Baek Mujin began to walk, and behind him followed four Harmonization-tier warriors from the Ihwageom Cheonjong sect, along with Jang Cheonun and the rest of the traitors from the Sacred Cliffs Union.

Then, a hundred more martial artists followed suit.

For today, every one of them was a blade with a single purpose.

Each one of them radiated a cold, lethal intent as they advanced toward Cheonryongjeon—without the slightest hesitation.

I had thought it was strange from the beginning.

Understanding your opponent’s intentions is the most basic of basics.

The moment you stop thinking—that’s when your life as a martial artist ends.

That’s how I’ve lived.

After Yang Seoljin died, I set the stage.

In rebuilding the Millennium Demonic Sect, I held no particular reservations. I even conveyed to Yu Cheong my willingness to help with it.

From that moment on, Yu Cheong’s options narrowed to two:

Use me as a sword—or remove me.

And for now, he chose the former.

That much was obvious.

Yu Cheong is after the last sacred relic of the Millennium Demonic Sect, said to be buried deep beneath the snowy mountains.

But Yang Seoljin, the one most obsessed with it, had already died.

With him gone, Yu Cheong needed someone of equivalent standing. And I filled that need perfectly.

At first, I considered using Seo Hyo to bait Yu Cheong out—but unfortunately, that wasn’t something that needed to be done just yet.

First, I needed to gauge Yu Cheong’s power.

There are truths within the Original Blood Sect that I don’t yet know. And Yu Cheong is meticulous.

There’s no way he doesn’t have subordinates in place.

He had to show me the strength of the force he’s nurtured.

That’s why Muksehoe and Cheonrim acted.

But their approaches were different.

Muksehoe dealt with me as an equal—a negotiation. Cheonrim took a different tack.

Cheonrim’s actions clearly aimed to lure me out of Sacred Cliffs.

At that point, I had a rough idea of what was going on.

I wasn’t completely certain—maybe 60%—but after speaking with Jang Icheong, that became 100%.

“Without Pung Muhwi or the forces of Cheonrakbu... are you certain about this?”

Commander Seong asked, and I chuckled softly.

“Weren’t they the ones who worked hardest in taking down Noklimchae?”

“...That’s true.”

“They’ve done their part. This is no longer their fight, Commander Seong. It’s mine.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Before I am of Heavenly Commissioner, I am a martial artist. And a martial artist cannot take back a word once spoken.”

“...”

“I always said the place beside me would be yours, Commander. Or... are you thinking of running away now?”

Commander Seong let out a snort of laughter.

“I would follow you into a burial, young master.”

He really seemed to mean it.

I was half-joking, but the word “burial” left me speechless for a moment.

After gazing at me for a while, Commander Seong widened his eyes and asked,

“But... what are you doing right now?”

It was a fair question.

I had just taken out a gem from Jeomuldae—one that radiated bone-chilling cold.

“Is that... a five-hundred-year-old Ice Essence Crystal?”

“You know your stuff.”

“This is insane. You’re supposed to refine and ingest it—why are you just...?”

“I have another.”

“Ah.”

“I’ll be deploying a formation. I plan to channel the energy of the Ice Essence Crystal into it.”

Commander Seong scratched his head.

“...I suppose the grand plan will have to wait.”

I didn’t bother replying. I simply looked down at the Ice Essence Crystal in my hand.

Roughly palm-sized, the clear gem released streams of cold energy that swirled around it like smoke.

I stepped to the center of Cheonryongjeon’s courtyard and tapped the stone floor beneath my feet with the tip of my sword.

That would be the central palace.

According to the principles of the Later Heaven arrangement and the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams...

Muttering softly, I moved out from the central palace, marking the eight directions: north, south, east, west, and the four diagonals.

In order, I arranged the Nine Palaces as follows:

Kan – North: Energy of water

Kun – Southwest: Energy of earth

Zhen – East: Energy of thunder

Xun – Southeast: Energy of wind

Qian – Northwest: Energy of sky

Dui – West: Energy of lake

Gen – Northeast: Energy of mountain

Li – South: Energy of fire

Center: Central coordinating point

I didn’t expect to set this up so soon—but I had always thought the day would come.

The framework of the formation was complete, but it was far from enough.

I now had to infuse energy into it.

This was the critical part.

I clenched the Ice Essence Crystal tightly.

Then, drawing a straight line from my position in the center, I concentrated Heo Hyeonqi into the midpoint.

The cold energy of the Ice Crystal followed the line of Heo Hyeonqi, sinking into the center—and then its nature began to transform.

First, a surge of murderous intent erupted from each of the eight surrounding palaces.

“...You're altering the elemental nature. Incredible, young master.”

I didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer.

I focused.

From the Kan Palace in the north rose the freezing chill of death.

From the Kun Palace in the southwest surged a crushing weight of the earth, ready to flatten all.

