Chapter 108: The Dragon, the Phoenix, and the Tiger (6)
Chapter 108: The Dragon, the Phoenix, and the Tiger (6)
The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering spans four days. While the city of Wuchang begins its festivities long before the start and continues for at least a fortnight after its conclusion, the martial arts competition itself wraps up within that timeframe.
On the first day, the smaller sects hold their matches. The second day sees the winners of those bouts face off against the great sects. From the third day until the final day, the event shifts into a format closer to free sparring.
From this point on, it is no longer a tournament-style survival of the fittest. This is likely because the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is not intended solely to determine the strongest of a generation, but rather to serve as a festival for building rapport and flaunting the Martial Alliance’s prestige.
"Still, it’s getting a bit tedious."
"Stay alert! Do not let your guard down!"
"Don't raise your voice, my dear Murong Cheong."
It was now the third day. This meant it was becoming clear which individuals were likely to reach the final stages.
"Oh, Namgung Jeong-ha. That fellow certainly stands out."
"…Do not speak of him so lightly. Someone might hear you. Young Master Namgung is regarded as the 'crane among a flock of chickens' even among the rising stars of the Jiangnan White Forest Association!"
"The future of the Jiangnan White Forest Association looks bleak, then."
Namgung Jeong-ha, currently standing on the martial stage, was at the very edge of the First-Rate realm.
In other words, he was half a step away from the Peak Realm. In terms of cultivation alone, he was roughly where I had been just before my 'doping' session with the Heavenly Silkworm Purple Blood Tear.
Considering he was my age—not yet twenty—he was a truly absurd genius.
Among the scions of the great sects, reaching that level usually took until one was at least thirty.
Even being First-Rate is enough martial prowess to walk with one's head held high in the martial world. There was a reason it was called the 'limit of mortals.'
"…Taoist Danheo of the Jongnam Sect? Already?"
"Indeed. Why is he coming out so soon?"
I munched on a sugar-coated pill while looking down at the stage.
A young man clad in a blue Taoist robe leaped gracefully and landed on the stage. It was a light-footed movement so ethereal that not even the sound of his feet touching the ground could be heard.
Taoist Danheo was in the Peak Realm and approaching thirty; he was a figure almost certain to join the Fifteen Lords in the future.
Given the nature of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, it wasn't time for someone of his caliber to appear yet.
Unlike the previous days, the third day of the gathering took the form of free sparring, where one would voluntarily take the stage to accept challengers. After the match was decided, the loser would gracefully withdraw, acknowledging their limits.
Killing moves were forbidden, ultimate techniques were kept hidden, and the contestants competed purely on martial skill.
It was a beautiful culture where one stood before the eyes of the world to elevate their sect's prestige, showed off just enough to avoid being seen as unsightly, and then exited amidst cheers.
From among them, a few of the most peerless rising stars were selected and granted the titles of 'Dragon' or 'Phoenix.'
The number varied with each gathering, but one had to demonstrate skill sufficient to be recognized by the majority of the public and accomplished masters.
Even if one stubbornly remained on stage until the end, they wouldn't be forcibly removed. However, failing to receive a title after staying that long was considered a great disgrace, so most martial artists chose to withdraw on their own.
Thus, Taoist Danheo stepping down to face Namgung Jeong-ha had to be seen as an anomaly.
Is he trying to publicly humiliate the Namgung Family?
There was no chance of Namgung Jeong-ha winning against Taoist Danheo. The age gap was nearly ten years, and the difference in realm and skill was overwhelming.
Furthermore, Namgung Jeong-ha had only just ascended the stage. If he were miserably crushed in his very first bout before the eyes of the world, the Namgung Family's prestige would suffer a massive blow.
"Just like Young Master Zhuge yesterday."
"I'm sorry..."
Seriously.
"What are you two whispering about? Can you hear them?"
"We don't learn trivial tricks like Earth-Listening or Ear-Pressing techniques."
"Then what on earth do they teach you in the Peng Family?"
"How to butcher people."
"Aha."
The two men on the stage exchanged a few words in very low voices before putting distance between themselves. They performed a light opening salute to show respect and immediately began to clash.
"It seems Taoist Danheo intends to use only his Lower Dantian. Even so, is there no chance?"
"The difference in skill doesn't come from the Middle Dantian. I suppose you wouldn't know since you've never opened yours? From that point on, even if you restrict yourselves to the same amount of internal energy, the gap becomes extreme."
"Argh, seriously. I can't even hit you for that."
"I don't get hit by those weaker than me."
"Guh..."
From the moment one awakens the Middle Dantian to use the Astral Energy Realm, traces are inevitably left on the outside. Even if one doesn't manifest strands of Astral Energy, there is a unique aura created by the force flowing through the meridians.
With a sound like a beating drum, Protection Aura begins to weave itself together.
There were no such signs. Currently, Taoist Danheo was overwhelming Namgung Jeong-ha using purely the internal energy of his Lower Dantian.
Soon, Namgung Jeong-ha gritted his teeth and swung his sword. It was a sword strike so exquisite that even I was momentarily surprised.
"Isn't that a secret technique?"
"It looks like it belongs to their sect's secret arts, but it's my first time seeing it. Father?"
"It is the Sky-Vault Limitless Sword of the Namgung Family. Until now, he seemed to be using only the Great Expansion Sword, but he has finally brought out the direct lineage's secret art. His sword technique isn't fully perfected yet, but even so, it isn't a style meant to be revealed before the public."
"Did their conversation before the duel mean he intended to reveal his sect's secret art?"
"Something like that. It was a vow to do his best. Though I do not know why he made such a choice."
I agreed. Sect secrets shouldn't be easily revealed to the public. Especially not in front of so many people.
A secret technique is a life-saving move. The more people see it, the easier it is to devise a counter. There was a reason most direct lineage secrets consisted of killing moves.
It was hard to understand why he would reveal such a thing in a mere friendly competition.
"You've been using yours left and right. Isn't the Hunyuan Thunderbolt Art a direct lineage secret?"
"Our side is a bit different because our martial arts don't really have 'counters.' We don't use them with refined logic; it's more like striking in a way that you can't block even if you know it's coming. In fact, most sects probably already have the Hunyuan Thunderbolt Art figured out."
If we piled up the corpses of the Orthodox martial artists we've killed with it, the mound would be higher than the walls of the Peng estate.
The duel didn't drag on much longer after that. Once Namgung Jeong-ha used his secret technique, Taoist Danheo also awakened his Middle Dantian to strike back.
That was more like an act of mercy from Danheo to prevent further leakage of the secret technique. Since he was going to win anyway, ending it quickly would mean fewer techniques were exposed. That must have been his calculation.
Namgung Jeong-ha bit his lip hard, performed a sword salute, and left the stage.
Now, Taoist Danheo stood alone on the martial stage. He regulated his breathing for a moment and then looked toward a certain direction.
"Hoh."
Murong Seo-jeong let out a soft exclamation. I felt the same way.
The Little Arhat of Shaolin leaped up and landed exactly where Namgung Jeong-ha had been standing.
"Do they intend to end the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering today?"
The age limit for participating in the gathering is thirty. And within that age group, those two were the only ones who had reached the Peak Realm.
In other words, this was a title match that should have happened toward the end of the gathering tomorrow. They were doing it already?
Regardless of our thoughts, the cheers of the spectators erupted, loud enough to deafen. The crowd was nearly double what it had been yesterday. It was the point where the rising stars, whose names were already famous in their respective regions, began their full-scale activities.
"This time, both are holding back. Namgung Jeong-ha's case was the anomaly."
"What do you think, Family Head?"
"The Little Arhat will win. If they fought with all their ultimate techniques revealed, it would be hard to judge, but if they compete with basic skills, no sect can defeat Songshan Shaolin."
The duel between the two ended quickly.
After exchanging a few opening moves, Taoist Danheo nodded, stepped back, and performed a sword salute. It wasn't a defeat, but a duel that was closer to a concession.
It was a picture-perfect friendly spar, and that alone was enough to broadcast to the world that the level of these two was formidable.
—Waaaaaaaah!!
The commoners roared at the clash between these youths who were no different from immortals. The murmurs of the martial world's accomplished masters were buried in the noise.
Those two were talents who would have surely received the title of 'Dragon' in any generation. Even if the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering ended right now, that wouldn't change.
Taoist Danheo gave a polite bow toward the spectator seats and left the stage without lingering. The cheers didn't stop until he had completely disappeared.
And even after the shouting died down...
Even then, the Little Arhat remained standing alone on the stage, looking this way.
