Chapter 62 - The Black Flame Dragon Playing with the Dragon and Phoenix (4)
The plum blossoms spreading out in full bloom revived memories of my past life.
How many days had I suffered from injuries every time I was struck by one of those plum blossoms?
But soon, new memories covered them up.
Me, using the Destruction Form of the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
And beyond that, the image of me utilizing the Taiyi True Scripture.
I took a step, following the movements of the entity rising in my memories.
Taiyi Eighty Thousand Divine Steps.
The footwork, possessing the profound principle of illusion, left traces where it passed.
After I shifted my position, the plum blossoms rained down on the spot where my afterimage remained.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!
The solid marble floor was severely gouged and turned ugly.
Plum blossoms continued to fall in succession.
WOOSH. WOOSH.
Moving like a swarm of bees whose hive had been attacked, the plum blossoms shot forward once again, aiming at their assailant.
I thrust the Destruction Form of the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship into the spots I couldn't dodge.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
As nearly three-tenths of the plum blossoms vanished, Hwa Jeongsan's face slowly began to stiffen.
"... You bastard!"
Unlike our fourth clash, I faced him using only the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique.
If I used the Destruction Form while also utilizing the Great Heaven Sword Technique, Hwa Jeongsan would regain his composure.
The plum blossoms that had vanished bloomed once again.
The plum blossoms, still covering the sky, tried to strike down at my vitals.
It was clear that the concept of a sparring match had already flown out of Hwa Jeongsan's mind the moment he used the Purple Cloud Divine Art.
I once again executed the Taiyi Eighty Thousand Divine Steps, moving and cutting down the plum blossoms.
Every time I cut them down, the purple light lingering in Hwa Jeongsan's eyes grew stronger, and the number of plum blossoms dancing in the air increased exponentially.
"S-Shouldn't we stop them?"
Some people began to express their concern over the overheated sparring match, but.
Among the members of the Taiyi Sect, there was no one who could withstand this Purple Cloud Divine Art.
And among the people of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit, there was no one who wanted to end this sparring match.
I swung my sword, welcoming such a situation once again.
The things I only remembered in my head could now be applied to my body, thanks to the enlightenment I gained through Namgung Taeha.
Every movement I had imagined while spending my past life in regret unfolded naturally like flowing water, and the enlightenment I gained while mastering the Taiyi True Scripture showed off its martial prowess even more destructively.
It was the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique, yet not the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique.
"Ugh..."
In the repeated clashes, Hwa Jeongsan showed signs of drawing out all his internal energy.
Now, not only did a purple light shine in his eyes, but a purple mist also rose from his shoulders.
A profound phenomenon where the energy of the Purple Cloud Divine Art spontaneously combusted and bloomed.
Accordingly, the plum blossoms grew larger than dust and became similar to the shape of actual plum blossoms.
Looking at his eyes turning bright red, it seemed Hwa Jeongsan had now reached his limit as well.
I unfolded the Great Heaven Sword Technique, which I hadn't used until now, spreading it out like a fan.
Hwa Jeongsan's eyes widened at the suddenly multiplied sword forms.
The plum blossoms that had been chasing me scattered to pursue the sword forms, but because most were illusionary swords, they passed right through them.
SWISH!
The Lesser Heaven Sword Technique dug through the gaps of the plum blossoms that had blown away into the air, slicing off the hem of Hwa Jeongsan's clothes.
"!"
The string securing his clothes fell to the floor, leaving Hwa Jeongsan's chest wide open. A thin line of blood was revealed amidst it.
If it had gone just an inch deeper, the injury would not have been shallow.
"What on earth..."
Hwa Jeongsan's face turned pale as he hurriedly retreated backwards.
"This is the sword of the Taiyi Sect."
The reason the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique wasn't fast despite being a swift sword form was not because it was a basic sword technique.
The reason it didn't harmonize with the existing Flash Lightning Sword Technique wasn't because the Flash Lightning Sword Technique was a highly advanced martial art.