From the Zhen Palace in the east—destruction, splitting apart like a sudden bolt of lightning.

From the Xun Palace in the southeast—the wind became blades, piercing to the bone.

From the Qian Palace in the northwest—heavenly judgment, a divine hammer smashing down.

From the Dui Palace in the west—what had been a placid lake now became a swamp of the dead, swallowing souls whole.

From the Gen Palace in the northeast—mountainous force, pressing down like a grave that buries all.

From the Li Palace in the south—flames of hell, consuming all into ash.

And at the center—the central palace—an absolute will of death, coordinating and controlling all the murderous energies.

“...Huh.”

Speechless, Commander Seong fell silent as I stepped back and placed a small stone monument at the center.

Immediately, all the rampaging energies fell still.

“...What... is this...?”

After a moment’s hesitation, I spoke.

“On the way to Mannyeon Snow Palace, I was ambushed.”

“...”

“Experts at the Musin Five-Tier level, ones I had trained myself—and a Heaven Pole-ranked master of Cheonmun—came to kill me.”

“...So?”

“I was poisoned. My body wasn’t in fighting condition. A direct confrontation wasn’t possible.”

I slid the Heavenshaking Spiritblade back into its scabbard and continued.

“So I prepared this formation. One I had only ever constructed in my mind before.”

“...Is this it?”

I nodded.

“It’s called Heavenly Net Death Formation (Cheonra Saljin).”

“...How long can you sustain it?”

“My cultivation is shallow, and I’m only managing thanks to the Ice Crystal. I may be able to maintain it for half a quarter-hour at most... maybe not even that.”

A formation that kills everything trapped within Heaven’s net.

I used it to annihilate the entire pursuit force back then.

Even before that, I had killed countless others—but I thought that would be the end of it.

Then the next day, the Elder of the Original Blood Sect, Yeong Unseong, came after me himself with his followers—and I died.

Tch.

Clicking my tongue, I silently picked up another small stone monument.

Without a word, I carved new letters into it with my finger, and placed it next to the first.

“Commander Seong.”

“Yes, young master.”

“They’re coming. Prepare.”

He nodded.

Tonight’s storm of blood would be a fierce one.

***

Late at night.

While all the world slept, figures approached Cheonryongjeon—the heart of Sacred Cliffs.

They moved like a military force marching to war.

Because that’s exactly what they were.

What they wanted was everything Sacred Cliffs had to offer.

There might not be another opportunity like this.

This moment—right now.

With Cheonrakbu fully withdrawn, and Pung Muhwi, the Pavilion Lord of Punggeomgak, separated from Unhwi—this day.

This was the optimal time.

After today, no one knew who might remain at Unhwi’s side. Once the restoration of Cheonryongjeon was complete, Cheonrakbu would move in—and at that point, this army alone wouldn’t be enough. More troops, more strategy, more distractions would be needed.

Time and money.

Whatever they spent, it would only lead to uncertainty—but tonight minimized the risks.

It couldn’t be missed.

They all entered Cheonryongjeon.

As if prearranged, they headed for the central courtyard.

At the very front, Baek Mujin suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Two men stood before him.

One—a sharp-eyed, silver-haired youth.

He looked young, but the aura he gave off was that of someone who ruled not just one—but several regions.

...Incredible. For someone so young to have such presence...

His gaze shifted naturally to the other man.

Short-haired—perhaps shaved? Not quite middle-aged, but not quite young either.

According to the reports, he was in his early forties—but looked barely in his thirties.

It happened sometimes.

When a martial artist advanced from the Ipshin Stage to the Mythic Realm, their body would undergo a drastic transformation—becoming young again.

If you constantly consumed high-grade pills and resources, digesting them well, the result would be something like this.

...He must’ve had an insane amount of money.

Just how many elixirs would one have to consume to look like this?

His gaze dropped.

Beneath the two men was a stone tablet.

It read:

Heavenly Net Death Formation (Cheonra Saljin)

All who enter shall leave only in death.

A snort escaped Baek Mujin.

“Quite the fancy name. Seems you’ve prepared something—but wouldn’t it have been better to run?”

Unhwi stared at him wordlessly.

That look was unsettling enough that Baek Mujin shrugged.

“Well, leaving aside your age—you’re one of those so-called prodigies. You must # Nоvеlight # know what kind of place the martial world is.”

“I do.”

“Then you also know exactly what this situation means. So there’s no need for lengthy talk.”

“There isn’t.”

Baek Mujin let out a dry laugh.

Even now, Unhwi held his ground—refusing to flinch. He really was the type to shake up the martial world.

“Eight warriors of the Heaven-Earth Apex, a hundred and twenty meat shields... You’ve got quite the setup.”

At Unhwi’s words, Baek Mujin waved a hand.

“This isn’t brute force. This is meticulous preparation—leveraging your every weakness. You’ve got nowhere to run. So before we start, I have one request. Eat this—”

“Wait.”

“...What?”