Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

The three divided spaces merged into one.

The impact, akin to a natural disaster, had collapsed all surrounding walls and ceilings, revealing the transformed landscape.

It was too vast to be called a gorge. A seemingly endless plain stretched between two towering cliffs.

Brilliant sunlight poured down like a tidal wave.

“…Even if a wyrm with the Dragon Pearl were to thrash about, there would still be room left.”

Yangwall Sword Sovereign Cheongsu Jin-in murmured.

A wyrm holding the legendary Dragon Pearl—such a being, on the verge of ascending to a true dragon, was nearly akin to a flood dragon.

Naturally, among all spiritual beasts, it would be one of the largest. Given that this land was the stronghold of the Dark Heaven Emperor Cho Ryeol, the symbolism was notable.

Wooong.

Suddenly, the blue-hued treasured sword, a symbol of Mount Cheongseong, resonated with a hum. A sight of extraordinary significance had entered Cheongsu Jin-in’s view.

The back of a young man, draped in violet robes, with long, jet-black hair cascading down his back.

Beyond him, Open Faction’s Drunken Beggar King and Dark Heaven Emperor Cho Ryeol faced each other, encircled by a massive, circular formation of spellcraft, its faint luminescence swirling as it rotated.

A heavy vortex of energy accompanied it.

The Hundred-Year Grand Formation, Hoeryong Arts.

The spellwork had already progressed significantly—the waves of energy radiating from the formation were truly immense. On one side, a woman in a pure white cloak of fluttering silk was locking gazes with Ipwang Fortress’ Violet Commander.

In terms of sheer presence, they were two of the most dominant figures on this battlefield. It was as if they were completely unaffected by the Emptiness Annihilation Realm, much like Jeong Yeon-shin at this very moment.

‘Those two… somehow resemble each other. Even though their temperaments are complete opposites…’

Cheongsu Jin-in glanced sideways and spoke.

“Grandmaster?”

“I must go.”

Yulha Nangnang’s voice lingered in the air like an invisible fragrance.

By the time the sound faded, she had already crossed a distance of thirty paces in a single bound. The fragrance of the Mount Hua Sect followed in her wake.

A flowing pink robe brushed elegantly through the air before fluttering beside Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Your arm?”

Yulha Nangnang asked bluntly, not even waiting for a reply as she examined Jeong Yeon-shin’s left shoulder. She pressed her index and middle fingers together and lightly traced along it like a swift blade.

A sword-gesture fingertip technique, honed to its peak through the supreme mastery of the Zahasim Method. A form of meridian diagnosis. With just a touch, she could instantly discern the state of his energy flow.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been observing both the Peerless Heaven’s Invincible and the Dark Heaven Emperor simultaneously, finally let out a faint smile.

“Thanks to your concern, I’ve fully recovered.”

“That was sheer luck. Truly fortunate.”