Chapter 655 – Defying Heaven (3)

The Heavenly Demon staggered. It was a very slow-appearing sight, and it also seemed like some monster floundering through eternity.

“……”

The mountain silence was persistent.

The desolate sound of dry branches rubbing against each other, landslides roaring in the distance, stone fragments occasionally bouncing up to peaks… all signs were swallowed by silence. Within the twilight and sunset that had begun filling the ridges little by little.

The strongmen on the peaks kept their mouths shut.

However.

‘It feels like there’s no flaw in completeness.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought while holding Enter The Divine Sword, which now had only a few points of blue-green flame remaining. While slowly regulating his internal energy breathing and silently looking ahead.

Though there was clearly a problem with the unity of the Heavenly Demon and Baek Mi-ryeo, it also seemed she was intoxicated by Jeong Yeon-shin’s martial arts essence. It approached him more so because he had directly exchanged hands.

Wasn’t she smiling even now?

“To your younger brother.”

The Heavenly Demon slowly moved her lips.

“How does it feel to be severely beaten?”

It seemed she had no regard for Jeong Yeon-shin, Taoist Cheon Ju, or even the mysterious old immortals. Because she seemed to have asked the inner Baek Mi-ryeo.

“She says it’s good.”

It was her answer.

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly opened his mouth.

“Is Senior Baek safe?”

“She’s the vessel containing me. Different from that half-wit.”

Perhaps because they had mixed hands and feet, swords, and spirituality at close range? The Heavenly Demon’s ambiguous words were read precisely. If he had asked about Baek Mi-ryeo’s mind, naturally she was safe.

‘Then that’s fine.’

When he didn’t ask or argue further, the corners of the Heavenly Demon’s mouth twisted faintly. It seemed to be a smile.

The Heavenly Demon said.

“If you had been there in my lifetime, it would have been quite enjoyable.”

“Little Heavenly Demon Invincible would be better.”

Because she can be controlled. Jeong Yeon-shin swallowed his following words. At the same time, some woman’s sound transmission fell like lightning.

—That would be your true feelings, right? Well, it can’t be helped.

It was Little Heavenly Demon Invincible.

Just as Jeong Yeon-shin had once been inspired by Master Beom-heo’s Wisdom Light Heart Speech, her sound transmission had no energy waves as if imitating Jeong Yeon-shin. It was hard to determine her location.

‘What is she thinking?’

She had just suffered such humiliation from the first Heavenly Demon. It wouldn’t be strange if she had lost her original purpose.

The following question was the same.

—While watching you in Hangzhou, I unintentionally heard that Brilliant Jade Flame Sword God mentioned bath water to you, didn’t she? Befitting Mount Hua’s youngest sect leader, she used casual speech even to elders like Beom-heo.

—Why that?

—I had to imitate delicately. My body condition was already at its worst, and those tedious old Mount Hua demons almost plotted against you over petty misunderstandings.

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s smooth voice was occasionally interrupted, but still conveyed composedly as if she were the Ming Cult Leader.

—Especially that old man called Dawn Sword Master created even appearance destruction after pushing our cult’s former venerable ones within the Gates. Anyway, I’ll put in thanks. It’s always like this.

—…Yalu younger sister, if you have strength left to move your mouth meaninglessly, recover your body instead. You’re useless against the Heavenly Demon, but you might soon clash with orthodox elders.

—What…?

—What.

It was then.

“To think there really was the Heavenly Demon’s tomb in Qinling Mountain Range, ‘whereabouts unknown’ is insufficient. Since when…?”

An aged voice.

Three old Taoists were reflected in Jeong Yeon-shin’s vision as he turned his gaze aside. Each wore dusty robes with faded plum blossom patterns embroidered near their chests.

Very pure energy could be felt. Their energy accumulation was also tremendous.

‘Mount Hua.’

His hundred acupoints’ upper energy center sensed them. An atmosphere like flower petals that had bloomed once then fallen to earth. Among them, the most faded leaf seemed to be the leading old Taoist.

As soon as the old man met eyes with Jeong Yeon-shin, he briefly introduced himself.

“I am called Dawn Sword. I am the current sect leader’s senior uncle.”

An impression where it was hard to fathom expressions due to his finely wrinkled face. Jeong Yeon-shin replied with eye gestures while being wary of the Heavenly Demon whose expression had become interesting for some reason.

“Lightning Genius of the Jeong Family greets you, elder.”

“Despite your appearance, you haven’t even reached adulthood. Yet you’re the Divine Sword Group Leader?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not martial prowess achievable through worthless rapid achievement training like demon arts… Your demonic energy isn’t as deep as your dharma power. Your foundation is orthodox martial arts.”

That was as far as it went.

The old man, Dawn Sword Master, turned his head to the Heavenly Demon as if that was enough. Mount Hua’s free-spirited sword energy could be felt in his conduct.

‘Plum Seed Divine Art?’

Mount Hua was a sword sect counted among those with deep history. Naturally, divine techniques and ultimate learning couldn’t be limited to just sect leader secrets.

Plum Seed Divine Art was said to be study that maximized the power of all variations in Mount Hua swordwork. That is, martial learning similar to Yong Hye-myeong’s Ten Thousand Intentions Dragon Control Art.

Suddenly Dawn Sword Master muttered while not taking his eyes off the Heavenly Demon.

“Did he figure it out in that short time? Enter The Divine Sword isn’t excessive.”

To Jeong Yeon-shin, that appeared as a fragment of chaotic times. Because Dawn Sword Master was a peerless master.

Though he had long been in purple rank jianghu, it was still strange to meet such masters consecutively.

‘They say the world doesn’t permit anyone’s solo dominance, but…’

How should one regard Nine Sects’ distinguished veterans and former elders coming out of the Gates one by one? It seemed like the world was rushing toward its end.

At the same time, Dawn Sword Master seemed to have seen through this train of thought once again.

“Don’t look at this old man like that now. The Heavenly Demon who disturbs providence just by existing, shouldn’t we first send that dead one’s soul garment back to heaven?”

Such were Mount Hua’s sword immortals.

Though he hadn’t come outside the Gates for long, he was clearly distinguishing what needed to be done. While already fluttering his robe before the Heavenly Demon.

Rumble—

He was different from Lady Lu Xian.

Though he might not seek infinite power like the sect leader secret Purple Cloud Divine Art, it felt like he could extend all sword techniques created by Taoism like landslides. It was the energy waves of one who had slashed not people but monsters and spirits.

“Is this.”

The Heavenly Demon finally parted her lips.

“Today’s Taoism?”

“You try to judge all Taoist gates under heaven with just one sentence? Demon, my studies aren’t worth Mount Hua Sect’s roof tiles.”

Swish.

Dawn Sword Master’s appearance with hands behind his back changed like a lie to one drawing a sword. A segmented scene like a moth’s wing beats. How he had entangled with powerful monsters and spirits over long years, he seemed to unconsciously deploy form-shifting position changes.

“Mount Hua Sect?”

The Heavenly Demon’s head slowly tilted to one side. It was also a reaction proving the period when she had been active.

“However you became, you all… are still so worthless as to be dazzling. You’ll be the same after a hundred years, after two hundred years.”

A voice without highs or lows.

From words unclear whether praise or not, the years that would now be left only to the being called the first Heavenly Demon seeped through.

At the same time, the earth axis shook violently with a bang. Dawn Sword Master, who had approached before the Heavenly Demon, had struck down an old iron sword then retrieved it.

The formless wave that momentarily burst from the Heavenly Demon’s protective energy had pressed down Dawn Sword Master’s single sword.

The old Taoist brushed off his sword nonchalantly despite intense vibrations ringing from his blade. And he muttered.

“In that body condition, it should be just a fragment of Heavenly Demon Divine Armor, yet it’s this much. Even though the Divine Sword Group Leader had worn it down…”

“Your sword strikes ride the wind’s grain like flower petals. To me, it’s obvious study. Stand aside.”

As soon as command-like words fell, the ground Dawn Sword Master stood on split by itself. The Heavenly Demon Body’s function of nature’s submission. It was an instant until a cliff was created with a rumble, and Dawn Sword Master kicked the void.

Wooong!

Dark Fragrance Drifting.

The old Taoist’s body drew a narrow parabola, then returned before the Heavenly Demon like a mirage. Movement of transcendent realm that didn’t escape from close distance like fragrance with will.

But Dawn Sword Master had to face Jeong Yeon-shin first. Because Ten Li Gentle Light’s single step imbued with Divine Beggar Zhu Guang’s teachings was faster.

Dawn Sword Master asked.

“What is the meaning of this?”

A quiet voice. Like wind brushing against cliffs of Western Peak’s rocky mountains.

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke with a calm face.

“I tolerated the Heavenly Demon’s manifestation, and there was a reason I absolutely had to do so. Please sheath your sword.”

“You tolerated…? The Divine Sword Group Leader did?”

For the first time, a clear expression appeared on Dawn Sword Master’s wrinkled face. It was somewhere between bewilderment and great anger, and the faces of the other two old Taoists who had been observing the series of scenes were the same.

Conversely, Jeong Yeon-shin’s expression didn’t change.

