Chapter 717 – Stone Sword Group (7)

On Light Blade Venerable Jin Min’s back hung a single blade that could not even be drawn.

Bright red blood was splattered across the marble.

Thud, drip.

Not just once.

Suddenly there were gurgling sounds as blood shot far and fell. This was because Jin Min’s unique martial power, Bright Extinction Layered Energy, was convulsing on its own within her meridians.

Her eyes had lost focus.

She might have left some last words, but the leg technique that pierced through her abdomen instantly burned away even Jin Min’s innate energy. It was the essence of Yue Family Spear. Battlefield martial arts where every technique doubled as a confirmation kill.

The silence lasted only a moment.

“Master!”

Phoenix Slaying Crimson Gun Yu-rin screamed like a lion’s roar, and great excitement colored Martial Dragon Alliance Leader Helian Feng-yue’s face.

“There might be considerable disagreement about what the world’s greatest sword technique or fist technique is.”

He continued slowly.

“But the current world’s greatest spear technique would be Yue Family Spear, not Yang Family Spear. It seems it will be so for a very long time.”

Helian Feng-yue’s eyes, which had no particular light, instantly saw through the intruder. Great Sun Drawing Void Eye. It was an eye technique famous enough to be counted among the five best under heaven. In the pupils created by the expelled eccentrics of Martial Dragon Alliance gathering together like a Hanlin Academy, a tall woman was reflected.

Desolate Fortress Divine Spear, Yue family Dream Flight.

Her eyes were sharply formed like spear blades compared to her clear pupils. From when she manifested in the central training ground until now, she had not closed her eyes even once.

Her lips, which had turned bright red like Blood Flame Cult nobility due to unprecedented martial power, were the same. She appeared taciturn, showing no sign of movement.

Helian Feng-yue smiled.

“When the weather is good, I’ll send a martial challenge sometime.”

“……”

She didn’t even turn to look at Helian Feng-yue, let alone answer. She merely retrieved the bare foot that had been penetrating Jin Min’s abdomen.

That movement.

It was as smooth as returning a long blade to its weapon rack. There was no obstruction even when standing on both legs.

Rustle.

Jin Min’s body collapsed.

A young woman who had rushed in swiftly caught her. Simultaneously she glared at the villain with an expression ready to tear her apart.

She had completely lost her reason.

Phoenix Slaying Crimson Blade Gun Yu-rin.

She had recruited the faded monarch and displayed brilliant stratagems. She had also greatly narrowed the position of her father, Profound Martial Alliance Leader Gun Wi-hu.

When she sat in the grand master’s chair looking down at opponents, even murim  nobles who had acted like kings in regional jianghu for centuries would lose focus in their eyes.

“You, you…!”

Yet Gun Yu-rin’s murderous energy waves were like the fleeting wing beats of a mayfly. That’s how it was in the scene of looking up at Dream Flight.

Suddenly Sword Venerable Baek Seo-gun flicked her finger from one side.

Thwack-

Gun Yu-rin stiffened rigidly.

She had pressed an acupoint to make her restrain herself. Even scolding her to know her place was meaningless. Just being suppressed in a single move was enough for anyone to understand Gun Yu-rin’s condition.

The successor of Profound Martial Alliance had lost her composure.

But the assembly’s gaze was constantly fixed on Dream Flight like sword points. Naturally, silence spread with the search accompanied by each person’s divine eye techniques.

“……”

Rarely long and sturdy limbs. Her range would inevitably be wide. A body that appeared beautiful at a glance yet agile, it was an extremely ideal physique for a spear wielder.

She did not look at anyone.

She only repeated clenching and opening her long fingers. At this moment, no one was in her consideration, while her own body seemed unfamiliar. Even that appearance was strangely beautiful.

Soon admiration flowed from the faded monarch’s mouth.

“Supreme.”

Words tinged with emotion for the first time.

The shade of the oriental arborvitae had begun repeatedly growing light and dark. His energy waves rippled like storm winds across the vast sky, as if day and night were alternating.

It was due to the faded monarch’s joy.

As if he were performing face-changing opera using the sun as a mask. The scale of his excitement was different. His archaic words that followed were the same.

“By existence alone she would be a queen, if she performed the great ceremony with me she would be a grand duke, and if she wished, she could become a monarch.”

“…Are you serious?”

Baek Seo-gun asked.

The faded monarch nodded slightly.

“Later, send a palanquin to this castle. I ask with utmost courtesy. Also whether you have the resolve to end the chaotic times.”

“Desolate Fortress would view this side as the source of chaos.”

“Everything is like that. Resolving people’s conflicts is like putting arrows that have flown in different directions into one quiver.”

The faded monarch continued calmly. While gazing at Dream Flight, who had suddenly appeared before Profound Martial Alliance Leader, like viewing a work of art.

“The reason various monarchs constantly engaged in great human affairs. Because it’s better to cast a wide barrier than fumble with small arrow quivers.”

His words carried gentle rhythm and melody like a tune. Old noble clans were always accompanied by refinement.

“…You’re serious.”

A lopsided smile formed on Baek Seo-gun’s lips. Any jianghu person would find it hard to hide their mockery. How complicated compared to the freedom of cutting through all grudges with a single sword.

The faded monarch didn’t mind.

“No matter how sharp a person’s blade, it’s difficult to pierce through relationships. Of course, this would have been so for you too. Profound Martial Alliance’s withdrawal order was the arrowhead, and memories with Jeong family’s rebel were the fence. Which was stronger?”

“……”

“Thus those who truly master jianghu compel opponents not with swords but with hearts. Because that’s stronger.”

Words concluded like gentle humming. When the mockery disappeared from Baek Seo-gun’s lips, a tremendous shock wave arose from where Dream Flight and Profound Martial Alliance Leader had faced each other.

Zzzzzzzzzzing!

It was right after their palm forces collided. One person was roughly pushed back carving furrows in the martial stage floor, while the other stood in place like a flagpole.

The one pushed back was the giant.

A common sight in jianghu martial circles.

But what if the person pushed back was Profound Martial Alliance Leader, famous for achieving ‘Great Enlightenment’? The feeling would inevitably be different. Deep disbelief was evident on the middle-aged absolute master’s face, who had once faced even Six Star Lord Literary Star and managed to retreat. Even now as he spoke for the first time since entering the inner fortress.

“…It’s not tyrannical martial arts.”

White smoke was billowing from his only arm. Because he couldn’t cushion the recoil of the palm technique collision with his internal energy barrier. Dream Flight’s palm force had penetrated into his body as if mocking Gun Wi-hu’s protective strong energy.

It meant one thing.

Her single move was superior to Gun Wi-hu’s technique. Not only was there a great gap in accumulated energy, but even the proficiency of internal energy projection differed.

What the assembly had seen through.

Helian Feng-yue quietly stepped back half a step.

“Without any particularly flashy ascending martial arts, she seems like someone who simply cultivated basic skills for a lifetime.”

He deliberately trembled his body playfully, then tilted his head curiously.

“Then is there material to weave Transcendent Martial Art? Perhaps, did you only achieve bone transformation? Combining rejuvenation with transformation, then growing back to adulthood…twice. Actually, this alone would be difficult to find precedent for in martial history…”

He was subtly probing.

Though he seemed to ask out of pure curiosity, it was a very important matter for those who would be hostile to her. Originally, a peerless master’s ultimate technique was information dealt with as highest priority before great battles.

But that question was buried by intention that suddenly began echoing.

[Desolate Fortress Divine Spear, do not act rashly.]

Profound Martial Alliance Leader Gun Wi-hu.

Unintentionally at the very center of the huge martial stage.

His upper energy center spirit began explosively increasing his true energy power, and semi-transparent energy waves flickered like sparks in his thick eyes.

[Power is the only meaningful fence in today’s world. Are you truly someone who can act as master of the house here?]

Step.

Baek Seo-gun grabbed Gun Yu-rin’s nape and retreated to the edge of the martial stage in one stride.

Meanwhile, the faded monarch only watched her intently while wrapping himself in a colorless internal energy barrier from his seated position. Along with words directed at Helian Feng-yue.

“This is combat with masters’ honor at stake. Since it’s hard to call it war, you must not interfere.”

“Profound Martial Alliance Leader is a man who has been treated as a war weapon at the Great Wall. Didn’t you assume from the beginning that there would be no particular battles here at Desolate Fortress?”

Simultaneously Helian Feng-yue winked at Baek Seo-gun. Meaning for her to step forward too.

But Profound Martial Alliance’s Sword Venerable, with grayish-white short hair hanging like a lion’s mane, was silent for some reason. She even killed her presence as if she weren’t there. Helian Feng-yue laughed heartily and said.

“Haha, damn it.”

The reason the Unorthodox Thirteen Evil Sects hadn’t jointly attacked Desolate Fortress long ago. Because there were only madmen who absolutely couldn’t harmonize. Even within the same faction it was like this.

‘Arrow quivers and fences indeed.’

Clicking his tongue, Helian Feng-yue briefly turned his head toward the faded monarch.

“Though I know you’re an old monster who’s pathologically obsessed with tradition, you should at least weigh the importance of matters…”

“I detest shabby joint attacks.”

Extreme contempt was embedded in the calm words. Enough that the world’s Martial Dragon Alliance Leader silently retreated far to the back of the martial stage.

Thus there were two people. Dream Flight and the uninvited guest.

“……”

Profound Martial Alliance Leader’s Transcendent Martial Art was still unknown to jianghu. The same was true when facing northern Yao tribes, and even after losing one arm to some unknown eccentric and going into seclusion.

Naturally, there was no way to know whether there had been changes to his Transcendent Martial Art before and after his secluded training. It could only be guessed from Baek Seo-gun’s avoidance. The possibility was high that it was a wide-area ultimate technique.

Gun Wi-hu, who had been intently observing Dream Flight standing blankly, spoke.

“You seem sluggish in response. Aren’t you receiving true energy supply that’s hard to handle? While not acknowledging that we are the masters of Desolate Fortress at this moment.”

Speech known for provoking the northern kings on Great Wall battlefields.

As expected, there was no answer. Dream Flight’s hair mixed with spring wind fluttered long, teasing the sunlight. As Gun Wi-hu said, her posture didn’t seem ordinary.

The faded monarch said to them.

“Do it moderately and stop. I’ve lost interest in having divine soldiers. I must see the one that woman serves… Jeong family Lightning Genius, so maintain friendly conduct toward Desolate Fortress after this combat.”

The unexpected change happened then.

* * *

“Make sure the cloth doesn’t wrinkle. If it gets even creased, I’ll scold you.”

A middle-aged woman approached the central martial stage. She wore fine orange palace robes, creating such an authoritative impression that the vicinity momentarily seemed like the Forbidden City. The sight of a group of household members following her was the same.

The appearance of carrying silk that seemed suitable for use as a huge canopy. Also behind that, those carrying dozens of poles and chairs formed a long procession.

The middle-aged woman commanded them.

“The grand master’s chair must have its back to the north. Desolate Fortress Lord’s enthronement ceremony is different from any monarch’s coronation. Place the chairs on the east and west sides eight arm-lengths apart from both sides of the grand master’s chair, and the seats for the seventeen Divine Sword Group Leaders should face the grand master’s chair… Yes, that direction. Empty seats will inevitably occur, so tell the Administrative Office to bring about ten empty scabbards to place on the chairs…”

“Who are you to behave so strangely?”

The faded monarch asked with a smile.

The woman in palace robes turned to him as if she had been waiting. Naturally, one empty sleeve fluttered with her gesture.

The woman said.

“I use the name Zhu Lianting of the Zhu clan. Now I am a person of the Ma family.”

“Zhu Lianting. Noble bloodline indeed. I understand your foolishness.”

“What nonsense when family is preparing a family ceremony at home? Calling women’s affairs strange, foolish… A miscreant who has become more than an uninvited guest, reaching the level of a troublemaker, interfering in others’ family affairs… you must have learned propriety and law from your parents hundreds of years ago. Truly pitiful, so pitiful.”

Zhu Lianting’s words poured out like Ma Yeon-jeok’s tyrannical martial arts that had once destroyed his own energy center. The Ma family members who had been glancing nervously at the absolute masters became mentally confused, when Administrative Office clerk Ki Dae-seung’s ultra-long-distance sound transmission struck their ears.

—The materials you have are formation foundations to assist the Nine Palace Star Falling Illumination Formation. At least half of the uninvited guests must die and leave the stronghold. There will be no further compromise.

It meant one or two more besides the already dead Lady Go and Light Blade Venerable must die. Among none other than the Sword Venerable and Phoenix Slaying Crimson Blade Gun, Martial Dragon Alliance Leader, the faded monarch, and Profound Martial Alliance Leader. Of course, it was preposterous. Even the Phoenix Slaying Crimson Blade Gun Yu-rin, who might be worth attempting, was right next to enemies including the Sword Venerable.

Naturally, they had come prepared to give their lives.

But when had it not been so?

“The suffering never ends…”

It was the moment Desolate Fortress Gentleman Ma Se-in muttered like a whisper. In the eyes of Ma family members feeling distant at the untimely mission, Dream Flight was reflected.

Perhaps because their souls had been drawn into Zhu Lianting’s talk that reached the extreme of worldly temperament? Before they knew it, Dream Flight and Gun Wi-hu’s bodies were hazily rippling, and it was a scene recognized belatedly by a hair’s breadth. They couldn’t even count how many exchanges it had been.

In place, tremendously fast.

Movement that far surpassed the speed at which any shock waves or thunderous sounds burst forth. Even to the senses of Ma family members who could see each moment slowly with Harmony Transformation Divine Art and Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

The moment they properly recognized the fight, the scene reflected in their eyes was like several picture books.

Right after Gun Wi-hu’s waist bent in the form of Bow Body Bullet Shadow as if unable to endure close combat and trying to increase distance. Several strands of Dream Flight’s black hair were sweeping down through the sunlight.

In time that seemed stopped at sunset.

Sunset sunlight pouring long through the gaps in jet-black hair.

One strand transformed into a spear like a mirage, was grasped upside down in Dream Flight’s hands, then struck straight down. Piercing through space-time, completely penetrating the chest of the opponent bent like a bow, and finally embedding with a clang into the martial stage floor.

Three layers of shock waves burst forth drawing semi-transparent ripples.

The Ma family members were even sensing the speed of sound, but Dream Flight’s spear broke the sound barrier three times in an instant. Even so, the Ma family members saw with their eyes the sound of tearing flesh… kwajijik… spreading the moment Gun Wi-hu was pierced standing.

Likewise instant death.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!

In the storm that began roughly blowing afterward, the final appearance of the world’s Profound Martial Alliance Leader seemed skewered on a fence post. Or like a flag raised halfway up a flagpole.