The Martial God with Psychic Powers

The Defeat of Heukseok High Division.
If it had been just a simple defeat, the shock wouldn’t have been this great.

In the eyes of the Heukseok students, they saw the figure of Bango, Heukseok’s top student, collapsed on the ground.
The one who defeated their top student wasn’t even the top student of Baekyeong—it was Baekyeong’s top underclassman.
He had lost to an underclassman.

Seongwon watched the unbelievable sight with trembling eyes.
Even a master of that caliber wasn't Baekyeong’s top student?
As Sunwoo Baek approached, Shin Dowoon bowed his head and stepped back.

It was true.
Sunwoo Baek really was Baekyeong High Division’s top student.
Then, Bango’s voice was heard.

“Heh heh heh! Cough!”
“Bango!”
Bango rose to his feet with difficulty.

He spoke to Sunwoo Baek, who had approached him.
“We... lost.”
The top student of Heukseok had declared defeat.

With that, it became certain.
Baekyeong had become the first High Division to dominate both the Southern and Western regions.
“How should I repay you? Should I spread the word to the entire world?”

At Bango’s remark, Sunwoo Baek shook his head.
“No. Please keep it quiet for now.”
“Why? You should boast about it to the world. You’ve conquered the West.”
“The West isn't the end.”

“What?”
“We still have the East and the North remaining.”
“You all… don’t tell me. Are you aiming to take every region?”

“That’s right. Total unification of Mushincheon High Division. That is our goal.”
“Madness…”
He started to say it was madness, then shook his head.

“No… you're strong enough. You might really pull it off.”
At Bango’s words, Sunwoo Baek smiled.
“That might be better. Losing to the ones who unified Mushincheon High Division wouldn’t be disgraceful. I’ll cheer you on.”

“Thank you.”
“Can I ask just one thing?”
“Yes, go ahead.”

“The one who defeated me… that underclassman. What’s his identity?”
“By identity, do you mean his clan?”
“Seems like he’s from a famous one?”

“He is. From the Shin Clan.”
“What?”
Not only Bango, but the Heukseok students’ eyes widened.

“T-The Shin Clan?”
“Yes. He’s the minor head of that house.”
“Gasp!”

Bango reflexively stepped back.
The Shin Clan wasn’t some mid-tier faction.
It was one of the central powers of Mushincheon.

And not a concubine’s son—but the minor head?
A talent who should have gone straight to Jungcheon was right here.
That meant most of the underclassmen must have been following the Shin Clan’s minor head.

So that’s why they’re so strong.
He now understood why Baekyeong’s underclassmen were so powerful.
But still—was it really proper for the Shin Clan’s minor head to bow to someone else?

No—that just meant the one he bowed to was strong enough to be acknowledged.
If someone like that stood at the top...
It might be possible.

“Stay one more night where you rested yesterday, and return tomorrow.”
At Sunwoo Baek’s words, Bango smiled.
“Normally I’d refuse, but… that place is just too comfortable. I’ll rest well and then leave.”

It was far too comfortable.
He had been hoping to stay one more day anyway.
Looking back, the kids seemed happy too.

They had fought hard today. Let them sleep well before heading back.
 
****

Underclassmen stared at Yeon Woo Jin with tense expressions.
Gulp—
It was so quiet, you could hear someone swallowing.

Especially Shin Dowoon—he watched Yeon Woo Jin with the most nervous face of all.
Yeon Woo Jin, glancing around at the expressions of the kids, gave a faint smile.
“Why are you all so nervous? You did well.”

“R-Really, sir?”
“Yes. Exceptionally well.”
“Th-Thank you!”

“You’ve done enough today. Go back and get some rest.”
“Yes, sir!”
With a bright face, Shin Dowoon shouted to the underclassmen.

“All underclassmen, dismissed!”
“Yaaah!”
Only then did the students cheer, letting out a roar of joy at Yeon Woo Jin’s praise.

“I know that feeling very well.”
At Jang Woon’s words, Sunwoo Baek smiled and nodded.
“To think we actually defeated Heukseok High Division with just underclassmen.”

“And we’ve taken the Western region too. If it were last year, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“Exactly. If we had slacked even a little in training, we’d have been devoured by those underclassmen.”
Jang Woon let out a sigh of relief.

Yeon Woo Jin, who had been listening, spoke.
“I wouldn’t have allowed that to happen. But you must never grow complacent. Those kids are geniuses. They could catch up quickly.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s words, Jang Woon and Sunwoo Baek’s expressions hardened.

There were a few of those in Baekyeong as well.
Like Bang Woon, or Jo Deok.
Even Gong Yacheon.

“For ordinary talents like us, the only choice is to work ourselves to death?”
“If I hadn’t met Woo Jin… I would’ve just lived content as the top underclassman.”
“I’d have lived even more pitifully.”

Jang Woon shuddered and shook his head.
His face said he didn’t even want to imagine it.
Seeing him, Yeon Woo Jin gave a faint smile and thought to himself.

You two are just as much geniuses as they are.
Not everyone becomes strong just because they’re given a chance.
If that were the case, then every child who trained under him would have the same cultivation.

The reason these two had surpassed even Bang Woon or Jo Deok, who had the Four Sacred Beast Physiques, was because they were equally extraordinary.
The reason they didn’t realize it themselves was because of Yeon Woo Jin’s existence.
With such a towering sky in front of them, they couldn't sense their own brilliance.

And because the belief had taken root in them that their strength didn’t come from their own talent—but because Yeon Woo Jin had made them strong.
If they realized they were geniuses, arrogance could follow. Since they hadn’t realized it, there was no need to tell them.
In fact, it might be better for them not to know.

Of course, he had poured more affection and pressure into Jang Woon and Sunwoo Baek than the others.
Wouldn’t the others be jealous?
Not at all.

They were all children satisfied with their current positions.
 
****

The strongest in the North—Heukho High Division.
Ho Cheon, top student of Heukho and strongest in the North, was staring at a map with a pensive look.
Yuk Gwang, the second-ranked of Heukho, asked beside him:

“What are you staring at so hard?”
“The Mushincheon factions.”
“Why?”

Tap tap—
Ho Cheon tapped one part of the map with his finger.
“The Southern region?”

“Yeah.”
“What about it?”
“I heard a place called Baekyeong has taken the South.”

“What’s so special about that?”
“Let’s do it too.”
“Hm? We’ve practically already dominated the North, haven’t we?”

“No. I mean all the High Divisions of Mushincheon.”
At Ho Cheon’s words, Yuk Gwang grinned.
“That sounds fun. Where do we start?”

Tap tap—
Ho Cheon tapped his finger.
“The East?”

“If we take that, we’ve essentially unified Mushincheon High Division.”
“That’s true. The East is the only region that rivals us. The West couldn’t compare to us from the start, and the South—well, that goes without saying.”
“Before that… we need to be sure.”

“About what?”
“We need a clear answer from the Northern High Divisions. That we are the strongest.”
“They won’t admit it so easily. They’ve got their pride too.”

“Then we’ll just have to show them—our strength.”
“Heh heh, got it. I’ll get the kids ready.”
At Yuk Gwang’s words, Ho Cheon nodded.

 
****
The strongest in the East—Hwangyong High Division.

Strange rumors reached the ears of Yang Gang, the top student of Hwangyong.
“What? Heukho is subjugating the Northern High Divisions?”
“Yeah! I heard from a friend at Cheongho High Division up North. They were attacked two days ago, and their top student was made to kneel.”

“What the hell? Why are they doing something so out of character all of a sudden?”
“Seems they were provoked.”
“Provoked by what?”

“Have you heard the rumors that Baekyeong has taken over the South?”
“Of course. Those rumors started spreading from the new recruits who just enrolled.”
“Turns out it’s not a rumor. From what I hear, the High Divisions in the South are actually aligning with Baekyeong.”

“What’s so hard about dominating the South?”
“Right. For us, it wouldn’t be a challenge. But the issue is that the one who conquered the South was Baekyeong—a High Division that was considered the weakest even within the South.”
“What? The weakest in the South conquered the South?”

