The next day, I stretched my body while looking at the panoramic view of Kongtong Mountain in Gansu Province.

Thanks to a good night’s sleep, my mana and internal energy were considerably recovered compared to yesterday.

‘Is that the rising star the Martial Alliance Leader was talking about?’

I looked at the man standing in the center of the sparring ground. He looked to be in his late 20s, similar in age to Cho Min-ha or perhaps a little older.

Before the match, Seo Won-dal explained.

“He’s a child named Jeong Ju-man. Among our second-generation disciples, no, among all the disciples from the first to the third generation, he’s the child with the best qualities.”

In other words, the next head of the Kongtong Sect.

As if to prove those words, the place was bustling with martial artists from the Kongtong Sect who had come to watch the duel with him.

Everyone was looking this way. Each with eyes of awe or wariness.

“The Great Mage is famous, after all.”

Just then, I heard Seo Won-dal’s voice from the side. It seemed the news of my performance in the battle with the Blood Demon had spread this far.

“You really have to keep your promise if I win, right?”

“I will. But it won’t be easy. He’s a child our sect has painstakingly raised.”

“I was also born precious in many ways.”

With the answer, I moved forward.

In front, Jeong Ju-man was glaring at me with a sword in his hand.

To think that a master at the level of the next sect head, who was more than 10 years older, was burning with a competitive spirit towards this side.

I could feel that I had grown.

‘Still, it’s far from enough.’

I also drew the Demon-Slaying Sword and faced Jeong Ju-man.

“Begin!”

With Seo Won-dal’s signal, we rushed at each other without anyone having to go first and clashed our swords.

Kaang!

The sword blade that I had thrust out in an instant was pushed back as if bouncing off the heavy sword strike.

‘He’s considerable?!’

At least at the proficient super-peak level. I immediately flew a spear of flame lightning that I had formed behind my back.

The opponent’s eyes widened at the bombardment that was shot in a close situation.

Ka-ga-ga-gang!

But Jeong Ju-man immediately twisted his sword and body and deflected both my sword and the spear of flame lightning.

Although it was a considerable movement, another spear of flame lightning was already completed.

Hwa-reuk-!

A flame continued and rushed at the enemy. The moment the belatedly retrieved sword met the spear of flame lightning.

The spear of flame lightning scattered in the air without a shape.

‘What?’

I had seen it being cut down or deflected from the front with sword qi, but this was the first time.

With an ominous premonition, I widened the distance a little more and fired magic indiscriminately.

This time, it was water stream magic that was flying. A stream of water that couldn’t be completely cut with just a sword.

At that moment, the opponent’s sword flashed and completely cut off the momentum of the water. The water formed by magic remained as it was, but its physical force was completely removed.

‘This is!’

Anti-magic, the power to nullify magic.

The opponent’s sword bent erratically and aimed for this side.

The Demon-Subduing Sword Art. A sword with the meaning of subduing demons rushed in from all directions.

The dazzling movements continued to confuse my vision.

I barely blocked it and flew magic. But every time, it just scattered at the opponent’s sword.

‘Anti-magic. The ‘ma’ (demon) of the Demonic Cult and the ‘ma’ (magic) of magic should be different concepts, right?’

Although it was hard to understand, I had no room to think that far.

The opponent’s swordsmanship was superior to this side. A situation where I didn’t know how many more moves I could endure.

‘Then I have no choice but to use my ultimate move.’

While receiving the opponent’s sword, I formed several spears of flame lightning in the air.

“That won’t work on me!”

Jeong Ju-man, who was pressuring me with a shout.

He wasn’t wrong. Since the spears of flame lightning were breaking as soon as they flew.

But no matter how much it was anti-magic, it couldn’t nullify the power contained in a blade.

“Then how about this?”

A Flame Lightning First Blade Spear that was shot while we were clashing swords. Since it was shot hidden among the spears of flame lightning, the opponent’s reaction was even slower.

“……!”

With a flash, the tip of the First Blade’s blade rushed towards the vitals.

However, no blood splattered or anything like that happened.

“Excellent.”

Because Seo Won-dal, who had intervened on the stage before I knew it, was standing there, holding the First Blade.

‘What an incredible speed.’

A stealth and speed that I couldn’t even feel him approaching. He declared, imbuing his voice with internal energy.

“The winner is Zhuge Cheonwu!”

Jeong Ju-man’s expression hardened, and he looked at me and cupped his fists.

“I have learned a lesson.”

“Me too.”

I retreated from the spot with a formal greeting. Then, Seo Won-dal matched his pace and shared his thoughts.

“Excellent. In the history of the martial world, you will be the first martial artist to use the Art of Controlling the Sword in such a way in a real battle at that age. Ju-man must have also realized that the world is wide with this. Thank you.”

“I am the one who is grateful. Thanks to the Alliance Leader, I had nothing to hold back.”

Although I had controlled it just in case, if I had left it as it was, my abdomen would have been pierced.

The reason I could be so bold in the Kongtong Sect’s main mountain was because a Profound Realm master was watching.

However, a question still remained.

“What on earth is the Demon-Subduing Sword Art? To even nullify sorcery?”

I had thought it was only effective against the demonic arts of the Demonic Cult.

“To be precise, it doesn’t nullify it. It’s just that it has become a monster to catch a monster.”

At those words, my curiosity grew even more, but Seo Won-dal didn’t say any more than that.

The Demon-Subduing Sword Art was a martial art that originally contained the meaning of opposing the demonic arts of the Demonic Cult. It seemed that after a long bad fate with the Demonic Cult, it had even gained the function of anti-magic.

‘It was an unexpected difficulty. To think there would be an enemy that magic doesn’t work on.’

However, my thoughts ended there, and I recalled my original purpose.

“Then let’s depart now.”

“Before that, would you like to have a match with me too?”

“Pardon?”

‘Don’t tell me this person is doing this because his sect’s disciple lost?’

“I’m not that narrow-minded.”

Seo Won-dal, who spoke as if he had read my thoughts.

“Can’t we just leave?”

“Instead, I’ll take you there in half a day. How about it?”

“Pardon?”

How could he go a five-day journey, which even martial artists called a forced march, in half a day?

Although it was an unbelievable proposal, the key to solving the problem was in the other side’s hands.

I had no choice but to accept.

“Alright. But you’re not going to discuss victory or defeat, are you?”

At my current level, I couldn’t win against a Profound Realm master no matter what I did. It was a situation where I couldn’t even pierce his protective qi.

A gap where even inflicting a wound was impossible.

Thanks to winning against Jeong Ju-man in a relatively short battle, I still had some stamina left, but since the opponent was who he was, I couldn’t see any way to win.

“Hehe, you see me as a rather shameless old man.”

Seo Won-dal let out a hearty laugh and stepped onto the sparring ground.

“Just do your best. I’ll receive it.”

When the Martial Alliance Leader discussed a guidance duel, all the members of the Kongtong Sect focused their attention on this side with surprised eyes.

To receive guidance from the number one in the Central Plains had that meaning. In the tense atmosphere, Seo Won-dal opened his mouth.

“Then let the duel begin.”

Simultaneously, I widened the distance and flew a spear of flame lightning.

An opponent where a close-range battle was not established in the first place. A strategy like the one before was just a suicidal act.

‘I’d rather aim for a big one through checks.’

I circled the edge of the sparring ground, flying magic such as the spear of flame lightning indiscriminately.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!

A hot wind that raged around as if it had been bombarded.

Nevertheless, the great presence felt from inside was still the same.

‘There’s no impact at all.’

If I had my way, I would have wanted to widen the distance even more, but it was not possible to float with psychokinesis.

Since the other side’s mobility was overwhelming, an aerial battle would just be me getting hunted.

I had already experienced it.

‘Still, since the other side seems to be receiving it for now, I’ll go with maximum firepower right away.’

In the gap where the smoke of the explosion was scattering, I prepared a Flame Lightning First Blade Spear.

Since there was a distance, I increased the proportion of the electric shock to increase the speed.

And so, the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear, which had been shot after eating up the mana in my bosom, hit Seo Won-dal’s heart.

‘What?’

I thought he would dodge or block it, but to think he would just take it.

Kwaaaaaang!

The flame lightning that exploded afterward burned the area and created a hot wind in all directions.

In the astonishment of the other Kongtong Sect disciples, I couldn’t relax my tense expression.

‘He’s a monster. Really.’

Because Seo Won-dal, in a perfectly fine state, was approaching, pulling out the First Blade that was stuck in his solar plexus.

“Is this all?”

He had blocked the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear that had flown from the front with just his protective qi.

Although it looked as if it was stuck in his chest at a glance, it was actually closer to being caught in the membrane of his protective qi.

‘He’s crazy.’

To put it in a modern person’s perspective, it was like catching a sword blade that had flown through a gap in the muscles.

“It’s not bad, but I hope this isn’t all. In that sense, I will confiscate this artifact, no, this divine object.”

He then gripped the First Blade of the Daoist Scholar’s Fan tightly.

‘It’s not coming out at all.’

It was the weakness of a long-range weapon. Although there were still eight ribs left, I couldn’t just shoot them carelessly.

Since I had also consumed quite a bit of mana from the previous battles.

‘About three or four more shots?’

It was fortunate that my mana pool had grown after achieving the 5th circle.

