Chapter 536 – Jianghu Name Record (2)

The cliff shook once.

The Radiant Demon Wing masters who had been racing upward against the rough stone wall in reverse suddenly hesitated and stopped. Among them was Shin So-bin. She too was stepping vertically on the cliff face.

The sight of her slightly turning only her head to avoid the stone powder pouring down. Her long braided hair swayed like a soft sword along with white energy waves. She shook her blue sleeve edges.

“Just now…”

“It was Luminous Wheel Technique.”

A taciturn-looking man said as he passed Shin So-bin. Asura Demon Soul Na Il-cheon. A blue-rank master with pale skin who had once assisted Jin Myeong-jo in Blood Guardian Squad.

He was someone tall enough that even Jeong Yeon-shin during his Radiant Demon Wing Leader days wouldn’t have dared to push side dishes toward him.

“If Il-cheon’s energy sense says so, then it’s accurate.”

The one-eyed noble in black robes, Cheong Myeong, dropped his small voice downward. He was far above.

The gradually widening gap due to footwork resembling Ten-Li Gentle Light. He was running alone as if he would abandon his subordinates.

Cheong Myeong’s words were nothing particularly new. Those from Blood Guardian Squad origins were uniquely sensitive to spiritual energies.

Voices of Radiant Demon Wing masters rang out from various places.

“Who could the opponent be?”

“Either the North or the Wudang Sect Leader.”

“Why would Lord Jeong bother crossing hands with an Immortal? It’s nothing but losses no matter how you look at it. The buttocks of the highest jianghu masters who lead major factions aren’t heavy for no reason. Whether you win or lose, it’s a problem…”

“How is winning a problem?”

“Unless the process was quite good, relations between factions get twisted. It becomes difficult to coordinate in the future. Even if the parties involved accept defeat, the disciples’ hearts are different. Of course, there’s no law saying Wudang would be like that too. Originally Lord Jeong likely clashed with the North.”

“We should also consider the Wudang Sect Leader. There are rumors that Immortal Profound Void’s decades of seclusion were due to deviation of mind.”

Crack!

They moved again.

They weren’t using wall-clinging techniques but stepping on the cliff with pure lightness skill mysteries while talking.

White light remained with each of their footsteps, having reached the realm of applying Radiant Art Bond’s energy waves to all martial arts.

There were no white ranks among them.

Since they had sent the Radiant Sword Wing warriors back to the main fortress when they returned, except for Cheong Myeong, all were blue-rank.

“Those kids are too leisurely.”

One-armed Wu Yue-xiang said while glancing down below.

Far below the Radiant Demon Wing masters.

Thoom, thoom-thoom—

The incomprehensible men and horses were racing vertically up the cliff. Though they had fallen far behind, the weight that heavily shook the precipice.

Eerie vibrations spread regularly from the large horse hooves, a scene that far exceeded worldly common sense.

The overall atmosphere was indifferent.

‘Impossible movements. Unless the horses have also learned lightness techniques…’

High above that, Shin So-bin quietly opened her mouth. While leaning her upper body forward as far as possible and running with Ten-Li Gentle Light.

Among all the Radiant Demon Wing masters who had learned Radiant Art Bond, her propulsive energy waves were the thickest.

“Looking at the name record, they weren’t ordinarily knowledgeable about this jianghu. If they know this land that well, no matter how northern they are, they can’t look down on our Grand Leader… no, Lord Jeong. Whatever the reason, they have confidence they won’t clash.”

“That name record.”

Na Il-cheon, who had been racing up the wall at a point above Shin So-bin, asked.

“Who was second?”

It was a meaningful question.

The top spot being Desolate Fortress Lord was natural. Therefore, the second would be the person the northern jianghu judged as practically the most dangerous in the current martial world.

The most active absolute master. It could rightly be called the actual greatest in the jianghu.

Current Divine Sword Group Leader Yong Hye-myeong.

Or someone else.

Naturally, for Desolate Fortress warriors, it should be the former. It was the same for those who knew Tyrant Hero Ma Yeon-jeok’s rejuvenation.

The main fortress’s Hidden Sword shouldn’t and couldn’t be in that name record.

Actually, not just second place.

The entire name record was everyone’s concern. It had to be so. Among countless people, Jeong Yeon-shin was at an immeasurably high position.

It was just temporarily pushed to the back burner due to urgent matters to discuss and the immediate situation they faced.

That book was already in Shin So-bin’s bosom, but Jeong Yeon-shin was emitting energy waves where their eyes couldn’t reach. They had to get him in their immediate view.

Shin So-bin hesitated while running.

“That was a bit strange. Whether some spirit had settled in it, from the fourth place onward the letters were blurry… it seems considerable eye technique achievement is needed.”

“Grand Leader, look there!”

The sudden voice of April Bow Ghost Wi Ye-ling echoed. Cheong Myeong, who had been racing alone at the top, sharply turned his head, and following his gaze, Wi Ye-ling’s shout continued.

“It’s imperial martial arts!”

A ridge extending long to the side.

There was a human shadow racing toward the same point as Radiant Demon Wing. Though it had to appear extremely small at such a distant point, it was frighteningly fast.

It had noticeably approached the location where Wudang Sect’s Taoist temples would be gathered.

“What’s that again?”

Bang!

Radiant Demon Wing Leader Cheong Myeong shattered the stone wall and soared up.

“I’ll go first, slowpokes.”

His gentle voice fell down the cliff like a soft breeze. But even the men and horses that included those with energy comparable to Cheong Myeong didn’t react.

They were simply quiet.

* * *

Immortal Profound Void.

Clearly the pinnacle of the jianghu martial world.

In yielding to overcome the unyielding, he was undoubtedly the greatest under heaven.

An old immortal who could deflect even tremendous force like a feather. Not martial arts limited just to swords, but the same for fist and palm techniques.

‘His epithet itself shows he’s seen the end of immortal Tao martial learning.’

Now it was different.

“To propose a bargain with a disciple’s life. That doesn’t sound good to one who is a master. You understand.”

A senile voice.

There was no face difficult to read like distant clouds in the sky. Naked madness was gathered on his wrinkled skin, and extreme power oozed from his footsteps approaching Jeong Yeon-shin.

The nearby grass blades were crumbling by themselves, and even the ground was cracking.

Thoom— thoom—

Deep reverberations like rising from an abyss.

Though it was merely simple footsteps rather than true energy, it was like this. The ground and atmosphere were finely trembling.

‘The energy waves are thick.’

Jeong Yeon-shin felt vibrations penetrating from his soles to his entire body’s acupoints. It was reverberations close to penetrating energy, and at this level, it would inevitably affect internal energy operation… Even though he wouldn’t be at full strength due to long deviation of mind, it was unbelievable martial prowess.

The fight had already begun.

Even if there had been one outcome, the next was unknown again – such was the nature of matches between masters. Gauging each other’s distance was first.

Jeong Yeon-shin kicked the Pine Gate Ancient Sword.

Kyaaaaaaak!

Super Mad Dream Demon, who had been stuck in the ground, let out a screaming cry.

But that was all. It was because Jeong Yeon-shin had withdrawn the energy that had been gathered on the blade.

Soon after, pure white lightning crossed through the void and was sucked into his grasp, making a clang sound as it took the form of a long sword.

Saaaa—

Among the fragments of Luminous Wheel Technique crumbling like snowflakes, Remaining Thunder was revealed. Held completely in Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand, it emitted a rumbling sound – an unprecedentedly fierce sword cry.

The energy waves it emitted itself seemed to scratch or not scratch the Pine Gate Ancient Sword’s hilt.

“Why.”

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly asked the sword, then inwardly flinched. He was worried he might look like a madman.

“……”

But at this moment, no one in the assembly looked at him strangely. A fortunate thing. Jeong Yeon-shin could concentrate on Profound Void Immortal. While maintaining the dignity of Acting Group Leader.

Profound Void Immortal spoke calmly.

“Since you brought up a wager, I too shall propose. Even if this poor Taoist’s sword overwhelms you, please carry out that same promise.”

“I shall.”

“You’re confident. Have you obtained Three Clear Powers?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“You will know.”

Those words rang out before Jeong Yeon-shin’s face. Profound Void Immortal had narrowed the distance by one step. Even the distance for close combat rather than swords. Instantly Jeong Yeon-shin’s brow furrowed.

—Cloud Ladder combined with Seven Star Escape Form becomes rare movement under heaven. They don’t need transformation void techniques.

He reflected on Shin Cheon-hwa’s advice.

Now he knew clearly. It was one of the stories conveyed before departing from Desolate Fortress to Mount Wudang, that is, just before Shin Cheon-hwa’s original spirit disappeared from the world.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand became blurred.

Bang!

A shock wave exploded. Their palms had collided at chest level. The grass blades lay down in all directions in the concentric energy currents that instantly burst forth.

Though both sides operated internal heavy techniques, even the ground sank down with a thud. Even though the earth itself was fully imbued with Wudang’s immortal energy.

The density of power was different.

It was a fight at the pinnacle of the jianghu.

Unlike when they first competed, Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind was extremely clear. That alone made differences in many aspects. Starting with Jeong Yeon-shin’s second move.

‘Blossoming Fist.’

Hand shadows created strong winds and swelled like clouds. The second move of Eternal Blossom Fist. Afterimages each wrapped in spiral energy currents overlapped as one at Profound Void Immortal’s abdomen.

That strike.

All hand shadows contained Brilliant River.

Kugugugugung!

A suppressed roar echoed.

It was the sound of the protective strong energy passed down only to Wudang Sect Leaders, Profound Jade Lonely Silence Robe, collapsing from within.

In that moment, Profound Void Immortal was using his palm below as a siege hammer to strike upward at Jeong Yeon-shin’s jaw.

Bang!

Jeong Yeon-shin bounced upward as is.

There was no gentleness in the series of palm techniques. They were only infinitely fierce.

‘Ugh.’

While fragments of light formed from the Tang siblings’ garment edges scattered in his vision, tremendous shock waves poured into his head.

But Jeong Yeon-shin held the focus of both eyes clearly.

His protective strong energy hadn’t been completely destroyed. Rather, he had even driven rebound force into Profound Void Immortal’s palm.

“How…?”

Profound Void Immortal briefly let out a puzzled voice. It was because all strikes and reactions were connected like a single circle.

The sight of Jeong Yeon-shin naturally gaining distance in the void at this moment and swinging Remaining Thunder was the same. The entire move sequence was being accomplished at the speed of transformation techniques.

Thunder Annihilation Sword Style

Nine Verdant River

Kuuuuuuung—!

Remaining Thunder striking down like an overflowing river.

It cut the instant. Sword strike energy waves accumulated to the limit with just two exchanges of moves.

At the same time, it was also move connections that transcended natural law. At this moment, all of Jeong Yeon-shin’s movements were leaving thick illusions like a moth’s wingbeats.

While making even the recoil from changing moves into the strength of his whole body.

‘Transcendence is natural…!’

Only this time did Profound Void Immortal have no choice but to raise his sword, and the moment the two blades collided, thunder sounds rang out and Wudang’s clouds were torn left and right.

Of course, Super Mad Dream Demon’s body stuck on the Pine Gate Ancient Sword flapped violently. It was because he was fixed to the ground even though he should have been bounced far away.

Hwaaaaaaaaak!

A massive straight line raced through the gap in pure white clouds. The shock waves that surged from the collision of sword strikes had carved a path in the sky.

It was clear.

The formulas of Thunder Annihilation Sword Style were freely flowing out, more than just parrying Wudang’s sword.

‘This is also natural.’

Jeong Yeon-shin had witnessed Immortal Sanfeng.

The old Taoist’s phantom was like the sun to the extremely few with exceptionally outstanding senses. A literally perfect being.

In the current world, there were few beings that could present painful brilliance to Jeong Yeon-shin.

At most, only the Desolate Fortress Lord who had completely removed the Natural Sword’s functions from her body and the Fighting God of the north who was only rumored. Now it was such a position, and rightly should be.

‘Anyway.’

Even if the original spirit’s energy fell far short of what it had been in life, that body form was certainly Zhang Sanfeng.

And for Jeong Yeon-shin, the strength or weakness of energy wasn’t important.

The true energy structure and body forms of those whose lives were intense were sources of infinite inspiration, and therefore Jeong Yeon-shin had properly seen himself as an old man, however briefly. Under the permission of the old Pine Gate Ancient Sword.

Thud.

This was why his expression was calm as he planted his feet on the ground again. Conversely, unprecedented shock appeared on the faces of the assembly.

Three exchanges.

The time it took for Profound Void Immortal, who had planted his legs on the ground, to open his mouth again.

“Let’s rest a bit.”

“…!”

“This old body aches.”

Was it an illusion? The senile voice had become somewhat clearer. Winter wind that settled quietly even though they hadn’t shared mutual martial arts.

“Let’s do so.”

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly responded to those words. At the same time, the voice of the northerner he had placed at one edge of his energy sense rang out.

[That blue flame has strange functions.]

On ground surrounded by a bluish taiji like a carpet. Among blue sparks that occasionally jumped up.

Crackle—… 

Jeong Yeon-shin’s purple garment edges were fluttering roughly like Ma Yeon-jeok’s.