novelraw Chapter 409 : The Duel with the Greatest Sword Under Heaven (1)
Chapter 409 : The Duel with the Greatest Sword Under Heaven (1)
Chapter 409: The Duel with the Greatest Sword Under Heaven (1)
“Mu Instructor.”
The Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect had all become martial arts instructors after returning to the Heavenly Central Sect.
Because they were the ones who best carried on Yong Hwarin's martial legacy, Yong Biyang personally appointed them as martial arts instructors of the sect.
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Watching the disciples train, I can tell how much effort the Ten Prodigies put into organizing the martial arts. You've done well.”
“Not at all. Elder Masa and Elder Ha Deokgong gave us tremendous support. Especially if Elder Masa hadn’t been there, organizing the sect's martial arts would’ve been near impossible.”
Yong Hwarin had already expected as much. Without Masa, it would’ve been difficult for the Ten Prodigies—who didn’t have deep martial knowledge—to handle the task alone.
Yong Hwarin quietly watched the Prodigies training the disciples and murmured,
“So this is what it feels like to be full without eating.”
After watching the training for a while longer, he turned away.
He didn’t want his presence to disturb the training.
He was on his way to check the progress of the ongoing construction of several pavilions when he heard music coming from one of the newly built halls. Curious, he headed over.
Approaching the building with a strange feeling, he peered inside through a window.
“Mm!”
Inside, dozens of women sat, each holding a pipa.
And standing before them, instructing them, was Bukri Sehee.
Next to her sat a musician from Urak, teaching them about the melodies. That confirmed his guess.
Listening in for a moment, he realized that Bukri Sehee was explaining something about Sound Arts.
‘So she’s passing on Sound Arts to them.’
Jeong Minji approached from behind and said,
“Darling, Sehee has founded the Anti-Demonic Sound Dragon Unit.”
“Anti-Demonic Sound Dragon Unit?”
“Yes. Once Sehee had developed her Sound Arts to a certain level, she thought it would be more powerful if performed by many people simultaneously.”
“Ah.”
Yong Hwarin thought it was a brilliant idea.
Sound Arts were notoriously difficult to master. That was why there were so few true masters of it in the world.
If it were easy to learn, it wouldn’t be so rare.
However, Sound Arts could also be amplified when layered, meaning that even weaker practitioners could pose a threat to a top-level expert if they performed it together.
“If many people simultaneously unleash powerful Sound Arts, what expert could withstand that?”
“Exactly. That’s why Sehee created the Anti-Demonic Sound Dragon Unit. She’s always thinking about what she can do for you.”
Yong Hwarin turned slightly and wrapped his arm around Jeong Minji’s waist.
“Then, what about my Min Mae? What are you working on for me?”
Jeong Minji, her cheeks blushing, gently pulled his hand away and replied.
She was still a woman easily flustered.
“I’ve been working on completing the Vermilion Bird Great Heaven Art for you.”
Yong Hwarin was surprised by her words.
“Wait, have you completed it?”
Jeong Minji shook her head.
“Not fully, but I can see the end now. It was only possible thanks to the Azure Dragon Three Marbles.”
Yong Hwarin had seen the Vermilion Bird Great Heaven Art before and had been astonished by its power.
If she had improved it further, its power would be beyond imagination.
“You’ve worked hard.”
With those simple words, the pain she had endured while training the Vermilion Bird Great Heaven Art seemed to vanish completely for Jeong Minji.
“Oh, I have something for Unjeong.”
“You’re only giving gifts to Unjeong?”
He smiled at the hint of jealousy in her voice.
“I brought the Black Silk Centipede.”
“Really? Then that means you now have all Four Great Divine Items!”
“Yes.”
“Since the birth of the Four Great Divine Items, you're probably the first person to possess them all.”
He smiled at how delighted Jeong Minji looked.
“Unjeong will be thrilled. She recently had a major breakthrough in her Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Art, and she’s always regretted not having the Black Silk Centipede.”
Jeong Minji practically dragged Yong Hwarin with her to see Seok Unjeong.
“Where’s Young Master Geum?”
“He returned to the Geum Family when he left the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.”
“Unjeong will be sad. They were quite close during their time at the Union.”
“I was worried, too. But she handled it better than I expected.”
Yong Hwarin nodded.
“She may seem gentle, but she’s a strong girl. She endured the pain of blocked meridians.”
“That’s true.”
Seok Unjeong was training the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Art at the training ground near her residence.
While at the Sky Ocean Merchant Union, the pain had disappeared, so she had trained night and day. But now, she threw herself into training to quell the longing she felt for Geum Yujin.
“Unjeong!”
Seok Unjeong stopped her movement and smiled upon seeing Yong Hwarin.
“Orabeoni!”
Warmth overflowed in Seok Unjeong’s eyes as if she were looking at her real older brother.
“You two look just like real siblings.”
To Jeong Minji’s words, Yong Hwarin responded,
“Now that I think about it, I have three younger sisters.”
Jeong Minji smiled slightly, knowing he meant Yong Seollan, Jong Munhye, and Seok Unjeong.
“Unjeong-ah, I didn’t get a chance to give this to you yesterday, but I brought a gift for you.”
“Really!”
Yong Hwarin took out a Wooden Case and handed it over.
Thinking it might contain a beautiful jade accessory, Seok Unjeong mumbled,
“I hope it’s pretty.”
Click!
As she opened the case, Seok Unjeong hesitated for a moment.
Because the Black Silk Centipede reminded her of Geum Yujin, whom she had been trying to forget.
