The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

Aura Qi, also known as Refined Qi, can only be countered with the same type of Aura Qi.

Even if a swordsman reached a realm where they could emit sword energy, when it touched Sword Aura, it dispersed like mist.

That’s why Supreme Peak masters, and Supreme Demon masters, were so valuable.

Unless one possessed a meteorite sword like Yi-gang, any weapon—be it a sword, spear, or axe—would be sliced apart upon contact with Sword Aura.

However, if one became a Supreme Peak master and could emits Aura Qi, they could block it.

Even among Supreme Peak masters, the difference in ability was immense, but they could at least block Aura Qi. That was common knowledge.

Yet, Zhang Sanfeng’s Sword Aura sliced through the Aura of two Supreme Demon masters like a radish. It was a moment when common sense collapsed.

Yi-gang was horrified, and even more so when the falling Zhang Sanfeng stepped on thin air to leap upwards.

It was a more legendary feat of light-footedness than leaving no trace on snow or walking on water.

“It’s nothing special.”

But could Yi-gang have been more shocked than White Hand Demonic Emperor down below?

White Hand Demonic Emperor had his mouth agape, holding his severed wrist.

Go Yo-ja and his group were too busy fighting to notice what had happened behind them.

It all happened in a fleeting moment.

Zhang Sanfeng landed in front of White Hand Demonic Emperor.

“Wh-what are you!”

White Hand Demonic Emperor, who had been maintaining a dignified stance behind, was flustered upon seeing Yi-gang, who looked unexpectedly young.

Zhang Sanfeng, inhabiting Yi-gang’s body, did not bother to reply and slowly started walking.

“C-could it be…!”

White Hand Demonic Emperor’s expression suggested that something had occurred to him.

However, irrespective of right or wrong.

Zhang Sanfeng swung his sword indifferently.

White Hand Demonic Emperor, gritting his teeth, charged in, his right hand glowing intensely white.

It seemed he intended to block at least once before escaping.

“Die!”

But this time, the incomprehensibility was the same.

Zhang Sanfeng’s sword cleaved through White Hand Demonic Emperor’s Hand Aura with his left hand and decapitated him.

Swoosh—

An elder of the Heavenly Demon Cult, who instilled terror throughout the world—

“Attain enlightenment.”

—his head flew through the air, his face still marked by terror and shock.

Hongwu Year 2, Water Rooster Day

The Grand Scholar reported to the Emperor.

In Hubei’s Wudang Mountain, there was a Taoist named Zhang Junbao, known as Sanfeng Zhenren, who was respected by the people.

The Emperor sent an envoy to find Zhang Sanfeng, but he could not be found.

The Taoists of Wudang reported that Zhang Sanfeng had subdued an evil dragon and ascended to immortality.

The officials claimed that the Taoists of Wudang were deceiving the Imperial court, but a Taoist proved it by presenting the dragon’s front claw as evidence.

Impressed, the Emperor bestowed upon Taoist Zhang Junbao the title of Zhenren of Profound Manifestation.

『Imperial Records of the Ming Dynasty』 Volume 14

Go Yo-ja felt a great sense of responsibility.

The sect leader said he was immature, but he too had not lived his years in vain.

Being the most skilled here, he especially needed to protect the successors from the Central Plains.

He was confident up to the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad. He could certainly handle them.

However, the two Supreme Peak masters behind were beyond his expectations. Among them, the old master was a great master, whose victory he could not dare to assure.

Although they didn’t directly intervene, thinking lightly of Go Yo-ja and his group, they kept kicking stones to interfere whenever there was a chance.

Because of this, Peng Gu-in was stabbed in the stomach and fell.

Go Yo-ja was on the verge of madness.

“Be gone!”

Even though he shouted with his full Taoist power, the vigor of the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad did not wane.

Go Yo-ja’s sword flashed without any light.

The sword, filled with Sword Aura, moved according to the movements of the Splitting Light Dragon-Slaying Sword.

When using the extremely energy-consuming Sword Aura, interference was usual. Go Yo-ja had prepared in advance.

But this time, no stones imbued with Qi came flying.

‘This is my chance…!’

Go Yo-ja’s sword moved like a fish in water.

Swoosh—

One of the squad members’ throats was severed, and the balance of their formation broke.

Then, the tide of the battle turned sharply.

Neung Ji-pyeong and Tang Eun-seol moved freely.

Go Yo-ja suppressed his joy and quickly turned around.

He thought that the two Supreme Peak masters would now truly intervene.

