“Hey, hey, did you do something to piss off Sua? She looks a little mad.”
At Chun-bong’s remark, it wasn’t Seo-jun but Namgung Sua who flinched.
“N-no! What do you mean did something wrong? I’ve only been a burden to Seo-jun…”
Her reaction was oddly intense. Chun-bong narrowed her eyes.
“…What? What did you do? No way….”
As her imagination ran wild, Chun-bong’s soft cheeks flushed bright red. Shameless! Horrified, she clamped her hands over her mouth.
“You perverted bastard…! You’re not even married yet…!”
“T-that’s not it!”
Namgung Sua frantically waved her hands in denial.
“Hm… Is that so?”
As expected, the misunderstanding didn’t last long. Chun-bong hadn’t really thought that way in the first place—she was just teasing because Sua’s reaction was amusing.
Moments like these were important. A little distraction kept the mind from sinking too deeply into despair.
Otherwise, someone could fall into an endless spiral of gloom, which would truly be a disaster.
‘At least she hasn’t completely broken down.’
Relieved, Chun-bong patted her flat chest.
If Sua fell apart, it wouldn’t just be a problem for herself—it would also send Seo-jun into a frenzy.
And if Seo-jun did go berserk, Chun-bong wasn’t sure even she could stop him.
Perhaps if she used her secret technique… but that was a last resort. No good would come from things escalating to that point.
By now, Namgung Sua felt like a real sister to her.
Hm.
Thinking about it that way… Seo-jun really had taken both sisters.
“…You shameless bastard.”
“What.”
Seo-jun looked wrongfully accused.
But whether they were actual sisters or not, the fact remained—he had taken two women at once.
With nothing to refute, Seo-jun smoothly changed the subject. His gaze fell to the longsword in Namgung Sua’s hands.
That’s no ordinary blade.
Of course not. If a sword wielded by a man who was nearly a god wasn’t a divine weapon, then what was?
He had initially told Sua to try out her father’s sword, but now that he saw her handling two blades at once, he reconsidered.
Her usual greatsword—already second nature to her—and the divine sword left behind by her father.
Wielding two swords didn’t automatically double one’s strength, but…
“Nuna, that sword…”
“…Yeah, I know.”
Namgung Sua nodded, already understanding what he meant.
“For some reason, it feels familiar. Like I’ve been using it for a long time.”
Perhaps some remnant of Namgung Jincheon’s memories or spirit still lingered.
She had always wielded a greatsword since childhood, yet this sword felt so natural in her grip.
Seo-jun considered this.
Perfect timing.
It was good for her to have something to focus on. Adjusting her martial arts to suit dual blades wouldn’t be difficult.
However, there was one issue.
Even with all his knowledge, Seo-jun couldn’t just invent a dual-sword style out of thin air.
I’ll have to ask the Celestial Martial Pavilion Lord for help.
Namgung Baek, the head of the Celestial Martial Pavilion, oversaw the Namgung Clan’s martial arts. If anyone knew how to wield two swords properly, it would be him.
***
Sure enough, Namgung Baek nodded without hesitation.
“There are plenty of dual-sword techniques. I will provide them all.”
Namgung Sua received a stack of martial arts manuals.
Her workload had increased, yet her expression was brighter than before.
Seo-jun let out a breath of relief as he departed from the Namgung estate.
Arriving at the battlefield, Seo-jun immediately headed for the strongest presence he could sense. Without warning, he stepped into the command tent.
“Ah, you are…”
A man stood and offered a martial salute.
“I was briefed by Strategist Jegal. I am Peng So-ho of the Peng Clan.”
Seo-jun gave a brief nod.
Whenever he was in the Namgung estate, his mind was somewhat at peace. But the moment he encountered other martial artists, an inexplicable fury welled up inside him.
He exhaled deeply and asked,
“What’s the current situation?”
“We have the upper hand.”
With Myeolsa Cheon-gun influencing the battlefield, the enemy had already suffered significant losses. The Black Lotus Union forces were retreating in a hurry.
“However, Strategist Jegal mentioned that this might be another of Sama Hyun’s schemes. He suggests we slowly tighten our siege and starve the enemy…”
“No, that’s too slow.”
Seo-jun’s eyes swept over the map—marking the Sword Sect’s position and the surrounding battle lines. He quickly assessed the situation, then stepped past Peng So-ho.
“I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”
“Wait a moment—!”
Before Peng So-ho could grab him, Seo-jun’s form vanished.
Having torn through space, Seo-jun now stood over an expansive desert.
This must be the Gobi Desert.
A considerable distance apart, the Martial Alliance’s forces and the Black Lotus Union’s army were stationed.
Seo-jun casually extended his domain.
“Ideal World.”
For most Harmonious Realm martial artists, expanding their domain consumed a significant amount of energy.
Especially when connecting an oversized spiritual construct to the surrounding space—it placed immense strain on one’s qi.
Normally, that is…
But Seo-jun possessed unparalleled talent in handling qi. Such concerns did not apply to him.
FWOOOSH—!
A vast domain spread out, blanketing the desert. But this time, it wasn’t quite the same as usual.
Localized Manifestation—Imperial Sword Form.
As his mastery grew, so did his control over his domain. Now, he could manifest only a portion of his spiritual construct.
Hwaak—!
A clear, boundless sky replaced the arid wasteland. Seo-jun clenched his outstretched hand into a fist.
Crunch—!
The weight of the sky bore down upon the desert.
BOOOOM—!
The clustered forces of the Black Lotus Union were instantly crushed.
There was no resistance—not even a struggle.
It wasn’t as if they had great warriors left to fight.
All that remained of the living was now sinking into the desert sands.
Seo-jun withdrew his domain.
A portion of the desert was now stained red. The remains of fallen humans baked under the scorching sun, releasing a putrid stench.
But Seo-jun was far from satisfied. He pressed forward.
I’m approaching the Sword Sect’s territory.
The enemy had pulled their frontlines back, bringing the battlefield dangerously close to the Sword Sect. Seo-jun had barely moved, yet he had already plunged deep into Black Lotus Union territory.
Even better.
It was risky, but few martial artists—even those in the Harmonious Realm—could match Seo-jun’s speed.
And if something did go wrong, he could simply retreat.
Wooong—!
The energy of nature flooded into his grasp without end.
I suppose I should say hello.
The essence of nature transformed into yin and yang, forming a reversed Taiji, which then harmonized into the imagery of his Four Apocalyptic Spirits, vibrating with serene intensity.
Sky-Piercing Qi.
ZZZZT—!
A vast surge of energy shot forward, heading straight for the Sword Sect.
Seo-jun’s eyebrows twitched.
That’s…
He had expected them to block it—but not so easily.
BOOM!
The Sky-Piercing Qi scattered into fragments, dispersing in all directions. Amidst the chaos, something glinted.
A sword?
Seo-jun narrowed his eyes just as a figure suddenly emerged.
A man with deep hollows beneath his eyes gazed at him.
“Leave. I will not stop you.”
His weary voice resonated through the air. Seo-jun remained silent, observing him.
Chirin—
A strange metallic sound rang out.
Floating in the air were countless razor-thin blades—the same ones that had blocked his attack.
They drifted in midair before reattaching to the massive sword on the man’s back.
The transition was seamless, as if they had always been one weapon.
An unusual greatsword.
Something clicked in Seo-jun’s memory. He had heard of this before—his father-in-law had mentioned it.
“So, you’re the former Sect Leader of the Sword Sect?”
The man nodded wordlessly. Seo-jun’s pupils burned crimson.
“Then die.”
Pipipiping—!
Hundreds of tiny points materialized in the air before shooting toward the man.
Inverse Celestial Sun Art.
“…I don’t understand.”
Chirin—!
Thin blades detached from the greatsword on his back.
Enveloped in sharp qi, they suddenly straightened and fired toward Seo-jun.
BOOOOOOOM—!
A thunderous explosion engulfed the battlefield.
The Inverse Celestial Sun Art was being held at bay, but the former sect leader’s brow furrowed.
“…Tch.”
The force was greater than he had anticipated.
His blades were being pushed back. He swiftly gathered them, condensing them into a single formation.
Thousand Sword Bloom .
Chakakakak—!
The whirling steel formed into a blooming flower, spinning protectively around him.
Seo-jun extended his hand.
“Ideal World.”
A domain unfolded in an instant.
The former sect leader’s eyes trembled.
“…This is….”
Seo-jun slashed downward.
The sky collapsed.
Imperial Sword Form.
The man’s eyes widened as he recognized it.
“Namgung!”
He immediately grasped the situation.
So this was about grudges.
No wonder Seo-jun was fighting like a man possessed.
“…How tiresome.”
The grudges of the martial world were twisted, tangled beyond comprehension.
He had distanced himself from it all, choosing seclusion—but even that had not freed him.
Chirin—
His gaze turned sharp.
A thousand blades scattered across the air.
My Sword is One .
Wooong—!
With a resonant hum, the floating blades shot skyward.
Unlike other Harmonious Realm martial artists, his domain was different.
It didn’t extend over the land.
Instead, his domain resided in the blades he wielded.
The sky fell.
A thousand blades bloomed in response.
Shreeeeeek—!
The trajectories of the blades expanded, forming intricate, floral patterns.
ZZZT—!
The sky cracked as the pressure of the Imperial Sword Form was shattered.
Seo-jun frowned.
Without hesitation, he flicked his fingers downward.
Heavenly Sun Emperor’s Extreme Fire Divine Art .
Rumble—!
Beyond the cracked sky, the sun, once hanging high, now plummeted toward the earth.
“…What the…?”
Geom Hyeon’s brow furrowed.
An imperial martial art? Wasn’t this man from the Namgung Clan?
Tch. Clicking his tongue, he shook off the distracting thoughts.
This wasn’t an opponent he could afford to face while preoccupied.
Chirin—!
A thousand blades enveloped Geom Hyeon’s body. At the same time, he gripped a sword—not the greatsword from before, but a longsword.
This was the true form of the Thousand Blossom Sword.
As the thousand blades detached, the original shape of the weapon emerged.
Hup…!
Ignoring the falling sun, Geom Hyeon charged straight at Seo-jun.
Shreeek—!
A swordsman escorted by a thousand blades.
Seo-jun, his brows slightly furrowed, clasped both hands together—bringing sky and earth into one.
Primal Sun and Moon Art.
Before Geom Hyeon’s eyes, the entirety of existence converged into a single point.
He hurriedly interposed his thousand blades.
BOOOOOOOM—!
Even after barely blocking it, Geom Hyeon’s body was hurled backward.
Regaining his footing, he quickly looked up.
A massive sun loomed right before him.
The world itself boiled red.
“…Hah.”
Sighing, Geom Hyeon pulled his sword back.
A single blade to cleave the sun.
With absolute faith in his sword—
Sharpness.
Only sharpness.
He imbued his blade solely with this singular truth.
At its ultimate peak, sharpness encompassed all techniques.
All Paths Return to One.
The absolute pinnacle of sharpness slashed through time and space.
At its utmost speed, it became the embodiment of boundless transformation.
Sseook—!
The sun was cleaved.
A single stroke was all it took.
The celestial body fractured into thousands of pieces, dissolving into oblivion.
Yet, a bitter smile formed on Geom Hyeon’s lips.
This was no time to be pleased about cutting down one sun.
“…This is ridiculous.”
Fwoosh—!
Countless plum blossoms painted the sky.
A tidal wave from the ocean twisted into the form of a dragon.
The very earth rose into a massive fist and came crashing down.
“…Am I dreaming?”
The barrage came.
Each technique—each attack—belonged to a different martial art.
Even setting aside the question of how he had acquired them—
There’s no way a single person could master so many techniques.
Reeling from shock, Geom Hyeon’s mind latched onto one terrifying possibility.
“…Are you, perhaps, the avatar of a great being?”