It was a day of unity.
Jeong Yeon-shin awaited the round moon. 'I should move my body a bit.' Jeong Yang had done enough.
He had completed the internal refinement of his energy.
It was the day of the agreement.
It was time to blend the flow of energy throughout his body with the movements of his muscles.
As the day brightened, he requested a sparring session with Cheongmyeong.
He had no idea how many hours had passed.
The sunlight that filled the back of the Ma Gwang-ik hall enveloped the tall figure of the noble swordsman.
The presence that filled the quiet open space was truly remarkable.
Cheongan's sword, Cheongmyeong, was a master who wielded the most refined sword techniques in Ma Gwang-ik.
Since Ma Gwang-ik dealt with the laws of the universe, it was said that Cheongmyeong contended for the title of the strongest swordsman in Ma Gwang-ik.
There were even whispers that he could be considered the best in the entire Iphwang Province.
Even when including mid-level masters, it was still true.
It meant that even Baek Gi-rin looked up to him.
Clang! Cheongmyeong's decisive sword strike matched the level of internal energy he had adjusted.
A fierce wind struck his ears, almost as if it were clawing at him.
The depth of his sword technique was so profound that it made him wonder if he was truly using the same level of energy.
The vibrations alone were enough to create a distance.
It was not an unfamiliar force.
It felt familiar.
In truth, Jeong Yeon-shin was not an inexperienced late-stage practitioner.
Between missions, whenever he returned to his nature, he received the attention of strong seniors.
Ma Jin, Cheongmyeong, Baek Mi-ryeo, and other older blue seniors.
The end of martial arts cultivation was martial competitions.
The solitary training in striking was meaningless, so he only embarked on missions after completing the training bestowed by his seniors.
Thus, he became accustomed to unleashing his skills in real combat.
It was only natural.
Losing in martial competitions was a daily occurrence.
That was the case in Ma Gwang-ik.
Perhaps because of that, he felt particularly slack today. 'A small fragment.' Even though the sun had just set, he felt dazed.
His lower dantian was open.
He should not have been tired even after a whole day of sparring.
Yet, it was hard to concentrate on the routine.
It felt as if his spirit was hazily rising above his body.
Even during the spar, the energy in his hand gripping the sword felt loose.
It was due to his poorly unraveled thoughts.
Soon, a master returned.
Swish! In an instant, a fierce gust of wind swept through.
At the same time, a shock arose from the sword's body.
With a clang, the Iphwang sword bounced away.
If he hadn't held on properly, his hand might have been torn apart.
"Our Seong-ye, you're not in your right mind."
Cheongmyeong said with a grin.
"Weren't you trying to slip through a needle's eye? Quickly, I mean."
He raised his sword and rested it on his shoulder.
The words spoken with a smiling face felt even sharper.
It was a sight more frightening than a glare.
"You should take about three years to become the head of the new sword sect. You’ll need to spend about half of the remaining year achieving that."
"Ah..."
Jeong Yeon-shin let out a rare dazed exclamation.
It was a day that could not be helped.
However, as the one who requested the spar, he could not argue.
Cheongmyeong tapped the sword resting on his shoulder.
A chilling blue light spread from his single eye.
"Above all, it will be a form of taking away the position. The current head of the new sword sect is very vigorous. I can't imagine him losing to anyone, be it the Thirteen Heavenly Lords or the Grand Master of the Nine Schools. Our Seong-ye must defeat such a person."
"I'm sorry. I appreciate your efforts."
"The problem already lies with the black level. The level of internal energy operation itself must change, and this is more about enlightenment than talent. Of course, it would be nice if you had innate talent." "..."
"Three transformations of clarity, five foundations of energy. The world of thoughts has changed. I mentioned enlightenment, right? It's not an exaggeration; there are even old folks who dramatically call it 'shedding the shell.' If you don't keep your mind sharp, it will be hard to reach."
As always, his tone was light.
The content was different.
There was concern woven into it.
At this moment, he was envisioning a more concrete future than Jeong Yeon-shin himself.
It was a shameful matter.
Especially since he had become closest to Heon Won-chang.
The boy suddenly raised his fists.
"Thank you for your advice. I always receive."
"No need for formalities."
Cheongmyeong spoke as he sheathed his sword.
The sword light that drew a crescent moon was smoothly followed by the sheathing of the sword.
"Now, it would be good to set a study plan, right? Since the goal is clear. I'll take care of the sword techniques, and Mi-ryeo will handle the energy techniques. Our great master is far too busy to be included in this."
"Huh? Why are you gathering your hands again? Stop with the fists."
"I... I feel like I haven't seen Senior Baek today."
"Mi-ryeo? She's been busy lately. She's organizing her mental energy after hearing about you. Just like her background, she has a special innate talent for energy cultivation. I need to separately teach you the techniques for operating energy. By the time you return from the Namgung family, it should be ready."
"I’m also curious about your stories."
When Baek Mi-ryeo's background was mentioned, he remembered.
Jeong Yeon-shin knew nothing about Cheongan's sword or the series of sword techniques.
It was due to his narrow perspective.
He had only focused on his own circumstances since he began his journey.
It was a very regrettable matter.
He didn't even know Cheongmyeong's age.
How had he lived in his clan before entering Ma Gwang-ik?
'Everyone in Ma Gwang-il is extraordinary.' He had no idea what Heon Won-chang had experienced to enter Iphwang Province alone.
Unlike the sharpened sword he had trained, there was a sense of nobility about him.
The enmity seen among the various major sects was also strange.
Baek Mi-ryeo was the same.
She was a master who occasionally displayed tremendous skills.
What stories lay within the dense energy that had taken on a dark hue? He had only heard that the young Baek Mi-ryeo had been rescued during the mission that rendered Ma Jin a eunuch.
He knew nothing more.
"Next time. I don't want to ramble on now since Eun-won is involved. Just thinking about you is already giving me a headache."
Cheongmyeong smiled.
"You’ll understand naturally. As you pass through blue, black, and purple, it will be so. The quality of the information you encounter will change. From black onward, it will be a very leading position." "..."
He nodded, not fully understanding.
It was time to go.
He realized it was time as he looked at a corner of the roof above the hall.
A white moon was rising over the dark gray roof.
Was it the energy created by the full moon? Today, it felt strangely distant.
Cheongmyeong's face turned slightly as he followed Jeong Yeon-shin's gaze.
"You should head to the lord soon. I'm dying to know what it's about. Hurry."
Since it was a matter summoned by the lord, he couldn't pry into the details, which was frustrating.
He muttered without a smile.
"I will return!" Jeong Yeon-shin answered loudly without realizing it.
He felt no embarrassment now.
He passed by Cheongmyeong and infused his energy into his feet.
Slowly, but gradually, he began to dash faster.
He had been sparring all day.
Bathing was the first priority.
"Lady Jang! Please prepare the water!" He shouted as he opened the door to the hall.
It was a request to the maid.
The noble family's five senses were extremely sharp.
The lord of Iphwang Province must be even more so.
They said she was a completely different being within the clan.
He could not afford to smell of sweat.
He must not let her mind change, lest the small fragment become even smaller.
"Seong-ye? What’s the matter?" "Did I just hear Jeong Yeon-shin shout?" Several seniors from Ma Gwang-ik opened their doors and peeked out.
It was fine to ignore them now.
Jeong Yeon-shin entered the room directly, gathering extra martial clothes as he headed to the bathroom.
The night that permeated the air gently froze the boy's body.
It was dark and cozy.
Finally, the moonlight swelled.
The light from the full moon was pale.
The full moon smiled faintly.
Jeong Yeon-shin entered the essence within the essence.
It was the inner palace of the lord of Iphwang Province, built with pure white marble.
The guards standing watch merely exchanged glances, and no one stopped him.
He stepped quietly on the cold marble.
The high stairs felt unusually long.
Still, there was an end.
The moment he reached the top, a massive stone door opened on its own.
