Chapter 94 : Combat Strength Evaluation (1)
Chapter 94: Combat Strength Evaluation (1)
The Seonghong Hall Master's spirited and energetic shout.
A sharp voice abruptly cut through the Seonghong Hall Master's overly excited laughter.
“Shut your mouth. Unless you have a death wish.”
The Hall Master of the Ink Wheel Hall, the Sword Demon, muttered the words as though grinding them between his teeth.
His killing intent was so dense it seemed he might draw his sword at any moment.
“Hahaha! Interesting! Sword Demon! Care to liven things up with me!”
Instead of backing down, the Seonghong Hall Master deliberately raised his voice even higher.
As if responding in kind, the Sword Demon reached for the hilt of his sword.
Just as the two Hall Masters were about to clash—
“Everyone has gathered.”
Standing atop the platform erected at the edge of the Grand Training Ground was the Society Leader of the Changcheon Society, his hands clasped behind his back.
Naturally standing beside Ha Huseon, whose right sleeve fluttered gently, was Ink Lord Yun Gyeong-jong. Behind them stood the Pavilion Heads of the Ink Fragrance Division, along with the Head of the Elder Council and the other elders.
Namgung Jun raised his head and looked toward the Society Leader and the Ink Lord.
The Sword Lord and the Ink Lord were the two pillars who attended the Society Leader.
Since the Combat Strength Evaluation was one of the rare major events within the Changcheon Society, their presence was only natural.
'The Sword Lord is still in secluded cultivation.'
As Namgung Jun glanced toward the empty position to the Society Leader's left, the Hall Masters simultaneously dropped to one knee in salute.
“We greet the Society Leader!”
As the ten Hall Masters raised their voices together, the remaining members followed suit in perfect unison.
“We greet the Society Leader!”
The Society Leader nodded as he looked down upon the Grand Training Ground, where the ten banners stood in a great circle.
“Every time I see it, I think the same thing. What a magnificent sight. Wouldn't you agree?”
At Ha Huseon's words, Namgung Jun slightly raised his head and looked at the banners.
Perhaps because he remained kneeling with his viewpoint lowered.
The ten banners standing in a circle around the Grand Training Ground resembled a small fortress wall.
Moreover, the two characters embroidered upon each banner left an especially profound impression.
Each was a martial force possessing its own unique martial arts and specialties.
If all of them were to move together as a single united force upon the battlefield, it was difficult even to imagine the military might they would display.
“You are another wall that upholds the Changcheon Society.”
Ha Huseon's gaze rested upon the ten banners.
“I hope the wall known as the Ten Halls will continue to broaden and rise ever higher until it finally drives back the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult... May this Combat Strength Evaluation become another step toward that day.”
With those brief words, Ha Huseon waved his left hand.
Standing behind him, Yun Gyeong-jong slowly opened his mouth.
“The Combat Strength Evaluation shall begin!”
Yun Gyeong-jong's clear voice, amplified with internal energy, announced the beginning of the evaluation.
---
The first event of the Combat Strength Evaluation was the Standard-Bearer Battle.
As its name implied, it was the stage for the standard-bearers entrusted with each Hall's banner.
A Hall's standard-bearer was its second-in-command, someone capable of acting in the Hall Master's place when necessary.
In other words, they were also considered candidates to become the next Hall Master.
“So the second-in-command of every Hall is clashing right from the beginning.”
Although she was not participating herself, Man Ye-won looked visibly tense.
Heo Il shook his head.
“You should relax your body a little. If you stay that tense, you'll end up making mistakes when it's finally our turn.”
Yet even Heo Il seemed concerned about Namgung Jun, as he turned to Gong Jun-am.
“Senior Gong, what do you think of this Standard-Bearer Battle?”
“From what I can tell, the other Halls haven't changed their lineups. I don't know exactly how things will unfold, but one thing is certain—we won't be the ones falling behind.”
As soon as Gong Jun-am spoke with absolute confidence, a banner descended from the sky.
Boom!
It was nearly three times larger than the banners of the Ten Halls.
A blue banner embroidered with the two characters Changcheon.
Having personally driven the banner deeply into the stone floor, the Head of the Elder Council, Man Hun, spoke.
“The allotted time is one gak—fifteen minutes. Whichever standard-bearer possesses the banner when time expires will earn the highest score for their Hall. The remaining points will be determined through the elders' individual evaluations.”
The Head of the Elder Council and the assembled elders all shone with sharp gazes.
Using keen observation born from long experience and profound internal energy, they intended not to miss a single movement made by the standard-bearers.
Snapping his fingers, Man Hun declared,
“Begin.”
Snap!
Even after Man Hun's signal, none of the standard-bearers moved immediately.
Simply seizing the banner first would not be enough.
They also had to defend it against the other standard-bearers for the full fifteen minutes, meaning strategy was essential.
Especially when all nine opponents were formidable in their own right.
Step.
While everyone observed one another's movements, one young man walked forward alone.
'The Rising Star Sword... He's younger than I expected.'
'So that's the Greatest Rising Talent of the Orthodox Path!'
'He's become even stronger since the last time I saw him.'
The standard-bearers of the Ten Halls refrained from acting rashly as they carefully watched Namgung Jun.
Before long, Namgung Jun stepped onto the base of the Changcheon banner planted at the center of the Grand Training Ground.
Shhhk!
With the Eternal Justice Sword drawn low, he traced a large circle around the Changcheon banner.
“It seems my seniors have no intention of stepping forward, so this junior has decided to make the first move.”
Namgung Jun loosely gripped the hilt of his sword.
“I ask my seniors for their guidance.”
His tone remained respectful.
Yet his challenge was unmistakable.
Several of the standard-bearers laughed.
“The junior certainly has spirit.”
“We can't stand here forever. Time is passing even now.”
“Hm.”
As they spoke, each standard-bearer began releasing the Qi they had been restraining.
Amidst them, the Flying God Hall's standard-bearer asked,
“What is the meaning of that circle you've drawn with your sword?”
“No one will be permitted to cross into it.”
Namgung Jun's calm warning caused the expressions of the other standard-bearers to become noticeably more serious.
Watching them, he added,
“It isn't often that we're all gathered in one place. It would be best to exchange greetings quickly.”
“The Heavenly Sword Hall's standard-bearer is right!”
Rumble!
The first to charge was the Iron Tower Hall's standard-bearer.
He rushed forward with overwhelming momentum.
Each step shattered the stone paving beneath his feet.
Scattering fragments of rock in every direction, the Iron Tower Hall's standard-bearer charged ferociously.
Namgung Jun responded by bringing his sword down directly upon the incoming fist.
Boom!
The tremendous impact caused the surrounding ground to tremble.
After exchanging only a single move, the Iron Tower Hall's standard-bearer immediately understood.
Namgung Jun's external training had reached astonishing heights.
“Excellent! You truly haven't neglected your external training.”
“It is one of the precious teachings of the Iron Tower Hall. How could I possibly neglect it?”
Smiling faintly, Namgung Jun tightened the grip of his index and middle fingers around the hilt.
Boom!
Drawing forth his sword force, Namgung Jun knocked the Iron Tower Hall's standard-bearer aside before immediately twisting his waist and thrusting his sword to the left.
“Oh my.”
“I'm quite certain I warned you.”
While Namgung Jun exchanged a move with the Iron Tower Hall's standard-bearer, a middle-aged man had slipped toward the banner.
Using the Flying God Hall's signature elusive movement technique, he attempted to seize it in one motion.
Namgung Jun stopped him.
“Your footwork is quite impressive.”
“You flatter me.”
Rather than exchanging more blows, the Flying God Hall's standard-bearer immediately retreated.
It was a swift yet graceful withdrawal.
“I wonder how long you'll be able to uphold your declaration that no one may cross that circle.”
The Flying God Hall's standard-bearer casually glanced around.
Crash!
The clashes between the Ten Halls' standard-bearers were no longer confined to the banner itself.
The Radiant Wing Hall's standard-bearer had climbed atop his own Hall's banner and was drawing his bowstring.
Meanwhile, the Life's End Hall's standard-bearer slowly circled the battlefield as his very presence gradually faded.
“Come!”
“Your power has increased again.”
Rather than contesting the banner, the standard-bearers of the Martial Extremity Hall and the Sect Hall fiercely clashed against one another, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
Perhaps they were confident they could claim the banner later regardless.
