Volcanic Age

Chapter 278: The Identity of the Dark Heavens (1)

Hong Gao raised his arm. With his calloused hand, he tried to grab the sword stuck in his chest, but he couldn't do it. Blood boiled from his neck, and his lungs felt sore, almost as if they would tear apart as they desperately tried to breathe.

Thud, clatter.

His wrists fell to the floor, and the prayer beads wrapped around them snapped.

"So… assassinate…"

Huí Guāng Fǎn Zhào.[1]

Before he breathed his last, the desire in his eyes shone brighter than any light.

In the eyes looking back at him, there was no guilt or anger—only regret.

Hong Gao swung his fist with every ounce of strength he had remaining.

"Heup!"

It wasn't any last resistance or struggle. As if he had gone crazy, Hong Gao punched himself in the chest and made a big hole.

"Make sure… you assassinate… me… properly…"

Hong Gao took a feeble step forward. As Zhou Xuchuan's sword was pulled out, his horribly torn internal organs fell out.

The view of his back showed off an inexplicable madness.

"With… my death… make sure… Shaolin…"

He wasn't able to finish his words. To be honest, it was a miracle that he was still alive.

Thus was Hong Gao's end.

Crazy bastard. Zhou Xuchuan stuck his tongue out and shook his head.

***

The murim was in a turbulent era. Days as memorable as today had happened only a few times throughout the murim's long history.

"The Hundred Paces Fist Monk is dead!"

"Just what kind of bad luck has befallen the Shaolin Temple?"

"Isn't it the Righteous Faction rather than the Shaolin Temple?"

"It hasn't even been that long since the Great War of Good and Demonic ended…"

"Ha… what a tragedy…"

The end of the Great War of Good and Demonic had brought joy, but the Shaolin Temple was faced with another ordeal due to the death of its abbot.

"Senior Brother Abbot!"

"Namu Amitabha Buddha…"

It wasn't just the Shaolin Temple; the Righteous Faction murim was also filled with grief.

While Hong Gao had gone crazy, he had been working hard for the Shaolin Temple in various ways during his lifetime, and his reputation wasn't bad.

There was a reason he was elected as the next abbot. There was no need to say anything within the temple, and his reputation on the outside world was pretty good.

Truthfully, his reputation within the murim's forces wasn't that great due to his excessive pride in the Shaolin Temple and his rude remarks. However, he was popular with others, especially with the people.

Hong Gao had placed importance on the subjugation of Demon Heads and bandits. He had been relieving the masses from them ever since he was young, and he became even more prolific at it after becoming the abbot.

He valued the reputation and the honor of the Shaolin Temple.

Thanks to his stance, he received the support and respect of the people.

If only he hadn't gone mad… That was why Zhou Xuchuan deliberately hid the truth.

Hong Gao was a great man supported and respected by the people, including his fellow monks. Moreover, he was none other than the Abbot of the Shaolin Temple.

If the truth were to be revealed, the aftermath would be unbearable.

It really can't be helped.

Zhou Xuchuan disliked the fact that the crazy monk was being remembered as a hero, but he had to withstand it for the sake of the Shaolin Temple and the murim.

"Wasn't the Hundred Paces Fist Monk one of the One Hundred Experts Under Heaven? Could the assassin truly be that strong?"

"I heard that we're still in the midst of the cleanup after the Great War of Good and Demonic, so could the perpetrator be the Demon Cult?"

"No. I heard it was the Dark Heavens Association."

"Dark Heavens Association? Just what sort of nonsense are you bringing around again?"

Soon, letters were sent to the Martial Alliance and Evil Valley. Each letter was written in the names of the Sword God and the Domination God Monarch, respectively.

Prepare to announce the Dark Heavens Association.

The Martial Alliance and Evil Valley moved almost instantly as if they had been waiting for this day. For now, they focused on spreading rumors behind the scenes for the sake of the future.

If they were just to announce it, it would only cause confusion.

"Haven't you heard about the subversive hidden force behind the murim? Apparently, they've been preparing to conquer the murim for decades."

"Remember the war over the Blood Muscle and Tendon Classic three years ago, right? Yeah, I'm talking about the Seven Swords War. They say that there was a story behind it."

"A story? What story?"

"You know. The Dark Heavens Association."

"Dark Heavens Association? Do you really believe such nonsense?"

