The problem arose when the unconscious opponent was dragged away and it was time to start the second and final martial arts match.

‘There are many monsters in the world.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. It felt like encountering a martial artist who would one day become an absolute master like the Tyrant Sword Lord.

The man in pure white walking steadily from the opposite side.

His slender jaw had such beautiful lines it evoked the blade of a treasured sword, and his pitch-black eyes with clear focus showed the demeanor of a swordsman.

His flawless skin, as white as his clothing, combined with his high nose bridge to reveal nobility.

A peerlessly handsome young man. Perhaps around twenty years old.

‘White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin.’

He could tell without asking. There was no way someone like that would be here otherwise.

Even the masters of Desolate Sect sitting in a wide circle showed interest.

“I wonder which faction will take him. The great lords will fight over him.”

“He seems stronger than us? As expected of the Namgung clan.”

“Will we witness the Boundless Sword of the Azure Sky today?”

They spoke as if his acceptance was a foregone conclusion. Some in the opposite garden waiting area looked at Jeong Yeon-shin with pitying expressions.

‘He looks about five years older than me. Seems like a mountain I could climb someday.’

He could feel the aura emanating from Namgung Hwa-shin.

The flow of his inner energy was incredibly well-refined.

It seemed he had circulated his energy through his entire body’s meridians for at least a few years, and even consumed spirit medicines. Truly powerful inner strength was breathing within him.

The masters of Desolate Sect couldn’t stop marveling.

“It’s never easy for a rumor to spread across several provinces.”

“Indeed, his reputation is well-deserved.”

Jeong Yeon-shin acknowledged it as well.

‘My body is the only thing better. Everything else is still lacking.’

Namgung Hwa-shin approached to within five paces.

His respectful cupped fist salute exuded the dignity of an unapproachable noble clan.

“I am Namgung Hwa-shin of the Namgung clan. I mainly trained in our family’s martial arts, the Boundless Sword of the Azure Sky and Infinite Steps. I look forward to our match.”

“I trained in the Jeongfamily’s inner energy cultivation at the Jeongfamily manor in Henan.”

Jeong Yeon-shin respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

Namgung Hwa-shin returned the greeting by slightly bowing his waist.

He drew his sword.

With a clear sword cry, the sword’s radiance stretched out into the crisp morning air.

It was dazzling.

The drawing of the sword can be used as a measure of a swordsman’s level, and Namgung Hwa-shin’s silvery draw that diagonally cut through the air was even beautiful.

Jeong Yeon-shin did not draw his sword.

The key to the sword drawing technique he had been practicing lately was unpredictability.

The core was a strike that rushed in from an unexpected breath.

If it landed well, it could catch even that dragon-like late-stage master off guard.

Standing still, he circulated the inner energy in his body.

“Begin.”

Said the examiner who had stood up alone among the Desolate Sect martial artists to evaluate.

Simultaneously.

Clang-!

One side of Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword, which was suddenly stretched out to the side, broke in two and flew away.

He slowly lowered his arm holding his broken sword.

A commotion arose like wildfire from the gardens on both sides.

“What happened…?”

“What was that? What happened?”

“Did the boy lose?”

“White Qilin. What a terrifying swift sword!”

While the aspiring entrants reacted with bewilderment or confident assertions…

“……”

The masters of Desolate Sect were quiet as mice.

Those who had seemed undisciplined for the top martial artists of the jianghu. At this moment, they wrapped themselves in a solemn aura.

All the masters silently kept their gaze fixed on Jeong Yeon-shin. They only looked at Jeong Yeon-shin.

White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin lowered his sword and said:

“I lost.”

A declaration of defeat. The Desolate Sect martial artists spoke one by one with expressions as if this was natural.

“Jeong Yeon-shin, was it? Truly a terrifying swift sword.”

“I heard Namgung Hwa-shin had just passed twenty.”

“The boy looks easily five years younger.”

“There was a hidden dragon in Henan. That child’s age is even more frightening.”

“He doesn’t seem to have learned how to imbue his sword with inner energy. Shall I teach him?”

All eyes focused on the martial artist who spoke last.

“Annihilation Thread Squad. Don’t act rashly. What place wouldn’t covet such a talent?”

“Don’t order me around. It would be better for him to come to the Annihilation Thread than rot away in your Demon Light Wing.”

“Enough.”

The examiner said.

As the surroundings quieted down, Jeong Yeon-shin found it unexpected.

He thought the one taking on unpleasant tasks would be the lowest ranked among them, but that wasn’t the case.

The higher-ups handle responsible matters? He felt he was starting to understand Desolate Sect’s character.

“Namgung Hwa-shin, prepare for the next match. And you. You said you were Jeong Yeon-shin from Xinye?”

“Yes.”

“Over there, if you go out to the north, there’s another garden. Wait there.”

“Understood.”

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head and cupped his fists towards Namgung Hwa-shin.

“I hope we can have a proper match next time.”

“…That’s what I wanted to say. Let’s look forward to next time.”

Namgung Hwa-shin smiled.

His expression was quite peculiar, seeming to have only interest and joy on his face, without any hint of dark emotions.

‘He’s quite different from those older brothers.’

His character was on a different level from the Jeong siblings.

The moment the match began, Jeong Yeon-shin struck Namgung Hwa-shin’s sword with an extreme swift sword technique.

It was because he realized he had no chance in a prolonged battle.

However, Namgung Hwa-shin seemed to have wanted to go all out against the boy as well, having imbued his sword with inner energy.

That’s how Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword broke.

It could be considered his mistake for recklessly unleashing a swift sword strike, but Namgung Hwa-shin admitted defeat instead.

He seemed to think he lost because his strike came out much later.

‘Life in Desolate Sect will be much better than at the Jeong family manor.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought as he gathered the broken sword pieces and walked northward.

* * *

The garden where those who passed the Desolate Sect test gathered.

He received surprised looks from those already seated.

Jeong Yeon-shin paid no mind and recalled his single sword strike.

The weight distribution of both feet, the layering of inner energy at the critical moment, the explosion of contracted muscles. For now, he couldn’t see how to improve further.

The sword was indeed the problem.

‘Did he say Demon Light Wing? That martial artist was right.’

During the bloodbath at the Jeong family manor, he hadn’t directly clashed swords.

The wandering swordsmen he faced on the way from Xinye to Xiangyang weren’t at a level to worry about inner energy.

Desolate Sect was different.

He had now set foot in the center of the martial world.

‘Fruit of the World Tree.’

He had to eat it. He couldn’t die prematurely like this.

‘I didn’t learn how to imbue a sword with inner energy?’

Of course.

The Jeong family manor was just a third-rate family pretending to be influential in Xinye County.

He had never seen anyone in the Jeong family who disliked running their mouths.

If there was someone in the family who knew such a skill, there’s no way he wouldn’t have known.

‘Now that I know it exists, that’s enough.’

It was sufficient to have heard there was such a thing. The moment he knew, he understood the method.

Inner energy flowed into the broken sword from the hand holding the sword hilt. But it didn’t end there.

At the same time, he realized the iron making up the sword blade could be freely permeated with inner energy, and following this new sensation, the inner energy enveloped the sword blade.

Just imbuing the sword with energy? No.

He came to understand that he could become one with the sword through inner energy as a medium.

His consciousness, now immersed in a single sword, naturally progressed.

The sword was calling to him. To a higher level of sensation.

Wooong.

The sword vibrated. It was like a sound of crying on its own.

“Sword cry!”

The martial artists in the garden abruptly stood up. Jeong Yeon-shin had his eyes closed.

He enjoyed the sensation of the sword crying out in his grasp, unconcerned by the commotion around him.

‘So this is unity of body and sword. It really feels like becoming one with the sword.’

Sword techniques unleashed in this state would be novel again. What power would the swift sword technique display with its enhanced precision?

He was gaining something with every step since passing the Desolate Sect test.

Though the fruit of the World Tree was still far off, he was fully satisfied with his current achievements.

‘Desolate Sect. It really is a good place.’

When he opened his eyes, he saw Namgung Hwa-shin smiling gently.

He noticed his hand resting on his sword hilt.

It seemed he had been watching closely nearby, in case someone disturbed his enlightenment. He had stood guard.

“Congratulations on your achievement.”

He gave a slight nod to Jeong Yeon-shin. It made one wonder if a person could be this upright.

“I didn’t realize you were standing guard. Thank you. And…”

“…?”

“Congratulations to you as well on passing the Desolate Sect test, Young Master Namgung.”

For a moment, Namgung Hwa-shin showed a blank expression for the first time before breaking into hearty laughter.

There were some who looked on enviously, as if wishing they could form a friendship with the White Qilin, but Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze had already returned to his sword.

* * *

After waiting for half a shichen (1 hour), he was finally able to see Heon Won-Chang’s face as well.

