I Prayed for a Murim Reincarnation, But I Was Born as the Youngest Imperial Prince - Chapter 73

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 73
‘Mmm, is this the limit?’
Zhuge Ganyun suppressed his regret as he put the Brahma Bell from the West back into its box.
‘If a Buddhist Revered One of Shaolin had used it, it would have displayed far greater power, but for me, this is the extent of it.’
By wiping out the low-ranking demonic monsters in a single blow—monsters located in positions that were difficult to even approach immediately—they had gained some breathing room, but that did not mean the situation was completely resolved.
‘We must save the collateral branch as well.’
Although the direct line is the core of the clan’s military power, it is the collateral branch that handles various practical matters beneath them.
Even if they are cut away, it is akin to protecting the torso while giving up the limbs.
They might be considered low-ranking, but a clan’s prosperity cannot be maintained by protecting the foundation alone.
Of course, knowing that, they had properly set up formations around the collateral branch’s residential area as well, but….
“The enemy commander over there knows how to break the Golden Gate Eight Lock Formation! What shall we do about this?”
“Even so, isn’t the situation too difficult for our side to strike out, Family Head?”
The First Elder’s words were not wrong.
It sounded cold-blooded, but if they pushed forward to save the collateral branch, even the direct line would be put in harm’s way.
If losing a small number of the direct line could save a large number of the collateral branch, they might at least ponder the choice, but right now, the difference in troop numbers would only leave them dragged down in a stalemate.
The Three Great Formations had been subtly sabotaged, and they had failed to notice until a Ghost Gate was installed to unleash such a vast number of demonic monsters—that in itself was already the problem.
Before the battle even began, the enemy had won.
And they themselves had lost before the battle even started.
If anyone asked how to clean this up now, they could only prepare for defeat and minimize their losses.
‘Against someone who subtly sabotaged even the Three Great Formations, how long can the Golden Gate Eight Lock Formation hold out?’
Even so, they could not just sit idly by.
“We will utilize the formations as our base while taking down the enemy’s high-ranking demonic monsters one by one. However, rather than forcing casualties to take them down quickly, we will proceed step by step.”
“Yes.”
While giving up the collateral branch, shouldn’t they at least reduce the numbers of those targeting the Main House to reverse the power ratio?
Only after that would they strike forward.
* * *
Sima Muyue also smiled.
“As expected, that is how they react. If they rashly tried to save the collateral branch, I intended to take a large bite out of the direct line as well, but those Zhuge bastards—the thousand-year enemies of my house—are not so careless.”
If the opponent is not easy to deal with, he cannot obtain everything either.
“To maintain the siege against bastards fighting with formations, we have no choice but to give up a little bit at a time. But in the meantime, simply slaughtering the collateral branches is enough. Since I have discovered the existence of the Brahma Bell from the West, today’s battle will suffice by taking down more of the collateral branch.”
In the meantime, the siege will eventually collapse, but he would give it up.
Gain what needs to be gained, and give up what needs to be given up.
After that, the remnants of the demonic monsters would be left behind, and his method of subtly and secretly sabotaging the formations would eventually be studied and guarded against in the future.
It was not a grand scheme that could be used twice.
Considering he had invested thirty years of effort into it, the conclusion was a bit disappointing, but…
‘As expected of Zhuge. They did eventually notice This Seat’s methods.’
It would have been great if they were just two days later.
However, since the opponent was Zhuge, it was not unusual that he could not buy those two days.
Sima Muyue, the Hegemon of Demonic Brains that Ruined Kingdoms, wore a leisurely smile as he moved the demonic monsters in accordance with Zhuge’s movements.
Because the Golden Gate Eight Lock Formation was a Grand Formation, even he could not break it all at once, but it was only a matter of time.
At the very least, it would be faster than the Zhuge Clan completely breaking through the siege.
He was at ease.
Though the plan had gone slightly awry, it was merely the difference between a total victory and a great victory.
“Caught you, you rascal.”
Until two young martial artists appeared, speaking those words.
* * *
Seonwu watched the enemy, who had laid out suspicious items and was currently doing various things.
He did not know that the enemy’s name was Sima Muyue and his Byeolho was the Hegemon of Demonic Brains that Ruined Kingdoms.
However, he could definitely tell that the man was a Demonic Practitioner.
“You summoned those demonic monsters and are commanding them, aren’t you?”
Sima Muyue furrowed his brows.
‘Are they those two brats from the Eunhak Sect?’
He knew they had come to the Zhuge Clan as guests.
Because he had been deploying a surveillance network.
However, he could not know the fine details.
To delve any deeper, the Main House of the Zhuge Clan was not a careless place.
‘Even so, they are just two Jeoljeong Gosu.’
He had judged that they were not enough to influence the grand trend of events.
‘The junior disciple’s martial arts were revealed to some extent through the martial duel held at the Namgung Clan, but….’
To think they would actually find this place where he was hiding?
Even though he was hiding with the Concealed Demon Heaven-Deceiving Secret Formation.
“You must have detected it when the formation shook briefly due to the Brahma Bell from the West.”
“Yeah.”
At Seonwu’s answer, Sima Muyue nodded.
“It was truly a brief moment, and the shaking wouldn’t even have been that large, yet your Qi sense is quite extraordinary, you bastard.”
While the martial artists of the Zhuge Clan were busy dealing with the demonic monsters swarming before their eyes, these two had clearly looked at the war situation more broadly and found him.
“Splendid. However, if you had that much brains working, you shouldn’t have rashly come with just the two of you even if you found me.”
He stood up from his seat.
“Shouldn’t you have considered the extent of This Seat’s military might as well?”
Although he was not in the Realm of Creation, he himself was a Transcendental Expert.
His military might was enough to make a match against the Family Head of the Zhuge Clan a fifty-fifty gamble, so what about two young martial artists?
He could easily suppress about two Peak Realm masters by himself.
“And you, did you consider the extent of my military might before talking?”
When I show up alone, it’s because I’m confident too.
“Ho-oh? Are you saying you have a hidden card up your sleeve?”
Sima Muyue, who spoke thus, was still leisurely, but at the same time, he re-verified Seonwu’s military might.
‘No matter how I look at it, he’s in the Peak Realm.’
The Demon-Subduing Divine Dragon Sword chattered.
[Hey, leave that guy to me! Let me loosen up my body too.]
[No. Ever since I came out into the Jianghu, all I’ve done so far is catch one Qingjuebiao and beat up a lousy Unorthodox Faction leader, but this time it’s a real big shot. I’m going to do it.]
[Ugh.]
[And if I reveal you already, you won’t be a secret weapon anymore.]
[Is that so?]
[Of course, you’re my secret weapon kept in reserve just in case, so I have to save you.]
Though they were words from Seonwu that gave a disease and then the medicine, the Demon-Subduing Divine Dragon Sword was tempted.
[Ahem, well, if you think of this body that way.]
Without answering, or more accurately, while secretly conversing with the Demon-Subduing Divine Dragon Sword, Sima Muyue scrutinized Seonwu once again.
‘From the aura I can feel, no matter how I look at it, they are two at the Peak Realm.’
Conversely, the brat would now feel his own aura, which was completely revealed as a Transcendental Expert.
And yet, there was no sign of fear.
‘He has a hidden card.’
He did not know what it was, but it would not be beneficial to prolong the current state where his command over the demonic monsters was disrupted.
If those Zhuge Clan bastards reduced the forces of the demonic monsters in the meantime, it would become an ambiguous situation where he achieved neither this nor that.
For now, let’s throw a preemptive strike to test the response.
“Come forth.”
As he burned a talisman and scattered Demonic Qi, a Qingjuebiao that he had kept aside as his guard just in case revealed its form.
“Junior disciple, you take care of that one.”
“Yes.”
After commanding Absolute Shadow thus, Seonwu also advanced toward Sima Muyue.
‘It’ll be troublesome if the formation protecting the collateral branch collapses while we waste time.’
Since neither Seonwu nor Sima Muyue had any intention of dragging out time, they clashed against each other with powerful attacks.
As Seonwu rushed forward, he kicked upward first.
What arose from there was a flame of Extreme Yang.
‘Huh? I thought it was orthodox internal energy that seemed like a mix of Daoist and Buddhist martial arts, but was it an Extreme Yang Skill?’
Tianxia Junlin Bu.
Seonwu had commented that it sounded similar to the Heavenly Demon Reigning Footwork, but it was the ultimate technique of Emperor Guangwu, who resurrected the Later Han.
Its power was the greatest martial art of the era, proven enough to fully revive an empire.
Although Seonwu had not yet reached the same realm as Emperor Guangwu, Sima Muyue could not dare to ignore the tyrannical force of the foot laden with flames.
‘But this much is nothing.’
It was admirable that a Peak Realm state could unleash such a threatening, tyrannical martial art of Extreme Yang, but he had plenty of ways to respond.
A blood-colored Hand Qi Force formed on his hand.
“Remember its name. It is called the Thousand Tribulations Blood Emperor Hand.”
“And it’s not the Five Barbarians and Sixteen Hands?”
The Sima Clan had once briefly taken over the world.
It was just that it immediately led to the grand era of chaos known as the Five Barbarians and Sixteen Kingdoms right after.
Sima Muyue brought down his Hand Qi Force against Seonwu’s kick, which sarcastically mocked that fact, without bothering to reply.
He intended to blow off at least the ankle just like that, but….
Just before the foot was caught by the hand, Seonwu shot out only the Extreme Yang Qi and subtly twisted his body.
With a swiftness that caused Sima Muyue to momentarily lose track of his movement, he slipped to the side.
The Extreme Yang Qi was blocked with the Hand Qi Force, but he failed to catch Seonwu.
A natural connection leading from Emperor Guangwu’s Tianxia Junlin Bu to Jin Wengong’s Zhuyu Tianxia Bu.
“Your footwork is splendid!”
However, Sima Muyue could no longer continue his dynamic praise.
Because he saw the brilliant starlight forming on Seonwu’s sword that followed.
[Neither Flying Nor Crying]
The Sword Qi he had accumulated until now formed Sword Gang, and Seonwu finally drew it out.
‘Sword Gang! To handle Sword Gang despite being at the Peak Realm!’
Even though he was a Transcendental Expert, his body would be sliced into pieces if he tried to take on Sword Gang with an ordinary protective barrier.
Only Gangqi can take on Gangqi.
He had not managed to achieve Body Protective Astral Qi yet.
The Gangqi he could handle was merely the Hand Qi Force formed with both hands.
No longer acting leisurely, he hastily reached for his sword.
‘What is this brat?’
Clearly, what was loaded into the leg technique just a moment ago was Extreme Yang Qi.
But what was loaded into the sword now was orthodox internal energy imbued with a truly pure and lofty energy of subjugating demons.
Was it not an energy that one could believe even if it were called the Peerless Prajna Divine Art of Shaolin?
Clang!
As Gangqi and Gangqi clashed, Sima Muyue barely managed to intercept the sword.
Despite the difference in their realms, because the weight Seonwu had accumulated was so massive, Sima Muyue’s internal force actually shook instead.
‘If the brat’s realm had been just a little higher, my hand would have been greatly injured due to the compatibility of our attributes.’
However, this much shaking of his vital energy and blood was not a major problem.
It was merely a small loss.
He parried the sword and entered the opened space.
As he brandished his hand laden with Hand Qi Force again, countless hand shadows arose and blanketed Seonwu.
Against that, Seonwu also raised his left hand to deal with those hand shadows.
At the same time, the sword in his right hand stabbed toward Sima Muyue once more.
‘My hand is faster.’
Sima Muyue did not bother to revert to defense.
If his hand crushed the brat first, how much power would remain in the sword that followed after?
As long as the Sword Gang dispersed, the rest could be taken on with just the body’s protective qi.
An exquisite harmony of Taiji unfolded from Seonwu’s left hand, neutralizing and scattering the blood-colored hand shadows.
‘No, is this Wudang again? It’s a bit different, but the feeling of the same lineage is unmistakable.’
Sima Muyue felt a sense of absurdity, wondering what on earth this brat was.
Even so, because that realm of Taiji was still a step lacking compared to Sima Muyue, it could not completely neutralize all of the Thousand Tribulations Blood Emperor Hand.
‘The remaining Gangqi is still fully critical. My hand is still ahead of the brat’s sword!’
The hand imbued with blood-colored Gangqi battered Seonwu’s body.
Clang!
A powerful impact sound erupted.
But it did not feel like it hit properly.
Rather, it felt like being blocked after striking a golden wall and iron wall.
‘What… what is this?’
This was not a normal protective qi.
A Transcendental Expert just like himself.
Moreover, it was someone who had properly mastered a protective martial art separately, making his entire body exactly like a fortress wall.
There were not many such protective martial arts under heaven.
“Vajra Indestructible Body?”
Instead of answering, Seonwu counterattacked.
He thrust his sword forward, and though the Thousand Tribulations Blood Emperor Hand had arrived first, it failed to pierce his As-You-Wish Treasure Clothing.
‘If I hadn’t worn the treasure clothing and took it on with just my Vajra Indestructible Divine Art….’
With the Vajra Indestructible Body still at the Peak Realm, he would have suffered some internal injuries.
But it would not have been an injury as severe as Sima Muyue expected, so his own sword would have thrust forward as well, and it would have likely flowed into a sequence where both suffered similar injuries.
‘If it feels unfair, you should wear a treasure clothing too, mister. Oh, come to think of it, since you summoned this many demonic monsters, you must have seen a huge benefit from consumable equipment on your side too?’
There was nothing to feel unfair about.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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