Heavenly Enemy Martial Arts "Law Power Martial Arts! Truly...!" Won Jong exclaimed in shock upon seeing Jeong Yeon-shin.
His wrinkled eyes trembled in disbelief.
On the contrary, the Seven Stars Sect appeared relaxed.
"Easy to handle? From what I see, it seems like a martial art of the Shaolin level, but it's only strong in blood energy. It doesn't surpass the difference in your true martial arts. You are still far from being a master. Quite cute, really," the Seven Stars Sect said with a smile.
At the same time, her figure seemed to vanish.
The blazing energy she unleashed was overwhelming.
This time, even Jeong Yeon-shin couldn't react.
Bang! Ma Jin stood in the way.
The air was crushed by the clash of two supreme masters.
A terrifying aura erupted from Ma Jin as he took a step forward.
It seemed that the great sword of Ma Gwang-ik could push back the hand of the Seven Stars Sect.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Ma Gwang-ik, you seem to have placed a lot of bets on that young girl."
"Shut up."
"Strike."
At the Seven Stars Sect's short whisper, the Blood Flame Sect members reacted.
It was a call to chaos.
They surrounded from all sides, pressing in.
With so many attackers, it felt like being in the midst of war.
Blood-red heads appeared from all directions.
The sounds of various weapons echoed as they approached.
Jeong Yeon-shin saw the crazed eyes staring back at him.
Each one had red pupils, filled with something beyond human.
The same kinds of monsters he had seen at Jeonggajang were everywhere.
He tightened his grip on the sword.
Zheong! He swung upward.
One of them was completely shattered.
Taking a step forward, he beheaded them up to the neck.
For a moment, he felt the bone catch, but the smooth trajectory entered the realm of the Rising Sword Technique.
The sword in his hand, the Yihwang Sword, began to emit a dim light as it traced a path.
"Light Transformation."
The beam of light flowed like waves.
Everything that followed was a sword strike.
The Light Transformation Sword Technique created by Jongnam Mountain had an unbroken flow.
It was different from the time when he only used the Quick Sword Technique.
Without much effort, he could surpass three swords and sever five necks.
"We must seal their hands!" "Drive it into their necks!" The Blood Flame Sect members were out of their minds.
They attacked with means they hadn't even thought of.
Throwing their bodies was common.
They seemed intent on exploiting every blind spot, trying to grab and pull at limbs.
Some were even throwing coins like they were memorizing them.
All of it was infused with true energy, and he had to either deflect or evade.
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin stepped onto the Hwanik Daily, brushing past the crescent-shaped wheel, "Young girl! Over here!" Baek Mi-ryeo's shout was drowned out by the sword strikes of the Blood Flame Sect.
It wasn't just a few.
There were more than twenty who would reign as kings in the current unit.
"The leader is tied to the Seven Stars Sect, and the number of Blood Flame Sect members is greater than the blue ones."
He grasped the situation with a sense of collective battle.
Cheongmyeong and Baek Mi-ryeo were said to be among the outstanding blue masters.
The other blue members also faced several Blood Flame Sect swords without retreating.
The one to worry about was Jeong Yeon-shin himself.
He operated the principles of the Shihwa Martial Arts with his left hand.
With a clenched fist, he directly unleashed a strike.
At the same time, the air twisted and distorted.
The first strike of the Jaecho Jinbyeok shattered both the wheel and the head.
Puhak-! Was it just before transforming into a Blood Flame Sect sword? The returning force from the impact was considerable.
Yet, it was still a single strike.
Ma Gwang-ik, who was a bit closer, looked on in surprise.
"Still not enough."
It was impossible to turn the situation around.
He still lacked the power to lead the situation in the realm of supreme masters.
That was said to be the responsibility of the black-clad of Yihwang.
Unless Ma Jin killed the Seven Stars Sect, it wouldn't be easily resolved.
Chwaak! With the Quick Sword Technique of Light Transformation, he instantly severed another neck.
