The laughter erupted from the Blood Flame Sect Master, who had been looking down.
It did not cease.
The joy that flowed out grew ever more intense, soon transforming into a wild roar.
The Blood Flame Sect Master, brushing aside his white hair, began to laugh madly.
Amidst this, Jeong Yeon-shin gazed directly at Go Jong-hak.
The latter's complexion was extremely poor.
He stood awkwardly, unable to decide what to do.
"You do not heed the command," Jeong Yeon-shin said quietly.
He took slow steps toward him, openly releasing the unique wave of the Mara Blood Art as he approached.
No one could stop him.
Jeong Yeon-shin now exuded an air of authority.
At least within the Blood Flame Sect, that was the case.
The Grand Master who had fulfilled a long-held wish.
Only the Sect Master stood above Jeong Yeon-shin, who had personally manifested his betrayal.
The laughter of the Blood Flame Sect Master echoed in the silence, proving this.
Facing Go Jong-hak, Jeong Yeon-shin looked slightly upward.
"I commanded."
"......"
"Present it."
Go Jong-hak could not respond.
His hand trembled as he slowly gripped his necklace.
All the leaders of the sect watched in silence.
The son of the Three-Sacred Path, the renowned Blood Flame Sword Master, was presenting treasures to the one who had betrayed the sect.
"A precious offering," Jeong Yeon-shin said as he grasped it.
The smooth touch of jade wrapped around his fingers felt new.
It was said that nothing was more terrifying than poison.
The value of the Poison Master was beyond measure.
He had obtained the most valuable treasure among the possessions he had acquired in life.
"Grand Master!" The Blood Flame Sect Master shouted, his face beaming with laughter.
His voice was very hearty.
It was the first time he had seen such a sight since being captured.
Even the masters of the Blood Flame Sect seemed the same.
As they could not hide their bewilderment, Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes met those of the Sect Master.
The Sect Master's lips split into a bright red grin.
"Come here! I grant you permission to stand by my side!" Sighs of disbelief erupted from all around.
These were not individuals who maintained indifference through deep cultivation.
They were breaking norms.
The power that Jeong Yeon-shin displayed in his transformation was formidable.
"Such a strange occurrence......"
"Indeed. Is it not a miraculous event?" A servant with pitch-black hair, resembling a disciple, shared the gaze of many with the Grand Master.
"...... Then."
Jeong Yeon-shin ascended the thirty-six steps as the Grand Master of the Blood Flame Sect.
Meanwhile, the servants, with their red hair fluttering, hurriedly created space beside him.
The faces that occasionally glanced at the Grand Master seemed to share the same fervor.
They were those who desired black hair.
"Hurry up!" The Blood Flame Sect Master, with a manic grin, elegantly gestured.
He spread his arms wide.
"Play the music! Let the festivities begin!" The place of purging transformed.
It became an immensely grand banquet of celebration.
It was said that music that struck the mind of man was an effective means of governance.
Even for the Blood Flame Sect, which did not hold celestial ceremonies, this was true.
Performers wielding all sorts of instruments, including gold and flutes, stepped forward.
"Receive this."
The Blood Flame Sect Master laughed as he held up the jade bottle of the Two Rivers.
His touch was exceedingly delicate.
There was a hint of consideration in his exuberant demeanor.
Even as Jeong Yeon-shin merely placed his hand on his cup, the Sect Master smiled slightly.
"You must now learn the teachings. To teach the Grand Master, ordinary methods will not suffice. I shall assign an elder to you."
"......"
"However, placing the ideology of our sect upon your head holds great significance, so I wish to impart the first key principle myself. Listen. The essence of our teachings can be summed up in one phrase."
Jeong Yeon-shin did not respond, and the Blood Flame Sect Master continued speaking alone.
"Our sect ignites the troubles and sufferings of the mortal world."
"Troubles."
The Sect Master smiled at Jeong Yeon-shin's murmuring.
With a smile, his white hair tilted slightly.
"Indeed. The monks of Buddhism refer to both as troubles. These thirty-six steps hold great meaning."
The Blood Flame Sect Master kicked the floor of the steps.
There was a lightness in his demeanor that was not befitting of an absolute master of the martial world.
"We built these to surpass the thirty-six troubles of the present world. This means that our teachings are no different from the salvation of Maitreya."
"Is death salvation?" Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly asked.
The smile on the Blood Flame Sect Master's face deepened.
"If we were to discuss profound meanings, it would not be enough to witness the dawn countless times. Do you know that the Ming Dynasty was flawed from its inception? The world has already fallen into chaos. The Grand Master is also aware of the recent famines spreading across the Central Plains."
The Sect Master's long fingers brushed over the cup.
It was a gesture as if drawing the earth.
"Famine brings about chaos. The martial world is not a realm of immortals; those who live must eat, so the outcome is clear. Poor harvests lead to famine, and the strong will not endure hunger. Next comes plunder. The boundaries between the government and the martial world will collapse in earnest."
There was a strange aura in the words of the leader of the demonic faction.
He revealed insights befitting the profound skills he had painstakingly built.
Was this the nature of those who were counted among the best in the world? Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.
"The situation in Iphwangseong will become urgent."
"Your sect is powerful. However, compared to the vastness of the Central Plains, it is small. The great laws of the nation? The strength of the martial artists spread throughout the world will one day transform into an unstoppable power. Above the law lies martial prowess. The actions of the Huangbo family you witnessed have already foretold this."
"......"
"When the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and the Ming clan rose to power, I witnessed it clearly. The state of the Central Plains was truly a sight to behold. The foolish people of the world lament the Blood Art, yet even our sect's teachings cannot compare to the horrors of the wars instigated by the Yuan and Ming."
"...... They say the elders of the Ming clan have lived long enough."
"I assure you. A calamity as great as that time will come again, and there will be no heroes in that era. When the belly shrinks, can one raise the banner of righteousness? It is a laughable notion."
The Blood Flame Sect Master downed his cup and declared.
"The rumors that echo in the martial world about the coexistence of martial and righteous paths are false. Only martial will remain, and thus our sect must spread widely. With the Blood Art, we will silence the mouths of the world, and the followers strengthened by the sacred sacrifices will restore order to the world."
"You said you ignite troubles and sufferings?"
"It is our sect's mission to trample upon the ignorance of the common people. To eliminate troubles, one must first experience troubles."
The breath he exhaled with his words felt solid.
It was almost accepted as deep insight.
Yet, it could not be.
A sinister temperament seeped through.
He was a person who embodied both the aura of an absolute master of the martial world and the essence of the demonic faction's leader.
It was close to chaos.
Jeong Yeon-shin only understood a part of the twisted beliefs.
However, there was no time to ponder the calamities that would come in the future.
'The time has come.' He felt the fading light of dusk.
He gauged the moment.
The time given by the Lord of Iphwangseong had passed.
She could appear at any moment.
At that moment, a sudden cry filled with indignation rang out.
"Almighty Sect Master!" Looking down, he saw Go Jong-hak dragging a ragged-looking boy by the scruff of his neck.
He recognized him at a glance.
It was a commoner brought in from outside.
It seemed he had been beaten quite a bit.
There was not a single unbruised spot on the boy's swollen face.
"The Grand Master has proven his remarkable talent! The might of the Mara Blood Art he possesses is truly high, yet I believe he has not yet demonstrated the wondrous technique of Absorbing Stars! Our sect wishes to honor the Grand Master with treasures, and I dare to seek permission!"
"Hmm."
The Blood Flame Sect Master's lips curled with interest.
He turned to Jeong Yeon-shin.
"I too have heard of this."
"......"
"Go down and add the boy's feeble strength to your own. He must understand the mysteries of the Absorbing Stars technique inherent in the Blood Art. Go and demonstrate it. You will step into a new world."
His voice, laced with laughter, urged for murder.
Absorbing Stars.
To absorb the stars.
It was said that zealots often imbued their actions with a sense of holiness.
The term Absorbing Stars was used by the martial artists of the Blood Flame Sect to refer to the act of seizing unique treasures.
Jeong Yeon-shin felt that the time had come.
He sensed an awareness of the Lord of Iphwangseong, even though he could not fully grasp it.
Slowly rising, he began to descend the thirty-six troubles of the mind.
