Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Dragon in the Clouds
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Chapter 167
Immortal Heo Won of the Wudang Sect and his disciples made their way toward the Zhengtian Hall, the venue for the martial tournament.
Walking beside the immortal-like Immortal Heo Won was a dignified young man, followed by Taoists clad in white robes.
Immortal Heo Won quietly called out to the young man walking alongside him.
"Cheong-in."
"Yes."
"Are you nervous?"
"No. I was just worried that trying to empty my mind of desires has only stirred up stray thoughts instead."
"What desires do you mean?"
"I want to win the tournament and bring glory to our sect..."
"Heh heh, I see. A martial artist must have a competitive spirit, and ambition naturally follows."
Cheong-in's face flushed slightly, but he only smiled faintly without denying it.
Immortal Heo Won nodded slowly and said,
"Besides, with the prize being Azure Clarity Oil, it's only natural to covet it all the more."
"How could I covet something that belongs to the sect..."
"The Way is about naturalness. Desires arise naturally, so there's no need to deny them."
"Faced with your wisdom, Elder, I feel only shame."
Immortal Heo Won chuckled heartily at Cheong-in's awkward expression.
"If you simply go with the flow and entrust yourself to the natural order, the Azure Clarity Oil will naturally fall into your hands. After all, the one who works deserves to eat, doesn't he?"
"...I only hope I don't bring shame to our sect's honor."
"Heh heh, Cheong-in."
"Yes, Elder."
"Through this tournament, you will not only gain fame in the martial world but grow into a towering tree. A great tree that will bear the future of our sect. You have every qualification for it, and the sect will make it so."
The grand prize was nothing less than a bottle of Azure Clarity Oil—a priceless treasure beyond measure.
The Wudang Sect intended to invest it entirely in Cheong-in.
"You need only prove yourself. This tournament is your stage, so simply step forward. And..."
Immortal Heo Won paused briefly before continuing.
"People sometimes wonder what a dragon hidden in the clouds looks like. They imagine its tail, its claws. And they desperately try to drag that dragon down from the clouds."
"..."
"Fools who think that way always overstep their bounds in the end. They foolishly climb into the clouds to catch the dragon."
It was an abrupt statement, but Cheong-in listened respectfully in silence.
Gazing at the distant Zhengtian Hall, Immortal Heo Won stroked his flowing white beard.
"A dragon must remain above the clouds to be a dragon. If it crawls on the ground, it's no different from a beast."
"...What do you mean?"
"There are fools climbing the clouds to catch the dragon."
Cheong-in looked up.
A name flashed through his mind.
"Are you speaking of the Nangong Clan?"
"The Zhongnan Sect's folly nearly dragged the Nine Great Sects' reputation through the mud. You must prove that our sect is the foremost among dragons."
"I will do my utmost."
Cheong-in replied.
Immortal Heo Won's eyes gleamed as he let out a hearty laugh.
"Heh heh, speak of the tiger and it appears."
Coming from the opposite direction was a group carrying a banner emblazoned with the characters for "Azure Expanse."
It was the Nangong Clan.
Even to another man, Nangong Ryong's handsome features were striking.
Truly befitting a prestigious clan.
Nangong Ryong cupped his fists and bowed deeply.
Immortal Heo Won smiled faintly.
His gaze quickly scanned Nangong Ryong.
'Impressive.'
Nangong Ryong's aura was formidable. The restrained energy suggested cultivation far beyond the ordinary.
'Still, a Nangong Clan brat thinks he can play the dragon?'
Even a fallen house produces talents for three generations.
It wasn't hard to understand why the Zhongnan Sect had suffered such humiliation.
"The Nangong Clan! Heading to the arena?"
"Yes."
"Heh heh! Your Taoist arts seem far from ordinary."
"Thank you..."
"Cheong-in, come greet him. He might be your opponent, so you should at least memorize his face, no?"
Cheong-in approached with a gentle expression.
'Fierce.'
Glancing at Nangong Ryong's face, Cheong-in offered a greeting.
