Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Heavenly Dragon's Challenge
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Namgung Hyo was a sword genius recognized by the Namgung Family.
He already had no equals among the later generation experts, and he devoted himself to training with distant goals of surpassing his uncle, the Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable, and nearer ones of overcoming his own sword.
As a result, he gained considerable insights and came to understand the nature of the sword to some extent.
But his position was as the Namgung Family's young master. With the grand assembly led by the Namgung Family, it was impossible for him not to show his face.
In the end, unable to withstand the urgings from those around him, Namgung Hyo had no choice but to emerge from his training cave on Mount Guhwa.
'A bit more, and I felt like I was on the verge of grasping something. What a shame.'
Returning to the Namgung Family like that, he heard an unexpected rumor. It was about the North Heavenly Dragon, Seol Hwa-un.
What caught his attention was, naturally, the martial arts.
'He broke the Earth Dragon's blade in just three moves?'
He had seen the Earth Dragon, Peng Ga-ho, before. He was a later generation expert outstanding enough to rival his younger brother, Namgung Seo-ok.
'Could I do that?'
Of course, he was confident he could overwhelm him in skill, but he couldn't guarantee destroying the weapon as well.
'I heard he's just past twenty...'
If it was true, he might be a prodigy surpassing even himself.
Curiosity piqued, Namgung Hyo headed straight to the guest hall. Sensing a sharp aura, he rushed over to find it coming from the training ground at the lodging where the Ice Palace group was staying.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Seol Hwa-un."
'So this is the Ice Palace's young lord...'
Meeting Seol Hwa-un face-to-face, Namgung Hyo felt a fresh shock.
'No way.'
No matter how outstanding a later generation expert, he could usually gauge their level at a glance and sense how quickly he could subdue them.
But with Seol Hwa-un, he couldn't see the end. It was like facing an opponent of a completely different caliber.
'No, that can't be.'
Namgung Hyo tried to deny his own thoughts.
"......"
Seol Hwa-un was also reading Namgung Hyo.
'So this is the famous Heavenly Dragon?'
He was clearly a cut above the later generation experts he'd seen at the small assembly. Even Namgung Seo-ok and Jegal Hyeon, who had seemed quite strong, looked like children compared to Namgung Hyo.
'As expected, his reputation is well-deserved.'
"What brings you here?"
Namgung Hyo, snapping out of it, said.
"I've come to see the young lord."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"What's the reason?"
'It was originally just curiosity to see him once...'
Namgung Hyo hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Young lord, I have one request. Spar with me."
"Spar?"
"Yes. I'm sorry to come so suddenly with such an unreasonable demand..."
"It's not an unreasonable request."
Seol Hwa-un gave a faint smile.
'Perfect timing. I needed a suitable opponent.'
"I'll accept the spar."
Joy spread across Namgung Hyo's face.
"Thank you, young lord."
Seol Hwa-un pointed to Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi as he spoke.
"In exchange, let those two watch the spar."
"That doesn't matter."
Seol Hwa-un turned to the two men, who were already rising to their feet.
"Watch closely. You'll gain quite a bit from this."
"Yes!"
"Understood."
The spar with Namgung Hyo didn't matter much to him. His goal was to show Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi martial arts several levels above their own.
"......"
Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi naturally grew tense. Of course, they believed in Seol Hwa-un's victory, but against such an opponent, they couldn't be entirely free of anxiety.
Dong Ho-won asked via transmission.
[The young lord will win, right?]
[Of course. No matter how impressive this Heavenly Dragon is, the young lord is on a whole different level.]
Hearing Eom Mu-hwi's confident words eased Dong Ho-won's lingering unease.
[Yeah, figured as much. But what a coincidence. No sooner does he earn the title North Heavenly Dragon than he spars with the Heavenly Dragon.]
"......"
[Kind of a shame. A historic clash between North Heavenly Dragon and Heavenly Dragon, and we're the only spectators.]
[Don't think nonsense and focus. Miss even one thing, and you might regret it.]
[Tch, nagging.]
Seol Hwa-un and Namgung Hyo faced each other at a distance of five張.
"Please, go easy."
"Likewise."
With greetings exchanged, Namgung Hyo slowly drew the sword at his waist. It was a flawless stance, impossible to find fault with.
Simply drawing his sword changed Namgung Hyo's entire presence.
Seol Hwa-un felt as if he faced a single, keenly honed blade.
"......!"
He was purely impressed.
'Amazing. Man-Sword Unity.'
Of course, it wasn't perfect Man-Sword Unity. If it were, he'd already be called a Sword Heart Realm master.
'I heard he's just past thirty. Impressive.'
Even in his previous life, he rarely saw swordsmen reaching such a realm at that age.
'As expected of the Namgung Family's young master. Very well, I'll give him a worthy opponent.'
Seol Hwa-un clenched both fists. A heavy aura radiated outward.
Thud.
Feeling the aura, Namgung Hyo's eyes changed.
'As expected... a formidable opponent.'
Standing rigidly with fists clenched was all it took to exude immense presence that pressed down on him.
'It feels more solid than any stance.'
From the atmosphere, it seemed he wouldn't move until Namgung Hyo attacked first.
'Fine, I'll go first.'
Namgung Hyo raised his sword. At the same time, formless sword qi like frost erupted from his entire body.
Whoosh!
As Seol Hwa-un felt a stinging across his body, Namgung Hyo thrust his sword like lightning.
Swoosh!
It was the first form of the Namgung Family's signature Great Cycle Sword Method.
It seemed a simple thrust, but the sword tip quivered minutely, making the trajectory hard to predict.
Moreover, sharp sword qi coated the blade—neither excessive nor insufficient, the perfect size. It meant he could wield sword qi freely.
Seol Hwa-un kept his eyes fixed on the sword tip.
Swoosh!
The extending tip suddenly leaped upward, aiming for Seol Hwa-un's head.
Flash!
In that instant, Dong Ho-won, under the illusion his head was pierced, let out a startled cry.
"Ahh!"
Eom Mu-hwi beside him said.
"Don't make a fuss and watch closely. The young lord dodged it."
"Oh? So he did."
'As expected of the young lord. If it were me...'
Honestly, he couldn't be sure he'd have dodged.
'As expected of the Heavenly Dragon.'
Seol Hwa-un tilted his head slightly left to evade the sword. A few strands of his bangs were cut, but he took no damage.
Seol Hwa-un immediately swung his right hand to strike the blade.
Clang!
"......!"
The heavy force transmitted through the sword nearly made Namgung Hyo drop it.
'Such a heavy fist!'
Seol Hwa-un, having parried the sword, counterattacked with his opposite fist.
Swoosh!
His fist too was coated in sharp fist qi.
"......!"
Caught off-guard by the unexpected fist strike with no time to recover his sword, the startled Namgung Hyo hastily summoned protective qi to guard his chest.
Craaack!
Thud, thud, thud!
Namgung Hyo stomped the ground hard and retreated three steps. Even with a direct hit, it seemed he hadn't taken as much impact as expected.
'His internal energy is monstrous. Already deploying protective qi.'
This wasn't full protective qi either. Just concentrating internal energy to defend part of his body.
In just two exchanges, Seol Hwa-un grasped Namgung Hyo's exact realm.
'I see. He's right on the verge of breaking through a wall.'
Namgung Hyo berated himself.
'I almost got hit.'
Without protective qi, he'd have collapsed already.
'Foolish... I was deceived by his appearance.'
Unknowingly, he'd used sword techniques as if against a typical young later generation expert. In other words, he'd held back.
'I need to go all out. He's a master whose skill I can't read.'
Steeling himself, Namgung Hyo swung his sword again. This time, it was the Namgung Family's most famous sword art, the one he mainly practiced: Azure Sky Boundless Sword Method.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
As befitting the Namgung Family's supreme sword art, sharp yet heavy sword strikes poured forth.
It was swordsmanship astonishing enough to take one's breath away, but Seol Hwa-un smiled instead.
'I'll play along.'
He swung his fist qi-wrapped fists like lightning.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Sword and fist clashed, metal sounds ringing out repeatedly.
Grumble! Grumble!
The aftermath of their qi collision carved thick furrows across the training ground floor.
"Gulp!"
Dong Ho-won, eyes wide as he watched, swallowed involuntarily.
'Whoa, incredible!'
Eom Mu-hwi's expression was rigid too.
'Both are amazing. A realm I can't even touch.'
He was used to Seol Hwa-un's displays, but Namgung Hyo's martial arts were shockingly impressive.
'As expected, the Central Plains are vast. To think such a talent existed.'
After seeing Ak Su-jeon at the small assembly, he'd thought he could handle the Central Plains' later generation experts, but now he had to revise that.
'Still, I can't imagine the young lord losing.'
Namgung Hyo, swinging his sword relentlessly, grew slightly impatient as time passed.
He was going all out, yet Seol Hwa-un seemed oddly at ease.
'But I won't lose!'
Proud of the Namgung Family's swordsmanship, he didn't entertain defeat.
"Hah!"
Namgung Hyo thrust his sword swiftly. Monstrous sword qi erupted like fireworks, filling the sky.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Hundreds of sword qi strands rained down, but Seol Hwa-un remained calm.
'The Namgung Family has advanced indeed. To create such a sword art.'
Not as flashy as the Huashan Plum Blossom Sword, but the power infused in each strike was far greater.
Moreover, Namgung Hyo's swordsmanship was steady yet straightforward, mirroring his personality.
Seol Hwa-un swung his fist without hesitation.
'Broad Cold Fist Play.'
The third form of Broad Cold Fist unfolded.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!
Countless fist qi erupted, clashing with the sword qi.
Kabu kabu kabu kabu boom!
Deafening explosions rang out in succession.
Namgung Hyo's eyes widened.
'He's blocking all of this?'
His attack, which consumed substantial internal energy, was halted, igniting his defiance.
'Try blocking this!'
He unleashed the ultimate technique of Azure Sky Boundless Sword: Azure Sky Fullness.
Swooooosh!
Myriad sword qi splendidly painted the sky.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
The countless sword qi intertwined and layered. Dong Ho-won watching cried out unwittingly.
"Sw-Sword Threads!"
The net of sword qi threads poured toward Seol Hwa-un, enveloping him perfectly, hard to evade.
"......"
Having unleashed the sword threads, Namgung Hyo finally realized what he'd done.
'Oh no! What have I just done?!'
"D-Dodge it!"
But Seol Hwa-un had no intention of moving.
"Hup!"
In one breath, he drew up vast internal energy.
Crackle, crackle!
The surrounding moisture instantly froze into ice grains, then spun round and charged at the sword threads.
Pop, pop, pop, boom!
Some shattered futilely against the threads, others vanished with the sword qi.
'No way!'
Thanks to this, the sword threads partially crumbled and thinned. Yet many ice grains still lingered around Seol Hwa-un.
'Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist, third form.'
Whoooosh!
The remaining ice grains gathered at Seol Hwa-un's fist.
They then erupted all at once centered on his fist.
'Full Snow Assault Break!'
Rooooar!
The intense ice art pierced straight through the sword threads.
Baaang!
Not satisfied, the Full Snow Assault Break's energy surged toward Namgung Hyo.
"......!"
Too sudden for protective qi, Namgung Hyo hastily raised his sword.
KABOOOM!