Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Dragon-Phoenix Tournament (22)
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It was splendid.
The massive arena, decorated for the day's festival, was adorned with all sorts of rare ornaments and the flags of prestigious Jianghu sects planted in rows.
Standing at its center was none other than the Sword King, Namgung Hyeok.
He continued his speech with a stern face.
This Dragon-Phoenix Tournament has concluded successfully, the future of the Jianghu is bright—such ceremonial words.
The audience knew they were necessary, yet they couldn't deny the boredom welling up within them.
Why wouldn't they?
The reason they had gathered today wasn't for the Sword King's speech.
The stars of the day hadn't appeared yet.
The audience's gazes were fixed in one direction.
The door at the center of the arena, still firmly shut.
It was the entrance for the awardees.
[…Now, we shall proceed to the main event.]
At those words from Namgung Hyeok, an indescribably massive cheer filled the arena.
Namgung Hyeok raised his hand with an impassive expression.
Dong. Dong. Dong.
Drums sounded.
The door, shut tight until then, swung open, and a pair of man and woman emerged from behind it.
They were the semifinalists, Dang Hwa-seo and Hyeon-gong.
The two approached Namgung Hyeok at a set distance and offered cupped-fist salutes.
Namgung Hyeok then encouraged the awardees in his customary ceremonial manner.
There were no prizes distributed on the spot.
What they would receive were manuals from the Alliance.
They would select and take what they desired after leaving this place.
The audience buzzed, watching the man and woman receive their plaques.
"The Poison Phoenix has made a splendid comeback. No one will dare belittle her name now."
"The Immortal Dragon was impressive too. Considering his opponent, stopping at the semifinals is no small feat. Had he not appeared, the Immortal Dragon might have reached the finals, no?"
At the mention of "he," those around nodded.
Mok Ri-won, the Silent Sword.
The greatest upset of this Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, and of the Central Plains martial world.
As talk of him continued, the audience's attention naturally shifted to the next awardee.
[Next, the runner-up, Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon.]
Namgung Hyeok intoned with resonant inner energy.
Even calling his own grandson's name, his tone remained businesslike.
"Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
Amid the audience's cheers, a man ascended the platform.
A handsome man with deep blue eyes and sharp features—Namgung Jincheon.
"His expression doesn't look good. Was the defeat such a shock?"
"Don't even mention it. Do you know what's the hottest rumor in Anhui right now? That the Sword Dragon might have fallen into heart demons. Some even say he might never wield a sword again."
"Nah, that's too much of a stretch."
"You never know with people."
The whispers continued.
Runner-up.
It was undoubtedly an achievement worthy of praise, but the problem was that it belonged to the Sword Dragon.
When one who had always reigned as an overwhelming victor tumbled, the martial artists who loved gossip tore into him, reveling in base pleasure.
But they weren't entirely wrong.
Namgung Jincheon had indeed fallen into heart demons, unable to sleep properly for days.
His first defeat in life.
And the doubts that arose with it.
They were unmistakably gnawing away at Namgung Jincheon's lofty confidence.
Namgung Hyeok looked at his grandson.
The gloomy aura he'd never shown before, and his listless steps, grated on his nerves.
"…Stand straight."
Namgung Hyeok said quietly.
Namgung Jincheon furrowed his brow slightly, then obeyed.
"I'm sorry."
"Do not show weakness. The Jianghu is merciless and offers no pity to those who reveal such flaws."
The conversation ended there.
Namgung Hyeok offered no further reprimand, focusing solely on conducting the event.
[The prize is Millennium Cold Iron. Sword Dragon, forge the sword of your desire with it.]
A clan warrior waiting behind Namgung Hyeok brought out a chest the size of an adult man's torso.
As Namgung Jincheon offered a cupped-fist salute, the warrior stood behind him.
Then, Namgung Jincheon left the arena with him.
[Next…]
At those words, silence fell over the arena.
It was tension for the star of today's event, who was finally about to appear.
But it wasn't just tension from the protagonist's entrance.
This moment was the birth of a new dragon.
Anticipation swelled for what title of "dragon" would be bestowed upon him.
[…We shall now commence the awarding of the champion.]
Namgung Hyeok received a neatly sealed letter from a sect warrior.
Inside it was the title to be given to Mok Ri-won today.
They even pre-designate the title?
And announce it wrapped so tightly?
No one harbored such doubts.
It was only natural.
A dragon's title was special.
As proof of being a prodigy recognized by the entire Central Plains martial world, it was decided with utmost care through repeated deliberations by masters of prestigious sects.
To grasp its weight, consider that the title of king (王) underwent similar elaborate procedures.
The audience's gazes fixed on the letter.
On Namgung Hyeok's movement as he opened it.
Atop the silently hushed arena.
Namgung Hyeok's lips moved.
[A new dragon has been born.]
Spoke the absolute one who had once reigned as this Jianghu's king (王).
[A new star has displayed overwhelming prowess. A warrior (武人) who proved himself with his sword.]
He listed the feats one man had achieved throughout this Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.
[A man who wields a sword sometimes tyrannical, sometimes gentle, and at times bold. Yet amid all that, there is one quality he consistently embodied.]
He defined Mok Ri-won.
[The dragon that paints its stance in ink-black, shining darkly, thus proclaiming its existence. Henceforth, the orthodox martial world shall call him thus.]
He defined the quality representing him.
[Ink Dragon (墨龍). Ascend the platform.]
Ink Dragon (墨龍) Mok Ri-won.
The man who would now be called thus emerged from the door.
The silence until then shattered.
"Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
A noise that tore the space apart erupted.
Heat that could scorch skin burst forth.
A man with a dazzling smile plunged into the center of the madness.
