Chapter 373 – Sacrificial Ceremony (3)

Supreme masters of the secular world who have reached the pinnacle of internal energy cultivation are invariably big eaters.

This isn’t merely because they expend tremendous energy through martial arts. It’s because food is the refinement of natural qi.

Just as those born into nobility or Buddhist and Taoist practitioners digest spirit pills with their internal energy, masters of internal energy cultivation who have achieved the Great Heavenly Cycle transform every meal into a minor elixir.

Consumption that leads to pure energy accumulation. Burning away impurities without leaving a trace.

This is why supreme masters occasionally emerge even from humble sects where spirit pills are difficult to obtain.

‘Still, I need to retain enough nutrients to maintain muscle strength…’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought while sitting formally in a modest guest room.

A room where the characteristic scent of a temple flowed gently.

An extremely emaciated nun was staring at him with eyes whose depths were difficult to fathom.

On her left and right sat three elderly monks each, appearing to be of similar age.

Monks of Emei Sect. All were nuns.

—I truly… never expected the Flower Shadow King to be so young. I heard he even accelerated his timeline through bone transformation.

—Rumors said he was eighteen, not even twenty. Not yet of age.

—About the martial competition. Isn’t this young benefactor taking on too great a burden? No matter how powerful his martial arts or how high his status, to stand among the leaders of major factions… it’s truly regrettable.

—I feel compassion for him. My sister speaks truly.

—I’m concerned about the Sect Leader’s manner of speech. She rarely softens her words when expressing her intentions…

—I hear the youngest Black-rank in the Desolate Fortress has strongly inherited his grandfather’s blood. The Tyrant Hero, I mean.

Gentle waves of internal energy brushed past Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears and faded like sighs.

Sound transmissions from the monks. Originally, these whispers were sealed with energy waves following the incantations of profound sound transmission, but Jeong Yeon-shin’s upper dantian effortlessly penetrated their energy structure and interpreted them into his mind.

It was the fault of his upper dantian.

Unlike its owner’s temperament, it was quite curious. This wasn’t Jeong Yeon-shin’s intention. Certainly not.

‘The problem is the Baihui acupoint.’

Rather, Jeong Yeon-shin was concerned about the Emei Sect Leader sitting silently before him.

A body that seemed like flesh layered over bone. It contrasted with the robust physiques of the Shaolin monks he had met. She was too gaunt even considering her age, which must be well over sixty.

It was then.

Suddenly, Venerable Cypress Flame opened her mouth.

“Do you have something you wish to say?”

Her voice was firm, unlike her frail appearance. The tremendous energy accumulated within her momentarily made even the air vibrate.

Jeong Yeon-shin finally noticed the nine red dots on the Emei Sect Leader’s forehead. Nine. Those crimson marks symbolized the highest status of a martial monk in Sichuan.

It was said that only the Shaolin Abbot and the chief monk of the Potala Palace beyond the borders had the same number of ordination marks.

A peerless master of the righteous path in name and reality.

“Didn’t you summon me, Venerable? Please ask your questions.”

Jeong Yeon-shin responded respectfully. This was because he viewed her as an elderly high monk, not as an absolute being of the martial world.

As the surrounding Emei monks subtly flinched, Venerable Cypress Flame opened her mouth with an expressionless face.

“I asked because I was curious about your thoughts.”

“…?”

“This old nun has made an internal decision. I believe Master Jeong is not suitable for this martial competition.”

“Why do you say that?”

Jeong Yeon-shin straightened his posture slightly.

Earlier, he had heard the Emei monks discussing his age, but his shoulders, incomparably broader than before his bone transformation, clearly demonstrated his adulthood.

“Just now, I faintly sensed the energy flowing from outside. It was surprisingly auspicious.”

“Because of the Golden Wing Sect Leader?”

Venerable Cypress Flame nodded slightly.

“Things that humans perceive as auspicious fundamentally have great commonalities. Whether it’s the power of Buddhist and Taoist cultivation or the energy of mystical creatures. If there weren’t some similarities, they couldn’t be collectively described as auspicious.”

“That makes sense.”

“The Dragon-Slaying Heaven-Treading Technique is a divine skill that shatters the energy of enlightenment. Since its essence lies in slaughtering dragons, one with divine power should rightfully avoid the Golden Wing Sect Leader.”

The Golden Wing Sect Leader’s Dragon-Slaying Heaven-Treading Technique.

What Jeong Yeon-shin had heard matched the Emei Sect Leader’s words.

A martial art created to capture and kill dragons, the pinnacle of mystical creatures. Moreover, Venerable Cypress Flame had personally exchanged techniques with the Golden Wing Sect Leader.

“My Avalokitesvhara Golden Summit Energy was shattered with three kicks. So I unleashed the Tiger-Subduing Palm Technique, but she met it with her hands. Without even giving me time to form a protective barrier.”

She spoke calmly.

“It was the Dragon-Piercing Heaven-Treading Form. In an instant, a thunderous energy explosion occurred, and my protective energy was completely stripped away.”

“The temple hall beside us was also blown away. As if hit by a shower of fire bombs…”

One of the elderly nuns sitting beside her added.

The Emei Sect’s temple hall would be the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

It was an extremely historic place.

Due to the countless small Buddha statues displayed there, it was said that devotees from beyond Sichuan flocked to make offerings.

It was also famous for its size, comparable to a decent palace.

“The Golden Wing Sect Leader’s Dragon-Piercing Heaven-Treading Form, powered by the Dragon-Slaying Heaven-Treading Technique, was originally a martial art for breaking dragon scales. This old nun greatly experienced its power this time.”

“……”

“One who has cultivated Buddhist or Taoist internal energy should not face it. This is a fact known throughout the world, so no one would criticize a young benefactor like you for avoiding the Golden Wing Sect Leader. I have already spoken with the Qingcheng Sect Leader, and I hope you will observe the progress of the competition and take on someone other than the Golden Wing Sect Leader.”

Jeong Yeon-shin remained silent for a moment.

While none of the Nine Sects were unimpressive, this was the first time he had been treated so childishly. Even though his appearance was now that of an adult.

‘The monks of Emei are truly compassionate.’

The determination he had maintained to avenge Obeying Heaven Wing Leader Ha Do-woon seemed to loosen momentarily.

But the Golden Wing Sect Leader, who had used formations for human sacrifices, must die by his hand.

“……”

As Venerable Cypress Flame observed him carefully, sound transmissions continuously passed between the monks on her left and right.

They were all expressing bewilderment.

Given the Sect Leader’s temperament, she should have cut off the conversation with a single statement, yet her attempt to persuade the Radiant Demon Wing Leader was extremely unusual… They were curious about the energy she claimed to have sensed from him.

Suddenly, Venerable Cypress Flame spoke.

“There is stubbornness in that handsome face.”

“This is a martial competition I organized.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered calmly.

“I understand you interfered with the Golden Wing Sect Leader’s affairs. If you step forward with bravado first, the Ten Perfections Sect Leader and Pure Demon Alliance Leader will surely take a step back. You’re calling forth the Golden Wing Sect Leader.”

Venerable Cypress Flame said. Her tone was definitive.

Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly tilted his head.

“I merely stole one formation, it wasn’t anything difficult or significant.”

“Wasn’t it the rain dragon’s spell formation?”

“It had no defense against dismantling. It must have been a minor matter. She could probably quickly prepare another formation.”

“…This old nun hasn’t seen how she treats those she considers mortal enemies.”

“According to your words, who should face the Golden Wing Sect Leader? The Taoists of Qingcheng are famous for infusing their sword techniques with Taoist power.”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked. It meant whoever stepped forward would face the same issue.

Swish.

Venerable Cypress Flame rolled a large prayer bead between her fingers. Her face remained impassive. The demeanor of a righteous path’s absolute being.

“This old nun intends to step forward.”

“…?”

“This martial competition is not about consecutive victories. Even if this old nun is killed by the Golden Wing Sect Leader, it can still blunt the edge of the evil path’s forces.”

Words of self-sacrifice. Not something one would expect to hear from a Nine Sects leader who should live long with orthodox righteous path martial arts. Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes lowered.

“You mean to exchange lives on both sides.”

