Almighty God of War - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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030

Yu Hansaeng looked toward the Hwa Family Trading House side with his eyes while speaking to the crowd as if explaining.

“Since Manor Lord Hwa Seokdae of Hwa Family Trading House has never taken interest in martial arts, the second duel will be fought by Half-Dragon Blade Guest Jin Mun, the great hero who is Master Hwa Doryeong’s teacher, as his representative.”

When the name Half-Dragon Blade Guest Jin Mun was heard, a tremendous cheer erupted from among the martial artists in the spectator seats.

“Waaaah!!!!”

The opportunity to see the blade techniques of a supreme master with renowned fame in Gangho was not common.

Yu Hansaeng this time turned his head toward the Bamboo Forest Manor side.

“And the one who will directly draw his sword to stake Bamboo Forest Manor’s honor against him is….”

His hand pointed toward Heo Ilbi.

“None other than Bamboo Sword Master Heo Ilbi, the Manor Lord!”

Once again, an earth-shaking cheer erupted.

“Uwaaaah!!!”

Heo Ilbi was acknowledged by all as Nanchang’s greatest swordsman, while Jin Mun was an outsider.

Therefore, most of the spectators hoped Heo Ilbi would defeat Jin Mun.

Guyang Cheongang, who had been watching with a calm expression, asked Heo Choryeong in a quiet voice.

“Elder Sister, are you confident?”

Heo Choryeong looked back at him and smiled brightly.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already mastered the new Flying Swallow Sword Technique that Gang-je improved to the eighth level. Unless Hwa Doryeong is a master on Father’s level, I couldn’t lose even if I tried to.”

The eighth level was an achievement so high it was hard to believe it had been accomplished in just three days.

There were two reasons this was possible.

First, Guyang Cheongang had improved the Flying Swallow Sword Technique while perfectly understanding the core principles of the sword technique.

Second, in addition to that, Heo Choryeong’s original foundation in sword technique training was solid.

Guyang Cheongang looked at her confident appearance and spoke to Akasha.

‘Akasha, it was truly amazing how you deduced even the remaining forms of the Coiling Dragon Sword Technique that Hwa Doryeong uses. What we saw in the alley was only seventeen seconds, so how did you perfectly grasp the flow and weaknesses of the remaining nineteen forms?’

[Every well-made system contains consistent design philosophy. Martial arts are the same. This is especially true for martial arts that form a single school like the Coiling Dragon Sword Technique.]

‘Design philosophy… That’s an interesting approach. Explain it in more detail.’

[Yes. I first precisely analyzed the data of the seventeen forms of Coiling Dragon Sword Technique witnessed in the alley – that is, Hwa Doryeong’s muscle movements, the flow of internal energy, shifts in center of gravity, and the trajectory of his blade.]

Akasha visualized the analysis data in his mind to show him.

[As you can see, all forms of the Coiling Dragon Sword Technique are optimized for breaking through the opponent’s defense rather than defending, striking back with greater force rather than evading, and creating openings. This is the design philosophy of the Coiling Dragon Sword Technique and the flow that penetrates all forms.]

‘You’re saying one principle governs all movements?’

[Yes. Based on that philosophy and the data from seventeen forms, I simulated the movements and qi flow of the remaining forms that best matched this flow millions of times. As a result, I was able to reconstruct the optimal paths of the forms that matched with over 90% probability – that is, the remaining nineteen forms.]

Guyang Cheongang couldn’t help but be amazed.

Akasha had perfectly dismantled and analyzed the profound martial learning of Murim as if it were a single complex computer program.

‘Since you grasped all the forms that way, finding the weaknesses must have been a piece of cake.’

[Correct. Since the Coiling Dragon Sword Technique is extremely focused on power, the moments when power gaps occur or the openings created during form transitions were clear. If those parts are attacked with Miss Heo’s fast and ever-changing Flying Swallow Sword Technique, Hwa Doryeong will crumble without even properly using his strength.]

Confidence could be felt in Akasha’s voice.

Guyang Cheongang had already informed Heo Ilbi and Heo Choryeong of all the weaknesses in the Coiling Dragon Sword Technique that Akasha had discovered, leaving nothing out.

Yu Hansaeng’s shouting voice reached his ears.

“The first duelists, Miss Heo Choryeong and Young Master Hwa Doryeong, please ascend to the duel platform!”

As his words ended, all eyes in the venue turned toward the two young people at once.

Hwa Doryeong ascended to the duel platform first with a triumphant smile.

He looked at Heo Choryeong as if gazing at a trophy he had already claimed.

In his eyes burned blatant possessiveness that coveted her beauty and arrogant confidence in his own power.

Heo Choryeong also flew up onto the duel platform, displaying swift light body technique like a swallow.

Her beautiful face was calm, but her eyes shone cold as frost with contempt and anger toward Hwa Doryeong.

The two faced each other at the center of the duel platform, about ten steps apart.

Hwa Doryeong was the first to speak.

“Miss Heo, so we finally meet in a place like this.”

He continued in a leisurely tone.

“It’s not too late even now. How about promising to obediently become my woman before tasting the bitter cup of defeat? If you do that, I’ll gladly make this pointless duel as if it never happened and take you into my embrace.”

An icy voice flowed from between Heo Choryeong’s red lips.

“Shut up, Hwa Doryeong.”

Her following voice held not an inch of wavering.

“Don’t put my name on your filthy lips. For a scoundrel like you, answering with the sword is the only proper etiquette. Today, in this place, I’ll make you pay dearly for your wickedness.”

The smile completely vanished from Hwa Doryeong’s face upon hearing her words.

“…Fine. If you truly come at me like that, I’ll make you kneel at my feet and beg!”

The two glared at each other while gripping their sword and blade properly.

Hair-trigger tension filled the duel platform.

“Begin the duel!”

With Yu Hansaeng’s resounding cry, the first duel began.

“Hiyah!”

Hwa Doryeong burst out with a battle cry first and kicked off the duel platform floor.

He knew that his strength and internal energy, as well as his Coiling Dragon Sword Technique, were superior to Heo Choryeong’s.

He had already confirmed this in the alley.

Naturally, he was confident of his victory.

The heavy momentum bursting from Hwa Doryeong’s blade pressed down heavily on the air above the duel platform.

Paang-!

Each time the blade cut through the air, fierce air-splitting sounds echoed across the duel platform.

A satisfied smile appeared on Hwa Seokdae’s face as he watched his son’s confident offensive.

However, it didn’t take long for that smile to disappear.

Heo Choryeong lightly sidestepped half a step like a swallow.

Hwa Doryeong’s powerful blade couldn’t even touch the hem of her clothes and only left deep scratches on the duel platform floor.

Swish-!

In that instant, Heo Choryeong’s sword pierced toward his side like a glancing blow.

It wasn’t flashy swordplay but a strike as sharp as a dagger, terrifyingly cold and precise.

Clang!

Hwa Doryeong barely managed to turn his blade to block it, but bewilderment showed on his face.

“Th-this is…!”

Heo Choryeong’s sword didn’t clash head-on with his blade like in the alley.

Hwa Doryeong’s blade fiercely cut through the air, but each time, her sword swayed like a willow branch, deflecting the blade’s force.

And at some point, it would penetrate into the blind spots of his forms to target vital points.

Heo Choryeong’s sword technique that exploited the weaknesses of the Coiling Dragon Sword Technique was too fast and precise to suppress with force.

Hwa Doryeong’s eyes could barely keep up with the sword’s ever-changing movements.

The face of watching Hwa Seokdae hardened into a stone-like rigid expression.

In contrast, Heo Ilbi, sitting in the Bamboo Forest Manor tent, couldn’t hide his pleased smile at his daughter’s remarkable growth.

Another ten or so seconds passed.

“Urgh…”

Small lines of blood were drawn on the groaning Hwa Doryeong’s arms and side.

He lost his reason to anger and swung his blade even more fiercely, but the more he did so, the larger and more numerous his openings became.

There was no way Heo Choryeong would miss that.

Guyang Cheongang watched this scene with calm eyes.

It was a flow he had already anticipated, so there was nothing surprising about it.

Finally, the moment that would decide the match came.

The moment when the impatient Hwa Doryeong deployed the ultimate form of the Coiling Dragon Sword Technique, Half-Dragon Fierce Alliance, to deliver his decisive strike,

Whiiiik-

Heo Choryeong’s body seemed to sink low, then her sword burrowed into his thigh like a snake.

“Aaaaah!”

Hwa Doryeong’s body swayed greatly as he suffered a deep sword wound to his leg.

Heo Choryeong’s body soared up like a swallow, launching a merciless strike toward his empty right shoulder.

Slash-

“Argh!”

With the gruesome sound of flesh being cut and bone being damaged, Hwa Doryeong screamed and collapsed.

Clang!

The blade that fell from his hand rolled across the floor with a hollow sound.

It was a complete defeat.

A moment of silence flowed.

And immediately, tremendous cheers erupted from those who had been supporting Bamboo Forest Manor.

“Waaaah!”

“Miss Heo won!”

The people from Hwa Family Trading House turned pale and hurriedly climbed onto the duel platform to carry down the fallen Hwa Doryeong.

When all that commotion had settled, Jin Mun with a stern expression slowly rose from his seat.

He didn’t even bat an eye while looking at Hwa Doryeong lying in the tent.

His gaze was fixed on Heo Ilbi walking out from the tent on the opposite side.

Jin Mun with a stern expression slowly walked up onto the duel platform.

As he drew the massive Half-Dragon Blade from his back, a heavy and murderous aura overwhelmed the venue.

The spectator seats became as quiet as if cold water had been poured over them.

Heo Ilbi launched his body movement with a calm expression.

His body rose like a single leaf, then silently and gracefully flew down onto the duel platform.

Jin Mun spoke with a face suppressing anger.

“Hero Heo, it seems you’ve studied the Coiling Dragon Sword Technique quite thoroughly.”

Heo Ilbi slowly drew the sword from his waist and answered in a calm tone.

“Isn’t there a saying that knowing yourself and your enemy means you’ll never be defeated? I merely tried to be faithful to that teaching.”

The auras of the two men clashed in midair, and the air above the duel platform settled heavily.

Ordinary people couldn’t feel it, but the martial artists in the spectator seats had to tremble under the pressure that made even breathing difficult.

The next moment, both men’s forms disappeared simultaneously.

The movements of these supreme masters and the speed at which they wielded their blade and sword were so fast that ordinary people’s eyes could barely follow.

Only the thunderous sound of metal clashing with metal, along with the sharp collision sounds of the solid duel platform floor cracking and air being torn, continuously echoed throughout the venue without pause.

Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-

From Jin Mun’s blade, fierce blade energy tinged with black light burst forth, threatening Heo Ilbi.

The Coiling Dragon Sword Technique he displayed tried to bite, claw, and crush his opponent like a wild beast.

However, the sword energy bursting from Heo Ilbi’s sword as he deployed the improved Twenty-Eight Forms of Bamboo Sword was different.

It wasn’t flashy, but it was straight like bamboo and sharp like a dagger.

His clear sword energy didn’t directly smash Jin Mun’s fierce blade energy head-on, but precisely pierced through the weakest parts to neutralize that violent force.

As time passed, Jin Mun was shocked to the point where his heart trembled.

Heo Ilbi’s sword technique seemed to know in advance the path and variations of every attack he deployed, blocking those routes one step ahead.

Jin Mun felt a sense of helplessness wash over his entire body, as if he were desperately throwing punches at a massive boulder.

Whoosh-!

Heo Ilbi’s sword energy grazed his cheek, cutting off a few strands of hair.

At the spine-chilling sensation, Jin Mun’s movements froze for an instant.

Had about fifty seconds passed?

Jin Mun, driven into a defensive position and growing impatient, deployed his final technique, Coiling Dragon Ascends to Heaven.

Whiiiiiish-

An area within two zhang radius was engulfed in a storm of blade energy.

It was at that very moment when the blade energy seemed to tear Heo Ilbi apart.

The edge of the bamboo sword, as if defying time itself, cleanly bisected the blade energy and stopped right in front of Jin Mun’s throat.

Stop!

A single strand of cold sword energy tickled Jin Mun’s skin.

The match was over.

Jin Mun lowered his blade weakly, cupped his fists, and bowed his head.

“I lost.”

“It was a good match, Hero Jin.”

Jin Mun, his face contorted, trudged down from the duel platform.

Shortly after, Yu Hansaeng of Full Moon Spear, who had climbed onto the duel platform, looked at Heo Ilbi with eyes of admiration and shouted loudly.

“The winner of the second duel is… Hero Heo Ilbi of Bamboo Forest Manor!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

The cheers of the spectators that erupted all at once pierced the sky.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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