The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 39

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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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Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family – Chapter 39

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was a religious organization that had established itself in the Tianshan Mountain Range.
They were what people called the Demonic Sect.
Their power surpassed even the combined strength of the Orthodox Martial World. In particular, their leader, the Heavenly Demon, was such an exceptional martial master that people openly spoke of him as the greatest expert under heaven.
Yet they were about to rise in rebellion.
“Is… is that certain?”
Father asked with a trembling voice.
He clearly found it hard to believe.
I nodded with conviction in response.
“According to intelligence gathered from the Wuzhu Sect, the Black Night City operatives have been tirelessly working to sow discord between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Orthodox factions. They’re even covertly active in various regions as we speak.”
“That can’t be!”
“The two forces have never been on good terms to begin with. If the right catalyst appears, a war between the Orthodox and Demonic sects could erupt at any moment. But what if there’s a faction secretly orchestrating their conflict?”
War would inevitably break out.
On a massive scale at that.
This was history that had actually unfolded in my previous life.
An invasion by tens of thousands of demonic cultivators.
And the desperate resistance of the Orthodox Martial World in response.
Countless people died, and many sects vanished into history.
It was precisely for this reason that Black Night City could attack the Bukcheon Sword Family without restraint.
The chaos outside was so overwhelming that no one paid attention even as the Bukcheon Sword Family faced annihilation.
“Of course, I’m not saying war will break out immediately. Initially, both sides will attempt to resolve matters through diplomacy. But the Black Night City operatives won’t allow things to proceed so peacefully.”
“So they’ll incite war by any means necessary.”
“If a war between the Orthodox and Demonic sects erupts, it becomes far easier for them to operate. Moreover, the forces that would normally oppose them would destroy each other in mutual annihilation—something they’ll absolutely strive to achieve.”
“Hmm…”
“Then, Young Master, are you intending to prevent the coming war between the Orthodox and Demonic sects?”
At Sa Gong-cheon’s question, I shook my head.
“No. I’ll make an effort, of course, but I won’t stake everything on it.”
“Pardon?”
“Because it’s fundamentally impossible. Think about it. If I were to appeal for peace in this ominous atmosphere where war might break out, claiming that all of this is someone’s conspiracy, what would happen?”
“…Both sides would tell me to stop spouting nonsense.”
At Moyong Hyun-rak’s words, I nodded.
“Exactly. Without clear evidence, that’s precisely what would occur.”
Even with evidence, it would be the same.
People whose eyes are already clouded with rage toward their enemies wouldn’t be swayed by such arguments.
Moreover, weren’t there quite a few Black Night City spies embedded within both factions?
‘I myself barely know who belongs to Black Night City except for those connected to the Bukcheon Sword Family. If I act without knowing who the spies are, I’ll certainly face backlash.’
They would manipulate public opinion to incite war by any means necessary.
In that process, I and the Bukcheon Sword Family risked being marked as dangerous obstacles to their plans and eliminated.
No, it was bound to happen that way.
It was obvious without even looking.
“Sigh. Then I suppose we must simply watch as the Righteous and Evil factions clash?”
“Of course, as I mentioned earlier, I will attempt to prevent it. However, rather than focusing on that, I wish to direct my efforts elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere?”
“Making our family prosperous and strong.”
“…!”
Everyone’s expressions shifted to surprise. I addressed those gathered here with a serious face.
“I will speak frankly. To me, myself and my people are far more important than strangers whose names I do not know. Ah, this is not limited to the Bukcheon Sword Family alone. I speak of all those who have formed bonds with me and entered within my circle.”
“….”
“Therefore, I wish to protect them against the approaching storm. And to do so, I need strength—power incomparably greater than what we possess now.”
“And the method to achieve this is to develop the family?”
“Yes. Though we are called the foremost family of Sanseo, when measured against the entire martial world, we are not such a formidable force. However, I wish to transform the Bukcheon Sword Family into an unbreakable great tree—like the days when Bukcheon’s name once commanded the heavens.”
“Ah!”
Suddenly, Great-Uncle let out an exclamation. He grasped my hand firmly in his large palm and cried out.
“A truly magnificent aspiration! Yes! A man of Bukcheon must have such ambitions. Hehehehe!”
“I agree as well. If an unavoidable storm approaches, we must certainly build our house sturdily to prepare. Moreover, strengthening the family is something we should have been doing regardless of this matter, is it not?”
“Indeed. The Patriarch speaks true. We who are gathered here are members of the Bukcheon Sword Family, and we have always had the duty to make our family prosperous and strong.”
“Though I am not, mind you.”
Moyong Hyun-rak spoke with a sullen expression.
I laughed upon seeing him and replied.
“What do you mean you are not? Moyong Hyun-rak, you are already as good as family to us. Are you not our Honorary Elder?”
“What? When did I become your Honorary Elder….”
“From the moment you demonstrated the latter half of the Thirteen Swords of Heaven and Earth to me. It was confirmed when you fought alongside us against the villains of Black Night City.”
“….”
“Moyong Hyun-rak. I have been meaning to thank you. I am truly grateful for helping my son.”
Father spoke thus and bowed respectfully.
Moyong Hyun-rak did not seem displeased, letting out a small cough.
“If you accept me as an Honorary Elder, the Moyong Clan will likely be quite displeased.”
“If we are to welcome you as family, what does it matter if the Moyong Clan dislikes it? What matters is only your own will. And it seems you do not view being with us so unfavorably.”
“Hmph. It is simply that being with you seems to provide more opportunities to advance my martial arts.”
“The reason matters little. Soon I shall make you love the entire Bukcheon Sword Family.”
“Ha.”
Moyong Hyun-rak scoffed as if amused, but I knew the truth.
That he possessed far more affection than was commonly known.
Father and the Iron Blood Sword Captain both have gentle, easygoing natures, so they will get along well in the future.
I clapped my hands as if to signal we were done.
Clap!
“For now, I have said all I wished to say. That Black Night City is targeting us, that they likely will not extend their claws directly in the immediate future, and that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult will soon rise to prominence.”
“The discussion was complex, but the conclusion is simple. We need only do our best in our respective positions.”
“Great-Uncle is absolutely right. Let us each fulfill our assigned roles with excellence and maximize the family’s capabilities. Everyone here has an important part to play, and I trust in all of you.”
“Hmph. You speak well enough. Take this.”
Moyong Hyun-rak let out a scoff and handed me something.
It was an inner core the size of a boulder.
“What is this?”
“The inner core of the Inface Demon. Wasn’t it you who took on the task of processing it?”
“You’re giving this to me?”
“I simply thought it natural that whoever defeated him should claim the spoils. Besides, it seems it would be more useful to you than to me.”
“As expected of our esteemed guest elder. I gratefully accept.”
I smiled broadly and received the inner core.
Then Moyong Hyun-rak spoke as if tossing out a casual remark.
“It’s not quite as potent as the poison spring, but given that it belonged to the Inface Demon, it will certainly harbor considerable toxic qi. Do you know how to suppress such poison?”
“The traditional method would be to obtain an antidote specific to the Inface Demon’s poison and neutralize it through combination. However, I will not be doing that.”
“What?”
Not only Moyong Hyun-rak but everyone else stared at me with expressions of disbelief.
Yet I was confident.
My Vajra Yaksha Divine Art, already developed to a considerable level, had granted me substantial resistance to poison.
“Then let us adjourn this gathering for now. You all have much to attend to.”
We dispersed, each heading to our respective administrative offices.
After requesting Sa Gong-cheon to stand guard, I sat in lotus position in the center of the Training Grounds.
Simultaneously, I enveloped my entire body in Vajra Yaksha qi.
Golden radiance flooded through me, beginning to shield my entire form. Only then did I toss the inner core into my mouth and begin to chew and swallow.
‘Certainly pungent.’
To call it merely pungent—any martial artist below the first rank would have had their insides melted away.
The Inface Demon’s inner core harbored toxic qi far more potent than Moyong Hyun-rak had warned, though not quite as fierce as the poison spring itself.
Yet with my body already shielded by Vajra Yaksha qi, I felt only a slight tingling sensation.
‘Slowly.’
I gradually drew in the qi from the boulder-sized inner core.
The Inface Demon’s toxic essence absorbed throughout my body.
In the process, I felt my body’s resistance to poison grow far stronger than before.
It seemed the toxic qi, undergoing detoxification within me, was working to my advantage.
How much time had passed?
After circulating the Grand Heavenly Cycle countless times, I rose from my position.
“Ugh.”
As my concentration broke, I became aware of a foul stench.
As I absorbed the inner core’s qi, the residual toxins that had become useless and the waste matter from within my body were expelled outward together.
I expressed my gratitude to Sa Gong-cheon, who had maintained his vigil for more than two days, and bathed.
Afterward, we shared a light meal together, and I examined the changes in my body.
‘Satisfactory.’
The result was a complete success.
My muscles had become more elastic and stronger, my skin more resilient, and the inner energy settled in my dantian had grown denser.
And through the cultivation of the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art, that accumulated inner energy had expanded my meridians and purified them completely.
In other words, my inner energy circulation had become faster than before.
‘At this level, I should no longer fear opponents at the peak realm.’
Even among those at the same peak level, the quality of one’s physical body had fundamentally changed.
I had now acquired physical capabilities incomparable to my former self.
Perhaps I could even hold my own against Shaolin monks who had mastered the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art?
‘Still, I cannot afford to be careless once actual combat begins.’
As I lived on, I could never know when or what kind of enemy might emerge.
There could be enemies with superior physical abilities, or those at a similar realm who possessed extraordinary techniques.
To face such opponents, I could not simply rest on what I had achieved.
I needed to fully master everything I currently possessed, then seek out new paths to strengthen myself further.
‘To do that….’
My thoughts turned first to the other arrangements the Founder had left behind.
The Pungsin Sword.
I had not yet mentioned it to Father and Great-Uncle, fearing too much information would cause confusion, but if I could find the authentic artifact itself, might I not gain some assistance in my growth?
Just as I had advanced through the Pungsin Dance, this seemed entirely plausible.
‘It was said to likely be hidden within the Martial Alliance.’
And reflecting on my memories from my first life, I seemed to recall hearing that a member of the Martial Alliance had obtained a fortuitous encounter in their warehouse.
Of course, that person had died for an absurd reason and was quickly buried….
Could that incident somehow be related to the Pungsin Sword?
‘It is certainly worth investigating.’
With that thought, I began considering how to make contact with the Martial Alliance.
Fortunately, opportunities would soon present themselves. Before long, the Martial Alliance would send an invitation to the Bukcheon Sword Family.
‘Using that, I should be able to investigate without difficulty.’
That settled, but now….
‘It should be about time for the other visitor to arrive.’
The guest coming from Sichuan.
I was deep in such thoughts when it happened.
Sa Gong-cheon came to me with something to report.
“Young Master. There is someone who wishes to see you.”
“Who?”
Sa Gong-cheon hesitated briefly before answering.
“The granddaughter of the First Sword of Sichuan.”
She had arrived.
I smiled faintly.

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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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