Chapter 738 – With the Geniuses (9)

The latter parts of divine martial arts are often kept secret even from disciples. They judge qualifications even for practitioners who have already mastered the initial parts. There were usually two reasons.

Either extremely precious.

Or dangerous in various ways.

It was the same from Jeong Yeon-shin’s perspective. Because the latter techniques of some martial arts were still full of secrets.

Such was the final sword technique of Tyrant Sword Sect’s Loyal Fragment Breaking Desolation Sword Method, Fighting God’s Rising Surge Ten Seals was no different, and the last two techniques among Ming Cult’s Eight Divine Demon Methods weren’t even in the secret manual.

‘They must be transmitted by special methods. Or not transmitted at all.’

He understood. Because even the current Radiant Wing Nine Steps was like that. He had no intention of recording it in a manual. Someday Radiant Wing Ten Steps would be the same.

Because he had decided on techniques that shouldn’t be transmitted.

“……”

All around was quiet. Even though some of World Tree’s leaves should be rubbing against each other, it was so. Nothing moved.

Only Jeong Yeon-shin stood beneath the shade spread wide in layers by tall ancient trees.

Step.

Mysterious vitality spread with each step. The power of upper energy center spirit among essence, energy, and spirit.

Originally it would raise the strength of internal energy and its manipulation power, but Jeong Yeon-shin released the power in his head through footwork.

A simple energy circulation route. Power extending from the Baihui acupoint on his crown to the Yongquan acupoints on his soles.

But the aftermath was the stoppage of true energy flow reaching about a hundred zhang.

“Silent and Motionless.”

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered lowly.

Words from Cai Gen Tan, the key principle of Radiant Wing Nine Steps. Meaning quiet with no movement. Not only the martial power loaded in enemies’ arrows but even blade energy extended through sword strikes. Internal energy that left their hands stopped as soon as it touched Jeong Yeon-shin’s spirituality.

[TL Note- Cai Gen Tan, also known as Caigentan or Discourse on Vegetable Roots, is a collection of aphorisms and essays written around 1590 by Ming dynasty scholar Hong Zicheng. The book is a work of philosophical instruction that provides guidance on personal cultivation, moral integrity, and finding peace of mind amidst the complexities of life.]

Nearly ten thousand World Tree noble clan masters lost control of their internal energy.

Step, step.

Even while Jeong Yeon-shin walked toward the empty plaza, the reason World Tree was silent. Bloated shock was wrapping the forest.

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth.

“As expected, most of you have intact reason like Wind Empress Wei Yeon. If your bodies had been seized by World Tree, you shouldn’t be surprised by anything. Like my master.”

“……”

“You merely accepted unity’s abilities, and there aren’t many figures World Tree directly intervened in. Roughly estimating, my master, some of the Four Great Protectors, Imperial Three Great Masters, and the old seniors of Nine Great Sects.”

“As you say.”

Rustle.

Some noble clan swordsman jumped down from an immensely high branch and blocked his way. And immediately moved his mouth.

“Our spirits are like clear mirror-like water. Though regrettable, it could be said to be proof that the sacred tree only works for the tribes.”

Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head.

“Rather you should have had no reason. Since you cooperated willingly in all affairs until now, you are all under heaven’s villains.”

“I understand you sufficiently conversed with the clan elder about that matter. I don’t wish to debate matters where positions are divided. Rather than that…”

Then the noble clan swordsman who glanced up at the forest asked in a low voice.

“How did you do it?”

The rain of arrows filled enough to cast shade. Still stopped in the sky. Jeong Yeon-shin spoke without stopping his steps.

“At best they’re blades that left their owners’ hands, and the strength and directionality of that internal energy was set by you with intent, wasn’t it? None other than with upper energy center’s power.”

“And yet…?”

“They were merely dyed by denser upper energy center spirit. Lost momentum from that reaction and even stopped.”

The footwork spread it. Along with the aftermath of driving power down from the upper energy center in his head to the Yongquan acupoints beneath his feet.

Not even any particular special ability. Skill created by the short-lived upper energy center and Desolate Fortress Lord-level insight.

Jeong Yeon-shin smiled at the noble clans who began descending one by one after abandoning their bows.

“Come to think of it, it resembles your World Tree’s martial arts. Didn’t the sacred thing not abandon fine recluses?”

“You imitated the tribal tree with a human body…?”

The noble clan swordsman drew his thick eyebrows together, but Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head. Because listening to it wasn’t pleasant. He had intended to fight like Six Star Lord Literary Star from the beginning.

‘It’s a nation’s military strength, so there’s no chance of victory alone. I must quickly achieve only my objective.’

After blocking long-range techniques and forcing only close-quarters combat. He faced World Tree’s masters who entered range on their own.

Land with ancient trees embedded in all directions.

Jeong Yeon-shin gazed beyond the plaza filled with low brush. He felt it with energy perception. Easily dozens of li ahead. A wooden sculpture with identical features to Wei Gun-hye.

World Tree’s main body he had once seen face-to-face. The tree’s city with legs had become even more massive during that time.

“Turn back. It’s not too late yet.”

Suddenly the noble clan swordsman spoke in a tone that was quite unwelcome.

“You who are alone can only be defeated. Naturally you’ll be swallowed by our tree. And ultimately you’ll lose reason and return to be used as the main trunk’s sword alongside master and disciple. Because you’re a successor of Moon Spirit Harmony Technique.”

“I heard World Tree can attempt unity on me too, is Master’s martial arts the medium?”

“Correct. The reason Moon Spirit martial lineage wasn’t widely spread at Desolate Fortress was also that circumstance. Because she was wary of unity… You can tell just by looking at yourself. Think about an existence called ‘unified Desolate Day Extinction.’ It would surely be a calamity hard to find again in all under heaven. You wouldn’t wish for that either.”

“……”

“I don’t know why she took you as a direct disciple, but stop now. You were never an invader in the first place, were you? The northern expedition was an unavoidable war, and you gentlemanly only repeated counterattacks. There were hardly any preemptive strikes. So why now of all times…?”

All the words had logic and weren’t worth answering. Jeong Yeon-shin asked. While repeatedly clenching and opening his fist into a proper fist shape.

“Can you state your name and affiliation? Just that you came out to speak with me in place of Wei Yeon shows your position is high.”

The noble clan swordsman whistled clearly.

“My name is this. Also I’m the leader of Red Leaf Buried Sword Group among the main trunk’s three hundred sixty branch military forces. Officially I’m in charge of supplying true energy to Clan Elder Wind Empress.”

“I am Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin. I will strike you first.”

“…If you insist, don’t resent us even if we engage in wheel warfare. This place is the tribes’ nest…”

It was the instant countless noble clan masters surrounded Jeong Yeon-shin with agile movement skill.

Suddenly a massive crater was created centered on Jeong Yeon-shin who struck down the ground. A hemisphere-shaped ground reaching a hundred zhang in diameter. The masters in the encirclement exploded while bursting blood.

Red Leaf Buried Sword Group Leader was the same.

“……!”

A shadow tilted large like a giant fell over blood, organs, and bone fragments. Jeong Yeon-shin climbed the crater like Literary Star once had. While fixing his gaze beyond the distant plaza.

Simultaneously tree fragrance fell from the sky.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s energy perception drew the scene above his crown in his mind. Over three hundred green-robed noble clans falling while kicking off the rain of arrows stopped in empty air like footholds. Each dragging down over thirty large nets twisted like tree bark like curtains.

They would be made from World Tree’s bark. Their toughness would surpass even celestial silkworm thread, and they said if such things were held in net method masters’ hands, anyone would get a headache.

They were treated as monsters and spirits from gates.

He flicked his hand.

Snap.

Finger wind scattered into the crater behind swept past sprawled blades. Simultaneously ownerless swords hummed.

‘Sword Song.’

A reddish cloud formed above his head.

The presences gripping nets had burst and were gone. It seemed like early sunset had descended. Jeong Yeon-shin placed the sky dyed crimson on his broad shoulders. And advanced step by step.

He mustn’t hastily rush.

This was a place where military strength no one could handle alone lurked. Though focusing only on the objective, if he didn’t assess front and back, he would be defeated meaninglessly.

“…That fist strike’s form looks familiar.”

The forest that had become silent again was filled with some woman’s voice. Jeong Yeon-shin walked silently while listening to that voice.

“It’s difficult to properly load power like Literary Star’s into techniques. But he ably handled monstrous strength like you, and tore my husband’s body in half.”

“Moon Direction Great General, I heard from Literary Star.”

Instantly two shadows rippled hazily from the shadowed forest. Both were shield shapes.

“…What did he say?”

