Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

With the grating sound of the stone door, the entrance opened wide. Jung Yeonshin naturally lowered his hand, pulling it away from the groove.

He had already extracted traces of True Energy mappings at the threshold of Spring Territory, reversing the flow. Now, he had created the key of True Energy.

"What's three-tenths supposed to mean?"

Heon Wonchang abruptly asked, directing his question toward the man discussing the True Energy mappings of the treasured artifact.

A bold sneer lingered on the lips of Desolate Fortress' Sacred Warrior.

He had never doubted Jung Yeonshin's aptitude in the realm of internal energy manipulation, not even without witnessing the opening of Spring village's stone door.

"What, what…?"

The man, who had been speaking with poise, stammered.

He hastily scanned Jung Yeonshin's body, seemingly in search of the treasured artifact, but anyone could see the boy's hands were bare.

He held nothing.

"What kind of technique did you use?"

He shouted in alarm, unable to fathom Jung Yeonshin's methods.

"Should we kill them all and move on?"

Tang Ryeo-ryeo stepped forward and asked.

As she adjusted her sleeve, she looked up at Jung Yeonshin calmly. The boy noticed the concealed weapon hidden within her sleeve.

A noble lady of the Tang Clan. She might appear demure in front of Jung Yeonshin, but she had no hesitation in deploying hidden weapons.

"Wait! I am the illegitimate son of the Provincial Inspector General and the founder of the New Pillar Sect, Seo Gwon-il! If you treat me with proper respect, I will not forget your grace!"

The man, elegantly groomed with a beard, spoke through trembling lips, though he could not move.

That was because Flame Dragon's rough hands had sealed his acupoints.

"A sect founder?"

"Calling himself a founder? He must truly be the son of a provincial official."

Several martial artists from the Returning Wings Squad smirked.

They were all from the Lightning Genius' lineage, temporarily serving under their chief.

Founding a sect implied establishing an entire martial lineage. Such words could not be taken lightly by the Returning Wings Squad's martial artists.

The title of founder referred to a great patriarch who created a new sect.

"Respect? Are you begging for your life?"

Jung Yeonshin asked, tilting his head slightly.

Seo Gwon-il's beard twitched. He bit his lip.

"They say the words of the warriors of Desolate Fortress lack the spirit of the martial world. And indeed, it seems so. I am not begging for my life. I am giving you an opportunity to show mercy. Are you not, by nature, the sword of the authorities?"

Perhaps it was because he was the son of a high-ranking official; even at this moment, he tried to maintain his dignity.

There were all kinds of people in the Central Plains. The vastness of the continent fostered different customs and ideas.

Each province in the Central Plains was practically its own small kingdom.

It was never easy for someone from Huguang Province to fully understand the customs and values of Sichuan Province.

Seo Gwon-il was no different. Jung Yeonshin saw no reason to sympathize with such a mindset.

The boy turned his body completely without issuing a separate command.

He simply stepped forward toward the wide-open door.

A sharp surge of sword energy erupted behind him.

"Ugh…!"

It was a death rattle. Seo Gwon-il's body collapsed.

He had enslaved innocent craftsmen. In this chaotic world, it was reason enough to die.

"Honestly, these craftsmen can hardly be considered commoners, can they? They've been hiding here, avoiding state taxes. Are they really citizens of the Great Ming? They don't seem like people Desolate Fortress should protect."

Flame Dragon's voice carried a hint of laughter, his naturally languid tone piercing the weaknesses of the people of the City of Master Craftsmen.

The village chief of Spring village, Jonmyung, trembled faintly, while Heon Wonchang's voice echoed.

"Even if they are not registered under Ming's tax system, they still breathe the air of the Central Plains. If they are in distress without guilt, it is right to help them. Of course, now that the City of Master Craftsmen has been exposed to the world, I trust that these people will contribute to the livelihood of the Central Plains going forward."

"..."

Jonmyung and the Iron Tribe remained silent.

This was the banner of Desolate Fortress. It did not blindly protect everyone.

Heon Wonchang, who claimed the title of Desolate Fortress' Sacred Warrior, was not naïve. His sense of justice was not something easily exploited.

The chivalry of the world was as diverse as the world itself.

Jung Yeonshin walked on silently, pushing aside the image of Namgoong Se-jin, Azure Qilin from his mind.

"How to live—shouldn't that be something to think about only after surviving first?"

He muttered inwardly.

Step.

