Chapter 104: The Greatest Rising Star (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 104: The Greatest Rising Star (2)
"Hah!"
Seok Jun’s subsequent movements were even faster.
With a mere flash of motion, his blade was already lunging toward Seok Myeong’s legs.
He’s fast.
Seok Myeong retreated three steps.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he moved the exact moment Seok Jun did. It was a movement that suggested he had already predicted exactly where the attack would land.
Swish!
Though Seok Myeong evaded again, Seok Jun did not relent. He unleashed a continuous chain of techniques, transitioning from a low thrust to a mid-section pierce, and then back to a sweeping strike at the lower body.
As his opponent pressed the attack with unexpected aggression, Seok Myeong realized he couldn't avoid these moves by simply backing away.
And he’s precise.
The linked movements were rapid and accurate. Furthermore, they were gaining momentum with every passing second.
The Azure Center Sword Technique was indeed a foundational style, but its simple sword paths allowed for even greater speed in execution.
Seok Myeong deployed the Illusory Lost Track Step, crossing his feet in rapid succession to escape the crisis.
Pat-pat-pat.
Moving as if vanishing to the left and right while suspended in the air, Seok Myeong narrowly evaded the barrage of consecutive strikes.
But… it’s not perfect.
After retreating a few more times, Seok Jun’s sword came lunging toward his chest. Without hesitation, Seok Myeong swung his own blade.
Clang!
For a moment, the sword lost its trajectory, but Seok Jun was not one to be shaken by a single parry. Following the direction the sword had been deflected, he let the momentum carry the blade down before shifting horizontally to aim for Seok Myeong’s lower body.
Swish!
It was a truly fluid attack. The way he managed the blade was so flawless that the correction of the sword’s path looked like a deliberate technique in itself.
The men watching predicted that Seok Myeong would eventually be struck down. The relentless assault created the illusion that Seok Jun's speed and power doubled with every linked form.
It’s also not soft enough.
However, Seok Myeong responded to that as well.
He flicked the tip of his sword in a circular motion, and the moment Seok Jun’s blade pointed downward, he struck the sword guard.
Clang!
In that instant, something remarkable happened.
Seok Jun was left crouching in an awkward position with his sword driven into the ground, while Seok Myeong maintained a posture that signaled the end of his counterattack.
"……!"
At that moment, Song Hak’s eyes shook as if they might pop out of his head.
It wasn't just because Seok Myeong had blocked the sword. Nor was it because he wondered how Seok Myeong had obtained the internal energy to stop the strike.
Of course, he was curious about both. But they didn't compare to the question currently surfacing in his mind.
The Qi Gathering Stance of the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword that Seok Myeong had taken at the beginning—that posture was identical to the one he held now after neutralizing Seok Jun’s sword.
And was that all?
The technique Seok Myeong had just displayed was the Sixth Initial Form of the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword: the Swift Willow Red Strike. It involved moving the sword at the same speed as the opponent’s movement before striking a gap.
Among the forms of the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword, it was the one with the most variations and was notoriously difficult to implement without immense cultivation.
"Ho!"
Finally, an exclamation escaped Song Jeong’s lips.
There was no wasted movement. No, there was simply nothing to find fault with. From the way he blocked the ferocious onslaught to the execution itself, it was brilliant—neither lacking nor excessive.
But more surprising than anything was the flow.
While the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword has standardized forms, they are insufficient to fully explain the martial art. This is because it primarily relies on changing according to the opponent’s sword or inducing the opponent’s blade to move as desired.
Seok Myeong had demonstrated exactly how to use such a sword technique.
Just now, he had deflected Seok Jun’s sword without using any brute force, achieving the maximum result with a few simple forms.
Seeing how he used the technique more simply than the Azure Center Sword Technique, despite it being a highly complex and flashy style, was enough to show how deeply Seok Myeong understood the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword.
An Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword that transcends flashiness to reach simplicity.
That was the level of the realm Seok Myeong had reached.
Senior brother…
Yeon-hui’s eyes widened as she watched.
He had definitely changed. And he had become stronger. The pressure Seok Myeong radiated now made it feel as though he wouldn't lose to anyone.
Yeon-hui was deeply shocked by his appearance.
—Seok Myeong lost to Cheol Gun.
That was what Song Hak had been saying ever since they returned to Qingcheng. Naturally, Yeon-hui had protested those words.
—No. The Eldest Disciple won, or at least it was a draw. Surely…
—What do you know? The final posture Seok Myeong took. The final posture Cheol Gun took. Do you understand what those meant?
—…Pardon?
—The opponent had strength to spare. The only reason he didn't use his final ultimate technique was because I, and you—the Sect Leader’s daughter—were standing right there.
—B-but surely…
—Do you not know how many days Seok Myeong spent bedridden after the duel? On the other hand, how long did it take for Cheol Gun to get back up?
—…….
Yeon-hui hadn't been able to answer then.
Martial Uncle Song Hak had far more experience traveling the Jianghu than even the Sect Leader. She couldn't simply ignore his words and insist that only what she had seen was correct.