“Exactly. That story seems to have lit a fire under Ho Cheon of Heukho.”
“Heukho is already so powerful. Taking the North is just a matter of time. Wasn’t Heukho already considered the strongest up there?”
“Yeah. Everyone more or less acknowledged it even without saying it outright. But this time, they’re making it official.”

“Sounds like they want formal recognition.”
“No. Heukho’s goal isn’t the North.”
“Then what is it?”

“It’s us.”
“What?”
“Heukho’s ultimate goal is to accomplish something no one ever has—unification of the High Divisions of Mushincheon.”

At the words of Pyeong Cheon, Yang Gang’s right hand and strategist, Yang Gang’s expression grew grim.
Pyeong Cheon continued.
“If they subdue us, they’ve basically conquered all of Mushincheon High Division.”

“Hmm.”
“We need to act.”
“How? You’re saying we should unify the East like they did the North?”

“What else? If we stand divided, we’ll be crushed one by one. We need to rally our strength. We can’t just let ourselves be taken.”
“Mm.”
“Think about it carefully. If we successfully repel Heukho’s assault… how do you think the Mushincheon Central Authority will view us? They might consider us valuable enough to recruit directly.”

At Pyeong Cheon’s words, Yang Gang nodded.
“You’re right. I can’t allow myself to be defeated by some brat from a clan ranked lower than my own.”
Yang Gang was the third son of the famed House of Yang (Yang Gajang).

I’ll have to ask the clan for help on this one.
This was an urgent matter.
Being defeated like this wouldn’t just be disgraceful—it would bring shame to the entire family.

To make things worse, Ho Cheon’s clan, Fist King Gate (Gwonwangmun), was rising fiercely, and already on their radar. Losing to them?
That would cause an uproar.
And as if that wasn’t frustrating enough, he was constantly compared to his twin brother.

His twin attended a High Division in Jungcheon.
He could have gone there as well, but he detested being compared to his brother—so he had opted for a general High Division instead.
A general division was easy.

Even without much effort, he was treated like a powerhouse and lived leisurely.
His mere presence made Hwangyong the strongest in the East.
He had intended to spend his remaining days in peace.

But it seemed those days were over.
“No choice. We move. We’re going to unify the East.”
“Right!”

 
****
Upon returning home, Yang Gang ran to his father, Yang Go Hyeok.

“What? That son of Fist King Gate is trying to unify all of Mushincheon High Division?”
“Yes, Father. That’s why I need your help.”
“What kind of help?”

“It’s urgent. Please help me grow stronger as quickly as possible.”
“Hmm.”
Yang Go Hyeok stroked his beard and fell into thought.

He and Ho Gwang, the Lord of Fist King Gate, were bitter rivals.
If his son were to lose to that bastard’s son?
That wouldn’t just annoy him—it’d be intolerable.

“Very well! I’ll support you! Attendant!”
At his call, a subordinate entered.
“Run to the main estate immediately and retrieve a Yangjeondan from the Young Lord.”

“Yes, sir!”
Yangjeondan was House Yang’s spiritual elixir.
Its infused thunder and yang energy would flood the body instantly and temporarily amplify one’s strength.

It could raise one’s cultivation by at least one stage.
With a well-received effect, even a two-stage leap was possible.
The downside: after using it, one would be bedridden for a week.

It was a final measure, used only when life was on the line.
Currently, Yang Go Hyeok was stationed at a branch of House Yang within Mushincheon.
His twin sons—second and third—were both attending High Divisions in Mushincheon, so he was here to personally watch over them.

Since House Yang was under Mushincheon jurisdiction, no sect would dare touch them. The firstborn, the Young Lord, was entrusted with overseeing the main house.
Yang Go Hyeok looked at Yang Gang and spoke.
“Your current cultivation is Apex-Level, Fifth Star. If you take the Yangjeondan, you’ll surpass Ho Cheon.”

“Thank you, Father!”
“You must not lose.”
“I won’t! Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin unifying the East.”

“Oh? And then you’ll face Ho Cheon?”
“Yes! I plan to defeat them and use this opportunity to attempt it myself—unifying Mushincheon High Division.”
Seeing Yang Gang speak so boldly, Yang Go Hyeok let out a small laugh.

“Good. It won’t be an easy path, but… my son, do your best.”
“Yes, Father!”