Chapter 70 – The Imperial Family (2)

The current emperor of the empire, Ju Yun-seong, was a wise ruler. Thanks to his stable reign, the people of the empire could enjoy a peaceful life.

He also suppressed the foreign tribes of the north and south and developed the nation externally by trading with various neighboring countries.

However, even such an emperor had his worries. An opponent that was difficult to handle, even for the Emperor of the Empire.

“I believe the three great powers beyond the borders are the problem.”

These entities, more troublesome than the foreign tribes, were the Western Heaven Demonic Cult, the Potala Palace, and the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

With martial arts systems completely different from the Central Plains and their own independent forces, their very existence was a threat to the empire.

The Central Plains martial world might overwhelm them in numbers, but in terms of quality, their strength was so formidable that the gap was immense. And the middle-aged martial artist standing before the emperor agreed.

“They have always desired to advance into the Central Plains.”

The emperor nodded at the martial artist’s words.

The emperor had no interest in them anyway. The lands where the three great powers resided were not valuable enough to conquer. He was even willing to grant them autonomy if they wished.

The problem, however, was that they wanted to advance into the Central Plains. Knowing their own lands were not prosperous, they always yearned to enter the fertile Central Plains.

“Until now, the martial artists have done well to block them, but that is no longer enough.”

At the martial artist’s continuing words, the emperor gently frowned.

The martial artists. They were certainly his subjects, but they were people who wished to live apart from the government.

Their power was considerable, so even the emperor could not carelessly provoke them. Of course, there was also the reason that they were of no small help to the empire’s security and order.

“Has their power grown that strong?”

The martial artist nodded without hesitation at the emperor’s question.

“They are most fearsome when they are quiet. It means they are continuously building their strength. And it has already been nearly a hundred years since they last launched a major invasion of the Central Plains. It’s unlikely, but if they were to invade the Central Plains simultaneously, it would be truly dangerous.”

“You are known as one of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters in the Central Plains. Are you saying it would be difficult to stop them even if you were to step forward?”

That was right. The martial artist before the emperor was none other than the Phantom Emperor, one of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters. The strongest martial artist who protected the Imperial Family as the emperor’s shadow.

“The leaders of those powers beyond the borders are also members of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters. And they all possess power far greater than the Ten Great Heavenly Masters of the Central Plains. However, the one this humble servant fears most is neither the Great Dharma Master of Shaking Heaven of the Potala Palace, nor the Ice Dragon Emperor of the Northern Sea Ice Palace. Their martial prowess is, of course, a great danger to the Central Plains, but they can be handled by the other masters of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters besides myself. What this humble servant fears most is the Heavenly Demon of the Western Heaven Demonic Cult, an immortal demon who has refused to be human.”

He already knew that the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor and the Heavenly Demon had clashed. He also knew about the mysterious master who had intervened.

When the Heavenly Demon first appeared, the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor had won with great difficulty, but that victory was no different from a defeat. As if to prove it, the Heavenly Demon appeared perfectly fine not long after, while the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor had risen from a near-death state. If the mysterious master had not intervened, the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor would have died.

‘There is almost no difference in the realms of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters of the Central Plains. The Great Dharma Master of Shaking Heaven and the Ice Dragon Emperor are said to be about half a step to a full step above us, but if we face them in numbers, they are opponents we can handle. But the Heavenly Demon… even if all the Ten Great Heavenly Masters of the Central Plains were to attack him, we could not dare guarantee victory.’

A difference of half a step to a full step could be overcome with numbers. But the Heavenly Demon was an exception. The immortal demon had a high chance of winning even against multiple masters who had reached the Profound Realm. Just with the heaven-defying ability of immortality alone.

“Is he truly an immortal being? I cannot believe it. That such a heaven-defying existence is real.”

“It may be hard to believe, but you must believe it, Your Majesty. He has existed for hundreds of years and is still targeting the Central Plains.”

The emperor sighed at the Phantom Emperor’s words. He could not ignore the words of the martial artist who had protected the Imperial Family since before he became emperor.

“If only we could strike first.”

But the Imperial Family lacked the power to do so. Although there were many imperial guards within the palace, if they were to move, the emperor’s safety would be at risk. And sending regular soldiers would result in an obvious outcome.

In other words, mobilizing the army or the guards was impossible.

“The only ones who can move are the masters, but unless they are masters of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters, sending them would be meaningless.”

The only suitable person was the Phantom Emperor, but he could not be moved.

“If only we had one more master like that.”

The Phantom Emperor bowed his head at the emperor’s lament. He wanted to cultivate a master of the Profound Realm somehow, but that realm could only be reached with heaven’s permission.

None of the Imperial Palace’s martial artists had dared to reach that realm. The two who had managed to reach the Transformation Realm had lost interest in martial arts and were now stagnant.

“Your Majesty, Princess Ju Yun-hui has arrived.”

The emperor smiled brightly at the news of his sister’s arrival. His younger sister always brought pleasant stories, and talking with her relieved his fatigue.

“I hope you have a pleasant time.”

“You should rest as well.”

The time the emperor and Ju Yun-hui spent together was the Phantom Emperor’s only time for rest. Ju Yun-hui was also a master comparable to the Transformation Realm, so he could trust her with the emperor’s safety.

