Chapter 95

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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New Martial Marquis.

Because in the past Three Kingdoms period, the legendary chancellor of Shu Han, Zhuge Kongming, was otherwise called Martial Marquis Zhuge, the New Martial Marquis meant the second coming of a new Kongming.

For those who carried the name and blood of the Zhuge Clan, there was no title more glorious than that.

However, arriving at the generation of the New Martial Marquis, Zhuge Seok-yun, they received a decree from the government retrieving the death-exemption decree.

The reason was clear.

The charge of secret communication with the evil cult.

For the government, it was an action that lent strength to one side without violating the agreement of non-aggression between the government and the martial world.

Rattle! Rustle!

Although the Sagacious Eye Scholar, the younger brother of the clan head, glanced at the books and door frames fluttering along with the fluctuating waves of qi inside the office, he maintained his composure.

Since they had already anticipated even this situation from the moment they first joined hands with the Dawn Sky Blood Cult due to the incurable disease of the ‘Eldest Young Master.’

“Clan Head. We have restarted the operation of the Wind-Worshipping Platform in Chibi, and we have also dispatched Crouching Dragon Scholars to the Shrine of the Martial Marquis in Yungzhong.”

The preparation was in a sufficient state.

Although there were many restrictions on the Zhuge Clan’s technique-based martial arts, once the preparations were fully completed, they exerted a power that surpassed orthodox martial studies.

Restarting the altars prepared at the Wind-Worshipping Platform in Chibi and the Shrine of the Martial Marquis in Yungzhong.

It meant that more than half of the preparations for deploying technique-based martial arts were finished.

“Through the Yungzhong Merchant Association and other merchant groups, we have also accumulated technique items including cinnabar and yellow paper. Please do not worry too much.”

No matter how much it was the Wudang Sect, referred to as the Southern Wudang, it would be difficult to bear the technique warriors of the Zhuge Clan who had completed all preparations. In addition to that, by forming an agreement with the Blood Cult, one of the Six Evils, the power of the blood ghouls who controlled the unextinguishable flames was also together with the Zhuge Clan.

Therefore, the Sagacious Eye Scholar was not afraid even if it were the Shaolin Temple, let alone the Wudang Sect. That was indeed the pride in the family harbored by him as the second-in-command of the Zhuge Clan.

Above all, the reason they could be confident.

“Is it not already an established fact that the Sword Immortal’s injuries are serious and he can barely move? If it is the Wudang Sect without the Sword Immortal, there is no reason to be afraid.”

No matter how much they tried to maintain security, they could not block the smoke rising from the stove, so.

The rumor that the Sword Immortal had been struck by the Castle Lord of the Northern Emperor, the number one beyond the Great Wall, was secretly spreading among the leaders of the martial world.

Although the name representing the current Wudang Sect was the nine swords, the Nine Swords of Wudang, those who were well-versed in the intimate affairs of the martial world knew.

Where the true power of the Wudang Sect lay.

Their true potential.

The eight direct disciples of the Wudang Sect’s founder, Immortal Sanfeng.

They were the Eight Disciples of Sanfeng, and among them, the Sword Immortal was the number one sword under heaven. When counting the ten great masters under heaven, it was the Sword Immortal who was always counted at the very top.

By that much, the proportion occupied by the Sword Immortal in the entire Wudang Sect was nothing but massive.

But what if the Sword Immortal was in a situation where he could not step onto the front line?

“Indeed. If the Sword Immortal’s injuries are as serious as the rumors say, my brother’s words are correct.”

The moment the New Martial Marquis Zhuge Seok-yun’s gaze reached the sky outside the office window, a green light flashed, and a pale green pillar of light descended onto the clan head’s Hundred Convergences acupoint, piercing through the roof blocked by tiles.

The essence of the Zhuge Clan’s upper dantian training.

It was the aftermath of the Kongming Eyes.

After the light ceased.

The mouth of the clan head, the New Martial Marquis, opened.

“Request the Blood Cult. Ask them to support us with at least one more blood lord.”

The Sagacious Eye Scholar could not dare to predict the Heavenly Law read by the eyes of the giant who pierced through thousands of miles and altered the strands of that massive flow to build the prosperity of the family. Since it was a matter of just firmly believing.

The Sagacious Eye Scholar did not raise any questions of this or that to the clan head’s words but simply obeyed.

“Understood. I will immediately communicate with the main cult.”

Just as the Sagacious Eye Scholar was about to leave the office, the closed mouth of the clan head opened again.

“In addition, tell the southern branches to be on constant alert.”

Once again, an incomprehensible command was delivered.

Although the previous matter could be said to prepare for a possible event, this time, he could not help but raise a question.

“Do you… believe they will disperse their forces?”

Because this command of the clan head was contrary to the art of war.

‘The Wudang Sect has mobilized the Beggars’ Sect and even had the death-exemption decree retrieved. This would mean they are preparing for a decisive battle with concentrated forces!’

