Chapter 472 – Peerless Grand Battle (7)

The three separate spaces had merged together.

A terrain revealed after the earth-shattering energy comparable to a natural disaster had collapsed all the nearby walls and ceilings.

It was too wide to be called a ravine. Rather, it was an endless plain between a pair of tall cliffs.

Bright sunlight was pouring down like a tidal wave.

“Even if a hornless dragon clutching a wish-fulfilling jewel writhes, there would still be space left.”

Two Walls Sword Master of Qingcheng Sect muttered.

A hornless dragon with a wish-fulfilling jewel from legends, literally a serpent about to ascend to heaven, would be close to a flood dragon.

Naturally, it would possess a size among the largest of all spiritual creatures. Considering this land was Dark Heaven Emperor Cho Yeol’s stronghold, it was somewhat significant.

Wuuung.

Suddenly, the blue treasure sword symbolizing Qingcheng Mountain emitted a resonant sound. This was because an extraordinary sight had entered Two Walls Sword Master’s eyes.

The back view of a young man with long black hair and a purple robe.

Beyond him, Dragon Head Sect Leader and Dark Heaven Emperor were facing each other, surrounded by a large circular formation of martial sorcery that was emitting a faint light while rotating.

It was accompanied by heavily swirling air currents.

The Hundred Year Grand Method Dragon Summoning Ritual Formula.

The ritual seemed quite advanced already, as the power waves emanating from the formation were truly tremendous. The woman in pure white windflower robe who was making eye contact with Desolate Fortress’s purple from one side was the same.

In terms of presence, she was among the foremost in the plain. She seemed completely unaffected by the Realm of Void Extinction. Just like Desolate Day Extinction Jeong Yeon-shin in this moment.

“Those two somehow resemble each other. Despite having completely opposite temperaments…”

Two Walls Sword Master glanced to the side and opened his mouth.

“Sect Leader?”

“I must go.”

The voice of Brilliant Jade Sword God lingered like an invisible fragrance.

She had already narrowed the distance of about thirty paces in one breath. It was Dark Fragrance Step of Mount Hua.

Her pale pink robe elegantly brushed the air, then fluttered grandly beside Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Your arm?”

Brilliant Jade Sword God, who had asked abruptly, didn’t wait for an answer as she examined Jeong Yeon-shin’s left shoulder. She lightly traced it with her index and middle fingers joined together like a swift sword.

Sword finger technique of a peerless master who had cultivated Purple Dawn Divine Skill to the extreme. A form of pulse-taking. She could instantly sense how completely Jeong Yeon-shin’s acupoints had recovered.

He, who had been taking in both Invincible and Dark Heaven Emperor with his eyes, finally smiled faintly.

“Thanks to your concern, I’ve fully recovered.”

“It’s heaven’s luck. I’m truly relieved.”

Finally, Brilliant Jade Sword God’s voice loosened somewhat.

Until then, it had been like a tightly drawn silk sword, but now, having confirmed her junior’s well-being, she had regained the innate temperament of the Mount Hua Sect Leader.

Immortals of the Nine Great Sects.

They cannot be viewed askance as mere martial artists. Everyone Jeong Yeon-shin had met was like that. Especially Mount Hua Sect.

After all, Brilliant Jade Sword God, Yu Hyeon, and Mount Hua Sword Prodigy High Sword True Man had all shared deep friendships with Jeong Yeon-shin.

Brilliant Jade Sword God parted her lips.

“Your aura has changed beyond recognition. Firm yet somehow gentle. Quite manly now.”

Had she finally put down her burden? She seemed to have regained her original self who enjoyed playful teasing.

The eyes of Mount Hua’s Sect Leader, tinged with a sunset-like clarity, turned toward Invincible and Dark Heaven Emperor.

“As someone worthy of representing a great faction like Desolate Fortress, you should be the quickest to act on our side. Judging by your temperament, I suspect the old sorcerer’s Transcendent Martial Art is useless against you.”

Brilliant Jade Sword God spoke gently.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t deny it. Fortunately, she seemed to still maintain her Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, though there was a hint that she was striving to keep her state of unity of spirit, energy, and body undisturbed.

He again surveyed the scene unfolding behind him with his energy sense.

Divine Monk Beomheo was first.

The Shaolin Abbot was seated in midair.

Wuuung.

The energy surrounding the old monk’s entire body like a large lotus bud.

The density of his internal energy was shockingly high. The sheer amount of accumulated energy was beyond anything Jeong Yeon-shin had ever encountered.

Even though he had reached the realm of returning to origin, his extraordinariness couldn’t be concealed, to the extent that even terms like Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown or Five Origins Return to One were insufficient to describe it.

Earlier, Divine Monk Beomheo had entrusted the vanguard to Brilliant Jade Sword God before Jeong Yeon-shin’s left arm was even examined, and closed his eyes.

After being the first to notice that the newly appointed Purple Rank’s body had recovered, he had assumed a cross-legged meditation position. The rumor that he had awakened the Six Spiritual Powers of Buddhism might be true.

He was adapting his body to Dark Heaven Emperor’s Transcendent Martial Art, which even Jeong Yeon-shin had naturally accepted.

