Chapter 133
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Clash of the Dragons
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Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won couldn't hide their bewildered expressions.
“……?”
No matter how much the Martial Alliance and the Heaven Alliance had split, they were still both part of the orthodox faction. There seemed to be no reason to show open hostility.
Hong Gwang spoke calmly.
“Amitabha. Even if it's a place this monk shouldn't come to, I've come anyway?”
Ha So-hyeon raised his voice.
“That's right! Truly fearless!”
“Interesting. Why should this monk fear anything?”
“After pulling such a petty stunt?”
“Petty?”
“The rumors are already widespread, and you're denying it?”
The root of the issue was the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. These assemblies were typically held every five years, but not always on schedule.
Sometimes as short as three years, sometimes as long as six or seven before a new one opened. And the Martial Alliance had declared they would host the next one during the Spring Festival.
The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly had traditionally always been hosted by the Martial Alliance.
The problem was the Martial Alliance's announcement restricting participation to only sects affiliated with the Martial Alliance.
Amid this, rumors spread that junior disciples from the Martial Alliance had colluded to exclude those from the Heaven Alliance.
Naturally, this sparked outrage among the Heaven Alliance's junior disciples.
Having heard Dang Cheong's explanation, Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won nodded.
“So that's what happened.”
“And now the dissatisfaction among the Heaven Alliance juniors is sky-high. The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly is practically their gateway to fame, and now they can't even participate.”
Dong Ho-won asked.
“Then couldn't the Heaven Alliance just hold their own Dragon-Phoenix Assembly separately?”
“It's not as easy as it sounds. After all, it's the Martial Alliance's Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, boasting history and tradition. Would the martial artists of the world truly acknowledge it if they suddenly held a separate one?”
“Hmm.”
Eom Mu-hwi muttered to himself.
“Considering the weight of the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, that's a rather careless decision.”
Seol Hwa-un, who had been silent, chimed in.
“We'll have to wait and see about that.”
“Pardon?”
“I can't say for sure, but there's a high chance the Martial Alliance will reverse their decision.”
“……!”
Dang Cheong's eyes sparkled.
“Young Palace Lord, why do you think that?”
“Because it brings no benefit to the Martial Alliance in the end. A diminished Dragon-Phoenix Assembly would only erode their prestige.”
“Ah. Then why...”
“It's probably just a petty tantrum toward the Heaven Alliance that split off on their own. Didn't the Martial Alliance send envoys this time too?”
“I heard they did.”
“They'll soon negotiate with the Heaven Alliance. Probably compromising with the Heaven Alliance covering part of the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly's operating costs, something like that?”
“Ah!”
What Dang Cheong heard made perfect sense.
‘Amazing insight. The Young Palace Lord truly surprises me every time.’
Meanwhile, the conflict between Hong Gwang and the juniors grew.
“You say that because you don't know how much the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly means to juniors?”
“Amitabha. I don't understand why one should be so fixated on the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. There are plenty of ways to test one's skills.”
Paeng Ga-ho, who had been watching, spoke up.
“Interesting. You, who reaped all sorts of benefits from the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, say such things.”
“Hm?”
“Didn't you enter the top eight and earn the title of Shaolin Phoenix-Dragon?”
“This monk only participated to test his skills, with no other intentions.”
“Who knows. If that's true, why not relinquish the Dragon-Phoenix title right now?”
Hong Gwang's face twisted for the first time.
“......Are you seriously saying that right now?”
“Why so upset, monk? You talked as if fame meant nothing, but now that it's time, you hesitate?”
“It's not as easy as you make it sound!”
Their eyes locked fiercely.
“......”
Paeng Ga-ho taunted.
“Fine then. Why not test your skills against me?”
“Amitabha. If Donor Paeng is so eager to test your limits, this monk won't refuse.”
The two, breathing heavily, soon moved to the training ground in the rear garden.
The other juniors followed in a crowd.
Watching them, Seol Hwa-un shook his head.
‘Still young.’
Especially amusing was Hong Gwang, who had acted so detached from fame, now excited.
Dong Ho-won said with shining eyes.
“This should be fun.”
His face showed he was itching to watch.
“......Alright, let's go.”
“Yes! Young Palace Lord.”
* * *
The training ground in the rear garden of the reception hall.
Hong Gwang and Paeng Ga-ho stood in the center, while the other juniors watched from a short distance.
They were now fully focused on the two, as if the earlier tension had never happened.
“Shaolin Phoenix-Dragon versus Blade Dragon.”
At Ha So-hyeon's mutter, Jegal Hyeon said.
“It's a matchup between the current Dragon-Phoenix and the previous one.”
“Who do you think will win?”
“Looking purely at rankings, Blade Dragon took fourth, while Shaolin Phoenix-Dragon was eighth.”
“But there's an age difference?”
“Even fourth place—Blade Dragon could have won the whole thing without it being strange.”
“Hmm.”
Jegal Hyeon, a top-eight contender himself, admitted he couldn't match Blade Dragon.
‘He's grown even stronger since I last saw him.’
He used to think he could give him a fight, but now it felt like a wall.
‘Damn, and I haven't slacked on training either.’
Beside Seol Hwa-un stood Hwang Bo-young and Dang Cheong side by side.
“An unexpected treat.”
At Dang Cheong's words, Hwang Bo-young nodded.
“Yes! I'm really looking forward to it. What do you think, Young Palace Lord?”
“Certainly an intriguing matchup.”
Seol Hwa-un gazed sharply at Hong Gwang and Paeng Ga-ho.
‘Judging by their auras alone, it's even. Hard to predict the winner.’
Coincidentally, both had suffered bitter defeats to Seol Hwa-un.
Especially Paeng Ga-ho, who had mishandled the Ice White Divine Art, even breaking his weapon.
‘It won't compare to back then.’
Not just the aura, but they felt much more solid now.
‘As expected of the Paeng family.’
Hong Gwang was no pushover either. From Seol Hwa-un's perspective, who had clashed with him directly, Hong Gwang even seemed more threatening.
‘Assuming he uses Blood Shadow Forest techniques, of course.’
He wouldn't in a public spar like this.
Hong Gwang slowly drew his Prajna Blood Rod.
“Amitabha. Donor Paeng, you'd best prepare yourself.”
Paeng Ga-ho drew the sword from his back as well.
“The monk as well.”
The moment their killing intents clashed sharply.
Without a signal, they kicked off the ground toward each other.
Boom!!
A powerful explosion rang out from the first clash. Proof of the substantial inner energy in sword and rod.
Paeng Ga-ho, pushed back by the repulsion, swung his sword down.
Shuuuuaak!
A heavy sword aura burst from the blade tip. Hong Gwang countered without yielding, thrusting his Prajna Blood Rod.
Paat!
Kwaaaang!
The sword aura shattered against the rod.
‘This much is......’
Hong Gwang's smile froze.
“......!”
The moment he broke the sword aura, a new one came flying at him.
‘He released a new sword aura in that instant?!’
Caught off-guard, Hong Gwang quickly spun his rod wide.
Buuuung!
Kwaang!
Unable to withstand the impact, Hong Gwang was pushed back, and Paeng Ga-ho's eyes gleamed as he pressed the attack.
Shushu shushu!
Countless sword shadows poured toward Hong Gwang.
“......!”
Hong Gwang retreated while wildly swinging his Prajna Blood Rod.
Chaeng chaeng chaeng chaeng!
Having seized the initiative, Paeng Ga-ho unleashed merciless offense, leaving Hong Gwang scrambling to defend.
“Ah!”
“Incredible!”
Numerous people who had been in the reception hall gathered to watch the duel.
Eom Mu-hwi nodded.
“Blade Dragon is completely different from before. No gaps in his offense.”
