, her figure remained vivid.

Now that a lead had surfaced, it wouldn't be strange for something to happen.

'I'm the first to step into their headquarters. It's unprecedented. About a month's journey from Clear Night Valley. If I map it in a circle...'

While lost in thought, the Blood Flame Cult Leader spoke again.

"There is a part you must not touch."

"Speak."

"Absorbing and purifying the impure energy of heretics within our bodies... This is the fundamental doctrine of our cult. A sacred principle that draws out our mission as instinct."

"..."

"Do not interfere."

He was ordering him not to alter the formulas that absorbed energy and induced madness.

This was the Blood Flame Cult, one of the Thirteen Heavens. It would be easy for them to select a victim to practice modified techniques.

Jung Yeonshin silently turned away. Appearing too obedient would only arouse greater suspicion.

"Offer your respects!"

An explosive aura erupted from the bodies of the three Apostles in the back before quickly subsiding.

It seemed the Blood Flame Cult Leader had restrained them.

The Seventh Apostle approached with quick steps and crossed her arms.

When she glanced sideways, her expression was one of bliss.

Her scarlet lips curved upwards, creating the appearance of a madwoman.

"I can't wait to see the reborn Blood Arts. How long will it take? Hmm?"

"..."

From waking up at the Seventh Apostle's house to arriving at the cult leader's hall, Jung Yeonshin had endured an unprecedented ordeal, sharpening the blade within his heart.

"Changing the Blood Summoning Art is up to you. But..."

The Seventh Apostle, leaning sideways on the bed, said while looking at Jung Yeonshin, who was seated on the floor.

"The Demon Roaring Blood Art is different. You must tailor it for me."

She stood up slowly and parted her lips. Her pale face was filled with possessiveness.

Soon, she approached and gently ran her fingers through his hair.

It was a head that neither Ma Yeonjeok nor Ma Jin had the chance to observe closely.

Had they been able to examine it directly, they would have immediately noticed his constitution.

Many senior disciples of the Radiant Demon Squad had touched Jung Yeonshin's hair before.

Even his maternal relatives dared not do so, likely out of guilt.

The Seventh Apostle's lips neared his ear.

"I'll show you everything. From energy circulation to explosive strikes, even the movements of the muscles that form swift body techniques."

She whispered seductively.

Perhaps she didn't care since he was doomed to die. Jung Yeonshin opened his mouth with closed eyes.

"So this is the hierarchy of the Blood Flame Cult. Is it acceptable to plot schemes without the cult leader's knowledge?"

"The cult leader only cares about the Blood Summoning Arta. As long as ordinary cultists can live without being hunted, that's enough. Slight changes to the Demon Roaring Blood Art's formulas won't drastically transform the heretics' abilities. But you..."

Suddenly, the Seventh Apostle grabbed his hair tightly. Her crimson jewel-like eyes filled his vision.

"You won't make a martial art just for me? Really? How dare you?"

"Let go. I was untangling the crude formulas of your inferior Blood Arts."

"Ah."

Her grip instantly loosened. The Seventh Apostle stepped back with a pout.

She began brushing his hair with both hands.

"Sorry. Sorry. I disturbed something sacred. Sorry. I was mean. Sorry."

"..."

Jung Yeonshin had already grown accustomed to her erratic emotions.

Not even a full day had passed since he woke up, yet it felt that way.

But this wasn't what mattered.

Jung Yeonshin slowly rose from his seat.

The Seventh Apostle, her lone crimson eye wide, looked up at him.

She no longer wore a murderous expression.

After observing her for a moment, he spoke.

"I need a walk. Let's see your swift body technique."

"Alright!"

The Seventh Apostle quickly brightened and grabbed his sleeve.

Jung Yeonshin pondered how to use the Demon-Slaying Azure Steel Palm to crush that hand.

Creak.

As soon as he stepped out of the room, Jung Yeonshin sent his energy into the Yongcheon Acupoint beneath his feet.

Though the cold energy of the Blood Arts lingered in his meridians, there was no hindrance to his movement techniques.

It was due to his innate ability to control energy. The Seventh Apostle smiled with her eyes.

Hwaaak!

The two martial masters began to weave through the cult's village.

Jung Yeonshin's eyes could clearly see the headquarters, yet no one stopped them.

He wondered if there was another source for their absolute confidence.

"Is this place hidden by a formation?"

His voice pierced through the air, reaching the Seventh Apostle, who formed a mysterious smile.

"Yes. The Twin Flame Blood Spirit Formation. You've never heard of it, have you? It's the most refined technique of our cult. It's grown stronger over hundreds of years."

"As expected."

It was said that noble blood flowed thick in the Imperial family.

Building a hidden city while evading their eyes? It would require techniques or formations that manipulated the principles of the universe.

The Blood Flame Cult was already renowned for its blood techniques, which bordered on sorcery.

It was no surprise if they protected their city with strange magical arts.

"I'd like to take a look around the outskirts."

"Looking for a way to break it?"

The Seventh Apostle smirked.

To Jung Yeonshin, formations weren't entirely foreign. He had already created a martial technique capable of breaking energy-based arts.

His heightened senses picked up traces of the formation's presence.

Yet the Seventh Apostle led him around cheerfully, as though she took pleasure in imprinting her swift body technique into his sharp eyes.

'She's underestimating me.'

She had mentioned centuries.

Having lived safely within the headquarters for so long, it was no wonder they possessed a confidence bordering on complacency.

They didn't care about the talents of an elite martial artist from Desolate Fortress who had entered their sanctuary.

He recalled the looks the Blood Flame Cult's masters had given him in the cult leader's hall.

There was another reason for the expressions that resembled gazes toward rare treasures, the Twin Flame Blood Spirit Formation.

Even the Demon-Slaying Azure Steel Palm wouldn't be enough to destroy such a natural force of sorcery.

Wooong.

Jung Yeonshin observed the outskirts of the village, where the space wavered oddly. It was a fascinating phenomenon.

It was cut off from the outside. Strangely twisted, only the wind passed freely between the inner and outer realms.

Sharpening his senses, Jung Yeonshin dissected the waves emanating from the formation, analyzing them completely.

'They infused energy?'

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

Rocks, grass, and trees.

Energy had been channeled into them and bound through some unknown method, creating a bizarre arrangement that resulted in near-invisibility.

The entire village was cloaked in an energy formation, hidden from view, a harmony that could only be described as sorcery.

He had found a means to bolster his lacking strength, thanks to the arrogance and complacency of the Seventh Apostle and the others.

Boom!

A blue lightning bolt struck. A brilliant inspiration flashed through Jung Yeonshin's mind.

Threads of lightning intertwined, forming a framework of light—the formula for energy circulation.

It was directly tied to three techniques—the Demon-Slaying Azure Steel Palm, Sword Song, and formations themselves. It endlessly expanded and rotated.

"Impressive, isn't it? An eternal barrier. Do you feel now that it doesn't matter whether you're poison or medicine?"

He had to avoid revealing his insights to the Seventh Apostle, who chattered beside him.

Jung Yeonshin suppressed the blue glow threatening to seep from his eyes, closing them slightly to feign despair.

* * *

"This is why we can't trust the major sects...!"

The gaunt figure of Heon Wonchang muttered bitterly. He seemed unaware that the Zhongnan Sect's Wei-Ji Myohwa stood before him.

Her expression was equally grave.

"The Namgoong Clan... they maintained appearances. They recognized Lightning Genius' merit and granted you the elixir."

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have received it! Isn't that obvious? Despicable bastards!"

"..."

The two had two goals—punishment for the Namgoong Clan and tracking Radiant Demon Squad's successor, Jung Yeonshin.

Wei-Ji Myohwa had been forced to stay apart due to the destructive radius of Jung Yeonshin's sword techniques. Yet she had seen it clearly.

When Jung Yeonshin, slicing through the battlefield in a straight line, confronted the Namgoong Clan's leaders, none of them offered support.

They had stood by as the remarkable young martial artist from Desolate Fortress was taken by heretics.

They had even let him be carried away, unconscious, in the arms of an Apostle.

Were they trying to cut off a sprout that would become the Imperial family's divine sword?

'They tried to kill a clearly righteous hero.'

Wei-Ji Myohwa thought bitterly. And they had entrusted the task to an enemy's blade. It was a vile act.

But rescuing Jung Yeonshin was the more urgent matter.

"Our sect has dispatched envoys. Reinforcements should be coming. The Zhongnan Sect doesn't forget favors. We've also reached out to Shaolin and Mount Hua, so there will be a response in some form."

"...I deeply appreciate it."

Heon Wonchang replied, his eyes reddened. He had vented his frustration repeatedly.

Even twenty days after the battle at Clear Night Valley, his rage hadn't subsided.

The two had scoured Clear Night Valley and nearby regions before returning to Chizhou.

Heon Wonchang had been staying at the government office as a Desolate Fortress warrior, receiving updates from senior martial artists.

"There you are."

Chung Myung was the first to find them, his expression as cold as ice.

"I've heard the situation. Stand by. The martial world is coming."

His tone was sharp and rigid.

Wei-Ji Myohwa greeted him with a formal bow and asked,

"What do you mean by 'the martial world is coming'?"

"Shaolin monks led by Gak Jeong, Mount Hua's senior disciples and Plum Blossom Swordmasters, government martial officers granted permission by South Zhili, and nobles from regions like Huguang, Shaanxi, and Henan. Even heretic outbreaks concern the state. No one can refuse."

Chung Myung's cold blue eyes fixed on Wei-Ji Myohwa.

"You're the Zhongnan Sect's heir, right? If you want to build your reputation, there's no better stage than this. Perform well."

"...But isn't this force hastily gathered?"

Heon Wonchang spoke with concern.

"Even if we find the cult by chance, they're far too powerful for us."

His desire to rescue Jung Yeonshin made him speak with brutal honesty.

Even if the three great orthodox sects joined, it would be just a fraction of their strength. Martial officers and nobles were no different.

Numbers didn't matter, Apostles were on an entirely different level.

Chung Myung shook his head slowly.

"That gap doesn't matter."

"Why...?"

Heon Wonchang asked, bewildered.

Chung Myung fell silent for a moment. His usually elegant features were stiff, completely hardened.

He slowly opened his mouth.

"The Fortress Lord is coming."