Chapter 407 – Peerless Realm (7)

The evening light cast long shadows. Along with a serene feeling of silence.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly looked down at his hand.

The mist that had taken the form of a sword was scattering in a dark red color.

Blood Extreme Demon’s Dark Night Radiant Blood Demon Sword. From its subtle radiance to its sharp sword form, it was the most elegant technique he had ever seen among all the martial arts he had encountered in his life. That included the Dragon Ring Sword.

His feelings were immense.

He had wielded in his own hands a supreme technique that he had only heard about. A faint regret crossed Jeong Yeon-shin’s face. It seemed like an opportunity that wouldn’t come again.

“If you choose to become a ruffian rather than a martial artist, then you must be treated accordingly.”

A smooth yet chilling voice. It was a rebuke directed at the Dark Night Palace Leader whose head and body had been separated.

Jeong Yeon-shin quickly raised his head.

He saw a man standing upside down with his feet attached to the underside of a tree branch.

His entire body was wrapped in a pitch-black long robe, and his whole being emanated an elegant dignity. He didn’t seem particularly interested in facing Jeong Yeon-shin directly.

The most noble figure in Desolate Fortress’s Divine Sword Group.

Blood Extreme Demon Jin Myeong-jo’s eyes slowly rose.

Blood-red eyes that appeared to be looking down at Jeong Yeon-shin. Perhaps due to instantly deploying a formless sword technique equivalent to internal energy, the bright red eye light showed no signs of quickly fading.

His upside-down posture also seemed to be a way to cool the heat in his upper dantian through his own energy cultivation method.

“It suits you quite well. You won’t need an extra black robe.”

It seemed to be a reference to the purple robe. To Jeong Yeon-shin, it meant more than any other praise.

“Senior Jin.”

Jeong Yeon-shin raised both hands in a martial salute toward him. It was an unusually respectful gesture.

“Thanks to you, I avoided a crisis.”

“Well done.”

“It was thanks to the Dark Night Radiant Blood Demon Sword. I was on the verge of losing my life, and it proved extremely useful.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke with sincerity.

A life-or-death duel with a leader of the Thirteen Evil Sects in a single exchange. Not only was his energy depleted, but he had also accumulated multiple internal injuries.

In such a situation, no one could confidently claim a hundred percent chance of victory. Death was a possibility.

Jin Myeong-jo seemed to have a different perspective.

“Even with modesty ingrained in you, it’s problematic. Your sword talent was substantial.”

“No, that’s not true. Senior’s Dark Night Radiant Blood Demon Sword truly lived up to its reputation. In terms of martial arts elegance, there’s nothing in the world that can compare…”

The conversation continued with polite greetings and exchanges of flattery in low voices. Jeong Yeon-shin repeatedly mentioned the six-character name of the supreme technique of the world.

A demon’s sword that flashes blood in the night sky. Nothing could roll off the tongue more perfectly. He seriously considered creating a formless sword.

“If you forge a sword with energy, the loss of true energy…”

It was while Jeong Yeon-shin was speaking meticulously.

Jin Myeong-jo, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke.

“Were you always this talkative?”

“Pardon?”

“…You rarely take care of yourself. Even when you killed the Golden Wing Sect Leader, you weren’t in good condition. Your internal injuries must be severe now as well.”

Jeong Yeon-shin was inwardly impressed. His insight was exceptional.

“I’ll stand guard. Begin your energy regulation.”

Rustle—

The black sleeve hems fluttered.

Jin Myeong-jo immediately kicked off the trunk of the old tree several times and soared upward.

To the tallest tree in the vicinity. He had to be as far away from Jeong Yeon-shin as possible.

“After you recover your energy, we’ll each return separately.”

A soft voice descended. Jeong Yeon-shin’s head tilted slightly to the side.

“Why is that?”

“Hmm.”

“…?”

“…There’s no one among the nearby enemies who would dare challenge your achievement now. To quickly clear the dragnet, it would be better for us to split up. Black-ranks don’t usually travel together, which is unusual for this martial world journey. It’s not a matter of appearances, but follows the same principle as not connecting two cannons in the military. It would be extremely foolish for those capable of deploying wide-area ultimate techniques to move together. It would be right to meet again later… If you have a different opinion, I’m willing to listen.”

The chilling voice flowed down smoothly.

Every word was absolutely correct.

Though unusually verbose for a normally taciturn senior, Jeong Yeon-shin felt affection in the persuasive words.

It was a virtue difficult for aggressive masters to possess. His maternal uncle Ma Jin hadn’t been like this when he took over the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s duties.

“…I have no objections. Let’s do that.”

Jeong Yeon-shin raised his martial salute again, but was only met with an icy voice urging him to calm his internal injuries.

