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After that, things went surprisingly smoothly. The powerful ministers agreed to make the newly appointed emperor, which also included the Qing Liu Sect. The word on the street was that the emperor had suddenly died from illness, causing quite a stir in Luoyang for a bit. But since everything was already wrapped up on high, it took only three days for the political scene to settle down.

Then, the sect leader instructed Han Baek-ryeong to formally absorb the Twin Gate Sect. Starting from the martial forces of Luoyang, they were setting out to conquer the martial world. I was assigned to assist Han Baek-ryeong.

“What…?”

At the gathering of the heads of the Twin Gate Sect, Han Baek-ryeong convened a meeting and the first order of business was the Subjugation to the White Lotus Sect. Unsurprisingly, the other leaders present, except for Han Baek-ryeong, were left dumbfounded by her words.

Han Baek-ryeong calmly said, “Did you misunderstand? From today, the Twin Gate Sect is under the jurisdiction of the White Lotus Sect.”

The leaders were all at a loss. Surprisingly calm among them was the Master of the Great Sword Gate, who sighed while seated at the table.

“Hoo… one of the heads. I once heard a rumor.”

“What kind of rumor?”

“It’s hard to believe, but it was said that the head of the Han Clan is actually a Dharma Guardian of the White Lotus Sect.”

Gasps filled the room.

The Lord of Iron Blood Gate stammered, “That can’t be true…” The collective gaze turned towards Han Baek-ryeong, but she merely looked at the Master of the Great Sword Gate with an inscrutable expression, neither confirming nor denying anything. The Master of the Great Sword Gate then said with a firm gaze, “Could it be that the change in emperors is somehow linked to the White Lotus Sect?”

Only then did Han Baek-ryeong speak up, “It seems you don’t understand what it means that I called this meeting.”

“……”

“You have no qualifications to negotiate or bargain with me. This is a notification, so decide immediately.”

Ru-u-u-umble!!

“Ugh….”

“Kuhh!!”

The chilling presence of Heavenly Spirit Pill began to crush the leaders with its formless qi. The heads of the sects turned pale as they struggled to endure, while the Lord of Iron Blood Gate fared slightly better. The Master of the Great Sword Gate appeared relatively calm, though his grim face showed he wasn’t exactly relaxed. Given that all the leaders of the Twin Gate Sect present were peak experts, the sheer force exerted by Han Baek-ryeong was simply mind-blowing.

Red energy swirled around Han Baek-ryeong as she summoned her Spirit of Flame, causing an illusory flame to flicker in the area. The expressions of the leaders were teetering on the brink of fainting. The Lord of Iron Blood Gate gasped in shock, “Is… is she human?!”

She may be human, but she wields divine power, I muttered inwardly. As the Twin Gate Sect leaders shrank back in fear of her formless qi, Han Baek-ryeong finally eased off the pressure. With a cold expression, she asked, “I won’t ask a second time. Will you pledge loyalty to the White Lotus Sect?”

The Master of the Great Sword Gate grimaced in pain and contested, “If we submit, you might just seize our Vision Divine Techniques; how can we accept that recklessly?”

“Hmph!” Han Baek-ryeong scoffed. “I’m not interested in your martial arts. You may have been proud of being the best in the Jianghu, but the reality is that your skill doesn’t even compare to a mere mid-level officer of my sect.”

“I can’t believe it!”

“Then let me show you.” She glanced at me and said, “Baek Woong. Defeat him in one hundred breaths.”

Why is this suddenly directed at me? I frowned, but I understood that this was part of Han Baek-ryeong’s strategy to completely break the spirit of the Twin Gate Sect heads. Yet, I didn’t have a solid reason to refuse, so reluctantly stepped forward.

The Master of the Great Sword Gate looked dumbfounded when he found himself facing me out of nowhere. Then, with an angry expression, he spat, “Though you may be a Dharma Guardian, you dare underestimate me?!”

Han Baek-ryeong laughed at him, “Quit the chatter and let’s fight. If Baek Woong fails to defeat you within a hundred breaths, I’ll render today’s proposal void.”

“Cough!! You’d better keep that promise.”

In no time, a space was cleared. From about ten paces away, the two of us faced off with approximately five paces between us. The Master of the Great Sword Gate’s eyes gleamed ominously as if he intended to knock me out immediately, making this the most intense and murderous gaze I’d seen from him.

‘ Now that I think about it, this is only the second time I’ll properly fight the Master of the Great Sword Gate…’

Previously, after breaking the Iron Blood Gate, I had gone to spar with the Master right after. That time, I had knocked out all the heads of the Twin Gate Sect, ending up clashing blades with him along the way.

Back then, while sparring evenly with him, I eventually proved victorious due to my internal power after a little over a thousand breaths. Considering my skills have dramatically improved since then, the Master of the Great Sword Gate wouldn’t be my match now. Yet, being a peak expert, I couldn’t underestimate him at all.

Swish –

Clang!

The first clash of strikes was a hardened sword collision. The Master of the Great Sword Gate swung his sword with the momentum of his Straight Sword Yellow Dragon form, intent on cleaving me in two. I returned his force with equal strength. After a flash of sparks flying in the collision, he flipped backwards and landed.

“No… what incredible internal power…” muttered the Master of the Great Sword Gate, looking flabbergasted.

If I had genuinely attacked with full force, his sword would have broken, and he would have rolled on the ground injured. Our disparity in internal power was immense, so there was no reason for me to lose in a straightforward contest. However, not wanting him to be humiliated so quickly, I deliberately held back a bit. It was clear he was also aware that I had just gone a little easy on him.

‘ I just don’t want to show off.’

Having shared a drink with the Master of the Great Sword Gate in the past, I knew he was not a bad person, so I sighed and said, “Competing in brute strength isn’t the essence of the sword. Let’s spar with skill.”

If I were to push through only with brute force, of course I’d win. But since this was an opportunity for me to train, I aimed to win using technique rather than raw power.

“Hmm… sounds good.”

With newfound focus, the Master of the Great Sword Gate went into a pose of the Unity of Body and Sword. Instantly slipping into the level where he and his sword became one meant he was one of the top swordsmen in the entire Jianghu. A moment later, his eyes glimmered, and he exploded forward like a blade.

I felt the unique transformation techniques of the Master of the Great Sword Gate unraveling in mid-air. The shadow of the sword danced before my eyes, and it felt extraordinary.

‘ What is this?’

Is this a technique that lightly disperses qi?

To test it, I didn’t simply receive the Master’s attack; instead, I utilized the Cave-Collapsing Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword to block it. In that ephemeral moment, the strength of the sword spun and curled within a three-length space, causing a dazzling display of sword light to sweep over us without breathing room.

After estimating the exchanges for about twenty breaths, I suddenly realized, ‘ This thread… it indicates the direction of the sword path!’

The threads of light that released were not intended attacks or techniques; they merely helped me predict where the Master of the Great Sword Gate would strike next. With that understanding, I adapted my defenses and dodges accordingly, occasionally striking through openings that emerged.

Swaaack

“Ugh.”

About seventy breaths into the exchange, the Master of the Great Sword Gate left himself a significant opening, and when I seized the opportunity to attack, I managed to nick his forearm. It wasn’t a deep wound, but his expression stunned as if he couldn’t believe that his guard was breached not through strength but technique.

“……”

Standing there blankly, the Master of the Great Sword Gate lowered his head and acknowledged, “I underestimated the Half-Transition Master. I concede.”

Though he had suffered no fatal injuries, continuing to fight despite the outcome being determined was the act of an underling. He had sensed with the intuition of a master that he would lose to me within a hundred breaths, so he was conceding early.

“Good job.”

I felt satisfied with how the duel wrapped up. The expressions of the Twin Gate Sect leaders around us were beyond astonishment, now ghostly pale.

“N-no way…”

“Is there such a peak expert…?”

They had every reason to be shocked. Objectively speaking, the Master of the Great Sword Gate was the strongest among the Twin Gate Sect besides Han Baek-ryeong, excelling in swordsmanship in the entire Jianghu. The fact that such an expert was defeated within seventy breaths, particularly to a young child, was a huge blow.

From there, everything proceeded like clockwork. The heads of the Twin Gate Sect declared their obedience to Han Baek-ryeong as well as to the White Lotus Sect and decided to join. With this, the Twin Gate Sect submitted, effectively bringing the martial forces of Luoyang, Shaanxi, and Guanzhong under the White Lotus Sect’s control.

‘ Moreover, Han Baek-ryeong is already the master of the Five Great Families… and the Heretical Sect has also capitulated to the Su Shin Sect. The only remnants now are the Nine Great Sects and those from the True Heaven Alliance.’

It’s not even worth discussing. The Nine Great Sects, even without the intervention of a Dharma Guardian, could be wiped out by the subservient forces of the Fire Spirit Techniques. Even without the high-level experts from the main body of the Fire Spirit, one could use the Five Great Families as fodder for attrition.

Zhuge Sa chuckled.

[Hehehe… the unification of the martial world is just around the corner.]

[Indeed.]

If the Nine Great Sects had any sense, they wouldn’t dare confront the White Lotus Sect head-on. There was no way to fight them now that they had taken control of the imperial palace. As I witnessed the unification of the martial world, something I had only read about in novels, it felt absurd.

Supreme Martial Artist!

Was it true that the sect leader would achieve a feat no one had accomplished in the thousands of years of martial history?

‘ Well… if anyone has the qualifications for it, it would be the sect leader…’

Who among humans could possibly challenge a being with power comparable to that of the Great Immortal? At this moment, the only one who might have that capability was the Master of the Twelve Joules from the Eastern Martial World. It’s only right for the sect leader to want to challenge the Master after finishing the conquest of the Central Plains.

Lost in thought, Han Baek-ryeong called me, “Baek Woong. There’s one last task before returning to the sect.”

“What is it?”

“Sangwan Hyuk wishes to speak with you.”

“……”

“Why the surprised look?”

As I stared blankly at Han Baek-ryeong, I secretly asked her using the Six Harmonies Assembly technique, [What are you thinking? I’ve considered the last incident but can’t discern your intentions.]

[There’s no need for you to know my intentions.]

[Are you trying to betray the sect leader like Yong Bi Cheon? It’s hard to gauge what the sect leader thinks…]

At that, Han Baek-ryeong coldly laughed, [Quit your nonsense.]

[But…]

[Just know it’s not for the same reasons as Yong Bi Cheon.]

[What?]

Whoosh!

Han Baek-ryeong disappeared in a blaze, clearly indicating that she didn’t want to talk to me anymore. Right now, my power had reached a point where I couldn’t recklessly hold back as a Dharma Guardian. Also, for Han Baek-ryeong, I was a crucial piece on the chessboard.

Zhuge Sa expressed irritation.

[What a troublesome girl. If it were anyone else, I could assassinate them and then extract the truth using the Heavenly Secret Technique, but I can’t do that with the owner of the Heavenly Spirit Pill.]

[Assassination?]

[I’m saying it’s a possibility. You have the Heavenly Secret Technique, so you could do that.]

I was baffled by Zhuge Sa’s line of thought. Following that logic, he was suggesting to kill someone first and then find out the information by calling their spirit back — wasn’t that a bit extreme?

Eventually, I arrived at the Sangwan Clan’s residence. When I entered the study, the subtle-looking Sangwan Hyuk smiled as if glad to see me.

“Welcome.”

“……”

Sangwan Hyuk.

He really was a suspicious character.

It was clear that he was a sorcerer handling demons, and his internal power was impressively high. Yet he was also a spy planted by the sect leader in Luoyang. What was even more suspicious was that his true intentions remained a mystery; he seemed intent on using the White Lotus Sect for some purpose.

‘ If I hadn’t dug up information from my past life, I’d have never figured this guy out…’

As I mused, Sangwan Hyuk poured himself some tea and spoke. “I hear you have the Spirit Beast of the Heavenly Realm. Does its ability to traverse any location in the world hold true?”

“Indeed.”

“Then I have a favor to ask.”

I retorted curtly, “I have no obligation to grant your favor! You may be a direct subordinate of the sect leader, but I’m also a Dharma Guardian of the Thunder God Lineage. If you obey my command, that’s one thing, but I have no reason to follow yours.”

Sangwan Hyuk smiled broadly. “Fair point. How about seeing it as a transaction instead?”

“What are you saying?”

“If you fulfill my request, I’ll show you how to release the Twelve Joules.”

“……?!”

What is this guy even talking about?! Why is he suddenly bringing up the Twelve Joules? Peering at him suspiciously, I asked, “Did the sect leader tell you that I possess artifacts and treasures, one of which is the water spirit?”

“I heard from the sect leader. You apparently recognize that the water spirit is one of the Twelve Joules. Therefore, you must know its power well.”

I glared at him, “You mean the sect leader shared such information with you?”

That was hard to believe. I knew that Yi Seong, the scholarly Sangwan Hyuk, was indeed a member of the Five Great Physicians, but I had never thought the White Lotus Sect leader would divulge such secrets to him. Even the sect leader hadn’t shared many details with the Dharma Guardians, so it seemed the sect leader trusted Sangwan Hyuk far too deeply.

“Moreover, the sect leader told me, ‘Baek Woong still has his eyes on the Twelve Joules…’”

“……”

“With the sect leader having seized the imperial palace, a great war shall soon break out in the world. At that time, the Twelve Joules will also gather in one place. Considering this, doesn’t my proposal sound reasonable? The Twelve Joules will be meaningless unless released.”

I never expected Sangwan Hyuk to make such an offer.

Of course, I could ignore Sangwan Hyuk’s proposal entirely.

‘ I know everything already.’

I was certain I had a deeper understanding of how the Twelve Joules could be released and what would occur in either case. I even knew the secrets about the Twelve Joules better than Sangwan Hyuk could ever dream of. But Sangwan Hyuk would have no way of knowing that, so I could give him the answer I wanted.

Zhuge Sa chimed in.

[Accept it.]

[Such a suspicious offer?]

[There’s nothing to lose. If that sorcerer keeps his true self hidden, it would be tedious and strenuous to take him down later. Rather, it’s better to understand his intentions while he’s revealing information so I can use it later.]

[Hmm, got it.]

I sighed in resignation and said, “Well, if the sect leader knows everything, then I guess I have no choice. Let’s make a deal.”

“A wise choice.”

Sangwan Hyuk beamed.

“Oh, by the way, I’ve already reported this to the sect leader. Don’t worry about my return being delayed.”

I replied tersely, “So when are you planning on sharing the information?”

“Once you help me with my request.”

“That may depend.”

“Agreed.”

Then Sangwan Hyuk continued, “No matter what it is, I need a very powerful treasure. If you can procure an incredibly strong artifact, I will inform you about releasing the Twelve Joules and the Offering Ceremony.”

“An artifact…?”

Considering he even mentioned the Offering Ceremony, it was highly likely Sangwan Hyuk knew a great deal about the release of the Twelve Joules. However, I couldn’t figure out why he wanted an artifact, causing me to frown, to which Sangwan Hyuk chuckled.

“Hehe… then I’ll be counting on you.”

 

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