Chapter 781 – Yeon-shin (2)

His heart crossed countless times between pain and joy. While precariously crossing time like Bodhidharma who crossed the river on a single reed.

Step.

Suddenly Jeong Yeon-shin looked up.

The Azure Dragon flag hung there.

Below, he saw Dan Sung-eum. Sitting face to face with a tall swordsman. It was Western Heaven Sword Duke Ouyang Shen, the son of Zhongnan Grand Elder Yeo Il-shin and former Zhongnan Sect Leader.

A figure who died by Dan Sung-eum’s hand, yet as distinct as the Azure Dragon flag. Enough that the other Ouyang Shen behind Jeong Yeon-shin frowned.

“……”

Dan Sung-eum swept his gaze over the countless crowd beyond Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder.

Then slowly opened his mouth.

“How was the journey here?”

“Joyful, but honestly exhausting.”

“It was a short time though.”

“Over twenty years passed. Honestly, I couldn’t do a hundred years.”

In that instant, the corners of Dan Sung-eum’s mouth that seemed weighed down by a thousand geun rose extremely faintly. He said quietly.

“Whether you live ten years or a thousand years, it’s the same. When walking alone, it’s uphill. That’s how it was for me.”

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded silently.

A moment of silence flowed.

Whoosh!

Soon those who had gathered with Jeong Yeon-shin began disappearing. Immediately after, Dan Sung-eum’s voice fell dryly.

“What remains for you now?”

“Everything from before I stepped into this place.”

“What about your grudge against me…?”

“Trivial things fell in the reed field and drifted down the shining river.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said. Southern Emperor and Azure Qilin disappeared simultaneously.

Dan Sung-eum placed his gaze beyond Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder again. A single plum blossom in the distance. It lay on the path Jeong Yeon-shin had walked.

Had he read traces of Lady Lu Xian?

That was the past.

Conversely, Jeong Yeon-shin saw purple hydrangeas beyond Dan Sung-eum’s shoulder. The future was blooming. Slowly, Jeong Yeon-shin’s mouth opened.

“Move aside. I can’t see.”

“…My apologies.”

Step.

The two people crossed paths.

Dan Sung-eum returned the way he came, and Jeong Yeon-shin’s feet buried in the hydrangea field. A man with lingering regret and a youth with a cleansed heart passed each other.

To remain in the time they desired.

Crash!

Jeong Yeon-shin stood in the center of the space that began shattering into pieces.

It resembled the flower that had bloomed in his head at some point. The power of time that blocked his Baihui acupoint like diamond. Spirituality molded overwhelmingly solid. Petals layered through his jianghu journey.

The realm of clear mirror mind that doesn’t heat up no matter how white-hot the upper dantian becomes. But there was no elation. Only other faces filled it. Those he hadn’t seen in Dan Family Time Transcendence Method…

‘I miss them.’

Even after walking for decades, it hadn’t changed.

That was the Tenth Step.

* * *

Step.

As soon as he emerged into the world, he found his balance.

All directions were bright. A scene of radiances made of gates thrusting in with all manner of trajectories. Beside him was an old swordsman who had stopped breathing.

‘Dan Sung-eum.’

A peaceful face.

Even as the World Tree’s intent exploded.

[Set in the Great Ming Code!]

“That’s your book.”

Jeong Yeon-shin stomped his foot powerfully.

Kwang!

In that instant, the shockwave that burst from his feet drew round ripples.

“I have my own.”

All gates were drawn as if tied by ropes and overlapped into a single radiance. It mixed Taiji principles with Myriad Heavens Flower Rain Absorption Formula.

Zzjeojeojeojeojeojeojeojeong!

Tremendous frictional sound shook the plains. Because all gates had been bound centered on the World Tree. A scene where the cliff-like massive tree bark seemed to emit light itself. Space swayed and distorted.

Nothing was impossible with martial arts.

Jeong Yeon-shin who emerged from Dan Family Time Transcendence Method was a Martial God. He contested hand movements equally even with the First Heavenly Demon. To the extent of losing four times and winning six times.

However, pure accumulated energy was overwhelmingly the World Tree’s advantage.

The gates overlapping on the tree cliff rumbled and flashed. Two or three of them even escaped the Absorption Formula. Repulsive force that would have been impossible to control without the Tree Severing determination of Heaven Soaring Guest and City Trampling Palace Lord.

The resolve of Tree Severing was that even one person’s determination was more precious than anything. It was something he felt keenly while experiencing Dan Family Time Transcendence Method.

[How will you cut it! What can you do!]

“Child, your opponent is a Martial God throughout past and present. He will do anything.”

