To 432

 Chapter 429  Divine Object (1) Once upon a time, a bloody disaster occurred in the North Sea. An existence that couldn’t be stopped with manpower. As one of the five Spirit Beasts, the Dragon Turtle appeared in the North Sea Ice Palace, putting it on the verge of extinction. At that time, a warrior decided to risk his life to stop the dragon. He was the fifth king of the North Sea Ice Palace, Dan Seojung. Although he was the best warrior of his time, he lacked the ability to kill the dragon, a spirit beast. In the end, Seojung came up with an extreme method to save the palace. He frantically slaughtered numerous royals in the palace and lured the dragon, which had devastated the North Sea, into a hidden cave in the North Sea Ice Palace. The place where the sacred objects of the Ice Palace, the tablets of the previous kings, and the visions of martial arts were kept hidden. The secret place was made entirely of Adularia stone and was difficult for anyone trapped in it to get out. Adularia stone, which had the property of becoming harder while absorbing the cold outside, played a major role. Since so much Adularia stone was gathered in one place, the barrier was very strong. Seojung, who lured the dragon into a trap, succeeded in locking him up with the help of Ice Cold of Heaven. However, due to using the Ice Cold of Heaven, the technique ended up hibernating for a long time. Bubble! In the dark cave, bubbles rose. Chun Yeowun’s eyes scanned the structure of the Ice Cold of Heaven. It seemed different for some reason. ‘Is this possible?’ He was shocked to see what was written on the orb of the staff. The Ice Cold of Heaven could be divided into five forms. It can be made into cold ironstone by injecting cold qi into any hard material such as stone when one reaches the basic third or fourth level. ‘When one reaches the fourth level, would it be possible to make cold iron by injecting cold qi?’ He had heard about cold iron being formed with the help of cold qi, but he never thought that it was actually possible. It was written that when one reached the fifth level of cold qi, one could create cold iron with an intensity comparable to the coldest season. ‘Cold iron as cold as winter?’ It wasn’t easy to believe that. Even the ice swords created by cold qi were weak. And whenever they collided with a weapon inserted with qi, they broke right away. ‘If this is really possible…’ Chun Yeowun would be able to use the ice swords without having to use any other general weapon. Bubble! Bubble! He looked at the wall, which reflected the rising bubbles. If possible, he might be able to climb the wall at high speed and break through the swords to reach the ground. He had already reached the basic fifth level of cold qi cultivation needed. When he reached the Divine Master level, he had overcome all the boundaries of cultivation. But, [Remaining oxygen 33%] ‘Sigh…’ He was running out of time. In order to use the Ice Cold of Heaven, he had to raise his cold qi from the first level. He wasn’t supposed to directly jump to the 5th level. [Remaining oxygen 30%] With Nano’s voice, the augmented reality’s field of view turned red. A sign of danger. The current was still spinning wildly, sucking everything in. Chun Yeowun was getting impatient. [Remaining Oxygen 28%] ‘Damn it, I’m running out of time.’ It was the moment when Chun Yeowun turned impatient, looking at the decreasing amount of oxygen. Nano’s voice echoed in his head. [Remaining amount of oxygen is supplemented by extracting the dissolved oxygen in the water.] ‘What is this?’ Surprisingly, strong air bubbles were touching the Nano Suit, and the remaining amount of oxygen displayed on the augmented reality screen began to go up. Bubble! Bubble! [Oxygen produced 30% Oxygen produced 32% Oxygen produced 34%] As the remaining oxygen level went up, the red warning light disappeared. Chun Yeowun, who thought it would be difficult to breathe, was shocked. ‘… shocking.’ He didn’t know that the Nano Suit had such a feature. This meant that Chun Yeowun wouldn’t have trouble breathing anymore. If he had known this beforehand, he would have reacted to the situation calmer. ‘Nano… if there is a guide to the uses of the Nano Suit, transfer it to my brain.’ [Understood.] He hurried into the cave, and Chun Yeowun knew that it was due to his negligence that he didn’t fully understand the suit and its uses. On the other hand, he was amazed at the limitless abilities of Nano. Just by releasing some locks, amazing functions got unlocked, and he wondered how strong it would be if all the locks were released. ‘Firstly, I need to get out of here. Nano. Transfer the Ice Cold of Heaven technique and theory into my brain.’ [Understood. Would you like it to be done right now?] ‘Yes!’ At a similar time, “The site of the ruined North Sea Ice Palace! I need to save the Lord!” “Mun Ku! Calm down! How will you even enter that swirling water!” Ko Wanghur managed to stop Mun Ku from rushing in. No one could ever come back alive from a water current swirling that deeply and violently. “Lord! He was supposed to come out right away!” Even Hu Bong turned teary-eyed as he looked at the swirling water. It was unbelievable though. Chun Yeowun should have escaped a lot earlier than them. ‘What could have happened…’ They were unaware of the presence of Sang Dal, the Slaughter Blade Master, who appeared after the Six Swords escaped. Seeing the broken people of the Demon Cult, Moyong Kang couldn’t hide his joy. ‘Does this mean that the Demon God couldn’t get out of the cave? Ahhh! What great luck!’ From the viewpoint of Yulin, this was the best situation. If the Lord of the Demonic Cult, who went to get the Dragon Turtle’s core, had failed to escape and died, the Yulin achieved what they wanted. ‘For the sake of the Forces of Justice, heaven has helped us! Since the core of the dragon didn’t get taken by anyone, I can rest easily!’ Unlike Moyong Kang, Jegal Sohi looked at the water with a bewildered expression. It was shocking that the monstrous Demon God couldn’t get out of the cave. ‘In the face of a natural disaster, even you, the Demon God, couldn’t escape.’ As a member of Yulin, she was supposed to be glad, but why did she feel bitter? The reason why they were all alive was because Chun Yeowun had killed the dragon and dealt with all the members of the Blade God Six Martial clan. For the benefit of the Forces of Justice, she had turned her eyes away from injustice several times before. Convincing herself that it was all for the sake of the Forces of Justice’s future. ‘What kind of… faction are we?’ Whoo! She pursed her lips. The bitter feeling soon turned into skepticism. Meanwhile, a group of people approached the place where Dan Jucheon, the deputy king, and the other surviving elders stood. They were the guards directly under the control of the palace and the council. ‘Council… Dan Baekhyun!’ Anger rose in the eyes of Dan Jucheon, who was looking at Dan Baekhyun. At first, he thought that Baekhyun moved to kill the dragon. But when he thought about the current situation of the Ice Palace, where more than half of the people were dead, and the palace turned into ruins, it seemed like everything was the prince’s fault. ‘If my brother didn’t make him the prince!’ This situation would have never happened. They had entered the cave by breaking down the ice while trying to recover the hidden treasure. At that time, an elder of the council Sol Am-baek, gave the royal order. “Catch Dan Jucheon, the instigator of treason, and everyone beside him, detain them right away.” “Yes!” The council had been waiting for this very moment. This was the right moment to subdue the injured Dan Jucheon and the other elders. Seol Young-gwi, shouted at the sight of guards approaching them. “On whose orders are you moving right now? Didn’t you people break the rules of the palace and set up an unqualified prince, creating this kind of chaos!” “Huh! Who was the one who brought in outsiders and drove the king to death! These kinds of words are often heard from people like you, Elder Seol!” Sol Am-baek responded to those words. At that 8th elder, Baek Hak asked with a puzzled expression. “I don’t get this at all. Why bring in the outsiders? Wasn’t it that the prince, whom you supported, brought in the wicked people of the Demonic Cult and caused this situation?” “Ha! Are you actually blaming the prince for the situation you caused! Stop with your bullshit! Catch them now!” “What!” When they tried to subdue them, the elders who supported Dan Jucheon tried to fight back. This would normally lead to a civil war. At that time, Dan Jucheon, who had been silent till then, spoke in a voice full of anger while watching the prince, Dan Baekhyun. “Baekhyun. If you, who isn’t qualified to become the crown prince, were handed the title, do you really think that the council will actually understand and follow you?” He tried very hard not to hate his nephew. But he no longer wanted to. As a response, Baekhyun brought out the words he always kept inside. “Uncle Dan! If you really thought that I didn’t deserve the title, you should have officially requested it from the royal council. I don’t want to hear this from you, who for your own ambition, brought in outsiders who harmed your own family!” Baekhyun had been upset too. All the emotions he had kept buried inside him for all this time rose to the surface. Dan Jucheon, the deputy king, spoke with a twisted expression. “Elder Seol was right. I should have taken care of you right then. At least now, I will correct it.” Goo! With those words, cold qi rushed towards Baekhyun’s body. No matter how frightened he was of Chun Yeowun, Dan Jucheon was still one of the top warriors in the North. He had the ability to deal with the council and their guards alone. “Wh-what are you doing right now! Dan Jucheon!” At the urgent cry of Sol Am-baek, Dan Jucheon smiled bitterly. “Elder Sol! I am trying to figure out the situation. Did you think that I wouldn’t act just because we surrendered to the Demonic Cult? I am doing this to prevent the royals from dying in the hands of the Lord of the Demonic Cult. And if he died and Baekhyun dies, we won’t have…” It was then. Rumble! Before he could finish his words, the ground shook. “Huh!” “E-earthquake!” They all wondered if the land they were standing on would collapse. However, it was different from an earthquake. ‘Strong. This is…’ Something thrilling and intense could be felt beneath the ground. It was at that moment. Bang! Kwang! Intense light erupted from a place not far from where they were standing. Everyone turned their eyes at the unfamiliar light. “W-what is that?” Moyong Kang, who looked at it, mumbled with terrified eyes. “N-no way…” He didn’t want it to happen, but the light was energy. Suddenly, the rays of light which spewed out disappeared, and a column of water sprung up. However, a black figure appeared above the water. Swoosh! The moment the black figure was noticed, the cultists shouted at once. “Woahhhhh!!!!” “The Lord!!!” Chun Yeowun, who was wearing the black armor, no Nano Suit, floated in the air. Twelve brilliant ice swords were spinning around him. “N-no, that’s ridiculous!” “He… he survived?” Unlike the happy Demonic Cult, the Yulin and the warriors of the Ice Palace were all confused. Dan Jucheon, who just released his energy, looked at him. ‘Does this mean that he isn’t a human?’ He came back alive from a natural disaster. It was impossible for him to make it out alive from that water with luck alone. At a loss for words, he looked at the golden staff in the left hand of Chun Yeowun. “Th… that?” Not just him, but the others too. There was no way that the elders of the palace wouldn’t know about the golden staff. It was a staff similar to the one the stone statue in the main altar of the Ice Palace held in its hand. “Ice Cold Staff!” Ice Cold staff. It had been lost for a long time, a lost treasure of the Ice Palace. In a situation where everyone was shocked, Prince Baekhyun spoke with a smile on his face while looking at Dan Jucheon. “You were saying something about the Lord of the Demonic Cult?” Chapter 430 - Divine Object (2) Chapter 430: Divine Object (2) Ice Cold staff. An object left behind by Dan Yeong, the founder of the North Sea Ice Palace. The reason why the gold brilliance did not die down despite the passing of so many years was because of the material. It is said that a star fell into the North long ago. It was said that Dan Yeong, a researcher born outside the North, was a master in using cold qi and made this object out of the material from the star. Since the star, the meteorite, couldn’t be made into a staff with its material alone, he mixed it with high purity gold and made the staff. However, for some reason, the Ice Cold Staff was left in the underground site of the palace, where the tablets were stored. However, there was one legend that everyone in the palace knew. ‘Ice Cold Staff, the hidden staff is known to be found only by the true palace king!’ The golden staff glimmered in the eyes of Dan Jucheon. Because of that legend, the previous royal family tried to break down the Adularia stone and find the sacred object. It was because no matter how incompetent the prince was, all the people in the palace would side with him if he gets the divine object. “What were you saying about the Lord of Demonic Cult?” A smile spread across the prince’s face. When he found out that the Lord of the Demonic Cult was alive, he couldn’t hide his relief. He was the only one who could suppress Dan Jucheon. ‘Thank god. If Lord Chun had really died, everything would be over.’ If Chun Yeowun had really died, he wouldn’t have been able to take revenge for the unjust killing of the previous king. Sol Am-baek, the elder of the council, hurried the people and gave orders again after seeing Chun Yeowun. “Hurry up and arrest them!” “Yes!” As if waiting for the orders, the guards responded loudly and tried to subdue them. He thought that there would be no further resistance because Chun Yeowun had been resurrected. But something unexpected happened. “You cheeky bastards! Let go of me!” Pang! The two guards who tried to capture Dan Jucheon were thrown back. “Kuak!” “Kuk!” Baekhyun and the others couldn’t hide their bewilderment at the strong, unbending appearance. If it weren’t for him, the other elders who sided with Dan Jucheon would have surrendered. However, Dan Jucheon was a Supreme Master who wasn’t going to back down. “Da-Dan Jucheon! Are you really going to fight it to the end?” “There are a lot of men who wouldn’t be able to touch a hair on my body! Once this matter gets resolved, I will never let this go!” Flinch! At the bloody pressure emanating from him, the guards took a step back. They were gripped by a strong fear that they would die if they got close. Dan Jucheon shouted back at Chun Yeowun, who was still floating. “Lord Chun!!!” ‘Huh? What is this man trying to do?’ Far from being afraid of Chun Yeowun, when he called him, everyone seemed to be in awe. It was an act which Dan Jucheon would have never done. Chun Yeowun survived, and Dan Jucheon tried to covet the core which rightfully belonged to the Demonic Cult. And if he was bound to bump into Chun Yeowun, he decided to go all out. ‘Apart from the core, conflicts will arise in the palace. We need to stop the Demonic Cult from intervening! If he promises not to interfere, everything can be resolved.’ He called Chun Yeowun, thinking that, but Chun Yeowun didn’t even look at him. “Lord Chun…!?” Chun Yeowun, who was floating, went down to the place where the Demonic Cult was standing. There was no way that Chun Yeowun would talk to him as soon as he came back from a disaster. ‘I need to get that staff!’ That was the priority. If the staff fell into the hands of Baekhyun, everything would come to an end for Dan Jucheon. Tat! “Ah! Dan Jucheon!” Dan Jucheon hurriedly looked at where Chun Yeowun was. An old man from the council clicked his tongue. “Tch, he’s asking for his own grave.” The Demonic Cult already had the core on their side. Trying anything with them wasn’t the right choice. However, Sol Am-baek knew what Dan Jucheon was trying and urged Baekhyun. “Prince! You need to move. Dan Jucheon is aiming for the—!” “Divine Object.” They realized what Dan Jucheon wanted. He wanted to make a deal with Chun Yeowun and obtain the Divine Object. If Dan Jucheon gives up his pride and surrenders to Chun Yeowun, and swears an oath of allegiance, he would achieve what he wanted. Phat! Baekhyun and Sol Am-baek hurriedly moved. It became weird. The guards, who didn’t know what was happening, decided to pursue them. In the current situation, the one who holds the Divine Object will be the one to secure the position of King. “Follow the King!” “We need to help the deputy King!” Both sides headed to the place where the cultists were standing. On the other hand, Chun Yeowun, who came back from the disaster, was warmly welcomed by the cultists. Of course, not everyone cheered. “Lord! I told you to stop surprising me like this! What if something went wrong and Lord… ugh.” He had no choice but to appease Mun Ku, who was wailing. “Mun Ku is right. Lord! Please listen to us!” “Hmm!” Hu Bong and the other Six Swords also chimed in, and Chun Yeowun let out a bitter laugh as he heard their nagging. Since they shared the joys and sorrows in their lives since the early days of the academy, he was well aware of their worries. “But, Lord, the staff?” Marakim asked. It was clear that the sparks coming from his right hand was the core of the dragon. Just by looking at it, one could feel the tremendous energy it was radiating. However, the golden staff was unusual. Whew! “It has amazing qi.” Chun Yeowun was suppressing its qi, and still the qi felt from it wasn’t normal. Despite the North being cold, the cold qi from the staff was chilling. Chun Yeowun casually responded. “It seems like a Divine Object of the North.” “Divine Object? Ah!” When they heard the word ‘Divine Object’, they recalled the story Baekhyun told them. They knew what the former king was trying to find. They didn’t know how Chun Yeowun got it, but it clearly held great power. “Lord. Then will you hand it over to the prince?” Chun Yeowun answered a little flustered at Mun Ku’s question. “I did think so, but the staff…” Tatatak! Before Chun Yeowun could finish his words, someone approached them. Marakim and the other Six Swords blocked him at once. Visor! Visor! Visor! “Stop right there!” “I’m here to meet with Lord Chun!” The one who arrived was Dan Jucheon. Marakim, who stopped him, shook his head. “I warn you, wait until the Lord responds.” In the underground, Dan Jucheon gave up in the battle with Marakim and expressed his intention to surrender. No matter how hard they tried in the underground, they were unable to overpower the Demonic Cult because the swordsmanship of the Six Swords and Marakim overwhelmed the warriors of the Ice Palace. ‘This is for the future of the Ice Palace. I should throw away all of my pride.’ Thud! At that moment, Dan Jucheon knelt on the floor. Marakim’s eyes narrowed at the unexpected actions. Dan Jucheon, who displayed that he had no intention of opposing them, asked again. “Please let me speak with Lord Chun!” At the earnest request, Marakim looked back at Chun Yeowun. Chun Yeowun took a step and then walked forward. “Talk about what?” As a response to the blunt question, Dan Jucheon banged his head onto the floor. Thud! “I apologize for trying to covet the core!” Although he was the deputy king, the Ice Palace, the highest head of the North, he folded his pride and apologized. All the cultists who had been hostile at the Ice Palace warriors couldn’t hide their fluster. When Chun Yeowun remained silent, Dan Jucheon continued to speak. “I wanted to increase my power by acquiring the core, the treasure of heaven and earth, but it goes against the doctrine which says the one who kills gets the core. I know I was in the wrong. Please forgive me.” It wasn’t easy for a Supreme Master to throw away his pride. In reality, it was almost as if the man had expressed his intention to surrender. “I know that apology isn’t enough. Of course, I won’t just give up the core and corpse of the dragon, but I will do whatever Lord Chun wants, even if it is to abandon the alliance with the Yulin and form an alliance with you.” ‘!!!’ Woong! An unconventional suggestion came out of his mouth. Giving up the alliance with Yulin. Suspension of all official activities with Yulin meant that they would give up on all the power they held outside the North. Chun Yeowun, who had been silent, opened his mouth. “… what do you need when you are making such an offer?” Neither one of them was a light suggestion. What he was willing to do would make the Yulin contingents extremely unhappy. They had come all the way to the North to help them because of the alliance, and now this man was willing to end it. “If I am given two favors, I’m willing to give anything that Lord Chun wants.” “Ha! How dare you propose a deal with our Lord?” Hu Bong asked in a serious tone. Dan Jucheon decided to throw away his pride for the survival of the North Sea Ice Palace. “Interesting. What are the favors?” He didn’t have to listen, yet Chun Yeowun asked. Feeling relieved, Dan Jucheon spoke. “The first one, please don’t interfere in the matters of the palace. Each side has their own reasons. I hope you understand that.” He spoke directly. In a way, he was asking Chun Yeowun to not interfere, like helping Baekhyun out. As long as he could get Chun Yeowun to agree to that, the prince could be dealt with. “The second one?” “The golden staff that Lord Chun is holding is a Divine object of the palace. So please hand it…” It was then. “Noooo! Lord Chun!” An urgent cry from afar. Baekhyun and elder Sol Am-baek. As they were lower in martial arts than Dan Jucheon, they arrived late. “Lord Chun. You mustn’t hand that staff over to that person!” It was shocking how the man had asked for the staff. If the staff went into the hands of Dan Jucheon, the hearts of the royal officials would change. “How dare you interfere in the conversation of the two heads?” Goo! Dan Jucheon, who was on the ground, stood up and threatened them. He didn’t want anyone to disturb his conversation with the Lord of the Demonic Cult. Baekhyun pointed his finger at Dan Jucheon and shouted. “Lord Chun. This man said that you died inside the cave, and no demon…” “What nonsense are you talking about!” Phat! When Baekhyun was trying to repeat what Dan Jucheon had said earlier, the deputy king tried to close the mouth of Baekhyun as he brought out his weapon. Dan Jucheon, who narrowed the distance in an instant, aimed his weapon at Baekhyun’s neck. “Ugh!” But, Shhh! Before he could reach Baekhyun, someone stopped him. It was Marakim. Despite moving half a beat later than Dan Jucheon, he blocked him. Papapa! As the momentum couldn’t be stopped, their arms bumped lightly three times. Dan Jucheon, who was giving his best, couldn’t hide the shock at how effortlessly Marakim moved. “Prince. Please continue what you were saying.” Marakim, who protected Baekhyun, spoke to the prince. “Lord, he said that if you didn’t exist, no one would be afraid of the cult!” At that, Dan Jucheon looked at Chun Yeowun with fear. “Lord Chun! Don’t believe that kid. I never said anything like that. I just said that I am not afraid even if I didn’t have the protection from the Demonic Cult.” After giving an explanation, he looked at Baekhyun and shouted. “You really lack the qualifications of a prince. How can you try and solve the internal matters with the help of an outsider?” “Ha! Are you really saying those words? Is that why you brought in those outsiders and made my father, the former king, die!” Dan Jucheon bit his lips at those words. He was ashamed at how he brought in the people of the Blade God Six Martial clan to avoid getting blood on his own hands. “Deputy King!” “Prince!” Grrrrr! At the same time, the followers of each side arrived. It turned into a fight between the two sides. It was horrible for them. One side didn’t want the intervention of others, and the other side wouldn’t win if Chun Yeowun didn’t intervene. “Lord Chun! You must remember the request I had earlier? If you don’t intervene, I am willing to give you anything you want…” Even before he could finish, Baekhyun interrupted. “Lord Chun! Didn’t we write a contract in the beginning? The cult and the palace decided to form an alliance…” “What?! You signed a contract as if you were the representative of the palace!” Dan Jucheon asked back flustered. It was absurd that the prince, who had no authority, signed a contract. ‘Noisy.’ Because of Marakim’s intervention, Chun Yeowun sighed as he looked at them arguing. ‘This is a success.’ Dan Jucheon, who thought Chun Yeowun sighed at Baekhyun’s words, felt happy. This was his goal. When the outsider, the Lord of the Demonic Cult, killed Baekhyun for signing a false contract in front of everyone, he could smile. He had to keep making Baekhyun look like an idiot and make sure that Chun Yeowun wouldn’t interfere. “Baekhyun, if you get help from an outsider, even when you get that divine object, do you think the palace will follow you?” “That’s funny. Then why are you asking Lord Chun to hand it over? Isn’t it because you can violate the ordinance with the order?” The people who were behind mumbled. The order was something no one could escape. “The order?” Baekhyun answered the question of Chun yeowun. “It is something left behind by the founders of the palace. That those who get the divine object will be recognized as the true king of the palace.” This was the reason why the two of them were trying to hold the staff. Most of the royals were blood relatives, but they couldn’t aim for the throne. The king would now get decided by whom Chun Yeowun passes the staff to. Dan Jucheon hurriedly tried to persuade him. “Lord Chun! Please make the right decision. What good will it do to hand over the divine object to that kid? If you give me the divine object, the palace will fully support your faction!” Dan Jucheon used the practical approach. At least he showed that Baekhyun had no power. It meant that the prince had no power apart from the support of the council and the guards. “Lord Chun! Don’t fall for this man’s words! Baekhyun and the others pleaded with Chun Yeowun. Both sides were the same. However, the words which came out of Chun Yeowun’s mouth broke everyone’s expectations. “Did you say that the one who holds this staff is the true king of the Ice Palace?” “Y-yes.” “But the staff is in my hands.” ‘!?’ Both Dan Jucheon and Baekhyun were stunned at Chun Yeowun’s words. Chapter 431 - Divine Object (3) Chapter 431 : Divine Object (3) Dan Jucheon and Baekhyun were both speechless. The two of them nervously anticipated who Chun Yeowun would hand the staff to. However, they couldn’t help but be flustered when he said something completely out of the ordinary. The reaction of the elders was the same. ‘Wh-what the hell is that man talking about?’ ‘Does he mean that he’ll hold onto the Divine Object?’ Some thought so, but the faces of the Six Swords didn’t change. They knew Chun Yeowun wouldn’t talk in vain, so they knew exactly what he was going to do. ‘We’re going to take over the North Sea Ice Palace!’ The original plan was to form an alliance with the Ice Palace. However, after getting the Divine Object, Chun Yeowun’s plans changed. ‘Will there be backlash?’ 6th Elder Mong Mu was deeply concerned. Of course, if the North Sea Ice Palace, the hegemon of the North, came under the Demonic Cult, it would be a great achievement. However, if he tried to absorb them, there could be severe backlash. “Lord Chun… I think your words just now were out of context. This isn’t something like the Dragon Turtle’s blood. This is the Divine Object of the palace.” Dan Jucheon, the deputy king of the palace, spoke in a very cautious tone. Baekhyun was the same. “Lord Chun. Thank you for all your help, but who would stay still when an outsider covets the Divine Object of the palace?” Woong! Even the warriors of the Ice Palace were on edge. If anyone other than Chun Yeowun had made such a remark, all the warriors of the Ice Palace would’ve been enraged and attacked. However, they didn’t do that because he held the Divine Object and his monster-like strength, which surpassed the limits of human capabilities. Everyone was hoping that what Chun Yeowun said would be deemed as a joke. But, “But didn’t you say it with your own mouth? The one who holds the Divine Object is the true king of the Ice Palace?” Unfortunately, Chun Yeowun wasn’t joking at all. He seemed like he really wanted to claim himself the king of the Ice Palace. ‘Ugh, this man!’ Calming his heart, Dan Jucheon opened his mouth. “Lord Chun. That is not what it means. It isn’t a royal decree. It’s a decree which applies to the family of Dan. It’s not something that applies to everybody in the world.” “… this mans’ words are right.” Dan Baekhyun helped him. It was hard to believe that they were the same people who wanted the other dead a couple minutes back. If they didn’t, they’d lose their power. “This is interesting. I don’t remember a passage ever saying that I am an outsider.” “What?” Thud! Chun Yeowun put the golden staff he was holding in his left hand on the ground. And then, a piece of paper that was engraved with energy appeared. All the royals who saw the writing on the paper couldn’t hide their surprise. “Oh…” Dan Jucheon and Baekhyun, too, looked at it with bewildered eyes. “Those who have obtained the Ice Cold Staff are the ones qualified to be the true palace kings! Wasn’t this it?” The prince and deputy king couldn’t deny anything. It was the royal order engraved right in front of the statue of Dan Young, in front of the main palace. They didn’t know that Chun Yeowun, who only stopped for a second near the main palace, would accurately remember it. “Do you think that I easily got my hands on the Divine Object? Why haven’t the other lords who served the palace and the successive ones been able to find it until now?” Wooong! The reaction of the warriors changed with Chun Yeowun’s words. It was obviously a nonsensical point, but Chun Yeowun was the one who killed the Dragon Turtle and saved the palace’s people. In addition, he also ended up finding the Divine Object, which was buried underground, which would have sunk into the lake if not found by him. In that way, regardless of him being an outsider, his heroic actions dominated their minds. ‘Prince does have the legitimacy, but his skills are insufficient to the point where he can’t even properly use the Divine Palm of the Ice God.’ If he ends up being the king of the North Sea Ice Palace, he is supposed to have cold qi and be a Supreme Master. He’s supposed to have silver hair, not black hair. ‘The deputy king is strong in the North Sea… but he is still a traitor who brought in outsiders to awaken the dragon and kill the former king.’ When one starts making comparisons, it ends. The wave, which only started with keeping the Dan family on the throne, began to think that someone like Chun Yeowun would be a nice king. As opinions changed, both Dan Jucheon and Baekhyun began to sense a crisis. ‘No way… are the royal officials thinking?’ ‘Baekhyun… Baekhyun… you made the worst move.’ Dan Jucheon shook his head. All this wouldn’t have happened if Baekhyun hadn’t brought Chun Yeowun. The hearts of the royals who were dissatisfied with the succession of the royal prince were leaning towards Dan Jucheon. However, when they learned about the truth of him bringing in outsiders to kill the former king, the gazes of the young officials changed. ‘It shouldn’t have turned out like this. Once they start thinking, everything gets out of control. I can’t let Chun Yeowun sweep them away!’ The Ice Palace couldn’t be handed down to anyone outside the Dan family. When a situation like this came, Dan Jucheon sent a telepathic message to Baekhyun, who was also struggling to solve the problem. [Do you realize what you have done?] [You are the last person I want to hear those words from.] [… Well, this isn’t good. If we don’t overcome the situation, the palace will fall into the hands of that evil demon. It is an entirely separate issue from an alliance. You wouldn’t want that either.] With a darkened expression, Baekhyun nodded his head. At that, Dan Jucheon made a suggestion. [You’re a part of the lineage of the king. You know that very well. The secret hidden inside the order.] [Ah!] Baekhyun’s eyes widened at the words of Dan Jucheon. He was a little confused, but then he understood. [Ice Cold staff, the Divine Object, chooses its owner. It can only be taken by qualified people. Do you remember what the qualification was?] [… blood of the Dan family!] [Yes. No matter how strong the Demon God is, he cannot be chosen. Aim for that.] An oral tradition passed down to the people of the Dan family in the Ice Palace. As Dan Jucheon said, the Divine Object chooses its owner as if the staff was alive. Only the Dan family, the royal family, knew about it, and they had to use that to reverse the mood of the officials. “Lord Chun! Did you know about this by any chance?” Dan Jucheon spoke loud enough that everyone could hear. “Ice Cold Staff, the Divine Object of the palace, can choose its owner!” “Oooh!” “A spirit resides in it!” At those words, the officials turned to him. Although they weren’t of royal blood, they had heard the rumors which passed through the palace. The truth is that Divine Objects weren’t simple items. “What do you mean?” It was Baekhyun who reacted to Chun Yeowun’s dull question. “Lord Chun. If you aren’t chosen by the Divine Object, you cannot be called the true king.” “King… is there any way to prove that?” ‘Caught him!’ At that question, both of them grinned inwardly. However, they didn’t express it. They proceeded with what they intended to do. “The Divine Object was made by the person who founded the North Sea Ice Palace. Of course, we can prove that!” With a smile, Chun Yeowun spoke. “Interesting.” With those words, he boldly picked up the golden staff and stuck it in the ground. They thought that there should be a little more persuasion, but Chun Yeowun casually gave them a chance. ‘… he must be convinced that there is no such thing since he held onto the staff.’ Dan Jucheon guessed it by looking at Chun Yeowun. Having found the Divine Object and touching it, he thought Chun Yeowun would know more about it. However, ownership couldn’t be proven by just touching it. ‘You will regret giving me a chance. Young Lord of the Demonic Cult.’ Dan Jucheon looked at Baekhyun and calmly pointed at the golden staff with his hand. As if to give him the first chance. At that, the council and the guards of the Ice Palace looked at Baekhyun with eyes full of anticipation. If he proves himself, no one would deny his power. ‘He thinks I’m not qualified and is giving me a chance on purpose.’ Whoop! Looking at Dan Jucheon’s confident expression, Baekhyun grunted. ‘I will break that confidence of yours.’ Baekhyun slowly approached the golden staff. Looking at it intently, he took a deep breath. ‘Father… and the previous kings of the palace, please help me so that the Divine Object does not fall into the hands of that traitor!’ Hoping, Baekhyun reached out his hand. Tak! It was that moment. Jjjjjjk! “Ugh! Han-hand… kuaaak!” Everyone was shocked. Baekhyun’s hand, which held onto the staff, turned into ice because of the unimaginable coldness. As if the staff was really alive. ‘The cold qi is gushing out!’ ‘Is the prince really being chosen!’ Everyone’s attention was focused. At that time, Sol Am-baek, the elder from the council, who judged that Baekhyun was in trouble, yelled. “Prince! Use the Divine Palm of the Ice God! You need to endure it to be chosen!” ‘Divine Palm of the Ice God!’ Amid the pain, Baekhyun heard him and quickly tried to unfold it. He only reached the fifth level, but there didn’t seem to be another way to endure the cold. Swoosh! When he used that, Baekhyun’s hair turned to silver. It was that moment when he, who was unfolding the technique, tried to endure the cold. Bounce! “Kuak!” Baekhyun’s body bounced back as if it had been hit. “Prince!” Shocked, the elders and guards who supported him ran towards him. However, Baekhyun’s right arm was completely frozen. “Ho-how can this…” “Did that mean the prince wasn’t chosen?” They couldn’t hide the miserable feeling. With his legitimacy and their loyalty to the previous king, they supported the prince, despite knowing that he lacked the qualities of a king. However, they didn’t know that the Divine Object wouldn’t choose him. Tak! “Prince, I will help with driving away the cold qi.” Sitting next to him, elder Sol Am-baek decided to disperse the cold qi which had frozen his hand. Meanwhile, Dan Jucheon smiled and slowly walked towards the golden staff. A sound entered Baekhyun’s ears. [You were thoughtless. Baekhyun. There was one thing you didn’t know.] Baekhyun, who was concentrating on driving away the cold qi, had to listen to what was said. Dan Jucheon stood in front of the staff and continued to speak. [Of course, the bloodline of the Dan family is a qualification, but there is something more important. As you know, by experiencing it yourself, you need to have the strength to conquer the staff and claim it.] ‘….’ [It’s not something that a kid who only reached the fifth level can claim.] Clench! Baekhyun, who couldn’t move, felt resentful. Regardless of that, Dan Jucheon spoke to Chun Yeowun in a polite voice. “Lord Chun. Can I prove myself?” “Go on.” Dan Jucheon looked back at all the people and then smiled. The moment he’s chosen by the Divine Object, he will be accepted as king. Even the elders who opposed him will accept him if he gets chosen by the staff. ‘Here goes!’ Swoosh! An intense cold emanated from Dan Jucheon’s body, who was ready to unfold the Divine Palm of the Ice God. It had the momentum to freeze everything it touched. ‘Such strength!’ ‘They won’t have any choice but to admit my skills.’ Even though they didn’t support him, the council admired his power. Satisfied with the reaction, Dan Jucheon grabbed the golden staff and tried to lift it. Grab! He grabbed the staff and tried to lift it with eyes full of joy. Jjjjak! “Wh-what’s this!” Dan Jucheon couldn’t hide his shock. Even though he unfolded his strongest technique, the cold qi which entered his hand pained him. As a Supreme Master, he barely managed to stop the cold qi from freezing him, but he couldn’t subdue the cold qi no matter how hard he tried. Woong! “Kuak!” In addition, not only the cold qi, but strong energy rose from the staff. It was as if the staff refused to be held by him. “Th-this can’t be. Why… why is it rejecting me!” It couldn’t be, but the Divine Object didn’t choose him, and the cold qi continued to rebel. Since he was a Supreme Master, he just kept on forcing himself onto the staff. Woong! Even the elders couldn’t hide their wonder at the sight. According to what Baekhyun and Dan Jucheon said, it was natural for the royal family members to get chosen by the staff. It was then. Chun Yeowun reached out towards the staff. And, Pak! “Ahh!” The staff, which was in Dan Jucheon’s hand, got pulled into Chun Yeowun’s hand. Shockingly, the Ice Cold staff, which had refused to be held by the two, went towards Chun Yeowun and began to shine. Goooo! “No, that’s absurd! How can this happen?” Dan Jucheon couldn’t understand what he was seeing. “Ignorant. You should have realized it the moment you caught the Divine Object.” ‘!?’ Unlike Dan Jucheon, who was stunned, Mun Ku and the Six Swords gleamed. They remembered what Chun Yeowun said earlier. ‘This was why he didn’t want to give them the staff.’ It was because Chun Yeowun was already chosen by the Divine Object. Of course, the staff had already chosen its owner, that was why it was refusing to be held by others. Woong! The air around them changed. ‘Unbelievable!’ ‘Isn’t the royal family the only one who can hold the Divine Object?’ The elders all looked at Chun Yeowun, who was holding onto the staff. Chun Yeowun sent a message to Dan Jucheon, who looked helpless. [Thank you. You gave me a good situation.] ‘!!!’ The moment he heard those words, Dan Jucheon’s eyes shook. At first, he thought that Chun Yeowun had fallen into the plan. But it was all just an illusion. Chun Yeowun quietly listened to them and gave them a chance knowing that they would fail. ‘H-he used us to convince all the warriors!’ As they failed, Chun Yeowun played a more prominent role. Now there was no way to reverse what they did. “Is that the Divine Object of the North?” “Why is it shining in the hands of Lord Chun?” Moyong Kang and Jegal Sohi, who came to see what the Demonic Cult and Ice Palace were doing gathered together, were shocked at what they saw. “Nice. We have enough witnesses.” Chun Yeowun saw them, looked at Dan Jucheon, who seemed lost, and raised the Ice Cold Staff. It wasn’t like he was forcing the staff. “Ohh! Lord of the Divine Object!” One of the elders naturally fell to his knees and bowed his head to Chun Yeowun. Tak! The atmosphere was strange. As one man knelt down, the others began to bow their heads slowly. As if they were empowered by unspoken words, all the palace officials and guards bowed in front of Chun Yeowun, as if swearing allegiance, except for a few. ‘How can such a worst-case scenario exist?’ Moyong Kang was at a loss for words. As if the core going into his hands wasn’t enough, the Divine Object of the North Sea Ice Palace fell into the hands of Chun Yeowun. It was unbelievable. Chun Yeowun looked at Jegal Sohi, Dan Jucheon and Baekhyun, as he spoke calmly. “Everyone has witnessed it. As of this announcement, the North Sea Ice Palace is mine.”