Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Clash of the Heirs
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Peng Tianwei's eyebrows twitched as he glared at Nangong Hyeok.
The words and expression that jabbered on as if he had foreseen this outcome made rage boil up from within.
The murmurs of the crowd ringing in his ears brought a surge of humiliation and shame.
Peng Tianwei clenched his jaw tightly.
'Lose? Me? My clan?'
It was impossible. No, it must never happen.
For the Hebei Peng Clan, at the peak of its power, to fall to the declining Nangong Clan—it was absurd.
This stage had been set up from the start to crush the Nangong Clan in front of everyone!
'This isn't good.'
Losing to the Nangong Clan was enough for the previous generation.
The inferiority complex, sense of defeat, and feelings of inadequacy toward the Nangong Clan, built up over generations, were what he wanted to completely sever this time.
He sought more than just flaunting his clan's might and toppling the Nangong Clan.
He wanted to etch it firmly into the minds of the crowd.
That the Hebei Peng Clan stood above the Nangong Clan at the pinnacle of the Five Great Clans.
He had thought this was the perfect chance to fulfill that long-held wish, but now it was slipping away.
His mind grew tangled, thoughts twisting more and more.
'It absolutely cannot end up like that.'
When things deviated from the plan that should have gone smoothly, bewilderment and anxiety arose.
But Peng Tianwei soon reined in his emotions.
Peng Tianwei's eyes cooled to ice.
"I've seen enough of the Nangong Clan's skills."
Suppressing the impulse to drive a blade into the smirking face of Nangong Hyeok, Peng Tianwei continued.
He couldn't afford to make a fool of himself over some green kid not even worth a punch.
Peng Tianwei called out to Peng Zhonghyeok.
"Zhonghyeok."
Peng Zhonghyeok, who had been scowling from the side, lifted his head.
"Yes, Father."
"Would you care to exchange moves with the Nangong Clan this time?"
"Yes."
"Then how about the Nangong Clan's young master here steps up personally? An exchange between the heirs who will lead their clans in the future—nothing could be better."
Peng Tianwei pointed at Nangong Ryong, who stood silently opposite.
'No junior disciple can possibly beat Zhonghyeok.'
Even after the string of defeats, Peng Tianwei was certain of this.
Peng Zhonghyeok had already mastered over five levels of the Hebei Peng Clan's supreme art, the Hunyuan Divine Art.
He had also mastered numerous other advanced Peng Clan techniques, surpassing junior disciple level long ago.
Nangong Ryong's aura had grown more outstanding than before, but it still fell short of Peng Zhonghyeok.
Peng Zhonghyeok was hailed as the greatest prodigy since Blade King Peng Cheon.
'Yes. Nothing more ideal than the Peng heir breaking the Nangong sword.'
Peng Tianwei was convinced there was no better picture.
Nangong Ryong's gaze flicked briefly toward Nangong Hyeok.
It was as if asking if he should step up himself.
Peng Tianwei was dumbfounded at the sight of the Nangong Clan's young master—the highest in seniority—seeming to seek permission for the spar.
Why on earth would the Nangong young master ask his younger brother for approval to fight!
Nangong Hyeok shrugged at Nangong Ryong.
"Go for it. But..."
Lowering his voice to a whisper, Nangong Hyeok murmured.
"Even same blood gets no exceptions if you lose. It's the Peng Clan, the Pengs. Losing to those punks? What a joke. Win, no matter what."
The Hebei Peng Clan was something he hadn't cared about when roaming the jianghu as a lone wolf.
He hadn't been interested, and there had been no need for him to step in—they got filtered out midway anyway.
None of the guys who followed him had ever beaten the Blade King.
Just off the top of his head: Sword King, Iron Leader, Blood Ghost, Outer Blade...
A filthy lot of them.
Anyway, losing to Peng scum was unimaginable.
No, he had never even imagined clashing with Peng trash.
Them, of all people!
If he was going to get beaten by the descendants of that Blade King who couldn't even serve as his right hand, better to bite his tongue and die early.
'The dead Sword King would dig out of his grave and dance with swords.'
Damn right.
Nangong Ryong flinched at Nangong Hyeok's murderous intensity.
It felt like if he lost even by a hair, something really bad would happen.
No, Nangong Ryong was sure it would.
He knew well that Hyeok was fair(?) in everything.
Like that time with the tunnel digging...
