Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: The Top Eight Matches Begin
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The round of sixteen in the martial tournament had come to a complete close.
The spectators who had watched the matches let out sighs and gasps of admiration in equal measure.
"This year's tournament has been full of upsets."
"No kidding. Who could've predicted the Five Great Clans would claim three of the top eight spots?"
"And two of those are from the Nangong Clan—the Nangong Clan! The weakest of the Five Great Clans has produced the most entrants!"
It was the biggest upset of them all.
The Nangong Clan, expected to be the first to drop out, had instead sent the most fighters through.
Every one of the Nine Great Sects had lost at least one contender in the round of sixteen, but the Nangong Clan stood alone—both of their entrants had advanced all the way to the top eight.
It wasn't luck, either.
Most of the opponents those two had eliminated were prodigies from the Nine Great Sects, including one of the Four Divine Stars from Wudang. Their feats were nothing short of astonishing.
"I hear they're even taking bets on the Nangong Clan's second young master over there?"
"It's blowing up!"
"Yep. The second young master's matches are the most thrilling and explosive! Right after him comes the Nangong Clan's eldest! Ha ha!"
"There's something satisfying about how they end in one strike!"
"Poor next opponent."
A hush fell over the crowd in an instant. No one who had faced Nangong Hyuk in the arena had walked out on their own two feet.
And by coincidence, most of those opponents had been prodigies from the Nine Great Sects.
It was then, as the murmurs rippled through the stands, that Nangong Hyuk sauntered casually up to one side of the arena.
The eyes of the spectators followed his path slowly, ever so slowly.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"It's the Nangong Clan's second young master!"
"Ooh! The first top-eight match!"
"The Nangong Clan and the Hebei Peng Clan are saving face for the Five Great Clans!"
"Only four from the Nine Great Sects? The Five Great Clans are holding their own!"
"Holding their own? The Nangong Clan is dominating!"
The audience nodded vigorously in agreement.
The Nangong Clan's momentum was piercing the heavens.
The Nine Great Sects were so intimidated they couldn't even catch their breath.
"Here it comes at last!"
"First up is Nangong versus Hebei Peng?"
"Yeah. Quite the matchup between those two clans."
"But can they last ten exchanges? Even if they do, they'll be a bloody mess."
"The Blade Dragon's got a tough road ahead. If he made mincemeat of the Wudang Divine Star, how's this fight gonna go?"
Under normal circumstances, a clash between these two clans would have been as exciting as the ones between Huashan and Zhongnan.
But Nangong Hyuk had already thoroughly trounced the Wudang Divine Star—one of the Four Divine Stars said to outshine even the Seven Dragons.
Everyone assumed this match would be another easy win for him.
What they were really anticipating was something else.
"The head!"
"Nah, chest this time."
"Hey, what about the gut?"
"Statistically, the head's been the most common."
"That's why it'll be the chest or gut this time!"
The crowd chuckled as they bantered about how Nangong Hyuk would take down the Hebei Peng Clan's Blade Dragon.
From the opposite side of the arena, Peng Zhonghyeok slowly made his way up.
He strode forward with purpose!
His tensed shoulders thrust high toward the sky, rocking back and forth.
His massive muscles rippled dynamically, exuding confidence.
His gait was bold, his expression brimming with assurance, his eyes sharp and piercing, and the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
A commanding presence full of dignity.
The spectators' eyes widened.
"As expected of the Blade Dragon! That aura's no joke."
"The Hebei Peng Clan's spirit is something else!"
"Hmm! Impressive. Just his presence outshines the Wudang Divine Star."
"What fighting spirit!"
The crowd admired Peng Zhonghyeok's demeanor.
In stark contrast to Nangong Hyuk's relaxed vibe, a subtle excitement flickered across their faces.
Clack!
Peng Zhonghyeok stood before Nangong Hyuk, soaking in the crowd's gaze.
Their eyes met for a fleeting moment.
After steadying his breath, he drew the massive saber from his waist—a blade so hefty it could pass for a club—and pointed it at Nangong Hyuk.
"I am Peng Zhonghyeok! Behold how the Hebei Peng Clan's saber is not to be trifled with!"
His voice boomed.
The crowd roared in response to the heated declaration, infused with inner energy.
"Waaaaah!"
"Waaah! Awesome, awesome!"