The Phantom Emperor bowed his head and vanished from the spot. After disappearing, he walked towards the Imperial Martial Archives.

* * *

Yu-jin was currently feeling that nothing in the world was easy. The secret manuals were scattered in a mess, making them difficult to find.

Yu-jin vowed to crush the official in charge of this place once he got out, as he sifted through the books one by one.

“There are a lot of interesting things.”

There were many secret manuals with novel approaches, so Yu-jin split his consciousness in two, having one side search for the Primordial Chaos Divine Arts and the other read through the manuals.

For Yu-jin, who could operate multiple martial arts simultaneously, splitting his consciousness was no trouble at all. Then, he let out an exclamation without realizing it.

“Oh!”

He had finally found the secret manual containing the latter half of the Primordial Chaos Divine Arts. It had been tossed in relatively recently, so he was able to find it with comparative ease.

Yu-jin hurriedly began to read the manual, and its code-like contents were quickly deciphered. He knew he would have to go to a training hall to properly master it, but he decided to grasp the basics for now.

“Yes! I finally found it! If I master this, I’ll become a complete martial artist!”

If he could master the latter half of the Primordial Chaos Divine Arts and unify all his martial arts, he would have no need to fear the Heavenly Demon or Kang Yu-hyeon.

Moreover, he could reveal himself to the world with confidence, no longer needing to worry about what others thought. Yu-jin felt an immense thrill as he tucked the secret manual into his robes. Just then, a presence with an incredible aura was perceived by his senses.

“Hm?”

Although his mind had been focused on finding the Primordial Chaos Divine Arts manual, for someone to approach Yu-jin—who was growing even stronger within the Profound Realm—like this meant they were no ordinary master.

Yu-jin calmed his mind, raised his energy, and slowly turned around. Behind him stood a seven-foot-tall, middle-aged martial artist with a black beard. The middle-aged man, dressed in black robes, had a fearsome aura flowing through his entire body.

‘Is this the Phantom Emperor, Ju Jin-seong?’

The illegitimate son of the emperor, born to protect only the Imperial Palace, the strongest martial artist of the Imperial Family. Only he was a master capable of making Yu-jin feel this way. His face looked like he was in his forties, but his actual age was more than double that.

“I was told the princess’s guest was here by her favor, but I didn’t expect such a powerful individual.”

What made the palace’s number one master different? The Phantom Emperor had recognized Yu-jin’s martial prowess at a single glance. However, Yu-jin felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

“You praise me too highly. I believe I still have a long way to go.”

Yu-jin tried to deceive his opponent by humbling himself, but his attempt ended in vain. The Phantom Emperor was already revealing his aura.

“Are you aware of this fact? That no member of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters is allowed to enter the Imperial Palace.”

Whether from the Central Plains or from beyond the borders, no one from the Ten Great Heavenly Masters, except for the Phantom Emperor, could come before the emperor. No, they could not even enter the Imperial Palace. Their power was that immense.

“In such a situation, a mysterious master with power equal to the Ten Great Heavenly Masters has appeared. What do you think I should do?”

Before he could even finish speaking, the Phantom Emperor’s left hand glowed white-hot and shot towards Yu-jin. Yu-jin swallowed the curse that was about to escape his lips.

Just when he thought his luck was turning, it seemed the heavens did not love him after all. Yu-jin hurriedly operated the Black Heaven Hand and thrust it towards the Phantom Emperor’s hand.

BOOOOOM!

The two hands, imbued with powerful energy, clashed at a single point, but there was only a loud noise and no shockwave. Their powers were equal, so they canceled each other out.

The Phantom Emperor was not surprised to see this. He had expected it. The Phantom Emperor drew forth even greater power and glared at Yu-jin.

“Although this is a collection of secret manuals considered trash in the martial world, when there are this many, there are bound to be some of value. However, I will discard that possibility and take your life.”

The Phantom Emperor declared resolutely. But Yu-jin had no intention of fighting him like this and hurriedly revealed a truth.

“I am the one who will become the princess’s husband! If you kill me, the princess will surely be greatly saddened! She has already given me her body and heart!”

These words from Yu-jin were enough to fluster the Phantom Emperor. For the princess, who was always running wild, to give her heart to a man was an impossible thing.

And how could the princess, who was fated to marry a man chosen by the emperor, accept another man?

But if these words were true, the Phantom Emperor could not attack him.

As they say, the old fox is the craftiest. The Phantom Emperor resolved that, things having come to this, he would definitely make Yu-jin a member of the Imperial Family.

* * *

Crash.

The teacup the emperor was holding fell to the floor and shattered. But the emperor couldn’t pay attention to such a trivial thing. That was how shocking his younger sister’s words were.

“You gave your all to one man? Body and heart, everything?”

“…Yes.”

Ju Yun-hui dared not lift her head and answered quietly. The emperor suppressed his boiling anger and looked at Ju Yun-hui with a calm face.

He knew well that his sister would not be ignorant of her duties. Just as he was wise, Ju Yun-hui was also a wise woman.

“Surely you weren’t forced by another man. There must be a reason why you did such a thing.”

At those words, Ju Yun-hui gave a bitter smile without lifting her head.