Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Ace Showdown (4)
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Purple Mist Aura.
An aura based on the Purple Mist Divine Art, it could be called one of Mount Hua’s signature techniques, alongside the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
However, few had ever witnessed its true form.
The reason was simple. The Purple Mist Aura could only be manifested after mastering the Purple Mist Divine Art to a certain level.
And the Purple Mist Divine Art could only be learned by the Sect Leader of Mount Hua and their direct disciple.
In other words…
‘He’s insane.’
It meant the level of martial arts Jin Gung had attained was beyond imagination.
It made sense, thinking back.
It had been five years since he reached the transcendent realm.
There was no way the man called the genius of Mount Hua would have been idle during that time.
It seemed the high of reaching the transcendent realm hadn't worn off yet, leading me to misjudge.
Sure enough, when he, shrouded in a protective purple aura, swung his sword…
*Swoosh.*
The floor of the training ground where the aura struck vanished.
It didn’t melt or shatter.
Unable to withstand the aura’s power, it had simply turned to dust.
As I stood there, mouth agape at the destructive force, Jin Gung began to assume a ready stance.
I had no choice.
“Hey, how about we call it a draw?”
Might as well give it a shot.
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Knew it wouldn't work. Dammit.
*Swoosh!*
As he swung his sword again, petals of purple aura descended upon me.
It was an attack of incomparable intensity.
*Thump.*
Thinking I had to dodge first, I took a true step of the War King Step.
“You’re fast!”
Jin Gung’s shout reached me, as if he was impressed by my space-cleaving War King Step.
The spot where I had just been standing shattered and disappeared.
Hey, you said you weren't going to kill me.
*Swish.*
The fluid yet fierce sword aura of the Seven-Colored Plum Blossom Art flew toward my neck.
“Hup!”
If I let him keep this up, the end was obvious.
I had to create an opportunity to turn the tables, somehow.
*Bang!*
Thirteen streams of Explosive Death Force completely neutralized the incoming aura.
*Whoosh.*
The resulting gravitational pull momentarily rooted Jin Gung to the spot.
*Thump.*
I immediately extended my War King Energy.
With a footwork incomparably faster than before, I closed the distance and stood right before him.
“What!”
Jin Gung’s eyes widened in surprise as he reached out his hand again. It was the Heart-Piercing Palm.
“You think I’ll fall for that twice?!”
*Crackle.*
As I deployed my protective aura, a black magnetic field enveloped my body.
It was a protective aura I had decided to call the War Dragon Aura, named after the War King Arts.
*Thump.*
The razor-sharp palm strike hit my chest but was repelled by the War Dragon Aura’s repulsive force.
“Die!”
Having anticipated that moment, I unleashed the full force of my Explosive Death Force at his head.
*Rumble. CRACK!*
With a sound like a thunderclap, Jin Gung’s body was sent flying. At that moment, I felt it instinctively.
‘It was shallow.’
The fact that he hadn't met it head-on, but had dodged it.
*Thump.*
I immediately executed the War King Step.
I slashed the edge of my hand toward his back.
It was the Ultimate Death Force.
An aura, incomparably sharper than before, flew toward his rear.
“Hah!”
As if he had been waiting for it, Jin Gung swung his sword vertically.
*Fwoosh.*
A massive purple aura…
*Crack.*
…split the Ultimate Death Force without a trace and descended upon the crown of my head.
It was too late to dodge.
I had to block it.
“Huuup!”
Once I made up my mind, the War King Energy deep within my body began to boil.
A small, marble-sized sphere of War King Energy circulated throughout my body, granting me immense power.
*Crackle.*
An incredibly thick War Dragon Aura unfurled and collided with the purple aura.
*Sssss. Crackle. Sizzle.*
The battle between the Purple Mist Aura, which turned all to nothing, and the War Dragon Aura, which destroyed all things.
The result…
*Crumble.*
…was the War Dragon Aura’s victory.
The Purple Mist Aura succeeded in piercing through the War Dragon Aura, but due to the immense gravitational pull emitted by my aura, it couldn't reach my body.
Moreover, the War Dragon Aura began to tear apart the Purple Mist Aura from the point of contact, even growing in size.
‘If I hadn't fought the Red Dragon Hall Master, I would have never known.’
It was a characteristic I had only discovered after my bout with the Red Dragon Hall Master. It was only natural that Jin Gung was shocked by this unheard-of phenomenon.
But the strange phenomena didn't end there.
The War Dragon Aura, having consumed the Purple Mist Aura and grown larger, exploded.
