Who Summoned the Heavenly Phenomenon?!
‘It hurts! So much I want to die!’
Yeop Hyeon harbored the thought of death for the first time in his life. The agony ripping through his five viscera and six bowels, searing his meridians—it was a torment he had never known.
‘Endure!’
As Yeop Hyeon clenched his teeth, his entire body trembled violently.
He wished he could just pass out.
‘What if I faint and never wake up? Ryeong is only twelve years old…’
The thought of Yeop Ryeong made Yeop Hyeon suddenly throw his head back and let out a guttural roar. He balled his fists tight, his face twisted in rage as he muttered through gritted teeth.
“Bring it… I can handle even worse pain… This… this is nothing… bearable… damn it… take it easy!”
Despite his cries, time crawled by unbearably slowly. How much had passed? Yeop Hyeon finally collapsed to the ground, utterly drained.
His body began convulsing like that of someone afflicted with convulsions. The spasms lasted about one ke (a quarter of an hour) before finally subsiding. His entire form was soaked through, like a drowned rat.
Yeop Hyeon lay flat on the ground. He didn’t have the strength to twitch a single finger.
Right then!
Sudden thick storm clouds gathered over the Ye Family Mansion, unleashing a torrent of rain. Strangely, the skies beyond the mansion remained perfectly clear.
A rainbow even appeared over the raining Ye Family Mansion. One, two, and then a third bloomed in the air. As the Gyeok Ok Tower trembled, the final third rainbow vanished in an instant.
All eyes in Cheongseong turned toward the skies above the Ye Family Mansion.
The Great Elder of the Ye family rushed out into the inner courtyard with the elders and retainers in tow. Kneeling slowly while gazing at the heavens, he cried out in a trembling voice.
“Heavens above, we thank you for watching over our Ye family and Yeop Rang!”
Those standing behind him followed suit, bowing toward the sky just as the Great Elder did.
At the same time, in the City Lord’s Mansion.
An elderly man staring at the skies over the Ye Family Mansion darkened his expression.
“A heavenly phenomenon at the Ye Family Mansion… Someone, send word to the heads of the Zhang and Li families. Tell them I have urgent matters to discuss.”
In that moment, countless messenger pigeons suddenly soared into the skies over Cheongseong. The spectacle of them blotting out the heavens and scattering in all directions was breathtaking.
It was already known that Yeop Rang had become a Heaven’s Chosen One. But a heavenly phenomenon was far rarer still.
A Heaven’s Chosen Oneand a heavenly phenomenon!
This heralded the rise of the Ye family.
Not just in Cheongseong, but across the entire Jiang Kingdom—perhaps even all of Qingzhou.
Meanwhile, at the Ye Family Mansion, a grand feast was underway. The Great Elder had lavishly distributed gold to everyone. Without even seeking the clan leader’s permission, he had formally appointed Yeop Rang as acting clan leader.
The crown prince and acting clan leader were worlds apart. The former merely represented the mansion’s younger generation, while the latter was truly second only to the clan leader in name and fact.
It was blatant overreach, but the Great Elder paid it no mind.
‘Yeop Rang will soon soar like a phoenix—what can even the clan leader do? Before long, the entire Ye Family Mansion will live in fear of him!’
The Great Elder brimmed with ambition.
Meanwhile, somewhere secluded, Yeop Rang gazed at the sky, his expression darkening.
He had already reached the Control Qi Realm from the sixth-grade Qi Transformation Realm.
Since his breakthrough had occurred a full two hours ago, he couldn’t be certain that this heavenly phenomenon unfolding before him was due to him.
A moment later, Yeop Rang curled his lips into a cold smile.
“If not me, then who else could be the star of this heavenly phenomenon? It’s a divine omen that this body of mine shall one day command the world as a supreme expert!”
At the same moment, inside the Gyeok Ok Tower.
“Rise. Get up and check your body!”
Having lain collapsed for a long while, Yeop Hyeon heard the Heavenly Maiden’s voice in his ears. Struggling to his feet, he looked down at himself and paled in shock. His skin gleamed with a golden luster.
“Th-this…”
To the bewildered Yeop Hyeon, the Heavenly Maiden spoke.
“The Golden Body Realm means you’ve tempered your flesh to the level of a golden body. The body is the foundation of all martial arts. How sturdy that foundation is determines a warrior’s ultimate heights. Most fighters train only the surface, neglecting the depths. But only when your muscles, bones, and even your five viscera and six bowels are fortified can you withstand external forces. The deadly pain you endured today will greatly aid your cultivation.”
Yeop Hyeon drew a deep breath and slowly clenched his fist. A fierce energy surged through his body such as he had never felt before.
He couldn’t hide his joy.
As the Heavenly Maiden said, he was now more than twice as strong as before reaching the Golden Body Realm!
His flesh had become incomparably tougher. He could now hold his own against ordinary Control Qi Realm warriors.
Something occurred to Yeop Hyeon, and he spoke up.
“I have a younger sister afflicted with Shanghan disease. Is there any way to help her?”
After a brief silence, the Heavenly Maiden replied.
“That girl? I think I can fix her. But she cannot enter this tower.”
“Why not…”
“Though you are the tower’s master, you possess not a single Dochik. Thus, you lack the qualification to bring others inside. If you force it, the tower will instinctively kill your sister.”
Yeop Hyeon’s face fell. In that case, he had no choice but to seek a physician in the Imperial City.
But that wouldn’t be easy. To reach the Control Qi Realm, he needed to absorb a Spirit Water Sword.
Such swords were exceedingly rare treasures. Not even the Ye family possessed one—nor did all of Cheongseong. He might find one in a place as grand as the Imperial City of the Jiang Kingdom.
‘The Imperial City… looks like I have no choice but to go there.’
After practicing his swordsmanship for a time, Yeop Hyeon exited the Gyeok Ok Tower.
Once he was gone, a faint voice echoed softly within.
“That girl… there’s something off about her…”
The moment Yeop Hyeon returned from the Gyeok Ok Tower, Yeop Ryeong shuffled into the room with a dejected look.
Yeop Hyeon smiled and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Yeop Ryeong looked up at him.
“Big bro, Yeop Rang caused a heavenly phenomenon. The whole Ye Family Mansion is in party mode because of it. And the Great Elder appointed him acting clan leader. Becoming the next clan leader is just a matter of time now!”
‘A heavenly phenomenon?’
Yeop Hyeon had heard the tales. It was a sign that appeared when a peerless warrior shattered a realm barrier.
‘I thought heavenly phenomena were just legends… Is Yeop Rang truly that peerless warrior?’
Yeop Ryeong snorted.
“Who cares about some heavenly phenomenon? Big bro’s the best anyway!”
Yeop Hyeon gave a faint smile at her words.
“Don’t worry. The life-or-death duel with Yeop Rang is only ten days away. After that, we’ll leave the Ye Family Mansion.”
“Leave?”
Yeop Ryeong blinked in confusion before asking, “Th-then… when will we come back?”
‘Come… back?’
Yeop Hyeon’s expression darkened.
Both he and Yeop Ryeong had been born and raised in the Ye Family Mansion. They’d never lived anywhere else.
The elders had always looked down on Yeop Hyeon, but he’d been useful enough to receive some respect. No longer. They could be cast out at any moment.
Until now, Yeop Hyeon had believed that if he died for the family, they’d care for Yeop Ryeong. But now, it was clear: if he fell, her life would turn miserable too.
Yeop Hyeon gently stroked Yeop Ryeong’s hair.
“Do you like it here?”
Yeop Ryeong shook her head vigorously.
“I used to, but not anymore. The Great Elder cast out big bro, who fought and bled for the family! And the other elders who knew but pretended not to see—it’s awful!”
Yeop Hyeon smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry. The world is vast. As long as we siblings stick together, anywhere can be home.”
Yeop Ryeong giggled cutely and hugged him tight.
“As long as I’m with big bro, anywhere’s fine!”
After playing with Yeop Ryeong a bit, Yeop Hyeon returned to the Gyeok Ok Tower.
And continued his relentless training.
With only ten days until the life-or-death duel with Yeop Rang, he couldn’t waste a single minute.
Sensing a strange energy, Yeop Hyeon spread his palm. A silver sword materialized above his right hand. Excited, he shouted,
“Look at this! Have I become a Sword Immortal now?”
“Sword Immortal?”
The Heavenly Maiden snorted in response.
“You’re still far from it, you fool!”
“Why’s that?”
“A Sword Immortal is one who comprehends sword intent and masters the sword path. You’re not even a Sword Lord, let alone that—you barely qualify as a sword cultivator!”
Yeop Hyeon flushed red.
The Heavenly Maiden continued.
“To be frank, you’re still in the process of becoming a ‘decent’ sword cultivator. There are plenty in this realm. But Sword Immortals? Maybe not even ten. You’ll learn why in time. Consider this a warning: walking the sword path is no easy feat.”
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
“I know. But I’ll stake my life on it!”
Through the recent string of events, Yeop Hyeon had realized one thing.
He could never entrust his sister to those people!
Thus, he had to grow stronger. To protect her safely.
In this world where skill was everything, failing to prove your worth meant you couldn’t survive.
After a moment of reflection, Yeop Hyeon calmed his excitement and asked,
“What are the conditions to become a sword cultivator?”
“Cut a strand of hair with your sword.”
Yeop Hyeon blinked in bewilderment.
“That simple?”
The Heavenly Maiden chuckled mockingly.
“Try it.”
Yeop Hyeon immediately plucked a single hair and let it float in the air. He swung his sword.
As the blade passed, the hair shattered into fragments.
Yeop Hyeon looked flustered. He had merely forced it apart—not truly severed it.
The Heavenly Maiden’s voice rang out.
“Training the sword isn’t just about building power. It’s controlling that power—the angle, speed, even accounting for the wind. I reckon you’ll need to swing at tens of thousands of hairs before you get it.”
Yeop Hyeon took a deep breath and shouted,
“I’ve got plenty of hair to spare!”
With that, he began plucking strands and slashing away like a madman.
While Yeop Hyeon wrestled with his hair, the feast at the Ye Family Mansion raged on. All of Cheongseong’s notables had been invited. The Ye family strutted about as if they were already the foremost clan of the city.
The Ye Family Mansion was the rising sun right now. Even the City Lord’s Mansion, the Li family, and the Zhang family had graciously attended the banquet.
In the Ye family’s Welcoming Hall, the Great Elder sat with eyes closed, as if awaiting someone.
An elder approached him.
“Great Elder, the city lord and the heads of the Li and Zhang families have arrived.”
The Great Elder’s eyes snapped open.
“Yeop Wu, go tell them I’m resting and can only meet them in half a ke.”
Yeop Wu hesitated.
“Today, I’ll make it crystal clear to them who truly rules Cheongseong now…”
The Great Elder gazed arrogantly at the distant mountains, silent.