The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 55 - The Competition (3)

The competition had, at some point, reached its final stretch.

As they were the rising stars of the younger generation chosen to represent each Hall, there was no one who was lacking or insufficient. The competition had proceeded just that fiercely.

In the middle of that, there were two swordsmen who had distinguished themselves.

Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong.

The two rising stars had achieved victory in all the duels they had conducted so far.

Besides them, there were a few other rising stars with high win rates, but they were not to the extent that they could surpass the records of Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong.

“I didn’t know that Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong would show such an overwhelming win rate.”

“The fact that Baek Ri-cheong defeated the other rising stars from the Martial Conquest Hall is especially surprising. His growth rate is no ordinary matter.”

“If you’re talking about accomplishment, Namgung Jun is a true supernatural horror. It’s an accomplishment unheard of and unseen.”

The seniors in the spectator seats were watching the dueling stage with sparkling eyes. It was because, depending on the result of the duel that was about to begin, the competition could end right away.

‘I must obtain a victory in this duel.’

Sam Yeop of the Flying God Hall looked at Namgung Jun with resolute eyes.

If Namgung Jun were to win this duel as well, his record would become tied with Baek Ri-cheong’s, and they would rise to a joint first place.

If that happened, then even if Jang Mun-hyeok or himself, who were chasing from right below, were to win all their remaining duels, they would not be able to catch up.

Since the number of rising stars to be chosen by the competition was two, it would naturally be confirmed as Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong.

If he wanted to obtain a chance, however slim, he had to win this duel.

‘I cannot face him head-on. I will drag out the time and aim for the advantage in internal energy and stamina.’

Sam Yeop of the Flying God Hall moved his feet diligently. Every time his two feet softly pushed off the ground, his silhouette would blur.

The Clouds of the Flying God Hall were specialized in Footwork, Body Movement Techniques, and Lightness Skill, that is, all movement arts.

As he was a rising star counted among the best in that place, Sam Yeop’s footwork was certainly extraordinary.

Namgung Jun’s own steps were also considerable for his age, but they were not to the extent that they could be compared to his.

Sam Yeop, who had escaped from Namgung Jun’s range with a single display of fancy footwork, was certain.

‘In Lightness Skills, I am clearly superior.’

His sublime Sword Skill, which did not suit his age, was clearly difficult to face head-on.

For that reason, he had to actively utilize his specialty, the Lightness Skill.

‘It seems he has been lazy in his training of Lightness Skills compared to his sword style. Or perhaps his innate sword talent is just that unusually disproportionate.’

The pupils of Sam Yeop, who had been taking in Namgung Jun’s entire body, widened. It was because the space before him had been instantly filled with a cerulean sword-light.

SWIIISH!

The Swift Sword of the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash charged like a thunderbolt and arrived just under his chin.

Though it was an incredible speed, to the point of making the fine hairs on his skin stand up in great numbers, Sam Yeop barely managed to twist his upper body.

“Crazy!”

It was so fast that a curse had shot out on its own. Though he was bewildered, at the same time, a thrill ran through him.

He wanted to send praise to himself for having reacted to such a fearsome Swift Sword and evading it in time.

But that, too, was only for an instant.

It was because the sword of Namgung Jun, which had closed the distance in a flash, was now aimed precisely at him.

Sam Yeop immediately retreated and kicked at the empty air. The atmosphere vibrated as if it were a wave, due to the footwork’s aura that was laden in that kick.

A backward step for evasion had become a Kicking Art for an attack.

BOOM!

Along with a sound of tearing air like a drum bursting, a thick Leg Wind was shot out in the form of a translucent cylinder.

A Lightness Skill where offense and defense were one.

The Sky-Wave Tempest Body of the Flying God Hall.

As the two feet of Sam Yeop, who was now in earnest unfolding the signature skill of the Flying God Hall, struck the empty air, the atmosphere was crushed and a Leg Wind blasted out.

His successive steps, as they kicked off the empty air, drew a fierce ripple in the atmosphere. Dozens of Leg Winds, pouring out simultaneously with his Lightness Skill's movement.

It was as if he were creating a small storm with his two legs.

FWOOOOOSH!

Sam Yeop circled the dueling stage round and round and unfolded the ultimate skills of the Sky-Wave Tempest Body in succession.

At the Leg Winds that were storming in from all directions, Namgung Jun was pinned to the center of the dueling stage.

Though dozens of streaks of Leg Wind rushed in with every single breath, Namgung Jun’s defense was firm.

The sword wind that flowed down from Namgung Jun’s blade flashed its sharp teeth and tore apart all of the Leg Winds.

Even while handling the Sky-Wave Tempest Body head-on, Namgung Jun stopped at the level of his hair and sleeves being fiercely whipped about.

Because of this, a sense of impatience arose in Sam Yeop, but he tried his best to shake his head.

‘I must never give him the distance.’

There was no way Namgung Jun could maintain his iron-wall-like sword form forever. For there was, as a matter of course, a limit to one’s internal energy and stamina.

Sam Yeop kicked at the empty air in succession while waiting for that moment.

Step.

The boy, who had been standing tall in his spot and had been consistently on the defensive, took a step for the first time.

‘In the end, he couldn’t endure and is moving first.’

Though Namgung Jun had begun to move, nothing changed.

Namgung Jun, whose accomplishment in Lightness Skill lagged far behind Sam Yeop’s, could not close the combat distance.

But Namgung Jun moved his steps steadfastly.

As the loose chase continued, Sam Yeop suddenly felt something was strange.

“Huh?”

The body movements of Namgung Jun, who had only been performing the Infinite Steps Footwork, had become peculiar.

A heavy aura that was erupting from his entire body was vibrating the atmosphere and creating a ripple.

The thick ripples that were erupting, centered on Namgung Jun, were stacking up vertically, and it was like looking at a translucent pillar.

“This is.”

Sam Yeop’s eyes widened as he observed Namgung Jun’s aura.

The finer points of the aura, which vibrated and compressed the atmosphere, were truly familiar.

‘It’s certain.’

The finer points of the Sky-Wave Tempest Body were melting into Namgung Jun’s aura.

‘He’s mimicking it just by seeing it?’

It was an unbelievable thing.

To do so, one would surely have to know not only the flow of the aura, but also the secret verses, the will-intent that formed the martial art, and the Qi circulation path.

It was impossible to steal a martial art just by seeing it.

In Sam Yeop’s common sense, that was certainly the case.

But Namgung Jun’s field of vision was different from Sam Yeop’s.

‘So it’s roughly this kind of formula.’

He was not stealing the Sky-Wave Tempest Body.

He was merely getting a glimpse of the martial principles dwelling in the circulation of the aura and the footwork, and using them as a new inspiration.

The framework and the substance to fill that framework could simply be reconstructed as he pleased from the martial arts of Namcheon Palace and the finer points of the Body Movement Techniques he had newly encountered in the Martial Repository of Self-Reflection.

‘Build up the aura to be solid and thick, and expand the domain.’

FWOOOOOSH!

The flow of his aura, which had been endlessly changing, at some point shifted in one direction.

It had become steadfast and firm.

Namgung Jun, who had cloaked his entire body in this changed aura, had at some point begun to transform his body movements as well.

With a stiff and staunch body movement, as if he had made his entire body into a great pillar, he broke through the dozens of Leg Winds from the front.

“What!”

Namgung Jun, who, unlike before when he had been twisting and turning in all directions, was now advancing in a straight line.

But he did not look reckless. On the contrary, a pressure, as if a giant pillar were tilting over, rushed in.

Sam Yeop explosively spewed out his internal energy and raised his speed to its absolute limit. But Namgung Jun’s face, far from growing distant, grew larger and drew closer.

Along with that, the cerulean gaze that filled Namgung Jun’s pupils deepened and emitted a brilliant light.

It was a phenomenon that had occurred as the newly cultivated martial principles and insights had stimulated his mindscape.

‘A body movement that can steadfastly advance in any situation. A staunch movement that can extend the sword despite any hindrance.’

Namgung Jun, who had organized the main martial principles and insights of his new Body Movement Technique, wove them into a single key secret.

‘A great pillar that connects Heaven and Earth.’

The boy, who endlessly recited the key secret, thought of the will-intent of his new Body Movement Technique.

[To advance without stopping, a firm center is rightly needed.]

PA-BA-BA-BANG!

Even though the ultimate skill of the Sky-Wave Tempest Body assaulted his entire body, Namgung Jun’s advance did not stop. On the contrary, it became more intimidating.

[As I make my wretched body into a pillar that supports the blue sky, I shall not be shaken by any wind or wave.]

The autumn sky that the disciples of his past life had protected.

To protect that blueness which held a rightful righteousness, he himself would become a pillar.

THUMP!

A rightful will-intent had settled into the new martial art.

A dull thud, as if a pillar were being firmly planted in the ground centered on Namgung Jun, erupted.

Nothing could stop Namgung Jun’s advance.

The combat distance, closing in an instant. For the first time, the combat distance was being formed under Namgung Jun’s lead.

And the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash, spewing forth smoothly without any hindrance.

“...…”

Unlike the first time, Sam Yeop could not react properly. At some point, a blade wreathed in lightning had been laid upon his Adam’s apple.

It was the moment that Sam Yeop’s endlessly moving feet stopped for the first time.

“I have lost.”

“Thank you.”

As Namgung Jun withdrew his sword, Sam Yeop let out the breath he had been holding and asked.

“Thank you?”

“I have gained inspiration from your movements, Senior.”

“Are you talking about that body movement that crushed the Leg Wind of the Sky-Wave Tempest Body from the front?”

Namgung Jun gave a quiet nod.

Sam Yeop recalled the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash and the Heavenly Wind Sword Style that Namgung Jun had created and asked.

“Don’t tell me you’ve created a new Body Movement Technique?”

“That is correct.”

“And its name is?”

Though Sam Yeop had asked, the audience, including Jegal Muran who was watching the duel, was focused on Namgung Jun’s mouth.

Namgung Jun closed his eyes for a moment.

As he had made his physical body into a pillar that would support the heavens, it was the Heavenly Pillar; as he had to continuously and firmly advance, it was the Steadfast Advance.

“The Body Movement Technique. The Empyrean Aegis.”

Sam Yeop let out a sigh mixed with admiration and disappointment.

“The Empyrean Aegis… A type of Body Movement Technique I have never seen before has appeared.”

In order to be chosen for the Mount Song meeting, he had had to win this duel.

Since he had not been able to do so, his chance at the Mount Song meeting was, in essence, lost.

‘But it doesn’t really matter.’

Was it thanks to having witnessed the process of Namgung Jun creating a new Body Movement Technique from right in front?

His head was tingling, as if a new inspiration was about to surface.

It felt as if the accomplishment of his Sky-Wave Tempest Body would be greatly enhanced if he could just grasp this thread of enlightenment.

For that reason, he felt a great desire to go to the Flying God Hall right away and devote himself to training.

“With this victory, Namgung Jun has become joint first place along with Baek Ri-cheong.”

The Divine Stratagem Hall Master, Jegal Muran, at some point, appeared on the dueling stage.

“Even if Baek Ri-cheong and Namgung Jun were to lose all their remaining duels, it is confirmed that they will remain in first place. For that reason, the competition is concluded as of today. Baek Ri-cheong and Namgung Jun have been chosen as the rising stars who will participate in the Mount Song meeting.”

Even at Jegal Muran’s declaration, the Clouds in the spectator seats showed no reaction. On the contrary, they showed dissatisfied expressions and airs.

“…..?”

As the Divine Stratagem Hall Master looked at the Clouds as if puzzled, Namgung Jun opened his mouth.

“Hall Master. Though the results of the competition have come out, I wish to try and compete for victory with Young Hero Baek Ri.”

Only then did Jegal Muran realize what the Clouds who were watching the competition wanted.

“Though it is a duel that has no need to be held.”

The Divine Stratagem Hall Master, who let out a bitter smile and looked around, asked Baek Ri-cheong, who was on standby in the vicinity.

“Baek Ri-cheong. As Namgung Jun has said, do you have the will to fight one more duel?”

“It is what I was hoping for.”

Simultaneously with his answer, Baek Ri-cheong leaped from his spot and landed on the dueling stage.

The two swordsmen, who were at some point standing side-by-side, looked at each other.

The memory of when they had competed for victory, in the days when there were no clouds on their sleeves, was still vivid.

But now that they had become Two-Cloud members and were facing each other again, they could not help but be filled with a new emotion.

Would one still hold the upper hand?

Or would the other catch up and show a different state of affairs than before?

The two swordsmen silently sized each other up without end.

“Begin!”

At Jegal Muran’s cry, the two swordsmen drew their swords at the same time.

KREEEEEEEANG!