Chapter 72

Chapter 71>

While Han Seolhyun was busy with the upper echelon, even his older brother Han Seolbaek?

This means it's not just a simple matter of introducing a junior to the elders of the martial world.

Johwi wanted to know the reason, but seeing the elders of the martial world with such serious faces, he found it hard to speak up.

In the past, if it were a matter of the orthodox factions oppressing the descendants of the Northern Sea, he would have thought so, but now he senses something different from them.

"I understand."

As Johwi, who had mounted the iron sword, flew off into the distant sky, Mudang Ilwogeom's eyes widened.

"Huh...!"

For him, this was a scene that defied common sense.

It was not the spirit of a sword formed by a person who had achieved the Heaven-Earth Teachings.

"This is something that even I, who have recently become capable, cannot do... Moreover, is that not a pure manifestation of will?"

A sword expert would never have such a reckless thought.

Any sword expert who has achieved the Absolute Realm can mimic the flying sword technique for a short while.

However, there is no way to prevent the massive consumption of will.

Will is also known as thought.

As a human, one's cognitive ability has clear limits, so the total amount of will is quickly depleted.

Therefore, maintaining such a flying sword technique is equivalent to continuously displaying the Absolute Sword Technique, which consumes a vast amount of will.

Given the mindset of a martial artist, always prepared for any situation, how could such a reckless flying sword technique be possible?

It is not an action that a martial artist of the martial world can perform.

As if reading Mudang Ilwogeom's thoughts, the martial emperor laughed with a slightly defeated expression.

"While using such a flying sword technique, he can also unleash an infinite amount of will sword power."

"…What?"

The martial emperor, sighing softly,

"The total amount of will is different from the general Absolute Realm. The way he uses will is also different. The Young Sword God is an enigma in the history of the martial world."

Hearing this, Beopcheon Daesung nodded solemnly.

"Amitabha, the quality of will he possesses is indeed beyond the ordinary."

"What do you mean by that?"

Without answering Mudang Ilwogeom's question, Beopcheon Daesung only shook his iron fan.

Then,

Rumble—

A majestic golden light and a vast power manifested in his body.

The sight was so dazzling and magnificent that Namgung Jangho dared not look at him.

It was as if a Buddha had appeared!

"When the will of that person arose, the wisdom of this monk was like a storm, causing great turmoil."

"What?"

The wisdom of Deseokcheon (帝釋天) only wavers when faced with the utmost evil.

However, Mudang Ilwogeom could not sense any evil from the Young Sword God.

Mudang Ilwogeom's bewildered gaze turned to the martial emperor.

"Didn't you say that person has inherited the lineage of the Sword God?"

"Yes, he is undoubtedly a descendant of the Sword God."

"But?"

This was not a simple matter.

If the Young Sword God is not the legitimate successor of the orthodox factions, there would be no reason for them to re-emerge and involve themselves in the world.

"The person who possesses a unique destiny unprecedented in the history of the martial world. Even I do not fully understand him yet. Hmm... Perhaps it would be different for close friends."

Following the martial emperor's gaze, Mudang Ilwogeom then looked at Namgung Jangho.

"Boy, tell us everything about that child's inner strength."

"Yes, yes? I, I...!"

Namgung Jangho's innocent reaction, retreating a step back in fear, would make it even more strange if the experienced elders of the martial world did not notice something unusual.

Hua Mountain Great Hero's face soon filled with curiosity.

"Boundless Buddha, there must be something extraordinary beyond just inheriting the lineage of the Sword God."

"No, absolutely not!"

Now, no matter how vigorously he shook his head, the snowballing doubts would not dissipate.

Mudang Ilwogeom sighed deeply and spoke to the martial emperor.

"That child is good for nothing but the sword. He is a born martial artist. Use him only for charging into battle on the battlefield, not for any other important tasks. Tsk, tsk, why is Namgung always like this? No matter how much time passes, nothing changes."

"I am already retired. It is up to the new leader to decide."

Hua Mountain Great Hero burst into laughter, looking incredulous.

"Haha! You, who have been called a foolish sword for knowing nothing but the sword all your life, saying such things! Are you trying to make us all laugh to death?"

Indeed.

Sometimes, people dislike those who resemble themselves the most.

Doppelgangers hate each other out of such instinct.

"The bravery of a general saves the lives of many subordinates. It is merely the idle talk of an old man; do not take it to heart and continue on your path."

Hua Mountain Great Hero's words deeply moved Namgung Jangho.

"The words of the great master! I will engrave them in my heart for life!"

"Good (好)!"

After such words of encouragement were exchanged for about half a day, Johwi appeared with Han Seolbaek, riding the iron sword.

The fact that he had traveled to the distant Hefei in just half a day made the Three Heroes of the Inner World and the martial emperor all gape in amazement.

Han Seolbaek's white hair, characteristic of the Seofeng family, was all disheveled due to the immense wind pressure, making him look a bit ridiculous.

However, the look in his eyes as he gazed at the Three Heroes of the Inner World was far from friendly.

"Brother!"

Han Seolhyun, who arrived with Jin Gahui, hurriedly ran to him, but Han Seolbaek did not even spare a glance at his younger sister, his eyes still blazing with fiery light.

"What was the reason for calling to see me?"

To him, the Three Heroes of the Inner World were not respected seniors of the martial world but mere enemies.

He could only clench his fists in frustration, lacking the power to do anything else.

If he had achieved the Absolute Ice Realm, he would have already unleashed the Ice White Spirit to attack them.

The Three Heroes of the Inner World, upon seeing the Seofeng siblings, all had complex expressions and stiffened their faces.

The beautiful white hair (美髮) that shimmered and scattered in the wind.

The absolute beauty (美) that could not exist in this world.

After countless years had passed, though their bodies and minds had aged, the awe (驚異) they felt back then was still so vivid.

Then,

Clang—

Beopcheon Daesung's iron fan fell to the ground with a sharp metallic sound.

The old monk of Shaolin knelt down.

"Descendant of the Seofeng family, please forgive this old monk's past misdeeds."

Hua Mountain Great Hero also knelt down.

"Northern Sea, we made the Ice White Empress (氷白女帝) into what she is... We... have not advanced even an inch. Throughout these harsh years, there has not been a single day I did not regret it."

Mudang Ilwogeom, also kneeling, threw his sword in front of Han Seolbaek.

"That sword was not a foolish sword (愚劒) but an evil sword (邪劒). I have not wielded a sword technique since then. Now, use this evil sword to take my life and honor the spirit of Hanbaeha."

The Three Heroes of the Inner World, who had once been heroes with absolute fame, now knelt.

Johwi finally understood the reason for their long seclusion.

Heroes who lived through the era of madness and the history of that madness.

Future generations praised them without hesitation, but their hearts were truly hellish.

However, Han Seolbaek was furious.

Could the torment of conscience they experienced be compared to the hell the Seofeng family had endured?

Their kneeling was merely a pretense and deception to alleviate their noble conscience.

To end everything with such an apology?

What about the countless tragic deaths of the Northern Sea people and the miserable fate of the revered Hanbaeha, who was mocked and ravaged?

As the sunset turned crimson, losing its heat, the Ice White Spirit of the Seofeng family, capable of freezing the entire world, manifested.

Sssssss—

Indeed, the cold he generated, after years of training with the eternal ice, was nothing short of terrifying.

"Brother, that's enough."

Johwi gently caressed the powerful cold in Han Seolbaek's right hand with his will.

"What are you doing!"

"The Central Plains people killed by the Seofeng family are not to be underestimated."

Johwi smiled.

"Revenge is about both sides forgetting the pain in this way."

Johwi's words resonated deeply in his heart.

However, Han Seolbaek, before being the successor of the Ice Palace, was a Northern Sea person.

The hatred (恨) of the Northern Sea towards the Central Plains was as vast as the endless snowfield and as sharp as the biting blizzard.

"Do we ask for much?"

He once again directed his fierce gaze of anger at the Three Heroes of the Inner World.

"If the Ice Palace disciples are so terrifying! We asked the powerless Northern Sea people, or rather the women and children, to be accepted into the Central Plains! Did the Northern Sea desire the fertile southern lands of yours! What we desired was just a handful of barren grassland! Have you ever seen the hands of Northern Sea children! Those tiny, delicate hands! They toil in the frozen land, bruised and bleeding, with frostbite that never heals! Your Central Plains! Your martial world...!"

Tears, both bitter and hot, streamed down Han Seolbaek's azure eyes, which resembled the sky of the Northern Sea.

"Having learned the teachings of Confucianism so thoroughly... Why were you so lacking in compassion... Why were you so devoid of mercy...?"

Han Seolbaek's gloomy voice.

That bitter voice soon turned into a sharp blade, piercing the hearts of the Three Heroes of the Inner World.

What the Northern Sea desired was the grassland of the northern Central Plains.

But that land was the territory of the orthodox factions.

The leader of the orthodox factions at that time would never have allowed it.

The issue of ceding territory cannot be decided by personal conscience.

Han Seolbaek belittled the vast grassland as a handful of barren land, but many Central Plains people lived there, raising horses and sheep to sustain their livelihood.

Where there are horses, there are silver and spears.

With such intertwined interests, the lives and deaths of countless Central Plains people were at stake. No matter how broad the leader's heart might be, how could they cede the grassland to an external force?

Han Seolbaek loved the Northern Sea as much as the leader of the orthodox factions loved the Central Plains.

The people they protected were different, and the ideals they pursued varied. How could one casually say who was right and who was wrong?

Therefore, the struggle of human affairs is inevitable.

As many people stand on the land, there are as many different notions of justice.

Proving this by dueling with swords and spears, and in the end