Chapter 330 – Grandson (3)

A master’s technique reveals much. Even a single move does so.

The direction of the form, the shape of the arm and leg muscles, the depth of internal energy breathing, and the qualities of true energy all provide clues.

Anyone with reasonable martial world experience can immediately tell whether an opponent is a swift swordsman or a practitioner of heavy sword techniques. If one has cultivated eye techniques, it becomes even easier to see through them.

Supreme masters are different.

They can create variations with swift swords comparable to illusion swords. A peerless fist master who can shatter a mountain with a single strike must also be proficient in gentle harmonious states.

This is because they need to disperse the recoil affecting their own bodies.

They say the Beggar Sect Leader Ju Gwang-sin-gae, whose lightness skill is said to be the fastest in the world, can create heaven-shaking power with just a few leg techniques.

This means that without deeply analyzing their moves, it’s difficult to understand their essence of life and energy.

The martial arts of the intruder that the Profound Martial Alliance Leader had just witnessed were close to the essence of life and energy built over a lifetime.

His first move was a technique that layered foot energy in layers. Similar to the Ten Brocade Technique of the Wudang Sect.

A martial art where the second offensive strike is several times more powerful than the first breath’s technique. He thought the man was skilled in techniques like energy wave layering.

No martial artist can exert such power with anything but their specialty.

It’s difficult for anyone other than an aged master to have profound attainment in all sorts of marvels.

Even if it takes just an instant to exert full power through a chain technique, he believed that with the perception of a peerless unmatched master, he could handle just the first strike.

For techniques affecting himself, this was certainly reasonable.

His peerless protective energy, the Brilliant Shining Divine Armor, was ten layers thick.

He had wrapped himself in ancient energy waves of the divine skill Expansionless Brilliance like a storm.

The Profound Martial Alliance Leader’s body is itself a natural disaster. The natural enemy of layering techniques like the Ten Brocade. It can completely shatter each layer of foot energy as it accumulates.

This was why he exposed his skin to the intruder who had immediately followed from the side while rushing toward the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

He intended to first shatter the kneecaps of Desolate Fortress’s Lotus Nezha.

But perhaps because he had focused all his attention on the boy who had briefly revealed an incomprehensible presence earlier?

He failed to consider a rejuvenation. It was an extremely rare occurrence.

The intruder’s martial arts were not techniques that could be measured by the Ten Brocade.

‘The extreme of tyrannical martial arts…!’

It was possible to imbue tremendous true energy in a single strike. It was a cultivation that disregarded the body.

In an instant, a hand with a bluish tint completely crushed through his protective energy and ancient energy waves. There wasn’t even time to deflect it.

If he had been facing the form head-on, he wouldn’t have been defeated so pathetically.

Kuguung—

The powerful energy waves flowing from the Profound Martial Alliance Leader’s shoulder joint grew dim. This was after his arm had been completely torn off along with the shoulder joint.

His protective energy had shattered and his energy and blood had been crushed. An enormous amount of blood poured out bright red.

Time seemed to slow down.

Jeong Yeon-shin and the Murong family head, who had been crossing swords at the peak, briefly retreated.

“That, that Goon fellow…?”

Murong Jung-rak’s eyebrows rose. It was the face of someone who had seen an extremely strange and surprising sight.

Slight confusion was visible in his pupils, which took in both Ma Yeon-jeok and the Profound Martial Alliance Leader at once. However, it looked bizarre because it was mixed with excitement and a competitive gleam in his silvery eyes.

Jeong Yeon-shin briefly bowed toward the figure beyond the Profound Martial Alliance Leader’s shoulder, then calmly adjusted his grip on the sword handle.

It was a very welcome development, but countering the Star Radiance Great Sword Lord came first.

Meanwhile.

The corners of Military King Martial Emperor Goon Wei-hu’s mouth trembled slightly.

Even his seemingly taciturn face was not free from the recoil of having a limb torn off along with its acupoints. One monster of incredible power had shattered another’s expressionlessness.

He briefly pondered. Why had this person initially layered foot energy? It had been a first strike that seemed to forcibly suppress the blood of the martial forces who had become corpses with just one strike.

“How messy.”

It came from the side of the Profound Martial Alliance Leader.

A magnificent robe hem fluttered at length. A color without particular elegance. It was a pink robe rare in the world.

“Lowly swordsmen of the martial world these days are.”

Thud.

Ma Yeon-jeok moved his foot to the side. This was right after he had casually thrown the arm in his grasp to the ground. A muscular arm torn off with the bone tumbled down.

The blood that sporadically surged strongly couldn’t reach the Tyrant Hero’s heavy evasive footwork.

His robe remained spotless even after emitting tremendous tyrannical force.

“Absurdly arrogant.”

His tone carried weathered contempt. It was the attitude of one who did not associate with martial artists. A bearing more arrogant than any martial aristocrat in the world was evident.

“The leader of a major faction? Nothing but vermin. You enjoy the culture of cities and villages while shaking the foundations of the country. Threatening the livelihood of common people and not even responding to tribute.”

“You are…”

Colorless light nets formed in the eyes of Profound Martial Alliance Leader Goon Wei-hu. They were shaped like flickering flames.

The unstable flow of internal energy was revealed in his eyes. It must be taking considerable mental effort just to maintain the unity of essence, energy, and spirit.

Ma Yeon-jeok opened his mouth with an indifferent face.

“Since you at least make significant contributions to the northern frontier, continue living in such a fallen state.”

The one hearing his words was a supreme master. In other words, a martial madman.

A figure who would prefer to have his head cut off with a single stroke while revealing the speaker’s sect and name.

The gleam in Goon Wei-hu’s eyes could only deepen. Along with his angry aura.

“Desolate Fortress’s hidden assassin… Was there another martial artist like the Tyrant Hero from decades ago?”

Despite what must be extreme pain, there was no tremor in his voice. It was close to talking to himself. There also seemed to be a hint of probing.

“Stupid fool.”

The corner of Ma Yeon-jeok’s mouth rose.

“There is no such person in the martial world.”

“……”

The Profound Martial Alliance Leader closed his mouth.

The white fur coat that had been violently agitated behind his back suddenly grew calm. The gleam in his eyes that had been fluctuating like a raging wave extinguished, and his pitch-black pupils found their place.

The blood overflowing from his shoulder gradually stopped, perhaps having stanched itself through internal energy.

“I…”

The Profound Martial Alliance Leader raised his left arm.

Like Shaolin monks who join their palms with one hand, Goon Wei-hu also made a fist-palm salute with only his left hand. There was discipline in his bearing.

“Have committed a discourtesy.”

“…!”… The martial forces who had been about to launch into lightness skill rushes from the slope below hesitated. For a brief moment, there was a commotion.

Thirteen Evil Sects, Military King Martial Emperor, Profound Martial Alliance Leader.

All the various titles referring to Goon Wei-hu as revered became meaningless in this place.

Not only had he accepted defeat, but he had even bowed his head. It was close to world-turning.

Meanwhile, the conduct of the man who had torn off the Alliance Leader’s arm continued to be shocking.

“Raise only your martial forces quietly.”

“…It shall be so.”

After briefly answering, the Profound Martial Alliance Leader slowly turned around.

An answer that seemed to agree straightforwardly.

The acupoints of martial artists who have cultivated internal energy form a microcosm with constant principles like all things in the universe.

A supreme master has generally reached the realm of full-body meridian circulation beyond the upper body major meridian.

In such an internal energy system, the loss of one limb inevitably leads to a significant reduction in power.

Now.

He would have few ways to defend himself if some powerful figure were to infiltrate the Profound Martial Alliance alone and rush at the Alliance Leader. He had no choice but to be cautious.

It meant that the moment he caused trouble for the country again, his head might fly off at the hands of the newcomer who had just donned the purple robe.

Thud.

The Profound Martial Alliance Leader descended the mountainside. Along with unstable energy waves flowing out. His footsteps breaking the silence echoed desolately.

The back view of the supreme master who had competed for the world’s leadership set like the sun, going down, further down.

Having encountered an unexpected natural disaster.

Like any martial artist dying away from home while leaning against a tree in an uninhabited forest.

It was a scene from the martial world.

“……”

The mounted martial artists who had been waiting at the bottom of the slope surrounded the back of the Profound Martial Alliance Leader. None of them dared to look up at Ma Yeon-jeok.

They only concealed their lord along with the sound of their horses’ hooves. The masters of the Thirteen Evil Sects, who had always acted as the strong, lowered their eyes with dignified appearances.

Clop clop.

They gradually moved away. Unable to handle the invisible character for “emperor.”

Only the steps of Goon Yu-rin, who glanced at one-armed Jeon Baek and Jeong Yeon-shin with a strange expression from one side of the group, were somewhat slow.

—Defeated today and in days to come.

The Profound Martial Alliance Leader’s recitation that had flowed out in a thick voice immediately faded.

Under the lukewarm and bright sunlight. His voice seemed to hide itself in the gap between the ending winter and approaching spring.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Breaking through that silence, a voice like cheerful lyrics rang out.

“Today must refer to that… Tyrant Hero, and in days to come, it undoubtedly refers to our squad leader. How could the ruffian young master of the Profound Martial Alliance and a daughter who may or may not exist compare to the Lotus Nezha! He must be filled with regret. A martial artist’s hand should be heavy.”

It came from beyond the slope, somewhere below the mountain peak. Someone had been clinging to the sheer cliff with wall-climbing technique.

After blurting out his commentary right after the storm-like event that would be widely discussed in the martial world, he climbed up the wall with a startled presence.

It was from the cliff side. Closer to Jeong Yeon-shin and the Murong family head.

The moment the hero’s headband tied around his forehead peeked out, the sword of Murong Jung-rak, who had been wearing a serious expression, suddenly moved.

The piercingly sharp trajectory was clearly aimed at Hyeon Won-chang.

Jjeojeong—!

Light beams flashing from two swords swept brightly in all directions. The ground shook with the invisible shockwave that spread belatedly.

The sight of the Murong family head’s precious sword and the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s Northern Light Divine Sword crossing from below. It was like exchanging a single move.

The two knots of the hero’s headband on Hyeon Won-chang, who had peeked his head up from below, fluttered roughly.

At a glance, his face looked terrified, but his eyes were extremely calm. Murong Jung-rak, who glanced down at him, smiled faintly.

“It’s a face you’d only see in a well-organized sect. Disciples believing in their sect leader.”

“……”

“Radiant Demon Wing Leader. You’re keeping up quite well. It seems you can turn that lotus on and off like a lantern?”

He asks as if truly curious. This was because Jeong Yeon-shin had temporarily dimmed Ultimate Thunder, which had a time limit for activation, while Ma Yeon-jeok was confronting the Profound Martial Alliance Leader. Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.

“Face the sword duel properly.”

It was a tone close to a demand. Not words that a Desolate Fortress squad leader should speak to one of the Eight Clan Leaders.

It was close to a challenge to the implicit hierarchy of the martial world. It also conveyed an intention to compare himself and the other through force, transcending status.

The Murong family head’s smile deepened.

“This is incredible. Isn’t this a one-sided advantage?”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Ma Yeon-jeok, who was standing with his arms folded.

Anyone would be in the same situation. The Profound Martial Alliance Leader had been reduced to that state. It was a nasty situation even for an absolute being among martial aristocrats like the Eight Clan Leader.

“Young Murong, this old man will not intervene. Focus your efforts only on showing off your meager sword talent.”

Ma Yeon-jeok spoke matter-of-factly. Murong Jung-rak seemed not to be listening.

“Could it be… no, how with the Harmonious Flower Divine Skill? No divine skill could handle the aftermath of that tyrannical strike…”

As he muttered to himself.

From the opposite side, Hyeon Won-chang climbed up from the cliff with two others.

“I wish to witness this moment clearly and compose a verse to spread. It’s time for the Radiant Demon Wing Leader to aspire to the Divine Sword Group. With all the time our squad leader has invested…”

“You nearly died and still dare to babble. Know that you’ll meet your end at this young master’s hands if you show signs of becoming a burden. Just stand aside quietly.”

“No, was that just now because of Senior Great Tongue Sword? There’s a limit to trusting the squad leader!”