However, what Go Yo-ja saw was not them rushing forward.

The strongest-looking elder’s head was soaring high in the sky.

The head was severed from the body.

Then who could have decapitated this great master?

‘…!’

It was clear that Yi-gang was sheathing his sword.

When exactly he had emerged from within the Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley and how he had managed to slay the master was unknown.

A formidable aura, indescribable in words, emanated from the quietly standing Yi-gang.

It was not as flashy as when he had summoned lightning before, but it was more transcendent…

Yi-gang lifted his head and made eye contact with Go Yo-ja.

In that moment, the overwhelming aura around Yi-gang dispersed instantly.

“I will join as well!”

Yi-gang ran forward with his sword.

The Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad had not yet been completely eliminated. Go Yo-ja, suppressing his puzzlement, turned back around.

With the most dangerous ones dealt with and Yi-gang joining in, the momentum shifted in their favor.

The third unit leader of the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad fell last, and they all collapsed.

“Huu, huu. Bring the ointments!”

Even while gasping for breath, Neung Ji-pyeong took care of the fallen Peng Gu-in.

“I’m, cough, fine.”

True to the reputation of the Peng Clan, Peng Gu-in was exceptionally sturdy.

Though a narrow-pointed sword was embedded in his abdomen, his organs were not damaged. A trip to the Kunlun Sect for treatment would suffice.

“Phew…”

Tang Eun-seol also sighed in relief. She had been secretly worried about Peng Gu-in.

Peng Gu-in grimaced but turned his head.

“Yi, Yi-gang…!”

“Young Master Peng.”

“Thank you…! Thank you, everyone, keup!”

Peng Gu-in seemed tearfully moved.

It was thanks to Yi-gang and the others that his life was saved.

As Peng Gu-in wept profusely, Yi-gang turned his head as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

This time, Go Yo-ja grabbed him.

“Taoist Baek! What in the world did you do!”

Go Yo-ja clearly saw Yi-gang slicing off White Hand Demonic Emperor’s head.

Yi-gang also seemed to realize this and kept his mouth shut.

“To cut down two Supreme Demon masters so easily.”

At that remark, the others were astounded. Only then did they notice the two fallen members of the Demon Cult behind them.

Their being at the Supreme Demon realm was even more surprising.

“I saw the priest’s sword flash. Could it be…”

Yi-gang was in a quandary.

How could he explain that he had met Zhang Sanfeng, who had ascended there, and that he had possessed him to kill the fiends?

It was unlikely to be believed anyway.

「No! Please don’t say it!」suddenly pleaded Zhang Sanfeng, who had returned control to Yi-gang.

If that was the case, he shouldn’t have used such flamboyant sword techniques, but how could he explain that?

“Did you draw out Sword Aura!”

“…”

Yi-gang paused to consider before responding.

“You’re mistaken. It wasn’t that…”

He roughly explained the events excluding Zhang Sanfeng’s story.

The White Monkey Demonic Hand was dead inside, and there was the Seven Stars Altar…

“When you touch the altar… it just crumbled, and you absorbed the power?”

“…Yes.”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a lie, but it was still hard to believe.

No matter how much Go Yo-ja believed, Yi-gang was worried he might not.

“Indeed! As expected Taoist Baek. They said only those who follow the Path of Piercing Heaven and Earth are qualified to conduct the Seven Stars Altar… Oh, Supreme Elder Lord!”

Go Yo-ja’s expression was sincerely awe-stricken.

Yi-gang felt relieved inwardly.

Mysteriously, unlike previous possessions, he did not feel the usual strain on his body this time.

It wasn’t that Zhang Sanfeng’s possession didn’t consume energy.

Had it not been for the absorption of the energy from the Seven Stars Altar, Yi-gang would have either died or become crippled. He intuited this from past experiences.

「It’s all thanks to my good control. Hehe.」

The bandit-like Zhang Sanfeng was awkwardly scratching the back of his head, clearly having managed well.

He was certainly no ordinary spirit.

However, not everyone was as convinced as Go Yo-ja.

“What does that mean?”

Tang Eun-seol turned her head with an expressionless face.

“The altar suddenly split and you contained its power? What kind of power?”

“…”

“So you became a master in an instant and killed two Supreme Peak masters?”

Her tone was not accusatory, but she clearly couldn’t comprehend it.

“Are you still a master now? Or is it like a power that gets consumed like oil?”

Even the fallen Peng Gu-in gaped, and Go Yo-ja coughed dryly.

