Chapter 743 – What Remained After Burning (4)

A colony of countless leaves.

It was a scale that made the words “heaven and earth” meaningless. Because it was a tree that covered the land, it was called not heaven and earth but Heaven Tree, and also World Tree.

Rustle.

Suddenly a single leaf trembled, and the tree recalled many things.

The Taiji monster who descended from Mount Wudang, the woman who befriended fallen leaves then became Desolate Fortress Lord, the old swordsman who cared for her like a daughter… Then after four seasons brushed the leaves countless times, a child born in the fertile Henan lands.

—Fertile child.

His head was open. Like the Taiji monster.

It learned late.

Because the fallen leaf woman had hidden it. Moon Spirit Harmony Seal, Nature Sword, internal energy breathing, upper energy center martial arts… It was the result of mobilizing everything. The fertile boy was protected from the tree’s eyes.

The woman even protected her own memories.

So the tree couldn’t read them until she unified with the tree. So that the fertile child wouldn’t fail to be born.

That memory was her fallen leaves.

And today.

—……

The tree questioned.

The one who severed the woman’s and tree’s unity.

Now that the fertile youth had been swallowed by the tree in the woman’s place.

Were this series of events the plan of the woman who wanted to be freed from the tree, the world’s greatest person? Or something even she hadn’t anticipated?

If it were the latter.

What would her heart feel?

Was now only Wei Yeon left to the tree?

* * *

Divine Sword Group’s Iron Demon Spring.

Handles iron like a demon.

The character Cheon (泉, Spring) meant the independence of finding missions on one’s own. Just as Wish Fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong Ya had crossed the Great Wall from time to time.

—What Fighting God, that cripple won’t peacefully close his eyes at the proper time. Because I’ll live one more day longer. By then Lightning Genius might be lord and I might be group leader……

Wish Fulfilling Spring Leader suited Beigong Ya’s temperament.

What about Iron Demon Spring Lord?

“Goodness, to be able to dash while holding all three Direction Great Generals alone… It was like seeing Fighting God.”

A voice that resonated through Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind. Iron Demon Spring Lord Ji Gang-hyeon’s temperament was like a talkative blacksmith.

“Ah, everyone was watching. Not only what happened above. If it happened where World Tree extended branches, anything… Even from the lord’s white days to reaching purple. How was that possible? Of course it was arrangements by previous Emperor Qian-ling and the previous lord. What was it, there was a little help from King Qiong-ming too……”

It was all difficult to understand, but Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t answer immediately.

Because he couldn’t feel a mouth to move.

‘…It’s not a problem with acupoints or meridians.’

It was a strange state. As if only consciousness was floating through darkness without a body. The energy perception that always dominated his whole body muscles had also disappeared.

Only emptiness as if some moment after death.

Severed from heaven and earth.

The pitch-black abyss yet no stuffiness.

Would prey settled in a predator’s stomach be like this?

“Ah, it’s right that you were swallowed by World Tree. It’s also right that this place is inside that damned tree. Right now the new lord is sensing my voice not with ears but with upper energy center spirit. Why? Because your physical body is being passed to the tree.”

Ji Gang-hyeon seemed to be a carefree person about everything. Starting with continuously bursting out loud voices from who knows where.

“To unify someone who isn’t a noble clan, this kind of process is necessary. Where World Tree’s spirit is densest… In other words, it embraces them in its own body then gives birth. Those who come out outside the tree again like that have their ears pointed through Bone Transformation Art. Like lightning rods that suck in lightning, to easily receive the tree’s martial power through the head.”

This was the noble clans’ beginning.

Ji Gang-hyeon concluded his words so.

It was the moment the truth of Ming Dynasty’s ruling clans was calmly unraveled.

According to his words, there were no people noble from birth. Because it meant manufactured immortals.

Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the words of World Tree’s swordsman killed by him.

—Think about an existence called ‘unified Desolate Day Extinction.’ It would surely be a calamity hard to find again in all under heaven.

‘Is that becoming so?’

It would be fine.

He had already left many arrangements. Thus the events that would unfold ahead would determine. Whether Henan person Jeong Yeon-shin was a grandmaster or not.

Meanwhile Ji Gang-hyeon’s words continued.

“It will be frustrating but please endure. I also took eleven years to recognize and move my mouth, so the new lord will probably……”

[Should at least let me speak.]

It was Jeong Yeon-shin’s intent, yet it rang with a sarcastic tone like Lazy Flame Dragon. An event that occurred when he repeated the same thought hundreds of times instantaneously. The principle of ceaselessly rubbing wooden sticks to start fire.

He strengthened his upper energy center spirit with a simple method.

‘Six Jia Like Three Autumns or something.’

Lazy Flame Dragon’s solitary realm. They said it was a technique that stimulated the upper energy center with Scorching Divine Meridian’s martial power to move like Jeong Yeon-shin. Conversely Jeong Yeon-shin imitated Lazy Flame Dragon who had imitated him.

[Desolate Fortress Lord, Lightning Genius Jeong Family greets Iron Demon Spring great senior.]

“……”

[I heard senior’s esteemed name long ago, but you were here. Could you report the circumstances?]

He asked calmly into the darkness where nothing remained unchanged. Ji Gang-hyeon’s voice flowed out after a breath of silence.

“…Myriad View Place.”

[……?]

“The name I call this place.”

Whoosh!

Instantly his vision opened wide.

A place filled with green groves in all directions. The middle of World Tree’s main body was reflected. Together with his master whose head was tilted diagonally down.

—……

Sunlight was dense. Her long hair was rippling in pale green. The sight of Enter The Extinction Blade’s shadow held in her hand flickering on the grass.

Perfect and seamless.

As always, she looked complete like clothing without a single sewn trace. Even though World Tree’s masters surrounded her.

Amazingly vivid scenery.

It was the form of secretly watching the outside from World Tree’s interior.

“Iron Demon Spring’s mechanism formation technique. With World Tree’s power, I can see heaven and earth of a certain domain. Unlike Wind Empress Wei Yeon’s technique, it doesn’t catch peerless masters’ notice. Of course World Tree won’t know what happened inside its own body. That’s the key! It’s also our Iron Demon Spring’s only and great achievement… Of course there was help from Emperor Qian-ling and King Qiong-ming here too. Their status and Transcendent Martial Art.”

The latter part was very small so he could barely hear it. Ji Gang-hyeon seemed to enjoy boasting about his own achievements.

“The only flaw is that I can’t leave here so I can’t transmit news. Anyway, our Iron Demon Spring took a long time to complete it, how much effort went into stealing World Tree’s power like a mouse and assembling it with mechanism formation technique……”

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer.

Anyone would have no choice but to be like this. If it were a situation where the current world’s greatest power and the previous Desolate Fortress Lord confronted each other.

‘I…’

Freed my master.

An achievement.

Even if captured by World Tree as the price, Desolate Fortress’s military strength had actually risen. Of course he had greatly cut down the enemy side’s strength. He even fulfilled the disciple’s duty.

It was time to witness the results.

* * *

“…Gun-hye, did you return?”

The aged voice repeated.

‘Damn.’

Moon Direction Great General Ta Yeon suddenly furrowed her brow because her skin stung. The facial scars carved by Demon Realm’s northern kings.

Her Sense Path. The weapon that let her kill two northern kings of Half Fighting God faction and Bright Wind Cave Fighting God faction and their great warriors.

Harmonizing with upper energy center spirit, it excavated opponents’ techniques. Even Six Star Lords’ attack techniques were no exception. How many times had she survived thanks to it?

It was the same when competing with Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius.

At that time, her face felt torn just from the warnings the scars sent. A monster equal to Fighting God without any exaggeration. At least combined attacks were possible because she precisely assessed the extremely dangerous situations.

Now was different again.

Saaaaa…

She received a gentle breeze.

But Ta Yeon’s face became hot as if wrapped in fire. She groaned unconsciously, but her breath didn’t flow out. There was no sound at all.

Ta Yeon raised her head.

She saw herself reflected like a mirror in Wei Gun-hye’s pupils. It seemed trapped.

‘Can’t endure even a moment…!’

With that prowess and that temperament, even Fighting God would turn away. Saying luck wasn’t good so he should have a drink then come back.

It was then.

“Don’t move.”

A small whirlwind disheveled Wei Gun-hye’s hair. A tall old woman was at its center. World Tree’s clan elder, Grand Empress Dowager Wei Yeon had a perplexed face even though she had personally manifested at Wei Gun-hye’s side.

That Wei Yeon showed emotion.

An existence that had been like a god. It was as if Ming Dynasty’s history had fallen to being human.

“Unify again. For your sake too.”

As soon as Ta Yeon heard Wei Yeon’s words, she realized.

World Tree’s power could no longer affect Wei Gun-hye. What Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius had done was so.

Soon Wei Yeon’s words continued.

“Only then will the clan survive.”

“……”

“Yangzhou Prefecture and Beijing… The enemies’ military strength is unusual. Even the greedy northern kings descended. We must worry about great sacrifices. Lightning Genius’s death is a great achievement.”

Large shadows rippled like waves centered on Wei Gun-hye. Literally the shadow of a crowd.

It gradually became denser.

Yu Xiong who had driven down a pillar of light on Jeong Yeon-shin earlier landed, and Yang Cheon who had semi-forcibly received the pillar of light by Jeong Yeon-shin walked over again with a restored complexion.

‘Regenerative abilities… Same as peerless blood arts. The monsters are no different.’

Ta Yeon inwardly clicked her tongue.

But no one boasted of that ability. Only the fishing rod line resting on Yang Cheon’s shoulder dragged on the ground. Their steps approaching the world’s greatest person were unhesitant. They seemed ready to bind Wei Gun-hye as soon as World Tree’s order fell.

Wei Gun-hye’s silence was therefore suffocating.

“……”

The sunlight that seemed ready to ripple brightly until evening was gone. It had somehow subsided.

Only Wei Gun-hye’s hair had thickened to its original light green. World Tree’s masters changed breathing techniques every moment. Searching for more suitable techniques.

Ta Yeon was different. For a moment, there was a scene she caught faster than anyone. With eye technique adapted to Six Star Lord Literary Star’s short decisive battles.

The sight of Wei Gun-hye’s hand briefly blurring then seeping into empty air to grab and lift Wei Yeon’s neck.

“……!”

Wind Empress Wei Yeon had allowed the first move. Now her Nature Body achievement had even surpassed Southern Emperor and Northern Path.

Conversely, Wei Gun-hye’s action itself seemed radical to World Tree masters.

Their expressions surrounding the vicinity. Same as when Jeong Yeon-shin had broken through the encirclement to reach World Tree’s main body earlier. Master and disciple had delivered shock on the same day.

“Release that hand!”

“Will you truly oppose the clan?”

“You must uphold tradition and hierarchy…!”

Clan elder Wei Yeon. The absolute being who guided noble clans pushed from their homeland to the Central Plains.

Meanwhile, Wei Gun-hye was the noble clans’ pride.

No one had maintained the name of world’s greatest for a hundred fifty years. Same for anyone past or present. Even a body that had been selected and raised as the mouth when World Tree manifested.

“We mustn’t antagonize each other.”

Even with pure white fingers gripping her neck, Wei Yeon’s voice was clear.

“The world will perish with earth energy drying up. Yet heaven and earth haven’t found answers for hundreds of years. On land where even those who will remember us won’t remain, how should we die to leave human dignity to all creation?”

Wei Yeon only moved her pupils to look down at Wei Gun-hye. Though lifted only about a head’s height, it felt like looking down from far above.

“Only our clan can seek the answer.”

“……”

“Lives of people like my husband were different from ours, so the process of finding answers had meaning. But we are difficult to become like them. Because in long-burned ashes there is no light.”

Those words.

Ta Yeon felt rusty loss. Because Ming Taizu and Wei Yeon’s affection was famous. Like herself and her own husband who was torn to death by Literary Star.

‘Those who have greatly lost can hardly be in their right mind. Inevitably dogmatic.’

However.

Wei Gun-hye’s temperament was also so.

Terrible loss pierced into her mind. She had no idea why at all. In the first place, wasn’t Jeong Yeon-shin a connection that had been or not been even three years since Wei Gun-hye took him as disciple?

‘Why on earth…?’

The moment Ta Yeon questioned.

The other Direction Great Generals and Imperial Three Great Masters including Yang Cheon who had been approaching Wei Gun-hye, and also World Tree’s protectors on immensely high tree branches moved greatly. Each stepped with retreating footwork or unleashed preemptive palm technique techniques, and some wielded unique weapons chaotically.

Kwang! Kurururururung!

Ground surface rose high, and clouds tore chaotically from the sky. Nine peerless masters in total. The tremors were also tremendous. Immediately Wei Yeon’s intent spread.

[Illusion techniques disrupting energy perception! Prepare for Moon Spirit Divine Technique, Myriad Illumination…!]

Ground, tree branches, sky.

Before they knew it, nine Wei Gun-hyes were rippling. Cloudy forms like under lake shores beneath moon halos. Each facing World Tree peerless masters.

The assembled movement stopped.

Even Ta Yeon’s battlefield eye technique couldn’t distinguish. Whether nine primordial spirits had been created at this moment. Or whether it was illusions created by mind sword’s principles.

Ten Wei Gun-hyes muttered.

“Lightning Genius.”

“You still commemorate your disciple.”

Wei Yeon laughed. Still with her neck caught hanging by the main Wei Gun-hye. Semi-transparent gentle wind swirled from her legs. Space distorting murkily around Wei Yeon’s pant hem. It was Nature Body’s martial arts.

Before Wei Gun-hye’s face, she had transformed the form of sword techniques into the form of leg techniques.

“Gun-hye, haven’t you also realized? You mustn’t cling to insignificant affection. Because it ultimately becomes futile. In the end only emptiness remains.”

“…So.”

Wei Gun-hye slowly moved her lips. Did power enter her grip? Suddenly Wei Yeon’s legs moved with eyes wide, but Wei Gun-hye concluded her words.

“That’s why I remained.”

Immediately.

Clan elder Wei Yeon’s neck broke.

It was surreal. Not only Wei Gun-hye’s body where only roars remained even if Wei Yeon kicked like bombardment, but also Wei Gun-hye’s realm that loaded Nature Sword’s sword force in her hand.

Crack.

“……”

Wei Yeon’s kicks that had torn space thirty-six times in an instant stopped.

Shock wrapped all around.

Pure white rectus abdominis shadowed through gaps in Wei Gun-hye’s torn clothes. Skin revealed. No longer perfect and seamless.