Thud—!

As the massive vibration echoed from the direction of the mountain, Sinryong Hall had already turned into a chaotic mess.

The concentrated Qi that filled the air was so dense that it had taken the form of mist, swirling around as if something was rotating in the atmosphere.

Anyone skilled in martial arts could recognize that the vortex was made entirely of Qi.

How high must one’s level be, and how pure their Qi, for such a phenomenon to occur?

This was something visible only to those who had reached the very limits of what an ordinary human could attain.

Drip…

Between the collapsing and crumbling buildings, an old man knelt on one knee, bleeding as he surveyed the surroundings. The once sturdy and grand structures of Sinryong Hall were now riddled with holes and cracks, looking like they could collapse at any moment.

‘This is…’

The old man, Cheonghae Ilgeom, exhaled a sigh of despair as he looked around at the destruction.

The majestic hall that once stood tall had become utterly disfigured.

Before him—

Thud.

Something fell to the ground with a soft sound.

Seeing this, the old man could only smile bitterly.
What had fallen was his own left arm.

Where his left shoulder should have been was now a gaping void, blood trickling down. He had tried to stop the bleeding with his Qi, but for some reason, the bleeding wouldn’t cease.

As Cheonghae Ilgeom knelt there, someone approached.

“A shame, truly.”

A man with a large saber slung over his shoulder and rough, graying hair tied back stepped forward.

Grinning with yellowed teeth, he spoke to the exhausted Cheonghae Ilgeom.

“You’ve got your mind elsewhere. That’s no fun.”

“…”

Cheonghae Ilgeom frowned as he looked at his opponent.

The man before him was a figure long thought to be a ghost of the past.

The first man to unite the demonic sects, and the martial artist who had once invaded the central plains, stepping foot in the land of Sichuan.

He was now known as Heukryonggeom, the Black Dragon Sword.

Cheonghae Ilgeom called out his name, and the Black Dragon Sword chuckled.

“Your sword should be far sharper than this. I must say, I’m a little disappointed.”

Thud—

The Black Dragon Sword swung his enormous saber, the blade slicing through the air as it pointed at Cheonghae Ilgeom.

“What’s distracting you so much?”

“…”

Cheonghae Ilgeom didn’t answer, causing the Black Dragon Sword to look slightly disinterested. There was nothing more disappointing than this.

Seeing the look on his opponent’s face, Cheonghae Ilgeom’s voice hardened as he asked,

“How is it that you’re still alive?”

It was widely known that the Black Dragon Sword had been killed by the Sword Sovereign, with his head severed and displayed to the other demonic sects.

The Martial Alliance had even displayed his severed head to prove his death.

That incident had cemented the Sword Sovereign’s reputation, contributing greatly to him being given the title of Martial Alliance Leader later on.

But now—

How could the Black Dragon Sword be standing here, very much alive?

“Is that what you’re curious about? Seems like now isn’t exactly the best time to be asking questions like that.”

Tsk, tsk.

The Black Dragon Sword snickered, amused by Cheonghae Ilgeom’s response.

This caused Cheonghae Ilgeom to frown even more.

The pain in his severed arm and shoulder paled in comparison to something else that weighed heavily on his mind.

‘The disciples of the hall are in danger.’

The appearance of the Black Dragon Sword, coupled with the collapse of the formation protecting Sinryong Hall and the black Qi enveloping the area, spelled disaster.

Judging by the range of the Qi—

It extended all the way to Taesan, where the elite disciples were gathered.

And it wasn’t just the Black Dragon Sword’s presence. There were other sinister forces at play, indicating that he wasn’t alone in this assault.

This attack had been meticulously timed.

For Cheonghae Ilgeom, it wasn’t his own safety that mattered.
He needed to reach the disciples as quickly as possible.
However, the Black Dragon Sword’s strength was beyond his expectations, and with so much at stake, Cheonghae Ilgeom couldn’t break free.

“…What is your objective?”

“My objective?”

“Why have you attacked this place?”