"Ooooh! That's the Hebei Peng Clan for you!"
The arena shook with cheers, building anticipation for the match to fever pitch.
Down below the arena, the three members of the Thunder Dragon Squad who were watching gaped in disbelief.
"...Has Young Master Peng lost his mind?"
"He was popping some pills earlier."
"Whoa... how's he gonna handle that?"
"He's done for. Let's dig his grave now."
The three from the Thunder Dragon Squad shuddered in horror.
To dare provoke Nangong Hyuk? Even ten lives wouldn't be enough.
On the flip side, the later-generation disciples from the Five Great Clans were moved to tears, thumbs held high.
"Whoaaa! That's our Brother Peng!"
"Brother Peng, you're the pride of the Five Great Clans!"
"Brother, you have to win!"
The Thunder Dragon Squad trio let out hollow laughs as they set up their betting pool. Soon after, the match between Nangong Hyuk and Peng Zhonghyeok began.
* * *
"Chaaaaah!"
With a thunderous shout, Peng Zhonghyeok charged ferociously at Nangong Hyuk.
A footwork technique infused with the ferocity of a raging tiger.
His saber, soaring high, came crashing down with the power of his Chaotic Origin Divine Art.
Swoooooosh!
Even though it was a wooden saber, the force behind it seemed capable of shattering a ton-weight boulder.
Claaaaang!
A deafening crash shook the arena as Nangong Hyuk's wooden sword met his wooden saber.
Stagger!
Nangong Hyuk took a step back, parrying Peng Zhonghyeok's Chaotic Origin Saber strike.
"Haaaah! Chaaah!"
Peng Zhonghyeok unleashed a barrage of Chaotic Origin Saber and Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber techniques with terrifying momentum.
The Hebei Peng Clan's two strongest saber styles battered Nangong Hyuk mercilessly.
Swoooosh! Boom! Booooom!
Each strike, each ounce of power behind them, was terrifying. The saber winds and pressure blasted all the way to the front rows of the spectator stands—an overwhelming presence!
The crowd's eyes widened at the Hebei Peng Clan's signature ferocious and domineering saber arts.
Craaaack!
A thunderous boom rang out as wooden sword met wooden saber.
The spectators' jaws dropped.
"Insane!"
"The Blade Dragon's holding his own!"
"Whoa! He's already pressed him for ten exchanges!"
"It's even! Dead even!"
"See? I told you! The Blade Dragon's aura was otherworldly! The Hebei Peng Clan isn't called the leader of the Five Great Clans for nothing!"
"True to their reputation! The young master had a trick up his sleeve!"
Even the Wudang Divine Star, considered the pinnacle among later-generation prodigies and one of the Four Divine Stars, hadn't been able to match Nangong Hyuk.
For the unheralded Peng Zhonghyeok to be trading blows on even terms? The crowd couldn't help but be stunned.
The stands turned into a cauldron of excitement.
"But... doesn't something feel off?"
"What nonsense is that?"
"No, just... kinda sloppy? Awkward, even. The flinching's weird too..."
"Ha! You know nothing. Do you think a clash between masters is like noobs brawling? It's all about invisible feints. That flinching? Part of the strategy."
"Oh, really?"
"Yep! So just shut up and watch."
"Ah!"
The doubting spectator gasped in awe and focused on Nangong Hyuk and Peng Zhonghyeok exchanging blows in the arena.
Nangong Hyuk grimaced as he locked his wooden sword against Peng Zhonghyeok's saber.
[What are you doing? You think the crowd's idiots? Come at me harder. Fight for real.]
[Uh, well... can I push in a bit more?]
[You idiot. Why are you so half-assed? Do it right! You wanna get caught? Entertain the crowd!]
[But... we've already passed forty exchanges...]
[Moron. We can pay them off. Money! It's only a hundred thousand taels per exchange. Spend it! Big!]
Outside?
Outside?!
You lunatic, is a hundred thousand taels of silver some dog's name?
You're really trying to bankrupt the Hebei Peng Clan!
'No turning back now.'
Peng Zhonghyeok rolled his eyes, racking his brain for how to wrap this up.
'Fifty exchanges. No more, no less. Exactly fifty. End it clean without getting hurt!'
Alright, decided.
Peng Zhonghyeok steeled his resolve and circulated all his inner energy.
'That monster... he's blocking every one of my saber techniques.'
Even if they were coordinating the bout, the power in his strikes wasn't ordinary—yet the guy hadn't even blinked.
It felt like staring up at an insurmountable mountain.
But such reflections weren't important now.
He'd known from the start that his skills wouldn't faze this monster anyway. All that mattered was a clean finish.
In this moment, fear held no sway over Peng Zhonghyeok.
"Chaaaaht!"
With a mighty shout, he pushed his Chaotic Origin Divine Art to its peak and swung his Chaotic Origin Saber.
Whoooosh!
A lethal saber aura formed along the blade, slicing through space.
Boom boom boom boom!
'Forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine...!'
Peng Zhonghyeok counted exchanges as he unleashed his saber arts.
He handled each one with meticulous care.
Nangong Hyuk effortlessly blocked Peng Zhonghyeok's soul-infused strikes.
Each time Nangong Hyuk's eyes flashed, the Chaotic Origin Saber clanged against his wooden sword.
Sparks flew from Nangong Hyuk's eyes.
'A hundred thousand taels! A hundred thousand! A hundred thousand...!'
Perfect!
Money pouring in smooth as silk!
The two traded blows, their minds in utter opposition.
And then, the long-awaited fiftieth exchange.
Whoooosh!
As Peng Zhonghyeok aimed for a flashy finale to accept his heroic defeat—
"Huh?"
Nangong Hyuk suddenly surged in, breaking the form.
"Y-Young master?"
Peng Zhonghyeok panicked and glanced at him unwittingly.
Nangong Hyuk's lips curled into a wicked grin.
[Shh!]
Sword energy erupted from Nangong Hyuk's wooden sword, instantly sealing Peng Zhonghyeok's pressure points.
"......!"
What? What the hell?
Hey! Hey! You crazy bastard!
What are you doing?!
Ignoring Peng Zhonghyeok's glare, Nangong Hyuk unleashed Lightning Thirteen Thunderbolts in a flash.
Peng Zhonghyeok's eyes widened at the utterly overwhelming sword momentum—on a whole other level from before.
The Nangong Clan's supreme quicksword, unleashing thirteen bolts of lightning in a single breath!
The thirteen thunderbolts that split heaven and earth engulfed him.
A chill ran down his spine at the sword energy.
Flash! Rumble! Crackle crackle!
'Ugh, ack! D-Death!'
Instinctively, Peng Zhonghyeok raised his saber against the immense pressure.
Boom boom boom!
The thirteen thunderbolts grazed past him, then a heavy impact transmitted through the saber he'd reflexively lifted overhead.
Clang!
'Huh?'
Clang clang clang clang!
'Wait?'
Clang clang clang clang!
His saber kept getting hammered by the wooden sword?
The pressure that had pinned him moments ago had melted away like snow.
Instead, Nangong Hyuk's wooden sword was relentlessly pounding the saber he'd raised in panic.
Huh?
Huuuh?!
Nangong Hyuk's voice whispered in Peng Zhonghyeok's ear.
"A hundred thousand taels, a hundred thousand taels, a hundred thousand..."
"......"
Peng Zhonghyeok, who had been dazed and unable to process the situation, was struck with horror.
'You mad bastard!'
"Mmph?! Mmph!"
The guy's trying to milk every last drop!
Peng Zhonghyeok's eyes bulged as he screamed silently.
Even amid the madness for silver, Nangong Hyuk's wooden sword kept falling.
"Mmmph!"
Peng Zhonghyeok whipped his head toward the VIP stands, eyes wide.
'Father! Father! This lunatic's gonna bankrupt our clan...!'
Peng Cheonwi, meeting his gaze, subtly raised a thumbs-up from within his sleeve.
Plop.
Peng Zhonghyeok's pupils shook.
...They say you can't trust anyone in this world, but he'd already cut a backroom deal!
As if to prove it, Nangong Hyuk grinned back and returned the thumbs-up.
'Damn it all.'
Nangong Hyuk's wooden sword descended like an iron mace toward the dumbfounded Peng Zhonghyeok.
Crack!
Thuuud!
Struck on the crown of his head, Peng Zhonghyeok rolled his eyes back and collapsed heavily.
'Heh heh, jackpot.'
Nangong Hyuk chuckled and wiped down his wooden sword.
The spectators' earth-shattering cheers exploded in the aftermath.