Chapter 497 – Noble Clans’ Tree (9)

The destination of a short yet long martial world journey.

As the protective energy that had been flowing through Jeong Yeon-shin’s body like transparent lake water dispersed, his robe hem took on a deeper purple hue and hung down long.

Step.

A land where only an extremely few throughout the vast world could set foot.

He stepped into a place that bore the epithet of the Nine Provinces’ Three Great Forbidden Territories, alongside Beijing’s Forbidden City and the northern martial world.

—The true body of World Tree will be there.

This was the story that village elder Zhong Yuan had confidently told Jeong Yeon-shin earlier.

Unlike the other noble clans he had met in this city and villages, only Zhong Yuan’s words were trustworthy.

The elder who was the only one among World Tree’s clans to hide nothing and tell only the truth. The rare and kind Zhong Yuan was truly the most noble person in this land.

He had just exchanged hands with someone who possessed haphazardly cobbled martial arts. He said he was a clan elder.

This time he had found it properly.

Jeong Yeon-shin unconsciously opened his mouth slightly.

Hah.

A faint breath flowed out.

There were no seasons inside World Tree.

If it had been outside welcoming winter, white vapor would have risen, but at this moment, only green particles like fireflies scattered hazily around his lips.

It was somehow a futile movement like snowflakes.

The radiance that had been pushed forward collided grain by grain with some snow-white chin tip before disappearing like dust.

While gently illuminating the figure with the same appearance as the Desolate Fortress Lord before Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes.

‘This is World Tree’s true body?’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind filled with questions.

A woman standing on a large cut tree stump. Her appearance was so expressionless that she didn’t seem human.

From the moment he faced her, all his energy sense had been focused solely on her, yet he felt not a trace of breathing or even heartbeat.

Naturally, there was no blood color on her face or lips.

Was it a statue precisely carved from white marble?

At a glance, she seemed like someone who had lost consciousness while being suppressed by demonic blood.

‘She’s not my master.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

Not only did his upper dantian intuition and various circumstances not match, but above all, his master was not such an expressionless person.

A person who possessed smiles like leaves that had received the dawn sunlight. The statue before his eyes could not be the Desolate Fortress Lord.

After all, even her long hair and palace robes were entirely white.

Nevertheless.

Jeong Yeon-shin placed his hand on her shoulder.

Due to some inexplicable attraction. Fabric that felt more colorless than white was pressed under his grasp.

An extremely cold sensation. But unexpectedly, he felt weight like that of a real person.

That’s when it happened.

Thud!

Jeong Yeon-shin’s heart rang like a drum.

Precisely, it was vibration originating from the Luminous Wheel that endlessly circulated the Luminous Wheel Technique within his body. Meanwhile, from World Tree’s true body that his hand touched, a faint breeze flowed out like smoke.

It was like energy waves emitted by a person.

His eyes widened.

‘There are acupoints…?’

Instantly a roar arose in his mind.

His innate qualities endlessly extending carved lines into his mind.

The blood vessels and meridians of an existence difficult to determine whether it was a statue or person.

Only after directly placing his hand did he realize that the interior was filled with tremendous natural earth energy.

It was density that far surpassed the limits of the human body.

Thus, all the meridians that World Tree’s true body possessed converged around the solar plexus, and that structure reminded him of an internal energy master who had opened their middle dantian.

But there was no accumulated power. Only overwhelming suction force existed.

It was truly a quality that seemed like it would swallow all under heaven, and at this moment, the breeze that arose from her shoulder licked up Jeong Yeon-shin’s palm like a small tongue.

Rustle.

The fabric of her shoulder wrapped around his grasp, and.

“…!”

In an instant, storm-like pressure seized the Luminous Wheel Technique that had been flowing within his body.

The momentum to pull out his true energy in threads like yarn. It was as if forced energy transfer had been initiated.

It would be correct to call it Star Absorption Great Method.

Strength entered Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes.

The feeling of being seized by an abyss difficult for humans to fathom.

Questions inevitably arose. Why was this thing, clearly World Tree’s true body, so thirsty?

Was it truly an existence that supported the world? Why did it resemble his master?

Kuuuung!

The ground sank in.

He couldn’t remove his hand from her shoulder. The pulling force was so strong it seemed like it would suck in even his soul.

Incomprehensible. An existence that literally did not permit understanding.

‘No.’

Jeong Yeon-shin ignored the feelings he received as a person.

