Chapter 79: Great Derivation Sword Formation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 79: Great Derivation Sword Formation (1)
Thud!
Slamming both fists on the table, Iron Tower Hall Master Dan Jung-se shot to his feet. "Has the time for the strength evaluation finally come again? This time, I will surely claim the title of the strongest among the Ten Halls!"
"Heh. Iron Tower Hall Master, you seem quite confident. But our hall hasn't been slacking off, either."
As Dan Jung-se and Ha Mu-jung locked eyes, the light in their gazes flickered, each shining with a distinct and intense color. The Qi Waves harbored by the two supreme experts leaked out, causing a faint crackling to ripple through the air.
"It has been a very long time since all ten Hall Masters gathered."
"The Sword Lord should naturally be present for such an event. Has there been any recent news about him?"
The Bright Affinity Pavilion Master, who was in charge of the Azure Heaven Association's intelligence, shook his head.
"He is still in closed-door cultivation. It is highly likely he will be absent even on the day of the strength evaluation."
A year ago, after clashing with the highest echelon of the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult during a mission in Qinghai Province, the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord had immediately entered seclusion. It was said that his primary purpose was to recuperate from his internal injuries, not to consolidate his martial insights or refine his limits.
Consequently, it had been quite some time since any of the Hall Masters had seen the Sword Lord's face.
"Hmm. I wonder how much the Sword Lord has recovered."
"We have no choice but to trust that he is managing well on his own. Though, of course, the fact that the Sword Lord is such an eccentric does worry me."
At the remark from Divine Mechanism Hall Master Jegal Mu-ran, the other Hall Masters could only nod in reluctant agreement.
As the conversation began to wind down, Kang Mong spoke up again.
"Since all Ten Halls must return to the main fortress in time, I will send out communications as soon as today's meeting concludes."
"Which hall is currently on the most distant mission?"
"That would be the Gleaming Wing Hall and the Resounding Voice Hall. Both are currently on missions in Sichuan Province."
"Fortunately, they haven't gone as far as Qinghai Province, so we shouldn't have to worry about them being late."
Crushing Hall Master Kang Gok, watching Jegal Mu-ran gently fan herself with an iron fan, spoke up. "Regardless of other areas, it would be best to clean up the vicinity of Anhui Province as thoroughly as possible before the strength evaluation. Is there any place that requires the Ten Halls' intervention before then?"
Kang Mong flipped through his ledger and continued, "The movements of the Iron Battle Camp are unusual. The Le'an Branch in Jiangxi Province is currently carrying out a mission related to the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult, and the Iron Battle Camp might interfere. Depending on how the situation develops, the Ten Halls may need to step in."
Listening to the conversation, Lee Se-ha raised her hand.
"If it's the Iron Battle Camp, our hall will have the easiest time dealing with them."
Kang Gok agreed. "Since the Heavenly Sword Hall has clashed with the Iron Battle Camp multiple times, it should indeed be easier for you to handle them."
Kang Mong also nodded. "I will monitor the situation and send word to the Heavenly Sword Hall immediately. Hall Master, please prepare for deployment."
* * *
The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall, who usually scattered throughout the pavilion to practice their individual martial arts or pair up for duels, were now gathered in the training ground.
It was time for the Heavenly Sword Hall's group training.
Whenever a certain number of members were assembled, the Heavenly Sword Hall practiced a sword formation based on the Great Derivation Sword Technique—the Great Derivation Sword Formation. Since all members of the Heavenly Sword Hall, including the Hall Master, had returned, their daily routine naturally consisted of formation training.
While they often went on individual missions, the Ten Halls also frequently clashed with the great sects of the Jianghu. Thus, there were many occasions where they deployed as a group. This training was preparation for those times.
A sword formation. Come to think of it, I've never had the chance to experience one.
Because he had been moving from one task to the next without a moment's rest, the timing had never aligned. Namgung Jun had never participated in sword formation training.
Of course, while practicing the Great Derivation Sword Technique, he had also studied the secret manual for the Great Derivation Sword Formation on his own. However, this was his first time actually executing it.
"Our youngest is already a Third Cloud, yet he's never done formation training before."
"Lately, the Heavenly Sword Hall has been operating mostly on individual missions. Besides, the Hall Master has been taking on consecutive missions herself."
"Haha! If there's anything you don't know, feel free to ask anytime!"
The seniors of the Heavenly Sword Hall chuckled as they looked at Namgung Jun. They were well aware that his martial arts were at a higher level than theirs, but individual training and group training were entirely different matters.
In individual training, one only needed to focus on one's own body. In contrast, group training required broadening one's field of vision, sensing the comrades around them, and synchronizing their breathing. Because of this, most martial artists initially found the process awkward. Particularly, highly talented swordsmen often found sword formation training—which forced them to coordinate with others—to be stifling.
The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall assumed Namgung Jun would be no different.
"Deploy the formation!"
In place of Lee Se-ha, who was absent for the meeting, Gong Jun-am commanded the Great Derivation Sword Formation.
Although it was his first time, Namgung Jun's rank as a Third Cloud was recognized, and he was assigned to a crucial axis of the formation. Naturally, there were far more things to pay attention to than if he were in the rear guard or a standard position. He had to adapt to the formation's dynamically changing Qi Wave manipulation, footwork, and sword paths, all while synchronizing with his surrounding comrades.
Yet, Namgung Jun wielded his sword with a familiarity that made it seem as though he had undergone this training dozens of times.
Far from stumbling, he kept his assigned team members within his field of vision, correcting their movements in real-time.
Hmm? He's executing the sword formation perfectly? It should be at least a little awkward for him at first.
It's a bit late to say this, but he really is a monster every time I see him.
He has completely blended into the formation. His Qi Waves are incredibly natural. At this rate, he could even command the entire thing.
The swordsmen around Namgung Jun could not help but marvel in admiration. He was not in the rear guard where ordinary recruits were placed; he was responsible for a core axis of the formation, a position usually reserved for veterans. Taking charge of an axis during one's very first training session was an extremely difficult task.
Even though the Heavenly Sword Hall boasted several swordsmen who had made names for themselves with their talent, every one of them had started from the outer edges of the formation and gradually worked their way inward.
Yet, from the very start, Namgung Jun held a core axis and blended into the formation without a single mistake. He exuded an effortless ease, as if he had gone through this training countless times. The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen, who had intended to immediately correct him and offer advice the moment he made a mistake, never even got the chance to open their mouths.
Instead, it was Namgung Jun's lips that moved busily.
"Man Ye-won. That is not how you deploy the formation."
"Huh? Isn't this correct?"
"Blindly following the secret manual is meaningless. A sword formation is a living organism. You must coordinate with the comrades around you. Broaden your senses and refine them."
The way he detected Man Ye-won's mistake and immediately pointed it out was incredibly natural, a demeanor only shown by veterans who had spent a long time in the Heavenly Sword Hall.
"As expected of our youngest."
"To think he's this proficient with the Great Derivation Sword Formation. A formation isn't something you can just execute by reading a manual."
"Experience is far more important than raw talent here, yet he pulls it off so easily. It's almost terrifying."
Praise poured in from the veterans all around him, but Namgung Jun was actually thinking of something else. When he had read the secret manual, he had thought the formation was decent, but now that he was executing it himself, it was far more disappointing than he had expected.
This formation… has far more flaws than I thought.
To be precise, it wasn't so much flawed as it was lacking. It did not satisfy his standards. He could see numerous areas in the Great Derivation Sword Formation that needed adjustment. There was so much room for it to become stronger that his hands and mouth practically itched to change it.
Thud!
The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall stomped their feet in unison, executing an Earth-Trembling Stomp as they came to a halt. The deployment was complete.
During the brief rest period, the swordsmen gathered around Namgung Jun. They were curious how he could perform so exceptionally well in his first formation training and hoped they might pick up some tips.
"Youngest, formation training is definitely different from individual training, yet you adapted so well."
"And you didn't hesitate to offer pointers to the Clouds in the surrounding positions. That shows just how much leeway you had."
"Do you have some kind of trick, Namgung Jun? I'm curious."
The swordsmen asked their questions without reservation, covering everything from his impressions of his first training session to deeper topics like the manipulation of Qi Waves within the formation.
Namgung Jun answered them all slowly, knowing that this Q&A session would itself be of great help to the swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall.
As he answered his seniors' questions, Namgung Jun asked something he had been curious about. "I also have a question."
"Oh? A question from the youngest? That's a first."
"Ask anything."
It was extremely rare for Namgung Jun to ask questions. The swordsmen listened intently, their eyes sparkling, each eager to be the first to answer.
Namgung Jun nodded and spoke. "The flank is a weakness of the Great Derivation Sword Formation. Furthermore, a gap opens in the deployment every time the formation transitions between different sword momentums. To compensate, it seems we could adjust the sword paths and Qi Wave manipulation to support each other. Is there a reason this hasn't been done?"
Contrary to his expectations, no one answered immediately.
Scratching their heads, the veterans began to speak up one by one.
"Hmm, is that so? I've never felt anything like that."
"Oh, that's an interesting opinion. I always thought the Great Derivation Sword Formation was well-balanced in both offense and defense."
"Point out exactly which part you mean."
Namgung Jun brought over the secret manual and drew a diagram on the ground with a twig.
"This part. When the first and third squads swap positions, if we are attacked from the flank, we will collapse helplessly."
"Well, it's true that when we move while maintaining the formation, there are times when it feels slightly unstable…"
"To prepare for this, the veteran responsible for the formation's axis must react dynamically. But relying on that makes the stability of the entire formation extremely precarious."
Namgung Jun finished his explanation and looked at the swordsmen.
They looked at each other, sudden realization dawning on their faces.
"Huh? I think I've vaguely felt that a few times, too."
"What? Then why didn't you say anything?"
"I just thought it was because my own understanding of the Great Derivation Sword Formation was lacking."
The veterans busily scratched their heads, exchanging awkward glances.
Observing their reactions, Namgung Jun spoke first. "May I modify the Great Derivation Sword Formation?"
No one could answer his bold proposal. A few veterans looked at Gong Jun-am. In Lee Se-ha's absence, he usually took charge of the Heavenly Sword Hall's important decisions.
However, even Gong Jun-am could not give an immediate answer. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "We will ask the Hall Master when she returns."
It was then that Lee Se-ha, having just finished her meeting, stepped into the Heavenly Sword Hall.
"What's this? Why is everyone slacking off?"
The swordsmen didn't answer, instead turning to look at Namgung Jun. At that, Lee Se-ha's gaze also shifted to him.
"Jun? What's going on?"
Namgung Jun stood up and approached her. "Master. I have something to tell you."
In his hand were the secret manual of the Great Derivation Sword Formation and a brush.
Seeing this, Lee Se-ha's eyes filled with curiosity.
I wonder what interesting thing Jun has for me this time.