Chapter 79 : The Great Expansion Sword Formation (1)
Chapter 79 - The Great Expansion Sword Formation (1)
THUD!
The Iron Tower Hall Master, Dan Jung-se, who had struck the table with both fists and stood up, asked.
“Has the time for the combat power evaluation finally returned! This time, for sure, I will take the position of the strongest among the Ten Halls!”
“Hmph. Iron Tower Hall Master. It seems you are confident. But my Hall has not been idling either.”
The glint in the eyes of Dan Jung-se and Ha Mujung, who met each other's gaze, emitted their respective colors and flickered strongly.
As the aura harbored by the two supreme masters also flowed out minutely, a faint friction sound burst out in the atmosphere.
“It has been a truly long time since all ten Hall Masters will gather.”
“Naturally, the Sword Lord should be keeping his seat at such a gathering. Has there been any news regarding the Sword Lord recently?”
The Clear Affinity Pavilion Head, who is responsible for the Azure Sky Society's information, shook his head.
“He is still in closed-door training. It is expected that he will be absent even on the day of the combat power evaluation.”
One year ago, the Uicheon Sword Lord, who clashed with the highest echelon of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult during a mission in Qinghai Province, immediately entered closed-door training.
It was said that the purpose of recuperation to heal internal injuries was greater than that of consolidating insights and martial principles.
For that reason, a fair amount of time had passed since the Hall Masters had also seen the Sword Lord’s face in person.
“Hmm. I do not know to what extent the Sword Lord has recovered now.”
“We have no choice but to believe that the Sword Lord is doing well on his own. Of course, the fact that the Sword Lord is an eccentric person does worry me.”
At the remark of the Divine Mechanics Hall Master, Zhuge Muran, the Hall Masters also had no choice but to force a nod.
As the Hall Masters' conversation seemed to be wrapping up, Gang Mong spoke again.
“Since all Ten Halls must return to the main castle in time for the date, I will send out communications as soon as today's meeting is over.”
“Which Hall has gone out on a mission the farthest right now?”
“It is the Radiant Wing Hall and the Great Sound Hall, which are on a mission in Sichuan Province.”
“Fortunately, they have not moved as far as Qinghai Province, so there will be no need to worry about them being late.”
Looking at Zhuge Muran who was lightly creating a breeze with an iron fan, the Vertical Wave Hall Master, Gang Gok, opened his mouth.
“I don't know about other places, but it would be best to clean up the area near Anhui Province as neatly as possible before the combat power evaluation. Is there a place where the Ten Halls need to step in before the evaluation?”
Gang Mong flipped through a book and continued speaking.
“The movements of the Iron War Camp are not ordinary. The Evil Eye Branch in Jiangxi Province is proceeding with a mission related to the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, and the Iron War Camp might intervene there. Depending on the situation, the Ten Halls might have to step in.”
Lee Se-ha, who was listening to the conversation, raised a hand.
“If it is the Iron War Camp, my Hall will be the easiest to deal with them.”
Gang Gok also agreed.
“Since the Heavenly Sword Hall has clashed with the Iron War Camp several times, it will be easy to deal with them.”
Gang Mong, who was listening to the conversation, also nodded his head.
“I will observe the situation and convey the news to the Heavenly Sword Hall immediately. Hall Master, I ask that you prepare for deployment.”
……
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen, who usually scattered throughout the buildings of the Heavenly Sword Hall to cultivate their respective martial arts or paired up to hold duels, were all gathered at the training ground.
It was for the sake of the Heavenly Sword Hall’s group training.
Whenever more than a certain number of people gathered, the Heavenly Sword Hall trained in a sword formation based on the Great Expansion Sword Style, that is, the Great Expansion Sword Formation.
Since the current situation was that all members, including the Hall Master, had returned to the Heavenly Sword Hall, the daily routine was naturally set to sword formation training.
Though there were times when they set out on missions individually, the Ten Halls frequently dealt with the great sects of the Martial World as well. For that reason, there were quite a lot of cases where they went out on missions as a group.
It was group training in preparation for those times.
‘Sword formation. Come to think of it, I haven’t had the chance to encounter it.’
Because he had been moving busily without a moment to catch his breath and the timing had not matched, Namgung Jun had never participated in sword formation training.
Of course, while cultivating the Great Expansion Sword Style, he had also separately familiarized himself with the secret manual of the Great Expansion Sword Formation. However, this was his first time actually unfolding the sword formation like this.
“Our youngest is already a Three-Cloud, yet he has never done sword formation training.”
“The Heavenly Sword Hall has indeed revolved around individual missions lately. Furthermore, the Hall Master also took charge of missions consecutively.”
“Huhu. If by chance there is anything you do not know, ask at any time!”
The seniors of the Heavenly Sword Hall burst into laughter as they looked at Namgung Jun.
They naturally knew well that Namgung Jun’s level of martial arts was higher than theirs.
However, individual training and group training were different matters.
In individual training, one only needs to worry about one’s own body.
Unlike that, group training required one to widen their field of view, include the surrounding comrades in their senses, and coordinate their breathing.
That was why, at first, most martial artists found the process itself of training all together to be awkward.
Especially, swordsmen with outstanding talent sometimes found sword formation training, where they had to combine their breathing with other martial artists, to be stifling.
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen considered that Namgung Jun would not be much different.
“Deploy Formation!”
Gong Jun-am commanded the Great Expansion Sword Formation in place of Lee Se-ha, who was absent due to participating in the meeting.
Though it was his first time in sword formation training, Namgung Jun’s rank as a Three-Cloud was acknowledged, so he took charge of an important axis of the formation.
Naturally, there were more parts to pay attention to than when standing in the rear ranks or ordinary positions of the sword formation.
He had to newly learn the aura operation, footwork, and sword paths of the sword formation that changed according to the deployment situation, and the process of coordinating breathing with surrounding comrades was necessary.
However, Namgung Jun wielded his sword familiarly, as if he had already gone through sword formation training time and time again.
Far from stumbling during his first sword formation training, he was capturing the members of the group he was in charge of in his vision and correcting their movements in real time.
‘Hm? Is he pulling off even the sword formation training skillfully? The first time should be a little awkward?’
‘It really feels fresh all over again, but he is a monster every time I see him.’
‘He has completely melted into the sword formation. His aura is very natural. At this rate, he could even take charge of commanding the sword formation?’
The swordsmen around Namgung Jun had no choice but to burst into admiration.
Namgung Jun was not standing in the rear defense position where ordinary newcomers stood, but was responsible for the core axis of the sword formation where the veterans stood.
Taking charge of an axis of the sword formation in the first training session was an extremely difficult task.
There were several swordsmen in the Heavenly Sword Hall who had made a name for themselves with their own talents, but everyone had started from the outer edges of the sword formation and expanded their positions step by step.
However, from the beginning, Namgung Jun grasped the core axis and melted into the sword formation without a single mistake. He exuded composure, as if he had experienced sword formation training several times.
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen, who had intended to immediately correct him and give advice if Namgung Jun made a mistake.
However, their mouths did not even get a chance to open.
On the contrary, Namgung Jun’s lips moved busily.
“Man Yewon. That is not how you unfold the sword formation.”
“Huh? Isn't this right?”
“Blindly unfolding it exactly like the secret manual is meaningless. A sword formation is a living creature. You must coordinate with your surrounding comrades. Spread your senses wider and more minutely.”
The way he detected Man Yewon’s mistake nearby and pointed it out immediately was very natural.
It was an appearance that only veterans who had spent a long time in the Heavenly Sword Hall would show.
“As expected of the youngest.”
“To think he is this skillful even with the Great Expansion Sword Formation. Sword formation is not a study that can be unfolded immediately just by looking at the secret manual.”
“Experience is more important than talent, but he pulls this off very easily too. It's to the point of being scary.”
Praise from the Heavenly Sword Hall veterans poured in from all sides, but Namgung Jun himself was thinking something else.
He had accepted it as such when looking at the secret manual, but upon unfolding it himself, it was much more disappointing than he had thought.
‘This sword formation. It has more flaws than I thought.’
To be precise, rather than calling them flaws, should he say it was lacking? It did not satisfy Namgung Jun.
There were very many parts in the Great Expansion Sword Formation that seemed to need touching up.
The Great Expansion Sword Formation had plenty of room to become stronger. It was to the point that Namgung Jun’s hands and mouth were itching.
THUD!
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen stomped their feet in unison and stopped moving. The deployment of the sword formation had concluded.
During the brief break time, the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen gathered around Namgung Jun.
They were curious how Namgung Jun, who was undertaking sword formation training for the first time, was doing so well, and wanted to see if they could hear any knacks.
“Youngest. Sword formation training is clearly different from individual training, yet you adapted well.”
“While doing so, you didn't spare advice and counsel to the Clouds in the surrounding positions. That means you had that much composure.”
“Is there a knack unique to Namgung Jun? I'm curious.”
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen asked Namgung Jun what they were curious about without reserve.
They asked questions ranging from the knacks or feelings of the first sword formation training to deep topics like the aura operation of the sword formation.
Namgung Jun answered slowly.
Because it was clear that this Q&A itself would be of great help to the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen.
Namgung Jun, who was answering the seniors' questions, asked something he was inwardly curious about.
“I also have something to ask.”
“Hoh. A question from the youngest? That's a first.”
“Ask anything.”
It was extremely rare for Namgung Jun to ask a question.
For that reason, the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen listened intently, their eyes sparkling at each other.
They looked ready to open their mouths at any moment, as if trying to answer first.
Namgung Jun nodded his head and opened his mouth.
“The Great Expansion Sword Formation has a weakness in its flanks. And every time the sword formation transforms into each respective sword stance, a gap is created in the deployment. To supplement this, it seems it would work if we newly adjusted the sword paths and aura operation in a two-way manner, but is there a reason why this is not done?”
Unlike Namgung Jun’s expectation, an answer did not return immediately.
The veterans, who scratched their heads a few times, began to open their mouths one by one.
“Hmm, is that so? I didn't feel such a thing?”
“Hoh. That's an interesting opinion. I considered the Great Expansion Sword Formation to be a sword formation where the balance of offense and defense fits well.”
“Point out exactly which part it is.”
Namgung Jun personally brought the secret manual and pointed it out while drawing a diagram on the ground with a twig.
“This part. When the First Group and the Third Group, which form the Great Expansion Sword Formation, are in the middle of switching positions, if they are attacked on the flank, they collapse helplessly.”
“Certainly, there were times when I felt a slightly uneasy feeling when moving while unfolding the sword formation.”
“To prepare for this, the veteran responsible for the formation axis must react actively according to the situation, but relying on this makes the stability of the sword formation extremely unstable.”
Namgung Jun finished his explanation and looked at the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen.
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen looked at each other with faces as if they had only just realized.
“Uh? I think I also vaguely felt this part a few times.”
“What? Then why didn't you say anything?”
“I just thought my accomplishment and understanding of the Great Expansion Sword Formation were lacking.”
The Heavenly Sword Hall veterans were busy scratching their heads and looking at each other's reactions.
Namgung Jun, who was stealthily watching the veterans' reactions, spoke first.
“May I overhaul the Great Expansion Sword Formation?”
At Namgung Jun’s confident proposal, no one could answer. A few veterans looked at Gong Jun-am.
When Lee Se-ha was absent, Gong Jun-am usually took charge of the important choices of the Heavenly Sword Hall.
But even Gong Jun-am could not give an answer immediately this time.
Gong Jun-am, who pondered for a moment, opened his mouth only after a long while.
“Let us ask when the Hall Master returns.”
It was then.
Lee Se-ha, who had just finished the meeting and returned, entered the Heavenly Sword Hall.
“What is this? Why is everyone slacking off?”
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen did not answer and all looked at Namgung Jun.
At that, Lee Se-ha’s gaze also turned toward Namgung Jun.
“Jun-ah? What is the matter?”
Namgung Jun rose from his seat and approached Lee Se-ha.
“Master. I have something to tell you.”
In Namgung Jun’s hand were the secret manual of the Great Expansion Sword Formation and a brush.
Lee Se-ha’s eyes, looking at this, were full of curiosity.
“What interesting thing is Jun-ah trying to show me again?”