Chapter 595 – Gathering the Night Sky (4)

Heavenly Demon.

An existence difficult to feel at ease about.

While names like Boddhidharma and Sanfeng refer to their original bearers and have hardened like diamonds without being inherited, only the title of Heavenly Demon has been passed down through generations as the most fearsome name in the jianghu martial world.

They use the most bizarre martial arts under heaven, and their schemes are difficult to fathom. Even when they disappear right before your eyes, you must wait and see whether it’s really so.

Whoosh…

This was why Divine Beggar Zhu Guang and Yu Xiong-gong did not release the explosive force in their hands for ten breaths. They only released their peerless breathing techniques after repeating ten inhalations and exhalations.

And they looked at Jeong Yeon-shin anew.

“Huh.”

The first to speak was Yu Xiong-gong. As soon as he felt his presence, Jeong Yeon-shin had to look down for quite a while. He was a master even shorter than the Ancient Sword Immortal.

“What just happened was a technique I’ve never heard of…”

“Well, since this friend’s martial arts began from the contemporary era, that’s natural. The imperial family would know best, wouldn’t they?”

At Divine Beggar Zhu Guang’s words, who had wrapped up his amazement at the Eternal Blossom Fist’s Heaven Breaking with laughter, Yu Xiong-gong snorted.

“Imperial family? That worthless household, when did I leave?”

“Please speak more kindly…”

“The Ming imperial family ended the moment the throne changed. What remains in the Forbidden City now are all swindlers.”

While lamenting the current state of affairs in the appearance of a child who hadn’t even reached eight years old, Jeong Yeon-shin felt the Ancient Sword Immortal in him.

Strictly speaking, it would be an Ancient Sword Immortal who had devoted his life to the military. The essence seemed similar, but the character and temperament were different.

Then Divine Beggar Zhu Guang glanced at the place where Young Heavenly Demon Invincible’s true body had manifested and replied.

“Of course, the Three Great Masters all refused to return from the demon realm jianghu to the Forbidden City, but aren’t the Three Regional Great Generals still guarding each pass of the Great Wall?”

“Do those b*st*rds look human to the Beggar Sect’s intelligence network? They’re not living, moving humans but just close to castle walls. Things that just die with a snap if someone has the emperor’s jade seal.”

“Isn’t that normal…?”

That’s when it happened.

Jeong Yeon-shin momentarily staggered slightly in place. It was the recoil from squeezing out the luminous wheel affecting not only the acupoints throughout his body but also his muscles.

Yu Xiong-gong clicked his tongue.

“Truly the makings of a proper Divine Sword Group Leader. Never a day when his body is whole.”

“I thought his complexion didn’t look good…”

Divine Beggar Zhu Guang, carried on Yu Xiong-gong’s small back, looked Jeong Yeon-shin up and down.

The peerless handsome youth reflected in the old beggar’s eyes was flawless, but somehow seemed temperamentally precarious.

“Are you alright?”

Divine Beggar Zhu Guang’s question was plain.

But somehow it seemed to contain many meanings, so Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t readily answer. After a moment of silence, he could barely manage to speak.

“…I heard you had various competitions with my maternal grandfather, but your insight seems already more profound.”

Divine Beggar Zhu Guang smiled lightly.

“Though Tyrant Hero wouldn’t acknowledge it, in terms of perception and footwork, I was better than that fellow. I don’t know about now though.”

“…Yes.”

Jeong Yeon-shin tried not to look below Divine Beggar Zhu Guang’s thighs.

The now legless fastest under heaven.

He was in the Southern Emperor’s grasp.

The Sword Star as well as Divine Beggar Zhu Guang had left deep marks. By taking away the martial prowess of two peerless masters.

The giant who had worn darkness like a curtain came to Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind. One who thoroughly guarded against and crushed down famous old masters.

He was said to be designated as the founding emperor.

As those words suggested, even while holding the prestige of northern strongest, he never let down his guard.

—The Blue Flame warrior you failed to bring… he too must remain there. If he doesn’t want to die.

He had even mentioned Ma Yeon-jeok. It felt like he would found a nation by any means and come down to the Great Wall. There was an overwhelming desire.

‘I am desperate too.’

At this moment, Jeong Yeon-shin compared the sensation remaining numbly in his right hand with the Heaven Silk Steel Armor that the Southern Emperor had worn. This too was part of the process toward completing techniques.

Heaven Breaking.

The fifth technique of the Eternal Blossom Fist, right after the fourth technique, Brilliant River.

A single strike where the explosive force of a mayfly that had been hit as much as it could take swept through all true energy structures from the root like a blade.

It fundamentally shattered the internal energy spreading from enemies’ bodies. Even if they wore techniques that reached heaven, it was the same.

Now Form-Shifting Void had lost its meaning. At least for Jeong Yeon-shin.

Not only surprise attacks and escapes, but also obtaining absolute evasion abilities by becoming transparent would be impossible.

What about Heaven Silk Steel Armor?

And what about the Southern Emperor who possessed both?

Swish.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly clenched and opened his right hand. While clearly remembering the sensation of Form-Shifting Void shattering.

The day he would meet the Six Star Lords again.

That day’s Heaven Breaking would be more complete and much more lethal than now. The Eternal Blossom Fist was rapidly approaching completion.

“…Is your review finished?”

A young voice flowed from around thigh level. When he lowered his head, he saw Yu Xiong-gong. He was looking up at Jeong Yeon-shin blankly.

“Yes, I’ve safely gathered my insights. Thank you for your consideration.”

When he clasped his hands together with calm words, Yu Xiong-gong’s expression became strangely wrinkled.

“A Ma bloodline paying respects to an imperial descendant…?”

“What?”

“No. I sometimes see illusions because my eyes grow dim.”

Yu Xiong-gong shook his head and asked.

“Were you acquainted with the Ming Cult Leader? The conversation was quite strange.”

For a moment, Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t know what expression he had made. He only saw Yu Xiong-gong’s face, which had become much more comfortable unlike when he had received the greeting.

“That’s demon bloodline.”

“……”

“I heard she doesn’t want you to come to the forefront of the jianghu. I don’t know exactly why the Ming Cult Leader sees the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader as kin, but…”

Yu Xiong-gong examined Jeong Yeon-shin with deep eyes.

In those large pupils, faint white light was rippling, an eye-light that didn’t suit a child’s appearance.

The Emperor-Creating Fighting Eye Technique that Emperor Qian-ling had personally created and bestowed upon Yu Xiong-gong. Yu Xiong-gong’s eye technique was known as the best in the imperial family for maintaining intervals.

The position of Three Ceremonies Triple Palace that the Imperial Three Great Masters had received was said to be an office that transcended rank. Created personally by Emperor Qian-ling.

In other words, it was natural to be thorough in everything like now.

At this moment, Yu Xiong-gong was also casting suspicious glances at the Divine Sword Group Leader.

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin silently met his gaze with pupils where blue light nets had formed. Those were also eyes where the madness he had unleashed on Young Heavenly Demon Invincible had not yet subsided.

Yu Xiong-gong slightly turned his eyes away and muttered.

“It seems this friend inherited the Ma blood most thickly. Quite chilling.”

Divine Beggar Zhu Guang, who had been listening silently, interjected from his back.

“When the Fighting God manifested, she seemed to hope he wouldn’t face him. That’s why she confined him here, telling him to exercise restraint.”

The Beggar Sect Dragon Head’s perception was sharp. Soon after, he spoke definitively against Yu Xiong-gong’s nape.

“But if Lightning Genius denies his relationship with her, there’s no need to worry further. Ming Cult Leaders have traditionally not been mentally sound.”

“Traditionally…? Tell me more.”

Yu Xiong-gong threw back a dull question, but Divine Beggar Zhu Guang only chuckled.

“In my opinion, Heavenly Demon refers to those who are constantly in a state of qi deviation. Everything is extreme. Of course, their words are absolute to most jianghu people… but there’s nothing particularly worth taking to heart.”

“Because they’re madmen as they say?”

“The orthodox Heavenly Demon Divine Art is the most vicious demonic art in the world. How could a transcendent whose upper energy center is filled only with demonic energy be in their right mind? That’s why they talk about killing the world or not.”

“That didn’t feel like everything…”

“Of course, she’s also human, so she would have had ups and downs in life. But we’re not in a position to consider such things for each other.”

Divine Beggar Zhu Guang ended the argument vaguely like that. Like a beggar slipping away with a begging bowl in the marketplace.

This too could be called the Dragon Head’s martial art.

Divine Beggar Zhu Guang, who had silenced Yu Xiong-gong, laughed heartily and said.

“First, we need to get out of this frightening underground. Since it’s nominally the greatest sect among the Thirteen Evil Sects, we absolutely cannot let our guard down with our current bodies. We must always be thorough.”

Jeong Yeon-shin thought he was an adult incomparable to his maternal grandfather. He slowly spoke.

“Yes, I will thoroughly occupy it.”

The continuation of what he had said to Young Heavenly Demon Invincible earlier. That the Ming Cult was in his grasp.

“…?”

Was it too obvious a statement? Divine Beggar Zhu Guang and Yu Xiong-gong showed no particular reaction. They were like old jianghu veterans who had spread their names widely throughout the world before Jeong Yeon-shin was born.

Swish.

Jeong Yeon-shin lifted the Sword Star from the bed. Did years have no weight? The old man was absurdly light.

“Above all.”

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly straightened his waist.

“There might be a way to heal the elder here in the Ming Cult. Since the Ming Cult Leader said she performed this acupuncture treatment.”

Yu Xiong-gong shook his head.

“Didn’t she say there was no improvement even after deploying the Seven Pillar Forbidden Acupoint Great Method? Yelu Zhen is a grandmaster who has mastered all the martial studies of the demonic cult. Even she could only hold onto the lifeline at her limit, so how could we do more here…”

The words of the boy general wearing armor stopped. Divine Beggar Zhu Guang had tapped his shoulder to restrain him. Jeong Yeon-shin had already reached the door of the underground stone chamber.

“Hey, an adult is speaking.”

“Listen here, Lightning Genius.”

Divine Beggar Zhu Guang ignored Yu Xiong-gong and said.

“It would be better to break through the wall ten steps to the left. There’s a path there too. It seemed to lead to storerooms or libraries.”

“Do you see through the structure?”

“It’s our sect’s Divine Outstanding Undying Art. A technique for spreading energy perception minutely over a wide area. As far as I know, the Divine Sword Group’s Nether Stream Squad has similar martial arts.”

“…Yes.”

“Just trust this Dragon Head. If I put my mind to it, I can even know how many sets of undergarments you or the Ming Cult Leader have.”

Divine Beggar Zhu Guang said this with a deliberately cheerful expression. Yu Xiong-gong, who was carrying him, stood alongside Jeong Yeon-shin and snorted.

“That’s why the sect leaders of the Nine Sects avoid social butterflies like you. Surely there have been times when you felt excluded at gatherings?”

“…Please collapse this wall with palm force. Lightning Genius is the strongest among us, so it’s right to save strength for such menial tasks.”

Wooong!

While Yu Xiong-gong laughed with a child’s voice and generated palm wind, Divine Beggar Zhu Guang turned his head to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Still, there are things to avoid if possible. The Ming Cult’s three ‘Battle Groups’ and the Three Desolate Dark Lords who lead them, the Dark Silent Twin Demons who learned sorcery martial arts directly from Young Heavenly Demon Invincible, the four Fu Ghost Emperors who raised young Young Heavenly Demon Invincible and ultimately elevated her to the position of Cult Leader… and finally the Ming Cult Grand Preceptor.”

“Are they all supreme masters?”

“The Grand Preceptor is one who has achieved Transcendent Martial Art. The Three Desolate Dark Lords and Fu Ghost Emperors are demons who had been spreading infamy even before Yelu Zhen was born, and the Dark Silent Twin Demons are supreme masters who have been raising their names recently. In terms of your sect, you could consider them like White Qilin or Lazy Flame Dragon.”

“I understand.”

“The Ming Cult’s Battle Groups… that is, the military groups of madmen are tremendously large in scale. One Battle Group here is about equivalent to two of the Divine Sword Group’s military forces. At least in my assessment. And there are three such places.”

Ming Cult.

True to that ancient name.

By now it could be called the strongest among the Thirteen Evil Sects.

The reason Young Heavenly Demon Invincible was upheld as the new Northern King called Western Heaven Dark King. Despite once suffering damage close to sect annihilation, she had revived like flames.

Kwaaaaaang!

While one side of the stone wall flew away from Yu Xiong-gong’s palm technique, Divine Beggar Zhu Guang quietly asked.

“Do you understand my words now…? We need to obtain only what’s necessary and get out. We must also know when to give up.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered obediently.

For a moment, Yu Xiong-gong twitched his sharp ears and muttered.

“Every time he opens his mouth, lies flow like a mechanical formation…”

There was no one listening.

Step.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently buried himself in the darkness. While holding the Sword Star in both arms.

The Ming Cult’s main base.

Cool air swept over his skin. A place where the unique dampness of deep caves felt like demonic energy. It was as if an abyss was flicking its tongue.

“First, I should visit two places. Starting with the locations where the Ming Cult’s medicinal materials and martial arts books are stored.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke quietly.

‘Regardless of who the opponent is, the beginning is Heaven Breaking.’

While thinking of combat methods that could overwhelmingly prevail even when not in perfect condition.