Chapter 178: Mount Baeksu (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178: Mount Baeksu (3)
On Myeong nodded at Baekri Cheong and clasped his hands in a martial salute.
"I wish you the best of luck. Any more words would just be empty praise."
"Thank you."
As Baekri Cheong sheathed his sword and walked back, the members of the Azure Firmament Hall erupted in cheers.
"Baekri Cheong! You've become a supreme expert! Congratulations!"
"Damn it! I wanted to be the first to achieve the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit! I guess my punches won't even tickle you now, huh?"
Wi Hyeon-su rejoiced as if it were his own achievement, while Jang Mun-hyeok balled a fist and playfully nudged Baekri Cheong in the ribs.
"To achieve the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown in the middle of a duel! What does it feel like?"
"No wonder. I knew something was different ever since you handled the vice-leader's attacks so easily back at Taewol Fortress."
"Ah, right! Baekri Cheong played a huge role back then, too. That must have been a sign. At the time, I just thought you'd gotten a lot stronger."
The other members of the Azure Firmament Hall gathered around Baekri Cheong, sharing in his joy. The victory of the duel was forgotten; they were simply, purely happy for their comrade's achievement.
"Thank you, everyone."
Surrounded by the members of the Azure Firmament Hall, Baekri Cheong let a faint smile grace his lips.
Though his blood family was gone, he had found a new one here.
The hands reaching out to embrace him and the warmth surrounding him from all sides calmed his turbulent heart. His fury toward the North Hengshan Sect, the sense of accomplishment from his sudden breakthrough to the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown—despite the chaotic tangle of emotions, Baekri Cheong was able to smile brightly from the bottom of his heart.
Watching the scene from a step back, pride welled in Namgung Jun's eyes.
A martial artist's enlightenment doesn't always have to be grand. A small, seemingly trivial realization can often trigger a massive transformation.
Before this, Baekri Cheong would have merely maintained a stoic expression and given a quiet nod. It was an incredibly subtle change, but Namgung Jun perceived it clearly.
"Consolidate your enlightenment. Now that you have achieved the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown, your priority is to adapt to your altered senses."
At Namgung Jun's words, the Azure Firmament Hall members surrounding Baekri Cheong stepped back at once.
Baekri Cheong flashed a bright, easy smile at Namgung Jun and immediately sat down to begin his Qi circulation, showing no intention of watching the upcoming duel. His posture radiated an absolute trust in Namgung Jun.
In stark contrast to the Azure Firmament Hall, a heavy, grim atmosphere hung over the North Hengshan Sect. They had not anticipated On Myeong's defeat.
On Seong glared at On Myeong, who was walking back with a light, unburdened expression.
"On Myeong. Surely you didn't hold back."
"Senior Brother, you saw it yourself. The Eldest Young Master of the Baekri Clan has become truly strong. Strong enough that I can see him returning to Shanxi Province to rebuild his clan one day."
Of course, On Seong had also clearly witnessed Baekri Cheong's sudden breakthrough to the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. It was true that his ascension to a supreme expert had drastically lowered On Myeong's chances of winning.
Yet, seeing On Myeong look so refreshed left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"That's exactly why you shouldn't have lost. You should have at least forced a draw."
"Senior Brother, I did my absolute best."
On Seong furrowed his brow, opening his mouth to speak before stopping himself.
If you had truly done your best, you would have disrupted him to prevent his enlightenment.
Conscious of the many eyes on them, On Seong swallowed the words he wanted to spit out.
"Once we return to the sect, you won't be able to escape the Sect Master's reprimand."
Shaking his head, On Seong brushed past On Myeong and stepped into the center of the clearing.
I must win, no matter what.
On Seong looked at the man stepping into the clearing to face him. His martial uniform was in tatters, yet the embroidery of four clouds on his sleeve remained intact. Through the rips in his clothes, blood-stained bandages were visible. Though he had tidied himself up as best he could, his aura wavered unsteadily.
It was clear he was suffering from significant internal injuries, not just external wounds. Objectively speaking, no matter how strong Namgung Jun was, it would be a miracle if he were unscathed after facing a peerless expert. Even if he had fought the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor alongside others, he must have crossed the threshold of life and death countless times.
Since rising to the rank of Hall Master, Namgung Jun had built an immense reputation. His rise had been so overwhelming that, under normal circumstances, one would hesitate to even cross swords with him.
But the prowess he'd shown the Jianghu as the Azure Firmament Hall Master couldn't possibly be at its peak right now.
In a way, this is an opportunity.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. If he could defeat the undefeated Namgung Jun, even under these circumstances, his own reputation would skyrocket. Not only that, but he would also take a step—no, two steps—closer to the still-vacant position of the next Sect Master.
Securing Mount Baeksu and stepping over Namgung Jun to elevate my own fame. It's killing two birds with one stone.
On Seong bolstered his resolve, focusing on the rewards that awaited him. A relaxed smile spread across his face, which had been tinged with tension.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes. Let us begin."
Their eyes locked. The two swordsmen drew their weapons simultaneously, unleashing fierce strikes.
Clang!
The tips of their swords clashed in midair, locking together and bending as they bit into one another.
From the very beginning, the duel was ferocious. On Seong immediately pressed the attack, forcing Namgung Jun back with overbearing pressure. True to form, the sword techniques of the North Hengshan Sect were rugged and practical. Sword strikes embodying the steep, rugged terrain of Mount Hengshan filled the clearing.
Even so, Namgung Jun's sword never grew rushed.
Deflecting a thrust aimed at his shoulder, he brought the Eternal Righteous Sword to his chest and countered with the exact same form. On Seong hastily twisted his waist to dodge, his eyes trembling. If not for his Protective Astral Qi, he would have been wounded.
At a glance, it seemed a simple thrust, but its sharpness was extraordinary. The Protective Astral Qi where the sword tip had grazed was visibly thinned. Had it landed cleanly, his defenses would have been pierced through.
Has he recovered that much, or is he this formidable even when weakened?
Though startled, On Seong raised his momentum even further. Having crossed swords at close range, he could tell that Namgung Jun's body was indeed in poor condition. Beyond the occasionally wavering Qi Wave, the faint scent of blood mixed with wound-healing salve wafted over.
Confirming that Namgung Jun's injuries had not healed, On Seong tightened his grip on his sword.
If I back down now, it's over.
Losing to an opponent in this state would be like overturning a table laden with delicacies with his own hands. On Seong slashed his sword in wide arcs, restricting Namgung Jun's movements as he pressed his aggressive onslaught, seeking to land a heavy blow.
Crash!
Every time the two blades met, a violent shockwave erupted, sweeping across the clearing. It was powerful enough that the martial artists watching from a distance had to circulate their internal energy to withstand it.
"Haa!"
On Seong poured internal energy unstintingly from his dantian, battering Namgung Jun. Yet, even after enduring over forty exchanges of the powerful High-Cliff Sword Technique, Namgung Jun stood firm.
Instead, the indigo mist enveloping Namgung Jun's blade gradually thickened, easily pushing back the forms of the High-Cliff Sword Technique.
On Seong's brow furrowed as he swung his sword with all his might. The rebound force surging through his blade was unusual. And this was only the beginning.
Whoosh!
Namgung Jun's footsteps grew lighter, kicking up a fine mist. His movements accelerated in an instant, and his sword strikes branched out in a brilliant display. His sleeves fluttered wildly as the clearing was instantly dyed in deep blue sword shadows.
Mere sword shadows!
On Seong refused to be swept away by the variations. He continuously unleashed the strikes of the High-Cliff Sword Technique, attempting to shatter the illusions with brute force.
Clang!
Instead, it was On Seong's sword that was deflected. His eyes widened. The Sword Force carried by each individual shadow was heavy.
What?
It wasn't just a display of variation; the power packed into each shadow was extraordinary.
While On Seong hesitated, Namgung Jun's momentum shifted once more. A swift sword strike lashed out, striking On Seong's blade squarely.
Do you think I'll just take this?
On Seong moved to preempt Namgung Jun before he could execute an even faster attack. He thrust his sword at a quicker tempo, attempting to seize back the flow of the duel.
Yet, before he knew it, Namgung Jun's sword had transformed from a swift blade into an incredibly heavy one.
On Seong looked into his opponent's eyes. The moment he met that gaze, which flickered with a blue light, he realized he had fallen into Namgung Jun's psychological trap.
How can he be so unpredictable!
Swoosh!
A ruthless sword strike cut through the shadows that obscured his vision. A chill ran down On Seong's spine as he desperately parried the blow.
Clang!
A piercing metallic screech rang out. Simultaneously, a faint burst of light erupted from On Seong's chest. His Protective Astral Qi had split down the middle and collapsed. He hadn't even been cut directly—he had merely been struck by the attack's Qi Wave.
If that had been a direct hit… my chest would have been gouged open.
Flustered, On Seong circulated even more internal energy to resist. However, rendering his efforts futile, the Sword Force bursting from Namgung Jun's blade pressed down on him even harder.
"Ugh, how?!"
On Seong, who had been trying to close the distance throughout the duel, retreated for the first time and glared at his opponent. Namgung Jun was clearly not at full strength. He was riddled with injuries. So how was he making him feel so utterly helpless?
On Seong did not believe himself to be lacking. His martial arts ranked among the top three of the North Hengshan Sect's first-generation disciples, and he was a contender for the position of Sect Master.
The problem was that Namgung Jun's power, even weakened by injuries, was far greater than he had expected. If he could display such prowess now, what kind of sword strikes could he unleash at full strength? It was beyond imagination.
Monster.
Thud!
On Seong executed an Earth-Trembling Stomp, drawing upon his entire body's internal energy. He resolved to end the duel quickly. But just as he was about to prepare his ultimate technique—
"I have seen enough of the North Hengshan Sect's sword."
Namgung Jun's voice was as cold as ice.
Whoosh!
His movements, which had been clearly visible until now, blurred. It was as if the water mist that had been rising from his feet now enveloped his entire body.
On Seong's eyes widened. Even when he pushed the Butterfly Metamorphosis of Mystic Time to its absolute limit and activated the North Hengshan Sect's superior eye technique to its peak, he could not clearly see Namgung Jun's sword.
At this very moment, Namgung Jun was displaying movement that belonged to an entirely different realm. It was as if, even though they had both stepped into the realm of the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown, their standing within it was worlds apart.
Just as On Seong, sensing a mortal threat, instinctively prepared the ultimate technique of the High-Cliff Sword Technique—
The Eternal Righteous Sword drew a clean, horizontal arc. The way it sliced through the air was extraordinary; it felt as though the Sword Force lingering in the air was lending its strength to push the blade forward.
Before anyone realized it, Namgung Jun was executing the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique while freely wielding the forms of the Namcheon Sword Art.
Clang!
The snapped half of On Seong's sword plunged deep into the ground.
"Ugh."
On Seong let out a low groan, clutching his hand. The webbing between his thumb and forefinger was torn, blood seeping out. It was the first time since his days as a rising star that his hand had been torn from failing to withstand an opponent's Sword Force.
And his sword… that was an even greater shock. While he had dropped his sword before, he had never had his blade broken. To suffer such humiliation at the hands of a swordsman so much younger than himself…
As On Seong's hand trembled violently, a groan escaping his lips, Namgung Jun sheathed his sword with perfectly composed breath. He looked at On Seong with detached, indifferent eyes.
"Did I not tell you?"
With a casual posture, Namgung Jun took in On Seong and the other disciples of the North Hengshan Sect in a single glance, as if the duel had been nothing more than light entertainment.
"Two duels are more than enough."
Neither On Seong nor anyone else from the North Hengshan Sect could utter a word. It was only two defeats, but to them, they felt monumentally heavy.