Chapter 162 – Radiant Demon Wing Leader (5)

‘That’s worth learning from. He truly is a monster.’  

Lazy Flame Dragon observed silently.  

The Young Leader had fought three duels in three days. Including this moment, it was his fourth.  

The uninvited guests all behaved similarly. They would arrive unannounced, knock on the door, and deliver the same message:  

“I admire the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s fame and wish to exchange sword techniques.”  

Was it driven by competitive spirit and hostility? Or were they acting on someone’s orders?  

It was hard to tell. A person’s inner thoughts are more elusive than any variable.  

‘No matter. There’s a rare delicacy before my eyes.’  

Lazy Flame Dragon’s gaze lingered on the Young Leader as he exchanged blows with six masters of the Qingyi Sect.  

Pure white sword paths danced through the air like blooming flowers of light, flourishing as they consumed the orthodox martial arts of the righteous path.  

‘That’s quite refined in its own way.’  

The main martial art Lazy Flame Dragon had seen from Jeong Yeon-shin wasn’t the sword.  

It was the Eternal Blossom Fist.  

Jeong Yeon-shin’s true power lay in the fist technique he unleashed with both hands, often after carelessly tossing aside his sword. It always served as his finishing blow.  

The second form, Advancing Thunder, was its pinnacle. Its might had been on full display when he killed the Sword Scorpion Demon at the City of Renowned Craftsmen.  

It was an extraordinarily powerful palm technique—one Lazy Flame Dragon had never seen, even within the Hwangbo family.  

‘But now, he’s trying to improve his sword techniques?’  

The Young Leader was cunning.  

There was a clear reason he gladly accepted the challenges from orthodox martial artists. It wasn’t out of courtesy but necessity.  

A sect that had signed the Martial Alliance’s petition? That alone proved they possessed refined and unique techniques.  

Like any martial lineage, the boy’s sword paths shifted subtly whenever he encountered renowned techniques.  

Having watched him closely, Lazy Flame Dragon could discern the changes.  

Jeong Yeon-shin absorbed, broke down, and gradually incorporated these techniques into his own sword style.  

It happened in an instant. The sword paths that shifted momentarily would immediately return to normal.  

He concealed the fact that he was honing a lethal weapon. No one noticed.  

‘The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s sword techniques are advancing further.’  

The Law Enforcement Leader would be shocked. Lazy Flame Dragon placed the Young Leader’s talent above his own.  

Such a genius, transforming sword techniques in a thousand-year-old environment? The results were unpredictable.  

If Jeong Yeon-shin gained a profound insight as the finishing touch, wouldn’t his sword technique transform entirely?  

Lazy Flame Dragon hoped it would happen before the duel with Sword Star, the Alliance Leader.  

Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t rely on fist techniques against a peerless master who had reached the stars through swordsmanship.  

The young Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s protective energy couldn’t yet withstand a single strike from an absolute being.  

What use was gaining insight after being humiliated? As the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, he needed to master his weapons to maintain his dignity.  

“Watching this, it seems somehow possible…”  

Just as Lazy Flame Dragon muttered to himself while perched on the artificial mountain—  

BOOM!  

The garden’s grass was torn apart as if struck by a massive cannon. The energy waves from the sword strike exceeded all limits.  

The sun seemed to distort in the hazy light of the Radiant Sword Style, its energy spiraling toward the sky.  

The moment the five Qingyi Sect disciples collapsed, Jeong Yeon-shin unleashed his final technique on the retreating Qingyi Sect Leader.  

It was a technique he had often used in his white-rank days—a sword strike imbued with the explosive force of his fist technique.  

He twisted his toes slightly, generating rotating energy throughout his muscles.  

For now, he set aside the principles of overlapping energy waves inspired by Qingyi Sect’s Flower Overflow Sword Technique.  

‘Eternal Blossom Fist, Spiral Strike.’  

WHOOSH!  

Dust swirled around his right hand as it gripped the sword. Space itself seemed to bend and break.  

Though the contained energy wasn’t overwhelming, the battle situation turned terrifying.  

Jeong Yeon-shin twisted the blade of the Northern Light divine sword slightly, The back of his hand and the sword’s surface faced upward.

He struck upward against the Qingyi Sect Leader’s defensive sword technique.  

CLANG!  

The Qingyi Sect Leader was sent flying, his sword bouncing upward.  

Jeong Yeon-shin leaped even higher using the Wind Body movement technique.  

Both figures hung suspended in the air, about three chi above the ground.  

Jeong Yeon-shin’s left hand moved, as if swimming through a different time axis.  

His callused fist struck the Qingyi Sect Leader’s back with the force of a cannonball.  

Shockwaves erupted, rising like flames along Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder and lifting his sleeve.  

BOOM!  

The Qingyi Sect Leader’s protective energy shattered, and he was sent crashing to the ground.  

He landed face-down in a spread-eagle position, coughing up fresh blood.  

‘No matter how I look at it, this isn’t talent that should be given without cost…’  

Lazy Flame Dragon noticed the subtle twist in Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword paths just before the energy waves erupted.  

He guessed that another small accumulation of martial principles now lay in the boy’s hands.  

A new sword technique was quietly budding, like the harbinger of a storm.  

‘I wonder if he’ll die young like me?’  

The thought flickered through Lazy Flame Dragon’s mind, and he smiled wryly at himself.  

Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin approached the Qingyi Sect Leader, helping him up and striking his back acupoints to aid his recovery.  

His words were gracious:  

“I had no choice but to reveal all my true martial arts. The Leader’s techniques were that refined.”  

The Qingyi Sect Leader, still coughing blood, managed a faint smile.  

“I’m the one who was amazed. Your skill and capacity are truly astonishing. I might gain insight if I train for a few years after returning to Fujian. Thank you, Leader.”  

“…You flatter me. Please take care of yourself.”  

The Qingyi Sect Leader returned Jeong Yeon-shin’s martial salute, and his disciples followed suit.  

There were no further exclamations or praise, but the Qingyi Sect masters maintained gentle expressions as they left, supporting one another.  

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

Later, in the Main Hall  

“Leader, I’ve ground the ink well.”  

Hyeon Won-chang spoke as Jeong Yeon-shin returned from seeing off the Qingyi Sect masters.  

The boy sat in the main hall, where writing materials were laid out.  

Swish.  

He picked up the brush and began writing. He recorded the essence of the martial arts he had just experienced, viable counter techniques, and points to note when operating internal energy.  

He didn’t know the intentions of the Martial Alliance masters who had challenged him.  

What they wanted to take away, what they wanted to confirm, or what schemes lay in the acting commander-in-chief’s eyes.  

But that was fine. They weren’t the only ones making plans.  

Jeong Yeon-shin and Hyeon Won-chang had lured the righteous path martial artists here today to experience as many martial arts as possible.  

They didn’t plan to simply carry out their mission and leave. Greater merit. More achievements.  

This mindset had greatly contributed to Jeong Yeon-shin reaching black rank in the shortest time. He intended to experience all the martial arts of potential enemies.  

‘It’s killing two birds with one stone. It’s helping with my sword techniques too.’  

Information accumulated day by day. Countless counter techniques emerged, surpassing the number of martial arts he had encountered.  

Experiencing energy explosions and waves directly applied to Jeong Yeon-shin as well.  

The resulting counter techniques would fill several thick volumes—perhaps dozens.  

He had already named it:  

Comprehensive Guide to Breaking The Orthodox Path.  

It was a compilation of methods to dismantle the righteous path’s orthodox techniques.  

He didn’t know how many more years he would serve as the black-rank Radiant Demon Wing Leader.  

But if the Martial Alliance turned hostile, this book would guide him to purple rank.  

The Alliance’s core wasn’t the Nine Great Sects but the prestigious families. Even if sect warfare broke out, there was nothing to fear.  

‘When will the next guest come?’  

The boy’s face remained peaceful as he focused on his writing. His calm expression never wavered.  

From a far corner, Hyeon Won-chang and Lazy Flame Dragon exchanged glances and whispered:  

“He seems excited, doesn’t he?”  

“Indeed.”  

—

Meanwhile, at the Martial Alliance Temple  

“This time, Qingyi Sect has left.”  

“I heard three of them couldn’t even move. They were completely battered.”  

“But they were all smiling, they say. Even the Qingyi Sect Leader himself.”  

“Again?”  

The temple was a gathering place for the Martial Alliance’s young martial artists.  

The energy waves emanating from the second floor—open on all sides like a lakeside pavilion—were immense.  

Orthodox martial arts typically had late-blooming qualities.  

Even secular sects, unlike the Nine Great Sects, had slower cultivation rates compared to demonic path sects.  

However, the prestigious families’ supply of spirit medicine had overcome these innate limitations.  

“How many times is this?”

“The fourth time. His reputation is impeccable. They say he even gave teachings to those who challenged him, asking, ‘Who could be called a great hero if not him?’” 

“Who said that?”  

“Mount Hua’s Hidden Dragon, who had lost earlier.”  

“…”  

“By now, I’m curious. What’s his scheme?”  

A man sat cross-legged in the center of the temple’s second-floor dharma hall. A woman leaned against the windowsill, snapping her fingers to adjust samadhi fire flames. A boy and girl lounged leisurely on the temple roof.  

About twenty martial arts prodigies had gathered freely.  

The energy emanating from the temple felt like waves, overlapping and spreading like a tsunami.  

It was different from demonic path sects—more refined.  

They had been here when Murong Mingjun suggested visiting Desolate Fortress’s Lightning Genius.  

This was a place of exchange where prestigious martial artists discussed martial arts and chivalry, cultivating orthodox martial arts’ pure energy.  

The atmosphere remained calm even after Fan Dragon Zhuge Xian’s humiliation.  

Until a woman with long braided hair spoke up.  

“Whatever it is, his intentions aren’t good. There must be some sinister scheme.”  

She stroked her white sleeve as she spoke. She was Yue Yu-lin of the Yue family of Shandong, the late-born niece of Desolate Divine Spear Yue Shou-lin.  

She was the precious daughter of the Yue family, which sought to advance to the Southern Metropolitan Examination. She had been in marriage talks with Azure Qilin Nam-gung Se-jin—until Namgung Se-jin became a corpse after dueling Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin.  

Silence followed her words.  

Azure Qilin had been renowned for his perfect appearance, temperament, and martial arts.  

A hero who freely wielded the Emperor Sword Form, erasing the Namgung family’s shadow.  

Even those who hadn’t met him admired him from rumors alone. Such reputation was rare in the martial world.  

“I heard it was an even life-and-death battle. It must have been hard to show mercy.”  

“I wonder. I didn’t see it directly, so I don’t know. It’s not the first time Desolate Fortress’s use of force has been excessive.”  

“Miss Yue’s suspicions make sense. Sir Namgung received countless admirations and jealousies in life. In my view, the latter was greater. Lightning Genius might have deliberately used excessive force. Or perhaps he needed great merit.”  

“He was incredibly handsome when I saw him. I thought he was from a noble clan.”  

A clear voice rang from the roof. It was the boy lying beside a girl.  

He had seen off Zhuge Xian, who had gone to receive the Radiant Demon Wing Leader earlier.  

“He’s originally a disciple of the Desolate Fortress Lord, and I heard from my father he’s the former Divine Sword Group Leader’s grandson. Meaning he’s from a prestigious family. Even wearing black robes already… Honestly, he doesn’t seem to have conditions to be jealous of. Though he can’t enjoy prestigious family head-level authority like us, that would change if he becomes Divine Sword Group Leader.”  

“Young Master Gong is in the habit of only thinking positively. You’d think differently after seeing the Hwangbo family’s foundation in Jinan. Desolate Fortress warriors are… beasts wrapped in human skin. At Leader level, they’re man-faced beasts.”  

Another woman spoke, and the men beside her silently nodded.  

This gathering represented the highest level of the young orthodox martial world.  

Many had connections to Azure Qilin.  

Women who had secretly loved him, men and women who considered him rivals, and those who had admired him as a martial artist.  

Even those who hadn’t met him directly had spent time harboring feelings of goodwill or jealousy.  

“If you’re so curious, just go ask him directly. What he thinks of Azure Qilin.”  

The boy called Young Master Gong spoke in a somewhat sulky tone. The others smiled.  

But the fundamental hostility toward the new Radiant Demon Wing Leader didn’t fade.  

Their objections were suppressed, and they slowly inhaled hostility like exhaling energy.  

“At times like this, it would be good if Miss Ye were here. She would make us feel refreshed with bold schemes.”  

A young man muttered as if complaining. Several voices responded immediately.  

“She seems to be in seclusion lately. I’m worried she might be ill. Come to think of it, Young Master Zhuge hasn’t been seen since then either…”  

“Isn’t that because of the Radiant Demon Wing Leader?”  

“I miss sister. When I saw her kill that demon head last time, she clearly had cultivated renowned demonic path martial arts.”  

“She smiled while killing the Blood Swordmaster that had snuck in. It was frighteningly beautiful. The energy waves from the back of her hand were like a fairy’s sleeves.”  

“How could she be so powerful even with covered eyes.”  

Amid the conversation, Yue Yu-lin suddenly stood up. She seemed ready to roll up her sleeves.  

“Isn’t the Martial Alliance’s main purpose to humiliate the Radiant Demon Wing Leader now? I should go seek advice. Sister Ye might tell me a good method.”