Chapter 525: Chapter 525

A subtle scent of ink spread along the breeze stirred by the ripples of internal energy. That fragrance, mingling with faintly drifting white dust, created a quiet and serene atmosphere.

At least, that was how Jeong Yeon-shin felt.

The proposal document from the acting Lord of the Unit, placed at the center of the Wondan Grand Sword Hall.

At this moment, not only the silent gazes of the attending Lords, but the eyes of the world were inevitably drawn to the outcome of that proposal. Because it detailed the new structure of the greatest sect under the heavens.

All factions and sectors would be paying close attention.

Particularly those martial units primarily stationed in specific regions—whether any assignments had changed, even slightly. The origins, character, and martial specialties of newly assigned members.

And Im Jin-myeong had said:

—You’ll clash with many other doubts, too.

How much stronger had the Divine Sword Corps become, whose mission area spanned boundlessly across the land? Or had they perhaps grown weaker than before?

Jeong Yeon-shin exercised the authority of the highest seat in Ipwang Fortress, intending to fully claim the most renowned treasured sword under heaven—the Ip Divine Sword.

It was a decision that would, in effect, influence the entire lives of the high-ranking experts of the fortress.

The scroll, resting atop the round table made of grey marble, was still slowly, yet endlessly unrolling. As though it would soon spill past the table’s edge.

That’s how many names were neatly inscribed in elegant standard script, dyed black across the surface.

Those he had met face-to-face through past events and missions, and those listed in the personnel records delivered by the General Bureau. All of them were Jeong Yeon-shin’s family.

He checked the right side first. Divine Sword Vice-Lord Shin Hyeol-hwan-seong. Perhaps the title, born of considerable contemplation, didn’t sit well with him. His face looked paler than usual.

Jeong Yeon-shin carefully called out to him.

“Senior Jin, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the title I gave you.”

The man pushed aside the heavy stone seat of the Taesa with ease and stood up.

Jin Myeong-jo’s gaze remained fixed on the names written on the scroll. That gaze weighed heavily enough to make Jeong Yeon-shin almost swallow dryly. The judgment of a respected senior was heavier than any other.

Soon, Jin Myeong-jo spoke.

“Please speak freely.”

“Did you... receive the letter I sent?”

The question was smooth and courteous. So unreadable that it felt like facing a noble from the capital.

But Jeong Yeon-shin’s expression brightened instead.

“I received and read it while waiting after delivering the summons. I’ve never seen such elegant phrasing. It was an eye-opener for your junior.”

“I was going to express my gratitude after this gathering, but since the opportunity is here...”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s words trailed off. Jin Myeong-jo gently shook his head.

“That letter was my final worth. It may be presumptuous to say, but there has never been a case where a member of the Blood Support Division joined the Divine Sword Corps.”

The one who answered Jeong Yeon-shin’s question wasn’t Jin Myeong-jo. It was Cheonrim Lord Hahoe Wi-jin, speaking in a gruff voice from the side, a thick iron rod strapped like a splint to his muscular arm.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“They’re unfit for joint missions. Always have been. Just a waste of personnel.”

Sitting beside him, the Commandment Lord Woon So-yoo also added quietly:

“The Divine Sword Corps must be as close to flawless as possible within the fortress. Even if the Blood Support Division extracts innate energy from beast blood instead of humans, if their martial techniques or behavior don’t align, it’s only right to exclude them.”

Her dark eyes gleamed like sword intent.

In the Wondan Grand Sword Hall, where the greatest affairs of the martial world were discussed—

No voice was ever soft.

Though Jeong Yeon-shin was undeniably the fortress’s strongest power today, the total combined force of the Lords gathered here surpassed his alone.

Unlike Jeong Yeon-shin, who was but one man, these Lords could spread their influence across the entire land.

That applied even to Cheon So-so, who had changed her tone to one of respect the moment she sat down in the hall.

“If a mission in a remote region drags on, we have to trade with local civilians for supplies.”

Her sapphire eyes settled on Jeong Yeon-shin as her lips moved lightly.

“The Blood Support Division kids, even with their faces covered, need to stay separate. Otherwise, the commoners shrink back and won’t move an inch.”

