“A white robe challenged a blue robe to a duel?”

“To be precise, it was said to be a sparring match for guidance.”

“That’s not it. I know the inside story.”

For once, there were murmurs all over the Desolate Sect.

The news was that a new rookie and a blue robe warrior of the Azure Sky Squad were going to duel for the honor of the seventeen squads.

The general consensus was that the distinction between the “white, blue, black, and purple” robes in the Desolate Sect was more pronounced than it appeared, so the outcome of the match itself was not people’s concern.

“How many seconds will he last?”

“Anyway, it will be ten seconds at most.”

“I agree. A white robe who just entered lasting more than ten moves against a blue robe? That’s not a picture that can be drawn.”

“Isn’t it like the Mount Hua Sect’s second disciple challenging the Plum Blossom Swordsman?”

On the day of the duel, it seemed the rumor had spread widely throughout the Desolate Sect, as people from other seventeen squads and even some from the General Administration Department came to watch.

The location was the Azure Sky Squad’s training ground.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had already arrived and was receiving curious gazes at a glance, looked around.

It was all swords, only swords.

Seeing all kinds of swords hanging on the weapon racks, he newly realized that the Azure Sky Squad was a famous sword squad in the martial world.

‘Does this mean they only train with swords here until becoming a blue robe warrior?’

The commonly known Desolate Test was a test to admit white robe warriors, but there were said to be several other entry paths.

The most well-known was the same as ordinary major sects.

It was to take in children whose blood paths were not yet blocked by impurities as disciples, dress them in any clothes, and gradually advance them to white and blue robes.

Rather, this was more orthodox and had a more promising future.

Jeong Yeon-shin could not forget the spirited and lively children he saw in the Radiant Demon Wing. They even followed to cheer for him now.

“You have to last at least five moves! We made a bet with the Azure Sky Squad kids! Brother! Look this way! Over here!”

“Older brother! You can’t tarnish the name of Radiant Demon!”

“Master! Fighting!”

‘Master, huh.’

Jeong Yeon-shin chuckled.

Unlike other sects, in the Desolate Sect, the robe color was everything about one’s status. In this aspect, it was similar to the military.

The children sometimes jokingly called him and Heon Won-chang master, which was only fresh and cute to Jeong Yeon-shin, who had not been able to form attachments to a family.

He waved to the ten or so children. A cheer of “Waaah-” erupted. They were pure kids.

‘Come to think of it, there were friends my age too.’

There were also disciples of the Radiant Demon Wing who were older than those children.

It was said that even at the age of twenty, it was considered early to be recognized for martial arts, wear white robes, and become an official warrior.

He was abnormally fast.

Naturally, there were disciples older than Jeong Yeon-shin, and unlike the children who came to cheer, they were still awkward with him.

‘Time will solve it.’

Putting aside his thoughts, he looked ahead.

The expressions of the warriors who seemed to be from the Azure Sky Squad were not good.

They felt displeasure at the fact that a rookie from the Desolate test had requested a duel.

On one side, two supreme masters in black robes were having a staring contest. It was Ma Jin and the Azure Sky Squad Leader.

The Azure Sky Squad Leader was a renowned swordsman famous as one of the Ten Great Swordsmen in the Huguang area. Although skinny, his tall height, long arms, and powerful eyes were impressive.

“Let’s bet one of the squad’s spirit pills on whether he lasts ten seconds. Of course, I’ll bet that the rookie won’t last ten moves.”

The Azure Sky Squad Leader said. Ma Jin’s face was filled with absurdity.

“Spirit pills. Isn’t that too much?”

“Are you scared? Think you’ll lose?”

“What childish provocation. The spirit pills of the Desolate Sect are no light matter.”

“The honor of the Radiant Demon Wing and Azure Sky Squad is at stake. Is it a light matter?”

The Azure Sky Squad Leader spoke strongly as Ma Jin seemed to back down. It was like gaining momentum in a fight between beasts.

“Ma Jin. You seem unprecedentedly weak. Did you make such a fuss at the squad leader meeting to bring in a guy like that?”

“You seem to have a lot of resentment.”

“Don’t change the subject. Are you going to back out?”

“Ha…… Fine. I’ll accept.”

“Good. A leader of a group should know to trust his subordinates.”

