Chapter 28
"... Prestige, huh. Another ambiguous Heaven's Mandate this time."
Receiving the Celestial Realm's note, Jaseong muttered as such.
Prestige (威名)
Just as the term implies, it means a reputation with power.
This time, the Heaven's Mandate was to accumulate just that: prestige.
Now that Jaseong possessed more power and resources, there were various ways to build his renown.
First, he could use the name of 'branch leader of Hao Clan's Ansun Branch' and subdue the Dark Path factions.
That way, his name would surely rise in prominence among them.
Alternatively, he could use the gold bars received from Fierce Sky Faction's leader to showcase his financial power in Ansun Branch and expand his influence.
In that case, his reputation would grow among Guizhou City's merchants.
Yet Jaseong shook his head at both options.
'Somehow, I don't think those methods will build the level of renown the Celestial Realm wants... If that were enough, the Celestial Realm would have been satisfied just from taking down the Seven Freaks of Zhejiang.'
While pondering, Jaseong's gaze coincidentally landed on the Silent Traveler and the Little Devil.
Having each spent two or three decades in the martial world, and currently training with Jaseong at the training hall, they seemed to know how to gain renown there.
"Prestige?"
The Little Devil looked at him with a face that seemed to ask what nonsense he was talking about.
"Well, I'm not really interested in that stuff. Isn't it enough just to find a tough guy and beat him up?"
He replied while chewing on a piece of jerky, embodying the typical Dark Path mentality.
This time, Jaseong looked to the Silent Traveler.
However—
"......"
The Silent Traveler stayed silent.
According to Pacheon Gong, it was rare to hear the Silent Traveler speak even two or three times a year—that reputation seemed well-earned.
"Leader."
At that moment, Hyang-I entered the training hall.
Unlike usual, she approached quickly, as if she had urgent news.
"Leader, I have a report."
"What is it?"
"After a hundred days, factions of the Central Plains' Evil Faction will be flocking to Guizhou City."
"... The Evil Faction is gathering? Why?"
"For the Dark Path Duel Banquet."
"......!"
At this news, not only Jaseong, but also the Little Devil and the Silent Traveler, widened their eyes.
The Dark Path Duel Banquet was a martial tournament hosted by the Evil Path Association.
Many of the rising stars from the Evil Faction participated in this event; in comparison, it was like the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering for the Righteous Faction.
However, its method was far more brutal than the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
True to the Evil Faction's reputation.
"The problem is, this time, the Dark Path Duel Banquet will be held very close to our base in Ansun."
"Where is it?"
"In Heung-in Village, Guizhou City."
It was extremely close to Jaseong's Red Light District.
"As a large number of Evil Faction members are likely to gather, I think we need to strengthen the security of the Ansun Branch. We don't know what trouble they might cause in our territory."
A subtle unease glimmered in Hyang-I's eyes.
Jaseong's gaze grew cold as well.
In the past, remnants of the Demonic Cult and top experts of the Murim Alliance had clashed in this very Red Light District.
Many, including Jaseong's eldest brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, died because they were caught in the crossfire.
Should something like that happen again...
"Send a carrier pigeon to Fierce Sky Faction's leader. Ask for subordinates to be dispatched."
"Yes, sir."
"And I'll be heading out too."
"To where...?"
"The Dark Path Duel Banquet."
"What...? Why are you suddenly going there?!"
Naturally, Hyang-I's eyes widened.
The Little Devil and the Silent Traveler mirrored her expression.
As previously mentioned, the Dark Path Duel Banquet was no typical martial arts tournament.
Most tournaments are one-on-one matches with the victor advancing up the ranks.
But the Dark Path Duel Banquet forced participants into a predetermined area to fight a survival free-for-all that lasted days.
Survival of the fittest—
It was a tournament in the truest sense of the phrase.
As a result, deaths occurred frequently.
The place was filled with rough and brutal Evil Faction members.
But Jaseong was undeterred.
'... This is a chance to accomplish the fourth Heaven's Mandate, Accumulate Prestige, all at once.'
And, more importantly.
If Jaseong won the Dark Path Duel Banquet, no Evil Faction member would dare cause trouble in his turf, Ansun.
Thus, at this moment, a strong fighting spirit shone in Jaseong's eyes.
* * *
After hearing Jaseong's decision, Hyang-I continued,
"To be precise, our Hao Clan is neither Righteous nor Evil Faction. We are a sect in the neutral zone between the two, so we are allowed to participate both in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering of the Righteous and the Dark Path Duel Banquet of the Evil Faction."
"Even so, is that really allowed for a neutral sect?"
"There are precedents. Seven years ago, one of our sect's disciples took part in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering in Shaanxi. Three years ago, we received an invitation to the Dark Path Duel Banquet in Jilin Province, even if we didn't participate."
"So joining is not difficult."
"That's true, but... Many of the rising stars who enter the Dark Path Duel Banquet die. Why would you still...?"
Jaseong responded by lightly patting her on the shoulder.
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen this time either."
Jaseong then left to register for the Dark Path Duel Banquet, as per the information Hyang-I had gathered.
Participation was not difficult.
Shaanxi, Sichuan, Anhui, Guangxi, and Guizhou.
There were examiners in these five cities authorized to allow entry to the tournament.
Receiving approval from any one of them sufficed.
Roughly three days and nights later,
Jaseong stopped before towering city gates.
He had arrived in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou City.
Murmur— Murmur—
Crowds lined up before the gates.
Vendors' shouts, wagon wheels clattering, children laughing—all this noise blended into the vibrant streets of Guiyang.
As befitted the capital of Guizhou City, its scale and activity couldn't be compared to Ansun's Red Light District.
Jaseong's gaze fell on a gate adorned with extravagant gold decorations.
'That's the entrance to the Mocheon Sect.'
Wearing a new human-skin mask and passing by the entrance to the Mocheon Sect, Jaseong's gaze grew cold.
Memories from the past surfaced.
But he simply walked on.
Now was not the time for the Mocheon Sect.
Jaseong's steps brought him to Muhaksa, a temple halfway up the mountain.
"Is there a monk named Hyeonseung here?"
"Why are you looking for him?"
"I have a message to deliver."
"Come this way."
A young monk guided Jaseong through Muhaksa.
Fortunately, Jaseong soon met the elderly monk, hyeonseung.
He was peacefully admiring a lotus pond behind the temple.
"You say you have a message for me? Who sent it?"
When Hyeonseung asked, Jaseong silently offered the letter he had prepared.
Written in neat script was the line:
〈On a moonless, windswept night, deep in the forest, sword shadows dance. (月黑風高夜 林深劍影舞)〉
It was the code for participating in this round of the Dark Path Duel Banquet.
"......"
For a moment, the old monk called Hyeonseung said nothing, staring deeply at Jaseong.
'... Did I do something wrong?'
With the silence dragging for a good half kè, Jaseong couldn't help feeling uneasy.
Suddenly, hyeonseung asked directly:
"Your affiliation and nickname?"
"I'm a branch manager of Hao Clan. I have no nickname."
"... Hao Clan?"
At Hyeonseung's question, Jaseong produced the medallion proving he was a third-rank manager of the Hao Clan.
"Hm..."
"Is there a problem?"
"This is the first time a disciple of the Hao Clan has participated in the Dark Path Duel Banquet."
Pausing for a moment, hyeonseung took out a red token from his sleeve.
"Take this."
"What is it?"
"It's a qualification token for the tournament. Take it to Iron Mountain, south of Guizhou City, in three months."
Jaseong nodded silently at the old monk's words.
'... I feel uneasy, but at least I've gained eligibility. Now, for the next three months, should I train in a sword immortal's secret art...?'
But as Jaseong tucked away the red token and turned to leave, the old monk abruptly called out,
"Let me tell you one thing,"
"?"
"Of all the applicants who've received the red token, you currently have the weakest internal power."
... Did he say I have weak internal power?
"I am able to measure the exact extent of one's internal energy. With your measly reserves, you'll lose your life at the Dark Path Duel Banquet."
With those words, Hyeonseung—one of the five examiners of the tournament—turned away.
His shadow spread across the lotus pond, casting a somber atmosphere.
* * *
'... The weakest internal power among this year's participants, huh...'
Jaseong gave a hollow laugh.
If the old monk had seen his actual cultivation, he would never have said something so foolish.
The golden true ki accumulated by the breathing of the immortals was formidable even in small amounts.
