Chapter 71

Mingseong (6)

‘As expected. The main force of the fortress is not here.’

Jeong Yeonshin swept his gaze over his allies once more. There was no sign of the unique, powerful aura characteristic of the black-robed warriors.

It was only natural. The Central Plains, vast as the combined territories of a dozen foreign lands, was too large for the seventeen martial forces to handle.

Moreover, three of them were concentrated in the Huangbao Manor, leaving the fortress severely understaffed.

This was due to the forces already scattered throughout the Central Plains.

Even the leader of the Divine Sword Corps rarely entered the fortress of Yangyang, indicating that he was fulfilling his duties in Yihuang City.

Even if a couple of main force leaders were present, they would likely be restraining the Blood Flame Sect’s apostles who were not here.

There were quite a few blue-robed warriors. They mainly commanded martial artists who had been drawn in by prestige and authority.

They were currently engaged in fierce battles with the main force.

“Have you defected to the Blood Flame Sect?!”

Amidst this, a strangely familiar shout erupted. It was a young Taoist who had already rushed to the front.

The plum blossom embroidery on his Huashan Sect robe fluttered in the wind.

‘Yuxian.’

He was Jeong Yeonshin’s friend and the Huashan Sect’s chief disciple.

He exuded a calmness that was inappropriate for the situation, just as he had the first time they met.

The successor of Zhongnan, Wei Jimiaohua, and the young monk Jiaozheng from Shaolin were also present.

The Nine Sects’ connections had arrived, bringing their senior brothers and sisters with them. Jeong Yeonshin knew this at a glance.

They had come out of pure friendship and a sense of justice, having obtained permission from their sect elders.

‘They discussed the disappearance of the knight.’

The image of the Blood Flame Sect’s leader, who had spoken of famine and disaster, came to mind. Jeong Yeonshin inwardly shook his head.

Could he still speak the same words, knowing them?

Thud.

“These guys are pretty strong, huh?”

Qingming’s lightness was the fastest. As he landed with a swirling motion, his blue robe fluttered gracefully.

His movements were incredibly light as he took his position.

Whoosh!

Jeong Yeonshin’s hair was swept by the unique blue wind characteristic of the Ming Clan. Qingming playfully patted his shoulder, looking more reliable than anyone else at that moment.

Baimin and Wei Jimiaohua also arrived, causing a strong gust of wind. It didn’t end there.

Yuxian and five plum swordsmen, Jiaozheng and four extraordinary monks, and ten familiar high-level experts from the Zhongnan Sect, including Xian Yuanchang, were all present.

He exchanged glances with the others, as the situation did not allow for leisurely greetings.

“The main force of the Blood Flame Sect... Truly lives up to its name.”

One of the plum swordsmen muttered.

A standoff had formed.

In the center were Jeong Yeonshin and the martial artists, surrounded by the main force of the Blood Flame Sect’s senior members.

‘They’ve opened up space. They did it on purpose.’

Jeong Yeonshin thought.

The intentions of the Six Saber Dao and other Blood Saber Sect swordsmen were clear.

They seemed to have highly estimated the martial arts of the fastest intruders. Their plan was to draw them in and annihilate them first.

“The elite prisoner is secured.”

Baimin spoke.

“The problem is getting out. We don’t know how many moves it will take for the city lord to defeat the Blood Flame Sect’s leader.”

As she spoke, she scanned the pure-blooded robe Jeong Yeonshin wore, seemingly checking if he was unharmed.

“Is that guy not a disciple?”

Xian Yuanchang, who had just arrived, pointed at the Six Saber Dao in shock.

The elite members who had arrived earlier had been observing him from the start.

He was surrounded by the strongest aura among the enemies. The more skilled one was, the more sensitive their perception. They couldn’t help but be wary.

“Huashan, Zhongnan... Shaolin. The Nine Sects have also come.”

The Six Saber Dao laughed, his hollow cheeks deeply sunken.

“Were you afraid of future trouble? Your forces are inadequate. Not a single elder is present.”

No one responded to his words.

The Blood Flame Sect was vast. The combined strength of its branches might even surpass the main force.

The scattered forces of the First and Second Saber Dao were said to rival the leaders of major sects.

The relationships between large sects were a matter of politics.

This was true for the Thirteen Thousand Evil Sects and the orthodox major sects. It was a high-level matter for the Nine Sects’ elders to personally intervene.

It was equivalent to declaring war between sects. Would anyone want to risk total annihilation like the Zhongnan Sect and the Peijian Sect? It was something to be avoided.

Even if the orthodox sects called for justice, the reality of human life came first.

Swish.

During this time, the swordsmen had been stepping in formation. They were already in battle formation, exuding an overwhelming aura.

The battle between high-level experts was about to begin. Perhaps due to the tension, Xian Yuanchang’s voice suddenly echoed.

- Why are these swordsmen so strong?

It was a mental message. Jeong Yeonshin immediately responded.

- It’s true.

He had been in the main force for a long time. Many had sought his guidance.

The blood demons who had sacrificed living people as tributes were not few, and the Blood Saber Sect swordsmen who had presented martial artists were particularly powerful.

- There’s a prison where people who nearly had their inner energy stolen are kept. We need to win and rescue them.

He had asked the Seven Saber Dao for a prison to house those who had nearly been sacrificed. He wanted to protect those who had been presented.

Xian Yuanchang’s expression changed. He silently adjusted his grip on his sword, a well-honed aura emanating from it. It was the stance of a life-and-death sword.

Jeong Yeonshin once again gathered his inner energy.

He filled the Renying and Liangtian acupoints on either side of his throat with inner energy, paying particular attention to them.

- Can you kill all the swordsmen?

It was a mental message to Baimin.

- Can you act as the guardian?

- ...You are a blue-robed warrior who has completed a long-term mission. You deserve respect.

Baimin calmly corrected her puzzled expression and replied, even as the enemies were surging forward.

The high-level experts of the Nine Sects were guarding the surroundings, while the Ma Guangyi experts were calmly observing him.

Rumble!

Jeong Yeonshin immediately unleashed the Extermination Blue River Technique.

The blue light of the sword was different from before. A strange vibration spread out.

The Six Saber Dao seemed to be the first to realize something was amiss, but Jeong Yeonshin was already releasing the sword technique’s essence.

Rumble!

It was a martial art that loaded emitted inner energy onto the sword. Now, it was different. Instead of sound, it contained spiritual power.

The power of the Extermination Blue River Technique began to spread in all directions, awakening the similar energies embedded like thunderclap bombs.

The forces he had planted during the thirty sunrises of the Blood Flame Sect reacted, creating a continuous resonance.

Amidst this, the Six Saber Dao’s figure flashed. The speed of the Body Strengthening Classic was like a ray of light.

Boom!

Marble fragments from the inner courtyard scattered in all directions.

Jiaozheng and the Shaolin monks blocked the attack. A righteous aura spread as one.

For a moment, it seemed like the image of a Buddha appeared. It was the materialization of inner energy.

A formation that amplified their power through combined attacks. Could it be that five of them were barely managing to form the Shaolin Eighteen Arhats Formation, which was only spoken of in legends?

“The will of the Tathagata is upon your heads!”

Jiaozheng was at the center. He blocked the Six Saber Dao’s punch with the fist technique he had shown during their debate with Jeong Yeonshin.

A powerful force surged from the crossed fists. It was the Shaolin Dragon Fist.

Despite this, he was pushed back. Jiaozheng unleashed a lion’s roar.

“Ahahah!”

The roar was tremendous. The four monks on either side of Jiaozheng also did the same.

They delivered the same powerful strikes. It was said that the greatest martial arts originated from Shaolin. Their strength was truly immense.

It was very helpful. Jeong Yeonshin immediately closed his eyes.

He could sense the presence of Qingming, Baimin, and Xian Yuanchang nearby.

Protecting a martial artist about to perform complex inner energy techniques was the role of a guardian.

Their trust brought an unexpected warmth.

Clang! Boom!

It was a clash of high-level experts.

The sound of skin being struck like a drum was impressive. It was felt completely.

The high-level experts who had been in a standoff were now entangled in a chaotic battle.

‘This fight won’t last long.’

Jeong Yeonshin thought. The scale of the battle was large? The effort he had put into preparation for over thirty days also played a role.