Chapter 66: Mount Song Gathering (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66: Mount Song Gathering (5)
In a corner of the Tiger-Forming Forest, the thick scent of plum blossoms, a fragrance that seemed entirely out of place, wafted in all directions.
While the scent was naturally rich, it was also carried far and wide by an incredibly powerful, azure sword wind.
Clash! Ch-ch-ch-clash!
Riding along two intricately tangled swords, dozens of sharp waves of qi unfurled like petals.
Yeong-il's eyes narrowed as he executed the Plum Blossom Sword Formula. The dozens of sword paths reflected in his pupils repeatedly tangled and unraveled in real time. The blades, extending in all directions, flickered like tongues, as if ready to constrict and pierce his entire body at any moment.
'It's dizzying.'
Perhaps because both swordsmen were employing the Illusion Sword, a series of eye-deceiving forms burst forth one after another. The sword shadows crowding their vision easily numbered in the dozens.
Yeong-il’s sword tip split into fourteen trajectories, focusing its attack on Namgung Jun's lower body. He did this because Namgung Jun's free-spirited footwork was subtly disrupting the rhythm of his Five Elements Plum Blossom Steps.
The sweeping sword strikes left countless scars on the ground. It felt as though stepping onto those spots would tear one's feet to shreds.
However, Namgung Jun did not retreat. Instead, he lunged forward, unleashing a straightforward wave of qi as sturdy as a pillar. The energy of the Heaven-Pillar Resolute Advance Movement Art, which enveloped his entire body, crushed the incoming sword strikes head-on.
Seeing this, Yeong-il's eyes widened.
Namgung Jun's movement art was truly peculiar. Unlike ordinary movement arts designed for evasion, it seemed built for an unstoppable, steadfast advance that no one could obstruct, allowing him to unleash his sword at will under any circumstances.
Indeed, Namgung Jun easily shook off Yeong-il's suppression and launched a counterattack.
"Ah!"
Faced with such a steadfast and aggressive advance, Yeong-il chose to widen the distance. He moved even more fluidly, his Plum Blossom Sword pressing down as if to envelop both of Namgung Jun's flanks.
Swoooosh!
Even though Yeong-il had completely blocked his path of retreat, Namgung Jun did not back down. His blade, wrapped in deep blue Sword Qi, flickered repeatedly, unleashing twenty strikes like a bundle of lightning bolts. The countless indigo sword shadows clashed with the branching forms of the Plum Blossom Sword Formula, scattering into the air.
Taking a step back, Yeong-il kept his eyes wide open—partly because he had no time to blink, but also because he didn't want to miss a single moment of Namgung Jun's swordsmanship.
'The forms I'm seeing… they don't look like a single, complete technique.'
It was as if the shapes and formulas were randomly arranged, like raw concepts before being woven into a coherent martial art. It was as if he were simply showcasing various forms containing the insights of the Illusion Sword and the Changing Sword according to his whim.
This left Yeong-il flustered. It meant the boy before him was matching the complete Plum Blossom Sword Formula using nothing but fragmented techniques.
"Daoist Yeong-il. Be on your guard."
With that warning, Namgung Jun's sword strikes transformed once more, becoming even more menacing and chaotic. He seemed to be using the plum blossom petals scattered by Yeong-il's own sword as nourishment for his own.
A bitter smile appeared on Yeong-il's face as he watched the sword paths, which defied all cardinal directions, whipping about in a dizzying storm.
'It feels like facing torrential rain in a typhoon.'
Countless sword strikes shifted wildly along with the chaotic sword paths and sword winds. The dense, brilliant sword shadows slowly began to drench Yeong-il's body.
Rip!
Hurriedly executing a retreating step, Yeong-il glanced down at his sleeves. They, which should have been embroidered with plum blossoms, were now tattered. Never since mastering the Plum Blossom Sword Formula had his uniform been damaged like this, especially not against a rising star younger than himself.
But Yeong-il had no time to worry about his clothes. He was feeling the rapidly shifting sword strikes of Namgung Jun with his entire body.
"It keeps changing," Yeong-il murmured.
At his words, the corners of Namgung Jun's mouth curled up slightly.