Quality over quantity.
Thanks to that, Jaseong had defeated the first-rate Seven Freaks of Zhejiang with just a small amount of internal energy.
Of course, the examiner Hyeonseung could not have known this.
But he wasn't entirely wrong either.
Most of the rising stars registered for this Dark Path Duel Banquet had trained their internal energy for at least fifteen years.
Heirs of renowned clans would have even more, having supplemented their cultivation with all sorts of elite medicines.
In comparison, Jaseong had only trained for about a year and a half.
His training period was far too short, and thus his reserves had to be small.
'I can't just ignore the old monk's warning.
According to Hyang-I, the most prominent rising stars of the Evil Faction will be taking part this year...
First, I have to master the sword immortal's secret arts and grow stronger than now.'
Muttering this internally, Jaseong decided on the secret art he would select.
Among the three available—from the first to the third—he chose:
[Third Path: Celestial Gate Opening Art]
He resolved to train in the highest-difficulty technique, the very one Night Cat Celestial Spirit had warned him about.
Of course, it was a reckless choice.
Hadn't Night Cat Celestial Spirit said it?
No executor of Heaven's Mandate before him had ever succeeded with this technique.
To choose what no one had ever mastered—
If previous executors saw him, they would likely sneer.
But to Jaseong, the choice was obvious.
Because he had been powerless, he hadn't even raised a fist against his mortal enemies.
Those who killed his big brother, sister-in-law, and nephew—he had let them go right before his eyes.
Moreover, those enemies were even now becoming stronger by the hour.
To catch up, he had to take the difficult path without hesitation.
'... If I want to become a peerless expert who stands atop the world, I have to walk a path none have walked before.
So... Third Path, Celestial Gate Opening Art.
I'll become the first among executors of Heaven's Mandate.'
With that resolve, Jaseong sent a carrier pigeon to Hyang-I.
[For three months, I will be in closed-door cultivation. If anything happens, ask Fierce Sky Faction's leader for help.]
He then grabbed jerky and water and headed to a nearby wild mountain.
Finding a quiet, abandoned cave, he opened the Heaven Evading Way manual.
In that instant—
Whooosh!
A bizarre wind suddenly swirled around Jaseong.
Then, with a shower of light, the mystical feline Night Cat Celestial Spirit appeared just as before.
"Meow—"
"I pay my respects, Night Cat Celestial Spirit."
"Foolish one. You really mean to choose the Third Path technique?"
"Yes."
"Even those who mastered the First Path are extremely rare. No one has ever achieved the Third. As I said, there's not even a transmission master to guide you. Yet you still..."
Despite repeated warnings, Jaseong's answer was unwavering.
Not a hint of hesitation—the cold resolve in his eyes was unmistakable.
Night Cat Celestial Spirit gazed at him quietly.
In his deep golden eyes rose memories of previous executors of Heaven's Mandate.
'... Both Baek Cheon-gwang and Hong Gukyul, who passed down martial arts to this boy, were extraordinary experts.
But in the end, all failed to fulfill the Heaven's Mandate.
In fact, none of the previous executors have ever succeeded.
So even if his choice is reckless, perhaps it is the right path.
If he can master the hardest, third Path, and become stronger than any predecessor... he might be able to finish the Celestial Realm's Heaven's Mandate after all.'
Even as he tried to dissuade Jaseong, Night Cat Celestial Spirit secretly felt a thrill at his choice.
"... So you're not just arrogant after all."
"?"
"Well, if you're determined, so be it."
"......"
"Good luck. But let me warn you: a secret art isn't something you obtain just by spending time or effort."
"Then how does one learn it?"
"The sword immortal said you need a 'fleeting sense of insight' to master this art."
"A fleeting sense of insight...?"
"If you don't grasp it within a month, you have no hope of success."
A month.
An unbelievably short window.
"May you become the first executor to master the Third Path."
With that, Night Cat Celestial Spirit faded away into the light.
At the same time, the Heaven Evading Way manual flipped to reveal the previously sealed Third Path art, Celestial Gate Opening Art.
But the moment he read the first line, Jaseong's heart dropped.
[When the Celestial Gate opens, heaven and earth will be overturned]
[Or you will cough blood and die.]
---