A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

It was embarrassing.

Even though he tried not to look, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Look at that perfect ratio, those beautiful curves!

Though it was clearly a depiction of a woman’s body, it was neither vulgar nor lewd.

The incredible detail!

Such a depiction could only have been completed with unrelenting dedication and a refined craftsmanship that was impossible without mastery.

To think that such a vivid portrayal could be achieved with just sword marks…

If this artist were born in the modern era, they would surely be a brilliant creator of adult webcomics, making a fortune… Oh, never mind.

As Cho Hwi continued to marvel in awe, other voices suddenly filled the air.

– “Ugh… Where is this place…?”

– “Ah, what are these authors?”

– “Th… They are other honored ones!”

– “Oh! So this is possible!”

In that instant, Cho Hwi felt a chill run down his spine.

The voices that he heard were not from the elders of the Cho family.

And now, they were talking about “other honored ones.”

“Are my ancestors still there?” Cho Hwi wondered in surprise.

The voices responded as if they, too, were caught off guard.

– “Can you hear us?”

– “Is this even possible?”

– “Such a miraculous event!”

While everyone else seemed flustered, the voice of the being presumed to be the Demon God was unnervingly calm.

– “Ha ha ha! At last, the Honsecheonok has been connected! It’s finally come together!”

Honsecheonok?

Cho Hwi furrowed his brow.

It was clearly a term referring to the Yicheonhyeolok.

Why does this necklace have so many names?

The Cho family calls it the Yicheonhyeolok, the Demon Cult refers to it as the Seonghwa Maok, and now it’s being called the Honsecheonok?

– “I told you many times! A person with a mortal body and the spirit of the honored ones will appear!”

Listening to the excited voice of the Demon God, Cho Hwi fell into deep thought.

The Demon God’s bloodstone scattered like a mirage, only to be absorbed into Cho Hwi’s body, causing a headache similar to the one he had experienced immediately after his reincarnation.

From what he could tell, the Yicheonhyeolok of the Demon God had allowed the souls trapped inside to invade his own soul.

“My soul is not a motel…” he thought.

– “Motel? What is that?”

– “This person’s world seems a bit strange… What is this…?”

– “Oh! This person is not from Central Plains, is he?”

“Forget that, are my ancestors still there or not?” Cho Hwi wondered anxiously.

The voice of the Demon God replied:

– “They are still here, bound by powerful magic. Their spirits are all sealed.”

Hearing this, Cho Hwi sighed in relief.

At least his ancestors hadn’t vanished, which was a great relief.

“But who are these others?” he thought.

– “We are from the Dokgo family.”

The Dokgo family? The long-extinct Dokgo clan?

Cho Hwi knew about the existence of such a family, though little information remained since it had perished long ago.

What was certain, however, was that they had been part of the righteous factions.

But a Demon God? That was strange.

At that moment, the monks’ awkward coughing was heard.

“Ahem… Amitabha…”

“Ahem!”

The monks turned away in surprise and immediately began to loudly disapprove when Cho Hwi showed the spring painting.

Cho Hwi briefly glanced at them but paid them no mind as he addressed the Demon God in his thoughts.

“Is it true that you are learning a technique to restore people?”

– “You must be referring to the Celestial Master’s Creation and Resurrection Technique.”

“Celestial Master?”

Cho Hwi cocked his head in confusion when another voice came through.

– “What of the techniques of our sect?”

“Wait, is that the voice of the Celestial Master himself?”

Cho Hwi no longer hesitated. He turned abruptly to face the monks.

“How do we get out of here now?”

The monk who had been observing Cho Hwi’s sword energy, which had been burning white, noticed it was gone and cleared his throat awkwardly before turning back to Cho Hwi.

“Amitabha, the exit… is a bit complicated. First, you must pass through the Absolute Formation. But the formation’s gate won’t open until the energy of the Moonlight reaches its peak during the midnight hour, from 11 PM to 1 AM.”

“Hmm…”

“The exit will lead to the Devil’s Cavern, which is filled with deadly traps. Only the senior monks of the Huayuan Temple can navigate it.”

Just hearing the explanation made Cho Hwi’s head throb.

Ignoring the monk’s words, Cho Hwi casually lifted his sword into the air.

There was no need for complicated thinking.

With his mastery of Sword Control Flight, he simply needed to leave the way he entered.

*Whoosh!*

With a swift motion, Cho Hwi mounted his sword and held his hands together in thanks toward the monks.

“Thank you for your help. Farewell…”

With his mind already at peace and his sword energy revealed, there was no reason to hesitate now.

The two senior monks were frozen in shock.

“W-wait! Master!”

“Hah! Sword Control Flight?!”

They couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.

For a young man like Cho Hwi to be an absolute master was already astonishing enough.

But now, to casually perform Sword Control Flight—a technique only achievable after reaching the highest martial arts level—was something they couldn’t comprehend!

“I will see you again if fate allows.”

*Whoosh!*

With a deafening rush of wind, Cho Hwi soared upward, shooting through the net at the top of the hall.

The senior monks watched in stunned silence, only to mutter in disbelief.

“Amitabha… A true divine dragon has appeared in the martial world.”

The other senior monk, seemingly in agreement, slowly nodded his head.

“…His power is like the legendary Sword God.”

That aside, however, Gong Cheon Dae Sa couldn’t shake the strange feeling that some important treasure of the Shaolin Temple had just been stolen.

Moreover, Cho Hwi had visited claiming to represent the Namgung family, yet didn’t even donate a single coin to the temple before leaving?

Had he ever felt such frustration from one person before?

It felt as though all his years of training had been in vain.

“Ha…”

As Gong Cheon Dae Sa let out a hollow laugh, the sound of the wind from Sword Control Flight faded away, and it was no longer heard.

—

The Zhuge family had continuously developed the Eight Gates Restriction Array, eventually creating the greatest formation in the history of the martial world—the Eight Gates Soul Binding Celestial Restriction Formation.

As Zhuge Yun examined the formation, he couldn’t help but marvel at its complexity.

“Truly amazing! My older brother is incredible!”

Within the formation, there were countless techniques that Zhuge Yun couldn’t even imagine at his current level.

Illusions that induced strange phenomena, confusing intruders with complex tricks.

And when the right time came, the legendary magic would cause endless changes, making even someone like Zhuge Yun, who was deeply familiar with the formation, unable to predict the outcome.

*Clink, clink—*

The bells hanging from the arrangement of trees started to ring loudly, and Zhuge Yun’s eyes narrowed coldly.

“An intruder!”

This could only mean that someone had entered the formation. And not just one person, but a group!

Zhuge Yun’s sharp gaze shifted back to the formation’s map.

What made the Eight Gates Soul Binding Celestial Restriction Formation so dangerous was that upon reaching the first gate, an immense illusion would trap the intruder, causing them to suffer from mental confusion.

Zhuge Yun planned to use his own abilities to further strengthen these illusions.

Just as Zhuge Yun was about to manipulate the formation, the voice of his older brother, Zhuge Ying, echoed in his mind.

– “Stop! It’s the masters of the Namgung family!”

“Oh, I see?”

Zhuge Yun sighed deeply.

A moment later, Zhuge Ying, having manipulated the formation, swiftly opened the entrance.

Zhuge Yun couldn’t help but admire his older brother’s quick action once again.

“To be able to absorb the mystery of the Qi Transformation so quickly…!”

Today was the first time Zhuge Yun had truly experienced his brother’s exceptional skills.

Only now did he realize how arrogant he had been, thinking of himself as the “little Zhuge,” and how much he had underestimated the enormity of his brother’s abilities.

‘I really have so much more to learn…’

If his older brother was this skilled, then what about the leaders of the various factions and the sorcerers of the Phoenix Order, who were said to be even more powerful? How extraordinary must their abilities be?

The sound of footsteps grew louder.

Just hearing the footsteps alone, Zhuge Yun could immediately sense strict discipline and years of cultivation.

Soon, he followed the footsteps and arrived at the rear courtyard of the Grand Assembly Hall.

As the mist of the formation cleared, a person became clearly visible.

Zhuge Yun quickly bowed respectfully.

“I greet the Clan Head.”

Namgung Su, the head of the Namgung family, smiled warmly and accepted Zhuge Yun’s greeting.

“Haha, it’s a pleasure. My eyes are being treated to something good today. To think I’d get to see the legendary formation of the Zhuge family, the Eight Gates Soul Binding Celestial Formation!”

Without the Zhuge family’s Qi Formation, the martial world might have been left vulnerable to the forces of evil. The power of this formation was truly immense in the martial world.

At that moment, Namgung Jangho, having fully recovered, approached and greeted his father with formal etiquette.

“Thank you for coming such a long way, Father.”

“Haha… my son.”

Namgung Su, seeing his son now more mature, couldn’t hide his satisfaction. His son’s sharp, fierce eyes were a clear sign of his growth.

However, the worry of a father remained.

“Is it difficult living outside the family?”

“…It’s tough, Father. I’m not even sure why I’m putting myself through all of this.”

At that moment, Namgung Jangho’s eyes turned toward Han Seolhyeon and Jin Gahee.

He felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness, as the women had outpaced him even in martial skill. His pride, once the pinnacle of the martial world, was now shattered.

Yet, as he once again faced the family’s trained warriors, his resolve firmed, and his focus returned.

The king does not waver.

Namgung Jangho turned to bow respectfully to the family’s leaders.

“I greet the leaders of the family.”

The leaders of the Namgung family stared at him, their gazes as sharp as blades. Though they did not speak, Namgung Jangho could immediately sense their anger.

The king never avoids a battle with his enemies.

At that moment, Namgung Jangho realized that his father had come to the western region with the family’s very survival on the line.

Tension filled the air.

The Namgung family, though relatively small, was about to challenge the Black Heaven Alliance.

Just then, the mist parted, and Zhuge Ying arrived.

“I greet the Clan Head.”

“Ah… no wonder the tactics of the formation were so impressive. The head of the Zhuge family’s inner sect has arrived personally.”

