Chapter 95

Shinjian Team (1)

When Seungjin Namgung, the Blue Qilin, received a blow from Jeongyeon Shin’s palm technique.

The moment the Namgung family’s experts showed intense movement, the Yihuang City Shinjian Team also stepped forward.

The experts of the Namgung family did not stop at just the Blue Qilin’s shout. The opponent they faced was a military force directly under the command of the Shinjian Team Leader.

Shinjian Team (神劍隊).

It was the first of the seventeen military forces under the Shinjian Team.

In terms of its founding period and martial prowess, it was truly called the strongest in Yihuang City.

"From that distance, he won."

"The way he gauges distance is really impressive. He moves freely with his sword and fist. That’s a natural talent."

"Does anyone know what that palm technique is? I heard that Jeongyeon, that guy, only uses secret martial arts."

"Unless he’s a holder of a fairly strong protective aura (護身罡氣), he would die instantly upon impact. If he condensed the Shaolin Hundred Steps Divine Fist (百步神拳) into a close-range hundred strikes, would it be like that?"

"It seems to take a lot of preparation time? It’s not very refined. The backlash is extremely strong. It’s a martial art that relies entirely on the user’s intuition."

"Even if Uncle Sword belittles it... the power is worthy of being called a divine skill. It’s definitely rare."

The composition of the twenty members was diverse. There were men, women, old, and young. Among them were middle-aged and young adults, and even a boy and a girl. Their appearances reflected this.

A girl dressed in a black robe, with a spear wrapped around her, sneered and said,

"Look at them. They’re flinching and retreating."

"Grandma Ak’s aura is strong. It’s not because of us, right? After all, they are the Namgungs."

A handsome middle-aged man called the girl 'Grandma' and even used a childish tone.

No one found it strange. They were eccentrics (奇人異士).

There is a saying that there are as many peculiar and extraordinary martial artists in the Jianghu as there are grains of sand. The experts of the Shinjian Team were particularly famous.

"Be cautious. There are many eyes watching."

"Leave it. When did our team start caring about formalities?"

The atmosphere was very casual. All kinds of behaviors and words naturally blended together.

This was because they spent the whole year together, traversing the Jianghu.

They constantly carried out missions for Yihuang City. In temperament, they were closer to wandering knights.

However, their martial prowess was different. Apart from the black-robed super expert, all were blue-robed experts.

Moreover, the team leader, who also served as the Shinjian Team Leader, was a purple-robed absolute figure. Bound by camaraderie, no one cared about the crowd’s gaze.

"However... the young master’s martial power seems less impressive than the rumors. Was something wrong before the match?"

"What does it matter? In the end, he’s gone."

"More importantly, it seems that Jeongyeon will continue to challenge him."

The young man nodded toward Jeongyeon.

The boy’s appearance was like this. He held the Yihuang Sword without sheathing it.

The girl in the black robe clicked her tongue.

"It’s not a show of determination, but rather a lack of thought. He can’t think. He seems to have fallen into a rather melancholic state after defeating his rival. It’s common at his age."

"Grandma Ak will take him. If he’s in a state of no-mind (無念), even a fairly strong blue expert would find it hard to touch him."

The young man, called Xiaoha, shook his head.

"Ah..."

Jeongyeon’s lips slightly parted from a distance.

While the Shinjian Team experts were showing a comical scene like a play, the boy finally came to his senses.

Moreover, he was surprised. The Shinjian Team was a group of people who were in the clouds even within the Shinjian Team. Their reputation reached the heavens.

'That person is...'

He guessed the identity of the girl who called him.

Yue Shoulin (岳收霖), the Divine Spear of Yihuang (入荒神槍).

An old expert whose special mind cultivation had reached the炉火纯青 (lú huǒ chún qīng) stage, reversing the aging of his body.

炉火纯青 (lú huǒ chún qīng) means that one's skills have reached the pinnacle. It also means that he was outstanding among the black-robed experts of Yihuang City.

Martial artists are not free from hierarchy.

They had their own world. They used martial arts, sects, temperament, and honor as their status.

Appearance was also part of it. The nicknames of prodigies like dragons and phoenixes were proof of this.

返老還童 (fǎn lǎo huán tóng).

A realm that defies the passage of time in the human body. It’s not just about having high martial arts. It requires enlightenment, fortuitous encounters, and the cultivation of special divine skills.

Yue Shoulin had all of these. He was as famous as the Shinjian Team Leader.

The young sword expert, who had been called out by the young prodigy, was not particularly moved.

'Troublesome.'

He thought to himself. He wanted to savor the enlightenment bestowed by Seungjin Namgung.

How should one live in the Jianghu? Even if one prioritizes one’s own life, is it right to walk the path of martial arts just for that?

If he was the last opponent of the Blue Qilin...

Jeongyeon turned his back on the Shinjian Team experts.

"Next..."

He slowly opened his lips.

"Next. Come forward."

He said, looking at the Namgung family side. It was a camp where killing intent surged, regardless of whether they were middle-aged experts or young prodigies.

They looked as if they would kill him on the spot, and the combined aura was like a giant demon approaching.

Jeongyeon did not care. He had already guessed the cunning of Namgung Mi, who was planning to surrender.

To protect life and honor through a difference in strength? He did not want to follow that. It was a dead man’s strategy.

The boy stood straight in his place.

The determination made by Seungjin Namgung’s death. The power in the corpse had not yet dissipated. He did not want to show a shameful appearance.

"Is it courage or recklessness..."

Yue Shoulin muttered in confusion.

"Fine! I will gladly accept the challenge from this outstanding junior!"

With a loud shout, a middle-aged man in blue martial robes leaped forward.

Bang!

In an instant, he reached Jeongyeon. The boy slightly furrowed his brows. The sand and aura that fiercely struck his face were truly fierce.

'The leader of the Namgung family’s Blue Sky Sword Heaven Team (蒼穹劍天團).'

A man with eyes that shot up like a blade.

Upon facing him, the aura was even more overwhelming. The flow of inner energy emanating from his entire body was immense.

'The deputy leader of the Blue Sky Sword Heaven Team was said to be one of the top swordsmen in Nan Zhili.'

But he became a ghost under the hands of the Yihuang City Lord. Xian Yuan Chang had witnessed it firsthand. It was a single blow.

Perhaps because of the deaths of the direct lineage, the aura emanating from the Blue Sky Sword Heaven Team leader gradually gathered like a sword blade. It was a sharp momentum that Jeongyeon found hard to withstand.

He did not show it. He could not disgrace Seungjin Namgung.

'Just use Huanjiang.'

He recalled the ultimate move of the Shihua Wujixiu, which he had named.

Its power had been proven. If he could somehow hit it, it could even inflict fatal wounds on a black-robed super expert.

At that moment,

"Stop there."

A clear voice rang out.

The Blue Sky Sword Heaven Team leader’s reaction was faster than Jeongyeon’s. The middle-aged man’s eyes immediately widened.

"Shinjian Team Leader...!"

A name that would be etched in one’s mind upon hearing it.

Behind Jeongyeon, a presence that could chill one’s senses moved.

A wave-like, overwhelming aura arose. The boy, even with an enemy in front of him, turned his head.

A tall and handsome man.

He had the appearance of a scholar. His attire was also like that. It was just that the scholar’s robe was purple.

His aura was different.

Completely different from when he was completely suppressing his inner energy.

Jeongyeon, who had been lost in thought, could not fully register the impression. The boy’s state of no-mind (無念) was so deep.

The Shinjian Team Leader slowly opened his mouth.

"Jian Tian Team Leader. That’s enough."

"What? How can you be so shameless...!"

"You are the one who doesn’t know shame. What do you think you can do to a mere child?"

He smiled and concluded. His words and actions were unconventional.

Thud.

He walked slowly, and no one could stop him.

From a distance, the Namgung family head glared silently.

He was stroking his sword as if ready to step in at any moment, but he had only taken a few steps.

The Shinjian Team Leader approached with light steps.

He seemed to be free from the gazes of all the people in the world. He stopped a step in front of Jeongyeon and stared at the boy intently.

"Your name is Jeongyeon, right?"

"I greet you, Team Leader."

Jeongyeon calmly made a fist salute. The corners of the Shinjian Team Leader’s mouth turned up.

"I thought you were blind. You treated your team leader as if he didn’t exist. It was a novel experience. Your state of no-mind (無念) is so deep."

"…I apologize."

"It’s a joke. Anyway, I heard from the Chief Overseer that I should teach you a part of my martial arts. I’ll add one more thing. I’ll help you build strong connections in the Jianghu that will be useful to you."

Jeongyeon remained silent for a moment. The connections mentioned by the Shinjian Team Leader would not be ordinary.

However, it was a difficult decision to make. How could he, in front of Seungjin Namgung.

At that moment, the Shinjian Team Leader pretended to frown. He made a pained expression.

"You’ve already done more than enough to save face. Now it’s time to consider your superiors."

Jeongyeon thought silently. He didn’t know the Team Leader was such an eccentric.

The Shinjian Team. A group that is hard to understand.

"I’ll take your agreement as a given. I’m very grateful."

The Shinjian Team Leader smiled and gently pushed Jeongyeon’s shoulder, stepping forward.

The moment he took a step, the momentum of the Blue Sky Sword Heaven Team leader vanished as if swept away by a current. It was as if it had been completely washed away.

"From now on,"

The Shinjian Team Leader spoke.

"I will personally participate in all matches with the Namgungs."

"Ridiculous!"

An elder from the Namgung family side shouted from the back. The Shinjian Team Leader’s head tilted slightly.

"Didn’t you suggest starting with the younger ones? I know that’s what you proposed. Our former team leader and the Elder Council leader are old men."

"Baek Qilin is... "

At that moment, Yue Shoulin suddenly approached Namgung Huashen’s side. His movement was incredibly swift.

Before he could fully show a puzzled expression,

Yue Shoulin’s left hand turned into a blur, becoming a watermelon-sized fist. It was a speed from a different realm.

Bang!

A dull sound echoed. With a lightning-fast strike, he hit the back of Namgung Huashen’s neck, causing him to lose balance.

He seemed to lose consciousness immediately.

The Shinjian Team Leader smiled approvingly.

"Let’s finish this quickly. I have a lot to teach Jeongyeon."

"..."

Truly unconventional behavior, but none of the Shinjian Team experts seemed surprised.

They all calmly watched Jeongyeon and the Shinjian Team Leader.

"Baek Qilin Namgung Huashen is not in a state to participate in the match. Let’s count this as a loss for us."

The corners of the Shinjian Team Leader’s mouth smoothly turned up.

"Next is me."