Chapter 615 – Three Swords (8)

The demon realm’s capital.

Unlike the name Black Capital, the cloudy sky was clear and blue like a landscape painting. It looked as if azure paint had been lavishly spread. Even the sun shone coldly.

In contrast, the roofs that rose pointedly as if to pierce the clouds were all black without exception.

A color as if they had burned while trying to challenge the sun. Or close to a darkish ash gray. Thus Black Capital was filled with blue and black.

Enough that even a pure white swallow crossing the vast sky like now wouldn’t stand out.

Tweet—

In the pure white swallow’s eyes, the pavilion complexes arranged like a Go board were clearly reflected. Though it was a height where everything should look small, the northern humans’ city was still only large.

The city’s edge.

Because even Black Capital Old Palace’s massive octagonal roof was only faintly visible. It was the first kind of distance that White Swallow, who had followed Jeong Yeon-shin until now, had ever seen in her short life.

Semi-transparent energy was covering the palace.

Hard-to-fathom events were occurring inside. The signs were strange. Naturally, the white swallow’s master would have felt it too.

“Those who look too far cannot see the grassland before their eyes. A Tianzhu proverb.”

A voice that rose gently from the ground.

Of course, it wasn’t words spoken to the swallow. Because both wings were free.

The next moment, the scene reflected in White Sparrow’s eyes as she quickly lowered her head.

It was a one-armed woman.

She had wrapped her entire body greatly with a single sheet of blue silk, and blue lightning crackled from her empty shoulder. At a glance, it was in the form of another arm.

Unlike ordinary beasts, her body didn’t seem to be made of blood.

White Swallow had seen such beings several times.

Those who, even after losing part of their body along with meridians, quickly adapted to that deficiency. Natural earth energy outside the body and power inside the body naturally meshed.

It was literally the realm of innate talent, and such beings didn’t easily lose the balance of essence-energy-spirit even when they aged.

Among her master’s blood relatives, the person who was no longer male found this difficult, but at this moment it was possible for the woman with the scent of distant foreign lands.

Because she was currently swinging an arm made of lightning at Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so on some rooftop.

Woong!

In an instant, White Sparrow’s pupils flashed with sword-blue light. The beast’s free-spiritedness disappeared from her black pupils, and human-like focus was clearly etched.

Divine Art Secret Technique

Correcting Eye

An eye technique that Grand Commander Lim Jin-myeong had passed to Jeong Yeon-shin, who led the Desolate Fortress Great War to victory. An upper energy center martial art that shared vision with White Swallow even from afar.

It was said to be of different caliber from other scholars’ eye technique studies.

In White Swallow’s eyes.

The Divine Sword Group Leader had manifested.

Crackling—

On a remote pavilion’s roof, the moment Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so’s side was directly hit by a hand blade made of lightning.

—Quick technique to the Supporting Middle acupoint.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s will echoed. Dragon-Treading Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji was just before grabbing Great King Vajra’s waist with thick rope.

In an instant, Wei Zhi-ji’s wrist gripping the rope bent inward along with Jeong Family Dynamic Technique’s energy waves.

The cotton rope lasso that curved like a whip and lashed Vajra’s back of knee.

Bang!

“Hmm…!”

Vajra didn’t lose balance at all, but the lightning that had been replacing her left hand scattered for a moment.

The flow of the great circulation that had been swirling like rapids inside her body was cut off. At the same time, Cheon So-so, who had revealed her white side through blackened fabric fragments, regained consciousness.

Wei Zhi-ji was shocked even after making his own move.

‘How did he know the quick technique…!’

Not only the secret attack technique of the Heavenly Dragon Squad’s Sky Blade Lasso Art, but he had even assessed Wei Zhi-ji’s reaction speed and strike speed.

To put brakes on a peerless master like Vajra’s internal energy operation with just advice required only that. The composition and speed of the syllables created by will had to be precisely calculated.

—Please actively use the Radiant Wing Steps that Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong senior improved. Senior Wei, your right arm is strong and your left leg is precise. If you step greatly on the axis of footwork toward the opposing Northern King’s left side, a good combat range will definitely emerge. At this time, the key technique of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique is not the Desolate Fortress but the jianghu. Strike with irritation. Your true energy will become a bit stronger.

Around that time.

Wei Zhi-ji suddenly realized. That Jeong Yeon-shin’s will was being transmitted with a true energy structure similar to Nether Stream Squad’s Earth King Word Crossing Method. The same as the sword strikes that had fallen like meteors earlier. It was literally ultra-long-distance sound transmission.

How closely had he observed his seniors?

A young man who had become head of the family early and understood his family’s habits. Not different at all.

Moreover, at this moment, the power waves of sound transmission racing from the ridge opposite Black Capital were not just one or two streams. They were flowing in enough to reach both sides of Wei Zhi-ji.