As always, the opposite side without walls was wide open.
The unusually bright moonlight poured in, spilling its pale light.
Jeong Yeon-shin raised his gaze.
He was on a thick tree trunk that extended out from the office.
There, the lord of Iphwang Province stood.
She was facing away, standing in the moonlight on a branch.
Her hair, the color of glistening leaves, swayed long.
Not a trace of energy could be felt, yet she stood out distinctly.
It was strangely vivid.
Her presence was truly remarkable, especially at this moment.
"You must have been curious, knowing what a fragment is."
She did not turn around immediately.
It seemed she was gazing at a distant scenery.
Beneath the soft moon halo, only the voice of the lord of Iphwang Province, draped in a green garment like a palace, could be heard.
It felt as if all the moonlight in the world was converging on her.
Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly realized.
That was energy.
The operation of internal energy.
It was hard to believe, but it was true.
The now radiant full moon breathed in a mist of brilliance, and the hazy beams of light emitted by the moon were refracted in all directions, gathering around her. 'Even the basic energy cultivation has reached the realm of the extraordinary.' It was an insight that reached intuition.
Jeong Yeon-shin trembled at a level he could not even imagine.
"The fruit of the world tree. You are correct in your assumptions."
She slowly turned her body.
Even with her back to the moon, the light shimmered in her eyes.
Her deep green gaze was distant.
It felt as if her spirit was naturally pressing down on him.
Every time he faced her, he experienced a sensation he had never felt even from the Blood Flame Sect's leader.
"Come here."
"I greet the lord."
He belatedly paid his respects and moved forward.
Stepping on the rough wood, he stood opposite the lord of Iphwang Province.
Jeong Yeon-shin straightened his back and faced her.
"Come closer."
"Yes."
He silently obeyed the command.
Now, they were less than a step apart.
The transparent, almost white face of the absolute being filled his view.
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin was about to bow his head and prostrate himself, she spoke.
"It has been a long time since the main sect of the Blood Flame Sect. There is something I must tell you first."
The lord of Iphwang Province parted her lips.
The boy, who had awkwardly risen, gazed at her.
"I am listening."
"The leader of the Blood Flame Sect can return." "…!" "It is a monstrous power. With a single drop of blood, he regained his form. Even after stopping his breath several times."
Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the Blood Flame Sect leader.
He too had felt as if he had transcended the mortal realm.
He was someone who wielded extraordinary regenerative abilities at the pinnacle of blood energy, though he did not reach the level of the lord of Iphwang Province.
At that moment, was she trying to pat his head? The lord of Iphwang Province reached out her hand and spoke.
"He has not been completely annihilated. I had to turn back to check on you."
"I apologize."
He hurriedly lowered his head.
The moment he had tried to face the Blood Flame Sect's leader with a battered body came to mind.
He had thought the lord of Iphwang Province, who had vanished with the Blood Flame Sect leader, had returned to eliminate the enemy.
It was not the case. 'Because of me?' To save a single late-stage practitioner, the Seong-ye had let go of one of the Thirteen Heavenly Lords.
It did not add up at all.
It was something anyone would find hard to believe.
"To say you are sorry."
Her voice rang like a gem.
"It is my choice. You should just be wary of your enemies and strive for success." "..."
"More than that."
Her words paused for a moment.
He could feel the gaze descending upon him due to her presence.
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been bowing his head, immediately raised it.
A few strands of his long hair had brushed against the back of the lord's hand.
"I made a friend of the leaves of the world tree that fell in the spring breeze when I was young. Now, they have crumbled away."
The lips of the lord of Iphwang Province curled slightly.
"Your hair resembles that."
"Yes?" "It would be good to grow it out when you become a master."
"Ah..."
He answered that he would do so in a daze, and her lips formed a small, beautiful curve. 'To the lord, even blue is not a master.' However, it was truly natural and not something to be made an issue of.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
It was the first time he had heard the lord's playful tone.
It felt like she was indeed a person.
Perhaps he could ask for a slightly larger fragment.