“The Desolate Fortress is clashing with many of the Thirteen Evil Sects, and recently the famine has become severe. Because of this, the Sima Evil Path’s behavior has crossed the line… if we don’t cut them off here, the people of Sichuan will have to bear unresolvable suffering for their entire lives.”

Destroying evil and eliminating demons.

At this moment, Venerable Cypress Flame was a martial world figure. One who viewed this life-or-death martial competition as a critical matter determining the fate of this land.

“Please understand, benefactor. This old nun’s defeat by the Golden Wing Sect Leader was not merely because my personal martial arts were insufficient. Beyond compatibility, these eyes clearly captured the Golden Wing Sect Leader’s divine skill.”

“……”

“There is no chance of victory. This old being must go first.”

The elderly nun’s voice quietly filled the guest room.

Though it carried no internal energy, it felt weighty, as the spirituality characteristic of one who had completed divine skills stirred the air.

The Emei Sect Leader among the Nine Sects.

Her cultivation was immensely deep. Naturally, she would have achieved unity of essence, energy, and spirit.

A mental image formed of losing at least once no matter how many times they fought. Even the current Jeong Yeon-shin would hardly dare to guarantee a hundred percent chance of victory.

“Now I ask again.”

Venerable Cypress Flame slowly continued. As if to say that if he had sensed her martial prowess, he should rightfully agree with her view.

“When you first saw this old nun, what did you think?”

She thought.

The young benefactor faced a Nine Sects leader.

It was their first meeting.

Anyone would inevitably feel an immense wall. Even between peerless masters of similar level.

The martial arts that Radiant Demon Wing Leader Jeong Yeon-shin had complexly accumulated to reach his current state were giving Cypress Flame a sense of facing some kind of wall at this moment.

Both were supreme masters who had extremely refined their upper dantians. Falsehoods wouldn’t work.

There could only be one expected answer.

Jeong Yeon-shin looked into the transparent eyes of the elderly nun and carefully opened his mouth.

“That you should strengthen your muscles and take better care of your body…”

“…?”

As Venerable Cypress Flame slowly blinked.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt somewhat relieved. He had finally been able to express what had been bothering him. Before the major martial competition.

“As the Emei Sect Leader, you should be someone the people can rely on. But your back is extremely narrow on both sides, aren’t you supporting your lumbar spine with internal energy rather than muscles?”

“…This old nun’s internal energy is like the rivers of Mount Sumeru…”

“I don’t sense much energy from your psoas major either. You shouldn’t live with such a body. Even Emei’s martial arts must have spinning techniques, and I’m concerned that you might have unfortunate accidents when turning your waist. Are you eating enough beans? I’ve been wanting to ask this all along.”

Woong—

There were things rushing into Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind like water currents.

It was inspiration after a long time. Extremely bright.

How could a body woven with muscles as thin as threads have withstood the Golden Wing Sect Leader’s martial arts?

How could one handle a strike powerful enough to break dragon scales with such low muscle strength?

Judging by Venerable Cypress Flame’s appearance, she seemed to have escaped without any fatal wounds.

‘She must have operated the acupoints where energy is released very fluidly. There’s no other way. Since her muscles are negligible.’

Come to think of it, they said the Wudang Sect’s High Sword had also fought the Golden Wing Sect Leader and survived.

‘The Venerable has surpassed Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and achieved unity of essence, energy, and spirit. Rather than ordinary footwork, using internal energy’s propulsive force would be better. By directing energy inward rather than outward, making movements much faster and more flexible…’

Predictions close to foresight.

Brief but densely accumulated knowledge.

Things were interlocking like lightning. Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin’s words continued.

Because he felt concerned for the high monk who was said to have deeply cultivated Buddhist power.

“It’s not just your waist that needs attention. The triangular muscles around your shoulders with the overlying Shoulder Acupoint are also problematic. The essence of fist techniques fundamentally lies in rotation, but with such thin rotator cuffs, I wonder how you withstood powerful strikes… You must have mastered extremely refined principles. I suspect that when the Golden Wing Sect Leader’s energy reached its peak at the impact point, using the principle that extremes reverse themselves…”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s words and actions contained sincerity. The supreme master who had refined her upper dantian to the extreme felt this as she faced him at close range.

Then.

A thin line formed on Venerable Cypress Flame’s lips.