Yi-gang felt a sense of crisis.

“…Well, it’s not exactly like that.”

“Ah, surely not…”

Neung Ji-pyeong seemed to have realized something.

“Just like when you caught the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger and defeated the ambushers…!”

He had personally seen Yi-gang possessed by the Immortal Divine Sword. He also knew that Yi-gang occasionally exhibited mysterious powers.

Worry appeared on Neung Ji-pyeong’s face after this realization.

He remembered what had happened afterward.

The twitching of his arms clearly meant he was preparing to catch the falling Yi-gang.

Yi-gang’s reaction was quick.

“Cough!”

Though he didn’t actually spit blood, he made a sound as if he did.

The advantage of a pale complexion was that it never looked awkward to collapse.

Neung Ji-pyeong, as if waiting for it, caught the falling Yi-gang.

“Young Master!”

“Keuk, euuk.”

It was a bit more exaggerated than usual, but no one noticed.

Peng Gu-in tried to stand and support Yi-gang but collapsed himself, causing Tang Eun-seol to worry too.

“Yi, Yi-gang! Keuk!”

“Are you okay?”

“Taoist Baek!”

Neung Ji-pyeong quickly picked up Yi-gang.

“You’ve lost a lot of energy! Quickly, let’s go to the Kunlun Sect!”

“I will carry the Peng Clan’s young master. Follow me!”

They were eager to return to the Kunlun Sect where the Golden Needle Phantom was.

Yi-gang cautiously opened his eyes slightly.

Then, he saw Zhang Sanfeng looking at him with a dazed expression.

「I thought you had serene eyes…」

‘…’

Yi-gang closed his eyes again.

Yi-gang was carried for quite a while.

Zhang Sanfeng burst into a hearty laugh and then tried to return to the Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.

He also understood that Yi-gang’s choice was inevitable.

However, even Zhang Sanfeng, who was a half-immortal, had not anticipated one problem.

The object that had served as a medium just before possessing Yi-gang.

The compass that White Monkey Demonic Hand had possessed—to which a soul had become bound.

It was the same situation as the Immortal Divine Sword being bound to the Shooting Star Fang and the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon to the Blue Eye Gem.

Because of Zhang Sanfeng’s high stature, he could move over greater distances, but as Yi-gang moved, he inevitably had to follow him to the Kunlun Sect.

「A problem. It has become a problem. Sigh…」

There was nothing in the Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley except for the Seven Stars Altar.

Yet, Zhang Sanfeng seemed as if he wanted to return there as if it was smeared with honey.

Yi-gang glanced at Zhang Sanfeng and then turned his head.

He did not pretend to be ill for long since Peng Gu-in was lying there with a hole in his abdomen.

Even after returning to the Kunlun Sect, he only drank some medicinal broth to restore his vital energy.

The sect leader of the Kunlun Sect heard the whole story from Go Yo-ja.

He sighed upon hearing they had fought the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad and the demonic martial artists, and was shocked to hear that two Supreme Demon masters had been killed.

He was purely happy to hear that they had joined forces with an envoy from the Murim Alliance and recited a Taoist verse.

And Yi-gang was not with them at that moment.

What he had found was none other than Dam Hyun.

Dam Hyun was told the story of Zhang Sanfeng.

“So, he’s sitting next to us now?”

“Yes.”

Zhang Sanfeng was sitting on the porch, meditating.

“And he has inhabited this object. This came from the possession of a demonic martial artist.”

“It’s a compass, but… there’s something peculiar about it.”

Dam Hyun nodded at Yi-gang’s words.

It was clear that it was no ordinary item since a demon cultist had treasured it.

“It’s definitely unusual.”

“You can feel the spiritual energy, right? It doesn’t seem like a Treasure though.”

“Spiritual energy isn’t what’s important here. It’s just at an ordinary level.”

Yi-gang’s eyebrows twitched.

Dam Hyun seemed to have realized something Yi-gang hadn’t noticed.

“This isn’t compass.”

“…Yes?”

It was an unexpected statement. If it wasn’t compass, then what was it?

“If it’s a compass, specifically with south-pointing iron, it should point south. This iron needle isn’t pointing south.”

The needle of the compass continuously pointed in a consistent direction.

Yi-gang naturally assumed it was pointing south.

“It’s not pointing directly south, but southwest. I roughly understand what it means.”

Dam Hyun grinned.

“It’s of low quality but definitely a Treasure. It leads to some object or location.”

His tone was full of conviction.