He was worthy of being an absolute master whom many enthusiasts throughout the martial world considered the finest of the righteous path.

“Trusting me…?”

Jeong Yeon-shin stroked the sword guard of Remaining Thunder as he stepped forward. Simultaneously, he transmitted a mental message to Divine Monk Beomheo behind him.

“Abbot, was I late?”

“Not at all. Rather, you were extremely swift, making me believe the rumor that your internal energy rivals the Dragon Strength Scripture.”

The reply came immediately. It was a gentle assessment due to the friendship formed through Mount Hua Agreement.

Jeong Yeon-shin understood Divine Monk Beomheo’s words. He had clearly arrived early, but Dark Heaven Emperor’s preparations, imbued with long years, were closer to perfection.

The current Shaolin Abbot was adjusting his spirit, energy, and body with not a human but a flood dragon in mind. His perspective was different.

“Lightning Genius!”

It was Yue Shou-lin’s shout.

Jeong Yeon-shin, with his back turned, twitched his fingertips. This was because he sensed an irregularity in Yue Shou-lin’s breathing unlike her usual self.

The power waves carried in her exhalations were intermittently broken.

“Is it Dark Heaven Emperor’s doing?”

He asked quietly.

“It’s nothing serious?”

The answer came back with a hint of laughter from Desolate Divine Spear. Relief was felt in her tone. Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly shook his head.

“Your condition seems serious. Don’t overexert yourself.”

“This is like the main fortress’s purple personally marching far to rescue one subordinate. If you break through that old monster watching you intently over there and the young demon, even a Blue Rank on a mission in some remote place like Guangdong will have their morale tremendously boosted. Martial artists from other factions will become more cautious. We can’t return without results. We must succeed.”

“Senior.”

“I’ll handle the small fry. Not a single spark will reach you.”

Yue Shou-lin’s tone was cheerful… but Jeong Yeon-shin now understood martial sorcery practitioners well.

They were different from martial artists who prioritized the operation of true energy within their bodies.

Those who extended their power outside their bodies and wielded techniques that controlled wind and summoned rain. The effectiveness of their joint formations far surpassed any sword formation. This was especially true for a great faction like Taimo Mountain Castle.

Yue Shou-lin had been injured fighting Dark Heaven Emperor’s spirit projection.

Could she handle a massive faction gathered in their own stronghold? Especially when the accumulation of dharma treasures, ritual formulas, and techniques that martial sorcery practitioners constantly spoke of like a mantra had already been completed.

“If something goes wrong during battle.”

In that brief moment.

He thought of losing someone else again.

It would be right to reduce their numbers. The life and death of Yue Shou-lin who was right beside him was just as important as the manifestation of a flood dragon that humans could hardly handle. Jeong Yeon-shin slightly turned his foot.

“What is that Pine Pattern Ancient Sword?”

It resonated from right beside him.

Dark Heaven Emperor was extending his hand, distorted and wrapped in dense lightning.

In that moment, an overwhelming wave of energy swept in. Blue lightning branches swayed like unraveled threads in all directions, and the ground burst open with a series of “crack” sounds.

Simultaneously.

Boom!

A semi-transparent shock wave exploded from Dark Heaven Emperor’s abdomen. It was energy. A heavy energy rippled through Jeong Yeon-shin’s leg as he extended his foot.

The upper body of Dark Heaven Emperor was being torn to shreds at the end of the trajectory of Jeong Yeon-shin’s right foot, which had extended like a beam of light.

‘I must not take the hit. It’s a solid spirit projection.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought as he withdrew his foot after completely shattering his opponent’s body.

[Internal energy at the level of a guardian deity, flow of techniques and formulas at the ultimate level, Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown at the great accomplishment stage… adjustment of the Realm of Void Extinction is urgent.]

Having analyzed Jeong Yeon-shin deeply while being struck by his counter attack, Dark Heaven Emperor’s spirit projection dispersed like smoke while muttering an incomprehensible mental intent.

As some of the Taimo Mountain Castle masters inhaled sharply from various places.

Far behind, another shadow began to flicker into the form of Dark Heaven Emperor.

How many dharma treasures and formations had he embedded in the land of Hangzhou? He created spirit projections as naturally as flowing water. It was behind Divine Monk Beomheo.

Jjeojeojeong!

As soon as it formed, its head was crushed and vertically bisected. It was the palm strike that Jeong Yeon-shin had extended backward without even turning around, and Brilliant Jade Sword God’s sword strike after directly moving with Dark Fragrance Step.

The air was harshly scraped, causing a sharp breaking sound, and the rock fragments that had been filling the ground due to the impact of the strong energy earlier were pushed aside like waves.

“There’s no end to this.”

Brilliant Jade Sword God, who had naturally become Divine Monk Beomheo’s guardian, muttered.

She was right.

The absolute masters of martial sorcery had joined hands. At this moment, they were being drawn into a standoff because no one knew when, from which direction, or what kind of attack would come.

Dark Heaven Emperor, who created spirit projections infinitely, was a tremendous problem to begin with. He must have constructed a fortress solely for defense. There was a reason Divine Monk Beomheo had assumed a cross-legged position.

