Chapter 140: Deployment (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 140: Deployment (3)
Jegal Mu-ran stared blankly at the back of the man who had stepped in front of her.
"Azure Firmament Hall Master..."
Her internal injuries were clearly severe. Her complexion was sallow as she barely managed to part her lips, and the bloodstains on her iron fan from where she had coughed up blood were a stark crimson.
"Are you alright?"
At Namgung Jun's question, Jegal Mu-ran’s lips moved.
—To be honest, I don't think I can lend you any strength... I'm sorry.
Like her trembling lips, Jegal Mu-ran's Voice Transmission was faint and fragmented. Even sending that single line seemed to be an immense struggle.
Hearing her message, Namgung Jun took a step forward.
"Step back."
Jegal Mu-ran immediately retreated, moving toward the endangered members of the Divine Mechanism Hall. It seemed she intended to help her subordinates rather than focus on her own Qi Circulation.
The Eleventh Mirror Master and the Seventh Legion Commander made no move to pursue her.
The presence of Namgung Jun, who now blocked their path, was simply too overwhelming.
Fierce Thunder Qi surged around him. Though he appeared young, the Qi Wave he exuded was incredibly heavy and profound.
"The Azure Star Sword. The one who slew our cult's Ninth Mirror Master and the Hubei Branch Leader..."
"I see. So you've become a Fourth Cloud, leading a new martial group."
The Eleventh Mirror Master, hurriedly staunching the bleeding from his wrist, broke out in a cold sweat. The Seventh Legion Commander lowered his stance ever so slightly.
Though their reactions differed, both supreme experts were focused on assessing Namgung Jun's capabilities.
‘To lose my left arm so absurdly!’
‘Feeling his aura in person… he’s even greater than the rumors suggest.’
The sect war in Hubei Province between the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and the Wudang Sect had captured the attention of the entire Jianghu. Rumors about the conflict had already spread far beyond Hubei to the rest of the world.
Naturally, the reputation of Namgung Jun, who had played a massive role in ending that war, had soared to incredible heights.
‘He seems to be in perfect condition. This has suddenly become troublesome.’
Tensing the balls of his feet to prepare for an explosive dash, the Seventh Legion Commander glanced to his side. The Eleventh Mirror Master, still clutching his severed wrist, looked slightly intimidated, having lost his left hand so futilely in a surprise attack.
Clicking his tongue, the Seventh Legion Commander sent a Voice Transmission.
—Hey, Eleventh Mirror Master. Can you fight? Our best option is a joint attack.
—Of course. I intend to extract the full price for my left hand. Don't you worry.
Reassured by the Eleventh Mirror Master's response, the Seventh Legion Commander slowly began to circulate his Internal Energy.
"When you went to reinforce the Azure Heaven Association's Le'an Branch, you slew a Commander of Fifty from the Iron Battle Camp. He was a subordinate I cherished. If he hadn't died by your hand, he would have become a Centurion by now."
Staring quietly at the Seventh Legion Commander as he dredged up past grudges, Namgung Jun nodded calmly.
"I won't bother asking what kind of man he was. You should, by all means, strive to avenge your subordinate."
"Arrogant brat!"
With a shout infused with Internal Energy, the Seventh Legion Commander threw himself forward. As he lunged, a solid, iron-wall-like energy surged across his entire body.
—It's the Iron Wall Qi Armor! It's the Iron Battle Camp's Protective Astral Qi. It has excellent rebound force and hardness, so they use it for offense as well. Be careful!
Hearing Jegal Mu-ran's distant Voice Transmission, Namgung Jun raised the Eternal Righteous Sword to a middle stance.
The vermilion energy of the Iron Wall Qi Armor was particularly dense around the commander’s right shoulder. Charging forward with that energy-concentrated shoulder, the Seventh Legion Commander was no different from a living battering ram.
Kwoooong!
With a heavy, thunderous roar, the entire cavern trembled. The massive shockwave that tore through the cavern floor was powerful enough to momentarily disrupt the movements of the martial artists fighting nearby.
"Urgh!"
However, the one who was actually sent flying back was the Seventh Legion Commander, the one who had initiated the attack.
Namgung Jun had swung the Eternal Righteous Sword horizontally, meeting the Seventh Legion Commander's Shoulder Strike Method head-on. Despite absorbing such a monstrous blow, his posture remained completely undisturbed.
Just as Namgung Jun was about to thrust his sword toward the retreating commander's thigh, he suddenly extended his left foot diagonally and twisted at the waist.
Chaaak!
Indigo claws narrowly missed his shoulder, slicing through empty air. Enveloped in thick Claw Qi, the Eleventh Mirror Master's claws boasted a formidable sharpness.
"I'll rip your entire arm off!"
In an instant, the Eleventh Mirror Master slipped into Namgung Jun’s flank, his right hand executing a sinister transformation. Dozens of dark indigo lines stretched out, blurring his opponent's vision.
"The Night-Rising Demon Claw. Is it because you lost your left hand? You've desperately tried to hide an incomplete form by layering it with variations."
"How do you know that?!"
"But it's clumsy."
The moment the Eternal Righteous Sword, which had been pointing toward the ground, floated upward into a high stance, a single upward arc split into dozens of beams of light. The blue sword strikes, instantly occupying three directions, split as finely as raindrops. They twisted together, bloomed, and rose and fell in a leisurely, repeating flow.
Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique.
Time-Tide.
The sinister, tangled indigo Claw Qi was instantly swept away, thinned out by the surging, clear raindrops of the sword technique.
While the form of the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique unfolded, driving back the Eleventh Mirror Master, the Seventh Legion Commander's vermilion fist strikes intervened, repeatedly clashing against the Eternal Righteous Sword.
Kwagagang!
The three supreme experts clashed in earnest.
As the wildly tangling Qi Waves grew in size, the martial artists fighting nearby had to hurriedly back away. The center of the cavern became a stage solely for the three of them.
Koong!
The Seventh Legion Commander's solid Palm Force clashed repeatedly with the strikes of the Vast Sky Boundless Sword. Every time his fists and palms collided with the Eternal Righteous Sword, the Eleventh Mirror Master's claws would slip in, aiming for the slightest opening.
Perhaps because they had gotten to know each other's styles while fighting the Divine Mechanism Hall Master, their coordination was remarkably high.
Even so, as Namgung Jun withstood the simultaneous attacks of two supreme experts, his feet remained firmly planted on the ground.
‘This bastard… he won't budge. He’s like a deep-rooted giant tree.’
‘He is incredibly calm and profound. It feels as if I'm fighting an old master.’
Namgung Jun, who was deflecting the incoming shockwaves and Qi Waves head-on using the Heaven-Pillar Resolute Advance Movement Art, suddenly had a shift in his gaze.
The way he gripped his sword as he swung it diagonally changed in an instant. The Sword Momentum of the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique, which underwent infinite transformations in the space of a single breath, showcased a diverse array of sword strikes, yet it remained unwavering, firmly defending its domain.
As if the sky itself would never shrink.
Namgung Jun deflected the Seventh Legion Commander's Hand Blade, which aimed to sever his shoulder, with the Heavenly Thunder Palm Technique, while simultaneously slashing downward with the Eternal Righteous Sword to target the Eleventh Mirror Master's ankle.
Dozens of exchanges occurred in a mere split second, yet Namgung Jun displayed an unwavering Sword Momentum against the joint assault.
‘Just when I think I've gotten used to it, his Sword Momentum changes completely. At this rate, he’s just making my head spin.’
‘No matter how many spirit elixirs he's stuffed himself with, considering his age, his Internal Energy shouldn't be higher than ours. How is he still holding out?’
Sswaeaeak!
A sword strike tore horizontally through the air. Shocked by the still-heavy Sword Force, the two supreme experts hurriedly unleashed their own techniques.
Swinging his elbow to pin down the back of the Eleventh Mirror Master's hand, Namgung Jun twisted his body aside and thrust the Eternal Righteous Sword deep toward the Seventh Legion Commander, who was slipping in from the side.
Although the Sword Light flashed before his eyes, the Seventh Legion Commander did not retreat or pull back his fist. Instead, he executed an Earth-Trembling Stomp and thrust his straight punch forward.
Kagak!
The Eternal Righteous Sword, with its longer reach, struck the Seventh Legion Commander's shoulder joint first. However, because he was clad in the Iron Wall Qi Armor, it did not pierce through. His upper body merely jolted once from the far heavier-than-expected Sword Force.
Although his insides were slightly shaken despite blocking it, it didn't matter. There was absolutely no issue with unleashing his prepared attack.
‘Prepare yourself!’
The Seventh Legion Commander's fist was a strike imbued with the subtle principles of the Internal Heavy Hand Technique, the martial art of the Iron Battle Camp designed specifically to shatter Protective Astral Qi.
‘You must have been confident with that heavy sword of yours until now. I will show you how vast the Jianghu truly is!’
The outstretched fist struck Namgung Jun's chest head-on.
Ppajijik!
At that moment, blue sparks erupted violently from Namgung Jun's chest. It was the Thunder Qi of the Cloud Mantle Embracing Sorrowful Thunder, surging to life.
The faint smile on the Seventh Legion Commander's lips instantly froze.
"Keuh!"
Fierce Thunder Qi invaded through his fist, forcing the Seventh Legion Commander to hurriedly pull his hand back. Even as he retreated, he checked Namgung Jun's expression, and bewilderment flooded his eyes.
"How...?"
Namgung Jun was perfectly fine. So was his Protective Astral Qi.
Normally, the Protective Astral Qi at the point of impact should have been crushed, and he should have suffered internal injuries. Yet, Namgung Jun showed no signs of disturbance whatsoever.
"Hmm?"
The Seventh Legion Commander sensed something strange about the blue-and-white Protective Astral Qi. The vermilion energy that had gathered on Namgung Jun's chest dispersed finely across his entire body along the flow of the Protective Astral Qi before thinning out and vanishing completely.
The vermilion energy was undoubtedly the force of the Internal Heavy Hand Technique he had unleashed.
Witnessing this, the Seventh Legion Commander immediately realized.
"A Protective Astral Qi that completely neutralizes the Internal Heavy Hand Technique?"
"You have a good eye."
It was an exchange where both sides had their own aims, unleashing their attacks with faith in the martial arts they had mastered.
But in the end, the one who suffered a loss was the Seventh Legion Commander.
As the invading Thunder Qi traveled up from his fist, his entire arm began to grow numb. Feeling the need to catch his breath, he urgently shouted, "Eleventh Mirror Master!"
However, the Eleventh Mirror Master did not step forward. Judging that they could not overturn the disadvantageous situation, he abruptly turned and began to flee.
"That demonic bastard!"
Dumbfounded, the Seventh Legion Commander glared at the Eleventh Mirror Master's retreating back, only to instantly realize his mistake.
Puhak!
The Seventh Legion Commander barely managed to twist his body, but he suffered a severe wound as his shoulder was slashed open.
Defeat loomed large. He had managed to expel most of the Thunder Qi spreading through his arm, but now his shoulder was grievously injured.
Namgung Jun relentlessly pressed his advantage, giving the commander no time to recover. The man’s palm was pierced by a thrust of the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique. He barely managed to pull his hand free, but Namgung Jun immediately closed the distance and slashed his flank.
Though he resisted tenaciously, the Seventh Legion Commander was slowly collapsing.
Sensing his end, he glared at Namgung Jun with murderous intent.
"The forces of the Iron Battle Camp will crush the Azure Heaven Association."
"The Azure Heaven Association has the Azure Firmament Hall, and they have me."
Namgung Jun severed the Seventh Legion Commander's head.
Although the Eleventh Mirror Master had escaped, he didn't mind. He intended to hunt the man down and wipe him out as soon as this matter was resolved. For now, cleaning up the battlefield and checking on the state of the Divine Mechanism Hall was the priority.
Namgung Jun looked around. Despite a clear disadvantage in numbers, the Azure Firmament Hall was pushing the enemy back. The Divine Mechanism Hall Master was also lending a hand, albeit with difficulty.
Namgung Jun moved forward to bring the battle to an end.
* * *
Having cleared the battlefield, the Azure Firmament Hall and the Divine Mechanism Hall gathered in one place.
"The Divine Mechanism Hall has suffered quite a bit of damage," Namgung Jun noted.
Jegal Mu-ran shook her head. "If not for the Azure Firmament Hall, we would have been wiped out."
She looked past Namgung Jun at the members of the Azure Firmament Hall.
‘Incredible. They far exceeded my expectations.’
She had heard of the Azure Firmament Martial Canon, but it had been impossible to predict what kind of power it would display in a group battle. Seeing the Azure Firmament Hall's strength firsthand, however, it was truly immense. They seemed capable of holding their own even if they were to clash with one of the Three Powerhouses right now.
What was even more terrifying was that the Azure Firmament Hall was a newly formed group. Once they built better teamwork and their Achievement in the Azure Firmament Martial Canon increased, they would become even stronger.
The Azure Firmament Hall truly seemed qualified to be called the absolute elite of the Azure Heaven Association.
Scanning the members one by one, Jegal Mu-ran spotted a familiar face and her lips curled into a faint smile.
"You look well."
Despite her smile, Jegal San only wore a worried expression.
"Sister."
"Don't make such a face. This is not your fault. In fact, I am proud of you. You will bring even greater honor to our family."
Turning her head, Jegal Mu-ran clasped her hands in a polite bow toward Namgung Jun.
"Azure Firmament Hall Master. This is belated, but please take good care of my lacking younger brother."
"Do not worry. Jegal San is already doing his part."
Having finished regrouping, the Azure Firmament Hall and the Divine Mechanism Hall looked toward the final iron gate of the Hidden Cave. It appeared that once they crossed this gate, they would enter the treasury.
"Then, I shall open it."
As Namgung Jun and Jegal Mu-ran nodded, the Flagbearer of the Divine Mechanism Hall operated the device. The mechanism that had kept the iron gate tightly locked slowly began to disengage.
Rumble!
Thick dust seeped through the growing gaps of the iron gate.
The treasury where the legacy of the Long-Stream Cult slept was finally revealing itself.