Myeongseong stood outside the formation, yet his presence was unmistakable.
It felt as if their gazes had briefly met, though it was uncertain.
It was a strange occurrence.
There was no reason for him to turn away from Jeong Yeonsin after coming this far.
She remained still, sunlight cascading along the delicate line of her tilted jaw.
A moment of silence lingered.
Her head did not turn back.
The stillness around them began to creep into unease.
Could it be? Could he truly not recognize her? It was an unimaginable situation.
The Blood Flame Sect's formation was said to be a technique beyond the mortal realm, yet Myeongseong was an extraordinary master with a transcendent demeanor.
"Surely, he wouldn't be deceived by the formation."
Jeong Yeonsin's eyes wavered for the first time.
Even within the Blood Flame Sect's main hall, she maintained her composure.
This time was different.
It could not be.
At that moment, a whisper like a gentle breeze tickled her ear.
"I could take more. I shall grant you a day."
It was the instant she stepped forward.
In a blink, her figure vanished along with the petals fluttering like flowers.
She was no longer visible to the human eye, leaving no trace like a gust of wind.
As if asking when she had arrived, she felt a distinct presence.
There was no doubting her sharpened senses.
For a brief moment, her eyes, which had trembled, quickly regained their calm.
Jeong Yeonsin found her stability once more.
"I shall grant you a day."
It was a phrase that warmly colored her heart, which had been racing in her blue robes.
She could leave.
"What I saw and heard was indeed true."
Myeongseong had come.
It was a clear fact.
Her words were peculiar.
It seemed as if she wished for things that could only be obtained from the Blood Flame Sect.
Had she sensed the newly achieved Mara Blood Technique? Perhaps she had even discerned that the Demon-Slaying Clear Water carried the essence of the formation.
"I could take more?" Jeong Yeonsin turned her attention away from Go Jonghak's stealthy movements.
She felt the lingering whisper of Myeongseong in her ears for a long time.
And slowly, she fell into contemplation.
What more could she gain? The pondering continued until the red robe draped over her body was stained by the faint glow of sunset.
The day changed swiftly.
She did not know how she had slept.
Jeong Yeonsin slowly stepped out of the house, which had been left empty after the Seven Sages had set out.
Myeongseong's words lingered in her mind.
"Is there something to gain if I completely unravel the Blood Technique? Or must I obtain something from the Sect Leader?"
Lost in thought, she moved her feet.
There was a destination.
She had received a message early in the morning.
It was an invitation to attend a banquet.
The Blood Flame Sect was also a place where people lived.
Thanks to Go Jonghak, the son of the Three Sages, she was well aware of this.
Among the sect members, there was jealousy and rivalry, and with the sect's size, they enjoyed extravagant banquets.
Typically, these feasts were filled with blood and corpses.
However, this was her first invitation.
They even mentioned the Sect Leader, requesting a meeting.
She could not refuse.
It was not an ordinary matter.
"Yesterday, Go Jonghak followed me."
He must have seen the traces of people outside the formation.
Or perhaps he had caught a glimpse of Myeongseong, even if just for a moment.
During this time, the Blood Flame Sect had allowed Jeong Yeonsin, who was merely a captive, to roam freely.
Under the pretense of protecting the Grand Master’s inspiration, they had left her in an unusually lenient state.
Judging by her treatment, it was as if she was not approaching the sect at all.
"Today is the last day. I might learn the reason."
Jeong Yeonsin walked slowly.
The bright lantern lights were already shimmering in her sight.
"Was it called the Wave Gate? The son of the gatekeeper has quite the sharp hand."
"I killed that brat's brother. His skills were quite impressive. The blood was lacking, though."
It was a banquet held in the main hall of the Sect Leader.
There were many members of the rogue sect.
They exchanged greetings, discussed blood techniques and doctrines, and boasted about their exploits against the sects that had attacked them, each sharing their fierce spirit and mad words, creating a unique chaos typical of the rogue sect.
"Welcome to the Grand Master's presence. We are truly grateful for your attendance at our humble banquet!" Go Jonghak stepped forward to greet Jeong Yeonsin with an exaggeratedly polite demeanor.
Yet, his lips bore a faint smirk.
"Grand Master?"
"Is it true that Myeongseong has come?"
"Is there not yet a clear achievement?"
"How premature. Speak boldly."
It was a banquet for the upper echelons.
Their demeanor was far more unrestrained compared to the common members.
Jeong Yeonsin felt it as soon as she arrived.
There were no allies here.
Yet, she did not feel lonely.
Myeongseong's gentle presence seemed to envelop her entire being.
It had been that way since last night.
"Those are the words of the ignorant. Pay them no mind."
Go Jonghak said.
His expression was different.
He revealed his satisfaction as he guided Jeong Yeonsin to the seat of honor.
"This is a place to drop the lowly."
Go Jonghak thought.
The Grand Master had roamed many places within the sect for a month.
While it was unimaginable for ordinary people to change martial arts, the captive who had been treated as a Grand Master had idled away for over a month under the pretense of seeking inspiration.
Even if they had granted her freedom of movement due to the Blood Flame Technique, it was excessive behavior.
Naturally, it had touched the nerves of the Blood Flame Sect's higher-ups, and the events of the previous day had unfolded.
Go Jonghak had seen it clearly.
He was certain just from the side profile.
The noble family had approached the vicinity of the Blood Flame Technique and then vanished.
He could not trace the presence of the Grand Master.
It was an extraordinary master.
He immediately reported to his father, the Three Sages.
The Grand Master had been present before him.
"The noble family is a mere trifling matter. What kind of extraordinary ability might they possess?"
The noble family, a pillar of the Beijing royal family, had long been an enemy of the Blood Flame Sect.
They had clashed repeatedly, experiencing all sorts of miraculous martial arts and incidents.
It was possible that they had shared some form of communication with the Grand Master through their unique abilities.
The Three Sages had a private meeting with the Sect Leader.
A banquet was soon scheduled.
The thirty-six steps leading to the Sect Leader's hall symbolized the authority of the Blood Flame Sect.
It was vast.
Even with luxurious seating on each floor, there was still space left.
"Isn't this a banquet of rare scale for the main hall?"
"Enjoy. At such gatherings, a star from the main sect usually falls."
The words of those chattering were correct.
It was a place to interrogate and remove those who had tarnished the dignity of the main sect's leadership.
It was an unparalleled opportunity.
"The young Sect Leader? How absurd."
Go Jonghak's lips curled upward.
He clasped his hands and said, "This banquet was opened at the request of my family to the Sect Leader. We wished to host the Grand Master in a good position, but the notice was delayed. I hope you will forgive us."
He wore a polite demeanor, masking a hint of regret.
His broad face was quite handsome.
There was a fleeting sense of sincerity.
Jeong Yeonsin, quietly observing Go Jonghak, faintly smiled.
The necklace around his neck caught her eye.
A small jade was hanging from it.
The Poison-Repelling Pearl.
She had heard it mentioned in boastful words.
It was a treasure possessed only by some of the sect's leaders, a gift from the Three Sages to their son.
It was said to be very precious, capable of neutralizing most poisons instantly.
"It would be useful when using the blood poison given by the Sect Leader."
As she regarded the Poison-Repelling Pearl, she spoke casually, "It is a joy to be called."
Unlike when she first entered, it was hard to find her spirit.
A strange light flickered in Go Jonghak's eyes.
His gaze captured the reactions of those around him.
Many who had been on edge seemed disappointed.
"Is it because the Seven Sages have set out?"
"Was I truly a mere parasite?"
Words that were hard to imagine in Myeongseong or the righteous sect flowed freely.
No one intervened.
The Blood Flame Sect Leader, who was looking down from the seat of honor, remained expressionless throughout.
"Those who should be here have arrived. I shall give a speech."
The Sect Leader said in a low voice.
In an instant, silence fell.
There was no need to focus attention on his voice, which carried a profound essence.
Jeong Yeonsin clearly recognized it.
In the vast banquet hall, there was no one who was not a master.
The extraordinary senses of the rogue masters seemed to encompass the entire inner hall of the Sect Leader.
"You are the pillars of our sect. The day is approaching when your extraordinary talents will shine with conviction. We have brought forth the Grand Master to darken the vision of the ignorant. Raise your cups, for we shall cleanse the world's hypocrisy by transforming the blood technique."
The Blood Flame Sect Leader caressed the cup with his long fingers and slowly raised it to drink.
The masters gazing up at him finally lifted their own cups.
"This is Du Kang wine. I heard the Grand Master is from Henan. Do you know it?" Go Jonghak, sitting beside her, asked with a small smile.
Jeong Yeonsin shook her head.
She had heard it was the wine her father enjoyed from the capital, but she had never had the chance to taste it.
She knew it was a famous wine from Henan, said to be favored by Wei Wudi, Cao Mengde.
"This place... the meaning of the wine is peculiar."
The aroma of the wine enveloped the banquet hall.
The atmosphere settled as the Blood Flame Sect Leader continued to drink Du Kang wine.
It felt as if he were swallowing the ambitions that Cao Cao had harbored.
Tension filled the air.
It seemed everyone sensed that blood would soon flow down the stairs.
Such was the significance of a banquet held before the Sect Leader.
"Go Jonghak."
The Blood Flame Sect Leader spoke.
