CHAPTER 196

The fingertips of Radiant Demon Squad Leader, Lightning Genius, moved elegantly.

Just before the six sword-wielding experts could tear through the hem of his robe, Jung Yeonshin's gesture conjured a rain of steel petals.

His five fingers alternated between covering and revealing his palm, adjusting the suction and release of the shockwaves. Sword fragments, imbued with radiance, spread out dreamlike in both directions.

Puh-puh-puh!

A dull sound echoed. At the fingertips that had moved as beautifully as playing a harp, blood burst forth.

The bodies of the six masters from Wise Heaven Squad twitched briefly. They froze in the stance of extending their swords.

"Urgh."

"Mm…"

Each of them staggered, their eyes bloodshot.

They had not succumbed instantly. They were not mere weaklings to be swept away in a single strike of a wide-area technique.

Though Jung's martial arts were orthodox, the inherent combativeness of his clan had endowed them with an exceptionally strong protective aura around their bodies.

They were not weak enough to be slaughtered by the hastily deployed Full Sky Flower Rain technique.

Rather, from the perspective of the martial artists of the alliance, the sight before them was simply astonishing.

Among the onlookers who had followed Zhuge Qing-ya and even boldly ventured into the domain of the clan, breaths of awe escaped.

For the Radiant Demon Squad Leader, this was an expected outcome. Thanks to Ak Surim, the enemy's true secret techniques had been preemptively sealed.

These opponents were not warriors who could exhibit the level of power of the Divine Sword Squad through their martial arts alone. If one possessed a method to break through their defenses, it was possible to overcome them.

"In terms of the gravity of this situation," 

Jung Yeonshin slowly lowered his right hand and announced,

"As the squad leader, I have no choice but to prioritize the report I received today above all else. If my judgment is wrong, I will formally apologize to your clan. Do not block my path any further. For Fan Dragon's sake, I am showing restraint in my strikes."

He spoke while recalling Zhuge Hyeon, who had mastered the orthodox arts to an astonishing degree. Jung Yeonshin stepped forward once more.

Zhuge Qing-ya, who had been scurrying behind him, cautiously spoke, leaving behind the clan's martial artists, who could barely keep their balance and stared blankly at her and Lightning Genius.

"Their conditions…"

"Their protective aura extends even to their blood vessels, proving they are properly trained martial artists. There is no need to worry."

"Ah."

At his indifferent reply, she let out a dazed exclamation. Zhuge Qing-ya could not fully grasp martial arts that exceeded her comprehension.

It was different from merely estimating the level of a technique based on its scars. The Radiant Demon Squad Leader belonged to an entirely different realm.

'Wise Heaven Squad is comparable to Radiant Demon Squad.'

Jung Yeonshin pondered.

Such were the elites of the great sects.

Though the method of displaying martial prowess differed depending on the type of martial lineage, fundamentally, the clan's martial arts, built over history, were more solid than even some of the Thirteen Celestial Demons.

Had they properly executed their sword formation, they might have been able to hold their own against Jung Yeonshin. The guidance of his senior, Ak Surim, had been invaluable.

It was time to be mindful of the clock.

He gazed at the warriors gathered ahead. They were the ones rushing in from the rear after their comrades had been struck by Formidable Wall and Full Sky Flower Rain.

Six men. Standing still, sharpening their swordsmanship, they seemed to have restructured their formation.

Jung Yeonshin paid them no mind.

Boom!

With Infinite Blossom Fist Strike, both of his hands shattered several weapons. He continued charging forward relentlessly.

Splendid Wings Step was the ultimate counter to Wise Heaven Squad. If a supreme martial artist had an innate advantage in martial compatibility, then the elite of the Zhuge Clan would have no chance to display their full potential.

The uniqueness of this place, the Alliance Headquarters, also played a role. Even though this was a key location for the Murim Alliance, they had not brought their full forces from their main house.

The skills of sects with long histories, particularly the martial arts of those who had refined spell-based techniques, were maximized when they fought in their home grounds.

Jung Yeonshin briefly thought of Azure Qilin, who lay at his destination. He also recalled the less than three years of lifespan he had left.

A sense of disillusionment washed over him.

A fundamental question was etched into his mind.

'Am I truly enraged for Namgoong Se-jin's sake?'

Only halfway. Half of it was for his achievements.

The realm of masters was more expansive than ever before.

Even among the supreme warriors who competed at this level, it was difficult to find worthy opponents. Despite their overwhelming martial prowess, even warriors like Ak Surim and the Annihilation Squad Leader had yet to reach the purple rank.

Every case they personally resolved must have been extraordinary, yet even then, they had not ascended further.

He could not even begin to guess how many merits he would need to accumulate. Every time he felt the expansion of his Baihui Acupoint, the sheer vastness of the path ahead dawned on him.

Right now, Jung Yeonshin was raging to stay alive.

Because he felt guilty for using Namgoong Se-jin for his own gains, he wrapped his hands in fury.

By dealing a critical blow to the Zhuge Clan, the core force of the alliance, he could claim additional merits. Inwardly, he kept repeating to himself,

—I am truly sorry. My intentions are not pure.

