Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time-Chapter 347: Late but Arriving First (3)

"Iphwang Fortress is the domain of the righteous swordsmen."

The young sect leader spoke with a slight smile, lifting the corner of his mouth beneath his silver mask.

"However, to the martial world, there are those who are absolute fools. With such remarkable martial arts, throwing yourself into certain death—how can that not be foolish? At least if they were to become a Blue Rank, they could reign as kings of their region."

"Anywhere they go."

He continued, wrapping his entire body in streaks of black flame, his voice smooth and unhurried.

A mythical sight, the black flames that swirled around his form contrasted with the pure white robes he wore, which made him appear almost ceremonial, like someone preparing for a grand event.

"To receive only a few silver coins for an assassination mission and use such potent martial arts in these dangerous tasks? Even clashing frequently with the major sects. It's no wonder so many die."

"I don’t understand your intentions," the man replied.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had spread a monochrome lotus beneath his feet, gripped the upper portion of his meteor sword's scabbard at his waist. He was already in combat stance.

He had chosen the Thunder Strike technique, not the Dragon’s Claw, so he needed to seize the advantage while his energy lasted.

Luckily, the energy from the Thunder Strike, which seemed ready to tear apart his vital points, no longer carried the same weight of pressure it once had.

The transformation he and the leader of Iphwang Fortress had devised had greatly extended the duration of the Thunder Strike.

But...

‘There’s nothing to read.’

This was the reason he hesitated to make his move.

It was an unfamiliar situation.

In a world where movements, breathing, and defensive footwork were predictable, he now faced an eerily silent confrontation with Yeoryeong, whose every movement, every slight gesture, felt like an enigma.

The young sect leader of the demonic sect.

The young sect leader’s awareness of his own energy, breathing, and the slightest of habits was so acute that it felt like he could read everything.

He kept everything under tight control, revealing nothing, with a perceptiveness and inner power control that was nothing short of extraordinary.

‘If I rashly strike, I’ll be hit first.’

But it seemed that the young sect leader felt a similar sense to Jeong Yeon-shin.

The dark pupils beneath the silver mask scanned Jeong Yeon-shin’s body, revealing the faintest hint of confusion.

"...Anyway, unless you’re a bizarre one like Namgung’s first sword, any warrior of Iphwang Fortress who meets a master in the martial world is unlikely to survive. But, it’s said the only reason that you were able to survive the attack was due to your ability to evolve your sword wind from the Blue Blade Sword's technique... before that, the sword of the Namgung leader was already known for overwhelming his rivals with the swordsmanship of his clan."

Meanwhile, the movements of the young sect leader, his hand enveloped by dark flame, appeared utterly at ease, as though his form was serene and graceful despite his earlier words.

"It’s better to focus on tangible events than hopeless ones. If the Grand Lords of Iphwang Fortress, with their reliable subordinates, can’t return on their own, it’s certain that anyone who tries to intervene will meet their end. The story of the Blue Blade Sword’s sword wind being evolved is famous for a reason. Such things are extremely rare."

As he spoke, the black flames swirling around his body grew more intense and dazzling.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly slid his thumb up the scabbard of his meteor sword. He thought to himself.

‘He won’t take the first strike.’

The pressure on his neck felt as cold as ice water. It was clear that the same tension was being felt by both parties.

What seemed like a trivial fact had now become terrifying.

‘I need to strike before he self-destructs.’

If he couldn’t see anything, he would strike blindly. His heart’s aura surged faster.

The colorless lotus beneath his feet began to shake violently.

Hmm?

It was the young sect leader.

A quick reaction. The dark flame around Yeoryeong intensified as his piercing dark eyes flashed with a terrifying intensity.

The moment he felt the immense pressure of Jeong Yeon-shin’s inner power, his gaze was filled with violent energy.

"So, you’re saying there’s something the two of us, unique in all the world, must focus on. First, let’s at least catch a wild boar while we’re at it..."

The tone was dignified, yet it didn’t quite match the words he spoke. The phrase "unique in all the world" carried with it an unsettling sense of madness.

‘A provocation?’

Jeong Yeon-shin ignored it and stepped forward.

He was a martial artist.

There was no surer way to take control of the conversation than through martial power.

That was how his world always worked. And especially when the lives of his allies were at stake.

Thud!

The moment his right foot hit the ground, the Seventh Apostle stepped back. She, [N O V E L I G H T] too, seemed to have no intention of attacking.

Perhaps it was due to his erratic nature, or perhaps it was to show respect for his position. Whatever the reason, Jeong Yeon-shin welcomed it.

‘Sword Thunder Strike.’

He drew his meteor sword and launched it straight forward. As always, the first move was the Thunder Strike.

The fierce wind generated by his movement forced the bag hanging under his shoulder to shift, and the white arc of his sword cut through the air, tearing it apart as it sped toward the young sect leader’s chest.

The sound of the sword's release echoed like a cannon blast, following closely behind the blade.

Boom!

The meteor sword collided with the back of the young sect leader's hand.

At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin saw it clearly—the black flames, which had surrounded the young sect leader’s hand like an abyss, suddenly ripping apart in all directions.

Boom―!

Jeong Yeon-shin’s body was sent flying about half a step backward.

The sword, protected by internal energy, was on the verge of shattering after just one strike.

Fragments of black flame dug into the blade, sending intense vibrations through it. The accumulated rebound force in his forearm was immense.

‘It was true.’

Recently, rumors had circulated that the young sect leader of the Demonic Sect had single-handedly taken down the master of the Thirteen Heavens. It wasn’t an empty rumor. Jeong Yeon-shin was now certain after this brief clash.

He briefly floated in the air, showing no sign of surprise, before striking again with his meteor sword.

He released the recoil, which had launched him into the air, with finely tuned muscle control.

Sword Thunder Strike, Storm of Heaven.

In an instant, the force from his sword sent a shockwave that tore apart nearby trees like a violent storm.

Was it unexpected? The young sect leader, his eyes wide with shock, sent an intense burst of energy with his inner power, sending a powerful thought projection as if communicating through the very air.

His strength had created an unfathomable energy.

The thick cuffs of his robe extended forward in response to Jeong Yeon-shin’s strike.

In that split second, the two powers, like two resonating forces, vibrated in unison, slowing time to a crawl.

Thump—

The young sect leader’s hand pulsed with an almost translucent resonance, matching the beat of a heart.

Suddenly, a blue beam of light shot from his chest, moving so rapidly that it seemed to scorch the air, forming a large, spinning circle filled with symbols that seemed to be from ancient texts.

The speed at which the seals and symbols were formed was unlike anything Jeong Yeon-shin had seen before.

As his inner energy manifested from his chest, the young sect leader completed some kind of technique in the blink of an eye, as though pulling a pre-written scroll from the air.

The speed of the incantation was faster than any draw of a sword. This was the scene that broke the supposed limits of magical martial arts.

‘Extreme Three-Phase Purification? That’s part of it, but there’s more.’

Jeong Yeon-shin, immersed in the same moment, struck again with his sword.

Just as his martial arts had its own unique structure, this technique was undoubtedly a key strength exclusive to the young sect leader's martial arts.

Kiiing―

In an instant, the letters and symbols arranged in the blue light began spinning, twisting and interlocking in a flash.

The dark strands of flame, hidden behind him, were drawn into the glowing magic circle, colliding with each other. From the gaps, a violent lightning bolt shot upward, as if breaking free of the confines of space.

Crackle―!

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyelashes twitched slightly. He, too, could think as quickly as lightning when in the realm of super-speed.

‘That technique...’

It wasn’t the energy of the Demon Slayer’s power that could be broken by his internal energy. Instead, it was lightning itself. The young sect leader had used the magical energy unique to the Heavenly Demon Martial Arts to transform it into natural energy.

The moment they exchanged a blow, the truth of his strength became evident. The blue lightning that surged toward Jeong Yeon-shin’s meteor sword was truly terrifying.

A flash of white light crossed Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes.

He remained suspended in the air, still striking with his sword.

Before separating his hands, he activated the Heaven’s Law technique, analyzing every detail of the lightning’s energy in his mind.

‘It’s possible.’

Faster than blood flow, the energy from his Baihui point created a fountain of analysis and recalculation in his mind. The loud hum of light energy echoed through his thoughts.

A sudden instinctive insight rose within him.

How could he absorb the energy of that blue lightning without issue?

‘The repellent nature, the incredibly fine energy difference...’

As the lightning neared him, the structure and essence of the bolt became clear to his senses. He matched the raw sensation with the hundreds of techniques he had created.

Simultaneously, he pushed forward with the energy of the Ten-Li Radiance and the Five-Fold Heavenly Abilities through his soles, forming a thin membrane of energy in his leather shoes.

Even Jeong Yeon-shin himself found it difficult to comprehend the strange flow of energy.

Beneath his feet, an irregular sizzling sound began to spread.

‘This will work.’

In the next moment, Jeong Yeon-shin stepped onto the lightning, crossing the air. Time quickly resumed its normal pace.

The thunderous sound of the lightning was suppressed beneath his feet, and with a crackling sound, a burst of blue light exploded.

He walked through the lightning.

This wasn’t just standing still. In the surrounding area, breaths were held.

The Demonic Sect’s experts, hidden using their stealth arts, exhaled sharply.

Jeong Yeon-shin pressed down the two branches of the lightning with two steps, then stood behind the young sect leader. The young sect leader, glancing over his shoulder, smirked.

"I’ve never met someone like you. There really was someone like you."

"......."

