Endless crowds of people surged together.
Though they seemed gathered without a single gap, space undeniably existed.
"Did you hear? They say the Blade King appeared in the preliminaries yesterday."
"Yeah, I've heard it plenty already. Thank heaven we didn't end up in the same block...."
"I wonder what exactly happened."
The Patriarch of the Peng Family, who had reached the Transformation Realm.
Blade King Peng Zhou was participating in the Martial Tournament.
That fact alone was enough to set the entire surroundings ablaze.
Because of that, many were curious about what happened on the first day of the Blade King's participation, but.
"Even if you want to know, there's no way to find out."
"That's true."
Thus, there was no way to know.
Before entering the preliminaries, the martial artists received a restriction from the Alliance's side.
It was a restriction strictly forbidding them from divulging what they experienced in the preliminaries.
Thanks to this, the other martial artists had no way of knowing what happened yesterday.
"What would change even if we knew?"
"At least we could mentally prepare ourselves."
"With the Blade King participating, it's obvious he'll take the championship anyway, so what's the point."
A prestigious family—and not just any, but the master of a pillar formerly known as one of the Four Great Families—had entered.
Because of that, skeptical gazes also abounded.
"I doubt someone called a patriarch could even operate the Divine Dragon Platform."
"In the first place, it's strange for someone of a patriarch's level to participate."
When it's a stage for independent martial artists or those who are just making a name for themselves, what meaning could there be in an already renowned patriarch participating?
There were certainly people who viewed it with such eyes.
However.
"But there's no rule stating that patriarch-level figures cannot participate. This is merely prejudice."
"True. Setting aside their status as family patriarchs, they are martial artists too."
Before blaming their position, there were also opinions that since they were martial artists as well, it was entirely possible.
As these opinions clashed, it eventually turned into an argument.
"Ha, then are you saying it would be fine even if the Three Venerables participated?"
"Why are you bringing them up here!"
The Three Venerables, called the absolute beings of the Central Plains.
Would those who float in the heavens and look down below even care about such a small festival?
"To them, it's literally a children's playground. Would they really mingle with those beneath them?"
"Right. Why would those supreme and great beings bother? The comparison is utterly worthless."
"What did you say!?"
A conversation that started lightly began to carry more emotion.
Since they were all martial artists, getting fired up would easily lead to a fight, but since fighting was forbidden before the Martial Tournament, they barely managed to maintain a lull.
And.
A young man watching from afar suppressed a cough that threatened to burst forth.
"...Ugh."
The black-haired young man dry-washed his face, overcome with an incomprehensible emotion as he listened.
The young man's name was Bi Uijin.
Called the Fighting Dragon of the Bi Family.
Furthermore, he was a man originally called the Tyrant Venerable.
"A children's playground, huh."
At the bone-striking words, the Tyrant Venerable swallowed his laughter.
He was right.
A dirt floor where things whose blood hasn't even dried yet run about.
That was the value of the Martial Tournament in the Tyrant Venerable's eyes.
'Hmm.'
No matter how he thought about it, he didn't feel like it.
Being in a place like this itself was such a thing for the Tyrant Venerable.
A Martial Tournament.... He never expected to do something like this in his life.
'I took in the wrong disciple, and look what happened.'
When the Tyrant Venerable was one of the rising stars, unlike now, the Martial Tournament was often held, but he had never done anything like this.
Engaging in a martial duel in front of many watching eyes.
He didn't know how that was any different from acting like a clown.
He had lived only focusing on perfecting his martial arts.
The duels he engaged in were only life-or-death battles.
If you win, you live.
If you lose, you die.
It was a life where such battles repeated.
The heart of the Tyrant Venerable was exactly that.
One's fists must carry true sincerity at their tips.
Such a thing does not carry that kind of sincerity.
That was the Tyrant Venerable's perspective, but....
"Tch."
Despite harboring such thoughts, he was still here.
What could he do?
'It's because I took in such a weird guy as my disciple.'
The one guy he managed to bring in wasn't normal, so the master had to step out; what other choice was there?
Besides.
'It's surprisingly not bad.'
Contrary to his reluctance, his interest was piqued.
Countless martial artists. The heat that had built up from them.
Feeling the desire-laden air for the first time in a while, the Tyrant Venerable was enjoying it in his own way.
'There are some decent guys too.'
Looking at the surrounding martial artists, the Tyrant Venerable nodded.
Being "decent" didn't mean their realm of cultivation.
Potential.
It meant those who showed what was commonly called potential.
Since it was a place overflowing with talents gathering from all over the Central Plains, there were many who looked decent even to the Tyrant Venerable.
