A Lion Above the Tiger
"It was you."
A flicker of surprise crossed Im Jin's exquisite features. "To think you were in league with Do Man-seong."
The figure who had suddenly appeared was a boy with a clean-cut face and a slender build. It was Sim Bi, the mysterious youth who had kept to himself throughout the selection trials, fighting a lonely battle. He had managed to secure two badges on his own and was ranked immediately below Im Jin. Until now, Sim Bi had never once revealed the true extent of his power.
When the trials first began, he had been ranked outside the top fifty based on the students' perceived abilities. No one could have guessed that he would suddenly intervene and repel a palm strike from the genius girl, Im Jin.
The technique he used was the same Absolute Heaven Finger employed by Do Man-seong. However, while Do Man-seong—hailed as the top genius of the National Imperial Junior Academy—had been defeated using that very skill, this unknown boy had successfully pushed back Im Jin's momentum. Between Do Man-seong and Sim Bi, it was clear who the superior warrior was. It was baffling that someone of such caliber had remained anonymous until now.
Meanwhile, Bukjin, still floating in the water, wore a dazed expression. Damn it. I set a trap to catch a tiger, but a lion was lurking right above it.
It seemed Do Man-seong had planned this entire scheme against him on this final day of the trials specifically because he had Sim Bi as his trump card.
"The Thousand Jade Leaves palm technique you displayed is truly worthy of its reputation, Classmate Im Jin,"Sim Bi said with a smile. "I heard that no one could truly master the Star-rank martial art created by the legendary genius Im Cheong-seon during his time in the intermediate academy. I didn't expect you to have reached such a profound level of mastery. You truly are remarkable."
"You certainly know a lot,"Im Jin replied calmly, standing atop the rock. An aura of noble dignity radiated from her perfect face. "Seeing that a piece of trash like Do Man-seong dared to provoke me, you must be the one pulling the strings. I'm surprised that the representative of the small Sword Flame Mercenary Group possessed such skill."
The Sword Flame Mercenary Group was one of the five social gangs participating in the selection trials. Sim Bi was their sole representative.
"To elites from the National Imperial Academy like yourself, representatives of social gangs like us must seem like people from a lower world, haha,"Sim Bi remarked with a composed smile. He continued without a hint of hesitation. "However, it seems the genius girl of the Imperial Academy might just suffer a humiliating setback in these trials."
"I see. Your plan was to strip me of my qualification for the main tournament of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition?"
Sim Bi nodded. "Precisely. If the greatest genius of Unmong City is eliminated in the preliminaries, wouldn't the officials of the Education Bureau—who look down on social gangs—be utterly humiliated? Think of how entertaining that would be."
"Haha! What?"Im Jin let out a cold laugh. "Do you actually fancy yourself some sort of righteous rebel resisting unfairness and oppression? Fine. I'll give you credit for your courage and spirit. If you want to prove yourself so badly, then try. I'll give you a fair chance."
Sim Bi laughed heartily. "Excellent." He raised his hand and commanded, "Give me my sword."
Do Man-seong quickly placed a black scabbard into his hand. Even with his limited knowledge, Bukjin could tell from the intricate design of the hilt and the scabbard's thickness that it was a masterpiece.
"This sword was forged from Meteoric Cold Iron. The blade is three feet, three inches long, and it weighs ten pounds and four ounces. Its name is Tai'e,"Sim Bi declared.
The moment he gripped the sword, his aura shifted. The clean-cut boy was gone, replaced by a warrior emitting a fierce, blinding radiance. Bukjin, still bobbing in the water, was taken aback. Wait, why does it feel like this guy suddenly became the protagonist?
The intense spirit of resistance against injustice, the stoic endurance of countless insults—he had the exact vibe of a main character from a novel. The story Sim Bi hinted at made him feel like a tragic hero. Seeing Sim Bi armed, Im Jin drew her own blade from her waist. With the sword in hand, she looked like the Sword Lord herself descended to earth. her robes fluttered, and the light glinted off her leather breastplate.
"Standard issue for the Unmong-wi. A product of the Great Tiger Weapon Shop, worth ten silver coins... Now, shall we see just how sophisticated your gang's swordsmanship really is?"
"Very well."Sim Bi nodded and launched himself forward like an arrow released from a bow. Closing the distance in an instant, he unleashed a torrential downpour of sword light upon Im Jin.
Whoa, that's some seriously cool swordsmanship!Bukjin watched in admiration. Wait... he's strong, but... I think I could do that too?
The thought struck him suddenly. If I push my Hyeongi to the limit and use the power of the Peerless Sword Body, couldn't I make a leap like that? I should try it later...
Then, Bukjin realized his biggest problem. He knew the martial arts he had learned through his smartphone, but he didn't know how to combine and apply them effectively. His lack of combat experience prevented him from fully utilizing his true strength.
Hmm... should I go back and train properly? Wait, no. Why bother with the hard work of gaining experience when I can just crush them with overwhelming power? If I train to a level that's incomparable to others, that'll be enough. Yes, exactly. I was overthinking it.
His drifting thoughts snapped back to the present.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of clashing metal rang out in rapid succession. Sim Bi's form shifted through the air like a butterfly, his Tai'e sword raining down cold, illusory light like a storm. Im Jin remained rooted to her rock, her longsword darting here and there as she parried every single attack. Sparks flew into the air every time their blades collided.
The exchange was fierce and beautiful. Even a casual observer could tell this battle had far exceeded the level of second-year students. Furthermore, both were utilizing Star-rank sword techniques. The numerous genius students surrounding them were captivated, watching the duel as if possessed, unable to even blink.
Now's my chance!
Still in the water, Bukjin carefully circulated his Hyeongi and slowly drifted toward the bushes where Ak Hong-hyang was being held. Since everyone was focused on the clash between the two geniuses, no one paid him any mind. Reaching the shore, Bukjin surged with power and silently snapped the ropes binding him.
Shhh!
Emerging from the water, Bukjin began to crawl across the ground like a snail. It wasn't a dignified sight, but it was incredibly effective. The four girls guarding Ak Hong-hyang failed to react to his movements. In the blink of an eye, Bukjin had already snatched Ak Hong-hyang from their perimeter.
As he made his escape, Bukjin passed by Oh So-bang and delivered a sharp blow to his jaw, knocking him unconscious instantly. He also reclaimed his Virtue Sword from the boy. With his sword back in hand, his confidence surged. He feared nothing now.
"Ak Hong-hyang, are you okay?"Bukjin asked.
She was a mess. Her clothes were filthy, and her hair was disheveled. However, her expression remained steady. She slowly brushed the sand off her clothes and replied, "Thank you. I'm fine."
Suddenly—
"Seize them!"Do Man-seong roared.
The surrounding students immediately lunged toward Bukjin and Ak Hong-hyang.
"Get back,"Bukjin commanded. "Ak Hong-hyang, keep your distance so you don't get caught in my swing. I need to teach these guys a lesson."
Whish!
The Virtue Sword cleared its scabbard. A flash of sword light, fast as a lightning bolt, streaked through the air. One student fell, followed by eight more in rapid succession. Bukjin looked like a Sword Immortal reborn. He cut down the charging students with a single strike each. They couldn't even offer a semblance of resistance; after a flash of light, they simply collapsed. It was a terrifying display of skill. The students trailing behind them realized something was horribly wrong and began to retreat.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted from the other side. The techniques of Im Jin and Sim Bi had collided with massive force. Sim Bi's body spun through the air before he was blown back toward the lakeshore. He stumbled for three steps before finally regaining his balance. Im Jin, however, was still standing on her rock. Though her body had swayed slightly from the impact, she remained rooted to the spot like an unshakeable pillar.
Sim Bi's gaze shifted toward Bukjin and Ak Hong-hyang. "Do not let them escape!"
At his command, Do Man-seong personally joined the fray. He had been injured in his earlier clash with Im Jin, but he had managed to recover significantly through brief treatment.
Clang!
Do Man-seong drew his longsword. "Im Bukjin! I'll show you what true swordsmanship looks like!"
Sword light flared as Do Man-seong thrust his blade toward Bukjin. Bukjin focused his mind and unleashed the Close-body Triple Link. Though these three forms were merely basic swordsmanship, Bukjin had already reached the realm of Ultimate Perfection with them. His strike effortlessly brushed aside Do Man-seong's sword light and dismantled his attack.
Clang! Sparks scattered.
"What?"Do Man-seong was stunned. But he quickly sneered. "Let's see how long you can hold out."
Do Man-seong unleashed the 1-Star sword technique, Meteor Chasing Lightning Sword. Trails of sword light, resembling falling stars, appeared one after another in the air. The brilliant radiance of his blade began to envelop Bukjin.
This guy's swordsmanship is far beyond Mok Sim-wol's!
Bukjin felt an immense pressure. As he continued to cycle through his basic three forms, he realized it was becoming increasingly difficult to parry. Had this been the Bukjin from the 3rd Academy's mid-year competition, he would have been defeated already. However, during the ten days of the selection trials, Bukjin had kept a specific app running constantly.
Peerless Sword Body
His physique had been strengthened to an incomparable degree. This physical power significantly boosted his reaction speed, allowing his Close-body Triple Link to reach a new level. Furthermore, he was also running another application.
Mental Power Understanding - Beginner
Although he hadn't yet learned how to fully control his mental energy, his senses in combat had become far more acute. All these factors combined to elevate his combat prowess at a staggering pace.
Clang!
The blades clashed, and sparks showered the ground. Do Man-seong's 1-Star Meteor Chasing Lightning Sword was interrupted by Bukjin before he could even complete half the forms. Do Man-seong was as furious as he was shocked. He swung his sword even faster, detonating all the 7th-grade Hyeongi he possessed.
"A mere insect trying to stop a carriage! I will never let you leave this place alive today!"