Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 407

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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 407
The Divine Concealment Meridian, the Shadow Spirit Gate.
A martial lineage so renowned in the martial world that the character for “Divine” appears in its descriptors.
Yet Chu Dal, the successor, knew well that the Shadow Spirit Gate had little to do with martial combat itself.
‘Even the Silver Shadow Severing Technique, the only method I actually use in combat, was originally created for sneaking into places or snatching objects.’
This was why the Shadow Spirit Gate’s signature weapon was ten strands of Heavenly Silk Thread.
Not a martial art designed to kill enemies through direct confrontation, but rather a technique for extending threads into unreachable places or pulling objects toward oneself.
Because of this, I never believed I could reach the pinnacle realm.
‘Besides, I’m only twenty-four years old now. The pinnacle realm? That’s absurd.’
Even the most gifted prodigies in the world only enter the pinnacle realm after reaching their thirties.
In other words, I would have to endure Yang Hwi’s mockery of being at the lower echelon of the pinnacle realm for at least another decade.
But.
Despite all this, I possessed one strength in which I was confident I could surpass anyone.
‘Sneaking in unseen—that is the true ideal our Shadow Spirit Gate pursues!’
Though Yang Hwi had cast suspicious glances, he ultimately entrusted me with this task.
I was given the important responsibility of tailing what was certainly a high-ranking member of the Blood Sect.
‘I must succeed, if only to repay his kindness.’
To be honest, I still felt no particular sense of belonging to the Baek Family.
More precisely, while I recognized it as home, I couldn’t say I would sacrifice everything for it.
But my feelings toward Yang Hwi were different.
The reason was simple.
“Remember this, my son. One can only live as a human if they repay kindness, even if they forget their grudges.”
My father, who had been an assassin. My father, who fell in love with my mother and broke the unspoken law of the assassin sect.
As a result, I lost my parents and was raised as a weapon by the assassin sect.
“Do not walk the same path as your father.”
‘Don’t worry, Father. I am walking a different path.’
There were two benefactors who made this possible.
First, the person who rescued me from some nameless assassin faction—I can barely remember the name now.
And second was Yang Hwi.
A benefactor who not only gave me a new life but also accepted me as a sworn brother, someone raised by the assassin sect, and grew up alongside me.
My older brother, who has now reached the supreme realm of Radiant Enlightenment.
‘For someone at the pinnacle realm to be of use… I need to excel at something like this.’
And fortunately, I had no doubts.
No doubts about failure.
Why? Because, as I said, I was the successor to the Divine Concealment Meridian, the greatest under heaven.
‘But where exactly is this bastard heading?’
The Hunan region is generally characterized by flatlands, with vast granary areas distributed throughout.
There’s even a saying: “When Hunan’s harvest ripens, the realm has enough.” Such is the region’s abundance.
Yet it wasn’t entirely without treacherous terrain.
For instance, there were mountainous areas in the west and south that served as the boundary between Jiangxi and Hunan.
‘This place… is it near Hyeong-san?’
The mountain where Hyeong-san Faction, once a member of Gu-pa, had been situated.
After the Blood Sect Leader, the Heuk-do Faction had taken root here and dared to call themselves the Hyeong-san Faction.
‘That bastard who invaded Gangseong and got his head cleaved off by my brother… wasn’t his name Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol?’
In any case, this place was a strategic point where crossing the mountain range connected geographically would lead directly to Gangseong… Tch!
Chu Dal hastily shrank his body and devoted himself entirely to concealment techniques.
Because his opponent was such a master, he reacted immediately to the faintest aura that leaked out during his thoughts.
‘If not for the Shadow Unity Technique, I would have been discovered instantly.’
Shadow Unity Technique. True to its name, a secret concealment art that hides the body by becoming one with shadows.
If one mastered the Shadow Unity Technique, one of the supreme techniques of the Spirit Ghost Sect, one could hide even from masters of the highest caliber.
Wherever light cast and shadows fell, especially at night.
‘Fortunately, it’s night—I survived.’
The Blood Oath Ascetic moved to the very peak of Hyeong-san.
There were numerous halls everywhere, as if this had been where the Hyeong-san Faction once stood, but they were all dilapidated and shabby.
It seemed abandoned ever since the Hyeong-san Faction led by Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol was exterminated.
Well, if they were bandits it would be one thing, but a normal Heuk-do Faction typically established themselves in the back alleys of cities.
That bastard Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol was the strange one.
‘There are quite a lot of Blood Sect cultists. At this level, they exceed the Blood Demon Corps my brother gathered.’
The Blood Oath Ascetic entered the interior of a large hall located deep within.
To learn anything more, he would need to seep into the interior of the hall where Blood Sect cultists lurked in groups.
‘I can do this. I’m the thief who once sneaked in undetected even into the Namgung Family.’
After encouraging himself once more, Chu Dal deployed the Shadow Unity Technique to its fullest and melted into the eaves of the hall.

* * *
Yang Hwi couldn’t help but offer genuine praise when Chu Dal returned.
“How impressive, brother. It seems you’ve accomplished something truly remarkable!”
Watching the boastful Chu Dal, I felt not the slightest urge to strike him—such was the magnitude of his achievement.
“Well done, you rascal. From now on, you are Fifty-Li Chu Dal.”
“Fifty-Li? What does that mean?”
Come to think of it, I hadn’t played with numbers in quite some time.
With Chu Dal’s memory, it’s no wonder he forgot.
“Don’t you remember? Keep striving until you become Hundred-Li Chu Dal.”
“Surely this is the moment to shower even more praise, wouldn’t you say?”
Fair point.
I patted his head.
“Ugh, not that!”
“This brat!”
I was about to flick him on the forehead, but given his recent accomplishments, I let it slide.
“Anyway. The Blood Sect suspects that Injoong Sinma is actually me, correct?”
“That’s right. The Cheonma knows you possess demonic energy.”
It was a natural conclusion. A Transcendent-rank demonic expert had suddenly appeared, and worse, he was using the very alias “Injoong Sinma” that had been employed in the Western Pavilion.
“It’s strange that they have suspicion rather than certainty. From their perspective, it should obviously be me.”
“They mentioned something about a ‘Valley,’ but I couldn’t catch the details. Perhaps there’s a force in Honam we don’t know about.”
‘So there’s one significant variable we’re unaware of. A Valley, you say…’
Since nothing came to mind immediately, I set it aside for now and moved on.
Yang Hwi’s expression grew serious.
“Is it true they plan to attack the Baek Family after reinforcing their numbers with Blood Demons from Honam?”
“That much is certain.”
The reason… well, there was no need to ask.
In truth, the reason hardly mattered.
I drew a diagram on the ground.
[Hyeol Sa-ryeon] [Injoong Sinma] [Blood Sect] [Baek Family]
And.
[Unknown Force]
There were five factions currently operating in the shadows of Honam.
Ah, if we counted the small-time rabble of Honam, that made six.
Regardless.
“Chu Dal. Seolha.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Speak.”
“We’re dividing our forces in two and attacking the Baek Family effective immediately.”
“…What?!”
“Brother, are you in your right mind?”
Then I’m in my right mind, that’s for sure.
“I need to make those Blood Sect bastards choose the strategy of using one against the other.”
Injoong Sinma isn’t certain that Gae-cheon-sin-eung exists?
That means there’s an unidentified force that includes a master of the Hwa-gyeong level.
At least from the Blood Sect’s perspective, if they believe this, it explains why their certainty becomes mere suspicion.
Then.
“I need to make Injoong Sinma’s Blood Demon Corps and the unidentified force known only to the Demonic Sect appear as one and the same.”

* * *
Baek Moo-ryang gazed southward with a tense expression.
More precisely, at the mountain pass that connected Honam to Baek Hwa-mun’s sphere of influence here.
Behind Baek Moo-ryang stood the elite forces of the Baek Family, including not just Baek Hwa-mun but all the Baek Hwa-gak members, arrayed in formation.
“Family Head, there is approximately half a double-hour remaining until the time Injoong Sinma announced.”
Injoong Sinma—a master of the Hwa-gyeong level from the Demonic Path whom Yang Hwi had once investigated during his covert travels.
Days ago, Injoong Sinma had destroyed an entire major faction and declared that the Baek Family would be next.
Since then, the Baek Family had entered emergency status and prepared for battle, and now the announced time had finally arrived.
“Still no word from Hwi?”
Gu Ak, the retainer who stood beside Baek Moo-ryang, lowered his head.
“Yes… I received a message that he would arrive on time, but he has not yet appeared.”
“This is grave. It’s possible… that today will determine the very fate of our main family.”
A master of the Hwa-gyeong level is equivalent to an entire major sect by themselves.
This is why they are called the Ten Celestial Martial Experts and are revered as such.
‘If I consider the Blood Demons under Injoong Sinma’s command as well, our chances of victory are very slim without Hwi’s aid.’
But I had to prevail.
If the Baek Family fell here, the Blood Demons would pour out beyond Honam.
‘I will stake everything I have to win. I will protect my retainers.’
That is the duty of a Family Head.
Just as Baek Moo-ryang steeled his resolve and sharpened his mind and spirit, it happened.
Kwaaaaaang!
A thunderous sound echoing from beyond the mountain pass.
“Family Head, combat appears to have erupted!”
“It’s the Young Master! He must have arrived early and struck first!”
Even without the subordinate’s report, it was clear.
Beyond the ridge, a pitch-black aura and a pure white radiance were colliding.
“Move immediately and support Hwi!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes, sir!”
Even as Baek Moo-ryang and his elite unleashed their lightness martial arts to their peak and crossed the mountain pass, it was already too late.
The black radiance and white radiance emanating from the two warriors, Injoong Sinma and Gae-cheon-sin-eung, had already separated by hundreds of paces.
Those who could leap dozens of zhang in a single stride were none other than the Cheonmu-sip-jon, so there was nothing strange about it.
‘Can I not help Hwi….’
The sense of helplessness was brief. Baek Moo-ryang’s eyes hardened with resolve once more.
Doing one’s best meant accomplishing what could be done in the present moment.
Dozens of zhang away, the Blood Demons were rushing in pursuit of the white and black lights.
“Everyone, listen! After we annihilate the Blood Demons, we aid Hwi!”
Though I had brought only the elite among the Baek Family’s forces, their numbers and martial prowess were considerable enough to cause casualties if we sought to subdue them without losses.
But.
Still, there was no problem.
All the elite had already received Seonran and Yeongran-hwa from Yang Hwi.
“Krraaaaaagh!”
“Spiritual Qi, why is the Spiritual Qi—!”
“You bastards, what is that aura!”
Spiritual Qi was the force that purified and guided all things correctly.
This meant it held supreme compatibility against demonic energy, the force of Yeok-cheon.
While it could not suppress hun-qi, Spiritual Qi possessed a matchup advantage against blood qi like a sudden downpour falling upon a wildfire.
“Family Head, it seems we can annihilate them without much difficulty!”
Baek Moo-ryang, observing the battle situation, turned his gaze toward the white and black lights that continued to recede into the distance.
“Kill them all while minimizing casualties. I shall go ahead to aid Hwi.”

* * *
The white and black lights collided. Two silhouettes crossed paths.
“Injoong Sinma! Die already, you bastard!”
“Silence, Gae-cheon-sin-eung! How dare you speak of this one’s death!”
With a ferocious cry, brilliant white and pitch-black energies erupted once more.
“Krrrrgh!”
Yang Hwi fell like a kite with its string cut, letting out a groan.
It was a groan deliberately amplified using the subtle principles of the Lion’s Roar for all to hear.
-Seolha, now!
“Kahahaha! A mere whelp dares challenge this one!”
The voice Seolha created rang across the entire mountain with thunderous clarity.
“You are not ready yet, Gae-cheon-sin-eung. But you are not quite ripe for consumption at this moment. Grow more mature, then return. This one shall savor you deliciously!”
After scattering dark hun-qi-forged energy in all directions as a final touch.
Seolha and Yang Hwi met on the opposite side of the dusty ridge.
“This should be enough, right?”
“More than sufficient. Everyone will be completely fooled.”
With Seolha’s assistance, I had orchestrated a life-or-death duel between Injoong Sinma and Gae-cheon-sin-eung.
It was a stratagem devised after realizing there existed a mysterious force, provisionally named the Unnamed Valley.
“I brought half the Blood Demon Corps and let the main family slaughter them. In exchange, Injoong Sinma suppressed Gae-cheon-sin-eung.”
“With this narrative, we can deceive both the Blood Sect and the Unnamed Valley. Brother’s cunning schemes truly deserve recognition.”
The Blood Sect would assume that Injoong Sinma was a master belonging to the Unnamed Valley.
Moreover, if the Unnamed Valley attacked the Baek Family on their behalf, they would think there was no need for them to strike the Baek Family themselves.
On the other hand, the Unnamed Valley would believe Injoong Sinma belonged to the Blood Sect, so any concern about him targeting the Baek Family would vanish.
“This is truly using poison to counter poison—killing two birds with one stone.”
“Exactly, ahahaha!”
That was when it happened.
-A presence! Seolha, hide your face!
-Oh no, I exhausted all my energy and didn’t notice in time!
Though the life-and-death struggle was fabricated, I had poured my full strength into it in case anyone was watching.
Because of that, I had been too late in sensing someone’s approach.
“Who dares think they can deceive my senses, Bon-jwa?”
The figure that emerged from beyond the dust was….
‘Father?!’
‘Father?!’
It was Baek Moo-ryang, who had drawn the Baek Cheon Baek Woo Sword.
“Where is my son, Injoong Sinma?”
“….”
“….”
Ah.
I’m done for.

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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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