*BOOM!*
Jin Gung barely managed to evade the shockwave that rushed at him with ferocious momentum.
“...You’re fast.”
Pouring everything out for the first time in a while felt refreshing.
“Hoo.”
Landing some distance away, Jin Gung took a deep breath and assumed a ready stance.
It was a sign that he intended to fight properly.
“You bastard.”
Had we not started, I might have backed down, but having come this far, I had no intention of retreating either.
It felt like I wouldn't be satisfied until one of us won.
As if reading my mind, the spherical War King Energy settled above my Sea of Qi point.
It was the Chain Ring Force.
*Thump.*
A massive force erupted from the sphere of condensed War King Energy, granting me incredible power.
Sensing the unusual change in my demeanor, Jin Gung gripped his sword again and unleashed his Purple Mist Aura.
And so the clash began.
The violet Purple Mist Aura and the black War Dragon Aura began to tear at each other.
*Fwoosh.*
The mercilessly flying purple aura…
*Crackle. BOOM.*
…was blocked by the black aura.
Each and every blow carried enough power to end a life.
*Whoosh. CRACK.*
As soon as I deflected the incoming aura, I unleashed a barrage of Explosive Death Force, heavily imbued with War Dragon Aura.
“Hyaap!”
Jin Gung roared as he unleashed the Seven-Colored Plum Blossom Art.
*Swish.*
Countless purple plum blossom petals covered the sky.
*FWOOM!*
They merged into one, descended, and annihilated themselves along with the Explosive Death Force.
‘Now!’
The moment I had been waiting for.
That brief opening presented the perfect opportunity.
*Thump.*
“Ugh!”
As I executed the War King Step with all my might, a different sensation enveloped my body.
*Flash.*
Shaolin’s Nine Grades of the Lotus Throne.
The Eight Great Forms of the Cloud Dragon from the now-extinct Kunlun Sect.
The Heavenly Demon's Reigning Step of the Demonic Cult.
The Phantom Step, a technique seen only in such peerless movement arts.
The War King Step, combined with the Flying Heavenly Wind, played the role of such a peerless movement art.
“Hah!”
Stepping across space, I saw Jin Gung’s shocked face right before me.
*BANG!*
The War King Thirteen Strikes I immediately unleashed slammed into his unprepared body.
*Crack.*
Because I had executed it quickly, it didn't contain the force of Explosive Death Force, but it was a fist imbued with the immense power of the Chain Ring Force.
It carried more than enough power to break bones.
And as expected, not disappointing my expectations…
“Guk.”
My forward-thrusting fist broke his ribs and dug deep.
I was certain.
“This is the liver blow Manager Apcheon taught me, you son of a bitch!”
I had won.
I unleashed the Flying Heavenly Wind and closed in on the rapidly retreating Jin Gung.
A distance barely wide enough for a fist.
In other words, my range.
Aura and all that didn't matter.
As long as I neutralized my opponent, no matter the method, I would win.
*WHACK!*
A low kick, flying like a thunderbolt, slammed into Jin Gung’s thigh.
As his upper body lost balance, I poured the War King Thirteen Strikes into him.
*Splat.*
Blood sprayed from his face, staining the surroundings.
*Stagger.*
Jin Gung’s body swayed.
Just then, his solar plexus was wide open.
As I was about to deliver the final blow toward it, my eyes met Jin Gung’s.
“...!”
Jin Gung’s eyes were still burning with fighting spirit.
A chill ran down my spine.
The moment I saw those eyes, warning bells went off in my head.
*Crackle.*
My War King Energy ran wild, creating the War Dragon Aura to protect my body.
And then…
*SLASH! Splatter.*
A long gash opened from my chest to my abdomen, and blood spurted out.
“No way…”
A sword strike that was neither seen nor felt.
It was a single strike of the Unity of Sword and Spirit, a state only a master swordsman could properly execute.
Of course, it didn't have its full power, but it was more than enough to send a man to his grave.
If the Flame Poison Pill Bukgung Baek had given me hadn't dramatically increased my body’s durability, I would have been severely injured.
As the fear of death faded, anger filled the void.
“Pant! Pant!”
Just as I was about to raise my fist to the head of Jin Gung, who looked ready to collapse at any moment…
“I lost.”
Jin Gung surrendered.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
I needed to land a few more hits to make this worthwhile.
The Sichuan pepper bomb I had been saving as a last resort came to mind.
“Hoo.”
As soon as the match was decided, I relaxed my body.
Having used most of my ninety years of internal energy in a battle that felt real, my legs trembled.
‘What? Why is it so quiet?’
Even though the match was over, there were no cheers, not a sound.
When the other guys’ matches ended, everyone was so happy for them.
It felt like I was being discriminated against, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Just then, Jin Gung, who had approached me at some point, extended his hand.
“It was a good match.”
He was the one who started the fight, and now he was acting all friendly.
As I stared at him with a look of disbelief, he smiled faintly and replied.
“I thought that was the only way to make you fight with all your strength.”
“Since when were we on a first-name basis…”
“I believe I’m ten years your senior. Am I wrong?”
“You’re a real condescending old fart.”
“I don’t know what that means, but my grandmaster urged me to befriend you. And I wished for the same.”
“Wow.”
Surprised by his unexpected words, I turned to look at the VIP section and saw the Righteous Path Alliance Leader smiling warmly. And next to him, Bukgung Baek wore what looked like a smirk.
‘Ah…’
Only then did I understand what had happened.
The Alliance Leader and Bukgung Baek had set the stage to draw me out.
They had cast an actor named Jin Gung.
Which meant…
Bukgung Baek's intention in pushing me forward might not have been for me to gain experience, but to build me up.
I voiced this suspicion to Jin Gung.
“Did you, by any chance, go easy on me?”
Fortunately, the match had been real.
“Of course not. A warrior of Mount Hua does not swing his sword in vain.”
He wasn't wrong.
The sword of a prestigious orthodox sect is never wielded lightly.
“I see.”
As I let down my guard, he extended his hand again.
“You were incredible. Especially when you used the Phantom Step, I thought my heart would stop.”
*Grip.*
I took his hand and said.
“I’m just special, so don’t feel too bad. Most warriors can't even hold a candle to you, Master.”
“...”
Indeed, one must live with humility.
* * *
A short while later.
Confirming the match was over, everyone rushed over.
Seeing the wide smiles on their faces, it was clear they were happy about today’s victory.
“Well done!”
Wi Ji-pung said.
*Nod.*
Dan Un looked at me with burning eyes and nodded.
‘What’s with this guy?’
His gaze was unsettling, and for a moment, I wanted to put some distance between us.
Besides them…
Jeok Il, Geum Pil-dae, Lee Jong-san, and Jeon Muk offered their congratulations.
“How was the sword of Mount Hua?”
Bukgung Baek, who had approached at some point, gripped my shoulder and asked.
“It was powerful and fast, with extreme variations.”
“You saw it clearly.”
“Well, I did fight him directly.”
With his signature smirk, Bukgung Baek told me something I hadn't noticed.
“Just before he conceded defeat, the Plum Blossom Sword Master was holding a purple dagger in his hand.”
He turned and said.
“If the fight had continued, the outcome would have been uncertain. One of you would have died.”
Watching Bukgung Baek’s retreating back, I thought.
‘Whatever, I still won.’
Talking about ‘what ifs’ after the fact doesn't change the outcome.
* * *
After the tournament concluded, we went up on the stage.
The Abbot of Shaolin, the Sect Leader of Wudang, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, the leaders of the Righteous Path Alliance, and hundreds of warriors were all looking at us.
The first things we were given were seven bronze plaques engraved with the name of the Righteous Path Alliance.
“These plaques signify your friendship with the Righteous Path Alliance. As long as it doesn't betray righteousness or involve something extremely dangerous, you can receive the Alliance's help once.”
‘In wuxia novels, they usually give out gold plaques.’
It was a worthless object that couldn't be used for money or even as a necklace.
Well, our Six War Kings accepted such things with pleasure.
As my lips were about to pout at the useless prize…
From the distance, a disciple from Mount Hua appeared, carrying a wooden box the size of a child’s head.
This must be the reward for the final match.
*Grin.*
A smile involuntarily escaped me at the appearance of the main event.
‘I’ll sell it as soon as I get back to Nine Dragons Fortress!’
Even if the reward I received now was only worth a thousand taels, it would be a huge help in achieving my dream.
*Click.*
“Take it.”
The Alliance Leader chuckled and handed me the wooden box.
And…
‘Th-this is!’
Upon opening it, I couldn't help but be astonished.
“...What is this?”
Inside was a single small needle.
“It is Ten-Thousand-Year Black Iron. A very precious item.”
“I mean, I know it’s precious, but what am I supposed to do with just this?”
“Ahem, isn’t that for you to figure out?”
“...”
Seeing the Alliance Leader avoid my gaze and look down, a realization struck me.
‘I’ve been had!’