Chapter 149: Mount Tai Sect (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 149: Mount Tai Sect (2)
Great-Dusk Spear Paragon.
He was a man who had vanquished all four of his rivals through sheer talent and martial prowess to claim the position of Young Sect Leader. For the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon, who had risen to his current station solely on his own merits, the fact that he was the son of the current Venerable Spear Sect Leader was a mere footnote.
Because everyone in the Venerable Spear Sect knew what he was capable of, they had rallied tightly around the Young Sect Leader, even during the Sect Leader's prolonged absence. He was a top-tier expert of his generation, expected to become not only the next leader of the Venerable Spear Sect but also another peerless expert in due time.
He is certainly strong.
Namgung Jun closely observed the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon as he approached with majestic strides. Among the supreme experts of the Demonic and Heretical Paths he had clashed with so far, none could rival him. The Tide-Piercing Sword of Fierce Battle Valley had been considerably strong, but he was a step below the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon.
The man appeared to have just passed forty. The achievements he had accumulated over his life had fully ripened, giving off a vibrant and explosive aura that spoke of a man at the zenith of his power.
"Since my youth, I, too, have been praised for my talent," the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon said, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "But seeing you today, I realize my own innate talent is merely ordinary."
"There is no need to humble yourself. You are strong as well."
"However, you lack at least twenty years of experience compared to me. That gap will be the deciding factor in our clash today."
Namgung Jun quietly caressed the hilt of the Eternal Righteous Sword. As the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon took a step forward, his killing intent swelled with each passing moment.
"Our sect has suffered heavy losses because of you. Only by cutting you down can we restore our prestige."
"Choose wisely," Namgung Jun replied, his eyes narrowing sharply. He had already drawn the Eternal Righteous Sword, holding it low. Shring! "For today's choice may bring ruin to the Venerable Spear Sect."
"Ah, the fire of youth! I love it!"
Standing fifty paces apart, the swordsman and the spearman transformed into streaks of light. The flashing lights warped the space around them as they crossed the distance in an instant.
Rumble!
Along their trajectories, the earth was overturned, and a cloud of dust rose like a violent wave. At the point where the two flashes collided, a thunderous metallic screech rang out, followed by a bursting shockwave.
As the earth shook violently and the surrounding air whipped about in a tempest, the warriors of the Azure Firmament Hall and the Venerable Spear Sect widened their distance even further. If they weren't careful, they could easily be swept up and lose their lives to a stray attack.
Clang!
The clash of sword and spear.
In terms of reach, the spear naturally boasted an overwhelming advantage. Furthermore, the realm the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon had achieved was by no means inferior to Namgung Jun's.
The Hall Master is at a clear disadvantage.
Damn it. And we can't even help him.
The members of the Azure Firmament Hall, who had retreated far away, fought the urge to act, but they could not recklessly intervene. If they stepped in, the hundred or so spearmen led by the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon would undoubtedly move as well. For now, they had no choice but to await their Hall Master's command.
The spinning spearhead, which had been whipping up a whirlwind, suddenly dipped and lunged. Evading the spearhead aimed below his knees with the Infinite Steps, Namgung Jun's sleeves billowed violently. As his blade swept diagonally upward to deflect the long spear, he attempted to close in on the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon's chest.
However, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon subtly shifted the angle of his hands on the shaft, and the trajectory of the long spear completely shielded his chest. Vibrating finely, the spear blocked all seven of Namgung Jun’s thrusts. The Great-Dusk Spear Paragon immediately whipped the spear outward, pushing Namgung Jun back once more.
Do you think I would easily yield the distance you crave?
Thud!
Stamping his foot in an Earth-Trembling Stomp, he thrust the spearhead with all his might, sending it hurtling straight toward Namgung Jun's abdomen. Namgung Jun barely managed to redirect it, deflecting the spear's trajectory at the last second with a short, sharp strike of the Eternal Righteous Sword.
The fabric of his Cloud Mantle Embracing Sorrowful Thunder rippled violently where the spearhead grazed his flank. Although it was not pierced, the force was more than enough to make him realize the immense power behind the strike.
Every time sword and spear clashed, the warped atmosphere trembled violently.
Crash!
Namgung Jun parried the spearhead as it swept through the air and plunged vertically down. A sharp, tingling pain shot up from his palm to his shoulder. Dispersing the impact through the profound principles of the Heaven-Pillar Resolute Advance Movement Art, Namgung Jun deflected the spearhead that was rushing toward the space between his brows.
It’s heavy. His skill in manipulating force is exceptional.
Even Namgung Jun had to be wary of the colossal force loaded into the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon's long spear. A single mistake, a single clean hit, could lead directly to death.
"You parry better than I expected!"
Shattering the dozens of sword shadows surging before his eyes, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon readjusted his grip on his long spear. The Qi Wave condensing on the weapon in his hands grew ever denser.
Great Venerable Steadfast Spear Technique. It was a spear art consisting primarily of powerful, linear attacks. In terms of sheer power, it was a superior peerless art ranked among the top three of the Venerable Spear Sect's numerous spear techniques.
Yet, the sword strikes unfolding from Namgung Jun's fingertips were by no means inferior.
The Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique directly confronted the Great Venerable Steadfast Spear Technique. Sword Qi, flowing like blue silk, wrapped around the Eternal Righteous Sword in multiple layers.
It was a battle of strength against strength. The forms of two superior peerless arts were unleashed against one another in a linear clash where neither side would concede an inch.
Clannng!
The Great-Dusk Spear Paragon's eyes flashed as he felt a sharp vibration run up his spear. The shockwave that surged through it was so immense it made his stomach churn for a moment.
"Impressive. To reach such a realm at your age." Sweeping his long spear in a wide arc to disperse the impact, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon could not help but voice his admiration. The Sword Force loaded into the blade was terrifying, but the divine technique was even more striking.
At first glance, Namgung Jun seemed to be confronting the spear head-on with raw power, but the fluid transitions between his forms and the release of sword winds neutralized the spear's advantage in reach.
"Hah!"
With a shout, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon twisted his waist with all his might. Channeling his entire body's weight and rotational force, his spear pierced the air in a straight line.
Whoosh!
Namgung Jun pulled the Eternal Righteous Sword close to his chest. He repeatedly struck the side of the long spear as it aimed for his heart, throwing its trajectory off course. Simultaneously, Namgung Jun's body spun rapidly to the right.
As the deflected spearhead narrowly grazed his arm, Namgung Jun didn't back away. Instead, he pressed forward, closing the distance tightly.
Screeech!
With an unpleasant screech of metal on metal, Namgung Jun shot forward. Bright sparks flew as the blade of the Eternal Righteous Sword slid rapidly along the shaft of the spear. Having deflected the attack, he now suppressed the long spear's movement by pressing down with his sword as he slashed diagonally. At this rate, the Eternal Righteous Sword would sever the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon's hands.
"Ha!"
For a split second, it seemed the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon would let go of his weapon, but instead, he struck the butt of the spear hard with his right palm.
Clang!
The recoil sent the long spear spinning violently in midair. It flipped upside down, the rotating spearhead now threatening to split the back of Namgung Jun's head. Ultimately, Namgung Jun had to retract the Eternal Righteous Sword to parry the attack coming from behind.
Catching the deflected spear once more, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon reassumed his stance.
"You parried that? Even for a supreme expert, whose perception of time is heightened, that must have felt like a fraction of a second. You fight with the flow of a seasoned veteran, far beyond your years."
"I thought you only knew how to use brute force," Namgung Jun retorted, "but you possess such finesse."
Having exchanged words, the two supreme experts clashed once more. After trading over fifty exchanges, minor wounds began to accumulate on both sides. The martial uniforms of both men were torn in various places and stained with dark red blood. Yet, their focus remained entirely locked on each other.
