Chapter 77: The Contest
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77: The Contest
Yesterday, he had seen the crescent moon. He still had to wait two weeks for the full moon.
The wait felt impossibly long, stretching out like a hundred days in his mind. It was hard to calm his racing thoughts.
What did that small fragment signify?
If it concerned the relationship between Jeong Yeon-shin and the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, then the fruit of the World Tree had to be involved.
Yet, he couldn't bring himself to believe it, constantly suppressing his own expectations. He forced himself to crush any budding hope. His entire life had been a sprint toward that fruit, and he was terrified of being shattered by false hope.
"The reward for that accomplishment must be astronomical," Baek Mi-ryeo said, looking somewhat overwhelmed. Sunlight glinted in her slightly upturned eyes as she recalled the events at the Blood Flame Cult's headquarters.
"Indeed. It was an achievement most super-ascension experts couldn't accomplish in a lifetime," Cheong-myeong said with a nod. "A feat that far exceeded your actual martial prowess. It's only natural the Lord summoned you. Martial arts have their affinities, but few have ever exploited them so perfectly."
"That's why I'm a bit worried," Baek Mi-ryeo added, placing a hand on Jeong Yeon-shin's shoulder. "Against experts with no such weaknesses, you'll have to rely on pure martial skill. There are far more enemies who don't practice demonic or blood arts, and the same goes for this selection. Don't let your guard down."
He nodded slowly.
"I know my own limits. I have to, if I want to avoid an early grave in the Jianghu."
He knew this concern wasn't unique to Baek Mi-ryeo. He hadn't hidden much from his seniors in the Demonlight Wing. Though there was a maxim in the Jianghu about concealing one's true strength, it was impossible to explain his recent mission without mentioning the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand and the Sword House.
The Demonlight Wing experts, who cherished him, had each offered a word of advice. One piece of counsel had left a deep impression: Gyeongryeocheonmo—rash thoughts and shallow schemes. It felt like wisdom born from long years of experience in the Jianghu.
Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art.
His achievements at such a young age were immense. Though these feats were accomplished by creating martial arts with unique properties, a young man drunk on fame might mistake those specialized victories for true martial prowess.
'Misjudgment is a luxury for my enemies,' Jeong Yeon-shin thought. 'Letting one's guard down is a role reserved for my opponent.'
The words of Baek Mi-ryeo and his other seniors were not overstepping, but they were unnecessary worries. Since he valued his life above all else, objectively assessing his own strength was second nature.
He excused himself from Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo and headed for the Chief Steward's Office. There was no reason to hesitate; he intended to apply immediately for the Namgung Clan mission posted on the public notice.
"I'll tag along," Heonwon Chang said with a grin. "I want to see the Chief Steward's Office for myself."
As they walked shoulder to shoulder, Jeong Yeon-shin fell into deep thought.
'A Blue-Ranked Expert the Desolate Fortress can proudly present to the Jianghu. That's my current standing.'
His overwhelming power was only displayed against two types of opponents: the heterodox sects vulnerable to the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand, and martial artists with shallow internal energy, against whom the Sword House was most effective.
It was said that as one's rank rose, the gap in power within each tier widened. A Blue Rank who had just transitioned from White was vastly different from a Blue Rank on the verge of a Black Rank Promotion. The gap was as wide as that between a novice and a veteran—a massive difference. He'd heard a single top-tier Blue Rank could handle three ordinary ones.
'Where do I stand?'
He had spent his time recuperating and hadn't sparred with his seniors since his return. He was curious. Where exactly did he stand within the realm of the Blue Rank?
"If they divide the selection by age, the opponents for the Namgung Young Master or his sister will likely be capped at thirty. There won't be many who can match you, Young Hero Jeong. That is the opinion of the Divine Hero of the Desolate Fortress, who has watched you firsthand," Heonwon Chang said with a sly tone. He seemed to have gained a strange confidence after the bizarre incident at the Desolate Ma Clan. It wasn't a bad look on him.
"Ah, Young Hero Flash Art."
As they chatted, they soon arrived at the Chief Steward's Office. The scholar at the entry register recognized Jeong Yeon-shin and greeted him.
"You've come to apply for the Namgung Clan duel, I assume?"
"Yes."
"I will record it. The notice hasn't been up for long, yet so many martial artists have already signed up. The Namgung Clan's reputation is truly extraordinary, to change the mission's selection method so drastically..." The scholar sighed, his breath heavy with exhaustion.
"Are there really that many applicants?" Heonwon Chang asked, leaning forward.
The scholar nodded immediately. "I've never seen such fierce competition for a mission. Normally, it would be decided by the Unit Commanders in a meeting between the Divine Sword Corps and our office. But this time, they're accepting applicants regardless of affiliation... I can never fathom what the higher-ups are thinking. With so many applicants, you should expect a selection contest, Young Hero Flash Art."
He even shared the information quite freely. A faint warmth showed on his face as he looked at Jeong Yeon-shin, likely a result of Jeong Yeon-shin's polite greeting last time.
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin offered a faint smile and a slight bow, a clear, refreshing voice echoed from behind them.
"That is because the top experts of the Namgung Clan are just that powerful. The official notice from the Chief Steward's Office mentioned 'total victory.' If the fortress is to win every duel, it only makes sense to select the best from every unit, does it not?"
"You are quite right, Young Hero."
The scholar agreed, and a soft, breathy laugh followed.
Jeong Yeon-shin had already turned at the sound of the voice, his eyes widening slightly. The man's blue robe fluttered magnificently as he approached. His jawline was beautifully refined, and his pitch-black eyes, flashing with sharp light, exuded an expert's dignity. His skin, as fair as white porcelain, combined with his sharp nose to create a refined aura.
He was a peerlessly handsome young man. His presence was as overwhelming as ever, completely overshadowing the laughing women beside him.
"Young Hero Namgung."
At Jeong Yeon-shin's salute, Namgung Hwa-shin immediately returned the gesture.
"Young Hero Jeong. It has indeed been a long time. And you as well, Young Hero Heonwon. It feels like only yesterday we took the Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam together."
"You look even more radiant than before," Heonwon Chang said, narrowing his eyes slightly as he saluted.
Following his gaze, Jeong Yeon-shin also turned his eyes. Women practically surrounded Namgung Hwa-shin. All four carried weapons and exuded a refined aura, appearing to be experts from the Heaven-Aligned Wing.
'His popularity is immense,' Jeong Yeon-shin thought, unable to interpret the warm gazes from his Heaven-Aligned Wing seniors and juniors in any other way.
"So that young hero is the Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing? I've heard so much about you."
The speaker was a White-Ranked Expert from the Heaven-Aligned Wing standing beside Namgung Hwa-shin. She wore a silver ornament in her braided hair. She stared at Jeong Yeon-shin with slightly upturned eyes, but his attention was drawn to her hair ornament.
'A White-Ranked warrior who cares so much for her appearance?'
Though puzzled, he offered a salute. "I am indeed the Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing."
"I am Shin Bin-bin. I believe you know my younger sister, A-bin." She was referring to Shin So-bin, Jeong Yeon-shin's junior. Now that he looked closely, they did resemble each other.
"I, too, receive much help from her," he replied politely.
They exchanged brief pleasantries. After scanning Jeong Yeon-shin, Shin Bin-bin turned to Namgung Hwa-shin and smiled.
"Senior Namgung walks a lonely path. You might make a decent companion for him, but I'm not so sure."
She was evaluating Jeong Yeon-shin right in front of Namgung Hwa-shin, who had come to apply for a mission to slay his own kin. Her attitude reminded him of his first impression of Shin So-bin. She was truly a precious daughter of the Shin Clan; unless she was outright insolent, no one could really call her out.
Jeong Yeon-shin caught Heonwon Chang's twitching lips just in time, stopping him from causing unnecessary trouble.
"Have you also come to be assigned to this mission, Young Hero Namgung?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked, looking at Namgung Hwa-shin. He paid no mind to Shin Bin-bin and her weak martial arts. Instead, his senses were drawn to the profound aura faintly emanating from Namgung Hwa-shin's body.
The sensation welling up from the depths of his being was incredibly strong.
'He has changed.'
