* * *
The state where the mind and internal energy become one.
Jung Yeonshin knew that the unity of essence, energy, and spirit wasn't always beneficial. Just look at the late Murong Clan's leader.
Even after recognizing the existence of mystical martial arts, he unconsciously activated the Heavenly Demon Armor and had his breath stolen. By Jung Yeonshin, who wielded the final move of Sword Thunder Flash Art, Azure Flame-First Form.
At this moment, he had absolutely no intention of shattering the roof of the General Affairs Bureau Hall.
It was the result of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown forming and then dissipating repeatedly. Fortunately, his disposition was not flawed like the Radiant Demon Squad's leader of this era.
As shards of blue-black tiles fell around him with harsh frictional sounds, Jung Yeonshin stepped forward with Splendid Wings Step.
Step.
An intangible wave of energy surged from beneath his feet, pushing dust and debris aside. It was as if a large, pale curtain had been ripped apart on both sides.
'This is a problem.'
The young man thought.
Every movement must be completely under his conscious control. Martial techniques that escape control are useless in a duel between masters.
Exchanges of strikes occur at extreme speeds, and the precision of each move determines life and death.
Thankfully, he had a solution. The aftereffects of Rebirth of Flesh and Bones could be resolved with proper meals.
It was advice from the former Divine Sword Order's leader. Now that his body and energy could bear the divine aspect in his upper dantian, he only needed to eat regularly.
And in truth, the intervals of his Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown disruptions had lengthened.
It must have been thanks to the massive amount of smoked boar he had consumed on his way down to Xiangyang. Jung Yeonshin glanced around, once again feeling the dignity of the Elder of Desolate Fortress.
The top floor of the General Affairs Bureau. It resembled a gathering hall akin to Wonpyeong's First Sword Hall.
The entrance was blocked by a series of hanging silver veils, while elegant stone carvings of dragons and phoenixes were placed throughout the surroundings.
"Splendid Wings Step?"
"It's authentic. Not a branch technique."
There were seven of them.
The people seated around the massive stone round table turned their gazes toward Jung Yeonshin.
The moment he landed in the hall, the air at the corner of the chamber instantly grew hot.
Only two individuals sprang up in response to what they perceived as an enemy's assault, while the remaining five leaned against the marble-backed chairs, merely turning their heads.
They showed no concern about the roof being blown away.
Ssssshh—
A translucent wave of energy wavered.
It felt like the summer air outside, basking in the sun. The sheer force embedded in the gazes of the seven men and women was overwhelming.
None of them seemed to possess Blazing Solar Energy like Lazy Flame Dragon, yet the density of their overlapping, intertwining energy ripples was exceptionally high.
In a world where even supreme masters could die to a combined assault from mere grandmasters, it was said that if more than three black-rank figures gathered, the place became Desolate Fortress.
How many were here now?
Standing still, Jung Yeonshin swallowed a sigh without betraying his expression. The pressure emanating from the revered seniors pressed against his skin and muscles alike.
Even after experiencing Rebirth of Flesh and Bones, the path forward seemed faint. If this was enemy territory, it would be the most dangerous place in the world.
How powerful was Desolate Fortress, having never once dispersed its forces, prioritizing something beyond the lives of commoners?
As he pondered, he briefly decided not to reveal his identity.
If he were to feign ignorance and deal with a guest who dared to mention the Lord of the Fortress carelessly, this was the only way.
At that moment, a massive man seated at the head of the round table, who had been observing him with a heavy gaze, opened his mouth, his thick beard surrounding his lips as if seeking the opinions of those around him.
"Was that truly Splendid Wings Step?"
The vibrations in his voice pushed against the air.
It was a martial presence Jung Yeonshin had sensed before. The Chief Administrator was no lesser in martial prowess than most squad leaders.
The moment he spoke, Ak Surim, Jin Myungjo, and Un Soyu parted their lips.
"He looks incredibly strong. I was wondering how bold he must be to come here alone, but… I see why."
"…If Lightning Genius' secret manual has been leaked…"
"We must interrogate him. Arresting him should take priority. It won't be easy, but..."
The one who spoke last was Law and Order Squad's leader, Un Soyu.
She stood, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword.
The leader of the Law and Order Squad, tasked with enforcing the laws of Desolate Fortress. She had once faced Jung Yeonshin during his black rank promotion duel.
A swordswoman whose straight posture suited her well.
Beneath her sharp, blade-like ears and beautiful, well-defined features, her long hair swayed. A prelude to drawing her sword. Even before the blade was unsheathed, a chilling sword wind was already seeping into the air.
No one spoke to the intruder.
Such was the nature of Desolate Fortress.
They never negotiated with those who attacked first. The world of Murim was filled with enemies in every direction.
"I heard that Desolate Fortress martial artists have been suffering outside Xiangyang. Today's incident makes it clear how Murim regards this place lately. What kind of commotion is this in broad daylight? An ignorant martial master barging into Desolate Fortress' gathering hall."
The middle-aged man seated beside the Chief Administrator spoke nonchalantly.
With his refined features and slightly elongated ears, he was clearly a high-ranking noble.
His silk court robes, indicative of his status, matched his languid expression.
The handle of the sword at his waist was worn smooth, bearing marks of long exposure to an internal energy-infused grip.
"This is all because the Lord of the Fortress is absent. A military commander, no matter how high his status, must remain at his post to uphold morale… How could he leave the fortress empty when there isn't a single peerless martial master clad in purple left in the city? This is unacceptable. At the very least, she should have informed the Chief Administrator or Desolate Divine Spear."
His archaic speech criticized the Lord of the Fortress. He pointed at Jung Yeonshin with a jabbing finger.
"So in the end, was my trip here for nothing? I wonder what King of Radiant Bloom will think of this. A royal decree, personally addressed, has remained sealed for days, and now this man appears out of nowhere."
A man who had reached the level to contend with black-rank grandmasters, and who bore a royal decree that only the Lord of Desolate Fortress herself could unseal.
Such individuals were exceedingly rare. If he were not a direct descendant of the imperial family, it would make no sense.
"..."
Silence fell.
This was a gathering of martial masters.
Jung Yeonshin knew that fewer than half of them could be considered reasonable individuals.
At a moment when disrespectful words had been spoken about the Lord of the Fortress, the focus naturally shifted to the offensive remarks rather than the identity of the unknown intruder.
Seated at the head of the table was the Chief Administrator.
The middle-aged man who had spoken recklessly sat to his left, while to his right, a black-haired girl sat with a serious expression.
She was Ak Surim, Desolate Divine Spear.
Her fingers fidgeted, as if she were itching to grasp her spear at any moment.
"Duke Sword Authority, please be mindful of your words. The Lord of the Fortress is regarded as a Royal Marshal by the Emperor himself."
The Chief Administrator spoke in a composed tone.
The one addressed as Duke Sword Authority scoffed.
"How many squad leaders are being wasted here? If you had heeded my advice earlier, you would have already severed the heads of those mongrels."
"We do not yet know how much strength will be needed. The territory is vast. If we exclude the forces that must remain in the fortress, our available strength…"
"That damned standing army."
Duke Sword Authority waved his hand dismissively, as if disgusted.
"What meaning does that principle hold now? The Lord of the Fortress has abandoned her post. The world is looking down on Desolate Fortress, yet you insist on clinging to tradition? The very warmth of the seat she once occupied has long since faded. The Chief Administrator and Desolate Divine Spear must make a decision…"
Brazen words.
Jung Yeonshin had no idea what was truly happening, but it seemed like the right time to make a move.
'He must be from one of the Forbidden City's noble clans in Beijing.'
He assessed the man's status in an instant. At that moment, he felt the Radiant Wheel Energy surge explosively from his thigh muscles, racing from his Greater Trochanter to the Yongchun Acupoint on his heel.
A chilling yet fiery sensation coursed through his meridians. It activated without intention.
Lightness Technique—Ten Li Radiance Step.
His body instinctively manifested the form imprinted in his unconscious.
The ground beneath his feet caved in.
With a resounding crack, the stone floor shattered. Dust and debris burst forth, leaving behind a circular shockwave.
Simultaneously, a mist-like glow followed his heels.
Boom!
He surged forward, tearing through space like a rending storm.
As the massive round table in the gathering hall rapidly expanded in his vision, fierce winds whipped past his ears, pushing his hair back.
Amidst the blade-like winds that slashed at his face, he took in several sights.
Un Soyu, was the closest as she drew her sword.
Jin Myungjo, Supreme Demon of Sacred Blood, cloaked entirely in black, met Jung Yeonshin's gaze and instantly retracted his refined energy. Behind him, Ak Surim fully revealed her eyes, gleaming with jet-black lightning.
Un Soyu's sword was tracing a dark trajectory, befitting her title, Black Cloud Sword Master.
The blade that shot up from her waist carved a diagonal line. If Jung Yeonshin wanted to reach the seat beside the head of the round table, he had to get past her first.
One exchange.
Jung Yeonshin did not halt his charge.
Boom—
Just before Un Soyu's sword could graze his throat, he pressed down on the flat of the blade with his palm.
The invisible sword wind that enveloped the blade roared violently, as if trying to tear his grip apart. Yet, in that moment, he dispersed the impact force through five distinct pulses from his palm, severing the energy wave of the sword strike strand by strand.
A brief, violent noise erupted, like paper being roughly torn.
A seamless exchange of techniques within an extremely minute space.
It took only an instant to press down the sword and tilt it far to the side.
The path before him completely opened mid-sprint. Though his sleeve was shredded to bits from the backlash, not a single drop of blood was spilled.
"...!"
The gaze of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader and Law and Order Squad's leader met.
Un Soyu's eyebrows shot up. As the noble-born eyes of hers belatedly flashed with a blue streak, recognizing her opponent's identity, Jung Yeonshin had already passed to her left.
His countering technique was nearly flawless. His execution was so immediate, it sent chills down the spine.
Within the realm of extreme speed, where everything else moved sluggishly, the atmosphere in the chamber changed.
This was a place where no one could fail to perceive an exchange of that level. Jung Yeonshin left behind countless questions, astonishment, and confusion as he landed atop the massive round table.
Crack—
The surface beneath his foot split apart.
Long fractures spread in all directions, as though racing across the air.
Sssaaak!
Multiple streaks of light slashed across his right arm like icy flames. Attacks from those who failed to recognize him.
Sharp strands of energy and sword auras surged past his back. Not a single one managed to pierce the celestial mist that encircled his heels.
The young man, unperturbed by the deadly flashes, extended one leg.
He was aiming to step onto Duke Sword Authority's sword and use it as a foothold. A blinding arc. The rebounding force of his world-shaking movement technique was fully imbued.
With a resounding boom, thick dust rose from all sides.
He planted his foot atop the hilt of Duke Sword Authority's drawn sword, pushing it down and away. The shockwave from the impact ripped through the chamber, sweeping over the surroundings with devastating force.
"..."
A heavy silence pressed down on every presence in the room. The only sound was the eerie descent of crumbling stone debris.
"Your words are excessive."
Even among Royal Marshals, none would dare speak of their Lord's quarters so carelessly, Jung Yeonshin spoke in a low voice as he lowered his leg.
The Chief Administrator, who had leapt to his feet beside him, wore an odd expression.
His gaze, like that of a ginseng hunter who had stumbled upon a century-old root, meticulously examined the young man's features. He seemed to be verifying his identity upon sensing the Radiant Wheel Energy.
Meanwhile, Ak Surim, who had somehow ended up standing right beneath the Chief Administrator's thick beard, tilted her head up to stare at Jung Yeonshin—without so much as a blink.