Chapter 196. I Kind of Like That Answer

“Of course, it will take some time. I can’t just whip up a martial arts formula like that out of nowhere.”

“I agree.”

“I’ll work on it step by step, so please wait a little. It won’t take that long.”

“I will trust your words and wait, Seventh Young Master.”

Saying so, Dang Seong-yeong looked quite at ease.

Indeed, having already shown the manual of the Ten Thousand Flower Rain, what more was there to worry about?

Since he had revealed the greatest treasure of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Dang Seong-yeong had nothing to hesitate about.

He knew that at this point, the wisest thing to do was to trust Jin Cheon completely and wait for him to keep his promise.

“You won’t regret it.”

Jin Cheon grinned and said.

“Ah, and.”

“……?”

“The successor…… will be that guy Cheon-wi.”

“T-That is!”

Dang Seong-yeong was startled.

By successor, Jin Cheon meant the person who would inherit the Ten Thousand Flower Rain.

But to choose Dang Cheon-wi—it was natural for Dang Seong-yeong to be perplexed.

“Do you mean you will teach Cheon-wi the Ten Thousand Flower Rain?”

“Why, is there a reason I can’t?”

“But Cheon-wi’s aptitude is…….”

“Tsk.”

Jin Cheon clicked his tongue.

“To think you have such poor eyes for people.”

“W-What do you mean by that?”

“In terms of aptitude for martial arts, Cheon-wi is the best in the Tang Clan; if not him, who will inherit the Ten Thousand Flower Rain?”

“That is because you do not know well, Seventh Young Master.”

Dang Seong-yeong denied it.

“I know better than anyone that Cheon-wi’s aptitude is not bad. However, that is only limited to close combat techniques like fist and kick arts; his hidden weapons or poison arts are not very satisfactory. Since the Ten Thousand Flower Rain is the pinnacle of hidden weapon arts, for Cheon-wi to learn it…….”

“Then you can confirm it with your own two eyes. Whether Cheon-wi has the aptitude to inherit the Ten Thousand Flower Rain or not.”

“Huh.”

“I guarantee that Cheon-wi is the most suitable candidate to inherit the Ten Thousand Flower Rain. I assure you of that. So let’s end this discussion here. The results will speak for themselves after some time passes.”

“……I will do so.”

Dang Seong-yeong nodded without refuting further.

Since someone already close to the World’s Best Expert said so, arguing back would only make him look like a stubborn person with no skill.

“Let’s meet for a moment.”

“Yes, Brother.”

As soon as he left the meeting with Dang Seong-yeong, Jin Cheon immediately went to find Dang Cheon-wi at his quarters and called him out.

“Bring brush, ink, and paper.”

“Suddenly?”

“Hurry.”

“Here it is.”

As soon as Dang Cheon-wi prepared the brush, ink, and paper, Jin Cheon wrote down a martial arts formula in one stroke.

“What is this? It looks like a martial arts formula.”

“What do you think. It’s a martial arts formula that will allow you to wield the Ten Thousand Flower Rain.”

“Yeess?!”

Dang Cheon-wi’s eyes widened as if they would pop out right away.

Ten Thousand Flower Rain?

Since Dang Cheon-wi had never even imagined learning, let alone wielding, such a divine martial art, he wondered what on earth this was about.

“Why are you surprised. Isn’t it natural for a child of the Tang Clan to learn the Ten Thousand Flower Rain?”

“I really don’t understand what you mean at all.”

“What do you mean what I mean. It means starting today, you will be learning the Ten Thousand Flower Rain.”

“But…….”

“Don’t complain and just do as I say. Then you will be able to wield the Ten Thousand Flower Rain.”

“……!”

“Don’t doubt. I will make it happen, so what are you worried about.”

“B-Brother.”

“Once you perfectly understand this formula, we will start in earnest, so keep that in mind.”

Leaving those words, Jin Cheon handed the formula to Dang Cheon-wi and left his quarters.

“Haha, hahaha…….”

Dang Cheon-wi let out a hollow laugh at the completely unexpected situation, but soon gathered his wits and tucked the formula Jin Cheon wrote deep into his bosom.

Why Jin Cheon was doing this was unknown.

