As I extended the Demon-Slaying Sword, the impact was transmitted to the bone. Although it was a tremendous sword, it was not something I couldn’t respond to.

‘First, I blocked one move.’

Simultaneously, the Flame Lightning Three-Blade Spear that had been floating nearby is shot. A flash of light that flies from three directions as if to surround the opponent.

Kwaaaaaang!

With a huge roar, the ground was dug up as if it had been hit by a cannonball.

But Cheong Ah-hyun was not at the center of it.

Even though it was a trajectory that was impossible to dodge, she had already escaped the encirclement.

“Don’t tell me this is all?”

“No way.”

Additional fan ribs popped out from inside my sleeve.

It was a measure I had taken because it was too late to retrieve the blades I had already flown in a real battle.

Since the Daoist Scholar’s Fan was made of a total of nine blades, the number was sufficient.

Just as I was floating a Flame Lightning Three-Blade Spear around me again. Cheong Ah-hyun approached.

Kaang!

Already the second clash.

I gritted my teeth, feeling like I would drop my sword from the impact. Following that, a continuous strike bent in an unbelievable trajectory.

Although I miraculously blocked the sword face, I was already at my limit.

‘I can’t last more than three moves.’

I immediately flew a Flame Lightning Second Blade Spear. Cheong Ah-hyun, who deflected the two-pronged offensive as it was.

Aiming for a momentary gap, I thrust my sword, but at that moment, Cheong Ah-hyun dodged to the side.

“Your aim is obvious.”

Cheong Ah-hyun, who had already occupied this side’s flank, said. But what I had been aiming for from the beginning was the plum blossom branch she was holding.

A powerful qi forms at the tip of the Demon-Slaying Sword. At the end of the diagonal line was the plum blossom branch that Cheong Ah-hyun was holding. For a moment, she tried to pull her arm back, but the powerful qi had already flown.

The plum blossom branch and the powerful qi collided with each other.

But what was heard was a metallic collision sound. Even though the powerful qi had clashed, the plum blossom branch was fine.

‘So it came out like this.’

I looked at the plum blossom branch, which was dyed purple. The opponent was protecting the plum blossom branch with a powerful qi.

“That’s a shame.”

Just as Cheong Ah-hyun’s sword was about to fall at the end of those words.

The last remaining Flame Lightning First Blade Spear rushed, aiming for her.

Kaang!

For a moment, she deflected the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear and said.

“This is just buying time.”

“That’s enough.”

I said, retrieving the Demon-Slaying Sword that I had been thrusting forward. But her sword, which had deflected the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear and was aiming for my head, was faster.

“It’s the end.”

Just as the sword was about to fall on my crown.

Kaaaaang!

Three consecutive metallic sounds were heard from behind Cheong Ah-hyun.

“What?”

Before I knew it, the fan ribs I had shot at the beginning were now piercing the plum blossom branch.

Beyond Cheong Ah-hyun’s sword, which was stopped by the Demon-Slaying Sword above my head, I could see three fan ribs stuck in the plum blossom branch.

Although she belatedly retrieved the plum blossom branch, the tips of the blades were already stuck.

“Even if I lose the battle, I will win the match.”

I granted a huge amount of mana to the blades and made them run wild.

The Flame Lightning Three-Blade Spear that had burst out at a close range surrounded the plum blossom branch and exploded.

Soon, a flame wind swept through all four directions, and from the middle of it, a low voice was heard.

“It was a feint to aim for this from the beginning.”

Cheong Ah-hyun drew up the purple energy from her whole body and drove out the flame.

“Yes, because it was a matter of whether I could break the branch from the beginning.”

I had used myself as a bait and had manipulated the fan ribs that had fallen on the floor from a distance. Since I had surrounded myself with a shadow for concealment and had only aimed for the branch, not Cheong Ah-hyun, it was late for her to notice.

“Still not enough.”

But soon, the Demon-Slaying Sword was deflected by her sword strike, and I could see the plum blossom branch, which was still maintaining its shape, in her other hand.

Even though I had focused and pierced one point, it seemed I couldn’t even pierce the powerful qi. But I still asked back with a relaxed face.

“Is that so?”

“Don’t tell me you thought my powerful qi would be pierced by your sword?”

“Of course. But you weren’t using all your strength either, were you, Master?”

For the past few weeks, in the process of fighting with Cheong Ah-hyun, I was able to be sure of one thing.

The powerful qi she used was always adjusted to a size similar to mine.

‘She probably gave me a handicap.’

“…It seems you’ve noticed.”

With those words, as Cheong Ah-hyun withdrew her purple powerful qi.

The plum blossom branch collapsed.

If she had used a powerful qi of a size similar to mine, she wouldn’t have been able to completely block the internal impact transmitted to the plum blossom branch.

Soon, Cheong Ah-hyun withdrew her sword and said.

“I see a chance. I’ll accept your request. The Plum Blossom Sword Unit will also join.”

Her public declaration fell.

I had finally obtained the promise of an alliance with the Huashan Sect.

Since it was a matter that had also been agreed upon with the sect leader of the Huashan Sect, the rest of the procedures were a breeze.

What I had obtained at the end of the discussion in the VIP room was an alliance with the Huashan Sect and support from their armed forces.

‘Cheong Ah-hyun and half of the Plum Blossom Sword Unit. How unconventional.’

In effect, more than half of the Huashan Sect’s forces were participating.

We left the main gate of the Huashan Sect, being seen off by Cheong Ah-hyun.

“Then let’s go back soon. To the Martial Academy.”

Because the eventful vacation was now coming to an end.

***

As soon as I arrived at the Martial Academy, I headed for the academy head’s office.

“Come in.”

When I opened the door and entered, Cheon Mu-jin was there.

“I heard you went through a lot during the vacation?”

“Yes.”

The incident where Baek Hasin was captured by the Black Dragon Unit and barely survived was as vivid as yesterday.

“Wudang, the Zhuge family, Shaolin, and even Huashan. Your future moves are unusual, are you planning a war?”

“Yes.”

I answered without a moment’s hesitation.

He nodded his head as if he had already known.

“So what’s the result?”

“As a group, about half of the Zhuge family’s armed forces, Shaolin’s Luohan Hall, and Huashan’s Cheong Ah-hyun and half of the Plum Blossom Sword Unit.”

“You’ve managed to get that much cooperation. Of course, that’s on the premise that our Martial Academy will participate, right?”

“Yes.”

There was no way they would prepare for a war just by looking at an individual. So when I negotiated, I always mentioned the Martial Academy.

Because the most reliable and largest force I had now was the armed forces of the Martial Academy.

“Because you said you would be my strength.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s okay to get involved in a reckless matter. Do you have any other plan?”

I revealed the plan I had been conceiving. Along with the information about when the Heavenly Demon would leave the Ten Thousand Mountains for a grand ritual.

“How did you…. No, let’s check first. If it’s true, it’s a chance for us.”

Cheon Mu-jin’s two eyes flashed. Now that both the Blood Cult and the Heretic Alliance had collapsed, the final force that matched the prophecy was only the Demonic Cult. If there was a chance to rob the enemy’s main camp, I had to take it.

“When is the time?”

“Between the end of this year and the beginning of next year.”

He nodded his head and then said, as if chewing on something.

“If what you say is true, it’s worth our participation. But Cheonwu, you are an exception.”

“Pardon?”

When I asked back at Cheon Mu-jin’s declaration, he looked at this side with a serious face.

“You are a talent who will lead the Martial Academy in the future. Someday, you will become a master stronger than me. But not now. In case of an emergency, you will stay here.”

“No. The forces have already gathered on the premise of my participation. I can’t be absent.”

“Then I can’t participate either. Someone has to protect the sacred mountain.”

At the end of a short argument, Cheon Mu-jin played a strong hand. Because if Cheon Mu-jin was not there, the strength of the Martial Academy would be greatly reduced.

“Isn’t there Chief Instructor Gu Ja-beom?”

“It’s better for you to stay than him. It would be much better for a Transformation Realm master like me or Gu Ja-beom to participate in the war than you, who can’t even face a friendly law.”

He wasn’t wrong. Because I was weaker than Gu Ja-beom.

Cheon Mu-jin added.

“The academy needs a person in charge. Not just the sacred mountain. There are other students to protect here.”

The Martial Academy was strictly an educational institution. I shouldn’t forget its essence.

Of course, they could close the academy in case of an emergency, but then it would be obvious. Because they had not closed their doors completely for even a single day since its founding.

“So you mean I have to be more useful than Chief Instructor Gu Ja-beom to participate?”

“Yes.”

“Even though you promised before?”

“Didn’t I tell you? They would be more pleased if Gu Ja-beom participated than you.”

I had nothing to say in rebuttal. But I was also frustrated.

Because it felt like all the effort I had made so far was meaningless.

Above all, to prepare for any unforeseen variables, my side, which knew the Demonic Cult of the original story, had to participate.

“I’ll still go.”

At the firm assertion that followed immediately, Cheon Mu-jin let out a sigh.

“Then show me your qualifications. Try to at least graduate from the advanced level and take the top spot before the war with the Demonic Cult.”

“Alright.”

I answered readily. Because I was planning to fight the decisive battle after obtaining the qualification for advanced graduation anyway.

‘The problem is the top spot.’

Since I had already won in a duel with Cho Min-ha, all that was left was Cheon Ga-seong.

