Ordinary people often delve into historical wars and immerse themselves in the perspective of the victors.
Great and grand victories.
Fighting without fear of death, achieving a somber victory through sheer determination.
Victories proudly declared, stained with the blood of the defeated on the sword’s edge.
Who doesn’t yearn for such glory?
But where there is a victor, there must be a loser.
In a fierce and cruel world, the powerless are dragged involuntarily into slaughterhouses they never wanted any part of.
Even if one side wins the war, there’s nothing left for them, and if they lose, they become slaves to the victors, stripped of their dignity as human beings.
That is the true face of war, with its dual nature.
The long and drawn-out war of purification, leaving the righteous faction victorious and the blood cult vanquished.
Basking in their victory, the righteous indulged in wealth and extravagance, reveling in their newfound glory.
However, the scattered remnants of the defeated blood cult suffered greatly, treated as little more than livestock.
Of course, it must be understood that this applies only to some.
And…
The one who instigated the war, channeling the ferocity and brutality of the blood cult toward the mainland.
The egotistical Blood Demon, harboring his own ambitions, drove the blood cult members to their deaths, plunging the world into chaos.
He now lies in the basement of a martial arts clan, having had his limbs removed, struggling to survive.
A towering and immense wall.
Namgung Bin felt crushed beneath its weight.
From the top of the wall flowed an ocean of blood that soaked him.
Yet, Namgung Bin gritted his teeth and endured. It was an unpleasant sensation, but by now, it had become familiar to him.
The sensations when channeling the Blood Skill.
It signified he was on the right path.
‘Tonight… I’ll climb this wall.’
Namgung Bin slowly breathed in and out as he gathered his energy.
Hooop, hoo… A fierce, wolfish energy surged through his veins uncontrollably.
However, the moment this energy met the wall, which had been oppressing him…
“Khhh…! I see, this isn’t as easy as I thought…”
The energy suddenly calmed down, as if it had never existed.
Like calm waters riding the wind, the energy merely flowed in waves against the wall.
Namgung Bin knew well that even if ages passed, at this rate he wouldn’t be able to break through the ‘wall.’
But knowing it didn’t mean there was anything he could do about it. Crossing this wall of mastery wasn’t something achieved merely through determination. If it were, half the martial artists under heaven would be absolute experts by now.
“Blood World Arrival, Purification of the Wicked World.”
Right then, the Blood Demon’s voice pierced through his consciousness.
“The world of blood will arrive, and the corrupt world will be purified.”
“…”
“Whether you like it or not, you’re still a member of our church; you should at least know our teachings.”
“…”
“Find the light within the scriptures. Can a person learning Blood Skill not have some interest in the Age of Blood?”
“!”
Her words acted like a catalyst, and a great crack appeared on the once strong wall.
Creeeeak!
Enlightenment?
No, it was different.
The Word-Command of the Blood Demon, who had once reached the pinnacle of the Blood Heaven Skill, had awakened the latent power within Namgung Bin’s Blood Skill, forging its own path.
Kraaaa!
The wall collapsed effortlessly.
Namgung Bin grinned in delight.
“Ha…”
“I’ve crossed the wall.”
“…The world looks different from this level.”
“You’re jumping the gun. There’s still more beyond.”
“Everything seems slower. I can almost feel the quivering of the air. Can this be the world you live in?”
“No, I dwell two levels above where you are now.”
“Ho… This… Is the seventh level of the Blood Heaven Skill…”
Namgung Bin slowly rose from his lotus position.
A considerable amount of his internal energy flowed out from his body, creating a whooshing sound.
The basement was now filled with the scent of blood.
“You’re truly remarkable. I’ve heard, ‘Like father, like son.'”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve reached the seventh level of the Blood Heaven Skill in four years. While nowhere near mine, your talent is indeed something to behold.”
“…”
“Why do you waste such talent? As the main branch of the Namgung family, if you had mastered the Supreme Sword Form, you’d already be at the level of wielding twelve honored titles.”
A little resentfully, Namgung Bin replied feebly.
“Why practice something that yields no results?”
“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”
“Never mind, let’s leave it. You better stop talking nonsense.”
Namgung Bin grabbed the torn ear beside the table and placed it near his right temple.
“There, just leave it there.”
“Is this really going to work?”
“Don’t underestimate the regeneration capabilities of the seventh-level Blood Heaven Skill. Do you think something as trivial as reattaching an ear would be too much for it?”
Namgung Bin followed her instructions, trusting her claim.
Before he knew it, the torn ear and hair had fused and found their proper place.
He gingerly touched the now perfectly reattached ear, without a single mark left behind.
“You should thank the person who tore your ear off. If they truly wanted, they could have ruined your other ear permanently.”
Her casual words reminded Namgung Bin of Crown Lord.
That moment when he pulled his ear ruthlessly, just because his pride was slightly wounded.
He wasn’t sure whether to be angry at him or use the fact that he might not have been serious as comfort.
“What exactly is the ‘Flame Realm’? To cause a body part to never reattach is no mean feat.”
“It’s a level attainable by a select few in all the world. Isn’t it obvious why the five supreme masters are known as the Five Greats?”
“You weren’t counted among the Five Greats, were you?”
“Of course not, I surpassed even them.”
“…”
Suddenly, Namgung Bin recalled a forgotten fact.
That this woman before him, who seemed brash and only good for grandiose claims, was in fact one of the few ‘Heaven Realm’ masters in martial arts history.
“Still, despite all that, you were handily beaten by the Sword Sage.”
“…”
“That Sword Sage fellow was quite something. Even when my subordinates spoke of him as someone who broke from the norm, I didn’t believe it. Who would have thought a weak Central Plains fellow like him would come out?”
“That you would acknowledge the Sword Sage is surprising to me.”
Namgung Bin said this with an air of curiosity.
Blood Demon chuckled and replied.
“What do you take me for? I am no petty man incapable of recognizing superior strength when I see it.”
To which Namgung Bin questioned.
“Acknowledging superior strength? Factually speaking, weren’t you and the Sword Sage evenly matched?”
“…Match? Do you think it’s appropriate to call him my match?”
“What do you mean? Didn’t you battle him for seven days and nights without rest?”
“Seven days and nights is correct, but I can’t agree with the term ‘life-and-death battle.'”
Blood Demon snorted with disdain, as if Namgung Bin had just made a ridiculous statement.
“My sword clashed with his briefly at the start, merely twice. The second time, my sword shattered into pieces. After that, I was at the mercy of his strikes all through the seven days and nights. Perhaps the word of the forest battles got distorted along the way.”
Namgung Bin, puzzled, questioned this.
“…? That’s not possible. Cheolbin clearly said he defeated you after seven days and nights.”
“Rubbish! The first time our swords met, my sword shattered into pieces. By the second strike, my meridians were sealed. For seven days and nights, I was thoroughly beaten, to the point that I lost consciousness.”
“Why would he have any reason to lie?”
“Why are you questioning me about this? Now that I think of it, he did say something then. He grabbed the back of my hair with his left hand, stood with his back to the crescent moon floating in the clear night sky, with a gleaming blue light in his eyes.”
She cleared her throat and mimicked Namgung Cheolbin’s tones.
“You’re quite the best when it comes to warming up.”
“Warming up…?”
“Yes. Back then, I was quite upset, but now I can see the appropriateness of his words. For seven days and nights, it was like warming up… I received blow after blow until I was shitting blood. When those seven days passed, he cut my neck. He used this sword, the Celestial Light Treasure Sword.”
She nodded her head toward the wall of the basement.
Namgung Bin’s gaze followed her instruction and came across a sword.
This was the personal weapon of Namgung Cheolbin and an artifact that had created countless legends with him.
This Celestial Light Treasure Sword, which was said to have been wielded by the legendary Yellow Emperor, Xuanyuan, earned its other name, the Xuanyuan Sword. It was also one of the seven grand treasures of the martial world.
Though currently relegated to the Namgung family’s basement due to being abandoned by its owner, it once had a glorious history.
Blood Demon pointed to the sword and asked.
“Why don’t you use that? Such a fine thing. If I could, I’d have seized it myself even without losing a limb.”
“Not using it, but can’t use it. The sword’s loyalty to its master is unmatched. If someone unauthorized tries to touch it, it will mercilessly cut off the head.”
“Hmm, this is the first time I’ve heard something like this.”
“Everyone who has tried to wield this sword after Namgung Cheolbin is dead. This sword is still loyal to its master. If you remove the scabbard, you will see the current location of Namgong Cheolbin shining on the blade. That’s why no one has been able to unsheathe it.”
“Hmm…”
Blood Demon slowly surveyed the room.
Bookshelves, more bookshelves, documents, various weapons, and strange, unidentified tools.
With no limbs and having lost her internal strength, she was as if half-dead and incapable of interacting with them, no matter how much she scrutinized, it only increased her curiosity, but…
“It’s odd that even with treasures like these, the Sword Sage doesn’t return to claim them. Truly a strange fellow.”
“Only someone in your position would.”
“I glanced at it and saw that the Sword Sage’s diary was among the bookshelves. Not interested? I can’t read it lacking any fingers.”
“You’re just asking me to read it?”
“Sure, provide some entertainment for this old hag.”
“No thanks. Nothing special is written in there, so don’t waste your time.”
“Damn brat.”
Blood Demon spat venomous words filled with dissatisfaction, but Namgung Bin paid no attention.
Seeing his stubborn face, Blood Demon frowned and asked.
“What is your intention, really? You must be aware that continuing this reckless behavior will eventually lead to your death. What is your purpose driving you to this?”
“Death holds no interest for me. And why do you keep bringing this up? Why should you care about someone else’s goals?”
“Just curiosity, that’s all. Using the Blood Skill alone will immediately brand you a wanted man by the martial world. On top of that, haven’t you been committing countless illegal deeds you shouldn’t have?”
“How have you known all this while being trapped here?”
“Can’t I foresee things with the entire world in the palm of my hand? You consider me nothing more than a brawn-strong idiot, it seems.”
“Even so, weren’t you completely defeated by my trivial strategy?”
“Therein lies the mystery, why is a hero who worked so hard to save the world trying to bring down the Sword Sage and creating such chaos now? What are you chasing?”
Faced with Blood Demon’s persistent inquiries, Namgung Bin shook his head and changed the subject.
“Enough of this talk. Such trivial matters aren’t worth the fuss…”
“It sounds like you’re hinting at something more important.”
“… Let me ask you something else. Do you have any knowledge of a ‘cave’? I’ve heard about Blood Cult zombies hidden around the Central Plains.”
To him, Blood Demon was nothing more than a tool for information; she didn’t deserve any respect.
“Of caves? Zombies?”
“Yes, I recently stumbled upon some information about them.”
Namgung Bin remembered the day almost a year before when Sword Lord, Blade Lord, and Water Lord confronted him.
It was a riddle he hadn’t yet solved.
“How strong do you think these zombies are?”
“Twelve Masters barely manage to handle three of them.”
“I think I know what you’re referring to.”
“You do?”
“Of course. Who do you think I am?”
Fortunately, it seemed Blood Demon had some knowledge. Finally, this riddle might be solved.
But…
“Then, share it with me.”
“Out loud?”
“…”
“First, tell me your goal. Let’s exchange information.”
Blood Demon was no pushover.
“Haa… Very well. Let’s have it out in the open.”
Saying this, there was no serious downside to sharing, so Namgung Bin reluctantly spoke.
And he delivered a vague response.
“Heavenly Qi, also known as ‘the Sky’. My only goal is to give it a taste of its own medicine.”
Pointing to the roof blocked by stone.
“That despicable thing is my sole purpose.”
“Huh? Are you making a joke? Speak plainly.”
“I can’t go further. Now it’s your turn. You’ve already offered something with your answer.”
“Tch… Even a little mystery is unbecoming…”
Blood Demon gave a slight grin along with the information she had previously traded for.
“The deputy head probably escaped.”
“Deputy head?”
“Certainly those are the zombies he raised. If they are capable enough to hinder top-tier experts, then the resources would be those of an ultimate grand master. Not just any zombies. Only the deputy head could possess such spell mastery.”
“Mm… Such a person wasn’t supposed to exist… Does this mean this round isn’t actually the 99th cycle?”
“What exactly did you just say?”
“Forget it. Tell me more about that earlier.”
Continuing to belittle him, Nam Palace Bin’s arrogant attitude finally pushed Blood Demon.
With sharp annoyance, she shot back.
“What more do you want me to say, that’s all there is. How long has it been since I stepped down from the Blood Sect Leader position, what other information do you seek?”
“You just said ‘who else could it be’ like you knew everything.”
“Hmph! I won’t reveal information if you withhold yours. What kind of lenience would I have?”
“…Then so be it.”
As Nan Kung Bin turned to walk away immediately, Blood Devil couldn’t help but panic.
“Hey, you! Just leaving? Aren’t you planning to share more about your goals? Are you truly willing to abandon the information about zombies and the deputy head?”
“No, I’ll come back soon. Stay well until then.”
“Ugh… You insolent brat…!”
Behind him, the clear sound of Blood Devil’s angry cursing reached his ears, but Nan Kung Bin paid it no mind.
With his ear already reattached, his blood technique advancing another level, and the invaluable information about the ‘deputy head’, this meeting had already exceeded expectations.
There wasn’t any reason to remain here right now.
There was no need to engage in meaningless conversation with Blood Devil.
Rather, it would be more worthwhile to…
“Nam Kung Cheolbin…”
To deeply ponder the ‘words’ of the Sword Sage he had just heard from Blood Devil.
“In the end, what cycle are we in this time…”
It was a night of deep thought.
“What? Is it already over?”
In the middle of a campsite, Tang Suobai’s voice, filled with curiosity, faded into the empty air.
She was heading toward the Infinite Celestial Valley.
“Isn’t there still a lot left for Heavenly Qi to do? Did the Sword Sage already defeat Blood Demon?”
Her mouth was wide open, clearly taken aback.
Her eyes were constantly drawn to the remaining pages of Heavenly Qi, which were impressively thick.
“According to context clues, it seemed like this is when he’d win, but… why does Blood Demon lose so early? Then, what exactly fills the rest of the content later on? Should I read more?”
Despite feeling perplexed, she moved on to the next page of Heavenly Qi to calm her confusion.
As she read one page after another…
“…Does this even make sense?”
Tang Suobai’s face gradually turned pale with shock.
About half an hour later, as Tang Suobai was flipping through Heavenly Qi aimlessly, her gaze stopped.
It had no choice but to stop.
The message floating in the night sky, readable only by her, was
something so absurd, even her vast intellect couldn’t comprehend it.
“…Up until now, my… meager… Thank you for reading…? See you again next time…? What does all this mean…?”
Just like Namgung Bin, it was a night filled with thoughts for Tang Suobai as well.
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