The fallen sect leader’s corpse brought silence.

The reckless strike seemed to have been sufficiently effective.

The ominous smiles of the surrounding Praying Mantis Sect guys disappeared without a trace.

“……”

The body of the Praying Mantis Sect leader showed traces of an overwhelming sword strike.

The tremendous rising blood scent made the surreal death feel real.

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head away from the miserably sprawled guy and opened his mouth.

He held the Desolate Sword lowered, with blood dripping from it.

“Today, I will destroy the signboard of the Praying Mantis Sect.”

“Wh-what?”

“Cr-crazy…!”

The Praying Mantis Sect disciples who finally opened their mouths stepped back in shock.

Along with curses, words about an unheard-of and unseen sword power were also heard.

To those living in the narrow martial world of the county, Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword held such meaning.

He rode the momentum. He didn’t give the enemies time to think anymore.

His true energy wasn’t complete due to using the Eternal Blossom Fist, but with the sense he had gained here, he could sufficiently handle guys of this level.

Step.

As he took one step forward, many cowards stepped back equally. The loyalty of evil sect martial artists was different from the faith of wandering swordsmen.

They were people who bought and sold martial arts. It was said that life could be exchanged for even a penny.

Cases that weren’t like that were few, as was visible now.

“Kill him! Let’s kill him!”

“Crazy b*st*rd. You go.”

“He’s an invincible monster!”

“Di-divine sword…!”

Monster and divine sword? At this moment, he realized that the entire martial world wasn’t the same jianghu.

These were words he wouldn’t hear in Desolate Sect.

‘There’s nothing more to gain here.’

Jeong Yeon-shin began to unleash sword strikes again. They weren’t the guys he had faced at first.

He wedged through the sword net of the blades that had become loose with broken momentum and delivered swift sword strikes.

It was swordsmanship that the Praying Mantis Sect disciples couldn’t handle. Finally, some guys started to run away.

“Uwaah!”

“We’re ruined! It’s annihilation!”

“Bl-blood sword! Blood sword! Let’s call the blood sword!”

The words one guy shouted in the midst of this made everyone in the arena pause. It was the same for Jeong Yeon-shin.

If it was a blood sword that an evil sect would call upon with faith, wouldn’t it only be the Blood Swordmaster of the Blood Flame Sect?

“Answer. Was the Blood Flame Sect behind this? Did you offer the people you took to them too?”

While grabbing and twisting one guy’s arm with joint lock, he held the blue sword blade to his neck.

The guy shouted while sweating cold sweat.

“Ye-yes! That’s right! They should be sleeping in the annex now! Th-that’s how it always was!”

“You don’t know high-level masters.”

How could they not have sensed a fight of this level?

“Spare me…!”

He faced a life-and-death situation. Compassion was dissociated behind his head.

Indifferently, he raised the Desolate Sword that had brushed the guy’s neck.

The true energy that had become faster than before contained the principle of Fate Defying Scripture.

The layered true energy filled the blood vessels of his right arm, waist, and lower body, creating a stance like an old tree standing firmly on the ground.

Clang!

A surprise sword strike hit the Desolate Sword. There wasn’t even the sound of air being split.

At the same time, only reddish hair brushed past Jeong Yeon-shin’s forehead.

The vibration spreading through his hand created a more intense resonance than anyone in the Praying Mantis Sect.

“Blood Swordmaster.”

“You blocked that? Then this carnage must be your doing.”

“Carnage. That’s not a word for the Blood Flame Sect to use.”

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly replied while looking straight ahead.

It was the same as the guy he had seen in Jinpyeong County.

Hair mixed with black and red, bright red martial arts uniform. His mouth was soaked with blood stains.

Along with the iron sword in his hand, he was emitting an ominous energy from his entire body.

Ma Jin’s additional comment came to mind. It was when discussing Jeong Yeon-shin’s achievements.

He said that if he cut down about five Blood Swordmasters, he would be recognized as a Blue Warrior regardless of age. Of course, it was in a joking tone.

Because the Blood Flame Sect wasn’t a group that could be commonly found.

“Lucky.”

“What?”

“Three left.”

“……”

In the past, he would have been one of those guys who would have rushed in no matter what Jeong Yeon-shin said.

Now it was different. He seemed to be wary of Jeong Yeon-shin who had revealed his momentum, moving his feet slightly to the side.

It was true that the Blood Swordmaster was a rare master. Because he was of a different level from the Praying Mantis Sect guys, he sensed Jeong Yeon-shin’s energy.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t wait.

Tap!

Once again, power was imbued in his leg that struck the ground. The second step was a true step.

With a heavy resonance, he relentlessly dug in and unleashed the Radiant Demon Swift Sword Technique.

The flash that drew a straight line collided with the guy’s sword.

Clang!

Thanks to taking the initiative, he properly applied force. Although blocked, he clearly pushed it back.

He decided to end it here. He was a master who couldn’t be easily defeated.

This was the heart of the Praying Mantis Sect. If the fight dragged on, the chances of winning would decrease.

In an instant, the sky-blue eyes flashed and swept over the entire body of the equal-level swordsman.

The sense sharply honed through group battles emitted an invisible light, and saw through to behind the guy who had stepped back.

It accurately pierced even the energy gathering in the left hand taking a subtle stance.

‘Here.’

It was the realm of instinct. He chose to reach first rather than clash martial arts.

The decision that transcended an instant turned into energy and wrapped around the Desolate Sword in layers.

He imbued the foot force of the Eternal Blossom Fist spiral into the Radiant Demon Swift Sword Technique.

Along with the appearance of sword unification, he folded space just like that.

Thud-!

He penetrated in one go with a small force.

This is where the essence of swift sword lies. It was a method for a swordsman without depth to survive.

Blood splattered slightly as it met a gentle breeze.

“Huh, huk…!”

The unique ominous energy of the Blood Flame Sect scattered.

Along with an empty wind, the eyes of the second Blood Swordmaster widened as if they would tear.

He was a martial artist who could act as an envoy in a county like this. It must be an unbelievable death.

Jeong Yeon-shin could feel the guy’s heart just like that. The trembling transmitted through the sword blade was like that.

Along with eyes filled with resentment, the Blood Swordmaster’s mouth opened.

“You…”

“I don’t listen to last words.”

For a moment, his arm muscles visibly rose. He didn’t even raise internal energy.

He mercilessly struck the embedded sword to the side while turning around at the same time.

The presence of him falling without even letting out a groan was secondary.

“Don’t flee.”

He said in a low voice.

The guys who were quietly moving away as if they had learned the body techniques of a famous clan stopped.

The voice without a trace of true energy completely dominated the Praying Mantis Sect.

* * *

Jeong Yeon-shin shattered the signboard of the Praying Mantis Sect in front of all the people of Lianhu County.

While some people rejoiced, stomping on the split signboard, there were others who burst into tears, holding the emaciated corpses of their families.

Over a dozen corpses had been discovered in the annex and backyard of the Praying Mantis Sect.

It was the same as in Jinpyeong County. Even though he had gained an unexpected achievement, it was bitter.

Jeong Yeon-shin, carrying a large sack on his back, glanced behind.

Some had survived, but the Praying Mantis Sect disciples who had lost their right arms were being trampled by the villagers.

Although they had cultivated evil sect martial arts, their dantian had been shattered.

They had become unable to control their bodies, and now they were missing a limb. They were completely crippled.

“Xi’an should be the territory of Zhongnan.”

What had they been doing until now? At Jeong Yeon-shin’s murmur, Jang-sam, who was wiping away tears beside him, reacted.

He had wrapped his daughter’s corpse in cloth and was carrying it on his back.

“Isn’t the Zhongnan Sect at war with the Tyrant Sword Sect?”

His speech was slurred, with bloodshot eyes. Jeong Yeon-shin’s brows furrowed.

“Zhongnan, with the Tyrant Sword Sect…?”

It was a rumor he had never heard before.

His words were cut off. The images of his only nephew and the Zhongnan Sect masters flashed by.

At the end was the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader. The one who had annihilated a family while revealing the aura of an absolute being.

Even now, it was something he couldn’t understand the reason for.

“Since when?”

“I’m not sure either. I only heard that the nearby Zhongnan-affiliated martial arts halls packed their bags and went up to Zhongnan Mountain…”

“……”

Afterward, Jeong Yeon-shin remained silent.

If the opponent was the Tyrant Sword Sect, wouldn’t the Zhongnan Sect also have to risk their lives?

If they had clashed head-on, it wouldn’t have ended with just one or two masters dying.

If there was a reason to fight, there were plenty.

The ear of Elder Yeo Il-sin was cut off by the sword of the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader.

Whether before or after, it wouldn’t have been just one or two clashes. It was the same for the annihilation of the Jeong family, which Jeong Yeon-shin still didn’t know about.

It was unnatural for anyone to see that the Zhongnan Sect masters had stayed at the Jeong family’s house at that time.

Little Hyea was innocent. He hoped that Jeong Jung-san, the second brother, was protecting her properly.

‘I need to go to Zhongnan.’

Ma Jin would allow it too. The Thirteen Heavens were a force that acted as the supreme in the evil sect martial world.

They were bound to be the target of Desolate Sect’s military intervention, and beheading the Tyrant Sword Sect masters was directly accumulating achievements.

Jeong Yeon-shin had gained the background of Desolate Sect. He also possessed martial power that could easily handle ordinary martial artists.

‘I can even gain achievements. Now I need to know.’

Why the Jeong family fell.

What was the reason for the Tyrant Sword Sect and the Blood Flame Sect working together? For what reason did they annihilate the Jeong family?

The Zhongnan Sect would know.

“You sent off my daughter with peace resolving my resentment…”

“Young master, truly thank you! Truly…!”

“This person’s great name is Yeon-shin of the Jeong family! We must never forget it!”

“Sir Jeong! It’s Sir Jeong!”

Receiving greetings from the villagers, including Jangsam, he turned around.

When they said they should hold a feast to treat him, he refused, saying to add the famine food to the funeral.

Then, there were people who repeatedly muttered Jeong Yeon-shin’s three characters as if engraving it in their minds.

He lightly placed one hand on the sword wave and grasped the end of the sack on his back with the other.

It was when he reached the top of the hill crossing Lianhu County, walking a little faster.

“Did you find traces of Thieving Ghost?”

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly stopped and spoke.

The nearby bushes shook. Two people revealed themselves.

A swordsman wrapped in a sharp aura and an extraordinary-looking young Taoist approached.

It was Cheon Ju, the Sword Saint of Mount Hua, and Yu Hyeon, a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect Leader.

“It doesn’t seem to have been the Praying Mantis Sect.”

Perhaps because he had witnessed the annihilation of an entire sect, Cheon Ju’s words and actions were much more respectful than before.

It was the attitude of facing a true martial artist of Desolate Sect, not just a promising peer like Yu Hyeon.

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded and opened his mouth.

“I see. It’s unfortunate.”

“I was impressed by your martial prowess. It was as if I was looking at the future Leader of Radiant Demon Wing, no, the Divine Sword Leader. Our sect’s future must have also broadened its horizons.”

Cheon Ju patted the back of Yu Hyeon’s head.

When the Taoist crown on his head shook, Yu Hyeon made a small frown and glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin.

The impression that had looked languid now seemed particularly clear.

“It was my first defeat. When I think of the five-stance loss you mentioned, I feel like I’ll fall off the bed.”

“First defeat?”

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly. Yu Hyeon waved his hand.

“My senior brothers and junior brothers are all much older. The only peers are the outer sect disciples, but their martial arts are too shallow.”

“There are no disciples of the same age in Mount Hua?”

“I’m the only one in the lineage of sect leader disciples.”

“So?”

At the indifferent reply, Yu Hyeon slightly lowered his eyes.

“…How about we form a friendship? You seem to be interested in Mount Hua martial arts too. Shaanxi isn’t far from Hebei.”

“I won’t have any reason to go to Mount Hua on purpose.”

“Oh…”

“If you come to find me, I won’t refuse. But each time, learn a new martial art.”

Yu Hyeon seemed noticeably flustered, not used to rejection.

However, at Jeong Yeon-shin’s last words, his complexion brightened.

On the way to the gathering point in Xi’an, Jeong Yeon-shin had to listen to Yu Hyeon’s chatter.

He was talkative in a different way from Heon Won-chang.

It was mainly about the principles of martial arts, and the orthodox martial arts philosophy of the Nine Sects was also helpful to Jeong Yeon-shin.

The occasional words added by Cheon Ju were on the verge of becoming an inspiration several times.

‘It is helpful. I’m looking forward to Mount Hua’s visit.’

After walking for a day, they arrived at the inn they had first stayed at in Xi’an. The good times ended here.

He went up to Ma Jin’s room.

“Your energy has changed slightly again.”

“It feels like my back was cut. I’ll apply some Gold Wound medicine, so sit down.”

“Lightning Flash. The mission…”

In front of Cheong Myeong, Baek Mi-ryeo, Ma Jin, and Heon Won-chang, he spoke about going to Zhongnan.

The moment Ma Jin opened his mouth with a troubled look after hearing the situation, Jeong Yeon-shin opened the sack he was holding and poured out the contents.

“Oh!”

“…!”

It was the heads of the Blood Swordmasters and the split signboard of the Praying Mantis Sect.