One year ago, the Thirteen Celestial Demons' Yeoryeong Sect leader gave an order to the successor.
— Study the martial world thoroughly. The world is vast.
It was a time of grand schemes.
For the young lord of the Yeoryeong Sect, such words were nothing new, yet they were received anew.
His master often infused special intent into even the simplest remarks.
If one failed to perceive that intent, they were not kept by his side. There had been five previous young successors.
As he tirelessly moved to achieve the long-standing plan of the Desolate Fortress' annihilation, it was only natural to first observe the Imperial Sword.
Thus, he came to know Lightning Genius Jung Yeonshin, the pivotal figure in the life-or-death duel between the Desolate Fortress and the Namgoong Clan.
His achievements were astounding. Not because of mere victory in the duel, but because he had earned the goodwill of such a formidable opponent.
Namgoong Se-jin, the Azure Qilin, was regarded as a competitor in the grand martial race by the young lords of many major sects.
A man who surged ahead with reputation and talent in a world where heroes vied for dominance. The name Radiant River was a legacy other competitors could never obtain in life.
The movements of the Blood Flame Cult's Seventh Apostle regarding Lightning Genius also stirred envy among the young warriors of the Demonic Faction.
The catalyst for the conflict between the Desolate Fortress and the Namgoong Clan had been her abduction of Lightning Genius.
And yet, Jung Yeonshin had returned, not only unscathed but stronger than before. Their paths had even overlapped in certain instances afterward.
— She has always been someone to watch closely. Despite completing herself as a warrior at an absurdly early age, she was born with the most noble blood in the Blood Flame Cult. Possessing a True Blood Constitution, she reigns supreme over all blood arts. If she were to make contact with Lightning Genius, rumored to be comparable to a Grandmaster…
— Just keep it in mind. There's nothing we can do about it right now.
The young lord took in various reports with detached professionalism.
— The Lord of the Desolate Fortress personally descended and annihilated the Blood Flame Cult's main headquarters. If we were to hastily conspire against her now, her attention might turn toward us. The time isn't right yet. Regardless, the fall of the Lord and the World Tree is inevitable. There's no need to provoke a martial god at the peak of ascension. Instead of Yangyang, watch over Xinjiang.
— I will obey.
It was an era where the Desolate Fortress oppressed the martial world under the rule of the Ming Dynasty.
Outlaws could not raise their heads. Wisdom gleaned from scriptures and books was as highly valued as martial prowess.
The Yeoryeong Sect esteemed both. They were a sect adept in schemes and stratagems.
The young lord had inherited that nature.
Perhaps it was the arrogance innate to those who wielded both the sword and the pen. Or perhaps he simply did not wish to keep watch over an existence that had entered the martial order from beyond.
Even after witnessing the downfall of past young lords, he dismissed Lightning Genius' extraordinary nature. Azure Qilin and the Seventh Apostle? Were they not remnants of declining sects?
The martial world was vast, filled with countless meteors. The rise of new prodigies was an ever-recurring phenomenon.
He should not have delayed his leader's assignment with such an attitude. But after Lightning Genius donned black robes, he merely treated it as another tale to observe with interest.
He took the position of a bystander. The young lord of the Yeoryeong Sect did not wish to reveal his petty nature. He intended to handle Lightning Genius at his leisure.
— The new sword of the Imperial family must not be allowed to grow this strong. We shall uproot the sprout.
And thus, the present moment arrived.
Kwaaaaa—!
The Yeoryeong Sect's secret technique, Dark Moon Overstepping Technique, shattered a brief moment into dozens of fragments.
The time it took for an image to form in the eyes and reach the mind.
In that instant, the Radiant Demon Squad's leader severed the right arm of the leader of the Suwang Sect and immediately engaged in a decisive clash, splitting the upper body of the Protector So who had been protecting the young lord.
A white storm arose in the snowy fields, scattering sunlight. The shockwave that tore through flesh was unfathomably immense.
Lightning Genius, Jung Yeonshin.
He rapidly grew larger in the young lord's vision.
Perhaps it was because this moment was fleeting to the extreme. The black hem of his robes, stretching out like lightning, left an indelible impression.
A colossal thunderstorm lotus enveloped his form, wavering in a colorless hue. To any onlooker, he was nothing short of a supernatural force.
Lightning Genius did not turn back to confirm the outcome of the battle.
He had no need to. The protector, once counted among the strongest in the Yeoryeong Sect, had failed to fulfill her role as a war machine in the sect's grand battles.
She merely turned her gaze toward the young lord, and then collapsed. Instant death. Their eyes never met in the end.
The young lord suddenly questioned himself.
'How many peak warriors capable of standing against the Desolate Fortress' black-clad forces has she slain alone?'
And then he asked himself,
'Did I call him a sprout? That person…'
Could one slay the Ghost Spirit Sword simply by borrowing a single technique from the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon?
