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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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Longevity Hill wasn’t particularly tall. It was man-made, constructed during the building of the Forbidden City.
But its lack of height didn’t make it insignificant.
Quite the opposite.
Because it was crafted by human hands, Longevity Hill possessed a unique quality.
From a mystical perspective, it perfectly replicated the characteristics of a sacred mountain, a place of power. It was shielded from prying eyes, and its design channeled spiritual energy, gathering it at the summit.
This accumulated energy was used to enhance the Imperial Family’s health and longevity, protect the Forbidden City, and cultivate martial artists.
It explained why the Imperial Court boasted more experts than even the most prestigious sects located on naturally occurring sacred grounds.
But what if this energy was twisted and used for nefarious purposes?
Guo Duan, Commander of the Imperial Guards, witnessed the answer firsthand.
“What a vile aura.”
“You think so?”
A strange altar stood at the summit of Longevity Hill.
Before it stood a young man in Buddhist robes.
Guo Duan clicked his tongue.
“I knew it. I knew you’d cause trouble eventually.”
“Then you should have acted sooner.”
“Bold words for someone who resorted to manipulating ministers and tying up the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Li Zi-long.”
Guo Duan slowly drew his sword.
It looked like a careless, casual movement, but it was anything but. Any attempt to exploit this apparent opening would be met with a swift and deadly counterattack.
“This works out better. I’m not fond of interrogations. I’ll just rip your tongue out right here.”
“I doubt you’re capable of that.”
As Li Zi-long finished speaking, Guo Duan blurred into motion.
In a fraction of a second, his sword became a blur, aimed at Li Zi-long’s carotid artery.
*BOOM!!*
A thunderous crash echoed through the hills.
A cloud of dust and debris erupted from the point of impact.
Guo Duan emerged from the dust cloud, staring at his hand.
‘It didn’t break.’
The force of the impact had sent a shockwave up his arm. For a moment, he thought his wrist might have snapped.
‘Sorcery.’
A mystical barrier strong enough to block his Sword Qi, the focused energy of a late-stage Transcendent Realm expert, was beyond comprehension.
“Is that all? Disappointing for the Commander of the Imperial Guards.”
Li Zi-long, in contrast, seemed completely unfazed.
The dust settled, revealing him without a scratch.
Guo Duan’s full-powered attack, infused with Sword Qi, hadn’t even left a mark.
“I see. You can’t move from that spot.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
He tested his wrist and arm, swinging his sword experimentally. Even with the mystical barrier, the fact that Li Zi-long hadn’t moved an inch was the evidence.
Li Zi-long simply shrugged, as if it were obvious.
“Denying it would be pointless. You’re perceptive. I’ll give you that.”
“You think I haven’t dealt with sorcerers before? You’re all the same. All talk and no substance. I’ve taken down plenty of your kind.”
Guo Duan focused his senses.
The Haedong Martial Consort was handling the outer perimeter of Longevity Hill. If she could disrupt the four anchors of the mystical barrier surrounding the hill, the flow of spiritual energy would be restored.
That meant time was on his side. But he knew it wasn’t that simple.
‘The Ghost Gate behind him… it’s at least Black-level.’
The difference between a Blue-level and a Black-level Ghost Gate was far greater than the difference between Peak Realm and Transcendent Realm martial artists.
A Blue-level Gate could usually be handled by a single Transcendent Realm expert. There were exceptions, of course, particularly those involving ethereal beings, but those were rare.
A Black-level Gate, however, was an entirely different level of threat.
A single Transcendent Realm expert would be slaughtered. It would take at least three to hold it at bay until reinforcements arrived.
And even then, they couldn’t hope to seal it without help.
Sealing a Black-level Gate required a Dao Lord.
‘I didn’t realize Li Zi-long was this skilled in sorcery… It’s always difficult to gauge a sorcerer’s true strength. Damn it. If that Black-level Gate fully opens…’
He stopped his thoughts.
He was overthinking it.
‘I’ve been the Commander for too long.’
He cleared his mind.
He focused on the task at hand. Eliminating the enemy before him.
“Let’s do this.”
Having reached the Dao Lord Realm, his internal energy was practically limitless.
His three dantians worked in perfect harmony, his five Qi flowing freely.
He unleashed his full power.
Protective Qi enveloped his body. Sword Qi coated his blade.
No matter how strange or powerful the sorcery, Qi was pure, refined power. Breaking through his Protective Qi would require an equally powerful spell.
“Consider a limb or two the cost of entry.”
Li Zi-long’s expression hardened at the sudden surge of power.
A Dao Lord’s full power was a force of nature. They were mortals who could cleave mountains and transcend the flow of time.
Their power was not to be underestimated.
“I was hoping to save this, but I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Li Zi-long began forming hand seals, Buddhist mudras, despite the incongruity of his attire.
In less than a second, the seals were complete. Before him materialized a towering figure, larger than either of them.
“Go, Yellow Dragon Guardian.”
“…As you command.”
This wasn’t one of the four guardians anchoring the barrier around Longevity Hill. This was the central guardian, reserved for Li Zi-long’s personal protection, now stepping forward to fulfill its purpose.
With speed and power rivaling the Haedong Martial Consort, he charged towards Guo Duan.
*CRASH! CLANG!*
Two exchanges.
Fists and sword clashed, sparks flying.
But it wasn’t an even match.
“What’s this? You think you can stop me with this weakling? Don’t make me laugh.”
Guo Duan flicked the blood off his blade.
In just two exchanges, he’d severed the Yellow Dragon Guardian’s hand.
The difference between a Dao Lord who’d achieved enlightenment and one who hadn’t was vast.
But Li Zi-long had anticipated this.
It was all part of his plan.
While he remained calm, Guo Duan’s expression changed.
“This is… cursed blood?”
The blood splattered from the severed hand.
His Protective Qi, momentarily disrupted by the Yellow Dragon Guardian’s desperate attack, had a tiny breach.
The guardian had sacrificed his hand to get his blood on Guo Duan.
“…You’ve resorted to the Blood Cult’s forbidden techniques. You’ve truly gone too far, Li Zi-long!”
“The Blood Cult? What about them? Aren’t their teachings rooted in this world? I am the True Son of Heaven, ordained by the heavens to rule this land. Why shouldn’t I use their power?”
He’s truly mad.
Guo Duan suppressed his initial shock. Feigning outrage wouldn’t work against a true madman. He knew that from experience.
‘Cursed blood… blood refined using the Blood Cult’s Dissolution Blood Poison Technique. Just a few drops are this potent? I understand why every faction in the world wanted to eradicate them.’
But he could handle it. A few drops wouldn’t bring him down.
‘My senses are dulled, but it doesn’t matter. I can circulate my Qi and suppress the curse.’
It required focus, but he’d faced worse.
Li Zi-long’s trick was clever, but not enough to defeat him.
He kicked off the ground.
He had the advantage in speed. Neither Li Zi-long, a sorcerer, nor the Yellow Dragon Guardian, a mere Transcendent Realm expert, could match him.
*BOOM! CLANG! CRASH!*
The Yellow Dragon Guardian, despite his missing hand, managed to intercept him, shielding Li Zi-long.
He used the blood flowing from his wound as a weapon, further hindering Guo Duan’s movements.
And Li Zi-long launched mystical attacks, targeting the moments when Guo Duan was dodging the cursed blood.
While individually weaker than Guo Duan, their combined assault was proving difficult to overcome.
But the tide was slowly turning in his favor.
Since the departure of the Unbeatable Dao Lord, Mugeuk, he, Guo Duan, was considered the strongest in the Imperial Court.
And he was proving it.
But even he was human.
*WOOOOOOOO-!*
*AAAAAAA-!*
“Already?”
The eerie wails from the Ghost Gate broke his concentration.
If it fully opened, it was over.
He had to stop it, even if it meant losing an arm. He charged towards the nascent Gate, intending to disrupt its formation.
‘He fell for it.’
It was a trap.
Spiritual energy coalesced in Li Zi-long’s hands, forming a spear of light that shot towards Guo Duan’s heart.
He couldn’t block both attacks. If he stopped the spear, the Gate would open. If he stopped the Gate, the spear would pierce his heart.
Faced with a deadly dilemma, Guo Duan chose a third option.
He reinforced his Protective Qi and launched a Sword Qi attack.
He watched as the Sword Qi flew towards the Ghost Gate, then turned his attention to the approaching spear of light.
Could his Protective Qi withstand it?
He wasn’t sure.
Then, a sword appeared out of nowhere, intercepting the attack.
*BOOOOOOOOOOM!*
The sword, wreathed in Sword Qi, clashed with the spear of light, creating a massive explosion.
But since it wasn’t a concentrated blast, the shockwave alone couldn’t penetrate his Protective Qi.
Guo Duan retreated from the explosion, unharmed, and looked at his unexpected savior.
“Who are you? How can someone so young possess such…”
The newcomer, Namgung-Woo, ignored him, his eyes fixed on the ominous Ghost Gate and the two figures before it.
“The Haedong Martial Consort sent me. I’m here to assist.”
“What? Hmm? Haha!”
A mixture of relief and exhilaration filled Guo Duan as he laughed.
A ray of light had pierced through the darkness.
“Excellent! If they’re going to use monsters and sorcery, we need someone like you to even the odds! Wonderful! The world is truly vast! I never imagined I’d see someone like this again after that monster from the Black Blood Cult.”
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