Whooosh!
Two jet-black figures slashed through the air. The ripples of Protective Energy Technique's disruption waves scattered in succession against the deep blue sky.
A grumbling voice rang out from above.
"I got so flustered I just went along with it! A granny, really?! The more I think about it, the angrier I get! Is that what you thought of me?"
"That is… not incorrect."
"I almost smacked you in the head, you know! But I held back because the kid looked too dejected!"
"Dejected? His eyes looked like they were about to roll back in his head."
"Don't be ridiculous. Do you have any idea how kind and gentle Lightning Genius is? Not even a drop of old man Ma's blood in him!"
"Hmm."
"Stop looking at him like that. I'll explain everything later, okay?"
For a brief moment, the flowing black robe of Jin Myungjo wavered midair.
"My apologies."
"That's more like it."
Their conversation continued in the air, made possible by the supreme mastery of Protective Energy Technique.
Jin Myungjo, with his usual indifferent expression, swallowed dryly before speaking again.
"...Will the two of us be enough? I mean Zhuge Clan's leader. Lightning Genius is a major force."
"We accounted for the First Fist of the Eun Clan from the start. The youngest will handle her, while we take Zhuge Dog's head."
"Zhuge Dog?"
"That bastard isn't human. No, even dogs care for their own offspring."
Just as Ak Surim was speaking in disgust—
[One thing is correct. I have indeed transcended mere humanity.]
A languid yet smooth voice resonated in all directions. If a youthful Jade Emperor were to speak, perhaps it would sound like this.
As the clouds dispersed, the beasts that had been hibernating were driven from the earth. The Six Harmonies Voice Transmission carried a divine presence.
"The dog is barking. Looks like we blocked his movement properly."
"I shall unsheathe the Dark Night Radiance Blood Demon Sword. Just buy me ten breaths."
Rustle.
The moment Ak Surim and Jin Myungjo landed atop the twin peaks of cypress trees—
Above their heads, a mysterious energy undulated in all directions like the Six Harmonies Voice Transmission.
It was not the solid force of internal cultivation. Instead, it was as if an extremely thin and smooth veil had been cast over them, an auspicious omen.
As a pale-white current gathered like clouds and scattered the sunlight in an ethereal glow.
Whoooooosh!
A straight pillar of energy was carved from the heavens down to the earth.
* * *
Han Zhong Murim Alliance.
Main Hall.
Click.
A treasured sword was placed on a reddish weapon stand carved from Zitan wood.
A large hand brushed the blade's edge and slowly traced downward.
It was a touch heavy with exhaustion. His wrist, wrapped in a dark cloth, extended from a long sleeve stained with dust and blood.
"Growing old is making my body stiff. What a foolish position to be in."
A middle-aged man with handsome features pulled up the corners of his lips, a self-deprecating smile forming.
"You should rest. They'll come again tomorrow."
A voice rang from far behind. As the man turned his head, a middle-aged figure with unusually black eyebrows adjusted his attire.
Zhuge Cheon, master of Feng Shui.
Originally the deputy grand strategist of the Alliance, he had remained when the Zhuge Clan's leader left both his family and the Alliance behind.
Thus, he naturally assumed the role of chief strategist.
Even though the former clan leader had left in disgrace, the reputation of the Zhuge Clan had not wavered significantly.
'A bat-like man.'
Sword Saint Hyun So-baek shook his head internally.
Many factions had left. The current state of the Murim Alliance was such that they had to rely on the wiles of men like him.
Of the Thirteen Celestial Demons, two had joined forces to drive out the Hanzhong Murim Alliance. Even for the Sword Saint, keeping them both in check was a struggle.
Hyun So-baek had been born with the perfect physique for swordsmanship.
His limbs were long. His fingers, which had always gripped the sword's hilt without a single tremor, were the same.
"I miss the freedom of movement. Back when I was a vagabond, I longed to lay my head down in a grand pavilion like this. People's hearts are fickle indeed."
Now, those long fingers merely clenched and opened in the air.
Saaah—
Each time they did, a white mist rose from his hands. The natural circulation of his internal energy was generating extreme heat.
The Sword Saint, having fought through a brutal life-or-death battle, resembled a weary tiger.
"Leader."
Watching him in silence, Zhuge Cheon finally spoke.
"I have confirmed that Hyeon-yi's body has been preserved. Since the Zhuge Clan's leader is preoccupied with trivial martial tournaments, we should be able to retrieve it in full. We have gathered individuals proficient in Protective Energy Technique to send—"
"And you expect me to stay put here like a turret on a fortress wall?"
"My apologies."
"Why not just quickly sever that Zhuge bastard's head?"
"You know it's impossible. The Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader and the Yeoryeong Sect's leader are issues, not to mention… the Zhuge Clan's leader, who has perfected his domain alongside the First Fist of the Eun Clan, can be considered invincible. Even the most treasured artifact of his clan is in Eun Hwaryun's possession. Defeating the combined force of those two would be…"
The Sword Saint waved his hand, cutting him off.
"That Eun Clan brat."
He spoke bitterly.
"What did she see in that pale bastard to forsake her family like that? Even going so far as to desecrate the body of the Azure Qilin from the Namgoong Clan."
The Eun Clan's martial arts were nearly synonymous with Ming Dynasty's foremost fist techniques.
The martial prowess of the current First Fist of the Eun Clan ranked among the highest of the Eight Great Martial Clans. Exceptional at close-quarters combat, she also possessed extraordinary perceptiveness.
When the Alliance was established, many had anticipated that, through her, they would easily acquire counter-techniques against their enemies.
"She did not look at the offerings."
"What?"
"She refused to even glance at Lightning Genius' markings on the corpse. And when given a book detailing counter-techniques, she immediately burned it with Three Samadhi True Fire. That's why the counter-techniques against Lightning Genius' martial lineage remain incomplete. The Clan Leader shunned her afterward… but she could not sever her old ties. That's why she followed him."
Zhuge Cheon's voice was emotionless. The Sword Saint let out a bitter chuckle.
"It's hard to grasp human emotions with the mind. That Zhuge degenerate is lucky. He's undeserving. That Eun brat is probably unable to do anything about her feelings and is just getting swept along."
"As long as she remains by the Sleeping Dragon, as long as he operates spell formations freely without concern for the Leader, unlike when he was in the Alliance… we cannot act against them. Please abandon this idea."
At that moment, Hyun So-baek's face shifted. The Sword Saint vanished, replaced by a vagabond scowling in frustration.
"Why the hell is there always something in the way of tearing that bastard apart? I'm going to drop dead from stress, you bastard."
"…It's fine. Better than getting your head lopped off by another supreme being in the wilderness and disgracing the Alliance's reputation. At least it's a challenge for everyone."
"No, you madman. It doesn't matter who it is, I will reward them handsomely in the future. Even if it means going back to Shaolin to get another Grand Revitalization Pill…."
"Please reconsider."
Zhuge Cheon slowly bowed his head.
Hyun So-baek, who had pretended not to hear him, momentarily parted his lips but said nothing. Instead, he let out a long sigh.
"Hyeon-ah, Fan Dragon. You came to serve as strategists for the Alliance, yet how did you end up like this…."
* * *
Waaaaahhh—!
What was meant to be a proving ground for Shaanxi's noble clans to display their martial prowess and elevate their prestige had changed entirely.
Yet, no one showed any disappointment. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
A duel had been arranged, one that no one here had ever anticipated. At this moment, all expectations for Shaanxi's young martial elites were forgotten.
"I heard that Eun Hero's martial prowess has surpassed even the rumors… but isn't it common for a great clan's orthodox techniques to suddenly improve at his age? I will be enlightened today."
"Could she rise any higher? Didn't she single-handedly destroy the Yangtze River pirate strongholds when she was only twenty? Even in her youth, she was called Fist Dragon across the great lands. Isn't this just a contest of fate between those who have reached the pinnacle?"
"That person is the Radiant Demon Squad's leader? Are you serious?"
"Well, his appearance doesn't exactly scream 'wandering vagabond', but still…."
Radiant Demon Squad's leader, First Fist of the Eun Clan.
The absolute peak of the martial world.
Proof of the Desolate Fortress' and the Eight Great Martial Clans' overwhelming power. No one could deny it.
The crowd buzzed with murmurs.
They speculated on whether he was the most honored figure present, that Gui Il-tae must surely be regretting everything right now.
"Is he really Desolate Fortress' black rank? This is insane. I have to see this! Move! Move aside!"
"He could just be falsely claiming to be from Desolate Fortress… but we'll find out soon enough."
"There are too many details matching the rumors about Radiant Demon Squad's leader, Lightning Genius—his appearance, his age, even his unbearably arrogant demeanor. I vaguely recall a drunken Gui Merchant Union leader mentioning this in passing. It's so surreal that he hardly seems real."
"I thought all he had was his youth and skill, but…."
"Who did Shaanxi's Noble Scion just insult?"
In the midst of it all, the center of the dueling platform remained still.
The two supreme masters were slowly releasing their energy, stirring up dust beneath their feet.
A faint breeze spread outward, gradually quieting the murmuring crowd.
'She really has grown stronger.'
Jung Yeonshin stood face-to-face with a peerless fist master.
Crackle.
The moment their eyes met, their intertwined energies clashed like fire along a drawn-out line.
Eun Hwaryun's internal energy was just as he remembered.
The powerful waves of energy that struck against his skin, the piercing gaze that threatened to ensnare his very soul, the twitching fingers that responded unpredictably to his every breath.
