Sword Immortal Cheon Jun.
The most respected hunter in China, and also the strongest.
His list of great achievements was extensive.
Only the government knew this, but there had been several times when hunter management failed, the dimension barrier collapsed, and a Gate Incident broke out.
Every single time, Cheon Jun stepped up and wiped out the monsters that appeared.
Furthermore, he had finished the missions in the blink of an eye and restored the dimension barrier on multiple occasions.
And behind all of that was the skill, ‘Divine Sword (神劍).’
From the moment he acquired that skill, Cheon Jun became the world’s greatest genius when it came to the sword.
He could replicate almost any sword technique after seeing it just once, and on top of that, he even grasped secret arts that even the original owners didn’t know.
He mastered every sword technique that existed on Earth and analyzed even the ones that existed as skills.
From that point on, he simply developed his own swordsmanship and grew.
He didn’t just possess outstanding skills and talent—he put in the effort.
A genius who worked hard.
Thanks to that, he reached the Peak Realm through his own power, not through a skill.
The problem was that no one else stood on the same level as him.
He had been fighting his lonely battle all by himself, so when he met someone similar, he was overjoyed.
Regardless of nationality, age, or gender, he felt a sense of kinship.
“Hahaha! I never imagined there would be another hunter standing in the same position as me.”
Cheon Jun poured another cup of tea as he spoke.
“Well? Does it suit your palate?”
“Yes. I’m not well-versed in the tea ceremony, but this seems like a fine tea.”
“Heh heh. The price or rarity of the tea isn’t what matters. Only when it pleases the one drinking it can it truly be called excellent. In that regard, I’m glad this tea pleased you.”
Cheon Jun smiled softly.
Huang Tao, watching from the side, found it utterly unbelievable.
‘So our guild leader can be that kind to someone else.’
He had joined the Sinseonhyang Guild because he was captivated by Cheon Jun’s incredible skill, but Cheon Jun was not an easy superior to serve.
He was always lamenting that his guild members weren’t good enough, pushing them to look beyond simply unleashing skills.
The problem was that not a single person met his standards, including Vice Guild Leader Huang Tao.
Because of that, Cheon Jun had long since stopped paying attention to others and focused solely on his own growth.
He never expected that same man to show such interest in another hunter.
Lee Tae-sung took a sip of the tea and felt its deep flavor.
He thought he understood why drinking tea calmed the mind and body.
He felt much more at ease and composed.
“I’m surprised as well. I never imagined there was another Peak Realm master besides myself.”
“That’s what I should be saying. There was a time when I searched for hunters all over the world, but they were all just ordinary men who used skills. There was no one who truly sought growth.”
“I think I understand what you mean.”
“I went to Korea back then too. I wonder why I never ran into a hunter like you.”
“I don’t know exactly when that was, but I was probably not yet Awakened at the time.”
“Not yet Awakened? Are you saying you haven’t been a hunter for very long?”
Cheon Jun was taken aback.
He had come to meet this hunter because he heard he was extraordinary and had done great service to his country and guild, but he hadn’t heard the details of Lee Tae-sung’s past.
To be honest, he simply hadn’t been that interested.
“Yes.”
“Hooh. I’ve been called a genius plenty of times, but the real genius was right here.”
“You flatter me. From what I can see, the Sword Immortal is the true genius.”
Lee Tae-sung found it fascinating how Cheon Jun had reached the Peak Realm.
He himself had grown strong by obtaining the Flame Emperor’s fortuitous encounters and a ton of other skills, but Cheon Jun must have cultivated his power solely on Earth.
The Peak Realm was something that hunters who merely used skills could never reach—it was truly remarkable.
“Wouldn’t it be a shame if two swordsmen like us only talked?”
“You mean a spar?”
“It’d be a waste to skip it.”
Cheon Jun’s eyes sparkled.
Lee Tae-sung could guess what he was feeling inside.
‘A master on a similar level to himself, someone he’s never met before. He must be getting fired up.’
Lee Tae-sung had met masters of various fields in the Dream World and had fought battles that crossed the line between life and death.
So he didn’t have that kind of desire at all, but from the look of it, Cheon Jun seemed to have lived his entire life devoted solely to his own growth.
“Alright. Please take care of me.”
“That’s what I should be saying.”
The two continued chatting about this and that until they finished their tea.
After feeling themselves grow close at lightning speed in that short moment, they rose from their seats.
*
This place was the Sinseonhyang Guild’s villa.
Though it was called a villa, since the Sword Immortal himself stayed here, it had everything one could need.
The underground training hall was no exception—a fairly spacious area had been prepared.
“Please give it your all. As long as you don’t get injured.”
“I’ll do just that.”
Lee Tae-sung nodded.
He said “as long as you don’t get injured,” but Cheon Jun probably wouldn’t care even if he did get hurt.
He could feel the man’s burning desire.
Since he’d also gotten to enjoy some fine tea, he ought to repay the favor.
whoosh!
Lee Tae-sung immediately drew the Flame Tide Wave Sword.
Cheon Jun’s eyes sparkled.
“Such powerful flames. Let’s see if you possess a domineering swordsmanship worthy of them!”
Cheon Jun drew his sword as well.
A blue light surged from his blade.
“Overlord Aura!”
In the same breath, he took a step forward and swung his sword in a massive arc.
An overwhelming force spread out from the blade.
It was a truly domineering energy, just as the name suggested.
“My swordsmanship was created after mastering every sword technique on Earth and remaking them in my own style. I personally invented a sword art that can be executed using mana.”
In short, it was a martial art of his own creation.
Cheon Jun was a man with the makings of a grand master.
However, while Lee Tae-sung admired his greatness, the swordsmanship didn’t feel all that threatening.
