[Chapter 75]
Hiss… Hiss… Hiss… Hiss!
From the seated form of Myeong Cheon, a fiery energy arose like a blazing inferno.
'Hmm…'
A look of ecstasy spread across Myeong Cheon's face.
The red energy that burst forth from his dantian spread throughout his body in an instant. The energy that swirled through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians was so intensely yang, it was fitting of an emperor.
The pinnacle of yang is the symbol of an emperor. The energy that had been swirling through every minor meridian and acupoint now gathered towards the heart, filling him with a sense of fullness like never before.
The heart is the source of life. A strong heart naturally leads to a strong vitality.
'Indeed!'
Myeong Cheon was certain. The martial arts of his ancestors were the solution to the curse that had plagued his family.
The Myeongryeon Namhwagong, a martial art only the head of the Myeong family could learn, was in itself a peerless divine technique.
Yet, the problem of lifespan could not be ignored. The longest any head of the family had lived was barely a century. The average lifespan hovered around the edge of fate.
Myeong Cheon was already past fifty. How many years had he lived with the dread of death looming over him, each day wearing on his soul?
'With this, the curse that has shrouded our home ends!'
Flash!
As he opened his eyes, they blazed like the sun.
His body heated up intensely. He felt his vitality surge more than ever before. Overflowing with power, he felt an urge to wield his sword right then and there.
He raised his right hand.
Woong! Fwoosh!
As if infused with red energy, flames suddenly erupted.
Astonishingly, even as flames engulfed his entire hand, it remained unscathed. The abundant energy perfectly protected his flesh.
"The Phoenix Flame… Indeed, with this fiery technique alone, I could aim for the pinnacle of the martial world."
Myeong Cheon burst into laughter.
"Kahahaha! Now, I truly stand as the supreme under the heavens."
The Phoenix Divine Technique was the most powerful and superior among the Four Great Divine Techniques. It was the first in rank, naturally boasting unparalleled might.
First, he would master the Phoenix Divine Technique to enhance his vitality, then gradually learn the rest. The remaining three techniques—Shadow Ghost Technique, Dragon Response Technique, and the Kirin Divine Technique—though a notch below the Phoenix, were still powerful enough to dominate an era.
Myeong Cheon intended to master all Four Great Divine Techniques. To engrave his name in the annals of martial history as the strongest warrior.
Lost in his grand dreams, Myeong Cheon laughed and let his imagination soar.
"Master."
Myeong Cheon spoke calmly.
"Enter."
Creak!
The door opened, and Myeong Woosan entered.
"What brings you here? I've said not to disturb my training unless it's urgent."
"My apologies. The matter was pressing, and I had no choice."
"Pressing matter?"
Myeong Cheon's eyes sparkled.
"Don't tell me it's related to Yeon Hojeong, that scoundrel?"
"No, it's not that."
"Then what?"
Myeong Woosan pulled out an elegantly folded letter from his robe. The envelope, adorned in gold, was exquisite.
Myeong Cheon's eyes gleamed.
"Isn't this the secret missive of the Martial Alliance?"
"Yes."
"There's a building for the Martial Alliance, but no leader has been chosen for this generation. Who sent this without even a temporary leader?"
"It's from the Moyong family head."
Myeong Cheon frowned.
"The Moyong family head? Why ever for?"
"Please, read it."
As Myeong Cheon unfolded the letter, surprise flickered in his eyes.
"They're invoking the right to call a grand assembly?!"
"Yes."
The right to call a grand assembly was a privilege used by the leaders of the Nine Schools and Seven Great Families to propose specific matters.
It's rarely used, for a wrong move could cost a fortune.
'Why on earth?'
Puzzled, Myeong Cheon noticed there were two sheets of paper. The letter he received was two sheets stacked together.
It was a method always used when exchanging letters with the Moyong family head.
Peeling off the back of the second sheet to read it, Myeong Cheon burst into laughter.
"Kahahaha!"
Myeong Woosan tilted his head.
"What content makes you laugh so…?"
"Hahahat! Truly, the Moyong family head. Unknown when apart, but once allied, he pushes with certainty, is that it?"
"Excuse me?"
"It's because of the Yeon family."
"The Yeon family?"
"Starting with Yeon Hojeong, that insolent cur, he plans to obliterate the Yeon family. Since I've painted him as a vile villain, he intends to publicize this and burn down the Yeon family himself."
Myeong Woosan's face brightened.
"An unexpected aid."
"Indeed. To receive such significant help at an unforeseen time."
Joy seemed to never leave Myeong Cheon's face.
"If one shows such camaraderie, wouldn't it be fitting to consider them for kinship?"
"Most certainly."
"I've had my eye on the Moyong family head's daughter, Yeonhwa, since long ago. An exceptional child. She would make a fine match for my son."
"Moyong Yeonhwa's beauty is said to be the best of her generation, much like her father. If you were to take her as your daughter-in-law, it would be good for the heir."
"Indeed."
Myeong Cheon set the letter down.
"After this matter is settled, I shall send a matchmaker. My son would be pleased with Moyong Yeonhwa."
"My congratulations in advance."
"Hahaha!"
The two shared a hearty laugh.
"Ah! What will you do now?"
"Do what?"
"With the Moyong family head invoking the right to call a grand assembly, all the leaders of the martial world must gather. Of course, those who are truly busy may not attend."
Myeong Cheon grinned.
"I've finally turned all my energy to the Phoenix Divine Technique. After achieving this, I'll dabble in the other Great Divine Techniques."
Myeong Woosan smiled.
"I'll send word that I'm unavoidably detained by pressing matters."
"Do that. Since the Moyong family head initiated this meeting, he'll understand."
"Indeed."
"Ah, by the way."
Myeong Cheon tilted his head.
