At Buk Mu Gyeol’s question, Yeoulryang shook his head.“No. Only two came: the Martial Deity Heaven Lord and the Master of the Beggars’ Sect, Gwangpung Shinga.”“That damned beggar came too?”“Yes.”“So every last one of them is someone I don’t care to see. Wait—surely they don’t mean to attack the Ice Palace with just the two of them?”Yeoulryang shook his head.“I thought not. They’d have to be mad. He must have his Martial Deity Heaven fighters hidden out of sight.”“No. The one who will cross blades with us tomorrow is the Martial Deity Heaven Lord alone.”“What?”“He says he’ll ‘talk.’”“What talk? You told him borrowing the Demonic Tiger Relic is impossible.”“If we won’t lend it… he says he’ll go with you instead.”“Heh… So he means to persuade me to go?”“Yes.”“Then what did he mean by a bout? If it’s a talk, why tell us to prepare for a fight?”“He said a talk need not be with words… and that the most certain talk between men is… this.”Yeoulryang raised his fist, knuckles tight.“Heh… So he means to press our Ice Palace with strength. Does he take us that lightly? Light enough to charge in alone?”“You must be careful. In my eyes, the Martial Deity Heaven Lord is truly strong.”At that, Buk Mu Gyeol smiled thinly.What was that?That smile overflowing with confidence?“You know I just emerged from closed-door cultivation.”“Yes.”“There’s something I kept even from you.”“What is it?”“I too have stepped into the Mythic Realm—the half-divine plane.”“I—is that true?”“It is. I’ve reached the Mythic Realm, First Star.”“Congratulations, Palace Lord!”Yeoulryang’s face lit with a broad smile.No wonder he hadn’t quailed at the news that the Martial Deity Heaven Lord had come.With the Palace Lord’s realm elevated—and with Yeoulryang’s formations to amplify him—the outcome might be uncertain.They might even win.“If we combine your strength with that of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, how could we not defeat one Martial Deity Heaven Lord? He isn’t a god; how would he defeat us all alone?”“Right! We’ll use this chance to repay, down to the last coin, the humiliations of the past.”“Understood. I’ll make thorough preparations.”“He even gave us time to prepare. He’ll regret that soon enough.”“Heaven itself seems to be granting us a chance.”“Indeed. We’ll seize the Martial Deity Heaven Lord and march proudly on the Central Plains.”“You can do it, Palace Lord. I’ll go make the final preparations.”“Good. I’ll hone myself to peak condition.” ****The Northern Sea Ice Palace roiled like a hornet’s nest.“You hear? The Martial Deity Heaven Lord is invading alone!”“Has he lost his mind? No matter how strong—how does one man face us?”“Those weak Central Plains worms keep fawning over him—no wonder he’s overflowing with confidence.”“Still, they call him the foremost under heaven. He won’t be easy.”“Already scared? I’ve got fresh news.”“What news?”“A friend in the Strategist’s Office says the Palace Lord achieved a tremendous breakthrough during closed-door cultivation.”“A tremendous breakthrough?”“Yeah! He’s ascended to the Mythic Realm—the half-divine rank.”“What? For real?”“Yeah! Far as I know, the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s about that level too. That makes us favored. We drain him as much as we can, then the Palace Lord takes his head—perfect victory.”“Damn, had me spooked for nothing.”“Exactly! Arrogant Central Plains bastard—time to teach him a lesson.”Word of the Palace Lord’s realm spread fast.The Strategist’s Office had seeded the rumor on purpose.Thanks to that, morale soared to the heavens.Just then—Before the main gate, a lone figure appeared, hands clasped behind his back, strolling as if out for a walk.To show such leisure, dressed as a Central Plains man, before the Northern Sea Ice Palace?Ice Palace martial artists swallowed hard and watched him.Then the strategist, Yeoulryang, stepped forth and called to the figure at the gate.“Thank you for coming all this way. But—what can we do? We cannot grant your request. I’d like you to turn back.”The man at the gate chuckled.“Some welcome. A guest comes from afar, and you greet him from atop the wall?”“My apologies. But we are not on smiling terms, are we? I ask your understanding.”“Heh-heh-heh. True. We are not on smiling terms.”Agreeing, he nodded and glanced around.“I misspoke. Come to think of it, you all gathering like this—it is on my account. There’s no grander welcome than this.”Then he smiled.“Thank you all for coming out to receive me. I am Yeon Cheon Baek, the Martial Deity Heaven Lord from the Central Plains.”Vmmmmm—He didn’t shout.He merely spoke in a calm, almost muttering tone.But that wasn’t how it reached their ears.His quiet voice swelled, tunneled into the ears of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.Staggering rippled through them under the weight of the inner power riding his words.“Ghk—!”“Insane! Is this internal energy something a human can have?”“He is a monster!”With a single line, Yeon Cheon Baek made himself known to the Northern Sea Ice Palace.Yeoulryang, too, was appalled.Such overwhelming inner power.So that was his confidence.“And where is your Palace Lord?”At his question, the gate swung open and someone strode out.White fur fluttering, he halted before Yeon Cheon Baek, offered a fist-and-palm salute, and said,“I was in the final stages of preparation when word came you’d arrived. My apologies for the delay.”