Chapter 403 – Peerless Realm (3)

Jeong Yeon-shin’s hair fluttered in the wind.

He was facing a combined attack from peerless masters. There was no reason for them to wait for him to complete his form.

Saaaa—

It was above his head.

The Formless Sword that had been hazily taking shape was now scattering into pieces. The fragments of internal energy that had been swirling in the shape of a blade were now broken into grayish-white pieces.

Transparent sunlight shattered and fell in all directions.

The milky-white energy waves that had been wrapping around Jeong Yeon-shin’s limbs also turned to mist before vanishing with a whoosh.

The technique of the Emperor Sword Form deployed by Namgung Mu-jin had been broken.

There was a gleam in Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes.

He was still with his sword pressed against the opponent’s.

The weight that cut from his grip all the way to his elbow. Even though a peerless technique like the Formless Sword had been broken, which should have caused a great recoil, the man hadn’t yielded an inch.

It was the power of foundational cultivation. Though he had joined the Martial Dragon Alliance, it meant that his entire meridian system and extraordinary vessels were supported by orthodox martial arts.

‘Greater energy than any Eight Great Clans head I’ve seen before, with swordsmanship at the peerless level…’

Jeong Yeon-shin operated the Brilliant River incantation at the Yongquan acupoint in his feet.

The ground was roughly torn up. In that brief moment, a large spiral pattern was etched beneath his feet. It was a powerful propulsive energy wave.

[You…!]

Just as Namgung Mu-jin’s face showed astonishment and his eyes flashed with white light.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s right foot shot up like a whip and struck the man’s abdomen with a bang. There was a heavy feeling. It went in very deep.

Crack—!

Colorless lightning flashed. The man’s internal energy barrier reacted violently. The Heaven Thunder Protective Armor of the Namgung family. That was why the man’s body remained unharmed at this moment.

But the kick technique’s energy had definitely landed properly. This was evident just from the way the man’s mouth opened slightly.

Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly furrowed his brow. He had intended to burst the man’s abdomen with a single strike, but as expected, the lifeline of a peerless master was tenacious.

Just like the salamander of the Ten Perfections Sect who had pretended to be dead.

It was then.

A strange sensation arose on his back. A feeling like dozens of needles being driven in at once. The arrow that had somehow reached close range was emitting formless energy waves.

Dark Night Palace’s Phoenix Driving Radiance Bow Technique.

The pressure was tremendous. The surrounding scenery became hazy.

Jeong Yeon-shin put strength into the toe of the foot he had embedded in Namgung Mu-jin’s abdomen. The principle of full-body energy. He exploded the Luminous Wheel Energy through the Earth Rushing acupoint below his big toe.

Jjeoeoeng!

Jeong Yeon-shin’s somersault was magnificent. His form soared upward, pushing away his opponent, and his purple robe hem fluttered.

The moment Namgung Mu-jin, who had been reduced to a stepping stone, took a step back, an arrow embedded itself at his feet with a thud, shaking the ground.

The earth cracked with a cracking sound.

Long fissures racing in all directions like a spider’s web. Rough noise arose along with whitish dust. It was the aftermath of the archery strike launched by the Dark Night Palace Leader.

On one side.

Thud.

Jeong Yeon-shin landed gracefully with his sword drawn. His purple robe hem fell diagonally beneath the pure white blade of Remaining Thunder.

The blade of Remaining Thunder, gently scattering the faint sunlight in the silence.

“……”

A moment of silence fell. It was a scene that would make any martial artist rub their eyes in disbelief.

Radiant Demon Wing Leader Lightning Genius.

When facing the Thirteen Evil Sects leaders and Namgung First Sword, each strike would be a lethal ultimate move, yet he had withstood the combined attack of two peerless masters alone.

He had precisely measured the intervals between the Emperor Sword Form and the Phoenix Driving Radiance Bow Technique, both widely known for their divine skill.

His strikes were direct yet profound, and his energy sense reaction speed was at a level that could claim an instant.

“…Should we get a bit closer? Did we retreat too far?”

Behind Jeong Yeon-shin.

Yeon So-ha, who had stretched his head forward, whispered to the Divine Sword Group Leader.

“Should we move a bit closer to Group Leader Jeong?”

“Group Leader Jeong…?”

