Chapter 95 – Divine Sword Squad (1)

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

When Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin took Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin’s palm strike, the Namgung family showed intense movement, leading to Desolate Fortress’ Divine Sword Squad also stepping forward.

The Namgung family masters didn’t stop just because of Azure Qilin’s shout, but rather due to the opposition of the Divine Sword Group Leader’s direct military force.

The Divine Sword Squad.

They were first among seventeen military forces under the Divine Sword Group.

Being first in both their founding time and martial might, they were the Desolate Fortress’ strongest in name and reality.

“He won from that distance.”

“Is his instinct in measuring distances that great? The way he switches between sword and fist, that’s talent.”

“Does anyone know what that palm technique is? I heard that fellow Lightning Genius only uses unique martial arts.”

“Unless one possesses considerable protective energy, it would be instant death when hit. Would it be like this if Shaolin’s Hundred Step Divine Fist was condensed into a hundred close-range strikes?”

“Feels like the preparation time is long though? It’s not even that precise, the recoil is very large, and it relies entirely on the user’s senses and intuition.”

“Even if Sword Uncle belittles it… the power alone is on par with a divine technique. It’s indeed something special.”

The twenty member composition was diverse. Men and women, young and old. There were even children, or at least they had the appearance of a child.

A girl wearing black robes with a spear on her back spoke with a smirk.

“Look at them. Flinching and stepping back.”

“Grandmother Evil’s energy waves are definitely strong, but it’s probably not due to that. They’re the Namgung family after all.”

A handsome middle-aged man called the girl grandmother while using a youthful manner of speech.

No one found it strange as there exists all types of extraordinary warriors in this world.

There’s a saying that strange and unconventional martial artists are as numerous as grains of sand in the murim. The Divine Sword Squad masters were especially famous for this.

“Please restrain yourself. There are many eyes watching.”

“Leave it. Since when has our squad cared about appearance?”

The atmosphere was very light. All sorts of weighted speech and behavior naturally blended together.

It was because they roamed the murim together almost year-round, constantly carrying out Desolate Fortress missions. 

By nature they were close to wanderers.

But their martial might was different. Besides the black-rank supreme master squad leader, all members were blue-rank masters.

Moreover, since their Squad Leader who also holds the title of Divine Sword Group Leader was a purple-rank absolute being in whom they held absolute trust, they paid no mind to the crowd’s eyes.

“However… the young master’s internal energy feels less than rumored. Was there some incident before the martial match?”

“What does it matter? In the end, he goes out like this.”

Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin slowly collapsed.

In that moment silence flowed even among the Divine Sword Squad masters.

The death of an outstanding talent always called for silence. Moreover, Azure Qilin remained dignified to the end.

A comet of the murim possessing extraordinary martial arts, spirit, and chivalry was extinguished. A new era of the murim faded before it could properly bud.

“…One worthy of mourning.”

“Such a waste, such a waste.”

“More than that, that fellow Lightning Genius seems like he wants to stay on?”

A youthful young man jerked his chin toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

The boy’s appearance was such. He hadn’t sheathed the Desolate Fortress sword he gripped.

He was blankly watching the scene of the Namgung family masters collecting Namgung Se-jin’s corpse.

The black-robed girl clicked her tongue.

“He’s not showing fighting spirit but rather recklessness. He can’t think straight. Seems he’s fallen into quite the melancholy after defeating a worthy opponent. Common at that age.”

“Grandmother Evil should bring him. If he truly is in a thoughtless state*, even decent blue-ranks would have trouble carelessly handling him.”

[TL Note- Thoughtless state- A state free from any conscious thought or intentions. Something like emptying your mind completely.]

The young man looked at Lightning Genius with an uncomfortable face.

“Your words are right, Soha.”

The girl smiled broadly and put both hands to her lips. After brief exaggerated hand movements, tremendous energy waves burst forth.

[Child! Come here―!]

A sound exploded that was no less powerful than Eternal Blossom Fist’s Brilliant River.

However, the sound was lost in the chaotic crowd shuffling in all directions.

But once again the explosion sounded, strongly shaking the valley, even making the air vibrate.

Jeong Yeon-shin jerked his head up, and was greeted by the sight of a black-robed girl wearing an irritating smile.

“You must be aware of your position! You are now a rising talent who struck down the Namgung young master! Just look at those Namgung people over there! Their eyes are so black and wide they might come slashing at any moment!”

“Just bring him over, there’s no need to provoke the other side…”

The young man called Soha shook his head.

“Ah…”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips slightly parted from where he stood far away.

While the Divine Sword Squad masters showed amusing appearances like an opera, the boy finally came to his senses.

He was surprised. The Divine Sword Squad were ones that stood in the clouds even within the Divine Sword Group. Their fame pierced the heavens.

‘That person is.’

He mused at the identity of the girl who called him.

Divine Spear of the Wild Yue Shou-lin.

She was an old master who was said to have reversed her body’s years when her special cultivation technique reached the realm of pure refinement.

Pure refinement meant reaching the extreme realm of skill. It meant standing out even among Desolate Fortress’ black ranks.

Not even martial artists are free from class.

They had their own world. They made martial arts, sects, nature, and honor into status.

Appearances were also such. It was evidenced by rising disciples’ titles like dragon and phoenix.

Returning old to young was another example of status.

It was a realm that reversed the body’s time. Not something possible just with high martial arts. They say enlightenment, opportunities, and divine techniques all play a big role.

Yue Shou-lin was one who possessed all three. She made her name no less known than the Divine Sword Group Leader.

And this Divine Sword Squad Vice Leader called at Jeong Yeon-shin. It meant that she acknowledged him.

However the Yeon-shin wasn’t particularly moved.

‘Troublesome.’

He thought unconsciously. He had wanted to savor the enlightenment Namgung Se-jin bestowed.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

How should one live as a martial artist? He had always prioritized his lifespan, but is it right to walk the martial path with just that?

Since he was Azure Qilin’s final opponent.

STEP.

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his back on the Divine Sword Squad masters.

“Next…”

He slowly parted his lips.

“Next. Come forth.”

He spoke while looking toward the Namgung family side. Whether veteran masters or rising disciples, it was a camp where killing intent seemed to whirl.

They looked at him as if wanting to kill him immediately; their combined energy waves approached like a giant evil demon.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t mind. He didn’t want to follow Namgung Mi’s petty tricks and surrender after winning the first 2 matches.

Relying on rank differences to protect life and honor? He wasn’t like that. It was the scheme of a dead person.

The boy stood straight in place.

He made a resolution after seeing Namgung Se-jin’s death. The power dwelling in the corpse wouldn’t have flown away yet. He didn’t want to show a shameful appearance.

“Whether it’s spirit or recklessness…”

It was when Yue Shou-lin muttered bewilderedly.

“Good! I gladly accept an outstanding junior’s challenge!”

Along with a great shout, a middle-aged man in blue martial robes leaped.

BANG!

He instantly appeared right before Jeong Yeon-shin, who slightly furrowed his brows at the sand grains and energy waves violently bouncing and striking his face.

‘Namgung family Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group’s Leader.’

He was a man with blade-like rising eyes.

Meeting face to face, his energy waves were tremendous. The flow of true qi undulating from his whole body was enormous.

‘They said the Fortress Lord beheaded the Vice Leader.’

The Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group’s Vice Leader was also said to be a swordsman counted among South Zhili’s finest.

However he became a wandering ghost at Desolate Fortress Lord’s hands. He heard Xuan Yuan-chang witnessed it himself. It ended in one strike.

Perhaps because of the direct bloodline members’ deaths in addition to that incident, the energy waves extending from the Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group Leader’s body gradually gathered like sword blades. 

The sharp momentum was hard for Jeong Yeon-shin to handle.

But he didn’t show it. He couldn’t disgrace Namgung Se-jin.

‘If I could just land the Brilliant River.’

He recalled the killing technique of Eternal Blossom Fist that he had named.

The power was immense. If he could just land it somehow, it could inflict fatal wounds even on black-rank supreme masters.

That’s when it happened.

“Stop there.”

A clear voice rang out.

The Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group Leader’s reacted faster than Jeong Yeon-shin. The middle-aged man’s eyes immediately widened.

“Divine Sword Group Leader…!”

It was a name that pierced the mind the moment it was heard.

Behind Jeong Yeon-shin. A presence clear enough to make his senses shiver sprouted.

The momentum rose overwhelmingly like a tidal wave. The boy turned his head despite facing an enemy.

He saw a tall man.

His impression was like a scholar. His attire was also such. Only instead of a scholar’s robe, his was purple.

His bearing was different.

It was completely different from when he fully contained his power.

The impression of him that Jeong Yeon-shin had failed to register because he was dazed became terrifyingly clear, almost transcendent in its intensity.

The Divine Sword Group Leader slowly opened his mouth.

“Sword Heaven Group Leader. That’s enough.”

“What? How can you be so shameless…”

“The one without shame is you. Trying to do something to a boy so much younger than you.”

He finished speaking with a slight smile. His speech and behavior seemed unconventional for someone of his martial prowess.

STEP.

No one could stop him as he walked.

The Namgung Family Head just silently glared from far away.

Though he stroked his sword hilt as if about to step forward any moment, for now he had only taken a few steps.

The Divine Sword Group Leader approached with light footsteps.

He appeared free from all people’s gazes under heaven. Stopping just before Jeong Yeon-shin, he steadily gazed at the boy.

“They called you Lightning Genius?”

“I greet the Group Leader.”

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly raised his hands in greeting. The Divine Sword Group Leader’s lips rose.

“You, I thought your eyes were faulty. Until coming here you treated your Group Leader like a non-existent person. It was an unfamiliar experience. To think a boy could be so rude.”

“…I apologize.”

“Hah, it’s a pointless joke. Anyways, I want you to withdraw now. You’ve fought two life-and-death matches and you’re far too weak for the next one. I understand your resolve, however…”

The Divine Sword Group Leader spoke while wearing a small smile.

“Your will seems firm. Words alone won’t do.”

“I…”

“I heard from the Grand Administrator. That I must pass down a strand of my martial arts to you. Let me add to that. I’ll let you build a murim friendship that can become your strength.”

Jeong Yeon-shin closed his mouth for a moment. Friendship directly mentioned by the Divine Sword Group Leader would mean no ordinary connection.

However it was a hard decision to make. How could he surrender before Namgung Se-jin?

That’s when it happened. The Divine Sword Group Leader deliberately furrowed his brows, as if making a crying face.

“You have already demonstrated more than enough courage. Now it’s time to consider your superior.”

Jeong Yeon-shin silently thought. That he didn’t know the Group Leader was so eccentric.

Divine Sword Squad. They were a hard group to understand.

“I’ll take that as an agreement.”

The Divine Sword Group Leader smiled broadly while gently pushing aside Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder and stepping forward.

Just like that the moment he took one step, the Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group Leader’s momentum disappeared as if swept away by water. It was completely washed away without a trace.

“From now on.”

The Divine Sword Group Leader parted his lips.

“I will step forward for all martial matches with Namgung.”

“This is Absurd!”

An elder from the Namgung family shouted. The Divine Sword Group Leader’s head tilted slightly.

“Wasn’t it the youngest first? I believe that was your proposal. Our previous Group Leader and Elder Council Head are elderly old men.”

“White Qilin is…”

That’s when it happened. Divine Spear of the Wild Yue Shou-lin suddenly approached Namgung Hwa-shin. She used a very swift movement technique.

It was before he could even fully make a puzzled expression.

Yue Shou-lin’s left hand blurred into a water blade. It was speed in a different realm.

THUD!

A dull sound rang out. Right after striking Namgung Hwa-shin’s nape with an attack as fast as lightning, his balance crumbled.

His consciousness seemed to fade away immediately.

The Divine Sword Group Leader smiled as if expecting this.

“Let’s finish quickly. I have much to teach our Lightning Genius.”

“……”

Though it was truly unconventional behavior, none of the Divine Sword Squad masters seemed surprised.

They all calmly watched Jeong Yeon-shin and the Divine Sword Group Leader.

“White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin is in no state for martial matches. Let’s count this one as our loss.”

The Divine Sword Group Leader’s mouth corners rose smoothly.

“Next it’s my turn.”

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

Edited by Mgt