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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Overwhelming Martial Prowess
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Overwhelming martial prowess. A strength that stood out.
‘Opportunity favors the prepared.’
While Seolhwa's help had been instrumental in creating this opportunity, it was ultimately because Namgung Jipyeong had endured for so long without giving up that he was able to seize it.
Because he had persevered through all those years, enduring contemptuous and mocking gazes.
Thwack!
“Ha… Haa… Ha…”
Steam rose from Namgung Jipyeong's body. It was the heat generated from pushing his concentration and years of cultivated strength to their absolute limits.
His eyes were filled with the determination to pour everything he had into this moment.
‘That monster…’
The Hwangryongdan member gripped his sword tightly.
This opportunity was just as vital to him.
Though not to the same extent as Namgung Jipyeong, this was also the Hwangryongdan member's first opportunity in years.
‘I absolutely cannot lose!’
A blue aura shimmered like a heat haze from the Hwangryongdan member's body.
Those watching the spar gasped in astonishment.
“Peak first-rate!”
The realm of a seasoned first-rate martial artist, on the verge of the Jeoljeong stage.
“There was someone that strong in the Outer Hall?”
“Wasn't the Outer Hall only for second-rate practitioners?”
“Why is a guy like that still in the Outer Hall?”
Even among Inner Hall warriors, seasoned first-rate practitioners were rare. The power displayed by the Hwangryongdan member was truly astonishing.
‘They’re quite strong too….’
Seolhwa's eyes gleamed with interest.
Thanks to what she had done for the Jeokryongdan's 11th Sword Unit, it seemed other hidden talents in different sword units were also getting opportunities.
‘Yes. This is what a promotion match should be.’
A place where one was judged solely on skill, not power or connections.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
The Hwangryongdan member charged at Namgung Jipyeong.
‘Cheonpunggeombeop, Second Form, Four Chaos Dragons!’
Chaotic winds converged on him from all directions, centering on Namgung Jipyeong.
It was a wild, ferocious aura, as if dragons were tearing at him.
Amidst the pressing aura, Namgung Jipyeong exhaled slowly, recalling a voice.
‘Warrior, you are strong. You possess great power. It's just that you don't know how to use that power.’
Namgung Jipyeong gripped the hilt of his sword.
‘Put strength into your lower body. Use the unwavering power of the earth.’
Thump!
He put strength into his lower body, as if rooting himself to the earth.
‘Once your lower body is firm, the next step is how you hold the sword. Instead of clenching the hilt as if wringing it dry, put strength into your thumb and index finger, and support the weight with your other fingers. Like this.’
He gripped the sword exactly as the child had shown him.
So that he could swing the sword in any direction he wished, without unnecessary tension in his body.
Exhaling, he fixed his gaze on the sword strikes pouring down from the Hwangryongdan member.
The dragon's aura, pressing in as if to entangle and trap him.
‘The moment you must swing your sword, put strength into your grip on the hilt. The mindset of cutting down your opponent in a single strike,’
In an instant, power flowed into the hand gripping the hilt. At that moment, his eyes flashed.
‘—with the heart of severing the heavens.’
Namgung Jipyeong's sword plunged towards the center of the surging Hwangryongdan member.
Cheonpunggeombeop, Pahoegeom!
Swoosh—!
“Kuaaagh!”
The Hwangryongdan member's body twisted in mid-air and was sent flying.
He had dodged Namgung Jipyeong's physical attack, but he couldn't evade the swirling aura.
At that moment, expressions of shock appeared on the faces of those watching the spar.
Seop Mugwang and the sword unit commanders, as well as the hall masters and elders who prided themselves on their deep understanding of sword arts, all shared the sentiment.
Those who recognized Namgung Jipyeong's sword art couldn't help but doubt their own eyes.
‘The Namgung's sword art… was broken…?’
‘Impossible! How could the Namgung's sword art…!’
The Namgung's sword art was a peerless technique that had made the current Sword Emperor what he was.
It was a peerless sword art, so highly regarded that even the most arrogant sects would concede its superiority!
And that sword art… was broken by an Outer Hall warrior…?
‘It worked!’
Namgung Jipyeong's expression brightened.
I won!
The sword technique I learned from Young Lady Seolhwa worked perfectly!
“I… won…!”
It was the moment that realization gradually uplifted him, intoxicating him with a sense of victory.
With a crash, a massive figure landed on the sparring ground.
Namgung Jipyeong, those watching the spar, and Seolhwa all looked at him.
The burly man who appeared, reeking strongly of alcohol, was intimidating with a shaggy beard that covered half his face.
Moreover, standing with his back to the sun, his shadow stretched long, engulfing Namgung Jipyeong and extending towards where the sword units were gathered, instantly overwhelming the sword unit members with his sheer presence.
“Hall Master Muhak…!”
One of the elders cried out.
He was Namgung Mugang, the younger brother of the Family Head Namgung Mucheon and the Hall Master of Muhak Hall.
Namgung Mugang stomped, stomped, walking towards Namgung Jipyeong.
Namgung Jipyeong, frozen, stared blankly up at the approaching Namgung Mugang.
At the moment he thought the man resembled a giant bear.
“Cough—!”
Namgung Mugang grabbed Namgung Jipyeong by the collar and lifted him.
“You!”
“Kuh…”
It was a grip so strong that even Jipyeong, who was confident in his strength, couldn't possibly shake it off.
The strong smell of alcohol made it even harder to breathe.
“Who taught you that sword art?”
“Cough… Y-yes…?”
“That sword art just now, it didn't come from your own head, did it? I asked who taught you!”
Namgung Jipyeong choked, struggling against the vice-like grip on his collar. He tried to speak, but his breath was cut off, preventing him from making a sound.
Namgung Jipyeong slapped at his hand, but the grip only tightened further.
Just as Namgung Jipyeong's face was turning crimson.
“I taught him.”
A clear, crisp child's voice echoed through the silent sparring ground.
Namgung Mugang threw Namgung Jipyeong aside and looked at Seolhwa.
Confirming that the speaker was a young child, he let out a deflated laugh.
“And who are you? Ah, you must be Namgung Cheongun's daughter, I suppose.”
Namgung Mugang picked his ear and asked.
“You taught this fellow that sword art just now?”
“Yes.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Kwahahahahaha!”
Namgung Mugang's laughter boomed through the sparring ground.
It was so loud that some of the nearby warriors covered their ears.
“No matter how drunk I am! Do you think I'd believe that? That you created this sword art? Kwahaha! Hahahaha!”
As he burst into laughter, he suddenly gestured towards where the Family Head was.
“Brother, you tell him! No! Seop Mugwang, you tell him! You recognized that sword art just now, didn't you?!”
“Haa.”
Seop Mugwang let out a tired sigh.
But he didn't respond. He was treating him completely like a drunkard.
Namgung Mugang, seemingly used to this, didn't give him time to reply and shouted.
“You brat. Did you even recognize what sword art this fellow performed just now?”
“It was a counter to the Namgung's sword art.”
The Namgung's training ground instantly buzzed with murmurs.
“What? Pahoegeom?”
Shock spread across the faces of those who hadn't recognized the Pahoegeom.
There were also many who were surprised that Seolhwa had recognized it.
“Oh-ho.”
Alright. So she does have an eye for it?
“That's right. The sword art this fellow performed just now was the Pahoegeom. A complete counter to the Namgung's Cheonpunggeombeop! Do you know what that means?”
“It means that the creator of the Pahoegeom completely understood the Cheonpunggeombeop, and furthermore, saw through its inherent flaws.”
“Hmph. The brat speaks quite eloquently. You're right. But even so, are you still going to claim you created the Pahoegeom?”
Thump—!
In an instant, he vanished.
The sound of a thump echoed from the platform a few steps away from Seolhwa.
Thump, thump.
He approached Seolhwa with heavy thuds. Namgung Cheongun, flustered, stepped in front of Seolhwa.
“A scrawny little thing like you, no bigger than a broomstick, broke the Namgung's sword art? Nonsense!”
The aura emanating from Namgung Mugang up close was so raw and formidable that it was no surprise he was called the Namgung's second-in-command.
Namgung Mugang glared down at Seolhwa with blazing eyes.
His sheer size felt as if he could crush Seolhwa in a single instant.
Seolhwa met his domineering gaze, not flinching from the oppressive presence that made her skin prickle.
…
As Mugang looked at the child who audaciously met his gaze, his lips curled into an intrigued smile.
“Fine. Then, show me yourself.”
…
“What, can't you do it? You said you created this sword art, didn't you? Come on, show me!”
“Enough.”
A voice imbued with internal energy echoed throughout the sparring ground.
At the same time, Seop Mugwang's undrawn sword blocked Mugang's path.
“Come on, sober up a little. What kind of disgraceful scene is this? Aren't you ashamed to show this to a little kid?”
“Disgraceful? Hey, you bastard, no matter how drunk I am, that sword art just now, even you…!”
“I told you to stop, Mugang.”
At the voice, once again imbued with internal energy, Namgung Mugang flinched and fell silent. His expression hardened, and he cast a low gaze towards Namgung Mucheon.
“Do I look like I'm tormenting Brother's granddaughter?”
“This is the Cheonmuje. Don't cause unnecessary commotion.”
“Hmph.”
Namgung Mugang turned back to Seolhwa.
“You. We'll revisit what happened just now later….”
“There are five of them.”
“What?”
“The warriors I taught the sword art. One of them just finished his spar, so there are four more spars left.”
…
“You might call one time a coincidence, but what about five times?”
Seolhwa smiled at him.
“If all five of them claim they learned from me, will you believe it then?”
Namgung Mugang's jaw dropped.
