Chapter 175: Battle-Axe Breaker (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175: Battle-Axe Breaker (4)
The green starlight that had splashed chaotically across the night sky of Mount Munbong was fading.
Yet, even as the stars scattered into the distance, the night did not grow dark.
A clear, brilliant light spread out like the edge of a sharp blade.
[Heh…]
As a peerless expert, the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor could tell with absolute certainty.
That deep blue light was not manifested through mere internal energy.
Even though it lacked Astral Qi, that strangely heavy sword strike possessed a texture similar to Manifested Astral Qi.
Wasn't all of creation reacting, however faintly, to Namgung Jun's sword strike?
It was truly astonishing. How was this possible?
He was a mere supreme expert who had not even achieved the Five Qis Converging at the Origin.
Furthermore, the depth and density of the mindscape felt within the blue light were extraordinary. It was as if it contained the mental landscape of one person—no, two.
Even if one knew how to closely weave two different mindscapes into one, the probability of channeling that power into a single sword strike was infinitesimally low.
Even the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor himself lacked the confidence to bind two completely different mindscapes together.
[You bastard. What in the world are you?!]
The very air of Mount Munbong was saturated with the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's emotions: astonishment, fear, anxiety, and fury.
A cold, desolate flash of light plunged down, slicing through those complex emotions in a single strike.
Crrraaaack!
The wave of Sword Qi, generated by dozens of overlapping layers of Sword Force, vibrated violently.
The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's Protective Astral Qi crumpled and tore open.
Slash!
The final strike of Southern Heaven slashed deeply across the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's chest.
A long spray of blood followed the blade as it swept high in a diagonal arc.
Inside the split flesh, which gushed a torrent of blood, hints of white bone could be seen.
Despite suffering a wound so deep it exposed bone, the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor could not mount any response. This was the aftermath of unleashing Manifested Astral Qi. Just maintaining the technique consumed an immense amount of strength, and now he had to endure the backlash of having it shattered.
Thus, even ignoring the injuries he had already sustained, he was undoubtedly on the verge of death.
Even so.
The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor gritted his teeth and raised the Mountain-Ringing Axe.
Even as his consciousness grew hazy, he desperately forced his creaking body to move.
Boom!
The Eternal Righteous Sword and the Mountain-Ringing Axe clashed, crossing diagonally.
Though it was a mere collision of weapons, the summit of Mount Munbong trembled.
The hands of both men shook violently as they pushed against each other's blades.
“I ask you again. What is your identity?”
“The Azure Star Sword.”
The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's eyelids fluttered.
He knew Namgung Jun was not simply stating his title.
He recalled the blue light that had shattered his Manifested Astral Qi—the image of Namgung Jun, shrouded in that light, ruthlessly cutting down his technique.
That figure was like a blue star swallowing all other starlight.
“Are you saying that you yourself are a new star?”
Meeting Namgung Jun's glowing blue eyes, the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor burst into a mad laugh.
“I acknowledge you! Blue Nova!”
Creak!
The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's faded Qi Wave suddenly swelled.
At the same time, the Mountain-Ringing Axe began to slowly press down on the Eternal Righteous Sword.
Even in this state, the gap between a peerless expert and a supreme expert is this clear.
Both were on the brink of death, but the amount of strength they could recover with a single breath was worlds apart. It was only natural, as the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor was in direct communion with Natural Qi.
Let's end this.
Namgung Jun absorbed the crushing force of the Mountain-Ringing Axe with his entire body while subtly twisting his blade. He had exhausted all his strength shattering the Manifested Astral Qi with Southern Heaven. He could not even execute a simple form, let alone an ultimate art.
He was relying solely on his fundamental martial arts and the sword techniques he had accumulated since his past life.
These two roots, which formed his very foundation, were all he had left.
Clang!
Using the force of the Mountain-Ringing Axe, Namgung Jun spun naturally in place.
