Chapter 645 – Big Dipper Hundred Stars (8)

Mount Hua’s guest hall.

Rustle…

It was the sound of dry wind scraping against earth and bodies. Wood fragments and stone pieces also rolled around emptily.

The only intact thing was an elegantly carved table.

The lineup of those sitting around it was worthy of discussing the vast Central Plains under heaven.

Invincible One Lee Beom, Four Province Martial Alliance’s Azure Dragon Hall Master, Mount Hua Sword Saint Taoist Cheon Ju, Zhongnan Sect Leader Wei Zhi Myo-hwa, Kongtong Sect Leader Acquired Heaven Radiant Saint.

And the Ming Cult Leader and Divine Sword Group Leader.

The audience’s gazes were focused on Jeong Yeon-shin who had lifted Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s chin. Anyone would have no choice but to do so. It was a rarely seen sight under heaven.

“……”

The antique walls had all blown away, and the energy waves of strongmen occupying the hall had long since shattered even the roof to pieces.

Within that, Jeong Yeon-shin could have grasped Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s throat at any time. Because his strike itself had been overwhelmingly fast.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.

“You couldn’t react to my Grappling Technique in time.”

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible immediately chuckled and raised then lowered her shoulders with a rustle. The ends of her scarf woven from pure white beast fur fluttered as if alive.

Her lips moved leisurely.

“Is this a threat? I was wondering what to do, thinking it might be clumsy seduction.”

“It seems you’ve locked the hundred acupoints’ prohibition even more firmly. Your senses have dulled.”

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible didn’t answer. She just looked up at Jeong Yeon-shin with jet-black pupils like black jade made from an abyss.

Terrifying silence enveloped the hall.

It was an atmosphere where they had to assume what would happen if her true martial arts were revealed.

Indeed, how many would survive throughout all of Mount Hua’s peaks? Such was the being who was the successor of Bright Phoenix Divine Form and Heavenly Demon Divine Technique, forcing the worst assumptions.

“Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon…”

Invincible One Lee Beom’s aged voice rang from one side, but Jeong Yeon-shin silently looked into Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s eyes.

‘Her lifespan is gradually running out.’

Eye-light that seemed like it would turn anyone’s mind upside down. Her gaze held overwhelming demonic nature, and Jeong Yeon-shin felt vastness with an indifferent face.

The temperament of a world-class demon.

Was it temperament naturally formed while living as Ming Cult Leader? Or was it fear stemming from death that she had already encountered once and was slowly approaching again?

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t care.

“You wouldn’t have been born like this. If you’ve truly felt complete death, demonic energy would rampage explosively in your hundred acupoints.”

But Little Heavenly Demon Invincible rather raised her lips slightly.

“Calling me crazy to my face…? Keep your teasing moderate.”

Swish.

White fingers characteristic of Bare Hand Demon Art lightly pressed down on Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand.

In the brief moment their skin touched, dozens of colorless energy waves became entangled. Naturally, all sorts of technique battles occurred in an instant.

What state each other’s internal energy flow was in, what the texture of protective energy was like, and whether there were any new true energy structures that could inspire oneself.

Jeong Yeon-shin smiled faintly.

“Can you read me?”

“……”

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible stood up from her seat with an expressionless face like white snow.

It was probably because she couldn’t read anything from Jeong Yeon-shin. His rebellious spirit suppression only grew endlessly deeper as Divine Sword Vice Leader Jin Myeong-jo worked nearby.

Conversely, Jeong Yeon-shin could feel the totality of demon arts. Because he could completely sense her body, which had been well-refined over a much longer time than his own, befitting the name Heavenly Demon.

As his realm rose, Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s body approached him differently. It would be the same when meeting Fighting God or Desolate Fortress Lord someday.

‘This is helpful.’

Because to use Starry Night more freely, he needed to become familiar with demonic energy.

It was when Jeong Yeon-shin slightly lowered his eyelids.

“Was this your aim?”

She asked. Pupils that had sunk like white snow in an abyss. It was natural if natural for the world’s Ming Cult Leader who had begun being swayed by one person every time.

“Who knows.”

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t bother saying it had been a bonus.

He hoped Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s life would end meaningfully. Just as Sword Star and Southern Emperor were completing Divine Sword Group Leader Lightning Genius.

To change the world’s Ming Cult Leader for this, he would need to be superior to her not only in martial arts but mentally. The more overwhelming Jeong Yeon-shin’s influence on her, the better.

‘Is it possible?’

Honestly, he wasn’t certain.

Her true martial arts, senses, status, and heretical path techniques were all problems. What about her nature? Literally like fierce sparks, hard to fathom where she might fly.

‘Since she created the event of competing for the first Heavenly Demon’s legacy, I’ll see the end here in Qinling Mountain Range.’

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.

“Don’t act arrogantly just because you live different time from others.”

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible turned and chuckled.

“Are you the one to say that?”

“It’s time to mature. There are countless common people under heaven who lived shorter lives than us.”

Jeong Yeon-shin gently admonished her. Suddenly, Wei Zhi Myo-hwa sitting on one side had her breathing slightly disturbed, and Little Heavenly Demon Invincible made an incredulous expression with her profile.

“Just protect the subordinates you brought. An overwhelming chaos will unfold.”

With those words, Little Heavenly Demon Invincible disappeared from her spot as if extinguished. It was clearly lightness skill rather than Form-shifting Void, seeming to be wary of Jeong Yeon-shin’s Eternal Blossom Fist Martial Art Heaven Breaking.

Even though she would know it was hard to shake off Jeong Yeon-shin with lightness skill now.

‘She was greatly hit by Heaven Breaking.’

It was what he had intended today.

He planned to embed himself in her mind like a stumbling stone from now on.

Originally, Little Heaven meant laughing at even heaven, and to influence such a madman, he had no choice but to establish himself as a constantly jarring existence.

So that Jeong Yeon-shin’s words and actions would approach directly.

Acquired Heaven Radiant Saint, who had been silently watching them until then, opened his mouth.

“You let the world’s Ming Cult Leader go like this?”

“As long as we’re in this Qinling Mountain Range, we’ll meet again soon.”

“Do you know your actions might appear absurdly arrogant? Even if it’s hard to deal with a fleeing peerless master, you shouldn’t have sent her away so intact.”

“I apologize for saying this, but I have many things more important than worldly gazes.”

“That is desirable. However, to blindly call it good, the current Divine Sword Group Leader’s arrogance is high as clouds.”

“I understand that since ancient times, Nine Sects sect leaders and Divine Sword Group Leaders had equal responsibilities. If you give teachings, I should naturally listen respectfully. But…”

“Speak. It’s an important matter.”

Acquired Heaven Radiant Saint gently urged, and Jeong Yeon-shin calmly continued.

“You should know that rashly laying hands on the Ming Cult Leader might cause natural disasters. At least you would be safe in such calamity, but other jianghu people and common people wouldn’t be. At least for now, we must let her focus only on her purpose.”

“Lord Jeong…!”

Wei Zhi Myo-hwa quietly interjected. Was it because his words and actions were somewhat provocative?

But Jeong Yeon-shin just met gazes intently with Acquired Heaven Radiant Saint.

There was no falsehood in what he had just said. He hadn’t experienced the troublesomeness of strongmen who handled wide-area formations just yesterday or today.

What if Little Heavenly Demon Invincible gave up on prolonging life and swept the world with her true martial arts?

It would be like Jeong Yeon-shin rampaging with Resonance Spirit Squad’s support. Something anyone would find hard to completely block.

Acquired Heaven Radiant Saint shook his head.

“Positions diverge here. I cannot leave that girl free, so I’ll descend from Mount Hua now.”

“It would be good to listen to more of the story.”

“Human thoughts change countless times with just a casually thrown topic. I have no intention of conversing further with you. It’s even harder to share a table with a madman who thinks he can do as he wishes with the Ming Cult Leader.”

At the same time, the noble clan old Taoist’s body was erased as if mixing with mist. Lightness skill that neutralized wind resistance with extreme softness.

Whoosh!

It was an instant until he disappeared.

While Wei Zhi Myo-hwa and Taoist Cheon Ju gazed at that spot with somewhat anxious eyes.

“In the end, it comes to this.”

Invincible One Lee Beom muttered with his aged voice.

“Well, why would an immortal who is even a Kongtong Sect Leader have come to Shaanxi? His last jianghu journey was decades ago.”

“……”

“Since the current Ming Cult Leader is bringing out the first Heavenly Demon’s legacy, the immortal path absolute had to come… No one can stop those steps except Divine Beggar Zhu Guang. Information about Acquired Heaven Radiant Saint’s martial achievement is all outdated too.”

Come to think of it, Kongtong Sect’s most famous martial art was Demon-Subduing Sword Technique. Subduing demons. Literally martial arts that subdued demons had been with the sect’s history.

It wouldn’t be strange to oppose Jeong Yeon-shin from this moment. To the Kongtong Sect Leader, the Ming Cult Leader would be the most dangerous demon under heaven.

“I should also go now.”

When Jeong Yeon-shin slowly took a step, Wei Zhi Myo-hwa’s head turned.

“Lord Jeong.”

“Since hermit sages and martial clans have flocked to this mountain slope because of the first Heavenly Demon’s legacy, Sect Leader Wei Zhi, please gradually return to Zhongnan Mountain. Soon all mountain slopes will turn into battlefields.”

“How do Lord Jeong and Divine Sword Squad intend to move?”

“I plan to completely block all fighting. Meaningless blood shouldn’t flow in chaotic times, should it?”

“In this vast Qinling Mountain Range, how…”

“By force.”

The aftereffects of Enter the Dao Transcend Together executed earlier had already faded in his body. Because three light wheels had spun ceaselessly during the time of deep shame and embarrassment.

