Chapter 557 – Five Swords, Six Stars (4)

A place where four Northern Kings had gathered.

It was a battlefield where the will of absolute masters would be carried out.

Without needing to unfold old stories, there were things that could be guessed.

For Jeong Yeon-shin, there was Lazy Flame Dragon’s appearance, and for Lazy Flame Dragon, there was Jeong Yeon-shin’s guise. Of course, Lazy Flame Dragon’s understanding had to be deeper than Jeong Yeon-shin’s.

The situation was such.

The Acting Divine Sword Group Leader in the heart of the north.

It was like one person pretending to be a demon and entering the world’s greatest demon-subduing battlefield.

By what justification could the Ice Emperor’s First Husband withdraw? The situation was such that Jeong Yeon-shin’s identity must not be revealed immediately, and beside Lazy Flame Dragon stood the Northern Sea Ice Palace Lord as both Northern King and wife.

Any excuse would seem awkward.

Moreover, what was settled in the Ice Emperor’s womb was certainly the fruit of her and Lazy Flame Dragon’s union.

They had no choice but to fight.

“What a damn situation…”

Crack—

The frozen flower petals between Lazy Flame Dragon’s teeth crumbled.

Here, it was right to act as the Ice Palace Lord’s consort. All the more so because he was the one who had taken away Jeong Yeon-shin’s tattered fortress and begun to be openly called the ‘World’s Greatest Warrior.’

“Consort?”

The Greatest of the Northern Sea called to Lazy Flame Dragon.

In an instant, the hill where midwinter northern wind blew became even more chilly. Just the faint doubt in her voice affected the atmosphere.

From around the grayish-white stone mountain cliffs, even the small sounds of the ground freezing with crack— could be heard.

That’s when it happened.

Lazy Flame Dragon, who had been slowly taking steps, hesitated.

This was because the old swordsman who had blocked Jeong Yeon-shin’s path had properly come into view.

An old man who seemed to have withstood severe hardships recently, gaunt to the bone.

He stood with his back to the northern wind that blew ceaselessly from the high mountain. Before he knew it, he had placed his wrinkled hand on the old sword hilt.

Whoosh.

Dry leaves shattered to pieces in the winter wind and rustled past the old swordsman’s thin ankles, and even the most insignificant fallen leaves seemed to be mocking him.

But the old man instead clicked his tongue with an expression as if he pitied Lazy Flame Dragon.

“Your circumstances are visible to the eye, making my heart heavy. If this old man’s situation had been better than now, it would have been good… Today I must hope there are gaps in your techniques.”

Weak words that didn’t sound weak.

The old swordsman’s Return to Origin was truly perfect, making it impossible to perceive his martial prowess, yet an extremely unpleasant feeling swept across Lazy Flame Dragon’s skin.

It was a type of combat sense rooted in his upper dantian’s divine abilities.

He couldn’t help but wonder.

Where had such a person come from for his direct superior who had few close friends? A great warrior of the north was not merely a servant but an existence like the Northern King’s alter ego.

—First, fare well in health.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s mental transmission wishing him safety.

Though not appropriate words for this place, it was extremely natural. Separate from his voice that sounded blunt due to its lack of highs and lows.

Lazy Flame Dragon looked at the old swordsman intently and asked.

“Do you know me?”

“What jianghu person would not know the current you?”

True words.

It was so throughout both the south and north.

With his status as the young master of a martial family that had once been counted among the world’s best, his qualifications in Scorching Divine Meridians, and as the Northern Sea Ice Palace Lord’s great warrior and First Husband, as well as a traitor to the world’s Desolate Fortress.

That’s when it happened.

“An existence who elevates the prestige of the one he serves.”

Step.

Shame Extreme Son-in-law said while unhesitatingly closing the distance with the old swordsman.

Brilliant sunlight was shattering over the beautiful young man born with Dream Demon Body, and a provocative temperament flowed from his slightly raised eye corners in various ways.

“Old man, wouldn’t that poppy addict be just so? Any monarch under a Northern King’s command is the most precious jewel under heaven. Unlike some old man who can’t even reveal his name and family background due to being a fugitive, who at best created an atmosphere with Three Talent Sword Technique.”

“A bold young man.”

Before he knew it, the old swordsman’s blade was drawn and lowered, revealing the old sword blade.

In the pure white sunlight falling straight down, the traces of time with notches here and there stood out prominently. But Shame Extreme Son-in-law’s steps didn’t slow at all.

Wuung—

Demonic power painted reddish light around the young beautiful man’s eyes.

This was because divine ultimate technique eye arts had been activated with special energy. Separate from his words and actions, he had begun to calculate countless trajectories that could bloom between their distance and each other.

“Having a good great warrior is a Northern King’s primary virtue, but it seems King Yelu lacks such capability. Keeping an old man who can’t distinguish heaven from earth under his command.”

He walked forward while dispersing the atmosphere with his whole body.

Already the bearing of a northern monarch who had entered battle was both bold and extremely meticulous. The endless provocation pouring from his beautifully smiling face was the same.

“If it’s difficult to reveal true swordwork due to circumstances, he should have made many allies, but to babble ‘all of you come’…!”

[Be quiet.]

That was as far as it went.

Dragon Sound Sasa King’s great warrior, the half-dragon body Sword Silk, first struck his heel on the ground with a thump! from the old swordsman’s side.

Instantly the hill made of rock swayed like a swamp and crumbled in all directions.

Simultaneously, twin palms extending while distorting the atmosphere with a whoosh. The boy with jet-black hair hanging down wrapped colorless power around his entire body like flames and struck out with both hands.

That wasn’t all.

From Shame Extreme Son-in-law’s body, which had become expressionless like a lie, hazy smoke arose and surrounded the old swordsman.

In an instant, energy waves overlapped in hundreds of layers formed a mist-like shape, within which lay mysteries that bewitched people like a peerless phantom sword.

A method more aggressive than the Dream Demon Body techniques that had driven the southern Wudang Sect Leader into heart demons.

Hwaaaaaak!

The roar arising from their strike followed belatedly and distantly like thunder and lightning that had pierced into the clouds.

A joint attack having reached a realm troublesome enough to substitute for a Northern King. It was a domain where any king would have to reveal their true ultimate techniques.

The old swordsman closed his eyes in place.

This was the breathing method of a wanderer who had instinctively created sensory paths throughout his body due to lacking sophisticated eye techniques.

“…!”

In an instant, Lazy Flame Dragon, who had been reluctantly trying to enter the engagement from afar, flinched and stopped.

* * *

The four Northern Kings retreated one step each as soon as the fight began, wavering like mirages of a great tent. It was displacement with hazy afterimages.

Movements accomplished almost simultaneously.

The reasons were different for each.

Two beings who respected the Fighting God’s laws, one supernatural monster who wanted to capture every move of her consort, and another mayfly who had moved reflexively while intently watching such an ice technique monster.

—How about you stop looking? I don’t think we need to show hostility first from our side. She’s already a person who gives an unpleasant feeling due to lack of information, and for now she seems favorable to the Acting Group Leader.

—Stop looking at what?

—The Ice Palace Lord’s face might get pierced through. Right now you should watch Sword Star elder…

—It’s fine. He’s someone who has mastered the sword.

Sword Star was someone who had learned swordsmanship from a wanderer called Eternal Spring Swordsman and risen from a third-rate martial artist to a peerless swordsman by himself.

It was a story too famous at the Hanzhong Martial Alliance.

Shin So-bin and Jeong Yeon-shin’s conversation was always light like peers’ talk, as usual.

The Acting Divine Sword Group Leader’s words and actions became lighthearted like someone his age only with his chief disciple, Mount Hua’s Yu Hyeon, and Desolate Ma Family’s Ma Se-in.

But the fight in the middle of the clearing created by the Northern Kings was not so. Starting with the dust clouds mixed with sharp blade winds like fragments of divine swords.

It appeared dimly.

The ground sinking deeply in a huge circle.

The roar sounded one beat late. While violently shaking the middle slopes of Mineral Soul Mountain, vast enough to be called a mountain range.

Kwaaaaaaaaang!

Shadows intertwined within the dust clouds.

Human figures that stuck like light rays then fell away, and again emitted whip-like sharply curving waves then were suddenly bounced away by incoming sword winds.

Each time, huge ripples spread and sliced through the dust clouds with a whoosh, but before the clearing could appear pale, all sorts of shock waves pummeled the ground.

The joint attack of beings who had achieved Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown continued endlessly like waves that kept surging.

Thus huge earthen clouds arose widely occupying all directions.

Jjeojeojeojeojeojeong—!

Along with vibrations that struck even the Northern Kings’ internal organs like drums, it didn’t subside at all. The aftereffects of the ultimate techniques that came across even the internal energy barriers of Heaven Silk Steel Armor, Soul Burning Ice, and True Radiance Star Heaven.

“Let King Yelu rest comfortably.”

Now Dragon Sound Sasa King was sitting cross-legged on the bare ground. With the large head of the pregnant horse placed on her thigh.

“The life force of great warriors wearing Heaven Silk Steel Armor is like the seven stars in the northern sky, having no blood or wounds even after fighting all day. Therefore, this battle will repeat until the swordwork of the four great warriors stops.”

Complete royal conduct.

Long experience as a Northern King had made her bold. Because she was of mixed Han and Yao blood, her very thick facial lines even created natural intimidation.

Around that time, Lazy Flame Dragon, who had been standing blankly, walked into the thick dust clouds.

Jjeojeojeojeojeojeok!

Immediately after, with sounds like sporadically bursting firewood, the atmosphere grew hot.

Truly overwhelming Heat Yang energy. Thick heat haze continuously rose as if all directions had changed to above the clouds of midsummer noon.

Shame Extreme Son-in-law’s words were correct.

An existence who elevated the prestige of the one he served.

The shadows that had been repeatedly colliding within the dust clouds hesitated for an instant.

Even the old swordsman’s figure, which had never properly allowed a single strike, wavered in place for a brief moment.

Soon after, the Ice Emperor’s slight smile made her snow-white dimples stand out.

“I want to embrace him. My consort gave his full strength.”

Truth.

Every Northern King present discerned truth and falsehood with their respective upper dantians.

For a moment, Jeong Yeon-shin’s brow furrowed deeply then relaxed within his silver mask, but no one saw that scene.

The aftermath of the battle was that tremendous.

Even though a long protracted war was scheduled due to Heaven Silk Steel Armor, enough to draw all attention.

Kugugugugugugung!

At this moment, the great warriors’ dust clouds were like dark clouds that had swallowed thunder. Both continuously pouring out huge roars and becoming increasingly thick as time passed.

A martial arts feast completed with respective qualities.

Moreover, they were possessors of senses who could endlessly enhance the effectiveness of joint attacks.

Rustle—

Suddenly Shame Extreme King’s jet-black veil fluttered. She was the first to speak in this place.

“That old man’s swordwork.”

The woman’s voice settled thickly.

“It’s not the worthless Three Talent Sword of the south. Simple yet not monotonous. He unfolds experience instead of martial arts. A Northern King has made an existence of Northern King caliber into a great warrior.”

The voice that had been cutting off bluntly identified the truth, then continued as a question filled with tremendous energy.

“…How was it possible?”

“I received more blessings than all of you.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had somehow managed to withdraw his gaze from the Ice Emperor, answered. It was a voice that truly thought so.

But this was the demon realm.

A land where sophisticated great warriors were the Northern King’s capabilities. Jeong Yeon-shin’s words were close to mockery.

“……”

Every Northern King present could discern the other party’s sincerity.

No one felt pretense in King Yelu’s voice, and Shame Extreme King, who possessed raging competitive spirit in all matters as a pure-blood clan member, growled in Yao tribe fashion.

“Blessings that will be miserably defeated and fade away. Unless you handle weapons with divinely inspired realm like this land’s Six Star Lords, that old man will be crushed to death in a pitiful state of desperately hiding his true martial arts. Of course, that corpse will be mocked by my great warrior’s ultimate techniques and dance endlessly. Under this demon realm’s pale moon, in a form befitting a southern fugitive…!”

One who possessed the sturdiest Heaven Silk Steel Armor in the north.

Gugugugugugung—

The trembling arising from below Mineral Soul Mountain’s stone floor deepened as Shame Extreme King’s words continued. With the feeling that all her words would be realized exactly as spoken at the end of the long protracted war.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly said.

“Now I understand. Why the one who wrote the jianghu name record left the Fighting God.”

Then Dragon Sound Sasa King, who had been leisurely stroking the dark mare’s mane, interjected.

How peaceful her mind had become, now even wearing a languid smile.

“Are you speaking of Heaven’s North among the Six Star Lords? Though you’ve taken in a distinguished swordsman as a great warrior, it’s not a name that one who just became king should mention…”

Regardless of that, Jeong Yeon-shin continued from within King Yelu’s silver mask.

“You have declined. Just looking at how you inflate karma with words shows it. Rather, only in fighting spirit might your great warriors be far superior to you.”

It was an instant.

