Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 88

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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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#088

Gaebang Bangju Ho-bang-gae.

Nokrim Chongpyopalja Beom Ja-yang.

Zhuge Clan Lord Zhuge Hak.

Zhongnan Sect Leader Jong Gun-jo.

Geogyeong Bang Leader Gu Dae-ju.

The renowned masters representing both orthodox and demonic sects had gathered in one place.

Considering the extreme tension between orthodox and demonic sects, the current list of judges was nothing short of miraculous.

This was also a result that demonstrated the current prestige of the Namgung Clan.

-A venue for great martial arts harmony.

This was the value that the Gangho Yeonmujeon upheld.

In fact, when inviting the current judges, they were persuaded with the idea of ‘using this tournament to ease tensions between orthodox and demonic sects.’

By competing in martial arts within established boundaries to produce controlled results, and admiring excellent martial skills, mutual respect would naturally develop.

Of course, this was the superficial reason.

“The Namgung Clan will gain the greatest reputation from this tournament.”

Cheon-gu said this as they turned back after finishing the opening declaration.

“What do you mean?”

“It seems like this tournament was created to show off the prestige of the Five Great Clans from the beginning.”

Song Ja-in, who was nearby, nodded at Cheon-gu’s words.

“That’s an accurate analysis.”

“Although the Five Great Clans are orthodox, they prioritize profit over cooperation.”

Upon close examination, martial arts clans possessed all the characteristics of both orthodox and demonic sects.

In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they were in the middle of orthodox and demonic.

Typically, even with the Sichuan Tang Family, not many people considered them orthodox.

Family rules took precedence over martial arts laws, and being a blood-bound group, they were closed-off and selfish.

Nevertheless, since they didn’t completely deviate from the righteous path, they were classified as orthodox, but they weren’t as active in sacrifice and service as the Nine Sects and One Alliance.

“That’s why this kind of reputation is absolutely necessary.”

The reason for maintaining the Five Great Clans was also to maintain their influence.

“Well, saving their face is unavoidable, and we need to gain our share of reputation too.”

“Right. We’re taking everything that’s ours.”

Ja-gang-cheon cleared his complicated thoughts and waited for the martial arts tournament that would begin in the afternoon.

With less than two hours remaining, those participating looked even more tense.

“Then let’s do our final check too.”

Song Ja-in’s eyes sharpened once again.

Before the martial arts tournament began,

the Namgung Clan announced the new Five Great Clans to fill the position left vacant by the Hwangbo Clan.

The result was the Guangdong Jin Family.

Though they had concerns due to the special nature of being from the south, they ultimately made a safe choice.

A commemorative ceremony was held, and all the lords of the Five Great Clans gathered for this occasion.

Numerous renowned masters, including the Nine Sects and One Alliance, also revealed themselves here.

When the ceremony ended, they moved to the training hall.

Nearly fifty martial arts masters took their positions in the right center of the training hall alongside Namgung Cheonju.

As they sat in a row on the pre-prepared oak chairs, a man appeared in the center of the training hall carrying a drum.

He stood before Namgung Cheonju, who was seated in the center of the VIP section.

Namgung Cheonju handed him the drumstick he was holding, and the man began to beat the drum vigorously with it.

Boom!

The sound seemed to awaken everyone’s hearts.

Boom!

The audience cheered, and the warriors aiming for the martial arts tournament looked tense.

Boom!

And the man who struck the drum for the third time shouted.

“The martial arts tournament begins!”

The wide training hall that could accommodate three hundred people in formation was now permitted to only two people.

And those watching them numbered two thousand.

The audience packed densely around the training hall. Even though the Namgung Clan had built platforms in advance to create back seats, countless people couldn’t find places.

And when the man who had been beating the drum stepped down from the training hall, someone leaped up.

Thud!

The person who landed in the center of the training hall shouted as prepared.

“I am Pansuk of Deungmyeong Manor in Shandong Province!”

Thud!

When he struck the training hall floor with his Mangabong, the vibration spread in all directions.

The 6-foot giant holding a silver staff in the center of the training hall had an overwhelming presence.

Nevertheless, from the perspective of warriors waiting to compete, now was their opportunity.

‘He’s in his late twenties but I’ve never seen him before.’

Being unknown in the martial arts world until his late twenties meant he hadn’t been recognized for his skills until now.

‘I just need to defeat about three people on the first day and step down.’

The first to make this calculation was the third son of the Hebei Peng Family.

The Hebei Peng Family, one of the Five Great Clans, had all three sons of the family lord participating.

Since no successor had been decided yet, today’s stage was an important platform to prove one’s abilities.

“I am Paeng Doyeon of the Hebei Peng Family. Please teach me.”

Paeng Doyeon drew the thick blade characteristic of the Peng Family.

“Please take care of me!”

It was when Paeng Doyeon, who had responded to Pansuk’s vigorous greeting with a fist salute, was adjusting his grip on his blade.

Thud!

The 6-foot giant kicked off the ground and came charging.

It was an overwhelming pressure, like a wild bear approaching, but Paeng Doyeon didn’t retreat.

Just as Paeng Doyeon was raising his blade with internal energy,

Clang!

From the tremendous impact, his grip tore and he dropped his blade.

Pansuk didn’t stop there and grabbed his opponent’s collar.

Whoosh!

And he threw Paeng Doyeon outside the training hall. According to the rules, this match was Pansuk’s victory.

Boom boom!

When the victory drum sounded, Pansuk returned to the center of the training hall and struck the ground with his staff.

“I am Pansuk of Deungmyeong Manor! Next!”

Ja-gang-cheon applauded his confident appearance.

“But is he deliberately continuing to say his name?”

“I just told him to make his name known. Come to think of it, I’m the one who ordered it.”

In any case, Pansuk made his name known in the martial arts world for the first time, boasting his overwhelming physique.

“I’m called Lee Do of Cheolsanbang. I’m confident in strength too, so let’s have a match.”

A muscular man with short stature but chest thickness three times that of an ordinary person stood in the training hall.

The two charged at each other like wild boars that had spotted enemies.

Crash!

There was nothing better as a spectacle.

They had collided shoulder-to-shoulder without either backing down.

“Wow!”

Admiration came naturally from that intense impact.

The early tournament that could have been chaotic heated up thanks to Pansuk.

“Uaaaah!”

The two seemed to be evenly matched for a moment, but Pansuk let out a roar and pushed his opponent away.

Thud!

Lee Do, overwhelmed by the force and knocked down, lost consciousness from the shock of his broken back.

“Stop!”

The chief instructor from the Namgung Clan, who had been watching the fight from the closest position, entered and carried the man out.

Dong! Dong!

As the victory drums sounded, Pansuk returned to the center. Still having no intention of stepping down, he raised his staff once more.

“Pansuk of Deungmyeong Manor! Next!”

“Waaaah!”

“An incredible external martial arts master has appeared!”

External martial arts, being visible, provided tremendous excitement.

Especially a six-foot giant was perfect for drawing people’s attention.

“Where is Deungmyeong Manor?”

“Isn’t that the place that sealed off the Hwangbo Clan?”

“Ah! There! Then is that guy the lord of Deungmyeong Manor?”

In just one moment, Deungmyeong Manor began to be discussed.

Ja-gang-cheon was pleased with this sight, but there was someone who didn’t like this situation.

‘Deungmyeong Manor…’

Namgung Seong, who was watching this situation from behind Namgung Cheonju, today’s tournament host, found the name Deungmyeong Manor unpleasant.

Unaware of his feelings, the renowned masters showed interest in Pansuk’s pure strength.

“It’s not just brute strength. In that last match, he advanced five more steps than his opponent. That means his footwork is nimble.”

“He seems to know how to use his strength well. There’s no wasted power at all.”

“If it’s Deungmyeong Manor, they say Dok-ja-mo has established himself there. Then such skill is understandable.”

The more he listened to the adults’ words, the more uncomfortable he felt.

Annoyed by this, he turned his gaze and spotted a familiar figure.

It was Yoyeolnyeo Cheonseolhwa.

‘She’s smiling like that again.’

The woman who looked at him like a bug would smile so brightly whenever Deungmyeong Manor was involved.

Her characteristic arrogant expression had disappeared, and she was even clapping.

‘I’ll definitely make you mine.’

Just as he was thinking this,

the murmuring of the crowd died down.

“Each-mok Giant Gwak Jung-san is stepping forward.”

“This should be worth watching.”

“Even so, wouldn’t Gwak Jung-san be better?”

A famous rising master from the Demonic Sect revealed himself.

Gwak Jung-san, who wielded an iron mace, was considered a candidate who could rise to the Seven Strongest Warriors of the Rivers and Lakes in this tournament.

So many expected Pansuk’s defeat.

But when the iron mace and staff first collided, people anticipated this match wouldn’t end easily.

Claaang!

The heavy iron mace bounced off after hitting the staff. The tremendous impact sound was so loud that ordinary people had to cover their ears.

Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew every time the weapons clashed, and the blue stone slabs of the training hall they stepped on crumbled into powder and scattered.

Slow but heavy strikes continued endlessly, and the audience watched with their mouths agape.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With the endless impact sounds, finally one person began to be pushed back.

Surprisingly, it was Gwak Jung-san who was being pushed back.

Sensing danger, Gwak Jung-san stopped the power struggle and used footwork to try to penetrate the giant Pansuk’s side. Then Pansuk pushed him away with his body.

“Ugh!”

The moment he lost his center due to the tremendous force, Pansuk’s staff cut through the air.

Thud!

The staff that was falling as if to crush his shoulder stopped.

“I’ve lost. Thank you for showing mercy.”

The moment Gwak Jung-san acknowledged defeat, the audience cheered in unison.

‘I did it!’

Amid the pouring cheers, Pansuk smiled to his heart’s content. But was it because he was too excited?

He had defeated three people in a row, including Gwak Jung-san, so it was sufficient for the first day’s results.

But intoxicated by the cheers, he was late in stepping down.

Step.

When someone appeared in front of him, the audience’s cheers disappeared as if by magic.

Instead, murmuring voices could be heard.

“Namgung Seong is coming out already?”

“Wouldn’t the second day be sufficient?”

“When to come out is his own freedom.”

The martial world’s top rising master, called the best of the Seven Strongest Warriors of Gangnam, stood opposite Pansuk.

“I am Namgung Seong of the Namgung Clan. I would like to learn from you.”

The moment Namgung Seong raised his sword, a chill ran down Pansuk’s spine. At the same time, a competitive spirit to defeat his opponent arose.

“Haaah!”

Pansuk drew up all his strength, gripped his staff, and charged toward Namgung Seong.

The six-foot giant rushed in like a beast, swinging his heavy staff. Despite the fierce momentum that seemed to push the air itself, Namgung Seong didn’t lose his composure.

Then, the moment the staff came in targeting his waist, he slid his body back. After watching the staff pass by, he leaped back in.

Having gained complete advantage with that one movement, Namgung Seong lightly swung his sword as if proving his skill.

‘It’s over.’

All the masters with eyes knew this fact.

He had penetrated at the perfect moment, and his opponent had no way to block it.

But Namgung Seong’s sword was slow, and Pansuk quickly deflected it with his staff.

It was when their two weapons crossed.

Spurt!

A stream of blood shot up between their passing weapons.

Clang!

And the heavy staff fell to the ground.

Blood flowed from Pansuk’s wrist, and the amount was not trivial.

“Stop!”

The Namgung Clan’s chief instructor rushed up and pressed Pansuk’s pressure point. Fortunately, the bleeding stopped, but the wound was not light.

“You need treatment. Our clan has a medical hall, so follow me.”

The chief instructor declared Namgung Seong’s victory and tried to take Pansuk to the medical hall.

That’s when it happened.

“Hyeong. Aunt will handle the treatment.”

“Yes! Hyeongnim! I’m sorry!”

“Hyeong did well. Leave it to me now.”

Pansuk grabbed the dropped staff with his uninjured hand and returned to where Song Ja-in was waiting.

But Ja-gang-cheon remained in that spot.

“I am Ja-gang-cheon, lord of Deungmyeong Manor. Let me teach you a lesson.”

Ja-gang-cheon glared at Namgung Seong with cold eyes.

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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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