A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

**Chapter 74**

Where the floor had been torn away, a long staircase led down to an underground chamber.

Even as Jo Hwi and his companions descended toward the underground room, Hong Sal, who had been observing from a distance, could only bite his lip until it bled. He dared not approach them.

*The existence of the Black King Tribe is at stake!*

Shaking in fear, ten elderly figures dressed in black appeared around him.

“Hong Sal.”

The *Black King Ten Destroyers*, summoned by Hong Sal’s signal, had finally arrived at the scene.

“Where’s the danger? Hmm!”

The *Shadow Walker* detected the presence of Jo Hwi’s group. After exchanging glances with the other nine, he hastily attempted to invoke a spell.

“Don’t go!”

With a look full of confusion, the *Shadow Walker* turned around.

He had thought that a formidable opponent had appeared, as Hong Sal had heightened the *Dead Red Alliance* to full power. But now, with the *Black King Ten Destroyers* gathered, he was being told not to chase the danger?

“Are you saying this isn’t an enemy of the Black King Tribe?”

Hong Sal, shaking his head in disbelief, finally gave an answer he couldn’t accept.

“If you chase them, it will be complete annihilation.”

The *Black King Ten Destroyers*—their martial prowess was a closely guarded secret within the Black King Tribe, but Hong Sal knew better than anyone.

In the past, he had been the leader of the *Extreme Killing Sect*, which had been destroyed by *Black Heaven Alliance*. He had fought the Black King Tribe in bloody battles, and more than anyone, he understood how strong they were.

“Did you just say annihilation?”

Hong Sal’s cold demeanor had been the reason he had survived countless deadly situations. Even when the last of the *Extreme Killing Sect* died in a bloodstorm, or when his neck was at the edge of a blade, his cold eyes had never wavered.

Now, however, he was trembling like a leaf in the wind.

What had he seen to be so terrified?

Shivering, Hong Sal gritted his teeth.

“We, we must leave at once! That man is someone who could possibly wipe out the entire Black King Tribe!”

“…What?”

If anyone else had said this, they would have rushed to confront the enemy without hesitation. But hearing such words from the cold-hearted Hong Sal left everyone stunned.

If they gave up now, they could not guarantee the survival of the Black King Tribe.

Finally, the leader of the *Black King Ten Destroyers*, *Shadow Walker*, turned his back on Hong Sal with a resolute expression.

“Leave.”

The *Black King Ten Destroyers* scattered like mist, their figures vanishing.

“No, we can’t let them go!”

As Hong Sal screamed, the roof of the *Sixth Guest Inn* suddenly exploded.

But it wasn’t just debris scattering in all directions.

Amid the flying roof tiles, the *Black King Ten Destroyers* were launched out, blood spurting from their bodies faster than their speed of movement.

*Whoosh, whoosh…*

As the dust settled, Jo Hwi’s indifferent expression appeared as he stood with his hands behind his back.

The *Shadow Walker*, who had been sent crashing against the wall, trembled in agony. His face twisted in pain, but there was more confusion than suffering.

What kind of technique had he been struck by? He didn’t understand at all.

In the brief moment when he felt a faint afterglow, a tremendous shockwave had hit him, and his body was sent flying like a cannonball.

“Th-this… what… is this…!”

Despite the excruciating pain ripping through his body, the *Shadow Walker* hurriedly tried to stand.

He examined his opponent, but found no trace of energy in Jo Hwi’s sword.

Was it not a martial technique at all?

Then, had the move that had sent them flying been a technique like *True Qi Deployment*?

To put it simply, a *Protective Qi*, a form of defensive posture where one cultivates internal energy to protect the body.

However, no martial art in the world could explain a *Protective Qi* that could send all *Black King Ten Destroyers* flying in an instant.

Not even the *Solar Flame Great Flame Dart*, the most powerful protective technique in martial history, could have wiped out the *Black King Ten Destroyers* so easily.

Jo Hwi’s cold, indifferent gaze swept over the fallen *Black King Ten Destroyers*.

“Don’t try to ambush me recklessly.”

Though he spoke nonchalantly, Jo Hwi himself was a little surprised.

The part of Jo Hwi’s robe covering his chest was charred black, exposing his bare skin beneath.

It is said that the world is full of hidden masters and sages, as numerous as grains of sand, and indeed, the martial world never ceased to amaze the more one experienced it.

Had this been in the past, the recent joint attack might have ended in a splash of blood.

“You there, you pile of ashes,” Jo Hwi said, pointing at the *Shadow Walker*.

The aura around him felt strangely familiar, as if Jo Hwi had encountered it somewhere before. He tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with suspicion.

“…*Black Heaven Great Kill*?”

It was unmistakable. The ash-colored gaze was identical to the one from *Black Heaven Great Kill*.

“Could you be one of my master’s disciples? No, those old geezers are dead. Then you must be a fellow apprentice.”

The master of *Black Heaven Great Kill* was the legendary *Black and White Dual Freaks* of the rogue faction. But they had died long ago, so the *Shadow Walker* must have been a fellow disciple, an older brother, of sorts, who had studied alongside *Black Heaven Great Kill*.

A wicked and eerie smile slowly spread across the *Shadow Walker’s* lips.

“Those useless bastards couldn’t even grasp half of my master’s teachings, and yet they dare claim him as their master?”

“Mm?”

The black and white from the gray?

Jo Hwi’s eyes widened in shock.

“Wait, so those *Black and White Dual Freaks* were your disciples?”

It was well-known that the *Black and White Dual Freaks* had studied together, but no one knew their true origins. At that moment, a long-held secret of the martial world had been revealed.

“So, who are you?” Jo Hwi asked.

The *Shadow Walker* didn’t answer but signaled to his companions with a glance.

The *Ten Destroyers of the Black King* had regained some of their strength and reformed their positions around the *Shadow Walker*, forming a formation in the shape of the character “品,” and once again directed their hostile gazes toward Jo Hwi.

“Old man in green, you were the worst. You cowardly struck at Gahye right from the start, didn’t you?” Jo Hwi’s chest wound had been the result of blocking Gahye’s path.

“It’s because you’re still too naïve, brother. Among those in the rogue faction, the older they are, the less they care about shame. ‘Manliness’? That’s something they threw away a hundred years ago,” Gahye said with a cynical smile, but to the *Green One*, her behavior was perfectly understandable.

The basic principle of military strategy is to cut off the enemy’s weakest link first.

“Look at these old geezers? They look like they could kill with just their gaze! What are they hoping to enjoy at their age? Still have energy to spare? Shouldn’t they be out looking for their graves instead?” Jo Hwi mockingly continued.

“…”

“…”

The *Ten Destroyers of the Black King*, who had survived countless trials over the years, were not the type to be easily swayed by such crude taunts. Despite Jo Hwi’s verbal assault, they showed no sign of losing their composure.

But Jo Hwi’s mental assault didn’t seem like it would stop anytime soon.

“At that age, shouldn’t you old hermits be focusing on your health? All you need is to find a nice place with good views and live the remainder of your life in peace. You’d be lucky just to enjoy that much, don’t you think?”

“At that age, they say you start tearing up at the sight of drifting clouds. Do you know why? Because they realize they don’t have much time left! How miserable must that be? Don’t you agree, Sangrok?”

“Yeah, yeah. Tears turn into pus, and when you wake up in the morning, your eyes are full of gunk. Ugh, gross. And if you don’t wash for a day, your whole body starts to smell like infection,” Sangrok chimed in.

Aging attacks are second only to attacking one’s parents in terms of fear. No matter how much one tries to avoid crude conflict, there is always a hidden, subtle anger that bubbles up inside.

Sangrok gave the elderly *Ten Destroyers* a pitying glance.

“No matter how beautiful a woman might pass by, what use is it? What can they still do? Even a rapist couldn’t get away with it in these old men’s territory. Hey! Have you ever heard of an old rapist?”

Gahye tilted her head in confusion.

“I don’t know about rapists, but an old rapist…?”

With their sharp tongues, Gahye and Sangrok joined forces with Jo Hwi, stoking the flames, and eventually, the *Shadow Walker* could no longer hold back, letting out a guttural roar.

“Shut up!”

“Yeah, I’ll shut up.”

“I’ll shut up twice—shut, shut.”

“Ha! I’ll shut up three times—shut, shut, shut!”

In an instant, the *Shadow Walker* froze with a dumbfounded expression.

What kind of idiots are these?

He had seen countless of the rogue faction’s renowned misfits, but these people were on an entirely different level.

Do they have no parents?

Jo Hwi dragged two discarded chairs from the air and placed one in front of the *Black King’s Ten Destroyers*, sitting down across from them.

“Who’s the head of the old men here? Or is there someone higher? Don’t worry, we didn’t come here to fight. Let’s settle this with a good negotiation. Negotiation!”

“Show your true identity first!” one of the *Ten Destroyers* demanded.

“Oh, your vision seems clouded. I thought these hidden rulers of the rogue faction were supposed to be impressive,” Jo Hwi replied.

Unlike the *Hong Sal* (Red Cross) who constantly interacted with the mortal world, the *Black King’s Ten Destroyers* were warriors who knew nothing but martial arts.

They didn’t even realize that the power balance of the righteous factions had shifted from seven to eight.

“He is the *Little Sword God*,” *Hong Sal* Noya responded, still tense.

“*God*?”

Veterans who knew the martial world’s customs well could not have failed to grasp the weight of such a title, for the title of *God* was not given lightly in this world.

“Hmm…”

Had they only heard rumors, they might have scoffed, but after experiencing the power of the *Little Sword God* first-hand, which effortlessly repelled them with his defensive techniques, the *Shadow Walker* was filled with a suffocating sense of frustration.

How could someone so young possess such profound martial skills?

If he had undergone *Half Return* (a form of cultivation), there would surely be some white traces near his ears, but there were none.

Despite possessing such formidable power, the *Little Sword God* was not here to fight; he was merely suggesting a negotiation, which softened the *Shadow Walker*’s stance for the moment.

“Speak,” the *Shadow Walker* finally said.

Jo Hwi smiled faintly.

“You know the *Jo Ka Dae Sang Hoe* (Jo Family Big Trade Association), right?”

“*Jo Ka Dae Sang Hoe*?”

*Hong Sal* Noya glanced at the *Shadow Walker*, clearly unfamiliar with the name, and Jo Hwi couldn’t help but be astonished.

“Can it be? They didn’t even realize their meal ticket was taken from under their noses?”

The *Black King’s Ten Destroyers* had long been receiving large payments from the *Black Heaven Alliance*, who secretly ran the *Black Heaven Ren* faction.

Now that the *Jo Ka Dae Sang Hoe* had severed that connection, how could they not know?

Without hesitation, Jo Hwi stood up from his seat.

He quickly realized that the *Black King’s Ten Destroyers* were mere pawns who had occasionally provided military aid to the *Black King* but had no idea about the major changes occurring around them.

“It looks like negotiation is impossible. In that case, I’ll just stir things up a bit more until the leader shows up,” Jo Hwi muttered.

“Sit down,” a voice called from behind him.

It was the oldest of the *Black King’s Ten Destroyers*, standing furthest from the group.

Jo Hwi had initially intended to ignore him, thinking dealing with such a minor figure would only be a nuisance, but he couldn’t help but stop.

The old man radiated an overwhelming presence that was impossible to disregard.

*Hmm?*

Looking at him more closely, Jo Hwi realized that unlike the others who had suffered defeat, only this man’s attire remained perfectly clean.

This meant that his defensive techniques hadn’t been impacted at all.

As the old man’s aura shifted, the other *Ten Destroyers* also appeared visibly shaken.

“You?” Jo Hwi asked.

“Huh?” the old man replied, clearly taken aback.

He was known as the quietest and most cautious among the *Ten Destroyers*, often referred to as a “gentleman” due to his demeanor. His martial abilities were also among the weakest in the group.

He was the one who always quietly tended to the orchids, rarely speaking. Those who had heard him speak could be counted on one hand.

But now, his presence was commanding the attention of the entire group.

At that moment, *Hong Sal* Noya kneeled.

Once his true divine power had been revealed, it was only natural that he would kneel in respect, honoring his leader.

*Hong Sal* Noya had always instructed the *Ten Destroyers* to avoid fighting, as they had been infiltrated by the *Black King*’s main faction, which was led by the *Black King’s Deputy*.

“You can’t be… the Deputy of the *Black King*?” Jo Hwi asked, his expression shifting to one of curiosity.

“Could it be?” one of the *Ten Destroyers* gasped.

They had considered themselves among the most privileged members of the *Black King*’s faction, never realizing that they had been placed under such tight surveillance.

Jo Hwi sat back down, intrigued.

“Wow, so you didn’t even reveal your identity to your subordinates? Your patience must be impressive.”

The *Black King’s Deputy* walked silently to the opposite side of the table and sat down.

“Yes, *Little Sword God*. What do you want to say to the *Black King’s Deputy*?” Jo Hwi asked, his gaze fixed on the man.

The *Black King’s Deputy* was a unique figure, possessing an aura that set him apart from the rest.

If it weren’t for the overwhelming aura of intent emanating from him, he would have appeared to be an ordinary elderly man, someone you could find anywhere.

In fact, his ordinariness made him stand out even more as something unusual.

From his outward appearance, no one would ever think that he was the absolute ruler who secretly controlled the *Black Heaven Alliance*.

Jo Hwi directly expressed his thoughts.

“I was hoping you could designate and support a new leader for the *Black Heaven Alliance*. I hear only you have the authority to do so.”

While remnants of the *Black Heaven Alliance* still held power in Zhejiang Province, the faction had essentially fallen.

But to ask for a new leader?

It would be natural for the *Black King’s Deputy* to show signs of surprise, but his gaze remained steady without the slightest wavering.

After a brief moment of silent contemplation, he slowly spoke again.

“Now I see, you’re not the *Little Sword God*, you’re the *Little Demon*.”

“*Little Demon*?” Jo Hwi asked, his eyes narrowing.

For the first time, what looked like a smile appeared on the *Black King’s Deputy*’s face.

“You’re the one who ruled over *Poyang Lake*. There’s no way you’d try to rally those worthless scoundrels again to rebuild power. In the end, you intend to use them as slaves, don’t you?”

The *Black Heaven Alliance* was known for its strict, almost god-like command structure, similar to that of the *Celestial Demon Sect*.

Jo Hwi’s reason for supporting a new leader for the *Black Heaven Alliance* was rather obvious.

He planned to install someone he could fully control, a leader he could manipulate to govern the remnants of the faction. It was a clever trick to effectively command those bound by the laws of the fallen alliance.

Jo Hwi grinned faintly in return.

“Well, it’s good to see you catch on quickly. So, are you willing to negotiate?”

“I don’t understand why I should cooperate with you. Furthermore… I truly cannot believe what I’m seeing.”

“What’s the matter?” Jo Hwi asked.

The *Black King’s Deputy*’s expression carried more curiosity than fear.

“Is your level of martial arts at the *Natural Realm*?” he asked.

“Well, I’m not sure,” Jo Hwi replied.

In truth, his level of martial arts was at least on par with or possibly even surpassing that of the three *Divine Masters*.

However, his path was significantly different from the *Natural Realm* they practiced.

While they sought unity with the universe and the great natural forces, transcending mental discipline and achieving harmony with the world, Jo Hwi had expanded his mental control over the natural world, trapping it within his own system and ruling it.

Although it might sound light when described in words, it was actually a monumental feat.

The martial arts systems of Central Plains had been refined over more than a thousand years through the trial and error of countless grandmasters.

Jo Hwi was walking a path that no one had walked before, making it difficult for him to define his own level.

“Well, let’s just say that’s the case for now.”

The *Black King’s Deputy*’s eyes, which had been filled with awe, now glinted with more curiosity.

“So, how is it that you can still operate so openly in the *Jianghu*?” he asked.

Jo Hwi frowned slightly, confused.

“What do you mean? I plan to travel the *Jianghu*, why would anyone else care?”

For a moment, the *Black King’s Deputy*’s face appeared faintly resigned, but soon it darkened with a grave expression.

“With that kind of power, you should have felt it by now. The *Central Plains*… no, the entire world, operates according to a hidden order.”

“Hidden order?” Jo Hwi asked, intrigued.

“Are you pretending not to know?” the *Black King’s Deputy* pressed.

“Speak plainly,” Jo Hwi responded, sensing the seriousness in his tone.

If the *Black King’s Deputy* was referring to the powers of the *Divine Masters*, it was not surprising. This meant that the influence of the *Divine Masters* reached deeply into the martial world, and far more people might be aware of it than expected.

“Why did *Bodhidharma* feign death and disappear to the West?” the *Black King’s Deputy* asked.

No one in the *Zen Sect* believed that *Bodhidharma* was poisoned by Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, as some historical legends suggested.

The stories surrounding his death were vague and unclear, and many believed he had faked his death and returned to the Western Regions.

“Why did *Dugu Wujin* disappear after surpassing even the *Celestial Demon* and becoming a *Demon God*?” the *Black King’s Deputy* continued.

The second divine figure in the martial world, the *Demon God*, also had a mysterious and puzzling history.

Some claimed that it was not the *Celestial Demon Sect* but rather the *Demon God* himself who had destroyed the *Demon Sect*. His disappearance, following a brief but monumental rise, left many questions unanswered.

“Just as with your master, *Cao Tian*, who also disappeared without leaving any heirs.”

At this point, Jo Hwi was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise.

The real name of the *Sword God* was not even mentioned in the famous *Man Bakja’s *Jianghu Fengyun* despite its notoriety.

Only Jo Hwi knew the name of the *Sword God*.

For the *Black King’s Deputy* to be aware of such a secret in the martial world was no trivial matter.

“Then, is there anyone who knows the fate of the Taoist Ancestor of *Wudang*, Zhang Sanfeng?”

There were countless legends and stories about Zhang Sanfeng’s life, but his death was shrouded in complete mystery.

“Most recently, the *Martial God* disappeared for over a century. His family also sealed their gates. Why was that?”

“Hmm.”

“Why did great merchants, who accumulated enough wealth to buy the imperial family, suddenly retreat underground and become dark merchants?”

At that moment, the *Black King’s Deputy*’s gaze became even more intense.

“Why did *Sha Yi Tian* and the *Iron Lion Alliance*—which once dominated the orthodox sects—end up hiding under the name *Black King*?”

“*Iron Lion Alliance*?” Jo Hwi muttered.

They were the strongest evil sect that nearly brought about the *Demonic World*, according to history.

During the *Great War*, the leader of the Martial World desperately cried out to the *Iron Lion Alliance*, declaring them the public enemy of the Central Plains.

However, the *Iron Lion Alliance* disappeared in an instant from the martial world.

It remained an unresolved mystery among the families of the martial world’s historians.

*Sha Yi Tian*, leader of the *Iron Lion Alliance*, was once acknowledged as the world’s number one before the *Martial God* appeared.

Even the senior figures of the orthodox sects, who were known for their rigid principles, would immediately name *Sha Yi Tian* as the best when discussing the strongest martial artists of their time.

At that time, *Sha Yi Tian*’s standing in the martial world was perhaps even higher than that of the *Sword God*.

“…Are you *Sha Yi Tian*?” Jo Hwi asked, astonished.

For the first time, the *Black King’s Deputy*, or rather *Sha Yi Tian*, looked even more transparent.

He, who had been projecting such immense power everywhere, suddenly released his mental energy.

“What?” Jo Hwi exclaimed, stunned.

*Ts-ts-ts-ts-ts*—

The radiant aura that had risen around *Sha Yi Tian* enveloped his entire being.

Jo Hwi immediately recognized what kind of state was being revealed.

“*Heaven and Earth Harmonization*…” Jo Hwi murmured.

Once someone reached the *Natural Realm*, all their martial paths began to resemble one another.

The three *Divine Masters*, whose inclinations had been clearly different from each other, were able to understand each other deeply after they reached the *Natural Realm* because their martial arts became so harmonized with the world.

*Sha Yi Tian* slowly released the presence of his being, then began sweating coldly, scanning his surroundings.

But it was clear from his expression that he was experiencing undeniable joy.

Just revealing the *Natural Realm’s* martial prowess had brought him such bliss.

“There’s a line that humans are allowed to reach in their lives, one that you should know well. Have you really never once been called or warned by *them*?” *Sha Yi Tian* asked, his voice trembling with disbelief.

From *Sha Yi Tian*’s perspective, it was impossible to understand how someone who possessed such an extraordinary level of martial power could still claim to be the leader of an ordinary faction, a mainstream force in the martial world.

“Ho…” Jo Hwi muttered under his breath in admiration.

It had become clear now.

*Sha Yi Tian* was well aware of the *Divine Masters* and their followers.

And at least once, he had encountered them.

But how intense must the fear have been for *Sha Yi Tian* to derive such pleasure just from revealing the martial prowess of *Heaven and Earth Harmonization*?

“Do you know their true identity?” *Sha Yi Tian* asked, his face filled with a mix of excitement, anger, and confusion, all tinged with sadness.

It was clear from his expression just how much terror and trial the *Divine Masters* and their followers had caused him.

“I know,” Jo Hwi replied simply.

“What!?” *Sha Yi Tian* exclaimed in shock.

They were the guiding providence of the world.

They were also the governing law over humanity.

To defy them was to prepare for obliteration.

And yet, despite being aware of such immense beings, Jo Hwi had confidently projected his power across the martial world and openly claimed leadership of a faction?

“Why? How is that possible? Aren’t you afraid?” *Sha Yi Tian* asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

“The one who should be afraid is not me, but them,” Jo Hwi said, pointing toward the sky.

*Sha Yi Tian* couldn’t understand this obvious provocation toward the sky.

“Then, do you have a way to resist them?” he asked.

Jo Hwi’s calm gaze slowly swept over *Sha Yi Tian*, the *Black King’s Ten Thousand Deaths*, and the others around him—*Yeom Sang Rok*, *Jin Ga Hui*, and everyone else present.

“If we, humans, are able to maintain our true nature without falling into corruption, there’s nothing they can do to us,” Jo Hwi replied.

“True nature?” *Sha Yi Tian* asked, his confusion deepening.

There were countless questions *Sha Yi Tian* wanted to ask about what exactly Jo Hwi meant by the human “true nature” and how it could possibly be a threat to the *Divine Masters*. But Jo Hwi’s next answer left him stunned and speechless.

“If you want to hear more, first you’ll need to fulfill a request. The rise of the new *Black Heaven Lotus*!”

*Sha Yi Tian* became even more bewildered.

What?!

Is that really what’s important right now?

The conversation they were having was about beings who secretly ruled over all people with an unknown system and laws, beings that couldn’t even be fully understood. The legendary heroes of Jianghu, who remained as myths, were also under their control.

Compared to the secret currents that had been passed down through the martial world for ages, the rise of a new *Black Heaven Lotus* was a trivial, insignificant topic.

Yet, Jo Hwi’s expression was so serious.

“No, you have to give something before you can take something! The long-standing law of *equivalent exchange* for humanity! Do you understand or not?”

“Is that really the important issue right now?” *Sha Yi Tian* asked again.

“It is!” Jo Hwi responded fiercely, scanning the room.

“The power to stand against the *Divine Thrones* doesn’t come from internal energy, willpower, *Heaven and Earth Harmonization*, or law power!”

*Jin Ga Hui* nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. My brother said so. Should I just keep chasing after men like I always do? Right?”

“Yeah! You still just need to chase men around, and Sang Rok, you still need to keep staring at Ga Hui!”

“What are you saying? That’s disgusting.”

“Why? What’s wrong with that?”

“Everything.”

“*Tch!*”

As Jo Hwi continued to be playful, *Sha Yi Tian* became even more confused.

“The *Divine Thrones*? Is that the name you use for them?”

“Well, everyone calls them that, so I do too, but I don’t really like it.” Jo Hwi replied nonchalantly.

*Sha Yi Tian* stared at *Yeom Sang Rok* and *Jin Ga Hui*, who were bickering.

“What does it mean to ‘chase after men and women’?”

“They fear the heat of human passion,” Jo Hwi answered.

“Heat?” *Sha Yi Tian* asked, perplexed.

A smile subtly appeared on Jo Hwi’s face.

“The *Thrones* are immortals who walk through eternity. For such immortals, ‘will’ is a long-lost attribute. That’s why they admire the human fire.”

As *Sha Yi Tian* struggled to understand Jo Hwi’s words, *Little Sword God* smiled even brighter and added,

“How much do they admire human emotions? They’ve even named themselves after absurd concepts: *Wandering whim in the dark*, *A savior who despises hatred*. That’s what they’re called!”

*Wandering whim in the dark*?

*A savior who despises hatred*?

It sounded grand, but the names felt too abstract and pretentious.

*Yeom Sang Rok* asked Jo Hwi, “What kind of names are these *Divine* beings given?”

“Exactly! They’re just pretentious, emotionally driven fools who let their brains get carried away,” Jo Hwi scoffed.

After laughing, Jo Hwi turned his gaze back to *Sha Yi Tian*.

“Then, you should reflect on your own life seriously. Can you really say that the trajectory of your life is ‘the flame of a person’? Did your soul ever hold such passion?”

*Sha Yi Tian* seemed resolute on this point.

“I can say with certainty that my life was full of passion,” he replied.

Jo Hwi nodded approvingly.

“That’s good! Whether it’s a passionate love for a woman, a brutal revenge on an enemy, or becoming a miser to grasp all the wealth in the world! As humans, as beings with human souls, we must ignite our flames every moment! *Gods*? Stop talking nonsense! While they hide in the dark void, observing human flames with envy and longing, what kind of gods are they?”

A chill ran down the spines of *Yeom Sang Rok* and *Jin Ga Hui*, who found themselves instinctively stepping back.

The fierce words coming from Jo Hwi were filled with madness and anger.

It was as though they were encountering a completely different person.

After delivering such a passionate outburst, Jo Hwi suddenly questioned himself.

*How?*

How do I know the names of the *Divine Thrones*?

There was no memory of encountering them, yet suddenly, countless names of the *Thrones* filled Jo Hwi’s mind clearly, as if a long-entangled knot had suddenly unraveled. A vast flood of information about the *Thrones* poured into his head, as though an awakening had occurred.

It was a strange sensation, as though something long forgotten had been reclaimed.

Of course, after experiencing three thousand years of time and space, Jo Hwi was aware that his existence and spiritual power had risen dramatically. But this feeling…

It felt as though he was regaining something from long ago that had been buried deep within.

“Anyway, are you willing to cooperate with me?” Jo Hwi asked.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, *Sha Yi Tian*, the *Black King’s Deputy*, was silent for a moment.

After a brief pause, *Sha Yi Tian* finally spoke with resolve.

“I’ll join the *Black King’s Family*, under your command.”

Jo Hwi’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Are you saying you’ll join our *Jo Family*’s faction?”

“Yes. From now on, the life and death of the *Black King’s Family* will lie in your hands.”

“Just like that?”

*Sha Yi Tian* stood up from his chair and gestured toward the tavern.

“Shall we take a look at the *Black King’s Family* together?”

*Sha Yi Tian* bowed politely toward Jo Hwi and suggested that they inspect the secret underground area of the tavern. Jo Hwi, surprised, raised an eyebrow.

“Are you sure about this?”

*Sha Yi Tian* smiled faintly.

“Our *Black King’s Family* is not the kind of organization you think it is.”

“Is that so?”

Jo Hwi had expected to find a blood-soaked arena for dogfights or a secret gambling den beneath the tavern. After all, the *Black King’s Family* had long been a sinister organization secretly ruling over the underworld.

When *Sha Yi Tian* silently walked toward the tavern, Jo Hwi and the *Black King’s Ten Executioners* followed closely behind.

As *Sha Yi Tian* approached one of the walls of the tavern and activated a mechanism, the floor suddenly tore open with a loud metallic sound.

*Clang clang—*

The heavy iron plates shot up, assembling and covering the entire tavern.

“What, what is this?!” Jo Hwi exclaimed, utterly shocked.

The tavern had transformed into a fortress that could survive a nuclear explosion!

Could such a massive transformation really be possible with current *Central Plains* technology?

Jo Hwi had witnessed some of the most advanced *Central Plains* mechanical engineering, including the *Yun Cha* series and the renowned *Zhuge* family’s mechanical techniques, but even with those, he never imagined something like this was possible.

Just then, *Sha Yi Tian* spoke with pride, causing Jo Hwi to be even more taken aback.

“This is all made of *Eternal Cold Iron*.”

“*What?*”

Even a small amount of *Eternal Cold Iron* could stir bloodshed across the martial world.

It was an extraordinary mineral, far more valuable than gold!

Even a sword made of *Eternal Cold Iron* could be worth a whole city, so the fact that the tavern was covered in this dull metal was incomprehensible.

“If this is really true, then how much is all of this worth?”

The value was so astronomical that Jo Hwi couldn’t even begin to fathom it in terms of gold coins.

“I don’t know. I’ve never calculated it.”

“Impossible!”

Even if they sold all of *Jo Family’s* assets, they wouldn’t be able to afford the cost of a house made from this *Eternal Cold Iron*.

“Why on earth was this place made?” Jo Hwi asked, astonished.

*Sha Yi Tian* remained silent and only stared at the underground stairs.

“You’ll find the answer if you go down,” he said.

Unable to suppress his rising curiosity, Jo Hwi hurried down the underground stairs. As *Sha Yi Tian* activated another mechanism, countless torches lit up, revealing the vast underground space.

“How…?”

The staircase seemed to stretch endlessly downward, an enormous depth that looked to be hundreds of steps long.

Such a structure was impossible to build with the current technology of the *Central Plains*. Why? Because it would require a vast labor force, unlike modern heavy machinery.

Even if it were possible to build it, it would take hundreds of years.

“How could…?”

Even if there were countless workers in the *Central Plains*, the construction of such a massive underground structure would have inevitably become public knowledge, spreading as rumors.

This vast underground facility would require millions of workers to complete, and the stories would certainly circulate among the people.

As if reading Jo Hwi’s doubts, *Sha Yi Tian* spoke in a calm tone.

“You’ll find the answer once you go down.”

“Mm…”

If *Sha Yi Tian* had been involved in the construction of this underground world, it would make sense. Manipulating the *Earth Qi* and destroying it was something a *Natural Martial Artist* could do.

But why go to such lengths to gather an immense amount of labor and wealth to build something like this?

Jo Hwi swallowed his questions and, with a leap, mounted the floating sword to glide down the endless staircase. The answers were clearly not going to come from just walking down those stairs.

“Hold on.”

“Okay, brother!”

“Again with that? Damn!”

With *Yeom Sang Rok* and *Jin Ga Hui* in tow, Jo Hwi flew down into the endless underground with his sword.

The sound of the wind cutting through the air became a clear, resonating tone that spread in all directions. After about a “shichen” (roughly two hours), Jo Hwi finally stopped.

“Hey! Stop! Stop flying! The ground’s right below!”

At those words, Yeom Sang Rok, terrified, tightly shut his eyes. Only then did Jo Hwi release his concentration.

“Wow! What is this?!”

Finally, they arrived at an unimaginable, enormous underground cavern.

It was so vast that even the largest modern dome stadium would seem small in comparison.

But this wasn’t just an empty space.

“Brother, please don’t tell me all those are books?”

Following Jin Ga Hui’s gaze, Jo Hwi was stunned by the immense sight.

A seemingly endless row of bookshelves!

“What is that? Could those be all *Bing Guo Dan* jars? They’re all drilled with holes?”

Unlike regular jars, jars used for storing *Bing Guo Dan* (a preserved food) had to have holes drilled in their sides for air circulation, or they would spoil.

“Don’t tell me all those are dried meats?”

There were massive piles of dried meat, stacked like small hills.

“Insane! Are those all salt jars?”

Yeom Sang Rok and Jin Ga Hui kept gasping in awe.

The sheer amount of resources required to gather all this was already mind-boggling, but the real mystery was how they managed to transport all of it into this distant underground cavern.

Meanwhile, Jo Hwi’s expression grew grim as he took in the scene.

A vast underground cavern.

An endless graveyard of books.

Massive piles of *Bing Guo Dan*, dried meat, and salt.

After thoroughly surveying the space, Jo Hwi started to come to a realization about what the *Black King’s Family* had been doing all this time.

“Survival!”

Books to pass the time.

*Bing Guo Dan* for carbohydrates.

Dried meat for protein.

Salt for seasoning, and water.

These were the bare minimum for human survival.

With supplies like these, a group of less than a hundred people could survive for five hundred years.

It was an incredibly basic, crude, and utterly inhumane survival bunker!

“Why… why would they do this?” Jo Hwi asked aloud.

The entrance of the tavern had been sealed with *Eternal Cold Iron*, so this underground cavern would be perfectly safe from external threats.

But what were they trying to protect themselves from?

Just then, *Sha Yi Tian* descended slowly, using the *Ling Kong Tian Shang Ti* technique, and landed in the center of the cavern.

Jo Hwi, filled with questions, immediately looked at him.

“Why would you build such an underground cavern?”

The sheer cost of constructing something on this scale was unimaginable. It was truly astronomical.

“I didn’t build this place. I’m just the one who discovered it,” *Sha Yi Tian* replied.

Jo Hwi quickly asked again.

“Then who built this massive structure?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Follow me.”

With that, *Sha Yi Tian* used his *Qi* to propel himself forward, and Jo Hwi quickly followed behind.

A short time later, they arrived at the center of the cavern.

“Hmm?”

At the heart of the cavern, Jo Hwi’s eyes were immediately drawn to a skeleton. What was even more astonishing was the inscription carved into the floor.

– *Whoever finds this place must, by any means, gather food! Prepare for the time of extinction! The amount required…!*

As Jo Hwi read the inscription, his face filled with confusion.

The massive amount of food he had just seen in this cavern was not even one-quarter of the amount specified by the long-dead person who had left this message.

The most shocking part was the final sentence.

– *You have two days! If you can survive here for just two days, humanity’s world will continue!*

The ancient, mysterious person who had left this message, now reduced to a skeleton, had only required food for two days to ensure humanity’s survival.

“So all this time, what has the *Black King’s Family* been doing…?” Jo Hwi asked.

With a firm tone, *Sha Yi Tian* answered.

“Yes. They have been gathering food.”

– **So this is what it comes to…**

The voice echoing from Jo Hwi’s spiritual realm was filled with the regret of a venerable figure.

Jo Hwi, startled, asked in shock:

“Do you know who this skeleton belonged to?”

Zhang Sanfeng, the founder of the Wudang Sect, was a legendary figure who, until the time of the Three Gods, was on par with Bodhidharma as one of the most invincible martial artists in history.

However, martial artists in Central Plains had a stronger affection for Zhang Sanfeng than for Bodhidharma. While Bodhidharma came from India, Zhang Sanfeng was a representative figure of Taoism in the Central Plains.

Although the martial arts system of the Central Plains originated from Shaolin, it was the Wudang Sect that founded the sword school (*Jian Zong*), which became the most dominant in the martial world.

The fact that Wudang was the origin and the strongest sword school was universally accepted. This was a truth recognized not only in Huashan or Zhongnan but also in distant places like Hainan.

The influence left by Zhang Sanfeng was so great and established that even the Nine Major Sects, known for their noble pride, unhesitatingly acknowledged Wudang as the founding force of martial arts.

Thus, when people in the martial world debated whether Bodhidharma or Zhang Sanfeng was greater, the unanimous answer was always the “Two Ancestors of the Central Plains”—Bodhidharma and Zhang Sanfeng.

While the martial arts of the Three Gods might have reached higher levels, their influence and legacy in the Central Plains couldn’t compare to that of Zhang Sanfeng.

Of course, the stories of Zhang Sanfeng that were passed down through the generations were so abstract and esoteric that later generations could not fully grasp the true extent of his martial achievements. This was to be expected, as he belonged to an even more ancient era than the Three Gods.

– **We called him the “Original Way” (Yuandao).**

The voice of the venerable figure in Jo Hwi’s mind was filled with deep regret.

– **The other five of the Six True Gods were merely experiments, but he was the one and only disciple, recognized by the Heavenly Seat itself.**

Jo Hwi, staring blankly at the skeleton before him, was struck with disbelief.

Could this meager skeleton really be the same Zhang Sanfeng, who, together with Bodhidharma, founded the martial world of the Central Plains?

Moreover, the title “Yuandao” (Original Way) was something Jo Hwi had never heard before.

The most shocking part was that this man was said to be the first True God to be accepted by the so-called “Heavenly Seat.” This revelation was utterly absurd and mind-boggling.

How could the incarnation of Taoism, the great figure known as one of the “Two Ancestors of the Central Plains,” have become a disciple of the “Heavenly Seat”?

Jo Hwi, now feeling a surge of intense doubt, was almost overwhelmed by the urge to shake the figure by the collar if he were still alive. But he was just staring at the remains of a corpse, which made the situation even more lamentable.

To Jo Hwi, Zhang Sanfeng had always been a revered martial artist. His martial arts were legendary, but what was even more significant was the “philosophy” he left behind for the martial world.

He spoke of the heavens and earth, light and darkness—how all things in the world originated from the first source and were divided into Yin and Yang. True wisdom and the ultimate truth could only be attained when the two forces were perfectly balanced and unified.

This was the great teaching of Zhang Sanfeng: the concept of the “Oneness” (Yi Yuan), the “Great Void” (Tai Xu), and the “Tai Chi.”

These martial arts, which stemmed from this great truth, continued to evolve over a thousand years, giving rise to countless mysterious techniques, many of which still baffled martial artists to this day.

But now, to see the legendary founder of Wudang, the father of this vast legacy, reduced to a pitiful skeleton before him—it was incomprehensible!

And the fact that this “mad” Heavenly Seat had taken him as a disciple only added to the shock.

Having entered the martial world himself and become a martial artist, Jo Hwi was filled with a sense of deep sadness, almost to the point of tears.

– **You fool. How could anyone fully understand the tragic fate of another? Do not dare to blame him.**

Even the soothing voice of the “Sword God Elder” could not comfort Jo Hwi in this moment.

It wasn’t as if Jo Hwi had deeply revered Zhang Sanfeng or had ever personally visited his shrine to offer prayers. It was simply that the history he had known had been desecrated before his eyes.

What if he learned that Liu Bei, a symbol of benevolence and righteousness in the *Three Kingdoms*, was actually a vile and lecherous rapist? Or if he found out that a celebrity he once admired had come from a background as a brothel prostitute?

At that moment, Jo Hwi felt just as he would in those situations.

– **We do not know why he became the disciple of the Heavenly Seat. But he was the most special among us, and he alone received the Heavenly Seat’s favor. He was the only disciple to be treated with such honor by the Heavenly Seat.**

The “Heavenly Seat”?

Did that mean that the self-proclaimed god had treated Zhang Sanfeng, a mere disciple, as his equal?

– **I believed he ascended to the heavens with the other Seats… How could he have ended up in such a state… And to think he has been completely erased…**

“Erased completely?”

Jo Hwi, who understood the true meaning of “complete erasure,” was left speechless.

Complete erasure meant the annihilation of the soul itself—signifying that the cycle of reincarnation and rebirth had come to an end.

*Non-existence.*

The complete disappearance of the soul’s presence itself.

The destruction of the human spirit was a terrifying concept. It meant that Zhang Sanfeng no longer existed in this world, not in any form or sense.

*‘How can you know that?’*

– The martial arts level known to the world was merely a drop in the ocean. He had long since transcended the limits of human ability and was seeking a new Dao. Particularly, his divine insight, which allowed him to see both the past and future, was so profound that even the Heavenly Seat often sought his counsel.

Jo Hwi could hardly contain his shock.

The divine insight he knew of was the ability to perceive the essence of things and phenomena. There were legends that such insight could allow one to align with the will of Heaven and even see the future.

But transcending time itself was considered the domain of gods, something no human could achieve.

– A being who had reached such a state could have their body fall apart, but their soul would remain intact. No matter how humble their fate, some trace of their spiritual power, or at least a lingering sense of their divinity, should remain. But… this is absolute nothingness. There’s nothing left to feel.

Jo Hwi, too, felt the truth of this.

The remains before him carried no trace of spiritual energy, no presence whatsoever. They were as empty as dust floating in the void.

But then a question arose.

*‘If there’s no divine aura left in this skeleton, how can we be certain that it is Zhang Sanfeng?’*

The voice of the venerable figure became deeper and more solemn.

– In the time before his extinction, he often murmured that if one could prepare for that moment, they could continue to live on in the world. Only he and the Heavenly Seat could have created a place like this.

“Truly remarkable insight. You’ve already deduced that this is Zhang Sanfeng.”

The sudden voice startled Jo Hwi, and he turned around in surprise.

“How did you…?”

Given that the venerable figure had direct ties to Zhang Sanfeng, how could someone from the current era recognize him?

Sa Eul Cheon, with a meaningful smile, floated up into the air.

“Follow me.”

He moved upward toward the vast ceiling of the cavern.

At the center of the cavern’s roof was a massive hole through which fresh air from the surface flowed. Astonishingly, countless inscriptions surrounded the hole.

“Hmm?”

Jo Hwi’s jaw dropped in shock.

It turned out that not only the ceiling but the entire underground wall was covered with innumerable inscriptions. Just a cursory glance at them overwhelmed Jo Hwi, as the sheer volume of text was staggering.

Of course, one would need the ability to float in the air to see it all, but for an ordinary person to carve these many characters into the walls of such a vast space would likely take thousands of years.

“These are the records of everything he studied throughout his long life. I couldn’t believe at first that one person could delve into such vast and profound doctrines, theories, and philosophies and record them all.”

“Hmm…”

These inscriptions were the result of everything Zhang Sanfeng had studied and achieved over his entire life? The number of books it would take to record all of this was unimaginable.

It was enough to make someone dizzy with disbelief.

“Thanks to this, I have become a greater Wudang practitioner than even the Wudang Taoists themselves. I can say with certainty that no true practitioner of Wudang will surpass me.”

Sa Eul Cheon, the mighty king of the Iron-Fisted Tiger Clan, who had once led the infamous Iron Fist Sect, now proclaimed himself a greater Wudang practitioner than the Wudang Sect itself.

For a moment, Jo Hwi couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of fate.

“Truly, even as his disciple, you are no less impressive.”

“Haha! You see it clearly.”

Sa Eul Cheon, gliding through the sky like a celestial being, gazed over the enormous cavern with a look full of awe.

“He was a master who utterly shattered my pride. I once believed no being greater than my master could exist in this world. But…”

Stopping at one of the walls, Sa Eul Cheon turned to Jo Hwi with a reverent gesture.

“That belief remained until I saw my master’s prophecy.”