Chapter 274
Chapter 274
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 274
Chapter Title: The Elders' Spar
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Namgung Wi-kyeong looked at the Third Elder and Fifth Elder standing in the middle of the training ground.
The Third Elder's mocking sneer contrasted sharply with the Fifth Elder's murderous glare.
The Tenth Elder asked cautiously.
"Isn't this making a bigger deal than it needs to be? The regular martial artists will be here soon."
It was a spar between the elders, the highest authorities in the Namgung Clan.
As a rare spectacle, it was bound to draw everyone's undivided attention.
Sparring always had a winner and loser, and the more eyes on it, the more inevitable it was that someone would lose face.
This wouldn't end in one or two exchanges, so the odds of that happening were high.
If mishandled, it could even tarnish the dignity of the Elder Council, which was why the Tenth Elder was worried.
Namgung Wi-kyeong chuckled dryly.
"That won't happen."
"Pardon?"
"There's at least a full realm's difference between the Third Elder and the Fifth Elder."
"......!"
The Tenth Elder's eyes widened in surprise.
"Is the gap really that big?"
"Indeed. On top of that, the Third Elder seems to have gained some minor insight recently—his sword aura feels even heavier and more composed."
"Ah! Then the gap might have widened even further."
To a master, a single realm's difference was like heaven and earth.
It was a gap that could never be bridged.
In a one-on-one, it meant complete domination; even against two opponents of similar level, one could last over ten exchanges.
It was astonishing that the Third Elder—who had been in the Elder Council even before the rebellion was quelled—and the Fifth Elder, both elders, had such a disparity.
'Ah, so that's why everyone was so relaxed!'
That explained why the elders had been standing there with arms crossed, smirks on their faces.
"He doesn't seem to have achieved much, but even if he fixed the flaws in the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword, it's not a gap that can be closed."
"Hah, the Fifth Elder must have built up a lot of resentment over the years."
"Even so, challenging the Third Elder for a spar. Heh, it might end before he even shows the flaws in the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword."
Leisure and arrogance flowed naturally from the elders' expressions.
Namgung Wi-kyeong stroked his thick beard and glanced at Namgung Hyeok across the way.
His expression was inscrutable.
Chewing on jerky and standing crookedly, he exuded not just leisure but utter disinterest in the proceedings.
'No matter how talented Hyeok is, teaching him orthodox martial arts has its limits. It's about time he realized that.'
He knew full well that Namgung Hyeok had racked up countless merits and possessed skills incomparable to any later-generation genius.
Hadn't he seen it all, unfiltered and unreserved, at the Righteous Heaven Alliance's tournament?
Considering how Namgung Hyeok had elevated the clan's prestige and brought them gains, carrying him on his back wouldn't be enough.
No—he'd carry him every day if he could.
'But this is a different matter.'
This concerned the elders' dignity and face.
'We can't let only Hyeok rack up all the achievements, can we?'
It wasn't jealousy.
He was long past the age of envying a child.
'We can't dump all the burden on the kid, can we?'
What was he doing for the clan right now?
Preserving the dignity and authority of an elder was important, but to him, the greater issue was exactly that.
He didn't want to end up as some old man scratching his ass in the back room; he wanted to contribute to the clan as an elder.
And he believed the only thing he could do now was interpret this Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword and develop it further.
Accepting Namgung Hyeok's spar proposal had been an impulsive act born from intertwined pride and those motives.
The elders chuckled lightly as they watched the two prepare for the spar.
The Third Elder lightly shook his wooden sword and gave a faint smile.
"The Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword must be quite the sword art. You're pointing at me without hesitation, after all."
Namgung Sik steadied his breathing and stared blankly at the Third Elder.
"Well, a spar only has meaning against someone stronger than me, right?"
"Heh heh! Good attitude. True growth comes from competing with your betters."
"Yes, exactly."
"Heh heh! It's been over five years since I last sparred with you. Shall we see what this Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword of yours can do?"
The Third Elder smiled leisurely and raised his wooden sword.
The skill gap between him and the Fifth Elder was clear.
