* * *
A chamber with an open ceiling.
It was immensely vast.
Messenger pigeons, trained through the secret arts of the Ming Cult, flitted through the air like migratory birds, dropping all sorts of reports, while over a hundred scribes within the chamber were silently engrossed in their documents, their brushes moving swiftly.
It was a place worthy of being called mysterious. It was the headquarters of Yeoryung Sect.
"I will hear the report. Organize the movements of the Divine Sword Order's leader."
A figure, cloaked entirely in a black robe as dark as the night sky, spoke. The master of the demonic faction, Yeoryung Sect's leader. A man whose wide-brimmed hat obscured the black beard beneath it.
As soon as he stepped into the grand hall, there was only one thing Yeoryung Sect's leader sought to confirm.
The leader of the Divine Sword Order, who had ultimately escaped from the Heaven-Spanning Net, which included three supreme masters of the Thirteen Celestial Demons. The pursuit had dragged on like an endless monsoon.
The lifeline of one who stood at the pinnacle of the world was tenacious beyond reason.
'That movement… it was something I had never seen before.'
Yeoryung Sect's leader's gaze sifted through the past.
The leader of the Divine Sword Order.
An explosively overwhelming sprint.
It was not the movement of one who had been poisoned. The rainbow-hued energy waves flowing beneath his feet, a signature of the Divine Sword Order's leader, proved as much.
It was different from the stable, natural lightness technique that seemed as if one could run forever.
His movements suggested he had fully unleashed the extraordinary sight arts of the Divine Sword Order, Dragon's Eye, said to perceive even a thousand sword forms.
He had dodged Yeoryung Sect's leader's strike and the Namgoong First Sword's attack, slipping past the bombardment-like trajectory of the Dark Night War's archery with a single step.
Even while carrying a blue-clad warrior under his arm, his speed was difficult to match.
Thus began the ongoing chase.
Circling the vicinity while heading south, he continuously released bursts of propulsion waves from his lightness technique, fitting of one who harbored the greatest internal energy beneath the heavens.
He did not seem to be poisoned at all.
—How does one dismantle such a lightness technique?
This was the challenge Yeoryung Sect's leader faced. How should the Heaven-Spanning Net be structured to crush the man's legs?
Even the widely knowledgeable Wanderer of the Nine Provinces had been consulted, but all that was received was a weary response, 'Did that Dragon Bastard have such a thing as well?'
It meant he had acquired this ability only recently.
'It is not strange.'
Every leader of the Divine Sword Order throughout history had been an overwhelming genius.
No supreme master of the martial world ceased in the pursuit of greater skill, yet among them, the leader of Desolate Fortress' Divine Sword Order always stood out as exceptional.
It was the fortune of Desolate Fortress' Lord.
Compared to him, even the scribes lined up before Yeoryung Sect's leader at this moment were insignificant.
Snap—
Yeoryung Sect's leader flicked his fingers.
A translucent ripple spread in a circular wave. The faint scent of ink that had been filling the hall was pushed away in an instant.
The scribes, who had been silently watching the documents slip from their desks, now focused.
Yeoryung Sect's leader had infused a pulse of internal energy into his Flicking Finger technique, releasing the acupoint seals of the scribes.
It was a gesture allowing them to speak, as they were forbidden from making a sound without command.
"The report should be finished. Only those in charge of Dragon Capture should give a quick summary."
Yeoryung Sect's leader spoke.
Dragon Capture, the name of the operation to assassinate the Divine Sword Order's leader.
The chamber immediately turned clamorous.
"I will begin with the incident from seven days ago. The Grand Ember Spirit Formation of Taemo Mountain Fortress was half-destroyed by the leader of the Divine Sword Order's Dragon Ring Sword…"
"The Seventy-Two Bow Ghosts of Dark Night War were annihilated!"
"Information from the Martial Dragon Association, sir! Namgoong First Sword's cherished blade was broken, but he has seized the Yitian Sword from the Namgoong Clan and continues to pursue the Divine Sword Order's leader."
Yeoryung Sect's leader turned his head toward the scribe who mentioned Namgoong First Sword.
"He stole their heirloom? You are taking the long route to the point."
"It is believed that along with the Yitian Sword, he also plundered the Namgoong Clan's secret elixir, the Mystical Recovery Pill."
"Looting. A method of supply befitting this era. Compared to the leader of the Divine Sword Order, it is as if he is fully prepared."
It might be worth placing expectations on the King-Style Sword Arts.
Muttering briefly, Yeoryung Sect's leader spoke again.
"Continue."
"Four days ago. The Dark Night War activated the One Kill Every Ten Li formation six times, yet only managed to strip a single shoe from the leader of the Divine Sword Order…"
"That should raise morale. Spread the news among the high-ranking members of the demonic faction and its subordinate forces. This is not a disgrace to the Dark Night War. It simply proves that even the Dragon Bastard is human."
Yeoryung Sect's leader was issuing these instructions in a detached tone when—
"Urgent report! One of the Three Arcane Thrones of Taemo Mountain Fortress, Ziwei Celestial Star, has been slain!"
The Thirteen Celestial Demons' Taemo Mountain Fortress.
A major sect of spell martial arts that split from the Mosan Sect.
Famed for being located within a secluded, picturesque valley like the Land of Peach Blossoms, its power in the current era was rumored to be on par with the Zhuge Clan at its peak.
The Three Arcane Thrones referred to the three transcendent masters under the Taemo Fortress' Lord. The ultimate weapons of sect wars.
Their mastery of spell arts was said to rival even the Zhuge Clan's leader.
With their implements and formations in place, they could destroy fortress walls with a mere gesture.
"…Ziwei Celestial Star is dead? How many flashes occurred before she perished?"
"The area darkened once before she was bisected."
"A single exchange… Who sent that report?"
"Dark Spirit Seventeen, sir."
A member trained in the secret vision technique of Yeoryung Sect, the Dark Moon Overstepping Technique.
The shadows of Yeoryung Sect focused their cultivation on the Protective Energy Technique and Sight Arts, allowing them to see beyond their natural capabilities. The report was likely accurate.
"…This is for the better. Ziwei Celestial Star's death will surely spur the Taemo Mountain Fortress' Lord into action."
As he organized his thoughts with a murmur, Yeoryung Sect's leader found something about this situation strange.
The leader of the Divine Sword Order was an eccentric. Even his purple martial robes reflected that scholarly air.
He pursued elegance in all things, including martial arts. Every technique he used was among the most dazzling in the world.
Having refined his skills in that manner for so long, it should have been necessary for him to employ intricate forms to maximize the power of his techniques.
'Yes, his martial arts have never been aimed at short duels.'
He had always taunted his opponents with refined swordplay to elevate the prestige of Desolate Fortress. That had always been the case, according to all reports.
The only exception was when he faced the deceased Namgoong Clan's leader, the younger brother of Namgoong First Sword. That was only because the Namgoong Clan's martial arts were among the greatest of the Eight Great Clans.
Ziwei Celestial Star had been no match for the Namgoong Clan's leader.
It had to be assumed that something new had been added to the Divine Sword Order's leader's martial disposition.
What was happening in Desolate Fortress? There were also rumors of a large number of white-clad warriors emerging, wielding strikingly straightforward sword forms.
A name suddenly flashed through Yeoryung Sect's leader's mind. Lightning Genius' lineage.
Slowly, he opened his mouth.
"Upstream of the Yangtze, what of Desolate Fortress' movements?"
"None, sir."
"Detestable creatures…"
The veins on Yeoryung Sect's leader's hand surfaced.
He had visited the vicinity of the World Tree shortly after losing track of the Divine Sword Order's leader.
It was a place where he could assess the possibility of Desolate Fortress' Lord intervening in this battle, as well as the likelihood of Desolate Fortress' Shadow Sword appearing— the one who had previously torn off the arm of the Profound Martial Alliance's leader.
'No intervention. It is certain.'
That was why Yeoryung Sect's leader had calmly disregarded the summons of the black-clad members of the Divine Sword Order. He believed that the moment news of the Dragon Bastard ceased, the assembly would be called off.
With the Elder Council of Desolate Fortress having lost its fangs, they could not afford to overlook the death of the Divine Sword Order's leader, who was supreme in both power and symbolism.
Once the seventeen divisions of the Divine Sword Order converged from all directions, individual annihilation would commence.
Yet, there was no movement at all.
"So foolish, yet so meticulous…"
Desolate Fortress had always been this way. No matter which high-ranking individual they targeted, they never moved recklessly.
They never acted rashly.
Absolute hierarchy and discipline. Their trust in the Divine Sword Order's leader was akin to an immense force.
"…Where is he now?"
"He has entered Huguang from Southern Zhili. He passed Wuchang long ago."
"He won't be able to enter the main fortress of Desolate Fortress."
Yeoryung Sect's leader prioritized the death of the Divine Sword Order's leader over attacking an empty stronghold. The man himself must know that as well.
He would never make the mistake of leading the Thirteen Celestial Demons into the stronghold of Yangyang.
"He will soon reach Guizhou."
"It won't take him more than a few days."
"He is starving. No matter how limitless his inner energy may seem, he won't be able to withstand the Energy-Scattering Poison forever."
Muttering in a deep voice, Yeoryung Sect's leader gestured toward the opposite side.
"What of the Heaven-Spanning Net at Cloud Circling Peak in Sichuan? Has there been a result?"
While all supreme efforts were being concentrated on the Divine Sword Order's leader, Yeoryung Sect's leader's solemn command finally loosened the tongues of the scribes.
Their tone and breathing were different from those who had reported earlier. Unlike the steady voices of the previous scribes, theirs trembled slightly.
"The leader of the Ten Perfection Sect, the leader of the Pure Demon Alliance, and the leader of the Golden Wings Sect were all defeated in succession by the Radiant Demon Squad's leader of the Divine Sword Order… All three sects suffered near-total annihilation, and the leaders of the Ten Perfection Sect and the Golden Wings Sect have perished."
"…What?"
Yeoryung Sect's leader's hat trembled for a moment. The silence radiating from his body devoured all sound in the vicinity.
* * *
The black-clad group's sprint was sporadic.
When they ran in full stride, they kicked up clouds of dust across the plains, but they could not maintain a straight path.
This was because scenes of martial sects or wandering warriors pillaging villages were occurring repeatedly.
They could not simply pass by such reports.
"Have mercy, please spare us!"
"If you lack grain, take only food. Why did you have to lay hands on an entire family?"
"Well… that is…"
"When you reach the underworld, tell the King of the Dead that you were sent there by the kick of the Supreme Martial Hall's leader of Desolate Fortress."
"Desolate Fortress…!"
It was an era of chaos. Only those with power had the luxury of stability.
Jung Yeonshin had witnessed countless horrific scenes while building relationships with his senior peers.
Commoners suffering from famine. The emaciated, starving people sitting lifelessly, or the horrifying sight of parents offering their children to sects that had begun consuming human flesh.
The young man, who had reached the pinnacle of martial excellence, recalled his childhood multiple times.
Hunger.
Everywhere, there were people starving for something.
Whether it was the betrayal of family bonds, the ties between master and disciple severed over survival, or simply food to fill their stomachs, they were all hungrier than Jung Yeonshin had ever been in his youth.
There were no children swinging on the festival swings scattered throughout the villages.
Yet, the group had to keep in mind the well-being of the people, the imperial family, and the martial world alike.
"It's ironic. As we head north, in order to avoid provoking the imperial family, we must ensure that it is clear we have not abandoned the people… But at the same time, we cannot afford to stop worrying about our leader."
"Didn't you say it was an unfounded fear?"
"Well, yes. After all, this is the man who survived among the northern barbarians and returned alive."
Ak Surim playfully scratched Jung Yeonshin's back. Jung Yeonshin accepted the seasoned senior's attempt at comfort.
This was not the first or second time they had seen famine. If they let it weigh them down, even what could be done would be lost.
"Lightning Genius."
From time to time, the Annihilation Squad's leader, Shin Huang, would approach. He would silently observe Jung Yeonshin with his sunken eyes, then occasionally ask a cryptic question.
"Do you have a favorite delicacy?"
"I like Five Melody Mountain Greens."
"You mean the Ming Cult's mountain vegetable dish? Why?"
"When several people tear off the dumpling-like leaves at once, the aroma seeps deeply into the vegetables. I found it fascinating. I saw it a few times in my family."
"A dish of harmony, and a delicacy of masters. Timing is everything."
"I suppose that's one way to see it."
"Indeed… You were a martial incarnation from birth."
"…Excuse me?"
Jung Yeonshin struggled to grasp the meaning of the conversation.
The Annihilation Squad's leader would nod to himself, retreat, then return several times to share more insights.
Most of his words were advice regarding the personalities and martial prowess of high-ranking officials in the Forbidden City of Beijing and the grandmasters of the Divine Sword Order.
Then, one day, the group shed their black robes and changed into plain monastic robes.
"This is the place."
At the forefront of the group, Cheon So-so spoke, cradling a sapling of the World Tree in her arms. A branch imbued with a trace of the Flood Dragon's energy, its spirituality had deepened, even in the smallest measure.
To Cheon So-so, the leader of the Immortal Spirit Wood Squad, it was akin to a sacred treasure. Though they had once belonged to the same clan, it was said to aid in tracing the lost paths of those who had forsaken their fair skin.
Wei Ji-geuk, the leader of the Dragon-Stepping Squad, ran his fingers along the rope at his waist and stepped forward.
"I always found it strange whenever I passed by, but is the Dark Night War really here?"
"Yes."
Cheon So-so nodded.
Amidst the group, subtly encircled by his senior peers, Jung Yeonshin ran his fingers along the sword resonance of divine sword Yurei.
Before them, a hazy mist of ash-gray color stretched across their vision. The sound of the wind, carrying an eerie resonance like a ghostly wail, brushed past their ears.
They had arrived.
The outskirts of Guangyin Capital in Guizhou.
A city riddled with ominous rumors.
Dried vines enshrouded the surrounding homes like fortress walls, casting an unsettling atmosphere from the very start.
Many of the residents had skin ashen as if dusted with soot, their ears extending upward like leaves. Hidden between grayish trees and brick walls, eyes peeked out, staring at the group.
The city folk murmured among themselves.
"They're armed. All of them are warriors."
"They must eat well. Their complexion is too healthy."
"That's right… And they're all so good-looking."
"Look at them. Even that bald brute is handsome. They must be masters, controlling their bodies at will."
"Could they be from Desolate Fortress…?"
"Don't be ridiculous. What would such lofty figures be doing all the way out here at the edge of the world?"
A sense of isolation was evident. Some even glared at them as if they wanted to kill them.
In an era of relentless famine, anyone who wasn't a local was seen as an enemy. There was no sign of cooperation.
"They must have concealed their main headquarters within a formation. We need to identify who among them belongs to the Dark Night War."
Yoo Jung-myung, leader of the Scorching Abyss Squad, swept his sharp gaze over the surroundings as he spoke. Cheon So-so shook her head.
"All we see is wasteland, but… it is definitely ahead. It would be faster to find the entrance to the formation."
"And how long would that take?"
At that moment, Xiahou Wei-jin, leader of the Forest Striding Squad, clenched his thick fists.
Step.
Jung Yeonshin took a step onto the damp ground.
Among their group, clad entirely in black, there was no hierarchy to restrain anyone. As equals, they did not interfere with each other's actions, allowing anyone to move as they pleased.
As he reached downward, his hand grasped the hilt of a sword that radiated a brilliant glow.
Not Yurei.
One of the Eighteen Martial Weapons of the Ten Perfection Sect's leader— an expendable tool. It had been drawn to him from the bundle strapped to Xiahou Wei-jin's back.
Though he never voiced it, Jung Yeonshin had grown utterly weary of formations.
Especially now, with their leader in crisis, he had even less patience for them.
Dark Night War could no longer be ruled out as a potential adversary. Even the imperial family was watching them. And from certain corners of society, voices of condemnation were rising against their grandmasters.
"What are you trying to do?"
Bukgung Ah, the leader of Ruyi Spring Squad, asked casually, arms folded.
It was the moment Jung Yeonshin, standing before his illustrious black-clad seniors, tightened his grip on the sword resonance.
Wuuuung—
A monotonous hum reverberated from the blade.