Woong.
He raised his internal energy.
Wrapping the essence of the Mara Blood Art around the power of the Demon-Subduing Clear Sound Technique.
This place was the den of demons.
The Blood Flame Sect's headquarters, where demons seemed to breathe.
There were many high-level masters who could see through even the most ordinary rising forces.
Apart from the materials that created martial prowess, the Blood Flame Sect Master and the disciples were the same.
The gazes of the Three-Sacred Path that were piercing through the back of his head approached like a blazing fire.
Unlike those who were in awe of the betrayal, the eyes of some high-level masters who believed in bloodlines were not kind.
It was a den of lunatics.
The atmosphere felt as if they were ready to endure the Sect Master's wrath and even attempt assassination.
'Now, let's return.' He had gathered enough power.
Considering his achievements, the settlement of the Iphwangseong headquarters was important.
He had been away from his true nature for too long.
There were many things he needed to receive within Iphwangseong, as much as the tasks that had erupted one after another.
Step.
Before he knew it, he had reached Go Jong-hak.
He glanced at the boy sprawled beside him, his face swollen and looking up.
He was a strangely extraordinary child.
There was a spirit in his eyes.
"Those vile blood demons... my father will not forgive..."
The boy mumbled with a slurred pronunciation.
His gaze, directed at Jeong Yeon-shin, was very strong.
Go Jong-hak did not strike him again.
He merely chuckled and gazed at Jeong Yeon-shin.
"What do you think? I have brought a boy who has consumed plenty of elixirs for the Grand Master. If he begins to absorb, I will gladly serve as his protector."
His face seemed to ask if he could do it.
Jeong Yeon-shin silently reached out.
Irregular waves unique to the Blood Art spread from his fingertips.
The technique did not aim at the boy.
It extended toward Go Jong-hak's neck.
The latter chuckled as he raised the essence of the Blood Art.
A fairly solid texture of protective energy rose like a red haze.
He did not evade.
It was as if he were treating it like a childish tantrum.
"Noble ones can fold their beliefs before righteousness. Whether the Grand Master is noble is another matter, but..."
Cough! The essence of the technique was the Demon-Subduing Clear Sound Technique.
In that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin realized the essence of the internal energy deception technique.
The energy that wrapped around him was different from before.
The Blood Art and the power of the law.
The opposing energies blended together with innate sensitivity.
It was powerful.
He swept away Go Jong-hak's protective energy like mist and seized his neck.
The moment urgency appeared in the latter's expression, Jeong Yeon-shin tightened his grip.
Crack.
He felt it break mercilessly.
The sensation of the arteries and cervical vertebrae, honed by energy, collapsing together was vivid.
He casually pushed away Go Jong-hak's corpse as if discarding a wooden stick.
The boy, who had been glaring at Jeong Yeon-shin while sitting down, widened his eyes in shock.
"What a tragedy!"
"You little brat!" The cognitive abilities of the masters of the Blood Flame Sect were indeed like lightning.
Even though an absurd event had unfolded, they reacted immediately.
A storm surged forth, and in an instant, a prison of murderous intent seemed to form.
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly stood in front of the innocent commoners.
'I want to rest for a moment.' The journey through the martial world, which began with the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, had been quite long.
How much it would amount to in terms of achievements was a secondary matter.
The rewards for the mission would be immense, but that was separate from the thoughts he had now.
Would the Hunyuan Sword be safe? Had the expedition team, including Ma Jin, suffered any losses at the Huangbo family? His head felt hot.
The Blood Flame was swelling with warmth.
At that moment, an unexpected sensation of the upper echelon emerged, sketching the exterior of the Blood Flame Spirit Formation.
Hundreds of martial artists surrounded them, lying in ambush.
The atmosphere was unusual.
The highlight was at the center of the formation.
The Lord of Iphwangseong was elegantly draped in a green robe, fluttering in the air.
She stood, stepping on the wind.
It was the demeanor of a complete absolute master.
She calmly executed the Void Step.
Her long legs moved.
The merciless foot stepped on the barrier.
Kuuung! In an instant, the atmosphere rippled.
'Let's return.' Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
It was time to go back.