Chapter 102: Meeting

Jang Woo-hyun had been suppressing his urge to fight ever since he saw the warriors of the Five Elements Cult. But now, he had a chance to loosen up.

Those gathered here belonged to the Ten Sects, massive factions of the Central Heavens Martial Realm. No matter who he faced, he would surely learn something.

His opponent belonged to the Solar Palace, known for their mastery of Heat Yang Energy.

He had never encountered such an advanced form of Heat Yang Energy, even in the Central Plains, which only heightened his anticipation.

‘That one’s weak…….’

What caught Jang Woo-hyun’s eye was not the noisy one, but the man among the Solar Palace’s group who appeared to be the strongest.

He did not seem human—more like a different race—and showed no concern for the situation. He stood there with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

“I’ll take responsibility, so go ahead and step up.”

While Jeong Hyo hesitated, Yeom Jong-myung gave his permission.

Jang Woo-hyun suppressed the smile tugging at the corners of his lips and stepped forward.

“What’s your name?”

“You should state your own name before asking another's. Doesn't the Solar Palace even teach such basics?”

At Jang Woo-hyun’s words, the opponent ground his teeth and enunciated his name clearly, one syllable at a time.

“Yu. I. Geon. of the Solar Palace.”

“Jang Woo-hyun.”

“…….”

“What?”

“That’s it? No affiliation?”

“No affiliation.”

“Ha, unbelievable. Never even heard of you.”

Yu I-geon let out a sigh and rubbed his face. It was true that he had lashed out like a madman earlier upon encountering the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

But upon noticing the Beast King Sect’s presence, he had reconsidered.

Two individuals had caught Yu I-geon’s attention.

The Fierce-Fisted Heroine Maeng Ye-ju and the Sword Fang Kang Yong.

Both were considered prodigies of the Beast King Sect. Unlike Yu I-geon, they had already made names for themselves.

While he was focused on them, someone named Kang Yong and Jang Woo-hyun picked a fight with him—as if mocking him.

Yu I-geon thought this was a good opportunity. Using the previous incident as an excuse, he planned to fight either Kang Yong or Maeng Ye-ju and show off his skills. Since today’s gathering included the elites of the Ten Sects, leaving a strong impression could earn him recognition.

But against expectations, a strange man he had never seen before stepped forward.

“Sword Fang, are you sure about this? That guy might die.”

To that, Kang Yong simply stood with arms crossed and smiled.

“Worry about yourself.”

“Don’t regret it.”

Yu I-geon withdrew his gaze and began to draw forth his strength.

Fwoosh—

The energy flared out like wildfire.

Jang Woo-hyun’s eyes sparkled as he sensed the intensity.

‘A martial artist at the Transcendence stage who mastered Heat Yang Energy. Seems like he’s just entered the stage?’

He had been observing him ever since the man started walking. Though Yu I-geon may not have noticed, the surroundings were already within Jang Woo-hyun’s grasp.

Yu I-geon hadn’t even tried to hide his strength completely.

The energy that had blazed like fire now erupted like a volcano.

Unlike the calm and sinking sensation of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, his energy was vivid and active—as if a giant flame resided within him.

Moreover, he seemed quick to react emotionally.

Being able to read an opponent’s emotional state easily could be a drawback, but if one's internal energy responded to intense emotions, it could also become an advantage in battle.

It was unclear whether this was a characteristic of Heat Yang Energy or a feature of the Solar Palace’s martial arts, but either way, the strengths and weaknesses were clearly defined.

“Keep your head straight.”

After giving one warning, Yu I-geon shouted, “Here I come!” and stomped the ground.

Boom!

Like the Six-Legged Horse King’s Step, the ground beneath him exploded as he closed the distance.

Entering the domain of Transcendence where the world slowed down, he thrust his fist toward Jang Woo-hyun. To Yu I-geon, this meant the end.

The martial art he used was Scorching Fist.

Contrary to its name, which meant ‘burning hot’, the energy enveloping his fist didn’t flare but had a clear form.

But once it hit, the result was different.

When struck by Yu I-geon’s fist, an overwhelming heat would instantly spread and burn the opponent.

It was, quite literally, a scorching punch.

Vmmmm—

His fist extended swiftly through the slowed time.

And thoughts accelerated even faster.

Yu I-geon felt certain that this one blow would end the fight and began considering whether to fight Maeng Ye-ju or Kang Yong next.

However—

Jang Woo-hyun’s hand moved faster than Yu I-geon’s fist.

The left hand intercepted the incoming punch.

Smack!

He deflected Yu I-geon’s fist with a swing of his left hand and, in the same motion, drove his right fist downward.

