Chapter 408 – Peerless Realm (8)

The moonlight was bright in the night sky. Faintly white mist flowed gently like rippling waves of light.

It was atop a steeply rising mountain peak. A middle-aged handsome man with a large build was looking up at the full moon.

With his disheveled appearance revealing scarred abdominal muscles through his reddish-yellow robe, he held a massive sword raised high.

Whoong—

A pitch-black sword strike plunged down vertically.

The sound of air being cut was subdued. His great sword left a single heavy trajectory without any particular technique.

Soon after, the moon split.

A straight line of emptiness appeared across the full moon that had been emitting a soft glow.

A sight as if the moon had been cut with a single sword strike. The mist faintly dispersing on both sides of the man created a dreamlike atmosphere.

The silence was soon broken.

It was because someone was clapping.

“Your sword path is as simple as your talent yet contains profundity. To imbue such energy waves in a single sword strike? Anyone watching would think it’s a Transcendent Martial Art.”

It came from behind the swordsman. About five steps away.

A man wearing a pitch-black blood-colored robe was smiling beneath his conical hat.

He made a clapping sound by tapping only the upper part of his hands loosely gathered at his chest, and his mockery was evident in his bearing.

“Now it’s truly worthy of being called the Three Forms of Breaking Wilderness. For the technique of a dullard of the world, it no longer seems like such an excessively grand name…”

“Now it’s just One Form.”

A voice with deep resonance flowed out. It was the answer of the man who had lowered his great sword.

After uttering that single phrase, he closed his mouth. He just stared down at his sword blankly.

The characters ‘Silent Achievement’ were engraved on the broad blade.

It was handwriting far from dragon-like magnificence. It was crooked as if a child’s writing had been directly engraved.

Silent Achievement Sword.

It’s the banner weapon of the Tyrant Sword Sect. It symbolized the sect leader’s status.

The man in the conical hat laughed silently.

“One Form, you say? That’s quite surprising. To withstand that sword strike… even I would have to bring out my Transcendent Martial Art and deploy the Original Spirit Divine Palm at its extreme.”

“Speak of business.”

The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader lowered his sword strike to his feet. He didn’t even raise an eyebrow at the mention of the supreme divine skill that symbolized the master of Yu Ling of the Thirteen Evil Sects.

The Yu Ling Leader slightly lowered the brim of his conical hat and folded his arms. Then he opened his mouth.

“I nearly died at the hands of High Sword. He pursued me quite persistently. As if I were the murderer of his parents.”

“…High Sword.”

“Toward the end, he was childishly shouting the Beggar Sect Leader’s name, which was eerie rather than amusing.

If the world’s finest spell master had blocked my path, I would have died on the spot.”

“Is that the path you fled along?”

“Yes. I didn’t even have time to receive reports on how the dragnet was faring. I was able to break away using lightness skill while High Sword was making futile gestures from a distance…”

“We won’t meet again, then.”

“Yes, isn’t that the limitation of what they call the Nine Great Sects, those thousand-year-old temples and monasteries? In exchange for receiving the country’s recognition, they must constantly watch and endure the extremely rare appearances of extraordinary powers…”

His tone was mixed with mockery.

The Yu Ling Leader caressed his lips. Between the fingers that slowly traced his twisted mouth corner, another statement flowed out.

“While driving the Divine Sword Group Leader into a corner, I received quite significant information. Something that would interest even you.”

“Speak.”

“I heard that Mount Hua has created another Plum Blossom Pill. This confirms it. Among the sect leaders of the Nine Sects who are just maintaining their positions, Lu Xian is the most capable.”

“Plum Blossom Pill… useless information.”

The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader turned his gaze toward the moon. The full moon that had been split by a dark line was gradually returning to its original form.

Brilliant Jade Sword God Lu Xian. A figure known for exceptionally consuming only a single Plum Blossom Pill as the Mount Hua Sect Leader.

She is famous for her eccentricity of only bestowing the numerous elixirs of the prestigious Mount Hua Sect upon her disciples.

They say her own sword talent made such a choice possible, but many martial artists have both respected and mocked Brilliant Jade Sword God.

Some connoisseurs definitively judged it as a ploy to create a good impression of Mount Hua Sect in the world. They said the rumors couldn’t possibly be true.

But someone at the level of a major faction’s sect leader would typically encounter the truth.

“Useless, you say? She has entered seclusion again.”

The Yu Ling Leader pretended to look serious.

Thud.

A footstep that sounded immediately after his words fell. The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader had turned his body. At the same time, the corners of the Yu Ling Leader’s mouth rose.

“Yes, if you leave now, you might see Brilliant Jade Sword God who has fully absorbed the energy of the Plum Blossom Pill. While you’re at it, how about beheading her?”

The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader’s steps halted. Conversely, the Yu Ling Leader’s words didn’t stop.

“The descendants of the Nine Sects grow stronger with the passing years. Moreover, Lu Xian is still young. Lightning Genius, Invincible of the Ming Cult, Lu Xian… they’re all sprouts that should be cut down, but due to your stubbornness, we’re just watching two of them.”

“Brilliant Jade is a touchstone.”

“How ridiculous. Even today, she would have lived for years more in meditation under the royal family’s torture methods, but a man who has greatly lost the hearts of people still clings to memories from his youth…”

Suddenly, the moonlight was pushed away.

A sword appearing suddenly from the gaps of the darkly dyed space. The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader was now pointing the Silent Achievement Sword at the Yu Ling Leader’s solar plexus.

It had happened in an instant. There was clearly no form or incantation.

“Shaanxi is not Yu Ling’s land. Do not interfere.”

The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader said. The Yu Ling Leader slowly moved his lips.

“…I find it incomprehensible that you would launch a surprise attack. To penetrate my eye technique with just one sword strike? I know your base sensibilities. Even if you were to repeatedly contemplate for three or four years from now, you couldn’t refine your insight to this extent…”

“……”

“How long have you dwelled in your mental imagery since that day?”

“A hundred years.”

The night air resonated softly.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

Sunlight poured down toward an elegant pavilion. The plaque beneath the roof emitted a subtle ink fragrance with the characters “Divine Sword Pavilion.”

“Group Leader, your handwriting is terrible.”

“What? After graciously complying with the host’s request, this is what I hear. Lightning Genius, you may not know this, but in the main fortress, this level is relatively…”

Gentle commotion flowed. The mist, sand, and distant mountain ridges at dawn all sparkled. It was a pavilion built in the middle of a riverside scenic spot.

The surrounding ten li was quiet. Even the three-story inn situated right behind the pavilion maintained silence. Despite there being quite a few well-dressed people seated by the windows.

A pavilion that anyone who appreciates elegance would covet.

In a world where human labor and even the natural beauty of the earth become money and food. It was no different even in chaotic times.

Wherever people who have cultivated martial arts live, bloody conflicts over interests were common.

In fact, not far from the village behind, there was the large city of Wuchang, and there were black path martial sects that collected passage fees and seating fees to extract money from outsiders who had settled in the area.

Now they were gone.

“I’ve been neglectful as Group Leader. It’s been quite some time since Lightning Genius became Black-rank, yet I didn’t even know what delicacies you enjoy.”

“Senior Yong doesn’t need to know. You’ll be returning to purple-rank without a position soon anyway. Extreme, have you ordered Five Rhymes Mountain Vegetable Dish?”

“It’s Wei Zhi-ji.”

Divine Sword Group Leader Yong Hui-myeong, Divine Sword Vice Leader Yue Shou-lin, Heavenly Dragon Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji.

They weren’t the only ones. The lineup of those exchanging food and drinks in the pavilion was incredibly impressive. Like nothing anyone in the martial world had ever seen before.

Black-robed and purple-robed martial artists with the character “Desolate” engraved on their shoulders.

No one approached the pavilion.

Only two waiters carried food and drinks, and a middle-aged man who was clearly the owner stood nervously at the inn’s doorway, looking at the pavilion.

“I told you to move carefully! If you spill anything, tomorrow will be your death anniversary…”

The owner whispered in a shrill voice.

It couldn’t be helped.

Those with extraordinary appearances also possessed martial prowess.

There are many who falsely claim to be Desolate Fortress masters without understanding the situation and end up dying in inns, but at this moment, no one could doubt the identity of those seated in the Divine Sword Pavilion.

Even if the atmosphere inside the pavilion appeared quite convivial.

“This is a particularly strong Du Kang wine, is Lightning Genius accustomed to alcohol? Looking at him now, I don’t see a more magnificent hero in the Divine Sword Group.”

Divine Sword Group Leader Yong Hui-myeong asked. With his arms casually draped over the pavilion railing, he looked like a scholar who had just closed his book and was thoroughly drunk.

Jeong Yeon-shin, sitting opposite him, nodded without hesitation.

“Of course.”

“Well… naturally you wouldn’t be weak. Then you must also know the Way of Wine?”

“It’s water.”

“Let me pour you a cup in the Beijing style.”

It was right after Jeong Yeon-shin’s tongue had twisted in his mouth like a weed.

Yong Hui-myeong’s hand holding the wine cup drew a very small circle. The trajectory of the cup resembled a circulating taiji.

When Jeong Yeon-shin stared at this sight blankly, Yong Hui-myeong raised an eyebrow.

“You’re supposed to mirror it. It’s an etiquette originating from noble clans seeking the Infinite.”

“…I know. It’s just that it’s been a long time since I’ve been at a drinking gathering.”

“Understandable. Your efforts have been tremendous. No matter how many times I mention it, I can’t fully commend you.”

The two men drank their cups.

For a moment, Jeong Yeon-shin’s brow furrowed, but his skin, which had momentarily tensed, smoothed out again. It was the marvel of extremely refined full-body energy release.

Yong Hui-myeong raised the corners of his mouth.

“You drink well. Even the Chief Ceremonial Eunuch of the imperial court wouldn’t dare to request a cup from me. Know that you’re no less than him.”

“It’s strange seeing you up close. When did you grow so tall?”

Yue Shou-lin looked up at Jeong Yeon-shin from beside him. With her chin resting on her small hand, she wore a smiling expression.

Behind her lay a faded noble clan martial artist who had been casually sprawled out. It was the Young Palace Leader of Dark Night Palace with his acupoints sealed.

Yong Hui-myeong, who had glanced disapprovingly at Yue Shou-lin, opened his mouth.

“Everyone, listen lightly.”

His voice gently swept across the pavilion floor. The internal energy imbued in his voice was incredibly dense.

Even Xiahou Wei-jin, who had been putting jerky into his mouth with refined gestures on one side, paused momentarily.

Meanwhile, Jin Myeong-jo, who had been standing with his back to them in the middle of the water dozens of zhang away from the pavilion, turned around.

“We need to decide our individual movements. First, I should tell you that dispersal is inevitable. Returning all together to the main fortress now would be a quite dangerous choice. The imperial court will be extremely wary of us…”

“Well, yes… if we move any further like this, we’ll inevitably be accused of treason. The Divine Sword Group Leader annihilating Desolate Fortress.”

Yue Shou-lin shook the short hair that had fallen to her nape. No squad leader contradicted her words.

Yong Hui-myeong nodded.

“I’ve more than achieved my personal objective. We’ve survived, and now the martial world will hesitate for a while. Since half of the leaders of the Thirteen Evil Sects have departed for the netherworld.”

“The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s role was significant. It could be said he was the core.”

Heavenly Dragon Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji chimed in while fiddling with the rope at his waist.

They avoided mentioning Obeying Heaven Wing Leader Ha Do-woon. They simply suppressed their anger toward the martial world within this moment of celebrating victory.

“Yes, returning to our respective mission locations is the priority. Since we’ve shown ourselves sufficiently to the martial world, avoid further leaking of individual martial arts, and Lightning Genius will come with me to the Forbidden City…”

It was just as Yong Hui-myeong suddenly furrowed his brow.

Jeong Yeon-shin parted his lips. While glancing to the side.

“Your protective technique is quite remarkable, but you seem too young to be close to alcohol.”

He said. It was an extremely mature voice.

‘Such achievement at such a young age… he has talent beyond mine.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

A figure who had been fiddling with a cup beside him with an interested face suddenly paused. It was a young Taoist.

Wearing a pure white Taoist robe embroidered with cranes and swords, he had a sword with pine patterns at his waist.

The young man opened his mouth.

“Are you talking to me?”

“This is a place for adults. Martial arts isn’t everything. Come back after you’ve completed your elementary studies.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s words were quiet yet stern. The young man’s expression became somewhat awkward.