Chapter 528 – Honoured One of the South (7)

“Buddha’s eyes see only Buddha.”

These were words that a royal teacher once spoke to a certain monarch who possessed peerless archery divine skills. It meant that in Buddha’s eyes, only Buddha could be seen.

—That energy… an undeserved connection has reached a madman.

The same voice I heard earlier.

A voice that scrambled my mind dizzyingly enough to remind me of Buddhist Wisdom Light Heart Speech.

I never expected the first words I’d hear from the Wudang Sect Leader to be like this.

The person inevitably mentioned whenever martial artists name the world’s greatest sword. Honestly, as a swordsman, I had expected some praise that my body had been fairly well cultivated.

‘Swordsmanship and eye techniques are inseparably related, after all.’

Meanwhile, Profound Void Immortal’s form was slowly approaching me while crossing through the void. A human shadow visible only as a silhouette with his back to an extremely bright sun.

Hwaaak!

The oppressive feeling that seemed to crumple my skin grew increasingly thick. It felt as if all the natural earth energy under heaven was hostile toward me.

Mild dizziness arose, but I naturally regained my body’s balance by pretending to take a respectful posture while bringing both hands together.

Killing two birds with one stone. I had simultaneously preserved the dignity and grace of the Divine Sword Group Leader. If the Grand Administrator had seen it, praise would have followed.

“Lightning Genius of the Jeong family, Yeon-shin.”

—I say to Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin, the clearest buds under heaven do not grow from a madman’s mental state. Naturally, they cannot bloom flowers either. Such is your limitation.

It was a strange voice.

A feeling where exhalation and inhalation jumped about arbitrarily in a single breath. The breath contained in the voice was unstable, and even in those few short words, the voice kept breaking off.

I asked.

“Are the buds Three Clear Powers, and the flowers the great achievement of Three Clear Powers?”

—How regrettable. It’s the same principle as Zhu Bajie’s tongue being unable to taste ginseng. So very pitiful… If only the Yong fellow had obtained it instead, Lightning Genius would have established himself as the sun of chaotic times by now.

It seemed Profound Void Immortal had completely lost his mind. Buddha’s eyes see only Buddha. In a madman’s eyes, everyone would appear mad.

I had just infused what I presumed to be Three Clear Powers into Radiant Wing Steps, but according to Profound Void Immortal’s words, this was precisely proof that I wasn’t mad.

Yet he seemed ready to make a move.

—What a pity.

Haah—

Profound Void Immortal’s sigh transformed into hazy sword winds and swept toward me, lashing the ground before my feet like a whip.

Instantly, with a tremendous crashing sound, the ground was carved out for more than ten zhang.

Precisely ten zhang, three feet, five inches, and half a pun, plus the amount of eye crust I had once cleaned from my niece Hye-ah’s eyes.

The influence of the initial attack was excessively wide. If it had touched my body, my protective strong energy might have crumbled.

The Wudang Sect Leader, called the Mount Tai of orthodox martial learning alongside Divine Monk Beomheo. One of the few sword companions of the late Emperor Qian-ling.

Even his breath became sword wind.

‘An immortal…!’

The fine hairs on my neck stood up at that magnificence. At the same time, I felt renewed shock.

Deviation of mind.

A phenomenon where the mental state greatly diverges from the cultivation method it had been aligned with. Naturally, it inevitably strains the meridians. The longer one suffers, the more it erodes one’s martial prowess.

If someone had fallen into deviation for as long as Profound Void Immortal, he should be considered greatly diminished.

‘And yet he’s still at this level…?’

Could I face him properly?

I became afraid I might die young, leaving behind many connections.

The martial arts of the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader still didn’t reach the Shaolin Abbot I had seen in Hangzhou, and right now Profound Void Immortal was severely suffering from the headache called deviation of mind.

But I still spoke with a respectful mindset.

“Though it’s presumptuous to say at our first meeting, if you stimulate your upper dantian with ascending sword strikes, even senile dementia could be resolved easily. If you intend to strike repeatedly, may this junior take the initiative?”

“…!”

After Profound Void Immortal’s exhalation settled and scattered in all directions, the eyes of Jade Sword, Jade Radiance, Jade Cliff Immortals and Zhu Se-hwa widened.

They turned to look at me as if they had heard something unimaginable, but couldn’t do anything more than that.

Lightning Genius purple rank.

And Acting Divine Sword Group Leader.

I should be equal or superior to any sect’s leader. Though Wudang’s immortals were noble, I too had long ceased to be the child who once coveted swing games during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Meanwhile, Profound Void Immortal was now floating directly before me.

In my field of vision, he completely blocked out the sun, his disheveled hair flowing down and tattered Taoist robes standing out. Both had a grayish-white color.

His face was not visible.

It was because he was wrapped in grayish-white mist like bandages.

—Go down. There is no need to form connections with madmen.

“This.”

Lightning Genius Jeong the Gentleman was undeterred by Profound Void Immortal’s dismissive words.

