Chapter 136: New Hall (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 136: New Hall (3)
Namgung Jun’s upper body twisted sharply.
Sweeping in a wide, diagonal arc, the Eternal Righteous Sword unleashed a fierce sword light.
Swoosh!
The sword strike radiated a ferocious wave of qi, tearing through the air with a savage screech. Subtle principles from the Martial Conquest Grand Selection Formula merged with those of the Grand Duke Plucks the Mystic Qin.
The power within the undulating, wide-spreading wave of qi gradually amplified. In an instant, the already overbearing Qi Wave erupted into a terrifying, colossal force.
Crack!
An ominous crack echoed from the axe that had met the Eternal Righteous Sword head-on. As vibrations coursed through the weapon, hairline fractures spiderwebbed across the axe blade, deepening with each pulse.
"Ugh!"
The old man hastily retreated, tossing aside his half-shattered axe.
This was Elder Mun, who in his prime had once swept through the Jianghu as a member of the Crushing Hall.
"Whew."
Elder Mun took a deep breath, calming his heaving chest. Though he had unleashed the Majestic Shattering Assault Axe to its absolute limit, he hadn't pushed Namgung Jun back an inch.
Worse, Namgung Jun hadn't even been using his full strength, as this was not a duel to decide a victor.
'Is it because he harmonized the unique martial arts of the Ten Halls into one? He’s unleashing overwhelming power with far less effort.'
He had spent his entire life refining the Majestic Shattering Assault Axe, honing it past mastery and into the realm of perfection. Even so, withstanding Namgung Jun's sword strikes—rooted as they were in the Azure Firmament Martial Canon—was no easy feat.
This was true even when he recognized familiar principles from his own Majestic Shattering Assault Axe woven into Namgung Jun's movements.
The elder glanced at his ruined axe, then looked away without a trace of regret.
"That should be more than sufficient to demonstrate the applications of the Majestic Shattering Assault Axe."
"Thank you for your hard work, Elder."
"I have only done my duty as an elder of the Azure Heaven Association."
When Namgung Jun offered a sword salute, Elder Mun returned the gesture with a clasped-fist salute.
Namgung Jun looked around at the other elders gathered nearby. Most were engaged in heated discussions among themselves after witnessing the duel, while the few sitting closest were busy recording the sequence of the exchange. They sought not only to engrave the sight into their minds but also to document every detail for further research into the Azure Firmament Martial Canon.
'This has been far more helpful than I anticipated. It has saved us a great deal of time as well.'
Ever since his duel with Man Hun, Namgung Jun had consistently visited the Elders' Council. It was filled with veteran masters who had spent their entire lives practicing the unique martial arts of the Ten Halls.
Through endless duels with these elders using the Azure Firmament Martial Canon, he encountered new insights and applications not found in any secret manual. Even if their realms were lower than his own, the insights these veteran masters had forged through lifetimes of fierce experience could not be underestimated.
Thanks to them, the depth and completeness of the Azure Firmament Martial Canon had reached a whole new level.
"Seeing this duel, it is clear that the Azure Firmament Martial Canon has been refined to a much cleaner state."
"To an outsider, it would look as if he were simply switching between the martial arts of the Ten Halls at will."
"I feel a strange sense of pride. It feels as though I have left another mark on the Azure Heaven Association before I die."
The elders watched Namgung Jun as he prepared for another duel. For most of them, this was the first time they had interacted with him so closely. Usually, they had only heard rumors or caught glimpses of him from afar.
"There was a reason the Head of the Elders' Council and Elder Kwon praised him to no end."
"It is not just that his martial growth is rapid; he possesses the qualities of a grandmaster. Such talent is rare even in the Jianghu."
"The association's strength will rise significantly in the near future. We will be able to deal a massive blow to the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult."
The elders had been astonished time and again while dueling Namgung Jun. During their bouts, he effortlessly absorbed the techniques and applications they demonstrated.
Of course, this was only possible because Namgung Jun already possessed a deep understanding of the unique martial arts of the Ten Halls. Even so, the fact that he could do it at all was astonishing.
Namgung Jun displayed a natural talent for immediately internalizing newly acquired applications and insights, melting them down to make them his own.
Thus, with every duel, the Azure Firmament Martial Canon shifted and evolved.
