"Where is the Lord of the City?"
"It has been a long time since I last saw him. It was so even before the competition was announced."
They were seated in the central martial arts arena of Ip Hwang City.
It was a conversation between the elder city lord and the former leader of the Divine Sword Sect.
An old man, dressed in purple robes that accentuated his stature, smiled.
He was the elder city lord of Ip Hwang.
As he stroked his long white beard that hung beneath his chin, his presence was as imposing as that of Ma Yeon Jeok.
He spoke, "A long time? It’s only been seven days at most. You should pay more attention to your own family. I heard there was quite a disturbance."
"I just returned in a fit of anger. Before being a royal, I am the master’s kin, so I cannot act recklessly..."
Ma Yeon Jeok muttered with a fierce expression.
It was indeed a chaotic situation at the residence of the Ma family.
The biological mother of the martial artist, Zhu Yan Zheng, had made contact with the island's sect.
It was revealed that there might have been things that went unnoticed.
Thanks to the commotion caused by the Ma Guang Ik warriors.
"Isn't she your niece-in-law? You can't say she acted recklessly."
"I was greatly disappointed. I thought that with Se In, we would elevate the Ma family to greatness."
"How can one maintain composure when the succession rights of their child are shaken? Especially if it’s due to an unexpected relative."
"Unexpected relative? Now I see you were envious. To say that after seeing that scene, if you truly mean it, I should first find a grave for your eyeballs."
Ma Yeon Jeok pointed below.
In the center of the martial arts arena, the young warrior, Jeong Yeon Sin, had just won the competition before the finals.
The boy, dressed in a blue robe, was slowly sheathing his sword.
His movements were steady, and his calm demeanor stood out.
He easily defeated a white-robed master who was close to the blue victory rank.
This meant he was a martial artist of elite status, recognized by any martial artist.
They said he was only sixteen years old.
It was hard for anyone to believe.
"The Qing Bai Shuang Qi Lin of the Nangong family made a name for himself at a younger age."
The elder city lord said with a smile.
"The royal sword of the firstborn Qing Qi Lin and the spear of the second son Bai Qi Lin. It was said that this combination would eventually become invincible. Do you think a mere islander can catch up? Those who grew up with precious elixirs are filled with true energy from the very beginning. Even if they are fed high-grade elixirs later, the gap will not change."
"..."
"Of course, the islander is extraordinary. I have heard of the martial arts that claim to eradicate demons and eliminate the weak. However, it will not work against a top master."
"I know of Bai Qi Lin's growth. He was already strong, and it seems he has absorbed the energy of the elixirs."
"I have been keeping an eye on that boy; his achievements are remarkable. They say a Taeyun Dragon was caught in the Thunder Prison? Now, even that cannot be underestimated. He has received the martial talent bestowed by heaven. Even without being born with a special constitution, he possesses outstanding qualities. However, the islander’s conditions are different."
The elder city lord continued, pointing at the islander and Bai Qi Lin.
"Look at their faces. Bai Qi Lin, raised in luxury despite being a second son, has a smile that naturally radiates. Isn’t it pleasant? Very natural. But what about the islander? One might wonder if he grew up being beaten. Look at those cold eyes. He has a face that is good for killing."
"..."
"No one can defeat a smiling person. If one has both talent and a perfect childhood, it is even better. Bai Qi Lin has it all. If he didn’t have an older brother, he might have become the head of the Nangong family. I don’t know much about the islander."
"Already..."
Ma Yeon Jeok spoke again.
"Perhaps he can be compared to Bai Qi Lin. Yeon Sin, that boy possesses an unprecedented sense. The martial arts created with the qualities of a grand master will fit him perfectly, so I can’t even imagine how much more he will grow."
The elder city lord exaggeratedly smacked his lips.
"The expression on his face can be molded. I might consider adopting him. Or... my granddaughter has an abundance of talent."
"Step over my sword."
