Chapter 657 – Desolate Banner

The mountain road leading to Zhongnan Mountain.

Now it was practically severed by massive craters.

The branches and bushes that had been sparsely following the mountain path were the same. They had been crushed to the very edges of holes deep as volcanic craters, with only faint dry grass scents and the burnt smell of explosive forces rising up.

“If that had extended to Zhongnan Sect…”

Divine Sword Eminence Yeon So-ha swallowed dry saliva while looking down below. His blue robes were scorched just from protecting Jeong-hye during the fight between Literary Star and Profound Martial Alliance Leader.

It wasn’t because of blazing yang cultivation.

When explosive forces of near-extreme tyrannical ways collided, overwhelming heat would ripple from the friction alone.

“Seeing Profound Martial Alliance Leader, chaotic times are indeed chaotic times.”

Oh Wol-hyang shook off her long blade with her one remaining hand.

“To think retreat was possible after clashing with that Literary Star…”

The Divine Sword Squad’s blue rank masters had endured the monsters’ close combat. And they hadn’t left even charcoal black on Jeong-hye’s face.

“Ah, what’s the big deal.”

Yeon So-ha said while stroking the child’s head.

“Sect leaders of great sects can do that much. How do you catch a fleeing peerless master? Literary Star isn’t even our Group Leader.”

“The martial arts level was different from the General Administration’s documents. Even if information about peerless masters is inaccurate.”

Oh Wol-hyang, having said that much, turned her head toward the bottom of the hill. Two people strong enough to be counted among Divine Sword Squad’s finest, Hyeon Won-chang and Shin So-bin, stood like stone statues.

Along with trivial conversation.

“Senior Hyeon Won.”

“Yeah.”

“Your swordsmanship got mysteriously faster. Unity of energy, spirit, and soul is right around the corner, isn’t it?”

“I’m probably too late.”

“What are you saying? You’re only twenty-six now. You should be able to compare with Senior Beigong of Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad soon, right?”

“It’s chaotic times. There are many monsters. Guys without shame or chivalry are desperate to become stronger, so their achievements come faster than ordinary closed-door training. You too.”

“I have shame and chivalry though.”

“You’re not in your right mind. There’s no Divine Sword Squad member who doesn’t know you’ve fallen into inner demons. The reason Lord Jeong kept talking to you whenever he had a chance on the way here was also that.”

“I want to eat Five Cloud Mountain Herb Stir-fry.”

Shin So-bin with hands behind her back kicked a fragment of stone split by Profound Martial Alliance Leader. Hyeon Won-chang shook his head.

“So-bin, that our ages are low compared to jianghu monsters isn’t particularly an advantage or something great. It means we started that much later.”

“…Why are you like this lately? It’s not like you, senior.”

“Living, one gets worn down here and there.”

After Hyeon Won-chang spoke like an enlightened old man.

The moment he turned back, Yeon So-ha and Jeong-hye were reflected in his eyes. Along with a woman who had somehow positioned herself behind them like a mirage.

Hair like melted gold, ears standing sharp as spear points, elegant orange robes.

“……”

For a moment, time stuck to space.

Though her features were beautiful like a fairy from Peach Blossom Paradise, her pupils were ash-colored, giving a strong sense of discord. They seemed like faded fallen leaves ground up and clumped together.

Hyeon Won-chang had already been acquainted with her during his white rank days. Because he had formed friendship with Jeong Yeon-shin at Zhongnan Mountain.

“I thought you were an enemy. You look exactly like Zhongnan Grand Elder Yeo Il-shin’s appearance destruction.”

It was Shin So-bin.

Her breathing that had briefly stopped deepened like a lie. The killing intent that had flashed with colorless eye-light also faded.

Because Yeo Il-shin was someone who had formed connections with Jeong Yeon-shin from Jeong Family Manor.

Among all Desolate Fortress warriors, no one had recognized Jeong Yeon-shin’s true worth before her. To Shin So-bin, who now wouldn’t even step on Jeong Yeon-shin’s shadow, she was an object of respect.

“Did you come down out of worry? But why is there something like transcendence in your energy waves…?”

Then Hyeon Won-chang’s hand, raised as if giving a friendly greeting, became hazy in place.

Crash!

Three shock waves surged in succession from Yeo Il-shin’s body. Even the previously intact ground was completely overturned.

It was Hyeon Won-chang’s dagger thrown like light, Yeon So-ha’s Radiant Art sword strike, and simultaneously Wi Ye-ryeong of April Bow Ghost’s ultra-long-range archery.

But Yeo Il-shin stood blankly. Only the hand that had been gently moving toward the back of Jeong-hye’s neck had stopped.

