Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Geum Sihyeon's Advance (1)
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Ever since that collision with Sojeo way back when, it had been ages since the status window last popped up. The sight of it now left me momentarily dazed.
"What the hell is this?"
It could pinpoint the locations of broadcasters who were live right now.
Like, if you're jealous, just go crash their stream in person or something?
It was a skill, sure, but...
I had no clue how to even use it.
I fired up Mutube to check.
[New Feature: Live Streaming Update!]
[Capture your vibrant Jianghu life and share it with viewers!]
"Hmm..."
A brand-new tab called 'Mutube Live' had been added.
Whatever.
It's not like I was going to stream myself.
No one had really kicked off proper broadcasts yet, so the tab was completely empty inside. But soon enough, a few pioneers would throw down the gauntlet and usher in an era of chaos among the heroes.
Raw, unfiltered live streams would hit different from polished Mutube vids from the past, so yeah, they'd blow up in popularity.
Memories from my past life came flooding back.
Truth be told, I wasn't big into internet streaming.
Just something I'd dip into when bored—mostly to watch pro plays of games I enjoyed.
A few streamers stuck in my mind, though.
Like the OG greatsword main who kept up that faceless expert vibe, No■de.
Or Bol■s, who sucked at games but had such killer banter that I'd end up hooked before I knew it.
And Mun■hyeon, with his beastly mechanics and language that'd make beasts blush.
"God-tier ability."
If I'd had this in my past life, I'd have hunted them all down and subdued them.
In the end, the only survivor was the undisputed Queen of Thieves.
You're the best, Thief Thief.
Anyway, that's ancient history.
"Baldy bastard, you just got lucky."
I checked the matchup text and grinned.
True to his mad old demon rep, Teacher had deep insights into smashing baldies, and I'd soaked it all up like a sponge.
Sucks that it was the first 16-strong match, so no live stream to watch, but...
This was my chance to prove to the world that baldy martial arts weren't a cut above mine.
I scanned the rest of the bracket.
Somehow, she'd adapted to that zombie-thick build.
Cheon Luri had made it to the 16-strongs after a dream like one spring night.
Her refusal to ditch the avatar to the bitter end bordered on madness.
And the legendary twin-sword wielder, the veiled Nine Hiding Ten Seeking Seol sis, had proudly claimed her spot in the 16-strongs too.
If they both won, it'd be them clashing in the quarters, then the survivor facing me in semis.
The rest were mostly top-rankers I'd pegged as tricky—they'd survived too. Not gonna be an easy ride.
But the Grand Return Pill? No compromises.
The day of the live broadcast for the 16-strongs coverage.
The streets around Hundred Flowers Academy, buzzing with festival energy before, now hung heavy with silence.
But the dorms, Heart Lotus Pavilion, and taverns in Baekhwa Market overflowed with tension ready to burst.
Play when it's time to play, but at their core, they were martial artists.
Folks who'd hit first-rate realms before thirty idolized martial arts—they wouldn't miss a spectacle like this.
Moyong Taek and Unhak had snagged seats at a tavern, glued to their smartphones.
Hell, Moyong Taek's face even radiated desperation.
"Please, just this once..."
"Moyong bro. Who'd you bet on this time?"
"They say Shaolin masters all arts under heaven. This bout goes to Deceiving the Masses. My gambler's instinct is screaming...!"
Unhak let out a deep sigh.
If Geum Sihyeon were here, they'd gang up on him, but the guy's off handling family business, leaving Unhak solo—outmatched.
Instead, Unhak focused on his phone.
After a brief wait...
The live alert blared big and bold.
"Let's go!"
Unhak let Moyong Taek's manic shout slide past one ear as he tuned into the feed.
First up on screen: two figures.
"Greetings, fellow Jianghu wanderers. I'm Jang Geon, Martial Alliance Vice-Leader, handling commentary for today's Mind-Image Sword Debate 16-strongs."
A middle-aged man gravely stroking his beard.
And...
"Hello! I'm Jegal Ryeong, tech advisor for the Martial Alliance, prepping today's live broadcast! It's been ages since Mutube launched, and I'm thrilled to finally unveil our live streaming tech to you all for the first time—"
She looked like the type Geum Sihyeon would gawk at with a "Whoa, walking encyclopedia?" vibe, and boy, did she love oversharing.
Right then...
Victory's Shaolin anyway!
Your righteous sects are done! Heavenly Demon Divine Cult owns this now!
[Message deleted by admin.]
The star of the steppes flows in my soul...
The real-time chat exploded alongside the live stream.
"Oh! Cross the line with chat and you'll get punished! Keep it dignified like true martial artists! Criteria? Well, vulgar talk's an instant no. Over-the-top insults get deleted too, and—"
"Ahem. Too much chit-chat; can't proceed. They're almost ready, so focus on the match, everyone."
Jang Geon deftly reined in Jegal Ryeong's constant info-dumps and kept things moving.
A legend who'd risen from a minor sect to Vice-Leader—impressive.
This back-and-forth repeated a few times.
Finally, the main event was about to kick off.
Unlike the single-round 32-strongs...
From 16-strongs on, it was best of three: first to two wins.
"Alright, let's see the matchhh!"
With Jegal Ryeong's chipper call, the screen switched.
Two warriors facing off at a distance.
The classic pre-start Mind-Image Sword Debate standoff.
"Standby's almost up! Internally, Deceiving the Masses crushed Three Stars Ga No in prelims! Vice-Leader, your take on how this'll play out?"
"Hm. Deceiving the Masses will push close-range to leverage his fighter style. Key is how well Three Stars Ga No counters."
"Yessir! And right as you say that—the match starts, and Deceiving the Masses charges Three Stars Ga No!"
True to her word, Deceiving the Masses blurred forward like scattering light.
Shrinking the gap like shrinking-earth step, he thrust out his palm.
Dooong—!
A resonant bell tolled as Thousand-Handed Avalokitesvara shot forth, only to clash with invisible force and erupt in a massive blast.
"That palm art's insane the more I see it! Shapeless force? Super tricky! Vice-Leader, how's it stack against your Jangga Taiji Fist or Eight Trigrams Palm?"
"Hm. Avalokitesvara goes without saying, but Three Stars Ga No's palm is masterful too. In this era chasing flashy martial arts, simpler styles like his are deadlier."
As Jang Geon said, modern arts were all flash—especially Shaolin's, blindingly so if exaggerated.
With every step, Deceiving the Masses bloomed lotuses of weight; his skin gleamed like gold-plated.
A walking Charging Golden Buddha.
Three Stars Ga No, on defense, could only parry desperately.
Kaang!
Sword met fist, yet metal rang out with sparks flying.
"Distance! He's closing in! Three Stars Ga No can't shake him aaaah!"
Jegal Ryeong screamed.
Up to here, it was going according to plan.
That cocky baldy probably thought victory was his right now.
Just like the setup that broke me last time.
But not this time.
The moment I deliberately flashed an opening, baldy's kick whipped toward my side.
"Secret killer move: Ankle Twister!"
Voice comms weren't a thing, but I bellowed with ki anyway, rolling sideways while unleashing White Hong Palm Force from both hands.
Shuuuk!
Inner energy drained smoothly as serpentine force surged stealthily to twist his ankle.
Dodged one, but the other nailed his left ankle dead-on.
Spotting his stance crumble, I surged up and shoulder-slammed his solar plexus.
"Urk."
What, was his body actual iron?
That saying—my body is a sword or whatever?
Shaking off the thought, I slapped both palms to his chest.
Teacher's tip was vague, but my genius modern brain hyper-analyzed a breakthrough.
Enduring a brain-melting headache, I channeled Yang Hard Qi to my right, Yin Cold Qi to my left, and shoved them in together.
Clashing opposites flash-froze, melted, burned, refroze his innards—
Chaos incarnate. I pulled back as the sensation hit.
No voice support, but his scream echoed in my ears like a phantom.
Thud...!
No more blind charges relying on Diamond Indestructible.
I poured seething rage into the finisher.
Paak!
My palm smashed into Deceiving the Masses' shiny bald dome.
Composure for Diamond Indestructible? Drained.
His form collapsed.
Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.
Can't repeat the same trick in best-of-three, but I'd seized momentum.
Grinning contentedly, I snapped my waist in a light bow, then headed to the lounge.
Next match in ten minutes.
Time to wet my throat real quick.
After a breather.
Before round two.
"Hm..."
The baldy had changed up a bit.
Wielding a stone staff eerily like Unhak's "Unbreakable Faith."
I sighed, eyeing Deceiving the Masses radiating killing intent pre-start.
This one's gonna be tough.