Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
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Lee Gwang and Yong Bi-cheon stood facing each other at a distance of three張.
For a while, they glared at one another, and even from afar, it was clear their arm muscles were tensed with bulging veins. It was a sign of their fierce fighting spirit burning bright.
Yong Bi-cheon narrowed his eyes and spoke.
"To think the brat from back then is standing before me again. What a surprise."
"Even then, you took a sword strike from me. Don't you remember?"
Lee Gwang raised his spear, pointing it at Yong Bi-cheon's face.
"That scar beneath your cheek—I carved it there myself."
Yong Bi-cheon's eyebrows twitched as he replied.
"In return, you ended up a broken mess, plummeting down beneath Manjang Cliff. I remember that well."
"Yeah, that time was pretty rough."
There seemed to be considerable bad blood between them. Lee Gwang, answering casually about the past, let out a sticky laugh.
"Today, it won't end with just that one wound."
Yong Bi-cheon grinned back.
"Who are you to say that..."
Ssssss.
I fixed my gaze on the arena, tense with anticipation.
Lee Gwang's spear brimmed with an intensity of thunder qi fiercer than ever before, while Yong Bi-cheon's entire body swirled with a storm-like aura. They exuded a majesty as if they had become forces of nature themselves.
The next moment—
The strongest of the Thunder God Style and Wind God Style clashed. I watched from the first instant of collision to the very end, barely able to breathe. A duel between those who had surpassed peak experts was something you couldn't witness even if you offered a fortune.
Lee Gwang's instantaneous speed was far faster than mine, even without invoking Thunder Roar. Part of it was due to his use of Annihilation Step, but more than that, his lightness skill had already reached master level, with no wasted motion.
In the span of one breath split ten times, his spear had already pierced Yong Bi-cheon's form in a flash. In an even shorter instant, Lee Gwang's body spun three full rotations, and I could discern three ultimate techniques linked seamlessly.
Pukwak.
Yong Bi-cheon, the Wind God Style's Dharma Protector, seemed to evade quickly with an afterimage, but his face, appearing ten張 away, was filled with distress. Though it looked like he'd fully dodged, a large gash marred his forearm. It meant he'd evaded the first strike but still been grazed.
'Incredible!'
A shiver ran through me as I watched. Some might think being grazed in the first exchange wasn't much, but I knew how terrifying Yong Bi-cheon's movement technique became when he got serious.
Even I, using Thunder Roar, struggled to keep up, and he wielded afterimage arts indistinguishable from his real body at will—accelerated illusions that made catching him nearly impossible. Only by paying with my life through Great Heaven Annihilation could I barely match him.
Yet Lee Gwang, without even using Thunder Roar, had perfectly discerned the Dharma Protector's true body and pressed the attack at a speed that rendered afterimage evasion useless. It meant Lee Gwang's prowess was within striking distance of matching the Dharma Protector.
Pabat!
The next instant, Yong Bi-cheon's form split into five. A shout erupted.
"How about this!"
Wind God Style secret technique
Wind Demon Annihilation
Not mere afterimages, but clones so lifelike they seemed to breathe and pulse, manifesting in reality. I'd been pummeled relentlessly by Yong Bi-cheon using Wind Demon Annihilation before, so just seeing it made me dizzy. Even at two-tenths power, it could crush peak experts effortlessly—what would the full version do?
'No!'
The tricky part of Wind Demon Annihilation was that the real body didn't reveal itself until the moment of attack. In an ultra-brief instant, it swapped with a clone, making counterattacks impossible. Yong Bi-cheon swung his hand, multiplying the clones until there were nearly forty.
[Wind Demon Annihilation Ultimate Blood Wind God Fist!!]
A Wind God Style secret art that formed a fist formation to overwhelm a single foe alone! Vivid memories of taking hundreds of blows from it made my body shudder. Without thinking, I shouted.
"Dodge it!!"
It was the moment his clones surrounded and charged in unison.
As if time had frozen in that split second—I sensed Lee Gwang smirking. Just like when he'd faced the Twelve Lords.
"Crude technique."
Ziiing.
Lee Gwang seemed to swing his spear horizontally with ease. His motion cut off as if folding into space itself, and soon I realized I couldn't track it even with eye force. His form, overlaid on space like paint, emanated immense pressure as if severing time, surging forward.
Lightning shattered space.
