The act of accumulating the essence of different origins was inherently a perilous endeavor.
It was said to lead to a state of madness.
This was due to the unpredictable clashes that could arise from different types of inner energy.
However, Jeong Yeon-shin was different.
She could immediately circulate the essence she had summoned and change its nature.
This was due to her innate ability to control the essence.
It was also the reason why she found it easy to absorb elixirs, including the Spirit Gathering Pill and the Essence Refinement Pill.
She had already eliminated even the maddening techniques.
This meant that there were no side effects even when using the Mara Blood Technique.
"Have you already entered the path? Really...?" Surprise spread across the face of the Seventh Sect Leader.
Those who had mastered the extreme martial arts of the external sect were inevitably sensitive to similar martial arts.
The characteristics of their temperament were distinct.
It meant they could immediately sense higher-level martial arts.
The basic blood technique of the Ordinary Sect would naturally be overshadowed by the Seventh Sect's Mara Blood Technique.
Moreover, this place was a sect of the demonic arts.
"Such pure energy..."
"Could it be that the sect leader is of pure bloodline?" The followers of the Blood Flame Sect began to bow.
The sound of knees hitting the ground echoed all around.
"Great Master! Great Master!"
"Lead our sect to Beijing!"
"Grant us the power to darken the heads of the unworthy followers and bestow upon us an even more complete blood technique!"
Voices of fervent devotion erupted from all directions.
It was a solemn atmosphere.
The heartfelt cries born from fanaticism were evident in their shouts.
Things did not go as the Grand Master had intended.
The place that had stirred up expectations had transformed into a platform of praise and supplication.
Jeong Yeon-shin stood quietly while operating the Mara Blood Technique.
The madness had receded, revealing the calmness of a higher-level blood technique.
The followers opened their eyes wide, as if they wanted to imprint even the fluttering crimson garments into their minds.
Did she appear noble in their eyes? In that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin was the Great Master of the Blood Flame Sect.
From the perspective of the demonic crowd, it seemed entirely so.
"..."
She turned her gaze aside without responding.
No Ordinary Sect disciple dared to approach her.
She also ignored the piercing gaze of the Grand Master, who merely kept his mouth shut.
The only one who followed her directly was the Seventh Sect Leader.
"I didn't expect you to achieve minor success overnight. You truly have a talent for founding techniques, don't you? Your capacity for martial arts is vast."
The unique aura of a master flickered in her crimson eyes.
Jeong Yeon-shin merely glanced and then turned her gaze forward.
Slowly, she spoke.
"I need to look around the sect. This cannot be a one-time occurrence. It must be done periodically."
"Is there a reason?"
"If I were to summarize a new technique, simply sitting in a room won't inspire me."
"Hmm."
"Wall-gazing training was done by the Buddha. I am quite different. I cannot do that. I need to feel the wind and nature. I must also absorb the martial arts temperament of you disciples. The same goes for the Mara Blood Technique."
Suddenly, she stopped walking and looked at the Seventh Sect Leader.
She did not seem flustered and met her gaze with intense enthusiasm.
"I have never created someone else's martial arts. I need to know a lot."
Jeong Yeon-shin continued, "Your usual breathing, walking, gestures, and even the thoughts that form the basis of your mind. To guide the essence along the optimal path, I need to understand everything about the practitioner. It is impossible to grasp everything while sitting."
"Yes, you are right..."
"The same goes for the Blood Technique. To transform it into a universal martial art, I must feel the spirit of the Blood Flame Sect."
Even though Jeong Yeon-shin's words had come to a halt, the Seventh Sect Leader was panting with excitement.
She seemed to be filled with exhilaration.
It was merely an excuse to say she would present a properly aligned martial art.
'Indeed, it is true.
They see me as a caught prey.'
Perhaps because of her madness, the words resonated.
She had gained the freedom to move.
With the Seventh Sect Leader by her side, it felt like she could go anywhere.
"To the Great Master's Hall."
Jeong Yeon-shin said, and without hesitation, she moved forward.
'I trust my nature, but I must take precautions.'
Realistically, the martial power that the main sect could mobilize immediately was not great.
The martial world was rife with incidents.
It was said that even the Seventeen Elders of the Divine Sword Sect rarely gathered in the main sect.
They were scattered across the Central Plains, carrying out their missions.
She was now within the Blood Flame Sect.
She had to do everything she could.
"Wait."
She said to the Seventh Sect Leader.
"Okay."
She nodded and stood still.
There was something strangely obedient about her.
Her single eye captured Jeong Yeon-shin in a crimson hue.
"Great Master."
They ascended the thirty-six steps to the Great Master's Hall.
The Blood Flame Sect disciples standing guard briefly bowed their heads.
Jeong Yeon-shin merely nodded in acknowledgment.
She placed her hand on the railing and drew up her essence.
The spreading energy could not be hidden.
However, she had already stated it.
The reason she had been captured by the Blood Flame Sect had now become the justification for this moment.
The qualifications of a grand master in the creation of martial arts could rationalize all actions through inspiration.
'Destruction of the Demonic Spirit.'
At that moment, the energy of the law was about to rise.
Jeong Yeon-shin changed the flow of energy with the Mara Blood Technique.
Whoosh.
The essence transformed in a peculiar way.
Deep within the energy of the blood technique, the qualities of the Destruction of the Demonic Spirit were embedded.
It was the control of power that had reached the divine.
In that moment, she took a step forward.
It was a state of tuning the intricate structure of the essence with a celestial sense.
'It does not affect the magnitude of power.'
In short, it was a technique of energy manipulation.
The power of the Destruction of the Demonic Spirit enveloped the shell of the blood technique.
Even the highest masters could not imagine its essence.
Leaning slightly against the railing, she casually asked, "It's marble. Where did you bring it from?"
"I believe it was brought from the Dali Kingdom of Yunnan before its destruction, Great Master."
A Blood Flame disciple standing to the side answered respectfully.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded casually and brushed the railing.
At the same time, she infused the power of the Destruction of the Demonic Spirit disguised as blood technique energy.
This was not the end.
She drew inspiration from the Blood Flame Sect's unique techniques that enveloped the area.
It was a technique of formation.
She locked the infused energy so that it would not disperse.
The power immediately melted in.
No longer did it emit even a trace of energy, sinking deeply.
"Sturdy."
She said, stroking the smoothly carved wall.
Although it could not hold a large quantity like an elixir, if her plans came to fruition, she might truly receive even a piece of the heavenly fruit.
"Come again."
In response to Jeong Yeon-shin's greeting, the Blood Flame disciples bowed.
The Seventh Sect Leader followed closely, smiling brightly.
"You have a bit of insight. All the structures of our sect have been preserved for at least several decades. If you look closely, you might find items imbued with spiritual energy. I will also show you the precious and divine scenery that can only be seen in our sect."
"All of that is inspiration. It is indeed impressive."
Jeong Yeon-shin replied with an indifferent expression.
The Seventh Sect Leader smiled radiantly.
Time passed.
Two full moons had gone by.
The sunset and dawn had crossed over thirty times.
The followers of the Blood Flame Sect had grown quite accustomed to the young Great Master.
Jeong Yeon-shin had repeated the same actions for over a month.
The railing, the stairs, the beams, the dirt floor, the roof...
She traversed every corner of the Blood Flame Sect, infusing the Destruction of the Demonic Spirit.
She primarily moved around the Great Master's Hall.
She also contemplated various formations, including the unique techniques of the Blood Flame Sect.
'If it is not activated, the formation medium is merely an inanimate object.
Even the martial world cannot sense it.
The sect leader is no different.'
Perhaps it would be different if it were a noble clan.
However, there were no noble disciples in the Blood Flame Sect.
It seemed that they were closely tied to the royal family from birth.
In the meantime, the Seventh Sect Leader was about to set out.
She approached with an excited expression, her entire body radiating a fierce energy.
"The situation is clear. Bringing you here was a decision that carried considerable risk for both me and our sect. You must have scoured the area for about a month from the Qingya Valley. Whether it is to retrieve you or to annihilate our sect, I do not know."
"Both, I suppose."
Jeong Yeon-shin replied nonchalantly while sitting cross-legged.
'The time has come.' She felt it when she stepped outside today.
The main sect of the Blood Flame Sect was in turmoil.
It was said that martial artists were searching the surrounding area.
It was quite a large scale.
"Reportedly, only Shaolin, Zhongnan, and Huashan have come. Even the nearby small factions have gathered. They say there are at least five hundred, and there are reports of white and blue figures from the Baihuang Province."
As she spoke, the eyes of the Seventh Sect Leader narrowed.
She reached out her white hand.
Her long fingers brushed through Jeong Yeon-shin's hair, and with each joint of her fingers, a powerful energy surged.
The heavy energy being emitted was immense.