"Honestly, I was skeptical, too. However, there are more than one or two rumors about it. I heard that its name was mentioned several times within both the Martial Alliance and Evil Valley."

"Are you serious?"

"I heard it from my cousin, so I know that's the truth. In any case, the Blood Muscle and Tendon Classic that caused the Seven Swords War was actually…"

A large-scale incident that was a hot topic in the past had resurfaced. Starting with the Seven Swords War, the Four Gates Rebellion, the Great War of Good and Blood, and finally, the Great War of Good and Demonic.

Among the major incidents that would remain in the history of the murim, the name of the Dark Heavens Association was mentioned again and again.

At first, no one believed it. Rumors in the gangho murim were famous for being exaggerated or absurd, after all.

When it was revealed that the sources were the Martial Alliance and Evil Valley, however, rather than just a random person, the rumor began gaining strength from that point on.

In the end, the murim

Since the Martial Alliance, Evil Valley, and even the Xia Wu Sect of the Black Hand had come forward to purposefully spread the rumors, it was natural for such tales to spread like wildfire.

The Dark Heavens Association seemed unable to do anything about the rapidly spreading rumors, so they simply made zero moves.

As stories about the Dark Heavens Association filled the entire murim, the Martial Alliance and Evil Valley almost simultaneously acknowledged and announced the existence of the Dark Heavens Association just a week later.

"Wow, ha! To think it really was true!"

"It wasn't like there were just one or two rumors, anyway. I predicted such things all along.

"The Seven Swords War, the Four Gates Rebellion, the Great War of Good and Blood, the Great War of Good and Demonic! Could it really be true that all four of the murim's great wars were all the work of one force?"

"I still can't believe it…"

The murim couldn't help but be astonished. The shock from this revelation was truly immeasurable. In any case, the murim went through a great upheaval because of this shocking fact.

***

Time passed quickly, like the strong currents of the Yangtze River. Summer ended, and fall came. The green leaves on the branches were turning into colorful autumn leaves.

Anhui, Martial Alliance….

"You must be tired after your long journey."

Nangong Weiwu greeted Zhou Xuchuan with a kind smile.

"I was a little late as I stopped by my sect on the way," Zhou Xuchuan replied with a bitter smile.

"It's nothing. It's only natural that you should show your face. You were once thought to be dead after all."

After the war, Zhou Xuchuan was summoned by the Martial Alliance headquarters. It was for the sake of celebrating Zhou Xuchuan's survival and his rise as one of the Seven Empyrean Overlords. Of course, he was summoned to discuss future matters as well.

The Dark Heavens Association had finally risen to the surface. He knew them better than anyone else, so they needed his advice.

Since Zhou Xuchuan also had something to say to them, he agreed. However, he wasn't able to come immediately, as he had to return to the Mount Hua Sect before doing anything else.

While he was worried about the murim's safety, he was also worried about his teacher, whom he had caused so many unnecessary worries.

That was why he had taken so long, as he had to ask for their understanding and forgiveness by letter before stopping by the Mount Hua Sect.

"I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the Martial Alliance."

Nangong Weiwu bowed his waist slightly with a serious expression.

"N-no, it was nothing."

He was the Martial Alliance Leader and an Absolute Master of the Seven Empyrean Overlords in his own right. Zhou Xuchuan was incredibly flustered, and he hurriedly waved his hands.

"I just did what I was supposed to do."

"But weren't those something that not just anyone could do? When I heard that we were defeated in the first clash, my neck went stiff on its own. When I heard that the Zhou Xuchuan was actually alive, I actually forgot my position as the Alliance Leader and leaped around in joy."

He wasn't joking; he was serious. The situation was that tense at the time.

Not only were they defeated in the first clash, but the Martial Alliance's main experts were seriously injured as well—reduced to the brink of death.

In particular, when I heard the news of Exalted Shang Ming's death, his heart sank.

The situation had been so serious that he wasn't able to eat or drink for a while.

"As the Martial Alliance Leader and a member of the Righteous Faction, I would like to thank you once again, Sword God. You are a hero."

Nangong Weiwu treated him with the utmost courtesy.

"Why are you being like this? You're making me feel like a stranger. Please, you don't have to be so polite."

Zhou Xuchuan scratched his arm and laughed awkwardly.

"For a hero of the Righteous Faction, moreover, the Sword God at that, to be so flustered, I think that is quite a rare sight."