The man didn't even sense the sword strike before he was gone.
At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin sank within himself.
The martial arts he had used to snatch the dagger from the Seven Stars Sect had once again settled down.
It seemed he couldn't raise it as he wished.
It was likely because the principles had not materialized.
"Haaap-!" An old man's voice echoed.
It was right next to Jeong Yeon-shin's left.
Turning his gaze, he saw Won Jong, the monk, unleashing his martial arts with a shout.
He didn't feel that strong an aura.
"Was he a martial arts monk?" He was said to be a monk who delved into the principles and techniques of the unlearned.
There were tales that the strength of Shaolin came from them.
However, their achievements in the martial world were rarely as renowned as those of the martial monks.
It was then.
"Isn't he unable to handle even one?" "Kill the old monk first."
Two Blood Flame Sect members approached Won Jong.
Harming a monk was a taboo that transcended time.
Yet, their actions showed no hesitation.
It meant that the doctrine of the Blood Flame Sect was free from the world's concepts.
That was why they were considered heretics.
Jeong Yeon-shin mobilized all his senses to scan the surroundings.
Before he knew it, he had distanced himself from Ma Gwang-ik.
Did he have all-around perception? Adjusting distance in a chaotic battle of masters was a different matter.
At this moment, the only one who could help Won Jong was himself.
He stomped the ground.
The wind he created brushed against his eyes.
The figures of those smiling coldly grew larger.
A hazy light burst forth at the edge of his vision.
It was the omen of the Light Transformation Sword Technique that clung to the Yihwang Sword.
He split the strong wind that swept across his hand.
Ssak-! The first strike of the Light Transformation Sword was delivered just as one of them turned around, raising their eyebrows.
They collapsed instantly.
The sword strikes did not stop.
He had already turned his body to clash with the one prepared against him.
Zheong! "What kind of sword power...!" Confusion filled the eyes of the Blood Flame Sect.
Jeong Yeon-shin was not at ease.
The mere fact that the enemy was speaking was proof that they still had strength left.
The Blood Flame Sect relied on their numbers.
Being a heretical sect, they spread even wider.
It was paradoxical.
"Monk! To the north!" Jeong Yeon-shin finally made a decision.
Before the ambush, Ma Jin had mentioned the Yihwang Sword Clan.
If he had anticipated a situation where they would scatter like this, it was something he should have included in his choices.
He kicked the legs of the Blood Flame Sect members following Ma Gwang-gyeol's route.
It was a kick infused with the amplification of the True Energy of the Shigyeong.
With a thud, one of them collapsed.
He swiftly beheaded them.
Chwaak! The monk, who had been hidden behind the body, was revealed.
He was wide-eyed.
"I suspected you were not ordinary since the time you faced the Gyeongjeong, but... how can you have such martial arts at your age...?" "It doesn't matter. Move."
The battlefield continued to widen.
It was even more so because Ma Gwang-ik and Shaolin were strong.
The Shinya Baekmu Sect had long since broken away, and they were now close enough to reach the marketplace.
"Where are you going?!" "Ask them!" The Blood Flame Sect seemed determined.
It wasn't just about a hundred.
Seeing the endless stream of Blood Flame Sect members made him wonder what the guards were doing.
He never expected Shinya-hyeon to be this rotten.
At this point, it was a great war in the martial world.
Fortunately, the route of escape was good.
It was because Ma Gwang-ik had passed through the place where he had unloaded his burdens.
He retrieved two fine horses and mounted them.
He didn't worry about his companions.
"If I can escape, everyone can."
Among the masters dispatched on the mission, the only one weaker than Jeong Yeon-shin was Heon Won-chang.
Even he wasn't a major concern.
Heon Won-chang was a master who had mastered the Killing Sword over Ma Gwang-gyeol.
It meant he was proficient in killing.
It was a sword technique that would show greater utility than any martial arts in chaotic battles.
