Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 399

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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 399
The Primordial Spirit (元嬰神).
The Primordial Infant and the Primordial Soul.
Only those who had ascended to such an exalted realm that ordinary mortals could not even fathom could generate the true “self”.
To achieve immortal ascension, one must cast off the defilements of the mortal world.
The condition for abandoning one’s earthly flesh and the subsequent acquisition of an immortal’s body was precisely what the Primordial Spirit represented—a spiritual form and a realm of existence.
Yet Honeum had used the Primordial Spirit differently, dividing it to create another version of myself rather than taking it as a true physical form.
The reason was simple.
Honeum was not permitted immortal ascension, heavenly entry, or celestial transcendence.
Such was my fate, and I was an existence that desperately yearned to escape this destiny.
[Honeum. Cheonma.]
In the pitch-black mindscape, it was Hyeol-sin who spoke first.
My avatar and the absolute being revered as a deity by the Blood Sect.
[How strange to be called that. Are we not ultimately one?]
Yeokcheon Singyeo’s Sect Leader, Cheonma. The Blood Sect’s Hyeol-sin.
The two were one, and that one was Honeum.
Yet the title of Cheonma was an intention to separate myself from myself.
[I have only now truly understood. The Bon-jwa… I cannot be called Cheonma.]
Until now, Hyeol-sin had been called Cheonma by the retainers, including Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo.
The distinction between Honeum, Cheonma, and Hyeol-sin had been meaningless.
But now, that could no longer be.
The vacant space left by another avatar, Il-wol-myeon, was proof of this.
[I am merely Hyeol-sin. An avatar eternally devoted to your will. I shall not forget my place, so harbor no concerns.]
[Hyeol-sin, your words and conduct bring joy to this Bon-jwa. You too need not worry. When my long-cherished desire is fulfilled, we shall remain as one.]
Cheonma’s gaze turned toward the vacant space where Il-wol-myeon had been.
[Il-tal’s defection has created a flaw in the plan. Measures are necessary.]
[I shall handle it. I will amplify our strength with more blood.]
There was no need to deliberate on methods.
I had accumulated countless cards held in reserve across countless ages of existence.
[I shall release the Blood Sect’s demonic techniques upon the world.]
The Blood Sect was like a plague.
By merely stabbing and consuming those beside them, they could increase their own power.
No matter how prettily the world dressed itself in words, the first principle of existence was the supremacy of the strong.
Even if the White Path stepped forward, the Black Path and the heterodox sects would frantically learn the Blood Demon Art and begin human sacrifice rituals.
[Hyeol-sin, how fares your child?]
[Do you speak of Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo?]
The mindscape painted a scene.
-Ahhh, Cheonma! Cheonma…!
A devoted child who had even painted her mindscape in the Severing Love Blood Dew, yearning to become an eternal servant of Hyeol-sin.
[She still seeks to draw closer. Unchanging, she desires to become one with me.]
[She will be the greatest fortune you have obtained.]
[I acknowledge it.]
Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo was submerged in a pool of blood.
Hidden from view beneath the surface lay hundreds, perhaps thousands of sect members she had personally slain.
Gu poison. Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo was undergoing the process of being remade anew through blood.
[This is what makes the Blood Sect so convenient. We can increase our followers and use them as pawns without limit.]
The scene shifted.
Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo’s form dissolved, and a new landscape emerged.
-I refuse. Even without your sorcery, this body shall stand alone and endure in solitary supremacy!
A middle-aged man with a physique carved from ten thousand jin of stone was killing someone.
[Byeok-ryeok-san, the Peerless Hero. You ultimately refuse our hand.]
[Had you accepted, you would have become a far more useful pawn than the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng. What a pity.]
The current was gradually becoming a torrent. No—Honeum himself intended to make it so.
In such circumstances, since he had refused to become a pawn, action was necessary.
It was both punishment and response.
[Do you intend to use Yeokcheon Singyeo?]
[That would leave us with regret, I think.]
[Then I shall take charge of Hyeol Sa-ryeon.]
[Do so. Then I shall begin to interfere with the Immortal Realm’s involvement.]
Cheonma flicked his finger.
In that instant, everything vanished.

