CHAPTER 130

Full Sky Flower Rain of the Tang Clan Leader Tang Yun-hwang tore apart Gal Sa-ryang's body.

It didn't stop there. The steel rain of petals ravaged the remaining martial artists of the Ten Perfection Sect.

The strength of the Full Sky Flower Rain revealed itself then.

It manifested as a calamity to those whose martial prowess fell short of a certain threshold. All were swept away.

By that time, So Jin-rang had lost his fighting spirit under the hand of Jung Yeonshin.

As the heir to the Ten Perfection Sect, he was overcome by an unfamiliar emotion that painted his heart.

Utter fear. He had to flee as if being graciously spared.

Though he suspected some ulterior motive, as a future master of the Unorthodox Sect, his survival took precedence.

And now.

A desolate mountain brushed by a gentle wind.

The sound of fallen leaves tumbling along the ground was eerily somber.

Crunching footsteps came to a stop right before So Jin-rang.

A crimson cloak billowed with a dark luster. It was the Seventh Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult.

Her pale face bore traces of a sly grin, but her expression had turned impassive, as if she had never smiled at all.

Staring directly at So Jin-rang, she opened her lips.

"Your twenty years of life might equate to just one year of that child's time. You sure did run your mouth ignorantly. Be grateful. Your lifespan has been extended by half a century, thanks to our Grandmaster's broad-mindedness."

Her slender fingers opened and closed in an oddly captivating manner.

A colorless wave of energy flickered irregularly at each joint.

It was as though she could kill him at any moment, and it didn't feel unnatural.

So Jin-rang knew. The Seventh Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult was a renowned figure.

She was said to be noble by birth.

Born with innate blood-energy power, she ascended to the rank of Apostle at a young age, among the highest echelons of martial artists.

Among the aristocracy of the Blood Flame Cult, she was one chosen by the heavens for her martial prowess.

Rumor had it that her mother died laughing immediately after giving birth to her.

The Seventh Apostle tilted her head slightly.

"Well, we've come far enough. How should I handle you to make you appreciate my devotion? To our Grandmaster, I mean. Hmm, no. The more adept I am, the more you might despise me, with those radiant eyes imbued with unmatched talent... Ah? That's thrilling, too...?"

She rambled on incoherently, or so it seemed to So Jin-rang.

Did she not even regard the supreme sword of the Ten Perfection Sect? She was utterly unhinged.

"What are you even saying...!"

He instinctively felt terror.

The Seventh Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult. She wasn't someone who cared for the status of a small sect leader among the Thirteen Heavens.

From what he heard, she seemed to have ties with Jung Yeonshin, and that young man was extraordinary as well.

The youngest wielder of the black-rank cultivation technique, heralded as the future of Desolate Fortress, had connections with an Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult?

It was then.

Suddenly, white hair fluttered behind the Seventh Apostle, brushing past her shoulder.

A peerlessly handsome man with silver hair leaned forward slowly, his presence completely undetected.

"Though he's brimming with wicked thoughts, his cultivated energy is impressive. Seventh Apostle, the offering is rather to my liking. It was worth the long journey."

The man's voice resonated melodiously.

Given his association with the Apostle, he was undoubtedly leader of the cult, yet there was no dissonance in his monk-like use of the term "wicked thoughts".

So Jin-rang's knowledge of the martial world was too extensive for such things to unsettle him.

He understood the origins of the Blood Flame Cult.

It was said that the blood-energy Grandmaster had borrowed some teachings from the vast Tianzhu Buddhist tradition.

To propagate the Blood Flame Cult widely.

"...The Blood Flame Cult Leader?"

So Jin-rang's voice trembled faintly. His lips quivered.

Anyone would react the same way if they encountered both the Seventh Apostle and the Leader of the Blood Flame Cult on an unremarkable mountain.

They were calamities emerging from the darkness.

"An offering? How unseemly."

The Seventh Apostle spoke in a disinterested tone, not even sparing him a glance. It didn't resemble the manner in which one would address their leader.

The Blood Flame Cult Leader smiled faintly, as though indulging a willful child.

"You haven't faced the sword of the Desolate Fortress' Lord. That's why you can say such things. The original nature of that being's energy ought to have been subdued by me. Who in this world carries darker yin energy than you or I?"

"And the reason for your loss?"

"The level of martial prowess surpassed the principles of energy opposition. It wasn't even a mystical law to block regenerative abilities—just pure swordsmanship that claimed many lives."

In a plain and antiquated tone, he discussed the pinnacle realm of martial arts.

So Jin-rang shuddered momentarily.

Even in this situation, a chill ran through him.

The Cult Leader and the Fortress Lord.

The Blood Flame Cult, whose influence spread the widest among the Thirteen Heavens, and Desolate Fortress, the northern mountain of Huguang Province.

The battle between the Blood Flame Cult Leader and the Fortress' Lord had shaken the entire martial world.

Their duel had not only drawn the gaze of martial artists but also disrupted the logistics network from Huguang Province to South Zhili. They were absolute entities.

"What... What in the world..."

Even So Jin-rang, son of the Ten Perfection Sect Leader, found it difficult to maintain composure in their presence.

The Blood Flame Cult Leader was said to be a calamity in human form.

Just having his faint interest directed at So Jin-rang left his mind in disarray.

"The inhalation technique of the Demon Roaring Blood Art that I granted to the Apostles was necessary. Without essence absorption, recovery would have been impossible. The medicinal energy consumed by this wicked soul is substantial, so now I can fully act as the Cult Leader once more. This is fortuitous. The energy of that Ma Yeonjeok was becoming cumbersome."

"Ma Yeonjeok? That decrepit old man?"

"Yes. His skill had astonishingly rebounded. But there was also something else, something slightly disconcerting. Since my body wasn't in perfect condition, I avoided him for a while. From what I saw, our Grandmaster had likely orchestrated something. That cherished boy must have altered the blood-energy formula. Handling him with care would be wise."

"..."

"Bringing the Grandmaster here recklessly would only repeat the incident at the main altar. The Desolate Fortress' Lord would personally intervene again. She seems unusually fond of the boy. The Fortress' Lord rarely draws the Sword of Nirvana. The last time was when she annihilated the royal family of Dali."

"The Desolate Fortress Lord cherishes him?"

The Seventh Apostle's eyes narrowed.

The conversations of these madmen were incomprehensible.

The Blood Flame Cult Leader didn't bother answering.

Running his fingers through his silken silver hair, he smiled with a sinister aura.

"Since we're on the topic of the Grandmaster."

"...?"

"Why did you fail to report?"

His tone was languid, but a chilling silence followed.

The night breeze turned icy. It was a question that silenced the Seventh Apostle.

"I hear Lightning Genius annihilated the Pure Demon Alliance. Rumors suggest the boy's martial prowess has reached the black rank. Hearing about the incident at the provincial branch of the Fortress, I thought it might be true. But, at that place, did the Grandmaster's followers... truly fall to him?"

"..."

"Look at me."

"Your eyes are hideous, so unnecessarily red."

The Cult Leader's faint smile curved softly at the remark.

"Are you aiming for the Cult Leader's throne? That would indeed be a fascinating sight. With your noble true-blood lineage, you'd be the Blood Cult Leader if you claimed the throne. Your achievements have soared with the formula you received from the Grandmaster, haven't they? If you took the Cult Leader's relics, you'd rise even further."

"Not particularly interested."

"You ought to care. Who knows, misfortune might befall me. The powers of the world are reaching unprecedented heights. I hear the Tyrant Sword Tribe's Leader killed the Celestial Sword Dragon of the Qingcheng Sect."

"The Celestial Sword Dragon? Was it the Tyrant Sword Tribe's Leader alone?"

"That half-blood hybrid of noble lineage, once deemed insignificant, has used time as his touchstone. After losing to the Zhongnan Sect, he secluded himself and emerged with profound enlightenment."

At these words, the light faded from So Jin-rang's eyes.

He stood there blankly, as if the passing wind could extinguish him effortlessly.

The Blood Flame Cult Leader had already placed a hand on his crown.

"First, we must go to the Tang Clan. I shall personally safeguard the Grandmaster's Transcending Law Radiant Wheel."

The Cult Leader spoke leisurely.

The Seventh Apostle remained silent.

She merely brushed her long black hair behind her ears and lowered her crimson gaze in deep thought.

* * *

The incident on the main road spread like wildfire.

It was an unprecedented clash of grand sects.

The alliance of the Ten Perfection Sect, the Pure Demon Alliance, Desolate Fortress, and the Tang Clan drew the entire Sichuan martial world's attention in an instant.

"Can such a young prodigy exist?"

"Hundreds of witnesses saw it first hand. Martial artists debate whether it took two exchanges or three, but to us, it was over in a single instant. Lightning Genius reportedly killed the Pure Demon Alliance's Sword Fist Demon in one stroke. They say he also slew the Sword-Thirst Demon."

"I heard he unleashed the divine Full Sky Flower Rain."

"The Sichuan Tang Clan intends to make him their son-in-law and teacher. Such a prodigy is unprecedented. Who could have expected such a promising talent beyond the divide?"

"A black-robe warrior from Desolate Fortress, yet merely a boy. I find it hard to believe."

As the Clan Leader Tang Yun-hwang's resurgence became apparent, Jung Yeonshin's name grew more illustrious by the day.

With each passing day, the commotion in Sichuan only intensified.

Invitations from every notable Sichuan sect poured into the provincial branch of Desolate Fortress.

It was rumored that Jang Il-do, a prominent blue-tier master and branch head, hadn't stepped outside because he was busy reviewing documents.

By then, Jung Yeonshin was already en route to the Tang Clan.

After regaining his composure, parting ways with So Jin-rang, and bidding a brief farewell to the Tang Clan's Leader, he had set out.

—The main family wishes to honor you with the utmost sincerity.

Before he turned away, the Clan Leader Tang Yun-hwang emphasized once again.

He earnestly pleaded for Jung Yeonshin to visit soon, reassuring him it would be but a short while until he regained control of the family.

They also said it was to prepare to transform the Desolate Sword into a divine sword.

There were two reasons.

To stand against the leaders of the Thirteen Heavens, who had lost their top masters, and to repay the Tang Clan's leader for his kindness.

The Tang Clan specialized in medicine, venom techniques, and hidden weapons.

It also meant they were skilled in crafting exceptional weapons. It was said their arsenal was filled with extraordinary tools.

"They also mentioned I should look forward to elixirs."

Thus, the group set out for the Tang Clan.

The bright faces of the seniors of Radiant Demon Squad and others who waved goodbye were still vivid in memory.

Even Baek Miryeo's rare, warm touch as she stroked his hair lingered.

Being a senior who had mastered refined demonic arts, they had agreed to discuss the teachings of the future Ming Sect Leader someday.

The experts from the Beggars' Sect, including Hu-gae, promised to reunite later and departed.

Although the farewell wasn't entirely neat, Jung Yeonshin didn't dwell on it.

There were too many responsibilities he had to take care of.

He left most of the Returning Wings Squad at the Desolate Fortress' provincial branch.

As the temporary leader of the Returning Wings Squad, he drafted a report on the mission's progress, treated his subordinates' internal injuries, and then set out.

He rode alongside Heon Wonchang, Flame Dragon, Namgoong Hwashin, and the Tang siblings.

"We're almost there."

Tang Yeohwa, the Venomous Dragon, who was riding beside Jung Yeonshin, spoke.

Despite his small frame, he displayed impressive horsemanship. Tang Ryeo-ryeo was no different.

Jung Yeonshin suddenly recalled the wrinkled face of the Tang Clan's elder, who had stood silently beside the clan leader.

It was hard to read his thoughts.

'What a peculiar old man.'

As the sound of galloping hooves filled the air, a dull vibration from the ground reverberated up to their waists.

Tang Ryeo-ryeo's horse drew closer.

"Benefactor."

The girl called out.

Her way of addressing Jung Yeonshin had changed.

It had been so since he handed over the Full Sky Flower Rain to the Tang Clan head.

The boy only slightly shifted his gaze.

Tang Ryeo-ryeo looked shy, hesitating to speak further.

A faint blush on her cheeks hinted at embarrassment.

Her small head bobbed slightly atop her horse.

Jung Yeonshin guessed the reason. It must have been due to the elder's earlier words.

"Don't worry. I'm not thinking about marriage."

He was already standing at a crossroads.

He needed the Tang Clan to deal with the two factions of the Thirteen Heavens, but the Tang Clan had come under suspicion for manufacturing thunder bombs, which had led the Radiant Demon Squad to investigate them.

He couldn't marry Tang Ryeo-ryeo in a political alliance just to secure one major sect's support.

Things were complicated enough.

It would be fortunate if this didn't lead to a deeper quagmire.

They had already discussed the thunder bombs when they first met.

Jung Yeonshin calmly turned his head forward.

With a steady gaze, he looked ahead. At last, the Tang Clan was in sight.

In the distance, rows of massive tiled rooftops began to emerge.

"..."

While Tang Ryeo-ryeo fell silent, Flame Dragon spoke up.

Chewing on a poppy flower stem and half-closing his drowsy eyes, he said,

"Let's have the Tang Clan handle the Thirteen Heavens for now. After that, the temporary leader can take the spoils. Just handing over the Full Sky Flower Rain already makes you their benefactor for a thousand years. If we're clear-headed, they'll probably open their foundries. We can decide then—or comb through the place if needed."

"I think that's reasonable."

Namgoong Hwashin, who rode beside them, agreed.

With his statuesque features, he nodded gravely.

Flame Dragon's lips curved into a faint smile.

His voice cut through the wind as their horses raced ahead.

"You defeated Ha Yul-geuk, the Sword-Thirst Demon, and the Sword Fist Demon in succession. The fact that the Malevolent Sword, Gal Sa-ryang, could be killed so easily is partly thanks to you. Honestly, this is something only the likes of the Eighteen Arhats of Shaolin could discuss."

"..."

"Divine sword forging, elixirs, warm bedding, and the finest cuisine… Let's take what we can and leave. Whether the Tang Clan thrives or falls, who cares?"

"Brother Hwangbo isn't wrong. The leader has already done his duty."

Namgoong Hwashin responded again, his tone flat.

The conversation unfolded in front of the Tang siblings.

While Flame Dragon's behavior matched his reputation, Namgoong Hwashin's demeanor, standing beside Jung Yeonshin, was surprisingly cold.

Heon Wonchang, pulling his reins behind them, muttered,

"I'd better keep my head straight."

Half an hour later.

The group arrived at the grand gates of the Sichuan Tang Clan and dismounted.

Endless, towering walls stretched out on both sides.

The summer sunlight illuminated the walls, radiating symbols of power and wealth.

It was as rumored.

It was said to be the most luxurious and enormous estate in Sichuan.

Heon Wonchang gave the Tang siblings another look.

'They really are from a wealthy family.'

Upon entering the Tang Clan's inner courtyard, Jung Yeonshin was greeted with unprecedented hospitality.

Even the Venomous Dragon Tang Yeohwa's wide eyes suggested the same.

"We welcome our master."

The Tang Clan leader smiled as he greeted him, but Jung Yeonshin couldn't even focus on his figure.

It was because of those lined up beside him.

They stood in two rows like a ceremonial procession, clasping their fists in salute.

A single, wide path lay empty between them.

It led straight to the seats of honor where the Tang Clan's seniors were gathered.

"..."

The welcome was excessive for Jung Yeonshin.

Passing through the path made by the masters, he sat alongside the Tang Clan leader, received their hospitality, and shared a meal.

He exchanged light conversation with distant Tang family members and other junior martial artists who approached carefully.

A long time passed, but nothing lingered particularly in his mind.

The boy eventually lifted his head. Twilight was settling in.

The final rays of the summer sun streaked beautifully across the sky.

The heavens were veiled in a soft, sunset glow, like silk.

At this time of day, he would normally be curled up in bed back at the fortress.

"This should do. Let me present you with something first."

The Tang Clan leader gestured for him to rise.

Jung Yeonshin and his group stood, joined by the Tang siblings and their father, who finally appeared more relaxed.

They entered the deepest part of the Tang Clan's estate.

Namgoong Hwashin, standing to Jung Yeonshin's left, lightly gripped the hilt of his Desolate Sword.

Walking silently, they sipped tea and listened to the occasional chirping of birds that broke the stillness.

They soon arrived at a small garden.

A stone mountain, carefully stacked with pebbles, stood in the center of a pond.

A gentle stream circled the mountain, and wisps of mist rose mysteriously above it.

Rustle.

"As I promised, I will transform your sword into a divine weapon."

Tang Ryeo-ryeo stepped forward slightly and gestured toward the water.

"Just dip it in and pull it out. Only one blade can be enhanced."

"...?"

After a brief silence, Heon Wonchang spoke.

"Is the Sichuan Tang Clan a den of snake-oil salesmen? Are you selling us something right now?"

He seemed surprised at his own words and quickly covered his mouth with one hand.

Flame Dragon leaned in toward Jung Yeonshin's ear.

"I'm not sure what'll happen to the Returning Wings Squad later, but let's exclude that guy from our plans."

Jung Yeonshin didn't respond. He slowly took a step forward.

Lifting the hem of his black robe slightly, he alternately brushed the hilts of his Desolate Sword and Beiming Sword, their cold steel emanating an aura of sharpness.