"Then I should bring in Bai Qi Lin. But if your heart is so steadfast, why don’t you take in the islander? It seems you can’t even launch a financial offensive."
"..."
"You should have a rough idea. Are you afraid? Of going against the feelings of your discarded grandson? Or perhaps, did you receive a scolding from the lord of the city? You should have acted sooner."
The elder city lord chuckled.
"..."
"Both of them! The karma is pitiful!"
Ma Yeon Jeok did not respond.
His silence made the elder city lord’s smile deepen.
"It feels like a dream when you were reigning over the martial world as the leader of the Divine Sword Sect. Do you remember the day you exterminated the remnants of the Ma Sect and planted the rough yellow flag on the Heavenly Mountain? You were truly strong that day. There were few who could compare to you in the world, yet how did you end up so insignificant?"
"It is because the martial arts of the Ma family are far from the true path."
The elder city lord's eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn’t expected that answer.
"You have changed a bit."
His words were true.
Ma Yeon Jeok was not someone who would say such things.
He had been dazzled by the talent of his grandson, whom he had seen late.
He had gathered people.
He used the family’s masters as informants.
He instructed them to directly observe the islander who had gone out into the martial world and report back.
He could not order any intervention.
Going against the threats of the lord of Ip Hwang City was nearly tantamount to defying heaven for Ma Yeon Jeok.
Thus, he could not respond to the abduction acts of the Blood Flame Sect’s Seven Sages.
It was absurd.
He received reports that, while Nangong was watching idly, they could not approach the two sages and dozens of swordsmen.
Ma Yeon Jeok was furious at himself for not having attached top masters, but it was too late to be caught up in the past.
Only when the lord of Ip Hwang City personally intervened did he feel relief, and the vivid accounts of his grandson’s actions he had received made his heart stir.
A sprint.
Only a sprint.
The boy ran tirelessly.
Ma Yeon Jeok found it hard to breathe as he read the words.
His steps seemed to have dedicated everything to his achievements and martial arts, even nurturing a spirit of grandeur.
At some point, he realized that Ma Yeon Jeok was drifting away.
Whenever he thought of the boy, it felt as if the years he spent as the leader of the Divine Sword Sect were slowly rewinding.
It was an emotion he found hard to define himself.
He spoke, "Did you say insignificant? It is inevitable. What is built easily crumbles easily. The peak of one’s prime does not last long. I only envy the old men of the old sects; I have thought about it for a long time."
Ma Yeon Jeok looked down at his grandson.
Before he knew it, the martial contest between the islander and Bai Qi Lin was at hand.
He muttered, "Yeon Sin may become the divine sword of his nature, but the martial arts of the Ma family do not suit him. I must think of another way. If that boy is to face the foremost Nangong family in the future, he will need..."
The combination of Mara Gyeong Hyeol Gong and Myeol Ma Cheong Gang Su.
It was a technique that had been honed over a long time spent in the main sect of the Blood Flame Sect, transforming the spell formations into a form of martial arts.
At this moment, only precision and power were heightened.
The sensation brought by the opposing martial arts was special.
"Cold."
His outstretched left hand felt icy.
It was as if it were encased in ice.
The true energy passing through the Nei Guan point below his wrist was intense.
As irregular waves surged from the blood energy, the Myeol Ma Cheong Gang Su enveloping his left hand revealed a dazzling brilliance.
A blue light pulsed like a heartbeat.
The moment the blue light wrapped around his left hand and surged, a loud explosion erupted.
Boom!
A shockwave exploded in the air.
The momentarily compressed air rushed out, reaching beneath his feet.
With the rising dust, Nangong Hwa Sin’s body was flung back.
The heavy recoil even pushed Jeong Yeon Sin back.
"I need to keep refining this."
The power was undeniable.
Even without a hit, a master like Bai Qi Lin was forced to retreat.
However, the problem was just as significant.
The precision had greatly diminished.
It was an extremely reckless deployment of energy, and if it could not even deliver an effective strike, it would be meaningless.
It was a task that needed to be resolved before reaching the Nangong family.
For now, it was fine.
The opponent was greatly flustered.
The moment Nangong Hwa Sin regained his balance from the effects of an unheard-of martial art, that brief moment entered Jeong Yeon Sin's perception.
Thud!
He stepped forward.
It was the true stance.
He had already raised his intention in the lower dantian.
True energy burst forth from the Yong Chuan point beneath his feet.
Whoosh!
As the wind brushed past his ears, Nangong Hwa Sin grew larger in his sight.
In one step, he closed the distance of five paces.
The true energy rippled from the hand that drew the Ip Hwang Sword.
"Glorious Sword Style."
The sword marks of Jong Nam Mountain sublimated into a unique martial art and were unleashed.
As the light dimmed, the Ip Hwang Sword surged forward in a straight line.
Clang!
It was blocked by a sharp white light.
A clear energy wave surged forth.
Could it be the spear of the Nangong family, the Cheong Gong Mu Ae Sword?
As Jeong Yeon Sin locked eyes with Nangong Hwa Sin, the reflection of his face shone in the opponent's eyes, filled with a colorless light.
He seemed completely absorbed.
With a grunt, Nangong Hwa Sin’s sword power intensified.
He pushed forward with deep internal energy.
It was the moment when Bai Qi Lin’s guidance would soon transform into his own.
The opponent, lacking in internal energy, was being suppressed by sheer force.
Jeong Yeon Sin’s arm holding the Ip Hwang Sword trembled slightly.
He recalled the elixir he received as a reward.
He had deliberately not consumed it.
He would encounter countless opponents who had taken elixirs since birth.
Jeong Yeon Sin was born from a third-rate martial family.
He would face situations where he would be overpowered at any moment, so blaming his internal energy each time would be foolish.
It could be called a strange wall.
He wanted to surpass it through experience and sensation.
"Hah!"
Twisting his waist, he infused true energy into the muscles beside his abdomen.
The internal energy that had gathered to support the Zhi Shi point shone brightly.
Flap!
With the fluttering of his clothes, he spun around.
He deliberately allowed himself to be pushed back in the struggle of strength.
He gathered the energy of the warrior’s stance into his left fist.
After the Glorious Sword Style, it was the Shi Hwa Mu Geuk Quan.
The spiraling energy wave swept the ground and collided with the sword of Nangong Hwa Sin.
A gust of wind gathered at the hem of Nangong Hwa Sin’s clothing.
A loud sound echoed.
With a single strike, Nangong Hwa Sin spun greatly and brushed past Jeong Yeon Sin.
It was the unimpeded flow of the Myeol Ma Cheong Gang Su.
His blue robe, caught in the swirling energy, quickly unfurled again.
"I responded the moment I felt the spiral airflow."
Jeong Yeon Sin felt it through the short brush of the hem of his clothing in the stance.
It was shallow.
He could not deliver a blow to the internal organs.
There was more.
As the new forms crossed, the gleam of Nangong Hwa Sin’s sword brushed past his thigh.
It stung slightly.
They had exchanged a full strike.
Thud.
He was a formidable opponent who had observed his unique martial art and devised a countermeasure.
Jeong Yeon Sin did not wait for the first move and advanced.
Nangong Hwa Sin did the same.
He raised his sword high above his head, spreading his sword technique widely.
The properly refined martial arts of the family were both majestic and splendid.
The sword technique of the Cheong Gong Mu Ae Sword unleashed a free-flowing energy wave that enveloped Jeong Yeon Sin.
Whoosh!
There were several colorless energy waves contained within a single strike.
It approached like a net covering the sky.
It seemed to be a technique called sword energy.
I had heard it was one of the many branches of energy waves.
"Avoid and counterattack."
He stepped into the Hwan Ik Bo.
