## Chapter 610 – 610. The Ascending Path Of Light
610. The Ascending Path of Light
The atmosphere within the Meteor Sword Sect was grim. Rumors had spread that they had simultaneously turned both the Ahyeon Clan and the Jikga Escort Bureau into enemies.
Some of the servants, unable to bear the anxiety, had quit their jobs.
‘They’re the smart ones.’
This place would soon become a battlefield. The enemies wouldn’t just target the martial artists; they would try to kill every last servant doing menial tasks. The Ahyeon Clan was known for its ruthlessness.
“Seong Ji-gon, if the Ahyeon Clan attacks, you take the women and escape along the designated route.”
“Okay. Yu-jin, are you really going to fight?”
“I need to buy you time until you escape.”
My real objectives were twofold.
The first was the special mission from the Heavenly Gang System: the life of Shin Gong-se. If Shin Gong-se, who liked to get involved directly, was going to show up, he would surely do so this time as well.
The other objective was the magical artifact possessed by Seong Go-dan, the head of the Meteor Sword Sect. I would take that artifact for myself.
“Yu-jin, if things get too hairy, just run. It’s too precious to throw your life away here.”
“You’ve changed a lot too. You used to be the type to stubbornly insist on fighting to the very end.”
“If I die, I can’t have sex. And the Meteor Sword Sect isn’t worth dying for.”
“Even if your father dies?”
“What has Father ever done for us? And we’ve already committed too many sins to be doing things for Father’s sake.”
“Heh heh. Father’s concubines were delicious.”
“You’re being too blatant about it… Well, they were delicious, though.”
***
“Enemies! The Ahyeon Clan is attacking!”
The Ahyeon Clan attacked the Meteor Sword Sect faster than expected. Shin Gong-se probably thought that the Nagang Sect’s magical artifact might be at the Meteor Sword Sect. Or maybe he just wanted to get rid of the Meteor Sword Sect quickly.
“Seong Ji-gon, act according to the plan.”
“Okay.”
Seong Ji-gon moved busily. He would lead the women along the pre-determined escape route. Outside, everyone was moving quickly. Some were terrified, while others gripped their swords with angry faces.
“All Meteor Unit members, gather!”
The Meteor Unit leader’s shout could be heard from afar.
I ignored it. I wouldn’t just get a scolding later.
‘If there is a later, that is.’
Today, the Meteor Sword Sect would be destroyed. I wandered around, looking for Seong So-jeong. Seong So-jeong was heading towards the Meteor Unit’s gathering place.
“Sister! Something terrible has happened! Sister!”
I called out to Seong So-jeong urgently. Seong So-jeong, who was running, turned and approached me.
“Yu-jin?! What’s wrong?!”
“Ji-gon…! Ji-gon is in danger! We need your help!”
Seong So-jeong’s face hardened. Seong Ji-gon was Seong So-jeong’s younger brother.
“Where is Ji-gon now?!”
“This way!”
I led her to an old residence on the outskirts of the Meteor Sword Sect. It was one of the hideouts that Seong Ji-gon and I often used when we assaulted the maids.
The old residence was littered with signs of battle and bloodstains. Things I had prepared in advance.
“Ji-gon and I were attacked here! Ji-gon is holding off the enemies, and I came to ask for help…! Damn it!”
“Yu-jin, calm down. Ji-gon will be fine. You know he’s not someone who would go down easily.”
Unlike what she told me, Seong So-jeong’s actions were not calm. She needed to move more carefully and cautiously.
Seong So-jeong moved towards a spot that was particularly unnatural, unlike the rest of the destroyed residence. It was as if someone was buried under the construction materials.
Seong So-jeong moved the materials, and the needles installed underneath shot up, piercing her arm and shoulder.
“Sister!!”
“T-this is a trap…”
Thud.
Seong So-jeong collapsed to the floor. I quickly approached her.
As she said, it was a trap. However, it wasn’t a trap set by the enemies of the Ahyeon Clan, but one I had prepared.
The needles were not coated with poison, but with a sedative, and she was now forcibly asleep.
‘First step is successfully completed.’
Unlike Seong Go-dan’s concubines, Seong So-jeong belonged to the Meteor Unit. Seong So-jeong had a fairly high level of loyalty to the Meteor Sword Sect, so she wouldn’t have followed me and Seong Ji-gon even if we had told her to run away.
‘It’s a waste for Seong So-jeong to die here. I’ll have to take her by force.’
When Seong So-jeong woke up, she would think that the trap was set by the enemies. I took out a space-shifting scroll from my pocket, placed it in her hand, and forced her to tear it.
Her body was enveloped in light and disappeared. This would ensure that she wouldn’t die or get hurt.
‘After this is over, I’ll have sex with Seong So-jeong!’
But before that. Surviving was the top priority. If I stood out too much, I would become a target and die quickly, so I decided to hide and wait for an opportunity.
‘The preparations are already done! Time to bunker down!’
***
Clang. Clang clang. Clang!
“Kuaaaak!”
“Die!!”
Screams and the sounds of clashing swords echoed from all directions. The buildings of the Meteor Sword Sect were burning, and corpses were strewn haphazardly on the ground.
Even the elite of the Meteor Sword Sect, the Meteor Unit, could only fall before the elite martial artists of the Ahyeon Clan.
I used the Illusiter to hide my appearance and watched the situation.
Shin Gong-se and Seong Go-dan were now facing each other.
Shin Gong-se smiled wickedly and pointed his sword at Seong Go-dan. His subordinates surrounded Seong Go-dan. A siege of over 100 men. No matter how strong Seong Go-dan was, a master of the Five Qi, the situation was extremely disadvantageous.
“It’s a shame to meet you like this, Head of the Meteor Sword Sect.”
“You dirty bastard with no faith or loyalty, how dare you show your face before me. Did you not know that this place would become your grave?”
“This place is too shabby to be my grave. I’ll concede it to you, Head.”
“Insolent.”
Seong Go-dan raised his sword. A red sword aura surged from his blade. It was a sight that showed why his alias was the Red Star Sword.
“Don’t give him any leeway! He may be a head of a backwater sect, but his skills are real! I promise to give a spirit pill to whoever kills the head of the Meteor Sword Sect!”
The martial artists rushed towards Seong Go-dan.
Seong Go-dan stretched his left hand towards the sky. A silver bracelet was visible on his wrist. The small silver sword decorating the bracelet gleamed.
Immediately after, a giant sword appeared in the sky. The sword fell to the ground like a meteor in the middle of the martial artists.
Kwaaaang!
The shockwave that occurred sent the Ahyeon Clan martial artists flying. Those who were nearby survived the shockwave, but those who were struck by the meteor sword were torn to pieces and died. The giant meteor sword that fell from the sky soon disappeared without a trace.
Shin Gong-se was sweating profusely.
“So that’s the Meteor Sword of the Meteor Sword Sect that I’ve only heard about. It’s an amazing magical artifact. It’s not as valuable as the Nagang Sect’s Thousand-Mile Mirror, but it’s tempting.”
The Thousand-Mile Mirror was amazing. Depending on how it was used, it could even see inside barriers.
But the Thousand-Mile Mirror had its limits. Even someone at the Three Peaks realm could evade the Thousand-Mile Mirror’s gaze, and skilled sorcerers could even track it. Because its limits were clear, I didn’t keep it for myself and passed it on to Jik Seong-mi.
On the other hand, the Meteor Sword was a magical artifact whose power varied depending on the user’s skill. I had to get that no matter what.
“Do you know why I didn’t drop the Meteor Sword on you?”
“Isn’t it because you thought I would dodge it?”
“I will kill you with my own hands. Do you think I would kill you easily with the Meteor Sword?”
“That’s a lame reason. I’ll take that magical artifact. Oh, by the way, I’m looking for Seong Yu-jin and Seong Ji-gon. Do you know where they are?”
“Why are you looking for my sons?”
“They betrayed me. They were just hunting dogs I used for a while, and they bit their master’s hand, so they need to pay the price.”
“I don’t know. And that won’t happen. You will die here.”
Seong Go-dan charged forward. Shin Gong-se gritted his teeth and raised his sword aura to block Seong Go-dan’s sword. Seong Go-dan’s body was pushed back.
“Indeed. You blocked my strike well. But what about this one?”
“……!!”
Seong Go-dan dove into Shin Gong-se’s chest from below. His sword pierced Shin Gong-se’s chest.
Kwaang!
Seong Go-dan’s sword was deflected, and Shin Gong-se’s body was sent flying backward by the shockwave.
“You were wearing armor under your martial uniform. Not ordinary armor, but a magical artifact.”
“It’s a magical artifact called the Iron Shrimp Scale Armor. It’s a low-level artifact, so it was shattered by your attack just now.”
“The Ahyeon Clan is quite something. To give a magical artifact to their second young master.”
“Don’t compare our clan to the Meteor Sword Sect.”
Shin Gong-se planted his sword on the ground and got up. He then shouted to his surroundings as if screaming.
“What are you doing! If you’ve secured the position, deploy the Fifty-Five Node Formation!”
The martial artists surrounding Seong Go-dan moved as one, slowly tightening their grip on Seong Go-dan.
Dozens of swords moved as one, attacking Seong Go-dan. Seong Go-dan was also responding with amazing skill, but it was difficult for one person to handle dozens of people.
Wounds gradually accumulated on Seong Go-dan’s body. When more than half of his martial uniform was stained red, Seong Go-dan used the Meteor Sword. The meteor sword that fell from the sky destroyed part of the Fifty-Five Node Formation. Not missing the gap in the weakened formation, Seong Go-dan attempted to escape.
“You said you would kill me here, but in the end, you chose to run? Seong Go-dan!”
“Shin Gong-se. I will definitely kill you, so don’t worry. It’s just that today wasn’t the day.”
Seong Go-dan said shamelessly as he ran away. However, Seong Go-dan soon had to stop. This was because sorcerers wearing navy blue robes appeared and attacked Seong Go-dan and the Ahyeon Clan warriors.
‘They’re here. The real force that will destroy the Meteor Sword Sect!’
They used sorcery indiscriminately. They threw fireballs, cast dark curses, and launched swords and spears from a distance.
“Damn it! The Namji Sect!!!”
“Damn it! Were they waiting for an opportunity?!”
Seong Go-dan and Shin Gong-se were shocked. Their attacks killed the martial artists.
‘Now’s the time.’
I, who had been hiding and watching the situation, moved. I put strength into the hand holding the Fire Lotus Dagger and ran towards Shin Gong-se. On the way, the energy of the Illusiter ran out, and my appearance was revealed.
“S-Seong Yu-jin?!”
Shin Gong-se, surprised, raised his sword. But it was too late.
‘A fleeting moment.’
Faster than his sword, my blade pierced Shin Gong-se’s neck.
“Kueeeeee!”
Shin Gong-se died, foaming at the mouth.
『You have succeeded in the special mission.』
『As a reward for success, 50 Heavenly Jades will be given.』
I took out the 50 Heavenly Jades I had prepared from my inventory.
That made a total of 100.
“VIP level up.”
『You will use 100 Heavenly Jades to raise your VIP level.』
『You have reached VIP 1.』
『To raise your VIP level, you need 300 Heavenly Jades.』
『You have been given the VIP 1 achievement bonus.』
『The power of martial arts is increased by 50%.』
『Growth rate is increased by 50%.』
『The effect of elixirs is increased by 30%.』
『Attendance rewards will be better.』
‘…Has something changed? I don’t feel particularly stronger…’
This was not the time to be doing this.
I quickly turned my body.
“Head! I killed Shin Gong-se!”
“Yu-jin! Well done!”
I ran towards Seong Go-dan while dodging the sorcerers’ attacks.
The first objective was achieved. But my objective was two from the start.
‘Get close, kill Seong Go-dan, and steal the Meteor Sword!’
The distance to Seong Go-dan was getting closer. 30 steps. 10 steps. 5 steps. 1 step.
‘A fleeting moment!’
I swung my blade imbued with Red Lightning. My target was Seong Go-dan’s neck.
Kaaang!
Sword and blade collided. The Fire Lotus Dagger flew from my hand into the sky.
“So you were aiming for me after all.”
“…How did you know?”
“I don’t trust my own children. Especially Seong Yu-jin. You were too suspicious.”
He used lightning.
Lightning struck down.
Kwaang! Bang! Kwaang!
The world flashed. The lightning struck Seong Go-dan for sure.
“It’s useless.”
A red aura enveloped his body, blocking the lightning. It was a protective aura.
“That act of patricide, where a child tried to kill his father. Pay for it with your life.”
“A fleeting moment!”
Even though I used A Fleeting Moment, I could see his sword flying towards me quickly. Knowing the Meteor Sword Technique, I knew that this attack was the start of a combo. Even if I dodged the first strike, the next attack would come without pause.
‘The Fire Lotus Dagger is far away, and there’s not enough time to take out a new sword from my inventory. Before that, my body will be sliced. It’s unsettling, but… this is the only way.’
I used the Demonic Heavenly Art.
