Chun Yeowun stroked his chin at the question. He had gained an understanding of the universe and the space beyond Mother Nature, but he didn’t think that he had reached any state in particular. Fully realizing the universe was no different from having an understanding of all things.

“Hmm, well…”

The old man said to Chun Yeowun,

“There is a saying that when you reach higher and go beyond nature, realizing the void above, one will break free. It seems that you have reached the Void Master level.”

Knowledge of the universe came from the Mansa Sutras along with the ancient books, such as one written by a past scholar named Horo during the period of the Three Emperors and Five Monarchs that described the nature of everything.

“Void…?”

The word void meant emptiness, and Chun Yeowun, who realized some of the truth of the universe, thought the word was apt with his current level of understanding.

“Void Master… sounds good.”

Even though the name was given by the old man who was his enemy, it was definitely the most appropriate one. The old man told him that if he were to clearly understand the entire universe and freely handle everything in the future, the state of ‘wisdom’ would be appropriate.

‘No way He’s beyond the Heavenly Master level?!’

Geum Seong-ryong, who was right there watching the scene unfold, was shocked. Just reaching the legendary Heavenly Master level was rare within the entire history of Murim, but the crossing of that stage had just been recognized.

‘How can this be?’

Geum Seong-ryong was flustered at the realization. Looking at the old man, he saw that he had no will to fight.

‘Now matter how much we fight, if the opponent is that strong, then…’

Their efforts would be meaningless because of the clear difference between their skills. The old man said,

“Why… why didn’t you use the sword that you used against him?”

He didn’t understand Chun Yeowun’s decision; From the sheer difference in ability, he might have been able to subdue the old man with that ferocious sword rather than the Space Sword.

Chun Yeowun smiled and said,

“You’re not immortal so there’s no need to use it.”

At Chun Yeowun’s words, the old man’s wrinkles deepened.

“I see… you’ve realized it.”

“How could I not? If you had taken the spiritual power of the Five Spirit Beasts, you would be fully immortal; your failure to stop aging proves this.”

Chun Yeowun absorbed all the cores of Five Spirit Beasts to achieve immortality, meaning that he would never grow old or die. However, although the old man did indeed have the energy of the Five Spirit Beasts, he still showed signs of aging. The reason was simple: he wasn’t immortal.

“Yes, you’re right. I took their blood and not the cores.”

The Five Spirit Beasts had both blood and cores, and those who drank the blood would gain great power and regeneration.

“However, I didn’t take in the energy right away and couldn’t help gaining age.”

Nevertheless, thanks to the blood, he was able to live for quite a long time. Chun Yeowun clicked his tongue.

‘So this is what you’ve been through.’

No matter how much blood was taken, a thousand years was still a long time to live. The energy in the blood must have lost its potency as years passed.

Chun Yeowun’s three subordinates had also taken the blood, but since they had hibernated in the ice like Hu Bong, the effects of the blood couldn’t be guaranteed. Chun Yeowun asked,

“Couldn’t you have just taken the core?”

To that, the old man responded,

“I was told you had been hiding for a long time, but I guess you also don’t know of the worldly affairs, Demon God.”

“What?”

“The Spirit Beasts disappeared long ago.”

“The Spirit Beasts….disappeared?”

This shocked Chun Yeowun; since Black Athena had the blood of Imoogi, he thought the Spirit Beasts still existed.

“I tried to save them”

The power in the blood wasn’t enough to survive, so the old man sought out the Spirit Beasts.

“There were too many enemies, thanks to you.”

For the past several hundred years, even reforming the clan was difficult because the alliance of the Sky Demon Order with the Imperial family and the Forces of Justice led to all of these forces trying to kill anyone affiliated with the Blade God Six Martial clan.

He had to take a lot of time to form the clan again.

“Spirit Beasts are beings born with the energy of Mother Nature. Did something happen to this world?”

“Yes.”

At some point, the number of humans increased and the population kept growing, detrimentally affecting the natural environment. Destruction of forests, depletion of natural resources, and the rapid air pollution leading to the destruction of the ozone layer dispersed the pure and clean energy of nature.

‘So that’s the reason.’

Chun Yeowun had vaguely guessed this from the modern information he obtained from Nano, but he hadn’t thought about the effects on the birth of Spirit Beasts.

‘But…’

If he thought about it, it was strange that people of this age didn’t know about the Spirit Beasts, showing that they were beings of the past. He now understood why there weren’t any mentions of the Spirit Beasts on the internet at all.

“This was futile.”

The old man approached Chun Yeowun with a disappointed face and poitned to his own neck.

“I can never reach your state. Kill me.”

Chun Yeowun’s eyes lit up when the man admitted his defeat and asked for death. Despite having hatred for a thousand years, it was weird how he gave in so easily.

“You gave up too quickly.”

“It’s to prevent bloodshed.”

“Bloodshed?”

“It seems like your men are stronger than I thought; I assumed I would only have to deal with you.”

Il-ryeong had reached the Heavenly Master level, so he felt the energy around him, allowing him to sense that not a single one of the Six Martial Masters had entered the site.

“I beg you to spare their lives.”

“Il-ryeong! Hmph!”

