Chapter 506 – Desolate Great War (6)

The moment when Myriad Upper Road Stronghold Leader Sea Overflow Fist Heaven shattered the western castle wall with a single fist.

Hundreds of brushes struck like swords in sharp strokes.

Swish!

The spirit creatures—messenger ravens, brown squirrels, ferrets, and swallows—busily came and went across the long rows of desks arranged in order, creating commotion everywhere.

Among the various colored fur flying about in great disorder, extremely faint energy wave fluctuations spread mysteriously.

These were energy waves originating from the elf clan’s secret technique of taming beasts into spirit creatures.

Desolate Fortress Administrative Office.

The scholars were using the Four Treasures of the Study like military weapons.

They would dip brushes into quickly ground ink, transfer it to paper, write brief phrases in one swift stroke, seal them as letters and attach them to the bodies or legs of spirit creatures while whispering incantations like Taoist true words.

Then the swallows and such would flap their wings and fly away through the open window gaps—this scene repeated endlessly.

Possessed movements.

Like this, all the main castle scholars were uniformly talented individuals well-versed in all kinds of learning, combining literary and martial arts.

They had devoted themselves to Desolate Fortress without taking Emperor Qian-ling’s civil service examinations, and were the era’s gallant warriors who now encompassed all seventeen squads of the Divine Sword Group.

Naturally, it wasn’t just their brushwork that was sharp. Each of their voices was also loud and clear thanks to their shallow but refined internal energy.

“Western situation report. Dragon Flow Twin Kings under Sea Overflow Fist Heaven and all water bandits of Myriad Upper Road Stronghold completely eliminated. Presumed that the Stronghold Leader headed south alone. Confirmed to be Sea Overflow Fist Heaven’s solo martial world journey.”

“The strike that shattered the castle wall was a martial art called Six Harmonies Morning Demon Lightning, which has recently been rumored in the Yangtze River region to be the world’s greatest technique, according to Nether Stream Squad’s report.”

“It appears to combine imperial navy martial lineage with the martial arts of the Chaotic World Fist Demon who pacified the Blue Sea one hundred fifty years ago.”

“We concur with this analysis. That technique was One Move Two Forms… two powerful strikes in one breath. The first form completely destroyed the castle wall, and the second form’s energy wave that pushed into the main castle’s inner fortress using Mount-Striking Techniques was blocked by Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader and Law Enforcement Squad Leader.”

“Those Squad Leaders are currently in energy regulation and breath control. Their location is likewise the western side of the main castle, Radiant Demon Wing’s training ground.”

The voices of scholars handling frontline reports rang out clearly and urgently.

Some of them spoke as if actually looking down at specific locations, thanks to the Administrative Office’s secret eye technique called Moon Nature Formation and the dharma treasures spread throughout the main castle.

Within Desolate Fortress, they possessed another kind of vision. Naturally, this was martial arts that couldn’t be learned with ordinary five senses.

Meanwhile, the upper seat where their reports were being delivered belonged to a middle-aged man with a bushy beard.

A slender brush was held in his hand, incongruously small for his massive frame.

The middle-aged man shook his head with his eyes closed.

“It was a great technique. Judging by the energy waves, it would take about one time period to reload. Long if long, but too short if short.”

Soon after, he took a long inhalation.

Whoosh—

The dust floating like stars inside the Administrative Office became irregularly distorted. It was powerful internal energy breathing.

Grand Administrator Lim Jin-myeong.

He had long since activated and then extinguished the eye technique that could comprehensively observe all ninety-nine hall complexes and the castle walls surrounding them.

While briefly regulating his breathing like this, he surveyed all situations from the center of the main castle through his subordinates and made various decisions.

Which formations to activate in which locations, how to deploy which military units, and which among the supreme masters of the Wish for Peace Sword Hall to send out.

Thud—

Rumble—

Like distant thunder swallowed by dark clouds, roaring sounds rolled in from afar. They were the collision sounds of masters from the three directions—east, west, and south.

These reverberations had gradually grown louder since the beginning of the battle, naturally proving that the factional war was becoming increasingly intense.

It was the jianghu’s malice accumulated over long years.

Lim Jin-myeong said expressionlessly.

“…Everyone keep this in mind. The main castle will not wither and die. We too must engage in wheel warfare.”

A prolonged war.

