'It hurts! It hurts so much I want to die!'
For the first time in his life, Yeop Hyun thought he wanted to die. The pain tearing through his internal organs and meridians was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
'Endure it!'
Clenching his teeth, Yeop Hyun felt his whole body tremble.
He wished he could just pass out.
'But what if I never wake up? Yeop Ryoung is only twelve…'
At the thought of Yeop Ryoung, Yeop Hyun suddenly lifted his head and let out a howl. Clenching both fists, he muttered with a face twisted in fury.
"Come… I can endure greater pain… This… this much… I can't… damn it… go easy on me!"
Despite his cries, time crawled forward. After what seemed like an eternity, Yeop Hyun collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.
His body convulsed like a person seized by spasms, finally coming to rest after a brief moment. His entire body was drenched, like a rat pulled from water.
Yeop Hyun lay on the ground, utterly spent, unable to even move a finger.
At that moment!
Suddenly, a dense cloud formed above Yeop Bu, and heavy rain began to pour. Strangely, the sky elsewhere remained perfectly clear.
Above Yeop Bu, the rain revealed a rainbow. Then another, and a third appeared in the sky. As the Gyeokok Tower shook, the third rainbow vanished instantly.
A phenomenon of heaven and earth!
The entire city of Cheongseong trembled. It was said that when a genius of unparalleled skill reached a new realm or achieved enlightenment, mysterious and wondrous phenomena occurred.
And now, it was happening in Cheongseong. Every eye in the city turned to the sky above Yeop Bu.
The patriarch of the Yeop family, accompanied by the elders and the household of Yeop Bu, hurried to the garden, kneeling slowly and calling to the heavens in a trembling voice.
"Heavens, thank you for watching over the Yeop family and Yeop Ryoung!"
Those behind him began bowing toward the sky as well.
At the same time, in the lord's mansion:
An elderly man, looking toward Yeop Bu, grew grim.
"A phenomenon of heaven and earth above Yeop Bu… Send word to the heads of the Jang and Lee families. I have urgent matters to discuss."
At that moment, countless messenger pigeons shot into the sky, spreading in every direction, forming a spectacular sight.
It was already known that Yeop Ryoung had become a Chunsun Genius. But a phenomenon of heaven and earth was far rarer.
A Chunsun Genius, and now a heavenly phenomenon!
It signaled the rise of the Yeop family—not just in Cheongseong, but potentially across the entire nation, even all of Cheongju.
Meanwhile, a grand celebration was underway in Yeop Bu. The patriarch generously gifted money to everyone, even appointing Yeop Ryoung as a junior patriarch without the head of the family's permission.
The heir and the junior patriarch were distinct roles. While the heir represented the younger generation of Yeop Bu, the junior patriarch was the second-in-command, immediately beneath the patriarch.
Clearly, this was an overreach, but the patriarch paid it no mind.
'Yeop Ryoung will soon become like a phoenix. What can the patriarch do? Before long, all of Yeop Bu will live at his discretion!'
The patriarch's ambition burned brightly.
Elsewhere, Yeop Ryoung gazed at the sky, his expression dark.
He had already reached the State of Extraordinary Spirit within the Sixth-Grade Qi Transition.
Although he had broken through some time ago, he was not yet certain that the heavenly phenomenon before him was caused by his own power.
After a moment, Yeop Ryoung smiled coldly and spoke.
"If not me, who else could be the center of this phenomenon? This is a revelation that I am destined to command the world as a supreme master!"
Meanwhile, in Gyeokok Tower:
Yeop Hyun, who had been lying there for a long time, heard the voice of the Celestial Maiden.
[Get up. Stand and examine your body.]
Struggling, Yeop Hyun rose. Seeing his own body, he was struck with shock. His skin shone golden.
"Th… this…"
The Celestial Maiden spoke to the bewildered Yeop Hyun.
[The State of Golden Body means your physical body has been trained to the level of a golden body. The body is the foundation of all martial arts. How strong the foundation is determines a martial artist's future realm. Most martial artists train superficially while neglecting the inner body. But only when the bones, muscles, and internal organs are strong can one withstand external forces. The pain of death you endured today will greatly aid your training.]
Taking a deep breath, Yeop Hyun slowly clenched his fists. An unprecedented, intense energy surged through his body.
He could not contain his joy.
As the Celestial Maiden said, he was now more than twice as strong as before reaching the Golden Body state.
His body had become incredibly sturdy, enough to contend with most martial artists of extraordinary level.
Remembering something, Yeop Hyun spoke.
"I have a younger sister suffering from a terminal illness. Is there any way to help her?"
The Celestial Maiden remained silent for a moment before replying.
[You mean the girl?]
Yeop Hyun nodded quickly.
[I think I can help. But she cannot enter this tower.]
"Why not?"
[Although you are the master of this tower, you have not yet obtained a single Dao Rule. Therefore, you have no right to bring others in. If you try, the tower will instinctively kill your sister.]
Yeop Hyun's expression darkened. Then there was no choice but to go to Hwangseong's physician.
Even that was not easy. To reach the Extraordinary Spirit state, he needed to absorb a Spirit Sword—a rare treasure. Not even the Yeop family, nor all of Cheongseong, possessed one. It could only possibly be found in a major place like Hwangseong.
'Hwangseong… I suppose that's the only way.'
After some sword training, Yeop Hyun left Gyeokok Tower.
A soft voice echoed from within the tower.
[That girl… something about her is strange…]
When Yeop Hyun returned, Yeop Ryoung entered the room, looking dejected. Yeop Hyun smiled and asked,
"What's the matter?"
Yeop Ryoung replied,
"Brother, Yeop Ryoung has caused a heavenly phenomenon. That's why all of Yeop Bu is in a celebratory mood. The patriarch even appointed him as junior patriarch. Becoming the next head of the family is only a matter of time!"
'A heavenly phenomenon?'
Yeop Hyun had heard of it. Such phenomena occurred when a peerless martial artist broke through a realm.
'I thought this was only legend… Could Yeop Ryoung really be that extraordinary martial artist?'
Yeop Ryoung snorted.
"What's a heavenly phenomenon got to do with anything? You're still the strongest, brother!"
Yeop Hyun smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. Only ten days remain until the life-or-death duel with Yeop Ryoung. After that, we'll leave Yeop Bu."
"Leave?"
Yeop Ryoung blinked in surprise.
"When… when will we return?"
'Return…?'
Yeop Hyun's expression darkened.
They had been born and raised in Yeop Bu, never living elsewhere.
Though the elders had always been wary of Yeop Hyun, they treated him well because he was useful. That could change at any moment.
Yeop Hyun had always believed that if he died for Yeop Bu, they would take care of Yeop Ryoung. But now, if he died, his sister's life would surely be miserable.
Yeop Hyun gently stroked Yeop Ryoung's head.
"Do you like it here?"
Yeop Ryoung shook her head.
"I did before, but not now. The patriarch cast out my brother, who risked his life for the family! And the other elders who saw it and did nothing were bad too!"
Yeop Hyun smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. The world is vast. As long as we're together, anywhere can be home."
Yeop Ryoung smiled sweetly and snuggled into his arms.
After a brief moment with his sister, Yeop Hyun returned to Gyeokok Tower.
Training continued.
With only ten days left until the life-or-death duel with Yeop Ryoung, not a single minute could be wasted.
Sensing a strange energy, Yeop Hyun suddenly opened his hand. A silver sword appeared above it. Excited, he shouted,
"Look at this! Am I now a Sword Immortal?"
[Sword Immortal?]
The Celestial Maiden snorted.
[Not yet, you fool!]
"Why not?"
[A Sword Immortal has realized sword intent and mastered the way of the sword. You are neither a Sword Immortal nor even a Sword Master yet. You are not even adequate as a Sword Practitioner!]
Yeop Hyun blushed.
The Celestial Maiden continued.
[Honestly, you are still on the path to becoming a competent Sword Practitioner. There are many Sword Practitioners in your world, but fewer than ten ever reach the level of Sword Immortal. You'll understand why in time. Be warned: walking the path of the sword is not easy.]
Yeop Hyun nodded.
"I understand. But I will devote my life to it!"
Recent events had shown him that he could never leave his sister in others' hands.
He had to become stronger to protect her safely.
In a world where strength is everything, survival demanded proving one's value.
Yeop Hyun, calming his excitement, asked,
"What are the requirements to become a Sword Practitioner?"
[You must be able to cut hair with your sword.]
Yeop Hyun looked puzzled.
"That simple?"
The Celestial Maiden replied with a mocking tone,
[Try it.]
Immediately, Yeop Hyun plucked a strand of his hair, threw it into the air, and swung his sword.
The hair shattered into pieces.
Yeop Hyun was startled—it had merely been forcibly broken, not properly cut.
The Celestial Maiden's voice rang out.
[Training the sword is not just about strength. You must calculate force, angle, speed, and even air resistance. I think you'll need to swing at tens of thousands of hairs before you truly understand.]
Yeop Hyun inhaled deeply and shouted,
"I have plenty of hair!"
He began furiously plucking and cutting his hair with his sword.
Meanwhile, a grand celebration continued in Yeop Bu. All the notable figures of Cheongseong were invited, and the Yeop household carried itself as the premier family of the city.
Yeop Bu was truly a rising sun. Even the lord's mansion and the Jang and Lee families participated willingly.
In the guest hall of the Yeop family, the patriarch sat back in a chair with his eyes closed, as if waiting for someone.
An elderly man approached.
"Patriarch, the heads of the Lee and Jang families, along with the lord, have arrived."
The patriarch's eyes snapped open.
"Yeop Woo, go inform them. I am resting and can meet them only after half a shi-jin."
Yeop Woo hesitated.
"B… but Patriarch…"
"Today, they will be taught clearly who truly rules Cheongseong."
The patriarch gazed arrogantly at the distant mountains.