Emperor’s Divine Palm (Bawang Shenzhang) 4

+++

[The Skill ‘Emperor’s Divine Palm (Bawang Shenzhang)’ has been created.]

Skill:

.

.

.

[Emperor’s Divine Palm (Bawang Shenzhang) Lv.1 Rate.A]

The skill had been created. It seemed that the earlier real combat application was recognized.

Leona approached him and asked in a hushed voice, “Just what was that…? You weren’t hiding some S-rate skill, were you?”

“…It’s a new technique I just acquired, rated A.”

“Wo, wow… An A-rate…”

Leona marveled enviously at the mention of an A-rate skill.

The citizens also stirred restlessly.

They were well aware of the situation between the lord of Amasbin and the World Tree – it was quite famous, after all.

But who could have expected the World Tree to unleash such a formidable power?

“Wow… As expected of the World Tree… They’re just brushing this aside. Truly befitting the top domestic guild…”

“No, more than that… Is, is that even humanly possible?”

“Was that a Disciple or a Vanguard Commander… I can’t believe my eyes…”

The might Doyun had displayed was on par with, no, exceeding that of a Hero or Vanguard Commander. Even they would find it nigh impossible to demolish a fortress gate in a single strike.

The reality was due to the unique nature of Doyun’s technique, but to those unaware of the details, he simply seemed to be a top-tier Disciple rivaling a Hero.

“I think I know who he is! The World Tree’s hidden claw who single-handedly repelled the Rockenmeyer invasion! It must be him!”

People trembled at the World Tree’s hidden might.

Until now, they had merely been regarded as the nation’s strongest guild. But to think they had been concealing a Disciple on par with a Hero.

Truly befitting of a guild master descended from the legendary Heroes’ Guild a century ago.

“If Brudhild were a Disciple of another nation, would that Disciple be considered our country’s Hero?”

Someone’s remark redirected everyone’s attention back to him.

Although his name remained unknown, the legend of the ‘World Tree’s hidden claw’ only continued to rise.

+++

Once a month, a ceremonial meeting was held in the World Tree’s main conference room.

The top-tier Disciples who formed the core of the World Tree would gather to deliberate on the guild’s future direction and reflect on past mistakes.

And today, with Leona’s team away on a mission, such a meeting was inevitably taking place in the conference room.

“Thanks to Disciple Han Doyun, the guild’s financial situation has dramatically improved. At this level, we could even borrow from the Skeletonian royal treasury.”

“It seems we don’t need to dispose of the Razvolnic ruins immediately.”

“As time passes, the ruins’ value will only increase, so let’s continue holding onto them. As for the maintenance costs…”

The primary topic at hand was the ‘disposal of the Razvolnic ruins.’

Anything related to Enoch Razvolnic was treated as the pinnacle in any field.

Especially since these were relics he had directly left behind. Experts across all domains – history, art, tourism, and more – would salivate over such items.

The continent’s wealthiest had long since begun their bidding wars. Hadn’t collections related to ‘Razvolnic’ always been considered the most valuable among all collectibles?

Simply handing them over to those individuals, without any complexity, would allow the World Tree to reap immense profits.

And in the process, connections could be established between the World Tree and those wealthy figures.

Of course, this was a matter Doyun had also agreed to.

“For now, let’s just make the gesture of disposing of them while establishing connections with the continent’s tycoons. They’re already quite restless…”

Knock knock knock.

A knock came at the door mid-meeting.

The guild member who had been speaking frowned. This was an important meeting attended by the guild’s venerable elders – such an interruption was unseemly.

“Come in.”

At Eloah’s permission, a guild errand runner entered and bowed deeply.

“What is it?”

“Well… it’s not an urgent matter, but the liaison said it would be better to inform you now since you’re in the middle of a meeting…”

The guild members tilted their heads quizzically. Had something requiring a meeting arisen?

“Go on, then.”

“…The gate of Amasbin Fortress has collapsed.”

“Pardon?”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

The gate had collapsed? Was this some ridiculous joke?

“What was the cause? An attack? Or… an earthquake?”

“Well, that’s…”

The errand runner hesitated for a moment, glancing at the note with the details. Even he found the contents too preposterous to believe.