Swish.

I simply raised the bundle in my hand to my chest. It was the box containing the head of the world’s greatest chivalrous hero.

My lips are heavy.

But I must speak. With the same heart as Group Leader Yong.

—…We inevitably keep losing them. After I wash my hands in the golden basin, I plan to search for their homeland. There are many places to visit.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“I have come to convey something to Wudang’s Sect Leader Immortal. High Sword Immortal was a chivalrous hero without equal under heaven, more noble than any jianghu person in Hangzhou at the time. I express my condolences borrowing the status of Lightning Genius Divine Sword Group Leader. Thanks to his cultivation of noble taoist energy, his remains are still intact, so if the Sect Leader could… at least look upon him.”

I concluded my words carefully.

But Profound Void Immortal’s reaction was indifferent. A gaze looking down diagonally at the box. The same indifference as nature itself seeped through.

—That is a delusion that blocks the sword path of my Natural Sword. When I should cast it off… go down.

“The sect leader should be changed.”

—What did you say?

I inwardly flinched with an impassive face. My thoughts had spilled out of my mouth. Just like when I lost my left arm in Hangzhou once.

‘Why?’

But there was no time to ponder deeply.

“……”

Profound Void Immortal had been staring intently at the box I held up. Deep anger had gathered in the eyes of this ancient Taoist absolute master. It was an unpredictable emotional change.

—Hurry, take it, and disappear.

The dawn air of Mount Wudang might be like this. A chillingly cold feeling spread. It was because the nearby natural earth energy had stopped moving.

Anger also gathered in my brow.

“Entrusting a deceased fellow disciple’s remains to an outsider—what sect’s law is that? The sect leader should take care of it. Or whose status would be fitting for the deceased? Not someone else, but the Sect Leader Immortal should represent Wudang in honoring High Sword Immortal’s spirit.”

The Wudang Sect Leader had refused High Sword Immortal’s remains. This should not happen.

‘Why…?’

I had not done so. It still spreads like a swamp in my mind. The sight of the seniors who remained only as heads.

“Lord Jeong.”

Suddenly Jade Radiance Immortal approached with a troubled smile, narrowing the distance and grasping the shoulder edge of my purple long robe. I could feel the annoyingly tenacious strength characteristic of cotton palm.

“Please consider the sect leader’s condition. Right now it can’t be helped…”

—Indeed.

Profound Void Immortal’s voice cut off those words.

—The Divine Sword Group Leaders have always been unreasonable throughout the generations. You don’t even possess the Enter the Divine Sword yet, but you’re ready to force that box upon me.

I looked up at him clearly and answered.

“You’ve observed correctly.”

—Do you have achievements worthy of matching me?

Laughter seeped from Profound Void Immortal’s question. It wasn’t a refreshing feeling—it had an ominous temperament like echoing from a deep well.

Unlike me, who was close to the incarnation of clear mirror-like water, he seemed to have lost himself.

I cry out inwardly.

‘Draw.’

The divine dragon that had been swimming in the depths of my heart instantly coiled around Remaining Thunder at my waist. In an instant, a sharper vibration than usual arose with a keen ring.

The divine sword that drew itself naturally descended to my feet.

Fan Dragon Flower Treading Technique.

Sword Flight.

Step.

Standing on the brilliant sword blade, Remaining Thunder floated up gently. Without question, I matched eye level with Profound Void Immortal.

At this moment, even in the fierce winds that continuously buffeted Mount Wudang, my balance did not waver.

“Lord Jeong!”

“Sect Leader…!”

Not only Jade Radiance Immortal, but even Jade Cliff Immortal, who had earlier pressured Zhu Se-hwa with amazing momentum, cried out loudly.

But it was too late.

Profound Void Immortal was already extending his arm.

Whoong—

The atmosphere warped murkily. The extreme Wudang sect leader who could discuss all under heaven with a single strike. I met it with my right hand filled with Brilliant River.

As the three Divine Sword Group Leaders had taught me, while strongly stepping on Remaining Thunder.

* * *

Mount Wudang, where landslides had occurred repeatedly.

Kugugung.

Another heavy rumble arose from afar. It would be the sound of a boulder that had been rolling down finally hitting a cliff and shattering into pieces.

Originally Mount Wudang was quiet, but it had not been so for the past three days.

Mount Wudang was certainly one of the renowned spiritual mountains under heaven.

But it did not make sounds by itself. There were causes that had created massive reverberations throughout the vast mountain range.

“Where is the Sect Leader Immortal?”

“Unknown.”

“Is it the same for Lightning Genius Lord Jeong?”

“Yes, occasionally the trajectory of sword riding flight is observed from afar… but they say Buddhist dharma power disturbs the vision of Profound Gate Eye Techniques.”

“The disciples of Profound Eye Palace work hard.”

Heavenly Pillar Peak, the highest peak of Mount Wudang.

Among them, a Taoist temple built as grandly as a palace with a plaque reading “Three Clear.”

Their conversation submerged in pure white clouds was tranquil. The sight of each sitting cross-legged on rocks here and there was the same.

Not just one or two.

Though they had gathered under the name of Wudang Sect thanks to Immortal Zhang Sanfeng, originally the Taoist temples of Mount Wudang had different positions and martial lineages.

Even now, each temple discussed Wudang’s major and minor affairs under the name of “Palace.”

Among them, Phoenix Palm Zhu Se-hwa was the master of Full Draft Palace.

Though the youngest palace master in the sect, she still had the qualification to attend leadership meetings. Naturally, she also had the right to speak.

“Shouldn’t we move at a time like this? The Three Clear Temple is safe for now, but we don’t know when the sect leader’s sword strikes might reach even Heavenly Pillar Peak.”

“We’re not unaware of that fact, but…”

An aged voice echoed from within the clouds.

An old Taoist of the same generation as Profound Void Immortal. Though his Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown had long been broken due to the imbalance between aged essence and vigorous energy among essence, energy, and spirit, his voice continued clearly.

“The sect leader Immortal and Lightning Genius purple rank… they are beings who cannot be controlled by force unless it’s the Seven Star Sword Formation. Moving Wudang’s seven pillars toward such madmen would be…”

Then the voice of Wudang’s next sect leader, Jade Cliff Immortal, interjected.

“It would be no different from offering the common people below Mount Wudang as food to supernatural monsters. We’ll have to scatter again to block the gates in two days.”

“Some sacrifice in great matters is inevitable…”

“Yun-hyeon Zhu Se-hwa. You are not a monarch but a Wudang Taoist. If you wish to look upon common people with royal eyes, you should return to Full Draft Palace.”

“……”

Zhu Se-hwa’s lips closed.

The conversation of the Wudang masters filling the clouds of Three Clear Temple continued again.

“The purple rank personage won’t meet their end on our main mountain, will they?”

“His divine prowess is marvelous. Since none of the rumors conveyed by lay disciples seem false, he’ll surely be fine. He should have the skill to escape even while exchanging hands with the sect leader Immortal. He is even called the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader…”

“What about Profound Thought… no, High Sword grand-uncle? The bundle that was said to be carried by Lightning Genius Lord.”

“To quickly retrieve that box as well, our sect must finish what we were concentrating on. Once the sect leader recovers from deviation, everything will return to its proper place.”

“Would that be possible?”

Zhu Se-hwa understood why an anxious voice had arisen from one side.

Before requesting Jeong Yeon-shin’s visit.

What the current Wudang Sect had been striving for while simultaneously blocking the gates.

‘The Demon Man.’

Originally a disciple of Profound Void Immortal who had received all of Wudang’s expectations, but one day suddenly descended the mountain.

Then over more than ten years, he learned all kinds of studies from someone called Divine Theft before returning. Having melted all sorts of miscellaneous skills including stealth, concealment, and sound arts into Wudang cultivation methods.

The taiji of Zhang Sanfeng’s martial lineage embraces all things.

Wudang did not expel him. They accepted him again as a fellow Taoist who had briefly lost his way.

Profound Void Immortal had been strange since then.

He saw illusions and became obsessed with bizarre sword paths. He even abandoned the administrative duties that encompassed all the palaces of Mount Wudang and entered seclusion.

The task of investigating the cause mobilized Taoists from Profound Eye Palace, Full Draft Palace, and Sword Leaf Palace. And finally, they found the cause in the internal energy that the ‘Demon Man’ had cultivated from Divine Theft. The chaotic true energy structure characteristic of the northern jianghu was underlying all of his miscellaneous skills.

Sound arts that had been playing melodies for Profound Void Immortal.

Even the tea ceremony methods that had been offering tea water to his master.

There was no Sima unorthodox energy.

Moreover, before his disciple, Profound Void Immortal was not a transcendent absolute master. He was merely an old man who covered over all suspicions.

The Demon Man fled as soon as the truth was revealed, but he did not completely leave the vast mountain range.

His movements seemed as if maintaining Profound Void Immortal’s seclusion was his life’s goal.

This was evident from how he occasionally deepened his former master’s deviation with sound wave energy carried in flutes and such.

‘In other words, the opponent is… one who possesses the internal energy mastery of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown…’

A joint successor of the Wudang Sect Leader and Divine Theft.

He even wore dharma treasures that would require a small nation’s resources to obtain like ornaments.

Profound Eye Palace speculated that the majority of them likely possessed concealment abilities.

This was truly Wudang Sect’s absurd shame. Something that could not be revealed anywhere.

Moreover, the purple rank personage they had difficultly requested…

‘I should give up expectations on that side.’

It was when Zhu Se-hwa was inwardly shaking her head.

Suddenly from Three Clear Palace.

“The landslides have stopped! It seems the fight has ended!”

“A one-armed swordsman wearing a bamboo hat… has begun ascending the main mountain, but none of the disciples can approach according to mental transmission.”

Two reports rang out in succession.

It was extremely urgent.