Ak Surim's voice was peculiar.
It carried a drowsy tone yet held a distinct sense of purpose.
The depth of experience, which suggested the ability to exert full power even in a half-dreaming state, suited the second most formidable warrior across seventeen generations of the Divine Sword Order.
An absolute master of Rejuvenation. One could not measure her skill by mere appearance.
'She realized it immediately. Just how vast is her sensory perception?'
Jung Yeonshin rolled the pebble given by Baek Seo-gun in his palm.
He had heard it was a sacred treasure, but although it faintly exuded an enigmatic energy, it did not feel particularly special, at least for now.
It was impossible to tell whether it belonged to the Eun Clan or the Zhuge Clan.
Since he had retrieved the secret manual of Eun Hwaryun, he had ties to both sides, so he could return it without issue, no matter whose possession it originally was.
"The person outside is..."
Just as he opened his mouth—
Yawn—
The girl, who had just let out a big yawn, suddenly had a sharp gleam in her eyes.
The immense internal energy that marked her as the likely next leader of the Divine Sword Order surged up to her eyes, making them gleam with a colorless radiance.
A light far stronger than the sacred glow of the campfire that cast shadows on her face.
"Your aura is honed in a way fitting a tyrant. Your martial arts clearly have the essence of an orthodox warrior, yet… rather than a swordsman, you're more like a sword specter."
Tap.
A spear that had been lying around carelessly nudged against Ak Surim's foot.
With just a small twitch of her ankle, the spear shaft seemed to be drawn upwards as if on its own, landing snugly in her small grasp.
The surrounding foliage trembled slightly from the residual force.
"I've never encountered her before, but reports about her are stacked high at the General Affairs Bureau. She even showed up in Shaanxi, right? The second-in-command of the Profound Martial Alliance. I heard that person aided you for some unknown reason. That was appreciated."
Ak Surim spoke.
At the same time, she grasped her symbolic spear and unfurled her Energy Suppression.
Rather than immediately displaying the combative nature unique to Desolate Fortress, she first assumed the stance of a black rank facing another black.
It was a sign that she was willing to hear what Jung Yeonshin had to say.
A show of respect from the vice-leader of the famed Divine Sword Order.
Only two years ago, he had been the disgrace of the Jung Clan. Now, he slowly opened his mouth.
Warmth seeped into his chest, mingled with a sense of how much things had changed. Even Old Lady Ak would remember him now.
"She was someone connected to my bloodline."
Ak Surim, gripping her spear, extended just her index finger and tapped the shaft lightly.
A gesture that seemed playful yet carried an unmistakable, transparent intensity.
"Hmm… The vast Jianghu sometimes feels quite small. Can you tell me more?"
"She was someone who shared my father's childhood…"
"Then she's a bastard!"
She abruptly cut him off, furrowing her small brow deeply.
A surge of energy flared as Ak Surim's sideburns lifted slightly from her neck. Her fingers gripped and released the spear repeatedly.
"In a famine-stricken winter, she hunted a wild boar for us. She was a kind person. Even with my upper dantian's capabilities, I could sense no ill intent."
Jung Yeonshin answered briefly, tilting his head slightly in thought.
How much did Senior Ak know about his family history? Had the General Affairs Bureau investigated separately?
'The people of Xinye still live there.'
Unpleasant faces flickered through his mind.
Villagers, each with their own distinct features and simple, devout expressions, people who had worshiped superstition and despised him.
'I hope I don't get any missions in Henan.'
Just as he pushed aside his brief thoughts—
"So, she's trustworthy…? At least in the judgment of our youngest squad leader?"
Rustle.
Suddenly, Ak Surim moved closer and plopped down beside him.
"..."
Her gaze filled the silence.
As the campfire crackled, the intense gleam unique to the Desolate Divine Spear faded, revealing particularly clear, jet-black eyes.
Gone was the usual unrestrained energy; her stare was unusually composed.
"You know, I sometimes feel something incredibly mysterious from you."
Ak Surim's expression was peculiar.
It was a face Jung Yeonshin had never seen before, a mix of rational distrust and inexplicable reassurance.
It was illuminated alongside the unusually darkened stains on her robes, traces of congestion expelled while circulating her energy after her bout with the Zhuge Clan's leader.
Then, the corner of her lips lifted slightly.
"Well, in short, the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon from the Thirteen Celestial Demons is something like your nanny. And is here now."
"It's a bit much to call a her a nanny…"
Jung Yeonshin's dark brows lifted as he averted his gaze slightly.
For a moment, Ak Surim's lips twitched. Then, as if she couldn't hold it in any longer, she let out a small laugh.
Ahaha!
She laughed brightly.
The Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown burst forth instantly, causing her jet-black hair to sway wildly.
As she shook with laughter, she lightly tapped Jung Yeonshin's shoulder with one hand.
Brushing off the cold gaze from the youngest member, she steadied her voice.
Then, still with a lingering smile, she spoke in a slightly playful tone.
"That's a relief. If I had to leave you alone, I'd have felt uneasy."
Ak Surim chuckled softly, the look of a senior prepared for death tucked away beyond her expression.
"…Pardon?"
"Zhuge bastard was terrifyingly strong. And it was your first time facing an absolute master properly."
"…That's true."
"You need to devise countermeasures with your life on the line. Prepared sorcerous martial techniques are incredibly free-form and intricate. In a single careless moment, your torso could be pierced like Jin Myungjo. And we don't even have regenerative capabilities."
Ak Surim exaggeratedly shrugged her small shoulders.
Yet, the black battle robe she wore did not seem as light as it appeared.
"If even one of us becomes incapable of fighting, the other two must retreat immediately. You understand that, right?"
"No."
She grinned at Jung Yeonshin's immediate response.
"Well, of course. How could you turn your back on such a charming senior? Maybe I should just induce Energy Deviation myself and go first."
"…Is the Zhuge Clan's leader's martial prowess truly that overwhelming?"
"He moves with all sorts of sorcery conduits. The internal energy and intent contained in formations, incantations, and talismans were chilling. He's forsaken his humanity. He fought against many as if it were a duel. A complete lunatic."
"Sorcerous martial techniques…"
"Even while fighting, his domain kept expanding. It wasn't just the size of a mere training ground. Not even the size of a county. And on top of that, all of it was woven into one massive sorcerous formation, moving as if that bastard was its axis."
"He's not a man, but a calamity."
Ak Surim nodded.
"Whether it's a vast wilderness or a famous landmark, it's all his domain. Since he's not part of the Murim Alliance, there's no need for him to worry about restrictions. Ordinary joint attacks won't work. He's more troublesome to deal with than Hwangbo Clan's leader, whom Annihilation Squad's leader, Heavenly Squad's leader, and Eunuch had to take down together. Everyone in the martial world knows that."
Swish.
"So, if we want to increase our chances of victory, even just a little…"
Ak Surim abruptly stood up, dusted off her clothes, and spoke as if it were no big deal.
"We need to train. Even if it's brief. This noona will teach you how to handle absolute masters. After what happened to Jin and me, how could I just throw you in without any preparation?"
"You must treat me as an equal."
Jung Yeonshin did not say it as a childish complaint. It was a statement of fact. He was now someone who wore the black robes and looked towards even greater heights.
She had to accept his martial prowess as it was and form tactics accordingly.
"We'll see."
Ak Surim smiled faintly.
"Even if you surpass me one day, it won't change anything. You'll always be my little brother, one I wouldn't trade for anything."
Her tone was cheerful.
She stood lightly on the pure white snow. The black robe that draped down to her feet suited her better than anyone.
The undisputed strongest of the black-clad warriors. A faint surge of energy spread from the spear in her small grasp.
"Let's begin. Let's see just how well our Lightning Genius fares in real combat."
She still maintained a wide field of Energy Suppression. If the legendary Heavenly Celestial Maiden had descended wielding a weapon, she might have looked like this.
Her jet-black hair, streaked with strands like ebony, swayed mystically.
In this moment, Ak Surim was closer to a spear-wielding immortal.
Jung Yeonshin slowly pressed his hand against the ground and stood up.
"I'll be in your care."
This was both preparation for facing an absolute master and an opportunity to measure the martial prowess he had accumulated so far.
* * *
Jjeoong—!
How in the world did the Zhuge Clan Leader defeat this person?
One hundred thirty-five techniques. The thought grew stronger as time passed. Every time Jung Yeonshin deflected Ak Surim's spear strikes with his Beiming, he barely withstood the impact.
And he hadn't even activated Ultimate Thunder yet.
His opponent was the second strongest in the Divine Sword Order, a master who had cultivated for decades, transcending age with Rejuvenation. He couldn't handle her with raw strength alone.
They could not be considered the same kind of black-clad warrior.
If this had been back when he had just developed the Transcending Law Radiant Wheel, lasting even ten seconds against her would have been difficult.
'Senior Xiahou of the Forest Striding Squad used to speak of the ten-second gap.'
Trapped within a storm of silver trajectories, Jung Yeonshin felt it keenly.
And yet, even amidst this chaos, he found himself oddly pleased by the way his sword flowed and countered her strikes.
The wind roared, battering his ears relentlessly. Then, without warning, Ak Surim flipped and leaped over his head.
"Your swordplay's got bite!"
Her legs carved an arc through the air. Then, as she twisted her waist midair as if stepping upon an invisible foothold, her spear shot straight down toward his crown.
The condensed force within it howled like a storm, surging upward.
Three fluid movements woven together to create a near-mythical strike.
Ak Surim's Ak Clan Spear Technique, General's Thunderous Roar.
Kugugung—!
The dazzling white spear strike plummeted like divine punishment.
Jung Yeonshin's thoughts turned to lightning.
'She's infused step-generated force into the spear trajectory. That's a peerless strike. This surpasses Radiant River.'
It was an instant.
His head snapped to the side, and a faint blue afterimage trailed behind his gaze.
He dissected Ak Surim's spear trajectory with the brilliance of his sight arts.
The precise movement of her hands that unleashed the strike, the point and timing of the technique's culmination, the seamless flow of force extending from her footwork, the internal energy structure from the spear tip to the shaft, all of it burned itself into his vision.
'The power wave is amplifying itself five times over. The trajectory is a perfect vertical line—!'
She had warned him in advance that she would replicate the Zhuge Clan's leader's attack.
In that moment, Jung Yeonshin's hands twitched three times as he raised Beiming.
His upper dantian flared with awareness.
Swaaaak!
The Judgment Qilin's swift sword form cut through the vortex of force spiraling from the spear strike.
The descending storm of internal energy splintered under the minuscule adjustments of his blade.
And in the fleeting moment that shift occurred, Ak Surim's strike lost its edge.
Kwooooaaang—!
A violent tremor rippled through the dome of Energy Suppression.
It came alongside a razor-sharp wind, solid as a blade.
The built-up snow blasted into the air, sending white flurries scattering.
'Tch.'
Jung Yeonshin clenched his teeth slightly.
The fragments of residual force that grazed his upper body left searing pain in their wake.
The wounds were shallow cuts, but it was a clear loss in their exchange.
His senior had cast off the shell of her past self, her rejuvenation akin to an immortal ape shedding its skin.
She was closer to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven now.
Crunch.
The sound of footsteps on snow followed.
"Ugh, I knew you had some absurd trump card hidden. Pisses me off to get injured for nothing. Our Lightning Genius has both a priceless body and face, after all."
Ak Surim brushed off the snow as she strode toward him, her black hair and robe billowing. Her expression was odd.
"You actually pulled it off, huh? Just how many steps ahead is your perception? If my energy control were as fast as yours, I could've taken on the Zhuge Clan's leader alone."
"Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown doesn't seem so enviable now."
Jung Yeonshin forced himself to sound calm.
Ak Surim's lips curled upward, twitching like someone seeing an adorable puppy.
"I told you, Zhuge Bastard's attack is about thirty percent stronger than this one. Comes down from above like he thinks he's the Jade Emperor himself."
"Understood."
"It seems like you're adequately prepared now. You can focus on individual training. I wonder where Jin ran off to slack off this time."
"He is a perfected martial master, after all. He's likely fortifying another front."
"Yeah, yeah, that's true."
Ak Surim chuckled but soon furrowed her brows.
"Still, that Zhuge bastard has been staying put for far too long. How many days has it been? Winter's almost over. Even after hearing about Fist Grand Duke, he hasn't made a move."
As Jung Yeonshin silently thought of Eun Hwaryun, Ak Surim rubbed her chin lightly with a slender finger.
"This doesn't sit well with me. You never give sorcerers too much time…"
* * *
—The young black rank of Desolate Fortress has provoked the wrath of an absolute master. The heir of Zhuge Wuhou's blood has risen in fury, seeking to obliterate all traces of Desolate Fortress from Shaanxi Province.
The rumor spread far beyond even the vast lands of Shaanxi. Stories of absolute masters traveled a thousand miles. Because the power of a single one could rival an entire northern army.
The martial world of Shaanxi and Henan, and even the nobles of Northern Zhili, home of the imperial family, took notice.
Across the land, those deemed precious by the world began to gather.
"The identity of that so-called Chivalrous Slayer, which has come to light due to Eun Hwaryun's affair, is troubling. This time, make sure to confirm it. I think I finally understand why that so-called Desolate Sacred Warrior's face looked familiar during the martial tournament… More than dealing with the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, put all your strength into killing those two."
As the one who inherited the true legacies of both the Murong Clan and the Heavenly Demon opened his eyes.
"Abbot, please grant me permission to descend the mountain. I will examine the differences between the Demon-Slaying Azure Steel Palm and the Avalokitesvara Azure Steel Palm to bring prosperity to Dragon Phoenix Peak. According to Gak Jeong, known in the secular world as Little Divine Monk, the current Radiant Demon Squad's eader enjoys offering the shattered skulls of Blood Demons to Buddha...."
In the Great Buddha Hall of Songshan Shaolin, a serene Buddhist chant echoed.
"The Plum Blossom Pill? Well, I may be next in line after Yeonshin among my peers, but isn't it a bit dangerous for me to go alone…? Ah, fine, I'll go! Just don't scatter sword fragrance at me with your fingers! You need to rest and recuperate!"
Amidst the faint scent of plum blossoms spreading across Jade Maiden Peak of Mount Hua, where flowers were scarce—
"Even if delay is inevitable, it matters not. My grandson is of a different caliber than such insignificant things, so your concerns are unfounded. What? Dark Sword? What utter nonsense you speak."
At the southernmost tip of the Ming Dynasty, on the shores of Hainan, where both the streets and climate seemed to belong to an entirely different world—
A Water Dragon ascended to the heavens.
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