Chapter 267 – The Master of the Martial Book (4)

The Mount Hua Sect Leader’s single sword strike stirred dusk across the ridge.

The prematurely risen sunset streak enforced silence. It meant the harmony of the sword strike outpaced sound.

Following the trajectory of the slash, which rose with a faint red glow and briefly took on a violet hue, the air of Mount Taibai belatedly surged as if drawn in.

The snow pile that had whitened the ridge scattered like a dream. Soon after, a tremendous explosion erupted.

Boom!

A fierce wind blew. It came with snowflakes swirling in all directions. Bushes and branches revealed their winter-rusted brown.

Jeong Yeon-shin kept his eyes wide open, gazing ahead. The term “refined” was insufficient. It was truly a transcendent sword technique.

‘A realm discussing the world alongside the purple-ranks of Desolate Fortress…’

It felt as if the crown acupoint at the top of his head expanded infinitely. When might he reach such a level? He could not discern even half of the hundreds of variations within that single strike.

The straight sword strike carried an unavoidable mystery. It was as if this was expected at the martial world’s pinnacle.

The Violet Dawn Divine Technique and the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword.

The moves of a long-established peerless master did not permit shallow analysis.

It differed vastly from how Jeong Yeon-shin had previously discerned their bodies and true energy states.

‘That is the fruit of training.’

Time was visible. It was amassed beyond Jeong Yeon-shin’s perception.

A Nine Sects leader would not be dull either. Once, he had considered a year’s worth of effort watching Forest-Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin’s inner power, but now he could not measure it.

The depth of the technique and internal energy were both so. Could he withstand it at nineteen?

He silently etched the sunset-tinged sword strike into his mind. A Taoist sect, the principle of obeying heaven.

“It lacks flavor.”

Lu Xian, standing beside him, shook her sword once. The Sect Leader’s robe struck the air with a bold sound.

She had unleashed a powerful sword strike that would stun most masters, yet it seemed free of any technique recoil. The sobriquet Brilliant Jade Sword God suited her.

‘He comes.’

Jeong Yeon-shin heard footsteps.

A heavy resonance approached gradually. Amid the vanishing presence of mountain beasts, dry grass and twigs were trodden loudly.

The slowly ascending footfalls were strange. They resembled the presence of a condensed typhoon.

Then.

A massive shadow emerged.

The moment his head appeared, his entire form ascended the hill.

Step, step.

He walked with strides as long as his frame. He stood against the sunlight beyond the ridge.

Clearly human in shape, yet his aura felt like a natural landslide approaching. The pressure on the skin seemed to push the body itself back.

The wave of his immense energy remained unreal.

Beyond martial prowess, his unwavering breath exuded a state of no-thought, no-desire. A silent temperament, as if walking a predetermined path. Thus, he seemed the center of the world.

He dangled a massive greatsword.

Had he blocked Lu Xian’s strike directly? White steam rose from the blade. It must be the aftermath of the sword clash.

Jeong Yeon-shin focused both eyes sharply.

‘The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader.’

He differed from when seen at the Jeong Family Estate and below Mount Zhongnan.

Back then, Jeong Yeon-shin could not see him properly. He meant he could not even clearly discern his features. It was due to the disparity in their energy’s caliber.

A gap as vast as between commoners and immortals existed between a Desolate Fortress white robe novice and an absolute master of the martial world’s elite. It was even more so when he was the Jeong Family’s cherished burden.

Now it was different. He filled his whole body with the Dharma Luminous Wheel Technique.

One breathing with divine techniques had the right to observe a great faction’s leader.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

“Brilliant Jade.”

A deep voice, as if echoing from a cave, called out. The mouth addressing the Mount Hua Sect Leader appeared reserved.

He was said to be a crown prince of the fallen Dali Kingdom, of noble mixed blood. His physique, visible through a yellow robe, was extraordinary.

A battle-hardened swordsman’s body, muscles forged like armor, and a jawline rising without a trace of excess flesh testified to a realm of perfection.

A nose sharp as a blade and eyes imbued with colorless brilliance were both striking.

‘He forged his body like that.’

It was his enemy’s visage. Jeong Yeon-shin did not blink.

The fiend who razed his lowly mother’s home, slaughtering her companion and beloved servants, stood there. Seeing him now, the gap was overwhelming.

“You leaped about like a mudfish all this time, and your swordsmanship deepened. A presence I hesitate to cross blades with.”

Lu Xian spoke with feigned nonchalance, taking a step forward.

Swish.

It felt as if the ground shrank. The Dark Fragrance Step advanced ten paces and stopped.

No reply came. The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader merely gazed at her with somewhat ancient eyes.

The Mount Hua Sect Leader and Tyrant Sword Sect Leader faced each other.

Such a scene rarely formed.

If word spread, the martial world would quake. The moment one averted their gaze, it would not be surprising if a head flew.

It was said short decisive battles occurred more often the higher the stakes of life and death among masters.

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth slowly.

“Tyrant Sword Sect Leader.”

“…Brat.”

A response came. The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader answered without looking at the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

Jeong Yeon-shin did not mind.

“There was someone who raised me at the Jeong Family Estate. I called him Uncle So. Perhaps not unlike your Ghost Soul Divine Sword.”

“…”

“I heard she was a nursemaid. I hoped she was not your right arm. She ought to be your heart.”

He spoke in an even tone.

The mind he had compartmentalized during the Jeong Family Estate’s fall crept up, a burden too heavy for a boy once envying swings on the Dragon Boat Festival.

Hum.

The upper dantian in his mind exhaled once more. A blue sensation rose like a wall, clearing unnecessary thoughts.

He did it willingly. He briefly locked away the heart his Desolate Fortress comrades had unburdened.

“You grew well. Lightning Genius of Desolate Fortress.”

The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader said.

His expressionless face still did not turn to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“What?”

“A vessel that ends with death, but I will face you in a spar anytime. Come to avenge your grudge.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes narrowed.

“What are you babbling?”

“You grew on your own without watering, surpassing the world tree. I meant to appease my nursemaid’s spirit if you fell short.”

The Tyrant Sword Sect Leader continued slowly.

“It seems unnecessary now.”

Silence lingered briefly.

The faint sound of snowflakes descending from the sky became distinct.

“The reason he spared you despite knowing your enemy’s strength would grow is obvious. Moved by a child’s nature? Absurd.”

Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost Baek Seo-gun’s words flashed through Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind.

“That your entry into Desolate Fortress was not entirely pleasing to the Fortress Leader. If we liken the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader to an animal, he would be a cunning bear.”

Then.

“Does Mount Hua lack decorum? Striking without warning, no matter how feared our Sect Leader is.”

It was the voice that had shouted to receive the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader’s procession. Clear and resonant, it unhesitatingly critiqued Brilliant Jade Sword God Lu Xian’s hand.

Crunch.

Suddenly, a young man stepped down one pace behind the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader.

He casually slung a large satchel over his shoulder. Likely to attend the Sect Leader.

His blade-sharp eyes and well-honed body resembled typical Tyrant Sword Sect warriors.

The energy waves flowing from his form were unusually potent for his age. A splendid sword hung at the waist of his weathered blue robe.

“Nearly died there.”

Muttering to himself, the youth abruptly looked at Jeong Yeon-shin.

“You’re Lightning Genius, huh? I missed you at Zhongnan due to closed-door training. I should have taken your head then, but now you’re a Desolate Fortress black robe… Hearing it out here, I was stunned. Wu-hyeok and Old Man Rakshasa Sword must be laughing in the underworld.”

“Who is that?”

“…Good they fell to a supreme master like you. I didn’t know until Yu Ling’s Young Lord informed me. Who knew the Radiant Demon Wing Leader would be a master of Expansive Skills?”

His eyes scanning Jeong Yeon-shin glinted with the brilliance of eye techniques. Soon, the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

“Your body’s not intact, is it? Your energy waves are a spectacle. You look on the brink of qi deviation. Well, defeating Elder Ghost Soul Divine Sword and Shaanxi’s Top Demon… It’s not your body but your feats that are abnormal. A reincarnation of the Ming Cult’s founder or Zhang Sanfeng? That’s how I see it. A pest to be killed.”

“You talk too much.”

Jeong Yeon-shin replied offhandedly.

He did not shift his gaze from the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader facing Lu Xian.

Rumble! Boom!

Formless lightning flickered between the two peerless masters. The fight had already begun. The wills of those who surpassed the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown state long ago clashed in a contest of intent.

No moves were made, yet energy waves, felt like whips, tore the ground and struck the skin.

“Qi Tu-you. The Sect Leader’s last direct disciple.”

Jeong Yeon-shin turned at the untimely self-introduction. A disciple of the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader warranted a glance.

The youth grinned.

“What do you plan to do staring at our master with that body? Mere bravado. I heard you’re quite prudent, but seeing your enemy flipped your eyes.”

Crash!

Thunder roared suddenly. The swords of absolute masters worthy of discussing the violet clashed. A deafening blast accompanied a faint dragon spiral.

Dry leaves and twigs surged from all directions, caught in Myriad Heavens Flower Rain.

The extremes of tyrant sword and plum blossom sword met.

Boom!

A massive vortex enveloped the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader and Lu Xian. The domain of peerless masters had sprouted.

It was no place for Jeong Yeon-shin, whose upper body bloodstains had not yet dried. The entire body acupoints, imbued and dispersed by Ultimate Thunder, still tingled.

“Not even a muscle fiber moves easily, does it? Your true energy won’t obey.”

Qi Tu-you laughed, stepping forward.

Jeong Yeon-shin did not retort. It was true.

Crunch.

As he approached, Qi Tu-you’s eye level rose. Dry grass did not bow, supporting his feet. It was not ordinary protective energy but a highly refined Transcendent Flight Technique.

“I hear the Radiant Demon Wing Leader Lightning Genius rarely faced hardship. Desolate Fortress’s noble son, aren’t you?”

He said.

“Did coming here make you feel how refined the Thirteen Evil Sects’ coordination is? Even those not born to unite can move together. No fear of a joint attack under the banner of Desolate Fortress’s fall? Today’s affair alone is no trifle. Beyond the Blood Flame Sect at the mountain’s base… the Ronin, the Water King Sect Leader, even a former chief protector of Yu Ling, a supreme master, came.”

“They died in about three moves.”

“…”

Qi Tu-you shut his mouth.

Then he tossed his satchel aside roughly.

Thud!

A heavy resonance spread beneath his feet. His eye level rose further with the Transcendent Flight Technique.

“It’s not easy to catch the Radiant Demon Wing Leader weakened like today.”

One step, two steps, the distance narrowed. Qi Tu-you did not stop talking.

“My master was right. A vessel that ends with death. I’ll test it once. Is your Brilliant River comparable to the Five Great Techniques of the world? The value of supreme arts shines in crisis.”

Jeong Yeon-shin did not answer.

He stood still, gazing at him steadily, then abruptly parted his lips.

“You’re blocking my view.”

“You’ve heard of it, right? Our sect’s Guardian Sword Sovereign Palm. Not yet mastered, though.”

The young masters each spoke their piece. Perhaps due to strong pride. Neither dodged until the gap closed to one step.

Rumble!

Jeong Yeon-shin raised an eyebrow. Qi Tu-you’s palm approached with a deep resonance.

Rather than challenging Desolate Fortress’s youngest commander to a contest of skill, he seemed to deem it wiser to exploit a body near qi deviation fully.

“You may dodge.”

Qi Tu-you said with a smirk.

At the same time, his hand pressed Jeong Yeon-shin’s solar plexus. The moment his palm touched the bloodied chest, a faint ripple spread in concentric circles.

A secret of the Internal Heavy Hand Technique. The weight in his grip was truly heavy.

Whoosh.

It landed perfectly. At this level, recovery was impossible. It might even be fatal.

“Ha…!”

Joy glinted in Qi Tu-you’s eyes. Lightning Genius of Desolate Fortress, by my hand.

His master had said killing him was fine. The current Radiant Demon Wing Leader was an enemy to the Tyrant Sword Sect too.

How many masters had he felled? A prey amassing immense infamy.

Qi Tu-you, arm tensed, tilted his head slightly upward. He had to see Lightning Genius’s face. What expression did this peerless prodigy wear now?

At that moment.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s form vanished completely. As if he had never been there.

Belatedly, leather boots came into view. They were the source of the weight on his arm.

Raising his gaze, a jet-black robe filled his vision. He had no choice but to look up until a smooth jawline appeared.

Jeong Yeon-shin stood atop Qi Tu-you’s extended hand. His posture, hands behind his back, was poised.

The blue gleam in Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes reflected the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader and Lu Xian.

Qi Tu-you’s lips trembled. His head and the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s legs were too close.

“Just now, what was that…?”

“Mind Sword Feint.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said without looking down.