Unlike martial world masters who used various means to prevent others’ exploration, World Tree’s true body was defenseless like any tree.

The human body diagram with her acupoints drawn had long since settled in his mind.

As a grandmaster of the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique, he was unconsciously analyzing the body possessed by World Tree’s true body in detail.

‘Natural earth energy flows through her blood vessels instead of blood. Starting from the Shoulder Bone Point that my hand is touching, it’s exactly like a human. The blood vessels have elasticity. Moreover, the source of this suction force is the Jade Hall Point in the middle dantian area. A flow that draws large circles… though there’s no movement of chest muscles, the circulation of natural earth energy creates a tremendous suction formula with a feeling like taiji. What does she want? What kind of energy and how much must she consume before stopping? Perhaps, if I rotate the Luminous Wheel Technique in exactly the same way as this taiji result and feed it to her once…’

While his thoughts were immersed in waves of light.

Bang!

Suddenly a heavy impact struck his abdomen.

It was someone’s sword sheath. The force contained in the single strike was so great that his body shot out like an arrow all the way outside the Council of Elders hall.

Tremendously fierce wind sounds swept past his ears.

Naturally, the hand that had been difficult to remove on his own fell away by itself.

While suddenly flying far away, Jeong Yeon-shin did one aerial somersault and roughly planted his legs into the ground.

Kwaaaaaak!

A body pushed back for a long while while creating a long furrow.

When he raised his head, he saw a swordsman walking out against the backdrop of the half-destroyed Council of Elders hall.

A black-haired middle-aged man wearing a deep autumn-colored long robe. The nearby vegetation was leaning to both sides following his steps, as if nature was naturally opening a path.

Around him, countless noble clans were flocking toward the two people.

“Purple is a status that has experienced asura battlefields.” The middle-aged man continued speaking in a thick voice.

“You must have already learned various lessons in the martial world. This place is no different from outside. You shouldn’t carelessly touch things you don’t know. Your life was almost in danger.”

Even while uttering considerable words to Jeong Yeon-shin, his facial muscles didn’t move much. He was truly an expressionless person like a statue.

“…Thank you.”

Jeong Yeon-shin looked at him silently before responding with cupped fist salute.

He was a figure he had already sensed.

A man who had been absorbed in energy circulation with his back to World Tree’s true body. There had been no reason to be conscious of him since there was no need to speak to or disturb him.

The middle-aged man who had briefly nodded toward him, World Tree’s First Protector Praising Earth Sword Master, slowly opened his mouth.

Still causing the vegetation at his feet to lie down smoothly like silk.

“I heard during energy circulation. I cannot deny your story. The clans of this land also receive tremendous payment from the Zhu imperial family, so conduct that merely turns away from the world doesn’t make sense.”

“Praising Earth! You mustn’t speak carelessly!”

A sharp cry rang out from the Council of Elders side behind Praising Earth Sword Master.

But the two people currently facing off didn’t turn their gazes from each other.

Praising Earth Sword Master was consistently indifferent as if someone had stolen his emotions, and Jeong Yeon-shin had no mind to listen to the elder’s cry who had blocked him earlier.

‘There was a reason village elder Zhong Yuan only mentioned the Four Great Protectors.’

The elder was nothing.

The pressure that Golden Thunder had emitted was stronger than her lightning.

He didn’t even feel the quality that would make his head fly off the moment his concentration wavered. There wasn’t even Heaven-Reaching Bow Spirit’s killing intent.

She was merely someone who took scraps of Golden Thunder and Heaven-Reaching Bow Spirit to imitate being a master, and the gaps flowing from her body were large and refreshing like the current of the Yangtze River.

She was different from absolute masters who had each achieved great mastery of their martial arts as hard as diamond.

“You dealt with the First Elder for quite a long time.”

Praising Earth Sword Master suddenly asked while silently observing Jeong Yeon-shin.

“What was the reason?”

“There was a personal insight.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered quietly.

World Tree’s First Elder contained many qualities in one body.

Naturally, his experience had broadened. He had also gained a considerable enlightenment.

Regarding the direction his Transcendent Martial Arts should advance. There was no need to speak of it here.

“Congratulations.”

Praising Earth Sword Master nodded mechanically like a mechanical device. It was body movement as strange as his words and actions.

It seemed like even his sword paths would be straight lines.

Soon Praising Earth Sword Master asked again.

“Can you withdraw from here? If you insist on entering again, you must compete with me and win. Regardless of your story, the clan laws regarding the Four Great Protectors are set that way.”

