There were many flashy young masters who dominated the Central Plains at present.
However, none of them could even compare to Man Yuhyeon now.
Even more astonishing was that he had transcended the level of merely being handsome or refined—he exuded an innate nobility, as if he were the emperor's only son.
Man Yuhyeon had acquired an appearance that anyone would envy.
"He's handsome and all... but he looks older than his age?"
With an innocently bewildered expression, he voiced his concern.
Of course, it was an unfounded worry.
Due to the nature of Hwanggol Taltae, his body had transformed into the optimal form for cultivating martial arts, simply maturing ahead of schedule. It wouldn't age further or make him look prematurely old.
In truth, this was how Man Yuhyeon would look at around fifteen after shedding his baby fat and devoting himself to martial training.
He had merely grown early.
'Anyway, it's good.'
Man Yuhyeon now had no more worries.
The most crucial internal cultivation method, the Formless Myriad Things Heart Method, had progressed dazzlingly after Hwanggol Taltae, and his body was now perfect for learning martial arts.
"This is enough for the internal cultivation method now."
After about a year had passed, Man Yuhyeon stopped practicing the Formless Myriad Things Heart Method.
At least in terms of internal arts, he had reached the level of his master, the Demon Sword Ghost Old Man Cheon Baeksang.
"From now on, I'll learn other martial arts!"
What he turned to next was footwork.
If the foundation of internal energy was the internal cultivation method, then the basis for moving the body was naturally one's gait.
Heavenly Dominion Step of our sect is neither the fastest nor the strongest footwork, to put it bluntly. However... when this footwork meets my Formless Flash Quick Sword, it becomes a peerless supreme technique unmatched in the world.
Recalling his master's advice, Man Yuhyeon pondered.
Honestly, he hadn't understood it at first.
"What on earth does that mean?"
The master had admitted the footwork itself wasn't superior, yet claimed it became the ultimate supreme technique when paired with the Formless Flash Quick Sword.
For Man Yuhyeon, who was still ignorant of the depths of martial arts, it was hard to grasp.
But soon, he would experience exactly what it meant.
Man Yuhyeon calmly practiced the Heavenly Dominion Step while learning his master's true supreme technique—the symbol of everything that defined the Demon Sword Sect leader!
The Formless Flash Quick Sword.
'This Formless Flash Quick Sword is the world's fastest sword, capable of manifesting formless sword energy from bare hands to slay foes.'
No wonder the world feared it, calling it a demonic art and demon sword.
In one word, the Formless Flash Quick Sword was an ultra-high-speed killing sword.
Some call my art merely a sword for killing, but I disagree entirely.
One person might use a sharpened blade to stab and kill, while another uses a sharp knife to prepare food, butcher meat, and benefit the world.
Through his master's knowledge, Man Yuhyeon understood what he pursued—what Cheon Baeksang truly desired.
Contrary to rumors, the Demon Sword Sect leader, old man Cheon, was no bloodthirsty demon or villain. He was simply a martial artist purely seeking the pinnacle of the quick sword.
Regrettably, I couldn't master the final three forms of the latter half of the Formless Flash Quick Sword.
Yuhyeon, if you perfect my Formless Flash Quick Sword to the twelfth great success... you can revive all three forms.
Another astonishing fact emerged.
Incredibly, Cheon Baeksang's Formless Flash Quick Sword was incomplete.
Even missing the three strongest forms of the latter half, he had become the supreme martial artist of his era.
"The final three forms of the latter half..."
Realizing this, Man Yuhyeon could only widen his eyes in shock.
The more he learned of martial arts, the vaster and greater the world of martial prowess seemed.
His master loomed ever larger and more respectable.
Thus, Man Yuhyeon devoted himself relentlessly to training.
For revenge, the boy resolved to become a sword ghost.
Through his mad obsession with the Formless Flash Quick Sword and Heavenly Dominion Step, Man Yuhyeon discovered...
What is most important to draw your sword the fastest?
The speed of unsheathing? Inserting the sword into the scabbard for drawing?
All wrong. The key is the half-step forward.
None of his master's advice was ever wrong.
While practicing the Heavenly Dominion Step, Man Yuhyeon had puzzled over unclear parts, but learning it alongside the Formless Flash Quick Sword revealed the answers.
"Now... I get what martial arts are, and what the Demon Sword Sect's arts truly are."
A new world opened to him.
It was the moment the young martial genius truly awakened.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In the blink of an eye, five springs had come and gone.
Five years had passed.
Time flew like an arrow, enough for a child to become a youth.
Man Yuhyeon was now fifteen and finally emerged from the cave.
In those five years, he had achieved satisfying results.
Had he not, he wouldn't have left.
"There's a place I must visit first."
Exiting the cave, Man Yuhyeon retraced his path from five years ago in reverse.
As a child, it would have taken much effort, but now it was different.
Paat!
In an instant, his figure blurred in high-speed movement, arriving effortlessly at that past place.
'Where Master scattered.'
Yes.
After ending his five years of secluded training, the first place Man Yuhyeon visited was where he had met Cheon Baeksang, who had given everything for him.
Swipe!
The boy-turned-youth looked every bit the born noble son.
Though his clothes were ragged and he reeked of not bathing properly for years, it couldn't hide his innate elegance.
Quietly clasping his hands in respect, he plucked a wildflower blooming by the stream—a poignant sight.
"Master. I will show you my achievements these past years."
As if Cheon Baeksang were alive, Man Yuhyeon spoke with utmost courtesy and propriety.
He then assumed a sword-drawing stance.
But something was odd.
What every swordsman must have.
A sword was nowhere to be seen.
Without one, he should have at least picked up a branch, yet Man Yuhyeon took the stance bare-handed, as if gripping a real blade—deadly serious, no hint of play.
"Haaap!"
And so, transcending five years, the Demon Sword Sect leader's exclusive supreme technique was recreated once more.
⚔ One Flash One Kill! ⚔
Astoundingly, Man Yuhyeon perfectly executed the first form of the Formless Flash Quick Sword—a technique said to be exclusive to the Demon Sword Sect leader and lost to the current Central Plains martial world.
Bare-handed, no less!
Kwajijik!
The formless sword energy he unleashed shot upward, sharply slicing through nearby tree leaves in a stunning display.
He fully embodied the essence of the ultimate quick sword, invisible in form, with prowess beyond his years.
If Cheon Baeksang were alive, he would have stood and applauded on the spot.
Mastering the Formless Flash Quick Sword beyond tenth great success manifested as formless sword energy from bare hands.
Considering Man Yuhyeon was only fifteen, his current level was profoundly shocking.
"Master, your disciple is too dull—regrettably, I haven't reached twelfth great success."
Instead, Man Yuhyeon blamed himself for slow progress.
In truth, he had mastered all other arts perfectly except this pinnacle of the Demon Sword Ghost Old Man.
He had stalled at tenth great success, just shy of twelfth.
Thus, he couldn't learn the final three forms.
But this wasn't his fault.
'Insights and essences beyond tenth great success aren't in my memories.'
This implied even the revered supreme martial artist, the Demon Sword Ghost Old Man, had only reached tenth great success before death.
Ultimately, Man Yuhyeon had perfectly mastered every martial art his master bequeathed, without omission.
"Your disciple still has far to go."
Having displayed his refined swordsmanship at the site of his master's fall, Man Yuhyeon recalled another promise.
To shatter the martial world!
'Until that day comes, I will refine myself endlessly.'
His current level was super peak realm, far below his master's Entering Divinity.
Even inheriting all internal energy, memories, and knowledge, lacking real combat experience and blood-bought lessons made it inevitable.
Yuhyeon, all that's left for you is real combat.
To shatter the martial world, you must master it first.
Now venture into the rivers and lakes—learn, feel, and experience much.
In his ears, it was as if his master's voice resounded.
"I will reclaim the Demon Sword Sect, restore its past glory... and exact vengeance for the Mangeum Clan."
Reaffirming his revenge, Man Yuhyeon knew continuing as Man Yuhyeon was impossible.
The name Mangeum Young Master was too famous, and the rare Man surname would expose him quickly.
"Hmm..."
Pondering a new name, he soon decided.
"From now on, I am not Man Yuhyeon... I am Hyeon Yucheon."
Hyeon Yucheon.
His name Yuhyeon reversed, with his master's surname Cheon appended.
'Hyeon Yucheon, Hyeon Yucheon.'
Suddenly coined, yet it pleased him greatly.
From Mangeum Young Master Man Yuhyeon, he became Hyeon Yucheon.
The name of the genius youth who would shake the martial world.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After paying respects to Demon Sword Ghost Old Man Cheon Baeksang, Hyeon Yucheon turned his steps elsewhere.
He retraced his childhood path backward.
In other words, his next destination was the site of the Mangeum Clan.
Having prayed for his master's peace, now it was time for his parents'.
Reaching it was no trouble.
Combining his childhood memories with Cheon Baeksang's vast geographic knowledge, he easily found the Mangeum Clan grounds... but
'This can't be!'
Arriving, Hyeon Yucheon stood dumbfounded, slack-jawed.
Incredibly, the once-mighty Mangeum Clan's estate had vanished completely.
In its place stood Haeha Guest House, the most famous in Hubei Province, on the prime, spacious land.
"E-excuse me! May I ask something? Wasn't this the site of a merchant clan in the past?"
Greatly flustered, Hyeon Yucheon grabbed a passerby heading into the inn.
The passerby, about to ignore his ragged, foul-smelling appearance, finally answered.
"What outdated talk is that? It's been over five years since it collapsed. Three years ago, the Haeha Guest House owner leased this land and built here."
The words were shocking.