Chapter 470: Chapter 470

The manifestation of the Lord of Ipwang Fortress.

Shin Byeok's words merely confirmed what had already been noticed by Prince Gungmyeong and Im Jin-myeong.

The bell within the inner fortress was a kind of sacred relic. Only a few could perceive its resonance. Only those who had refined their upper dantian to a great degree could hear it.

"When do you think he will arrive?"

Prince Gungmyeong asked the other two. The letter he had crumpled earlier had, at some point, straightened out as crisp as new, thanks to his perfectly controlled internal energy. It happened right after the bell rang.

Im Jin-myeong pretended not to notice.

"He had gone too deep. A place where no human could return alive. If the bell is only ringing now, it will take some time."

"Even so, the Black Call to Arms must be revoked. I will not allow it."

There was no other answer to give.

After all, they could no longer withdraw the standing forces of Ipwang Fortress.

The emergence of the greatest under heaven was an event that would capture the attention of the entire world. Even if she was heading toward Zhejiang, all eyes would also turn toward the main fortress in Yangyang.

Among those eyes would be those of enemies lying in wait, eager to see the downfall of Ipwang Fortress.

Such was the influence of the Lord of Annihilation Sword.

"The fortress must be fortified."

Im Jin-myeong spoke reluctantly.

Even with all the supreme masters moving, the presence of the Divine Sword Sect Lords remained absolute.

There were more than a dozen warriors capable of challenging a supreme martial artist in joint combat. It was the duty of the Central Command of Ipwang Fortress to continuously remind the world of that fact.

If even a single great faction dared to encroach upon Yangyang, the already delicate order of the martial world would be thrown into chaos.

"The Bloodflame Cult, with its First Apostle rising to the position of cult leader. The Blades of Ruin, now more powerful than any military force. The Ming Sect, having absorbed Sunmaryeon... The Wulong Society, Yeoryeong, Moonlit Shadows, the Army of Green Forest, the Myriad Water Pirates..."

Prince Gungmyeong tapped the table with his index finger.

"The need for a powerful military force is urgent, and yet, I wonder what is happening with Sim Mu-ryeon. The task of monitoring it was given to the Shandong Ak Family... but I’ve heard rumors that the head of the family has been losing his mind."

"Lord Gun Yu-rin of the Lotus Pavilion and the Sovereign of Light, Gongsun Min, are both known as great talents of the world. They are intelligent people. They wouldn’t neglect their duties now."

"The matter in Hangzhou is serious. It will affect the entire world."

"That seems inevitable. At this moment, there are at least six supreme martial artists in Zhejiang. Besides them, the Azure Spear and the Silent Shadow Sword of the main fortress are also there. If all of them are unleashed into the world once again..."

"The real question is how many will return. No one knows how far the schemes of the Lord of Taemo Fortress will go. And we have no idea where the Lord of Annihilation Sword will choose to go."

At those words, Im Jin-myeong’s eyes widened slightly. He ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) had just realized something.

There was another place where the Lord of Ipwang Fortress might head.

Shin Byeok, who had remained silent, let out a quiet sigh.

The three of them had arrived at the same thought.

Would it be the north, where the emperor had disappeared? Or the south, where troubling news about Jeong Yeon-shin had been heard?

It was impossible to predict.

Meanwhile, the circular window remained open to the noisy outside world. The sounds of debate between the scholars of the Central Command and various officials flowed in along with the sunlight.

The situation had collapsed.

Cho Il-seo thought so.

As the Young Lord of Taemosan Fortress, the unbreakable defense he had painstakingly maintained had been fractured. It was because he had failed in his duty.

Though his grandfather, the Dark Heaven Emperor, had acknowledged him as the ruler of Hangzhou, the series of incidents that erupted across that vast land had dragged Cho Il-seo down.

‘But it’s not my fault.’

Every event had struck like a bolt of lightning, and each one carried variables beyond his control.

Cho Il-seo did not lose confidence. Instead, as planned, he mobilized the subordinate sects of Taemosan Fortress.

“Zunmu Sect, Hyung Family Manor, Gyeongha Seven Gates, Lords of Gwaehyeol Mountain, Yakhuang Divine Gate, and Jiangxi So Family... I appreciate your presence.”

“It is only natural. Taemosan Fortress is like a teacher to our sects, is it not?”

A man’s voice echoed softly like a whisper.

It was a dimly lit cave.

Flickering lights shimmered like candle flames, and beneath them, hundreds of martial artists stood in formation, saluting with their fists.

The synchronized movement of their sleeves brushing against skin made a crisp sound in unison. Their mouths, shrouded in darkness like masks, did not move as if cast in stone.

Instead, the glow of the luminous pearls embedded along the vast underground walls burned more brightly.

These were warriors who had followed Taemosan Fortress for decades.

Long ago, the Dark Heaven Emperor and the Three Sorcery Seats had subdued numerous powerful sects through their elusive and unparalleled sorcery techniques. Afterward, they had bestowed their valuable teachings.

The subordinate sects. Or the secular martial factions.

