Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

A brief silence spread.

There was no sound of impact.@@novelbin@@

The air distorted into colorless waves as flames roared and twisted in every direction.

An immense pressure bore down, deafening the ears, while the luminous silk of internal energy flowed around Jeong Yeon-shin’s body, endlessly absorbing the inferno.

Protective Inner Qi—Radiant Starlight Heavens.

WOOOOOOOM—!

The Flood Dragon’s breath, the embodiment of its shadow, could not spread beyond him.

The raging inferno, writhing as if alive, was forcibly drawn into the spiraling starlight barrier, unleashing shockwaves in its desperate struggle.

‘Faster…!’

Jeong Yeon-shin's gaze sharpened.

His mind burned.

The heat of his upper energy center.

In this very moment, the profound mysteries of his newly created martial techniques and his subconscious thoughts wove together, interlocking in a relentless torrent.

The temporary disintegration of his Radiant Ring, full-body emission of energy, the absorption principles of Myriad Blossoms in the Rain, the time-worn experience of the Ghostly Tyrant King, and the siblings who had stood beneath the misty night.

KWA-AAAAAH!

The firestorm was shredded by the spiraling light.

A defensive form of his Protective Inner Qi that absorbed large-scale techniques.

Not a single ember touched the siblings standing behind him.

The ground trembled violently. The very earth groaned as it slowly began to sink.

Hundreds of people standing in Jeong Yeon-shin’s wake hesitated.

“T-That…?!”

“Ma Gwang-ik…!”

The veteran warriors caught in the invisible Gate of Life formation, the short-statured blacksmith clans, the commoners who had been paralyzed with fear—

Many of them had, even if only briefly, witnessed Jeong Yeon-shin’s Protective Inner Qi.

A legendary scene, as if a tale from the Classic of Mountains and Seas had come to life.

Even after seeing it with their own eyes, they could scarcely believe it.

A debt of life.

Some, despite their shock, instinctively tried to express their gratitude.

Many raised their hands in a formal martial bow, mouths opening in silent words—only to vanish in the very next instant.

Among them, only the Divine Beast King let out a quiet chuckle and left behind a final remark.

“I shall repay this favor when we meet again outside.”