A series of events unfolded like a storm.
Tracking down the Thirteen Celestial Demons along their path with the sapling of the World Tree held by Cheon So-so, discovering the main stronghold of the Dark Night War, ultimately capturing the Young Lord and interrogating the remnants of the sect—all before the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects tore through the formation and descended.
The sleeve of the emaciated female monk billowed.
As she landed from midair, a certain divine aura lingered in the rebound. Despite the excessively wide sleeves of her monastic robes compared to her slender frame, there was nothing unseemly about it.
Buddha's Thunderous Avalokiteshvara.
Baek Yak of the Emei Sect had manifested.
Step.
With her single step, the surrounding air grew heavy. Even the rustling sounds of the bushes rubbing against each other subsided somewhat.
The martial arts of the orthodox Buddhist sects generally exuded a grand presence. As one of the Nine Great Sects standing alongside Shaolin, Emei was no exception.
Without apparent intention, the presence of Baek Yak grandmaster alone subdued the surroundings as she moved her foot.
"..."
Even Wei Ji-geuk, the Dragon-Stepping Squad's leader, who never hesitated to make sarcastic remarks toward the Desolate Divine Spear, fell silent for a moment. The Young Lord of the Dark Night War, who had been kneeling at his feet, also held his tongue.
'Why has the world's revered Buddhist Master come in person…?'
The Young Lord's eyes, which resembled smoldering ashes, filled with questions.
There was no room for dispute; why had such esteemed figures come in search of the black swords of the Imperial family? It was no short distance, after all.
"It has been a while. I followed you here because I have urgent matters to discuss."
Baek Yak grandmaster spoke softly.
Woong—
Her voice, aged yet solid, caused the atmosphere to ripple. A vibration naturally revealing the depth of an absolute master's cultivated internal energy.
Beside her stood the leader of the Qingcheng Sect.
"As expected, there was no need to rush the pursuit."
A noble Taoist with the appearance of a young man. He wore a white robe embroidered with blue silk thread, and from the sword at his waist, it was as if a gentle breeze emanated.
A transcendent aura of supreme mastery. Even if it paled in comparison to the unparalleled presence of Baek Yak grandmaster, few would dare to underestimate him.
Twin Walls Sword Lord, Sage Chung Su Jin-in.
Although the Qingcheng Sect had lost its previous leader to the Tyrant Sword Tribe, it had been swiftly regaining its prestige in recent times.
They said it was thanks to the new sect leader, who, through that incident, had attained enlightenment beyond worldly measure.
"The fact that the black ranks of the Desolate Fortress are traveling together makes it all the more inevitable. Given your martial prowess, even more so."
Sage Chung Su spoke.
The Young Lord of the Dark Night War widened his eyes slightly.
Perhaps because the pleasantries had gone on for too long. At last, the reality struck. No one else but the Thunderous Avalokiteshvara and the Twin Walls Sword Lord had come together to meet someone.
The leaders of two of the Nine Great Sects. The very figures standing at the pinnacle of Murim.
"If the ever-irksome leaders of the Orthodox Sects have all gathered in one place, and you have come to take advantage of this to wipe us out… then just the two of you would be quite inadequate, wouldn't you?"
Perhaps to relieve the pressure, Wei Ji-geuk displayed bravado. His ever-sharp eyes carried a trace of tension.
The sight of the absolute leaders of two of the Nine Great Sects standing side by side.
It was truly overwhelming.
Before considering the compatibility of their martial arts, their numbers, or their overall combat capabilities, the sheer essence of it was enough.
Though the two sect leaders showed no overt hostility, their very presence carried something that weighed upon the soul.
The spiritual force of absolute masters.
Sage Chung Su glanced at Wei Ji-geuk.
"Your concern is unwarranted. We have no business with you, so you need not involve yourself."
Even such a casual remark carried an enigmatic force of compulsion.
Wei Ji-geuk's lips curled up.
"Haven't you greeted my youngest? The venerated old men of the Nine Great Sects, so well-versed in turning a blind eye to the plight of the people, have graced us with their presence, and yet you expect us to sit idly by, debating whether you have business or not?"
Wei Ji-geuk was a battle-hardened warrior.
A man of noble lineage, brother to Wi Ji Myohwa, the Qingcheng Sect's top disciple. He had amassed countless merits among the northern nomads without suffering a single defeat.
Despite his youth, he was already spoken of as a future seat-holder of the Black Three Steel.
He would not falter over mere words. Not even before supreme masters. All he required was a fellow squad leader to unravel the force exuded by the Nine Great Sects' leaders.
Step.
Right on cue, other squad leaders, who had been tending to the ruined battlefield of the Dark Night War, began to gather slowly. Along with the fluttering black robes.
"Quite an excessive reception for unannounced guests."
"What's a bald monk and a Taoist doing here?"
The stern-faced Supreme Martial Hall's leader, and even the unrestrained Desolate Divine Spear, Ak Surim, twirling her spear casually like a common street thug.
The presence of the leaders of the Nine Great Sects carried that much weight.
Three comrades who, together, could hold their own against a supreme master.
As each of them arrived, the pressure seemed to unravel, thread by thread. Wei Ji-geuk's gaze eased ever so slightly.
"I am relieved to see that you are well. Have you been in good health?"
As Jung Yeonshin brought his hands together in a formal salute, the air grew lighter. For a fleeting moment, there was even a faint whoosh—as if something had dissipated.
A gentle early summer breeze brushed against their skin. It was no exaggeration to say that breathing suddenly felt easier.
The approaching seniors hesitated. Even Wei Ji-geuk, who had been preparing to respond on behalf of his juniors, did the same.
The Young Lord of the Dark Night War concealed his shock with a slow exhale of internal energy.
Yet three people remained unaffected.
Baek Yak grandmaster, Sage Chung Su, and Jung Yeonshin. The leaders of the Nine Great Sects and the leader of the Radiant Demon Squad exchanged pleasantries in neither a light nor heavy manner. As if they were on entirely equal footing.
"I was concerned about the internal injuries of the Twin Walls Sword Lord. I had not seen you since the incident with the Golden Wings Sect's leader…"
"It is a disgraceful matter. I owe you a great debt."
Sage Chung Su spoke curtly.
Jung Yeonshin lightly shook his head before lowering his clasped hands in a formal gesture.
The Nine Great Sects.
The pillars of Murim, represented by nine major sects.
Each one was an esteemed martial sect while also being a Buddhist temple or a Taoist monastery.
The ones who preached noble teachings while leaping between mountaintops and splitting boulders with a single strike—naturally, they held tremendous sway over public sentiment.
Leaders of the Nine Great Sects were regarded as living immortals or even as incarnate Buddhas.
Meanwhile, taking the seat of the Divine Sword Order required not only the approval of the Desolate Fortress and the Beijing Imperial family but also significant favor from the outside world.
Leaving a good impression was crucial. It was impossible to know if one of the Nine Great Sects' leaders might have a loose tongue like those poppy-drunk monks of the Radiant Demon Squad.
It was of utmost importance.
Many of the Nine Great Sects were said to be preoccupied with battling supernatural entities under the Imperial family's decree. Which, in turn, suggested an ongoing exchange between the Nine Great Sects and Beijing.
'It's a challenge far beyond martial arts…'
Jung Yeonshin had long mastered the art of etiquette when dealing with the scholars of the General Affairs Bureau.
Treating others as common folk usually yielded good results.
"It feels like only yesterday that I gained insight from your Azure Clouds Scarlet Glow Sword. There is no need to mention debts, it was simply what had to be done."
Jung Yeonshin spoke evenly.
It was the Divine Sword Order's duty to protect the people. The crimson and azure sword strikes of the Qingcheng Sect's leader had shone brilliantly, enough to make one's eyes ache under the Heaven-Piercing Technique. There was no falsehood.
Sage Chung Su's lips faintly twitched.
The current Qingcheng Sect's leader was of noble lineage. A descendant of an esteemed family who had also cultivated his martial arts to the supreme level. Lies did not work on him.
Since his initiation into Qingcheng, he had been known as the disciple who never fell for empty words.
Sage Chung Su slowly opened his mouth.
"…When you flaunted your bravado at Circling Clouds Peak, I thought you were exceedingly arrogant, but now I see it was merely a strained facade. To possess such lineage, such martial prowess, and yet… how admirable, truly admirable."
Beside him, Baek Yak grandmaster's eyes crinkled into a gentle smile.
"Did I not tell you multiple times on the way here? A benefactor who has refined the power of the Bodhiharma. It was commendable that you were the first to show concern for my aged body."
"The Grandmaster is not entirely wrong. I have always been hesitant about being bound by the promises of the previous generation… but with such martial skill and character, it seems worth discussing."
Sage Chung Su spoke, causing Jung Yeonshin's head to tilt slightly to the side.
"Are you referring to the matter of the Pact of Mount Hua that I heard about earlier?"
"That's right. A promise made between the sect leaders and Elders of the Nine Great Sects and the former Divine Sword Order's leader. Back in their youth."
Sage Chung Su answered in a low tone. Soon after, Baek Yak grandmaster let out a knowing smile.
"It was utterly ridiculous, forced beyond reason… but a promise is a promise. I shall tell you, Benefactor Jung."
* * *
Desolate Fortress General Affairs Bureau.
Meetings among the key figures were held day after day. Ever since the Divine Sword Order's leader's black ranks gathering decree had spread throughout the fortress.
"This is a matter we can decide here. We need decisiveness."
"We cannot simply replace the master of the Transcendent Sword so easily! To put it bluntly, what grave mistake has he even committed? Stop locking yourselves away in the Elder Council and read the state of the martial world!"
"What did you say?"
