Chapter 377: Firm Belief

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The eyes of those assembled, including Taoist Mu-hyeon, Taoist Tianmu, and Taoist Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet Man-hae, sank quite deeply after hearing Chok So-geol’s story.

Additionally, a brief silence pervaded the room.

A descendant of the Zhuge Family suspected of being born with the Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body, an unexpected variable.

There was no one who didn’t know about the Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body.

Because it was one of the legendary constitutions, indeed famous in martial history.

A body possessing the power to transform the body itself into an extremely powerful formation, a body of strange and unpredictable mystical applications.

Moreover, it was said that if one even obtained ultimate enlightenment regarding the Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body, it would be possible to manipulate or control even natural formations.

Going even further, there were also rumors that one could unleash tremendous power like a powerful absolute formation of forbidden gate sealing.

If one were to name a representative example of that, there was Zhuge Seong, the first Family Head of the Zhuge Family in the past.

Over two hundred years ago, he had made his fame resound throughout the era as the foremost formation master, having mastered the Eight Trigrams River Diagram, Five Elements Strange Arts, Strange Gate Different Methods, and more; the foundation that supported him was precisely the legendary Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body.

At that time, even the Heretic Cult side clicked their tongues and avoided confronting him without care to the degree that his achievement in formations and formation arts was solely unrivaled.

How else could he have been compared to the Ghost Valley Immortal Guest, a mythical existence and formation master of the ancient era before the Jianghu was born?

Thus, Zhuge Seong’s skill, through the Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body, of controlling even natural formations as he pleased was truly at a level worthy of being called Divine technique.

Hence, the sobriquet at that time was also Divine technique Mister.

However.

The Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body that had not appeared in the world since Zhuge Seong, the first Family Head of the Zhuge Family and Divine technique Mister, was mentioned again through the Beggar’s Sect personnel after a long span of over two hundred years.

Of course, it was still limited to uncertain possibility, mere suspicion.

Still, you never know with matters of people.

The possibility of it truly being the Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body was sufficiently there.

Naturally so.

Since the legendary Nine Grade Martial Bone, Heavenly Demon Incarnation Body, True Ink Heavenly Meridian, and others had already newly appeared in this era, how could that body be an exception?

Soon, Azure Heaven Sword Sect Master Seol Hu-yong opened his beard-covered lips and let out a soft voice.

“If it’s the Beggar’s Sect’s secret investigation team that made such a report, it certainly can’t be suspicion without any basis.”

Following that, Thunder Lightning Sect Master Wei Ji-am also let flow a low, thick voice.

“Zhuge Bi… Did the Beggar’s Sect perhaps keep an eye on this person from before?”

Chok So-geol soon slightly nodded his head and answered.

“Yes. But it hasn’t been that long. At first, we just came across some groundless rumor. About a prodigy with exceptional achievement in various formation studies being hidden in the reclusive south… That was about six months ago, and at that time, it wasn’t formally reported to our sect’s main lodge. It was a matter managed by a branch lodge.”

At that, Wei Ji-am nodded back.

“Mm, of course. Since the amount of rumors and information from various regions that the Beggar’s Sect acquires is so vast.”

“That’s right. Honestly, rumors of hidden talents in the reclusive world are hardly one or two. So the branch side conducted only routine and formal investigation activities. Then, about two months ago, they discovered a location where a very peculiar formation had been deployed, and after inquiring everywhere, they learned that the site was where that prodigy had trained. The branch personnel who were examining that place nearly all became trapped in a path similar to a maze, they say. Even though it seemed like a formation set up for research or practice, it boasted such a difficult mystical application.”

“That’s how they realized it. That the skill of the person who constructed the formation was no ordinary level… Where was it?”

“It was at a mountain valley located on the border between the Fujian and Zhejiang regions, called Tabu Mountain. It was a very rugged and deep valley where human footsteps couldn’t easily reach.”

“Tabu Mountain… I’ve heard of it too. They say it’s as remote as this region’s Three Immortals Mountain. Well, continue the story.”

“Yes. From that point, the secret investigation team was dispatched under the main lodge’s lead, and they finally managed to determine some information about Zhuge Bi with difficulty. And it was only three days ago that they found out about the secret connection with the Zhejiang Son Family Head. As I said earlier, the day we received that information was yesterday.”

When Chok So-geol’s words ended, Taoist Mu-hyeon, who had been quietly listening, opened his mouth with a meaningful expression.

“Even if Zhuge Bi perhaps doesn’t have the Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body, he seems certainly to be an owner of talent comparable to it. Otherwise, would he have traveled together with the Zhejiang Son Family? They must have joined hands because they each have something to trust in.”

“My thoughts are the same. That’s why I’m more worried. If he’s captured by the enemy and is forced against his will to help that group… all the formations within the Shiwan Mountains will threaten Sect Master Cheol’s party. Since the Heretic Cult’s existing knowledge would be combined with Zhuge Bi’s new knowledge. Then couldn’t a formation of tremendous power never before seen be born?”

“I understand. Moreover, the movements of the southern Unorthodox giant must also be concerning.”

At Taoist Mu-hyeon’s words, Chok So-geol nodded and replied.

“Yes, that is so as well. The Thousand White Sword Castle Lord has a temperament that makes the infamous Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom step aside as vicious and belligerent. Most likely, there’s a high possibility he’ll obstruct Sect Master Cheol’s work. Above all… I’m worried that the long-standing debt he always mutters like a habit might turn into friction and strife within the Shiwan Mountains. When he should be of help if anything.”

At that, Taoist Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet Man-hae of Mount Huang Sect murmured.

“Long-standing debt… Yes, if those two meet there, things probably won’t end well.”

Several people nodded their heads lightly as if in agreement.

Everyone knew well what the long-standing debt meant.

It meant the result of a martial comparison that Thousand White Sword Castle Lord Eon Po-Wook had with an outstanding martial artist of the same Unorthodox faction in his younger days, before he obtained the epithet Lake-Emerging Martial Family Head Eon Po-Wook.

Ji Jang-jong.

He, the current Leader of the Nine Tiger Blade Gang and called Chopping Wave Saber Tiger Ji Jang-jong, was the object from whom the long-standing debt had to be cleared.

In the past, the two had exchanged a full one hundred moves, but in the end, they couldn’t determine victory or defeat.

Thus, they concluded with an evenly-matched stalemate where superiority was hard to distinguish.

After that time, no martial comparison was realized.

Because each was focused on firming up their power base while active in different regions.

As time passed, Eon Po-Wook became the Castle Lord of Thousand White Sword Castle and came to occupy the highest position among the warriors representing the Anhui region, the so-called Anhui’s Three High Excellences.

From that point, he began to speak of the “long-standing debt.”

Having risen to a high position, he was freshly dissatisfied with the result of the martial comparison from before he had built his great martial fame.

So he always called it a debt that had to be repaid.

However, because both their reputations had soared considerably, a simple martial comparison was quite difficult to realize since it could potentially escalate into a war between forces.

To be more detailed, it was Ji Jang-jong’s side that was reluctant to exchange moves.

Since for him, there was actually more to lose than to gain.

Naturally, Ji Jang-jong also had two ears, so it wasn’t that he hadn’t heard the talk about the long-standing debt.

Even so, even a friendly exchange of martial comparison was burdensome.

Of course, the two forces weren’t in a relationship to exchange friendships to begin with, but if he happened to be defeated, from that moment on, it was obvious that Eon Po-Wook would brutally pressure the entire Nine Tiger Blade Gang.

Since he was so belligerent as to make even the notoriously infamous Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom step aside, and would at times not even look ahead or behind, that was fully foreseeable.

If Ji Jang-jong himself fell, the Nine Tiger Blade Gang would be swept up in bloody winds by Eon Po-Wook and the Thousand White Sword Castle with their personal martial force at the forefront.

So he was bound to be reluctant.

It wasn’t that he feared the opponent and avoided him, but because of himself, innocent members of Nine Tiger Blade Gang might come under threat and harm…

In other words, Eon Po-Wook had the temperament of a typical vile rogue, whereas Ji Jang-jong was Unorthodox but a person who did not walk a wrong path as a human and valued proper cause and righteousness.

However.

For Eon Po-Wook, a good pretext had arisen in the Divine Martial Sword.

That’s right, as they say, so.

They had all actually set off for the Shiwan Mountains to obtain that, so who would say what if a bloody fight broke out inside?

Therefore, if Eon Po-Wook and Ji Jang-jong met there, just as Taoist Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet Man-hae had said moments ago, things would absolutely not end well.

Chok So-geol immediately looked at Taoist Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet Man-hae and spoke.

“It is as the Mount Huang Sect Master says. Knowing him, he might not stop at clearing the long-standing debt, but might also try to rope in the other two Unorthodox giants to create a melee…”

At that moment, Taoist Mu-hyeon laughed and interrupted those words.

“Huhu, it’s not that the Beggar’s Sect is always quick in acquiring information. Those two giants have long since sided with Sect Master Cheol.”

At that, the eyes of the Beggar’s Sect direct disciples, including Chok So-geol, went wide as lanterns.

“What?”

“It’s as I say. The Iron Blood Martial Alliance Leader and Solar Sword Castle Lord are in an alliance relationship with Sect Master Cheol. We don’t know how it will be after the matter in the Shiwan Mountains ends, but for now, rest assured. The two of them helping the Thousand White Sword Castle Lord is something that won’t happen. Uhuhut.”

As Taoist Mu-hyeon let out a small laugh, a brief explanation of that matter followed from Taoist Tianmu.

Hearing that story, the Beggar’s Sect direct disciples all wore vacant expressions.

It was something that couldn’t readily be believed.

They hadn’t known that in addition to those two Unorthodox giants, even the Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate’s party was in a temporary alliance relationship.

Taoist Tianmu, having smiled slightly, spoke again.

“And don’t worry too much about the Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body either. Even if he were to unavoidably stand on the enemy’s side and help them, that series of formations will be created based on the Heretic Cult’s sorcery arts. Sect Master Cheol said this. That all energies of the myriad wicked schools would be brought to order under his control…”

“Ah! Then…”

“Sect Master Cheol said he would raise his martial prowess to another level there. Also, through that enlightenment, he said he would be able to use the terrifying secret art of the existence who was like the sole god of Unorthodox martial history. Does that give you a sense?”

Simultaneously with that, the Beggar’s Sect direct disciples felt shivers running through them.

“The Evil Emperor’ secret art…!”

When Chok So-geol called out softly, Taoist Tianmu nodded his head.

“That’s right. The legendary secret art of the Four Kinds of martial arts, said to be impossible to perform without the Divine Martial Sword. But Sect Master Cheol boasted confidently that he would achieve that power. I firmly believe it too. No matter how lofty the Heretic Cult’s sorcery arts may be, even if they use a Heart-Stealing Spirit-Commanding Body, they will ultimately kneel before him.”

“Ah… How truly remarkable. Sect Master Cheol’s abilities are…”

At that moment, Taoist Mu-hyeon opened the window on the side with telekinesis.

BEOLKEOK-

Immediately after, a carrier pigeon flew inside.

Taoist Mu-hyeon immediately checked that letter and wore a pleased smile.

At that, someone asked.

“What is it?”

Taoist Mu-hyeon, having lifted his gaze from the letter, looked around at those assembled and spoke.

“It’s a letter sent by the Shaolin Temple Abbot. He says that the one who went to the Shiwan Mountains will become a dependable support force. It seems Shaolin Temple urgently made separate contact and they came to a good understanding.”

Again, someone posed a question.

“What? Who is that?”

“A great pillar of the Northern Orthodox faction who is said to nearly rival the Shaolin Temple Abbot… He has promised to cooperate when he meets Sect Master Cheol.”

At that sound, those assembled were each startled.

Having heard, they immediately recognized who it was.

Following that, Taoist Mu-hyeon murmured while placing the letter on the table.

“By the way, I wonder if Sect Master Cheol has achieved his accomplishment by now…”