Chapter 707 – Desolate Fortress Lord (7)

Those who had gathered in the ruined canyon.

There were ten of them.

Originally, distinguishing between good and evil among jianghu people is difficult for anyone. Like the up and down of a pebble rolling gently down a cliff at this moment.

Thud, thunk…

In the rotation of the pebble that bounced down toward the ten people standing blankly for a moment, Jeong Yeon-shin’s thoughts mixed.

Blood Flame Sect was a great faction that deceived and bewitched the people, but Jeong Yeon-shin, whom Seventh Apostle had saved several times, ultimately became Divine Sword Group Leader. While Blood Flame Sect’s wealth would have been used for Seventh Apostle’s growth, countless Blood Flame Sect branches also disappeared at her hands. The common people who lived were as many as those who died.

That was clearly Seventh Apostle’s will.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly recalled her bewitching red eyes. What was she doing now? He pictured a scene of her urging Divine Sword Vice-Leader’s recovery at Blood Flame Sect’s main base.

‘There are others too.’

In the Southern Emperor’s mind was fertile golden land, and in times of hunger like now when cannibalism was prevalent, the Great Righteous Alliance Leader received the people’s support. What kind of person was Second Emperor Longzhen, who had almost unified the righteous path?

Jeong Yeon-shin no longer made hasty judgments.

The same was true now.

At this moment, the silence of these ten people infinitely close to jianghu’s peak was denser than any pressure Jeong Yeon-shin had ever experienced.

“……”

He suddenly made a judgment. There were no good people.

It had to be such an assemblage. The six who had suddenly fallen from the sky were even more so.

Literary Star, Unorthodox Finest Sword, Little Heavenly Demon Invincible.

Praising Earth Sword Duke, Northern Darkness Fist Marquis, Qingcheng Sect Leader.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s Myriad Heavens Flower Rain Morning Star had enveloped all of them like clouds, then brought them across an extremely long distance. A technique of different caliber from when he had created it against Golden Wing Sect Master. A miracle that no one under heaven would believe.

To Jeong Yeon-shin it wasn’t so.

‘Of course.’

Tang Clan Head, Poison Lord Tang Yun-hwang had passed on his Myriad Heavens Flower Rain insights to Jeong Yeon-shin in Hangzhou, Jeong Yeon-shin’s techniques and protective strong energy had mixed together with the abilities of controlling qi and sword, the energy of one broken luminous wheel was flowing through his entire body, and the One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation was assisting from afar.

Even though they were all masters whose jianghu experience had to be tremendously broad, most showed surprised faces. But Jeong Yeon-shin’s expression was calm, and he even showed the leisure to silently look around at them.

The blind man in a bamboo hat leaned on Winter Dream Sword like a staff with an astonished face.

“Impressive spirit. After pulling off such an outrageous stunt.”

“Don’t think of fleeing with Form Shifting Void. I’ll catch you before that.”

“I’m really curious, so let me ask, why did you do it?”

Heaven-Conquering Sect Leader, tilting his head sideways, continued speaking crookedly.

“You’ve done something that wouldn’t be strange if you were crawling right now, so was there really a need to strain yourself like that? I can’t fathom your intentions at all.”

“I’ll concede the right wing. It’s a position suitable for a left-handed swordsman.”

Even as Jeong Yeon-shin uttered these words, he didn’t expect Heaven-Conquering Sect Leader to move according to his words. Despite seeming to have stood guard for him earlier at Shaolin’s mountain gate.

‘Certainly unexpected but.’

Judging by Heaven-Conquering Sect Leader’s eccentricity, which wasn’t just a day or two, that was merely a swordsman’s own respect for the achievement of cutting a gate. Still far from being a reliable ally.

Nor would it become so. As long as the blind man was an unorthodox jianghu person.

Therefore Jeong Yeon-shin focused on feeling Shaolin’s power. The dharma power boiling like lava in his entire body’s three channels and acupoints.

Simultaneously he was certain. That he was still in perfect condition.

* * *

The battlefield Jeong Yeon-shin had created.

There was a human shadow that uniquely matched eye level with Literary Star. In contrast to the canyon’s air where even spring breezes poured down fiercely at this moment, a gentle curve formed at Literary Star’s lips.

“Fighting God, it’s been a long time.”

“Indeed it has.”

Fighting God spoke slowly.

“Your final appearance is vivid before my eyes. With your back to the blade Star Direction General had thrust out, reaching your hand toward me…”

At those words Literary Star laughed.

“A large scar remains on my back. It won’t be erased.”

It was natural.

Jianling’s Four Direction Generals, otherwise known as the Sun, Moon, Stars & Constellations Four Generals, were the joint warfare experts of Emperor Qian-ling and Grand Empress Dowager. These people who had only four sworn brothers. Once Literary Star had torn Star Direction General apart and killed him after fierce battle, reducing them to three.

Thus they became Three Direction Generals. Absolute beings of battlefields who wouldn’t compromise with the north. Their poison energy was terrifying.

At that time Literary Star had nearly died. Even if superiority and inferiority in strength were divided among peerless masters, one shouldn’t be distracted during life-and-death battles between masters.

Fighting God clicked his tongue.

“Your honor was tarnished. Now others will think you retreat as easily as eating.”

“That’s not a great flaw for a strategist, but you shouldn’t blame me. Weren’t you hit by Emperor Qian-ling’s final desperate move?”

“Excuses are..”

“From then the great plan stopped. Anti-Fighting God factions sprang up everywhere, we failed to foresee Divine Sword Group’s northern advance in time, and ultimately the black palace was captured once. For reference, the Anti-Fighting God faction’s northern kings are still thriving and troubling Black Return. I mean the Southern Emperor’s successor whom you also acknowledged.”

“That much is nothing…”

A pure white blade suddenly came into the hand of Fighting God who shook his head. A sword strike that nearly severed his side without any warning before being blocked.

It was Praising Earth Sword Duke.

A middle-aged swordsman extending a complete Enter The Divine Sword while his orange robe fluttered like sunset. Spring wind was being cut along his earlobes as sharp as the blade he had raised.

“Cutting down everything of our clan and bearing only one great gate alone…?”

Praising Earth Sword Duke continued speaking as if humming a small yet profound melody.

“That is work only for the strong, and ultimately the northern Fighting God cannot replace World Tree. How can humans and divine trees be the same? Don’t act as if you’re a righteous person.”

Fighting God paid no heed. Whatever Praising Earth Sword Duke said, he only delivered long-held feelings to Literary Star.

“That you didn’t answer my message requesting a great battle.”

“……”

“That is all that matters to me.”

Literary Star remained silent with an incomprehensible expression.

Meanwhile, coldness swirled on Praising Earth Sword Duke’s face.

Whoosh!

Sword light rippling like sunlight. Blood spurted from Fighting God’s palm. As several bright red droplets turned to pale smoke, Fighting God’s protective strong energy also deepened.

Gurgling…

The internal energy barrier materialized like transparent diamond scattered rainbow light in all directions.

“Hmm…!”

Even wrapped in such Northern Power Primordial Desolation, his hand vibrated like thunder trapped in jade. World Tree’s foremost swordsman’s single sword strike couldn’t be countered with mere bare-handed blade catching.

Fighting God laughed.

“…Praising Earth Sword Duke and Northern Darkness Fist Marquis. You were written in the Southern Emperor’s death list. You came at just the right time.”

“If we compete in lesser evils, our clan has the advantage. Die along with your great cause.”

Praising Earth Sword Duke’s Enter The Divine Sword flowed out of the giant grip like water. The technique of an orthodox swordsman who valued sword withdrawal more than sword drawing.

Zzzzzing!

Crimson sparks arose in succession from friction between internal energy barrier and blade, but were completely crushed by Fighting God’s fist that drove down again. Praising Earth Sword Duke, who had raised his Enter The Divine Sword like lightning, simultaneously touched the knuckles of that fist surface with his sword tip.

The canyon lowered with tremendous noise.

Because the ground supporting the ten people had sunk nearly one foot. Even so, Praising Earth Sword Duke withstood Fighting God’s fist power from his position. With an upper stance as if unified with the earth.

The transformation of receiving Fighting God’s single fist that even contained flawless Internal Heavy Hand technique, then flowing that power evenly into the ground like tree roots.

“…Divine martial absolute technique. Tree Root United Energy.”

Literary Star spoke. While shaking off Northern Darkness Fist Marquis who had somehow reached up to his elbow. She continuously created transparent afterimages like foam splashed by waves while contorting in various postures.

Then whenever Literary Star’s movements grew even slightly larger, she would slip into his embrace and strike hundreds of punches and kicks like acrobatics before escaping. Naturally, fist and foot marks were carved into the cliff behind Literary Star afterward.

A scene demonstrating overflowing power. It meant all her attack moves were her full strength. Then when she was hit by Literary Star’s swinging back hand, she would bounce away like a skipping stone and create booming explosions. In midair, and on cliffs.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

Just like right now.

Literary Star, who had somehow become bloodied like Fighting God, shook his head. While being wary of Northern Darkness Fist Marquis’s lightness technique as she was about to charge in again.

“That Praising Earth Sword Duke’s sword is a sword technique that argues for foremost among the noble clans in defensive moves and prolonged battles. It was reported that the internal energy going into defense seems extremely minimal. He’ll be quite troublesome.”

“Aren’t they things that depend on the energy between heaven and earth that trees have absorbed? It doesn’t feel like good compatibility.”

Fighting God said while pressing down Enter The Divine Sword’s tip with his fist.

The scene of pressing down the leader of the current World’s Five Swords with bare fist power. Praising Earth Sword Duke who withstood such fist strikes was also a martial god like other eras’ supreme under heaven.

At least Literary Star calculated it so.

Therefore he spoke.

