A flash of pure white light passed by, scattering the violent winds as if a typhoon had descended.
There wasn't even a scream. Silence only deepened.
Thirty corpses were added to the clearing of Western Peak Road, accompanied by the stench of blood that soaked the underbrush crimson.
It was a sight that didn't easily feel real. After all, they had been elite masters leading the martial forces of the Profound Martial Alliance in their lifetimes.
"..."
A chilling stillness flowed.
All had been taken down with a single strike. Every wound on the corpses was nothing but a single, straight line.
A short battle usually favors those at a disadvantage, a tactic employed against a relatively unhurried enemy. Yet, judging by the result, it seemed they had fallen to a carefree, supreme swordsman.
If this were Desolate Fortress, the group would have been a harmonious blend of blue and white.
Srrng.
The lone boy swordsman standing amidst it all slowly sheathed his sword. The black sleeve of his robe rustled softly.
The black rank swordsman of Desolate Fortress—he was the only supreme master present here. The young leader of the Radiant Demon Squad presided over the eerie atmosphere.
Zhuge Hyeon and Ak Yerim were at a loss for words.
'That was sword energy just now, wasn't it? The trajectory was so bizarre. Unless he manifested his mental image into the sword path, how could such a sword technique exist in this world…?'
'What the hell was that?'
It was truly astonishing. Despite broadening their horizons with countless sword techniques at the Murim Alliance, they still felt this way.
It didn't seem like the work of human swordsmanship. It felt as though something strange, like the abilities of a mythical bloodline, was at play.
Only one swordsmanship had ever entered the realm of the extraordinary. At least, according to their knowledge.
The King-Style Sword Arts of the Namgoong Clan.
A sword technique that wielded sword energy with the might of a one-man army.
Even sword-wielding masters who freely controlled the wind couldn't escape the king's domain.
And it wasn't just the Namgoong Clan Leader or the "Namgoong's First Sword" who wielded such techniques. The King-Style Sword Arts refined by Azure Qilin Namgoong Se-jin were also hailed as peerless in recent times.
The one and only sword technique in the world. A technique that made swordsmen appear as something beyond human.
Not anymore. It was no longer unique.
From the upper stance displayed by the young leader of the Radiant Demon Squad, a mystique emerged.
Even Zhuge Hyeon, with the sight technique passed down in his family, could analyze no more than thirty percent of it.
He didn't even feel the desire to try. It was because he felt as though he had glimpsed the legacy of Namgoong Se-jin.
'The young leader of the Radiant Demon Squad has inherited Azure Qilin and transcended him.'
He had become an immortal adversary. Namgoong Se-jin's rank would now ascend endlessly.
Snap.
Zhuge Hyeon unfolded his fan and stared quietly at Jung Yeonshin.
Was he organizing his newfound enlightenment? The boy had his hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword, his head lowered.
At his feet lay a middle-aged man in black leather gloves, sprawled with an expression of shock.
Until the moment he died, he hadn't comprehended the sword technique. He had only realized that he was an utterly helpless weakling. That's how he had gone.
"I've now connected the first stroke."
The boy murmured softly as he opened his eyes.
It was a statement he didn't need to make. The overwhelming spiritual energy within him had drawn the words out.
For a moment, Zhuge Hyeon doubted his ears.
'Connected it?'
If he had created the sword stroke on the spot, it was a feat of divine power.
Unless he was the reincarnation of Bodhidharma or Zhang Sanfeng, it didn't make sense.
The thought even crossed his mind that he might be the manifestation of the first leader of the Heavenly Sect, having emerged through the cycle of reincarnation.
Even Ak Yerim wore a distrustful expression.
The boy, however, didn't care about their reactions.
Thud!
He suddenly pushed off the ground. A dull tremor spread as sword energy rippled out.
It was an abrupt start to a swift-footed chase. Zhuge Hyeon and Ak Yerim hurriedly followed.
"Do you believe the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon is heading toward the Seven Crowds Gorge?"
Zhuge Hyeon asked. Jung Yeonshin didn't even glance back as he nodded.
"The guy with the gloves was quite strong. Strong enough for a Profound Martial Alliance elder to entrust him with the rear."
"If they haven't appeared until now, then surely…"
Zhuge Hyeon's expression darkened. It was only natural to worry about the safety of Murong Mingjun and Gongsun Min.
Gongsun Min, in particular, was a beloved nobleman among most of the Alliance's warriors. His bright and kind nature endeared him to everyone.
The mere thought of Gongsun Min being killed was troubling. The aftermath it would bring upon the Alliance Leader would be even more problematic.
Zhuge Hyeon dreaded his own father. The clan leader's cold, rational judgment had weighed down on him since childhood.
The only person capable of restraining Zhuge Clan's leader was the Sword Saint, but this incident could lay a great burden of responsibility upon him.
They could only hope for divine fortune.
"Trust the Lazy Flame Dragon."
The young leader of the Radiant Demon Squad muttered, and Zhuge Hyeon nodded.
Before the emergence of the Lightning Genius, he was someone who rivaled Azure Qilin for supremacy in recent times.
They could only trust in the sensitivity and sharp instincts born from the Solar Divine Meridian.
'I repeatedly warned them to avoid combat. If they had approached cautiously from the outskirts, they wouldn't have clashed.'
The boy thought to himself.
Fwoosh—!
He dashed forward like a gale, enduring the pain spreading from within.
The pain stemmed from his lower dantian, near his navel, and his heart.
It was the same kind of internal injury that the Divine Sword Squad Leader had sustained after subduing the Namgoong Clan Leader in a brief exchange. He had overexerted himself using an unfamiliar sword technique.
He had rushed the battle to end it quickly. Closing his eyes after the fight was an attempt to stabilize his internal injuries.
The glove-wearing master slain by Jung Yeonshin was presumed to be the senior disciple of the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon.
By brandishing his sword, he had been able to deduce the Demon Sword's movements. The battle had to end quickly, for the sake of his companions.
He placed his trust in the Lazy Flame Dragon's instincts.
But the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon's subordinates were unimaginably strong.
They weren't as concealed as Heon Wonchang, who hid seventy percent of his true strength, but the thirty masters he had faced at the end were of a different caliber.
If the Seven Crowds Gorge were similar, anything could happen. It wouldn't be surprising if they were already facing the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon.
'If the Little Sword Queen demonstrates skill comparable to the Cloud Dragon, she can escape.'
Perhaps it was because they shared the commonality of being chief disciples wielding unparalleled swordsmanship.
Unlike the Mount Hua or Mount Dianqing sects, the Zhongnan Sect hadn't joined the Alliance. Wei-Ji Myohwa came to mind.
She might be somewhere practicing the ways of a wandering warrior.
The boy thought of her.
If the Jianghu had more people with her kind heart, even times of turmoil could have been bearable.
Boom!
He accelerated, his foot pressing down harder. The sensation of crushing rocks and soil pushed against his leather shoes. It was intense. Streams of energy radiated like rotating wheels beneath his feet.
His companions were gradually left behind. The difference in martial prowess was clear.
'No!'
Ak Yerim bit her lip, recalling the letter from her aunt.
The Desolate Divine Spear, Ak Surim.
She had been shocked when Ak Surim had teasingly referred to the young boy as her "little groom".
Now that she had seen the young leader of the Radiant Demon Squad, she understood. He was wholly of the black caliber. Given Ak Surim's eccentric nature, she might have been serious.
'I need to see more of him…'
She had just witnessed a swordsmanship that reminded her of her late lover. A single stroke that seemed to honor the soul of Azure Qilin.
The young leader's words resonated again. Someday, even if she turned purple rank, he had vowed to treat her as an equal.
She wanted to see more. She had to see more.
Fwaaash!
However, the black long robe of the young leader of the Radiant Demon Squad pressed onward without rest. It was a speed too difficult to catch up with.
The only thing Ak Yerim could feel was the wind brushing past the edges of the pitch-black garment. Her expression turned to one of blank astonishment.
At this moment, she could neither reach out to call him nor catch hold of him. The boy's back disappeared indifferently into the distance.
'During the Opening Tournament, for sure…!'
Ak Yerim's eyelashes briefly shadowed her pupils. Unable to keep up for now, she resolved to wait for another chance.
Thud!
Jung Yeonshin pressed down firmly on the Yongcheon Acupoint on the soles of his feet.
Though he thought of repaying Zhuge Hyeon, who had granted him insight, he didn't look back.
"The nickname for the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon varies by region and sect! In the Profound Martial Alliance or the Henan region, he is also called the Sword Sovereign! His flow of swordsmanship is bound to be more seasoned than the Squad leader's, so it's better to trust your instincts rather than rely on experience!"
Finally, the shout of Fan Dragon Zhuge Hyeon echoed from behind.
Thus began two days, two nights.
He ran alone for two days and nights. His stamina was extraordinary, even to himself.
The internal energy endurance provided by the Transcending Law Radiant Wheel was truly immense. It blended perfectly with the body he had trained using the Jung Clan Movement Arts.
He could clearly feel that his growing body was steadily reaching completion.
The boy arrived at a colossal stone cliff, the bend of a jagged gorge. He stood at the edge of a low hill. Strong winds raged around him.
His hair, grown long for the pleasure of the Desolate Fortress' Lord, fluttered alongside his black robes.
His view opened wide. Below, the endlessly winding ravine stretched, bathed in the twilight of dusk.
The reddish light of the setting sun felt unusually cold.
'Here it is.'
The boy gazed silently ahead. The fortifications he had seen at Western Peak Road were stationed atop the peaks.
They were heavily fortified.
Even flags had been raised, as if manned by military soldiers. Why was a feudal lord able to receive near-treasonous support without consequence?
Even if the imperial family were to label them traitors, it wouldn't be surprising.
It was said that those in black could not easily escape the political realm. Since discretion was required, it was a matter worth pondering.
'Not right now.'
Jung Yeonshin hesitated no longer and stepped forward, ascending a nearby peak.
At the entrance of the Seven Crowds Gorge, he arrived at the lowest fortification.
The wind hitting the gorge shook the five barracks. On one side, a massive stone cliff towered high.
He was quickly discovered. He had made no effort to hide himself.
"There's an intruder. A brat, of all things?"
"You fool! Don't you see it? That's the fierce 'Desolate' mark!"
"Isn't that the squad leader of Desolate Fortress…?"
"Radiant Demon Squad Leader! It's the young Leader of the Radiant Demon Squad!"
Whoosh!
In an instant, a dozen or so warriors of the Profound Martial Alliance, armed with spears and swords, appeared.
Each swiftly landed on the stone ground using agile movement techniques.
Their synchronized movements generated a powerful headwind. The hem of Jung Yeonshin's black robe, which had been still, flapped violently.
"Reinforcements have arrived early. The Sword Sovereign must still be enjoying himself."
"Reinforcements, you say. Quite an apt description. If he's the black swordsman of Desolate Fortress, it's fair to say he's a one-man army. It means he alone matches our entire force."
The martial soldiers in leather armor spoke, their expressions strangely relaxed.
Though soldiers of the Profound Martial Alliance's forces, they were fundamentally warriors trained in mnemonic verses.
There was a certain dignity even in their words.
"Hide yourself, young one in black. For now, your martial prowess intimidates us, and we are willing to let you leave."
"The Sword Sovereign is a truly fearsome supreme master. As a mere newcomer Squad leader, it would be difficult for you to sustain a prolonged battle against him."
"Though the citadel of Desolate Fortress is high, it pales in comparison to the grandeur of our Alliance. These fortifications spanning the cliffs of the Seven Crowds Gorge…"
It happened in an instant.
The hem of the black robe closed the distance of three paces in a flash. Jung Yeonshin grabbed one soldier's face.
It was the fool who had been spouting nonsense to stall for time. He hadn't even perceived the speed of the Wind Body technique.
"...!"
A wave of shock spread through the surroundings.
From the palm that enveloped the soldier's face, an immense force surged. A section of the peak trembled violently.
It was accompanied by a low, resonating sound. The gale of the gorge harmonized with the waves of palm energy.
The swirling force mercilessly tore apart the advice to hide.
Whoooosh!
They had said the Sword Sovereign was enjoying himself. That meant he was pressuring their companions.
Even the span of a single breath was too precious to waste.
Thud!
He pushed off the ground, gripping the soldier's face. With the wind brushing past his cheeks, he slammed the soldier's head into the side of the stone cliff.
The dull vibrations reverberated all the way to the boy's feet. An overwhelming power surged from his right hand. At last, fear flashed across the soldier's face.
"Let me reconsider for a moment…"
He didn't listen.
Jung Yeonshin fully utilized the mnemonic verse of the Radiant River. The blood energy and divine force infused within the Transcending Law Radiant Wheel soared to their peak in an instant.
The boy unleashed the full force of the palm's mnemonic verse.
The veins on the back of his hand bulged blue, pulsating. An insurmountable power erupted like lightning.
Boom—!
With a deafening roar, the entire section of the ravine shook. Cracks raced across the steadfast cliff.
An incredible explosiveness echoed as a shockwave spread in all directions.
It was the young leader of the Radiant Demon Squad calling for the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon.