“Sama Hyun definitely has a talent for these kinds of things.”
The Master of the Gilyeon Sect cast a narrowed gaze toward Namgung Jincheon.
The current situation placed the Gilyeon Sect under threat from the Martial Alliance. Not only had the Master left the sect during such a critical time, but most of their Absolute Realm warriors were also gathered here.
Though his sorcery had enabled everyone to move discreetly, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t be discovered.
Not that it mattered.
“If the sect is destroyed, I can just rebuild it.”
Once this was over, Namgung Jincheon’s corpse would be his to claim. The Gilyeon Sect was insignificant in comparison.
“Hoo...”
He exhaled deeply, forming seals with his hands.
Clang!
Kwoong!
The space twisted as a massive pressure descended within the formation.
However, the pressure did not affect the warriors of the Black Lotus Union. It was entirely focused on Namgung Jincheon and Namgung Yeon, forcing them to bear its weight.
The formation was constructed by the Gilyeon Sect Master himself, using sufficient sacrifices to enhance its potency.
An ordinary martial artist wouldn’t even be able to stand within it.
“Activate.”
Simultaneously, an eerie energy surged, invigorating his allies.
Fwoosh!
Thousands of talismans erupted from the Gilyeon Sect Master’s robes, adhering to the barriers created by the formation and reinforcing them.
The formation’s interior functioned as a sort of pocket dimension. Whatever transpired inside would not affect the outside world.
While Namgung Jincheon could likely destroy the formation if he wanted to, would they stand idly by and let him?
Moreover, they were in an isolated desert, sparsely populated to begin with. The aftermath of the battle wouldn’t extend outside, and this was Black Lotus Union territory.
To avoid unnecessary attention, no guards had been posted, but the setup was more than sufficient.
There was almost no chance of outside interference.
The Gilyeon Sect Master’s lips twisted into a sinister grin.
“Yo Cheon Do Ji.”
At the same time, he activated his domain. The positions of heaven and earth inverted.
“Pa Cheon.”
Je Cheon-hyeok unleashed his domain, blanketing the area in a pure white expanse.
“Ten Thousand Sword Domain.”
Geom Yul expanded his domain, filling the space with tens of thousands of swords.
“Lingering Moonlight.”
Neung Pyeong-ho activated his domain, illuminating the surroundings with a giant, radiant moon.
The four martial artists’ domains overlapped, their combined pressure centering on Namgung Jincheon.
For any ordinary warrior, simply existing within that space would be enough to crush their very being.
Yet Namgung Jincheon’s expression didn’t waver in the slightest. Namgung Yeon stood unscathed, as Jincheon dispersed every trace of energy directed at her.
Neung Pyeong-ho smirked mockingly.
“No matter how hard you fight here, no energy will escape to the outside. In other words, this is your grave, Namgung Jincheon.”
Namgung Jincheon stood by Namgung Yeon’s side, gazing at the fractured skies around him.
How many in a lifetime would witness such a sight?
“What a luxurious grave this is...”
A faint smile crossed Namgung Jincheon’s face.
“Seal.”
The Gilyeon Sect Master’s sorcery erupted, distorting the very fabric of space as it ensnared Namgung Jincheon.
“I’m sorry.”
Geom Yul gripped a sword and charged forward, his face flushed with shame.
“Quit your whining and fight properly, Geom Yul!”
Neung Pyeong-ho hurled a lance, the shimmering moonlight condensing into a massive spear that streaked forward.
Namgung Jincheon, his gaze on the motionless Je Cheon-hyeok, lightly tapped the air with his fingertip.
“Unblooming Sky .”
Woom.
Ripples emanated from the air, staining the heavens a deep, serene blue.
Crash!
The Gilyeon Sect Master’s sorcery shattered instantly.
With a casual flick of his hand, Geom Yul’s sword was deflected. Then, his eyes met Neung Pyeong-ho’s.
Shiver.
A chilling tremor coursed through Neung Pyeong-ho’s spine. No one here had anticipated this.
Neung Pyeong-ho’s eyes widened in shock.
“What the...!”
Swish.
A flash of sword light. A blade, untouched by blood, floated beside Namgung Jincheon.
“Argh...!”
Plop.
Neung Pyeong-ho’s left arm fell limply to the ground, his eyes trembling with sheer disbelief.
Namgung Jincheon stood tall, exuding no visible aura, yet the pressure he exerted left everyone gasping for breath.
‘Imperial Sword Form...! Was it always this overwhelming?’
Neung Pyeong-ho’s shaking gaze fixed on Namgung Jincheon. Shock overpowered his pain.
He had underestimated the greatest star of the orthodox factions. He had underestimated its weight.
This level of preparation? This much firepower? It might not be enough.
Perhaps none of them would leave here alive.
‘Did we miscalculate...?’
Everyone here had deemed their odds sufficient. Even with the Black Lotus Union’s strength, a transcendent martial artist shouldn’t have been able to turn the tide alone.
They had come because they saw an opportunity for victory and profit.
But now, things were different.
Neung Pyeong-ho’s lips quivered uncontrollably.
***
The atmosphere shifted. Tension crept into the hearts of the Black Lotus Union warriors, who had previously been certain of their victory.
Namgung Yeon clenched her teeth, unable to tear her gaze away from the battle unfolding before her.
In Zhongyuan, only the half-divine and those rooted in the earth stood at the very pinnacle. Now, such elites were locked in a deadly struggle.
Four against one—an inherently unfair fight.
Yet her brother, Namgung Jincheon, showed no signs of being overwhelmed.
If it weren’t for her presence, perhaps he might actually have a chance at victory.
“Because of me...”
But here she was, a colossal burden dragging him down.
Her brother wasn’t someone who should die in a place like this.
If someone had to die, it should be her. They couldn’t afford to lose the unparalleled genius produced by the Namgung Clan.
“If only I could at least take my own life...!”
But with her acupoints sealed, she couldn’t so much as lift a finger. This couldn’t go on.
Namgung Yeon shouted desperately.
“You idiot! Just leave me behind—”
“Yeon-ah...”
“Right! At least unseal my acupoints—”
“Just rest for a while...”
With that, Namgung Yeon’s consciousness faded. Namgung Jincheon, having sealed her pressure points, turned his serene gaze toward Je Cheon-hyeok.
“Indeed, his reputation is well-deserved.”
Je Cheon-hyeok’s presence alone severely restricted Jincheon’s movements.
There was only a single step separating their skills.
If it were anyone else in Je Cheon-hyeok’s position, any other transcendent martial artist, Namgung Jincheon would have been confident in his victory.
But with him here, the odds had tilted against him.
“Haaah!”
Neung Pyeong-ho thrust his spear, his domain Lingering Moonlight reflecting his movements. The moonlight mirrored his spear, extending wherever its light touched.
But Neung Pyeong-ho felt a crushing sense of helplessness. His body felt heavy, and he couldn’t even move a finger as he wished.
Damn Imperial Sword Form.
That unreasonable martial art pressed down on everyone equally—everyone except Namgung Jincheon.
The formation prepared by the Gilyeon Sect Master, the sorcery maintained by the external Absolutes—none of it could truly suppress Namgung Jincheon. But the pressure of the Imperial Sword Form weighed on everyone present.
Gritting his teeth, Neung Pyeong-ho put all his strength into his remaining arm, thrusting his spear with all his might.
Moonlight Spear.
Thousands of thrusts cascaded like a shower of moonlight—a breathtaking display of brilliance.
Namgung Jincheon didn’t even glance his way. Whish! The sword cutting through the air moved on its own, deflecting Neung Pyeong-ho’s spear.
Whoooshhhhh!
The empty sky erased even the moonlight from Neung Pyeong-ho’s domain. The tidal wave of spears dissipated into nothingness.
Geom Yul stepped forward immediately, charging at Namgung Jincheon with tens of thousands of swords in tow.
“Hah...!”
His speed was extraordinary.
“Hm...”
Namgung Jincheon calmly drew a line in the air with his left hand. Whoosh! His Boundless Celestial Sword Technique unfolded, slicing through the swords Geom Yul wielded.
“Tsk...!”
Discarding his broken sword, Geom Yul switched places with one of the tens of thousands of blades in his domain.
He reappeared to Namgung Jincheon’s right, seizing another sword from the air and thrusting it forward. Namgung Jincheon flicked his fingers lightly.
In response, Geom Yul instinctively swapped places with another sword just in time.
Kwoooom!
An invisible blade struck where Geom Yul had been moments before, crushing the spot with devastating force. Gasping for air, Geom Yul glanced at the obliterated ground.
“This is absurd...”
The sword he swapped places with shattered into countless pieces. Had he defended against the attack, his body would have been pulverized along with it.
“Explode!”
The Gilyeon Sect Master seized the moment, unleashing a spell. The space around Namgung Jincheon warped and detonated.
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It was an explosion of space itself. Ordinary energy would disintegrate in the distorted void.
Yet Namgung Jincheon barely paid it any mind.
He simply tapped the ground lightly, reinforcing his own domain. That alone nullified the Gilyeon Sect Master’s spell.
The Sect Master’s eyes trembled.
“Je Cheon-hyeok! Help me!”
But Je Cheon-hyeok remained motionless, locking eyes with Namgung Jincheon.
“Damn it...!”
The Gilyeon Sect Master knew. The only reason they were still holding their ground was because of Je Cheon-hyeok.
It was his pressure on Namgung Jincheon that kept the man’s movements in check and prevented their decapitation.
“Can a mere human truly become this strong...?”
Grinding his teeth, the Sect Master unleashed another spell. The space around Namgung Jincheon tore like flesh, hurling chunks toward him.
At the same time, Geom Yul swung his sword, and Neung Pyeong-ho thrust his spear.
An opening.
Finally, Je Cheon-hyeok moved. Boom! His fist struck the air.
Thwack!
A massive hole burst open in Namgung Jincheon’s side, crimson blood pouring out.
Namgung Jincheon didn’t even flinch. Slowly, he lowered his left hand.
Slice.
Sensing danger, Geom Yul quickly retreated.
Fwoooosh!
The deep blue sky fell to the earth, shattering half of Geom Yul’s swords in the process.
“Gah...!”
His domain wavered as Geom Yul coughed up blood. Meanwhile, Neung Pyeong-ho locked eyes with Namgung Jincheon.
“Ah...”
His body refused to move. For a brief moment, the full weight of the Imperial Sword Form bore down on him. A chilling realization washed over him.
He was going to die.
Crunch. Blood trickled from his bitten lips.
“I won’t die like this...!”
Neung Pyeong-ho ignited his Innate True Qi. A surge of immense power erupted, breaking free from the Imperial Sword Form’s suppression.
Flinching, he moved his hand and swung his spear.
Moonlight Radiance .
A cascade of moonlight enveloped the area. Each beam of moonlight mirrored a spear strike, capable of splitting mountains and seas.
But it didn’t reach.
“Damn it...”
Slash.
Neung Pyeong-ho’s body was cleaved in two.
A single sword, gliding effortlessly through the air, had severed him along with his moonlight.
“The world’s greatest... Was the gap really this vast...?”
The enormous moon in the sky shattered and fell, its fragments disintegrating into nothingness.
Woom.
The sword that had cut Neung Pyeong-ho drifted around Namgung Jincheon, its blade unstained by blood.
The blade now pointed at Je Cheon-hyeok.
“One down...”
Namgung Jincheon’s calm gaze followed, settling on him.