Kwaaang!

With a sound of something breaking, Yu I-geon was flung away at great speed.

Flying nearly ten jang, Yu I-geon tumbled helplessly and rolled until he fell off the wide open area where people were gathered, dropping down the mountain.

“…….”

Silence descended at the unexpected turn of events.

Everyone except Maeng Ye-ju and Kang Yong was shocked. No one opened their mouth. The energy Yu I-geon had radiated was no joke, yet Jang Woo-hyun had shattered him with just two flicks of his hands.

“Kuaaagh!”

The silence was broken by a shriek.

From the place where Yu I-geon had rolled down, a massive ball of flame surged upward.

“You bastard!”

Yu I-geon, now engulfed in flames and exuding a ferocious aura.

But his facial condition did not match the energy he was emitting, and Jang Woo-hyun couldn’t help but let out a short laugh.

“Wipe that nosebleed first before you speak.”

“You… you… I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”

Incensed by Jang Woo-hyun's mockery, Yu I-geon’s energy intensified along with his emotions.

Even from a considerable distance, the heat was palpable. It was no longer just fire or flame; he had become a small sun.

‘How hard should I hit him?’

Watching the agitated Yu I-geon, Jang Woo-hyun fell into thought.

He had only intended to face off against martial arts imbued with Heat Yang Energy to gain some experience. But Yu I-geon turned out to be weaker than expected, rendering the encounter less beneficial.

And since Yu I-geon wasn’t even an enemy, hitting him too hard wasn’t an option, which left things a bit awkward.

【You can hit him a little harder.】

Just then, someone transmitted a message to Jang Woo-hyun via telepathy.

Though a telepathic message shouldn’t reveal the sender’s position, Jang Woo-hyun somehow knew who it was.

A man standing in the back with his arms crossed, seemingly the leader of the Solar Palace group. It was him.

“Where are you looking!”

Yu I-geon, now a massive fireball, charged forward.

Jang Woo-hyun glanced at him, then locked eyes and smiled.

“It’ll hurt a little.”

“Aaaargh!”

Yu I-geon answered with a scream and threw a punch. A massive force struck toward Jang Woo-hyun’s location.

Kwaaaang!

A pillar of flame, over five jang in size, erupted where the punch landed.

But the target was no longer there. Jang Woo-hyun had avoided the attack using Six-Legged Horse King’s Step and reappeared beside Yu I-geon.

Boom!

As Jang Woo-hyun took one step and activated True Step, a massive shockwave surged forth, sweeping away the searing heat that filled the surroundings.

Then came the second step.

Before Yu I-geon could even react, Jang Woo-hyun closed the distance and clenched his fist.

There was no need to draw a sword. No technique or skill was necessary. He simply gathered power and threw his fist.

Kwaaang! Crack!

A thunderous noise, unthinkable from a blow to a human face, and the sound of something breaking rang out as Yu I-geon spun backward like a somersault. After spinning five or six times, he collapsed to the ground and lost consciousness.

“Uh……”

Jang Woo-hyun momentarily tensed, wondering if he had hit too hard.

‘He’s not dead, right?’

He glanced around cautiously and checked on Yu I-geon.

His chest visibly rose and fell, showing he was breathing, and his face was emitting steam as it recovered. Fortunately, being a martial artist at the Transcendence stage, he hadn’t died.

‘Good.’

Relieved to see Yu I-geon alive, Jang Woo-hyun exhaled.

‘Weak.’

A native of the Central Heavens Realm who had reached Transcendence was weaker than those who had Ascended. Of course, there were special cases like Maeng Ye-ju, but in his experience, most were weaker than expected.

Transcendence. The realm where one transcended humanity and became something beyond.

Those who had Ascended reached this realm after long years of training and experience, but native Central Heavens Realm martial artists seemed not to have undergone such trials.

‘They’re like greenhouse flowers, perhaps?’

If those who had Ascended grew in harsh environments through grueling struggle, then the natives of the Central Heavens Realm seemed to have grown up comfortably in favorable conditions.

Considering he had made it here, Yu I-geon was likely an elite or prodigy of a major faction, but even so, he appeared seriously lacking.

‘I should meet a few more, but…’

He didn’t think things would deviate much from his expectations.

‘What a letdown.’

Regretful over how quickly the fight ended, Jang Woo-hyun gathered his thoughts. Then he looked up to find the man who had sent him the telepathic message.

Where the martial artists of the Solar Palace had gathered.

There stood the most eye-catching man. More striking than Jeong Hyo of Gunja Nation or Kang Yong, the Beastkin.

A man in red robes, arms crossed and eyes closed.

The parts not covered by his robes were pitch-black.

It wasn’t black like dark-skinned people. His black skin and the black hair growing on it were as dark as charcoal.

‘He doesn’t seem like a Beastkin……’

At first, he thought the man was a Beastkin, but his body structure was different from Kang Yong and the other Beastkin he had encountered. His aura and overall impression were also distinct.

He appeared to be a completely different race—not a Beastkin, not a human.

Because of the black fur, it was difficult to estimate his age or read his expression. Perhaps sensing Jang Woo-hyun’s gaze, the man opened his eyes.

‘Flames……’

Seeing the red pupils directed at him, Jang Woo-hyun felt that way. Blazing flames were reflected in the man’s eyes.

Meeting that gaze, Jang Woo-hyun had to resist the urge to draw his sword. It felt like the world around him had become a furnace from just making eye contact.

To endure the pressure, Jang Woo-hyun drew up his own energy. A glimmer of curiosity passed through the man’s eyes as he slowly closed and then reopened them.

The atmosphere changed.

The blazing flames froze.

Unlike Yu I-geon, he did not rampage madly. From those red eyes, one could sense calmness and composure.

Brilliant and burning, yet still. The man carried two conflicting energies. And that pressure was stronger than when the flames had been raging. Just as Jang Woo-hyun gripped his sword to withstand it—

Tap.

Yeom Jong-myung, who had approached unnoticed, grabbed Jang Woo-hyun’s arm.

“Elder Cheok, shall we stop here?”

“……”

The flames that had been focused on Jang Woo-hyun now turned to Yeom Jong-myung.

“Who is he?”

“He’s someone involved in this matter. Also, he is a guest of the Beast King Sect.”

“You have an interesting guest. I owe you this time.”

Elder Cheok let out a faint smile. He told his subordinates to take care of Yu I-geon and began walking away.

“It’s been a while, Young Palace Master.”

“It has indeed, Elder Cheok.”

With only a brief exchange, he passed by Seol Ha-rin.

Crunch! Crack-crack—Thump!

On the surface, it appeared to be a simple greeting, but their energies collided in midair.

Small explosive sounds echoed above, and ice crystals formed and shattered repeatedly. Flames and steam rose on one side. Even in that brief moment as they passed, they had unleashed their power at each other.

“I’ll see you again later.”

The man called Elder Cheok greeted Yeom Jong-myung and walked toward the building of the Tai Chi Sect like the other sect members.

Jang Woo-hyun stood and watched him silently.

Maeng Ye-ju walked up beside him.

“Cheok Hwa-hong. An Elder of the Solar Palace. He’s one of the top three experts within the Solar Palace.”

“He’s not a normal person, is he?”

“Huh? Ah, no. He’s a Flame Nation being, born with the power of fire. According to legend, they inherited the blood of a Fire God.”

“He’s no ordinary old monster. He used you.”

“Huh? He used Woo-hyun? How?”

Yeom Jong-myung cut in during Maeng Ye-ju’s explanation, and Kang Yong also added.

“Seems like he knew your friend would come charging in like a wild beast.”

“My friend? Who’s my friend… Hey, damn it, I said he’s not my friend!”

Even as Kang Yong protested beside him, Jang Woo-hyun remained unbothered.

“What do you mean?”

“He knew Yu I-geon would go wild and intentionally let it happen. So someone would give him a proper beating.”

In response to Maeng Ye-ju’s question, Jang Woo-hyun explained his thoughts and the telepathic message sent by Cheok Hwa-hong midway through.

“That guy looked like he was seriously lacking in experience. They just let him be, hoping he’d get hit and learn something. That’s why he said he owed a favor when they parted. It was probably meant to give the Solar Palace’s prodigy some experience—of defeat.”

“How petty. Why not just fight fair and square?”

“It’s fine. I got to see the Solar Palace’s martial arts.”

Rather, Jang Woo-hyun focused on the positives and reassured Maeng Ye-ju.

“The Five Elements Cult, Radiant Light Sect, Solar Palace, and our Beast King Sect with the Northern Sea Ice Palace—looks like all the sects have arrived. Shall we go in as well? If the Young Palace Master has no other matters, would you care to join us?”

“Yes, let’s.”

Jang Woo-hyun, along with the Beast King Sect members and the group from the Northern Sea Ice Palace, were the last to leave the area.

Following behind the Beast King Sect, Seol Ha-rin stared at Jang Woo-hyun’s back, lost in thought.

‘What kind of person is he?’

Everyone present, including her, had begun to grow curious about Jang Woo-hyun.

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