Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
In just three days, the dispatches initiated by the Bancheon Alliance spread the word about the internal power struggle within the Thunder God Lineage. Not only did they reach influential sects in the vicinity, but they also made their way to the Zheng Tian Alliance. Fortunately, the dispatchers had concealed their identities with triple layers of protection, so their real identities remained undisclosed.
With the help of financial backing, the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School began to renovate itself to warmly welcome the guests. Workers bustled around, preparing seating areas. It didn’t take long for the already spacious Azure Dragon Martial Arts School to expand even further.
The formal opening of the internal power struggle within the Thunder God Lineage occurred ten days after the dispatches were sent out.
I was inside, preparing to receive guests for the power struggle when people began to arrive from early dawn. Along with Yun Kwang, I guided them in, observing the bulging blood veins of these martial experts.
‘Indeed, they are masters of the martial world.’
In truth, I couldn’t possibly know every minor expert individually, so I could only make rough guesses by looking at the names on the invitation list and their written registrations. Most of those who arrived at dawn were typically secular masters, while the later arrivals were mostly from Buddhist and Taoist sects. The last to arrive were somewhat wild-looking individuals, likely from the heretical sects.
Chatter…
It seemed about one hundred seventy people had gathered. It was astonishing to think that each of them had formally trained in martial arts. It would be a challenge even to gather this many ordinary people, let alone the numerous well-known figures from the Zheng Tian Alliance and peak martial experts within the martial world. This illustrated just how significant the Thunder God Lineage’s internal power struggle was to the martial world.
Just as noon arrived, Lee Kwang ascended the platform in the hall. He infused some of his inner energy and announced with the presence of a singular voice.“[ I, Lee Kwang, sincerely thank all of you, esteemed members of the martial world, for gathering for our Thunder God Lineage’s internal power struggle.]”
As Lee Kwang began a brief opening statement before jumping into the main subject, a loud scoff suddenly rang out from the audience.
“Hah! A cause for thanks, you shameless villain!”
With a sharp and high-pitched voice, Lee Kwang’s eyebrow twitched. At the same time, the disciples of the Thunder God Lineage and the sect masters in the hall turned their attention towards the owner of the voice.
The owner was a woman in her twenties dressed in white. With a sharp demeanor and a sword sheathed on her back, she seemed to belong to the Sword Sect. Drawing her sword, she loudly proclaimed,
“Everyone! Is there any need to wait? Let’s uphold justice in the martial world by striking down the evil minions of the White Lotus Sect and the Thunder God Lineage!”
“Right!”
Swoosh!
Her words acted as a signal, which suddenly caused around ten people to stand up in the hall. Most belonged to her sect or were considerable first-rate experts. They stepped forward and aimed their weapons at Lee Kwang, who was on the platform.
“Thunder God Lineage! To hold a power struggle while secretly harming the innocent and exposing your wicked ambitions, how brazen of you…!! I shall eliminate you here!”
My heart raced as I observed the scene.
‘Ugh, is that woman mad?’
Naturally, I couldn’t help but worry about those dozen fierce opponents. Lee Kwang, laughing heartily and single-handedly exterminating dozens of Bodyguards from the Gold Rank, wouldn’t be intimidated by such a group. It would be a stroke of luck if he didn’t wipe them out with a smile.
However, Lee Kwang calmly replied without changing his expression.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re saying. What evil deeds do you claim we of the Thunder God Lineage have committed?”
“Are you feigning ignorance? You’ve killed all the members of the Qing Li Sect, Bei Zhang Sect, and Shen Yin Sect, attempting to cover your tracks! You even slaughtered infants and pregnant women, you vile brutes!!”
The sects they mentioned were unfamiliar to me; perhaps the Wind God Lineage had plotted something outside the Thunder God Lineage’s influence.
“Kill them!”
“Let’s finish them off!”
As these fierce individuals shouted, a palpable killing intent began to emerge on the faces of the martial artists gathered in the hall. Over half of them wore unsure expressions, but as the accusations of the ‘evils of the Thunder God Lineage’ arose, many began to perceive the Thunder God Lineage as an enemy.
If it were the usual Lee Kwang, he would have exploded with rage, but he instead replied leisurely.
“I’m afraid that doesn’t convince me. Do you have any evidence of our alleged wrongdoings?”
“Evidence you say?”
Swish!
A few martial experts stood from their seats. Each was dressed in the garb of the Huashan Sect. The leading elder from the Huashan Sect stood up and proclaimed,
“I am the Cold Sky Sword, Gungja. I come with the authority of the Sect Leader regarding this matter.”
“Oooh…!!”
“The Elder of the Nine Discernments…!!”
The martial artists displayed expressions of surprise. The disciples of the Thunder God Lineage, including Lee Kwang, fixed their gaze on the Cold Sky Sword without any visible change in expression. The Cold Sky Sword pulled out a silver medallion from his robes and continued softly,
“From here on, let me assure you that my words carry the authority of the Huashan Sect and the Sect Leader. I promise to speak nothing but the truth.”
“Please, go on!”
“The Huashan Sect, along with the Zheng Tian Alliance’s Special Investigative Team, has conducted a thorough investigation into the dreadful incidents surrounding the three sects. We found numerous corpses bearing the marks of thunder.”
“Marks of thunder?”
Gungja the Cold Sky Sword glared at Lee Kwang on the platform.
“It’s a phenomenon that appears when an expert from the accursed Thunder God Lineage reaches the level of Thunder Spirit. It’s a terrifying mark left by a powerful thunder technique that can sear wounds!”
Of course, the Thunder Spirit was indeed a real level, and thunder marks were an actual technique. The only difference was that the experts of the Thunder God Lineage could only leave thunder marks when they desired to do so.
‘So they’re cleverly mixing truths and lies for their information.’
I couldn’t help but chuckle at their straightforward approach. It would be challenging to deny claims made in that manner.
“……!!”
People looked at us with expressions of shock. They weren’t surprised that we were the villains behind the disaster; they seemed startled at the possibility of a martial expert controlling the Thunder Spirit. After all, you had to reach an incredibly profound realm to manipulate elemental forces with just ordinary internal cultivation.
Lee Kwang sneered coldly and retaliated.
“Impressive. There are Thunder God experts who may not understand the Thunder Spirit, yet you from the Nine Discernments managed to uncover such a vital secret?”
In response to Lee Kwang’s mocking words, Gungja the Cold Sky Sword answered,
“I expected you to say that. However, to investigate this matter, we sought the counsel of someone who possesses the most information about the White Lotus Sect, and they certified our findings. Thus, we believe it is conclusive.”
“Who is that?”
“I cannot disclose their identity for their protection. However, I assure you that even in the name of the Master of the Zheng Tian Alliance, this certification is reliable.”
At that moment, a stern-looking middle-aged man who had been beside the Cold Sky Sword rose and spoke.
“I, Namgung, agree with his statement.”
“Oooh…!!”
“It’s Namgung, the strategist of the Zheng Tian Alliance…!!”
There were gasps of awe as people recognized Namgung.
Namgung!
He held the position of strategist for the Zheng Tian Alliance, which was formed by the combination of the Nine Discernments and Orthodox Sects. He had entered the Huashan Sect at a young age to learn martial arts and was widely known for his exceptional strategies and skills. Additionally, he was a shrewd politician who coordinated interests among the Nine Discernments and the Five Great Families. His real name was unknown.
As the situation escalated, I began to feel annoyed.
‘I expected something like this, but it’s even more frustrating than I thought.’
What Gungja the Cold Sky Sword was asserting had no substantial evidence. Normally, at this point of failing to reveal the ‘evidence provider,’ the claim would become meaningless. But with the authority of the Zheng Tian Alliance and Huashan Sect backing him, it was being pushed forward as if such a logical leap was entirely reasonable. Naturally, it was infuriating to be slandered in this manner.
Having never experienced such an event before, it wasn’t easy to be treated like a public enemy by the martial artists of the world in an instant. When I couldn’t manage my expressions and frowned, Jin So-cheong, who was standing beside me, smiled and sent a message.
[Relax your face, Master. Didn’t you see this coming?]
[But it’s so frustrating I feel like smashing them all to bits.]
[Of course, you could do that alone, but let’s wait for the plan to unfold.]
[Understood.]
I sulked a bit to Jin So-cheong but calmed my mind. In fact, I had recently revealed a bit of my past life’s secrets to him, so I had opened up to him just a little.
Moments later, Lee Kwang stated,
“Then, why do you presume we engaged in such unseemly actions right before this important power struggle?”
“Isn’t it obvious? To secretly eliminate any sects that might impede your expansion while satisfying your murderous desires!”
“While I can agree about the Qing Li Sect, your accusations against the Bei Zhang and Shen Yin Sect are quite the stretch, don’t you think? They’re over three hundred li away from here.”
“Sure, but the remains of the victims verified your martial arts technique. As long as this fact holds, you must bear the responsibility for their lives.”
The moment I thought about asking ‘with what evidence?’ a reply could easily spark a brawl, as they’d say, using the lives of the Thunder God Lineage as bait. Lee Kwang was obviously aware of this flow, so he calmly continued to parry Gungja the Cold Sky Sword’s attempts to escalate hostilities.
