Chapter 761 – Three Radiances Demon (7)

Literary Star fell silent.

After a vast dusk enveloped the surroundings. At first glance it looked like dark blue fog, yet gave off a clear feeling like dew. A temperament Jeong Yeon-shin had lost long ago.

The true Jeong Yeon-shin wasn’t like that. Literary Star had trodden the domain where his sword circle spread countless times. There was practically no such pristine feeling.

He calmly assessed the anomaly.

‘The energy waves are spotlessly clear. Like the lingering resonance of extreme Wood Energy…’

The shadow in the dusk.

It didn’t move, like a statue. Only the surrounding atmosphere was strange.

It was on the World Tree masters’ side who had densely filled the central plaza. Many were frozen stiff. Despite being their allies judging by the circumstances.

[Already…?]

Suddenly, wind flowed from Literary Star’s grip.

[Too early! This early…!]

The head of the World Tree’s Grand Administrator, torn out and mangled, emitted a voice. With tremendous spirituality, he was clinging to consciousness and innate true energy.

Literary Star was impressed.

“Like Wol-yo, the Divine Demon Mad Silence Sect Leader. Though his realm was self-attained… But who is that one? Even examining with eye techniques, it’s not Lord Jeong.”

[The True Body.]

The head stirred a gentle breeze. Wind trembling like a tremor.

[The Divine Tree’s True Body.]

“……”

Come to think of it.

The wooden statue had vanished without a trace.

Only a shadowy figure in the dusk stood silently one step ahead of where it had been. In the midst of World Tree masters who had frozen like ice while guarding the statue.

“Is that the World Tree’s fruit?”

[It’s also called that. Because it can become anything.]

Literary Star closed his mouth for a moment, then opened it only after one breath.

“…In the end, strange gods and spirits have intruded upon humanity’s jianghu. This is truly lamentable. Will those who read the history books in the future believe such a thing?”

With his ten-foot corpse-pale massive frame, he spoke heavily.

[It is human.]

The World Tree Grand Administrator’s head hummed.

[If not human, then what?]

“Don’t your people revere the World Tree as a tribal deity?”

[He has taken in all worldly affairs and jianghu matters as sacred roots for hundreds of years. The joys of youth, life’s ambitions, martial arts and conflicts, reconciliation over a cup of wine, jianghu people racing across all under heaven, broken blades, the eyelids closing on joys and sorrows…]

Literary Star’s brow furrowed.

“Does a tree become human by studying humanity?”

[What if it absorbed hundreds of years and hundreds of millions of lives through its roots? If it accompanied that much youth, old age, and death? If it knows all the customs of the Central Plains’ land and thinks with those memories…! Even so, can you so rashly deny it?]

The man’s intent was like a scholar obsessed with some learning in a secluded room.

Since it wasn’t a question to answer immediately, Literary Star moved his feet.

Nine Marsh Demon Power Step’s advancing stride.

Immediately the shadowy figure in the dusk drew close before his eyes, and the World Tree masters who had somehow surrounded him in an inescapable net were torn apart and exploded by his breakthrough force. Literary Star extending his fist was simultaneous. Space distorted crookedly from his fist surface.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaang!

Furrows racing thickly in all directions.

Then even acrid burning smells rose, and the ground sank down dozens of zhang. Though the vines and dirt floors inside the World Tree were as hard as divine swords imbued with Sword Energy Infusion, vibrations spread with a rumble.

‘Thunder Annihilation Sword Style…?’

Literary Star’s eyebrows twitched in the dust clouds that painted over the dusk.

His signature fist strike unleashed with full power, the Night Before the Great Exam, couldn’t advance properly. It was blocked by the shadowy figure’s raised fingers. Before the fist strike could generate shockwaves spanning over a hundred zhang from the impact point.

“……”

Sword fingers with index and middle fingers together.

Literary Star finally sensed Jeong Yeon-shin. Because he felt the momentum of Thunder Annihilation Sword Style that had once been carved into his body.

Goosebumps spread like shivers.

Kurerererereung!

In the distance, blue light writhed like waves. It was Southern Splendor Vast Taiji’s light streams. That azure Taiji was absorbing Literary Star’s fist strike energy waves like mist.

It was clearly described as a technique that reduced the recoil of great ultimate strikes. Yet now it conversely softened the opponent’s release force.

Taiji cultivation Jeong Yeon-shin had never shown before.

Meaning it could transform and develop techniques like the true Jeong Yeon-shin.

‘Truly frightening.’

His arm tensed involuntarily. Instantly the shadowy figure’s sword fingers pressed against his fist surface exploded along with the hand, and in a flash even the arm below the elbow flew off with a spray of blood.

Puhwak!

As the belated sound burst, the central plaza was painted in silence.

Trudge.

Literary Star calmly withdrew his fist and retreated.

Because the Taiji’s blue light had trembled as if radiating while surrounding the vicinity.

For an instant, it couldn’t absorb all of Literary Star’s power and allowed the direct hit. Naturally, a counterattack of equal magnitude was just about to return.

‘Southern Splendor Vast Taiji is dangerous.’

If Jeong Yeon-shin’s senses had been implemented as is, balance of essence-energy-spirit would have been regained the moment the arm flew off.

Fortunately, Nine Marsh Demon Power Step contained retreat footwork. A scholar’s technique that knew when to withdraw even while surging like torrents.

The shadowy figure in the dusk didn’t pursue.

That too was difficult to call Jeong Yeon-shin’s conduct. It was more important business than the World Tree Grand Administrator’s thunderous reproach directed at Literary Star. In humanity’s jianghu, strange gods and spirits…

‘Not easy.’

Literary Star exhaled pale breath.

Then he quietly addressed the shadowy figure in the dusk.

“As expected, it’s not Lord Jeong’s body, but a physical form the World Tree prepared for a long time… Can you converse with us?”

He spoke while scrutinizing the opponent as if to pierce through.

It was Yuan Dynasty eye techniques learned from Emperor Lu Ban along with the Black Capital. He witnessed not only the energy waves and body form, but even the scene where smooth wood flesh had somehow transformed into human skin.

But that was all.

The realm was difficult to gauge.

‘Even Taking Measure Divine Light is useless.’

Then.

Huuk—

When the shadowy figure in the dusk raised its head, an enormous gaze intruded. A feeling of his body being entirely sucked into the figure’s head.

Literary Star intuited.

‘Lowly Revelation…!’

He began being analyzed in detail.

A gaze that would approach as heavier pressure the deeper one’s upper energy center cultivation.

Extremely overwhelming. Only that much was conduct befitting the unified Desolate Day Extinction, so Literary Star groaned lowly. The World Tree’s Grand Administrator seemed to think the same.

[…There’s nothing He can’t understand! In this all under heaven facing its end, if not Him, who is the inheritor of ‘humanity’?!]

Both sides bought time.

While the shadowy figure in the dusk analyzed Literary Star, it also seemed to be raising even its body’s completion with Natural Energy Major Heavenly Circulation.

For Literary Star, it was rather fortunate. Because he needed to cool his body.

“After gripping heads several times, I understand how the World Tree’s regeneration ability is implemented. Thanks to you.”

He spoke while paying attention to the reaction the World Tree’s Grand Administrator would show.

“Only when crucial parts touch or scatter on the ground or trunk do they dissolve into earth and activate regeneration ability like Blood Flame Cult Leader. Am I correct? I thought it quite unreasonable that even individual martial military force members possessed Transcendent Martial Art like Divine Seat… By chance, if I hold your head like this.”

Literary Star stopped speaking.

Because the spirituality inside the World Tree Grand Administrator’s skull had scattered. The Baihui acupoint had completely emptied.

The next moment, he with intact features entered by parting the dusk. The regeneration ability seemed to have activated based on the parts previously crushed by Literary Star.

“With all under heaven’s most clear and lucid reason, embracing every kind of conflict in the heart! One who has worn the bodies of those who have trodden the pinnacle of human affairs…!”

“Are you.”

Literary Star quietly cut off his words.

“The same person who was conversing with me until just now?”

At that question, the World Tree’s Grand Administrator smiled broadly.

“Why, since the head was newly molded, does it seem I bid farewell to my past self?”

“Isn’t that so?”

“There lies the difference between us.”

He slowly continued speaking while sweeping his dazzling golden hair down to his chest.

“Great cause.”

With those words, the hand pointing at Literary Star soon pressed down on his own chest.

“Great legacy.”

“……”

“Enjoyed noble status yet gave up on all under heaven in complete contrast? You may condemn us so. We staked ourselves on the surest matter. Before even that became difficult.”

“While gathering earth energy?”

“What good is judging right and wrong now? But know this. The tribe now respects Desolate Day Extinction. We acknowledge that the seeds he sowed have caught up to the Divine Tree’s chin. Therefore…”

The man said while nodding to the shadowy figure in the dusk.

“You too are a legacy we must leave behind. In the next all under heaven, the people of that world will know that the Lightning Genius martial lineage existed. Because we won’t be forgotten, it is eternal life.”

The man stamped his foot.

Kung!

The resonance was considerable. Enough to make Literary Star’s footing vibrate, even if faintly. It was a true step that accumulated energy waves, yet felt even more formidable.

Like the Divine Sword Group’s martial military forces that repeatedly became absurdly powerful at any given time.

‘Did the side that gains benefit from Southern Splendor Vast Taiji change…?’

Upper energy center insight.

There was transformation of secret formulas and subtle principles.

It became certain thanks to the World Tree Grand Administrator’s roar that immediately followed.

[Feel what it’s like to become Desolate Day Extinction’s enemy!]

Literary Star thought, why would he say such a thing to me—

* * *

A spear was embedded in the vine ground.

