* * *
Jung Yeonshin was walking slowly, gripping the rusty handle of the creaking cart.
The orthodox martial artists following him from a distance felt an overwhelming sense of awe.
Beyond the smoothly polished main gate, glowing with a bronze hue, and the pristine white walls, an immense pressure spread like a natural disaster.
Whoosh—!
Dust swirled violently around the manor, scattering in all directions. The hazy particles wavered like smoke.
It was an aura rarely encountered anywhere in the world. Absolute beings, equivalent to the leaders of the great sects, were revealing their presence.
"Is it really okay to let him go in like that?"
"Even if he truly is the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, wouldn't he only make the battlefield more chaotic in there...?"
"Still, he'd be far more useful than us."
Among the dozen or so gathered warriors, a few old experts exchanged words with worried expressions.
The faces of the Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect masters grew even graver.
Not only the exceptionally sensitive Golden Staff Divine Lady and Red Cloud Dragon, but even the esteemed elders of their sects, Qing En Taoist and Zewei Star Divine Nun, had long since discarded their usual transcendent expressions.
Qing En Taoist slowly spoke, gazing at the back of the black-robed youth who had already stepped past the threshold.
"Nun."
"Hm."
"There are two of the Thirteen Celestial Demons."
"I feel it."
The middle-aged nun nodded.
Though her demeanor remained composed, her gaze was heavy.
The place the youth, who claimed to be the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, had entered was already akin to the underworld itself. It was a true demonic stronghold.
The domineering power meant for battlefields, the sinister energy that sent chills down one's spine, the overwhelming presence of the Ten Perfection Sect and Pure Demon Alliance's unique force was surging in thick waves.
It was as if the absolute beings of each great faction had personally descended, leading their disciples.
Qingcheng and Emei were ancient sects. They knew well how powerful and ruthless the two neighboring demonic factions were.
And they also understood that the forces gathered here in the Tang Clan were akin to an unstoppable landslide.
"Unless the Grandmasters of our main sect descend from the mountain..."
Qing En Taoist trailed off. The ceaseless waves of energy blew his beard back into his collar.
But his words were unrealistic.
After the former Qingcheng Sect's leader, the Crimson Mist Sword Lord, was slain by the Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader, his martial brother had taken up the sect leader's mantle.
He had been preoccupied with restoring order to the sect, protecting the affiliated schools, and raising disciples capable of unifying the Azure Cloud Sword Arts and Crimson Mist Sword Arts.
He prioritized the future of the sect over revenge.
If he were to clash with the Thirteen Celestial Demons and something unfortunate occurred, it would mean losing not just one but two successive sect leaders.
Considering the Qingcheng Sect's leader's status, such an event must never happen.
It would directly disrupt the balance of power between the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions. Inaction might actually be better, as reckless action could throw the world into chaos.
—The Buddha Lord should still be in Yongan, right?
Qing En Taoist transmitted his voice, inquiring about the Emei Sect's leader's whereabouts.
The Zewei Star Divine Nun silently nodded again.
The Thunderous Buddha Lord, the Emei Sect's leader known by this title, had left the main temple two weeks ago.
He had been secretly summoned by the Commander of the Capital Guards of Sichuan.
Though the invitation had been discreet, it was easy to guess its purpose. Sichuan was an isolated, rugged basin.
It was difficult to receive outside news in a timely manner, and waiting for aid from Desolate Fortress in times of chaos was unrealistic.
It seemed the Commander of the Capital Guards intended to have Emei Sect take the place of Desolate Fortress' Divine Sword Order in safeguarding the region.
This, however, would not be of any immediate help to the Tang Clan.
Zzzzt! Kwoooom—!
The relentless clashes of energy and the deafening sounds of weapons shattering resounded fiercely.
Even in the silent city, it rang out like thunder.
The common folk had long hidden away. What was unfolding in the Tang Clan today would be recounted throughout the martial world for years to come.
As a veteran expert of the Nine Great Sects, Qing En Taoist was certain of this.
"Master Uncle, I can sense the presence of our fellow sect brothers and sisters inside."
A tall young Taoist urgently spoke.
It was the Red Cloud Dragon of the Qingcheng Sect.
He was Qing En Taoist's nephew and the disciple of the late sect leader.
A future pillar of the sect.
"Wait here. If you rush in recklessly, you may get caught in the Tang Clan's formations. I will go."
Qing En Taoist declared.
During his brief exchange with the Zewei Star Divine Nun, he had already scanned the manor with his senses.
In the Tang Clan, where deadly formations and poison traps were laid everywhere, one had to be extremely cautious to avoid harming their own allies.
The real problem was the black-robed youth who had crossed the threshold so carelessly.
No matter how high his martial prowess, that was reckless.
'If he were ambushed by the Thirteen Celestial Demons amidst the relentless assaults, he could have become a lifeless corpse by now…'
Hopefully, he was unharmed.
Gripping the hilt of his sword, Qing En Taoist stepped toward the main gate where Jung Yeonshin had disappeared.