The Lesser Heaven Sword Technique was a sword technique completed through harmony with the Great Heaven Sword Technique.
The profound principles of the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique were swiftness and heaviness.
The profound principles of the Great Heaven Sword Technique were illusion and variation.
Hiding swiftness within illusion, and inserting heaviness within variation.
That was the esoteric skill of the Taiyi Sect, the Twin Heaven Sword Art.
"... Do you think I don't know the sword of the Taiyi Sect?!"
The plum blossoms bloomed abundantly once again.
WOOSH. WOOSH.
Like petals carrying themselves on the wind, they soared into the sky and then poured down like a swarm of bees.
I unleashed the Twin Heaven Sword Art.
Slicing rapidly.
Crushing heavily.
Confusing with illusions.
Deceiving the eyes with variations.
SLASH!
From the midpoint of the blood line dividing Hwa Jeongsan's chest in half, another blood line appeared in a cross shape.
Half of his martial robes, which had been a mix of black and white, was cut off and fell to the floor.
"What is this..."
Finally, a similar expression to the ones the Taiyi Sect disciples were making appeared on the faces of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit.
Incomprehensible phenomena invoke anger. Hwa Jeongsan did not hide his rage.
"What kind of trickery are you pulling?!"
"You cannot clear me away with dust."
I did not hesitate to utter words that provoked him even further.
The more I did, the more Hwa Jeongsan, wanting to protect his pride, would stubbornly stick to the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
And the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship was useless before the Destruction Form that Zhuge Cheongi had created with all his might.
A calm person, or one whose mastery had reached the twelfth star, would have felt something strange, but Hwa Jeongsan was far too agitated for that, and his mastery had not reached the twelfth star either.
I scattered the plum blossoms with the illusion and variation of the Twin Heaven Sword Art, and pressured Hwa Jeongsan with the profound principles of swiftness and heaviness.
SWISH!
Striking swiftly.
CRASH!
Crushing heavily.
"Ugh!"
A cough burst from Hwa Jeongsan's mouth for the first time, unable to react in time while blooming the plum blossoms.
"Cough!"
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Recalling the profound principle of the heavy sword I experienced at the Iron Sword Sect, I struck down even harder.
Every time I struck down, Hwa Jeongsan's footsteps retreated one pace back.
"Urgh!"
Hastily circulating his internal energy for the complex sword forms, he received heavy impacts that rattled his insides.
If he couldn't deflect the shock while it kept stacking, it would eventually lead to internal injuries.
"Gah!"
The same bloody water that I had vomited in front of him in my past life burst from the corners of Hwa Jeongsan's mouth.
"What! Stop this instant!!"
Below the training ground, Jong Byeokgi of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit shouted.
However, as if I couldn't hear his words, I continued to corner Hwa Jeongsan.
Rolling on the floor and retreating backwards, Hwa Jeongsan was eventually driven to the edge of the training ground.
Unable to even realize that he was executing the Lazy Donkey Roll, Hwa Jeongsan was frantic, desperate just to evade.
"Did you not hear me say stop?!"
At Jong Byeokgi's words, I aimed my sword at Hwa Jeongsan and spoke.
"He has not yet admitted that Mount Hua lost to the Taiyi Sect."
"!"
I deliberately brought up Mount Hua.
He might be able to admit his own defeat, but there was no way he could admit that Mount Hua had lost to the Taiyi Sect.
CLANG!
Left with only instinct, Hwa Jeongsan parried my sword and stepped with the Dark Fragrance Footwork.
In an instant, his figure blurred and disappeared, reappearing behind me and plunging down like a meteor.
Meteor Moon-Chasing Sword.
A supreme sword technique created by the 7th Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect.
If the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship was the profound principle of variation, the Meteor Moon-Chasing Sword was the profound principle of heaviness.
CRASH!
The power of the Meteor Moon-Chasing Sword, unleashed alongside the Purple Cloud Divine Art, far surpassed the Mountain-Shattering Sword Technique of the Iron Sword Sect.
CRASH! CRASH!
Thinking the Meteor Moon-Chasing Sword was working, he pushed in even harder.
Instead of deflecting his sword with the Lotus hand technique, I met it with the Great Heaven Sword Technique.
The moment my sword was about to clash with the Meteor Moon-Chasing Sword, it vanished like an illusion.
Jong Byeokgi, standing beneath the training ground, shouted.
"Jeongsan! Behind you!"
The moment a startled Hwa Jeongsan turned his gaze and ducked his head.
My Black Dragon Sword passed by his head by a hair's breadth, slicing off a portion of his hair and his topknot string.
SWISH.
His cut hair fell to the floor, and with his hair now completely disheveled, Hwa Jeongsan looked back and forth between his hair and me with vacant eyes.
"..."
He looked as though he wanted to say something.
Without delay, I ruthlessly drove him back again.
"Urgh!"
SWISH, SWOOSH!
Just as his senses were about to return, I drained his spirit with swift sword strikes.
When mixed with illusions, even an enlightened Daoist wouldn't be able to keep their wits together.
He rolled, dodged, and retreated.
Then, I plunged a heavy sword strike down right where Hwa Jeongsan could block it.
CRASH!
"Blergh!"
Hwa Jeongsan spat out a mouthful of blood.
He spat out blood exactly as the Sect Leader had done in my past life.
Just as the Sect Leader had suffered, Hwa Jeongsan's internal injuries were now a certainty.
"Damn it!"
Unable to watch any longer, Jong Byeokgi finally drew his sword.
"Did I not tell you to stop?!"
SWISH!
The Mount Cangshan Sect's Sun-Shooting Sword Technique.
It was a swift sword technique with a speed incomparable to the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique.
True to its meaning of 'shooting the sun', it fired off thrusts so fast they were difficult to confirm with the naked eye.
Just as the Iron Sword Sect had suppressed the Taiyi Sect, I shattered the Sun-Shooting Sword Technique with the profound principle of the heavy sword.
CRASH!
Jong Byeokgi, who had flown in like lightning, was knocked away like an arrow striking a stone.
After pushing him away, I once again cornered Hwa Jeongsan.
Hwa Jeongsan, who had been catching his breath for a moment, merely swung his sword haphazardly.
"Jeongsan! Snap out of it!"
I unleashed swift sword forms upon Hwa Jeongsan, and heavy sword forms upon Jong Byeokgi.
"You damned bastard! How dare you!"
Jong Byeokgi executed the Houyi Draws the Bow form of the Sun-Shooting Sword Technique, followed by the Circling Horse, Full Bow form.
While I briefly distanced myself to dodge the forms.
Jong Byeokgi's lips moved subtly.
Following that, Hwa Jeongsan nodded and retreated.
"If you draw upon your internal energy now, your injuries will become severe."
"..."
Despite my words, Hwa Jeongsan merely glared at me as if to kill me.
Instead, after wiping the blood from his mouth, an explosive burst of true qi spewed from his body, just like before.
Then, Jong Byeokgi's martial robes swelled as if about to burst.
'Here it comes.'
They each took a stance to unleash the final esoteric skills of their respective sects.
"Let's see you take this as well!"
A massive vortex generated around Jong Byeokgi.
A colossal storm conjured by sword wind.
Beside him, Hwa Jeongsan leapt into the air with a flash, turning his back to the sun to create nine half-moons.
Jong Byeokgi was executing the Returning Wind, Dancing Willow Sword.
Hwa Jeongsan was executing the Nine Palaces Crescent Sword.
I, too, began to unleash the esoteric skill of the Taiyi Sword Emperor.
Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art.
Ten Thousand Swords, containing all the profound principles of swiftness, heaviness, illusion, and variation.
