Chapter 492: Chapter 492

It was a martial art born of Jeong Yeon-shin's deep-seated resentment.

He had been powerless, unable to stop So Cheonmujuk from taking Baek Mi-ryeo. Until now, he had never harbored such a grudge against a technique itself.

He still didn’t know how to use it properly.

It was an advanced martial art. Even if he understood its mechanics, without the necessary intent from the mnemonic chant, it was difficult to manifest. Unlike the likes of the Supreme Outsider Sword or certain sorcerers, he couldn’t simply teleport to where he wished.

When masters of spell-based martial arts attempted to flee a battlefield, or when someone used formations to distort space to escape his grasp—

Now, he could follow them.

He could track the traces they left behind, the remnants of their inner energy.

It was through this principle that he had managed to pull Great Master Wonjeok from whatever unknown space he had vanished into.

Now, escape through the Different Void was meaningless before Jeong Yeon-shin.

Unless the distance was as vast as what the Abbot of Shaolin had achieved with his Moonlit Void, they would inevitably face him again.

He stepped onto a leaf so large it could have been the roof of a thatched house.

The space was filled with a soft green glow, emanating from the lanterns that flickered gently all around. Before he knew it, Jeong Yeon-shin had positioned himself behind Chi Cheon-gung Baek.

She stood exactly as she had after loosing her arrow from the great bow, poised and dignified.

But only for a moment.

Like a fleeting storm, she turned, her sharp green eyes widening in shock.

Her eyes were a shade darker than her own hair.

Amidst their deep irises, streaks of colorless light flickered continuously, while the glow from the floating lanterns shimmered faintly over the bridge of her nose, as if they were fireflies.

The light illuminated her skin, pale and pristine as freshly fallen snow in midwinter.

Yet, to Jeong Yeon-shin, her beauty—worthy of legends—held another significance.

The Celestial Tree, Chi Cheon-gung Baek.

She bore an uncanny resemblance to the Lord of Ipwang Fortress.

Her features were sculpted to an otherworldly harmony, like a tale of the Natural Sword, a pinnacle of perfection—yet paradoxically, she did not seem unreal. Her facial structure was strikingly defined, her countenance sharply distinct. The only difference was that her eyes had an edge, as if the crescent moons at their corners had been honed to a blade.

That gaze alone spoke of her unparalleled mastery in archery.

But despite that, her resemblance to the Lord of Ipwang Fortress was undeniable.

Or perhaps close relatives.

With measured grace, he clasped his hands together in a respectful gesture.

“I am Seomye of the Jeong Household. I come from Ipwang Fortress, and I serve the Lord of my domain as my master.”

His voice was calm as he spoke, his eyes lingering on the sight beyond her shoulder. He couldn't help but take it in.

Just as Shinui had described it.

Pale, hazy lights floated around them like fireflies, their radiance forming innumerable specks, impossible to count even with trained perception.

Beneath the massive leaf he stood on, colossal green-blue stems, thicker than any log, wove together like an intricate web, stretching endlessly downward—interwoven like roads that connected a grand marketplace.

There were presences in the distance. Many.

The atmosphere was serene, yet far from lifeless.

The natural energy here was unlike any other.

The inner force that spread freely throughout this space felt different from the aura of typical martial artists. But its density—its depth—resembled the overwhelming presence of the great sects. It truly felt like an entire village or city lay hidden within.

But the most mysterious thing—

Was the warmth brushing against his skin.

It was unlike the bitter cold of the outside world.

It was strange enough that wind blew inside a tree of this magnitude, but the warmth here felt entirely detached from the external season.

The Celestial Tree Clan had truly formed a world of their own.

Chi Cheon-gung Baek’s gaze bore into him.

She reached out and grasped the sleeve of his robe, pulling him closer in a smooth, natural motion.

A distance where even a close-range strike would be impossible to deflect.

She had erased the gap in advance.

“I told you this is not a place you are permitted to enter.”

She whispered fiercely, as if ensuring their conversation remained unheard.

Despite wielding martial prowess surpassing that of the Thirteen Heavens' Lord of the Dark Night, she was wary of something here.

Something inside the Celestial Tree itself.

“I heard there was an entrance trial,” Jeong Yeon-shin said. “But since I walked in, doesn’t that mean everything worked out in my favor?”

His tone deliberately took on a classical elegance.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

It was a rare move for him—to attempt to foster goodwill with someone who might be related to his master.

The bond he had formed with the Lord of Ipwang Fortress.

The fruit of the sacred tree.

A storm of thoughts tangled in his mind, just like the luminous motes drifting through this surreal place.

This was the place where his journey had begun.

It was here that he had set foot toward Ipwang Fortress.

For all the connections and martial paths he had carved, for all the fate-defying battles he had endured, stepping into the Celestial Tree’s domain made him realize—

He had not yet transcended destiny.

His entire struggle through the treacherous martial world, the battles, the betrayals—

He was still desperate.

Unlike the likes of Great Master Wonjeok or Yulha Nangnang, who seemed to have abandoned their humanity in pursuit of something greater—

He wanted to one day share a drink with Ma Gwang-ik again.

To grow old, and to carry the weight of years in the wrinkles on his face.

“Everything worked out in my favor? Are you insane...?”

Chi Cheon-gung Baek muttered in a deadpan voice.

Jeong Yeon-shin let her absurd remark pass with an unbothered expression.

“Shall we at least exchange names? Are you by any chance from the Wi lineage?”

Chi Cheon-gung Baek echoed briefly, then lifted the corner of her lips ever so slightly.

But her smirk was not directed at him.

Jeong Yeon-shin instantly sensed that her disdain was aimed at the Lord of Ipwang Fortress.

“Still clinging to that name...?”

Another muttered remark.

Moreover, the way her voice curled at the end of her words was peculiarly unpleasant.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s face lost all expression.

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s none of your concern. It’s a private matter of the clan.”

At that moment, his sleeve twitched on its own before violently shaking off her grip. The motion, as abrupt and unpredictable as a drawn sword, carried considerable force.

It was the work of his mind, embedding true energy into the fabric, as if it were a spiritual artifact that moved on its own.

It reminded him of Yong Hui-myeong’s violet robes, which once stirred on their own, possessed by the power of the Divine Sword Sect Leader.

“...A Dharma Treasure.”

Chi Cheon-gung Baek withdrew her hand without bothering to force the confrontation further.

But she did not step back.

Instead, she closed the distance between them even more—until the hems of their clothes nearly brushed against each other.

Their eyes met at an almost equal level.

“I won’t ask how you got in. I ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ assume it’s some secret technique of yours. But the important thing is that you’re covered in the filth of the mundane world. If you wander through the city in that state, regardless of your identity, the Elder Council will vote unanimously to expel you.”

Her whisper was swift, her breath like a soft mist dispersing over Jeong Yeon-shin’s chest.

It was because it had collided with the protective energy barrier from his Lawful Radiant Wheel Art. A test of defensive methods—her breath had traced the invisible structure of his protective qi, as if she were preparing at any moment to embed an arrow into his heart.

It was impossible unless one lived in a constant state of vigilance.

It was the nature of the Celestial Tree Clan—to breathe in harmony with nature without the need for specific heart techniques.

“Your purpose doesn’t matter. But if you want to remain here unharmed—if you want to be treated as a person in this land—you’ll have to follow my words. Obviously, it’s for your own good. First, hide yourself...”

Chi Cheon-gung Baek grabbed his sleeve again.

Yet, this time, there was no killing intent in the motion.

It was natural, as if there were no other possibility.

A conduct that did not allow for questions.

Had she spent her entire life within the Celestial Tree?

Everything about her was extremely closed off.

Jeong Yeon-shin did not like her approach.

From the moment arrows rained down like artillery upon the place where even his master had once stood, he had been displeased.

For some reason, she disregarded the Lord of Ipwang Fortress.

Naturally, she wouldn’t show respect to the Lord’s disciple either.

He thought: What is this? Why?

In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from his spot and stood with his back to Chi Cheon-gung Baek.

The faintly purple hue of his robes remained undisturbed, draping elegantly.

It was a movement at the pinnacle of Hwanik Step.

He slowly opened his mouth.

“If I made a mistake, I should naturally pay for it. However, I am the direct disciple of the Lord of Ipwang Fortress. At the very least, I have the right to send word to the Celestial Tree Clan. A disciple’s honor is their master’s honor. I could not tolerate being turned away at the gates, which is why I followed you. I apologize if I have been discourteous. However...”

He turned back slowly, facing her once again.

In her jade-green eyes, lightning-like radiance flickered in white bursts.

She was analyzing his perceptional nerves.

For the first time in a long while, he felt threatened.

Not in the sense of being overpowered, but in a different way.

She was insane—not as a person, but in her obsession with martial arts.

She didn’t acknowledge or reject her opponents.

She simply calculated every possible variable with relentless precision.

It was like the mechanical designs of the Iron Clan’s artisans had been given human form.

She fundamentally lacked the ability to form human relationships.

“The actions of those with violet robes from my homeland are not dictated by your will.”

His tone remained composed.

“My position requires me to fully understand matters before acting. I must be presented with justifiable reasons before making decisions.”

“Yes, I can’t hold you back. Not unless I kill you in combat.”

Chi Cheon-gung Baek’s lips barely moved as she muttered.

Her wariness was so absolute that it seemed to take human form.

This place was truly another world.

Would other members of the Celestial Tree Clan become upon entering the heart of the tree?

He doubted that Cheongmyeong would.

"Maybe Hahu Senior would."

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly as he recalled Hahu Wi-jin of the Celestial Corps.

He turned, looking downward.

But with the vast blue-green stems weaving together in an endless maze below, he could barely see anything.

“...I must receive my master. Will you guide me?”

Chi Cheon-gung Baek finally spoke.

“Unlike you, your master must undergo purification. To step deeper into the heart of the city, every energy channel in the body must be pure, and the elders will inspect them. Your master holds great prestige here. Only after all procedures are complete will they enter in dignity.”

For once, her words carried emotion.

But Jeong Yeon-shin had long abandoned the idea of growing close to her.

He would always treat her as a master archer capable of taking his life.

"Her habitual hand movements... she’s beyond the Lord of the Dark Night. I can’t predict the trajectory of her arrows at all."

It was the first time in a long while that he felt this level of danger.

As he silently watched Chi Cheon-gung Baek’s back while she led the way, he contemplated.

For some reason, even when he was close to her, he could not be certain of victory.

If they became enemies—how would he counter her?

If he could not match the speed of Ju Gwang-shin, the Drunken Beggar King, he could not allow her more than five ri of distance.

If they fought to the death, even Thunderclap Finale would be insufficient.

If he used Grand Supreme Flux, she would likely counter with her own version of Moonlit Void.

"What is all this...?"

A sudden sense of emptiness swept over him.

He had never expected to reach this place, only to have such thoughts.

He wasn’t even considering attacking.

Yet, just the thought alone made Chi Cheon-gung Baek’s long ears twitch subtly, as if she had sensed it.

A Demon’s Stronghold.

This was the true face of the Celestial Tree, the so-called root of heaven and earth.

And it was a place that fiercely rejected outsiders.

"In this place, your status means nothing."

She spoke without turning around.

"Stay quietly at my residence. Once your master arrives, you may proceed with your business. Do not wander the city. Do not provoke the clan’s masters. If you do, you will be in real danger.”

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slowly.

“I am here as a guest. It is only right that I conduct myself accordingly.”

He spoke of manners and propriety.

His voice was more solemn than ever before.

Even Chi Cheon-gung Baek, who had sought to dominate him at every turn, had no further words of warning.

In a city without sun or moon, two days passed.

"Senior Elder, I report—The Eastern Domain under Lady Chi Cheon-gung Baek’s rule has collapsed. The thunderous sound we heard half an hour ago originated from there."

"According to our messengers, the devastation covers a ten-ri radius. Elder Dongmu, who has mastered the Art of True Sight, states that it is nearly impossible to determine the cause."

“...Silence the mouths of those with diluted clan blood, and request Sword Lord Yong to investigate the remnants. This is a serious matter for the clan."