Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 270
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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In an instant, as we faced off, our intents clashed while probing each other's true realms. I was surprised that Jin So-cheong's qi was less than expected, and he seemed to be sizing me up in his own way. What was certain was that since this was a standoff between those who had truly reached the supreme peak realm, it was vastly different from reading the stances of ordinary martial artists.
A sound like thread snapping.
*Here it comes.*
A single annihilating flash!
My first strike was naturally my most confident technique, the Bending Void Slash. If this were my first time facing Jin So-cheong completely fresh, I might test him with various probing moves, but he wasn't the sort of opponent who deserved that. Moreover, there was no reason to hold back my strongest blow.
"......!!"
Jin So-cheong initially tried to counter with Barrier Raksha, but as he sensed the exquisite ingenuity of the Bending Void Slash, he hastily withdrew his spear and retreated. It was the right judgment—if he had stubbornly pressed forward using Raksha Barrier, his body would have been cleaved in two. Without watching his retreat, I immediately charged with Soul Extinguishing Step.
Clang!
Sparks erupted noisily from our weapons. Our forceful energies had collided. Jin So-cheong wore a somewhat strained expression from my full-power strike. And why not? From the start, I was unleashing everything without holding back. Blocking attacks infused with all my internal energy was no easy task, even for him.
"Urgh!!"
Jin So-cheong fell back with Thunder Shadow Step's Heaven Piercer, then gathered his power by unleashing the techniques of the Heavenly Thunder Ultimate Spear. I followed up with successive Bending Void Slashes, but suddenly, a sharp burst of energy grazed my shoulder.
*What was that just now?*
Two streams of energy flashed past in a blur, but it felt like they had barely missed. It was probably some secret technique of the Heavenly Thunder Ultimate Spear I didn't know about, or one unique to Jin So-cheong. But it seemed his power couldn't fully withstand mine, lowering his accuracy.
Boom!
The energies exploded once more. Unlike Musashi, who had desperately tried to counter my Bending Void with brute force, Jin So-cheong began flexibly deflecting my attacks using his spear forms. Even as I pressed the assault, I couldn't help but admire his spearmanship.
*A perfect Transformation Realm.*
The ingenious method of channeling powerful force into the ground at just the right moments! Jin So-cheong's Transformation Realm went beyond the ordinary, reaching a level where it could be wielded with intent-severing techniques. There was not a single wasted motion, and he perfectly concealed his weaknesses, allowing him to deflect and redirect my attacks—which were several times stronger—purely through skill.
The current situation had me dominating. I was confident my realm was equal to Jin So-cheong's or perhaps a step above, but my innermost feelings weren't all that pleasant.
*To have already grasped the ultimate essence of Thunder God Style spear arts at his age?*
No genius in martial arts I had ever seen from birth until now had reached such a profound realm at his age. Even as I pressed him relentlessly, I couldn't help feeling a twinge of bitterness.
Of all people.
Why did it have to be Jin So-cheong?
Why was the first genius I encountered the greatest prodigy of the Central Plains?
*I shatter the Transformation Realm with this.*
But regardless of such stray thoughts, my body moved with flawless speed, thrusting out the secret technique Thousand Cuts Myriad Six. In an instant, the intent-severing technique unleashed a thousand slashes from my blade's tip, scattering and disrupting Jin So-cheong's Transformation Realm.
"!"
In that moment, Jin So-cheong's eyes seemed to gleam. As if seizing the perfect opening, he shifted from defense to offense. He showed no concern for the technique's barrage of a thousand cuts.
*What? He's pushing through here?*
I couldn't help but be startled.
Theoretically, piercing the gaps in Thousand Cuts Myriad Six could land a fatal blow on me. However, unlike before, the version I wielded now was infused with intent, making it impossible to pass through that impenetrable sword veil. It was like threading a needle through the dense stitches of fine embroidery in a split second.
First exchange. Jin So-cheong used Raksha to shatter my sword wheel.
Second exchange. He blended Barrier into Flash to amplify the rotational force.
Third exchange. He employed a spear technique combination I had never seen before.
Boom.
I was stunned that after merely three exchanges, my offense crumbled, returning the fight to square one. I had no idea what trick he used, but Jin So-cheong had successfully dismantled Thousand Cuts Myriad Six in a flash.
"Huff! Huff! Hah..."
Jin So-cheong breathed heavily. That single move had clearly drained a massive amount of his stamina and qi. He wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned.
"You... you're truly strong! Aside from my master, you're the first Thunder God Style expert I've seen this formidable."
I knew it.
That I held the edge over Jin So-cheong right now.
That if we kept fighting like this, I could somehow defeat him within five hundred exchanges.
Yet at the same time, a sense of defeat forced me to clench my fist.
*The vessel of his martial world is on another level!*
In those three exquisite moves just now, I had felt that the horizons of spearmanship he envisioned were unimaginably vast. No—it wouldn't be wrong to say Jin So-cheong had opened my eyes to a new martial world. Even if I won here relying on the Wudang Sect's ultimate arts and my internal energy, it wouldn't feel like a true victory.
I asked Jin So-cheong,
"What were those three forms just now? Did you learn them from Lee Gwang too?"
Jin So-cheong blinked and replied,
"I'm not really sure."
"Not sure?"
"It's true I learned Raksha Barrier from my master, but that combination I just used was something even I tried for the first time. Pure coincidence."
"......!!"
So that wasn't a secret technique of the Heavenly Thunder Ultimate Spear—it was just the basic spear forms, Raksha Barrier?!
*Just a combination of fundamentals could do that?!*
I was at a loss for words in every way. Standing there silently, Jin So-cheong spoke up.
"Not going to continue?"
"Your master seems to have arrived."
Triple Excellence Lee Gwang stood below the sparring platform. He had apparently been watching our duel for some time. As our gazes turned to him, he leaped onto the platform and said to me,
"You must be a successor of the Thunder God Style as well. I'm impressed by your skill."
Seeing Lee Gwang's face ignited a blaze of fury within me. But for now, I kept it off my expression and responded.
"You're Triple Excellence Lee Gwang?"
"Indeed. And who might you be?"
I replied self-mockingly,
"What's the point of knowing who I am?"
"If you won't reveal your identity, you won't leave here unscathed."
"Is that so?"
"Of course!"
After a moment's thought, I pointed my sword at him. Lee Gwang's eyebrow twitched, and I taunted,
"If you plan to team up with your disciple, I won't stop you. Try blocking my way."
"Insolent fool. Just because you gained the upper hand against my disciple, you dare underestimate me too?"
"No such thing. I just figured someone like you wouldn't hesitate at a joint assault."
Lee Gwang's expression turned properly enraged. Outwardly calm, but his face grew icily cold, frost settling over it. Soon, using Escaping Earth Force, he snatched a spear from nearby the training ground and declared,
"I won't team up. Come at me."
"......"
Why was I doing this?
Why was I picking a fight with Lee Gwang at the Azure Dragon Martial Hall?
Truth be told, even if I wanted payback against him, now wasn't the time. The grudge was there, but not the moment to unleash it. Yet I couldn't pinpoint the source of the emotional torrent sweeping me away right now.
But I soon realized the reason myself and let out a hollow laugh.
"Haha..."
It wasn't some simple desire for rewards from my hellish training. The grudge against Lee Gwang wasn't the main issue now. What drove me like this was confronting the clear limits of my swordsmanship head-on. I couldn't articulate it well, but in this moment of realization, if I didn't clash with a supreme master somehow, the inspiration would slip away.
In that case, provoking my opponent into rage like this wasn't the right choice. I inwardly admitted my actions had been petty and bowed my head to Lee Gwang once more.
"My apologies."
"......?"
"That was rash. I won't resort to cheap provocations—let's do this properly."
Lee Gwang's expression softened. As a supreme peak expert himself, he had instantly sensed my emotional shift and roughly guessed the cause. With a composed face, he said,
"You're facing a great wall!"
"You see it clearly."
"Thunder God Style swordsmen are rare. Finding a proper master for you would be difficult—I understand."
With that, Lee Gwang continued,
"Shall we have a go?"
Whoosh!
Lee Gwang and I launched simultaneously, clashing at the center of the sparring platform. In our first exchange, I realized one thing.
*He's not as overwhelming as back then!*
The pressure from my last spar with Lee Gwang was absent. The current Lee Gwang was undoubtedly a powerful supreme peak expert, but he lacked that terrifying battle aura from before. After a brief thought, I understood why.
*Lee Gwang had grown over those eight years too!*
Which meant the Lee Gwang of now was still an opponent I could take on. Suddenly, my goal crystallized right before my eyes, and greed nearly blinded me. If I fought hard now, I might surpass him.
Clang!
In a flash, we exchanged over a hundred moves. Lee Gwang was certainly superior to Jin So-cheong in average technique and internal energy, with attacks far sharper by orders of magnitude. Moreover, he effortlessly deflected my heavy strikes that had troubled Jin So-cheong, using sheer experience.
But as I withdrew the Bending Void Slash's form, I thought: each of Lee Gwang's spear forms was weighty, but the pressure wasn't that intense.
*I can do this.*
If anything, victory or defeat would hinge on a razor's edge, but the current Lee Gwang wasn't someone I couldn't beat. He seemed to realize it too, gradually pouring full power into the spar.
Secret Technique
Thunder Void Annihilation
Lee Gwang unleashed his signature intent-severing technique, the Thunder Void Annihilation—which had been a nightmare for foes he faced. Knowing its power from our previous encounter, I gritted my teeth and tensed. To counter the unannounced assault in the form of a surging torrent, I heightened my reflexes to the extreme. Then, fiercely releasing the qi gathered in my eight extraordinary meridians, I simultaneously activated the White Bear Resolve and Divided Mind Resolve.
Screech!
When I repelled the attack with Bending Void Slash as before, Lee Gwang seemed flustered. He evaded with Thunder Shadow Step's Heaven Piercer and regained his stance.
*Hm?*
Strange. Last time, hadn't he countered my riposte with thirty-two spear strikes? This response was the complete opposite. Lee Gwang sighed and said,
"I never imagined there'd be a young expert like you..."
"......"
I see.
A mix of accomplishment and emptiness washed over me as I lowered my sword tip. Then I said,
"Lee Gwang. Did you know General Hwang Yeon was imprisoned in the Great Thunder Prison?"
"What!"
I pulled General Hwang Yeon from the jade box in my bosom. Hwang Yeon looked bewildered at suddenly appearing in this strange place, but spotting Lee Gwang, he said,
"Is this the Azure Dragon Martial Hall?"
"General!!"
Lee Gwang startled and clasped his hands in salute.
"How did this happen?"
"That young man rescued me."
While they were flustered, I released the remaining prisoners from the Great Thunder Prison. As people poured out, Lee Gwang's face grew ashen, and Jin So-cheong watching from the side was equally shocked. Once I'd emptied all the prisoners, I said to Lee Gwang,
"Lee Gwang. I'd like to entrust General Hwang Yeon to you."
"Just who are you?"
Overhearing, Hwang Yeon exclaimed in surprise.
"Huh? Wasn't he your disciple?"
"My disciple?"
Lee Gwang shook his head.
"I have no disciple but So-cheong. Let alone such a supreme expert..."
"......?"
As all eyes turned to me, I silently stared at Lee Gwang. Then I sent him a transmission.
[Lee Gwang. As a practitioner of the Thunder God Style, do you intend to revive the school?]
[Of course.]
[Then would you accept Dugok Seong?]
Flinch!
Lee Gwang couldn't hide his agitation.
[You know his whereabouts?]
[Answer me first.]
[Of course. He abandoned the school for his own seclusion, but he's still an elder of the sect.]
It seemed the current Lee Gwang harbored no strong ill will toward Dugok Seong. Since his reaction differed from before, I roughly guessed why.
*Time has mellowed the grudge.*
Since things had come to this, I decided to squeeze more gain.
[I'll tell you Dugok Seong's location. In exchange, tell me about the supreme sword experts you know.]
[Excluding Dugok Seong himself?]
[Yes.]
Lee Gwang pondered briefly, then said aloud,
"Why don't we go inside and talk first?"
"Very well."
Soon, Jin So-cheong led the prisoners to empty quarters in the Azure Dragon Martial Hall, while I entered the Crouching Dragon Hall with Lee Gwang and Hwang Yeon. Seated across the table, Lee Gwang eyed me sharply and asked,
"Why did you lie to the general?"
"To reassure General Hwang."
I answered calmly, then turned to Hwang Yeon.
"Sorry for the deception."
Hwang Yeon waved it off.
"No need. You must have had your reasons. Anyway, Baek Woong, you seem to be a Thunder God Style expert—why venture into the Great Thunder Prison to rescue me?"
"I can't say."
Hwang Yeon clicked his tongue.
"You're a man of many secrets."
I knew gaining Lee Gwang's trust was nearly impossible anyway. So I resolved to keep it strictly transactional.
"Lee Gwang. Your answer?"
"Among those I know, there's only one supreme sword expert comparable to Dugok Seong."
"Who?"
"Han Baekryeong!"
"......"
"She's currently known in the martial world as the head of the Han family, one of the Luoyang Twin Swords."
Just to be sure, I asked,
"No one else?"
"No. The world is vast, but she's the only one who rivals him."
"Really none?"
Lee Gwang frowned at my persistence.
"Maybe one or two in the White Lotus Leader's direct elder council. Otherwise, a sword immortal transcending humanity."
"......!!"
I realized Lee Gwang was right. I replied,
"Thanks. Useful advice."
"You're thinking of seeking her out for guidance on your swordsmanship wall?"
"Why not?"
Lee Gwang hesitated slightly, then said,
"She's a guardian warrior of the White Lotus Cult's Fire God Style. I'd advise against approaching her."
"I know."
Lee Gwang looked stunned by my response.
"You know, and you're still going?"
I smirked and answered,
"Do you always worry about others like this?"
"Rude brat."
Annoyed, Lee Gwang turned his head away sharply. I stood and declared to him and Hwang Yeon,
"I'll soon track down Dugok Seong's whereabouts and inform you."
"Wait..."
Brushing off their attempts to stop me, I fled with Soul Extinguishing Step. Lingering here would only complicate things.
Whoosh!
Then, in a suitable spot, I used the Golden Flying Ship to head to Luoyang this time.
*He's right.*
Sparring with Lee Gwang and Jin So-cheong had happened by chance, but it wouldn't lead to major fallout. More importantly, I'd gotten a solid lead from Lee Gwang. If even Dugok Seong couldn't provide the answers I needed now, I'd have to seek out a peer in swordsmanship—and in the human world, that meant guardian warrior level. If not, there was a final option.
I walked Luoyang's streets for a while before arriving at the Han family estate. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself.
Time to meet Fire God Style guardian warrior Han Baekryeong.