To Ultimate Martial Hall Master Geum Cheong-won, who was now standing on one leg like a crane, and even to Cheon So-so, whose lips had risen white as snow.

—I heard that in Fujian Province, a fist technique called White Crane Fist is famous, but if Ultimate Martial Hall Master senior uses footwork as true footwork, it would become similar to that. If you apply the gravitational force of the Thousand Catty Weight to the leg amputation site, the balance will be right.

—Senior, only use the Flourishing Spirit Flower Master chapter of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique when you need big techniques. Constant operation isn’t good for prolonged battles. And I once studied ice arts because of Yang Gui-bi from our group, but if you create friction and emit true energy just before freezing, lightning will be drawn to it…

Zzzzzing!

The roof they were standing on was scorched black. In an instant, bluish lightning flashed in succession from Vajra’s body.

She slowly parted her lips.

“I’ve often nourished earth energy with my power. Originally, fertile land is bound to be thoroughly soaked with thunder energy.”

“……”

“It dries up before long. Natural disasters are like that.”

Though no one answered, Vajra glanced at the mountain slope opposite Black Capital and smiled slightly.

“But human affection doesn’t dry up. It’s good to see. Both the Divine Sword Group Leader racing terrifyingly across the ridge, and you whose fighting spirit doesn’t diminish.”

It was said that the energy perception possessed by masters of thunder arts transcended imagination.

Just as Jeong Yeon-shin had dropped three swords like meteors from an immeasurably distant distance, Vajra was also sensing the Divine Sword Group Leader’s presence.

She slowly moved her lips.

“Southern Emperor, give orders.”

—There’s a rotten lake in the city’s eastern district. Face them there. It would be good to add thunder energy to each step of the Level Ground Treading Steps.

It echoed through Bright Wind Spirit. Naturally, the three black ranks couldn’t hear it. They were only focused on embodying Jeong Yeon-shin’s instructions with their entire bodies.

That’s when it began.

Peeeeek!

In the sky where Black Capital could be seen at a glance, White Swallow spread her wings wide. Similarly, the swallow’s vision expanded endlessly.

A great city composed of vast rectangles.

The first change occurred in the Divine Sword Group.

—Radiant Demon Wing, Burning Abyss Squad, Nether Stream Squad, Immortal Tree Spirit, Law Enforcement Squad, Azure Sky Squad are Divine Sword First Unit. Place Radiant Demon Wing at the front and head north. The rest advance until the fifth alley from the east appears. Combat is forbidden. Flow with neutralizing force.

Over a hundred blue ranks broke away from formation and began racing north. All with swift lightness skills. In martial arts terms, they were swift swords.

While the remaining group turned right, there was a reaction from Black Capital’s martial army forces.

A flag rose from the edge of the official road where Divine Sword First Unit was sprinting.

A black dragon carved on a white background. It was the Plain White Banner. It was also the symbol of Aisin-Gioro Black Return, the Southern Emperor’s eighth son.

The only Northern King among over twenty siblings, and the one whose forces never left the Southern Emperor’s side when reaching Black Capital Old Palace.

Under a flag commanding forces of easily over twenty thousand, but now only two hundred.

Due to the Divine Sword Group’s lightness skill sprint that had rapidly advanced north to the demon realm. The extremely few elite who could respond to that speed had positioned themselves under the Plain White Banner at this moment.

All had built walls with crescent blades.

The atmosphere glowed at each blade tip. The blade strike shock waves of the Plain White Army’s Emperor-Guarding Plain White Blades.

Defense that also served as offense. Different from Shame Extreme Army.

They had even performed siege engine roles on the Great Wall front where even jianghu great sects were mobilized. Because the vertical conversion of attack techniques was free.

Suddenly, White Swallow felt threatened from above and rotated sideways. Because blade energy fragments might fly up at any time.

Whoosh!

At the same time, an impossible order fell.

—Radiant Art Bond shock waves ten-fold stacking. Break through diagonally to the right.

Grayish light clusters swirled like sword tips in the lightness skill breakthrough of over a hundred people. It was an instant before the blue masters of ‘Divine Sword First Unit’ who charged in like ghosts clashed with the Plain White Army.

“…!”

Claaaaaang!

Massive shock waves burst out in circles. Fragments of explosive force fluttering like feathers. Blue masters who flew diagonally to the right raced while stepping sideways on the pavilion complex’s stone walls.

Leaving behind shattered crescent blades and part of the Plain White Army at their backs.

Originally, overlapping striking power was the realm of technique. Needless to say about spitting out explosive force ten times in succession. Even if possible, meridians would be ruined due to recoil.

But Divine Sword First Unit advanced forward without doubt. At this moment, they were swords held in Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind. The greatest sword control under heaven.

Crack, crackle—

The sound of firewood breaking continued from the Southern Splendor Radiant Taiji surrounding Black Capital. Despite its size, it only echoed peacefully.

