Chapter 39: The First Preliminary Round (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 39: The First Preliminary Round (2)
Standing in line, I fell into deep thought.
What would be the best way to carry out the mission?
According to my younger sister, Yeong-yeong, the matchups for the second preliminary round were determined by one's performance in the first. At first glance, it seemed like a system where the better you did, the more you stood to lose.
However, it wasn't without its loopholes. There was room for a bit of gamesmanship.
The Lesser Conversation Sword was right. If I applied just enough force to the Generation Stone to keep my score from soaring, I could avoid the misfortune of being the first to duel in the second round. If I chose the practical route, that would be best for the mission.
'Huh?'
That was true.
The Lesser Conversation Sword muttered, unable to grasp the intricacies of the power struggle.
In truth, the Namcheon Iron Sword was right. While it was advantageous for other spies to hide as much of their skill as possible, I didn't have that luxury because of my high-profile identity. Furthermore, my true skill would inevitably be revealed in the second round one way or another.
Considering that, I shouldn't act too strategically if I wanted to build trust within the Martial Alliance and the Orthodox Faction.
'I need to show a certain level of strength.'
At the very least, enough to overwhelm most of the other rising stars. Since the first-rate level was the average, I would have to show something beyond that.
"Whoa!"
"Look at that!"
Just then, I heard the young warriors around me buzzing. The sound came from behind, so I turned my head to see the candidates looking toward the platform in the Chuk-Im Section.
There, a Generation Stone that had been a perfect rectangular block was now carved into a unique shape. It wasn't just scratched; the stone itself had been reshaped by a sword technique.
The one who had done it was none other than—
'Jin Yong.'
It was Jin Yong, the grandson of Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun. As if he felt no need to hide his skill, he had carved the Generation Stone with flair. He raised a hand as he strapped his lute-shaped Rending Saber to his waist.
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
Cheers erupted from the spectator stands. The crowd seemed captivated by his overwhelming display of skill.
But then, a commotion broke out in the neighboring section as well. It was the Chuk-Gye Section.
A hole had been punched clean through the center of the Generation Stone, and a fist was currently protruding from it. Not a single crack had formed on the rest of the stone.
'Who is that?'
It was a face I didn't recognize at all. The young warriors were whispering in interest at the appearance of an unknown expert.
'Hmm.'
'No.'
But for some reason, I suspected he was one of Baek Hye-hyang’s people. I knew the faces of the top talents on the Orthodox side, including Lee Jeong-gyeom. For someone to display such high-level technique, there was a high probability they belonged to Baek Hye-hyang’s faction.
I thought so too. They had revealed their skill despite the potential disadvantage in the second round. Did it mean they were willing to accept that risk? Regardless, I needed to etch that face into my memory.
The person stepping onto the same platform was indeed Song Jwa-baek. He wore a look of grim determination. I hoped he wouldn't get swept up in the atmosphere and would show just enough to pass into the second round.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
Cheers erupted from Song Jwa-baek’s section. His fist had cleanly pierced the center of the Generation Stone, and remarkably, no cracks had formed around the hole. It was a punch that showed significant improvement compared to before.
However...
'This is going to be a headache.'
The guy was triumphantly raising both hands toward the spectators, soaking in the atmosphere. Now, he was guaranteed to be ranked among the top performers. He would likely be among the first five to compete in the second round.
As Song Jwa-baek descended from the platform, he glared sharply at the man who had displayed a similar level of fist technique earlier. The other man met his gaze as well.
'So he really is on Baek Hye-hyang’s side.'
Unlike them, our identities were exposed rather than hidden behind human skin masks. Perhaps the other side had provoked him.
'What did he say to make him glare like that?'
I was worried. Unlike me, Song Jwa-baek hadn't received spy training. A few days of instruction wasn't enough to master the art of controlling one's emotions. I would have to warn him after the preliminaries were over.
Just as the Lesser Conversation Sword said, there were only three people left ahead of me. But then, I saw a familiar face on the platform in the Jeong Section, just two spots over.
'Ah!'
'......Lee Jeong-gyeom!'
I silently agreed with the Lesser Conversation Sword. It was my first time seeing his younger self, and he looked half-asleep, with his eyes partially unfocused. He seemed to lack any motivation.
But despite his appearance, he was the genius hailed as a talent that appeared once in a century. He was the biggest obstacle in this mission. Just how strong was he?
Following the instructions of the Hall Master in charge, Lee Jeong-gyeom stood before the Generation Stone. No one was paying him much attention.
Then, he slowly drew his sword. With an air of indifference, he made a single horizontal slash across the middle of the stone and returned the blade to the scabbard at his waist.
Then...
Cr-r-rack!
The Generation Stone split in half, and the top portion slid backward and fell. The eyes of those watching widened in shock. Soon, a roar of cheers erupted.
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
...He was a monster, as expected.
The experts in the crowd surely recognized it. His swordsmanship was so fluid it could be called the pinnacle of the Flowing Sword. He had sliced through the Generation Stone with perfect softness, without exerting any visible effort. He had truly demonstrated the mystery within the rise.
'......He has definitely crossed the wall into the Supreme Peak Realm.'
Lee Jeong-gyeom, the joint successor of the Eight Great Masters. He was a master of the Supreme Peak Realm. He had already far surpassed the level of a mere rising star.
'Most likely.'
With that kind of strength, it was no wonder he seemed unmotivated. Rather than showing off among these youngsters, he probably would have preferred to request a duel against a higher-level master.
'This is going to be difficult.'
To win the tournament, I would inevitably have to clash with him. And it looked like I would have to reveal my true strength to do so.
Lee Jeong-gyeom let out a massive yawn as if everything was a chore and stepped down from the platform. He seemed completely uninterested in the crowd's cheers.
At the Lesser Conversation Sword’s words, I looked ahead to see the person in front of me stepping onto the platform. Based on his Qi sense, he was slightly below the first-rate level. As expected, he only managed to leave a few scratches. He stepped down with a disappointed expression, but honestly, he was better off failing here. The gap in skill in this tournament was far greater than it had been before my regression.
"Number 84, So Woon-hwi."
At the call, I slowly ascended the platform. I could hear the crowd buzzing. It seemed interest was focused on me as the successor of the Namcheon Sword Guest.
'Tell me about it.'
As I climbed the platform, someone else caught my eye. Another person was ascending the platform in the Jeong Section where Lee Jeong-gyeom had just been. It was none other than Moyong Su.
'Moyong Su!'
One of the two faces I had seen right before my regression. A burning rage surged within me. He was a loathsome man who wore the mask of a hero and pretended to be full of noble spirit. Beneath that facade, he was a man who wouldn't hesitate to kill for his own greed.
He seemed conscious of me as well, as he was staring in my direction.
"It's Moyong Su."
"He's a favorite to win!"
The young warriors and the crowd alike showed great interest. Before starting, Moyong Su performed a fist-and-palm salute toward the spectator stands, showing his courtesy.
That was why I had been deceived. Fortunately, he was still young, and his cunning hadn't fully matured yet. I could tell by the competitive fire in his eyes as he looked at me, as if challenging me.
He looked at me and then gestured with his eyes toward the Generation Stone.
It seemed so. His gaze suggested we should test our skills against each other using the stones. Moyong Su raised his sword first and aimed at the Generation Stone.
Then, he unleashed a martial form. His sword traced a path filled with noble spirit as it slashed the stone.
'Heaven-Earth Flowing Water Nine Swords.'
It was the high-level sword technique of the Moyong Family. Along with the Namgung Family’s Azure Sky Unhindered Sword Method, it was considered one of the finest techniques among the great families. True to its name, which implied the harmony of heaven and earth, yin and yang, the technique blended softness and hardness perfectly as the sword traced its arc.
Thump! Thump!
Pieces of the Generation Stone were carved away as if by a sculptor. Through this, I could gauge his skill. He had reached the beginning stages of the Peak Realm. He was roughly at the same level I was when I only used my lower Dantian.
"As expected of the Moyong Family!"
"Incredible."
The young warriors marveled at his skill. Having finished his form, Moyong Su looked at me and politely extended his hand, as if inviting me to show my own skill. Consequently, the eyes of the young warriors and the spectators turned toward me.
"Are those two competing right now?"
"An indirect duel between the favorites?"
Thanks to his staging, the people around us were jumping to conclusions. The man who had supposedly belittled me during the Dragon Phoenix Branch was now acting quite the part in front of others. But he wasn't the only one who knew how to act.
Swish.
I brought my hands together and gave him a polite fist-and-palm salute. It was a sign that I accepted the challenge. The young warriors watched me with faces full of excitement.
I stood before the Generation Stone and drew the Namcheon Iron Sword.
"Oh!"
"That's the sword of the Namcheon Sword Guest!"
Those who recognized the blade made a fuss.
Regardless of their chatter, I aimed my sword at the Generation Stone. Everyone was focused on how I would leave my mark. I concentrated all my internal power into the tip of the sword.
Then, I thrust the sword into the stone.
Thwack!
The sword sank into the Generation Stone as if it were made of clay. The Hall Master acting as the official looked on with a puzzled expression. He was likely wondering what I was trying to do.
'Whew.'
Even without opening my middle Dantian, I felt I could pull this off now. The moment the sword completely pierced the stone, I stomped my foot in a True Awakening and applied force to the hilt.
Boom!
In that instant, the Generation Stone split in a swirling pattern centered around the embedded sword. The stone was fractured in a spiral, as if it had been hollowed out from the inside.
'It worked.'
I had been half-doubting myself, but I succeeded. The official and the young warriors alike stared at the stone with blank expressions.
The Namcheon Iron Sword spoke in surprise. He was right. What I had just performed was the 6th form of the Life Bright Sword Technique, the Chasing Return Sword, implemented as a Sword Formula. I hadn't performed the full physical movements of the form; I had executed it solely through its underlying principle.
I had realized this after seeing Baek Hyang-muk, the First Sword of Wuhan, perform martial forms using only Sword Formulas dozens of times through my Heavenly Secret, and then experiencing it myself. While I wasn't at a level to use it in actual combat yet, I could implement it like this against a stationary object.
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
Cheers erupted from the stands. I looked at Moyong Su. His expression had stiffened significantly. Regardless of internal energy or the realm of martial prowess, he had recognized that my skill with the sword was on an entirely different level.
The Lesser Conversation Sword snickered.