Chapter 661 – Desolate Banner (5)

Chaotic times.

With the current situation where even Beijing had collapsed due to Fighting God’s manifestation, Divine Sword Group Leader Jeong Yeon-shin needed to thoroughly grasp the vast world.

Who was gripping jianghu’s order, and how to face it all with one hand—the deeper he could fathom this, the better. In detail if possible, and quickly at the same time.

Mind Sword.

Under circumstances where breathing was ample, the current Jeong Yeon-shin could toy with and steal any sensation. It was the same now.

‘It works.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

His vision was splitting into dozens of streams like tree roots, racing across the continent. It felt like numerous mirrors filling his view.

Whoosh—

All kinds of cliffs, wild mountains, and city scenery flashed by like hazy threads. Countless human voices sometimes stretched into incomprehensible clamor at his ears.

It was speed beyond providence.

—You, this method is…?!

When Yeo Il-shin’s voice, whose hand was clasped with Jeong Yeon-shin’s, scattered like a dream in his ears.

Suddenly one of the mirrored scenes stopped. Before a large plaque vividly painted with five tigers. It was a place where a huge hall embraced the painting of Five Tigers.

In the martial world, only Hebei Peng Family was such a place.

Otherwise known as Peng Family Blade Marquis Peng Ya, the family where one of Five Marvels of Resplendent Brilliance had established himself as family head. The previous and former-former family heads had also lost their lives to divine sword Remaining Thunder.

Before that gate, some archer was calmly announcing his visit. A handsome man with all skin close to ash-colored, including ears that stood sharp as arrowheads.

“Come here.”

With a huge great bow on his back and only a single arrow stuck in the leather pouch at his waist. Jeong Yeon-shin was also acquainted with him.

‘Faded noble clan.’

He was the successor of Thirteen Evil Sects’ Dark Night Palace. Also the son of Dark Night Palace Leader who had been killed by Jeong Yeon-shin along with Namgung First Sword when the anti-Yong Hye-myeong dragnet had been deployed.

Originally one who had been captured by great lords and imprisoned in the imperial thunder prison. But there was no practice of bringing prisoners to Forbidden City’s main castle. He would have avoided being swept up in Fighting God’s hands.

Jeong Yeon-shin asked Yeo Il-shin.

—You said one gains regeneration abilities when swallowed by World Tree. Is it the same for energy centers and limb meridians?

—Think of it like blood ghosts. A state of endlessly absorbing the world’s earth energy to achieve eternal growth. Is there a tree where new shoots don’t sprout from cut branches?

Around then, Peng Family’s gatekeeper was slightly opening the main gate.

Originally, if it was one wing of the Eight Great Families, gate guards would constantly guard the entrance, but now it seemed close to sealed gates. It would be due to the family’s ups and downs and Peng Family Blade Marquis’s absence.

“You’re the one who sent word before? That you could pierce all disciples of Lightning Genius lineage with one arrow…?”

A Peng Family guest asked through the gate crack.

Rustle.

Dark Night Palace’s last warrior suddenly flexed his shoulders smoothly. With movement similar to full-body explosive force, it was a fighting stance guarding against what was behind him.

“Go away.”

The man who seemed to have become the current Dark Night Palace Leader, the ash-colored archer with only one arrow dangling, spoke calmly.

The gatekeeper’s brow furrowed.

“Knowing where this is, how dare you play such tricks? No matter how extraordinary your appearance…”

“He.”

The current Dark Night Palace Leader’s words continued distinctly. It felt like something difficult to call human was imitating a refined person.

“Is watching us.”

“What are you saying? State your business clearly!”

“Please be quiet for a moment. If I pierce both your cheeks here, I fear this single arrowhead might rust with blood. This arrow is something that must be bloodied with others’ blood.”

“This fellow really…?”

It was then.

Suddenly Jeong Yeon-shin’s vision closed like falling eyelids. It was irresistible.

‘It’s World Tree. Quick reaction.’

But at this moment, the fragmented visions before his eyes were not just one or two. Like a room with walls built from countless mirrors. Literally all kinds of scenery were unfolding.

Naturally, Jeong Yeon-shin immersed his mind in another vision.

Flash!

Cliffs made of tree bark raced in all eight directions. The whole world was rough bark, and therefore shadow dark as an abyss was cast without even a speck of sunlight.

It was World Tree.

Rumble—!

Vision constantly vibrated. Dust storms rippled broadly like typhoons.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. Insane.