* * *
Ascending to a new realm is only half the battle; mastering that realm is equally vital.
After the auction at the Baek Family, Yang Hwi secluded himself, devoting every moment to contemplation and cultivation.
As I had done for the past several days, I was deep in meditation within my chamber.
‘Hmm?’
Fluttering, fluttering, fluttering!
The Geom Seon’s scripture unfolded of its own accord, pages turning frantically as if possessed.
Simultaneously, brilliant light flooded the room.
A scene. Or perhaps a landscape.
But not of the present—of the future.
My eyes snapped wide open.
“Father…?”
Empty eyes. A blade piercing through the chest.
It was my father’s death.
‘Insane. What is this?’
The moment shock seized me, the scene shifted.
My father raising his sword before the masses.
Cheers erupted in its wake.
‘Damn it, Sword Immortal. At least offer some explanation before showing me these visions.’
My vision blurred once more.
This time, I—possessed by malice—was locked in a desperate battle against someone.
And then.
Myself, dying.
Conversely, myself, killing another.
Whoooosh—
I closed my eyes and opened them to find the familiar surroundings of my chamber.
The vision had ended.
I immediately unfurled the Geom Seon’s scripture and read it from beginning to end.
And there I discovered new passages.
[One choice determines the future; venture west and obtain something.]
[Seek death and you shall live; seek life and you shall perish.]
[Wager your life, but do not die.]
If you wish to die, you will live, and if you wish to live, you will die.
Do not gamble with your life.
Gamble with your life on the line, but don’t die.
‘The passages I’ve always seen, now accompanied by visions themselves.’
I fell into contemplation.
Had drawing closer to the heavens made the Sword Immortal’s prophecies clearer?
Or perhaps this was a change born from harboring Honeum.
‘Given the concern expressed—oddly enough, warning me not to die—I suppose both explanations hold merit.’
A short laugh escaped me.
Even now, having reached the Harmonization Realm, I had to stake my life.
A thrilling sensation coursed through me. Yet it was far from fear.
“What, haven’t I been doing that all along?”
The Baek Family Heir. The youngest of the Cheonmu-sip-jon. The future greatest under heaven.
That was who I was now.
But the life I had lived as an assassin drifting like a tumbleweed—that was my truest root.
“In a gamble, hesitation means loss. Don’t worry, Sword Immortal. I won’t falter.”
I was whispering softly toward the ceiling when it happened.
Creak!
The door swung open and the Young Scholar thrust his face inside.
“Young Master!”
“Ugh… what brings you here again?”
An inexplicable unease washed over my face.
“What do you mean why! Does a retainer need a reason to visit the Young Master? Hehehehe.”
Kid, you weren’t like this before.
You used to hate it when I came looking for you, always complaining I created strange troubles.
“I see you’re devoted to training today! I always admire your dedication, my loyalty!”
The Young Scholar had changed after that battle with the Great Sea Dragon King and the old master.
“I’ve become devoted to you, Young Master!”
‘He nearly got a fist for that sudden shocking confession.’
Of course, it wasn’t devotion in the romantic sense.
To be precise, the Young Scholar had been struck with creative inspiration watching me hold my own against the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
He’d already produced three novels with me as the protagonist.
‘Well… it’s all the family’s money anyway, so it’s fine…’
Having a grown man cling like this was truly uncomfortable.
“So what’s your business? If there’s nothing, get out.”
“Ah, I came on orders today. A senior disciples’ meeting is about to convene, and you’re requested to attend.”
“Is that so? Let’s go.”
The conference hall was filled not only with the Baek Family retainers but all the senior disciples of the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng.
“You’ve arrived, Hwi.”
“It seems I’m the last. I apologize to all the distinguished guests.”
“Hahaha, when one is devoted to martial arts, tardiness is inevitable. Why be so formal about it?”
“Indeed, that’s true.”
This deference too was the influence of becoming one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
To them, I was a much younger junior, yet simultaneously the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng’s most formidable force.
“Let us share the intelligence each of you has gathered these past days and formally discuss our plans to eliminate the Hyeol Sa-ryeon. Young Scholar?”
“Yes, Alliance Leader. I shall explain the general situation and strategic layout.”
The Young Scholar unfolded a map and pointed to several fortified cities.
“Assuming Jeomchang relocates its main forces toward Sichuan, the Sichuan region where the Tangmen and Jeomchang are located, and Guizhou as the Hyeol Sa-ryeon’s stronghold, lies directly below. To Guizhou’s right is Hunan, and further east lies our Baek Family’s Jiangxi.”
[Sichuan] [Hubei] [Anhui]
[Guizhou] [Hunan] [Jiangxi]
“In other words, we have three options.”
First. Strike directly at Guizhou’s main base through Sichuan.
Second. Launch a pincer attack from Sichuan and Jiangxi to seize Hunan first.
“The second method carries the drawback of having to defeat the Dark Path and demonic sects infesting Hunan.”
So finally, the third option.
“If we strike at Guizhou through Jiangxi, then Guangdong and Guangxi, we can gain everything without loss. This is the conclusion our strategists have reached.”
Guangdong and Guangxi each comprise a province, yet contain no major sects of significance.
Being such remote borderlands, they’re treated as outside the Central Plains rather than truly part of it.
At most, the Hainan Sect is widely known, yet even they remain across the sea on Hainan Island itself.
“Perhaps the Hyeol Sa-ryeon of Guizhou and the Dark Path of Hunan already have their hands reaching into Guangxi and Guangdong?”
“Surely so. However, compared to Guizhou or Hunan, breaking through their defenses would be far easier.”
“What of the first strategy? We now have Cheonmu-sip-jon among our ranks, do we not?”
It was essentially the option to settle matters swiftly through direct confrontation.
“The Deputy Alliance Leader has only recently reached that realm. Meanwhile, the Hyeol Sa-ryeon Master is a perfected expert. I fear we would be at a disadvantage in terms of odds.”
“The Alliance Leader speaks wisely.”
“As for the second strategy, engaging the Hunan Dark Path would weaken our forces, leaving us to face the Hyeol Sa-ryeon with diminished strength. It seems disadvantageous in many respects.”
The senior disciples began voicing their thoughts one by one, and consensus started to form.
“Guangdong and Guangxi possess many unique resources, so making them territories of the Il-wol Alliance would be no loss.”
“Taking our time to gradually expand our influence might indeed be the wiser choice.”
Yang Hwi, who had been observing quietly, slowly raised his eyebrows.
‘Hmm. This won’t do.’
The Baek Family must seize Hunan before year’s end.
The only way to prevent disaster from the predicted famine was through Hunan’s granaries.
For the sake of the people, I couldn’t allow those Dark Path bastards to toy with Hunan’s grain supplies.
‘Moreover, the Sword Immortal’s divination said to head westward.’
From where we are now in Jiangxi, west means either Hunan or Guizhou.
Then….
“May I offer a word?”
“Speak, Deputy Alliance Leader.”
“Though it’s said even a thousand-li journey begins with a single step, is there need to rush so?”
The senior disciples, finding merit in the words, nodded their heads.
However, Baek Moo-ryang’s expression showed surprise.
His son, who had urged the conquest of Hunan since last year and shown urgency, now spoke thus—it was strange.
“The Hyeol Sa-ryeon is the greatest demonic sect under heaven. We must prepare sufficiently. So….”
“So?”
“Let’s strike Baek Hwa-mun!”
Silence fell over the gathering for a moment.
“…Where?”
“The Baek Hwa-mun! Those bastards who came by last time spouting nonsense!”
Baek Hwa-mun.
A branch sect that had split off from the Cheon-u Geom-sin, the founding patriarch of the Baek Family, and one of the Heavenly-grade martial sects of Baek Do.
“Aren’t they a legitimate orthodox sect?”
“I know!”
“…Deputy Alliance Leader. Is Baek Do suggesting that Baek Do fight Baek Do?”
Yang Hwi answered with confidence.
“Yes!”
“….”
“….”
“….”
The others could not match Yang Hwi’s boldness.
“Hehehehe, why don’t you hear me out first.”
Those bastards who had suddenly appeared and engaged in foolish schemes about political marriages and such.
I had always intended to deal with them, and now the opportunity had presented itself perfectly.

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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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