Chapter 34: Trickery? Then Come Check It Yourself!
He struck a man! Right here in this place!
All the martial artists in the arena were left speechless.
Even Yi Bong, who had been slapped by Yeop Hyeon and sent flying, was utterly bewildered. He never dreamed that Yeop Hyeon would make a move in the testing grounds of Changmok Academy, and right in front of Elder Chang Jung no less.
Elder Chang Jung himself was dumbfounded for a moment when Yeop Hyeon openly struck right before his eyes.
Yi Bong barely managed to steady himself and stand, roaring in fury.
"You vicious bastard…."
Before he could finish, Yeop Hyeon's figure flashed before him in an instant, and he slapped the same cheek once more.
Slap!
With a crisp sound, Yi Bong flew back in exactly the same pose as before. The martial artists who witnessed it felt their hearts pound with shock.
Yi Bong of the Control Qi Realm couldn't even counterattack!
Even generously allowing the first strike as a surprise attack, there was no excuse for the second. It was pure domination by skill!
"Insolent fool!"
As Elder Chang Jung bellowed from atop his immortal crane, an invisible surge of energy enveloped Yeop Hyeon.
Yeop Hyeon stared straight at Elder Chang Jung.
"Elder Chang, if you want to vent your personal grudges under the pretext of official business, be my guest."
"Hahaha! When did I ever show personal bias? The recruitment rules of Changmok Academy clearly state that those below the Control Qi Realm are ineligible for admission. What's wrong with revoking the qualifications of a Qi Transformation Realm cultivator like you!?"
Elder Chang Jung's gaze grew even colder as he spoke.
"Moreover, you've committed violence in front of everyone. That's a blatant insult to all of Changmok Academy. Even National Scholar An Ranxiu, as an honorary professor, won't overlook your actions easily!"
At that moment, Yi Bong, who had collapsed to one side, finally staggered to his feet. His voice dripped with hatred and resentment as he screamed at Yeop Hyeon.
"You lowly scum, how dare you! You'll pay by my—"
Once again, Yeop Hyeon gave him no chance to finish. Just like before, his figure appeared before Yi Bong in a flash.
This time, Yi Bong didn't just take it lying down. As Yeop Hyeon approached, he unleashed a fist straight at his face, as if he'd been waiting.
In that instant! A powerful stream of qi wrapped around Yi Bong's fist like mist.
'Not bad momentum!'
Yeop Hyeon countered with a fist of his own toward Yi Bong's strike.
The two fists collided in a heartbeat.
Crack!
The sound of shattering bone echoed through the mountain. Yi Bong's fist burst open, and he tumbled several zhang away. A撕裂般的 scream erupted from his mouth—his entire right arm had been crushed!
Yeop Hyeon looked down at the wailing Yi Bong and spoke in a voice laced with chilling intent.
"Mock me one more time, and you'll really die."
As Yeop Hyeon turned to Elder Chang Jung, he met the elder's cold eyes brimming with killing intent.
"Today, you've dared to commit atrocities right before this old man and utterly disgraced Changmok Academy. Even if National Scholar An were here, you wouldn't be forgiven! Guards! Seize this brat and execute him at once!"
At his command, two martial artists standing to the side advanced on Yeop Hyeon.
Yeop Hyeon stared straight at Elder Chang Jung and said, "It's true I'm not in the Control Qi Realm. But as you've seen, my strength surpasses it. Isn't that also a fact?"
Elder Chang Jung sneered mockingly. "Whether your skill is great or not is none of my concern. What matters is your current realm disqualifies you from the exam."
Elder Chang Jung waved his hand dismissively.
"Take him away and kill him!"
The two Soaring Realm martial artists flew toward Yeop Hyeon without hesitation.
'If you're going to force it like this, no choice!'
Yeop Hyeon's expression hardened as he stomped his right foot.
Boom!
The ground cracked, and a mighty surge of energy erupted from his body, blasting the two martial artists several zhang back.
A Qi Transformation Realm cultivator repelling two Soaring Realm experts in a single move!?
Disbelief filled the eyes of everyone in the arena.
Yeop Hyeon's realm was two full stages below theirs!
From atop his immortal crane, Elder Chang Jung couldn't hide his astonishment. He'd only found it mildly surprising when Yeop Hyeon easily subdued Yi Bong earlier, nothing more—after all, he had a record of repelling Cang Qi. But this was entirely different. Blocking two Soaring Realm fighters with Qi Transformation Realm cultivation? Was that even possible!?
Elder Chang Jung had no choice but to admit it.
This rude boy before him wasn't ordinary—he was a genius!
Elder Chang Jung fell into thought. He saw no clean way out of this. If Yeop Hyeon truly was a peerless genius, expelling him—an mere elder—would earn him blame from the academy. But if Yeop Hyeon, who already harbored ill will toward him, joined Changmok Academy, he'd surely seek revenge someday.
The elder's deliberation dragged on. Finally, he hardened his expression, as if resolved.
'A genius? Changmok Academy has no shortage of them! Better to eliminate the future threat!'
Elder Chang Jung slowly clenched his fist. Suddenly, a powerful qi current swirled around Yeop Hyeon, constricting him. Yeop Hyeon felt his entire body squeezed tight.
Yeop Hyeon was startled inwardly. Elder Chang Jung's power exceeded the Soaring Realm!
'A direct confrontation is impossible!'
Yeop Hyeon thrust a fist forward.
Bang!