Overwhelming thunder qi resonated.
From the Heavenly Thunder Ultimate Spear's forms, Heavenly Thunder Wolf Demon flowed out, drawing a single annihilation stroke. Ten of the oncoming Wind Demon Annihilation clones burst, unleashing flashes of light. Lee Gwang didn't stop, scattering Thunder Shadows like a dance.
Pupu-pupu-pung!!
Kwang!
With storm-like charges, when Lee Gwang took his final step, Wind Demon Annihilation was completely breached at the center, its clones vanished without trace. It was like a step from the Thunder God wielding overwhelming violence.
Yong Bi-cheon, who moments ago had unleashed Ultimate Blood Wind God Fist, had withdrawn to the arena's edge in a fist-retracted stance, blood streaming from his hand. He'd blocked Lee Gwang's attack in that instant, but his protective qi had shattered. Staring blankly at his fist in disbelief, he muttered.
"Thun... Thunder God Style had a technique like that? Impossible."
"Hoo. Naturally, the old Thunder God Style didn't."
Lee Gwang took a slow step forward, continuing.
"This is an ultimate technique I devised myself over the past two months. Let's call it... yeah, Sky Annihilation."
From his offhand tone, it was clear he hadn't even bothered naming it properly until now. I was stunned.
'What? It's still unfinished?'
I wasn't the only one who'd grown stronger studying Jang Sam-bong's insights over those two months. Lee Gwang, a martial genius from the start, had drawn inspiration from the Heavenly Axis Sword and Dragon Subduing Palm to create this new ultimate technique, Sky Annihilation. But naming it on the spot meant it was still in development, not complete. If perfected, what power it might hold was unimaginable.
Jin So-cheong, listening, smacked his lips.
"You're toying around leisurely. To settle this, you must have even better ultimate techniques..."
"......"
I whipped around to Jin So-cheong.
"Senior Brother. What do you mean? Stronger than Sky Annihilation?"
"Hmm, Junior Brother. I planned to tell you after the match, but no harm now."
Jin So-cheong continued.
"The Thunder God Style's spear arts originally culminated in Heavenly Thunder Ultimate Spear. But thanks to the new martial insights you shared, Master and I glimpsed new horizons in spear arts. After discussions, we're convinced we can establish an evolved form beyond Heavenly Thunder Ultimate Spear."
"What?!"
"Watch for now. I'll explain details later."
I could only hold my breath.
Evolved Heavenly Thunder Ultimate Spear!
What kind of martial art could that be?
While I racked my brain imagining, Yong Bi-cheon on the arena ground teeth clenched in rage. He glared sharply at Lee Gwang and said.
"Your spear suppresses space. You've incorporated repulsion and attraction?"
"What if you know? The Wind God Style secrets have nothing decent to counter it anyway."
Gruffly retorting, Lee Gwang suddenly unleashed Thunder Void Annihilation.
Ku-kwang-kwang!!
Dust clouds swirled amid a massive explosion and thunderbolts. Normally, even Lee Gwang needed a moment to gather qi for Thunder Void Annihilation, but now he could fire it instantly. His face paled from the sudden ultimate move, but Yong Bi-cheon suffered more visibly.
"Hap."
Lee Gwang kept unleashing Sky Annihilation, flashing like a thunder god. Each flash brought an explosion, repelling Yong Bi-cheon's form.
Yong Bi-cheon retreated greatly, repeatedly deploying and bursting protective qi. Even his formidable inner power couldn't easily withstand Thunder Void Annihilation's potency. Soon sweat beaded on his forehead, veins bulging on his arms, and Lee Gwang pounced on the opening.
Lee Gwang's spear carved thunderbolt paths, slicing ultra-brief instants. The bee-like swarm sound signified repulsion and attraction qi no foe could resist swirling around his spear tip. Deciding he couldn't take more, Yong Bi-cheon gathered power throughout his body.
Kugugugugu.
Suddenly, a massive vortex and storm raged over the arena. As Yong Bi-cheon concentrated, a whirlwind wrapped his form, soon birthing a typhoon that lifted him into the air. Lee Gwang halted his assault, retreating as he said.
"Is that the Heavenly Spirit Pill's power?!"
[Indeed. Vermin like you could never reach it in a lifetime!]
Yong Bi-cheon roared with pride, hurling his fist laden with blazing fury.
[Take this!]
