Chapter 055
"Have you seen volume 8?"
"Yes, I have!"
"Getting the next volume is like trying to catch a star from the sky! I don't understand why the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company isn't opening more branches!"
"I heard the first edition is already sold out!"
"And it'll take time for the second printing to come out..."
"We need to watch out for those who spoil the content after reading it."
"Indeed! Someone spoiled volume 7 in public last time, so we must be careful!"
Volume 8 was released just after the beginning of December. This was somewhat unusual. There was much discussion about "Wudang Sword Hero" being published slightly earlier than the typical mid-month release date, which was usually around the 15th. Most of this was mere speculation, of course.
"Teacher Sugyeong might have avoided that time because the Dragon Gate Gathering is approaching."
"I wonder if there won't be a new volume in January?"
"That's impossible. Teacher Sugyeong always gives advance notice when there won't be a new volume."
"Hmm, that's true."
The topic quickly shifted to the contents of volume 8.
"The content of this volume was shocking. To think that the Wudang Sect would be pushed into a defensive position by the attack from the Heavenly Pole True Cult's new Demon Lord and the Nine Heavens Secret Palace."
"Isn't this almost the first time Master Jin Un has struggled?"
"It's not strange that he struggled when he was ambushed before fully preparing his martial arts framework."
"The Soul-Reaping Demon Lord was a terrifying opponent. It gives me chills thinking such a master might actually exist!"
The new Demon Lord who appeared in volume 8, the Soul-Reaping Demon Lord, managed to corner Jin Un despite him being somewhat weakened while recovering from internal injuries, unlike the Poison Demon Lord or the Broken-Sword Venerable. That alone was quite an achievement, but what made it worse was that he used sorcery to raise dead Wudang disciples as corpse demons and desecrated them.
"You could really feel Master Jin Un's rage, couldn't you?"
"Yes, yes. It was the first time I've seen Master Jin Un so angry."
"I would have been the same. For martial artists, senior and junior brothers are like family. Especially when one of the disciples Jin Un cherished so much became a corpse demon..."
People genuinely empathized with Jin Un's feelings. For martial artists, fellow disciples were like family and brothers.
"But it's disappointing that he couldn't cut down the Soul-Reaping Demon Lord."
"If only the Nine Heavens Secret Palace hadn't been there..."
"The Heavenly Pole True Cult was clever. Who would have thought they'd provoke the Nine Heavens Secret Palace into joining the attack on Mount Wudang?"
The Nine Heavens Secret Palace was a third faction that briefly appeared in volume 3, very early in "Wudang Sword Hero," and then disappeared. Since then, the battle between Jin Un and the Heavenly Pole True Cult had continued, but their reappearance during the attack on Mount Wudang shocked readers.
"They only appeared when attacking the Namgung Clan and then disappeared, so I thought they were one-time villains. Who would have expected them to return like this!"
"There were hints, of course. They were the ones who planted poison in the Namgung Clan's young master to control the clan. Such people wouldn't simply withdraw."
The Nine Heavens Secret Palace appeared suddenly. They were the ones who had hidden behind the Namgung Clan, controlling the young master with poison and manipulating the clan to attack Jin Un. People admired the intricate plot when it was revealed in volume 8 that the Heavenly Pole True Cult had been behind it all.
"Who would have thought that the Heavenly Pole True Cult would instigate the Nine Heavens Secret Palace to kill Master Jin Un!"
"Indeed. The Nine Heavens Secret Palace is clearly not a weak faction based on the forces they revealed this time. And the Heavenly Demon..."
"It's amazing that the Heavenly Pole True Cult lured the Nine Heavens Secret Palace to Mount Wudang. They intended to use them as pawns in their scheme of borrowing a knife to kill someone."
"Yes, yes. That's right."
The martial prowess demonstrated by the Nine Heavens Secret Palace warriors in volume 8 was by no means inferior. Though they were deceived by the Heavenly Pole True Cult into attacking Mount Wudang, their martial prowess was not weaker than the cult's demonic practitioners, and they even overwhelmed the Wudang Sect disciples in group battles. The disciples of the Wudang Sect, one of the two pillars of the orthodox faction.
"To think they had a formation that could one-sidedly push back Wudang's Seven Stars Sword Formation with sheer power. If such methods can actually break Wudang's formations..."
"Come on, that can't be possible!"
"By the way, I can't even gauge how strong the Heavenly Demon is. A villain who is both cunning and powerful. The title of 'Greatest Demon of All Time' is no exaggeration."
"It's only natural since the Heavenly Demon is the final opponent Master Jin Un must defeat!"
"What worries me is the Heavenly Demon and the Heavenly Pole True Cult. Now that their attack on the Wudang Sect has failed, they surely won't remain idle?"
"Of course not! And since the Soul-Reaping Demon Lord took away Jin Un's disciple as a corpse demon, they might return as jiangshi next time!"
"How dreadful. Truly worthy of being called a demonic cult!"
