Chapter 711 – Stone Sword Group

As soon as Jeong Yeon-shin descended into Shaolin’s grounds, he split his energy perception in two directions. Grand Empress Dowager Wei Yeon and some earth figure. The latter was clearly in Fighting God’s form. He had even just spoken of witnessing in Fighting God’s voice.

Pshhhh.

Perhaps because of the intense movements earlier? A large amount of stone dust fell from the earth figure’s body and was swirling about hazily here and there.

He felt it all with his energy perception. The body form molded like a sculpture from earth and the limping movements that stirred slightly.

Everything was the same as Fighting God.

It was Fighting God’s primordial spirit avatar, heavily imbued with dense earth energy.

‘It’s suffocating. There’s no end.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

How much fighting and chaos had he gone through to banish the strongest masters of the martial world far away? Yet these human-shaped monsters of supernatural power stood in the positions they intended for themselves. World Tree, which had been dwelling in Desolate Fortress Lord, was together with Wei Yeon. Fighting God had made another body out of the yellowish earth pile.

The word “at will” seemed fitting for these two people. Like when the First Heavenly Demon had once spoken of the life attitude called “oneness.”

‘Those who compete for the front.’

The monsters of this era who weren’t satisfied unless everything went according to their will.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.

“Witnessing?”

[Isn’t it the transfer of karma? It’s something held sacred even in the Demon Realm. From craftsman to long-time successor, from king to legitimate heir who has proven their qualifications. Such karma passed down through generations should properly be accompanied by a witness who is either very honorable or high in seniority.]

“Why should you do that?”

[The seat of Desolate Fortress Lord. A position that all nations and powers under heaven have been wary of. This has been even more so since the fall of Dali Kingdom. But the Central Plains’ greatest has lost qualification.]

Fighting God’s primordial spirit continued slowly.

[You sit there.]

“……”

[No one else will do.]

A spring breeze that suddenly blew swept past the antique wall and scattered.

Who could have foreseen this?

The sight of the northern Fighting God interfering in the position of leader of the World’s Greatest Sect. Moreover, Wei Yeon only stared at the empty space where the gate had been with an expression of unknown intent.

“Hmm, hmm.”

Eunuch Ming Yu, who had been sprawled on the ground, quietly got up.

He quickly pulled out a golden scroll from his bundle with nimble hand movements, then immediately extended his arms toward Jeong Yeon-shin as if presenting tribute.

Rustle.

Without even turning around, Jeong Yeon-shin pulled it over with Void Grasp and spread it wide in midair. Then he asked Ming Yu.

“Did you memorize the contents?”

“Of course. Those who live by clinging to power always prepare for everything, and His Majesty wanted me to memorize it.”

With those words, he stood behind Jeong Yeon-shin like the wind. He really looked like he had become an attendant, but suddenly Ming Yu’s breathing became rough and lost composure, uncharacteristic of a eunuch. It was because Six Star Lord Literary Star was right next to him.

The giant only smiled brightly.

“I’m impressed by your spirit. You’re no less than any great warrior.”

There were more.

Unlike what would befit the world’s greatest temple, walls and roofs were damaged and half-destroyed here and there. Those sitting casually and distantly on them were certainly Little Heavenly Demon Invincible and Heaven-Conquering Sect Leader. Both had faces showing no interest whatsoever in this momentous affair under heaven.

‘Surely he didn’t bring them along…? That’s impossible. It can’t be that.’

Even Jeong Yeon-shin’s expression was no different from the two leaders of the Unorthodox Path. An assemblage that was very heterogeneous yet strangely well-matched.

“It’s not that I’m ignoring the imperial command.”

He opened his mouth.

Ming Yu suddenly felt uneasy. Though he had rewritten documents about Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s behavioral patterns several times, the Desolation Destroyer never moved according to the reports in the end.

“What happens if I refuse?”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly.

At those words, Wei Yeon’s head turned toward the grounds for the first time. The old woman with height matching Jeong Yeon-shin met his gaze at similar eye level. Ming Yu’s bewildered counter-question followed.

“What do you mean…?”

“This passage.”

Jeong Yeon-shin pointed to the middle part of the letter floating in the air.

“According to the extremely long tradition, the history of protecting the people’s livelihood contained in Enter The Extinction Sword is transplanted into Remnant Thunder Sword. Therefore, the divine sword of this land is now only one blade… That sword is not currently in the Central Plains.”

“Then, then where is it?”

“Since there was no other suitable proof of war’s end, I gave it to Black Return. To retrieve it quickly, one of my companions remaining in the north must challenge and defeat him.”

Black Return.

The Southern Emperor’s eldest legitimate son and current leader of the Demon Realm. A peerless master of Thunder Arts who had been repeatedly defeated by the Three Direction Generals yet survived in the end.

It was said that most of Divine Sword Group’s core figures had returned to the Central Plains. Among those remaining in the north, who could overcome Black Return? Radiant Demon Wing Leader Cheong Myeong, whose news had suddenly been cut off?

Ming Yu realized.

‘It’s an excuse! To guard his master’s vacant position…!’

Even though he had been expelled by her, he was reluctant to readily accept. Any disciple with deep sincerity would be the same.

It was a bold composure.

Because regardless of Jeong Yeon-shin’s status, Desolate Fortress was already his.

It was after messenger birds had soared in all directions due to Praising Earth Sword Duke who had manifested holding Enter The Divine Sword. Though the crowds on the mountain slopes were in an uproar, Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been the Enter The Divine Sword’s master, showed no emotion about that fact.

“Hmm.”

A faint smile formed at Ming Yu’s lips like the fine hairs of a brush.

He was a whirlwind of the political world. He was very experienced in this area.

‘Rather better.’

If he had readily accepted the emperor’s edict, the appearance would have been poor instead.

In a world where gossip-mongers were watching with wide eyes, several refusals were indeed virtue. Especially for a position like Desolate Fortress Lord, whose name alone could bring tremendous changes to all under heaven.

“Indeed I was right. Only someone who knows propriety has the qualifications to sit in that position.”

“At this point, there’s no need…”

Jeong Yeon-shin trailed off in a calm tone. While meeting Wei Yeon’s eyes.

Ming Yu’s surprise lay there. Because he didn’t feel great danger. Even though the true energy supply of the One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation had been cut off, his whole body was covered in blood, and he even had penetrating wounds.

Was it because the three monsters of the Unorthodox Path were looking down at this place from their respective positions and expressions? If so, the ability to bring monsters along was also part of Jeong Yeon-shin’s prowess.

[What nonsense.]

Fighting God interrupted.

[You won’t ascend to that position? Then it would be better for Desolate Fortress to be destroyed as the Demon Realm has long desired. Wind that doesn’t circulate loses its vital energy, so I’m prepared to destroy Desolate Fortress after everything ends.]

“You’ve spoken words that shouldn’t be said. Never show me your back.”

There were no ups and downs in Jeong Yeon-shin’s tone.

“Look more closely!”

Ming Yu quickly pointed at the letter with his finger.

“The writing next to it! ‘Of course, how could one sword replace a person? Even if the imperial seal is stolen, I am the emperor, and even if the divine sword Remnant Thunder breaks in the tempests of the end times, Jeong Family Lightning Genius shall remain whole’… The Son of Heaven’s will has been conveyed, so Master Jeong is already Desolate Fortress Lord! What remains is only the ceremony of enthronement! His Majesty has already commanded the remaining officials to post proclamations throughout all under heaven!”

Words combining the baseness and cunning characteristic of eunuchs were quickly concluded. The emperor had seen through Jeong Yeon-shin’s reaction. For a moment, doubt appeared on Jeong Yeon-shin’s face.

“Enthronement ceremony?”

“It’s a banquet and ritual commemorating sitting in that position. It was like that when the position of Desolate Fortress Lord was first created in ancient times. All the great sects’ jianghu people of the Central Plains gathered at Desolate Fortress. Not only martial people of orthodox and unorthodox paths, but also Heaven Punishment Sect and Sword Alliance, which were then called the Thirteen Evil Sects, came to within ten li of Desolate Fortress’s walls. Whether their intention was exploration or respect…”

Ming Yu stopped mid-sentence while eloquently pouring out old stories. It was because Wei Yeon had suddenly taken a step forward. Her clothing hem rustled as it brushed the uneven ground.

The one hundred and eight monks rolling on the ground in place was simultaneous.

Thoom…

A vibration like a temple bell’s sound spread. A feeling that not only space but even time rippled.

Though the true energy supply was cut off, Shaolin’s One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation hadn’t been broken. It was impossible for anyone throughout history to accomplish with just one gesture.

Wei Yeon faced Jeong Yeon-shin while receiving the gazes of the Shaolin monks. Before she could say anything, Jeong Yeon-shin spoke first.

“You and even your palanquin bearers are primordial spirit avatars. Did you mold them with wood and wind energy of the five elements? It seems World Tree obtained information that I use convicts.”

“……”

“Among those who dispersed their power so troublesomely, there has never been anyone whose front and back were the same. Even high-powered true immortals were like that, let alone someone like you…”

Then the Desolation Day Extinction spoke as if stating an established fact.

“Now I’ll have to create martial arts where striking primordial spirit avatars damages the main body. Rampage as you please. You’ll all die.”

“What is the reason you didn’t die even after cutting the gate?”

Wei Yeon asked indifferently. Jeong Yeon-shin hid nothing from her words.

“A peerless master can burst their energy center.”

“What?”

“The tremendous accumulated energy cultivation of a master is power incomparable to thousands of thunderbolt bombs. What about an energy center trained to constantly and stably contain such power? Human flesh alone cannot contain such force.”

“Continue.”

“Spiritual power equal to true energy… divine power completes the vessel called the energy center. If you extract that in one technique, you can not only touch but even cut a gate. True gate severing is accomplished that way. One life for one gate. The body bursts and dies.”

Jeong Yeon-shin concluded his words, and Wei Yeon fell silent.

No more questions followed. As if no other explanation was needed.

From the beginning, Wei Yeon might be the world’s greatest in understanding martial learning.

“I’m prepared for a short life. My internal arts are special, so two more times are possible.”

Jeong Yeon-shin continued slowly.

“What about you? What about World Tree’s noble clans?”

“A method of mutual destruction. I understand its mystery. If your heart is so inclined, now tell me what Taoist Sanfeng did at the main trunk.”

Though Wei Yeon spoke with an indifferent face, Jeong Yeon-shin’s story wasn’t finished.

“The true gate severing at Mount Song is a question I posed to all under heaven. Those who acted like gods because they had high martial arts dwelling in their bodies… The world’s peerless masters will now receive one question along with my visit.”

Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius asked.

“How strong are your hearts?”

“……”

Quiet silence settled over the old temple.

Silent Radiant Sword Constellation had already disappeared. Yet the deep evening sky remained. So much time had passed.

Moonlight spilled over broken roof tiles into the grounds.

“Amitabha.”

The Buddhist invocation uttered while the one hundred and nine Shaolin monks joined their palms. Even Shaolin Abbot Great Master Beom-heo’s sleeve fluttered elegantly, while Wei Yeon only moved her wrinkled lips.

“Your Dragon-Treading Leader and Law Enforcement Leader captured Eternal Candle Divine Physician has been confirmed. Was it your order?”

“It was necessary work. Those with strong hearts are often injured.”

The current Desolate Fortress Lord answered.

Ming Yu, who had been at a loss for words while gazing at his back, suddenly had a realization. It was because Zhang Soon-il, whom he had left in a deadly situation, belatedly came to mind. Moreover, there was also the problem of Divine Sword Group masters who had faced ‘Six Star Lord Martial Star’ and the Great Righteous Alliance. The Great Righteous Alliance’s martial forces that had curved along the mountain slopes like a flood dragon’s body.

His head became dizzy.

There was no end. Even if they retreated avoiding those things, it would take tremendous time.

‘I should also go save Soon-il…’

How could Desolate Fortress Lord, already battered from great battles, handle it? That’s what a nation’s military force was like. The same went for the Unorthodox Path monsters Jeong Yeon-shin had brought. There wasn’t a single one who would readily move according to someone else’s words. Monsters of supernatural power who would only become divine soldiers when the current Desolate Fortress Lord wielded them with overwhelming martial force and momentum.

“Heaven-Conquering Sect Leader…!”

Starting with the one-armed blind man in the bamboo hat.

He suddenly rose from the roof, making one think he was trying to escape the battlefield. Hadn’t there originally been rumors that Heaven-Conquering Sect Leader had also faced Qingcheng Sect Leader? Even if he looked fine on the outside, his insides would be full of chronic ailments and internal injuries.

But the thoughts were brief.

Bang! Rummmmmble!

The wall toward Shaolin’s mountain gate shattered and spat out some large human shadow. The sudden gust that burst forth strongly pulled at everyone’s clothing hems. Momentum as if a cannonball had been fired.

What sprawled at Ming Yu’s feet was a horribly disfigured Yao tribe member. His entire body was virtually covered with extremely sharp sword wounds and deep palm prints.

Wei Yeon’s muttering flowed out.

“Six Star Lord, Martial Star…?”

Ming Yu couldn’t believe those words at face value.

Because it was a corpse.

There was no internal energy breathing. No pulse was transmitted to his feet.

Thud.

It rang near Ming Yu. It was because the blind man in the bamboo hat had planted his bluish sword like a staff, and Ming Yu raised his head toward the mountain gate like he was out of his mind.

“Damn bastard. I thought I was going to die. If it weren’t for Won-jeok blocking the remaining forces.”

A tonsured monk with disheveled hair was walking over trudging. Hell Deviation Beom-yeol. Brother disciple of Divine Monk Great Master Beom-heo, according to imperial intelligence, he wasn’t someone who could kill a Six Star Lord with an intact body.

The answer was behind his shoulders.

Step.

Two black robes fluttered.

Annihilation Team Leader Shin Hwang, Acting Blood Guardian Leader Hyeon Won-chang.

It wasn’t the end. The sight of a cat-like young maiden waving her only arm to Jeong Yeon-shin. She was incongruously one-armed. Her empty sleeve was being tinged with twilight as she smiled brightly.

That color was deep jet black.