Chapter 20: Training (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: Training (3)
Lee Se-ha studied Namgung Jun’s condition.
His breathing was ragged, his chest heaving violently as tremors ran through his limbs. It was a testament to his sheer grit that he had lasted this long in a spar, especially with such a frail body.
His focus and willpower were astonishing. It would be difficult for anyone his age to display such endurance.
Lee Se-ha didn’t bother asking if he was alright. As his master, she could already tell. She knew the depth of his resolve and understood that his request had been born from serious contemplation.
I can’t stop him when he’s like this.
Lee Se-ha’s red lips curled into a smile. A similar fire ignited within her, kindled by her disciple's passion.
"Very well. If you are my disciple, then you must experience this art."
Lee Se-ha’s sword spun, its trajectory shifting erratically. Had Namgung Jun not created the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders, this was the technique she would have taught him first.
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Technique.
It was the sister art to the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula and Lee Se-ha’s ultimate signature technique.
Crackle!
The Thunder Qi she had gathered like storm clouds while using the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance now coalesced into a razor-sharp point. Concentrated on her blade, it exploded all at once. In an instant, sword strikes rushed in from twelve directions.
The attacks were so fast they seemed to split the very air. Even though she was clearly holding back, their power and speed were immense.
Namgung Jun did not retreat from the merciless onslaught. Twisting his hilt slightly, he thrust his sword straight forward.
Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders.
Eighth Form, Eighth Fold.
In an instant, eight indigo beams of light flared brilliantly, thrusting out in all directions. His curved, swift strikes, like diagonal brushstrokes, interlocked to deflect every single one of her attacks.
Clang-clang-clang!
As swift sword met swift sword, a deafening metallic din erupted. The dozens of clashes blurred into a single, continuous shriek of steel. Shockwaves from their exchange rippled outward, kicking up clouds of dust from the training ground floor.
She had been impressive when executing the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance, but while displaying the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Technique, Lee Se-ha felt several levels stronger.
Despite the throbbing pain in his hands, which felt as if his palms were tearing, Namgung Jun let out a faint smile.
Magnificent.
He marveled at Lee Se-ha's swordsmanship. Though his master was young, her swordplay offered clear lessons and profound inspiration. A high martial realm did not automatically make one a good teacher. The compatibility between master and disciple was crucial, and in that regard, it would be hard to find a better master than Lee Se-ha.
With Master, I can become even stronger.
Namgung Jun felt it in his bones. This was different from his past life, where he’d had no master. The presence of someone like Lee Se-ha would be the driving force that allowed him to surpass his past self as the Sword Emperor at an incredible pace.
Lee Se-ha was similarly influenced by her disciple. Clashing swords with him would make her grow stronger even faster. In the end, she too might reach the level of the past Sword Emperor at a young age.
Then, together, we can point our swords at the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult.
Their two swords clashed relentlessly.
The members of the Heavenly Sword Hall, watching the intense exchange, could not hide their admiration.
"To think he can clash with the Hall Master like that."
"Even if the Hall Master is matching her strength to his..."
"He’s a monster."
The Heavenly Sword Hall members were captivated by the spectacle. There was not a single detail to be missed. From both the Hall Master's sword and the youngest's flowed profound, sublime techniques, as natural as breathing. It felt as if they could gain immense inspiration and achieve a breakthrough just by comprehending a fraction of what they were seeing. Some swordsmen had already sat cross-legged on the spot, falling into deep meditation.
Swish!
This is a superior swift sword.
Namgung Jun, who had sharply spun to the left using the subtle principles of Infinite Steps to evade a strike, had a gleam in his eyes.
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Technique. A superior peerless art that would be rated at least Fourth Cloud if it were in the Self-Reflection Martial Repository.
As his Baihui Acupoint burned hot, blue lightning flashed repeatedly inside his mind.
They are both swift swords, but they are distinctly different.
He was thoroughly dissecting the sword paths of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Technique, reading them and melting their principles into the forms of his own Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders. The entire process was incredibly natural.
Huh?
The first to feel the change was Lee Se-ha, who was clashing swords directly with him. At some point, the paths of the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders began to shift slightly, and the change was familiar.
It was the martial principles of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Technique.
Although the forms of the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders did not change drastically, the subtle principles of her technique could be glimpsed in the minute details of his sword’s path. The sword thunder that followed his blade grew sharper, fiercer.
My disciple is terrifying.
Thrusting her sword forward once more, Lee Se-ha’s smile deepened. She hadn’t yet shown him the secret manual for the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Technique, wanting him to experience it with his body first. Yet here he was, absorbing it into his own swordplay without even a glance at the manual.
Then again, it’s only natural. He already digested the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance just by clashing swords.
Lee Se-ha found this both marvelous and delightful.
If, one day, I...
As a Cloud of the Azure Heaven Association fighting the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult, she lived with death as her constant companion. In such circumstances, having a disciple who could fully inherit her martial arts was an immense joy—even more so because his sword and his heart were upright.
I am truly glad I met Jun.
Lee Se-ha's sword grew progressively faster. It reached a point where even the spectating swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall began to lose track of her blade.
In an instant, a blue bolt of lightning pierced the distance, aimed straight for Namgung Jun.
