It was truly a shocking sight.
The six division lords had gathered. Their presence left no room for concerns about safety.
For a moment, their combined power approached the absolute, making it impossible for anyone to deny a sense of security.
Even in an era of chaos where the strong prey on the weak, safety could be spoken of.
It was said that even three black-ranked martial artists together could be deemed invincible. It wasn’t an exaggeration born of baseless rumors, even if enthusiasts tended to embellish.
But then—
Hissss—
The man who drove Cheonrim Division Lord’s head into the ground bore no dust on his clothes.
Even as a faint cloud of debris spread around him, his striking pink attire remained untouched. His protective qi enveloped even the hems of his garment.
This meant that the energy wrapping his entire body left no gaps for even a speck of air to pass through.
Kneeling on one knee, he pressed the back of Hahoe Wi-jin’s head to the floor.
The sight was surreal. Even as he bowed his head slightly toward the Cheonrim Division Lord, his demeanor was commanding.
An unstoppable aura emanated from his entire body. The invisible waves of energy were both immensely powerful and utterly unrestrained.
“Did I not ask? Truly, you insignificant wretch.”
It was a deep, growling sound, like a lion’s roar.
Hahoe Wi-jin could not respond.
The mouth that had berated his junior moments ago was now smashed against the floor. His lips ground into the marble beneath him.
If not for the internal energy armor he constantly maintained, what would have become of him?
That single blow might have crushed even the reinforced interior of a black-ranked master’s mouth.
“I kept listening, and it was laughable. I should have come down sooner.”
The man’s voice was sharp and cutting.
No one responded immediately.
The Wonpyeong One Sword Hall was a place shrouded in rumors even within the vast martial world.
It was unparalleled in danger, as few places gathered as many black-ranked masters from Ipwang Fortress.
No one had reacted in time before the ceiling nearly collapsed.
Such an occurrence was exceedingly rare—practically a calamity.
The intruder’s skills defied belief, beyond even the refined mastery of Returning to Simplicity.
To reach such an extreme degree that it seemed commonplace was an unparalleled state.
“......”
A moment of silence passed.
Seonmok Division Lord Cheon So-so opened her clear blue eyes.
She quietly took in the sight of the man, her glacial demeanor encasing her swirling qi in stillness.
Her aura, imbued with the profundity of Dynamic Stillness, was cold and formidable.
As cracks ran along the ceiling, Yoon So-yu had already drawn her sword and aimed it at the man.
Even amid the storm, her long black hair remained calm. The wind around her swirled mystically, an extension of her mastery over her clan’s techniques.
Hiss.
Sin Hyeolgukma Jin Myeong-jo crossed his arms, his poised hands radiating a sharp energy.
Even as he faced the astonishing sight, his expression did not waver.
Enveloped in a steady but potent aura, he exuded the distinctive dignity of the Blood Division Lord.
Despite being seasoned in immediate combat, the division lords hesitated to act directly.
They first had to gauge their opponent.
The division lords of Ipwang Fortress didn’t make mistakes when sensing energy. The fact that Cheonrim’s Hahoe Wi-jin had been subdued so easily spoke volumes.
The element of surprise might have been significant, but this was no opponent to be underestimated.
“Coordinate with me.”
Jin Myeong-jo’s statement was brief.
His words themselves were insubstantial; the coordination was dictated by the nature of their techniques. The synergy between the Blood Division Lord and the others was inherently poor.
Rather than debating, his statement essentially meant, You attack first, and I’ll exploit the opening.
Cheon So-so and Yoon So-yu didn’t respond.
Their personal disdain for Jin Myeong-jo’s lineage was irrelevant now.
The uninvited guest had managed to deceive the keen senses of black-ranked masters, concealing his energy entirely.
This level of mastery could only be likened to the Ipwang Fortress Lord himself, who stood as a force of nature.
It was a situation that demanded presumption of death, a meticulous unraveling of the opponent’s defenses.
