Chapter 359 – Rushing (8)

Day broke.

It was the day of the wedding ceremony.

Over a hundred people were lined up along the yellow clay path leading to the mountain peak.

Transparent sunlight sparkled with dew on the undergrowth decorating both sides of the wide mountain path.

The spacing between people in the procession was extremely long.

At the upper end of the line, where one could look down on those below, Wind Lord Li Shi-ming stood with his hands behind his back, his blue robe fluttering, while at the far lower end, Jeong Yeon-shin, who had entered as a guest of the Secret Realm Peng Family, stood silently with his eyelids slightly lowered. It was a deliberate arrangement.

Between them were former-generation masters.

Dust swirled beneath the feet of those wearing martial robes, monk’s robes, and silk long robes, and their invisible energy waves were uniformly intense.

The renowned clan members with long, sharp ears and the elderly with long, flowing beards were all like this.

For Jeong Yeon-shin to go up, he would have to pass through all the former-generation monsters of the Secret Realm Peng Family lined up in a row.

What they had prepared was no ordinary ceremony.

The first order of the magnificent wedding ceremony was for the bride to arrive at the location of her companion by taking a small boat.

The Secret Realm Peng Family had substituted that waterway with their procession.

It was to display their might. To those watching them from above the ridge and below the slope at this moment.

This was the place where Ghost Cry Hegemon King would take Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader.

The crowd gathering above and below the ridge after hearing the news had exceeded a hundred people.

Former-generation masters of all sorts of clans. They stared in astonishment at the Secret Realm Peng Family occupying the mountain path stretching over three hundred zhang in a single line.

“Look at that lineup. Wind Lord Li Shi-ming, Severed Gate Ghost Blade Peng Mo-ran, old monsters who don’t die of old age, a hundred of them…”

“They’ve brought their full force.”

“If Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader properly draws out the power of the sapling, she might be able to manipulate this space with little lifespan left as she wishes. Whether to strengthen the stability of the formation or to banish a few who go against her will to the outside.”

“The landscape will change.”

“Isn’t it frightening? Now all matters in this land depend on Ghost Cry Hegemon King’s will.”

“Today she takes Ice Soul Cheon So-so, and she also possesses the martial prowess and forces capable of protecting her. She’s an absolute being.”

“I wonder how the others among the Two Kings and Three Lords will react. They will surely reveal themselves at this place… It wouldn’t be strange if someone came to snatch Cheon So-so.”

“It would be best to be cautious today.”

Former-generation masters who had been in seclusion.

They had created their own order in a completely isolated space that clearly existed in the world but could never be found.

They had arrived in this land through dealings with Mount Taimao Fortress, but after directly seeing the rain dragon, they had devoted themselves to cultivation and survival. This had happened several decades ago.

No one could take their eyes off the wedding ceremony’s mountain path.

They had to watch.

To live peacefully in this land filled with natural qi, they needed to thoroughly understand the power dynamics of the Two Kings and Three Lords.

“Hmm? Look at that ‘Desolate’ character over there. There’s also someone from Desolate Fortress.”

“It’s not the bald Forest-Treading Squad Leader. It’s an unfamiliar fellow.”

“So the rumors were true.”

“Did the Golden Wing Sect Leader really open the formation?”

Some among the many spectators stirred upon seeing Jeong Yeon-shin.

The former-generation masters weren’t particularly surprised by the presence of a single Black-rank.

They merely furrowed their brows because the appearance of a stranger might signify the manifestation of the Golden Wing Sect Leader.

“Even the Golden Wing… storms will come one after another.”

“Meanwhile, that Desolate Fortress youth seems to have conformed to the order of this place. Though he must have come to rescue Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader…”

“He must have seen the power commanded by Ghost Cry Hegemon King. Who wouldn’t resign themselves after seeing those old monsters?”

“Desolate Fortress’s face is no joke. The Forest-Treading Squad Leader who just guards a village, and now this.”

“Anyway, aren’t they just children of the lower martial world? They’ll only suffer losses if they interfere in the affairs planned by their seniors of the immortal realm. It’s wise.”

None among those surrounding the mountain path wanted to confront the Secret Realm Peng Family. They merely watched.

Former-generation masters who had great interest in today’s events yet remained leisurely.

“Desolate Fortress… it was quite fearsome in the secular world.”

“Desolate Fortress under imperial rule was certainly so. Kill one, and another comes for revenge.”

“How could the Divine Sword Group’s seventeen black swords reach here? Looking at it, this friend seems to have barely come alone, clinging to the Golden Wing Sect Leader.”

There were countless people who viewed the mystical place of the rain dragon as something like a peach blossom paradise where transcendent beings who had ascended through martial arts resided.

A feeling of being far removed from worldly affairs. Even the elderly who looked at the other Desolate Fortress squad leader who would lose Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader with pity didn’t seem to be particularly concerned.

Some who appeared to be from the Sima Evil Path even wore expressions of mockery on their faces.

“Look at that golden tassel. He’s a direct disciple of the Desolate Fortress Lord.”

“No matter how I look at it, he’s not of royal blood, so what wind blew for that peerless beauty…”

“Looking at his appearance, I can see why he was chosen.”

Words deliberately thrown out despite knowing that no energy waves could be felt from Jeong Yeon-shin and that his physique was extraordinarily remarkable.

Their speech and conduct demonstrated the martial world’s hostility toward Desolate Fortress.

Even after reaching the peach blossom paradise filled with natural qi, they were still martial artists of the martial world.

The more Jeong Yeon-shin remained silent, the higher the level of jokes and mockery rose.

Saaaa—

White fluff scattered finely in the wind that suddenly blew. Seeds of dandelion. None of those small feathers of the white flower would be able to leave this place.

Just like the former-generation masters of this land who had made the mystical place created by the rain dragon their home.

“You talk too much.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had opened his mouth, slowly continued.

“Old men who will soon die.”

A voice that quietly echoed on the mountain path.

Something beyond internal energy dwelled in the extremely distinct voice. Could it be the spirituality said to be contained only in divine skills? The surroundings fell into silence for a moment.

Jeong Yeon-shin had stood here with the intention of drawing out his martial prowess, which was difficult for him to gauge himself, to the extreme.

The young man of the Jeong family estate who had joined Desolate Fortress had long found peace in a sense of stability he had never experienced before.

At some point, he had begun to feel depressed about the deaths of Desolate Fortress martial artists away from home. His heart ached when he imagined someone among his companions turning their back on the main fortress.

This was true even if that someone was Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader Cheon So-so. Because even a senior with whom he hadn’t shared deep friendship felt closer than his second brother, Jeong Jung-san.

That was what sect meant… While the former-generation masters were doubting their ears, Jeong Yeon-shin looked at Wind Lord Li Shi-ming in the distance and opened his lips again.

“When are the main figures coming?”

The noble clan old master with the appearance of a beautiful youth smiled slightly.

“They’re already there. Ghost Cry Hegemon King and Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader are in the midst of the wedding ceremony at the end of this path.”

“What?”

“Why take a great risk of losing her when it’s enough to just show off our might? After completing the ceremony, they will come down together with our Hegemon King.”

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin properly opened his eyes.

‘Wedding. They said it’s the greatest promise throughout life.’

He thought.

This land is extremely bizarre. It’s full of those familiar with spell techniques. The purple martial world where all sorts of cases must be considered. It was a place where strange spell martial arts were very common.

Spell techniques are studies that create mystical harmony through true words, and true words are human speech.

Whether willingly or unwillingly, the moment Cheon So-so utters words of oath in the ceremony, some spell technique might activate.

Like the restriction that once prevented White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin from harming the martial artists of the Namgung family.

White Qilin, who was said to be now surpassing his older brother Azure Qilin and approaching Black-rank, still wouldn’t take missions toward South Zhili. This was because the Namgung family was there.

There was no time to spare.

Dandelion seeds with white fluff began to circle around the feet of the black-robed young man who had realized the urgency of time. And they gradually began to rotate in a large circle.

It was the Luminous Wheel that Transcends Law Technique.

The old masters standing nearby reacted immediately.

“How dare you!”

“Desolate Fortress youth, keep your place.”

“If you act rashly, you might never return to the Fortress Lord’s embrace…!”

Puhwak—

The large body of the old man who had been threatening with his hands behind his back burst apart with flesh and all. It was right after Jeong Yeon-shin had extended his right hand.

Then, belatedly, a kwang— roar sounded, and a semi-transparent circular shockwave spread in all directions, raising enormous dust.

Instant death.

The former-generation master who had earlier mentioned the Desolate Fortress Lord didn’t even leave an intact corpse.

“……”

Bone fragments and muscle chunks that had been thoroughly pulverized brushed through the gaps of Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand. Thud thud, the sound of organ fragments falling limply filled the silence.

He silently stared straight ahead.

With one removed from his sight, another old man was now blocking his view. Eyes wide open, wrinkled hands holding a sword. He was a swordsman with a slender build.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader of Desolate Fortress took another step.

Lightness skill, Ten Li Gentle Light.

The scene was reflected in the pupils of the old masters who filled the mountainside.

Thud.

A movement as slow as a stroll. Was it an illusion? It seemed as if faint starlight shone at his toes. Behind the light was an afterimage.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s form became blurrily distorted. Simultaneously, the undergrowth that had been leaning toward him all lay down in the opposite direction at once.

Boom!

The ground caved in a large circle.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s form shot forward in a straight line, and the body of the old swordsman blocking his way shattered with a roar.

Before the sword could be drawn, a hand filled with energy had pushed through the old swordsman’s abdomen and passed by.

The old man’s body couldn’t withstand the impact of energy even for a moment and was pulverized and flung in all directions along with his sword.

Kwaaaang—!

A heavy rumble, a spiral explosion of shockwaves, the black-robed young man leaping along the mountain path, and behind him, blood spurting high…

It was engraved like a dream in the eyes of the spectators.

Two strikes had occurred in an instant. It was a sight difficult to believe even after seeing it.

Whoosh—!

Jeong Yeon-shin tore through the wind with his entire body. The roughly fluttering black sleeve hem was tickling his skin.

In an instant, his vision had leaped over the heads of a hundred people, and he could see the faces of dozens of surprised old masters.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had fallen to the rear of the procession, moved his hand toward his waist.

Sreung.

The Murong family’s Flowing Star Sword was drawn, emitting brilliant light.

Soon after, as the former-generation monsters who had sharpened their gazes drew their weapons and unleashed tremendous energy waves, Jeong Yeon-shin rotated the Luminous Wheel in his heart even more intensely.

Thunder Annihilation Sword Style, Judgment Qilin.

Chwaaaak—

A cold silver light was etched diagonally. Jeong Yeon-shin, holding the Flowing Star Sword, had completely slashed through the bodies of the old masters rushing toward him.

The subtlety imbued in the straight-line trajectory was not simple.

The grip technique that suppressed air resistance in an instant while adjusting his hold on the handle, the propulsive foot energy that exploded like a tidal wave from the Shoulder Acupoint to the elbow, the appearance of the air rippling transparently due to Jeong Yeon-shin’s full-body energy.

“Huh!”

“What a waste of talent…!”

Those who had physically felt the truly genius-like extreme swiftness tumbled with expressions of admiration. And they died with those expressions frozen on their faces.

This was just the beginning.

Jeong Yeon-shin began to rush again.

Puhwak— Puhwak!

His right hand holding the Flowing Star Sword extended, his left hand surrounded by spiraling currents of foot energy. At his feet, the faint white light of Ten Li Gentle Light shattered like a long illusion.

It was an extremely skillful sword path.

The wall made of people exploded and disappeared one after another. Some were even split in half.

Blood raised scarlet spray. The incredibly hard ground of the mystical place repeatedly burst, shot up, and then fell back down with a thud.

Kwang! Chwaaaak—!

“Avoid it! Upper left!”

“Heouk!”

It was an overwhelming breakthrough.

He pulverized and cut down former-generation masters with his entire body. The straight-line formation guarding the wedding ceremony was instantly crushed.

The former-generation masters pursuing from behind couldn’t catch the back of Jeong Yeon-shin, who was advancing while crushing corpses.

In an instant, he reached the end of the long procession. Suddenly, only Wind Lord Li Shi-ming was before his eyes.

Though fragments of completely shattered weapons and flesh were pouring down behind him, Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes were fixed only on the two women standing at the edge of the cliff.

A woman wearing red official robes embroidered with immortal cranes, with her hair tied up and wearing a black official hat.

A woman wearing a skirt layered alternately with black silk and red silk, wearing a crimson round-collar robe with narrow sleeves, a phoenix crown on her head, and a reddish face veil… Ghost Cry Hegemon King had taken the role of the man. A woman in red official robes with a black official hat. She was surrounded by an atmosphere that seemed to enchant her surroundings.

The woman with a semi-transparent red face veil was Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader Cheon So-so.

The moment her eyes met Jeong Yeon-shin’s, they widened, and similarly, Ghost Cry Hegemon King, who had glanced at him, grinned with her pink lips as she brought her hand toward Cheon So-so’s veil.

Rustle.

She seemed about to remove it. It was the end of the ceremony.

“Powerful, but distracted.”

Wind Lord Li Shi-ming’s voice. It rang out quickly with oral technique.

Whoosh—!

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes bulged. This was because his vision below was suddenly filled with brown leather shoes.

It was Li Shi-ming’s Wind Flower Four Wheel Leg. The energy bursting from one leg was wrapping around in all directions like a whirlwind, similar to Jeong Yeon-shin’s full-body energy.

‘If I can’t counter this…’

It was a technique that could lead to instant death upon direct hit. Even with luck, he wouldn’t be able to avoid a fatal wound.

At that moment, the Flowing Star Sword in Jeong Yeon-shin’s grip was crying unsteadily. The durability of the blade had reached its limit.

Previously, it had endured countless strikes from Jeong Yeon-shin in the hands of the Murong family head, and today, it had hastily withstood the techniques of former-generation old masters.

In the instantly slowed time.

All sorts of options flashed through Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind like rays of light.

‘If it’s the Falling Star Sword…’

He could reach Ghost Cry Hegemon King’s hand. But at this moment, he would have to physically endure the ultimate techniques of the former-generation monsters pushing from behind and Wind Lord’s leg technique.

It was extremely dangerous to test his half-completed protective energy in this situation.

Ghost Cry Hegemon King, who had already turned her head toward the one who would become her companion, Cheon So-so, who had only flinched her body as if not recognizing Jeong Yeon-shin, and the triumphant presences of the former-generation masters who could feel an instant like an eternity flowed in from all directions, almost tangibly.

—Die now.

Li Shi-ming’s mental imagery rang in his ears due to his powerful internal energy, and just as the extended foot was about to crush Jeong Yeon-shin’s neck.

The Flowing Star Sword hummed.

A rhythm close to a song. A semi-transparent wave spread from the blade.