Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Translator: Penny
Chapter 68
How dare that Zhuge brat!
This was a common refrain among renowned martial artists in the Martial World, who viewed the Zhuge Clan as a weak, scholarly family skilled only in strategy.
Namgung Cheonung was no different.
Yet the recent situation puzzled him.
The heavy object Zhuge Munhyeon had discarded. At first glance, it appeared to be iron weights worn on the limbs. But how could such a thing burrow so deeply into the ground? Just how heavy was it?
The mystery was quickly resolved.
Thud!
With a thunderous step, Zhuge Munhyeon's face suddenly loomed inches away.
Gasp!
Startled by the sudden closing of the distance, Namgung Cheonung hastily retreated.
Whoosh!
The swung fist grazed the tip of his nose.
As a sharp pain made him involuntarily wince, another attack came hurtling from the side.
Zhuge Munhyeon had sprung off the ground the moment his first strike missed, twisting his body to deliver a sweeping kick.
Namgung Cheonung instinctively raised his arm to block.
Crack!
His forearm went numb, and his body staggered.
The blunt force reverberated through him, but before he could recover, the assault continued.
Crack!
The same spot.
Before he could withdraw his blocking arm, another heavy impact slammed into him. There was no time to draw his sword.
Thud.
Unable to withstand the force of the impact, Namgung Cheonung's knee struck the ground.
"Hmm, impressive reaction. To block that..."
"..."
No further attacks followed.
Zhuge Munhyeon retreated swiftly, watching with a smug grin.
"Huh?"
Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwipyeong exchanged surprised glances.
"Hmm..."
Even the Heavenly Wind Unit, observing from the rear, couldn't hide their astonishment.
They had never imagined Zhuge Munhyeon, who had seemed to vanish from sight for a moment, could force Namgung Cheonung to his knees.
Of course, the most stunned person was Namgung Cheonung himself.
As the assault ceased, he stared blankly at his knee pressed against the ground.
He had been able to do nothing but block.
There hadn't even been a chance to counterattack.
Carelessness? No, he was simply too fast.
Zhuge Munhyeon's movements far exceeded his expectations. It was no fluke that he had defeated Namgung Yu, who had mastered Ejection Qi, with a single strike.
No, that attack just now was beyond anything Namgung Yu could even imitate. Now it made sense why he hadn't yet regained consciousness. But why?
Zhuge Munhyeon stood with his hand on his hip, looking down at Namgung Cheonung kneeling before him, a mocking smile on his face.
Th-this bastard... he did it on purpose?
Namgung Cheonung unconsciously bit his lip.
"You... you were hiding your true strength?"
"Hiding my strength? Who?"
"What?"
"I don't recall ever saying I was hiding anything."
"..."
"Is that all you've got for Transcendent Peak? What a disappointment... I was expecting more, considering your reputation."
Though his words dripped with mockery, Namgung Cheonung remained unmoved.
The turbulent aura that had erupted from his anger gradually calmed, and the chaos in his mind cooled to a chilling clarity.
Zhuge Munhyeon... This wasn't just some brat. His casual disrespect toward someone far older felt entirely natural.
"I see... you're at the level of Ejection Qi. I've disappointed you. My apologies."
"..."
Huh? Ejection Qi? Who? It had been ages since he'd reached Intent Qi, and his combat experience was already at the level of Greatest Under Heaven. And this fool didn't even realize he was being given a handicap...
The problem with arrogant fools who overestimate their abilities was always the same: they thought they were superior to everyone else. He's too young, his background is unremarkable, his clothes are ordinary... They would find any excuse to justify their arrogance. Usually, guys like that ended up getting their asses kicked. Then they'd whine about how they'd get revenge or never forget the humiliation.
But as the young man slowly rose, brushing the dirt from his knees, Zhuge Munhyeon's lips stretched into a wide grin.
Ho? Look at this. I thought he was just another nobody, but the Nine Splitting Sword isn't just a hollow reputation, is it?
Munhyeon had dismissed him as a rude brute relying solely on brute force. But it seemed he was wrong.
The moment Namgung Cheonung acknowledged his opponent, his demeanor shifted. He calmed his anger, regained his composure, and stabilized his breathing. This showed genuine martial cultivation—a sign of a true warrior.
Well, he didn't reach the Transcendent Peak for nothing. This level of mastery required profound enlightenment. A volatile temperament could never break through the barrier to reach such heights. Aura Submergence.
A tranquil, cold, and heavy aura surged forth, as if sinking to the bottom of a deep, dark sea. This was no ordinary feat. It was a completely different level from the aura concealment techniques used by assassins. Seemingly ordinary, yet within that facade lurked a terrifying venomous fang.
How intriguing. This will be very interesting. This is what a true battle should be. The spreading killing intent brushed against my skin, raising every hair on my body—that very sensation! The realization that death could strike at any moment, forcing me to draw upon every ounce of my strength—that's what it's all about!
Heh heh heh... This is it. This is exactly what I've been waiting for.
The chilling aura emanating from Namgung Cheonung stretched Zhuge Munhyeon's lips into a wide, unsettling grin.
Strangely... I like this. It makes me feel alive, somehow. So, give it your all. That way, the satisfaction of crushing you will be even greater.
As Namgung Cheonung drew his sword and aimed it, Zhuge Munhyeon responded in kind, his eyes shimmering with an intense, azure light.
Swords locked in a silent duel.
Time stretched on.
Though the air was filled with the chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves, the two warriors remained utterly focused on each other, as if they were the only beings in existence.
The tension was so thick that onlookers swallowed nervously, their mouths dry.
How long had it been?
Despite the chilly wind, beads of sweat gradually coalesced on their foreheads, growing heavier until they finally broke free and trickled down.
Hmm, at this rate, this could go on forever.
Seeing Namgung Cheonung remain motionless, Zhuge Munhyeon subtly extended his foot.
If he won't come, I'll make him.
Crunch.
The crushed fallen leaves shattered under his foot.
As if that were the signal, Namgung Cheonung moved with lightning speed.
Having already acknowledged Zhuge Munhyeon's mastery of Ejection Qi, he had no intention of yielding the first strike to his junior.
Fueled by a desire to avenge the humiliation suffered by his clan, his killing intent surged like a fierce gale.
Paang!
Simultaneously, his sword traced a horizontal arc.
Though the blade was still some distance away, a sword from the Namgung Clan could easily bridge the gap.
Boundless Azure Sky. This was the reason their swordsmanship bore the name "Boundless," signifying its infinite potential. Even if the sword blade didn't make contact, the Sword Qi extending from it reached far beyond what he had imagined.
However, Zhuge Munhyeon had relished battling countless masters in his previous life.
Could Namgung have been among them?
He remembered the Namgung Clan's sword as vividly as if he had wielded it himself. A sword that had been confined. Powerful, yet lacking in adaptability; swift, but not ruthless enough to sever an opponent's breath in a single strike. And yet. Look at this?
Namgung Cheonung's sword surpassed all expectations.
It had changed.
In the era of warring factions, where survival meant becoming stronger or being devoured by another power, even these masters had evolved through countless battles.
Becoming more practical, more brutal.
And so.
"Excellent!"
Zhuge Munhyeon's face lit up like an excited child's.
The opponent being stronger than expected meant he didn't need to suppress his skills so much.
Clang! Crack!
The impact of the clashing blades sent a jolt through his wrist.
The dazzlingly shifting trajectories of the sword strikes mesmerized his eyes, and in a split second, a blade sliced past his body.
The stinging wound and the blood.
They reignited his battle intent.
"Mu, Munhyeon..." Zhuge Munho muttered anxiously, seeing Munhyeon being pushed back.
He was unaware that Zhuge Munhyeon was actually enjoying himself...
Very well, I'll show you. No matter how the Namgung Clan's sword had evolved, it still possessed an insurmountable flaw at its core.
Seizing the moment, Zhuge Munhyeon stomped down hard on the ground and leaped into the air, adding a vertical line to the horizontal line of the sword's momentum.
Crack!
Expansion is both a strength and a weakness. As the sword qi spread, its power diminished, causing the fragmented energy to scatter and vanish into the air.
"As expected!"
Was this a remark made because he had already anticipated the outcome? Or was it an expression of admiration for the skill that had manifested despite the unexpected result?
Even after having his Transcendent Peak sword qi severed, Namgung Cheonung's sword intent grew even sharper. Without dwelling on the failed technique, he immediately transitioned into the Azure Sky Shadow Severance.
The moment his blade sliced through the air, dozens of shadows materialized and plunged toward Zhuge Munhyeon in unison.
"M-Munhyeon-ah!"
Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwipyeong shouted in alarm, but the Zhuge Clan also possessed exceptional movement techniques.
Fools! They created this but can't even use it properly. Watch closely and learn, you bastards! This is how you use the Shifting Position Wandering Form of the Heavenly Mechanism Evasive Steps!
Paga-ga-ga...!
Sword shadows rained down, tearing into the ground.
Yet Zhuge Munhyeon moved through the sword rain as if he knew exactly where each strike would land, approaching Namgung Cheonung with effortless grace. His disheveled hair was sliced and fluttered in the air, his collar was cut, but his body remained unscathed.
"Impressive! Truly impressive! There's no one like you in the Zhuge Clan!" Namgung Cheonung roared, his voice brimming with excitement, as his Forms shifted once more.
Like clouds in the sky morphing into myriad shapes, his sword transformed endlessly, flowing into the Myriad Forms Cloud Flow.
One form flowed seamlessly into the next, the countless forms layering upon each other until the air crackled with Sword Qi.
Impressive, Namgung. I commend your progress. But even so, you will struggle to surpass me.
Zhuge Munhyeon gripped his sword tightly, channeling his Internal Power into the blade as the relentless torrent of layered Sword Qi crashed down upon him.
Wooong!
Divine light erupted from his eyes, and the sword in his hand glowed with surging Internal Energy, unleashing a thunderous Sword Cry.
I will teach you. The weak Zhuge Clan is gone.
Hwaaaak!
The sword arced in a massive arc, cleaving through the night sky like a meteor's flash, its trajectory intersecting with the countless layers of accumulated sword paths.
Kwaaaang!
The densely layered Sword Qi collided with the hammer-like force of Zhuge Munhyeon's strike, sending shockwaves rippling outward in all directions.
First, a single meteor never falls alone.
KWAAAAANG!
Zhuge Munhyeon's sword struck Namgung Cheonung's attacks in rapid succession, like a meteor shower crashing into the earth.
He crushed brilliance with raw power.
The Sword Qi shattered, glittering fragments scattering in all directions.
Behold! This is the Zhuge Clan's sword, the one you've always underestimated.
"Tch!"
Namgung Cheonung gritted his teeth and swung his sword.
With each clash, the penetrating Internal Power reverberated through his body, numbing him to the core. As the impacts accumulated, blood rose in his throat from the mounting shock.
He couldn't understand.
How is this possible? His sword's Aura is clearly weaker than mine, yet it feels heavier and stronger. Why does his Sword Qi shatter mine into pieces? Which Form should I use now...?
His mind was in turmoil.
Countless Forms remained, yet he couldn't decide which to employ.
It felt as though any Form he chose would shatter.
His prolonged hesitation slowed the transitions between Forms, disrupting the flow.
Zhuge Munhyeon, with his seasoned skill, seized this fleeting moment.
Crack!
A streak of light, like starlight in motion.
Meteor Flash, a Form that traced a trajectory between a thrust and a slash, pierced Namgung Cheonung's defenses, slicing through his leg.
"Gah!"
The cut was to his leg.
As the saying goes, anything that loses its center will fall.
And with just a little more force applied at the moment of collapse...
Bang!
Namgung Cheonung, struck by a heavy fist, crashed limply to the ground.
He had been defeated.
By that young boy...
Not because he had underestimated his opponent, but because he had been outmatched.
Namgung Cheonung, drenched in humiliation, acknowledged his defeat.
"I've lost..."
Bang!
His body rebounded like a ball, soaring into the air.
"Ugh!"
As Namgung Cheonung, who had been about to concede, reeled from the brutal impact, his vision blurred, he glanced at Zhuge Munhyeon.
Why? I already admitted defeat...
Zhuge Munhyeon's eyes, blazing with an icy blue light, seemed to answer:
No, not yet. I'm not done yet. My excitement hasn't faded.
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny