Chapter 89: Shall We Fight?
The ground beneath the man's feet, spanning a dozen zhang, turned to dust in an instant. His body seemed to split into multiple figures, and countless leg shadows surged toward Yeop Hyeon. Each one pulsed with tremendous power, proving none were illusions.
The force was so overwhelming that it produced explosive booms like tearing eardrums, echoing through the arena.
Watching this, Mu Yun Qi's face darkened sharply.
The weapon the man wielded was at least a mid-grade Earth-tier armament.
That meant his opponent was at minimum in the Penetrating Nether Realm—no pushover.
Worry clouded Mu Yun Qi's features.
In that moment!
Boom!
A thunderous explosion rang out, and a figure was hurled back.
Mu Yun Qi sighed in relief upon seeing who it was.
The one flung away wasn't Yeop Hyeon—it was the black-clad man!
Leaving deep footprints, he was pushed back a dozen zhang and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Power was mutual.
Faced with Yeop Hyeon's most domineering martial art, the man had no choice but to unleash his own ultimate weapon. The moment he was overpowered, the backlash from his own force struck him.
Halting in place, the man examined his chest. His tattered black robe revealed gleaming silver armor beneath. But the armor was deeply slashed at the center from the previous strike, exposing his skin.
Mingjie Protective Armor!
Without it, Yeop Hyeon's sword would have cleaved him in two.
As the black-clad man opened his mouth to shout at Yeop Hyeon, the latter vanished from sight.
Narrowing his eyes, the man stomped the ground hard with his right foot.
Boom!
Countless pebbles and stone fragments erupted like arrows toward Yeop Hyeon.
But this was far from enough to block his sword. The Spirit Water Sword pierced straight through the debris toward the man.
The black-clad man retreated a step and kicked out again at the Spirit Water Sword, cleverly avoiding the blade to strike the flat of it.
Thud!
Barely deflecting the sword, the man's eyes widened in shock.
One Fist Explodes Your Head!
Yeop Hyeon's fist, infused with fist force and battle intent, was already hurtling toward his face!
"Wha—Sword-Martial Dual Cultivation!"
Crack!
With a bizarre sound, the black-clad man's body arched back and soared into the air.
As Yeop Hyeon closed in to finish him, a chilling aura enveloped his back.
Frowning, Yeop Hyeon spun and unleashed a punch.
Boom!
The incoming energy dispersed upon impact.
Yeop Hyeon scanned the surroundings carefully, but no trace of the attacker remained.
Breaking the silence, he shouted to Mu Yun Qi.
"Cover me!"
With that, Yeop Hyeon leaped toward Yeop Ryeong.
At that instant, another streak of cold gleam flew at his back.
Mu Yun Qi hurled a flying dagger at it.
Pop!
But right then, a black-feathered arrow shot from somewhere with ferocious momentum toward Yeop Hyeon's side.
Clang!
Yeop Hyeon whipped the Spirit Water Sword to deflect it.
Whoosh!
Another arrow came straight at him—this time three in a row!
Triple Linked Arrows!
Yeop Hyeon extended his hand, summoning the Spirit Water Sword into his grasp. Gripping it firmly, he swung directly forward.
A sharp sword gleam coated the blade.
Splat!
The first arrow shattered cleanly. The second collided with the sword's tip.
Hummm—
The Spirit Water Sword vibrated fiercely, but unlike the arrow—which fully broke—the sword showed no damage.
The hardness of the Mingjie-grade Spirit Water Sword was unparalleled.
But then, the final arrow altered its trajectory, aiming for Yeop Hyeon's chest.
His left fist—free of the sword—smashed into the arrow's side.
Splat!
Having destroyed the last arrow, Yeop Hyeon sensed another cold gleam from behind. Then, a shadow blocked his back.
Boom!
Mu Yun Qi's flying daggers danced, annihilating the gleam.
Mu Yun Qi whipped around, vigilance unbroken. He still couldn't pinpoint the enemy.
Just then, Yeop Hyeon's gaze locked on a large boulder far to the left. A man stood there, longbow in hand, facing them.
Glare fierce in his bulging eyes, the man bellowed at Yeop Hyeon.
"Sword-Martial Dual Cultivation!"
Ignoring him, Yeop Hyeon dashed to Yeop Ryeong. Up close, she was pale and unconscious, her hands tightly bound with rope.
Expressionless, Yeop Hyeon severed the ropes. Yeop Ryeong, hanging from the tree, slumped limply into his arms.
Right then.
Stab...
A pitch-black sword plunged into Yeop Hyeon's dantian.
A shadow hidden behind Yeop Ryeong emerged.
"I've waited a long time."
