Chapter 84
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Clash with Kunlun's Blade Tyrant
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Over the past two hundred years, the Central Plains martial world had appeared peaceful on the surface, but it was never free of disturbances.
In particular, the Xinjiang region where the Heavenly Demon Cult had been crushed by the Martial Alliance was teeming with countless followers of the demonic cult.
They clamored for vengeance for the Heavenly Demon Cult and sought to invade the Central Plains, only to be repelled each time by the Kunlun Sect.
Of course, they had the backing of the Martial Alliance, but the Kunlun Sect still bore the brunt of the casualties. It was only natural that their animosity toward the Outer Realm ran deep.
‘That’s why the Kunlun Sect raised the loudest voices for the Outer Realm subjugation two hundred years ago.’
Seol Hwa-un was well aware of this. He had braced for conflict with the Kunlun Sect from the moment he entered the Martial Alliance.
And if he could sway that very Kunlun Sect to the North Sea Ice Palace’s side, it could turn disaster into a blessing.
Seol Hwa-un flashed a faint smile as he gazed at the elder and the North Wind Brigade Leader facing off in the training grounds.
‘I didn’t expect things to unfold like this.’
He was confident in the North Wind Brigade Leader’s victory, but the situation wasn’t entirely optimistic.
The elder was a master who had long ago attained the Martial Soul Realm, so a moment’s carelessness could spell defeat.
The training grounds were already packed with martial artists serving as spectators. Most were people who had originally come to meet Seol Hwa-un.
The two swordsmen had squared off in the training grounds, and the onlookers had quickly sensed the tension and gathered.
“Kunlun Sect? Isn’t that Elder Seonjin?”
“His opponent looks like someone from the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“But why the sudden spar?”
Those unaware of the situation wore puzzled expressions, but truthfully, they didn’t care.
It was enough that they could witness a clash between masters.
The North Wind Brigade Leader clasped his hands in a respectful salute with a composed expression.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Han Jong-il, leader of the North Sea Ice Palace’s North Wind Brigade.”
The elder replied curtly, as if he had no desire for lengthy conversation.
“Seonjin of Kunlun.”
“Then…”
The North Wind Brigade Leader slowly drew his sword. At the same time, a heavy aura surged forth.
“...!”
The elder’s eyes widened slightly.
‘This guy… he’s no pushover!’
Of course, he had expected as much from the leader of a combat unit.
But the aura emanating from the North Wind Brigade Leader far exceeded his expectations.
Shing!
The elder drew his crescent blade, his expression turning grave.
‘To think the North Sea Ice Palace harbored a swordsman like this!’
The North Wind Brigade Leader shifted his sword into a low stance. The corner of his mouth twitched upward.
“Then, shall we cross blades?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a flash of white sword light blazed forth.
Shuuuuaak!
The North Wind Brigade Leader’s long straight sword clashed against the crescent blade.
Creeeang!
It was a ferocious swift strike, but the elder blocked it with ease.
“Quite fast…”
Before he could finish, the North Wind Brigade Leader’s sword moved again.
Shushushushushuu!
In an instant, countless sword shadows pressed in on the elder.
Chaengchaengchaengchaeng!
The elder calmly parried the North Wind Brigade Leader’s sword. Yet his own sword speed gradually quickened.
‘Such swift strikes…! He won’t even give me room to breathe?’
Chaengchaengchaengchaeng!
Indeed, the elder was no easy opponent. He blocked every frenzied sword shadow without missing a single one.
“Think you can break through?”
Shuk!
The elder’s crescent blade, extended in defense, sliced through the air.
‘Hm?’
“You’ve taken the bait.”
A beat later, the North Wind Brigade Leader’s sword came flying in.
‘Damn it!’
Caught off guard by the feint, the elder poured all his energy into retreating.
Sshuk!
The blade narrowly grazed his waist. His uniform tore, but he barely avoided injury.
‘Tch! If not for the Dragon Form Step…’
The Dragon Form Step was one of Kunlun’s signature lightness skills, alongside the Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms.
‘Kunlun Sect through and through.’
Having gained the upper hand, the North Wind Brigade Leader pressed his assault relentlessly.
Shuuuaaaak!
A heavy sword force erupted from his blade.
“...!”
Kwaaakwaaakwaaaang!!
The elder dodged using the Dragon Form Step. When evasion was impossible, he blocked with his crescent blade.
But he was steadily forced back. The spectators couldn’t hide their astonishment as the elder continued to yield ground.
“He’s strong!”
“To think Elder Seonjin would be pushed back like this!”
“The North Sea Ice Palace isn’t just home to the North Heavenly Dragon!”
Fengjin unconsciously clenched his fist.
‘What are you doing, junior brother!’
As if reading his thoughts, the retreating elder suddenly bellowed a ki shout.
“Haaap!”
Twhaaaak!
A massive golden sword force burst from the crescent blade. Unable to hold back any longer, he unleashed his secret blade art, the True Flow Five Elements Blade.
Kwaaakwaaakwaaaang!
The sword force shattered the North Wind Brigade Leader’s projections and surged onward.
Shuuuaaa!
The North Wind Brigade Leader’s eyes gleamed.
‘As expected of Kunlun’s Blade Tyrant. No pushover.’
The elder’s moniker was none other than Kunlun’s Blade Tyrant.
The North Wind Brigade Leader’s sword radiated pure white light.
‘Cold Ice Sword Method.’
He brought his sword down like lightning.
‘Blade Under Shatter Obstacle!’
Shuk!
Seruk!
The elder’s sword force was cleanly severed and exploded.
Kwaaaaang!
As if on cue, the two charged at each other simultaneously.
Chachachachaeng!
Their blades clashed fiercely, resounding metallic clashes echoing in all directions.
Chaengchaengchaeng!
Pat! Paat!
There were no openings to exploit in the furious exchange between the North Wind Brigade Leader and the elder.
No effective strikes landed, but the stray sword forces from the clashing blades tore at their uniforms here and there.
Scratches even marred their faces, blood trickling down, yet neither paid it any mind as they swung relentlessly.
It wasn’t a flashy duel of distant sword forces and qi blasts, but a far more perilous and tense contest.
“Wow, incredible!”
Seol Hwa-un’s group had already emerged to watch the duel.
‘Hm, Elder Seonjin is stronger than I thought.’
Seol Hwa-un’s expression hardened.
‘Subduing him without harm won’t be easy.’
Victory was assured. But winning without injuring Elder Seonjin would prove difficult.
If he suffered severe wounds, gaining their support would become a pipe dream, promise or no.
‘I’ll have to trust the North Wind Brigade Leader.’
Jeeng, jeeng!
The evenly matched duel reached its climax, and superiority began to emerge.
The elder started yielding ground bit by bit. His face twisted.
‘Damn…’
Their skills were evenly matched. But a decisive difference lay in stamina.
The North Wind Brigade Leader was in his mid-forties, while the elder was past sixty.
With internal energy on par, the fundamental gap in physical endurance loomed large.
The elder gritted his teeth.
‘I won’t lose!’
Shuaak!
The North Wind Brigade Leader’s sword plunged toward his side. In that instant, cold fury flashed in the elder’s eyes.
Ignoring the incoming strike, he thrust his crescent blade forward. A mutual destruction maneuver.
“...!”
The North Wind Brigade Leader’s expression shifted as he withdrew his sword to block.
Chaang!
“Uaaap!”
Riding the momentum, the elder unleashed a barrage.
Shushushushuk!
Chaengchaengchaeng!
Having yielded a single exchange, the North Wind Brigade Leader fell into a disadvantage. But it didn’t last long. He quickly regained the edge.
As the North Wind Brigade Leader’s sword targeted his chest, the elder resorted to mutual destruction once more.
‘Playing that card?’
A cold smile curled on the North Wind Brigade Leader’s lips.
The crescent blade aimed for his side, but he didn’t defend.
Instead, he swung his own sword even more ferociously.
Shwaaaaaak!
The elder’s pupils trembled.
‘Mutual destruction for real?!’