Boom!
Deflecting every one of the countless thrusts piercing the air, Namgung Jun immediately surged forward. Seeing him close the distance, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon did not bother to take a step back. No, he couldn't. While he hadn't lost the previous exchange, he hadn't secured enough breathing room to move as fluidly as Namgung Jun.
This bastard…
Instead of moving his feet, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon took a deep breath to bolster the power of his strike. At the same time, the distance between his hands on the long spear shifted. He could easily compensate for the narrowed gap by changing his grip.
Holding the spear short, he pulled it back tightly against his flank. The posture was not awkward in the slightest; he looked as if he were holding a short spear.
"It has been a long time since I've traded blows for this long."
Sliding his hands smoothly, he thrust the shortened spear even faster, aiming to pierce Namgung Jun's entire body. Over twenty thrusts surged forward before even half a breath could pass. The countless ripples in the air made Namgung Jun's skin tingle.
Crackle!
Yet, the Cloud Mantle Embracing Sorrowful Thunder wrapped around Namgung Jun's body merely rippled gently, as it always did. The fabric woven by his master was effortlessly neutralizing the aftershocks of the continuous spear strikes.
When Namgung Jun deflected the horizontally sweeping spearhead to the side, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon spun his entire body. With that, the widely rotating spear slashed in the exact opposite direction of where Namgung Jun had extended his sword.
In the process, the distance widened again. The Great-Dusk Spear Paragon naturally returned to his original grip, while Namgung Jun, choosing not to force the distance, responded by sending sword winds along the intricate paths of his blade.
Clang-clang-clang! Boom!
The battle raged fiercely as the distance between them constantly shifted. During the exchange, Namgung Jun's bamboo hat was blasted apart, and the long robe worn by the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon was reduced to tatters.
This guy… did they say he was born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridian? Perhaps because of that, his internal energy is nearly on par with mine. To possess such internal energy at his age… how terrifying.
They had sustained a high-level battle for a long time. Naturally, his opponent’s strength should have waned, but Namgung Jun's Sword Force was actually increasing bit by bit. Even for the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon, bearing the increasingly heavy sword strikes was becoming a significant burden. He was beginning to worry that his cherished weapon might break at this rate.
Rumble!
A corner of the forest was shredded by a single move from the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon. Meanwhile, leaping into the air, Namgung Jun swung the Eternal Righteous Sword in a grand arc. Following the blue sword strike, the ground split wide open.
Every time he blocked Namgung Jun's attacks, the ground beneath the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon's feet sank slightly. Nevertheless, he let out a murderous smile as he gradually shifted his grip on the spear.
"Haa!"
The Great-Dusk Spear Paragon was also still bursting with strength. Just as Namgung Jun brought his sword down again, he twisted his spear to disrupt the trajectory. The moment the deflected Eternal Righteous Sword bounced above his head, an opening appeared in Namgung Jun's upper body.
It's finally over.
Twisting his body violently to the left, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon thrust his spear. The spearhead, curving like a serpent, aimed to pierce the center of Namgung Jun's collarbone.
At that moment, the Eternal Righteous Sword, which had been deflected high, curved downward. Its trajectory looked too weak to block the powerful spear strike.
Whoosh!
With a sharp, air-splitting sound, the Eternal Righteous Sword and the long spear met. The spearhead and blade locked together, sliding past each other without breaking contact. As a result, the only damage was a tiny tear in the fabric over Namgung Jun's collarbone.
Having felt the instantaneous shift in trajectory through his hands, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon's eyes widened.
That sword technique just now was marvelous.
It was undoubtedly a lethal move meant to kill. Yet, the man before him had defied death through sheer, innate swordsmanship. He had never seen a swordsman who handled a blade so exquisitely, especially one who was still a boy.
A chill ran down the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon's spine. While such martial achievements at this age were astonishing, the swordsmanship that flowed seamlessly from his fingers to the blade was what truly terrified him. It felt like more than mere talent; it felt as if an eternity of experience was contained within his swordsmanship. In the depths of that hazy eternity, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon sensed an insurmountable wall.
Boom!
Gripping the spear short, he struck Namgung Jun's shoulder to force them apart. Letting out a laugh, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon assumed his stance.
"Fine. Try blocking this as well."
The ultimate form of the Great Venerable Steadfast Spear Technique.
Great-Maw Grinding Gale.
A massive whirlwind of spear energy erupted from the tip of his long spear. It was as if a piece of a tempest had been torn away and honed to a razor-sharp edge, its body-numbing sharpness immense.
A single thrust. Is this an ultimate form that has refined both range and sharpness to their absolute peak?
It was a colossal spear strike poised to pierce not just Namgung Jun, but the entire surrounding area.
Thud!
Stamping his foot in an Earth-Trembling Stomp, Namgung Jun leveled the Eternal Righteous Sword horizontally. It was a straight, horizontal slash from a middle stance.
Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique.
Azure Torrent.
A single blue line cut through the spear wind that flew in as if to crush him entirely.
Boom!
An immense wind pressure erupted as the spear wind exploded. Not only Namgung Jun but also the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon was swept away helplessly. The ground where the two supreme experts had stood, now pushed far back, was gradually stained red.
The Great-Dusk Spear Paragon was deeply slashed across his upper body, while Namgung Jun suffered a piercing wound to his shoulder. Assessing the injury, Namgung Jun focused on catching his breath.
If not for the Cloud Mantle Embracing Sorrowful Thunder, my entire right shoulder would have been blown away.
Compared to Namgung Jun, whose posture remained unbroken, the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon's figure swayed precariously.
"Ugh."
He almost fell to one knee but managed to support himself by driving his long spear into the ground. Seeing their leader at a disadvantage, the aura of the Venerable Spear Sect's martial artists shifted drastically. Their surging Qi Waves, threatening to intervene at any moment, were bloodthirsty.
"Those bastards…!"
The Azure Firmament Hall was also about to leap forward.
"That is enough."
Just before the Azure Firmament Hall and the hundred spearmen could clash, the Taoists of the Mount Tai Sect made their appearance. Though they were few, numbering only about ten, the key figure was the old man at the rear.
Mount Tai Sect Master Hyeongman had personally stepped forward.
Although the Venerable Spear Sect held an overwhelming numerical advantage, numbers became meaningless in the face of a peerless expert. This was especially true now that the Great-Dusk Spear Paragon was heavily injured.
"Great-Dusk Spear Paragon," Hyeongman said, his voice calm but firm. "This area is the territory of the Mount Tai Sect. To cause such a scene so openly is quite bold of you."
"Heh. How unexpected. I never thought the notoriously passive Mount Tai Sect would intervene. And for the Sect Master himself to move?"
"There is no need for a long exchange. Withdraw. Otherwise, our sect will also draw our swords."
The Great-Dusk Spear Paragon glanced back and forth between Hyeongman and Namgung Jun, saying nothing. It appeared he had little energy left to even speak. He was quickly escorted away by the spearmen of the Venerable Spear Sect.
Watching them leave, Namgung Jun looked at Hyeongman.
"I am in your debt."
"You aided our sect as well," Hyeongman replied. "It was only right that we returned the favor."
Namgung Jun slowly clasped his hands in a martial salute. Although it was difficult to move his arm due to the injury on his right shoulder, he did not seem to mind.
"I leave Shandong Province in your hands."
Having paid his brief respects, Namgung Jun did not linger to converse with Hyeongman and immediately left the area with his men. Though they had aided each other, the air lingering between the Azure Firmament Hall and the Mount Tai Sect was incredibly chilly.
Hyeongman muttered as he watched the retreating backs of the Azure Firmament Hall.
"Leaving Shandong Province in our hands…"