At the eastern edge of the Ark Continent, the East Continent...

It was long called Murim by many people.The East Continent worshipped martial arts and wished that it would spread widely through the vast forests of the East Continent. The kingdom of Murim was established in this way.Due to their closed-door policy, they rarely communicated with other kingdoms. Most of them people on the East Continent just competed among themselves with martial arts.However, due to this closed-door policy, Murim was facing a crisis of survival.

“10 days have passed since the Sword Sage has departed.”

“If we go on like this, then we will die!”

“Let’s go out and fight!”

Currently, the heads of each sect were gathered for a meeting to discuss the survival of Murim.Leading the sects was Namgung Yun, the leader of the current Murim.In Murim, the world of survival of the fittest, Namgung Yun defeated all of them and rose to the top.Nowhe was just listening with his mouth closed.

“......”

“It is over if you are bitten by those living corpses.”

“Yes. Did you forget how the Tai Chi daoist immortal was bitten by them and became a jiangshi?”

“It isn’t a jiangshi, it is a zombie.”

“What is that?”

“It is what the immortal humans call those undead.”

“Hah, really.”

It wasn’t known when the meeting would be over.To be precise, opinions were divided in half.There were hardliners who wanted to go outside and wipe out the zombies, while the other side wanted to wait for the Sword Sage to bring reinforcements. The opinions couldn’t be narrowed down and this eventually led to an argument.

“No, then what should we do? Just watch the number of corpses increase?”

“No, that isn’t what I meant! It is just that the Sword Sage hadn’t returned yet. We should slowly observe the situation...”

“Stop.”

The two men who were fighting closed their mouths at Namgung Yun’s words. The authority of the leader was that high.

“I think we will have to wait a bit longer.”

“Leader!”

Namgung Yun drank the tea, put down the cup, and shifted his gaze to the person who called out to him—with scattered red hair that was just like his personality, the man who was called Explosive Plum Sword because of his explosive plum swordsmanship was the head of the Huanshan Sect

“Explosive Plum Sword, the Sword Sage has been traveling around the world and is returning here after a long time. Upon returning, he went straight to calling for help once he knew this place was in danger. We must trust in the Sword Sage and wait for him.”

The other sect leaders nodded at Namgung Yun’s words.Most of them were convinced, but it was different for Explosive Plum Sword. It was because the Huanshan Sect was the most damaged by those damn zombies.

“Look here, Leader! I have lost too many disciples because of this. Believing in that dog now...”

Just then, the back of Explosive Plum Sword turned cold.He looked at Namgung Yun’s smiling expression with uneasiness.It was taboo to curse the Sword Sage in front of him.It was because Namgung Yun once had the Sword Sage as a teacher when he was young.The table that they were sitting at shook like there was an earthquake due to the energy being emitted from Namgung Yun. Tea splashed and overflowed from the teacup on the table.

“S-Sorry. I said something wrong for a moment...”

"Explosive Plum Sword, that isn’t something that can be said casually.”

“Y-Yes. I made a big mistake. I apologize again.”

Only then did the heavy air seem to ease. Explosive Plum Sword gasped and touched his throat while Namgung Yun drank his tea again.

Bark! Bark bark!

Out of nowhere, a puppy was barking cutely by the window. Namgung Yun smiled when he heard the puppy.

“...The Sword Sage has returned.”

* * *

Meanwhile...

Michael, Park Muyeol, Camille, and Park Muyeol were able to enter Murim, also known as the East Continent. However, before entering Murim, Inumusiki summoned a puppy and sent it first. Soon after, the puppy returned and said something to Inumusiki, waving its tail and barking.

“Bark. Bark!”

[Fortunately, Murim still seems okay.]

Inumusiki told the three people what the dog saw and heard.

Park Muyeol nodded. “Then let’s go straight away. I’m curious about this place.”

Park Muyeol gripped the wooden sword and spoke with eyes filled with desire.Michael stood next to him and nodded. However, Camille continued to frown from the moment they entered through the entrance.

[Camille, what happened to you just now?]

[This disgusting smell... it is from corpses. I think there are a lot of corpses in front of us.]

[You have a dog’s nose as well. In fact, I would’ve smelled it.]

Just then, the dog summoned by Inumusiki barked again.

Bark!Bark!

Inumusiki’s eyes widened slightly.

[...Well, I guess you’re right, Camille. This child said he saw a number of corpses on the way. Then...]

Everyone cocked their heads at his words.

“Tell me.”

[Tell me.]

Inumusiki opened his mouth at Park Muyeol and Camille’s urging, [This child said the corpses are chasing him. He barely managed to get rid of them, but they are probably coming here soon...]

Just then, they felt the ground shaking.The corpses were running in the distance like the dog said.In other words, it was a horde of zombies.

Inumusiki hastily apologized. [Cough. Sorry. This is my fault for spreading the news to Murim.]

[Forget it. We can warm up first.]

“It is good since my body has been itching.”

“I also needed someone to practice my swordsmanship against. It has worked out. Let me do a preemptive strike.”

Michael gripped the sword handle and twisted his body to take a posture.Cherry blossoms rose and disappeared from Michael’s body.Inumusiki was very pleased with his newly introduced disciple.During their journey to this place, Michael became Inumusiki’s Star’s Beloved by eating the third-grade Star Fruit he had. Michael absorbed Inumusiki’s swordsmanship at a terrifying pace like he had found his aptitude.

“Sakura Swordsmanship. 2nd Style.”MIchael strongly gripped his sword. “One Annihilation.”

It was a precise horizontal cut that headed toward the zombies in front of him like he was cutting the world.

The zombies had their upper and lower bodies separated and dozens of cherry blossom leaves flew between them.

* * *

Meanwhile...

Park Maksun, Santa Claus, and I headed for the ice castle of the tundra dragon.Santa Claus said he would take us in his sleigh. Park Maksun and I agreed to save magic power.Now we were flying through the North Pole sky on the ice silk road.

Below, I could see the night scenery of the village getting further away.Above, the colorful aurora greeted us.Still, the cold north pole winds were terrifying.I summoned Solar Phoenix to Maksun’s side. I was resistant to the cold so I didn’t care. Meanwhile, I was focused on learning Alexus’ secret technique.

[The recipe of snow has been learned!]

[From now on, snow dishes will be added to your weather cooking.]

The first thing was to strengthen my Weather Cooking skills through the snow recipe.Then I used the snow recipe I obtained to make a dish.It was shaved ice using snow that I picked up. I fed it straight to the summoned Jinny.

“Ohh, what is this taste,reum?Completely delicious,reum! Uhhh,but my body seems to be getting cold!”

Jinny ate very deliciously and awakened the power of the snow.

[The cloud elemental, ‘Jinny,’ has completely awakened the power of the snow.]

[From now on, ingredients and other dishes can be stored refrigerated or frozen.]

[Jinny’s snow can also attack the target.]

All that remained was the Snow Flying Kick Technique.

“Ah,this.”

There was just one problem.The sleight was too narrow to learn the Snow Flying Kick Technique.It was a completely unexpected situation so I had to delay learning the Snow Flying Kick Technique to next time.At this moment, Santa Claus put his hand into the bag of gifts. [You are truly Alexus’ successor. Then you can use this as well, right?]

“......?”

Hwik!

“......!”

The thing that Santa Claus threw was a knife. However, it wasn’t an ordinary knife. It was black and very sharp. Wait, was this perhaps...?

“This!”

[Hohoho!You seem to recognize it.]

Santa Claus let out a big laugh.He gave me an unexpected gift.It was one of Alexus’ culinary battle gear. The so-called ‘battle gear’ was a weapon that Alexus liked to use along with the fork spoon.

[I stole it when the Atlan Kingdom perished.Hoho!]

I had never seen such a crazy old man.Was there nothing else to steal? Why did he steal a cooking battle gear from Atlan’s treasure trove? I was an old man, but Santa Claus in front of me was really a crazy old man.

“What would you have done if you were caught?”

[My specialty is not being caught~hohoho!]

In any case, I put the kitchen knife aside.I wanted to check the stats right away, but the ice castle was already visible in the distance. At this speed, it wouldn’t be long until we arrived.

[We’re almost there. Get ready!]

At Santa Claus’ shout, Park Maksun entered a tense combat state.We slowly landed the sleight at the ice castle and anchored it.The moment we finally landed, we felt small vibrations coming one after another from inside the ice castle. Park Maksun and I quickly ran inside.Santa Claus followed us, but it was too late.

[Cough...]

By the time we arrived in the great hall, the shell of the tundra dragon was shattered and it was drooping.Lucifer looked at us and smiled. [You’re a bit late. Still, I’m glad. You will see one of the funniest scenes.]

Lucifer pierced the heart of the drooping tundra dragon with a large hand.