CHAPTER 195

"This old master must be getting on in years, forgetting something important."

Sage Cheon Joo muttered as he glanced down at Yoo Hyun. They had just left Cloud Fragrance Courtyard, where the envoys of Desolate Fortress were staying.

As their footsteps echoed on the autumn-hued loess soil under the Mid-Autumn Festival sky, the mentor and disciple exchanged soft words.

"Ah… You mentioned Yeonshin had other business, didn't you? But if you forgot, doesn't that mean it wasn't important?"

Yoo Hyun, raising his head slightly, arched his dark eyebrows in question.

Sword Sage was known within the sect for his strictness.

Forgetting things was unheard of for him, and he applied the same strict standards to the disciples of Mount Hua Sect as he did to himself.

To martial artists outside the sect, he was a revered swordsman, but within the sect, he was a living judge of the underworld.

'If I return, I might be ordered into seclusion training… Especially since he even shared swords with Yeonshin.'

Yoo Hyun's lips drooped powerlessly.

The Sage showed an uncharacteristically lenient attitude toward Jung Yeonshin, which was an anomaly in itself.

Earning the favor of Sword Sage as a swordsman was no small feat. It was as difficult as finding a real plum blossom among the barren peaks of Mount Hua.

If the lower-ranked disciples of the main sect witnessed it, they might burn with jealousy.

Just as Yoo Hyun himself had felt out of place among his peers after becoming the sect's successor at a young age.

'Is there nothing like that in Desolate Fortress? That guy's even worse than me, yet he seems to get along well with his subordinates… Not that it makes sense those subordinates include the White Qilin and the Lazy Flame Dragon.'

Noticing the odd expression on his disciple's face, the Sage reached out and lightly ruffled Yoo Hyun's hair.

"Wasn't the sword refining of the Radiant Demon Squad Leader impressive?"

Sage Cheon Joo thought back to Lightning Genius. A peculiar youth. Not the white-clad martial artist once under Ma Jin's protection.

Whatever infernal trials he had endured over time, they had transformed him into a force to be reckoned with.

Perhaps it was fortunate that such an enigmatic talent existed within Desolate Fortress. Had he been born into the Demonic Faction, he would have been a calamity upon the world.

Yoo Hyun's pale face turned sullen.

"I can forge a double-edged sword, not just a single-edged one. I've already mastered the first ten moves of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique."

"And yet you still say that after witnessing the Radiant Demon Squad Leader's sword forms? Mastering such a powerful sword wave technique will be a grueling task for you. Ten years too soon, at least."

"Well, Yeonshin does live several times faster than I do. But I don't know if it's ten times faster. No, never mind. Thinking about it only disrupts my focus. It just makes me impatient."

"Comparison breeds inner demons. Steadily accumulating your foundation will one day bring forth the sunset glow from your sword, and that will be truly beautiful. You have already grasped the essence of wall-gazing meditation. When we return, focus on settling the energy of the Plum Blossom Pill within your body. I will prepare the Fasting Pill for you."

"Master?"

Their exchange, shaped by years of familiarity, continued with a few more lighthearted remarks before reaching the true subject.

Yoo Hyun reached up to adjust the white headdress tied over his topknot.

His symbolic headpiece of a Taoist was askew, likely a result of venting his feelings of inferiority toward his friend.

"You intended to tell Yeonshin about the Tyrant Sword Tribe Leader, didn't you?"

"Indeed."

Sage Cheon Joo lightly touched his side. Yoo Hyun, noticing the gesture, gazed at him with shaded eyes and spoke.

"Will he try to attack Zhongnan again? He already acts as though he alone reigns supreme…"

"The Sect Leader of Qingcheng has passed away. Having confronted him myself, I can tell he tempered his sword through the very fabric of providence. Had we not been beneath the main peak, it would not have been the Plum Blossom Sword Formation, but my heart that would have been severed. The Tyrant Sword Tribe Leader has become a supreme swordsman capable of attempting anything, so our sect must be prepared. The Tyrant Sword Tribe will rise again… A storm of blades will sweep across Shaanxi."

The Sage's tone was heavier than ever.

