The Tiger and the Lion Are Different (4)
Bu Seon's eyes trembled violently, as if an earthquake had struck her very soul. This is impossible.
Crack!Craaaack!
She had already withdrawn ten zhang, yet the steadily amplifying pressure shook her internal energy so fiercely that she was forced to retreat another five. Even after creating a total distance of fifteen zhang, the monstrous pressure was enough to turn her stomach. Despite pushing the peak martial art her master had taught her—the Blood Lion Qi—to its absolute limit, her arms and legs still quivered uncontrollably.
The majesty of an absolute being that defied imagination. When a supreme expert of the Holy Heavens deliberately unleashed their full power, every living thing in the vicinity was seized by terror, regardless of their own martial level. I can't even think of fighting back. Forget fighting—I can't even bear to face him directly! But...
Bu Seon's trembling gaze shifted to Yeon Hojeong. How is he doing that?!
The blue jade-like true qi pouring from Yeon Hojeong was as clear and boundless as a cloudless sky. He stared at Yang Cheon with eyes that did not waver in the slightest.
From the massive axe gripped in his hand, red-and-white flames howled like a storm. His stance was low, left hand braced against the ground, thighs swollen to the point of bursting with terrifying power. He looked like a predator ready to pounce on its prey at any moment. The term "Tiger General" usually described a commander as fierce as a tiger, but the Yeon Hojeong before them had truly become a colossal tiger, radiating a savage, bloodthirsty glare.
And on Yang Cheon's face as he regarded this Yeon Hojeong, there was—unbelievably—a faint smile.
His martial arts could never compare to Master's. He may be stronger than me, but he's merely in a similar realm and hasn't reached the pinnacle! So how can he stand there completely unfazed? Moreover...
Bu Seon's eyes moved from Yeon Hojeong back to Yang Cheon.
Rumble!
The dark red energy rising faintly kept merging and dispersing, repeatedly forming the silhouette of a giant beast.
That is not the Blood Lion Qi.
Bu Seon swallowed hard.
It's similar to the Blood Lion Qi, but far more advanced...!
At that moment, Yang Cheon spoke.
"After exchanging blows with the Four Yin Cult Leader, I took another look at my own martial arts."
"......"
"It couldn't be helped. I had sharpened my fangs, traveling the world with the ambition to one day surpass the Fist God and the Sword Immortal. Who could have known I would fall half a step behind an expert from the outer world that the world itself knew nothing about?"
Bu Seon was visibly startled.
She too knew of the Four Yin Cult Leader. But until now, she had believed her master and that figure had merely exchanged light blows before parting ways. After all, in her eyes, her master Yang Cheon was an absolute, undefeated expert who would never lose to anyone under the heavens.
"The internal injuries I received from him healed in less than half a month. But the wound to my shattered pride did not heal even after a full year. Instead, it festered and rotted from within."
"......"
"Though I used the financial power of the Four Yin Cult to establish the Mukryong-bu, I never once bowed my head to them. I couldn't. I am arrogant by nature. Having lived my entire life believing I was the strongest, how could I possibly tuck my tail after a single defeat?"
Whoosh!
The dark red energy that had been exerting pressure strong enough to shake the earth was suddenly sucked back into Yang Cheon's body in a single breath.
"And so, among the three divine arts I learned, I shed blood and sweat to complete the one that was weakest yet held the most potential precisely because it was incomplete. And..."
Yang Cheon raised his right hand.
A hint of tension flickered through Yeon Hojeong's infinitely sharp eyes. He could sense that an invisible, formless flame was blazing in Yang Cheon's right hand—something the naked eye could not perceive.
"I now stand at the threshold of completion. This martial art is none other than the Black Lion Qi."
The formless flame slowly took on the color of darkness. It was no longer the previous dark red, but a blackish-gray energy brimming with murderous intent. The flickering black-gray flames evoked the image of a lion's mane.
"Disciple."
Yang Cheon spoke without even turning his head.
Bu Seon lowered her head.
"Yes, Master."
"Your comprehension of the Blood Lion Qi is truly commendable. I will pass this power on to you soon."
"Th-thank you!"
The corners of Yang Cheon's mouth curved upward.
"Let us begin in earnest. I hope you can endure at least one exchange."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"Don't worry."
"Here I come."
Boom!
Yang Cheon took a single step forward.
In that instant, Yeon Hojeong felt as if the world itself had darkened. It was only one step, yet it signified that Yang Cheon's will had manifested completely. Three.
Since forming the Yeon Family Divine Elixir, it had never rotated at such terrifying speed.
Not even when fighting the experts of the Shinwha Sect had it spun like this. Those battles had belonged to the realm of fate, but this fight with Yang Cheon belonged to the realm of death itself.
Even Yeon Hojeong, the incarnation of combat, could not help but feel extreme tension. Every strand of true qi in his body activated beyond its limits, and a heavenly talent gleamed in the eyes that watched Yang Cheon. Two.
Sweat beaded on the hand gripping the Mad Dragon Axe.
Without realizing it, he was searching for Yang Cheon's weaknesses. In the fragmented instants of time, he had scanned his opponent's posture dozens of times, yet no meaningful weakness had revealed itself.
Perhaps he would never find one in his lifetime. One.
If there was no weakness, he would create one. The real question was whether he could respond to the opponent's power and speed.
If so?
In a flash, Yeon Hojeong's eyes erupted with pure white flames. It's coming!
Flash!
Before Yang Cheon could even move, Yeon Hojeong's foot had already shifted three and a half inches to the left front.
Boooom!
Yang Cheon's fist, now directly in front of him, pierced through empty air. The tremendous shockwave that erupted from it sent four or five trees ten zhang away crashing to the ground.
......!!
This was not human strength.
It was not a force that could be contained within a human body. Leaving speed aside, the mere pressure of the fist had toppled distant trees like stalks of straw.
The realm of the Martial God. And this realm...
Yang Cheon's mouth opened.
"You read the line of attack and moved in advance to keep your upper body from being blown away. Truly impressive. However..."
He glanced down at Yeon Hojeong.
The distance between them was less than four feet.
"You dodged instead of receiving the blow? Do you intend to ignore the rules?"
In that instant, Yeon Hojeong's Mad Dragon Axe swung, generating a monstrous storm.
One swing capable of tearing apart the bodies of three or four peak experts was blocked casually by a single hand. Not a drop of blood appeared on the palm stopping the axe blade.
Kwaaaang!
Yang Cheon's body shook.
It was an unbelievable sight. The single slash of the Mad Dragon Axe, which could rip apart multiple peak experts in one strike, had been stopped effortlessly with one hand. Yet Yeon Hojeong's face remained perfectly composed.
"Now that I think about it, something feels off."
"Off?"
"I know the rules of the Black Path well. To you, I may appear as a defector."
"Naturally."
"But I am no defector. I simply deceived you."
"Are you resorting to wordplay?"
"I'm speaking of fairness. Unfortunately, I am not a man of the Black Path."
Not a man of the Black Path.
As Yeon Hojeong spoke those words, he peeled away the layers of his past as the Black Dark Emperor, one by one.
"I am the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon Family of the White Path's Orthodox Faction. The Black Path may have its rule of three moves, but my rules contain no such thing."
"......?"
"Let's stop this trivial three-move farce. You must have unresolved feelings as well, so let's fight properly—like the King of Combat you are."
Bewilderment flashed across Yang Cheon's face.
"You're saying we should fight instead of you simply enduring? Against me?"
"Yes."
Hwaaaaaah!
Flame-like killing intent erupted from Yeon Hojeong's entire body.
"You will be fighting me."
Kwaang!
With a powerful stamp of his foot, the aura of the White Tiger surged forth.
"Uaaaaah!"
It was a rare battle cry from Yeon Hojeong. Having drawn power from every muscle in his body, he twisted his upper body with tremendous force.
Rumble!
Yang Cheon's face gradually filled with astonishment.
The hand gripping the Mad Dragon Axe's blade remained exactly where it was. In that same posture, he was pushed back five full feet. Look at this guy?
There was nothing particularly surprising about it—if the opponent had entered the Limitless realm.
The surprising part was precisely that he hadn't.
A young genius who had not even glimpsed the pinnacle within the Transcendent realm had pushed him back with raw power.
And that was not all.
Hssssss!
The Mad Dragon Axe was glowing a searing red.
It was both fire and killing intent. By amplifying the full power of the Yeon Family Divine Elixir and channeling it into the Vermilion Bird qi, an overwhelming heat surged forth that even Yang Cheon found burdensome.
Of course, it was not enough to pierce Yang Cheon's internal energy shield. He had simply been momentarily stunned by a power that surpassed imagination. This guy...
Yang Cheon's eyes deepened. Was he hiding his true strength even back then? It wasn't this much.
No, calling it "this much" was laughable.
The current Yeon Hojeong was displaying power that far exceeded his own limits.
How such a thing was possible, he did not know. But one thing was certain: whether through mental strength or something else, this man defied all common sense.
And astonishingly, faced with the killing intent and fighting spirit Yeon Hojeong displayed, the heart of Yang Cheon—the King of Combat, the absolute expert of the murim—began to pound with excitement.
Swish!
Yeon Hojeong released the Mad Dragon Axe and unfolded the Bloodwing Whirling Heaven.
Not only had he discarded his weapon, but he was executing an ultra-high-speed movement technique at a distance of less than one zhang.
Even for Yang Cheon, this distance and speed were inevitably burdensome.
Yeon Hojeong's fist swung like lightning.
Flash!
Yang Cheon, who had erected a perfect barrier with his internal energy shield, was surprised once again.
The fist aimed at his solar plexus suddenly changed trajectory and targeted the reverse joint of his right elbow.
Crack!
Yang Cheon's arm bounced upward lightly.
Of course, it was not due to Yeon Hojeong's strength. Yang Cheon had deliberately raised his arm to protect the joint.
Swish!
With two short steps, Yeon Hojeong closed into Yang Cheon's embrace.
That movement was yet another surprise. Few would dare dive into the bosom of someone vastly stronger than themselves.
Immediately after, Yeon Hojeong's two fists lashed out at terrifying speed.
Thudthudthudthud! Bangbangbang!
The fists were invisible.
It was not merely fast. Each strike carried equal power, and despite the speed, the fluidity of the linking techniques remained perfectly intact.
Booomboomboom!
Every time the exploding fist strikes were deflected, tremendous detonations erupted.
Yet Yang Cheon's face as he responded to the rapid assault was filled with leisure. He dismantled every unfamiliar fist technique Yeon Hojeong displayed with smooth, gentle motions. Fast and strong. His understanding of linked techniques is remarkably high. Has there ever been a junior who displayed this level of skill in close-quarters combat?
However, that was all.
Determination settled in Yang Cheon's eyes. Certainly impressive, but he still lacks the capability to truly challenge me.
Yang Cheon's foot moved like lightning.
Bang!
"Ugh!"
Yeon Hojeong was sent flying three zhang before landing on the ground.
Yang Cheon's eyes deepened.
"As expected, you are strong. But one must never let their guard down."
Drip.
Yang Cheon looked down at his leg.
The clothing around his shin had been sliced away cleanly. Drops of blood stained the cut fabric.
Yeon Hojeong raised the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes with a cold expression.
"Shall we go again, King of Combat?"