Chapter 130. White Path Martial Alliance (5)
That night, Yeon Hojeong left the completely drunk Gadeuksang behind and came out to the rear garden of Pa Gun Pavilion. He sat cross-legged.
Woooong.
A subtle azure energy enveloped his entire body and circulated around him. It was qi far deeper and more beautiful than it had been two months prior.
Even as he emanated such qi, he didn't allow its waves to spread beyond a fixed range. Perfect control of true energy, even in the midst of cultivation. With time, he was growing ever more adept at harmonizing his power.
Finally, my body is catching up.
His mind had already summoned the full divine qi of the Four Gods Martial Arts, achieved great accomplishment in Bi-ra Jin-gyeol, and mastered all five divine arts of the Yeon family to boot. But reality had been far from lenient.
His muscles and bones, meridians, organs—every component of his body had lacked sufficient tempering to fully assimilate that enlightenment.
No longer.
I'm starting to surpass it.
To grow stronger required something beyond mere effort. It differed for each person, but for Yeon Hojeong, that something was belief.
Belief in the experience and enlightenment he had gained as the Black Dark Emperor, who had conquered the black path.
That belief was gradually coming to light through grueling training and relentless pursuit.
The body is following now. The qi, the enlightenment, the will—it's finally keeping pace.
Evolution meant transforming from the inferior to the superior. And one essential element of evolution was environment.
Just as creatures evolved to suit their surroundings, Yeon Hojeong had radically altered the environment of his own body.
He amplified his qi and tormented his flesh. Even when he let his body rest, his mind constantly regulated the qi to maintain vigorous physical activity.
He had forged a hellish environment where stagnation meant annihilation.
Ordinary willpower would have led to bodily collapse or the shattering of the upper dantian from unbearable agony.
And now, having endured it all, in this very moment—
His body had finally submitted fully to Yeon Hojeong's will.
Ssslrk.
Yeon Hojeong, eyes closed, extended his right hand.
From his naturally outstretched fingertips, strands of White Tiger Qi unraveled.
Whoooong.
He summoned the wind. On this frigid winter night, the White Tiger Qi birthed a single thread of comforting warm breeze, zeroing in on a tree of moderate size in the distance.
He slowly clenched his limp hand into a fist.
Whoooong!
An intangible gale swirled around the tree.
The wind grew visibly fiercer with each passing moment.
The vortex, confined solely to that single tree, began to shimmer with translucent white energy.
Flash!
Yeon Hojeong opened his eyes.
Crack!
Scars of the gale etched into the tree's bark.
It hadn't snapped, but the savage wind had left its brutal mark on the wood's skin.
He had infused the White Tiger Qi with potent intent.
Under normal circumstances, the tree should have been crushed to splinters—but the qi’s density hadn't reached that level yet.
Even so, this was a resounding triumph.
“Vacuum Grasping……?!”
A voice laced with shock rang out.
Yeon Hojeong turned. There stood Muk Bi.
“Aren't you sleeping?”
“Th-that move just now! Wasn't that Vacuum Grasping?”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“Nah.”
Vacuum Grasping was the realm where intent-laden inner power drew distant objects without physical contact. Mastering it marked the entry to sword control.
Of course, unleashing true sword control demanded blood-soaked refinement and ultimate enlightenment.
“If not Vacuum Grasping, then what?”
“Just one inner power trick. My body's changing, but qi and physique aren't tempered enough for the real deal yet.”
Yeon Hojeong gave a wry smile.
“Fast if you call it fast…… but damn, didn't think it'd take this long.”
After regressing, he'd assumed the Black Dark Emperor's enlightenment would make him strong in no time.
With hellish training, he'd match his father within a year, at least.
Wrong.
Martial arts weren't child's play.
The Black Dark Emperor's enlightenment was elite-tier, but no divine miracle.
Still.
Yeon Hojeong believed without doubt.
I can grow faster. If the conditions align, way faster.
And he knew the environment that would spark his explosive growth.
The battlefield.
Fighting. Past and present, he'd always grown through combat.
The razor edge between life and death—the ultimate catalyst for evolution—could utterly remake his martial prowess.
Growth that bloomed ever brighter near death's door. A perfect heir to the Four Gods Martial Arts.
“If that's taking long, I might as well off myself.”
“Don't be ridiculous. I've got tricks others don't. You? Nah. Makes you the impressive one there.”
“Tricks?”
“Yep.”
“So many secrets.”
Muk Bi shuffled over and plopped down beside him.
“Cold as hell out here—what're you doing? Go inside and crash.”
“Slept earlier. Can't now.”
“Huh.”
The two gazed at the sky.
Winter night, but no snow anytime soon. Moonlight gleamed coldly.
“Drank it all?”
“Yep. That's why I'm out here cultivating in the freeze.”
“The beggar?”
“Out cold. Nice guy, that one.”
“Yeah. Figured shameless.”
“Is. No joke.”
Muk Bi snickered.
She turned to Yeon Hojeong.
“Kinda random, but can I ask something?”
“Shoot.”
“What's your dream?”
“Dream?”
“Yeah. Dream.”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“No grand ones. Got life goals, though.”
“That future prep you mentioned?”
“Yep.”
“More important than your dream?”
“Obviously. Home gone, people dead—what's a dream worth then?”
Yeon Hojeong snickered.
“Sure, some don't give a damn. Not me.”
“Got it.”
“Why ask?”
“Told you—random.”
“Silly.”
Muk Bi smacked her lips.
“Least we're similar there.”
“Hm?”
“Wanna protect my people too.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“Am I one?”
Muk Bi scowled.
“Hate admitting it, but yeah. Owe you a ton.”
“Haha.”
“If you skipped the dumb pranks sometimes, it'd be perfect.”
“They're my life's fuel. Dream on.”
“Big talk, but can't tease without crashing—total personality wreck.”
Yeon Hojeong wanted to ask the old Muk Bi: With vocab like that, why'd you clam up so much?
“Ugh. Sat too long in the cold—ass went numb. Heading in to sleep.”
“Already?”
“Already my ass—past midnight.”
“Tch.”
“You crash too. Road-weary and all.”
“Can't sleep. Besides, what trouble here? Righteous White Path Martial Alliance headquarters.”
“Who knows.”
“Huh?”
Yeon Hojeong flashed a chilling smile.
“Starting to stink of something rotten.”
The Three Divine Artifacts hummed lowly.
The next morning.
“You've returned?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.
“Why'd it take so long? Not even all the Nine Great Sects and Six Great Families heads are here yet.”
“Nearly all arrived, so we debated the Martial Alliance founding at length.”
“Fair enough.”
Despite head-butting talks till dawn, Yeon Wi showed no fatigue.
“Got time?”
“Yes, but didn't you sleep?”
“Make time—let's talk.”
Yeon Hojeong's eyes sharpened. He sensed an ominous undercurrent in his father's tone.
“Understood.”
“Where's Huigae?”
“Still crashed in my quarters.”
“……”
“Don't expect miracles from that guy, Father.”
“Ahem!”
Moments later, the two sat facing each other in Yeon Wi's room.
Yeon Wi cut straight to it.
“The Martial Alliance founding looks all but certain.”
Yeon Hojeong's gaze deepened.
“As expected.”
“You foresaw it?”
“Moyong family head invoked the Great Assembly Authority and declared the Nine Families public enemies of the martial world. He crafted an environment the sect and family heads couldn't ignore.”
“Precisely.”
“And Moyong family head wants the Alliance built.”
“Mm.”
“The tide can't be turned. Besides, he's the type who shines in all-out war over skirmishes. Must've steered the flow.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“Just as you said. Frankly, even I was swayed by his silver tongue—despite knowing full well he's the enemy.”
“I understand.”
For Yeon Wi, Moyong Gun being the enemy wasn't the point. Righteousness and the people's safety came first. He'd ally with blood foes for that. There was reason the world hailed him a great hero.
Thus, being swayed made sense. And Yeon Hojeong admired him all the more for it.
“The remaining heads are all hot-blooded belligerents. High chance they'll back it outright.”
“So, we can call the founding a done deal.”
“So it seems.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“As I said before, I support the Alliance too.”
“Sigh.”
Yeon Wi sighed deeply.
Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips.
“Since it's decided, don't dwell. If the Alliance improves security, that's...”
“Not the issue.”
“Pardon?”
Confusion filled Yeon Wi's eyes as he regarded his son.
In that instant, Yeon Hojeong intuited it involved him somehow.
“What happened?”
“Moyong family head... well, he started it, but most heads showed real enthusiasm for one proposal.”
“……?”
“The new Alliance lacks any proper combat forces. In truth, the Alliance is just the Nine Great Sects, Six Great Families, and minor sects banded together.”
“True.”
“But they insist on creating a dedicated combat unit under the Alliance—unaffiliated with any sect.”
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“I agree. If we're building it, better arm it properly. But...”
“……”
“They want units commanded by peak experts dispatched from each sect.”
A cold smile crept across Yeon Hojeong's face.
“Power struggle's already underway.”
“Indeed.”
“Outcome?”
“Unanimous on creating several direct Alliance units. But four opposed using sect experts as commanders—myself included.”
“Four?”
“Me, Jegal family head, Shaolin abbot, and...”
Yeon Wi's gaze turned icy.
“Moyong family head.”
Yeon Hojeong wasn't surprised. He knew exactly why.
When he becomes Alliance Leader later, he'll want to command only his own troops. Sect-led units mean eyes everywhere.
Already laying groundwork. Impressive initiative.
“The Alliance is symbolic—best strip out Nine Great Sects and Six Great Families colors as much as possible.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Still distant talk. We'll...”
“Moyong recommended you.”
“Pardon?”
Doubt flickered across Yeon Wi's face.
“His compromise: half the units led by sect experts. He nominated you for one.”
“……Oh ho?”
“Any guess on his angle?”
“One thing.”
Yeon Hojeong grinned wickedly.
“Guess that guy's pretty scared of me, huh?”