Four swords of the Ten Thousand Swords, which were both illusion and reality, both reality and variation, appeared. At the same time, I unfurled the principle of illusion, creating twenty illusionary swords to counter the Returning Wind, Dancing Willow Sword.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
The Ten Thousand Swords that clashed with the Returning Wind, Dancing Willow Sword darted through the storm and exploded along with the Sword Qi.
"Urgh!"
Having neutralized Jong Byeokgi's Sword Qi, I drew upon my internal energy once again to counter the Nine Palaces Crescent Sword.
CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH!
The Sword Qi of the Nine Palaces Crescent Sword, where each strike was said to rival the destructive power of Sword Force.
Perhaps it was fortunate for me that his realm was still immature.
I unleashed two of the Ten Thousand Swords to destroy a portion of them, and used the remaining two swords to destroy the four moons of the Crescent Sword.
My internal energy, which had reached two lifetimes' worth, swiftly drained from my Dantian, giving me an empty sensation for the first time in a while.
Following that, I destroyed the final unvanquished half-moon with the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique.
BOOM!
The air burst apart, and dust was scattered in all directions.
One of the Four Phoenixes standing beneath the training ground muttered softly.
"This makes no sense..."
"Just how much internal energy does that young master possess?"
On the training ground where the dust had cleared, Hwa Jeongsan stood having shed a bucketload of blood, and Jong Byeokgi stood with his hair disheveled as if struck by lightning.
"Is there no more?"
"..."
"..."
I once again executed the Taiyi Eighty Thousand Divine Steps and rushed behind them.
Just as I was about to slash their chests with a single stroke.
"Stop!"
With a profound voice, Little Buddha Ilmyeong blocked my path using the Immovable Movement Method.
A genius who had mastered all of the Shaolin Sect's Seventy-Two Supreme Arts to the tenth star before turning forty.
However, he had not yet mastered even half of those martial arts.
"That is far enough! Please cease this, benefactor."
"..."
He spoke while pressing his palms together with a tense face.
And beside him, Hwa Jeongsan's eyes were now trembling violently, as if in fear.
'To think I would see a scene like this.'
I rightfully rejoiced in this current situation and struck down with my sword.
* * *
CLANG!
Ilmyeong, who had blocked Jin Sowoon's sword with the Neutralizing Art, was startled by the tingling sensation felt in his palm.
'Does he still have this much strength left?'
This was someone who had blocked the Nine Palaces Crescent Sword and the Returning Wind, Dancing Willow Sword.
That alone was incredible, yet he was currently in great shock that the man still had strength to spare.
"It has already ended."
"..."
The outcome had already been decided.
Contrary to his confident demeanor, Hwa Jeongsan failed to overcome Jin Sowoon, and in the end, even Jong Byeokgi joined in, but the one who ultimately emerged victorious was Jin Sowoon.
Despite this being completely clear, Jin Sowoon showed no intention of stopping.
He looked as if he had encountered an irreconcilable sworn enemy.
"It is merely a sparring match! Benefactor. Please stop!"
Beside him, Jong Byeokgi gritted his teeth and spoke.
"That bastard is out of his mind right now. Ilmyeong. Let us attack together!"
Was it thanks to the Returning Wind, Dancing Willow Sword helplessly vanishing?
Jong Byeokgi did not hesitate to suggest a joint attack against a junior.
The funny thing was that Hwa Jeongsan, who had been busy fleeing and vomiting blood just moments ago, was also standing up after hearing those words.
"Why are you going this far? Please stop!"
With his left hand, Ilmyeong pushed Jong Byeokgi away using the Immortal Palm, and simultaneously blocked Jin Sowoon by executing the Bullet Fist with his right hand.
His hand, which had executed the Bullet Fist against the sword, was numb.
If things continued like this, both Jin Sowoon and Jong Byeokgi could end up severely injured because of him being stuck in the middle.
"If you keep doing this, I will have no choice."
Ultimately, Ilmyeong drew upon the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art.
His skin gradually turned a golden hue, beginning to look like a single radiant statue of Buddha.
The Vajra Indestructible Divine Art, one of the supreme martial arts of the Shaolin Sect, had been unleashed.
Just from that sight alone, most martial artists would likely step back, but rather than retreating, Jin Sowoon drew his sword even more fiercely.
The illusionary swords that had pressured Hwa Jeongsan were already forming around him.
SWISH!
Before he knew it, Ilmyeong extended the Vajra Prajna Palm.
A massive palm spread out, resembling the palm of the Buddha that had captured the Great Sage Equaling Heaven of Mount Huaguo.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
Who knows how many clashes were fired off in that fleeting moment, but the Vajra Prajna Palm was dispersed with continuous explosion sounds.
Jin Sowoon's condition didn't look very good either.
It was because a small trail of bloody water was flowing from the corner of his mouth.
'Did he form some kind of bitter enmity with Hwa Jeongsan?'
Just as he thought this couldn't go on any longer and was about to execute the Vajra Finger.
"Admit it."
A voice flowed out from among the Dragon-Phoenix Summit.
It was Moyong Seol.
"Admit it. It seems that young master merely desires that."
"..."
In an instant, Jin Sowoon's movements halted.
"... Young Master Jin, is this true?"
Instead of answering, Jin Sowoon was looking at Hwa Jeongsan.
"Will you end this if I just say those words?"
"..."
Jin Sowoon still said nothing.
Ilmyeong looked at Hwa Jeongsan and spoke.
"Brother Hwa, concede."
"..."
Hwa Jeongsan clenched his teeth, as if unable to accept it.
At that, Jin Sowoon adjusted his grip on his sword once more.
"Admit it! Do you truly wish to see blood?!"
At Ilmyeong's bellow, the hesitant Hwa Jeongsan raised his head.
"... I lost."
As Hwa Jeongsan barely spat out the words.
"..."
As if he had been waiting, Jin Sowoon sheathed his sword and turned around.
"... All this, just for that?"
Ilmyeong was looking at Jin Sowoon with a completely incomprehensible gaze.
* * *
"Phew."
I finally heard the words I wanted.
Even though I had won, a dead silence still hung over the venue.
No one in the Dragon-Phoenix Summit could have ever imagined a scene like this.
It was natural, since none of the Taiyi Sect disciples could have ever imagined seeing such a spectacle either.
CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP!
Someone broke the silence, clapping their hands like crazy.
Moyong Jaehwa, who was standing next to Moyong Gang—not knowing when they had arrived—was clapping as if his own sect had secured a great victory.
I briefly met his eyes, gave him a small nod, and then stood in front of the Sect Leader, bowing my head.
"..."
Hong Mungi said nothing.
Feeling puzzled, I raised my head and saw him shedding tears as if his dead child had returned.
Starting with his tears, the elders, followed by the hall leaders...
All the adults were shedding tears.
"My brother won!"
Wang Soso began urging the dazed disciples around her.
"... E-Eldest Senior Brother has won!!!"
"Eldest Senior Brother defeated Mount Hua!!!"
"No! He defeated both Mount Hua and Mount Cangshan!"
Only then did the disciples snap to their senses, beginning to cheer so loudly it felt as if the entire Taiyi Sect would lift off the ground.
"WAAAAAAAH!"
In place of the junior disciples trying to climb onto the training ground, I slowly directed my footsteps out of it.
"Wait!!"
A booming voice threw cold water over the Taiyi Sect.
"..."
Turning my head, I saw Jong Byeokgi huffing and puffing, spewing white breath.
"That martial art! Just what exactly is the deal with it?!"
"Did you not say you wished to experience the sword of the Taiyi Sword Emperor?"
"Are you certain that is the sword of the Taiyi Sword Emperor?!"
"..."
At the absurd remark, the figures of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit tilted their heads in confusion as well.
"What are you talking about?"
"I am asking if that martial art has truly been passed down through generations in the Taiyi Sect!"
"..."
When I didn't answer, a triumphant Jong Byeokgi smiled broadly.
"... It is obvious you stumbled upon a fortuitous encounter somewhere."
A fortuitous encounter was indeed a fortuitous encounter, so I didn't have much to say.
"..."
"If so, the rights to that martial art belong first and foremost to the Murim Alliance. And you must be well aware that the Murim Alliance bears the responsibility of finding its origins and returning it to its rightful owner!"
Jong Byeokgi smiled bizarrely.
"By the authority of the Inspection Envoys, our Dragon-Phoenix Summit will investigate that martial art!"
"..."
'Is this how it is?'
It was far too obvious a trick.
The Murim Alliance did not like fortuitous encounters.
In particular, they did not like new rising stars dropping out of the sky through fortuitous encounters.
There was once a time when a great figure known as the North Wind Fist Saint appeared.
The Murim Alliance persecuted him under the pretext of investigating the origins of his martial arts, but he refused to submit.
Amidst that persecution, the North Wind Fist Saint ended up having everything taken from him by the Murim Alliance not long after he made a name for himself.
"Young Master Jong! Please stop! That is not within our authority..."
Moyong Seol seemed to be trying to stop Jong Byeokgi, but I couldn't hear the rest of her words.
"Heh heh..."
"Y-You're laughing?"
Five hundred years.
For an astounding five hundred years, the disciple built the Taiyi Sect and barely protected it amidst meager resources and weak martial arts, waiting for their master.
Furthermore, the master, who had fallen into the scheme of those they trusted and could not escape, waited in that secret room for five hundred years, hoping their martial arts would be passed down to their disciple.
"... You dare speak of that long span of time with your flippant mouth?"
"W-What? You right now..."
"Are those your last words?"
"What..."
"I have decided."
Today, I will kill this bastard and become enemies with the Murim Alliance.
The Murim Alliance was going to disappear anyway, and I had no intention of forcing it to change.
Many plans would go awry, and I might not be able to save the people I needed to save.
However, I had too many regrets from my past life to just let myself be dragged around.
"It won't be easy..."
"Just what... are you spouting?!"
Little Buddha Ilmyeong.
Azure Wind Famed Sword, So Jeho.
Heavy Spear True Man, Ak Buksan.
Soul-Stealing Xi Shi, Seo Saryeong.
Jade Face Soso, Hwangbo Yeon.
White Hand Divine Maiden, Dang Seohee.
And the Smiling Iron Sword, Moyong Seol.
They would step in to block me.
It didn't matter.
If they blocked me, I would kill everyone except Moyong Seol.
Filling my internal energy to the brim with my intent, I circulated it, drawing out even my innate true qi to make up for the lack of energy.
The Taiyi True Scripture was a discipline that most definitively actualized the will of one's intent.
Along with a killing intent that even I was experiencing for the first time, I scattered the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art.
"W-Wh... What is this!!"
"..."
Just as the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship had dominated the training ground, the Ten Thousand Swords took its place.
Every single one of them was brimming with killing intent.
"Young Master Jin! Calm down! That is not what we meant!"
That Little Buddha Ilmyeong screamed in sheer terror, but his words did not reach my ears.
It was certain that the Taiyi True Scripture and the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art I brought back would bring boundless development to the Taiyi Sect in the future.
Even if my martial arts were entirely crippled, there would be plenty for me to do in the Taiyi Sect.
"It's already too late."
Just as everyone in the Dragon-Phoenix Summit turned pale and stepped onto the training ground to counter the Ten Thousand Swords.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. They selected you youngsters to change the Murim Alliance, but you only learned wicked things from somewhere and are now imitating the adults."
A hearty voice struck our ears and shook our heads.
The people's gazes turned toward the empty air where the voice originated.
There, an old man dressed as an herb gatherer was descending, stepping on the void one step at a time.
"Air-Stepping!"
Jong Byeokgi swallowed his breath in sheer terror.