“Rather fortunate. The noble clans that truly suit ‘unity’ are about Golden Thunder Count, Heaven-Reaching Bow Viscount, and Taoist Qingshu. If Praising Earth Sword Duke had also received unlimited true energy supply to great effect, it would have been even more troublesome.”

A figure who might need to be viewed as equal to the Southern Emperor who had created a spell domain. Originally the swordsman who had been the leader of World Tree’s Four Great Guardians had experienced unity. It was natural divine status.

‘He’s clearly mastered defensive sword work and has no carelessness… an opponent difficult to settle victory with in short decisive battles.’

There was more.

Suddenly Northern Darkness Fist Marquis’s form flickered like lightning from the distant sky, then drove down toward Literary Star with outstretched palm.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

She who touched his massive chest naturally performed a handstand. After striking one palm, it was aerial treading that stood upside down on air so she could dodge from close range at any time. From her elegantly pointed toes, afterimages characteristic of form-changing position-switching spread.

“Oh my.”

It was a foot that would disappear after his hand approached, but another grip roughly grabbed Northern Darkness Fist Marquis’s ankle.

Crack…

It was Fighting God.

After bouncing Praising Earth Sword Duke toward Literary Star with short advancing footwork, their bodies crossed as if switching each other’s opponents. Literary Star’s both hands distorted like whips in fifteen trajectories, colliding with Praising Earth Sword Duke holding Enter The Divine Sword.

Zzzzzzzzzing!

While glass-like cracks spread through space, Fighting God who had passed him was slamming Northern Darkness Fist Marquis into the ground by her ankle like a sack. Not once but a full twenty-four times in an instant, striking down like axe work.

As if both the ground breaking or your head breaking would equally happen.

Their coordination was like that of veterans.

Fighting God’s pale breath curved like a grin matching his mouth shape, and Literary Star thought while pushing back Praising Earth Sword Duke oppressively. Besides the powerful rebound, something else had to come to mind.

‘The talent to dominate battlefield flow.’

That’s why he was Fighting God.

Not only Fighting God. Ice Palace Master’s husband remaining in the north had it too, and at this moment it certainly existed in Divine Sword Group Leader Jeong Yeon-shin as well.

Literary Star’s gaze, having gained leisure thanks to the old god, turned sideways. Simultaneously the giant’s breath momentarily vanished without a trace.

The one who created this stage.

Jeong Yeon-shin was swimming in a different time axis. While wrapped in broken sword fragments and protective strong energy remnants like starlight throughout his body.

How many times had he repeated it?

He casually kicked away the sword Heaven-Conquering Sect Leader had swung toward the mountain ridge where Literary Star was. The place the bluish sword tip came to point was high in the sky near the peak’s edge. Where Tyrant Sword Sect Master and Desolate Fortress Lord were unfolding pale sword paths like heavenly gods.

It was Tyrant Sword Sect Master’s disadvantage. He was repeatedly pushed back.

In contrast, Desolate Fortress Lord seemed to have made clouds flowing with star clusters into clothing. Her movements were like performing a sword dance.

The aftereffects of sword strikes that collided thread by thread extended endlessly into the sky. Simultaneously driving transparent lightning in all directions. Each time naturally shook the earth’s axis, and ominous rumbling arose throughout Mount Song’s vast ridges. As if an unprecedented scale landslide might occur.

It was then that Jeong Yeon-shin was sucked into Heaven-Conquering Sect Leader’s sword. To be precise, the gap of Form Shifting Void blade work that had finely cut space.

Step.

He immediately appeared in midair.

The energy perception of the noble clan Taoist, Taoist Qingshu, who had been watching them with keen interest from the ground, seemed not to have missed this. He had already raised his bluish-tinged sword toward the point where Jeong Yeon-shin had manifested.

[Azure Cloud.]

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t stop.

When Qingcheng Sect Leader inflated and launched sword energy like clouds skyward, Jeong Yeon-shin wound Myriad Heavens Flower Rain’s light masses around it like rope and soared once more, instantly reaching the exact center of Desolate Fortress Lord and Tyrant Sword Sect Master. Faster than any lightness technique. A scene where miracle upon miracle continued. It was just before the soulless Tyrant Sword Sect Master’s great sword grazed past Desolate Fortress Lord.

Flutter.

Jeong Yeon-shin shook his purple sleeves like a dance move, and condensed starlight bodies extending like silk swords from his firm wrists wrapped around and pulled the great sword. A feeling as if time itself had been bound.

It was a move that adjusted the sword path.

Swish…!

The great sword pierced into Desolate Fortress Lord’s abdomen as if to bisect her. Jeong Yeon-shin, who soared from that rebound, stepped on the great sword’s surface and stopped.

“Enough.”

He spoke while gripping Starry Night, which had not yet been drawn once. To the former first-place graduate’s eyes, he was a demon god who had artistically committed the great crime of regicide and patricide.

Literary Star stepped half a step away from Fighting God’s side.

[TL Note- Aura Farming goes brrrrr.]