The defending side above all had to manage force deployment meticulously.

Moreover, Desolate Fortress in chaotic times should not hope for reinforcements. They had to properly assess the stamina and internal energy consumption of the main castle masters in time.

“Continue reporting.”

At Lim Jin-myeong’s words, his subordinates’ answers followed.

“Yu Ling’s wandering martial artists are concentrating intensively on the collapsed castle wall. Their numbers are endless!”

“Desolate Ma Family and the Yu and Yun Family masters are responding in the west. Currently an even match, devoted to defense.”

“According to Desolate Ma Family’s observation, Sea Overflow Fist Heaven’s internal energy breathing has weakened by approximately seventy percent. His energy accumulation has decreased. We need not worry about the re-deployment of Six Harmonies Morning Demon Lightning for now.”

“Blood Guardian Squad Leader responding at the front…!”

“Additional report! Yu Ling’s Demon Lord Guan intrusion! To Sea Overflow Fist Heaven… an elixir? The wandering martial artists’ movements have changed completely! It’s a protective formation!”

The air in the hall rippled. It was because the Administrative Office scholars’ internal energy breathing was briefly disturbed. At this moment, only an extremely few including the Grand Administrator maintained composure.

Lim Jin-myeong’s mouth moved along with energy waves.

—Myeong-jo, if you don’t see an opening right away, withdraw from there temporarily. Regulate your energy and breathing while recovering your enlightenment in the inner fortress. Don’t act rashly.

Soon after, he spoke aloud.

“Activate all mechanical formations in that direction. Block Sea Overflow Fist Heaven’s energy circulation as much as possible, and have the masters of the main castle’s affiliated families reorganize their formations…”

Lim Jin-myeong, who had cut off his own words, suddenly opened his eyes. Several scholars were looking back at him.

Among them, a woman with her hair tied in a single bunch and wearing blue scholarly robes loosely opened her lips.

“Shall we send communication underground?”

“No.”

“It seems the time has come. Just looking at the eastern side of the main castle, it’s like fog has settled in the eye technique’s vision. We deployed so much force but have no news. Ma Family Head, who headed there a moment ago, hasn’t sent a swallow either, so if some mishap has occurred…”

“Not yet.”

“Otherwise, we should summon the Divine Sword Group military units scattered across more than half the world even now. Only with them present would it be possible to hold out until Lightning Genius returns.”

“Impossible.”

Lim Jin-myeong shook his head and continued.

“The Elder Council Head, who had already withdrawn from Group Leader Yong’s assembly order, earnestly entreated them. That even if the main castle were annihilated, they must preserve their lineage and look after common people. The Elder Council Head’s orders supersede the Grand Administrator’s command authority. Unless another Divine Sword Group Leader appears, there will be no return.”

His subordinate closed their mouth. Soon after, another scholar submitted a report.

“Forest Treading Squad Leader has sent communication. He requests permission to sortie.”

[TL Note- sortie means attacking after coming out of defensive position.] 

—Denied.

The Grand Administrator’s unique martial art that consumed considerable internal energy. Lim Jin-myeong’s mental transmission encompassing the entire main castle struck down like lightning to the Forest Treading Squad’s hall built far away.

Having issued orders directly like this, Lim Jin-myeong spoke dryly.

“No need to look. What sortie with that body. Forest Treading Squad Leader continues to focus on inner fortress defense unchanged. Now isn’t the situation where Yu Ling’s vermin have penetrated all the way inside the main castle.”

At this moment, like Dream Human Moon’s martial art silently devouring the eastern side of the main castle, Lim Jin-myeong’s voice seeped into the silence that had begun to sporadically fill the hall.

Swish. Saaaa.

Not a single person stopped their brushwork or internal energy operation, but the weight of the world’s jianghu was descending upon Desolate Fortress.

It was damp like invisible fog, and strangely heavy.

They knew. What movements were already unfolding outside Xiangyang, how those who had learned martial arts and faced chaotic times were each seeking their own safety in various forms.

How many sects beyond the Thirteen Evil Sects were rushing to Desolate Fortress one after another, thinking this was their chance, and approximately when those wolves would arrive in succession.

Since the founding of the nation.

The dam that had long blocked an absurdly massive river had cracked.

The jianghu and Desolate Fortress. Paradoxically, it was a situation where jianghu swollen precisely because of the poor harvest were overflowing their banks.

