Chapter 1230

<Chapter 1230> 1230. The Path of Radiant Ascension

Truly, traveling with a guy who knows how to use his head makes life so much easier. We effortlessly avoided traps, and when we accidentally crossed paths with an initiate, we managed to talk them down without any combat. Even during battles with yokais, his assistance proved invaluable. Though, it would’ve been nice if that Barrier had been set up just a tad quicker.

“Number 123.”

“What is it?”

We were walking on a path as narrow as a balance beam. Wind was blowing from the side, and thorns jutted out from the pits on either side.

But my companion Jegal Mosoon and I remained calm. We were experts who had reached the pinnacle of our art. Walking on a balance beam? Pfft, nothing to us.

We could even jump around if we wanted.

“I heard you pledged allegiance to Number 88.”

“Oh, right. That happened.”

It was about two months ago now.

I had informally dueled against Chanyun and lost. Having received help from her before and being deeply impressed by her skills, I ended up pledging my loyalty on a whim. Or at least, that’s what people think.

“How did you know? Did Number 88 tell you?”

“I inferred it from your attitude. It subtly changed.”

Of course, this is Jegal Mosoon. Truly befitting the man who would later become the mastermind known as the Demon Brain.

“That can’t be all, can it? You must have also pledged to serve Number 88, which is why you guessed I swore loyalty.”

“You’re surprisingly perceptive. Yes, correct. I have pledged my allegiance to Number 88.”

“You’re way too open about it. According to the words of the Mouth of Demonic Observation, someone might be watching us.”

“No worries. I’m not betraying the Celestial Demon Sect. In fact, pledging loyalty to Number 88 is itself serving the sect wholeheartedly.”

“So you know who Number 88 really is.”

“Would I pledge loyalty without knowing?”

“What’s your real question here?”

“The reason for your loyalty. I saw potential in Number 88. The potential to become the true ruler of the Celestial Demon Sect.”

“88 is stronger than me. I acknowledge their power. That’s all there is to it.”

“How absurd. Do you expect me to believe that? There are plenty of people in this sect stronger than you. Take the Mouth of Demonic Observation, for instance—she could probably kill someone like you in ten moves.”

“The Mouth lacks something overwhelming that Number 88 possesses.”

“And what exactly is that ‘something’?”

“It’s hard to put into words. But it exists.”

“Meh, fine.”

Suddenly, Jegal Mosoon grabs my shoulder from behind. If he applies pressure and pushes me off-balance, I’d easily topple into the pit beside us.

“What are you doing?”

“Listen carefully, Number 123. Don’t get in the way of my plans or Number 88’s. If I determine you’re no longer useful, I won’t hesitate to eliminate you.”

I glance back at him. His face is dead serious.

“That’s my line, Jegal Mosoon. Many suspect you might be a spy from the Jegal Clan. Don’t forget that.”

“I’ll prove otherwise in time.”

He releases my shoulder.

“How long do you plan to stand around? Keep moving, Number 123.”

Squinting, I continue forward.

On the ground lay two men and one woman, unconscious. As Jegal Mosoon and I approached, we inspected their wounds. Despite their blood-soaked clothes, their injuries weren’t fatal.

“Sword slashes. They’re still alive. None of these are critical.”

“Numbers 215, 307, 421. Who attacked you?”

With a calm voice, Jegal Mosoon questioned them. The ones called out trembled slightly. The largest of the three finally spoke…


It was a big dude. The vacant-eyed giant muttered as he fumbled through his fragmented memories.

“Attacked… by an evil ghost…”

“Evil ghost? You mean a youkai?”

“Not a youkai! It was human! The fiend wore a mask and wielded twin swords… A warrior…!”

“More details, please! 215! 215!!”

Number 215 collapsed. Not dead—just unconscious. Zhuge Mosun glanced back at Numbers 307 and 421. They too had passed out.

“Fainting doesn’t make sense here. This isn’t just fainting.”

“Sedatives.”

“Correct. Sedatives were used. Likely the work of the evil ghost they spoke of.”

Zhuge Mosun shot me a sidelong glance. Because of the evil ghost tattoo on my back.

“It wasn’t me.”

“I don’t suspect you. Haven’t we been together this whole time?”

“You’re starting to piss me off.”

Without even snickering, Zhuge Mosun inspected the unconscious bodies before standing up.

“We need to guard more thoroughly.”

“Oddly calm. Do you know something about this evil ghost?”

“No idea. But I can guess. The evil ghost incapacitated these guys and put them to sleep. Probably one of the warriors from the Tianma Sect. The Demon Lord must’ve sent them.”

“Why?”

“Because this year’s recruits are too skilled. We just need to focus on our mission.”

Leaving the unconscious behind, we pressed forward.

A fork in the path appeared.

Both left and right looked identical. I closed my eyes and strained my ears.

“There’s water flowing from the right. Nothing on the left.”

“Hmm. Let’s go right.”

“Why?”

“Information. Knowing there’s water is better than knowing nothing. Plus, where there’s water, there might be an exit.”

We turned right.

Soon, we encountered the flowing water. Problem was, it flowed downward, into the underground. No matter how hard we squinted, we couldn’t see the bottom.

“Hey, weren’t those numbers 123 and 366?”

Two women hiding in the corner revealed themselves: Ximen Xiaoli (290) and Yan Yihe (567). Blood stained Ximen Xiaoli’s clothes, but it didn’t seem to be hers.

“To think we’d run into you guys here… Lucky break.”

Zhuge Mosun smirked.

“Did you find the Black-Eyed Spirit Wine? We haven’t yet. Need to find that first.”

Ximen Xiaoli responded, her voice tinged with anxiety. Yan Yihe remained silent beside her, her expression unreadable.

“We found it. Since the fourth trial just started, we can move slowly while searching for both the exit and the wine. Let’s drink some water and plan accordingly.”

Just as Zhuge Mosun finished speaking—

We all whipped our heads around simultaneously toward the way we came. There stood a man wearing the evil ghost mask, gripping a sword in each hand.

We collectively held our breaths. The oppressive aura emanating from him was overwhelming. At minimum, he’s a master of the Five Qi.

Yan Yihe moved first, drawing her sword and charging straight at the masked figure. I followed a beat later, shouting back to Zhuge Mosun.

“366! Cast the barrier!”

“Understood! Give me time!”

Zhuge Mosun began embedding steel rods into the ground, while Ximen Xiaoli fell in line behind me. The three of us coordinated our attack against the masked fiend.

The masked fiend deflected our attacks with effortless sweeps of his blades.

‘Dammit. Just as I suspected. Mid-level Five Qi?’

The silver lining? He’s not taking us seriously. If he truly wanted to kill us, I’d have to unleash my seals.

White blade energy surged from Yan Yihe’s sword as she swung it. The trajectory distorted, blurring our vision—a brilliant Illusion Sword technique. Yet the masked fiend effortlessly countered her assault.

KAAANG!

With a deafening clang, Yan Yihe was sent flying backward, tumbling across the floor.

Ximen Xiaoli and I exchanged glances, then simultaneously attacked from either side of the masked fiend. He spun like a top, his swords forming a whirlwind so fast we couldn’t penetrate.

I kicked a protruding rock fragment from the ground.


The spinning demon mask comes flying toward us! The instant a rock touches the rotating blade, it crumbles to dust and falls to the ground.

“Alright then! Initiating the Barrier!”

Whooshhh.

Zhuge Mosun’s barrier activates. The air grows heavy in an instant. The demon mask halts its spin.

We gather together, keeping a wary eye on the motionless demon mask. It seems to be giving us time to strategize.

“The barrier will slow down its movements. Can we defeat it?”

“There’s no way we can win,” Lian Yeha declares flatly. Ximen Suolie and I nod in agreement. To defeat the demon mask, we’d need at least five experts on Lian Yeha’s level.

“In that case, running is our best option. Please hold it off for a bit.”

“Hold it off…for what exactly?”

I ask.

“I plan to forcibly shrink the barrier to immobilize it. Though阵法 isn’t my specialty…we should be able to buy enough time to escape.”

“I understand. I agree with your plan.”

Lian Yeha and Ximen Suolie nod in approval. At that moment, a demonic sword qi slices through the air toward us. We quickly scatter in different directions to evade.

All of us except Zhuge Mosun rush the demon mask. Its reactions have indeed slowed thanks to the barrier, but even so, there’s absolutely no chance of landing a fatal blow.

Kaaang! Kang! KAAANG!

During our time together, we’ve trained as a team. Our coordination has improved significantly because of it.

The demon mask’s demeanor changes. Its purely defensive sword style shifts to aggressive offense.

“Aaaaah!”

Ximen Suolie lets out a scream as she’s sent flying toward a wall. Blood trickles from her left shoulder.

“You little-!”

I charge straight at the demon mask.

Evil Ghost Sword Technique: Reverse Ghost Pursuit!

A slash rising from below.

With a simple step back, the demon mask easily evades. But that was just a feint. Lian Yeha had been hiding behind me, using me as cover. She leaps off my shoulder, her white sword qi splitting into four streams that envelop the air around the demon mask.

Startled, its eyes widen. It crosses its dual swords in an X formation. A powerful energy wave erupts from its body, sending both Lian Yeha and me flying. We roll across the ground and spring back up simultaneously.

“Now! Run!”

Zhuge Mosun shouts. Steel rods embedded in the ground surge forward to restrain the demon mask’s movements.

Zhuge Mosun starts retreating with Ximen Suolie.

“567! We need to run too!”

“No, it’s too late. We must fight!”

“What?”

Bang!

In the blink of an eye, the demon mask appears before us. Protective spirit energy flares around its body like flames, breaking free of Zhuge Mosun’s barrier.

It swings its dual swords. Lian Yeha and I raise our swords simultaneously to block. Another shockwave erupts. I manage to endure by bending forward, but Lian Yeha is lifted off her feet. Without mercy, the demon mask raises its sword high.

‘Fleeting Moment!’

Using Fleeting Moment, I yank Lian Yeha toward me. The demon mask’s sword narrowly misses her.

‘Fleeting Moment! Fleeting Moment! Fleeting Moment!’

Holding Lian Yeha’s waist with one hand, I use Fleeting Moment repeatedly to leap into the flowing river. The demon mask jumps after us. Its sword plunges into the water, creating a massive water column that reaches the ceiling. But riding the current, we evade its attack.

Anticipating its follow-up strike, I prepare myself. However, the demon mask simply stands there, staring at us.

I realize its protective spirit energy has dissipated, and Zhuge Mosun’s barrier has reactivated, binding its body.

Carried by the current, Lian Yeha and I flow downward.

Splash!

We land in a large underground lake. Carrying Lian Yeha, I swim ashore. Spitting out mouthfuls of water, I look at her. Soaked to the bone, Yan Hui sits up expressionlessly and looks straight at me.

“123. It was you.”