Jeong Yeon-shin quickly pushed aside his stray thoughts.
No matter how many sects across the southern seas stood against Ipwang Fortress, the opportunity before him was unprecedented.
The Sword Corps Captain had granted him access to his back.
It was not merely rare—it was nearly impossible to believe.
One of the world’s top martial masters had entrusted his Mingmen Acupoint. Such an opportunity might never come again.
The Mingmen Acupoint was the nexus where the body’s vital energy circulated most vigorously. It was the reason the middle of one’s back was offered when receiving assistance with energy alignment.
Swish.
The sensation of wounds left by the Namgung Patriarch’s sword was rough beneath his palm.
As Jeong Yeon-shin pressed his palm to the Captain’s back, the surreal nature of the situation began to dawn on him. It felt as though he was floating, detached from reality.
“The flow from the Mingmen Acupoint should align directly with the Shenzhu Acupoint. A basic circuit, like the Taoist method for nourishing life, will suffice. Our Captain has already opened the upper dantian and fully connected the governing and conception vessels long ago,” Ak Su-rim whispered beside him.
“You can think of the Captain’s entire meridian system as a sword. It’s like sharpening and oiling the blade. That should do the trick.”
Her words, laden with the depth of her internal cultivation, carried a weight of insight.
The intricacy of her advice reflected the mastery of someone steeped in martial wisdom. The Sword Corps Captain’s subtle nod was confirmation enough.
Suddenly, murmurs rippled through the ranks of the Sword Corps.
“They’re coming! They’re heading this way! It’s the Bloodflame Cult, damn it!”
“Those lunatic blood fiends are first? Of course, they’ve got nothing to lose. And next... maybe it’s Simmuryun. Judging by the speed, that’s likely.”
“The Martial Dragon Association has changed direction. They’re moving in formation—some kind of escort detail.”
“Someone important must be with them. Those loose rabble don’t usually protect someone like this. Meanwhile, Simmuryun just keeps moving ahead as if nothing’s happening. Typical schemers.”
The warnings coming from all sides were all about the Thirteen Heavens—a collective of the most notorious unorthodox factions rivaling the righteous sects and noble clans of Jianghu.
If the Thirteen Heavens realized the Sword Corps Captain was incapacitated, it wouldn’t be surprising if they turned their swords on him. Such was the nature of their relationship.
And if that happened, the Captain’s condition would be exposed. With Namgung Hwa-shin unconscious and unable to resist, the situation would grow even more dire.
Even for the strongest military force of Ipwang Fortress, handling multiple factions from the Thirteen Heavens at once would result in devastating losses.
This was a crisis.
Jeong Yeon-shin lowered his eyelids slightly, his thoughts racing.
Internal energy was, by nature, difficult to control. Simultaneous operation of multiple pathways was even more challenging.
Attempting such control while using dynamic energy for lightness skills only compounded the difficulty. Even for him, this was a new test.
“Don’t unsheath your sword recklessly! That would definitely look suspicious!” Ak Su-rim’s warning faded behind him as he immersed his focus.
He guided his energy into the Captain’s body through the Mingmen Acupoint.
Woom.
Jeong Yeon-shin poured all his focus into a single stream of internal energy. Over time, he had gradually gained the ability to consciously activate his upper dantian’s latent power.
Even while running, he managed to sustain it.
Ak Su-rim’s faint laugh of disbelief brushed past his ears, then gradually faded from his awareness.
And then, suddenly...
Jeong Yeon-shin felt the universe.
The elasticity and breadth of the Captain’s meridians were on a completely different level.
The middle dantian, nearest the Mingmen Acupoint, felt like the inner core of a dragon—an endless reservoir of energy.
The depth and intricacy of the human body astounded him.
However, perhaps due to his injuries, the Captain’s energy flow was irregular.
The currents that should have surged through the Twelve Standard Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, filling his body like a tide, were faint and sluggish, as though rusted.
Hwoosh!
Jeong Yeon-shin infused the Captain’s meridians with energy refined through Jeong Ga-donggong.
He recalled Ak Su-rim’s advice: guide the circuit as if oiling a blade.
The idea was to polish the disrupted flow of energy caused by the battle with the Namgung Patriarch using his own energy.
He did exactly that.
Starting at the center of the Captain’s back, the Mingmen Acupoint, he poured energy upward into the Shenzhu Acupoint, allowing it to flow unimpeded.
The pure, refined energy honed through Jeong Ga-donggong coursed smoothly, like the innocent vigor of a child.
“What is this? It feels as serene as if it were polished with Yijinjing,” the Captain murmured to himself.
“Did the Grand Abbot of Shaolin secretly violate his vows? Kid, are you some hidden son of his?”
The incredulity was evident in his voice.
Jeong Yeon-shin ignored the remark and focused. He had no choice. The momentum of the circulating energy had surged into a torrent.
The Captain’s meridians were on an entirely different level.
They weren’t merely refined pathways; they were as smooth and unyielding as the icy walls of the North Sea. It was almost inhuman.
‘With meridians this refined, energy circulation could truly be completed in the blink of an eye.’
Jeong Yeon-shin realized why absolute masters could unleash their full power in an instant.
Even he, far ahead of most martial artists, could only grasp the fleeting concept of speed. For the Captain, it was an entirely different realm.
This was enlightenment. A new perspective opened to him.
‘It’s right to integrate my developing martial technique with Jeong Ga-donggong. Maybe I, too...’
For the first time, amidst a life-or-death situation, he glimpsed the potential for growth.
And it didn’t end there. The Captain’s body held countless secrets—treasures hidden in plain sight.
No, it wasn’t just a body; it was a repository of profound martial principles, woven together like priceless treasures.
‘This...’
Jeong Yeon-shin’s upper dantian flared with insight. It was a glimpse into a realm bestowed by the heavens.
While examining the Captain’s inner workings, he found an incredibly distinct pattern.
It was the trace of the primary internal energy pathway the Captain used.
A massive torrent of energy had swept through it, leaving a vivid mark.
‘This...’
By instinct, Jeong Yeon-shin analyzed the pathway’s utility. With a shiver of realization, he understood.
It was perfectly suited for techniques that required an immense release of energy in a single move.
The trace revealed a pathway that added stability to explosive martial techniques.
It was a perfect match for the Radiant Sword technique the Captain had displayed.
This was a divine technique.
‘If I properly integrate this method...’
He could address many concerns about the recoil of the Hwangang palm technique named by the Azure Qilin, Namgung Se-jin.
It was an invaluable insight—one that had likely played a significant role in the Captain’s swift victory over the Namgung Patriarch.
Then, suddenly...
“Well, look at you.”
The words were impossible to ignore, tinged with a peculiar humor.
“Turns out I let quite the cunning thief into my body.”
It was the Sword Corps Captain.
The faint chuckle in his voice carried an eerie edge.
Even in the middle of energy circulation, the Captain could speak.
It wasn’t surprising that he noticed Jeong Yeon-shin’s internal exploration.
After all, he was Ipwang Fortress’s strongest warrior.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t bother apologizing. There was no time for that.
‘Well, he did promise to teach me a technique. I’ll apologize later...’
With this admittedly childish thought, Jeong Yeon-shin removed his hand. The energy circuit had just been completed.
Any further delay would have been dangerous. As the scouts had warned, martial masters from the Thirteen Heavens were closing in like prowling lynxes.
Anyone could guess that the one who had killed the Namgung Patriarch wouldn’t emerge unscathed.
From a distant cluster of figures came a booming voice:
“Esteemed warriors of Ipwang Fortress! Might we have a word?”
The intensity of the voice, laden with immense energy, made it feel as though someone was shouting directly into their ears.
Still, some among the Sword Corps remained oddly unperturbed, even amused.
“The Martial Dragon Association sure looks calm. I can’t read their intentions. They haven’t even clashed with the Fortress before.”
“The Bloodflame Cult and Simmuryun are coming first. Do they really mean to try their hand?”
“Captain, are you finished?”
Nearby, the crowd that had recognized the Sword Corps of Ipwang Fortress had scattered.
The ones approaching were all leaders of unorthodox factions—Bloodflame Cult disciples, Simmuryun swordsmen, and members of the Martial Dragon Association.
Bright red-haired fiends and swordsmen bearing their banners closed in with menacing energy.
A battle seemed imminent.
“You’ve done well,” the Captain said, his voice calm amidst the tension.
The Sword Corps Captain spoke softly, a faint smile spreading across his face as he ruffled Jeong Yeon-shin’s hair.
Then, he moved to the front of the group, his steps noticeably lighter.
Some of the Sword Corps elites, watching with disbelief, shot sidelong glances at Jeong Yeon-shin. Their astonished expressions mirrored those from when he had returned victorious over the Azure Qilin.
“Oh... the temporary energy alignment seems to have worked better than expected. Usually, only Myeongjeong Pills from Shaolin could stabilize internal injuries without further energy circulation,” Ak Su-rim remarked as she approached, a bright smile on her face.
“Well done, our Seomye. Ma Gwang-ik, was it? That dull eunuch of the Ma Clan raised you well.”
With a hand smaller than Jeong Yeon-shin’s, she reached out as if to pat him on the rear.
Startled, the boy recoiled. He nearly unleashed his Radiant Sword Style in reflex—such behavior was something he had never encountered before in his life.
Ak Su-rim chuckled with the face of a girl, tucking her jet-black bob behind her ears. She seemed completely at ease now.
“So-ha, you said just one pulse of energy would be enough?”
The Captain’s tone was casual, but Yeon So-ha merely shrugged her shoulders.
“It was just a suggestion.”
“Let’s see.”
The Sword Corps Captain stepped forward without hesitation.
Even his gait radiated an overwhelming presence. His every step had a tangible effect on the atmosphere ahead.
The speed of the Bloodflame Cult’s fiends and Simmuryun’s warriors noticeably faltered. It was inevitable.
Everyone had seen the overwhelming power he had unleashed against the Namgung Patriarch.
Hwaaaah!
A surge of energy erupted. It was a force that had reached the realm of the divine.
This was fundamentally different. It wasn’t a matter of internal energy capacity—it felt like something beyond human comprehension.
With each step the Captain took, the energy rose in waves, its very nature evoking an aura of unstoppable calamity.
It felt like the distant landslide, now descending far away, had been compressed and carried forward by his presence.
‘I’m supposed to support this man?’
For a moment, Jeong Yeon-shin felt a sense of despair.
Apparently, similar feelings rippled through the ranks of the Thirteen Heavens.
The Bloodflame Cult and Simmuryun abruptly changed their paths, veering sharply away. Their approach had been a mere test of boundaries.
But even retreating was a rare sight for the Thirteen Heavens. It was a spectacle few would ever witness.
Who else could evoke such a scene? The martial world would remember the dignity and majesty of an absolute master like this for generations.
“Hey! Where are you going? Come back here!” Yeon So-ha jeered mockingly, her voice tinged with glee.
But not everyone turned away.
A group of approximately thirty continued to approach steadily.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes narrowed as he recalled what he’d overheard earlier.
The Martial Dragon Association.
Another faction from the Thirteen Heavens, though their appearance and aura were all mismatched. It felt like warriors from different sects had gathered as a single group.
Still, something was off.
There was no hostility in their movements.
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At their center...
“We greet the Swords of Ipwang Fortress.”
A clear voice rang out, carried by a slender girl who stepped forward gracefully.
She wore a pale green silk cloak over a pure white cotton garment. Despite the oppressive heat of the sun, she appeared unaffected, as though she alone existed in a tranquil, separate world.
Her jet-black hair cascaded to her waist, rippling gently with her steps.
Her ebony hair and fair complexion created a striking contrast, and her distinctly delicate features left an impression.
An extraordinarily beautiful girl.
She seemed about three years older than Jeong Yeon-shin, nearing the age of twenty.
“....”
Jeong Yeon-shin furrowed his brows slightly as the girl’s gaze swept over him.
It wasn’t just her eyes; her energy brushed against him as well.
Was it an upper-dantian intuition? Even though he stood among the Sword Corps, the sensation made him uneasy.
He had gained insights into the direction of his Jeong Ga-donggong and even glimpsed hints of a new martial art, but her presence left him unsettled.
‘Should I cut her down?’
The thought crossed his mind, unbidden.