Jeong Yeon-shin slightly furrowed his brow.

Should he wait until his allies were fully prepared? Even now, Dragon Head Sect Leader was tearing through the ritual formation while constantly exchanging bodies with Dark Heaven Emperor’s main form.

Jjeojeojeojeojeong! Boom!

Lightning bolts falling continuously from the sky illuminated the ground, and the earth undulated endlessly like the Sword Tree Hell, raising hundreds of stone blades upward.

Transcendent attack techniques.

Whenever Dragon Head Sect Leader kicked the void to evade, blue flames would strike his abdomen as if by magic.

Dark Heaven Emperor’s life-taking ultimate technique known as the Star Fire Prison Flame Formula. Each time such exchanges of techniques occurred, the air would crumple semi-transparently. It was due to the immense fire energy.

Dark Heaven Emperor had room to spare.

He was doing four things simultaneously as if his mind were segmented into several parts.

While embedding dozens of sorcery techniques into Dragon Head Sect Leader, he chanted incantations to progress the Dragon Summoning Ritual Formula at the center of the sorcery formation, continuously created spirit projections toward where the Nine Great Sects leaders had gathered, and constantly adjusted invisible formations laid down from ancient times to keep the intruders’ energy sense on edge.

Just as he had deeply delved into Wudang’s Two Heart Divine Skill.

“Let me have a drink in peace!”

On the other hand, Dragon Head Sect Leader had suffered a heavy sword wound from the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader earlier and had fallen into the domain of the Realm of Void Extinction. He was in a precarious position, circling around Dark Heaven Emperor without landing any meaningful hits, seemingly about to suffer a fatal wound at any moment.

As the battle on the inclined slope dragged on without progress.

“The time for the flood dragon’s manifestation has come.”

“Finally… at last…!”

The martial sorcery practitioners of Taimo Mountain Castle, who rarely revealed their inner thoughts, expanded their encirclement and shouted.

The jiangshi, whose lineage was said to have been cut off, closed in from all directions. Corpses revealing skin and joints wrapped in bluish energy.

The Overflowing Jiangshi Grand Method was said to be the essence of Reversal Heaven cultivation, with all abilities concentrated on protective body and endurance.

On one side, Two Walls Sword Master began to spread a cloud-like sword energy with a single sword.

While Brilliant Jade Sword God’s gaze touched the back of Jeong Yeon-shin’s head, Yue Shou-lin was also accumulating powerful energy by stamping the ground with her spear shaft.

Divine Monk Beomheo had been vibrating the air with just his presence for some time.

Looking at the formation, Jeong Yeon-shin was at the very front.

[When I’m in the same space as that old Cho.]

Invincible, blocking his path, tilted her head to one side. Was it provocation? Her jet-black hair, as dark as the night sky, cascaded down, brushing against her snow-white robe.

[I’ve found that prolonged battles become much easier. What was your intention?]

She quietly asked Jeong Yeon-shin. This was in front of the absolute masters of the Nine Great Sects who were said to be able to deploy martial arts for thousands of years with pure and profound martial arts and principles.

Prolonged battle.

Everyone here was thinking the same.

‘So that’s why you’re so relaxed.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

When so many peerless masters gather, their attacks and energy waves become intricately entangled. The battle expressions of those who have achieved Transcendent Martial Art inevitably extend with unimaginably complex variations.

It would be difficult to end the fight quickly. One had to be wary of one’s own back for that reason… Jeong Yeon-shin took in both figures with one glance.

Invincible staring intently at him. Dark Heaven Emperor’s main form appearing small beyond her shoulder.

‘Come to think of it.’

Invincible hadn’t seen it. How Jeong Yeon-shin and the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader had fought. She had withdrawn her illusion as soon as the two confronted each other.

Whatever her reason was, it was not something Jeong Yeon-shin needed to know.

Step.

As he took a step forward, Dark Heaven Emperor’s spirit projection suddenly appeared at Jeong Yeon-shin’s side with his hands behind his back.

[Beomheo is right.]

“……”

[My preparations are a plan spanning hundreds of years. Do not attempt to approach.]

A mental intent as cold as winter wind spread. Jeong Yeon-shin, without even turning his head, silently opened his hand. Remaining Thunder flew into his grip from a distance.

Simultaneously, he inwardly exclaimed.

“Radiant Taiji.”

In that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin’s body blurred faintly, then bypassed Invincible who was blocking his path and stepped directly into the center of the Dragon Summoning Ritual Formation.

He had struck straight from the front. Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes, flashing with snow-white light, were engraved in Dark Heaven Emperor’s main form’s pupils at close range. It was just a moment before his arm holding Remaining Thunder melted into the void.

“Enter the Path and Transcend Together.”

A faint white line appeared on Dark Heaven Emperor’s neck. The sound of space splitting resonated belatedly.

Crack-!

Immediately, the air swirled like a storm and began to be violently sucked into that trajectory. The aftermath of a single sword strike. After briefly passing the old transcendent master, Jeong Yeon-shin flicked Remaining Thunder once.

Thud.

Behind him, Dark Heaven Emperor’s head rolled on the dirt ground.