Entering Divinity (2)
The final three forms of the latter stage of the Formless Flash Quick Sword.
The lords of the Demon Sword Sect, who inherited and honed the Formless Flash Quick Sword, revered these three forms with profound respect, daring to call them the Formless Mystery—the ultimate essences of the Formless Flash Quick Sword.
And the Formless Mystery: Formless Endless Sword that Hyeon Yucheon was unleashing now was the one among the three that was easiest to employ when one's inner power was sufficiently amassed, rather than requiring pure enlightenment.
Formless Endless Sword—so named because formless sword energies surged forth endlessly, without limit or end.
Endless barrages of formless sword qi shred everything in their path!
Pa-ba-ba-ba-ba-bat!
With his inner power far surpassing the Entering Divinity realm, Hyeon Yucheon unleashed it in splendid fashion. The Formless Endless Sword, which ground all things to dust with its infinite formless sword energies, displayed its full might.
"My God!"
Hyeon Yucheon felt the staggering drain on his inner power as he gazed ahead, only to be left dumbfounded by the unbelievable sight unfolding before him.
To ordinary eyes, the invisible sword energies were invisible—but they tore through everything like a raging storm, resembling a mythical monster without form.
Kwa-ji-ji-ji-jik!
The power of the Formless Endless Sword was so overwhelming that in this barren zone where Hyeon Yucheon stood, a massive hot spring waterfall reversed its flow.
The waterfall, which should have cascaded from above, bizarrely surged upward from below.
Ooh... Ooooh!
Even Hyeon Yucheon, the one who had unleashed the Formless Endless Sword, could scarcely believe his eyes at the mad spectacle.
Of course, a Super Peak realm warrior could produce such a reversal—but only for a fleeting moment.
Yet Hyeon Yucheon was sustaining the waterfall's reversal for an extended duration.
"What in the world is that noise?"
"Sect Leader!"
Suddenly, a thunderous roar like crashing thunder and a terrifying surge of inner power startled Seon Ye-jin and Cheonu, who rushed over.
They feared some disaster had befallen Hyeon Yucheon while absorbing the Four Spirits Soul Pill.
But what they saw...
"N-No way!"
Cheonu, well-versed in the Formless Flash Quick Sword, instantly realized Hyeon Yucheon had not only reached Entering Divinity but had even executed a latter-stage form.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"Why is the waterfall flowing backward...?"
Seon Ye-jin, meanwhile, gawked at the bizarre reversal, tilting her head as if heaven itself had unleashed its wrath.
And then—
Ku-goong, ku-gu-gu-gu-goong!
The entire Daamgok Valley trembled violently—the result of Hyeon Yucheon, now in Entering Divinity, unleashing the Formless Mystery: Formless Endless Sword at full power.
"Oh no!"
Only then did Hyeon Yucheon realize the enormity of what he'd done. He hastily withdrew the technique, and as if nothing had happened, the waterfall resumed its normal flow while the shaking valley fell silent once more.
"Sect Leader! You've finally... finally reached Entering Divinity!"
Cheonu's eyes sparkled as emotion welled up, gazing reverently at Hyeon Yucheon.
"Huh? Entering Divinity?"
Seon Ye-jin, knowing nothing, doubted her own ears.
Wasn't Entering Divinity a realm reserved for the century's greatest superhumans, those who could claim the title of world's best?
And this young hero has reached that astonishing height? No way, that's impossible.
She could scarcely believe it.
"I got lucky. I fully absorbed the Four Spirits Soul Pill and broke through to Entering Divinity... and even used one of the Formless Mysteries."
Hyeon Yucheon stated it matter-of-factly, prompting Cheonu to burst into mad laughter.
"Ha-hat! Hahaha-hat!"
He laughed like a man possessed with joy.
And why not? The Formless Mysteries were the ultimate aspiration of every Demon Sword Sect elite.
They knew it existed, yet no one could properly execute it—leaving them in endless frustration.
But today, this Demon Sword Young Master had recreated it.
Perfectly!
"Really?!"
Seeing Hyeon Yucheon's serious expression and Cheonu's ecstasy, Seon Ye-jin finally began to believe. She bounced in delight, adorable as ever.
"This is insane. Beyond insane! Doesn't this surpass the previous Sect Leader?"
Even the eldest of the Black Wolf Three Swords, who revered the Demon Sword Ghost Elder above all, uttered such words.
"In actual combat, I'd still lag behind or at best match him. But... my master in heaven must have cherished me, granting me success with one Formless Mystery."
Hyeon Yucheon spoke with unwavering confidence.
It was my first time executing it, but now I can truly call it my own!
He was certain he could unleash it even more perfectly and powerfully than before.
"Incredible! This defies all reason!"
Cheonu spat as he launched into an impassioned speech.
"My God, my God...!"
Seon Ye-jin, belatedly grasping the reality, sank even deeper into her fervent admiration for Hyeon Yucheon.
He winked at her with a warm, dashing smile.
"Lady Seon. Could you keep today's achievement a secret between just you and me?"
He wasn't hiding it deliberately, but there was that famous saying in the martial world, wasn't there?
Hide nine-tenths of your true power.
The unorthodox martial world, the Murim Alliance, Heaven's Five Venerables, and the Seok Family still underestimate me, unaware.
Having reached Entering Divinity and mastered the Formless Endless Sword, Hyeon Yucheon's goal was total conquest of the unorthodox martial world.
And the utter destruction of the orthodox-dominated world shaped by the Murim Alliance and Seok Family.
"Our little secret?"
