"Lord of the Sword Heaven."
The one who spoke was the head of the Namgung family.
He glanced at the bodies of Namgung Sejin and Namgung Mi and continued, "I will bear the shame of the wheel." "…I shall obey your command."
Turning around, the Lord of the Sword Heaven clasped his hands together.
The words of the head were self-evident.
The wheel referred to the wheels of a carriage.
In the martial world, it meant that the majority would take turns facing a smaller number of enemies.
Accepting humiliation meant that he would risk death to drain the power of the Lord of the Sword Heaven.
"Impressive," the Lord of the Sword Heaven chuckled.
As he turned back, the eyes of the Lord of the Sword Heaven sparkled with light.
"If you wish to mock, do so with your sword."
"No, that is how it should be. Isn't it a fight for the head of the Namgung family? It is right to use any means necessary."
The expression of the Lord of the Sword Heaven was filled with satisfaction.
The demeanor of the absolute master, known as the Purple First Master of the Imperial City, was extraordinary.
It was a temperament that Jeong Yeon-sin had never seen before.
Was this what it felt like to be a strategist crafting plans? The way he spoke of means without restriction felt very natural.
At that moment, Jeong Yeon-sin's eyes met those of the Lord of the Sword Heaven.
His gaze, gentle like that of a scholar, drew a line of connection.
"You may leave now. I do not know how many more wrinkles the old man has gained. He seemed ready to explode when you shared the sword with the Qing Qilin." "…I wish you good fortune."
At Jeong Yeon-sin's words, the face of the Lord of the Sword Heaven turned pale.
"So there are people who speak of my fortune. I must live long to see it."
He soon laughed heartily and gestured with his chin.
"Ma Gwang-ik, you have worked hard."
Jeong Yeon-sin expressed his gratitude and turned back toward the camp of the Imperial City.
His steps felt heavy.
The shadow of the Qing Qilin, Namgung Sejin, loomed large.
Throughout his walk, he could not see the people or the scenery.
"Hey, hey. You were a bit interesting, weren't you?" "Grandma Ak, have some decorum."
It was at that moment that several masters of the Sword Heaven stepped forward.
But there was an old man who approached first, striding confidently.
"Yeon-sin!" That voice, so familiar and friendly, was a first for him.
Jeong Yeon-sin looked up.
Ma Yeon-jeok had come close, examining him with his wrinkled eyes.
The former Lord of the Sword Heaven and the head of the Imperial City felt distant.
To him, he was just a grandfather.
"You are not badly hurt. Very, very commendable. Do you have any internal injuries?" "Yes. We can talk later."
Jeong Yeon-sin nodded slowly.
He could not afford to look at Ma Yeon-jeok.
The Lord of the Sword Heaven was facing the Lord of the Sword Heaven of the Namgung family.
They were the leaders of the martial forces standing at the forefront of the Imperial City and Namgung families.
It was a rare martial contest in the world.
The boy thought about opening his eyes.
If it was a fight between such absolute masters, it was worth expecting inspiration.
He was only worried about movements that would be hard to see with his own eyes.
'You can't think you can follow with your eyes.
You won't be able to do that.
Just keep it in your sight.' With that determination, he raised his vital energy.
From the crown of his head, an intangible flame ignited.
In an instant, a heavenly glow filled his eyes.
It was the flash of the upper dantian. 'Lord of the Sword Heaven.
How strong will he be?' The boy's goal was there.
He was an unparalleled master who had already climbed the hierarchy that had become the purpose of his life.
Even if he gained nothing right now, he hoped to be able to draw on it someday.
Jeong Yeon-sin stared blankly ahead.
Ma Yeon-jeok was rarely smiling.
"Did you say we would talk later? You to me."
Joy seeped from his monologue.
His face seemed to melt into contentment.
The grandson, who had maintained a sharp demeanor towards the head of the Imperial City, was now promising a future conversation.
Even a casual remark was welcome.
Even if it was not sincere.
The faces of the masters of the Sword Heaven, who were watching from the side, twisted in various ways.
Their expressions revealed that they had seen something they should not have.
The head of the Imperial City, Ak Su-rim, grimaced as if he might vomit.
"This is not normal, is it?" "It seems so to me as well."
"Soha, Yeon So-ha. Where is the main house of the Seongye family?" "Why would we care about that? We are busy roaming the Central Plains."
"That old man of the Ma family is bowing so low. Aren't you feeling wronged? Ah, our Soha was not just some white rag back then. I don't know how much I suffered when that old man was the Lord. They said it was Jeong Yeon-sin of the Seongye family. I can't figure out what he is. The more I think about it, the more it seems like he holds the secrets of the Ma family..."
"Grandma Ak, I can hear you all the way over there."
As the girl in the black robe of the Imperial City and the young man named Yeon So-ha spoke, the third martial contest between the Imperial City and Namgung began.
The wind that had been blowing from the front suddenly stopped, and everyone could guess the reason.
The masters of the Sword Heaven fell silent.
It was a matter of a different level from the fights of the later stages.
The Lord of the Sword Heaven and the Lord of the Sword Heaven of the Namgung family.
While the strong winds of the canyon blew relentlessly, not even a speck of dust stirred in the space where the two masters faced each other.
The energy was so dense that it formed a barrier.
They did not allow any outside variables to intrude.
Swish.
From the very first moment, it was different.
The sleeves of the two men fluttered, and in that instant, the sword light flashed.
The Lord of the Sword Heaven, Namgung Ryeok, had mastered the heavy sword.
It was not the form of a king's sword.
He was known as the sword master who had refined the Namgung family's Changgung Mu-ae sword to its limits.
He mixed destructive sword power with a free-spirited sword path without restraint.
The Lord of the Sword Heaven was barehanded.
He met the heavy sword of his opponent with his bare hands.
Bang—! In that moment, the canyon shook.
A tremendous vibration spread in all directions.
The gathered hand blade surpassed the heavy sword of Namgung Ryeok and deflected it.
It meant they had clashed with the same essence of sword power.
Whoosh! Amidst it all, the purple robe of the Lord of the Sword Heaven did not budge.
The hem of his robe remained calm amidst the raging storm.
The defensive energy, the barrier of his unparalleled inner strength, was a sight that could hardly exist without enveloping his entire body.
"Your sword is quite solid. It is not ordinary material. Did the Iron Clan make it?" The Lord of the Sword Heaven asked calmly, as if taking a leisurely stroll.
"Huff!" The two feet of Namgung Ryeok, who had been pushed back a length, scraped against the ground.
The vital energy that exploded from his Yongcheon point halted his advance.
In the brief moment his body paused, he stepped on the two grooves he had created and charged again.
It was truly explosive movement.
With a single step, the ground shook once more.
Swish! The white light of the sword split the air.
It was a strike like a flash of lightning.
The swift sword of the Changgung Mu-ae sword took the principle of unrestrained sword paths in the vast sky.
It was the principle of seamlessness.
The swift sword and the heavy sword unleashed their powers within the same principle.
There was no breaking of the air.
The sword strike rushed toward the Lord of the Sword Heaven in an instant.
At the same time, a sharp aura surrounded the hand blade of the Lord of the Sword Heaven.
It seemed to contain an invisible sword body.
The moment Namgung Ryeok's sword approached his shoulder, the Lord of the Sword Heaven walked a different time.
A slight twist of his step came first.
His right arm's hand blade blurred.
Swish.
The figure of Namgung Ryeok, dressed in dark blue martial attire, brushed past the Lord of the Sword Heaven.
His body seemed to soar and then collapse.
He could not stop his rapid movement.
His balance shattered, and he tumbled.
The dignity of a top master was nowhere to be seen in that scene.
Thus, he did not move.
It was instant death. "……."
The movements of the crowd came to a halt once more.
The commotion of sending messages and discussing opinions, with each person spreading their martial arts in various directions, gradually ceased.
It was an event that was hard to comprehend.
The sword that the great martial family of Namgung had wielded at the forefront shattered.
It did not even take long to reach that point.
Namgung Mi, Namgung Sejin, and Namgung Ryeok.
The anticipated event was escalating.
"Lord of the Sword Heaven. It seems you have forgotten how a lowly person fights."
The Lord of the Sword Heaven adjusted his collar.
With a rather large gesture, the disheveled purple robe was now neat.
There was not even a trace of blood on it.
"You should have known you were several ranks below me. If you had been cautious, you could have exchanged a few more moves."
He spoke in a tone as casual as everyday life.
It was as if he was whispering to a corpse.
The provocation flowed from him as naturally as breathing.
Yet no one could respond.
In the silence, the gaze of the Lord of the Sword Heaven turned toward the Namgung family.
"It seems you young ones are unashamedly dissatisfied with the order of the young ones. Then, is it time for the elder to step in?" "No. That is enough."
With a firm step, the one who answered was not the elder of the Namgung family.
Finally, the head of the Namgung family stepped forward slowly.
He enveloped himself in the heavy aura of a king's sword.
The pressure surrounding him approached like a city wall.
He was the head of the Eight Families, perfected as a martial artist.
He was different from his son, the Qing Qilin.
"Speaking of which..."
The Lord of the Sword Heaven tilted his head slightly.
He displayed a humorous demeanor that was not typical of an absolute master, yet that very appearance felt more terrifying.
"He is still not in his seat. That old man who does not act his age."
"Lord of the Sword Heaven, show some decorum."
The head of the Namgung family spoke in a low voice.
His voice contained enough inner strength to make anyone feel a sense of downfall, yet the Lord of the Sword Heaven frowned as if it were bothersome.
"Head of the family, stop with the nonsense. Where has the Namgung Elder gone?" "I know that the elder of the Imperial City has long vacated his position. I merely matched the numbers of my family with yours. Do you have the audacity to raise an objection?" Jeong Yeon-sin, who had been listening to the conversation, suddenly recalled something he had heard from Ma Yeon-jeok earlier.
The elder of the main family was pursuing the Seven Evil Paths. 'How many days has it been, and still no news?' The elder of the main family was the owner of the three purple robes in the Imperial City, and the martial skills of the Seven Evil Paths were not enough to shake even a purple master.
Perhaps he was focusing on enduring with the regenerative abilities of blood energy he had mastered.
At that moment, "You have played a clever trick. You intend to leave some strength to command the main family?" The voice of the Lord of the Sword Heaven echoed.
His tone had become languid.
"That is truly an excellent judgment. There is no choice but to deal with the immediate problem first."
Soon after, Jeong Yeon-sin witnessed an unbelievable sight.
It was the moment when the Lord of the Sword Heaven raised his right hand facing the head of the Namgung family.
Crack! A beam of light erupted from his palm.
At the same time, the space shattered long and wide.
With the sudden wave of vital energy, a sword took shape in an instant.
Whoooosh! It seemed to be a sword forged from a rainbow of colors.
The seven-colored sword, made of rainbow light, was grasped in the right hand of the Lord of the Sword Heaven.
It was literally a dazzling sword of light.
An overwhelming aura surged forth like a tidal wave. 'This is different from my radiant sword style.
That is merely a light sword.' It felt like a strike that would be hard to resist.
Just holding it was enough. 'The vital energy… the sword.' Jeong Yeon-sin realized.
It was a realm where one could shape a sword with inner strength.
Even though it was the first time he had seen such a technique, he understood it immediately.
It was because he felt the thick and rich essence of vital energy.
"……It is as splendid as your nature."
Even in front of the near-divine skill, the head of the Namgung family seemed unshaken.
His face was serious.
In the realm of the leader of the Great Wave Sect, anything could happen.
"Come."
The last words of the head of the Namgung family, who drew the radiant sword, were spoken.
Boom! The two absolute masters vanished.
Only the shimmering light trail left by the sword of the Lord of the Sword Heaven slowly dispersed.
Jeong Yeon-sin could not see the moment of their swift movements.
How many exchanges had there been?
――――! The pressure came before the sound.
The impact of their clash even crossed the realm of thunderous noise.
He had to struggle not to be swept away.
Jeong Yeon-sin raised his vital energy to its peak.
Even that was not enough.
He unleashed the flow of the Shinhwa Mugeok Su toward the void.
He had to break through the surging aura like a wave.
Crack! Crack! His hands felt extremely numb.
He did not even know how many seconds had passed. 'How long…' One breath felt like an eternity.
Then, when he suddenly closed his eyes and opened them again, he finally saw the figures of the Lord of the Sword Heaven and the head of the Namgung family.
The sword of vital energy had vanished from the hands of the Lord of the Sword Heaven.
However, he stood alone, looking down.
The opponent was different.
The unified master of the Namgung family.
The one recognized by the entire martial world as the head of the Eight Families.
The giant of the era lay fallen, his eyes wide open.
His upper body had been completely blown away.
In the end, he resembled his son, Namgung Sejin.
Neither family, nor bloodline, nor children were in his sight.
Without even turning his head, he stared intently at the place where the Lord of the Sword Heaven stood.
The determination and resentment etched on his face were starkly revealed. "……."
The one who broke the terrible silence was the Lord of the Sword Heaven.
He glanced at the Namgung family.
The masters of the family were frozen, unable to move as if they were statues.
They were not the only ones.
Everyone in the vast Cheongya Valley was the same.
The head of the Eight Families had died.
It was uncertain what kind of impact would follow.
"Well, let's clean up the bodies."
The Lord of the Sword Heaven clicked his tongue and spoke.
Then he moved his feet.
He was walking straight toward the camp of the Imperial City.
"Our Lord, did you get hit a lot? I counted up to five."
Ak Su-rim said.
Jeong Yeon-sin's eyes examined the tattered purple robe of the Lord of the Sword Heaven.
It seemed that it had not been able to withstand the sword strikes of the head of the Namgung family.
"Hmm. Quite strong, indeed."
"You seem to be trembling. Are you gathering your breath?" It was when the Lord of the Sword Heaven casually nodded.
Yeon So-ha interjected with an innocent face.
"The matter is settled for now. But I am curious about the reward you promised to Seongye. Was it the friendship of the martial world? Did you have such a thing, Lord?" "……."
The Lord of the Sword Heaven suddenly turned to look at Jeong Yeon-sin.
Their eyes met directly.
The lips of the purple absolute master drew a line, but it was a rather awkward smile.
"In our situation, what kind of connection is there… Where in the martial world would welcome the Sword Heaven? It would be a blessing if they do not curse us."