"Can the leader truly sense the spirit beast's intentions?"
Wei Ye-ryeong muttered to herself.
Her face was full of questions as she watched Jung Yeonshin stroke the back of a white swallow in the grand training hall beneath the roof.
His jet-black robes and even darker hair contrasted against the bird's white feathers.
The new leader of the Radiant Demon Squad was commanding the symbolic spirit beast of the leaders. The temperament reflected in his appearance was both harmonious and mysterious.
Even the rare smile on his face seemed mystical, to Wei Ye-ryeong, at least.
'It doesn't feel like our clan's presence at all. Don't tell me the leader is…'
A flicker of light passed through her sapphire-blue eyes. Doubts and speculations flashed like lightning before quickly disappearing.
'Our clan's sacred treasure given to a Han Chinese? The clan would never allow it.'
This was a matter of utmost importance. It was unacceptable. Not even someone with the status of a disciple just beneath the clan's lordship in the imperial family would qualify.
Unless a monumental event occurred, or unless the Radiant Demon Squad's leader attained a status equivalent to the clan...
Just as Wei Ye-ryeong shook her head slightly, Kang Chang-mu, standing casually on one side of the roof, spoke indifferently.
"Communicating with spirit beasts is something even white-rank masters of the prestigious clans can manage. Our leader's level is far superior. Anything is possible. Even a hidden ace that high-level black masters have up their sleeves wouldn't suffice to explain it. The leaders of our headquarters are inherently enigmatic figures. Take our previous leader's inner power, for example..."
Kang Chang-mu, a member of the Forest Striding Squad, had served under Xiahou Wei-jin, the Thousand Fist Dragon Force Minister.
"In terms of energy accumulation alone, it's said he could be compared to purple-rank. Once you reach black rank, you naturally possess several such abilities. But consider that our leader rose to the rank of leader at the youngest age, he's bound to surpass that."
"That's not what I meant."
"Are you showing off your clan's superiority now? I thought only the dark division of the Thirteen Celestial Demons indulged in that sort of thing."
Kang Chang-mu teased with his deep voice.
He wasn't wrong in saying that Wei Ye-ryeong had drawn attention within the Radiant Demon Squad. Archery martial artists were rare, and even more so if they were masters of a prestigious lineage.
The Radiant Demon Arts primarily focused on close-range combat. There was no high-ranking expert to cover the mid-to-long range.
That was, until Wei Ye-ryeong joined. The Moon Bow Demon was an archer capable of striking down the Sun-Piercing Sword Arts of the Mount Dianqing Sect with a single arrow.
A blue-grade expert from a noble lineage who commanded the front, rear, left, and right flanks of the martial force.
Among the rising talents, she had become the center of attention for the Radiant Demon Squad's martial artists.
"Those ash-faced scoundrels."
Wei Ye-ryeong's brows knitted, a rare scowl forming on her face.
"Even the Forest Striding Squad's leader is from a prestigious clan. Don't you know our clan's taboos? Don't you dare mention them recklessly again, or even allude to them."
"Understood."
Kang Chang-mu shrugged his large shoulders and looked down below.
At the white swallow's feet, the leader retrieved a message scroll, read it, and exited the grand training hall.
* * *
"Damn it! Curse it all!"
A group of fifty high-ranking martial artists sprinted across barren land. The dry earth yielded no dust under the force of their light-footed strides.
At the forefront, two figures clad in black cloaks of the Desolate Fortress contrasted sharply: one a burly man, the other a nimble woman. Yet, the pressure emanating from them was of equal magnitude.
Xiahou Wei-jin, spewing curses, crumpled the message scroll in his hand. Despite his fury, his footwork was as light as the wind.
He owed this to advice from an exceptional junior, which had allowed him to restore his meridian pathways.
"It's well known that he uses strange martial arts, but apparently, they're immensely powerful. Before the expelled Taoists of the Mosan Sect could even settle in Xinjiang, they surrendered. It's possible he played a role in capturing the Obeying Heaven Squad's leader. What a damned mess!"
He spat his words like venom.
Beside him, Cheon So-so's long hair fluttered in the wind.
The prestigious clan master's jet-black hair shone vividly even against the gusts of their high-speed movement, much like Xiahou Wei-jin's.
"The vice-leader of the Ming Sect is about the same age as the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, and they're both grandmasters of mystical martial arts."
Her calm voice, infused with internal energy, resonated clearly through the roaring wind.
"If the conditions and luck align, it wouldn't be surprising if he led his subordinates to defeat an entire martial force."
She concluded her words softly. Xiahou Wei-jin shook his head.
"Do you really think Ha Do-un was defeated?"
"The Obeying Heaven Squad's leader has been out of contact for too long. We have to accept the possibility that something happened."
"...Maybe they set up a formation. They must have used some underhanded sorcery."
