While the Heavenly Demon Cult was indeed a tense and high-stakes environment, there were also some aspects that made it surprisingly easy.
For one, the cultists already believed I was overwhelmingly strong, so no matter what I said, they just went along with it. The "performance" was already set, so acting like a powerful figure wasn’t difficult.
Most of the time, if I scoffed and told someone to cut the nonsense, they’d back off, flustered.
But not this time.
I had twisted the frame of the conversation with a subtle wordplay, and Gwak Riyeon did the same, flipping it right back. Since our apparent levels were close, verbal games wouldn't work anymore.
‘The Gwak Clan is known for favoring sparring over formal duels.’
If I refused his challenge without good reason, it would be seen as disregarding the Gwak Clan’s tradition.
“Of all people, it had to be a top master, and the head of the most old-fashioned clan in the cult...”
Gwak Riyeon’s intent in requesting this sparring match was simple—to test my real strength.
I had been acknowledged by the Heavenly Demon as a Transcendent Peak master, and rumors were rampant, but very few people had seen me actually fight. And those who had were mostly within the Sado Clan.
Of course, I had just demonstrated something like sword flight (이기어검), but that was only one facet.
“As a father, he’s naturally curious. As a clan head, even more so.”
He wanted to know whether Sado Hwan was truly someone worthy of trust.
This was just another in a series of tests. If I passed, then like the Iron Mountain Cheol Clan, the Gwak Clan would likely offer me their full support.
“Master...!”
As expected, Gwak Jeong—who desperately needed to learn how to read a room—was staring at me with bright, expectant eyes.
Fighting was obviously out of the question.
If we were to duel with weapons, I’d at least be decapitated quickly. But the Gwak Clan was known for its powerful fist techniques. If I got hit by their signature art, Nine Yin Divine Fist...
I might’ve preferred being shot point-blank with a shotgun while unarmed.
With the Heavenly Demon Divine Art toughening my body, I could probably endure for a short while... but eventually—
I’d die. Painfully.
‘This is something I absolutely have to avoid.’
My objective was survival. A little hit to my pride wasn’t a big deal. I’d already gained most of what I came here for anyway.
That’s when it happened.
[You fool.]
Skybreaker Sword called out to me. Though still embedded in the ground behind me, it was close enough for me to maintain control.
[If it’s a sparring match, not a duel to the death, there’s a way.]
‘What do you mean?’
[Didn’t Cheol Muguk enhance this sword? Didn’t he say it could cut through energy aura?]
‘What does that have to— Wait! Don’t tell me…’
It could cut through energy aura!
That was an incredible ability—in theory.
The problem was whether I could actually pull it off in a real fight. A Transcendent Peak master isn’t an idiot. If I said, “Hold still, I’m going to test cutting your energy aura now,” would he let me?
Absolutely not.
That’s why Skybreaker Sword had only theoretical knowledge of how this would work. And when the moment came, it might fail. Knowing something intellectually is worlds apart from actually doing it—especially in a life-or-death situation.
[Exactly. You don’t know what’s coming next, so use this as a chance to test it out ahead of time.]
Maybe because it was with me 24/7, the sword’s thinking had started to resemble mine.
“I need to reflect on this.”
I’d been facing so many near-death experiences lately that I’d unconsciously become too defensive.
Anyway—
[It’s not a duel to the death. It’s a friendly sparring match.]
Then what I needed was a solid excuse—a justification so airtight that even that old-fashioned bastard wouldn’t be able to object.
“…That’s it!”
A good idea came to mind.
I spoke.
“Since ancient times, it has been said that King, Teacher, and Father are one in the same. So for the two of us to engage in an ordinary sparring match would go against propriety. Therefore—”
“Therefore?”
“I propose a Single Exchange Duel.”
“A single exchange duel, is it? An interesting approach.”
A Single Exchange Duel meant just that—a duel of only one exchange. Among masters, a single technique was enough to judge strength.
Of course, in the Heavenly Demon Cult, where fights usually didn’t end until blood was spilled or bones were broken, it wasn’t common.
“Let’s follow the ‘tradition’ of the cult.”
Gwak Riyeon looked slightly baffled.
According to cult tradition, in a single exchange duel, the one of lower rank initiates the attack, and the higher-ranked one defends.
Gwak Riyeon was ranked 11th, I was 23rd.
Which meant I would attack, and he would defend.
“Not what he was hoping for, I’m sure...”
But since I invoked ‘tradition,’ Gwak Riyeon had no grounds to refuse.
“Well, there’s merit in doing it that way. Rumor has it the Sado Clan’s audience hall was demolished in one strike by you, wasn’t it? We can’t have the Gwak Clan’s residence suffer the same fate. Let’s move to the sparring ground.”
I turned around and exited the hall first.
Standing atop the earth where Skybreaker Sword was embedded, I reached down—and it rose smoothly into my hand, like a radish being plucked.
Gwak Riyeon, watching quietly, commented.
“That’s an incredibly refined flow of energy, Clan Head of Sado. I couldn’t sense any ripple at all.”
When Saweol had reached the Transcendent Peak, she’d said something similar—that while she could feel energy flowing through everyone, she couldn’t sense it from me.
Which meant Gwak Riyeon had sensed the same.
It confirmed that he was indeed a Transcendent Peak master.
“It’s no great skill.”
“So humble.”
The sparring ground was right beside the clan hall. That made sense—Gwak Clan was said to resolve disagreements through sparring.
‘Being a “boomer clan” means they also end up brawling a lot to settle internal disputes.’
At least we didn’t have to walk far. I didn’t want to look ridiculous trying to move fast without being able to use footwork techniques.
Gwak Riyeon and I stood facing each other at opposite ends of the sparring ground.
An elderly man stepped between us.
“I am Gwak Pungdo of the Nine Yin Gwak Clan. I will oversee this match.”
[Gwak Pungdo... Ranked 20th in the cult.]
‘This place is crawling with monsters.’
Looking at his hunched posture, I realized it wasn’t due to age—it was probably some kind of martial technique.
“Representative for the Sado Clan, step forward.”
At his words, Saweol came up to stand nearby.
“This duel has been agreed upon by both parties. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Good. According to the traditions of the Heavenly Demon Cult, Sado Hwan, ranked 23rd, will deliver a single strike to Gwak Riyeon, ranked 11th, who will defend against it.”
Gwak Riyeon and I both nodded.
“Also, by tradition, each participant must declare the technique they will use in advance.”
Gwak Pungdo turned his gaze to me. I instinctively felt that the old man didn’t like me much.
But for now, I needed to focus on the situation.
‘All in one strike.’
I was going to use sword flight anyway, but if the technique became too long or complicated, it would put me at a disadvantage. I had to show everything in one clean blow.
And that meant the answer was clear.
“Crushing Pressure Like Mount Tai.”
At my words, the expressions of the Gwak Clan martial artists turned vicious.
Understandably so.
Crushing Pressure Like Mount Tai was basically just a glorified overhead slash—something simple dressed up with a grand name, as was common in martial world tropes.
“How dare he…!”
“Is he mocking the clan head?!”
“So arrogant!”
Jeers erupted from their side. Even Saweol looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Enough.”
At Gwak Riyeon’s quiet command, everyone fell silent and suppressed their killing intent.
“You must be confident, to declare something like Crushing Pressure.”
“The Sado Clan’s sword style is an illusion sword based on speed. Rather than show off with fancy tricks, wouldn’t a single true strike be better?”
“Hahaha!”
Gwak Riyeon burst into laughter.
“Clan Head of Sado, I see you differently now. You’re a man after all. Very well.”
He removed his outer robe, revealing a thin inner garment. His body wasn’t as massive as Cheol Sopyeong’s, but it was packed with hardened muscle refined from fist training.
“I too shall face you like a man, with Upper Guard Stance.”
Upper Guard Stance—raising both arms to block a high attack.
I couldn’t tell whether it was magnanimity or pettiness—perhaps just matching my level of effort.
It didn’t matter to me. I just needed to confirm the performance of Skybreaker Sword.
“Very well. The strike must occur within five breaths after declaration.”
With that, Gwak Pungdo stepped back. So did Saweol.
“Let the single exchange begin.”
I wasn’t the one swinging the sword—Skybreaker was.
So all I had to do was act like I was.
And acting is all about good presentation, as I always say.
I drew Skybreaker. Thanks to practicing the draw countless times, the motion looked effortlessly like that of a master.
Then, I released the sword from my grip.
Skybreaker floated vertically in midair.
I raised my right hand to my chest, forming Sword Control Gesture—a closed fist with the index and middle fingers extended.
“A hand-controlled sword, is it? Seems you're serious.”
There are several variants of sword flight. The two main ones are hand-controlled sword and eye-controlled sword—depending on whether you use hand or eye gestures to control it.
Hand control is typically used for more refined manipulation.
With just this, I showed the presence of a true master—and respect for Gwak Riyeon.
“I shall be equally sincere.”
Gwak Riyeon clapped his fists together. A violet energy flickered around them—Nine Yin True Qi.
The energy began to envelop his forearms like a translucent armor.
Fist Aura—the manifestation of energy aura through the fists.
Skybreaker wasn’t idle either.
Kiiiiing!
A gray sword energy shimmered, and the blade began to spin. It was Spiral Flow, the technique I always used at the start.
When fused with the intent of Supreme Reign, the energy engulfed the sword so completely that the blade couldn’t even be seen.
Gwak Riyeon’s eyes widened in surprise. But he said nothing—because by then, Skybreaker was already flying straight at him.
[Here we go!]
At Skybreaker’s signal, I slashed my hand down. The sword matched my movement, descending like an executioner’s blade.
And then—
Ssskuk!
A chilling, unmistakable slicing sound.
And in the next moment—
Gwak Riyeon’s left arm was halfway severed.
[...]
I’m screwed.
If I just stand here, I’m absolutely, royally screwed.
So I did the only thing I could—
I bit my tongue and spat blood.