A true powerhouse that possessed martial studies coveted by all.

However, even the Nine Great Clans and the Eight Prominent Families, despite commanding a vast number of subordinate martial factions, had to tread carefully under the watchful eye of the imperial family. They could not openly wield their full manpower.

Taemosan Fortress was different.

There was no hesitation in unleashing its full power.

“This is not something to take for granted. You have come from as far as Jiangxi and Fujian. The Dark Heaven Emperor will acknowledge your loyalty.”

Seated in a palanquin, Cho Il-seo addressed them with a voice that still carried traces of youth.

Over a hundred sorcerers from Taemosan Fortress.

Three hundred elite warriors from its subordinate sects.

And even dozens of Jiangshi, teetering on the edge of extinction.

All of them would follow the sorcery formations led by Taemosan Fortress. The Thunderous Sky Nine Abyss Formation was a technique that, in terms of sheer potency, rivaled the One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation of Shaolin.

If this force were to march upon the world, even the imperial army would be hard-pressed to match it.

‘This alone will make up for the loss of Cheongeum Gate.’

Fortunately, their forces had gathered quickly.

Though they had nearly suffered a critical blow at the hands of the Bloodflame Cult’s rebels, they had managed to retreat with minimal losses.

It was all thanks to the sudden appearance of the Dark Heaven Emperor’s shadow, Won Young-shin.

A voice rose from within the gathered crowd.

A young man, wearing twin swords crossed on his back, raised his hand. In the glow of the luminous pearls, his youthful face was faintly visible.

“I have heard rumors that Shaolin’s demon monk is descending. If it is Beomheo, he is said to be capable of shattering mountains with a single strike...”

“And which elder granted you permission to speak, junior?”

Cho Il-seo interrupted with a soft smile.

His voice, carrying the sharpness of lightning, was scalding. The middle-aged man standing beside the twin-sworded martial artist quietly apologized, explaining his failure to restrain his disciple.

Cho Il-seo gave a slow nod.

“The fortress has already established a grand formation encompassing all of Hangzhou. The vast natural energy flowing from this land, the vitality of its commoners, even the meager inner strength of foolish martial artists—all of it belongs to the Lord of Taemosan. This underground chamber where we stand is merely a purified core of that energy. Naturally, not only will we be able to perform Tiger Dragon Sorcery, but we will also...”

Despite his soft, composed tone, the weight of his words was enough to alter the expressions of the martial artists who had stood still until now.

Revealing secrets layer by layer, Cho Il-seo finally smiled.

“For over a century, the Dark Heaven Emperor has overseen this land. And for just as long, this domain has been under his hidden influence. No matter how great their martial prowess may be, not even the strongest warriors can step into an area meticulously crafted by a sorcerer’s will.

Let alone when the Dark Heaven Emperor controls one-third of Zhejiang...”

“The deeper the delusion, the greater the downfall.”

A voice like dry, weathered wood.

The lingering dust in the underground cavern, swirling like a fog, trembled like waves struck by a storm.

All at once, every gaze turned backward.

A single, unremarkable footstep.

Yet, within the depths of the underground chamber, that faint sound filled the entire space.

Was it because he had no arms?

As he walked, the tattered orange robe fluttered on both sides like banners in the wind. It resembled not the traditional attire of a monk but rather the battle-worn garb of a lone wanderer traversing perilous lands.

His single remaining eye reflected the cave’s darkness with unsettling clarity, while the rough hemp cloth covering the empty socket bore a coarse, ragged texture.

His presence was different. It was the pinnacle of the extraordinary.

Cho Il-seo snapped his fingers without hesitation.

It was as if the King of the Underworld himself had arrived before him. Activating the Thunderous Sky Nine Abyss Formation—which had already been embedded into the cavern—was the only logical course of action.

[Preparation for the Thunderous Technique.]

A brief incantation echoed, and waves of azure lightning surged outward.

The ground sizzled and crackled.

For a fleeting moment, the vast underground chamber was illuminated in a piercing blue.

There were three others besides the old monk.

It was of no concern.

Now that the divine monk, Beomheo, had arrived, their numbers were meaningless.

The undisputed peak of the current martial world.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

The abbot of Shaolin, the living embodiment of righteous martial power. A man who alone could match an entire army.

“Those arms... could it be...?”

“It’s the Demon Monk!”

Even the gathered martial elites, hundreds in number, hesitated for a brief moment.

The sound of steel rang out in a clamor as three hundred warriors drew their weapons.

Yet, amidst the rising tide of blue lightning that netted them together, silence fell.

From behind the gathered warriors, the energy of the cavern seeped into Cho Il-seo’s meridians, filling every acupuncture point in his body.

Compared to the power wielded by the Dark Heaven Emperor, it was but a speck of dust.

Still, as he recited the subtle yet hypnotic incantation, he prepared himself for battle.

[The Thunderous Sky Nine Abyss Formation will unify our energy...]

From beneath Beomheo’s calm strides, a radiant glow spread outward.

Like the incense burned in worship of the Buddha, each step left a faintly expanding light in its wake.

It was an utterly peculiar flow of energy.

Like mist rolling over a river at dawn, the pale glow extended outward and crushed the net of lightning beneath it.

At that instant, Cho Il-seo coughed up blood.

His pupils, which had been gleaming with an eerie light, now trembled with sheer disbelief.

‘With martial arts alone...!’

The Buddha’s Radiant Qi Flow was being used like the legendary Heavenly Demon’s Dominion Steps.

Originally meant to lighten one’s steps, the energy from this movement technique had outright expelled the lingering presence of sorcery.

To call him a monster would be an understatement—this was a being on the level of divine majesty.

“Stay calm. This land is under the Emperor’s dominion.”

“The formation will return to us. That man is still the grandson of the Celestial Emperor, is he not?”

“Disciples, form the sword formation...!”

Realizing that standing idle would accomplish nothing, the masters of Taemosan’s subordinate sects sprang into action.

From each weapon they wielded, the distinct, artificial wind of sorcery-infused martial arts swirled in translucent currents.

In an instant, the vast underground chamber became a battlefield of clashing energies.

With a force rivaling any of the great sects, this was an army capable of challenging the world itself.

They held an unwavering faith in the Dark Heaven Emperor, Cho Ryeol.

For years, he had bestowed his unfathomable teachings upon them like sacred offerings.

If they emerged victorious from this ordeal, they might receive yet another transcendent lesson—an experience of ultimate enlightenment.

But they never got the chance.

While Beomheo continued to approach at a steady pace, another presence had already arrived ahead of him.

Among those who charged forward, one entire formation was suddenly engulfed in a bluish mist.

It was a sudden surge of sword energy, thick as storm clouds.

The sharp sound of fabric being sliced apart rang out in rapid succession, like a tempest tearing through the battlefield.

It was a technique beyond human resistance.

The wielder of the Azure Cloud Sword Technique, a master from Qingcheng, had drawn his gleaming blue sword.

Among them, the only true noble lineage.

Qingcheng’s Grandmaster, the Twin Walls Sword Lord, Cheongsu Jin-in.

His blade was resolute and unstoppable.

On the other flank, the air trembled.

Scattering like flower petals, countless fragments of crimson light fell upon their enemies, leaving only destruction in their wake.

A lone swordswoman advanced through the chaotic storm of shattered weapons and bodies.

She moved as if painting with a brush, each delicate slash bending the air itself into a distorted whirlwind of petals, reducing foes—armor and all—into crumpled husks.

Her swordsmanship had transcended mortal limitations.

A genius of the blade who had stepped into the realm of divine prowess.

Beside her, a short-haired girl draped in the black robes of Ipwang Fortress wielded a single spear, tearing through enemy formations with ruthless precision.

Known throughout the martial world as Shandong’s Grieving Spear, she was none other than Ipwang’s Divine Spear.

Thus, the subordinate sects of Taemosan Fortress were swept away.

All Cho Il-seo could do was stare blankly at the unfolding devastation.

Meanwhile, the intruders conversed as though the battle meant nothing.

“Yeon-shin’s arms have been reattached, haven’t they?”

“Of course! But lately, those Mount Hua brats...”

“Yulha Nangnang, Master Ak. Since the topic has come up, I must ask. Is it true that the newly appointed Ziseong defeated the Lord of Cheongeum Gate? I have been occupied with recovery and out of touch with the rumors of the martial world, but the claim is difficult to believe.”

“What’s there not to believe? Our Yeon-shin is one of the Five Heavenly Swords now. Not to mention, that oaf from the Celestial Forest... those damn nobles...”

Ak Su-rim, who had been raising his voice toward the Qingcheng master, turned his head abruptly.

Dressed in a pale pink robe now stained with blood like delicate orchids, the deity of Mount Hua, Yulha Nangnang, spoke with quiet detachment amid the swirling sword winds.

“If that child’s arms were not properly reattached, then we will formally invite the Ipwang Fortress Ziseong into our sect.”

“To settle our debts.”

“A debt? You mean a favor, not a debt.”

“My karma is heavy. We have already exchanged lives once.

If he is truly to become a beacon of the martial world...”

Her words were abruptly cut off.

Behind Beomheo, who had now reached the palanquin where Cho Il-seo sat, a single droplet of water fell from the cavern ceiling.

A supreme master perceives time itself differently.

A mere speck, a minuscule droplet, could be seen as an entire expanse.

And at this moment, the falling droplet was no exception.

Within the perfectly reflective surface of the water, a figure suddenly swelled and emerged—like an image breaking through a mirror.

As though tearing through the fabric of reality itself, a lone silhouette appeared.

And in that instant, a single phrase of absolute intent resounded.

[The Realm of Nihilistic Annihilation.]

It activated at once.

A domain said to shatter the balance of body, mind, and spirit, bringing even supreme masters to ruin.

An abyss unseen, a space likened to an endless void.

The Moonless Dominion of the Dark Heaven Emperor spread across the entire underground expanse.