Chapter 94: Strength Evaluation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: Strength Evaluation (1)
A boisterous shout erupted from the Resounding Voice Hall Master.
A sharp rebuke instantly cut through his overly excited laughter.
"Shut your mouth. If you don't want to die."
The Mokryun Hall Master, the Sword Demon, muttered through gritted teeth. He radiated a thick killing intent, looking as if he might draw his sword at any moment.
"Hahaha! How amusing! Sword Demon! Care to raise the excitement with me?"
As if to provoke him, the Resounding Voice Hall Master's voice grew even louder, prompting the Sword Demon to reach for his hilt in response.
Just as the two Hall Masters were on the verge of clashing, a calm voice descended.
"You have all gathered."
On the platform at the edge of the grand training ground, the Azure Heaven Association Leader, Hahu Seon, stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
Naturally, the Ink Lord, Yun Gyeong-jong, stood beside him, while the association leader’s empty right sleeve fluttered in the wind. Behind them stood the masters of the Ink Fragrance Department and the association's elders, including the Head of the Elders' Council.
Namgung Jun raised his head, his gaze falling upon the Azure Heaven Association Leader and the Ink Lord. The Sword Lord and the Ink Lord were the two figures who flanked and assisted the leader of the association.
Since the Strength Evaluation was a rare event even within the Azure Heaven Association, it was only natural for them to attend.
Is the Sword Lord still in closed-door cultivation?
As Namgung Jun stared at the empty space to the Azure Heaven Association Leader's left, the Hall Masters simultaneously dropped to one knee to pay their respects.
"We greet the Azure Heaven Association Leader!"
As the ten Hall Masters raised their voices in unison, the rest of the association members fell into formation with perfect discipline.
"We greet the Azure Heaven Association Leader!"
The Azure Heaven Association Leader nodded, looking down at the grand training ground where ten flags were gathered in a circle.
"I feel this every time, but this sight is truly magnificent, is it not?"
At Hahu Seon's words, Namgung Jun slightly raised his head to look at the flags. Perhaps it was because he was kneeling, bringing his line of sight closer to the ground, but the ten flags ringing the grand training ground loomed like the walls of a small fortress.
Moreover, the two unique characters emblazoned on each flag carried immense weight.
These were armed groups, each possessing different martial arts and specialties. It was difficult to imagine the military might they would wield if they moved as one cohesive unit on a battlefield.
"You are another wall that supports the Azure Heaven Association," Hahu Seon said, taking in the sight of the ten flags. "I hope this wall, the Ten Halls, will expand and rise endlessly, eventually pushing back the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult. May this Strength Evaluation serve as a stepping stone toward that day."
As Hahu Seon waved his left hand after his brief speech, Yun Gyeong-jong, who stood behind him, spoke slowly.
"Begin the Strength Evaluation!"
Yun Gyeong-jong's sharp voice, infused with internal energy, announced the start of the evaluation.
* * *
The first event of the Strength Evaluation was the Flagbearer Battle.
True to its name, it was a contest where the flagbearers from each hall took center stage. A flagbearer was the hall's second-in-command, entrusted with its flag and capable of acting as a deputy Hall Master in an emergency.
In other words, they were all candidates to become the next Hall Master.
"To think the seconds-in-command of each hall are clashing right from the start."
When Man Ye-won showed signs of nervousness despite not being the one competing, Heo Il shook his head.
"You should relax. If you're that tense, you'll make a mistake when our turn actually comes."
Yet, Heo Il himself seemed worried about Namgung Jun, turning to ask Gong Jun-am.
"Senior Gong, how do you think this Flagbearer Battle will go?"
"From the looks of it, the lineups for the other halls are the same as before. I don't know how this will turn out, but one thing is certain: we won't be pushed around."
As if on cue with Gong Jun-am's assertion, a flag plunged from the sky.
Thud!
It was a flag three times larger than those of the Ten Halls—a blue banner emblazoned with the two characters for "Azure Heaven."
Man Hun, the Head of the Elders' Council, who had personally driven the flagpole deep into the stone floor, spoke.
"The time limit is fifteen minutes. The hall whose flagbearer ultimately holds this flag will receive the highest score. The remaining points will be determined by the elders' individual evaluations."
The Head of the Elders' Council and the other elders all flashed sharp, piercing gazes. Their eyes, sharpened by years of experience and profound internal energy, were keen, their determination not to miss a single one of the flagbearers' movements clear.
Man Hun flicked his finger.
"Begin."
Snap!
Despite Man Hun's signal, none of the flagbearers stepped forward immediately. Simply securing the flag first was not the end of it. Since the victor had to defend it from the other flagbearers for fifteen minutes, they had to be strategic. And with nine formidable opponents to face, caution was paramount.
Step.
While everyone was still observing one another, a single young man stepped forward.
The Azure Star Sword! He's younger than I thought.
That boy is the Righteous Path's Number One Rising Star!
He has grown even stronger since I last saw him.
The flagbearers of the Ten Halls did not move rashly, their eyes fixed on Namgung Jun.
Before they knew it, Namgung Jun had arrived before the Azure Heaven Flag planted in the center of the grand training ground.
Shhhk!
He drew his Eternal Righteous Sword and, pointing it downward, traced a large circle in the ground around the Azure Heaven Flag.
"Since my seniors seem hesitant to step forward, this junior will take the initiative."
Namgung Jun lightly held the Eternal Righteous Sword, its tip pointed at the ground.
"I ask for my seniors' guidance."
His tone was polite, but his words were a clear challenge.
At this, several flagbearers burst into laughter.
"The junior's audacity is quite impressive."
"We can't just stand here forever. Time is ticking."
"Hmm."
One by one, the flagbearers began to release the Qi Waves they had kept suppressed.
Meanwhile, the flagbearer of the Flying Swiftness Unit asked, "What is the meaning of the circle you've drawn?"
"I will not permit anyone to step inside this line."
At Namgung Jun's soft-spoken warning, the expressions of the other flagbearers hardened.
Seeing this, Namgung Jun added, "Since we're all here, let's get the pleasantries over with."
"The Heavenly Sword Hall's flagbearer is right!"
Rumble!
The first to charge was the flagbearer of the Iron Tower Hall. He surged forward with ferocious momentum, the stone slabs on the floor shattering with every step. As he rushed in, scattering stone fragments in all directions, he threw a fist toward Namgung Jun's face.
Namgung Jun swung his sword straight down to meet it.
Crash!
The surrounding ground shook from the immense force.
From that single exchange, the Iron Tower Hall flagbearer knew. Namgung Jun's mastery of external arts was profound.
"Excellent! You have not neglected your training in external arts."
"It is a precious lesson from the Iron Tower Hall. How could I neglect it?"
Smiling faintly, Namgung Jun channeled strength into his grip.
Boom!
Unleashing his Sword Force, he deflected the Iron Tower Hall flagbearer to the side, then immediately twisted at the waist to thrust his sword wide to the left.
"Whoops."
"I believe I warned you."
While Namgung Jun was engaged with the Iron Tower Hall flagbearer, a middle-aged man had slipped past them toward the flag. He had used the Flying Swiftness Unit's signature elusive Lightness Movement Art to try and seize the flag in an instant, but Namgung Jun blocked his path.
"Your movements are quite impressive."
"You flatter me."
The Flying Swiftness Unit flagbearer didn't engage, instead retreating with a light, fluid step. His withdrawal was as swift as his approach.
"I wonder how long you can keep your promise of not letting anyone cross that circle."
The Flying Swiftness Unit flagbearer lightly scanned his surroundings.
Crash! Rumble!
The clashes between the Ten Halls' flagbearers weren't confined to the area around the flag. The Gleaming Wing Hall flagbearer had climbed atop his hall's flagpole and was drawing his bowstring, while the Nether-Fathoming Hall flagbearer slowly circled the area, his presence gradually fading.
"Come!"
"Has your power increased even more?"
Rather than aiming for the flag, the flagbearers of the Martial Conquest Hall and the Crushing Hall clashed violently with each other, sending shockwaves scattering in all directions. It seemed they were choosing to eliminate formidable rivals first, confident they could claim the flag later as time wore on.
"What a fine sight."
Seeing the flagbearers of the Ten Halls entangled with one another, the Resounding Voice Hall flagbearer hooked his right foot over his left thigh, adopting a stance like a standing rooster. Resting his qin on his flattened thigh, he immediately began to pluck the seven strings with great gusto.
It was the Resounding Voice Hall's Great Hall String-Plucking Qin.
With every vibration of the strings, soundwaves infused with internal energy washed over the flagbearers. It was a clever surprise attack from the Resounding Voice Hall flagbearer, who had realized the other nine were too entangled to easily evade him.
The faces of the flagbearers trading blows grimaced.
This presented them with several strategic options: ignore the sound technique and continue their melee, retreat temporarily, or join forces to eliminate the Resounding Voice Hall flagbearer first? They couldn't make a simple choice, as they also had to account for the other flagbearers, who would instantly exploit any opening.
The melody of the seven-stringed qin, the metallic clashing of weapons, and the occasional booming of earth-trembling stomps—the combined sounds of the Ten Halls' flagbearers clashing filled the grand training ground.
Crack!
Deflecting the twin swords of the Nether-Fathoming Hall flagbearer, who had stealthily targeted his left rear, Namgung Jun spun in midair and unleashed a long, sweeping sword strike. The dizzying strikes of the Sookwoo Sword Technique pushed back the flagbearers of the Mokryun Hall and the Divine Mechanism Hall.
Arrows rained down in the midst of it all, but Namgung Jun raised his sword high and countered with the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders.
Even amidst the chaotic melee, Namgung Jun defended the flag perfectly. Flagbearer after flagbearer lunged at him, but not one of them could set foot inside the circle he had drawn.
It was the same even now. He was currently facing four flagbearers head-on, and considering the intermittent barrages of soundwave Qi Waves and long-range archery, it was fair to say he was holding off half the combatants by himself.
"Astonishing. To think he has grown so much."
Man Hun, who had personally clashed swords with Namgung Jun before, was deeply moved. The surrounding elders felt the same.
"I had heard the rumors, but... to think he was this formidable."
"A new Fourth Cloud might be born before long."
"Is the Fourth Cloud even the point? He is a child capable of carrying the future of our association."
Listening to the elders' admiration, Hahu Seon nodded.
He is handling the Spear King Azure Aura with great proficiency.
Hahu Seon was accurately sensing Namgung Jun's constantly shifting Qi Waves. Depending on the situation, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula and the Spear King Azure Aura manifested alternately, supporting Namgung Jun's martial prowess.
"He is truly a tiger standing alone."
The other flagbearers were all beasts of prey in their own right, but even among them, Namgung Jun's martial prowess was peerless. While all ten were predators, only Namgung Jun had the caliber of a true tiger.
Crash!
Pushing back the flagbearers in front of him with the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique, Namgung Jun took in the entire situation at a glance.
The flagbearers from the Martial Conquest Hall and Crushing Hall, who had been fighting each other, were now also rushing toward the flag. Time was running out. The only ones who had not closed the distance yet were the flagbearers of the Resounding Voice Hall and the Gleaming Wing Hall, who were unleashing their martial arts from afar.
Excluding those two, every other flagbearer was now charging toward the flag.
"Seniors. Let's wrap this up."
Raising his sword to a mid-level stance, Namgung Jun's Qi Wave sent out a solemn ripple.
Crackle!
The energies of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula and the Spear King Azure Aura gathered as one, circulating throughout his entire body. His Qi Wave grew progressively stronger, and along with it, a massive surge of Sword Qi erupted from his blade.
Seeing this, the other flagbearers knew instinctively: something massive was coming.
Thud!
The flagbearers dug their heels in with earth-shattering force, preparing their own ultimate techniques and defensive stances. But just as they did, Namgung Jun launched himself into the air and swung his sword in a wide arc.
The grand training ground began to be blanketed in a brilliant blue light.