"Yes. I don't want too much fuss just yet."
Seon Ye-jin's eyes already gleamed with adoration at his words.
A wise wife follows her husband's requests!
There was no reason to refuse.
Daamgok Valley was now bound to the Demon Sword Sect's fate.
"Of course!"
Several days had passed since Hyeon Yucheon perfectly absorbed the Four Spirits Soul Pill, breaking through to Entering Divinity and acquiring the Formless Endless Sword.
In that time, he received utmost hospitality in Daamgok Valley, and the Black Heaven Tournament had fully concluded with its final banquets.
"Young Hero Hyeon—no, Sect Leader Hyeon!"
As the time came for Hyeon Yucheon to depart for the Demon Sword Sect, a voice called out.
It was Seon Gang-gyun, lord of Daamgok Valley and the Dark Heaven Iron Fist.
He had made a full recovery.
"Lord Seon."
Hyeon Yucheon greeted him with a respectful cupped-fist salute.
It turned out the barren zone was a private space usable only by Seon Gang-gyun and his sole daughter, Seon Ye-jin—yet they had gladly yielded it to Hyeon Yucheon.
And not just that. During his stay, he received lavish treatment.
"Hoho, we're beyond strangers now, aren't we?"
Seon Gang-gyun was a man who could recognize true talent.
He had noticed Hyeon Yucheon fully absorbed the Four Spirits Soul Pill.
Now... I couldn't even last a moment against Sect Leader Hyeon, let alone fight evenly.
He realized Hyeon Yucheon had far surpassed him.
Considering the young man was turning seventeen soon, it was unbelievable—and if he continued growing, he'd inevitably become the greatest in history.
"From here on, the Demon Sword Sect and its lord will aid your rise to the pinnacle of the unorthodox world—no, the entire Central Plains. So when you succeed, don't forget me and Ye-jin."
Seon Gang-gyun seized the moment the tide was turning.
Hyeon Yucheon couldn't hold back a smile and nodded.
"Of course."
Before departing, Hyeon Yucheon chatted idly with Seon Gang-gyun.
They expressed regrets and promised to meet again.
"I won't forget Daamgok Valley's grace. The Demon Sword Sect remembers and repays both favors and grudges thoroughly."
At Hyeon Yucheon's firm words, Seon Gang-gyun and Seon Ye-jin breathed in relief.
Seon Ye-jin felt regret at his leaving but believed better days lay ahead.
"Then... farewell."
With that, Hyeon Yucheon turned to leave with Cheonu.
He missed his senior brothers and the Demon Sword Sect warriors waiting eagerly.
By now, they've heard of my Black Heaven Tournament victory, right?
Days had passed since the tournament ended, so his win must be the talk of the capital.
Curious about their reactions, he headed back to the Demon Sword Sect.
While resting at an inn during the long journey—
"Sect Leader, Blood Dragon Ghost Sword Gu Jin-ak of the Blood Dragon Room has come to see you."
At Cheonu's words, a thought struck Hyeon Yucheon.
In the past, they had wagered a duel: the loser would answer the winner's questions.
Hyeon Yucheon had won overwhelmingly.
—After the Black Heaven Tournament ends, I'll tell you everything you're curious about.
With deep injuries and many eyes watching, he'd promised to explain later.
The tournament had ended successfully, and with Hyeon Yucheon secluded in the barren zone absorbing the pill, he'd forgotten—but Gu Jin-ak had waited along the road to the Demon Sword Sect to keep his promise.
"Yes, let him in."
Hyeon Yucheon was moved by Gu Jin-ak's determination to honor the agreement.
"Young Hero Hyeon—or should I say, Demon Sword Sect Leader...?"
With the tournament over, Gu Jin-ak aimed for proper courtesy.
But his words trailed off.
"Gasp!"
He couldn't believe his eyes.
Astoundingly, the Hyeon Yucheon before him seemed twice—no, three times stronger than when they'd fought.
Am I seeing things?
No matter the Four Spirits Soul Pill, such progress in so short a time was beyond leaps—it bordered on fraud.
Doubting his own judgment at first, Gu Jin-ak looked again and grew certain.
"You must have had a stroke of fortune recently?"
A polite way of asking if his martial prowess had surged.
"I absorbed the Four Spirits Soul Pill."
Hyeon Yucheon grinned, amused by the reaction.
Gu Jin-ak had inwardly seen him as a worthy rival, but the gap had widened beyond disciple-master—to something extreme.
Well, from the moment he defeated the Daamgok lord, he was beyond my comparison.
Gu Jin-ak could only smile self-deprecatingly in acceptance.
"Ahem, anyway, I waited to keep our promise."
"Thank you. I got so busy that I..."
"No, no. For me and the Blood Dragon Room, this was something we had to clarify fully."
At Gu Jin-ak's words, Hyeon Yucheon and even Cheonu showed curiosity.
There was only one thing the Demon Sword Sect wondered about.
—Why did our eldest senior brother, Brilliant Light Demon Sword Ga Jinuk, defect to the Blood Dragon Room?
The common rumor was disappointment in the Demon Sword Sect's endless decline, leading him to the mightiest of the five great unorthodox sects.
Supporting this: he'd taken not just himself, but the entire Flash Light Demon Sword Squad—the core of the crumbling sect after losing its pillar, the Demon Sword Ghost Elder.
That's why I suspected him as the murderer who killed my master.
But what Gu Jin-ak revealed was shocking.
"To be direct: Great Hero Ga did not betray the Demon Sword Sect... He transferred to the Blood Dragon Room to save it."