Chapter 750: Reform (Reform)

Bbaak-!

-Kkeueok!

Just as Peng Zhou was being beaten like a rag doll.

Inside the pavilion, everyone watching the scene couldn’t close their mouths.

“…What is this?”

“Even so, that’s…!”

Everyone’s gaze was fixed there.

More precisely, not on the bloodied King of Blades, but on the young man dismantling him.

He was the most famous young man in Henan recently, and a figure drawing the attention of countless martial artists.

He had instantly snatched the title of the next ‘Number One Under Heaven’ that the Divine Dragon held. Revealing his hidden strength, his value skyrocketed in an instant.

Overwhelming power and achievements unfitting for his age.

Seeing such a youth, people called him monstrous, sparking questions.

He was once called the youngest Hwa-gyeong (Core Formation/Inner Strength realm).

After the Divine Dragon Pavilion raid incident. The boy called the True Dragon became So Yeom-ra.

Talk circulated that he had reached Hwa-gyeong at the time, but…

The rumors subsided when Meng acknowledged the Divine Dragon as the youngest Hwa-gyeong.

Perhaps that’s why.

There were talks in the region that So Yeom-ra might have actually reached Hwa-gyeong back then.

The problem was, if that were the case, why did Meng acknowledge the Divine Dragon as the youngest Hwa-gyeong?

Such questions lingered, but they were irrelevant now.

What mattered was.

“What on earth is that?”

It was the very existence of So Yeom-ra right now.

“…The King of Blades is being defeated so miserably?”

The Pavilion.

It was where the high-ranking guild leaders, heads of prominent families, and chiefs of renowned sects gathered.

These were individuals who each managed a region or held crucial roles in the orthodox sects.

All of them were watching So Yeom-ra, unable to maintain proper composure.

“Surely, they said So Yeom-ra had passed his teens, right?”

“I saw him in the martial arts match with the Divine Dragon, but… this is too much, isn’t it?”

It was too much.

This was the sentiment everyone felt towards So Yeom-ra.

An age past adolescence.

Reaching Hwa-gyeong at that age was unprecedented, except for the Divine Dragon, but So Yeom-ra’s current state was even beyond that.

The level of mastery was different.

If the Divine Dragon had barely reached Hwa-gyeong and started taking his first steps, this guy was already flying and soaring.

He showed no hesitation against that King of Blades.

Kkuang-!!

The shockwave reached the pavilion.

The energy that burst forth like an explosion affected the pavilion.

King of Blades Peng Zhou.

Although rumors said his martial prowess fell short of his reputation, he was undeniably a Hwa-gyeong martial artist.

Such a Peng Zhou was bleeding and staggering from So Yeom-ra’s punch.

Resistance was impossible.

It was less a martial arts match and more a one-sided assault.

“…What… what should we call that?”

Someone among the watchers uttered.

No one could answer.

How could one express that?

Was it even at a level that could be described with the word ‘genius’?

Even calling him a monster seemed too narrow to encompass it.

So Yeom-ra’s current appearance was precisely that.

“…It doesn’t make sense.”

Perhaps it was an illusion or a dream.

If it were an illusion, it would be a terrible sight; if a dream, a nightmare.

Yes, that was the nightmare of countless martial artists.

Such a being couldn’t exist otherwise.

To defeat the King of Blades so overwhelmingly. Wasn’t that nonsensical?

As everyone seemed to share the same thought, sighing in silence…

“Tsk tsk.”

Someone chuckled from one side. An old man with abundant white hair.

He was the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect, one of the ‘Ten Great Experts’ and the ‘Seven Iron Pillars, Three Treasures’. Plum Blossom Immortal.

“That kid has a knack for surprising people every time I see him.”

He thought he was sufficiently surprised during the previous match with the Divine Dragon, but…

This fight against the King of Blades was even more so.

‘Just how much is he hiding?’

What exactly does this kid harbor?

Even seeing it as mere potential and brilliance felt insufficient.

‘Is he truly his father’s son?’

Or should I consider him his grandfather’s grandson?

Whatever was put into it, it felt like a pity.

However, Plum Blossom Immortal felt it was enough just to witness the present moment.

‘I have seen a new era.’

A new era moving forward.

It felt like facing its center.

That’s right.

That kid is the center. Whatever era unfolds, that kid will be at the center, or at the forefront.

Witnessing such a process is enough.

Just as Plum Blossom Immortal understood it thus.

“Judging by your expression, you’re brooding alone again, aren’t you?”

“…”

Plum Blossom Immortal turned his head at the voice that appeared as if picking a fight.

And then, subtly covering his nose, he said.

“Somehow… I smelled something…”

“Huh? What?”

“It was nothing.”

“I heard everything, so don’t say it was nothing… Ah, never mind.”

The leader of the Beggars Sect, Woo Bong-chwi-gae, shook his head at Plum Blossom Immortal’s reaction.

“Well, since all your disciples were eliminated… it’s understandable if nothing pleases you.”

“…”

Plum Blossom Immortal’s eyes narrowed slightly at the sarcastic remark.

As Woo Bong-chwi-gae said, the Mount Hua disciples who participated in the martial arts tournament had all been eliminated.

While the matchups were a factor, bringing disciples who weren’t yet mature was also a reason.

With Yeong-pung, who had lasted the longest, also eliminated, Mount Hua had no further place in this martial arts tournament.

Woo Bong-chwi-gae had pointedly mentioned that.

Plum Blossom Immortal, momentarily uncomfortable with this, smirked.

“What? Why are you smiling-“

“Still, isn’t it slightly better than the Beggars Sect, who couldn’t even participate?”

“…What did you say?”

At Plum Blossom Immortal’s words, Woo Bong-chwi-gae frowned this time.

This was because, in reality, not a single member of the Beggars Sect had participated in the martial arts tournament.

The reason was.

“Don’t you know that as long as you belong to the Alliance, participation in the martial arts tournament is impossible?”

The Beggars Sect had direct ties to the Murim Alliance, and thus participation in the martial arts tournament was prohibited, but…

“Hmm, but even if they participated… I doubt they would have achieved good results…”

How well could beggars fight, after all?

Plum Blossom Immortal gnawed at his insides with his refined speech.

“You…!”

Just as Woo Bong-chwi-gae gritted his teeth.

Kung–!!

With a rough sound, all eyes focused again.

“Ho ho. It seems it’s over.”

Woo Bong-chwi-gae clicked his tongue at Plum Blossom Immortal’s smiling words.

“…Let’s talk separately later?”

“Oh dear. Unfortunately… I have quite a few appointments today… Khuhuhuhu.”

“Grrr-!!”

Even while having such trivial conversations, their gazes remained on the martial arts stage.

They saw a middle-aged man with a massive physique collapsing.

His face was swollen beyond recognition.

The thoroughly battered King of Blades Peng Zhou lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

“…In the end. It happened…”

“Did he really win?”

Everyone sighed at the scene that unfolded.

The King of Blades lost to a youth much younger than himself.

Those who finally confirmed this fact bit their lips.

If this happened, tremendous events would unfold from now on.

It was a great disaster for the Peng family.

It was also the starting point of a massive storm in the Central Plains.

As everyone was lost in thought, shocked by the implications…

-S-Sanseogu’s Gu Yangcheon… W-Win…

Just as the referee was about to announce So Yeom-ra’s victory…

“…!”

“…Hut!”

Cheol-geok-! Cheol-geok Cheol-geok-!!

Inside the pavilion, martial artists suddenly began gripping their swords.

“…This is…”

An extremely sharp energy swirled all around.

As everyone was a skilled martial artist, they all seemed to feel the same thing.

“Woo Bong. This…?”

Plum Blossom Immortal was no different.

Just as he stiffened and was about to call the Beggars Sect Leader…

Woooong—!!!!

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gung—!!!

Vibrations suddenly began to erupt around them.

“Kkeuk!”

“What is this-!”

Gu-gu-gu-gu-gung—!!!!

Was it suddenly an earthquake?

As everyone was flustered, unable to even stand properly…

“…That…”

Among the few who managed to keep their balance.

One of them, like Plum Blossom Immortal, was among the Seven Iron Pillars, Three Treasures.

The leader of the Guardian Brigade, True Spirit Sword Master Jin Yeong-geom-je, widened his eyes looking at the sky.

Something began to cast a shadow across the clear, clear sky.

Jiiiiiiing—!!!

It was a large, crimson line.

How could something like that appear in the sky?

The long and intense lines, enough to cover the entire sky, instantly began to connect with each other.

Something slowly began to take shape.

True Spirit Sword Master Jin was observing this, but then another event occurred.

Hwa-ah-ak-!!

“Heok!”

“W-What is this now…!”

Suddenly, a barrier appeared around the pavilion, starting to envelop it.

A crimson barrier, like the lines floating in the sky.

Seeing the unknown barrier begin to surround the pavilion, several people inside immediately moved.

Swish-!!

Mount Hua’s Plum Blossom Immortal and Sword Master Jin.

And the Alliance Leader, Sword Immortal, moved simultaneously, swinging their swords together.

Kwa-ah-ah-ah-!!!

The three Great Experts combined their strength, unleashing sword energy.

Immense sword energy poured towards the barrier. Normally, it would have been enough power to turn the area into a wasteland, but…

Pang-!!