The deflected Eternal Righteous Sword returned to its path in an instant, piercing deep into the center of the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's chest.
It was an incredibly natural and simple sword path.
Even as he coughed up blood, the final sword path Namgung Jun displayed lingered before the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's eyes.
A bastard capable of drawing such a sword path is still stuck at the stage of Three Flowers Gather at the Crown?
Unless one was a peerless expert, they would never comprehend the true value of the sword path Namgung Jun had just traced.
“Splendid!”
The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor burst into a raspy, phlegm-filled laugh.
He had a premonition upon seeing Namgung Jun's final sword path. Though the man before him might be lesser now, he would one day surpass the title of Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor and reach the very edge of the heavens.
Thinking of this, both the shattering of his Manifested Astral Qi and today's defeat made sense.
“Even so! I will not die quietly!”
Squeezing out his last remaining strength, the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor barely managed to lift the Mountain-Ringing Axe.
In the old bandit's eyes, Namgung Jun came into view—his sword driven deep, his stance now crumbling. He seemed to have no strength left to dodge or counter.
As if determined to drag him to the afterlife as a companion, the Mountain-Ringing Axe fell straight toward Namgung Jun's head.
“You bandit bastard! Your greed knows no bounds!”
Thud!
Kang Gok, though lacking the strength to swing his twin axes, slammed his massive body forward, knocking the Mountain-Ringing Axe away.
Meanwhile, Hyeokri Yu, who had taken a position behind the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor, drove his twin swords straight into the back of the emperor's neck. He had done this out of concern that if he attempted a slash, his failing grip would be insufficient to cut deep.
Two blades erupted from the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's throat.
At last, his stubborn life was extinguished.
“Namgung Jun!”
“My breathing… is fine.”
Even as the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor collapsed, Namgung Jun remained standing in the exact posture of his thrust. Perhaps because he was utterly exhausted, his body refused to move.
With half-closed eyes, Namgung Jun spoke slowly.
“I trusted you both, Seniors.”
Kang Gok quickly laid Namgung Jun down, and Hyeokri Yu began administering first aid.
Although Namgung Jun had shattered the Manifested Astral Qi, he had sustained numerous wounds in the process. If left unattended, he could easily die from blood loss.
The two Hall Masters cared more for Namgung Jun's body than their own.
“You really pulled it off.”
Applying stanching powder to a long gash on Namgung Jun's forearm, Kang Gok let out a hollow laugh.
It was not entirely unheard of for Manifested Astral Qi to be shattered by a standard ultimate art. It was just an extremely rare occurrence in the long history of the Jianghu.
However, those who had achieved such a feat were all peerless experts of the Five Qis Converging at the Origin; it was just that they had not yet formed Manifested Astral Qi themselves or were not in a position to deploy it.
Yet, a mere supreme expert at the stage of Three Flowers Gather at the Crown had shattered Manifested Astral Qi.
If this news reached the upper echelons of the Jianghu, it would cause a massive uproar.
“At this point, our past attempts to stop you from entering the Jianghu out of concern for your Nine Yin Severed Meridian feel incredibly foolish.”
“Crushing Hall Master. Didn't you even draw your weapon against the First Cloud back then?”
At the two Hall Masters' conversation, Namgung Jun smiled bitterly and shook his head.
A supreme expert shattering Manifested Astral Qi—it should have been an impossible feat.
It's not just that I remember my past life. If Hahu Seon's enlightenment hadn't been so deeply connected to the Namcheon Palace, I wouldn't have even been able to attempt this today.
In a way, his past life and the Namcheon Palace had both aided him.
The two Hall Masters finished their first aid. Having caught his breath and recovered a fraction of his strength, Namgung Jun looked at them.
“How are you two, Seniors?”
Kang Gok and Hyeokri Yu's injuries were also severe, and they had exhausted almost all of their strength. Even so, it was a relief that their lives did not seem to be in danger.
Namgung Jun expanded his sensory perception, scanning all of Mount Munbong.
Perhaps because there were so many bandits from Taewol Fortress, battles were still raging in various places.
“Let us announce the end of this battle.”
Exchanging glances, Kang Gok and Hyeokri Yu looked at Namgung Jun.
“The Azure Firmament Hall Master made the greatest contribution.”
“You do it.”
Nodding, Namgung Jun stood at the edge of the summit.
He squeezed out what little internal energy he could from his completely empty dantian.
[On behalf of the three halls of the Azure Heaven Association, the Azure Firmament Hall Master hereby declares.]
Namgung Jun's Six Harmonies Voice Transmission filled Mount Munbong.
[The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor's Mountain-Ringing Axe has been shattered by the hands of the three Hall Masters.]
It was a declaration signifying the slaying of the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor.
He could feel the momentum of the Azure Heaven Association's Clouds swell instantly, swallowing the bandits like a forest fire.
There was no need for the three Hall Masters to move.
The three halls began to cut down the bandits at an even faster pace.
*
Having cleared out the bandits of Taewol Fortress, including the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor, the three halls quickly left Mount Munbong.
Since they did not know when the Demonic Cult forces mentioned by the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor would arrive, they retreated first.
The Clouds of the three halls stood guard over the three Hall Masters, who were circulating their qi.
It was when the Hall Masters, who had been circulating their qi for over half a day, began to open their eyes one by one.
“Is everyone still in one piece?”
At the clear voice that suddenly came from behind, the guarding Clouds flinched.
Without them realizing when he had arrived, the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord, Jang Mu-yeon, was standing right among them.
“Gasp!”
“Huh? Ah! We greet the Sword Lord!”
“When on earth did…”
Some Clouds, who had hastily drawn their weapons, sheepishly sheathed them with embarrassed faces.
Seeing this, Jang Mu-yeon playfully tapped them on their shoulders.
“Now, everyone relax. The Demonic Cult isn't coming.”
“That is a relief. Was what the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor said just a bluff?”
“Of course not. I just finished having a little dance with the Hidden-Star Demon King, who brought a whole horde of his subordinates. I kicked his backside and chased him off, so don't worry.”
When the surrounding Clouds looked doubtful, Jang Mu-yeon tilted his head in exaggeration.
“Look at you lot. Did you think I was playing around somewhere and just showed up late? I'm hurt.”
Jang Mu-yeon nudged the Clouds aside and walked toward the Hall Masters.
“I heard the news through the Beggars' Sect. That you cut down the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor.”
Nodding at Kang Gok and Hyeokri Yu, Jang Mu-yeon finally stared at Namgung Jun.
“Looks like you had quite a rough time. I've never seen you looking so tattered.”
“If not for the two Seniors, I would have been in serious trouble.”
With a chuckle, Jang Mu-yeon plopped down in front of the Hall Masters and gestured with his hand.
“Alright. Tell me the story.”
Hyeokri Yu, a man of few words, had no intention of speaking, and Kang Gok stared at Namgung Jun as if to dump the troublesome task onto his junior.
Consequently, Namgung Jun summarized the situation and began his report.
“You shattered that bandit's Manifested Astral Qi?”
Raising a hand to stop Namgung Jun's story, Jang Mu-yeon lowered his head.
After being lost in thought for a long while, he clicked his tongue.
“Even I have never heard of such a thing. If it were a peerless expert who had just achieved the Five Qis Converging at the Origin, perhaps, but how could a supreme expert…”
Watching Jang Mu-yeon ponder deeply, Namgung Jun smiled bitterly.
Jang Mu-yeon's dilemma was not a doubt of Namgung Jun's skill, but a natural question that anyone would harbor. Unable to know that Namgung Jun had been reincarnated, Jang Mu-yeon could not possibly reach a conclusion.
“I can see you're one incredible fellow.”
Letting out a dry laugh, Jang Mu-yeon looked at the three Hall Masters.
“Anyway, you all did well.”
Having recovered to some extent, the three halls immediately prepared to lay the Flying Swiftness Hall Master to rest.
Since his body was already heavily damaged and transporting it from Shanxi Province to Anhui Province would take too much time, it was better to hold the funeral here. Fortunately, the Flying Swiftness Hall Master was a native of Shanxi Province.
The three halls moved quickly and arrived at the Flying Swiftness Hall Master's hometown.
“Why on earth did that fellow say he wanted to open an inn in a place like this?”
Scanning the nearly deserted village, Jang Mu-yeon could not tear his eyes away for a long time. It was as if he were imagining Go Woo-shin building an inn on the other side of the village.
“Sword Lord.”
“Right. Let's go.”
Since there was also a stronghold of the Great-Axe Green Forest in the Flying Swiftness Hall Master's hometown, the three halls quickly demolished it, found a sunny spot, and laid him to rest.
Tomb of the Chivalrous Hero Go Woo-shin (俠客高羽信之墓).
Namgung Jun stood before the tombstone that Jang Mu-yeon had personally carved and erected.
A bottle of liquor was held in his hand.
“Senior Go. I wanted to keep our last promise of a drink, even if it has to be like this.”
Fenjiu.
It was the most famous liquor in Shanxi, and the Fenjiu of Fenyang was said to be the most precious and delicious of all. Namgung Jun had gone out of his way to obtain it.
After pouring the liquor over the tombstone, Namgung Jun took a final sip.
At first, a unique fragrance stimulated his nose, but once that passed, a clear and smooth sensation glided down his throat. Soon after, a clean aftertaste left both his throat and chest feeling hot yet refreshing.
“Rest well.”
The Clouds also paid their respects one by one, burning the paper money they had prepared.
Samyeop, who had been sobbing until his eyes were swollen, suddenly performed the opening stance of the Void-Wave Flooded Body Art, then bowed his head with a resolute expression. It seemed to be a meaningful gesture, though only Go Woo-shin and Samyeop would know its exact significance.
Samyeop, taking the opening stance alone before the tombstone, looked like a disciple sending his master off.
“Woo-shin. You've run yourself ragged all this time, so rest easy now. I'll do the traveling for you from now on.”
Finally, Jang Mu-yeon stood before the tombstone, drawing his blades.
Ching! Clang!
Striking his blades together to make a light metallic sound, Jang Mu-yeon began to perform a sword dance.
There was no melody, and because he wore a mask, his expression could not be seen.
Yet, for some reason, the sweeping, flowing sword dance was incredibly sorrowful.
Jang Mu-yeon's sword dance was a dance for everyone. It was a dance to comfort Go Woo-shin and to shake off the sorrow of the Clouds who stood vigil.
As he danced, Jang Mu-yeon began to recite a poem in a melancholy voice.
“Dancing on two feet beneath the moon and bamboo breeze,
Soaring freely across the vast Jianghu.”
Whoosh!
Along the erratic sweeps of his blade tips, the cold ashes of the paper money soared into the sky. Everyone watched in silence as the ashes danced freely in the open air.
“Returning to dust today, leaving only the bones of a chivalrous hero,
The blue sky and clear wind yearn for his fleeting trace.”
Hummmmm!
As the sword dance concluded with the final line of the poem, Jang Mu-yeon's blades let out a mournful hum.
Sheathing his weapons, he could not take his eyes off Go Woo-shin's grave.
Only after a long moment did he turn his head to look at the Clouds.
“We have slain the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor, and Go Woo-shin has returned to our embrace. However, there are still some minor matters left to attend to.”
As if anticipating what he would say, the aura of the Clouds grew heavy and sharp.
“We will erase every single stronghold of the Great-Axe Green Forest in Shanxi Province and reduce the number of the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers.”
The Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord ordered the extermination of the Great-Axe Green Forest.