Black-rank masters were figures who dictated the affairs of the world.
The moment the meeting at Wonpyeong's First Sword Hall concluded, they had departed immediately. They hadn't even had a chance to review the annotated edition of the Comprehensive Overview of Destruction.
Their mission was simple: to bring back the head of the leader of the Demonic Faction. They had no need for detailed tactics. The Chief Administrator had dispatched them without hesitation.
Xiahou Wei-jin gritted his teeth, thinking of the cunning beard of Chief Administrator Lin Jinming.
"That damned scoundrel. Barely older than me, and yet so insolent."
"If we argue over rank and allocations, our headquarters will collapse."
Cheon So-so continued nonchalantly.
"And I heard you bullied a new recruit."
"A recruit? Are you talking about the Lightning Genius?"
The name came out immediately.
If any recruit was worth discussing among the leaders, it would be the new Radiant Demon Squad's leader, the rising star among top-ranking masters at Wonpyeong's First Sword Hall.
A wide grin spread across Xiahou Wei-jin's face.
"It wasn't bullying. I simply pointed out the facts. He took the Comprehensive Overview as a hostage. His disposition and position deserved some chastisement for his arrogance. Facts are facts."
"He has connections with Chung Myung."
Her lips parted slightly.
"I heard the story. The Radiant Demon Squad's leader didn't know. He didn't anticipate that we'd need the annotations. He probably offered it out of goodwill, and our poor response upset him."
"What?"
"Given his age and his martial prowess, perhaps he's only accustomed to his own talents."
Her calm tone pulled Xiahou Wei-jin's thoughts back.
'I didn't think of that. It's just basic foundation training, right? The annotations were cramped anyway. In actual combat, you just do what you think works...'
The sincerity of those words now made sense. It was hard to believe, but it was convincing.
Cheon So-so opened her mouth again.
"Basic training... For him, it was true. But you misinterpreted it, and to the new recruit—"
AAAAHHHH!
Before she could finish, a long roar thundered across the ground. It was akin to a lion's roar.
The voice, infused with internal energy, tore through the air, carrying humiliation. The shockwave from the Forest Striding Squad's leader's mouth reverberated all the way to the back of their formation.
The sleeping bags strapped to the backs of the Forest Striding Squad's white-rank warriors kept getting shoved forward, as if kicked repeatedly.
The Forest Striding Squad and the Immortal Spirit Wood Squad.
On their way to encounter the worst of the Thirteen Celestial Demons stationed in Xinjiang.
The two leaders had their mission. A mission that had to be completed.
* * *
While the Radiant Demon Squad immersed themselves in training the Radiant Art, preparations for a major event were underway inside the inner fortress of the Desolate Fortress.
Stone structures were being erected everywhere. A martial contest arena was being constructed at the central training ground.
The Promotion Ceremony.
It was the most significant event within the headquarters.
A venue to evaluate the squad leaders' abilities, a stage for objectively assessing the headquarters' combat strength, and a ceremony to reward warriors who had achieved outstanding accomplishments.
It was a moment of unparalleled honor within the Desolate Fortress.
The commotion even reached the Radiant Demon Squad's leader's pavilion. It was only natural, considering that the Lazy Flame Dragon of the Hwangbo Clan, long renowned as the top prodigy of Jinan, was participating.
The Lazy Flame Dragon had repeatedly dominated the Phoenix-Dragon Gatherings and was widely regarded as the strongest emerging talent in Jinan.
Today, he wore the plain attire of a commoner and aimed for blue-rank promotion. The rumor had spread like wildfire.
His status was absurdly low compared to his martial prowess.
As a member of the Returning Wings Squad, which the current Radiant Demon Squad's leader led, he had achieved feats that surpassed most blue-rank warriors.
He had taken down several elite fighters from the Ten Perfection Sect and the Pure Demon Alliance. Acting as the field leader of the Returning Wings Squad, he had displayed outstanding martial achievements.
At the Murim Alliance meeting in Hanzhong, he had faced off against the martial force of the Profound Martial Alliance's Sword Sovereign. Until the Radiant Demon Squad's leader arrived to meet the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon, no one had died under his watch. His merits were undeniable.
Naturally, the people gathered.
"They'll handle it on their own."
"Are we not going to act like seniors anymore?"
"We're still nameless. Young and all that."
The Radiant Demon Squad's warriors reacted indifferently, and the nameless disciples even more so.
Seeing him chewing opium poppies and secretly downing alcohol made any fondness vanish. Their interest lay in the martial arts created by the leader.
They frequently gathered at the grand training hall to train in the Radiant Art, to the extent that it could be described as entering a state of selfless absorption.
They were completely immersed. Not only the white- and blue-rank masters but also the young nameless disciples.
"The leader went as an official witness, right?"