"This way!" Gripping the reins, Jeong Yeon-shin rode ahead, followed by Won Jong.
The only sound was the hooves of the horses on the road.
All the nearby houses had locked their doors, trembling in silence.
Jeong Yeon-shin felt a sense of guilt while recalling his companions.
Returning would only be a burden.
The Seven Stars Sect was still an overwhelming master.
Avoiding a battlefield where he couldn't protect himself was a way of helping.
The old monk, who had briefly become a companion, seemed to understand as well.
The monk, who was riding beside him, spoke up.
"It seems they are not chasing us."
"If the lightness of foot is faster than a horse, it would be difficult for most Blood Flame Sect members, especially since we killed two of them."
"You did that."
After finishing that statement, he fell silent.
He seemed to have complicated feelings.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn't mind and pictured the geography of Hanan Province in his mind.
The map of the Central Plains was a treasure that only those of the Yihwang Province level and above could view, but Ma Jin had familiarized him with it for the mission.
"We need to cross the river."
The horses' steps soon reached the water's edge.
They had completely left Shinya-hyeon behind.
"Let's get on that."
"That flower boat?" He hesitated about leaving behind the fine horses, but just then, a leisurely sightseeing boat was approaching.
It was a large flower boat with a canopy in the center.
It was quite big.
It was the season when the youth enjoyed the spring.
It was a common sight for boat rides at this time.
However, due to the recent incident nearby, he couldn't let his guard down.
"Come here."
Won Jong said, infusing his true energy.
What did he say? Jeong Yeon-shin muttered.
It seemed that as a martial arts monk, he had devoted his life to the principles and techniques of the unlearned, making his worldly experiences rare.
He was a monk who had trained in seclusion for over a decade, yet he had a peculiar side.
Perhaps he had a high status before becoming a monk.
The flower boat began to change direction and approach.
Jeong Yeon-shin frowned slightly.
He saw ten warriors standing guard.
Among them, a young man and woman with strange smiles were looking this way.
It was a world where the price of a sword was high.
It wasn't easy to find warriors with the character and martial arts to stand by.
"Are they the children of a famous family? They seem to have properly learned martial arts."
Just as he recalled Jin Ryul, who had approached him pretending to be friendly and attempted an assassination, the boat that had come closer felt even larger.
The wood that made up its body was luxurious and neatly joined.
No matter how he looked at it, it was extraordinary.
The first to speak was not the young masters holding wine cups.
"It seems the old monk needs a companion."
A young lady, who appeared to be the daughter of a powerful family, stood up and approached the bow of the boat.
She looked to be around eighteen, adorned in a way befitting her stunning beauty, and she seemed to be at the center of the group.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn't care about her appearance.
His gaze was drawn to the precious sword hanging at her waist.
He felt the energy of a martial artist.
Who was she from? He opened his mouth while looking at the young lady.
"The monk has been devoted to his training, so he couldn't pay attention to etiquette. Please forgive him."
"What is this fool saying?" Won Jong turned around sharply, but she laughed out loud.
"It was a bit dull, but it's interesting. Would you like to board the boat? As you can see, it can easily accommodate a couple of horses."
There was no particularly strong aura.
Jeong Yeon-shin slightly lowered his head and boarded the boat.
Won Jong, who was glancing at him from the side, ignored him.
The interior was even more luxurious than the outside.
It was hard to distinguish whether it was a banquet hall or a boat.
Those seated around exchanged glances.
They were mostly young men of the same age as the young lady, and they didn't seem to feel the need to stand and bow.
The young lady nodded her head.
"This is the meeting of the late-stage leaders of the Deep Martial Alliance. The various Eastern factions call me the Sword Art Flower."
The nickname of a flower with skills in swordsmanship was secondary.
At this moment, Jeong Yeon-shin's world of martial arts expanded.
Deep Martial Alliance.
Another Thirteen Heavens.
It was said to possess power comparable to the Blood Flame Sect and the Sword of the Broken Blade.
It was a gathering of the late-stage leaders of the Samawido faction.
"It seems there is no successor to the Deep Martial Alliance."
There didn't seem to be anyone particularly strong.
Perhaps it was because Jeong Yeon-shin's standards had risen.
They were likely promising candidates of the Deep Martial Alliance.
The young master sitting closest to the Sword Art Flower rested his chin leisurely.
"You seem to be a martial artist from Yihwang Province. What brings you to cross the river in such a hurry?" "There is a group of Blood Flame Sect members rampaging nearby. I fled while listening to the monk's sermon."
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke the truth while observing their reactions.
They said it was the Deep Martial Alliance.
Although the Thirteen Heavens was not a single alliance, they often cooperated.
It was highly likely they already knew about the events in Shinya-hyeon.
Indeed, they all chuckled with strange expressions.
The young master smiled.
"Yihwang Province has caught the tail of the Thirteen Heavens. This has become an interesting situation."
Laughter erupted from all around.
It was no longer just a boat ride for the children of wealthy families.
The boat was filled with scornful laughter that felt dignified.
"Did you know? The blood-sucking ghosts were worried about the escape of a little fish like you. They never expected a martial arts monk from Shaolin to get involved."
"It just so happens to be the best place to silence someone in the world."
The Sword Art Flower smiled slightly.
It seemed to be a metaphor for the water.
If a corpse were thrown in, it would be hard to find.
The boat drifted further away from the shore.
There was no turning back now.
"Amitabha."
Won Jong quietly recited a prayer, and Jeong Yeon-shin silently took hold of his sword technique.
"You don't seem to feel much fear, do you? Little brat."
The Sword Art Flower murmured.
She was already holding her sword.
"Shall I sprinkle some blood in advance?" With a light remark, the Sword Art Flower's slender body surged with energy.
Immediately followed by a sword strike that seemed to prove her nickname.
The rising sword light headed in an unexpected direction.
A woman bringing food opened her eyes wide in confusion.
She seemed unrelated to the Deep Martial Alliance.
This was the nature of the Samawido.
They regarded human lives as trifles.
Jeong Yeon-shin, sitting across from her, was already turning his sword technique.
With a single step, the wooden floor shattered.
He gently pulled the arm of the woman and moved forward.
With the rising anger like the mist by the river, he unleashed the Yihwang Sword.
The light of the Light Transformation Sword Technique stained the mist white.
The sword that struck like lightning rushed forward in a pure white flash.
Even after deflecting the Sword Art Flower's blade, he surged forward like a shiver and slit her throat.
Puhwak-! 'Hmm?' He was stronger than he had thought.
As he turned away from the rolling head and regained his stance, "Don't play tricks."
Jeong Yeon-shin said quietly.
The ones who had been grasping their weapons in shock trembled.
The laughter that had filled the venue was now covered in fear and panic.
Among them, the strongest was the Sword Art Flower.
"What kind of sword strike is that...?" The young master stammered.
The others couldn't even open their mouths; they now seemed more like the lackeys of the Samawido than the children of noble families.
It was just a difference in the ability to recognize the essence of a sword strike.
He was in the water with the master opposing him.
Was there any greater fear in the martial world? "She is the precious daughter of the Cheng Family of the Deep Martial Alliance! Are you not afraid of future troubles?!" "You should be the ones worrying about the future troubles of Yihwang Province. You aimed for our necks. For now, we will head north. We will decide what to do then. You row the boat."
Losing interest, he sheathed his sword.
Jeong Yeon-shin's face was expressionless. 'The elite of the Deep Martial Alliance must be elsewhere.' Did his feelings show on his face? The young master's face turned red.
"They said she is the Sword Art Flower of the Cheng Family! You truly do not know?!" "We didn't introduce ourselves."
He flicked his sword technique.
"Ma Gwang-ik, the young girl."