At first, the resemblance in face and temperament made him truly believe the boy was his grandson.On top of that, the child possessed a genius intellect and martial talent surpassing even Yeon Cheon Baek.Yeon Cheon Baek was enviable.Then one day—While drinking, Yeon Cheon Baek confided to him a truth he said must remain secret.He had met the boy on his way to annihilate the Blood Sect.The child had no memory at all, so he deceived him, claiming to be his grandfather.And he admitted he was afraid.Afraid that if the boy’s memories returned, he might leave him.From those words, it was clear how deeply Yeon Cheon Baek loved and cherished Yeon Woo Jin.That made it all the more puzzling.What were the odds of falling so deeply for a boy one met by chance on the road?He wasn’t truly a grandson.Not even of the same blood.Sa Ma Cheon had comforted him then.Even if the memories returned, Yeon Woo Jin would never abandon Yeon Cheon Baek.At those words, Yeon Cheon Baek had smiled.Perhaps he had confided only to hear that reassurance.Sa Ma Cheon had never seen him so unsettled before.That was how immense Yeon °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Woo Jin’s existence was to Yeon Cheon Baek.And now—look at him.The Martial Deity Heaven meant nothing to him.Once, it had been his sole focus.Now?Only Yeon Woo Jin filled his world.Yeon Cheon Baek’s mind was occupied with nothing else.Just what had happened between the two of them?Sa Ma Cheon wanted to know.What had occurred in that first meeting of Yeon Cheon Baek and Yeon Woo Jin?But for now, it didn’t matter.With Yeon Cheon Baek absent, he had to manage Martial Deity Heaven.Well, truth be told, he had been managing most of it all along, so it wasn’t a great burden.The Little Heavenly Lord contest was, in effect, already decided in Yeon Woo Jin’s favor. The other candidates would have to accept that.He only hoped no matter would arise so weighty he could not resolve it himself. ****Beneath the shade of a great tree under a clear, cloudless sky, two men faced each other in conversation.“The Divine Dragon Tournament will be held?”“Yes, my lord.”The question came from the Martial Deity Heaven Lord, Yeon Cheon Baek.He was currently in disguise, dressed so that no one would see him as a master—merely as an old rustic.Before him, prostrate in a red demon mask, was a man giving his report.“Our Woo Jin is heading to the Huashan Sect, where the tournament is to be held?”“Yes, my lord.”“Hohoho. That rascal is enjoying his tour of the martial world quite thoroughly.”A pleased smile touched Yeon Cheon Baek’s lips as he thought of Yeon Woo Jin.“Mu Yeong, what do you think of Woo Jin?”The man in the red mask was his shadow, his guard, and the second-strongest man in Martial Deity Heaven—Il Mu Yeong.“A lowly one such as I holds no thoughts of my own. I follow only my lord’s command.”“Boring fellow. If he were to succeed me as the next Martial Deity Heaven Lord, could you follow him?”“For me, there is only one lord.”“Even if I asked you to protect him?”“If that is your command…”“Enough. I should simply assign you to stay by Woo Jin’s side. You, too, would come to like the boy once you fell under his charm.”“My lord is the only one for me.”At his answer, Yeon Cheon Baek chuckled.“Don’t you feel wronged? In Martial Deity Heaven, apart from me, none can best you. You could sit as one man above all others. Doesn’t that gall you?”“It does not. The place that matters most to me is at my lord’s side.”“Truthfully, before I met Woo Jin, I had thought to name you as my successor.”“Wh—what are you saying? That is absurd. How could I dare covet my lord’s seat?”Yeon Cheon Baek gave a faint smile.“I only considered it, that’s all. But… you are too old. So I put the thought away. Had you been ten years younger, I would have made you the Lord without any contest.”“For the first time, I am glad to be old.”“Rogue. Has it already been over twenty years since you came to me?”“Yes, my lord.”Yeon Cheon Baek gazed toward the heavens.“So much time has passed. No matter how high one’s realm, one cannot catch hold of fleeting years.”“My lord will live longer than I, surely.”“Hahaha. I hope so. I must see our Woo Jin marry, see my great-grandchildren. No, I must live to see even my great-grandchildren marry.”“Indeed, my lord.”“I owe you an apology.”“For what, my lord?”“I should have seen you married. I failed you in that.”“No, my duty is only to remain at my lord’s side.”“Enough. I’ll find you a good match.”“That will not be necessary.”“But it will. I’ll search, so wait. That is an order.”“Yes, my lord!”“Heh. Now, let us move on. I can hardly wait to see Woo Jin.”“As you wish.”“And… take off that mask. It draws too much attention.”“Yes, my lord!”At the command, Il Mu Yeong removed the red demon mask.Beneath it was the face of a middle-aged man.Though age showed, the face was so handsome that even the famed Song Ok would pale beside him.“Tsk. Why hide such a face?”“If I do not, women constantly attach themselves.”“And is that not something to welcome?”“No, my lord. It hinders my duty to guard you.”Il Mu Yeong’s heart belonged only to Yeon Cheon Baek.“I should have Woo Jin examine your pulse. Something is surely wrong with you.”“If that is your order, I will comply.”At that reply, Yeon Cheon Baek shook his head.