Chapter 114 – Divine Technique (2)

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Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

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[TL Note: I’ll be using “Iron Clan” instead of “Dwarf Clan.” It will always refer to dwarves, but “Iron Clan” is the correct translation. On that note, I’ll also be using “Noble Clan” for Elf clans, as they are referred to as nobles throughout the story.]

It wasn’t a gaze meant for looking at people. Both Tang siblings were like that.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t pay them any mind. He calmed his heart while exhaling a long breath.

‘Dwell nowhere while giving rise to that mind.’

He recited the verse from the Diamond Sutra book he still carried.

It meant he had to free himself from attachments. As death approached, it resonated with strange emotions.

The boy raised his head. The Iron Clan man was looking at him with an astonished expression.

“That yin energy… Desolate Fortress Martial God’s…! Perhaps, are you of royal blood?”

He referred to the Lord of Desolate Fortress as the Martial God. He seemed to recognize the Moon Spirit Harmony Formula’s yin energy at once.

Then he must know that the Lord of Desolate Fortress’ disciples had always been royalty. He was knowledgeable.

“How can such diverse energies exist in one body…”

Tang Li-li trailed off.

That single statement proved her extremely sensitive perception. She seemed to have felt all of Jeong Yeon-shin’s fundamental qi energy.

A green light, characteristic of poison techniques, flashed in her eyes before disappearing.

Tang Li-hua was the same. His lips trembled slightly.

“Each one was profound. Not internal energy built through ordinary cultivation. There was even something that didn’t seem like qi…”

The orthodox Buddhist power could hardly be called internal energy.

Dragon and Phoenix’s senses accurately identified the Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm’s dharma power.

Awe filled the eyes of the boy called Dragon, Tang Li-hua.

With senses he prided as talents of a thousand ages, he recognized Jeong Yeon-shin’s true worth.

That’s why he could distinguish all the different qi energies Lightning Genius emitted.

‘How can he be like that?’

While handling various types of qi, there was no sign of injury to his whole body’s meridians.

It was one of two things.

‘Either born with a natural internal energy control ability, or tempered his body with peerless childhood techniques.’

Someone with both would be a monster of unimaginable power, capable of challenging the realm of the Nine Major Sect leaders within years.

Therefore, Tang Li-hua thought it was probably the internal energy control ability.

Just being able to utilize such energies individually was already beyond the human realm.

It would be harder than simultaneously controlling four hands growing from one body.

‘Though there was briefly a sign of qi deviation just now…’

The overall feeling emanating from Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin’s qi paths was stable.

His martial power, which seemed solidly built, approached as a calm pressure.

From their first meeting until now, absolutely no gaps could be felt.

It meant he had complete control over the disordered energies.

‘Different from us too.’

Tang Li-hua and Tang Li-li also learned the Reverse Origin Three Yang Technique, which contained three types of poison qi in the body.

However, Tang Li-hua’s energies were all yang-type, while Tang Li-li contained yin energies.

Meaning they cultivated similar types of qi. Not like Jeong Yeon-shin.

“I really, really want to invite him as an honored guest…”

Tang Li-hua suddenly drooped his head. Tang Li-li approached beside her childlike brother.

Her eyes, looking at Jeong Yeon-shin, now occasionally showed traces of green.

“I was going to invite you to our main family if things went well… but that might be difficult for Sir Jeong.”

“To the Tang Clan? Why not?”

Lazy Flame Dragon abruptly asked. He, too, had been observing Jeong Yeon-shin with interest.

Following his sister, Tang Li-hua opened his mouth with a gloomy expression.

“Our main family has many old monsters. Starting with grandfather. They might try to use you as cultivation material if we’re not careful. They go crazy for spiritual beings, and Sir Jeong would be no less than most spiritual beasts…”

“Indeed, the family isn’t righteous.”

Lazy Flame Dragon said with a faint smile.

“How can they walk the right path? Pursuing worldly success in this turbid world. Only the Nine Sects can use words like righteousness.”

He was the young master of the destroyed Hwangbo family.

Though he spoke self-mockingly, he didn’t come across as an object of pity. Perhaps due to his characteristically languid nature.

“…”

The Tang siblings said nothing. Namgung Hwa-shin kept his mouth shut, too.

After glancing at the young talents of the Eight Great Families, Jeong Yeon-shin looked down at the Iron Clan man and spoke.

“Though not of royal blood, I learned martial arts from the Lord.”

He changed his manner of speech. He saw the hostility disappear from the man’s face.

If someone respected the Lord of Desolate Fortress, his disciple should consider the other’s age.

“I apologize for my rudeness.”

The Iron Clan man, who had stepped back, suddenly performed a deep bow.

Clasping his hands and raising them before his face while deeply bending his waist. It was an extremely courteous attitude.

“I am Zhang Zhong-ming, born in Sichuan’s Laozhou, of the Laozhou Zhang family. While honing my blacksmith skills in my hometown, I received an offer from fellow clansmen… and made this place, the City of Renowned Craftsmen, my residence. It’s been nearly thirty years.”

“The City of Renowned Craftsmen was here?!”

[TL Note: “Renowned” in the city name is translated from the word “Ming.” I’m not sure if there’s a correlation to the Dwarf’s name, just putting this out there.]

Tang Li-hua shouted. Though the cave echoed with his cry, no one scolded him.

Everyone’s expression changed. From Crimson Day Sword, who arrived late, to Namgung Hwa-shin, Lazy Flame Dragon, and Tang Li-li.

“Due to my limited knowledge, I don’t know. What is the City of Renowned Craftsmen?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked calmly. Radiant Demon Wing was here.

To properly assist his seniors, it would be good to know the place’s characteristics and origins.

So he could handle any situation.

Crimson Day Sword answered immediately.

“As the name suggests, it’s a settlement of master craftsmen.”

“They say it’s a city of the Iron Clan, who aren’t subordinate to the Ming imperial court. I’d only heard oral accounts, never knew it was so close to our main family…”

A girl’s dispirited voice echoed around. It was Tang Li-li’s voice.

Jeong Yeon-shin had already raised his head.

His gaze was drawn to what was behind the small man who introduced himself as Zhang Zhong-ming.

The first blocked wall since entering the cave. A circular stone door was there, adorned with classical patterns.

“It cannot be opened. We can only wait for someone to come out from inside.”

Zhang Zhong-ming, who had been watching Jeong’s reaction, spoke while gritting his teeth once.

“It’s designed to open with an advanced mechanism formation, but the treasure tablet that acts as a key was stolen! By villains of the Thirteen Evil Sects…!”

“How many days have you waited?”

“About three days. That’s how our clan is. Once we hole up somewhere, we rarely come out.”

“This incident. Please tell me how Radiant Demon Wing became involved.”

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly requested. But to Zhang Zhong-ming, it seemed like an order.

He began explaining earnestly with a somewhat servile attitude.

“We invited the departed Tang Clan Leader to the City of Renowned Craftsmen as a protector, but the Ten Perfections Sect and Pure Demon Alliance caught wind and tracked him. At that time, Radiant Demon Wing was asking something of the Tang Clan Leader.”

“…”

“In the midst of that, Radiant Demon Wing was attacked jointly by the Thirteen Evil Sects and various Sichuan sects. Eventually, the fighting continued from the cliff to here, and I could only watch from afar as the treasure tablet was stolen.”

His tone was filled with indignation.

“Did everyone enter the City of Renowned Craftsmen?”

“Yes! They entered so naturally! The battlefield certainly spread to our settlement!”

Zhang Zhong-ming shook his large fist. Along with his bitten lips, it was a gesture showing helplessness.

‘The Thirteen Evil Sects targeted the City of Renowned Craftsmen, and Radiant Demon Wing tried to get information about thunderclap bombs from the Tang Clan Leader?’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought silently.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

The Tang Clan Leader was said to be of mixed Iron Clan blood and an outstanding blacksmith.

Moreover, he had powerful martial arts as the leader of one of the Eight Families.

He was someone the City of Renowned Craftsmen would covet in terms of bloodline, skill, and martial power, and that seemed to have become the connection that gave rise to this incident.

That’s when it happened.

Step.

Namgung Hwa-shin passed by Zhang Zhong-ming.

Taking a position before the stone door in the wall, he examined the groove carved in its center.

“If it’s an Iron Clan treasure tablet, they were also used in our main family’s martial arts library and weapons storage. When internal energy is blown in, it’s a mysterious object that guides that qi along set patterns. When a treasure tablet with specific qi pathways activated is recognized in this groove, the supreme mechanism formation operates automatically to open the door.”

Namgung Hwa-shin said.

“That’s right.”

Lazy Flame Dragon, from a great family background, nodded.

“Can’t we break it?”

Crimson Day Sword suddenly asked. Namgung Hwa-shin, who had taken a step forward, shook his head.

“Not something to consider rashly. They say Iron Clan blacksmiths generally pass down their unique blacksmith qi techniques through generations. Not just making divine weapons, many are also interested in dangerous mechanism formations.”

“Being sensitive to intrusion, the entrance might collapse. They wouldn’t have dug only one tunnel here.”

Tang Li-li cut in. Zhang Zhong-ming, who had been looking at her with strange eyes, nodded.

“It’s very far. I couldn’t delay anymore, but being truly caught between a rock and a hard place, I could only stamp my feet here.”

“Wait.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke briefly and stepped forward. He quietly approached the stone door until his shoulder was even with Namgung Hwa-shin’s.

“Commander?”

He didn’t respond to Namgung Hwa-shin’s call. Zhang Zhong-ming’s words applied to Jeong Yeon-shin, too. This wasn’t a place to delay further.

Swoosh.

He placed his hand on the groove as it was. He raised the Jeong Family Dynamic technique’s qi to his fingertips.

Through the internal energy stream, he scanned the wall’s interior, clearly tracing the remaining marks.

His innate qi sense vividly captured the faint traces of internal energy cultivation.

It mirrored the interior of the mechanism device made to open through resonance with qi.

Whoosh!

He instantly grasped the verses. He had created a diagram of the qi that would act as a key.

Jeong Yeon-shin twisted a strand of internal energy above his palm and pressed it to the stone surface.

Grrr―!

Faint light streams began tickling his eyes. The door was splitting in a straight line.

The stone doors on both sides opened forward. It was amazing mysticism.

To Jeong Yeon-shin, it was the Iron Clan’s mechanism formation, and to the people behind, it was the miracle the boy created.

Zhang Zhong-ming’s face was filled with shock.

“What technique did you just…!”

“He extracted the qi diagram of the Iron Clan’s mechanism formation? Really?”

Senior Beggar, who had been holding his breath in the back, muttered blankly. The Tang siblings’ eyes were wide open.

Step.

The Return Wing Corps experts moved past them.

They lined up on Jeong Yeon-shin’s left and right with calm yet quick movements. The experts’ characteristic light footsteps rang out with discipline.

“Grandmaster. That place must truly be chaotic now, but you should prioritize the mission over us warriors. I mean Radiant Demon Wing’s survival.”

Crimson Day Sword said while staring at the gradually opening door.

“Not just the Ten Perfections Sect and Pure Demon Alliance, but also sects from both righteous and demonic paths that cling like bats. It seems Radiant Demon Wing was jointly attacked by all of them, and a brutal battlefield must have formed… I fear you might waver from compassion.”

He meant to think of Radiant Demon Wing before the Return Wing Corps.

It was advice for the young master. The concern in his voice was clearly felt.

“I beseech the disciple of the Lord of Desolate Fortress!”

Zhang Zhong-ming, who had finally come to his senses, shouted.

“Our city has many commoners! Please, please protect them! Who knows what those Thirteen Evil Sects scoundrels are doing!”

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded, then paused.

Though it was clearly an underground space, the light coming in along the downward path suddenly felt unfamiliar.

Was it mysticism created by the Iron Clan’s marvelous cultivation method?

But that wasn’t an immediate concern.

Below the rapidly widening path, very damp energies were seething.

Even just the qi energy seemed to press down on people’s souls.

It was the inner demonic force of the demonic path. Demonic qi. Could it be the Pure Demon Alliance of the Thirteen Evil Sects he’d only heard about?

It didn’t matter. He felt a very familiar qi energy with it. Just one.

‘Sir Hyeon Won.’

Crash!

With rough footwork, Jeong Yeon-shin’s form tore through the air.

He employed the Radiant Wing steps’ verses with a storm-like feeling.

His legs sprinting down the slope compressed distance as if treading clouds.

Whoosh!

As he got closer, there were sounds reaching his ears. It was dialogue between pursuers and pursued.

“Radiant Demon Wing’s brat is quite nimble! Like a rat!”

“How long will you just run? Desolate Fortress must have been a vulgar sect!”

“Minor sect trash getting cocky! Just because one Pure Demon Alliance demon soldier joined in…!”

The last words clearly sounded like Hyeon Won-chang’s voice.

‘He’s there.’

At the same time, his view opened wide.

A battered Hyeon Won-chang was being chased by enemies. The warrior at their lead had truly intense momentum.

Charging while wrapped in transparent demonic qi like armor, he was clearly an expert difficult for a Desolate Fortress white-rank to handle.

Behind him, people who didn’t look like major sect warriors were chasing cockily.

“Huh?”

Hyeon Won-chang let out a questioning exclamation. His eyes had met Jeong Yeon-shin’s.

It was an instant.

Force gathered in the boy’s right foot. The stone floor was deeply gouged for a moment.

Thud! Whoosh—!

It was the moment Hyeon Won-chang blinked once. Long blue robe sleeves fluttered.

Having passed Hyeon Won-chang in an instant, Jeong Yeon-shin stamped the ground before the face of the one emitting demonic qi.

Boom!

“What…! Reinforcements!”

The man exclaimed in surprise. For a brief moment, Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes flashed sky blue.

He was indeed a Pure Demon Alliance expert. His attire was just as described.

The middle-aged man, wearing a pitch-black short cape, raised surging energy toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

His palm technique trajectory, striking with both hands extended, was very linear.

‘Strong.’

Just looking at the expressions of the rabble behind him told enough.

Though he appeared suddenly, releasing qi energy, none of them looked worried.

Jeong Yeon-shin raised the dharma power verses in a flash-like moment.

‘Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm.’

Divine energy gathered in his right hand. It was a very deep blue light.

Jeong Yeon-shin struck down at the man while wrapping his hand blade in azure light.

He paid no mind to the sinister palm force coming from both extended hands.

Crash!

It was a supreme counter. It truly tore through without hesitation. The single strike proceeded while unraveling the demonic path’s demonic qi force technique.

It happened in an instant. Deep blue light reflected in the man’s shocked eyes.

Splat!

The man’s head was completely smashed.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

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