Chapter 745 – What Remained After Burning (6)

“That can’t be true.”

It was a large tent.

A girl who could barely be called of marriageable age shook her head. Zhuge Family Acting Head, Tranquil Depth Gaze Zhuge Qing-ya. A figure who had been Radiant Demon Wing’s guest warrior until Fan Dragon Zhuge Xian died.

“May the late masters protect the current Desolate Fortress Lord’s honor.”

A tone as strong as her nearly disheveled hair. Even though it was a place where jianghu’s prominent figures surrounded a huge table.

“Apart from people’s livelihood, even for orthodox martial forest… He has countless merits. Even if one feels distance as a jianghu person, slander should be avoided.”

Then some man interjected.

“I understand Lotus Nezha was expelled by True Heavenly Demon, yet it seems she chose to follow her master.”

Yan Family Head Yan Wen-xue.

He wore scholarly-style silk garments. An appearance as neat as a scholar.

Around his ears, pale white lightning crackled like earrings. Upper energy center martial arts formidable enough to appear as jewelry at first glance.

No one could interrupt his story.

“First Fist Yan Hwa-lyeon also went to Zhuge Tyrant as soon as she was expelled from the main family. The shock of expulsion is great for anyone. So we must naturally prepare. For Lotus Nezha at the forefront of World Tree’s demon immortals… Additionally for True Heavenly Demon too. It’s nothing short of a disaster.”

His alias from when he was a late rising talent was Yan Family Fist Dragon. Now he was revered by the name Yan Family Martial King.

And he was also famous for not getting back Yan Family Fist Manual from Jeong Yeon-shin.

“……”

That was why.

No one spoke rashly. Most of those present were convinced from the start. That Desolate Day Extinction couldn’t have bowed to World Tree’s long-ears.

Yan Wen-xue merely needed justification.

“Unite to live, scatter to die. Jianghu has gone to hell. That’s my conclusion. It’s an era when even formidable people should band together.”

He who concluded his words calmly like a scholar soon asked Zhuge Qing-ya.

“Will you grant the main family’s request? Since you were a powerful figure in Hanzhong Martial Alliance, you could transport to the main family.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“I’m not saying to dig up your late father’s grave. Of course, if we could receive transport of someone like Taoist High Sword’s corpse, that would be best. Even if talented in senses like Azure Qilin or Twin Poison Dragon Phoenix combined with the main family’s Great Corpse Method…”

Yan Wen-xue closed his mouth. Because gazes looking at trash had poured down. This was something even a peerless master Yan Family Head shouldn’t go further with.

Only then did some woman interject.

“Ominous rumors have been circulating. They say World Tree masters started breaking all kinds of sects’ plaques. Not one or two places have made pledges of submission. Very humiliating ones.”

Three swords at her waist.

Peng Family Head, Peng Family Blade Marquis Peng Ya.

“Even this is information received very quickly through extremely urgent intelligence networks. Perhaps by now they’ve already come this way? The long-ear masters who silenced even Desolate Day Extinction somehow.”

“Considering Form Shifting Void’s unpredictable appearance, it’s worth considering. If existences like True Heavenly Demon or Lotus Nezha use that, then the situation becomes terrible.”

The atmosphere instantly stiffened. The current Yan Family Head was bold befitting someone who had been a late rising talent until recently. Peng Ya had no choice but to ease the air with light speech.

“You keep bringing up old aliases? True Heavenly Demon. Even my father who Lightning Genius sent to the underworld never called her by that name.”

Yan Wen-xue shook his head.

“The prestigious name of world’s greatest person only has meaning when she walks the righteous path. But think about the fight that happened at Mount Song. Isn’t it a sign of recreating the bloody history books of the Yuan-Ming transition period?”

“That what, ‘unity’… Yan Family must have learned about it too.”

“Where are there excuses in jianghu? Desolate Fortress Lord’s master and disciple are no exception. History is rewinding. Their honor will become meaningless in the near future.”

Yan Wen-xue flicked his finger.

Wuung.

Behind him. Coffins containing corpses floated up one by one, but no one in the assembly was surprised.

It was rumors that Yan Family had restored the corpse transport techniques from when Yan Family was the Yan clan and made them secret arts. A peerless fist martial artist controlling corpses. It was Yan Family Head’s true appearance.

“We must prepare here at the Great Wall. We are the final bastion. As discussed until now, let’s send word to other Nine Sects too. To join here.”

He spoke like a Martial Alliance Leader.

Peng Ya closed her mouth. While thinking the guy who luckily crossed the wall was ridiculous. If overflowing earth energy hadn’t lodged in Yan Wen-xue, this place would have been led by Plum Dragon Yu Hyeon or herself.

‘At least Sky Trampling Palace Lord who received the same fortuitous encounter died nobly. That bastard is unluckier because he’s from a great family.’