But one thing was certain: he would be learning the Ten Thousand Flower Rain from now on.

Why?

Because Jin Cheon said so.

***

Sichuan, where clouds of war hung heavy, was terrifyingly quiet, and the atmosphere was excessively heavy.

It was so severe that even the common people read the atmosphere and lay low.

People did not wander in the marketplaces, and the government troops also locked their doors tight and huddled up.

Especially around Mount Qingcheng where the Qingcheng Sect was located, the atmosphere was even more strict.

Originally, Mount Qingcheng was a sacred place of Sichuan Taoism, a place crowded with pilgrims even on normal days.

However, after the Qingcheng Sect officially declared they would not receive pilgrims for the time being, and with tens of thousands of Unorthodox martial artists spread around, not even an ant was stirring at the foot of Mount Qingcheng.

After two days passed like that…….

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, my Liege.”

Jin Cheon, who was staying at the Sichuan Tang Clan, received the report that preparations were complete and headed to Mount Qingcheng.

“Let’s go to Mount Qingcheng.”

“Yes!”

Dang Seong-yeong, the Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, led the direct blood relatives and martial artists of the Sichuan Tang Clan to Mount Qingcheng.

The number was roughly over six thousand.

It was a scale hard to imagine being mobilized by a single martial family.

Around similar time.

At Mount Emei, a sacred place of Buddhism, warrior monks of the Emei Sect also left the mountain gate.

Although their number was only about a thousand, considering the Emei Sect was a Buddhist temple before being a Murim sect, it was an impressive number.

Like that, the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Emei Sect left their respective bases, joined midway, and headed to Mount Qingcheng.

From the Heavenly Killing Sect incident to the Demonic Prison incident.

It was the moment when the tension in Sichuan—stretched tight like someone walking on thin ice—finally became reality in the form of war.

“Halt.”

The leader of the Unorthodox martial artists camped at the foot of Mount Qingcheng stepped forward and blocked the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Emei Sect.

He was a middle-aged man with a dignified impression and quite stable aura, known in the Sichuan Murim by the alias Hegemon Blade King.

“I greet Clan Head Tang and Sect Leader.”

The Hegemon Blade King clasped his hands toward Dang Seong-yeong and Abbess Hyeonchok.

“Why do you block our path?”

“It has come to this.”

The Hegemon Blade King answered with a bitter expression.

“It looks like you’re finally admitting to being Qingcheng’s dog.”

“…….”

Perhaps his pride was hurt, the Hegemon Blade King did not answer Dang Seong-yeong’s sharp remark.

Indeed, for someone who claimed to walk the Black Dao to actually be nothing more than a henchman of the Qingcheng Sect, a member of the Nine Sects One Gang, must be truly shameful.

It was the moment it was revealed to the whole world that no matter how high-flying an Unorthodox martial artist he was, he was ultimately nothing more or less than a dog of a massive sect like the Qingcheng Sect.

“The one who called himself Hegemon Blade King and commanded the back alleys of Sichuan turned out to be just a dog that grew relying on the Qingcheng Sect’s backing. Isn’t that right?”

“Clan Head Tang, please moderate yourself.”

The Hegemon Blade King warned Dang Seong-yeong.

“Even if you are Clan Head Tang, I will not sit by and watch you insult me like this.”

“Sit by and watch, huh. Do you think you have the power to do so?”

“It seems only the martial artists of the Tang Clan and Emei Sect are visible to Clan Head Tang’s eyes, and we are not.”

The Hegemon Blade King subtly showed off his forces and pressured Dang Seong-yeong.

Certainly, the Hegemon Blade King’s words had sufficient grounds.

The number of Unorthodox martial artists spread at the foot of Mount Qingcheng easily exceeded thirty thousand.

Considering the number of the Sichuan Tang Clan and Emei Sect was less than ten thousand, the headcount difference was over three times.

Of course, if an all-out war broke out, the Tang Clan and Emei Sect would overwhelm them, but even so, they couldn’t avoid suffering damage altogether.

They would have to be prepared to lose more than thirty percent of their power before even ascending to the main mountain of the Qingcheng Sect, so it was only natural for the Hegemon Blade King to show some confidence.

“How dare you.”

Dang Seong-yeong was furious.

