There were hundreds who had reached Celestial-Self Unification, and no fewer than thirty martial artists stood at the level of Dao-Transformation True Realm and Taehwumusang.
At least five had even arisen at the level of solitary supremacy.
It was truly the golden age of the martial world.
More interestingly, these numbers counted only those still active rather than reclusive.
If one included those in seclusion or hiding their identities, the figure nearly doubled.
The word golden age fit perfectly.
Among those who rose to prominence in that era was the Resonant Sword Sovereign, Geum Mujeok.
A supre master destined to reach Taehwumusang in the future.
A man who ruled the Watching-Moon Peak region like a king before later transferring allegiance to the Original Blood Cult.
“So the immovable Heavenly Arbiter of the Heavenly Alliance — I finally see him with my own eyes.”
Geum Mujeok landed before Unhwi.
“It seems much happened inside the hidden realm... Those who ca out first told the Heavenly Arbiter Seol Unhwi would ‘resolve the issue.’”
A red gleam passed through Geum Mujeok’s eyes.
“So then — where are the spirit pills I am owed?”
Unhwi smiled faintly.
“What spirit pills are you referring to?”
“...What?”
“To be frank, I gained both pills and martial arts inside. Yet you did not enter the hidden realm, Senior Geum, and you speak as though reclaiming sothing entrusted to you. I find that rather perplexing.”
“You play word gas. Did we not agree?”
“The one who made that agreent is dead, and it was not an agreent with . Why ask ?”
Geum Mujeok let out a hollow laugh.
“So you’re just a shaless brat. Enough talk — hand them over.”
“You make repeat myself. Did you enter the hidden realm?”
“.......”
“Thinking on it, it is rather absurd. Refusing to enter yet taking a third of the treasure? Everyone has their way, but yours is difficult to respect.”
“You provoke .”
“That is not my intention, though it does look rather ridiculous.”
Geum Mujeok burst into laughter.
“Then you should have objected back then. You agreed at the ti and now deny it?”
“I rely played along to conceal my identity.”
“.......”
“But now that my identity is revealed, the terms must change.”
It was not wrong.
Being the naless wanderer and being openly the Heavenly Arbiter were entirely different matters.
The weight of the office existed for a reason; as Heavenly Arbiter, he had to speak this way. Otherwise rumors would spread — that the Heavenly Arbiter valued deals yet was easily taken advantage of.
Clicking his tongue, Geum Mujeok asked,
“How will you change them?”
Unhwi clasped his hands behind his back.
“Return to your residence. Then nothing will happen.”
Geum Mujeok’s face twisted.
“You told those you sent away you would resolve this personally in the na of the Heavenly Arbiter. And now this?”
“I am resolving it.”
“This?”
“Yes.”
“You leave speechless. Is this the fad Heavenly Arbiter’s thod?”
“Are my words unclear?”
“.......”
“In truth I intended to offer you a very favorable proposal, Senior Geum, but the mont you stole my subordinate’s dagger everything changed.”
“Changed, you say...”
After a brief thought, Geum Mujeok lightly tossed the dagger he held. It flew into Chief Seong’s hand.
“Since I returned it, why not present that favorable proposal?”
Unhwi chuckled softly.
“You are more reasonable than expected. Very well — I will propose it.”
Geum Mujeok was curious what nonsense this insolent youth would utter.
“I will help you obtain one of the Eight Seats of the Celestial.”
“...What?”
“And if you transfer allegiance to the Heavenly Alliance, I will entrust you with administration of this Watching-Moon Peak region including the Azure Dragon Gorge.”
His mouth fell open.
It was clearly a good offer — but a trap lay within it.
“So you tell to bow and submit.”
Correct. It was obvious subjugation.
Lower your head and receive position and authority — nothing else.
“You are perceptive.”
“Your arrogance pierces the heavens. However great the Heavenly Alliance’s influence, threatening a senior of the martial world like this? You’ve lost your mind.”
“You may dislike my proposal, but I cannot offer better.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You will die.”
A brief silence followed.
Then —
“HAHAHAHAHA!!”
Geum Mujeok roared with laughter.
“You must be blind. Even if you founded the Three-Mystic Realm, you know better than anyone it does not reach the Five Divine Paths—”
He trailed off.
“Wait... you... you?”
Thinking about it, the flow of this conversation felt strange.
One elent was missing.
The source of Unhwi’s confidence.
He was threatening to kill a Celestial-Self Unification master — face to face.
And not long ago another such master had died.
A man half a step from the ultimate state, prominent in the martial world, considered the strongest among the Eight Seats.
Mae Wuidong, Alliance Lord of the Heavenly Alliance.
They said he fell into qi deviation while raising his realm and Seol Unhwi was injured stopping it.
Seen differently, another picture erged.
Seol Unhwi fought him — and was injured killing him.
That explained the confidence.
Unhwi smiled faintly.
“You are indeed perceptive.”
“You... you’re truly terrifying.”
Those who reached high realms through talent alone often died foolishly.
But those with intellect who awakened their talent and raised their realm did not die easily.
Because they noticed things.
Just like now.
“From the mont I realized this, only two outcos exist — we beco enemies or allies.”
“Correct. You should have left when told. Then you could have remained neutral.”
Slowly Unhwi drew the Truefla Heavenly-Spirit Sword from the dusk pouch.
Geum Mujeok sighed and reached for his sword.
“Even after all this ti, you have not changed.”
Geum Mujeok frowned and turned.
A middle-aged man approached.
No one present failed to recognize him.
He respectfully cupped his fist toward Unhwi.
“Dugohyeon, elder of the Heavenly Alliance, greets the Heavenly Arbiter.”
Unhwi returned the salute.
“I greet Hero Dugu. What brings you here?”
Dugohyeon smiled faintly.
“I will soon enter closed-door cultivation. I feared I would not see off the Heavenly Arbiter before your departure from the Alliance, so I ca. But...”
His gaze shifted to Geum Mujeok.
“I am glad I did. With respect, may I handle him?”
“You, Hero Dugu?”
“If such a trivial matter forces the Heavenly Arbiter to act, one sheltered by the Alliance could not hold his head high.”
It was interesting phrasing.
He elevated Unhwi’s value while revealing the Alliance’s internal order.
After brief thought, Unhwi returned the Truefla Heavenly-Spirit Sword to the dusk pouch and stepped back.
“If you have a clever thod, I entrust it to you.”
With permission granted, Dugohyeon walked toward Geum Mujeok.
“Resonant Sword Sovereign... you have gained quite a reputation.”
Geum Mujeok’s face stiffened.
“It has been a long ti. I did not expect such a eting.”
“Since we et, we do what we must.”
Dugohyeon — a high-ranking master among the Eight Seats.
Geum Mujeok sighed again.
“Must it be this way?”
“Why not?”
“...Please don’t.”
Dugohyeon smiled faintly.
“You are very different from the youth who once sought enlightennt from .”
“...That was long ago.”
“Seven years and three months, precisely.”
“.......”
“Even if you reached Celestial-Self Unification since then, in my eyes you are still that youth.”
“Do all Alliance mbers speak so harshly? Swords have no eyes.”
Dugohyeon slowly drew his sword — but did not attack, rely held it.
Cold sweat ran down Geum Mujeok’s back.
This old man’s aura far exceeded expectation — not a typical Celestial-Self Unification.
“You have grown since then, so I will give you the respect you desire.”
At the change in tone, Geum Mujeok swallowed.
“Hero Geum. You have two choices.”
“What are they?”
“First, fight to the death here. Your future may outshine mine, but the present outco is obvious.”
“.......”
“You know it, and so do I.”
Geum Mujeok’s hand trembled slightly.
“And the second?”
“Accept the Heavenly Arbiter’s ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) proposal.”
“...Is that a threat?”
“A threat? No — advice. You are intelligent. You deduced the truth behind Mae Wuidong’s death. Then you know the best choice now.”
Geum Mujeok clenched his teeth.
Seol Unhwi, who killed Mae Wuidong after he reached Celestial-Self Unification. And Dugohyeon, an elder treating him with such respect.
“You an past grudges can be cleared?”
“Did I not tell you then I would demand nothing for the enlightennt I gave you?”
He rembered.
Seven years earlier, Geum Mujeok — then master of the Golden Sword Gate and a Celestial-Being warrior — had sought Dugohyeon, one of the Eight Seats, and asked for enlightennt.
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