Yeon Woo Jin continued sifting through the profiles of the new students.
“The ones following Shin Dowoon seem pretty capable too, don’t they?”
“They are. In fact, it’s safe to say Shin Dowoon personally invested quite a lot in helping them grow stronger.”
“One of them, Yeom Yura, is already at Peak-Level cultivation. The others are at Five-Star rank.”
“Strangely enough, it’s not just his followers. There are several strong newcors across the board.”
“True.”
“Baekyeong’s dominance over the Southern Region must’ve played a big part.”
“So we’re saying the talented ones ca here because Baekyeong took control?”
“Exactly. Right now, Baekyeong Martial Academy rules the South.”
“Then I suppose the thinking is obvious—whoever conquers Baekyeong becos king of the South.”
“Correct. And with that kind of prestige on the line, their reputations will skyrocket. Tell , what other position could be more desirable?”
“Well, I guess this year’s lower division kids are all going to be full of themselves.”
“They might not even show proper respect to their seniors.”
“Then it’s our job to teach them—just how terrifying a real senior can be.”
“You’re thinking of calling them all together?”
“What’s the point? Do you think they’d even listen? I doubt a single one of them would show. And it’s not like going to each one personally to educate them is a good use ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) of ti.”
“Then what?”
“For now, I’ll let them run wild. Left to their own devices, a hierarchy will naturally form. Eventually, they’ll rally around Shin Dowoon. And once the lower division unites under him, their next target will be the seniors they think are easy prey.”
“Makes sense.”
“Then, when they gather for that showdown, we strike. When the things they believed in co crashing down, the shock hits twice as hard. I’ll make sure they tremble at the re sight of their seniors for the rest of their lives.”
Hwang Sung was about to respond, to caution against provoking a scion of the Shin clan—but stopped himself.
He’d been about to say Tianzhu Hall would certainly interfere if sothing happened to the Shin heir.
But it was pointless.
Because the grandson of the very man Tianzhu Hall served... was Yeon Woo Jin.
“The mighty Shin Clan is in for a harsh reckoning this ti.”
****
Tianzhu Hall Lord Shin Dopyeong’s residence.
“You fool, it’s not too late. Go to Jungcheon.”
Shin Dopyeong was speaking gently, but his frustration was clear as he tried to reason with his grandson, Shin Dowoon.
As the only male heir in eight generations, he’d been raised with care—maybe too much care. And more than once, that indulgence had blown up in their faces.
This ti was no different. Dowoon had thrown the whole house into chaos insisting on attending Baekyeong Academy in the South rather than Jungcheon, the more prestigious choice.
“I said no! I’m going to Baekyeong!”
“And why, exactly?”
“Because I wouldn’t be the best in Jungcheon. But in Baekyeong, I can be number one. That ans I get to do whatever I want.”
“Still, you need to think about your future. Jungcheon is where you build real connections.”
“Why bother, when I have you? People will co crawling to make connections with anyway.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Families across the continent fought tooth and nail for even a sliver of favor from the Shin Clan.
Still, if he attended Jungcheon, the caliber of connections he’d make would be much higher. But he was too young to understand how important that really was.
Shin Dopyeong let out a sigh.
Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to force Dowoon to go.
He was their precious, long-awaited heir.
He deserved to live the life he wanted.
“Fine. Let him do as he pleases. Maybe it’s for the best anyway. Better for him to be a king in Baekyeong than bowing and scraping to others in Jungcheon.”
It was a bitter thought, but not without rit.
He’d rather see his grandson rule over lesser n than debase himself before stronger ones.
And the throne? That could be seized later.
Shin Dopyeong finally made his decision.
“Very well. If that’s what you want... then go.”
“Really? Thank you, Grandfather!”
“Haha! That makes you happy, does it?”
“Yes!”
Shin Dopyeong couldn't help but smile at the sight of his overjoyed grandson.
“Go on and laugh like that for as long as you can. Whatever obstacles lie in your path, this old man will clear them all away.”
****
The next day.
Shin Dopyeong sat reviewing docunts about Baekyeong Martial Academy.
He wanted to be certain—no one there posed a threat to his grandson.
As expected, there was no sect worth worrying about.
And why would there be? The Shin Clan ranked seventh among all martial houses under Mushincheon.
Only the Five Peak Martial Houses needed to be taken seriously.
So, rather than study cultivation charts or student rankings, he simply asked:
“So, tell . Is there anyone at Baekyeong stronger than our Dowoon?”
“No, sir. No one.”
“As expected. No one from a low-tier academy like that could possibly stand against him. You know as well as I do, our Dowoon is sothing of a genius.”
“Of course, Lord. He’s widely acknowledged across Mushincheon as a prodigy.”
“Haha! Indeed! Even without putting much effort into training, look how far he’s co. If he actually dedicated himself, who knows what level he’d be at now?”
He laughed heartily at the flattery, visibly pleased.
But then, his expression dimd, and a quiet sigh escaped his lips.
“To think that such a gifted child... a boy who could’ve dominated even Jungcheon... would turn his back on it...”
No matter how he looked at it, it still felt like a waste.
Had he gone to Jungcheon, he might’ve grown even faster—spurred on by those stronger than him.
“If the young lord is truly exceptional, then any challenge will push him to break through his limits.”
“You’re right. Maybe it’s best to let him enjoy himself for now.”
“Exactly. Giving him freedom now may be what helps him grow stronger later.”
Shin Dopyeong smiled at the honeyed words of his attendant.
Yes. There was no point worrying over nothing.
He shook his head and brushed aside his doubts about Shin Dowoon.
****
“Is everyone here?”
“Yeah!”
“You call, we co—wherever, whenever!”
“Damn right!”
The group of youths had gathered at Shin Dowoon’s call.
These were the sa followers who’d trailed after him since their early academy days.
They weren’t from insignificant families, and their martial skills weren’t lacking either.
And more than that—Shin Dowoon had nurtured them personally.
He’d siphoned off his own elixirs and supplents to help them grow stronger.
They were his private guard—Shin Dowoon’s elite entourage.
He had a dream.
To unite all of Mushincheon’s academies under his rule.
And for that, Jungcheon was out of the question.
They would never allow sothing like that.
Jungcheon didn’t even permit its students to fraternize with those from regular academies.
That’s why he chose Baekyeong.
Because Baekyeong ruled the Southern Region.
By starting there, he could take control of the South imdiately—and from there, his rise would only accelerate.
And taking control of Baekyeong?
That part didn’t concern him in the slightest.
Shin Dowoon’s current cultivation stood at the Second Star of the Peak-Level Realm.
His plan was bold: in his first year, he would subjugate the Southern and Western regions. After advancing his cultivation, he’d seize control of the Eastern region. And by the ti he reached the upper division, he’d conquer the North—achieving what no one else had ever done: complete unification of Mushincheon Martial Academy.
Of course, that goal wasn’t within reach just yet.
It might’ve looked like he was acting recklessly, but every step he took was calculated.
The strongest student at present was Ho Cheon of the Northern region.
Stronger than him.
But that was for now.
If Shin Dowoon set his mind to it and trained seriously, catching up to Ho Cheon would be trivial—or so he believed.
And now, he had decided: it was ti to train properly.
To fulfill his grand ambition.
By year’s end, he was confident he’d reach a level where he could stand toe-to-toe with Ho Cheon.
That said, he had no intention of attacking the Northern division himself.
There was no point in clashing with soone who would graduate soon anyway.
His goal in growing stronger wasn’t to challenge Ho Cheon—it was to prepare for the possibility that Ho Cheon might co for him, thinking the sa way.
This, too, was part of Shin Dowoon’s ticulous plan when he chose to enroll in Baekyeong.
“Once you’re officially enrolled, your first objective is to dominate your individual class. Beco the top student in each group. Understood?”
“Yeah!”
“We can definitely do that.”
“Please. The average Southern region kid barely scratches the end of the First-Class tier—or the early Peak-Level stage at best.”
“Exactly. All of us are Peak-Level, Five Stars and above. Nothing to worry about.”
“With cultivation like yours, you’ll have no trouble handling the interdiate division too, not just the lower.”
“Co on, we could take upper division students if we wanted to.”
“That’s right. You don’t even need to lift a finger, Dowoon. We’ll clear the path and hand it to you.”
“Yeah!”
Shin Dowoon smiled at their confidence.
Being with them always lifted his spirits. They were the only ones who truly understood him.
“You’re the only ones who get . I made the right choice staying with you.”
“We should be thanking you. You gave up Jungcheon because of us.”
“Right? We’re touched. We’ll do anything for you, Dowoon!”
Grinning wide, Shin Dowoon raised his fist.
“Then let’s do it—for the unification of Mushincheon Martial Academy!”
“Let’s do it!”
“Unification!”
With dreams of glory lighting their eyes, Shin Dowoon and his followers eagerly awaited the start of the new sester.
****
Even after the sester ended and before the new one began, the students never missed a single day of training.
Gong Yacheon and Heo Uk broke through to the Second Star of the Peak-Level Realm.
Bang Woon, who possessed the Black Tortoise Physique, and Jo Deok, who bore the White Tiger Physique, advanced to Three Stars of the Peak-Level Realm.
Jang Manun, already formidable, climbed to Three Stars as well.
Go Seung, having finally mastered the divine power latent within him, soared to the sa level in one explosive leap.
Jang Woon and Sunwoo Baek had each ascended to Four Stars of the Peak-Level Realm.
Gam Tae and Yun Gong, now promoted to the upper division, grew to Eight Stars of the Transcendent Realm.
The rest had also progressed, with no one below Six Stars, many reaching as high as Eight.
And yet... Yeon Woo Jin was not satisfied.
His training goal had been to bring them to Five Stars of the Peak-Level Realm—but sothing was missing.
Eventually, he found the cause.
It was sothing cultivation alone couldn’t fix.
Inner Energy.
The core force behind every martial art, the foundation of all cultivation.
Not only was it essential to performing techniques, but it also determined how quickly one could ascend to higher realms.
Having identified the problem, Yeon Woo Jin turned to alchemy—beginning tireless research into energy pills.
He already possessed countless theoretical models in his mind.
Using only ingredients readily available on the market, he began formulating mixtures and refining pills to produce the greatest possible effect.
And then, he made a discovery.
With his unique abilities, he could infuse these energy pills with power.
By drawing in the natural Qi abundant in the world and channeling it into the pills, he could greatly enhance their potency.
But it couldn’t be done haphazardly.
Only the purest, most refined energies that directly nurtured inner strength could be used.
At first, his results were disastrous—entire batches of defective pills.
But he refused to give up. Again and again, he created, refined, and imbued them with Qi.
In the process, sothing changed.
Yeon Woo Jin’s own energy began to blend with nature. He could feel the world—beco one with it.
And as more and more natural Qi entered his body, his inner energy surged with astonishing speed.
He no longer even needed to store inner energy—he could draw upon the power of nature itself at will.
Fully attuned to the world, Yeon Woo Jin’s perception of all living things expanded, and his cultivation skyrocketed with every new revelation.
His current level?
He had reached the Third Star of the Peak-Level Realm—an imnse leap from his previous standing at Four Stars of the Transcendent Realm.
Even at Transcendent Four Stars, Yeon Woo Jin had been beyond the reach of Yeon Cheon Baek, the Celestial Lord of Mushincheon.
Now, as a Peak-Level Third Star?
“I guess I only need to open three Transcendence Gates during sparring now,” he murmured.
In truth, for Yeon Woo Jin, conventional cultivation ranks no longer mattered.
He had beco sothing more—an existence in harmony with nature itself.
To compare him to others of his rank was aningless.
To find an equivalent, one would have to look to myth itself.
Not the “Mythic Realm”—actual myth.
The realm known as the Natural Domain, or Transcendent Sage Realm.
A state achieved only by those Daoist sages who ascended beyond mortality.
asured in martial terms, Yeon Woo Jin stood at Peak-Level, Three Stars.
But in truth, his cultivation belonged to that legendary realm of sages—the domain of immortals.
He had not climbed the ladder of enlightennt step by step, but leapt dozens of rungs at once.
And it was all thanks to his unique power and unparalleled body.
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