If he had survived all this time, hiding in the shadows like a ghost, what could have prompted him to suddenly attack Sinryong Hall?

“My objective…”

Thud.

The Black Dragon Sword planted his massive saber into the ground and glanced around.

“You want to hear something grand, don’t you? But it’s really nothing special. The timing was just… right.”
“…Timing?”

What did he mean by “timing”?

Cheonghae Ilgeom didn’t have to wait long for an answer.

The Black Dragon Sword lifted his saber once more, and with a swift motion, the blade tore through the air, sending waves of powerful Qi radiating outward.

Boom—!

“Along with showing that this Black Dragon Sword is alive and well,” the Black Dragon Sword said with a laugh, “it’s also a warning, to show that I haven’t given up on my dream.”

Cheonghae Ilgeom’s attempts to discern a deeper motive were laughable. There was no need for grand reasoning.

The righteous sects were always so quick to find justifications for their actions, always searching for some noble cause to rationalize their decisions.

Time hadn’t changed that, and the Black Dragon Sword found it amusing.

“You want to know my purpose? Fine, I’ll humor you.”

In the past, the so-called righteous sects had been nothing but a facade, hiding corruption beneath a mask of virtue.

Even now, they clung to that same pretense, and it pleased the Black Dragon Sword to see them remain unchanged.

“The roots of the righteous sects lie with their future generation—the Younger Generation of Star or whatever it’s called. Such a grand title they’ve given themselves.”

He snorted in disdain.

“They say these so-called geniuses of the new generation are the future of the righteous sects.”

‘Pathetic.’

It was just another weapon for the righteous sects to claim as their own.

“So what do you think would happen if a bloodbath were to sweep through this place, where all these precious heirs of the sects have gathered?”

The bloodlines of the Four Great Clans, the successors of the Nine Great Schools, the children of powerful merchants who tirelessly supported the righteous sects…

All gathered here.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to call this place the future of the righteous sects.

As time passed, the future leaders of the martial world would undoubtedly emerge from among these very people.

And yet—

What if these heirs, the very future of the sects, were all slaughtered here?

And what if the one to bring about this massacre was none other than the Black Dragon Sword, long thought dead?

“If that were to happen, how do you think the righteous sects would react, Cheonghae Ilgeom? Don’t you want to know? Because I sure do.”

He wanted the world to know that he was still alive, that he hadn’t given up on his ambitions.

This place was perfect for making that declaration.

Wouldn’t it be poetic?
To wipe out the future of the righteous sects in one swift blow?

After decades of hiding in the shadows, the time had finally come.

The swords that once protected the central plains had rusted with age, dulled by peace.

“Just like you.”

Tsk, tsk.

The Black Dragon Sword grinned at his own thoughts.

Cheonghae Ilgeom clenched his teeth.

His battered body trembled as he forced himself to stand, glaring at the Black Dragon Sword.

“Heukryonggeom…!”
“So you still have enough strength to shout.”
“You intend to slaughter innocent children?”
“Innocent? There’s no innocence here.”

The fact that these children had been born into the righteous sects, destined to carry on their legacy—that was their sin.

“What’s the point in preserving a rotten foundation? Nothing will change. I certainly don’t see the point.”

The so-called righteous sects, with their pretentious displays of virtue, were nothing but hypocrites.

They claimed to uphold justice and righteousness, yet had long since lost the true meaning of those words.

In contrast, the Black Dragon Sword was honest about his desires.

He wanted to erase the corrupt history of the sects, destroy their facades, and stand above them all.

“That bastard…!”

Cheonghae Ilgeom, struggling to control his worn-out body, swung his sword once again.

Despite his injuries, his Qi remained pure and steady.

The path of his sword didn’t falter, even with the loss of an arm.

The wind swirled around his sword as the Qi that had been scattered across the area converged, creating a blinding flash of light.

Crack—!

The ground split apart as the sword Qi slashed toward the Black Dragon Sword.

In response, the Black Dragon Sword’s saber moved.

Boom!

The clash between swords didn’t sound like the usual metallic ring. Instead, it was a deep, thunderous noise.

As their weapons collided, Cheonghae Ilgeom realized something immediately.

‘He’s strong.’

The Black Dragon Sword was far stronger than the records had indicated.

Not only had he reached the Flowering Realm, but he seemed to be aiming for an even higher level.

If this was his true strength, then the reports from the past had been grossly inaccurate.

The sinister Qi emanating from the Black Dragon Sword was a power that posed an extreme threat.

‘My Qi… It’s not moving properly.’

The Qi within Cheonghae Ilgeom’s dantian grew heavier with every exchange with the Black Dragon Sword.

‘And that sky…’

The strange formation that had turned the clear blue sky into a dark night…

Was that also the Black Dragon Sword’s doing?

Sinryong Hall wasn’t far from the Martial Alliance. Surely, they would have noticed by now, and reinforcements would be on the way.

Yet, the Black Dragon Sword showed no signs of concern.

Was he truly confident that he could defeat anyone who came?

Cheonghae Ilgeom thought differently.

It seemed the black sky played a role in all of this.

Clang! Boom—!

As their swords clashed once more, sparks flew and a massive wave of energy radiated from the impact, spreading in all directions.

“You’ve given up on running, I see.”

The weight of Cheonghae Ilgeom’s sword had increased, causing the Black Dragon Sword to smirk.

“Have you given up? Or…”

He deflected Cheonghae Ilgeom’s sword and moved in close.

“Are you waiting for the Sword Queen of Mount Hua?”

…!

Boom—!

The Black Dragon Sword’s fist struck Cheonghae Ilgeom in the chest. With one arm missing, Cheonghae Ilgeom hadn’t been able to defend properly.

“Guh…”

His Qi shield shattered as he was sent flying, tumbling across the ground.

Rolling through the dirt, covered in dust, Cheonghae Ilgeom groaned in pain.

Seeing this, the Black Dragon Sword scowled.

“Even in this situation, you won’t retract your Qi? You’re truly stubborn.”

The Qi that Cheonghae Ilgeom had scattered into the air was meant to protect the younger disciples of the hall.

By now, the Black Dragon Brigade must have already breached the defenses and drawn their swords.

Yet, even now, as he bled and fought, Cheonghae Ilgeom hadn’t retracted the remaining Qi.

The Black Dragon Sword found this to be foolish.

Even if he had fought with all his might, the outcome was still uncertain.

Drip.

Black blood trickled from Cheonghae Ilgeom’s mouth.

“Are you truly holding out just to wait for the Sword Queen?”

The Black Dragon Sword had long known that the Sword Queen of Mount Hua was in Sinryong Hall.

He wasn’t sure why she had come, but it was clear that Cheonghae Ilgeom was relying on her.

Was he buying time, hoping she would come to his aid? Or perhaps he was holding out, hoping she would save the younger disciples?

“It’s all for nothing.”

The Black Dragon Sword sneered.

“The Sword Queen is already dead.”

“…What…?”

Cheonghae Ilgeom’s eyes widened in shock at the Black Dragon Sword’s words.

His reaction made the Black Dragon Sword grin even wider, revealing his yellowed teeth.

He found Cheonghae Ilgeom’s reaction utterly amusing.

“Do you know who I sent to deal with her?”

The Sword Queen of Mount Hua.

She had disappeared for years before resurfacing recently, to the delight of many.

Her return had been celebrated, and she had quickly regained her former reputation with her strength and character.

She was a formidable woman.

Even the Black Dragon Sword acknowledged her power.

But even she—

“I sent the King of Shadows. That’s who I sent to kill her.”

…!

The King of Shadows, the ruler of the night. There was no way the Sword Queen could escape from him, especially not in the current situation.

As Cheonghae Ilgeom processed the Black Dragon Sword’s words, his expression changed.

His face contorted in confusion and disbelief.

“…The King of Shadows?”

Cheonghae Ilgeom whispered to himself.

“Give up on waiting for the Sword Queen. Focus on your own life, while you still have it.”

Not that it mattered much.

