DR Chapter 214

Thus, the two headed toward the Dragon Phoenix Gathering tournament venue where the preliminaries were being held.

A square stage, exactly thirty jang on each side.

Colorful flags surrounded the stage, and at its corners were circular formations inscribed with bizarre characters.

Within these formations sat people who might as well have had “I’m a Sorcerer” written on their foreheads, meditating and muttering something.

“So these are the famed formation masters I’ve only heard about.”

“First time seeing them, brother?”

“First time seeing ones who are both non-hostile and healthy. They look quite vigorous.”

…Sama Hyeon decided not to ask what that meant.

Obviously, healthy people wouldn’t go to White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s main compound to be admitted, and if not that, then any formation masters he’d met would have been during life-or-death battles on Mount Wudang.

Sama Hyeon had just learned one sad reality.

“Can’t be helped since the stage would be destroyed in one match without them.”

“That’s true.”

Formation masters.

They didn’t just help people navigate or design buildings or perform rituals.

In martial arts novels, they appeared strengthening terrain itself like this, and protecting martial arts arenas.

“Theoretically, they say even powerful qi can be contained while these four hold up.”

“That’s good.”

Jin Cheonhee had experienced firsthand how terrifying formations could be on Mount Wudang.

The experience of formations constricting jiangshi and raising mists throughout the Wudang sect couldn’t be learned from books alone.

He was writing a separate book about what he’d learned then.

“Oh right, since you were sleeping you wouldn’t have heard, but the Demonic Cult is participating in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering this time.”

“What?”

“Apparently they sent envoys~ And the Alliance approved? Everyone below is in chaos since impossible things are happening all at once.”

“……”

“The Martial Righteous Alliance says they just approved the request, but either way, the Demonic Cult sent envoys first, right? Those envoys could have all died. But they did it, and it worked. Everyone’s going crazy trying to figure out what the higher-ups are thinking.”

Lower-ranked people can only see a few go stones right in front of them.

Even elder-level practitioners don’t see the whole board.

They can only try their best to interpret the meaning of the moves before them.

Then who can see this entire board? The Alliance Leader?

Would reaching that level allow one to take in this entire whirlpool?

But if not…

If even he couldn’t see the whole…

The only ones who can see the whole board are those who set it up…

Then who set up this board?

In front, the 6th division match was just finishing.

A masked person in black clothing stood still facing an opponent wielding a huge axe.

Silence.

It was strange. The person in black didn’t take any martial arts stance, just standing there.

The unsettling feeling kept drawing his attention.

Jin Cheonhee finally realized why his gaze was drawn to him.

The man wasn’t breathing.

No, since humans can’t live without air, he must be breathing.

But his breathing technique was so peculiar that not only ordinary people but even fellow martial artists would have trouble noticing it.

Wearing human clothing yet being like an inorganic object made his appearance even more bizarre.

While one could sense something was off, not being able to pinpoint exactly what was strange made it feel even more unsettling.

“Die!! You Demonic Cult bastard~!”

The opponent was huge, eight chi tall, though with a young face.

Watching this, Sama Hyeon said:

“That’s the Mighty Blood Sect’s Blood Fury. Despite his appearance, he’s still in his teens but already heading toward the Transcendent Realm~”

“Wow, that’s no joke. Impressive.”

“The demonic cults tend to develop faster. That age is when they grow best. Though he’ll probably start suffering once he hits thirty.”

Sama Hyeon spoke as if discussing someone else’s affairs.

Blood Fury swung his axe widely at the black-clad figure.

The destructive power created by such a giant was tremendous.

The axe as huge as its wielder’s body cut through the air with killing intent.

It was clearly a killing move!

While killing moves were forbidden in matches, what was the standard for distinguishing between killing moves and non-killing moves?

Humans are emotional creatures.

Instincts awakened in fierce battle stir the muscles.

Kwaaang!

Surprisingly, the black-clad figure caught the axe blade with bare hands.

Though there were ways to deflect or dodge, catching it head-on was…

“How unsightly.”

Jin Cheonhee realized it was to give the opponent complete humiliation.

The man’s figure disappeared.

“One.”

From that number, Jin Cheonhee realized who the opponent was.

Kwagwang!

The next sight was of the eight-chi giant face-down on the ground, with the black-clad figure stepping on his head.

“You don’t even deserve two.”

Dududuk-

With the sound of something going wrong, the giant lost consciousness.

He didn’t… kill him.

He merely pressed a vital point that shouldn’t be compressed to knock him out.

Stepping on it to apply pressure showed his personality hadn’t changed.

The masked figure eventually raised his head and looked this way.

[It’s been a while, brother.]

Yeo Ha-ryoon sent a sound transmission.

Suppressing killing intent that had become more skilled and more vicious than before.

The time when he should be suffering from the Heavenly-Killing Star.

Jin Cheonhee replied calmly.

[Should I send that patient you’re stepping on to the ER? No, never mind. Let me check his pulse.]

That’s how terrifying a person who has snapped from overwork can be.

***

Had he been aware of Jin Cheonhee’s presence from the start?

There were no serious injuries in the 6th division.

“Thank you. Really, thank you. You’re a treasure of the medical pavilion.”

Jin Cheonhee heartily patted the shoulder of his brother whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“What exactly happened? Brother, your eyes don’t look right…?”

“What’s wrong with my eyes? Sama Hyeon was saying the same thing.”

At those words, Yeo Ha-ryoon and Sama Hyeon spoke simultaneously.

“Eyes that came up from hell.”

“Eyes that rolled through hell.”

Hmm, different expressions but same meaning.

Yeo Ha-ryoon and Sama Hyeon spoke at the same time and looked at each other.

Sama Hyeon was the first to smile.

“Brother, who is this person~? He seems close to you.”

To that, Jin Cheonhee couldn’t possibly answer ‘He’s my eldest brother in the Demonic Cult~’

In the past, Yeo Ha-ryoon had said this about adopted siblings:

-If they can meet me directly in the future without wavering, and have enough martial power to protect brother, then I might approve.

-Right. I don’t expect them to defeat me. I’ll give them three exchanges – if they can even tear my clothing, I’ll allow them to become sworn brothers with you.

Yeo Ha-ryoon had emanated killing intent in streams.

It was the grand opening of ‘World’s Greatest Sworn Brothers Selection Tournament. Subtitle: Die to Become a Sibling.’

Something Jin Cheonhee wanted to postpone as long as possible.

Suddenly, he spotted a group in Wudang sect uniforms in the distance.

Fortunately, they seemed busy with something and hadn’t noticed Jin Cheonhee.

Jin Cheonhee quickly stepped backward.

Don’t tell me everyone’s gathered for the Dragon Phoenix Gathering?

Thus, Jin Cheonhee realized that Sama Hyeon, Jin Cheon Woo, and Yeo Ha-ryoon…

These three had ended up competing in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering together.

He knew from the tournament brackets that the demonic cults were participating after the orthodox sects.

And now the Demonic Cult was joining too.

In this crazy situation, Jin Cheonhee desperately racked his brains.

But Sama Hyeon struck first.

“Nice to meet you~ I’m Sama Hyeon, my brother’s sworn brother. Who might you be~?”

“……”

Yeo Ha-ryoon’s neck creaked as he turned to look at Jin Cheonhee.

Though wearing a mask, the light in his eyes seemed visible through it.

Ah… that stings.

Just then, the Martial Righteous Alliance warrior serving as referee shouted:

“7th Division, 7th Division please enter!”

Damn it. Why now of all times…

When Jin Cheonhee didn’t step up, the referee shouted:

“If you don’t come up by the time limit, you’ll be counted as forfeiting!”

“I’ll go finish this quickly and come back, so you two need to get along here. Understand? Just get along until I return!”

Jin Cheonhee grabbed both brothers’ shoulders tightly and shouted.

The unorthodox sects and Demonic Cult.

What would become of the martial world’s peace?

Jin Cheonhee looked back at the two several times while climbing up.

Sama Hyeon cheerfully waved at his brother.

“Good luck, brother~!”

“Yeah.”

“I’m the only real ‘sworn brother’ after all, right?”

“……”

He figured it out.

From Yeo Ha-ryoon’s reaction alone, Sama Hyeon seemed to have realized.

Who the opponent was.

It’s over. It’s over. It’s over…

And with that nasty personality of his, Sama Hyeon wasn’t likely to get along nicely, and anyway, Yeo Ha-ryoon would conduct vehicle durability tests on people.

***

7th Division preliminaries.

The stage was quite spacious, about the size of a sports field.

There was a smell of lamb skewers. Looking up, spectators around the platform each held some food in their hands.

Even martial artists with swords at their waists held lamb skewers, looking full of anticipation.

Right. Good entertainment needs good food.

It’s incredibly popular even from the preliminaries.

Especially since the preliminaries weren’t usually one-on-one matches but group battles!

This had its own entertainment value.

Since they sold tickets, formation barriers were set up to protect the arena, so most attacks wouldn’t escape outside.

No wonder all the merchant groups are rushing in with dollar signs in their eyes.

Sure enough, seeing merchants selling lamb skewers wearing uniforms marked “Shengsheng Street Stall” convinced him that the Golden Blood Chamber business organization must be getting a piece of the action too.

For one thing, street stalls don’t pay taxes.

Besides, what kind of street vendor carries a sword at their waist?

In this world, martial artists who’ve cultivated internal energy are skilled labor.

Since such martial artists wouldn’t set up stalls to sell lamb skewers themselves, they’re probably paying demonic cult martial artists a kind of part-time wage(?) to sell them.

They’ll sell that for money…? Those martial artists with such high pride?

It must be Sama Hyeon. He’s the only one who would order such a thing.

His subordinates would have to do it unless they wanted their skulls physically cracked.

In one corner, betting was taking place on who would win.

“Little White Dragon! Anyone else betting on Little White Dragon!?”

Indeed. Regardless of orthodox or demonic, everyone had gathered with the determination to make money somehow!

The Dragon Phoenix Gathering wasn’t called the flower of martial arts novels for nothing.

Though the scale varied slightly between works, the Dragon Phoenix Gathering was always portrayed as the martial world’s biggest event.

Jin Cheonhee leaped onto the arena.

Including Jin Cheonhee, seven people had climbed up.

Let’s see…

Jin Cheonhee habitually circulated the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique to observe his surroundings.

Circulating the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique to awaken brain power before battle had become a martial artist’s habit.

According to the brackets, none belong to the Nine Orthodox Sects or Eight Great Families. Yet two people have strong energy.

Thanks to this, he realized this 7th Division would be a particularly unique group.