Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 365

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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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Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 365
“Let’s head to the Kunlun Sect.”
Jegal Seol-ha objected, her expression still grave.
“Brother, this is hardly the time for sightseeing. Based on the aura alone, it’s the Dae Ma-du, right now.”
My sudden remark seemed to have caused a misunderstanding.
Now that I think about it, the time has come to share something about the Geom Seon’s Destiny.
Until now, I’d spoken in jest about being a hero sent by heaven, about perceiving the will of fate and such.
But I’d never spoken of it seriously.
‘Well, everyone here is trustworthy anyway.’
Adu and Neung-o, who had risked their lives to stop Seon.
Chu Dal, whom I’d rescued—or rather, abducted—as a child and raised well.
And Seol-ha, needless to say.
“Seol-ha. Do you see these characters here?”
“Characters? Just some scribbles?”
So she can’t see them after all.
In that case.
“Read my mental landscape.”
Seol-ha furrowed her brow with curiosity, focusing her gaze intently.
I opened my mental landscape and transmitted my thoughts to match.
“Well? Could you see it?”
“Yes… it’s real. So there were characters that only appeared to you, brother.”
Seol-ha’s Dao-hwa Eye could perceive the form and emotions within a mental landscape, but if I opened my mind directly and transmitted my intent, even this was possible.
Just as Baek Heon-nang-wang had left his mental landscape within a pearl to convey his final words.
“I’ve been receiving directives from Geom Seon. All those things you couldn’t understand until now? They were all because of him.”
Chu Dal suddenly raised an objection.
“All of them? Truly all of them? That doesn’t seem right.”
“Tsk. It’s all the old master’s fault.”
While Chu Dal wore a suspicious expression, Neung-o gazed skyward and chanted a mantra.
“Amitabha Buddha. So Geom Seon from the Immortal Realm has been accompanying Dou. No wonder whenever Bin-do stands beside Dou, his swordsmanship seems to polish itself even further. So that’s why.”
Hmm, I don’t think that’s quite it.
“Isn’t it just that chaos erupts wherever I am, and you all enjoy the excitement, so you keep following me around?”
“Geom Seon, I beseech you to allow this Neung-o’s swordsmanship to reach you.”
He doesn’t seem to hear me.
“In any case, Geom Seon says to go to the Kunlun Sect. He must have some solution in mind.”
“Kunlun is famous for its demon-slaying techniques, so there might be a way, brother.”
“Besides, it’s on the way to the Western Fortress, so it’s convenient to stop by.”
“Haha, Kunlun! I’ll get to see plenty of scenery. How exciting.”
Anticipation began to gleam in Seol-ha’s eyes.
Kunlun.
To the people of the Central Plains, Kunlun was perceived as a paradise or utopia existing in the mortal realm.
In mythology, it was also the dwelling place of the Queen Mother of the West and where she cultivated the Peaches of Immortality.
‘I’ve even heard that it sits at the heart of the dragon veins, and the qi accumulated there is no trivial matter.’
For this reason, Kunlun had long been regarded as the Heavenly Gate—a place where heaven itself could be reached.
“Hehe, I hear Kunlun’s Taeheo Yong-hyung Sword is unparalleled. I should seize this chance to witness it firsthand.”
“Is there good food in Kunlun?”
“They say the mountain terrain is so exquisite. If we ascend high using lightness kung fu and take in the view, it’ll be spectacular, won’t it? We could even play a tune on the zither from the peaks!”
Everyone felt their hearts quicken at the prospect of this new journey.
“But here’s the thing.”
It was Chu Dal again.
“How do we get to Kunlun? It’s thousands of li from here.”
“How? We use lightness kung fu and bound along. When we tire, we rest at nearby inns, enjoy some good food, and continue on.”
“And we mustn’t forget to visit famous scenic spots along the way! After all, we’re on a proper sightseeing journey!”
“….”
