On the grand martial platform, two young martial artists—each representing one of the great powers—clashed with fury. The title of Eastern Martial King was no trivial honor, nor was it something that could be handed out casually. It was earned through battle, carved into existence by sheer talent and indomitable will.
This title marked the supreme genius among all contenders within a 5,000-mile radius. To earn it was to stand above the heavens of one's generation.
The rewards were immense.
First, the title itself—Eastern Martial King—granted unmatched prestige. It declared you as the number one martial genius in the entire city.
Second, the victor would receive a high human peak weapon of elite quality. Such a treasure was an overwhelming advantage for a cultivator at the Third Turn. Even Void Perfection experts rarely possessed an elite-grade sword; most could only dream of an epic-grade weapon.
Third, the champion would be granted the right to select one martial technique from the Prime Minister's personal vault—an opportunity countless cultivators would kill for.
These weren't just duels. They were battles for destiny.
Above the platform sat the seven most powerful forces of the region, watching from their thrones of influence. Victory meant not only glory but the chance to be inducted into one of these legendary factions, perhaps even solidifying a future as a sect master.
On the viewing platforms, seven powerful martial seniors stood as the pillars of their respective sects and families.
At the center was the first-ranked power—the government, represented by Zhi Hun, the Deputy Governor. Despite appearing no older than sixty, his aura rippled with boundless might.
[Name: Zhi Hun]
[Age: 2679]
[Realm: Willful Entry, Mid Stage]
[Affiliation: Government]
To his right stood the second-ranked power—the Heaven Sword Sect, with a youthful-looking elder whose gaze held centuries of wisdom. Though appearing in his early thirties, his demeanor radiated ageless calm.
[Name: Yu Hun-jae]
[Age: 523]
[Realm: Willful Entry, Mid Stage]
[Affiliation: Heaven Sword Sect, 78th Ancestor]
On the left, the third-ranked power matched the Heaven Sword Sect in disciple strength—the Li Family. Its representative was a woman of stunning beauty, her body sculpted like art and her presence commanding respect.
[Name: Li Min-seo]
[Age: 499]
[Realm: Willful Entry, Mid Stage]
[Affiliation: Li Family, Branch Head]
The remaining powers—Martial Emperor Sect, Zhuo Family, Lin Family, and Huo Family—all possessed Willful Entry mid-stage ancestors, each with profound laws and overwhelming strength.
Upon the platform, two names shook the crowd: Zhuo Hyun, aged 67, peak Unrestrained Realm, and Zhi Ji-hoon, age 52, the Heaven Sword Sect's rising star, also at peak Unrestrained.
The battle ignited like a wildfire.
Zhuo Hyun, wielding a Vertex Sword, swept forth with a gust of spiritual wind, aiming to knock Zhi Ji-hoon off his feet. But with a single vertical slash, Ji-hoon cleaved the wind in half, then dashed forward like a comet.
Steel clashed. Their blades met mid-air as Ji-hoon struck vertically. Zhuo Hyun blocked, muscles straining, before shoving his opponent away with brute force.
Zhi Ji-hoon was flung into the sky, but he spun mid-air, diving back down with another slash. Zhuo Hyun parried and redirected the blow, stepping in to deliver a horizontal cut that could sever a head clean.
Ji-hoon met it with rapid reflexes. But Zhuo Hyun spun into a full 360-degree twist, slashing toward Ji-hoon's left. Ji-hoon barely blocked—only to receive a brutal back-kick to the chest, sliding across the stage.
Still standing, he blurred forward like a streak of light, his afterimage trailing behind him. Chang! Their swords met again, ringing like divine thunder. Both warriors moved at such speed that only blurs could be seen.
Boom!
Zhi Ji-hoon suddenly vanished and reappeared in front of Zhuo Hyun, delivering a devastating punch that sent him crashing down. The ground cracked—Zhuo Hyun embedded 20cm into the platform. With a burst of spiritual power, he widened the crater and leapt out.
But another kick—fast and brutal—struck his side and arm. BOOM! He crashed into the wall, coughing blood.
He rose, eyes sharp. Zhi Ji-hoon closed in again. Zhuo Hyun retaliated with a high leap, diving down with a mighty vertical slash. Ji-hoon soared to meet him, his own blade cutting horizontally.
BOOM!
A blinding flash erupted.
When it cleared, the two stood back-to-back on opposite ends of the platform.
Silence.
Then—drip… drip… Blood traced down Zhuo Hyun's side. A deep gash stretched from his ribcage to his core. He fell to his knees… then collapsed entirely. Unconscious.
The announcer stepped forward.
"Zhi Ji-hoon wins! He advances to the semi-finals!"
The crowd erupted in cheers—but just then, Zhi Ji-hoon coughed violently, blood gushing from a wound that stretched from his collarbone to his liver. Even victory had its price.
He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed.
Under everyone's stunned gazes, a blurred figure appeared beside him, lifting his bloodied body and vanishing without a trace.
Back atop the honored stands, Zhi Ji-hoon was given a healing pill, his injuries stabilizing swiftly.
From afar, Li Hao watched, eyes narrowing.
"That fight… brutal. If not for the rules, one of them would be dead."
"But alas," he mused, "those with power make the rules. If they meet again outside the arena… only death or ruin awaits."
...
On the martial platform, an elder's voice broke the brief silence.
"Zhi Hun, this child of yours is quite skilled. I don't understand why you'd let him go to the Martial Emperor Sect."
Zhi Hun, the Deputy Governor, turned his gaze toward the speaker—an old man with piercing eyes and a sharp tone.
"This was his choice," Zhi Hun replied calmly. "I have no say in what force he wishes to serve."
"Oh? But surely, you could've convinced him to join the government," the old man pushed.
[Name: Zhuo Hyun-woo]
[Age: 2767 years]
[Realm: Willful Entry, Mid Stage]
[Affiliation: Zhuo Family, 54th Ancestor]
Just as the tension thickened, another cold voice cut in.
"Zhuo Hyun-woo, just because your descendant lost doesn't mean you have the right to stir conflict."
[Name: Di Si-woo]
[Affiliation: Martial Emperor Sect]
Zhuo Hyun-woo shrugged, chuckling with feigned ease. "Fine, fine. I'll let it go… for now. Who's up next?"
The next moment, a young man stepped onto the stage.
His figure was refined, neither bulky nor frail, his physique balanced with just enough muscle to hint at explosive power. Draped in white martial robes embroidered with gold patterns, he exuded the calm dignity of a sword cultivator. In his hand was a pristine white blade—Second Turn, Epic grade, 70 cm long, 6.56 cm wide, with a 2 cm hilt radius.
His name was announced with reverence.
"The strongest genius of the Heaven Sword Sect—Wu Ha-joon!"
From the other side, a girl ascended the platform.
Barely eighteen, she was breathtaking—a beauty that could steal breath and silence a crowd. Golden hair shimmered in the light, her deep blue eyes cold and clear. She held a soft silver sword, elegant and deadly, 65 cm long, 4 cm wide. The blade gleamed like moonlight.
"From the Li Family—Li Ha-rin!"
Her sword was no ordinary weapon. It was known throughout the province—Bright Moon Sword, an Epic-tier blade of unmatched agility.
The two stood side by side. The air grew tense.
With a booming voice, the announcer called:
"Let the battle begin!"
They moved instantly.
Blades clashed in the center—steel meeting steel in a stalemate of raw technique. For a heartbeat, they froze, locked in place, their swords unmoving as their wills clashed. Then, both leapt back, soaring like meteors before crashing in again.
Clang!
Spark!
Slice!
Sword sparks exploded in all directions. Every movement was precise, deadly. The crowd held its breath.
Wu Ha-joon stepped forward, spiritual power gathering at his blade.
"Heaven Descending Slash!"
His blade slashed downward, a radiant arc cutting from the sky like a falling meteor. Li Ha-rin met it with her own strike.
"Crescent Moon Slash!"
Her upward swing carved the light in half. Though she deflected it, the split remnants still crashed beside her, shaking the arena floor.
She darted left—three graceful steps around the arena perimeter.
"Crescent Moon: Bright Thrust."
A radiant thrust shot forward, silver-white sword intent screaming toward Wu Ha-joon's heart. He spun, blade raised just in time to block.
CRACK!
He slid across the ground, carving a trench beneath his feet, but managed to regain control with a leap. He rose into the air.
"Heaven Slash!"
Spinning with full force, he unleashed a horizontal wave of sword intent. The slash tore through the platform, leaving a massive crater from one edge to the other.
Li Ha-rin barely evaded, reappearing beside him with a sudden burst of speed.
BOOM!
She landed a vertical kick, sending him crashing downward. But he stood quickly, body battered, spirit unshaken.
Above him, Li Ha-rin raised her sword.
"Crescent Moon Slash!"
A vertical arc of light howled toward him like a scythe. Wu Ha-joon dodged left, eyes locked on her.
"Heavenly Thrust!"
His body tensed—spine straight, back muscles flexing, every nerve firing in perfect harmony. With a single step, he thrust his sword like lightning.
Li Ha-rin retreated three steps, the beam of sword intent skimming past her cheek.
The light streaked toward the elder platform.
Before it could strike, a figure appeared—a man in his forties, calm and composed. He slapped the attack aside with one hand. The beam veered upward and exploded in the sky like a shattered star.
High above, Li Hao and Lu Lang watched from a distance.
"That man…" Li Hao narrowed his eyes.
"A mid-stage Void Practitioner. Just what kind of forces are watching this battle?"
Back on the elder platform, a voice sounded.
"Yu Hun-jae, your disciple has skill, but he carries too much pride."
"You're one to talk. What about your ego?" Yu Hun-jae smirked.
Zhi Hun stepped in with a stern gaze.
"Enough. If you want to fight, do it somewhere else."
The elders went silent.
On the battlefield, Li Ha-rin vanished again.
She reappeared behind Wu Ha-joon and delivered a precise side kick, sending him flying. As she gazed at him, she noticed his arms raised in a cross, shielding his chest. He landed, breathing heavy.
Then he relaxed his arms, but his mind swirled in turmoil.
"How is she so much stronger than me? Her swordplay… her battle instincts… I can't win."
His eyes flicked toward his master.
Yu Hun-jae narrowed his gaze. He saw the same truth.
With a calm voice transmission, he said:
"Wu Ha-joon, yield. You cannot win this. Her sword intent is on another level entirely."
Wu Ha-joon lowered his blade, sighing quietly.
"I, Wu Ha-joon… forfeit."
The arena fell into a stunned silence.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
One of the top geniuses had admitted defeat. The crowd could hardly believe what they'd heard.