The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 76 - The Three-Cloud Training Corps (5)

All the scheduled activities of the Three-Cloud Training Corps were concluded.

Combining the results of the written test and the martial test, the first and second places were determined.

“Come up.”

At Ha Mujung’s command, the Cloud who had been decided as the runner-up extended his steps onto the platform.

Though there were a fair number of excellent talents in this Training Corps, someone who had not received any attention at all became the runner-up.

A man with a slightly crooked bamboo hat and a stealthy gait.

The runner-up of this Training Corps was Heo Il of the Heavenly Sword Hall.

He had obtained a score close to perfect on the written test and had proven his ability by enduring against four instructors in the martial test.

“The Heavenly Sword Hall has many talents these days. My Hall will have to be on its toes.”

Ha Mujung crossed his arms as he looked at Heo Il standing before him.

“The help of Young Hero Namgung was great. I have learned much.”

“Is that so? To have a comrade by your side to aim for as a goal is also a good connection. Make the most of this opportunity.”

Ha Mujung lightly patted Heo Il’s shoulder and then handed him a small wooden box.

It was the spiritual medicine given to the runner-up.

Heo Il stored the wooden box inside his robes with a fast hand movement, as if he were throwing a hidden weapon.

As Heo Il descended from the platform, the award ceremony for the top position, the final item on the agenda, followed.

“Two-Cloud, Namgung Jun.”

Namgung Jun, who had been on standby below, slowly stepped onto the platform.

“This Training Corps, it was quite interesting, thanks to you.”

“I have also learned a lot.”

There was no separate explanation.

It was because everyone in this place knew that Namgung Jun was the top position.

Ha Mujung skipped several procedures and immediately had the reward that the top position could receive brought over.

“Namgung Jun. This is a reward that is fitting for the current you.”

Gong Jun-am, who had come carrying a long chest, stealthily met Namgung Jun’s eyes.

Though it was his usual indifferent expression, Namgung Jun could tell.

That a form of encouragement and praise was dwelling in his gaze.

As Gong Jun-am silently held out the long chest, Namgung Jun opened his mouth.

“Hall Master. May I open it?”

“Do so.”

As Namgung Jun slowly opened the long chest, a single sword revealed itself.

A jet-black hilt and a pitch-black scabbard.

It was a sword simply adorned, entirely in black.

Though there were no particular decorations, it was a sword that exuded a somehow high-class appearance.

‘This is no ordinary sword.’

He didn’t even need to draw the sword.

He could tell just by looking at the hilt and the scabbard.

The sword inside the long chest was clearly a treasured sword.

As Namgung Jun’s eyes sparkled brightly, Ha Mujung let out a low sound of admiration.

“Now you’re finally showing the gaze of a boy your age. Go on, draw it.”

Namgung Jun immediately reached for the treasured sword before him.

A cold and smooth sensation wrapped snugly around his hand.

Though it was the first time he was holding it, the way the hilt was softly drawn into his palm made him laugh automatically.

Namgung Jun gripped the scabbard with a proficient posture and slightly drew the sword hilt up.

Sriing.

Along with a cool metallic sound, a jet-black sword body was revealed. The eyes of Namgung Jun, who had drawn the sword, widened.

“It’s heavy.”

“I heard it is a sword made by mixing Ink Iron and Gon Iron. In terms of simple hardness and weight, it is likely a weapon that would be counted among the best even in the Azure Sky Society.”

Ink Iron and Gon Iron.

He had heard that each of the metals was heavy, hard, and possessed a powerful resilience.

Though their detailed properties were different, both metals were said to be rare and difficult to obtain.

‘Furthermore, if it is Ink Iron and Gon Iron, then forging them would also be a problem. An ordinary craftsman would likely not even be able to touch them.’

He could tell the value of the sword just by drawing it once.

“This is a very precious sword.” Chapters fırst released on novel✦fire.net

The voice that leaked from the mouth of Namgung Jun as he examined the sword was cheerfully excited.

“In this society, you will be the one who can handle this sword the best.”

Namgung Jun did not deny it.

That it was harder and heavier than a general sword was a clear advantage, but depending on the degree, it also had the potential to become a disadvantage.

This was even more so for a sword that was focused on strength and weight like this treasured sword.

With an average capability, it would surely be difficult to properly handle this treasured sword.

But for Namgung Jun, there were no restrictions.

For the class of his physical body had been drastically raised due to the Great Art and the Forceful Breakthrough, and he had the Sword Skill that he had polished since his past life.

“Your sword must have been greatly damaged from the duel with this Hall Master.”

Ha Mujung’s gaze turned toward Namgung Jun’s waist.

“Yes. I was thinking of changing my sword anyway.”

Namgung Jun stroked the sword that was hanging from his belt.

His sword had been greatly damaged due to the duel with Ha Mujung.

Though the body of the sword had not broken, not only was it severely nicked, but a hairline crack had also formed, and it had even become slightly warped.

This was not a problem that could be solved with maintenance.

‘I have obtained a new sword at just the right time.’

The newly obtained treasured sword would surely be sufficient to use until he obtains the Uicheon Sword in the future.

“What is the name of this sword?”

“The Yeongjeong Sword.”

Namgung Jun also liked the name Yeongjeong Sword.

It seemed an attachment to the sword was already forming.

Namgung Jun received two spiritual medicines after the Yeongjeong Sword and descended from the platform.

Ha Mujung, who had finished the award ceremony for the first and second places, looked at the Clouds who had completed the Training Corps.

“I, the Martial Conquest Hall Master, Ha Mujung, guarantee it.”

Ha Mujung’s grave voice, laden with internal energy, covered the training ground in a single breath.

“All the Clouds in this place have, as of this time, advanced to the rank of Three-Cloud. Fulfill your responsibilities as a Three-Cloud of the Azure Sky Society.”

It was the end of the Three-Cloud Training Corps.

……

Namgung Jun and Heo Il, who returned after completing the Three-Cloud Training Corps, received a fierce welcome from the swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall.

After a short celebration for their Three-Cloud rank advancement, things were not much different from their daily routine.

Namgung Jun immediately held endless duels with the Three-Cloud members of the Heavenly Sword Hall to familiarize himself with the Yeongjeong Sword.

Today’s duel opponent was Gong Jun-am.

The sword power of Gong Jun-am, whose specialty is the Heavy Sword, is counted among the top five even within the Heavenly Sword Hall.

There was no better opponent than this to get his new sword accustomed to his hand.

KWAANG!

Namgung Jun’s Yeongjeong Sword and Gong Jun-am’s greatsword clashed head-on.

The power laden in the powerful stomp he had taken as he drew his sword was so heavy that the floor was to the point of cracking with a sharp sound.

A naturally large physique and a greatsword of immense weight.

On top of that, as the finer points of the Heavy Sword were added, the sword power that Gong Jun-am could emit was immense.

It was a might that could likely shatter a rock of a considerable size in a single breath.

“Heup!”

Despite that, he could not push back Namgung Jun’s sword.

Barely holding his ground in a stalemate was all he could do.

“Haaaap!”

Gong Jun-am, who had let out a resounding kiai, performed his footwork while their swords were locked.

He intended to use his superiority in external arts to break Namgung Jun’s posture.

An immense weight immediately spreading to Namgung Jun’s blade.

It was not a might that could be taken lightly, even for Namgung Jun.

Namgung Jun relaxed his wrist and let his sword flow slightly diagonally.

As he naturally moved to Gong Jun-am’s flank, he aimed for the slightly open area above his ribs.

SSWAANG!

It was not his full power.

He had just laden it with a moderate amount of strength.

Despite this, the cerulean sword strike aggressively pushed back the atmosphere and created a heavy sound of tearing air.

‘How refreshing.’

The feeling of the blade cutting through the atmosphere, which was coming up through his hand, was very clean and heavy.

It was something that would have been impossible with his previous sword.

Though they say a great swordsman does not blame his sword, it is true that a more excellent treasured sword further raises a swordsman’s capability.

Was that not why Nam Young-shin of his past life had also held a considerable desire for swords?

KWANG!

The eyebrow of Gong Jun-am, who had blocked the sword strike by lowering his greatsword as if to stab it into the floor, twitched.

Was a sword form focused on solid defense not his own specialty?

Despite that, the hand that gripped the greatsword was ringing with a sharp pain; it was no ordinary might.

But Gong Jun-am had no time to be surprised.

Because he had observed the duel with Ha Mujung, he knew well.

That this was not all the power that Namgung Jun could produce.

“Come on stronger.”

“I will do so.”

BWOONG!

The body of Namgung Jun, who had deflected all the sword strikes of the greatsword that continued with a heavy sound of tearing air, leaned forward.

Namgung Jun, who had confirmed the basic feel of the sword with the Heavenly Wind Sword Style, began to slowly unravel his other sword styles, starting with the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash.

As the Swift Sword and the Flexible Sword, followed by the Illusory Sword, were mixed in, all sorts of sword strikes stormed about.

K-KWAGANG!

The eyes, hands, and feet of Gong Jun-am, who was wielding a large greatsword, became busy.

‘Namgung Jun’s sword accurately cuts off the flow and digs in. That is why my sword style is being powerlessly pierced.’

The greatsword, which had usually just felt light, felt exceptionally heavy and cumbersome.

‘Though he has only just risen to a Three-Cloud, there will now be no one in the Heavenly Sword Hall who can be his opponent, other than the Hall Master.’

Gong Jun-am, who was barely parrying Namgung Jun’s sword, recalled the Namgung Jun of the time of his initiation into the Hall.

Even at that time, he had been a newcomer who had shown an appearance that was far from ordinary.

But now, he had completely grown into a mid-level swordsman who could take charge of the vanguard of the Heavenly Sword Hall.

Perhaps in the near future, the Heavenly Sword Hall might come to possess two Four-Cloud members.

As he thought of that time, he felt a ripple arise in his usually very indifferent heart.

‘What kind of swordsman will the future you be?’

If he could be of help to Namgung Jun’s path, Gong Jun-am was prepared to willingly pour out everything he had.

He could not give him friendly words like the other Clouds of the Heavenly Sword Hall.

For that reason, Gong Jun-am intended to look after Namgung Jun with a sword strike heavier than anyone else’s.

Creak!

It was the sound that came from the hand of Gong Jun-am as he gripped the hilt of his greatsword with even more strength.

KRAANG!

Gong Jun-am did not intend to draw out the fight.

He intended to display the best single sword strike he could unfold.

Great Expansion Sword Style.

Path-Shattering Cleave.

A horizontal slash that was laden with all of Gong Jun-am’s sword power.

Namgung Jun also drew out the Heavenly Wind Sword Style, not another sword style.

A thick sword wind settled on the sword that had been raised to an upper stance.

Heavenly Wind Sword Style.

Heaven Gazes Upon Autumn.

The two swords, each laden with their respective maximum sword power, clashed.

KWAAAAAANG!

A deafening roar like a clap of thunder erupted, and a circular shockwave swept through the training ground.

In the middle of a thick cloud of dust rising up, a hair-raising rupturing sound burst out.

K-CRACK.

It was the sound of Gong Jun-am’s greatsword cracking.

The hairline crack extended greatly, to the point that it was on the verge of breaking.

At this point, it would be better to obtain a new sword.

As Namgung Jun’s gaze turned toward the crack on the greatsword, Gong Jun-am slammed the greatsword onto the floor without a single trace of regret.

CLANG!

The greatsword, which had now completely broken.

Gong Jun-am did not even give a glance to the greatsword that had been snapped in half.

Instead, he looked at Namgung Jun, who had slightly raised his eyelids.

“A sword can be newly obtained. What I have gained from this duel is great, so that is enough.”

“It is a relief that you think so.”

“I hope it was of help to you as well.”

“Of course. I have become so familiar with this sword that I can go on my next mission with it right away. It would have been difficult if not for you, Senior Gong.”

At Namgung Jun’s words of greeting, Gong Jun-am’s stiff face loosened, however faintly.

“If that is the case, then that is good.”

……

Namgung Jun, who had been observing his inner self through Qi circulation after finishing the duel, opened his eyes.

It was because he could feel a presence outside.

When he went outside his lodging, Yun Gyeong-jong was observing the buildings of the Heavenly Sword Hall.

“Why have you come all the way here yourself, Ink Lord?”

“The Society Lord is looking for you.”

Yun Gyeong-jong, as if he had confirmed Namgung Jun’s accomplishment, nodded his head and continued to speak.

“It seems he has decided on a reward other than the Adamant Essence Art.”

Namgung Jun recalled the words that Ha Huseon had spoken.

It seemed that the reward for the Mount Song meeting was not going to end with just the Adamant Essence Art.

“I will get ready at once.”

Namgung Jun headed for the Azure Sky Pavilion with Yun Gyeong-jong.