Who Dares to Interrupt?
You're not scared, are you?
Yeop Hyeon's expression grew slightly grave. He could sense just how powerful Zuo Yuanshi and the others before him were, even without trying. He couldn't even gauge their exact realms.
But he was certain the Heavenly Maiden was stronger than all of them combined.
Of course, you'd only know for sure once the lid was off—but this was the instinct of a seasoned warrior.
Her earlier quip about wiping out the world in a single stroke might sound like a joke, but coming from the Heavenly Maiden, it just might not be.
How strong is the Heavenly Maiden, exactly? What realm is she even in?
This question had lingered in a corner of Yeop Hyeon's mind from the very start.
At that moment, Zuo Yuanshi spoke up.
"How is it that a so-called Sword Immortal cowers like a child, shrinking back like this?"
The Heavenly Maiden still hadn't revealed herself.
Something's wrong!
Yeop Hyeon furrowed his brow. Given her fiery temperament, it didn't make sense for her to hold back against such insolence.
She should have appeared ages ago if she was coming.
Right then, the Heavenly Maiden's voice echoed in Yeop Hyeon's mind.
Hold them off for a bit. I need to think about something.
"Wh-what are you thinking about?"
Whether I should really destroy this world. I'm seriously considering it.
"……."
As the Sword Immortal still failed to appear, Zuo Yuanshi could no longer hold back his frown.
Just then, an elderly man suddenly materialized in the arena. Dressed in a wide-sleeved robe, the white-haired and white-browed elder exuded an aura as pristine and unyielding as a mountain gale.
At his arrival, Zuo Yuanshi's eyes twitched violently.
It was a Realm Protector.
In each of the three great continents of the Qingcang Realm, a mysterious group existed. No one—not even Changmok Academy, nor the colossal forces of Jungto Sinju—dared to trifle with these so-called Realm Protectors.
And their duty was to safeguard each continent.
The white-haired elder lifted his cold gaze to Zuo Yuanshi.
"I have no idea what brings all of you gathering here like this. Are you planning to destroy Qingzhou or something?"
Zuo Yuanshi chuckled lightly in response.
"Catching one Sword Immortal won't destroy Qingzhou."
"I don't care who you kill. Your mere presence here already violates the rules."
Zuo Yuanshi paused thoughtfully for a moment, then flicked his finger. A brocade pouch flew toward the elder.
"Show a little flexibility, if you please……."
Peering inside the pouch, the elder found over a thousand violet spirit crystals.
Each worth 100,000 top-grade spirit stones—rarer than rare, essential for Myriad Laws Realm and Law Realm experts.
Purple Origin Crystals were treasures so precious that one could exchange for 100,000 top-grade spirit stones each. But due to their extreme rarity, even that might not secure one.
As far as was known, once one reached the Myriad Laws Realm, top-grade and jade-grade spirit stones lost much of their utility.
Thus, Myriad Laws and Law Realm powerhouses sought these Purple Origin Crystals.
A thousand of them could bend even the unyielding.
The elder examined the crystals briefly, then shifted his tone.
"Don't cause too much of a commotion."
With that, he pocketed the pouch and vanished.
As the Realm Protector departed, Zuo Yuanshi's gaze returned to Yeop Hyeon.
"It seems the Sword Immortal isn't coming after all?"
"My master is on her way, so please wait a moment."
Zuo Yuanshi raised an eyebrow at Yeop Hyeon's reply.
"On her way? From where?"
Yeop Hyeon pointed skyward.
"From above!"
Zuo Yuanshi turned to glance at a diminutive elder behind him. Their eyes met, and the elder asked,
"Zuo Yuanshi, are you certain the Sword Immortal has no backing?"
Zuo Yuanshi nodded.
"Xu Lao, don't worry. I've already checked through the Heavenly Mechanism Sect. We investigated nearly every major force in the Qingcang Realm—and even those in other realms. Not a trace of this Sword Immortal anywhere. She's definitely without any faction behind her."
"Hm… Did you uncover anything about her origins?"
Zuo Yuanshi shook his head.
"Nothing. But no force knows of this sword cultivator, and given how quietly she's operated, she must be a lone itinerant cultivator who trained on her own!"
The elder called Xu Lao nodded.
"Then no issue. Even if she had backing, barring a few exceptions, there's no one we need fear."
"Without backing, there's certainly no need to fear facing just the Sword Immortal."
Zuo Yuanshi turned back to Yeop Hyeon.
"If she doesn't show in one hour, I'll skin you and your friends alive and hang the hides at Changmok Academy's gates. Let the whole world see the fate of those who defy Changmok Academy!"
Yeop Hyeon had no attention to spare for Zuo Yuanshi's words. His mind was wholly fixed on whether the Heavenly Maiden would appear or not.
Right then, her long-awaited voice rang out.
Buy some more time!
"Y-you're not really going to destroy Qingzhou, are you?"
You think I can't?
The Heavenly Maiden's voice turned icy.
"Aigoo, why say such things! Everyone knows with your power, you could raze not just Qingzhou, but the entire Qingcang Realm! I only said that because I couldn't stand those Changmok Academy scum insulting you anymore!"
Her tone softened at his words.
True experts always make their entrance at the very end. The mood isn't ripe yet, so I'll step in when the time feels right!
Yeop Hyeon gaped.
She'll come out when the mood is right!? Is this woman sane!?
As Yeop Hyeon stared in disbelief, Zuo Yuanshi called out.
"Yeop Hyeon, the hour's up. Looks like I'll have to kill you first."
"W-wait a second!"
Yeop Hyeon waved his hands frantically, and Zuo Yuanshi halted in place.
Taking a deep breath, Yeop Hyeon stepped forward a few paces toward Zuo Yuanshi.
"I already know there's no escaping with a powerhouse like you here. But before I die, grant me one small request."
Yeop Hyeon cupped his fists in salute toward Zuo Yuanshi.
"I, Yeop Hyeon, have long heard tales of Zuo Yuanshi, the absolute powerhouse of Jungto Sinju! As my final wish, I beg a one-on-one duel for your guidance!"
Challenging Zuo Yuanshi to a duel?
Has he lost his mind?
Even if Yeop Hyeon's realm was Myriad Laws Realm instead of Penetrating Nether Realm, it would still fall short against Zuo Yuanshi.
Zuo Yuanshi had surpassed the Law Realm long ago. Changmok Academy had sent him this time precisely to avoid a repeat of their previous Law Realm expert Imok being torn in half.
Yet here was Yeop Hyeon, requesting a one-on-one duel against him?
The others assumed he must be out of his mind.
Zuo Yuanshi eyed Yeop Hyeon for a moment before speaking.
"You seek my guidance? Are you serious?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Yes."
Zuo Yuanshi nodded lightly in turn.
"You're an outstanding talent among the younger generation, so I'll grant your wish."
With those words, Zuo Yuanshi's aura plummeted rapidly. In an instant, it dropped to the Law Realm—and kept falling.
Under the watchful eyes of countless warriors, it finally halted at the Myriad Laws Realm, refusing to descend further.
"I can't go below Myriad Laws Realm. Come at me now!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded and charged at Zuo Yuanshi, sword in hand. His Spirit Water Sword trembled fiercely, unleashing a torrent of sword momentum like a raging river.
Drawing momentum not just from sword intent, but from earth, wind, and nature itself—fused with battle will and sword intent, surpassing Divine Fusion Realm long ago.
Yeop Hyeon could now deftly borrow "momentum" from nature—earth, wind, and more—beyond mere sword momentum. Combined with his inherent battle will and sword intent, the energy surging from his blade had long transcended the Divine Fusion Realm.
As a result, the One Sword Determines Life and Death he was about to unleash reached yet another new height.
One Sword Determines Life and Death wasn't strictly a sword technique but closer to a sword path conviction, allowing endless evolution.
As his single stroke unfolded, the warriors in the arena—and even Zuo Yuanshi—couldn't hide their shock.
The energy from his sword had reached the cusp of Myriad Laws Realm.
Yeop Hyeon's all-soul-infused strike!
Against a powerhouse like Zuo Yuanshi, a second move was unthinkable. He had to pour everything into this one sword.
When his blade was a dozen or so inches from Zuo Yuanshi's face, it halted abruptly. A hand had shot out, clamping down on the sword.
Trapped in Zuo Yuanshi's palm, the Spirit Water Sword could advance no further.
Yeop Hyeon gripped the hilt with both hands and pressed down with all his might.
Boom—!
Zuo Yuanshi staggered back a dozen paces.
Seizing the moment, Yeop Hyeon lunged again—only for Zuo Yuanshi to thrust his palm forward.
Boom—!
Yeop Hyeon's body flew back like a cannonball. A hundred zhang away, black clouds erupted against a cliffside, carving a cave over ten zhang deep. Naturally, Yeop Hyeon lay at its deepest recess.
Zuo Yuanshi glanced at his palm. A deep sword cut oozed blood.
He lifted his head, glaring coldly at where Yeop Hyeon was buried.
"Definitely can't let this one live……."
Yeop Hyeon crawled out of the cave and slumped to the ground. His Spirit Water Sword lay in shattered fragments. Blood poured endlessly from his mouth.
For him, a damaged sword was as good as a ruined dantian. It rendered him worse off than an ordinary warrior.
Through countless battles, had he ever suffered such a grievous wound!?
In that instant, faces flashed through Yeop Hyeon's mind.
Yeop Ryeong, An Ranxiu, Mu Yun Qi, Bai Ze, Neung Han, Ya Ri, Gang Gu…….
"Kill him, then we hunt the Sword Immortal again."
The diminutive elder behind Zuo Yuanshi spoke, and Zuo Yuanshi nodded, stepping forward.
Suddenly, a woman in mourning garb appeared before Yeop Hyeon.
She looked down at him, hands clasped behind her back, as he sat on the ground.
Do you resent me?
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"Never."
As the mourning-clad woman opened her mouth to continue, Zuo Yuanshi interrupted.
"I thought you'd keep playing house, but now at last……."
In that moment, she plucked a single strand of her hair and flicked it toward Zuo Yuanshi. He could say no more. The hair had embedded itself between his brows.
The woman turned her gaze to Zuo Yuanshi and said,
"Who dares to interrupt?"
"……."