Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Slowly Coming to Light
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Ruined Blood Valley, the leader of the Seven Asura Valleys, disguised as the lord of the Fierce Sword Sect. After entrusting the search for Baek Mu-heun to his underlings, he was watching the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.
‘They are all dependable men. They will handle it well on their own.’
But more importantly, his current interest was Jo Gok’s duel.
A duel between those called the rising stars, destined to lead the Orthodox Martial World in the future. Their martial prowess was truly exceptional. He wondered if even he could have won at their age…
However, Jo Gok was different. Though still young, he was more than worthy to succeed the Seven Asura Valleys. A genius who had strengthened himself by mastering martial arts on his own, without ever having been properly taught.
Jo Gok’s strength held up even at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly. He had already defeated more than ten of the rising stars.
And now his opponent was Eon Hwa-taek of the Jinju Eon Clan? There was no way Jo Gok would lose to someone who looked like such a bookworm.
In Ruined Blood Valley’s eyes, this place was a testing ground. Of course, they had come to capture that man, Baek Mu-heun, to fulfill the request from the Ice and Flame Demons…
But the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly?
It was a golden opportunity to assess the skills of the rising star they were nurturing. The skill of a rising star was indicative of the level they would reach as sect elders in the future.
In other words, if Jo Gok could defeat them all, it would mean the Seven Asura Valleys and the Three Unrivaled Blades of the World would not be outmatched by the Orthodox Sects.
“Kekeke, watching a martial arts tournament is quite enjoyable in its own way.”
Neung Gwang Gok, the second of the Seven Asura Valleys, who understood Ruined Blood Valley’s intentions, also laughed and spoke.
“If Jo Gok wins, doesn't that make the Seven Asura Valleys the victors of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly? Kuahahahaha!”
“Of course. What more is there to say? For now, let's just watch. I received word from Eum U Gok just a moment ago that they've found and are pursuing Baek Mu-heun. We should be able to complete the request soon.”
“Then it's only a matter of time until we receive the demonic arts manual. Once our subordinates learn the demonic arts and grow stronger…”
“Indeed. It will only be a matter of time before we conquer the world.”
“Brother, when that time comes, will the Three Unrivaled Blades of the World also…”
“Isn't that obvious? But for now, say no more.”
“Yes.”
Just then, the announcer for the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly shouted loudly.
“Now! Let the duel between Eon Hwa-taek of the Jinju Eon Clan and Jo Gok of the Fierce Sword Sect begin!”
-Waaaaaaah!
-Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!
Amidst a thunderous roar and applause, the duel between the two began.
* * *
The Jinju Eon Clan was a prestigious family based in the Hebei region. A pillar of the Orthodox Martial World, famous for their Eon Clan Fist Arts. Like the Hebei Paeng Clan or the Hwangbo Clan, they were known as a family that inherited a martial disposition.
Rather than simply having outstanding martial talent, it would be more accurate to say they had formidable physiques and fierce spirits. That was the characteristic of the Jinju Eon bloodline.
However, it was widely accepted that they fell far short of the Beggars’ Sect, which had its headquarters in Hebei, or the Hebei Paeng Clan, who could be called the rulers of the region.
This was because the tyrannical blade techniques of the Hebei Paeng Clan did not tolerate the existence of other clans or sects of a similar level.
The Beggars’ Sect was a different story, as there was little that could be done about them, and there was nothing to be gained from antagonizing the largest information network in the Central Plains. Thus, there were no major disputes. But the Jinju Eon Clan was another matter.
Just as the relationship between the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Emei Sect, and the Qingcheng Sect was poor in the Sichuan region, and just as the relationship between the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect was poor in Shaanxi, the relationship between the Hebei Paeng Clan and the Jinju Eon Clan in Hebei was not very good.
The Jinju Eon Clan was famous for researching demonic corpse techniques based on their fist arts, and the Paeng Clan took issue with this.
They claimed that for an orthodox sect, the Eon Clan was studying exceptionally vile arts. In reality, it was closer to internal energy cultivation using spiritual techniques rather than dark arts.
Naturally, the Jinju Eon Clan immediately retaliated against the Paeng Clan, which led to frequent fights.
The problem was that the Paeng Clan's power was overwhelmingly greater than the Eon Clan's.
Initially confident, the Eon Clan challenged the Paeng Clan and was soundly defeated. Humiliated multiple times in the Hebei region, the Eon Clan's power waned with each passing day.
Eventually, even the minor sects and escort agencies of Hebei began to disregard them. This situation made the Eon Clan even more miserable. A family steeped in an inferiority complex.
A family whose members always wore scowls and flaunted their strength with harsh words. That's how they should have been…
But the Jinju Eon Clan attending this Dragon and Phoenix Assembly seemed quite different from before.
Their gait was neat, their speech and demeanor polite.
An elegance devoid of any sense of defeat or jealousy.
The Family Head of the Jinju Eon Clan and all its martial artists had transformed into individuals befitting of the Orthodox Sects.
Sects and families that had previously interacted with the Eon Clan even wondered if these were truly the same people they had known.
It was a sea change—as if a mulberry field had turned into an ocean.
Paeng Mu-seon, the head of the Hebei Paeng Clan, went to see the Eon Clan's head, Eon Jwa-ryang.
The meeting with the Martial Alliance Leader had made him realize that there was an enemy that the entire Central Plains martial world had to unite against…
It was time to join forces with the Eon Clan, not to continue their bickering in the Hebei region. He had been inwardly spurred on after seeing the Sect Leader of Zhongnan offer a handshake to the Plum Blossom Sword Venerable, Jin Hong, after the meeting, suggesting they get along from now on.
That was why he, too, had come to make amends with the Eon Clan.
“Family Head Eon. Have you been well?”
“Haha, look who it is. If it isn't the head of the Paeng Clan. Please, come in.”
Surely, Eon Jwa-ryang had every reason to want him torn to shreds. And yet? He welcomed him with a very gentle smile.
“Ahem… Family Head Eon? Have you always had this kind of personality?”
“Hahahaha, what do you mean? I’ve always been like this.”
“Is that so…?”
“By the way, I understand you attended the meeting convened by the Martial Alliance Leader. Could you perhaps tell me what it was about?”
“Ah, that…”
Paeng Mu-seon hesitated for a moment. The information revealed at the meeting was something the entire martial world needed to know. A prestigious family like the Jinju Eon Clan, even more so.
However, it wasn't yet the time to release the information.
During the meeting, not long after the Soul-Stealing Immortal’s statement, the Chief of the Beggars’ Sect, Bi Chwi-hak, and the leader of the Ha Oh Mun, Wi Guk, had entered.
They reported that they had just met the person the Soul-Stealing Immortal had been waiting for, and they informed everyone that he was a member of the Demonic Cult.
At the mention of the Demonic Cult, he and the other clan heads and sect leaders had protested, but for some reason, the Qingcheng Sect and the Kunlun Sect stepped forward to vouch for his identity.
Even the Emei Sect, the Sichuan Tang Clan, and the Kongtong Sect sent letters vouching for him.
Who in the world was he, and what was he?
There was a brief commotion, but the Martial Alliance Leader, Du Baek, and the Plum Blossom Sword Venerable, Jin Hong, said it wouldn't be too late to decide after meeting him, and that they would know after he fought against the rising stars of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.
So, for now, they were waiting for the results.
It wasn't that he didn't trust the Jinju Eon Clan, but he couldn't share information that wasn't yet confirmed. However…
The guilt he felt for his past actions against the Eon Clan in Hebei weighed on his mind. Wouldn't it be alright to share just a few solid pieces of information?
It would probably be fine. After all, the Jinju Eon Clan wasn't just some run-of-the-mill family. Having made up his mind, Paeng Mu-seon spoke to Eon Jwa-ryang.
“The Martial Alliance is currently focusing on the strange phenomena occurring in the Central Plains. And they have summoned us to prepare for these phenomena.”
“Strange… phenomena?”
“That's right. And they are not mere natural disasters. They are inhuman beings that all the forces of our martial world must unite to confront.”
“…!?”
Suddenly, the expression of the Eon Clan’s head, Jwa-ryang, hardened viciously.
* * *
*Thump!*
The sound of a drum echoed.
Eon Hwa-taek of the Jinju Eon Clan was different from the other martial artists of his family, who were born with strong physiques. Not only was his body not particularly large, but his speech and actions also had the feel of a refined martial artist.
In contrast, Jo Gok, representing the Fierce Sword Sect, was three times the size of an ordinary person.
*Thump!*
With another beat of the drum, the duel began, and the two men shot off the ground simultaneously, clashing.
Jo Gok used a claw technique reminiscent of a ferocious beast, while Eon Hwa-taek used the Eon Clan Fist Arts, the martial art of the Jinju Eon Clan.
Neither wielded a steel weapon; they were fighters who purely enhanced their bodies with ki.
However, the sonic booms created when they collided had the tremendous force of an exploding thunderclap bomb.
Eon Hwa-taek's fist technique was so destructive that an explosive sound erupted wherever his fist landed, and the ground crumbled like autumn leaves.
In contrast, Jo Gok let out a mad laugh, as if he were accustomed to this kind of battle.
“Kuahahahat! This is fun! So much fun! There’s no hesitation in your fists!”
Laughing wildly, Jo Gok dodged Eon Hwa-taek's punches by a hair's breadth and countered with a fierce claw technique.
The savage claws, condensed with supreme-level energy, soon began to tear the arena to shreds.
*Kwakwakwang!*
However, Eon Hwa-taek's fist technique, while aggressive, was well-balanced between offense and defense. He deflected all the sharp incoming energy with powerful punches and immediately charged in again.
“Ke-hit! This is great! Great! You're like a beast!”
Jo Gok took a liking to Eon Hwa-taek. As a member of the Seven Asura Valleys, he had fought countless battles. As he repeated these fights, he came to experience an intense pleasure in the moments between life and death.
After some time, he began to enjoy fighting. From then on, he fought without regard for his own safety, and that was what caught the eye of Ruined Blood Valley, the leader of the Seven Asura Valleys.
His position began to rise rapidly, and Lord Ruined Blood Valley himself had said that if he continued like this, he too could become one of the Seven Asura Valleys.
But so what?
Jo Gok never cared about such things in the first place.
The only thing important to him was the pleasure that came from battle! The tension of knowing he could die at any moment! That was all he desperately craved. And yet… the martial artists of the Orthodox Sects were boring.
Especially in the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly tournament, none of them came at him with the intent to kill. What kind of fight could you have with such a half-hearted resolve?
Just then, Eon Hwa-taek's fist flew before Jo Gok's eyes. A fist cloaked in blue aura, powerful enough to cause instant death with a single mistake.
“This is it! This is it!”
Jo Gok no longer had any intention of holding back in this fight, even if it meant using a killing technique here. Even if he and the Seven Asura Valleys were exposed as a result, he had to enjoy this battle now.
A blue fist aura rushed toward Jo Gok’s face. However, with unbelievable flexibility and elasticity, Jo Gok twisted his head and let the punch flow past him. Then he immediately countered with a powerful claw technique.
*Kaaang!*
Once again, Eon Hwa-taek deflected Jo Gok’s sharp claws. He hadn't held back, yet his opponent had blocked it as if it were nothing. Indeed… this guy was the best!
It was then that Jo Gok felt a sense of déjà vu from Eon Hwa-taek’s face.
‘A chilling smile?’