It was an extremely surreal sight.
From the very beginning, people rising from the shadows was already beyond ordinary. Though it was said that in times of chaos, all sorts of mystical beings, supernatural forces, sorcery, and martial arts would disturb the world, such occurrences were still rare.
The one most shocked was the leader of Pure Demon Alliance.
'Return…!'
The old man sent his will toward the weasel.
Demon Weasel—a mystical creature without intelligence or physical form.
Its body was made of spiritual energy, allowing it to move in and out freely.
It was akin to a mental sword, requiring little effort to control. If the target was a martial expert engaged in breath control, it was even more effective.
As the demonic entity and sacred artifact of the Pure Demon Alliance, it should have immediately returned to its master, but the old man's grasp remained empty. Only the cold wind brushed against his skin.
A gulping sound was heard.
The pale throat of the woman, who had suddenly materialized, bobbed slightly.
Haa—
A breath filled with satisfaction brushed through the air. In her single red eye, a reddish gleam flickered, as if she was pleased.
To the leader of Pure Demon Alliance, it was nothing short of a living nightmare. Deep wrinkles creased the corners of the old man's eyes.
"You lowly wretch dare…!"
"Wretch…? That's rich, coming from an old Pure Demon relic. I am a direct descendant of the One Vein, whereas you… hmm…"
The Seventh Apostle, who had been whispering, trailed off. She was clearly mocking the Pure Demon Alliance, a former branch of the Ming Cult.
What she said was technically true, but it was something few would dare to utter in front of a supreme demonic master.
Kugugung—
Once again, the sky darkened.
The spreading demonic energy cast deep shadows, blocking the sunlight in an ominous manner.
At that moment, the whites of the leader of Pure Demon Alliance's eyes turned pitch black, a sight as eerie as the unnatural phenomenon above.
Meanwhile, Jung Yeonshin was staring at the Seventh Apostle's long, flowing hair.
Slowly, he parted his lips.
"You."
The shoulders of the Seventh Apostle, who had been gazing sideways at the leader of Pure Demon Alliance, trembled slightly.
She did not turn around.
The reasons were complicated.
Perhaps it was because she could vaguely guess at Jung Yeonshin's emotions after witnessing the deaths of the Tang siblings, or maybe it was because the overwhelming gaze of the leader of Pure Demon Alliance bore down on her.
Or perhaps it was because the leaders of Emei and Qingcheng, standing beside Jung Yeonshin as his guardians, had turned their gazes toward her.
"Amitabha."
"The situation… It seems a Blood Flame Cult noble is targeting the Radiant Demon Squad's leader. I will handle the leader of the Pure Demon Alliance, so Master, please deal with that blood fiend…"
Wooong—!
A surge of pure energy began to flow from Baek Yak and Chung Su Jin-in.
Dust on the ground swirled into a massive circular pattern, then shot upward in an explosive cloud.
Chung Su Jin-in's reaction was exactly as expected of the righteous orthodox sects.
Unlike Baek Yak, who had already anticipated the Seventh Apostle's presence, he had only just identified her.
His intent to eradicate demons surged outward as a sharp, forceful wave of energy, as though he was prepared to cut down not just the leader of Pure Demon Alliance's leader, but the Seventh Apostle as well.
"The blood fiend must not act recklessly."
It was a warning from the leader of Qingcheng. Without even turning around, he spoke while remaining fully focused on the leader of Pure Demon Alliance.
With countless eyes watching, the Seventh Apostle let out a smooth, elegant chuckle.
"What a shame. I was just about to sink my fangs into the Radiant Demon Squad's leader's neck."
She chose to act as an enemy.
Jung Yeonshin's brows furrowed slightly, and Baek Yak's eyes flickered.
Chung Su Jin-in, as if it were only natural, shook his sword once and took a step toward the leader of the Pure Demon Alliance.
That was when it happened.
A dull shockwave violently swept across the ground, and the body of the leader of Pure Demon Alliance distorted in place before vanishing.
At the same time, the Seventh Apostle lightly kicked off the ground, her body soaring into the air.
Hwaaaaak—!
[I was aiming for you from the beginning!]
Up in the sky.
The leader of Pure Demon Alliance's long robe billowed fiercely in the turbulent wind. His outstretched palm carried an overwhelming force as it rushed toward the Seventh Apostle's face.
The Pure Demon Alliance's Dark Heaven Demon God Palm.
As the name suggested, it was a technique meant to refine divine power.
The old man's palm technique was incredibly swift. It tore through space without even stirring the wind.
At that moment, the leader of the Pure Demon Alliance's eyes widened.
Within his pitch-black irises, the indifferent face of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader was reflected.
From Jung Yeonshin's extended palm, an immense energy unfurled, scraping against the fabric of space itself.
Even before their clash, a series of explosive booms erupted, deafeningly loud.
Radiant River.
[...!]
The leader of Pure Demon Alliance hastily withdrew his hand. Simultaneously, he detonated layers of internal energy, forming a dark sphere before him.
It was a compressed sphere of energy, created by concentrating kinetic energy in a confined space.
A response befitting a peerless grandmaster.
This was not demonic energy, but pure condensed force.
"A petty trick."
Jung Yeonshin muttered under his breath.
The moment he reached forward, an immense shockwave burst forth, engulfing the entire mountain peak.
Kwaaaaaaaang—!
The space at the point of impact distorted.
Air, entangled with blinding white and deep black energy, churned and pulsed violently.
At the exact moment Jung Yeonshin's Radiant River-infused palm shattered the dark sphere, multiple translucent shockwaves rippled outward.
Kugugugung!!
The mountain peak trembled violently.
Two figures were hurled in opposite directions at terrifying speed.
As though the shockwave itself had turned into propulsion, launching them across the battlefield.
The leader of the Pure Demon Alliance and the Seventh Apostle.
Among the stunned spectators, some pointed at the sky in disbelief.
"He's fleeing…! The leader of the Pure Demon Alliance is running away!"
"What is this…?!"
"One-second victory! The Radiant Demon Squad's leader has won again!"
* * *
Huguang, Yangyang. Desolate Fortress, Main Fortress.
Rows of antique desks stretched across the vast hall, the deep crimson sheen of red sandalwood adding to the air of grandeur.
This was the General Affairs Bureau's headquarters.
Normally, the space would be filled with scholars wielding brushes, but they had long since relocated to the central training grounds.
Even the usual rich scent of ink was faint.
Swoosh.
Chief Administrator Lin Jinming absentmindedly stroked his beard, before realizing and lowering his hand.
An old habit from his early days as a scholar.
Since taking the seat of the General Affairs Bureau, he had rarely indulged in such habits.
There was only one reason.
The Elder of the Desolate Fortress sat above him in the chief's seat.
"The reason is that his nature is empty. He is utterly hollow."
The main topic had finally surfaced. The Chief Administrator slowly nodded.
"Yes, this is the first time I've encountered such a thing."
"The Elder Council is in an uproar."
"…Of course. I expected as much."
"This is an event that will bring the prestige of the Main Fortress down to the level of mere martial vagabonds. That damned Yongga always had a reckless boldness that sometimes even surpassed that old demon Ma, but it exploded in the worst possible place. I never thought he would truly forsake the people."
A dry voice.
It was immediately evident that he was holding back his fury.
The Elder Council's leader was a warrior who had lived through the same era as Ma Yeonjeok, the Tyrant Hero.
A man who could address the past and present leaders of the Divine Sword Order as he pleased without anyone daring to object.
Even though he had lost his martial arts, his influence over the internal affairs of Desolate Fortress remained immense.
'There are few in this world as benevolent as this man.'
The Chief Administrator thought.
The seventeen squads of the Divine Sword Order had received a summons.
A grand assembly.
Even white-clad warriors, who always greeted him with warm smiles, now carried an air as sharp as ice.
Because the Divine Sword Order's leader's command was an event of monumental significance, and within the Main Fortress, opinions on the matter were deeply divided.
"To ensure security? That is an action that shakes the very foundation of the Main Fortress. It is not only the elderly councilors who are enraged. Even I have had to suppress my own fury. The moment it happened, those shadowy figures leapt forward as if they had been waiting for this chance. If it were up to me, I would hunt them down immediately and put an end to—!"
The Elder Council's leader straightened his back but abruptly stopped.
A dull sound resonated from his lumbar vertebrae, near his Life Gate Acupoint.
The old man furrowed his brows, suppressing the pain.
"There are some old men who, in their twilight years, have obtained undeserved blessings and are soaring through the sky…"
"If you are speaking of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, then he is indeed a blessing to Desolate Fortress."
"I will not deny that."
The Elder Council's leader responded.
"There is no need to discuss the value of the current Radiant Demon Squad's leader at this point. I came here to discuss another matter."
"What matter…?"
"The next Divine Sword Order's leader."
The old man spoke briefly.
A sigh escaped the Chief Administrator's lips.
"I have thought about it, but the matter is too grave…"
"Indeed. The seventeen squad leaders gathering in one place is an event of tremendous scale."
"..."
"Yongga has no choice but to step down. That is the nature of the Divine Sword Order in Desolate Fortress. Even high-ranking officials of the imperial family must bow their heads before the order's leader, and they hold the authority to execute any martial artist on the spot. However… they must never prioritize their subordinates over the common people. He has shaken the very essence of Desolate Fortress."
"Is this the Elder Council's decision?"
"It is not just the Elder Council. Yun Soyu, the leader of the Law and Order Squad, has already received the dismissal order. There was not a single objection. You feel the same way, don't you?"
The Chief Administrator did not respond.
If it was Yun Soyu, it was only natural. She was not the type to overlook her superior's mistakes just because of their rank.
The Elder Council's leader's words were not excessive either.
The current Divine Sword Order's leader had indeed issued an outrageous command.
The united force of the seventeen squad leaders was something even the Chief Administrator could not easily estimate.
If things escalated further, the imperial family might start seeing Desolate Fortress as an independent military force, separate from the empire.
Someone had to take responsibility before the Emperor.
It could not be the Lord of Desolate Fortress—she had been absent for a long time, just like Ma Yeonjeok.
The one who gave the order had to be the one to remove their ceremonial robe.
Then…
Who would inherit the Divine Sword of Transcendence?
"That is my business here. Recommend a candidate."
The Elder Council's leader spoke.
The General Affairs Bureau, the Divine Sword Order, and the Elder Council—these three formed the core pillars of Desolate Fortress.
With the Divine Sword Order temporarily absent, it was up to the General Affairs Bureau and the Elder Council to push the important matters forward.
"I have three candidates in mind. Based on their accumulated merits and experience, there are no better choices."
The Elder Council's leader pulled out a small sheet of paper.
Three names were written on it.
[Vice-leader of the Divine Sword Order, Desolate Divine Spear Ak Surim.
Leader of the Annihilation Squad, Silent Dawn Lord Shin Hwang.
Leader of Ruyi Spring Squad, Dragon Fist Bukgung Ah.]
A faint mulberry scent wafted from the paper.
The Chief Administrator, staring at the names in silence, finally spoke.
"As expected."
"They may not yet possess the absolute power required for the position, but all three have boundless potential. It will not take long before they surpass their limits. At most, ten years…"
"In times of chaos, ten years is too long."
"There is no other choice. The priority is stabilizing the people first. A Divine Sword Order's leader who has lost the people's trust can no longer be called one. Yongga should just resign himself to being a shadow sword."
"The leader's whereabouts have been unknown for quite some time…"
"Do not worry. Even if he is wandering aimlessly somewhere, he will not die a meaningless death. Now, back to the main point…"
With wrinkles forming on his forehead, the Elder Council's leader continued.
"Among them, only the Annihilation Squad's leader truly satisfies me. The others are too restless. I can already picture them running off to Sichuan the moment the grand assembly was called."
"Well…"
"And those fools, like the leader of the Supreme Martial Squad and the Dragon-Stepping Squad's leader, their personalities are far too erratic."
"The Lord of Desolate Fortress is absent. In this situation, the warriors of the Main Fortress had no choice but to prioritize the leader's orders. They cannot be blamed for that. It is not as though they could defy direct commands."
"Then let me ask you—are the seventeen banners still stored inside this hall?"
The Elder Council's leader pointed to the long table in the center of the room.
The Chief Administrator remained silent for a moment.
Desolate Fortress was a sect that operated like a military force.
There were ceremonial traditions.
Whenever an event of great importance required the Main Fortress' full authority, the seventeen divisions of the Divine Sword Order each carried their respective banners.
Most recently, the Annihilation Squad, Radiant Demon Squad, and Heavenly Squad used them to annihilate the Hwangbo Clan.
"…There is no need to check."
"I thought so. Those insolent fools."
"It simply means the squad leaders see the current martial world as undeserving. If they are to protect the people, the Desolate Fortress' warriors must remain intact first."
"How many banners have been taken?"
The Elder Council's leader's question was telling.
The Elder Council—the place Ma Yeonjeok once sought to lead—had lost control over the seventeen squad leaders.
Silently, the Chief Administrator picked up a brush.
Then, beneath the three names on the list, he wrote one more.
"The vice-leader of the Divine Sword Order, Ak Surim, took all seventeen banners."
"…All seventeen?"
"She cradled them in her short arms and vanished."
As the ink seeped into the paper, the Elder Council's leader lowered his gaze.
And there, in black ink, multiple titles representing a single individual were listed.
[Lightning Genius, Dark Flame King, Lotus Nezha.
Radiant Demon Squad's leader, Jung Yeonshin.]