Normally, at this point, someone should step out and challenge the Little Arhat. That was the format of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
Especially since after a match of that caliber had been shown, losing to him wouldn't be considered shameful.
However, all the eligible rising stars remained silently in their seats.
Every one of them was looking this way.
The rising stars of the Jiangnan White Forest Association, the Sichuan martial world, and those from Shaanxi and Hubei. Even in their respective groups, they were all silently casting their gazes toward us.
Finally, silence returned to the spectator seats. It seemed they, too, realized that the situation was taking an unusual turn.
The Little Arhat shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I request guidance from Benefactor Peng!!"
It was an act that went against the traditions of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering that I had heard from Murong Cheong. From the third day onward, while challengers might step up on their own, the existing winner never designated an opponent.
Doing so could easily lead to a provocation between sects.
Therefore, this was a direct provocation that broke the unspoken rules the Orthodox Faction had maintained until now.
"Taoist Danheo and Benefactor Namgung engaged in their bouts with this opportunity in mind. Since this monk stands here by the grace of their concessions, I hope Benefactor Peng will please respond!"
It was also an expression of his intent to protect the pride of the Orthodox sects as the martial artist representing the Orthodox Faction of this generation.
They had judged that unless it was Taoist Danheo or the Little Arhat, no one could discuss the chance of victory.
If they challenged separately and even one of them lost, the disgrace would be inevitable. Even if they won, they would be branded with the infamy of having snatched a victory through a battle of attrition.
Having considered all this beforehand, Namgung Jeong-ha, Taoist Danheo, and the Little Arhat had competed among themselves to select the one who would fight me.
Martial artists who were practically destined to become the future Fifteen Lords of the Central Plains. Moreover, direct disciples who had personally studied under the current Fifteen Lords.
My, how extravagant.
"I shall gladly accept."
As I stood up, gazes pierced me like arrows. The hostile glares from the masters of each sect. The envious eyes of the rising stars. Even the fear-filled looks of the commoners.
In front of them all, I picked up the Peng Family Banner. The pole swayed and fluttered violently in the winter wind.
Snowflakes began to fall from the sky. It was now fully winter. Under the overcast sky of Wuchang, white snowflakes drifted down.
I moved forward. Toward the giant of a man looking straight at me from the stage.
—Fwooooosh!
I leaped while holding the banner. My family doesn't teach Lightness Arts. Even the Seven Shadow Immortal Step I learned from the Hao Clan Leader was closer to footwork than a Lightness Art.
The soft and beautiful landing shown by the rising stars of other sects was impossible for me from the start.
—BOOM!!
I landed on the stage, putting my full weight into it. I had leaped and descended using sheer internal energy. I landed with enough impact to make the stone slabs crack.
I planted the Peng Family Banner.
I looked at the Little Arhat. He was looking at me too. Countless people were now looking down at the two of us, lost for words.
Among those gathered here, the future Fifteen Lords of the Central Plains would surely emerge.
And if that were the case, if I could stand on the same level as them... if I could just stand in that spot...
Wouldn't that mean I, too, possessed sufficient qualification to challenge that position?
And if so...
"Hebei Peng has arrived."
The Fifteen Lords. The strongest martial artists across the four seas and nine provinces of the world, those whose mere existence determined the rise and fall of sects and presided over the wars between factions.
If this was the place where those who would grow into such figures were gathered...
"Right here, in this place."
I shook my left hand. A gauntlet slid down from my sleeve and wrapped around my fist. I raised my right hand, resting my blade on my shoulder as I looked straight ahead.
"It would be fitting to discuss the supremacy of our generation."
If I win.
If I can win with sufficient dominance.
In ten years—perhaps longer, perhaps sooner—in that not-so-distant future...
The Black Path Demonic Alliance shall stand firm upon the foundation of the world.
With that intent, I spoke.
"Beheading Blood Wolf."
"Little Arhat."
With that, we replaced our opening salutes.
A duel where we maintained each other's dignity through courtesy did not apply to me. I had never learned the beautiful rapport of sparing secret techniques, hiding one's strength, and ensuring the opponent remained unharmed during the opening moves.
"There is one thing wrong in your words, Benefactor."
"What is it?"
"We are not merely discussing supremacy."
The Little Arhat gave a wide grin, wearing an expression quite unlike a monk and uttering words quite unlike a follower of Buddha.
"It would be better to say we are deciding the supremacy of the world."
And then, he charged straight at me.