"Heh...?"
Lying on the roof tiles, Lazy Flame Dragon immediately reacted. After briefly raising an eyebrow, he stood up without even using his hands.
Like someone who had mastered the mysteries of the Iron Bridge Technique in reverse, he lifted his upper body with just his legs and waist. In an instant, he was on his feet, a display of extraordinary body movement training.
Swish.
Two black silhouettes descended nearby. It was the stealth technique of supreme masters, spreading like illusions.
The fluttering black garments bore witness to their status. It was Desolate Divine Spear Ak Surim and Law and Order Squad's leader Un Soyu.
Ak Surim slightly furrowed her brow, her gaze extending into the distance.
With both hands resting on her hips, she looked down under the roof. Blood Preservation Squad's leader Jin Myeongjo stood idly by in the great martial hall.
As always, he had his head tilted slightly. He showed no signs of coming up.
"What are you doing down there? A junior might've gained an epiphany, but instead of guarding them, you're just standing idle."
"I intend to scout the surroundings, so don't mind me. Three squad leaders guarding one direction? That's a waste of resources. It's inefficient."
"Well, you're not wrong..."
Trailing off, Ak Surim gestured toward Lazy Flame Dragon.
"Hey, kid from the Hwangbo clan."
"Yes, ma'am."
He answered while gazing at the descending white energy streams. They resembled but were distinct from the Radiance Sword Style's energy waves.
The current streams of light were slightly denser. They pierced through parts of the pavilion but dissipated like mist, a mysterious and enchanting sight.
Ak Surim didn't reprimand him for his rudeness. Regardless of where his gaze wandered, she was focused on Jung Yeonshin inside the pavilion.
Nothing else mattered. The safety of Lightning Genius was the priority.
She spoke again.
"How many days has it been? Our Lightning Genius?"
"About nine days."
"It's almost like a seclusion retreat. It's proper that the squad leader answered my summons. Has he been eating?"
"I've been bringing his meals on time. He needs to grow."
"It wasn't something as useless as the Wall-Groove Elixir, was it?"
"How would he train his body on that? He's not a Taoist cultivator. He's at a stage where he needs proper nourishment."
"He's different from our disciples. The Radiant Demon Squad seems to take good care of their squad leader."
Swish.
Ak Surim extended her hand slightly, reaching toward the flowing energy beneath the roof tiles.
The white light scattered from the edge of her ebony sleeve, resembling dawn mist seeping in.
The corners of her mouth lifted.
"This energy is peculiar. Its characteristics are distinct. It's not just the embodiment of internal energy but also the residue of powerful techniques that amplify its strength. It's not merely energy circulation but an outflow training. There's no need for extra guards."
Murmuring to herself, she lifted her head.
"You're not guarding him, are you? You didn't want to disturb Lightning Genius' state of enlightenment, did you? That's not something you'd expect from the young master of the Hwangbo clan. Didn't you act like royalty back in Jinan?"
"You're making a fuss. This is also guarding."
Lazy Flame Dragon answered curtly, his irritation visible.
The polite demeanor he had maintained earlier had completely vanished. Subconsciously, he shifted his weight onto one leg, revealing his true self.
But this change didn't seem to matter much to Ak Surim.
"Then what's he doing?"
She pointed to a corner of the roof, where the edge gently sloped downward.
A presence clung beneath the rafters, its breathing so faint that even a supreme master's senses struggled to detect it. It was Heon Wonchang, stuck there like a cicada.
He wasn't visible from Ak Surim's line of sight due to the angle. Tilting her head slightly, she asked,
"He's mastered the assassin's techniques well. Is he planning to assassinate the squad leader?"
"The opposite. Although he's certainly acting dramatic about it."
"Guard duty? Why from the rafters?"
"Because of the recent rumors. Some roofs of Desolate Fortress' pavilions were destroyed. He's preparing to intercept any attacks from above. Let's hope he doesn't get crushed along with them."
"..."
Ak Surim, lips pressed firmly together, gracefully leapt down.
Thud.
A small sound, and with a single bound, she landed in the center of the great martial hall, a feat only a supreme master could achieve.
Not even a speck of dust rose. She had landed on sparse patches of grass.
The tips of the blades of grass beneath her leather shoes didn't even quiver, a display of the Grass Flutter technique's mastery.
Beside her, Law and Order Squad's leader Un Soyu landed naturally, without a sound. Her mastery of the supreme stealth technique of the noble clans was impeccable.
Her presence as a martial artist was intimidating, and her neatly dressed martial attire was as striking as ever.
"I'll be on my way."
She said calmly.
Ak Surim cast a teasing glance at Un Soyu's profile and smirked.
"Didn't you want to learn the key to dismantling techniques more easily? That should be quite valuable for the Law and Order Squad."
"I plan to return tomorrow at noon. Since I should demonstrate sincerity to the new squad leader, perhaps they'll hear me out after I've made three visits, like in the old tales."
After finishing her measured statement, she turned to leave.
Swish.
Ak Surim watched her retreating figure for a moment before turning back. Blood Preservation Squad's leader Jin Myeongjo stood upright, his aura solemn. He was conversing with the blue-rank warriors sent off by the Blood Preservation Squad, Pung Ran and Na Il-cheon.
'A man whose thoughts are hard to read.'
Ak Surim thought.
The Blood Preservation Squad's leader was peculiar. His pale complexion, making it difficult to discern his emotions, was only part of it. He rarely participated in public events like martial arts tournaments at Desolate Fortress.
He hid his inner thoughts well, yet he had achieved numerous feats against the demonic factions. Judging by his aura, it wasn't purely due to his martial prowess.
In addition to the widely known bloodline technique known as Blood Needle Manipulation, he likely concealed another dangerous move. His methods were more reminiscent of the Demonic Faction's warriors than even the average black-clad masters.
Even now, his coldness was evident in the questions he posed to his former subordinates.
"You mean he's never once assessed your martial arts?"
The pale faces of Pung Ran and Na Il-cheon turned even whiter. The Blood Preservation Squad was said to be a near-military force.
Yet, from their expressions, it was hard to sense the dignity of blue-rank warriors. They hadn't been with the Radiant Demon Squad for long.
Personality-wise, they were still closer to the Blood Preservation Squad. At least, for now.
"The Radiant Demon Squad's leader must've been too preoccupied."
"It's not something to blame them for. The black-rank squad leaders are always busy."
"You fools. Your energy flow is scattered and intermittent. You're exhibiting the classic symptoms of those who rely solely on manuals without properly integrating their martial arts. You're mediocre."
Jin Myeongjo's voice was sharp.
Squad leaders under the Divine Sword Order were like the leaders of entire sects.
If their disciples underperformed, it hit them hard. It wasn't unreasonable to lash out.
'I wrote that letter to Jung Yeonshin in bitter tears...!'
Jin Myeongjo recalled the message he had sent. He had nearly shed tears of frustration several times.
The new Radiant Demon Squad's leader shouldn't treat Pung Ran and Na Il-cheon this way. It was excessive.
It wasn't as though they had secluded themselves to devise a new educational system like imperial scholars.
"How many times have you seen the new Radiant Demon Squad's leader's face?"
"..."
Pung Ran and Na Il-cheon remained silent. No matter how they answered, it would reflect poorly on either Jin Myeongjo or Jung Yeonshin, so their silence was answer enough.
The Blood Preservation Squad's leader's gaze darkened.
"Show me anything you can. Can you manage three continuous strikes with your usual breathing? If not, I'll have to question my distinguished junior."
Jin Myeongjo glanced once toward the Radiant Demon Squad's pavilion, pretending not to care. As the door opened, he was already contemplating what excuse to use to slip away.
Asking questions was just a pretense, something he had to say as a squad leader releasing his subordinates.
He thought to himself, Whatever I say, it has to be something I can deliver in a single breath.
The masters nearby interpreted it differently.
The question was whether three consecutive techniques could be unleashed between exhaling and inhaling. It was a statement from a supreme master in black robes.
It implied utilizing one's full power. An incredibly difficult task for anyone.
Step.
A woman with a thin, curved sword strapped to her back—Pung Ran—stepped forward.
