Chapter 590 – The Fortress of the Northern Emperor (5)

Two people.

A giant man and woman stood in the wilderness.

The dry wind repeatedly stirred up sand dust as it passed. Golden dust slowly spread at their feet.

Whoosh—

The northern wind was pressed down below by the presence of the two. The pressure emanating from each of their bodies was supremely heavy.

The Six Star Lords of the demon realm.

Among them, Literary Star and Upright Star.

“……”

Their silence was deep.

It was right after encountering a battlefield that had not gone according to plan.

As future generals or feudal lords of the empire to be founded, they could handle it with experience, but as absolute Northern Kings, it was inevitably a very unfamiliar situation.

The Yao woman, Upright Star, slowly opened her mouth. She was holding a crescent blade as long as her height diagonally at her side.

“That b*st*rd called Unorthodox Finest Sword disappeared as soon as the Southern Emperor appeared. Right before he was about to face our combined attack. We should have killed him then.”

“With dozens of sword strikes in an instant, he deployed Form-Shifting Void once. That can’t be caught.”

Literary Star continued in a thick voice.

“Anyway, he’s a man whose character and martial arts are both hard to fathom, so it’s fine. He didn’t particularly seem like an ally of the Desolate Fortress either… Would a swordsman of the heretical path obsessed with swords really go around discriminating between people? In the near future, we should be able to use him in reverse.”

He was fully revealing one eye that had turned pitch black and empty.

A one-eyed giant who didn’t bother wearing an eyepatch. Due to his deep grotesqueness, he looked like a monster of supernatural strength risen from hell.

“…That book.”

But Upright Star continued speaking without concern.

“Couldn’t the Divine Thief have used her life-saving ultimate technique on that secret manual from the beginning? The footwork that turns back time, I mean.”

“Hmm, how would she handle the recoil?”

“Recoil?”

“As soon as her energy was exhausted from the life-saving ultimate technique, King Yelu would have burst her head.”

“Retreat should have come first.”

“Did you say retreat? When the Six Star Lords and the world’s Divine Thief were together, and we were only facing one enemy?”

“A pillar of a nation should be able to do that. I would have done so.”

“Well. Even if that had happened, the Divine Thief’s life-saving ultimate technique couldn’t have fulfilled its role. Like a secret manual of a ‘Sword Immortal,’ that book was a kind of dharma treasure. It probably wouldn’t have been easily found either.”

“Dharma treasure?”

“Yes, you can’t completely create an object imbued with spirituality through martial arts alone. The Divine Thief’s life-saving ultimate technique can’t even restore the spirituality of the upper energy center.”

“Hmm.”

“The Southern Emperor brought half of it, so that’s enough. We can retrieve the other half from the Divine Sword Group Leader’s bosom.”

“Retrieve it?”

Upright Star snorted.

“Do you think that’s possible? Now the Divine Sword Group Leader is inside an iron fortress. We need to recover our bodies.”

“Well. If it’s the strong ones of the Desolate Fortress black ranks… In my opinion, limited to now, they are not an iron fortress. I broke them up a bit.”

“Don’t underestimate them. The Divine Sword Group Leader is the one who ultimately killed the Divine Thief. Taking the secret manual from his bosom? The Ming Dynasty’s Beggar Sect Leader doesn’t have both legs intact and is on our side, and the Divine Thief isn’t whole either, so by what means?”

“Isn’t there a new Northern King?”

“What?”

“We lost the fake Yelu and gained the true Yelu clan member. She is truly the hope of the demon realm who will bring about the Fighting God’s second coming.”

Literary Star slowly continued.

“I will request the Ming Cult Leader, Western Heaven Dark King, to advance.”

* * *

Western Heaven, while reddish sunlight was spreading across the western sky. The sunset that arrived late. The horizon of the demon realm was exceptionally wide, and every evening it received the long streams of sunset light.

Yeoktru Castle was a great city adjacent to such vast plains.

It was close to the Great Wall below. Above, it bordered the land that could truly be called the demon realm.

Naturally, it was an important place.

All sorts of forces and those connected to them came and went.

Divine Sword Squad Leader Jin Myeong-jo’s daily life had to be hellish.

This was because he had taken on a role equivalent to the lord of Yeoktru Castle as a commander under Jeong Yeon-shin.

He had to coordinate not only the customs of the demon realm like ‘death matches,’ ‘great battles,’ and ‘dark paths,’ and the city’s structure, but also incomprehensible conflicts.

The vast great city was in his grasp.

The other black ranks showed no interest in such troublesome affairs. They didn’t seem inclined to follow anyone’s orders other than the Divine Sword Group Leader.

Jin Myeong-jo was given full authority.

Even Yong Hye-myeong had disappeared from his position as soon as he laid Jeong Yeon-shin down. Without Jin Myeong-jo having a chance to properly speak with him, leaving behind a long, very one-sided story.

—This is the limit. I must go now.

—Group Leader?

—Half of the locust yellow paper has been lost. To use this again would require either tremendous innate energy or massive amounts of energy poured in through formations, and rather than spending time on such troublesome work, it’s better for the perfect Lightning Genius to fight himself. I probably won’t come again.

—What?

—Myeong-jo, Lightning Genius seems to follow you well. I can roughly guess the reason, but it makes me want to laugh so I can’t say it. Good luck.

—At least some orders to the other squad leaders…

—A ‘cripple’ is wandering around beyond the gate, and the predecessor and I don’t intend to avoid him. You all should find two or three of the Three Regional Great Generals and Imperial Three Great Masters scattered throughout the north. It seems it would be difficult to block the concentrated offensive of the northern jianghu without them. Fortunately, Lightning Genius has become a monster worthy of the Enter The Divine Sword, and you, Myeong-jo, have achieved great accomplishment…

That was as far as it went.

Yong Hye-myeong’s form, which had been flickering hazily, was extinguished like a candle. As if the power that had been holding onto the unstable Form-Shifting Void had been exhausted.

It was what happened in the king’s inner chambers.

Naturally, redistributing the Divine Sword Group along with the existing Yeoktru Castle martial forces was Jin Myeong-jo’s responsibility. It took a very long time.

‘Yao tribes are the same as elf people.’

He thought with an expressionless face.

Jin Myeong-jo heard all sorts of stories from the Yao soldiers who had no hierarchy. For example, it was like this:

A good defensive formation is a kind of lightness skill cavalry formation that should be easy to charge back at the enemy.

If Northern Emperor Yelu spreads out and lies down in front of the castle gate, that itself becomes the world’s greatest defensive formation. Blood King, if we drink your blood, we think we’ll become stronger…

He had fought such battles without fighting and returned to the inner castle. While clutching a crumpled report in his hand.

Rustle… It was a letter detailing the current state of the squad leaders who had participated early in the Clear Light Plain battle. Jin Myeong-jo had written it himself.

[Annihilation Team Leader Shin Hwang, both arms incompletely dislocated.

Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong Ya, limbs incompletely dislocated.

Dragon Treading Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji, signs of qi deviation requiring attention.

Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so, frequently unconscious.

Resonance Spirit Leader Yun So-yu, lumbar damage, unable to recover.

Ultimate Martial Hall Master Qin Ting-yuan, prosthetic leg damaged and burns throughout body.

Forest Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin, right arm dislocated and burns throughout body.

Divine Sword Squad Leader Jin Myeong-jo, unfortunately in perfect condition.]

This was the result of defeating monsters who had individually kept the Ming Dynasty tense on the northern front, on an open plain without martial forces.

Jeong Yeon-shin wasn’t the only one feigning perfect condition.

The subordinate squad leaders were also putting on a show of strength. So that other Northern King forces wouldn’t rashly invade Yeoktru Castle.

The current Divine Sword Group was like a sandcastle.

Not only that.

Obeying Heaven Wing Leader Namgung Hwa-shin, who was a distant junior, seemed to covet Jin Myeong-jo’s position, and Radiant Demon Wing Leader Cheong Myeong and Radiant Sword Squad Leader Hak So-seon were not people who would listen to anyone.

Azure Sky Squad Leader Han Cheol-mok was the most genteel, but the problem was that he trusted Jeong Yeon-shin and Jin Myeong-jo too much.

That supreme master of sorcery sword techniques just stood nobly saying it was fortunate that the two young men would shoulder the future of the Divine Sword Group. While constantly sharpening his rippling sword energy.

‘They say they temporarily blocked the northern strongest with combined attacks, so the shock must have been great.’

In other words, there were no squad leaders doing anything.

But in Jin Myeong-jo’s view, only Jeong Yeon-shin was truly promising. How thick had his dharma power become when they met again? His legs had unexpectedly given out.

Spiritual Dharma Luminous Wheel Energy that seemed like it would someday ascend to the Dharma Realm. At the same time, a situation where no squad leaders were working in this vast great city.

In Jin Myeong-jo’s opinion, the Divine Sword Group was doomed.

Or perhaps only the Divine Sword Squad Leader was doomed.

On the way up to Yeoktru Castle’s inner castle after firmly fortifying the outer walls.

“Divine Blood Extreme Demon…? What’s the matter?”

“What suddenly?”

The Northern Gatekeeper and Demon Contempt Blade on either side asked.

With suspicious and cunning expressions respectively. Jin Myeong-jo had complex feelings about these people too, but for now he couldn’t worry more about the traitors of the southern martial world.

‘They’re finally causing trouble.’

His energy perception, which had become absurdly sensitive after killing the Blood Flame Cult Leader, rang alarm bells. From when had it started? Something earth-shaking was happening inside the widely spread castle ahead.

It was clearly drawn in his mind.

Three Northern Kings with their backs to the inner castle gate. The dozens of strong ones following them. At the same time, squad leaders under the Divine Sword Group surrounding the uninvited guests from their respective positions.

A confrontation of humans who knew no limits. Jin Myeong-jo inwardly spat out curses.

‘Damn it.’

Quite some time seemed to have passed.

As soon as he recognized the situation, voices could be heard too.

The Thousand Li Earth Hearing technique he had trained to distinguish Jeong Yeon-shin’s footsteps in advance. Jin Myeong-jo could see and hear them from his position like the Blood Flame Cult Leader.

“From what I see, the Divine Sword Group Leader seems to be in seclusion, but is it so difficult to show his face? I don’t understand.”

“Dragon Sound Sasa King’s words are right. Time is precious.”

The Northern Kings spoke freely. As befitted those whose martial arts had reached heaven.

The one asking to see his face was a woman carrying an entire war horse on her shoulder, and the one mentioning time had a transparent body under black face covering.

They would be Dragon Sound Sasa King, famous for mounted martial arts, and Shame Extreme King, who was said to have cultivated the demon realm’s greatest protective energy respectively.

No matter how long they had been confronting each other, they seemed to be starting to assess Yong Hye-myeong’s absence and Jeong Yeon-shin’s physical condition.

Why had the Northern Kings visited?

There was no need to think long. Now that the Clear Light Plain battle was over, Northern Emperor Jeong Yeon-shin’s current status was a very important concern.

Anti-Fighting God faction and pro-Fighting God faction.

It was a situation where no one knew whether the truly divided northern jianghu would unite due to Jeong Yeon-shin’s existence, or completely split due to some power struggle.

“How much longer do you intend to keep us waiting? We have already sent word. By now, even the south would call this improper, and I understand that the Desolate Fortress is originally the most dignified faction throughout the southern jianghu…”

The one speaking now was standing elegantly like Shame Extreme King’s attendant. Features that might be as harmonious as Jeong Yeon-shin’s could be felt through energy perception.

A clan that attacked the upper energy center in dreams with transcendent beauty. It would be Shame Extreme Son-in-law of Dream Demon Body.

“Or perhaps, has some misfortune befallen Northern Emperor…?”

He probed subtly. A snake-like fellow.

None of the Northern Kings stopped him, and immediately Xiahou Wei-jin shouted.

“A body that the likes of you cannot fathom! The patriarch of the Lightning Genius lineage is someone who will be Divine Sword Group Leader until he dies of old age!”

“He has entered seclusion due to insights from this battle. You are the ones being rude.”

Resonance Spirit Leader Yun So-yu calmly added. Unlike her usually neat appearance, she was leaning diagonally against one wall.

Very slovenly posture.

Meanwhile, small energy waves were leaking from her body, clearly using protective energy to replace her lumbar vertebrae.

She had learned poor bluffing. She had been influenced by the youngest purple rank of the Desolate Fortress.

Most of the squad leaders confronting the Northern Kings were like her. The current Desolate Fortress could be called a faction of bluffing without exaggeration.

The moment weakness was exposed, they would be annihilated.

“I came to receive advice from Yelu. Since he no longer speaks through Bright Wind Spirit… it’s urgent business.”

Another Northern King spat out.

Given their status, words that could be heard as provocation by those with quick tempers. One corner of Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong Ya’s mouth, who stood alone upright on a tall watchtower, rose.

“Stop playing tricks and wait three years. Whether it’s the northern strongest or that b*st*rd Fighting God, they’ll all be swept away the same.”

This was the current Desolate Fortress.

Each had bet everything on Jeong Yeon-shin’s future. Even Beigong Ya, who had been so proud as the youngest of the Three Black Pillars, was the same.

The reason they were so aggressive, as if they didn’t care if they died from the Northern Kings’ angry attacks, lay there.

—To that extent again? There really is no way out… —Ever since ascending to the black rank, you come back injured every time, and even though there’s a saying about the unpredictability of war, aren’t you pushing too hard?

—It’s not just admirable. How far are you trying to climb…

Before they knew it, they had come to care for Jeong Yeon-shin as a matter of course, and even if their young superior lived roughly, they would only lightly scold him.

One who would become the martial world alone.

Any hardship and experience was merely nourishment.

Even when the Divine Sword Group was precariously placed on a tightrope like now, this was why they ultimately pressured the Northern Kings with composure.

If necessary, they planned to put Jeong Yeon-shin on Jin Myeong-jo’s back and send him to the Desolate Fortress Lord at World Tree.

In a few years, two Desolate Fortress Lords would emerge into the jianghu. For the squad leaders, including even elf people, it wasn’t a long time.

‘You have no way out either. What are you planning to do if a real collision happens here?’

Jin Myeong-jo, who had once again cursed inwardly, took a step. While turning his back on the Northern Gatekeeper and Demon Contempt Blade.

He decided he should first activate Transcendent Martial Art. So the Northern Kings wouldn’t harbor foolish thoughts.

That’s when it happened.

Suddenly Shame Extreme Son-in-law opened his mouth again.

“I have upper energy center martial arts that can draw out and tear apart an opponent’s unconscious. It means there’s no need to force ourselves to go see Northern Emperor.”

“…?”

“We won’t touch the Divine Sword Group. Looking now, I dare not do so.”

That was as far as it went.

Suddenly Shame Extreme Son-in-law looked directly at Zhuge Qing-ya on the inner chamber roof. While flashing bewitching white eye-light.

* * *

Shame Extreme Son-in-law asked.

[Have you seen Northern Emperor Jeong Yeon-shin today?]

His voice echoed like a reverberation. It was the upper energy center ability of Dream Demon Body.

[Whether you saw him or not, what did you think when you recalled him?]

The acting family head of the Zhuge family, famous throughout the world as a genius due to her natural insight. Tranquil Depth Gaze Zhuge Qing-ya, who had once noticed Jeong Yeon-shin’s heavenly punishment and made even Hyeon Won-Chang utter words of murderous intent.

That question was directed at her.