Chapter 625 – Red Sky (6)

Light that crossed the sky transparently without any shock waves or sounds was blocked by a single massive great sword.

The blade’s width was so broad that even the shadow cast on the ground was enormous. Large enough to darkly cover even the deeply gouged and messily torn wounds on the surface.

It was Gao Yao Holy Sword Lord’s great sword.

In front of Black Capital’s gates that had split horizontally to an alarming degree and fallen over.

A peaceful wind was blowing.

Eight Desolate Fortress black ranks fluttering their black robes like cloaks. Among such giants of the jianghu, the particularly large frame of Northern King Gao Yao Holy Sword Lord and Six Star Lord Literary Star stood out.

Tremendous pressure was slowly but steadily sinking the ground.

The dust beneath their feet was also thick with yellowish color. It was because the energy waves from their life-and-death struggle had reached their peak.

Kugugugugung—

Beneath Gao Yao Holy Sword Lord’s great sword raised high to form a vertical line with the ground, their battle was also nearing its end.

“Using such a giant weapon for an upper stance…?”

Forest-Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin muttered. While pounding his own chest around the sword wound that extended from his waist to his chest.

But that sword wound didn’t respond to the noble clan’s unique dignified pressure point techniques. He could only cough up dark red blood that had died.

“Damn it.”

It wasn’t just Xiahou Wei-jin.

More than half of the black ranks had their chests or backs split by that sword strike. Not only Obeying Heaven Wing Leader Namgung Hwa-shin and temporary Blood Guardian Squad Leader Heon-won Chang, but even Law Enforcement Leader Woon So-yu and Radiant Sword Squad Leader Hak So-seon.

Drip, drip…

The blood flowing from their bodies had long since formed shallow puddles at their feet. It was very sticky.

The sword marks left by Gao Yao Holy Sword Lord.

The pressure contained in the absurdly powerful sword strike shock waves tormented their wounds. Through different mysteries from Jin Myeong-jo’s Dark Night Brilliant Blood Demon Sword, it completely blocked all recovery techniques including pressure points.

It might be fortunate that they weren’t severed in two when struck by such overwhelmingly massive sword work.

It would be thanks to their protective energy hardened to the extreme, reaction speed elevated enough to deflect transcendent sword strikes, and Jeong Family Dynamic Technique that had made their entire meridians, muscles, and even detailed channels reach their prime as warriors.

However,

Even so, gradually.

Some death was approaching like a faint sunset line.

Like the inside of the fortress walls already filled with countless sounds of weapon collisions and some fishy smell, or like the blood pools gradually spreading thick from the ground where eight black ranks and two Northern Kings stood.

They could no longer move carelessly.

The consumption of stamina was tremendous. If anyone was caught by Literary Star’s hands once more, their body would be torn in half.

They had no choice but to regulate their internal energy breathing like Black Capital Old Palace, which had become frighteningly quiet at this moment.

“Worry about inside the castle.”

It was because of Six Star Lord Literary Star who had just spoken that they had suffered this much. The central axis of battle was clearly bound to be the greatest in external arts.

But he wasn’t intact either.

Part of the side of his head had completely blown away, and his giant body was mutilated with dark blue sword marks, revealing ashen skin.

He was experiencing massive blood loss the same as the black ranks.

“Every Northern King… no, all Northern Kings except one have their respective great warriors under their command. So your subordinates struggling inside Black Capital would have faced martial army forces led by the demon realm’s great warriors.”

Literary Star concluded his story very smoothly.

“Without direct superiors.”

Internal energy breathing that didn’t waver a single point.

He was the only one in this place whose exhale and inhale flow remained constant. Truly a consistently massive presence like a lie.

Even though Jin Myeong-jo, who had inflicted so many sword wounds on Literary Star, was also breathing white breath.

“Hmm, does your shoulder blade hurt less?”

Literary Star suddenly asked Jin Myeong-jo, but he didn’t answer.

“……”

The Divine Sword Deputy Leader’s left arm had been completely torn away. Blood vessels and muscle fibers were finely writhing to manifest regenerative abilities, but it was literally minimal.

Because he wasn’t born with precious bloodline.

Otherwise mixed blood.

His white hair meant he was one of the extremely few blood demons with particularly fast reaction speeds, but the energy accumulation speed of blood energy and regenerative abilities only slightly exceeded those who became blood demons through fang bites.

That is, his pure white hair was merely a mark revealing his blood demon nature.

“By the time your arm regains its original form, the national fortune of this land… that is, the country whose name hasn’t been decided whether it’s Jin or Great Qing will also be determined.”

It was plain temperament without mockery.

It continued to be so.

Even after again destroying Woon So-yu’s back protective energy, sustained by Jeong Family Dynamic Technique mastery, with one punch, and even when he went as far as compressing Xiahou Wei-jin’s head with both hands.

Literary Star was always calm. The same was true when he shook his enemies with stories accompanied by deep internal energy breathing.

“Behind the city, powerful military energies are approaching from the river side. At least thirty thousand in number.”

He even clasped his hands behind his back while slightly blocking Gao Yao Holy Sword Lord with his body.

It was clearly a form of protecting his comrade’s Transcendent Martial Art deployment, but his generous yellow cloak appeared scholarly enough to seem like a student’s clothing.

“Thanks to Bright Wind Spirit, rapid return is our nation’s military strength. The sound caves were ruined by the Northern Emperor’s marvelous sword strike, but…”

The martial army forces the Divine Sword Group was now facing.

They were composed only of elite masters among Black Capital’s elite. Otherwise, those who could demonstrate lightness skills at speeds corresponding to Bright Wind Spirit’s sound transmission.

That is, the great army charging toward Black Capital’s rear at this moment could be called the main force. Naturally, their numbers were incomparable. They were indeed the backbone of nation-founding.

The reason the Divine Sword Group had rapidly advanced north was becoming meaningless.

For the demon realm’s jianghu, they had seized the advantage.

Nevertheless, Literary Star’s expression remained calm.

“Indeed, it wasn’t something to use national power to this extent… I really don’t understand. What did we do wrong? Breaking the heads of cannibals, building towers with their corpses, adding places to that tower when enemies or civilians meet death… Could we be more moderate than this?”

“What?”

Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong Ya’s blue eyes showed bewilderment, but Literary Star’s words continued calmly.

“I know that such customs fan the killing sprees of demon realm jianghu people blinded by energy accumulation. When the Fighting God returns, the Great Wall and Beijing will also be dyed with blood. But even so, we cannot be more human than this. What would the starving see?”

“……”

“You and of course the Northern Emperor are not vessels to contain something but merely sharp swords. You came here as swords of the Ming imperial house only to commit slaughter. In chaotic times when gates and famine increasingly rage, for us Yao tribe, invasion is inevitably defense…”

“Don’t make any definitive judgments.”

Jin Myeong-jo slowly moved his lips. While gripping the dark blue misty sword with his only arm. Even if his neck disappeared instead of his arm, he had the momentum to win in this life-and-death struggle.

“The name of the unique martial art created by the contemporary Divine Sword Group Leader is Transcendent Method. It’s not a vessel you can fathom.”

But Jin Myeong-jo’s words didn’t reach his enemy.

“Transcending law and order. Of course I know.”

Literary Star continued with a slight smile. While subtly turning his foot. The ground sank with a crack from that brief movement.

“I intend to do the same.”

Crash!

A leap drawing a massive parabola toward Black Capital with one stealthy backward step. The atmosphere was noisily torn apart due to his overwhelming presence.

A monster was flying. His destination was clear.

The place where Jeong Yeon-shin would be facing the Southern Emperor. Where the balance of battle would be precariously matched by now.

It was Black Capital Old Palace.

Whoosh!

In a brief moment, four shadows violently distorted in place and followed Literary Star.

Divine Sword Vice-Leader Jin Myeong-jo, Annihilation Team Leader Shin Hwang, Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong Ya, and even Radiant Sword Squad Leader Hak So-seon had immediately reacted.

Those remaining had to face a single great sword.

[I dominate the laws of this jianghu and have no intention of permitting your advance.]

Resonance originating from the Yao tribe old swordsman with completely bleached hair. At this moment, Gao Yao Holy Sword Lord was dropping a trajectory that swallowed even noise with a single blade.

It was Transcendent Martial Art.

[Prison God Place.]

Will that flowed down like heavy sunlight.

Kugugugugugugungung—!

Vibrations that even created afterimages on the earth swept all directions. The wilderness seemed to collapse entirely.

Strong sword that permitted no response.

—Judgement Qilin is an invincible sword technique capable of late-strike-first-control. I’ll sever the pulse.

Namgung Hwa-shin faced the great sword while wildly fluttering his disheveled hair like a madman.

No one had time to stop him. Woon So-yu and Xiahou Wei-jin were swallowed by dust clouds in their respective stances of displaying unique lightness skills.

* * *

Separate from the earthquake that occurred on the ground, the sky’s blue color was flowing peacefully. Thin feathery clouds also filled the vicinity.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang—!

Some giant shadow was racing across the white and blue sky. With a hammer reaching one zhang hanging behind his back.

“There’s no chaos like this chaos. I need to pick just one place.”

He muttered quietly while surveying from the battlefield’s entrance to its end at a glance. Simultaneously, his rapidly accelerating form scattered white clouds as it advanced.

The wilderness, Black Capital, Black Capital Old Palace, and at the very end, the dark waters of the Amur River tributary flowing majestically.

Kugung—!

Dozens of thick ripples burst along the trajectory reaching the farthest river waters. They were all shock waves from void-treading.

But the waves that exploded in the vast river the next moment were the largest throughout the entire battlefield.

Naturally, it was the point where Ma Yeon-jeok and Northern Blade had crossed their respective sword and crescent blade, axe.

While hazy vibration waves swept past as if pushing all of Black Capital in an instant.

Crash!

A water column that soared to the sky like a dragon’s ascension.

It seemed as if a giant waterfall had formed.

Foam from the river water burst darkly beyond Black Capital to the wilderness, and an untimely rainbow struck down from end to end of Black Capital.

All seven colors were large and faint.

“Are there only monsters here? No matter how much it’s naadam…”

Six Star Lord Finance  raced straight toward the rainbow’s end. Like Literary Star had earlier disappeared toward Black Capital Old Palace.

Literary Star trying to protect the Southern Emperor.

Finance Star who had friendship with Northern Blade.

All Six Star Lords had arrived at Black Capital.

At that moment, within the water column thick as a dragon’s body, Ma Yeon-jeok and Northern Blade stood facing each other having withdrawn their weapons.

A scene of both endlessly receiving spurting water streams with their entire bodies.

Chiiiiiik—

Bodies heated by terrifying explosive force friction emitted white steam. They were both in a state where they could face life-saving ultimate techniques at any moment.

[I know your Transcendent Martial Art. Its name is Wishing Return.]

Northern Blade spoke.

[A technique that crushed even the former Wudang’s greatest master’s Transcendent Martial Art with force. In terms of strong swords, it was first in Ming Dynasty jianghu.]

“You know quite well. Befitting the beasts who let loose that trash called Spirit Leader.”

Ma Yeon-jeok replied while fingering Moon Protector sword’s faded hilt. Space that repeatedly blurred and cleared around his large grip.

Wishing Return.

Earnestly wishing for return. Meaning to pull back even time with one sword.

It was also a father’s single-minded desire to return to before his daughter Ma Yeon-sang and the scoundrel Jeong Pan Yue met.

Parental affection.

It was natural to be stronger than any tyrannical martial art, and indeed Ma Yeon-jeok had never been defeated by anyone since mastering Transcendent Martial Art—Wishing Return.

His epithet at the time was Invincible in One Strike. Unlike other peerless masters, he did not hold back and deployed Transcendent Martial Art.

He inevitably became the analysis target of all forces.

Even during such times, no special countering methods emerged. Because it was an honest move without any deception. It was a technique where it didn’t matter whether the opponent read it or not.

However, at this moment Northern Blade was looking down on that era.

[Old age martial arts. I’ve seen it in the Earth King’s memories. The former Wudang Sect Leader and your battle was transmitted from upper energy center to upper energy center.]

Saaaa—

Breeze seeped from the giant figure holding crescent blade and axe with both hands. It clearly departed from common sense providence. The body itself seemed to have transformed into some wind’s source.

Simultaneously, colorless energy waves also rippled faintly like mist from Ma Yeon-jeok’s body.

He opened his mouth expressionlessly.

“Is the spy’s alias Earth King? A grand name for a rat.”

[Wishing Return… Transcendent Martial Art combining sword hand techniques. But no changes exist in the sword forms. Even the power to put into feints extends in a straight line, so the trajectory’s directions are also limited.]

“Worthless sword discussion. Come.”

[If you just don’t get pushed back immediately in one exchange, it’s easy to deliver counterattack techniques. It could be called a toad’s life-saving ultimate technique. And Yao tribe masters like me can overcome your brute strength.]

Before his will could even conclude, Northern Blade’s crescent blade was striking down on Ma Yeon-jeok’s shoulder.

As soon as Ma Yeon-jeok’s hand blade tinged with bluish flames brushed it away, a hand axe flew in from the opposite side.

The moment he struck up with Moon Protector sword, massive recoil split the water column horizontally.

Crash!

White foam scattered widely, tearing through sunlight, and Azure flames arose like wildfire among those transparent sunlight fragments, then filled all the upper and lower water columns.

Flame Transformation Smoke Ember Method. Wishing Force.

Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang!

Northern Blade’s protective energy trapped in blue flames rippled violently.

Internal energy barrier that had received transcendent strikes countless times. Even the ashen muscular body that had seemed unbreakable was on the verge of crumpling.

Simultaneously, Northern Blade’s will spread by shaking the river water beneath his feet. As if he had been waiting for Ma Yeon-jeok’s counterattack technique.

Transcendent Martial Art.

[Replacing Horse Depending on North Wind.]

Dry muttering descended. How could one forget the scenery of home—

It was an instant.

Piercing through river water filled with azure light like an inverted waterfall, a massive whirlpool manifested like a waterspout. It was an instant until the water column was completely torn apart.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang—!

Truly a monster of supernatural strength.

He manifested a whirlwind like a divine dragon’s ascension with tremendous blade wind.

A situation connecting the vast river surface and clouds soaring dizzily high. Muffled wind sounds swallowed all the battlefield’s roars and spun distantly.

“…!”

Instantly, all of Black Capital froze.

It was an age when superstitions ran rampant. The demon realm’s jianghu and Ming Dynasty’s jianghu weren’t different. Murmurs that a wind god had appeared rang out everywhere.

Ma Yeon-jeok was standing on a single darkish bubble in the midst of it like an immortal.

His pink front panel was covered in blood.

It was because he had been pushed back by the transcendent blade wind whirlpool, and the blood-stained robe hems resembled the purple robes of his youth.

[Harmony of change and strength. Great nature.]

Northern Blade’s will spread heavily through the storm. A distant temperament as if unified with the whirlwind. It was a natural feeling since he had wrapped natural disasters around his entire body.

Northern Blade spoke.

[Will you be able to come in? Your hand techniques are strong but stagnant. Like wandering in the past, you seemed to only step backward.]

Conversely, the whirlpool of Transcendent Martial Art ‘Replacing Horse Depending on North Wind’ was spinning at overwhelming speed like the tempest of the heart.

Like Northern Blade’s mental image. Repeatedly coming and going here and there to protect the North Wind clan.

The will composing the Transcendent Martial Art was as many as five characters. Northern Blade’s life-saving ultimate technique had to be as powerful as his anguish.

In contrast.

Ma Yeon-jeok’s will was short.

[Not Returning.]

It suddenly rang out.

The next moment, Ma Yeon-jeok had penetrated the semi-transparent waterspout’s gale like a dream and entered.

A sword-body unity posture with extended sword and body lying horizontal. Fragments of ashen explosive force that had permeated the giant whirlpool scattered like feathers in all directions, and remnants of dark water columns burst out as if clawing sunlight.

Unity of speed and strength. Overwhelming velocity and transcendent power.

Quickly.

More quickly.

So that an old man could reach the end of the years given to his grandson first and block the way ahead. So that Jeong Yeon-shin’s life wouldn’t stop. Tyrannical natural order that whipped the flow of time given to himself like a heavenly god.

That’s why it was fast.

Fast enough for Moon Protector sword to be piercing his heart before Northern Blade could close and open his eyes once. Without even common flesh-tearing sounds, while burning protective energy and ribs with a bluish sword strike.

Transcendent Martial Art that delivered definitive death the moment it was deployed.

[Has life… changed…?]

Madman Northern Blade’s shocked curiosity intensified like echoes repeated dozens of times in the mountains.

Puhhhhhhhk!

Two streams of blood spray exploded and leaked along the texture of the massive gale.