“Please, you flatter me. By the way, is the Namgung family’s army fully assembled? I haven’t had the chance to confirm, but it seems that more people have entered the formation.”

Namgung Su smiled slightly.

“They are the Heavenly Dragon Vanguard of the Alliance.”

“The… Heavenly Dragon Vanguard?” Zhuge Yun’s eyes widened in surprise.

The Heavenly Dragon Vanguard was a powerful military unit under the martial alliance’s Hunan branch.

Given its proximity to the territories of the unorthodox factions, its power was among the strongest.

‘They’re serious about this…!’

With this level of strength, they might just be able to pull it off.

But then, a deafening sound of wind rushed through the air.

*Whoosh!*

At the same time, Cho Hwi appeared—still mounted on his sword.

Then came his sharp command:

“Bring me live chickens and garlic! Also, some old sticky rice! Hurry!”

Everyone stood there, dumbfounded, as Cho Hwi shouted again.

“Damn it! We need to save Ilryong!”

In the midst of the urgency, Cho Hwi couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.

Live chickens, garlic, and sticky rice—wasn’t this the typical ingredients for Samgyetang, a Korean ginseng chicken soup?

Though the materials seemed a bit unworthy for a grand resurrection technique, they were easy to procure, which was a relief.

Just then, at the back of the Namgung family’s ranks, a sharp woman’s voice cried out.

“Sob! Ilryong, my brother!”

With tears streaming down her face, the woman running toward them was none other than Namgung Sosol, who had rushed to Poyang Lake after hearing the news of Ilryong’s condition.

Namgung Su had repeatedly tried to stop her from going to the battlefield, but Sosol’s love for Ilryong was something he could not control.

Arriving at Ilryong’s bedside, Sosol let out a loud cry as she saw his body, frozen in ice, now pale and skeletal.

“My brother! Nooooo!”

Seeing Ilryong’s thin hand through the ice, she collapsed in despair.

“Aah…”

Namgung Su quickly supported Sosol, alarmed.

“Sosol, my child!”

Meanwhile, Namgung Jangho sighed and turned his head sharply.

Why? Why?

Why would his intelligent and beautiful younger sister fall for that muscle-bound fool?

She was supposed to be the pride of the Namgung family…

At that moment, Han Seolhyeon, who had been sent to procure the ingredients, returned swiftly.

“I’ve got everything!”

Holding sacks of sticky rice, garlic, and a chicken neck in her hands, Han Seolhyeon appeared before Namgung Sosol, who stared at her in disbelief.

“…Who are you?”

With a face full of suspicion, Namgung Sosol glared at her.

It was only natural—how could Sosol not feel competitive seeing a woman of such beauty?

“Shut up and move aside!”

Just then, Cho Hwi, having dismounted his sword, snatched the materials from Han Seolhyeon’s hands, silently thinking,

‘Please, enter my body and help this young man!’

He had only heard a vague explanation of the technique and the necessary materials from Cheon Woo-ja.

At present, Cho Hwi didn’t have the strength or power to perform the technique himself, so he had no choice but to ask Cheon Woo-ja for assistance.

– Huh? Why do I have to do that?

Cho Hwi was taken aback.

‘Ah, no, Elder! You can’t back out now!’

Cheon Woo-ja responded with a tone full of disbelief.

– When did I ever promise to perform a summoning for you? I never said such a thing.

Cho Hwi wasn’t wrong—Cheon Woo-ja had explained the basic process of the technique, including how to channel spiritual power from the materials, the ritual formulas, and the incantations.

But to expect to perform such a grand resurrection technique right after hearing the details just once seemed absurd.

Cho Hwi had naturally assumed Cheon Woo-ja would help summon the necessary spirit.

– Are you out of your mind? Asking a spirit to descend into a mortal body? Do you even understand how dangerous that is?

‘But I heard your spiritual power diminishes over time…’

– Well, you’re right about that. But do you know what happens if your spiritual power continues to decrease?

‘…’

– Why are you silent now? As you said, the more spiritual energy you consume, the more your soul’s grade diminishes. If your grade lowers enough… the soul may cease to exist altogether! Do you realize how cruel that is to one person?

Zhou Hui had vaguely heard from his ancestors that consuming spiritual energy would eventually lower one’s spiritual rank. The opportunity to cross the Nine Springs (the realm of the dead) and to face the chain of reincarnation would be lost, and one would simply vanish without a trace, without even the chance for rebirth.

Hearing such a harsh reality directly from Tian Wu, he felt a surge of sorrow and could barely hold back his tears. He was overwhelmed by the realization of how much his ancestors of the Zhao family had cared for him. The love they had shown him, their deep and unconditional care, was something any person would be moved by. Yet, without understanding that, he had foolishly pestered the esteemed Elder Mansang Zhao to write a couple of inscriptions for his various business locations.

Regret and guilt washed over him like a tide.

On the other hand, unlike the Zhao family ancestors who had unconditionally cherished and protected him, it seemed the ancestors of the Dugu family had no such reason to do the same. This realization made Zhou Hui’s expression turn cold.

