Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Arrogance Isn't Allowed?
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Do Cheon had found the Iron Lion Sect's ultimate techniques in the secret chamber and mastered them to a considerable level. To etch this fact into the minds of those now doubting him, he was about to properly demonstrate his martial prowess before the Great Righteous Alliance's leader, various experts, the Heaven-Rending Legion, and other masters.
Three years.
This was to prove that he had been immersed in the Iron Lion King's ultimate techniques during that time. If he had obtained the ultimate arts of the Generation's Heavenly Demon—hailed as the greatest in history—it would mean he hadn't learned the Iron Lion King's techniques but rather those of the Heavenly Demon. Thus, this would indirectly prove he hadn't acquired them.
"I demand an official apology and compensation for the damages. Of course, the great Baekri Clan would refuse? Then I'll take it by force."
Do Cheon's declaration of war against the Baekri Clan was underpinned by such calculations.
The Baekri Clan leader clenched his fists, trembling.
From his position, this was a duel he could never accept. The young lion of the Iron Lion Sect who had fought evenly with the Heaven-Rending Legion. No matter the outcome, the losses would outweigh the gains.
"I attacked the Dongting Lake Waterway Stronghold. So I'll face you."
One of the Baekri Clan's elders stepped forward.
"No. The one who gave the order is someone else, so shouldn't he step up himself?"
Do Cheon said, gazing at the Baekri Clan leader.
"Then tell your sect leader to come out himself."
That was the elder's retort. Do Cheon's brow furrowed sharply at those words.
"The Dongting Lake Waterway Stronghold is under my command, unrelated to my master."
"And I attacked your subordinates."
As the elder persisted in his defense, Do Cheon furrowed his brow even more and addressed the Baekri Clan leader.
"As the head of your clan, take responsibility for your orders."
"Our disciples know to take responsibility for their actions. Even if the price is death."
"Impressive. Truly impressive."
Do Cheon turned away from the Baekri Clan leader with a mocking sneer and faced the elder. As the two squared off against each other, everyone focused intently. There was no tension, however.
The Baekri Clan side harbored some doubt about whether Do Cheon was truly strong enough to clash with the Heaven-Rending Legion. It stemmed from the Legion commander's nonchalant demeanor, sitting there without shame after fighting evenly with someone so much younger.
The Great Righteous Alliance wondered if Do Cheon had truly found the Iron Lions' ultimate techniques. At the same time, they were determined not to miss even a moment if he unleashed the Generation's Heavenly Demon's arts while fighting the Baekri elder. No matter how artfully one blended ultimate techniques, one couldn't erase that momentary dissonant feel.
Only the Heaven-Rending Legion observed Do Cheon from a different angle.
He had no choice but to acknowledge Do Cheon's martial skill after clashing directly. Thus, he took interest in Do Cheon himself—whether he was the type to stand by his words, or just a petty schemer. This was because he wasn't part of the righteous sects.
"Draw your sword."
Do Cheon said. The elder didn't draw. Whether to uphold his pride as a senior of the martial world or to disdain Do Cheon, he even smirked faintly.
"My sword will be drawn when it needs to be. Come at me without worry."
He said.
In that instant, Do Cheon moved.
Straight toward him in a direct line.
The moment Do Cheon moved, the elder drew his sword. True to a Baekri Clan elder, it was an incredibly swift and sharp reaction. Explosive inner energy surged from his lower dantian, racing through his well-trained meridians to the sword in his hand in an instant. Just as the blade arced toward Do Cheon along the fastest trajectory, a blue glow manifested along its edge.
Kwarung!
Thunderous roar shook everyone's eardrums, followed by a dull impact as one man flew across the hall, tumbling to the end.
One strike. And it was over.
A futile outcome that wasn't even a fight. And that result highlighted one man's fist.
"Thunder Wall Fist!"
The Volcanic Divine Sword, leader of the Great Righteous Alliance, muttered.
"You'd know if you faced him. That guy's no pushover."
The Heaven-Rending Legion muttered back.
"To reach that level in just three years... he must be a prodigy."
"The leader and I see things differently. To me, it looks like intense, desperate training."
"That could be, too."
While the two conversed, the Baekri Clan's experts glared at Do Cheon with eyes twisted in rage and shock. Do Cheon stood tall, boldly meeting the Baekri Clan leader's gaze.
"Tell them to bring 100 taels of gold as compensation. Unless you'd rather..."
"Consider the grudge between our clan and your sect resolved with this. We'll pay the compensation as well."
100 taels of gold.
Not a huge sum, nor insignificant. Merely symbolic. Pride wounded far more than the amount. Yet with the Baekri Clan leader accepting it, Do Cheon was left speechless, like a child caught with honey. So he turned his ire on Baek Ri-jung instead.
"Don't act so arrogant in front of the sect leader. Do it again, and I'll smash your mouth first."
Baek Ri-jung rose and clasped his hands in respect.
Despite his victory, Do Cheon felt like he'd lost against the Baekri Clan's response.
'Something to learn. Even in defeat, they're dignified.'
Do Cheon sat back down, and in the meantime, Baek Ri-jung checked on the fainted elder and carried him out.
"No more petty nonsense, right? Good. Now let's hear what you have to say."
The Heaven-Rending Legion said, trampling the Baekri Clan's pride.
The Baekri Clan leader remained calmly silent. With Do Cheon's skill confirmed as genuine, he needed to reassess the situation accordingly. Do Cheon took note of the clan leader's demeanor.
'He might be scarier than the Heaven-Rending Legion.'
The unorthodox Heaven-Rending Legion, proud and heedless of others' eyes, would attack outright. But the righteous Baekri Clan, mindful of public opinion, was more likely to strike from the shadows depending on the situation. The knife in the back is deadlier than the axe before you.
Of course, as allies, it would be different.
Do Cheon scanned everyone before speaking.
"As you've probably guessed, I found the ultimate techniques left by our predecessors. I madly practiced the Thunder Wall Fist, known as the strongest of the Iron Lion King. About three years in, the entrance suddenly opened. Panicked by the experts who appeared, I bolted. You know the rest."
"That's all?"
"That's it."
Do Cheon's simple tale irked the Heaven-Rending Legion, but the calm reply came.
"The space where the Iron Lions left their ultimate techniques is elsewhere. How did you emerge from there?"
The Celestial Insight Maiden asked on behalf of all.
The Heaven-Rending Legion, about to flare up again, held back and watched.
"It wasn't suitable for training Thunder Wall Fist."
"The space where the Iron Lions left their techniques is indeed too cramped for intense martial arts practice. Of course, it's not impossible."
The Celestial Insight Maiden glanced around, acknowledging Do Cheon's answer. As everyone stayed silent, she turned back to him.
"One thing doesn't add up."
"Speak."
"No one survives three years without food. And that chamber had no food anywhere. Not even a drop of water."
"Correct. No water there. The chamber I'm referring to is where our predecessors left their techniques. Anyway, the lack of water terrified me. To escape, I first trained the lightness skill among them. Elder Yi Gun-ok's Flying Swallow Eight Wings was incredible. Even at three stars, I could reverse through the passage and get out."
"So you went out to hunt?"
"Hunted, scavenged whatever edible. Deep in the mountains, fruits and mushrooms everywhere—no starving."
"You filled your belly and went back in? Without returning to your sect?"
"What do you think would happen if the world knew the Iron Lion Sect recovered the Iron Lions' techniques?"
"You decided to train until strong enough to protect the sect?"
"I'm not an idiot."
Through their questions and answers, everyone pieced together Do Cheon's three years. But it wasn't satisfying. They wanted confirmation of the Generation's Heavenly Demon's techniques—and details on them.
"So no Heavenly Demon martial arts?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion asked what all wanted to hear.
"No manuals, Heavenly Demon or Generation's Heavenly Demon. Isn't the Generation's Heavenly Demon a figure from a thousand years ago? Would a manual from then still survive?"
"Truly, really none?"
"I swear on our sect. No manuals at all. No gold, treasures, divine weapons, rare herbs, or absolute elixirs."
Everyone fell silent at Do Cheon's declarative words. No evidence to refute him, so they couldn't speak. But some thought differently.
"That's just your claim. How do you prove it?"
The Baekri Clan leader asked after a long silence. Do Cheon countered, staring at him.
"Why should I prove it?"
"To dispel all doubts."
"You're misunderstanding. I explained myself not to clear your doubts, but to state our sect's position."
"What position?"
"No Heavenly Demon crap—there were no manuals, so stop bothering us. If you keep it up, stake your lives. That's our position."
