Chapter 261 – Ascension (11)

Jang Sun-il, walking at the head of the group, trailed off.

“This way, it should be this way… but the earth’s veins are severed. It is strange. It should not be like this…”

He stepped repeatedly on the snow where sunlight gleamed white, then tilted his head in confusion.

Amid overlapping circular footprints heading in different directions, new martial artists emerged from the ridge where transparent light connected.

Each bore swords at their waists. They numbered at least a hundred and several dozen.

Their aura was exceptional.

The Bei Gong siblings flanked the boy on either side.

The movements of the martial artists who had ascended Mount Taibai earlier were peculiar.

Those who had roamed nearby before Jeong Yeon-shin’s group reached the midsection. They began scanning their surroundings with ominous expressions, their demeanor markedly hostile.

“This does not make sense. It is no ordinary matter.”

“Find the axis. It must be here.”

They muttered among themselves, gripping their sword hilts.

Dull noises echoed from various directions. They came with the sharp sound of blades being drawn.

They started unsheathing their swords to cut through bushes or fell trees. They also glared at all manner of figures while sweeping their gazes around.

Their posture was not one of caution. They seemed certain that someone worthy of enmity was present.

“Are those not masters from the Water King Sect?”

“The Water King Sect Leader! Even the Water King Sect Leader has come!”

“Good heavens… Even the foremost martial lineage of Yan’an Prefecture… Judging by their numbers, they have brought their entire force. The Water King Sect is a refined faction…”

“Did rumors not spread of the Thirteen Evil Sects and Mount Hua Sect arriving? What is the Water King Sect in comparison?”

“To us, it is significant. Look at their momentum. They will bury someone any moment.”

A prominent sect from Shaanxi appeared. Nearby martial artists scattered in droves.

Seeing six ancient trees severed with a single slash from the Water King Sect Leader at the forefront, anyone would do the same.

“We should be cautious.”

Bei Gong-hui whispered into the guide boy’s ear.

Jang Sun-il wore a look of incomprehension.

“That… that man died, did he not? Is there anything special to worry about…?”

He referred to the Rogue King Jin Shi-hu. It was a fair point. They had witnessed a supreme master who dominated the martial world perish by Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand.

It would have been a shock to anyone. Few among the nearby warriors could imagine matching Jeong Yeon-shin.

Jang Sun-il had even been smirking at the surrounding martial artists, feeling protected by a tiger.

Bei Gong-hui shook his head.

“Your life is the concern. Do you realize how many wolves have gathered here? Did you not say the major powers of the Central Plains nearby have converged? For our companion, it will not be a big deal. But how will you keep up with his profound movements?”

“Oh…”

“My brother is right. Stay close to us. Strong ones attract the strong, so our companion’s side might be more dangerous.”

Bei Gong-lin said, clenching and unclenching her white fist.

Her Central Plains speech did not distinguish gender.

It had been so since she spoke of marrying Jeong Yeon-shin, which made her seem more like a foreign martial artist devoted to the martial path. Bei Gong-hui was no different.

Even trivial details drew attention. Their blue-white hair, like melted cloudy skies, was unmistakably alien to all.

With many casting glances at Jeong Yeon-shin’s group amid this, whispers arose from various spots.

“We just need to cross here. Mount Taibai is far larger than I thought.”

“Hold off. Are we not circling the same place? No matter how dull your senses, how can you not notice? Unless… they are pretending not to?”

“What?”

“So many martial comrades are still lost here, are they not? It is clearly strange.”

“An array… an array, perhaps…? That is why they…!”

Warriors showing realization multiplied. They understood they had fallen into some trap.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

The Water King Sect’s behavior, having ascended Mount Taibai first, was odd to all, but it could be seen as searching for the array’s axis.

A tense atmosphere spread everywhere.

A sect like the Water King Sect acting this way left little room for doubt about an array’s presence.

From the start, it was highly unusual that so many warriors had not fully climbed Mount Taibai.

Only an array disrupting spatial perception could explain it.

Deploying such a large array as part of sorcery martial arts required more than ordinary effort.

Unless one was Zhuge Liang, the caster had to enter and continually reinforce the array. Those with decent insight quickly recalled common sense.

There were enemies within who had rigged something.

Throughout martial history, those luring others with treasure maps, elixirs, or secret manuals for sinister gain had always existed.

Mount Taibai’s warriors began looking around. Aimless foes emerged with energy waves. Light snowflakes swirled upward from various spots.

“So this is a sorcery array…?”

“What riffraff dare!”

“Show yourselves, cowards! Have you lost your wits?”

“What is the trick? What are they after?”

Then it happened.

“All martial comrades, please look here for a moment!”

A majestic shout rang out unobstructed. It was a lion’s roar, forcibly drawing nearby gazes.

A powerful energy wave spread in all directions, causing snow clumps to fall from bare branches below. The wave’s reach was vast.

The murmurs stopped. The masters’ eyes converged on the center of the snow-drifting hill.

“This Wei intends to speak.”

A deep voice resonated from a large frame. A middle-aged man with a glossy, refined face and striking, hawk-like eyes.

Though he wore a plain blue robe without embroidery, it felt as ornate as ceremonial garb. His presence made it so.

Saaa.

An intangible energy wave from his body swept the snow beneath his feet.

He was a man who had shattered rocks that could serve as the array’s axis with both hands. The many warriors in the area fell silent.

“Water King Sect Leader Wei Shi-he….”

Someone muttered as if groaning.

“Beyond here, just past this spot, you can see the thousand-year Polygonum. A follower of our sect said so, and it must be true. With your skills to reach this point, you can surely guess as much.”

Wei Shi-he spoke, surveying the surroundings. He pointed behind him with one hand.

As the hem of his blue sleeve fell and swayed with the snowy wind, he continued slowly.

“Originally, an elixir born from the earth belongs to whoever plucks it first. As the Water King Sect Leader, this Wei sought to uphold that unwritten rule for dignity’s sake. I merely strove to feed my disciples something good.”

His eyes, scanning around, briefly met those of the handsome youth in the palanquin.

Then they turned to Jeong Yeon-shin’s group. He scrutinized the refined boy in a black robe standing silently.

Wrinkles curved slightly at the ends of Wei Shi-he’s bold eyes.

“But those efforts were in vain. We ended up treading in place. Meanwhile, countless martial heroes ascended from below. It was a strange twist indeed. Few native warriors in Shaanxi would use such base tactics. From the outset, the only renowned formation lineage in our land is the Zhuge Family at the edge of Hanzhong Prefecture, is it not?”

His words carried robust strength. His iron-like character seemed to flow in his voice.

A voice forged by inner energy breathing left a strong impression on the crowd, one way or another.

Even if there were flaws in his words, the reputation and voice he had built as a great sect leader over time produced a lion’s roar-like speech.

It was the martial world. The words of a renowned strongman inevitably built trust where none existed.

“Hm…”

The response was not bad. Some had already turned their eyes to the distinctive group.

Wei Shi-he’s gaze, glinting with colorless brilliance, joined them.

“Yet there are foreigners over there. Look at their hair and features. They came to pluck and eat a treasure born of the Central Plains. The demeanor of the boys with them is no less extraordinary. Thus, this sect leader intends to interrogate them personally…”

He moved his lips.

“Lest they trouble your eyes, I seek your permission. I will not ask you to join. But since a dangerous scheme has unfolded in this rugged mountain, consider it like tapping a stone bridge…”

“The Water King Sect Leader speaks true!”

“They look highly suspicious, so we should detain them here. They might tamper with the array’s axis and cause trouble, might they not?”

Voices of agreement rose from various quarters.

They pierced through the energy waves of hundreds of warriors who had breached Mount Taibai’s chaotic entrance.

It contradicted the Water King Sect Leader’s claim of not seeking participation. They were highly proactive.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes, listening silently, captured their every move.

Lowly Revelation Technique.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s gaze that observed the people’s lives.

The breadth of his vision was on a different level than before. Even beyond his focus, he perceived clearly, to the point he felt he could encompass all directions.