The more he saw such people, the more he realized one thing.
'Even so, none of them are as good as that guy.'
It meant there was no one like his disciple.
Both his physical perfection and the look in his eyes were like that.
'Tch.'
It felt nice to have taken in such a skilled guy as his disciple, but on the other hand, remembering the fact that there was only that damn guy brought his mood down.
How could someone like him be the one who remained?
He said it was a means for his own lingering attachments, but it was truly a curious thing.
'He's a guy with too many secrets.'
Because he had much, he had many secrets.
His disciple was that kind of guy. In the midst of it all, he couldn't lie, so it showed on his face.
What could he be hiding so much that he always looked exhausted?
He often grew curious, but the Tyrant Venerable decided not to bother prying.
'The only important thing is whether or not he can fulfill my lingering attachments.'
The end of the Toua Pacheonmu.
Could he break through that end and shatter his limits?
The only thing the Tyrant Venerable was curious about was that, so his disciple's secrets didn't matter.
Therefore, even if he was secretly using him for that purpose, the Tyrant Venerable didn't care.
If he was going to use him, he might as well use him as much as he wanted.
Worthless fame could be thrown to the dirt for all he cared.
Even if he didn't like it, he had taught him more than one or two things, so it was impossible to change his disciple now.
He needed a body that could receive the heart cultivation of the Toua Pacheonmu, as well as the mental fortitude to endure the pain required to achieve it.
His physical age also had to be young for the development of the heart cultivation.
He had to be young, physically outstanding, and possess a strong mind.
Where would he find such a guy?
The Tyrant Venerable thought finding his disciple was somewhat of a miracle in itself.
Of course.
'There are guys who are somewhat similar.'
He didn't know about their mental fortitude, but if it was just physical conditions, there were those who met them.
They were just hard to find; if you looked for them, you could find them.
Wasn't there one right here?
The Tyrant Venerable looked somewhere.
'Was he called the Divine Dragon?'
The young man in the distance, receiving all the attention from the surroundings.
The one called the hope and miracle of Shaolin.
The Divine Dragon.
Seeing him, the Tyrant Venerable curled up the corners of his mouth.
'Well raised.'
He unknowingly let out a slight admiration.
Though lower than the shock he felt when looking at his disciple guy, this level was still tremendous.
'It feels like looking at my younger days.'
The Tyrant Venerable's youth.
It was from the days when he heard all sorts of things, like mad dog or duel obsession.
Even then, it was a time when he was called a monster.
That young man's appearance resembled his from those days.
The Divine Dragon's tempered body was like well-refined metal.
The momentum he exuded was imbued with Shaolin's unique radiance.
However.
'His eyes are dead.'
Unlike what he possessed, the look in his eyes was empty somewhere.
How could a young martial artist have such eyes?
Could he have some mental distress?
Looking at the junior who seemed somewhat pitiful, the Tyrant Venerable thought.
'He's useless.'
A guy who couldn't be used as a disciple.
Thinking so, the Tyrant Venerable immediately withdrew his gaze.
Even if he was a rough gemstone, with such eyes, the end was visible.
Even if he was exhausted and worn out, he had to be filled with burning desire; since he wasn't, regardless of his potential, the Divine Dragon's value was only to that extent for the Tyrant Venerable.
Not interested.
As he judged so, the interest disappeared from the Tyrant Venerable's eyes as he looked at the Divine Dragon.
'The guy in front of him would be more useful than him instead.'
The Tyrant Venerable's gaze went to the front of the Divine Dragon.
To the other young man facing him.
Though his body and realm seemed inferior to the Divine Dragon, his eyes were alive.
The plum blossom embroidery on his white uniform caught the eye.
The lofty guardians of Shaanxi, where his old friend served as the Sect Leader.
'Huashan.'
Plum Blossom Sword Dragon Yeongpung.
He was currently facing the Divine Dragon Yuyeon.
******************
He could feel the gazes of many watching.
Even in such a situation, Shaolin's miracle.
The Divine Dragon (Shenlong) Yuyeon was looking at the person in front of him and regulating his breathing.
A fragrant floral scent brushed the tip of his nose.
Feeling the unknown scent, the Divine Dragon looked ahead and saw someone standing there.
"It's been a while."
A handsome man with a neat appearance offered his greeting to the Divine Dragon.
"Do you remember me?"
At the words spoken with a bright smile, the Divine Dragon nodded.
"Of course I remember. Sword Dragon Dojang...."
Huashan's Sword Dragon.
Called Huashan's greatest genius, he was one of the five predicted to reach the Sword King (Jianwang) realm in the future, and
One of the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes, the representatives of the current rising stars.
