Chapter 424 – Martial Lineage (5)

The old sliding door made a creaking sound as it closed.

As Jeong Yeon-shin stepped inside, the scent of aged wood hit him sharply, mingled with the faint, distinct fragrance of incense typical of a temple where rituals are held.

This temple was quite a distance from Shaolin. Those seated around the large, round wooden table turned their heads toward him.

With just that small movement, the air in the room rippled translucently. Even though no one emitted a particularly strong aura.

‘Heavy.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought to himself.

Thanks to the lighthearted banter with Yu Hyeon earlier, he had somewhat alleviated the burden of attending this gathering of the martial world’s top echelon.

But if it were the weight carried by this meeting place, even the breathing of that invincible Yelu Zhen’s demonic energy would feel heavy.

“Purple Rank has arrived.”

High Sword, smiling like an old man despite his youthful face, gestured toward the front seat.

At the same time, with eyes honed by decades of practicing Wudang’s unparalleled eye techniques, he signaled to Jeong Yeon-shin, who felt intangible trajectories emanating in all directions from that gaze. It was a martial path.

He sat down with a somewhat stiff heart.

Just as those before him represented the Nine Great Sects as their sole representatives, Jeong Yeon-shin was now, in name and reality, the face of Desolate Fortress.

“The Abbot is on his way. Make yourself comfortable while waiting.”

Venerable Cypress Flame spoke with a gently wrinkled smile. Jeong Yeon-shin returned her greeting with a nod, making an effort not to look around.

This was due to the mishap that occurred earlier when he glanced at Brilliant Jade Sword God Lu Xian. His martial discipline were already sufficiently accomplished in real combat.

“…….”

A serene silence fell over the room.

The leaders of Qingcheng, Emei, Mount Hua, and High Sword each cast fleeting or overt glances at Jeong Yeon-shin.

Among them, only Venerable Cypress Flame and Lu Xian sent gentle looks his way.

Jeong Yeon-shin subtly averted their gazes.

His senses were running wild. It felt as if threads were tickling his skin. At this moment, the years embedded in the bodies of these four supreme masters of the Nine Sects, the minute pulsations of their muscles, meridians, and inner energy breathing, struck him as an overwhelming stimulus.

Suddenly, Lu Xian parted her lips.

“Have you all finalized the participants for the sparring conference?”

“I didn’t expect you to bring it up first. Mount Hua must be quite confident.”

It was Qingcheng’s Sect Leader, Taoist Two Walls. As expected of a prestigious lineage, his voice carried a low, melodic tone, yet his ears were as alert as divine swords.

As the leader of his sect, he was highly sensitive to the outcome of the Mount Hua Agreement.

Jeong Yeon-shin realized something.

‘The Mount Hua Agreement is no longer just a confrontation between the Nine Sects and Desolate Fortress.’

It could be called a battleground for the vast righteous martial world.

What do martial artists live for?

Two things define their existence: the martial prowess they’ve cultivated and the fame they’ve earned. Those who tread the dusty paths of the martial world are respected for their skills and fulfill their desire for honor through their titles.

Even if someone is indifferent to personal achievement and fame, they would choose mutual destruction over allowing their sect’s name to be tarnished.

High Sword had earlier called it the Greatest Sparring Conference Under Heaven. Even the Nine Sects, supposedly detached from petty gains like wealth and power, could not take this gathering lightly.

“Confidence? What do you mean?”

Lu Xian waved her hand dismissively.

“My disciples from Mount Hua are children I’d proudly present anywhere, but the other sects are so formidable that…”

Her clear voice praised both Mount Hua and the other sects. Her demeanor was natural yet dignified. Jeong Yeon-shin was reminded of a fully bloomed plum blossom, flawless in every way.

Perhaps her temperament shone brighter than the ultimate techniques of the righteous martial world.

“Mount Hua has every reason to be confident. Under the Sect Leader, you have the Sword Saint, the Three Treasured Sword Dragons, and the Brilliant Sword, don’t you? With such exceptional swordsmen in every generation, Mount Hua likely doesn’t struggle with selecting participants. I’m envious,” said Taoist Two Walls, shaking his head. Lu Xian’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“And doesn’t the Qingcheng Sect Leader secretly nurture a prodigy who has unified the Azure Cloud Sword Art and the Crimson Glow Sword Art? At that level, wouldn’t they be unmatched among the first-generation disciples? I’ve heard you’ve entrusted Qingcheng’s future to that disciple, haven’t you? Not the Crimson Cloud Dragon, but…”

“They’re still lacking. Unless they truly master the Azure Cloud Crimson Glow, they’ll fall helplessly to Wudang’s Ten-Section Brocade or the Shaolin Eighteen Arhats’ Hundred-Step Divine Fist.”

What a dizzying exchange.

Names as radiant as stars poured forth.

The history of the Nine Sects is the history of the martial world itself. Often called the Thousand-Year Martial Lineages, those who inherit the martial arts and elixirs of these great sects and make their names renowned gather at Dengfeng County.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes subtly lowered. Even without overt psychological warfare, the pressure bore down on him.

‘My martial lineage…’

The reason Jeong Yeon-shin had been so obsessed with the Black Rank Records.

The reason he struggled to gain an advantage in the lower hierarchies.

While orthodox martial arts are said to mature slowly over time, the Nine Sects transcended such limitations, which is why they are great factions. The depth of their teachings is on another level.

Could the Lightning Genius Martial Lineage stand against the Thousand-Year Orthodox Lineages?

Until now, he had compensated for the shallow depth of instant-effect martial arts with his innate talent, yet he often struggled against masters trained by the great sects.

At that moment.

“May this old monk redirect the troubles of the benefactors elsewhere?”

A low voice settled into Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind.

It wasn’t a sound perceived by the ears. It truly penetrated directly into his consciousness, not a single word wasted.

‘Wisdom Light Heart Speech…!’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes widened.

Suddenly, a shadow cast in a corner of the temple began to shimmer in the form of leaves.

It resembled a lotus blooming in the darkness. It could only be the Lotus Platform Nine Grades, said to be Shaolin’s ultimate secret technique.

He’s coming.

Whoosh—

It was instantaneous. An old monk with one eye covered by a hemp eyepatch appeared out of nowhere.

His orange monk robes fluttered emptily, both sleeves completely devoid of arms.

“Dharmic power…? No wonder the scent here is finer than any grain tea I’ve tasted in seventy years…”

A hoarse mutter scratched the air.

Divine Monk Beom Heo.

He was the Abbot of Shaolin.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

At the Green Jade Sword Manor in Dengfeng County.

Beneath a bluish wall that seemed to melt leaves into its hue, two men stood with arms crossed, carrying large scrolls and bundles on their backs as if they were weapons.

They were in the midst of a clamor. Surrounded by a dense crowd, they watched quietly, only their lips moving.

“How many have entered?”

“Over a thousand. It’s getting overwhelming.”

“And if we include those staying in the city, not just the manor?”

“You’ve asked the wrong person. Go to the Beggar’s Sect branch. If it’s Elder Zhu Guangshen-gai, he’d have an exact count.”

“Nonsense. It’s no secret that he disapproves of the Tyrant Hero. Of course, he wouldn’t come to the Mount Hua Agreement. Anyway, we should’ve filtered them from the start. Isn’t it hard to control? The manor seems to be struggling greatly.”

“Even after filtering, over a thousand made it. Only those with verified identities and sects whose fame spans regions were accepted. Even that has caused resentment outside. They say third-rate sects aren’t even given a chance.”

The two were lay disciples of Shaolin. They were also well-known gossipmongers in the martial world.

Bald Sage and Bald Insight. Having gained the fortune to learn Shaolin’s secret eye technique, Tathagata Dark Vision, they recorded all manner of events to prevent the esteemed Northern Song Shaolin from being swept away by the tides of the martial world, delivering their reports to Mount Song.

The relatively lean Bald Insight gestured with his chin.

“Sanbok.”

“Yes, sir.”

A servant in a faded yellow hemp robe, sweeping the ground with a broom, looked up.

His dusty face and limbs were wrapped in tattered cloth haphazardly patched together.

“Didn’t the manor provide you with clothes? Even menial tasks are noble in their way. What’s with your appearance?”

The servant grinned.

“There’s a lot going on at home. I send every penny I earn back there.”

“Always so poor—when will you ever live with some ease?”

“Don’t your bald heads look poor at a glance, yet they shine brightly? I’ll have my day to shine too, won’t I?”

“Good grief…”

Bald Insight shook his head.

The “Bald” in their nicknames referred to their shaved heads. Yet, the two were famously proud of their appearance, akin to Shaolin’s main disciples.

Bald Sage, the broader of the two, clicked his tongue as he looked at the servant’s messy hair.

“You’re known in the manor for your diligence… Stay back until lunchtime. I fear you might get into unnecessary trouble with the martial artists who’ve traveled here.”

“Understood!”

The reason Bald Sage mentioned trouble—

Countless people were lined up toward the manor’s main gate. They were all martial artists.

The summer air, already shimmering in the sunlight, grew even hotter with the fervor, and dust rose frequently from the energy waves of inner power.

“Line up! Line up!”

“Do you think I’m on the same level as these insignificant fools? Make way. I am the Brave Wolf Twin Blades of Mount Heng!”

“They must think this is their local marketplace. The righteous martial world—no, the entire martial world—is converging on this land.”

“Let them be. They’ll end up dead in a ditch.”

They were practitioners of martial arts. Naturally, they were belligerent.

The gates were wide open to allow warriors from the Eight Great Families, like the Peng Family, to participate.

Countless throngs came to the Mount Hua Agreement with various motives—fame, learning, or seeking fateful encounters between individuals.

Among them, warriors from the great sects genuinely aimed for dominance, secluding themselves as if in closed-door training.

This was why many wandering martial artists and those from mid-to-small sects gradually relaxed their tension.

Yet, whenever swordsmen from Mount Hua or Wudang passed by, they stiffened, though many of the Nine Sects’ warriors on guard duty were scattered among the common folk.

Bald Sage and Bald Insight shook their heads.

“I feel like a major incident is bound to happen at least once.”

“Most of it will be squabbles among martial artists. Can’t be helped. Let’s continue our earlier conversation.”

Bald Insight spoke slyly. The thick cheeks on either side of Bald Sage’s mouth curled into a smirk.

“The bet?”

“Yes, I hear an enormous sum is at stake among the key figures. Even the imperial court might get involved.”

“It’s a gambling table everyone’s watching. ‘Which sect will dominate the Mount Hua Agreement?’ Where did your brother place his bet?”

“Wudang. A wager worth two measures of rice.”

“Playing it safe, huh?”

“And you?”

“We’re laymen of Shaolin, aren’t we? Even if the Abbot doesn’t personally participate, the greatest threats would likely be the other Nine Sects or the Peng Family, who’ve acquired the Heavenly Indian Yoga Technique.”

“What about Desolate Fortress?”

“Speak accurately. Not Desolate Fortress itself, but the Lightning Genius Martial Lineage. It hasn’t even been three years since its inception…”

Bald Sage suddenly trailed off. Bald Insight nodded as if he immediately understood why.

“Less than three years, indeed. Yes, the Lightning Genius of Desolate Fortress is undoubtedly monstrous. I feel the same astonishment you do. But… his martial lineage is different.”

“Indeed.”

“A single supreme master can overturn the tide of a sectarian battle, but certain powerful martial lineages…”

The renowned gossipmonger from Shaolin’s lay disciples concluded slowly.

“They reshape the form of the martial world.”

Mount Hua did so. In Shaanxi, many sects drew inspiration from the Plum Blossom Sword, adopting swift and illusory sword techniques as their signature arts.

Wudang was no different. North of Huguang, variations of Taiji Fist outnumber the original.

In Henan, under the influence of Shaolin’s Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic, body-refining exercises have thrived for generations. It wouldn’t be wrong to call it the culture of the martial world.

Such renowned martial lineages influenced the dynamics among great sects as well. In times when swift swords were particularly deadly, protective energy techniques were developed. When protective energy dominated, internal heavy-hand methods rose. When those gained prominence, body-protecting skills and dynamic exercises emerged. And when those prevailed, domineering martial arts that quickly amassed power became the major trend.

The Tyrant Hero Ma Yeon-jeok reigned as an absolute figure during such an era.

Ultimately, what influenced the vast currents of the martial world were the great martial lineages that led it.

“They say four individuals of different generations will compete against other lineages. If it were just Lightning Genius alone, it might be different, but whether the lineage he created can pierce through the ages of the Nine Sects remains uncertain…”

Bald Insight shook his lean jaw. Bald Sage didn’t contradict him.

“Even in Shaolin alone, there are so many candidates for the sparring that internal competitions were held.”

“That’s the mark of a great sect. Those who’ve mastered the Hundred-Step Divine Fist, the immovable Diamond Body Technique used casually by the Unmoving Arhat, and even our senior disciple who’s reached mastery in the Coiling Zen Sleeve… We have many cards to play at the right moment. I heard that in the past, Lightning Genius and White Qilin competed before Desolate Fortress faced Namgung Family in a life-and-death duel. But I doubt the Lightning Genius Lineage, which is new, possesses such depth.”

“I agree. Even the Peng Family is busy compiling dozens of counter-strategies and analyzing the traits of various sect warriors. We do the same. In comparison, a nascent lineage, no matter how brilliantly innovative, is inevitably shallow and superficial…”

As the two gossipmongers murmured to each other—

Suddenly, the densely packed crowd lining up began to stir.

A rare occurrence. Normally, martial artists, even those who trained in isolation in mountain valleys, possess pride that pierces the heavens.

Feeling the inner energy coursing through their bodies, it’s only natural.

“Looks like a fairly well-known figure has arrived.”

“There shouldn’t be any space left in the manor.”

“Could be someone returning after a short excursion. From the murmurs… Ah, Namgung. It’s White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin.”

“A youth with nothing to envy in the world has returned.”

“He must be in a hurry. The preparations by the great factions, including the Peng Family, are extremely thorough. Who knows, some hidden sect of reclusive masters might suddenly appear.”

“Even so… After the assembly of the Divine Sword Group, their strength must be depleted. There may be many Desolate Fortress warriors scattered everywhere, but how many could truly be recognized as part of the Lightning Genius Martial Lineage?”

At that moment, a clear voice pierced through the evening glow.

[By the authority of the Black Rank, I command.]

It was a resonant voice that spread like the Six Harmonies, clear as the blue sky.

[As of today, I dissolve the covert operations of the Divine Sword Group in Dengfeng County. All members of the martial units who have studied the Lightning Martial Lineage stored in the Desolate Fortress’s Heavenly Gold Arsenal, honor me as your temporary leader and escort me to the lodging. After the competition, the results will be reported to the Purple Rank of the main fortress.]

It was White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin.

Bald Sage and Bald Insight’s gazes met. A sudden realization flashed between them.

With so many martial artists gathered here, there was no way Desolate Fortress would sit idly by.

Apart from the Lightning Genius Lineage, countless others must have come covertly. Likely to protect the common folk.

But White Qilin’s Six Harmonies Voice specifically limited it to members of the Lightning Genius Lineage.

How many would that be?

Thud.

A sound came from the wall the two leaned against. The servant, who had been crouching silently like a dead mouse, dropped his broom.

Immediately after, he tore off the ragged cloth patched over his shoulder as he stood.

The character “Desolate” (荒) was revealed.

“Looks like I’ve been reassigned from my Henan mission. It was a quiet place.”

The servant Sanbok muttered.

As he walked straight between Bald Sage and Bald Insight, the latter, snapping out of his daze, spoke up.

“Why so? Someone who conceals their inner energy as well as you isn’t common.”

“Because I’m with the Netherworld Stream Squad. We only operate covertly.”

Sanbok answered as he stepped forward.

He walked straight toward the crowd lining up to enter the Green Jade Sword Manor. With each step imprinting on the ground, a fierce gust pushed people aside to the left and right.

It was as if a forest was parting.

“Radiant Wing Step…?”

Bald Insight muttered in a daze. Meanwhile, new energy waves continuously erupted from all directions nearby.

That day.

All the Desolate Fortress warriors in Dengfeng County rose up.