A voice that interjected while dyeing all directions ash gray.

Pure white hair close to disheveled hung down to the lower back. The faded monarch who called the World Tree a child. He struck down with a hand blade at the gates that rushed even behind Jeong Yeon-shin’s back.

“Already a dead body, even if just fragments of the seeds I sowed.”

Energy waves that split the empty air with a crack. The same as what he once discussed over wine cups with City Trampling Palace Lord. It was a Tree Severing move.

“I will reap them.”

[You’re merely a tree branch! How do you move on your own!]

“For one who was a clan king to be inferior to Qingcheng Sect Leader… Deep-rooted power is forged through impact.”

Kwang!

The faded monarch exploded and scattered along with the gates. He became powder shining with dazzling white light. To Jeong Yeon-shin, he appeared as one among the countless fallen heroes.

Wandering Star was blocking the flank.

He asked.

“What is the Tenth Step?”

Jeong Yeon-shin drew and lowered Remaining Thunder. Then after a brief silence, he answered.

“…Ordinary will. Steps taken forcibly when it’s hard.”

“Not grand at all. I quite like it.”

Wandering Star’s wrinkled face drew a strange smile. Just like the spring flower Sword Star had spoken of. That many jianghu people could bloom with just a little courage.

The faces of the two wanderers overlapped.

Kwang!

The two trajectories of Left Saber Right Sword directly hit one gate that escaped control. Tremendous waves spread in all directions. Together with Wandering Star’s bitter mutter.

“May you not remain as a traitor in future history books…”

“A petty person to the end.”

“Isn’t that what makes it more impressive? Even if imperfect, right now I am more than you.”

“I acknowledge it. You stepped on Ten Steps.”

In that moment, Wandering Star’s wrinkled lips split comically. A face that disappeared like sand in an instant, yet Jeong Yeon-shin felt he would remember it for long. That was what a jianghu person’s transcendence was.

On the other hand, there was also one who couldn’t transcend.

Kurururururung!

It was while Jeong Yeon-shin’s Absorption Formula and various radiances contested in power. A familiar blade swam through the surroundings with sword control. Without piercing even a single gate.

Jeong Yeon-shin smiled.

“It’s alright. I was always afraid too.”

“……!”

“Don’t be bound by the Jeong Family Estate. There’s no need for that anymore.”

Words he also spat out to himself. Baek Seo-gun’s sword trembled. At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin was recalling his maternal grandfather’s spirit.

“As a divine sword of Desolate Fortress, I ascend to heaven.”

“Shedding this cumbersome skin, together with you to the world…”

His mouth moved.

“I will carve an undying name.”

The blade of sword-blue starry night wound around Remaining Thunder.

Tak, tadak.

The sound of ash scattering. Jeong Yeon-shin lowered his waist toward the cliff of tree bark. While moving the sword gripped in his right hand to his left waist.

Heaven rang thunderously.

[I am the World Tree because I use the world as payment! Can your speck-like lifespan possibly bear it?! Do you intend to commit suicide after all? Without even overcoming your heavenly punishment…!]

Jeong Yeon-shin cut off the words fiercely like a lion.

“I’ve already transcended it.”

[……!]

The unity of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique and Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law Technique. Physical evolution that followed Self Walk mastery. Bodhidharma Scripture’s dharma power that forged his entire body solid as diamond.

‘And…’

The complete merit of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwa!

The third light wheel’s power penetrated the three dantians of upper, middle and lower in a straight line, then circulated through all acupoints throughout his body.

It took the shape of a tree.

[How dare you, how dare you imitate…!]

The book pages in his head unfurled.

From First Step to Tenth Step. He flipped through ten sheets with a flutter. There were no words. The situations so far were stamped in the shape of footprints.

Time stopped.

……

The landscapes the time-limited vessel lived through tied into gratitude. The energy of his upper dantian bloomed fully in an unknown shape, perhaps a nameless spring flower, perhaps hydrangea.

Simultaneously Jeong Yeon-shin intuited it. That he had achieved eternal life through martial arts.

Rustle.

His sleeve fluttered.

Though he didn’t seem to exert great force, Remaining Thunder drew a horizon line. Unhindered. Even as the colorless straight line raced across the World Tree.

Kugugugugugugugugung!

The cliff of tree bark filling his vision split entirely. The radiances overlapping on the tree with tremendous coercive force were the same. Everything was gates, and they split together with their origin.

[……!]

The World Tree’s intent was severed.

Then silence.

The feeling of dry silence swelling like clouds. One leaf carried down in the hollow wind.

Thud.

Only after it touched his feet did Jeong Yeon-shin lean against a nearby tree trunk and sit. Tree Severing’s backlash was surging in. Terribly deep sleep demons began stirring his indestructible vajra body.

His body’s condition was not normal.

Suddenly his master Wei Gun-hye came to mind. Her youthful appearance around fifteen, returned to before forcibly pulling time forward. Of course, that wasn’t the important matter right now.

He sharpened his senses.

No sound was conveyed. He had never valued the World Tree’s last words to begin with. What was truly important was the common people’s and jianghu’s reactions, and the movements of the chaotic times afterward.

May the world be at peace.

The undying blade wielder surrendered his body to drowsiness. His eyelids slowly descended.

Only then did his ears grow muffled. Was the world overturning? Earth-shaking roars and vibrations. The presence of the fallen World Tree striking the ground couldn’t be compared to any footwork energy.

That was when it happened.

Thud, thudthud.

Discordant sounds.

Tree people rising in various places. Gaunt jianghu people of the World Tree. Presences that had been caught in the tree’s cliff, becoming faded noble clans glaring at Jeong Yeon-shin.

Easily over ten thousand. His skin stung.

The killing intent of those about to die. It couldn’t help but be terrifying.

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin put strength in his eyes. He tried to forcibly lift his eyelids and maintain focus in both eyes.

It didn’t work.

‘I can’t win against even Hye like this.’

Then.

“Suppress the Great Ming Code. Stand above Ming dynasty’s law. Words I always heard from my family. Until the Scorching Meridian was determined to be a short-lived constitution.”

A languid voice.

Because he called his wife sister-in-law, was he really trying to act like an older brother? Rough hands harshly stroked his head. Did he want to make his unborn child fatherless?

Words wouldn’t come out. He just had to listen.

“Such a damn name it was. Honestly embarrassing to say anywhere. That’s also why it hid well.”

Damn Hwangbo family.

A voice concluded together with the sound of chewing something. Suddenly Jeong Yeon-shin wondered. How long had it been since the opium addict left Ice Palace?

“Kill him. Avenge the divine tree.”

“That bastard ruined the clans.”

Meanwhile, the earth’s trembling was gradually intensifying. The military might of the faded noble clans. Their mourning robes no longer fluttered. They were accompanied by tremendous resonance.

Kurururururung!

“But coincidentally, Ming dynasty’s predecessor comes swarming pitch black over there. To block that, I’ll have to take the flow of battle very complexly.”

Lazy Flame Dragon’s mutter flowed in.

“I mean really, why are they avenging the World Tree? When they were just having their essence sucked until a moment ago… Is that why Blood Flame Cult flourished too?”

In that instant, Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes faintly opened. Lazy Flame Dragon’s back. The black robes that grew even blacker from being scorched by Yang Blazing Art fluttered.

“Anyway…”

Lazy Flame Dragon chewed opium before ten thousand military might. One petal burned small and produced a wisp of smoke.

“Live long and prosper. Will Profound Martial Alliance Sword Venerable lend a hand?”

His vision grew more blurred.

Darkness swallowed his consciousness.

* * *

[To all branch leaders of Hao Sect, urgent dispatch.

One. Great battle observation successful. Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius’ Tree Severing. Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius’ Gate Severing. Refer to attached documents for details. Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius’ whereabouts unknown…

Two. The noble clans of the World Tree’s downfall. Fourteen thousand five hundred military might who became faded noble clans. Collision with Profound Martial Alliance Sword Venerable and Desolate Fortress’s Lazy Flame Dragon. Location is the fallen World Tree. Military might annihilated.

Three. Lazy Flame Dragon’s qualities dominating the battlefield. Circumstances of writing his own name against said military might. When looking down from Qilin Mountain in South Zhili, can observe four characters scorched on the World Tree’s trunk. Hwangbo Je-yul (황보제율). Caution is advised as there are still smoldering embers.

Four. Lazy Flame Dragon Hwangbo Je-yul’s whereabouts unknown.

Five. Henan branch leader visited Profound Martial Alliance to confirm Desolate Fortress Lord’s activities. Situation of being turned away at the door by Sword Venerable Baek Seo-gun.

Six. Demon Realm Yao tribe stationed at Desolate Fortress. Contact between Emperor Long-zheng and Black Return confirmed. Keep close watch.

Seven. Below is information all disciples must note.

Eight. Ming Cult Leader Invincible’s survival confirmed. Rumor of heading toward Henan lands. Henan disciples of this sect should refrain from going out.

Nine. Immortals of the Nine Sects descended together.

Ten. The rumor of three Divine Sword Group Leaders walking Huguang lands is true.

Eleven. Do not quarrel with common people.]