Could there be a more suitable person as the direct squad leader under the Divine Sword Group Leader?

When receiving flattery, most people’s shoulders would rise, but he clearly separated public and private matters while considering his junior’s energy cultivation.

Even with the head of one of the Thirteen Evil Sects leaders lying nearby.

‘Indeed…’

Though the Divine Sword Group’s personnel matters might not always align with the Group Leader’s wishes, Jeong Yeon-shin learned a great deal today as well.

***
Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

A place where Jeong Yeon-shin had departed.

One side of the completely overturned and devastated clearing.

Amid the dust faintly absorbing the sunset light, a noisy presence arose.

One of the two people who had been observing the battle in the peerless realm from a distance, Divine Sword Prodigy Yeon So-ha, threw his fist toward the void.

“Wow, wow…! Namgung First Sword is dead! I didn’t expect you to actually win! When the martial world hears about this, it will cause quite a stir…!”

It was an action taken after a very long silence. This was because he had witnessed the life-or-death duel between Jeong Yeon-shin and Namgung Mu-jin.

With the World’s Finest Bow also joining from one side, any genius with some sensitivity would inevitably have the afterimages of peerless masters lingering before their eyes.

Even if it was inspiration not immediately tangible, one had to collect the insights.

“Well, it’s a bit too much to be so excited in front of a dead man.”

Yong Hui-myeong shook his head.

Saaaa—

The dirt wind carrying the voices of the two men pushed Namgung Mu-jin’s head along as it rolled.

The aftermath of the foot energy emitted by the peerless masters remained as a whirlwind, creating a faint vortex.

Desolate Fortress’s Blue-rank Martial Artist Yeon So-ha couldn’t hide his excitement.

“They say he’s a master of short decisive battles… but he doesn’t fight for seven days and nights like you, Great Hero Yong? Not like someone who’s addicted to it.”

“As you know, this refined Group Leader has a knack for enjoying martial arts by making enemies into friends…”

“Don’t try to make it sound elegant. If enjoying yourself by toying with enemies is refinement, I’m afraid of what Radiant Demon Wing Leader Jeong might say. Even the Dragon Ring Sword, praised throughout the world as a supreme divine skill, was deliberately made flashy just to annoy people, you said.”

“Hmm.”

“But what was that earlier? The sword energy that Radiant Demon Wing Leader used to control the Dark Night Palace Leader’s Shooting Moon Single Path. It felt similar to the Emperor Sword Form.”

“It seems to be a form I heard about while recuperating in the Thousand Autumns Mansion. Judgment Qilin, I believe. From what I saw today, Lightning Genius’s version seems more orthodox.”

Yong Hui-myeong, with his arms folded, glanced at the headless corpse of Namgung Mu-jin. Yeon So-ha, who had been rolling his eyes, exclaimed with a sound like admiration. Ah, Azure Qilin.

“…Anyway, he must have gone to pursue the Dark Night Palace Leader now, right? I heard that noble clan masters can add the natural energy of forests to their lightness skill, but will he be able to catch him?”

“Well, the distance has become quite large, and even if he can’t manage it right now, it’s not particularly important…”

As Yong Hui-myeong continued speaking nonchalantly, faint dust rolled lightly like fallen leaves at his feet.

“Asking for more would be greedy. It’s time for Lightning Genius to rest as well.”

“Of course. How much he must have suffered from Sichuan all the way here. Just to save one incompetent Group Leader.”

“Your words are increasingly crossing the line? First calling me an old rope, then Great Hero Yong…”

“Come on, it’s just a joke, a joke.”

Yeon So-ha, who had shrugged his shoulders in pretense, waved his hands.

“More importantly, are you properly regulating your energy? It would be such a disgrace if you were to be defeated by some random ruffian here. I’ve run out of strength myself.”

“Don’t worry. Lightning Genius’s great circulation was quite remarkable. In about an hour, I’ll be back to being invincible.”

[Just an hour!]

Suddenly, a thick echo resonated in all directions. It was when the very dark night energy had begun to dye the sky black.

[I can only wonder what kind of body you have. After enduring so much poison, and so many blades.]

The atmosphere vibrated with a humming sound.

It was because the energy waves emitted by the Six Harmonies Sound Technique were incredibly dense. There was even an illusion as if the sky were rippling.

Thud. Thud.

A large shadow of a person walked toward them with the faint sunset at his back.

Unwavering footsteps. The sight of him dragging a boy by the nape was impressive.

[……]

Suddenly, the large figure’s gaze fixed on one spot. The direction where Namgung Mu-jin’s head lay. In that moment, a thick exhalation spread from the figure’s mouth.

His internal energy breathing was so deep that even white breath and dust rose together beneath it.