“He said he had no intention of killing even your son. That it was Northern Path who moved impulsively, viewing that martial talent as a future threat.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly while putting strength into his left arm fist. The arm once broken by his master properly found alignment with a thud. Moon Direction Great General’s voice gaining self-mocking laughter was simultaneous.

“That is the battlefield. Everything is permitted, and ultimately people are ruined. Just as I now stand on the side opposing you.”

“I won’t blame you. Die comfortably.”

“I earnestly ask you, do you have no intention of abandoning Literary Star?”

“He’s necessary for the great cause.”

Several faces flashed before Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes. Literary Star, Seventh Apostle, Invincible… And when his master’s features were also drawn, some woman’s scar-covered face was shattering them.

Close at hand.

The shields mounted like bracers on her forearms, beast shields, pushed Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand outward. While offsetting the Brilliant River energy waves that had been blazing like lightning.

Colorless flames sparked in rows. Using defensive techniques like offensive techniques. Shield martial arts whose use by jianghu people had been forbidden by the imperial family.

The next moment fragments of Desolate Fortress sword floating behind Jeong Yeon-shin’s back shot in like arrows, and she even showed divine skill blocking all those metal pieces with the opposite beast shield.

Zzzzzzzzzt! Kwang!

She who was flung away with her beast shield at the final strike. Semi-transparent shockwaves of Eternal Blossom Fist spread profusely like flower petals.

By then Imperial Three Great Masters Yang Cheon had risen as if emerging from the ground to occupy Jeong Yeon-shin’s flank. In a posture of lightly touching the side revealed by the beast shield first.

Ten Thousand Scars Northern Palm.

Kurururung…

Brilliant golden light spread from that palm. He had heard of it. One of the divine arts Qian-ling Emperor created premised on Fighting God subjugation, and indeed it skipped protective strong energy and shook Jeong Yeon-shin’s bones. It felt like his entire insides churned.

But that was as far as it went.

A body that embodied one halo with Jeong Family Dynamic Technique. Resistance to Internal Weight Hand Method might be stronger than Literary Star’s.

Jeong Yeon-shin gazed quietly at Yang Cheon.

A middle-aged man in worn clothing with an old fishing rod slung over one shoulder. He had ears longer than Han Chinese. His focus was hazy as if his reason had been seized by World Tree, and at this moment he had stopped while trying to deploy consecutive techniques. Likely because Jeong Yeon-shin’s balance hadn’t wavered at all.

Then from high in empty air some child’s voice echoed.

[Heaven Heart Overflowing Single Plume.]

No need to look up. It was Yu Xiong who had once carried Divine Beggar Zhu Guang on his back. Imperial Three Great Masters’ Transcendent Martial Art.

A tiny presence moved in an instant.

Momentarily dazzling and elongated sunlight burst circular shockwaves from the child’s hand and drove down like a pillar.

A technique making the radiance between heaven and earth his own released force.

Kwaaaaaaaaaang!

The nearby ground flipped over like waves.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t bother evading. He only grabbed Yang Cheon’s wrist, who had been about to retreat like lightning, with Grappling Technique. To face the decisive technique together.

“……!”

All around was dyed pure white.

Brilliant white radiance repeatedly surged fiercely. The ground continuously sank of course. Truly endlessly pounding shockwaves. Distant like infinite consecutive strikes, but every technique had to have an end.

Saaaaa—

Soon the place where the pillar of light disappeared. Jeong Yeon-shin released Yang Cheon’s hand.

Thud.

Yang Cheon knelt on one knee. Opposite to Jeong Yeon-shin without a single blemish on his purple long robe, his entire body was scorched. There was no one who could be fine after taking direct hit from a peerless master’s Transcendent Martial Art in the first place.

“But how are you…?”

It rang from a distant branch.

Had she been preparing a great technique? Wei Yeon who had somehow wrapped blue wind in her wrinkled hands. With a flustered face Jeong Yeon-shin saw for the first time, she moved her wrinkled lips.

“How do you have Heavenly Steel Light Armor?”

Crackle, crackcrackle…

Several strands of dark blue lightning sparks leaped then seeped inside the purple long robe. Simultaneously heavy vibrations rose beneath Jeong Yeon-shin’s feet. The aftermath of receiving the Transcendent Martial Art was only that far.

“Literary Star Li Chun-gap entrusted me with great intent.”

Before the expedition.

Provisions made in advance. There had been a youth who left his boyhood pride in the northern sky. His mouth moved in forced silence.

“I intend to give everything to that strategist too. So there’s nothing to abandon or not.”

The bearing of a martial god.