Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 71 – Fame (6)

‘Indeed. There are no great masters from the main sect.’

Jeong Yeon-shin scanned the allies once more. The mighty energy waves unique to black ranks did not exist.

It was natural. The Central Plains was as vast as combining over ten foreign countries. It was a size too much for seventeen martial powers to handle.

Moreover, with three of them focused on the Hwangbo family, the main sect had no choice but to be quite empty.

It was because of forces already scattered across the Central Plains.

Even the Divine Sword Squad Leader rarely entered the main sect in Xiangyang. It meant she was fulfilling Desolate Sect’s duty.

Even if a couple squad leaders came, they would be checking the Blood Flame Sect apostles who weren’t here.

There were quite many blue ranks. They mainly commanded martial artists drawn in through justification and authority.

They were fiercely clashing with the main hall forces.

“Did you join the Blood Flame Sect!”

Amid that, a strangely familiar shout burst forth. It was the young Taoist who had already run up before his eyes.

The plum blossom embroidery sewn on his Mount Hua Sect uniform fluttered.

‘Yu Hyeon.’

He was the Mount Hua Sect leader’s disciple who had become Jeong Yeon-shin’s close friend.

A leisure unbefitting the battle situation flowed. He was just as on the day they first met.

Wei Ji Myo-hwa, the Zhongnan successor, and Little Divine Monk Gak Jeong of Shaolin were also there.

The Nine Sects connections running over had even brought their martial siblings. He knew the moment he saw.

They had come purely out of friendship and chivalrous spirit. They must have had to get permission from their sect elders.

‘He argued about the disappearance of heroes.’

The Blood Flame Sect Leader who had spoken of poor harvests and famine came to mind. Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly shook his head.

Could he say the same things while knowing them?

Tap.

“These guys are quite strong?”

Cheong Myeong’s lightness technique was fastest. Along with his spinning landing movement, his Desolate Sect blue robe fluttered elegantly.

His movements stepping to the side were very light.

WHOOSH!

Jeong Yeon-shin’s hair fluttered in the breeze unique to noble families. As Cheong Myeong patted his shoulder while smiling, he looked more reliable than anyone at this moment.

Baek Mi-ryeo and Wei Ji Myo-hwa also arrived, raising strong counter winds. It wasn’t the end.

Yu Hyeon and five Plum Blossom Sword Masters, Gak Jeong and four extraordinary warrior monks, ten familiar Zhongnan Sect masters and Heon Won-chang.

He exchanged greetings with eye contact with the others. It was because the situation lacked leisure.

“The Blood Flame Sect headquarters… it lives up to its name.”

One Plum Blossom Sword Master swallowed hard.

A confrontation formed.

It was Jeong Yeon-shin and martial allies who had entered the center, and the Blood Flame Sect headquarters’ high-ranked members who began surrounding them.

‘They opened the space. They did it deliberately.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

He could see the calculations of the Blood Swordmasters including the Sixth apostle.

They seemed to highly regard the martial arts of the intruders with fastest lightness technique. They planned to draw him in at once and eliminate him first.

“We’ve secured Lightning Genius’ safety.”

Baek Mi-ryeo opened her mouth.

“Getting out is the problem. We don’t know in how many exchanges the Sect Lord will kill the Blood Flame Sect Leader.”

While speaking, she scanned the Pure Blood Robe Jeong Yeon-shin wore. She seemed to be checking if his body was intact.

“That guy, isn’t that a apostle?”

Hyeon Won-chang belatedly exclaimed while pointing at the Sixth apostle.

The elites who arrived first had been watching him from the beginning.

He wrapped his entire body in the most powerful energy among the enemies. The more skilled they were, the more sensitive their energy sense. They had no choice but to be wary.

“Mount Hua, Zhongnan… Shaolin. The Nine Sects came too.”

The Sixth apostle smiled. His cheeks without flesh sunk in deeply.

“Were you afraid of future troubles? The forces are pathetic. Without a single elder.”

No one answered his words.

The Blood Flame Sect was large. The combined branches might be stronger than the main sect.

