ALL NOVEL Ch 27
Tang Muho felt a powerful aura that made his skin tingle, and he was shocked to the core.
Just moments ago, the person standing before him had been nothing more than a shallow, scheming merchant.
It was hard to believe how much a person’s aura could change so rapidly.
The intense glare of his eyes.
His feet firmly planted on the ground.
The air of power emanating from Zhaohui, the servant of the Nangong family, was unmistakable.
His words were correct.
Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, Kunlun, Emei, Gongtong, Zhongnan, Qingcheng, Hengshan.
All the sects that make up the Nine Sects are long-established Buddhist or Taoist schools.
Their respect and tradition for Taoism, their shared sense of unity and kinship, were much deeper and more solid than anything the Five Great Families could compare to.
**Yiqihua Sanqing (One Qi Transforms into Three Clear Ones)** is the root of all Taoist sects.
How could the belief in the reverence of the Great Luo Heaven (Da Luo Tian) and the worship of the Supreme Taoist Deity, Yuan Shi Tian Zun, differ among them?
Clearly, Zhaohui’s logic was clear and unbiased.
If the Kunlun of Qinghai were to be trampled by the Tianma Sect, the Nine Sects, led by the Wulin League, would surely unite and rise up.
On the other hand, what about the Tang family’s position?
The righteous sect that uses poison and assassination techniques!
Tang Muho knew that although the Tang family’s reputation was feared, they never received direct support from the Five Great Families, even if they were whispered about behind closed doors.
Moreover, the Five Great Families were far more secular and driven by a desire for fame and honor.
Rather than strong unity, the desire for the title of the world’s greatest family was more prominent, and competition between them was fierce.
The Nangong family, in particular, was considered the de facto world’s greatest family unless the Sima family broke their seal.
However, this Nangong servant, Zhaohui, was now proposing an alliance with the Tang family.
“Let us destroy the Tianma Sect’s Sichuan branch together!”
But Muho was doubtful.
The Tang family had never once received kindness from the Five Great Families.
“You want us to bleed together just because we’re trading iron ore? You expect me to believe that? And even your claim to be the servant of the Nangong family is suspicious.”
The position of a family servant sometimes carried more authority than that of the elders of the family.
But someone as young as him being appointed as a servant of the Nangong family? That seemed too strange.
It appeared that Zhaohui’s martial arts skills were indeed impressive.
However, martial prowess alone does not lead to a position as an honored servant in a prestigious family like the Nangong.
The key qualities for a servant of the family are trust, virtue, and most importantly, fame.
The Nangong family surely wasn’t full of fools. How could they have appointed someone so unknown to lead as their servant?
“Have you been deceived all your life? No, why don’t you believe me when I say I’m the servant of the Nangong family? I really am their servant!”
“Do you have proof?”
“Proof?”
Zhaohui looked incredulously at the situation.
“Show proof of being a servant?” he thought.
Was he supposed to hand out business cards or something?
If he had brought Nangong Zhanghu or Zhang Yilong along, this would have been resolved immediately, but without his companions, he couldn’t think of any proof to offer.
‘Wait a minute?’
Suddenly, Zhaohui pulled the *Changchen Sword Token* from his robes and handed it to Tang Muho.
“This is the Changchen Sword Token of the Nangong family.”
Tang Muho shook his head slowly.
“The Changchen Sword Token is just a symbol of goodwill and friendship, it cannot serve as proof of your position as a servant.”
“Ha…”
Only then did Zhaohui realize the fundamental problem with the situation.
In the martial arts novels he had read in the past, there were often scenes where extras, simply by looking at the protagonist’s appearance, would deduce their alias and be startled.
The power of a name.
That is, fame or recognition.
Zhaohui did not want to attract the attention of the Wulin League or the Black Heaven Alliance, so he had rarely revealed his true abilities.
The phrase “A sharp stone will be hit” was very fitting—there was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble.
But now, he realized that sometimes a lack of fame could be inconvenient.
So, Zhaohui decided that it was necessary to reveal just enough of himself.
Whether in the modern world or the martial world, the weight of someone’s words depends on who is speaking.
“So, how can I prove myself?” Zhaohui asked.
With a calm gaze, Tang Muho responded, “If you can show me the Sword of the Emperor, we can talk.”
Zhaohui was beginning to understand the nature of the martial world.
In the martial world, a martial artist proves themselves only by their personal abilities.
“Very well. Will we fight?” Zhaohui asked.
Tang Muho’s gaze also became intense.
“There are no practices or training in the Tang family’s secret arts. Do you think you can handle the Tang family’s ultimate secret techniques?”
Pride filled Tang Muho’s face.
As Zhaohui watched him, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
After all, those who relied on poison and assassination techniques weren’t likely to engage in traditional martial arts competitions.
At that moment, Tang Yingshang smiled warmly and said to Tang Muho.
“The family head should bring out the Three Sacred Arts.”
“Th-the Three Sacred Arts?” Tang Muho stuttered.
**Miehun Poison (Soul-destroying Poison).**
**Yanhuo Tianbao Tong (Flaming Sky Explosion Barrel).**
**An Tian Yuqi Fei Dao Shu (Dark Sky Mastery Flying Sword Technique).**
The person who could freely wield the Three Sacred Arts of the Tang family was known as the Dark King.
This was the power and authority that only the family head could possess.
The title of Dark King earned the Tang family head the same respect as the “Absolute Poison Master.”
Tang Yingshang examined Tang Muho’s eyes.
“Indeed… You’ve focused too much on the Dark Sky and haven’t reached the level of the Poison Master. So, the Miehun Poison isn’t perfected. I will allow you to use the remaining two of the Sacred Arts.”
Among past family heads, there were very few who mastered both poison and the Dark Sky arts.
This was understandable, as the Dark Sky Mastery Flying Sword Technique was extremely difficult to master, and one could devote their entire life to it with uncertain results.
‘Could this young man be capable of that level?’
If Tang Yingshang had said so, then this young man must have the ability to wield those arts.
Soon, Tang Muho pulled out the Flaming Sky Explosion Barrel, a device encased in dark poison, and attached it to his arm.
Only the family head and successor could possess the Flaming Sky Explosion Barrel.
The Tang family members shuddered at the sight.
Seeing the actual device was an honor and a thrill, even for the young elites of the Tang family.
This device, capable of turning even the most skilled martial artist into a puddle of blood with just a small amount of blood, was responsible for the Tang family’s fame.
Tang Muho opened the device.
Then, five rings of wire sprang out.
Silently, Tang Muho placed each of the wire rings onto his fingers and spoke.
“You might die.”
With the keen observation skills of a modern person, Zhaohui immediately understood how the device worked.
“Isn’t it just a matter of dodging five shots?”
“Heh…”
Had Zhaohui never heard of the Tang family’s fame?
In front of the Flaming Sky Explosion Barrel, even experts at the Martial Realm would not remain calm.
One shot would turn into a torrent of blood, but Zhaohui was acting like avoiding five shots was easy.
Tang Muho’s expression turned to one of disdain as he slowly increased the distance.
He turned halfway, dropped his arms, and hid his hands in his sleeves.
The Tang family’s unique martial stance.
“I’m ready.”
Zhaohui also stepped back two paces and raised his sword, which gleamed with a bright white light.
“Please go first.”
Tang Muho’s face twisted with anger.
Before he could finish speaking, six hidden blades shot out from his sleeve simultaneously.
*Swoosh!*
The deadly blades shot toward Zhaohui at incredible speed.
*Clang!* *Clang!*
Zhaohui’s sword flashed like lightning, deflecting two of the hidden blades.
Then, Zhaohui vanished from sight in a flash!
The disappearing step, *Lei Zhen Feng* (Thunderstorm Wind), made him hard to follow.
His signature three sword strikes descended upon Tang Muho.
Tang Muho could not underestimate him and retreated hastily using the Dark Sky movement technique.
But as he tried to regain distance, Zhaohui’s three strikes suddenly flared with intense white light.
The dazzling brilliance was like starlight.
The will and energy of Zhaohui’s sword flowed through the blade.
Upon seeing the brilliance, Tang Muho immediately understood.
*Sword Qi Solidified into a Shield* (Jianqi Chenggang)!
At this moment, Tang Muho was forced to spin his body in a desperate attempt to avoid the incoming strike.
*Crack!* *Whoosh!*
The powerful sword energy pierced his back, splitting it like a melon.
Tang Muho gritted his teeth, forcing his internal energy to seal the wound.
Then, his figure shot into the air.
He was now using the *An Tian Yuqi Fei Dao Shu*.
Suddenly, Zhaohui’s vision split in two.
Between the split vision, numerous phantom blades poured down upon him.
Only an absolute martial mind could block these illusions.
Zhaohui gazed at the phantom blades with his white pupils.
The sword energy he unleashed surged as he observed the incoming threats.
To his surprise, these phantoms were not just illusions, but real flying blades.
“Could all of these be real?” he thought.
But how could that be possible?
Even wielding one blade required immense concentration—how could dozens, even hundreds, of blades be controlled?
Clearly, these were real blades.
They wouldn’t be following him so closely if they weren’t.
“This is some kind of scam!” Zhaohui thought in frustration.
The blades descended like a rainstorm.
Zhaohui’s sword flashed, and for the first time, he used all of his internal energy to defend.
The *Tianjianliu* sword technique, *Eighth Form*.
The technique he could now use with his maximum strength.
Zhaohui unleashed the **Tianxia Kongkong Dao**, using his internal energy to wield two forms simultaneously.
Two points appeared in the air.
These points expanded rapidly and swallowed up the hundreds of phantom blades.
The space rapidly compressed!
The force of the compression caused Tang Muho to cry out in pain.
Blood spurted from his hands as he looked on in horror.
He saw thirty-six of his flying blades entangled together like a mass of iron.
Every connection to his threads was severed.
The blades and threads, made of steel, were broken?
Tang Muho, unable to believe his eyes, quickly began to react.
Desperation filled his face as he attached the Flaming Sky Explosion Barrel to his left hand, using his right no longer.
The left side of his belt now carried eighteen more blades.
He activated a special mechanism, and the blades shot out again.
Zhaohui adjusted his stance, smiling bitterly.
“So this is some kind of trickery.”
He had thought it was just swordsmanship, but there were strange mechanisms hidden inside!
What a perfect deception!
Tang Yingshang stared at Zhaohui in disbelief.
“Just what kind of sword is that? Does the Nangong family use such techniques?”
“Huh? This sword?”
Tang Yingshang nodded, asking again.
“I’ve never seen a martial artist block the **Wan Tian Hua Wu** (Ten Thousand Flowers in the Sky) technique like that. What kind of sword is this?”
Zhaohui was stunned.
“That was the famous *Wan Tian Hua Wu*?” he asked.
The **An Tian Yuqi Fei Dao Shu**’s later forms were known in the martial world as *Wan Tian Hua Wu*.
It certainly lived up to its reputation!
The power of that technique was beyond even Black Heaven’s greatest masters.
“This is the sword technique of the **Jian Chong**,” Zhaohui explained.
“Jian Chong?” Tang Yingshang repeated in disbelief.
Zhou Hui smiled faintly.
“My master is a Sword God.”
The story was so far-fetched that Tang In-sang had nothing to say.
After all, the Sword God was an ambiguous figure, practically a phantom in the martial world.
There were countless legends, but all were fragmentary and abstract.
No one had ever definitively encountered the Sword God or his disciples, descendants, or martial arts.
And yet, Zhou Hui claimed to be the disciple of the Sword God?
Indeed, the swordsmanship of that one swordsman was extraordinary enough to be called a strange tale of the martial world.
A sword that could devour space!
The overwhelming sensation of watching that unique swordsman, which was so surreal it could not even be put into words, was more shocking than anything.
In the crushing pressure of space, even iron and steel were rendered helpless. If a person had been caught in that space, what would have happened to them?
Tang In-sang shuddered as goosebumps rose all over his body.
“A disciple of the Sword God…!”
If what Zhou Hui said was true, it meant he had directly witnessed the martial arts of the most powerful figure among the Three Gods, the Sword God.
“Why are you interrupting while we’re enjoying a duel? Should we stop?”
“Ah, no,” Tang In-sang realized his mistake and quickly withdrew.
The grand martial exhibition, a contest fought under the honor of the Tang and Namgung families, had been interrupted by his actions.
In the midst of the combat, Tang Mu-ho’s eyes flickered with a dangerous gleam. Still, he did not forget his respect for the opponent.
“A disciple of the Sword God, you say?”
“Yes.”
Having personally felt the tremendous sword, which was far beyond the norm of the martial world, Tang Mu-ho could trust Zhou Hui’s words.
And those eyes.
Pure white, so brilliant that it felt almost sinful to look at them, they radiated a kind of purity that was impossible to feel any malice from. It even moved him to awe.
Tang Mu-ho now believed Zhou Hui completely.
“Impressive.”
Not because Zhou Hui was the descendant of the Sword God, but because his martial skills were truly formidable.
Zhou Hui silently raised his sword again.
The presence he exuded was unmistakably different from before.
It was an immense, overwhelming presence.
It was the absolute power of a being far beyond what Tang Mu-ho had ever encountered.
Even the Archbishop of Tianma City seemed insignificant in comparison.
Mu-ho, who had spent his entire life cultivating and honing his martial arts to their peak, wondered how a young person could already possess such absolute power.
In the martial world, the highest level was often referred to as reaching the boundary of the “Five Immortals,” where only five masters could be on par with each other.
But the Tang family’s strength was not just a simple matter of martial rank.
Suddenly, Tang Mu-ho loosened his guard and respectfully bowed to Zhou Hui.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could I prepare my sword again? I don’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
This was a clear demonstration of Zhou Hui’s power.
But the desire for victory had now overtaken Mu-ho’s reason.
Zhou Hui’s pure white eyes, steady and calm, awaited his response.
“What opportunity are you referring to?”
In that moment, a fierce, almost manic energy flowed from Tang Mu-ho’s eyes.
“I want to test if my family’s ultimate secret sword technique, the ‘Absolute Secret of the Tang Family,’ can still stand against the absolute power you wield!”
At that moment, Tang In-sang intervened, looking shocked.
The secret technique, known as the “Absolute Secret of the Tang Family,” was said to be the final strike of the “Dark Heaven” technique.
“I don’t know much about the Dark Heaven training, but it’s clear that you’re not ready to use it at the head of the family just yet! And most importantly, you won’t be able to use it with that arm!”
The Absolute Secret of the Tang Family could not be used with the left arm, which had been severely injured. The right hand had already been torn, leaving bone exposed.
In an instant, Tang Mu-ho swung his right arm powerfully.
*Crack!*
He quickly popped his dislocated shoulder back into place and started moving his arm around.
Then, he picked up the bundle of silver thread and began tying it with his right hand.
Despite the bones in his fingers being visible, showing the immense pain he must have been in, he continued to work without any visible reaction.
Zhou Hui inwardly marveled.
He had heard of the Tang family’s legendary toughness, and this scene confirmed it.
“I’m fine. There’s no need to worry, Uncle.”
“…”
To perform the final strike of the Absolute Secret of the Tang Family, Mu-ho would have to recover for at least a month.
But Tang In-sang knew how hard it was to suppress the desire for battle.
If he had been in Tang Mu-ho’s position, he would have made the same request.
Zhou Hui could not ignore the sincerity in Mu-ho’s expression.
“Alright, then. We’ll wait.”
The Tang family became busy.
As soon as the family head mentioned the Absolute Secret, all the Tang family’s elites rushed to gather.
Seeing the true display of the ‘Ten Thousand Dragon Sword’ would be a momentous event for the entire Tang family.
Tang Mu-ho, with the silver thread in hand, exchanged glances with his men and began preparing.
Zhou Hui observed, intrigued, as Mu-ho attached the silver threads to the swords, allowing them to be controlled as if by a technique.
The sight of dozens of swords floating in the air, manipulated by the thread, was as if they were being controlled by inner energy. It was a truly impressive display.
Finally, after Mu-ho had carefully arranged all the swords, he adopted a unique martial stance, acknowledging Zhou Hui.
“Thank you for your help. We are ready now.”
“Let’s begin.”
With a simple answer, Zhou Hui raised his sword again.
At that moment, the entire Tang family estate seemed to tremble.
*Rumble…*
Fifty-four swords rose into the air in unison.
The silver threads fluttered like ghostly hair, trailing sharply through the air, exuding a chilling aura.
A thin line of blood trickled from Tang Mu-ho’s lips.
Even with such pain, the fierce focus in his eyes was palpable, and Zhou Hui couldn’t help but admire it.
And then…
The world turned black.
**(Dark Sky Control Qi Flying Blade Technique)**
** (Post-Two Techniques)**
** (Dark Sky Ten Thousand Lights Reversal Dance)**
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Swooooshhh!!!
Amidst the black world, hundreds and thousands of blades began to dance like illusions.
Some scattered, some were shot, and some blossomed.
The countless flashes that were piercing his eyes, even in that moment, Jo Hwi was admiring them.
Indeed, **A sky full of flower rain** (Full Sky of Flower Rain)!
It lived up to its reputation.
For the first time in his life, Jo Hwi unleashed his full internal power.
His new form flickered.
Jo Hwi could see the physical movements of the countless lights—these “flower rains”—that were pouring down at him.
Flashing!
With incredible footwork, Jo Hwi evaded the blades, occasionally parrying them with his sword or deflecting them with his defensive internal techniques.
He wanted to execute the world-renowned sword technique of **Ten Thousand Flower Rain** (Heavenly Public Sword Technique), but the range of the flower rains was too wide.
Dang Muho grinned grimly.
The terror of the **Ten Thousand Flower Rain** (Ten Thousand Lights of the Sky) was just beginning.
**Fwoosh!**
The strange sound of a crack echoed in Jo Hwi’s ears at that moment.
“Ugh!”
An intense pain, like being burned, shot up from his thigh.
In an instant, an overwhelming poison took over his insides.
As Jo Hwi’s vision blurred, he activated his defense technique, stopping his movements.
“Poison?”
Inside, his **Geumcheon Daesin-gong** (Sword Heaven Great Internal Technique) struggled madly against the poison.
Jo Hwi stared at Dang Muho’s explosive blow in disbelief.
The **Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) Pipe** (Flame-Flower Heaven Explosion Cannon) was spewing thick smoke!
Could it be that the physical movements beyond his perception could exist?
This meant that the technique was moving faster than Jo Hwi’s current level could register.
As Jo Hwi’s internal technique weakened from battling the poison, his defensive power began to break down.
Boom, boom, boom!
The flying blades tore through his defense and shredded his body.
“Ugh!”
It seemed the blades were laced with venom, as Jo Hwi’s entire body began to burn with dark flames.
Blood poured out of him.
“How… dangerous!”
He had never imagined that Dang Muho’s explosive poison would have such power.
This was the first time since engraving the Sword God’s martial arts into his body that he had encountered such a situation.
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Desperately, Jo Hwi gathered the remaining power in his body and poured it into his sword.
Boom!
With a tremendous sound, Jo Hwi’s new form shot up.
Even after jumping over ten meters, Jo Hwi could see the sky full of flower rains all aimed at him, and he felt a chill running down his spine.
When his momentum peaked, he surrendered to gravity.
Jo Hwi plunged downward, charging at Dang Muho.
Soon, his **Joga-cheolgeom** (Ironclad Sword) began to tremble at incredible speed.
The sword’s energy surged, growing more powerful until it became like a massive sword.
For the first time, the **Heavenly Sword Style** (Heavenly Sword Style) revealed its might through the **천하중중패** (Great Overwhelming Sword of the World)!
In the past, the Sword God used this immense sword to completely crush the Dark Demonic Sect.
The gigantic sword slammed into the ground where Dang Muho stood.
Boom, boom, boom!
The ground where Dang Muho had been standing flipped like a tidal wave, causing shockwaves to spread.
Jo Hwi’s piercing eyes quickly scanned the area.
Even though the blades continued to swirl, it was clear that Dang Muho had survived.
At that moment, Jo Hwi’s eyes began to dim.
“Ha… ha…”
Despite his internal techniques being on par with the greatest, facing the poison of Dang Muho was no easy task.
If he wanted to push away the poison, he would have to focus all his energy on it, but with the flower rains attacking from all sides, it was impossible.
His vision was starting to collapse.
Thud!
Jo Hwi glanced at the source of the sudden movement.
Dang Muho appeared on the roof of a building.
But his clothing around his feet was burnt to ashes.
Jo Hwi’s gaze shifted to a strange device strapped to Dang Muho’s ankle.
“Could it be?”
The device was still emitting white smoke!
Insane!
He had mounted explosives on his feet, using them like rockets.
What is this, Tony Stark!?
The absurdity of it made Jo Hwi speechless.
Dang Muho poured everything into the flower rains and used the explosive ankle device to dodge the fatal attacks!
But it was a huge risk.
Given the nature of the explosives, a mistake could lead to dislocated joints or, in the worst case, his legs being blown off.
The crazy genius of the Dang family made Jo Hwi realize the extent of their madness.
Swooooshhh!
The blades began to swirl once more!
Meanwhile, the Flame-Flower Heaven Explosion Cannon was still targeting Jo Hwi, ready to fire!
At this point, Jo Hwi had no choice but to admit defeat.
“…I’ve lost.”
Even trying to dispel the poison was an exhausting task.
If he released more internal power, his life would be in danger.
However, Jo Hwi faced a strange determination.
Could this really be called a duel of martial artists?
He couldn’t bring himself to accept the devices Dang Muho used.
“Ha…”
The man who had witnessed this battle, Dang Insang, could not contain his emotions.
What he had just seen was the very legend of the **암왕** (Dark King).
Seeing the real Dark King, the legend he had only imagined, caused his whole body to shiver in awe.
This was the Dang family!
A terrifying force that had held the line against the Demonic Sect for four hundred years.
Tears welled up in Dang Insang’s eyes.
Even though they were looked down upon for relying on artifacts, the legend of the Dark King had been preserved!
Behold!
No member of the Seven Great Masters dared to underestimate the Dark King!
Jo Hwi, who boasted the Sword God’s techniques, was being completely overpowered!
But when Jo Hwi felt the crushing weight of defeat, his eyes suddenly sparkled with brilliant light.
– **검신 어른**! (Sword God, master!)
When the Sword God suddenly manifested in Jo Hwi’s body, Jo Hwi was taken aback and called out to the Sword God.
However, the Sword God remained silent, standing there without a response.
“Ha… ha…”
Locked in the Heavenly Blood Prison, Jo Hwi thought his emotions had dulled over time, but upon seeing his disciple’s struggle, his heart surged with emotion.
The **Dark King** of the Dang family was wielding the full force of his technique, and in that critical moment, the absurdity of Jo Hwi’s avoidance and his great sword was almost laughable.
But that was only natural.
The sword path he had taken was based solely on principles learned through sheer talent.
His disciple was still lacking in experience.
No matter how powerful the sword techniques were, they would fail when faced with real battle.
Jo Hwi had never truly experienced a fight before.
Even when facing skilled masters from other sects, he had only survived because of his overwhelming skills and techniques.
In the end, he had crumbled in the face of the Dang family’s Dark King.
Nevertheless, Jo Hwi still thought of himself as the inheritor of the Sword God’s legacy.
A descendant of the Sword God could not lose to the Dark King of the Dang family.
This, however, did not lessen the incredible might of Dang Muho.
Before being imprisoned, Jo Hwi had never encountered the Dang family, and now, he was left regretting that lack of experience.
As the Sword God manifested, Jo Hwi felt an intense surge of energy.
The natural energy of the world gathered around him, and using this vitality, Jo Hwi rapidly dispelled the poison.
Drip, drip…
The poison that had been festering inside him flowed out of his pores.
At that moment, his sword moved.
It wasn’t the sword of a skilled master, but it was enough to overwhelm Jo Hwi.
– “Ah!”
Human and sword became one.
Jo Hwi realized how small his reliance on the **The Omnipotent Body of the Heavenly Sword** (Sword Heaven Perfect Body) was in comparison to his sword’s true form.
“What does this mean to you?”
A swordsman who had mastered the thirty-six techniques of the sword could not falter in the face of mere illusions. The techniques of the Dang family, based solely on artifacts, would always fall short in a true confrontation.
In the midst of thousands of flower rains, the truth became clear.
There were only fifty-four blades in total.
The whirlwinds from Jo Hwi’s sword swept away all illusions.
“Don’t look with your eyes; feel with your heart.”
Swoosh, swoosh!
With swift and graceful movements, Jo Hwi evaded the attacks that would have otherwise overwhelmed him.
The series of movements, even more brilliant than the flower rains, were a fantasy unto themselves.
“What do you think ‘intention’ means?”
Jo Hwi’s mind had been engraved with a vision so clear, it could not be mistaken.
In that fleeting moment, the sword split into one, then two, then four, then eight—endlessly multiplying.
And thus, **(Sword
Forest)** was born.
Here is the English translation of the passage:
—
**”Do you recognize thousands of swords as real swords?”**
Zhou Hui could not hastily say yes.
Since human brains are embedded with concepts, breaking through that conceptual barrier is a distant task.
How can someone who has always perceived ice as cold suddenly perceive it as hot overnight?
Moreover, even if one were to break through that conceptual barrier, perceiving everything as a solid reality is a different matter entirely.
*‘Then, what is your Void?’*
Huh?
Now that he thought about it, it made sense.
A void power that could perceive, control, and dismantle an abstract space.
Wasn’t that the destruction of concepts and the manifestation of thought?
*‘What is the difference in this Sword Forest?’*
At that moment, Zhou Hui felt a violent shock, as if his soul was trembling.
The barrier that had blocked him until now was merely a thin layer.
Once he recognized that barrier, everything changed.
At that moment, the warriors of the Bi Dao who couldn’t break through the Sword Forest’s barrier stopped one after another.
Tang Muhuo, having exhausted all his true internal power, was coughing up blood and collapsing.
Slowly, his body tipped backward.
His face, stretched out on the ground, was filled with an unmistakably refreshing aura.
It was the first time in his life he had given everything.
The Sword God Elder returned to the Blood Prison.
Zhou Hui, despite the drain on his energy, felt deeply grateful to the Sword God Elder, who had personally taught him.
*‘Elder…’*
The Sword God Elder had possessed him too often.
If he continued to drain energy, his soul would slowly degrade, and eventually, he would lose all presence and could no longer exist within the Blood Prison.
This was something Zhou Mengde had mentioned to him recently.
He had to somehow convince the Elder to stop possessing him further.
All the members of the Tang Clan stared at Zhou Hui in a daze.
To them, the Dark King was a legend, a miracle, and an invincible being.
Accepting that the Dark King could be defeated by someone else was not easy.
The overwhelming scene of the Wan Tian Hua Wu, with all the rays of light being blocked by the massive sword wall, was a tremendous shock to the Tang Clan.
And most incredibly, Zhou Hui remained completely unharmed despite being struck by the lethal Elixir of Heaven.
Compared to the Tang Clan’s most lethal poison, the Immortal Extinguishing Poison, the Elixir of Heaven was also one of the clan’s five deadliest poisons.
It was a poison capable of turning even the most powerful master into a pile of blood with a handful of it.
Even someone as skilled as a master of healing might struggle for months to purge the poison.
Yet, the young man in front of them showed no sign of illness, not even a change in his complexion.
“What are you doing? The clan leader has fallen.”
At Zhou Hui’s reproach, a few of the poison masters hurried over to check on their clan leader.
Tang Muho’s face, pale and lifeless, made them click their tongues.
“A foolish man… Why did he waste all his True Qi so recklessly?”
Using one’s innate life force would inevitably shorten one’s lifespan.
At least ten years of Tang Muho’s life would have been taken by this one battle.
As a member of the Tang Clan, he knew their pride and stubbornness well.
The clan members continued to examine their leader, but Tang Hakseo, the chief of the Tang Clan’s military, silently stared at Zhou Hui.
“All decisions will be postponed until the clan leader recovers. You will be taken to the auxiliary courtyard.”
Zhou Hui needed time to digest his recent realizations.
“Let it be.”
* * *
Onshore, the inspector from the Wulin Alliance, Dan Baikwoo, looked out over the vast expanse of the Poyang Lake, marveling at its size.
Behind him, an elderly man with a large bamboo hat chuckled and spoke.
“Ha ha! If I had known Poyang Lake had such a unique atmosphere, I wouldn’t have stayed cooped up in the cabin.”
Dan Baikwoo, while respectfully nodding to the old man, lowered his voice.
“This is the domain of the Lian. We must avoid drawing attention.”
“Ha ha… I see, I see,” the old man replied, adjusting his bamboo hat as he observed the bustling port and the people moving about.
The port was full of workers unloading goods, women mending nets, and children running around playfully. Even the horses pulling carts were snorting and kicking in the busy atmosphere.
This was the vibrant, lively energy of the place—very different from the Wulin Alliance’s homeland.
“This is truly a place where people live,” the old man remarked, his eyes clouded with a hint of regret.
To think that such a warm, lively place would fall under the rule of the Lian Clan…
But before he could linger on his thoughts, a young man in the attire of a coachman approached them, bowing and smiling broadly.
“Are you heading somewhere far?”
The young coachman’s hopeful expression indicated his excitement. He was clearly proud of his expertise in running carriages in this port.
Despite his plain clothes, Dan Baikwoo could see the elegant patterns on the swords the two men carried—a sign of skilled swordsmanship.
His eyes narrowed with caution.
“Who are you?”
“I am Zhang Yi, a member of the Zhaoga Transport’s carriage service,” the young coachman answered.
“Carriage service? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Before Dan Baikwoo could respond further, Zhang Yi quickly pulled out a map.
“We offer rides at discounted prices! To the blue-marked area, it’s fifty wen! To the green-marked area, one silver tael! To the red-marked area, two silver taels!”
Dan Baikwoo frowned.
“Not interested.”
However, the old man stepped forward with a warm smile.
“Would you be willing to give us a ride, young man?”
Zhang Yi eagerly nodded.
“We’ll provide the best service!”
“Good. Take us to the Zhaoga Merchant Guild,” the old man replied.
“Ah, Elder!” Dan Baikwoo exclaimed, realizing the risks of trusting strangers in Lian’s domain.
But the old man motioned him to be quiet.
“It’s better than wandering around the market, isn’t it? We can also see the customs and goods of the Jiangnan region. Let’s ride.”
Reluctantly, Dan Baikwoo sighed and followed.
As the carriage began to roll away, the old man marveled at its smooth ride.
“Ha! How can this carriage be so comfortable?” he exclaimed.
Despite being one of the cheapest models, the carriages from Anhui seemed to provide an unexpectedly good ride, thanks to their excellent suspension.
“Is this your first time on a carriage?” Zhang Yi asked, noticing the old man’s amazement.
“Indeed!” the old man answered, admiring the innovative technology and the cultural differences of the region.
Dan Baikwoo couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the old man’s delight, something he rarely saw in his usual world of politics and strategy.
“Sir, we’ve arrived!” Zhang Yi called out as they reached their destination.
The old man handed over a silver tael.
“Here’s one silver.”
“Thank you! We’ll be happy to serve you again next time!” Zhang Yi said with a wide grin.
As the old man stepped off the carriage, he looked up at the sign of the Zhaoga Merchant Guild, still smiling.
“This is the place that makes the great general shake his head in disbelief?” he mused.
As his eyes shifted from the roof to the eaves, he noticed something odd.
“Hmm?”
Beneath the eaves, a young man was lying listlessly, his body resembling a bundle of straw that had been left out in the rain.
The face was familiar.
He squinted. If he added some muscle and bulk, it was unmistakably… **Peng Jia, the son of the King of the Wuji**.
His body covered in numerous cuts and bite marks, Peng Jia seemed barely conscious, his dull eyes flicking between the old man and Dan Baikwoo.
“Who…” Peng Jia murmured, blinking in confusion.
Dan Baikwoo was taken aback by the sight.
“Isn’t that Peng Jia? What on earth happened to him?”
He frowned, staring at the wounds on Peng Jia’s arms.
There were dozens of gash marks, clearly made by swords, as well as bite marks scattered across his skin.
Panicking, Peng Jia hid his arms under his robe.
Dan Baikwoo then recognized him and spoke.
“Peng Jia, what happened? What kind of disaster have you faced?”
Suddenly, Dan Baikwoo frowned more deeply.
“Those injuries… What’s going on?”
Peng Jia’s arms were covered with cuts, as well as deep bite marks.
Hastily, Peng Jia tried to cover them up with his robe, his eyes nervously darting between Dan Baikwoo and the old man.
Recognizing Dan Baikwoo, Peng Jia hurriedly rose and greeted him.
“It’s nothing… I… I am merely… a little unwell,” he stammered.
From the bite marks, it was clear that he was hiding something, but since he didn’t speak further, Dan Baikwoo decided not to pry into his private matters.
Dan Baikwoo gave him a sharp look.
“By the way, I heard there’s a major event in Hebei soon. What brings you here?”
“Ah…”
Pang Gak’s face was a picture of despair.
He had come to challenge the entry restrictions of the Heabingguan, but to speak the truth and admit he had become a miner was not an option.
“I… I’ve decided to temporarily take care of matters for the Zhojia Grand Merchant Guild.”
“…Take care of matters?”
Why would a distinguished minor leader from the Pang Family, who hailed from such a faraway place as the Jiangxi region, come all the way here to assist a branch under the Namgung Family?
Pang Gak found himself perplexed as his thoughts wandered. The powerful families he knew were not so closely tied to each other.
It seemed Pang Gak sensed that doubt in Dan Baik Woo, and he responded with a frustrated look.
“Other minor lords, including Xie Wanjun and Xue Liang, are here too! Plus… the north…!”
“North?”
Pang Gak quickly clamped his mouth shut, realizing too late that he had almost mentioned the name of a member of the Beihai Binggong, a subordinate faction of the Namgung Family.
His internal reprimand was evident as he quickly wiped the sweat off his brow and glanced nervously at the north.
“The… the north wind is blowing. Please be careful not to catch a cold.”
Dan Baik Woo frowned deeply.
This was not the Pang Gak he knew—he had never seen him act so frivolously before.
“By the way, who is that?”
Dan Baik Woo pointed to an old man wearing a deep hood that obscured his face, revealing only his long, white mustache.
Pang Gak answered in a lowered voice.
“That is… the sect leader of the Heavens’ Edge Sect.”
The old man was none other than the famed Martial Emperor, Qingyun Zhenren!
The man who contended for the title of world’s greatest swordsman alongside the legendary Jihwa Sword from the Mount Huashan school. A legendary figure said to be the top of the Seven Immortals and a grand figure in the righteous martial world. The Martial Emperor!
Dan Baik Woo looked at the frail old man with surprise—how could someone who seemed physically incapable of holding a sword be the ruler of such a large territory?
Pang Gak thought for a moment, “This small man seems like he might collapse with a light tap…” and immediately corrected himself with a start, rushing to give a proper greeting.
“It is an honor! The son of the North Sky Xuanwu Clan, Pang Gak, greets the Martial Emperor of the Wulin Alliance!”
“Ah, enough with the noise!”
At that moment, the Martial Emperor lightly swished his sleeve, and Pang Gak froze mid-bow.
“Enough of the formalities. By the way, where is Zho Hui, the head of the Zhojia Grand Merchant Guild?”
Pang Gak’s complexion turned pale.
“That… that bastard… I mean, the head of the Zhojia Grand Merchant Guild, is currently away in Sichuan.”
“Sichuan?”
Dan Baik Woo’s face was filled with suspicion.
“Yes, he said he was going to the Tang Clan.”
“The Tang Clan?”
Dan Baik Woo knew well that only a select few members of the Wulin Alliance, such as the Flagbearers, could communicate directly with the Tang Clan. He found it hard to believe that someone like Zho Hui would have a relationship with them.
A mere merchant getting involved with the Tang Clan? This was highly unusual.
“And yet, the Wulin Alliance leader traveled all the way to Jiangxi and wasted his efforts here…”
Dan Baik Woo gave a long sigh and said, “It’s all right. Since he’s not here, we can simply meet with the guild leaders and convey our message.”
The Martial Emperor shook his head.
“If it could be done through force, I would not have come here myself. Pang Gak, where are the guild leaders?”
Pang Gak turned his gaze towards the lakeside.
“They should all be gathered at the Jiangbin Inn.”
“Jiangbin Inn?”
The Martial Emperor frowned as he heard the strange name.
“It’s a new business that opened three days ago. Think of it as a sort of tavern.”
“Hoo…”
The Martial Emperor’s voice held a trace of curiosity.
“I’ve heard that the cold ice wine from Zhojia Grand Merchant Guild is quite famous. Is it available there?”
“Yes… it should be.”
Pang Gak knew that the eccentric Jang Il-ryong would never turn down the Martial Emperor’s request. But for a moment, Pang Gak thought:
Isn’t the Martial Emperor a renowned Taoist cultivator? Wouldn’t he be surprised by the level of hospitality at the Jiangbin Inn?
As he pondered this, the Martial Emperor said, “Let’s go then.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Just as they were about to leave, they were interrupted by a voice from the rooftops.
“Hohoho! Pang Gak, my brother!”
It was Jin Gahee, who had arrived with incredible speed using his light-foot technique.
Pang Gak quickly shouted with a yellow face, “Take care! I’m off!”
In the blink of an eye, Pang Gak vanished from sight with his own light-foot technique, leaving Dan Baik Woo with a bewildered expression.
“What on earth is going on here?”
The sun began to set, and the Po Yang Lake grew darker as they moved further away.