"One down."
Namgung Jincheon's calm voice made Je Cheon-hyeok's lips twitch.
"Was that opening deliberate…?"
He had sacrificed his side to claim Neung Pyeong-ho’s life. If so, how much more would it take to sever that head?
One transcendent warrior had already fallen. Any more losses would render killing Namgung Jincheon meaningless for the Black Lotus Union.
Grinding his teeth, Je Cheon-hyeok quickly scanned the area.
"There’s not a single mark in the space around him."
Since the beginning of the battle, Namgung Jincheon hadn’t moved from his position.
Because of Namgung Yeon.
Even with such a burden to protect, he could still perform at this level?
Maintaining their standoff, Je Cheon-hyeok turned to the Gilyeon Sect Master.
"Is the formation working properly?"
"Fuck. Can’t you tell?"
The formation had two main effects: to hinder Namgung Jincheon while empowering their allies.
It had been constructed by the Gilyeon Sect Master himself, at the cost of countless lives. Its effects were undeniable.
Had he been on the receiving end, assuming equal power, he would have been utterly crushed.
"What you’re seeing now is him under those restrictions."
At the Sect Master’s words, Geom Yul let out a hollow laugh.
"Incredible… Truly the Heavenly Sword Sovereign. If you had joined the Sword Sect, you might have reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship."
Every movement Namgung Jincheon made was a testament to mastery, showcasing the very peak of the sword’s art.
Geom Yul’s domain, the Ten Thousand Sword Domain, was the culmination of sword unity—the complete harmony of body and blade.
He could switch places with any of the ten thousand swords in his domain at will.
Yet even this domain seemed pale in comparison to Namgung Jincheon.
This was a man who, despite being surrounded by the overlapping domains of four transcendent warriors, maintained his own unyielding space.
"He’s on a completely different level."
Geom Yul’s ears flushed red as he raised his sword.
Purpose, consequences, even his own murderous intent—he abandoned them all.
What remained was not the Master of the Sword Sect but simply Geom Yul, the swordsman.
"Show me the end of your sword!"
Geom Yul charged forward. The Gilyeon Sect Master clicked his tongue.
"That idiot’s really doing it…!"
Yo Cheon Do Ji, the Sect Master’s domain, allowed him to command the surrounding space.
While powerful, it was meaningless against Namgung Jincheon.
The man’s domain nullified even space itself, returning everything to emptiness.
Still, Geom Yul couldn’t be allowed to die here. If he fell, the next target would surely be the Sect Master himself.
The fate of the Black Lotus Union mattered little. What mattered was survival—his own survival.
"Polar Divide."
The Sect Master unleashed his technique, shattering the origin of creation itself, condensing everything into a single point at Namgung Jincheon’s nose.
At the same time, Geom Yul charged with fifty thousand remaining swords.
Swish!
Avoidance would have been wise. But evasion was impossible. If he dodged, Namgung Yeon would die.
Namgung Jincheon extended his left hand. His flesh-and-blood hand grasped the black point and crushed it.
Craaaaack!
A tremor rippled through the area, distorting every inch of space.
Namgung Jincheon’s hand was shattered, yet his gaze remained locked on Je Cheon-hyeok.
No openings. Any opening had to come at a price.
Geom Yul darted about, his form flickering in and out of existence as he closed in from all directions.
"Hah!"
Swish, swish, swish! Swords moved at near-light speed, slashing incessantly.
Not once did Geom Yul remain in the same spot as his sword swung.
In slivers of fragmented time, countless slashes rained down as shimmering waves of light.
Whoosh!
Namgung Jincheon’s sword met the onslaught.
Koooom!
The techniques of the Imperial Sword Form surpassed the limits of the human body, flowing effortlessly.
Namgung Jincheon, without moving an inch, parried every strike with his sword alone.
"This is…!"
Geom Yul, tears streaming, swung his sword desperately.
Each descending blade was deflected, each piercing thrust blocked at the tip.
Namgung Jincheon seemed surrounded by an impenetrable wall.
Despite the Gilyeon Sect Master’s relentless barrage of sorcery, Namgung Jincheon calmly neutralized every attack while keeping Je Cheon-hyeok in check.
Geom Yul felt the insurmountable gap between them.
He understood, deep in his bones, that his sword would never reach this man.
"But…!"
To give up without trying was unthinkable. If he could break through this wall, his sword would ascend to new heights.
He merged with his sword. Fifty thousand shattered swords poured into him, surpassing all limits.
Bzzzzz!
Blinding light engulfed Geom Yul as he became one with the sword.
When the light faded, only a single sword remained.
The sword that was Geom Yul shot toward Namgung Jincheon.
Boom!
Namgung Jincheon’s Imperial Sword Form intercepted him. Geom Yul leaned into the principle of flexibility.
He abandoned technique and form, channeling the essence of a single concept into his blade.
Flexibility.
Cling!
Namgung Jincheon’s sword slid harmlessly away.
Swish!
Geom Yul swapped places with one of the forty thousand remaining swords.
From flexibility came speed.
Fwoosh!
Faster than the eye could follow, Geom Yul’s blade passed Namgung Jincheon’s.
For a moment, he broke through the wall.
Their eyes met.
"Take this."
His entire being, his lifetime of swordsmanship, condensed into one strike.
Dominance.
Geom Yul’s head pounded as he poured his all into the ultimate strike.
Surpassing every sword he’d ever wielded, he felt an ephemeral connection with Namgung Jincheon.
"What do you think of my sword?"
"It is… magnificent."
Namgung Jincheon raised his right hand. If they had met under different circumstances, they might have become good friends, spending days and nights discussing the sword.
But such a thing could never come to pass.
After targeting his family, they could never walk the same path.
Namgung Jincheon lightly slashed the air.
"Ah..."
Geom Yul’s mouth hung open. He didn’t even bother to switch places with another sword. He knew it was meaningless.
The sword stopped right before Namgung Jincheon’s throat. Geom Yul had failed to reach him.
"The Heart Sword... This is... the end of the sword you have seen…"
With a dull thud, Geom Yul’s body collapsed to the ground. There wasn’t a single wound on him, but he could no longer move.
Whoosh…
The remaining forty thousand swords shattered into light and disappeared.
Gulp!
Namgung Jincheon coughed up blood. His chest had caved in. The opening created to finish Geom Yul had allowed Je Cheon-hyeok to drive his fist into him.
"Hoo…"
Namgung Jincheon exhaled, gazing at the void above. A path stretched out before him, leading into the distance.
"The Heavenly Boundary…"
He could reach it. No, he could go even higher.
But Namgung Jincheon swept the path from his sight without hesitation.
Deep within him lingered memories, regrets, and the image of his wife. If he cast them aside, he could cut through everything before him and ascend to the heavens.
Yet...
"How could I ever do such a thing…"
Still standing by Namgung Yeon’s side, Namgung Jincheon listened to the sound of his sword. The faint voice of his wife embraced him.
"Do not grieve so much, my love…"
He smiled faintly, at peace.
"I’m glad I can now follow you, even if it’s late…"
In his far-off gaze, the faint silhouette of a woman seemed to appear.
The Sky Where Flowers Do Not Bloom.
Namgung Jincheon’s domain, incomplete without his other half, had never been whole.
He could have erased those traces and moved forward at any time, but he could not. Forgetting that part of himself was a fear greater than death.
Hum…
Namgung Jincheon’s sword let out a mournful cry. Despite this, he didn’t take a single step forward.
Without breaking his gaze from Je Cheon-hyeok, he moved his lips.
"That’s two."
Namgung Jincheon’s calm statement made the Gilyeon Sect Master’s lips quiver uncontrollably.
"Damn it…"
****
After finishing his trip to the sea, Seo-jun returned to the Namgung Clan.
"My father-in-law?"
"Yes, he went himself after losing contact with your aunt."
Hearing Namgung Myung’s explanation, Seo-jun scratched his head.
"If Father-in-law went himself, well…"
Namgung Jincheon was the man furthest from the concept of danger. Seo-jun couldn’t even imagine him bleeding.
"But then why…"
His chest ached strangely, for reasons he couldn’t understand.
"Oppa."
Turning at Chun-bong’s voice, he saw her grinning as she patted his rear.
"If you’re that worried, why don’t you go? You’ll get there in no time."
"…Should I?"
There wasn’t anything urgent at the moment.
Seo-jun glanced around. Everyone else’s expressions were calm.
Who would worry about Namgung Jincheon, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign and world’s greatest?
"It must be…"
He thought it might be a lonely place to be.
Seo-jun gathered a sphere of Heavenly Origin Moonlight Energy at his feet.
"Alright, I’ll go and be back quickly."
"Okay. I’ll freeze the ice lake while you’re gone, so don’t take too long."
After ruffling Chun-bong’s hair thoroughly, Seo-jun firmly grasped Namgung Sua’s hand.
"You should rest, too, nuna."
"Alright. Be careful."
"Of course."
He already knew the location where his father-in-law had gone.
Boom!
With a thunderous sound, Seo-jun’s figure tore through the sky.