Once inside the formation, Seolhwa sat cross-legged at the prepared spot.

A chilling current seeped out from between the pillars surrounding her and wrapped around her entirely.

The faint white mist seemed alive, probing her body as it circled her.

Before long, the surroundings dimmed.

The man who had stood before her when she sat down was nowhere to be seen.

No—this was not even the same cavernous space where they had been speaking moments ago.

Seolhwa placed the elixir the man had given her into her mouth and slowly closed her eyes.

Before she could even swallow, the pill dissolved, disappearing within her mouth.

But the energy of the elixir coursed down her throat, heavy and potent.

“...”

It felt as though she had swallowed a vicious serpent. Seolhwa’s brow furrowed.

The fierce energy that entered her body spread through her meridians in an instant.

She slowly moved her inner strength.

Ssshhh—

A blue aura flowed out from her dantian and spread through her blood channels across her body.

Though it gleamed faintly red, there was no mistaking it—it was heavenly qi.

‘The circulation is smooth.’

Was this the effect of the formation the man spoke of?

Her meridians felt blown wide open; the flow of qi raced faster than usual.

Where once she could complete a single Small Circuit in a given time, now she could run three.

The more she circulated her energy, the more she felt power layering within her.

Fwooo—

Her inner energy chased after the elixir’s force surging through her veins, speeding along her meridians.

The elixir’s qi, as if refusing to be caught, grew even more violent, tearing through her channels.

Seolhwa’s brow creased tighter.

‘I won’t... lose it.’

Wind rose around her.

The oscillation of energy spinning rapidly around her stirred the air.

Her robe and hair fluttered with the gust for a brief moment—

Fwooo—

Then, a searing cold struck her like blades of ice.

A sharp wind tore past her ears, and Seolhwa slowly opened her eyes.

“...”

Her vision was filled with white.

She lifted her gaze and looked around.

‘A snow mountain.’

She had been sitting cross-legged, yet she now stood in the middle of a snow-covered mountain range.

Whooo—

A biting wind brushed her skin.

Snow carried on the gale lashed across her face.

Seolhwa frowned and wrapped her arms around herself.

“So cold...”

A faint breath of white vapor spilled from her lips.

Was this, too, part of the formation?

‘Only by overcoming heat and cold, poison and illusion will it truly become your strength.’

So this was what he meant by enduring four trials and surviving them.

“...It feels real.”

Shivering, Seolhwa hugged herself tighter.

She looked around, but all she could discern was that she ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) stood amid a mountain blanketed in snow.

In a world where everything was pure white, she couldn’t even judge direction, but she started walking.

Crunch—crunch—

The snow swallowed her thighs with every step.

Still, Seolhwa did not stop.

She had to keep moving, even if only to preserve her body heat.

‘There must be a Life Gate somewhere.’

This was a formation.

The cold of the elixir she had to suppress had taken form before her—this couldn’t be real.

But a great formation could breathe life into what did not exist, and make possible what was not.

The vividness of the cold meant she could truly freeze to death here.

‘The Life Gate...’

Crunch—crunch—

Breathing out mist, Seolhwa trudged on.

Beyond the ridge, a cold sun rose in the white sky.

****

Two months had passed since Seolhwa departed for the Demonic Sect.

According to the last report, it had already been half a month since she reached their territory.

“What on earth is she doing to be this late? Are you sure we shouldn’t go check?”

After finishing the training of the Martial Alliance’s combat corps, Seop Mugwang visited the Lord’s office, asking—as always—about Seolhwa’s news.

“At this rate, the ones we sent to Mount Kunlun will arrive before she does.”

“Are the preparations progressing well?”

Namgoong Mucheon, who had been reviewing reports from the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, set the papers down and asked him.

“I told you to be ready to move as soon as the Kunlun envoys arrive.”

“Come now, I’m the Thunder God. Give me a day or two?”

Seop Mugwang raised his chin and thumped his chest.

“I’ve picked only the quickest men. Don’t worry—we’re fully prepared with the best for exterminating demonic beasts.”

The Martial Alliance was preparing to wipe out the demonic beasts beyond Mount Kunlun, at the border between the Demonic Sect and the Central Plains.

Now that they knew those creatures were the Blood Cult’s forces, they couldn’t just sit by.

“Remember, safety comes first.”

“I won’t let anyone get hurt easily.”

Someone knocked at the door.

