Chapter 452 – Den of Demons (5)

In an instant, a heavy reverberation spread.

A sound like iron being cut. The black mist, sliced in two with a single strike, scattered to the left and right with an eerie friction sound of “saaaa―”.

Beyond it.

Thud.

The intruder stepped onto the relatively intact floor.

And momentarily staggered. Like someone unable to steady themselves due to intoxication.

Had it not been for the long, wavelike black hair in the sunlight and the extraordinary purple robe, one might have been reminded of the manifestation of the world’s Beggar Sect Leader, known as Light Beggar or Great Beggar.

At least that’s what Great Heaven Sect Leader Su Wuquan thought.

Fortunately, the Meditation Spring Pavilion was as wide at its perfectly flat top as it was incredibly tall.

It was sufficient to firmly support the feet of the young man who had suddenly intruded.

‘Is that a human…?’

Su Wuquan had heard of martial arts that stimulate the lower dantian through the influence of alcohol. He even knew of sects that combined such practices with divine skills and philosophical learning.

Among them are Dreamer Moon of the Thirteen Heavens, who rules over the distant southern lands, and the Beggars’ Sect, one of the great clans known as the Nine Great Sects.

There were rumors that some martial lineages of the Hao Gate also possessed similar martial arts.

But the intruder’s face, even at worst, seemed far removed from alcohol.

From the smooth skin of his face that hardly seemed human at first glance. He had heard that most masters who cultivated alcohol techniques like Drunken Fist had mostly rough complexions.

Therefore, the tremendous divine presence just now had to be achieved while merely being in a state of intoxication.

Truly unbelievable. From his distant muttering, he seemed extraordinary from the start.

He appeared heavily intoxicated.

‘A natural disaster that cannot control its own body.’

He was someone to stay away from.

“You…?”

It was the voice of Brilliant Jade Sword God Lady Lu Xian from behind. Was she acquainted with the intruder? If so, that would be fine.

‘Whatever happens afterward.’

Su Wuquan let out a sigh mixed with relief. Meanwhile, the Five Central Swordsmen flashed terrifyingly intense gazes.

If Young Castle Lord Cho Baek-gwang, who wielded wide-area martial sorcery techniques, had been among them, Su Wuquan would have found it difficult to preserve his life from the aftermath of that battle.

He inadvertently muttered.

“Did he kill him…?”

The intruder immediately glanced at Su Wuquan. Su Wuquan involuntarily flinched and closed his mouth.

‘A peerless master in a drunken state, frightening enough to appear in nightmares.’

In the young man’s pupils, a pure white radiance was bound like sword light.

Despite his young age, he seemed to have gone through countless battles. Literally, there was a sharpness, a blade-like energy emanating from him.

‘Wait… those features and attire…’

As Su Wuquan’s eyes grew wider.

[Thanks to you, I’ve died once.]

A smooth voice.

It resonated from the remnants of the mist that the intruder had cut down. Su Wuquan sensed emotions from the Young Castle Lord of Taimo Mountain that he had never experienced before.

Bewilderment, shock, relief.

Truly an extraordinary event. Was this not the Young Castle Lord who acted like an emperor in Hangzhou, with full authority delegated from Dark Heaven Emperor Cho Yeol?

He didn’t even treat people as humans unless they were of sufficiently high status.

Su Wuquan had never imagined that Great Black Divine Hand Cho Baek-gwang would show emotions so openly like he himself would.

Even when the Five Marvels of Resplendent Brilliance were mentioned once, he didn’t even sneer.

‘So his true body wasn’t within the black mist. This is why martial sorcery practitioners…’

Peerless masters who secure dominance in their vast territories naturally take immense pride in the martial arts they’ve built up.

This is especially true for those monstrous beings with incredible strength who can demolish an entire inn with a single wave of their hand.

Despite never having seen someone who possesses an enormous reputation, they can’t help but feel confident that by some means, a fight would be established when actually facing them.

Such is the nature of superhuman beings who can freely race across an entire province.

The Five Central Swordsmen. The Young Castle Lord of Taimo Mountain.

In this small country, there were four individuals here who could be discussed as the finest.

Simultaneously, Lady Lu Xian who could look down upon them, and presumably the new Purple Rank of Desolate Fortress who appeared drunk, had broken through the floor and ascended.

What would happen next?

Su Wuquan slowly gathered his energy.

And held his breath as if he weren’t present at the top of Meditation Spring Pavilion.

It was a kind of concealment technique, but he was a person skilled in degrading himself to the level of a mere insignificant stone.

* * *

The atmosphere in the room, which seemed about to explode at any moment, became strange.

The three swordsmen of Heaven Conquering Sect remained motionless while surrounding Lady Lu Xian. They directed all their energy sense toward her, only glancing at Jeong Yeon-shin from the corner of their eyes.

“The one who drew that man’s appearance should die. If they had captured even a tenth of it properly, I would have put that up instead of these people and drunk my wine.”

“So that’s the rumored monster…”

After Drunken Sword Fierce Tiger and Hidden Sword Absolute let out low exclamations of admiration.

