Chapter 133 : Chapter 133
Chapter 133. Would You Recognize Me Now?
Although the Mount Mao Sect had a long history, it had never once been counted among the Nine Sects One Gang due to its weak martial arts.
However, with the destruction of the Kunlun Sect and the Mount Hua Sect during the last Righteous-Demonic War, the Mount Mao Sect became a new member of the Nine Sects One Gang and entered its golden age.
As their fame and recognition grew upon joining the Nine Sects One Gang, the people of the Central Plains finally recognized their true value.
The sorcery that the Mount Mao Sect had accumulated over hundreds of years was enough to capture the hearts of the people of the Central Plains.
In some ways, their sorcery was more helpful to the common people than martial arts.
The Mount Mao Sect did not simply divine fortunes, but they accomplished more than that.
For example, their sphere of activity extended to helping the general livelihood of the people of the Central Plains, such as performing rites to the heavens to bring rain or ensure a bountiful harvest.
Was that all?
Through exorcising ghosts, they also vanquished evils invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.
As a sect that had solely delved deep into sorcery since its founding, their golden age might have been destined.
‘The spiritual energy is quite considerable.’
Having arrived at Mount Mao in Jiangsu Province where the Mount Mao Sect was located, Jin Cheon thought so as he looked at the mountain before him.
Mount Mao was small, but it was a place full of spiritual energy.
Of course, it could not compare to Sky Mountain where the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was located, but it would not be easy to find such a spiritual mountain in the Central Plains.
Of course, among the mountains where the Nine Sects One Gang were located, there would not be one that was not a spiritual mountain and a famous mountain.
Jin Cheon's party first unpacked their luggage at an inn and planned the raid on the Mount Mao Sect.
And the one leading the planning was not Jin Cheon, but Wi Mu-rin.
When Jin Cheon requested his help, Wi Mu-rin readily accepted and accompanied him to the Mount Mao Sect.
Although he did not know the details of the mission or what it was for, he judged that if it was a task entrusted to Jin Cheon by the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, it would be helpful to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in some way.
“So, what are you trying to steal from the Mount Mao Sect.”
“I'm trying to steal the Earthly Center Trigram.”
“It will be an easy task for you.”
Wi Mu-rin smiled.
“In front of the Nine-headed Dragon Robe, the sorcery of the Mount Mao Sect will be useless.”
“Is that so?”
“Their sorcery will never be able to penetrate the Demon-Subduing Wall of the Nine-headed Dragon Robe. As for martial arts, you will overwhelm the Mount Mao Sect Taoists, so who can stop you.”
“That alone is not enough.”
Jin Cheon shook his head.
“No matter how much the Nine-headed Dragon Robe defends against the sorcery of the Mount Mao Sect, I don't know the exact location of the Earthly Center Trigram, do I?”
“I can help you with that.”
“……?”
“Would you mind sitting in meditation here for a moment?”
“Yes, Senior Brother.”
Wi Mu-rin had Jin Cheon sit down and went behind him.
Then, he chanted various incantations towards Jin Cheon's back, specifically, the Nine-headed Dragon Robe.
Seueueu!
The Nine-headed Dragon Robe absorbed Wi Mu-rin's sorcery like a waterlogged cotton ball.
After about a moment.
“It's done now.”
“What did you do?”
“I have input nine incantations.”
“Yes…?”
“The Nine-headed Dragon Robe is not only the greatest treasure under heaven that defends against physical attacks and even sorcery, but it can also store sorcery.”
“……!”
“I'll tell you the incantations to easily activate the sorcery, so you can just memorize them in advance.”
Wi Mu-rin smiled faintly.
“Thank you, Senior Brother.”
Jin Cheon was sincerely grateful for Wi Mu-rin's help.
If it weren't for Wi Mu-rin, wouldn't he have been at a loss as to how to steal the Earthly Center Trigram from the Mount Mao Sect?
“Don't thank me. I just lent a hand for the revival of our cult… Keoheok!”
Suddenly, Wi Mu-rin coughed up a mouthful of blood.
“Senior Brother!”
“I'm fine.”
“Why are you bleeding…”
“It's just a side effect of using too much spiritual power in a short time.”
Wi Mu-rin said as he took out a handkerchief from his bosom to wipe the flowing blood.
“I'll be better after a little rest, so don't worry.”
“Yes, Senior Brother. Please don't overdo it.”
Jin Cheon was worried about Wi Mu-rin, but he was relieved to hear that it was nothing serious.
Wi Mu-rin told him the incantations for the sorcery input into the Nine-headed Dragon Robe and left for a moment.
It seemed that the fatigue from the depletion of his spiritual power was considerable.
“I'll enter the Mount Mao Sect alone, so everyone else, wait at the escape route.”
“Won't that be too dangerous?”
Danmok Cheong asked worriedly.
“It will be fine since I have the Nine-headed Dragon Robe. Since Senior Brother Wi has helped, the rest of you will wait here.”
“As you command.”
Danmok Cheong, the Seventh Divine Demon Squad, and Wi Mu-rin decided to wait for Jin Cheon at the foot of the Mount Mao Sect.
“I'll go with you.”
“There will be many enemies, will you be okay?”
“Do you think I'll be defeated by the sorcery of those snot-nosed kids?”
Seop So-yeon wore a confident expression.
Certainly, since she was not a human but a strange and powerful being, she wouldn't even bat an eye at mediocre sorcery.
“Alright. Then come with me.”
“Okay, then let's go together.”
Jin Cheon allowed Seop So-yeon to accompany him and concluded the meeting.
In fact, it was a plan that anyone who heard it would call crazy.
No matter how weak the Mount Mao Sect's martial arts were, it was a place that occupied a seat in the Nine Sects One Gang, so it was by no means an easy opponent.
No matter how strong one's martial arts were, they would have no choice but to kneel before the sorcery poured out by the Mount Mao Sect Taoists.
***
Late at night.
Jin Cheon climbed Mount Mao with Seop So-yeon.
It went without saying, but he did not commit the crazy act of openly invading and destroying everything.
Jin Cheon's goal was the Earthly Center Trigram, not an attack on the Mount Mao Sect.
“Wait here a moment.”
When Jin Cheon saw the buildings of the Mount Mao Sect in the distance, he paused his steps for a moment and chanted one of the incantations Wi Mu-rin had taught him.
“Destruction-Breaking Eye.”
As soon as he chanted the incantation, his vision changed.
“As expected.”
Jin Cheon smiled upon confirming that a formation was spread out before him.
Indeed, all sorts of formations were spread around the buildings of the Mount Mao Sect.
If he had approached without knowing, he would have been trapped in a formation, or Mount Mao Sect Taoists would have popped out from all directions and poured sorcery on him.
‘Thanks to Senior Brother Wi, I'll pass through easily.’
Jin Cheon and Seop So-yeon moved along a path where no formation was spread, a path known only to the Mount Mao Sect Taoists.
Thanks to this, Jin Cheon and Seop So-yeon entered the precincts of the Mount Mao Sect safely and quietly, without any inconvenience.
Perhaps because it was late at night, the precincts of the Mount Mao Sect were deathly quiet.
Occasionally, young disciples were seen on patrol, but it was not to the extent of being highly conscious of them.
Since the surrounding area was defended by sorcery and formations, there was no need for strict security, which created a loophole.
“Do you know where the Earthly Center Trigram is?”
“Just a moment.”
Jin Cheon said so and chanted the incantation Wi Mu-rin had taught him.
“Tracking Indication.”
As soon as he chanted the incantation, a mark visible only to Jin Cheon appeared and guided the way.
“This way.”
Following the mark, he saw a huge building in the distance.
Supreme Clarity Pavilion.
A place where one of the Three Pure Ones, the highest gods of Taoism, Shangqing, also known as the Celestial Venerable of Numinous Treasure, was enshrined.
Since the Mount Mao Sect had enshrined the Celestial Venerable of Numinous Treasure among the highest gods of Taoism since ancient times, the construction of the Supreme Clarity Pavilion was a very natural thing.
The Supreme Clarity Pavilion of the Mount Mao Sect was where the major and minor affairs of the sect took place, and it was also where the sect leader resided.
Since the Earthly Center Trigram was a precious treasure, it was not at all strange for it to be kept in the Supreme Clarity Pavilion.
“Let's move carefully.”
“Don't worry about me.”
Jin Cheon and Seop So-yeon entered the Supreme Clarity Pavilion, following the mark indicated by the Tracking Indication.
And the place where Jin Cheon and Seop So-yeon arrived was a small building that was still lit.