Dark blue sleeves and clean white robe hems brushed against the ground.

Lazy Flame Dragon and Shin So-bin. The face of the Hwangbo family’s young master wore an expression of extreme contempt for Hyeon Won-chang, while the eyes of the Desolate Divine family’s heir showed reproach for her senior.

They moved their steps outward to avoid hindering Squad Leader Jeong Yeon-shin.

“These people don’t understand. Do they think one becomes the Divine Sword Group Leader just by donning a purple robe? First comes fame that widely terrifies the martial world. What better way to spread rumors than through verses? A description with credibility is what draws attention.”

As Hyeon Won-chang was speaking while silently moving behind Jeong Yeon-shin with the other two.

Whoosh—!… All sorts of shadows shot up from below. The resonance of energy waves was extremely sharp.

The figures that had sprung up by kicking off the cliff with extremely restrained presences numbered at least several dozen.

Their appearances varied.

A renowned elderly scholar from nearby, a great merchant leading the logistics of the large city of Taiyuan, a swordsman in shabby attire appearing to be from a third-rate martial family, even a waiter carrying the smell of inn food.

Blazing Moon Slaughter Sect.

Those who had been spread throughout various places while hiding their identities had returned. They clung to the edges of cliffs in all directions, focusing their gazes on one spot.

Ice-cold killing intent was all directed at the Murong family head. This must be because they were seeing the enemy of their sect.

“Ah yes, I had forgotten.”

Sreung.

Murong Jung-rak’s sword returned along the blade of the Northern Light Divine Sword that Jeong Yeon-shin had lowered. The monster of incredible power of the Flowing Star Sword, who had gathered his sword back toward himself, opened his mouth.

“The final incantation of the Heavenly Demon Armor must be with you lot.”

From various spots on the cliff walls spread to the left and right, condemnations close to screams erupted.

“You greedy spawn!”

“How dare! How dare you utter such nonsense before us…!”

“Wasn’t that day enough! I’ll cut your throat even if I have to become a vengeful ghost!”

“Elders, please restrain yourselves! He’s alone! Let’s sharpen our sword energy!”

“They couldn’t even withstand one foot energy strike from the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.”

After glancing at Jeong Yeon-shin, he spoke again. Did he believe he could escape even from Ma Yeon-jeok if he properly activated his lightness skill? There might be a protective technique among the secret manuals obtained from the Heavenly Demon’s Tomb.

Such confidence emanated from his appearance as he fluttered his elegant white robe hem. Even as the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s body began to be completely enveloped in a transparent lotus with a woong— sound.

“Come to think of it, I remember. You, you there. The child of the Kim family.”

The gaze of the peerless swordsman turned beyond Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder. It was clearly fixed on Hyeon Won-chang.

The shoulder of Hyeon Won-chang, who had met the Murong family head’s gaze, flinched. It was clearly an unintentional reaction.

“The scholars of the main house withdrew. I ordered them to extract all your meridians and vessels to find traces of the Heavenly Demon martial lineage, but they focused on the energy of the medicinal elixir, which was just a handful, and lost you. I considered punishing them but didn’t.”

Saaaa—

Haze rose from the entire body of Star Radiance Great Sword Lord Murong Jung-rak.

Currents with occasional bluish tints gradually began to surround his body. At a glance, it looked like the robe of an immortal made from strange mist.

“In any case, my protective energy is nearing completion.”

The moment he finished speaking.

Woong—!

The air in all directions rippled colorlessly.

It was a shockwave of mystical spirituality. It continuously extended from the Murong family head’s body.

In that instant, five or six Slaughter Sect disciples clinging to the cliff fell. They had fainted with their eyes open.

Amid the extreme commotion on the Slaughter Sect’s side, the energy waves that continued to surge like waves split into two only in front of Jeong Yeon-shin’s body. Like demonic armies unable to advance before a Buddha.

Ma Yeon-jeok, standing on the slope below, was even more impressive.

The energy waves that had been flooding shattered into foam as soon as they reached him. Only the pink sleeve hems tucked under his arms swayed clearly.

“……”

Murong Jung-rak suddenly closed his mouth.