“Main gate report!”

Suddenly, starting with someone’s cry, the atmosphere shook repeatedly.

“Martial Dragon Alliance Leader Helian Feng-yue observed from the south! Fog formation at greater distance! Gang of Demons Green Forest!”

“Grasping Wei and Observing the World Below Heaven! Cavalry charge! Straight to the main castle’s main gate…!”

“Yu Ling’s wandering martial artists and Martial Dragon Alliance warriors’ castle wall climbing has accelerated. There appears to have been prior agreement.”

“Estimated to have been deployed from twenty li outside the front! Urgent! It’s urgent!”

“Azure Sky Squad and Forest Treading Squad are on the castle walls. The iron clan soldiers of the City of Renowned Craftsmen are standing by in the southern inner fortress. Shall we activate the mechanical formations?”

The voices of the Administrative Office’s talented individuals grew louder.

Clatter.

The long rows of desks in the hall shook.

It was due to the energy waves each owner had raised—the first time since Ma Ung of Desolate Ma Family had announced the opening of battle. Starting with Lim Jin-myeong’s facial muscles twitching.

“How is Divine Spear?”

He asked. Immediately one subordinate answered.

“She remains alone at the main gate.”

“What about Namgung Hwa-shin?”

“His injuries are still severe…”

“Activate Comprehensive Eye again.”

Having roared thus, jade-green radiance glittered in Lim Jin-myeong’s eyes. It was the secret divine technique of comprehensively observing the entire vast Desolate Fortress from his seated position. It was of a different caliber from other scholars’ eye techniques.

Wuuuuuung!

Along with the resonant sound of true energy, his vision was drawn toward the main castle’s main gate as if being sucked in.

Flutter—

The next moment, his field of vision was dyed purple with long robes. Simultaneously, the scholars who had been observing the main gate direction from the Administrative Office witnessed the same scene.

They were all talented individuals who absorbed the phrases of books as if experiencing them firsthand. The words “extraordinary and transcendent” began flowing from various places, but briefly, all their voices lowered at once.

“Main castle purple manifestation.”

“Lightning Genius Lord Jeong.”

“Awaiting the Grand Administrator’s orders.”

“We suggest revising all strategies. It would be acceptable to remove four military units’ worth of force from the main gate and divide them left and right…”

Xiangyang and Desolate Fortress overheated by the blazing sun reflected by the jianghu’s blade wielders.

When the sun sets, the earth cools.

They accepted this natural principle and began calculating the advantages they could gain from it. It was the clear mirror-like wisdom that people of the main castle with purple at their side inevitably possessed.

Thus the Administrative Office actually became calmer.

The dust swarms that had been disturbing the hall once again flowed long and settled quietly but ceaselessly through the clear winter air.

Pure white sunlight illuminated this scene blankly. Like the image of Jeong Yeon-shin captured in Lim Jin-myeong’s vision at this moment.

“…Forest Treading Squad to the west, Azure Sky Squad to the east gate. Activate mechanical formations when my order falls. The iron soldiers must also remain on standby.”

Lim Jin-myeong, who had briefly paused with internal energy breathing, slowly added orders.

“But Lightning Genius is also human. We can’t completely empty the main gate…”

Suddenly his voice stopped.

Originally, it was said that the strikes of absolute masters occurred in an instant. Unless it was Transcendent Martial Art, that story was generally correct.

Naturally, it didn’t take long for the Administrative Office scholars’ dumbfounded murmurs to fall in succession.

“Grasping Wei and Observing the World Below Heaven blocked. No damage to main castle.”

“The cavalry forces have been completely annihilated.”

“All enemies bypassing Lightning Genius to climb over the walls total 478 people. Composition includes wandering martial artists, extremely few Yu Ling warriors, and Martial Dragon Alliance.”

“Completely annihilated again.”

At that moment, one scholar for the first time muttered “insane” privately, then closed his lips as if nothing had happened.

“One person… Martial Dragon Alliance’s First Protector survived. But with his left hand missing and severe injuries penetrating deep into his left abdominal muscles, it’s effectively total annihilation.”

“Recording confrontation situation. Lightning Genius, Divine Spear, Ultimate Martial Hall Leader. And Gang of Demons Green Forest’s Grand Chief plus two supreme masters and Martial Dragon Alliance Leader Helian Feng-yue.”