Dang Cheong nodded as well.
“Indeed. They say he trained directly under the Blade King.”
Eom Mu-hwi's eyes widened slightly.
“The Blade King—one of the Five Kings and Four Swords...?”
“That's right.”
Excluding the Nine Heavens Martial Emperor, the Five Kings and Four Swords were considered the strongest in the orthodox faction.
And one of them was the Paeng family of Northern Hebei's Supreme Patriarch, ‘Blade King Paeng Yeom.’
“I see. That explains Blade Dragon's rapid growth.”
“And right now, Blade Dragon is focusing on swift sword strikes. As you know, the Paeng family's swordsmanship doesn't specialize in speed.”
“Yet he's holding the advantage against Monk Hong Gwang.”
Seol Hwa-un, who had been quiet, asked Dong Ho-won.
“Ho-won, what do you think?”
“......Pardon?”
Dong Ho-won, absorbed in the fight, answered belatedly.
“Ah, it's an amazing duel. Both are truly remarkable.”
“How do you think it'll go?”
At Seol Hwa-un's follow-up, Dong Ho-won's face turned serious.
“I can't tell yet.”
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Blade Dragon is pressing hard, but it's not a relaxed position. Rather......”
His gaze turned to Hong Gwang.
“Monk Hong Gwang's defense is astonishing. Rods are inherently advantageous for defense due to their nature. Blade Dragon knows that, which is why he's pushing so aggressively.”
“......!”
Dang Cheong and Eom Mu-hwi looked at him in surprise.
“Well done, Ho-won. You see it clearly.”
Seol Hwa-un continued with a faint smile.
“Contrary to appearances, this duel is evenly matched. Whichever loses focus first will fall immediately.”
Chaeng chaeng chaeng chaeng!
Indeed, sweat beaded on Paeng Ga-ho's forehead as he relentlessly swung his sword to pressure Hong Gwang.
“......”
He wanted to stop the swift strikes and unleash the Paeng family's signature Five Tigers Gate-Severing Blade, but there was no opening.
Even a momentary slowdown felt like the iron rod would pierce him.
Chaeng chaeng!
In truth, Hong Gwang maintained ironclad defense while eyeing counterattack opportunities with sharp eyes.
‘This isn't favorable.’
Paeng Ga-ho grew anxious.
His stamina and inner energy consumption were greater as the attacker.
‘I have to create an opening, even if it strains me!’
Paeng Ga-ho resolved himself. In that instant, his aura changed.
Kuuuooo!
His sword speed exploded.
Shuuuaaaaak!
“......!”
The startled Hong Gwang poured maximum inner energy into his Prajna Blood Rod.
At that moment.
Creeeeeng!
A fierce metallic clash reverberated everywhere. His sword strike was so heavy that Hong Gwang's form was pushed back.
“Kuk!”
Hong Gwang's pupils shook violently.
‘Impossible! Infusing such weight into such fast swordsmanship!’
A glint rose in Seol Hwa-un's eyes as he watched.
‘That technique......!’
It was a bit clumsy, but brimming with immense profundity.
‘Amazing! Besides the Five Tigers Gate-Severing Blade, the Paeng family has another sword art like that?’
Seol Hwa-un didn't know yet, but the swordsmanship Paeng Ga-ho had just unleashed was the Paeng family's pinnacle, the ‘Royal Character Four Blades.’
However, having overexerted, Paeng Ga-ho's complexion paled slightly.
‘Now!’
Without stopping, he drew a massive arc with his blade. It was the Five Tigers Gate-Severing Blade.
Kuaaaa!
“......!”
An enormous wave of sword aura crashed toward Hong Gwang. It was utterly overwhelming.
“Whoa, incredible!”
“As expected of Blade Dragon!”
In this moment of life and death.
“Haap!”
Hong Gwang shouted with spirit for the first time, leaping into the aura storm.
Kwaaaaaang!