Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 89

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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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#089

‘He did it on purpose.’

In the fight just moments ago, Namgung Seong had the leisure to touch anywhere with his sword blade.

But he deliberately induced a counterattack and stabbed Pansuk’s wrist.

‘Brother Pansuk won’t be able to participate in the tournament now.’

It was an injury that would take at least a month to fully heal. Even with Bingokgo, the time could be shortened, but recovering within the tournament period was impossible.

“Did you say you’d teach me?”

“If you don’t know, learn. Learning isn’t a bad thing.”

“What could you possibly teach me?”

“Character, personality, social skills. And manners.”

“Crazy bastard.”

Ja-gang-cheon took out the weapon he carried on his back and removed the silk cloth. Then appeared an ominous-feeling dark blade that seemed to absorb darkness itself.

As they faced each other, the murmuring around them grew louder.

“Is that guy the lord of Deungmyeong Manor? He’s younger than I thought?”

“So it really was Dok-ja-mo’s power that sealed the Hwangbo Clan.”

“But would he have come forward like that without any confidence?”

“Even so, it’s reckless. His opponent is Namgung Seong, isn’t he?”

Most pointed out Ja-gang-cheon’s recklessness. On the other hand, there were those who offered different opinions.

“If the rumors are true, Young Lord Namgung might be in danger. No matter how outstanding Namgung Seong is, he’s not capable of bringing down the Hwangbo Clan.”

They didn’t need to engage in a war of words. They would see the result right before their eyes.

“Arrogant bastard.”

Namgung Seong didn’t like the look in Ja-gang-cheon’s eyes directed at him.

“I’ll grind those eyes into the ground.”

Sring!

Namgung Seong thrust his sword diagonally downward. The vibration caused his internal energy to travel along the blade, making a sound like drawing a sword.

That sound was the beginning.

Namgung Seong took a heavy step forward for the Namgung Clan’s characteristic weighty and profound swordsmanship.

Azure Sky Limitless Sword Technique.

The Namgung Clan’s unique sword technique that emits blue sword energy as one reaches higher levels unfolded.

“Wow. Such vivid sword energy!”

“It’s on a completely different level from the last Martial Arts Tournament!”

“Truly the foremost of the Seven Strongest Warriors of the Rivers and Lakes!”

Tss tss tss!

Namgung Seong’s sword, imbued with vivid sword energy, finally approached its target.

Chwarararas!

Dozens of sword energies rushed toward Ja-gang-cheon, who stood holding his dark blade upright.

The audience gasped in unison at the tremendous range of the sword barrier and its sharpness that could split even bluestone like tofu.

Just as they pictured Ja-gang-cheon falling in a bloody mess in their minds.

Wooong!

As if recognizing the challenge directed at it, Mukryeomdo vibrated with displeasure.

‘Wait.’

Ja-gang-cheon calmed Mukryeomdo, which was absorbing his internal energy, and faced the approaching net of blades.

‘Now.’

Woooooong!

It was as if someone had drawn a thick line of ink across space treated like drawing paper.

Mukryeomdo, swung while leaving a deep afterimage, completely devoured the sword barrier.

Chaeng chaeng chaeng chaeng!

The sword barrier bounced off the dark curtain, and the momentum that surged like waves struck Namgung Seong.

“Hup!”

Namgung Seong, letting out a surprised breath, quickly twisted his body and stepped aside.

Kwa kwa kwa kwang!

The energy wave from Mukryeomdo striking the ground created a long furrow in the training hall.

As fragments of overturned earth shot up into the sky, someone stood in front of the energy wave that was still advancing while destroying the ground. He was trying to block the energy wave from leaving the training hall.

It was Ho Bang-gae, the Open Sect Leader.

But he didn’t need to exert his strength.

Thud.

Mukryeomdo’s energy wave stopped precisely at the edge of the training hall.

“Don’t tell me he calculated this?”

If it was intentional, it meant his control of internal energy was that precise.

Moreover, it meant he maintained his composure while unleashing such a powerful energy wave.

“Just where does his limit lie?”