“With that level of skill, it seems better to stay reasonably close. If we’re caught off guard, we’d be causing trouble, wouldn’t we? Having to avoid the monster archer of Dark Night Palace is the same for both you, Great Hero Yong, and me… well, at least for now.”

“Great Hero Yong? Are you referring to me?”

“They say clinging to old ropes keeps you from achieving fame and fortune. It’s a famous saying in the far eastern lands.”

“Who told you that?”

“A fortune teller from Liaodong that I met. He wore a hat that clearly showed he was from the east.”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never met a decent fortune teller…”

“I think I have. It gives me chills.”

The light conversation penetrated to the core. The area where the divine sword Remaining Thunder could deflect a peerless master’s strike in time.

At this moment, Divine Sword Group Leader Yong Hui-myeong and Yeon So-ha walked steadily toward Jeong Yeon-shin. They stopped at a distance of twenty paces.

They were behind Jeong Yeon-shin.

‘The Group Leader has judged correctly.’

He recalled the origin of the Ten Li Gentle Light lightness skill. The story of Cheong Myeong’s brother who had died from the Ten Li Instant Kill, and Yong Hui-myeong’s insights had provided great inspiration.

As the Divine Sword Group Leader who had contributed to the creation of martial arts, he could gauge Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword circle. He would have properly observed the exchange of moves just now.

“Twenty paces. I see.”

Sword Howling Emperor Namgung Mu-jin muttered. His eyes, which had glanced at Yong Hui-myeong and Yeon So-ha, flashed with a cold light like sword energy.

“I should say about thirty paces. To think that you can extend your sword so widely when facing me and the Dark Night Palace Leader alone, you are truly a rare master in the world.”

He lightly stroked his abdomen with his left hand. The clothing around his abdomen, which had been dented by Jeong Yeon-shin’s kick, became smooth again.

“But no swordsman can discuss the Emperor Sword Form to my face. Much less dare to question its orthodoxy? Are you in your right mind?”

A voice that sounded somewhat angry yet also somewhat friendly.

After exchanging moves, he highly acknowledged his life-or-death enemy. Perhaps it was the temperament of the Martial Dragon Alliance. It suited a man who was said to have abandoned his family due to his obsession with martial arts.

In fact, he was counted among the few swordsmen who could challenge the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader.

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth.

“If you hadn’t concentrated the momentum of the Emperor Sword Form on my limbs, that Formless Sword would have been fully completed. I wouldn’t have been able to break it.”

“You sound like the main family’s Elder Council Head. A friend who has only experienced my nephew’s immature swordsmanship.”

Namgung Mu-jin continued, drawing a curve with his beard.

“The Emperor Sword Form has become too familiar to the martial artists of the world. Even Se-jin was defeated by you in your youth, wasn’t he? Whereas the martial art you first revealed to the world… yes, that Brilliant River technique critically struck the opponent’s blind spot.”

“That’s not something to say when you’ve been defeated. You’ve lost the Way.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said.

—I congratulate you on your achievement.

He suddenly recalled the time when he was learning to imbue energy into his sword.

White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin, who had been his sparring partner in Desolate Fortress, had stood as his protector, unlike the Jeong family members who sought authority from third-rate martial arts.

That day, Jeong Yeon-shin received congratulations for his martial arts improvement for the first time in his life.

It was a moment when he felt the chivalry he had never experienced in the narrow martial world of the Jeong family. It was even more so afterward.

Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin had bowed to Jeong Yeon-shin to apologize for his sister’s misdeeds. In his position as a young family head, and being nine years older.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.

“How many people from the main fortress have you killed so far?”

“Probably not even five. The Alliance hasn’t been particularly hostile to Desolate Fortress until now.”

Namgung Mu-jin answered readily. The invisible energy waves emanating from the middle-aged swordsman’s shoulders, which had risen slightly as if in jest, were palpable.

He seemed to be stabilizing the internal injury he had received from the Brilliant River kick.

The Heaven Thunder Emperor Divine Technique of the Namgung family is a profound divine skill with a long history. It was famous for the rumor that it greatly boosted pure yang energy to avoid demonic deviation.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t care.

“Why have you now fallen for Yu Ling’s schemes?”

“For the greater cause.”

Namgung First Sword of the Martial Dragon Alliance truly seemed to acknowledge the Radiant Demon Wing Leader. The resonance in his low voice was great. There was some sincerity in it.

“Greater cause?”

