“If you have something you’re curious about, ask.”

“That… the thing on your forehead. The one across it. That was done by the Gaebang Master, right?”

The rumor that Unhwi had confronted Gaebang Master Hyejeongsan had already swept across the martial world.

Unhwi lightly brushed his forehead.

The long horizontal mark across it looked severe to anyone.

“It… suits you more than I expected.”

Unhwi let out a short, incredulous laugh, and Joo Soa—who had sidled up beside him without notice—also laughed under her breath.

Namgung Wonyang shot Joo Soa a brief glare, then spoke quietly.

“You may not have heard the news yet, but yesterday the Gaebang Master Hyejeongsan cut down his vice master and disciple Jin Muhyeok and purged his faction.”

“A purge?”

“Yes. The report came in this morning. Jin Muhyeok is missing, and the Gaebang is undergoing a restructuring.”

There had been a bundle of documents earlier, handed over by Jang Seok, the Gaebang’s Seongjak branch director. That must have been what it contained.

“Thank you.”

Wonyang scratched the back of her head and stepped back.

Then Joo Soa spoke.

“A total mess, right?”

Unhwi turned his head slightly.

“I heard you worked hard.”

“I did. But what else can you do? If you’re told to get it done, you get it done.”

Despite her tone, Joo Soa had worked harder than anyone.

“Well done.”

“It’s not much. I just did my job. But—what are you going to do now? No, I don’t need to know exactly what, I’m sure you have plans… but how did you do it?”

“What are you referring to?”

“What does it look like? The thing every single person here is dying to know.”

Joo Soa looked at him, expression unreadable.

“Did you ascend to the Heaven-Earth Apex?”

“Does it look that way.”

“I don’t know. I’m at the Harmonization Stage, but our Lord feels nothing like someone in the Harmonization Stage. It’s strange. You were always unusual, but now… you feel like an ancient master who reversed age. I can’t sense your qi at all.”

She stepped closer.

“You’ll explain, right?”

“You want me to?”

“I’m curious. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. But I think… I’d be a little sad.”

Unhwi smiled faintly.

“Then I suppose I should tell you.”

The moment he said it, Pung Muhwi’s eyes flew open, Namgung Wonyang and Han Murin leaned in, Joo Soa stared wide-eyed in disbelief, and Hwa Muryeong silently crossed her arms and watched him.

Only Chief Seong, who already knew, closed his eyes and resumed breathing meditation, uninterested.

Unhwi spoke slowly.

“I created a new realm.”

Silence.

Joo Soa blinked.

“…Come again?”

“You heard me. I created a new realm.”

Hwa Muryeong spoke.

“A new… realm?”

“Yes.”

Unhwi continued calmly.

“It exists within the structure of the Heaven-Earth Apex, but it is not the Heaven-Earth Apex. I named it the Triple Profound Realm.”

Pung Muhwi shot up to his feet.

“Heavenly Commander, what—”

“Sit.”

At a single word from Unhwi, Pung Muhwi sat back down.

“Your injuries are severe. Don’t strain yourself.”

“…My apologies.”

Unhwi waved it off lightly.

“The Heaven-Earth Apex consists of four phases: Harmonization Stage, Spirit-Transcendence Stage, Divine Manifestation Stage, and the Celestial Being Stage. Each step involves opening the Upper Dantian and fusing it with the Lower Dantian.”

Everyone listened without breathing.

“But that is linear growth. From one to two, from two to three—just expansion.”

Han Murin asked cautiously.

“Then… what is the Triple Profound Realm?”

“A triangle.”

Unhwi drew a triangle in the air with his finger.

“The Lower Dantian, the Upper Dantian, and a newly created third dantian: the Iceheart Dantian. The three form a triangular circulation.”

“The Iceheart Dantian?” Joo Soa repeated.

“An artificial third dantian created between the two. It possesses the nature of ice, hence its name.”

Hwa Muryeong inhaled sharply.

“That’s even possible?”

“It was possible. That’s why I’m standing here.”

Unhwi’s voice remained perfectly even.

“The existing realm framework is not absolute. Theoretically, this was possible. And in practice, it worked.”

Namgung Wonyang’s voice trembled.

“Then… right now, my lord…”

“I have compressed all realizations of the Heaven-Earth Apex into one. The natural qi control of the Harmonization Stage, the total mastery of natural qi from the Spirit-Transcendence Stage, the complete integration of the Upper Dantian from the Divine Manifestation Stage, and the perception of heaven and earth energy from the Celestial Being Stage. I can do all of them simultaneously.”

Faces went pale.

