The Pure Devil Sect Leader's arrival was inevitable.
Having nearly lost all her top warriors beneath her, she had every reason to confront Jeong Yeon-shin and the Ipwang Fortress elites following the incidents at Myunggong Island and the Ipwang Fortress' branch stronghold.
Likewise, the appearance of the Sovereign of Ipwang Fortress was no surprise.
She had once referred to Ma Yeon-jeok as a long-time companion. Reports that her trusted friend’s health had deteriorated to the brink of collapse likely spurred her descent to this location, perhaps to see him one last time before his final breath.
Yet, there was an air of mystery.
The sight of the Sovereign trailing the Pure Devil Sect Leader evoked a peculiar unease, as if the coincidences of the martial world were deliberately orchestrated by fate.
Could the timing truly be serendipitous?
Perhaps those who wield extraordinary power, pushing their limits to the extreme, were indeed bestowed with divine decrees that transcended mortal comprehension.
Jeong Yeon-shin briefly entertained the idea, considering the latent potential of his upper dantian.
Or, perhaps, the Sovereign had observed the Pure Devil Sect Leader earlier and chosen to delay her intervention, as if waiting for the right moment—her intentions as elusive as the wind that brushed against one’s skin.
If so, what was her reason? Why now, when she had previously dispatched even the Bloodflame Cult’s leader without hesitation?
As the boy pondered these swirling questions, an event unfolded before him.
Step.
A strange scene emerged.
The Sovereign of Ipwang Fortress approached, bathed in the green luminescence of lush foliage. Her presence seemed to cascade like mist through the gaps between the trees.
The most exalted figure among her clan, her abilities radiated from the shadows of the forest, blending seamlessly with the supreme martial prowess of a transcendent master.
Even the Pure Devil Sect Leader, a figure of extraordinary senses, failed to perceive her presence until she stepped out entirely from the shade of the trees.
It happened in an instant.
Her azure eyes widened in shock, her body twisting around, utterly startled.
“...!”
By then, Jeong Yeon-shin had already activated his inner energy. His Gwangryun Aura whirled within his chest.
Energy condensed into the acupuncture points at the sides of his throat (Inyoung-hyeol) and directly above his vocal cords (Yeomcheon-hyeol). He sent a swift transmission.
―Do not let the energy erupt.
His grandfather was in danger. Even if it meant committing the audacity of whispering directly into the Sovereign’s ear, it had to be done.
For a moment, her emerald eyes glanced at the boy.
It was the moment she emerged from the forest, the sunlight scattering around her pale face like a halo.
Moonlight Divine Art.
Faint light began to emanate from her body. Her loose, flowing green sleeves swayed gently.
The moonlit glow wove around her garments, spreading through the air.
Qi Barrier.
Condensed energy formed a solid dome, encompassing the space with a powerful, tactile force that pushed against Jeong Yeon-shin’s body.
Thud.
The boy’s feet left grooves in the ground as he was pushed back. His eyes widened.
A semi-spherical barrier, spanning nearly ten jang (approximately 30 meters), materialized around the Sovereign and the Pure Devil Sect Leader.
This was the scene she created based solely on Jeong Yeon-shin’s request, a manifestation that defied mortal capability.
Each movement in her energy control was incomprehensibly intricate, transcending human skill.
“Ipwang...?!”
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The Pure Devil Sect Leader barely had time to react. As she turned fully to face the Sovereign, the latter had already swung her sword.
A radiant blade glimmered in the sunlight, its edge gleaming as though merging sunlight with moonlight.
Slash!
Blood sprayed from the Pure Devil Sect Leader’s abdomen, her dark internal armor shredding as her defenses failed to hold against the Sovereign’s surprise attack.
It was a scene that felt unreal, even to Jeong Yeon-shin.
The Pure Devil Sect Leader’s demonic aura, which had seemed so immeasurably deep, was overwhelmed in an instant.
Boom!
A deafening roar reverberated through the barrier.
The Pure Devil Sect Leader’s bloodied figure spun amidst the vortex of qi and wind. Her reflexes remained remarkable; even after suffering a devastating strike, her movements were almost imperceptibly swift.
But Jeong Yeon-shin knew instinctively—despite the barrier, the Sovereign had decisively taken the upper hand.
The Pure Devil Sect Leader’s fortune had turned against her.
Even in a direct confrontation, the Sovereign would have held the advantage.
But here, ambushed in the dense forest, she had already lost by two decisive moves.
Step.
The Sovereign advanced, her steps echoing softly. She no longer held her sword poised for an attack.
Her pale sleeves fluttered like leaves in the breeze. With a graceful motion, the blade in her white hand seemed to shimmer faintly like a haloed moon.
Her strikes were beyond mere speed—they were so layered, they appeared to rend the very fabric of space.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
The continuous flurry of strikes resembled a storm carving through a cliffside, each slash speeding up endlessly.
Still, the Pure Devil Sect Leader was no ordinary master. Her limbs burst forth with bursts of dark energy, deflecting the relentless attacks.
A battle of monstrous power unfolded, one that felt more like a clash between deities than mortals.
“Only by defeating such an opponent could one reach the fruits of the Heavenly Tree...”
Jeong Yeon-shin thought, finding himself inadvertently reassured by the Sovereign’s presence.
The Sovereign stepped forward again, her footfalls light yet thunderous.
Her blade’s aura seemed to dim, not because it weakened but because it grew so intense that it transcended visible comprehension.
She swung her sword, unleashing a wide arc of condensed power.
Boom!
The air itself quaked, the barrier dissolving like mist under the pressure.
Even with her internal armor, the Pure Devil Sect Leader’s defense faltered under the Sovereign’s strikes.
Thud.
The ground trembled with each step of the Sovereign. Her moonlit presence illuminated the battlefield, casting an overwhelming glow over her opponent.
The Pure Devil Sect Leader let out a battle cry, her body erupting with a black, ominous aura. She wrapped herself in the dark qi, forging a shield of tangible energy around her.
Two peerless masters collided, their techniques and power shaking the forest to its roots.
Thud.
The ground trembled once more. This time, it was the Pure Devil Sect Leader’s foot that caused the quake.
Jeong Yeon-shin steadied Hyeon Won-chang, who staggered nearby, but his gaze didn’t waver. He continued to focus intently on the scene ahead, witnessing the Sect Leader’s explosive ascent into the air.
How many cycles of energy has she compressed into her Yongcheon Acupoint with just one leap?
Her figure halted midair—a demonstration of the Lingering Void Step, a supreme body movement technique.
“Ipwang Sovereign!”
The Sect Leader’s voice roared out.
Her once jet-black hair now had frayed, uneven ends, as if severed by blades.
Blood trickled down her forehead, painting a vicious streak over her fierce, sapphire blue eyes, giving her the appearance of a wrathful demon.
Black, ominous energy emanated from her battered torso, blending with her overflowing Demonic Qi. The sight was far removed from that of a mere human.
Her upper body, now smeared with blood, exuded a ferocious, awe-inspiring presence.
“How desperate you must have been! Such disgraceful conduct!”
The Sect Leader, her expression contorted in fury, wiped the blood from her brow with the back of her hand.
Even as she stood midair, her slightly bent leg betrayed the strain of the Sovereign’s earlier strike. Her provocative words and demeanor laid bare her nature, even as a supreme master.
She continued her tirade:
“To think you would strike so suddenly! Have you no shame? You’ve reached such heights, yet you forsake the spirit of martial contest. And now I hear strange rumors spreading in Yangyang—of you taking a commoner, not even of royal blood, as your disciple.”
Her lips curled into a derisive smile as she nodded toward Jeong Yeon-shin below.
“Is that young protégé of yours so precious to you? Ipwang Sovereign, pawn of the Ming Imperial Court.”
Even as she hovered in midair, the Sect Leader’s mannerisms resembled those of a mythical demon from ancient tales.
Her tone, though lively, was anything but noble. As the head of her sect, her provocations were reckless, her aim singular: to overwhelm her opponent and crush them utterly.
Her scrutinizing gaze swept over the Sovereign, seeking any weakness to exploit.
The Sovereign of Ipwang remained silent, her gaze softening as it lowered slightly.
She did not bother to look up, her eyes half-closed, casting shadows over her jade-green irises with her long lashes.
The sight was mesmerizing, her figure radiating a tranquil, otherworldly aura. Like one who lived in harmony with the wind, the Sovereign’s presence resonated with the essence of nature itself—a stance unique to the distinguished masters of the Ming lineage.
The Sect Leader’s lips slowly closed as silence engulfed the battlefield.
“Imagine—a master of the demonic arts accusing someone else of disgrace. Is this a theatrical farce?”
Jeong Yeon-shin’s murmured words rippled through the air like a gentle breeze, imbued with subtle qi.
The Sect Leader’s head turned slowly toward him, her sapphire gaze narrowing.
Her senses, trained on the Sovereign, now shifted. Even so, merely turning her attention toward the boy carried the weight of a mountain crashing down—an oppressive presence that seemed to fill the space entirely.
“Young one. What did you just say?”
Her coarse, hoarse voice demanded clarification. Jeong Yeon-shin replied calmly:
“I said your words reek of the back alleys—no, even a common thug would refrain from whining about fairness during a life-and-death duel. And dragging my name into your childish provocations? Astounding. Perhaps your qi has invaded your Baihui Acupoint. If you share the principles of your demonic art, I might adjust it for you.”
He tapped his temple lightly with his forefinger, his tone measured and precise.
Jeong Yeon-shin understood the power of directness.
Through his travels in the martial world, he had learned that provocation wasn’t always necessary.
The pride of masters who had dedicated their lives to their arts was akin to the heavens—pointing out their flaws or failures, even in the guise of concern, could easily tilt the flow of a duel.
A narrow field of vision caused by rage was deadly in the world of high martial arts, where a split-second decision could determine the outcome.
This isn’t the time to worry about decorum, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
The Sovereign had unfolded her qi barrier the instant she heard his transmission, likely aware of Ma Yeon-jeok’s precarious state.
The Sovereign was burdened, locked in a life-or-death struggle against a supreme master. Even with her overwhelming prowess, such a fight would not be an easy task.
Success in her initial assault did not guarantee victory. Her opponent, too, was a being of transcendent skill.
Knowing this, Jeong Yeon-shin sought to ease her burden, even if it meant drawing the Sect Leader’s ire entirely onto himself.
The Pure Devil Sect Leader surely didn’t come alone.
It was highly likely that she had left her subordinates behind in her haste to confront them.
Time was of the essence.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze flickered toward the rustling leaves around the Sovereign. They moved gently yet ominously, foretelling the storm to come.
The Sect Leader, still glaring at him, seemed to be channeling a specific technique, her breath steadying as if to regain composure.
A temporary lull settled over the battlefield, a momentary pause to catch one’s breath.
The stakes were clear: Ma Yeon-jeok’s survival hung in the balance.
The Sovereign appeared to be sharpening her intent for a decisive, swift resolution.
Jeong Yeon-shin, meanwhile, focused on creating even the smallest opening, ready to strike with a hidden blade if necessary.
Suddenly, wind swirled at Jeong Yeon-shin’s feet.
Dust and debris scattered, caught in the vortex of his Gwangryun Aura. A shimmering white stream of energy filled the surrounding air, radiating an auspicious, divine presence.
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke again, his tone steady:
“I do find demonic arts intriguing. Baihui Acupoint and all. Sect Leader, in my humble opinion—”
“Enough, young master. Please!”
Hyeon Won-chang tried to intervene, his trembling hand gripping Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder. The boy shook him off effortlessly.
“Why?” he asked, nonchalantly.
It was then that a soft sound—a faint chuckle—cut through the tension.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes moved.
The Sovereign of Ipwang Fortress, silent until now, had tilted her head ever so slightly.
Her pale lips curved into the faintest smile as she finally spoke:
“Let me impart the second teaching.”
Her melodic voice, both radiant and serene, resonated with profound authority.
“The sword of the heart.”