In a clash between masters, a realm's difference meant total control over the fight.
He could end it in ten exchanges or drag it out to a hundred.
'This Fifth Elder punk. So arrogant! I'll give him a proper thrashing!'
The Third Elder intended to make the gap in their martial prowess crystal clear to Namgung Sik for daring to challenge him.
Recently, he'd gained a small insight, deepening his swordsmanship realm.
He was confident he could make Namgung Sik feel the wall between them.
The Third Elder twitched his sword.
"You attack first. I'll yield the initiative."
Namgung Sik twisted his lips.
"Yes."
Seeing him accept so readily, the Third Elder chuckled once more.
Namgung Sik glared at the Third Elder with bloodshot eyes and regulated his breathing.
His mind grew complicated.
'I got dragged into this somehow, but...'
Truth be told, sparring the Third Elder after just a few days with the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword was reckless.
No—it was insane.
But the momentum was on their side now; the water was spilled.
He had to make something of it, win or lose.
'Damn it... it's not like it'll kill me!'
He just hoped the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword would help even a little in the spar.
Holding his own would be enough.
That way, those damn elders couldn't just take it for free—they'd go mad for this sword art!
'And then we all die together! You old bastards!'
He wouldn't suffer alone!
Namgung Sik flinched as he eyed the Third Elder.
Damn, why does he look so composed?
'No point overthinking it.'
"Here I come!"
Flash!
Namgung Sik unleashed the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword the moment he started.
The Third Elder snorted and prepared to block with the Heavenly Palace Endless Sword.
He planned to shatter the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword with the same root art.
It was the surest way to compare techniques and highlight the gap!
"Haat!"
"Chaa!"
Their swords clashed in midair.
Clang!
The wooden swords struck like temple bells.
Energy waves collided, kicking up a gust of wind.
The Third Elder's eyes widened.
"Why is the power so—"
"Hraaah!"
"Urgh?!"
Namgung Sik poured everything into pressuring the Third Elder.
Without a moment to mind his opponent's reactions, he unleashed the sword art with all his might.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
Caught off guard by the swirling, charging forms of the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword, the Third Elder countered with the Heavenly Palace Endless Sword.
Dozens of sword shadows clashed in the air, ringing out with impacts.
The Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword's gale-like sword winds, capable of sweeping mountains, bit and tore at the Heavenly Palace Endless Sword's flowing, river-like momentum.
Then, the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword pierced through like a drill.
The Third Elder hastily withdrew his sword to block the thrusting blade.
Creeeang!
"Urk!"
The shock vibrating up his wrist from the wooden sword drew a groan from the Third Elder.
'No, when I use it, it doesn't have this much power?'
He was flustered.
Hadn't he practiced the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword countless times?
But it had never unleashed this level of force.
Amid the sharpness and weight, something else was there. He could feel his body failing to keep up with the movements.
'W-what is this?'
Spouting bewilderment, the Third Elder tried to shift from the Heavenly Palace Endless Sword to the Solitary Soul Sword to break the flow and turn the tide.
But in that interval, he got caught in the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword's vortex and was dragged around.
'T-this isn't right?'
Bewilderment rose to his throat.
As he reeled, the elders opposite gasped in admiration.
"Ooh! The Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword's aura is far stronger than expected!"
"It has changed after just a few days. Urgh!"
"That's not the point. If the flaws aren't fixed, it'll collapse on itself mid-form!"
"Ah! So the Third Elder is waiting for that moment."
The elders nodded in agreement.
They seemed to find it quite entertaining.
Hearing that, the Third Elder nearly spat curses from his throat.
Shiiiing!
Whoosh!
Seeing his hair sliced off and flying as the sword aura wrapped around the wooden sword, the Third Elder cursed.
"You mad bastard! You trying to kill me?!"
"I won't go down alone!"
"Stop, stop! I said stop!"
"I won't go down alone!"
No, why had this punk suddenly lost his mind?!
Clang!
Another ferocious clash echoed through the training ground, shoving the Third Elder back.