Red Cloud Dragon followed.
"We can't just sit here and do nothing. We must act."
"Hold. Your actions are rash."
"That young man didn't seem like a lunatic to me. His martial prowess also seemed extraordinary."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Regardless of his motives, he will create an opening in the battlefield. I will use that chance to ensure the safety of our fellow disciples and allies. With Gold Staff Divine Lady's help, we can do it."
Red Cloud Dragon glanced at the Zewei Star Divine Nun and the Gold Staff Divine Lady as he spoke.
Unlike the Qingcheng Sect disciples, the two nuns showed no hesitation.
Without a word, they had already started walking toward the Tang Clan's main gate, their well-kept yet slightly worn monk robes fluttering in the wind.
It was the dignity of the Nine Great Sects.
The exchange between Qingcheng and Emei was nothing new.
Red Cloud Dragon and Golden Staff Divine Lady, being of the same generation, knew each other's martial arts inside and out.
The training of these prodigies, who possessed brilliant talent, often left their teachers drenched in sweat.
They had even considered themselves the strongest among the Post-Dawn Experts—until Red Cloud Dragon met Peng Clan's Sword Marquis, said to be the most formidable young warrior in Hebei, and suffered defeat.
"I will avoid battle as much as possible. Master Uncle, please coordinate with the young man who entered first."
Red Cloud Dragon said in a low voice.
For a moment, only the clamor of battle filled the silence. Qing En Taoist did not try to dissuade his nephew any further.
Instead, he simply lowered his head inwardly toward his fallen senior, the former sect leader. Senior Brother, haven't we raised them well enough?
'Azure Clouds Scarlet Glow. A temperament more difficult to cultivate than martial skills for avenging the Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader.'
Step.
The assessment of the Tang Clan's battlefield was complete.
The chaotic skirmishes, the remnants of mechanical formations, the overwhelming presence of the Pure Demon Alliance's leader and the Ten Perfection Sect's leader—
Even knowing their odds of victory were abysmally low, they walked forward.
Meanwhile, the hesitant experts of Sichuan's martial clans felt relieved. If they had blindly followed, they would have only been a hindrance.
"Avoid using the Crimson Mist Sword."
"I know. The Azure Clouds Sword Art is better suited for this chaos."
"Prioritize escorting the branch family members of the Tang Clan who are untrained in martial arts. The main disciples come next."
"Understood."
Qing En Taoist, Red Cloud Dragon, Zewei Star Divine Nun, and Gold Staff Divine Lady.
The two pairs of master and disciple stepped through the dust and crossed the Tang Clan's threshold.
Then, they saw the scene before them.
"...."
Corpses piled in the vast courtyard.
The time of death varied among them, clearly distinguishable at a glance.
An old man whose lower body had melted away from Bone-Dissolving Powder infused with inner power, a man whose abdomen had turned completely black, eyes bulging wide in agony, a boy, collapsed and convulsing violently.
"Exiled Demon Elder…?"
Qing En let out a faint breath as he recognized the boy.
A demonic practitioner of the Pure Demon Alliance, who had mastered the extreme Youthful Skill, retaining a childlike appearance to commit heinous acts.
Yet, his internal meridians had been completely shattered.
A path of freshly fallen bodies stretched forward, and the Exiled Demon Elder was at its very beginning.
The gazes of the Nine Great Sects' warriors moved further ahead.
At the end of the path, an old, battered cart stood tilted to one side.
Beyond it, the black-robed youth stood facing a middle-aged man clad in white battle armor.
It was a perilous sight.
There was not a single trace of energy emanating from the black-robed youth's body.
Perhaps he had reached a state of perfect Energy Concealment, suppressing his power deep within.
But his opponent was someone who could look down upon even such mastery.
A man scanning Jung Yeonshin with intrigued eyes.
He had a massive physique.
One of his ears had been cleanly severed, as if by a sword strike—not disfiguring, but rather enhancing the aura of a war-hardened, undefeated general.
Fwoosh—!
A terrifying aura engulfed his body, carving dozens of concentric rings into the ground.
It was as if an invisible storm formed his armor.
Yet, his eyes appeared gentle at first glance, his pupils black as an ox's.
The fallen Tang Clan martial artists, sprawled in a wide circle around him, attested to the overwhelming power in his hands.
He was the leader of the Ten Perfection Sect.
A peerless master who had once taken the heads of ten thousand northern barbarians and returned home.
A grandmaster who wielded all eighteen types of weapons as if they were extensions of his own body.
Even veteran experts of orthodox sects hesitated to engage in prolonged battles with him.
There were even rumors that the leaders of Qingcheng and Emei were no exception.
"You call yourself the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, yet you've dragged these mutts and bald-headed monks from the Nine Great Sects in here."
The Ten Perfection Sect's leader said.
His tone was as mild as his gaze suggested.
But he was not careless.
His abyssal eyes scrutinized Jung Yeonshin's entire being.
They said he was a great general of the military. His gaze is one honed on the battlefield.
Jung Yeonshin exhaled silently, a long and steady breath.
The Ten Perfection Sect's leader's gaze felt like a sharpened arrowhead, like a blade scraping over his skin.
From the entrance of the Tang Clan to this point, Jung Yeonshin had slain fifteen men.
He had cut down his enemies with Infinite Blossom Fist and Flowing Weightless Hand, all with a single hand, as he walked unwaveringly toward the Ten Perfection Sect's leader.
Bones shattered, flesh was torn, and blood sprayed along his path.
Call them Demonic Factions, call them whatever, in the end, they were just bandits preying on the common folk.
It was only right to deal with the leader first.
In this battlefield teeming with renowned martial artists, it did not take long for the wary eyes upon him to change.
The black-robed youth standing before the Ten Perfection Sect's leader, leading a battered cart, seemed like an enigmatic figure straight out of the legends of the martial world.
The battlefield, once raging, had come to a quiet standstill.
Jung Yeonshin slowly parted his lips, locking eyes with the Ten Perfection Sect's leader.
"Leave."
"Hm?"
"The Tang Clan will hold funerals for the next ten days."
"Hah, an interesting fellow. Have you come here to die?"
A slight smirk curled the Ten Perfection Sect's leader's lips.
The hollows beneath his cheekbones sank in, giving him an air of refinement, like a warrior well-versed in both martial and scholarly pursuits.
"Your betrayal has greatly angered the Golden Wings Sect's leader. You'd be better off perishing here at my hands."
"Interesting?"
Jung Yeonshin ignored the latter half of his words and repeated the first.
The Ten Perfection Sect's leader, still wearing his faint smile, slightly lowered his chin.
"Yes. Your words and actions are nothing short of amusing, are they not?"
"Aren't you from the military? To speak of amusement in the face of funerals... How did you even recite Confucius, Mencius, and the Four Books and Five Classics?"
"...."
It was not a rebuke. It was a question that the Hero of Desolate Fortress—an educated man—was likely to ponder.
"Your late parents wouldn't have taught you that way."
Jung Yeonshin asked out of genuine curiosity.
He had never met his mother, yet he had created the Jung Clan Movement Arts to honor her memory and ensure that her blood was not wasted.
So why did the martial artists of this world willingly disgrace the legacy of their own parents?
The battlefield fell silent.
It was at that moment that the Ten Perfection Sect's leader momentarily closed his mouth.
"You dare speak so arrogantly for a mere fraud claiming to be the Dark Flame King!"
A furious outburst erupted, accompanied by the clattering of iron.
It came from Jung Yeonshin's flank.
A middle-aged warrior clad in thick iron armor was charging forward, grinding the ground beneath him.
"That man is Engraved Crimson Radiant Star!"
A loud cry rang out from the distant gate, Red Cloud Dragon of the Qingcheng Sect.
He had revealed the attacker's identity.
A warning—Avoid the first strike at all costs.
Engraved Crimson Radiant Star, Zheng Chu-gon.
Though the Ten Perfection Sect had lost several top experts to the Dark Flame King, Lightning Genius, Zheng Chu-gon had risen under the sect leader's guidance to take the lead.
He had slaughtered numerous disciples of the Tang Clan and the Nine Great Sects, leaving not even their corpses behind.
Boom!
The ground split apart at terrifying speed.
His movement art carried an overwhelming weight.
It was the distinct energy of the Ten Perfection Sect's Martial Lineage, notorious for refining military combat techniques into something utterly domineering.
The silver armor covering his body shimmered with an aura of white radiance, glinting like a comet beneath the sun.
Loyalty-Binding Heaven Art.
A technique that shattered its opponent into flesh fragments upon impact.
It was said to be devastating in large-scale battles, particularly during clashes between sects.
When warriors executed their charge in tight formation, the force rivaled that of explosive artillery—no sect dared to take it head-on.
"Radiant Star?"
Jung Yeonshin silently repeated the last part of his enemy's title.
His gaze flickered briefly to the Ten Perfection Sect's leader.
The minute tremor in the currents around his forearm indicated that he was poised to strike the moment Jung Yeonshin moved.
Rather than concern for honor, he prioritized preserving his sect's strength.
Jung Yeonshin remained still.
He did not move.
The deafening cracks of the ground being shattered drew closer and closer, until Engraved Crimson Radiant Star, his face twisted into something grotesque, lunged at him like a murderous demon.
Pwooooosh—!
The sound of flesh rupturing.
Chunks of shattered iron armor, torn muscle, and a fountain of blood exploded into the air.
The force of the impact cratered the ground into a deep, circular depression, leaving behind only the remnants of Engraved Crimson Radiant Star, obliterated beyond recognition.
Within that crimson storm, Jung Yeonshin stood still, now faintly cloaked in the glow of pale starlight.
He had shielded the cart behind him.
The rain of blood, splattering down in heavy drops, did not stain his black robes—it simply fell away.