Jang Sun-il, leading the group, trailed off mid-sentence.
"This way, this way is correct… but the energy flow is being severed. This is strange. This shouldn't be happening…."
He stomped on the snow-covered ground, where sunlight gleamed stark white, several times before tilting his head in confusion.
As footprints overlapped in rounded patterns, transparent light shimmered along the ridge, revealing the presence of new martial artists.
Each of them had a sword strapped to their waists. There were at least a hundred and twenty of them.
Their aura was extraordinary.
The Bukgung siblings stepped to either side of the young boy.
The martial artists who had ascended Mount Taebaek first were moving strangely.
They had been lurking around the area before Jung Yeonshin's party had even reached the mid-slope. Now, with grave expressions, they began scanning their surroundings, their demeanor unmistakably hostile.
"This doesn't make sense. Something unusual is happening."
"Find the pivot. There must be one."
Muttering amongst themselves, they tightened their grips on their sword hilts.
A dull, heavy noise echoed from all around. It was accompanied by the sharp sound of blades being drawn.
Swords flashed as they began slashing through the underbrush, felling trees without hesitation. Their eyes swept across every figure present with an intense glare.
They were not merely being cautious. They were certain that an enemy was among them.
"Aren't those the masters of Suwang Sect?"
"The Suwang Sect's leader! Even the Suwang Sect's leader is here!"
"Heh… even the most formidable martial clan in Yan'an Prefacture has… Judging by their numbers, they brought everyone. But the Suwang Sect is supposed to be an esteemed sect…."
"There are rumors that the Thirteen Celestial Demons and Mount Hua Sect have also arrived. What is Suwang Sect compared to that?"
"It matters to us. Look at their momentum. They look ready to bury someone at any moment."
One of the most prominent sects in Shaanxi Province had arrived. The martial artists nearby scattered in alarm.
It was only natural, given that with a single slash from the Suwang Sect's leader's sword, six ancient trees were sliced clean through.
"We should tread carefully."
Bukgung Hu whispered into the guide boy's ear.
Jang Sun-il wore a puzzled expression.
"But… that person is already dead. Is there really anything to worry about…?"
He was referring to the Wave King, Kim Si-hu. His words were reasonable. They had witnessed a supreme martial artist, one who had once stood unrivaled in the martial world, met his end at Jung Yeonshin's hands.
It had been an event of unparalleled astonishment. Among the martial artists present, few, if any, could think of someone capable of opposing Jung Yeonshin.
Jang Sun-il, emboldened by this, had begun looking down on the surrounding martial artists with a sense of borrowed authority.
Bukgung Hu shook his head.
"It's your life that's the issue. Do you even realize how many wolves have gathered here? Haven't we already confirmed that some of the Central Plains' most powerful factions are converging? Gilbeot[Jung Yeonshin] will be fine. But how do you expect to keep up with his elusive movements?"
"Ah…."
"My brother is right. Stay close to us. Strong warriors attract other strong warriors. It might actually be more dangerous near Gilbeot."
Bukgung Rin clenched and unclenched her pale hands as she spoke.
Her manner of speaking in the language of the Central Plains was androgynous.
From the moment she had casually mentioned marrying Jung Yeonshin, it had been clear—her identity as a foreigner devoted to martial arts was all the more pronounced for it. Bukgung Hu was no different.
Even the smallest details about them drew attention. Their hair, a pale bluish-white that seemed to dissolve the clouds in the sky, was strikingly foreign.
As many turned their gaze toward Jung Yeonshin's party, murmurs spread through the air.
"If we just get past this, we'll be fine. Mount Taebaek is even bigger than I thought."
"Hold on. Haven't we been going in circles? No matter how dull one's senses are, how could they not notice? Or… is someone pretending not to?"
"What did you just say?"
"All these martial artists, and they're all still lost? This is clearly abnormal."
"A formation… Is this a formation? That's why they're—!"
More and more martial artists wore expressions of sudden realization. They had come to understand that they were trapped.
Suwang Sect's strange behavior on Mount Taebaek now made sense, it was clear they were searching for the pivot to break the formation.
A sharp tension spread through the air.
If even a sect as powerful as Suwang Sect was struggling like this, there was little doubt about the presence of an advanced formation.
The fact that so many skilled martial artists had failed to reach the summit of Mount Taebaek was, in itself, highly unusual.
There was no explanation other than the influence of a spatial-disrupting formation.
To deploy a formation of this scale as part of mystical martial arts was no simple feat.
Unless one was Zhuge Liang himself, the caster would need to be inside the formation, constantly reinforcing it. Those with keen insight immediately recalled this fundamental principle.
This meant that enemies who had set this up were among them.
Throughout history, there had always been those who lured others in with maps, elixirs, or martial manuals, only to exploit them for nefarious gains.
The martial artists of Mount Taebaek began scanning their surroundings warily. Their formless hostility seeped out, mingling with their internal energy. Snowflakes fluttered subtly in the wind.
"So this is a mystical formation…?"
"What kind of scoundrels dare!"
"Stop hiding and show yourselves! You must have lost your mind!"
"What is your goal? What are you after?"
At that moment—
"Fellow martial artists, please direct your attention here!"
A powerful voice rang out, reaching every corner without obstruction. It was a lion's roar, an overwhelming presence that forcefully drew the attention of all nearby.
A tremendous surge of internal energy rippled outward, shaking the skeletal branches of nearby trees and causing chunks of snow to tumble down. The sheer reach of his energy was immense.
The murmurs ceased. The gazes of numerous martial artists converged on the center of a snow-covered hill.
"This Wei Mo has something to say."
The deep voice resonated from a man with a towering frame. His sharp eyes, set in a well-defined face, exuded an imposing aura.
Despite wearing a simple, single-colored blue robe devoid of embroidery, it carried an air of elegance akin to ceremonial garb. His very presence commanded such weight.
Saaah—
The invisible energy radiating from his body swept the snow off the ground beneath his feet.
This was a man who had crushed boulders, the supposed pivots of the formation—with his bare hands. The crowd of martial artists fell silent.
"Suwang Sect's leader, Wei Se-hyuk…."
Someone muttered his name as if swallowing their breath.
"Beyond this point, just past here, lies the thousand-year He Shou Wu. A follower of my sect spoke of it, so there is no doubt. Given your skills in reaching this place, you must already suspect this as well."
Wei Se-hyuk swept his gaze over the gathered martial artists as he spoke, extending a hand to gesture behind him.
His blue sleeve fluttered in the wind, and he continued speaking at a measured pace.
"Traditionally, the first to claim an herb found on land is its rightful owner. As the leader of Suwang Sect, I intended to uphold that custom. I simply wished to provide the best for my disciples."
His eyes, scanning the crowd, briefly locked onto a refined young man sitting in a palanquin.
Then, his gaze shifted toward Jung Yeonshin's party, scrutinizing the silent, black-robed youth.
A slight curve formed at the edge of Wei Se-hyuk's stern eyes.
"Yet, my efforts have been in vain. We've been marching in place. While countless martial artists continue ascending from below, we remain stuck. A truly peculiar phenomenon. There are few native martial artists in Shaanxi Province capable of such a lowly trick. In fact, the only well-known sect proficient in mystical formations here is the Zhuge Clan at the far end of Hanzhong."
His words carried an undeniable strength, like tempered steel woven into his voice.
Through internal energy control, his voice alone commanded overwhelming presence.
In the martial world, the words of a renowned master naturally carried weight.
"Hmm…"
The response was favorable. Several martial artists had already begun casting glances at the conspicuous party.
Wei Se-hyuk's sharp, gleaming eyes followed suit.
"Yet, I see foreigners here. Look at their hair and features. These are outsiders come to plunder treasures from our land. And the young men with them also appear anything but ordinary. Thus, as the leader of my sect, I propose to interrogate them personally…."
He parted his lips.
"I seek the permission of my fellow martial artists, lest I disturb your peace. I do not ask for your participation, only your understanding, as we must tread carefully amidst these treacherous arts…."
"The Suwang Sect's leader speaks the truth!"
"Their appearance is highly suspicious! We must detain them. If they meddle with the pivot of this formation, who knows what disaster may unfold?"
Voices of agreement rose from all around.
Breaking through the entrance of Mount Taebaek, now a den of demons, the hundreds of martial artists emerged, their internal energy radiating with force.
Contrary to the Suwang Sect's leader's words about not seeking participation, they were exceedingly aggressive.
Jung Yeonshin, who had been silently listening, captured every movement with his eyes.
Heaven-Piercing Technique.
The watchful eyes of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, observing the suffering of the people.
His field of vision had reached an entirely new level, able to perceive even the areas beyond his focal point, encompassing all directions.
He scrutinized the instigators down to the deepest layers of their facial muscles. These were the ones who had spoken immediately after Wei Se-hyuk finished his speech.
The movements of their masseter muscles as they chewed were instantaneously captured. To Jung Yeonshin, it was as clear as someone rolling their eyes right in front of his nose.
'They know me. This was a trap.'
The surrounding martial artists hesitated, some stepping backward, while others cautiously advanced.
Most of those approaching carried the profound, sinister energy of the Demonic Faction and the Tyrant Sword Tribe. They seemed to be from the Blood Flame Cult and Yeoryeong Sect, whom he had already clashed with.
The bald-headed ones were most likely blood demons hiding their naturally red hair.
"The moment you show any suspicious sign, I will strike."
Step.
Suwang Sect's leader Wei Se-hyuk took a light step forward. No footprints remained in the snow behind him.
Many martial artists shuddered at the eerie sight and retreated further. It was the ultimate level of Snow-Stepping Without Traces, a profound body movement technique.
"We have easily passed the first wave."
From afar, a young leader of Yeoryeong reclined lazily atop a palanquin, resting his chin on his hand, gazing at Jung Yeonshin with amusement.
"The Wave King could only be restrained by the Blood Flame Cult, so he was wasted, but… the second wave will be quite useful. More importantly, since he fears the presence of the Thirteen Celestial Demons, he hasn't revealed his identity as the squad leader of Desolate Fortress, so the other martial artists will be easily swayed."
It was less of a prediction and more a narration of what was already happening.
The surrounding martial artists were clearly shaken by the instigators' words. Their gazes toward Jung Yeonshin's group turned colder.
One by one, they began stepping forward. To them, that extraordinary young man was nothing more than an unknown bat clinging to foreign wolves.
People were always hostile to the unknown.
The young leader of Yeoryeong Sect smiled elegantly.
His lips, forming a faint smile, moved languidly.
"Protector So, can you handle the Radiant Demon Squad's leader alone?"
"The one who single-handedly executed Shaanxi's Number One Demon? Alone, it would be difficult."
A swordsman clad in black answered quietly, standing beside the palanquin.
The young leader stroked the hilt of his sword as he watched the Suwang Sect's leader and the Radiant Demon Squad's leader finally face each other.
"Your internal energy leans toward the orthodox, so you might manage to hold out against him."
"You're already anticipating the Suwang Sect's leader's defeat."
"Of course. Even if I somewhat admire the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, I'm still well aware that he is my mortal enemy. Understanding an opponent's raw abilities is a crucial part of strategy, even in Go…."
It was then.
From afar—
Jung Yeonshin placed his hand on the cloth draped over his shoulder.
The young leader's eyes slightly widened, and the Suwang Sect's leader's footsteps faltered.
Jung Yeonshin's lips moved.
"Where do you find the safety to slander me…?"
His voice, deepened by adolescence, rang out pleasantly, resonating with a quiet intensity. At the same time, his hand moved without hesitation.
With a sharp rip—
The cloth wrapped around his forearm tore away.
Against the stark white snow, golden letters shimmered.
'Desolate'.
The character for 'Desolate' was revealed, in full view of Mount Taebaek's gathered martial artists.
And then—when had he drawn his sword?
Thud!
Jung Yeonshin drove a pure white sword into the snow.
A luminous white radiance rippled from the blade, traveling from the snow-covered ground, up the sword's body, and to the hilt, pulsating with an eerie, divine light.
It was not a reflection of sunlight.
The sacred energy was so palpable that anyone could feel it, surging through the winter wind.
Divine Power.
Wuuuung—
It spread with an ethereal resonance. Even those who had only read about it in ancient manuscripts or heard of it through oral traditions recognized immediately that it carried no trace of wickedness.
The mystical energy, akin to sunlight descending upon a temple, swirled in all directions.
"...."
In an instant, the surrounding commotion froze over.
Everyone fell silent, their faces stiff with different expressions. Jang Sun-il and the Bukgung siblings, standing behind, were no exception.
In this moment, Jung Yeonshin was contemplating.
What would the Desolate Sacred Warrior have done?
What trick would the Hwangbo Madman have used to turn this situation to his advantage?
He slowly parted his lips.
"I am Jung Yeonshin, leader of the Radiant Demon Squad."
Then, raising his left hand, he pointed.
At the handsome man seated inside the palanquin.
"That bastard is using sorcery. He's a vile one."
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader's eyes gleamed with a piercing blue radiance.
And then, the entire scene plunged into chaos.
[T/L: Please support me AND read further chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans.]
[T/L: Subscribe for a membership on my Buy Me a Coffee page and receive 15 extra chapters upon joining, along with daily updates of one chapter: buymeacoffee.com/revengerscans ]
[Additional Info: If anyone is facing the issue of payment on Ko-Fi, please contact me on revengerscans1@gmail.com]