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t respond.

In the past, the elders of the old factions rarely created martial arts by studying the principles of the world or the shapes of nature.

Techniques such as the Great Heaven Sword, Purple Heaven Art, and Celestial Dragon Fist were all born from the understanding of the natural world.

But in this moment, Jeong Yeon-shin could sense a certain composure in the young sect leader.

Unlike Ma Gwang-ik, the young sect leader had likely been perfecting this technique for a much longer time.

Twisting and refining the essence of martial arts, again and again, recalculating the counter-techniques to overcome his opponents.

If Jeong Yeon-shin tried to strike again, the young sect leader would undoubtedly apply a devastating counterattack to his technique.

In the end, it was all a repetition.

Whose skills are superior?

I still don’t know. The current Master of Ma Gwang-ik had decided not to make any hasty judgments about the young sect leader, who likely had three more years of life ahead of him than he did.

The technique that led from demonic energy to natural energy was that shocking in its speed.

He slowly parted his lips.

“I felt your energy in your upper dantian. It was strong and continuous. If you’re trying to deceive me, you should be extra cautious.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying.”

The young sect leader smiled wryly. It was a strangely self-deprecating smile.

“Now that we’ve had our little clash, shall we get to the point? I’m not sure what the grand lords of Iphwang Fortress are up to or where they are lying, but...”

“Speak.”

“It might be connected to what the Golden Scripture Sect is doing. If your companions didn’t perish at the hands of some supreme master they met by chance, they may be trapped in the world of the Dragon King.”

“The world of the Dragon King?”

“It’s a type of magic circle. A dragon, you see, spreads its formations across the world and hides its body in a separate realm. To draw such a monstrous being into our world, practitioners must offer human sacrifices...”

The young sect leader slowly gestured with his chin towards Jeong Yeon-shin.

“That’s exactly what Iphwang Fortress’s faction does the most. As I mentioned, these days, there are no immediate consequences.”

“...”

“Did you know that the Golden Scripture Sect was originally a bandit sect? A very large one, in fact. And the Ten-Direction Temple is likely involved as well. The leader of the Ten-Direction Temple was defeated by the Bloodflame Cult leader, but the so-called 'Master of the Thirteen Heavens' didn’t die. With a Dragon King’s orb or the Jade Pill, they could recover.”

Even now, your black-clad warriors could easily be subdued, if they weren’t more powerful—laughingly said the young sect leader, dramatically spreading his arms.

“Why not join me in finding the truth? I’ve come up with a pretty good plan. If you find it unworthy, feel free to raise your sword against me.”

A few days passed.

Jeong Yeon-shin, accompanied by the Seventh Apostle, arrived in the city of Sichuan. The young sect leader was by his side.

The once-bustling streets were eerily silent.

It was because of the massive rumors circulating.

The Sect of the Ten Directions.

The Golden Scripture Sect.

The Ten-Direction Temple.

"They say that the Flaming Heaven Dragon couldn't make a move. They couldn’t keep up with the Golden Scripture Sect's ‘Slashing Dragon and Treading on Scales Technique’..."

"Keep your voice down. Do you think the sect is a toothless tiger?"

"Well, it's true. Though, what can we really know if we just saw it with our own eyes?"

“Looks like for the time being, the Demonic Sect will rise in Sichuan... The White Phoenix faction might have a safer time.”

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on freeweɓnøvel.com.

“The twins from the Tang Clan are the only ones who are truly unlucky.”

“Worry about your own stockpile.”

The three major factions had gathered in a public meeting, and it was said that the leader of the Tang Clan, Dokgun Tang Unhwang, was utterly defeated by the Golden Scripture Sect leader.

The news was shaking the martial world.

Today, the gathering being held at the Huangliudian, the most famous inn in Sichuan, was said to be a last-minute attempt to secure forced support from the Ten-Direction Temple before heading off to capture the Dragon King.

“Where to now? We need to unpack at the inn first...”

Jeong Yeon-shin ignored the young sect leader’s words and walked forward silently.

The Demonic Sect in Sichuan.

What kind of sacrifices had been made to summon the Dragon King from the depths of the heavens? Were those who had died in the process already gone?

His footsteps kicked up the dust, sending it scattering in every direction.

The invisible pressure, characteristic of a supreme martial artist, began to build with every step he took. A dense, intangible presence bloomed around him like a flower that suited his stature perfectly.

Since he had followed his grandfather's advice and increased his intake, his energy had remained in an incomplete state until now, but it was just about to stabilize with the solid calmness of diamond-like strength.

“Hmm...?”

“What is it?”

“Look over there.”

Passersby, feeling the energy radiating from him, flinched and looked at him with wide eyes, whispering among themselves.

Jeong Yeon-shin ignored them and continued to focus on his stride.

He was headed directly to Huangliudian. He had no intention of waiting around.