'He doesn't miss the transitions. He has remarkable talent.'
Yeong-il's assumption was correct. Namgung Jun had absorbed all the techniques of the Illusion Sword and the Changing Sword he had witnessed from Yeong-il. The sword arts of the Mount Hua Sect were alluring and dazzling; when it came to the Illusion Sword and the Changing Sword, it seemed no sect in the Jianghu could rival them.
Namgung Jun was melting down the inspiration he gained from the Mount Hua Sect's swordplay, forging it into something new. It felt as though the numerous techniques and insights of the Illusion Sword he had acquired so far were being synthesized into a single stream through this encounter. He was moving beyond shape and form, elevating his understanding to the level of 'principles' (法).
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The two swords repeatedly tangled, clashed, and parted. Dozens of sparks flew continuously, so bright they were hard to distinguish from fragments of Sword Qi.
"Whew."
Catching his breath, Namgung Jun circulated the internal energy of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula and readjusted his stance. Normally, he could have subdued Yeong-il in far fewer exchanges. The only reason he had prolonged the fight was to experience and learn from the sword style the Mount Hua Sect had accumulated over generations.
'Though it's slow and faint, Daoist Yeong-il is also unconsciously absorbing elements from my sword.'
The fragments of sword techniques shed during their endless clashes were serving as mutual nourishment. How much one could gain from this depended entirely on their own capability.
But Namgung Jun was certain. Not only himself, but Yeong-il as well, would reap immense rewards from this duel. It was a moment where both were taking a great deal from the other.
The bodies of the two men spun simultaneously, executing the exact same transition. They had thought of the same thing at the exact same moment, as if they had trained in the very same sword technique. Because their sword paths were identical, the two blades bounced off each other in midair at the same time.
Clang!
After exchanging over fifty blows, Yeong-il and Namgung Jun backed away simultaneously. Yeong-il let out a rough breath as he looked at Namgung Jun, then slowly nodded.
"I lost."
Yeong-il reached into his robes and held out the Mount Hua Sect's iron token. Despite admitting defeat, he looked refreshed.
"Thanks to you, Young Hero Namgung, I feel as though I've grasped a clue toward enlightenment."
"I, too, was able to broaden my horizons thanks to you."
"I wish you good fortune in the competition."
Boom! Booom!
Just as the two swordsmen clasped their hands in a martial salute, the sound of drums echoed from somewhere. At the same time, the mist that had settled in a circle along the boundary of the Tiger-Forming Forest began to lift.
It was the signal that the struggle for the iron tokens had ended.
Clutching a total of eight iron tokens, Namgung Jun walked out of the Tiger-Forming Forest.
*
Emerging from the Tiger-Forming Forest, Baekri Cheong looked down at the three iron tokens in his hand.
'Three, is it?'
Although he hadn't reached his original target, Baekri Cheong didn't mind. The opponents he had faced to obtain these three tokens were by no means easy. The Shaolin Temple, the South Hengshan Sect, and the North Hengshan Sect—they were undoubtedly among the most prominent of the twenty rising stars, and Baekri Cheong had proudly proven his martial arts against them. He was fully satisfied with the outcome.
'There are more dropouts than I expected.'
Guided out of the forest by the proctor, Baekri Cheong scanned those waiting outside. It seemed quite a few rising stars had failed to obtain a single token and were eliminated immediately.
At the same time, a question arose. In that case, who had taken all their tokens?
Baekri Cheong handed his iron tokens to the proctor.
"Including your own, that makes four in total. You've brought back the most so far."
Surprised by the proctor's murmur, Baekri Cheong asked, "How many did the others bring back?"
"At most two, and at least one. To think the Azure Heaven Association possessed such talent."
Hearing this, a relaxed smile played on Baekri Cheong's lips. Estimating the number of people who had already emerged and the count of their tokens, he could roughly grasp the situation. He knew exactly who had eliminated so many of them.
It was then that the last of the participants emerged from the Tiger-Forming Forest: Yeong-il of the Mount Hua Sect and Namgung Jun of the Azure Heaven Association.
"I am submitting my iron tokens."