Dragon Power Sword Ghost, carrying a large sword on his back, slightly distorted his lips. Just that alone caused the air to shimmer translucently.

“Is Dragon Power Divine Strength doing well? I mean your Forest Treading Squad Leader.”

“……”

Until then, Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been standing still like someone heavily intoxicated, suddenly turned his head toward Lady Lu Xian without a word.

His eyes exuded a languid quality.

Soon after, as he raised his cupped fist in salute, his clasped hands momentarily convulsed. He was a gentleman who observed etiquette even while intoxicated.

“I pay my respects to the Sect Leader.”

“It’s been a long time, and yet not so long.”

“Have you been well since we last met?”

“If you master our sect’s Purple Mist Divine Technique, you’ll always be in good health without minor ailments. If mastered properly, you won’t even age. Like a plum tree that lives for a very long time.”

“As you say, the Sect Leader’s complexion is excellent.”

“Your complexion is somewhat strange.”

“Mine?”

“You’ve clearly consumed too much rice wine for your complexion to be so pronounced, yet your eyes are too unfocused for your mind to be clear… I wonder what happened.”

“Something… something did happen.”

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered. Lady Lu Xian, who had been observing him intently, slowly parted her lips again.

“I’ve said that matters of one’s sect shouldn’t be pried into privately. In any case, it seems like no ordinary matter. King Qiong-ming and Desolate Fortress wouldn’t have wanted to let you leave.”

“Well water doesn’t violate river water.”

“Hmm?”

“Officials cannot infringe on martial affairs.”

“……”

“I came for matters of the martial world. The government cannot intervene.”

Jeong Yeon-shin seemed to be speaking randomly. The saying that well water doesn’t violate river water, and of course, his slightly unfocused pupils all indicated as much.

As Lady Lu Xian was at a loss for words.

“I didn’t expect the Purple Rank to deploy. Since you’ve newly ascended to the highest rank, I thought you would have to remain secluded in Xiangyang.”

A scholarly-looking young man suddenly rose from beneath the eaves of the pavilion and stepped onto the flat roof with a heavy footfall.

“Nevertheless, this is good. Please sit here.”

Rustle.

Along his widely spread arms, sleeves made of blue silk flowed down long.

Noble bearing. Unlike his seemingly delicate appearance, he displayed courage and dignity.

“……”

He walked to a chair and sat down despite Jeong Yeon-shin not even giving him a glance. It was at one side of the tables that had been scattered and bounced in all directions, an edge that had somehow remained intact.

The Young Castle Lord of Taimo Mountain, Great Black Divine Hand Cho Baek-gwang.

He was famous for casually wielding all sorts of mysterious martial sorcery.

It was said that if not for Yelu Zhen, the Unorthodox Path’s Finest Sword of Ming Cult, he would eventually have been discussed as the world’s finest in martial sorcery.

‘Of course, if I were to utter such words in front of him, I’d be killed as pulp in that black mist…’

Great Heaven Sect Leader Su Wuquan, now ignored by everyone.

Even as he stealthily took steps backward toward the edge of the roof, a strange atmosphere continued to permeate the room.

The swordsmen of Heaven Conquering Sect shifted the tips of their feet back and forth while keeping both Lady Lu Xian and Jeong Yeon-shin in their field of view. It seemed they were adjusting their sword formations in advance to amplify energy waves.

Among them, Dragon Power Sword Ghost had actually clashed with a Squad Leader under the Divine Sword Group.

When Forest Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin had finally achieved the unity of spirit, energy, and body after overcoming his excessive qi, they encountered each other due to a mission he had undertaken as a newly appointed Black Rank.

They nearly fought to a draw. It was a very famous battle.

“There’s a famous saying in the martial world.”

Cho Baek-gwang, resting his elbows on the table, slowly interlaced his fingers.

“If you encounter three Black Ranks of the Divine Sword Group at once, you’re not facing three black robes, but Desolate Fortress itself… Something like that.”

Each word was tinged with mystique.

A presence that seemed as if it might vanish from this place at any moment. It was the demeanor befitting the successor of a great faction that cultivated martial sorcery.

Taimo Mountain Castle.

All its disciples are referred to as either monsters or immortals. This is due to their strange martial sorcery studies and the extraordinary martial power they actually exert.

Their appearance in the martial world attested to their perfection as martial sorcery practitioners, and perfected martial sorcery practitioners never lost their composure in any situation.

“What would happen if those three Black Ranks launched a joint attack? The martial arts of Desolate Fortress are all distinct among the seventeen masters of the Divine Sword Group, but that’s not the case with Heaven Conquering Sect. We cultivate the same martial arts and the same sword formations.”

Having said that, Cho Baek-gwang suddenly raised a white gourd bottle.

“That’s why our castle sought cooperation from them. Even if the supreme master of Purple Rank were to rampage here right now, although we might be unlucky enough not to win, we could at least buy time until our castle’s lord and the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader arrive. Lady Lu Xian will acknowledge this.”

“Can you measure me and that child?”

Lady Lu Xian asked quietly.

By now, the sword handle tied to her pure white sash was slowly rattling.

Soon after, dusk seemed to fall over the top of the pavilion, as if an early sunset had arrived.

Behind Lady Lu Xian.

“You’ve been making threats all this time. Don’t you have the courage to draw your sword?”

A swordsman clad in black martial clothes provocatively waved his sword from side to side. Drunken Sword Fierce Tiger of Heaven Conquering Sect.

Her physique showed no particular distinction as a swordsman. This was because she had cultivated all the sword techniques taught by the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader without exception.

Having achieved such accomplishments as to be ranked among the top five in Heaven Conquering Sect, she was naturally worthy of being called a decisive weapon in a factional battle.

It was then.

The distant horizon took on a faint sunset glow.

And it deepened.

Chwaaaak―!

With a sound like a thick sheet of paper being torn apart, a stream of blood crossed Drunken Sword Fierce Tiger’s abdomen.

She couldn’t even groan. Her first priority was to stem the bleeding by hastily tapping the acupoints around her wound.

“About half an inch too shallow.”

Lady Lu Xian’s voice resonated with a hint of laughter.

By now, she had drawn her sword against the young swordsman of Heaven Conquering Sect, Hidden Sword Absolute, who had rushed in from the side.

After being defeated by the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader and consuming phoenix bone powder for half a year of secluded training.

At this moment, as she swung her sword with her pale pink sleeves fluttering, the pale veins on the back of her hand erupted with a resonant boom.

Both her internal energy and her sword energy waves were incredibly powerful.

Supreme divine technique. Purple Glow Sword.

“…!”

As Hidden Sword Absolute watched the approaching purple sword energy that twisted and turned like flower petals carried on the sunset breeze, he recalled the rumor that the sword talent of the current Mount Hua Sect Leader was the finest among all the absolute masters of the Nine Great Sects.

A talent that made it impossible to even guess where her variations would end. Hidden Sword Absolute stiffened his lips with tension and swung his sword from top to bottom.

Following his fierce sword strike, the air momentarily resonated.

Hwook―

There was no sound of collision. He had missed. Despite clearly aiming and swinging his sword, it had gone astray, though certainly not by his own intention.

Lady Lu Xian was already extending her sword from his flank. In an instant, a purple radiance rapidly filled Hidden Sword Absolute’s eyes. It was the absolute sword energy emanating from the Mount Hua Sect Leader.

It was then.

Kugung!

Suddenly, Lady Lu Xian’s body halted. Along with a vibration that heavily transmitted down to the floor. Something had stopped her.

“Do not take any more foolish actions.”

Cho Baek-gwang said while pouring wine into the cup before him. At the same time, a large amount of blood suddenly flowed from his mouth.

He had momentarily stopped Lady Lu Xian’s attack using formations, treasures, and talismans he had set up in advance. It was a martial sorcery technique close to divine skill.

He continued slowly.

“It’s not just the three of them and me. All of the Five Central Swordsmen are in this Hangzhou, and Dark Heaven Emperor is planning to reshape the world together with the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader. How formidable the Purple Rank of Desolate Fortress and the Mount Hua Sect Leader are is irrelevant. Simply acknowledge that this land is a death zone, and it would be a hundred times better to consider how to escape with your bodies intact.”

Saaaa―

It was the sound of the remnants of the black mist that had been split by Jeong Yeon-shin earlier.

That dark smoke, seemingly on the verge of dissipating, was drawn toward Cho Baek-gwang in a faint form.

It was a sight like freely expelling and then retrieving internal energy imbued with spirituality.

“The internal energy possessed by the newly appointed Purple Rank… it’s difficult to discern its secrets, but could it possibly be of Taoist or Buddhist lineage? Yet that doesn’t make sense…”

Cho Baek-gwang furrowed his brow. A sign indicating that a significantly lower amount was returning. But he did not remove his hand from the wine cup.

“In any case, stop interfering with us any further. The Heaven Conquering Sect Leader is likely already returning with the heads of the Annihilation Team Leader and Taoist High Sword… If your hands are really itching, you could share some wine with me like this and then test your martial arts. Either way, please consider leaving our castle alone for a moment. Rather than ruining our affairs and then facing both Dark Heaven Emperor and the Unorthodox Path’s Finest Sword simultaneously, it would be better to…”

Cho Baek-gwang’s words ceased. It was right after he had gathered all the black mist.

“You…!”

A faint beam of light was etched between his wide-open eyes.

It was completely vertical. A straight line from Cho Baek-gwang’s chest, through his neck, past his lips, to his forehead. Immediately after, with a “puhwak―” sound, his body, split in two, fell on either side of the chair.

The trajectory was identical to the beam of light that Jeong Yeon-shin had created when he intruded earlier.

The strike that had been inflicted on the martial sorcery was now manifested on his true body.

“Now.”

Jeong Yeon-shin gestured with his chin toward the empty space.

“Is that where the Castle Lord sits?”

In that moment, even Lady Lu Xian slightly parted her lips.