Chapter 379 – Under Heaven (3)

Those who survive into old age in the demonic path, which is known as the hell of the mortal world.

If they had to weigh honor against life, they would naturally choose life.

But this was a story that anyone would find difficult to accept at face value.

The Pure Demon Alliance Leader, who had been speaking with a terrifying voice imbued with powerful energy, now spoke without the resonance of six-directional spirit energy.

It was a very distant voice.

To recognize his actual voice, one would need to enhance hearing through sensory paths or observe his lip movements.

As the crowd on the mountainside murmured, even masters from the Nine Sects doubted their ears and eyes.

Mainly from the Qingcheng Sect Taoists rather than the Emei monks.

“What did that demonic monster just say?”

“If my perception technique isn’t lacking, he clearly said he admits defeat…”

“Did they already measure intervals?”

“The current Pure Demon Alliance Leader is said to have reached the realm of demonic transcendence. He wouldn’t be frightened by seemingly opposing energy, would he?”

Little Sword Queen Qu Su-yu’s gentle voice interjected among them.

“It’s dharma power energy. And the Ten Perfections Sect Leader’s weapon technique too… The Radiant Demon Wing Leader has created the perfect conditions. I don’t understand how it’s possible, but.”

Her words confirmed what many had suspected. The Emei monks’ Buddhist invocations softly echoed again, and the Qingcheng masters stirred.

“Dharma power…? I’ve heard rumors about wielding divine power, but…”

“We should have seen it up close. Has the Radiant Demon Wing Leader truly manifested energy comparable to the Taoist Three Pure Powers?”

Voices tinged with subtle excitement.

The Taoist Three Pure Powers are known as the most auspicious force in the world.

It was said that even among all the Taoist Nine Sects, only the Wudang Sect Leader had attained such enlightenment.

“Quiet.”

The Qingcheng Sect Leader, standing at the edge of the cave entrance, spoke.

His back view with long, sharp ears raised. The energy waves from his sudden lightness skill had lifted the hem of his white Taoist robe high.

“What does the Venerable think?” he asked quietly, while staring intently at Jeong Yeon-shin surrounded by the light cluster of the eighteen types of weapons.

The Qingcheng Sect Leader’s gaze remained fixed without the slightest movement.

Venerable Cypress Flame, who had risen from her cross-legged position, opened her mouth.

“That elderly devotee is the longest-lived figure in the demonic path. Anything is possible, whether he’s truly concerned for his safety or has other intentions.”

“The Eighteen Types of Weapons Technique… Has the Radiant Demon Wing Leader completely mastered it?”

“Haven’t you already witnessed it?”

When Venerable Cypress Flame countered with a question, a gentle silence returned. The Qingcheng Sect Leader’s expression was inscrutable.

He appeared lost in deep contemplation while carefully observing Jeong Yeon-shin.

“…He has qualities that challenge the natural order. Truly dangerous. One who dismantles as easily as breathing. How many sects would tolerate such an existence…”

The Qingcheng Sect Leader’s words trailed off. Venerable Cypress Flame shook her head while observing the standoff between the Pure Demon Alliance Leader and Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Emei and Shaolin can only welcome him gladly.”

“The more the Radiant Demon Wing Leader distinguishes himself, the greater the storms that will blow across the righteous path. He’ll make even more enemies than the current Divine Sword Group Leader.”

“That’s certainly concerning, but it doesn’t seem to be the issue at hand. Look at that elderly devotee from the demonic path. The signs are troubling.”

Just after Venerable Cypress Flame finished speaking, an Emei nun rapidly ascended from the cliff below.

“Sect Leader! The Thirteen Evil Sects forces are rampaging!”

“Report calmly.”

“Nearby sects have all apparently suffered complete annihilation. Not just martial clans and monasteries, but even martial academies… Our sect’s informants have also been cut off.”

“Amitabha.”

“We haven’t received any falcon messages from Sister Golden Chan. According to reports, hunters with internal energy are causing natural disasters, led by a short woman… Based on the letter, it seems the Golden Wing Sect Leader is heading this way.”

It was then.

On the hill where all the Nine Sects masters were watching, Jeong Yeon-shin was saying similar words to the Pure Demon Alliance Leader.

“Are you truly not going to show yourself?”

“Child of the Desolate Fortress. Your strike range is certainly remarkable. But it doesn’t match my years of experience.”

The Pure Demon Alliance Leader chuckled as he spoke. The demonic energy that had darkened the entire sky had long since disappeared.

It had retreated into the old man’s black robe some time ago.

The surroundings were bright.

As white lightning continuously flickered between the weapons surrounding the two men, Jeong Yeon-shin stared at the Pure Demon Alliance Leader and parted his lips.

“It’s strange that you feel no shame at your age. I heard you reached the realm of demonic transcendence, but has demonic energy invaded your Baihui acupoint?”

“……”

“I said this isn’t a martial competition but punishment. Did you think you could avoid it by tucking your tail like an old dog?”

While asking these questions, Jeong Yeon-shin was also observing his internal condition.

The life-or-death duel with the Ten Perfections Sect Leader.

The external wounds weren’t a major concern. He had grown accustomed to pain.

The problem was the aftermath of the Ten Thousand Forms Primal Origin Technique accumulated throughout his body. The sensation was like long needles sharply piercing his blood vessels.

The energy waves left by a peerless master of a hundred battles were interfering with his internal energy flow with a hardness like diamond.

He couldn’t exert his full power in this state.

This was the price for defeating a Sima Evil Path leader. He needed time to briefly regulate his energy circulation.

‘If I properly operate the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique, I should recover quickly…’

Whoosh—

Jeong Yeon-shin felt a gaze extending from the depths like an abyss. Black light was scanning his body. It was the Pure Demon Alliance Leader’s gaze.

Defeating that old man here wouldn’t be difficult. Even facing him immediately, he could see more than a ninety percent chance of victory.

The problem would be confronting the Golden Wing Sect Leader right after beheading the Pure Demon Alliance Leader.

‘Mother.’

Jeong Yeon-shin activated the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique while standing.

Rustle—

As soon as the core principles appeared in his mind, his body began to gently repair itself.

A fluffy sensation. The process of stitching torn meridians with true energy and restoring elasticity to the blood vessels proceeded slowly.

It was significantly slower than when cultivating alone. This was because a peerless master stood before him.

The Pure Demon Alliance Leader, who had been carefully observing him, smiled faintly.

“Punishment, you say? I’ve barely been on the leader’s seat for a month. I’ve never personally interfered with the Desolate Fortress, and merely found it amusing to watch my underlings cause trouble. Rather…”

The old man with wrinkled lips continued slowly.

“I’m curious about your cultivation. Have you truly mastered all the weapon techniques of that young fool?”

There was great interest in his aged voice. He seemed to be asking about an extremely important fact.

“Do you know the whereabouts of the Golden Wing Sect Leader?”

Jeong Yeon-shin countered instead. As if he found no value in the old man’s question.

The Pure Demon Alliance Leader’s eyebrow twitched.

The old man was facing behavior he had never experienced in his long life.

He should rightfully turn the youngster’s head to mush with the Heaven-Reaching Demon God Force technique, but the divine radiance surrounding the eighteen types of weapons was unprecedentedly mystical.

“…The Golden Wing Sect Leader’s movements in the martial world have always been consistent.”

“Don’t speak indirectly. Explain properly.”

“She’ll be annihilating sects that interfere with finding dharma treasures. Since opening a mystical creature’s hiding place requires divine weapons.”

“That old woman has no shame either. She must have seen the words I wrote.”

“Don’t worry. From the moment you ruined the rain dragon’s formation, she was destined to seek you out.”

The old man answered in an archaic manner of speech.

This was a conversation between peerless masters.

While the surrounding crowd held their breath, whether they could hear or not, Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth without concern for the many eyes upon him.

“Tell me where you’ve hidden all your minions. The Ten Perfections Sect, Pure Demon Alliance, Golden Wing Sect, and all the rest.”

“…Your words are excessive, befitting the Tyrant Hero’s bloodline.”

“I called for you to show your martial arts, yet you’ve been engaged in petty scheming.”

A faint disappointment crossed Jeong Yeon-shin’s face. Because he had maintained an expressionless face until now, this emotion appeared even more profound.

The Pure Demon Alliance Leader’s brow furrowed.

The expressions of the masters lined up on the nearby mountainside also changed.

Martial artists are beings who pay attention to every move of world-class talents.

When that talent is a young man who had just single-handedly killed the Ten Perfections Sect Leader, they would unconsciously try to gain his favor regardless of sect affiliation.

They would react even to insignificant shifts in mood. Like some women at this moment who seemed entranced while gazing at the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

A young peerless master naturally gathers admiration through his mere presence.

Today was just the beginning.

“Child of the Desolate Fortress, it’s because you were ignorant of the Sima Evil Path’s martial world.”

“Stop using the term ‘Sima Evil Path’ now. They’re merely dishonorable ruffians.”

The Pure Demon Alliance Leader closed his mouth.

The air and sunlight rippled. Time began to flow.

* * *

Some among the crowd looking up at Yunhui Peak rubbed their eyes. Others couldn’t hide their shock.

This was because the scene unfolding on the hill defied imagination.

An elderly nun and a handsome Taoist of noble lineage were standing as guardians. They were positioned on either side of the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, who sat cross-legged.

Venerable Cypress Flame, the long-standing leader of Emei Sect.

Two Walls Sword Lord, the Taoist who had newly ascended to the position of Qingcheng Sect Leader.

“……”

The air was heavy.

Saaaa—

The wind that had been sweeping up the cliff and blowing toward the hill returned on its own.

Only dust hazily spread before disappearing. The sunlight brilliantly reflecting on the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s face didn’t touch it.

It was an unprecedented sight.

“Is that really Venerable Cypress Flame and Two Walls Sword Lord…?”

“Report this to the family. From now on, all rumors about the Radiant Demon Wing Leader are to be classified as Desolate Fortress purple-rank information. This concerns not just martial prowess but hierarchy.”

“I’ve truly lived to see wonders. To witness the spectacle of the Nine Sects’ absolute beings serving as guardians for a single person…”

The Nine Sects’ leaders.

The orange monk’s robe and pure white Taoist robe gently swayed.

These tremendous collections of energy waves had gathered in one place.

If the Pure Demon Alliance Leader had known that the names of the Qingcheng and Emei sect leaders were absent from the martial competition announcement, he would have fled long ago. That’s what he thought to himself.

To invite someone as a guest and then attack them together? Unless one was prepared for sect annihilation, no righteous path martial artist would ever do such a thing.

That’s why the old man spoke brazenly, with a furrowed brow.

“These so-called leaders of the Nine Sects have no sense of propriety.”

After the Ten Perfections Sect Leader was killed.

Anyone could guess that the Radiant Demon Wing Leader wouldn’t be in perfect condition.

Yet he still appeared capable of handling the Pure Demon Alliance Leader, which was truly astonishing.

And now he was regulating his energy right there.

No one could interfere. Few in the world could break through the protection of two Nine Sects leaders.

“……”

The two didn’t respond. They merely gazed at the Pure Demon Alliance Leader with weighty eyes.

‘That fellow is restoring himself to peak condition here…?’

The old man considered his options. Was it time to bring out the demonic weasel?

Swish—

A strange presence stirred in the Pure Demon Alliance Leader’s wrinkled hand.

Though nothing was visible as he gripped the air, there was something silently undulating within.

A spirit beast. A type of demonic creature.

An invisible weasel.

Just as Shaolin and Emei’s renowned clan monks raise brown squirrels as messengers or tracking tools, absolute beings of the demonic path possessed demonic creatures formed of spirituality and demonic energy.

They typically used them to transmit orders to subordinates during seclusion.

Those who have cultivated orthodox martial arts cannot sense its presence. Because it’s a divine creature of the Pure Demon Alliance, which split from Ming Cult.

This remains true even for peerless masters, as the demonic weasel’s power is extremely weak and poses no significant threat.

It also has the limitation of being unable to travel beyond a certain distance from its master.

Now the situation was different.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader was right before him. In a state of energy regulation.

It was worth trying. Even inflicting a tiny wound on an acupoint would be good.

He couldn’t just stand idle, could he? The Pure Demon Alliance Leader slowly directed his mental imagery toward his hand. Go.

Squeak—

It was a sound that resonated with spirituality. The invisible weasel slid through the void at high speed.

It took just an instant to pass between the two sect leaders and reach the shadow of the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, who was leaning forward.

‘Child, you don’t understand the Sima Evil Path.’

Just as the Pure Demon Alliance Leader’s wrinkled lips curved slightly upward.

Swish.

A head silently rose from the shadow.

Jet-black hair swept through the air in long waves, and porcelain-white skin scattered smooth radiance.

The realm of super acceleration where everything slowed down.

“…!”

The woman who had emerged head-first from the shadow opened her red lips and bit down hard on the weasel’s form.