Seo-jun's rather oversized ball landed squarely on the head of Namgung Baek, the Lord of Cheonmu Pavilion.
“So… you're saying this technique allows one to identify those with talent?”
Namgung Sua, who had handed over the secret manual of the so-called 'Namgung Identifier' on Seo-jun’s behalf, nodded.
“Yes. According to the Grand Preceptor, this martial art, which he recently created, can help find those suited for Namgung Ilmaek.”
“Hmm…”
Namgung Baek took the secret manual of the Namgung Identifier with an intrigued expression.
‘A technique that can identify talents suited for Namgung Ilmaek….’
It wasn’t an entirely outlandish concept.
In the martial world, there were plenty of cases where a specific constitution was more suited to certain martial arts.
One example was the Extreme Yang Physique, a rare constitution where one is naturally imbued with intense yang energy. Someone born with it could achieve great success in yang-based martial arts.
Of course, such physiques were incredibly rare. But even without going to such extremes, similar cases were abundant.
Everyone has heard that having long limbs is advantageous for spear techniques, haven’t they?
People are born with various physiques, and depending on their innate bone structure and meridian flow, the martial arts best suited for them differ.
The idea that certain physical constitutions are advantageous for specific martial arts is a well-accepted concept.
Naturally, this has also been a crucial factor in accepting disciples.
‘But identifying such talent isn’t easy.’
Only experts in a specific martial lineage could recognize such things at a glance. Ordinary martial artists wouldn’t even notice it, even if it was right before their eyes.
Unless it was something as obvious as the Extreme Yang Physique, discovering hidden talents was incredibly difficult.
Assuming that just because someone has long arms and legs they must be talented? That’s a mindset that would leave one stuck at the second-rate level for life. To go beyond that, one needs to be able to see much more.
“Could you explain this in more detail?”
“Of course. I can only share what I’ve heard, so I may not be much help, but…”
Namgung Sua proceeded to explain how the Namgung Identifier worked.
If a martial artist, let’s call them A, learned the Namgung Identifier, they would have to make physical contact with a non-martial artist and activate the technique.
If that individual possessed talent suited for Namgung Ilmaek, their eyes would glow blue.
That was it.
A simple process. No, too simple.
It was difficult to even guess what kind of principle this technique functioned on.
“However, it can only detect individuals with outstanding talent.”
“Well, that’s only natural…”
Namgung Baek's mind raced. If martial artists trained in the Namgung Identifier were dispatched across Anhui to scan the populace and gather only the hidden gems?
Of course, possessing talent alone wouldn’t be enough to join the Namgung Clan. There would be multiple trials that would narrow down the numbers.
But Anhui had an immense population. If even one in a thousand turned out to be a worthy find…
“Ugh…”
Namgung Baek tightly shut his eyes, his body trembling.
“…Never have I felt more exhilarated to be the Lord of Cheonmu Pavilion than I do now.”
“Haha, it’s Namgung’s blessing. How should we ever repay this…”
“But of course! Namgung does not forget kindness.”
Namgung Baek’s legs shook with excitement.
There were many sects in Anhui that had branched off from the Namgung Clan. If he first sought their cooperation and supplemented the lacking regions with martial artists from the main family…
“No, I should leave this to the Chief Overseer.”
That friend, Jin Ga-wi, would probably faint from joy upon hearing this.
Namgung Baek grinned broadly.
“Young… No, I mean, as the Grand Preceptor wishes, I will see to it that this is implemented immediately.”
Imagining a future where countless hidden gems would flourish under Namgung Ilmaek, Namgung Baek bolted out of Cheonmu Pavilion without hesitation.
“Oh, wait! The name of the technique is…”
Namgung Sua reached out, but Namgung Baek had already vanished.
Was the martial prowess of the Lord of Cheonmu Pavilion always this high? Namgung Sua let out an awkward chuckle.
‘Seo-jun did ask me to come up with a cooler name for it….’
With that thought, Namgung Sua quickly hurried after Namgung Baek.
****
The Young Lord of Beihai Ice Palace had returned!
That was the message, but Seo-jun had no expectations of receiving a warm welcome.
“Welcome, Young Lord.”
However, the reception was not what he had anticipated. Upon entering Beihai Ice Palace, Seo-jun found himself discreetly scanning his surroundings in response to the unexpected hospitality.
‘They’re not plotting anything…?’
Reviewing his recent activities, Seo-jun considered how the palace might perceive him.
He had eradicated the Blood Fiend Sect, a faction under the Black Lotus Union (though most assumed he had something to do with it). He had rampaged through Kunlun Mountain fighting against the Demonic Cult.
When the Demonic Cult’s Saintess, Sword Demon, and Greedy Demon attacked the palace, he had fought alongside the palace’s martial artists to repel them.
Afterward, he had vanished—only to reappear now.
‘Has the Ice Palace Lord still not regained consciousness?’
If someone only considered isolated events, Seo-jun could be seen as a hero of the Ice Palace. After all, he had played a major role in stopping the Sword Demon.
However, with even a bit of rational thought, he was just a suspicious figure. His reckless actions had put the palace in difficult situations more than once.
Especially from the perspective of the Ice Palace Lord, who had suddenly found himself with a Young Lord he never even knew existed.
From a logical standpoint, the best course of action would be to dismiss Seo-jun as some lunatic fraud.
“The Palace Lord is expecting you.”
“The Palace Lord?”
“Yes. Upon receiving news of your return, he immediately wished to meet you.”
Or maybe not?
