Chapter 99
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Clash with the Gang Qi Master
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The Barrier Commander, brimming with surging gang qi, the twenty Death Calendar warriors emanating a murderous aura, and Yeo Eung-seo, the clan chief of the Huanzu tribe who had been abandoned even by his own tribesmen.
Encircling them were the chiefs of the five tribes and over hundreds of Haenam Island warriors, all radiating a fearsome killing intent.
It was a situation that warranted feeling the pressure, where it wouldn't be strange for one or two to cower in fear.
But the only one cowering was Yeo Eung-seo, slumped on the ground.
The Death Calendar warriors gripped their swords tightly, overflowing with hostility and killing intent, standing in unshakable stances as if defeat was the furthest thing from their minds.
"Damn, these bastards look like they're ready for a last stand."
"......"
Yu Hyun approached leisurely, keeping his distance, and sneered at the Barrier Commander and the Death Calendar warriors.
"G-Grand Commander."
"Uncle!"
Gye Du-sin and Nangong Seong found Yu Hyun's demeanor nothing but unsettling.
Never mind the others, but this warrior called the Barrier Commander. His realm, which had been impossible to gauge, was unmistakably gang qi.
It was a fact evident just from the vivid energy cloaking his sword.
Not only Nangong Seong and Gye Du-sin, but all the Haenam Island warriors surrounding them were tense because of it.
And even Gok Ja-heon, seated on the chair that Nangong Seong had pushed forward, couldn't hide his trembling. He was instinctively reacting to the hostility emanating from the Barrier Commander.
Thanks to Yu Hyun's guidance, Nangong Seong—who had at least entered the initial stage of gang qi, though imperfectly—could vaguely sense it.
The Barrier Commander's realm wasn't mere gang qi. It wasn't at the level of the Sea Dragon King, but it was clearly comparable to his bodyguard, the Iron Fleet Chief Na Ha-chu.
If he steeled his resolve and embraced death, he could take down half the warriors present in mutual destruction.
Yet how could Yu Hyun be so relaxed?
Nangong Seong knew his realm had advanced another step, but he couldn't hide his worry.
Hadn't there already been the precedent with the Iron Fleet Chief?
From what Gye Du-sin had told him, if it hadn't been for the Sea Dragon King, Yu Hyun would have nearly lost his life that day.
What should they do? They couldn't help—even their skills weren't up to it.
As Nangong Seong gazed at him with anxious eyes, Yu Hyun suddenly turned his head.
"Seong! Du-sin!"
"Y-Yes... yes!"
"Take the young chief and fall back if you can. Clear out these guys too."
"......Pardon?"
"You might get caught in the crossfire and die."
"What do you—"
Nangong Seong and Gye Du-sin stared at Yu Hyun with dumbfounded expressions, but he had already turned his head elsewhere.
"Damn......"
Orders were orders, so they had no choice but to comply.
Nangong Seong withdrew with Gok Ja-heon, and Gye Du-sin rounded up the prisoners who had been bound in stocks.
"Hey there! Encircling us is fine and all, but back off a bit further, yeah?"
"......?"
The tribe warriors stared in bewilderment at Yu Hyun, who waved his hand casually as if issuing work instructions, his face devoid of any tension.
What the hell was he doing? Facing such a formidable warrior and still acting this playful......
"Moon Tribe! Fall back twenty jang, but tighten the encirclement so not a single enemy escapes!"
"......"
At Yang Rim's shout, the Moon Tribe retreated in perfect unison, widening the warriors' eyes even further.
Was he actually trusting him? This guy from whom no real aura emanated?
A warrior ought to possess an aura—that intangible yet palpable qi.
Even if restrained, a master of a certain realm couldn't help but reveal it, and at the very least, any burst of energy should rustle their robes.
But Yu Hyun showed no such signs.
Not even a strand of hair fluttered, let alone his robes.
How could such a man face the Barrier Commander, who was overwhelming all directions with his terrifying energy and killing intent?
"What are you waiting for? Fall back at once! It's not right to leave everything to our benefactor, but since we can't help, withdraw and block any fleeing enemies."
"M-Moon Tribe Chief. But......"
"I know what you're going to say. Just trust him."
"......"
Sensing his resolute will in his determined expression, the tribe chiefs hardened their faces and withdrew their own warriors.
Yang Rim smiled faintly as he watched Yu Hyun.
Trust, faith.
Yet his heart was no different from the other chiefs, or Gye Du-sin and Nangong Seong.
He had stepped forward and ordered the tribes to withdraw because Yu Hyun had told him to trust him, but he felt anxious and impatient.
Facing the Barrier Commander who had displayed such overwhelming power, what was he thinking? And repaying the Moon Tribe's debt?
It was the Moon Tribe—no, all of Haenam Island—that owed him......
Kkuuuk.
Yang Rim clenched his jaw so hard the muscles in his jaw knotted, channeling strength into his legs rather than the sword in his hand.
If need be, he would step in. If necessary, he would throw himself in front of the blade meant for Yu Hyun.
"Tired of waiting, huh? Alright, stage is set—shall we begin?"
"......"
Finally, with everyone retreated.
The Barrier Commander glared at Yu Hyun, who beckoned with his finger and smiled leisurely, then soon wore a sinister grin.
"I just can't fathom where your confidence comes from."
"From my skills, obviously."
"......Skills, you say. You think you can beat me? Me?"
"Yeah. Not sure about before, but now I do."
"......."
An arrogantly confident reply, a relaxed expression like he was just joking around.
To the Barrier Commander, Yu Hyun's behavior was utterly ridiculous.
Unknown to anyone, the organization he belonged to was one of the worlds that had ruled the shadows of the martial world since ancient times: the Western Eye Palace.
He was one of the chosen powerhouses of that place.
Moreover, in the Central Plains martial world, fewer than a hundred wielded gang qi, and those who surpassed manifested gang were a mere handful.
A powerhouse who could stand alone against hundreds of warriors. That was him.
Yet here was some nameless leader of a minor Righteous Alliance warrior unit daring to challenge him.
A brat not even in his thirties......
"Kuk, kuahahahaha!"
"......"
"Fine, I'll humor you. You're all going to die anyway—what's a little entertainment?"
"Entertainment?"
Yu Hyun furrowed his brow slightly, but the Barrier Commander addressed his subordinates.
"Fall back."
"Yes."
The Death Calendar warriors, who had been facing away from the Barrier Commander, retreated without a word of question.
The tribes' gazes toward Yu Hyun now held anxiety, but the Death Calendar warriors' actions brimmed with unwavering confidence.
"This is annoying...... Feels kinda bad."
"......"
"One guy's doubted, another's trusted. Must be nice?"
"The natural outcome."
The Barrier Commander aimed his gang qi-surging sword at Yu Hyun. It was too simple to call a formal stance—just extending the sword while standing.
Yu Hyun grinned at the attitude laced with utter contempt.
Entertainment, huh? Treating this like bar snacks?
Fine, then. Time to make him realize if the seat he's in is the first step on a throne or his last supper.
"Huu......"
Yu Hyun repeatedly drew in deep breaths and exhaled.
Inhaling swelled his chest with power; exhaling relaxed his muscles.
Thump, thump, thu...mp.
He hadn't been tense to begin with, but his mind grew calmer, his heartbeat slowing.
The subtle spirit qi flowed like a gentle river current through every corner of his body, filling and saturating him completely.
To his fingertips and toes, unhurriedly, slowly......
"......"
Yu Hyun's lowered eyes filled with leisure, a satisfied smile gracing his lips.
The second stage of the Spirit Heart Core Method, formed from the spirit qi of the millennium self-patched herb fully absorbed into his body: Spirit Transformation.
If the prior Heart Spirit stage concentrated spirit qi around specific areas, Spirit Transformation used it as naturally as exhaled breath or circulating blood, enveloping the whole body.
Spirit qi seeped and flowed effortlessly, without deliberate intent.
Not refreshing, but comfortable. Yet it sparked a thrilling excitement throughout his body, like massive fireworks exploding in his mind.
What he had cultivated for years was not Wudang's, Huashan's, or Nangong's art, but a formless martial technique.
A body technique that shaped itself, shifting with every use, unbound by form.
Sss.
Yu Hyun slowly stepped forward. His foot planted firmly on the ground, rooting like an ancient tree.
But now was the time to advance. The moment he willed it, his body slid back like pushed by wind, power surging into his braced rear foot.
Kuuu......
The moment his fully weighted foot crushed the earth like a behemoth and kicked off powerfully, his wide eyes blazed with brilliant light.
Pahak!
The push from his rear foot seamlessly connected with the front foot gripping and pulling at the ground, propelling Yu Hyun's form forward at tremendous speed.
In an instant, surrounding objects blurred, leaving only the Barrier Commander in his vision.
Sssaaaa!
Wind, unable to match Yu Hyun's speed, whipped up behind him in pursuit......
"......!"
Surprise flickered in the eyes of the Barrier Commander, who had extended his sword tip.
Lightning flash.
Facing the fist hurtling like a bolt striking head-on, the Barrier Commander chose not attack, but defense.
Chjeeeng!
The center of the sword blade, shielded by gang qi, dented and bent under Yu Hyun's fist.
"Kuuh......!"
His face twisted at the unexpected force, invigorating the onlookers' previously doubtful faith.
Yet the Barrier Commander was no pushover.
He was a manifested gang master who had grasped the true meaning of gang qi, beyond the initial stage.
Chaaak!
Before the bent sword could snap back with a resonant twang, he swept it horizontally.
At such close range that evasion was impossible, the blade targeted Yu Hyun's waist.
Gang qi was the most condensed energy, said to cleave anything in the world. But Yu Hyun now was like flowing water.
Water mingles with all and permeates everywhere. Thus, it could not be cut.
Yu Hyun thrust his hand directly onto the incoming blade.
Tdeeeeng!
With a harsh clash, Yu Hyun's body rebounded as swiftly as it had lunged.
Everyone thought he had been sliced, but not the Barrier Commander.
Ududuk.
His teeth ground fiercely. He realized his attack had been nullified.
If it had cut, he would have felt it. Blood should have sprayed, his waist severed.
But the bastard had retreated.
Unbelievable, yet he had even used the Barrier Commander's own force to widen the distance considerably. And now he was charging back in.
"You bastard!"
Enraged by the mockery on Yu Hyun's face, bloodshot veins filled the Barrier Commander's eyes.
Huuuung!
His extreme inner power erupted wildly, burning the air like roaring flames, and his sword's gang qi gained even greater sharpness.
His bloodshot gaze spewing forth in streams, the Barrier Commander moved.
"I'll kill you!"
With a roar, he charged at Yu Hyun.
Like dragon and tiger vying for territory, their clashing auras collided at the intersection.
Kwaaang!
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!
Yu Hyun was trapped amid sword strikes whipped like a storm. The wounded air screamed, the earth trembled.
Sword and fist.
All swallowed dryly at the sight of the two waging a brutally inhuman battle.
Pasasak.
"......?"
A stone at the feet of someone who had retreated another twenty jang shattered.
Pak! Papapapak!
As if on signal, stones cracked like spiderwebs across the ground, erupting upward.
"Th-that's...... incredible."
The Barrier Commander's prowess at the peak of manifested gang was astonishing, and Yu Hyun holding his own without yielding was downright shocking.
"Fall back! Hurry! Out of range!"
Yang Rim could only shout to retreat.
Getting caught in their fight would tear them to shreds without even leaving a corpse, just as Yu Hyun had warned......