Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Translator: Penny
Chapter 80
"Well then, shall we continue? Though the mood has been somewhat spoiled."
As Zhuge Munhyeon approached, Solokpa couldn't help but grimace.
The Zhuge Clan's martial arts were supposed to be weak.
Their clan was renowned as strategists specializing in formations and mechanisms.
Everyone said so.
And their past actions had confirmed it.
Once a prestigious clan on par with the Namgung Clan, they had been the first to decline with the collapse of the Orthodox Martial Alliance. Isolated by the rising Heretical Forces across the land, they seemed to be merely awaiting their inevitable demise.
But a single clash had completely shattered Solokpa's preconceived notions about the Zhuge Clan.
They were strong.
They weren't just strong in formations and mechanisms; their martial arts were formidable too.
The young martial artist had single-handedly held off fifty members of the Azure Heaven Sword Corps, a feat he felt confident no one else could match.
Of course, there could be exceptions.
It was possible for someone to be born with extraordinary talent.
But the martial artists who had appeared moments earlier, roughly the same age, were different.
While not quite on Zhuge Munhyeon's level, they had precisely read and dismantled the Azure Sky Sword Formation's flow. Each one possessed skills comparable to the Azure Heaven Sword Corps.
Considering their age, their abilities far surpassed those of any late-stage prodigies in the Namgung Clan.
Could it be that a whole generation of anomalies had been born at once?
That seemed impossible.
The Zhuge Clan had methodically overcome their weaknesses, laying the foundation for their resurgence.
Damn it... Blinded by prejudice, he had failed to truly grasp the Zhuge Clan's capabilities.
Solokpa slowly surveyed the surroundings.
Twenty were dead, and none of them had been the main attackers.
The survivors were heavily wounded.
To suffer such losses from a single clash, and against only five opponents... He couldn't afford any further casualties. He needed to stall for time. At least until the remaining fifty Vanguard members, who had departed to attack the Anryuk Branch, could rejoin them.
"Everyone, retreat."
"...?"
"Recover the bodies and tend to your wounds."
After a moment of hesitation, the Namgung Clan warriors bowed their heads and withdrew.
"Ho? I thought you were just using your underlings to wear us down... But it seems you're finally stepping up yourself?"
"Because I acknowledge your skill."
"Thanks for that. But can you handle this alone? I'm fine with you ganging up with your subordinates. Don't regret it later."
"Arrogant fool."
"Arrogant?"
A chuckle escaped him. Arrogance was for those who lacked true skill. He didn't even realize Munhyeon hadn't shown his full power yet.
"I am Solokpa, Third Deputy Commander of the Azure Heaven Sword Corps of the Namgung Clan."
Stepping forward, he declared his name and rank to Zhuge Munhyeon.
This was tantamount to saying he would fight Zhuge Munhyeon with all his might.
If he was going to go all out, he'd be grateful. He still hadn't forgotten the thrill of battling the Nine Splitting Sword. It had been so long since he'd fought a true martial artist that he was so excited he could barely control his strength.
"Solokpa? You must be from a branch family, then?"
"Indeed."
"A descendant of a branch lineage? Impressive, considering you've risen to the High Command of the Azure Heaven Sword Corps within a clan centered on the Main Lineage."
"I used to think so too. But seeing you now makes me question everything I've believed."
"Don't be too hard on yourself. It's just that I'm exceptionally talented."
"I concede. You've proven your strength beyond doubt."
Solokpa gripped his sword with both hands, calmly channeling his Internal Energy.
The air around him shimmered like heat haze, and a strange heat flickered in his usually cold, composed eyes.
In an instant, all traces of complacency vanished from his gaze.
His aura was formidable.
He likely realized he wasn't facing an opponent he could easily defeat, and that the addition of Zhuge Munho and the others had turned the situation overwhelmingly against him.
He must have been furious.
After all, it was as if the Namgung Clan's main force had been pushed back by just five opponents.
But he assessed the situation calmly.
This was clearly a ploy to buy time until the support troops arrived.
He knew it, yet... he still wanted to fight. Another Namgung sword. His heart raced. Just like always...
Zhuge Munhyeon grinned, his mouth stretching wide, and pointed the Silver River Staff straight at Solokpa.
"Come at me. I'll even let you have the first move."
Despite the insulting offer from the younger disciple, Solokpa didn't lose his temper. He had already acknowledged the man's strength.
"I won't refuse!"
Seizing the offered advantage, Solokpa immediately shifted his weight forward and charged.
His feet left no trace as they closed the distance—light and swift.
But why? The Namgung Clan's Boundless Azure Sky shouldn't be restricted by distance, right?
Even as this thought crossed his mind, his sword rode the currents of air, slashing through the space.
Shhh!
With a faint hiss, the blade flashed toward his neck in an instant.
He-Heavenly Wind?
Startled, Zhuge Munhyeon swiftly tilted his head back and leaned his upper body backward.
A searing pain shot through his neck.
The sword hadn't touched him, but the Internal Energy contained within had grazed his skin.
Yet the blade remained alive.
Its curved trajectory reversed rapidly, hurtling back as if to tear through his entire body.
This flow... it's definitely Heavenly Wind.
The three signature sword techniques of the Namgung Clan:
Emperor, Boundless Azure Sky, and Heavenly Wind.
The Emperor was the direct lineage's sword technique.
Infamously difficult and demanding, no one had ever achieved Great Completion in it. Yet those who grasped its true Intent could rightfully be called Emperors of the Sword.
The Boundless Azure Sky Sword Technique was the most widely practiced sword art among the Namgung Clan's warriors. Through centuries of refinement and diverse applications, it had become the mainstream standard.
Its popularity meant many had pioneered the path of sword mastery through it, and some had even shaken the world with their martial prowess.
But the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique...
This was reserved for a select few, requiring a body naturally attuned to contain the overwhelming force of sword intent.
Yet those who mastered it rivaled even the Emperor or the Boundless Azure Sky Sword Technique, and among its practitioners, there were no weaklings.
Clang!
Solokpa's sword strike collided with Zhuge Munhyeon's Silver River Staff, sending his blade flying back.
The energy contained within the sword was formidable.
Though it appeared light and fluid on the surface, the impact sent a sharp ache through Munhyeon's wrist, instantly conjuring memories of a past encounter with someone who had wielded the same martial art.
After traveling the Central Plains, completing countless Martial Arts Duels, and finding no worthy opponents, he had returned to the Demonic Cult. One day, a man came seeking him out. Namgung Hyo, the Thunder Wind Wolf. He claimed to have left his clan to focus on cultivation and had come after hearing rumors of his exploits.
At first, he could only laugh. He had assumed he was just another fool seeking fame. But after clashing swords with him, he realized the truth. If a sword could become human, it would be him. His blade flew like a gust of wind, slicing through flesh and leaving countless wounds. It was a treacherous sword, one that read the flow of battle.
Its movements flowed naturally with the rhythm, making it nearly impossible to predict and parry. Worse still, he seemed to anticipate his every move. After battling for half a day, trapped within that damned sword formation, he finally managed to emerge victorious. He had treated him as an honored guest, and they had spent hours discussing martial arts.
And now, he had encountered his descendant, who had mastered that very sword.
But why...? Why hadn't his sword technique been properly passed down? He had secretly hoped for great things, knowing he was Heavenly Wind. It wasn't due to a lack of cultivation realm or insufficient internal energy. Solokpa simply failed to grasp the true essence of the sword technique.
A regression, you fools! At least the Boundless Azure Sky used by the Nine Splitting Sword had shown significant evolution.
The anticipation he had harbored, the hope that their sword arts had grown stronger, vanished completely. Even the lingering excitement had long since faded. After the clan split into factions, Namgung must have had to decide his own path forward. He had likely focused on the Azure Vault Boundless Sword Technique, which was the most widely practiced among martial artists. It would have been the most suitable for strengthening the clan's power. As a result, the Heavenly Wind technique probably fell into disuse, just like the Zhuge Clan's Minor Heavenly Star Art.
What a pity. He had hoped to witness the Heavenly Wind's former agility once more. How could such a magnificent sword have regressed instead of evolving through generations? His excitement cooled into disappointment. There was no longer any reason to draw swords.
Clang!
Zhuge Munhyeon parried the razor-sharp strike with a powerful counter, his expression visibly displeased as he retreated.
He immediately demanded, "...Is that all you've got?"
"What did you say?"
"A musician's fingers must dance across the zither strings, flowing with the rhythm to produce beautiful music. Your sword should be the same. Yet why have you abandoned what's good and clung to what's useless?"
"...!"
"By sacrificing agility for brute force, you've forgotten its true nature. That path will lead to stagnation..."
Though his words carried a hint of pity, Solokpa lost his composure, which he had maintained until now.
Zhuge Munhyeon's words echoed those of his former master, who had warned him that pursuing only strength would dull his blade.
But Solokpa had chosen a different path.
His relentless pursuit of strength, combined with the formidable power of his Internal Energy infused into the Heavenly Wind Sword, had propelled him to unprecedented success.
Despite being from a collateral branch, he had boldly seized the position of Deputy Commander in the Azure Heaven Sword Corps, now fiercely competing with the Namgung Clan's Main Lineage.
But what was this?
What was wrong with a musician's performance?
Zhuge Munhyeon's words had struck a deep, festering wound—the memory of abandoning his Master.
It was as if his Master were standing before him again, teaching him, lamenting his choices...
"What do you know, you blathering fool!"
"..."
"Did you think acting like an adult would make you look impressive, you little brat?"
Solokpa's face twisted in fury as he ground his teeth and roared, his voice dripping with rage. Zhuge Munhyeon frowned.
Just as I thought... This fool is deaf to reason. As a senior who had lived generations before him, he had tried to point out his flaws. Yet instead of gratitude...
"Haa, enough. What am I expecting from someone so blinded by his own arrogance?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Since words won't reach you, I'll make you feel it with your body!"
Zhuge Munhyeon's icy gaze shifted as his demeanor transformed. His steps grew lighter, his movements flowing naturally like a breeze.
"T-this...?"
Solokpa couldn't possibly mistake it. The movements Zhuge Munhyeon was now executing mirrored his own. Though he wielded the Minor Heavenly Star Sword instead of the Heavenly Wind Sword, the blade danced like a fallen leaf caught in a gentle gust.
This display only fueled Solokpa's fury.
"You dare mock me with imitation!"
Solokpa's rage erupted.
Whoosh!
The sword, unable to withstand the immense surge of Internal Energy, cried out in anguish.
Flash!
Sword light, as brilliant as lightning, flooded the world, followed by a ferocious wind that swept through the air.
"Fool... I warned you."
Zhuge Munhyeon's eyes glinted.
He lowered his stance, his feet stretching out in a long, deliberate stride.
Watch closely, child. This is how to ride the flow—a technique I learned from my Martial Arts Duel with Namgung Hyo. A supreme sword art that encompasses both the path my blade must take and the direction my opponent's movements seek to flow.
Whoosh!
Solokpa's sword strike, swollen with Internal Energy, didn't slash or cut at Zhuge Munhyeon's body. Instead, it crashed down like a giant's hammer.
...?!
Zhuge Munhyeon's figure dissolved before his eyes.
W-where did he go?
But there was no time to search.
Pwaaaak!
The Silver River Staff, swung in a swift arc, struck his jaw with brutal force.
He could see it coming—the sword trajectory etched before his eyes—yet he couldn't evade it.
"Gah!"
His jawbone shattered, and his body was hurled upward.
For a moment, his vision blurred.
But he didn't realize that Zhuge Munhyeon's attack had only just begun.
"Afterglow... Consecutive Strikes."
Even when stars fade, their light lingers.
Crack-crack-crack-crack!
A relentless barrage of consecutive strikes hammered into Solokpa's airborne body.
There was no hint of mercy in the assault—it was an attack designed to utterly crush its target.
"Gah!"
As Solokpa finally collapsed to the ground, the Silver River Staff crashed down on his head.
Kuuuung!
The earth trembled, and a cloud of dust billowed into the air.
Solokpa stared blankly upward.
He was alive.
The tip of the Silver River Staff had narrowly missed his face.
Why... why didn't he kill me?
Solokpa stared up with questioning eyes. Zhuge Munhyeon, who was looking down with a smile, said, "I spared you, even though you raised your sword against me, because of my respect for the Heavenly Wind. So, master it properly. Then come back to me later, wielding the true Heavenly Wind."
"...?"
Solokpa watched Zhuge Munhyeon retreat in a daze.
Consideration? What did that even mean?
But the shock to his body was too severe to allow him to speak.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Munhyeon, who had retreated to the line he had drawn, addressed the warriors of the Azure Heaven Sword Corps.
"Take him and get lost."
At that moment, Zhuge Munhyeon seemed like an absolute ruler commanding the world. Zhuge Munho, who was watching this scene, felt his chest swell with pride.
The fact that the Zhuge Clan's warriors had grown so strong that they could now afford to show mercy to their enemies.
"That fellow... he truly deserves to be called the Divine Dragon."
He thought it was the perfect title. Zhuge Divine Dragon—didn't the name sound magnificent?
But then...
"Elder Brother, what bullshit are you spouting? That guy's just a... Tyrant Dragon."
Gwan Hwipyeong muttered, clearly displeased.
📝 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