Sunlight shatters transparently.
"...."
The snowy surface of the mountain ridge was noisily silent.
A dawn-like radiance shimmered everywhere, as the light streaming from the sword planted before the feet of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader spread outward, filling the surroundings.
The mist of brilliance that had risen to the 'Desolate' character on his shoulder was both subtle and divine.
The silence among the martial artists in the vicinity was anything but tranquil.
It was as if the emotions of those standing upon the snow seeped into the air. Their expressions showed it all.
Some quietly pressed their lips together, while others raised their eyebrows or absentmindedly parted their lips. But hostility was hard to sense from any of them.
There was only confusion. Murmurs of astonishment and hushed gasps escaped.
"The Desolate Fortress, Radiant Demon Squad's leader...!"
"The one who dominated the Murim Alliance's Opening Tournament?"
"What is this…? A colossus appearing out of nowhere...."
The man reclining atop the palanquin was not the first subject of attention.
It was inevitable.
A supreme master from the Desolate Fortress had emerged. One of the seventeen treasured swords had manifested before all.
The black-clad Squad leader of the Desolate Fortress. Even the elite warriors of the sects hesitated before him, finding him daunting—an existence akin to the King of the Underworld.
"The black battle robe… Is it truly him? But his age is far too young..."
"The Young Lord of the Ming Cult had once toured the Thirteen Celestial Demons at around that age and still survived."
"Enough. The rumors of the present Radiant Demon Squad's leader are no lesser than that."
"You speak truth. He is a master who has slain many of the supreme warriors among the Thirteen Celestial Demons of Sichuan. It is said he even defeated the Sage Cheon Joo of the Mount Hua Sect. And all of it happened within a single year."
"We should not be overly worried, should we? I swear upon my name, I have never harmed the common people..."
"You fools! Get yourselves together! We are facing the black-clad of the Desolate Fortress! Back, back! Fall back!"
Panic lasted only for a moment.
Responses gradually became clearer. The reactions varied drastically depending on their sect and martial lineage.
The orthodox martial artists of the righteous path showed shock, accompanied by slight reluctance, but that was as far as it went.
The demonic factions and the unorthodox sects were different.
Whether feigning composure or verging on panic, they all stepped back.
Over a hundred people made the sound of their feet crunching against the snow. The number of steps they took backward did not matter. It was not a laughable sight.
They immediately believed in the identity of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader. Because their insight and sensory perception were highly developed.
That meant they were all masters in their own right.
Those who feared the Desolate Fortress' assassinations. Those whom the Divine Sword Order of the Desolate Fortress would deem worthy of execution.
"A bountiful harvest of merits."
Jung Yeonshin muttered indifferently.
When a squad leader was assigned a mission, the first thing they received was information on the martial artists who operated in that region.
The General Affairs Bureau of the Desolate Fortress compiled a book—one that would be read once and burned. It contained all sorts of information.
Facial descriptions, martial lineages, the martial arts they practiced, even the known affiliations of those they associated with.
The details were never deep. Just enough to be equivalent to a local's knowledge. The records were based on intelligence gathered from nearby administrative offices.
But even that was enough to fuel the terrifying rumors surrounding the squad leaders of the Desolate Fortress.
If a supreme master emerged from the Hao Sect, they would be no different from the black-clad swordsmen of the Divine Sword Order of the Desolate Fortress.
To the demonic factions and the underworld martial artists, it was inevitable.
A stranger recognizing them, when in truth, it was as if the King of the Underworld himself had already passed judgment and extended the Golden Flow Hand toward them.
"I—I will descend the mountain."
"Quietly… Let's go together."
A significant portion of those who had been gathering with an ominous atmosphere slowly lifted their heels. They retreated cautiously, keeping a wary eye on Jung Yeonshin.
For them, preserving their lives took precedence over obtaining a millennium-old He Shou Wu. The encirclement that had begun to form completely dissolved.
Only about a hundred remained. Those who were not part of the demonic factions, along with the warriors of the Thirteen Celestial Demons. Even as they warily eyed one another, the tension in their glances toward the Radiant Demon Squad's leader was evident.
The isolated mountain ridge of Mount Taebaek had entered a new phase.
