The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 64 - The Mount Song Meeting (3)

“This is your iron token.”

Namgung Jun observed the iron token that the examiner had handed him.

On the front of the iron token, the characters for Azure Sky were embossed, and on the back, the character for one was embossed.

When he looked at the iron token that Baek Ri-cheong had received, the characters for Azure Sky and two were engraved.

‘It seems the name of the sect and a number are engraved on each iron token.’

It appeared to be a measure to confirm the exact victories and defeats and to prevent any possible cheating.

“The third group. Move out!”

Namgung Jun stored the iron token in his robes and looked around.

A portion of the rising stars were entering the Tiger’s Grove, following the lead of an examiner.

“Older Brother Baek Ri. By the looks of it, it will be difficult for us to move together.”

“Indeed. It seems we will have to move separately. The time and location for entering the Tiger’s Grove are all different for each of us.”

The examiners of the Iron Token Scramble had forbidden the rising stars who were from the same sect, or who were acquainted, from moving together.

They had mixed the personnel randomly to create five groups and were sending them in at different times and at different locations.

“Younger Brother Namgung. I will be heading in first.”

“Yes. Please be careful.”

Roughly one gak (about 15 minutes) had passed since Baek Ri-cheong had entered the Tiger’s Grove first.

The examiner, who had confirmed that the burning incense had reached the marked line, opened his mouth.

“It is time. The final group will enter through the northwest entrance.”

The rising stars belonging to the fifth group, including Namgung Jun, began to move.

“Watch the person in front of you and follow them well.”

The place the examiner had cautioned them about was full of fog due to the influence of a formation. Since it was quite thick, there was a possibility of losing one’s way if one were to miss their step even a little.

After walking about ten steps, the fog was lifted in an instant, and the scenery of the inner part of the forest revealed itself.

‘We’ve passed through the formation.’

The examiner only stopped his steps after a forked road that extended into the inner part of the Tiger’s Grove appeared.

There were a total of five paths.

It seemed it had been arranged so that the rising stars could each choose a path.

“Each of you, choose one path. After that, move freely and focus on acquiring iron tokens.”

“Does the path we choose have an influence on the scramble?”

At a certain rising star’s question, the examiner shook his head.

“It is for the purpose of scattering you all, so it is fine to choose any path. Of course, if your luck is bad, you may meet a strong opponent.”

The rising stars, who had been contemplating for a moment at the examiner’s words, each chose one of the forked paths and moved their feet.

Namgung Jun chose the middle path and entered the inner part of the Tiger’s Grove.

How far had he gone in?

The path came to a sudden end, and the only things visible before his eyes were a thicket, rocks, and trees.

‘So it begins.’

Namgung Jun looked around at the trees that had shot up densely in his surroundings.

As he was left alone in the forest, he could now clearly feel that the Iron Token Scramble had begun.

‘I wonder how everyone will move.’

Namgung Jun recalled the faces of the rising stars he had met at the banquet.

There would be rising stars who would be hell-bent on moving actively from the beginning and collecting iron tokens, and there would also be those who would conserve their strength and wait for the right moment.

Unlike a martial arts tournament, one would only be able to obtain a high rank by devising a strategy that took various situations and factors into account.

If one were to act rashly, trusting only in their own personal martial arts, there was a high possibility that they would be eliminated in a single breath.

“Hmm.”

However, Namgung Jun had little room for deliberation.

The goal he wanted to achieve first and foremost in this scramble was to observe and learn from the martial arts of the nine great sects as much as possible.

If he did that, the iron tokens would naturally be gathered.

He had to seek out the other rising stars as much as possible, and as efficiently as possible.

Namgung Jun climbed up the tallest tree in the vicinity and surveyed the terrain.

Though he could not accurately gauge the width of the Tiger’s Grove, it was clear that it was quite large.

In his past life, where he had focused only on the sword, it would have been difficult to find so many opponents who were moving without end in an environment like this.

There would have been no particular method other than to spread his Qi Sense wide and keenly.

But in his present life, he had grown by learning various skills as an elite belonging to the Ten Halls of the Azure Sky Society.

As he was now, he could sufficiently achieve what he wanted in this scramble.

“Shall I get a move on.”

As Namgung Jun’s steps, which were crossing the thicket, became faster, his cerulean gaze flickered here and there.

He had begun to search for the traces of the other rising stars who must have been scattered throughout the Tiger’s Grove.

……

Dong Gak-ho was running through the forest, unfolding his Lightness Skill.

Though he faintly felt a few presences in his surroundings, he did not give them any attention.

For there was only one prey he was aiming for in this Iron Token Scramble.

The Azure Star Sword, Namgung Jun.

Though he was the youngest among the rising stars who had participated in this meeting, he was very arrogant. The way he acted cocky, trusting in his own martial arts, was ridiculous.

‘You arrogant bastard. I will teach you a lesson.’

The fact that he had been unable to draw his sword before was merely the result of a moment of carelessness and bad luck overlapping.

But now was different.

By consuming the Eternal Song Pill, he had been able to overcome the wall he had not been able to overcome for over a year.

Though it was a truly rare and precious spiritual medicine, to obtain such a dazzling accomplishment in only a single day was a very rare event.

As there had also been a short compliment from the Sect Leader, his confidence had risen even higher.

‘I’ve eaten the Eternal Song Pill, and if I live up to the Sect Leader’s expectations this time, the position of the future Sect Leader will become even closer.’

The conviction, which was a mix of several factors such as the Eternal Song Pill, his unexpected growth, the Sect Leader’s praise, and his expectations for his future self, filled Dong Gak-ho’s body.

‘Now, if I just find that bastard…’

Dong Gak-ho’s thought was cut short.

The tip of a sword, which had shot out, piercing through the thicket to his left, shone a piercing blue.

Dong Gak-ho urgently twisted his ankle and dodged his body to the side.

He had been in the middle of increasing his speed with his Lightness Skill, so his body was difficult to maneuver.

In the end, Dong Gak-ho was roughly thrown to the side as if he had run into an invisible wall.

Dong Gak-ho, who had regained his balance by taking another step, let out a groan.

“Kuk!”

Dong Gak-ho, who had urgently widened the distance, immediately checked his waist.

A faint trail of blood was spreading from under the hem of his martial arts uniform, which had been cut horizontally.

It stung, and it seemed the blade had grazed him, however lightly.

“You show an unexpected movement.”

Dong Gak-ho had no time to examine his wound. It was because the voice of the opponent he had yearned to encounter was heard.

“You bastard!”

Before his eyes, the boy, gripping a sword, was standing with a composed posture.

Even after delivering a surprise attack that was sharp enough to give one the chills, he showed an appearance that was no different from usual.

“An ambush. You act like a bottom-feeder ruffian. Is it because you come from a background with no proper roots?”

“Have you forgotten the significance of this scramble? This is close to a real battle, not a duel.”

Dong Gak-ho could not refute him.

Furthermore, since it was the words that an elder of his own sect had spoken, if he were to carelessly add his own words, it would be no different from spitting on the face of the Mount Song Sect.

Instead of opening his mouth, Dong Gak-ho brought his hand to his waist.

It was only that he did not like the beginning; he had been anticipating this situation until now.

Dong Gak-ho drew the treasured sword he had received upon becoming the head disciple of the Mount Song Sect.

“It will be different from the time at the banquet, Namgung Jun.”

As Dong Gak-ho showed a very confident appearance, Namgung Jun observed him with a calm gaze.

“Your bearing has certainly changed. Have you consumed a spiritual medicine?”

“It is a precious spiritual medicine that you cannot obtain in the Azure Sky Society.”

Though Dong Gak-ho spoke as if he were proud, Namgung Jun’s face was indifferent.

It was an appearance of not caring in the slightest about Dong Gak-ho’s change.

“Enough with the idle talk, come on.”

“Let’s see how long you can be defiant!”

Dong Gak-ho drew upon all the internal energy that was full in his Cinnabar Field. He intended to go all-out from the very beginning.

The Nine Valleys Sword Style.

The sword style, in which the thick curves of Mount Song were melted, charged straight for Namgung Jun’s shoulder.

The Sword Qi that fully covered the sword further augmented the might of the form.

Dong Gak-ho was proud of the sword strike he had unfolded.

It was because he could clearly see with his own eyes that he had surpassed his former self.

At this level, wouldn’t he be able to cross swords with Yeong-il of the Mount Hua Sect?

At some point, his blade was just about to reach Namgung Jun’s shoulder.

Whirl!

A soft half-circle was drawn in the vicinity of Namgung Jun’s shoulder.

It was Namgung Jun, who had brought his sword to his shoulder as if laying it there, and had then twisted the body of the blade just as it was.

It was so natural that Dong Gak-ho was to the point of being confused as to whether Namgung Jun’s sword had been on his shoulder from the very beginning.

But the feeling that was coming up through his wrist was clear.

His sword, which had been pouring down fiercely, could not cut Namgung Jun’s shoulder and was turned to the side.

KRAAACK!

The treasured sword of Dong Gak-ho stopped at merely cutting into the innocent dirt floor.

