Chapter 1795. That’s the Answer (5)

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For a moment, all eyes were focused on one spot.

With a thunderous explosion, someone appeared. Dressed in extravagantly splendid golden robes, their presence exuded elegance and dignity, so much so that it did not seem absurd.

However, in this chaos, appearance alone would not have commanded such attention.

It was the aura emanating from the middle-aged man that gripped everyone, suffocating the surroundings. His energy manifested as palpable 'heat', drying out the air itself.

The Sun Palace Lord. His blazing Yang energy was clearly manifesting, burning everything around him.

"Pathetic wretches…"

A voice seeped from the Sun Palace Lord's lips, struggling to suppress his rage.

How utterly foolish. Leaving such small fry unchecked to wreak havoc? Didn't they realize that if the enemy's momentum kept building, it would grow beyond control?

'Then again, how could someone who's never experienced a real war know better?'

For all their boasting, the wars waged by the Evil Sect bastards of the Central Plains were nothing more than skirmishes—localized battles fought by a handful of warriors indulging their egos. With such a perspective, their foolish actions made some sense. Not that understanding equated to forgiveness.

But now, he was in the same boat as those fools. Having already suffered one humiliating defeat, he could not allow the situation to deteriorate any further.

The Sun Palace Lord's gaze shifted to the rear. There stood Jang Ilso, clad in crimson robes.

The burning glare of the Sun Palace Lord intertwined with Jang Ilso's sinister, faintly smiling eyes in the air.

"Hmph."

The Sun Palace Lord let out a short scoff.

'Even so, you're still a black path rogue. Even if you act all that great, your limits are clear.'

The desire to break that arrogance someday remained unchanged. The humiliation inflicted by Jang Ilso was etched deeply in the Sun Palace Lord's heart. The memory of trembling before someone so despicable might never fade, lingering like a brand.

He would repay that humiliation..... but not now.

If a ship adrift in the vast sea sprang a leak, even the deepest grudges should be set aside. Only petty minds obsessed with trivial vendettas ignored the bigger picture.

Retracting his gaze from Jang Ilso, the Sun Palace Lord turned his attention to the young swordsmen before him. These were the ones who had warped the battlefield's atmosphere, sparks that must be extinguished.

A colossal power began to gather in the Sun Palace Lord's palm.

Whoooosh.

"Those Central Plains fools... every single one…"

The Sun Palace Lord understood well. Humans submit to authority, but authority itself is forged through power.

Overwhelming power, beyond resistance, is the ultimate symbol of authority.

"…do not know their place!"

The force in his hand erupted like a beam of pure sunlight.

Boom!

A massive explosion swept across the battlefield.

The sheer force of his overwhelming energy sent everything flying. Warriors from the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, rigid with tension, were blasted away like leaves in a storm.

Those hit directly disintegrated without even a final scream, while the few who narrowly survived writhed in agony, their bodies charred.

"Aaaahhhh!"

"Aah! My leg! My leggg!"

Yet even their wails and gruesome suffering failed to draw attention. All eyes were fixed on the scorched ground where the Sun Palace Lord's energy had struck.

Sizzle.

It's boiling.

The earth boiled and flowed like molten lava. His blazing strike had melted the very ground.

"Unbelievable…"

Everyone was left speechless in shock.

'How could a human…'

Neither the oppressive heat washing over their faces nor the grief of losing comrades could rival the horror of the scene before them.

In martial arts, every warrior walks a unique path.

Some sharpen their strikes to ultimate precision, others dedicate themselves to shattering mountains with a single blow. Some aim for perfect severance, while others seek harmony with nature.

Each path is different; none can be deemed wrong. They are simply distinct.

Thus, even warriors of the same level can wield vastly different powers depending on their chosen discipline.

The Sun Palace Lord's art was truly exceptional, deserving of awe. His devastating might was unrivaled, and though there might be others in the world who could stand on equal footing with him, few could replicate such a spectacle.

Power heard of only in legends becomes a target of skepticism. Power passed down through generations becomes a symbol of aspiration.

But power witnessed firsthand instills fear in the bones.

The Sun Palace Lord's robe, fluttering fiercely in the tempest of energy, now slowly settled. His demeanor was so calm that it was almost unnerving, considering he had just unleashed such devastation.

If anything, his composed demeanor only heightened the onlookers' sense of intimidation.

"Knowing one's limits is important."

The Sun Palace Lord clasped his hands behind his back, gazing down at the figures before him. Even though their eye levels were technically the same, his gaze distinctly conveyed superiority.

"Those who don't know their limits end up overstepping."

Humans are different from the moment they are born. No matter how much the insignificant struggle, they can't overcome what they lack by birth. To the Sun Palace Lord, this was an undeniable truth.

The sight of unworthy individuals overstepping their bounds was, to him, a grotesque spectacle.

Though his chest seethed with fury, he restrained himself and continued speaking. Raising his voice in anger against such insignificant beings was beneath his dignity.

"If you have eyes, if you can feel, even with your feeble minds, you should be able to comprehend."

Step.

The Sun Palace Lord took a step forward. Instantly, everything around him quivered.

It was a colossal tremor—a ripple.

Power is sometimes defined by how much one can achieve with minimal effort. In that case, the Sun Palace Lord's power here can be seen as immense, making a king's authority seem trivial in comparison.

This realization filled him with exhilaration.

"And so…"

Another step created an even larger wave. As he prepared to take yet another step, his movement suddenly halted.

His gaze, which had been looking down on all, fell upon something—or rather, someone. Standing on the scorched, molten ground where no one else could remain, there stood a single figure.

Someone who should have collapsed, yet had stubbornly endured.

"Hmmm."

The Sun Palace Lord's deep voice slipped out, low and heavy. It wasn't admiration but displeasure, a sound stemming from irritation. Perhaps it was the sound of his pride, now slightly chipped.

The Sun Palace Lord's brow twitched in clear disapproval.

"You held on well."

Of course, he showed no further displeasure. Feeling such emotions toward someone so insignificant was beneath him.

But the words that followed were enough to leave a scar on his patience.

"It's nothing remarkable."

The Sun Palace Lord's eyes sharpened.

"And who are you?"

The question, short as it was, signaled an unusual act for the Sun Palace Lord—to seek the name of his opponent.

"Lee Songbaek of Zhongnan."

Lee Songbaek, with his sword resting horizontally on his palm, stared directly at the Sun Palace Lord with a gaze that was sharp and focused—very different from the gentler look he had given his sahyungs earlier.

The Sun Palace Lord scoffed.

"Such arrogance. You may have endured by luck once, but how much longer can you last with your meager skill?"

Lee Songbaek exhaled deeply.

The words weren't wrong. Even now, his legs trembled. It wasn't a matter of technique but raw power. Facing the crushing force of the Sun Palace Lord's energy, his sword felt inadequate.

But retreating here was unthinkable. Lee Songbaek gripped his sword with both hands and took a middle stance.

"I don't know how much longer I can hold out, but I won't back down until my last breath."

"….That's why I despise those who don't know their place."

The Sun Palace Lord's expression twisted slightly.

Authority is delicate, easily tarnished the moment it is challenged. It is fragile and precarious.

But the Sun Palace Lord was someone who wielded authority his entire life. He knew better than anyone how to restore authority once it had been undermined.

"You won't leave even a scrap of flesh behind in this world."

The way to do so was through punishment—mercilessly obliterating those who dared to defy.

Gooohhhhh!

Energy began gathering once more in the Sun Palace Lord's palm. The intensity of the power was enough to make one's mouth go dry and hair stand on end.

This was no mere perception or sensation. The heat radiating from the energy was overwhelming. Lee Songbaek's skin burned as if it were on fire.

"Ugh…!"

Lee Songbaek channeled his inner energy into his sword with all his might.

But his slender blade was insufficient to block the overwhelming energy or the searing heat.

'What should I do?'

His breathing became increasingly labored.

He could block everywhere. But if the strength to sustain it was lacking, it was meaningless. Doubt began creeping in. Was his sword truly this weak?

'No. Not that!'

Lee Songbaek bit his lip hard.

If there was a shortcoming, it was not in the direction his sword was aimed but in the level he had yet to reach. Blaming external factors for his inadequacies was unacceptable.

"Vanish into oblivion!"

Kwaaaaaaah!

A massive surge of force from the Sun Palace Lord rushed toward Lee Songbaek.

At the same time, Lee Songbaek's sword unleashed a storm of strikes in all directions.

Every conceivable angle bore the mark of his blade. He struck again and again, relentlessly pushing his body to the brink, carving out a defensive wall of swordsmanship.

It was like a mandala of a thousand hands, a depiction of the ultimate defensive swordsmanship.

However…

Kuuuuuung!

That ultimate wall wavered and dissolved.

As if mocking the notion of perfection, the Sun Palace Lord's overwhelming energy crushed Lee Songbaek's defensive techniques, breaking through as if his seemingly impenetrable barrier were mere paper.

"Disappear!"

Lee Songbaek gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling.

Surrender? Such a notion didn't exist within him.

Once again, he attempted to rally his strength and raise his sword. Even if it was a futile resistance, he would not stop. Lee Songbaek knew better than anyone the importance of persevering.

It was the very moment Lee Songbaek was about to scream until his throat burst—

Kwaaaaaang!

From directly behind him, an incredible force suddenly surged forward, cutting through the air with immense power.

'What?'

A magnificent golden light and a radiant, pure sword aura far brighter than the Sun Palace Lord's power collided with the overwhelming energy rushing toward Lee Songbaek, causing a tremendous explosion.

Boom!

"Gah!"

The sheer impact flung Lee Songbaek violently backward. But before he could be thrown far, two firm hands caught his shoulders.

Lee Songbaek, eyes shut tight from the shock, slowly turned to look behind him once the chaos had subsided.

"Amitabha."

Before he could fully turn, a familiar Buddhist chant reached his ears.

"Well done, siju. But there's no need to fight alone."

"Ah…"

"It seems your match isn't ideal. We'll take over here."

Even without turning, Lee Songbaek knew exactly who these two figures were.

In.... in a world without Cheong Myeong, these two would undoubtedly have vied for supremacy atop the martial world. Perhaps they would have been his ultimate rivals.

"You two…"

The hands of Hye Yeon of Shaolin and Namgung Dowi of the Namgung family left Lee Songbaek's shoulders as they stepped forward.

"This opponent seems formidable. Be cautious, siju."

"Indeed, monk. But then again…"

Namgung Dowi grinned.

"Who could possibly be more formidable?"

"Haha, true enough."

As the two men stood side by side, the Sun Palace Lord's face twisted into a grimace of pure rage.