Instead, they seemed intent on eliminating their strongest rivals first.
“What a splendid sight.”
Having confirmed that the other standard-bearers were thoroughly entangled, the Seonghong Hall's standard-bearer assumed the posture of a crane standing upon one leg.
Resting an ancient zither across his raised thigh, he immediately began plucking its seven strings with great vigor.
The Seonghong Hall's Grand Hall Zither Performance.
Each vibration of the strings released waves of sound infused with internal energy that swept toward the standard-bearers.
It was a perfectly timed ambush, launched after confirming that the other nine standard-bearers were too deeply engaged to escape easily.
The expressions of those exchanging blows subtly stiffened.
Should they ignore the Sound Arts and continue fighting?
Temporarily withdraw?
Or join forces to eliminate the Seonghong Hall's standard-bearer first?
Numerous strategic choices presented themselves.
Yet none could be made lightly.
Each standard-bearer also had to consider the counters their opponents were already preparing in anticipation of those very decisions.
The melody of the seven-stringed zither, the ringing clash of weapons, and the thunderous impacts of stamping footwork filled the entire Grand Training Ground.
Crash!
Batting aside the twin swords of the Life's End Hall's standard-bearer, who had secretly attacked from behind, Namgung Jun spun gracefully through the air and unleashed a wide arc of sword strikes.
The chaotic sword attacks of the Drizzling Rain Sword Art forced back the standard-bearers of the Ink Wheel Hall and the Divine Mechanism Hall.
A rain of arrows immediately followed.
Namgung Jun raised his sword high and answered with the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders.
Even amidst the chaotic melee, Namgung Jun protected the banner flawlessly.
The standard-bearers attacked one after another.
Yet not a single one succeeded in placing a foot inside the circular boundary Namgung Jun had drawn.
The same remained true now.
Four standard-bearers stood directly before him, while waves of Sound Arts and long-range arrows continuously rained in from afar.
It would not have been an exaggeration to say that Namgung Jun alone was holding off half of the standard-bearers.
“Remarkable. To think he's grown this much.”
Man Hun, who had personally crossed swords with Namgung Jun before, felt a surge of emotion.
The surrounding elders felt the same.
“I'd heard the rumors... but to think he was this strong.”
“A new Four Clouds member may soon be born.”
“Forget the Four Clouds. That child is someone capable of carrying this Society's future.”
Listening to the elders' admiration, Ha Huseon slowly nodded.
'He's handling the Azure King Pure World Qi with remarkable skill.'
Ha Huseon accurately perceived the constantly shifting Qi surrounding Namgung Jun.
Depending on the situation, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the Azure King Pure World Qi alternated seamlessly, supporting Namgung Jun's martial prowess.
“He truly is a lone tiger.”
The other Halls' standard-bearers were all powerful enough to be called fierce beasts.
Yet even among them, Namgung Jun's martial prowess stood out like an awl in a sack.
The ten standard-bearers gathered here were all formidable beasts.
But only Namgung Jun possessed the presence worthy of being called a tiger.
Boom!
Driving back the standard-bearers before him with the Heavenly Wind Sword Art, Namgung Jun surveyed the battlefield at a glance.
Even the standard-bearers of the Martial Extremity Hall and the Sect Hall, who had been fighting one another, were now charging toward the banner.
Time was steadily running out.
Only two standard-bearers remained at a distance—the Seonghong Hall and the Radiant Wing Hall—both continuing to attack from afar.
Everyone else was converging upon the banner.
“Seniors. It's about time we wrapped this up.”
Holding his sword upright before him, Namgung Jun released a majestic wave of Qi.
Crackle!
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and the Azure King Pure World Qi merged together, circulating throughout his entire body.
Namgung Jun's aura steadily intensified.
At the same time, a massive Sword Aura rose from his blade.
The other standard-bearers instantly realized what was coming.
Something tremendous.
Thud!
As every standard-bearer stamped firmly into place, simultaneously preparing either their ultimate techniques or strongest defensive forms, Namgung Jun leaped into the air and swung his sword in one vast arc.
The Grand Training Ground began to be engulfed in blue light.