Balho reached his hand toward Malyang.Malyang instinctively knew he must not let that hand touch him, but there was no way to evade it.From what he could tell, this was meant to be brainwashing.He resolved to endure it, relying on superhuman mental strength to resist falling under its sway.Seeing Malyang’s expression, Balho let out a low chuckle.“What? Trying to hold out? Keuk keuk keuk… Do you think that’s possible?”Balho’s hand descended, coming to rest atop Malyang’s head.Crack—.“Khhhk!”A groan escaped Malyang’s lips, his body trembling uncontrollably.Soon, white foam began to froth from his mouth, and the whites of his eyes rolled upward.“Who is your master?”Balho asked.With difficulty, Malyang forced out his words.“My… lord… is… only… Young Master.”“Huh? What’s this?”Balho tilted his head.Normally, it would already be over at this stage—but Malyang was different.“You really are a stubborn one.”Balho pressed his energy in harder.“Ghhhuuuhhhk!”Malyang’s whole body began to shake violently.“Nnngh… Y-Young Master…”Even in the midst of this agony, Malyang still muttered Young Master. Balho grinned.Such loyalty—so absolute.It made him want the man even more.“Keuk keuk keuk… You truly are to my liking. I will make you mine without fail.”Who knew how long the brainwashing went on.When Malyang hung limply, Balho asked again.“Who is your master?”“Lord… Balho.”At last, the answer he wanted came from Malyang’s lips.“Keuk keuk keuk keuk… At last.”A man worth using had finally become his.Balho immediately asked what he most wanted to know.“Who was the master you served before?”“The one I served… was… Musincheonju…”“Musincheonju?”“The strongest existence in the Central Plains.”“Is that so? Was he stronger than you?”“I… could not even be considered a match.”“And compared to me?”“…Even… or… above you.”“What?”Balho’s eyes widened.“That strong? A human?”The reason for his shock—unlike the last time he had emerged into the human realm in an incomplete state, this time he was almost fully restored.And yet this human was said to be his equal—or stronger?He could hardly believe it.That a mere human could possess such strength?Balho stared at Malyang with disbelief.Right now, Malyang was in no state to lie—he could only answer truthfully to every question.That meant everything he was saying was true.“This Musincheonju was your master?”“My former master.”“Former? Then you have another?”“Yes… Young Master… Khhk! Young Master… my Young Master…”Malyang began to thrash again.“What? The brainwashing is wearing off?”What kind of being was this Young Master, to inspire such overwhelming loyalty?Balho quickly grabbed Malyang’s head, reinforcing the brainwashing so it would not unravel.Still, he was curious.Just who was this Young Master Malyang spoke of?Once Malyang was stabilized, he asked:“Is this Young Master strong?”At that, Malyang smirked faintly.“He… is a god. My lord could not so much as touch the hem of his robe.”“What?”“If he were to be angered, you would be… annihilated in a single day.”Balho studied him closely, wondering if the brainwashing had failed.It had not.This was sincerity.And yet it was still hard to believe.“Tell me more—what kind of man is he?”“He possesses omniscient, omnipotent abilities.”“And he’s human?”“He is a god.”“Huh… Then what kind of abilities did he show?”At Balho’s question, Malyang grimaced in agony.He coughed up blood, then lost consciousness.“Tch…”Just thinking of the man had left him like this.“I suppose it will be faster to experience him for myself.”Unwilling to believe Malyang’s words, Balho decided to seek out this Young Master personally—on the day the Heavenly Demon Fortress was ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) completed. ****Yeon Woo Jin was cleaning his ear when Hye Gwang asked:“Is something bothering you?”“Hm? No. My ear suddenly itched. Must mean someone’s talking about me. Since it’s my left ear, it should be praise.”“Hahaha, of course it’s praise. Who would dare speak ill of their benefactor?”“You think so?”“Absolutely. You’ll be leaving tomorrow, won’t you?”“Yes. I’ve imposed on you long enough.”At that, Hye Gwang waved his hands in protest.“W-What are you saying? ‘Imposed’? If you say that, what does that make us, who have received a debt we can never repay?”“I only returned what was yours—the manual and the swords—and everything else I did was in preparation against the Demonic Cult. That’s hardly a favor.”“No, to us, it is a great favor!”Woo Jin smiled faintly at Hye Gwang’s insistence.“If that’s how Sect Master wishes to see it, then so be it.”“Benefactor, you are the eternal benefactor of the Qingcheng Sect. We have even held an elders’ meeting.”“An elders’ meeting?”“Yes. The Qingcheng Sect will follow you.”“There’s no need for that.”“No. When we thought about it, to face the immense enemy that is the Demonic Cult, the Central Plains must unite. There is no one more suited to be that center than you. If you command us to join Martial Deity Heaven, we will.”“There’s no need to join. Just devote yourselves to cultivation so you’ll be ready for the coming disaster—whenever it may arrive.”“Then… you will accept us?”Hye Gwang looked at him with earnest eyes.“Yes.”At Woo Jin’s consent, the tension in Hye Gwang’s face finally melted.“Thank you! From now on, I will call you not benefactor, but my lord.”“Are you sure about that?”“All disciples of Qingcheng decided unanimously, my lord.”Woo Jin hesitated briefly, then replied:“Then I look forward to working with you.”“I will devote my heart entirely!” ****The next day.Amid the warm send-off of all Qingcheng disciples, Woo Jin and his party departed.Hwa Sogwang cast an envious glance back at Qingcheng.Seeing this, Woo Jin asked:“Where is the Blazing Fire Divine Palace located?”Hwa Sogwang quickly answered:“Yes! In the south of Qinghai Province.”His eagerness made Woo Jin smile.“Then shall we stop by on the way to Mount Kunlun?”“Truly?”“Yes.”Overcome with emotion, Hwa Sogwang bowed deeply.“Understood. I will take the lead and guide you there.”“No—you go ahead. I’ll come to you.”“Pardon? You want me to go first?”“Yes. Pick out promising people who should undergo bodily reconstruction.”“Yes! Understood, my lord!”“Then I’ll see you later.”“Yes! I will prepare a grand welcome for your arrival.”With that, Hwa Sogwang dashed off, looking thrilled.Woo Jin turned to Namgoong Hwan.“We don’t have any gifts for Emei Sect, do we?”“No. We do not trade with them. Emei trades only through the Phoenix Merchant Guild.”“Then I’ll have to go alone.”“I will accompany you. That place is a forbidden zone—if you go alone, they will surely attack you.”“The Merchant Guild Master is also a man.”“True, but as a man of the Namgoong Clan, at least they may hear me out.”“Hmm…”Woo Jin considered it.Even if Namgoong Hwan came, he doubted Emei would make exceptions for him.But they couldn’t simply ignore it.They couldn’t just drop off the manual without any words.If it was a forbidden zone, then they needed a woman to lead the way.And there was one perfect candidate.“Could you contact Sword Pavilion for me?”“Surely… you mean to ask Sword Queen for help?”“Yes.”“Understood.”“While she’s on her way, send the escort bureau on toward Mount Kunlun. The two of us can catch up with light footwork.”“Understood.” ****Sword Queen Yeo Hwarin was training in swordsmanship without a single day’s rest.Her Nine Heavens Divine Sword had already reached the peak realm, and her cultivation had risen one step further—to the Seventh Star Profound Realm.She thought to herself:It was all thanks to Yeon Woo Jin.The only way to repay her lord’s grace was to keep improving, so she could be of help to him.While she was immersed in training, she sensed someone rushing toward her.She stopped, wiped her sweat, and recognized the one approaching.“Nan Hyang? Has something happened at the pavilion?”“No, Master. Something more urgent.”“Urgent?”“Lord Woo Jin has sent a letter requesting your help.”“What? Lord Woo Jin?”“Yes!”Yeo Hwarin extended her hand, drawing the letter from Baek Nan Hyang with Heavenly Object Retrieval.Rustle—She quickly unfolded it and read.Then she carefully folded it again and handed it back.“Prepare bathwater immediately. I must make myself presentable and go to my lord.”“Understood.”Yeo Hwarin would never show herself to Yeon Woo Jin drenched in sweat.Namgoong Hwan stared in disbelief at Yeo Hwarin standing before him.It had only been a day since the letter was sent, yet she had already arrived.Yeo Hwarin bowed before Woo Jin.“You called for me, my lord.”“Yes. Thank you for coming.”“What are you saying? Just give the order. I will do anything.”Woo Jin smiled.“It’s just as I wrote in the letter. I need to go to Emei Sect, but it’s a forbidden zone. I’ll need your help.”“Understood. I will go ahead and seek permission.”No one would bar the Sword Queen—she was a legend to every female martial artist.Yeo Hwarin set off for Emei at once.She soon entered Emei’s territory—and immediately sensed how tight their guard was.It was enough to make clear they would not allow anyone in.“Stop!”Before long, Emei’s nuns barred her path.“Apologies, but Emei Sect is not receiving guests. Please turn back.”Their tone was sharp.Yeo Hwarin replied:“I am Yeo Hwarin, Pavilion Master of Sword Pavilion. I have come to meet your Sect Master.”At her words, the nuns’ eyes widened.“S-Sword Queen?”“Yes.”No matter how strictly they barred entry, the Sword Queen was a different matter.The nuns spoke hurriedly:“P-Please wait a moment. We will inform the Sect Master.”Yeo Hwarin nodded, and one of them hurried inside.The others regarded her with open curiosity—their earlier sharpness gone.From their reaction, she understood why Woo Jin had asked her for help.If he had come himself, they would not have listened at all before attacking.What had happened at Emei for them to be like this?She was curious.Before long, the nun who had gone inside returned.“The Sect Master will see you. I will guide you in.”Yeo Hwarin nodded and followed.Everywhere along the path, she felt the heavy presence of guards.This was not the Emei she knew.She asked her guide:“Emei’s defenses seem far stricter than usual. Is there a reason?”The nun’s expression grew troubled.“I cannot say. You should ask the Sect Master directly.”That was enough to confirm it—something had happened at Emei.And it was serious enough to be kept an absolute secret.

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