Zhuge Qing-ya had said that now was the time.

By using her upper elixir field, she had verified the truth. It was an opportunity. He could not let it slip away.

"Check the Geon Hexagram! Step into proper alignment!"

"Control your energy waves! Expect strikes beyond normal limits and prepare for them!"

"Draw swords!"

A dozen warriors in green martial robes, radiating remarkable energy waves, stood firm. Their will to prevent further losses was clear.

Some had abandoned their Cloud Spirit Severing Formation entirely to sharpen their sword techniques.

At this point, even Zhuge Qing-ya sensed the difficulty ahead.

The Radiant Demon Squad Leader alone could not defend all four directions. Above them, attackers leapt, their swords gleaming with light.

As if all they needed was a single strike, they threw themselves forward without concern for retreat.

Their swords, imbued with immense internal energy, distorted the sunlight as they streaked toward Jung Yeonshin.

The intent of the clan's swordmasters, who had dedicated themselves entirely to their craft, approached like an iron wall.

In that instant, Zhuge Qing-ya's eyes widened. Even the presence of the onlookers behind them seemed to vanish from her perception.

Swish.

Jung Yeonshin's black long robe fluttered lightly.

The moment he took a step, the Radiant Demon Squad Leader blurred. His entire body seemed to dissolve into the wind. In a single motion, he passed through all the swords.

His reaction was one step ahead of every enemy attack.

As the masters of Wise Heaven Squad collided and attempted to avoid each other in their tangled movements, Jung Yeonshin leaped forward once more.

Swish.

He did not even glance back. He merely extended his right hand behind him.

The fourth phase of Infinite Blossom Fist Strike was only a flaw when facing opponents of equal caliber. Against inferior warriors, its casting time was more than sufficient.

From his palm, the essence of a spell formation blossomed, weaving together two streams of energy contained within the Transcending Law Radiant Wheel.

Blood energy and spell energy clashed like lightning. Immediately, an explosion erupted from the Radiant River.

Kwaaaaaang!

It detonated seven steps behind him. The shattered ground spewed dirt into the air, and the surrounding pavilions trembled as if they would collapse.

Those who had been chasing him were caught in the shockwaves and flung away like skipping stones.

The tremendous explosion overturned alleyways, and even its echoes lingered.

It was divine might. A terrifyingly transcendent force. His movement techniques and palm strikes had fused into an unbelievable supreme warrior.

Zhuge Qing-ya trembled slightly as she followed Jung Yeonshin. Originally, she had seen a seventy percent chance of success, but now it had risen to ninety percent.

She thought to herself.

'How can someone my age be this strong?'

Perhaps it was connected to the desperation she had felt from Azure Qilin's scars.

Step.

Jung Yeonshin's pitch-black back moved forward indifferently.

Every time a Zhuge Clan martial artist appeared, his divine footwork continued to break through, his movements resembling the wind, his strikes as swift as thunder.

A martial display that left even the spectators speechless. The martial prowess of true masters stood out most in battles of one against many.

"There! Over there!"

At some point, Zhuge Qing-ya shouted, pointing with her slender, pale finger.

A modestly sized pavilion. From its side, three martial artists of the Zhuge Clan were dashing toward it.

They were closer to the pavilion than Jung Yeonshin and his companion. Their target was clear. They were in a race against him.

If they just opened that door.

They would see his lifelong rival lying there like an experimental subject.

He couldn't let them take it. He couldn't allow it to be desecrated. Jung Yeonshin channeled Radiant Wheel into the veins of his right hand.

His palm grew hot. The three meridians of his palm aligned, alternating between absorption and release.

"Ah?!"

A startled exclamation. Without even touching her, he pulled Zhuge Qing-ya's sheathed sword from her waist and, with just a flick of his hand, hurled it.

Dust rose. The Full Sky Flower Rain shockwave, distorted as it ascended, scraped against the ground.

Swish!

A tremendous amount of Radiant Wheel energy was embedded into the released shockwave. The white sword sheath streaked through the air like a ray of light.

With a sharp sound that tore through the air, it smashed two of them across the head and struck the back of the third.

Thud!

A heavy, dull impact. Despite their protective aura, the strike was strong enough to deliver a shock deep into their bodies.

A path opened through the collapsed trio. It had been an ambush from a supreme master—one that the Zhuge Clan had no time to properly defend against.

This was the majesty of a supreme master. He could serve as a strategic weapon in a grand sect war.

"Let's go."

Jung Yeonshin spoke in a tone that sounded somewhat melancholic.

Zhuge Qing-ya unconsciously pursed her lips. A bit of dry saliva clung to them.

An unbelievable sight, an overwhelming sensation.

Now, she could finally be free from her father. She would overthrow his oppressive rule and reshape the clan according to her and her brother's vision.

Even as a clan, the orthodox martial lineage was bound to its principles. Righteous justification was the strongest divine sword of all.

That was what she believed.

Suddenly, the sky darkened.

Dusk arrived prematurely. The low-hanging clouds seemed to be drawn in by some mysterious force.

Was this reality? The fading sunlight seemed to signal the descent of an absolute existence.