He said he took the test several times, and it seems he too had passed.

The sight of him repeatedly tapping the dragon pattern on his hero’s headband was quite amusing.

“I’ve already decided on a title. How about ‘Divine Hero of Desolate Sect’?”

“The mysterious hero of Desolate Sect? Are there cases where one chooses their own title?”

“Why not? The martial world is full of brazen individuals who introduce themselves by their own titles. If I introduce myself as the Divine Hero of Desolate Sect, that becomes my title.”

“Then wouldn’t all swordsmen in the world already be Divine Swords and Sword Saints?”

Heon Won-Chang pretended not to hear. Jeong Yeon-shin chuckled.

‘A title, huh.’

A name given by martial artists when one displays lofty martial prowess or becomes the subject of a notable event.

For most, as long as they weren’t evildoers, a title was a martial artist’s identity and great honor.

Like Precipice Sword, Shadowless Fist, and White Qilin.

“It seems Young Master Jeong is already being called by others differently.”

It was Namgung Hwa-shin.

“Me? But I’ve only taken the test.”

“Lightning Flash. If the Desolate Sect martial artists are calling you that directly, it’s already a title in the martial world.”

“The Lightning Flash? Isn’t it just seeing a young one’s somewhat fast sword as child’s play?”

Namgung Hwa-shin revealed his snow-white teeth as he smiled.

“Somewhat fast, you say? Then what of myself who lost track of your breath? Also, there are many cases where a martial artist’s potential is encapsulated in their title. Congratulations.”

“…Thank you.”

Jeong Yeon-shin replied with a slightly disgruntled expression.

Lightning Flash Jeong Yeon-shin. It was a name he couldn’t have imagined when he was sitting in horse stance at the Jeong family manor.

The Divine Hero of Desolate Sect beside him looked on enviously.

“Everyone gather!”

It was the examiner from the training ground.

“Now you only need to pass one more gate to become martial artists of Desolate Sect. I tell those who will pass in advance, you will learn and train, carry out missions, and live together in this fortress standing alone in the martial world. Maintain proper dignity and become martial artists befitting your status.”

The reaction of the twenty who took the Desolate Sect test was quiet.

Jeong Yeon-shin could guess the reason.

While passing the second test was joyous, they had said the final gate was an interview with the Lord of Desolate Sect.

The living history of the Great Ming Empire and one mentioned as having the world’s greatest martial arts. A peerless master.

Even for Jeong Yeon-shin, meeting such a legendary figure in person was no light matter.

No one spoke as they passed by magnificent palace halls under the examiner’s guidance.

“……”

Even after entering the main palace of overwhelming size at the very center of the vast Desolate Sect, it was the same.

They were called up one by one, then came down looking dazed.

Though it was called an interview, the intervals were extremely short, to the point of wondering if they just looked at faces and came down.

Finally, it was Jeong Yeon-shin’s turn to go up.

The stairs leading up seemed to spiral endlessly.

‘They said to go all the way up.’

When it felt like he had climbed well over a hundred steps, he reached the top.

There was an antique and massive door, which opened on its own as he approached.

The vast office was truly bizarre. It was all trees, branches, and foliage.

Huge tree trunks naturally twisted and rose to form what appeared to be desks, tea tables, and beds.

A completely living giant tree. Pure sunlight poured in through the wide open walls.

“I am Jeong Yeon-shin.”

He spoke without wavering.

There was a figure whose very martial robes seemed dyed a pale green like leaves steeped in water.

The face slightly obscured by leafy twigs, she who had been sitting leaning against a tree slowly raised her head.

Their eyes met. Something beyond even a shudder rose to the top of his head.

It was an emotion he himself couldn’t understand. Perhaps awe and wonder at the fact that such a being existed in the world?

‘The world’s greatest, the Lord of Desolate Sect.’

Her pointed ears like the tip of a divine sword and beauty rarely seen in the mortal realm were not the essence.

Her deep green eyes were overwhelming. Meeting her gaze now, it felt like his very soul was being sucked in.

Eyes that seemed to encompass the principles of all things in the world.

He had a strong feeling that even the Tyrant Sword Lord, the absolute being in his memories, could not escape those eyes.

A being of a different dimension, to the point where it would be strange for the interview to take long.

Saa-

A gust of wind that lightly lifted her long green hair brushed Jeong Yeon-shin’s cheek.

The Lord of Desolate Sect tilted her head slightly to the side.

“You… are that child’s bloodline.”

She said.