“That becomes an inviting gap. Perfect for enemies lying in ambush.”

Said Hahoe Wi-jin. His low, gravelly voice carried the wear of a martial veteran—worn and weathered.

It wasn’t something born of petty emotions.

Jeong Yeon-shin could clearly feel that. But still, he had to appoint Jin Myeong-jo as Vice-Lord.

“That won’t be an issue. The Repelling Ghost Formation that Senior Jin created... even I can barely follow its level. There’s no way it would frighten the civilians.”

Not out of personal admiration.

But because beyond that door, only Jin Myeong-jo had managed to grasp the next level of footwork—keeping up with the speed of Ten Li Radiance.

Namgung Hwa-shin, who was just barely beginning to digest the elixirs he had consumed from his clan, and one new recruit in the Divine Sword Corps were the only other possibilities.

‘...Now that Lord So-yeon has passed away.’

The wielder of the Dark Night Blood Fluttering Sword was free from the constraints of orthodox martial arts.

He had always been like that from their first meeting. His facial expressions and internal energy were like a perfectly still, unshaken mirror.

Unlike the Seventh Apostle, who seemed to relish pain, Jeong Yeon-shin never needed to suppress his own energy waves around him.

‘I can’t decide this unilaterally. But I must make it happen.’

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced to the opposite side.

A middle-aged man with a dignified face, dressed entirely in a long black robe, was speaking softly with a handsome young man also clad in black.

None other than the Wuguk Lord and the acting Suncheon Ik Lord. Both seemed to be moving with difficulty.

A situation that required healing. The aftermath of the Sect Tournament.

“Mu-dang’s Jae Woon-jong broke through the entire inner perimeter. Truly a genius... Hwa-shin, you’re not far off from him.”

“I was stopped by Changcheon Lord.”

“That standoff won’t last long. Changcheon—he still hasn’t fully recovered from the Thunder Lotus Rejuvenation Pill he got from the acting Lord. He’ll need more time to circulate energy and recover.”

“I will return with the intruder’s head.”

“Hmm? That’s the disciple of Mu-dang’s late Master Go Geomjin. No need to take his head...”

“Whatever the situation, the fortress is currently in wartime. Considerable damage has already occurred. If someone stirred up the inner fortress without proper notification and procedure, even if that person were Zhang Sanfeng himself, they should lose their head. There must be no exceptions to the rules.”

“Wait, where are you going?”

“An invasion is a breach of courtesy. If the other party acted so far outside the bounds of etiquette, then isn’t it right that my sword should aim not at their limbs, but at their neck? Namgung Mo of the Divine Sword Corps. I will return before the acting Lord finishes persuading the seniors.”

Namgung Hwa-shin, the White Qilin, gave Jeong Yeon-shin a courteous bow. Yet his name was clearly not on the Divine Sword Corps roster.

“White Qilin, I considered you the only light of the Wondan Grand Sword Hall... Hey, wait!”

He shook off the Wuguk Lord’s attempt to stop him and turned around, walking straight through the wall. The resounding crack left a subtle vibration across the hall.

He hadn’t even drawn his sword, yet the intense pressure of the Simgeuk Qilin erupted. The still-recovering Wuguk Lord could not stop him.

“The Wondan Grand Sword Hall never changes, no matter how many years pass. The ground really isn’t good here.”

Hahoe Wi-jin’s muttered words carried the detached temperament unique to his noble bloodline.

However, the way they once again began listing disqualifications for the current Divine Sword Squad Leader—who hailed from the Blood Preservation Corps—was anything but indifferent.

It was aggressively thorough. And yet, their courtesy toward the Acting Master was razor-sharp.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly recalled a conversation he once had with Yong Hui-myeong. It was after he had received the Ritual Blade.

―If we were to compare the Division Heads of the Main Fortress to types of swords, there’s nothing but heavy blades.

―They’re good for drawing once and slashing down with power. But it’s hard to mix in transitional techniques. Try to insert subtle changes or alter direction, and you’ll find your whole body sluggish. Your head, dizzy.

―But they say, ‘Set the house in order before ruling the world.’ You’ll have to suffer a bit too.

The ones he would have to lead in the future.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced to his right.

The current Divine Sword Squad Leader, now on the verge of replacement, looked as serene as anyone could be. He had the air of someone who had already let go of many things.

No intention of arguing. He stood in unshakable dignity.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

Was he about to engage in another exhausting battle? This time, against the seniors of Wonpyeong Ilgeom Hall?

Even a verbal debate would consume great mental effort. And once he overcame this trial—what would await him next?

His mind began to feel slightly distant. But Jeong Yeon-shin made a conscious effort not to show it, and opened his mouth.

Hahoe Wi-jin spoke slowly, continuing his thought.

“Jin Myeong-jo is... somewhat different. That is our conclusion. The issues raised earlier were just noise that needed to be preemptively dismissed. There are many powerful figures eager to pounce on anything the Main Fortress does.”

The two voices of surprise overlapped at once, but Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t react. His attention was on the curve forming at the corner of Hahoe Wi-jin’s mouth—a bold, easy smile.

“I saw the moment when the final formula of the Priceless Formless Sword was passed on. The former Blood Preservation Corps Commander is worthy of assisting the Acting Master. He’s thrown everything into the Main Fortress.”

And so, three voices of approval followed: Hahoe Wi-jin, Woon So-yoo, and Cheon So-so. Even the Martial Extremes Lord gave a faint smile and nodded.

“To be honest, I do have some reservations about the current composition of the Divine Sword Unit... But I imagine the Acting Master had his reasons. Just assembling a lineup of this caliber in such a short time isn’t something ordinary. We’re not talking about one or two people here.”

The Martial Extremes Lord said this like muttering to himself. Jeong Yeon-shin returned the compliment with a silent nod.

‘There’s more... not just the Divine Sword Unit.’

The eyes of the General Bureau were enormous.

Their resourcefulness stood in complete contrast to that of Tae Yeom-ryong.

First, they had immediately grasped the extent of damage from the Ipwang Grand War. And then, they had swiftly reflected that in the reorganization plans—proving ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ their competence.

The original roster had already been drafted before Jeong Yeon-shin had even set foot in Hangzhou. It was the result of intense discussion between him and Im Jin-myeong.

In that sense, Jeong Yeon-shin had been thinking long and hard about the full reformation of the Divine Sword Corps.

It would’ve been fair to say he’d poured his heart into it. Naturally, he hadn’t expected much opposition.

That was a miscalculation.

It started with a girl’s voice ringing out elegantly beside him.

But no one paid any attention to Ak Su-rim’s words. For her sake, Jeong Yeon-shin traced his fingers over the scroll, pausing briefly at the phrases “Blood Preservation Corps Commander” and “Elder Council’s Chief Protector,” then looked forward again.

He looked toward the wall that Namgung Hwa-shin had just burst through with her entire body.

A shadowy figure was gradually filling that space. The way the robe flapped around them gave the appearance of an immortal shrouded in clouds and mist.

A woman’s voice rang out loudly. It was a voice Jeong Yeon-shin was quite familiar with.

Jangbong Ju Se-hwa. Unlike when they first met, she now held her sword lowered in her grip, and spiraling wind threads were radiating out from her figure.

[You should come with me to the Sea-Splitting Point of our sect.]

At the same time, another gust of wind burst forth from right beside Jeong Yeon-shin. A pitch-black shadow ripped through space in an instant and seized the intruder by the neck.

“A mere wanderer of the martial world...”

The voice of the current Divine Sword Squad Leader fell like a chilling fog.

Truly overwhelming energy. For a moment, even Jeong Yeon-shin involuntarily flinched at the intensity of killing intent. It was an aura that had clearly surpassed the boundary of darkness.

“Dares to speak of the Purple Robe’s fate?”

Jangbong was unable to respond.

And that was only natural. Strictly speaking, she wasn’t even a senior member of Wudang but closer to someone of the post-generation status. Compared to Shin Hyeol-hwan-seong, she fell notably short.

In Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind, both Ak Su-rim and Namgung Hwa-shin were forgotten.