It was truly a shocking manifestation.
The six squad leaders gathered for the meeting. There was no concern for safety.
For a moment, their combined power had reached near-absolute, making it difficult for anyone to deny the sense of security.
Even in the chaotic times where the strong preyed on the weak, safety could be discussed.
It was said that even gathering three individuals clad in black would be enough to claim invincibility. It wasn't a baseless rumor. Even if there was some exaggeration in the stories of enthusiasts, the essence remained true.
But then—
Shhhhh—
Dust did not cling to the garments of the man who slammed the head of the Forest Striding Squad's leader to the floor.
Despite the dim haze spreading around, his vivid pink attire remained pristine. His protective internal energy had even shielded the hem of his clothing.
It signified that the energy enveloping his entire body was utterly impenetrable.
With one knee bent, he pressed down on the back of Xiahou Wei-Jin's head.
It didn't seem real. Even as he slightly bowed his head toward the Forest Striding Squad's leader, he was unshaken.
A steady flow of untamed energy poured out from his entire body. The colorless, surging waves were both overwhelmingly powerful and boundlessly free.
"Didn't I ask you? You truly are insignificant."
It was a voice with the resonance of a roaring lion.
Xiahou Wei-Jin could not respond.
His mouth, which had been scolding a newly appointed junior, was being crushed against the floor. His lips were driven into the marble.
Had it not been for the constantly active internal armor, what would have happened?
The blow would have shattered the inside of his mouth, filled with internal energy, in an instant.
"I've heard enough. It's been quite a spectacle. I should have come down sooner."
The man muttered bitterly.
No one responded immediately.
The First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong was a place shrouded in legend across the martial world.
There was no other place where so many of the Desolate Fortress' black-clad elites gathered. It was arguably the most dangerous location in the world.
Until the ceiling was about to collapse.
No one had reacted in time.
It was a rare event. One that could be considered a disaster.
Unless the intruder's martial arts had reached the realm of Returning to the Origin, this situation was inexplicable.
It was a level where extremity was so refined that it manifested in an ordinary manner.
"..."
A moment of silence passed.
Immortal Spirit Wood Squad's leader Cheon So-so opened her blue eyes, clear as a mirror.
She calmly took in the sight of the man, collecting her energy with the static atmosphere unique to her ice-based martial arts.
Her energy, embodying the mystery of stillness within motion, was cold and overwhelming.
The ceiling cracked, and Un Soyu, who had drawn her sword, pointed it toward the man.
Even amidst the storm, her long black hair remained still. She had integrated her clan's abilities with her swordsmanship.
A supreme master who manipulated the wind with mysterious prowess.
Shhhh.
With arms crossed, the Blood Preservation Squad's leader Jin Myeongjo's hand was imbued with a sharpened aura. Even in the face of the astonishing sight, his expression remained unshaken.
He was cloaked in an irregular, lingering energy and stood with a dignified presence. It was the characteristic poise of the leader.
Though the squad leaders were well-versed in immediate combat, they didn't strike first.
Assessing the opponent came first.
There was no mistake in the sensory perception of the Desolate Fortress squad leaders. The Thousand Fist Dragon Force Minister Xiahou Wei-Jin had been effortlessly subdued.
The advantage of a surprise attack was significant, but underestimating the opponent was out of the question.
"Coordinate with me."
Jin Myeongjo spoke briefly.
His words were hollow by nature. The effectiveness of a coordinated attack depended on the compatibility of their martial techniques. The combination of the Blood Preservation Squad's leader and the leaders of prestigious clans was the worst pairing.
It wasn't about coordinating—it meant, "You initiate the attack, and I'll find the opening on my own."
Cheon So-so and Un Soyu didn't respond.
Their disregard for Jin Myeongjo's lineage in daily life was irrelevant at this moment.
The uninvited guest had concealed his presence from the senses of the black-clad masters. He had completely hidden his internal energy.
A supreme master. He had slightly mimicked the prayer-like energy of the Desolate Fortress' Lord, resembling nature itself.
The assumption was death. They needed meticulous analysis to uncover the opponent's weakness.
Meanwhile, Ak Surim, who had silently drawn her spear from her back, slightly furrowed her brow.
"What is this?"
She gripped the black spear with one hand. The aura emanating from her technique, wrapped in transparent heatwaves, was extraordinary.
The shaft of the spear arched behind her slender figure, brimming with overwhelming power.
The Ak Clan's Spear Technique was the most famous long-weapon martial art in the world.
It had once been counted alongside the Yang Clan Spear as one of the world's two great spear techniques, but that was an outdated tale thanks to her.
The grandeur of the Desolate Divine Spear had far surpassed the martial prowess of Yang Clan spear masters.
"This energy feels both familiar and foreign. It's deeply unpleasant. Is this one of the Thirteen Celestial Demons? If not, there's no way my senses would be penetrated like this…"
Ak Surim murmured while keeping her gaze on the man pressing down on Xiahou Wei-Jin's head.
She couldn't see the face of the intruder. His head was bowed as if scolding the Forest Striding Squad's leader.
Slowly, her lips moved.
"Lightning Genius, you need to look properly."
Her tone carried a hint of concern. Her lovely junior had been ignoring the uninvited guest.
"Ah."
The new Radiant Demon Squad's leader let out a monotonous exclamation. His thick eyebrows didn't budge.
The breath flowing under his sharp nose was long and thin.
His breathing technique had deepened remarkably, yet he looked dazed, like someone his age shouldn't. It was a rare sight.
The Desolate Divine Spear's field of view was broad. Without turning her eyes, she could see Lightning Genius' state. She had to ask, concerned.
"Are you okay?"
"Senior Ak."
Her junior opened his mouth, his head tilted slightly downward.
"What is it? Speak up."
Ak Surim gently encouraged him. Even with a formidable enemy before her, she spoke kindly.
She was truly a considerate senior.
"That's…"
At this moment, Jung Yeonshin felt utterly isolated. His heart did. His face, which he struggled to keep expressionless, was a testament to his immense shame.
It was a feeling only he knew. A foreign, misplaced embarrassment enveloped him like a cloud. It came with overwhelming regret. He should have come together.
'Ah...'
But he had to speak.
Judging by the situation, his maternal grandfather had no intention of revealing his identity. He was solely focused on pressing down on Xiahou Wei-Jin's head.
It was like an obstinate elder master, oblivious to his surroundings due to overwhelming anger. Yet, the supreme aura that disallowed any approach was astonishing.
The black-clad seniors must not make the first move.
A supreme master of the purple rank clashing with four black-clad masters? The outcome would not be pretty, regardless of victory or defeat.
Jung Yeonshin could stop his grandfather. But he couldn't prevent the split-second attacks that would ensue from the Tyrant Hero.
If the situation escalated, he would find it hard to return to the First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong. He wouldn't be able to hold his head high.
'No.'
His resolve slowly overcame his shame.
And then, just as he was about to speak—
—Hold off for a moment.
It was the Chief Administrator's voice, transmitted through internal sound transmission.
Jung Yeonshin turned his gaze. He immediately spotted the Chief Administrator, who was smiling.
The fullness of his beard added a strangely cheerful air. It was a baffling sight.
The Chief Administrator continued.
—After being summoned to the royal palace, he's been living quietly as the Desolate Fortress' hidden sword. It doesn't suit his temperament. He's likely been bottling up frustration. I can't intervene in something that often happens here at the First Sword Hall. Furthermore... what you're concerned about may not happen. After all, there isn't a single unremarkable individual among our black-clad elites...
At that moment—
Fierce waves of energy erupted from various spots along the shattered round table. The squad leaders had finished their preparations.
After a silent consensus, they instantly circulated their energy throughout their bodies. The realm of unity in body, mind, and spirit.
They were on the verge of unleashing ultimate techniques through their mastery of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.
No questions, no objections.
The conflict had already begun. Xiahou Wei-Jin was still alive, but their response was unmistakably hostile.
In their battle-ready state, the Desolate Fortress' squad leaders did not negotiate with enemies. It was a tradition born of old.
It was meant to prevent them from being deceived by the words of officials with authority.
This was why Ak Surim, though concerned for Jung Yeonshin, did not speak to the intruder.
'That protective aura wasn't something ordinary techniques could break.'
Blood Preservation Squad's leader Jin Myeongjo thought.
His sense for energy, born of yin nature, was no less keen than that of the prestigious clans. He immediately saw through the internal energy enveloping the opponent.
It was as if the aura formed armor made of pure energy, meticulously constructed and extremely durable. The blunt force of standard techniques wouldn't suffice. Only targeted strikes to acupoints could work.
'I wish that guy wasn't here...!'
Jin Myeongjo's ruby-like eyes gleamed as he glanced at the new Radiant Demon Squad's leader, whom he despised like a sworn enemy.
His entire body radiated an aura that was profoundly divine. It was said that he had created martial techniques based on Buddhist powers during his white-rank days, and now, it seemed as though he was circulating energy purely through divine means.
Even from a distance, there was a sensation of his life being threatened. Goosebumps rose on his previously smooth skin.
He wasn't sure if he could properly deploy his ultimate move.
'The Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader is said to be the monster of Shanxi Province? Does that even matter? Damn it.'
The monster of the Desolate Fortress was right here.
The person he wanted to avoid the most was someone he had to face every time there was a meeting.
The unknown intruder, who had refrained from instantly killing the Forest Striding Squad's leader, was less of a threat than the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, who overwhelmed him simply by existing.
Psychologically, it was worse. Whenever he recalled the two subordinates he had unwillingly handed over to the young leader, his heart constricted. He felt like he was going insane from regret.
Demonic Spirit of Battle, Na Il-cheon, his once-loyal subordinates.
'And now, a coordinated attack? With the Radiant Demon Squad's leader?'
Jin Myeongjo involuntarily glared.
Immediately, he flinched and lowered his gaze, starting with his eyelashes. His junior had mastered divine martial arts.
If he made the young man dislike him, the squad leaders' meetings would become unbearable. Just sitting next to him might make him convulse. Damned fate.
'Ah...'
To Jung Yeonshin, Jin Myeongjo's fiery red gaze seemed to carry a different meaning.
It was a dual nature, both desperate and noble.
Like the taciturn senior he was, Jin Myeongjo spoke with his eyes: I will take the lead, leave the rear to you.
'He's as reassuring as Senior Ak.'
His embarrassment over his grandfather, and the guilt his seniors imposed on him.
Even so, Jung Yeonshin couldn't land a strike on his grandfather. As he swallowed his discomfort, a voice filled with anger echoed.
"You bastards, are you trying to stage a rebellion?"
Finally.
The man in the pink long robe lifted his head. By then, Xiahou Wei-Jin, who had been subdued by the sudden ambush with his nape seized, had passed out.
Though his face had little flesh, its bold lines were revealed.
Astonishingly young.
Even though he wasn't from a prestigious clan, he seemed to brim with vitality. His face bore a menacing temperament, making him appear almost ferocious.
He was like a lion king running through the wilderness.
"Are you seriously going to strike now..."
Jin Myeongjo, with five razor-sharp nails extended, trailed off slowly.
He had just thrown aside the dignity of his black-rank. He was about to suggest a coordinated strike. Anyone with experience would know that was the right move.
But he couldn't finish his sentence.
"These fools?"
Jin Myeongjo frowned. Ak Surim, Cheon So-so, and Un Soyu had all stopped moving. As if frozen in place, they stood rigid.
They looked as though they had witnessed something they shouldn't have. Even the overwhelming energy they had been releasing dissipated.
They were all seasoned squad leaders.
The Desolate Divine Spear had lived long enough to reverse the aging process, and the Immortal Spirit Wood Squad's leader and Law and Order Squad's leader had long lives due to their prestigious bloodlines.
Unlike Jin Myeongjo, who had recently ascended to the rank of squad leader through expedited means.
He glanced at the Radiant Demon Squad's leader.
'What's going on now...?'
The young junior wasn't even looking in the right direction. He was practically ignoring the situation altogether.
At that moment—
"No."
The Desolate Divine Spear Ak Surim's lips trembled slightly. The hand gripping her black spear trembled as well.
The aura that had surged like wildfire due to the Ak Clan Spear Technique had completely vanished.
"No..."
She seemed the most shocked of anyone present. She looked dazed. Her lips parted slightly, and the sharp gaze of a supreme master dimmed and quivered.
Her jet-black pupils flickered back and forth between Jung Yeonshin and the uninvited guest.
"What is this...?"
She was visibly shaken in the worst way. It was obvious to anyone watching.
Swoosh.
The corners of Ma Yeonjeok's mouth curled up as he stood.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time, ever since you spoke of my grandson as if he were your husband. But I must admit, you had an eye for talent. Time has rewound itself at the hands of my grandson, far beyond what the Ak Clan Spear could ever hope to challenge."
"Truly, truly... insane...!"
Ak Surim's reaction was intense. She had spent years being exploited under Ma Yeonjeok, the former leader of the Divine Sword Order.
Her finely arched eyelashes trembled violently.
Even though her short hair had fallen over her ears, she didn't raise her hand to fix it. Her eyes darted around frantically, searching for her junior.
"This is a joke, right? The Elder Leader must've recovered and is pulling a prank, right? He's probably wearing some kind of illusion mask. It's a terrible prank, so please tell me now. I never thought I'd see that face again in my lifetime..."
"My grandfather has reversed the aging process."
Jung Yeonshin spoke, hiding his immense embarrassment.
"Did you really...? Did you really turn him into that...?"
"...Yes."
"You're my enemy now..."
Ak Surim muttered weakly in disbelief.
Cleaning up the aftermath became Chief Administrator Lin Jinming's responsibility.
As the shock lingered in the hall, everyone sat cross-legged on the floor to continue the meeting.
Ma Yeonjeok sat at the head seat. The squad leaders sat in positions descending from his left and right. Ak Surim dragged Jung Yeonshin to the farthest seat.
Cheon So-so, Un Soyu, and Jin Myeongjo wore dazed expressions. The magnitude of Ma Yeonjeok's transformation had yet to sink in.
It had been an extremely short period. Xiahou Wei-Jin, who had awakened late, remained silent with glassy eyes.
His tightly shut lips were different from usual. The fierce temperament he always carried was gone, and he rested his hands on his knees as if he had attained a serene inner peace.
The Tyrant Hero didn't care.
"You were discussing mission assignments, weren't you? Yeonshin, where would you like to go?"
Jung Yeonshin averted his gaze slightly. His worries were overwhelming. His grandfather had stormed into his workplace and intervened in his affairs. How would he ever show his face again?
With great difficulty, he finally opened his mouth while looking at Xiahou Wei-Jin.
"My abilities are still lacking, so I cannot take on a mission involving the safety of the Obeying Heaven Squad's leader. That is why I suggested Shaanxi Province. I thought it would be better to be in Shaanxi, among Zhongnan, Mount Hua, the Tyrant Sword Tribe, and Yeoryeong Sect. I reiterate that this was a misunderstanding on Senior Xiahou's part."
"Shaanxi Province? Very well. The Radiant Demon Squad's leader will head to Shaanxi."
Ma Yeonjeok declared. His words carried the weight of an announcement.
"..."
The Chief Administrator let out a hearty laugh and opened the next document.
"And then..."
The meeting proceeded at an astonishing pace. Faster than ever before, the agenda of the First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong began to flash by like lightning.
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