Chapter 285

“...You’ll help me?”

“You’re well aware that I have a personal connection with Elder Yeong Unseong. He likely sensed that you’ve been cultivating the Blood-Spirit Heavenly Movement Art, but he chose to overlook it. I can arrange for both of you to meet under favorable circumstances.”

A spark flared in Dukgo Hyun’s eyes. It was obvious.

Dukgo Hyun admired the Original Blood Cult and respected its Grand Elder, Yeong Unseong.

There was nothing to criticize in that.

This wasn’t the Snow Palace, and the Original Blood Cult wasn’t his enemy.

Unhwi’s enemy was Yucheong. The Celestial Daoist might become one in the future, but for now, he was not.

At this moment, Unhwi was offering Dukgo Hyun a path.

“The Heavenly Alliance that will soon rise does not embrace only the righteous path.”

“......”

“We embrace the righteous, yes—but also the hegemonic, the heretical, even the demonic.”

“Heh...”

“There are tens, hundreds of paths a martial artist may walk. To insist that only the righteous one must be pursued—is that not arrogance? More than that, oppression?”

Dukgo Hyun’s heart pounded.

He’s right.

And yet—

“Before you speak of embracing, one must measure the size of one’s vessel. No matter how eloquent the words, if one does not comprehend the righteous path, nor the heretical, nor even the demonic—then ‘embracing’ them cannot stand in the first place—”

Dukgo Hyun stopped mid-sentence.

Because from Unhwi’s lips, a chant began to flow.

赤血生命源 — The crimson blood is the source of life.

先天有純質 — It holds innate purity from birth.

無惡不能淨 — No evil exists that it cannot purify.

調和赤氣度 — Harmonize the red vital energy.

與自然同體 — Become one with nature itself.

必凈有塵界 — And cleanse the defiled world into purity.

Dukgo Hyun’s eyes widened.

A man who admired the Original Blood Cult could not possibly fail to recognize those words.

“That’s... the incantation of the Blood Heaven Scripture...?”

“Correct.”

Dukgo Hyun fell silent, as though he had lost his voice.

“The Snow Palace, for its part, walks what it calls the righteous path, yet in truth its way is closer to the hegemonic.”

“......”

“I understand the hegemonic. I understand the righteous. I understand the heretical and even the demonic. If you wish, I can recite for you the incantations of the demonic scripture as well as those of the righteous and heretical paths.”

“...Knowing an incantation and understanding it are different things—but you are famed as a genius, and you’ve even created a new realm. There’s no need for further proof.”

Dukgo Hyun ran a hand over his face.

“But that is that, and this is this.”

“A refusal, then. So be it.”

Unhwi shook his head in mild regret.

“As you said, though I pioneered the new realm called Samhyun-gyeong, compared to you—already among the Ten Heavenly Seats—I’m still the weaker one.”

“So?”

“I’ve come this far as a weak man, but I have no intention of returning empty-handed. So I propose a wager.”

“A wager...?”

Unhwi looked toward the courtyard outside.

“The terms are simple.”

The two men’s eyes met and locked in midair.

“I will unleash a single strike upon you. If you take even one step back, then the Dukgo Clan shall join the Heavenly Alliance. How does that sound?”

A master who had reached Unity of Heaven and Man was not someone to trifle with.

Even if Unhwi could contend with those at the Heaven-Human Realm, it would take more than ten of them combined to rival a single Heaven-and-Man master.

“If I do not step back?”

“Then I will give up cleanly and leave.”

Dukgo Hyun thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Very well. But one condition.”

“Please, speak.”

“Only one strike. No more.”

“Of course. Just one strike.”

That alone was more than enough between men.

To uphold Heavenly Justice that encompassed even the demonic was no easy thing.

Above all—how could one who failed to keep his own word make the world tremble?

Unhwi said,

“Would you be so kind as to lead the way to your training yard?”

Seeing that unhurried confidence, Dukgo Hyun’s brow furrowed slightly.

He knew the man’s ability.

Which was precisely why he would not let down his guard.

But still—what was the source of that confidence?

He couldn’t tell.

Tch.

He clicked his tongue inwardly and spoke quietly.

“Follow me.”

***

At the center of the training yard stood Dukgo Hyun.

The aura of one who had reached Unity of Heaven and Man emanated from his entire body—heavy as a mountain, deep as an ocean, filling and dominating the grounds.

Chief Seong and Han Murin watched from a considerable distance, faces tense.

Han Murin asked quietly,

“How strong is the Lord, truly?”

It was a fair question.

He had seen Unhwi kill Jin Muhyeok of the Heaven Man Realm, and saw him subdue So Yehwa of the Divine Transformation Realm in an instant.

But he had never seen his limit.

Chief Seong was one who could answer.

“If my sense is right, the young master could drag a Heaven-and-Man master into mutual destruction.”

Only Chief Seong could say that.

Because he knew Unhwi was a reincarnator.

The “one strike” he would unleash would be nothing like an ordinary martial artist’s strike—that much was certain.

“Watch closely. The man who wishes to fulfill your wish—see what power he holds.”

And—

“To see what kind of opponent he can face now.”

Han Murin fell silent, focusing every sense on Unhwi.

Before long, Unhwi, standing at the edge of the yard, spoke softly.

“There’s no need for long words. I’ll unleash the strongest strike I can muster right now.”

“Then I shall meet it head-on.”

“Understood.”

Dukgo Hyun drew his sword.

Slowly.

Unhwi leveled his blade sideways.

In that brief instant, the very air in the yard changed. He began to speak aloud the formula he had been repeating in his mind.

逆劍破蒼天 萬法皆可滅 — The defiant sword shatters the heavens; all laws can be destroyed.

一劍穿萬世 神魔盡飛滅 — One sword pierces all ages; gods and demons alike vanish.

As the incantation ended, Dukgo Hyun’s eyes widened.

Having reached Unity of Heaven and Man, he could feel it—the world itself, qi and landscape alike, convulsing violently.

What... is this?

A single strike unleashed by the genius who had created a new realm.

A small smile touched his lips.

He had to receive it.

Because he was a martial artist.

If a martial artist avoided such an experience, how could he call himself one?

But separate from that, awe welled within him.

...Astounding.

Even the natural energy had changed, affecting the world’s own vitality. That alone already proved Unhwi’s worth—but it wasn’t enough.

To make a master of Heaven-and-Man take a step back meant wielding a strike powerful enough to wound such a being.

He had to take it.

Soon, from the tip of Unhwi’s sword, a transparent yet boundless aura began to bloom.

Samhyun-gyeong—the fusion of reality, unreality, and mastery over the boundary between them—had become one.

A chill flowed through Unhwi’s eyes.

Heaven-Defying Vast Sword.

The Vast One Sword.

The moment the blade traced its arc, a strange resonance rippled across the training yard.

It was like the tolling of an immense bell—or distant thunder rolling through the sky.

Where the sword aura passed, the air itself quivered, leaving iridescent afterglows in its wake.

This was no mere sword aura.

It was the physical manifestation of enlightenment.

Dukgo Hyun swung his blade in haste.

Dozens of sword-winds woven from Heaven-Earth qi spread like a net to intercept Unhwi’s attack.

But—

Unhwi’s slash cut through them effortlessly, bursting the nets apart.

Kwaaaang—!!

A crystalline shattering rang out again and again, like glass breaking.

Shock flickered across Dukgo Hyun’s face.

Such a thing was impossible. That the sword of a Heaven-and-Man master could be dispelled so easily?

Ssak—!

Unhwi’s blade aura grazed Dukgo Hyun’s chest.

And in that instant, Dukgo Hyun understood.

Unhwi could have killed him.

But he hadn’t.

He had merely kept his promise.

One strike.

Exactly one.

Paaaaaaang—!!

The tearing sound of air thundered across the yard.

Dust shot skyward, Dukgo Hyun’s robe whipping madly.

Invisible blades had scoured everything around him, gouging deep marks through the ground.

Dukgo Hyun looked back.

The gouges stretched all the way to the outer walls, which had been completely obliterated.

And it wasn’t over.

He looked down.

His body had been pushed back.

Unhwi sheathed his sword quietly.

“Two steps.”

“......”

“Shall we say the wager is mine?”

“......”

“No answer? A man’s word is—”

“...Worth more than gold.”

Unhwi waited for confirmation.

Dukgo Hyun let out a hearty laugh and spoke briefly.

“Fine. I accept the result. From this day forth, I, Dukgo Hyun, am an Elder of the Heavenly Alliance.”

“That’s fortunate. I’ll be counting on you, senior.”

That day, the Dukgo Clan joined the Heavenly Alliance.

And at that moment—

“Heavenly Arbiter!”

Seo Hyo came running, sweat on his brow, his expression urgent.

Something had happened.

“...The Chancellor has refused the private audience with you.”

Unhwi’s brows drew together sharply.

“Explain in detail.”

Seo Hyo glanced toward Dukgo Hyun, who watched with an intrigued expression, then answered.

“...He said he will hold no discussions whatsoever with the Heavenly Alliance.”

Unhwi closed his eyes.

He hadn’t expected matters to go smoothly—but not to this extent.

A private audience was meant for both sides to speak their desires and coordinate.

The Heavenly Alliance was no mere name on paper; it had long maintained close ties with the imperial court.

To reject even dialogue?

That meant the stance was absolute.

No—wait.

There was something to confirm.

“Is this the will of the court, or of the Chancellor alone?”

Seo Hyo’s eyes glinted.

“The Chancellor persuaded the court, but that does not mean it represents the will of the entire administration. Yes, as you say, it is the Chancellor’s own will.”

“Then if the Chancellor alone disappears, a new ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) board will be set.”

Seo Hyo said nothing—but Chief Seong and Dukgo Hyun most certainly did not remain silent.