The Martial God with Psychic Powers

The ears of the Nokrim Thirty-Two Elite rang with Lee Hwaun’s transmitted voice.

—What the hell are you doing? Can’t you fight with your full strength?
The transmission, laced with irritation, made the Thirty-Two Elite shudder.
—Don’t kill them, but subdue them. If your performance displeases me again, you’d better prepare yourselves when we return.

The eyes of the Thirty-Two Elite changed completely.
Up until now, they’d been fighting somewhat leisurely—as if toying with them.
Not anymore.

If they angered Lee Hwaun further, it wouldn’t just be trouble—it would be their heads.
The escorts of the Sincheon Escort Agency sighed as they sensed it.
They knew instinctively.

Yeon Woo Jin had done something.
“Damn it… looks like they’re about to get serious.”
“We did enjoy an easy run for a while.”
“Everyone be careful! It looks like this is where it really begins!”

As the escorts of Sincheon Escort braced for full battle, the Thirty-Two Elite spoke.
“Sharp instincts, I see.”
“I’d love to toy with you a bit longer, but… we’ve got orders to follow.”

“Let’s end this.”
Whooong—
An entirely different energy erupted from the bodies of the Thirty-Two Elite.

Seeing this, the escorts immediately changed formation.
It was a battle formation designed to face those stronger than themselves.
The unified energy of the formation gathered as one, ready to strike the enemy.

With this, they could stand a chance against the Thirty-Two Elite.
Meanwhile, the Thirty-Two Elite exchanged wary words among themselves.
“Something’s off… stay sharp.”

“I’ll scout them out first.”
One darted forward.
Crack—

A powerful strike—but six escorts moved as one, perfectly synchronized, blocking the attack with ease.
“Tch… not bad.”
“They fused the strength of six men in an instant.”
“So they had a trump card after all.”

“This won’t be easy.”
At that moment, a transmission came.
—We’ll pretend to act individually, then ambush one group together. They won’t expect it.

—Tch. Can’t believe we have to go that far against some brats.
—If we drag this out, the Grand Emperor won’t forgive us.
—No choice. Fine.

The Thirty-Two Elite resumed their earlier approach, charging at their respective groups.
The escorts, prepared for it, braced to clash once more.
But then—

“Start with them!”
In an instant, the Thirty-Two Elite converged, launching a focused assault on one formation.
“Ugh!”

A sudden, unexpected attack.
“What are you doing! Focus your energy on me!”
At Bang Woon’s shout, the escorts hurriedly channeled their energy into him.

Bang Woon, gathering that energy, raised his shield, blocking the incoming strikes.
Thud—!
“Urgh!”

The strikes from Hwagyeong-level experts were brutal.
Bang Woon withstood the searing pain that felt like his body was being shattered.
If he faltered, his comrades behind him would be injured.

He didn’t even groan.
A groan would only shake their resolve.
Bang Woon endured, as if nothing was wrong, blocking the relentless assault.

“What are you doing! Help him!”
At Jang Woon’s shout, the other escorts swiftly moved to rescue Bang Woon’s group.
In that brief moment of movement, their formation wavered ever so slightly.

The Thirty-Two Elite didn’t miss the opening, launching a simultaneous attack.
“Got you!”
“Kuhuhu! You fought well, but your luck ends here.”

In the blink of an eye, the formation collapsed, leaving the escorts helpless.
“Urgh…!”
Groans of pain echoed as escorts were flung aside one by one.

Seeing this, Lee Hwaun cautiously asked Yeon Woo Jin with a worried expression.
“Is… is this okay?”
“Yes. They can take much worse.”

“But… if someone dies…”
“As long as they’re breathing, I can bring them back.”
What…?

“As long as they’re breathing, I can save them.”
What kind of nonsense was that?
“They know that too. That’s why they’ll fight like hell.”

Yeon Woo Jin wasn’t lying.
“What the hell…? Are these guys even human?”
“Damn it! Don’t they feel pain?”

“Stay down already!”
Ordered not to kill, the Thirty-Two Elite were forced to hold back.
But no one should be able to rise again so easily after that.

Yet the escorts, using their weapons as makeshift canes, struggled to their feet.
The Thirty-Two Elite clicked their tongues.
“Have you ever seen such stubborn bastards?”

“If we keep going, you’ll really die. Stay down! We’re not even trying to kill you—just subdue you! Why the hell do you keep getting up?!”
“Just lie down! Please!”
Even with broken limbs, the escorts stood.

But the escorts didn’t seem fazed.
This was nothing new.
They’d always trained by overcoming death itself.

That was how they’d grown so quickly.
Seeing them, the Thirty-Two Elite faltered, unconsciously stepping back.
The escorts charged again, undeterred.

“Grand Emperor! What now?! We can’t subdue them without killing them!”
The Thirty-Two Elite’s panicked voices rang out as Lee Hwaun glanced at Yeon Woo Jin.
“Sh-should we continue?”

“Hmm… let’s stop here. It’s pointless to go any further.”
“Understood.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s words, Lee Hwaun beamed.

“Withdraw! That’s enough!”
At the order, the Thirty-Two Elite grinned in relief, stepping back.
But the escorts of Sincheon Escort Agency showed no intention of stopping.

Their eyes still burned with murderous resolve as they charged.
At that moment—
“Enough.”

Yeon Woo Jin’s voice rang out, and they immediately froze, lowering their heads.
“That’s enough.”
These monsters, radiating killing intent, obeyed without protest.