"You punk?"
The Third Elder circulated his inner energy and bellowed.
He gathered his full power and lunged at Namgung Sik.
"You scum!"
"Hraaah!"
The sword aura bursting from his wooden sword made the elders flinch.
"N-no! If you get that serious!"
"Hey, calm down!"
"Halt! Both of you, stop! This could end badly!"
It was the moment the flustered elders tried to intervene.
Boom!
A roar erupted as Namgung Sik's wooden sword cleaved through the Third Elder's.
Craaack!
The wooden sword shattered, fragments flying everywhere, the Third Elder's eyes filling with shock.
Namgung Sik's wooden sword traced a bizarre arc and struck the Third Elder.
Baaang!
"Arrrgh!"
The Third Elder flew into the air and crashed to the opposite side of the training ground.
Crash!
Dust billowed up amid the clamor.
Namgung Sik's eyes bulged.
"......W-what?"
Why was it this strong?
Regaining his senses and opening his eyes, he saw the Third Elder foaming at the mouth on the ground.
It wasn't just holding his own—he'd smashed him.
The Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword, trained for mere days, had utterly demolished the Third Elder's swordsmanship!
Namgung Sik turned to Namgung Hyeok in bewilderment.
"Uh, uh......"
A brief silence descended on the training ground.
The watching elders' eyeballs nearly popped out.
Eleven pairs of saucer-sized eyes darted between Namgung Sik and the Third Elder.
"Uh, uhh......"
"W-what is this?"
"Why is the Third Elder......"
Their brains froze at the unforeseen event.
Regaining their wits, they freaked out.
"Hueeeek! This madman!"
"What the hell happened?!"
"T-taking down the Third Elder with a sword art learned in days?!"
The Third Elder's easy victory had been a given; they'd just wanted to see the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword's power. The result was too shocking.
The elders gasped for breath.
Namgung Wi-kyeong had been standing there slack-jawed since earlier, mumbling incoherently.
"I-impossible...... Impossible......"
The elders swallowed hard and turned their gazes to Namgung Sik standing tall in the training ground.
They'd long forgotten the trembling Third Elder off to the side.
At that moment.
Namgung Hyeok's nonchalant voice rang out.
"Ah, go easy, would you?"
The elders' eyes shook like storm-tossed waves.
Namgung Hyeok shrugged at Namgung Wi-kyeong.
"See that?"
They'd seen it.
All too clearly.
So clearly their eyeballs might pop out any second.
The elders nodded unwittingly.
The final technique that sent the Third Elder flying was the very one pointed out as a flaw in the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword.
'To think the Heavenly Palace Invincible Sword had this much power!'
'The Fifth Elder beat the superior Third Elder. Just by learning one more sword art!'
'If completed, what level could it reach?'
'If left like this, the Fifth Elder might even climb to Grand Elder someday.'
The elders gulped dryly.
It was the last thing they wanted to imagine.
'I-I'll learn it too!'
'Yeah! This sword art must be mastered.'
'No matter what, we have to fix the flaws and complete it!'
It would benefit the clan, but more importantly, hadn't they seen with their own eyes how mastering it would elevate their own realms?
And it wasn't some rootless unorthodox art—it was the Namgung Clan's deep-rooted swordsmanship.
There was no reason not to learn it.
It was like a medicine without side effects.
As they moved to grab Namgung Hyeok's pant leg.
"What are you lot doing?!"
The elders froze at Namgung Wi-kyeong's stern, thunderous shout.
Their greatest obstacle remained.
Without permission from Grand Elder Namgung Wi-kyeong, they couldn't train under Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok eyed Namgung Wi-kyeong with interest.
Well, orthodox martial artists did have strong pride.
He watched to see how the elders would react.
"Gr-Grand Elder."
"It's not like that—we're doing this for the clan......"
Namgung Wi-kyeong spoke coldly.
"Don't you know cold water has a top and bottom?!"
"......Pardon?"
"Out of my way! I go first!"
The elders were speechless as Namgung Wi-kyeong charged ahead.