Huangbo Clan was an ancient place.
During the late Yuan Dynasty, the Huangbo bloodline rose in Shandong and established their roots in the heart of Shandong Province, which was Jinan.
Over the years, the clan's martial arts were honed by great masters.
The combined martial prowess of the bloodline grew stronger and stronger.
It was a time of chaos.
The Yuan Dynasty seized vast lands indiscriminately.
Even when the renowned family that claimed to have descended from the light rose to power, it was the same.
The Huangbo Clan began to be referred to as a local aristocracy in exchange for complying with the new Ming Dynasty.
Thus, the martial families of the world were born.
They acted as rulers of Jinan for generations.
“Mom, when will brother come back?” A girl of about twelve years old slammed an axe down next to the household items.
They were a family that had been chopping wood in Pingyin County, Jinan for generations.
Although mastering martial arts was not easy, those who could read often kept books on the art of Qi manipulation.
The three talents heart method, promulgated by the royal family, increased the workforce.
Even a simpleton could gradually draw upon the energy of the atmosphere.
It was a noble family technique that infused strength into the body and earth, creating champions and enriching the fields.
A middle-aged woman, sitting and twisting a string, spoke up.
Though her shabby clothes were worn, her tone was dignified and her pronunciation clear. “You were taken by the Huangbo Clan. Just wait patiently. Your brother might return as a martial artist. If he becomes a strong family guard, we won’t have to go hungry.”
“The trees on the back mountain are no good these days. Uncle Ma is trying to cheat us on the price. Why hasn’t that uncle been taken away?” The girl complained.
Despite her young age, she was quite skilled with the axe, but she was not truly a champion.
The three talents heart method was mysterious, but it was closer to a method of nurturing life.
The girl could work as much as a grown man because of her exceptional talent.
Uncle Ma, who seemed to have ties with the Huangbo Clan, had started to pressure her to join.
The startled mother whispered, “Taken away? Be careful with your words. The warriors have ears as sharp as bats.”
“They’re probably all feasting with Jihyun. It’s nice that the good-for-nothing men who used to bother me are gone, but at this rate, we’re going to starve. The trees are worthless, and there’s hardly any food. Whatever little comes out is all taken by Jihyun and those Huangbo people.”
“Be careful with your words!” The middle-aged woman gasped, regaining her breath. “The Huangbo Clan is a noble family that protects us. It was the same during your grandfather’s time when he passed the imperial examination.”
“Always talking about grandfather!”
“He said that outsiders in Jinan are often robbed by martial artists. At least we don’t have to worry about that. If your father hadn’t been a gambler, we would have lived decently.”
“Robbed? The Huangbo people are doing that. If only my brother were here, we could earn some money.”
“Really! You’ll get into trouble for speaking ill of the righteous sect!” The girl, struck on the back, grumbled as she left the house. “What righteous sect kills all the heroes! Mom writes in a strange way! When did you teach me letters!” The mother’s scolding echoed through the crack of the closed door.
The girl ignored it and set out on her way.
Perhaps it was because she walked without a destination in mind.
In a daze, she arrived at the largest Huangbo estate in Pingyin County.
Just as she glanced up at the grand estate, she quickly turned her body around.
“Oh?”
“You’ve come at just the right time.” A deep voice resonated.
A strong hand grabbed her by the back of her neck and lifted her up. “I thought a branch family would be wiped out by the ruffians of Yihuang.”
“Uncle Ma, Uncle Ma?” The girl’s body spun around.
A middle-aged man dressed in yellow silk wore an indifferent expression.
He walked toward the shattered main gate, muttering, “You might have a question for those ruffians. What is a hero?”
The power revealed by the sword family was immense.
“What is this...” The sword master Huangbo Mimi looked around the estate in shock.
Dead bodies and fainted individuals lay scattered everywhere.
The battle had ceased.
The attendants who had retreated, leaving only the banquet behind, cautiously peeked out.
“What, what’s going on?”