He scrutinized the faces of the instigators down to their deep facial muscles. They were the ones who spoke the moment Wei Shi-he finished.

The movement of their jaw muscles reacted instantly. To Jeong Yeon-shin, it was as vivid as someone rolling their eyes right in front of him.

‘They know me. It was a trap.’

Nearby martial artists stepped back in droves. Some, however, crept closer.

Mostly those harboring the deep energy of the evil outer path and tyrant factions. They seemed to be from the Blood Flame Sect, Tyrant Sword Sect, and Yu Ling’s group he had encountered before.

The bald ones could well be blood demons hiding their red hair.

“They will strike the moment they see anything suspicious.”

Crunch.

Water King Sect Leader Wei Shi-he approached with light steps. No footprints remained in the snow behind him.

Many martial artists wore eerie expressions and retreated further. It was protective energy at the realm of Treading Snow Without Trace.

“They passed the first wave easily.”

From afar, Yu Ling’s Young Lord, leaning in the palanquin, propped his chin. He watched Jeong Yeon-shin with interest.

“The Rogue King was hard to control without the Blood Flame Sect and went to waste… but the second wave should be decently useful. Above all, since he fears the Thirteen Evil Sects Leader’s arrival and cannot reveal his identity as a Desolate Fortress Squad Leader, other martial artists will be easily swayed.”

It was akin to putting an already unfolding phenomenon into words.

The surrounding martial artists were visibly stirred by the instigators’ words. Their gazes on Jeong Yeon-shin’s group were unkind.

One by one, they began to step forward. To them, this extraordinary boy was merely an unidentified bat clinging to foreign wolves.

Human hearts were often harsh toward the unknown.

The Young Lord smiled with a refined face.

His faintly smiling lips moved slowly.

“Protector So, can you handle the Radiant Demon Wing Leader alone?”

“He slew Shaanxi’s top demon single-handedly. It seems difficult alone.”

The swordswoman in black, standing by the palanquin, answered quietly.

She stroked her sword hilt, watching the Radiant Demon Wing Leader now facing the Water King Sect Leader.

“Since the internal energy you cultivated is near orthodox, it should be worth a decent fight.”

“You anticipate the Water King Sect Leader’s defeat.”

“Of course. Even if I somewhat admire the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, I am aware he is an irreconcilable enemy. Gauging his skill raw is a habit even in Go…”

Then it happened.

Suddenly, from a distance.

Jeong Yeon-shin placed a hand on the cloth over his shoulder.

The Lesser Lord’s eyes widened slightly, and Wei Shi-he’s steps faltered.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips moved.

“Which schemer dares to frame…”

His voice, pleasantly tempered by puberty, rang out calmly. At the same time, a decisive motion arose from his shoulder.

The cloth wrapped his arm tore with a rip.

It glinted golden against the bright snow.

Desolate (荒).

The character for “desolate” appeared. It was before the strong of Mount Taibai.

Then, when had he drawn it?

Thud!

Jeong Yeon-shin plunged a white treasure sword into the snow-covered ground. From the snow to the blade and up to the hilt, a white light pulsed mystically.

It was not merely reflected sunlight. An auspicious wave, palpable to all, mingled with the winter wind and surged.

Dharma power.

Wooong.

It spread divinely. Even those who only knew it through tales or texts could instantly recognize its purity.

A mysterious energy wave, like sunlight streaming from a temple, swirled in all directions.

“…”

In an instant, the surrounding clamor froze. They closed their mouths with varied expressions. Jang Sun-il and the Bei Gong siblings behind were no exception.

At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin was pondering.

What would the Desolate Divine Hero have done? What scheme would that Hwangbo rascal have used for gain?

He parted his lips slowly.

“I am Jeong Yeon-shin, the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.”

Then he raised his left hand and pointed to one side. Toward where the handsome man in the palanquin sat.

“That one is using sorcery. A truly vile creature.”

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader said, his eyes flashing with blue brilliance.

At once.

The surroundings descended into panic.