Nangong Ryong nodded with a resolute expression.
"...I'll win."
"Good."
"...Definitely."
"Good, go get 'em!"
Nangong Hyeok patted Nangong Ryong's back.
Nangong Ryong steadied his breath and stepped forward to the sparring platform.
Peng Tianwei, wearing an incredulous look, sent a transmission to Peng Zhonghyeok.
[You must win.]
[Yes, Father. I won't disappoint you.]
Peng Zhonghyeok's eyes gleamed with determination.
Having taken an unexpected blow from the vermin-like Nangong Clan, the mood among the crowd was off.
He had to crush their momentum this time.
He knew full well how much was riding on this spar.
'Just beat this one guy.'
The weight of the spar with Nangong Ryong was incomparable to the previous two.
The two defeats stung, but how could that compare to a fight with the clan heirs?
Nangong Ryong was the one who would lead the Nangong Clan for the next generation.
Beating him here would bring everything back to square one.
'I was planning to put him in his place anyway.'
That barely-Five-Great-Clan Nangong young master, always acting all aloof at gatherings— he'd been irritating him for a while.
As Peng Zhonghyeok shed his outer robe, his bulging muscles stood out sharply over the form-fitting uniform, exuding a commanding presence.
Arms ready to burst, a massive chest, broad shoulders like slabs— an overwhelming physique.
The aura emanating from his over-six-foot frame was suffocatingly immense.
Even the relatively slender Nangong Ryong looked puny by comparison.
Admiration flickered in the spectators' eyes.
Peng Zhonghyeok's presence was no joke.
Fiercer even than Blood Lion Guo Chong.
'As expected of the young master!'
'No wonder they call him Blade Dragon.'
'Hmm! This time for sure...'
'The Nangong young master is frozen. Can't even muster an opposing aura.'
'Clear as day. Young master takes this.'
The crowd buzzed, comparing the two.
Chaaang!
Peng Zhonghyeok drew his blade confidently.
Dragon-scale engravings on the blade glittered under the lantern light.
"Nangong brother. Let's have a good exchange."
Peng Zhonghyeok raised his blade and looked at Nangong Ryong.
Nangong Ryong nodded silently.
Peng Zhonghyeok ground his teeth at the sight, but quickly composed himself and assumed stance.
'End it in one go.'
Peng Zhonghyeok circulated the Hunyuan Divine Art.
The air around him shimmered like a mirage.
In that instant, a fierce light flashed in Peng Zhonghyeok's eyes.
"Here I come, Nangong brother."
Nangong Ryong nodded once more and placed his hand on his sword hilt.
Peng Zhonghyeok, crouched low, exploded forward.
His massive frame engulfed Nangong Ryong in an instant.
The blade, swung high to the sky, came crashing down unimpeded.
A ruthless strike cleaving heaven and earth!
With the Hunyuan Divine Art at full power, a ferocious blade wind erupted.
It was Hunyuan Divine Blade, one of the Hebei Peng Clan's top saber arts.
Puhwaaaang—!
Blade qi from the saber gouged the floor, carving a deep furrow.
Kung!
Nangong Ryong unleashed Heavenly Wind Divine Step, retreating swiftly.
"Haaap!"
Peng Zhonghyeok roared, pursuing Nangong Ryong relentlessly.
Nimble and savage, like a tiger chasing prey.
The glittering dragon scales slashed like tiger claws.
The Hebei Peng Clan's saber was tyrannical.
Fierce, heavy, destructive.
Among them, Hunyuan Divine Blade was an advanced art.
Dark haze clung to the ponderous Hunyuan Divine Blade as it fell toward Nangong Ryong's crown, infused with a thousand-jin might.
Kwaaaang! Kwaaaaa!
The agile yet forceful Hunyuan Blade Style whipped out swift and powerful like a tiger rearing its claws—the spectators gaped.
"Eum!"
"Ah!"
"True to its reputation!"
Even those standing far back were overwhelmed by Peng Zhonghyeok's ferocity.
Each flash of the blade felt like it could split heads in two—an immense pressure.
One could scarcely imagine the pressure Nangong Ryong faced blocking it.
A smile crept onto Peng Tianwei's lips.
The spar was flowing just as he had anticipated.
'His attainment has grown again!'
Peng Zhonghyeok's Hunyuan Divine Blade now combined tyrannical power with sharpness.
Finally feeling at ease, Peng Tianwei watched leisurely.
Just then, Peng Zhonghyeok's massive saber pinned down Nangong Ryong's toothpick-like sword.
Pressing close, Peng Zhonghyeok twisted his lips.
He whispered right in Nangong Ryong's ear.
"That all you got? Just gonna block till the end?"
"......"
"Huh? Is this it for the Nangong sword? Why not rampage like before? You really thought this level could take me?"
Geugreuk!
As Peng Zhonghyeok sneered, he tensed his blade, shoving Nangong Ryong's sword aside.
Peng Zhonghyeok possessed divine strength that could lift a thousand-jin boulder without inner power.
A bit more force, and he could shatter Nangong Ryong's shoulder, he was sure.
"Too much..."
"What?"
"Talk."
"You bastard!"
The moment Peng Zhonghyeok poured power into his arms, a blue gleam flashed in Nangong Ryong's eyes.
Lightning crackled from Nangong Ryong's sword.
Pajijijik!
"Eup?!"
With Nangong Ryong's suddenly transformed aura and surging sword force, bewilderment filled Peng Zhonghyeok's eyes.
But he spat fury and pressed Nangong Ryong harder.
"You dare!"
To oppose Hebei Peng saber arts with raw power!
As Peng Zhonghyeok maxed out his Hunyuan Divine Art to bear down—
Kung!
Nangong Ryong took a heavy step forward.
Pajijijik!
Lightning surged over his shoulders, and a thousand-jin pressure erupted from his body.
At the same time, immense sword force and blinding light flashed from his blade.
Peng Zhonghyeok flinched, eyes widening.
"Bluffing where?!"
He raised his saber and struck down like thunder at Nangong Ryong.
The Hunyuan Divine Blade's momentum burst forth, as if to cleave Nangong Ryong's pressure.
'Dodge, and I'll crush him completely!'
Peng Zhonghyeok figured Nangong Ryong wouldn't dare meet the Hunyuan Divine Blade head-on.
But Nangong Ryong defied expectations.
Kung!
Another earth-shaking step from Nangong Ryong.
Pajijijijik!
Lightning bolts shot up from his shoulders in a blaze, blue thunder flashing from his sword.
Hunyuan Divine Blade clashed with Nangong Ryong's sword.
Kwaaaaaang!
A deafening roar, shockwave rippling out beyond the sparring arena.
"Eueuk!"
"Huap!"
Spectators gasped, staring ahead.
"Huh, heuk!"
"Euum?!"
Cracks spiderwebbed across the arena floor, and through the rising dust, Nangong Ryong appeared.
His eyes blazed with blue light, shoulders wreathed in lightning bolts spread like wings.
Kung! Kung!
Nangong Ryong advanced through the shockwave, step by step.
With each step, his aura swelled like a snowball.
His uncontrollably burgeoning presence overwhelmed Peng Zhonghyeok, crushing pressure bearing down on his saber.
Peng Zhonghyeok's face flushed beet red.
'W-what is this?'
An unimaginable majesty poured from Nangong Ryong's body, whom he had dismissed as nothing, pressing down on his frame.
Peng Zhonghyeok rallied his qi in alarm, but the mountain-like pressure forced his saber lower.
Conversely, Nangong Ryong's sword rose higher, its keen edge gleaming.
Then, Nangong Ryong took a Mount Tai-like step.
Emperor's Dominion Step.
Kung!
"Keuruk!"
Peng Zhonghyeok gritted his teeth, circulated Hunyuan Divine Art, and stepped forward with Short Inscription Divine Step.
"Kraaaap!"
Squeezing out his qi, Peng Zhonghyeok thrust his saber upward at Nangong Ryong.
Fierce Hunyuan blade qi targeted him.
In that moment.
Nangong Ryong's raised sword plummeted vertically.
Conversely, the lightning from his body shot skyward.
Pressure like splitting a mountain bore down.
It felt like a thunder dragon screamed and split.
Emperor Sword Form.
The Emperor's sword cleaved the tiger in two.
Seukaaaang!
Sparks flew, the dragon-scale-clad blade split, shards clattering to the ground.
Pajijijijijik!
Lightning flashed, enveloping the surroundings before being sucked back into Nangong Ryong.
"......"
"......"
An immense weight crushed the air, pressure so heavy breathing was labored.
Peng Zhonghyeok's legs trembled, and he collapsed to his knees.