Chapter 275: Martial Prowess (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 275: Martial Prowess (3)
"Won't she have to take the promotion test later too?" Lazy Flame Dragon asked listlessly.
He had been sprawling lazily ever since the martial duel began. Though his habit of chewing on poppy drew the sharp glares of the experts from the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar, he merely mumbled with an indifferent expression.
His shadowed eyes flickered back and forth between Jeong Yeon-shin's condition and Shin So-bin's forms.
"Since our Unit Commander's health is on the line in this duel, if she loses here, she'll have to be buried in the ground. As is the tradition of the Demonlight Wing," Lazy Flame Dragon muttered, shuddering with a grimace.
Heonwon Chang, standing beside him, made no effort to hide his surprise. "The Infinite Flower of Time Fist! The junior of the Shin family must have ground her teeth and trained hard! To execute the Advancing Thunder form with such speed... Her speed in refining and unleashing the shockwave has improved by leaps and bounds compared to before."
"That's only because the Demonlight Wing strictly takes on missions dealing with the upper echelons of the martial world. In truth, once you reach the White Rank of the Desolate Fortress, it's not easy to find a match among any sword-wielders under heaven."
"Is it really that..."
"Think about how many low-life bandits and mediocre martial artists there are in this vast land. The people of the Desolate Fortress only ever go around meeting specific targets to decapitate them, so they hardly realize it. When ordinary martial artists are leisurely touring the famous scenic spots of the world, our people are just borrowing swift horses from post stations and racing past."
Lazy Flame Dragon spoke in a nonchalant tone. Ever since he donned the blue robe, he rarely bothered with polite speech around his colleagues. No senior of the same rank would force etiquette upon a young expert whose death was gradually drawing near.
He was the Eldest Son of the Hwangbo Clan, born with the Solar Divine Pulse, widely renowned throughout the world. On the rare occasions when he was on the verge of throwing a violent fit, drunk on poppy and alcohol, even his seniors of the Blue Rank would back away.
Glancing down at him, Heonwon Chang spoke. "Our opponent is not some small or medium sect, but the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar. A prestigious sect that possesses one of the Five Great Palm Techniques of the World. Surely the Hwangbo Clan has looked into their Moon-Preserving Piercing Method."
"The martial artist is more of a problem than the martial art itself. They say this village sect shuns the outside world, so how much real-combat speed could they have experienced? Meanwhile, White Cat was running around Shaanxi covered in blood, constantly crying, 'Our Unit Commander, our Unit Commander.'"
"Keep your voice down! Do you know how many people with sharp ears are here...!" Heonwon Chang hissed, warily scanning their surroundings.
It was a situation where Cheong-myeong's junior disciple had been defeated by White Cat Shin So-bin in a single exchange. Yet, the wave of energy quietly enveloping the valley remained undisturbed.
Dozens of men and women, young and old, perched gracefully upon the incredibly tall, ancient trees, continuing to emit a transparent breeze. The internal power waves unique to the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar rippled outward like a gentle wind, leaving only the crisp rustling of the dancing bushes.
The noble Brightfolk experts exchanged expressionless glances or slightly parted their lips. They seemed to be discussing the martial arts they had just witnessed via telepathy.
The warriors of the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar carried away the unconscious Jeong Nan-song. Soon after, Sect Leader Cheong Bo-hwa spoke. Her gaze drifted over the shoulder of Shin So-bin, who was calmly lowering her hands, and landed on Lazy Flame Dragon.
"You are right. Nan-song has never experienced a life-and-death duel."
"Hmph."
"Since Cheongsu passed away, we strictly forbade going outside. The experts of the Dark Night Hall who settled here on Mount Tianzhu were so elusive that they even stood against the Unit Commander-level figures of the Desolate Fortress, and on the rare occasions when a peerless expert of the Purple Rank arrived, they would vanish without a trace. It was an unavoidable measure. In any case... it must have been a good lesson for Nan-song."
Cheong Bo-hwa shifted her gaze toward Jeong Yeon-shin. "You have a fine successor. Her talent shines all the brighter because she lives in a different time than our clan."
"It must have been a long time for her," the Commander of the Demonlight Wing replied calmly.
Shin So-bin, whose back was turned, shrugged her shoulders in an exaggerated manner.
Cheong Bo-hwa smiled. "That single exchange has broadened my horizons. It is a rare, powerful fist. The dense utilization of the entire body's muscles, the spirited forward footwork, and the straight punch that gathers the shockwave into a single mass to strike... I can see the intent to not let a life-or-death struggle drag on. Truly desperate. No, judging by your character, it must contain a mnemonic that shows utmost respect to the opponent."
Shin So-bin was the one who had fought the duel, yet Cheong Bo-hwa spoke to Jeong Yeon-shin. He was the creator of the martial art. It could not be helped.
"I heard what the poppy-chewing boy said. The Infinite Flower of Time Fist?" Cheong Bo-hwa asked. Her eyes, deep as a lake, stood out.
Enveloped in a serene, settled aura, she stared at Jeong Yeon-shin with the Brightfolk's eye technique, which was said to pierce through all creation.
The answer came from between the two of them.
"It's the Second Form: Advancing Thunder."
It was Shin So-bin, blocking their line of sight with her short stature. She squared her shoulders. Her pitch-black hair, completely unraveled by the shockwave she had unleashed, cascaded down her back.
Her movements were disciplined and without waste. The distinct aura of the Flash Art lineage constantly emanated from her, proving that her understanding of martial arts was exceptionally outstanding.
Jeong Yeon-shin looked at her back and fell silent. A strange feeling washed over him. He was witnessing something that would remain and be passed down long after he departed from this world.
There would be one more thing left behind besides mere connections and a tombstone. It felt like an immensely important moment. Through Shin So-bin, he realized just how great a legacy he was leaving behind.
Will the martial arts I leave behind be passed down from generation to generation like this?
It was said that a created martial attainment was inherited by future generations through various means. What remained in books was called a manual, and the spirit infused within the martial art was passed down from mouth to mouth. A martial lineage. They were those who shared a martial art more precious than blood through the creator's intent.
He could almost see it.
How many people would study the words he had hastily scribbled in his mind and train using those mnemonics? Just thinking about it filled his heart. He hoped that the title of Flash Art would endure with a lifespan longer than anyone else's under heaven.
Wait, isn't the Jeong Family Dynamic Art just my personal diary...?
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes suddenly went wide at the realization.
"Advancing Thunder. I see." Cheong Bo-hwa's wrinkled eyes curved slightly. "I understand the profound meaning of that Fa Jin. It seeks to end the contest in a brief exchange. Unit Commander Jeong must surely be a grandmaster who pursues short-term decisive battles."
"He's not only good at short-term battles, though?" Shin So-bin retorted, raising her tone slightly as she placed her hands on her hips.
Cheong Bo-hwa smiled benevolently. "In any case, there is no need to debate the perfection of that single form. We have clearly lost. However... the next will be different. We have a child who has ground and polished her sword qi through years of fighting against the Dark Night Hall. I look forward to seeing the next martial art of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing."
The moment she finished speaking...
Rustle.
A swordsman in a white martial uniform stepped out from the camp of the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar. She had ears as sharp as divine swords, and appeared to be a woman in her thirties.
"I am Gi Geom-hyang. A resident of this village. I have learned and mastered the Linked Path Heavenly Image Sword of the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar."
Her face was flushed, a complexion that seemed to prove her vigorous internal energy. The air around her face shimmered slightly from the cold, flashing light in her eyes, and her very aura was entirely different from that of the previously defeated Jeong Nan-song.
Lazy Flame Dragon whistled. "So they won't open the path for us easily, huh?"
It was said that the lake of the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar was a byproduct of the World Tree, which they held sacred. As a place treated as preciously as the sect's secret martial arts, they would not easily allow visitors who came to bathe in the lake to enter. They were not going to be particularly favorable just because their opponent was the Desolate Fortress.
Jeong Yeon-shin recalled Ak Su-rim's words. She had said that in terms of isolation, even countryside villages with local sects could not compare.
Broaden our horizons with a sect-exclusive martial art never seen before...
They had won one out of three matches. While contemplating whom to send next, his eyes suddenly met Heonwon Chang's. He was his oldest peer. The moment their eyes met, they guessed each other's intentions.
Rustle.
The Divine Hero of the Desolate Fortress stood up.
"Demonlight Wing of the Desolate Fortress! I, Heonwon Chang, shall face your sword."
The Hero's Headband wrapped around his head fluttered in blue.
The tag-out was made. Shin So-bin stepped back. As she returned, she tapped Heonwon Chang and Jeong Yeon-shin on the shoulders, one after the other. It was a junior's self-praise for having done her part. Her fingertips, which usually carried a touch of audacity, trembled slightly only when they touched her Unit Commander's shoulder.
Jeong Yeon-shin felt the prestige of a creator of martial arts in the martial world whenever this happened. Even though it was just a matter of putting his mind to work a little harder.
"Well done," the Commander of the Demonlight Wing praised his subordinate.
"Your form was slightly off. It wasn't a straight line to the extreme point. If you had extended it properly, you would have completely shattered his Body Protection Qi. There was too much waste in your use of the shockwave," Jeong Yeon-shin, who had now fully adopted the mindset of a Unit Commander, offered his advice.
Shin So-bin, who had been smiling brightly, narrowed her eyes. "I did well, right?"
"Yes."
Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head forward. Heonwon Chang and Gi Geom-hyang were drawing and lowering their swords.
"……."
In an instant, the atmosphere fell silent. The gentle breeze that had been filtering through the bushes scattered in all directions around the two swordsmen. The blades of grass bowed like tangled hemp. Even though they were showing courtesy for a martial duel, it felt as if they were standing in the midst of a fierce life-or-death battle.
Gi Geom-hyang spoke. "I shall say it again. The Linked Path Heavenly Image Sword."
"Vast Art Formula," Heonwon Chang replied bluntly. His aura had completely transformed the moment he drew his sword.
His narrowed eyes and straight eyebrows were like blades, and the bulging veins on the back of his sword-hand split blue, harboring sword qi.
Swoooosh—
The energy gathered on their blades rode the wind, bleakly sweeping the surroundings. Grass blades, sliced apart by the sheer pressure, and dust swirled chaotically.
"They say the Linked Path Heavenly Image Sword of the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar played a major role in destroying the old Ming Cult," Lazy Flame Dragon, who was behind them, suddenly spoke up, casting a sly glance up at his Unit Commander.
"There is a famous anecdote where the Sword Demon and the Dark Blade Divine General were shattered together by the sword of the previous Sect Leader here. They say that even without using any materialized true qi, their entire bodies were crushed and swept away as if riding a transparent sword wind. Even now, opinions are divided—whether it is a fast sword that has reached the absolute limit of speed, or a profound mystery derived from a special secret technique."
"I understand that some of the great sects fought alongside our main fortress, yet no one saw it clearly?"
The moment Jeong Yeon-shin asked, Heonwon Chang and Gi Geom-hyang's swords clashed.
Claaaaang!
The surrounding bushes were instantly enveloped in a blurry sword light. The two swordsmen were also obscured by dozens of unraveling trajectories. Soon after, white light began to flash sporadically from Gi Geom-hyang's side. It was the shockwave of the Vast Art Formula.
As the pure white sword light gradually intensified and danced wildly, the aftermath of the clashing sword strikes surged toward Jeong Yeon-shin. The vibrations struck his skin like threads and scattered, accompanied by a rustling sensation brushing against his collar.
"Pointlessly noisy." Lazy Flame Dragon sauntered backward. Leaning diagonally against the wall of the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps' carriage, he spoke again.
"They say the Sect Leaders of the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar have mastered sorcery martial arts alongside their martial arts for generations. It wouldn't be strange if they constantly carried some sort of formation art trick with them. Since they are such an isolated sect, there's no way they would have openly revealed their ultimate techniques on a battlefield teeming with countless people. In any case, there's a reason their swordplay is compared to that of the Nine Sects. The Vast Art Formula has been put to the test. Today's results will surely be reported back to the main fortress."
"Indeed." Jeong Yeon-shin nodded calmly.
Standing on the opposite side, Cheong Bo-hwa was intently watching the duel between the two swordsmen. Though she had spoken of broadening her horizons with martial arts not found in the Central Plains, she did not look down on the battles of subordinates. She seemed to be scanning the structure of the shockwave and the forms created by the Commander of the Demonlight Wing with great interest.
Slaaaash! Clang—!
It was a fight between those around the Blue Rank of the Desolate Fortress. It was a realm rarely found in the martial world. Dozens of exchanges passed in the blink of an eye.
For experts, a time of their own existed. Tremendous internal power waves rippled out from the trajectories of the sword strikes that constantly tangled and unraveled.
One hundred and thirty, one hundred and fifty-four forms...
Jeong Yeon-shin kept his eyes on the Linked Path Heavenly Image Sword displayed by Gi Geom-hyang.
The sword path seemed to ride the wind itself. The speed of her sword was exceptionally fast compared to the shockwave gathered in Gi Geom-hyang's grip. It was evident from the way she thrust toward Heonwon Chang's solar plexus. She sliced right through the gaps in the white energy of the Vast Art Formula gathered on his Desolate Fortress Sword.
The passing sword force was incredibly profound, as if it had assimilated into the wind of light originating from the Vast Art Formula.
Heonwon Chang swung his Desolate Fortress Sword upward.
Clang! Spurt—!
Suddenly, a shockwave exploded from his chest. Blood spurted along the edge of the sword wind that swept violently up his collar.
For a moment, a sharp blue light flashed in Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes. Why is he getting hurt?
If the shockwave of the Vast Art Formula had been slightly denser, he wouldn't have been hit. He is being overwhelmed in internal energy.
Jeong Yeon-shin clenched his fist. The forearm muscles of his sleeveless left arm defined themselves sharply alongside his veins.
The expressions of the experts from the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar shifted slightly. Earlier, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing had offered rare words of encouragement to their youngest disciple, Jeong Nan-song. His agitation at his subordinate's sword wound was perceived as proof of his character.
A strange light shone in Cheong Bo-hwa's eyes. "A tender heart, strong martial arts, and a humble character... Is this not truly the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak?"
It was then.
Boom!
A powerful shockwave struck the air in the center of the valley. Heonwon Chang staggered backward.
His hand holding the Desolate Fortress Sword trembled like a moth's wings, a clear sign that he was desperately trying to neutralize a shockwave that was too overwhelming to handle. On the other hand, Gi Geom-hyang, holding her sword down, remained perfectly composed.
Whoosh.
The air compressed in the vortex of the clashing shockwaves was violently released. The trajectories that had blurred and painted the clearing white scattered like unraveled threads.
"Again... let us go again." A suppressed voice leaked through Heonwon Chang's teeth.
Gi Geom-hyang shook her head. "Your sword power does not match mine. Even if we fought ten times, you would be lucky to win twice. You must surely know this yourself."
"I earnestly beg of you, let us go again. Our Unit Commander must bathe there."
"Your sword path was chillingly sharp. It is certainly a sword technique I have never encountered before. Though it is a pity, it is worthy of being compared to our sect's Linked Path Heavenly Image Sword, so that is enough. The elders of the village must have surely seen it as well."
It was the defeat of the Hero of the Desolate Fortress, Heonwon Chang.
For a martial artist to lose was a common occurrence in the martial world. However, the failure of a Demonlight Wing mission was an entirely different story. Even the safety of the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps and the Commander of the Demonlight Wing was tied to it. It was only natural that disappointment clung to Heonwon Chang's back.
His hand holding the sword shook in a different sense now—a sign that he was swallowing an immense surge of indignation.
It was then.
"I can continue the duel. Are you the next opponent?" Gi Geom-hyang pointed the tip of her sword at Lazy Flame Dragon.
The fact that the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar did not stop her suggested they highly acknowledged the reputation and skill Gi Geom-hyang had built up. It was a provocation that Jeong Yeon-shin's Demonlight Wing had never experienced before.
Lazy Flame Dragon's lips twisted into a smirk. "Hey, Great Tongue Sword."
"……."
"Didn't you say you sealed seventy percent of your internal energy? Was it because your consciousness was adjusted to your original internal energy that you couldn't use your hands properly?"
Heonwon Chang returned without answering. The way he bowed his head toward Jeong Yeon-shin was pitiful.
"My apologies, Unit Commander."
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly patted his shoulder. "It's just a bath."
Rustle.
The untidy, loose hem of a blue robe brushed past the two of them. A pungent smell of alcohol wafted over, accompanied by a swaggering voice.
"Watch closely, Great Tongue Sword. This is how you use the Vast Art Formula."
"Are you planning to display the same martial art? I have already seen it. Bring out something else." Frowning, Gi Geom-hyang shook her sword once.
The remnants of the shockwave, which had been clinging to the blade like an awl, hissed and dispersed into the grass.
"To say such a thing without even seeing the essence..." Lazy Flame Dragon swallowed the words like a country bumpkin. Cracking his neck from side to side with cold eyes, he gestured toward Gi Geom-hyang.
She raised her sword without uttering another word, letting the cold, gleaming steel speak for her. The atmosphere in the clearing grew heavy, thick with the unspoken tension of two martial artists pushing the boundaries of their strength. As she aimed the razor-sharp tip of her blade directly at the center of Lazy Flame Dragon’s forehead, her posture shifted into a flawless middle stance. It was an incredibly demanding position, one that typically betrayed the exhaustion of the wielder through micro-tremors in the muscles. Yet, her form was refined so elegantly, so perfectly balanced, that not even the slightest quiver could be seen in her extended arm. She stood like a statue carved from ice, resolute and completely unyielding.
This was the climax. Three matches had been agreed upon, and this was the third and final duel. Everything they had tested against one another, every feint, parry, and clash of wills, culminated in this singular, breathless moment.
Whoooooosh—!
The heavy silence was abruptly shattered as a sudden, torrential gale swept through the area. In an instant, a faint, ethereal stream of light erupted from within Lazy Flame Dragon, enveloping his entire body in a shimmering halo of power.
Deep within his meridians, his innate Solar Divine Pulse awakened. The dormant energy violently unraveled, flowing seamlessly into the complex true qi structure of the Vast Art Formula. The air itself seemed to warp and distort as the scorching hot, fervent yang energy bled into the physical world. It began to weave through the surrounding grass blades like invisible vipers of heat, instantly sapping the moisture from the earth and causing the vegetation to wither.
But that initial, faint manifestation lasted for only a fleeting moment.
Almost instantaneously, the subtle energy gained a blinding, pure white saturation. The brilliance intensified in a flash, transforming from a mere aura into a dense, physical force. It fluttered wildly around his entire body like a radiant shroud, casting harsh, flickering shadows across the battlefield and illuminating his relaxed posture.
The true terror of his technique began to reveal itself. The ambient shockwaves radiating from his body did not simply dissipate into the ether. Instead, colliding with the heavy air and smashing into one another, they began to accumulate raw power entirely on their own.
The flow of these shockwaves grew exponentially stronger with each passing microsecond. They tangled and intertwined in a chaotic yet perfectly controlled dance, multiplying the magnitude of the impending impact with every cycle. It was a completely independent path of power, a self-sustaining storm of martial might that defied conventional logic and fed upon its own momentum.
Rumbleeeee—!
The very ground beneath their feet began to quake in submission to the gathering force.
"The ultimate technique of our Vast Art Stronghold is designed for a short-term, decisive battle," Lazy Flame Dragon declared, his voice cutting through the roaring winds with arrogant ease. "Since we can't use Brilliant River here, we have to do at least this much to make it interesting, right?"
His manipulation of true qi was breathtakingly fluid, bearing a striking resemblance to the monstrous talent of Jeong Yeon-shin. It was not rigid or heavily calculated, but incredibly sensory—an instinctual mastery over the elements woven into his very being.
"What...!"
Gi Geom-hyang gasped, her eyes widening in sheer disbelief at the overwhelming pressure bearing down on her. Driven by the survival instincts of a seasoned warrior, she swung her sword down with all her might, seeking to cleave through the gathering storm before it could fully detonate.
The moment her blade descended, Lazy Flame Dragon’s lips curled upward into a confident, dangerous smirk.
He stood unmoved amidst a scene of absolute devastation. The blistering heat radiating from his pure white shroud was so intense that the surrounding bushes and vibrant green foliage were instantaneously flash-fried, turning to brittle ash that scattered wildly into the turbulent air.
"Go take your bath, Unit Commander," he drawled, his voice laced with mocking amusement.
Deep within his eyes, feral, untamed flames flickered and burned.