Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Sparring Tournament (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sword genius Geum Muk felt a sensation he'd never experienced before. It was as if his sword refused to obey him no matter what. For Geum Muk, who always communed deeply with his blade, this unfamiliar feeling shook his mind terribly in the midst of the duel.
Geum Muk swiftly gripped the sword's hilt to suppress it, preventing the blade from ringing out rebelliously.
The sword's hum ceased, and it fell silent like an inanimate object, showing no response at all.
The sword no longer acted on its own, but it had also stopped moving fluidly according to Geum Muk's will. The communion with his sword, which had reached near sword-body unity, was severed.
'Damn it, what the hell is going on?! My sword-body unity!'
Geum Muk had to admit that more than half his strength had been cut away. His sword-body unity had been forged through long years of training and deep rapport with the blade. It shouldn't have been broken so easily!
'Stay calm, stay calm, Geum Muk! The duel isn't over yet. I can still win without sword-body unity.'
Even so, nothing had changed.
Even without sword-body unity, he could defeat a mere Response Qi 8th Star disciple. The swordsmanship Geum Muk had honed was beyond Response Qi level! He was confident he could hold his own against even Gathering Qi elites when it came to pure sword skill!
Having silenced his sword, Geum Muk readjusted his stance and charged at Yuk-gyeong once more.
Yuk-gyeong, who had given Geum Muk a moment to regroup, met the oncoming assault head-on.
Kaang!
When Geum Muk's sword clashed against Yuk-gyeong's arm, the sound of metal striking metal rang out.
Surprisingly, Yuk-gyeong's arm was protected by metal bracers.
It was the preparedness of someone who planned to face his foe with bare fists.
Yuk-gyeong pressed Geum Muk with his steel bracers and flashed a sly grin.
Pabak! Pababak!
Yuk-gyeong stepped forward with Foresight Fist's footwork, pursuing Geum Muk relentlessly. Geum Muk retreated repeatedly, swinging his sword in checks, but under Yuk-gyeong's ferocious onslaught, he was pushed into a defensive scramble.
The reason Geum Muk was falling back wasn't just because Yuk-gyeong fought well.
'Is... is he reading my thoughts?'
Geum Muk realized Yuk-gyeong was anticipating his every move!
How could anyone predict an opponent's trajectory without reading minds?
Geum Muk clamped his jaw shut and poured every ounce of effort into the fight.
His feet traced bizarre directions, occupying the Nine Palaces positions. It was the footwork of the Six Purities Sword Art, which had come to him naturally at Response Qi 3rd Star.
'He can't follow this footwork! No Response Qi disciple has ever kept up with it!'
But Yuk-gyeong seemed to have already read Geum Muk's movements, positioning his fist a step ahead where Geum Muk would be.
To say "positioning" was putting it mildly—it was more like swinging with full intent to smash.
Peuk!
Geum Muk took Yuk-gyeong's fist to the chest and recoiled in shock. Even as pain throbbed through his ribs and his body staggered, he refused to believe it.
'How?'
How is he reading my movements? How is he matching my footwork?
As he pummeled Geum Muk relentlessly, Yuk-gyeong silently thanked the martial artist sister he'd met before coming to Ten Lakes.
Foresight Fist!
The art that foresaw first!
The Foresight Fist Yuk-gyeong had plundered was basic in the martial world, but combined with his techniques, it created a bizarre synergy.
Originally, Foresight Fist reacted to the opponent's attacks via the principle of post-initiative preemption.
But fused with Yuk-gyeong's five senses and Heaven-Earth Spiritual Energy, Geum Muk's swinging sword trajectories became visible to him!
Where he would swing the blade, which direction he would position his arm—everything!
I can see everywhere you're going.
All Yuk-gyeong had to do was swing his fist toward Geum Muk's intended direction.
Like this.
Peuk peuk!
Geum Muk was getting utterly demolished without a chance to counter.
Unbefitting a delicately raised young master, Geum Muk showed remarkable toughness, swelling up from the blows yet refusing to fall.
But no matter how sturdy one was, they were helpless before a relentless barrage.
With sword-body unity sealed and even his signature Six Purities Sword Art dismantled, Geum Muk had no way to fight back.
Geum Muk held out valiantly, but in the end, his eyes swelled shut like ripe plums, and he collapsed.
Thud!
As Geum Muk fell, the arena fell silent. An unbelievable defeat for Geum Muk! The crowd needed time to process it.
How?
Geum Muk lost? The strongest Response Qi disciple of Radiant Moon Sect?
To some no-name called Yi Yuk-gyeong?
And apparently, he'd only joined the outer sect a week ago?
What's more, he was a mortal when he first arrived?
Could this really happen?
And Yi Yuk-gyeong was only Response Qi 8th Star! For an 8th Star to sweep through all the promising 9th Stars and claim victory!
It felt like the win had gone to some random nobody.
Still, the match had a clear outcome.
The winner stood tall; the loser lay sprawled. Victory and defeat were plain.
In the midst of that shocking turmoil, the judge didn't keep the crowd waiting.
Raising his hand toward Yi Yuk-gyeong, the judge declared,
"The winner is,"
"Yi Yuk-gyeong!"
Cheers erupted belatedly.
Waaah—! Yi Yuk-gyeong!
Response Qi 8th Star! Hope of the Response Qi Realm!
Single Spiritual Root genius Yi Yuk-gyeong!
The birth of the Response Qi Realm's strongest among fellow disciples turned Iron Citadel Peak into a cauldron of ecstasy.
So what if a no-name took the win? He was still one of their own.
Besides, he wasn't completely unknown.
The new outer disciple who'd just arrived, Single Spiritual Root Yi Yuk-gyeong? Everyone had heard the name at least.
Legendary Single Spiritual Root. They said cultivation speed was unmatched.
Did he have a master yet? Not an inner disciple, so maybe no formal teacher?
Speculation swirled around the heaven-sent genius Yi Yuk-gyeong.
But for now, it was time to celebrate the champion's birth.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The award ceremony for Yuk-gyeong's victory was personally handled by an elder of Iron Citadel Peak.
Iron Citadel Peak Elder, the Law Wanderer Go Tae-gong, presented Yuk-gyeong with a small pouch containing spirit stones and pills, praising him.
"Disciple Yi Yuk-gyeong. I commend you for your outstanding performance in the sparring tournament hosted by Iron Citadel Peak. You're the disciple who entered the sect under Elder Geum, right?"
"Yes, Elder. I'm the newly initiated Yi Yuk-gyeong."
Yuk-gyeong bowed politely.
Elder Go smiled approvingly and even handed over a magical tool.
"Indeed, that was splendid magical disruption. Keep striving ahead. This is the spirit stones, pills, and magical tool given to the champion. You'll learn the details once you refine the tool."
"Thank you, Elder."
"When you reach Gathering Qi Realm later, coming to Iron Citadel Peak would be a fine choice. We're a merit-based faction, so it'll greatly aid in selecting your core cultivation method afterward."
Elder Go even slipped in some Iron Citadel Peak promotion.
If he'd thrown in one more magical tool, Yuk-gyeong might've bowed his head and joined them upon reaching Gathering Qi. No such luck.
Elder Go's eyes gleamed with subtle intent.
He seemed eager to say more, but in the end, he held back and stepped down first.
Yuk-gyeong waved the award magical tool like a trophy before descending the platform.
Waaah—!
New star Yi Yuk-gyeong!
Fighting young master Yi Yuk-gyeong!
The disciples cheered at Yuk-gyeong's stage presence. The name Yi Yuk-gyeong, Single Spiritual Root genius, was etched into everyone's minds.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Once the sparring tournament fully concluded, a modest banquet was held for those who placed in the top ranks.
Only the top 10 performers could attend, and runner-up Geum Muk had left early, claiming urgent cultivation matters.
What a sore loser.
Even without Geum Muk, the banquet was lively.
Yuk-gyeong thought the pure Daoist sect's party was surprisingly fun. With alcohol and meat, no less.
Of course, the meat was just salted, and the liquor burned like fire, but good vibes made up for it, right?
As Yuk-gyeong sipped his drink, someone sat beside him.
It was Deung Ja-jin, the one who'd surrendered in the semifinals. The butterfly enthusiast.
"Congratulations on the win, junior brother."
"Thank you, senior brother."
Deung Ja-jin genuinely celebrated Yuk-gyeong's victory.
At least, his expression didn't lie. His handsome, serpentine face beamed brightly.
As a semifinalist himself, Deung Ja-jin more than qualified for the banquet.
Ja-jin drank alongside Yuk-gyeong, like a drinking buddy.
But even that could grow awkward if prolonged. Just as Yuk-gyeong started feeling it,
Deung Ja-jin suddenly asked,
"Junior brother, have you ever wondered why you're not getting more attention despite being a Single Spiritual Root?"
It was true. That Elder Mu had seemed to value him before, but the other disciples were oddly ignorant.
Being a Single Spiritual Root should draw every eye in the sect. Yet this much indifference? There had to be some behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
And Yuk-gyeong knew exactly who might be pulling strings.
"Hm, isn't it because of that slimy-looking inner disciple senior uncle?"
At Yuk-gyeong's "slimy" description, Ja-jin immediately caught on and burst into laughter.
"Senior Uncle Jang Yeong-ok! Haha, 'slimy'—don't say that where others might hear. He'd blow up for sure. He doesn't take well to talk about himself. He's handsome too, you know. Don't hate him too much."
Ja-jin waved it off, as if handsome Yeong-ok wasn't so bad either. What a spineless guy. Handsome and pretty means all good?
Yuk-gyeong pouted and snorted.
"Don't hate him? He's the reason my sect life is getting tangled. I'm not getting the attention I deserve."
"Heh heh, it's already tangled. Senior Uncle Yeong-ok is from the Jang family. The Jangs lead the largest faction in Radiant Moon Sect. With two Core Formation elders already produced, and a promising disciple to boot, they're at their peak. That's why a Single Spiritual Root like you rubs them wrong. Resources have to be split. You've been getting quite a bit of spirit stones and pills since joining the outer sect, haven't you?"
That checked out.
Yuk-gyeong knew he received at least 1.5 times more spirit stones and pills than other disciples. While others scrimped, he had plenty left over even after use.
Spirit stones were a cultivator's currency.
Crystals condensed from Heaven-Earth Spiritual Energy, they replenished the holder's spiritual energy, aiding cultivation or emergencies.
Like a combo of training supplements and spiritual energy batteries.
So they served as cash in the cultivation world.
Half the reason Yuk-gyeong hadn't been tempted to pilfer herbs from the Herb Hall since joining was that. He had enough money. His conscience played a part too, of course.
"That's true."
"It's all because you're a Single Spiritual Root getting extra resources. The sect values you more than you think. Normally, elders would be lining up to take you as a disciple. But the Jangs have you marked, and other factions are watching, so the elders can't move rashly."
He knew the sect valued him. Elder Mu had secured his training time and promised ongoing care.
Sigh.
Factions, those damn factions.
The cultivation world was a political arena too. Pure Daoist sect or not, it was all politics.
Wherever people gathered, politics followed—but immortals-to-be playing politics? Pure comedy.
Still, it was inevitable. Allocating resources via political logic was efficient.
"I see... Are the Jangs that dominant? Everyone tiptoeing around them?"
"The Jangs have two Core Formation elders in the sect, both holding key positions. That explain it? This is why it's no pure Daoist haven. They should prioritize the sect's benefit, not family gains. The sect leader must have headaches over it."
"So what do I do? Keep living under the Jangs' ire?"
"For now. But endure, and good days will come. As a Single Spiritual Root, your cultivation will be swift. Raise your realm through training and trust in your strength. Once you reach Core Formation, no one will dare bother you."
Core Formation, my ass.
Can't even hit Gathering Qi yet, and you're talking ages away.
Word was, Response to Gathering Qi alone took years, mastering Gathering Qi took decades. And succeeding at Core Formation from there? Pure luck from the heavens.
But as a Single Spiritual Root, success wasn't impossible if given time.
The issue was whether the Jangs would allow that time...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