Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 113 – Divine Technique – Nine Heavens

***

It was only for a moment. The upper dantian’s foresight vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

The images flashing through his mind scattered like dust.

‘What was that?’

Jeong Yeon-shin quickly regained his composure. The spirituality of the Hundred Meetings Point that had given him a glimpse of the divine arts left his mind.

But that wasn’t important right now. The scene of Radiant Demon Wing he had seen earlier was the problem. He couldn’t tell if it was present or future.

‘It’s difficult.’

The power of the upper dantian was always like this.

Transcendental senses like foresight or wide-area observation never came in the way one would have desired.

It often showed useless things. As if heaven’s providence was mocking him.

Swoosh.

His body staggered briefly. The remaining sensation below his crown felt a burning pain.

It was getting worse as time passed. The upper dantian’s power growing stronger? That meant death was approaching.

It reminded him yet again. That he had only about three years left.

‘I know.’

He repeated inwardly. His mind felt like it was rapidly drying up.

“Leader? What’s wrong?”

Perhaps sensing something, Namgung Hwa-shin asked immediately. Jeong Yeon-shin answered aloud.

“Nothing. We should hurry.”

“We seem to have entered the domain of a formation technique. The darkness isn’t natural. Even with eye techniques, I cannot see ahead.”

It was as Namgung Hwa-shin said. Everything was pitch black as if they had entered an abyss.

Jeong Yeon-shin lowered his gaze while raising his arm. Nothing was visible.

Even his own hand close by was buried in darkness.

The air pressing down on his shoulders was heavy. Something was definitely there. It was unusually dark.

‘We’ve come to the right place.’

The boy unconsciously recalled the Blood Flame Sect’s formation techniques. The Two Flame Blood Spirit Formation.

It had divided the Blood Flame Sect’s main altar from the outside using mysterious arts.

The darkness brushing against his skin now also contained similar mysteries.

“How gloomy.”

Lazy Flame Dragon’s voice echoed nearby. His usually languid voice seemed to show some interest.

“Grandmaster, when visibility is hindered, it’s good to disperse your energy outwards.”

Crimson Day Sword spoke as he approached to guard Jeong Yeon-shin’s back. He was an experienced warrior.

It was advice born from murim experience. Though it was still hard to see, Jeong Yeon-shin nodded in agreement.

“Everyone, extend your energy waves.”

He spread his energy waves widely with his brief words.

Soon, the energy waves of the Return Wing Corps warriors began spreading in all directions.

The wind of inner energy touching their skin helped them recognize each other. They regained some sense of space.

This was the power of a group of masters.

They could adapt flexibly to any situation. No warrior panicked just because they lost visibility.

Even the Beggar Sect was the same. Everyone here was an elite from the Great Beggar Sect.

“Does anyone have a night pearl?”

At Lazy Flame Dragon’s words, Senior Beggar cut in.

“Having those leads to a short life.”

“I see the Beggar Sect beggars have only seen cheap ones. The real stones that store sunlight are harmless.”

“Must be nice being a fallen young master from a wealthy family.”

The Tang siblings also followed Jeong Yeon-shin’s instructions.

Energy waves like heat haze spread from the bodies of the boy and girl.

It was an energy control method that clearly revealed traces of poison arts training.

“Something feels familiar?”

“Though we’ve heard small sounds a few times before, to think such a place really exists…”

Poison Dragon Tang Li-Hua and Poison Phoenix Tang Li-li said.

“Why didn’t you come down to look?”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s question, there was a brief rustling sound of clothes. Tang Li-li seemed to have turned her body.

“Because there were traces of our father here. Those guarding us are Grandfather’s warriors, and Grandfather hates our father who abandoned the family. The Tang clan’s family laws are strict and do not forgive blood relatives who break the law, so we…”

“Grandfather might kill Father if he finds him. When we were training Myriad Heavens Flower Rain before, we kept the guard warriors distant, so we could pretend not to know about him.”

Tang Li-hua clearly finished his sister’s fading words.

His childlike behavior was rather intuitive.

“I see.”

Jeong Yeon-shin briefly acknowledged. The thunderous sound wasn’t heard only when the Return Wing Corps arrived.

The siblings’ words made sense too.

“As expected of the Tang clan. Truly a brutal family.”

“You, I heard from the Senior Beggar that you’re the Hwangbo young master – is that something someone from the Hwangbo family should say?”

Jeong Yeon-shin ignored Lazy Flame Dragon’s response of amusement.

While the siblings who finally couldn’t contain their anger began arguing with him, the boy silently closed his eyes.

He needed to concentrate.

“Quiet.”

It was Namgung Hwa-shin’s clear voice. He had sensed Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyelids moving.

It demonstrated that his sharply raised energy sense was focused on observing the Return Wing Corps leader and his surroundings.

If Lazy Flame Dragon was an uncontrollable flame, Namgung Hwa-shin now was like a sky – cold but flawless and composed.

He was incredibly reliable at times like this.

Jeong Yeon-shin twisted his energy pathways as they were. Not the Orthodox Energy Method, but the world’s only supreme earth-absorbing technique.

‘Moon Spirit Harmony Formula.’

He activated the mind method bestowed by the Desolate Fortress Lord. His whole body’s energy began feeling cool yet transparent.

Since he hadn’t cultivated it as his main technique, he couldn’t bring out the method’s full effectiveness.

However, Jeong Yeon-shin’s internal energy control integrated with the Moon Spirit Harmony Formula was enough.

Woong-

Energy gathered at the Pupil Bone Points outside both eyes. It was the yin energy of the Moon Spirit Harmony Formula.

The dark night was said to be rich in yin energy but had stripped away all yang energy.

The energy settled by a martial artist’s internal energy cultivation dyed his eyeballs mysteriously.

“The nature of the energy waves changed? Our Commander could cultivate yin energy too?”

Lazy Flame Dragon’s voice was heard. Though seemingly playful, it seemed to contain a hint of surprise.

Swish!

Blue eye light brushed past Jeong Yeon-shin’s vision. His sight cleared somewhat hazily.

The rough cliff walls extending in all directions began entering his eyes unfiltered.

“Follow me.”

The boy said.

Step.

He had just confirmed the space tunneled underground with his upper dantian. He moved to find the entrance.

Seeming to guess the situation from Lazy Flame Dragon’s words, the martial artists including the Return Wing Corps moved their feet following Jeong Yeon-shin’s energy waves.

‘I need to use both physical eyes and energy waves.’

Jeong Yeon-shin looked around while continuously spreading his energy. He imbued his thoughts into the internal energy emitted externally.

It was a method to expand his energy sense.

He tried to find an entrance hidden in the walls from the feeling of energy waves bouncing back after collision.

Meanwhile,

‘He cultivated yin energy martial arts?’

The Senior Beggar made a mental brush note of this while at the back.

The military force leaders under the Divine Sword Group were beings competing at the special superior level. All seventeen supreme masters were like that.

Lightning Genius was eighteenth though temporary. He was even leading White Qilin and Lazy Flame Dragon.

Though merely of the rising talent’s age, even small information was worth treating as intelligence now.

‘If Lazy Flame Dragon didn’t know, it means yin energy martial arts isn’t his main technique?’

The Senior Beggar silently moved the brush in his mind.

‘He doesn’t seem to have learned hidden weapon techniques but blocked the Dragon Phoenix Poison twins’ moves. Exceptionally outstanding sense. This is worth noting separately. No one would win against him in a battle of equal techniques. Since he carries two swords, his sword technique achievements wouldn’t be shallow either. His lightness technique seems to resemble the elf families.’

Information was engraved one by one. The Beggar Sect’s intelligence network that was said to encompass the world was built up this way.

Senior Beggar personally took the initiative in matters where he should step forward. This was such a moment.

‘Desolate Fortress’s Lightning Genius. Though many still don’t even know his face… he can already be said to stand at the peak of the murim’s rising talents. It’s not something to leave to old elders, nor for a dying master to handle directly, so I must do it.’

A value assessment of Jeong Yeon-shin was being conducted in real-time by the Beggar Sect’s successor.

That’s when it happened.

“Here it is. The entrance.”

The boy’s voice rang out calmly.

Jeong Yeon-shin at the front slowly stretched out his arm.

With powerful internal energy loaded in his right arm, he pulled out the rock covering the stone surface.

Thud!

The cave was revealed with a heavy sound.

* * *

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

“Nothing here.”

Lazy Flame Dragon’s voice echoed deeply.

It was after about two hours had passed. The group had entered the cave without hesitation.

It was wide enough for barely five people to stand shoulder to shoulder.

Jeong Yeon-shin led the way, with Lazy Flame Dragon and Namgung Hwa-shin supporting his back.

Behind them, while the Tang siblings were positioned, the Return Wing Corps’ blue level masters were lined up.

“A place this long and deep. That itself is unusual.”

Namgung Hwa-shin replied.

“That’s true but.”

To Lazy Flame Dragon’s languid voice, Crimson Day Sword added words.

“We should be careful. If a fight breaks out, focus on constantly emitting energy waves. We need to be able to sense the terrain. The Grandmaster seems already skilled at it, but the white robes might be a cause for worry.”

“We can handle it!”

“Weren’t you also white level until recently, Crimson Day Sword?”

Replies saying there was no problem were heard from behind. They were from the Return Wing Corps’ white level warriors.

‘This many people.’

Jeong Yeon-shin, again, had to come to terms with how many people were lined up behind him.

The situation of somehow ending up leading people felt unfamiliar.

It hadn’t even been two years since he took the Desolate test under the observation of his white level seniors.

‘Though they’re a reliable force…’

He also needed to reduce casualties in the Return Wing Corps. These were people he had brought.

Responsibility for colleagues who praised him as Grandmaster weighed on his shoulders.

It was much heavier than the black air wrapped around his whole body.

That’s when it happened.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Huh?”

“There.”

It was Tang Li-hua and Tang Li-li’s voices.

Their fast reactions yet again proved their reputations, but still slower than Jeong Yeon-shin.

The boy was already sprinting through the darkness with his blue clothes fluttering long.

Whoosh!

No formation techniques were spread in the cave. The Grandmasters’ eye techniques worked sufficiently.

Moreover, Jeong Yeon-shin was still using the Moon Spirit Harmony Formula’s yin energy.

It meant the terrain was as clear as daylight.

Tak!

He exploded internal energy from the Gushing Spring Point in his sole. There was a figure entering his wide open vision.

While flinching as they hid their body between walls, their build was very small.

‘Dwarf clan!’

With certainty, he closed the distance. The person seemed to sense it was too late to avoid. A hoarse shout burst out.

“You traitors! Is it the Thirteen Evil Sects again?! Or are you from the sects that stabbed the Desolate Fortress group in the back while claiming to be the middle path between orthodox and unorthodox…! Those shameless ones!”

There was spirit in the seemingly fearful voice.

Jeong Yeon-shin sharply lowered his momentum. The owner of the small build continued shouting.

“No matter how much you covet our clan’s city, you can’t bring in more villains! Since the treasure tablet has already been stolen, you won’t be able to enter even if you cut open my belly!”

“Jeong Yeon-shin of the Desolate Fortress’s Return Wing Corps.”

Whoosh!

Strong backdraft lifted and passed through sleeves.

Jeong Yeon-shin lightly stepped on the ground with his sole. He stopped right in front of the stranger.

He lowered his gaze.

A man whose height came up to Jeong Yeon-shin’s waist was leaning his upper body backward. He seemed frightened for a moment.

His bushy beard and short limbs were similar to the Desolate Fortress’s Dwarf clan.

His arm muscles developed like connected stones were too.

Only his extremely shabby attire was different. It wasn’t fitting for a supposedly very wealthy clan. Ones born with supreme craftsmanship.

“Desolate Fortress…?”

The dwarf clan man slowly repeated. As expected of one who had cultivated internal energy, his eyes flashing with spirit light scanned Jeong Yeon-shin.

The boy slightly turned his shoulder to show the character for ‘Desolate’.

With his hand tucked into his chest, he took out a golden identity tablet. It was the Desolate tablet he was showing after a long time.

The vivid golden tree pattern shimmered in the darkness.

“…Not the Han people’s craftsmanship.”

The man muttered.

It was an arrogant certainty. Typical of the dwarf clan.

Those who founded the Ming Dynasty along with the noble families. A clan receiving different treatment from the Western Region’s colored-eye people.

Though said to be strictly managed by the imperial court, who knew their city would be in such a place.

‘I’ve found a clue.’

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t mind the attitude. He immediately opened his lips.

“You mentioned the Desolate Fortress. Are they inside?”

The man didn’t answer right away. His tightly closed mouth looked stubborn.

‘It’s fine.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. He had already heard much. The dwarf clans’ underground city, Thirteen Evil Sects, unorthodox sects, betrayal, Radiant Demon Wing…

Many were involved. Like the energies latent in his body.

Suddenly the scene he saw with his upper dantian’s power came to mind.

His seniors’ backs were stabbed repeatedly. Baek Mi-ryeo and Cheong Myeong’s bodies weren’t intact either.

Woong!

His energy fluctuated along with his moving heart.

The Orthodox Energy Method’s pure internal energy writhed in his lower dantian along with the Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm’s power.

The yin energy left by the Moon Spirit Harmony Formula rose curling outside his skin.

Even the remnants of the Demon Roaring Blood Technique spread out as sharp energy waves.

‘No.’

Jeong Yeon-shin took a deep breath to calm his energy. It was because he realized he was in danger of qi deviation.

He didn’t know if the internal energy would tangle.

That’s when it happened.

“Just now, what…?”

It was Tang Li-li’s voice. Her voice was bewildered.

The Dragon Phoenix Poison twins who had arrived with Lazy Flame Dragon and Namgung Hwa-shin stared blankly at Jeong Yeon-shin.