The Azure Firmament Martial Canon that Namgung Jun had first presented was vastly different from what it was now. What had initially been a mere harmonious blend of the Ten Halls’ unique martial arts now felt complete, as if the decades of the elders' experience had seamlessly filled every gap in the canon.
It was as if the Azure Firmament Martial Canon had been refined and developed over several generations. A process that would normally have taken decades, or even centuries, had been compressed into a mere few months.
"I wonder what kind of martial prowess the Clouds who learn this art will display."
"One thing is certain: the Azure Firmament Martial Canon is more than enough to raise the absolute elite of the Azure Heaven Association, surpassing even the Ten Halls."
"Is the rest up to the new Fourth Cloud?"
The Azure Firmament Martial Canon was a martial art that harmoniously embraced the unique techniques of the Ten Halls. Anyone who had mastered even one of the Ten Halls' martial arts could begin learning it, freely integrating their own techniques according to its mnemonic formulas. With the addition of the Azure Firmament Martial Canon, it felt as though their existing arts were being elevated into a superior, peerless form.
That was not all.
One had to pay attention to the insights that formed the core of the Azure Firmament Martial Canon.
Boundless (無涯), which contained a freedom that transcended martial arts, weapons, and forms.
Guiding to the End (導涯), which wove ten different paths of insight into one to pursue the ultimate limit.
And the Great Derivation Sword Technique, which materialized Namgung Jun's innate senses and added them as mnemonic formulas.
These concepts went beyond merely handling all the unique martial arts of the Ten Halls; they were of immense help in firmly solidifying a martial artist’s fundamental strength. A few elders who had delved deep into the Azure Firmament Martial Canon through sword discussions and debates with Namgung Jun had even achieved clear breakthroughs.
Boom!
Before they knew it, another duel had come to an end.
Namgung Jun sheathed the Eternal Righteous Sword and bowed politely.
"I believe it is sufficiently refined."
Elder Kwon, who had been facing Namgung Jun, also lowered his weapon.
"Indeed. The deepening of the Azure Firmament Martial Canon is plain to see."
While Namgung Jun's personal martial prowess had not changed drastically overnight, his recent duels showed a far more profound level of skill than when he had first arrived at the Elders' Council. This was proof of how much the Azure Firmament Martial Canon had evolved.
The time and effort poured in by Namgung Jun and the Elders' Council had not been in vain.
Namgung Jun bowed once more to the elders gathered around him.
"Thank you for the Elders' Council's assistance."
The elders smiled warmly, returning the gesture in their own ways.
"Do not be so formal. We did this for the sake of the Azure Heaven Association."
"To be honest, I had some concerns regarding the establishment of the new hall. But after trading blows with you directly, those worries have completely vanished. I look forward to your future endeavors."
"I can already picture the looks on those Sun-Moon Demonic Cult bastards' faces when they have to face the Azure Firmament Martial Canon."
Finally, Man Hun, the Head of the Elders' Council, chimed in.
"The Elders' Council will continue to research the Azure Firmament Martial Canon. We have laid out two main directions."
"What directions are those?"
"First, we will continue to develop it. No martial art under the heavens is flawless. If we invest the time, we will surely find flaws or areas for improvement that we previously missed."
Namgung Jun nodded in agreement.
"And second, we will modify it so that not only the new hall but also the remaining Ten Halls—and eventually all the Clouds of the Azure Heaven Association—can learn it. Of course, some alterations might occur in the process. We may have to remove certain applications or reduce the overall power of the martial art."
"But in return, its versatility and accessibility will increase," Namgung Jun finished.
The Azure Firmament Martial Canon was originally created for the absolute elite of the Azure Heaven Association. However, the deeper Man Hun delved into it, the more he felt it would be a waste to limit it to only them. If they kept the original Azure Firmament Martial Canon intact but created a slightly simplified version for all the Clouds to learn, the overall strength of the Azure Heaven Association would rise significantly.
It was a difficult task, but he believed it would not be impossible with the continuous research of the Elders' Council.
Taking the time to transform the old into something better.
That was the most important duty of the Azure Heaven Association's Elders' Council, and it was precisely how its martial arts had evolved over the generations.
"Do not worry about any of this," Man Hun said. "Just focus on the peace of the Jianghu and the development of your own martial prowess. It is only right that the Elders' Council handles these behind-the-scenes matters."
