Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Cloud
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After the intense flash emitted by Baek Hyun streaked across their vision, a hush fell over the top seats of the spectator stands for a moment.
They stared wordlessly at the arena for a long while, only parting their lips once Baek Hyun—who looked somewhat bewildered—finally vanished from sight.
"..What was that?"
Those were the words of Zhuge Jun, who moments before the match had anticipated Baek Hyun's defeat.
As the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist and head of the Zhuge Clan, renowned for his wisdom, it was utterly awkward coming from someone with more knowledge and insight than anyone else in the righteous faction.
Yet no one present blamed Zhuge Jun for his ignorance.
Even they, who prided themselves on deep martial proficiency, found the motion that unfolded in that split second utterly incomprehensible.
"I missed that movement.. Did you see it?"
"No, I didn't. I think I caught a glimpse of the silhouette.."
"The intense light exploding right as the form activated made it impossible to see the motion. And with that distance, my senses couldn't reach it properly."
However, even accounting for all of that.
Was it truly believable?
Two of the Ten Great Masters who had attained the Profound Realm, plus the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist with insight to match.
To miss the movements of a mere late-generation expert not even at Absolute Peak.
"I thought I knew the swiftness of the Shoot the Sun Sword Art well.. but it seems I was mistaken."
In the face of this unprecedented phenomenon, even Zhuge Jun—confident in his judgments and predictions—had no choice but to admit his error.
The displays from other Absolute Peak experts like Moojin or Cheonun had been overwhelmingly impressive as well.
But Moojin's technique was too brief and isolated to register as more than a smooth link between footwork and strike.
Cheonun's actions were so audacious they drew involuntary chuckles.
Yet with sufficient mastery of 'Taiji' principles and a wide skill gap against the foe, it wasn't impossible—so it could be brushed off with a laugh.
But the motion Baek Hyun had just shown was so shocking it induced cognitive dissonance.
Even they at Profound Realm level had only sensed the boy's aura as somewhat unusual.. yet he erupted with unimaginable yang energy and speed their eyes couldn't track.
In other words, if this were real battle and that strike aimed at them..
There was even a chance that youth could have lopped off their heads effortlessly.
Of course, now that they'd confirmed such speed was possible, they'd counter appropriately and never lose.
But the mere fact there'd been any possibility of defeat at that boy's hands was an unacceptable shock.
Just then, as these righteous faction titans sat speechless.
'!!'
A single thought pierced their deeply chaotic minds, instantly soothing the turmoil.
A mystical voice evoking an immortal's—calming and purifying the soul merely by hearing it.
They instinctively knew who had arrived.
"! Elder Yunyu! Are you recovered!?"
"Heh heh, I.. still.. can't.. speak.. prop.. er.. ly, ugh! Cough!! Kek!"
"Ah, no.. don't speak aloud. Use sound transmission. Sound transmission."
But hearing that voice in reality felt like awakening from a fleeting spring dream, a jarring incongruity washing over them.
In the end, they had to implore him to use sound transmission once more—a method rarely employed outside utmost secrecy.
Having resealed his lips and resorted to sound transmission, Yunyu continued in his profoundly atmospheric tone(?).
The revelation was staggering.
The journal of Heavenly Yang Emperor Lord Dan Sa-pyeong—Dali's founder and paramount martial artist of his era—nearly erased from history by imperial decree, leaving scant records.
Invaluable lore accessible only to Yunyu through his unparalleled longevity in the jianghu, utterly unattainable in the modern age.
"That.. is the Solar Heavenly Spirit Physique?"
Thoroughly intriguing.
A faint gleam lit Yunyu's clouded eyes.
A plea from a grand senior whose prestige and deeds dwarfed all others present to mere children.
Even Namgung Cheon, the righteous faction's de facto leader, couldn't refuse such a polite request.
"..What the hell was that."
Meanwhile, protagonist Baek Hyun was just as baffled.
He stared at the youth being carted off by medical staff, unable to conceal his fluster.
His foe was the youth who'd supported Elder Yunyu—the opening speech giver—whom he'd assumed was mere caretaking staff.
Later he learned it was Yunyu's direct disciple, Yun-jin.
He'd held little expectation at first, curious just how strong a non-possessed late expert could be.
"My opponent is Starpoint Sect's Young Hero Baek Hyun. Please guide me well in this bout."
His polite fist salute and unexpectedly solid guard stance forced Baek Hyun to abandon those thoughts.
"Th-that.. stance?"
"Ah, Master taught me this for facing swift swords."
Baek Hyun clapped a hand over his mouth at those words.
It felt like an unanticipated birthday gift, emotion swelling uncontrollably.
A signature low center of gravity, far squat than Kunlun's standard rider form.
Minimize profile by dropping low, toes tensed for instant launch, eyes locked on foe's feet—not blade.
PvP staple: textbook Starpoint counter.
To witness that tiresome matchup tactic from a native of this world..!!
'Dev team scum, you knew all along!'
Fitting the direct disciple of the righteous supreme, the devs lavished patterns on him.
And Kunlun sect to boot—Baek Hyun's excitement spiked.
Pre-possession PvP was monotonous sameness; fresh noobs were savored like Michelin three-stars.
Yet Kunlun builds grew rarer than treasures right before possession!
Fresh cloud treat after ages—Baek Hyun tamped his thrill, assuming rider stance.
Kunlun reigned as OG hit-run via supreme footwork 'Cloud Dragon Eight Forms'' mobility, infamous for it.
But one player birthed ceiling-shattering Starpoint—PvP meta shifted to 'Starpoint slaying', anti-hit-run supreme.
Kunlun collateral? Extinct.
'Speed duels with Kunlun masters were peak fun.. such a pity.'
The culprit wistfully reminisced, then smacked lips with a faint smile.
A Kunlun build player—memory-only relic—lived and breathed before him!!
Real-life T-Rex vibes.
Heart pounding anew.
"No mercy—full throttle."
"..Yes! Music to my ears!!"
Words aside, Baek Hyun planned no true full power.
Overdo it and shatter the rarity? No.
Merely a smidge—tiny bit—above baseline intent.
'Knows PvP basics, should handle this much?'
As Baek Hyun fine-tuned his senses.
"Ready.. Begin!!"
Referee's call rang out.
-Kkweeeeeeng!!!
Baek Hyun's lightning form impaled Yun-jin.
Starpoint's quickest thrust—battle opener.
Shoot the Sun Sword Art (射日劍法), Form 1
Sun's First Emergence (日輸初現)
Yun-jin, overwhelmed by sheer velocity, couldn't react.. futilely..
"Eh? Wait, what?"
Heavy feedback at blade-tip alerted Baek Hyun to anomaly; he whipped around.
In view: Yun-jin airborne, foaming midair.
Floating? No—anyone could see it wasn't Cloud Dragon Eight Forms gliding.
-Thud!
Yun-jin's body slammed ground.
Brief stillness.
"Ba-Baek Hyun, win!!"
-Waaaaaaah!!!
Amid delayed verdict and thunderous cheers, Baek Hyun's bafflement lingered.
"..What—he seemed solid, why no dodge?"
Kunlun, even?
No answers forthcoming; dazed, Baek Hyun exited arena.
"I didn't even feint timing."
En route to lounge, he muttered excuses to phantoms.
Something wrong.
Starpoint opener Sun's First Emergence? Obvious pattern. Stock trajectory, timing—perfect straight plunge..
How'd he whiff block?
"First exposure to your speed? Normal to blank. Starpoint needs deaths to groove."
A lilting pleasant voice finally replied.
Turning: ravishing beauty illuminating surroundings by mere presence.
"What're you doing here? Stalker!? Explains pre-possession tail vibes!!"
"Next is my match!!?"
"Aha."
Baek Hyun nodded swift comprehension.