Space warped at the typhoon's heart, wind bullets spawning everywhere. Each wind bullet spanned over ten張, and seeing them chilled me to the bone. One had killed Miho. A single one's power was devastating, yet nearly fifty floated in the sky.
Soon, the wind bullets plummeted earthward at tremendous speed, accelerating beyond most peak experts' reaction time. One slicing sharply through the air got caught in Lee Gwang's horizontal sweep and ricocheted aside.
Kukwakwang.
"......!!"
Flying far, it smashed a distant peak ten li away, crumbling the terrain. Destruction visible from here meant direct hits would blast hundreds of張 with wind pressure. No wonder Miho burned through nine lives instantly.
Naturally, the spectating Yellow Mountain Sect members fell into horrified panic.
"Uwaaak!!"
"S-save us!"
Unbefitting martial experts, they scrambled from the stands in flight. Even elders didn't stop them but prepared to lead the evacuation. At that scale, it transcended martial arts into natural disaster territory. No one wanted collateral annihilation.
"Hmm..."
Lee Gwang stood at the arena's edge, silently gazing up at the wind bullets and typhoon vortex. Then, powering his inner energy, he bellowed a lion's roar at the White Lotus Cult Leader.
[Cult Leader! If I take that man's arm, will you acknowledge my victory in this duel?]
Unexpected, eyes turned to the White Lotus Cult Leader's seated side. The two Dharma Protectors showed no reaction, and after a pause, the Leader replied via Six Harmonies True Voice.
[If you can.]
Tension gripped the assembly.
Yong Bi-cheon's typhoon, fueled by Heavenly Spirit Pill and natural qi, had swollen ceaselessly, nearly engulfing the arena. Its height pierced the clouds, wind bullets primed to fire. Human martial arts seemed futile—how would he manage?
Sssss.
Lee Gwang slowly lowered his spear into a bizarre form absent from Heavenly Thunder Ultimate Spear. The stance evoked a charge spear fixated solely on advance, closer to a mutual destruction sword form heedless of defense. As he assumed it, Yong Bi-cheon spat furious Six Harmonies True Voice.
[Fool! Quit the nonsense and die!!]
Dozens of wind bullets filling the sky poured down on Lee Gwang. An inescapable barrage—if they hit, not just him but nearby Thunder God Style disciples would perish.
"Uh-oh."
In that instant, Lee Gwang's body vanished in a blaze of light, and I felt myself shoved aside abruptly.
'Thunder Roar?'
Kwang-kwang.
It happened in a flash. Regaining senses, I lay sprawled dozens of張 away with the Thunder God Style disciples, beyond the wind bullets' reach. Likely Jin So-cheong had instantly used Thunder Roar to relocate us all.
That was when I looked skyward.
Reverse Scale!
As if a thunder god had slashed the heavens, a wound scarred the sky. Lee Gwang's form hovered at cloud height, his spear form fully executed. Moments later, winds around typhoon-raising Yong Bi-cheon shattered.
Paaat.
"Kuhuk!!"
Yong Bi-cheon spewed blood. His left arm severed, flying through the air. Astonishingly, Lee Gwang had inscribed a massive thunder seal in the heavens, shredding Yong Bi-cheon's defenses! Re-leaping from midair, he snatched the arm and descended.
The wind bullets' fury faded to irrelevance; Yong Bi-cheon clung pathetically airborne in wretched state. Glaring at Lee Gwang with a ghastly face, he spat.
"You scum...!!"
Lee Gwang looked no better, face ashen from abruptly invoking Thunder Roar, inner power shaken. But having severed Yong Bi-cheon's arm as agreed, the duel winner was obvious. Prolonged fight would favor Yong Bi-cheon, but in short burst, Lee Gwang prevailed.
The White Lotus Cult Leader surely knew. Soon, his deep Six Harmonies True Voice echoed across Yellow Mountain.
[Thunder God Style's victory.]
"C-Cult Leader!!"
Yong Bi-cheon glanced protestingly at the Leader, who sighed lightly.
[Pathetic, Yong Bi-cheon. Come down already.]
"I haven't lost yet..."
[Is borrowing Heavenly Spirit Pill's power proper in a duel...? I misjudged you.]
"Eek. But..."
Then.
As Yong Bi-cheon persisted defiantly, the irked Leader seemed to flick a finger from behind.
Kugung!
"......!!"
Instantly. With one flick, Yong Bi-cheon—who'd withstood even Lee Gwang's ultimate—plummeted like discarded refuse.
"Ugh..."
Yong Bi-cheon screamed, vomiting blood.
Bewildered at what happened, even Jin So-cheong and I gaped wide-eyed. From thirty張 away spectator seats, how drop a Wind God Style Dharma Protector midair?
Yong Bi-cheon writhed on the ground, this blow hitting harder than his lost arm. Rising, he knelt before the Leader.
[I commit mortal sin. Please forgive me!]
The Leader replied.
[Clean it up.]
[Understood!]
Thus ended the duel.
Soon, the Yellow Mountain Sect arena vicinity, ravaged by Yong Bi-cheon's wind bullets and typhoon, quieted. Evacuees returned. Before the gathered crowd, the White Lotus Cult Leader stood our Thunder God Style disciples solemnly and declared.
[Thunder God Style's victory. We honor our promise, extending provisional founding by ten years.]
We won!
We nearly cheered in joy at securing victory.
Suddenly, Mang Ryang darted forward, cupping fists.
"Cult Leader! I mentioned delivering the clue via letter later, but I'll state it here."
[Hm...? Very well, speak.]
Original terms: Yellow Mountain Sect mediated talks between White Lotus Cult and Thunder God Style; in exchange for founding recognition, we'd later send treatment for Young Cult Leader's strange illness via letter. Mang Ryang's timing was odd, but the Leader received it puzzled. Mang Ryang transmitted silently, Leader listening calmly.
After a moment, the Leader said.
[You are truly bold. Where does such audacity spring from?]
"Merely devoted to White Lotus Cult's glory."
[Very well... I accept that condition. I'll send someone later.]
"My deepest gratitude."
Whiiiik!
Soon after, the Leader's palanquin and entourage vanished from Yellow Mountain Sect. Notably, even the six palanquin bearers used Void Treading Step while carrying it—ultra-peak experts at least. Watching the Leader's palanquin recede afar, awed, I said.
"What are those palanquin bearers?"
"White Lotus Cult Elder Council elites."
Lee Gwang, seemingly finished regulating qi, replied arms crossed. Turning to him, he added lowly.
"Those are the real headaches."
"Haha. Speaking so openly here is troublesome."
Yellow Mountain Sect Leader, Earth Dragon Divine Sword Yong Jung-il—who'd seen them off nearby—approached, saying.
"Today was truly memorable. Though I regret not dueling Thunder God Style myself, it's time to part."
Indeed. Normally, Jin So-cheong and Yong Jung-il should've clashed. But the sudden Thunder vs. Wind God top clash snuffed that chance regrettably.
Lee Gwang smiled coldly.
"Transparent. You want to probe our arts more?"
"One duel won't let me steal from this Yong's cultivation."
"Sorry, too fatigued for duels today. Set another date."
Unlike his usual self, Lee Gwang refused Yong Jung-il's subtle challenge. Normally, he'd seize any pretext to eliminate a Wind God Style elite—what was this? Speaking up felt unwise, so I stayed silent, watching.
Yong Jung-il chuckled.
"Lee Gwang. How deep are your ties to Righteous Heaven Alliance?"
"Curious about others' love lives is pointless drivel. Piss off if that's all."
Lee Gwang mocked and dismissed, but Yong Jung-il pressed.
"Whether drivel remains to be seen."
"......"
A sticky smile fleeted across Yong Jung-il's lips.
"Haha, no deeper meaning."
What did that mean?
I cocked my head, but Lee Gwang and Mang Ryang's faces soured. They'd grasped the hidden intent. Murderous intent flared in Lee Gwang's eyes as he gripped his spear forward—then Mang Ryang cut in a breath quicker.
"Thanks for the needless scheming. But we must go. Worldly Yellow Mountain Sect won't rudely detain honored guests long, yes?"
"Ah, of course."
"Any mishap on our path becomes Yellow Mountain Sect's responsibility."
"......"
Yong Jung-il's brows twitched. Gruffly, he replied.
"Detained you too long. Be off."
Thus, we concluded the Yellow Mountain Sect conference and departed again.
============================ Author's Note ============================
Story got a bit stuck, so late update ㅠㅠ Sorry!
No dropping, so don't worry!
And gym is tough... Will my belly fat go first, or will I die first?