It was clear that nothing was visible on the other side—yet it felt as if a person stood there, sword in hand.Any expert at the Manifestation Realm could simply make a sword float in the air.But this didn’t look like mere levitation.From the blade suspended in midair, a tremendous aura radiated.It was unmistakably a Yin energy.At that moment, Yeon Woo Jin began to move.In sync with his movements, the sword hanging in the air began to follow.Hye Gwang and Hye Yeon could feel it without doubt——the perfect harmony of Yin and Yang energy.This… this was the very ideal they had been striving toward.For a moment, the two of them were entranced by the sheer beauty of that sword dance.When they finally came to their senses, they realized that Woo Jin was doing something utterly absurd.He was playing both roles of the Yin and Yang halves—by himself.Was this even possible?If one were to ask them, they could answer without hesitation.Absolutely not.And yet, the impossible was unfolding before their very eyes—perfectly, at that.Swhhh—!The flawless sword dance ended, and the sword that had been floating dropped straight to the floor.Clang—.The sound snapped the onlookers out of their daze.“This… this is… impossible,” Hye Gwang murmured in disbelief.Hye Yeon nodded. She thought so too.How could one person possibly perform the Yin-Yang Harmonization Sword Art with such perfection?Even the two of them—acknowledged as the most harmonious pair in Qingcheng Sect—couldn’t have done it this flawlessly.And beyond perfection… it was powerful.Even though it had only been a demonstration, they could feel it——that overwhelming strength.“A true… Divine Being…” Hye Gwang muttered without realizing.Hye Yeon nodded again beside him.One thing was certain—Yeon Woo Jin had more than enough qualification to teach the Yin-Yang Harmonization Sword Art.But how exactly did he plan to teach it?Even if he taught it in condensed form, it should take a great deal of time.Did this mean he intended to stay here for the duration?“What do you think?”In response to Woo Jin’s question, Hye Gwang and Hye Yeon spoke in awe.“Y-you are truly incredible!”“I can’t help but marvel at how you could perform it so perfectly.”“I just mimicked it a little.”That left them speechless.If that was “just mimicking,” then what did that make them—people who wouldn’t even dare to attempt such a thing?They wanted to say something, but held their tongues.Not because they were afraid of him—no, just because he was their benefactor.“We have a large training hall,” Hye Gwang said. “Allow me to guide you there.”Woo Jin asked cautiously, “Could I trouble you for one more favor?”“Please speak.”“I’d like those two over there to join the training.”He pointed toward Hwa Sogwang and Namgoong Hwan.Hwa Sogwang looked slightly surprised. Namgoong Hwan looked completely startled.“M-me as well?” Namgoong Hwan asked.“Yes. You look too frail for my liking.”“I-I’m fine.”“I’m not fine. I can’t stand having my own people be weak.”“T-that’s…”“That’s an order.”“…Understood.”At the word order, Namgoong Hwan bowed his head.Woo Jin turned back to Hye Gwang. “Would it be alright if they join us?”Hye Gwang looked at the two for a moment, then nodded.“I have no objection.”“Thank you. Then please, show us to the training hall.”“Follow me.” ****When they arrived at the training hall, Woo Jin requested that Hye Gwang prepare two months’ worth of provisions.So Hye Gwang thought—Ah, so he plans to remain here for two months.And he had the requested supplies prepared accordingly.Neither Hye Gwang nor Hye Yeon had the faintest idea what they would go through in those two months as they arranged the provisions and stepped into the training hall.Inside, Woo Jin was drawing something on the floor.“All done.”Everyone was curious about what it was—everyone except one man, who trembled in fear because he already knew.Namgoong Hwan had experienced this before.Hwa Sogwang asked him, “Is our lord’s training truly so harsh? Why are you shaking like that?”“You don’t know, Palace Lord Hwa—that’s why you look so at ease. You’ll… find out soon enough.”Hwa Sogwang couldn’t understand.Of course training was supposed to be hard.Why was he trembling like that?Hwa Sogwang felt confident—no training could be harsher than the grueling methods he had endured in the past.Woo Jin finished his preparations and called them over.“Merchant Lord Namgoong, please go over there and stretch. I’ll start with the others here.”“Yes! Thank you!”Namgoong Hwan darted away to the spot indicated, looking like a man reprieved from death, and began stretching in earnest.Woo Jin turned to the remaining three.“This way.”He pointed toward an array inscribed ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ with strange patterns.Their feet didn’t want to move.It felt as though their instincts were screaming Don’t go there.What kind of formation was this?“Step inside,” Woo Jin beckoned.The way he gestured looked more like a ferryman inviting them across the River of the Dead.It felt like crossing that line meant truly stepping into the afterlife.“Come on now. We don’t have all day.”Under his repeated urging, the three finally stepped inside.Zzeung—.The moment they did, their bodies felt heavier.The air seemed denser—so dense, they could feel its weight.“This is called the Flow-Reversal Heavenly Muscle Formation. Heard of it?”“The Flow-Reversal Muscle Formation, yes… but never the Heavenly Muscle Formation.”“Ah—think of it as an improved and more advanced version.”“And why… this formation?”“To improve your constitutions. Honestly, with your current bodies, you won’t be able to properly learn these martial arts.”“Improve our constitutions? Isn’t that only possible for those whose growth isn’t yet complete?”“Of course, it’s usually done for children. Once you’re older, your meridians harden and growth ends, making it difficult to change.”“We’ve both passed the age of fifty. It should be impossible.”The others nodded in agreement—yes, this was absurd.“You’re right—it normally is impossible. But the Flow-Reversal Heavenly Muscle Formation makes it possible. The catch… is that it’s a bit painful.”At the word painful, all three flinched.Something told them it wouldn’t be just a bit.“Each of you, sit in the circle with your name on it. I’ve tailored each one to your constitution.”They remembered how Woo Jin had taken their pulses before entering.Back then, they hadn’t known why—but now they understood.Hesitantly, they went to their assigned spots.“Now, copy my posture.”Woo Jin sat on the floor in a strange position. The three followed.Crack—.Muscles long unused screamed in protest.“Ghhhk!”It wasn’t easy. They hadn’t realized how stiff they’d become.Then, just as they thought they couldn’t hold the posture any longer——their bodies began to move on their own, twisting into bizarre shapes.Panicked, they tried to resist, but—Crunch—.Pop—.“Aaaghk!”“Kyaaaah!”“Ghhhk!”The pain was unbearable. They struggled to stop their muscles from twisting further——but the more they fought, the worse it became.“Gyaaaah!”Their screams filled the training hall.They looked to Woo Jin, hoping he would fix whatever had gone wrong——but with every motion of his hand, their bodies twisted further.No… was he doing this to them?Why?Was he trying to kill them?No one could survive such contortions.“P-please… stop…!” Hye Gwang managed to cry out.But Woo Jin only tightened the invisible grip.“Aaaghhh!”Yes—he really meant to kill them.That was their last thought as they cursed him in their minds and slowly blacked out from the pain.Two weeks later—“It’s over now.”At the words that their constitution improvement was complete, the three cheered.They never wanted to experience that hell again.Still, their bodies had undeniably improved.Their inner energy now flowed vigorously through every inch of them, and their muscles felt transformed.It was practically half a complete rebirth.They were stunned—could a formation alone truly change people like this?Even so, they would never do it again.The first time, they’d stepped in without knowing. Now that they knew, it was impossible.They finally understood why Namgoong Hwan had trembled in fear.If told to do it again, they would look exactly like him.They were afraid now.Would martial arts training be done in the same way?Hwa Sogwang slapped himself—he’d once thought, How hard could training really be?He must have cursed himself with those words.Please, let the training be normal, he prayed.Perhaps Heaven heard him—because the process of learning the martial techniques was surprisingly normal.Thanks to their improved constitutions, they learned quickly.At this rate, they thought, they’d master the techniques soon and leave this hellish hall behind.At least—that’s what they believed at the time.Another two weeks passed.They had learned most of what was in the manual.Mastery would come later; the priority had been to absorb as much as possible.A month had passed since entering the training hall.They had improved their constitutions and learned the manual.Now, they thought, the rest was just practice—they were almost done.But they were wrong.The real hell was yet to come.“Now that you’ve learned the techniques, it’s time to raise your mastery.”“That’s not something you can rush.”“True. But there’s a way to speed it up.”“There is?”“Yes.”“What method?”“Actual combat.”“Combat? With whom?”As the three tilted their heads in confusion, Woo Jin grinned.“From now on, I’m your enemy.”“…What?”“I’m going to attack you with the intent to kill. If you want to survive, you’d better move with everything you’ve got.”“…What?”“Oh, and one condition—you're only allowed to use the techniques from the manual you learned here. If you use any other martial arts… you’ll go back into the Flow-Reversal Heavenly Muscle Formation.”The threat worked perfectly.Their eyes changed instantly.Better to fight Woo Jin than step into that formation again.Hwa Sogwang, in that moment, even forgot that Woo Jin was his lord.Seeing the shift in their expressions, Woo Jin’s smile widened.This method always worked.He crooked a finger.The three glanced at each other, nodded, and charged at him with fierce momentum——while repeating to themselves that under no circumstances could they use any other martial arts.That was how terrifying the Flow-Reversal Heavenly Muscle Formation was.

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