Jjeojeojeong—

Three roars connected faintly like constellations from within the clearing’s dust clouds.

Immediately after, the old swordsman’s figure, which had been visible only as a shadow, thrust his sword into the ground with a thump, and the strong wind that burst forth from there blew away all the nearby dust into the air.

Crack.

The gaunt old man rose to his feet, tapping the sword hilt as if it were a staff.

“In the Three Talents, ‘Talent’ is a character representing sprouts rising from the earth.”

An aged voice.

Three great warriors were scattered around him.

Sword Silk, who sat down hard with a bewildered expression as if struck by some unknown technique.

On one side, Shame Extreme Son-in-law, whose solar plexus was deeply dented, spat blood several times, and Lazy Flame Dragon was clenching and unclenching his fist with a somehow serious face.

“……”

None of them wanted to approach the old swordsman anymore. Meanwhile, the old man smiled brightly at Jeong Yeon-shin, who was standing far away.

“Three Talents… three sprouts mean spring comes. The season of all creation. If such good days repeated eternally, wouldn’t even wasteland someday bloom with buds as dazzling as ascending sword techniques? What couldn’t be done by binding three sword strokes as one like this?”

An old man giving advice to the king with words like an old villager’s rambling.

It was a story unfolded after shattering Heaven Silk Steel Armor with Three Talent Sword Technique. Even if it hadn’t been protective energy deployed from a Northern King’s body, it would have been right to listen carefully.

Soon.

“…!”

While astonishment spread like a swamp, making the assembly realize the result of the battle.

Whoooooong!

Suddenly Jeong Yeon-shin felt the wind that had been blowing toward the middle slopes of Mineral Soul Mountain seemed to split toward Dragon Sound Sasa King and Shame Extreme King respectively.

Within the breezes scattered in two directions, some whispers were mixed.

A technique different from Divine Monk Beomheo’s Wisdom Light Heart Speech and Immortal Profound Void’s mental intent. Like the Grand Empress Dowager’s technique he had once felt, it felt as if the wind currents themselves had become someone’s mouth.

—Two severed legs were hung on the gate plaque of the official road entering Wenchao City from the Xihe plains.

A voice reminiscent of thick darkness.

It was the Northern Kings’ mental transmission that shared opinions quickly through wind techniques. At this moment, it was being transmitted to Dragon Sound Sasa King and Shame Extreme King from an immeasurably distant place.

A man said.

—As war trophies obtained with great effort, this Southern Emperor now treats the leader of beggars as a great warrior under heaven. Therefore, I recommend to my comrades… spread rumors to the south. Say that the world’s greatest legs were torn off by the Southern Emperor’s hands.

Southern Emperor. Otherwise the Fighting God’s right arm.

The current northern greatest with the Fighting God having disappeared.

And if it was about the world’s greatest lightness skill master, it was undoubtedly about Beggar Sect Leader Divine Beggar.

‘What…?’

The pupils of Jeong Yeon-shin, who was just about to unify the southern demon realm, shook within his silver mask.

That minute wavering flashed with blue eye light in an instant, and King Yelu’s voice, having instantly reverse-calculated the energy structure of the wind mental transmission, seeped into the northern wind like a tremor.

—Is that story.

Jeong Yeon-shin moved his lips slowly.

—True?

He had attached an unfamiliar voice to the invisible channel of peerless mental transmission. Certainly it would have been something not permitted to anyone else in this place. But it wasn’t important to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“…!”

Dragon Sound Sasa King and Shame Extreme King, who had shown no reaction while listening to the mental transmission, flinched. After a moment of silence, the man who had spoken about Divine Beggar’s legs asked briefly.

—Who are you?

It wasn’t just the man.

—What b*st*rd is this?

The voice that followed immediately after was an old woman’s voice Jeong Yeon-shin had never heard.

Though it was composed of merely wind, fierce pressure seemed to oppress his soul. Besides that, several different breaths scraped his ears.

—…!

—What?

A path of mental transmission made with mysterious principles.

It was the Fighting God’s divine ultimate technique.

A method more powerful than any martial art, it was the reason the northern jianghu could endlessly receive and smash the Ming Dynasty’s martial military forces.

There was virtually no military strategy as powerful as immediate communication between kings.

It was a form that connected Northern Kings favorable to the Fighting God like tree roots from distant wilderness to wilderness.

—I am Yelu, King of the South. Dragon Sound Sasa King and Shame Extreme King will vouch for me. I