“Unless you show us the corpses directly, I cannot believe your words. Do not mislead the crowd simply because you utter the name Zheng Tian Alliance.”
“What?”
[Not to be rude, but I worry you’re either a fiction writer or a pathetic person crying for attention. I won’t condone such absurd accusations unless you can convincingly present that thunder mark in front of this audience.]
At that moment, Namgung stepped forward, glaring sharply at Lee Kwang.
“Would it not be fair to say that is an outright challenge to the authority of the Zheng Tian Alliance?”
[Does possessing authority mean one can assert the truth without proof?]
“……”
I stuck my tongue out at the scene before me.
‘How is Lee Kwang so good at arguing?’
Although he must have prepared beforehand, he was handling everything so calmly, effortlessly turning the tides each time the opponent attempted to pressure using authority. This was due to Lee Kwang’s ability to clearly perceive the flaws in the opponent’s logic and understand people’s psychology. He was clever, not just a brute force musclehead.
Then it happened.
“If it’s corpses, I have them right here.”
Members of the Huashan Sect arrived carrying dreadful corpses into the hall. The corpses looked as if they had been preserved by some special technique, not decomposed yet and covered in frost. The warriors bringing the corpses placed them down in the hall, and at this moment, Gungja the Cold Sky Sword seized the opportunity to shout loudly.
“Look at these corpses! They bear precise fatal wounds of thunder! Are you still planning to deny it?”
They had clearly prepared for this level of demonstration. I internally grumbled,
‘No matter how you look at it, bringing corpses into someone else’s power struggle is the act of rogues!’
The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to kill those Wind God Lineage scoundrels. I was also baffled as to what the Master of Zheng Tian Alliance was doing to be swayed by these ruffians. A boiling frustration surged within me when Lee Kwang nonchalantly said,
“Deny it, huh…”
At that moment, he subtly twitched his lips. This subtle transmission seemingly directed toward Gungja the Cold Sky Sword caused him, who was stimulating the crowd with spit flying everywhere, to shiver as if struck by lightning. Cold sweat began pouring down his forehead.
“……”
As the audience began to murmur, confused by why Gungja the Cold Sky Sword had suddenly frozen, Lee Kwang no longer utilized his inner voice but instead expressed his unwavering presence and declared,
“I regret to inform you that our power struggle cannot proceed alongside these dishonorable rogues who bring in foul corpses! I, for the honor of the Thunder God Lineage, must settle matters with them before we conclude the power struggle. Those who agree with these lunatics may leave, but I request that the virtuous stay.”
Murmurs of conversation erupted among the martial artists present. If Gungja the Cold Sky Sword pressed just a bit further, all one hundred or so experts present would be forced into combat, but instead, it ended ambiguously. Namgung, standing beside Gungja the Cold Sky Sword, scolded him.
“Hey! This isn’t what we discussed! Why stop now?! ”
“……”
Gungja the Cold Sky Sword remained silent, sweating profusely, transformed into a mute statue. Even his disciples worriedly supported him as he slumped weakly into a chair, resembling a puppet devoid of strings.
‘What on earth is happening?’
I observed him, puzzled, but no apparent external harm was visible. Moments later, one by one, members of the martial artist assembly began to take their leave.
Rumble…
As time passed, only a dozen figures affiliated with the Huashan Sect and the Zheng Tian Alliance remained along with a few inquisitive martial artists hoping to watch. In other words, more than half the crowd had fled.
Namgung appeared increasingly restless, realizing that things had gone awry from his calculations. He likely expected to rally all the martial artists in unison for an assault. However, with such a meager number left, he probably felt they posed a greater risk of being slaughtered by Lee Kwang.
Lee Kwang calmly addressed the remaining martial artists on the platform.
“Do you genuinely believe we of the Thunder God Lineage are responsible for that gruesome tragedy?”
“Stop with the nonsense! Don’t think you can gloss over this with your rhetoric, you villain!”
“Hmm…”
Lee Kwang contemplated for a moment before responding,
“If that’s the case, then I shall add a few more lines to that tragedy.”
“What?”
Bang!
In an instant, Lee Kwang’s hand moved in a blur, gripping his spear, and simultaneously, the necks of the martial artists standing in front of the platform were severed. Among them was a female martial artist, spared no mercy, swiftly massacred without hesitation.
“……?”
The warriors of the Huashan Sect and the Zheng Tian Alliance momentarily blinked in confusion, trying to comprehend what just transpired. The first one to come to his senses was Namgung, who wore a face showing, ‘this isn’t right!’ He showed an expression of profound disbelief before quickly calling out to Lee Kwang.
“L-Lee Kwang! Wait a moment! This is tantamount to suicide for you!”
Interrupting Namgung, Lee Kwang responded indifferently,
“Namgung, let me make one thing clear: I have always disliked you. You flatter my friend, Yu Ji-hon, while secretly trying to manipulate the Master of the Zheng Tian Alliance as nothing more than a puppet to cater to the Five Great Families.”
“W-Well… that…”
Lee Kwang revealed the teeth of a wild beast.
“Today is truly liberating; you are scum.”
BAM!
“Uwaah!!”
With those final words, Lee Kwang lunged forward with a flurry of movements, shredding Namgung’s body into dozens of pieces in the blink of an eye. Namgung appeared to be at least some peak master level but was unable to offer even the slightest resistance, murdered within seconds. As Namgung’s bodyguards rushed to attack Lee Kwang, he continued to strike his spear without changing his expression.
Swish!
“Uwaahh…”
“Spare me…”
BANG!
Within a heartbeat, over a dozen disciples of the Zheng Tian Alliance were slaughtered. The incredibility of the entire event left the onlookers dumbfounded, unable to move, their faces painted with horror and disbelief.
Now left were only the Elder of the Huashan Sect, Cold Sky Sword, and the remaining disciples, along with the martial artists still willing to spectate. Lee Kwang glanced over the hall, walked up to Gungja the Cold Sky Sword, and smiled at him.
“Since you’ve so willingly stepped forward, I’ll spare your direct disciples. Choose them.”
“……”
The Cold Sky Sword trembled, pointing at the two disciples beside him. Upon confirming their faces, Lee Kwang nodded before restarting his massacre.
Swish!
Splat!
“Ahhhhh!”
With a new wave of slaughter, not just the Cold Sky Sword but all disciples of the Huashan Sect perished, except the two he had indicated. In mere moments, Lee Kwang had slaughtered nearly thirty people, all without getting a drop of blood on his clothes.
“Ah… ahhh…”
“Master…”
The two disciples of the Huashan Sect cried, clinging to the remnants of their master’s torn body. Lee Kwang coldly observed them.
“Your master silenced himself to save your lives while you should remember his death today and hide away all your lives in the Huashan Sect.”
Yes.
Lee Kwang had allowed Gungja the Cold Sky Sword and Namgung to talk freely, then, when crucial moments arose, he extended his mind energy to seize Gungja’s spirit, effortlessly suppressing him. And he had seemingly blackmailed the disciples into silence by offering to spare their lives if they kept quiet.
“……”
The disciples, shedding blood tears, cleared their master’s body and left. Lee Kwang sneered as he watched their departing figures and then addressed the onlookers.
“And you all should leave. This place is about to become a battlefield.”
“Hiiiii.”
They cast aside their pride as martial artists and, upon hearing Lee Kwang’s words, immediately began fleeing. They had likely wanted to run away from the very beginning but had been too frightened to move. Surrounded by a sea of blood, Lee Kwang stretched out his arms.
“Is it just starting now?”
“Indeed, this will mark the beginning of the Heaven-Road Net.”
From behind the platform, Mangnyang stepped out, casting the Seven Star Banner. He looked at Lee Kwang in the sea of blood and calmly stated,
“If it becomes too burdensome, do not forget to regroup with Baek Woong at any time.”
“Haha, there shouldn’t be any trouble before the Fire Dragon takes action.”
“Sounds good.”
By now, the vicinity was surely surrounded by the primary military forces of the Zheng Tian Alliance and numerous experts from all directions, including various mercenaries. Gungja the Cold Sky Sword and Namgung had expected to incite the crowd into attacking us and then slip away, but Lee Kwang’s apparent bloodbath shattered that plan entirely.
The Nine Sovereign Martial Artist, who had been standing next to me, sent me a message.
[Today’s going to be quite entertaining! How many do you think I can kill?]
“Hmm…”
I was aware that the Thunder God Lineage’s goal was to pretend to be involved in the power struggle while carrying out a massacre. Pondering for a moment, I murmured,
“They’ll probably pile up the corpses…”
The louder the ruckus, the better.
Infamy would work in our favor.
This way, the masters of the Thunder God Lineage would unite!
Although it sounded like a mad scheme, it was justified as Mangnyang had already requested a halt to proceedings with the leader of the White Lotus Sect and was confident in the strength of the Thunder God Lineage. It also seemed he wanted to make a point against the Zheng Tian Alliance, which was frivolously holding power over the world.
If communication with the Zheng Tian Alliance had passed the point of no return, all that remained was finding a new order through strength. Being fearful of the grudge from the Zheng Tian Alliance would only hinder us from fighting the White Lotus Sect, so it was better to force recognition through power. This was the way of survival for the Thunder God Lineage in the martial world.
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