Chapter 57
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Public Spar
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Under the clear blue sky, the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly—a grand gathering of the murim's rising stars—was unfolding in spectacular fashion.
Though not even half of the famed Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes had assembled, the banquet hall buzzing with these future pillars of the martial world was hotter than ever.
"Wasn't it said that Ghost Flash's skills are at the Three Realms level?"
"I've heard Three Realms too. Either way, isn't he the one who took down one of the Qingcheng Five Swords?"
Unable to tear their eyes from the sparring platform, the crowd poured all their attention onto him.
Ching!
Seo Mun-ha swung his sword with a serene expression.
True to his moniker of Ghost Flash, little was accurately known about his true prowess, making this the perfect opportunity to witness it firsthand.
"Something's off."
"Right?"
A unified opinion dominated among them.
There was nothing particularly remarkable about Seo Mun-ha's publicly demonstrated martial arts.
Not a single warrior present had gone without being called a genius at least once, and as some of the most renowned experts from various regions, their discerning eyes were beyond reproach.
'Impressive, but...'
A new master threatening the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes.
Considering his age, few could truly match him, but his feats and rumors fell short of what one might expect from such skill.
Especially when compared to others.
In terms of age, he paled against the shock Baek Ri-seol had delivered.
She, who had entered the Seven Phoenixes at just fifteen, was hailed as the youngest in history, while Seo Mun-ha's accomplishments didn't even reach the toes of the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes.
'His martial arts are right there for all to see.'
If anything, it was Hwang Bo Woo-jun who deserved the praise.
One fell short of expectations, the other exceeded them.
It was only natural for puzzled feelings to shift focus elsewhere.
'......'
Glancing around, Seo Mun Jun-sang clenched his fist.
As Seo Mun-ha had firmly stated beforehand, this was a personal spar, nothing more.
Yet he couldn't fully detach the Seo Mun Clan from him, and in this moment, Seo Mun-ha represented the clan entirely.
"Hoo."
Though one might expect resentment toward the one who had usurped his authority, Seo Mun Jun-sang's conflicted emotions were little different from the crowd's.
Excluding the majority uninterested in the outcome, those rooting for a particular side watched intently.
"What do you think he'll do?"
"......How should I know what's in that guy's head."
Baek Ri-seol and Dang So-so exchanged words known only to them.
It was then.
"Quite the entertaining young hero."
A Taoist approaching them opened the conversation naturally.
"He's an unpredictable one, that's for sure."
Ha Eun-ye responded to the familiar figure.
"Even the world's Little Peak Lord can't fathom him, it seems."
His robes emblazoned with Wudang and Taiji symbols marked him as the Azure Purity Sword, Han Myeong.
"Long time no see, Hero Han. Should I call you Daoist or Master now?"
"Not yet—it's still too lofty a title."
Though humble despite his Daoist ordination, he was the renowned prodigy of Wudang, bearer of the nickname Flash Iron Dragon.
"How's Cheon Hwi faring?"
"Still living cleaner than any Daoist."
"Hahaha, I thought I'd catch a glimpse of his face, but he's as busy as ever."
Setting pleasantries aside, the man and woman turned their gazes back to the platform.
"But what's your connection to that young man?"
"We cross paths now and then."
"If even an immortal can't read him, at least he's trustworthy. That's a relief."
"A relief?"
"No— I mean he's on our side."
Han Myeong wore a pure smile.
"That friend will win."
It wasn't very Daoist-like.
"Because I bet gold on him."
Ha Eun-ye shook her head at his brazen face.
"What a nose for money."
Instead drawing Dang So-so's scorn, he silently stared at the platform with unwavering conviction.
Over a dozen exchanges had already passed.
"Thunderclap Swordsmanship. I didn't learn it just for you, but here it is."
Pushing Seo Mun-ha back, Hwang Bo Woo-jun furrowed his brow.
Like the great figures present, his eyes were no mere decoration.
'Our internal energy is evenly matched, but...'
To put it simply: power and speed.
Though built like a giant, he moved with uncharacteristic agility, surpassing Seo Mun-ha in every aspect.
Based on superior martial arts, his precision, momentum, technique, skill, proficiency... even his bones, physique, senses, experience, and adaptability all gave him a slight edge.
In terms of pure martial prowess, no words or factors could deny his marginal superiority.
Chaeng—!
Yet he couldn't secure victory.
'Why?'
It always fell just short by a hair's breadth.
While failing to land even a decent scratch, impatience gripped the one holding the advantage: Hwang Bo Woo-jun.
"Is it his lack of experience?"
In their back-and-forth, the occasional graze drew blood—from Hwang Bo Woo-jun.
"Let's test that."
Seo Mun-ha surged forward, slicing up along his thigh, adding yet another minor laceration.
"So that's your game!"
"Sturdy, aren't you."
A big target had its perks—perfect as a foothold.
Subtly irking him without breaching his protective energy, Seo Mun-ha gradually wore him down unbeknownst.
Shiiik!
A horizontal slash.
Fierce momentum tore through the air, but Seo Mun-ha ducked his upper body, disrupting the sword wind before slapping up the crude blade.
'Bare-handed?!'
Then thrust with the tip.
"Kuh!"
Hwang Bo Woo-jun, who had pressed only with offense without flinching.
This swordplay he could handle bare-bodied under his protective aura, yet he instinctively backpedaled.
Jjeeeeng!
This time, Seo Mun-ha's judgment was swifter.
Clashing sword qi and protective energy screamed in discord.
Jjejejeong!
Shaking off his numb arm from the recoil, Seo Mun-ha fared far better than Hwang Bo Woo-jun.
Swordsmanship's core branches numbered three: Heavy, Swift, and Illusory.
Hwang Bo Woo-jun, struck by a heavy sword, had lost in raw power, though he desperately shoved aside the ominous feeling.
A fluke.
More precisely, something made to seem like one.
"Mount Tai Nine Swords—!"
Hwang Bo Woo-jun's eyes flashed as he summoned vast internal energy.
"Expelling Evil Seven Strikes!"
True energy erupted from his body, sweeping the entire platform.
Kwang, kwaaang!
Layer upon layer of tangible shockwaves, growing in mass, bore down on Seo Mun-ha.
'Hmm.'
No time for deliberation.
Flick!
Seo Mun-ha indifferently struck downward.
As if quelling raging energy, remnants slammed into invisible walls on either side of his descending blade, upheaving the platform's ground entirely.
Hwaaak.
He emerged unscathed.
Patter.
Without a single wound.
'Th-this...'
The reason was simple.
In public spars, it was common sense not to reveal all one's cards—so everything Hwang Bo Woo-jun believed he dominated was actually the opposite.
His only true advantage was his massive frame, and as Seo Mun-ha gradually unveiled his prowess, the reversal was inevitable.
"To so easily block the Hwang Bo Clan's Mount Tai Nine Swords."
"He saw through it? In just a dozen exchanges? How?"
Not just Hwang Bo Woo-jun noticed.
Pababak! Paat!
Hwang Bo Woo-jun's sword path twisted chaotically, bewildering the senses—an exquisite illusory technique among absolutes.
'One step, then three forward. Right upper. The feint is...'
Reading even the forehead strikes flawlessly, Seo Mun-ha reacted with the same composure.
To Hwang Bo Woo-jun, it felt like he was always just out of reach—graspable yet ungraspable.
Kakang! Kagang!
Seo Mun-ha had gained much from his battle with the Crimson Shadow Sword Demon.
The gap between Seo Mun-ha and Yi Mok-yeom.
He had bridged the divide between past and present lives, reducing the dissonance, yet a lingering foreignness remained.
Yi Mok-yeom hadn't been born into the Soul Transcendence Realm; it came with bone-grinding pain and training.
The Seven Realms forged crossing the line between life and death.
Yet even such a past inevitably diluted into oblivion's swamp.
He couldn't recall every blood-soaked step.
Fundamentally, Seo Mun-ha and Yi Mok-yeom's paths differed.
He'd never filled a frail body with myriad martial secrets, nor fully housed the Northern Guard Divine Cavalry Art's essence in an underdeveloped qi body.
Deeming it fine, he'd shed impatience—perhaps bordering on arrogance.
Complacent with reality, his reckless techniques against the Crimson Shadow Sword Demon had forced him to reassess his position and expand his limits.
Kwang! Kwaaang!
Meeting Hwang Bo Woo-jun's ferocious sword momentum head-on, Seo Mun-ha drew up even more internal energy.
Relentless whooshes of air.
Soon, Hwang Bo Woo-jun slid back with disbelief etched on his face.
Know thyself, know thy enemy, and measure the exchanges.
That was giving one's all against Seo Mun-ha.
"Your footwork falters easily. The Dao suits you better than the sword."
Having dissected every one of Hwang Bo Woo-jun's forms, Seo Mun-ha stepped forward.