The realm of Cheon Ga-seong that I had seen when I had fought with the Blood Cult was at least the pinnacle of the super-peak level.

He might have already reached the realm of Transformation.

‘To defeat him, I have to get stronger.’

It wasn’t enough to win conditionally, like when I had fought with Pa Eun-seong. I had to be able to defeat a Transformation Realm master head-on to get the justification to participate in the Demonic Cult subjugation campaign.

“Do your best.”

“Yes.”

With that answer, I left the academy head’s office.

***

The next day, with the opening ceremony, a new semester as an advanced student began.

‘Are there about 10 in total?’

I estimated the number, looking at the advanced students around me.

Including those who were not in this place, it seemed there would be about 20.

‘Originally, Baek Hasin should have been here too.’

After finishing the opening ceremony where the protagonist was missing, I went outside.

But a voice was heard with an approaching presence.

“Isn’t this the Great Mage?”

It was one of the advanced students who had been at the opening ceremony. He, who looked to be in his mid-20s, stealthily made a proposal.

“How about joining our faction? It’s the Namgung Faction. Of course, I know you’re from the Zhuge family, but the sword of the Namgung family is the best among the five great families, isn’t it?”

‘Look at this?’

It seemed that as my fame had risen, offers were slowly starting to come in.

Originally, in the Martial Academy, the junior students focused on training, and the intermediate students focused on real battles, but from the advanced students, the tendency was a bit different.

Because they had already built up their fame through external activities, and since their skills were also a talent that was treated well wherever they went, their career paths were already divided at this time.

‘Rather, my side is unusual.’

Most of them were already affiliated with a specific force or faction and had their future guaranteed, or were already working in their current positions.

It was a kind of atmosphere like the last semester of a vocational school.

“I’m not thinking about it right now.”

“Why don’t you consider it a little more?”

At this side’s refusal, the opponent made an awkward expression.

What I needed now was just stronger skills and the qualification for graduation. There was no reason to be tied down to a faction of this level.

“I’m leaving now. If I need to, I’ll go on my own.”

When I answered arrogantly, he frowned and then retreated.

It seemed he couldn’t even think of challenging me, perhaps because he had heard various rumors about this side.

But thanks to that, the other students who had been loitering around me also seemed to have given up the idea of approaching, so it was killing two birds with one stone.

‘Then I should first get the qualification for advanced student graduation.’

Unlike the graduation exam, the advanced graduation could be taken at any time. Because there was a set standard.

I went to find Chief Instructor Jeong Muk as it was.

“I will take the advanced student graduation exam.”

“…It’s only been a day since the school started.”

“So I can’t?”

“You unlucky bastard.”

He grumbled and then prepared for the exam with his subordinate instructors.

There are several standardized exams prepared for advanced graduation.

First, rock cutting.

Literally, cutting a rock bigger than an adult man with a sword.

I raised a purple powerful qi and then struck down the Demon-Slaying Sword.

The rock that split and broke as it was.

“No way! In one go?!”

And lightness techniques.

“He flew?!”

“How do we score that? Chief Instructor Jeong Muk?!”

“…Give him a pass.”

Finally, a duel.

“Instructor Bae lost in one move?!”

“Don’t be surprised. Chief Instructor Jeong Muk also lost. It’s not our shame.”

“…Who was that bastard just now?”

All the exams were easy.

It felt like I had returned to normal difficulty after playing on hell difficulty.

Leaving aside the murmuring instructors, I put away the Demon-Slaying Sword. And then I asked back as if I was sure.

“I passed, right?”

“…You unlucky bastard.”

In the first place, the requirement for advanced student graduation was about the proficient peak level. It was a meaningless exam for me, who had already reached the top-tier of the super-peak level.

And so, as I filled out the remaining exams one by one, the final requirement was finally left.

“Get the seals of three professors on this token.”

‘It reminds me of the old days.’

I felt a sense of déjà vu and accepted the wooden token. I recalled the time of my promotion.

But this time, the level of the request was different.

‘At least I have to be able to land a blow on a professor. Then who should I choose?’

Just as I was fiddling with the wooden token, a guy came into view. It was the guy who had invited me to join the Namgung Faction earlier.

It was a good opportunity.

“Hey.”

“Huh?”

“You had a professor in charge of your faction, right? Take me to him.”

“What, you were actually interested even though you pretended not to be? You’re lucky. The person in charge of the Namgung Faction in the academy is none other than Professor Namgung Dohyeok. He’s a direct descendant.”

The guy chattered happily.

“I’ll guide you specially. Well, since I’m your senior, be polite.”

I followed him, who was guiding me to my destination, while ignoring him appropriately.

The building where each faction was gathered was visible in the distance.

For now, the first one to be soaked among the three professors was Namgung Dohyeok.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep