806——————==

True Martial Home

His specialty and ultimate technique, the Shadowless Sword, surged up and swept over my entire body like a wave. In the past, the master of the Shadowless Sword had once turned the elite experts of the Namgung Clan into a bloody mess with just this one move. However, I noticed a flaw in the wave of the Shadowless Sword, and immediately shook off my sword using the Eye’s Control Sword technique to slice through the wave head-on.

Crash!

” ……!!”

The master of the Shadowless Sword was charging in with great momentum but barely avoided being cut down and quickly fell back. I felt I could settle the matter right there, but in that moment, Bai Li Jeong-woon rushed at me, executing the Bowing Sky Slash. I had to switch back to defense.

Bang!!

I countered his Bowing Sky Slash with my own. As our weapons clashed, I sensed the distortion in our space, realizing that Bai Li Jeong-woon’s sword was starting to crack due to my overwhelming strength. He faintly smiled and, in an instant, conveyed his thoughts to me.

[ Thank you. I’ve always been grateful to you.]

Shortly after, Bai Li Jeong-woon’s sword shattered with a resounding crash, but he seemed to adopt a stance as if he wanted to continue fighting. I recognized that this stance was both Tai Chi and oddly similar to the Thunder God style, which explained the discomfort I had felt earlier.

‘ … I see.’

Boom, boom!

The six masters surrounding me launched a coordinated assault this time. Previously, they had attacked separately to gauge my skills, but now they moved as one in a rhythm to exploit my weaknesses.

‘ Damn it!’

I grit my teeth, and for about thirty seconds, I poured all the martial arts I had learned into defending against and countering their attacks. Unfortunately, none of them was anything less than a Peak Expert, so taking them down was out of the question. The whirlwind of Qi surged, and I kept distorting the space using the Three Treasure Technique.

Just as fifty seconds had passed,

” That’s enough!”

Jin So-cheong, who had been watching, commanded, causing the martial artists who were intent on continuing the fight to freeze in place. Currently, Jin So-cheong was serving as the acting leader of the Bancheon Alliance, so they had no choice but to heed his orders. He spoke in a low voice.

” From what I can see, there’s no need for three hundred seconds more. We’re just wasting our energy; the conclusion has already been reached. As long as Bai Woong’s Tai Chi and Thunder Sword work together in defense, there’s no way to bring him down.”

” ……”

” Sa Ma-gyeong. Traditional techniques won’t work on him either, will it?”

Sa Ma-gyeong, standing furthest back, smirked and replied.

” That’s right. His overwhelming power means even seduction techniques can’t affect him at all. I couldn’t even use barrier techniques for fear of affecting our own forces. My best shot was to attempt to subdue him with a rear attack, but even that was completely ineffective.”

” As expected, Bai Woong is gradually digesting Spirit Power.”

Jin So-cheong muttered and then turned to me.

” Bai Woong. Your power has already been proven. No one aside from the White Lotus Sect Leader and the Master of the Twelve Joules could withstand the combined forces of the six leaders of the Bancheon Alliance so effortlessly. Even if three hundred seconds passed, or even five hundred, the outcome would remain the same; we’d simply tire out and collapse.”

” ……”

” I, Jin So-cheong, acknowledge that strength and will transfer the temporary position of leader of the Bancheon Alliance to you.”

Hearing Jin So-cheong’s words, I couldn’t feel that happy. The reason was that I had already grasped the essence of this trial. I sent a secret message to Jin So-cheong.

[ Jin So-cheong. Among them, only Bai Li Jeong-woon and Yeon Jong-hwi have properly taught me the Seven Great Techniques and the Eight Immortals Divine Art. Why is that?]

As Jin So-cheong said, I could definitely hold out for five hundred seconds. My skill had reached that level. However, I realized that only Bai Li Jeong-woon could properly use the Seven Great Techniques and the Eight Immortals Divine Art in real combat, while the others, despite their growth, showed no sign of mastering such techniques.

‘ If they had all learned the Seven Great Techniques and the Eight Immortals Divine Art… some of them would undoubtedly have reached the Absolute Realm, and there would be no way for me to withstand their combined forces.’

Why?

To strengthen the Bancheon Alliance, it would make sense to teach the techniques to the leaders, yet why had they only provided minor teachings instead of more?

And why only Bai Li Jeong-woon and Yeon Jong-hwi?

Then Jin So-cheong answered.

[ Bai Woong. One must be cautious when wielding a double-edged sword.]

[ What do you mean?]

[ Even if it’s not a leader, there are spies prowling the core of the Bancheon Alliance. Probably from the Twelve Joules or the White Lotus Sect. If we were to teach all of them the techniques, the very techniques could spread to enemy forces, leading to research into counter-techniques and enhancing our foes’ strength, so we had no choice.]

[ ……!!]

[ Each of the leaders is a head of a major power. Sa Ma-gyeong leads the secret forces of the Sa Ma Clan, and Dokgo Seong is currently in charge of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path. It was beyond our ability to root out every spy around them. There was also the possibility of them turning traitor. The only ones we could trust were Yeon Jong-hwi and Bai Li Jeong-woon, who have always been closely associated with the leader, the Sword Demon.]

[ Hmm.]

[ Moreover, if Dokgo Seong or the master of the Shadowless Sword reached the Absolute Realm with the help of the Seven Great Techniques, it would be unmanageable if they betrayed us. That’s the reason.]

So that was it.

I understood that the Seven Great Techniques and the Eight Immortals Divine Art were powerful enough that if they fell into enemy hands, they would be a significant threat. And while Dokgo Seong and the master of the Shadowless Sword were not evil figures, I had witnessed that they could change sides depending on their situations, which would make it hard to transmit those techniques to them. If I personally managed the obsidian, that would make a difference, but the Sword Demon had limits to what could be done.

[ And the Sword Demon… ]

Jin So-cheong explained the reasons behind the Sword Demon’s current disappearance. It was then that I grasped the entire situation and nodded.

” I understand. I will accept the position of temporary leader of the Bancheon Alliance.”

After accepting the position, I announced.

” The top priority is to rescue the Zhuge Clan, and our second goal is to kill Peng Zuo. Let’s devise a plan to locate the Zhuge Clan now.”

We started gathering to formulate a plan. However, as we discussed, we arrived at two conclusions: the current information we had was insufficient, and we had no method to kill Peng Zuo.

Sa Ma-gyeong spoke.

” According to the infiltrated spy, the Western fleet stationed at the port of Namhae consists of fifty ships, some of which are nearly a mile long. However, the problem is that acquiring any more information is impossible.”

” Why is it impossible?”

” The Demon Soldiers are stationed there, roaming in packs of dozens, and the area around the fleet is constantly shrouded in blood-red mist. Additionally, a Bancheon Alliance member who got too close was eaten by a mysterious slime creature, so no ordinary martial artist could infiltrate the interior.”

” Hmm.”

It’s clear. The Great Demon Sorcerer’s presence was summoning demon beasts in that area.

” The number of Western soldiers at Namhae exceeds thirty thousand, while the number of Demon Soldiers alone counts in the thousands, making it impossible for the forces of the Ming Empire to deal with them.”

Sa Ma-gyeong was right. If there were thirty thousand soldiers, even a million cavalry or infantry would be slaughtered, and the power of the Demon Soldiers was many multiples of that. A thousand men would struggle to even take down one Demon Soldier.

” The current situation of the Western powers occupying the south is a crisis beyond the resolving capacity of the Ming Empire. Killing the leader Peng Zuo is our only course of action, but…”

Sa Ma-gyeong continued.

” One more thing. The Peng Zuo wearing the Eight Trigrams Garment is immune to any attacks. While the Sword Demon, Jin So-cheong, and Cheon Woo-jin have managed to land effective blows against him, they couldn’t inflict any fatal wounds. As it stands, there’s no way to kill him…”

” Hmm…”

I had felt that in the previous twenty-four rounds. If it weren’t for the assistance of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens back then, I would have surely died fighting Peng Zuo under normal circumstances. Even with the help of the awakened Fire Dragon Incarnate, it had been futile. However, I did think that now, with my enhanced skills, it might be possible to handle the fight, yet killing him remained just as challenging.

‘ Ultimately… will I need to rely on the assistance of the Seven Luminaries and techniques?’

I frowned inwardly. Using the power of the Golden Lamp might yield some ideas, but I was reluctant. That was because if I gathered the Seven Luminaries and blessings by any means necessary, the attention of the Divine Beings would inevitably focus on me, leading to yet another crisis.

At that moment, Zhuge Bu, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

” Isn’t something strange?”

” What’s strange?”

” … There’s an underlying reason for all of this. The Zhuge Clan being taken hostage is one.”

Muttering those words, Zhuge Bu turned to me and said.

” Bai Woong. The straightforward solution to this incident is for you to become the apostle of Jeon Wook and kill him with Jeon Wook’s assistance. It’s that simple. If you don’t think about the aftermath, there’s no easier solution than this.”

” Right.”

Jeon Wook wants to locate and “take care” of Chi You. Thus, whether it’s through an Offering Ceremony or a direct meeting at the Five Demon Gate, if I could meet Jeon Wook, it would make it possible for me to easily deal with Peng Zuo. After all, it was very likely that Peng Zuo had allied with Chi You.

” However, the Zhuge Clan wouldn’t have overlooked such a solution. No matter how urgent the situation was, with their intellect, they would have thought of it immediately. They wouldn’t just drag me into this, asking me to join, nor would they go out of their way to become hostages. They could’ve easily escaped using the Soul Exchange Technique and directly met with you.”

” What are you trying to say?”

” The mere act of pulling me in and urging you to come despite hampering your training must have a reason. It’s far more important than simply dying…”

Zhuge Bu said with a cautious gaze.