At those words, Geum Seong-ryong yelled. He never dreamed that the old man would sacrifice himself for others.

“You think I will spare them?”

Chun Yeowun asked in a cold voice. He never spared people. The first time he ever did so was when he had stopped the Space Sword to stop the old man’s body from turning into ashes.

“I know all about you, Demon God.”

“You keep talking as if you know me very well. Who are you?”

He asked Nano to search, but he couldn’t find a name for the man.

“Kulkul, it seems like you’re still not perfect. I am Hwang-heol. Once, long ago, I dealt with you and managed to escape because of my leader’s words.”

“Hwang… heol?”

It was a name he didn’t remember. Il-ryeong frowned at Chun Yeowun, who tilted his head.

“It seems you can’t even remember my name.”

“I remember every person I’ve dealt with.”

“Do you remember the one with bandages all over who stayed by the Blade God until the end?”

Chun Yeowun’s eyes fluttered. That was all he needed, how could he not remember that man?! The man in bandages protected the Blade God by the side until the very end.

“You… were dead.”

In Chun Yeowun’s memory, the man had died when his heart was pierced by Sky Flash.

“I didn’t die. I was barely holding my breath.”

The old man, Il-ryeong–no, Hwang-heol–was on the verge of death until someone came and gave him the blood of a Spirit Beast.

“At the moment before death I took the blood of a spirit beast.”

“Ah.”

Those who took the blood of a Spirit Beast were known to have extraordinary regeneration. Chun Yeowun didn’t notice it because Hwang-heol’s body was covered with bandages that blocked Chun Yeowun from sensing his energy fluctuations. If Chun Yeowun had noticed it, he would have burned him right then. Then, Chun Yeowun remembered something.

“… Then, there might be others with spirit energy.”

If he thought about it, even Blade God had the cores of the Spirit Beasts and was immortal. Naturally, he would have given the blood to his men. At Chun Yeowun’s question, Hwang-heol had a bitter expression.

“I… am the last.”

“How can I believe that?”

They could be hidden, waiting for the right moment. Of course, he could find them if he read the man’s memories.

“There are a total of four people whom he endowed with spirit energy.”

“Four people?”

“Huh! You killed one of them, Gulwon with your own hands. You don’t remember?”

“Gulwon?”

“Ha…”

Hwang-heol sighed. At the time, it wasn’t just one or two that Chun Yeowun had killed: the number was over a thousand people.

“He had the spirit of the Flame Qilin.”

“Ahh.”

Hearing that, Chun Yeowun nodded his head. As soon as he reached the state of Heavenly Master, the first person he killed was a red-haired man with flames.

‘That has to be him.’

Now, there were still three others. Hwang-heol bit his lip.

“Fate is something we’ll never figure out. We were only holding onto this tough life to get revenge on you when you disappeared.”

There wasn’t any anger directed at Chun Yeowun, so Chun Yeowun asked,

“Are you really the only one alive?”

“Even though we aren’t on good terms, it has been over a thousand years. When I said I would give up my life, why would I have to deceive you?”

Hwang-heol looked sad, and by looking into his eyes, Chun Yeowun knew that the man wasn’t lying. Hwang-heol man spoke again,

“I am the last. Please end my life.”

Chun Yeowun stroked his chin. This was the first time since becoming enemies in the past that such a person was being nice.

“You’re a funny one.”

Chun Yeowun rolled up his right sleeve and held out his hand.

Chachacha!

The wrist guard changed to Sky Demon Sword.

“Sky Demon Sword!”

Hwang-heol recalled it from the past: the sword he hadn’t seen for a long time. The enemy he wanted to kill for so long was sharpening his sword to kill him, but seeing the sword actually made him happy.

“It’s like we were friends on bad terms, hehe.”

Hwang-heol accepted everything, to which Chun Yeowun said,

“It would be disgraceful if I put my hands on you with your subordinates here.”

“Thanks for that, bad friend.”

Hwang-heol called Chun Yeowun a bad friend, and considering how they were now, it did seem like an accurate description. It was refreshing, in a way.

“Don’t expect things to go your way.”

Chun Yeowun raised his sword and the Ghost Qi rose.

Shhhh!

A gloomy energy emanated from the sword, making Hwang-heol gulp as feeling death closed in.

“As long as I die, there will be nothing for you to worry about. Of course, those who respect me might hate you a bit.”

Chun Yeowun mumbled to it.

“Want me to kill you or not?”

Hwang-heol closed his eyes, pushing his neck forward and said,

“Do it. Kill me.”

Chun Yeowun sighed, seeing the man so desperate.

“You really are a funny one. One last question before I kill you.”

“What do you want?”

“The four people with spirit energy you mentioned should be strong, right? How did they die? Did they die at the hands of my descendants?”

Chun Yeowun was curious about the others, to which Hwang-heol spoke in anger,

“No. They were killed by one force.”

“A force?”

“They pretend to be gone now, but they still exist I’m telling you!”

Crack!

Chun Yeowun felt that Hwang-heol was more angry at this force than at him and asked,

“Was that force the MS Group?”

‘!?’

Hwang-heol was shocked.

“How do you know?”