That’s when it happened.

Rumble…!

Landslide sounds spread hazily from very far away. There were also vibrations rising gently to his feet.

The resonance was great.

It truly felt like the Qinling Mountain Range’s mountain ridges themselves were roaring like dragons.

Something was happening.

It was hard to fathom immediately. Whether abyssal caves would open befitting the name first Heavenly Demon, or formations more vast than those that covered Dark Path in the demon realm would be created.

Or the first Heavenly Demon’s primordial soul might suddenly pop out. Like Shin Cheon-hwa that manifested during the Desolate Great War.

But the dead are dead.

Jeong Yeon-shin knew that dead people’s soul garments couldn’t last long. It was the reason he was trying to primarily control the definite variable called Little Heavenly Demon Invincible today.

‘Right now, I might be filling her mind.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought calmly.

Taoist Cheon Ju, who had stood up following him, asked.

“Lord Jeong, can you control the freely rampaging Ming Cult Leader? Those who completed Heavenly Demon martial arts have traditionally been unpredictable disasters.”

“I’m on my way back from meeting an emperor who seeks to benefit hundreds of millions.”

“……?”

“What would be the big deal about returning one madwoman to sanity?”

Taoist Cheon Ju fell silent at Jeong Yeon-shin’s incomprehensible words. But Invincible One Lee Beom seemed to immediately grasp the context of those words.

“Just now…”

The aged voice caught Jeong Yeon-shin’s heel.

“You’ve made truly dangerous remarks. If I spread this story under heaven, at least within the Ming Dynasty, the Divine Sword Group Leader’s prestige might be buried in the ground. Since you came down unexpectedly after undertaking northern expedition, even circumstantial evidence is perfect.”

“Are you telling me to join again?”

“I mean to consider deeply. The crowds that have reached Qinling Mountain Range now are extraordinary. Our Alliance’s Explosive Army, Profound Martial Alliance’s one-armed Martial Emperor, Shaanxi Dark Path’s ruffians, Four Province Martial Alliance’s Azure Dragon Hall, and various small and medium sects and martial clans from throughout the world…”

The old man showed his wrinkled fingers one by one. Jeong Yeon-shin turned completely around.

“I told you to talk to my strategist.”

“There are also geniuses from common households who awakened to martial arts with just the Three Calamities Mental Technique promulgated by the imperial house. These are truly common people, which could be the biggest problem. Though they’d be nothing to Lord Jeong and the Divine Sword Group… can you really kill them? If you kill them, what happens to the Divine Sword Group’s reputation? How difficult would suppression be in this chaotic mountain range? How many people are there in the Central Plains under heaven?”

He could feel through energy perception. The old man’s lips were smiling broadly.

“Zhongnan Grand Elder Yeo Il-shin will be a problem immediately. Circumstantially, the longer noble clans have contacted World Tree roots, the faster their martial progress, but few have maintained sanity recently.”

“What did you say?”

It was when Wei Zhi Myo-hwa widened her eyes.

The moment Invincible One Lee Beom’s story materialized the Qinling Mountain Range situation, tremendous roaring exploded in Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind. An enormous sound that made his brow furrow briefly.

Some giant’s roar had rung from upper energy center foresight. That alone washed away all thoughts like ink. Even while Lee Beom’s words continued peacefully.

“The world is chaotic in such diverse ways, yet Divine Sword Squad only possesses military force that can be projected to limited places. Now bow Desolate Fortress’s banner and join our Alliance. You won’t lose any honor.”

“There’s no battlefield Divine Sword Squad cannot control.”

“Still such reckless words…”

Bang!

As he soared into the distant sky, Lee Beom’s aged voice grew distant. Jeong Yeon-shin’s energy perception with closed eyes caught the vast mountain slopes.

‘It’s an absurd number.’

The presences that were already numerous were coming to squeeze the mountain range in countless densities.

Much was felt.

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible lying diagonally on some rocky mountain peak, clenching and unclenching her hands. Wind streams indistinguishable between Acquired Heaven Radiant Saint or passing breezes.

Warriors who climbed the mountain in military formation as Lee Beom had called the Explosive Army.

Azure dragon banners that somehow carried Lady Lu Xian’s scent faintly.

Warriors climbing mountains with Grass Treading while spreading major sects’ characteristic solemn presence in all eight directions.

And even the Profound Martial Alliance leader approaching while breaking through various peaks with his bare body in overwhelming movement as if having great awakening.

‘The sword range must be wide.’

He rang simultaneously with the thought.

[Vast Taiji.]

Since he intended to announce the Divine Sword Group’s blade drawing throughout the Central Plains anyway, ordinary techniques would hardly give much shock.

Swish.

He slowly gripped Enter The Divine Sword’s handle.

[Silent Radiant Sword Mirror.]

Wooooooong—

The sword’s constellation began darkly coloring the sky.