Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 151

Yang-Bai Merchant Sect, Yanghwa Hall.

The place that had been Baek In-gwang's residence in the past was newly renovated and named Yanghwa Hall.

After the Alliance Leader came, Nangong Zhao moved his residence to Yanghwa Hall. It was to guard the Alliance Leader.

The area around Yanghwa Hall was guarded by Zhang Li and the members of the martial force.

"Ugh..."

A low groan erupted from Nangong Zhao's mouth as he sat in a cross-legged position and circulated his energy.

His dantian swelled as if it would burst, and he felt a tearing pain in his lower abdomen.

It was a sign that his inner core was about to be completed.

If something went wrong at this moment, he might never be able to form an inner core.

"..."

As the 'water up, fire down' reached its extreme, a cool energy formed on Nangong Zhao's forehead.

He had known that the time for the completion of his inner core would come someday, but he had not known that it would come so suddenly.

Nangong Zhao, after coming to the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect, had devoted himself to martial arts training.

Nangong Zhao was someone who had gathered expectations in the Nangong family due to his outstanding martial talent. Although the world counted the 'Nine Dragons and Four Phoenixes' among the rising generation, he had not considered them his rivals in his heart.

Before he reached the age of twenty, he had condensed his energy, and in his early twenties, he had circulated his energy and had entered the path of an inner energy master. While working as an investigator in the military advisory department of the Martial Alliance, he had constantly trained and had reached the so-called 'superlative realm', where he had solidified the frame of his inner core.

For some time now, he had been feeling an inner core forming in his dantian.

When the inner core is completed, it is called the 'true realm', as one becomes an inner energy master in the true sense. It is extremely rare to enter the 'true realm' around the age of thirty.

Naturally, his pride was great.

But...

Baekji, who looked to be about fifteen, had thoroughly shattered his pride.

A being that he could not understand with his reason.

If it were just that brat... he could have considered him a special case and moved on. Because strange geniuses had appeared from time to time in the history of the martial world.

Hadn't the Martial Alliance Leader, Zheng Yunbai, reigned as a master from beyond the heavens, even though his origins were unknown?

But...

Yang Soryeong, who was said to be Baekji's master, and his disciples... he could not sleep after learning the fact that they had not known martial arts just a year ago.

To reach the 'superlative realm' in just over a year... and not just one person, but four...

Nangong Zhao, who did not know that Baekji had fed them all sorts of medicinal herbs and had even made them undergo a 'bone and flesh transformation' with a medicinal bath, could not help but feel dejected.

His common sense about martial arts had completely collapsed.

At the same time, a stubbornness arose.

As Baekji had requested, he had observed Seomun So's condition and had researched the 'Blood Demon Sword Sea', and in his spare time, he had stayed cooped up and had focused on training.

Thanks to that, he had met the opportunity for his inner core to be formed earlier than he had thought.

The energy in his dantian, which had been swelling as if it would burst, at some point, slowly began to rotate.

How much time had passed?

"Hoo..."

Nangong Zhao let out a long breath.

A bean-sized inner core had formed in his dantian. He had finally entered the 'true realm'.

He drew out the true energy of his inner core and circulated the 'small heavenly circulation'. He could clearly feel the flow of energy, as if a stream of water were flowing.

The energy that had vigorously gone up along the 'governing vessel' on his back hesitated at the 'yintang' point on his forehead, then slowly flowed down, reached the 'conception vessel' at the philtrum, and then shot down to his dantian.

'Is the opening of the 'governing and conception vessels' all that's left now?'

When the 'governing and conception vessels' are opened, the 'small heavenly circulation' is completed.

Nangong Zhao thought of trying to open the 'governing and conception vessels' right away. He felt a confidence that he could break through them right away using the true energy of his newly formed inner core.

But.

Someone came to visit.

Seeing that they came to his door without hesitation and knocked, it was not an enemy.

'Of all times...'

Then he suddenly realized. If they had come at the moment he was about to complete his inner core, it would have been a big problem.

He could have not only failed to form an inner core but also could have suffered from cultivation deviation.

To attempt to form an inner core without even setting up a guardian.

It was something that would have been impossible if the opportunity to form an inner core had not come so suddenly.

Nangong Zhao, realizing what a dangerous moment it had been, felt a chill run down his spine.

"Chief Investigator Nangong, are you there?"

Judging from the voice, it was the Chief Steward of the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect, Ah-jok.

Nangong Zhao stored his true energy in his inner core and opened his eyes.

A sharp light shone from his eyes and then disappeared in an instant.

Nangong Zhao, who had gotten up from his seat, opened the door.

"What is it?"

"I came because I thought I should let you know."

"...?"

"The young master of the Nangong family is staying at the 'Yang-Bai Guesthouse'. But my master went there in a rage. Perhaps..."

Ah-jok trailed off.

Ah-jok was indeed meticulous. Knowing that Nangong Hao was at the 'Yang-Bai Guesthouse', he had thought of Nangong Zhao's position and had come to let him know.

Nangong Zhao immediately understood the situation.

If Baekji had gone in a rage, the bamboo staff would be dancing.

Although he did not know the realm of his older brother, Nangong Hao, whom he had not met for a long time... in front of Baekji's bamboo staff, the very act of discussing realms was meaningless.

It was Baekji who had beaten the Blood Demon, who had achieved the 'Blood Demon God', like a dog on a hot day.

Although he had left the family, since his blood relative and the young master of the Nangong family might be beaten by Baekji, he could not just sit still.

"Wh-where did you say?"

"'Yang-Bai Guesthouse'..."

"Thank you for letting me know. I will go and see."

As soon as he finished speaking, Nangong Zhao hurried away, and just then, Tang Yunseol came in and ran into him.

"Big brother, what's going on that you're in such a hurry?"

"It seems my older brother has come. But perhaps there is a misunderstanding with the Honored One. I have to go and see."

"I'll go too."

Tang Yunseol followed.

The two, who were hurrying towards the 'Yang-Bai Guesthouse', met Quan Bai and Seongcheon, who were also hastily on their way. The two had been staying at the Outer Hall's guesthouse and had rushed over after hearing the news that Qiu Ganyang had come to the 'Yang-Bai Guesthouse'.

"You must have heard the news too. Elder Qiu has come in person. We will be able to know the situation of the Alliance. Let's go together."

"Yes? Elder Qiu has come?"

Nangong Zhao tilted his head. His older brother, Nangong Hao, and Elder Qiu Ganyang had no connection.

But from the Inner Hall's guesthouse, Taoists from Qingcheng came flocking.

The one in front was Zhang Ming of Qingcheng, the 'Pine and Crane, Moon and Lake'.

Quan Bai saw Zhang Ming and acknowledged him.

"Isn't that the 'Pine and Crane, Moon and Lake'?"

Zhang Ming glanced at the judge's brush hanging from Quan Bai's waist and said, "You must be the 'Divine Brush' Quan Bai."

"That is correct. This is my bosom friend, Chobu."

"A pleasure to meet you. I have urgent business right now, so I will take my leave."

Zhang Ming gave a light bow and then immediately went out the main gate.

It was the way to the 'Yang-Bai Guesthouse'.

Nangong Zhao, Quan Bai, and Seongcheon also followed right behind.

* * *

"It was you, right? You're the Zhuge something who sent this, right?"

Baekji glared at Zhuge Jiao and waved the invitation.

Zhuge something?

Zhuge Jiao's face flushed. In his life as the 'Unparalleled Brain' of the Zhuge family, he had never been humiliated like this.

'This brat?'

Although he had heard that the brat called the Honored One of the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect had a rough mouth, he had not known that he was a brat with no manners who would crush a person on their first meeting.

"It's you, right!"

Baekji waved the invitation and asked again.

Zhuge Jiao saw Baekji for the first time. He was a younger brat than he had expected.

'This brat is a master of the profound realm? It's really hard to believe.'

The fact that Baekji had beaten the Blood Demon in the Martial Alliance was widely known in the martial world. The Zhuge family had gathered all the information about the situation at that time and had concluded that Baekji was a master of the profound realm.

The only master of the profound realm he had identified so far was the Martial Alliance Leader, Zheng Yunbai.

Zhuge Jiao had mobilized all the information power of the noble families and had thoroughly looked through the information about Baekji.

A boy who had suddenly appeared, had annihilated the White Mountain Sect, and had established the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect.

A master who had solved the crisis of the Tang family and had chased the Blood Demon that had appeared in the Martial Alliance.

'This brat's martial arts origins are completely unknown!'

The reason why Zhuge Jiao had come to the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect in person was not only to secure the Martial Alliance Leader but also to figure out Baekji's identity.

As Zhuge Jiao was clearing his throat to answer, a roar erupted from the side.

"How rude! Are you the brat called the Honored One of the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect?"

The quick-tempered Peng Yitian let out a roar.

Baekji frowned.

"A crudely large saber... the Peng family... it's good that you're all gathered."

Baekji threw the invitation at Zhuge Jiao.

Zhuge Jiao, who was about to stealthily dodge, realized it was not an attack and received the invitation.

"You're going to take the Alliance Leader, so prepare? Do you think this is the Zhuge family? What do you think the Yang-Bai Merchant Sect is, ordering us around like this?"

"Hah... this is a completely crazy brat. This brat..."

As Peng Yitian was about to step forward in astonishment, Zhuge Jiao stopped him.

Then he said to Baekji in a gentle tone, "I am Zhuge Jiao, who sent the invitation. Is there a problem?"

Hwik!

Baekji appeared in front of Zhuge Jiao in an instant.

"'Shape-shifting technique'!"

Someone shouted.

Even the same 'shape-shifting technique' had vastly different levels.

Baekji had stood in front of Zhuge Jiao in the blink of an eye.

Tong! Tong!

Baekji's bamboo staff, tapped Zhuge Jiao's head.

"A problem? You're saying you don't even know what the problem is. If so... I'll make you realize."

Zhuge Jiao's face flushed red. This was a different level of insult from being spoken to informally.

"This brat!"

Zhuge Jiao made his left hand into a hook and, like a thunderbolt, aimed for Baekji's Adam's apple. It was the 'Divine Sealing Claw Technique', a unique claw technique of the Zhuge family that broke the neck bone in one breath.

"Eot?"

The moment Zhuge Jiao's left hand grabbed the empty air, the two disappeared. Wu Tian vaguely saw Baekji grab Zhuge Jiao and go outside.

Pa-ak!

The sound of a bone being hit was heard. At the same time, a scream erupted.

"A-heuk!"

Pa-pa-pak!

After that, there was not even a scream.

Peng Yitian and everyone else rushed outside. In the wide courtyard of the 'Yang-Bai Guesthouse', Zhuge Jiao was lying on his stomach with his hands and feet spread like a frog.

Baekji was striking his buttocks with a bamboo staff as if he were giving him a flogging.

Zhuge Jiao, as if his mute point had been pressed, could not even scream.

At the very surprising sight, everyone was at a loss for words.

To have the military advisor of the Zhuge family, the hegemon of the southwest of the Central Plains, on his stomach and to be giving him a flogging.

It was a sight that had never been seen before and would never be seen again.

Wu Tian, who had been having a war of words with Zhuge Jiao, felt refreshed, but at the same time, a chill ran down his spine. Although he was the Thirty-Sixth Chamber Master of Shaolin, he was not confident of beating Zhuge Jiao so one-sidedly.

This meant that he was also no match for that person called the Honored One.

Qiu Ganyang was just watching with a cold gaze, as if he had expected it.

"This brat!"

Peng Yitian, without hesitation, drew his saber and rushed at Baekji.

Pa-ang!

A rough wave of energy erupted from the saber, and a fierce saber wind raged towards Baekji's entire body.

Baekji glanced at him, instantly changed his position, dodged the saber, and struck down with his bamboo staff.

A simple downward strike.

But it was as fast as lightning. There was no time to raise his protective energy.

Peok!

Peng Yitian's mind went blank from the shock of his head exploding.

Through his fading consciousness, he heard Baekji's words.

"It would be a pity if you fainted after one hit..."

Peok!

With the bamboo staff exploding on his back, a pain as if his heart would burst, and his mind, 'beonjjeok', came to its senses.

Baekji approached, pushed Peng Yitian with his foot, and he was pushed away and rolled next to Zhuge Jiao.

Pa-pa-pak!

Baekji beat Zhuge Jiao and Peng Yitian evenly.

It had happened in an instant. Baekji had appeared, had said a few words, and then a beating had immediately broken out.

There was no time to stop him or anything.

"Strike! Save the military advisor!"

"The great elder is in danger!"

The guards of the Zhuge family and the Peng family, who had come to their senses, all rushed in.

Sword lights and saber lights flashed in all directions, but when Baekji swung his bamboo staff, they were all deflected.

Peok!

Thwack!

Baekji struck the warriors with his bamboo staff, and threw the ones who had lost consciousness outside the main gate of the 'Yang-Bai Guesthouse'. The warriors who had flown over ten 'jang' piled up in front of the main gate.

At that moment, Zhang Ming, Quan Bai, and Nangong Zhao arrived.

Quan Bai and the others, who saw people flying, opened their eyes wide and looked inside the main gate.

Baekji was beating the warriors of the Zhuge family and the Peng family and was throwing them outside the main gate as soon as he caught them.

"Th-this is..."

Quan Bai's mouth fell open. Something beyond his imagination was happening.

(End of Chapter)