Wait!
A woman's voice was exceedingly calm, yet utterly chilling.
The white-haired elder staring at her had already gathered immense energy in his fist. It resembled a volcano on the verge of eruption at the slightest touch.
Ignoring the elder entirely, the woman brushed past him and headed into the palace.
"I seek your guidance!"
The white-haired elder's voice echoed from behind her.
The woman halted her steps and replied expressionlessly.
"You've made the worst mistake of your life."
She resumed walking toward the palace. At that moment, a sword came flying from somewhere toward the elder.
The elder's face twisted savagely as he thrust out a palm toward the sword.
In an instant, the space before him warped into a bizarre vortex, from which ferocious energy endlessly erupted.
For a fleeting moment, the surrounding stars churned, evoking an apocalyptic atmosphere.
Pfuk!
The woman's sword leisurely pierced through the vortex and embedded itself between the elder's brows.
The white-haired elder's pupils dilated massively. Suddenly, his body aged at an alarming speed, and in no time, he crumbled into a handful of dust, scattering into the cosmos.
With even the soul contained within his flesh extinguished, the elder met an end that denied him even reincarnation.
The stars regained their silence, as if nothing had happened. Half a shichen later, countless martial artists poured out from the palace, scattering in all directions.
They split up to search for one man.
It was none other than Yeop Hyeon.
Jungto Sinju.
The normally quiet Demon Sect suddenly declared war on Qingzhou. The grudge of the Harmony Sect and Blood Sect was the reason.
Not only the Demon Sect, but the Ghost Sect also issued a declaration of war against Qingzhou.
Their goal was all too clear: eliminate Yeop Hyeon.
Almost simultaneously, Hogye Meng revised and announced the bounty on Yeop Hyeon's head.
To those who kill a Canglan Academy student: three million top-grade spirit stones.
To those who kill Yeop Hyeon: five hundred million top-grade spirit stones will be bestowed.
Upon hearing this news, the martial artists of Jungto Sinju began to stir once more.
Meanwhile, Yeop Hyeon emerged from a blacksmith shop.
After passing through the city gates, he headed straight for the bamboo grove. Just as he arrived at the forest's edge, a man in golden armor appeared before him.
Yeop Hyeon shouted toward the depths of the woods.
"Come on out, you three. No need to hide."
At his call, a veiled woman, Gwangsa, and the prince stepped out from the trees. Facing the trio, Yeop Hyeon cupped his fists toward Gwangsa.
"From the looks of it, you must be Gwangsa, leader of the Gwangsa Mercenary Group."
"You've heard of me?"
"Haha, of course. Rumor has it you killed a Myriad Laws Realm expert while still in the Divine Fusion Realm..."
"It's no rumor!"
Gwangsa replied flatly, and Yeop Hyeon stuck out his thumb.
"Impressive!"
This time, Gwangsa eyed Yeop Hyeon up and down before speaking.
"You're no ordinary one yourself. A Sword Emperor at such a young age—rare even in Jungto Sinju."
Yeop Hyeon smiled faintly, then turned to the prince.
"That makes you the third prince of Yo Yeolbang, then. If the chance arises, I'd love some pointers from you. Not a real fight, of course—just a friendly spar."
The prince nodded lightly.
"Anytime!"
Yeop Hyeon cupped his fists to the prince, then turned to the veiled woman beside him. Their eyes met as she gazed at Yeop Hyeon.
Yeop Hyeon smiled lightly.
"What's your name?"
He had already received files on Gwangsa and the prince from the Sado family, but they had no intel on the veiled woman.
Her true strength remained unknown.
The veiled woman simply stared into Yeop Hyeon's eyes without responding.
As the atmosphere grew awkward, Yeop Hyeon chuckled sheepishly.
"The reason I came so openly is that I want to talk frankly with you all. You've brought your comrades to find me because of the bounty on my head, right?"
"That's right!"
Gwangsa nodded candidly.
"Haha, so what are you thinking now?"
Gwangsa fell silent.
In truth, the night before, they had investigated and debated Yeop Hyeon all night. The more they dug, the stranger the situation felt.
Yeop Hyeon had appeared out of nowhere, suddenly clashing with Cangmu Academy and the Shadow Realm, skyrocketing to fame. And the results?
The Shadow Realm had vanished completely, and Cangmu Academy plummeted to third-rate status in an instant. Everyone now knew Hogye Meng's punishment was the decisive blow.
Even more suspicious: Hogye Meng hadn't handled Yeop Hyeon themselves but issued a public warrant instead.
There was always something hidden behind the illogical.
At that moment, the prince asked,
"Conversely, why did you seek us out?"
"Hm... First, have your men withdraw."
The prince glanced at Yeop Hyeon, then raised one hand. The martial artists hidden around instantly retreated.
Yeop Hyeon stepped closer to the three and began speaking via Mystic Qi Sound Transmission.
"What I'm about to say mustn't reach anyone else's ears, so I'll use transmission. The reason I sought you is to form an alliance!"
"An alliance?"
The prince raised an eyebrow, and Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Yes. The Qingcang Realm is losing spirit energy, plunging into endless chaos. In such times, a solid alliance is never a bad thing."
"But allying with you—who's wanted by Hogye Meng—would make us their enemies!"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head with a smile.
"No need to worry about that. Truth be told, I, Yeop Hyeon, am the next Hogye Meng lord, nurtured with great care by them."
The veiled woman remained composed, but Gwangsa and the prince's expressions shifted instantly.
Gwangsa, looking somewhat shocked, shouted,
"How are we supposed to believe that?"
"Conversely, why wouldn't you?"
"So Hogye Meng issued the warrant just for your training!?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Why else would they want me publicly? If they truly wanted me dead, they could've come themselves—I'm not hiding. But they didn't. Why? Because Yuk Jon Ju is my master!"
'His master?'
At those words, Gwangsa and the others' faces filled with shock.
Who in the Qingcang Realm didn't know Yuk Jon Ju, one of its strongest?
And he was Yeop Hyeon's master?
"If you've investigated me, you know this. Before leaving Qingcheng at eighteen, I was just an ordinary martial artist. But after, my realm surged, and I got dragged into endless fights. That's because my master Yuk Jon Ju and Hogye Meng back me!"
Yeop Hyeon suddenly spread his hand, summoning two Heavenly Realm swords and over a hundred True Realm spirit artifacts before him.
"See? Without powerful backing, how could I possess such treasures?"
He stored them away and continued.
"Manggu Mountain: two True Law Realm experts, over a dozen Myriad Laws Realm, hundreds of Jungto Sinju martial artists... Still no clue who handled them? The Sado family and Shadow Realm tried to crush me with overwhelming force. Do you think Hogye Meng just watched? They sent experts and wiped them out!"
Gwangsa and the prince exchanged stunned glances. They had suspected as much, but hearing it from Yeop Hyeon himself was staggering. Hogye Meng's scheme was exquisitely subtle.
"With Qingzhou in turmoil, my master seized the chance to temper me while purging vile forces—like those massacring and plundering across Qingzhou now. Think Hogye Meng would let them wreak havoc? Never!"
Yeop Hyeon pointed at himself.
"We've been involved all along. You see me fattening my belly while defending Qingzhou, but protecting it from those fiends is my mission. Succeed, and I'll prove worthy as Hogye Meng's lord. In other words, Hogye Meng will one day be mine."
"If this is all for your training, why ally with us?"
Gwangsa asked gravely, and Yeop Hyeon smiled.
"Training doesn't mean I can't make friends, right? I'm proposing we defend Qingzhou together. You won't leave empty-handed. United, we'll crush Jungto Sinju forces easily and claim their spoils. And when I become Hogye lord, I'll provide you immense conveniences. You know how valuable Hogye Meng connections are."
Gwangsa stared blankly at Yeop Hyeon, glanced at the prince and veiled woman, then hesitated before turning back.
"Sorry, but we can't fully believe you yet."
"I understand. I'm not forcing it. My brothers from Jungto Sinju are rushing to aid me anyway—your help isn't essential. But missing this chance would be your loss, which is a pity."
With that, Yeop Hyeon cupped his fists to the three.
"Anyway, until next time!"
He turned and strode away without hesitation.
Gwangsa and the prince wavered inwardly. If Yeop Hyeon's words were true, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for wealth and Hogye Meng ties.
Given his talent and rumored prowess, he could become lord—or at least a core figure. Building ties was no losing bet.
Just then, Yeop Hyeon, walking some distance away, paused and turned back. In his hand was a spirit tablet: "Hogye" on the front, "Hyeon" on the back.
"Everyone, please keep today's conversation with me, the young Hogye Meng lord Yeop Hyeon, strictly confidential. If word leaks, even the young lord can't spare your face."
With those brief words, Yeop Hyeon resumed walking.
Right then—
"Brother Yeop, wait!"
Gwangsa's voice, now somewhat deferential, pierced Yeop Hyeon's ears.