“Be careful.”
whoosh!
The Flame Tide Wave Sword was created by the Flame Emperor, a legend of the Dream World, after all.
When it came to domineering force, he was confident he wouldn’t lose to anyone in the world.
BOOM!
A wave of flames devoured the Overlord Aura and shot forward.
Cheon Jun leapt away in surprise, but the wave chased him as if it were a homing missile.
Just before it caught him, he swung his sword once more.
“Earth King Aura!”
The power of the Earth King, which withstands all external forces with sheer solidity.
That blocked the residual flames of the Flame Tide Wave Sword.
Cheon Jun’s expression darkened.
He had clearly felt the difference in power from the exchange just now.
‘I thought his realm was lower than mine…’
It was obvious at a glance.
It was only a step or two of difference, but he himself was further along.
However, the difference in the power they wielded was immense.
The gap in realms was instantly closed and overturned by that overwhelming difference in raw force.
whoooosh!
Lee Tae-sung continued to fire off the Flame Tide Wave Sword with a calm expression.
The waves grew fiercer with each passing moment.
When ocean waves meet a storm, they surge endlessly and grow more violent—and the waves of flame were no different.
“Torrent Aura! Drifting Shadow Aura!”
Cheon Jun unleashed the swordsmanship he had created at full power, struggling to survive within the waves.
His body was already scorched in several places.
It was a dangerous situation where one wrong move would turn his body to ash.
Even while drenched in sweat, Cheon Jun was smiling.
It was maddeningly dangerous, but how long had it been since he last felt such a crisis?
He was learning so much in real time.
He could feel himself growing step by step.
‘But… if I stay like this, I won’t last much longer.’
Was he supposed to end such a wonderful spar like this?
Through the gaps in the flame waves, he caught a glimpse of Lee Tae-sung’s face—calm and composed.
The complete opposite of himself, whose breathing had grown ragged.
There was only one way to break through this.
He needed to create an opening with overwhelming force.
Even while enduring with all his might, Cheon Jun gathered the last of his strength.
And when he was ready.
“Heavenly King Aura!”
A powerful Sword Qi surged upward, as if to split the sky.
The incoming waves of flame split cleanly in half.
A path suddenly opened between Cheon Jun and Lee Tae-sung.
Lee Tae-sung watched with admiration.
‘Even if he’s self-taught, he really is a Peak Realm master.’
Throughout the entire spar, one thought kept running through his mind.
He’s strong, but he lacks real combat experience!
Lee Tae-sung was confident he could subdue him within a minute if he wanted to.
At a certain point, the Flame Tide Wave Sword’s waves moved on their own, so he could slip through them and press the attack with the Heavenly Net Flame Hand directly.
He could also fire hidden weapons from a distance, or use the Empty Shadow Hiding Technique to launch a surprise attack.
Cheon Jun, who had never fought a Peak Realm master before, would clearly fail to respond easily.
Yet Lee Tae-sung only faced him with swordsmanship alone, and it was worth it.
That single strike that split the Flame Tide Wave Sword was genuinely impressive.
However, there was no follow-up.
The flames quickly filled the gap again.
Having expended all his power, Cheon Jun no longer had the strength to push through the opening he had created.
“Impressive. Then I’ll put a bit more force into it as well.”
“Hahh… hahh… Come at me whenever you’re ready!”
Cheon Jun’s mana was nearly depleted from that last strike, but he didn’t want to show weakness.
He couldn’t hide his ragged breathing, but his will wasn’t broken.
whoosh!
Lee Tae-sung unleashed the Black Lotus Divine Skill as well.
A black lotus bloomed behind his head, and the color of his flames turned black.
“!”
Cheon Jun unconsciously swallowed hard.
Lee Tae-sung’s swordsmanship was already so domineering that it surpassed his Overlord Aura, but the moment those black flames were added, the atmosphere changed completely.
It went beyond violent—it was terrifying.
Just looking at it made him feel like he’d be devoured by the flames.
His instincts screamed that he must never go near that.
But Cheon Jun didn’t give up.
The opportunity before his eyes was something he had dreamed of, so even if he died here, he was determined to fight to the end.
And at that moment.
CRAAAASH!
The ceiling collapsed, and through the rubble, the Flame Emperor and the Mad Demon appeared.
“My disciple. So you were here.”
“M-Master?”
Lee Tae-sung was flustered and briefly withdrew his sword.
The two Ascendants who had promised him free time—why had they appeared here?
And the one most annoyed by the interrupted spar was Cheon Jun.
He scowled and shouted.
“What is the meaning of this rudeness! This is my villa—I am the Sword Immortal!”
“…What?”
At those words, the eyes of the Flame Emperor and the Mad Demon shifted.
“Who did you say you are?”
“I am Cheon Jun, the Sword Immortal and Guild Leader of Sinseonhyang. Surely you’ve heard of the name?”
“The Sword Immmmortaaaal???”
The Flame Emperor laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Hah! Mad Demon. What do you think?”
“This is absurd. You can’t just slap the character ‘Immortal’ onto just anyone like thaaaat.”
Cheon Jun’s skill was second to none on Earth, except for Lee Tae-sung.
But in the eyes of the Ascendants from Cheonoecheon, he was nothing more than pathetic.
In the Dream World, Peak Realm masters were a dime a dozen (well, not quite that common, but close).
And when the Flame Emperor and the Mad Demon looked at him with displeasure, a terrifying pressure rose from their mere gazes alone.
The moment that invisible pressure coiled around him, Cheon Jun was horrified.
Just being exposed to their presence made him unable to move a single muscle.
He couldn’t even move his mouth to speak.
Cheon Jun, subdued in an instant.
“Haaah…”
Lee Tae-sung pressed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.