A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

**Chapter 64**

“Gasp! Gasp!”

As Zhou Hui violently stirred in bed, causing the entire bedding to shake, Han Seolhyun, who had been watching him anxiously throughout the night, was startled.

“Are you alright? Zhou Gongzi?”

Even in his condition, Zhou Hui did not forget to survey his surroundings for the presence of icy energy.

“Ugh… Han Sojeo?”

“Yes, it’s me. Did you have a nightmare? How are you feeling? How’s your body?”

Zhou Hui slowly came to his senses and gave a bitter smile in response to her constant worried questions.

“Phew… I’m fine. I’m sorry for causing you concern.”

“I’ll bring the medicinal soup right away. Please stay here and wait.”

“Understood.”

Once Han Seolhyun left the room to fetch the medicine, Zhou Hui took a moment to inspect his own condition. His bedding was soaked with sweat, a reminder of how intense the events in the Southern Sea had been.

“Phew…”

Everything that had happened was a disaster born from his own hasty, untrained experimentation. Just recalling it made his heart feel as though it might explode.

What if he had lacked the strength or been unable to make a quick decision in that moment?

The entire region around Poyang Lake might have been submerged.

He shuddered at the thought of the catastrophic outcome.

Zhou Hui realized now that he could no longer afford to test any impulsive thoughts that came to his mind. If he made a mistake, he could extinguish the lives of tens of thousands of people.

“This… I…”

His face twisted, taking on a monstrous appearance. What he felt now was, in fact, something akin to self-loathing.

A thought, made on a whim, had resulted in unimaginable devastation.

This wasn’t the work of a god—it was the work of a monster.

Zhou Hui felt the need to restrict his own powers.

“By the way, what was that?”

When he had given up everything and handed his body over to the immortals, a pillar of light had descended from the heavens, effortlessly retrieving his black hole as if nothing had happened.

If that was truly the will of the divine, what did it mean?

Could it be that he was, surprisingly, a benevolent entity?

However, if that was the case, shouldn’t such an overwhelming being have appeared before him to punish him for his reckless actions?

As Zhou Hui’s mind spiraled with these complicated thoughts, his comrades arrived at his bedside, having heard from Han Seolhyun.

“Are you alright, Brother?”

Zhou Hui gave a quiet nod to Zhang Yilong, who had rushed in without even putting on a proper shirt.

“I’m fine.”

“Phew… that’s a relief.”

Zhang Yilong had now become not just a simple chairman but the head of a powerful faction and the representative of the Central Plains Sword Sect. He could not even imagine a time when Zhou Hui was not at the center of this influential organization.

Next, Nan Gongzhang came in, drenched in sweat.

“You seem alright.”

Zhou Hui greeted him with a small, wry smile.

“Are you training again, Nan Gong?”

“If the Divine Heavenly Sword Master could see such a creation of the Heaven’s Ultimate technique without responding with a sword, he would no longer be called Nan Gong,” said Nan Gongzhang.

“You’d be the one to say that,” Zhou Hui responded with a knowing smile.

Nan Gongzhang took a quick glance at the damp bedding, his eyes filled with concern.

“You still seem to be in poor condition. You should rest more.”

“I’m fine. The damage is more mental than physical.”

“Mental?” Nan Gongzhang raised an eyebrow.

The mental state of a sword master being out of balance was an even more dire issue than physical injury.

“A sword master’s mental demon is far more dangerous than the demon of obsession,” Nan Gongzhang warned. “And if it’s a mental demon of a martial artist who has reached the level of a sword god like you…!”

Zhou Hui understood what Nan Gongzhang was concerned about. A sword master of Zhou Hui’s caliber turning into a Sword Demon? The damage would be catastrophic, far worse than anything the legends of celestial beings like Tianma could cause.

“That’s not quite the case, so don’t worry.”

A hint of fear flickered across Nan Gongzhang’s face.

“What in the world was that? That wasn’t a sword.”

What Nan Gongzhang was referring to was Zhou Hui’s creation of the Black Hole technique, a result of combining the Three Gods’ Ultimate technique. It was certainly not a sword technique in the traditional sense.

Zhou Hui could see Nan Gongzhang’s certainty that the Black Hole was not the work of a sword.

“I can’t even describe it myself.”

“Why?”

“It was just a light-hearted manifestation of an idea that came to me.”

“A light-hearted manifestation?” Nan Gongzhang’s tone was incredulous. “If that’s a light-hearted manifestation, then what would happen if you seriously tried to unleash one? This whole world could be annihilated!”

“This is not something that can just be brushed aside.”

At this point, all of Zhou Hui’s companions had arrived and were silently watching him, their usual playful expressions gone. They were all wearing serious, solemn faces.

For a long while, there was nothing but heavy silence.

Finally, Nan Gongzhang, acting as the representative of the group, continued with his questions.

“It’s time to tell us, Zhou Hui.”

“Tell you what?”

Nan Gongzhang’s gaze gleamed with determination.

“We all know that you have some sort of secret. We’ve been pretending not to know, but now we have to understand. What is it that you’re hiding from us?”

Jin Gahee spoke up, her curiosity clear.

“You’ve been mumbling as if talking to someone, even when no one’s around. I’ve always wondered if you can see ghosts or something.”

Zhang Yilong also nodded in agreement.

“I heard about the time you healed my hand. Our master once said, ‘The highest peak of martial arts is far easier to reach than the power of an immortal. Even after a century of training, acquiring even a shred of that power is extremely difficult.’”

Yan Shanglu pointed to Zhou Hui’s sword, which was placed next to his bed.

“Flying swords don’t make sense. Reaching the sword spirit is more difficult than any absolute technique. Even legendary immortals who have reached the celestial path never performed sword flying techniques. Not even the great swordsmen of the age have ever demonstrated it.”

A swordsman who merges with his sword over many years can, by chance, reach a state where his will is answered by the sword, a state known as the sword spirit. But Zhou Hui, despite his young age, had already displayed sword flying abilities that seemed to go beyond even that.

Zhou Hui felt the need to clarify.

“My sword spirit… or rather, my method is different.”

“So, explain what that different method is. We’re dying to know,” Nan Gongzhang pressed, his gaze serious.

Zhou Hui’s companions looked at him with eager, questioning eyes.

Nan Gongzhang added, “We’re all curious about your rapid growth. It’s unprecedented in history. Even the ancient grandmasters would be shocked by your speed. Your growth has surpassed not just the Three Gods but even the founders of martial arts like Dharma and Zhang Sanfeng. Is that not true?”

“Just your martial arts alone are terrifying, but what about your knowledge and skills? The question you raised at the So-ryong Great Assembly has now become a major topic of debate in the Confucian world of Central Plains, sparking fierce discussions. I’ve heard that even now, countless scholars are eagerly awaiting a chance to meet So-geom-shin. Do you know how many of them you’ve turned away every day?”

“Is it really that serious…?”

Namgung Jangho smiled bitterly.

“Your comment back then completely overturned the central concept of the Son of Heaven. Even now, scholars who were debating are being arrested by the authorities. Soon, the Golden Cloak Guard will come looking for you—it’s just a matter of time.”

“What…?”

So, his remark at the So-ryong Great Assembly had caused such a butterfly effect?

“Since you’ve become the leader of the martial arts world, they’ve been holding off for now, but the Golden Cloak Guard will definitely move eventually. For them, there’s no time to worry about the non-interference between the government and the martial world. The Confucian world is in utter chaos. If you’re not careful, the Eastern Chang may make an appearance.”

“The Eastern Chang?”

The Eastern Chang is the hidden power of the imperial family.

Even the greatest intelligence network in the world, the Yajeop, couldn’t even guess their true strength.

“Your martial arts’ growth speed that defies human understanding, your intellectual insight that overturned the Confucian world with just one question, your wisdom and strategies surpassing those of the greatest minds… and…”

Namgung Jangho’s eyes lit up.

“I, like Master Jang, still can’t understand your powers! It’s something beyond explanation, something unfathomable!”

Everyone nodded gravely as if in agreement. At that moment, Baek Hwaryin cautiously spoke up.

“I have a question too.”

As Jo Hwi turned to look at her:

“I clearly stripped off everything back then. How could you still control yourself when you saw my body? Are you maybe a eunuch?”

Even in such a serious situation, that’s what she was curious about?

Namgung Jangho looked at Baek Hwaryin with a disapproving expression before turning his gaze back to Jo Hwi.

“Sigh… Anyway, if you truly consider us your companions, you need to clarify all these suspicions. If you keep saying ‘I’m a genius’ or something like that, don’t blame us for cutting ties.”

Jo Hwi nervously glanced around as if feeling guilty.

It wasn’t the usual atmosphere where everything could be brushed off lightly.

Even Namgung Jangho, who had always been silent but supportive, was now fiercely confronting him.

“Master, what should I do?”

Jo Hwi cautiously called out to the Elders of the Underworld, but they gave no response.

After a while.

“You are no longer someone who can seek our advice. You must make your own decisions.”

After hearing the words of the Sword Elder, Jo Hwi slowly raised his head and looked at his companions.

“Actually…”

Jo Hwi tried to speak but couldn’t decide where to start or how much to reveal.

To truly be honest with his companions, he’d have to tell them everything, from his reincarnation to his connection with the Divine Seat. But honestly, whether they would believe him was questionable.

“I was actually someone who lived in a country called South Korea in the distant future, and I came to this Central Plains world because of a strange necklace?”

He would probably be treated as a madman, if he was lucky.

But if he kept all his secrets hidden, he felt like he couldn’t give a proper explanation either.

Reluctantly, Jo Hwi decided to throw out a hint first.

“You know how martial artists who reach levels beyond human understanding are often compared to ‘gods’?”

“Entering the Divine Realm? Or do you mean the Natural Realm?”

Jang Il-ryong responded, and Jo Hwi nodded silently.

“That’s the limit of what ordinary people can understand. But what if someone truly became a god?”

Namgung Jangho tilted his head in confusion.

“Become a god as a human?”

Though there were many temples to Guan Di throughout the Central Plains, no one with common sense would worship Guan Yu as an actual god.

People would pray to him out of admiration for his strength, his noble character, and his indomitable spirit, or to invoke his spirit for the protection of their families.

Of course, there were common people who considered Guan Yu to be a god.

But could they compare him to the true gods of the Middle Kingdom, like the Three Sovereigns or the Taoist gods like Yuan Shi Tian Zun?

No, of course not.

That is the true divinity.

No matter how primitive a civilization might be, people would always show reverence toward the sun, moon, stars, and pray for their safety.

Because mortal humans are destined to die, they instinctively yearn for eternity.

However, Guan Yu died as a human.

That was the decisive difference that separated gods from humans.

In the history of the martial world, no immortal—one who could live forever—had ever appeared.

Even the legendary figures like Dharma and Zhang Sanfeng, or the Three Immortals, had all passed away.

Even if such immortals existed, they were merely legends, passed down as myths.

Naturally, Namgung Jangho would dismiss Jo Hwi’s statement as nonsense.

“A god is a god from the start. A human cannot become a god.”

Jo Hwi tilted his head.

“Then what about Taoist immortals? They are undeniably divine beings, right?”

Namgung Jangho firmly shook his head.

“They are nothing but baseless legends. No one has ever seen an immortal. The phenomenon of ascension to immortality can never be proven. Believing in something that cannot be proven is nothing more than superstition.”

“If a human truly became a god?”

Everyone stared at Jo Hwi in shock.

Jo Hwi reluctantly opened his robe and dug around his neck to pull out the now colorless Yi Cheon Blood Pearl (義天血玉), which had once been red with spiritual energy.

“This is the proof.”

As all eyes turned toward the Yi Cheon Blood Pearl, Jo Hwi slowly continued.

“This is the greatest treasure created by the disciples of ‘that’ person who transcended humanity and became a god. It is the only tool that can oppose him, built from the karmas of countless people.”

“A treasure?”

In the martial world, legendary artifacts indeed existed.

But a treasure? That was something entirely different.

Legends told of such artifacts, but they were never considered real.

Jo Hwi, however, was now claiming that this necklace was a divine relic of some kind.

Eom Sangrok sneered.

“It looks like a trinket from a street vendor.”

The necklace Jo Hwi showed them was as plain as any other—a simple leather cord with a colorless bead hanging from it. There was no beauty, no grandeur, just an ordinary piece of string.

How could this be the divine relic made by the disciples of a god?

Jo Hwi’s companions couldn’t believe their eyes.

Namgung Jangho stared at the Yi Cheon Blood Pearl with his usual clear eyes before casually speaking.

“If it’s truly a treasure, it must have great power. What is the ability of this necklace?”

When Jo Hwi answered, everyone froze in disbelief.

“This bead holds the souls of several absolute beings who made their mark in the history of the Central Plains.”

“What, what did you say?”

“What…?”

Namgung Jangho’s face twisted in disbelief.

“What nonsense is this?”

Jo Hwi let out a bitter laugh as he slouched deeper into his chair.

“I’m just telling you the truth. Why would I lie to my comrades if there’s no benefit for me? Well… whether you believe it or not, that’s up to you.”

Jang Ilryong, unable to contain his curiosity, shouted sharply.

“Who, who exactly is in there?”

“First, from our Cao family, there’s Lord Meng De and the descendants of his family, including Lord Man Sang Cao and Confucian scholars, and the first secret envoy of the Dark Realm, Jo Gang, and from the martial world, we have the Sword God Jo Cheon.”

“…”

“…”

Jo Hwi’s comrades were frozen, mouths agape, staring blankly at him.

“There are also members from the Dugu family. First, the representative of the mysterious Do Maek, Master Cheon Wooja, this is the source of the power you’ve been curious about, Namgung hyung. Then, Dugu Mujin and five other honored ones. Oh, and just to let you know, there are many who haven’t revealed their true divine status to me yet, so I don’t know all of them.”

“Dugu Mujin? Could it be the Dugu Mujin I know? No way, right?”

At Yeom Sangrok’s question, Jo Hwi responded bluntly.

“Yes. The Sky Demon of Shin-gang. Known as the Demon God among the martial world.”

“What the hell, you’re telling me to believe this?!”

“What? What did you say?”

Jo Hwi casually released the pure Demon God’s power, except for the energy from the Sword God.

Soon, intense demonic purple ghost flames appeared in Jo Hwi’s eyes, and the overwhelming force of the demonic energy sent chills through his comrades.

Even just staring at the purple ghost fire in his eyes gave them a sense of being sucked into an endless abyss.

Most of them were still unfamiliar with true demonic energy.

Naturally, the power of the Demon God, which had been called the Demon God’s martial art, felt like an abyss to them.

“This… this is impossible!”

The deep, suffocating energy, akin to a soul-devouring abyss, was unmistakably the Demon God’s power.

Jo Hwi observed his comrades with a blank expression, releasing the power.

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you again. It’s only right.”

He was fully committed to answering his comrades’ doubts with sincerity. If he lost them, his life in the Central Plains would have no meaning.

“Lastly, there are the Sima family elders. I don’t know all of them yet, just Elder Zhong Dal and Sima Cheon Se.”

Sima Jung, who had been awkwardly standing behind, quickly stepped forward with a shocked expression.

“S-Sima Cheon Se?”

“Yes. The Martial God is also here.”

“What… what are you saying?!”

Jo Hwi sighed deeply before continuing.

“The Martial God has also suffered from the persecution of the ‘Divine Seat’. The long-time confinement of the Sima family is a result of that persecution. For a man like the Martial God, restricted by divine will throughout his life, this place is actually more free.”

Namgung Jangho gave him a puzzled look.

“The Divine Seat? Who are they?”

“Humans who became gods.”

“…”

Namgung Jangho’s face twisted again. Jo Hwi was saying things that defied all reason, but strangely, he did not feel that Jo Hwi was lying, a paradox that disturbed him deeply.

Then Sima Jung spoke, his voice filled with confusion.

“Then… what about the so-called ‘return to heaven’?”

“Actually, it’s not ‘returning to heaven’. They are still alive here.”

“Ha…”

It was bizarre.

The Sword God’s claims were so bizarre that they were hard to believe.

After a moment of thought, Jang Ilryong gazed at Jo Hwi with a peculiar expression.

“If what you’re saying is true… then, inside that necklace, there are legendary figures of the martial world, the Three Gods, the Wei King who dominated the Central Plains, his vassals, the stars of Confucianism led by Daeseo Hak, the absolute beings from the Dark Realm, and even the immortals from the mysterious Do Maek, right?”

“Exactly.”

Jang Ilryong’s face started to tremble.

“Even a single item left by a former great master would throw the entire martial world into a bloody whirlwind! No, that’s too much of a cheat!”

“Yeah. I think so too.”

Yeom Sangrok grumbled.

“Becoming a disciple of the Black Heaven Eight Kings was already considered my good fortune… but wow, this is chilling. Isn’t this a bit too much? They say only the worthy get the chance, but damn, life really sucks…”

Jang Ilryong joined in.

“So, are you telling me that all that knowledge from these unbelievable figures has been hoarded by you alone until now? I’m really disappointed! I may not be the Sword God, but I still want to be the Fist King!”

Unlike his overly excited comrades, Namgung Jangho’s eyes remained sharp and focused.

“Everything in this world has cause and effect. If you’ve been given such power, there must be a corresponding fate.”

Jo Hwi gave a small smile.

“I’m not sure about that yet. For now, my goal is for our family to live well and thrive.”

Namgung Jangho’s deep eyes turned toward Jang Ilryong.

“If what he says is true… the weight of his fate is beyond anything a mere mortal could imagine. Asking for the power of the divine treasure means fully joining his journey. Do you think you can handle it?”

At Namgung Jangho’s question, Jang Ilryong could not respond.

Then Namgung Jangho asked Jo Hwi.

“What is the wish of these divine beings?”

Jo Hwi’s voice became a bit more somber.

“The destruction of the Divine Seat.”

“You damn brat.”

He spoke so casually about destroying gods, but Namgung Jangho felt pity for him, realizing the weight of the life Jo Hwi carried.

“You’ve been alone all this time?”

Jo Hwi smiled lightly.

“I’ve been with the elders all along, so I can’t say I’ve been alone.”

“You called us friends, and now I get to see what it looks like when you’re truly alone.”

With that, Namgung Jangho stood motionless for a while, staring intently at the Blood Jade.

Then, unexpectedly, he suddenly knelt down.

“Divine beings, I, Namgung, will also join the path of divine slaying.”

At that moment, the divine beings in the spirit world began to murmur.

“We’ve been watching this kid for a long time. He’s not strong. In fact, he can never be truly strong.”

Jo Hwi was astonished.

“Why are you saying this, Namgung hyung? I’m the Sword God. I’ve surpassed the realm of absolute perfection.”

His current realm was not quite the “Three Gods” realm of nature, but the recent fusion of the Three Gods certainly surpassed absolute perfection.

“That’s not the kind of strength I’m talking about. I’m talking about pure strength as a human.”

“Pure strength as a human? What do you mean?”

Namgung Jangho chuckled softly.

“What would you have done if you had that kind of power?”

Jo Hwi fell into silent thought.

Finally, Jo Hwi understood his words.

“Right. If it were me, I would have followed the path of a tyrant. Instead of just driving the remnants of the Black Heaven Alliance to the corners of Zhejiang, I would have completely wiped them out. Furthermore, I wouldn’t have spared Black Heaven’s Grand Assassin. Frankly, you’ve not only spared the enemy commander, but you’ve been treating him like an honored guest, haven’t you?”

“Hmm…”

“The leader of the Black Heaven Alliance has led countless lives to ruin. The number of evils he’s caused in Jiangxi is endless,” Namgung Jangho said with a serious face.

“You lack the decisive will of an absolute being.”

Namgung Jangho then bowed deeply towards the Heavenly Blood Prison again.

“I, too, will contribute whatever I can to this path of divine slaughter.”

– *Granted.*

– *If it’s a Namgung, it’s trustworthy.*

– *That determination is quite admirable.*

– *Such remarkable spirit.*

After quietly listening to the voices of the revered figures, Jo Hwi cast a deep look at Namgung Jangho.

“Sigh… How am I going to face the family head now?”

It seemed that the revered figures were impressed with Namgung Jangho’s grave attitude and determination, as they were now eager to impart teachings to him by manifesting through Jo Hwi’s body.

Although the sword sage, Dokgo Mujin, would be the most fitting revered figure for someone like Namgung Jangho, other revered figures stopped him in alarm and began advising against it.

– *You can’t do it! With such a weakened spiritual presence, what kind of manifestation are you trying to achieve?*

– *That one is the sword itself! How could I, as the one who calls myself a sword master, fail to impart guidance!*

– *Ha! You truly don’t understand the final fate of a soul that has lost all its presence?*

Since the fusion of the Three Divine Elements, Jo Hwi had reached a higher spiritual realm, allowing him to refuse the manifestations of the revered figures himself.

“Don’t worry, revered ones. When my master attempts to intervene, I’ll be the first to stop him.”

With that, the commotion among the revered ones calmed, and after some back-and-forth, Dokgo Mujin finally manifested through Jo Hwi’s body.

*Whoosh!*

Jo Hwi’s comrades, who were watching him, instantly turned pale.

They could immediately sense that his temperament had completely changed.

“Hmm…”

Namgung Jangho, who had spent a long time with Jo Hwi, had experienced this before.

It wasn’t something that could change so suddenly, but he had felt an odd sensation around Jo Hwi several times in the past.

Now, the mystery was finally solved.

As Namgung Jangho prepared to ask a question, a cold voice interrupted from behind.

“The space is cramped. Let’s go to the training ground.”

The Demon God, who had been glancing around the room with a displeased look, spoke in his usual blunt tone.

With that, the comrades followed him, almost like they were hypnotized.

The Demon God stood at the center of the training ground, staring for a long while at the ethereal moonlight.

He continued to speak, still gazing at the moon.

“Though I cannot claim to be a true sword master, I do know my way around a sword.”

Namgung Jangho respectfully performed the sword salute.

“I would like to hear your revered name.”

The Demon God chuckled.

“In martial arts, the greeting is divided into attack and defense.”

“….”

Namgung Jangho awkwardly stood still, but the Demon God withdrew his gaze from the moon and slowly raised his sword.

“I will give you one hundred seconds. I will use my full strength.”

Hurt by the challenge, Namgung Jangho bit his lip.

Offering three seconds to a junior could be considered a virtue, but a full hundred seconds?

For someone like Namgung Jangho, who had the Emperor’s sword, this was enough to make his blood boil with anger.

Having reached the stage of Huajing by chance after the great battle with the experts of the Demon Sect, Namgung Jangho had spent countless more hours refining his swordsmanship than before.

*Whoooom—*

As Namgung Jangho began to unleash his Emperor’s sword energy, his long-time comrade, Jang Il-ryong, was the first to notice the change in him.

“When did Namgung hyung become like this…!”

The immense pressure felt like his entire body was being crushed!

Finally, Jang Il-ryong could truly understand why Namgung’s sword was called the Emperor’s sword.

A man walking the true path of an Emperor, far beyond the late-stage expert realm.

“The aura is as vast and deep as the sky itself. Truly worthy of being called the Blue Sky,” Jang Il-ryong marveled.

But no longer could Namgung Jangho tolerate the arrogance of someone whose identity he didn’t even know.

Soon, the overwhelming sword energy from Namgung Jangho’s Changcheon Sword exploded.

Countless sword energies flooded the sky, all aimed at the Demon God.

A net of sword energy that covered the heavens, the *Wuyaitianwangka*.

One of the most difficult moves from the Changcheon Sword, but it was the most effective in restraining the enemy’s movements.

However, Namgung Jangho wasn’t satisfied with just this and soon began drawing numerous sword balls in the air.

In terms of destructive power in large-scale battles, no sword move surpassed the *Tianlei Yanganpo*, the Emperor’s sword technique.

This interconnected series of moves was a signature technique of the Namgung family, and few in the vast world of martial arts could stop it.

But…

*Chaahh-*

Under the cold moonlight, the iron sword of the Magician emits a clear, bright light.

In that simple slash, there was no noble technique or mastery of swordsmanship to be felt.

However, the net of sword energy, the “Unfathomable Sky Web”, was easily torn apart in a straight line.

The iron sword of the Magician showed no sword energy or intent to produce any power.

A few powerful sword blades reached his body, but he merely flicked them away with the edge of his sword, his face expressionless.

From his movements, Namgung Jangho could sense no experience; his opponent had not used a single drop of inner energy.

He was left with no choice but to lower his sword in disillusionment, unable to withstand even for two seconds, let alone one hundred.

Instinctively, he knew that even pouring out a thousand seconds of effort wouldn’t be able to touch the hem of his opponent’s clothes.

“How can something like this…?” Namgung Jangho’s common sense was being shattered.

Sword energy could be blocked by an equal level of swordsmanship, and sword force worked the same way.

Furthermore, sword circles compressed these energies to multiply their destructive power—this was a supreme level of sword technique.

To block the sword force of a practitioner who had reached the “flowing sword” stage without any internal energy was simply impossible.

Especially for someone like himself, a master of the Emperor’s Sword.

The Magician lowered his sword and gazed at Namgung Jangho with his usual aloof eyes.

“With such talent, a righteous heart, and passion for the sword, with the full backing of the imperial family, you will surely reach an absolute realm when you pass your prime years.”

“…”

The Magician’s words were like a thunderbolt to Namgung Jangho.

“I have seen your father, the Emperor’s Sword Sage. You may reach an equal level with him, but surpassing him will be difficult.”

It was cruel to set limits on a warrior’s potential like that in advance.

The Magician faintly smiled at Namgung Jangho, who seemed stunned.

“I mean, that’s the situation for now.”

He immediately reproduced the same strike from earlier.

Swoosh—

Whooooosh—

Again, the Magician stared at Namgung Jangho with his indifferent gaze.

“What do you think of this sword strike of mine?”

“That… It’s just a slash, isn’t it?”

In Namgung Jangho’s eyes, it was clearly just a simple strike.

“This is not a slash for me.”

“…Huh?”

Namgung Jangho’s eyes were filled with confusion, and the Magician silently accepted his gaze.

Whooooosh—

Again, the sword cleaved the air.

“There is no intention behind this sword strike. It just passes through.”

The words were simple, but the sharp-witted Namgung Jangho quickly understood the deeper meaning, and his face turned pale with shock.

“Then the state you reached earlier…!”

As a human, there must be some intention or emotion behind a sword strike.

The desire to strike an opening.

The desire to block the opponent’s attack.

Without such a will, could one even be called human?

But the “Sword of No Intention”.

It just flows and passes, with no will behind it.

That was a legendary state beyond the mind, the ultimate level that all martial artists in the martial world dreamt of reaching.

His opponent was now demonstrating that pure state with his entire being.

“The sword that just flows is like an endless ocean. No matter how large a rock is thrown, it only creates small ripples that eventually fade. Therefore, any attack or defense is meaningless. A sword strike with intent is useless to me.”

Namgung Jangho’s body trembled with the realization.

“How can one achieve No Intention?”

For him, No Intention was like an unreachable sky.

The Magician smiled faintly.

“For now, this is enough. If you don’t understand this first, you will never approach my destruction. From today, stop all other training and focus solely on training your mind.”

“Training the mind?”

Mind training, as the name suggests, is a method to purify one’s heart.

To erase all thoughts in a sea of distractions?

“You have seen my sword strike. You cannot return to your previous life. You will understand soon, so follow my instructions.”

As Namgung Jangho stood there, his heart full of confusion, a question rose within him.

“Has Cho Hwi… has he also surpassed all of this and moved forward?”

The Magician squinted his eyes slightly and made a pained expression.

“That guy is a fraud!”

“…Huh?”

“There’s something to it! Forget about him and focus on your training!”

Whoooosh!

As the Magician withdrew his manifestation, Cho Hwi looked over at Namgung Jangho, scratching the back of his head.

Seeing the change in Cho Hwi’s demeanor, Namgung Jangho immediately realized it was him.

Namgung Jangho’s complex emotions surfaced.

“Who was that person?”

“Well… they didn’t say explicitly, so I shouldn’t say anything, right?”

After a moment of silent contemplation, Namgung Jangho voiced his thoughts.

“What did the last words mean? Why did he say you were a fraud?”

“Ah, that… actually.”

Cho Hwi, initially confused by the Magician’s words, began to understand the meaning after reflecting on it.

In the world seen by those with supreme sword mastery, human intent could not exist.

Cho Hwi’s epistemology was fundamentally different from that of the warriors of the martial world.

In fact, Cho Hwi seemed to be unable to understand Namgung Jangho’s confusion.

Whooooosh—

As Cho Hwi swung his iron sword, Namgung Jangho’s eyes widened.

It was the same sword strike as the one the Magician had just executed, without a single deviation.

Cho Hwi gruffly continued.

“Well, to me, this is just the connection between dots. Or, you could say it’s just a trail of countless dots.”

This time, his iron sword drew a smooth parabolic arc.

“There are various forms depending on the curvature, but fundamentally, this is just a curve.”

Namgung Jangho was left dumbfounded.

“Who doesn’t know that?”

“Exactly! Is this some grand secret technique or something?”

Cho Hwi yelled in exasperation.

“If the curve comes at you, what’s the drawback? The line is long, right? And what happens when it’s long? It eats up time! So, I respond quickly with dots. Like this!”

The sword energy of the curved sword vanished with a sharp sound, obliterated by the dots Cho Hwi had scattered in the air.

“Let’s say there’s a brilliant sword technique. No matter how intricate it is, it’s just a series of dots, lines, and shapes. I’m just controlling the relativity of all those physical movements.”

From the very beginning, there was only mathematical efficiency in Zhou Hui’s swordsmanship, with no human emotions involved.

The reason why Moshin called Zhou Hui’s swordplay “fraudulent” was because of this very point.

From the start, there was no human agony within his sword (劒).

“Now, this is the ‘Heavenly Fragrance Blossom Sword’ from the Twenty-Four Flower Sword Art.”

Before anyone could question how Zhou Hui could perform the swordsmanship of the Huoshan Sect, Namgung Jangho could only stare vacantly at the endless blossoming plum flowers.

“Did you see it? If you look closely, the plum blossoms formed by the sword are all in a conical shape. The way to eliminate the rotational force of the cone shape is simple. You just squeeze the base, like this!”

Countless curves shot toward the plum blossoms, or rather, the cone shapes hanging in the air.

Whoooosh!

As the blossoms in the sky quickly withered and disappeared.

“This is really nothing special. By just neutralizing it with vector values… or rather, by neutralizing it with relative strength, any sword technique becomes nothing.”

Namgung Jangho and the others all looked at Zhou Hui with expressions that said, “What nonsense is this?”

The first to break the silence was not Namgung Jangho, but Sama Jung.

“Then your swordplay is all based on numbers and shapes, like algorithms?”

Zhou Hui casually nodded.

“Exactly, you got it.”

Sama Jung replied firmly, “That’s not martial arts.”

What he meant was:

“You are not a martial artist.”

“Why?”

Zhou Hui answered bluntly, “Why not?”

Sama Jung said sternly, “Everyone has a direction in life. Naturally, a martial artist’s life orientation will be reflected in their martial arts. The absolute martial artist who reaches the pinnacle of martial arts is called a ‘martial soul’ (武魂), as they combine their martial mind with their technique.”

“Hmm. There’s some merit to that.”

“This isn’t something that can be dismissed so easily, is it?”

Where most martial artists would have angrily retorted, Zhou Hui seemed unaffected and nodded casually.

“Well, if that’s how you feel, I can’t help it.”

Sama Jung’s serious expression twisted slightly.

“To hear you say that…”

Zhou Hui chuckled.

“To say that I don’t have a life goal just because I view swordsmanship as an algorithm seems pretty contradictory. I don’t feel the need to argue. A simple example…”

Zhou Hui narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharpening.

“Let’s say, as you claim, that I’m not a martial artist. But, can you beat me?”

“……”

Returning to his usual playful demeanor, Zhou Hui laughed.

“Haha! It’s funny, right? According to you, I’m not a martial artist, but why is your level lower than mine?”

“No, that’s…”

“Why? Are you going to mumble ‘it’s fraud!’ because you can’t explain it?”

Suddenly, Moshin’s voice, tinged with irritation, echoed.

“Hey, are you talking to me?”

When Moshin trembled with frustration, Sama Jung’s shrill cry pierced the training hall again.

“Little Sword Master! What is your sword?!”

For a moment, Namgung Jangho hesitated, but quickly responded with a serious expression.

“My sword is one that seeks to surpass the emperor and shake the heavens and earth! However, I will not abandon benevolence and righteousness on that path, and I will continue to pursue the straight path. That is my sword.”

What a model answer, like an exemplary student at a martial arts academy! It was the epitome of orthodox martial arts philosophy.

As expected of a well-rounded practitioner!

However, after this exemplary response, Sama Jung added his comment.

“To contain a heart that reveres righteousness in the sword is the same for all martial artists! But you have none of that! Can any martial artist, who has reached the peak, ever belittle their sword as mere calculation?”

Zhou Hui chuckled softly and looked at Yeom Sangrok, his eyes narrowing.

“Hey, what about your twin sickles?”

Yeom Sangrok glanced at his sickles on his back and looked at Zhou Hui as if asking, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Of course, they’re my signature weapons. What are you getting at?”

“Don’t you have anything in your weapons? No ‘life goal’ or whatever?”

“Well… maybe ‘killing intent’?”

This time, Zhou Hui looked at Jin Gahee.

“Hey, doesn’t your whip have anything?”

“Why are you suddenly bringing up Confucius and stuff? It’s already cold enough, don’t make it worse.”

“Well, don’t you guys have any kind of life goal?”

“Shut up! We’re too busy surviving to care about the Dao or anything!”

“And you?”

Without hesitation, Baek Hwaryeon answered like a parrot.

“A tool to capture handsome men?”

Wow, it was genuinely consistent.

How can humans be so consistent?

“Director Zhang?”

Zhang Ilryong frowned as he looked at his own fist.

“I just hope this pretty hand gets calluses soon.”

Zhou Hui looked back at Sama Jung with a mischievous grin.

“Are they not martial artists either?”

Sama Jung’s face turned red with frustration.

“You compare me to these non-human outcasts of Sama Wei and Dao?!”

At that moment, Jin Gahee, Baek Hwaryeon, and Yeom Sangrok all glared like cornered beasts.

“You idiot?!”

“Haha, just because you’re handsome doesn’t mean the world revolves around you.”

“Just because you have a big weapon, does that mean the world is beneath your feet?”

Sama Jung, shaking with anger, drew his sword!

Clang!

“You non-humans are all talk! Come at me, and I’ll punish your worthless lives…”

Suddenly, Zhou Hui’s figure blurred.

Splat!

Splat! Splat!

Only the sound of rapid, crisp strikes echoed, and Zhou Hui’s movements were nearly invisible.

All that could be seen were countless afterimages of his palm strikes.

Baek Hwaryeon, recognizing the modified swordplay, gasped in awe.

“Wow, his ‘Heavenly Unyielding’ is developing every day.”

“Heavenly Unyielding?!”

The famous phrase that refers to the ultimate technique of the legendary martial artist, representing the combination of palm techniques and weaponry.

“Wow, that’s the technique?!”

There’s no martial art more invincible than ‘Heavenly Unyielding’!

The sound of strikes filled the hall like the bursting of leather drums.

It was an impact so crisp, one could hardly believe it was the sound of a human body being hit.

Soon, the blurred afterimages dissipated, revealing Zhou Hui, calmly brushing his hands off, standing still.

“How dare you show killing intent to the employees of the Zhou family?! If you try that again, I won’t let it end here.”

“Grrr… I’ll kill you…”

Thud!

The martial artist Sama Jung, who had been trying to get up with all his might, fell forward and collapsed.

Namgung Jangho looked at Zhou Hui with an indifferent expression.

“He is a martial artist.”

“I know. What about it?”

“He comes from the Sama family…”

Just as Namgung Jangho was about to explain the significance of the Sama family in the martial world, and the impending pressure from the Martial Arts Alliance, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

How could such things have any impact on someone who aims to fight gods while embracing the great heroes of the central plains?

Zhou Hui’s path was already one beyond the heavens.

“Director Zhang, take this guy to the medicine hall and treat him. That’s all for now. Dismissed!”

“Understood, sir.”

With that, Zhang Ilryong carried the martial artist on his shoulder and walked off, while Zhou Hui’s companions headed to their respective rooms.

Now, only Zhou Hui and Namgung Jangho remained in the training hall.

“I’d like to know more about how you apply mathematics to your swordplay,” Namgung Jangho said.

A satisfied look spread across Zhou Hui’s face.

At least Namgung Jangho was far more open-minded as a martial artist compared to the rigid Sama Jung.

“If you multiply five by zero, what do you get?”

“Hmm?”

Namgung Jangho flinched.

This… seemed oddly familiar.

“Does this have anything to do with your swordplay?”

“Well, we’ve got a long way to go. Let’s start from the basics.”

It was indeed a strange situation where Zhou Hui had to teach Namgung Jangho arithmetic just to help him understand his sword techniques.

“Memorize this: One is one, two is two, three is three…”

Thus, under the moonlit night in the training hall, Namgung Jangho’s math tutoring began.