She was known by the nickname Blood Sword Ghost. Among the Blood Preservation Squad's bloodline techniques, she had mastered the Blood Chaos Sword Art .
Its specialty lay in seamless consecutive strikes. Even among blue-rank sword masters, she was considered a formidable opponent.
"There is no lack of progress. It's just that the pace of advancement has slowed compared to before."
Pung Ran said.
The grand martial hall of the Radiant Demon Squad fell silent. The aura of anger emanating from the Blood Preservation Squad's leader drew all attention to her.
Blood Sword Ghost, Pung Ran.
She resembled Blood Preservation Squad's leader Jin Myeongjo, as if they shared the same bloodline. Her pale face and slender jawline were as sharp as a blade, and her graceful movements, as she reached for the scabbard on her back, were delicate.
Already, irregular power fluctuations were spreading sharply. She exuded a mystique similar to that of the Blood Preservation Squad's leader.
Swish!
With the unsheathing of her blade, the dance of the sword began.
The martial art from the Lightning Genius' lineage that she had mastered was the Limit Releasing Technique. It worked by concentrating internal energy to momentarily enhance strength.
In other words, she intended to prove the power of her swordsmanship.
Woong!
The sequence of the Blood Chaos Sword Art unfolded in a long flow. The thin blade cleaved through the twilight glow.
The blurred trajectory of the blade burst forth with sharp energy waves. The humming sound was loud, as if the air was being torn with just two swings.
The third swing was different.
Saaak!
The sound diminished. The energy waves visibly weakened. The horizontal slash, directed toward the ground, caused the blade's tip to tremble slightly.
It was the same issue that Kang Chang-mu and Wei Ye-ryeong had faced. She couldn't maintain the rhythm of her internal energy. The power embedded in her three meridians became unstable on the third beat.
She had hit a limit within the unfamiliar martial art lineage, one that relied heavily on sensory mastery. Her self-taught training also contributed to the problem.
She had yet to surpass her original martial foundation.
With continued practice, the problem could be resolved. However, for the martial artists of Desolate Fortress, planning for the future was never simple.
At the blue-rank level, one was expected to serve as elite combat power immediately. Nothing was more shameful than being considered incomplete in one's foundation.
In the twilight-lit grand martial hall, Pung Ran gripped her blade tightly and bit her lower lip.
"..."
"You've regressed."
Jin Myeongjo commented with an indifferent expression.
"It's hard to even call it old-fashioned. I can see the flaw in how you're channeling power."
"..."
"It would've been better to focus on your original martial arts. Seeing it firsthand, it's clear that my distinguished junior isn't the one to blame. It's your own inadequacy. You pursued a martial art beyond your means and lost the flow of consecutive strikes. What more can I say? Don't blame Lightning Genius. He granted you exceptional martial techniques, but you couldn't keep up with him."
The cold remark implied one thing: she should abandon the martial arts she had learned from Lightning Genius.
It wasn't a technique she could master.
No one dared to refute him. Advanced martial arts became increasingly difficult to master as one's skill level rose.
It was like trying to dig deeper into a well that was already hard to reach. For blue-rank martial artists, it was even more challenging than for white-rank ones.
Only Lightning Genius himself could properly utilize his martial arts. The inevitable downfall would become more evident over time.
A long silence followed.
Those who had been observing the Blood Preservation Squad's leader awkwardly turned away. Even Ak Surim said nothing as she kept her gaze on the squad leader's pavilion.
By then, the light that had been streaming out between the gaps in the door and roof tiles had disappeared.
"Is there a good way to teach the Radiant Demon Arts?"
"It's hard to apply it to full combat right now. They'll probably start by taking on small missions, like other martial squads."
"We're in trouble too. If we face forces at the level of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen in a group battle, we won't be able to handle it. If we had a suitable sword formation like Heavenly Squad's, it would've been easier to fill in the ranks..."
The conversation continued, with no attempt to lower their voices. This was a place where blue-rank martial artists stood in every direction.
They understood that lowering one's voice out of misplaced courtesy would only be more humiliating.
The martial artists of the Radiant Demon Squad comforted themselves and expressed their concerns in their own way, following the customs of masters.
The noisy silence stretched on.
Lazy Flame Dragon lay back down on the roof, while Heon Wonchang's presence remained completely still.
Leaning against the wall of the grand martial hall, Chung Myung and Baek Miryeo were focused on observing the white-rank martial artists.
Suddenly, the door to the squad leader's residence opened.
Clatter.
Ak Surim lifted herself onto the wall, her face beaming with joy.
Her black pant cuffs fluttered as she lightly stepped onto the wall's corner, raising a small cloud of dust beneath her feet.
"Our Lightning Genius! What have you been doing, staying locked inside for so long? You're not sulking because I called you a nemesis, are you?"
"For a moment."
Came a brief reply, in a somewhat husky voice.
Step.
Before the martial artists of the Radiant Demon Squad could fully climb over the wall, their squad leader crossed the air like the wind and descended upon the grand martial hall.
His appearance was mysterious, as if he were an illusion. The weight of his perfectly balanced body was evident, and his black robes fluttered. It was the Wind Body technique.
Jung Yeonshin's figure was revealed.
He still wore a black robe, with his left arm exposed. His hair, now reaching down past his shoulders, gleamed like ebony. The twilight glow rippled gently across it.
"Squad leader! Have you achieved any breakthroughs?"
"We've waited so long for you! You haven't come to the training grounds once, but you seem stronger than ever."
Amid the welcoming voices, only Jin Myeongjo quietly stepped back, but no one paid him any mind.
Chung Myung, Baek Miryeo, Heon Wonchang, and the seasoned and new members of the Radiant Demon Squad surrounded Jung Yeonshin.
The group nearly numbered thirty. The clear winter air quickly grew warmer. Even the mid-rank newcomers awkwardly shuffled their feet.
"You're quite the beloved squad leader. Hey, Lightning Genius! We—"
Ak Surim was about to cheerfully call out when the martial artists stepped back several paces. It happened just after Jung Yeonshin slightly parted his lips.
The distance widened gradually, forming a large circle.
Swish.
The squad leader's two feet naturally touched the ground.
The first move was a straight punch.
It wasn't fast. It extended smoothly and precisely. The energy wave generated from his shoulder scattered like snowflakes.
A portion of the energy in his legs surged into his hand. The condensed force increased its density.
Although the overall energy flow wasn't intense, the moment the punch reached its peak, it erupted with force.
Hwaaaa!
The sound of the air being torn was sharp and vivid. It resembled but was distinct from the force of the Infinite Blossom Fist Strike.
In harmony with the footwork of Splendid Wings Step, the punch extended with fluid momentum, like a surge of water. The impact wave spread violently.
The same happened with the second move. The air distorted with the motion of his extended hand.
It was a vortex-like energy wave. Light shimmered within the rotational force gathered at his fist.
Boom! Hwaaak!
With each step and strike, the energy waves became increasingly tangible. The scattered sunlight clashed with the energy, creating bursts of white light.
White flashes sporadically sparkled across his black-robed body, radiating an eerie, razor-sharp aura.
"That... that's..."
Even as someone muttered in awe, Jung Yeonshin's techniques continued. His third punch unleashed a faint brilliance before the remnants of the Infinite Blossom Fist Strike's impact could even settle.
Click.
A sound came from the sheath at his waist as he drew the Beiming Sword with a veined hand. The frosty air of early winter swirled around the gleaming white blade.
The sword's transparent presence spread in all directions, shrouding the surroundings in a dense silence.
The blade moved.
Woong.
Jung Yeonshin performed a sword dance. Trails of light bloomed in countless arcs.
The luminous sword paths slowly faded, only to be replaced by new ones.
Amid the twilight, it felt as though dawn had broken. His black sleeve fluttered alongside his right arm, which held the sword.
As the energy fluctuations intensified, the light surrounding his body thickened like a shimmering mirage.
The power he unleashed couldn't have come from his initial energy wave. His movements were grounded in the Limit Releasing Technique.
The Infinite Blossom Fist Strike, Splendid Wings Step, and Radiance Sword Style fused seamlessly into his performance.
In a place where there were no ordinary fighters, everyone recognized it.
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