Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: A Reward for Courage
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“Now, let the match between Dang So-so of the Sichuan Tang Clan and Baek Mu-heun begin!”
At Pae-seon’s cry, the match commenced. The nature of this duel was different from the previous ones.
It was a world away from the five matches that had ended in the blink of an eye.
Mu-heun stood still, receiving Dang So-so’s attacks.
With one hand, he deflected all the fiercely soaring daggers, and with a light turn of his body, he dodged the spinning Soul-Chasing Dagger.
“Phoenix Dagger!”
The Phoenix Dagger shot out from Dang So-so’s sleeve.
The internal energy contained within that single dagger was immense; it was a truly sharp and powerful technique.
However, it was the same as before. Something like black ink emerged from Mu-heun’s hand, quelling the Phoenix Dagger’s explosion.
Dang So-so finally injected poison into her daggers. A poison she had never used during the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly. The reason being, a single mistake could lead to her opponent’s death.
However,
this time, she had no such worries. She knew that Mu-heun was as skilled in medicine as he was in dealing with poisons.
He was more knowledgeable about poison than anyone else present. In terms of martial arts, he was several levels above her.
‘He is an excessive opponent to test my skills against.’
Dang So-so relentlessly infused her attacks with poison energy and unleashed a poisonous mist, fighting with all her might.
Mu-heun, on the other hand, calmly received all her attacks.
*Clang! Clang!*
It was clear to the other rising stars that Dang So-so had not been using her full strength until now.
It was just that, in the current situation, something far more shocking was happening, making that fact seem trivial.
Mu-heun met each of Dang So-so’s desperate attacks and occasionally swung his sword. Each time, she dodged by a hair’s breadth, but the Elders already knew.
They knew that Mu-heun was attacking in a way that allowed her to dodge by a hair’s breadth.
After about thirty minutes had passed, Mu-heun spoke as if he had made a decision.
“You are quite strong, but that won’t be enough. I hope you continue to strive for more.”
Mu-heun emanated a menacing aura toward Dang So-so.
Dang So-so nodded and said.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
She then gathered internal energy in both hands, manifesting the Myriad Streams Returning to the Origin Divine Art. It was a martial art of telekinesis, one that drew in the hidden weapons she frequently used.
The hidden weapons, infused with her energy, were connected to her. It was a secret art of the Tang Clan that retrieved them all in an instant. A power that could only be attained through bone-grinding effort.
She simultaneously imbued all of her hidden weapons with sharp killing intent and poisonous energy, then tossed them into the sky.
“Sky-Full-of-Falling-Flowers!”
At the same time, she threw fifteen daggers straight ahead. Five curved to the left, five to the right, flying toward Mu-heun, while the last five shot straight forward.
“This is my final move! Receive it!”
Powerful daggers rushed toward Mu-heun. And the countless hidden weapons filling the sky cast a dark shadow over the dueling stage.
Seeing the current scene, Mu-heun recalled the first time he had faced the Golden Fang Poison Claw’s Sky-Full-of-Falling-Flowers. At his level back then, he couldn't have stood against the Golden Fang Poison Claw, who was a peak-level master.
If the Blade Leaf Demon hadn’t stepped in, he would have been severely injured by the countless hidden weapons raining down from the sky... or he might have even died.
But not this time. This was the Sky-Full-of-Falling-Flowers unleashed by Dang So-so, who was even stronger than the Golden Fang Poison Claw of that time. The power seemed twice as strong, yet his heart was at ease.
He gripped the Sun and Moon Sword and drew forth a menacing demonic energy.
The threads of energy already numbered in the thousands. He channeled them into his sword and began to clash them together, creating an explosion of energy while maintaining perfect balance.
He controlled the exploded energy like the wind. It was to imitate the Blade Leaf Demon's technique.
“First Wind.”
A whirlwind formed around the sword, surrounded by powerful demonic energy that made it look like a pillar of fire.
“Ascension.”
He swung the Sun and Moon Sword upward from the ground to the sky.
*KWWAAAAAANG!*
A pillar of violet flame shot up, shattering the hidden weapons that filled the sky, and Dang So-so’s weapons fell like autumn leaves in the wind.
Mu-heun gently lowered the sword he had raised to the sky, then spun, striking down the daggers coming from the left, right, and front. He also used the unique dance-like footwork of the Heavenly Dance Family, twirling his body as he moved forward.
He gracefully closed the distance to Dang So-so while spinning.
And then.
*KWAANG!*
He brought the pillar of fire down right next to Dang So-so, missing her by a hair’s breadth.
*KWAGWANGKWANGKWANG!*
The stage burst into flames, and Dang So-so collapsed to the ground. She wasn't seriously injured, but the outcome of the match was clear.
Mu-heun extended a hand to the fallen Dang So-so and said.
“Continue to strive for more.”
Only then did Dang So-so smile again and take Mu-heun’s hand.
“I trained as if to die after entering seclusion... but now I see even that was not enough.”
‘Hmm... I think the Wind Leaf Lord of Blade Leaf Valley said something like this before.’
They were mistaken.
While it was true that Mu-heun was a genius, it was impossible to become this strong this quickly through genius alone. They thought Mu-heun must have also undergone grueling training through painstaking effort. That was why he had become so strong so quickly.
But that wasn't it.
Ah, of course, he had undergone grueling training. But that was because he had received personal instruction from Master Heavenly Demon. And it was in a completely white space, where he lost all track of time... It felt like he had trained for two hundred years.
Because he had so tenaciously trained and mastered the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon, he was able to grow strong at an absurd rate in this life... Without that, such growth would have been impossible.
Therefore, all the martial artists standing before Mu-heun now deserved respect.
Because it was by no means their failing.
“Just keep doing as you are now.”
That was the only thing Mu-heun could say to Dang So-so. You are already doing well enough, so just keep it up.
Of course, it was audacious of her to doubt him and try to hold him back... but he forgave her, knowing that all her actions stemmed from her sense of justice.
‘As long as the Soul-Stealing Immortal stands firm in the Martial Alliance, there's nothing she can do anyway.’
Dang So-so accepted her defeat and stepped down. Thus, the second match also ended in Mu-heun's victory.
Was it because Dang So-so, the winner of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, had stepped forward? The other rising stars also began to confidently step onto the stage.
However, their reason for coming onto the stage was quite different from before. They had discarded any thought of winning from the start. There was only one thing they could gain now. Experience.
Namgung Yeon stepped onto the stage and drew his sword.
“I ask for your guidance.”
Mu-heun also raised his Sun and Moon Sword and spoke to Namgung Yeon and the other rising stars.
“Seven to eight minutes. Pour everything you have into that time.”
*Nod.*
Mu-heun moderately faced all the rising stars who came up after that.
Seven to eight minutes.
That was the time Mu-heun allowed them, and they, grateful for his consideration, were able to pour out all their strength.
In the spectator seats, where martial artists of Elder rank and above were gathered, they soon realized the nature of the matches had changed. It was no longer a duel of winning and losing, but a form where one person was bestowing teachings upon the others.
It was only natural. That man, Baek Mu-heun, was too strong.
Even if they, who were not of the younger generation, were to step up themselves, they had no confidence they could take him on one-on-one.
Namgung Jin, who had initially judged Mu-heun’s actions as arrogant, also fell silent.
It was to be expected.
Among the leaders of the Orthodox Sects gathered here, the only ones who could completely subdue Baek Mu-heun were, at best, Martial Alliance Leader Du Baek and the Plum Blossom Sword Venerable Jin Hong.
Unbelievable martial prowess. Normally, he would be seen as a threat, but strangely, they didn't feel much hostility.
On the contrary, the Soul-Stealing Immortal’s words that he would become the focal point of the great war to come were beginning to gain credibility.
Just then.
*KWAAANG!*
All the rising stars had fallen.
All but one, that is.
Mu-heun spoke in a completely different voice from when he had been calling up the rising stars until now.
“Next. Get up here.”
The one Mu-heun looked at was Eon Hwa-taek of the Jinju Eon Clan. The one who had murdered Jo Gok, who had been disguised as a member of the Fierce Sword Sect.
Eon Hwa-taek, the rising star of the Jinju Eon Clan.
The expression on Eon Hwa-taek’s face was on a different level from the other rising stars. A face mixed with anger and elation. An expression that said he wanted to go up there and tear Mu-heun to pieces right now.
And yet, his steps were neat, and his words carried a sense of dignity. However, to Mu-heun, his actions seemed like he was acting the part of a refined martial artist.
‘Up close, it’s even clearer. This guy isn’t Eon Hwa-taek. He’s a Ghost Spirit wearing his skin.’
Eon Hwa-taek walked up with steady, straight steps and performed a cupped fist salute.
“I am Eon Hwa-taek of the Jinju Eon Clan. I ask for your guidance.”
“…”
However, Mu-heun did not reply. He simply glanced once at Martial Alliance Leader Du Baek and the Plum Blossom Sword Venerable Jin Hong.
*Nod.*
Martial Alliance Leader Du Baek focused on the match that was about to begin, and the Plum Blossom Sword Venerable Jin Hong did the same. Both knew the time had come, as they had heard the words Mu-heun had relayed from the Soul-Stealing Immortal.
Du Baek stared at Mu-heun with wide eyes.
‘We shall see just how far your predictions hold true.’
“Then, let the final match begin.”
Pae-seon declared the final match to everyone and stepped down from the stage. Now, only Mu-heun and Eon Hwa-taek remained on the dueling grounds. From the spectator seats, murmurs arose about whether there was any point in continuing the matches.
However, the opinion that the rising star of the Jinju Eon Clan should also be given a chance to compete against a strong opponent for the sake of fairness was raised, and everyone had to nod in agreement.
They were not ignorant of the fact that for a martial artist, a single experience could determine their future heights.
Just then, Eon Hwa-taek kicked off the ground and rushed at Mu-heun. Blue fist energy coated the hands of the boldly charging Eon Hwa-taek, and his fist was aimed precisely at the left side of Mu-heun’s head.
*SWOOOOSH!*
Small gasps erupted from the audience. Although not as much as Dang So-so, the energy contained in Eon Hwa-taek’s fist was powerful enough to be considered at the level of mastery.
“That, that... the Jinju Eon Clan had such a talent?”
“He seems incredibly fast and powerful!”
“But he already has a record of killing an opponent.”
“That’s right. Even now, his move looks close to a killing blow.”
Eon Hwa-taek’s fist was clearly thrown with the intent to kill Mu-heun. However, no one was worried about him.
‘The difference in skill is just too great.’
*Thwack.*
“...!?”
Mu-heun infused one hand with energy almost identical to Eon Hwa-taek’s fist energy, extended his fingers, and met Eon Hwa-taek’s fist. With just that, Eon Hwa-taek was stopped in mid-air...
Not to be outdone, Eon Hwa-taek threw his fists at Mu-heun with all his might.
“Thunderbolt Falling Star Fist.”
The fists, pouring out so fast they became a blur, resembled lightning striking within a blue downpour.
“The, the Eon Clan’s level was th-that high!?”
The Elders were so bewildered they were at a loss for words. It was understandable, as the martial prowess Eon Hwa-taek was displaying surpassed even that of Dang So-so, the winner of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.
Dang So-so was just as shocked.
‘There was someone like that?’