“The only issue is that the three connection points are still weak, so this state can only be maintained for short periods. Is that sufficient explanation?”

It wasn’t arrogance—just fact.

But no one could speak.

Did he understand what he had just said?

Did he understand the scale of the earthquake this would bring to the martial world?

“I intend to announce the existence of the new realm. But I will not reveal the methods.”

“Then…”

“I’d like to reveal them. But very few could make use of this. If they fail, they lose their martial life—or their actual life. Someone who fully understands the system must adjust their qi circulation in real time without a single error. Even then, failure is likely.”

His calm voice filled the room.

“Out of a hundred, ninety-nine would become invalids. So I will not disclose the particulars.”

“You’ll keep it hidden?”

Unhwi shook his head.

“I’ll refine it first. When it is safe, I’ll make it public.”

Joo Soa murmured softly.

“The martial world will turn upside down again…”

She was certain.

This would be far greater than the uproar caused by the Go board.

At that moment, Hwa Muryeong spoke carefully.

“But… is it really okay to tell us something this important?”

Unhwi looked at her.

“Hwa Muryeong, your position is complicated. But from the moment Soul Demon Flame Palace falls, you and I are on the same ship. And everyone else here is someone I trust. If not you, then who would I tell?”

Their hearts tightened.

“And it cannot be hidden. Once I display the techniques, everyone will know.”

Silence again.

They looked at him—

The genius who created a new realm.

The revolutionary who would change the martial world.

Their lord.

At that moment, they all understood—

They had become witnesses of history.

Unhwi rose to his feet.

“In two days, there will be a meeting at the main headquarters of the Heavenly Alliance. All of you will attend. Rest until then.”

When Unhwi had first been appointed Heavenly Commander, Deputy Alliance Lord Mae Wuidong had said there [N O V E L I G H T] would be a settlement assembly in a month.

That assembly had been scheduled two days ago—but several people requested delay.

Six people.

The three Heavenly Commanders of the Ihwa Union who had just died, Jang Icheong, Hwa Muryeong, and Unhwi.

With so many involved, the postponement was granted. The rescheduled date was now two days away.

“There is no shortage of cultivation resources or elixirs. Take what you need.”

Unhwi left and headed for the outer corridor of the Heavenly Dragon Hall.

A man leaned against the wall with arms folded, eyes closed.

Unhwi spoke.

“You waited long. Flame King.”

Hwa Munyeom shook his head.

“I just arrived.”

“I see.”

Hwa Munyeom watched him quietly.

“There were three Mukse Society operatives watching the perimeter.”

“And?”

“All three were found unconscious.”

“I see.”

“Who was it.”

Unhwi answered without hesitation.

“I can’t tell you. And I don’t intend to.”

“If I must know?”

“Then it will not be from my mouth.”

“…You’re very sure of yourself.”

“I don’t understand what requires explanation.”

Hwa Munyeom frowned.

“Were they killed?”

“No.”

“Did they lose any limbs?”

“No.”

“Was their dantian destroyed?”

“As I said, they were only knocked out.”

“Then what is the issue?”

“……”

“I have already made it clear I am not subordinate to the Mukse Society. Yet you speak as though giving orders to a subordinate.”

“……”

“It is not only uncomfortable—it is insulting, Senior.”

Meeting Unhwi’s cold gaze, Hwa Munyeom realized the severity of his misstep.

This was no longer a youth.

Not a blade to be wielded.

A man who could move the entire martial world.

“If my words offended you, I apologize.”

“I accept.”

“As Vice Lord of the Mukse Society, finding my people struck down unsettled me. I trust you understand.”

“I do. I would have reacted the same.”

“Thank you. Then—can you tell me what happened inside the Secret Realm?”

Unhwi considered for a moment, then shook his head.

“Nothing worth saying.”

“‘Nothing’… So you simply don’t wish to speak of it.”

“What you are truly curious about is not that.”

“…Hm.”

Unhwi quietly took out the four manuals and the demon stone from the altar and handed them to him.

“The final spoils. This is what you wanted, wasn’t it?”

Hwa Munyeom stared at the treasures, then let out a long breath.

“…You truly are unpredictable.”

“……”

“Fine. Since you kept the promise, I’ll keep mine. Do you have need of the Mukse Society?”

“Not yet. But soon.”

“…I see.”

“I understand your concern.”

Hwa Munyeom’s eyes sharpened.

“The Mukse Society must remain in shadow. I will only request what suits a shadow.”

“Whether to accept such a request or not—that decision will be mine. Is that agreeable?”

“Yes.”

A productive conversation, in its own way.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep