Chapter 730 – With the Geniuses

That was as far as it went.

Hundreds of people.

The Desolate Fortress masters who slowly rose looked like new shoots sprouting from the wilderness. It was because Wei Yeon’s vision, which had been looking down at them, bounced up into empty air. Right after Jeong Yeon-shin raised his hand blade.

The released force that struck Wind King Technique’s eye technique.

He tapped the handsome man’s head hanging at his waist, then suddenly moved his lips. Simultaneously that head began spitting out Six Harmonies Uniting Heaven Sound with exactly the same mouth movements.

[At the hour of Dragon today. The strange and mysterious place of Wuchang Prefecture in Huguang Province, commonly called the gate, was shattered by Sky Trampling Palace Master’s single fist.]

[TL Note- Hour of Dragon means 7AM to 9AM.]

Whoosh!

Dust clouds spreading like waves in all directions. The earth was also roughly gouged by the tremendous aftermath.

Divine Mad Silence Sect Master Wol-yo.

Befitting a master of sound techniques skilled in wide-area massacre. Though an Unorthodox Path wretch who had been called one of the Seven New Enemies of Defeated Desolation together with Sky Trampling Palace Master, now only his head remained, having fallen to become Desolate Fortress Lord’s weapon.

[World Tree’s clan elder Wei Yeon heard the oral instructions of gate severing from Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius.]

‘That bastard.’

[The noble clan sect World Tree can sever gates.]

It was a sound technique achievement close to madness.

Each time syllable was added to syllable, the dust clouds thickened, and the semi-transparent martial power waves of Six Harmonies Uniting Heaven Sound raced across the ruins.

To beyond the distant plains.

It seemed ready to extend not only to nearby Huangzhou and Hanyang but even east to Jiangxi lands. The upper energy center spirit had amplified the martial power so greatly that it seemed it actually would.

Because it wasn’t a killing technique.

Rather than loading the power to kill even masters into a limited area, he just struck it far away. To the common people of various cities, it would approach as the sudden cry of a heavenly god. Conversely, to jianghu people, that loftiness would feel like credibility.

Wei Yeon captured Jeong Yeon-shin’s appearance in her blurring vision. The sight of him calmly jabbering to Desolate Fortress Elder Council’s masters. Will the senior elders bear witness?

Meanwhile, at the drinking table, Helian Feng-yue was waving both hands at Wei Yeon. At a glance, it seemed like an expression that he was unrelated to the series of events. Simultaneously it also appeared like mockery saying farewell.

In the next seat, the faded monarch raised his wine cup once with an ambiguous expression. One who could be called Great Righteous’ core military strength, shamelessly in the middle of the Desolate Fortress group.

‘An immortal bat…’

Strength entered Wei Yeon’s eyes.

Her vision should have been torn apart long ago by Desolate Fortress Lord Jeong Yeon-shin’s strike, but she had forcibly held on. It was gradually reaching its limit. The vast wilderness naturally gradually grew smaller.

The vision that had been bouncing up endlessly flipped upward to the sky.

Whoosh!

Clouds were embroidered with lush grass blades. She had returned from the disgusting Huguang lands to the sacred World Tree. Simultaneously Golden Thunder Viscount removed his hand from her shoulder.

“Whew, can I breathe now…?”

He repeatedly practiced internal energy breathing exaggeratedly as if he had truly been holding his breath.

Wei Yeon slowly lowered her head.

Heavy presences caught in the energy perception extending behind her like tree roots. The children who had grown through bone transformation, Golden Thunder Viscount, Heaven-Reaching Bow Count, Three Directions Grand General. Simultaneously even Praising Earth Sword Duke and Northern Darkness Fist Marquis flying in from afar, and Qingcheng’s Taoist Qingshu.

Wei Gun-hye, who had originally been Desolate Fortress Lord, had arrived at the main trunk afterward. It was because World Tree’s branches also extended to Shandong, which was adjacent to the eastern sea.

Unified tribes moved by riding the tree branches rooted throughout all under heaven like Form Shifting Void. The reason World Tree’s masters among those who had been bounced by Heaven Soaring Guest’s sword strike had no choice but to return first.

Though Jeong Yeon-shin was gathering his full strength.

World Tree had long been jianghu’s greatest mystery.

‘Foolish.’

How could human power overcome the spirituality of all under heaven? There was only one path for all under heaven to endure even a little longer. Not attempting to scheme against the tree, but just leaving it alone. Yet they were ignoring something so obvious.

Jianghu was. Jeong Yeon-shin was.

Soon Wei Yeon opened her mouth.

“The preparations of Yang Cheon, Yue Xiong, and Gyo Cheon?”

“Though we struggled because they’re mixed blood, fortunately their tribal blood was thick. The long contact with the Forbidden City’s tree branches also helped greatly.”

A young woman’s dry voice. It was Heaven-Reaching Bow Count’s story. This world’s greatest archer would devastate Lightning Genius’s meridians in full bloom like a famine.

Wei Yeon shook her head.

“I asked if they were in perfect condition.”

“They’re prepared, so I only mentioned the process.”

“My mood is troubled. Since a great battle has arrived before us, you Four Great Protectors should only say necessary words from now on. Including Golden Thunder Viscount.”

“The old crone’s tongue is the longest.”

Fatigue wrinkled Wei Yeon’s face. It wasn’t only because of Heaven-Reaching Bow Count and Golden Thunder Viscount. In Wei Yeon’s whites that had lost their luster long ago, Sky Trampling Palace Master’s lips like a cluster of stars were flickering.

The worthless commoner’s smile was no longer trivial.

She shook her head once more. While tearing apart the scene she had witnessed in the wilderness like a blade wind.

“A fleeting matter…”

She muttered.

Instantly the earth energy that had been about to squeeze Wei Yeon’s head like a hand dispersed from her Baihui acupoint. If she didn’t think like World Tree, she would end up being consumed by World Tree.

She spread her wrinkled hands.

Crack!

Tree branches that rose long through piercing the dirt floor merged like a sword, then the tips twisted round and round by themselves. As soon as she gripped it, it fell off from the ground with a thud.

Earth energy cultivation at the ultimate ascension level, also connected to Formless Sword. The Wooden Blade Sword that had competed with Zhang Sanfeng for a thousand seconds.

There was no blade edge.

A conical sword body, with only the tip sharp like a thorn. A form that might be seen in the Western Regions. For a moment the vicinity became humid with moisture, and behind her, Golden Thunder Viscount’s eyes widened with shock.

“Old crone, you never defeated anyone with that.”

“Those who faced Wooden Blade Sword… Yuan Dynasty Genghis Khan’s last transcendent warrior, Zhang Sanfeng, Dark Heaven Emperor riding Flood Dragon, Yue Feng who raged greatly before dying.”

It was Heaven-Reaching Bow Count’s recitation. Originally World Tree’s Four Great Protectors were only existences who had lost their life’s purpose and become bored. Wei Yeon only quietly lifted the sword.

And spoke.

“Preemptive strikes will not be tolerated. The main trunk will sever their meridians first.”

Instantly the horizon that had been overlapping with Wooden Blade Sword’s tip descended slightly. Along with a rumble that made the earth echo dully.

It was because the village’s height had risen.

Even clouds were obscured by the explosively surging dust. All directions were ochre-colored, yet not one of the noble clans was disturbed by the natural disaster. They only looked down blankly at the earth’s fissures that had suddenly begun extending like an earthquake.

Kuguuuuuuuuung!

They felt it completely with the sensation at their feet.

World Tree, the greatest tree of all ages, was raising roots as thick as flood dragon bodies like legs.

* * *

The two gravestones placed before a pair of burial mounds were like the short legs of iron legs. Even more so when viewed with hazy eyes greatly drunk.

Yelu Zhen was in that state.

“Now that I’m wandering freely…”

Muttering flowed out from beneath her pure white Blood Wind hat. Even though those who had cultivated art technique martial arts to the peerless realm should be careful even with a single word.

Why was that?

It felt like a long time since she had wandered about on a final journey. She had told Jeong Yeon-shin before. That she would die looking around jianghu’s scenery.

“I have nowhere to go.”

She grumbled quietly.

Mount Mei.

Before she knew it, it was a remote mountain valley in Sichuan Province.

Ming Cult Leader’s footsteps were thus elusive and always idle. A leisurely drunken appearance despite death being extremely close.

She alternately looked at the gravestones on both sides with a reddened face.

“Dragon and phoenix.”

That’s actually right. She muttered.

The graves of Poison Phoenix Tang Li-li and Poison Dragon Tang Li-hua. Where those who made Divine Sword Remaining Thunder were buried. Perhaps the names on the gravestones would survive longer than the three characters Yelu Zhen.

Her name would end up buried in a musty smell. In the dark underground of Ming Cult that had moved its base to the north.

Therefore dragon and phoenix were correct.

“An Unorthodox Path wretch’s single death won’t give birth to anything, but when I die, all under heaven moves…”

She slowly repeated words Jeong Yeon-shin had once said. This was quite right. Yelu Zhen raised her white eyelids seeking agreement.

“Does it seem right?”

“……”

Two people were captured in her eyes.

One was a man hiding his body on the ridge like a rat. An inn servant from an inn she had stopped at wondering if fine food was possible even in famine.

The food was only a terrible handful of thin noodles, and the servant was a Hao Sect core member who had been extending sound transmissions chaotically like face-changing.

It wasn’t coincidence. Because she had only stopped at transportation hubs. Since she wasn’t inclined to purposely walk down worthless paths.

Silence lengthened.

Yelu Zhen lowered her head.

A large go board was placed before her shins sitting cross-legged. Because she had been playing go alone.

While round black and white stones made small territories, in a corner some book was roughly sprawled out.

The thin page edges were scorched as if they had briefly burned and stopped. The wind endlessly revealed the title Bright Phoenix Divine Form First Origin Style.

Secret manuals written imitating Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

She didn’t know their utility. She had only wielded the brush a few times like an idle person’s pastime whenever she thought of Jeong Yeon-shin while placing go stones.

“……”

Clack.

The sound of stones colliding.

Laughing at Heaven, Invincible stopped for a moment with her long fingers pressing a white stone. To the side of the ridge where the Hao Sect spy was hiding, a sword master with a gaunt greatsword was slowly climbing up the distant mountain path.

Eyes without focus.

On both sides remained only traces of the distant past. Eye corners raised tyrannically. Glimpses of weary shadows under his eyes could also be seen.

She felt it. That was weariness toward the years.

“The more I see him, the luckier the fellow is.”

“……”

“Tyrant Sword Sect Master.”

Sword master Dan Seong-eum did not answer.

Judging by his face that seemed without even a soul, he seemed about to pass Yelu Zhen as is. Only shock spread across the Hao Sect spy’s face. It was naturally so.

The reason Wandering Star was called Second among the One Emperor Three Sovereigns.

It was the man before her eyes. The existence called ‘world’s greatest sword who lost his soul’ had contributed greatly. By now, conflict would be swirling in the Hao Sect spy’s head.

Whether to be satisfied with witnessing the encounter of Ming Cult Leader and Tyrant Sword Sect Master and flee. Or maintain his position since he had already been discovered by Ming Cult Leader.

They said Hao Sect was throwing knives.

A place whose lineage had continued longer than Nine Great Sects. When they moved without thinking of consequences, anything around them became difficult to trust. Because rumors that major sects or peerless masters encountered inevitably passed through Hao Sect at least once. It had been so during the Seven New Enemies of Defeated Desolation rebellion too.

“Dan Seong-eum. The tree with legs would be your objective.”

Yelu Zhen spoke while lightly holding a black stone between two fingers.

“Seeing you at Mount Song, you utterly couldn’t coordinate. Because your mind completely went out.”

Boom!

The ridge shook.

An earthquake occurred when she placed a go stone. But her go board didn’t break. Only the Hao Sect spy’s shoulder suddenly shattered with a crunching sound.

“Huok…?!”

Blood spurted belatedly.

Yelu Zhen didn’t spare him a glance. She only looked up while seated at Tyrant Sword Sect Master who had approached right up close.

“That way you’re only a nuisance. Unsightly.”

“……”

“You seem to be maintaining some reason, but whether dull or too slow. That way only Mount Song’s events will repeat.”

Tyrant Sword Sect Master Dan Seong-eum only silently looked down at her. She knew that the greatsword he held could be swung at any time like an organ formation. But Yelu Zhen’s gaze even contained gentle amusement as if making eye contact with a monkey.

“Sit.”

She gestured with her chin.

“Within three moves I’ll pull consciousness out of your abyss. Carve wood with that blade. Don’t touch innocent people.”

That was when it happened.

Suddenly Dan Seong-eum’s mouth opened. Faint air also simultaneously leaked out as if about to take the form of a voice.

You, how.

One corner of Yelu Zhen’s mouth twisted.

“I am Ming Cult Leader.”

Currently no one was as versed in the Baihui acupoint as the strongest person of heterodox sects. Though she couldn’t overcome the heavenly affliction, moving go stones was easy.

‘No one can stop this fellow from heading to World Tree anyway.’

Encountering Jeong Yeon-shin was also inevitable. Then she must choose. The world’s greatest sword who lost his soul and Dan Seong-eum who came to his senses. Which would be more troublesome to Jeong Yeon-shin?

Prediction was difficult. She couldn’t know what variable he would become. He might even clash with Jeong Yeon-shin over Desolate Fortress Lord’s life.

But what was demon?

The disposition to grasp what one wants amid chaos.

Rustle.

Yelu Zhen picked up a white stone.

Through the gaps in her hand, the white go stone obscured Dan Seong-eum’s features, then soon changed to Jeong Yeon-shin’s face. Soon after, with the Hao Sect spy’s gasp, Dan Seong-eum sat facing Yelu Zhen.

Anyone would be shocked.

But what was reflected in the white stone was still Jeong Yeon-shin.

“The world’s scenery was here.”

She smiled.