Chu Dal fell silent and quietly pointed at Yang Hwi’s dantian.
Only then did everyone understand.
“Ah.”
“Demonic qi.”
“If that’s discovered, it won’t end well, will it?”
“We’d be marked as public enemies of the martial world.”
Demonic qi emanates an eerie aura by its very nature.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t demonic qi but rather a more purely refined form of spectral essence, which made the ominousness all the more potent.
If I could control it, I would have sealed it deep within my dantian, but now.
“Sniff. We can’t eat good food?”
Following Adu’s whimper, Jegal Seol-ha shot me a piercing glare.
“We’ve seen all the scenic spots already? Thanks to you, brother?”
“….”
I could only become a fool who had eaten honey and could not speak.
Thousands of li to Kunlun.
Confirmed—using only lightness kung fu the entire way and sleeping under the stars!

* * *
About a month later. The foothills of the Kunlun Mountains.
Four beggars were climbing the mountain path.
“Ugh. Ugh! I can’t take this anymore!”
“….”
Seol-ha’s lament.
I remained silent.
“Elder brother. So this must be what your childhood felt like.”
Chu Dal’s sarcasm about how we’d all ended up looking like beggars.
I remained silent.
“Sword wielder. How filthy. I should cut down this corrupted energy and cultivate something pure….”
Neung-o’s gaze turned toward me, drool streaming from my lips.
“I’m hungry….”
Adu, clutching his stomach as he walked, also stared at my forearm… wait, hold on.
No matter what, it’s not right for a monk to drool while looking at a person, is it?
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry to all of you! We’ve arrived, so just hold on a little longer, yes? Just a little longer. I’ll even kneel if I have to!”
“Really? You’ll kneel?”
“Right now.”
“And give us sparring matches whenever we want.”
“What about food? Does food appear if you kneel?”
“….”
A month. A full month it had been.
It seemed kneeling alone couldn’t relieve the hardship we’d endured.
‘Damn it, my energy is remarkably clear despite everything.’
This was the Kunlun Mountains, called the Heavenly Gate.
Even at the foothills, the spiritual essence permeating the air was extraordinary—breathing alone felt purifying.
Because of this, the demonic energy leaking from me felt all the more potent.
That was when it happened.
“Hmm?”
“Someone comes.”
“We should wait then.”
The three Transcendent Masters stopped walking.
Only Chu Dal, who remained at the peak stage, wore a confused expression.
“Did you sense something?”
“Yes. Ah, you’re at the peak stage, Chu Dal. Right, my apologies for being inconsiderate.”
“…?”
“But shouldn’t someone at the peak stage sense this much? It’s been so long since my peak days that my memory is a bit fuzzy.”
“Elder brother, you were just boasting about having absolute memory not long ago. And being a peak-stage master at your age is already remarkable.”
“That’s how long it’s been. But peak-stage master? Since when did ‘master’ get attached to the peak stage? Call yourself a peak-stage novice instead, Chu Dal.”
“….”
Chu Dal cast a hopeful glance toward his companions, but unfortunately, no one stood with him.
The sorrow of being the only one at the peak of the Highest Realm.
‘Damn it, I will reach Transcendent Master no matter what…!’
As he brooded, Taoists emerged one after another, encircling the group.
“How dare a demon attempt to breach the Jade Mountain!”
“Kneel at once, you wretch!”
They opened with hostility from the very start, shouting threats.
Well, it couldn’t be helped because of the demonic aura.
-Brother, but Jade Mountain? Is that the name of a small mountain near Kunlun?
This fool was supposed to be in charge of intelligence, yet he didn’t even know this.
-Kunlun is the Jade Mountain, you idiot.
Jade has long been regarded as a symbol of spirituality and immortality among precious stones.
Since jade is abundantly produced in Kunlun, the people there affectionately call it the Jade Mountain.
“Are your ears stuffed? I said kneel, all of you!”
“Honored Taoists of the Kunlun Sect, I would appreciate it if you would hear me out for a moment.”
“Silence and kneel!”
….
I gazed at the Old Taoist shouting at the front.
No matter how much the demonic aura was to blame… this fellow certainly had a talent for rubbing people the wrong way.
-Brother, don’t.
-Hm? Don’t what?
-Don’t do it. Just behave.
‘This Seol-ha… she’s certainly spent enough time with me. How did she know?’
Something felt off, though.
The Kunlun Sect wasn’t normally the type to mobilize like this.
“I shall kneel. Please, hear me out for a moment.”
I knelt smoothly.
Some people thought kneeling was a great loss of face, but Yang Hwi didn’t particularly mind.
It gained momentum and served the purpose well enough.
“I am called Baek from the Central Plains. Did you all gather because of my demonic aura?”
“You dare release such a vile aura openly and expect us to ignore it?”
The Old Taoist began emanating killing intent.
“Demon, seal your dantian at once. If you do, I shall not pursue the crime of breaching the Jade Mountain.”
Even after kneeling and complying, his response was quite unreasonable.
Hostility toward demons was natural, but still.
The fact that they’d gathered in a mob like this felt strange.
-Brother. Perhaps it would be better to subdue them first and talk later.
The number of Taoists who had gathered totaled ten.
With four Transcendent Masters on our side, Chu Dal calculated that subduing them without casualties would be possible.
However.
-Chu Dal.
-Yes?
-A transcendent master has transcended once more. Half of those Taoists over there are Transcendent Masters.
-What? How is that possible?
It’s entirely possible. We’re talking about Kunlun, after all.
-But when we saw Kunlun at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, their Hu Gi-jisu wasn’t that impressive, was he? Young Master Jegal Hwa-un defeated him without difficulty in mere hundreds of seconds.
Tsk. This fool needs more seasoning before he’s useful.
Someone who handles intelligence should have known Gu-pa’s circumstances inside and out by now.
-What you saw was merely the Yunlong Lineage of Kunlun, and Kunlun never cared much for fame in the Central Plains to begin with. Can’t you tell from their remote location?
Kunlun, positioned on the border between Qinghai and Western Tibet.
In truth, Kunlun was barely worthy of being called a sect.
Dozens of immortal lineages had merely gathered on Kunlun Mountain to cultivate immortality.
Only the Yunlong Lineage among them conducted external activities out of necessity.
-Mark my words—now that Hwa-san has declined and the Shamans are broken, Kunlun is the strongest among the Nine Sects. In terms of martial prowess, at least.
-To… to that extent, you say?
And there’s one more thing I haven’t mentioned yet, you fool.
It’s not certain yet, but since it crossed my mind, I should investigate starting now.
“Venerable Taoists, I inquire: Kunlun is indeed called a sect, yet it is a place where multiple martial lineages cultivate immortality, is it not? It appears that not only the Yunlong Lineage representing external activities, but disciples from multiple lineages are gathered here. Might something be amiss?”
I asked calmly, thoughtfully, and kindly, hoping to continue the conversation.
“A demon has no business knowing such things. If you do not seal your dantian, we will suppress you and seal it ourselves.”
My words were cut off in an instant.
Hmm. I’ve shown considerable restraint, haven’t I?
-Sir, I told you not to do that?
…She’s like a ghost, really.
-Allow me to step forward.
Seol-ha took a step ahead and unfastened the Heavenly Sound Pipa from her back.
Cha-rang, cha-ra-rang, cha-rang.
Beautiful melodies have a way of soothing the spirit.
Having captured everyone’s attention with a single performance, Seol-ha bowed with elegance.
It was a skill, being elegant despite her ragged appearance.
“I am Jegal Seol-ha, a disciple of the Seongeeum Okryeong School. Might any of you have connections to our sect?”
The Seongeeum Okryeong School—like the Taoists of Kunlun, a single-lineage immortal sect pursuing the realm of the divine through cultivation.
Though a mysterious sect, with the current sect master being Cheonmu-sip-jon Pacheon Eumhu, it was impossible not to know of them.
“I am Bin-do of the Gonok Martial Lineage. Why does a disciple of Venerable Pacheon Eumhu travel with a demon?”
The Old Taoist asked with a furrowed brow.
-Oh, brother. We can’t tell him the truth, can we?
-Of course not.
If it becomes known that a member of the Baek Family harbors demonic energy, there would be far too much to clean up afterward.
Even if we were to reveal it, I had no intention of laying bare such matters before ten unfamiliar Taoists.
-This is enough, Seol-ha. I’ll take it from here.
If I can’t reveal my identity, there’s no way I’m leaving easily.
Then I’ll just have to take the crooked path.
As I straightened my bent knees and stood up, the Taoists immediately raised their swords.
Regardless, I leaned on one leg.
“Let’s end this conversation here, shall we?”
“You fool, do you not value your own life?”
“Looking at it plainly, all your companions are clearly Taoist or Buddhist practitioners, yet you carry on like this—it seems there’s nothing more to say.”
“How would we know what you’ve done or trust you?”
“Yeol-ram Dou, this one has clearly used sorcery to bewitch the Venerable’s disciples and innocent people.”
They seemed to think I was about to pull off some hostage situation.
Well, I suppose I understand somewhat.
But there’s no need to take the long way when the short path is right here.
“Enough of that. Just open the path for me. Even better if you assign a guide. I’ve come to meet the Divine Dragon Immortal.”
“…!”
“…!”
“How do you…?”
The Kunlun Taoists fell into collective shock.
They had no choice.
From the mouth of a demon radiating malevolent energy, the name of one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon had been spoken—and not just any name, but the alias of a Taoist so renowned he was called an Immortal.
‘As expected, I was right.’
I inwardly rejoiced.
The Divine Dragon Immortal.
The most mysterious absolute being among the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
Geom Seon’s indication pointed to this, and I threw it out as a probe—but their reaction confirms it.
‘The rumor that the Divine Dragon Immortal came from Kunlun was true after all.’
Well, then it’s obvious.
The reason Geom Seon told me to go to Kunlun must have been because of the Divine Dragon Immortal.
“If the Cheonmu-sip-jon appears, a mere demon like me would be cut down in a single stroke. Let’s not bother each other with sweat and keep this simple!”
As I spoke excitedly, Chu Dal sent me a transmission.
-Brother. Pacheon Eumhu, the Taeguk Sword Master, the Great Sea Dragon King—and now you’re trying to extract something from the Divine Dragon Immortal too?
-Brother, you really are something.
I felt a pang of guilt.
Chu Dal had become just as sharp as Seol-ha.
“So, make your decision! Either open the path or we’ll have to fight—though I can’t actually do that.”
With five Transcendent Masters here, I’d have to use my true divine martial arts.
If I did that, rumors would spread that Eung-hyo Je-il became a demon, that Jeom Chang Jang-mun-in and Yeoilrakbul, and Pacheon Eumhu’s disciple travel with demons.
“If you don’t open the path, I’ll escape at full power! I’ll sneak back in again and go meet the Immortal! Doesn’t that sound annoying just hearing about it? What will you do?”
That was when it happened.
“Stop right there.”
“Whoa, you startled me!”
I started in surprise.
A handsome young man had appeared beside me without warning and whispered.
“Quite the intriguing collection you carry, Dou.”
Divine Dragon Immortal.
A mysterious absolute being mentioned among the Cheonmu-sip-jon far longer ago than even Seon, who was an ancient monster over two hundred years old.
“So, you wanted to see me?”
A face with ruddy complexion—youthful and appearing no more than in his early twenties.
Divine Dragon Immortal smiled gently.

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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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