Chapter 779 – Defying Providence

All directions filled with thunder roars. Faint radiances fell centered on the World Tree then bloomed like petals. It was the complete opposite. The dawn sky rippled pitch black like ebony, yet only the ground was in untimely daylight.

A wilderness where heaven and earth reversed.

“……”

The body of Zhang Sanfeng that the World Tree had created had already stopped breathing and fallen. Jeong Yeon-shin looked down at the dimly brightening ground.

They were all gates.

Gates drawn from Mount Hua, gates drawn from Sichuan, gates giving off unfamiliar scents from distant foreign lands… too many to count.

For hundreds of years, they had bound heroes and justified the World Tree’s plunder of earth energy. A disaster that drove conflicts between people to Sword Tree Hell. The entire jianghu had been toyed with.

And now this.

Invincible stood at the center of defying heaven.

To Jeong Yeon-shin, she looked like a moving corpse.

Rustle.

She stood with her hands clasped behind her back on the cliff of sloped tree bark. A posture as if admiring a flower garden she had cultivated herself. Her mocking voice echoed like waves.

[Aren’t they prettier than hydrangeas?]

Jeong Yeon-shin perceived with an expressionless face. That her words were lies. Only the conduct of twisting what was already twisted was demonic. Even the sight of her repeatedly tapping her own head was so.

[Hydrangea Banquet. Penetrating all demonic cultivation secrets under heaven in one breath, I bloomed a flower of spirituality in my head. A state where nothing is impossible among things worth attempting with the upper dantian… Think of it as creating in my head the light wheel you carry in your chest.]

Then her intent was tinged with laughter.

[Of course, the backlash is of a different caliber. For several days, my mind might go crazy like a senile person and call you elder brother. Or indiscriminately cause bloodshed… Fortunate that I’m about to die soon anyway. Demonic cultivation is demonic cultivation.]

“…You couldn’t distinguish where to be and where not to be.”

[I must first create the stage. I’ll banish the obstructions first.]

Snap.

Invincible flicked her fingers.

It was wide-area Form Shifting Void. Countless presences began disappearing. Qingcheng disciple Jin-mu and other jianghu people went first.

“Lord Jeong…! Please look after our Qingcheng Sect well in the future…!”

The presences of King Qiong-ming, Tang Family Head, and Iron Demon Spring Leader Ji Gang-hyeon who were inside Myriad View Place also vanished. Perhaps because she was wielding the World Tree’s power. She was now truly a celestial deity.

Following that, even several absolute masters vanished without a trace. Lord Yu Xiong with his broad spear, Lord Yang Cheon with his fishing rod that caught nothing, Lord Gyo Cheon who had torn her own drum at some point, and even Moon Direction Great General Ta Yeon and Sun Direction Great General Wei Mu-li who had been subdued earlier.

“…I leave my shield behind. I will receive the punishment for treason from the Grand Commander.”

“Shameful and shameful again.”

Ta Yeon and Wei Mu-li.

They had been swept up in the spirituality of Self Walk Transcendence.

They had also witnessed the entire struggle of Literary Star and Fighting God trying to protect the world. Absolute masters who inevitably feel life-and-death enemies’ intents closer than lovers’ hearts.

Those who ate only honor like rice had realized their disgrace and embraced shame leading to death. Those for whom even Transcendent Martial Art was battlefield martial arts. It would be a succession of punishments more painful than any torture. Like the Dan Family Time Transcendence Method from old rumors…

‘Dan Family Time Transcendence Method…?’

It was when Jeong Yeon-shin hesitated.

[It’s not something requiring ordinary concentration, so true ghost people are difficult. I have no mental strength to spare for those inside the tree.]

Invincible raised her gaze diagonally upward. Because it was a sloped tree cliff. At the end of her sight was Jeong Yeon-shin.

She spoke.

[With this much, I can tell younger brother to bring tea and snacks. Right?]

“……”

[Ah, I left out something quite important. If I operate two gates at each point and move them…]

In that instant, some of the radiant flowers blooming on the ground flickered. Her words continued gently as she flicked her fingers once more.

[Right now I dropped Desolate Fortress and Demon Realm fellows to Xiangyang from beyond the gates. They’d just be baggage if they came here with exhausted energy anyway. Though it seems they’re shamefully mobilizing again despite my grace…]

Speaking like a person with divine aspects. While accomplishing one by one things that only the First Heavenly Demon could have done. In that moment, the tree bark cliff she stood on vibrated.

Gooooooo!

[Calm down.]

Invincible tapped the tree with her feet.

[Life is like this. People have their hearts stolen by people, and trees have their bodies stolen by humans. Honestly, I find the former more wondrous…]

Jeong Yeon-shin stared at that sight then slowly opened his mouth.

“Yelu Zhen.”

[Elder sister.]

“Elder sister.”

[…Mm.]

“Don’t be flustered by such things.”

Then Jeong Yeon-shin calmly posed a question.

“How long can you remain in this world?”

In that instant, she spread one hand. Jeong Yeon-shin asked back, naturally.

“Five shichen?”

[Five… four… three…]

Time was clearly not much left. Because some of the radiances spread on the ground had been trembling.

Beginning to escape control. The World Tree was the only cause. It seemed to be breaking through Invincible’s Soul Transfer Great Method.

She asked as if to herself.

[Gathering them into one, younger brother can do it, right?]

“…I heard from Master that originally the World Tree was a tree that enriched the land. It bestows the universe’s natural earth energy upon the ground. It’s one way to resolve famine even a little faster.”

[But trees aren’t meant to be repaired and reused.]

“There’s a sapling.”

Jeong Yeon-shin continued peacefully.

“Become a fruit like Master. If you unite with the sapling, you’ll be able to endure Form Shifting Void’s backlash. When the sprout seems yellow, cut it down within decades and die together.”

Now the connection with Invincible was quite precious to Jeong Yeon-shin too. And he had become the world’s number one. Couldn’t he bring out his old resolve again?

‘No more…’

He wouldn’t lose anything.

That was when it happened.

A crushed radiance flew toward Invincible as if half-formed into a sword orb. It had ghostly perceived her limits. The Dharma King atop the World Tree suddenly grew hazy, then appeared before her simultaneously.

[Unjust Destruction of Light.]

Thud.

The light orb deflected by cunning hand gestures.

Her palm hadn’t touched the gate. It was the ultimate Internal Heavy Hand Method. At the same time, the Dharma King spoke triumphantly.

“This proves it. I am better than you. I definitively crushed you in character!”

[The monk from Potala Palace…?]

“The Potala Palace Dharma King’s cultivation is deeper than the current Heavenly Demon, and the Buddhist scriptures you discussed are all nonsense under my forgiveness. Do you acknowledge it?”

It was Chinese that flowed out clearly like water. Content completely opposite to the voice brimming with killing intent.

The Northern King acknowledged by the Northern fighting god. Truly the vessel of a king. Southern Emperor and Fighting God’s judgment couldn’t be wrong.

A jianghu where strange people run rampant.

Each competed in every manner. The Dharma King who proved Buddha’s realm by saving an enemy from crisis was the same. His teacher, who was said to have reached qi deviation while discussing Buddhist scriptures with Invincible, would maintain face through this episode.

[This damned monk…?]

Together with Invincible’s dumbfounded mutter, the Dharma King suddenly disappeared. It was Form Shifting Void filled with emotion. Jeong Yeon-shin said with his back to her.

“Fighting God, go with the Ming Cult Leader to Senior Cheon and convey my intentions.”

—Of course.

A rough voice began rising from below the tree. It was a voice tinged with laughter. Even satisfaction oozed out.

—Those who achieved merit must be rewarded.

Thud!

Suddenly, a giant cripple landed before Invincible. While grasping a massive leaf from the World Tree.

Someone who should rightfully be collapsed and bedridden, yet seemed to have avoided all sword orbs that had swept all directions.

‘…The reason the World Tree came all the way to South Zhili.’

Because somewhere on this vast land exists the World Tree’s sapling. It certainly intended to retrieve it. Together with Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so, whom Fighting God had imprisoned somewhere underground.

In that instant, Jeong Yeon-shin and Invincible’s gazes met. His mouth moved in an instant. Just bring liquor.

Rustle.

It was the sound of ill fate reaching completion.

The giant leaf wrapped around Invincible. Fighting God carrying it like a bundle vanished with a bang. An appearance not looking back. Not a trace of doubt about Jeong Yeon-shin.

Invincible and Jeong Yeon-shin.

Fighting God and Jeong Yeon-shin.

Two connections tied off. He felt the Tenth Step approaching. The next moment, Jeong Yeon-shin colored hazily like star clusters.

Step.

He trod the ground.

The World Tree’s trunk filled his vision. As if facing a towering cliff. Only the difference was it began vibrating ceaselessly.

Kugugugugugugung!

Slowly.

It was rising.

Like when he obtained his first sword technique, Radiant Sword Style.

The scene of blade traces racing across vast cliffs was vivid. The first wonder he witnessed as a swordsman.

In contrast, before his eyes now was a cliff with nothing carved. To many curious people, it might be the final chapter of the Great Ming Code.

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke to Dan Sung-eum beside him.

“The tree runs wild. Are you ready?”

“……”

Dan Sung-eum didn’t answer. He merely stood silently in lower stance as if one with the sword.

Momentarily, Jeong Yeon-shin smelled metallic scent from his body. Body-Sword Unity, which could be called a master’s first step, had been honed to extremes.

Desolate Third Breaking Strike.

Truly simple.

A state where, as long as concentration doesn’t break, upper dantian spirit and entire body’s power can be poured into one sword. Sword force that grows stronger the more robust spirit and body are. For one strike, it might be the greatest throughout past and present.

One who couldn’t cultivate Transcendent Martial Art because he lacked the sense to deploy all martial arts in one move.

A swordsman’s single path was converging into one blade. Jeong Yeon-shin thought that might be the true meaning of Self Walk.

Then Dan Sung-eum’s dry lips opened.

“If the sword strike succeeds.”

“Speak.”

“Will it atone to you?”

“Don’t be mistaken.”

Jeong Yeon-shin who shook his head continued speaking.

“You’re merely trying to protect Yunnan Province, the old Dali Kingdom land. Whatever you realize on that land, the Jeong Family Estate people won’t come back to life.”

“……”

“However, I will be grateful to you.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s life was swift decisive battle, but his path was complex. Now he could speak like the common people he had protected.

“If that heart is great, sometimes grudges will be forgotten and only occasionally remembered. Because you protected many things for me.”

Dan Sung-eum nodded blankly.

He had already taken Eight Steps. Jeong Yeon-shin’s words would be nothing but review.

Therefore, Jeong Yeon-shin thought. Perhaps Dan Sung-eum was once a prince famous for quite gentle character in the distant past.

Saaaa.

Amid bright surroundings, humid spring wind was blowing.

The instant Dan Sung-eum’s hand grew hazy, a semi-transparent line appeared on the cliff. From one end of the tree bark to the other. A scene unbelievable even when seen because it was absurdly natural.

Not sword wind.

It was called the ultimate of Body-Sword Unity. An invisible blade extended from Silent Art Sword and flickered. A destructive union of spirit and qi.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaang!

Only after several breaths did the shockwave fall, and a tremendous gale belatedly swept all directions. The overturned earth skin rose toward the surroundings. Its diameter easily reached a thousand zhang.

‘No.’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes narrowed. Because an ominous feeling had swallowed his upper dantian. He instantly intuited it. That the World Tree hadn’t been severed.

‘Over one zhang…!’

An uncut portion remained.

Jeong Yeon-shin who turned his head widened his eyes.

Because a familiar-featured old swordsman had brought down his blade beside him. White-gray hair hung down loosely. Wrinkles around his eyes were carved like tree rings.

“Dan Sung-eum…?”

“About a hundred years, insufficient.”

A cracked voice.

Aged Dan Sung-eum muttered amid raging gale winds.

“Is it karma?”

“What?”

“If I hadn’t killed the innocent, I would have spent more time. I grew weak from my killing karma.”

That was all.

The tree’s rampage accelerated.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwa!

The severed horizon began spewing wind as if about to reattach immediately.

A tree that steals upper dantian spirituality and innate qi.

Tree bark that only gives itself to those who can live as long as it.

Around the two people, gates that bloomed like radiant flowers rippled. Some began forming like beads. Sword orbs that send those struck beyond gates.

Hwaaak!

Suddenly the ground emitted bright light.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s upper dantian first sensed the dragon’s roar filling all directions. The World Tree had been activating Fan Dragon Flower Treading Formula. It seemed to intend once more to manipulate countless gate orbs with sword control.

A tremendous feast of power.

Hundreds of years of this world’s earth energy was loaded. It wasn’t something human power could block.

‘Now Invincible is gone. One hit and it’s over.’

Jeong Yeon-shin looked back at Dan Sung-eum.

“You said a hundred years was insufficient. Are you still operating Dan Family Time Transcendence Method?”

No answer. No energy felt either. Just faint breathing.

Aged Dan Sung-eum was like white ash that had burned and remained.

Suddenly his maternal grandfather came to mind. Ma Yeon-jeok after pouring Azure Flame to Blood Flame Cult Leader. The ashen face.

“That time.”

In that instant, lion roar-like thunder flowed between Jeong Yeon-shin’s teeth.

“I will live it.”

Divine Secret Technique.

Fan Dragon Flower Treading Formula.

Qi that rose from the Baihui acupoint like a dragon struck down onto Dan Sung-eum’s crown with a bang.

“……!”

Vision turned white.