“Can I really have this? Isn't this the property of the Geum Family?”
Despite it being something she’d like, she was the kind of girl who always thought of others first.
“A long time ago, Young Master Geum told me: If I ever acquired the Black Silk Centipede, its true owner should be you, Unjeong. And he said he could only return once it was in your hands.”
He meant that the Black Silk Centipede would be his excuse to come see Seok Unjeong again.
At those words, Seok Unjeong accepted the Black Silk Centipede.
As she imbued it with qi, the fluttering Black Silk Centipede transformed into a sword radiating sharp energy.
Whoosh!
As Seok Unjeong unfolded the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Art using the Black Silk Centipede, the atmosphere around her changed.
The Black Silk Centipede became a sword, then at some point turned limp like a whip, then suddenly coiled like a spike.
It curved like a sickle and swept through the air, then returned to a sword to thrust and slash.
“In terms of bizarre techniques, I don’t think anything in the murim can compare to the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Art.”
“I agree. The techniques alone make it a powerful martial art.”
“And if she comprehends the essence of the Four Great Divine Arts, she’ll be on par with Min Mae.”
“She still lacks the inner power to fully wield it, but with enough cultivation, she could become even stronger than me.”
Hearing that, Yong Hwarin recalled the Millennium Cold Jade Water he had brought.
“Ah, I’ve obtained a spiritual medicine. I’m planning to use it to create hundreds of elixirs.”
“What kind of spiritual medicine?”
Yong Hwarin began telling the story of being trapped in the Dabie Mountain cave with Mo Biyoung, and the battle against the Bloodshade Witch.
“Oh, so that's where your history with Sister Mo began.”
Jeong Minji ignored all the important parts and latched onto that one line, making Yong Hwarin awkwardly smile and change the subject.
“Min Mae, let’s go to Munhye. That girl seems to have a real talent for making elixirs.”
Yong Hwarin stopped by his place to pick up the ceramic vial containing the Millennium Cold Jade Water, and headed to where Jong Munhye was.
At that moment, Jong Munhye was sitting at a table, deep in thought over something.
“Munhye.”
At the voice coming from outside, Jong Munhye beamed.
And just like Seok Unjeong earlier, she welcomed Yong Hwarin with a look full of affection.
“Orabeoni, welcome.”
Gone was the gloom and sadness she used to carry.
It seemed that staying in the Heavenly Central Sect had allowed her to shed all the painful memories of her past.
“Sister, please come in too.”
Jong Munhye greeted Jeong Minji with polite warmth.
Looking at the piles of drawings on the table, Yong Hwarin asked,
“What are all these?”
“Oh, they’re formations I designed to install around the sect grounds. Since we heard that war with the Daebyeol Sect Alliance is imminent, I’m hurrying to finish the formation setups. They're almost done now.”
“Is that so?”
As someone well-versed in formation arts, Yong Hwarin approached the table and looked over the papers.
Then, spotting a strange one, he asked,
“What is this formation? I’ve never seen it before.”
With a proud smile, Jong Munhye replied,
“This is the Zombie Illusion Formation.”
“Quite the grand name.”
“Right now, the Heavenly Central Sect has fifty-nine jiangshi that the East Evil Division sent us.”
Yong Hwarin had expected, at most, thirty. Grateful they sent twenty more, he made a mental note to thank the East Evil Division Leader.
“And?”
“I was wondering how best to utilize the jiangshi, and I thought of burying them in areas where the illusion formations are installed.”
“Bury them underground?”
Yong Hwarin murmured.
Truthfully, he had considered that possibility himself once before.
“Yes. After burying them, when enemies enter the illusion formation, the jiangshi will be awakened.”
“In that case, no one will be able to escape the formation.”
It was a far more effective tactic than simply having jiangshi charge into battle.
“And the illusion formation I created makes the jiangshi appear as ordinary people. Since they don’t look like jiangshi, the enemy won’t be able to detect them.”
“Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.”
Yong Hwarin praised Jong Munhye, who had conceptualized the Zombie Illusion Formation from a single jiangshi.
“No one else could have come up with such a formation. You’re a genius.”
Jong Munhye laughed softly at the compliment.
“Good. Begin setting up the formation immediately. I’ll give you all the support you need.”
“Yes, Orabeoni.”
Once their discussion of formations ended, Yong Hwarin placed the ceramic vial on the table.
“What is it?”
“This is Millennium Cold Jade Water.”
Jong Munhye’s eyes widened at his words.
“This is really that Millennium Cold Jade Water said to be even more precious than Bell Spirit Stone Milk?”
Pop!
Jong Munhye opened the lid of the vial and took a whiff.
As the incredibly fragrant aroma entered her nose, her mind felt instantly refreshed.
“Just the scent gives me energy.”
Yong Hwarin spoke to the excited Jong Munhye.
“I want you to make elixirs out of this so our sect’s disciples can consume them. Can you do it?”
“Of course. With a spiritual medicine like this, I can make elixirs that grant at least ten years’ worth of cultivation with a single pill. With this, we can elevate our entire sect’s power to the level of the Nine Great Sects in one go. That way, we won’t need to fear war with the Daebyeol Sect Alliance.”
Understanding well just how terrifying it would be if ordinary warriors gained ten years’ worth of cultivation all at once, Jong Munhye was thrilled.
“Munhye, your role is the most important right now. No one else can do this. Please, help your big brother.”
Jong Munhye grabbed the ceramic vial and rushed straight to the apothecary.
She needed to find the best medicinal ingredients to pair with the Millennium Cold Jade Water.