Because of that, it began to feel as if Song Hak’s words were true—as if the fact that Seok Myeong had held the upper hand was merely a stroke of luck.
—To cultivate while receiving the deep spirit of Qingcheng is not about false pride or bravado. Accepting a loss as a loss is also the attitude of a martial artist.
—…….
—Seok Myeong lost. He fought well in his own way, but Cheol Gun of the Golden Martial Association is truly worthy of being called the strongest among the Five Dragons. Do not worry. I will advocate for his treatment. As long as he doesn't act arrogantly by pushing a false reputation, that is.
—Martial Uncle…
She had been worried about Seok Myeong.
And as she continued to listen to Song Hak, Yeon-hui gradually began to feel that way. The vivid memory of that intense duel faded, leaving only a faint suspicion.
But now, the obscured memory was revived.
Senior brother… is strong. He was always strong, and now he’s even stronger!
At the same time, her face flushed hot.
Why couldn't she speak the truth as it was? Why couldn't she support Seok Myeong’s words as the truth?
Biting her lip, Yeon-hui watched the two men, her heart burning with anxiety.
"The Azure Center Sword Technique is a style that is second to none. The Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword also follows the path created by the Azure Center Sword Technique. However, your swordsmanship and mine were different. Because you relied only on the application of the forms, you failed to read my sword path."
Seok Myeong explained to Seok Jun why he had lost. Just as he had done at the Triple Gate of the Cutting Sword Gate.
"To improve further, you must look at what lies beneath. You must understand why the Azure Center Sword Technique places more weight on balancing the center of the sword rather than on precision and sharpness. The answer lies there."
Despite Seok Myeong’s continued explanation, Seok Jun remained silent.
To be precise, he had been wearing a dazed expression for a while now; no words were reaching his ears.
He couldn't believe it. At first, he thought it was a fluke, but his sword kept being blocked. Seok Myeong had neutralized him by reading every single attack.
He simply could not accept this reality.
"The way to improve, is it? I suppose you think you can give me lessons now just because you’ve traveled the Jianghu for a bit?"
Finally, the corners of his mouth twisted into a distorted sneer.
"Seok Jun, it’s not like that. I only want to help you develop further…"
"Help? Hahaha! Kuhahahaha!"
Seok Jun began to laugh.
The laughter was abnormally loud and grating—enough to make even the disciples who had supported him until now knit their brows.
After laughing for a long time, Seok Jun opened his eyes again. Glaring at Seok Myeong with eyes that had turned fierce, he spoke.
"Yes, yes, I shall do that. As you say, senior brother, I will cultivate the ability to see the forest instead of just the trees."
"Seok Jun."
"But, senior brother."
Seok Jun pulled his sword out of the ground. When his eyes met Seok Myeong’s, they were filled with intense mockery.
"Then, shall we have a proper fight now?"
Seok Myeong’s eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Not a simple sparring of swordsmanship, but a Life and Death Sword."
Seok Myeong didn't understand what he meant at first.
But as a brilliant white light began to gather on Seok Jun’s blade, he realized the meaning.
*
"Sw-Sword Aura!"
Among the marveling children, the First Generation Disciples shouted in shock.
Even if the children of the True Martial Hall didn't know, those of their age could recognize the form of Sword Aura.
"Is that Sword Aura?"
At the mention of Sword Aura, the eyes of the True Martial Hall children went wide.
Their primary goal was to create a Sword Shadow. They knew that such a realm was difficult to achieve even after reaching the age of twenty.
Yet, it was Sword Aura. Seok Jun had manifested something that could only be used after reaching a realm even higher than Sword Shadow.
"No. Using Sword Aura in a spar…"
Song Mun was flustered by the situation.
Using Sword Aura in a spar meant a willingness to risk even death. No matter how much it was Qingcheng, for fellow disciples to draw out Sword Aura to fight was a matter that would cause a great disturbance.
"Sect Leader! That boy’s bloodlust is excessive! Immediately…"
"Let us watch for now."
Tap, tap.
However, the Sect Leader, who should have been the one to stop it, was actually crossing his arms leisurely with a satisfied smile.
"It is true that Seok Jun’s Sword Aura is threatening, but it doesn't look like Seok Myeong will be easily defeated."
"B-but…"
"Just let it be. In the first place, is this not a teaching spar rather than a Qingcheng swordsman exam? It is a good opportunity for Seok Jun. He will be able to see the path to a higher realm."
"……."
Song Hak’s eyebrows twitched as he overheard the conversation.
Though expressed indirectly, the meaning behind those words was singular: he had acknowledged that Seok Myeong’s realm was a level higher than Seok Jun’s.
A teaching spar?
Song Hak’s inner thoughts couldn't help but be shrouded in increasing doubt.
He didn't know how Seok Jun had broken the Five Elements Four Changes Formation, but recently, Seok Jun had broken through a wall and reached another realm.
Yet, did the Sect Leader’s words not mean that even Seok Jun’s current realm was not higher than Seok Myeong’s?
You fool… what on earth are you doing?
Unable to calm his troubled heart, he stared up at the martial arts training ground like a condemned man.