"For what reason was the orthodox Murim Aliance in Hanzhong originally formed? Right now, such alliances are crumbling one after another! If we remain idle, we will undoubtedly be picked apart one by one. How can you so recklessly dismiss the commands given by the Order's leader?"
"The essence of the sect must never be forgotten. Are you raising your voice at me while knowing how the eyes of Beijing are upon us?"
Around a luxurious rosewood round table, those gathered radiated an overwhelming aura.
Their numbers were in the dozens. Several attendants had already collapsed, unable to withstand the sheer pressure, and it had been some time since the remaining white-clad warriors of the fortress had taken their place.
A deadlock.
A middle-aged woman, dressed in opulent orange garments and carrying a pristine white sword, stood in defense of the Divine Sword Order's leader.
Despite her raised voice, the poised and tranquil energy in her tone attested to her high level of attainment.
She was the head of the Desolate Shin Clan.
Swaying Moon Jade Sword, Shin Seol-ha. The leader of a renowned clan that had produced countless prodigies, including the current Annihilation Squad's leader and the White Cat of the Radiant Demon Squad.
Even before the face of the Elder Council's leader, she did not lower her voice.
"To depose the Divine Sword Order's leader here and now and announce it to the entire world? I am beginning to doubt whether the Elder Council's leader is making a sound judgment."
The elderly man seated at the head of the table, wearing a stately purple robe, let a faint light flicker in his aged eyes.
"A daughter has no restraint in her words."
"I will not heed such personal remarks. Do you not understand the hardships that the fortress' warriors, scattered across the land, are enduring? In an already precarious situation, are you suggesting we set off a thunderbolt? Do you have a single warrior capable of replacing the Order's leader?"
"What must be done cannot be swayed by order or priority! The foundation of the fortress is broken—what could be more urgent than rebuilding it?"
"There is indeed something more urgent. As the Head of the Shin Clan, I will now submit a motion to the General Affairs Bureau to dismiss the Elder Council's leader. The morale of the fortress and the weight of the Divine Sword Order's leader's position cannot be left in the hands of someone who takes it so lightly."
The mother of the White Cat of the Radiant Demon Squad spoke with the authority of a clan head. It was a direct statement that the current Elder Council's leader belonged in the back room as a mere relic of the past. An immediate uproar ensued.
Such was the nature of the fierce debate.
When would they depose the Divine Sword Order's leader, if at all? If they did, when would they make it known? Should they instead focus all efforts on tracking down the lost Order's leader?
"The Order's leader's command was issued to the squad leaders, was it not? How could we possibly rescind it? That was an absolute order."
One of those seated spoke gruffly.
A man with ears as sharp as knives and a massive frame that looked as though it could crush his chair. The head of the Desolate Xiahou Clan. Privately, the younger brother of the Forest Striding Squad's leader, Xiahou Wei-Jin.
"The fortress isn't empty, is it? Are you planning to hand over the Lord's residence to the enemy?"
"..."
Whenever the Lord of the Desolate Fortress was mentioned, even the heated meeting hall fell silent. Only then, as if relieved, did the Xiahou Clan's leader rub his ear and lean slightly to the side.
"Why is the Ma Clan's leader staying silent? If you were to speak, it would surely be taken as a formal motion."
"..."
A man with a deep scar running diagonally across his face kept his eyes closed and did not respond.
It was as if he had fallen into an incredibly deep sleep. Narkasal, Ma Jin. On one side of his pitch-black robe, a steel prosthetic hand gleamed.
"Ma Clan's leader!"
"Mm…?"
"Are you truly sleeping?"
"The Jung Clan's Movement Arts are indeed profound. Since there was too much idle chatter, I was meditating on important matters."
A response bordering on nonsense. His deep voice carried a languid tone. Immediately, a thunderous roar erupted from the Elder Council's leader's side.
"Do you seek sleep in a meeting concerning the future of the fortress? Have you completely lost your mind?"
The Elder Council's leader was once renowned for his dignified conduct and vast reputation, but in recent days, he had been in poor spirits, believing that the current Divine Sword Order's leader had ruined the very foundation of the Desolate Fortress.
He was riled up enough to strike even an enraged dragon.
Yet Ma Jin's reply was indifferent.
"For the sake of the fortress' future, this is preferable."
"What nonsense are you spouting now?"
"Rather than listening to the ramblings of an elder who no longer has the teeth to bite, wouldn't it be far more beneficial for the fortress if I focused on raising my martial prowess? The ink scent from Lightning Genius's manuals was just now ridding the air of your saliva."
A calm, matter-of-fact statement.
The Xiahou Clan's leader burst into rough laughter, while Shin Seol-ha and several others, including the Grand Commander, let out sighs.
"These Ma Clan bastards are all the same…!"
The Elder Council's leader's eyes blazed as he shot up from his seat.
Biiiiiiiiik—!
The sudden cry of a swallow rapidly approached.