Zhuge Xiang laughed, seemingly finding it amusing. "Are the two of you having fun ganging up on someone?"

"We're not ganging up on you at all. We're just being completely sincere. As proof—"

"Didn't you bully me a lot as you guided me to the office earlier? I understand your feelings, so please let me be." Zhou Xuchuan waved his hand in apparent displeasure.

"If the hero says so, then so be it."

Nangong Weiwu raised his head and grinned like a snake.

"Then let's get to the point. I'll be giving you my report now."

Zhuge Xiang wiped the smile off his lips and explained briefly.

"The Great War of Good and Demonic's cleanup went off without a hitch, and the Dark Heavens Association's announcement went smoothly. To be honest, I thought there would be interference, but it was surprisingly trouble-free."

"The Martial Alliance, Evil Valley, and the Black Hand's Xia Wu Sect deliberately brought up their existence. As for Blessed Existence, he probably felt that stopping it was pointless and invested his time and effort elsewhere," Zhou Xuchuan commented.

"While we're on the subject, what exactly did you do to move the Evil Valley Master?" Nangong Weiwu asked.

Their announcement dates had coincided. Of course, there had been rumors before, so the overlap itself wasn't that strange.

"In this old man's eyes, it seemed like the Evil Valley knew about the Dark Heavens Association just like we had, and it felt like they, too, had been preparing for it for a long time. Also, hadn't you said in the letter you sent me that the Evil Valley would cooperate?" Nangong Weiwu asked.

Zhuge Xiang was also curious about it. It was just too much of a coincidence.

"Uh… I'm somewhat familiar with the Domination God Monarch."

Thinking that things would become annoying if he were to reveal the truth, Zhou Xuchuan decided to give a rough explanation.

"By the Domination God Monarch, do you mean that Domination God Monarch?!" Zhuge Xiang's eyes widened.

He was referring to the hero of the Evil Faction, the Domination God Monarch, who had taken the position of Empyrean Overlord from the Sound God. He was a figure surrounded by a veil, even within the murim. The strategist couldn't help but be surprised when the swordsman said that they were friends.

"I told you before that I had collaborators inside and out, right?"

"Yes, you did, but I never expected it to be that Domination God Monarch. What a surprise." Nangong Weiwu couldn't help but mutter in admiration.

Zhou Xuchuan wondered what kind of expression he would make once he discovered the truth.

"Well, that's that. Now, please start with the next report."

Nangong Weiwu and Zhuge Xiang seemed curious about his relationship with the Domination God Monarch, but since Zhou Xuchuan had brought up the next topic, they couldn't press any further.

Moreover, the main topic was important, so they had to wait till later anyway.

"The Poison Dragon… Tang Mingren's whereabouts are unknown."

"Since when?"

"The day after the end of the war… When news about Great Hero Zhou's survival broke out."

This was to be expected. On the contrary, Zhou Xuchuan would have expected there to be some kind of trap if the poison master had remained in the Martial Alliance.

"Tang Mingren is the traitor of the Martial Alliance, the Avaricious Wolf."

"Ha…" Nangong Weiwu sighed deeply.

Zhuge Xiang's expression wasn't very good either. "As expected…"

It wasn't all that surprising.

He was the one who had witnessed and reported Zhou Xuchuan's death, but he had disappeared as soon as he heard the news of the swordsman's survival.

Even a fool would know that something was strange.

"So we investigated what happened, and there was no trace of him. Almost as if he had never existed."

"Just what on earth happened? Did something happen between the two of you?" Nangong Weiwu asked with a serious expression. The other witness, Hong Gao, had passed away, so Nangong Weiwu had no choice but to hear it from the person in question.

"It's not that big of a deal. The Poison Dragon was the traitor, and I was foolish enough to fall into his trap. More importantly, since we're on the subject… I have something to say as well."

Nangong Weiwu and Zhuge Xiang's eyes were fixed on Zhou Xuchuan.

"I would like to report what kind of place the Dark Heavens Association is… along with the identities of Destructive Soldier and Blessed Existence of the Seven Stars Division as well as the Dark Heavens Association Lord."

The conversation with the Heavenly Demon came to mind.

1. Originally a Buddhist concept, it has become a cliche in wuxia/murim novels. In novels, it's what you normally see as "a candle burns brightest at its end" or something like that. Literally, it means to turn one's light back on oneself and obtain self-realization, but in common use, it's generally referred to as terminal lucidity. ☜