* * *

Black Capital Old Palace.

Under an octagonal roof wide enough to contain five or six large pavilions, darkish mist had settled. The only clear things were the circular altar placed at the palace’s center and Young Heavenly Demon Invincible standing before it.

Wearing pure white undergarments with faded purple robes over them. Standing out due to the absurdly vast and dark roof.

Under the silver mask, a dreamlike jawline was decorated with sideburns, and the ends of hair flowing long like an abyss were with a silver sword hilt. Some divine sword was tied to the waist sash wrapped around her back.

The shadows surrounding her numbered seven.

All Northern Kings, as if serving as dharma protectors for the most important energy circulation under heaven. Showing extreme vigilance against even the slightest interference.

The Fighting God’s return formation was being deployed.

“Father Emperor, do you feel it?”

One of the noble figures spoke.

“As soon as strange blue light surrounded the capital, the Divine Sword Group’s martial prowess changed. If you permit the sortie, I’ll go cut them down.”

It was Aisin-Gioro Black Return’s words.

But the Southern Emperor didn’t react to his son.

He only cast a large, elongated shadow behind Young Heavenly Demon Invincible’s back, occasionally moving his giant fingers as if playing a seven-string zither.

Operating forces by mobilizing not only Bright Wind Spirit but also spell martial arts.

A state more sensitive to energy disturbance than any energy circulation. To absolutely protect the Fighting God’s return formation while blocking enemies’ approach required this.

Above all.

Woooooooong!

The Northern Kings in this place were emitting Body-Crossing Power Transmission. Internal energy originating from each one’s endless energy accumulation flowed into Young Heavenly Demon Invincible’s Life Gate acupoint, and shockingly, she was handling transcendentally massive power as if it were her own.

Everyone felt it.

That the formation’s construction was heading toward completion.

Meanwhile.

“Why are you smiling?”

Dragon Sound Sasa King asked the Southern Emperor.

All Northern Kings in this place were sensing the entirety of Black Capital. Thanks to the command formation that the Southern Emperor himself had deployed.

Naturally, they also felt the Divine Sword Group heading toward Black Capital’s eastern district at this moment dividing into Divine Sword Second Unit and Divine Sword Third Unit.

Even the presence of Forest-Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin suddenly charging into the eastern lake and deflecting Vajra.

Thus Black Capital was divided into three regions.

Divine Sword First Unit had somehow encountered the swift Upright Star Army at Black Capital Old Palace’s entrance, and Divine Sword Second Unit blocked enemies’ direction changes from the great city center’s flank.

Divine Sword Third Unit largely included those with ultimate defense techniques like Ultimate Martial Hall to block the rear. It was the direction where Literary Star and Gao Yao Holy Sword Lord were entangled with several black ranks.

Isolated in the center was Great King Vajra.

The Divine Sword Group Leader had made it so. He dominated the battlefield from an invisible place.

“Crazy b*st*rd…”

It was Upright Star’s muttering.

The operation of martial army forces was inspired. The feeling of wielding feints and deceptions in the realm of instinct.

This was possible because all beings on the battlefield were superhumans who had each learned special martial arts. It was like a grandmaster who knew his allies to the bone beginning to destroy Black Capital from the inside.

Black Capital faced him with only the martial army forces immediately available. Sound transmission streams of Bright Wind Spirit and Earth King Word Crossing Method became entangled, and the Southern Emperor encountered a living Nether Stream Squad Leader through Jeong Yeon-shin.

“He’ll come soon. At this speed, at the latest one gak…”

[TL Note- One gak=15 minutes]

A figure with folded arms spoke.

A strangely archaic and leisurely voice. It was Lu Ban Heavenly Emperor. He was also the oldest Northern King.

“May I handle it?”

He asked the Southern Emperor.

But the Southern Emperor’s shadow shook its head.

“Commanding masters of martial arts is another martial art, insight into knowing oneself and the enemy, and a measure of how well one has lived life. It’s right for me to face him.”

“It seems we’re being pushed back… Well, what would a fallen dynasty’s emperor do by stepping forward.”

It was when Lu Ban Heavenly Emperor’s figure turned his head toward Young Heavenly Demon Invincible. Suddenly, a questioning exclamation flowed from her lips.

“Hmm…?”

It was above the altar.

Suddenly, without any particular precursor.

Crack—

The darkish void shattered like glass. A scarred hand emerged simultaneously, opening that space like a window.

Transcendentally natural.

The Northern Kings, who had been shocked by the Divine Sword Group Leader but hadn’t moved from their positions, suddenly turned toward the shattered space like a lie.

Each had widely torn open eyes that only showed whites prominently in the darkness.

A monster of fighting.

A being for which there were no other words.

“Southern Emperor.”

Thump—

A giant limping figure hobbled on the altar. A somewhat old-feeling voice with rather archaic speech and behavior.

“My old friend.”

The Fighting God spoke.