Jung Yeonshin instinctively turned his gaze. The pavilion's blue-tiled roof arched gracefully from the eaves.

Atop the highest roof, a man clad in a white scholar's robe stood loftily.

"I heard you've recklessly stepped into the den of young beasts multiple times."

He looked down at Zhuge Qing-ya as he spoke. In his left hand, he held a white crane fan adorned with dark blue tassels.

His snow-white robes complemented his pale complexion perfectly, his slender face framed by thick eyebrows.

He had the appearance of a scholar, yet he did not seem fragile. A peculiar aura of transcendence enveloped him.

From the moment he entered their view, the world seemed to be filled with only him. Even the freely blowing wind suddenly felt sluggish.

"Leader!"

One of the pursuing masters of the Zhuge Clan cried out. His voice was almost a groan, as if he feared the severity of punishment.

The supreme being who ruled the world with his martial prowess was their clan leader. His presence was only natural.

The current leader of the Zhuge Clan bore the title Sleeping Dragon.

It wasn't because of his great intellect that he had been compared to Zhuge Liang of Shu. He lacked the tactical genius of the Divine Strategy Manual, but he possessed an extraordinary perceptiveness.

Because of this, he carried an air and dignity reminiscent of Zhuge Liang. His supreme spell-based martial arts, capable of controlling the wind and summoning rain, only reinforced that reputation.

He had been closely observing Zhuge Qing-ya's strange movements.

As the clan leader, he weighed the potential chaos that Azure Qilin's corpse could bring. Even with important matters at hand, he had not taken his eyes off the Alliance.

That was why he descended at this exact moment.

With an unparalleled awareness that even the greatest defensive martial artists in the world could not match, he had caught the young ones off guard.

His gaze slowly shifted to Jung Yeonshin. It felt as though a great mountain was moving.

"You must pay the price."

The absolute being with the fan spoke.

"If you had taken the Grand Revitalization Pill and stepped back, that would have been enough."

"..."

"Your greed has shortened your life."

Jung Yeonshin remained silent for a moment. He couldn't immediately find words.

What would Heon Wonchang or Lazy Flame Dragon have said?

Sensing the warning signals from his upper dantian, the young Radiant Demon Squad Leader slowly parted his lips.

"…Shameful. For a clan leader."

"A disgraceful remark from an unprincipled intruder."

The corners of the Zhuge Clan leader's lips curved into a slow, serene smile.

"I shall send your head to the Lord of Desolate Fortress. If she, in rare fury, rushes here in retaliation, then the Murim Alliance will unite even faster. The justification lies with our main house. In that case, the power of the Alliance will surpass that of Desolate Fortress."

His dispassionate declaration carried the weight of inevitability.

At that moment, his fan flicked.

Kwaaaang!

A sudden storm roared forth.

The blade wind was sharp as a divine sword. Jung Yeonshin had no time to draw his blade.

He was too slow. He barely managed to envelop both of his hands in Transcending Law Radiant Wheel energy, crossing them in front of him to withstand the fierce wind.

There was no chance to analyze the Zhuge Clan leader's movements. His energy control was terrifyingly fast.

His vision blurred, and pain flared in his forearms. Blood vessels ruptured in multiple places.

To block a supreme martial technique, one's protective aura had to reach the same realm.

The structure of his current internal energy barrier was weak. He realized it the moment he took the hit.

Unapproachable.

Jung Yeonshin needed two or three more of himself to even attempt a decisive strike.

Without them, he would die here.

And then—

Krrraaaack!

A tearing noise, like fabric being ripped apart, resounded.

The black-clad youth was flung backward.

Yet, even as he spun through the air, he miraculously regained his balance.

What kind of movement technique was this? What kind of intuition did he possess?

The Zhuge Clan leader's sclera gleamed white.

"As expected."

With an elegant motion, he folded his fan.

"You are someone who must not be left alive."

It was the same thought he had when he first laid eyes on the young leader. He hadn't expected to think the same way again.

As someone who dictated the fate of the martial world, he found this boy's potential overwhelmingly dangerous.

There was no predicting what kind of sword path he would carve in the future.

Why was someone like him not born into the Zhuge Clan?

Even a supreme master felt a rare sense of urgency in the face of such limitless potential.

He had to be killed here. Another Divine Sword Squad Leader must not emerge.

'Another Lord of Desolate Fortress must never rise…'

His resolve solidified. He would kill him, even if it meant completely severing ties with Desolate Fortress.

Swish.

As the Zhuge Clan leader's fan traced a transcendent afterimage—

Whooooooosh—!

From afar.

From an unimaginable distance, the air began to hum.

Each instant, the sound doubled in volume.

By the time he realized it was behind him, something as dark as the abyss tore through the protective spell formations.

A piercing projectile landed right beside Jung Yeonshin.

Kraaaaash!

With a terrifying impact, someone landed. The earth trembled like an earthquake.

Who had leapt from such a distance?

A storm of energy billowed, and a black robe fluttered.

But it wasn't Jung Yeonshin's.

It belonged to the girl who had just arrived.

A familiar silhouette.

She turned her head toward Jung Yeonshin and smiled.

It was—

Desolate Divine Spear, Ak Surim.

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