Lim Jin-myeong, who had been listening silently, rose from his seat and spoke.

“Empty the main gate. You there, Scholar Chae, go bring Thunder Immortal Treasure Wine from the inner quarters.”

The woman who had earlier mentioned “underground” to him quickly stood and asked.

“For Lightning Genius?”

“Yes, for Lightning Genius.”

Lim Jin-myeong answered.

* * *

Eastern edge of Desolate Fortress.

The halls of Divine Sword Group’s Obeying Heaven Wing.

A woman wearing sleeveless sackcloth was walking while swaying both arms.

Her movements were like a completely drunk person trying to maintain balance, with oily luster rippling along her long hair that swayed left and right.

Step.

The sight of a single beggar leading dozens of people and wandering through the magnificent hall complex as if it were her own home. Except for the leader, each wore various colorful splendid silk garments, with fragrant gourds hanging from their waists that gave off subtle aromas.

Only the leading beggar didn’t suit the Obeying Heaven Wing halls built from pure white marble.

Among those following her, a youth with particularly dark hair braided back suddenly spoke. Though drowsiness seeped from the mole embedded beside one eye, his voice was clear.

“They’re all sleeping now? Why don’t you walk a bit faster?”

“Don’t make me talk. I’m having a hard time right now.”

The beggar answered.

The youth’s expression crumpled.

“Of course it’s hard, causing this commotion in none other than Desolate Fortress. Don’t stop your energy circulation—if things go wrong, Heaven-Measuring Brush Demon Lim Jin-myeong might use our faces to create wanted posters. Then we can’t go anywhere.”

“Would a master of the Thirteen Evil Sects worry about such things?”

“When you took me as a disciple, it was Beggar Sect!”

“Don’t worry. I taught you Striking Dog Batting Technique. If you just mangle your face a bit and act like a beggar, wanted posters and such become meaningless. You’re just a common beggar.”

“No…!”

Thud!

The moment the youth stamped his foot, a rough hand was placed on his shoulder. It was the restraint of a giant walking behind.

“These are unprecedented chaotic times. Things like government wanted posters lost their power long ago. Even if it’s Desolate Fortress’s purple… that person’s individual martial force is just absurdly supreme, but they’re merely those who walk the jianghu alone without the ability to bring support troops from other sects. We just need to reach the Desolate Fortress Lord’s residence.”

It was an extremely calm voice.

No one rebutted those words. Only the sounds of staggering footsteps rang out irregularly.

Even while crossing Desolate Fortress’s Obeying Heaven Wing halls diagonally in broad daylight, all their conduct was free and unrestrained.

Not a single person concealed their presence. Because at some point, no one had been attacking them.

“……”

The scene spread around them at this moment.

Warriors with the character “Desolate” carved on their shoulders lying everywhere as if dead.

Appearances as if their blood points had been struck. Their numbers reached over a hundred, and quite a few had actually fallen into sleep and been killed, now dreaming in the River of Three Crossings.

This was the inevitable end faced by those who encountered Dream Human Moon’s master.

The beggar woman slowly opened her lips.

“That friend will come again, right?”

“Ma Family Head? Of course. He was overflowing with energy unlike a eunuch. We were tremendously delayed because of that monster. Unnecessarily appearing and disappearing like a ghost.”

“If I undo this, I can easily handle that friend too.”

When she lightly stepped in place, the entire sky over the eastern part of Desolate Fortress rippled semi-transparently.

Thump—

An epoch-making energy barrier.

At that moment, she wasn’t a mere beggar but an absolute being who had made Desolate Fortress like an underpass.

The youth recoiled in horror and waved his hands.

“Don’t do that! I’m definitely going to be expelled someday and achieve fame and success!”

“Crazy b*st*rd.”

It was when the giant walking behind him muttered.

Suddenly.

Thunk.

Dream Human Moon’s master bumped into someone like a lie and made a foolish sound.

“Ow.”

Soon after, she wiped the soot from her face and raised her head. Still with a dreamy face as if walking through a dream.

An elf clan youth wearing clothes that glittered golden existed there.

With hair like melted pure gold, everything was entirely golden in color, but he had his head deeply lowered and was making snoring sounds through his nose.

He was sleeping while standing.