“I’ve dealt with the Ming Cult Leader for a long time. Throughout my experience, the Heavenly Demon lineage are most skilled in heretical paths and well-versed in all sorts of miscellaneous techniques. I judged that someone like the first Heavenly Demon would have special insights about famine and Gates.”

It was a calm story. Even when the Heavenly Demon behind him lowered the word ‘presumptuous’ with a voice tinged with laughter.

“With experiences hard to fathom, and upper energy center spirit close to ancient and modern greatest…”

Suddenly Dawn Sword Master cut off Jeong Yeon-shin’s words.

“That’s enough.”

“Elder.”

“I understand. It’s quite plausible. But please understand this old man too.”

Suddenly, like a lie.

Dawn Sword Master’s sword point was aimed at Jeong Yeon-shin’s neck.

“This old man’s insight is shallow, so I cannot fathom whether what underlies your decision is a young absolute’s vigor or wisdom. Also, what this old Taoist has experienced as ‘demon’ over long years was not something to coexist with.”

There was no wavering at the blade tip.

He had the momentum to swing his sword at Jeong Yeon-shin too.

Just that threatening air made blood vessels stand on Jeong Yeon-shin’s neck. Because Jeong Family Dynamic Technique and luminous wheels had reacted on their own. It was to raise his whole body’s acupoint reaction speed despite his battered body.

But Jeong Yeon-shin gazed at Dawn Sword Master’s eyes rather than the old sword point.

“I don’t know how many days it might take, but simple conversation is enough. I intend to have discussions here at Mount Hua. You’re welcome to join.”

“I’ve seen countless demons within the Gates. The Heavenly Demon is a being worse than those. Can’t you know through spirituality too? Stand aside.”

At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin felt thick oppressive feelings left and right. Because the two old Taoists who had been with Dawn Sword Master occupied both sides.

“Though radical, I felt upright character. I don’t wish to cross swords with you. I’m also inwardly showing respect for your swordwork.”

“Though conflicts were frequent due to secular sects, fundamentally aren’t our sect and Desolate Fortress allies? We view Desolate Fortress not as political relations but as an upright orthodox sect.”

Rustle.

Their white beards fluttered in strong winds.

It could be directly felt that they were barely holding onto unity of energy, spirit, and soul. Given their energy accumulation and experience within the Gates, they could be called veterans like Xiahou Wei-jin.

They weren’t peerless masters.

Yet regarding explosive force, they possessed destructive power close to peerless realm, and had been hitting such internal multiplication art ultimate techniques on monsters and spirits inside the Gates. Though the essence corresponding to body among energy, spirit, and soul might have weakened, it was thanks to such aged upper energy center spirit’s insight.

All had gazes as if foreseeing several moves ahead. Two orthodox old masters who had richly experienced monsters and spirits’ movements.

They were threatening artillery.

“The Divine Sword Group Leader’s great cause lies in the world, so he tries to protect the Heavenly Demon, and thus clashes with our main mountain…?”

It was Sword Saint Taoist Cheon Ju’s muttering.

His face had reached extreme bewilderment at this moment, making it hard to move rashly. Because he had a position as a Mount Hua disciple.

Then some woman’s laughter settled low like a man’s laugh.

“Escort.”

It was the Heavenly Demon wearing Baek Mi-ryeo.

“I wondered why you showed your back so skillfully, but you’re having experiences in death that you never had in life. However, it’s too small a price to seek my wisdom.”

Though it was words without any pretense, Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head.

“Isn’t conversation something shared through goodwill rather than transaction? I proved martial arts to you and intend to break the current world’s flow. If it pleases you, cooperate.”

One corner of the Heavenly Demon’s mouth rose diagonally.

“Do you know what you discussed is defying heaven?”

“Surpassing Dharma.”

Though he had only uttered two words, snow-white radiance momentarily flickered from Jeong Yeon-shin’s breath. It was the spirituality of a grandmaster who had achieved a school.

“It’s the essence of my mental technique.”

“……!”

When the Heavenly Demon’s mocking laugh found balance on both sides and stretched long, whitish sword strike light skills shimmered like flower petals from the sword points of Mount Hua elders including Dawn Sword Master. Along with tremendous pressure.

Jeong Yeon-shin intuited.

That it was combined attack hard for his current body to handle.

Suddenly his lips issued one sound transmission with a transcendent feeling.

—Come.

“You finally…!”

It was the moment mountain atmosphere surged violently at Dawn Sword Master’s cry.

[Mencius Steadfast Firm.]

The giant’s body that suddenly landed and created spider web-like cracks on the ground burst forth resonance that shook even mountains.

Crash crash crash crash crash crash crash—!

Semi-transparent rushing shock waves swallowed everything in the hall like a tsunami.

“……!”

All eight directions shook chaotically in the briefly blurred space. Until the hall became quiet like a study.