Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Birth of the Thunder March Gale
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Yuk Jin-yang's expression hardened.
'To think he'd resort to means beyond the Bone Possession Sword.'
His miscalculation had been assuming only the twin hand swords. The bastard possessed yet another ultimate technique, one he had never witnessed in his previous life.
Any weapon varied wildly in power depending on the wielder, but chain swords were especially so.
Especially if a master like the Ghost Sword Master claimed it as his cherished blade—no further explanation was needed. He had to keep those unpredictable trajectories in mind and stay vigilant.
The man uncoiled the sword from his waist and struck.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu!
Like a whip slamming the floor, the chain sword plowed relentlessly through the cabin deck, surging forward. It rushed in like undulating waves.
Yuk Jin-yang dodged sideways while thrusting Azure upward. His aim was to tangle the chain sword's blade and shatter it outright.
But the blade's trajectory shifted.
It seemed to curve in from the side, only to surge upward mid-swing, aiming for his crown. It felt as though the energy and intent cloaking the blade were finely adjusting it.
Chaeng!
He parried with Azure, but the rebound created another erratic path. Yuk Jin-yang spun sideways and unleashed another sword strike. Seizing the gap as the chain sword recoiled, he lunged forward without hesitation.
Extending his step with Moon Stream Subtle Steps, he invaded the foe's predetermined path. Their footwork intertwined, but his opponent was slightly faster.
Before he knew it, the Ghost Sword Master had flanked him. Pain raced along his spine even before the chill could prickle his skin. An infused kick slammed into Yuk Jin-yang's side.
Peok!
The protective aura cloaking his body shattered in an instant. It was a strike so fierce it made him doubt the value of his inner energy barrier. The unblocked shock pierced his muscles, churning his entrails.
'Kuh.'
He barely steadied himself after stumbling back a few steps. His frame had nearly buckled, but the Moon Maiden Divine Art's energy still anchored his core.
It was thanks to the Moon Maiden Divine Art that the light blow hadn't turned into a severe injury.
His foe gave no respite. The chain sword's blade once more rolled in like rippling waves. It was a torrent of steel.
Yuk Jin-yang gritted his teeth.
He swung Azure high in a powerful counter while stomping hard to launch himself airborne. As if anticipating it, the chain sword altered course and pursued.
Yet the Golden Leaf Body Technique proved its worth.
Moving like a leaf adrift on the wind, he slipped effortlessly through the endlessly shifting sword paths. It was as if he pierced the eye of a typhoon—fierce gales grazed his cheeks and hair.
He finally closed in on his opponent. A long chain sword like that couldn't handle close-quarters brawl.
That was when.
The Ghost Sword Master's idle left arm stirred. In his left hand gleamed a dagger drawn from his sleeve.
"Haven't you heard that an assassin's range is boundless?"
The words came belatedly. The dagger was already thrusting in. Yuk Jin-yang leaned back obliquely to evade, but the arm twisted in the grotesque arc unique to the Bone Possession Art, striking again.
This time, Yuk Jin-yang didn't dodge—he met it head-on.
Ten Thousand Rivers Single Source Art, first form: Chaotic Waters Fury Strike.
The opening blow upward against the dagger arm, followed by an advancing step and a flurry of follow-ups. At once, the Ghost Sword Master unleashed exquisite footwork from beneath his feet.
Block, evade, counter—a flurry of exchanges ensued. Fists and swords intertwined, feet weaving in complex patterns. It was a battle beneath the surface.
Kung.
The foe's leg, flying like a kick, morphed into a stomping advance. Beyond expectation, the dagger grazed his upper arm.
Blood spurted from the sliced flesh like spilled ink. A shallow wound, but it was Yuk Jin-yang who had taken the hit.
He staggered back a step.
A sneer curled the lips of his great foe, who watched. He seemed utterly confident of his superiority from the recent clash.
"Not bad at all. Enough for a bit of amusement, anyway."
"Your overconfidence comes too soon."
Footwork once more.
His opponent's speed and subtlety exceeded expectations. It felt even more profound than the Bone Possession Sword. Even Moon Stream Subtle Steps struggled to counter it. He could barely chase afterimages.
'It's not just fast footwork.'
He had a rough idea of the principle.
Explosive power from lower-body acupoints, creating afterimages of energy and confusing directions. No different from an illusory sword executed with the legs.
Rather than despair at the supreme art, curiosity stirred.
'This will make a fine reference.'
The thought came with a short exhale. Profound, yet not an insurmountable wall. It even felt exhilarating.
He could sense it. His insight had sharpened further.
He perceived realms unseen in his past life's observations. Because he had crossed blades with him, because he could somewhat match this master surpassing his current skill.
Yuk Jin-yang was certain. He could advance one step beyond his past self. By claiming his foe's art as his own and evolving it further.
If tangible energy afterimages could deceive the eyes, higher applications were possible.
'He fused illusory sword principles into footwork, so other arts should work too. Energy bursts and manifestations. Start there.'
The lightning-like insight flashed through his mind, swiftly crystallizing into concrete ideas. His head throbbed as thoughts raced.
In this moment, his innate genius shone at its peak.
Countless ideas overlapped and intersected. He seized only the essentials. The framework of a martial principle—what some called a formula—took shape. Fleshing it out was simple.
Soon, something worthy of being called a new martial art wove itself in his mind.
The time to invent this ascending study? A mere instant. He had seized the bolt-like inspiration in one breath.
That was when the Ghost Sword Master swung his chain sword with a mocking laugh.
"You seemed so confident just moments ago, but look at you—giving up already!"
He couldn't know what transpired in Yuk Jin-yang's mind. He merely assumed the gap in skill had overwhelmed him, as with all prior opponents.
Yuk Jin-yang made no retort.
He finely tuned every motion of his body. Intent imbued all actions.
Each step, each swing of an arm carried purpose. To manifest array principles through his personal movements, as if axis and formation.
At the same time, he maximized his muscles' utility by applying foot acupoint principles across his body.
Such attempts birthed new horizons.
Kung!
Yuk Jin-yang stomped forward, slicing through the air. Energy swirled around him like a whirlwind.
He pierced the chain sword's complex path in one insight. The Ghost Sword Master's response was unchanged. Rather than retreat, he trusted his footwork and welcomed close combat.
But this time was different.
Kung!
The thunderous descending step severed his foe's footwork rhythm.
Hwaaak!
A massive gale erupted from his toes. The towering energy pillar swept away the Ghost Sword Master's footwork prowess in an instant.
Yuk Jin-yang's energy wind didn't just push aside the foreign qi—it devoured it. Like a typhoon engulfing a breeze, it greedily consumed and swelled larger.
It was the Ten Thousand Rivers Single Source Art's first form, Riding Waves Mounting Gale's principle of Borrow Qi Mend Qi, embodied in footwork. Just as his foe had manifested illusory sword with his steps.
The energy haze mocking his senses scattered in a blink.
Realizing his footwork nullified, the Ghost Sword Master's face stiffened.
"What?"
Sensing some unease, perhaps. The smile vanished from his face. He fell back with retreating steps, opting to observe first.
'I can go further.'
Yuk Jin-yang advanced again. Beyond mere footwork, toward total-body command as a unified whole.
He raced through space like lightning. Energy winds propelled him while sweeping up qi from his foe's surging acupoints, sealing his steps.
Thunder March Gale.
The name of the new footwork arose unbidden, without deliberation.
Where Moon Stream Subtle Steps glided space by crafting energy platforms, Thunder March Gale swept away obstructing qi. Thus, its utility was far more aggressive.
Finally grasping the situation, the Ghost Sword Master cried out in astonishment.
"A footwork that devours foe qi and binds their steps? What outrage is this...!"
Fusing Ten Thousand Rivers Single Source Art with footwork yielded array-like effects. Not dissecting origins or flaws, but crushing outright with force.
In truth, Yuk Jin-yang himself became the axis, cloaking his form in array power.
Inner energy flow speed, sturdy meridians, and ascending cultivation method—all elements synergized into this miracle.
"I'll gladly accept the high praise."
Yuk Jin-yang replied calmly, swinging Azure. The blade streaked with dazzling light, driving into the Ghost Sword Master's guard.
"The Vanguard King has finally taken position."
"The northwestern zealots have linked with the Ghost Sword Society's main force and are marching south."
"No movements detected from the Brocade Guard side. It seems the forces the Master previously engaged are all they have."
"The Ghost Sword Master has failed. The martial artists aboard the allied ships exceed expectations."
Men's and women's subdued voices echoed in the cavern. Around them lay messenger crows, sprawled after delivering their missives. Exhausted from nonstop flight over vast distances.
The Flame Rain Immortal, hands clasped behind her back as she tallied the Flying Swallow Express reports, spoke.
"One is missing."
The answer came promptly.
"No report from the northeastern detachment."
"Northeast? Then perhaps the Vanguard King dispatched a separate unit. To guard against potential ambushes."
"I think so too, my lady. But should we consider other possibilities?"
"We must account for a master's intervention, but..."
Stroking her chin, the Flame Rain Immortal gazed at the ceiling. Last time she met the Ghost Sword Master here alone, the lotus hadn't bloomed. Now, it neared full flower.
"Proceed as planned. The lotus is blooming—no time to delay."
The Flame Rain Immortal turned. Her gaze pierced the darkness beyond. There lay a coffin bound tight with iron chains.
"And even if someone intervenes, it matters not. Let the alliance masters or imperial hounds come as they please. Once the grand ritual completes, few in the world could handle this corpse—that once-great foe of Emperor Guangwu."