To be precise, the North Wind Brigade Leader would suffer a fatal side wound, while his own chest would be pierced.
‘The odds favor my death!’
The elder hastily withdrew his crescent blade and stepped into the Dragon Form Step.
Sasak!
Once again, his uniform tore perilously close. Without the Dragon Form Step, he’d have taken serious injury.
In that moment.
Hwiric!
The North Wind Brigade Leader’s sword, thought to have passed, whipped back around toward his neck.
“...!”
The elder had no way to evade. He squeezed his eyes shut instinctively.
Thud!
It was time for his head to roll, yet no pain came no matter how long he waited.
“Do you concede defeat?”
When the elder opened his eyes, the sword hovered right before his throat.
“...”
He realized it instinctively. The North Wind Brigade Leader had precisely predicted this outcome the moment he attempted mutual destruction.
‘A complete defeat.’
He gave a bitter smile.
“This old man yields.”
The words had barely left his mouth when the North Wind Brigade Leader sheathed his sword.
“A fine match, Elder Seonjin.”
Cheers erupted from the spectators.
“Waaaaah!!”
“What an amazing duel!”
“A North Sea Ice Palace warrior has defeated Kunlun’s Blade Tyrant!”
Fengjin’s face was etched with shock.
‘To think my junior brother lost…’
Seol Hwa-un spoke calmly, gazing at him.
“A splendid spar.”
“...”
“I trust the Kunlun Sect will honor its promise.”
At his prompting for confirmation, Fengjin nodded heavily.
“...I won’t go back on my word.”
“Thank you.”
The Kunlun elder left the VIP Pavilion with a perfunctory bow.
“Well fought, North Wind Brigade Leader.”
The North Wind Brigade Leader smiled at Seol Hwa-un’s words.
“No need for thanks. Kunlun’s martial arts are indeed formidable. Far tougher than expected.”
“I agree. The Nine Great Sects are not to be underestimated.”
Seol Hwa-un subtly admitted to having underestimated them.
‘The Unbreakable Divine Victory and such… They’ve advanced greatly over these two hundred years.’
The Kunlun elder was among the sect’s top masters, but not the pinnacle. Each of the Nine Great Sects likely had at least five such experts.
‘Lucky the North Wind Brigade Leader’s skills have improved…’
Like Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won, the North Wind Brigade Leader’s prowess had risen during their journey.
At the level they had upon entering the Central Plains martial world, victory over the elder would have been far from certain.
‘The palace will only grow stronger.’
The Nine Great Sects and martial families possessed formidable reserves.
Yet Seol Hwa-un firmly believed the North Sea Ice Palace would ultimately overwhelm them.
* * *
The next day, news of the duel between Elder Seonjin and the North Wind Brigade Leader—taking place within the Martial Alliance—spread like wildfire.
Countless people half-believed it, but with so many witnesses, denial was impossible.
However, the Kunlun Sect disciples affiliated with the Martial Alliance rebelled.
“Nonsense! Elder Seonjin losing to those northern barbarians?!”
“Exactly! Unless it was the Ice Emperor… The North Sea Ice Palace scum must have used sorcery!”
No one dared contradict their fierce outrage.
“Defiling Kunlun’s honor! We won’t forgive this!”
In short order, Kunlun Sect disciples gathered and marched toward the VIP Pavilion.
“Expose their vile tricks!”
“Reveal the truth, North Sea Ice Palace!”
With over forty voices raised in clamor, Seol Hwa-un had no choice but to step forward.
“What is the meaning of this?”
A second-generation Kunlun disciple named Hwang Ho-ja, affiliated with the Azure Dragon Unit, stepped up.
Appearing to be in his mid-thirties, he had sharp eyes and an air of considerable skill.
“You’re the North Heavenly Dragon?”
“That’s right.”
“I heard your palace’s warrior dueled our sect’s elder yesterday.”
His eyes blazed intensely.
“To decide a sacred duel with sorcery… Isn’t that utterly despicable?”
He had already presumed sorcery was involved.
Seol Hwa-un let out a scoffing laugh.
“Sorcery?”
“That’s right! How else could Elder Seonjin lose?!”