Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 110 – Divine Technique (4)

A pair of siblings—one male, one female—each held flower petal-shaped metal pieces.

As they shifted into various stances, gripping the dark, extraordinary metal between their fingers, their qi fluctuated with each change in posture.

“How about this?”

“No, a bit lower. To the right.”

“Right? It’s slightly tilted. To make the trajectory pierce downward, considering the follow-up shot…”

The two bore striking similarities in their delicate features and nimble builds, clad in light green

silk garments that complemented their small but agile frames.

They were thoroughly enjoying their discussion about hidden weapon techniques.

In the distance before them stood a skinny old man, watching with satisfaction. He wore a brilliant golden robe over his tree trunk-like body.

It was Tang Tae-dok, the Supreme Elder of the Sichuan Tang Clan, also known as the Supreme Sect Leader. An elderly master.

“Divine talents. Truly divine talents.”

The brilliance of these siblings had skipped a generation, Tang Tae-dok mused. He considered them incomparable to his son, who had severed ties with the family.

[TL Note: Another young master with daddy issues?]

The transaction had been a resounding success. The Blood Flame Sect Leader had spared no expense in his support.

From the body of the Blood Flame Apostle to those of Blood Flame Sect members with regenerative abilities, and even the Elder Council Leader of Desolate Fortress—everything necessary had been provided.

‘Though we allied with the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader, the arrangement had been unexpected.’

Tang Tae-dok had also poured everything he could into it. The family’s most precious medicines, herbs, and even poisons were used.

He had invested everything into the blood transformation technique, leaving only the minimum reserves needed to sustain the Tang Clan’s foundation.

Thus, his grandchildren were reborn with talents unmatched in a thousand ages.

‘They can complete the Myriad Heavens Flower Rain. With their natural sensibilities, they surely can.’

The human body diagrams from the Blood Flame Sect’s Seventh Apostle had played a critical role.

Specifically, the diagram of Desolate Fortress’ Lightning Genius had been instrumental in realizing the blood transformation technique.

This body modification method combined the arts of medicine and poison techniques from both the Blood Flame Sect and the Tang Clan.

The siblings’ bodies had already been extraordinary, born with rare, strong constitutions. That’s why they could fully endure the technique.

After the procedure, the Tang siblings became renowned.

They hit their marks with every variation of their hidden weapon techniques, and their qi control was astounding.

Even without reaching transcendent realms like the Three Transformations, their precision in controlling internal energy was remarkable—a level that even seasoned masters found hard to match.

No peer could rival their extraordinary martial talent.

In Sichuan’s murim, it was said that only the elite of the Nine Sects or Thirteen Evil Sects could stand a chance against the Poison Dragon and Poison Phoenix.

‘They don’t understand the true worth of these children.’

Tang Tae-dok smirked inwardly.

The Tang Clan’s expectations for the Dragon Phoenix Twin Poisons siblings didn’t rest on their martial prowess alone.

Their talent was exceptional enough to claim a place beyond Sichuan—even across the world.

But that wasn’t the point.

Tang Tae-dok’s focus, as well as that of the Tang Clan leadership, was elsewhere:

Myriad Heavens Flower Rain.

This peerless secret technique had long symbolized the Sichuan Tang Clan.

It was a divine martial art that had remained dormant in books. For decades, no one had been able to practice it.

If it could be learned simply by reading the secret manual, it wouldn’t have been called a divine technique.

Yet the name Tang Clan in the Central Plains conjured visions of the invincible flower rain filling the heavens.

This was the essence of their martial arts passed down for hundreds of years.

‘My entire ninety years of life have been devoted to this.’

Tang Tae-dok thought.

Restoring the Myriad Heavens Flower Rain, which had become his delusion and obsession in his youth, had consumed him.

Limitations in intelligence? Inability to control qi in alignment with the manual?

Change it all.

I’ll open the Thousand Meetings Point and restructure all the body’s meridians.

Tang Tae-dok devoted his very soul to this heaven-defying task, beginning when he was a young clan master.

He has led the research since he took over as clan leader. Even after retiring as Supreme Elder, he had not let go of this dream.

And now, at last, results have come. But his aged body couldn’t withstand the technique.

So he chose to conduct the peerless talent procedure on children who had trained in Tang family martial arts since birth.

The siblings had inherited pure Tang Clan blood.

He believed they could endure the technique, and the results surpassed his expectations.

They would use the Dragon Phoenix Twin Poisons siblings’ talent to fully restore the divine technique.

That’s why he had accepted the Blood Flame Sect Leader’s proposal.

‘Their lifelines won’t last more than a few years, but what does it matter if they die after manifesting the Myriad Heavens Flower Rain? Succession can be managed by adopting from branch families.’

Tang Tae-dok’s lips curved upward, splitting into a grin.

He took pleasure in the sight of the siblings laughing and chatting, oblivious to their imminent deaths. Their dedication to restoring Myriad Heavens Flower Rain was a thing of beauty.

They were truly worthy descendants of the Tang Clan.

Beautiful things. You will become the final nutrients to make my life bloom meaningfully.

Tang Tae-dok’s gaze was layered, madness veiled with contentment.

The Dragon and Phoenix siblings, facing him, saw only the gentle smile in his eyes.

Phoenix waved her hand at her grandfather.

“Look at this! We’re down to a single breath now!”

Phoenix turned back toward her twin brother, spreading her snow-white fingers. The Tang Clan’s poison techniques had left her hands flawless, devoid of wrinkles.

In an instant, the flower petal-shaped metal between her fingers vanished. She flicked her wrist, and it disappeared.

Tang Tae-dok saw it all.

It was a qi-infused technique. The iron flower shot toward Dragon.

The metal piece split into eight fragments mid-flight, each aiming for a different point.

Dragon smiled and blurred into motion.

His white left hand drew an arc.

With a slight step backward, he caught all the metal fragments in one breath.

It was a trajectory that could only be described as sensational.

“Top grade indeed.”

Tang Tae-dok said with a smile.

Exchanging flower darts.

It was a game passed down through generations in the Tang Clan.

At the same time, it was a training method for practicing hidden weapon throwing and hand techniques, and also a means of judging individual talent.

That’s why he called it top grade. How one handles flower darts thrown by a Tang Clan master of equal rank.

The judgment of talent depended on that response method.

Reaction speed, inner force control, trajectory precision, seeing the target points.

Just stepping back once while catching everything, Dragon’s talent could be called the best in Tang Clan history.

Phoenix was no different.

A smile bloomed across her face. It was a very charming smile.

“Doesn’t feel like we’ve raised our senses appropriately?”

“Yeah. We’ve rested enough. Grandfather, we’re going to train again! We need to do it in an open space, I like that usual place. It gives some kind of inspiration? Feels like we could create anything.”

The confidence on Dragon’s white face was identical to his sister’s.

It was the spirit of a young master who would soon criticize the world.

The martial talent that would flash like lightning was instilling endless elation.

The foundation of their talent had changed. It was a completely new world.

Tang Tae-dok nodded.

“Go ahead.”

They were sparks that would brightly illuminate the Tang family before fading away. He could give them anything they wanted.

―Watch them thoroughly.

Tang Tae-dok sent just one message through sound transmission while keeping his hands behind his back. It was words spat to the masters guarding the Tang direct lineage.

* * *

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

* * *

There’s a saying about ten thousand methods. It’s both a metaphor and direct reference to the number of people in the Beggar Sect.

Though that number might not really represent the available fighting force, their influence was said to reach across the Central Plains.

‘Senior Beggar.’

Jeong Yeon-shin stared blankly at the one collapsed at Lazy Flame Dragon’s feet.

He was to become the master of the Central Plains beggars who had cultivated martial arts.

Meaning the next sect leader. His presence in the murim was tremendous.

“In terms of numbers, even combining the Thirteen Evil Sects and Nine Sects doesn’t match the Beggar Sect.”

“Yes, they truly are a major sect of the world in both manpower and information. Certainly… they must know a lot.”

The white-robed warriors of the Lightning Genius martial lineage said. All with indifferent expressions.

“Hey, hey! Who do you imperial dogs think you’re-!”

“Let go! Let go I say! Want to get hit with a rice bowl?”

White robes blocked the approaching subordinates of Senior Beggar who were coming forward indignantly.

The sight of them lined up blocking the beggars’ advances completely.

Their threatening appearance as they rested hands on sword guards or fiddled with hand weapons made the Beggar Sect beggars flinch.

The white-robed warriors spoke.

“Weren’t you the ones who provoked first by mentioning precious imperial swords?”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“Don’t worry. We won’t kill you. Well… if you’re unrelated to this incident that is.”

Though the official warriors of the Return Wing Corps generally had broader insight than Jeong Yeon-shin, they showed no agitation even when Lazy Flame Dragon touched the successor of a major sect.

They were mindful of the gravity of the situation and pressing time. As Radiant Demon Wing

was their master’s military force and Desolate Fortress comrade.

“Major sect my ass. Having lots of these rabble just makes them an ant colony.”

Lazy Flame Dragon said while chewing on opium poppy. His face was relaxed.

He was currently sitting on Later Beggar’s back.

“I’ve heard much about this Senior Beggar of the Beggar Sect too. Even when the Hwangbo family was stuck in some corner of Jinan, we gathered news of major sects well. They say wherever you beg, any sect serves you a feast? And you quite enjoy that too. I was waiting for when you’d come to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, but you never showed up.”

“I heard Lazy Flame Dragon had a crazy temperament. Seems I was right not to go.”

Senior Beggar’s wit wasn’t bad either.

Rough words came naturally, and he maintained his composure even while completely subdued.

“I apologize for the provocation. This beggar misjudged his opponent. Not knowing I’d be so utterly humiliated. But how did you come to be Desolate Fortress’ chess piece, Lazy Flame Dragon?”

“As expected. Has the rumor spread this far? Then you must know why we’re here too?”

He smoothly deflected unnecessary words while maintaining the point.

Lazy Flame Dragon’s way of speaking seemed sloppy but never strayed from the main point. A bitter smile appeared on Senior Beggar’s lips.

“Radiant Demon Wing’s annihilation is a big deal here too. It would cause an uproar if two or three Divine Sword Squad military forces gathered. Just like how the Hwangbo family was exterminated. Well, though Desolate Fortress is such a widespread sect that their dispersed forces can’t easily unite.”

“You seem to think mentioning the Hwangbo family would anger me, but it doesn’t hurt at all. Keep talking.”

“…This sect has also been investigating the Radiant Demon Wing incident thoroughly. We were trying to make contact as the Tang Clan’s genius twins, the Dragon Phoenix Twin Poisons, frequently appear in this area.”

His manner of speech changed. It seemed to be his original way of speaking.

“I see.”

Lazy Flame Dragon got up and dusted off his bottom.

Glancing at Jeong Yeon-shin, he said,

“Now the Acting Commander can handle it. Seems there’s no need for more time-wasting ceremonies. Originally murim folk need to be suppressed with force at first meeting. Especially those from major sects.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Senior Beggar grumbled while pressing both hands to the ground.

Then he twisted his upper body this way and that while getting up, in quite a glib manner.

As if saying what’s going on?

At the same time Senior Beggar’s eyes lit up looking at Jeong Yeon-shin. His gaze sparkled.

“So you’re that Lightning Genius? The rising star, rumored to have learned martial arts from the Lord of Desolate Fortress and killed Azure Qilin. It’s not easy for a master from northern Huguang to spread their fame to Sichuan’s murim, but if all the rumors are true then it’s certainly possible. We already knew well about the incident of piercing the weakness of the Tyrant Sword Sect’s Eight Fierce Rakshasa Swords.”

He had good social skills. It felt somewhere between Lazy Flame Dragon and Hyeon Won-chang.

“They say the Beggar Sect’s information network is the best in the world. I’ll reward you if you tell me what you know.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said. Then he slowly took steps.

Past Senior Beggar and the beggars, to one side of the cliff ground covered in countless marks.

‘Here it is.’

It matched the explanation he heard in the report.

Daggers, metal pieces, flying needles.

Countless hidden weapons had been shot with inner force. He could tell just by looking at the indented traces.

He slowly parted his lips.

“Radiant Demon Wing was suspicious of the Tang Clan’s thunderclap bomb production. They went out to properly investigate that. These hidden weapon marks here, are they traces of Myriad Heavens Flower Rain?”

That’s when Jeong Yeon-shin finished speaking.

Swoosh―!

He sensed the qi energy before the sound. He detected two ray-like hidden weapons.

As he turned, metal pieces rushing in like flower petals entered his view.

They instantly split into eight pieces each. Sixteen streaks of light pierced straight through the space toward him.

His head grew hot. His upper dantian burned on its own.

There was no time to figure out what kind of technique it was. The sneak attack was incredibly fast. There wasn’t even time to gather the Body Protection Technique’s internal energy.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s reaction occurred in the realm of instinct.

Thud.

He lightly kicked the ground. A strand of qi energy distorted through the stone struck by his toe.

The kicked stone split into sixteen pieces as well and blocked all directions of the hidden weapons.

Rattle-Rattle!

The trajectories of the iron flower petals were all deflected.

Among the crumbling stone pieces, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly raised his head.

He was greeted with the sight of the assassins who threw the hidden weapons.

A man and woman in green light garments who were looking at the boy with pale, shocked faces.