Coincidentally, his words made domination effortless.
In spars, fully revealing one's true face was rare—so peel away the opponent's cards one by one to draw out their full strength.
Tedious, but certain.
Once expended, no regrets or leeway remained.
Shudder.
Most who surrendered body and mind never even considered challenging again.
"What a nasty personality."
Regardless of how others saw him.
"He won't admit defeat easily, yet you provoke him like that."
As Han Myeong predicted, Hwang Bo Woo-jun's face flushed red and pale by turns.
Crunch.
Veins bulging as if about to burst.
"Try blocking this!"
Summit Heaven King Divine Palm, Thunder-Lightning Descent Capture.
Like the Mount Tai Nine Swords, this secret absolute art of the Hwang Bo Clan debuted before the world.
Whooo!
Condensed true energy swirled round like embracing air as it advanced.
The parade of successive absolutes captivated the crowd, drawing gasps of admiration.
Seo Mun-ha, slowing his steps, struck down the palm force nearing him.
Peuk!
The palm shot skyward in an instant.
True energy scattered, crumbling the Hwang Bo Clan's absolute art with ease.
His hand tingled, but feigning nonchalance, he gave no quarter.
"Impossible......"
As Seo Mun-ha closed in another step, the cornered Hwang Bo Woo-jun backpedaled reflexively.
Thud.
No room left to retreat, buried anxieties crept up.
'......I, I can't win.'
Aware of it, he shook his head violently.
Public spar—public spar!
Not only could he not yield, but withholding one's full hand was common sense, as was proving oneself.
Why enter a public spar if hiding everything?
'Was he serious about that?'
Hwang Bo Woo-jun recalled Seo Mun-ha's words of disinterest in arts beyond his clan's.
"No way!"
Screaming, he charged.
His initial crouched defense had been his best—pure, without deceit against Seo Mun-ha.
Yet Hwang Bo Woo-jun couldn't believe it, feeling toyed with from head to toe like caked in dust.
"You bastard!"
Thoroughly played by another's hand for the first time in his life.
The simmering malice slipped control momentarily.
"Young Master?!"
Hu Seong, arms already unfolded, startled with a shout.
'Demonic qi?'
Seo Mun-ha eyed Hwang Bo Woo-jun with intrigued eyes.
A faint aura.
"Graaah!"
But his movements were raw, beastly—not even proper footwork—as if lost to heart demons, Hwang Bo Woo-jun lunged.
Kugugung!
Discarding even his sword.
'The Hwang Bo Clan's true secret is fist techniques, but...'
Seo Mun-ha, who had wondered at the hand-to-hand focus like others, sensed it too.
Vast reserves exceeding expectations, yet forms and qi clashed oddly.
Hwoong!
Twisting his form, ferocious wind pressure grazed past Seo Mun-ha.
"Isn't Young Master Hwang acting strange?"
"That killing intent is too thick. Hope nothing goes wrong."
Leaving the clueless crowd behind, Seo Mun-ha circulated his qi.
From Yin Mound to Cool Spring.
He sprang forth like rebounding off the ground.
Mountain Shattering Heavenly Spirit Sword. Earth Severance.
Axe Intent Adamant Cleave blunted flesh and shattered bone like a dulled blade.
Crash!
Hwang Bo Woo-jun's protective energy shattered, exposing his bare body.
"Kuhuk!"
A deep chest gash like struck by a blunt weapon.
Gushing blood, he didn't stop.
Drip.
Even acupoint strikes failed.
'Paralyzing points with raw internal energy?'
As the fist plummeted, Seo Mun-ha leaped in a swift arc, countering Hwang Bo Woo-jun's flank with his sword flat.
Peuk!
Hwang Bo Woo-jun slammed into the platform.
Peuk!
Springing up immediately, no chance to recover stance.
Crack! Crunch!
This one-sided beatdown could no longer be called a spar.
The arena fell utterly silent.
Pak! Puk!
Left arm grotesquely twisted, right arm ragged with cuts.
Sturdy legs now struggled to hold his body upright; after repeated blows, Seo Mun-ha's palm finally struck the unyielding Hwang Bo Woo-jun's abdomen.
Sluuump.
At last, consciousness lost, Hwang Bo Woo-jun dangled limply from Seo Mun-ha's arm.
'A bear's a bear, after all.'
His unyielding spirit deserved praise, but a bear shedding fox skin was just stubborn folly.
"Finally quieted down."