Two months later.
At last, the day came for the two alliance leaders to step out of the Time-Space Division Formation.
A lot of feelings showed on their faces.
Countless moments from inside the Time-Space Division Formation flashed through their minds.
They had fought life-and-death battles every single day without missing one—so much so that it was a miracle they were walking out alive.
There were many times they truly stood face-to-face with death.
Each time, Yeon Woo Jin dragged them back by force. That, too, was astounding.
Later, even as they were dying, the fear felt strangely distant.
Because Yeon Woo Jin would bring them back again.
Before they knew it, they had grown indifferent to death.
They began to ask themselves what life actually was, and soon came close to understanding.
What had they been scrambling and clawing for all this time?
The two alliance leaders no longer had any attachment to their posts.
In part because their goal had vanished.
The goal for both men had been to build up the Martial Alliance and the Four Evils Alliance until they surpassed Martial Deity Heaven.
But through Yeon Woo Jin and Yeon Cheon Baek inside the Time-Space Division Formation, they realized just how meaningless that was.
There are walls you cannot cross no matter how you thrash.
It had all come from their ignorance—never having actually experienced Martial Deity Heaven.
This was not a realm they could touch with their own strength.
The two alliance leaders understood.
Martial Deity Heaven is the true ruler of the Central Plains.
Above all, their hearts had already gone over to Yeon Woo Jin.
That was what tormented them.
A thought kept circling their minds: they wanted, somehow, to serve Yeon Woo Jin as their lord.
To follow Yeon Woo Jin and live in ease at his side.
Each of them, clutching at his hair and suffering, caught sight of the other doing the same—and their eyes met.
With a look that said “surely not,” Eon Ho Baek asked,
“By any chance... do you also want to serve Young Lord Yeon as your lord?”
“Huh? Brother, you too?”
“So it’s true. I wasn’t the only one tormented by it.”
“Brother, that troubled you as well?”
“Yes. Strangely, the thought won’t leave my head. All I want is to attend him at his side. If I could do that, I could throw away this alliance-leader post any time.”
“I’m the same. I want to follow him to Martial Deity Heaven. Better that than looking at people who won’t even acknowledge me as alliance leader. I think I’d breathe easier.”
At Su Cheon Kang’s words, Eon Ho Baek fell briefly into thought.
Then he spoke his mind.
“I’ve decided. I will serve Young Lord Yeon. What will you do?”
At Eon Ho Baek’s words, Su Cheon Kang nodded.
“If Brother has made up his mind, then your younger brother will follow.”
Eon Ho Baek nodded again at Su Cheon Kang’s answer.
“Then let’s not waste time. Let’s go straight to our lord.”
Before they knew it, Eon Ho Baek was calling Yeon Woo Jin “lord.”
It came out of his mouth as naturally as breathing.
“That’s a truly pleasant word to hear.”
“What word?”
“The word ‘lord.’ I never even considered it. I never thought a day would come when I would have a master.”
“I’m the same. And you know... once my mind is set, I feel at peace. All I want now is to hurry over and see him.”
“I feel the same. Let’s go at once.”
****
“We wish to serve Young Lord Yeon!”
Eon Ho Baek and Su Cheon Kang prostrated themselves before Yeon Woo Jin and cried out.
At the sight, Yeon Cheon Baek chuckled.
“So, you’re not completely without sense after all.”
Yeon Cheon Baek said to Yeon Woo Jin,
“Take them.”
At Yeon Cheon Baek’s words, Yeon Woo Jin nodded.
If you didn’t accept them, they’d often stay like that until you did.
“I’ll count on you.”
“Thank you! We will serve with all our hearts, my lord!”
When Yeon Woo Jin accepted them, the two men broke into radiant smiles.
They exchanged a look, and Eon Ho Baek spoke.
“My lord, the two of us have something in mind. Would you hear us out?”
“Something in mind?”
“Yes. Did you not tell us, my lord? That the Demonic Cult would soon make its move. No—most likely it has already appeared in the world and is preparing, somewhere.”
“Right.”
“The reason you gave us strength was also to defend the Central Plains from them, was it not?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, wouldn’t it be more efficient to unify the Martial Alliance and the Four Evils Alliance under a single line of command?”
“So we were thinking it would be best to merge the Martial Alliance and the Four Evils Alliance into the Central Plains Alliance, and have you, my lord, take the alliance-leader’s seat.”
“That’s right. We believe that is the best way to prepare for the Demonic Cult.”
“Me? As alliance leader?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“How would that work? The two of you are the alliance leaders.”
“I will proclaim you the Martial Alliance Leader.”
“I will proclaim you the Four Evils Alliance Leader.”
“Is that even possible?”
“Yes. When I step down, I can name my successor. I will name you then as my successor, my lord. I’ll handle persuading the sects. In any case, they only want a figurehead—they’ll raise you to alliance leader without a second thought.”
“And I will do the same.”
“I don’t even belong to the Martial Alliance or the Four Evils Alliance.”
“I’ll take care of that on my end.”
“I can handle it on mine as well.”
As Yeon Woo Jin hesitated at the two men’s proposal, Yeon Cheon Baek laughed and said,
“Do it. It sounds fun. Wouldn’t it be a first in Central Plains history? You’ll be the first person to hold both alliance-leader seats of the Martial Alliance and the Four Evils Alliance. And if you then become Lord of Martial Deity Heaven, what else is that but the unification of the Central Plains? Khahaha!”
Yeon Cheon Baek laughed loud, clearly amused.
“And they’re not wrong. If you can unite the two alliances into one, you can respond to the Demonic Cult much faster.”
At Yeon Cheon Baek’s words, Yeon Woo Jin sank into thought.
They weren’t wrong.
A single unified chain of command would be far better than orders scattered all over.
And what was his purpose in meeting the two alliance leaders?
Was it not to reduce the need to go around handing out secret manuals one by one?
To be frank, the ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Martial Alliance was nothing to worry about.
The Five Great Clans were already under his banner, and most of the Nine Schools and One Gang were either under his banner or his helpers.
He also had forces within the Four Evils Alliance already supporting him, and he was confident he could persuade the rest.
Thinking it through, just as the two men said, unifying the Martial Alliance and the Four Evils Alliance seemed the best way to handle the crisis ahead.
“This old man will help at your side as well.”
“Sir?”
“Khkhkh. For any sect that won’t listen to you, I’ll visit personally and persuade them.”
Would that really be “persuasion”?
Probably not.
“No. If I do it, I should do it with my own strength. Only then will I feel I can sit proudly as the next Lord of Martial Deity Heaven.”
“Khahaha! Aye! That’s the way! Exactly so! Hahaha!”
Yeon Cheon Baek laughed heartily, delighted.
Then, cutting off his laughter, he said,
“Once the Divine Dragon Tournament ends, I think we should head straight back to Martial Deity Heaven.”
“Why?”
“I intend to withdraw from the Little Heavenly Lord Contest.”
“Sir?”
“It’s meaningless. Better to withdraw quickly and gather Martial Deity Heaven’s power into one.”
“They must have been preparing for a long time.”
“Khkhkh. Why? Do you feel sorry for them?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s do this.”
“How?”
“I’ll declare that if anyone among them can defeat you, he can have the Little Heavenly Lord’s seat. How’s that?”
“Do it. I’d feel more at ease that way.”
“Khahaha!”
He’d thought the boy would be troubled, but the calm answer only made Yeon Cheon Baek laugh louder.
“That’s right! And while you’re at it, make sure you lock down those Five Guardian Clans who are coming.”
“Yes.”
“The day you take the Little Heavenly Lord’s seat, Woo Jin, I’ll entrust all my authority to you.”
“Sir?”
“No need to be startled. This grandfather will teach you the ropes from behind the scenes, so learn well.”
“You make it sound like you’re going to retire on the spot.”
“Of course I am. With a grandson this exceptional, what am I doing sitting in that chair? I should step back and spend my days enjoying the sight of my brilliant grandson.”
“Still...”
“And... I plan to go look for your father myself.”
“Sir?”
“I don’t know if he’s dead or alive, but I intend to do my utmost to find him. I will confirm his life or death for certain.”
At Yeon Cheon Baek’s words, Yeon Woo Jin nodded.
“Yes. I’ll help with that.”
“So you must do well, Woo Jin. Show them. Show your strength.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“Good! Since we’re here, let’s enjoy the Divine Dragon Tournament first.”
“Yes!”
****
The day of the Divine Dragon Tournament preliminaries arrived.
Eon Ho Baek and Su Cheon Kang, representing the orthodox and heretical martial worlds respectively, declared the tournament open.
And the preliminaries began.
With thousands of entrants, the examiners scrutinized every step of the process even more meticulously.
The prelim was simple.
Strike an iron dummy weighing roughly six tons and force it backward.
You had to make it slide at least half a foot to pass.
Thung— thung—
The sound of fists striking iron rang out here and there.
Forcing something that heavy to budge wasn’t easy with ordinary internal energy.
Thanks to that, disqualified contestants began to pour out in droves.
In truth, if you couldn’t even do this much, there was no point reaching the main event; even if everyone in the prelims got eliminated, it wouldn’t matter.
Thuuung—!
Grrrk—!
For the first time, the massive iron dummy slid backward, and the first passer appeared.
After that, more passers came out little by little.
But the examiners weren’t impressed.
They were merely scraping past the line.
Was there truly no fresh “Divine Dragon” who would astonish them?
THUUUNG—!
GRRRRKK—!
Right then, with a booming impact, someone sent the iron dummy skidding far back.
But the examiners didn’t look surprised.
They nodded as if it were only natural.
“Cheon Baek Gang of the Zhongnan Sect! Passed!”
Cheon Baek Gang, the First Sword of Zhongnan.
A powerhouse known to be at the Ninth Stage of the Peak Realm.
His announced realm was Ninth Stage; with training, it might have risen further.
He wasn’t the fresh new Divine Dragon the examiners were hoping for.
THUUUUNG—!
GRRRRRKK—!
With an even deeper boom than Cheon Baek Gang’s, another iron dummy slid farther back.
A shout of “pass” rose from that side as well.
“An Ho, the Plum-Blossom Invincible Sword of the Mount Hua Sect! Passed!”
“Wooooaaah!”
At the appearance of An Ho, the Mount Hua Sect’s proud senior disciple, the crowd erupted in cheers.
An Ho glanced at Cheon Baek Gang and smirked.
He had shoved the iron dummy even farther.
After that, Ho Soja—the Demon-Subduing Sword of the Gongdong Sect—passed, and the rest of the Nine Schools and One Gang and the Five Great Clans cleared the bar without trouble.
From the heretical side, notable figures also passed in succession.
As expected, all of them were from famous lineages.
The examiners were bored of seeing the same results over and over.
Was there no one who could provide something fresh?
Those remaining now were people from sects they’d barely heard of.
With a jaded look, an examiner propped his chin on his fist and called the next name.
“Next, Shincheon Chamber of Commerce.”
Shincheon Chamber of Commerce?
It was a name he was hearing for the first time.
He didn’t expect much this time either. Even if they pushed it back, how far could it go?
However—
THUUUUNG—!
KWA-DDDDK—!
“W-what the—!”
The iron dummy was shoved back farther than it had ever gone.
Startled, the examiner studied the man who had struck the dummy.
Then he checked his name.
Assuming the man would fail anyway, he hadn’t even properly checked the name.
“Jang Woon?”
A name he’d never heard before.
Just then—
THUUUUNG—!
KWA-DDDDK—!
The iron dummy beside it also shot backward with a thunderous crash.
“Seon Woo Baek of the Shincheon Chamber of Commerce! Passed!”
At the other examiner’s shout, Jang Woon’s examiner gaped.
The two record-setters belonged to the same affiliation.
Monsters like that—coming out of a place no one had even heard of?
It was hard to believe.
That was the beginning.
Unexpected Divine Dragons began to appear one after another.
“Shin Ho Won of the Golden Flower Gate! Passed!”
“Gwa Tae Sang of the Dao Immortal Gate—passed!”
“Wi Cheol Ho of the One Origin Gate—passed!”
It had nearly turned into a celebration for the Nine Schools and One Gang, the Five Great Clans, and the Twelve Celestial Halls of the heretical side—but new faces were stepping onto the stage.
Their realms didn’t even seem much inferior.
Smiles crept onto the examiners’ faces.
This was it.
These were the new faces they had been waiting for.
At last, the Divine Dragon Tournament was starting to get interesting.