A massive vibration resounded beneath the darkened sky.

The tremor was so powerful that it could make even a mighty mountain shudder.

Crash—!

An overwhelming force surged without pause.

It swept through everything like a tidal wave crashing onto dry land.

The trees, once standing tall, were torn down by the swirling winds mixed with Qi.

Boulders embedded in the ground were displaced, leaving a trail of destruction.

Whoooosh—!
The pressure of the Qi-infused wind spread across the surroundings.

For something that had been caused by just a single strike, the force was unimaginable.

“What…?”

Peng A-hee couldn’t help but mutter in confusion.

What had she just witnessed?
Who was this figure standing before her?

All she could see was a figure clad in black martial robes. They resembled the ones her older brother always wore.
Even his black hair was similar.

But…
There was something distinctly different about this person.
Should she say that the feeling was much darker?

‘This person…’

Who could he possibly be?

As Peng A-hee stared at the young man blocking their path, a moment passed before she suddenly realized who he was.

“…Lord Bi?”

Even as she uttered the name, she was filled with disbelief.

One of the Six Dragons of the Martial World.
The Dueling Dragon Bi Eui-jin.

He was from the esteemed Bi family, and also known as Paejon, one of the Three Sovereigns.

Several years ago, he had attended the Yongbong Gathering just once, earning himself the title of Dragon.

However, after that, his presence had nearly vanished, leading to all sorts of rumors circulating about him.

Though it was said that he had joined Sinryong Hall, there had been no notable activity from him, nor had he made any attempts to assert his presence.

People had begun to question whether the Dueling Dragon even existed at all.

‘What is this…?’

Peng A-hee couldn’t believe her eyes.

The figure of Geom Mu-hee, lying on the ground and breathing heavily, had surely reached the peak.

Yet, even she had been rendered completely helpless by this man.
He had defeated a martial artist of such caliber with a single strike.

‘Was the Dueling Dragon always this powerful?’

Could he have perhaps reached the Flowering Realm?

“Stop gawking. Tend to the bleeding.”
“…!”

The dust that had risen into the air began to settle, and through the remnants of Qi still lingering in the atmosphere, the Dueling Dragon addressed Peng A-hee.

More accurately, he was speaking to Tang Soyul, not Peng A-hee.

“If you don’t want to die, I suggest you hurry.”

The amount of blood flowing from Tang Soyul’s thigh and shoulder was alarming.

Peng A-hee hastily poured her Qi into him to try and staunch the bleeding, but it wasn’t going smoothly.

The Dueling Dragon glanced at her and clicked his tongue softly.

Tsk.

“…These days, youngsters don’t fight bloody battles, so their healing skills are lacking.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“It’s nothing.”

The Dueling Dragon shook his head slightly and looked off into the distance.

Something was stirring, groaning as it struggled to move.
It was Cheol Ji-seon, who had been struck by the earlier attack and flung far away.

“Cough…”

Cheol Ji-seon coughed incessantly.
It didn’t seem like he was gravely injured, as there was no blood coming from him.

The Dueling Dragon, observing this, spoke to him.

“You did well.”

It had only been for a moment, but Cheol Ji-seon had bought them precious time.

The reason he had recklessly charged at the Lord of the Black Night Palace was due to the Dueling Dragon’s covert message.
Of course, it had been Cheol Ji-seon’s decision to act on it, but what had he been thinking, placing his trust in such a gamble?

Even the Dueling Dragon found it hard to understand his choice.

But there was no time to ask about it now.

“If you’re able to stand, take those women and get away.”
“Huh…? What?”

Cheol Ji-seon, still reeling from the shock, slowly got to his feet.

The Dueling Dragon was telling him to take Geom Mu-hee, Peng A-hee, and the injured Tang Soyul and escape.

“Wh-where should I take them?”
“I don’t know, but anywhere is safer than here.”

Crack.

As the Dueling Dragon began to move, the sound of his bones cracking echoed.
The aftermath of his strike was still lingering in the air, and the traces of his Qi felt overwhelmingly heavy.

“W-what will you do, Lord Bi?”

Cheol Ji-seon’s voice trembled, hoping the Dueling Dragon might leave with them, for safety.

But the Dueling Dragon merely smiled.

“I have to stop that. Where could I go?”
“Huh? That…?”

The Dueling Dragon’s gaze turned toward the direction where the Lord of the Black Night Palace had been flung after the strike.

Cheol Ji-seon furrowed his brow slightly.

That attack had hit him squarely. Shouldn’t he be nearly dead?

The force had been enough to twist and reshape the very terrain.
Even now, the remaining traces of Qi on the ground were enough to make it difficult to breathe.

Noticing Cheol Ji-seon’s reaction, the Dueling Dragon gave a strange gesture and spoke.

“I wish it had ended with that one strike, but I don’t think he’s the type to die so easily.”
“But…”

Even so, if they had bought some time, wouldn’t it be better to flee in this situation?

That’s what Cheol Ji-seon was thinking.
However, the Dueling Dragon seemed to have a different mindset.

“Leaving an opponent behind and turning your back? That’s impossible.”
“L-Lord Bi?”
“Especially when that opponent is overflowing with murderous intent. Even more so.”

The Dueling Dragon laughed in amusement, but there was something unsettling about the smile.

How could someone be laughing in this situation?

“Lord Bi… That man is an absurdly strong martial artist.”
“And?”

“And…?”

This man might have reached the Flowering Realm, a level of strength beyond imagination.

Cheol Ji-seon couldn’t gauge the exact extent of his opponent’s power, but the mere name Lord of the Black Night Palace carried enough weight.

Several years ago, the Lord of the Black Night Palace had supposedly disappeared after being subdued by the Martial Alliance. He was one of the Five Great Masters of the evil sects.

Rumors had swirled about his fate, with many believing him to be either dead or in hiding. Yet, here he was, launching an attack.

Was the man they had just encountered truly the Lord of the Black Night Palace?
If so, it was likely he had reached the Flowering Realm.

The Dueling Dragon, however, showed no signs of fear. He even chuckled as he spoke.

“What’s the point of running away from a strong opponent?”

“But…”
“If you’re afraid, that’s one thing, but a true martial artist should never flee.”

Crack.

The sound of his fist clenching was loud and clear.

Cheol Ji-seon was about to say something else when—

Thump.

The Dueling Dragon pushed him away.

“What…?”

Before Cheol Ji-seon could process what was happening, something flew past his face, heading straight for the Dueling Dragon.

The Dueling Dragon immediately thrust out his clenched fist.

Boom—!

The black Qi that had been flying toward them collided with the Dueling Dragon’s punch.

And then—

Crack—!

With an eerie sound, the surrounding Qi burst outwards, the wind pressure alone strong enough to send them flying if they didn’t brace themselves.

The brief storm subsided.

The black energy, which had been aimed at them from the distance, scattered into fragments.

Pant… Pant…

Cheol Ji-seon collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

If the Dueling Dragon hadn’t pushed him away just moments earlier, his head would have flown off.

Relief and terror surged up his throat.

He was grateful to be alive, but at the same time—

“…Haa…”

The heavy breathing from behind was what troubled him.

“…Incredible.”

The figure that emerged through the scattered Qi was none other than the Lord of the Black Night Palace, who had taken the brunt of the Dueling Dragon’s earlier strike.

“I was amazed by that woman’s skill… but this? I didn’t expect this at all.”

He clutched his ribs, which ached with every step.

The moment the attack had hit, he had quickly gathered his Qi to protect himself.
However, it had been a poor decision.
He should have focused entirely on defense.

Though he had managed to block it, his Qi was now in disarray, and he could feel several broken bones.

With every step he took, the pain intensified.

The Lord of the Black Night Palace glared at the one who had attacked him.

“Who are you?”

The Dueling Dragon glanced briefly at Cheol Ji-seon before replying to the Lord of the Black Night Palace.

“I’ll tell you again—take the women and leave.”
“You think I’ll let that happen?”

As the Lord of the Black Night Palace prepared to move, the Dueling Dragon acted as well.

He quickly closed the distance and unleashed another punch.

The Lord of the Black Night Palace reacted, but—

…!

Something felt off. His Qi wasn’t moving properly.

‘Was it the result of that earlier attack?’

It seemed the aftereffects had taken a toll on him.

Still, as he tried to unleash his Qi at Cheol Ji-seon, the Dueling Dragon intercepted the flow, completely sealing his movements.

How could this man block his martial arts like that?

There was no time to be shocked, as the Lord of the Black Night Palace grimaced and moved his legs.

He tried to make a direct move, but before he could take a step, the Dueling Dragon’s foot had already struck first, disrupting his stance.

Bang!

The action was imbued with Qi, resulting in a reverberating shockwave.

Even though it seemed like the Dueling Dragon should have been affected, he remained completely composed, only focused on preventing the Lord’s movements.

‘How is this possible?’

The Lord of the Black Night Palace was continuously astounded.

The Dueling Dragon was fast, but not faster than the Lord himself.
In fact, the Dueling Dragon's movements were noticeably slower.

Was this a difference in skill, or was there another reason?

Whatever the reason, the Dueling Dragon’s movements were slower than his, and yet, the Lord of the Black Night Palace found himself unable to surpass him.

It was as if the Dueling Dragon knew all of his moves in advance, blocking and cutting him off before any power could be gathered.

How was this possible?

‘This… this is absurd.’

Thump!

Before he could extend his hand, the Lord of the Black Night Palace was struck in the shoulder, forcing him back.
Though his Qi shield had blocked most of the force, his stance was disrupted, preventing him from performing any follow-up techniques.

Meanwhile, Cheol Ji-seon, realizing the urgency, finally made his move and lifted the fallen Geom Mu-hee.
Clearly understanding that further hesitation could cost them their lives, Peng A-hee supported the still-injured Tang Soyul.

Though the bleeding hadn't completely stopped, they had no other choice but to escape.

Seeing this, the Lord of the Black Night Palace ground his teeth in frustration.
To think he was being held back by someone weaker, losing sight of his target.

It was inconceivable.

Qi erupted from his feet, shooting toward the retreating group.

But once again, the Dueling Dragon intercepted it.
He didn’t even block it directly. With light taps and subtle movements, he unraveled the Qi as though it were nothing but dried leaves.

“This is… this is insane!”

The Lord of the Black Night Palace couldn't believe what he was witnessing.
His own Qi, infused with his very essence, was dissipating under the simplest gestures.

But before he could react further—

Boom—!

“Guh…!”

A powerful impact struck his solar plexus, forcing the Lord of the Black Night Palace to stumble backward.
Not only had he been bested in martial arts, but he was also unable to fully command his Qi anymore.

Though he had suffered injuries in his previous bout with Geom Mu-hee, this was an entirely different sensation.

Back then, it had been the result of a hard-fought duel.

But now? He was utterly powerless.

Even though the pain wasn’t as severe, the feeling of helplessness was overwhelming.

“You were curious about my name earlier, weren’t you? That’s quite kind of you, though I don’t particularly care to know yours,” the Dueling Dragon said with a grin.

What could possibly be so amusing?

For the Dueling Dragon, the answer was always the same.

How could he not be enjoying himself?
To a martial artist, battle was nothing short of pure joy.

Even in a situation as dire as this, the thrill of combat was exhilarating for him.

“I haven’t been called by many names, but the one I go by now should suffice.”

In the past, he hadn’t bothered to refute the name Paejon because he believed he was worthy of it.

But now? He no longer carried that burden. The title was too cumbersome.

“My name is Bi Eui-jin. My title, if I recall correctly, was… the Dueling Dragon.”

He could hardly even remember the significance of the title. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t placed much value on it.

Still, that was all the name he needed for the time being.

Upon hearing this, the Lord of the Black Night Palace spoke.

“…The Dueling Dragon. Could it be, you’re the successor of Paejon?”

Among the Three Sovereigns’ successors, only the one of the Sword Sovereign had been made widely known.

Though one might consider Geom Mu-hee or the Thunder Dragon as successors to the Heavenly Sovereign, it wasn’t quite the same.

It was well-known, after all.
The martial arts they wielded were renowned for their unmatched reputation.

Just the thought alone was enough to make the Lord recognize the reality.

If this man truly was the successor of Paejon, it all made sense.

Though he had never met Paejon personally, the Lord was aware of the time when the man had killed the three greatest masters of the evil sects singlehandedly.

But even so, the Lord had never expected the successor to be such a monster.

Had the legacy of the martial clans truly been passed down?

‘Then that power I sensed earlier… could it really have been Paejon’s martial arts?’

Had the Dueling Dragon unleashed a full attack instead of holding back, the Lord of the Black Night Palace might have died on the spot.

Even now, his body wasn’t moving properly. His Qi was completely out of sync.

Ssshhh—!

The Lord tried one last time to expel his Qi.

But the Dueling Dragon was already anticipating his move, responding instantly.

It appeared slightly delayed, but before the Lord’s Qi could reach Cheol Ji-seon, it fizzled out completely.

In the end, Cheol Ji-seon and Peng A-hee, with their injured comrades in tow, disappeared from sight.

Grinding his teeth, the Lord of the Black Night Palace realized the gravity of his situation.

This was bad.

Though his forces from the Black Dragon Brigade were scattered around the mountain, if he failed to capture Dok Bong, the consequences could be catastrophic.

He briefly considered ignoring the Dueling Dragon to give chase, but—

“You seem to have time to spare. Thinking of something else, are you?”
The Dueling Dragon’s voice snapped him back to reality.

Hearing this, the Lord let out a sharp breath.

Despite his own strength having reached the Flowering Realm, this man—this successor of Paejon—was making him uneasy.

His pride as a master of the demonic sects was deeply wounded.

And yet—

Crack—!

The killing intent emanating from the Dueling Dragon completely shattered whatever pride he had left.

“Now that the others are gone, I guess I can fight you properly.”

Qi surged forth from his body.

“…!”

The force was overwhelming, far beyond the limit of what any peak martial artist could produce.

And the Dueling Dragon’s words suggested something even more terrifying—he had been holding back this entire time.

Upon hearing this, the Lord of the Black Night Palace instinctively took a step back.

As the Dueling Dragon advanced, he spoke once more.

“This is the first time I’ve had the chance to use this body properly, so I’ll give you some good news.”

With those words, the Dueling Dragon took a single step forward.
In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of the Lord of the Black Night Palace.

“Ten strikes.”

The Dueling Dragon’s body moved.

“I think that’s your limit. I’m telling you now.”

The Lord of the Black Night Palace recalled his previous mistake and summoned every ounce of Qi to form a defensive barrier around himself.

“If you can withstand ten strikes, you win.”

With that, the Dueling Dragon threw a punch.

It was even slower than before.

The Lord of the Black Night Palace narrowed his eyes. Why was it so slow?

‘What is this? A feint?’

It was so slow, it was laughable. The movement was entirely visible.

This was nothing like the rapid precision from before.

‘Should I dodge?’

In that brief moment, the Lord considered his options. Defending seemed impossible, based on his earlier experience.

It was certainly possible to attempt, but the risk was too high.

No, he couldn’t afford to be lured into a trap. It had to be a feint.
His priority was to create distance.

But then—

Crack—

“…!”

In that instant, the Dueling Dragon’s fist was suddenly much closer than it should have been.

It had seemed so slow, and yet, how had it reached him already?

The Lord of the Black Night Palace grimaced as his defensive Qi surged toward the spot where the punch was about to land.

It was too late. He had to block it.

But unlike before, this time he had focused entirely on defense.

He might be pushed back, but at least he’d have time to counter—

Crack—!

“What…?”

His defensive Qi crumbled like it was nothing.

The Dueling Dragon’s fist dug deep into the Lord’s abdomen.

Boom—!

Once again, the entire mountain trembled.

This time, the force was beyond comparison to the earlier shockwave.
The very sky, which had turned black, began to crack.

Crack—crack—

Fragments of Qi rained down from the fissures in the sky.

And within those falling shards—

Whoooosh—

A familiar, searing heat could be seen, the faint glow of red Qi starting to emerge.