“Forget it. Let’s move on.”“Yes, my lord!” ****The Qinling Mountains, famed for their ruggedness.Among the countless peaks was one called Dongfeng, the Eastern Peak. The world knew it as Mount Hua.And there, on its most forbidding summit, the Lotus Peak, stood the Huashan Sect.To climb to it required ascending countless steps. For those without inner qi, it was torment.The steps were so high that after only a few one was left breathless and exhausted.Some even said the climb itself was cultivation.Ordinarily, few would ever attempt it.But not this time.Crowds now gathered at the city of Xi’an below Mount Hua, braving the endless stairs for one reason—To witness the Divine Dragon Tournament.“Damn it, why is the tournament at Huashan this time?”“My thoughts exactly. Curse them, building their sect atop a cliff and making us suffer.”The people were full of complaints.Huashan knew this.At first, they had even considered holding the event below the mountain.But many elders and disciples opposed it.The purpose was to showcase the grandeur of a perfectly restored Huashan Sect. To hold it below would defeat that purpose.Some even said if not on the mountain, it should be canceled altogether.So Sect Leader Cheongyang Jinin decided: it would be held at Huashan.Thus, Huashan drew the world’s curses.And yet, the people still climbed.Because this tournament was too important to miss.Not only would the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans reveal their long-hidden late-blooming geniuses, but the unorthodox factions would send theirs as well.Even if it were held atop Mount Tai, the world would still come.Among the flood of people gathering in Xi’an below Mount Hua was Yeon Woo Jin’s party.At an inn in the city, they had unpacked their baggage.Namgoong Hwan relayed news from the Namgoong Clan.“The Namgoong Clan and Shincheon Merchant Guild have set out for Mount Hua.”“How long until they arrive?”“Roughly a week. With the tournament two weeks away, they will be in time.”Hearing that the Shincheon people had departed as well, Yeon Woo Jin smiled faintly.It had only been a few months, but he missed them.“Think those kids trained properly?”At his question, Ma Ryang answered.“Jang Woon and Seon Woo Baek would exhaust themselves before ever disappointing you, Young Master.”“Indeed. And since they trained alongside the heirs of the Five Great Clans, they would never allow themselves to fall behind. They must have worked relentlessly.”Lee Hwa Un and Hwa Sogwang joined the conversation.“Pardon me, but… Jang Woon and Seon Woo Baek—are they your people, my lord?”“Yes. They are children he has raised with utmost care.”“Then surely the championship is theirs.”“Of course. They must face each other in the finals. Anything less would disappoint our lord.”Ma Ryang’s words made Yeon Woo Jin chuckle.“I believe it. Those two will meet in the finals.”If Yeon Woo Jin believed, then Jang Woon and Seon Woo Baek would surely become the storm’s eye of this tournament.Lee Hwa Un and Hwa Sogwang were curious.What sort of prodigies were they?Lee Hwa Un spoke.“I’ve heard this tournament will unveil the hidden talents the great factions have kept under wraps for years. That alone excited me. But to think they will face disciples personally raised by our lord… hoho. I can hardly wait.”“Indeed. This tournament will be most entertaining.”At their words, everyone present smiled and nodded.Even Yeon Woo Jin put aside his concerns about the Demonic Cult for the moment, deciding to enjoy the Divine Dragon Tournament with a pure heart. ****Far from Xi’an, there stood a monastery long abandoned.It was so overgrown with weeds that unless one looked closely, one might not know it existed.Yet from within came voices.“Who are you supposed to be?”“I am Sub-Gate Master Wi Cheol Ho of the Twenty-Seventh ranked Gate under Martial Deity Heaven, Geon-gon Ilwon Gate. We disguised it as Ilwon Gate.”“I am Sub-Gate Master Shin Ho Won of the Twenty-Ninth ranked Geumseon Gate. We disguised it as Geumhwa Gate.”“I am Sub-Gate Master Gwa Tae Sang of the Thirty-First ranked Dorim Gate. We disguised it as Doseon Gate.”The three men spoke as if unfocused, their eyes vacant.Before them stood a figure cloaked in black cloth, speaking in a tone like hypnosis.“Good. Show me your martial arts.”At his command, the three began to move slowly.They displayed the martial arts of the sects they had claimed.“Keheheh. Do your utmost. Do you know how much effort went into acquiring these arts?”To impersonate Martial Deity Heaven’s subordinate sects had taken immense effort.They had sought out martial talents, forced on them all manner of rare elixirs, shaping them into what they were now.And when they attended the tournament, they would even be supplied with the Divine Elixir of Vitality Amplification.This pill forcefully elevated one’s realm by burning innate vital essence—life itself.But their purpose was only to disgrace the name of Martial Deity Heaven at the Divine Dragon Tournament.Their lives were meaningless.The martial talents were a loss, yes, but for the great work, they could be sacrificed.The black-clad man, satisfied to see them perfectly wield the martial arts of Martial Deity Heaven’s subordinate gates, smiled grimly.“Excellent. Perfect.”

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