Now that he thought about it, possessing both Ice Jade Divine Art and Northern Darkness Divine Art did make it plausible that he truly was the Young Lord.
‘Hmm…’
Seo-jun decided to follow the elder’s lead and headed deeper into the palace.
Although the main palace had been utterly wrecked in the last battle with the Demonic Cult, it had, somehow, been rebuilt. However, standing in its place was a rather shoddy-looking structure.
‘Well, I suppose a Supreme Grandmaster could build a building quickly.’
Whether it was built well was another matter. But at the very least, the process would have been much faster.
The thought of a trap crossed Seo-jun’s mind, but he didn’t dwell on it.
‘They use internal energy here.’
If the Ice Palace Lord was at the same level as when he last saw him, Seo-jun was confident he could take him down with ease. Now that he had reached the Transcendent Realm, he wouldn’t even need to draw Heavenly Seo-jun.
With this logic in mind, Seo-jun walked forward confidently. Along the way, he encountered several martial artists of the Ice Palace.
“Young Lord…! You’ve returned?”
“Yes, but I’m busy right now. We’ll talk later.”
“Understood.”
Surprisingly, Seo-jun’s reputation within the Ice Palace seemed to be decent.
‘What are they thinking?’
Despite this, Seo-jun remained wary of the Ice Palace Lord.
Before him stood massive doors. Beyond them was the Palace Lord.
“Enter.”
The moment the Palace Lord’s voice rang out, the doors swung open. It was Elemental Telekinesis at work.
Seo-jun stepped inside, and the Palace Lord waved a hand.
“You may all leave.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Even the attendants who had guided Seo-jun vanished, leaving only him and the Palace Lord in the room.
Binggungju Baek Seol-hyang sat lazily slouched on a massive chair, eyes fixed on Seo-jun.
“So, you’ve come, Young Lord.”
Baek Seol-hyang’s complexion was pale. The aftereffects of Qi Deviation still lingered.
And yet, in such a state, she had chosen to meet him alone? Knowing full well that he had reached the Transcendent Realm?
Seo-jun narrowed his eyes.
“You’re rather bold, Palace Lord.”
“What of it? Has the Young Lord not returned in glory, having ascended to the Transcendent Realm? It is only right to welcome you properly.”
Her expression remained cold. Resting her chin on one hand, she rose from her seat.
“So…”
Baek Seol-hyang staggered toward him, her lips curling into a sharp smile as she looked up at him.
“What is it you want? The Ice Palace? Ice Jade? Or perhaps… the Seven Fiend Gates?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Isn’t it only natural for the Young Lord to return to the Ice Palace?”
“Hah…”
Baek Seol-hyang let out a dry laugh before furrowing her brow. She jabbed her finger at Seo-jun’s chest.
However, her finger never made contact.
As if there were an invisible wall, Baek Seol-hyang’s hand struck empty air.
Her face twisted, and she practically spat her next words.
“There’s no point in hiding it anymore. Just take it all. The Ice Palace, the Ice Jade—hell, I’ll even pass the position of Palace Lord to you.”
“I don’t need it.”
Baek Seol-hyang froze.
Then, her bloodshot eyes locked onto Seo-jun. The Seo-jun reflected in those eyes remained expressionless, staring back at her.
Her lips trembled.
“…You don’t need it? Then why the hell did you come back to the Ice Palace?”
“The Young Lord returning to his homeland—does that require some grand reason? I was merely concerned about the palace.”
“…Concerned?”
Baek Seol-hyang’s eyes gleamed like ice.
Light from the chamber illuminated her cheeks.
Which meant—
She was crying.
‘…What?’
Seo-jun’s eyes wavered.
‘Why the hell is she crying?’
This… was not something he had anticipated.
A Transcendent Realm martial artist, the ruler of the mighty Beihai Ice Palace, suddenly bursting into tears?
While Seo-jun stood frozen, Baek Seol-hyang trembled and yelled.
“You… You can’t say things like that…!”
“Wait, hold on—”
“Do you have any idea how much I suffered because of you?! Everything I worked for turned to dust! Those damned Demonic Cult bastards—!”
Baek Seol-hyang collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.
“Hic… The Black Lotus Union didn’t send support, they didn’t even say a word! And then they started losing ground to the Martial Alliance—!”
“Alright, calm down a little—”
“Shut up! Do you know how much I had to tiptoe around because of you?! Every time something happened—‘Ice Palace! Ice Palace!’—What the hell was I supposed to do?! I didn’t even know what was going on!”
Baek Seol-hyang was truly, genuinely exasperated.
An Ice Palace martial artist causing problems? She had no idea who that was supposed to be.
But then reports surfaced that the ruins of the annihilated Blood Fiend Sect contained traces of both Ice Jade Divine Art and Demonic Qi.
The Demonic Cult started accusing the Ice Palace of interfering with their grand scheme.
And instead of backing them up, the Black Lotus Union—under Sama Hyeon’s leadership—began pressuring them.
Even so, Baek Seol-hyang held firm. The Ice Palace was her inheritance from the previous generation. She had done everything in her power to protect it.
“The Saintess! That whore! And those Seven Demons! I’ll curse them even in death…! Do you know how hard I worked to clean the palace every single day?!”
Yet, all her efforts had been in vain. Not even Baek Seol-hyang could stop four Extreme Demon martial artists from wreaking havoc.
In the end, the main palace—along with its history—had collapsed, and the heavily damaged Ice Palace had been forced into self-imposed seclusion.
“I don’t care anymore! You deal with it! Give me back my Ice Palace…!”
At this moment, Baek Seol-hyang simply hated the world.