Chapter 826 – Side Story – Flower Petals Placed Upon Water

A strange place.

A plaza carved into a massive cavern large enough for even a flood dragon to lie down. Though it should have been cold and dim, it was the complete opposite.

Whoosh!

A spring breeze of unknown origin touched his skin.

‘What did she do…?’

Jeong Yeon-shin looked around.

Bright clusters of light hung in rows along the vast walls.

He could even feel warmth, though the degree differed by section. Even the moisture carried on the wind varied by region.

Jeong Yeon-shin immediately perceived.

Formation techniques making one side cool and another muggy. The types of flowers also varied drastically according to those regions.

At the very center, Tower Master spread both arms with a smiling face and asked Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Doesn’t this suit Ming Cult Leader?”

Playful yet elegant. As if he’d never been shocked by Jeong Yeon-shin’s blade, Tower Master’s words continued calmly.

“Because it’s the least Ming Cult Leader-like space, it’s actually fitting for her. Demonic nature is this unpredictable. This is why the World Tree’s sapling shouldn’t be entrusted to her.”

Tower Master’s true body.

It looked exactly like his primordial spirit clone body. The ridiculous cone hat and even the long-hemmed windbreaker robe were the same.

Jeong Yeon-shin said.

“…The owner is nowhere to be seen, only an uninvited guest.”

But it was definitely Yelu Zhen’s estate. Because her characteristic sinister demonic energy was buried in the breeze.

“Lord, please listen. I’ve studied everything about the Central Plains…”

Tower Master pointed to flower clusters one by one.

“Those red golden lotus flowers bloom well in the arid North or Gansu, and those pink peonies over there are treated as the king of flowers in the Central Plains’ heartland. Forcibly gathering things that cannot coexist, this would be called heaven-defying.”

Jeong Yeon-shin remained silent.

He was looking up at something else. Because whitish mirrors hung sporadically in the gaps between the wall’s clusters of light, each reflecting different places and people.

They were created with martial power. Heretical mirrors whose true energy density rivaled Formless Sword.

‘Is this an application study of Form Shifting Void?’

Perhaps because of this, they differed from most spying techniques that accompanied intense intent or energy waves. Divine technique mastery that no one could detect because it merely transported scenery.

Distantly high in class. So much so it seemed she’d created only this while tending flowers for six years.

Tower Master added.

“It’s a study that plainly reveals her insidiousness. If used in war, it would be a great calamity, and even if used for private grudges, one could learn everything about enemies.”

Jeong Yeon-shin raised his lips faintly.

“Old man, your words and actions don’t match. You look determined to uncover the mysteries.”

“…I won’t deny it.”

The Form Shifting Void mirrors reflected various places.

Nameless gravesides.

A splendid foreign temple where sharp roofs like spires connected in succession.

A desert oasis.

Sword Star’s tomb where Jeong Yeon-shin had observed three-year mourning.

Hangzhou’s West Lake, famous as a scenic spot for flowers and boating…

“Though she’s hung plausible landscapes like paintings, what you should truly see is over there.”

Tower Master pointed to the mirrors on the opposite side.

But Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t turn around. Because he’d already scanned that direction. They were reflecting Desolate Fortress’s black-rank and purple-rank personnel.

He also saw a swallow fly to the roofless Distant Wish for Peace Sword Hall and deliver a letter. It was definitely happening right now.

‘Senior Cheon So-so’s swallow.’

Jeong Yeon-shin was thinking when.

“Haven’t they crossed many lines?”

Tower Master smiled.

“It’s like a bridgehead for conquering the Central Plains, so to speak. Even if not now, it could become so at any time…”

It would naturally look that way. Not only to those who hated Yelu Zhen, but also to those with no particular feelings about her.

‘Because that’s what Ming Cult Leader is.’

Though her crucial initial action prevented the world’s destruction, evaluations by curious people were split. Because stories also existed that any villain would have gladly helped.

Tower Master happened to be looking at Jeong Yeon-shin with eyes faintly tinged with expectation. He seemed to hope Desolate Fortress Lord was disappointed, but no other deception existed.

There were no traces of Tower Master’s hand. Only Yelu Zhen’s traces throughout. Both the Form Shifting Void mirrors and the variously blooming flower garden.

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered while looking at the flowers.

“There must be much honey.”

“You intend to face her here.”

Woom…

A blue light beam appeared and drew a massive circle.

The energy density reminded him of Formless Sword like Yelu Zhen’s Absolute Formation. Just one stroke being drawn began crushing flowers with tremendous pressure.

Tower Master spoke slowly.

“Block it if you wish to block.”

Patterns that were unclear whether letters or drawings instantly filled the interior. Things presumed to be letters from the distant ancient era. They weren’t unfamiliar to Jeong Yeon-shin thanks to Yelu Zhen.

Instantly the cavern shook explosively.

Kugugugugugugung…!

He was transforming the space that had originally been Yelu Zhen’s domain into his own. The formation techniques laid in the cavern repeatedly underwent decomposition, transformation, and recombination according to Tower Master’s will while scattering demonic energy.

He felt it.

Nearby massive natural earth energy was coming under Tower Master’s control.

Everything happened in an instant. Even though the intent mobilized in the process, as well as the streams of true energy extending in all directions, exceeded hundreds of types.

It meant changing extremely powerful thoughts hundreds of times in an instant. A madman’s skill. Jeong Yeon-shin thought in the peerless realm.

‘It’s like watching Face Changing Art at its peak.’

Yelu Zhen’s scent embedded in the breeze disappeared, and the musty dust smell of the aged absolute master filled the vacant space.

One breath.

The time it took Tower Master to form his own resonance. The incantation style characteristic of spell martial arts.

That was the end. The spring breeze that had been divided into sections quickly became humid, and the fresh air also grew cool.

Tower Master spoke as if to himself.

“Ming Cult Leader, you see. There was a time when she was affectionate even to me.”

“You said she was like a disciple.”

“She was a disciple. Quite adorable. Of all our sect, her academic greed was the deepest.”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked quietly.

“Must you do this?”

“Even if I die.”

A low answer. The old man’s entire body was already dyed with dim silver light. Because he’d drawn all the energy Yelu Zhen had planted in the cavern into his own body. Natural earth energy that would have someday spread throughout the world and beneficially enriched the earth’s energy.

“…Truly terrifying power.”

Tower Master spoke with a bitter expression.

“She even accumulated a trace amount of universal natural earth energy. The World Tree’s sapling… Indeed, when used by someone like that child, it easily surpasses human power.”

Tower Master suddenly flicked his fingers.

Another Form Shifting Void mirror suddenly appeared. As if it had been hidden on invisible silk. Of course, Yelu Zhen would have prepared for a situation like now.

Yelu Zhen was there.

The marketplace devastated by the World Tree’s great migration six years ago. She sat facing a one-armed, one-eyed old monk.

She looked like a worshiper listening to a sermon.

Monk Beom-heo was speaking.

—Repeat after me.

—Namu Ami… Tabul (Hitting Buddha)?

—Hitting Buddha?

When Monk Beom-heo tilted his head, Yelu Zhen snorted.

—I absolutely can’t do it. I asked you to teach me how to soothe people, and you tell me to repeat a Buddhist chant? No matter how many times I try, it won’t work.

It was a natural story. Her upper dantian filled only with demonic energy wouldn’t permit Buddhist chants.

Monk Beom-heo laughed.

—No, that was good talk. That too can be called the enlightenment of Nirvana. Don’t be bound as you just said. Not by Buddha, nor by demonic nature or goodness… Just walk following your heart. So you won’t be lonely.

—Do whatever I want?

—Don’t bury your intentions in your heart. If internal illness changes to heart demon, Buddhas who learned the Seventy-Two Ultimate Arts will come find you.

—I think I came to the wrong place.

—Namo Avalokitesvara. You already possess everything you need. Because it’s difficult, it’s the world, and because it’s not endlessly difficult, it’s living in the world.

Soon Monk Beom-heo’s glass-bead-like eyes smoothly turned toward Jeong Yeon-shin and Tower Master.

—Isn’t that so?

The old monk’s question.

Though that gaze was serene, it had clearly transcended the Form Shifting Void mirror. Buddhist Heavenly Eye Vision. Tower Master naturally burst out intent in shock.

[Such eye technique exists in all creation…?!]

Extreme vigilance. A reaction characteristic of spell practitioners sensitive to variables. It was even more intense because Jeong Yeon-shin alone would have been overwhelming.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought that was reasonable.

Because Monk Beom-heo, whom he saw again after six years, was absurdly vigorous.

His surroundings were unusually bright.

The feeling of a lantern being lit.

Jeong Yeon-shin perceived at a glance. Instead of the dantian shattered by Gate Severing, he’d made his entire body the vessel. The realm of Nirvana where the dantian’s absence didn’t settle as concern.

‘Literally, afflictions extinguished…’

Would a transcendent of Muscle-Tendon Transformation Marrow Cleansing Scripture become like that even after facing Gate Severing and surviving? A body that had molted and would never break. Enlightenment viewing oneself as something like a humble lotus petal.

Thus a flower petal placed upon the water that is the world becomes indistinguishable from the water.

A state of drawing the power of great nature to the extent of one’s own vessel. In other words, it was like embodying Taoist Hyeon-gong’s Natural Sword with the entire body.

They said jianghu’s power had reached its peak in this world.

Shaolin and Wudang were the same.

Tower Master turned to Jeong Yeon-shin and shouted.

[I was prepared for the annihilation of the mainland just with you alone!]

Kugugugugung!

A massive pattern spread wide beneath Tower Master’s feet.

The speed of drawing the spell formation exceeded imagination. The feeling of pulling out a pre-made sheet of paper onto the ground. Like Yelu Zhen from some time ago.

Jeong Yeon-shin remained still this time as well.

‘If I move, once would be best.’

From the start, he’d been considering not Tower Master but the entire world as his opponent. He needed something capable of forcing all lands to focus only on peace.

[Sit!]

Tower Master’s intent rang out resonantly, and the moment the letters and patterns arrayed in the bright blue spell formation rotated in succession.

Kurururururung!

The cavern dyed with pure white radiance.

And from within it, countless human shadows poured out like clouds.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently watched the wide-range Form Shifting Void. They were the island nation jianghu’s envoys who’d been staying in Beijing. A group instantly forming a circular sword formation.

Their backs to dazzling white light.

Dozens of magnificent sword energies caught his eye. Each cast long shadows.

Then Tower Master gestured toward the Form Shifting Void mirror. Of course toward where Yelu Zhen was conversing with Monk Beom-heo.

[Come!]

Immediately Yelu Zhen’s body dimly colored.

It seemed she was forcibly pulled, but she remained calm. It seemed she’d noticed her safe house had been seized by Tower Master. Her face was also detached from the inescapable bond of battle.

Jeong Yeon-shin also said.

“Please come.”

Instantly most of the Form Shifting Void mirrors filled with two colors. Jet black darkness and dusky purple.

Whoom!

Gales of charging footwork rushed from all over the world.