Chapter 715 – Stone Sword Group (5)

If they were to carry out a grand undertaking, they would need to strike quickly and retreat.

In the midst of this, they must not touch the Divine Sword Group. From the perspective of martial forest nobles including the Great Righteous Alliance, Desolate Fortress’s sword point should be focused only on World Tree. For Jeong Yeon-shin and Desolate Fortress Lord to perish together would be the prosperity and happiness of the Central Plains’ jianghu.

There should be no one among those who visited Desolate Fortress now who could adequately oppose them. If they were that strong, suppression would be difficult. There would always be the option of killing them.

In such circumstances, the manifestation of a sleeping peerless swordsman was a very big variable. That someone as strange as Namgung Hwa-shin was still alive meant he was a rarely threatening figure in jianghu. Just as the nature of Desolate Fortress’s purple ranks had been peculiar for generations.

“Obeying Heaven Wing Lord, White Qilin…”

Light Blade Venerable Jin Min muttered. A voice that felt the impermanence of time.

When she was making her martial reputation in Henan, White Qilin was merely a promising rising talent. Even Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t have a name at all.

How about now?

Without the two of them, Desolate Fortress would face clan extinction.

The current of the Yangtze River was simply too fast.

“Before that.”

Clerk Ki Dae-seung, who had leaned against a wall at some point, spoke. While gesturing with his chin toward the woman wearing a monocle, Emperor Li Chuang’s wife.

“First return our stronghold’s escaped prisoner.”

“What?”

“The villain who managed to convey information to you that Divine Physician had entered the stronghold. I know the ghostly appearances and disappearances of the Great Righteous Four Immortals from experiencing it that day, but… to walk back in on two feet, to look down on Desolate Fortress like this.”

Simultaneously, a transparent sword wind suddenly arose. A blade wind that struck in an instant toward the woman with the monocle on Jin Min’s left.

Zzaaak…

The eye inside that glass ball widened, and the facial skin was completely peeled off.

It had extended from the sleeve of the sleeping Namgung Hwa-shin. Extremely precise sword strike energy waves. Enough to not even scratch the original skin, just tearing apart only the human skin mask.

Lady Go belatedly covered her face with both hands.

“No…!”

It was a swift sword that was difficult to react to even with the internal energy projection power of Three Flower Gathering at Crown. It showed through the gaps between her fingers. A face darkened with bruises. A form so crushed it was hard to call human features.

Traces of what she had suffered from Six Star Lord Literary Star.

It would be an appearance that would greatly diminish Great Righteous Alliance’s authority. Because she was not an ordinary person who would end as just a martial forest noble, but a woman who would soon become an empress.

Authority was authority.

Thud.

Just from being hit by that blade wind, Lady Go collapsed as if crumbling in place.

It didn’t seem like she could get up by herself. Originally a body sustained by internal energy. Unless one was a Dynamic Technique practitioner or peerless master, there was no way to remain intact.

The owner of the blade wind, Namgung Hwa-shin, was still keeping his eyelids lowered. With unchanged shallow breathing, appearing as if he might or might not be conscious.

Truly strange.

The faded monarch who had been keeping his seat at the round table opened his mouth.

“The unconscious overcomes the conscious…? He’s worthy of being made a subject. I can see how steadfastly he has lived.”

No one answered. Not only did the figures of Profound Martial Alliance remain still, but even Martial Dragon Alliance Leader Helian Feng-yue was just pretending not to care.

Though it was an amazing scene, Ki Dae-seung only maintained silence with a stern face.

Administrative Department clerks knew about the faded monarch. He was a deceased person who had lived through the history when gates opened.

The one who had killed Desolate Fortress Lord’s parents in the distant past of the Yuan-Ming transition period. The person who had mastered the Eight Ring Divine Art that Sword Venerable Baek Seo-gun learned. He was even said to be the existence who had unilaterally suppressed Dark Heaven Emperor in his prime.

‘I thought he was dead. All of jianghu believed so.’

Had he been prolonging his life with the Demon Eating Great Method where Sword Venerable Baek Seo-gun obtained the Eight Ring Divine Art? Then how had he awakened? It must have been because of the earth energy that had rampaged in all directions before disappearing.

Ki Dae-seung first turned away from the faded monarch.

Naturally, he looked at Light Blade Venerable Jin Min. It was better to converse with her. From the beginning, the other figures in the assembly seemed to have entrusted everything to Jin Min.

Ki Dae-seung put slight force into his throat.

“Lady Go of your alliance privately invaded the stronghold. If she had originally been imprisoned in the Demon Family’s thunder prison, she never would have been able to escape.”

Jin Min smiled gently.

“You’re changing the subject. I know that Myriad Upper Road Stronghold’s Sea Overflow Fist Heaven also escaped by taking advantage of the Seven New Enemies of Defeated Desolation rebellion.”

“……”

“So, who is using that Desolate Fortress Ma Family’s thunder prison now that they didn’t put such a major criminal in it?”

“There’s no need to tell you.”

Ki Dae-seung shook his head.

But Jin Min flashed her colorless eyes brilliantly. Her lips also moved.

“It must be Desolate Fortress Divine Spear.”

“……”

“When the Divine Sword Group returned from the north to Desolate Fortress, they would have clashed with the jianghu people who were occupying this place. Among them would have been Divine Demon Mad Silence Sect Master Wol-yo and Fist King Sky Trampling Palace Master. If such peerless masters were captured and Desolate Fortress Divine Spear was in charge of guarding them, her absence is understandable. Since she’s famous for being eccentric and believing herself young, and a late bloomer… she might have suddenly made the thunder prison into a training room. Desolate Fortress is a place that can’t spare even one hand.”

The words “late bloomer” felt like gentle mockery. In chaotic times when all under heaven were becoming stronger, masters who abhorred stagnation would not respect Yu Shou-lin.

Because all her words were true, Ki Dae-seung did not answer. Light Blade Venerable’s upper energy center insight was fearsome.

The Ma Family’s thunder prison had long been changed into Yu Shou-lin’s secluded training room. Sky Trampling Palace Master, who was a natural warrior, had voluntarily entered another thunder prison. Along with the question of when Jeong Yeon-shin would return.

‘We can’t spare even one hand… that’s right.’

The former Yan family head spoke to Ki Dae-seung, who wore a grave expression.

“Where did Kaifeng Qing family head go? I’m acquainted with that friend, and I’d like to relieve some boredom.”

“…He’s an elusive person. He always disappears without anyone knowing and returns.”

“Along with vast gold and silver treasures, I suppose. I understand. I’ll look for him once.”

The former Yan family head moved. Rather than heading toward Namgung Hwa-shin, he smashed through the wall and disappeared. It was the free-spirited nature characteristic of great families.

It was also then that the faded monarch opened his mouth again. His gaze looking up at Namgung Hwa-shin. In his eyes that seemed molded from ash, faint greed swirled.

“Since we’ve observed proprieties, may we leave now? I’d like to tour the place where Desolate Fortress Lord presided over the great ceremony.”

It was immediately felt. He was not pressed by Obeying Heaven Wing Lord’s might. He was respecting the intentions of a rare talent.

Namgung Hwa-shin did not answer.

Because he was originally asleep. Power gained too early should properly be accompanied by a corresponding price.

The faded monarch smiled slightly and stood up, and Sword Venerable Baek Seo-gun also moved following him.

“The role of divine soldier that wasn’t in my fate is tempting. I’ll stop by before leaving.”

Step.

The uninvited guests headed toward Desolate Fortress’s central training ground without further hindrance. They passed peacefully through the half-destroyed seventeen pavilions, feeling as if they had come out for a stroll.

Meanwhile, Helian Feng-yue asked Ki Dae-seung again.

“Do you truly not know Tyrant Hero’s whereabouts?”

“…How would a mere clerk know the whereabouts of the former Divine Sword Group Leader? He’s someone who has half-retired to wash his hands in golden basins.”

“Please treat me seriously. I have no intention of harming common people. I’m not interested in anything but martial arts from the beginning.”

“If you want the Divine Sword Group Leader so much, wait for Lord Jeong, who will return soon. He’ll be very welcoming to you people.”

“I have no grievances with that friend.”

“Didn’t you say you must compete with the Divine Sword Group Leader?”

“You’re obtuse, friend. I said I have no grievances.”

The central training ground.

It was where a huge rectangular marble platform was built high. It was a place where not only promotion ceremonies and formation training but also occasional banquets were held.

It was desolate.

The stronghold’s marble didn’t easily give off dust even when fairly strong winds blew. It only transparently revealed the faces of those sitting on the platform now.

There were often times when Desolate Fortress Lord would lean and sit under the shade of the oriental arborvitae positioned on one side of the training ground, but now it was only being used as a sunshade for the uninvited guests. Even though the faded monarch’s energy waves had changed Xiangyang’s sky to ash gray until now.

An ordinary chaotic time.

It was a coldly overcast day.

‘This is a crazy situation.’

Ki Dae-seung newly realized that something absurd had happened. The stronghold was being violated even though there were no casualties. How long would they have to endure?

Then Sword Venerable Baek Seo-gun moved his lips.

“I heard the story you shared with the Qing family head. You said humiliation wouldn’t be repeated, so when do you plan to bring out what you’ve prepared?”

“……”

“You would have anticipated Obeying Heaven Wing Lord’s intervention. You must have had something to rely on. The fallen Elder Council Lord, the armless Ma Family Head, the Law Enforcement Leader who returned from the north as a cripple, and the Dragon Treading Leader who’s at least decent… It’s woefully insufficient power to be called the World’s Greatest Sect. What’s the reason you let us in without resistance?”

She was a madman who had once acted as Jeong Yeon-shin’s nanny. Somehow it sounded like she was telling them to quickly bring out whatever they had.

“…Xiangyang is a place that embraces Desolate Fortress. Unlike during the Desolate Fortress Great War, there are common people nearby. We can’t let them be caught up in your intervention.”

“You don’t understand the big picture. There’s no fool like you.”

“Originally, knights are fools who neglect their own rice bowls. If such fools don’t lose to greedy groups, that’s when the world truly changes.”

Ki Dae-seung continued his story as if putting his life on the line.

“Rather, I want to ask you people. What’s the reason you’re not immediately finding Divine Physician and taking him away? What exactly are you trying to do in the very center of the stronghold?”

Baek Seo-gun did not answer, and the faded monarch smiled.

“Because we shouldn’t fall to being petty thieves. We plan to quietly wait for your leader for a day and night, and afterward take what we intended.”

With such archaic words, even the slightest smile disappeared from his face. His way of thinking was different. Like the Central Plains people before the famine who valued face like their lives.

‘Old people’s customs. He’s really the lord’s enemy.’

The intention that he would no longer allow Ki Dae-seung to converse with him also emerged. It was innate arrogance.

“I’d like to return to the story of Desolate Fortress Divine Spear.”

Light Blade Venerable Jin Min. Round and round, it was her. Profound Martial Alliance Leader Gun Wi-hu sat silently as if having completely lost real power, and his successor Gun Yu-rin seemed to have entrusted everything to her master Jin Min.

“Even though we’ve had this much time, you’re the only one responding to us. The monarch has let it slide to maintain face, but I need to know as much as possible.”

Then Jin Min briefly asked.

“Is Senior Divine Spear cultivating Jeong Family Dynamic Technique?”

It felt like asking about strategic weapons during the defense war. That was the authority Jeong Family Dynamic Technique held in the martial jianghu at this time.

She muttered.

“It wouldn’t be strange if mysterious absolute formations were installed, so if she receives that assistance…”

Gun Yu-rin, who had once accompanied Jeong Yeon-shin, smiled. It could only be because she had seen a body cultivated with Jeong Family Dynamic Technique up close.

“I don’t know about others, but Divine Spear?”

Some practitioners don’t study secret manuals but immerse themselves in them as if reading the story books of the ages. Achievement is divided according to the degree of such immersion.

Some even hear the voice of the grandmaster who wrote the secret manual. The achievement in such cases can only be measured as having accomplished great merit.

Old people cannot do so.

That’s why martial arts must be entered in childhood. Adults are bound to be immersed in worlds they’ve completed themselves. The reason great sects only take children as disciples was also in this context.

“She’s not a young monster like Wish-Fulfilling Spring Lord, so an old person who has stagnated for decades suddenly taking up new divine martial absolute learning? Well.”

“I understand Alliance Leader’s intentions. If you’re trusting Divine Spear’s emergence from seclusion… that would rather be fortunate.”

Jin Min moved her lips with a calm expression.

“Desolate Fortress’s prestige seems likely to be greatly divided starting from today. If you drive us out within the time the monarch gave, truly humiliation won’t be repeated, but if the variables are weak, it will become difficult to call it the World’s Greatest Sect anymore.”

“Hard to hear. I’ll be going now.”

Ki Dae-seung, who had quietly risen from his seat, slowly headed to the Administrative Department. While stopping Desolate Fortress Ma Family Head Ma Jin and Dragon Treading Leader Wei Ji-zhi, who wanted to go mad and rampage, with ultra-long-distance sound transmission.

“Please help Lord Jeong rest as soon as he walks to the stronghold. No matter how strong they are, they’ll soon become guests at the lord’s inauguration ceremony.”

Jeong Yeon-shin needed to rest.

He had pushed too hard. It wouldn’t do for him to face yet another destroyed stronghold as soon as he returned. Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius should be a person who was alone peaceful in chaotic times.

Looking down at all under heaven from his seat.

A being whose few words of command would create vast order.

A different level of realm.

‘Clear Eyes.’

Ki Dae-seung’s eyes glittered with deep green radiance when he arrived at the desolate Administrative Department pavilion.

He still believed firmly. That this series of events was merely one of the great and small affairs preparing a new Divine Sword Group Leader in accordance with the appointment of the new Desolate Fortress Lord.

Ki Dae-seung should originally have been preparing for Jeong Yeon-shin’s enthronement. Therefore, he too had lost his reason.

Creak.

When he stepped on and pressed the seat where Lim Jin-ming had originally sat, a faint rumbling arose from the distant Radiant Demon Wing pavilion direction.

“…It’s intact.”

He muttered.

He was completely in a state of selflessness.