Chapter 140
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Dual Weapons Debut
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Boom!!
A massive explosion rang out as Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi were pushed back. Shock filled their faces.
‘We knew even the two of us together couldn’t match the Little Palace Lord. But….’
‘Isn’t this too much?’
A sword was in Seol Hwa-un’s left hand, and a saber in his right.
Dong Ho-won couldn’t help but ask.
“Little Palace Lord, when exactly did you start using dual weapons?”
“Today.”
“Pardon?”
Seol Hwa-un gave a faint smile.
“I just felt like I could.”
“…That’s ridiculous.”
There were plenty of martial artists who wielded weapons in both hands.
But they used matching pairs like twin swords, twin sabers, or twin axes—never different types.
“It’s not as impressive as you think. Strictly speaking, it’s actually weaker than focusing on just one.”
“And yet you still pushed us back?”
“That’s because you two are weak.”
“Urk!”
“Come on, again.”
Feeling humiliated, the pair gritted their teeth and charged at Seol Hwa-un.
Clang!
Dong Ho-won’s spear was blocked by the saber and deflected.
Clang-clang-clang!
Eom Mu-hwi’s flashy Soul-Hooking Hand Sword clashed chaotically with Seol Hwa-un’s sword.
“What are you doing? Can’t even break through my amateurish sword and saber techniques?”
Though it was under the pretext of training the two, this was actually Seol Hwa-un testing a new training method.
In truth, unless one had mastered something like the Wudang Dual Heart Technique, wielding different martial arts with each hand was extremely difficult.
Yet Seol Hwa-un insisted on using sword and saber precisely to practice numerical superiority in intense combat.
The higher one’s realm, the more victory or defeat hinged on split-second responses. Quick situational judgment and adaptability became crucial.
By deploying different techniques with each hand, it forced rapid assessment of both sides, naturally honing the skill.
Boom-boom-boom!
“Urk!”
“Ugh!”
Seol Hwa-un shouted at the pair as they were pushed back again.
“Again!”
The sparring lasted half a shichen.
“Haa, haa, haa.”
“Huff, huff, huff.”
Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi panted heavily. Though shorter than usual, its intensity had exhausted them quickly.
“…….”
What was surprising, however, was the beaded sweat on Seol Hwa-un’s forehead. The mental drain had been that severe.
‘Whew, this really isn’t easy.’
Just half a shichen, yet Seol Hwa-un felt as fatigued as if he’d intensely practiced martial arts for three or four.
It was partly due to wielding sword and saber together, but not entirely.
‘These guys….’
Seol Hwa-un eyed Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi with newfound respect.
‘They’ve already surpassed the peak… and are aiming for the Realm of No Mind.’
They couldn’t compare to him, but reaching the Realm of No Mind before even turning thirty was exceedingly rare.
‘If they break through that wall, they’d be too valuable just as personal guards.’
Peak Realm of No Mind experts were hard to find even one or two in mid-sized sects.
‘If that happens….’
It was a pleasant dilemma, pondering how to best utilize them.
“That’s enough for today.”
“Yes, Little Palace Lord.”
As the weary pair dragged themselves toward the guest hall, Seol Hwa-un turned to one side and spoke.
“The Family Head always shows up at times like this.”
“You’re as consistent as ever, Little Palace Lord.”
A man stepped into view.
“Long time no see, Little Palace Lord.”
It was the Heavenly Dragon, Namgung Hyo. His aura burned even fiercer than before.
During his last Central Plains journey, Seol Hwa-un had sparred with him at the Namgung Family and offered pointers freely.
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
“I heard the news. You’ve taken over as leader of the North Vanguard. Congratulations, though belated.”
Among the Heavenly Justice Alliance’s four great martial units, the North Vanguard boasted the strongest forces.
Leading such a unit carried immense significance.
Namgung Hyo gave a wry smile.
“Well… it was decided unilaterally without my consent.”
“Is that so? In my view, Young Master Namgung is more than qualified.”
“I appreciate you saying that.”
Seol Hwa-un could gauge Namgung Hyo’s realm.
‘He’s definitely broken through the wall. It’s been a while, too.’
He’d likely reached the Realm of No Mind shortly after receiving his advice.
“My greetings are late. Thanks to you, I’ve made considerable progress.”
Seol Hwa-un shook his head.
“It’s all thanks to your diligent training, Family Head… Though it doesn’t seem like you came just to say hello.”
Namgung Hyo smiled faintly.
“As expected of the North Heavenly Dragon. Indeed, I recently gained a small insight.”
Seol Hwa-un smiled unwittingly.
‘Insatiable, as always. Then again, with the Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable in the Namgung Family, it’s only natural.’
“No need to worry about unleashing your arts freely, and few can offer cold, honest critique…”
“You mean me?”
“Haha, yes. When I heard you were visiting the main alliance, I rushed over.”
Listening, Seol Hwa-un realized something, his eyes widening slightly.
“Come to think of it, I didn’t see you at the Alliance Lord’s inauguration… Don’t tell me you were training then too?”
Namgung Hyo looked sheepish.
“Indeed. And with my second brother charging so fiercely…”
‘He really is an incurable training maniac.’
Even as North Vanguard Leader, skipping the inauguration for training?
“And by second brother, you mean Namgung Seo-ok?”
“Yes. For some reason, he’s been even more diligent than me lately.”
‘That’s why he was absent.’
“Will you indulge me? Just one exchange.”
Seol Hwa-un, about to refuse, paused at “one exchange.”
‘Just one….’
Namgung Hyo only had one technique worth that request.
‘That changes things.’
Seol Hwa-un nodded readily.
“Very well. Let’s see it.”
“Thank you, Little Palace Lord.”
The two faced off in the training ground.
“I truly appreciate your willingness again, Little Palace Lord. But do be careful.”
“Of course. How could I take lightly the sword arts of the Namgung Family, which produced the Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable?”
“Then…”
Shing!
Namgung Hyo drew his sword and assumed stance.
‘Definitely not the Soaring Palace Martial Sword Art.’
It wasn’t the stance from their last Central Plains bout. Only one possibility remained.
‘Emperor Sword Form.’
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to call it the art that made the Namgung Family the world’s greatest.
‘They say perfecting it caused the Namgung Family’s martial arts to explode in growth.’
During the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor’s era, it had been incomplete.
But over two centuries, the Namgung Family completed this supreme art, spawning countless derivatives and cementing their sword legacy.
‘This’ll be something.’
The Emperor Sword Form was arguably the pinnacle of contemporary swordsmanship.
“Come.”
At Seol Hwa-un’s words, Namgung Hyo’s aura shifted dramatically.
Whoosh!
A terrifying energy wave erupted in all directions.
“……!”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes widened slightly.
‘Just a starting stance, yet this pressure…!’
He circulated his Ice White Divine Art.
‘Get careless, and I could actually lose.’
Namgung Hyo’s aura was still swelling.
Rumble-rumble!
So overwhelming that Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi, who had returned, rushed out in alarm.
“That’s him!”
“The Heavenly Dragon!”
Namgung Hyo finally swung down. It seemed slow, yet the motion ended in an instant.
Kwaaa!
“……!”
Seol Hwa-un felt a colossal sword strike plunging toward him.
‘So this is the Emperor Sword Form!’
But he couldn’t just admire it.
‘I can’t make out its form clearly.’
A massive sword was hurtling at him, yet its origin and trajectory were elusive.
Whoosh!
Seol Hwa-un’s hair and robes whipped wildly. Yet he stood motionless.
“…….”
Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi cried out in shock.
“Little Palace Lord!”
“Dodge!”
In that instant, Seol Hwa-un’s eyes flashed.
‘Now!’
His right fist shot out like lightning.
‘Sky-Shattering True Fist!’
Whoosh!
Boom!
The training ground floor sank three inches deep. But Seol Hwa-un at its center stood unharmed.
“……!”
Namgung Hyo stared blankly before shaking his head.
“Heh, I knew my Emperor Sword Form couldn’t easily threaten you, Little Palace Lord… but to shatter it head-on like this, I never imagined.”
“It was threatening enough.”
Seol Hwa-un had keenly sensed the Emperor Sword Form’s energy and crushed it with Sky-Shattering True Fist.
A feat few could achieve.
“You truly have no end in sight, Little Palace Lord.”
“I’m the one amazed. Mastering such a supreme art in just two years.”
“It’s not complete yet. But I thought it usable.”
“A magnificent supreme art. Polish it further, and few in the world could rival you.”
“Except you, Little Palace Lord?”
“Hahaha.”
The two burst into laughter, facing each other.
Namgung Hyo’s eyes gleamed.
“As expected. I must surpass you first and foremost.”
“It won’t be easy… Your ultimate goal is still the Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable?”
Namgung Hyo smiled wryly.
“How could someone like me compare to him? He resides too far above.”
His gaze grew serene.
“…But truthfully, I yearn to reach his realm someday. Not just me—every sword wielder’s aspiration.”
“…….”
“Thank you. Now I know this much can’t handle you, Little Palace Lord.”
“I look forward to our next meeting.”
With that exchange, Namgung Hyo departed.
Dong Ho-won muttered under his breath.
“Wow. The Heavenly Dragon swings his sword every time we meet and just vanishes.”
Eom Mu-hwi agreed.
“Tell me about it. Not even staying for a meal, let alone tea. What a damn training nut.”
* * *
The next day, the Heavenly Justice Alliance officially announced its alliance with the North Sea Ice Palace.
Many martial artists were shocked or surprised. The North Sea Ice Palace was still widely seen as part of the Outer Realm.
In any case, Seol Hwa-un had now finished all his business at the alliance. He promptly departed, heading for the Tae Valley branch.
But soon, he encountered a familiar group.
“See? I told you. Waiting here, he’d come right to us.”
His subordinate chimed in at the man’s words.
“As expected of the寨 Leader!”
Seol Hwa-un smiled and clasped his fists in greeting.
“Long time no see, Leader Mae.”
He was Mae Jong-pyo,寨 Leader of the Yangtze Waterway寨.
Mae grinned at Seol Hwa-un’s greeting.
“Indeed, it’s been ages, North Heavenly Dragon.”
“What brings you to the mainland?”
Mae Jong-pyo laughed heartily.
“Hahaha. How about a boat ride for old times’ sake?”