Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: New and Old Face-Off (2)
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As Eon Yong-un reclaimed control over the corpses, the so-called luminaries of the martial world widened their eyes in shock.
“!”
“!?”
The cadets seated on either side of the training ground began to buzz with excitement.
“...Did Eon Yong-un just dispel the formation cast by Mount Mo's Upper Azure Sword Inspectors?”
“Looks like it...”
“But there are seven of them and he's just one guy?”
“Numbers aside, those aren't just any Mount Mo disciples—they're the Upper Azure Sword Inspectors, the pride of Mount Mo's main branch. And leading them is Senior Hyung-un, hailed as Mount Mo's top prodigy.”
“...Hey, Mu-gil, I'm a total novice when it comes to formations, so let me ask purely out of curiosity. Does this even make sense?”
“......”
Except for the few cadets who had witnessed Eon Yong-un's true prowess with their own eyes during the Southern March, when he turned hundreds of corpses into lifeless puppets in an instant.
“Damn it! I knew it!!”
“...Knew it? Just a moment ago, you were saying even your brother couldn't handle seven Upper Azure Sword Inspectors, Jang-ho. How could you think that after following him all the way to the Southern March?”
“No, I was stuck at the Yi Clan Manor back then. You know how stories get exaggerated—like how ten thousand becomes a million—so I figured it was just hype.”
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that everyone, regardless of age or gender, was thrown into confusion.
In truth, the most flustered of all was Hyung-un.
‘...The North Dipper Exorcism Formation is broken?’
No.
Judging by Eon Yong-un's giggling demeanor right in front of him, it seemed like he had deliberately let himself get caught from the start.
‘What the hell?’
Hyung-un had been hailed as a genius the moment he joined Mount Mo Sect.
At the Righteous Martial Academy, he had stood out among the promising youths of great sects, earning the title of dragon.
And now, in his thirties, he had reached mastery in both swordsmanship and formations—with a particular talent for the latter—surpassing even Young Hwan to claim the moniker of Mount Mo's foremost prodigy.
Yet even he couldn't comprehend what sorcery Eon Yong-un had used to seize control of the corpses.
Unconsciously, his gaze drifted toward the platform where the sect leader and elders sat.
Apparently, Song Cheong-ja and Song Yang-ja were feeling much the same, as both had abruptly risen to their feet.
‘Even the sect leader and elder are rattled?’
It was only natural.
The breaking of Mount Mo Sect's proud North Dipper Exorcism Formation was unprecedented in nearly sixty years.
No—considering it had been shattered by a single formation master, it might be a first in history.
‘...If we back down from this stage now, what happens?’
That was when it happened.
As Hyung-un read the bewilderment on Song Cheong-ja and Song Yang-ja's faces and recalled sheathing his sword to step down from the training ground...
Song Yang-ja, noticing Hyung-un's gaze upon him, raised an eyebrow and nodded firmly.
‘!’
Seeing that, Hyung-un remembered what Song Yang-ja had said just before the face-off began.
“The stage is set as planned. Now go show everyone here what Mount Mo's Upper Azure Sword Inspectors truly are.”
“...Will it be alright?”
“Alright? What are you worried about to say such a thing?”
“Forgive my impertinence, but recall yesterday's banquet hall incident. Didn't you say even you didn't know what technique Eon Yong-un used, Elder?”
Song Yang-ja stroked his beard and chuckled at the question.
“Indeed. That's why I designed the stage so that neutralizing the corpses alone would suffice. In the midst of the North Dipper Exorcism Formation, can you maintain control over them single-handedly?”
“No.”
“Exactly! Not just you, Hyung-un—there's no such precedent in our history. We hold the overwhelming advantage. Heh heh. The fool accepted my proposal without suspecting the depth of my scheme, genius in formations or not.”
“......”
“Of course, being a genius, he was probably curious about the corpse techniques of our main branch, dubbed Udobon Mountain.”
Hyung-un posed a hypothetical to Song Yang-ja.
“...What if—and I mean purely if—his brilliant genius finds a way to counter the North Dipper Exorcism Formation's bindings?”
“Then unleash your sword barrage and shift to a proper interlocking formation. He won't maintain the focus to control seven corpses while facing that.”
“Won't seven Upper Azure Sword Inspectors ganging up on a freshman tarnish Mount Mo's reputation instead?”
“No need to worry. We can frame it as practical training in subduing corpse arts in real combat. Victory will lend it all the justification it needs. Discard such naive thoughts. With Upper Azure Sword Inspectors in play, defeat is not an option.”
During that conversation...
Hyung-un hadn't even considered defeat.
Winning was a given; his only concern was whether Upper Azure Sword Inspectors should even face a freshman.
But those thoughts were gone now.
‘As the third-generation disciples said, this guy's presence is different.’
Yet Song Yang-ja's words echoed in his mind: With Upper Azure Sword Inspectors in play, defeat is not an option.
Hyung-un suppressed the anxiety rising from the depths of his heart and began stepping into the footwork for his sword barrage.
* * *
Led by Hyung-un, Mount Mo Sect's seven masters couldn't hide their bewilderment and hesitated for a moment.
But soon, they threateningly raised their signature pitch-black Seven Star Swords, symbols of the Upper Azure Sword Inspectors, and stepped into footwork to unleash their sword momentum.
Watching the seven masters begin to move, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
‘Tsk tsk. I even gave them a chance to admit defeat gracefully, and they come at me like this.’
Even my master, who had placed in the top ranks, chimed in.
—Aren't they idiots? Don't these formation experts who've studied it since ancient times have any intuition? I was a novice in formations, but the moment I saw yours, I knew it was on another level.
He seemed baffled by the Upper Azure Sword Inspectors' actions.
Honestly, I understood them perfectly.
‘They think their way is the only truth.’
From their demeanor, they believed controlling the corpses while moving would be impossible for me.
That was the fixed mindset of this era's corpse manipulators.
They taught it that way in classes, and even Sa-hong had been shocked.
‘Plus, they're afraid of losing to a freshman Upper Azure Sword Inspector.’
Anyway.
For me, it was welcome news.
‘Even better.’
Otherwise, the corpses might get damaged.
They weren't family per se, but treating the entire orthodox martial world as one family, Upper Azure Sword Inspectors were senior figures.
Initiating a physics lesson from my side first would likely lead to annoying aftermath.
‘So I waited, thinking maybe they'd give up. But no, they insist on enrolling.’
Seven senior inspectors unleashing a sword barrage on a freshman?
From now on, whatever happened on this training ground was justified—as long as no one died.
I barely suppressed my twisting smirk and assumed my stance.
Sssh—
Suddenly, the air filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers.
Mount Mo Sect's signature illusion-laced sword barrage began to unfold.
‘Even against Mu-gil, it was just illusions multiplying him dozens of times.’
Now, seven masters at the peak of proficiency unleashing Mount Mo's sword arts.
Pop! Pop!
Pop pop pop!
Sword qi mimicking peach blossom petals scattered, leaving no room to stand anywhere on the training ground.
Swaek! Swaek!
Swaaaaaek!!!
Gasps erupted from the stands.
Even from the high platform, an unusually raised voice from Elder Kyung-hye and a croaking like an old frog reached my ears.
“Elder! Sect Leader! Aren't the Upper Azure Sword Inspectors poised to attack?! Eon Yong-un is just a freshman! Seven of them unleashing a sword barrage?!”
“Heh heh. Chief Director, calm down. This is merely an example of practical training in suppressing corpse arts. Those facing corpse manipulators naturally target the manipulator.”
“What nonsense is that?! Stop...”
“Being seven Upper Azure Sword Inspectors, they'll hold back.”
But contrary to their worries and expectations, Mount Mo's sword and my mental immunity were in a clear superior-inferior relationship.
‘Fakes appear blurry.’
Just like with Mu-gil.
The Upper Azure Sword Inspectors were no different.
Of course, the sword barrage itself was far fiercer than Mu-gil's.
Swaek!!!
Swaek! Swaaaaaaaaek!!!
With seven displaying such ferocity, they weren't to be dismissed lightly.
But it was doable.
‘I have seven corpses and their fixed notions as sturdy allies.’
I decided to exploit Mount Mo masters' preconceptions.
To that end, amid the onslaught, I made it look like controlling the corpses was difficult, moving only one.
Kraa!
And focused on deflecting the sword barrage.
Clang! Clang!
Clang clang! Clang clang!
Seeing me like that, surprise and relief mixed equally on the Upper Azure Sword Inspectors' faces.
Probably astonishment that I could still control one corpse, and relief that it was just one.
The moment that faint relief crossed their faces...
I inserted the other six corpses into their paths.
Kraaaaa!!!
“!”
Targeting a master who momentarily botched his footwork, I unleashed Phantom Shadow Heaven-Splitting Step.
Then, with the flat of my blade, I smashed the crown of the bastard reflexively swinging at the corpse.
Crack!!!!!!!
“Guh?!”
That was it.
Recalling their initial North Dipper formation, Mount Mo's array required at least seven to function properly—their momentum visibly dulled.
Smack!!
“Keurgh!?”
This weakened interlocking formation let me corner the others even more easily with corpses at the fore.
“...How? Controlling seven corpses while moving like that?!”
“How, you ask? I'd love to explain, but those haunted by the ghosts of defeat won't understand even if I told them.”
“Ghosts of defeat?”
“Yes, they're clinging all over you seniors. The tricky part is, they only leave after a good beating.”
“What...?”
Smack! Smack!!!
Smaaaaaack!
Thus, the original seven Upper Azure Sword Inspectors fell one by one, leaving only Hyung-un holding his Seven Star Sword on the training ground.
Finally facing reality after struggling to reverse the tide, he lowered his raised black blade and gave the answer he should have from the start.
“...I lost.”
Administrative Director Im Tae-ok then spoke.
“The winner of the new-and-old face-off between Mount Mo alumni and Azure Bamboo Hall cadet Eon Yong-un is cadet Eon Yong-un!”
Cheers erupted uniformly from the cadet stands.
“Waaaaah!!!!”
“Eon Yong-un!!!”
“This is the top freshman!!!”
Curiously, checking the areas of other dorms excluding Azure Bamboo Hall...
‘Yun-mae and Yun-guk aside, why from Fragrant Orchid Hall?’
The seniors shut it down quickest, but...
Since it was a new-and-old face-off event, even freshmen from other dorms, including Fragrant Orchid Hall, had gotten into it despite my status.
‘Amid all this, only Mount Mo freshmen look sour?’
With the luminaries on the platform, the cheers didn't last long.
Suddenly, they cut off.
In the ensuing silence, Mount Hua Sect's leader, Seong Min-ja, smiled with admiration.
“Heh. No one had ever taken the 'mighty dragon' title from Hyung-un... but it seems its owner has changed today.”