Chapter 75
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Clash with the Sword Demon
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Even in a situation where they could have easily sought help from the martial artists in the VIP seats, the disciples of Jongnam and Hwasan deliberately turned a blind eye.
This was an incident that had occurred at their own gathering, the Hwasan-Jongnam Assembly. No matter who the opponent was, it was their responsibility to resolve it.
Even if it meant total annihilation right there, they had no intention of relying on outsiders. That was the pride of the Nine Great Sects.
Knowing this full well, Seol Hwa-un simply watched without intervening.
But the still-young Ma Seong-gyun hadn't thought that far.
He was simply terrified that his family-like elders and second-generation disciples might be harmed by the Sword Demon and his Ten Demonic Swordsmen, who exuded a fearsome aura.
Having heard Seol Hwa-un's response, Ma Seong-gyun's expression eased with relief.
"Th-thank you!"
Seol Hwa-un turned to his group and said,
"I'll handle this alone, so everyone stay put."
The one most shocked by his words was Ma Seong-gyun.
"Huh? You're saying the North Sea Ice Palace folks aren't all stepping in...?"
"Don't worry."
"B-but the opponents are..."
As Seol Hwa-un rose to leave, Dong Ho-won patted the dazed Ma Seong-gyun on the shoulder.
"It's fine, Young Master Ma. Our Young Palace Lord does what he says he will."
"...?!"
From Ma Seong-gyun's perspective, it was hard to understand.
'No matter what, what can North Heaven Dragon accomplish alone?'
Clang!
"Urk!"
"Ugh!"
Two second-generation disciples of Jongnam were pushed back by the sword of Wi Jo-hyeong, one of the Ten Demonic Swordsmen.
"This is my final warning. If you don't want to die, step back and watch."
"Nonsense!"
The two raised their swords and charged at Wi Jo-hyeong once more.
"These old-school guys are all so damn stubborn."
His sword traced a large circle. A razor-sharp sword qi had formed along its edge, far clearer than before.
"Die."
With his word, two massive bursts of sword qi shot out.
Shuuuuaak!
Shuuuuaaaak!
At such blinding speed, the Jongnam disciples could only stare blankly, unable to react.
'Ah...'
Boom!!
"...!"
The sword qi exploded and vanished right in front of their noses. Only then did they realize another sword qi had intercepted the two.
Wi Jo-hyeong's face twisted.
"Who the hell are you!"
Whirl!
In that instant, a figure leaped over his head toward the arena.
"Not on my watch!"
Wi Jo-hyeong unleashed sword qi at the figure.
Shuuuuaaaak!
It was far larger and faster than what he'd sent at the Jongnam disciples.
But.
Slash!
Boom!
The figure cleaved through the sword qi with a single, light sword stroke.
'My sword qi, that easily?!'
Wi Jo-hyeong tried to block the opponent heading onto the arena, but the two quick-thinking Jongnam disciples rushed in.
"Stop him!"
"You're not getting through!"
Wi Jo-hyeong scowled.
"You bastards!"
Clang clang!
Thanks to them, the figure landed gracefully on the arena. It was Seol Hwa-un, slender sword in hand.
"...."
The two elders on the arena were battered. Wounds everywhere, faces pale as if suffering internal injuries.
In contrast, the Sword Demon looked exactly as he had upon arrival. He'd overwhelmed two elders from orthodox sects.
He had been about to deliver a final strike to behead them when he sensed the intruder.
"Hm?"
Turning his head, he saw Seol Hwa-un standing there.
"Hoh, a young one with some skill. You broke through the Ten Demonic Swordsmen's guard?"
"Pleased to meet you, Sword Demon."
"You don't look like a disciple from Hwasan or Jongnam. Who are you?"
Seol Hwa-un introduced himself calmly.
"I'm the Young Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Seol Hwa-un."
The Sword Demon looked surprised.
"North Sea Ice Palace's Young Palace Lord? Were you invited to the Hwasan-Jongnam Assembly too?"
"Yes."
"What a surprise. Inviting even outer realm folk to an orthodox gathering."
It seemed the Sword Demon hadn't heard any rumors about Seol Hwa-un. The Demonic Sword Pavilion paid little attention to outside news.
The Sword Demon said coldly,
"But... you sure have a wide streak of meddling. Planning to stick your nose into Jongnam, Hwasan, and my pavilion's business?"
"I've already done so."
"You arrogant little..."
"I overheard earlier—you plan to kill all the famed swordsmen under heaven. That true?"
"...And if it is?"
"Then you'll visit my palace too."
Realization dawned, and the Sword Demon's eyes flashed.
"I see. The Ice Emperor was a swordsman."
"Which means it'll become my palace's business in the end, no? Since we've crossed paths, I have no choice but to intervene."
"Hmph, so you're not here to save these useless old fools."
As the Sword Demon moved to behead the two elders right then, Seol Hwa-un quickly added,
"Before that—cross swords with me."
"Hah? You dare challenge me?"
Seol Hwa-un shrugged.
"Seems you haven't heard the rumors. I've been making quite a name for myself lately."
"Even so, you look barely past twenty. You think a punk like you qualifies to cross swords with me?"
"We'll see."
Seol Hwa-un's aura surged dramatically.
Paaaa!
At the same time, his slender sword emitted a sharp keenness.
"Hoh!"
Interest sparked in the Sword Demon's eyes.