A gap tore in the qi enveloping him. As Elder Chang Jung prepared to strike again, Yeop Hyeon's figure slipped through like lightning and dashed to the mountainside in an instant.
Elder Chang Jung laughed derisively.
"Trying to flee? Pathetic!"
But then, Yeop Hyeon suddenly leaped onto the platform bearing the Nine Palaces Formation near the starting point.
The eyes of those on the mountainside and below widened in shock.
Even Elder Chang Jung was taken aback.
"What trick is this!?"
The moment Yeop Hyeon's foot touched the formation, the Nine Palaces Formation trembled violently. Simultaneously, a pillar of light shot skyward from its center.
Those inside Changmok Academy also spotted the soaring beam.
"The Nine Palaces Light Pillar…! Who is that standing on the formation? Could it be An Ranxiu!?"
"The Nine Palaces Formation, dormant for decades, activating now!?"
"Is National Scholar An issuing a challenge!?"
"Who the hell is it!?"
"…."
Soon, martial artists began rushing toward the peak from below.
The activation of the Nine Palaces Platform meant someone had entered the formation!
Elder Chang Jung was stupefied. He'd thought Yeop Hyeon was fleeing, never imagining he'd ascend the platform.
But then, Elder Chang Jung burst into booming laughter.
"Yeop Hyeon, they say there are many ways to commit suicide! Foolish brat! If you die like this, this old man saves himself the trouble—perfect!"
The Nine Palaces Formation!
Once activated, it unleashed simultaneous attacks from nine wooden puppets within. Their power could slay a Soaring Realm expert in moments—even Elder Chang Jung himself had no confidence in breaking it.
Raw martial prowess alone couldn't conquer it. One needed fundamentals, talent, and real combat ability. The academy's founder had left this terrifying formation to test true prodigies.
Soon, crowds swarmed the Nine Palaces Platform, murmuring as they stared at Yeop Hyeon.
Lu Xiaoruan arrived below with Lu Ming and Yeop Ryeong in tow. Spotting Yeop Hyeon, he was stunned.
'Is he really challenging the Nine Palaces Formation!?'
Beside him stood Yeop Ryeong, wrapped in multiple layers of blankets. She didn't know exactly what was happening but sensed it was bad.
Her pale face tense with anxiety, she asked, "City Lord, my brother will be okay, right!?"
Lu Xiaoruan sighed softly and looked at her. After a brief hesitation, he said, "Don't worry. He'll be fine."
But his eyes betrayed deep concern as he gazed at Yeop Hyeon.
The Nine Palaces Formation! A horrifying array no one had dared challenge in decades!
The reason? Every challenger had died. Even if Yeop Hyeon's skill and inner energy were extraordinary, the formation was the formation.
The instant Yeop Hyeon stepped fully into it, the nine seated wooden puppets rose like living men, encircling him.
Yeop Hyeon eyed them with killing intent. He'd boldly entered, but even he hadn't anticipated so many puppets.
He feared the Nine Palaces Formation, but he had no choice. Elder Chang Jung of Changmok Academy had already moved against him. Even Yeop Hyeon couldn't openly defy such a colossal power.
Thus, the formation had come to mind. He figured even Elder Chang Jung couldn't touch him once he was on it.
Yeop Hyeon slowly scanned his surroundings. The nine puppets stood motionless, long wooden swords in hand.
Yet he felt intense danger. He focused every nerve, warily watching them without relaxing.
Suddenly, the puppet before him thrust its sword at his brow.
The onlookers buzzed.
"No way!"
"Look at that sword speed! Are all those puppets sword cultivators!?"
"Nine Control Qi Realm sword cultivators in unison—even a Soaring Realm expert couldn't withstand it!"
"…."
Even Elder Chang Jung atop his crane was shocked. He knew the formation was formidable, but sword cultivator-level prowess? And this was his first time seeing it, as the formation had long been dormant.
A faint smile crept across Elder Chang Jung's face.
Though merely Control Qi Realm, if they were true sword cultivators, it changed everything.
Nine Control Qi Realm sword cultivators bolstered by the formation—even a Soaring Realm powerhouse couldn't easily survive.
'Among Jiang Kingdom's young martial artists, perhaps An Ranxiu could attempt it… but this mere Yeop Hyeon!?'
A scoff escaped Elder Chang Jung's lips.
"Yeop Hyeon, know your place!"
Yeop Hyeon parried the puppet's first sword and found it fast, fierce, and bold. But oddly…
'Too weak….'
He didn't know why he sensed that, but the sword truly seemed feeble.
By now, the puppet's wooden blade was nearly at his nose. Yeop Hyeon still showed no intent to move.
Onlookers held their breath.
In that instant, the wooden sword shuddered violently, dissolved into a streak of light, and was sucked into Yeop Hyeon's body!
Simultaneously, his Spirit Water Sword trembled as if undergoing a change.
The remaining eight puppets struck at once—but their wooden swords vanished the moment they touched him!
The crowd gasped in shock. But Yeop Hyeon himself was the most astonished.
"Heavenly Maiden? What's happening? Did you do this?"
The Heavenly Maiden's voice echoed in his mind.
[The Invincible Sword Body Art you've cultivated absorbs any swords weaker than your Spirit Water Sword.]
As Yeop Hyeon opened his mouth to ask more, Elder Chang Jung's shout rang out.
"You brat—you used a trick!"
Yeop Hyeon turned to him and said, "Trickery? Then come and check it out yourself!"