And yet, something felt off.
Her strength had clearly surpassed what it had been during the Murim Alliance's Opening Tournament, so why did she still feel like the same opponent he had defeated back then?
Some say that duels between ultimate masters are merely contests of fate. Even if that were true, this was still a strange phenomenon.
After all, wasn't she the one who had devised counter-techniques by desecrating the corpse of Azure Qilin, Namgoong Se-jin, with the schemes of Zhuge Clan's leader?
'There should be plenty of openings… so why do I only see one or two?'
Jung Yeonshin, slightly puzzled, took his stance in Radiant River Fist Form.
His right foot slid back, and he raised only the back of his left hand in a seemingly casual and arrogant manner, an unusual posture for a life-or-death battle between top martial artists.
Yet, it left no openings.
Eun Hwaryun smiled in satisfaction.
"Every aspect of your demeanor matches your status. If a person's worth is measured by their innate talent, then there are few in this world who surpass you. I chose correctly."
"I don't care about your intentions. Step forward."
Jung Yeonshin beckoned with his slightly raised fingertips.
She was obstructing his mission. Even if she seemed disillusioned with Zhuge Clan's leader, the fact remained that she was ultimately aiding him.
She had come not only to avenge her previous defeat as a martial artist, but also because she could not abandon the one she loved.
There was no room for questions, only battle.
"The world is vast, true fated encounters are rare, and for a martial artist to find meaning in their existence is even harder."
First Fist of the Eun Clan, Fist Grand Duke, brought both hands together and lifted them briefly.
"Remember me, Eun Hwaryun. My title is Fist Grand Duke, my given name is Mongwi . I hail from the Eun Clan of Jinju, where I trained in the One Hundred and Eighty Techniques of the Eun Clan's Divine Fist. I do not stand here because of my beloved's insistence, but by my own will—to face the Radiant Demon Squad's leader with all my might."
Her words carried the dignity of one stepping onto the formal dueling stage of a great martial sect.
The Eight Great Martial Clans.
Jung Yeonshin saw in her the image of Namgoong Se-jin, the Azure Qilin.
He also sensed the purity of Zhuge Hyeon, the Fan Dragon, who had once challenged him upon their first meeting yet never hesitated to share wisdom on life and strategy.
"Now that I think about it, your existence intrigues me, Radiant Demon Squad's leader, Lightning Genius. Through you, I will leave behind a meaningful mark. Just like the Sword Immortal's Teacher who carved sword scars into the Zhongnan Sect's cliffs… you will carry my power."
With that, Eun Hwaryun stepped forward, her arms unfolding.
Fwoosh!
The long strands of her black hair, reaching her nape, wavered. A tremendous surge of energy erupted from the Yongcheon Acupoint at the soles of her feet.
The atmosphere twisted along the lines of her form as if under the scorching heat of mid-summer. It was as though an invisible internal energy barrier had taken solid shape around her.
A murmur spread through the crowd—
It's Rigid Internal Energy Technique!
With it came whispers that she was truly worthy of being called invincible as a Fist Master of the Eight Great Families.
'So she wasn't even using her full power before?'
Jung Yeonshin's gaze darkened.
'Why even separate casual fighting from serious fighting? What kind of idiot does that?'
Gone was the careless drunkard he had first encountered. Her every movement was different now.
She barely leaned back—
BOOOOOM!
And then, in an instant, her figure expanded, tearing through the air.
A supreme execution of Bow-Body Bullet Shadow. Her acceleration was monstrous.
Her fist, launched from behind her waist, carried such destructive force that the very ground trembled beneath it.
Dozens of overlapping energy waves rushed forth, pressing against the back of Jung Yeonshin's hand with a blunt, crushing force.
The moment he felt it, he could sense her energy, her very breath, almost against his skin.
A close-range engagement. The domain of a fist master.
He did not evade.
From the moment he stepped onto the dueling platform, his hands had been wreathed in the aura of the Azure Qilin.
'Strange monkey. Maybe I should extend the sequence a bit.'
As he subtly angled his Radiant River-infused hand, her fist brushed against his palm.
A fraction of a breath's time.
Tap.
She was no opponent to be taken lightly.
He had intended to merely push her back, but Azure Qilin disagreed.
BOOOOM!
Though he struck nothing but air, the ground shook.
The sky itself seemed to transform into a lake, rippling with enormous translucent waves.
The shattered fragments of Energy Barrier Energy scattered like shards of glass.
"Hnnngh!"
"Duck!"
"Oh, Celestial Sovereign!"
RUMBLE!
As the massive shockwave spread, one side of the dueling platform collapsed, sending the spectators—many of whom had been craning their necks for a closer look—tumbling in all directions.
Screams, panic, and sheer disbelief filled the air.
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