Chapter 323 – Heaven Shaking (2)

Desolate Fortress White-rank.

For the heir of the Desolate Ma family, it’s a position that’s merely transitional. This is because they inhabit a different world.

Even if the white robe of the main fortress is a highly respected position in most regional martial worlds, it holds little meaning. It’s just a temporary reduction in status that one must endure.

That’s how it was for Ma Se-in.

Rustle.

The young noble walked with eyes that showed a clear distinction between black and white.

Ma Se-in’s achievement in the Harmonious Flower Divine Skill is said to be unmatched among his peers, yet he must bow his head even to some rural mid-level Blue-ranks.

This is due to the main fortress’s laws. White-rank is merely the lowest rank in the official hierarchy.

However, his treatment was different. Not only servants but also some senior martial artists held Ma Se-in in high regard.

It was respect for the long-standing dedication and temperament of the Desolate Divine family.

“Young Master Ma, a rare outing. Where are you headed?”

“I received a message from the Wish for Peace One Sword Training Ground.”

Ma Se-in answered briefly. He was accompanied by a young warrior in white robes behind him.

The Blue-rank master who had asked with a friendly face flinched.

His expression had turned sour from the moment Ma Se-in mentioned the Wish for Peace One Sword Training Ground.

“Isn’t that place completely collapsed now? I heard it’s under reconstruction…”

“It’s the only place where the returned Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader can stay. Not in the Wish-fulfilling Spring Hall, but sleeping in the stone seat of the Black-ranks.”

“Yes, of course. Safe travels.”

The Blue-rank master, who had nodded roughly, walked away with hurried steps. It was a hasty departure that didn’t match his imposing physique.

Rustle.

Ma Se-in, who had been staring blankly at him, began to move his feet again.

At the end of the wide, white path of the main fortress would be the partially destroyed Wish for Peace One Sword Training Ground.

Swish.

The guard warrior beside him quickly caught up.

He was of the same White rank as Ma Se-in.

A young man named Ma Woong who had recently been building a reputation in the main fortress, and within the Ma family, he was cultivating the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique with fiery qualities, second only to Ma Se-in in achievement.

They say a painting of a magpie bridge made of crows and magpies hung on the wall of his quarters. Along with a kite modeled after a hawk.

“Young Family Head, that senior’s demeanor was strange. I wonder if today’s matter might create problems for your reputation…”

He said cautiously.

Ma Se-in slowly shook his head.

“Anyone would react that way if told we’re going to meet the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader.”

“I’m unfamiliar with the customs here. I haven’t been up to the main fortress for long…”

“I know. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“I’ve heard many stories about the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader’s temperament. They say that as remarkable as his innate talent is, he’s also difficult and unpredictable… Is that true? I’m quite concerned.”

“It’ll be fine. I’ve only seen him a few times as a child, looking over my grandfather’s shoulder… But I haven’t done anything wrong. Besides, he’s not the only Black-rank currently residing in the main fortress.”

Ma Se-in’s response was calm.

His bearing and conduct were all like that. The heir from a collateral branch with bloodlines connected to the current Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

There are widespread rumors that his vessel has broadened after forming a friendship with Lightning Genius’ and experiencing the incident with his mother Zhu Lianting.

Hmm, Ma Woong nodded and suddenly spoke.

“Come to think of it, there’s been no change in the forces stationed at the main fortress. Even though news from Xinjiang about the Forest-Treading Squad and Arrow Aim Command has been cut off.”

“The standing forces are becoming stronger. Since the Elder Council Leader washed his hands on golden basin, there’s no longer a Purple-rank protecting the main fortress. There are also rumors that the Fortress Lord has left her position again, and if that’s true, at least three martial forces must guard the main fortress.”

[TL Note- Washing hands in golden basin means retiring.]

With Wish-fulfilling Spring, Annihilation Team, and Burning Abyss Teams currently defending the main fortress.

The whereabouts of Obeying Heaven Squad, Forest-Treading Squad, and Immortal Tree Spirit Squad had become completely unknown.

It was a topic gradually shaking the main fortress. It was also one of the biggest events since the founding of Desolate Fortress.

Since the land spread across the country is endlessly vast, long-term missions themselves are common.

It’s not uncommon for a single case to take more than a year. In the Netherworld Stream Squad, which mainly deals with intelligence, there’s even a Blue-rank master who hasn’t set foot in the main fortress for twenty years.

It’s just that the current Radiant Demon Wing Leader, who recently took the symbol of the youngest Black-rank from the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader, is a special existence.

However, it was another matter when the squad leaders’ spirit beasts hadn’t returned to the main fortress for an extended period.

Death in the line of duty.

That’s how they expressed it in Desolate Fortress with its military-like temperament.

“Isn’t this the first time since the founding era? Could there be some unknown evil spirit in Xinjiang?”

“Well… The Administration Office must be having a headache too. Sending more support would just be pouring water into a swamp. And it’s not like the Purple-ranks in the main fortress have much free time either.”

“If two aren’t enough, send three more… No, that would be difficult to decide too.”

“This isn’t a game of mahjong. It’s not easy to move high-ranking personnel in black robes so lightly, and we might end up losing five or six Black-ranks in Xinjiang. Is this an ordinary danger?”

The Desolate Fortress Administration Office takes enormous care in determining the whereabouts of Black-ranks.

Supreme masters who can influence the state of faction wars are treated like mountain gods wherever they go, and the probability of such a person accepting the will of the people and becoming one of the main fortress’s seventeen divine swords is almost non-existent.

Their temperament meeting the Desolate Fortress Lord’s eye is also an issue.

Ma Woong’s shoulders drooped somewhat. He too is a martial artist of Desolate Fortress.

“There seems to be no clear solution. It’s understandable why the ruffians of the martial world often look down on the main fortress. In the eyes of those without greater purpose, we must look like a large beast tied down in all sorts of places.”

“Don’t worry about the eyes of those lowlifes. Anyway, looking beyond the defense of the main fortress, it would be better if two massive forces at the level of the Three Black Pillars were to set out. The Administration Office will likely decide in the near future.”

The undergrowth parted as the two men walked. The scene before their eyes gradually widened.

The master and servant, who maintained their boundaries yet appeared strangely informal, gradually approached their destination.

“What could be the purpose? I mean the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader.”

“We’ll find out soon.”

With Ma Se-in’s final words, their view opened up completely.

The training ground permitted only to the revered ones entered their sight.

A clearing that was simply vast, without even weapon racks, seemingly nothing special at first glance.

Rather, the ruins right next to it, where small craftsmen were moving ceaselessly, were more eye-catching.

The remains of what was once a hall, now called the Wish for Peace One Sword Training Ground.

Yet the symbolism of the clearing rivaled that of the squad leaders’ meeting hall.

It was a place where those in black robes occasionally exchanged blows. The only place exempt from the main fortress’s law forbidding private duels between comrades… The two members of the Desolate Divine family who entered the Black-rank training ground held their breath.

There were visitors already. A young man and woman.

“……”

Judging by appearance alone, none seemed to be over their twenties, yet both wore black robes that draped down to their feet.

Were they about to engage in combat?

They were facing each other silently in the middle of the clearing. It was a sight that created silence around them.

Ma Se-in quietly swallowed.

‘Burning Abyss Team Leader and Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader…’

The man was the Burning Abyss Team Leader, famous for his protective techniques.

Soul Spirit Divine Step Yu Jeong-myeong.

He had ears as sharp as sword points. With an appearance that immediately came to mind when people spoke of renowned clans, his facial complexion was calm, and the energy waves surrounding his entire body were remarkably clear.

He was wrapped in a black robe that fit his firm body perfectly.

“You’ve arrived.”

Suddenly, Burning Abyss Team Leader, who had glanced at Ma Se-in, opened his mouth.

“Can we proceed now?”

The black-robed woman facing him with folded arms smirked.

“You speak as if it’s in your hands. Aren’t you embarrassed about having it taken from you after monopolizing it?”

Her black robe was extraordinarily splendid. From the hem, it was split into several strands like some ceremonial garment, and the pitch-black robe ends flickered like flames in the air.

It was a demonstration of uninterrupted energy circulation. The loose gray trousers covering her long legs appeared conducive to leg techniques even at a glance.

Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader.

Dragon Fist Beigong Ya.

[TL Note- Ya in chinese means Teeth.]

Her name meant “molar.” Some connoisseurs said it suited her better than her title.

“Ma family child. You just stand right there.”

Beigong Ya said.

It was an order from the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader.

Ma Se-in tried not to show his uncertainty.

He knew much about the monster before his eyes. Desolate Fortress’s most talented. That’s what they commonly called her until the current Radiant Demon Wing Leader knocked on the main fortress’s door.

She had donned the black robe at an exceptionally young age. It didn’t take long for her to stand shoulder to shoulder with extreme powerhouses like the Annihilation Team Squad Leader and Burning Abyss Team.

They say she often clashes with Divine Spear Yue Shou-lin at the Wish for Peace One Sword Training Ground, and even after calling Yue Shou-lin “grandmother,” only the meeting hall gets destroyed.

“Don’t order him around carelessly. He’s not your junior.”

Burning Abyss Team Leader Yu Jeong-myeong quietly said.

Due to his outstanding appearance as a renowned clansman, it sounded like the stern rebuke of a celestial guardian. Ma Woong, standing behind Ma Se-in, fidgeted nervously.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader Beigong Ya’s white cheek dimpled gently.

“Mr. Yu still has much to learn.”

She curled her lips upward and wiggled her index finger while keeping her arms folded.

“Where do you get off ordering around equals? Isn’t this place created to resolve such matters? When we tested our skills the other day, it was over in a single exchange, shall we try again?”

Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader, Dragon Fist.

In terms of age, she was close to a rising talent. Her level of provocation was the same.

Duels between masters take as many forms as there are types of martial arts.

From battles of endurance lasting seven days and nights to contests decided in a single exchange, they manifest in all sorts of ways.

The form of martial arts cultivated, temperament, compatibility, the type of technique chosen in an instant, terrain and weather—all are significant variables.

This is why even duels between masters of equal rank often take the form of single-exchange battles.

Burning Abyss Team Leader Yu Jeong-myeong possessed deep cultivation. He did not get entangled in Beigong Ya’s combat-obsessed rhetoric.

“If you want to enhance the main fortress’s strength, you called for this. If you want to elicit cooperation from subordinates, treat them well.”

“Why do I need cooperation? I just need to watch.”

At the same time, with a rustling sound from her bosom, some book pages flew up.

It was an extremely natural grabbing of an object from the void.

A book with dozens of pages spread like wings began to float between the two squad leaders. The cover bore the title [Radiant Wing Step Manual].

“This is a footwork technique.”

Soon after, the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader gave a brief nod.

With a whoosh, stone fragments flew in from the nearby ruins and landed on the training ground floor with a dull sound. It was the shape of a crude seat.

She handled energy completely at will. As Ma Se-in’s eyes widened, the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader, who had plopped down on the crudely made seat and crossed her legs, looked him over.

“You’re from the Dynamic Technique lineage… We’ll talk later. I was curious about what the Burning Abyss uncle has been treasuring like a sacred tablet.”

The secret manual of the Radiant Wing Step flew toward her. It was a superhuman sight, as if from another world.

The Desolate Ma family members remained silent, and the Burning Abyss Team Leader also stood motionless for a while.

Looking at the book between the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader’s fingers with very regretful eyes.

Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader Beigong Ya silently read through the Radiant Wing Step secret manual. With eyes like dark lightning trapped inside.

“Move that pillar over there!”

“It’s going to break again anyway! Don’t practice here! The spiritual energy is wasted!”

For a while, only the sounds of small craftsmen reconstructing the Wish for Peace One Sword Training Ground echoed.

But the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader’s reading didn’t take long. Suddenly, her brow furrowed as she looked up from between the pages.

“Was this written to be read?”

“Pardon?”

Ma Se-in, who had unconsciously responded without yet grasping the situation, flinched at his own reaction, but the Wish-fulfilling Spring Squad Leader paid no attention and glared in the direction of the Radiant Demon Wing hall.

“What’s with the temperament of the person who wrote this? Has the Heavenly Demon Sovereign Step entered the main fortress?”