World Tree’s roots were winding like a dragon’s body. Literally moving toward somewhere unknown as if it had legs, making the world seem to move.

Jianghu’s greatest mysterious place.

Now it was bizarre.

—The entrance…! We must find the entrance!

—I know! I know that! But what can we do when this monster tree bounces off energy perception!

Two people were hanging like dots on World Tree’s bark. It was quite extraordinary Wall-Climbing Gecko Technique.

A middle-aged man with particularly long legs, a youth with greasy black hair braided back. Like the current Dark Night Palace Leader seen just before, they were faces familiar to Jeong Yeon-shin.

‘I’ve confirmed their appearance destruction.’

They were supreme masters of Thirteen Evil Sects’ Dream Human Moon. He knew their names too. The middle-aged man was Nine Province Dream Demon Je Wi-cheol, the sleepy-eyed youth was Magic Illusion Divine Kill Jo Gwon-il.

He had received reports that they had been defeated by Golden Thunder Viscount and Ma Jin during the Desolate Great Battle and fled. Ma Jin had regretted it. If Dream Human Moon Leader hadn’t been there, he would have split their skulls in half.

Then Jo Gwon-il shouted.

—At this rate, far from stealing World Tree’s fruit, won’t we be trampled to death by tree roots?! After clinging on for seven days and nights, my strength is gradually failing!

To Jeong Yeon-shin, it was sound transmission heard literally. Middle-aged Je Wi-cheol’s answer was the same.

—It can’t be helped. Didn’t you see too? For some unknown reason, if not now when all Four Great Dharma Protectors have gone outside the tree, absolutely…

—I can’t even do Ghost Return Counter because I’m sleepy! World Tree doesn’t only have those four monsters, and I think we’ll get caught soon?

—Right beyond this is the world’s greatest spiritual medicine. Will you really give up?

Then.

“Right.”

Instead of sound transmission, a voice fell. Strangely clear even amid the roaring, it felt like the voice had been carved into space rather than resonating.

“That is the fruit of omnipotence.”

Instantly, Dream Human Moon’s two super masters stood vertically on the bark. Because some middle-aged noble clan swordsman was treading the void before their crowns.

“……”

A robe the color of faded autumn leaves fluttered ceaselessly. His sleeves seemed about to seep into the dark dust.

World Tree’s Praising Earth Sword Duke.

The atmosphere was different from when they had met before.

He seemed to be stepping on grass rather than air, and Jeong Yeon-shin saw such stable void treading for the first time. A feeling literally like a still object rather than a person.

Therefore, he exuded overwhelming madness.

The voice that flowed again from Praising Earth Sword Duke’s mouth was the same.

“You’re not the first. How could there have been only two in ancient and modern times who coveted our fruit?”

“Master, Dharma Protector…!”

It was Nine Province Dream Demon Je Wi-cheol’s groan, who had somehow twisted his head vertically. Meanwhile, youth Jo Gwon-il began stamping his feet in place. Naturally, the bark crumbled slightly.

It was a precursor to flight.

But Praising Earth Sword Duke’s face still had no expression. He spoke slowly.

“There’s something more serious.”

Even with super masters who would be threats to anyone before him, Praising Earth Sword Duke’s gaze slowly rose to the sky.

And met Jeong Yeon-shin’s.

“……”

World Tree’s Chief Dharma Protector’s pupils were inorganically green, different from before. Lacking luster like fingernails dyed with ground leaves.

“…I have no mind to decide life and death with you. Anyway, my death will be the very last thing to happen in the world.”

He spoke to Jeong Yeon-shin with incomprehensible words. A temperament as if Praising Earth Sword Duke’s mind had mixed with World Tree’s main body.

“If you come, I can gladly give it.”

He continued slowly.

“The fruit.”

He easily discussed what had long been Jeong Yeon-shin’s final goal. But it didn’t approach as favorable talk. Like the dust that surged darkly like a dragon’s tongue behind Praising Earth Sword Duke at this moment.

What truly was World Tree’s fruit?

As soon as Jeong Yeon-shin harbored doubt, his vision went dark once more. He turned his eyes to another scene and thought.

Yeo Il-shin, Dark Night Palace Leader, Praising Earth Sword Duke.

Each had greatly different temperaments. Like branches extending from the same tree each having different appearances.

At this point, he could surmise without seeing. Other noble clan jianghu people had also changed along with ascension.

‘Still, I should see what needs seeing.’

Flash!

Magnificent mountain terrain unfolded.

Every peak was composed of cliff walls as if carved straight down, each height at least one hundred zhang. A very tranquil yet broad temple was dropping bell sounds to the mountain slopes.

Dong—

The greatest orthodox gate. Mount Song’s Shaolin.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s vision passed countless dharma halls, roofs, and refined bald heads from above. Stone pagodas containing various high monks’ sarira also passed beneath his eyes. Straight to the abbot’s chamber in one stroke.

Two monks sat facing each other on the wooden floor.

One person’s long ears like grass blades stood out on both sides of his rough bald head. He sat in a direction where Jeong Yeon-shin could confirm his face, a very familiar warrior monk.

“Please allow me now. Even wall-facing wasn’t this difficult, but how long must I meditate…”

Master Won Jok.

First seat of Shaolin’s Four Great Vajras.

Famous for hundred-year wall-facing. A figure who had long protected the temple in Shaolin where the limits of standing had disappeared after Ming Dynasty’s founding.

Also a Shaolin monk who had shown great favor toward Jeong Yeon-shin’s dharma power.

“My legs are gradually getting numb. Since my upper energy center is not like Patriarch Bodhidharma’s, enduring with Washing Following Sutra also has limits. But I cannot break precepts myself, so Abbot Master must make a bold decision.”

Then Master Won Jok concluded briefly.

“Please kill me.”

“Cannot.”

An aged voice resonated gently, and Master Wonjok slowly shook his head.

“Old Tang Dynasty’s Master Lee Hyeon said. When meeting Buddha, kill Buddha… According to views unbound by anything, I should rightfully achieve Buddhahood here. Doesn’t the Abbot know this too?”

“That is merely escape.”

“At present, the only main mountain disciple who can deal with me is Hell Deviation Master Beom-ryeol. Does the Abbot intend to bloody his disciple’s hands?”

“One hundred eight arhats surround the temple. There would be no shortage even focusing only on cultivation without any troubles… Hmm? I thought today’s incense visitors were unusually few.”

Suddenly, the armless monk’s shadow cut off his own words. Then he tilted his head beside Master Won Jok’s shoulder, with movements pure and innocent as temple incense.

The face thus revealed.

“A precious connection has stepped forward.”

Wrinkles formed around one-eyed old monk Shaolin Abbot Master Beom Heo’s lips. Though he wasn’t a noble clan member, his gaze met Jeong Yeon-shin’s vision directly.

Around then, Jeong Yeon-shin was spreading Southern Splendor Radiant Taiji under his feet and dispersing his mind. Because many scenes besides Shaolin were beginning to crumple into darkness.

‘No time.’

With functions like Wudang’s Two Mind Technique, he focused on all visions branched like stems of an old tree. It was a method of forcibly hammering various disparate scenes from here and there into his mind.

“Senior Brother Abbot, what is this?”

Meanwhile, a defrocked monk with disheveled hair suddenly appeared and covered all of Mount Song’s scenery with blazing pupils.

The next scene was under sky where clouds and sunset mixed like paint. A noble clan Taoist of handsome appearance sat cross-legged, it was Two Wall Sword Lord Taoist Qingshui.

“Due to insufficient capacity of this body.”

Qingcheng Sect Leader moving his lips with closed eyes.

“I became myself.”

Finally slowly rising from his seat, blue clouds and reddish sunset rattled up and down with the sword at his waist. Jeong Yeon-shin’s vision closed simultaneously with that vast rippling.

Whoosh…

In some unknown mountain, tree trunks that had been wrapping around Tyrant Sword Sect Leader’s ankles burst forth like shells, causing another scene to go dark.

There were more.

In another location, Fighting God’s huge back swayed forward. Over his shoulder, thirty thousand imperial troops led by protective energy charged with thousands of cavalry, and there was something denser than the dust churning like waves in the wilderness.

“Did you come?”

It was steam rising whitely from the liquor bottle Fighting God gripped.

“You’re doing worse than Bright Wind Cave.”

He laughed with his back turned.

“I’m waiting for you. Central Plains is enjoyable.”

Jeong Yeon-shin understood as soon as he heard. It was words directed at him, but his vision blurred, mixed with breath the bottle exhaled.

Gradually reaching limits.

He felt upper energy center overheating for the first time in a very long while.

His mind seemed to burn white, but it would cool soon anyway. Because his upper energy center’s vessel had also widened as much as his shortened remaining lifespan. He might have even reached the world’s greatest already, excluding Invincible Yelu Zhen.

So there was one last thing to examine.

‘The fallen home.’

It was Desolate Fortress’s main castle.