Namgung Jun took in the sight of the veteran masters of the Elders' Council. Though they had retired from the front lines due to their age, each elder still held a vital role, remaining a pillar that supported the Azure Heaven Association.
It was incredibly reassuring.
"I leave it in your hands."
Namgung Jun clasped his hands together, offering a sincere salute to the elderly heroes.
* * *
At an inn within the main fortress of the Azure Heaven Association, a place frequented by the Clouds of the Ten Halls, several rising stars had gathered at one table. Every single one of them was a household name within the association.
Baekri Cheong of the Martial Conquest Hall.
Jang Mun-hyeok of the Iron Tower Hall.
Samyeop of the Flying Swiftness Hall.
As top talents within their respective halls, they were all highly anticipated to become future Hall Masters. Normally, they would have been chatting and laughing, but today, the three did nothing more than occasionally wet their lips with tea.
Baekri Cheong enjoyed his tea leisurely, while Samyeop restlessly bounced his leg, lost in thought. Jang Mun-hyeok, meanwhile, repeatedly glanced toward the entrance of the inn.
Some time passed in this manner.
"You have all gathered."
The voice that broke the silence had lost much of its youthful cheer, replaced by a growing sense of gravity and depth.
The three rising stars stood up simultaneously and bowed.
"Please, sit."
Namgung Jun gestured as he returned the salute, and the three sat back down. Now that Namgung Jun had risen to the rank of Fourth Cloud, they could no longer speak to him casually.
Only Baekri Cheong offered a faint smile and a slight nod.
"I am sure you can all guess why I called you here," Namgung Jun said, cutting straight to the chase. "I wish to recruit the three of you into the newly established hall."
Samyeop was the first to ask. "Is there a particular reason you chose us? Objectively speaking, there are quite a few seniors who are stronger than we are."
Namgung Jun did not deny it. The mid-tier experts of the Ten Halls naturally possessed martial prowess befitting their years of experience, and the flagbearers of each hall in particular displayed even greater strength. They were individuals who, given the right opportunity, could break through to the peak of the Peak Realm and achieve the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.
"Even if we claim to be the absolute elite, there would be no meaning in simply dragging the strongest individuals—excluding the Hall Masters—into the new hall," Namgung Jun said, looking at the three of them in turn.
He had already traded blows with them during the competition for the Mount Song Gathering. Not only that, but he had also kept track of their progress since then, allowing him to grasp not just their martial arts but also their character.
"For the Third Clouds drafted into the new hall, I intend to appoint rising stars or those of a similar age. Rather than starting with a fully completed force, I want us to prove the new hall's reason for existence by growing together."
Baekri Cheong, wearing a proud smile as if looking at a younger brother who had grown up, asked, "So, that's why it's us?"
"Indeed."
Namgung Jun slid forward the secret manual of the Azure Firmament Martial Canon.
"This is the martial art that will serve as the foundation of the new hall."
The eyes of the three rising stars fell upon the manual. A new martial art created through the joint efforts of the new Fourth Cloud and the Elders' Council. Having already heard the rumors circulating through the main fortress, their curiosity was naturally piqued.
As they carefully examined the secret manual, their expressions gradually shifted. Baekri Cheong's smile widened as he nodded to himself, while Samyeop and Jang Mun-hyeok stared with their mouths slightly agape in sheer shock.
Observing their reactions, Namgung Jun spoke calmly.
"The new treasured sword of the Azure Heaven Association. Please, become its foundation."
Looking at Namgung Jun, the three rising stars nodded as one.
"Very well."
Namgung Jun had successfully recruited the three Third Clouds he had wanted most. Then, after consulting with them, he selected other talents to recruit from the remaining halls.
"This should be sufficient."
Namgung Jun looked down at the numerous names listed before him. After much discussion, the list of Third Clouds to be recruited into the new hall was complete. Bringing them into the fold was a task that Namgung Jun, as the Hall Master, had to accomplish.
"We seem to be a little short on numbers," Baekri Cheong noted. "How do you plan to recruit the remaining members?"
At Baekri Cheong's question, Namgung Jun replied without hesitation.
"A large-scale selection process will soon take place at the main fortress. I plan to fill the remaining spots then."
"Ah."
As the seasons changed, talents who had made names for themselves in the various branches of the Azure Heaven Association began to gather at the main fortress.