Behind them, Ak Su-rim furrowed her brow slightly as she pulled her spear from its sheath.
“What is this?”
She gripped her black spear with one hand, her entire body shrouded in a transparent mirage of shifting energy.
The massive power coursing through the spear shaft emanated from her slender back.
The Ak Family Spear Art was the most renowned polearm martial art in the world.
Once considered one of two great spear techniques alongside the Yang Family Spear, it had transcended such comparisons in her hands.
The overwhelming majesty of the Ipwang Divine Spear far surpassed the Yang Family’s mastery.
“This energy feels familiar yet strange. It’s incredibly unpleasant. Is this someone I haven’t seen from the Thirteen Heavens? Otherwise, how could someone like this penetrate so deeply...?”
Ak Su-rim murmured as she fixed her gaze on the intruder pressing down on Hahoe Wi-jin’s head.
The man’s face remained unseen, bent forward as if lecturing the Cheonrim Division Lord.
She spoke softly, her lips moving slowly.
“Seomye, you should take a proper look.”
Her tone was laced with concern.
The beautiful junior had been avoiding the uninvited guest’s presence.
“...Ah.”
The newly appointed Ma Gwang-ik Division Lord let out a dry sigh. His thick eyebrows didn’t so much as twitch.
His breathing, flowing beneath his elegant nose, was thin and steady.
His internal breathing technique had grown unfathomably deep, but his dazed expression belied his age. It was an exceedingly rare sight.
Ak Su-rim’s vision was broad enough to observe Seomye without turning her gaze. Her voice carried genuine concern.
“Are you alright?”
“Senior Ak.”
Her junior finally spoke, his head tilted downward.
“Yes? Go ahead.”
Ak Su-rim gently urged him, her warmth undiminished even with an overwhelming foe before her.
She was a truly considerate senior.
“Well...”
At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin felt isolated, his heart consumed by shame. His expressionless face betrayed his immense embarrassment.
It was a feeling known only to him—a cloud of unfamiliar humiliation, accompanied by intense regret. He should have come with his grandfather.
Ah...
Still, he had to speak.
From the looks of it, his grandfather had no intention of revealing his identity. He was wholly preoccupied with pressing Hahoe Wi-jin’s head firmly against the floor.
It was the behavior of an obstinate master entrenched in a moment of righteous fury.
Was his anger so consuming that he didn’t even glance around? Yet his imposing, untouchable aura was nothing short of astonishing.
The senior black-ranks must not make the first move.
If a peerless purple-ranked master clashed with four black-ranked experts, the result would be devastating, regardless of who emerged victorious.
The aftermath would be anything but neat.
Jeong Yeon-shin could stop his grandfather, but he couldn’t guarantee he’d intercept the fleeting strike of those seeking vengeance.
If things escalated here, he would no longer be able to show his face at the Wonpyeong One Sword Hall. Attending future gatherings would be unthinkable.
No. This can’t happen.
His heart, weighed down by shame, resolved itself.
He opened his mouth to speak.
“—Hold for a moment.”
The Grand Marshal’s voice came through in an internal transmission.
Jeong Yeon-shin turned his gaze. The Grand Marshal came into view, smiling broadly.
The thick beard framing his face shimmered with an aura of carefree delight. It was a sight that was difficult to comprehend.
The Grand Marshal continued speaking.
“—After being summoned by the Imperial Palace, he lived for a time as the fortress’s hidden sword. It’s hardly a role that suits someone with his temperament. He must be harboring pent-up frustration. Who am I to stop what’s common in the Wonpyeong One Sword Hall? Moreover... the conflict you fear might not arise. After all, none of our black-ranks lack extraordinary skill...”
At that moment, terrifying waves of energy erupted from the fractured edges of the round table.
The division lords had completed their preparations to strike.
In silent agreement, they synchronized their qi circulation in an instant. They achieved the state of Unification of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
With the success of Three Flowers Converging at the Crown, they were poised to unleash their ultimate techniques.
There was no room for negotiation.
The conflict had already erupted.
Hahoe Wi-jin was still alive, but the intent to attack was unmistakably hostile.
The division lords of Ipwang Fortress, once engaged, did not converse with their enemies. It was a long-standing tradition intended to avoid being swayed by the rhetoric of those in power.
This was why Ak Su-rim, despite her concern for Jeong Yeon-shin, refrained from speaking to the intruder.
That protective qi wasn’t something that standard techniques could penetrate.
Sin Hyeolgukma Jin Myeong-jo thought grimly.
Blessed with innate yin energy, his keen senses were second to none. He immediately identified the formidable layer of internal energy enveloping the intruder like an armor of pure energy.
It was intricately constructed, leaving no weak points for blunt strikes. A more precise and refined technique like Acupuncture Manipulation would be required.
If only that bastard weren’t here...!
Jin Myeong-jo’s ruby-like eyes flashed as he glanced over the newly appointed Ma Gwang-ik Division Lord.
The aura emanating from the junior was extraordinarily divine.
They said he had devised divine martial arts techniques as a white-rank, but now it seemed he was circulating energy with divinity itself.
Even from a distance, Jin Myeong-jo felt as though his own lifeline was under threat. The hairs on his once-smooth skin stood on end.
He wasn’t sure if he could properly execute his ultimate move in such a state.
The Sword Specter Lord is the monster of Shaanxi? Does it matter? Damn it all.
The real monster of Ipwang Fortress was right here.
Every time he attended a meeting, he had to confront the very existence he most wanted to avoid.
The intruder who hadn’t outright killed the Cheonrim Division Lord was less of a threat than Ma Gwang-ik Division Lord, who loomed as a constant pressure.
Psychologically, it was the same. Every time he recalled the two blue-rank subordinates he had handed over as if presenting tribute, his chest tightened with regret so intense it nearly drove him mad.
Pung Ran, Na Il-cheon. My loyal hands and feet...
And now a joint attack? With Ma Gwang-ik Division Lord?
Jin Myeong-jo’s glare sharpened involuntarily.
But the moment it did, he flinched, his gaze instinctively dropping as he averted his lashes.
The junior had mastered divine energy techniques.
If he earned the man’s ire, every future division lords’ meeting would become unbearable. He might even break out into fits just sitting next to him. What a nightmare.
Ah...
His crimson glare carried a different meaning to Jeong Yeon-shin.
It was a dual-sided expression, a mix of desperate resolve and noble determination.
Like the taciturn senior he was, Jin Myeong-jo spoke with his eyes: I’ll take the lead. You handle the rear.
As dependable as Senior Ak, thought Jeong Yeon-shin.
The shame caused by his grandfather and the guilt his seniors had bestowed upon him weighed heavily.
Even so, he couldn’t strike his grandfather. As Jeong Yeon-shin swallowed his frustration, an angry voice echoed.
“Are you fools planning a mutiny?”
At last.
The man in the pink robes lifted his head, just as Hahoe Wi-jin, subdued with a crushing grip on the nape of his neck, lost consciousness.
Though the man’s features were lean, his visage was sharply defined.
Shockingly youthful.
Despite not being of the Myeong lineage, he radiated vitality. His fierce demeanor made his expression seem almost predatory.
He was nothing less than a lion king of the wilderness.
“Are you about to—”
The Blood Division Lord, Jin Myeong-jo, with razor-sharp energy emanating from his five outstretched fingers, trailed off.
He had discarded the dignified bearing of a black rank to propose a coordinated attack—a reasonable course of action for the informed.
But he couldn’t finish his sentence.
“These wretches?”
Jin Myeong-jo frowned.
Ak Su-rim, Cheon So-so, and Yoon So-yu had frozen in place.
Each one appeared as though struck by an unspeakable sight. Even the powerful qi that had surged from them moments ago dissipated into nothingness.
They were all seasoned division lords.
Ipwang Divine Spear Ak Su-rim had retained her youthful vigor through rejuvenation techniques, while Cheon So-so and Yoon So-yu had lived long lives due to their noble lineage.
Jin Myeong-jo, by contrast, was a relative newcomer to the ranks, his rise expedited.
He shot a glance at Ma Gwang-ik Division Lord.
And what’s with that guy now...?
The junior had averted his gaze, seemingly ignoring everything.
Then—
“No.”
The lips of Ak Su-rim trembled slightly. Her grip on the black spear quivered in unison.
The surging momentum she had cultivated through the Ak Family Spear Art vanished without a trace.
“No...”
Her reaction was the most intense of anyone present. She looked stunned, her lips slightly parted, and her sharp eyes—hallmarks of a martial master—wavered ever so faintly.
Her jet-black pupils darted repeatedly between Jeong Yeon-shin and the intruder.
“What is this...?”
Her shock was palpable, unmistakably negative in nature.
Swish.
The faint rise of Ma Yeon-jeok’s lips broke the silence.
“I’ve waited long enough since you had the audacity to mention my grandson as a mere lord consort. But at least you have a discerning eye. Time has rewound itself into my grandson’s hands, something the likes of the Ak Family Spear can never dare match.”
“You... you’re insane!”
Ak Su-rim’s reaction was violent. Her years as a subordinate, worked tirelessly under Ma Yeon-jeok, seemed to catch up with her all at once.
Her finely curled lashes quivered uncontrollably. Even though her usual bob haircut now extended over her ears, she made no move to touch it. Instead, her eyes frantically sought her junior.
“This is a joke, right? The Elder has recovered and is playing a prank, right? He’s wearing a face mask or something. This is awful, so just admit it now. To think I’d see that face again in my lifetime...”
“My grandfather has undergone rejuvenation.”
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke, trying to suppress his overwhelming embarrassment.
“Are you telling me... you caused that?”
“...Yes.”
“You’re my mortal enemy now...”
Ak Su-rim muttered weakly, utterly at a loss.
The Grand Marshal, Im Jin-myung, took over the cleanup.
Even as the room’s atmosphere remained steeped in shock, the division lords resumed the meeting, seated cross-legged on the floor.
Ma Yeon-jeok took the seat of honor, with the division lords sitting in rows below him. Ak Su-rim dragged Jeong Yeon-shin to the farthest corner.
Cheon So-so, Yoon So-yu, and Jin Myeong-jo wore dazed expressions. The scale of Ma Yeon-jeok’s transformation was something they had yet to fully grasp.
It had all happened in a brief span of time.
Hahoe Wi-jin, who had risen belatedly, remained silent with a blank gaze.
Gone was his usual temperament, replaced by a serene, reflective posture, as though he had achieved profound enlightenment. Both hands rested calmly on his knees.
Meanwhile, Ma Yeon-jeok seemed unfazed.
“Weren’t we discussing mission assignments? Yeon-shin, where would you like to go?”
Jeong Yeon-shin turned his gaze slightly. His worry loomed large.
His grandfather, having stormed into his workplace, had acted out of anger over his grandson’s treatment. How could he possibly face anyone after this?
He glanced at Hahoe Wi-jin and spoke laboriously.
“My skills are still lacking, so I cannot undertake a mission involving the safety of Suncheon Wing. That’s why I mentioned heading to Shaanxi. Between Zhongnan, Mount Hua, the Sword Specter Faction, and Yeo-ryeong, Shaanxi seems preferable. I repeat, Senior Hahoe misunderstood my intentions.”
“Shaanxi? Very well. Ma Gwang-ik Division Lord will go to Shaanxi.”
Ma Yeon-jeok’s words carried the weight of a declaration.
“...”
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The Grand Marshal chuckled to himself as he unfolded the next document.
“And...”
The meeting proceeded at a remarkable speed. Never before had the agenda at the Wonpyeong One Sword Hall moved so swiftly. Items passed like flashes of light.