Suddenly, Yoo Hyun glanced back.

"He is Yeonshin's enemy. Shouldn't we go back and—"

"It is better to tell him later. A swordsman facing an impending battle must hone both body and mind. I worry that knowing of his enemy will dull his blade instead of sharpening it."

"Ah."

Yoo Hyun nodded in understanding before hesitating.

"They say the Sword Saint's descending strike could split a mountain peak… Well, Desolate Fortress' Black Division should at least put up a proper fight. The Alliance Leader wouldn't send assassins, after all."

"It's my martial skills that are lacking."

Muttering self-deprecatingly, the young Taoist suddenly lifted his head.

"More importantly, I heard the Tang Clan has just arrived. Why are they so late? The Opening Tournament ended long ago…"

"Sichuan is in turmoil. The key masters of Pure Demon Alliance were slain by Lightning Genius, and the Ten Perfections Sect Leader is in critical condition. If the Tang Clan wants to dominate Sichuan, overcoming the Dragon Slayer Alliance should suffice… But it seems the Alliance has recently unified into a single sect called the Golden Wings Sect. The resistance must have been fierce. I cannot fathom why the Tang Clan Head himself has come all the way to Hanzhong."

At that moment—

Sage Cheon Joo, who had been speaking, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

"Yoo Hyun."

"Yes?"

"From afar, the sword wave of the Radiant Demon Squad Leader is surging like a tempest. Something is happening."

* * *

Jung Yeonshin advanced alongside Zhuge Qing-ya.

There was no time.

It was said that the time before the clan leaders returned was less than half a shichen. Zhuge Qing-ya had no idea where they were.

She could only guess they were at the top of Azure Crane Pavilion, in front of the main hall of the Alliance.

A secret place where high-ranking figures discreetly indulged in pleasures.

The squad leader of Desolate Fortress could not handle the clan leaders.

That much was clear. An undeniable fact.

Three black rank masters had attacked Hwangbo Clan's leader together.

Just as Jung Yeonshin had swiftly slain similarly skilled opponents in short decisive battles, he too could fall the same way.

It was said that masters of the purple rank were absolute nobles wherever they went in the world.

Due to their status, they had merely observed the Opening Tournament, looking down on the young man as an inferior.

Considering their age and standing, it was natural.

'We must seize it before they arrive.'

The boy thought.

If he failed to secure the Azure Qilin's corpse in time, it would appear as though he had preemptively attacked the Zhuge Clan under flimsy justification.

He would undoubtedly be cornered. Right now, Jung Yeonshin was invading the heart of a great clan within the Alliance's headquarters.

Even if Zhuge Clan's leader personally beheaded the Radiant Demon Squad Leader, no one would object.

That was the nature of Murim.

After several martial artists marked as traitors had narrowly escaped extermination through the use of shadow movement techniques, the imperial family had publicly distanced itself from the Desolate Fortress.

Because of the imperial family's need to maintain its dignity, enemies of the Desolate Fortress were no longer considered rebels against the empire.

In the end, only a difference in strength separated the Desolate Fortress from the rest of the martial world, prompting the formation of the Murim Alliance.

Now that the Alliance was in place, the eight clan leaders gathering together made discussing the Desolate Fortress inevitable.

With the right justification and enough power, martial artists could achieve almost anything.

It was for this reason that the leadership of the Desolate Fortress had sent forth their young squad leader, known for unprecedented talent, to undermine the morale of the Murim Alliance before any major conflicts could arise.

The final act had begun.

It was a battle against time.

Tak!

Each time his foot struck the ground, a cloud of dust kicked up, and walls and grand halls blurred past him like shooting stars.

Even as he sprinted, he kept an eye on the crowd following him. The task at hand was difficult enough without the added distraction of onlookers.

His rationality and anger interwove like tangled threads. Every time he tried to ground his thoughts with reason, a flash of rage flared up like autumn leaves brushing against his mind.

The ringing in his ears felt sharp, like a blade, while the killing intent radiating from his body grew stronger. The cold brilliance of his upper dantian outshone even his rational thoughts.

"Intruders at the main gate!"

"The young mistress is with him!"

"Is she a hostage?"

"He's the leader of the Radiant Demon Squad! Deploy the formation immediately!"

Several martial artists moved to intercept him, with seven forming the vanguard and more following in waves.

They wore green combat uniforms embroidered with white cranes over their hearts. Not a single one underestimated the boy.

This was the Zhuge Clan's Wise Heaven Squad, an elite force composed of both men and women, each exuding a keen aura.

They were known for their expertise in formation-based martial arts and represented the Zhuge Clan's finest combatants.

Whooong!

An artificial gust of wind surged from their bodies, carrying waves of energy that coalesced like clouds and brushed against his skin.

It was clear to anyone that they had activated a sophisticated formation—likely the infamous Cloud Spirit Severing Formation.

This was no ordinary formation.

It didn't rely on mechanical devices or environmental factors. Instead, the internal energy cultivated by each member resonated harmoniously, simultaneously enhancing their collective strength while suppressing their opponent's movements.

Ak Surim, the Desolate Divine Spear had warned him about this beforehand.

― If you encounter any strange sword formations that target your internal energy, don't charge in recklessly. Break down their energy waves first. I learned this the hard way when I caused a ruckus at their clan grounds. Those conniving Zhuge bastards almost had me crossing the River of Three Paths. Don't make the same mistake. They're incredibly dirty fighters, and their combined attacks are a pain."

It was as if the words of the senior master, with her eccentric wisdom and rejuvenated mannerisms, were ringing in his ears.

The Wise Heaven Squad, as the Zhuge Clan's elite force, was comparable to the Divine Sword Squad under the Desolate Fortress.

They were a formidable force. Even if they only delayed a top-tier black-clad master for a short time, their effectiveness couldn't be questioned.

That could not be allowed.

'Faster.'

Diminishing an opponent's sword wave was a vague concept, with few means to achieve it. However, Jung Yeonshin had a suitable method.

Hwaak!

A pitch-black whirlwind coiled around the hem of his black martial robe. The light of a radiant wheel scattered from the Middle Capital Acupoint at the side of his calf, surging up through the veins of his leg.

It took only a moment for the three acupoints near his ankle bone to be enveloped in an intangible armor.

A mnemonic verse of release. The very footsteps born from the wine cup of the Lord of Desolate Fortress began to unfold.

'Splendid Wings Step.'

Thud!

It was a step that tore through momentum and created distance. A ripple of force spread from his footfall.

A colorless wave pushed against the air. In an instant, it reached the waves of energy exuded by the seven warriors, unraveling them as if spun in reverse.

The logic of formations was profound. Each axis, when harmonized, generated synergy and power.

This was even more true for an adaptable formation like the Cloud Spirit Severing Formation of the Wise Heaven Squad. The momentary disruption scattered their strength.

Pine needles, which had been suspended above their heads, began drifting down like soft feathers.

He was now ten steps away from Radiant Demon Squad Leader.

"...!"

The Wise Heaven Squad of the Zhuge Clan flinched. Some twitched their eyebrows, others slightly parted their lips, but none stopped their charge.

Was this the power of a great clan? As retainers, their spirit was immense. They sprinted forward, honed like a blade of a frigid gust.

The dust kicked up by their steps was translucent, refined through body-lightening techniques.

Their skill was formidable. The formation's axis looked as though it could realign at any moment.

The pine needles, which had been scattered by the disrupted energy flow, were once again caught in the rising sword waves.

If they restored their formation before colliding with Jung Yeonshin, that would be ideal. If not, they would at least focus on maintaining their domain.

It was possible their reinforcements from the rear would get entangled with their movement patterns.

No matter.

Jung Yeonshin thought.

The true threat was Zhuge Clan's leader.

The select force that had covertly followed him from Desolate Fortress to ensure the safety of the youngest leader had not interfered, even when he faced the army of Profound Martial Alliance.

But it would be different before the clan leaders.

If mishandled, the situation could escalate into an all-out war between factions, regardless of his original intentions.

It had to end before things became too complicated.

'Movement Art, Wind Body.'

Paaak!

The extensor hallucis longus from the tips of his toes to his calves tightened fiercely with internal energy.

The micro-muscles of his entire body contracted and expanded in rapid succession.

Leaves whirled beneath his feet.

As the strong wind brushed against his eyelids, the warriors of Wise Heaven Squad suddenly loomed large before him.

He had drawn near in an instant.

The Cloud Spirit Severing Formation had yet to fully recover.

In the blink of an eye, the presence of Zhuge Qing-ya, who had lagged behind, had settled among the spectators.

"Draw swords!"

The foremost master of Wise Heaven Squad shouted like a battle cry.

Her sharp face still bore traces of astonishment, yet she had already leapt into an elegant strike.

Her trailing leg aligned with the arc of her blade. She used her entire body like an arrow, refining the Sword Resonance Wave into a singular, piercing trajectory.

It was a deeply polished stance of Body-Sword Unification.

Papapak!

The warriors on either side converged like the wings of a phoenix.

Even without relying on formation techniques, they delivered a synchronized assault with remarkable precision.

The narrow sword strokes from their converging blades sliced through pine needles and crimson autumn leaves.

The thrusting sword waves rustled the falling foliage, making the air resonate with a chilling hum.

No negligence. It was a strike of utmost intent.

As the sensation of upper dantian acceleration heightened like streaking light, Jung Yeonshin realized.

He had made his name known to the world.

Not merely as a rising genius famed in Clear Night Valley, nor as a young master feared solely within the closed-off lands of Sichuan.

He had now stepped into the true domain of the grand Murim.

From Hanzhong, he was now regarded as one of the world's apex martial artists.

The forests of swords and mountains of blades across the land would no longer see him as a mere boy.

Just as high masters treated him with due respect, so too would lower-ranked warriors stake their very lives against him.

Those powerful enough to contest the black rank would no longer hold back from the start.

From the moment he triumphed in the Opening Tournament, he could no longer rely on mere fortune.

If he failed to fight with full power against the sword forest assassins, then just as all those he had previously faced had fallen, he would die.

The approaching strike of the Wise Heaven Squad master conveyed that message.

The texture of the air being sliced apart burned against his skin.

'Infinite Blossom Fist.'

Jung Yeonshin infused Radiant Wheel into the Tianzong Acupoint at his right shoulder blade.

At the same time, his brachialis muscle contracted.

The minute interplay of his muscles and internal veins amplified his internal energy in an instant.

A surge of power erupted.

From behind him, Transcending Law Radiant Wheel detonated like a thunderclap.

His right fist shattered the air.

With a forceful sweep of his punch—

Second move, Formidable Wall.

Zeeeeong—!

The strike devoured even the recoil and soared forth.

The shattered remnants of the broken sword merged into the storm.

Sunlight reflecting off the scattered metal fragments washed over the face of the Wise Heaven Squad master.

Her body, still in midair, twisted like a fallen leaf.

A breathless gasp escaped her lips as if her sternum had been crushed by the direct impact of the footwork's force.

She could not withstand the aftermath of Formidable Wall.

Even at the shrill cries of the fallen, Jung Yeonshin did not stop.

The synchronized strikes of the remaining six warriors surged toward him in a single breath.

Three from the left. Three from the right.

Their movements were designed specifically for hunting high-rank warriors.

He was too late to dodge.

There was no trace of triumph on their faces.

Their expressions were impassive as their swords closed in.

Even at a glance, it was clear they were giving their utmost effort to ensure no gaps in their formation.

Jung Yeonshin loosened the fist he had raised in a punch.

The moment his five fingers extended, the shimmering sword fragments that had been scattering around him suddenly halted in place.

The Shaofu Acupoint, Laogong Acupoint, and Middle Flow Acupoint in his palm ignited with heat.

The balance of absorption and release mnemonics had been perfectly achieved.

'If Murim fully recognizes me as Radiant Demon Squad Leader, then I shall act accordingly, with the dignity that name demands.'

'Full Sky Flower Rain.'

It was a clash where neither Zhuge Clan nor Radiant Demon Squad Leader would back down.

Just as his name suggested, Lightning Genius' step was accompanied by blazing streams of radiant light.