The Thirty-Two Elite gawked at Yeon Woo Jin.
Just who the hell was this man?
What kind of person commanded such terrifying subordinates with a single word?

“Now you all understand, right? You’re weak. You’re not thinking you can serve me properly with skills like that, are you?”
“We’ll risk our lives in training to ensure we never lose again!”
Weak?

They were anything but weak.
They had fought Hwagyeong-level masters to a standstill at such a young age.
Aside from Lee Hwaun, no one here had shown that level of power at their age.

If they gained experience and matured, how powerful would they become?
And yet he scolded them for being weak.
How strong was he, exactly?

The Thirty-Two Elite seethed.
One stepped forward.
“And how strong are you, to belittle those who fought so hard?”

Had they grown fond of their opponents?
Or were they just ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) angry at the insults directed at the ones who gave them such trouble?
The others nodded, glaring at Yeon Woo Jin.

But to their surprise, their own Grand Emperor spoke up.
“You fools! Is this how you behave?!”
What…?

“It’s fine. They’re genuinely curious.”
“I apologize. I’ve raised my subordinates a little too freely—they lack proper manners.”
Huh?

What the hell?
Lee Hwaun was acting like he served Yeon Woo Jin.
The Thirty-Two Elite couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

“Would you be willing to show them your strength?”
At Lee Hwaun’s request, Yeon Woo Jin nodded, turning to the Thirty-Two Elite.
In that instant—

BOOM—BOOM—
Without exception, every last one of them collapsed to their knees.
“Gah!”

“Urgh!”
Confused and overwhelmed, they struggled to break free of the pressure.
But it was futile.

No matter how they resisted, they couldn’t overcome the crushing force pinning them down.
Was this the strength Lee Hwaun had wanted them to witness?
More importantly… who was this man, that Lee Hwaun would humbly ask for such a demonstration?

Their question was soon answered.
“Listen carefully. From this day forward, this man is the one I, Lee Hwaun, serve as my lord.”
Even beneath the overwhelming pressure, they looked at Lee Hwaun with shocked faces.

“W-what are you saying?”
“This isn’t a joke, right?”
They questioned, but Lee Hwaun shook his head.

“No joke. I’m dead serious. You will also serve him as your lord.”
The Thirty-Two Elite stared at Yeon Woo Jin, dumbfounded.
He stood there, utterly relaxed, yet had subdued Hwagyeong-level experts with ease.

“I have no intention of forcing you.”
His first words.
No intention of forcing them?

Then they could refuse.
They glanced at Lee Hwaun, ready to express their rejection.
But Lee Hwaun added—

“Think carefully. Your future depends on this choice.”
“If we refuse… does that mean death?”
“No. It means you won’t be part of the glorious future our lord will create.”

“Glorious future?”
“Yes. Our lord will become the Celestial Lord of Mushincheon and unify the Central Plains.”
At that, their expressions froze.

“What… what did you say?”
“Why bring Mushincheon into this all of a sudden?”
“Is… is he affiliated with Mushincheon?”

Lee Hwaun nodded.
“Yes. He’s the only grandson of the Martial God, the Celestial Lord.”
“…Huh?”

“Gasp!”
The revelation left them speechless.
Only now did his overwhelming strength make sense.

Mushincheon was the only force capable of producing such a monster.
And not just a member—he was the direct grandson of the Celestial Lord.
The saying was true—the tiger’s cub is still a tiger.

“Think about it. It’ll benefit you more to follow him now than later.”
The Thirty-Two Elite hesitated.
They turned to Yeon Woo Jin.

Like the others, he appeared barely of age.
And yet he subdued them with overwhelming power—without even lifting a hand.
Judging by the timing, Lee Hwaun had already been subdued during their fight.

To subdue a Fourth Stage Transcendent like Lee Hwaun without even clashing…
That was raw, absolute strength.
What kind of world would unfold under such a lord?

What would that feel like?
They wanted to experience it.
The pressure had long been lifted.

The Thirty-Two Elite were free.
One stepped forward and knelt before Yeon Woo Jin.
It began.

Without a word of command, the others followed, kneeling in unison as if rehearsed.
“We pledge our loyalty!”
The watching bandits were aghast.

They thought the Nokrim Grand Emperor and his elite would defeat these people and save them.
But even they submitted.
Quietly, the bandits abandoned their thoughts of escape, donned their official Sincheon Escort Agency uniforms properly, and returned to their posts.

Nokrim had fallen under Sincheon Escort Agency’s banner.
Even if the rest of the Thirty-Two Elite gathered, it meant nothing now.
Would the bandit strongholds unite in resistance?

No.
They would celebrate being led by someone stronger than the Grand Emperor.
And so, they resigned themselves to diligently serving as Sincheon Escort guards.

Perhaps it was better—more stable employment, at least.
Meanwhile, one man’s jaw nearly fell off in shock.
Zhuge Un, young master of the Zhuge Clan.

What… what is this? Am I dreaming?
He’d tried to stop them from passing through Guihwa Mountain.
It hadn’t worked.

Left with no choice, he planned to help them fight.
Sure enough, bandits appeared the moment they entered the mountain.
But they were subdued easily—before he could even act.

With skills like that, it made sense they were confident.
He thought they’d falter when the real threats arrived.
But when the true elites—and even the Nokrim Grand Emperor himself—appeared…

They were subdued as well.
Now, he wasn’t afraid.
Not with Yeon Woo Jin at his side.

Zhuge Un thought to himself—
He was truly fortunate to have pledged himself to Yeon Woo Jin.