[Chapter 79]
In a gathering of martial arts masters, Moyong Jun extended a formal greeting to the assembly.
"I express my deepest gratitude to the leaders of each faction for convening here despite the urgent summons. Although some were unable to attend due to pressing matters, I will ensure that they receive a letter of thanks."
The attendees were a dazzling array of prominent figures.
From the Nine Martial Schools, the masters of Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, Zhongnan, and Qingcheng had arrived, and from the Seven Great Families, the heads of the Mo, Zhuge, Nangong, and Peng families were present.
They were the leaders of the martial world, gathered near Mount Yong in Hubei Province. Despite the short notice, it was a significant turnout.
'And then.'
Moyong Jun's gaze turned to the masters of Shaolin and Wudang.
'With these two here, it's as if all the Nine Schools are represented.'
Taishan Beidou of Shaolin, Beichong.
Yuan Wuxianshan of Wudang, Nanzun.
These were the venerable giants of the martial world, known as Beichong Shaolin and Nanzun Wudang. Their presence meant that virtually all the leaders of the martial world had assembled.
"Thank you for traveling the long distance. It was quite a surprise. I never expected Mo, the head of our family, to invoke the emergency summit."
"Indeed. Usually, it's the leader of the Dragon Head Gang who calls for such meetings. His absence suggests he must be quite busy."
They exchanged pleasantries with a light-hearted tone.
Moyong Jun smiled.
"I would not have called for this meeting over a trivial matter, but the situation is far from ordinary, necessitating this gathering."
The mood turned solemn.
Moyong Jun had mentioned 'the situation,' a term that carried a sense of crisis.
The Shaolin leader spoke.
"Amitabha. If the matter is so urgent and serious, perhaps we can postpone the formalities."
It was a suggestion to get to the point. Moyong Jun had hoped for this.
"Very well. Since all the faction leaders are busy, I will get straight to the matter at hand."
"Please do."
"However, before that, I must say that those gathered here will need to make a significant decision for the future of our martial world."
"Hmm?"
"I believe that the current issue warrants the dissolution of a force, that is, to label a group as a public enemy of the martial world."
The leaders' eyes widened.
A public enemy of the martial world meant a common foe to all.
If an individual is declared a public enemy, the entire martial world unites to capture them, and if a force is labeled as such, it must disband immediately.
Of course, they wouldn't surrender or disband willingly.
But to be labeled a public enemy meant that their annihilation was justified.
It implied that even in death, they could not protest. Thus, the term 'public enemy' was a source of fear for everyone.
The Wudang leader asked cautiously.
"Which force are you referring to? Or rather, which clan has committed such a grave offense?"
"Those present here must be aware of the recent upheaval in the martial world of Hanan."
The head of the Peng family from the Hubei Province, far from Hanan, looked puzzled.
"The martial world of Hanan? Are you referring to the one with Shaolin and the prestigious families?"
"Yes."
Moyong Jun's eyes sparkled.
"The force at the heart of the matter I wish to discuss today is none other than the Nine Great Families."
* * *
"Remarkable, indeed."
Whooosh.
The white aura of the White Tiger surged on its own, while the black energy of the Black Tortoise stirred up waves.
Tssss.
The powerful Byukrajin energy, rising from the core, swiftly encircled the entire body.
Even with the force of Byukrajin, the two divine energies remained unsettled. The tense and sharply honed auras roughened the atmosphere around Yeon Hojeong.
"Though it's a counterfeit, I didn't expect it to be cultivated to such depth."
Myeong Cheon, the head of the Guju Myeong family.
Despite the distance of thirty paces, the moment Myeong Cheon was spotted, the two divine energies began to rage.
It was the anger of the genuine towards the fake, and despite being a counterfeit, it was a tension against an unexpectedly powerful energy.
"It's the Vermilion Bird energy. And it's incredibly vivid."
Yes, the Vermilion Bird energy.
But it was the Vermilion Bird energy, yet not quite.
The Vermilion Bird energy he knew was akin to the sun itself, embodying its power. It was the sovereign of the skies, wrapped in radiant fire energy, proving its divinity.
The Vermilion Bird energy cultivated by Myeong Cheon was different.
The energy itself was greatly twisted. It was like a fallen half-god of fire, having lost its divinity. Even as fire energy, it seemed too narrow and perilous.
A different caliber of energy compared to the two men who came with Myeong-Hak.
Deeper cultivation revealed a more severe distortion of power.
"But his skills will be second to none."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"A worthy opponent."
And if things go well…
"Are you Yeon Hojeong?"
Myeong Cheon's lips twitched, clearly displeased.
"Bold of you to show up here. Are you mad with desperation to die?"
"You should have come when called."
"What?!"
"You must have heard? Or did they not tell you? Seems like you command unreliable subordinates."
A murderous intent flashed in Myeong Cheon's eyes.
Flash!
A terrifying glare shot across the thirty paces. His gaze alone seemed sharp enough to slice a man dead.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes sparkled.
"As expected."
Feeling the dangerous murderous intent in Myeong Cheon's glare, Yeon Hojeong realized he was an even more dangerous opponent than anticipated.
The problem was the madness in that gaze.
"It's certain. The Vermilion Bird energy has invaded the upper elixir field."
The Four Divine Beasts represent the four directions. As divine creatures, they are on par with gods, making their energies difficult to contain within a human body.
Like medicine turning to poison when misused, the divine beast energies are so sacred they can harm the person. Complete understanding and gradual cultivation are essential.
Yeon Hojeong's current mastery over the Black Tortoise and White Tiger is all thanks to the enlightenment from the era of Heukamje. Having fully mastered the Four Divine Beasts' martial arts, he can safely wield them without gradual cultivation.
But Myeong Cheon was different.
Not just Myeong Cheon, but all fifty experts had only superficially learned the Four Divine Beasts' martial arts.
They had hastily cultivated the twisted energies without full understanding. It left no chance for their bodies or minds to remain intact.
Thump!
Yeon Hojeong's foot shook the earth.
"No need for long speeches, right?"
"…"
"Come. I'll split your head open."
Myeong Cheon was incredulous. He was so angry that he almost laughed.
"Did you really think I spared you out of fear?"
"Talk less if you're coming."
"That guy?!"
His insolence was extraordinary.
Even as rage rapidly filled him, he felt it was a good turn of events. Hadn't his family been troubled by rumors because of this one man?
He was on his way to eradicate the Yeon family anyway. Now, there was nothing to hold him back.
Myeong Cheon shouted,
"Someone bring that brat here! I'll pluck his head off with my own hands!"
No sooner had he spoken than a warrior kicked the saddle of a Hanhyeol horse.
Boom!
He soared high into the sky with a powerful leap. His movements were free like the wind, yet they carried a strange heaviness.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes shone.
"White Tiger!"
Boom!
Mungro, who landed three paces in front of Yeon Hojeong, spoke coldly.
"How dare you utter such nonsense to our leader, I'll break your limbs."
Swoosh!
Mungro charged in.
His speed was incredible. He seemed to become one with the wind.
The technique was admirable, but Yeon Hojeong could clearly see the flaws and weaknesses in his movements.
Boom!
Mungro's eyes widened.
Just as he was about to unleash the Kirin Claw, his opponent had already slipped into his embrace. Yeon Hojeong had naturally found the blind spot in the Kirin's movements.
Crack!
"Ugh!"
Yeon Hojeong's left hand twisted his wrist.
"What a mess."
His hand was filled with the energy of the Black Tortoise.
Bang!
"Aargh!"
Mungro's wrist exploded as if swept away by gunpowder.
He had unleashed the Triple Turtle Wall of the Northern Heavenly Walls. Mungro's hand, filled with aggressive energy, couldn't withstand the explosive recoil and was crushed.
Yeon Hojeong raised his axe.
"In your next life, learn to walk before you run."
"No…!"
Thud!
The axe that split Mungro's head plunged into his chest.
Yeon Hojeong kicked him squarely in the chest.
Boom!
The flying corpse rolled on the ground and stopped in front of a Hanhyeol horse. The still body twitched repeatedly.
Silence fell for a moment.
Even Myeong Cheon was shocked as he looked at Yeon Hojeong.
'What is this guy?!'
The assassins he brought were all formidable experts. Having mastered the Four Divine Beasts' techniques, they were well above the level of late-stage masters.
He had selected only the most outstanding among the assassins, yet how many moves did it take for him to die?
Yeon Hojeong wiped the blood off his axe blade with his sleeve and said.
"Did you think it would all be over if you brought these men to attack the main house?"
"What, what?!"
"Good reaction. As I suspected."
Sssssk!
The axe blade was imbued with the mighty Byukrajin energy, evaporating the blood that clung to it.
A fearsome killing intent gleamed in Yeon Hojeong's eyes.
"Even through the layers of the past, our fateful enmity endures."
Before his regression, the Myeong family had annihilated the Yeon clan.
After his return, he pushed the Myeong family to the brink alone, preventing the annihilation. Yet, they couldn't resist and once again dispatched forces to target his home.
It was a dreadfully entangled fate. There was no righteousness to begin with, but now, all semblance of respect had vanished.
Boom!
Yeon Hojeong's body surged with an explosive killing intent, more vigorous than ever as he took a powerful step forward.
"Today, you'll pay the price for your reckless defiance right here."
Myeong Cheon bellowed.
"Kill him!"
Papapak!
Ten assassins lunged at Yeon Hojeong.
Their movements were swift as lightning. Even the mightiest of masters would gasp for breath under such an assault.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes unleashed the divine energies of the Black Tortoise and the White Tiger.
'Here!'
Parararack!
Yeon Hojeong's body deftly dodged the assassins' attacks.
He evaded the swords and blades of ten peak masters with a single movement, leaving all onlookers in awe.
But he wasn't merely avoiding their attacks.
The substitution of the Black Tortoise, the Yungwisin technique.
The substitution of the White Tiger, the Kirinsin technique.
He had read the attack lines of those who had mastered the two martial arts and stepped forward with the White Tiger's Dominance Step towards their weakest point.
Bang! Bang!
With one step forward, two steps were lethal.
Yeon Hojeong's axe became the teeth of a mountain beast, the claws of a wild beast king.
Purrburburk!
Three assassins caught in the Tiger King's Wall were torn asunder.
"Gasp!"
"Keep attacking!"
Papapak!
The remaining seven assassins attacked again, but Yeon Hojeong was no longer there.
Bang! Bang! Kwang!
His advance was relentless, an explosive charge.
Leaving seven masters behind, Yeon Hojeong surged forward like a storm, drawing in the forty-odd masters before him.
He swung his axe with all his might.
Kwarrrung!
The Four Divine Generals pierced through the enemy lines head-on.