The masters of the Returning Wings Squad followed behind the young leader.

The captives drew their final breaths. It was the handiwork of the martial artists of the Tang Clan.

They seemed to have received specific instructions from the Tang siblings.

Perhaps they were ordered to support Lightning Genius's advance.

Jung Yeonshin, who had inherited the techniques of Full Sky Flower Rain, paid no heed and walked forward.

Behind him, the gazes of the captured martial artists from Pure Demon Alliance clung to him. It was an odd feeling.

* * *

The group easily penetrated the various regions of the City of Master Craftsmen.

Led by Jung Yeonshin, there was no one to stop them as they traversed the island.

The martial artists of the Returning Wings Squad advanced relentlessly.

It didn't even take half a day.

They conquered Hayek and beheaded the martial artists stationed in Autumn village, who were part of the Demonic Faction.

Most of the elite forces of the Thirteen Heavens seemed to be concentrated in the Eastern Territory, while the remaining forces in the other three regions were primarily mid-sized sect martial artists.

Occasionally, a high-level martial artist from Pure Demon Alliance or Ten Perfection Sect appeared, but they could not withstand Namgoong Hwashin and Flame Dragon.

Finally, they arrived at the entrance to the Eastern Territory—the last region of the City of Master Craftsmen.

Jung Yeonshin stood before the stone gate.

He placed his hand in the groove meant for the treasured artifact. By now, his ability to trace the flow of energy had become significantly faster.

The Tang siblings, a boy and a girl, watched Jung Yeonshin intently from one side.

Tang Yeohwa and Tang Ryeo-ryeo never took their eyes off him, their expressions continuously filled with astonishment.

"Please, please stay safe…"

Heon Wonchang murmured. Standing beside him, Hu-gae spoke.

"It's a fleeting hope. I hesitate to say this, but…"

"What did you say?"

"If you've parted from Radiant Demon Squad's group, you should know this well. The martial artists from Pure Demon Alliance and Ten Perfection Sect are no less skilled than Radiant Demon Squad. Each one, in fact. Just by simple arithmetic, their forces outnumber ours two to one."

"..."

"If we fight head-on, being wiped out is only natural. Radiant Demon Squad was overrun so easily for that reason. They are all seasoned experts, so they seem to be holding out, but…"

Hu-gae calmly continued, meeting Heon Wonchang's gaze.

"The armed force under the Divine Sword Squad was originally formed to counter the elites of the Thirteen Heavens and the Nine Sects. Conversely, it means that the elite of a single major faction can match the might of one Divine Sword Squad unit. That's how it appears from the outside. I point this out because I do not wish to see you all annihilated in vain."

"..."

There was no reason to argue over facts. Heon Wonchang closed his mouth. Continuing the debate would bring no practical benefit.

"The boy from Pure Demon Alliance is correct. They are exceedingly formidable. The Thirteen Heavens have always been so."

The voice came from above.

Jung Yeonshin quickly looked up. Until the man spoke, he hadn't sensed his presence.

"Such brilliance in martial arts. You there, you, and you. It's been a long time since I've seen such talent."

The man was standing upside down on the high ceiling of the cave, his feet clinging to the surface using an extraordinary technique.

He gestured with his eyes, likely referring to Flame Dragon, Namgoong Hwashin, and Jung Yeonshin.

'Could it be…?'

The moment Jung Yeonshin recognized him, an overwhelming aura swept over. His massive presence made his small stature irrelevant.

Jung Yeonshin instinctively guessed the man's identity.

With such an impressive figure and the appearance of an Iron Tribe warrior, there was only one person rumored in Sichuan who fit the description.

"I am Tang Yun-hwang."

The middle-aged man in a green long robe introduced himself.

The Venomous Leader, Tang Yun-hwang. A widely renowned name. His fame extended from Sichuan to distant Yangyang.

"The Head of the Tang Clan…!"

Heon Wonchang murmured.

Tang Yun-hwang, who had been standing upside down on the cave ceiling, dropped gracefully.

He corrected his posture mid-air using an advanced technique.

It appeared to be the Tang Clan's secret art—Heavenly Nine Step Body Technique.

Swish.

He landed without making a sound and approached Jung Yeonshin with soft steps.

The Tang siblings watched in shock, but Tang Yun-hwang paid no attention to them.

"Radiant Demon Squad mentioned that it was worth waiting for reinforcements. I didn't expect such promising talents to arrive, but it has turned out to be true."