On the platform, Namgung Hyeok looked at Mok Ri-won, who had finally arrived before him, and said,
[Congratulations on your victory.]
With that, he handed over the plaque.
Following was Shaolin's figure, Fist Dragon Il-un.
[The prize is the Marrow Cleansing Pill. Ink Dragon, take it and refine yourself to uphold the justice of the martial world.]
That was it.
Namgung Hyeok waved him off, sending Mok Ri-won away.
Mok Ri-won left the arena.
Yet the arena's fervor did not fade.
Though the awarding was short and to the point, that heat persisted until the tournament ended.
No, even after it ended, it burned throughout the day.
Today, a new dragon was born in the Jianghu.
*
Mok Ri-won stood grinning broadly in the center of the secluded chamber.
He inwardly shouted his new title.
'Ink Dragon!'
It was a shame it wasn't Alliance Dragon or something, but this was plenty.
After all, wasn't it a dragon (龍) title?
The very title bestowed only on the representatives of the orthodox martial world's later generation—and now it was his.
From now on, wherever he went, he'd be called a dragon.
If someone asked his identity, he'd say, "The Jianghu folk call me the Ink Dragon!"
"The Jianghu folk call me the Ink Dragon…!"
Imagining the scene, Mok Ri-won clenched his fist, his body trembling.
He was overcome with emotion.
Fist Dragon Il-un watched Mok Ri-won with an awkward expression.
'He truly looks delighted…'
It wasn't an emotion he couldn't understand.
He too had grinned sleeplessly on the day he received the title Fist Dragon.
Of course, not so blatantly, but he empathized with the feeling.
"Benefactor Mok, congratulations on your victory."
"Ah! Thank you! I lost myself in joy and showed an unseemly sight for a moment!"
Mok Ri-won's cheeks flushed pink.
Il-un smiled faintly and held out the chest toward him.
"Well then, shall we begin?"
A chest the size of a fist.
The moment it opened, Mok Ri-won let out an exclamation.
"Oh…!"
A refreshing aroma filled the chamber.
At the same time, invigorating air seeped into his lungs.
Marrow Cleansing Pill.
It was the phenomenon caused by one of Shaolin's famed spirit elixirs emerging into the air.
Mok Ri-won swallowed hard and reached for the Marrow Cleansing Pill neatly wrapped inside.
"Should I consume it like this?"
"Yes. My martial brothers and I will stand guard while you absorb its energy."
"Got it! Then excuse me!"
"By all means."
Mok Ri-won wasted no time and sat cross-legged.
Carefully unwrapping the pill, he placed it in his mouth.
'Whoa…!'
The instant it touched his tongue, a burst of fragrance exploded.
As it met saliva, the elixir melted smoothly.
The moment it reached his stomach and sharply awakened his senses, Mok Ri-won swiftly formed hand seals.
Saaaa-.
Ink-black energy rippled outward.
Mok Ri-won marveled at the pure clarity felt as the Marrow Cleansing Pill absorbed.
As expected of Shaolin's elixir.
'How can it be so pure?'
It was a purity utterly unlike the inner core of the Human-Faced Spider he'd eaten before.
Not a speck of corrupt energy or unnecessary dregs could be felt.
Normally, absorbing power not one's own would cause friction, but the Marrow Cleansing Pill yielded its nature willingly, merging seamlessly as if to fuse with any inner energy.
His dantian swelled steadily.
His inner art coursing through meridians grew more violent.
Due to his Extreme Yin Vessel constitution, Mok Ri-won's already volatile inner energy rampaged wildly, delighted by its own amplified strength.
'Calm down. Yin Stone.'
Mok Ri-won gripped the reins of his inner energy tightly.
With that, he opened the world of his mind.
There, the sword constellation still lacked luster compared to others.
Mok Ri-won shoved his rampaging inner energy, under his control, into that constellation.
Hwaaaaaak-!
In that instant, the energy emanating from Mok Ri-won grew even denser.
His fourth completed constellation had expanded his mindscape.
But it wasn't over.
Star-Link Divine Art was an art of harmony.
The newly established sword constellation needed proper linkage with the others.
Just as with the previous three stars, Mok Ri-won forged a path between the third and fourth constellations.
He added one more rule to the circulating constellations.
Heaven (天), Earth (地), Man (人).
And Sword (劍).
The third and fourth constellations defined that junction as such.
"Suuu…."
Mok Ri-won exhaled and opened his eyes.
A far clearer light shone in them than before.
Now, solidly in the mid Pinnacle Realm.
Il-un had to compose himself at Mok Ri-won's drastically changed aura right after consuming the elixir.
'…So, it wasn't enlightenment he lacked, but inner energy from the start.'
His realm had seemed low compared to his swordsmanship; this must be why.
It happened occasionally.
Unlike prestigious sects that could provide elixirs matching enlightenment levels, warriors from lesser sects often struggled without sufficient inner energy to embody their insights.
Suddenly, a bitter smile touched Il-un's lips.
'I should congratulate him…'
It wasn't easy.
He too was a warrior.
The sense of deprivation and envy when a peer of similar realm advanced ahead was real.
Unbefitting a disciple of the Unrivaled, Il-un suppressed it with effort and spoke.
"Congratulations. You've achieved results."
"Thanks for standing guard! I'm always indebted to you, Monk!"
At Mok Ri-won's laughing words, Il-un steeled his resolve once more.
"…Not at all. And thank you."
"Hm?"
"There's something."
He wouldn't fall behind.
If talent fell short, he'd compensate with effort.
Thus, he'd stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these brilliant talents.
Fist Dragon Il-un.
Before the lofty wall, he envisioned not surrender, but challenge.