"Pleased to meet you, young master. If fate allows, I'd like to cross swords with the Nangong Clan's blade."
"Likewise."
"May this tournament be a valuable experience for us both."
Cheong-in's lips curved slightly upward, while Nangong Ryong nodded with the same impassive face as before.
Immortal Heo Won watched the two, then spotted Nangong Hyeok beside Nangong Ryong.
Snicker.
Nangong Hyeok kept sneering, or perhaps snorting, his lips curling repeatedly.
But Immortal Heo Won paid it no mind.
Compared to Nangong Ryong, Nangong Hyeok was utterly insignificant, unworthy of his attention.
Immortal Heo Won's lips drew a gentle arc.
"The Nangong Clan's sword seems sharper than ever! As a warrior before a Taoist, I'd love to witness the skill that felled Zhongnan's blade. Climb high, if you can."
"Yes."
"Heh heh, we'll go on ahead then."
Immortal Heo Won passed by with the Wudang disciples.
He chuckled as he said,
"Cheong-in."
"Yes!"
"If someone foolishly climbs into the clouds to seize the dragon, shouldn't we show them how its claws and body will tear them apart? Living within one's station is also the Way."
"Yes, Elder."
"If you should encounter such a one..."
Immortal Heo Won's voice turned chilling, unbefitting a Taoist.
"Break an arm. Make sure that arm can never hold a sword again."
"...Yes, Elder!"
Staring at the departing Wudang Taoists, Nangong Hyeok snickered.
"What are they, guaranteed winners or something?"
"No."
"But acting like they've already won?"
"..."
"Tsk tsk, the win's mine anyway. Wasted effort."
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue and trudged ahead.
The Nangong clansmen shook their heads.
The tournament hadn't even started, and Nangong Hyeok was already claiming victory—not exactly an improvement over the Wudang group.
Nangong Hyeok cackled as he headed for the Zhengtian Hall.
Step by step!
Passing through the massive doors, he walked along the passage into the Zhengtian Hall.
With each step toward the end of the passage, a vibrating sensation grew.
As they neared the Zhengtian Hall, the ground's tremors intensified, and gradually, the murmur of voices became audible.
Whoosh!
The dim space suddenly blazed with light, revealing a colossal arena spanning thousands of pyeong.
"Ooh."
A gasp escaped Nangong Hyeok's lips.
Even the three from the Thunder Dragon Squad, Golden Summit Merchant, and the stoic Nangong Ryong gaped.
"Huge... massive!"
At the center of the vast expanse of thousands of pyeong stood a massive arena like a raised chessboard, encircled by spectator stands that could hold thirty thousand people.
A scale that vividly demonstrated the prestige of the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
Nangong Hyeok's eyes locked onto the arena.
Hundreds of banners planted around the giant platform.
Banners bearing each sect's emblem fluttered vigorously, exuding presence, while the gathered warriors beneath them radiated immense spirit.
Gazing at the rippling flagpoles, Nangong Hyeok's mouth fell slightly open.
'...Feels just like a war assembly.'
Suddenly, memories overlapped with the past— that solemn scene before the final battle with the demonic path.
Whether because it was inside the Righteous Heaven Alliance or just nostalgia, he wasn't sure.
'Anyway.'
Nangong Hyeok glanced around.
Heads peeked out here and there from the stands that could hold thirty thousand.
The crowd undulated like waves.
Even their light murmuring from thirty thousand throats rumbled like an earthquake.
Nangong Hyeok's gaze turned forward.
The high seats reserved for the Righteous Heaven Alliance's key figures were lined with luminaries.
From the alliance's thirty elders to merchant lords dominating the world's commerce, Hubei Province's great families, and even officials in court robes.
"Even government rice-eaters showed up?"
"It's a tournament hosted by the Righteous Heaven Alliance, so they'd be interested."
"Hmm..."
High officials attending a martial artists' tournament.
Heh.
Nangong Hyeok's gaze slowly shifted to the high seats.
There sat the Righteous Heaven Alliance Lord, clad in a pure white uniform embroidered with gold thread.