“A mere dog of Qingcheng, in front of whom…….”

Just then.

“I will take care of it.”

Jin Cheon, who had been quiet, stepped forward.

“Will you do so?”

“Of course.”

Jin Cheon nodded.

“That is my role, and the Cult’s promise, so I must.”

Jin Cheon had no intention of acting brazenly.

Why did the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and Jin Cheon, not deploy the Cult’s forces here to Sichuan?

Wasn’t it to preserve the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s power by pacifying Sichuan solely through Jin Cheon’s individual strength?

Such a Jin Cheon wouldn’t put the Sichuan Tang Clan and Emei Sect at the forefront.

“Did you say Hegemon Blade King.”

“Y-You are.”

The Hegemon Blade King recognized Jin Cheon at a glance and flinched.

It would not be an exaggeration to say there was no martial artist who didn’t recognize Jin Cheon’s face in the current Murim.

With his portrait spread widely not only to the Orthodox Faction but also to the Black Dao sects, if a person carrying a sword didn’t know Jin Cheon’s appearance, they couldn’t be called a martial artist.

“If you withdraw from here while I’m asking nicely, not only will I spare your lives, but I will accept all of you as subordinate organizations of the Cult.”

“W-What do you mean? Accept us as subordinate organizations?”

“You will need a new master anyway, won’t you?”

“New master……?”

“The Qingcheng Sect will be exterminated today; do you think the Sichuan Tang Clan and Emei Sect will leave you guys alone?”

“T-That is.”

“Let’s resolve this amicably without tiring each other out. I too do not wish to accumulate karma of killing.”

The Hegemon Blade King seemed to ponder Jin Cheon’s proposal for a while.

However…….

“I cannot do that.”

The Hegemon Blade King shook his head.

“Keuk. Calling yourself a Black Dao martial artist, yet trying to keep loyalty with the Qingcheng Sect?”

“Could that be possible.”

The Hegemon Blade King shook his head as if it was nonsense.

“I understand the Unrivaled New Demon’s proposal well. But if you make such a proposal, shouldn’t you have the power to back it up?”

“Power……?”

“If you had brought at least the top military group of your Cult, it might be different, but no matter how high your martial arts are, what can you do alone? Do you not know that the Great Divine Physician of Immortals, Perfected Person Cheong-ryeong, is holding out in the Qingcheng Sect?”

“I kind of like that answer.”

A gentle smile appeared on Jin Cheon’s lips.

“Right, that’s like a Black Dao martial artist. You are afraid of suffering retaliation from the Qingcheng Sect if you side with us for no reason, so you won’t entrust yourselves unless it’s certain.”

“That is so.”

“Then, if I show you power, you will submit and withdraw on your own.”

“Perhaps that will be so.”

“I tell you in advance, it would be better not to be too late.”

As soon as those words ended, intense Demonic Qi erupted and wrapped around Jin Cheon.

Heavenly Demon Divine Qi Demonic Emperor, Activate!

Jin Cheon did not want to waste time against these minnows, nor did he want to accumulate meaningless karma of killing.

***

Crackle, crackle crackle crackle!

Jin Cheon, having activated the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi Demonic Emperor, emitted black currents as if he had become a Thunder God, revealing his dignity as the Emperor of Demons.

“……!”

The Hegemon Blade King and other Unorthodox martial artists couldn’t open their mouths before the incarnation of the Demonic Emperor.

They were so shocked that it was impossible even to make a sound.

“Those who block my path…… no one shall survive.”

Saying so, Jin Cheon extended a palm.

Heavenly Demon Fighting Soul Martial Art, Heavenly Thunderclap Palm.

Palm energy containing the power of the Thunder God burst out in a fan shape.

Rumbleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Right after the lightning-imbued palm energy swept through.

“Ack!”

“N-No way!”

“Oh my god.”

People were astonished by the power of the Heavenly Thunderclap Palm.

There was no one left where the palm energy of the Heavenly Thunderclap Palm swept through.

Corpses?

Almost none remained.

Only what used to be people…… charred lumps of coal remained.

The power of the Heavenly Thunderclap Palm was like that.

In just one palm strike, at least over a hundred Unorthodox martial artists were turned into roasted meat.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep