Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Hou Yi Shoots the Sun
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"Starpoint's future, huh... Indeed, that's spot on."
Then shall I entrust my sword to Starpoint's future as well.
With those words, one of the First-Generation Disciples drew his sword and tossed it to Baek Hyun.
"Need a sword? Go on, cut loose as much as you want."
"My deepest gratitude for your consideration."
-Clang!
Baek Hyun snatched the flying sword and shot forward once more like a streak of light.
What followed wasn't subjugation—it was closer to toying with the foe.
Each time another sword lodged into Chaos's body, it struggled desperately in resistance.
But Baek Hyun effortlessly deflected every attempt, unerringly thrusting the borrowed blade into Chaos's weak points.
The First-Generation Disciples no longer hesitated to lend their swords.
They gladly handed them over at Baek Hyun's request, and some even offered theirs preemptively.
In that brief clash, a bond of trust had formed among the First-Generation Disciples regarding Baek Hyun.
The trust that this child could be entrusted with their swords.
The trust that this child could shoulder Starpoint's future.
Their trust, earned through overwhelming skill and performance, was placed one by one into Baek Hyun's hands.
And Baek Hyun repaid that trust far beyond expectations, solidifying it even further.
This was partly by design on Baek Hyun's part.
The initiation trial wasn't merely for selecting mountain-entry disciples.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime PR opportunity, where the sect's highest figures—all rarely seen together—gathered to watch a mere initiate disciple fight.
Passing the initiation trial was as good as guaranteed anyway.
So why not make a strong impression on the higher-ups while at it?
-Stab!!!
With that thought, Baek Hyun drove the sixth blade into Chaos.
-Gr...rr rumble...
Chaos could no longer maintain its previous form.
Its face now bore most of its sensory organs intact.
Consequently, its near-immortal vitality had long faded into obscurity, and unlike before—when it was a mindless natural disaster—it had developed emotions.
Chaos trembled visibly, weakened.
Yet its eyes still burned with immense killing intent and primal destructive urges.
Now, only one empty socket remained: its right eye.
In that moment, unlike before, Baek Hyun sought aid not from the First-Generation Disciples, but from another.
"Sect Leader, this unworthy disciple has received aid from countless senior grand-uncles yet failed to subdue this malevolent spirit.
Please grant me one final chance to redeem this shame."
'!!'
Baek Hyun's words shocked not only the First-Generation Disciples but also the elders watching.
It had been extraordinary when he asked to borrow swords from his distant senior grand-uncles, but to request one from the Sect Leader himself...
No one had anticipated it.
"Hahahahaha! That kid's completely insane, isn't he, Senior Brother?!"
"Heh... It's so absurd I don't even know what to say."
The elders reacted with disbelief at that very moment.
Starpoint Sect's Sect Leader, Mokheon, smirked faintly at Baek Hyun's final request and drew the sword from his waist.
A narrow, elongated black sword whose obsidian blade, swallowing the dawn's darkness, flowed with golden sun motifs.
It was a blade qualitatively superior to any Baek Hyun had borrowed thus far.
"This is the Shoot the Sun Sword, symbolizing Starpoint Sect's Leader. Only one who truly represents Starpoint's name may wield it."
Are you prepared to grasp this sword in the future?
Baek Hyun bowed deeply in response to Mokheon's question.
"I have already received much from you, Sect Leader. Should you need me, I will fulfill any role."
"Good. Then use this sword to sever the malevolent spirit's breath—and prove your resolve is genuine."
-Clang!
Baek Hyun gazed at the familiar sword now in his hand, lost in thought for a moment.
Shoot the Sun Sword.
Not a divine weapon—an off-spec item—but among standard gear, one of the absolute top-tier pieces.
Before possession, it was the main weapon his character used.
'Holding it for real brings new feelings.'
Baek Hyun smiled deeply, turning his eyes to Chaos, now with only one weakness left.
Normally, Chaos would have healed and charged by now, but it couldn't.
The six famed swords embedded in its body prevented it.
No matter its vitality, dislodging inner force-infused famed swords and regenerating was impossible.
Half performance, half strategy—and it proved highly effective.
-Graaaaaah!!!
Chaos was no longer the emotionless natural disaster from its debut.
Just a malevolent spirit trembling in fear before encroaching death, unable to shed its vile instincts.
"Yeah, now it finally feels like fighting something alive."
Baek Hyun readjusted his grip on the Shoot the Sun Sword, preparing for the final exchange with Chaos.
His foe: a malevolent spirit rivaling the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts.
No complacency, even at the end.
"Come on—let's cap off the final fight."
Thus began the final clash between Chaos and Baek Hyun...
-Stab!!
...or not.
As Chaos mustered its last strength to lunge at Baek Hyun, the Shoot the Sun Sword flew ahead, piercing its final weakness.
Chaos collapsed like a puppet with cut strings, dying pathetically.
Its final expression, braced for a dramatic showdown, looked slightly aggrieved—but prey believing the hunter was foolish anyway.
"Can't let my guard down till the end."
Like the intruder incident before, facing a cornered foe head-on was never wise.
So he used it.
One of his trump cards.
Shoot the Sun Sword Art, Secret Technique
Hou Yi Shoots the Sun
The Shoot the Sun Sword Art's ultimate technique: Hou Yi Shoots the Sun.
The pinnacle of all martial arts amassed by Starpoint Sect—a non-sword technique hurling the blade at extreme speed to slay foes.
Its speed surpassed even the First Form, One Flash Chasing the Sun—the fastest in standard swordplay.
Its power was one-strike certain death, befitting the term.
A true secret technique, practically infallible in one-on-one combat.
But only when fully executed.
The prerequisite for perfect Hou Yi Shoots the Sun: sword control arts.
That is, 'flying sword' mastery.
Like his Red Bow White Arrow, Hou Yi Shoots the Sun assumes the user knows sword control.
Thus, Baek Hyun's version matched One Flash Chasing the Sun in speed, with power far reduced.
Yet sufficient as a trump card here.
"Initiate Disciple Baek Hyun—passed!"
The announcement rang out a beat late, Chaos collapsing at an unforeseen timing.
As First-Generation Disciples pondered if that final move was Hou Yi Shoots the Sun...
-Stab, stab, stab
Baek Hyun dashed to Chaos's corpse, swiftly extracting the embedded swords one by one, then meticulously wiped the blood with his initiate robes.
He bowed politely to each lender, returning their swords.
Despite his prowess, not forgetting courtesy to his senior grand-uncles brought smiles to the First-Generation Disciples' lips.
"My deepest thanks, senior grand-uncles. You got me through a dire crisis."
"No need. My sword gained fine experience in your hands. That last move—was it an attempt at Hou Yi Shoots the Sun?"
"Yes. With my immature skill, true execution was impossible, so it became that attempt at my limit."
"Heh, already delving into Hou Yi Shoots the Sun's mysteries? Even we First-Generation Disciples shy from it... You're ahead of me, who's never tried."
"Your undeserved praise humbles me."
Having returned five swords—excluding his own—Baek Hyun approached the Sect Leader last, who lent the Shoot the Sun Sword.
"Sect Leader, thank you truly for lending your precious treasure."
"How was wielding the Shoot the Sun Sword firsthand?"
Mokheon asked. Baek Hyun closed his eyes briefly, then spoke gravely.
"It was heavy."
"Heavy? The Shoot the Sun Sword is forged from lightning-struck mystical paulownia—far lighter than standard swords."
"Not its physical weight, but the qualification it carries was immense. Simply holding it made me feel it's too fine for one like me.
Though swung for an instant, I clearly sensed it. I lack the qualification to wield it yet."
"'Yet'... So in time, it will differ?"
"How can I claim certainty for what hasn't come? I merely strive my utmost to repay your grace, Sect Leader."
"...I see. Understood for now. Return to your place."
Baek Hyun bowed and withdrew. Mokheon watched silently, deep in thought.
His talent and ability were beyond doubt—peerless.
Not the commonplace genius born a few per generation like dragons or phoenixes, but a true 'genius' appearing once every few centuries.
Starpoint's entire history held no equal.
Ideal to entrust the sect's future...
But certain unresolved qualms lingered.
"What do you think, Junior Brother? Of that child."
"……..."
Mokheon asked Starpoint Sect's final elder, silent till now.
Like Mokheon, he maintained a thirties appearance via rejuvenation—keeper and advancer of Starpoint's martial arts as head of the Training Pavilion.
Starpoint's second strongest after the Sect Leader.
Meteor Sword, Mokyeon.
Even under the Sect Leader's query, Mokyeon remained solemnly silent for a while.
As Starpoint's de facto number two pondered gravely, all eyes turned to him.
After eternality-like seconds, as Mokyeon registered the intense gazes...
"Uh? Oh, sorry, Senior Brother. I zoned out... What did you say?"
His grave gaze slackened lazily; an airheaded remark shattered the solemn mood.
Mokheon sighed deeply at his eternally unchanged junior brother.
So that's why the dimwit seemed to ponder seriously...
"...Sigh. I asked your thoughts on Baek Hyun."
"Considering grooming him as successor? He seems worthy."
Mokyeon rubbed his chin lazily, continuing.
"That Chaos was a young specimen, but still rivaled a top-peak expert.
First-Generation Disciples struggle solo against young Chaos, yet he took it unscathed—as an initiate? A monster beyond words. But you wouldn't ask over that... Something bothers you?"
Mokyeon casually pierced Mokheon's mind, grasping the crux.
Innate insight that pierced cores instantly.
Even Sect Leader Mokheon often sought his counsel on key matters.
"Yes, that's why I'm at a loss on handling him."
"Simpler than thought. Just accept him."
"Hm?"
"If it's enough to trouble you, it's no fatal flaw. Accept him. I get caution from your position, but who’s perfect?
Fix flaws. Yours troubles you, so not trivial—headache to resolve, but...
Doesn't he warrant it? Starpoint's greatest talent ever. Whatever flaw you see, wanting perfection beyond him is greed."
"...True. Pondering despite such a child is my greed."
"'Pondering'? You've already leaned toward him, right? Else, no handing over the Shoot the Sun Sword."
"Kuh, indeed. The answer was set—pointless worry."
Mokheon laughed heartily.
"I will take Baek Hyun as my direct disciple."
That child will become Starpoint's new sun.