Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 55
>Chapter Title: Test (2)
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All those in the training grounds could not hide their shock.
It was something no one had anticipated.
The Alliance Leader was one of the Six Heavens, hailed as the pinnacle of the current martial world, known to have surpassed the Wall of Walls. He was a peerless grandmaster with no equal.
Yet the sword control technique unleashed by such an Alliance Leader was not something a mere late-stage novice could block.
And yet, the unbelievable had happened.
-Clang!
The flying sword halted right in front of Mok Kyung-un and fell to the ground.
This left not only Mong Mu-yak and Seop Chun, two of the Five Tigers meant to lead the next generation, and even the executives—the Dark Sect Leader Hwan Ya-seon and Vice Alliance Leader Mong Seo-cheon—stunned.
"Just... how did he do it?"
Hwan Ya-seon stared at Mok Kyung-un with wide eyes.
He still hadn't even lifted his head, maintaining his bow.
Yet the sword had dropped midway.
From the Alliance Leader's reaction, it was clear he hadn't done it.
"Is this the kid?"
A glint appeared in Vice Alliance Leader Mong Seo-cheon's eyes.
As the one managing even the intelligence division under the Alliance Leader's direct command, he had a thorough grasp of Mok Kyung-un's background.
Just a month ago, this novice had been brought in as a hostage from the righteous Timber Sword Manor.
According to the report from Sword King Son Yun, he had talent with the sword but had started martial arts too late for much hope.
Could someone like that really pull this off?
"What the hell is this guy?"
His outward energy felt like that of a peak master.
At that level, he shouldn't block sword control—he should be pierced in an instant.
So how had he done it?
While the two were lost in questions, someone else was in admiration.
It was none other than Cheong Ryeong.
"Ha!"
Cheong Ryeong watched everything from within the wooden doll.
None here knew Mok Kyung-un's true power, but she did.
"This guy's really a monster."
She couldn't hold back her awe.
Even if Mok Kyung-un had surpassed the Wall to reach the Transformation Realm, sword control was a higher-dimensional technique—something he still couldn't handle.
Yet she'd seen his death qi sever the sword's energy twice.
She was certain now.
"To wield death qi with such precision."
A gasp escaped her.
In essence, sword control gathered energy into the blade itself—a profoundly advanced method.
Severing that connection as Seop Chun had tried was practically impossible.
Yet Mok Kyung-un had taken a desperate gamble.
He'd used death qi, which disrupts vital energy, to scatter the Alliance Leader's energy concentrated in the sword control.
It might sound simple, but it was anything but.
To project death qi outside the body, cross space, and interfere with a fast-moving sword control required exquisite, delicate control.
It demanded innate talent and immense focus.
"This guy's potential and growth rate are truly..."
Beyond human limits.
Watching up close, she could only think of him as a monster.
But amid this amazement, worry crept in.
"I messed up, Kyung-un."
Cheong Ryeong gazed at the Alliance Leader, his face wrapped in bandages, eyes alone visible.
Likely one of his descendants.
Son or grandson, it didn't matter.
"This just puts you under his scrutiny."
He'd aimed for his life, leaving no choice, but dodging with visible effort might have been better.
Nullifying such an advanced technique like this only heightened suspicion.
If it were her, she might kill Mok Kyung-un right there.
However,
"Hahahahahahaha!"
The Alliance Leader, staring at Mok Kyung-un, suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
He soon coughed again.
"Cough, cough."
Blood flecked his cough.
Seeing this, Vice Alliance Leader Mong Seo-cheon spoke in dismay.
"Alliance Leader, you mustn't push yourself."
"Cough, cough."
-Swish!
The Alliance Leader, coughing, waved a hand dismissively.
"No, no."
He straightened his back.
Then, approaching Mok Kyung-un, he said,
"Well? What excuse now? Will you claim it wasn't you this time too?"
"......"
Mok Kyung-un made no reply.
Vice Alliance Leader Mong Seo-cheon pressed him.
"Answer at once!"
"............"
"This brat really..."
Mong Seo-cheon, furious and about to lash out—
Mok Kyung-un spoke.
"No choice then. Yes, I did it."
With that, he raised his head and met the Alliance Leader's gaze boldly.
Mong Seo-cheon was dumbfounded by his demeanor.
Who was present here?
The Alliance Leader, head of the Heavenly Earth Society.
How could someone sworn to loyalty act with such insolence?
"Insolent fool."
-Shing!
Vice Alliance Leader Mong Seo-cheon half-drew the sword at his waist.
Dark Sect Leader Hwan Ya-seon stepped in front, cupping hands in salute.
"Vice Alliance Leader, please stay your hand."
"Stay my hand? Defending your disciple now?"
"Heavens no. But a disciple's failing reflects on his master too, does it not? Scold me instead."
"You're saying that now..."
"Enough."
-Shwaaaa!
An overwhelming aura silenced them. Vice Alliance Leader Mong Seo-cheon and Dark Sect Leader Hwan Ya-seon turned shocked eyes to the Alliance Leader.
"Impossible energy."
"How can one so ill possess this?"
Even these masters were stunned by the suffocating power emanating from the Alliance Leader.
Mok Kyung-un's left eyelid twitched more violently.
Just a partial release, yet it was awe-inspiring.
He'd wondered what surpassing the Wall of Walls meant—it far exceeded expectations.
"No chance."
Even partially released, full power could slaughter everyone here, including him, in a few moves.
The level was utterly different.
Is this the pinnacle of the current martial world?
As he marveled, the Alliance Leader spoke.
"You've confessed with your own mouth, so how did you do it?"
Cheong Ryeong urgently advised.
-Just bluff. Living humans can't detect death qi from the dead anyway—no way to prove it.
-Yes, got it.
Mok Kyung-un planned the same.
But,
"The energy that intervened and scattered the sword control's qi... quite unique."
"!!!!!!!"
Mok Kyung-un's face stiffened.
Cheong Ryeong was equally shocked.
-No way?
Death qi wasn't detectable to begin with.
No living martial artist who'd faced Mok Kyung-un had sensed it, as humans couldn't feel death's energy.
Yet the Alliance Leader had?
Cheong Ryeong, startled but calm, said,
-He might be fishing since he can't sense it. Don't fall for it, Kyung-un.
-...Really?
Mok Kyung-un was dubious too.
Death qi's strength was its undetectability by the living.
If sensed, that advantage vanished.
Cautiously, Mok Kyung-un replied.
"You're too kind. I merely applied my sect's qi."
"Your sect?"
"Yes."
He framed it as sect arts due to murim's unspoken rule.
Even in sworn loyalty, one rarely pried into another's precious martial secrets unless extreme circumstances.
Mok Kyung-un banked on that.
However,
"Hmm, is that so? Yet to me, the Dark Sect Leader's energy has a yin nature, but yours seems far more complex."
"......"
Dark Sect Leader Hwan Ya-seon frowned at Mok Kyung-un too.
Mok Kyung-un's eyes narrowed.
Hoping it was a bluff, but the Alliance Leader seemed to truly sense his energy.
Staying composed, Mok Kyung-un said,
"Before my master taught me, I learned various arts."
"Various arts?"
"Yes. Timber Sword Manor's arts too... You know why I came here, Alliance Leader."
The Alliance Leader's eyes flickered oddly.
He grasped the implication instantly.
Moon Style swordsmanship.
He'd deciphered that cursed manual none could.
Recalling this, the Alliance Leader smirked, clasped hands behind back.
"I always wanted to see it once. Seems that's why the manual chose you."
"Pardon?"
"Shall we see it again?"
He nodded.
The fallen sword surged toward Mok Kyung-un.
-Just dodge!
Cheong Ryeong shouted.
But Mok Kyung-un thought differently.
He needed to confirm if this was a probe or true detection.
Suspecting death qi raised questions about repeated tests.
Thus,
-Clang!
Mok Kyung-un concentrated death qi, scattering the incoming sword's energy again.
-Didn't I say dodge?
-No. Let's check.
-What?
-I need to know if he really senses death qi.
If someone of the Alliance Leader's stature suspected after sensing, endless dodging wouldn't work.
Better to verify truth from lie—Mok Kyung-un judged.
Right then,
"Impressive senses. What about two?"
"Pardon?"
-Swish!
The Alliance Leader formed a sword mudra, flicking his wrist lightly.
Two swords detached from the wall, flying at Mok Kyung-un simultaneously.
-Swoosh! Swoosh!
From different angles, aiming head and chest.
"Damn..."
Cheong Ryeong clicked her tongue.
Interfering with one sword control took immense focus.
Two from different directions meant he'd spotted the scattering weakness.
Not for nothing called one of the Six Heavens.
"No choice this time. Dodge or block."
She figured even without advice, Mok Kyung-un would move.
Yet,
-Swoosh! Swoosh!
Rushing to his face, he didn't budge.
Cheong Ryeong panicked.
-Kyung-un!
That instant—
-Clang! Clang!
"!?"
An astonishing sight: both swords lost power almost simultaneously, crashing down.
Cheong Ryeong was dumbfounded.
Scattered the qi of two sword controls from different directions at once?
"This guy... ha!"
How?
Near-impossible without splitting the mind.
She'd underestimated him.
But she wasn't the only shocked one.
"You're seriously surprising me now."
Vice Alliance Leader Mong Seo-cheon gaped at the Alliance Leader.
The glint in his eyes confirmed it.
"The Alliance Leader... surprised?"
Ill though he was, he was one of the Six Heavens, pinnacle of murim.
A peerless grandmaster startled by a novice?
Novice no longer—blocking sword control like this transcended late-stage.
"What is this guy?"
Where'd he come from?
Far beyond a mere righteous hostage.
Dangerous...
-Pak!
-Kung!
Suddenly, the Alliance Leader appeared before Mok Kyung-un.
He placed a hand on the kneeling youth's shoulder.
-Swish!
"Movement unseen."
Even with Transformation Realm and Great Young Master's Clear Moon Water Step for ultra-speed, Mok Kyung-un trusted few speeds against him.
Yet the Alliance Leader's lightness skill was wholly different.
Like pulling space itself.
Moreover,
"This?"
The floor cratered under his foot.
How could such weighty footwork be this swift?
As he puzzled—
-Paaaak!
"Hng!"
Mok Kyung-un furrowed his brow at the Alliance Leader.
Vast internal energy surged through his shoulder.
Like raging ocean waves.
Normally, infusing qi risked harm, so caution prevailed—but not here.
-Grip!
The immense qi sought to wreck his internals.
Passive, and heart meridians might rupture, endangering life.
He had to resist.
Mok Kyung-un raised death qi, scattering the invading energy.
-Shoooo!
Against equal qi, easy.
But the Alliance Leader's, beyond the Wall to Manifestation Realm, dwarfed Mok Kyung-un's Transformation Realm.
Too vast—even death qi couldn't scatter it all.
-Drip! Drip!
Clothes around shoulder soaked red.
Bursting vessels.
-Grit!
Mok Kyung-un clenched teeth.
If death qi failed, one way left.
"Divert it."
He guided the shoulder qi not against, to sole's Yongcheon acupoint.
Then,
-Craaaack! Kwadddd!
Training ground stone split, qi backlash rising.
"Oh? Diverting the energy. Not bad. And this?"
-Shwaaaa!
Alliance Leader's energy doubled.
"Hup."
Mok Kyung-un's face flushed, veins bulging.
Body already strained.
This way, cripple or death loomed.
Watching, Dark Sect Leader Hwan Ya-seon intervened.
"Alliance Leader! Enough..."
"Don't interfere."
Vice Alliance Leader Mong Seo-cheon blocked him.
If Alliance Leader decided death, none could object.
Not even the master.
"How'd it come to this?"
Hwan Ya-seon paced anxiously.
Mok Kyung-un was his disciple, near-convert.
Couldn't lose him here.
But,
-Pak!
Alliance Leader withdrew hand from shoulder.
Instantly, gravely wounded, Mok Kyung-un vomited blood, knees buckling.
-Thud!
Gazing down, Alliance Leader clicked tongue.
He'd infused aggressively, near-bursting all meridians.
Impossible to divert fully.
Such qi would've broken anyone with agony.
Yet no groan, no sign of pain.
No wonder he passed Blood Valley.
"Fascinating. Not one energy in your body, but many kinds."
"Haa... haa..."
"Senses, mental fortitude, endurance—all extraordinary."
The tense kill-aura shifted; his sudden praise bewildered all.
Had Mok Kyung-un passed?
Then, unexpected words.
"This is beyond what the Dark Sect Leader can handle."
"Alliance Leader, what..."
"Stay back, Dark Sect Leader."
Alliance Leader extended warning hand.
Then to Mok Kyung-un,
"How about it? Become my fourth disciple?"
"!!!!!!!"
[End of Chapter 55: Test (2)]