As he slightly leaned forward, his smooth white hair swayed.
His gaze brushed over Jeong Yeonsin, and his unusually red lips curled slightly.
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Go Jonghak quickly rose from his seat and bowed deeply.
He lowered his head completely, yet his broad back appeared strangely proud.
The Sect Leader commanded, "Interrogate him."
"I shall obey."
Go Jonghak immediately stood up and turned.
His direction was clear.
At the end of his gaze was Jeong Yeonsin.
"This is obvious."
Jeong Yeonsin thought.
She had no intention of dragging it out.
"There is no time."
Myeongseong had granted her a day.
The Seven Sages had also mentioned that martial artists from the local sects, including the three major factions, had come.
The Myeongseong she met yesterday had sent a message through the Blood Flame Technique.
Today, the formation would surely be shattered.
Various martial artists would descend upon the Blood Flame Sect's main hall.
As Go Jonghak seemed to clear his throat, preparing to speak eloquently, Jeong Yeonsin opened her mouth first.
"In summary, there has been no progress in the transformation of the Blood Technique, and in the meantime, the villains targeting the main sect have brushed against the formation."
"..."
"A person from Myeongseong has become the Grand Master, but the timing is not right. It would have raised doubts about the willingness to cooperate."
"Your words are not incorrect."
Go Jonghak feigned a leisurely demeanor, placing his hands behind his back.
Just as he seemed about to speak, Jeong Yeonsin raised her head to face the Blood Flame Sect Leader.
"I believe this is a gathering opened at the request of Go Jonghak and the Three Sages."
"Speak."
The Blood Flame Sect Leader gestured with a smooth smile.
Jeong Yeonsin continued calmly, "I am quite displeased. If I prove my worth here, may I take the precious treasure of the Go family from the main sect?"
"You insolent fool."
The Three Sages, seated right below the Sect Leader, muttered.
Jeong Yeonsin paid no mind.
"If not, you may take my head."
"Regardless, I would have to question you eventually. The Sect Leader is also curious about the progress."
The Blood Flame Sect Leader replied with a dizzying smile, as if shrouded in demonic energy.
The solemn atmosphere turned peculiar.
A wager involving one's head could excite people regardless of the era.
Although Jeong Yeonsin had become a Grand Master unusually, none of the leaders treated her as a legitimate successor.
Unlike the common members, they possessed the power of lineage built over many years.
This meant that their treatment would inevitably carry duality.
No matter how exceptional Jeong Yeonsin's talents were, it remained the same.
A creature that could change the situation.
Or a disposable tool brought from outside.
It was time to evaluate the worth of the Myeongseong offspring, who had been granted unusual freedom.
"Come here."
Jeong Yeonsin gestured to a servant.
He was a common member.
With red hair, he approached, unable to defy the Grand Master's words.
"Sit down and absorb the energy."
The servant immediately sat on the floor and closed his eyes.
There was a blind madness in his demeanor.
He seemed indifferent, as if he would not mind if Jeong Yeonsin killed him.
"..."
An unexpected gathering of energy began in the banquet hall.
Jeong Yeonsin slightly bowed her body in silence.
Slowly, she placed her hand on the servant's back and activated the Blood Technique.
It had been a month since she arrived at the main hall.
Just in case, she had taken the time to change a few lines of the technique.
The essence of her Blood Technique flowed through the servant's body.
The reaction was immediate.
"Huh?"
"What is this...?"
It was a miracle.
Something unprecedented was happening in the Blood Flame Sect.
The servant's bright red hair began to turn jet black at an astonishing speed.
It was a moment of upheaval for the centuries-old Blood Technique.
The masters who had thrown all sorts of words at Jeong Yeonsin swallowed their astonishment.
The time for change was remarkably brief.
Jeong Yeonsin slowly withdrew her hand.
The servant grasped his hair, which had turned black down to his shoulders, in disbelief.
His expression shattered instantly.
"Grand Master, Grand Master... have I, for the first time, contained a miracle...?"
He trembled, muttering.
Jeong Yeonsin was not looking at him.
She could not precisely grasp what Myeongseong had said.
In that case, it was best to gather what was visible first, before the martial artists descended upon this place today.
Jeong Yeonsin turned her gaze to Go Jonghak.
Did the madmen of the Blood Flame Sect have a different blood flow in their bodies? It was the first time she had seen a person's face truly turn pale.
Even his hands were trembling.
Slowly, she parted her lips.
"The Poison-Repelling Pearl around your neck."
With that, she intentionally activated the Mara Blood Technique.
The blood-red robe enveloping her began to flutter.
A strange wave spread ominously from her entire being.
"Present it to me now."
The young Grand Master of the Blood Flame Sect spoke.