"Yeah, I have so many questions to ask him."
"Will Brother Heon be able to change his martial robes?"
"Who knows? It's a tricky situation. He's terrifying when he holds a sword, but..."
"He hasn't broken the restriction, so it probably won't happen."
"Hope it works out for him."
Jokes and genuine remarks were exchanged. The conversation was a testament to the headquarters' attention on Desolate Sacred Warrior Heon Wonchang.
Due to the presence of the Lazy Flame Dragon, no one paid him much attention, even though he was the first to master the technique created by the new leader.
"Our leader taught us so kindly, didn't he?"
"Yeah, he even explained what inner power was. I thought it was something only the village martial hall had."
"We're quite talented, too, aren't we?"
"Our leader was like a Buddha. I didn't expect that side of him."
"Do that many people know the Radiant Demon Squad's leader well?"
"Of course. We're family, eating and training together... Who are you?"
A nameless disciple of the Radiant Demon Squad turned around. He had replied reflexively to the sudden voice of a woman.
Sabak.
A woman whose eyes were covered with white silk.
Her upright posture conveyed elegance, and sunlight flowed over her jet-black hair that cascaded past her shoulders.
Her black hair contrasted with her pure white archery robes, its unusually deep hue drawing attention as Murim Alliance's Lady Ye gracefully approached.
"The Internal Chief Military Advisor of the Hanzhong Murim Alliance."
She slightly moved her lips.
"Greetings to the family of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader."
Her gaze swept around as her lips curled into a smile. From the moment she spoke to the nameless disciple, the atmosphere turned tense.
The Radiant Demon Squad warriors had been observing her closely before she even stepped into the grand training hall.
Kang Chang-mu spoke first.
"...Internal Chief Military Advisor of the Murim Alliance? What's your business here?"
"I've come to meet the leader. I sent several messages, but I didn't get any reply."
"Outsiders aren't allowed here. You should leave quickly."
"Maybe you should say that to the Lord of this fortress."
She responded smoothly, her smile unwavering.
The commotion in the training hall gradually died down, accompanied by the soft sound of the wind carrying the dust.
Teobeok.
From one side of the wall, Chung Myung, who had been sitting casually, stepped onto the ground. The sword on his waist shimmered with intangible energy.
It was as if the sunlight bent around him. At the same time, the swordsmen of the Radiant Demon Squad emitted waves of energy.
Fwaaah!
But before them, a figure in blue robes cut through the air. Baek Miryeo, her long black hair flowing, landed right in front of Lady Ye.
She was someone who knew the depths of Jung Yeonshin's heart. She had heard many things.
"That blindfold first."
Wave Swordswoman Baek Miryeo raised her chin slightly.
"Take it off now."
* * *
The new Radiant Demon Squad's leader stood on one side of the martial contest platform in the central training ground.
A massive crowd had gathered. It was one of the few events in their monotonous lives.
Hundreds of heads filled the space, surrounding the enormous contest platform. Just standing amidst them could exhaust a person.
Jung Yeonshin was different. He felt no fatigue.
Even after dealing with numerous matters since his return, powerful energy coursed through his entire body.
This was thanks to the body honed through the Jung Clan Movement Arts and the vitality provided by the Transcending Law Radiant Wheel. His stamina ranked among the highest even among top-tier masters.
"Next."
He said.
The match between two white-rank warriors had just concluded. The pair glanced at the Radiant Demon Squad's leader before descending from the contest platform.
Next, another pair of martial artists ascended. They, too, had extraordinary presences.
A man and a woman emanated intense energy waves. They were comparable to Jung Yeonshin's level when he first entered as a white-rank initiate.
This was the Promotion Ceremony at the Desolate Fortress.
A black-rank master was required to oversee the matches, to prevent any incidents. As this was his last mission before departing for Shaanxi, Jung Yeonshin had been chosen for his acute perception.
It was part of the Chief Administrator's plan to give the new leader experience in black-rank duties.
The decision had been made at Jung Yeonshin's first squad leaders' meeting. The assignments had already been finalized.
"Begin."
As Jung Yeonshin proceeded with the ceremony, his face remained expressionless.
Radiant Demon Squad's leader Lightning Genius.
He wore a neatly ironed black cloak with the Beiming Sword strapped to his waist, but his tightly drawn lips betrayed his discomfort.
It was unusual. No one dared approach the contest platform where Jung Yeonshin stood.
He didn't pay it any attention. There was no need to, nor was it the right time.
'Hye-ah.'
He had received news about the Zhongnan Sect.
—The Knee-Cloud Sword Sect and the Lake Breeze Sect have been annihilated. They were branch sects of the Zhongnan Sect based in Xian. Reports say the situation is even worse at the main headquarters of the Zhongnan Sect. The areas beneath the Taoist temples have been completely burned, and it's difficult to estimate the number of survivors.