‘Still, the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear alone is not enough.’

Piercing Seo Won-dal’s protective qi was the priority.

I needed a strong power.

Seo Won-dal was still standing still, looking at this side.

‘I need something stronger.’

A power of a force that could be added on top of the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear.

I took a stance and wrapped the Demon-Slaying Sword with sword qi. And then, while activating the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear, I rushed at Seo Won-dal.

“The same method?”

Seo Won-dal said, as if disappointed, and caught the Demon-Slaying Sword with one hand and the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear with the other.

A state where I couldn’t move at all.

“Still, it was excellent. At this point…”

Before Seo Won-dal could finish his words, a vibrating sound echoed.

In the resonance of the 5th circle, my mana was swelling.

Neither swordsmanship nor the attack of the divine object, which combined internal energy and mana, had worked.

‘Then all that’s left is a maximum firepower magic.’

A spear of flame lightning was not enough. I needed a blow that was different from before, one that was possible because I had transcended a realm.

In an instant, a sphere of mana began to gather in front of Seo Won-dal’s nose.

At first, it was a flame.

And then it was an electric shock.

‘Just one more.’

The mana of the 5th circle resonated, and a gust of wind blew in the area.

Wind magic was added.

The fusion of three attribute magic: fire, lightning, and wind, the Flame-Wind-Lightning.

A new magic exploded on Seo Won-dal’s heart.

With an explosive sound, a gust of wind containing flames raged.

“Martial Alliance Leader!!”

“What on earth happened?!”

Voices burst out from all directions at the power that would make one flinch even from a distance.

What was revealed after the flame that had been heating up the area subsided was Seo Won-dal, standing there, blocking the Daoist Scholar’s Fan with one hand.

Under his surprised eyes, I was aiming the Daoist Scholar’s Fan.

“You blocked this?”

I looked at Seo Won-dal’s hand and raised the corner of my mouth.

The moment I was about to launch an additional attack after chipping away at his protective qi with the Flame-Wind-Lightning, Seo Won-dal had blocked him.

Although his protective qi was still not pierced, it meant he could at least defend.

“Good, that’s enough.”

With Seo Won-dal’s words, I struggled to withdraw the Daoist Scholar’s Fan.

My remaining mana was around 10%. It meant my all-out attack had worked.

“I have to keep my promise. Then before we depart. Shall we talk for a moment?”

With Seo Won-dal’s proposal, we headed for the back of Kongtong Mountain, where there were no people.

“The Martial Academy. I was also almost the head of the academy once.”

“Is that so?”

It was nothing to be surprised about. Because Seo Won-dal was a man who was called the strongest among the disciples that the Heaven-Shattering Demon had obtained in his later years.

If he hadn’t become the Martial Alliance Leader, he would have been the head of the academy.

“I think I know why Cheon Mu-jin nominated you.”

“Pardon?”

“I thought I was quite talented, but you are more than that.”

It was the judgment of the Martial Alliance Leader, no less. He wouldn’t have just said it.

I offered a humble word.

“You praise me too much.”

“Actually, there’s something I want to tell you, who has shouldered the master’s long-cherished wish. It’s a story about the enemy you will face in the future.”

“I’m listening.”

I answered immediately at his serious gaze.

The Heaven-Shattering Demon had made a prophecy about an enemy that would come someday. Just as Zhuge Ryu-hun had seen a scene from the future.

“Actually, there is no one who has been specifically identified yet.”

“Pardon?”

“We can only guess. According to the master’s testimony.”

Seo Won-dal continued, staring at the mountain range far away.

“Before I reached the age of learning, when I achieved the peak level, everyone around me was amazed, calling me a heavenly martial body.”

If he had reached the peak level before he was even 15, it was understandable. It meant he was not a talent who had reached the Realm of Profound for no reason.

“But a few days before the master disappeared, he looked at my sword and muttered these words. ‘This is not enough.’”

I was silent.

The child that the Heaven-Shattering Demon had seen had now become a Profound Realm master and the undisputed number one of the orthodox faction. And yet, it was not enough.

“At the time, I didn’t know what he meant. Because I thought I could reach his realm someday. But now, I think I know.”

The enemy that the Heaven-Shattering Demon had prophesied was, in the end, a monster greater than Seo Won-dal. And such an existence, in the current Central Plains…

For a moment, I felt a gruesome feeling.

In the current Central Plains, there were only two who could defeat Seo Won-dal single-handedly. The Blood Demon and the Heavenly Demon.

But what if it wasn’t them?

The candidate had to be a rising star with a talent greater than Seo Won-dal.

Seo Won-dal was looking at this side quietly.

“The reason he said I was not enough.”

Now Seo Won-dal was suspecting me.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep