Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 98 – Divine Sword Squad (4)n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The desperate wish was brief. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately dismissed the idle thoughts.

Though sects hostile to Desolate Fortress might be as numerous as grains of sand in the South Sea Islands, this would be a moment of glory for individual warriors.

It wasn’t just rare – it was nearly impossible.

That Divine Sword Group Leader had allowed access to his back.

It was the vital point of one of the world’s finest supreme masters. Would there be another chance to touch it?

It was the acupoint where human energy circulated most vigorously. That’s why the center of the back is offered when receiving help with qi manipulation.

Swish.

The sensation was rough where the Namgung Family Head’s sword had torn through.

Even as Jeong Yeon-shin placed his palm on the Divine Sword Group Leader’s back, this situation didn’t feel real. He felt somewhat detached.

“From the vital point, go straight to the Body Pillar point. The standard Taoist cultivation method’s small circulation will do. Our Group Leader has already opened all conception and governing vessels and achieved upper dantian opening long ago.”

Yue Shou-lin whispered closely.

“You can think of the Group Leader’s whole body meridians as blades. Think of it as oiling sword blades. That should be enough.”

Her words, carried on breath deepened by martial arts achievement, were profound.

They contained insights about internal martial arts. Just looking at the Divine Sword Group Leader nodding slightly made it clear.

At that moment, there was a small disturbance among the Divine Sword Squad masters.

“They’re coming! Coming this way! Really like vultures!”

“Those crazy blood demons are first? As expected, they have no respect. Next is… probably the Deep Martial Alliance. Judging by their speed.”

“The Martial Dragon Association has also changed direction. Battle formation.”

“Seems they have an honored guest over there. Why would those rabble be so protective? Perhaps their association head’s precious child has arrived. Meanwhile, the Female Spirit Sect continues on their way. As cunning as ever.”

The warnings coming from all directions spoke of the Thirteen Evil Sects.

Major factions that compete for supremacy in the central plains along with the Nine Orthodox Sects and Eight Families.

The moment they realize the Divine Sword Group Leader isn’t at full strength, it wouldn’t be strange if they drew their swords against us. That was the nature of their relationship.

If that happened, the Group Leader’s condition would be exposed. The unconscious Namgung Hwa-shin couldn’t even resist.

It would be difficult to handle multiple members of the Thirteen Evil Sects at once. Even Desolate Fortress’ strongest fighting force would have to endure heavy losses.

This was a crisis. Jeong Yeon-shin slightly lowered his eyelids.

Internal energy is inherently difficult to control. Simultaneous operation of different pathways was needless to say challenging.

This was especially true in a situation requiring fluid qi manipulation like lightness skills. Even for Jeong Yeon-shin, this was a new challenge.

“Don’t draw your swords rashly! That would really look suspicious!”

Ignoring Yue Shou-lin’s shout, he buried his consciousness. He delved into the Divine Sword Group Leader’s body along with his qi.

Woong.

He poured all his mental focus into a single stream of internal energy. He had just activated his upper dantian ability, which he had recently begun to consciously draw out bit by bit.

It was possible even while running with lightness skills.

Yue Shou-lin’s incredulous laugh briefly brushed past his ears before slowly fading from his consciousness.

And suddenly…

Jeong Yeon-shin felt the universe. The elasticity and breadth of the meridians were different from the start.

The middle dantian closest to the vital point felt like a dragon’s inner core.

It seemed energy could flow in endlessly. He hadn’t known a human body could be formed so profoundly. It was deeply mysterious.

But perhaps due to the internal injuries, the blood flow wasn’t normal.

The power that should have flowed like waves through the twelve regular meridians, eight extraordinary vessels, and all the body’s channels was faint, as if rusted.

Hwak!

He infused the Jeong Family Dynamic technique qi directly.

He recalled Yue Shou-lin’s words. She said to make it circulate as if oiling a sword blade.

It meant using Jeong Yeon-shin’s qi to clean the Divine Sword Group Leader’s energy pathways that had lost their flow from the fierce battle with the Namgung Family Head.

He did exactly that.

Starting from the vital point in the center of the back. He poured qi continuously through to the Body Pillar point right above.

The internal power refined through the Jeong family Dynamic Technique flowed as purely as the boy’s childhood.

“What’s this? It’s as precise as if polished with reverse muscle technique.”

The Divine Sword Group Leader’s muttering was heard.

“Did the Shaolin Abbott secretly break his precepts? Are you perhaps his hidden son?”

His voice was clearly bewildered.

Jeong Yeon-shin focused without minding it. He had to. The flow of energy, once momentum was gained, became rapid like a torrent.

The Divine Sword Group Leader’s meridians were on a different level.

Not just well-cultivated channels, but smooth like the ice walls of the North Sea. It didn’t seem human at all.

‘With meridians trained to this extent, energy circulation would truly happen in the blink of an eye.’

He viscerally understood why supreme masters’ techniques were triggered in an instant.

Even Jeong Yeon-shin himself could claim to be swift compared to ordinary warriors, but the Divine Sword Group Leader could discuss instants even in the world of masters.

He gained insight. It could be called enlightenment.

‘It’s right to combine the Cultivation technique I’m creating with the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique. Perhaps I too…’

This was the first. Amidst crisis, he found a thread of growth.

It wasn’t the end. There was more. The Divine Sword Group Leader’s body was a warehouse of infinite possibilities.

No, it was more accurate to call it a treasury where lofty martial principles were intertwined like precious items.

‘And this too.’

The boy’s upper dantian qi sense flashed. It was a heaven-given realm.

While observing the inside of the meridians, Jeong Yeon-shin discovered a very deep trace.

It was the trace of the internal energy pathway the Divine Sword Group Leader mainly used.

Tremendously powerful energy had swept through like a typhoon. The qi marks were very clear.

‘This…’

He instinctively reverse-engineered the effectiveness of the energy pathway. Then with a shudder, he realized.

This was energy circulation suitable for martial arts that release great power in a single move.

It was the trace of a pathway that added stability to explosive martial techniques.

It perfectly matched the qi blade the Divine Sword Group Leader had shown.

This was divine skill.

‘If I properly incorporate this method.’

It could greatly alleviate concerns about the rebound elasticity of Brilliant River, the technique named by Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin.

It was an extremely valuable mental key. It must have greatly contributed to the Divine Sword Group Leader ending the decisive battle with the Namgung Family Head quickly.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z ***

That’s when it happened.

“Look at this one.”

It was a voice that couldn’t be ignored. A strange amusement colored it.

“Now I see I’ve let quite the thief inside me.”

It was the Divine Sword Group Leader.

His snicker from the front came across as chilling. Even though his tone was very light.

The Divine Sword Group Leader could also speak during energy circulation.

It wasn’t strange that he could feel Jeong Yeon-shin’s qi sense scanning his interior.

He was the Divine Sword Squad’ greatest master. It was very natural. Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t bother apologizing. There was no time for that.

‘Since you were going to teach me one martial art anyway, if I ask forgiveness later…’

Thinking what felt even to himself like a childish thought, he removed his hand. The internal energy circulation had just finished anyway.

It was too dangerous to continue. As the Divine Sword Squad scouts had warned, it was because of the Thirteen Evil Sects masters approaching like wildcats.

The one who killed the Namgung Family Head couldn’t possibly be unharmed. Even non-masters could guess that.

“Hey! Desolate Fortress’ righteous fellows, shall we have a brief word!”

It was a voice that rang out from the third closest group. The qi behind it was so powerful it felt like someone shouting right in their ears.

However, some Divine Sword Squad masters didn’t lose their cheerfulness. It was strange.

“Look at those Martial Dragon Association b*st*rds’ composure. Can’t figure out their intentions. They shouldn’t have particularly clashed with the main castle before?”

“The Blood Flame Sect and Deep Martial Alliance are coming first. Are they really going to try something?”

“Group Leader, aren’t you done?”

The nearby crowd who had already recognized them as Desolate Fortress’ Divine Sword Squad had fled far away.

Rather, those approaching were all leaders of evil sects. Blood Flame Sect branch, Heart Martial Alliance, Martial Dragon Association.

Among them, the momentum of the blood demons with bright red hair and the Deep Martial Alliance swordsmen displaying military discipline was fierce.

It seemed battle could break out at any moment.

“Your contribution is great.”

The Divine Sword Group Leader spoke softly. Then with a smiling face, he ruffled Jeong Yeon-shin’s hair.

And he took the lead. His movements had become truly light.

Some Divine Sword Squad masters who had been watching in disbelief glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin. Their faces showed as much surprise as when he had returned after defeating Azure Qilin.

“Oh… the temporary treatment seems to have worked better than expected? Without the Shaolin’s Famous Rejuvenation Pills, there’s no medicine for internal injuries that works without energy circulation.”

Yue Shou-lin approached with a grin.

“Well done, our Lightning Genius. Radiant Demon Wing, you said? Ma Jin, that dull eunuch raised his child well.”

She reached out with hands smaller than Jeong Yeon-shin’s as if to pat his bottom.

The boy backed away in horror. It was behavior he had never encountered in his life. He almost raised the Radiant Sword Style reflexively.

Yue Shou-lin, tucking her black bob behind her ear, giggled with a girl’s face. She had completely regained her composure.

“Soha. You said one burst of energy would do?”

The Divine Sword Group Leader spoke in an even tone. Yeon Soha just shrugged once.

“That’s just a manner of speaking.”

“Let’s see.”

The Desolate Fortress Divine Sword Group Leader advanced without hesitation.

That appearance. That bearing alone had a tremendous effect. They saw immediate results from the front.

The Blood Flame Sect’s blood demons and Deep Martial Alliance warriors’ speed faltered. They had no choice.

Everyone had witnessed the terrifying divine might he had shown against the Namgung Family Head.

Hwaaaaaak―!

Energy rose. It was energy that had reached the realm of divine qi.

It was fundamentally different. To the point where it felt like internal energy quantity wasn’t the issue.

It rose thickly with each step the Divine Sword Group Leader took, its nature reminiscent of overwhelming disaster.

It felt like he had brought over the landslide that was now settling far in the distance.

‘I have to push back against that person…’

Jeong Yeon-shin momentarily felt distant.

Similar emotions seemed to be felt in the Thirteen Evil Sects camp.

The Blood Flame Sect and Deep Martial Alliance’s running paths changed sharply. It seemed their approach had been merely testing the waters.

Even so, those retreating were the Thirteen Evil Sects. It was a rare sight in the world.

Who else in this place could create such a scene? It was the majesty that a supreme master’s martial arts had carved into the world.

“Hey! Come here! Where are you going?!”

Those who heard Yeon Soha’s jubilant taunt weren’t them.

There were masters still approaching straight on even though two groups had changed direction.

About thirty people? Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes narrowed. He remembered hearing they were the Martial Dragon Association.

Another of the Thirteen Evil Sects, but their appearance and energy were all different. It felt like masters from different sects gathered in one group.

But it was strange. No hostility could be felt.

From among them.

“We greet the Divine Swords of Desolate Fortress.”

With a clear voice, a delicate girl stepped forward gracefully.

She wore white cotton clothes over a light green silk palace dress. Wouldn’t she be hot? She alone was clear in a place where even the beating sunlight was confusing.

Her ebony-like hair that reached her waist rippled slightly left and right with her steps.

The jet-black hair created a strange harmony with her white skin. Her distinctly striking features were impressive.

A girl of extraordinary beauty.

Perhaps three years older than Jeong Yeon-shin. She looked to be approaching the age of twenty.

“…”

The boy slightly furrowed his brow. It was because the Martial Dragon Association girl’s eyes had swept over him.

Not just her gaze, but her energy as well.

Was it upper dantian precognition? Even though he was with the Divine Sword Squad, the feeling was uncomfortable. This was despite having gained both direction for the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique and some mysterious martial principles.

‘Should I cut her down.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought reflexively.