Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Crushing Victory and Fatherly Warning
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"Namu Amitabha."
In the face of the shocking scene that unfolded in an instant, most of the people present were left dumbfounded, unable to react.
The referee overseeing the match was no exception.
Even the First-Generation Disciple of Wudang, tasked with judging the Dragon-Phoenix Conference, was speechless at the overwhelming spectacle beyond imagination, staring blankly at the corpse(?) of Huangbo Ilmun that had been sent flying powerlessly.
Fortunately, he soon regained his senses and belatedly carried out his duty.
"Th-the winner! Shaolin Temple's Mujin!!"
-Waaaaaaaaah!!!!
Only then did the audience snap out of it, erupting in ecstatic cheers.
Mujin cleared his throat awkwardly at the crowd's response and exited the arena.
The medical staff waiting nearby rushed toward the pitifully flung Huangbo Ilmun.
Though Huangbo Ilmun had flown far beyond the arena, thanks to the formation array set up by the Zhuge Clan around it, the impact didn't reach the spectator seats.
It was just Huangbo Ilmun himself who ended up in a gruesome state too horrific to witness.
Zhuge Seol silently watched Mujin leave the arena amid the cheers of the crowd.
'A remarkably stable hand-seal cancel that looks just like an ordinary salute. Not a hint of mistake. As expected, the other possessors have also improved their movement precision, accuracy, and variety by controlling their real bodies.'
Most of the audience, and even seasoned martial artists, were merely stunned by the match.
But Zhuge Seol was dissecting the brief battle frame by frame.
At a glance, it looked like Mujin had simply flown at an invisible speed and struck with a straight punch.
In that split second, Mujin had used the Adamantine Unbreakable Divine Method to instantly close the distance to Huangbo Ilmun.
Then, seamlessly canceling the hand-seal, he transitioned into an attack motion as fluid as flowing water, embedding his fist into Huangbo Ilmun's chest before he could even perceive it.
This was one of the terrifying aspects of hand-seal canceling.
During the hand-seal process, the Adamantine Immovable Divine Method allowed high-speed movement unbound by its characteristic inertia.
Shaolin martial artists were typically seen as strong and heavy rather than fast, and indeed, Shaolin lagged in mobility compared to other sects, so that image wasn't wrong.
Though the Adamantine Immovable Divine Method boasted incredible mobility, the massive post-casting delay made it disastrously slow in real combat if exploited.
However, a veteran Shaolin master who had mastered 'Hundred-Style Silence' was exempt from that.
They retained the technique's advantages while eliminating the fatal post-delay weakness, allowing immediate follow-up attacks.
Such a Shaolin build, handled masterfully, granted top-tier mobility and speed even in Dominating the World.
This speed was the only counter to the game's 'fastest sect'.
'If he had started with a probing battle using Thunderclap Divine Fist, Mujin's personality would have led him to block and counter somewhat.'
Why didn't everyone start with their strongest technique?
Because ultimate moves usually had massive delays.
And the risk of failure was too great.
If the delay matched a normal attack and there was no risk on failure, who would hesitate to use an ultimate?
In fact, Starpoint Sect's 'Hou Yi's Arrow' often flew right at the start of fights, fitting all those criteria.
'Well, the outcome wouldn't have changed anyway.'
Raising the Adamantine Immovable Divine Method to that proficiency meant Mujin's build was already on track.
It was far from his final game specs, but the core skills and elements carrying most of the value were in place.
Unlike Wudang Beetle's build, which was inherently late-game and couldn't shine yet, he'd advanced it via his perk 'constitution'.
She still had plenty of room to grow, but with the basic framework complete, her combat style wouldn't differ much from the game.
Unlike that man.
'He awakened the Solar Heavenly Spirit Body at this stage, huh.'
She couldn't express how shocked she'd been hearing that.
How could he obtain a late-story constitution now...?
Just thinking of its insane output and regeneration gave her a headache.
Honestly, it was still manageable for now.
He wasn't the absurd 96% win-rate 'Shoot Towards the Sun' yet.
After all, he lacked the Six Meridians Divine Sword.
Without that epitome of unfairness, the Solar Heavenly Spirit Body was just a bulletless gun in top-rank fights.
'Who knows about later...'
For this Dragon-Phoenix Conference, she would win.
Zhuge Seol vowed, glaring coldly at Baek Hyun across from her.
"..Eh?"
But the moment she turned to the Starpoint Sect seats.
She, who had been intensely strategizing, let out a clumsy gasp of surprise.
"..Father?"
For some reason, her father from this world, looking extremely angry.
Was facing Baek Hyun.
* * *
"You're that Baek Hyun, are you?"
"Ah.. Yes, that's me."
Baek Hyun was in a highly perplexing situation.
Right after the elder beside him left for a summons while watching the match, a middle-aged man appeared before him.
Murim Alliance Chief Strategist, Zhuge Jun.
Current head of the Zhuge Clan and, in this world, the father of Three-Line.
The man, with an impeccably stern and meticulous impression that seemed to bleed not a drop even if pricked, scanned Baek Hyun thoroughly after a brief greeting before speaking with evident displeasure.
"My daughter, you see, was born with excessively bewitching beauty."
"Pardon?"
"Because that beauty is so excessive, it ensnares snot-nosed brats who don't even know women, elders too frail to stand straight, even.. Taoist masters devoted to martial arts their whole lives."
Only then did Baek Hyun realize why Zhuge Jun had sought him out so abruptly.
"So, if you wish to devote yourself to martial arts henceforth, you'd best keep your distance from my daughter. She's no flower one can reject with mere willpower."
With that, Zhuge Jun turned away without a shred of lingering.
The situation of facing him alone seemed utterly distasteful.
The Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist warning him personally.
Most juniors would be too intimidated to utter a peep.
"Could it be.. you do this to every man around her?"
But Baek Hyun spoke without hesitation.
Zhuge Jun's eye twitched as he slowly turned back, piercing Baek Hyun with a gaze sharper than a blade.
Yet Baek Hyun continued unfazed.
"I understand the Chief Strategist's feelings. It's not wrong. For someone like Miss Zhuge, trash with vile thoughts will swarm endlessly, so your exceptional protection is natural.
But.. completely blocking her relationships with men is no different from forbidding martial arts training due to fear of qi deviation."
"Don't spout nonsense. If Seol-ha truly desires and brings a man who meets my standards.."
"I doubt you'd approve."
"You brat."
Zhuge Jun now glared at Baek Hyun as if he were a notorious great demon.
"Miss Zhuge is as wise as you, Chief Strategist.
She can judge good from bad, who suits her, and with whom she's truly happy."
And she has the strength to protect herself.
"You already know that. You're the wisest and most rational in the righteous Murim. I'm just worried you're overly sensitive about your daughter's matters."
"How dare you.. try to lecture me?"
"Even roadside beggars have lessons to teach. My wisdom pales to yours, but it's not worthless trash not worth your ear."
As the verbal clash showed no retreat, the atmosphere heated to the brink of explosion.
"Ah, Father!! What is this right now..!!"
Snow-white hair cascaded, instantly cooling the heated tension.
Zhuge Jun, who had been glaring at Baek Hyun with eyes cold as facing a blood enemy, withdrew his gaze and left.
"I'll be watching you."
Leaving behind a chilling remark.
Baek Hyun stared after him and spoke.
"You and your dad seem really close?"
"Huh? Ah, that.. Sorry! My father said something unnecessary..!!"
"Not blaming you. I'm jealous."
Even as Murim Alliance Chief Strategist, openly antagonizing Starpoint Sect's sect leader would bring some disadvantages.
Yet Zhuge Jun created a private meeting to warn him.
Parents who charge ahead for their child, heedless of face or gain.
If overdone, such traits become nuisances harming others and ruining their kids.
But from his snot-nosed days, how desperately he'd wanted even flawed parents like that.
Anyway, enough gloomy thoughts.
"Situation's cleared up, so head back to your seat. You missed a few matches..."
But the important ones, probably not.
In the arena stood a boy of unusually petite build.
And a youth in robes embroidered with plum blossoms, facing each other.
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Match 4.
Azure Cloud vs Peach Leaf
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A match between the same Taoist lineage sects.
Wudang Sect vs Huashan Sect.