“Despite the severe famine, you’ve only been strangling the martial world. It seemed like you were forcing choices on those who wield swords without reason. Whether to pass the military examination, take the Desolate Fortress examination, or work in the fields to feed themselves… simply telling them to conform to the country’s order.”

“…Is there a problem with that?”

It was just as Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly to the side.

“There are those who might one day reach the martial extremity and shed their human cocoon. Such friends are led by their innate mandate to take up weapons in some way. They are beings with the qualities to nobly elevate human dignity. For example, people like you or Invincible of the Ming Cult, or going a bit further, the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader or the Divine Warrior of the North.”

“……”

“But there’s no law saying that people like you can only be born in martial sects. What about forcing such talented individuals to work the fields? When time is already scarce for becoming powerful.”

He couldn’t tell if this was sincere or nonsense.

The blue robe hem symbolizing the Namgung family fluttered. Was it the madness characteristic of the Thirteen Evil Sects’ peerless masters? Veins were forming in Namgung Mu-jin’s eyes.

“We need transcendent beings who aren’t constrained by mere rain and soil. Such a world is approaching. In this wretched famine, commoners who end up eating their own children, a woman who was killed by escort agency swordsmen while fleeing after stealing silver from the embrace of an official who had hidden his identity… how futile and pitiful is this? How low have we fallen?”

The story of the official who had hidden his identity seemed to involve Namgung Mu-jin himself.

That was the impression. After all, a warlord-like top clan of the southern regions couldn’t be with a mere commoner.

Crack—

Suddenly, there was a sound like dry earth splitting. Namgung Mu-jin’s voice gradually grew louder.

“Shouldn’t we martial artists, who have transcended physical limitations through the Way, rightfully prove human dignity through martial arts! That we are not creatures swayed by mere crop failures! That we have not just the hell-like bottom but also the sky! By the emergence of martial gods who will engrave humanity’s boundless qualities onto all creation…!”

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly recalled the Blood Flame Cult members who drank blood like water. The Martial Dragon Alliance was no different.

Sima Evil Path.

Completely insane. In terms of martial arts, it would be called the incantation. The thoughts of the Thirteen Evil Sects’ major factions were this alien.

“That martial arts too is human wisdom! What’s wrong with putting our heads together with like-minded individuals to pursue the ultimate meaning? I, I am heartbroken! How many talented martial artists have faded away without blossoming their qualities because they were watching out for you people…!”

“It seems you’ve lost chivalry as well.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s words were the turning point. Namgung Mu-jin’s face contorted as he showed signs of great anger, and a sound like a heartbeat spread from his precious sword.

Thud—

[Sword Night Painting Moonlight.]

The overflowing spirituality characteristic of peerless masters emitted a resounding Six Harmonies Sound Technique. Namgung Mu-jin’s eyes were now glowing pure white.

The symbol of a peerless master.

The method of wielding transcendent harmony through martial arts.

‘Transcendent Martial Art.’

A large shadow covered Jeong Yeon-shin. This was because a colorless sword with a length of ten zhang had taken shape above his head. Its speed was different from when he had created the Formless Sword.

His intention was clear.

It meant he wouldn’t leave any energy to face the Divine Sword Group Leader.

Simultaneously.

A diagonal line of light clusters flickered in the void, connecting some distant point with Jeong Yeon-shin in a single line.

It was like moonlight unraveling like a thread. The light flickered faintly along a line whose end couldn’t be guessed.

[Shooting Moon Single Path.]

Perhaps due to being from a faded noble clan who had cultivated for long years. Spirituality that seemed to overflow beyond control swept across the dirt ground like an echo. It was the Dark Night Palace Leader’s Transcendent Martial Art.

“……”

The land where the sword’s shadow fell like the night sky.

A young man with a line of light attached to his back, and a middle-aged man commanding a massive sword above his head.

Whoooong—

There was a tremendous gust of wind as if struggling in a cave. The sound of the wind was extremely loud.

Jeong Yeon-shin, holding Remaining Thunder lowered, slowly opened his mouth. While freshly recalling Namgung Mu-jin’s sophistry. A fierce spirit began to settle on his lips.

“Have you ever seen a solar eclipse?”

A roar like a lion’s emerged. The voice of his maternal grandfather, once etched in his mind, was now rippling in his heart.

—Look at the Divine Sword Group Leader.