“What!”

Dong Gak-ho was bewildered.

He had not known that he could deflect his form so easily, without even taking any particular movement.

Dong Gak-ho, who had clenched his teeth, put strength into his wrist and retrieved his sword.

“Haaaaah!”

Thump!

He drew up the strength of his entire body while stomping his foot powerfully and then immediately unfolded his ultimate skill.

It was a poor choice, if he were thinking of the several rising stars he would have to face after defeating Namgung Jun.

But he had felt it with just that one exchange of blades.

A fear had assailed him that if he did not end it this time, Namgung Jun might show an unexpected Sword Skill (劍技), just as he had a moment ago.

A sword path, which meandered majestically like the slopes of Mount Song.

A form that had copied the endlessly extending mountain range of Mount Song just as it was, poured down before Namgung Jun.

The Nine Valleys Sword Style.

Dragon's Zenith.

Was it thanks to drawing his internal energy to its absolute limit, without thinking of what came after?

The might of the unfolded ultimate skill was to the extent that even Dong Gak-ho himself was surprised.

‘So I have become this strong!’

It was the moment a look of rapture settled on the face of Dong Gak-ho, who had clearly felt the accomplishment in his martial arts from consuming the Eternal Song Pill.

SWOOOSH!

Even amidst the heavy sound of tearing air that the meandering sword strike was creating in the atmosphere, Namgung Jun’s expression was serene.

Starting from Namgung Jun’s ankle, his shoulder rotated.

And so, the end of the rotation that had spread through his entire body reached his sword.

The sword strike, which was drawing a series of successive arcs as if it were a wave, clashed head-on with the ultimate skill of the Dragon's Zenith.

‘You fool! To face the ultimate skill of the Nine Valleys Sword Style head-on!’

But unlike Dong Gak-ho’s expectation, a fierce shockwave did not erupt.

As if a cloud were leisurely flowing along a mountain range, the cerulean sword strike completely scattered the path of Dong Gak-ho’s sword.

“What!”

The ultimate skill of the Dragon's Zenith, losing its power as if it were a cloud dispersing in all directions.

The two eyes of Dong Gak-ho, which were reflecting that scene, widened without end.

SWISH!

The sword form of Namgung Jun, who had deflected the ultimate skill of the Nine Valleys Sword Style from the front, changed rapidly.

The aura, which had been flowing hollowly like a mist, quickly gathered together and then radiated a heavy weight.

Thump!

The sword, which had soared high into an upper stance following the gesture of Namgung Jun as he stomped his foot powerfully, fell fiercely in a vertical line.

CRACK!

Following the vigorously extending sword, the atmosphere was flipped in reverse. At the fierce speed, Dong Gak-ho could not even properly react.

The best he could do was to clumsily bring his sword to meet it.

KREEEAANG!

A heavy rupturing sound erupted, and Dong Gak-ho’s treasured sword was sent flying toward the sky. In a state of being split in half.

Namgung Jun, who had at some point reversed his grip on his hilt, struck Dong Gak-ho’s right shoulder with the back of the blade.

CRACK!

Was it because, though he had struck with the back of the blade, the finer points of the Heavy Sword were properly laden in it?

“Aaaargh!”

Along with the sound of bone breaking, Dong Gak-ho let out a scream.

Dong Gak-ho, who had hunched his shoulder, collapsed into a half-sitting posture.

“You! Do you think you can get down from Mount Song in one piece after doing this to me!”

“‘This’? If this were a real battle, you would be dead.”

Namgung Jun paid no mind to the threat of Dong Gak-ho, who was choked with rage.

On the contrary, as if to show him, he pressed his blade to his neck.

Only then did the ceaselessly moving mouth of Dong Gak-ho stop.

“If you continue to wield your sword and your tongue so lightly, your own life will one day become light as well.”

THWACK!

Namgung Jun, who had knocked Dong Gak-ho unconscious by striking his chest, retrieved his iron token with a composed hand movement.

“Hmm.”

It seemed Dong Gak-ho had drawn his sword with a considerable hostility toward him, but Namgung Jun had not felt the same.

In the first place, it was a waste to pour his pride and mental energy into such an insignificant war of words.

Because he was looking at higher and wider places.

“Next is.”

The eyes of Namgung Jun, who had been spreading his Qi Sense wide into his surroundings, began to show a look of interest.

He could feel a single presence, in the middle of approaching him in a straight line.

“Come to think of it, I have been continuously curious.”

Namgung Jun, with a faint smile on his lips, immediately performed the Infinite Steps Footwork and moved.