The faces of the Great Righteous Alliance and Tyrant Emperor Sect experts darkened fiercely. A faint smile crept onto the Baekri Clan leader's lips.
'Still a greenhorn.'
The clan leader breathed a sigh of relief.
Whether the young Iron Lion had gained the Iron Lion King's or Generation's Heavenly Demon's techniques, such arrogance wouldn't last.
The Great Righteous Alliance and Tyrant Emperor Sect.
The Volcanic Divine Sword and Heaven-Rending Legion could sway a third of the world. If he joined them?
The Iron Lion Sect would vanish like dust. A rival on the Yangtze gone—how could he not smile?
- If you keep bothering us, stake your lives.
This dismissed everyone. Proving the clan leader's thoughts, most experts here wore faces of outrage.
"See? Your insolence knows no bounds!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion glared, shooting to his feet.
Do Cheon turned to him.
"Arrogance isn't allowed?"
"What?"
"Put yourself in my shoes."
"...?"
"If everyone here demanded a Generation's Heavenly Demon manual you don't have—what would you do?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion had no retort.
"Explain there was no manual, just circumstances? Scramble to prove it to dispel doubts?"
"Who dares demand explanations from me!"
"I explained. Told you what happened, even revealed recovering our sect's hidden techniques. After all that, telling you to stop—is that insolence?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion was speechless. Strictly speaking, someone as strong as Do Cheon could afford some arrogance. That's the martial world, the unorthodox way.
His words made even the furious ponder deeply. Do Cheon had revealed his experiences and even sect secrets he could have hidden.
The Thunder Wall Fist proved it. And revealing it meant he acknowledged those present.
"Perspectives change with position. From mine, pushing after all that feels like ignoring and insulting our sect."
Do Cheon's words silenced all. Without truth backing eloquence, it holds no power. Conversely, truth empowers even poor speech. Do Cheon wielded truth to shut them up.
"Do Gongzi."
As the explosive tension deflated, the Heaven-Rending Legion sat back down. The Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang called softly.
Do Cheon looked at him.
"Speak."
"Do you know that different heights reveal different views?"
"Yes."
"Indeed. In youth, I saw only immediate justice and right. But with age and standing atop it, the world looks different."
"..."
"The Heaven-Rending Legion and I aren't here for petty right and wrong. We're trying to prevent future chaos. The Generation's Heavenly Demon's techniques are that dangerous—we want to ensure no one learns them. No intent to disdain you or your sect, I assure you."
"Understood. Sorry if I overstepped."
Do Cheon rose and bowed respectfully to each. Amid reluctance, they returned the gesture. The Celestial Insight Maiden watched intently.
'A sly fox.'
Unclear if he'd gained the Generation's Heavenly Demon's techniques, but his handling of the situation was masterful—like a fox. Low posture at times, boldly dignified at others. He had everyone in his grasp.
At this point, no one could ask if he'd really taken them. Doing so would insult him and the sect.
"Do Gongzi, you said the Iron Lion Sect is neither righteous nor unorthodox?"
"Yes. A tradition from our forebears."
"Thus, our alliance must watch you."
"I understand."
As Do Cheon nodded, the Heaven-Rending Legion interjected.
"I'll be watching you too."
"As long as you don't test me with ambushes or smash our gates, no need to fight. We've recovered our ancestors' techniques, so we'll focus on training. Don't touch my subordinates like the Dongting Lake Waterway Stronghold, and I'll stick to Thunder Wall Fist. I hope for that."
The Heaven-Rending Legion's face soured, and the Baekri Clan leader grimaced at the shifted situation.
This was the ripple effect.
The Heaven-Rending Legion stood again.
"No Generation's Heavenly Demon manual? Then we're done."
The Volcanic Divine Sword rose too.
"We look forward to the Iron Lion Sect's positive influence on the world."
As the two giants rose, others followed, forcing the Baekri Clan leader to stand as well. Just then, Do Cheon's brow twitched faintly.
Noticing this, the Celestial Insight Maiden puzzled.
"What is it?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion spun toward one side, and simultaneously, the Volcanic Divine Sword turned with a questioning look. As the Baekri Clan leader and others belatedly whipped around, eyes wide.
Kwang!
A massive roar as the hall's wall and roof corner shattered entirely, a gigantic blade intruding.