At least Ho Bang-gae wasn’t shocked to that degree since he had met Ja-gang-cheon before.

But most of the audience couldn’t continue speaking and just stood with their mouths agape at the terrifying scene.

A single strike that shattered the sword barrier and split the training hall in half.

A scene they would never forget was vividly etched in their minds.

And among them, the most shocked person was Namgung Seong, who faced it directly.

‘What is this…’

If he had tried to block it carelessly, his body would have been torn to shreds.

Realizing this fact, fear suddenly washed over him. But his crisis was just beginning.

Ja-gang-cheon, who had already retrieved his blade, was sending him a chilling gaze.

Would the eyes of a demon seen in dreams look like this?

Feeling as if he was facing an evil spirit, Namgung Seong instinctively took a defensive stance.

That was a mistake.

Kwa kwa kwa!

A wave of strong energy struck him as he held his sword diagonally upright.

Kka ga ga gang!

Each time a metallic sound rang out, Namgung Seong’s body was pushed back.

Tss tss tss!

His leather shoes, creating friction with the ground, burned away while producing white smoke.

Right after enduring even that shock by gritting his teeth,

‘Why…’

Ja-gang-cheon had already launched himself into the air and was bringing Mukryeomdo down on him.

He had deployed lightness skill right after launching the energy wave, creating a situation like a combined attack.

Kwang!

Namgung Seong, who had no time to dodge, laid his sword flat. The moment he supported the sword tip with his other palm, Mukryeomdo struck the sword.

Chaeng!

A crisp metallic sound rang out as Namgung Seong’s body shook greatly. At the same time, the sword he had inherited from his grandfather in childhood broke in half.

Though he managed to block one attack thanks to his sword’s sacrifice, Mukryeomdo had no intention of stopping there.

Just as Ja-gang-cheon was about to deliver another strike toward the weaponless Namgung Seong.

Chaeng!

Namgung Seong instead rushed forward and preemptively received Mukryeomdo’s impact.

Since the full weight hadn’t been applied yet, he could block it with his scabbard, and using that force, he retreated far back.

And the arrogance disappeared from his eyes.

Setting aside his surprise at Ja-gang-cheon’s skill, he held his scabbard forward.

Compared to a sword, it was heavy and short, and with no blade, he couldn’t expect any killing power. Moreover, structurally it had holes to the outside, making it difficult to contain internal energy.

Even so, Namgung Seong took a stance as if holding a sword. And he exuded an overwhelming atmosphere as if his previous defensive posture had been a lie.

“Don’t tell me…”

Several members of the audience who sensed that energy let out surprised exclamations.

“It’s the Emperor Sword Form.”

The Emperor Sword Form that is only passed down to the Lord.

Namgung Seong, the heir, had inherited the Namgung Clan’s supreme sword technique.

Tss tss tss.

The young lord’s Emperor Sword Form, shown for the first time in an official setting, began as dark blue energy gathered around the scabbard.

Internal energy seeped out through the cracks in the scabbard, and even that sight looked threatening.

Flash!

Leaving everyone’s surprise behind, Namgung Seong moved.

The first form of the Emperor Sword Form began with a horizontal slash as light and fast as a beam of light.

Heaven’s Mandate Single Flash .

Surprisingly heavy energy was carried in the light and fast swift sword.

The secret to making that impossible theory into reality was not the caster’s internal energy, but a method of drawing in surrounding internal energy.

In reality, the beginning of Heaven’s Mandate Single Flash was a single point as fast as a needle tip. It was only fast, without any internal energy.

But internal energy that swirled like a cone following the sword tip came after it.

The whirlpool of internal energy created this way struck the opponent one beat later.

That’s why they said the Emperor Sword Form had a second enemy.

Tss tss tss!

It was a perfectly executed Emperor Sword Form.

But Ja-gang-cheon didn’t retreat even one step from that spot. He had been quietly waiting for an opportunity, and when the scabbard entered his range, he struck upward from below.

This too was an extraordinary strike.

A strike that sent energy toward the sky like an erupting volcano.

Northern Heaven Blade Technique 2nd Form: Molten Flame Defying Heaven .

Melted flames rose against the heavens.

Craaash!

Most of the audience covered their ears in pain from the collision of the two energies.

When the shockwave generated at the center of the training hall created storm-like winds, the supervising instructor who had been watching jumped in.

“Stop!”

In the spot where the impact had disappeared, Ja-gang-cheon and Namgung Seong were still glaring at each other.

“At the judges’ request, we will halt the match.”

It wasn’t the supervising instructor’s judgment, but Ho Bang-gae, the Open Sect Leader, who had requested the halt.

“Both of you have shown your skills sufficiently. I believe you should naturally be among the final 10. What do the other judges think?”

All four judges nodded at Ho Bang-gae’s question.

“I too would like to see the end of this match, but as you can see, the audience is in danger at this rate. So I reluctantly want to postpone the match to the final day. What do you think?”

The training hall was damaged beyond further use, and some spectators had collapsed, unable to withstand the impact.

While martial artists were managing to endure, it wasn’t easy for ordinary people to bear.

“I promise to prepare a stage where you can display your skills to your heart’s content on the final day.”

At Ho Bang-gae’s promise, Namgung Seong was the first to lower his sword.

There was no justification to refuse when the Open Sect Leader was persuading them using the audience’s safety as grounds.

“I will follow the proposal. This is a match, not a fight to the death.”

Namgung Seong withdrew while deliberately showing a manly appearance. But Ja-gang-cheon was displeased with letting his opponent go.

‘What an unpleasant person.’

Ja-gang-cheon glanced at Open Sect Leader Ho Bang-gae, then turned and came down from the training hall.

Then cheers and applause erupted from all directions.

“The rumors about Deungmyeong Jangju were true!”

“Indeed, he’s qualified to be the Namgung Clan’s young lord!”

“I’ve never had such a feast for my eyes in my entire life.”

The audience, with the danger gone, enjoyed their excitement.

Admiration filled the eyes looking at Ja-gang-cheon, and they competed to shout cheers toward him as he returned.

But Ja-gang-cheon wasn’t pleased at all with such cries.

“Hyeongnim, are you okay?”

“I was stabbed pretty deep, but it’s not to the point where it can’t be treated. Still, it would be better not to use my hand for a while.”

Ja-gang-cheon looked at Pansuk, who had cloth wrapped around his wrist.

“I’m sorry, Hyeongnim.”

Pansuk’s voice trembled. The fact that he could no longer participate in the tournament was frustrating and regrettable.

“I saw your skills, hyeongnim. Thank you for following along so earnestly.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You were a man worthy of Mangabong.”

“Sob!”

In the end, Pansuk, with various emotions mixed together, burst into tears.

Ja-gang-cheon was more concerned about Pansuk’s tears than the audience’s cheers.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry, Hyeongnim?”

“I should have killed that bastard.”

“What if you killed him in a match?”

“That bastard crossed the line first. If he took one step over, I would have taken two steps over.”

“Then all those famous people over there would hate you, Hyeongnim.”

“I don’t care. You’re more important than all those people combined.”

“Sob!”

Pansuk’s tears, which he had barely held back, burst out again.

Meanwhile,

Namgung Seong was also receiving cheers.

The place he returned to was where the famous figures of the martial arts world were seated, so even more praise poured out.

“The future of the Namgung Clan is truly promising.”

“Such achievement at that age is remarkable.”

“A swordsman who lost his sword substituted with a scabbard. Both the attempt and result were excellent.”

At their words, Namgung Cheonju kept speaking humbly while unable to hide his smile.

“You worked hard.”

“Father, may I go rest for a moment? I feel empty without my sword.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

Having obtained his father’s permission, Namgung Seong bowed to the famous figures and left that place.

Even while moving with quick steps, countless people greeted him, and Namgung Seong responded leisurely with a smile.

But when he left the training hall and entered a place with no outsiders, his expression changed.

His leisurely smile disappeared and his lips trembled.

Unable to endure any longer, Namgung Seong rushed into a nearby storage room.

“Cough!”

The black blood he had been holding back gushed out.

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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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