But he did not fall. He was the only one there who could fully track Lee Se-ha's swift sword with his eyes. Before anyone knew it, his sword, which had been raised in an upper stance, lunged forward powerfully.
A vertically striking thunderbolt slammed down, crushing the incoming lightning head-on.
Clang!
With a crisp metallic ring, the swords of master and disciple came to a halt.
Namgung Jun withdrew his sword first and bowed politely.
"I have learned much."
"Your Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders… it has changed a lot."
"It is thanks to you, Master."
It was just as Lee Se-ha said. The change in the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders was profound. If the Sword Demon he’d first fought were to see it now, he would have mistaken it for a completely different technique.
"And you've even mastered the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance. My disciple is truly wonderful."
"No, it was merely an imitation. I will have to study the secret manual to learn it properly."
"Don't worry," Lee Se-ha promised confidently. "I'll make sure to teach you properly."
Namgung Jun smiled. "Yes, Master."
The Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance. The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Technique.
With the essence of two new sword techniques absorbed into his being, the hilt of Namgung Jun's sword felt scorching hot.
* * *
Namgung Jun continued his external arts training. He ate hearty meals to gain weight and sculpted his body through high-intensity workouts. There was nothing particularly special about his methods; he simply remained faithful to the basics, just as he had in his past life. His rate of growth might be somewhat slow, but that was something he could compensate for.
After he consumed the spirit elixir from his mission reward, his growth accelerated even further. He felt on the verge of the Peak Realm, needing only the right catalyst to break through.
In addition, the external arts training methods Lee Se-ha had researched and shared with him were a great help. While he had only known the basics, he was now able to focus on the finer details.
Meanwhile, Namgung Jun received new advice from Gong Jun-am.
"Your current situation isn't bad, but if you want to elevate your external arts faster and deeper, go visit the Iron Tower Hall."
"What kind of place is the Iron Tower Hall?"
"It's where all the giants of our association gather. You'll understand once you go there."
After finishing his training, Namgung Jun headed straight to the Iron Tower Hall.
"Whoosh!"
"Haaah!"
The atmosphere in the Iron Tower Hall was a world apart from the Heavenly Sword Hall. Unlike the Heavenly Sword Hall, which was stocked with swords and filled with members sparring endlessly, the Iron Tower Hall seemed to focus on individual training. The place was filled with various types of iron equipment, which the members were using to hone their bodies.
Namgung Jun took note of their physiques.
Every single one of them has an incredible level of external arts.
Whether they had a special training method or not, their external arts were at a level rarely seen in the Jianghu.
They say the Iron Tower Hall is one of the Three Powerhouses. Now I see why.
Among the Ten Halls of the Sword Fragrance Department, the three strongest were known as the Three Powerhouses. The Iron Tower Hall was one of them.
It’s a bit of a blow to my pride that the Heavenly Sword Hall isn't one of the Three Powerhouses.
Perhaps it was because it was the group to which he and his master belonged. Although he hadn't been with the Heavenly Sword Hall for long, he felt a strong sense of belonging, as if he had joined a new sect.
The Three Powerhouses…
As Namgung Jun fell into thought, a massive shadow loomed over him. A giant, even larger than the men training before him, was looking down at him.
"Namgung Jun. What brings you here?"
"Do you know me?"
"How could I not?" The giant, middle-aged man flexed his enormous arms.
Namgung Jun was famous. Not only had he made a name for himself during his placement test, but everyone in the Azure Heaven Association's main fortress knew he had played a major role in his first mission. Even now, several Hall Masters deeply regretted not being able to recruit him. That was how much attention he was receiving.
"And do you know who I am?"
At the man's question, Namgung Jun noticed the four clouds on his sleeve and bowed his head. "Greetings, Iron Tower Hall Master."
"Bwahahaha! I'm glad you recognize me. So, what brings you here?"
"I came hoping to receive some advice on external arts training."
"Oh?"
At the exclamation from the Iron Tower Hall Master, Dan Jung-se, the training in the distance came to a sudden halt. The intense gazes of the members were enough to make Namgung Jun turn his head.
What is this?
The Iron Tower Hall Master’s voice boomed. "Countless Clouds have come to the Iron Tower Hall seeking advice on external arts. But not one could endure it, and they all gave up halfway. I wonder if you will be any different!"
His eyes locked onto Namgung Jun.
An incredible talent born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridian.
He had heard so much about the boy’s talent that his ears were practically bleeding. However, the Iron Tower Hall Master did not view Namgung Jun with pure favor. Thanks to his innate gifts, he had reached his current realm without much difficulty, his growth rate absurd. That meant he likely hadn't faced any real hardship.
The Iron Tower Hall Master doubted this genius could endure the brutal training of the Iron Tower Hall. In fact, he might hit a wall of a different kind—one not of enlightenment, but of sheer physical endurance. Therefore, he would not grant Namgung Jun the opportunity to train so easily. He had to prove himself first.
"Hmm."
Namgung Jun sensed the unusual atmosphere but did not back down. There was no easy way to become strong, and he knew the training of the Iron Tower Hall would be no different. If it meant he could become undeniably stronger, he was confident he could endure training even more brutal than this.
No, he had to.
The Jianghu of this era was in chaos, and the enemies he had to face were formidable.
"I will see it through to the end."
"A fine choice!"
The moment Namgung Jun answered, the members of the Iron Tower Hall stopped their training and began to surround him.