Chapter 731 – With the Geniuses (2)

“Help you kill Yelu Zhen?”

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly asked back.

A tent surrounded by semi-transparent energy barriers. It was Desolate Fortress Lord’s temporary quarters during the advance.

Across from him sat a lama monk wearing orange monk robes. Cheong Myeong was with him on one side, shaking his head with his usual smiling face.

“You can ignore it. That wasn’t the deal.”

Cheong Myeong speaking casually meant this was a private setting. It also meant he had properly ensnared that old monk and brought him in as an ally.

“Ignore it? My words?”

The old monk shook his head along with awkward Chinese.

“Your master would have turned a blind eye as if water flowing. Before teaching you propriety and law.”

But Cheong Myeong smiled gently with his eyes.

“Desolate Fortress Lord is before you. You mustn’t dare bring up matters not discussed beforehand. It’s very rude.”

“Radiant Demon Wing Leader points well. Invincible’s existence is rudeness toward heaven.”

Back to square one.

A Dharma King from the Western Regions. Otherwise a northern king of the Demon Realm, who had crossed hands with Jeong Yeon-shin at Black Capital.

One of those who became one-armed by Remaining Thunder or Starry Night’s single sword. Cheong Myeong said he had let him recuperate in Heavenly Pillar Sect’s lake water. During that time, he had caught Unorthodox Path wretches who ate people, repeatedly drilling holes in their crown Baihui acupoints and submerging them in the lake water.

“But there were no great results. I couldn’t tell if the cause of death was drowning or finger wind.”

Thus the sight of Dharma King and Radiant Demon Wing Leader seated side by side was no longer a surprising scene in Desolate Fortress camp.

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth.

“Don’t you know about Yelu Zhen’s heavenly affliction?”

The various northern kings were forces to be treated preciously even if not Six Star Lords. Because they had the martial prowess to reduce Desolate Fortress masters’ casualties even a little.

Meanwhile, just Jeong Yeon-shin opening his mouth brought satisfaction to Dharma King’s face.

“I must conduct the funeral with my own hands. Even if she dies soon. That’s how worldly attachments disappear. The enemy of Silk Road jianghu.”

The things Yelu Zhen had done in the Western Regions.

There were even words from idle gossips that it was comparable to Jeong Yeon-shin’s jianghu journey.

‘Nonsense…’

It seemed to be false. Because Dharma King’s vengefulness seemed very deep. Indeed, the writing of idle gossips had no credibility compared to their influence.

Yelu Zhen’s twisted smile came to mind.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. What shall I do with your karma? When I have no such enemy.

“…I’ve received much from Invincible, and I can’t change course midway through an expedition of this scale. Even if the northern king lends a hand, it’s an impossible story.”

“I will give my body. Very greatly.”

Though Heaven Breaking nearly beheaded him, he seemed to be speaking of devotion, Cheong Myeong informed him of the inner meaning. Meanwhile, jet-black hair rippled and scattered wickedly like shadows at his feet.

Jeong Yeon-shin rose from his seat.

“Though one hand would be helpful, it’s something to think about after clashing. I don’t want to promise with empty words either.”

“Unnecessary. This is a large and retrospective transaction. Tear it open and then witness.”

Meaning he would devote himself first without compensation. He had degraded his northern king status to wandering person. Dharma King looked up at Jeong Yeon-shin and continued.

“I know you are a swift funeral master. But difficult and many adversities… then when will the great tree’s funeral be held? I will help. During that, or after that, Invincible’s funeral.”

“I said I wouldn’t promise.”

“You’ll be greatly satisfied. An expendible northern king.”

Jeong Yeon-shin left the tent without answering. Immediately nameless fields spread out. Of course Radiant Demon Wing Leader Cheong Myeong followed behind him.

Radiant Energy Barrier’s energy waves instantly formed a screen.

“Let’s use and discard him.”

“Good thinking.”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s agreement, Cheong Myeong’s expression became strange.

“You’re angry, aren’t you? Because you first heard face-to-face that I’ll kill the previous lord.”

“……”

It was the second day since ordering the advance. The destination was Nanjing. Once Ming Dynasty’s capital, it was the heart of the vast South Zhili lands.

It would be the final battlefield.

They couldn’t fly with lightness techniques. Everyone had to conserve strength.

It was different from Black Capital  in the north before martial military forces had fully gathered. He knew because he had already briefly encountered unified noble clans.

‘When I was expelled.’

It was distant.

It wasn’t force he could handle alone.

Therefore Desolate Fortress was moving like a military camp, erecting tents midway. While prioritizing consideration of accumulated energy and acupoint conditions.

Jeong Yeon-shin was the same.

‘I mustn’t cross hands with any master besides my master.’

He had to maintain perfect condition. Like a clear mirror-like water, without any impurities in body and mind.

It had already been discussed with the stronghold’s leadership.

There were many things to consider. Whether a one-on-one situation with her would be created. Whether he could truly win. Or even beyond that, whether there was a way to save her.

Even how he would face World Tree itself.

Therefore.

Until reaching her, those by his side were Jeong Yeon-shin’s prestige and swords. All the relationships and martial lineages he had built were so.

Dharma King would have guessed that too.

What he knew, World Tree forces couldn’t not know. Meaning it was time for some scheme to come from the world’s greatest power side.

Boom!

It rang from behind.

Before that roar even spread, the scene reflected in Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes as he turned. About ten tents were surrounded by semi-transparent shockwaves. At the very center of the rippling waves existed some arrow. Stopped while stabbing down from the sky.

It was before Yue Shou-lin’s eyes treading empty air. She stood blankly looking up beyond the arrowhead. None of her long limbs had risen.

What blocked it was Void Grasp.

Basic among basic skills, whose training begins with barely lifting things like brushes with energy waves.

Kiiiiiiing!

It was the sound of the atmosphere tearing. The dirt ground was churned like rice paddies by the tremendous rebound force, and dust rose like fog the more the arrow violently vibrated.

‘Ten Li One Kill.’

Dark Night Palace’s ultra-long-range archery.

It was shot with martial power and skill reaching the peerless realm. Presumably it could only be the successor of Dark Night Lord who died to Jeong Yeon-shin. Must have been unified.

“A peerless archery master! Easily over ten li…!”

Starting with Lim Jin-ming, General Administration clerks with faint green light in their eyes shouted.

“Three li ahead the ground is splitting! The thickness is like a flood dragon…”

“Branches! World Tree’s branches! There’s no sign of the main trunk!”

“A group of noble clans at the end! About fifteen! The density of martial power waves is tremendous!”

It was after each activated Complete Eye. Eye technique studies first in Desolate Fortress for reconnaissance and observation. They could survey farther than most peerless masters’ energy perception.

Clang! Claaang! Claaaaaaaang!

Meanwhile three arrows fell like lightning then stopped. Likewise within Yue Shou-lin’s Void Grasp domain. They clearly seemed to have aimed at blue ranks and white ranks who reacted a beat late.

Simultaneously the roars of the archery shots rapidly inflated in size. It was the instant everyone’s ears became stuffy regardless of martial arts level. From the distant edge of dusk, shadows truly like a flood dragon’s torso rose up, then human figures with long ears descended like immortals.

It didn’t look like a worldly scene.

Because the horizon squirmed like a gate vomiting out monsters and spirits. The trembling of invisible natural earth energy was the same. Judging by energy perception, it was absurdly enormous.

‘How long can I not make a move?’

It was when Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly wondered.

[Divine Sword Group.]

Yue Shou-lin moved her lips. While keeping a total of nine arrows right before her forehead. The jet-black arrowheads, seemingly made of dark iron, were only drawing transparent ripples as if submerged in lake water.

[Activate Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.]

Her black hair fluttered long like Jeong Yeon-shin’s hair. Along with ordinary purple robes without any dharma treasure abilities.

Before she knew it, Yue Shou-lin’s body was tilted diagonally forward. One knee surged up to her chest, and the opposite leg extended diagonally. All of this was in the instant her right arm blurred into segments then fell smoothly below her knee.

All the arrows disappeared.

She threw them like spears.

Nine-layered waves rose from the horizon’s edge. Each was conspicuous in size. Violent vibrations arrived belatedly too.

Kuguuuuuuuuung!

The human figures rushing across the plains were swallowed by dust clouds. The Ten Li One Kill archery shots that had been flying like disasters also ceased. Only Lim Jin-ming’s indifferent voice carried on the wind.

“Current Dark Night Palace Lord, hit in left wrist and lower abdomen. Both are penetrating wounds. A fellow who should have died is demonstrating regenerative abilities. Let’s confirm just how strong those abilities are. First counting the time used for recovery… five… six…”

Meanwhile Yue Shou-lin was lowering her stance like a tiger.

[Don’t stop until Nanjing.]

Divine Sword Group was captured in her eyes. No one raised objections. When Jeong Yeon-shin looked up, Yue Shou-lin gently curled up her lips.

Finally the beginning. World Tree and Jeong Yeon-shin.

Like when he once visited Heavenly Pillar Sect to let Yong Hye-myeong recuperate. Or it resembled the Mount Hua Agreement. Which sect was more noble. It was the question all under heaven posed.

The only difference was that life and death were at stake.

Zzzzzzt…

It rang out distantly again. Another branch was rising while carving up the ground from afar. Among the noble clans who had descended first, only two human figures were intact.

The intent was obvious.

They planned to continuously strike first while interfering with circulating energy. Of course, so Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t conversely climb up World Tree’s branches, they would have blocked Form Shifting Void passages like last time.

“They’re greatly mistaken.”

A large shadow fell beside Jeong Yeon-shin. He could tell it was Literary Star without even turning his head.

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly asked back.

“About what?”

“Isn’t everyone broadly aware now? That Lightning Genius martial lineage’s weakness is prolonged battles. Looking at this, they seem to be trying to dry this side out with movements like Form Shifting Void.”

Literary Star shook his head as if answering himself.

“It’s a useless method against Yao tribe… Ming Dynasty never once engaged us in such battles. They always pursued short decisive battles.”

“Yao tribe…?”

Literary Star’s thick lips carved up on both sides.

“If Divine Sword Group that has refined Jeong Family Dynamic Technique isn’t Yao tribe, what would they be? Even Fighting God would acknowledge it.”

“A funeral for common sense.”

Dharma King spoke.

He had somehow moved several steps away, and the reason was immediately revealed. Suddenly some golden light crossed the shadowy darkened sky, racing in the shape of the character ‘zhi’ (之).

Literally light speed. At least that’s how it felt, and it was directly to Divine Sword Group camp. Despite clearly being a person.

“Hello!”

Ziiiiiiiiing!

Just appearing in empty air, a stuffy ringing colored all directions. Blood flowed from the ears of most white-robed warriors. But that was all. Even though it was a shockwave that should have burst their heads, everyone was intact.

It was because Literary Star had grabbed the person made of lightning and slammed them down with a bang. That tremendously large maneuver was completed in an instant and carved thick cracks here and there in Divine Sword Group camp.

As always, terrifying movements.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t take a single step.

He would continue to be so as much as possible.

His final journey was time to confirm whether he himself was a grandmaster. Therefore he only clasped his hands behind his back and fell into thought. Even with the world’s formidable enemy called ‘unified Golden Thunder Viscount’ before his eyes, while blankly gazing at Literary Star’s profile.

‘The sect’s battle.’

Because World Tree bestowed its abilities on tribes, they were unified noble clans. If Jeong Yeon-shin bestowed his studies to his disciples, that too was becoming one with the grandmaster.

He thought.

How formidable would unified Literary Star be?