“Why are they lying down? They’re bleeding.”
“They’re not moving? Are they dead?” Their shrill screams echoed as they witnessed the carnage.
From the sword master’s hand, energy flowed out.
Despite all her adornments, she could not hide the traces of her training in one hand.
She was undoubtedly a rare swordswoman.
Her lips moved slightly, but one could feel the killing intent in her voice.
“How dare you.”
“The sound technique is one of the few martial arts in the world,” Jihyun murmured.
The noble appearance of a lofty gentleman who wished to witness a bloody battle had vanished.
His gaze was fixed on the three figures of Ma Guangyi, unable to look away.
A few breaths passed.
Jeong Yeon-shin took a long breath.
The Moon Spirit Harmonization Technique was also a method of breathing.
Remembering the long and thin breath of the Yihuang master he had learned, his heart calmed.
‘I overdid it.’ The technique used in the sword family was incredibly intricate.
It pushed the senses to their limits.
It was about channeling the sound created by one’s inner energy into a powerful attack.
It was a martial art that made extensive use of the energy from the upper dantian.
It could be called a miraculous technique.
“Discussing elegance? Why are you so quiet?” Jeong Yeon-shin spoke nonchalantly, but he felt extreme fatigue.
It felt as if a wet cloth had been placed in his head.
It was the first time he had used the sword family technique with all his strength.
To kill a martial artist, it had to be done this way.
Even if the opponent was weaker than him, it was the same.
The natural self-defense technique was also a solid barrier of inner energy, and to pierce through with the sword’s resonance and kill was unavoidable.
‘I can’t do it twice.
I didn’t think it would be hard even once.’ His previously good physical condition had rapidly deteriorated.
In the world of masters, even a slight difference could mean life or death.
If there were opponents of equal strength among the enemies, he would have to continue the tough fight.
‘Hmm?’ Thanks to the breath of the Moon Spirit Harmonization Technique, he had a moment of introspection.
Jeong Yeon-shin momentarily lost his focus.
Above his head, at the crown.
It was clearly different from the morning.
He was aware of the difference in just one day with his innate senses.
The Baihui acupoint had widened.
It felt like it had been three days.
‘My hand.’ His index finger trembled in the midst of the battle.
It wasn’t due to a lack of strength.
It was a momentary panic.
The instinctive fear of death suddenly approached him.
The abyss momentarily engulfed him.
Moving the inner energy was akin to using physical strength.
If one could freely control their energy without exerting their will, they would already be a peerless master.
The stages of inner energy known as the Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown, Five Qi Returning to Origin, and Reaching the Peak were part of that process.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s innate senses were different.
It was like climbing a massive mountain.
‘The countermeasures can wait.’ He was facing life and death.
He forced his consciousness back.
He tried to push the anxiety to one side of his mind, just like he had stuffed the shock of the first murder during the destruction of the Jeong family.
‘Let’s think about martial arts first.
At the very least, I should reach the realm of black energy to avoid backlash.’ Jeong Yeon-shin’s control over his inner energy was greatly aided by his innate upper dantian.
He operated the energy with only his senses, without any fundamental change in his inner energy level.
There would inevitably be a backlash for surpassing limits.
“Golden silk thread. You’re a disciple of Yihuang.” The sword master Huangbo Mimi slowly approached and muttered.
The scene unfolding around her was the reward for the price Jeong Yeon-shin had paid.
The shattered encirclement was truly overwhelming.
The blue warrior had single-handedly destroyed the branch family’s forces.
“...” How did Jeong Yeon-shin, standing tall and silent, appear to her? Huangbo Mimi’s steps were cautious.
It seemed she had begun to tread carefully, yet no particular momentum was felt.
Jeong Yeon-shin merely stared blankly.
‘Huangbo Mimi.’ She was supposedly the head of the branch family.
The image of her applying rouge to her lips and showing affection to her husband among the many concubines should be viewed separately.
He did not think that the martial arts she had built up were shallow.
Jeong Yeon-shin stood here, having stepped over the enemies’ carelessness.
He could never be in the opposite position.
With a swish, he grasped the sword of Yihuang and slowly drew it out.
“Huangbo Mimi. I remember what you said.”
“... Just because you are affiliated with Yihuang does not mean the blood of the commoners becomes noble. You have no right to speak with me.”
“I spoke of the arms first. You lowly scum.” Jeong Yeon-shin said quietly.
His head was ringing.
Though his upper dantian was exhausted, it felt intensely hot.
He conveyed a message to Cheongmyeong and Baekmilyeo through the sound.
He was thinking of it as a solo mission.
He meant for them not to interfere.
Would he advance beyond black energy to purple martial robes? The only path ahead seemed to be a chaotic battlefield.
There would be battles on the brink of death.
He needed the experience of unleashing martial arts in such a chaotic state.
That’s why he said, “Come.”
In that moment, he sensed the presence crossing the threshold of the estate from afar.
It was not the time to worry about that.
Whoosh! A heavy wave of energy surged from the sword of Huangbo Mimi, which was right before him.
The blade was extremely wide.
It was as he had heard from the blue senior of the destruction clan.
The martial arts inherited from the Pingyin branch family were said to be of the heavy sword style.
The sword family was said to be unyielding and steadfast.
The linear energy surged toward him with tremendous sword power.
He wondered how many times he had channeled his energy while walking this far.
It was a well-prepared strike.
Clang! The moment he countered with the Yihuang sword, he nearly lost his grip on it.
He tried to deflect it as much as possible, but it was still difficult.
At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin’s senses sharpened once more.
Thud! He took a step back.
At the same time, the realm of instinct shone brightly.
Twisting his elbow, he led the opponent’s energy wave to his lower back.
His knees naturally bent.
The impact of the received strike reached from his glutes to the back of his thighs.
The opponent’s strength became Jeong Yeon-shin’s energy at that moment.
From his leg, which had stepped back, a powerful energy surged.
Crack! Without stepping down, he reached a breakthrough.
It was a fleeting moment.
The movement of the muscles that had released energy was instantly reversed.
The power that ignited even the hand holding the sword released an intangible and heavy energy wave.
The air trembled.
It was the moment he returned the heavy sword with the heavy sword.
The fragments of energy that burst from Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand holding the Yihuang sword created a strong wind.
He swung the sword upward.
Boom!
“Ugh!” The sword of Huangbo Mimi, which had just been about to strike down for the second time, flew away.
The opponent was not one to be caught off guard.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s senses and strength were formidable.
For a moment, the look of shock on her face flashed at the edge of his vision.
At the moment he unleashed the sword, he spun into a warrior’s stance.
Jeong Yeon-shin was also preparing for the next strike.
Swish! He distinctly felt the sensation of something snagging from the sword’s body.
With a dull light, the returned Yihuang sword was stained with blood.
Huangbo Mimi’s right arm fell away.
“Ugh!” She gasped, staggering back.
Jeong Yeon-shin shook off the blood from his sword.
In that moment, he was the stronger one.
He was clearly looking down at the head of the Huangbo Clan’s branch family.
It was not merely a matter of talent limited to learning.
Even in a state of exhaustion, his combat ability was sharp.
In his senses, there was a strength that could not be estimated by the level of martial arts.
“Next time, I might go out alone into the martial world.” A voice filled with laughter came from behind.
Jeong Yeon-shin walked forward.
Blood dripped from the sword tip, and at the end of it was Huangbo Mimi, who was urgently pressing her right arm to stop the bleeding.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips. “You said that.” He stepped forward indifferently and lifted the Yihuang sword slightly.
It was the moment he annihilated a branch of the Huangbo Clan.
The price for three days of life seemed excessive.
At the very least, the blue warrior was not one to accumulate such merit alone.
The face of the Yihuang master already came to mind.
“I spoke of the neck after the arms.”
He said.