In that moment, the martial artists of the White Dragon Medical Pavilion simultaneously raised their bows. Archery had been taught to them more strictly than swordsmanship. The sight of them all drawing their bows in unison was quite a spectacle.

Kugeugeuk—

The bowstrings, pulled taut to their limit, sang a song of war. At Jin Cheonhee’s hand signal, Man Seon shouted. “Fire!”

Pipiping–!

The arrows that flew through the formation rained down on the men of the Five Poisons Sect who had learned demonic arts. In the midst of the chaotic battle, a shower of arrows rained down. Although they were aimed at the Vice Sect Leader’s faction, it wasn’t as if the martial artists of the Sect Leader’s faction weren’t hit. Arrows have no eyes, after all.

‘If the Demonic Cult is behind this, the more we delay, the more casualties there will be. And even if the Vice Sect Leader isn’t a true Profound Realm master, his body is temporarily enhanced by demonic arts. If I hold back, we cannot avoid annihilation.’

The Vice Sect Leader hurriedly shouted at the White Dragon Medical Pavilion. “Attack! The cowards are using archery!”

Jin Cheonhee said, “Arcing fire, southeast with the wind!”

“Prepare the Thunder Dragon’s Hung Arrows. Southeast! Fire!”

Arrows imbued with lightning qi flew towards the demonic cultists and struck them. Thrown into disarray by the formation and with arrows carrying crackling lightning raining down on them, it was a living hell for the disciples of the Five Poisons Sect.

And so, he reduced their numbers, and reduced them again.

“Third volley!”

“Third volley! Fire!”

The small stream began to be pooled with the blood of the demonic cultists. Even though this was something he had started to protect people, a wave of dizziness washed over Jin Cheonhee. And yet, the people around him could never know. He was as steadfast as usual, and as long as his blue eyes watched over them, victory belonged to the White Dragon Medical Pavilion!

In that moment, the Vice Sect Leader drew his large saber. “Gah–! You dare use such petty tricks!”

Trees and rocks began to shatter simultaneously from his powerful Sword Aura. The formation was being destroyed from all sides.

Kwagagagwang!

As the formation that had been confusing their senses was destroyed, the Vice Sect Leader immediately began to call his poisonous insects by making a sound through his teeth.

Tsususususu–!

In an instant, the prepared poisonous insects responded to the Vice Sect Leader’s command and dyed the ground black.

“My god… is he controlling this many poisonous insects?”

Jin Cheonhee said, “Cover your ears! My opponent is my opponent, so I can’t control my power.”

“Brother?”

[Don’t worry, Hyeon-ah. Leave the next part to your brother.]

Simultaneously with those words, Jin Cheonhee, not to be outdone, countered with a Lion’s Roar mixed with sound art. It was less a sound produced from a human throat and more like the mountain itself was roaring in anger. At the sound Jin Cheonhee made, friend and foe alike staggered, bleeding from their ears. In that gap, Jin Cheonhee immediately threw his body forward.

The Ice Clarity Sword cut through the air, scattering frost. In the middle of the field where the poisonous insects lay on their backs, convulsing, the figure of the Vice Sect Leader could be seen. As expected, due to the influence of the demonic arts, his eyes were already steeped in madness, his blood vessels bulging red.

He struck down lightly towards him.

Kaang-!

One exchange.

Jin Cheonhee said, “Since you made the first move, I’ll say this, but how about we proceed with a duel between just the two of us? Of course, as a life-and-death duel.”

“Kekeke, they say the Minor Pavilion Master of the White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s martial prowess is top-notch, right? I accept.”

The duel was accepted. The martial artists of the Five Poisons Sect who were about to attack fell back, and the martial artists of the White Dragon Medical Pavilion also fell back. This was because in the martial world, if one who had stepped forward as the representative of a sect did not accept a duel, the morale would drop precipitously.

Soon after, the blood vessels visible beneath the Vice Sect Leader’s skin writhed and were dyed with something black. Was it blood or poison flowing beneath his veins? Jin Cheonhee couldn’t tell, but he launched his next strike.

Taiji Immortal-Destruction Sword, Ice Series. A fast sword form.

*Martial Might of the Cold Heavens[1].*

The cold qi coiled at the tip of the sword cut through the air at high speed. In that moment, the Vice Sect Leader, as if he had been waiting, deliberately punched in a way that grazed the Ice Clarity Sword.

‘A soft fist?’

Chaaak—

The cold qi cut through the Vice Sect Leader’s flesh, and blood spurted out. But from there, instead of blood, poison smoke billowed out.

‘Ah, I see. The Tiger Clan’s Mayasuri unleashed something like this. Back then, it was on the level of poison liquid dripping, but this has become a complete poison smoke.’

He was one who had gone to the brink of berserk rage by letting his internal energy run wild during his friendly duel with Jin Cheonhee. He remembered how the poison liquid had dripped from his weapon then, corroding the ground.

‘So Mayasuri had also learned demonic arts.’

He had thought it was just a secret ultimate technique of the Five Poisons Sect, of the Tiger Clan, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

‘From the beginning, they had no intention of hiding it. Of course. With this many people following the Vice Sect Leader, what would they have to fear?’

The Vice Sect Leader wielded his Tiger Claws, pressing down on Jin Cheonhee.

Kagagagang—

His form was like that of a giant tiger, and every time the Tiger Claws and the Ice Clarity Sword met, the blade of the Ice Clarity Sword turned purple.

“The synergy is incredible when the poison of the Five Poisons Sect is combined with demonic arts.”

Everyone from the White Dragon Medical Pavilion watched the battle between the two with bated breath. Above all, the problem was that the Ice Clarity Sword could not withstand the poison arts. The poison of the Five Poisons Sect, which could melt even rock, was now influenced by demonic arts, making it truly the ultimate of ultimate poisons.

“If it were an ordinary sword, it would have already rusted and been finished.”

“At this rate, there’s no point in blocking the attacks, is there?”

“Vicious. How vicious!”

If Jin Cheonhee were to be seriously injured here, this war would be lost.

Just then, what Jin Cheonhee did was to take two steps back and return the Ice Clarity Sword to its sheath.

Chang—

He glared at him from a basic sword-drawing stance. “Don’t tell me you think you can subdue this seat with a mere trick like striking first after moving second. Kekek, you are young. So very young!”

“…”

Jin Cheonhee did not reply. He just stared at him with his blue eyes.

“Since it has come to this, I will tear you to shreds. I will show you that poison is the fastest path to becoming a demon!”

“Oh, that’s a similar opinion to a close brother of mine. Not that I would ever introduce you, though.”

“Die!”

The Vice Sect Leader’s giant frame rushed towards Jin Cheonhee like a pouncing tiger. Jin Cheonhee’s blue pupils captured his attack as if taking rapid-fire shots with a camera. In a world slightly faster than others, the young man’s five senses deconstructed and identified his movements.

‘On the surface, it looks like a simple straight palm strike, but it’s actually a palm strike using rotational force. If I dodge, I’ll die, and if I block, I’ll die.’

He was a more meticulous man than he looked. The young man with blue eyes calculated that far and then slid forward.

Taiji Wisdom Sword, Defensive Form. Taiji Immortal-Destruction Sword, Sword-Drawing Form.

Two Origins, One Blade–!

Just by drawing his sword, the profound principle of offense and defense combined was contained in the young man’s hand. But a smile was spread on the Vice Sect Leader’s lips.

‘Even so, it is a sword contaminated by poison qi. It can never withstand it.’

In that moment, the blade shot out of the scabbard, emitting a cold qi. It was a blade as white as a glacier.

Kaaaaang!

It accurately sliced his forearm and chest, and then, three steps forward (三步)! The pure white light, unstained by the poison liquid, cut through the poison mist.

“How–!”

“Hmm, that was a little shallow. It can’t be helped. I haven’t used the sword-drawing form much.”

Following the sword path Jin Cheonhee had drawn, a sonic wave belatedly resonated and tore through the air.

Piiing—

Just three steps. But three steps faster than sound. After finishing the three steps of supreme speed, Jin Cheonhee returned his sword to its sheath.

“You bastard. The blade was clearly encroached upon by poison qi, yet it has returned to its original state. What kind of evil art did you use?”

“Evil art? You go too far.” Jin Cheonhee furrowed his brow and then said, “The reason the Ice Clarity Sword is a divine treasure of the martial world is not simply because the sword is imbued with a cold chill, but because the scabbard possesses purity.”

If the sword that endlessly emits a cold chill is called Ice, from where does the Clarity, meaning clear and transparent, come? The answer was in the scabbard. The scabbard purified that which was wicked.

‘In the old days, I deliberately carried a scabbard made of deerskin in case my identity was revealed, but now everyone recognizes me from a hundred meters away.’

In any case, moving with this many martial artists, trying to carry a simple-looking sword like in the old days was, oh, so meaningless. And so, he had gone back to carrying the original Ice Clarity Sword scabbard.

And the result. The true ability of the Ice Clarity Sword was complete. The poison mist spread in all directions, but the Ice Clarity Sword unfailingly drew a silver line, tearing through everything. Along the sword path the Ice Clarity Sword had created, large and small wounds were drawn on him.

Piiing—

The three steps of supreme speed were always faster than sound. He sheathed his sword again, purifying the poison.

Tak—

And then, in time with his opponent’s attack rhythm, exactly three more steps!

Seokeong-!

He hadn’t decided on a name for this sword art yet. These three steps were just the Three Elements Footwork, pushed to its absolute fastest limit. The cold qi that thus dug in stole his speed.

“It seems you do not care about the poison that enters through your breath. You bastard…!”

Jin Cheonhee replied calmly, “Because living in the martial world, there are many occasions to face poison arts.”

The Five Elements Mutual Conquest. After enduring Heavenly Commander Yeo’s poison, facing the Tang Clan’s poison, and finally absorbing even the poison of the Five Poisons Sect, the Five Elements Mutual Conquest within him had grown even larger. It had gone beyond great completion and was now beginning to shed its skin one more time. Only then did Jin Cheonhee finally come to a realm where he felt he was beginning to understand poison a little.

And finally. The Ice Clarity Sword, neither dirtied nor dulled, just scattering a pure light, slashed his collarbone. The sword that thus dug in sent a cold chill, an extreme fast sword that connected from bottom to top!

Chaaak!

Half of the Vice Sect Leader’s shoulder was torn. Above it, following Jin Cheonhee’s sword path, black blood spurted up, drawing an arc.

Tak—

Jin Cheonhee sheathed his sword again and prepared his next form. Because he knew he would not give up here. And…

“Kekeke, what a disgrace. Dammit… to think the likes of you would touch this body of pure blood.”

The Vice Sect Leader swallowed his anger and coughed up a black clot of blood. Even as his killing intent exploded with a furious roar, Jin Cheonhee just observed him calmly with an expressionless face.

‘If you exclude the poison arts, his reaction speed and attack forms are far inferior to Tang Ah’s.’

Was he becoming like his master? No matter how overheated the battle became, his heart was always like a clear mirror and still water. Perhaps the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique did not allow it to be otherwise, or perhaps it was his five senses, developed by the Jewel of the Condor Dragon, that made it so.

Without letting his guard down, Jin Cheonhee thought of the three possible moves he would make next. He carefully identified which move he would make next and took his stance without retreating a single step. He lowered his body and pulled his right foot back.

The Ice Clarity Sword in its scabbard let out a clear cry, as if it had read its master’s mind. The poison qi was neutralized inside the scabbard, and the blade, like new again, prepared for the next move inside it.

*Ice Crystal seeks the Ice Path[2].*

“I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I will kill you–! Kuaaaack!”

The blood vessels in the Vice Sect Leader’s body writhed like snakes. The fiercely pulsing veins all over his body finally could not withstand the force and burst, spewing blood. And yet, the Vice Sect Leader did not care. Because a black demonic qi was continuously being spewed out.

It was the greatest weakness of demonic arts: the inner demon. If the martial arts of the Orthodox Faction emphasized a calmness like a clear mirror and still water, demonic arts used a person’s intense emotions as nourishment to attempt a transformation. In other words, it meant that when defeated, the heart was easily captured by darkness.