Chapter 108
Around noon.
Jeon Woo-chi, who was searching for a deserted place, thought of Manhwa Peak, which he had climbed with So-ah once or twice, and arrived in a single breath.
“So this is the place where all the students of the Human Division became officials through arduous training.”
Since it was winter, he couldn’t see the green mountains and trees, but when he saw Manhwa Peak, with its vast space, dizzying cliffs, clear sky, and desolate clouds spread out coolly, his heart was filled with a sense of refreshment.
‘That spot looks good.’
His gaze turned to a sunny spot.
Then he sat down in the lotus position.
And.
Chuck—
He took out a small fruit from his bosom.
The brilliant jade-colored fruit that his master, Baek In-hwa, had given him.
It was the Baekdu-jeong, a heavenly elixir that could absorb the pure ki of heaven and earth and allow one to obtain high-purity internal and magical power the moment it was consumed.
Although ‘jeong’ usually referred to artificially processed elixirs, this fruit was called Baekdu-jeong from ancient times because of its outstanding efficacy and effects.
‘To think that I would consume such a treasure…!’
A truly moving moment.
‘Master! I will not forget your grace.’
Jeon Woo-chi, with a swelling heart, quickly swallowed the Baekdu-jeong.
Gulp—
At that.
Gooooo…!
Starting from his dantian, a subtle change occurred throughout his body.
‘It’s starting with the meridians!’
The beginning of the change was the ‘meridians.’
The common carotid artery—the subclavian vein—the inferior vena cava—the radial cutaneous vein—the vertebral cutaneous vein—the brachial vein—the ascending aorta—the pulmonary artery—the intercostal artery—the celiac artery…
Without any distinction, hot yang energy surged from the entire vascular system, and for a moment, Jeon Woo-chi had to face a terrible burning sensation as if he had fallen into a fiery hell.
‘I have to endure it.’
He had to endure it.
What if he gave up circulating his ki because of the pain?
It was a situation where he would not only betray his master’s expectations, but also could not guarantee his own safety.
‘If I can’t absorb the energy of the fruit, it will be dangerous.’
Jeon Woo-chi, exerting the greatest concentration of his life, was scattering the energy of the Baekdu-jeong that was stirring his body with his ki circulation.
Just then.
‘Keuk…!’
Another wave of ki, completely different from before, paralyzed his nervous system like a storm.
‘A terrible cold ki…!’
Instead of the yang energy that had been heating his body as if to melt his vascular system, this time, a harsh cold ki that could extinguish even a forest fire invaded every part of his nerves.
The cerebrum—the cerebellum—the cervical plexus—the brachial plexus—the spine—the sympathetic trunk—the lumbar plexus—the sacral plexus—the femoral nerve—the sciatic nerve—the tibial nerve—the median nerve…
The cold ki that began to permeate all his nerves presented another hell.
A pain he had never experienced before.
He wanted to give up.
After all, wasn’t Jeon Woo-chi a person who had left the Udo-bang and come to the Central Plains, even changing his name, for a leisurely life?
But.
‘I can’t do that. Now, I really… can’t do that.’
Jeon Woo-chi no longer had the childishness of his younger days.
Nor the weak-willed self-justification.
There was no escape route left.
‘I…’
I’m being reborn.
He wasn’t just determined to achieve great enlightenment with a single elixir.
The grace of his master and his own firm will.
They became the driving force that allowed Jeon Woo-chi to endure the terrible pain of the moment.
In that way, for a short while.
But for Jeon Woo-chi, a time like an eternity passed…
“Hoo…”
Jeon Woo-chi, who had finished one cycle of ki circulation, let out a low sigh.
Sssss…!
At the same time, a white gas rose from his body like a haze.
Flash—
He opened his eyes.
‘…!’
In that moment, he had an amazing experience.
“The sun… to be able to see the sun with my eyes open!”
In the face of the unbelievable reality, Jeon Woo-chi repeatedly closed and opened his eyes.
He was still able to watch the pouring sunlight without any particular difficulty.
Also.
Woooong…
A low roar that was difficult to distinguish between high and low flowed quietly from within his body.
His vision became clearer, allowing him to distinguish even the minute parts of objects, and a dignified and noble power enveloped his entire body, while his mind seemed to have become as clear as a mirror-like still water.
‘It’s a heavenly fortune! I must have absorbed at least 30% of the essence of the Baekdu-jeong!’
A thought came to his mind.
A thrilling thought of drawing a talisman in the air with the Heavenly Will Brush that his master had given him along with the Baekdu-jeong, controlling all things, and flying through the sky on a carpet.
***
—The day of the Martial Alliance Hero Tournament.
“Wow! The new master of the Orthodox Path is finally being born!”
“You man. What master of the Orthodox Path! Is the Martial Alliance Leader a king?”
“The Alliance Leader has the authority to decide on all the major and minor affairs of the entire Orthodox Path! In the Jianghu, he’s no different from a king.”
“Then is the Emei Sect now the best among the Nine Great Sects?”
“Of course not. Shaolin, which had been reclusive, has started to be active, and there’s also Wudang and Jongnam, where the Dragon Horn Master is.”
A large crowd that was not enough to be described as a sea of people filled the Martial Alliance.
Originally, since it was not an event limited to the Orthodox Path, not only the Nine Great Sects and the Eight Great Families, but also martial arts schools and wandering martial artists who advocated a neutral path, as well as some people from the Unorthodox Path, had attended.
Among them, the most prominent group was, of course, the people of Shaolin.
“The Great Master Gwang-won seems to have grown even more. His intelligence is sparkling.”
“And what about the Great Master Gong-seung? The older he gets, the more extraordinary he becomes. I wonder if he’s going to ascend to heaven like that.”
“It would be nirvana or enlightenment. To say that a monk is ascending to heaven.”
The chatter of the people in the room poured out, and the atmosphere became lively.
Even in the midst of that, everyone’s eyes were filled with excited anticipation.
As if in response to that anticipation, the former Alliance Leader, Ha Won-sang, stood up on the stage.
“Thank you for coming, fellow martial artists of the Jianghu. Today is the day of the Hero Tournament hosted by the Martial Alliance. But as you know, the tournament is just an excuse. I know that you are all waiting for one announcement.”
The people in the room swallowed hard.
‘Is he finally going to announce it?’
Ha Won-sang did not drag it out.
“For the past half a year, our alliance has been sending out invitations to various parts of the Jianghu, and at the same time, we have been gathering the opinions of all the sects affiliated with the Martial Alliance to elect a new Alliance Leader. We have already finished the hearing, and as a result of the deliberation.”
“…”
“We have made the final decision to elect the head of the Emei Sect, the Sword Empress, Hong-ryeon, as the new Alliance Leader!”
In that moment.
“Waaaaah!”
“A new Alliance Leader!”
“To become the Alliance Leader as a woman! The Sword Empress’s achievements will shine for a long time!”
Even though they had expected it, when the first female Alliance Leader in the history of the martial world was elected, the people in the room let out a fiery roar.
‘Hohoho. With this, a new era will open!’
Only then did Ha Won-sang feel that he could shake off the lingering attachment in his heart and retire with a clear mind.
“Then let’s all call for the new Alliance Leader! Alliance Leader! Please come out!”
“Alliance Leader!”
“Esteemed Sword Empress! I guess I should call you Alliance Leader now. Kuhaha!”
At the shouts of the people in the room who were calling her with pleased looks, the Sword Empress Hong-ryeon smiled gently and stepped onto the stage.
‘Master! Congratulations!’
At that sight, the disciples of the Emei Sect felt an unparalleled sense of elation, and especially Myo-seon, who had been saved by the Sword Empress Hong-ryeon and had even obtained powerful martial arts, could not help but be filled with a strange emotion.
“Thank you all. To those who supported me, and to those who did not. In addition, to the four heroes who were on the list of candidates with me but unfortunately had to drink a bitter cup. I am truly grateful. I have dreamed of becoming the Alliance Leader for a long time. I feel a sense of the world changing as I achieve that absurd dream today. From now on, I will do my best so that not only the Orthodox Path, but the entire Jianghu can be at peace!”
At the Sword Empress Hong-ryeon’s sincere and simple speech, the people in the room gave her a fiery applause, mentioned her nickname, and even shouted ‘long live.’
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—
“Long live the Sword Empress Hong-ryeon!”
“Long live the Martial Alliance Leader!”
“Long liveeee!”
It was truly the most peaceful and harmonious election ceremony among all the Martial Alliance Leader election ceremonies in history.
‘I am deeply moved…’
The Sword Empress Hong-ryeon calmed her excited heart and looked around.
As the hot heat was transmitted to her skin, a overwhelming sense of accomplishment moistened her heart.
But.
It didn’t take long for that sense of accomplishment to disappear.
“Do you really have the qualifications to be the Alliance Leader?”
It was a voice that was neither loud nor soft.
But all the hundreds of people in the room could hear that voice clearly.
‘What is this crazy internal energy?’
‘This is the first time I’ve heard such a peerless lion’s roar technique.’
‘Who on earth is it?!’
The former students, who had just become officials, turned their gazes to the direction where the sound had come from with wide eyes.
It wasn’t just them who were surprised.
Everyone in the room.
‘A voice that makes one tremble!’
They had to feel a shiver run down their spines at the unidentified voice that contained an unprecedented great power.
The source of the voice was at the forefront of a procession of about fifty people wearing black cloaks.
An old man with an unfamiliar face.
“May I know your esteemed name?”
The Sword Empress Hong-ryeon asked him.
Although it was a polite tone, her eyes, which were looking at the old man, were filled with a frosty cold ki.
“I am the Vice Cult Leader of the White Lotus Cult. I am called No.”
For a moment.
‘The White Lotus Cult?!’
‘Isn’t that the new religious sect that has been spreading like a trend among the people recently?’
A look of bewilderment appeared on the faces of the people in the room.
Especially.
‘The… the White Lotus Cult!’
‘It was them after all.’
‘Ah! They’re showing their true colors first!’
The military strategist of the Martial Alliance, Jegal Hyeok, and the officials of the Cheonmun-gwan, who had already grasped the general identity of the White Lotus Cult through the intelligence of the Cheonmun-gwan, had their hearts sink.
“So you were the followers of the White Lotus Cult who have been deceiving the people and deluding them recently. Today is the day of the martial artists’ event, so please leave. As it happens, our alliance is planning to have a talk with you soon. We will be in touch soon.”
The Sword Empress Hong-ryeon furrowed her brow and issued an order to leave.
But the old man showed no sign of backing down.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. We are attending as martial artists.”
“Hmph! Since when did new religious sects and swindlers transform into martial artists?”
“Sword Empress Hong-ryeon. I recently killed a person. Do you know who that was? It was the master of the Potala Palace, Gal-ryeon-cheon. On the same day, my sworn brother beat the monks of the Small Thunderclap Monastery in the Western Regions to death and burned down the temple. In other words, we have now become the real power of the Western Regions’ martial world, so aren’t we martial artists?”
For a moment, a cold silence enveloped the room.
The old man’s words were not just shocking, but close to an unbelievable sophistry.
What kind of places were the Potala Palace and the Small Thunderclap Monastery?
They were places that had firmly maintained their position as one of the three great sects outside the pass with their mysterious abilities and strange martial arts.
How could one believe that a mere new religious sect had taken over the entire Western Regions’ martial world?
But.
‘The situation is not good…’
‘I had expected that we would confront the White Lotus Cult sooner or later.’
‘To think that today would be that day. It seems today’s tournament will be stained with blood.’
The top officials of the Alliance, who had grasped the general identity of the White Lotus Cult through the intelligence of the Cheonmun-gwan, sensed that a bloody battle would unfold and raised their internal energy.
No!
To be precise, they tried to raise their internal energy.
But.
‘…What is this?’
‘Why all of a sudden…’
‘My internal energy won’t activate!’
A sense of bewilderment assailed them.
That bewilderment soon transformed into a kind of anxiety.
“Kekeke.”
The old man in the cloak smiled slyly.
At that smile, the Sword Empress Hong-ryeon and the others realized that something was seriously wrong.
‘It’s poison!’
Of course, it was already too late when they realized.
“I, as a martial artist, would like to witness the martial arts of the Orthodox Martial Path. Not only the Sword Empress Hong-ryeon, but anyone who is confident, step forward! Kekeke. Of course, if no one can step forward because they are afraid of me, I will quietly return today.”
“…”
“Instead, you will have to kneel before me, perform the three bows and nine prostrations, and officially declare that the Orthodox Path has been defeated by the White Lotus Cult!”
For a moment.
Gurgle, gurgle—
The face of the old man in the cloak contorted strangely.
And…
When the old man’s transformed face was revealed to the world.
“That… that person is!”
“R-Right Heavenly Demon Sword!”
“No Yeong-myeong?!”
Those who recognized the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong, could not hide their astonishment.
“Kuhaha! Why is no one stepping forward? Are you scared? Then hurry up and kneel before me and beg. Didn’t I promise to quietly return if you did?”
‘What on earth…’
‘That person!’
‘Damn it!’
It was a truly humiliating statement.
But since all the masters who formed the axis of the Alliance were currently unable to use their internal energy due to the poisoning of the Ten Fragrances Tendon Severing Powder, it was a difficult situation.
Just then.
[Military Strategist, Jegal Hyeok. It seems we are all poisoned. We need to buy some time!]
(End of Chapter)