Therefore, now was the time to summon the forces of the branches to the main house, not to disperse their forces.

In the end, a question popped out of the Sagacious Eye Scholar’s mouth for the first time.

“Could I perhaps know the reason?”

At the Sagacious Eye Scholar’s question, the clan head was silent for a moment and cast his gaze outside the window. His eyes flowing with green light were looking at that place, not here.

At the end of the short silence, the clan head’s mouth opened again.

“A variable shaking the Heavenly Law is read. Not from the west where the main sect is, but from the south. There is no harm in being careful.”

“…Understood.”

Since it was the command of one who saw what an ordinary person’s eyes could not see. The Sagacious Eye Scholar left the office with an unresolved question in his mind.

**

The government and the martial world do not invade each other’s territory.

By doing so, the government saves its administrative power, and the martial world gains freedom.

It was the reason why the unwritten rule of non-aggression between the government and the martial world was maintained for a long time.

However, there was a precondition here.

Those who exercise power in the martial world.

To be more precise, it meant that when they have a justification, the legitimate use of force is not prohibited.

That was why the various sects of the martial world were divided into the orthodox path and the unorthodox path.

Sects recognized by the government were the orthodox path.

Sects not recognized by the government were the unorthodox path.

The Nine Sects and One Association were granted such legitimacy through the Iron Certificates received from the first emperor, and the Seven Great Families through the death-exemption decrees bestowed by the imperial family.

That they had retrieved the death-exemption decree, that decree.

What that meant was clear.

—The Zhuge Clan is no longer an orthodox martial family!

It meant they had become a sect no different from any unorthodox sect in Hubei.

Since that statement meant that a prestigious righteous sect recognized by the government, like the Wudang Sect, could punish a demonic sect that had strayed from the righteous path as much as they wanted.

[Let us go.]

At Senior Brother Myeong-jin’s signal, I nodded my head and deployed my lightfoot.

The target was the Zhuge Clan’s Dangyang branch.

It was one of the major branches located in the south of the Zhuge Clan’s main house.

—If we destroy the Dangyang branch, we will be able to shave off a significant portion of the forces gathering at the Zhuge house.

That was the reason why Great-Martial Uncle Mang-won had chosen the Dangyang branch as the next target.

Standing at the vanguard just as in the Yidu branch, I poured my palm force onto the main gate and the signboard.

Boom—!

However, this time was different.

‘There is no response.’

Not even the shadow of a guarding warrior was visible.

As if there were no one inside the branch manor, even the sign of human presence was erased.

However.

‘It is not that there are no people. Their presence was hidden.’

The flow of true qi cast over the entire manor was not natural.

“They are hiding behind a technique-based formation.”

At the foot of Great-Martial Uncle Mang-won, who appeared silently as if blending into the shadows, the Nine Palaces Shadowless Step wave of qi was pulling the shadows.

At my Great-Martial Uncle’s words, I concentrated my yang energy onto the fine meridians of my upper dantian. Following my heating upper dantian, the six awakened senses swept the air of the manor.

In addition, I let out a short click of my tongue.

Tsk.

The spreading sound waves bounced off the walls and floors of the manor, measuring the space.

A three-dimensional blueprint was drawn in my head like that.

‘The inner courtyard.’

Structures showing a difference from ordinary buildings—that is, figures in the shape of humans—were drawn.

“Fifteen in the inner courtyard. Or more.”

Because it was difficult to grasp the presence of moving masters through the ‘acoustic imaging’ study using sound waves, the number was not exact.

One thing that was certain was that they were acting after knowing beforehand that we would come.

“The trap formations will be activated. Prepare yourselves.”

We nodded quietly.

Great-Martial Uncle Mang-won took the lead.

Since the lord of the Hencheong Pavilion, who was in charge of the Wudang Sect’s library, was well-versed in trap formations.

“The brick at the bottom right is unusual.”

“Break the tiles of that wall.”

“It is a space entangled with Heavenly Silk, so let us cut it and go.”

Defeating even the Yuanrong Crossbow trap mechanisms that restricted the body-lightening methods of high-level masters, we advanced relentlessly.

In addition, I.

“Great-Martial Uncle, the corridor ceiling.”

“It seems a trap mechanism is planted beneath the pillar foundation stone.”

Although I was a novice in trap formations, I could instinctively sense the source of danger through the sensitivity of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

‘It is getting deeper and deeper.’

It was the upper dantian study that had deepened as my blade was honed by slaying the Vajra Bloodline blood ghouls in the Guizhou area.

From the ability to predict and read danger to the ability to gain insight into the opponent’s martial arts.

Since the battle with the Young Spirit Slayer last time, the ability of wisdom was being manifested more frequently and easily.

Therefore, it did not take even a single hour for us to defeat all the branch’s trap mechanisms and break through.

‘It is fluctuating.’