"What became of Yeon Hojeong? I heard he was bait for the Blue Party."
"Half an hour ago, I sent the three brothers—Hak, Hwi, Heon—with the White Dragon Army. By tomorrow dawn, we should have Yeon Hojeong in custody."
"Kahahaha!"
Whatever it was, Myeong Cheon couldn't stop laughing.
Watching Myeong Cheon's hearty laughter, Myeong Woosan smiled along but then tilted his head in confusion.
'Huh? What's that?'
He noticed a particularly prominent vein on Myeong Cheon's chest, right above the heart.
'A vein?'
Just as Myeong Woosan was about to speak,
"Now, go about your business with such good spirits. I have more training to do."
"Ah, yes! Of course."
Ultimately, Myeong Woosan left the training room without voicing his concerns.
On his way back,
A sense of unease gripped him, and he glanced down at his chest.
'Hmm.'
He too was learning one of the Four Great Divine Techniques, the Kirin Divine Technique. Fortunately, he was fine.
Myeong Woosan cleared his throat.
'I've been overly worried lately.'
If he was fine, then so would be the master. He believed that.
He walked leisurely to the office.
After learning the Kirin Divine Technique, his cough had increased slightly, but he didn't consider it significant.
* * *
"Impossible!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As if summoning a typhoon, the axe swung with ferocious speed, sweeping away the power of the Phoenix Flying Sword.
It was an unbelievable force. Despite the clear internal injuries, the strength of the wind from the axe grew stronger with time.
But that wasn't all.
Clang!
Myeong-Hwi's face contorted.
The fiery blade of the sky, a sword technique that could sweep away any foe, had collapsed in a single move. Even after pushing the Phoenix's true energy to its limit, he was overpowered.
It wasn't just a few steps back; his body was flung three meters through the air.
Swish.
The protective armguard holding the sword was torn. It had never been torn in the five years since he had honed his sword technique.
"Argh!"
Crash!
As Myeong-Hwi retreated, Myeong-Heon charged forward.
He too had cultivated the Phoenix Divine Power and honed the hand technique, Phoenix Flame Hand.
His advancing steps were as flamboyant as flames and as swift as rays of light. It was a divine technique known as Phoenix Flight, boasting exceptional speed.
Following the Phoenix Flight, a bizarre staff technique erupted.
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
The dark axe swung heavily, drawing a massive circle.
Clang!
Myeong-Heon felt the same.
No matter how strong the Phoenix Flame Hand was, it couldn't penetrate the Northern Heavenly Twelve Walls executed with the Black Tortoise energy.
Water energy is the natural enemy of fire energy. To break through the martial arts of the Water God with the martial arts of Yang, overwhelming firepower was needed, and they were not at that level yet.
Bang!
After defense comes attack.
The immovable stance instantly transformed into the White Tiger's Descent, pulling forth a powerful forward momentum.
The claws of the Mountain King could shatter steel. The ferocious power of the Tiger King's Four Walls Assault poured onto Myeong-Heon.
Clang! Thud!
"Aaargh!"
Myeong-Heon screamed. The axe had struck his left upper arm.
It wasn't severed, but it might as well have been. The axe blade had cut through the flesh, muscle, and bone on the outside. The arm, barely hanging on, was a source of terrible pain.
"You, you fiend!"
Myeong-Heon looked at Yeon Hojeong with pale eyes.
Yeon Hojeong's expression was unexpectedly ambiguous. He neither smiled nor showed anger. He was simply indifferent.
An undeniable presence.
It was as if the grandmaster of the world's greatest martial arts stood before him. Even amidst excruciating pain, Myeong-Heon found himself involuntarily closing his mouth.
Then, Myeong-Hwi charged again.
"Monster!"
Flash!
Faster than Myeong-Heon.
Approaching with terrifying speed, he swung the Phoenix Flying Sword. The heat and unrestrained destructive power felt like they were at full force.
Boom! Whoosh.
Yeon Hojeong, who had been rushing towards Myeong-Heon with overflowing power, suddenly slowed down.
Slow and smooth. It was a natural change, like flowing water.
From the immovable stance to the White Tiger's Descent, and back to the immovable stance again.
The speed and naturalness of the martial arts changes were like lightning.
The martial arts of the Four Divine Beasts were gradually becoming second nature through real combat. Just a few hours ago, such changes in technique were unthinkable.
This was the martial arts of the Four Divine Beasts on the battlefield. Those who cultivate it grow more rapidly the more they risk their lives.
The heavy axe and the light, flashy sword collided head-on.
Crash!
Myeong-Hwi spat blood and retreated.
Now he was also outmatched in strength. The two, who had the upper hand in pure skill, were like mice in front of a cat when facing Yeon Hojeong, who they thought was weaker.
"That's not how you use it."
Thud!
Yeon Hojeong lowered his stance.
"The Blood Wing Soaring Heaven is a technique of extreme killing. Using it as a mere technique will only lead to ruin."
"You, you fiend!"
"That technique is far too much for you."
"Aaaaah!"
Myeong-Hwi and Myeong-Heon screamed as they lunged forward.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
Whoosh.
In an instant, his body passed between the two.
Myeong-Hwi and Myeong-Heon, who had simultaneously struck with their sword palms, turned their heads in confusion.
Slash!
Their bodies were split diagonally.
Yeon Hojeong's gaze grew cold.
"As expected, with your level of power, the Vermilion Bird energy will not open."
He lifted his head.
Three hundred soldiers of the White Dragon Army looked at Yeon Hojeong with eyes wide in horror.
Yeon Hojeong looked up at the sky.
Late at night, the white moon and countless stars twinkled as if they were about to pour down.
Thud!
Yeon Hojeong, with his axe slung over his shoulder, looked down at the White Dragon Army.
"Bring me the clan leader."