Chapter 128 – Azure Flame

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

Along with Poison Lord Tang Yun-hwang’s words, a white flower rain rose in reverse.

The moment his wrist bent, it sliced through the air.

The starlight revealed in the blue sky seemed to hold sharpness. The force sweeping sideways was tremendous.

Crack, crack, crack!

Groans rang out.

It was the Pure Demon Alliance warriors who had been hovering near Jeong Yeon-shin.

Like being hit repeatedly by small cannons, the bodies of the six warriors jerked around. It was truly a terrifying sight.

One move.

With just one move he had shredded the Pure Demon Alliance masters.

The corpses that had lost their vitality created yet another pool of blood.

Murmurs praising the Tang Clan Leader’s martial prowess arose from around them.

‘No.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

He saw Tang Yun-hwang’s Adam’s apple twitch for a moment. He had used his full power.

Slaughtering Thirteen Evil Sects masters with an injured body? Unless he had pushed himself recklessly to show authority in this moment, it made no sense.

“Clan Leader!”

“We are infinitely grateful!”

Warriors wearing green martial clothes revealed themselves from various places along the main road.

They were clearly Tang Clan masters.

Those who had kept the Clan Leader’s circumstances in their hearts, upon witnessing Myriad Heavens Flower Rain before their eyes, had switched sides.

The Supreme Elder said nothing.

He simply stood still, taking in the sight of his son and the Myriad Heavens Flower Rain he had strived his whole life to achieve.

“…How can we fight against that?”

A hollow laugh burst from Fierce Sword Ge Siliang’s mouth.

As if the tension compressed to the extreme had suddenly released, the Kuizhou main road grew noisy.

Rare sights in the martial world unfolded one after another. Now most of the crowd’s interest seemed to have completely left the matter of victory or defeat.

The voices being heard had changed.

“What an elegant sight.”

“A senior and junior sharing a bond through martial arts…… A sight that will never be seen again. I’m glad I came.”

“With the Tang Clan like this, a storm will sweep through the murim for a while. Now that the Clan Leader has returned. Though the Supreme Elder won’t stay quiet, even so, with Myriad Heavens Flower Rain…”

“Desolate Fortress’s Lightning Genius. I vaguely remember hearing of him. Didn’t know he was a black-rank supreme master.”

“Truly hard to believe.”

It was bustling. The cold wind that had blown through the main road scattered.

Along with the people’s breath, a noisy and humid summer breeze seemed to blow in.

It was because they had witnessed a rare spectacle.

The street had come alive. Some boy had manifested Myriad Heavens Flower Rain, the symbol of Sichuan’s murim.

They say the basin terrain like boundaries separates the common world from murim? In this moment, those who saw Jeong Yeon-shin were desperate to even touch his robe hem if possible.

The Ten Perfections Sect warriors clearly felt it.

“Hey. Lightning Genius.”

Ge Siliang suddenly called out. When Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head, a faint smile curved the Fierce Sword’s lips.

“Will you let us go?”

“…”

It was essentially a declaration of surrender. Spear-axe Sword beside him turned with a shocked face.

There had never been precedent of major factions like the Thirteen Evil Sects and Nine Great Sects raising the white flag.

Only during the Yuan-Ming transition had some families surrendered to the Mongol army that had counterattacked.

Because of that, despite preserving their full strength, they were often mocked for having less overall martial power than the Nine Great Sects.

Though it was a matter of the murim’s upper echelons, the Ten Perfections Sect belonged to that realm.

“Lord Feng Gong! This requires deep consideration!”

“With both the Tang Clan Leader and Lightning Genius, it’s already hard to handle. Though fallen, he’s still leader of the Eight Great Families.

Even if I could block Tang Yun-hwang, what about Lightning Genius? Even without considering Myriad Heavens Flower Rain it’s difficult.

Now it seems Pure Demon Divine Hand was also killed by him, so with the Tang Clan involved as well, is there any point in discussing odds of victory?”

Ge Siliang asked in an old-fashioned manner.

Words that brought silence.

Spear-axe Sword kept his mouth shut while fixing Jeong Yeon-shin in his gaze.

Unbelievable martial power, and even drawing the Tang Clan Leader to his side.

He never imagined hearing the word “teacher” from Poison Lord Tang Yun-hwang’s mouth. He was one of the Eight Leaders. Such a thing shouldn’t happen.

‘Strange… truly a strange thing. An event that exists nowhere else.’

His words comparing him to Zhang Fei and Liu Bei were wrong. This Lightning Genius fellow was going even further.

It was like calling a mighty reinforcement to the battlefield.

His own martial power was also worthy of comparison with Zhang Fei here. Meaning he wasn’t a young talent.

The boy standing calmly beside the Tang Clan Leader who had displayed Myriad Heavens Flower Rain.

His black robe hem fluttering in the waves of spirit was particularly prominent.

‘How.’

Just how did he accumulate such martial arts at that age?

It was a level where one could dominate not just the present but also the future. It was the stage where one could begin to discuss ruling the world through martial power.

Even the heirs of great families, who consumed elixirs like meals, couldn’t achieve this.

The refinement of internal energy usage and the completeness of techniques were on a different level from mere accumulation of energy.

Spear-axe Sword’s thoughts ultimately converged to one point.

Talent. It was talent.

He possessed something irrational. It was hard to describe even with the term “once-in-a-millennium genius.”

The word “monstrous” was more fitting. That’s what Spear-axe Sword thought.

Suddenly, he felt something unfamiliar in his chest. It was his middle dantian.

His heart was beating irregularly.

Was it jealousy?

The Ten Perfections Sect’s promising talent asked himself. The answer came immediately.

It was indeed jealousy. It coiled up like a snake and rose.

The heart of a demonic path young talent who had once discussed being the best among his peers in the world was now rising with vicious qi befitting the demonic path martial lineage.

‘Myriad Primordial Origins Technique.’

It was the Ten Perfections Sect’s martial art.

A qi technique allowing flexible mastery of eighteen types of weapons, with advantages in internal energy control flexibility rather than energy accumulation.

Spear-axe Sword was the Ten Perfections Sect Leader’s eldest son.

He had all the energy accumulation needed to master the Myriad Primordial Origins Technique. Thanks to spiritual medicines.

Meaning his power rivaled Fierce Sword Ge Siliang beside him.

Step.

While Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin had yet to answer Ge Siliang’s words.

The sound of Spear-axe Sword Su Jin-lang’s footsteps rang out along with power waves.

The ground crumpled like mud making weak sounds.

Ge Siliang opened his mouth toward Su Jin-lang’s back.

“Jin-lang. What are you doing?”

“I cannot follow Lord Feng Gong’s decision. Shouldn’t I test my skills against him at least once? That boy seems to have mastered some mysterious technique, so I want to compete with him using only techniques, without energy.”

“…….”

“If we’re going to surrender anyway, there’s nothing to lose by losing. If I win, I’ll at least preserve some small pride.”

Su Jin-lang answered in a plain tone. Meanwhile his footsteps continued crushing the earth.

Ge Siliang didn’t stop him. With a calm expression as if he had expected it.

If they were full of those who banded together considering sect interests, they wouldn’t be demonic path already.

They wouldn’t even be classified as Thirteen Evil Sects.

They were Thirteen Evil Sects because they lived as they pleased outside Great Ming Law, and Ten Perfections Sect because they picked all sorts of weapons on whims like boiling porridge.

If they were annihilated, so be it.

Fierce Sword changed his mind. He wanted to face this situation with a madman’s mindset like Spear-axe Sword.

It felt strangely liberating. He thought to himself. He truly was a seed of the demonic path.

‘Indeed…’

Lightning Genius must die here. Fierce Sword narrowed his eyes.

“Will you accept?”

Su Jin-lang quietly asked. He was five steps from Jeong Yeon-shin.

He fearlessly broke through the Tang Clan Leader’s Myriad Heavens Flower Rain.

Tang Yun-hwang just lightly waved his hand to open a path.

He looked up at Jeong Yeon-shin with eyes of an Eight Great Families leader.

His pupils were like dark lightning swirling.

“How to handle worthless provocation is also your decision. Teacher, please instruct. I will follow your will.”

His manner of speech had changed.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt déjà vu. After the Blood Flame Sect and Return Wing Corps, it happened again like this.

Only the titles were different. Grand Master, Master, Teacher… The meaning converged. It felt strange each time.

‘Though I haven’t lived long.’

He had only lightly modified or created what was needed. Receiving such respect wasn’t entirely comfortable.

As Blood Flame Sect Grand Master, Jeong Yeon-shin had also been constrained in freedom.

Without Seventh Apostle, he wouldn’t have survived safely in the Blood Flame Sect headquarters.

‘Though it was Seventh Apostle who took me there.’

Jeong Yeon-shin shook off the thoughts and took a step forward.

Though the Supreme Elder who had been standing still, his eyes flashed for a moment. However, the boy walked past the old man in the golden robe without hesitation.

Now it was up to Poison Lord Tang Yun-hwang to handle things.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

At the same time the Myriad Heavens Flower Rain settled down. Tang Yun-hwang had withdrawn his true qi.

“Let’s be clear.”

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth. He faced Spear-axe Sword Su Jin-lang among the falling metal pieces.

“Pure Demon Alliance is annihilated. Only you Ten Perfections Sect remain, so what do I gain by accepting your proposal?”

The boy spoke calmly while organizing his thoughts.

If the Pure Demon Alliance Leader wouldn’t yield now, all-out war was inevitable. That was fine.

They could use the Tang Clan’s power to exterminate the weakened Pure Demon Alliance.

The situation with Ten Perfections Sect was better.

He had heard about Spear-axe Sword. Because he had learned about Sichuan’s murim situation while coming out on this mission to unfamiliar land.

If he let the Sect Leader’s son live, wouldn’t the Ten Perfections Sect Leader hesitate a bit?