The sword energy hit the barrier and dissipated without leaving even a scratch.

Then.

Woong-!!

Unable to stop the barrier’s advance, the crimson light enveloped the entire pavilion.

A truly unexpected situation.

True Spirit Sword Master Jin’s brow furrowed deeply upon confirming this.

It wasn’t just Sword Master Jin.

Everyone present could instinctively sense it.

Right now…

Something was starting to happen here in Henan.

---

Henan.

The bizarre sight unfolding above the Murim Alliance at its center.

The old man smiled brightly upon confirming the widely spread phenomenon.

“Finally…!”

The sight he had longed for so much.

That sky was a distant realm of sorcery, a formation created by his own power.

It was a form painstakingly crafted after decades of honing his skills.

How could he not rejoice upon seeing that?

“Ho ho!! Finally… finally, is it coming true?”

The old man looked around with eyes full of longing.

The numerous people gathered,

These were all people who once bore the surname Zhuge.

And now, they hid their names, dreaming only of revenge.

Among them, a massive rock was emitting light.

It was the raw material forming the basis of the sorcery, an uncut stone sealing a being hidden within this land of Henan.

Six such stones were hidden throughout Henan, and the old man had succeeded in finding them all and performing the release ritual.

“Just a little longer, just a little more…”

He believed he could show hell to the Murim Alliance that had plunged them into darkness for so long.

The increasingly deepening sorcery formation in the void.

The old man, watching this, clenched his fist and turned around.

“Listen, everyone.”

“Yes! Leader!”

At the old man’s words, dozens of people knelt.

“The time we’ve waited for has finally come. Remember the days when you all lost your names and lived as criminals by their hands.”

Kung-!

The cudgel he had gripped somewhere landed on the floor.

“Finally, today. We will wash away the shame of the past and show them.”

Woo-woong-!

A deep fighting spirit flowed from the old man’s shoulders.

Resentment and anger. An aura filled with accumulated emotions spread in all directions, and as if influenced by it, the expressions of others began to change.

Peol-leok-!

Meanwhile, the old man donned a robe.

It was a robe of dark color, with the character ‘Ma’ (Demon/Magic) embroidered in purple on the back.

As the old man put it on, those around him began to don the same attire.

They all wore the same clothes.

The only slight difference was that the old man’s robe had deeper embroidery and epaulets.

Although it was martial attire that might stand out, there was a reason for wearing it deliberately.

“I’ve worn it as promised. Now, may we proceed with the operation?”

The old man spoke, looking behind him.

There stood a woman, Na-hi.

She glanced at the old man and the group, then nodded.

“Yes.”

“…When will the Cult Leader appear?”

The one responsible for making them wear these clothes, this ‘Cheon-ma’ (Heavenly Demon), when would he appear? To that question, Na-hi replied.

“He is currently occupied and not showing himself, but he said he would arrive without delay. Also.”

Seureuk.

Na-hi took out a robe similar to the old man’s and put it on.

“I haven’t forgotten the promise… He also conveyed that you should surely achieve what you desire.”

The old man nodded at her words.

It was strange that the Cult Leader had not yet shown himself, but his mind was entirely fixed on the sky above.

At most, half a quarter-hour from now.

After that time passes, a great being will descend from beneath the land of Henan.

If that happens.

The Murim Alliance, the root of the orthodox sects, will crumble, and a bloody reform will begin.

Kku-uk-!

The old man clenched his treasured weapon with a hardened expression, as if setting a deep resolve on his face.

“…Let’s go. For the reform.”

“For it-!”

Dozens of people, as if entrusted with a grave mission, set foot towards Henan.

Revenge. Or perhaps, reclamation.

Many walked forward, dreaming of something.

“…”

Na-hi, watching the backs of those people, turned her head only after their presence vanished.

At that moment.

Tu-du-duk-!!

As if they had been waiting, people landed around Na-hi.

All of them were martial artists, clad in yellow martial attire.

And at the front, a familiar face was visible.

It was Hwangbo Yeol-wi, the head of the Hwangbo Family, the ‘Fierce Tiger Nine Fists’.

Appearing suddenly, he took out clothes from his embrace and handed them to Na-hi.

Seuk.

Na-hi took the clothes as if she had been waiting and immediately began changing.

Tu-duk.

The black martial attire she had been wearing fell to the ground.

Over it, yellow clothes signifying her as a warrior of the Hwangbo Family were put on.

After putting on a hood to cover her face, Na-hi slowly stretched and said.

“…Everything is according to the Cult Leader’s will.”

Finishing her words, she began to move along with the people.

Following Cheon-ma’s command.

It was to execute the evil that attacked Henan.