Moreover, with volume 8 focusing intensively on the Wudang Sect, attention to Wudang's martial arts also increased. Research on the Heavenly Pole True Cult's demonic arts was actively being conducted among martial scholars. The Martial Arts Research Department of the Murim Alliance was particularly interested in the Heavenly Pole True Cult's demonic arts.
"The demonic arts of the Heavenly Pole True Cult have some similarities to the demonic arts used by the Sun Moon Cult during the Old Murim era."
"It's also noteworthy that the Nine Heavens Secret Palace's martial arts somewhat resemble orthodox martial arts, which is unusual considering they're an outside force."
"Martial arts that vary in power according to emotions, and responding most strongly to anger... There are many interesting points worth researching."
Even among martial scholars who specialized in analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of martial arts, "Wudang Sword Hero" was a hot topic. With each new volume, martial arts that defied conventional wisdom appeared one after another. This alone provided endless research material.
"And now a formation has appeared that can one-sidedly push back Wudang's Seven Stars Sword Formation, which uses the principle of yielding to overcome strength by deflecting the enemy's offensive. This gives us much to think about."
"Whether Teacher Sugyeong's theory is that ultimately overwhelming power solves everything, or whether this actually applies in practice, is something the Alliance needs to verify through experiments."
"Either way, it's clear that Wudang Sword Hero will be a catalyst for raising the standards of today's martial world."
"Since the Alliance Leader has promised to obtain Teacher Sugyeong's works as much as possible, let's continue our research."
...
"Wow..."
So Seonha looked around the streets of Luoyang with her mouth slightly open. Although Xixia County wasn't a small town, it couldn't compare to Luoyang. After all, she had only started going to Xixia County after obtaining the Epiphyllum Rainbow Divine Art. Following behind Bang Soran, who was leading the way, Seonha chirped like a lark.
"Teacher! There are so many people! And street vendors too!"
"Are you that excited?"
"Yes!"
"Shall we get a quick bite before settling in at an inn?"
"Yes, please!"
Bang Soran stopped at a nearby stall and bought two buns, giving one to Seonha and keeping one for herself.
"Waaah!"
Bang Soran stroked her disciple's head as she bit into the bun with a wide mouth and smiled happily.
Though known as the Thousand Sword Heroine who wandered the world, she didn't have many occasions to visit Luoyang. It was territory where the Dragon Gate Li Clan held sway, and there weren't many people desperate enough to seek her help.
"I wonder where Teacher Sugyeong might be in this vast Luoyang."
"Ish he weally hewe?"
Bang Soran burst into laughter seeing her disciple speaking with her mouth stuffed full of bun.
"Swallow what's in your mouth before speaking."
"Hehe."
Bang Soran chuckled as she watched Seonha grinning, then continued walking through the crowd. She had brightened up so much. Almost unrecognizable from the Seonha of before. Perhaps it was thanks to Baek Sugyeong continuously sending "Little Immortal's Chivalrous Journey." She felt that Seonha was gradually coming to resemble the protagonist of the story.
Bang Soran walked through the crowd, lost in thought.
'Changing a person, changing the Central Plains with just writing...'
It wasn't that there hadn't been outstanding writers before Baek Sugyeong. However, none had influenced the entire martial world as much as he had. That was because no one had covered the martial world so deeply.
"Come to think of it, it's quite peculiar..."
Looking at Baek Sugyeong's works, "Little Immortal's Chivalrous Journey" and "Wudang Sword Hero," the martial arts that appeared seemed perfectly tailored for Seonha and the Wudang Sect warriors. The Epiphyllum Rainbow Divine Art was like that, as was the Three Pure Ones Limitless Sword Wisdom that Cheongmyeong of the Wudang Sect had learned.
Of course, "Little Immortal's Chivalrous Journey" and "Wudang Sword Hero" had different tones.
'What a fascinating person, Teacher Sugyeong.'
Having met him in person, Bang Soran knew. Baek Sugyeong wasn't someone with any special abilities. It was surprising that someone who seemed so distant from the martial world could be so knowledgeable about it. Perhaps that was why his writing was changing the Central Plains.
She had heard that recently, orthodox faction members were less likely to draw their swords recklessly. A positive effect.
"Teacher, the inn is full!"
"Oh dear, we seem to be a bit late."
"They all seem to be martial artists."
Bang Soran clicked her tongue lightly at Seonha's report, who had gone ahead to check the inn.
The Dragon Gate Gathering, huh. Come to think of it, it had been a while since she had participated in a martial arts tournament. She wondered what kind of young talents would showcase their martial prowess among the seniors of the martial world at this Dragon Gate Gathering.
"It's strange that so many people have gathered here. There was a time when everyone ignored the Dragon Gate Gathering."
"Really?"
"Anyway, let's find another inn. We can't sleep outdoors after coming all the way to Luoyang."
"Yes!"
Seonha followed behind Bang Soran as she walked with her robes fluttering.
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📚 Author's Note:
Big thanks to James_Ghoust for the 3 shiny Power Stones!
🐧