Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time-Chapter 446: The Sun-Setting Banner (8)

Heavenly Market Demon Star, Hyeokryeon Daeso, urgently reached out to the side.

Fortunately, his second technique activated successfully. From the headless body of Taiwei Star, dozens of yellow-stained talismans and a small yellow jade bead were drawn forth.

Aerial retrieval, refined through the mysteries of sorcerous martial arts.

With the faint sound of fluttering paper, the bundle of talismans and the golden bead were swiftly pulled into Hyeokryeon Daeso’s possession.

Among them, the yellow jade resonated with the crimson jade he already carried, vibrating with a deep hum.

Artifacts of divine craftsmanship.

Treasured relics imbued with spiritual essence. The overwhelming energy wave of the Taemo Fortress Lord, sealed within the two gems, surged through his consciousness.

— No matter what catastrophe you face, you shall return unharmed at least once.

The will embedded in the artifacts.

‘It worked...!’

Fwoooosh!

Immediately, he widened the distance by thirty paces, retreating through the air.

Though his speed [N O V E L I G H T] had its limits, it was a defensive sorcerous technique that could even mimic the Cloud Dragon Eight Forms of the Kunlun Sect.

Fortunately, it was executed flawlessly this time as well.

Thanks to the fact that Seomye of the Yeonhwa Nata appeared lost in thought, he was able to secure a safe gap.

That was the end of it.

Hyeokryeon Daeso began replaying the events that had just transpired.

‘What was that?’

For a brief moment, the flow of his energy had been severed.

More precisely, the process of forcibly twisting the harmony of heaven and earth had been cut off entirely.

Unlike conventional martial arts, sorcerous techniques required external manipulation of energy flow—and that flow had been completely disrupted.

It was only an instant, but in that moment, the world had turned pitch black before his eyes.

‘Now I understand why martial artists who lose their lower dantian choose to end their lives.’

Even after honing his composure over a lifetime, Hyeokryeon Daeso never wanted to experience that again.

As a long-lived sorcerer, he needed to scour every bit of his accumulated knowledge to devise a countermeasure.

Kiiing!

A cold blue light flickered within his eyes.

The secret art of Taemo Fortress, All-Seeing True Connection.

An advanced upper-dantian technique that accelerated the flow of thought.

While Hyeokryeon Daeso obsessed over analyzing the new Divine Violet’s technique—

Ak Su-rim, now free from the flames ignited by Taiwei Star, looked up at Jeong Yeon-shin from the ground.

For the first time, concern darkened her expression.

"Why did you come? You should have rested a little longer."

It was only after she spoke in her clear voice that Jeong Yeon-shin, who seemed as though he would keep his lips sealed forever, finally parted them.

"...It was long enough."

"Just two days?"

"A person didn’t even die. How could I remain in seclusion for three days? There is no one else to stand in for Lord Yong."

His words were unusually lengthy for someone with such a detached expression.

And strangely enough, the first words of his response carried the faintest trace of conviction.

Ak Su-rim caught the short spear he had pulled from Taiwei Star’s stomach with a firm grip.

A moment later, the headless body of the old master crashed to the ground with a dull thud.

Dark red blood gushed out, soaking the earth.

The surrounding martial artists of the Murim Alliance were left in utter shock.

But Ak Su-rim paid them no heed.

She simply stared at the young subordinate who had now become her superior before speaking again.

"I would have handled it. I wasn’t struggling."

"I know."

"Right. You saw it through the Thousand-Seer Tree, didn't you? That’s why you arrived at the perfect moment."

A conversation between the core figures of Ipwang Fortress.

They discussed matters beyond common sense—topics that made even the practitioners of sorcerous martial arts sharpen their ears.

‘The Thousand-Seer Tree...!’

While analyzing the Divine Violet’s technique, Hyeokryeon Daeso’s eyes widened at their exchange.

Beneath his furrowed brow, his heated gaze trembled.

[Did you just say Thousand-Seer Tree? Are you telling me that you can wield its branches? How could someone who is not of the divine bloodline possibly be granted such a thing? This Hyeokryeon cannot comprehend it in the slightest. If you allow me a moment of conversation, I will answer anything you wish to know—]

The reason the Sword Saint of the Murim Alliance has become a mere shell, the current happenings in Hangzhou, why the Lord of Heavenly Extreme Sect accepted the fortress’s invitation—

He was one of the Three Celestial Seats of Taemo Fortress.

Throughout his life, he had rarely restrained his curiosity.

And now, with two of the three treasured artifacts of their sect in his possession, his safety was assured.

There was no longer a reason to treat the Divine Violet and the Divine Spear of Ipwang with excessive caution.

"......."

Until—

The clear gaze of the Yeonhwa Nata shifted toward him.

[...Ah.]

Hyeokryeon Daeso’s upper dantian rang an alarm.

The divine presence that resided beneath his Baihui acupoint whispered to him in hushed tones.

That man does not see you as human.

The realization seared through his skull, chilling him to the bone.

There was no room for negotiation.

‘Even Marrow Severance Demon of Seonyeon would not have treated someone this way...’

It happened then.

The sword carrying the Divine Violet glided toward him.

He moved with the grace of the Daoist Eight Immortals—pure and untainted.

Like the legendary Sword Immortal Lü Dongbin, who once strode across the sky on a sacred blade, the youth advanced effortlessly through the air.

The Yeonhwa Nata was an exceptional martial artist.

He could likely perform aerial combat maneuvers, using a combination of sword-flight and defensive techniques to slaughter his foes midair.

Hyeokryeon Daeso made his decision.

‘I will retreat in one piece.’

It was a viable option.

Even if he were facing the Lord of the Divine Sword Sect instead of the Divine Violet, the result would be the same.

He possessed not one, but two artifacts that enhanced sorcerous martial arts.

Gifts from the Enlightened One, the Lord of Taemo Fortress—treasures that would never be replicated again.

At this moment, the two gems in his hand would allow him to transcend his limits.

Two relics meant two uses.

Hyeokryeon Daeso poured all of their power into a single spell.

Wuuuuung—!

From his left hand, the crimson and yellow jade released turbulent waves of energy.

The two artifacts emitted a continuous series of semi-transparent energy ripples, rapidly forming a complete sorcerous array.

With that, the invaluable treasures crumbled to dust.

[Shifting Void.]

With a short invocation, Hyeokryeon Daeso’s body began to blur like mist.

His right hand was not idle either.

Clutching a bundle of yellow-stained talismans, he formed the signature gesture of sorcerous martial arts.

Index and middle fingers extended like a sword, while the remaining three fingertips pressed together.

A specific hand seal that guided internal energy into a controlled flow.

The instant he executed the movement, the heavens responded.

[Nine Revered Divine Arts.]

The sky flashed white.

A massive bolt of blue lightning descended upon Jeong Yeon-shin, who had already closed the gap.

[Thunder Wrath.]

Pzzzzzzt—!

It was enormous.

The bluish-white arc of lightning split into countless branching tendrils, all converging on Jeong Yeon-shin.

Boom!

The atmosphere turned blindingly bright.

The crackling of lightning tore through the air.

The martial artists of the Hanzhong Murim Alliance scattered in all directions using their fastest defensive maneuvers.

Even as they fled, they anxiously looked upward at the duel taking place in the sky.

Only Ak Su-rim stood still, arms crossed, watching impassively.

[How composed. It is a privilege reserved for the strong. A figure of Divine Violet’s caliber ought to bear such confidence.]

Hyeokryeon Daeso glanced at his fading limbs and grinned.

[Thanks to your generous patience, I will now safely arrive in Hangzhou. Though I have suffered great losses and some regrets remain, I must still offer my gratitude for—]

He could not finish his sentence.

A pale, shimmering light emerged from the bolt of deep blue lightning.

Within it, a figure glowed like stardust—

Jeong Yeon-shin, stepping through the lightning’s aftermath without a scratch.

He had not even changed expression.

‘Did he block it... with a defensive technique?’

Hyeokryeon Daeso’s blue eyes flickered like a wavering candle flame.

Yeonhwa Nata, Seomye.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

His initial assumption had been correct—the technique that disrupted the activation of his sorcerous martial arts could not be used repeatedly.

Afterward, all his spells had functioned properly. Even the lightning had struck as intended.

‘Even so, this is a matter worth reporting to the Lord. He is dangerous.’

The peerless masters of the martial world—

Each of them possessed different training, wielding an endless array of strange techniques. Yet, the method displayed by the new Divine Violet was exceptionally lethal.

Especially for Taemo Fortress, which would one day claim the title of the strongest under the heavens through its refined arts.

The Lord and the Young Lord, currently in Hangzhou, needed to be informed.

“......”

Hyeokryeon Daeso locked eyes with Jeong Yeon-shin, who was now staring at him from an uncomfortably close distance.

He wanted to gauge the nature of this new Divine Violet.

There was a lingering unease about his ability to break sorcerous techniques.

However, Shifting Void was on a completely different level.

The pinnacle of evasive techniques that allowed the user to scatter their physical form like a spirit.

And ultimately, the divine technique that severed the fabric of space itself.

It was impossible for a single person to construct such a complex formation and energy flow.

Only the power of priceless artifacts had allowed it.

It was, without a doubt, beyond the realm of human capability.

Interfering with such a high-dimensional energy pulse was simply not possible for human perception.

‘No matter how extraordinary the Yeonhwa Nata is, he cannot possibly disrupt Shifting Void once it has already been activated...’

At that moment—

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been silently watching the gradually fading Hyeokryeon Daeso, reached out his hand.

Swoosh.

His fingers extended toward Hyeokryeon Daeso’s face.

As if attempting to grasp the head of a man who had already dissolved into a ghostly, formless state.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips moved slowly.

“Leave it behind.”

A voice devoid of inflection.

[......!]

The eyes of the Three Celestial Seats of Taemo Fortress widened to the point of tearing.

Something impossible had happened.

Just as the reports had claimed—

A smooth, human touch suddenly became palpable against his skin.

At this moment, the sensation of a firm grip enveloping his face radiated a rough warmth.

It was energy—the force of Jeong Yeon-shin’s grip, strengthened by internal power.

“No...!”

Hyeokryeon Daeso’s partially re-materialized face contorted in panic just as Shifting Void fully activated.

Whoooosh—!

His black robe-clad body rapidly disintegrated.

But his head did not.

The sound of fabric splitting apart echoed sharply. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

His body vanished to Hangzhou—

Yet, his head remained in Jeong Yeon-shin’s grasp, its mouth gaping soundlessly.

The trembling flesh of his cheeks was compressed beneath those unyielding fingers.

And then—

Drip.

Blood began dripping to the ground below.

At this very moment, the Lord and Young Lord of Taemo Fortress would be witnessing the return of Heavenly Market Demon Star without his head.

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly loosened his grip.

Thud.

Hyeokryeon Daeso’s head rolled across the scorched earth left behind by the lightning strike.

“......”

The martial experts of the Murim Alliance who had witnessed the entire scene remained silent.

Not a single one dared to speak.

What they had seen was too transcendent—so much so that their reactions were reduced to mere simplicity.

The annihilation of the Three Celestial Seats of Taemo Fortress.

Both Heavenly Market Demon Star and Taiwei Star had perished in a single battle.

The last of the three, Ziwei Star, had been aiding Yeo Ryeong’s Thousand Silk Trap but was ultimately slain by Divine Sword Sect Leader Yong Hui-myeong.

Events that should have been exceedingly rare were now happening openly.

A turbulent era of upheaval.

No major faction hesitated to act anymore.

The time for hesitating over alliances or cooperative attacks was over.

They struck first.

At this moment, the blood dripping from the hands of the new Divine Violet reflected the shift in the times.

On the battlefield—

The expressions of Zhuge Cheong-ah and Gongsun Min mirrored each other for once.

Both of their throats trembled as they swallowed dryly.

“You seem to be in good health.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s low voice addressed them as he glanced over.

Then, his gaze moved toward the coffin loaded onto the cart.

“...You may escort him to the fortress. He will be received as a guest of honor.”

Only after hearing those words did Zhuge Cheong-ah finally manage to take a step forward.

Crunch.

“Lord, congratulations on your ascension. It has been a long time.”

“Ascension?”

Jeong Yeon-shin seemed genuinely puzzled by her words, as if he had not considered them before.

Internally, he felt a sense of regret.

He had handled the battle with relative composure, yet he had no choice but to kill the sorcerers.

Capturing them alive would have been ideal, but he had failed.

His skill was lacking.

If it had been Yong Hui-myeong, one of the Three Divine Violets, capturing them would have been possible.

Though, the last one—

No matter what, capturing him alive would have been impossible for entirely different reasons.

‘Still, I’ve grasped something.’

Jeong Yeon-shin flexed his hand once before releasing it.

Somewhere within his consciousness, he could feel the subtle breath of Ipwang Fortress’s Lord, who had once taught him Heart Sword.

“Congratulate me for what? Child of the Zhuge family, our new Divine Violet has yet to undergo his formal ascension ceremony.”

“......What?”

“He’s still in a contest of will with the King of Gongmyeong.”

A name revered by the Emperor himself was spoken.

The King of Gongmyeong.

A ruler who had long meddled in all major affairs of the martial world, from the founding of the Silent Shadow Sect to countless other critical events.

The mention of such a figure left Zhuge Cheong-ah and the martial experts of the Murim Alliance utterly speechless.

Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin simply turned his head toward the fortress.

“Senior Ak.”

“Hm?”

“I have deliberated long enough. I will depart for Hangzhou today.”

“The King of Gongmyeong? Even the Elders’ Council and the Fur-cloaked General of the Supreme Bureau are just watching for now. Right now, that man is practically the law itself.”

“I was taught that the authorities should not meddle in martial affairs.”

“......”

Everyone except Jeong Yeon-shin wore different expressions, each of them at a loss for words.

“Excuse me, I will take my leave first.”

Stepping onto the Lightning Rider, he wordlessly ascended into the sky.

Now, the sacred sword that symbolized the Yeonhwa Nata hummed with resonance.

The sunlight that brushed past its blade twisted and bent—

As if it had lost its sense of reality.