‘Did you write this down correctly? Can I just say this out loud?’

Wouldn’t interrupting the elders’ meeting with such nonsense provoke their ire?

But under the guild members’ urging gazes, he eventually opened his mouth.

“Di, Disciple Han Doyun… brought it down, it says…”

“…?”

Even Eloah furrowed her brow this time.

“I, I’m just reading it as it’s written! ‘The gate of Amasbin Fortress has collapsed. The cause was Disciple Han Doyun of Leona’s dispatched team experimenting with a technique.’ I swear I read it verbatim!”

“…Pardon?”

It took them quite some time to grasp the situation.

+++

The meeting was briefly suspended, and video evidence acquired from the liaison was played in the conference room.

It was a 24-hour surveillance recording stone positioned within Amasbin City, directly facing the city’s central avenue including the gate.

The lively city brimmed with festive energy.

However, shortly after, spider-web cracks suddenly spread across the over 10-meter tall gate.

[Jjeojeojeojeong-!!]

Accompanied by a massive shockwave as if striking from the outside, the gate collapsed.

And at the center stood a dumbfounded Doyun, frozen in a palm-thrusting posture.

“…”

“…”

“Insane…”

Someone muttered under their breath.

Even after the video stopped, the conference room remained dead silent.

Millaine rubbed her eyes and rewatched the video – it was that surreal a sight.

After a while, one of the guild members spoke up.

“…I heard from the training grounds staff that a few days ago, Disciple Han Doyun rented out an entire training ground, saying he would ‘receive a new technique from the Vagabond Hero.'”

All eyes turned towards him.

“And the liaison’s note mentioned ‘Disciple Han Doyun experimenting with a technique,’ so it was probably that…”

“The wandering master taught him a technique?”

“Yes. It was said that the Vagabond Hero himself also entered the training grounds.”

Hushed gasps of awe rippled through the conference room.

My word, to receive a technique from the Vagabond Hero himself! It was clear proof of how highly he regarded Han Doyun.

However, someone sensed something amiss and questioned him.

“Then, doesn’t that mean the Vagabond Hero should also be capable of such a feat?”

“Well, I’m not too sure about that either…”

Even the one who had spoken was sweating, doubting his own words.

It was a valid point. To demolish a gate in a single strike – even Heroes would find that impossible, unless perhaps a Martial Arts Level 10 master like the Martial Saint.

Naturally, the Vagabond Hero himself couldn’t display such might either.

“But with such clear evidence…”

“…”

At those words, the guild member who had raised the objection fell silent again.

Regardless, this was reality.

By whatever means, Doyun had undoubtedly collapsed the gate using that ‘new technique.’

After a moment, Millaine broke the silence.

“How he did it isn’t important. Let’s consider the impact of the extraordinary prowess Disciple Han Doyun has shown, and how we should support him to enable him to generate benefits for the guild.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. This meeting had come at the perfect time to discuss such matters.

Eloah concurred as well.

“I’ll contact the Vagabond Hero myself to inquire about the details of the technique.”

“For now… Depending on the battlefield, Disciple Han Doyun could become a force greater than a Hero.”

“You mean a one-man siege weapon?”

Siege warfare – it was one of the most dreaded forms of combat for any army.

Laying siege to an opponent entrenched behind fortifications was an immensely difficult task.

To overcome a formidable fortress, a basic principle was having at least three times the defending force’s numbers.

Additionally, while friendly casualties would skyrocket, inflicting damage on the enemy was challenging.

Moreover, it often dragged into a protracted stalemate, sometimes taking over a year to achieve a successful siege.

But to have a Disciple capable of demolishing gates in a single strike on such battlefields?

That was undoubtedly a more precious asset than even a Hero.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions yet. We’re still uncertain if it’s a technique usable without preparation or aftereffects, truly viable in actual combat. We need more data.”

“We should talk to Disciple Han Doyun once he returns and collect more data.”

“Conveniently, Disciple Han Doyun has shown interest in warfare rather than general expeditions lately.”

“That’s fortunate. The battlefields within the Holy Stones would be fitting…”

The original meeting topic was promptly abandoned.

They had eagerly begun deliberating on Doyun’s value and how to support him.