* * *
Star-Radiance Grand Sword Lord, Murong Zhongrak, and Lotus Nezha, Jung Yeonshin.
Each held their sword as they launched their attacks. The contrast between the elegant white garments and the jet-black cloak was stark.
Zzeo-eong!
Sharp streaks of white light wrapped around their bodies. Everything was but the afterimage of sword strikes. The sword paths carved into the air each time the two swordsmen clashed felt as though they transcended the mortal realm.
Appearing and vanishing like smoke, they resembled the robes worn by the immortals of the celestial realm.
Yet, the shockwaves they unleashed were terrifying. It was a battle that could shake the heavens and the earth.
Even for those from the renowned clans of Desolate Fortress, the sight was overwhelming. Merely witnessing it felt as if their horizons were broadening.
"Haah…"
On the sloped path where the wandering heroes stood, Shin So-bin's round eyes, distinct with black and white, sharpened. It was to focus.
Even if tracking their movements was difficult, something was etching itself into her mind. It was because the martial spirits of those who had refined their divine arts to a transcendental level were clashing.
Despite having witnessed the prowess of the grandmasters during the black-robed promotion ceremony, the spectacle created by the Murong Clan's leader and Senior Jung was supremely lofty. At a glance, they barely seemed human.
For a girl who sought to uphold justice and elevate the honor of the Desolate Shin Clan, for a junior who once saw Jung Yeonshin don the blue robes of a disciple, this was a fresh shock.
"The Radiance Sword Style, to this extent…"
The white martial robes of the Lightning Genius' lineage fluttered with the aftershocks of the battle.
The wind blowing from the two mighty warriors was unnaturally heavy. It was the mark of an entirely different tier of martial arts cultivation. Their depth was unmatched.
From Murong Clan's leader, such mastery was to be expected. However, it was different for the youngest black robe of Desolate Fortress. Anyone would call it an anomaly.
'His form is flawless. It's as if he has spent decades honing the sword alone.'
Was it only because his opponent was one of the Eight Great Clans' leaders?
She never felt a wall between herself and the young leader she revered. She regarded Senior Jung as the very founder of their sect.
With a personality clumsy in forming relationships, a streak of arrogance, and an occasional air of awkwardness, she had long accepted him with familiarity.
Yet, at times, she felt as if he walked through a different timeline.
Like now.
It was closer to a sense of alienation, something that could not be explained solely by a difference in innate talent.
Shin So-bin wondered. Could there be something that the Radiant Demon Squad did not know?
"Is that really a sword technique rooted in the Radiance Sword Style? Sword Thunder Flash Art… now that I think about it, I haven't had the leisure to experience it much. The squad leader's guidance spars have been infrequent."
"The young squad leader transformed swordplay into a divine technique long ago. If your eyes were as discerning as your tongue, you would have realized it already."
Amidst the urgency, words were exchanged with feigned composure. It was Heon Wonchang and Lazy Flame Dragon.
Step.
The two subtly moved in front of her. The raging storm of sword energy weakened. The energy flow of Radiant Arts Secret, so familiar to Shin So-bin, was dispersing the wind.
These senior members, always reliable yet somewhat lacking in credibility, were, upon closer examination, particularly well-versed in Radiant Arts Secret within Radiant Demon Squad.
"Why is Senior Poppy so devoted to mastering it?"
"…Hm?"
Kwoooong!
The response was delayed. As Jung Yeonshin was sent flying from the open space with a thunderous roar, Lazy Flame Dragon quickly turned his head.
He was entirely focused on observing the battle. His lips continued murmuring 'poppy' as if lost in thought.
Shin So-bin did not scold him. She too was growing anxious.
Kugugung—
The cliff where the two warriors stood collapsed. The squad leader was facing an opponent of a different caliber alone.
A senior who had once torn off the arm of the Profound Martial Alliance's leader—a feat beyond comprehension—was certainly an exceptional ally, yet his current stance, arms crossed, exuded nothing but an aura of detachment. He looked as though he had no intention of conversing with anyone.
As if to say, this was a moment of extreme significance.
As if to declare that a force capable of challenging the leaders of great sects was on the verge of awakening.
'Isn't it too soon?'
Shin So-bin had heard the words exchanged between him and the squad leader. He intended to use this life-or-death battle as a stepping stone for his advancement. He might not intervene in the duel.
She had to suppress her impatience.
So she parted her lips. With the Art of Lip Synchronization, she swiftly voiced her thoughts.
"I'm talking about the Radiant Arts Secret. The martial arts of the Hwangbo Clan are already on par with many divine arts."
"…For someone of this young lord's caliber, the more elite techniques he masters, the better. Broadening one's knowledge naturally leads to martial progression. Believe it or not, I am not far from completing the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown."
"With all due respect, Senior Poppy's talent barely amounts to lacing the squad leader's shoes. He'd be lucky to keep up with his footsteps."
"That's not something I care to hear from a lesser talent. In any case, Radiant Arts Secret is fascinating to cultivate. Though the forms in the manuals appear simple, many of them conceal high-level techniques. It's rather enjoyable to uncover what the instructors intentionally hide from you. Playing around with such secrets led to the discovery of Radiant Steel."
"They say all paths lead to the same destination. Isn't it better to focus on mastering one?"
"I get bored too easily. The greater one's martial potential, the more fickle they become. That monstrosity over there, Star-Radiance Grand Sword Lord, has probably mastered all nineteen sword techniques of the Murong Clan. He doesn't care about the means, only the advancement of his martial prowess. There's even a rumor that he harbors a grudge rooted in his exiled royal Murong lineage."
"..."
"Regardless… you might not feel it, but that monster wields only a sword, yet he seems more composed than the squad leader. His depth is different."
Lazy Flame Dragon absentmindedly tapped his foot. Meanwhile, Heon Wonchang had long since turned his stiffened shoulders sideways.
It was the direction in which Jung Yeonshin was dashing, running along the sheer cliffside as if it were flat ground.
"The weight of their energy is all distinct. Each one is difficult to measure… but it's clear they possess both hardness and softness, speed and precision, all at an absolute level."
"Honestly, it's absurd and disgraceful. That someone of Murong Clan's leader's stature and age is seriously crossing swords with our leader."
"What do you think will happen?"
"Our squad leader's martial arts are all about strong swords and swift strikes. They might not work against an absolute swordsman nurtured by a noble lineage. Techniques meant for swift duels can instantly execute an opponent of equal skill, but… they are vulnerable to prolonged battles and counterattacks. Wonchang, when I give the signal, throw me with all your strength. If I use the Yejo Celestial King Steps from my clan, I can buy our squad leader a crucial moment."
At that moment—
Kwoaaaang!
Murong Zhongrak and Jung Yeonshin's bodies were swallowed by a massive radiance on the side of the cliff.
It was as if another sun had risen. A sphere formed from Murong Clan's leader's sword energy suddenly manifested, reflecting the sunlight. There was something mystical about it.
They say that at the pinnacle of martial arts, the boundary between martial techniques and sorcery fades. At first glance, it seemed like a barrier formed by spell-like martial arts.
"Wonchang!"
The moment Lazy Flame Dragon shouted, all three of them froze at once. The overwhelming force bound them. It felt as if their pressure points had been struck.
"A true heaven-sent genius,"
Ma Yeonjeok, who had been silently standing, finally spoke. His arms remained crossed.
"Learns what they have never heard, knows what they have never experienced. The golden crow that devours dragons does not need to be taught how to soar toward the heavens. But what do you think happens when it faces an immature serpent?"
The three of the Radiant Demon Squad did not respond. The waves of energy surging from their bodies sharply swept through the air.
Yet, none of them could move. The assassins who had been standing guard, the renowned figures of Taiyuan from various backgrounds, all held their breath.
* * *
Two hundred and thirty exchanges.
Jung Yeonshin counted the techniques he had exchanged with the Murong Clan's leader.
Despite having lasted so many bouts, the actual time that passed wasn't even a single breath. Every single sword strike had been executed with lightning speed.
Even with a severed sword, Sword Thunder Flash Art remained powerful.
However, it wasn't enough to fully withstand the endlessly shifting Meteor Sword. Even with the Infinite Blossom Fist Strike, he could only shatter the cliff, not Murong Clan's leader.
Every moment was a choice.
Ultimate Thunder and Fan Dragon Lotus Binding Technique could not be used together. Both were techniques that shattered the limits of the body. Simultaneous activation was impossible.
If strength was needed, he used Ultimate Thunder. If reaction speed was crucial, he relied on Fan Dragon Lotus Binding Technique.
Even in the midst of battle, Murong Clan's leader never let his guard down.
He intercepted the Expansive Starfall Sword Rain aimed at his severed Beiming Sword with cunning tricks. He disrupted the harmony between sword and mind, preventing Jung Yeonshin from utilizing his sword techniques to their fullest.
Unlike the Zhuge Clan's leader, who had mastered spell-like martial arts but still relied on close combat, the Star-Radiance Grand Sword Lord never conceded distance, relentlessly pressing Jung Yeonshin with absolute swordsmanship.
The surrounding air stretched to its absolute limit.
Fragments of sword energy drifted between them like shattered mirrors, as if everything would explode at any moment. The battle had reached its climax.
'The impact is too intense. He's pushing all his sword energy toward me.'
His opponent was a true master of the sword.
Within a time frame split into hundreds of fragments per breath, Jung Yeonshin struggled to maintain control over his body. Murong Zhongrak's radiant blade had already slashed toward him.
Only divine techniques could break a divine sword. And at this moment, he had no protective body arts to guard himself. The sword strike that had split the Beiming in half could just as easily take his head.
Wuuuung.
The two hundred and thirty-first exchange.
"I've had enough of your swordsmanship. Let's end this here."
Suddenly, the fragments of energy Murong Zhongrak had been releasing formed a distinct domain.
Jung Yeonshin sensed it immediately. The sword aura he had detected earlier was now materializing into true energy.
It was a space that accelerated a blade's trajectory even further.
A conceptual domain where falling stones and flowing winds were reshaped into a boundless universe.
Another divine art had sprouted.
How many techniques did he possess? This was the power of a sect leader with centuries of history.
Wuuuuuuuung—
It was as if hundreds of pulses were resonating at once. Simultaneously, darkness spread in all directions.
The shadows cast by fragments of sword energy. A sacred space formed by a swordsmanship that had reached the divine realm.
The surrounding air vibrated with a heavy resonance. Even under the piercing gaze of the Heaven-Piercing Technique, only hazy silhouettes could be discerned.
Everyone had a hidden trump card.
For some, it might be the Lazy Donkey Roll, an unexpected move, or a technique that grew stronger mid-battle.
However, for those called supreme masters, their trump cards were different. Their lives carried weight.
A supreme master's ultimate technique was a secret art they could wield at will, one that only true martial legends could achieve. For the Star-Radiance Grand Sword Lord, it was this manifested domain of sword energy.
It was as if he was surrounded by the ripples of the night sea. Every flow of energy converged toward Jung Yeonshin.
The moment Jung Yeonshin tightened his grip on his sword aura, a dry thought pierced his mind. The spiritual force of divine arts transmitted it straight to his upper dantian.
[Heaven-Piercing Radiant Spear.]
The ultimate essence of swordsmanship fused into the shadows.
It was an unimaginably natural thrust.
A trajectory that carried the experience of a seasoned warrior and the absolute precision of a supreme swordsman.
He had no time to react.
Puuuuk—
A long shadow of a blade pierced through Jung Yeonshin's abdomen.
It went straight through to his back.
The pain was immense. A heavy foreign sensation churned in his stomach. His flesh burned as if it were on fire.
"The high-ranking officials of Desolate Fortress always experience this."
A resonant voice hummed through the darkness, formed from fragments of divine sword energy.
"Can you take the head of a sect leader who leads a great sect, or not? Those who succeeded wore robes of purple, those who failed were buried in the wilderness, their corpses never to be found."
"..."
"Young one, it's a pity. Whether it was Liangdong, Youzhou, or Liaoning, had you been in any of those places…"
"Since I donned black robe."
"Hmm?"
Jung Yeonshin slowly parted his lips. Even as the Jung Clan's Movement Arts desperately held his ruptured organs in place, blood bubbled in his throat like phlegm.
"I always wondered."
"You're pushing yourself, child of the Jung Clan."
Murong Zhongrak spoke in a voice of admiration. Jung Yeonshin, unconcerned, continued.
"How should I deal with someone like you?"
"What?"
Murong Zhongrak only managed a brief question, unable to move any further. He, too, had exerted himself.
He had made his decisive move, succeeded, and was now absorbing the backlash of his ultimate sword strike.
In a space where even sunlight was obstructed by condensed sword energy, even for the Murong Clan's leader, movement was not easy.
Jung Yeonshin did not answer.
The gentle breath of the Lord of Desolate Fortress lingered at his ears.
— One cannot easily deceive the senses of a master. Etch this fact into your heart.
— It seems difficult…
— Difficult?
— It seems hard to use properly. Controlling my energy to penetrate an opponent's awareness, disturbing their senses in battle…
Jung Yeonshin whispered in his mind to his past self.
It was never about senses, was it? Controlling energy had always been effortless.
Saaaa—
The innate qualities within his body flowed like streaks of light. The energy waves of the Transcending Law Radiant Wheel spread with an auspicious aura.
At the same time, the fragments of sword energy that Murong Zhongrak had spread began to shift in texture.
It was as if a corridor of shattered mirrors refracted light and flipped itself entirely. A space woven from unseen paths reversed its direction.
Countless strands of sword paths. A ripple forming from Jung Yeonshin, surging toward Murong Zhongrak.
Sword of the Heart.
The surroundings began to brighten. It was like stepping into the dawn.
He had seized control of the sword aura, making it his own.
The presence of the Murong Clan's leader, who had begun to cast his shadow ahead, hesitated.
He was the first to sense it. A supreme master had momentarily lost control over his energy.
Jung Yeonshin said no more.
In his hand, the severed blade of the Beiming ignited with a blue flame.
As the Azure Flame engulfed the short blade, it instantly stretched and sharpened into a full-length sword.
It was an internal energy technique at the level of divine mastery. Condensing sword energy into a single, flawless flow.
The Murong Clan's leader's brow twitched.
In the next moment, the surroundings were dyed in a deep blue light.
The Star-Radiance Grand Sword Lord had reached the absolute pinnacle of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.
For just a brief moment, as his emotions surged, the Heavenly Demon Divine Armor instinctively surrounded his body with an internal energy barrier.
It was an unconscious mistake.
[Azure Flame-First Form.]
Jung Yeonshin's voice escaped in a quiet murmur.
Hwaaaaaaaak—!
The flame-born sword energy erupted from his right hand, turning the cliffside a brilliant blue as it streaked forward. Even a supreme swordsman could not react in time. It was as if another sun had risen.
The piercing blue light flooded the surrounding sword aura, surging violently over Murong Zhongrak's entire body.