Record of the Dragon-Slayer’s Return

Having survived in the Demon Sealing Valley, Moyong Gi had mastered lightness techniques. That's why he was fast. The mountains and streams flew past him. Yet, a sense of urgency was evident on Moyong Gi's face.

"Damn it! I'm going to be late at this rate."

Only four days remained until the entrance day of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn.

On the other hand, there was still a considerable distance to Kaifeng, where the Orthodox Justice Alliance was located.

"It'll be a headache if I'm late."

The rules of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn were unnecessarily strict in these matters. They showed no consideration for circumstances.

If they handled it by the book, he would have to wait another five years.

By then, he would be twenty-three. He would be outside the range of a rising generation martial artist. He would lose his qualification to enter.

So, he ran with all his might. He even drew up a large amount of the internal energy he usually used sparingly. From a distance, it looked like a single line being drawn swiftly.

"Damn that fleeceflower root!"

He wasn't short on time from the beginning. In fact, he had left home with plenty of time to spare.

The reason he was bound to be late was because of the hundred-year-old fleeceflower root that Granny Peng from the Demon Sealing Valley had told him about.

"When have I ever eaten an elixir!"

Even though he had never eaten one, he had heard things.

They said that unless it was an artificially made elixir like Shaolin's Great Rejuvenation Pill or Wudang's Grand Purity Pill, it was best in its natural state.

He had heard that minimizing human touch maximized its medicinal effects.

So, right after pulling it out, he just brushed off the dirt and chewed on it.

He devoured one root in the blink of an eye.

Sure enough, he felt a warm energy in his stomach.

After a little while, the medicinal effect spread, and his whole body grew hot. It was to the point where he didn't feel the cold.

He was satisfied up to that point.

But that alone was not enough. If left as it was, he would only see the effect of his body becoming slightly stronger.

This was because most of the energy, except for a small amount, would dissipate.

So, he circulated his internal energy. He intended to absorb all the energy of the hundred-year-old fleeceflower root.

"I was crazy!"

He had heard that the energy contained in a hundred-year-old root was weak.

But that was the case for people who had achieved a certain level of internal energy.

It did not apply to Moyong Gi, who possessed only ten years' worth of internal energy.

"I shouldn't have touched it."

When he prodded it with his internal energy, the warm energy of the hundred-year-old fleeceflower root burst into flames.

A hot flame circulated through his eight extraordinary meridians.

He felt a severe thirst, as if his throat was burning.

He wanted to douse himself with cool water right away.

But he couldn't move an inch. Moving rashly while circulating energy would turn him into a cripple. So, he endured it.

"I should have stopped there."

He shouldn't have touched the energy of the hundred-year-old fleeceflower root any further.

He should have stopped at that point and only managed the energy that had already started to run wild.

But Moyong Gi continued to circulate his internal energy.

It wasn't to gain more energy. He felt like he could only survive by circulating his internal energy.

That was his mistake. The hot energy continued to catch fire. It grew hotter and hotter. In the end, it felt as if boiling lava was churning through his eight extraordinary meridians.

"I really thought I was going to die."

Only then did he realize he had messed with it wrongly. But he didn't dare to stop.

He instinctively felt that if he stopped carelessly, the energy of the hundred-year-old fleeceflower root would devour him. He would end up a shriveled husk.

Thinking he was going to die, he desperately circulated his internal energy. It wasn't to absorb the energy of the hundred-year-old fleeceflower root. It was to scatter the overflowing energy.

"To think that would take a fortnight."

He circulated his internal energy like his life depended on it. For the first time in his life, he earnestly operated the Great Universal Art. Sweat poured down like rain.

That continued for a fortnight. Only then was he finally able to get the energy under control.

"It's a good thing my internal energy increased, otherwise I would have been in real trouble."

If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have even dared to try to get to Kaifeng on time. It was only possible because he had become incomparably faster than before he ate the hundred-year-old fleeceflower root.

"Most of the turbid energy has been expelled."

His already thin body had become even more gaunt. This was because he had poured out sweat like rain.

Instead, most of the turbid energy had been washed away. Thanks to that, his body felt lighter.

"It's a bit of a shame, though. After all that trouble, only half a cycle."

It was the result of intentionally scattering the energy he couldn't handle. He had absorbed less than half of the hundred-year-old fleeceflower root's energy. The internal energy he had managed to gather was a little over half a cycle. The result was meager compared to the effort he had put in.

"It's not that this is insufficient."

It was a similar amount of internal energy to when he had left the Demon Sealing Valley in the past. He had reduced five years of time to a fortnight.

With this much, he would have no match unless it was a considerably skilled master. It was a significant achievement. Considering his age, it was more than enough.

"Still, it's a waste."

If he had absorbed all the energy of the hundred-year-old fleeceflower root, he would have been able to obtain internal energy equivalent to a full cycle.

He was deeply disappointed that he couldn't. This was because that level was close to when he had invaded the Imperial Palace. He would have no match in the martial world.

He might even be able to surpass that red-robed man right away.

"There are two more roots left, though."

There were still two more hundred-year-old fleeceflower roots left. But Moyong Gi had no intention of eating more.

The first time was what mattered with elixirs. This was because the more you ate the same type of elixir, the more your resistance built up.

Even if he ate more and absorbed all the energy, it wouldn't amount to even five years' worth of internal energy.

It would be a waste to use it now, unless it was an emergency.

He needed a different elixir.

"Are there any other elixirs lying around?"

Moyong Gi, who was quietly retracing his memories, quickly shook his head.

"Yikes! This is not the time for that."

Now was not the time for that. He put more strength into his running legs.

Moyong Gi's figure shot out like a beam of light.

***

Kaifeng was bustling with energy for a change.

The Dragon and Phoenix Examination, held once every five years, was no different from a festival for the martial artists of the Orthodox Faction in the Central Plains.

Even if their own rising generation martial artists weren't taking the Dragon and Phoenix Examination, martial artists from all over the world flocked in, forming a sea of people.

There was much to see and much to eat.

But Yoo Hojin of the Diancang Sect had a different thought.

Yoo Hojin looked down at the martial artists who had gathered like clouds with a pathetic expression.

"Idiots. What do they think they'll get by coming all the way here? They don't even know their place."

"What are you talking about? You and your bad personality..."

Joo Jinsung of the Qingcheng Sect chided Yoo Hojin. But Yoo Hojin replied with an unconcerned face.

"What about me? Did I say something wrong?"

"Oh, really? So that's the right thing to say? Are you saying you don't know that the Orthodox Justice Alliance runs because of those people?"

"Who said I don't know that? They're still low-level martial artists. What's so great about that that they have to flock here?"

"You'll only know if you fight them."

At Joo Jinsung's reply, Yoo Hojin let out a derisive laugh.

"Fight them? What fight? Do you expect to find someone among them who can beat you?"

Joo Jinsung couldn't say anything. He didn't think such a thing would happen.

"See, you can't answer, can you? A dragon from a ditch, my ass. A ditch is a place where only loaches live."

Left with nothing more to say to Yoo Hojin's words, Joo Jinsung frowned and turned away.

Woonhyun of the Kunlun Sect interjected.

"Have you forgotten that the Orthodox Justice Alliance Leader, Grandmaster Jinsan, was self-made?"

"The Alliance Leader was self-made?"

This time too, Yoo Hojin let out a faint laugh.

"Come on, now. Let's be honest. He wasn't chosen as the leader because his abilities were outstanding, but because he was an easy scarecrow to control."

It was an undeniable fact that the Orthodox Justice Alliance Leader, Jinsan, had achieved great things coming from a small to medium-sized sect.

However, he was not at a level to be called the best in the world. The sect leaders of each sect could easily face him.

"They just picked an easy guy to appease the Five Great Families. Am I wrong?"

If the Alliance Leader came from the Nine Sects One Gang, the Five Great Families would protest. That's why Jinsan, who had no power base, was chosen.

"I don't like that either. If a child throws a tantrum, you should discipline them with a rod, why try to appease them by giving them a rice cake?"

It wasn't impossible if they wanted to suppress them with force. But there was no whip, only carrots.

Woonhyun and Joo Jinsung didn't like that either. So they kept their mouths shut, but So Moogyeol of the Beggars' Sect, who was next to them, opened his mouth with food in it.

"That's why we have the Three Dragons and Two Phoenixes. Let's stop the useless talk and talk about the Three Dragons and Two Phoenixes. Isn't that why we gathered?"

The Three Dragons and Two Phoenixes referred to the five rising generation martial artists participating in the Pure Martial Grand Tournament.

The Pure Martial Grand Tournament was a martial arts competition between five rising generation martial artists selected from the Orthodox Justice Alliance and the Tyrant's Fortress, held once every five years.

They had experienced firsthand in the Orthodox-Unorthodox Great War forty years ago that a direct clash would lead to mutual destruction. So they didn't dare to face each other directly. The Pure Martial Grand Tournament, where the rising generation martial artists competed in martial arts, was created.

Both sides had agreed to be satisfied with boosting their pride based on the results.

"Moogyeol is right. Let's leave the troublesome talk to the adults and do what we can. By the way, is everyone here?"

Jo Iljang of the Kongtong Sect scanned the surroundings.

Jeonggak of Shaolin, So Moogyeol of the Beggars' Sect, Joo Jinsung of Qingcheng, Yoo Hojin of Diancang, Woonhyun of Kunlun, Jongri Hye of Zhongnan, and himself, a total of seven.

Jo Iljang's brow furrowed.

"I can understand Wudang and Emei, but I didn't expect even Mount Hua to be absent."

The absence of Cheon Youngyoung of Emei was the sect's policy.

Since it was a place with a very reclusive atmosphere, he had expected it.

The absence of Myung Jin of Wudang was a matter of personal disposition. He rarely showed his face unless it was related to martial arts. He was a guy who was indifferent to everything, so it was better that he wasn't here. It would only cause trouble.

But it was surprising that Mount Hua, which always took the lead in the affairs of the Nine Sects One Gang, was absent.

So Moogyeol, still munching on his food, replied.

"I heard that the one coming from Mount Hua this time is Baek Unseol. She's very shy, so that's probably why."

Jongri Hye looked at So Moogyeol with a surprised face.

"Baek Unseol? Not Lee Hyun?"

"Yeah. It's Baek Unseol this time."

Jongri Hye, who had been secretly aiming for one of the Two Phoenixes spots, frowned her pretty face.

Cheon Youngyoung was so outstanding that she had long since conceded one spot to her. She thought she had a chance against Eon Juhye of the Jinju Eon Family, but the appearance of a strong competitor named Baek Unseol made her feel uncomfortable.

So Moogyeol grinned.

"It's good for us, though. That Lee Hyun fellow was no pushover, but he's bowing out on his own."

Jongri Hye glared at him.

"Is that something to say in front of people?"

"Why? Not confident? If you're not confident, then drop out."

"You! Really...!"

Jongri Hye pouted her lips this time. But Jeonggak, who had been quiet until now, raised his hand and cut them off.

"Then there should be no problem with the Two Phoenixes."

There were four real competitors for the Two Phoenixes.

Baek Unseol of Mount Hua, Cheon Youngyoung of Emei, Jongri Hye of Zhongnan, and Eon Juhye of the Jinju Eon Family.

They were overwhelming in numbers, and Eon Juhye was even two years younger than them.

Zhuge Yeon of the Zhuge Family was not even considered in the first place.

As long as there were no variables, the Two Phoenixes belonged to the Nine Sects One Gang.

"All that's left is the Three Dragons, then?"

Yoo Hojin of the Diancang Sect nodded.

"We have to take all of them this time. We have to repay the humiliation of giving up three spots five years ago."

Jeonggak tapped the table.

"Assuming one spot belongs to Myung Jin, the remaining two spots are the problem."

The twelve eyes, excluding Jongri Hye of Zhongnan, sank deep. Jongri Hye was still just pouting her lips.

(End of Chapter)