The disciples of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects who had been eliminated earlier looked at Yeong-il with expectant eyes. Since he was the strongest among them, they expected him to have secured many tokens.
Checking the tokens Yeong-il submitted, the proctor murmured, "Three."
Contrary to their expectations, Yeong-il had brought back very few, leaving everyone with puzzled expressions.
"Huh? Only three?"
"Then who has the rest?"
Just then, Namgung Jun, who was standing behind Yeong-il, laid down his iron tokens. A substantial pile, clearly visible at a glance, spilled from his hand.
The proctor gasped, his eyes widening in shock. "Nine in total, including your own."
"Nine?!"
The eyes of everyone present widened. Excluding Namgung Jun, the ones who had obtained the most tokens were Yeong-il and Baekri Cheong. Yet, even their numbers combined fell short of what Namgung Jun had secured.
"The Azure Star Sword got that many?"
"Incredible. To stand out so prominently among the Three Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects…"
"Unbelievable. For Daoist Yeong-il to be pushed back..."
The surrounding rising stars could not hide their shock. No one had expected the youngest participant at this gathering, and one from the Azure Heaven Association at that, to pull off such a feat.
"How could this be..."
The proctor could only marvel in pure admiration. "A monster has appeared in the Azure Heaven Association."
Baekri Cheong watched this scene with a proud smile. "As expected of Brother Namgung."
After verifying all the iron tokens, the proctor nodded at Namgung Jun. "You have taken first place in this competition. I shall now tell you what the 'great opportunity' mentioned by the Mount Song Sect Master is."
The proctor handed Namgung Jun a blank sheet of paper and a brush. After listening to the explanation, Namgung Jun pondered for a moment before writing down a single name.
*
The leaders of the great sects participating in the gathering were assembled in one place to hear the results of the iron token struggle.
"These are the results," announced Guk Yeong, the Mount Song Sect Master.
A brief silence fell. The outcome was far too unexpected, too overwhelming. A rising star from the Azure Heaven Association had obtained the most iron tokens—a total of nine. The Azure Star Sword, Namgung Jun. Although his fame had been growing recently, it had not yet reached the ears of these great sect leaders. Naturally, few had paid him any attention.
Thus, it was a result no one could have foreseen. Furthermore, the fact that his collection included tokens belonging to disciples considered the very best of the Three Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects made the shock even greater.
'To think that the Third Mirror of the Wudang Sect and Yeong-il of the Mount Hua Sect fell to a mere child called the Azure Star Sword.'
'Astonishing. For the two rising stars expected to lead the competition to be defeated by a single person.'
'Namgung Jun… to think we were unaware of such a talent. We must refine our sect's intelligence network.'
Moreover, since the other representative of the Azure Heaven Association had also achieved excellent results, it was no exaggeration to say that this competition was a complete sweep by the Azure Heaven Association.
"To think the Azure Heaven Association was hiding such power."
"Aren't the Hall Masters of the Azure Heaven Association's Ten Halls already quite formidable?"
"The Azure Heaven Association has a bright future indeed."
In the face of the praise pouring in from all sides, Hahu Seon merely twitched his scar-covered brow. Although he had held high expectations, he had not anticipated such a dominant performance.
'Those two have done a magnificent job.'
In tomorrow's meeting, the Azure Heaven Association's voice would naturally carry far more weight. Now that they had witnessed the association's true potential, the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects would not dare to act rashly.
'The future of our association is bright.'
Hahu Seon was deeply moved to have witnessed the potential of the two rising stars who would carry the future of the Azure Heaven Association.
"By the way," one of the leaders spoke up, "whom did that child, Namgung Jun, nominate?"
The conversation naturally shifted.
"Ah. Come to think of it."
"One of us is supposed to hold a guidance duel with him."
The rising star who obtained the most iron tokens would be granted the opportunity to nominate any of the leaders gathered at the Mount Song Gathering for a duel.
Guk Yeong, his expression cold, looked at the assembled leaders and spoke.
"The choice of that child, the Azure Star Sword, is right here."
He held out a neatly folded piece of paper. The gazes of every leader converged upon it.