Chapter 740 – What Remained After Burning

It was a great anomaly.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s spirituality had disappeared.

The trace of upper energy center spirit that had been the densest throughout the Central Plains had vanished, starting from the Nanjing lands where World Tree was based. It had completely disappeared from the world.

A presence that hadn’t been easily hidden even by Return to Origin after the northern expedition.

Shock followed.

For the peerless masters who could feel that void by communing with heaven through their upper energy centers.

—…?

Beijing’s Forbidden City. The fire human who had been standing on one leg while taking dried petals from his robes hesitated.

—Ah.

Yangzhou Prefecture coastline. The one-eyed young woman in red robes who had been kicking the backs of charging Desolate Fortress masters like whipping raised her eye.

—Was the conversation enjoyable?

When the giant who had penetrated mountain ranges of various nations with a limping sprint smiled.

Crack.

In Sichuan Province by a grave, the fingers of the current Ming Cult Leader, Invincible Yelu Zhen, who had been sitting with a go board, crushed a white stone.

“What’s happening?”

She muttered.

While having the gaunt swordsman seated across from her. Tyrant Sword Sect Master Dan Seong-eum sitting cross-legged. Black and white go stones roughly scattered surrounded him.

It was a formation.

An art formation invoking the abilities of demonic path divine art Heaven-Violating Three Searches. Supreme upper energy center martial arts that tears up the subject’s unconscious. It was none other than an attempt to fully awaken the mind of the ‘world’s greatest sword who lost his soul.’

Yelu Zhen flicked her white finger.

Tap.

A black stone that rose from the go board hit Dan Seong-eum’s forehead and fell. In the eyes of Yelu Zhen who would soon die, there was no difference between the black stone that rolled away lifelessly and Dan Seong-eum. Stuffiness and pathetic disappointment.

Irritation showed in the eyes of her wearing a silver mask.

“How long do you intend to only look back at the past? I didn’t give it to you to enjoy memories and sentiment, you’re terribly dull.”

* * *

The boy was dull.

A constitution that shouldn’t even look at not only political struggles where killing techniques ran rampant, but also martial jianghu. If he hadn’t been born a prince, he would have tilled fields.

The ministers’ sentiments were the same.

—If another child had received such Bone Transformation and Marrow Cleansing?

—They say he consumed human-faced spider and hundred-year fox’s internal pills again, isn’t it like pouring water into a broken jar? Even though the nation’s fortune is declining…

The prince who devoured the nation.

He secretly began to be called so. Literally, Nation Devourer was the boy’s alias. Nation Devourer Dan Seong-eum. A monster with absolutely no sword talent.

Since it was a family where heirs were precious, the father king had no alternative, and the boy only ate away at the nation like a broken jar.

The Kingdom of Dali adjacent to Ming Dynasty and its jianghu.

Royal dignity was often threatened by ruffians. When Dan Seong-eum was born, there had been problems with Ming Dynasty’s Thirteen Evil Sects’ Dragon-Severing Alliance and old Ming Cult’s strange and mysterious forces crossing the nation.

It was even more chaotic when Desolate Fortress masters came to catch them. Because they had to open borders to another nation’s divine swords.

The age of martial arts.

It was after even Ming Dynasty’s emperors had changed several times through political struggles and plots. The point when everything stabilized only after Emperor Qian-ling sat on the throne.

Seeing this, Dali’s king of the weak nation didn’t give up on Prince Dan Seong-eum.

“Seong-eum, those who point fingers at you are truly wicked things.”

“……”

“In all under heaven where divine martial arts are rampant, monarchs should naturally be formidable. Yet how do those called ministers only interfere with laying a nation’s foundation…”

—Things to confine with Dan Family Time Moon Method.

His father’s habitual phrase had been engraved in his ears since childhood. He also saw how people who experienced lone eternal life crumbled. Through criminals who were punished with Dan Family Time Moon Method by royal command.

A great torture method that plunged the subject’s consciousness into distant time. It was his father king’s venting.

Corpses remained intact.

His father king used to laugh saying it was a refined punishment. Naturally royal authority also weakened.

When his father king granted permission for famous martial people of Ming Dynasty to request an audience, even an untimely assembly took place.

“Please have mercy!”

“I am already looking down on subordinates indescribably well. So much so that I can’t sleep from anxiety. Lest you secretly capture and kill our prince.”

“Your Majesty!”

When ministers reached the point of revealing energy waves in the palace.

“Your Majesty, Mount Hua’s sect leader has entered with his disciple.”

At the eunuch’s words, the father king nodded. From the next moment, the scene that unfolded had somehow a distant feeling like a dream.

Step.

A pair of old and young entered.

The palace was colored with rough earth scent. At least that’s how boy Dan Seong-eum felt.

“……”

Though clearly midday, the inner palace became quiet. Something Dan Seong-eum had never experienced. A Nine Sects’ sect leader was such a massive existence.

The boy laboriously averted his gaze behind the old Taoist. Thanks to that, he saw first. The girl who had followed like a cicada clinging to the old Taoist.

White Taoist robes, long black hair.

The plum blossom pattern on her sleeve hem suited her. Even though she was too young to be called a rising talent.

The girl whispered to the old Taoist.

“Look at those pillars. They’re really all white? They say Dali Kingdom’s stones are the finest under heaven.”

Dan Seong-eum felt dizzy from the fragrant metallic scent. Someone had clearly refined an art technique. Then the old Taoist who glanced at him said to the girl.

“Lu Xian, retract your Sword Fragrance.”

“Why?”

“Training must also consider time and place.”

He seemed to speak indirectly like a Taoist. That there was someone who had difficulty being exposed to her energy waves now. If he carelessly emitted sound transmission, royal masters would react, so it was unavoidable.

“It’s a palace though? Who would have lower martial arts than me… Ah.”

Her gaze turned to Dan Seong-eum. With eyes where purple light of Mount Hua’s eye technique formed like dew, the girl smiled brightly.

“I’m sorry.”

It was his first meeting with Taoist Lu Xian.

* * *

Dali Kingdom’s royal palace.

“…So you couldn’t say anything again throughout the assembly? Overwhelmed by Mount Hua’s sect leader disciple’s bearing this time?”

The old woman with orchid-like pointed ear tips asked gently. But Dan Seong-eum just sat silently on the bed. Because of the old woman’s touch combing his hair.

Many Affections Sword Lady So-hyang.

An alias with the same context as Nation Devourer Dan Seong-eum. A sneer that a nation’s peerless master circled and protected the seed of national ruin.

Dan Seong-eum whose thoughts reached that point slowly opened his mouth.

“Already at the realm of spreading true energy outside the body… Among the ministers, there were already murmurs that she had constructed her own Sword Domain. They say she’s a genius unseen in our nation.”

“I did hear she receives all the expectations of Central Plains’ orthodox sects. That she might someday rival the monster of Ming Dynasty’s imperial faction.”

“Tyrant Hero Ma Yeon-jeok?”

“Yes.”

“Does nanny’s martial arts not measure up to that person?”

“The lands were vast so there was no opportunity to meet. But since he’s a figure who will soon decline from Unity Harmony Divine Art’s backlash, I don’t feel inclined to compare. Whether it’s regrettable or not.”

“Desolate Fortress Ma Family’s Unity Harmony Divine Art is peerless martial learning, and nanny’s martial arts is the common Dan Strategic Art in our nation. Nanny is more impressive.”

At the toneless speech, Lady So-hyang laughed. With a grandmother’s face seeing her grandchild’s antics.

“If I obtain peerless sword art suited to me somewhere, I’ll compare with Tyrant Hero’s bloodline and aptitude someday. It’s done.”

She who put the hair brush in her wide sleeve hem asked warmly.

“What story did Mount Hua Sect’s sect leader relate?”

“He warned the father king.”

“Warning?”

“To be wary of the next visitors…”

That really was the end. That the prosperous age had gates quiet, so he would pray for the nation’s blessings for several days was the only addition.

Even when the father king pressed further, Mount Hua’s sect leader only shook his head. He was consistent in saying he had stopped by dreading that much blood would flow.

Nine Sects’ immortals.

A status difficult for a weak nation’s royal family to rashly interrogate. Their martial prowess was the same. For now, they could only treat them extremely courteously as guests.

Lady So-hyang’s lips wrinkled into a smile.

“So they’re staying briefly in the palace? Together with that girl called Lu Xian?”

It was when Dan Seong-eum nodded. From outside, an attendant announced.

“Revered Teacher Gong is entering.”

An old man wearing ash-colored demonic robes walked in. A noble clan retainer of Dali Dan Family. A figure older than Lady So-hyang, he was a master of internal energy cultivation who had taken charge of Dan Seong-eum’s Pursuit Acupoint Vital Point.

“Teacher.”

“Nation’s Sword.”

When Lady So-hyang and Revered Teacher Gong exchanged greetings, Dan Seong-eum already lay on the bed.

It was courtesy toward Revered Teacher Gong. Because Revered Teacher Gong’s Pursuit Acupoint Vital Point, which even slightly improved the prince’s terrible muscles and acupoints, was accompanied by massive innate true energy consumption.

—Please don’t feel any burden. This is for the nation. And dare I say, personally there is compassion.

He was a warm loyal subject.

Not only Revered Teacher Gong. There were sacrifices by many old masters, and the more they piled up, the thicker the ink fragrance of the alias Nation Devourer became. Through countless ministers and scholars’ memorials.

Of course, those among them without backing were punished with Dan Family Time Moon Method.

“Today seems to be the last.”

Revered Teacher Gong said.

Meaning his body’s energy was exhausted. He would pass away within days. As all teachers had.

Dan Seong-eum silently closed his eyes. And remained frozen like a Buddha statue. Until Revered Teacher Gong painfully pressed down on vital acupoints throughout his body.

That’s right. Painfully.

“……!”

Originally the royal family’s Pursuit Acupoint Vital Point caused no pain whatsoever. At least in Dali Dan Family it was inherited and developed that way. Because few royals welcomed pain.

But Dan Seong-eum couldn’t react. Because the blocking acupoint had been pressed. The demon acupoint was the same. Only cold sweat formed on his skin.

The old man’s face was peaceful.

“I’ll add Transmitting Power Through Separated Body. Please endure.”

Wuuuuuuuuung!

It wasn’t Transmitting Power Through Separated Body. The old man’s fingers wrapped in massive true energy and spirituality burned Dan Seong-eum’s insides like tattoos. A process engraving some formation into bones and acupoints. It was technique containing the old man’s lifetime accumulated merit.

Enormous resentment had formed.

‘Ah, ahhh.’

Dan Seong-eum experienced eons. Until suddenly a red line was drawn on Revered Teacher Gong’s neck.

Thud, roll.

The body that lost its head sprawled. Lady So-hyang stepped on that corpse and came to take Dan Seong-eum’s pulse. So flustered that the wrinkles between her fingers were soaked with sweat.

“…Dan Family Time Moon Method.”

Lady So-hyang groaned.

“If they’re Dan Family retainers, they could activate it just by pouring in internal energy. This outrageous wretch, how could he go this far…!”

“Nanny.”

“…Speak.”

“Didn’t Revered Teacher Gong have no family?”

“Yes, that’s why His Majesty made him the royal teacher of Bone Transformation and Marrow Cleansing and Pursuit Acupoint Vital Point.”

“The teacher must have secretly raised a disciple. One of those who received punishment from the father king. If not that, then the teacher is a loyal subject of the nation who couldn’t stand watching the prince’s nation devouring.”

“……”

It was the day Dan Seong-eum spoke words at the longest length. Lady So-hyang silently embraced him.

* * *

The next day.

He walked the palace’s back garden.

It was a time when if the prince didn’t do something, memorials would rain down for that too. Therefore Dan Seong-eum’s stroll disguised as footwork training, and it was then he encountered Mount Hua disciple Lu Xian.

The girl’s fluster was noticeable. She seemed to have gone out without her master’s permission.

“Hello… Are you well?”

Puhwak—

Before her awkward words even ended, slashes were carved before her feet. Blade wind spewed by one of the nearby royal masters.

“Oh my.”

Lu Xian quickly retreated, but didn’t seem tense at all. Dan Seong-eum compared her footprints remaining in the dirt with his own.

‘Mount Hua’s Dark Fragrance Drift.’

Very faint. Beyond comparison.

Dan Seong-eum asked.

“Where were you going?”

“There’s a rumor that Dali carved a massive azure dragon from Dali marble. Since its grandeur is said to be unique, I was going to see it.”

“The rumor is true, but our nation’s people don’t like outsiders appreciating it.”

Lu Xian tilted her head.

“Why?”

“Since they carved the Eastern Azure Dragon among the Four Divine Beasts, it means bowing to the east. It symbolizes submission to your Ming Dynasty.”

In the past, Dali Kingdom had been invaded by Yuan Dynasty, and on the verge of destruction Zhang Sanfeng intervened to mediate the fight. It was a very famous anecdote. The incident where he moved Dark Heaven Emperor with just the condition of sharing a single cup of wine, and ultimately hit Void Annihilation Nirvana Realm’s Transcendent Martial Art on Yuan Dynasty’s sword force masters.

All peerless masters’ blade force extinguished like candles, and Yuan Dynasty suffered fierce counterattacks.

World Tree’s clan elder Wei Yeon made Dali Kingdom a vassal state after that Yuan-Ming transition period. The time when rumors circulated that True Heavenly Demon Dark Kingdom at Toppler Wei Gun-hye used swords like Zhang Sanfeng. Dali Kingdom submitted as Dan Seong-eum said.

Lu Xian made an ‘oops’ expression.

“I was rude.”

“Your fragrance.”

“Hm?”

“Is it because you train Plum Blossom Sword?”

“No, Purple Sunset Sword. The sword techniques are so complex… I need to practice spreading true energy to become skilled at changing swords.”

It was an answer from a different caliber. Because it meant she had already received transmission of Mount Hua’s sect leader secret art.

Dan Seong-eum, who hadn’t been initiated into any of Dali Dan Family’s divine arts, slowly nodded.

“Go.”

“Oh… Okay.”

That was as far as it went.

The next day.

Mount Hua’s immortals departed.

At the bizarrely quick departure, Dali Kingdom masters murmured. That Mount Hua Great Immortal’s expression had been peculiar.

—Isn’t it strange? He acted as if this nation were a bomb about to explode.

—A monster who wouldn’t die even if thousands of bombs exploded…?

Meanwhile, Dan Seong-eum and Lu Xian noticed each other’s curiosity toward each other, but didn’t particularly form friendship. Dan Seong-eum had never had friends, and Lu Xian seemed abundantly supplied with everything.

Seven days and nights later, there were other visitors.

“They are…?”

“Desolate Fortress, Divine Sword Group!”

The point when some current quickened.

A man with a face gradually passing into old age entered the palace fluttering his pink long robe. Beside him, a boy with blade-sharp pupils wore extremely frayed blue martial robes.

“Try hiding those eyeballs.”

“Grandpa. I told you I can’t control it yet.”

They were called Divine Sword Group Leader Ma Yeon-jeok and Demon Sword Yong Hye-myeong.