Body stiffening as the sword pierced his dantian, Yeop Hyeon slowly spoke.
"Me too... A Mingjie low-grade sword, huh? What a haul today..."
Sword Body Art!
For Yeop Hyeon, who used his sword in place of a dantian, swords were no threat.
Of course, if the enemy's sword outranked his own, he could be in danger.
At equal rank, he had a fifty percent chance of absorption—though even same-rank swords varied in strength.
If inferior to the Spirit Water Sword, absorption was guaranteed.
The sword inside him dissolved into energy and was absorbed into his body.
The black-robed assailant, witnessing this up close, gaped in disbelief.
Wha—how... how is this possible...?
Stumbling back, his head met Yeop Hyeon's incoming fist.
Splat!
The man crumpled.
Just then, Yeop Hyeon slowly closed his eyes. Moments later, his body began trembling like it was caught in an earthquake.
Realm Breakthrough!
The sword he'd absorbed was Mingjie-grade—superior to ten top-grade spirit swords combined!
But Yeop Hyeon forcibly suppressed the surging sword energy. Breaking through now would be suicidal.
Landing with Yeop Ryeong, he laid her down and fed her a Golden Injury Pill. Soon, her face relaxed, and her eyes fluttered open.
Seeing Yeop Hyeon, she burst into hot tears.
He gently stroked her hair and whispered.
"Let's go home now."
Taking her hand, Yeop Hyeon moved to leave the arena. But he halted abruptly.
Before him stood the warrior he'd gravely wounded earlier. His black robe was shredded, revealing silver chainmail beneath.
Yeop Hyeon could have killed him then but prioritized saving Yeop Ryeong.
To the man's left was the archer who'd shot at him; to the right, a hulking newcomer gripping massive axes in both hands.
Mu Yun Qi positioned himself beside Yeop Hyeon, glaring at the trio.
"Watch out for the one who ambushed from hiding. He hasn't gone all out yet."
Yeop Hyeon nodded. He still hadn't located the stealthy assassin.
Clearly a well-trained killer!
Turning to Mu Yun Qi, Yeop Hyeon said,
"When you get an opening, take Ryeong and escape. If they keep targeting her, we'll be tied down!"
Mu Yun Qi hesitated, then nodded.
As Yeop Hyeon said, targeting Yeop Ryeong put all three at severe risk.
But that left Yeop Hyeon to face them alone—a dangerous prospect, even for him!
The silver-armored man scanned the area and shouted,
"He's stronger than we thought. If we don't unite here, we might lose this prey in our grasp!"
Moments later, six or seven warriors emerged from hiding, lining up behind him.
Most were Soaring Realm experts; one even Penetrating Nether Realm.
All seasoned masters.
"Cowards!"
A voice rang out. Turning, the warriors saw a hemp-robed man atop a boulder, doggrass in mouth, wielding a cloth-wrapped saber. He sneered contemptuously at the silver-armored man and his group.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The silver-armored man demanded. The newcomer mocked,
"Your daddy!"
Face twisting, the armored man charged.
Whoosh!
Leg shadows whipped toward the hemp-robed man.
Undaunted, the man swung his saber.
Boom!
As eyes focused, the silver-armored man flew a dozen zhang away.
Struggling to steady himself, he noticed his legs trembling violently.
The hemp-robed man sheathed his wrapped saber without further attack and addressed Yeop Hyeon.
"To the point: I'm Geom So-wang, here to kill you. But I won't stoop to allying with these cowards. Survive them, and I'll face you. Lose, and I'll avenge you—you deserve that much!"
Mu Yun Qi flashed a thumbs-up at the hemp-robed man.
"Don't know who you are, but you're a rare breed! If Yeop Hyeon kills you later, I'll honor your corpse properly!"
Geom So-wang eyed Mu Yun Qi.
"Don't worry about yourself. After him, you're next. Hmm... nah, your neck ain't worth it. Killing you'd just be a loss."
"..."
Right then.
"Hahaha! Can't stand by and watch this!"
A hearty laugh accompanied a swift figure entering the arena.
The man, in his late twenties, had sparkling star-like eyes and brimming charisma. He held a black pearl in hand.
Geom So-wang glanced at it and yelled,
"Gong Qingcheng!"
The man looked puzzled, then laughed heartily.
"Thought you looked familiar—you're that Geom Clan dropout who ditched swords for sabers! Didn't expect you here."
"Hah! Whether I came or not ain't your business!"
Ignoring him, Gong Qingcheng grinned at Yeop Hyeon.
"Heh, who knew that tiny Jiang Kingdom had another genius besides An Ranxiu..."
Yeop Hyeon replied flatly.
"Shall we fight?"