180. The Grand Clash – Orthodox Alliance vs. Cheongeom Mawang’s Seven-Blade Dance

The place of rest had become a battlefield.

Torn earth, shattered trees, debris scattered by blasts—chaos lay in every direction. At the heart of it stood the elite of the Orthodox Alliance, Lee Do-hyeon, and the woman they now faced—Cheongeom Mawang.

"There's no more reason to wait. Come. If you believe you can defeat me, prove it here and now."

Her voice cut through the air like a blade. As she raised her sword, an overwhelming energy rippled from her fingertips. She had already surpassed the Flowering Stage and reached the Enlightened Realm—her naegong distorted the very space around her.

She threw her sword into the air and shouted,"Chilgeommuu!" — Seven-Blade Dance.Seven swords shot into the sky, each moving independently as if alive. They spun off in different directions, flying toward the masters of the Orthodox Alliance.

"So this is the power of one who has reached the Enlightened Realm..."

Do Hyeon-jung, the head of the Gonryun Sect, instinctively raised his sword and summoned his naegong, stepping forward to block one of the blades.

"If we fight together, we can take her down! Everyone, combine your strength!"

Jin Cheong-wu of the Hwasan Sect, a senior master of the Wudang Sect, and the elite of the A-Mi Sect each unleashed their strongest techniques to intercept the seven blades. Their energy formed a massive barrier—but Cheongeom Mawang's Seven-Blade Dance tore through their defenses like paper.

Lee Do-hyeon stepped back, seeking an opening. Four ethereal blades formed from his Aether Tracker floated beside him, and he launched them toward the spinning swords. But her blades were not mere weapons—they were extensions of her will, honed by mastery and infused with soul.

As the alliance masters poured more energy into their techniques, Cheongeom Mawang raised one hand and crushed their power with sheer force.

"Your naegong will never reach my realm. This isn't enough to surpass me."

Her seven blades surged again, now orbiting like a cyclone. The resulting shockwave blew back the defenders. Jin Cheong-wu struggled to block the assault, but one blade broke through.

"Lee Do-hyeon! Now! Distract her!"

Cheong-wu's shout spurred Lee into action. He hurled the Aether Tracker's blades at two of the seven, disrupting the pattern for a moment.

Cheongeom Mawang smiled faintly.

"Interesting. That your blades can interrupt mine... You're different from the rest. But you're still far from ready."

She drew on her naegong once more, accelerating the Seven-Blade Dance. The blades converged, then scattered, unleashing a wave of destructive energy.

Lee and the others erected energy shields, but they were being pushed back. He clenched his teeth, summoned the last of his strength, and launched a final strike.

"This ends now!"

His four blades shot toward her like arrows—but she deflected them effortlessly. Her blades broke through Lee's guard and struck with force.

A massive shockwave erupted. The Orthodox masters and Lee were thrown to the ground, their naegong overwhelmed. The battlefield lay scorched.

Cheongeom Mawang gathered her blades and spoke calmly:

"Until you reach the Enlightened Realm, none of you can defeat me. Still, I am impressed by your resolve, Lee Do-hyeon."

She looked down at him and whispered,

"Your blades… the Aether Tracker holds intriguing potential. I hope to see the day you surpass me."

And with that, she vanished without a trace.

Only wreckage remained in the forest. Jin Cheong-wu barely rose to his feet and muttered,

"So this is the power… of a master beyond the peak."

Do Hyeon-jung of Gonryun struggled upright, his voice bitter.

"Even together, we couldn't surpass her... Is this truly our limit?"

Lee Do-hyeon tried to stand, gripping his sword—but collapsed again, drained of strength. In his heart, he vowed:

I must become stronger. To surpass Cheongeom Mawang… my path is still long.

The Orthodox Alliance had tasted bitter defeat—and the world would not soon forget the overwhelming presence of the woman who stood alone above them all.

***

Chapter : The Shaking Empire and the Imminent Fall of the Magyo

As the sky over Jungwon burned crimson, the Great Yuan Empire stood precariously on the edge—threatened from both within and without. Civil unrest had grown more intense by the day, and imperial forces were spread thin, dispatched across regions to quell the uprisings. Weary of corruption and oppressive taxation, the people had finally risen. Across the land, officials were attacked, and magistrates fled in disgrace.

"The people have taken up arms! Multiple provinces report assaults on local offices. Military governors are abandoning their posts!"

The general's urgent report echoed through the imperial court chamber. The emperor's face hardened.

"Is this rebellion shaking the very foundation of the empire? Is there someone behind it all?"

Another general stepped forward, choosing his words with care.

"We cannot say for certain. However... some reports suggest the Magyo's movements may be influencing the people."

The emperor frowned, voice tightening.

"The Magyo… Are they no longer content with their battles in the Murim? Do they now dare reach for the Empire itself?"

He issued a swift decree.

"Reorganize the national army. Mobilize every division. Crush the uprisings, and prepare to eradicate the Magyo entirely."

—

Meanwhile, the Magyo—under the leadership of Cheongeom Mawang—was bracing for the Empire's full-scale assault. When the first wave of imperial forces arrived, the cult deployed everything it had, constructing a desperate defensive line.

"Leader, the Empire's forces are stronger than we expected. We may not last much longer at this rate!"

The Deputy Leader, pale with concern, delivered the report. But Cheongeom Mawang did not waver.

"The stronger the foe, the greater our chance to show the world our name. They still underestimate us—that is our advantage."

She extended her hand toward him, issuing her command.

"Fortify the defenses. Predict their maneuvers. We will be ready to strike."

—

But the Empire's assault was not mere brute force. It was calculated, precise. They had studied the Magyo's weaknesses and moved with surgical strategy. Exploiting the cult's dependence on external supply lines, they severed all routes and seized the surrounding terrain.

"Leader, the supply lines have been completely cut. Our soldiers are starving and exhausted."

The Deputy Leader's report sparked unease throughout the cult. Yet Cheongeom Mawang remained calm.

"If they've blocked one path, we'll carve another. The Magyo cannot vanish from this world. We won't give them a single opening."

—

Still, discontent was growing within. The boldness of her commands was beginning to raise doubts.

"Has the Leader pushed us too far?"

"This is no longer about victory or defeat… it's about the very survival of the Magyo."

Some elders began to question her leadership. They suggested seeking negotiations with the Empire—but Cheongeom Mawang silenced them coldly.

"If you wish to oppose my decision, then face my blade."

Her chilling smile cut through the air. And in the face of her unwavering dominance, none dared speak further.

But reality pressed on. The Empire's might was overwhelming. Their relentless, coordinated assault gradually broke through the cult's defenses. The warriors of the Magyo grew weary. The whispers of dissent grew louder.

Standing alone, Cheongeom Mawang gazed at the enemy lines on the distant horizon.

"It cannot end like this. The path I seek… it will open amidst this chaos. But perhaps, to walk that path, I must be willing to lose everything."

Her eyes still burned with fierce resolve—but the weight on her shoulders had grown heavier than ever.

The Magyo now teetered on the brink of collapse, and the war with the Great Yuan Empire had become more than just a battle—it had become the war that would decide the cult's very future.