Her protective energy was intact.

Rustle.

Even the fragments of true energy that had scattered like leaves returned to Yeo Il-shin’s body and became transparent again.

It was the mystery of circulation.

It wasn’t human technique. She seemed to have become a tree that absorbed nature itself.

“Starting with Radiant Art!”

Bang!

Shin So-bin was already racing with Ten Li Gentle Light before finishing her words. Dozens of whitish radiances flickered in eight directions. They were other Divine Sword Squad members’ explosive forces.

Within that.

“Desolate Fortress humans.”

Yeo Il-shin’s lips moved slowly. As if someone else was speaking.

“Should be my servants.”

The next moment, Yeon So-ha’s Desolate Sword across her collarbone exploded with a pop. Consecutively, even the skin of his right hand gripping the sword hilt burst.

Whoosh!

Yeon So-ha rotated using his own blood as propulsive force. Naturally throwing Jeong-hye with his opposite hand, and with his grip where skin was peeled to the elbow, he grasped light instead of sword. It was the collective lightness skills of Radiant Art that had flowed in like a tsunami.

Combined Attack Combat Art

Radiant Strike

The radiance pulled up like a formless sword struck Yeo Il-shin directly upward. Naturally sparks soared along the sharp trajectory.

Crash crash crash crash crash!

“Supply!”

As soon as Yeon So-ha shouted, Shin So-bin’s heel stomped down on his bright red hand. The Divine Sword Squad geniuses’ brilliant combat sense even swallowed the pain, and Yeon So-ha’s hand that had gone up to the sky drew a sword path falling to lower stance like a lie.

Rumble!

The ground was endlessly gouged as if containing thunder. The power of concentrating all Divine Sword Squad members’ Radiant Art explosive force at one point.

It might have been enough to attempt even a peerless master’s explosive force, but Yeo Il-shin wasn’t there. She had stepped back like a mirage and encountered Shin So-bin’s Brilliant River.

“……”

Yeo Il-shin’s hand twisted like a leaf in the wind. Zhongnan Dragon Coiling Hand. She gently caught Shin So-bin’s wrist that had shot toward her like light.

Crack!

“Ah…!”

Shin So-bin’s eyes rolled back white. Because her wrist had been crushed bones and all. The palm force of Brilliant River that had been swirling like a pinwheel disappeared by itself, and her foot exploded with the propulsive force of Ten Li Gentle Light like flames and struck Yeo Il-shin’s abdomen.

Crash!

The earth axis shook for a moment. She had used even the failure of her ultimate technique as a leg technique formation.

For an instant, Yeo Il-shin’s robe front was pressed enough to outline her abdominal muscles, but her protective energy ultimately didn’t break. It was like facing a peerless master.

“You…”

Shin So-bin dangling like a puppet. Yeo Il-shin holding up her wrist whispered gently.

“Is Divine Sword Group still only fighting ghosts? Very satisfactory.”

It was then.

Swish.

A line that swept up Yeo Il-shin’s back muscles like a dream. It completely penetrated her protective energy. Blood flowed calmly along that chilling sword strike.

Hyeon Won-chang stood behind her with an expressionless face like a death ghost. Along with a sword that pulsed like a human arm.

“Somehow it felt like cutting a tree rather than a person. The true energy structure is strangely tough. You’re not Grand Elder Yeo, are you?”

Yeo Il-shin answered without turning back.

“…I am everything under heaven in nine provinces.”

With inhuman resonance, producing human pronunciation. Literally a feeling as if something non-human was pretending to be human.

“Everything.”

Hyeon Won-chang nodded.

“Nonsense, half-wit, fool, idiot… You certainly do a lot.”

Yeo Il-shin didn’t answer, and Hyeon Won-chang’s interrogation continued.

“Who are you, and what’s your purpose?”

“Wastrel with an excessive demonic sword, you have no qualification to ask me for answers. Your caliber is far lacking.”

“You, ah… I don’t know your name so I’ll call you as you told me. So nonsense, half-wit, fool…”

Suddenly Hyeon Won-chang’s words stopped.

Because blue eye-light rippled in Yeo Il-shin’s ash-colored pupils. It was visible even through energy perception. Even her two eyes’ focus that had been slightly off aligned momentarily.

Thud.

Shin So-bin fell to the ground, and Yeo Il-shin who had released her clicked her tongue.

“I’m sorry. Truly sorry.”

This time it was truly a ‘human voice’ properly rising from her throat. She was already meeting eyes with Jeong-hye who had rolled and gotten up in the distance.

“Hye-ah.”

“G-Grand Elder.”

“With your standing, you have the qualification to suggest this to the sect leader.”

As if only her mouth was permitted movement, she moved her lips with difficulty.

“Expel me, expel me from the sect.”

* * *

Winter had stopped. It was early spring.

Yet sleet carried on the north wind spread in the sky like old silk.

The sight of transparent snow grains falling with silence. The old imperial palace site below naturally donned cold, semi-transparent curtains. It was the place swept by three Divine Sword Group Leaders in late winter.

“I report to Black Return.”

There were those who made the ruins their palace. They were all large in stature.

“A person called Tu Xiao from Manchuria has requested. He’s causing trouble saying all troops should go south now. His movements are very outstanding, so even the great warriors cannot catch him.”

A Yao tribe jianghu person concluded while kneeling. The man who had silently listened to his report, Black Return sitting on a stone throne with white beard hanging down, answered quietly.

“You don’t need to use such awkward Chinese with me either.”

“It’s the Northern Emperor’s language. If you forbid us from using it, we will challenge and die to you.”

“…Anyway, we are destined to go south. Have all Black Capital forces stand by. That Tu Xiao fellow will be handled by Great King Vajra. Whether killing him on the spot or having a conversation.”

After the guard withdrew, Black Return turned his head toward the left wall. A one-armed woman was lying on the half-collapsed wall.

She had wrapped blue silk around her waist, then pulled cloth up to her shoulders and wore it down like clothing. She also wore an exotic atmosphere unique to Tianzhu (India) like a dream.

She was watching the rice grain-like falling snow when she parted her lips.

“My belly skin has stuck to my vital points.”

“Vajra.”

“I have no strength due to hunger. Divine Sword Group’s great warriors were so strong that even my shoulders aren’t healed yet. So how about using Silent Castle Sword Master?”

“You’re still ignorant of this land’s circumstances. Silent Castle Sword Master is the demon realm’s fortress wall, not one who attacks something first. If you don’t feel like it, I’ll take action.”

“Don’t. The emperor’s hasty movement might lead to death like Southern Emperor. If you truly entreat, I’ll go.”

“Thank you.”

“Before that, let me ask. You mentioned going south.”

The shadowed area under Great King Vajra’s eyes curved gracefully. She continued in archaic speech.

“According to the agreement between Northern Emperor and demon realm, Black Capital’s military force cannot cross the Great Wall until Northern Emperor calls… Are you planning to break that promise like an old sword? With conduct like various monarchs of the world.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I know shame.”

“The Dharma King carved Southern Emperor’s formation directly into dharma treasure then disappeared. He must have gone south. Try making excuses.”

“Western Heaven Dark King… Little Heavenly Demon Invincible left for the south. It’s unrelated to my will.”

“That’s somewhat true. Then the reason you mentioned going south is…”

“Northern Emperor’s call won’t be far off.”

Black Return spoke quietly. The words of one who had come to rule all Bright Wind Cave of the demon realm. Even news from near the Great Wall reached his ears.

It was then.

Crack!

Suddenly whitish frost formed throughout the ruins.

There had been no warning.

Extremely cold energy, hot like blazing heat, filled the hall, but there was no process of true energy emission. Rather than energy spreading, it felt like it had simply manifested.

“Cold ice energy?”

“Ice Emperor…!”

A pair of man and woman manifested in the ruins as if they had always been there. They were handsome man and beautiful woman of opposite temperaments.

Black Return slowly opened his mouth.

“One side is the ice palace’s bat. Without notice, for what business did you commit rudeness?”

His gaze was focused on Ice Emperor, but he didn’t lose sight of her husband Lazy Flame Dragon. Because from the moment he appeared, he had been staring at one side of the imperial throne with presumptuous eyes.

It was where divine sword Thunder was placed.

Lazy Flame Dragon slowly parted his flame-red lips.

“I heard on the way here. That you’d go south if Northern Emperor calls.”

“That’s right. According to Fighting God’s will, if you’re in the demon realm, you too should be treated as Yao tribe. If you have objections, speak.”

“If you’re playing with Fighting God’s sound transmission space, you’d know too. Divine Sword Group never had abundant hands. People were always lacking, getting hurt and dying here and there. Even purple ranks weren’t exceptions.”

“So?”

Black Return asked. Before long, Great King Vajra was also rising from the wall.

One corner of Lazy Dragon’s mouth moved slightly. Though there was nothing to chew inside, it was clearly an old habit to anyone watching.

“We have to go even without being called.”

“What did you say?”

“Isn’t that what a proper subordinate does?”

Lazy Dragon gestured toward Black Return with his chin.

“Go down now.”