“Is that law superior to your own intentions?”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, Praising Earth Sword Master slowly shook his head.

“If something directly connected to the clan’s safety occurs, the story would be different. But it’s not a matter that applies now.”

“That would be so.”

That was the end.

Before they knew it, both had stopped with swords drawn downward in exactly the same manner like a lie.

Extremely natural sword drawing. Both had reached the extreme of sword-spirit unity.

A crowd composed only of noble clans surrounded them while stepping on grass tips or tree branches.

It was soundless movement as if Grass Flying Steps were basic lightness techniques.

“To think the Grand Elder reached such a state…”

“Should we have blocked it?”

“But after hearing such words, how could we act carelessly… Wasn’t time needed to look back on the clan?”

“It’s hard to believe due to age difference. With such martial arts, he would be sufficient to compete with our Sword Master too…”

“Naturally it would surpass our imagination. The Desolate Fortress strategically forms pairs even when continuing bloodlines, and moreover, where would that nightmare’s bloodline disappear? It should rightfully be transcendent.”

Whispered words.

By now, no one displayed great hostility toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

Was it because they lacked stubbornness unlike the elder? It might be thanks to Golden Thunder who was swaying his body here and there on one side at this moment.

Jeong Yeon-shin only engraved in his mind who had uttered the last nonsense.

“With Brother Praising Earth…? Who should I cheer for?”

A golden-colored noble clan absolute master floating among the crowd. Unlike other skilled masters, no energy waves could be felt.

Invisible lightning was supporting Golden Thunder. It was the extreme of mysticism.

There was nothing to see. If he assisted Praising Earth Sword Master, Jeong Yeon-shin’s defeat was certain.

‘That World Tree… it’s strange. Too strange.’

But even while paying attention to the two people, Jeong Yeon-shin only thought that way.

It was full of questions. The fact that the noble clans were entirely bound to that existence of unknown nature whether tree or person was also so.

Presumably, suction force like natural disasters was one of the major causes.

He could clearly see the sight of periodically taking the energy of noble clans who possessed tremendous accumulated energy.

Even after receiving Praising Earth Sword Master’s power, only one side of her clothing had faintly regained green color like spots.

Even that was disappearing white again.

‘If she properly regains energy, does she take on the same clothing color as my master?’

Then.

Wuung!

The hair on his neck stood on end.

The moment the opponent took one step forward, a sharp feeling descended from afar and pierced his skin like lightning.

He realized without seeing. That Heaven-Reaching Bow Spirit’s arrow was aimed.

“Soul-Transcending Bow Technique!”

It burst from the Council of Elders side. It was the First Elder’s cry.

“Stop there! Don’t sully your master’s name any further!”

“…Elder.”

Praising Earth Sword Master muttered. But the First Elder didn’t care.

“Lightning Genius, you yourself may think you know many things, but in the end you too are an ignorant Han person. You know nothing about what we have endured. No matter how greatly disordered the world becomes, taking people from this place is merely unreasonable stubbornness. If your experience were broad enough to encompass our clan, that couldn’t be.”

“……”

“We have made the name of this nation our own and sacrificed our bodies like rainwater needed for barren land. The true body of World Tree that you saw is proof of that. Our great tree literally supports heaven and earth, and when such a role is nullified, the sight that the world will witness is… at least hundreds and thousands of flood dragons coiling down. Yes, to speak in terms fitting your experience. Throughout past and present beyond this land and the gates, incomprehensible existences will show their faces. It’s something that fundamentally shouldn’t happen.”

For a moment, Jeong Yeon-shin cast his gaze toward beyond Praising Earth Sword Master’s shoulder for the first time.

The half-destroyed Council of Elders side. The First Elder, who was now standing supported by two people, was staring at him with heavy eyes.

“Therefore, our clan fulfills its role by protecting this land and tree. So stop there. Only you will be embarrassed.”

It was a voice sharp like lightning.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been gazing at her silently, slowly opened his mouth.

“If I said there seems to be a method, would you believe it?”

“What kind of method?”

“A method that could open the breathing space of this land, even if briefly.”

“I can see you’re sincere. But I cannot rashly trust that method and the judgment of one who has just become purple. Please understand.”

The First Elder stubbornly shook her head.

Body movement that showed hundreds of years solidified like strange rocks. Soon she moved her lips.

“Looking with the clear eyes of the clan, that intruder’s intentions haven’t softened. The Grand Elder commands. The protectors should rightfully subdue him.”

Immediately, Praising Earth Sword Master’s sword became blurred.

At the same time, from a point dozens of li away, several roars burst as one arrow began flying while tearing through the instant.

Along with that, the hair of Golden Thunder who had been leisurely floating in the void also stood on end strand by strand like a divine sword.

In an instant, oppressive feeling that blocked Jeong Yeon-shin’s breath sprouted.

Three existences difficult to be confident of ten-tenths victory even in one-on-one combat. All were aged absolute masters of World Tree.

‘The moment I receive one strike, certain defeat.’

Thump!

He stepped with advancing steps.

Along with the sensation of crushing the ground, he shot forward.

With the activation of Ultimate Thunder, his field of vision stretched like taffy.

A feeling as if kneading time touching his skin with lightness technique. It was now a familiar sensation of the absolute realm, yet Praising Earth Sword Master’s sword had already cut through even that moment and rushed up to his eyes.

He pressed down the sword surface with his left hand Brilliant River.

The tension that created fierce friction with Praising Earth Sword Master’s sword strike energy waves burst sparks in all directions.

The noble clan’s First Protector was indeed a master of the sword. The trajectory that had been cutting toward his head naturally changed to a thrust aimed at his solar plexus.

He had completely followed Jeong Yeon-shin’s swimming time axis. But before his purple long robe could even flutter once completely, he used Praising Earth Sword Master’s sword as a stepping stone and lifted his body.

‘If it goes to a confrontation, there’s no chance of victory, but.’

He could briefly lead the fight in the direction he wanted.

A storm composed of all sorts of trajectories was raging in his mind.

The ability to take the flow of battle as intended. The quality permitted to Jeong Yeon-shin along with Invincible, Seventh Apostle, and Lazy Flame Dragon flashed in the form of sword wind in his head.

Bang!

When the arrow that struck down like a meteor from the void burst the ground into a huge hemisphere, Praising Earth Sword Master’s sword wind that had earlier spread after being deflected by Brilliant River’s gesture cut the arrow’s pressure diagonally.

Jeong Yeon-shin was already rushing through that gap like a beam of light.

While stepping like a stepping stone on Golden Thunder’s tension that had extended while distorting the surroundings colorlessly at some point.

It was because the power wave that had exploded when initially pressing down Praising Earth Sword Master’s sword with Brilliant River had extended like thread toward the front.

In an instant, he had escaped the battlefield.

Was it because his concentration had reached its extreme? Intent spread in his mind as if he had initiated Transcendent Martial Arts.

[If the problem is World Tree’s suction force that draws in energy even more intensely, then viewing it as a gear wheel and carving power into a specific true energy structure to block it would suffice. This is like the energy emission that masters use as naturally as breathing. Slightly opening the Large Intestine Transport Point below the waist and putting strength into the front rectus abdominis muscle to create elasticity…]

Step.

Surpassing even the First Elder who wore a bewildered expression, he stepped deep into the Council of Elders again.

At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin reached out toward World Tree’s true body without hesitation.

It was an instant before he touched the solar plexus of the existence resembling the Desolate Fortress Lord.

[Twisting taiji three times to grasp Six Harmonies, advancing twice from there to grasp Eight Trigrams with two points as axes… along with the mental image of applying brakes to the suction force, if I tear off a suitable piece of true energy to give…]

Rustle.

There was no particular sound.

The visible scene changed. In an instant, the clothing worn by the expressionless true body began to be dyed with leaf-like light green.

Not just one spot but her entire body. A scene as if an artist had boldly applied brush strokes.

Before they knew it, the forms of Praising Earth Sword Master and Golden Thunder who had occupied Jeong Yeon-shin’s rear had frozen like ice, and Heaven-Reaching Bow Spirit’s arrow that had already been shot again turned direction to the side as if imbued with sword mysteries.

Kwaaaaaang!

It was the sound of distant ground collapsing.

“You said you sacrificed for hundreds of years.”

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the face identical to the Desolate Fortress Lord before removing his hand. This time it wasn’t difficult.

“Was it wall-facing cultivation like Great Master Bodhidharma? I’m very curious about the reason, but if there’s something requiring self-repentance, I won’t ask further. Even if I withdraw like this and beg forgiveness from my master…”

“We didn’t know.”

This time too, Praising Earth Sword Master’s answer was like a mechanical device.