—It's been mentioned that the Cloud Sword Dragon Wei Ji Myohwa escaped with the Sword Immortal's disciple. There's no information on their whereabouts, but that in itself is good news. If the Tyrant Sword Tribe had captured the Cloud Sword Dragon, they would've announced it to the world, as that would mean the end of the Zhongnan Sect's legacy. They must be safe.
As he replayed the Chief Administrator's words in his mind, the match began.
Radiant Wind Sword Do Jin and Fist Demon Xiahou Sansan.
A man with a solid waist, his sword strapped to him, faced a woman clad in black gauntlets. One was a Han Chinese martial artist from the Law and Order Squad, the other a member of the Annihilation Squad from the prestigious Hiahou Clan.
They were known adversaries. It was a deliberate pairing. The General Affairs Bureau occasionally used such matches to test the real combat skills of its warriors.
"I didn't expect this."
Do Jin said, his sharp eyes fixed on Xiahou Sansan's small fists.
"Why not? Let's settle our grudge here."
She grinned, clashing her fists together.
Fist Demon Xiahou Sansan was the beloved niece of Forest Striding Squad's leader Xiahou Wei-jin. Do Jin's family had previously sent a matchmaker, but she had harshly rejected them.
The martial artists of the Desolate Fortress had varying personalities. Under the banner of public order, countless unique talents had gathered, making conflicts inevitable.
Do Jin's lips trembled.
"A grudge, huh. The humiliation your family inflicted on mine—"
"Let's be clear. It was you who kept sending advances, like the currents of the Yangtze River."
She responded with a scowl.
"Get started."
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader ordered from a distance.
Do Jin flinched, while Xiahou Sansan swiftly assumed her stance as if obeying her leader's command.
Her palm, covered in black gauntlets, suddenly unleashed terrifying energy.
Bang!
An explosion of colorless energy erupted, accompanied by a blast of wind in all directions.
Do Jin's body flew through the air, along with the scattering dust. It felt as though his sternum had bent inward.
His breathing hitched. His defensive energy weakened momentarily from just one strike.
Xiahou Sansan had committed to a short, decisive battle. The power packed into that one strike was immense.
It revealed her intention to end the match quickly without worrying about the aftermath, a combat style that had become popular within the headquarters after Lightning Genius' exploits.
Do Jin maintained a stern expression. He had anticipated this.
He understood the nature of the woman he had once admired deeply. He had prepared a counter-sword technique after much thought.
Everyone knew the strength of the Law and Order Squad's martial artists. The flaw was their over-reliance on raw power. The martial world was unforgiving to such oversights.
'A match-ending strike!'
Ignoring his uncontrollable breathing, he gathered his internal energy.
The energy coursing through his palm followed a specific structure. It was the counter-technique to the Law and Order Squad's secrets.
Boom!
Xiahou Sansan, who had been closing in for another strike, raised her eyebrows.
Suddenly, her vision brightened dramatically. The sound of gasps echoed around them. Do Jin's descending sword captured sunlight along with invisible energy.
"Radiant Sword's Single Line!"
A shout of awe burst from the spectators.
Do Jin's family was known for its prestigious swordsmanship. His precise and powerful sword technique was no exception.
In an instant, his movement resembled that of a sword spirit.
Such moments, where a martial artist's technique surpassed their inherent potential, were rare, but fortune had smiled upon him today.
'I should've struck faster! With this short distance—!'
Booom!
The energy from Xiahou Sansan's Bursting Pulse Fist technique was shredded to pieces. Waves of energy rippled around her body.
His counterattack had dismantled her technique and brought down a gale.
Neither could move.
Such situations weren't uncommon. Martial artists, who wielded blades and internal energy, often faced deadly outcomes in duels.
Xiahou Sansan remained frozen in her forward-charging stance. It was only a moment, but her body trembled.
The cutting intent from Do Jin's sword expanded, ready to slash down her collarbone.
Ssshhk.
A flash of light brushed past their hair.
It was something so subtle that only those with razor-sharp senses could detect it.
Do Jin's sword halted in midair, caught between two fingers. The Radiant Demon Squad's leader had slipped between them and extended his arm.
Beneath his calmly raised hand, his jet-black sleeve billowed like a shadow.
"Xiahou Sansan lost, and Radiant Wind Sword Do Jin won."
From his hand, a white glow emanated like a shimmering mirage. It was the refined energy of the Radiant Art, a technique yet to be revealed to the world.
Like a masterfully crafted diamond, his hand gleamed with ethereal beauty, with no trace of blood in the flowing radiance.
It was an exquisitely controlled technique, demonstrating a level of mastery far beyond ordinary comprehension.
—Go down quickly. You're making a scene.
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader's voice slipped into their ears, a whisper that echoed like thunder.
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