“Heh, it’s fine. I never said when I’d come.”“Thank you for your understanding. You’ve had a long trip.”“Enough. I came with a purpose.”“I’ve heard. Your goal is the Demonic Tiger Relic.”“Correct. Will you lend it? I’ll use it and return it promptly.”At his question, the Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, Buk Mu Gyeol, shook his head.“I’m sorry, but that is impossible.”“I know. The palace lord’s treasure… no—the very symbol of the North Sea, yes?”“That’s right. All who belong to the North Sea must prostrate and pay obeisance before the Demonic Tiger Relic.”“Then there’s only one way. You’ll come with me.”“My apologies, but I have no intention of leaving the North Sea.”“This is important. I’d prefer to end it amicably.”“Between Martial Deity Heaven and us, there is no amicable end. You know this.”“If you help this time, we could become friendly.”“The humiliations we’ve suffered are too many «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» for that.”“So? You want a fight?”“I’m tempted to seize you and repay those humiliations.”At that, Yeon Cheon Baek blinked once—then burst out laughing.“K-hahahaha!”Vmmmmm—His laughter made the very air tremble.The shaking air rolled out in waves; those standing in their path clutched their ears in pain.“Ghk—!”Seeing his people suffering, Buk Mu Gyeol flicked his hand.The torquing waves vanished.Northern Sea Ice Palace fighters cheered.“Did you see? The Palace Lord casually neutralized the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s pressure!”“That proves it! Our Palace Lord is no weaker than him!”Leaving the cheers behind, Yeon Cheon Baek addressed Buk Mu Gyeol.“Heh-heh-heh. Not bad. I see where that confidence comes from. You too have crossed the human boundary.”“Yes. I’ve climbed to the Mythic Realm—the half-divine plane. So this is the world you were looking at.”“That’s right. This will be fun.”At that, Buk Mu Gyeol studied him.Was he serious?In this situation, he was delighted?Yet Yeon Cheon Baek truly grinned like a man beside himself with joy.“I’m glad I came. I almost missed out on this pleasure.”“You’re about to fight us, and you’re pleased?”“Very. Being absolutely strong isn’t all that fun. No one dares jump me. Not here. Here, everyone’s desperate to find a way to bring me down.”Buk Mu Gyeol couldn’t fathom his behavior.How was this fun?Was he bluffing for show?“It’s already decided what we’re going to do. Let’s not waste each other’s time.”At Yeon Cheon Baek’s words, Buk Mu Gyeol nodded.“Make your preparations.”“Me? I’m always ready. You prepare. How much time shall I give you?”Even now, Yeon Cheon Baek extended courtesy to the Northern Sea Ice Palace.“I’ll take one刻. When that’s over, I’ll attack you.”“You won’t start right away?”“What fun is that? If I seize you, it’s over. Let’s begin at our best.”“You think you can seize me so easily?”Yeon Cheon Baek smiled.He didn’t need to answer; the answer was written all over him.Pride smarted, but there was no need to gamble here.“As you wish—we’ll prepare.”“Heh-heh-heh. Good. I’m truly looking forward to this—so do your best.”Was he sincere?Buk Mu Gyeol felt as if he were being drawn into the man’s pace before the fight even began. ****“Seeing him up close—what do you think?”“He’s strong. Stronger than anyone.”“And compared to you, Palace Lord?”“I think it’s doable.”At Buk Mu Gyeol’s answer, Yeoulryang smiled.That was exactly what he’d hoped to hear.Staring toward where Yeon Cheon Baek stood, Yeoulryang said,“He won’t realize he’s already within the Polar Ice Heaven-Filling Formation.”“Activate it when it’s time.”“Understood. Hoo… Now it starts. Time to repay the long years of humiliation.”“Our foe is the Central Plains’ strongest monster. Don’t let your guard down.”“Do I look unguarded to you?”Buk Mu Gyeol regarded him for a moment, then smirked.“No—everything’s in place.”“Yes.”His mouth smiled, but Yeoulryang’s face was more serious than ever.Buk Mu Gyeol turned toward Yeon Cheon Baek and spoke.“Time’s up. Let’s begin.”“Yes!”Before his words even finished, Yeoulryang flung the talisman in his hand to the ground.Flutter—The charm drifted like a swimming fish, slapped onto the earth, then sank into it, melding as one.Ssssslide—Moments later—The talisman vanished and the ground began to tremble.The Polar Ice Heaven-Filling Formation had engaged.“Welcome to the North Sea, Martial Deity Heaven Lord! Allow me to show you a taste of the North Sea!”Crack-crack—As Yeoulryang’s voice rang out, an ice barrier unfurled in a circle around Yeon Cheon Baek, slowly erasing him from sight.Thunk—Yeon Cheon Baek was sealed inside the ice shell.“Even if he breaks out, it’ll cost him dearly. I strengthened the formation far beyond the old version.”Buk Mu Gyeol nodded.“Our chance is when he expends most of his inner power escaping. Then we unleash everything.”Again, Buk Mu Gyeol nodded.He knew that formation well—he had experienced it himself.It’s not that escape is impossible.To reach the Life Gate, you must endure killing cold, push through a whiteout where you can’t see an inch ahead, and drive forward.But the true terror of the Polar Ice Heaven-Filling Formation lies elsewhere.While you withstand that killing cold and blizzard, you must fight the strongest opponent you have ever faced.An illusion—but inside, it’s real.Even if you win your way out through the Life Gate, you emerge already wrung dry.

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