Rebirth of the Thunder God

Appearing and disappearing like a phantom, Jin Myeongho immediately swung his sword.

He was so swift that by the time Cheonghak perceived the sword, Jin Myeongho's blade was already before his eyes.

-Swish!

But who was Cheonghak?

He was the Sword Dragon of the Seven Dragons of this generation.

He executed the Cloud-Riding Stride, gracefully deflecting the attack, and landed like a crane.

Would a fight between a crane and a hawk feel like this?

Cheonghak, who seemed catchable yet couldn't be caught.

Jin Myeongho, who fiercely pursued such a Cheonghak.

Jin Myeongho's sword was not only fast but also boasted an ever-changing path, maximizing the mysteries of the Phantom Sword.

Above all, Jin Myeongho's elusive footwork was so remarkable that even Cheonghak was busy dodging, clicking his tongue in amazement.

'That seems less like footwork and more like an immortal art. It feels like he's shrinking the ground to move.'

Should it be called spatial leap?

Or should it be called the art of shrinking the earth?

Jin Myeongho could leap to any spot on the stage with a single step.

And it wasn't like he was consuming a massive amount of internal ki like with Body-Shifting Phantom Steps.

Cheonghak, who rarely spoke, couldn't help but ask at such a bizarre sight.

"Daoist friend. May I ask what kind of footwork that is?"

"Well. It's not a name that would be good to be known. I'll tell you if you defeat me. By the way, how about you start showing your true skills?"

So far, Cheonghak had only been deflecting attacks with his elegant Cloud-Riding Stride, not launching any of his own.

Although he seemed to be on the defensive, he had not allowed a single attack to land.

"Haha. Since the Daoist friend wishes it so, I suppose I must show my lacking skills. However, I am still inexperienced, so I cannot control its power. Please be careful."

As Jin Myeongho nodded, Cheonghak corrected his posture and took a ready stance.

The harmonious stance of Taiji.

An aura that seemed capable of deflecting a great tsunami, a typhoon, everything.

Originally, the Wudang Sect was known for "striking later to subdue the opponent," but this time, Cheonghak took the initiative.

Cheonghak launched a palm wind from a distance.

The Cotton Palm of the Wudang Sect.

This too was a martial art that represented the Wudang Sect.

-Fwoooosh!

As the palm wind cut through the air, Jin Myeongho once again vanished from his spot in an instant.

In that moment, Cheonghak's eyes flashed, and he swiftly extended his hand toward the empty air.

-Thwack!

Something collided with Cheonghak's hand in the empty space.

Jin Myeongho immediately revealed himself, having crossed his arms to block Cheonghak's hand.

"You may be able to deceive the eyes, but you cannot deceive the wind. By the way, that is truly an amazing movement technique."

"And you, Daoist Cheonghak, have a vicious palm technique. To think it tingles like this even after blocking it. Is this perhaps the Ten-Section Brocade of Wudang?"

It had seemed like a simple hand gesture.

But Jin Myeongho's forearm was turning red.

As it was a duel where sword ki could not be used, it was a strike with only a slight amount of internal force, but its power was not to be ignored.

Namgung Hui also watched Cheonghak's attack with considerable admiration.

'To have such power with so little internal ki. It's a highly efficient martial art. It can also be applied to palm techniques, hand techniques, and fist techniques. Among unarmed martial arts, its versatility must be top-notch.'

He could see why Sosu Mahu had praised it so much.

Even though he had only seen a part of the Ten-Section Brocade, its potential was limitless.

This time, Jin Myeongho, shaking off his arm, moved first.

He used his ethereal footwork to switch to the offensive.

-Swish, swish, swish.

He appeared and disappeared in all directions, creating a dizzying spectacle.

To an onlooker, it would have seemed as if he had used a cloning technique, appearing as multiple people.

But those were all real bodies, so it was by no means a cloning technique.

Namgung Hui watched the duel, clicking his tongue in spite of himself.

To move so dizzyingly was truly a great talent.

If it had been Namgung Hui himself, he might have gotten motion sickness long ago.

As his eyes grew weary, Cheonghak simply closed them.

Truly remarkable courage.

Even if one's life was not taken in a duel.

It was still a spar where accidents could happen.

Even without sword ki, could a real sword not cut a person's throat?

Moreover, it was not as if there were no masters who died from a stray blade.

As Cheonghak closed his eyes, Jin Myeongho's sword, as if waiting, aimed for the back of his head.

It truly seemed as if a hole would be pierced in the back of Cheonghak's head.

But Cheonghak, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, immediately deflected the sword.

-Tang!

He struck it so hard that the blade trembled and vibrated violently.

Jin Myeongho calmed the blade and stared intently at Cheonghak.

'His ki sense is exceptionally sharp. In that case, I'll use this to my advantage and settle the match.'

Having formulated his plan, Jin Myeongho once again leaped into the air and diligently began his diversionary tactics.

He appeared and disappeared here and there, trying to deceive even Cheonghak's senses.

Cheonghak stood still, watching his movements, but when a sword suddenly flew in from the side, he immediately executed the Ten-Section Brocade to strike the blade.

However, no sooner had he extended his hand than a foot flew in from behind.

Could it be that someone who was not even a disciple of the Wudang Sect had executed the Two-Forms Heart Art?

He couldn't understand why two different martial arts were coming at him at the same time.

But regardless of understanding, Cheonghak's ki sense detected the attack, so he immediately executed the Cloud-Riding Stride and lifted his body into the air.

At that moment.

This time, a fist flew from the air and reached right in front of his nose.

Besieged on all sides.

From the side and the back.

And now a fist from the front.

He was already in the air, so there was no space to dodge.

It seemed as if Cheonghak would be hit by the fist and be knocked out of the ring.

But as Cheonghak curled the corners of his mouth and flapped his sleeves.

-Fwoooosh...

With a small gust of wind, the positions of Jin Myeongho and Cheonghak were instantly reversed.

The moment Jin Myeongho realized it.

His body was already stepping on the ground outside the stage.

The audience was dumbfounded as the two's positions suddenly switched.

It wasn't Body-Shifting Phantom Steps, nor was it a bizarre movement technique like Jin Myeongho's, so how could their positions have switched in an instant?

At that sight, Namgung Hui immediately recalled something.

'He used the Art of Shifting Flowers and Grafting Trees. He used his opponent's power to instantly switch positions. Truly the principle of Taiji.'

It happened so naturally, like flowing water, that the audience failed to properly perceive it.

The same must have been true for Jin Myeongho.

His combat experience seemed sorely lacking.

Perhaps it was because he relied only on his senses and failed to perceive the Art of Shifting Flowers and Grafting Trees.

'Cheonghak is definitely a master who is in a different league even among the young martial artists. I'll have to raise my evaluation of him even higher.'

From boldly closing his eyes in a duel where swords were exchanged.

To being skilled at improvisation.

He was in the ranks of a true master, a rare sight even in his past life.

Perhaps his innate martial talent was so outstanding that it overcame his lack of combat experience.

"Jin Myeongho is out of bounds! Cheonghak is the winner!"

At the announcer's declaration, the audience belatedly erupted in cheers.

"Waaaahhh!!! As expected of Cheonghak!"

"So cool! Cheonghak!"

"That Jin Myeong-something fought well too. My eyes have been treated for the first time in a while. This is why the martial arts tournament is worth watching."

Jin Myeongho gave an awkward smile at the audience's praise, cupped his fist, and exited.

As he passed the waiting room, he didn't spare a word for Namgung Hui.

"I don't know if I've just shown you an unsightly side of myself, Namgung Hui."

"Far from unsightly. I was only impressed. That illusion-like footwork was truly amazing. It must be a lineage of immortal arts, right?"

"!? You recognized it? How?"

"And how did you learn it? There's no rule that says I can't have a connection with an immortal, is there? Anyway. It's my turn now, so just watch."

As Namgung Hui warmed up and left the waiting room, the announcer's introduction followed.

"Then, the 4th duel will be between Young Master Paeng Murin of the Hebei Paeng family and Young Master Namgung Hui of the Namgung family~~!"

At the announcer's shout, the martial masters looked at each other and whispered.

"Huh? The Namgung family? Isn't this the first time since the inaugural martial arts tournament?"

"That's right. After showing a shabby performance back then, I thought they would never come out again, but for some reason, they've participated this time."

"Tsk. I hope they don't get embarrassed like last time. They were once a pillar of the Orthodox Faction, but seeing them in decline makes me feel uncomfortable."

"It's the same for me. I hope their past glory doesn't get tarnished."

The Namgung family, having lost the latter half of the Azure Sky Boundless Sword Art, naturally failed to produce one of the Seven Dragons.

They only continued to decline, and in the end, they were only embarrassed at the martial arts tournament.

After that, they were pushed to the bottom of the Five Great Families, and their status was effectively reduced to that of a mid-sized sect.

'But not anymore. The Azure Sky Boundless Sword Art has long been restored. My father and brother are honing the Emperor Sword Form left by my sworn brother. And from now on, I will be the one to spread our fame.'

This very place would become the stage for that leap.

The Paeng Murin before him would become a sacrifice.

"Then, I will count to three and begin the duel. One! Two! Three! Begin!"

Sreureung.

The saber was drawn, reflecting the sunlight into the audience.

The side of the already large saber made the audience raise their hands to shield their eyes.

In contrast, Namgung Hui's sword reflected almost no sunlight.

Instead, it was dark and seemed to absorb the sunlight.

People tilted their heads at the sight of Namgung Hui's sword.

"Why is the sword's body black? Was there such a material? Or is it so old that the color has faded?"

"It would rust, not turn black. A sword turning black? Even if you used it as kindling, it wouldn't turn like that."

"Then what is that black blade?"

"How should I know? By the way, I'm very curious to see how he'll face the Saber Dragon."

When had these people ever seen Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron?

Even the Purple Mist Divine Sword, made with half Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, did not have such a black hue.

If there was a metal with such a color.

"Is it a sword made of dark iron? The Namgung family shouldn't have the funds for that. Could he have stolen it from somewhere?"

Namgung Hui was startled by the sudden accusation but calmly replied to Paeng Murin.

"Do you think I'm like some family that steals other people's businesses?"

"What? Steal businesses? Are you saying that for me to hear?"

"Then I'm saying it for you to hear. Did you think I was saying it for the Hoicheon Association's spy to hear?"

"!!!"

Paeng Murin was flustered, not expecting him to suddenly bring up the Hoicheon Association's spy.

His thick eyebrows twitched as he hastily looked around and said.

"Words won't work with this bastard."

"Why? You don't think you can win with words?"

Paeng Murin gritted his teeth and rushed at Namgung Hui.

The large frame and huge saber flew in, and the momentum felt with the sound of cutting through the air was quite magnificent.

Namgung Hui paid no heed to the head-on assault.

He met it with his sword.

-Kaaang!

"Oho. You have a trick up your sleeve, seeing as you're not backing down. Then let's see how long you can block my saber!"

Paeng Murin continuously rotated his saber.

The wind wrapped around his saber, creating a whirlwind.

It wasn't imbued with saber ki, but using internal ki to create a saber wind like that boasted a power comparable to saber ki.

Of course, it was an equally great talent.

-Fwoooosh!

The whirlwind was shot towards Namgung Hui.

It was practically impossible to deflect such a blow with just a sword.

One had to either generate sword ki or execute footwork to the extreme to dodge it.

But Namgung Hui didn't want to bother using footwork to dodge.

Simply dodging like that wouldn't raise his family's fame.

Here, he had to clash head-on and shatter it.

Namgung Hui raised his sword high into the sky.

As the sword that pointed to the sky fell straight to the ground.

The sky split in two, and heaven and earth were overturned.

The ultimate technique of the Azure Sky Boundless Sword Art, Azure Sky.

The complete Azure Sky Boundless Sword Art was finally unleashed from Namgung Hui's hands.

(End of Chapter)