If that was their position, he had no choice but to be equally ruthless in response.

“I understand your meaning.”

Sensing the ominous tone in his voice, Tian Wu’s voice grew slightly anxious.

– W-wait! If you fulfill my request, things might be different! Why don’t you listen to me until the end?

“What request?” Zhou Hui responded, his voice chillingly calm.

As they shared a bond, antagonizing Zhou Hui would not be a wise decision for Tian Wu and the ancestors. Tian Wu hesitated, then replied.

– The true version of the Nine Heavens Mystical Maiden Scripture, which I have spent my entire life searching for. Could you find it and show it to me?

The Nine Heavens Mystical Maiden Scripture?

Zhou Hui immediately realized that this was a legendary Taoist scripture, one that was so elusive its very existence was in doubt. It was a scripture that all Taoists in the Central Plains sought desperately, yet none had ever found it. The Mystical Maiden, whose very name was rooted in myth and legend, had supposedly left behind this scripture herself. How could Zhou Hui possibly find something so elusive?

With no hesitation, he bluntly responded, “Is that your request? You might as well forget it. After all these years, even the greatest Taoists couldn’t find it. How could I possibly?”

– I have collected clues throughout my life! Using these clues, it might not be entirely impossible!

At this, Zhou Hui glanced at Zhang Yilong, clearly conflicted. However, the road to the Zhao family’s grand meeting was long, and he couldn’t abandon everything just to search for a mythical scripture.

In the end, Zhou Hui attempted to negotiate.

“I have many important things to do. Are you asking me to dedicate my life to finding this scripture for you?”

– Are you treating me like a shameless old man with no conscience? I only need a bit of time, and it won’t interfere with your plans!

“Alright, it’s a deal,” Zhou Hui said, and as soon as his words ended, Tian Wu immediately entered his body and performed a spiritual possession.

With a resounding “Hwahhh!”, Tian Wu began to inspect Zhou Hui’s body with a look of deep emotion.

It had been so long since Tian Wu had experienced being in a human body. The sensation of vitality coursing through his limbs, the overwhelming sensory input—he marveled at the feeling of being in a living body again.

However, as he was becoming absorbed in the sensation, Tian Wu suddenly spilled the old glutinous rice on the ground.

Splat!

Then, kneeling, Tian Wu placed his thumb and forefinger on his forehead and began muttering an incantation:

“Quickly, like a law!”
“Nuwa, great Taoist, rise to the heavens!”
“Let the heavens bestow this power to me…”
“With the heart of an empty void, without limits…”

As he continued chanting, the rice began to vibrate and shift on the floor, transforming into an intricate and strange ritual pattern.

Then, as the vibrations died down and the pattern solidified, an intense light erupted from the formation.

It was an extraordinary radiance!

Everyone present, including Zhou Hui and the swordsmen of the Nangong family, gaped in awe at the sight.

Taoist magic was a legendary force in the martial world. Even among the legendary Taoists of Wudang and Huashan, only a few had ever demonstrated true mastery of such magic.

Moreover, most of them had ascended to immortality.

Unlike martial arts, magic couldn’t be attained by effort alone—it was a power granted by the Taoist deities, a blessing that could only be bestowed upon those chosen by the gods themselves.

And now, right before their eyes, the legendary magic was being performed.

Nangong Zhanghu looked at Zhou Hui as if he were some insane man. The person who had devoured both Hebi and the Jiangxi region. A man who could display the elegance of a scholar at times, and a martial artist who had defeated countless sages. He had even mastered a higher-level martial technique.

Now, this same man was using Taoist magic?

Could he even be human?

At that moment, Tian Wu, still holding the garlic, performed an eerie gesture in the air and placed the raw chicken onto the ritual formation. Instantly, the chicken turned into a blackish-red ball of energy, swirling and condensing in the air.

“Aaah!”
“Oooh! Incredible!”

The people watching the scene of the raw chicken transforming into vaporized energy via magic couldn’t help but continually exclaim in amazement.

At that moment, Tian Wu’s gaze shifted toward Zhang Yilong.

As he once again formed his signature hand seals, a powerful wave of magical energy shot toward Zhang Yilong’s hands.

Whooosh!

The ice melted, leaving only the bare bones of Zhang Yilong’s hands.

Then, the life force from the vaporized chicken, imbued with the magical energy, created a violent ripple that flew toward Zhang Yilong’s hands.

“What’s happening? Flesh! New flesh!”

“…My goodness!”

A miraculous event was unfolding before them.

As the life force cloud gradually faded, flesh began to grow on Zhang Yilong’s once-bony hands.

Eventually, his hands were fully regenerated, with skin as smooth and flawless as that of a newborn baby.

It was as if he had pristine, delicate hands—like “silken jade hands!”

Nangong Sosuo, overwhelmed with joy, cried tears of happiness.

“…Ah! Brother Yilong!”

On the other hand, Jin Gahee, with eyes like crescent moons, covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.

“Hahaha!”

It was an incredible sight—the once rugged, muscular man now had the soft hands of a woman!

As the agonizing cold faded, Zhang Yilong seemed to gather enough strength to speak and rise.

“Ughhh… I thought I was going to die. Huh?”

Zhang Yilong, shocked, stared at his newly regenerated hands with wide eyes.

Meanwhile, Zhou Hui, still recovering from the aftereffects of the spiritual possession, regained his composure and smiled brightly.

“Hahahaha!”

“Hehehehehe!”

Zhou Hui and Zhang Yilong laughed heartily as they faced each other.

Suddenly, Zhang Yilong dropped to his knees in front of Zhou Hui.

“Thank you, brother…!”

Hot tears welled up in his eyes as he repeatedly wiped his face with his sleeves.

For a warrior, losing one’s hands was akin to the sky falling. Despite his boisterous demeanor, Zhang Yilong had endured the most emotional pain during that time.

At that moment, Nangong Su, who had witnessed the extraordinary sight, approached with a look of shock on his face.

“Zhou Gonggong, when did you master the magical arts of the Immortal Path?”

In less than a year since reaching the entry stage of Absolute Power, Zhou Hui had already reached the level of Wuji and could fly with a sword. Now, he had mastered Taoist magic to the point of regenerating someone’s hands.

The more Nangong Su witnessed Zhou Hui’s growth, the more he felt like a fool in comparison.

Instead of answering, Zhou Hui simply smiled broadly.

He looked toward the neatly lined-up Nangong warriors, then his gaze shifted to the Tianlong Vanguard of the Jianghu Alliance, which was making its way through the mist.

The elderly Nangong Shengchan, who had arrived late, also caught his attention.

Three absolute martial artists.

Three supreme forces from the Nangong family.

The Tianlong Vanguard of the Jianghu Alliance’s Henan branch.

And, most importantly, his precious companions.

Nangong Zhanghu, Zhuge Yun, Zhang Yilong, Han Seolhyun, Yeom Sangrok, Jin Gahee… and his trusted team.

With a burning confidence, Zhou Hui’s eyes once again locked onto Nangong Su.

“It’s time to move. We’ll kill every last one of those Black Sky Lotus bastards.”

Nangong Su, stroking his long spear, stiffened his expression.

“Exactly. I’m going to show them exactly what kind of family the Nangong family is, known as the ‘Dongcheon Emperor’s Family.’”

Zhang Yilong, also clenching his delicate, pristine hands tightly, spoke with a grin.

“Hmph! That whip bastard is mine!”

Though his giant frame and rough expression seemed intimidating, Zhang Yilong looked oddly pitiful due to his now beautiful hands.

—

The martial artists of the Jianghu had a tendency to look down on merchants.

Even the Nangong family had different categories for their guests, separating them by the colors of their robes—gold, silver, red, and blue. Merchants were often relegated to the lowest tier, the red robes.

However, today, Nangong Su had to painfully realize just how wrong that perspective was.

Having experienced firsthand the immense power and skill of the Zhao family, who had transformed into one of the largest merchant groups in the martial world, it was a whole different level of power.

The Zhao family’s Emperor’s Guard, the Azure Dragon and Radiant Dragon groups, and the 300 swordsmen from the Jianghu Alliance’s Tianlong Vanguard were now all united under one banner.

Zhou Hui had given all of these warriors the precious Dragon Scale Armor.

What was Dragon Scale Armor?

It was the ultimate defense created by refining steel to its highest quality. When further reinforced with precious dragon scales, it became incredibly durable. Only a select few artisans were capable of forging such armor.

However, after years of trial and error, the skilled craftsmen of Anhui’s Qishange had finally mastered mass production of this prized material.

In fact, Zhou Hui could produce even more Dragon Scale Armor if needed. However, in order to gain more profit, he had been stockpiling it, producing small quantities each day, waiting for the chaos to arise in the Central Plains.

But today, its true purpose had finally arrived.

Shining bright!

The Nangong warriors stood in neat rows, their bodies shining with the brilliant glow of Dragon Scale Armor.

However, the Dragon Scale Armor wasn’t the only thing protecting them.

The expensive iron bracers (铁护腕) and ox-hide shin guards (牛鉀脚絆) were worn on the warriors’ arms and legs, providing further protection.

In addition, their belts were equipped with high-quality blades, various auxiliary weapons, medicine kits containing potions, smoke bombs, flares, and small grinding tools for sword sharpening.

It was as if they weren’t warriors of a martial family, but rather soldiers of an empire.

It was truly an overwhelming display of wealth!

The quality of the equipment and supplies always boosted the morale of any fighting force, and the Nangong warriors couldn’t hide their excitement, their lips curling into satisfied smiles.

On the other hand, the Tianlong Vanguard, who had also joined the expedition, looked downcast and demoralized.

This was because Zhou Hui had only given the high-quality gear and supplies to the Nangong warriors.

Nangong Su tried to reprimand Zhou Hui for such preferential treatment, but he was quickly silenced by Zhou Hui’s cold response.

“Still don’t understand? If you join the Nangong family’s warriors, you get the best gear and supplies. Where do you think the most skilled warriors will gather?”

In the martial world, a warrior’s life was as fragile as a circus performer walking on a tightrope.

To them, expensive weapons and armor that could ensure survival were as precious as rain in a drought.

“The Tianlong Vanguard will spread the word. Just trust me and follow my lead.”

Even amidst the urgent preparations to fight the Black Sky Lotus, Zhou Hui was using this opportunity to boost the Nangong family’s reputation by distributing the supplies selectively.

Nangong Su, stunned by Zhou Hui’s meticulous strategy, could do nothing but feel speechless.

—

Soon, the scene of the Black Sky Lotus’ main warehouse came into view.

There were approximately 2,000 elite warriors guarding the warehouse, making it one of the most heavily fortified locations in the Black Sky Lotus faction.

In contrast, the Nangong family had only about 200 warriors, plus 300 members of the Tianlong Vanguard.

Though the numbers were heavily in the enemy’s favor, the quality of the warriors on the Nangong side was vastly superior.

With that in mind, Nangong Su widened his formation and began surrounding the front yard of the warehouse as he raised his weapon, the Changtian Sword.

“Great Nangong!”

Clang!

The front line of Changtian swordsmen raised their swords in unison, the blue glow of their blades soaring high in the air.

In that instant, Nangong Su’s voice rang out:

“By the command of the family head, let the battle begin!”

Boom!

The Nangong warriors surged toward the warehouse like a raging storm, their combined energy swirling around them.

“Kill them all, but don’t die!”

As the blue wave of the Dongcheon royal family swept over the warehouse, the Tianlong Vanguard joined the fray with a ferocious roar.

“Waaaaaa!”

—

Clang!

Zhuge Yun, smiling gracefully while unfurling a golden phoenix thread, was finally ready to demonstrate his true strategic prowess.

Nangong Shengchan, who had been overseeing the formation of the troops, called for Zhuge Yun in a serious tone.

“Little Zhuge… Haha, should I call you Military Strategist now? Anyway, I’ve followed your instructions and arranged the troops.”

Unlike the warehouse defense, this area was primarily controlled by the Tianlong Vanguard.

The Tianlong Vanguard took the vanguard position, with the Changlong Corps supporting them from behind.

“Thank you.”

Zhuge Yun, bowing politely, took out a map from his sleeve.

It was a topographical map of the Black Sky Lotus’ main base.

As Zhuge Yun studied the map with a serious expression, Nangong Shengchan, Nangong Zhanghu, Zhuge Ying, Zhang Yilong, Yeom Sangrok, and others gathered around him.

“The enemy numbers are around 8,000, while our forces are only a few hundred. Though we have superior warriors, a full-scale battle will inevitably result in significant casualties,” Zhuge Yun said, pointing to the mountainside on the left of the Black Sky Lotus’ main base.

“First, my brother and I will set up a formation here. If any of our warriors fall in battle, they should retreat and join this formation. With this, we can hold out for at least two hours and treat the wounded. Reducing casualties will be the key to our success in this battle.”

The leaders of the Tianlong Vanguard and Changlong Corps nodded in agreement.

“We understand.”

“We will proceed accordingly.”

Zhuge Yun then pointed to a section of the western side of the Black Sky Lotus’ base, where the valley and wall met.

“Only warriors with extraordinary skills should infiltrate this area. If we can break through here, it will open the shortest route to the heart of the enemy’s base, allowing us to create chaos and disrupt their plans.”

The leader of the Changlong Corps nodded.

“I will prepare our warriors for this.”

The leader of the Tianlong Vanguard furrowed his brow, deep in thought.

“The vanguard was supposed to be us, wasn’t it?”

“It seems we have more experts on our side.”

Excluding the direct command of the Great Master, the most famous unit in the Namgung Clan, the Changcheon Sword Warriors, was under the leadership of the Changlong Clan.

At that moment, Jegalun stepped in to calm the confusion.

“Let the Tianlong Vanguard prepare for a group battle, and the vanguard will be taken by the Namgung Clan. Since the revered Changcheon Danlor wonju has stepped forward, it is ideal for the Namgung Clan to lead the vanguard.”

The “Absolute Realm” breaks the common sense of the battlefield.

If Namgung Seongchan were to take the lead, it would be like securing an entry route, unless a powerhouse like the Eight Kings or Heukcheondae was involved.

“Mm… I understand.”

Once Jegalun mentioned the Absolute Realm, the leader of the Tianlong Vanguard had no choice but to step back.

However, as the Tianlong Vanguard, part of the Five Great Forces of the Murim Alliance, found themselves increasingly sidelined, the Tianlong Vanguard leader’s discomfort grew.

“Ah-choo!”

Suddenly, Jang Il-ryong sneezed, drawing everyone’s attention.

Namgung Jangho frowned and spoke up.

“I told you to rest more.”

Having been exposed to the freezing cold for a long time, Jang Il-ryong still suffered from the aftereffects of coldness.

As he wiped his nose with his delicate hand, he ground his teeth.

“Sniff… What’s that smell? I’m starving, but I keep smelling roasted chicken. Is it just my imagination?”

“Ugh!”

Suppressing his laughter, Namgung Jangho spoke with a flushed face.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Focus on the meeting.”

In fact, Jang Il-ryong had fainted during his fight with Han Eumbing-gi and hadn’t been able to witness the process of the rejuvenation technique.

Namgung Jangho couldn’t bring himself to tell Jang Il-ryong that his pale hands had been made from raw chicken.

At that moment, a sound cutting through the air was heard.

Shuaaa—

The Namgung Sword Warriors and the Tianlong Vanguard warriors all looked up, surveying the sky.

Tzz—

Immediately, Jo Hwi, who had jumped off his iron sword, dropped something large to the ground with a thud.

With curiosity, Jang Il-ryong approached Jo Hwi.

“Hyung, what is this?”

Jo Hwi grinned.

“It’s an Amseachongtong (Dark Snake Cannon).”

The room erupted in surprise.

“This… is that the Amseachongtong?”

“Y-You mean the famous cannon of the Dang Clan?”

In such a short time, he had traveled to Sichuan?

Moreover, the Amseachongtong was a legendary weapon representing the Dang Clan.

Even someone ordinary wielding it was said to overwhelm top-level martial artists.

Its fame spread far across the Jianghu.

“Heh heh, Dang Clan’s treasure, indeed! Anyway, there’s such a thing. I tried handling it once, and the recoil was massive. Supply it mostly to the Changcheon Sword Warriors.”

Again, the Namgung Clan was being favored?

The leader of the Tianlong Vanguard furrowed his brows and approached Jo Hwi.

“Isn’t this too much? If you give all the supplies to the Namgung Clan, what are we supposed to do for morale?”

Jo Hwi casually ignored him and flicked his ear.

“Let the alliance handle its own business.”

Jo Hwi raised his hand in focus, and his iron sword levitated in the air.

Tzz—

Hovering lightly above the iron sword, Jo Hwi turned his indifferent gaze toward the Heukcheondae headquarters and spoke again with a cold expression.

“Anyway, you guys will just be cleaning up the leftovers, so why are you making a fuss? Master! Namgung Hyung! Jang Bu-jang!”

When Namgung Seongchan and the others turned to look at him, Jo Hwi pointed his hand toward the main gate of the Heukcheondae headquarters.

“Send warriors armed with the Amseachongtong to the front and have everyone wait at the main gate!”

Namgung Seongchan looked confused.

“Jo Bonggong, what do you mean? Wait at the main gate?”

“It means block the entrance! Don’t you understand?”

Jang Il-ryong, equally perplexed, spoke up.

“Hyung, can you explain more clearly? What should we do after blocking the entrance?”

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt, you idiot! Just block the entrance!”

Whooosh—

In an instant, Jo Hwi flew toward the Heukcheondae headquarters, pulling out his iron sword from his waist.

Huuuu—

A massive force surged from around him, as if a giant dragon’s claws were being summoned.

But unlike his previous technique, the Dragon Claw of Heaven, the energy now multiplied endlessly, filling the sky with thousands of dragon claws.

From afar, Namgung Seongchan gaped in horror at the scene.

The sky darkened.

In the ominous silence, Jo Hwi’s voice rang out like thunder.

Die!

It was like a disaster descending from the heavens.

The earth trembled with a deafening roar.

Kwahh—!

In a single strike of the Dragon Claw of Heaven, one-fifth of the Heukcheondae headquarters was utterly destroyed, leaving no trace behind.

But that wasn’t the end.

Amidst the chaos, hundreds of black dots appeared and began spreading rapidly.

“W-What’s that?”

“Save us! Aaaah!”

Suddenly, countless dark dots emerged, and nearby Heukcheondae warriors were sucked into them, dropping like blood-soaked rain in a horrific sight.

The eyes of the Heukcheondae warriors, filled with terror, all turned toward the main gate.

To escape this hellish nightmare, they ran desperately toward the gate.

The Namgung Sword Warriors guarding the entrance simultaneously fired the Amseachongtong.

Fwoosh—Fwoosh!

“Ahhh!”

“Ugh!”

Only then did Jang Il-ryong, understanding Jo Hwi’s meaning of “blocking the entrance,” grab his delicate hands.

“Hahaha! That was unbelievably satisfying!”

Watching Jo Hwi’s grandeur, Jegalun tore up the map in frustration, biting his teeth.

“Shit…”

For the first time since joining the Jianghu, a curse slipped from Jegalun’s lips.

The scene where the sword king, the seat of the Eight Kings, was sucked into space without even drawing his sword, falling to the ground in a pool of blood, was witnessed by all.

Furthermore, the King of the Ghost Mask, whose ribs were completely torn out, was still uncertain of his fate, and the King of Medicine, who had lost both his legs, was suffering from mental breakdowns due to the terror of that moment.

On top of that, the Iron Fist King, who had lost an arm, and the King of Poisonous Weapons, who had discarded his weapons and fled with all his strength, also represented the disintegration of the forces.

Even the King of One Arm, who hadn’t been present, had been severely affected by Han Seol-hyun’s Absolute Ice Art and Jang Il-ryong’s hand-to-hand combat techniques, having been diagnosed with months of recuperation.

In this way, the Eight Kings of the Black Heaven had virtually disbanded.

At the sight of the powerless figures of the Eight Kings and the Chief of the Black Heaven, Cheong Yeong-baek, he struck his chest in frustration.

“Are we just going to watch as all our subordinates die?”

No matter how hard the Cheong-sal fought, they could not stop the Heavenly Dragon Guards of the Murim Alliance and the absolute masters of the Joga Grand Conference.

If the leaders of the Eight Kings didn’t step forward, the Black Heaven was finished.

At that moment, the Chief of the Cheong-sal, Seo Yu, with cold eyes, knelt before the Black Heaven King.

“My lord.”

The Black Heaven King silently watched Seo Yu, who was bowing deeply.

“Speak.”

Seo Yu looked up and hesitated before speaking.

“There are three methods, my lord.”

“…Methods?”

The Black Heaven King furrowed his brow. In a situation where the Heavenly Dragon Guards had blocked the entrance and an absolute expert of the Martial World Alliance was rampaging, what possible methods could there be?

“The first is to use the numerical superiority of our forces to plan for the future. Command a full-scale attack, and in the confusion, the leaders, including yourself, could escape. Wait in Zhejian and bide your time.”

Upon hearing Seo Yu’s words, the Black Heaven King’s face contorted like a demon.

Are you telling me to abandon my subordinates and run?

That would be tantamount to tarnishing the name of the Three Sovereigns and the Four Overlords. Even if he managed to escape to Zhejian to save his life, what kind of people would gather under the ruined reputation of the Black Heaven?

“The second method is to engage in a desperate battle without thinking of the future. The King and the Eight Kings, as well as all subordinates from the lowest rank to the highest, must join forces, including the elders of the Elder Council. Moreover…”

Seo Yu seemed to swallow nervously.

“If we use all the Heavenly Fire Cannons in the weaponry depot, it could turn the tide.”

“What?!” The Black Heaven King was startled.

Are you suggesting using the cannons from the imperial family? That would mean preparing for the annihilation of the Black Heaven!

“I repeat, the second method is to prepare for an unprecedented bloody battle, with no thought of the future.”

Seo Yu was urging the King to make a final stand, saying that if they were all doomed, they might as well go out in a blaze of glory.

“The third method?”

At the King’s question, Seo Yu’s eyes turned sorrowful.

“The third is complete surrender. The worst option, but it will save all of our subordinates.”

“Hmm…”

In fact, the Black Heaven King had considered surrender. It was the only way to save the lives of his eight thousand subordinates.

But what made him hesitate was the nature of Jo Gae-dae-sang-hoi’s leader, Jo Hwi.

A person with an unimaginable level of coldness and meticulous strategy. Because of him, the Black Heaven King couldn’t even guess what Jo Hwi might ask for as a prize for the Black Heaven.

Suddenly, another loud boom echoed, followed by the screams of his subordinates.

The longer the Black Heaven King hesitated, the more his subordinates were dying.

At that moment, the voice of the Iron Fist King was heard.

“Let’s go with the second method! I’d rather die in battle than flee or surrender!”

“Yes! Let’s fight to the death!”

“Surrender is out of the question!”

Several elders and officials agreed with the Iron Fist King, and the Cheong-sal responded by kneeling as well.

“Yes! We await the King’s orders!”

“We await your decision, my lord!”

With fiery eyes, the subordinates were ready to fight to the death.

The decision was already clear.

The Black Heaven King clenched his teeth and turned his gaze back to Seo Yu.

“Is there a chance of victory?”

Seo Yu nodded with certainty.

“If we use the Heavenly Fire Cannons, there is an 80% chance of victory.”

Cannons were proven new weapons that could change the course of a battle.

Moreover, the Heavenly Fire Cannons were a special weapon created by the imperial family’s royal family, enhanced with advanced techniques by the royal artillery experts.

The massive range and destructive power were unlike anything seen in the Central Plains.

Finally, the Black Heaven King made his decision.

“Prepare the Heavenly Fire Cannons!”

“Understood!”

Seo Yu quickly exited the battlefield, and the Eight Kings, including Cheong-sal and the elders, raised their voices.

“Hehe! It’s time for these old men to show their skills!”

“King, we will summon the elders of the Elder Council to join the battlefield!”

The leaders, including the Great Black Wolf Yeom Cheon-gi and the Deathless Demon Pa Jin-sa, bowed before the Black Heaven King.

“Black Wind Sky Wolf Division! We await your orders!”

“Special Kill Ghost Spirit Division! We await your orders!”

The Black Heaven King, giving a nod, issued his command with a stern tone.

“Black Wind Sky Wolf Division, protect the weaponry depot. Special Kill Ghost Spirit Division, follow me.”

As the King headed outside the battlefield, the Iron Fist King, the King of Poisonous Weapons, and the King of One Arm followed closely behind.