They said the military power of the scattered First and Second apostles approached that of major sect leaders.

The relationships between huge sects were in the realm of politics.

The Thirteen Evil Sects and orthodox major sects were like that. Elder-level supreme masters of the Nine Sects stepping forth was a high-level matter.

It was equivalent to declaring sect war. Fighting to extinction like the Zhongnan Sect and Tyrant Sword Sect? Anyone would avoid and watch.

Even if orthodox sects proclaimed chivalry, the reality of living people came first.

Swoosh.

Meanwhile, the swordmaster stepped their footwork. Before they knew it, battle formations were arranged. The pressure of exploding momentum was tremendous.

It was right before the masters’ battle began. Was it due to the tension? Suddenly Hyeon Won-chang’s voice rang out.

-I don’t know why, but these swordmasters look so strong.

It was a sound transmission. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately answered.

-You see correctly.

He had been in the headquarters for a long time. Many had asked for teachings.

There were many blood demons who offered living people as tribute, and among them the Blood swordmasters who presented martial artists were especially powerful.

-There’s a prison holding people who nearly had their true qi plundered. We must win and save them.

He was allocated one prison by the Seventh apostle. Those who nearly became sacrifices were gathered in the underground jail.

He wanted to protect at least those presented to him.

Hyeon Won-chang’s expression changed. He silently gripped his sword again and well-honed momentum extended. It was a killing sword energy technique.

Jeong Yeon-shin raised internal energy once more.

He filled true qi in the Person Meeting point on both sides of his throat and the Sky Screen point right above his vocal cords. He paid special attention.

-We can kill all the swordmaster.

It was a sound transmission to Baek Mi-ryeo.

-Will you stand as dharma protector?

-…You are a blue rank who performed a long-term mission. You deserve respect.

Baek Mi-ryeo answered while calmly changing her puzzled expression. It was while enemies were rushing in.

While the Nine Sects masters guarded all directions, the Radiant Demon Wing masters calmly observed him.

WOONG!

Jeong Yeon-shin immediately cast the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm.

The arm dyed blue was different from before. Strange waves spread out.

The Sixth apostle seemed to realize something was wrong first, but Jeong Yeon-shin was already unfolding the mysteries of sword song through the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm Technique.

WOONG!

It was martial arts that loaded radiating true qi onto sword sound. Now was different. He loaded dharma power instead of sound.

The power of the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm Technique began spreading in all directions. It was a movement awakening similar energies planted like thunderclap bombs.

The powers he had planted while seeing over thirty sunrises of the Blood Flame Sect responded. The resonating sounds were endless.

Meanwhile, the Sixth apostle’s form flashed. His body-protecting movement speed was like a ray of light.

BOOM!

Marble fragments from the courtyard scattered in all directions.

The Shaolin monks including Gak Jeong stood blocking. Righteous energy waves spread as one.

For an instant it seemed like Buddha’s form appeared. It was the materialization of true qi.

Battle formation multiplying power through joint attacks. Were just five of them displaying the Shaolin Eighteen Arhat Formation only heard of in words?

“The Buddha’s will is upon your crowns!”

Little Divine Monk Gak Jeong was at the center. He blocked the Sixth apostle’s fist with the fist technique he showed when competing in dharma talks with Jeong Yeon-shin.

Magnificent power sprouted from the crossed fists. It was Shaolin Dragon Fist.

Still he was pushed back. Gak Jeong let out a lion’s roar.

“AAAAAAH!”

The battle cry was tremendous. The four warrior monks supporting Gak Jeong’s left and right were the same.

They added energy waves with the same technique. They said all martial arts under heaven originated from Shaolin. Their underlying strength was truly enormous.

He was very grateful. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately closed his eyes.

He felt the presence of Cheong Myeong, Baek Mi-ryeo, and Hyeon Won-chang at close range.

Protecting a warrior about to perform a complex true qi operation. It was dharma protection.

Their trust approached as untimely warmth.

CLANG! BOOM!

It was masters’ clash.

The energy waves resonating like drums against skin were amazing. He felt it completely.

The masters who had faced off became chaotically entangled.

‘This fight. I won’t drag it out long.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. The scale of battle was large? His efforts focusing only on preparation for over thirty days were the same.

Very faint energy waves were spreading in concentric circles. It was the sword song of the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm Technique dwelling in his right hand.

The reaction was immediate.

WOONG!

It started from the railings of the thirty-six steps. Dharma power waves suddenly burst forth.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt it even with his eyes closed.

“Heok!”

Two Blood swordmasters’ breathing faltered. They were ones crossing swords with Plum Blossom Sword Masters while going up and down the steps.

A moment’s gap converged into instant death. When the Mount Hua Plum Blossom Sword flashed, the guy’s head flew off.

“What is this…?”

The Plum Blossom Sword Master muttered blankly even after achieving victory.

It was a cross-section of events. Gradually the same things happened everywhere.

The swordmasters’ defeats increased rapidly. The source was clear.

While blood sprayed and the Sixth apostle rampaged madly, regardless of friend or foe, one by one they began extending energy sense toward the young Desolate Sect master.

Amidst that, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly lifted his foot.

Step.

He began climbing the thirty-six steps. He alone was peaceful within the escort of his Radiant Demon Wing companions.

The swordmasters couldn’t approach. It was because the waves of the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm grew increasingly dense.

WOOONG!

With each step, the dharma power grew stronger. Long preparation bloomed the flower of demon destruction.

Righteous energy was being triggered in sequence from all places in the main hall.

Jeong Yeon-shin reached the end of the thirty-six steps of affliction. He opened his eyes too.

It was the place where the Blood Flame Sect Leader had looked down on all people. He raised his foot to stamp a true step.

It was because it was hard to endure. The upper dantian burning in his mind was dyeing the inside of his head white.

THUD!

He ground his foot.

That was the starting point.

WOONG─!

Pale blue light began rippling in eight directions.

The Two Flame Blood Spirit Formation’s key points transformed into a demon-subduing formation.

Even the fragments of the sorcery formation carved by Desolate Sect’s lord completely changed.

The power of the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm Technique planted throughout the headquarters over past days spread like waves.

Starting from the railings and reaching the steps and rafters, explosive chains of impacts triggered other detonations.

All sorts of screams rang out across the Blood Flame Sect main hall that had become a battlefield.

They were the wails of blood demons. The pain each felt nakedly filled the sky.

It created a scene of hell in an instant. The Blood Flame Sect members writhed as if fallen into Acala’s grasp.

[TL Note- Acala is a Buddhist Deity known as the Immovable Wisdom King.]

“Heu, heuk.”

“What, what is this…!”

The Sect Leader’s hall battlefield was worse.

They took direct hits from overlapping dharma power waves. Those who collapsed on the spot died cleanly.

The end was miserable for high-ranked members who staggered and were cut to pieces by orthodox sects’ sword strikes.

It was futile compared to the momentum they showed at the battle’s start.

Demon-Destroying Devil-Eliminating was fierce words. The orthodox martial artists’ movements dealing with demonic heterodox practitioners were merciless.

However, the Blood Flame Sect members in the courtyard did not look at them. Even while dying, they kept their eyes on Jeong Yeon-shin standing atop the steps.

The young Grand Teacher.

While his jet-black hair reaching his shoulders swayed in the waves, his spirit light like a sun-touched sea flashed.

His extended hand was wrapped in even deeper blue radiance.

The auspiciously undulating blue light created a strange sight intermingling with the blood-colored Pure Blood Robe’s hem.

“That b*st*rd needs to die…!”

“We brought in… a death god.”

“How can a lowborn’s bearing be, be so noble…”

“If he had truly become our Grand Teacher.”

The orthodox sect members’ behavior was similar. While cutting off evil path enemies’ throats, they looked at Desolate Sect’s Lightning Genius.

The original plan was different. It was to endure the offensive of enemy leaders including apostles.

The core was trust in Desolate Sect’s lord’s absolute martial power.

They accepted great sacrifices. But it was unnecessary.

It didn’t feel real. The young genius of Desolate Sect who had been held prisoner reversed the battle situation.

“What in the world is this…?”

“Look here! The evil sect fellows committed suicide!”

“Not suicide. It was Buddhist orthodox sect technique.”

“Never heard of it. Who in the world…”

They were martial artists from martial families and officials gathered from nearby regions. There were other blue-ranked warriors too.

Those who came up from the outskirts saw the scene of the thirty-six steps.

From the vanguard running with lightness technique, they stopped. Silence lingered briefly.

They too were martial artists who had sprouted energy sense, so they could clearly feel the dharma power waves dwelling in the blood-robed youth’s hand at the end of the thirty-six steps.

Before they knew it.

Only the Sixth apostle remained standing among enemies.

Blood dripped from his fists that had crushed several Nine Schools masters. That was all. The fighting naturally ceased.

“Has Mahavairocana* descended…”

[TL Note- Mahavairocana or Great Illuminator, is the chief deity of Esoteric Buddhism, and is generally referred to as “Great Sun Tathāgata”.]

He sighed. His words and actions were unlike a Blood Flame Sect member.

“Grand Teacher… no. You are Lightning Genius. From the start, you…”

“Those called apostles.”

Jeong Yeon-shin cut off the guy’s words. He slowly continued speaking.

“Talk too much. Every one of them.”

He raised his hand imbued with the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm Technique.

The still unceasing dharma power waves endlessly twisted and stretched repeatedly. It was a gesture saying no need for questions and answers.

The formation transformed into supreme nature was on his side. He could handle it.

‘It’s hard.’

His body said differently.

The sword song’s recoil was overwhelming his upper dantian. It felt like his head was being crushed.

[TL Note- In case you’re wondering, when did he use the sword song? He used it to trigger the techniques planted by him to unleash the dharma waves.]

He desperately didn’t show it. The state of the Shaolin monks who had met the Sixth apostle’s offensive was miserable.

Now he alone possessed power specialized in opposing demonic heterodox practitioners.

“Huh.”

Momentary bewilderment cleared from the Sixth apostle’s face as his eyes widened.

It was an appearance putting aside fame and doctrine. Competitive spirit showed in his expression.

The Sixth apostle spoke with admiration.

“Your head at least…”

Splash!

Along with his speaking mouth, his entire body shattered to pieces. Belatedly, tremendous gale force winds swept away even the fragments of his corpse.

Step.

There was a woman who lightly stepped on the ground like a flower petal fluttering from above. It was beside Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Sect Lord!”

Blood-covered Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo prostrated themselves. Even Heon Won-chang belatedly knelt.

The Desolate Sect warriors among the crowd also paid respects.

Many martial artists followed in kneeling or clasping hands. Supreme reverence or terror reflected on their various faces.

“Sect… Lord.”

Jeong Yeon-shin barely opened his mouth. His entire body suddenly became heavy.

The burden he had barely been enduring poured out like a flood breaking through a dam.

He moved his head somewhat painfully.

Their eyes met.

Deep green pupils rippled in the sunlight. Her brilliant gaze looking at him intently.

Was it because she was a peerless master showing transcendence? It was always like this when facing Desolate Sect’s lord.

Some grass seemed to tickle even his energy sense. There was something dreamlike sweeping his entire body.

She slowly moved her lips.

“Your position will change.”

Her voice seemed to ring from far away. He didn’t know when his eyelids closed. Before he knew it, his vision darkened like a dream.

“I first grant you a long sleep. Rest.”

Rustle.

He felt robes softly touching his cheek. His body that was losing balance and tilting stopped.

Was he embraced? The Sect Lord spoke of long sleep. He might open his eyes in Desolate Sect.

He truly didn’t want an escort or such.

‘I wish you’d given me the fruit instead.’

Even just one piece.

Even his desperate idle thoughts slowly fluttered away.

He fell into an abyss pressing down on him like a swamp. He laid down his consciousness without resistance.

Even the blade of his heart tempered through arduous martial world journey was blunted. Jeong Yeon-shin thought it would be just for a very short while.