As we approached while defeating the formations, waves arose in the quiet flow of true qi. It meant that the quiet breathing was disrupted, and the efficacy of the formations that hid even the amplitude of such breathing was disappearing.

Since it was naturally more difficult to hide the waves of qi as the epicenter was closer.

‘It is close.’

Just as I felt, my senior brothers and Great-Martial Uncle also detected the fluctuation of the waves of qi.

[It is nearby.]

I plotted our position on the three-dimensional blueprint of the branch manor I had drawn in my head. Only then did everything become clear.

‘It is a wall entangled with a formation that plays with the senses.’

The wall constructed with techniques would have induced a martial artist with ordinary senses to walk around the inner courtyard endlessly. It was undoubtedly one axis of the formation system formed over the entire manor.

I swept my fingertips down the wall and said.

“Wait a moment.”

After requesting caution, I raised a force wave of cultivation in my palms.

Along the strongly formed attractive force and repulsive force, the true qi flickered like waves and overlapped.

Tap.

Above the palm touching the wall, the ceaseless cultivation of the internal sect palm art, the Cotton Palm, shook the inside of the wall.

Rumble!

The wall built with techniques collapsed, and the inner courtyard was revealed.

**

Although I had only collapsed a single wall, the waves of cultivation could be felt surging past the collapsed wall.

It was a wall entangled with a technique formation that shook the senses.

And those visible beyond it were.

“How dare you to the Zhuge Clan!”

One who spat out a cliché phrase while grinding his teeth.

Judging by the presence felt, he was undoubtedly a Zhuge Clan relative serving as the Dangyang branch leader.

Staring straight at his face, I answered him.

“Those who have joined hands with an evil sect are uttering the words ‘how dare they’? Your facial skin is indeed thick.”

Before my words, the face of the branch leader who had stepped forward turned red.

He must have thought he was insulted by a child.

The branch leader, who seemed as if he would step forward at any moment, inhaled and shouted.

“They are the Wudang Sect’s True Martial Pavilion disciples! It is a valuable thing just to shave off the Wudang Sect’s power! Everyone, risk your lives!”

As if those words were a signal, waves of qi surged past the wall.

‘A move to shroud our vision and even our senses.’

They shrouded our senses with the burning heat that swept over us, and our vision with the red blood qi.

By doing so, what was certain.

It meant there were a significant number of blood ghouls who possessed skills at or above the level of a branch leader.

It was easy to tell how many blood ghouls there were in each bloodline. In addition, I could guess why they wanted to come out to the Central Plains so much.

‘To find prey.’

Even so, the enemy did not rush in first.

[They are trying to take the advantage of defending a fortress. Do not act rashly, and watch for gaps.]

They were the senior brothers and senior sisters who had fully recovered from the internal injuries they sustained while having their pure blood extorted, and who had even fully mastered the countermeasures for the blood ghouls—whom they named the Ignition Bloodline because they spewed fire.

Even though their desire to unleash the resentment of being captured and held prisoner was like a wildfire, they were watching for gaps in accordance with my Great-Martial Uncle’s words.

.

[It seems to far exceed thirty?]

Just as Senior Brother Myeong-jin said, the number of enemies visible beyond the collapsed wall was close to thirty. A number that far exceeded the fifteen initially detected through the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

‘Did I miscount?’

Due to the doubt, I tried to deploy my sensitivity, but the blood qi and heat emitted by the enemy rather interfered with the detection.

At that moment, my Great-Martial Uncle raised his hand.

“Wait.”

During the short confrontation, a clear light arose in Great-Martial Uncle Mang-won’s eyes, piercing through the red blood qi.

It was the eye technique study of the Wudang Sect’s Dala Clear Mirror Eyes based on the Taoist Three Clarities Power.

In addition, I also concentrated the cultivation of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition onto my eyes. Over my cleared vision like that, it was visible.

‘There are two people whose faces have turned red.’

There was one more person who had the same face as the branch leader, twitching his body in excitement.

At that moment, a single word flashed in my mind.

‘Mirage!’

Seeing an oasis in the empty air was something that caravans crossing the desert would experience at least once, so.

‘It is because the difference in temperature between the area close to the ground and the area far from it causes a difference in the density of the atmosphere.’

Light travels in a straight line.

It was a fact that everyone under heaven knew.

Even so, the reason they see a mirage.

It is because they believe that light travels in a straight line.

In reality, since light does not travel in a straight line.

‘Because light bends while passing through an atmosphere of different densities.’

Only then did it become clearer.

The blood qi obscuring the vision.

The heat to the extent of making the skin sizzle.

It was all nothing but a means to generate illusions.

However, attacking the inner courtyard in a state of seeing illusions was a foolish thing. Because detecting the presence in a fight between masters was a matter of life and death.

‘If so.’

I remove the heat generating the illusions.

The moment the thought was established.

I closed my eyes.

Instead, I began to concentrate all my senses on the touch above my skin. —