The Azure Sky Squad Leader raised the corners of his mouth and turned his head. Thus, he failed to see the smile on Ma Jin’s face next to him.

* * *

“You said your name is Jeong Yeon-shin. The white robe of Radiant Demon.”

“Radiant Demon Wing, Jeong Yeon-shin.”

He politely saluted his opponent. It hadn’t been long since he introduced himself as Jeong Yeon-shin of Xinye, but now the Radiant Demon Wing that modified his current self felt much more fitting.

From the Blood Massacre of the Jeong Family to Nanyang in Henan and Xiangyang in Huguang.

Regardless of how others viewed it, the time of the duel representing an entire group felt unfamiliar yet precious to him.

The warrior who had asked his name stood nonchalantly ten steps ahead.

Blue robes symbolizing being the main force of the Desolate Sect, a spirit that rose like a blade, fierce eyes.

“I have trained in the Azure Sky Sword Technique for twenty years. They say a sword has no eyes, but the sword of a master who has reached the pinnacle has eyes. However, I do not leave any leeway in my hands. You must keep these words in mind.”

“Yes.”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s short reply, the warrior’s eyebrows twitched.

Without saying more, he placed his hand on the sword’s hilt. At the same time, a frosty aura stretched out like icicles.

‘What kind of sword is it?’

There was no provocative intent in Jeong Yeon-shin’s brief answer.

He was already reading the opponent with true energy while releasing the Radiant Demon Formation.

According to his seniors, the Azure Sky Sword Technique had a very diverse sword force.

Depending on the practitioner, it could become a swift sword or emit a powerful heavy sword.

‘I heard blue robe warriors have a specialty but master it all.’

In that case, Jeong Yeon-shin was also simply unleashing his martial arts.

‘Fate Conquering Scripture.’

A unique martial art he created, incomparable to the opponent in both density and quantity of true energy.

As he stirred his mind, internal energy began to circulate through the elastic meridians, overlapping.

It was a true energy utilization method made possible by greatly mastering the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique and completely penetrating all the meridians in the body, including the twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians.

The Fate Conquering Scripture was also developing along with the swift sword.

He was at the level of confirming the parts that needed to support the weight and apply force while circulating true qi.

“Come.”

The blue robe warrior spoke. He naturally yielded the first move. Jeong Yeon-shin decided to see his surprised face.

“Inhale.”

The moment he trapped his inhalation in his body, he drew his sword with enlightenment.

The resonance of true energy stamped on the training ground with a thud, and the formula of the swift sword was contained on the blade of the Desolate Sword that distorted the transparent sunlight.

The force rising from beneath his feet condensed into the sword at an extreme speed, drawing the sword path of the Radiant Demon Formation.

Swoosh!

He smiled at the vibration in his grip that rode up with the sword cry.

It went in properly.

Although he didn’t cut, the warrior’s dismay at his broken nonchalance and his staggering center of gravity seemed to pierce through.

As the sword gets faster, its power naturally becomes stronger. It is called sword force.

With the same foot that had stepped on enlightenment, he pushed off the ground.

When properly utilized, the Fate Conquering Scripture, which he defined as having achieved two stages, exerts twice the efficiency of ordinary true energy.

The warrior’s body grew larger along with the rapidly passing scenery.

The Radiant Demon Formation informed him of the path.

Right now, holding the sword, it was the sword path.

The warrior’s words about not leaving leeway in his hands seemed separate from letting his guard down.

Just like those who had been captivated by the boy’s appearance and lost in an instant, his broken balance was clearly visible.

‘Now.’

If not now, he cannot win. In the vast training ground, amidst the many people, Jeong Yeon-shin alone thought of victory.

Clang!

He felt the drastically improved sword force himself. The resonance transmitted through his hand was tremendous.

The warrior’s eyes quickly turned serious, but the surging sword, even if it fell far short of a blue robe warrior’s level, made him unable to assume a proper stance.

On one side, Ma Jin was seen gathering the children and teaching them the importance of the first strike. How very composed of him.

Clang! Clang! Claaang!

The Radiant Demon Sword’s sword path filled his vision, drawing white streaks.

He was maximizing the effectiveness of the swift sword.

Persistently seizing the breath and center he had gained for a single moment, the opponent’s face gradually showed a fed-up expression.

Jeong Yeon-shin forgot how many moves they had exchanged.

Completely immersed in a state of selflessness, he comprehended the Radiant Demon Formation.

The principles of martial arts accumulated on the body tempered by the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

The more the sword path tilted, the more he used his back muscles; when taking a diagonal step forward, twisting the enlightened foot generated rotational force along with true energy; this was the Rotational Strike, one of the explosive forces Cheong Myeong had used!

Whoosh!

The swirling true energy was contained in the sword strike.

Swoosh!

The warrior retreated a step. Jeong Yeon-shin raised his sword and rotated.

A powerful and sharp wind scattered in all directions.

It was a fragment of the explosive force, the power of meridians.

Along with the sense of accomplishment running down his spine like a shudder, he named another move.

‘Charged Rotational Force!’

The uncontrollable force naturally led his body. His body spun around once more.

In this moment, he naturally realized that he could also use Chukma-gyeong as a linked attack.

The power increased with each move of the martial art. The second Rotational strike following the first was unleashed from the tip of the sword.

Bang!

It was before the blue robe warrior could even finish rotating his body to gain distance.

The warrior’s Desolate Sword was sent flying. His upper body was completely shaken by the tremendous sword force of Charged Rotational Strike. His arm was raised above his head.

“Ugh!”

As he barely managed to regain his posture after almost collapsing to his knees, a sword touched beneath his chin.

Jeong Yeon-shin was pointing his own Desolate Sword at him with a strange expression.

The warrior’s blue robe was remarkably clean considering it had received Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword several times. Only a few wrinkles had formed.

However, the white robe had won. Even if it was due to carelessness, it was an undeniable result.

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin stared at him blankly.

It was luck.

He had won because a timely flash of inspiration added strength to his surging momentum.

If they fought again, it would never be the same as now.

It was said that a Desolate Sect blue robe warrior would not yield even to the Plum Blossom Swordsman of the Mount Hua Sect.

The difference of a single rank felt so vast, revealing the latent power of the Desolate Sect.

With such prowess in the vast martial world, it would be difficult to find a true match. It felt like he had found his first goal.

Jeong Yeon-shin sheathed his Iphuang Sword. He then cupped his hands in a salute, sincerity contained within.

For giving him the opportunity to gain Charged Rotational Strike and setting a goal for him.

“Thank you for the opportunity to witness such exceptional swordsmanship.”

“…Your sword path and Rotational Strike were remarkable. Prowess that transcends age.”

After staring at him for a moment while speaking, the blue robe warrior rose to his feet. The corners of his mouth slightly lifted, indicating he was not in a bad mood.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought to himself, even after having his pride crushed, changing expression with a single salute was a kind of charm in its own way.

He turned his head. The faces varied, but the majority showed noticeable shock, and some even looked in admiration.

“Just now… how many seconds was that? The white robe won.”

“It seemed like they exchanged at least twenty moves.”

“Exchanged? That’s not it. He’s truly a tremendous sword genius. Seomye Jeong Yeon-shin, was it? An astonishing age, and even more astonishing prowess that defies understanding.”

“Radiant Demon Wing brought in a treasure. It’s driving me insanely jealous.”

The dumbfounded faces of the impudent Radiant Demon Wing children were also amusing.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had also saluted the Azure Sky Squad Leader biting his lower lip, walked towards the children.

Although he had moved fiercely, his body tempered by the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique was dissipating the impact accumulated from the clash of true energy.

He didn’t feel much fatigue.

“Radiant Demon Wing. This much shouldn’t tarnish our name, right? Enjoy the candy well.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said as he squatted down to meet the children’s eyes.

He didn’t know how many moves they had exchanged, but it was certain that he had mercilessly shattered the expectation of lasting only ten seconds.

Didn’t he win? The children’s eyes, which had been blankly nodding, gradually came to life.

Soon, they began to sparkle brightly to the point of being burdensome.

“Yeah! We’ll eat the candy well!”

“Big brother is super strong! White is white indeed!”

“Wow……”

The child who had called him master only let out exclamations of admiration as if enchanted.

Amidst the children chattering noisily, Ma Jin strode over.

A fragrant scent emanated from his outstretched hand.

On his strong-looking palm was a round lump of medicine. Jeong Yeon-shin felt the flow of concentrated energy.

“It’s yours.”

Ma Jin said, pulling up the scar below his lips.