Chapter 03

At the heart of Anhui Province, where the waters of the Yangtze River nourished the land and made it fertile, stood the great city of Hefei.

The Namgung Clan, renowned throughout the martial world as the greatest sword family under heaven, was based in Hefei and held dominion over all of Anhui.

Yet the true sacred ground that housed the soul of their lineage lay within the Dabie Mountains north of the city.

As the sun tilted westward, casting long crimson shadows between the mountain range’s strange peaks, a deep silence descended upon the entrance of the Sword Soul Cave.

The massive stone gate remained tightly shut.

Several figures stood before it like statues, idly passing the time.

“…I thought he would come out quickly, yet it has already been more than half a day.”

The Seventh Elder, Namgung Do, who oversaw the management of the Sword Soul Cave, muttered in dissatisfaction while seated cross-legged upon a large rock.

Only boredom and annoyance could be heard in his voice.

His gaze settled upon the closed stone gate.

For centuries, it had tested the descendants of the Namgung Clan.

Yet to him, it seemed nothing more than an inconvenient obstacle that wasted time.

Clicking his tongue, he frowned.

He’ll come out eventually without accomplishing anything. Why is he taking so long?

Namgung Do’s indifferent gaze shifted toward a man standing nearby with a visibly anxious expression.

Namgung Baek.

Currently the Tenth Elder of the Namgung Clan, he was known as an upright man who kept his distance from political struggles and quietly fulfilled his duties.

To many, he was almost frustratingly steadfast.

Yet today, he appeared unusually restless.

He paced before the stone gate repeatedly, stopping every few moments.

At times, he even strained his ears as if hoping to hear something from within.

Naturally, it was because of the youngest young master inside.

Namgung Cheon.

Tch. That old man still hasn’t given up on the youngest young master. The boy may have shown some promise as a child, but that light faded long ago…

Mocking Namgung Baek’s hopes inwardly, Namgung Do finally spoke.

“Tenth Elder, you know full well that once the trial begins, no one can open the Sword Soul Cave until a full day has passed. Empty your mind and wait.”

“I know that. However…”

Namgung Baek could not continue.

His dry lips merely trembled.

The Sword Soul Cave was a trial every blood descendant of the Namgung Clan had to undergo upon reaching adulthood.

Leaving on one’s own was allowed.

Interference from outside before the designated time, however, was absolutely impossible.

Even if someone died or succumbed to qi deviation within the cave, it would simply be considered a result of their own inadequacy.

No one would be held responsible.

Moreover, the current participant was none other than Namgung Cheon.

Despite being the youngest son of Clan Head Namgung Mugang, his presence within the family was almost nonexistent.

He had never displayed exceptional talent.

Nor had he shown extraordinary effort.

He was merely an unremarkable young master.

Ordinarily, when a direct descendant underwent the Sword Soul Cave trial, the clan’s major figures would gather to witness it.

Yet those waiting for Namgung Cheon now were only the Seventh Elder and himself.

Along with Namgung Cheon’s guard and maid, who stood with their heads lowered as though they were criminals.

Only four people.

This sparse, almost pitiful scene perfectly reflected Namgung Cheon’s current standing within the clan.

More than half a day had already passed since he entered the cave.

According to clan rules, the trial would not end until sunrise the following day.

There was still plenty of time left.

Yet because the ordinarily unnoticed Namgung Cheon had remained inside for so long without any news, a dark sense of foreboding had begun to grow in Namgung Baek’s heart.

“The Hour of You is nearly over. Is there any meaning in waiting longer?”

Though he tried to sound calm, the anxiety in his voice was impossible to hide.

Namgung Do slowly opened his eyes.

There was not a trace of warmth within them.

“Rules are rules, Tenth Elder. The Sword Soul Cave trial is meant to last a full day. If he cannot emerge within the allotted time… then that too is simply the young master’s fate.”

His dry voice became even colder.

“For the past several decades, the only person to receive a true Sword Blessing from this cave was the current Clan Head. Even the First Young Master failed at the final threshold.”

He paused briefly.

“That is reality. Though even reaching that point was an extraordinary achievement.”

Namgung Baek bit his lip.

He could not refute it.

If even the First Young Master, who had carried the clan’s expectations, had failed—

What could anyone possibly expect from the forgotten youngest son?

Namgung Do continued mercilessly.

“The Second Young Master and Lady Namgung Rin were no different. Both remained inside for the entire trial period, yet all they gained was a slightly improved sensitivity to qi.”

His gaze settled upon the stone gate.

“And do not forget that both of them entered the cave with cultivation realms far superior to the youngest young master’s. So tell me, what exactly are you expecting from someone who has not even built a proper foundation? We should consider ourselves fortunate if his corpse is at least recoverable.”

“…”

Those final words struck Namgung Baek like a dagger.

There was not the slightest expectation for Namgung Cheon in them.

Only cold facts delivered in an indifferent tone.

And those facts severed even the last thread of hope remaining in Namgung Baek’s heart.

Yes.

What was there to hope for?

In the end, there was only one conclusion he could reach.

Please, at least survive…

That was all.

He dared hope for nothing more.

Not only Namgung Baek.

But the entire Namgung Clan.

No one expected Namgung Cheon to obtain a Sword Blessing.

* * *

The moment Namgung Cheon reached toward Mukhon, the token of his promise and the sword that had once been his own—

A thick, icy chain blocked his path.

The chain writhed like a living serpent, radiating a chilling aura as though guarding against intruders.

Yet even more threatening was the suffocating demonic energy leaking from the sword despite remaining sealed within its scabbard.

Had it been the former Namgung Cheon, he would have fainted before even approaching it.

Not bad.

After being left alone without a master for so long, has your temper worsened? Or are you testing your new owner?

Rather than retreating, his fighting spirit surged.

To the Heavenly Demon of his previous life, this amount of demonic energy was merely a minor obstacle.

Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed the chain.

CRACK—!

The chain screamed beneath his grip as it twisted violently.

BOOM!

The chain snapped.

At last, Mukhon rested in his hand.

The instant it did, the sword erupted with even denser and fiercer demonic energy.

The scabbard shook violently as if trying to escape his grasp.

The wild energy surged through his palm and flowed backward through his meridians.

This was the process known as the Sword Blessing.

The final rebellion through which a sword tested whether its new master possessed the qualifications to wield it.

Your original master is me!

Namgung Cheon’s eyes flashed.

He focused every ounce of concentration on calming the violent demonic energy.

First, his Hundred Weapons Physique responded.

He instinctively sensed every subtle vibration of Mukhon.

Its shifting center of gravity.

Even the precise points along the blade where the demonic energy originated.

It was understanding beyond mere perception.

An innate comprehension.

And layered atop that was the experience and knowledge of the Heavenly Demon.

Demonic energy was never meant to be suppressed.

The orthodox path sought restraint and control to refine pure qi.

Demonic energy was the complete opposite.

The essence of the demonic path is freedom and expression.

Its nature was to run wild like an untamed stallion.

What such power required was not a sturdy bridle.

Rather, it needed a vast open plain upon which it could run freely.

The Heavenly Demon released his intent to suppress it.

Instead, he accepted the violent flow of demonic energy head-on.

Mukhon continued spewing demonic energy as it tested him.

But Namgung Cheon neither retreated nor resisted.

He accepted it.

Guided it.

Let it flow through him.

The experience of a Heavenly Demon who had stood at the peak of the Demonic Path and wielded countless demonic weapons.

Combined with the extraordinary perception of the Hundred Weapons Physique, which understood any weapon as naturally as one’s own body.

Together, they formed perfect harmony.

This was not a contest of force.

It was a process of understanding and domination.

How much time passed?

Eventually, the raging demonic energy that had run rampant like a mad beast began to calm.

The ominous crimson glow along the blade gradually faded.

Hummm—

Like a loyal hound reunited with its master after a long separation, Mukhon emitted a low and satisfied hum.

The murderous aura filling the surroundings disappeared.

Finished venting your frustrations?

A pleased smile appeared on Namgung Cheon’s lips.

Drawing the sword from its scabbard, he revealed the dark blade.

Mukhon remained as beautiful as it was dangerous.

He casually swung it once.

SWISH—!

The weight settled perfectly into his hand.

The balance felt utterly familiar.

Perfect.

Simply holding Mukhon made strength seem to surge through his entire body.

After a brief moment of nostalgia, he turned to leave this tiresome graveyard of swords.

His gaze naturally landed on a blade he had passed earlier.

Azure Sky.

The sword of a former clan head.

A peerless weapon symbolizing the history of the Namgung Clan itself.

A faintly arrogant smile appeared on his lips.

…Should I really be satisfied with obtaining only one sword?

He recalled the countless sword intents that had surrounded and tested him within the Sword Grave.

Do these Namgung fools truly believe that being crushed beneath such insignificant pressure and barely leaving with a single sword is the proper way?

His eyes gleamed coldly.

Ridiculous.

His steps halted.

Then—

There is no rule stating that one must leave with only a single sword after receiving a Sword Blessing.

The reason people left with only one sword was simple.

Controlling and making the energy within a single sword one’s own was already an incredibly difficult task.

Managing two or more was normally impossible.

But I…

Now that he had completely subdued Mukhon’s demonic energy—

Handling the energy of another sword would not be particularly difficult.

In that case—

If I’m already here, shouldn’t I take everything worth taking?

The corners of Namgung Cheon’s mouth slowly curved upward.