Jung Yeonshin paid no attention to those fleeing. Capturing insignificant figures in the absence of the Radiant Demon Squad was a pointless effort. A black-clad's priority was always the most critical task at hand.
"Does anyone have anything to say to this squad leader?"
Over the shoulder of the leader of the Suwang Sect, he gazed steadily at the young man lounging on the palanquin.
The noble youth had a faint smirk on his lips. As if he was watching the most interesting part of an opera.
The origin of the sinister scheme. The one who had laid out a trap targeting Jung Yeonshin.
There was a reason he had come to understand the situation. The Heaven-Piercing Technique's insight had penetrated through the illusionary barriers they had set up and had even captured the rapid movements of their lips.
The Art of Lip Synchronization was meaningless before eyes trained to observe the people's well-being. He had deciphered every single word the man had uttered.
—A sprout is still a sprout.
The noble youth mouthed the words.
—It appears to be a new shoot of the World Tree. Impressive.
He concluded his words from afar, pulling his smirk even higher.
Reclining further back, he casually let one arm dangle over the palanquin's armrest, a posture that seemed deliberately careless.
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader slowly parted his lips.
"That posture is bad for your lower back… With such conduct, you will never reach the heights of ascension. A weakling cannot cultivate his body like that."
—....
Jung Yeonshin remained composed throughout. By now, he was a young martial artist who had endured many fierce battles.
Just because he lacked skill in provoking others did not mean he would fall for any trivial provocation. He was no child.
At that moment.
"You there."
A deep voice resonated.
It came from the man standing directly before him. The leader of the Suwang Sect, Wei Si-hyuk.
With a powerful surge of internal energy, his brow furrowed. His presence alone signified he was the central figure in the Thirteen Celestial Demons' scheme.
As if to prove that great heroes did not only emerge from the Great Sect.
"I have been watching silently, but your arrogance is excessive. Where do you think you are looking, Radiant Demon Squad's leader?"
"Step back."
Jung Yeonshin muttered, almost lazily. It was directed at Jang Sun-il and the Bukgung siblings standing behind him.
Unlike Jang Sun-il, who openly displayed his nervousness, Bukgung Rin and Bukgung Hu's breathing remained remarkably steady.
Perhaps it was because they had come from the Icy Palace of the far northern lands. Though they could not be ignorant of the Desolate Fortress, their reaction was merely one of acknowledgment. As befitting noble scions.
Bukgung Rin's voice brushed against his ears.
"We shall take care of the young guide."
"Gilbeot, focus on your martial path. This looks like a crisis, but we have no intention of turning our backs on you."
It was Bukgung Hu's voice. Their mindset was different from that of the central plains.
A bond forged over a trivial campfire was firmer than Jung Yeonshin had expected. Perhaps their camaraderie was as valuable as the millennium-old He Shou Wu.
The noble siblings of the Ice Palace slowly retreated with Jang Sun-il in tow.
"Thank you."
Jung Yeonshin expressed his gratitude briefly before stepping forward.
At the same time, the leader of the Suwang Sect, Wei Si-hyuk, swung his arms wide.
A fierce wave of internal energy spread from the orange-hued robe sleeves, filling the stillness with an overwhelming pulse of power.
Jung Yeonshin's eyes, tinged with blue, scanned him thoroughly.
'His internal energy is not biased towards any particular attribute. Fundamentally, his energy is deep. His energy circulation and entire muscular structure are meticulously refined, he may excel in prolonged battles.'
The conclusion was clear.
A master whose martial prowess did not suffer from elemental disadvantages, with a solid foundation in all aspects.
A warrior specifically chosen to counter the Lightning Genius, Jung Yeonshin.
They had targeted him precisely, selecting someone adept at long-drawn confrontations, an opponent strong even against esoteric martial arts.
'I will win.'
The real problem lay elsewhere, it was not a duel between just the two of them. There was no way they would have laid a trap only to insist on a one-on-one fight.
Jung Yeonshin grasped the hilt of the Beiming, which was embedded in the ground, and slowly drew it upward.
"Come."
At the moment he spoke—
Boom!
Wei Si-hyuk was not the only one who charged in.
"Attack!"
"Kill him here!"
He had walked right into a perfectly arranged formation. There was no room for carelessness when facing the Radiant Demon Squad's leader. Dozens of warriors encircling him all closed in at once.
It was a siege formation composed of elite masters from the Tyrant Sword Tribe, the Blood Flame Cult, and the Yeoryeong Sect. The terrifying waves of energy slashed against Jung Yeonshin's skin.
Crash!
He deflected the first punch from the leader of the Suwang Sect with the back of his hand. A heavy shockwave erupted.
A flicker of surprise crossed Wei Si-hyuk's eyes. He had failed to immediately neutralize the aftershock of his own blow, which had been imbued with Radiant Energy.
Wei Si-hyuk took a short step back, showing he had lost the first exchange.
Saaak!
At the same time, attacks from eight directions came crashing in.
It was the combined assault of the warriors. Their strikes flooded in from all angles, preventing any room for counterattacks as swords and spears thrust forward, filling the air with a resounding hum, like the buzzing of a swarm of bees.
Jung Yeonshin's robe billowed into pure blackness. He had pulled the Beiming inward, laying it horizontally across his body.
The storm of force erupting from his entire being repelled the incoming attacks, dispersing them into a blurry haze.
Judgment Qilin. The momentum of Wind Body and the presence of a king.
"Step back!"
Just as Wei Si-hyuk slammed his foot down and shouted, Jung Yeonshin's sword flashed like a silver arc of a whirlwind.
His form spun, a ghostly afterimage following his movement. The displacement was so swift that even the surrounding energy waves failed to keep up.
Zzzt—!
A sword strike several tiers beyond their comprehension shattered every weapon within reach. Those who had gripped their broken hilts in desperation coughed up blood.
They had taken the full force of the explosive backlash.
Six out of the eight fell in an instant.
Jung Yeonshin extended his left hand.
The shards of shattered blades that had been falling froze midair.
It was the prelude to Full Sky Flower Rain.
"Rear guard!"
Wei Si-hyuk shouted.
The second formation moved in swiftly. It resembled the tactics of a military spear and shield unit.
This wave was composed of warriors enveloped in even denser, more solid energy. It appeared as though they were wearing thin armor beneath their robes.
With a short flick of Jung Yeonshin's fingers, the petals of steel scattered in all directions.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
The sound of impact was dull and heavy.
The warriors staggered.
Were they practitioners who focused on defensive energy techniques? They had not died instantly from the wide-area attack unleashed without preparation. Their faces twisted in pain, but only small traces of blood seeped through.
For a brief moment, Jung Yeonshin's gaze darkened.
'They know my fighting style.'
They had come prepared.
The elites of the Thirteen Celestial Demons.
Whooosh!
Wei Si-hyuk cut through the air again, his hand blade descending from above.
A carefully prepared attack, launched while the front and rear formations held the line.
The energy gathered at the edge of his palm ignited in a colorless blaze, growing larger.
The Phoenix Body Art of the Suwang Sect radiated a force far greater than what had been described in the General Affairs Bureau's records.
Of course.
He was the vanguard of the Thirteen Celestial Demons.
Boom!
A hazy shockwave exploded in all directions.
Jung Yeonshin, in the middle of activating Radiant River, intercepted the descending hand blade with his palm.
The sheer force of the recoil erupted violently, causing Wei Si-hyuk's hand to cave inward.
The sensation of shattering bone was vividly transmitted.
"Argh!"
As Wei Si-hyuk's face contorted in pain, a relentless barrage of spears and blades came surging from all sides.
The faces of the elite warriors gripping their weapons were filled with lethal intent.
Jung Yeonshin's blue eyes glowed faintly as they flickered from side to side.
His azure gaze left behind a faint afterimage, while the black robes of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader billowed like a dancing shadow.
He had already memorized their movements—every single turo—before he spun with the footwork of Wind Body.
As a spear shaft narrowly grazed past, he struck it with his left hand, shattering it instantly.
Then, in the same fluid motion, he accelerated into Judgment Qilin, slicing through the chests of two men on his right in a single stroke.
Slaaash!
The silvery trail of the sword stretched long and jagged.
It was deeply imbued with Radiant Energy.
'Uncle will be there soon.'
Within the trajectory of his sword strike, Jung Yeonshin thought of his niece, Jung Hye-ah.
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