Chaotic Blood Battle (2)
Pa-aa-a-a-at!
The ultimate technique of the Formless Flash Quick Sword's latter half, the Formless Spectral Extreme Sword, erupted in blinding light as it surged toward Seon Ganggyun.
The sword beam was so fast that ordinary eyes could scarcely track it.
By the time they registered the dazzling flash in their vision—
Kwajik!
The Formless Spectral Extreme Sword's beam had already sliced through Seon Ganggyun's body.
A gruesome sound echoed, one that sent chills down the spine just to hear. Seon Ganggyun—one of the Ten Great Masters of the unorthodox sects and lord of Daeam Valley, the Dark Heaven Kick Lord—staggered.
"Kuhuhuhu."
An astonishing sight unfolded.
Despite his obvious defeat, despite the bitter humiliation closing in, Seon Ganggyun neither despaired nor grieved.
Instead, he laughed.
"Hm? Why is the valley lord laughing?"
"Beats me."
Even the warriors of Daeam Valley were baffled by his reaction, murmuring in confusion—
"A new unorthodox sovereign has emerged in our unorthodox martial world, one who will serve as its rallying point... How could I not laugh?!"
Seon Ganggyun was ambitious, yes, but no petty villain.
He even cherished the unorthodox way of life, where the weak bowed to the strong.
He was simply stronger than me.
Age and youth meant nothing.
What mattered was that the Demon Sword Young Master was superior.
Rather than despair, Seon Ganggyun laughed.
He rejoiced, grateful for this new era in the unorthodox world and the rise of a new generation.
Jureureuk!
Blood now soaked his upper body, flowing like water.
"Father!"
"Valley Lord!"
Even his only daughter, Seon Yeojin the Dark Heaven Fist Peak, cried out in tears as she called to him.
The grief was shared by every warrior of Daeam Valley.
"Huhu, why weep? Our Daeam Valley was the first to welcome a talent who will become the unorthodox sovereign—no, perhaps the greatest in the world of all time..."
Seon Ganggyun possessed true foresight, at least.
"This may well be Daeam Valley's great fortune."
Though defeated, he upheld the dignity of a valley lord to the end.
"You are the new sect leader of the Demon Sword Sect?"
Seon Ganggyun no longer addressed Hyeon Yucheon with casual disrespect or half-formality.
Instead, he asked politely, with full decorum.
"Yes, Valley Lord."
Hyeon Yucheon returned a fist salute, showing his respect in turn.
He too had recognized the breadth of Seon Ganggyun's character.
"Thank you for showing mercy at the end."
Seon Ganggyun gave a faint smile.
If he hadn't held back, I would've been cleaved in two and died.
The outcome was plain as day.
He lived only because Hyeon Yucheon had eased his power at the last moment.
And for Hyeon Yucheon, taking Seon Ganggyun's head would gain him nothing—only turn Daeam Valley into blood enemies, forfeiting their support.
"As lord representing Daeam Valley, I declare: We shall formally..."
Blood loss had drained his face pale, yet Seon Ganggyun pressed on to the finish.
"...support the Demon Sword Sect and its sect leader, young hero Hyeon Yucheon!"
With those words, he fainted upright.
A display worthy of Daeam Valley's lord—his spirit and resolve unbowed.
Hyeon Yucheon bowed his head in response.
Thank you, Valley Lord.
As an unorthodox warrior and Demon Sword Sect leader, his blood boiled with pride.
"You are a true martial artist."
In respect, he removed his outer robe and draped it over Seon Ganggyun's wounds before descending from the arena.
The judge, Bong Ilwol, froze for a moment before announcing—
"The... the victory belongs to young hero Hyeon Yucheon, the Demon Sword Young Master!"
Even as a member of Daeam Valley, he had no choice.
Everyone had seen Seon Ganggyun's crushing defeat. Hyeon Yucheon's win was undeniable.
Woooaaah! Waaaaah!
The announcement ignited the crowd into a frenzy like never before.
This was the greatest roar in Black Heaven Tournament history.
No, had there ever been a finals match that drove people this mad, set their blood aflame?
"To witness such a clash with my own eyes!"
"What a feast for the eyes!"
"This Black Heaven Tournament finals is legendary—irreplaceable."
Not just the common spectators—even the unorthodox martial artists shuddered with goosebumps.
The duel of two absolute masters inspired them profoundly, instilling a fierce sense of belonging and pride as unorthodox warriors.
"Father!"
Seon Yeojin rushed past Hyeon Yucheon to support Seon Ganggyun.
Every contest had its victor and vanquished.
Yet Seon Ganggyun had fought valiantly, exemplifying grace in defeat.
"Long live the Demon Sword Young Master! Long live the Daeam Valley Lord!"
"Long live the Dark Heaven Kick Lord Seon Ganggyun!"
The crowd knew it too, and unusually cheered the loser's title and name with respect.
"Hiiiik!"
"Quick! Let's get out of here!"
Watching Hyeon Yucheon triumph relentlessly—even felling Daeam Valley's lord—left the Point Sword Sect elders and Ok Jangcheon terrified.
Seon Ganggyun's skill rivaled their sect leader's.
They'd snarled at each other as equals, yet Hyeon Yucheon had crushed one on that level. How terrifying was that?
Thus, the Point Sword Sect contingent fled the Black Heaven Tournament without savoring its afterglow, slinking away to save their skins.
"Uhahaha! Sect Leader!"
As Hyeon Yucheon descended, Cheonu rushed up with a grin splitting his face.
He'd known his leader would win the trifling tournament handily.
But to topple one of the Ten Great Masters and stir such a storm!
Has unorthodox history ever seen such a stunning debut?
Considering this Black Heaven Tournament marked Hyeon Yucheon's official entry into the unorthodox martial world, his next moves promised excitement.
"Mm. Trading blows in earnest with a super peak master is no joke."
Only before Cheonu did Hyeon Yucheon voice his strain.
He wasn't unscathed either.
Enduring Seon Ganggyun's ferocious fist beams and gale-force winds had left him bruised here and there, with minor internal injuries.
Martial arts truly have no end.
This victory taught Hyeon Yucheon much.
Friendship with Seon Ganggyun, Daeam Valley's backing.
But the greatest gain was insight into the martial way.
After five years honing his arts, this was his first truly earnest duel.
And so?
It sparked enlightenment, rekindling his beginner's mind.
"Father, are you alright?"
"Valley Lord!"
Seon Ganggyun, who had fainted upright, stirred at his beloved daughter's voice—precious as the apple of his eye—and Bong Ilwol's call.
"Of course. I can't die before our Yeojin marries."
Who knew a child better than her father?
Seon Ganggyun knew Seon Yeojin harbored feelings for Hyeon Yucheon.
Hence the light tease.
"No! I'll never leave your side, Father."
Embarrassed, Seon Yeojin tearfully spouted insincere words.
She resented Hyeon Yucheon for wounding her father, but it was fleeting.
As a martial artist herself, she knew he'd shown mercy.
"Heh heh heh! Don't talk nonsense. If anything... bring home someone stronger than this worthless old man."
Seon Ganggyun declared.
Young experts surpassing the Ten Great Masters numbered fewer than five worldwide.
His words targeted Hyeon Yucheon exactly, and realizing it flushed Seon Yeojin's face red as a ripe persimmon.
"Alliance Leader Bong, the winner's been decided. Time for the awards."
Seon Ganggyun urged Bong Ilwol, fretting over him, to fulfill his duty.
"Understood."
Relieved his lord was safe, Bong Ilwol finally smiled.
Reflecting, this Black Heaven Tournament hosted by Daeam Valley had produced the greatest spectacle in history.
Proof they'd hosted it superbly.
"Young hero Hyeon Yucheon, winner of this Black Heaven Tournament, please ascend the stage once more."
Hyeon Yucheon reappeared at the call.
"Hyeon Yucheon! Hyeon Yucheon!"
Unorthodox martial artists roared in unison.
The prize was none other than the Saryeong Pill.
What if the makings of an unorthodox sovereign claims even the Saryeong Pill?
The thought sent unorthodox warriors into rapture.
This unprecedented event might just happen.
Lately, unorthodox folk cowered before orthodox martial artists or Murim Alliance members, unable to stand tall.
To them, a new unorthodox sovereign's rise was cause for double-handed celebration.
Swik!
Hyeon Yucheon finally mounted the stage.
His chest swelled too.
Before entering the Black Heaven Tournament, few knew my name.
And beyond that?
The unorthodox world had underestimated Demon Sword Sect and himself, forcing the humiliation of preliminaries.
Yet Hyeon Yucheon overturned it all with pure skill, earning recognition from unorthodox warriors: bow only to the stronger, the superior.
In the end, he'd seized everything with his own two hands.
"Young hero Hyeon Yucheon, lord of Demon Sword Sect, has claimed the glorious victory of the Black Heaven Tournament! We bestow upon him our unorthodox martial world's precious treasure and supreme elixir... the Saryeong Pill!"
Bong Ilwol beamed nonstop.
He ordered subordinates to fetch a small wooden box.
And handed it to Hyeon Yucheon with utmost care, lest it slip.
This is it...!
The moment Hyeon Yucheon took the box, a subtle warmth and fragrant scent washed over him, evoking the illusion of stepping into an immortal realm.
Astonishing.
I've handled countless elixirs and herbs from Mangeum Clan's secret vault.
Priceless supreme herbs aplenty, yet he'd passed them by.
Once reaching super peak, such elixirs offered little aid.
But the Saryeong Pill was different.
"If Shaolin has its Great Reversion Pill, our unorthodox world has the Saryeong Pill. Notably, it suits unorthodox arts better than the pure, serene orthodox ones. Uniquely... the dullard gains but one of its ten effects, while the wise claims all ten. I believe young hero you will claim not ten, but a hundredfold."
Bong Ilwol explained calmly, recounting its virtues.
He spoke true.
Crafted every five years by the five great unorthodox sects with utmost care for unorthodox achievement, boasting abysmal success rates—this was the Saryeong Pill.
Such elixirs became mere tonics or peerless wonders depending on the taker.
"Past winners have always claimed it. Even the Demon Sword Ghost Elder Cheon did."
Hyeon Yucheon grinned wide.
Sharing his master's fate felt amusingly fateful.
It was then.
"Young hero Hyeon, after the tournament ends, take the Saryeong Pill in our Daeam Valley's secret chamber."
Seon Ganggyun, color returned after emergency treatment, continued with a sly smile.
"And have a chat with my daughter while you're at it."
Truly a man who grasped the big picture.