Chapter 31 – Genius (3)
Cheers erupted from a distance.
Even the masters trained in the old school, who were generally composed and dignified, were excited.
These were mostly the young warriors who had a close relationship with Yeon-shin.
They were likely the ones who had seen him protect Hye-ah.
“Your epithet is ‘Lightning Flash,’ isn’t it? It suits you well.”
“The Radiance Sword Style. What a profound name.”
“Indeed, a profound and magnificent sword technique. And powerful, too.”
“To think Wei Mu-hyeok was an up-and-coming talent nurtured by the Tyrant Sword Sect…”
A decisive battle unfolded before their eyes. Even their masters and elders stood by silently.
With morale soaring endlessly, Yeon-shin’s focus was sharply directed ahead.
Tyrant Sword Sect.
The front was entirely different. A small murmur arose.
Though not a huge commotion, they couldn’t hide their confusion.
The sect master’s disciple was beheaded in just two moves. And his opponent was a peer.
“This is unheard of.”
“How could Mu-hyeok not even resist…”
“Kill them all.”
The last words came from the Master of the Tyrant Sword Sect.
His voice, which did not tolerate a drop in morale, swept across the plains of Guanzhong. An overwhelming presence of qi was laid down.
“Yeon-shin! Come back!”
It was Won-chang, shouting his name like a friend, in his desperation.
Yeon-shin locked eyes with the Master of the Tyrant Sword Sect. He remained still, his sword embedded in the ground.
He seemed indifferent to his disciple’s death. Yeon-shin mouthed his words deliberately.
“I will take one of your arms. I don’t know how, but I will.”
“How absurd.”
Yeon-shin knew this too. What he said would be treated as nothing more than an amusement.
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on the Master of the Tyrant Sword Sect’s face. He even let out a soft chuckle.
Simultaneously, a military-like vibration spread from the Tyrant Sword Sect’s side.
Yeon-shin’s Radiance Sword Style had triggered a war between the sects.
The Zhongnan Sect, too, rose like a cloud to protect their vanguard.
“Ahhhh!”
Among those who leapt with incredible lightness, some shouted as they traversed the space.
Their qi-infused voices echoed in all directions, making the plains feel like a canyon.
Amidst the chaotic waves of qi, Yeon-shin struggled to stay focused.
“So this is what a battle among masters is really like.”
He retreated, his gaze fixed on the Tyrant Sword Sect. The distance seemed to disappear quickly.
At the forefront, a master stomped the ground with immense force.
His long beard fluttered, his presence grand, and his qi was domineering.
“This is not normal.”
It was clear at a glance that he was an elder-level master.
One of the top talents of the Tyrant Sword Sect, who had been honing his advanced martial arts for decades.
A warrior Yeon-shin couldn’t handle yet.
“I will kill you!”
The elder might have been Wei Mu-hyeok’s grandfather. His eyes blazed with an intense light.
Being an elder of the Demonic Sect, he wouldn’t show mercy just because Yeon-shin was young.
“If you had taught him well, it wouldn’t have ended in two moves.”
“How dare you!”
Yeon-shin’s words were like lighting a fuse. An immense killing intent was transmitted.
It was enough. He had provoked intentionally to sharpen his focus.
“This is now a battlefield. Any tactic is acceptable.”
He twisted his body to create space. The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan flew past, barely brushing his robes.
“Thanks to you, I managed to bring half of the fight here.”
“Keuh!”
At the Sword Immortal’s words, the body of the Tyrant Sword Sect elder flew backward.
The massive qi wave from the Zhongnan Sect Sword Immortal’s palm swept in all directions.
The brutal clash marked the beginning of a sect war. Finally, the great battle between the Tyrant Sword Sect and the Zhongnan Sect had commenced.
Yeon-shin’s eyes scanned left and right. To earn merits, he needed to find an opponent he could handle.
“There are many.”
Fortunately, there were many young masters who couldn’t control their bloodlust and rushed forward.
Yeon-shin immediately kicked off towards the side.
“You bastard!”
Having already drawn significant attention, he was a primary target of the Tyrant Sword Sect.
The number of enemies rushing at him with drawn swords was not small.
“I can handle this.”
They were all young. It was only natural.
Other elder-level or mid-level masters seemed to sense each other’s qi and were clashing among themselves.
If even one slipped through, their disciples could be massacred.
“Whoosh!”
When he used the Jeong Family Dynamic Training, a considerable qi wave arose.
Yeon-shin’s robes fluttered as if proving his continuous growth.
To participate as a guest of the Zhongnan Sect, he did not wear his Desolate Fortress martial robes today.
If there was a second battle, he would wear it then.
The first one to strike used a spear.
The qi imbued in the blade contained a martial force that far exceeded that of all the Mantis Sect Warriors from back then.
“Clang!”
The rotational strike embedded in the spear’s technique was severed by the Desolate Sword’s strike.
Taking advantage of the enemy’s moment of surprise, the dim light of the Radiance Sword Style slit his neck.
“Two.”
Once immersed in the battlefield, Yeon-shin did not see enemies as people.
Merits were numbers. One could not survive here if caught up in ethics and compassion.
Clang! Splat!
Amidst the swirling dust and the flashing white sword light, Yeon-shin tried to stay composed.
His upper dantian, emitting an invisible light from the top of his head, left no blind spots.
Even if a swift sword extended from behind, he deflected it immediately and struck the neck.
It felt like surveying the entire spatial front. The senses he acquired from the Mantis Sect greatly contributed to the group battle.
“Match the rhythm! Don’t rush in recklessly!”
“Even his footwork is marvelous! Watch his legs carefully!”
The disciples of the Tyrant Sword Sect finally decided to attack him in unison. The harmony between the Splendid Wings Step and the Radiance Sword Style was astounding.
Lightning Flash of the Demon Wings, was gradually becoming a complete martial artist, mastering unique martial arts one by one.
With Hyeon Won-chang covering his back and aiding him, Yeon-shin’s achievements among the young disciples of the Zhongnan Sect were outstanding.
The Desolate Sword did not stop spilling blood until the grand battle between the two sects reached a lull.
The first skirmish was a victory for the Zhongnan Sect. They said the initial surge of momentum was crucial.
Yeon-shin had now become a well-known figure on Mount Zhongnan. All the warriors of the Zhongnan Sect showed him favor and respect.
“I have some good liquor hidden from my master and senior brothers. Care for a drink?”
“Are there that many duels lined up? I must be late.”
“The maidens of the Poetry Pavilion seem interested in you, but I firmly declined on your behalf. Our sword discussions come first, don’t you think? Hahaha!”
It was exhausting just to respond. Yeon-shin strolled along the path, recalling his conversation with Ye Yil-sin.
He had received an answer that, if he wished, the reason for the Jeong family’s extermination would be revealed at any time.
He was also told that his second brother already knew.
Joong-san had refrained from telling his younger brother, and Ye Yil-sin herself hesitated to bring it up for a reason.
It would be better to hear it after the major battle was over.
“It probably won’t be much of a shock.”
He thought it was an unnecessary worry.
He was desperately running to avoid his impending death, but those who didn’t know treated him like a child.
Even the enemies did. Though he was glad they did since it only made earning merits easier.
“Just in case.”
He muttered to himself.
He decided not to create situations that would distract him from focusing on the fleeting battle.
The weight of his future revenge was heavier than that of the family’s already executed extermination.
They said the mental demon came unexpectedly. It would be enough to hear about it when leaving Mount Zhongnan.
“Master Jeong!”
Won-chang waved from afar. Yeon-shin approached with a small smile.
“Did you have connections with the mid-level masters of the Zhongnan Sect?”
“Is something the matter?”
“Two famous masters from Xi’an have come. They asked if you’d like to train together. They mentioned an interesting training method.”
The warriors who had come with Ye Yil-sin from the Jeong family came to mind.
They were the ones who nodded naturally when she proposed that Yeon-shin join the Zhongnan Sect.
They had even helped recover the bodies of the Jeong family. He had seen them briefly during the first great battle.
“Are their epithets Shearing Cliff Sword and Tranquil Fist?”
“Indeed, your reputation is considerable. You won’t die a stray death in the wilderness. The Sword Immortal treated you like a grandchild while Mount Hua’s Heavenly Swordmaster would always welcome you as a guest…”
Hyeon Won-chang spoke with an envious expression.
Come to think of it, this journey through the martial world was quite different from his initial sortie.
He had made many connections with high-level masters from prestigious sects, whom ordinary people rarely saw.
“They are quite familiar.”
Yeon-shin took a leisurely step forward.
The white clouds shining in the sunlight approached gently.
That was how it was until the second great battle began.
Three days later, the Tyrant Sword Sect reappeared at the Central Plains, having honed their skills.
It was evident just by looking at their formation.
Despite being a demonic sect, the expressions of the numerous warriors were unseen.
“This won’t be easy. All the few elders of the Tyrant Sword Sect have come out.”
The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan spoke heavily. Gu Yang-cheon nodded slowly.
“If we win here, it will be over.”
“Myo-hwa, take good care of the disciples.”
“Yes, Elder.”
Weiji Myo-hwa, who answered calmly, looked different from before.
Her white face was brightly flushed.
It felt like she had cast off her lingering doubts, with power surging through her entire being.
It was an upright and burning energy wave.
Jeong Yeon-shin, who stood among them due to his significant contributions, met her gaze.
Weiji Myo-hwa’s lips curved up.
“I wish you good luck, Master Jeong.”
“May the Cloud Sword Dragon also be safe.”
Jeong Yeon-shin responded calmly and turned his head.
It was not the time to worry about a master superior to himself.
At that moment, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Beware of the Fierce Asura Sword. He is the grandfather of Wei Mu-hyeok, whom you defeated.”
“Is it the elder from the last battle?”
“Yes. I couldn’t finish him off and had to face the main elder of the Tyrant Sword Sect. Though his stance quickly crumbled, he seemed to be watching you while taking my sword.”
“They say he has a higher rank than the sect leader. On the battlefield, he’s like his right hand.”
Weiji Myo-hwa interjected with a worried expression.
“Thank you for your concern.”
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded as the second grand battle began.
This time, there was no vanguard skirmish. The Tyrant Sword Sect charged forward with a momentum that showed no regard for anything else.
The war, with the fate of the sects at stake, was different from the romantic tales told by martial world enthusiasts.
A fight for interests, honor, and survival compressed the time and space perception of warriors in an instant.
Clang! Boom!
“Poetry Pavilion, gather! Form a sword formation here!”
“Aaagh!”
Yeon-shin found himself in the thick of the battle, raising the Radiance Sword Style.
The smell of blood had become familiar. How many had he cut down amid the waves of energy crashing from all directions?
“Words are unnecessary!”
An old man that exuded immense energy approached, cutting through the fight wearing torn clothes that barely covered him.
The Sword Immortal’s advice was correct. The elder of the Tyrant Sword Sect, the Fierce Asura Sword, approached with fierce eyes.
“Are all demonic sects like this? How shameless.”
“I will kill you.”
Yeon-shin instinctively knew. There was no more effective means than provocation in a chaotic battle.
An elder of the Thirteen Heavens would have vast experience in the martial world, yet he moved like a lion towards its prey, intoxicated by his own strength.
His field of vision was completely narrowed, but he still sensed the presence of Hyeon Won-chang and other Zhongnan Sect masters rushing to assist from the sides.
He raised his inner energy to the limit.
Clang-!
The sword force Yeon-shin barely dodged was tremendous. The ground where the sword tip touched caved in with a thud.
The technique of a supreme sect elder was relentless, as if it would never end. The Fierce Asura Sword continued to strike with his palm.
Yeon-shin employed the Splendid Wings Step, brushing past his side.
“This brat?”
Bang!
The moment the elder’s eyebrow twitched, Jeong Yeon-shin’s side met his palm strike, and his body was flung far away.
From his ribs to his oblique muscles, an immense energy wave exploded.
Yeon-shin opened his eyes wide.
‘Jeong Family Dynamic Training!’
The now-activated mid dantian supplemented his inner strength.
The supreme energy of the Dynamic Training pierced through the shock and rose above it.
It quickly dissipated the energy wave that seemed to spread throughout his body, restoring his entire body.
In the meantime, Weiji Myo-hwa, Tranquil Fist, and Shearing Cliff Sword stood against the Fierce Asura Sword.
Yeon-shin’s eyes caught the sight of the four top-level masters engaging in combat.
At that moment, his upper dantian flared up, engraving all the techniques of the Fierce Asura Sword into his memory.
‘He is enraged. Easy to analyze.’
He memorized how he gripped the sword, how his muscles moved when he applied sword force.
He didn’t stop there; he dissected all the intricacies.
From the directional footwork to the small habits of generating foot energy.
The elder, who had seemed to be losing, used a desperate move after the fifty-third exchange.
He sacrificed his left arm to Weiji Myo-hwa’s sword, then struck her abdomen directly.
Even Tranquil Fist and Shearing Cliff Sword were struck by his sword attack and fell to the ground.
The old man’s form was a wreck. He had become a one-armed swordsman, and his mouth was stained with dark red blood, indicating severe internal injuries.
Even so, the Fierce Asura Sword was a renowned elder of the Tyrant Sword Sect.
“Haaap!”
Hyeon Won-chang rushed in, only to be miserably thrown aside.
‘What provoked Won-Chang?’
The elder charged with true steps, his sword aimed directly at Hyeon Won-chang’s neck.
Yeon-shin was already at the elder’s side.
“I’ve been waiting!”
A murderous smile appeared on the old man’s lips. The sword stance changed rapidly.
An enormous swift sword technique emerged from his wrinkled hand.
As the diagonal upward strike reached Jeong Yeon-shin’s torso, he felt it.
‘I can sense it.’
It was not a sword that could be seen with his current vision. This was the realm of foresight.
His upper dantian burned brightly. It felt like the sun had fallen into his mind, with the intense heat exploding within.
He had already calculated the techniques of the Fierce Asura Sword. He entrusted everything to his talent and luck.
Just one move, at this moment, in this stance, the elder’s technique would not differ from his expectations.
He was already drawing the sword path to shatter that move.
The Desolate Sword in his hand flowed like water.
It was a strike known as Sword of Destruction, a destructive technique.
The bright sunlight, which had been shining down, was dimmed by the sword blade, and the white trajectory flowed past the elder’s neck like water, leaving him astonished.
Splash-!
“……”
In the tumultuous battlefield, the spot where Jeong Yeon-shin stood remained quiet.
He fixed his gaze on the Master of the Tyrant Sword Sect, who was engaged in a fierce battle with Gu Yang-cheon.
Though it was said Gu Yang-cheon was being pushed back, it was different now. He was clearly observing this side.
The Master of the Tyrant Sword Sect, whose face showed bewilderment for the first time, stared as Yeon-shin grabbed the fallen elder’s head by his hair.
“Tyrant Sword Sect Master, I told you I would take something.”
He raised the head of the Fierce Asura Sword high, amplifying his voice with qi.
Warriors from both sects turned their heads one by one to look this way. The movements of all began to slow.
Yeon-shin asked calmly.
“Does this count as one of your arms?”