Yeon So-ha’s face turned pale.

“Martial Dragon Alliance… Leader…?”

[What technique did you use! I didn’t expect a high sword to descend from Wudang Mountain!]

The figure who had stopped in place lifted the boy by both shoulders.

It didn’t seem like he was taking him as a hostage. The boy’s Taoist robe embroidered with sword and crane was limply wrinkled, then instantly torn in half.

[TL Note- He only tore the robe not the body.]

Whak—!

Completely split left and right.

At the same time, the boy’s body vanished without a trace. Only a transparent shockwave exploded with a bang at that spot.

Yeon So-ha’s hand, which had gripped his sword energy, trembled slightly.

Martial Dragon Alliance Leader of the Thirteen Evil Sects.

His very existence is a taboo in the martial world. This is because the master of a major faction denies the relationship between master and disciple.

A man who has mastered a hundred types of divine skills from all sorts of sects alone. Even when connoisseurs discuss the world’s strongest, he is rarely mentioned.

“Just for defeating Primal Spirit…”

Yong Hui-myeong raised the corners of his mouth with a seemingly gallant appearance.

“Yes, quite a gathering of powerful individuals. Are you so resentful about being beaten by me?”

[Your bravado is impressive.]

The Dragon Alliance Leader laughed heartily.

[Recite the incantation of the Dragon Ring Sword first. I’ll give you about half an hour.]

His words and actions were outrageous. Close to the extreme of the Sima Evil Path.

It was then.

The Martial Dragon Alliance Leader’s figure suddenly closed his mouth. At the same time, a small sound rang out with a thud.

A head rolled on the ground, then tumbled several times. It stopped next to Namgung Mu-jin’s head.

Long ears, faded white hair, and a pale face.

It was the Dark Night Palace Leader’s head.

Thud.

A young man with a purple robe draped only on his shoulders descended beside the Divine Sword Group Leader.

There were more.

The footsteps that had just sounded were not his alone.

Figures walking toward them facing the faintly pouring sunset light. There were about eleven of them.

There was no particular energy wave. Only flags carelessly or neatly draped over one shoulder fluttered noisily. Along with sleeve hems somewhat stained with reddish color.

Yong Hui-myeong, who had them at his back, narrowed his brow.

“These fellows…?”

All twelve had arrived at once.

They had clearly put the Group Leader’s safety as a secondary concern.

After all, Black-ranks of Desolate Fortress are all fanatics about martial arts. These so-called seniors were probably bombarding Lightning Genius with questions about today’s battle while surrounding him.

How shameless they looked with their mouths shut, as if knowing their guilt. It was truly embarrassing.

At that moment.

Jeong Yeon-shin took a step forward.

With his hand resting on the sword energy at his waist. His form naturally standing like a wall at the front. No one stopped him.

[…I’ve stepped into a place I shouldn’t have.]

The Martial Dragon Alliance Leader’s figure became blurry in place. Yong Hui-myeong gestured toward him with his chin.

“Why not take the body with you? I mean Namgung First Sword.”

[Body?]

“Since the head belongs to someone else.”

[…I’ll look forward to next time.]

That was the end.

The Martial Dragon Alliance Leader’s figure vanished from that spot. A movement technique so swift that no one would dare to pursue. It was a transformation close to the extreme.

“Shall I go after him?”

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly asked. He truly seemed ready to pursue the Martial Dragon Alliance Leader and behead him.

There were eleven Black-ranks behind him. What would be impossible?

In that moment, Yong Hui-myeong burst into hearty laughter.

Then, as he turned while patting Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulders, the purple robe draped on the youthful young man’s shoulders didn’t budge at all. Only Yong Hui-myeong’s hand became somewhat awkward.

He shook his head slightly.

“How could we catch him when he’s fleeing? You don’t even have a Shooting Moon Single Path to use. The Dark Night Palace Leader’s head alone is remarkable. Today, the Martial Dragon Alliance Leader has greatly lost face.”

Yong Hui-myeong said while dusting off his sleeves.

Then.

The Divine Sword Group Leader, who had slightly raised his head, met the eyes of the various squad leaders.

The lineup of twelve, from Yue Shou-lin and Xiahou Wei-jin, to Heavenly Dragon Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji and Blood Guardain Squad Leader Jin Myeong-jo, all the way to Jeong Yeon-shin. At this moment, the largest One Wish for Peace Sword Hall in history had been established on the yellowish wasteland.

It was extremely quiet.

The sunset surrounding them receded like ripples.

“Divine Sword Group.”

Yong Hui-myeong smiled.

That was the end. The masters of the Divine Sword Group remained silent for a while.

Until the night sky, stained with starlight like the martial world surrounding Desolate Fortress, covered them.