“Ambition......? It did not look that way to me.”
“There are truths I wish to uncover, and there are tasks I must resolve. I merely described accomplishing all of that at once as ambition. Was that an incorrect expression?”
“It is not incorrect, but to me it sounds more like you simply do not wish to give a proper answer to my question.”
Unhwi briefly looked around.
There were too many watching eyes.
“Even if I do not answer, Elder Cheon already knows my answer.”
“Hmm?”
“There are still far too many steps I must go through for Elder Cheon’s amusement. Still.”
The Heavenly Wayfarer stroked his white beard.
Certainly.
He was different from the others.
Was he not truly an extraordinary piece of work?
“Heh heh...... amusing. Truly amusing. Elder Yang.”
At those final words, one of the Blood Heaven Sect elders seated there, Yang Uiji, rose from her seat.
Quick-witted as ever, she immediately walked over to Unhwi and handed him the sword hanging at her waist.
Without hesitation, Unhwi accepted it.
“There is no need for lengthy words between us. I intend to accept the Seol Unhwi standing here into the Blood Heaven Sect. But as you know well, the martial world is a place governed by the logic of strength, is it not?”
“That is correct.”
“And especially here in the Blood Heaven Sect, that principle is even more pronounced than in the rest of the martial world.”
“I am fully aware.”
“Then you already know what you must do from here onward.”
Unhwi nodded.
Proof.
In the end, the martial world was simply this kind of place.
No matter what one did, whether one accomplished great feats or anything else.
In the end, one had to continuously prove oneself at all times and in all places.
Fail to do so, and one would be cast aside.
That was the kind of world it was.
That was the logic of strength.
Then, as though he had been waiting for this moment, Yeongunseong abruptly rose from his seat.
“This seat.”
“Hm?”
“I will personally test him.”
“Heh heh...... I was considering another elder, yet our Great Elder himself wishes to step forward?”
“Yes. I do have prior acquaintance with the young fellow, do I not?”
“You do indeed.”
“Heh heh...... Leave it to me.”
The Heavenly Wayfarer nodded with a pleased smile.
Then Yeongunseong’s body vanished from where he stood.
In an instant, he appeared before Unhwi.
“Heh heh heh heh...... Boy. Did I not tell you? That you belonged on our side.”
“You possess remarkable judgment, Senior.”
“I know I do. Remarkable indeed. But that does not mean I will go easy on you. This is not the outside world. This is the Blood Heaven Sect.”
“I understand completely.”
“Then let us see your skill.”
Yeongunseong’s aura exploded outward.
The Taehumusal state.
The fourth realm of the Five Realms of Martial Divinity.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth swirled around his body, and within it crimson energy erupted forth.
Blood energy.
The source of life wielded only by the Blood Heaven Sect.
A powerful force created by burning blood itself.
Red vapor rose from Yeongunseong’s entire body, and his eyes were dyed crimson.
“This will hurt a little.”
“That is what I should be saying.”
“......Hm?”
“You will be in a little pain.”
The corners of Yeongunseong’s mouth curled upward.
The clear fighting spirit radiating from Unhwi as he spoke those words.
It was impressive.
Truly impressive.
“Heh heh heh heh heh.”
Laughing like that, Yeongunseong kicked off the ground.
KWA-AAAAANG-!!
The floor caved inward as his body vanished.
No—it had not vanished. He was simply moving too quickly to be seen.
Unhwi’s eyes narrowed.
Immediately, he spread Void-Origin Energy throughout his body.
He sensed the flow of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
He grasped Yeongunseong’s location.
Upper left.
He raised the sword.
KWA-AAAAANG-!!
Yeongunseong’s fist collided against the blade.
A shockwave exploded outward in all directions, and Unhwi’s body was driven backward.
His feet scraped across the ground as he was shoved back more than ten zhang.
His hand went numb. The palm gripping the sword felt as though it would tear apart. Their realms differed by no less than three full stages. Yet even beyond that gap, this man’s fist remained as heavy as ever.
Yeongunseong launched himself forward again.
His fists came one after another.
Ten strikes. Twenty strikes. They poured forth endlessly, and Unhwi blocked them all with his sword.
But each time he blocked, the impact surged through his arms and shook his internal energy.
At the twenty-first fist, Unhwi’s sword nearly flew from his hand. At the twenty-fifth, his stance collapsed. And the thirtieth fist pierced through his guard and smashed into his shoulder.
BWOOOOOM-!!
Unhwi’s body was sent flying.
He rolled across the ground before stopping himself.
It felt as though his shoulder bone had cracked.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal activated immediately, but wounds mixed with blood energy healed slowly. Unhwi rose to his feet. He spat blood. It was an internal injury.
But even while being driven back, Unhwi had been observing.
Yeongunseong’s movements.
The direction of his attacks.
And the flow of his blood energy.
It was slightly different from the Yeongunseong he remembered from his previous life.
Back then, the man had stood at the very peak of the Taehumusal state, so his movements and judgment were entirely different from now.
But now—
This was manageable.
There had always been one issue Yeongunseong struggled with, both then and now.
As someone who wielded fists, he favored overwhelming opponents with repeated blows.
And every time he did so, for the briefest instant—
Shorter than the time it took to blink—
There was a single point where the blood energy concentrated.
At that point, the flow of energy distorted ever so slightly.
And now, Unhwi could see it.
Yeongunseong charged again.
His fists rained down. Unhwi blocked them with his sword. But this time, he moved differently.
He did not merely block.
He diverted them.
Twisting the blade, he subtly altered the trajectory of the fists and slipped through the opening. The sword shot toward Yeongunseong’s flank.
Fast.
Precise.
Yeongunseong’s eyes widened.
He hastily twisted his body.
The sword tip brushed against his clothing. The fabric tore, and his skin split open. It was shallow, but unmistakably a wound. Yeongunseong retreated.
When he touched his side, blood stained his fingers.
“Hoh...... ho.......”
Laughter escaped him.
He had been wounded by a martial artist at the level of Unity of Heaven and Man. It was unbelievable.
But it was enjoyable.
A smile spread across Yeongunseong’s lips.
“Yes, this is entertaining. This is it.”
Yeongunseong’s aura exploded forth even more fiercely.
Blood energy wrapped around his entire body.
From this point onward, it was no longer play.
He was serious.
Yeongunseong clenched both fists. Blood energy concentrated into them and began burning like crimson flames.
“Blood Demon Heaven-Shattering Fist.”
Yeongunseong thrust out a fist.
First strike.
A crimson fist phantom flew forward.
Unhwi raised his sword and blocked it.
KWA-AAAAANG-!!
Impact crashed into him. His arms went numb.
Second strike.
Another one flew toward him.
KWA-AAAAANG-!!
He blocked it. Third strike. Fourth strike. Fifth strike. They poured at him continuously, and though Unhwi continued blocking, he was gradually pushed backward.
At the sixth strike, Unhwi’s sword wavered. At the seventh, his stance collapsed. At the eighth, his sword nearly flew from his hand.
The ninth strike came.
He could not block it.
He dodged.
The fist phantom grazed Unhwi’s side. Flesh tore away. Blood sprayed.
The tenth strike came.
This time, he did not dodge.
He raised his sword and blocked it head-on.
KWAAAAAAAAANG-!!!
The immense impact hurled Unhwi’s body away. He flew more than ten zhang before crashing into a wall.
Cracks spread across the wall. Unhwi fell to the ground. He coughed blood. His internal organs had been damaged.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal activated.
His wounds began healing.
But once again, it was slow.
Unhwi rose.
He staggered.
But he did not release the sword.
It was not the True Fire Heavenly Spirit Sword, but that was fine.
This sword was also one of the Ten Great Named Swords.
Its name was the Heaven-Shaking Scale Sword.
He gripped the sword once more.
Then he drew up his energy.
He pushed Void-Origin Energy to its utmost limit.
Every meridian in his body opened, and the Wild Blood Meridians responded.
Unhwi’s blood vessels were thicker and stronger than those of ordinary people.
Through those thick blood vessels flowed even greater energy, drawing forth even stronger power.
White light erupted from Unhwi’s body.
The True Chapter of the Primordial Innate Mind Art.
His hair shone white.
Yeongunseong saw it and narrowed his eyes.
“......Now you are even transforming.”
Though he said that, the feeling was strange.
That aura was unmistakably the aura of Unity of Heaven and Man.
But something about it was different.
Its density differed. Its quality differed. And above all—
Yeongunseong’s gaze shifted toward the seat of honor behind him.
The Heavenly Wayfarer sat there.
And the aura emanating from Unhwi standing ahead strangely resembled that of the Heavenly Wayfarer himself.
His realm was Unity of Heaven and Man, yet his essence surpassed it.
......Surely he is not some hidden son......
The absurd thought made Yeongunseong laugh. He clenched his fist once more.
“This time, I shall show you the eleventh strike of the Blood Demon Heaven-Shattering Fist.”
Yeongunseong curled his fist tightly.
Blood energy gathered explosively.
The blood throughout his body boiled, and all of that power converged into his right fist.
The fist glowed crimson.
No—it surpassed glowing.
It burned.
Crimson flames.
Blood flames.
A phenomenon caused when blood energy became so intense that it ignited like fire.
Unhwi saw it.
If that hit him, he would die.
He was certain.
Even the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal would be useless.
The blood energy contained within it was too overwhelming.
Once it entered his body, it would explode from within.
In that case—
I must cut him down before I die.
Unhwi raised his sword.
The Heaven-Shaking Scale Sword.
He concentrated every last trace of energy into it.
Void-Origin Energy flowed along the blade, combined with the immense power drawn forth from the Wild Blood Meridians.
Even the power of the True Chapter of the Primordial Innate Mind Art fused into it.
The sword shone white.
Blindingly so.
Unhwi moved.
Gripping the sword, he charged toward Yeongunseong.
It was a charge made with death already resolved in his heart.
Yeongunseong’s eleventh strike came forth.
Unhwi’s sword moved toward it.
He did not dodge.
He did not block.
He simply thrust.
Toward the fist engulfed in blood flames, he thrust the sword tip forward.
KWAAAAAAAAAAAAANG-!!!
An explosion.
Their energies collided and detonated.
Shockwaves spread in all directions, and spiderweb-like cracks spread across the floor of the grand hall.
The elders rose from their seats and unleashed their energy to block the aftermath.
Dust billowed upward.
The Heavenly Wayfarer merely remained seated, watching.
Silence.
Before long, the dust slowly cleared.
And within it—
Two men stood facing one another.
Yeongunseong and Unhwi.
Yeongunseong wore a delighted grin, while Unhwi maintained an utterly expressionless face.
The contrast between them was striking.
As though the difference in their expressions reflected the difference in their actions, Yeongunseong moved first.
Then Unhwi moved.
Yeongunseong’s fists flew toward Unhwi.
First strike. Second strike. Third strike. Fourth strike.
And then—
The fifth strike.
As Unhwi blocked the four incoming fists, his eyes flashed sharply.
Now.
The flaw in Yeongunseong he had mentioned earlier.
The twisting of energy.
The minute distortion.
He had caught it.
It lasted only for the briefest instant, but Unhwi did not miss it.
Because this was precisely what he had been waiting for.
His shoulder twitched.
In an instant, Unhwi’s sword shot forward.
The Vast Azure Sword Draws Heaven and Earth.
The single sword of the vast azure cleaves apart heaven and earth.
Creation and destruction are accomplished within an instant.
The Heaven-Defying Vast Azure Sword.
The Single Vast Azure Sword.
Yeongunseong’s eyes widened greatly.
That was the end of it.
Puuuk-!
Blood sprayed through the newly rising dust.
Everyone fell silent.
The dust settled.
Unhwi was kneeling on one knee.
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