'Look at that glow. Healthy as can be.'
The master of the world's greatest sect—his complexion couldn't be anything less.
The Righteous Heaven Alliance Lord...
A fabricated pinnacle.
A sour, bitter feeling welled up as Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue.
Old records flooded his mind, souring his mood.
'Whoever draws me today is dead.'
Nangong Hyeok grinned darkly, grinding his teeth.
* * *
The spectators were in a frenzy, eyes fixed on the arena.
With all the famed orthodox sects of the martial world gathered and preparing for combat, their grandeur and aura overwhelmed.
As was customary, people began predicting winners and placing bets.
"Who'll win between the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans this time?"
"Pah, what nonsense? No one predicts like that. It's which of the Nine Great Sects takes it— that's the bet!"
"Right, right."
Anyone with even passing interest in the martial world's state knew the gap between the Five Great Clans and Nine Great Sects had widened considerably.
"Eh, the winner'll be one of the Four New Stars anyway, right?"
Even among the geniuses of the martial world, these four rising stars stood above the rest—the Four New Stars.
"But only Shaolin and Wudang from the Four New Stars are competing, aren't they?"
"Really? Too bad. I was hoping to see them fight each other."
"Still, two of them participating is something."
"Exactly! And there's the Seventh Dragon too."
"Hey now, who drags the Seventh Dragon into a Four New Stars talk?"
The crowd nodded.
While the Four New Stars and Seven Dragons were the top rising stars, the gap between them was clear.
Thus, most believed the winner would come from Shaolin or Wudang, who had entered their stars.
"Better to bet on whether any Five Great Clans juniors make it to the final four!"
"Pah, harsh! Heh heh heh!"
"Come on, enough talk—place your bets!"
"Hmm..."
"Scared? Drop dead then."
The stands erupted in heated debate.
Bets were quickly made.
Some favored the Five Great Clans, but even they hesitated to back a clan victory outright.
Just as the Nine Great Sects' elders thought, the public was convinced this tournament would affirm the sects' dominance.
Everyone except one, that is.
* * *
Paeng Joong-hyeok gaped at the lot in his hand bearing his opponent's name.
"...What the hell?"
Hwangbo Chung looked equally dumbfounded.
"Paeng... Brother Paeng. Who's your opponent?"
"...Qingcheng Sect's Jeok-un."
"I'm up against Huashan Sect's Jin-u. Moyong-su's against Huashan Sect's Jin-han too. Wh-what's going on?!"
Paeng Joong-hyeok and Hwangbo Chung stared at each other in bewilderment.
"How is this possible? Why are all the draws pitting us against the Nine Great Sects like this?"
"...Why are the matchups like this?"
"What about the others?"
"Everyone from our clan drew the same. No one avoids a sect matchup! The Moyong Clan too."
Paeng Joong-hyeok swallowed dryly and looked to Nangong Ryong.
"Young master, what about the young master?"
Nangong Ryong silently showed his draw.
"...Kongtong Sect's Geon-byeok?"
Nod.
That guy's the top prodigy of Kongtong!
Paeng Joong-hyeok's brows furrowed.
'Is this even possible?'
Could the preliminaries really match every Five Great Clans entrant against a Nine Great Sects opponent without fail?
With over a thousand participants?
His gaze swept over the Righteous Heaven Alliance elders.
'Surely they wouldn't rig it this blatantly?'
"D-does this make any sense?"
"...Has to be some trick."
Amid the group's outrage, Paeng Joong-hyeok's eyes sought Nangong Hyeok.
"N-Nangong young master. Who's the Nangong young master's opponent?"
"Dunno."
"...Pardon?"
"Just a name. Cheong... Cheong-in? Who's that?"
"Ch-Cheong... Cheong-in?"
Paeng Joong-hyeok's eyes bulged as if about to burst.
Cheong-in?
One name struck like lightning in his mind.
"Th-the Wudang Divine!"
Nangong Hyeok tilted his head at the stunned Paeng Joong-hyeok.
Why?
What?
That guy's strong or something?