The next stele bore the inscription: [Poison Demon, Cheong Rinseol].

The accompanying manual was titled Thousand Venoms Ten-Thousand Blossoms Palm.

It was a palm technique that allowed the user to secrete and control thousands of poisons freely from their fingertips—but it was clearly usable only by someone who had already achieved total immunity to poison.

Unhwi turned his head to the side. There were a few more skeletons, but no manuals beside them.

How should he describe this feeling?

It didn’t seem like this was the final gate of the Secret Realm. His years of experience told him as much.

And yet, he had already obtained four Divine-grade manuals. Their levels varied—low, mid, and high tier—and none of them appeared incomplete.

If one sought to rebuild the Demonic Cult, these were undoubtedly essential. Divine arts.

Their value would be extraordinary, both to collectors and to those who intended to use them.

At that thought, Unhwi’s brow faintly furrowed.

Kuuuuuu—!

A strange sound rumbled from the depths of the cavern. At once, black energy began to swirl, taking on the shape of a person.

A thought-form—its whole body made of black smoke. It wore a demonic crown upon its head, a short sword in its right hand, and a long sword in its left. Apparently left-handed.

Just as it lunged toward Unhwi—

Kwaaang!!

A thunderous explosion shook the entire cavern.

The thought-form’s head split neatly in two.

"You’re late."

With that cold voice, a man appeared.

The Sword Emperor of Myriad Transformations, Jang Icheong.

The sword in his hand gleamed with dark magi, and a self-satisfied smile played across his face as if the previous strike had been nothing at all.

"Now, lay bare your true self."

Unhwi tilted his head at the abrupt statement.

"You are, without a doubt, one of the most inexplicable figures in the entire martial world," Jang Icheong said. "Just the path you’ve walked already defies convention."

"......"

"No one has managed to grasp you—your goals, your purpose. But I’m different."

"Different, you say? Do you consider yourself above others?"

"I do. Think carefully. I can deduce not only your intentions but also what you ultimately seek. Yes, I can see right through you."

Unhwi’s expression remained doubtful. Jang Icheong wasn’t a fool—but to claim he understood what Unhwi intended, what lay beyond that?

"That’s unexpected. You never struck me as a man with such insight."

Jang Icheong gave a faint laugh. He read Unhwi’s detached tone as unease.

"It’s obvious. What you’re after is face."

"Me?"

"In rebuilding the Thousand-Year Demon Cult, you’re the perfect blade—background, nerve, even execution. And in the end, all of it begins with your pride, your face."

"......"

"You may not have great ambition for the cult itself, but you’re full of intention to aid in its restoration. In doing so, your prestige will shake the martial world. You challenged me, a Heavenly Commander; you struck against the Gaebang—all of it, for face."

To be honest, Unhwi was surprised—

because not a single word of it was correct.

He hadn’t dismissed the possibility that Jang Icheong might have discerned some fragment of his true purpose. But now it was clear that the man had no idea.

"With that face of yours, you’ll raise your worth, reclaim your standing in the Snow Mountain Palace that cast you out. Bloodline strife is nothing rare, and if the Mukse Society or Cheonrim supports you, you’ll seize prestige and reputation either way."

Unhwi gave a quiet, incredulous laugh.

"And what is it you’re trying to say?"

"What else?"

Jang Icheong crossed his arms.

"No one’s watching. If you kneel and apologize for your insolence, you and I can walk out of this Secret Realm together."

"Is that so?"

"Outside, my Ihwa Union’s ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) warriors are clashing with the Seongjak Union’s. Many will die. The Five Great Sword Sects—Azure Cloud and Heaven-Sound—along with the Sima Outer Branch sects, the Soul Demon Flame Palace and Heaven Demon Spirit Sect, will all suffer losses. Their parent sects will use that as pretext to send in their elites. I’ll stop them."

"Do you have the power to do that?"

"Why wouldn’t I? Few can straddle both the Mukse Society and Cheonrim as I can. Do you understand what that means?"

"Roughly. It means you’re the leader of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect and a man trusted by Cheonrim’s Master."

"Precisely. Fighting me in that condition of yours is meaningless. Kneel, bow your head, and this Secret Realm will record that we ‘joined hands.’ Of course, the tale of you calling me your respected senior and me graciously accepting you will be mine to craft."

He extended his hand toward Unhwi.

"Now, kneel."

Silence fell.

After a long moment of thought, Unhwi burst into laughter.

Hahahahahahaha—!

