Chapter 795
"Most likely so."
Bu Eun-seol nodded, having read Hyeok So-jin's thoughts.
"By deliberately flying a kite to reveal their location... they must have intended to invite outsiders strong enough to ascend to a height of four thousand feet... or perhaps circumstances forced them to disclose the Wind God Palace's whereabouts."
Bu Eun-seol immediately assumed a disguise.
After all, identities like the Martial Soul Lord, Sword King Seon-u Jin, or Seol-so, disciple of the Bullet King—
any of these could escalate into inter-sect conflicts.
"Shall we go as Pyo Un?"
The identity Bu Eun-seol adopted was Pyo Un, Hall Master of the Dragon-Tiger Hall from the Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying Sanctuary.
"Temporarily. Given the Wind God Palace's standing, we'll likely have to reveal our true identities eventually."
"So you'll enter as my subordinate for now."
"Correct. Let's proceed first."
"Understood."
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin immediately headed for the summit of Haba Snow Mountain.
After enduring the cold and climbing for some time, a white fortress appeared near the main peak, sprawling as if blanketing the entire mountain.
"If they've been here all along, the Wind God Palace's location should've been discovered long ago."
Hyeok So-jin was astonished.
It seemed the Wind God Palace, much like the kite they'd flown, had concealed its headquarters through some mysterious power.
"Welcome."
Then something strange happened.
As Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin approached the palace gates, the doors swung open on their own, revealing two women in white garments who stood waiting as if to guide them inside.
"...?"
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin exchanged baffled glances.
Clearly, these women had mistaken them for someone else.
But that wasn't their fault—even if this led them into the lion's den, they had to enter the palace first.
Tap, tap.
The white-clad women glided forward with butterfly-light steps, leading them deeper inside.
Beyond the gates lay the quintessential image of a mysterious sect—
a breathtaking garden and pavilions constructed in a style utterly distinct from Central Plains architecture.
All those wandering the grounds were young women, draped in flowing white robes with their hair elegantly pinned up.
"This way."
The white-clad woman guided them to an opulent banquet hall.
The space was divided into two levels: the lower floor housed musicians playing eerie instruments, while the upper floor held seating for fifteen guests.
Fifteen invitations...
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin exchanged another glance.
For the Wind God Palace to summon this many outsiders—
this was no ordinary banquet. There had to be a special purpose.
"Please wait here for a while."
After ushering them in, the white-clad woman departed the way she came.
The two men subtly observed their surroundings before taking their seats.
'Skilled masters. And young.'
The banquet hall was filled with men in their twenties and thirties, all with exceptionally refined qi.
Three in particular caught Bu Eun-seol's attention:
a man wearing a veil woven from Heavenly Silkworm Silk, a youth perpetually wearing a congenial smile,
and a man with an arrogant sneer plastered across his face.
'Brother Bu. That one seems to be Yeo Mun-gi, the illegitimate son of the Jiangnan Martial Alliance's leader.'
Hyeok So-jin, recognizing the sneering man, whispered to Bu Eun-seol.
'Despite being a Righteous Faction figure, he's infamous for his vile temperament and underhanded methods. To think he'd show up here.'
Thud, thud.
Then, accompanied by heavy footsteps, an elderly woman with bark-like skin appeared in the banquet hall.
She was Hyang Gun-byeong, the Wind God Palace's highest-ranking elder.
Surveying the filled seats, she furrowed her brow.
"A mistake has been made."
Her voice was sharp with displeasure.
"Two uninvited guests have joined our sect's banquet."
Elder Hyang swept a frosty gaze across the room before it settled on Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin—the only ones in disheveled attire.
Having spent six days braving wind and dew to locate the palace,
their clothes were inevitably grimy.
"My old eyes fail me—I cannot recognize you two young heroes."
She regarded them coolly and asked,
"Who might you be, and from where?"
"Pyo Un, Hall Master of the Dragon-Tiger Hall from the Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying Sanctuary."
"Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying?"
Tilting her head, Elder Hyang turned to Hyeok So-jin.
"I am Hyeok So-jin."
Murmur, murmur.
Instantly, the banquet hall buzzed with whispers.
Hyeok So-jin—
grandson of the dreaded Phantom Demon Hyeok Gong-baek and future master of the Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying Sanctuary.
"You were not invited. How did you enter our sect?"
"A young woman guided us in when we arrived," Hyeok So-jin replied.
The old woman furrowed her brows and said,
"What this elder meant was how you managed to find and enter through the main gate."
This time, Bu Eun-seol answered.
"We saw a floating pagoda in the sky and climbed up, only to discover a massive kite connected to this place."
"You personally confirmed the presence of the floating kite?"
"Yes."
Elder Hyang let out a soft exclamation, her expression visibly startled.
Not just her—the men around them also gaped in disbelief.
"Do you mean to say you possess enough internal power to execute the Land-Flying Technique?"
At Hyang Gun-byeong's question, Bu Eun-seol answered honestly.
"No, I simply couldn't resist my curiosity and used the Remote Power-Gathering Technique to climb up."
At that, scattered laughter erupted throughout the banquet hall.
—So, in the end, they had risked their lives leaping into the sky just to reach the Wind God Palace?
Yet Elder Hyang ignored the murmurs and nodded.
"Then you are not unqualified, after all."
She then turned to the disciples standing behind her.
"Prepare two more seats."
The banquet hall was spacious, so adding two more seats wouldn't cause any discomfort.
Judging from her words,
it seemed that as long as one had the skill to leap into the void and see that kite by any means,
they would be deemed worthy of entering the Wind God Palace.
Rustle.
Attendants quickly swarmed in to set up the additional seating.
Once the seats were ready,
two young men brimming with lively energy entered the banquet hall once more.
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin glanced at them and simultaneously thought the same thing:
'Their martial arts don't seem particularly impressive.'
Though the newcomers carried a rather impressive aura,
in Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin's eyes, they were nothing more than young Rising Talents of the Younger Generation—neither more nor less.
Moreover, it was unlikely they had reached the kite leading to the Wind God Pagoda by using the Land-Flying Technique.
No doubt, these were individuals who had been formally invited by the Wind God Palace.
"Brother Bu. It seems we're the only ones here who weren't invited," Hyeok So-jin whispered.
Bu Eun-seol merely nodded in response.
The banquet continued for some time.
Delicacies were piled high like mountains, yet most of the attendees barely touched them.
It seemed their purpose for coming to the Wind God Palace lay elsewhere.
About an hour later—
Ding.
With the chime of a bell, white-robed disciples entered the first floor of the banquet hall,
carrying a uniquely shaped round stone.
Given how four martial-trained women strained to carry it, this was no ordinary rock.
Once the massive stone was set in place, Elder Hyang took a deep breath and spoke.
"To all the young heroes who have traveled great distances without hesitation in response to our invitation—we express our deepest gratitude."
Her voice was clear and resonant as she addressed the gathered youths.
"The lineage of our palace's Wind & Cloud Divine Qi was severed over a century ago, and now, it can only be obtained through Sun-Moon Harmony."
She raised her voice slightly.
"Thus, our palace has sought out young heroes of exceptional talent—those capable of mastering the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi—to become the Young Palace Lord's consort."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin, who had been silently listening, exchanged glances.
Only now did they grasp the situation unfolding before them.
—This was a Groom Selection Tournament?
The focus in their eyes wavered as they stared at each other.
—So that's why all these young prodigies had gathered...
Though phrased euphemistically as "Sun-Moon Harmony," the truth was clear—the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi could only be obtained through union between a man and a woman.
The Wind God Palace, a female-dominated sect, had lost its lineage of the Wind Spirit Constitution a century ago.
Since then, they had been selecting sons-in-law from outside to continue the legacy of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
'This is troublesome.'
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
To heal his body, he needed the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
But if even the Wind God Palace had lost its lineage... then the only way to obtain it was to become their matrilocal son-in-law.
At the very least, they were holding this tournament to select a groom—so in a way, this was fortunate.
[Brother Bu. Something's off.]
Hyeok So-jin's voice transmission reached him.
[Even if this is the Wind God Palace, how could they cultivate the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi through mere collaboration?]
His expression was incredulous as he sent another transmission.
[If union with a woman of the Wind God Palace grants the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi... then couldn't they, if they wished, unleash their disciples and turn the entire Murim into Wind Gods?]
It was a somewhat absurd notion, but his words held merit.
If one could obtain the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi through something as trivial as sexual intercourse—
Then if the Wind God Palace truly willed it, they could mass-produce countless Wind Gods.
Just then, Elder Hyang's clear voice continued.
"You must descend and channel your internal power into this stone. To inherit the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, one must be born with at least three of the Five-Elements Qi as their innate constitution."
Hyeok So-jin's doubts were instantly resolved.
To obtain the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, one had to be born with at least three of the Five-Elements Qi.
And the Wind God Palace was using that mysterious stone to determine the presence of those energies within the candidates.
"Allow me to go first."
At that moment, a young man seated beside Hyeok So-jin stood and stepped forward.
Whether intentional or not, he subtly adjusted the ornament on the sword hanging at his waist as he rose.
'A member of the Golden Saber Sect.'
The tassel on the man's cold blade gleamed gold.
Though the sect was no longer active in the martial world, it had long been considered a peer to the Sword Pavilion.
He was likely a master from the Golden Saber Sect.
Ziiing.
Descending to the first floor, the man slowly extended his hand toward the massive stone.
The moment he channeled his internal power, a chilling aura spread outward—and the stone flashed with a crimson light.
"Hmph."
As the explosive red radiance filled the surroundings, the man shrugged his shoulders with a self-assured smirk.
With such brilliance, he must have assumed he had passed.
"My apologies, Young Hero Deng."
But Elder Hyang shook her head.
"You have been disqualified."
"What do you mean?"
"Any martial master who has cultivated an Internal Energy Method would naturally manifest Li Fire Qi upon touching it."
Instantly, the man's face darkened.
In other words, the crimson light was merely a result of his internal energy—
Not proof that his constitution was suited for the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
"That's impossible! I have refined the Golden Spirit Art to the point where I have over 240 years of internal power!"
"Young Hero Deng."
Elder Hyang spoke calmly.
"I am well aware that you possess formidable martial prowess and are an outstanding individual in every regard."
Then, she adopted an apologetic expression.
"However, our sect's Wind & Cloud Divine Qi only manifests in those born with at least three of the Five-Elements Qi. There is nothing to be done."
Though Elder Hyang had spoken kindly, the Golden Saber Sect disciple's face flushed red and purple before—
"I will not forget this disgrace!"
—he stormed out of the banquet hall with a furious roar.
The gathered guests wore somewhat somber expressions.
A Groom Selection Tournament was typically meant to choose a son-in-law of noble lineage and exceptional talent.
But the Wind God Palace was demanding something unheard of—
A candidate who possessed a unique energy called the Five-Elements Qi.
Then why hadn't they disclosed this condition beforehand?
"This is strange."
At that moment, the masked man seated across from Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"If the Wind God Palace seeks those with the Five-Elements Qi, and they possess a precious artifact capable of identifying them—why invite us at all?"
His eyes flashed behind the mask as he stared at Elder Hyang.
"Wouldn't it be simpler to carry that stone across the Rivers and Lakes and test candidates directly?"
His words pierced straight to the heart of the issue, and the assembled guests nodded in agreement.
His reasoning was sound—it struck at the very essence of the matter.
"A fair question. Our palace has two reasons for hosting this tournament."
Elder Hyang replied.
"First, if we were to roam the martial world without invitation or justification, how many would willingly channel their internal power into the stone? Suspicion would arise."
She continued.
"Nevertheless, we had initially planned to discreetly search for a suitable candidate using the Five-Elements Stone. But after five years yielded no results..."
A sharp glint flashed in Elder Hyang's eyes.
"We began selecting young prodigies from sects known for cultivating the Great Strength Art or Primordial Chaos Art lineages—then extended invitations. That is the second reason."
Only then did murmurs of realization ripple through the crowd.
Every young master present—
Had trained in either the Great Strength Art or Primordial Chaos Art, techniques capable of unleashing explosive True Qi in an instant.
"So you're saying that those who have truly mastered such Internal Energy Methods have a higher probability of possessing the Five-Elements Qi."
The masked man's words earned a nod from Elder Hyang.
"Precisely."
As it turned out, from the Wind God Palace's perspective—
They had been doing their utmost to find a son-in-law capable of jointly cultivating the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
After five years of searching yielded no suitable candidate, they had no choice but to hold the Groom Selection Tournament in accordance with palace regulations.
"But you've omitted one crucial reason," the masked man said coldly.
"Among the selection criteria, shouldn't there be one more condition added?"
"What do you mean?"
"That you only recruit those unrecognized by their own sects—or the illegitimate sons of noble clans."
At those words, the young men seated at the banquet exchanged glances.
Just as the masked man had said, most of the prodigies gathered here, despite their extraordinary talents, either lacked the support of their sects' mainstream factions or were born as illegitimate sons of prestigious families.
"Young Hero Jegal. Your wisdom is truly remarkable. No wonder you abandoned your status as Young Clan Head and fled your family to wander the martial world."
When Elder Hyang revealed his identity, the masked man had no choice but to remove his disguise.
The crowd—especially Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin—gasped in shock.
The masked man was none other than Jegal Seo-un, the Young Clan Head of the Jegal Family, who had once worked with Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin to eliminate the Suspicious Madman.
Back then, thanks to Bu Eun-seol, he had gained an absurdly exaggerated reputation—one so overwhelming that he had no choice but to go into seclusion for closed-door cultivation, unable to show his face in the martial world.
But as if he had realized something, he suddenly wished to abandon his duties as the Jegal Family's heir and become a true wanderer of the martial world.
When the Family Head refused, Jegal Seo-un forced his way out anyway.
In the end, his actions provoked the Family Head's wrath, and he was effectively exiled from the Jegal Family.
"You're right. As Young Hero Jegal said, he too fits the criteria."
Elder Hyang acknowledged it without evasion.
"Only then can they leave their sects or families without regret and willingly become this palace's matrilocal son-in-law."
From the Wind God Palace's perspective, this made perfect sense.
If they carelessly passed down the legendary Wind & Cloud Divine Qi—the power to dominate the martial world as the Wind God—to an outsider, what then?
They would take the divine energy and leave without hesitation.
Thus, the Wind God Palace specifically sought candidates who either had nowhere to return to or could wholeheartedly devote themselves to the palace as a son-in-law.
"Have all your doubts been cleared now?"
At that moment, Yeo Mun-gi, an illegitimate son of the Jiangnan Martial Arts Alliance's leader, spoke up.
"Even if the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi is tempting, wouldn't it be a nightmare if the Young Palace Lord's face were plain?"
His voice was bright and clear.
"Or worse—what if she has some physical defect, some fatal flaw as a woman?"
Though somewhat rude, a few men nodded in agreement.
Even if they could dominate the world with the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, what if the Young Palace Lord's appearance was utterly ruined?
Or if she had some unforgivable flaw?
If that were the case, even if the prize were not the divine energy but a method to become an immortal, they would never have participated in this tournament.
"Of course, that's possible."
Elder Hyang showed no anger.
Instead, she smiled faintly.
"But don't worry. This elder guarantees that the Young Palace Lord possesses the most beautiful face in this palace."
At those words, the stiff expressions of several attendees brightened instantly.
The disciples of the Wind God Palace who had guided them here all had flawless skin and striking beauty.
If the Young Palace Lord was the most beautiful among them? Then there was nothing to worry about.
"Are you convinced now?"
Yeo Mun-gi laughed and nodded.
"Then it's settled."
Elder Hyang also nodded before raising her voice.
"From this moment, the Groom Selection Tournament officially begins. If anyone objects to this palace's event, you may leave now."
Then she added one last warning.
"Be warned—this tournament includes life-threatening trials... and once you participate, there is no turning back midway."
The way she spoke made it clear—
These trials truly demanded risking one's life.
At that, Bu Eun-seol rose from his seat without hesitation.
An ordinary martial artist would have no choice but to participate in the tournament to restore his body.
But Bu Eun-seol had no intention of deceiving the Wind God Palace to obtain their secret divine energy.
Even if it meant never recovering his body, he refused to become their son-in-law.
[Brother Bu.]
Hyeok So-jin, reading Bu Eun-seol's thoughts, swiftly grabbed his wrist.
[You can't. If you leave now, how will you ever recover your body?]
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
[The fact that they're holding this tournament proves the Wind God Palace isn't in its right mind. How could I deceive them just to heal myself?]
Hyeok So-jin cut in quickly.
[I know you're an honest man, Brother Bu. But if I become the Wind God Palace's son-in-law, wouldn't that solve everything?]
[What?]
[I'll do it. Then I can transfer the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi to you. Isn't that right?]
Hyeok So-jin was willing—
To sacrifice himself, participate in the tournament, and become the Wind God Palace's son-in-law...
All to restore Bu Eun-seol's body.