Could one fight Shaanxi's Number One Demon on equal terms under the assumption of possessing perfect counter-energy?
Impossible.
Such talent was granted only to those deemed mistakes of heaven.
Something he had unknowingly buried deep within his heart.
The young lord finally recognized the full depth of his envy and jealousy. It came alongside a terrifying sword light that streaked toward him.
Unrivaled. His vision was soon obscured by a searing heat.
The fluttering black sleeves and the effortless swing of his sword were overwhelming. A vivid blue streak of light surged like lightning, filling his view.
Puhak—!
Snow whirled along the ridgeline.
Dry pine needles, carried by the pure white mountain wind, clashed against each other and fell. The sound of winter was clear over the snow-covered peaks.
The battle had ended. It was after two of the highest-ranked warriors of the Demonic Faction had fallen.
A supreme swordsman lay still, his head buried in the snow.
The man who had greatly contributed to the young lord's dominance over the martial world had met his end. It was a bitter death.
On one side, Suwang Sect's leader, Wei Si-hyuk, had collapsed, his right shoulder severed and his eyes rolled back.
His body had completely stiffened as he succumbed to death. The aftermath of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader's sword strike had deepened his wounds, leading to unbearable agony and his final breath.
And the young lord lay on the ground.
"Heh, haha…"
The fine silk of his noble attire had been slashed diagonally. A thunderbolt-like sword strike had left its mark.
A bone-chilling trajectory where blood seeped through. A fatal wound that bridged the mortal world and the path to the underworld's river.
After coughing up blood, the young lord barely managed to speak.
"Why… did you not finish me in one strike…?"
"Thousand-Year He Shou Wu."
Jung Yeonshin answered calmly.
The thunderflower that had enveloped his entire body had dissipated. In his current state, he could no longer hold onto it for long.
He first had to endure the pain wracking his body, constricting his meridians and tearing through his veins.
'It hurts.'
His enemies were still everywhere, so even if it was mere bluffing, he had to maintain his composure.
"Speak. Where did you put it?"
"Heh, heh… Even if I die here, you won't be able to handle the Tyrant Sword Tribe. Even if you somehow escape and descend the mountain… our Lord will seek revenge. From the beginning… I was acting under my leader's orders."
"Thank you."
"…!"
Jung Yeonshin paid no mind to the young lord's wide-eyed expression. As soon as he sensed the peculiar energy flowing from his chest, he reached out and grabbed the wooden case.
He had been on the verge of activating the Heaven-Piercing Technique at close range. The flow of energy had been visible to him.
"As expected, there is no other monster like you…"
The young lord let out a hollow laugh and continued.
"Obtaining something is never the end. In the martial world, that's only the beginning. Keeping it will be the real challenge. I heard that the Sect Leader of Mount Hua has set out as well… With Mount Hua's Sword Sage bedridden, I wonder if they'll permit you to take the Spirit Herb."
"Aren't they connected by the same roots? My companion said that the meridian paths leading to the Spirit Herb are linked."
"…"
At the sudden mention of the herbalist Jang Sun-il, a presence behind them flinched. Jung Yeonshin paid no mind and raised his sword, speaking slowly.
"It's rare for someone to offer medicine alongside the poison they inflicted. You must be more generous than the heavens."
"You truly have a talent for turning people's insides upside down… Finish it."
The moment the young lord twisted his lips into a faint smile—
Squelch.
The Beiming pierced through his torso and embedded itself into the snow.
It was said that the warriors of the Desolate Fortress wielded their blades as skillfully as the imperial army. Jung Yeonshin was no different. He had no mercy for the young lord of the Yeoryeong Sect, who had used his niece's life as a pawn.
Blood spread around his back.
To the ears of the experts present, the faint sound of melting snow mixed with the young lord's small laughter.
"Radiant Demon Squad's leader… You are no mere sprout. You are a divine Spirit Herb."
"What?"
"And in the martial world, Spirit Herbs that grow to full bloom are usually…"
Plucked by someone's hands.
The young lord never finished his sentence. The Radiant Demon Squad's leader had reversed his grip and yanked the sword out of his abdomen.
A great groan escaped. His strength completely drained away, leaving only ragged, gasping breaths.
The young lord let out a dry chuckle. His jealousy knows no end.
Sabak.
Jung Yeonshin turned away in silence. Only after confirming his final breath.
He flicked the Beiming once.
Splash.
A straight line of blood scattered through the air. Some of the warriors from the Suwang Sect and the Yeoryeong Sect instinctively recoiled in fear.
These were not the actions of men who had dominated vast regions as mighty warriors.
Had the sight of the Ultimate Thunder left that much of an impression? Even the martial artists from the orthodox factions, standing along the ridgeline, were hesitant.
But he had no time to spare for them. Even a single swing of his sword inflicted enormous recoil.
It felt as though hundreds of needles were stabbing into the insides of his arms. Enduring the excruciating pain, his vision blurred to all but his next step. He had to keep moving, pretending he was strong.
"Let's go."
He addressed Jang Sun-il and the Bukgung siblings standing in the distance.
This time, their reactions were reversed. The nobles from the Ice Palace showed an entirely different expression from the stunned herbalist.
They could not simply gape like an awestruck boy. Their striking features displayed overwhelming emotion, perhaps even a hint of admiration.
"I hope you visit the Ice Palace one day."
"The Palace Lord will suppress his icicle-sharp temper for you."
The four of them walked in silence.
No one dared to pursue them.
For a long while, only the sound of their footsteps crunching through the snow echoed. Behind their trail of white footprints, a solemn stillness followed.
They breached the formation through sorcery, leaving the startled exclamations of the Bukgung siblings behind.
The brief respite did not last.
As soon as the transparent barrier lifted, chaos erupted once more. The clash of techniques rang loudly.
From the high branches of cypress and pine trees, snow tumbled down.
The battle sparked by the rumors of the Thousand-Year He Shou Wu was reaching its conclusion.
"Move! Get out of the way!"
"Running is the only option! That thing is beyond us!"
"It's the Fourth Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult!"
Among the hundreds of presences spread across the battlefield like weeds, an especially frigid energy surged upwards.
It was terrifyingly fast.
A massive, bat-like wave of energy rippled forward at high speed.
He traversed the steep mountain terrain as if it were flat ground. It almost seemed as though he was flying. His path led straight toward Jung Yeonshin's group.
It was nearly a perfect line. As if he had honed an unimaginably sharp perception.
Countless lives were snuffed out along his approach. Without slowing for even a moment, he beheaded over a dozen warriors in a single stroke.
He was the Fourth Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult.
A force to be reckoned with. And that was the problem. In his current wounded state, he could not guarantee victory.
"Move aside."
Jung Yeonshin's voice was calm, his gaze steady.
He looked toward the hill across from them. He would appear from there. It was the dividing line of life and death.
"And…"
He spoke again, without waiting for a reply.
He gestured briefly toward his satchel.
Charaaak!
A surge of energy from Full Sky Flower Rain rippled from his palm. The books within the satchel fluttered into the air, pages turning as they floated.
Jang Sun-il parted his lips slightly. The sight of books swirling around Jung Yeonshin was strangely mystical.
"Sun-il, didn't you say your clan's nemesis was from the unorthodox sects? Take one. It might help. I won't give you the Spirit Herb, though."
"H-huh…?"
The moment Jang Sun-il mumbled in confusion—
A massive shockwave erupted from the hill across.
Kwoooom!
It was the recoil from his lightfoot technique.
A figure in a crimson robe soared like a soaring falcon. He was a man with jet-black hair, as dark as ebony.
"You've come at the right time."
His bloodshot eyes scanned the group. From his arms, blood dripped heavily.
His entire body radiated a monstrous energy. Within the translucent vortex surrounding him, crimson streaks flickered ominously.
He looked as if he could do anything.
In truth, he had slaughtered dozens on his way here.
Even the elite warriors of the Desolate Fortress would need to be at full strength to deal with him. There was no other way, his opponent was the Fourth Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult.
"It seems your disguise was lacking! That fire-user must die!"
The Fourth Apostle grinned maliciously as he gazed down at Jung Yeonshin. His expression suggested he would strike at any moment.
"Taesa, someone impersonating the Cult leader's authority is after you. If you don't come with me—"
And then—
Woooom—!
The sky darkened. The earth below glowed red.
Like a dream, the heavens and the earth met in the center.
At the intersection stood the Apostle's waist. Like the horizon itself.
A faint crimson twilight blossomed along the stretched boundary.
The Apostle's face twisted in shock.
"Violet Dawn Sacred Arts…!"
In that instant, his body was severed in two.
Puhak!
Blood scattered like petals. The grotesque scene was almost an artful display.
Jung Yeonshin did not watch his demise.
Instead, he focused on the silent fragrance of plum blossoms drawing near.
The leader of Mount Hua Sect, Starlight Sword Deity Yulha Nangnang, had arrived.
A serene breath whispered in her ear.
"The Comprehensive Overview of the Demonic Factions' Annihilation, written by Lightning Genius, chapter on the Thirteen Celestial Demons…?"
Jung Yeonshin did not need to turn to know what she was reading. Among the books scattered around her, one table of contents stood out.
1. Tyrant Sword Tribe
2. Blood Flame Cult
3. Profound Martial Alliance
4. Ten Perfection Sect
5. Pure Demon Alliance
6. Yeoryeong Sect
"What is this…?"
Yulha Nangnang's voice held doubt.
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