A heavy stillness bloomed.

Jeong Yeon-shin was faintly surprised at himself within that strange silence. It was because he felt no particular emotion, despite having spoken aloud of the Heaven Tree’s fruit.

“......”

All directions were swallowed in darkness.

No light entered. Not even the dim streaks of sunset spreading outside managed to reach here.

Underground of the Wuhwa Hall in the Forbidden City.

That is, beneath the palace where emperors had long trained in Divine Martial Arts. The roots of the Heaven Tree had pierced all the way down as if craving darkness rather than light, their girth and length resembling the body of a dragon.

Jeong Yeon-shin stood midway along one of those massive trunks, holding his sword—Yeoroe—in hand. He was feeling the lingering scents from the auras of Ma Yeon-jeok, Yong Hui-myeong, and Joo Gwang-shin.

‘All of them...’

They’re really gone.

Rather than feel anxious about the silence from the Lord of Ipwang Fortress, he was more overwhelmed by the absence of the previous Divine Sword Corps Masters and Joo Gwang-shin. That’s what distinguished Jeong Yeon-shin of the Jeong family from Seomye, the Divine Sword Corps Master.

—These traces... clearly born from the hand of the God of Battle. But why leave this particular trunk untouched...?

Mun Gok’s muttering echoed down from above the ruins. There were no other sounds. From the start, Jeong Yeon-shin had been the only one to descend from the surface.

The fruit of the Heaven Tree.

It was said one could only obtain it after receiving the recognition of all the Noble Clans. Since even mentioning it was a grave matter, he had no reason to feel disappointed by the lack of immediate response.

And so, Jeong Yeon-shin silently waited for the Lord of Ipwang Fortress to answer.

“......”

A silence as deep as an abyss continued.

It was as if time itself had been sealed within a distant sword strike.

Eventually, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips in the darkness.

“Who are you?”

What came in return was a pleasant whistle. Whiik—hoo. Like a gentle leaf brushing the inside of his ear. It was a sound he’d once heard—the true name of the Lord of Ipwang Fortress.

Though Jeong Yeon-shin had learned it only later, the name Wi Gun-hye was in fact an honorary title granted by the state.

There were rumors it had come about during a failed attempt by the Grand Empress Dowager to initiate a royal marriage or grant the imperial surname.

In the end, what the Lord of Ipwang Fortress had received from the imperial court was only three simple syllables that commoners could easily pronounce.

Thus, the true name of the noblest clan in the world was indeed that whistle he had just heard. Few would know it, and the voice was the same.

But Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head. Even before any insight from his energy core, it was the intuition of a disciple who had long revered her. Something was clearly off.

“You’re not her.”

—Wrong, but right. I, too, am your master and your salvation.

Around that time, Jeong Yeon-shin recalled something else. A woman who had stood atop a freshly severed tree stump. Her entire form glowing white, resembling a wooden statue—yet she had meridian points, and that had shocked him.

The wooden statue shaped like the Lord of Ipwang Fortress that he had seen once in the Heaven Tree’s city.

It had not been any different from a real person.

“The Heaven Tree’s true body...?”

As soon as Jeong Yeon-shin softly spoke the words—

Suddenly, the presence shifted.

From the far side of the space where they’d been speaking, an overwhelming pressure began to swell endlessly.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly thought of the word: infinite.

It felt as if a colossal tree, beyond imagining, was sprouting from his very mind, about to burst forth.

‘Heart Sword...!’

He realized it then.

A misty white fog, like dawn’s haze, had already passed through his internal defense energy and was seeping into his entire body.

Whoosh!

The method of the strongest under heaven.

It aligned with the mysterious truths the Lord of Ipwang Fortress had once taught him. It was her Heart Sword, no doubt.

And at some point, the voices of countless Noble Clans began flooding his ears. Voices, reports, concerns, anger, bitterness—transmitted from Heaven Tree trunks all across the Central Plains, flowing into the true body.

—It does seem to be the Divine Sword Corps Master’s proxy, but... did he really succeed in the Northern Expedition? How could he defeat the Black Path and Six Star Generals with so few people...?

—Regardless, since the true tree finally opened the Sounding Wind, may we submit this report first? The situation is not good. The Hyeongsan Sect and the Four Clans of the Martial Alliance seem to be neglecting the Noble Clans...

—Enough. The Divine Sword Corps Masters have always prioritized the people over the clans. Do not reveal information carelessly.

—A fair point. One cannot speak so lightly of the Heaven Tree’s fruit...!

—Apologies.

That final voice—an elderly woman’s—was one Jeong Yeon-shin recognized.

‘Master Cheong Bohwa... of Cheonju Gate.’

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Cheonju Gate. A sect by the lake he had once visited while escorting Yong Hui-myeong during the dark times. It was also the sect of Ma Gwang-ik’s ally, Cheongmyeong.

In other words, Jeong Yeon-shin was now standing within a gathering that spanned all of the Central Plains. Since the founding of Ming, the Noble Clans who carried the great responsibilities of their bloodlines had been connected to the Heaven Tree.

But Jeong Yeon-shin had only one question. Where was his true master?

“You all.” 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

He slowly moved his lips.

“You speak so casually—do you know that person is a fake?”

—...You can speak within the Heart Sword’s domain?

—As an elder of the clan, I advise you to watch your words and mind your safety.

—It must be hard for a Han to understand this situation. Had it been Yong Hui-myeong, we would’ve spoken without hesitation...

—The one you’re speaking with is no different from your master. She carries all of her memories.

Hwiseong.

The core essence of Guardian Energy, once named “Celestial Star of True Nature”, but now naturally distilled down to just two syllables after returning from the North.

Woom—

The density of his inner energy shield surged without end. In an instant, a translucent starlight-like garment layered over his purple long robe, and the invading fog of the Heart Sword was entirely cut off from his body.

Boom—!

Fragments of true energy rising from the Heaven Tree fell and filled the darkness with a °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° white glow. Even the gaps between the smooth, beautiful bark—like dragon scales—shimmered with white light.

The once-clamorous voices abruptly fell silent.

At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin felt the faint exhale of the other.

A breath laced with subtle surprise and deep intrigue, like morning dew.

—Your Guardian Energy contains the principles of the Heavenly Radiant Shell. You must’ve endured much hardship in the North.

“Still pretending to be my master?”

—With your nature, you would’ve come straight to where I reside. But the reason you cannot now lies with me.

She was right.

Jeong Yeon-shin had once been able to unfold a limited variant void by combining the transcendent form of the Sword of the Heretical Path with the sensation he gained from the Heaven Tree. A method of walking from trunk to trunk.

‘Not now.’

He could feel it even without trying. All the pathways had collapsed.

Saaah—

The divine aura that had filled the surroundings dissipated. The sword strike of the Otherworldly Void, transmitted through the trunk of the World Tree, was being blocked—along with even the long-distance sound transmission.

It was naturally overwhelming.

It felt, quite literally, omnipotent.

―If this is the merit you've achieved, you’re worthy of reaping its fruits. That is precisely what I’ve been waiting for these nineteen years. However...

At the tail end of the voice, a whistle—like a melody—rippled once again. As if reciting the Lord of Ipwang Fortress's true name in a dream, she played it with her lips, then continued with a voice touched by a soft smile.

―Yet... another me harbors a heart that does not welcome that union. Even denying your Otherworldly Void is done entirely out of concern for you. For such heretical techniques inevitably return as karmic retribution befitting their nature.

“Did you just say... ‘another me’?”

―It’s fascinating... and pitiable. Even when dulled to all joy and sorrow... in the end, the only thing we agreed on was blocking your Otherworldly Void.

Like sweet dew scattering in sunlight, her voice gradually grew fainter.

Soon, the windstream of sound transmission would break.

For the first time, Jeong Yeon-shin furrowed his brows.

“Whether you’re my master’s Won Yeong-shin or the true body of the World Tree—I don’t care. Even if you are both. Is Master still within the Gate?”

But the other only unraveled her tale in that antiquated tone.

―Unlike your master, I intend to seal both your eyes and your mouth. So look only at me... and walk only toward me.

“......”

―Yes, with your body whole.

Then, as if speaking to the Jeong Yeon-shin of the past, she spoke gently.

―No matter how chaotic the world is, such matters must be discussed only after your heavenly punishment is resolved. Turning your gaze to the age of disorder is not allowed, and so I sever this transmission path. Be understanding.

“Don’t talk to me about the world. You think my power ends at my original martial arts.”

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly. But no answer came.

The mystical energy he had always felt through the World Tree’s trunk was gone.

Completely severed.

The same was true for the original trunk rooted in the main fortress of Ipwang. He would now need to exchange written messages with Grand Commander Im Jin-myeong.

For Jeong Yeon-shin, this loss of communication was a significant blow. He had grown accustomed to swiftly acquiring information through Whirling Wind Hollow.

Without delay, he spoke.

“Mun Gok.”

The instant a response stirred above the ruins—

KWAHHHHHHHHNG!

A deafening roar shattered a massive root in its entirety. Even in the dark, dust bloomed thickly. A giant single eye glimmered with a pale, colorless light.

The Tactician of the Divine Sword landed and spoke.

“We can guess what’s going on. Whirling Wind Hollow is blocked, isn’t it?”

“That way.”

Jeong Yeon-shin pointed to a midsection of bark.

A space where divine wind currents were faintly dispersing. The point where the World Tree’s spiritual nature had been obstructed.

Thick veins of dark blue briefly burst across Mun Gok’s stout neck. As he opened his mouth, the underground darkness flickered colorlessly and blew away like reed leaves in all directions.

A sound attack wave so intense it rendered light and dark meaningless.

A monstrous roar.

For a split second, it felt like the space itself was torn apart. Even Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears bled faintly.

‘An erudite mad giant.’

Jeong Yeon-shin betrayed no emotion.

At the same time, calm voices like spring wind returned to his ears. The same voices that had lectured him earlier.

―Movements from Hanam Simmuryun are not normal. There are rumors that the one who once blocked the Dark Dragon and the Dark Celestial Emperor and then slept in Shin Yae-hyeon has risen and made contact with the Youngcheon Sword Demon... Also, it seems the Simmuryun Master, Lord Gun Wi-hu, has finally shed his skin and left seclusion...

―Seems the one who tore off his arm gave him tremendous inspiration. Just who was it...? And what of Shaolin? Isn’t Hanam within their domain?

―Abbot Beomha remains strong, but not like before. As for Shaolin’s other peerless master—Hell Distortion Fan Ryeol—his whereabouts remain unknown. Whether he’s still within the gate of Songshan or has come to the Central Plains, we cannot say...

―We’ve received word from the Great Wall. The Sect Leader of Mount Zhen has descended to Guyong Pass with the orthodox successors. It’s said he departed only after the Qingguangping fight ended—so how the Acting Commander of the Divine Sword Corps reached Beijing first is unknown...

―Frustrating, indeed. It’s not as if Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager can constantly deploy the Wind King... Could she have arrived at the World Tree by now?

―I assume you’ve all heard the rumor about the cripple. We must confirm the truth.

―All news from Beijing has been cut off. Hearing from the Acting Commander of the Divine Sword Corps would have been best... What about Shaanxi? The Senior Elder of Zhongnan, Ye Il-shin?

―...It’s possible the Ming Cult Master So Cheonmujuk may summon the first Heavenly Demon.

―What?

A bombardment of overwhelming information.

Tales encompassing the vast Central Plains pierced Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears.

Even as the nobles of the world hurled words like cannon fire, he remained silently unmoved. Thanks to Jin Myeong-jo’s Rebuttal Returning Array, not even the slightest presence leaked from him.

“......”

In that moment, the names of all armed units of the Divine Sword Corps, the Ipwang Clan, and his comrades in violet battle robes tangled and untangled in his mind. Which formation to send where, what orders to issue...

‘...Once I’ve sorted this, I’ll need to confer with Mun Gok too.’

With the Lord of Ipwang unreachable, the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps was Ipwang itself now.

His master’s safety.

The identity of the one impersonating the Lord of Ipwang.

He shelved both thoughts for now.

From the start, the title of the greatest under heaven was one that surpassed all deceptions. Having walked the violet rivers and experienced even the Six Original Star Lords and the God of War, he was more certain of this than anyone.

‘I will do what must be done.’

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly lowered his eyelids.

***

The ruins of Beijing, where every wall had crumbled.

Under the unseen moon blanketed by darkness, the Divine Sword Corps scattered in groups to all corners. It was a night with a tumult of stars blazing in the sky.

And so—

Jeong Yeon-shin opened the age of chaos.