A spear shaft that looked dark in the dusk but showed silver when reflecting moonlight.

The hand gripping it was smooth, yet some kind of profundity like moonlight clung to it. It was the transcendence unique to masters.

Dream Flight Yue Shou-lin muttered.

“That used to be ours originally.”

While kneeling on one knee. A glance at the vicinity using the spear as support.

It was right after Southern Splendor Vast Taiji strengthened the World Tree martial lineage’s strikes. Blue light surrounded beyond the vine walls.

Naturally.

She had been pushed back.

She had been at a slight disadvantage originally, but after the azure Taiji unfolded, it was hopeless. Because her opponent Praising Earth Sword Duke’s sword paths left her eye technique’s field of view in an instant.

His ascension surpassed other World Tree masters. That’s what a peerless swordsman with faster combination strikes was.

Across from her.

Praising Earth Sword Duke quietly arranged his orange sleeves.

“…My unified martial power rivals the Clan Leader and Emperor Qian-ling. Don’t feel shame. The disgrace is entirely my burden.”

He stood one step aside from Yue Shou-lin. As if to avoid being positioned in the direction where she knelt.

Yue Shou-lin’s lips twisted.

“Acting like you’ve already won? We haven’t even competed in Transcendent Martial Art.”

Praising Earth Sword Duke shook his head.

“I no longer have my own life. Therefore the dignity of Transcendent Martial Art should rightfully be degraded to mere martial technique. If you have something to bring forth, bring it, but you cannot call it a competition of Transcendent Martial Arts.”

“Others would say that sounds ungrateful.”

Southern Splendor Vast Taiji’s light clusters swept across Yue Shou-lin’s eyes once more. Longing flickered and faded in the bluish eye radiance. Briefly yet intensely.

Zzzzejejejejejejeong! Kwang! Kwakwakwakwang!

Walls of storm surrounding the two.

Though they appeared only as whitish vortexes, in reality they were afterimages of lightness skill endlessly displayed by both sides’ martial military forces. Thousands were clashing with supreme martial arts. With Grass Treading Step on semi-transparent release force fragments.

Until blue light enveloped the battlefield, the Divine Sword Group members had been pressing forward.

Not now.

“…Fools are truly called chivalrous.”

Praising Earth Sword Duke’s mouth moved.

“I know not all of the Divine Sword Group’s Seventeen Great Squad Leaders have gathered. With such a great battle ahead yet not abandoning the Central Plains, you are absurdly foolish people.”

“We only came because it’s manageable. Don’t you see the former generation’s black-rank old monsters?”

“Isn’t that only up to here…?”

“You jabber on. I’m going to recover.”

At this moment, in Yue Shou-lin’s eyes, Divine Sword Group members who had begun spurting blood one by one were clearly reflected. Blood streams bursting from arms and chests with puhwak sounds.

It was the sound of Divine Sword Group Leader’s life shattering.

Praising Earth Sword Duke, who had been gazing down at her from the side, asked.

“You seem to have never unfolded Transcendent Martial Art yet, but could you execute it here…? Even if it exists within your body, with weak intent you cannot contain life in one strike.”

“That’s why I must save it.”

A woman’s voice interjected. Praising Earth Sword Duke and Yue Shou-lin’s eyes moved with light surprise.

There.

A beauty of devastating charm stood with her back to the moonlight. With pitch-black hair hanging down below her back.

The woman’s lips moved.

“A nation’s divine sword has its time to be drawn.”

As if she had entered using the night sky as a blanket. A fearsome Radiant Reverse Ghost Step, and a body to which that technique suited perfectly.

“…Desolate Day Extinction?”

Praising Earth Sword Duke’s colorless eye radiance flashed, and Jeong Yeon-shin raised the corners of her lips faintly.

“Since the tree has wagered its stakes, I too will stake my life and complete this subjugation.”

He concluded.

Praising Earth Sword Duke’s face grew grave.

“You challenge me with such an unstable primordial spirit?”

“I heard on the way here that you spoke of competing in Transcendent Martial Art. Fortunately, though my life is but one lifetime, it’s rather abundant.”

The moment Jeong Yeon-shin snapped his fingers.

Some barrier lifted.

Yue Shou-lin sensed with energy perception spanning the vast tree city. That the World Tree had been surrounded by something.

A powerful collective.

She felt divine energy waves.

All were emitting dharma power fluctuations, and among them one person’s energy waves stood out. One who unleashed Lion’s Roar reverberating from end to end of the World Tree as if reciting scriptures.

[Tree armor technique… truly a spectacle. Since these people don’t die even when killed, at least the strikes will be comfortable. It’s not easy for monks to exert their full power so easily.]

After someone’s wayward monk-like words, Jeong Yeon-shin in a woman’s form continued in a calm tone.

“Receive it.”

[One Hundred Eight Arhats.]

“It’s my first Transcendent Martial Art.”

[Open the killing precepts.]