The Black Dragon Sword would cut off his head soon enough.

Clang.

The Black Dragon Sword adjusted his grip on the saber.

Cheonghae Ilgeom still hadn’t risen from the ground.

Had he finally given up?

But even though his body lay on the ground, his Qi was still suspended in the air, protecting the disciples.

“…Ha.”

Sensing this, the Black Dragon Sword let out a dry laugh.

Even in this pitiful state, Cheonghae Ilgeom refused to let go.

Truly foolish.

“I had high hopes, but this is just pathetic.”

A sword master among the greatest in the world.
The head of one of the Nine Great Schools.

Killing him, along with the elite disciples, would undoubtedly shake the martial world to its core.

But to see him fall in such a miserable state was disappointing.

As he approached Cheonghae Ilgeom, the Black Dragon Sword sighed.

“If you’ve truly given up, then death is inevitable.”

He would sever Cheonghae Ilgeom’s head and display it at Sinryong Hall.

That way, the late-arriving Martial Alliance would see the full extent of their failure.

“It’s time for you to rest.”

The Black Dragon Sword prepared to deliver the final blow.

Once he was done here, he would join up with the Palace Lord.

That thought made him grin as he stepped closer to Cheonghae Ilgeom.

‘That didn’t take as long as I expected.’

Neutralizing Cheonghae Ilgeom had taken far less time than he had anticipated.

The old fool was weaker than expected.

By now, the Palace Lord would likely have captured Dok Bong and reached their destination.

As for the King of Shadows, there was no need to worry about him.

He never failed.

Drawing his saber, the Black Dragon Sword advanced on Cheonghae Ilgeom.

Once he severed his head—

Thud—!

“…?”

The sudden tremor caused the Black Dragon Sword to glance toward Taesan.

The vibration was immense, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

The murderous intent was palpable, even from a distance.

“What in the world…?”

Taesan was where the Palace Lord and the Black Dragon Brigade were heading.
Why was such a powerful presence emanating from there?

And that wasn’t the only anomaly.

Crack—!

“…What?”

The black formation in the sky began to crack.

Thud.

From the cracks in the formation, something began to fall.

They were fragments of Qi.

“What is this…?”

Could it be the aftershock from the earlier tremor?
No, that didn’t seem right.

The Black Dragon Sword sensed that something else was happening.

Rumble.

Beyond the cracks in the formation, something was stirring.

Through the gaps in the falling fragments, a strange red glow began to seep through.

What was that?

It was far too early for the sunset, and besides, the heat emanating from that glow—

It wasn’t quite hot, but it wasn’t warm either.
It was somewhere in between.

Whatever it was, it was clear that something unprecedented was happening.

“What in the world is going on?”

This was an unexpected turn of events.

Raising his saber, the Black Dragon Sword prepared to finish off Cheonghae Ilgeom.

He needed to take care of this quickly and investigate what was happening at Taesan.

“Ah, shit…”

“…!”

A voice came from somewhere.

The Black Dragon Sword turned his head in the direction of the sound.

Someone was breathing heavily, muttering curses under their breath.

“Damn it, I almost died.”

When had he gotten there?

The Black Dragon Sword hadn’t sensed this man’s presence at all.

It was as if—

He had simply fallen from the sky.

The newcomer was a young man with black hair and red eyes. He didn’t look much older than twenty.

“Never doing that again. What the hell is this place, anyway? Why does everything look like this?”

Seeing this, the Black Dragon Sword inhaled sharply.

‘Who… is he?’

The hairs on his arm were standing on end.

But this time, it wasn’t because of the murderous aura coming from the distance.

No. It was because of him.

It was this presence that had set his body on edge.

Just as the Black Dragon Sword was about to ready his weapon—

The young man, who had been looking around at his surroundings, turned to meet the Black Dragon Sword’s gaze.

“Huh?”

The young man’s eyes shifted between the Black Dragon Sword and the fallen Cheonghae Ilgeom.

His face twisted into a deep frown.

That expression, so full of malice, caused the Black Dragon Sword to flinch.