The unity of sword and mind, sensing even the wind blowing on the blade. The sensation from that time is still vivid.

I was able to read Cheong Myeong’s technique with my sword, which my eyes couldn’t see at all.

Internal Energy. True Qi is mysterious.

Without needing to see with the eyes or feel with the skin, it shows the realm of ascension.

‘The essence of qi is nature itself. Perhaps it’s enough to simply follow where it leads.’

The cold touch of the Desolate sword hilt becomes warm.

Following the principles of Radiant Demon Formation, the qi rising from my whole body began to flow outwards.

A sensation like the weakest breeze.

With the gentle wind, I surveyed another tower standing tall next to the collapsed brick wall.

Just glancing at the joints of the brick tower created a transparent mental image.

How much force and at what angle to strike where.

Force, environment, and target drew a triad, creating a single trajectory. This is called the path of battle.

My breathing settled.

My right hand holding the sheathed Desolate sword lifted.

I didn’t draw on even a handful of inner power to boost my physical strength.

I simply swung leisurely, following the form led by the qi.

In that moment, the world lost color from my consciousness.

The twisting of muscles starting from the pectoralis major, passing through the deltoid and biceps to reach the flexor digitorum profundus, forged a path of force like a sword. This immediately converged into a single sword path advancing towards the tower.

Just before impact, all the joints in my body were momentarily fixed. The optimal moment and supreme strike.

Thwack! Rumble-

The collapsed bricks looked similar to those Ma Jin had destroyed next to it.

I have attained Radiant Demon Formation. All that remains is to practice using it in real combat.

Yeon-shin deliberately suppressed the excitement rising in his heart.

As he sheathed his sword at his waist, he glanced at Ma Jin, who wore an even more intense expression than when dueling Cheong Myeong. By now it was no longer surprising.

“What… is this……”

“It seems I need to experience a lot of real combat. To unleash Radiant Demon Formation even in split-second life-or-death moments, ordinary training won’t be enough.”

“……”

“I understand what it means to engrave it in the body. I’ve learned well.”

Ma Jin, said to be among the top 17 strongest in the Divine Sword Unit.

He remained silent for a while.

* * *

“That guy. He’s strange.”

One of the Radiant Demon Wing masters muttered.

He was a man wearing blue clothes with the character for “wild” (荒) from Desolate Sect embroidered on both shoulders and back.

Everyone present was wearing the same martial uniform.

About a dozen warriors drinking in a lavish tavern. Their faces showed they understood immediately.

Other than the boy who had been monopolizing conversation within Radiant Demon Wing recently, there was no one else.

“I heard that a lot too. Until I came here.”

“A once-in-a-generation talent? That’s nothing new.”

“How many martial artists in Desolate Sect haven’t been called talented since entering Desolate Sect?”

“Having grown up in Desolate Sect, I wouldn’t know.”

A faint scent of alcohol lingered in each of their comments.

It was one of the most renowned taverns even in the bustling Xiangyang district, which thrived due to Desolate Sect’s presence.

In this place of enjoyment, no one bothered to circulate their inner power to expel the effects of alcohol.

Those who practiced asceticism and focused solely on training didn’t come out in the first place.

The Radiant Demon Wing master who first brought up the topic said:

“That’s right. It’s what ignorant ordinary people usually say about geniuses and prodigies. That ‘he’s a strange guy.'”

“True. He became ordinary after coming here. Looking back, it’s not a good thing.”

A man with a reddened face across from him chimed in, emptying his cup with a giggle. He added:

“But to us, this guy is strange, that’s what I’m saying.”

The masters let out hollow laughs.

“Has anyone seen the captain make that kind of face?”

“I heard he’s already using Radiant Demon Formation skillfully.”

“Can’t you tell just by watching him swing a sword? He’s completely changed and gained form. When he fought with Cheong Myeong, he was like a young beast raised without parents.”

“It was unbelievable even as I watched.”

As they chatted about the absent boy over drinks, a relatively young-faced man spoke up:

“I like that Lightning Flash kid’s temperament. He’s not arrogant. With that talent.”

“Sometimes he’s so brazen it’s bewildering. We’ll know his true nature soon enough after he goes on one big mission.”

“With that level of talent, wouldn’t the Sect lord have taken notice?”

“He would have met the Sect lord at the last Desolate ceremony. With her eyes, She would have seen through him at a glance. There might be some arrangement.”

“If there are no issues, he’ll become a master that people will mention first when discussing Desolate Sect in the future. Won’t he soon rise from white to blue?”

“That’s possible. If he survives.”

Several masters nodded their heads.

“But… what those guys are saying is ridiculous.”

While they were talking, one of the Radiant Demon Wing warriors turned his head towards a wall and spoke.

The woman next to him raised her aura and grinned.

“They must be upset. I heard they made a fuss about having to bring either Lightning Flash or White Qilin to their captain, but in the end they couldn’t get either one.”

Raucous laughter erupted.

At the same time.

BOOM!

The side wall shattered.

The Radiant Demon Wing masters deflected the shrapnel exploding in all directions with their chopsticks or wine cups. 

Their casual gestures, as if this wasn’t the first time, contained profound martial arts principles.

“Sorry to interrupt the Radiant Demon Wing masters’ enjoyment.”

They were warriors also wearing Desolate Sect blue martial uniforms.

One man stepped forward to speak, but contrary to his words, his entire robe fluttered. 

He had raised his qi to the fullest.

“If you know that, why don’t you quietly leave? We were just getting in the mood. Our youngest has amazing talent.”

The woman who was already exuding her aura spoke with a smirk.

Her clear features and cold eyes formed a smile.

It was clearly a provocative expression that could make even those who didn’t intend to fight draw their swords.

“Bewitching Sword Demon. Are you looking for a fight?”

“I thought your Azure Sky Squad wanted to first. Saying talent has clear limits in Radiant Demon Wing no matter how good? Isn’t that asking for a fight? Spewing nasty insults even though you knew we could hear.”

Her tone grew more teeth-gritting as she spoke.

Her aura intensified with each word.

Unable to control her anger, the woman stood up abruptly and glared at the Azure Sky Squad warriors.

“Draw your swords. Let’s see your vaunted Azure Sky Sword Technique’s 18 moves.”

“Bewitching Sword Demon Baek Mi-ryeo! Watch your words!”

“Who are you to order me? I’ll destroy you in 10 moves, so come at me!”

The Xiangyang Best Tavern descended into chaos.

As someone who had never dared to drink even a single cup of alcohol for fear it might harm his Jeong Family Dynamic Technique cultivation, Jeong Yeon-shin found it difficult to understand their state of mind.

“It’s our youngest ones.”

“There’s no lesson today, yet you came all the way here to train?”

“You don’t have to do that when you’re at the white level.”

“No, those at white level should do it even more. It’s an admirable attitude.”

The seniors welcomed the two youngest members. Jeong Yeon-shin returned their greeting with a fist-and-palm salute, then walked straight up to Ma Jin, the head of Radiant Demon Wing.

“Is there something you’re stuck on? Go ahead and ask.”

Ma Jin, who had previously left saying he needed to think about how to teach Yeon-shin, spoke with a tired-looking face. 

Since it was unlikely for a supreme master like him to easily feel physical fatigue, it seemed he had devoted much mental energy to Yeon-shin, as he had said he would.

‘Seeing this, it looks like he’ll really take it seriously.’

Yeon-shin thought. As he opened his mouth to speak, he felt a bit more at ease.

“I would like to have a duel.”

“Alright. Pick anyone you want. They’ll all oblige.”

Ma Jin replied while rubbing his forehead. Yeon-shin shook his head.

“Not with Radiant Demon Wing. I want to compete against Azure Sky Squad.”

The training ground suddenly fell silent. Everyone knew why he had mentioned Azure Sky Squad.

“…You must have heard about yesterday’s incident, but there’s no need to get so worked up about it. Calm yourself.”

‘I’m not excited though.’

Ma Jin’s face, looking down at Yeon-shin, showed both bewilderment and pride.

“What do you mean? I simply wish to witness the Azure Sky sword technique that I’ve long admired.”

“You’re not calming down at all. Too much hot blood can be a problem too.”

However, the faces of the Radiant Demon Wing seniors visible behind him didn’t look like they saw it as a problem at all.

Many of them looked like they couldn’t be more proud.

These battle-hardened warriors, said to be no less skilled than the masters of the Nine Sects, were already beaming with pride, their eyes flashing like sword strikes.

It was enough to give him goosebumps, as the reaction was beyond what he had intended.

He opened his mouth first.

“I want to test myself against the renowned sword technique using Radiant Demon Formation. Please allow it, Captain.”

‘Gain real combat experience with Radiant Demon Formation, witness an advanced sword technique, and earn the seniors’ favor.’

He thought it would kill three birds with one stone. The last one seemed to have already been achieved.

“Are you serious? Even though we’re all under the umbrella of Desolate Sect’s Divine Sword Unit, Radiant Demon Wing is different. You haven’t learned the same martial arts as Azure Sky Squad, nor have you fought alongside them. They won’t go easy on you.”

“That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Yeon-shin’s brief reply. Whistles erupted from those around.

“Now that’s the spirit worthy of representing Desolate Sect!”

“I’d like to see how he matures.”

“If he can just hold his own decently, he’d be fit to lead the next generation of Radiant Demon Wing.”

Among them, even Ma Jin nodded slightly. Desolate Sect is the center of the martial arts world. It’s a world where one proves oneself through martial arts and spirit. No master would look unfavorably upon a fifteen-year-old swordsman raising his fighting spirit for the honor of Radiant Demon Wing.

“Very well. I’ll inform the head of Azure Sky Squad.”

The next day.

A duel between Radiant Demon Wing’s Lightning Flash and a Azure Sky Squad warrior was arranged. Officially, it was called an exchange match.