Setting aside the Clear-Heart Pill mentioned earlier.

There were many spirit medicines in that place.

First, Blood-God Grass had the effect of raising the quality of one’s internal power by a full step. The Thousand-Year Fo-Ti, which was still so rare it was difficult to obtain, extended lifespan and improved constitution. Iceheart Lotus helped stabilize the mind and refine internal power.

Finally, Dragonblood Reishi showed outstanding effects in healing wounds and replenishing qi and blood.

There was also a secret manual called the Clear-Void Treasury Manual, the lifelong masterpiece of the Clear-Void Adept. As Unhwi understood it, it had been sold off to Cheonrim, and the Crown Prince of the Red Kingdom—who had secretly visited their black market—had purchased it for one thousand gold taels.

From what he had heard, the Clear-Void Treasury Manual was a unique training method that combined a Daoist heart-method with Buddhist meditation, dramatically strengthening mental power. And within it were roughly five alchemy methods recorded by the Clear-Void Adept, who had been skilled in pill refining.

Unhwi had been a little curious about its contents as well, but when a fire broke out once in the Red Kingdom’s imperial storehouses, it was lost along with everything else.

Tsk.

Clicking his tongue lightly, Unhwi made his decision.

He would go in.

Folding the letter away in silence, he spoke.

“Chief Seong.”

“Yes, young master.”

“I intend to delay returning to Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace.”

Chief Seong’s eyes widened.

“All of a sudden?”

“There is a place I need to stop by before going back.”

“Where?”

“Where else.”

“……”

“Did you not read the letter.”

Chief Seong scratched his jaw.

“…You know I did not read it because I wanted to, right?”

“Of course I know.”

Undying Future Buddha had left the letter spread open. Whether he wanted to or not, he could not help but read it.

“Do you want to come with me?”

Chief Seong’s expression brightened in an instant.

“Of course I have to. If not me, who else is going to escort you, young master. But—you are going to disguise yourself, right?”

Unhwi thought for a moment, then said,

“If possible, I do not want to reveal our identities. I will be No-Name, and Chief Seong will be… Cheongmujeon.”

“Understood. Then I will prepare at once.”

***

It was when the full moon hung high in the sky.

At the foot of Watching-Moon Peak, many martial artists had already gathered.

There seemed to be roughly thirty of them. Each wore different clothing, yet at a glance it was obvious they were all formidable.

Unhwi and Chief Seong, dressed in shabby robes and wearing masks, watched the situation from a short distance away.

The entrance had not even formed yet, and there were already thirty. It seemed the record he had read in his previous life was correct.

“Most of them look like Karmic Fourfold Realm.”

At Chief Seong’s words, Unhwi nodded.

Of the thirty visible, all but exactly two were Karmic Fourfold Realm martial artists.

Dawnlight Twofold, Three-Flowers Gathering-True, Five-Qi Returning-Source—truly diverse.

“Until around 3 a.m…. it feels like about a quarter-hour would do it. You said there would be more than a hundred?”

“I did.”

“The remaining seventy…”

“They will be coming. Or they are already here.”

Unhwi and Chief Seong were thoroughly concealing their presence.

They had taken measures so their aura would not leak outward, and in case of a sudden attack, they controlled only a radius of roughly three inches.

Nothing more.

As time passed, both those who had been hiding and those who arrived late revealed themselves.

The number was close to seventy.

“…So it really is about a hundred.”

Nodding, Unhwi swept his gaze over the area.

Among those hundred, a few stood out in particular.

The first was a middle-aged man in a flamboyant golden robe. A faint sword aura constantly drifted around him, and the other martial artists treated him with wary care.

The Golden Sword Gate’s Merit Sword Emperor, Geum Mujeok.

The Golden Sword Gate was a famous sword sect in the Jiangnan region, and Geum Mujeok was its sect master. A sword expert who had reached the realm of Celestial Being, his Thirteen Golden Swords were considered among the top techniques in the martial world.

Interestingly, Geum Mujeok’s name had not been among the Eight Celestial Seats before.

But the moment Mae Wuidong died, a vacancy opened within the Eight Celestial Seats, and about three candidates were being discussed to fill it—Geum Mujeok was one of them.

As his epithet and sect name suggested, he valued prestige.

The Eight Celestial Seats—wanting to force his way into that spot was exactly the sort of thing Geum Mujeok would do.

“…This is unexpected.”

“What is?”

“By my memory, Geum Mujeok was not in this hidden realm.”

Chief Seong cocked his head.

“Are you sure you are not remembering wrong? It has been a long time.”

Unhwi shook his head and looked toward a certain place.

There stood a woman dressed in black, her entire face covered. Around her, a killing intent swirled so thick that /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ others could not approach—much like Geum Mujeok’s.

“Black Robe Pavilion’s Pavilion Lord, Ya Suyeong.”

Black Robe Pavilion was an assassin organization, and Ya Suyeong was its head.

Her martial realm was Celestial Being.

And beside her stood a monk with a massive frame.

A golden aura flowed faintly from his body, and even the monk’s staff he held gave off an extraordinary presence.

“Pure Zen Temple’s Vajra Youth, Mujin.”

Mujin was considered a leading candidate to become Pure Zen Temple’s next abbot.

A grandmaster of the Adamantine Body Art, his defensive power was among the greatest in the martial world.

His realm, too, was Celestial Being.

There were other experts from various sects, but they were not important.

“In my previous life, those two took the treasure of this hidden realm.”

“…Then.”

“Either it changed, or an accident happened inside.”

Unfortunately, what Unhwi knew was the outcome.

He did not know the process in detail.

Just then, Geum Mujeok stepped forward and said,

“Everyone, it seems you have all come here for the same reason. But there is only one entrance to the hidden realm, and what will happen inside is difficult to predict.”

At those words, Ya Suyeong and Mujin stepped forward at the same time.

“So it is the Golden Sword Gate’s Senior Geum. It is an honor to meet you.”

“The Black Robe Pavilion’s Pavilion Lord. And beside you… the Pure Zen Temple’s Vajra Youth.”

“Yes. That is right.”

Unlike the silent Mujin, Ya Suyeong was lively.

Ya Suyeong spoke.

“So what do you want to do?”

“It is simple. From what we have determined, this hidden realm’s grade is lower-tier even by Realm of Martial Divinity standards, and there will be considerable traps inside. So how about we form a temporary alliance here before entering?”

“…An alliance?”

“Yes. Temporary. At the very least, we agree not to harm one another inside the hidden realm.”

A strange smile bloomed at the corner of Ya Suyeong’s lips.

“Senior Geum of the Golden Sword Gate is the strongest among everyone here, and suddenly you talk about an alliance…”

“Do you dislike it?”

“It is not that I dislike it. More like my instincts as a martial artist are shouting that this is not it. This bothers me.”

Geum Mujeok gave a short, amused laugh.

“It seems the Pavilion Lord has something she wishes to say. Shall you speak it in front of these hundred-plus martial artists, myself included?”

Ya Suyeong wore her characteristic, unhurried smile.

“To put it plainly, we are very concerned about you, Senior Geum.”

“I concern you.”

“Yes. If possible, I would like you not to enter the hidden realm.”

Geum Mujeok let out a hollow laugh.

“You know that is not as easy as—”

“I will give you one-third of the treasure in the hidden realm.”

Geum Mujeok blinked, and those around them were thrown into confusion.

“It is on the condition that you do not enter. Rather than taking away the stage for the juniors to grow, I am carefully suggesting you give them the opportunity instead. Would that be acceptable?”

Unexpectedly, Geum Mujeok seemed intrigued.

The problem was everyone else.

With no owner assigned to the hidden realm, they were about to be robbed in broad daylight—and just as those nearby tried to cut in—

Mujin, who had kept silent, slammed his monk’s staff down hard onto the ground.

Kwaaang.

A deafening boom exploded, and those who had been about to intervene all shut their mouths at once.

Geum Mujeok spoke.

“Interesting.”

“Then will you do it?”

Geum Mujeok formed a meaningful smile.

“You have made an interesting offer, junior, and I have no desire to steal the juniors’ chance to grow… Very well. I will do it.”

Ya Suyeong said,

“Thank you for your kindness, senior. After we clear the hidden realm, where should we come to see you?”

“I will be at Black Robe Pavilion.”

Ya Suyeong performed a clasped-fist salute.

“If you give my name, everything will be provided. Thank you for your ocean-deep kindness. Then I will see you after it is done.”

Even Mujin performed a clasped-fist salute and spoke.

“Blessed Light. This humble monk is deeply moved by the Merit Sword Emperor’s kindness as well. I, too, will come together after we clear the hidden realm.”

Still not letting his smile fade, Geum Mujeok turned his body and began to walk away at an unhurried pace.

Until his figure disappeared, only silence remained.

Watching, Unhwi and Chief Seong looked at each other.

“Young master. I think this is it.”

It felt to Chief Seong as though everything lined up cleanly, but it did not to Unhwi.

Right after, Ya Suyeong faced everyone and spoke of distributing the treasure obtained inside the hidden realm in order, while beside her Mujin displayed his force without the slightest restraint.

Watching that, Unhwi said briefly,

“This hidden realm is even more troublesome than I expected.”

Once two Celestial Being martial artists began to lead, the situation ended faster than expected.

“If you agree with our proposal, enter with us. If you do not, then turn around and leave.”

After saying that, Ya Suyeong asked the martial artists,

“Do you agree?”

At the question, one by one, they began to express agreement. None of them would truly mean it, but on the surface, an accord was reached.

Just then, Ya Suyeong’s eyes met Unhwi’s.

“You are wearing a mask? It is a little cold, but not that cold.”

At that, Unhwi and Chief Seong removed their masks.

Their faces were revealed—and if someone here knew who they truly were, they would still be forced to ask, “Who are you?” They looked that different.

Unhwi smiled gently and said,

“We agree as well.”

Unhwi’s adjusted voice sounded like that of someone in his mid-twenties.

It was to match the altered face.

But Ya Suyeong seemed interested in something else.

“You look cute.”

“…Me?”

The name No-Name came with a face that fit it. Like when he had entered Yangryeong’s hidden realm—utterly ordinary, with slightly slanted eyes.

No matter how one looked at it, that face did not suit the word cute.

When Chief Seong let out a hollow laugh as if it were ridiculous, Ya Suyeong looked at him instead.

“The young man beside you looks like he is only about in his twenties… but he seems quite dignified?”

Chief Seong had told Unhwi—

If they were disguising anyway, make him look a little younger.

He had done as asked, but Ya Suyeong’s eye was sharper than expected.

Mujin, at Ya Suyeong’s side, opened his mouth.

“Blessed Light. Which sect do you come from?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep