Chapter 100
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: The Red Elder's Challenge
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Seol Hwa-un's question left the Five Great Protectors somewhat flustered. They exchanged glances before White Elder spoke up.
"Opinions are divided even among us. But fundamentally, we remain neutral."
"That's a relief."
Seol Hwa-un fixed his gaze on Black Elder.
"Black Elder, it seems you're opposed to the Ice Palace's advance. Is that correct?"
"Indeed."
"You said the North Sea lacks for nothing to survive. I see it differently."
"Hm?"
"The North Sea's public order is unmatched anywhere in the Central Plains. That's thanks to the Ice Palace. Yet every year, hundreds of North Sea folk leave for the warmer Central Plains. What do you think is the reason?"
Seol Hwa-un's expression darkened slightly.
"The Ice Palace does what it can to care for them, but the harsh North Sea makes life difficult."
Black Elder shook his head.
"That's only part of it. Most people in the North Sea work hard and get by just fine."
"I agree. But are they truly content with life in the North Sea?"
"What?"
"The North Sea's cold is enough to catch even our martial artists off guard, despite our training. It's far worse for those without martial arts."
"......"
"Dozens to hundreds freeze to death each year. Including those who've lived here their whole lives."
"That's......"
"Of course, it happens everywhere. Even in the warm Central Plains, countless freeze in winter. But relative to the entire Central Plains population, it's a tiny fraction."
"......"
"The North Sea is different. With our already small population, the ratio is far from negligible. And sadly, most of the victims are...... children."
The North Sea's environment was far too brutal for growing children to endure.
"Ugh!"
"Can we still call the North Sea a good place to live?"
Black Elder couldn't answer easily.
"If the Ice Palace leads the way in relocating their homes to warmer lands, they could live much better lives."
Green Elder spoke up.
"You have a point. But isn't surviving this harsh environment better than dying to Central Plains blades?"
"You're worried another Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor might appear."
"Exactly."
Seol Hwa-un asked in a calm voice.
"How long has it been since the Five Great Protectors last visited the Ice Palace?"
"Who knows."
Seol Hwa-un's eyes gleamed intensely.
"I don't know what you'll think, but the Ice Palace is strong. Strong enough to overcome any trial."
These weren't empty words.
Compared to two hundred years ago, when he had led the Martial Alliance's guardian unit in their invasion, the North Sea Ice Palace now commanded even greater power.
"Besides, the Central Plains is fractured like a boiling pot, too busy checking each other to focus. This is the perfect chance for the Ice Palace to advance."
"How can you be so sure? What if they unite again and attack the Ice Palace?"
Seol Hwa-un nodded readily.
"The odds are very low, but it's possible. That's why I've made alliances with various sects on this Central Plains trip. I've made enemies too, but also friends."
"Hm."
"So I can confidently say not all the Central Plains will treat us as foes this time."
"......"
An odd silence fell. The Five Great Protectors exchanged serious glances.
"Hm, fine. But words alone ring hollow."
Red Elder shot to his feet.
"You can't survive in the martial world without the skill to back it up. Get up. Let's see the prowess that's got everyone talking."
Seol Hwa-un agreed readily.
"Understood."
The other four elders backed away. Blue Elder grumbled as he retreated.
"I knew that old man would step up. He's been itching ever since he heard the Little Palace Lord was a fist master."
"Good timing. I was curious about the Little Palace Lord's skills anyway."
Seol Hwa-un and Red Elder faced off five paces apart.
'A perfect chance to gauge the Five Great Protectors' true skills.'
As Seol Hwa-un stared at Red Elder, he realized something.
"Were you once the Ice Family Head, Red Elder?"
Red Elder's lips curled up on one side.
"Sharp instincts. Yes."
'I see. A fist master, as expected.'
Even without any stance, Seol Hwa-un instinctively recognized him as a fist art expert.
"Shall we begin?"
They slowly assumed stances. Coincidentally, both took the starting form of the Broad Cold Fist—identical postures.
Red Elder's smile deepened.
'......A clean stance. The current Family Head taught him well.'
Seol Hwa-un slowly released his energy.
A heavy, intense aura spread in all directions.
The four elders' eyes widened.
"No way!"
"He's just past twenty, right? How?"
"Ha! The current Palace Lord's talent was astonishing, but this kid surpasses him! The rumors didn't do him justice!"
Red Elder, however, showed no reaction. He hadn't even released his energy yet.
'What?'
In that moment of doubt, Red Elder's energy exploded outward. His figure vanished.
Flash!
Seol Hwa-un's eyes widened.
'Fast!'
Boom!
A lightning-quick fist flew at him. Seol Hwa-un barely blocked it with his forearm.
'Unleashing Peak Fist in the Fist Bell like this?!'
The Broad Cold Fist's fourth form, Peak Fist in the Fist Bell, was typically chained with the third form, Light Fist Leisure.
It wasn't meant for such a sudden ambush.
Red Elder's assault didn't end there. Pressing forward as Seol Hwa-un reeled, he unleashed Whirling Wind Fist.
Whoosh!
His body spun rapidly, fist thrusting out. Seol Hwa-un's face hardened.
'The trajectory of that Whirling Wind Fist......'
It was utterly different from what the Ice Family Head had taught him. Sharper, harder to predict.
'In that case.'
Seol Hwa-un countered with the first form, Cold Wind Three Strikes.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Three fist shadows completely blocked Red Elder's Whirling Wind Fist path.
Boom!
Red Elder's fist clashed with one of Seol Hwa-un's shadows. This time, both stepped back a pace.
Red Elder frowned and shook his hand.
"What do you have wrapped around your hand?"
From a single clash, his experience let him detect the Shadowless Fist Gauntlet.
Seol Hwa-un replied calmly.
"I'm still lacking, so I'm borrowing the aid of a divine weapon. Shall I remove it?"
"Hmph, no need!"
Red Elder closed the distance and unleashed Cold Wind Three Strikes.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
'Again?'
Incredibly, the three shadows differed in speed, path, and motion. It was clearly Broad Cold Fist, yet felt like an entirely different art.
'My pride stings, but I can't stick to Broad Cold Fist.'
He had to admit it. Red Elder's Broad Cold Fist was far more refined and profound than his own.
Seol Hwa-un unleashed Full Snow Flow Fist.
'Jade Formation Falling Powder!'
Popopopow!
Red Elder's Cold Wind Three Strikes were all repelled. Red Elder's lip curled slightly.
'Good choice.'
Red Elder began using Full Snow Flow Fist as well. Though the same art, his was vastly superior.
Popopopow!
'I see. He spent those long years in the Elder Council refining the Ice Family's fist arts, patching their flaws.'
As expected, Red Elder had worked with the other elders to revise and improve the North Sea Ice Palace's fist techniques.
The results were on display now.
Seol Hwa-un's eyes turned icy.
'How about the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist?'
He immediately unleashed Fist Cannon One Split. An immense shockwave erupted from his fist.
Kwaaaaa!
Red Elder recognized it at once.
"Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist!"
His eyes wavered slightly at the oncoming shockwave.
'The power of the Ice White Divine Art? Incredible!'
Red Elder started to counter with Fist Cannon One Split but stopped.
'Frustrating, but my version can't match it.'
He stepped back, waited for the shockwave, then unleashed a different form with lightning speed.
Popopopa!
Seol Hwa-un recognized it immediately.
'Three Layers Pressure Fist?!'
This form, Three Layers Pressure Fist, was a devastating heavy fist meant to crush foes up close.
'Using it for defense?'
Kwaaaaang!
With a massive explosion, the Fist Cannon One Split's energy dissipated. Red Elder had perfectly defended with Three Layers Pressure Fist.
Kwakwang!
Seol Hwa-un pressed on with more Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist forms, but Red Elder neutralized each with masterful technique.
'I have to acknowledge it. In form application, he's above me.'
It made sense. Even as a genius, Seol Hwa-un had only trained the North Sea Ice Palace's fist arts for six years.
Red Elder had honed them for nearly a century, so his understanding was unmatched.
It was frustrating for Seol Hwa-un.
'Wish I could use other fist arts.'
The other four elders groaned in awe.
"Ha!"
"Amazing. To have mastered Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist already."
"His inner energy quality is different. Blocking it is the best Red Elder can do."
"I wouldn't have believed it without seeing it myself. What a phenomenal Little Palace Lord."
Boom!!
Seol Hwa-un unleashed the fourth form, Sky-Splitting True Fist, but Red Elder offset it with Full Snow Scatter Wave and Fist Cannon One Split in succession.
Deciding this was enough, Red Elder smiled faintly.
"Now, it's o—"
At that moment, Seol Hwa-un's energy shifted dramatically, and the air began to churn.
Wooong!
Rumble rumble rumble!
Clang! Clang!
The ground trembled faintly, and the pond water churned wildly. At the center of it all was Seol Hwa-un.
'Incredible!'
Red Elder's face hardened as he watched the slowly changing stance. It was unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar.
"No way......?"
Seol Hwa-un murmured softly.
"Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist, fifth form."
"What?"
Seol Hwa-un's fist thrust forward.
"Nine Walls Subduing the World."
Kuaaaaaang!