Could it be that when he left the Namgung Clan, he had yet to fully refine some spiritual medicine in his dantian? The weight of his true qi fluctuations was extraordinary. Now he understood why Jin Ju-rim had mentioned "two moves." Namgung Hwa-shin was an older expert who had cultivated a divine art. He was different from Jeong Yeon-shin, who had spent over a decade using the Jeong Family Dynamic Art just to build his body's foundation.
The sheer volume of their internal energy was vastly different. An injured Flash Art losing to the White Qilin? No expert would find that strange.
"Though I have left the clan, my roots are in Southern Zhili. Since there are matters I must settle with my family, it is only right that I step forward," Namgung Hwa-shin said. "I do not even have the face to speak to you, Young Hero Jeong. Even apologizing on behalf of my family's actions feels presumptuous. I am deeply sorry."
His bitter, apologetic expression was picture-perfect.
"And Junior Shin's words are always frivolous. Please do not take them to heart," he added, giving his thoughtless junior a slight glare.
Shin Bin-bin merely smirked, showing no sign of intimidation. But when she glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin again, her face stiffened slightly. The only person reflected in the sky-blue eyes of the Demonlight Wing's Flash Art was Namgung Hwa-shin.
"What occupies my mind right now," Jeong Yeon-shin spoke slowly, "is the martial prowess of Young Hero Namgung, my opponent in the upcoming selection."
* * *
Three days passed. It was now twelve days before the full moon.
The Chief Steward's Office of the Desolate Fortress announced the selection contest, declaring that the duels would proceed as posted due to the large number of applicants.
"The Flash Art's internal injuries haven't even healed yet."
"But we can't exactly ask his opponents to hold back, can we?"
"If not our youngest Blue Rank, who else is going to take the head of the Namgung Young Master?"
The Demonlight Wing experts worried, but regardless of their concerns, things moved rapidly. The Chief Steward's Office pushed the event forward with the swiftness of an expert's sword strike.
The tournament bracket was released. It felt like a regional Murim tournament, the kind where people placed bets on the strongest fighter.
Those who saw the bracket for the rising stars remarked, "They've been seeded on opposite sides."
"The Chief Steward's Office couldn't ignore the Flash Art and the White Qilin, after all."
The duels began, with matches held twice a day under the observation of experts from other martial units. It was a tournament format where the winners advanced to face each other.
The White Qilin, Namgung Hwa-shin, swept through his matches with unstoppable momentum. Just like during the entrance exam, no peer could rival him. He quickly reached the final stage of his bracket.
The impressions of the observing experts were unanimous.
"Incredibly solid. There are no weaknesses in his martial arts. He has built up his qigong perfectly."
"Did the Namgung Clan really pour that much spiritual medicine into a concubine's son? His inner power is immense."
The evaluation of Jeong Yeon-shin was slightly different, as his performance grew stronger with each passing day. It meant he was healing his internal injuries even while fighting. All the experts agreed on one thing: his control over true qi was flawlessly precise.
"The White Qilin is here again. He hasn't missed a single match."
"The Flash Art is famous for his unique techniques. It makes sense he'd study a formidable opponent."
"In the end, only those two are left. They said the winner will face the Namgung Young Master, and the loser will face his sister. Since the scale of the achievement is different, it's bound to be fierce."
"I heard the Flash Art stayed in seclusion except when he had to fight. Though his internal injuries seem fully healed, he carries another disadvantage."
They were right.
Namgung Hwa-shin had appeared at every single one of Jeong Yeon-shin's duels. He watched the battles, committing the Flash Art's unique martial arts to memory.
Radiant Wing Step, Infinite Flower of Time Fist, Radiant Brilliance Sword Style... As each technique was revealed, drawing gasps of admiration from the Desolate Fortress experts, all of them were etched into the eyes of the White Qilin, Namgung Hwa-shin.
"I understand why you're doing this, and yet I don't," Shin Bin-bin said. She was sitting in a corner of the central training ground, resting her chin on her hand.
Namgung Hwa-shin slowly stood up beside her. The Flash Art, Jeong Yeon-shin, had just won his match. Only the final duel remained: the clash between the White Qilin and the Flash Art.
Shin Bin-bin had heard plenty from the top experts of her clan. To high-level martial artists, the Flash Art was merely a promising youth who had cultivated a unique qigong. In a game of leaf-cards, he was a trump card, best played as a surprise against heterodox sects or enemies who relied on sheer numbers. At least, for now.
"I know Senior Flash Art's techniques are highly advanced. But the same goes for you, Senior Namgung. And above all, the difference in inner power..."
"I'll be back," Namgung Hwa-shin said.
In that instant, his body soared into the air. His fluttering blue robe seemed to contain the azure sky. It was the Unimpeded Clear Stream Body, the movement technique of the Namgung Clan.
Flutter—
Like one treading on the void, the White Qilin crossed the sky and landed in the center of the training ground, right in front of the Flash Art. The onlookers gasped in admiration.
"What a truly elegant body protection art."
"It's nothing short of perfection. Not a single flaw."
Namgung Hwa-shin paid no mind to the crowd's chatter. He gazed silently at Jeong Yeon-shin, his voice ringing clear.
"The stage where we met during the entrance exam was quite simple, but this place is rather grand. There are many eyes watching us as well."
"I understand you have deep reasons for applying for this mission. Forgive me, but I cannot yield."
"Haha. Surely you have your own circumstances as well, Young Hero?"
"We can share our thoughts later. Why don't we travel to Southern Zhili together?"
At Jeong Yeon-shin's reply, he laughed once more. "Sharing our stories on the way to slay my brother. That does have a certain poetic charm. I only wish we were in a more private setting."
Jeong Yeon-shin thought differently. This was a stage drawing immense attention from the martial artists of the Desolate Fortress. The scholars of the Chief Steward's Office were no exception. The martial prowess displayed here could influence future promotions and assignments.
He had to make an impression.
Throughout his duels, he had felt Namgung Hwa-shin's gaze. He couldn't complain. After all, he didn't know the story behind Namgung Hwa-shin's decision to personally slay his own half-brother.
'I know the forms of my techniques have been analyzed.'
An expert of the White Qilin's caliber would have prepared countermeasures. Even if he couldn't completely dismantle them, it would still be a significant threat.
That was fine. A true martial artist of the Jianghu prepares for everything. They risk their lives, their honor, and even their martial arts to seize victory.
It was the principle of knowing oneself and knowing one's enemy. Namgung Hwa-shin had focused on the latter. Jeong Yeon-shin, however, had focused on the former—on taking another step forward.
'Right now, the martial art that can unleash the greatest explosive power in a single strike is the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand.'
Even against an opponent who practiced orthodox arts, that remained true. However, the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand was a hand art; it could not be used with a sword. Even if he applied its principles to their absolute limit, its utility was restricted to fist and palm techniques.
Which meant he needed the Infinite Flower of Time Fist.
There were three forms: Spiral, Advancing Thunder, and Fist Flower. He had created Spiral after observing Cheong-myeong's silk-reeling power. Advancing Thunder was derived from the fist technique of Ma Se-in of the Desolate Ma Clan. The Falling Petal Palm Technique of Yu-hyeon, the eldest disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, had served as the inspiration for Fist Flower.
Spiral was rotation, Advancing Thunder was the hard fist, and Fist Flower was variation.
"Begin," the Black-Ranked Expert overseeing the duel spoke. It was the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
Hummmm!
As a clear ring vibrated from the blade Namgung Hwa-shin drew, Jeong Yeon-shin retraced his past. It felt like a lifetime ago.
Until now, every martial art he had created relied on inspiration. The Sword House, the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style, even his movement techniques were no exception. He had only ever created after witnessing the creations of others.
But not every technique had to be made that way. He had accumulated vast experience. Ultimately, the essence of creation was singular.
'I create because I need to.'
The moment Namgung Hwa-shin's sword reached the space beneath his chin, Jeong Yeon-shin did exactly that.
It was a left-handed palm technique. He had more than enough materials.
A sinister aura and a clear blue light blended together. He unleashed two contrasting inner powers simultaneously, weaving them together with the profound principles of a sorcery formation. The noise was deafening.
It sounded as if a demon's whisper was caught in the rushing wind of a stream—a clear sign that the two forces were not neutralizing each other, but violently repelling one another.
Kwoooo—!
In the split second his palm spread wide, the fourth form budded into existence.