He laughed like a man genuinely amused, and Jang Icheong could only stare, bewildered.

"...What’s so funny? Do you think I’m joking?"

"I’ve seen many fools in my life," Unhwi said evenly.

"......"

"And you, senior, are among the finest of them."

"You little—"

"You’ve failed to grasp what I want, why I came to the Heavenly Alliance, why I contacted the Mukse Society. You haven’t understood a single truth."

Unhwi quietly drew the Heavenshaking Spiritblade.

"Our directions differ. There’s no point talking further. Let’s get to the real matter."

His gaze sharpened.

"Since you’ve made me an offer, I’ll make one in return. Kneel. Swear upon your martial spirit to become my subordinate, and I’ll spare your life."

"...What?"

"Not only spare you—I’ll even secure a new position for you within the Mukse Society."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Don’t you understand?"

A cold smile spread across Unhwi’s lips.

"I intend to devour the Mukse Society."

"You... insane bastard. Devour what?"

"Why? Do you think I can’t?"

"You don’t even know who the Lord of the Mukse Society is—"

"And do you, Senior Jang?"

At that, Jang Icheong fell silent. The answer was obvious.

"So you don’t."

"...Only a handful know who the Mukse Society’s Lord truly is. Not even Heaven-grade members within the Society, nor anyone in Cheonrim except perhaps its Master himself."

"If someone has to be hidden to that degree... then I’ll have to find out. Sounds interesting."

Jang Icheong’s expression twisted. The situation was slipping from his control.

"I don’t want to waste more time. Will you kneel?"

Jang Icheong drew his sword instead.

"Not a chance."

"Then that’s settled."

Murderous intent flared in Unhwi’s eyes—and in Jang Icheong’s as well.

The killing aura of Celestial Being masters flooded the Secret Realm, and through it surged immense magi.

"You’re asking for death, you arrogant fool," Jang Icheong hissed, his eyes glowing black.

Unhwi’s reply was calm.

"I could say the same to you."

"......"

"There’s a saying, isn’t there? When the mind fails, the body suffers."

"......"

"And that’s exactly what you’re suffering right now."

"You—!"

Jang Icheong shot forward.

In an instant, he was upon Unhwi, sword crashing down.

Unhwi’s eyes flashed.

Kwaaaang!!

Energy exploded in midair.

A figure was blown clear across the chamber—Jang Icheong—smashing through a cluster of skulls on the opposite side.

When he looked up, disbelief filled his face.

He couldn’t comprehend it.

Shards of ice drifted through the air.

Through them, Unhwi emerged slowly, his eyes gleaming with white light.

"...What... is this?"

"Did you think I came unprepared?"

"...Have you reached the Heaven-Earth Apex?"

Someone like Jang Icheong could see it.

The strike Unhwi had just unleashed required a realm at least on that level.

But his tone ended in doubt—because it felt like the Heaven-Earth Apex, yet not quite.

"The name of the realm is Triple Profound Ice-Fire Formula, though it’s closer to a cultivation method. It has some deviations."

Jang Icheong’s eyes widened.

"What are you saying...?"

"It stands upon the boundary of the Heaven-Earth Apex, yet unites all its insights into one. Most likely it will settle under the name Triple Profound Realm."

"......"

"The martial world will grow noisy again. Though you won’t live to see it."

Pushing aside shattered skulls, Jang Icheong rose, teeth clenched.

Impossible.

Creating a new realm?

Among martial artists—who could possibly do such a thing?

That thing before him?

Impossible.

"I can’t accept this."

"I never asked you to."

The man’s obstinate tone made Jang Icheong’s rage boil over.

Natural energy burst from his body—tainted, corrupted, closer to magi than qi.

"I’ll kill you!"

He launched forward.

***

In the instant Jang Icheong’s feet drove off the ground, Unhwi’s eyes and mind ignited.

His vision tracked every motion; his thoughts calculated every possible outcome in advance.

He had already studied Jang Icheong’s techniques long before entering the Secret Realm.

Theory and practice were not the same, and there was a gulf between his past life’s experience and this body—but it didn’t matter.

He could adjust.

He had no intention of a long fight—nor could he allow one.

It had to be short and decisive.

He would end it within five moves.

His first move—Absolute Ice Ghost Blade.

A strike of lightning speed tore through the air, shattering every trajectory Jang Icheong’s sword might have taken.

As a Celestial Being Stage master, Jang Icheong could respond in any situation.

Twisting his body, he swung.

The Demon Heaven Sundering Sword.