Then there was a middle-aged person with seniority among martial clans’ objection.

“What about Desolate Fortress?”

“Let’s first observe what decision Divine Sword Group Leader Yue Shou-lin makes. I don’t know. Can Desolate Fortress Divine Spear be hostile to Lotus Nezha…? Isn’t their friendship famous?”

The assembly was silent. Generally negative air flowed. It was a place with only masters who had opened their upper energy centers. Even without long discussion, everyone could feel the atmosphere.

One swordsman muttered.

“Forget Desolate Fortress. What they’ve done deserves respect but… After all, jianghu to jianghu people….”

A gentle breeze blew in the hall. Energy waves emitted by over ten clan chiefs.

Jianghu to jianghu people.

An intention Central Plains’ martial warriors had long harbored. They always yearned for non-interference between government and martial arts. The view that jianghu before Ming Dynasty was proper for pursuing martial arts.

Now was that time.

“Let’s go.”

“We must notify the Grand Commander first. That we’re taking disciples.”

Jianghu people who had followed Zhongnan Sword Immortal’s sword manual up to the north and returned.

Most were from prestigious families.

They had been conscripted by Grand Commander Quan Yu-li as soon as they came down to the Great Wall, but it became meaningless with Yao tribe jianghu people’s southward advance. Because the nation had fallen.

Thus it became another Martial Alliance meeting place. By those who had gone north and the figures who came to retrieve them.

“Let’s push forward the marriages we postponed while we’re at it.”

“Good idea.”

***

“They say Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance lost to Hwangbo Family’s wastrel… Is that confirmed information? Recent rumors are hard to believe.”

“You mean Lazy Flame Dragon? They say he’s now Demon Realm jianghu’s lackey, he must have made some wheel formation with the Yao tribe. How could that bastard deal with Five Great Swords of the World alone…?”

Most left the tent.

Even then there were those who didn’t rise. Mount Hua’s Plum Dragon Yu Hyeon, Zhuge Family Acting Head Zhuge Qing-ya.

Peng Ya glancing back at them.

“Don’t like Yan Family Head? Or is the rumor too shocking? Isn’t Desolate Day Extinction your close friend?”

A provocation. Testing whether they suited the new Martial Alliance.

Yu Hyeon was a Taoist now also being called Immortal. He could act like Mount Hua’s Lotus Peace Peak’s ever-unchanging mountain terrain.

“Want to grasp the Dao with mouth instead of hands? Where do you provoke a Taoist, provocation.”

The peak cut by Jeong Yeon-shin.

Yu Hyeon remembered.

A similar incident had occurred in Hangzhou. Dark Heaven Emperor and Heavenly Soaring Guest’s combined attack. It was when rumors of Jeong Yeon-shin’s death circulated. He had rushed to Hangzhou as if flying with his master.

Now he knew.

Jeong Yeon-shin would survive even if all under heaven collapsed. He originally had fate for long life. No need to worry about his safety. Only the matters facing himself were problems.

It was then.

“I will judge crimes.”

A voice without inflection rang out.

Outside the tent.

As soon as Yu Hyeon rushed out of the hall, he witnessed. Two people who had somehow begun to be surrounded by a crowd. Figures he had once confirmed with Appearance Breaking.

His gaze was drawn first to the middle-aged swordsman. As if he were the central axis of all under heaven, any sword path and timing he thought of scattered in his mind. Yu Hyeon almost lost balance in both feet for a moment.

Was the late Emperor Qian-ling like that?

‘More than my master!’

He disallowed the creation of attack techniques themselves. This experience was the first since seeing Jeong Yeon-shin after everything ended in the north, but it felt even more suffocating than that time.

Praising Earth Sword Duke.

Pure white Enter The Divine Sword showed through gaps in the orange long robe. Features that seemed carved expressionlessly from birth.

“Crime? I have crimes?”

However, Grand Commander Quan Yu-li faced him with a smiling face. It was simply amazing. The sight of throwing and catching the golden axe while wearing a strange smile.

“Ah, you mean the incident of Shanhai Pass being breached to Yao tribe jianghu people. Indeed, if responsibility is asked, only this official would be. Though there are somewhat unfair aspects.”

“Will you converse with the sword?”

“You degrade yourself to merely Tai Empress Dowager’s sword? Someone with such martial arts…? Then you possess Enter The Divine Sword but are not Enter The Divine Sword Master.”

What happened next silenced prestigious jianghu people including Yu Hyeon. It was right after feeling the instantaneous peerless master’s unique time domain unfolding, and countless techniques exchanged in their own eons.

Cough!

With the Grand Commander’s afterimage spitting blood as the end, the two people scattered like mirages. Only the feeling that they had soared to the distant sky while exchanging moves remained. In the place they disappeared, only a tall noble clan woman remained.

“……!”

Transparent shockwaves shattered the assembly’s bodies to pieces. Along with belated strong winds.

Pfubbubububuk…! 

Whooosh!

The rebound force created by Praising Earth Sword Duke and Grand Commander’s collision.

One side was possibly the most formidable among past Foundation Sword Masters, the other was the north’s war hero. It was natural that the surroundings were dyed with blood.

At this moment, flesh and bone fragments flying up to empty air then falling. Instantly an asura field.

“Senior brother…? Junior sister?”

“Uaaaaaaah!”

“World Tree, these damned things…!”

By then Yu Hyeon was already drawing up Purple Glow Divine Art. Peng Ya had drawn one sword and shot the other two into empty air.

“Isn’t that Northern Darkness Fist Marquis? They say she was equal with Six Star Lord Literary Star… Not sure how well the main family’s sword acrobatics will work.”

“Peng Family Head, Plum Dragon. If possible die beautifully. I’ll let you enjoy eternal life.”

On one side, coffin lids opened along with Yan Wen-xue’s martial power waves. Someone who reached the realm in both art and martial aspects. The actual highest master here, but Yu Hyeon couldn’t even see the corpses’ faces.

Step.

Northern Darkness Fist Marquis stood before the tent skipping everything. The feeling as if flowing like a river. Perhaps because of limbs long like whips, she was like an unstoppable ghost.

“Ah…!”

Zhuge Qing-ya’s nape was grabbed.

It was also then that White Crane Fan unfolded in the girl’s grip. The always-reactive skill of Zhuge Family Wind Meeting Infinite Fan Method. Fan ribs that scattered like arrows drew short curves and directly hit Northern Darkness Fist Marquis.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!

The ground shook, but only ripples like falling dew arose from Northern Darkness Fist Marquis’ body. There was no gap for anyone else to intervene. She immediately lifted Zhuge Qing-ya and soared into empty air.

Zhuge Qing-ya and Northern Darkness Fist Marquis’s conversation floated faintly on the wind.

“Where… are you taking me?”

“An excellent formation technique master is needed. Unlike ordinary gates, you must stop the movements of the Great Gate that moves ceaselessly. In an all under heaven that will perish anyway, we mustn’t allow another madman’s gate forcing.”

“Why?”

“Because someone trying to pull out Jeong Yeon-shin will emerge from the gate.”

A figure of Five Great Swords class struck and withdrew.

There was no one to block her. Now who was the world’s fastest had to be newly determined. Because it was jianghu with Jeong Yeon-shin absent.

* * *

—Lord, won’t you stop watching?

—Why do you say that?

—Why? Why, you ask? This abyss is rippling now! Goodness, that this is upper energy center spirit waves emitted by an individual… First calm your anger. At this rate I fear the greatest monster of all time will notice us. Otherwise immediately….

—Don’t turn it off.

—Then let’s turn the screen. We’ve confirmed the previous lord’s destination. Just say who else you want to see. Prepared Iron Demon Spring is omnipotent… I’ll show you anything.

—Divine Sword Seven Slaughter Masters, Hwangbo someone, Literary Star.

—What did you say first?

—My intent got tangled. This place is difficult.

—No, just now, I thought I saw a face and limbs… No way.

* * *

An unknown wasteland.

Thud!

Northern Darkness Fist Marquis landed with Zhuge Qing-ya…. After crossing the distant wasteland. During that time Zhuge Qing-ya learned many things about the mysterious person Northern Darkness Fist Marquis. It was distance and time that left no choice.

‘About half a day. Lots of information.’

The fact that Northern Darkness Fist Marquis wasn’t as taciturn as expected, when she said the position held by hands was uncomfortable she somewhat embraced her, the habit of endlessly discussing other strong ones since she had no conversation partners at World Tree. The topics then were mostly Yong Hye-myeong, Literary Star, Yong Hye-myeong, Jeong Yeon-shin, Yong Hye-myeong.

“Not too late.”

Northern Darkness Fist Marquis’s business was simple.

Stop the movements of the Great Gate whose location changed ceaselessly. So those trying to force entry could be easily blocked.

She said if not followed, she would exterminate Zhuge Family.

“……”

Detecting the Great Gate’s location was easy for peerless masters. Only art technique martial arts’ skill was needed to briefly stop that movement.

‘They said my grandmother who fell into inner demons handled the gate itself.’

Zhuge Qing-ya stared straight ahead.

There was no foggy pool that could be called a gate, only rainbow-colored wind rippling. A sight occasionally appearing in the form of a single sword.

Some old monk’s back obscured part of it. No arms, and thus yellow robes hung like a cloak.

Wasteland, a monk close to being crippled, dryly blazing atmosphere.

“Will you block?”

Heaven-Punishing Asura asked.

[TL Note- It’s Monk Beom-heo.]