Moments later, the Martial Alliance strategist, Jegal Myeong, entered the office.

“Did you find out?”

At Namgoong Mucheon’s question, Jegal Myeong gave a short nod.

Namgoong Mucheon set up a dense sound barrier around the room.

“What did you discover?”

“Since the conference, there’s been nothing particularly strange in Tang Sangcheon’s movements.”

“I see.”

During the visit from the Four Demonic Unions, they had learned that Tang Sangcheon was involved when their forces clashed with those of the Martial Alliance.

The rumor about Seolhwa had also originated from Tang Sangcheon.

Because the Martial Alliance suspected there was a Blood Cult spy within their ranks, Tang Sangcheon’s actions had seemed suspicious enough for Jegal Myeong to investigate him.

“The Tang family itself hasn’t shown unusual movement either. Their only ambition seems to be building influence in the Alliance to claim the next leadership seat.”

“Then you’re saying Elder Tang’s behavior was coincidence.”

“However...”

Jegal Myeong hesitated, his face troubled.

“Tang Gajin’s whereabouts are unknown.”

“That boy is the Tang family head’s eldest son, isn’t he?”

“Yes.”

The same son who had been caught trying to poison Seolhwa during the Five Great Families’ meeting and was placed under house discipline.

“If he’s confined, isn’t it natural that his whereabouts are unclear?”

“That’s the strange part. According to the servants, no one’s been living in Tang Gajin’s quarters, yet he hasn’t entered closed-door cultivation either.”

“...”

Namgoong Mucheon’s expression hardened.

Listening beside him, Seop Mugwang’s brows also furrowed, sensing the oddity.

“Though, the Tang family’s eldest has always been willful. Some say he used his confinement as an excuse to secretly run away to his mother’s side of the family.”

“That must be it.”

Seop Mugwang snapped his fingers.

“The Tang matron’s from the greatest merchant house in Sichuan, isn’t she? He’s scared of his father but wants to play, so he ran off to his mother’s home, I’d bet.”

That was the one who’d tried to poison Seolhwa.

There was no reason to view him kindly.

Yet Namgoong Mucheon still looked unconvinced.

“Strategist.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Keep monitoring the Tang family’s movements. Also, contact the HAO Clan—see if they can learn anything more about Tang Gajin.”

“Understood.”

Just then—

They both turned as hurried footsteps approached the door.

“Seems the Deputy Strategist is coming.”

Among the quick, uneven steps, one could hear a faint limp.

That alone was enough for them to recognize Namgoong Cheonghae.

Seop Mugwang moved to the door, swung it open, and shouted down the hall.

“Don’t come running like that, it’s dangerous! The Lord’s not going anywhere!”

But the limping footsteps didn’t slow.

Moments later, Cheonghae’s shadow appeared beyond the doorway.

“Chief Commander...!”

Gripping the doorframe, Cheonghae caught Seop Mugwang’s arm for balance.

Seop Mugwang, puzzled, held him up.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“M-my lord, the Alliance Leader—”

“He’s inside.”

Cheonghae glanced into the room, then seized Seop Mugwang’s sleeve tighter.

Namgoong Mucheon wasn’t visible from the hall, but Cheonghae knew he was listening.

“What’s going on? Out with it.”

“Chief Commander, you must go to the Namgoong estate at once.”

“Me? Why?”

“Someone has arrived... from the Imperial Palace.”

At that moment, the smile vanished completely from Seop Mugwang’s face.

“They carry an imperial decree... ordering that the criminal Choryeon be escorted to the palace!”

****

Hefei, Anhui Province. In front of the Namgoong Family estate.

The streets of Hefei swelled with more people than ever before.

The crowd whispered and pointed toward the imperial soldiers lined up before the Namgoong gates.

“What’s going on? A criminal?”

“I heard—the one who killed the prince has been hiding in the Namgoong estate!”

“You mean all these soldiers came for one person?”

“Good heavens, how terrifying...”

Nearly a hundred soldiers stood at the gates.

Enough force to completely surround the Namgoong estate and pressure all of Hefei.

At last, the great doors opened, and a group emerged from within.

A man at the head of the imperial troops spurred his horse forward toward them.

From horseback, he raised a scroll high and shouted,

“The Head of the Namgoong Family shall receive the Imperial Decree!”

Namgoong Cheongun and all the household retainers dropped to one knee as one, bowing their heads low.