"The Ice Emperor raised his son well."
He turned fully toward Seol Hwa-un. Thick killing intent poured from the Sword Demon's body.
"But now you'll lose that son."
Flash!
The Sword Demon shot forward like lightning, swinging his greatsword down.
Shuuuuaak!
"...!"
Clang!
Seol Hwa-un swiftly raised his sword to block, but struggled to fully withstand the force behind it. He staggered back five steps.
Yet the Sword Demon looked surprised.
"Hah, blocking my sword with that flimsy thing? Impressive!"
The Sword Demon charged again, thrusting his sword. Clear sword qi gathered at its tip.
'Danger!'
Seol Hwa-un retreated, swinging his slender sword from low to high.
Clang!
Had he met the tip, he couldn't have handled the sword qi, but he cleverly targeted the blade. It succeeded in slightly deflecting the sword's path.
"...!"
Seol Hwa-un quickly stepped aside, escaping the sword momentum.
'Look at this guy? Then take this!'
The Sword Demon shook his sword hand. In an instant, his blade multiplied into three.
Shuu shuuk!
Three sword shadows bore down on Seol Hwa-un. They carried considerable power, leaving no escape route.
'No choice.'
Seol Hwa-un raised his slender sword.
'Snow Flower Heavenly Flow Sword...'
Paaaa!
His body glowed pure white, and the surrounding moisture instantly froze into shimmering ice particles.
'Heavenly Flow Ice Breaker!'
Shuuuuaak!
A massive white sword qi extended, clashing with the Sword Demon's sword shadows.
Boom boom boom!
Seol Hwa-un couldn't withstand the impact's aftermath and stepped back two paces. The problem was that the Sword Demon had also retreated one step.
"...."
The Sword Demon's face hardened rigidly. Anyone could see his pride was wounded.
'This kid, who hasn't trained half as long as I have in swordsmanship, blocked my Overlord Sword?'
The Overlord Sword was the Sword Demon's signature ultimate technique—a domineering sword style, as its name implied.
If anything, it resembled the Shanxi Sword Sect's Nine Palaces Divine Steps Sword, a rigid sword style. Unlike that, which incorporated flexible variations, the Overlord Sword was purely forceful.
Sword styles fixated on one approach rarely reached absolute art status. Yet the Overlord Sword had. That spoke to its greatness.
But Seol Hwa-un's Snow Flower Heavenly Flow Sword was the absolute art that had forged the current Ice Emperor.
In pure swordsmanship terms, it didn't yield.
"Let's see how long you can keep blocking!"
The Sword Demon unleashed a ferocious barrage of Overlord Sword ultimate moves.
Shuuuk!
"Hup!"
Seol Hwa-un channeled his Ice White Divine Art to the max, unleashing Snow Flower Heavenly Flow Sword with full power.
Shuuuaa!
Clang clang clang!
Boom boom boom!!
Sword qi collided with sword qi, instantly turning the arena to ruins.
Seol Hwa-un's slender sword spat pure white sword qi; the Sword Demon's greatsword belched dark qi. The two clashed without quarter.
Boom boom boom boom!
It was a duel between peak swordmasters.
By now, even the Hwasan and Jongnam disciples and the Ten Demonic Swordsmen had halted to watch.
"Unbelievable!"
"Facing the Sword Demon with a sword! Just who is North Heaven Dragon...!"
"What have I been practicing the sword for all these years? It's depressing."
The North Sea Ice Palace group was equally stunned.
"Hmm... hard to beat the Young Palace Lord when he's wielding a sword."
Dong Ho-won said seriously, and Eom Mu-hwi shook his head.
"What are you talking about? He's even stronger barehanded."
"Oh, right."
His swordplay was so brilliant and powerful that one could momentarily forget he was a fist master.
Even the North Wind Brigade Leader couldn't close his gaping mouth.
'He's already reached mastery in fist arts, and to think his swordsmanship is at that level too! ...Truly remarkable, Young Palace Lord.'
His eyes narrowed.
'Then...'
It looked evenly matched on the surface, but in reality, Seol Hwa-un was gradually being pushed back.
'Hmph, still young after all. Swordsmanship itself is excellent, but the transitions between moves are immature.'
In truth, Seol Hwa-un had rarely used swordsmanship properly after learning it, but the Sword Demon had no way of knowing.
And at one point.
Their swords clashed again.
Clang!
Crack!
Seol Hwa-un's slender sword finally snapped in half.
"...Damn."
The Sword Demon grinned wickedly.
"Kekeke, a swordsman using such a weak blade deserves that fate."
"...."
More than that, it was because Seol Hwa-un was inexperienced pitting a slender sword against a greatsword.
"How about it? Kneel and beg for your life now, and I might spare you."
The Sword Demon gloated, eyeing Seol Hwa-un's expression. But contrary to expectation, his face remained calm.
'What? He plans to continue even with a broken sword?'
"This was the sword my mother picked for me. What a shame."
"...What?"
Seol Hwa-un unhesitatingly tossed the broken sword to the ground.
"Swordsmanship just doesn't suit me after all."
The Sword Demon furrowed his brow.
"What nonsense is this?"
Seol Hwa-un gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry, Sword Demon. Truth is, I'm no swordsman."
"What?!"
With that, Seol Hwa-un slowly clenched both fists. As solid fists formed, his aura transformed completely.
"Fist arts are my true calling. I'm a fist master."