The incident of the volcanic sect’s Jaso Dan came to mind.
It was a technique he had created while taking the test of Ma Jin to receive a solo mission.
The first was the Hwan Ik.
The sword path drawn by Nangong Hwa Sin and the direction of the energy wave seemed to come into view.
The Bai Hui point at the crown of his head warmed up.
A single step that could roam between the gaps of the sword energy was etched in his mind.
It was a very clear light.
He stepped on it.
Thud.
The moment he stepped, the sharp energy of the sword cut through the hem of his shoulder.
In an instant, a struggle ensued.
Nangong Hwa Sin, who seemed to have anticipated where to step, unleashed another energy wave, while Jeong Yeon Sin evaded by twisting his stance.
Thud.
The boy did not care and took another step forward.
Energy waves surged from beneath his feet.
Hwan Ik Ibo.
The colorless wave greatly pushed back the energy waves of the Cheong Gong Mu Ae Sword.
It was a step he had gained while discussing the martial world and enjoying a drink of the Thunder Line.
Before he knew it, the distance had closed once more.
He created a gap and pierced through the energy.
Boom!
Again, with the Glorious Sword Style, he raised the Ip Hwang Sword.
Nangong Hwa Sin was also preparing for a continuous strike.
The posture of lowering the sword at an angle was picturesque.
The moment the wind currents escaped along the blades of the two Ip Hwang Swords, the internal energy erupted from the clash of swords.
Clang─!
In an instant, a heavy recoil surged through his grip, numbing his senses.
Jeong Yeon Sin stifled a groan.
He could not stop.
The gap was narrow.
Here, it was only a brawl.
The cycle of evasion and collision began to repeat endlessly.
Clang! Clang! Boom!
The Glorious Sword Style, Hwan Ik Bo, and Shi Hwa Mu Geuk Quan spiraled, converging, and clashed.
Jeong Yeon Sin unleashed all the martial arts he had cultivated until now.
He made this place a ground for refining his martial arts.
It was another form of training.
Even if blood splattered, even if wounds opened from the sword marks, it was the same.
As Nangong Hwa Sin observed Jeong Yeon Sin’s unique martial art and launched a terrifying counterattack, Jeong Yeon Sin changed his technique on the spot to counterattack.
"..."
The audience gradually fell into silence.
It was a duel between geniuses.
They faced each other’s martial arts.
In the continuous exchanges of strikes, extraordinary qualities sparkled.
The once noisy surroundings gradually quieted down.
"Truly marvelous."
Someone spoke up.
It was a whisper.
Others nodded in agreement.
"Martial arts I have never seen before are being unleashed endlessly, not inferior to the ancient techniques of the eight great families."
"Bai Qi Lin’s skills are also astonishing. Can he handle such internal energy so skillfully?"
"The islander Ma Guang Ik... there are already rumors of him being a grand master. He is said to create and refine martial arts."
"To counter the ancient techniques of the eight families with a unique martial art? At first glance, it seems he lacks true energy. The martial arts of prestigious families grow stronger over time..."
Jeong Yeon Sin heard nothing.
He was absorbed, just like Nangong Hwa Sin.
They exchanged sensations, struggles, and the essence of martial arts.
It was a realm of talent that shone like a comet.
He wished it would last forever.
The unique martial arts that had originally suited his body felt as if they were permeating through him.
Whoosh!
The wind wrapping around his outstretched hand was warm.
The energy of the Shi Hwa Mu Geuk Quan split the sword energy of Nangong Hwa Sin at the end of the Hwan Ik Bo.
The techniques rose endlessly and precisely.
It was immensely enjoyable.
The sensation of talents colliding and rising was almost intoxicating.
He felt something awaken within his entire being.
The anxious heart that had lingered over the full moon remaining for seven days eased.
He unconsciously thought of the elixir.
Soon, he would meet the lord of Ip Hwang City.
Before long, the boy began to smile.