The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 53 - The Competition (1)

The competition to participate in the Mount Song meeting had begun.

More people had gathered than at the time of the last entrance exam. It was only natural that it would be so.

For the rising stars of the younger generation participating in this competition were stepping forward to represent each of their Halls.

This was also a battleground where the Ten Halls would compete through their successors.

The seniors of the Ten Halls, who had occupied the spectator seats of the Grand Training Ground, were making bets amongst themselves.

“How about buying a round of drinks?”

“Just drinks? On a rare occasion like this? It is only right that we each wager the spiritual medicines we have hidden away.”

“Spiritual medicines? Isn’t that going a bit too far.”

“Huhu. It seems the rising stars from the Mountain-Shattering Hall coming out this time are no good, is that it? So you have no confidence.”

“Ha. Bring it on. I will put forth a White Essence Pill. What have you got, you bastard?”

Unlike the spectator seats, which had a heated and clamorous atmosphere, the air of the Grand Training Ground where the competition participants were gathered was extremely heavy.

“What’s this, Senior Heo. Are you trembling?”

Man Ye-won asked as she stole a glance at Heo Il, who was standing still without opening his mouth, which was different from usual.

“Miss Man. Please be quiet. I am in the middle of processing the enlightenment from last night.”

“Hmm. It just looks like you’re nervous.”

Man Ye-won needlessly fiddled with her scabbard and observed Namgung Jun’s and Heo Il’s reactions. At her restless looking around, Namgung Jun said in a low voice.

“Have some confidence. Just like when you abruptly asked me for a duel at the Martial Repository of Self-Reflection.”

“Ah—! That was!”

Though Man Ye-won tried to protest, Namgung Jun did not listen and turned his head. He had felt a bearing that he was encountering for the first time in a long while from the opposite side.

“Younger Brother. It has been a long time.”

There was only one Cloud in the Azure Sky Society who called him Younger Brother.

A tall and handsome young nobleman. It was Baek Ri-cheong.

“Young Master Baek Ri.”

Baek Ri-cheong also had two cloud patterns embroidered on his sleeve. Looking at the bearing he was exuding, it seemed that three cloud patterns would have suited him better.

‘His growth is fast.’

It was when Namgung Jun was marveling at Baek Ri-cheong’s accomplishment. As if it were the same for Baek Ri-cheong, he was in the middle of gazing at Namgung Jun with a rather surprised look.

“I have heard much of your exploits, Younger Brother. You have certainly changed. It seems you are shedding the form of a boy.”

“Is that so? That is encouraging.”

“Let us do our best in this competition.”

“Very well.”

It was when the two swordsmen were exchanging greetings. New presences began to approach the Heavenly Sword Hall one after another. To be precise, they were heading for Namgung Jun.

Simultaneously with that, Heo Il, who had been leaning against a wall, was at some point standing next to Namgung Jun. As if he would immediately get involved if anything were to happen.

“It seems they are also interested in you, Younger Brother.”

As Baek Ri-cheong turned his head, Namgung Jun also looked beyond him.

A group was walking over.

They appeared to be the participants of this competition, and their bearings were, without exception, extraordinary.

It was an accomplishment befitting the rising stars of the younger generation who were stepping forward to represent the Ten Halls.

‘This competition. It’s going to be more interesting than I thought.’

Namgung Jun, who had quickly assessed the lineup of faces, performed a fist-and-palm salute toward the group.

“Greetings to you, seniors.”

At this, the rising stars who had approached also paid their respects.

“I am Sam Yeop of the Flying God Hall.”

“Jang Mun-hyeok. You should know my face, right? I saw you training at the Iron Pagoda Hall.”

Baek Ri-cheong, Sam Yeop, and Jang Mun-hyeok.

All of them were rising stars belonging to the Three Strongest, and they were also the promising prospects who were expected to be chosen in this competition.

“Of late, our junior is being called the Number One Rising Star of the Azure Sky, but it is a matter that is difficult to accept.”

“Let us decide this for certain with this opportunity. Though it will be difficult with just that much muscle.”

The eyes of the seniors who opened their mouths were full of curiosity and anticipation.

A pure gaze in which not a hint of negative emotions like jealousy or envy could be seen.

Namgung Jun accepted their competitive spirit with a good feeling.

“Let us have a good competition. I will not hold back in my actions.”

At Namgung Jun’s hearty answer, the other rising stars also burst out laughing.

Doo-woong! Dung!

At the sudden sound of a great drum, the gazes of not only those in the Grand Training Ground, but also the Clouds in the spectator seats were drawn.

On the platform of the Grand Training Ground, a middle-aged beautiful woman had taken her seat.

As she gestured, the pure white sleeve of her scribe’s robes shimmered, and perhaps for that reason, the iron fan held in her right hand suited her exceptionally well.

“Everyone, take your places. We will begin the competition.”

There was no need for the middle-aged beautiful woman to introduce herself. There was no one in this place who did not know her.

It was the same for Namgung Jun.

It was thanks to having heard who was in charge of this competition.

‘The Divine Stratagem Hall Master, Jegal Muran.’

The Divine Stratagem Hall.

A group where the masters of Fan techniques, Eye techniques, and Formation arts were gathered.

In particular, the head, Jegal Muran, was renowned for the rumor that she could create a sublime formation with just her footwork alone.

“With my own eyes, I will judge all duels fairly and justly.”

The two eyes of Jegal Muran, which were taking in all the competition participants at a glance, shimmered with a deep golden light.

‘The Golden Star Eye Technique of the Divine Stratagem Hall.’

He had heard that it was the eye technique of the Jaegal Clan, which had been annihilated by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.

‘They said the Jaegal Clan also donated a portion of their family’s secret martial arts to the Azure Sky Society in order to bring down the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.’

Jegal Muran’s golden gaze swept over all the participants and finally came to a stop on Namgung Jun.

“There are a total of thirty participants in the competition. The method of the competition is simple. Over the course of a fortnight, all participants will fight a total of twenty-nine duels.”

At the news that everyone would be conducting twenty-nine duels, the eyes of the participants turned toward each other.

Jegal Muran, who was watching that sight, gave a sharp nod.

“The participants will face every opponent except for themselves one time each, their victories and defeats will be recorded, and according to their win rate, the top two people will be chosen.”

It was not a format where they would simply draw up a tournament bracket and pick the two who rose to the final match.

Could there be a separate reason for encouraging this many duels?

Jegal Muran immediately perceived the question that the participants had simultaneously held and answered it.

“This is not a competition to simply pick the Number One Rising Star of the Azure Sky. It is not an easy thing for all of you, who will be responsible for the future of our society, to gather in one place like this. Please approach this thinking of it as a place to interact with and polish each other.”

To know oneself and to know one’s opponent by endlessly clashing in the Martial Arts.

This was the point that the Hall Masters who had prepared this competition hoped for from the rising stars of the Azure Sky Society above all else.

‘May today’s competition become a new starting point, a new opportunity for someone.’

Though they were not held now because it was an age of chaos, the Orthodox Faction used to periodically hold events that gathered the promising rising stars for a martial arts tournament and a banquet.

Those events were called the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly and the Dragon-Phoenix Banquet, and Jegal Muran hoped that today’s competition would become such an occasion.

“Well then. Shall we begin?”

Jegal Muran’s clear, sonorous voice announced the beginning of the competition.

……

The first duel, announcing the start of the competition.

Not only the seniors of the Ten Halls in the spectator seats, but also the competition participants looked at the dueling stage with sparkling eyes.

It was partly because it was the first duel, but it was also because the match-up was very interesting.

Wi Hyeon-su of the Martial Conquest Hall.

What the participants of this competition were most wary of was precisely the rising stars belonging to the Martial Conquest Hall.

Because the Martial Conquest Hall was said to be the strongest among the Ten Halls, there was much talk that the two who would be chosen for the competition could come from the Martial Conquest Hall.

“Among the participants from the Martial Conquest Hall, Wi Hyeon-su was the eldest. His internal energy, experience, and artistry must be the most mature.”

“In half a year, even the name of a rising star will no longer suit him. He will be just that formidable.”

The seniors of the Ten Halls seemed to already consider Wi Hyeon-su a mid-level master, not a rising star.

But no one could easily judge Wi Hyeon-su’s victory.

It was because his opponent was a rising star who had walked a path that was not easily obscured, even by Wi Hyeon-su’s fame and martial prowess.

“The Azure Star Sword, Namgung Jun.”

“I had only heard of him through rumors, but now I can finally see his skill.”

“They say there are few swordsmen within the Heavenly Sword Hall now who can face him as an equal.”

The Heavenly Sword Hall’s Namgung Jun.

The boy with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians who had been chased by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult had, at some point, become a rising star representing the Heavenly Sword Hall.

Every single step he had shown in that process was special and wondrous, so he was like a blue star suddenly streaking across the sky.

The Clouds of the Azure Sky Society intended to confirm for themselves with their own two eyes just how bright the light of the blue star, who until now had only been rife in rumors, was.

Ting!

The iron fan of Jegal Muran vibrated minutely and let out a clear metallic sound. It was the signal to begin the duel.

“Namgung Jun. I have heard that you have a deep knowledge of the Heavy Sword.”

“I am not lacking.”

“Indeed. I shall gauge the Sword Power you possess.”

CRASH!

Simultaneously with the start, Wi Hyeon-su, rushing forward while stomping his foot powerfully. He boosted the strength of his entire body with the powerful stomp and raised his great saber high.

VROOOOM!

In an instant, the whitish aura that had wrapped around the great saber let out a fierce roar.

The Art of Martial Supremacy of the Martial Conquest Hall.

The Art of Martial Supremacy was not restricted by the type of weapon.

Because it was a martial study in which various martial principles were all-encompassed, for the sole purpose of victory, oppression, and annihilation, going beyond the branches of weaponry.

For that reason, the Art of Martial Supremacy was extremely hegemonic.

It was to the extent that there was an anecdote of the head of the Seven Swords of Wudang, Daoist Hyeonpung, being pushed back five steps after receiving a single move from the Martial Conquest Hall Master.

K-KRAAACK!

The intense aura spreading from the great saber etched fine cracks into the floor of the dueling stage.

The pressure rushing in, with Wi Hyeon-su at the center, was not a weight that a mere member of the younger generation could produce.

‘Imposing and heavy.’

A momentum, as if a giant boulder were rolling in, constricted Namgung Jun’s entire body.

But Namgung Jun merely raised his sword to an upper stance, as he always did.

Namgung Jun’s cerulean gaze carefully observed Wi Hyeon-su’s movements.

His center of gravity, which was extremely biased forward, and the flow of his aura, which was soaring to the heavens centered on his great saber, were creating a mighty vibration.

‘Is his intention to settle this in one exchange?’

He was not looking down on him. On the contrary, his pupils were burning fiercely with a competitive spirit.

The power one could pour into a single move.

It seemed his intention was to purely compete in this. Namgung Jun gladly answered Wi Hyeon-su’s competitive spirit.

FWOOOOOOSH!

A sword wind, overlapping in layers centered on the body of his blade. The layering of that clear sword wind created the illusion that the body of the blade was gradually growing larger.

“To think he can handle sword wind like that, I’ve never seen such an artistry!”

“That is the rumored Heavenly Wind Sword Style!”

Namgung Jun, leaving the admiration coming from the spectator seats behind him, faced Wi Hyeon-su’s charge head-on.

The Heavenly Wind Sword Style.

Rising Step of the Gale.

From an upper stance to a lower one.

A simple sword path, drawn vertically, left a thick sword mark on the atmosphere.

The moment the sword path that Namgung Jun’s sword drew overlapped with the great saber that Wi Hyeon-su had swung with all his might.

KWAAAAAANG!

A deafening roar that made one’s ears ring filled the Grand Training Ground. It was to the extent that one had to squint, even if they had protected their ears with internal energy in advance.

Beyond the thick dust, the silhouettes of the two people were faintly visible.

Namgung Jun and Wi Hyeon-su were both standing with their backs held straight.

But everyone in this place noticed who had suffered a loss in the clash just now.

For blood was trickling down from the hand of Wi Hyeon-su, who was gripping the great saber. Not only that, but Wi Hyeon-su had been pushed back four steps.

It was a complete contrast to the appearance of Namgung Jun, who had not retreated a single step.

“Huu.”

Wi Hyeon-su, who had let out a rough, heated breath, slowly lowered the great saber he was holding with both hands.

Even as he did, he did not take his eyes off Namgung Jun.

Though he had suffered a loss in just one exchange of blows, the duel was not yet over.

Internal energy, experience, artistry.

As the elder, Wi Hyeon-su clearly had the advantage. If he were to continue the duel by making use of his strengths, he had a sufficient chance of victory.

Though everyone watching the duel thought so, Wi Hyeon-su’s thoughts were different.

“I have lost.”

At Wi Hyeon-su’s declaration, a silence flowed over the Grand Training Ground, and a few of the Clouds were puzzled.

“He’s admitting defeat just like that?”

“Is that not too rash a judgment?”

But the Clouds soon came to understand.

Why Wi Hyeon-su had made such a choice.

Thump!

A dull thud echoed on the dueling stage.