‘If I take advantage of that time gap……’

The picture of handling two major factions of the Thirteen Evil Sects simultaneously was burdensome.

He needed to minimize sacrifices of the Return Wing Corps and Radiant Demon Wing.

From today, Jeong Yeon-shin planned to roam Sichuan’s murim alone for a while.

Indeed letting Spear-axe Sword live was right.

Fierce Sword behind seemed to have noticed Jeong Yeon-shin’s thoughts. It could be seen in his strange expression.

Spear-axe Sword Su Jin-lang before him was different. He was son of a Thirteen Evil Sects leader.

Had he always calculated gains and losses from his own perspective? His furrowed brow looked ridiculous.

The sound of his mind working seemed to reach Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears.

“I asked why I should compete with an inferior.”

The boy said. His voice came through unfamiliar air.

The festive atmosphere of Kuizhou’s main road now felt strange. The air touching his skin was hot.

Jeong Yeon-shin stepped forward amidst the crowd, who were cautiously trying to get closer to him.

The commoners flinched. The local martial artists did the same. They didn’t know what he was planning.

That’s when.

“…I’ll give you the treasure map and poison wine.”

Su Jin-lang spoke through his teeth.

“Treasure map?”

“It’s a treasure Pure Demon Alliance coveted. They said there’s a nameless Ming Cult Leader’s tomb. The Heavenly Demon.”

[TL Note- Ming Cult is different from Ming Dynasty and also has nothing to do with Great Ming Code Law. Ming Cult is more of a religious group.]

The sound of people swallowing could be heard from all around. Had he aimed for this?

They were types hard to treat carelessly. Troublesome matters seemed about to unfold.

Jeong Yeon-shin accepted the green jade talisman from him.

Swoosh.

He held the old paper up to the light. His gesture showed no tension whatsoever.

At the same time smoke spread from his fingertip. It was Samadhi True Fire’s flames.

Rising like a small wildfire, it devoured the treasure map. Jeong Yeon-shin raised his power even more. So everyone could see.

Whoosh!

Eh―?

Th-that precious thing!

Sighs rang out from all directions. Su Jin-lang’s expression was worth seeing too.

“A cheap trick.”

He muttered while burning the paper.

Though tinged with speech like Hyeon Won-chang and Lazy Flame Dragon, the boy deliberately didn’t acknowledge it.

They said the murim’s various martial artists would do anything to obtain powerful martial arts.

Publicly accepting the Heavenly Demon’s treasure map? It was a path to making himself a target.

The boy only remembered with his eyes. The map glimpsed for an instant was engraved in his mind.

It was thanks to his upper dantian that now frequently blazed white.

He slowly parted his lips.

“Let’s begin.”

“Face me with only technique, without energy. I’ll show that our martial arts’ subtleties are no less than Desolate Fortress’.”

Su Jin-lang who had immediately changed his expression said.

Did he think he would win? Jeong Yeon-shin roughly nodded.

* * *

Tow hours later.

His breathing was rough. His heartbeat was louder than his exhales.

The land of Sichuan, which had felt like quicksand, now felt harder than ever. He was anxious, and then more anxious.

Su Jin-lang was fleeing shamefully. He was completely alone.

How did it come to this? He hadn’t expected things to get so twisted.

A monster had come from Desolate Fortress in Xiangyang.

Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin was now a sharper and more cumbersome existence than the branches scratching Su Jin-lang’s whole body.

He had never even imagined it.

‘I’m afraid.’

Spear-axe Sword acknowledged his emotions.

At the same time he decided. To inform all the major Thirteen Evil Sects across the world about the young master Lightning Genius.

‘Having Destroying Evil, Revealing Truth energy makes him a natural enemy of the demonic path, he’s a black-rank master capable of commanding a Desolate Fortress military force, and he even has the Tang Clan’s support.’

When he put it all together, it was overwhelming. He was a presence that couldn’t be left alone.

He had heard some orthodox sects like the Eight Families were recently forming a Murim Alliance.

Though they say Desolate Fortress exterminating the Hwangbo family and massacring the Namgung direct line was the cause, they wouldn’t be friendly to demonic path either.

It was no time for the Thirteen Evil Sects to each maintain independence.

Su Jin-lang thought. That he must first report in detail to his father then strongly advocate… The dark twilight was now spreading over the wild mountains.

The top of some tree entered his vision. It wasn’t just carelessly catching his eye.

It had to be said an overwhelming presence forcibly drew his gaze upward.

“You, I don’t like your eyes.”

A smooth voice rang out. It was high enough he had to crane his neck to the limit.

It was a woman standing on a thin branch. Her pitch black hair fluttered with the mountain wind.

Her snow-white face was beautiful enough to seem bewitching.

She wore a black eye patch with golden threads embroidered on one eye, while her other pupil was red like a ruby.

Su Jin-lang blankly opened his mouth.

“Apostle…?”

“You’ve had bad thoughts, haven’t you?”

Seventh Apostle’s lips curved into a smile. It was an extremely red smile.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

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