” The Zhuge Clan plans five steps ahead. Your rescue is merely a process, and you must carefully follow the sequence to reach that goal. Otherwise, you will lose everything.”

I felt like I grasped something.

I nodded and said.

” Alright. You’ll guide that sequence.”

I had no choice but to entrust it to Zhuge Bu. If the Zhuge Clan is feeling something that we don’t know and moving to uncover it, only someone of similar cunning could decipher their intentions. Showing that I intended to trust him, Zhuge Bu spoke.

” The first thing we need to do is to form an allied force.”

” An allied force?”

” Right.”

His eyes glimmered sharply.

” Leave the imperial palace part to me. Then persuade the Twelve Joules and the White Lotus Sect to fight against the Western powers. That way, we can gain at least a minimal chance of success without seeking the power of the Divine.”

” Is that really necessary? You know dragging them in will only complicate things…”

Recalling my experiences, I spoke skeptically, but Zhuge Bu shook his head and closed his eyes.

” No, this is right. I can read the Zhuge Clan’s intentions now.”

He stated with conviction.

” We have to dance to the tune of those who initiated this incident. Only then… will the true answer emerge.”

We began to act as Zhuge Bu dictated. And the moment the meeting concluded, I rode the Golden Lamp to see the Master of the White Lotus Sect.

Whoosh!!

The Master of the White Lotus Sect showed no surprise at our sudden appearance. All three of the Great Dharma Guardians were standing beside him, looking startled by our entrance. I stepped up to the Master of the White Lotus Sect and said.

” Master of the White Lotus Sect. I am Bai Woong, leader of the Bancheon Alliance.”

[ … I knew the leader of the Bancheon Alliance was the Sword Demon; has someone else taken his place?]

” There’s a reason for that.”

[ Alright, since Jin So-cheong is present, I see… If you are the leader of the Bancheon Alliance, you have the right to talk with me… What brings you to our sect?]

I looked him straight in the eye and said.

” We must strike against the demonic forces rampant in the South Sea, so I ask for all of the White Lotus Sect’s strength.”

[ ……]

The sect leader seemed taken aback for a moment.

[ Why should the blood of our sect be spilled in a fight against them? You people from the Central Plains have always claimed the Central Plains as your land, so handle your own business.]

” This is not a suggestion from the Central Plains or the position of the leader of the Bancheon Alliance. I am here as someone who has heard the prophecy of the priestess, worried about the future of this world.”

Suddenly!

At that moment, the Master of the White Lotus Sect stood up. He seemed distinctly irritable, and a dark glint shone from his eyes.

[ You’re no ordinary person. Have you prepared yourself to die here?]

” If the Sect Leader intends to kill me, who could possibly avoid death? However, should you try to kill me, you’ll never find the whereabouts of the Four Great Spirit Deities again.]

[ ……]

The Master of the White Lotus Sect looked at me, wanting to comprehend my intent. Then he spoke.

[ It sounds like you know the whereabouts of the Four Great Spirit Deities.]

” No. The Four Great Spirit Deities flew into the chaos when the Sword Master defeated the Dragon of the Apocalypse, so their whereabouts are unknown.”

[ Really? How do you know of the priestess’s prophecy?]

” It was recorded in the memory of the Sword Master.”

[ Hmm…]

” In other words, if we trace his memories, we might find clues to the Four Great Spirit Deities. I could help you with that.”

Seeing that his demeanor had slightly calmed, I continued.

” Currently, Peng Zuo, who has invaded the South, is a descendant of Jeon Wook. He stole the Celestial Secret Imperial Treasure in ancient times and fled to the West, currently serving as the leader of the Western Demon Sorcerers. His ultimate goal is to infiltrate the Eastern world with Western demonic science and gain the Law of Cause and Effect, eventually cooperating with Chi You to break the Battle Ground of Luoyang.”

[ ……]

” I believe you, Master, carry on the legacy of the priestess’s clan. If we allow Peng Zuo to run amok like this, before the day of the Maitreya’s birth, as foretold in the prophecy, the world will perish. We must stop him, don’t you think?”]

[ Who are you?]

The Master of the White Lotus Sect questioned, his voice filled with suspicion.

[ Even if all that information is true, those are ancient secrets too profound to be grasped by a single human life… Surely you aren’t the embodiment of a Ruler, are you?]

” No. And if I were the embodiment of a Ruler, I would not seek your assistance. That’s because your goals are completely opposite to the will of the Rulers…”

[ I don’t quite follow what you’re saying…]

The Sect Leader pretended to be calm, but it was clear that my words had greatly stirred him. Because shortly after, the Sect Leader spoke.

[ Grant me a day.]

” Very well.”

[ I shall remember your name, Bai Woong, the leader of the Bancheon Alliance. Be sure to send a messenger to inform us of our intentions.]

I had successfully persuaded the Master of the White Lotus Sect.