Gal Sah-hyuk’s public provocation.

When he challenged Baek Ryu-san to a duel, Baek Ryu-san hesitated.

It wasn’t because he feared defeat. He was confident in his victory.

However, even so, it wasn’t a situation where he could readily accept the duel.

‘A cunning old fox.’

It was a calculated act, ensuring he wouldn’t suffer any loss.

There was nothing to gain from this duel, yet he couldn’t avoid it.

As the next Murim Alliance Leader, he couldn’t back down from the duel against the Green Forest Leader.

Just as he was about to rise from his seat, he heard the commanding voice of the Divine Monk in his mind.

「Stay seated.」

Thus, he couldn’t stand.

However, had he known what would happen next, he wouldn’t have listened to the Divine Monk’s words.

「Believe in your son, who has grown so splendidly.」

Yi-gang suddenly sprang up and stepped onto the dueling platform.

No one expected him to hurl such bold words at Gal Sah-hyuk.

“Stop spewing arrogant nonsense and fight me.”

The air froze.

There was nothing wrong with saying that to bandit rabble.

However, when the opponent was the leader of all bandits in the Central Plains and one of the Ten Grandmasters Under Heaven, the story changed.

Gal Sah-hyuk scratched his chin with a puzzled expression.

“…What did you just say?”

He wasn’t angry or outraged.

He simply looked as if he couldn’t comprehend the situation.

Yi-gang spoke calmly, “Stop clinging to an opponent out of your league. Instead, fight me, someone at your level.”

“You… you insolent wretch!” Gal Sah-hyuk’s furious roar erupted.

His face turned red, nearly to the point of bursting.

Overcome with rage, he lunged at Yi-gang.

A powerful aura surged from his axe.

Unlike his son, Gal Dong-tak, his Qi radiated a shimmering green light.

Yi-gang raised his sword to block it.

The audience could almost see an illusion of Yi-gang being instantly cleaved in two.

Zzeoeeong!

However, while a thunderous explosion rang out, nothing of the sort happened.

A far larger and more powerful Qi force than Gal Dong-tak’s came.

Yi-gang blocked it.

However, cracks began to form on the dueling platform around him.

Zzeojeojeok— Zzeoeok—

Like a spiderweb, fine fissures spread from Yi-gang’s feet.

Yet, Yi-gang was still standing firmly on both feet.

A white Sword Aura surged from his blade, but a blue lightning-like Sword Aura crackled along its surface.

Though the size of his Sword Aura couldn’t compare to Gal Sah-hyuk’s, its ominous energy made it seem eerily dangerous.

Kkuuuuuuk—

Gal Sah-hyuk gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the axe.

Yi-gang remained expressionless.

It was impossible that he wasn’t struggling. His arms trembled violently, and the veins in his neck bulged.

Yet, he maintained a calm face, a testament to the depths of his composure.

Kkudeudeudeuk— Bbadeuk—

In the end, Yi-gang’s feet began to sink into the dueling platform.

The cracked ground crumbled beneath him.

At that moment, Yi-gang’s eyes flashed with a blue light.

Gal Sah-hyuk felt a sharp pain surge through both arms.

Pajijik!

Even seasoned masters would have been startled by the sheer force of the electric shock, yet Gal Sah-hyuk endured it.

Though his hair stood on end from the charge, the pressure he exerted on the axe did not weaken.

That was why he was counted among the Ten Grandmasters of the World.

At that moment, Yi-gang twisted his sword.

A single misstep, and he would be crushed under the immense weight of the axe.

But from Yi-gang’s relatively slender arms, an astonishing force erupted.

The axe slipped downward, as if scraping against the Shooting Star Fang.

Kagagagak— Kwaang!

Instead of striking Yi-gang, it slammed into the ground.

The sheer impact sent shards of stone and clouds of dust surging into the air.

A blinding veil of debris was created.

Gal Sah-hyuk’s green-glowing great axe tore through the dust, slicing toward Yi-gang’s waist.

Something rushed toward Gal Sah-hyuk’s axe.

Tadadang!

Sparks burst forth as the trajectory of the axe was forcibly altered.

Gal Sah-hyuk roared at the one who had interfered.

“No matter who you are, you can’t stop me any longer!”

The Divine Monk had flicked a prayer bead, deflecting Gal Sah-hyuk’s axe.

Even after executing such an extraordinary Bodhi Bead, the Divine Monk spoke as if it was nothing.

“What do you think? Do you still believe Young Master Baek’s proposal was nothing more than youthful arrogance?”

Calling him Young Master Baek instead of Yi-gang was a sign of the Divine Monk’s deep respect.

Gal Sah-hyuk was left speechless.

Yi-gang blocked Gal Sah-hyuk’s downward strike.

He didn’t dodge or rely on tricks.

He absorbed the massive force completely and even redirected it.

He had done so deliberately, to prove his worth before the gathered crowd.

At this point, dismissing Yi-gang as unworthy was impossible—the spectators had seen everything.

“I, Mu Myung, declare it.”

And then, the Divine Monk confirmed it.

“The Immortal Divine Dragon, Baek Yi-gang, is fully qualified to face Gal Sah-hyuk, the Green Forest Alliance Chief.”

It was the declaration of the Murim Alliance Leader, one of the foremost masters among the Ten Grandmasters.

“Furthermore, he is worthy of being counted among the Twelve Stars of the Divine Land. He shall prove this in a duel against Green Forest Tyrant King Gal Sah-hyuk.”

The Twelve Stars of the Divine Land!

It was the first time that term had been used in front of so many people.

The term Ten Grandmasters Under Heaven was now outdated.

A new title had been given to the twelve greatest masters of the martial world.

And now, the Divine Monk had declared that Yi-gang’s name would be among them.

From the VIP seats, the Unorthodox Union Leader let out a chuckle.

Lifting his wine cup to his lips, he muttered, “I’ve been caught off guard.”

At the Mount Tai Conference, the Divine Monk had first introduced the term Twelve Stars of the Divine Land as Eleven Stars of the Divine Land.

Some had dismissed it as mere wordplay, but for those leading forces that shaped the martial world, names held undeniable weight.

“Eleven always felt a bit incomplete. So he was planning for twelve from the start.”

No one could say just how far ahead the Divine Monk had planned.

But one thing was certain—his schemes ran deep.

Gal Sah-hyuk muttered in bewilderment, “What… kind of nonsense is this…?”

“Well, dragging this out too long would ruin the excitement. So, exactly seven days and nights from now, we shall hold the duel here.”

“You think you can just decide that on your own?!” Gal Sah-hyuk bristled in outrage.

However, the Divine Monk pointed at Yi-gang’s bandaged arm.

“Did the Crimson Moon Demoness not launch a surprise attack? I’ve heard she strikes like a vengeful spirit, yet you managed to block her assault. But look at this wound.”

The Divine Monk’s words flowed like water.

And with that, the audience was reminded that Yi-gang had successfully defended himself against the Crimson Moon Demoness’ ambush.

“He looks fine…”

“If you’re a true warrior, you wouldn’t want people saying you won because your opponent was injured.”

Gal Sah-hyuk shut his mouth.

Of course, he hated that.

In fact, to reach the ranks of the Ten Grandmasters Under Heaven, Gal Sah-hyuk had defeated many skilled fighters.

Yet, it just so happened that some of them had already been injured or suffering from internal wounds.

Because of that, he had been unjustly saddled with a reputation he resented.

“…Fine!”

Gal Sah-hyuk raised his axe and pointed it at Yi-gang.

“Seven days from now. Until then, prepare yourself.”

A roar erupted from the crowd.

The audience welcomed the birth of a new hero.

Like a koi leaping over the Dragon Gate, they wanted to witness Yi-gang’s rise.

At the same time, they also wanted to see whether that koi would fail and come crashing down.

They wanted to witness him bleed and die pitifully, reduced to nothing more than an insignificant creature.

A complex mix of anticipation and fervor filled the dueling grounds.

Mount Song.

Shaolin Temple.

There, Yi-gang unwrapped the bandages from his arm.

He had suspected it, as the dull ache was gone, but now he confirmed—the wound had completely healed.

Under normal circumstances, an injury from the Crimson Moon Demoness would have required him to rest and recover for a full seven days and nights.

Yet this time, it had taken only two days to heal completely.

Yi-gang pointed to the faded wound and spoke, “As you can see, my arm is fine.”

“…Just because it looks fine on the surface doesn’t mean you should be careless. The inside could still be festering.”

“The Medicine King Hall has already confirmed that I’m fully healed.”

As Yi-gang responded so firmly, Baek Ryu-san wore a displeased expression.

“Hmm. There’s no real need for you to fight Gal Sah-hyuk. That man is strong.”

“I’ve seen him fight. I know for certain.”

But Yi-gang did not waver in his resolve.

Baek Ryu-san fell silent for a moment before letting out a sigh.

“…Fine. You’re already a grown man. Even as your father, I can’t interfere.”

In just five days, Yi-gang was set to duel Green Forest Tyrant King Gal Sah-hyuk.

From Baek Ryu-san’s perspective, Yi-gang still seemed lacking.

More than that, it felt like a battle he himself should have been fighting, leaving him uneasy.

As he sat there with a troubled expression—

Dreureuk

—the sliding doors of Medicine King Hall opened.

The one who stepped inside was the Divine Monk.

“Well now, Alliance Leader, are you still sitting here like this?”

“Ah, Master…”

Baek Ryu-san clasped his hands and offered a respectful bow.

The Divine Monk had truly passed the position of Murim Alliance Leader to Baek Ryu-san.

Since then, he had addressed Baek Ryu-san with proper honorifics, rather than the casual “you.”

“There is a limit to how much you can worry. It’s fine to be concerned for your child, but focus on what comes next. The position of Alliance Leader isn’t one where you can afford to idle around.”

Yet, despite his formal speech, his words still carried a sharp edge.

Baek Ryu-san let out a bitter smile and nodded.

“Did you come here because of Yi-gang?”

“Indeed. As I mentioned before, this old monk will be taking Yi-gang for a while.”

“Take him.”

Yi-gang rose from his seat.

Before his duel with Gal Sah-hyuk, the Divine Monk had promised to train him.

With only a short time left before he renounced his internal energy and performed the golden basin ritual, this would be the Divine Monk’s final lesson.

Yi-gang left the Medicine King Hall alongside him.

The Divine Monk continued walking.

Yi-gang thought they were heading to the meditation hall where the Divine Monk resided, but that wasn’t the case.

Instead, the Divine Monk exited the temple gates.

Then, he started walking along a rugged path, one that few people seemed to traverse.

“Cough, cough.”

The Divine Monk coughed.

It wasn’t just a dry cough—it was the cough of an aged, ailing body in pain.

Yi-gang glanced at him.

He looked incredibly old, weak, and frail.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Cough,” the Divine Monk responded, though he did not look fine at all.

He had long been known by the nicknames Sick Monk and Deaf Monk.

‘…Had he always looked this frail?’

That was why Yi-gang felt uncertain.

The Divine Monk looked even older than he had just two days ago.

“What has you so lost in thought?”

“…No, I was just wondering where we’re going.”

Yi-gang quickly covered up his thoughts.

The Divine Monk didn’t seem to mind and answered nonchalantly, “To where your master is.”

During the entire duel, the Divine Monk had been with Yu Jeong-shin.

No one knew exactly where they had been, but now, they were heading there.

“What could I possibly teach you in just five days? I am not a particularly good teacher,” the Divine Monk said as he ascended the mountain path.

It was hard to believe, but the great master actually seemed to be slightly out of breath.

“Jang Gyeong… I never expected that the Sword Emperor would have a talent for teaching. Cough cough…”

After saying that, the Divine Monk fell silent for a moment.

The climb ended.

Now, they began descending again.

Crossing Jungeuk Peak, a mist-covered valley came into view below.

The Divine Monk led Yi-gang toward it.

“Weren’t you curious?”

“About what?”

Although he asked, Yi-gang had a feeling he already knew the answer.

“Deep within Mount Song, what is Shaolin hiding…?”

Yi-gang was curious as well.

But hadn’t they said it was something that could not be revealed?

Just as Yi-gang was about to ask—

“Master…!”

From below, Yu Jeong-shin was rushing toward them, using light footwork.

“This is bad!”

His face was filled with sheer panic.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep