Will You Be My Friend?
Yeop Hyeon was taken aback.
He's just running away like this?
As he watched the Hap Hwan Elder beat a hasty retreat, the warriors like Go So-cheon began fleeing just as quickly.
When Myriad Laws Realm experts were determined to escape, there was nothing Yeop Hyeon and the others could do but watch them go.
Yeop Hyeon himself had no desire to chase them down recklessly. After swinging his sword three times, less than half his combat strength remained.
Though victorious, his expression was grim.
With those men still alive, it was obvious they would return with even more powerhouses.
The next clash would be far more intense.
He couldn't afford to sit idly by any longer.
Even if they kept winning like this, letting them escape would eventually disadvantage Yeop Hyeon's side, whose numbers were limited.
"Congratulations on reaching the Divine Fusion Realm!"
Yeon Man Ri approached with a smile and spoke.
"Will you be my friend?"
Yeop Hyeon asked curtly, and Yeon Man Ri burst into laughter.
"That's exactly what I wanted!"
"Follow me. We have matters to discuss."
Yeon Man Ri watched Yeop Hyeon turn and walk away first, then grabbed Cheok Bal-eon's hand. The two women followed behind him, chattering nonstop.
Gang Wol-cheon gazed at Yeop Hyeon's back, shaking his head with a chuckle.
"To grow so much again... I can only marvel."
Bong Nam and Muk Won exchanged glances and shared light smiles.
The stronger Yeop Hyeon became, the better it was for them.
"Brother Muk, we should head there once. It's time to raise the realms of the golden seal bearers."
Muk Won hesitated briefly before nodding.
"Let's go!"
With that, Muk Won and Bong Nam left the imperial palace.
Yuk Ru-ju stared in the direction the Hap Hwan Elder and others had fled, then spoke.
"They'll come back soon with sharper blades. We must track their movements without delay."
Chil Ru-ju nodded.
"I'll handle that."
And so, the three warriors of Chwi Seon Ru departed as well.
Meanwhile, on a remote mountain path thousands of li from the Jeoguk imperial city, the Hap Hwan Elder and his group halted their steps. Confirming no pursuers, they let out sighs of relief.
The Hap Hwan Elder's face was darkly shadowed.
"Who knew that brat's skills were this formidable!"
Go So-cheon chimed in from the side.
"We can't eliminate Yeop Hyeon with our numbers alone!"
The Hap Hwan Elder pondered for a moment, his eyes flashing.
"We need reinforcements. Jungto Sinju has plenty of powerhouses!"
Go So-cheon shook his head.
"Experts in the top twenty of the Yo Yeolbang rankings won't move easily."
"Have you heard of the North Han Saintess?"
Go So-cheon replied to the Hap Hwan Elder's question.
"Who in Jungto Sinju hasn't heard of the youngest Yo Yeolbang warrior, the North Han Saintess? But how do you plan to sway her?"
"She once received a favor from the Hwan So-mun sect leader. If we leverage that, she'll have to act."
Suddenly, the Hap Hwan Elder's expression turned ferocious.
"I don't believe for a second that Yeop Hyeon is stronger than the North Han Saintess!"
Inside the vast audience hall of the Jeoguk imperial palace sat only two people.
"It's bitter without any sweetness—hardly good tea."
Yeon Man Ri set down her teacup and shook her head.
"Lady Yeon, it's been mere days since we parted, yet I'm delighted to see you again."
"Not just your martial prowess, but your eloquence has improved too. Enough—down to business!"
"Speak first."
Yeon Man Ri dipped her finger in the teacup, withdrew it, and drew a circle on the table.
"Your master has plunged the Qingcang Realm into upheaval. Qingzhou's core has been severely damaged, and spirit energy is vanishing rapidly."
She marked several dots inside the circle and continued.
"Worse, invaders from Jungto Sinju roam Qingzhou, committing all manner of atrocities. They're no ordinary foes, making it hard to drive them out at once. To protect Qingzhou, we must address both issues simultaneously: one, locate spirit veins to restore the core; two, expel the outsiders and stabilize the populace!"
Yeop Hyeon looked puzzled at her words. He hadn't expected Yeon Man Ri to care about saving Qingzhou.
Reading his thoughts, she spoke calmly.
"The greater the power, the heavier the responsibility. Excluding the Daeun Empire and yourself, Qingzhou's strongest are Ganguk, Jeoguk, and Chwi Seon Ru. If we don't unite now, Qingzhou will become a living hell within a month."
A living hell!
Yeop Hyeon's expression grew serious. Yeon Man Ri was absolutely right.
If he'd arrived just a bit later, Jeoguk would already be hell. Once Jungto Sinju warriors entered a city, they unleashed their pent-up desires without restraint.
In this chaotic world, many had long abandoned basic humanity.
Yeon Man Ri watched Yeop Hyeon, awaiting his answer. Her grip tightened slightly on the teacup.
At that moment, he shook his head.
Seeing this, Yeon Man Ri showed deep disappointment, releasing the cup and rising. But Yeop Hyeon's voice stopped her.
"In my view, just the Daeun Empire and I aren't enough. Qingzhou's other forces—like Wol Country, Cho Country, and the scattered hermits—must all unite. That's the only way to save it!"
Yeop Hyeon had never harbored grand notions of saving the world. Protecting himself and those around him was enough.
But in this situation, selfishness was not just foolish—it was suicidal.
If he didn't help others, they'd die off. Then, when his own crisis came, no one would aid him.
Right then, a strand of sword intent stirred within him.
Pure Intent Sword Intent!
Yeop Hyeon was startled.
It had moved on its own, beyond his will.
Sword intent poured endlessly from his body, filling the hall until it felt like being lost in clouds.
Sword Intent Materialization!
Yeon Man Ri stared intently at him.
Wasn't this the state right before becoming a Sword Emperor!
Suddenly, the dense sword intent began leaking out of the hall. Yeon Man Ri's hand moved.
Boom—!
With that single gesture, not only the escaping intent but all within the hall vanished cleanly.
Yeop Hyeon looked at her in shock, and she spoke calmly.
"Sword Intent Materialization without even being a Sword Emperor... It must relate to your sword path. But with your skills not yet complete, no need to reveal your hand to enemies."
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"You're right."
He opened his palm, and a clump of sword intent appeared in the center.
He realized the purer his thoughts, the stronger his Pure Intent Sword Intent grew. It was now twenty percent mightier than before. Curiosity about his Evil Intent Sword Intent began to stir.
Hadn't the Heavenly Maiden said its power was even greater!
Yeon Man Ri's voice snapped him back.
"You propose uniting all of Qingzhou?"
Yeop Hyeon withdrew the intent and nodded.
"Individually weak, but united, their power can't be ignored. Without it, they'll just aid the Jungto Sinju invaders in further chaos."
"Hm... Logical. I've already sent people to scout spirit veins and the core's location. With enough veins secured, we can restore it."
"How many do you need?"
Yeon Man Ri met his eyes squarely.
"Over a hundred top-grade spirit veins!"
Yeop Hyeon was dumbfounded.
A hundred top-grade spirit veins!?
He had only one. Finding them in Qingzhou was notoriously difficult.
A hundred? Where from?
"Hahaha! I was joking!"
"……."
As Yeop Hyeon pondered how to react, Yeon Man Ri placed a metal case on the table.
"Take it."
With that, she left the hall.
Staring blankly at her retreating figure, Yeop Hyeon peered inside. His eyes widened.
True Realm swords—three of them!
He grabbed the case and hurried after her, but she had vanished.
What an unpredictable woman!
Still flushed, as he stood there, an elder appeared before him.
O Lu-ju.
O Lu-ju snapped his fingers wordlessly, and another metal case floated slowly toward Yeop Hyeon.
"I've handled all the items you gave me before. Inside are six hundred fifty million top-grade spirit stones—check them."
Yeop Hyeon's hands trembled.
"Heavenly Realm weapons are rare even in Jungto Sinju. This price is fitting."
Yeop Hyeon nodded and handed O Lu-ju a case.
"This month's payment for Chwi Seon Ru."
O Lu-ju took it, his face grave.
"Recent reports say Canglan Continent is beyond saving. At most a month, and it'll be a land of death. Even Jungto Sinju faces unrest. Survivors from both will flood Qingzhou. Hogye Meng has abandoned both, leaving nowhere to turn."
O Lu-ju stared straight into Yeop Hyeon's eyes.
"If you won't abandon Ganguk, Jeoguk, and Canglan Academy, steel yourself!"
"What happened to Canglan Continent?"
"Hm... Its strongest factions aren't calming things—they're plundering resources like madmen. Worst are Canglan Academy. They've looted and fled to Jungto Sinju with elite disciples..."
O Lu-ju looked worriedly at Yeop Hyeon.
"If you and the Daeun Empire act the same, Qingzhou won't last two weeks before turning barren!"
This was a test.
Grasping the intent, Yeop Hyeon smiled.
"Don't worry. I indulge in wealth sometimes, but I know moderation."
"I know your character well enough."
Then, Yeop Hyeon offered back the case from O Lu-ju.
"With five hundred million top-grade spirit stones inside, procure all True Realm gear you can—spirit tools, weapons, armor, whatever."
O Lu-ju took it without further questions.
"Return in five days."