"I will not give you to anyone. Do not harbor any fleeting hopes. You are already mine."
"Here. They said it was a place that no one had discovered for hundreds of years."
"That's right."
The Seventh Sect Leader's lips curled up.
"The Blood Flame Sect's unique techniques are not of this world. Even a million troops could pass by without noticing."
"..."
Even Jeong Yeon-shin could see that their techniques were beyond the realm of humanity.
Just by gaining insight into part of the structure, she could use the techniques of the formation, and even the Blood Flame Sect would trust her absolutely.
They were backed by the profound techniques of the celestial realm.
She needed to understand their schemes.
She gazed at the Seventh Sect Leader, parting her lips.
"Yet you still choose to set out? Wouldn't it be better to wait in silence for the storm to pass? If you reveal yourself, it will only confirm your position."
"Are you worried about me? My dear! I am so pleased!"
There was madness in her embrace, treating her as a possession.
Whoosh!
Jeong Yeon-shin raised the Destruction of the Demonic Spirit in the capital.
The movements of the high-level masters were difficult to predict, but if they struck, they could inflict fatal wounds.
Just like when she had taken her eyes from her.
"When will you learn to temper yourself?"
She felt disgusted by the Seventh Sect Leader's whining and stood up.
Although she had been there for quite some time, her feelings of aversion toward the Blood Flame Sect had only grown.
Their sustenance was not food but people.
Every day, they captured martial artists and commoners, draining their blood and essence, discarding them afterward.
They even had the means to incinerate corpses, fearing the spread of disease.
She shook her head inwardly and organized her thoughts.
'I requested a meeting with the Blood Flame Sect Leader.'
She had intended to load the power of the Destruction of the Demonic Spirit into the Great Master's Hall today.
"Shouldn't we ascertain the positions of the righteous sects to ensure our sect's activities continue? I will be going out for a while, so you stay quietly."
The Seventh Sect Leader replied late.
Jeong Yeon-shin did not respond and left the room.
The end was approaching.
Her intuition told her so.
Even when faced with an unwelcome face, she felt no particular emotion.
"At this point, I have this thought."
The son of the Third Sect Leader, Go Jong-hak, stroked his thick jaw and blocked her path.
He had worked hard to narrow Jeong Yeon-shin's standing over the past month.
He could not be underestimated.
The knowledge he had accumulated was powerful enough to subdue even the average Blood Flame disciple in ten seconds.
"I have heard that the Great Master possesses the qualities to discuss being the best in the world."
His lips curled slightly.
"I wonder how the sect leader's insight has bewitched you. I have been following the rules, but without any proper achievements, I am quite concerned as a disciple."
Perhaps it was because he had endured all kinds of provocations, but of late, his words and actions had become overtly bold.
"Say what you want to say."
Jeong Yeon-shin said.
The response came in a whisper.
- End your life.
You wretched being.
His words were strange.
Everyone knew that the Seventh Sect Leader was close to the Great Master.
Was he planning an ambush while she was momentarily absent?
At that moment, a breeze suddenly brushed past him, as if alive, tightening his collar.
The gentle wind that brushed against his ear seemed to whisper something.
It was a sensation he had felt before.
It was during his first mission.
The power of the noble clan that Qingming had demonstrated had approached him like a mysterious wind.
"Think as you wish."
Jeong Yeon-shin said in a flat tone and turned her body.
Whether he was furious or followed her without turning back, she did not care.
She headed toward the outskirts.
There was no hesitation in her steps.
She soon arrived.
Whoosh-
It was the place where she first encountered the Blood Flame Sect's unique techniques with the Seventh Sect Leader.
The space shimmered with a mystical atmosphere.
Beyond that barrier, she was there.
"Ah."
She let out a sound without thinking.
As soon as she saw her, it was imprinted in her mind.
His fate.
His salvation.
A woman appeared, seemingly dressed in a light green martial robe that resembled a palace gown.
She slightly raised her head in profile.
Her skin, as white as porcelain, radiated a smooth luster.
The other scenery seemed to lose its color.
The sunlight wrapped around her beautiful nose like a halo.
The surrounding bushes swayed as if they were one body.
Her spring-like, light green hair cascaded down her back, spreading an aura of mystery.
She did not feel like a human presence.
She was completely enveloped in her inner energy, exuding an overwhelming aura.
Finally, she turned her head.
The emerald eyes that captured the brilliant sun above were revealed.
They were eyes that contained an overwhelming abyss.