197
Chapter 197: Am I the Greatest Under Heaven?
The Ten Thousand Heavens Alliance (諸天盟, Jecheonmaeng).
An alliance formed by uniting all the previously scattered sects of the Western Frontier. Such a feat was only possible because, for the first time in two hundred years, a true supreme figure had emerged in the Frontier.
The Number One Beyond the Great Wall (塞外第一人). The Thunder God (雷神, Noesin).
Under the Thunder God’s lightning, every martial sect of the Frontier had knelt. Having established the Ten Thousand Heavens Alliance and ascended to the position of supremacy, the Thunder God now turned his gaze toward the Central Plains.
"Lord Thunder God, we are nearing Kunlun Mountain."
"Hmm. I’ve grown weary of this endless grassland."
The Thunder God gazed at the majestic mountain range piercing through the clouds in the distance, so towering it seemed to touch the heavens. It was less a mountain and more like a colossal wall connecting earth and sky.
As he observed the vast Kunlun Mountain, the Thunder God’s eyes gleamed.
"Indeed... Worthy of being called the Shield of the Central Plains’ martial arts world."
Just as the banners of the Ten Thousand Heavens Alliance fluttered and advanced across the grassland, the Thunder God, leading the warriors of the Frontier, raised a hand.
Immediately, the marching warriors halted in unison. At the edge of the grassland, a group was waiting for the Alliance. As the Alliance stopped, the waiting figures approached.
The Thunder God studied the martial artist cautiously, stepping forward and asked:
"Who are you?"
At the Thunder God’s voice, light yet carrying immense internal energy, the grass swayed as if swept by wind, and the warriors before him bowed deeply. An old man, his eyebrows twitching at the pressure in the voice, steadied his breath.
"I am Yun Sora, leader of the Kunlun Sect."
"And I am Jahong Yun, head of the Qinghai branch of the Martial Alliance."
Behind them stood the elite disciples of Kunlun and the warriors of the Qinghai branch.
But compared to the hundreds of Alliance warriors spread across the grassland, these fifty-odd martial artists seemed pitifully outmatched.
"What business do you have, daring to block the path of the Ten Thousand Heavens Alliance?"
As crackling blue lightning energy surged around the Thunder God, the Kunlun leader calmly replied,
"Thunder God. Must you bring such a force to challenge the title of the Greatest Under Heaven?"
The branch head added,
"The Martial Alliance wishes to avoid unnecessary conflict. If the Thunder God would leave his warriors here and proceed with only a few attendants, we would treat you as an honored guest."
"Ah, I see. The Central Plains’ martial arts world has grown peaceful lately, hasn’t it? You don’t want us disturbing that peace."
"That is correct."
The Thunder God smirked.
"Then let me ask you this."
The branch head sensed something ominous in that smile.
"Speak."
"Recently, many of the Central Plains’ supreme masters have died. The surviving Three Seats have retired. The only active supreme masters left are the Sword God, the Sword Immortal, the Sword Empress, and the Iron Mountain Fist King—just four."
The Thunder God’s lightning energy grew more intense, rippling across his body.
"The Central Plains’ martial arts world has weakened from infighting. Why should I behave and retreat?"
At his words, the Thunder God’s subordinates burst into laughter. The expressions of the Kunlun leader and the branch head hardened.
'As expected...'
'The challenge to the Sword God was just a pretext. They came to exploit our weakened state.'
As the atmosphere turned icy, warriors on both sides quietly gripped their weapons.
"If you cannot answer, then you will die."
Crackle—!
The Thunder God raised a hand, and blue lightning surged through the air. As his hand swung down, a massive bolt of thunder descended toward the Kunlun leader and the branch head.
No one could react. All they saw was a blinding blue flash.
BOOM—!
The Kunlun leader and the branch head flinched as the thunderbolt exploded right before them.
"What—?"
"Plum blossoms...?"
Before them, a massive plum blossom—large enough to shield them both—had bloomed. Purple petals shimmered with residual lightning.
The two men inhaled the sword-scented fragrance of the blossom, and the stench of death they had just felt faded. Their racing hearts gradually calmed.
Realizing who had summoned the blossom, relief washed over them.
The Thunder God, lips twisting, looked up.
From the sky, a man and woman descended slowly, standing atop a floating sword. The Thunder God studied the man as the plum blossom dissipated.
"The Hwasan Sword Saint? Younger than I expected."
"Yes. I am the Greatest Under Heaven."
The Thunder God laughed at Mu Hwi, who stood casually with his hands behind his back.
"The Greatest of the Central Plains, perhaps. I reign as the Greatest of the Western Frontier."
"How pointless."
Mu Hwi’s mocking smile made a vein bulge on the Thunder God’s forehead.
"Saves me the trouble of hunting you down in Shaanxi. I’ll kill you here and burn the Central Plains’ martial arts world to the ground."
The Thunder God thrust a lightning-charged palm strike at Mu Hwi, who responded with a swing of his right hand, swirling with purple energy.
BOOM—!
A storm of purple and lightning erupted, centered on the two men.
"Attack!"
"Clear out the small fry first!"
With the clash as the signal, the Alliance warriors charged toward the Kunlun disciples and Martial Alliance members.
Hundreds rushed forward, threatening to overwhelm them instantly—until a golden mist sprayed before the Kunlun leader and the branch head.
Slash—!
Golden sword flashes shot out in all directions, forming a barrier that halted the Alliance’s advance. Dozens of elite warriors at the front fell, heads severed. Someone shouted,
"The Sword Empress! It’s the Golden River Sword Empress (金河劍后)!"
Even as the Alliance hesitated, Xian Zhu’s sword did not stop. The golden sword strokes painted the sky, exacting a price for those who dared step forward.
The Thirty-Six Swords of the world sealed all directions, perfectly blocking the Alliance’s assault.
While Xian Zhu held off the Alliance alone, Mu Hwi observed the Thunder God’s storm of lightning.
The Thunder God, his long hair whipping wildly, unleashed a barrage of techniques, forcing Mu Hwi back. Craters formed across the grassland, and black smoke billowed.
Crackle—!
Vegetation turned to ash under the Thunder God’s lightning. Amidst the chaotic storm, only Mu Hwi’s pristine white robes remained untouched.
The Thunder God roared, enraged by Mu Hwi’s calm demeanor—his left hand still behind his back, his sword still floating idly.
"Arrogant bastard!"
Clapping his palms together, the Thunder God formed a massive Lightning Spear (雷槍) and hurled it at Mu Hwi. The spear tore through space, but Mu Hwi flicked it aside like swatting a fly.
Closing the distance, the Thunder God crouched and unleashed a Lightning Fist, a colossal fist-shaped blast of condensed lightning capable of swallowing Mu Hwi whole.
"Not bad."
Mu Hwi stepped forward, hands still behind his back—and the fist split in half before him.
The Thunder God’s eyes widened.
'What...? Did I miss his movement?'
As his pupils trembled, Mu Hwi’s violet gaze locked onto his. The Thunder God’s face stiffened, and he suddenly roared:
"Haaah—!"
A pillar of lightning, far surpassing his previous displays, erupted from his body—as if unleashing his ultimate technique.
"That’s enough."
Mu Hwi’s soft voice carried across the grassland.
The Thunder God’s lightning dimmed like a dying flame. Confusion filled his face as his internal energy disobeyed him.
Spurt—!
Blood gushed from his mouth as he collapsed to his knees. At the same time, his right arm fell severed.
"Guh—!"
Mu Hwi looked down at him, hands still behind his back.
The Thunder God barely managed to lift his head.
'I missed it again... No, did he even move?'
Losing an arm was one thing, but his internal energy rebelling was incomprehensible.
Unless...
Realization dawned. The Thunder God stared in horror.
"Could it be... The Formless Sword (心劍)?"
The meaning of the Formless Sword varied.
Some called it the realm of Mind as Slaughter (心卽殺)—killing with thought alone. Others described it as the divine ability to manifest will into reality.
Mu Hwi did not answer. Instead, he asked,
"Am I the Greatest Under Heaven?"
His voice pressed gently upon the grassland.
When the Thunder God hesitated, his left arm flew off. Blood vessels bulged in his eyes from pain, but Mu Hwi’s gaze remained indifferent.
"Last question. Who am I?"
The Thunder God could no longer meet his eyes. He realized Mu Hwi had touched the realm of the Formless Sword.
'To think such a man exists...'
He understood now—his very will had been cut by Mu Hwi’s Sim-myeong Sword.
"You... Are the Greatest Under Heaven."
Mu Hwi glanced at the Thunder God’s severed arms.
"Had you come purely to contest the title, I would have let you return unharmed. But your words disgusted me."
He then looked at the Alliance warriors, who had stopped fighting and now stared at him.
"If you trouble me again, I will come to the Western Frontier myself."
"I... Will remember."
Without even tending to his wounds, the Thunder God led the Alliance in retreat. Watching them flee, the Kunlun leader and the branch head chuckled dryly.
"To drive off the Thunder God without even drawing his sword..."
"Truly, the Greatest Under Heaven."
Mu Hwi simply smiled and clasped his hands.
"You two risked your lives to buy time. Thanks to you, this ended without further bloodshed."
"Haha, what did we even do?"
Then, Mu Hwi glanced at Kunlun Mountain.
"Had I not come, the Kunlun lineage might have handled this themselves."
The branch head looked surprised, but the Kunlun leader seemed to understand.
"To sense the inheritor of the Kunlun Secret Lineage from this distance... Your prowess is beyond imagination."
If Kunlun was the shield of the Central Plains, the Kunlun Secret Lineage was its hidden guardian. Its inheritors rarely revealed themselves in the martial arts world.
"The inheritor is in seclusion, so we could not ask for aid. I hope you understand."
"Of course. It only reminds me how many hidden masters still exist in this world. I cannot grow complacent."
After exchanging pleasantries, Mu Hwi turned to leave.
"Brother, how strong was that Thunder God?" Xian Zhu asked.
"About half a step below the Three Seats."
"Oh. Worthy of being called the Number One Beyond the Great Wall, then. What about the Kunlun inheritor?"
"Hard to say without meeting them, but likely on par with the Three Seats."
Xian Zhu blinked in surprise.
"For such a master to live in obscurity... Astonishing."
"Indeed. There may be others—like Shaolin, for instance."
Xian Zhu grinned.
"Brother, where to next? Anywhere you want to go?"
Mu Hwi thought for a moment.
"How about the sea?"
Xian Zhu clapped her hands.
"We’re at the western edge now, so let’s go east! Maybe we’ll find more hidden masters along the way."
Mu Hwi nodded, smiling.
"Not a bad idea."
Side by side, the two walked across the grassland.
Though they could fly on swords or use qinggong to travel swiftly, they chose to savor the moment, moving slowly.
Hand in hand, they began their journey—just the two of them.
***
At the Martial Alliance’s gates...
Hwasan Four Flowers smiled.
"I’ve been here many times as a second-generation disciple."
"First time as a first-generation disciple?"
"Yes."
Mujin stroked his newly grown beard.
Mu-hwa smirked and glanced back. Behind them, the newly promoted third-generation disciples followed.
"Let’s hurry inside."
At Mu Hwi’s urging, the first-generation disciples quickened their pace.