Hearing the Divine Dragon's words, the Sword Dragon smiled as if in a good mood.
"Oh my, I didn't think you'd remember... I don't know what to do with myself."
At Yeongpung's sheepish words, Yuyeon was about to say something when.
"Of course he'd remember... after getting beaten and rolled around like that."
"Our disciple was a bit pathetic, wasn't he? He rolled so much he even ate dirt."
"I can't live from the shame when I think about that time."
The other Huashan disciples behind Yeongpung started excitedly adding to the conversation.
Hearing that, Yeongpung's expression turned awkward.
"...Fourth Uncles."
When Yeongpung looked back after hearing the words, the men reacted in surprise.
"Whoa, is that guy glaring at us? Senior, isn't this a bit wrong?"
"Huashan's hierarchy has fallen to the ground. It must have definitely dropped when our disciple was rolling on the ground."
"In my days, if you lost like that, you'd be too ashamed to even hold your head up. That guy has gotten brazen. Tsk."
"..."
Yeongpung wiped his face at the relentless scolding.
Yeongpung's Fourth Uncles.
In other words, the reason Huashan's second-generation disciples were scolding Yeongpung like this was none other than:
Previously, about a year ago, there was a friendly match with Shaolin.
There, Yeongpung and Yuyeon had clashed, and the Sword Dragon was defeated by the Divine Dragon.
"It wasn't just a simple loss; in the words of kids these days, he got utterly crushed."
"He got crushed, indeed. It was practically like he was stomped, rolled, and stretched out like kneaded dough..."
"It reached the point where it'd be embarrassing to say the Sword Dragon was from Huashan anywhere el-"
"I-I didn't lose that badly!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Yeongpung snapped, and seeing that, the Huashan disciples roared with laughter.
What was with this atmosphere?
Yuyeon had to suppress his utmost bewilderment as he looked at his opponent.
He had shown manners since they came to greet him out of nowhere. But he felt crushed by the atmosphere of the opposing sect.
Also, why on earth did Yeongpung come to greet him?
What was there to like about the opponent who defeated him?
'Perhaps it's to seize the upper hand?'
Thinking that might be the case on one hand.
He found himself unconsciously listening in on the conversation happening in front of him.
"It was a fairly legitimate match, and it wasn't that devastating of a defeat..."
"Yeah, so you lost, right?"
"..."
"In the end, you lost, right? You even used the secret technique you learned and still lost, right? The plum blossom petals were all shattered in front of the Hundred Step Divine Fist, right?"
"And then you got called by the Sect Leader and got chewed out, right? I saw it."
"...For real? Senior Shinseok called Yeongpung and chewed him out?"
"Yes. I saw Yeongpung prostrating himself in front of Senior Shinseok on the back mountain."
"Phew. How embarrassing.... Yeongpung, just ascend to heaven. I'll yield, so you go first."
"Hehehe!"
"...Fourth Uncles.... Please."
Yeongpung looked at the second-generation disciples, whose average age was well past their mid-thirties, with a devastated expression.
But they still had joyful expressions.
Why were they so happy that the representative of the third-generation disciples had lost to Shaolin?
Looking at them, Yuyeon couldn't possibly understand.
Amidst the relentless teasing, one of the second-generation disciples brought up something to Yeongpung.
"To think he inherited the Fourth Ancestor's position even after that-"
"You crazy bastard."
Smack-!
"Urk!"
Someone struck the back of the head of the young man who was about to speak.
It was Maehwa Yeonggeom (Plum Blossom Heroic Sword) Shin Hyeon.
The strongest among the second-generation disciples, and one of the masters representing the current Huashan.
"Restrain yourself. How far are you going to go?"
Shin Hyeon, who had been watching from behind, clicked his tongue.
It was good that he was excited, but he almost caused a huge disaster by not watching his mouth.
He was about to mention Yeongpung's secret, which would have been a massive blunder.
"...I'm sorry, Senior."
Shin Jeok, the second-generation disciple who had spoken, also realized his mistake and immediately offered an apology.
"Should you really be apologizing to me? The Sect Leader is watching, of all places."
Startled by Shin Hyeon's words, Shin Jeok hastily moved.
Towards the old man standing alone behind the muscular second-generation disciples.
The old man was a being who received far more attention than Yuyeon and Yeongpung.
The 16th Sect Leader of Huashan, and the one called Chilcheol Samgwon (Seven Irons Three Fists), Maehwaseon (Plum Blossom Immortal) Dohwa.
That was the old man's identity.
Shin Jeok carefully approached the old man, immediately showed his manners, and spoke.
"Sect Leader... I apologize. This disciple has made a mista—. Sect Leader?"
While continuously offering his apologies, Shin Jeok suddenly realized that the Maehwaseon was looking elsewhere.
"S-Sect Leader...?"
Carefully calling out to the Maehwaseon a couple more times, only then did he react.
"Ah."
Perhaps it was because he belatedly realized he was being called.
The Maehwaseon wore a warm smile and said.
"I'm sorry for not hearing you. It's just that I saw an old acquaintance after a long time."
"An old acquaintance, you say?"
The Maehwaseon knew someone here? The disciples' gazes immediately turned to where the Maehwaseon had been looking.
The crowds looking their way entered their sights, just like before, but they had no idea who the Maehwaseon had been looking at.
At that moment.
"...A disciple of Shaolin greets the Sect Leader."
Yuyeon approached the Maehwaseon and paid his respects.
The other Shaolin disciples did the same.
Even while offering his greeting, Yuyeon was still bewildered.
'Why would the Sect Leader come all the way here?'
If it were the disciples, it would be to participate, so that was understandable.
But for what purpose did the Sect Leader come here?
He couldn't understand it, but the other party was Huashan's Sect Leader. He had to show proper manners first.
"Yes, it's been a while."
At Yuyeon's greeting, the Maehwaseon gave a benevolent smile.
"Child of Shaolin. Was it Yuyeon?"
"...Yes, Sect Leader. My name is Yuye..."
As he spoke, Yuyeon felt a sensation on top of his head.
The Maehwaseon had patted Yuyeon's head.
"...!"
Yuyeon widened his eyes at this.
"You seem to have suffered a lot for your age. Is it hard?"
"N-No..."
"It is hard. It's the age where it's the hardest but also the best. Please build a good relationship with our children too."
"..."
Gulp.
For some unknown reason, Yuyeon bit his lip.
"I thank... you for your words..."
Just as he barely managed to spit out his words to the Maehwaseon.
"Sister! I'm jealous of that old man!"
A loud voice came from somewhere.
It was loud enough for everyone to look.
"Miss Bong...! You can't do this! The Young Master will scold you...!"
At the piercing vocalization, another woman hastily tried to block her.
"I want to do it too!"
"No-! Wa...!!"
"I'm going to touch that bald head too!!"
At the words that eventually burst out, everyone around had to shut their mouths.
In particular, the expressions of the Shaolin martial artists hardened stiffly.
Did they hear that wrong? Did she just say 'bald head'...?
Everyone was about to express their disbelief, but.
"Me too! I want to touch that shiny bald head!"
"...P-Please, stay still."
"It looks like an egg! It's so round!"
"Oh my goodness.... We're screwed."
The woman with light green hair who had been desperately trying to block her eventually hid her face with a devastated expression.
The black-haired woman ran out as if bursting free and stood in front of the Maehwaseon and Yuyeon.
"Hello?"
"..."
At the bright greeting, Yuyeon couldn't say a word.
It was because he hadn't fully grasped this absurd situation.
"Nice to meet you."
"...Yes...?"
"My name is Bong Sun."
The woman introduced herself as if she didn't care and asked Yuyeon.
"Hey, um. Can I touch your head too?"
"...Miss, what do you mean by that right now..."
Yuyeon said, glancing at the Maehwaseon in front of him.
"I want to touch your head too, Oppa. It's my first time seeing a bald head!"
"...!"
At the words heard, Yuyeon's heart thumped! and shook.
Oppa...?
She said Oppa?
While Yuyeon's eyes were trembling from the unexpected shock.
Other martial artists appeared and started blocking the woman.
"Benefactor, what are you doing."
"Miss.... I do not know who you are, but to act so rudely! Even the gods of heaven and earth would be angered!"
To want to touch a bald man's head, what a terrifying and pitiful thing to say.
Even the Huashan disciples, who had just been teasing Yeongpung mercilessly, tried to stop the woman with horrific expressions.
However, the woman simply continued speaking as if she had no interest in the others.
"No? I'll just touch it once. I won't ask again...!"
Her tone was full of earnest pleading.
At the woman's words, the others squeezed their eyes shut.
At the same time, they prepared to intervene if Yuyeon lashed out in anger.
Even if it was Yuyeon, he wouldn't just sit still after receiving such an insult.
Fearing a battle might break out, everyone took a defensive stance.
Eventually, with a thoroughly stiffened expression, Yuyeon opened his mouth to speak to Bong Sun.
"...Go."
What kind of outburst would the Divine Dragon of Shaolin let loose?
At the moment all attention was focused on him.
"...Go... Go ahead and touch it comfortably."
A rather anticlimactic answer was heard.