Chapter 371 – Sacrificial Ceremony

Jeong Yeon-shin narrowed his eyes.

‘Is this really the Nine Sects?’

The Tang siblings were buried on the mountain peak. This was hardly the place to speak of martial arts challenge letters, regardless of the reason.

He suddenly felt the Tang Clan Leader’s exhalation silently lengthen beside him.

The internal energy breathing of Reverse Origin Three Yang Power, which holds three types of poison energy in the human body. Though the respect shown to Jeong Yeon-shin was exceptional, the Tang family was originally known to be an extremely exclusive and cold-natured place.

“The Emei Sect Leader, is it? Benefactor, you have now truly come to stand shoulder to shoulder with the heads of major sects,” Tang Yun-huang said with a faint smile on his gaunt face. Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head slightly.

And he listened carefully.

His senses were extraordinarily keen.

Innate talent, the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique, and bone transformation.

He could somewhat manifest the ability of the Thousand Li Hearing Technique, said to be cultivated by martial artists belonging to the assassination teams of sects.

This was because the Luminous Wheel Energy constantly formed, albeit in minute amounts, at the Ear Gate Acupoint near his ears.

He heard the whispering from below. It was the conversation of the Nine Sects’ rising talents.

“What is he saying? His conduct is excessive.”

“Pardon?”

“Even the Taoist classics contain secular principles… Is it because he only trains in the mountains?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean he’s arrogant. It would have been much better to request quietly.”

“I was conveying my earnestness. Meanwhile, Little Sword Queen, you’ve done nothing…”

“Enough. Don’t speak anymore.”

With those final words, the distance between the two sides narrowed, and soon Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes met those of the three companions looking up at him from below.

Two were familiar. A young Taoist and an elegant Buddhist nun. Crimson Cloud Dragon of Qingcheng Sect and Golden Staff Divine Woman of Emei Sect.

In the center was a woman carrying a dark precious sword. A swordswoman whose softly wrinkled crimson silk collar suited her well.

Her jet-black hair flowed down past her waist, and a sharpened, disciplined energy could be felt throughout her body. She was befitting of the chief disciple of Diancang Sect among the Nine Sects.

“I greet Tang Clan Leader and Radiant Demon Wing Leader. I am Little Sword Queen of Diancang Sect.”

Her posture as she raised both hands together was measured.

Though her downward-slanting eyes gave a kind impression, few martial artists would underestimate Little Sword Queen despite knowing her identity.

In Sichuan, where imperial scrutiny was less intense than in other regions, she was openly considered a talent destined to become a sword empress.

“This is our first meeting since the Hangzhou Martial Alliance gathering, isn’t it?” Little Sword Queen asked after lowering her clasped hands. Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slightly.

He felt a strange sensation. Though he had already met Little Sword Queen before, her conduct now showed excessive courtesy compared to their first meeting.

She treated him no differently than she treated the Tang Clan Leader.

‘She’s young. Has she matured?’

Just as Jeong Yeon-shin was thinking this without much concern.

Suddenly, Little Sword Queen bowed her head.

“I had no intention of mentioning a challenge letter so abruptly during your mourning period. I first offer my apologies to the Tang family. And of course to the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, who must have held the deceased in special regard…”

“There must be an important matter,” Tang Yun-huang briefly acknowledged.

His voice carried no particular energy to Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears, yet a momentary spasm crossed the faces of the three Nine Sects rising talents.

It was a glimpse of the formidable martial prowess and reputation of the Eight Great Clans’ head.

Crimson Cloud Dragon seemed to have just realized his mistake. Cold sweat formed on the nape of his neck, but the attention of those present had long since moved away from him.

“Do you have business with the benefactor?”

“I would like the Clan Leader to hear this as well. Of course, the message from the Emei Sect Leader should be delivered to the Radiant Demon Wing Leader…”

Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly tilted his head.

“How meddlesome. I believe the nun standing there is also from Emei Sect,” he said, glancing at Golden Staff Divine Woman who was standing silently behind Little Sword Queen.