"I greet the Head of the Tang Clan."

Jung Yeonshin raised his hands in salute, careful not to give the impression of looking down on him.

The boy had been growing rapidly, particularly since undertaking the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering mission.

His physique was already approaching adulthood, standing nearly at Tang Yun-hwang's shoulder.

The Tang Clan Head's lips curled slightly.

Then,

Cough.

Tang Yun-hwang suddenly coughed, spitting out blood. It was an abrupt hemorrhage. Dark red blood stained his beard.

"…Think nothing of it. It only proves how sharp my father's strikes were."

He wiped away the remaining blood and spoke.

The Head of the Tang Clan.

It was said he lost his wife to the Ten Perfection Sect and Pure Demon Alliance.

He had attempted to devote the Tang Clan's might to revenge, but his father, the Grand Elder, opposed it. As a result, Tang Yun-hwang severed ties and left home.

'It wasn't just a quarrel.'

Jung Yeonshin speculated.

Whether it was a direct confrontation or a trap laid by the Tang Clan's Grand Elder, it was unclear.

Ordinarily, the Heads of the Eight Great Clans regarded even high-level warriors of Desolate Fortress as beneath them.

But this time was different. Tang Yun-hwang didn't feel stronger than Ma Jin.

His internal injuries remained untreated.

For a moment, Jung Yeonshin was reminded of his grandfather, Ma Yeonjeok.

Both were men burdened with weakened strength as they pursued their goals.

"There's no time for long conversations. I'll assist you. I'll lend my strength to exterminate the enemies within the Winter villafe. Honestly, I had no intention of stepping into a losing battle, but now it seems worth taking a stab at it."

Tang Yun-hwang said.

As Tang Ryeo-ryeo and Tang Yeohwa hesitantly approached, he turned away with a single remark.

"This isn't the time. Finishing the matter of the City of Master Craftsmen comes first."

"..."

That was the end of it. The mission to rescue the Radiant Demon Squad gained momentum.

Tang Yun-hwang provided detailed information about the Ten Perfection Sect and Pure Demon Alliance.

They now knew the exact identities, martial arts, and numbers of the enemies within the Winter villafe.

"No need for a treasure? You must have an innate energy flow of exceptional capacity. I'd like to see how you use your talent in real combat."

It was a remark aimed at Jung Yeonshin, who once again placed his hand on the groove of the stone door.

The boy closed his eyes.

'The moment the door opens, it's a showdown.'

He reviewed the energy mapping in his mind, retracing the paths of his nearly perfected internal energy circulation.

Since receiving the Moonlight Harmony Technique from the Lord of Desolate Fortress, he had focused on this for a long time.

'I need to transform the nature of my True Energy all at once. Can I pull it off in battle?'

He reflected on the key elements—Diamond Sutra techniques, Moonlight Harmony Technique, Demon-Slaying Azure Steel Palm, Demon Roaring Blood Art, and Jung Clan's Dynamic Arts.

Meanwhile, the conversation between the sociable Heon Wonchang and Tang Yun-hwang drifted to his ears.

"Is the Head of the Tang Clan also after the treasure in the Winter villafe? I heard the True Energy Crystal of Bodhidharma is said to create spiritual essence."

"I have no need for it. I can create it myself. When you forge weapons with dedication, they gain spiritual essence. That's what people call divine swords and mystical weapons."

"Create it? What exactly is spiritual essence?"

"It's an almost imperceptible intent that's different from internal energy. A mysterious property. Only artisans who have reached a certain level can handle it."

"Are you boasting?"

"Imagine a chipped blade restoring itself. Creating such mystical weapons is no small feat. It's like creating life with human hands, akin to the mythical giant Pangu from creation legends."

Tang Yun-hwang seemed more cheerful than expected.

Unlike how he treated his children, he got along well with Heon Wonchang.

'If infusing essence into steel makes a divine sword, then what happens if it's infused into martial arts…?'

Jung Yeonshin suddenly thought.

The advice of the Lord of Desolate Fortress flashed through his mind, resonating with Tang Yun-hwang's words.

[Imbue intent into the crafted flow. With divine techniques, even your blade will ascend to higher realms.]

Meanwhile,

Rumble—!

The boy's fingertips triggered the door to open.

The martial artists following Lightning Genius drew their swords.

It was a synchronized unsheathing.

A faint, hazy light seeped in.

The final domain of the City of Master Craftsmen was revealed.