Judging by the plaque that read ‘Supreme Clarity Hall’, that place was surely the residence of the Mount Mao Sect's sect leader.
“The light is on.”
“Indeed. It seems he's not asleep yet.”
“Hmm.”
Jin Cheon hesitated for a moment upon seeing the light on in the Supreme Clarity Hall.
It was not a very wise choice to sneak in when the Mount Mao Sect's sect leader was not yet asleep.
However, since it was already late, it was somewhat ambiguous to wait for him to fall asleep.
If he waited indefinitely and dawn broke, there was a high possibility that things would get complicated.
“Are you going to wait?”
“No.”
Jin Cheon shook his head.
“Invade, subdue him, and seize the Earthly Center Trigram.”
“Alright, then.”
Seop So-yeon readily agreed with Jin Cheon's judgment.
Although stealing the Earthly Center Trigram without anyone knowing would be the best picture, there was no reason to refuse a second-best option just because that was not the case.
“I'll go in, so you stay nearby and prepare for any unforeseen dangers.”
“I'll do that.”
“See you later.”
Jin Cheon left Seop So-yeon alone and approached the Supreme Clarity Hall first.
***
Like the sect leader of any sect, the Mount Mao Sect's leader, Perfected Person Suyang, did not sleep even late at night.
Moreover, as the leader of the Mount Mao Sect, a member of the Nine Sects One Gang, it went without saying that he had more than one or two things to worry about.
‘The work is piled up like a mountain.’
Perfected Person Suyang looked at the documents placed in front of his desk and gently covered his face with his hands.
He had been reviewing documents from early evening until this late hour, but it still felt like he had a long way to go.
‘Heh heh. Am I pulling an all-nighter again today.’
Perfected Person Suyang squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them, drank a cup of tea placed on the desk, and turned his gaze back to the documents.
swish.
Just as Perfected Person Suyang was about to stamp the official seal of the Mount Mao Sect on a document he had finished reviewing.
clunk.
The window, which had been fine, opened, and a man in black robes and a mask burst into Perfected Person Suyang's office.
“……!”
The startled Perfected Person Suyang tried to respond hastily, but the opponent was faster.
Tuk, tuk, tuktuk.
The fingers of the man in black struck Perfected Person Suyang's acupoints in the blink of an eye.
‘An, an incredible master!’
Perfected Person Suyang recognized at a glance that the opponent was a master beyond imagination.
Although the Mount Mao Sect was a sect with lacking martial arts, the sect leader had to be a martial artist who had reached at least the peak level.
Perfected Person Suyang was also a master with skills beyond the peak level as a martial artist.
No matter how much of a surprise attack it was, it would not be an easy task to subdue such a person as Perfected Person Suyang in an instant.
“I'll get straight to the point.”
The black-robed, masked man asked Perfected Person Suyang.
“Where is the Earthly Center Trigram?”
“……”
Perfected Person Suyang could not answer.
Thanks to his muting point being pressed by the opponent, he could not even open his mouth.
“I believe I asked. Where is the Earthly Center Trigram.”
“……”
“Do my words not sound like words to you?”
“……”
“Ah, come to think of it, I pressed your muting point.”
Jin Cheon muttered to himself as if he had just realized, and then released Perfected Person Suyang's muting point.
“If you try any funny business, I'll smash your head, so keep that in mind.”
“Wh-who are you.”
“Me?”
Jin Cheon grinned and lowered his mask.
“Would you recognize me now?”
“Y-you are!”
Perfected Person Suyang recognized Jin Cheon at a glance.
His face was already so well-known that there was hardly anyone in the Central Plains who would not recognize Jin Cheon.
“Unrivaled New Demon, how did you get into our sect…?”
“I believe I told you? I came to get the Earthly Center Trigram?”
“Keuheum.”
“Hand over the Earthly Center Trigram while I'm being nice.”
“Why are you looking for the Earthly Center Trigram?”
“That is none of your business.”
Jin Cheon dismissed Perfected Person Suyang's words.
“Choose. Hand over the Earthly Center Trigram, or have your head smashed here.”
“……”
Perfected Person Suyang hesitated for a moment, but soon realized he had no choice and said.
“I-I will guide you to where the Earthly Center Trigram is.”
“Lead the way.”
“This way.”
Perfected Person Suyang guided Jin Cheon.