Little Sword Queen’s eyes curved slightly. For a brief moment, a thin smile formed.

“The Hangzhou Martial Alliance gathering died with Zhuge Clan Leader. It’s been torn apart for a long time. I’ve been working with my connections to draw a different picture. It took effort to gain the trust of Qingcheng and Emei. The problem was that the Beggar Sect’s Senior Beggar was a major obstacle…”

“I’m not interested,” Jeong Yeon-shin replied curtly.

Swish.

As if she had expected this, Little Sword Queen nodded casually and pulled out a letter from her bosom.

It was a document tied with antique silk thread.

“Personally, I would also like to take more time to pay respects to the deceased, but Sichuan is in chaotic times. Each moment that you two let pass is like a thousand gold pieces to some people.”

Little Sword Queen continued, looking alternately at Jeong Yeon-shin and the Tang Clan Leader.

“The Tang family isn’t the only one that has been attacked. It’s been confirmed that besides the three Thirteen Evil Sects originally based in Sichuan, two or three more have entered. If you count the single-lineage martial veins under them and other small sects, it easily exceeds one hundred and ten places. They’re all busy creating chaos.”

“Chaos?” Jeong Yeon-shin asked.

“Since the famine has spread to this basin, the Sima Evil Path’s actions are predictable. Plundering is common, and they attack competing sects nearby or align with the Thirteen Evil Sects to strike at righteous path sects. They also treat the surrounding common people like food stores that can be harvested at any time.”

The currents of chaotic times.

This was something Jeong Yeon-shin had felt as soon as he escaped from the rain dragon’s formation. There were few places without fighting.

At that moment, Little Sword Queen tapped her palm with the rolled document. It was a gesture filled with emotion.

“Recently, such news has strangely diminished, but who knows? What kind of calm before the storm this might be.”

She continued with detailed accounts of how the Ten Perfections Sect, Yu Ling, and another of the Thirteen Evil Sects were supporting armed groups engaged in various conflicts throughout Sichuan.

She added that as chaos continued, they would inevitably have to draw in martial artists from outside Sichuan as well.

“So I came up with a small but significant plan,” Little Sword Queen said.

“The Radiant Demon Wing Leader, who is said to be the sword of the people’s livelihood and has built up martial prowess comparable to Invincible. The Emei Sect Leader, hailed as the incarnation of Maitreya. Having these two, the most powerful among the moderates, demonstrate their martial prowess before the public eye.”

[TL Note- Invincible here refers to Ming Cult Sect Leader.]

That was the purpose of the challenge letter.

Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head.

“Weak.”

“Pardon?”

“Do you know how to write a little?”… If only it were half as good as Desolate Divine Hero’s, he inwardly muttered.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Mount Emei in Sichuan.

Under the sunlight that gently pierced through the blue-tinged mountain landscape, acrid smoke flowed from the mountain peak.

The characteristic clarity of the famous mountain was fading away.

Only the loud sounds of ashes popping with occasional reddish-black embers remained.

Even the temple deep in the peak had become ruins. Both the inner and outer courtyards were the same.

At the entrance of the temple.

Dozens of martial artists carrying various weapons like swords, staffs, spears, and harpoons made their presence known.

Some stood on the edge of the temple roof, while others sat casually on the ground in meditation postures.

A man with one arm missing, a woman with crushed ribs, an old man coughing blood… Though they all appeared severely injured, fierce energy waves flowed from their entire bodies.

It was the temperament of hardened hunters.

“Where is the Left Guardian?”

“Do you mean the Left Guardian of the Golden Wing Sect?”

“What other Left Guardian would I be talking about? I didn’t like him from when he was standing with his hands behind his back at the mountain gate, and you, as Yu Ling’s messenger, seem extremely dull.”

“I asked because it seemed so obvious. The recent Ten Perfections Sect’s Left Guardian, who recently achieved great merit, is quite renowned throughout the world.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Doesn’t your Yu Ling disapprove of our sect’s actions? Thinking we’re your puppets or something.”

“I apologize if I’ve offended you.”

“Ha!”

The old man with a great blade on his back, Iron Pillar Divine Sword Jin Hui-che, the Right Guardian of the Golden Wing Sect, snorted.

He was facing a man in yellow robes with an extremely ordinary appearance.

But the man from Yu Ling was busy looking elsewhere rather than meeting the Golden Wing Sect Right Guardian’s eyes. Only his mouth was directed toward the Right Guardian.

Woong— Woong!

In the partially destroyed inner courtyard of Emei Sect.

A golden Buddha statue was bouncing around in the air. It also spun and danced in place.

It was void manipulation as if handling a toy.

This originated from a woman of small build wearing a reddish-gold robe. The treasures of Emei Sect danced according to her eye movements.

Below, the wooden signboard with the characters “Emei” had fallen in two pieces, while semi-transparent air flickered from the black hair of the Golden Wing Sect Leader, which came down just enough to slightly cover the nape of her neck.

A sweet wine fragrance spread from the jade gourd bottle she held.

“Missed her,” the Golden Wing Sect Leader muttered. It was a self-directed comment about the Emei Sect Leader.

Without even turning around, she commanded the man from Yu Ling who was holding a sheet of paper.

“Read it.”

“Y-yes. I will.”

The man, who had been staring blankly at the Golden Wing Sect Leader, spread both hands.

“…The land has been barren for a long time. The vegetation is withering. Though times have changed and hoes are more precious than swords, those claiming to have powerful martial arts are busy stealing food from common people with their skills.”

“Stealing food? Doesn’t our sect have fields?”

The Golden Wing Sect Leader asked, tilting her head slightly to the side.

The Right Guardian, who had been looking disapprovingly at Yu Ling’s messenger, spoke up.

“That was obtained about twenty years ago by plundering a landlord family. The Martial Tiger Office branch leader falsified the land registry, and at night, we split the beds where that family’s members were lying in half. Since it was handled without incident, it’s understandable that the Sect Leader has forgotten.”

“Ah.”

“I’ll continue reading,” the messenger said. After glancing at the Golden Wing Sect Leader, who slightly tilted her snow-white chin upward, he looked back down at the letter.

“Those who privately wield swords. They are of no benefit to the country whatsoever. Unable to grow grain, not paying taxes, their behavior is like that of monkeys in the mountains.”

“Monkeys?”

“Even their movements, flailing their limbs under the pretext of martial arts, are similar.”

“……”

The man continued reciting without pause.

“I, the author of this letter, am a mere novice in terms of martial world achievements, but in my travels through the martial world, I have found very little worth learning. The dusty martial world. The martial world said to be filled with extraordinary people like grains of sand was truly only full of dirt.”

“He speaks as if he were a purple-rank official of Desolate Fortress.”

As the Right Guardian Iron Pillar Divine Sword burst into incredulous laughter, the messenger’s voice continued.

“Recently, the Thirteen Evil Sects of the Sima Evil Path have been causing trouble. They committed atrocities against the Tang family of Sichuan, who faithfully pay their taxes, and Emei Sect, which cares for the people’s livelihood with Buddhist compassion. Yet they still crave admiration and fame.”

“Give me that.”

Parak—

With the Golden Wing Sect Leader’s brief command, the paper flew through the air.

Bright sunlight danced over the handwritten characters that seemed casually written with a bored feeling.

[…Therefore, I ask.

What meaning is there in your existence?

You all pose as strong while leeching off the people’s livelihood, so your martial arts should at least be lofty. If not, you must be deeply ashamed of yourselves.

But martial arts cannot be known without direct comparison, can it? Therefore, I inform the Sima Evil Path rabble reading this letter.

On the coming full moon, a life-or-death martial arts competition will be held.

The sect leaders of Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect will join me.

You should rightfully ascend to the highest peak of Mount Emei in Sichuan. This applies to the leaders of major factions known in rumors, including the Ten Perfections Sect, Pure Demon Alliance, and Golden Wing Sect.

Desolate Fortress.

Radiant Demon Wing Leader wants to see you all.]