Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 44

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 44
White Sword Hall.
A sanctuary of swords where the hundred finest blades in the possession of the Namgung Clan lay dormant.
Following the long cavern deeper, a circular chamber emerged.
Along the walls of the circular chamber, sword coffins were embedded in niches.
Exactly one hundred of them.
And within them lay the same number of blades.
The hundred swords gave off a sharp aura as if proclaiming their own existence.
From that aura alone, one could tell that the swords of White Sword Hall were legendary.
Namgung Geom stepped into the circular chamber.
The aura emanating from the hundred swords pierced at his body.
It was as if a hundred waves of sword energy were crashing down upon him.
Even for Namgung Geom, it was an aura not easily dismissed.
If it pressed him this hard, those of lower realms would not dare enter at all, repelled by the sword energy alone.
‘A formation?’
No matter how legendary the swords, they could not produce this level of sword energy by themselves.
It was clear that the hundred swords formed some kind of formation.
Likely a safeguard to prevent anyone from stealing the blades from White Sword Hall.
“There’s a reason the qualifications to enter White Sword Hall exist, then.”
To gain entry to White Sword Hall, one must achieve at least the True Martial Realm.
Without that level of cultivation, one could not penetrate the sword formation of White Sword Hall and pass through.
Naturally, it posed no obstacle for Namgung Geom.
He summoned the inner force of the Changryong Iceflower Divine Art.
Above his body, a pale, frost-like energy gathered.
He stepped forward toward the sword energy being released by the hundred blades.
Crack-pop-crack!
The sword energy created by the hundred swords collided with his body and scattered.
Namgung Geom pushed through the sword energy without hesitation, advancing inward.
The moment he crossed fully into the circular chamber, the sword energy that had blocked him vanished as if washed away.
Namgung Geom surveyed the sword coffins embedded along the walls of the circular chamber.
Each coffin bore the name and brief history of the sword it contained.
Namgung Geom examined the blades one by one.
Legendary swords used by successive patriarchs of the Namgung Clan and masters of the martial world each emanated their own aura, tempting him.
All of them were exceptional blades.
Yet none of them captured his eye.
Namgung Geom was patient in his inspection.
As he examined the swords in order, his gaze suddenly came to rest before one blade.
Though it lay within a scabbard, the chill within was distinctly palpable.
Bing Long Sword.
His eyes brightened as he read the name inscribed on the coffin.
“A Divine Artifact of the North Sea Ice Palace, here in the White Sword Hall of the Namgung Clan.”
Namgung Geom spoke as if he could scarcely believe it.
The Bing Long Sword was a Divine Artifact the North Sea Ice Palace had lost long ago.
Legend held that a master craftsman of the North Sea Ice Palace had forged it using Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, which contained the chill of the northern seas.
The North Sea Ice Palace had spared no effort searching for the Bing Long Sword.
But they could find no trace of it.
And yet, the Bing Long Sword was here in the White Sword Hall of the Namgung Clan.
Namgung Geom confirmed the history of the Bing Long Sword inscribed on the coffin.
It stated that Namgung Jin, the third patriarch of the Namgung Clan, had obtained it from a cave in the Northern Region.
Likely the former master of the North Sea Ice Palace had ventured out, met with misfortune, and died in the cave, where Namgung Jin discovered and claimed the Bing Long Sword.
And that blade had circled round and round until it now lay before him.
“I never knew the threads of past lives could weave together so.”
Namgung Geom felt that his connection to the North Sea Ice Palace was not yet finished, and a faint smile crossed his lips.
Though he did not know how that connection would end, for now he was content to have obtained the Bing Long Sword.
Namgung Geom had no desire to examine further blades.
There might be a sword superior to the Bing Long Sword among them.
But for him, no blade fit better than the Bing Long Sword.
Namgung Geom reached out toward the Bing Long Sword.
And he drew the Bing Long Sword from its coffin.
Simply holding the scabbard brought with it a piercing chill.
Namgung Geom smiled warmly as he examined the scabbard.
Even the sheath alone, crafted from Snow Cold Wood that wouldn’t freeze in the deepest cold, bore the unmistakable mark of a master craftsman’s hand.
‘Well, let me give it a try.’
Namgung Geom placed his hand on the hilt of the Bing Long Sword.
In that instant, an intense cold surged forth from the blade.
His eyes widened at the chill, far more potent than he’d anticipated.
But he didn’t panic—instead, he summoned the Changryong Iceflower Divine Art.
The inner power of the Changryong Iceflower Divine Art rose to meet and cradle the Bing Long Sword’s cold.
His inner power and the blade’s chill synchronized, harmonizing into a single resonance.
It sounded simple enough, but it was anything but.
Any martial master who hadn’t trained in Ice Art would have suffered an internal collision the moment that cold penetrated their core.
Even those who had cultivated Ice Art might falter if their realm was shallow—unable to command the blade’s chill.
It was only possible because Namgung Geom’s mastery of Ice Art was exceptional.
Having effortlessly subdued the Bing Long Sword’s cold, he slowly unsheathed the blade.
Shing!
The moment the blade emerged, a torrent of cold erupted, and the very air around them seemed to crystallize.
Namgung Geom studied the exposed blade.
Its deep blue surface bore an intricately carved ice dragon, rendered in exquisite detail.
The craftsmanship was so fine it appeared ready to burst forth from the steel at any moment.
“Now let’s see what you can really do.”
Namgung Geom raised the Bing Long Sword slowly.
Hummmmm!
The blade sang out in harmony with his inner power, releasing a crystalline note.
And from the Bing Long Sword surged a ferocious wave of cold.
That cold rapidly coalesced into a Sword Energy of pure ice.
Craaack!
The icy Sword Energy erupted with overwhelming chill, extending more than a full zhang in length.
Namgung Geom’s eyes gleamed as he beheld the magnitude of the Sword Energy he’d conjured.
“So it truly does amplify Ice Art—remarkable indeed.”
The Bing Long Sword was imbued with the cold essence of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.
When Ice Art resonated with that frozen core, the Sword Energy magnified exponentially.
A master of Ice Art wielding the Bing Long Sword could manifest Sword Energy that transcended his own realm.
Namgung Geom’s natural limit was Sword Energy spanning half a zhang.
Yet with the Bing Long Sword in hand, it expanded to a full zhang.
Achieving a zhang-length Sword Energy normally required reaching the late stages of the True Martial Realm.
By merely drawing this blade, he’d bridged two entire stages of advancement.
That was the Bing Long Sword’s true power.
“Coming to the White Sword Hall was truly the right choice.”
No greater reward could have awaited him.
Namgung Geom fastened the Bing Long Sword at his waist and stepped outside.
As he emerged from the White Sword Hall, Namgung Pae stood waiting with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Young Master!”
Namgung Pae turned, his gaze sweeping to Namgung Geom’s waist.
The moment he glimpsed the Bing Long Sword, his eyes flared with astonishment.
“You’ve obtained the Bing Long Sword?”
The Bing Long Sword.
Among all the blades housed in the White Sword Hall, it ranked in the top three—a legendary sword of the highest order.
Many masters throughout the Namgung Clan had coveted it.
Yet none had ever claimed it.
Its overwhelming cold proved impossible to master.
Even Namgung Pae had once attempted to wield it out of curiosity, only to suffer internal injuries from its chill and abandon the effort at once.
Yet now, after centuries of remaining unclaimed, the Bing Long Sword had finally found its master.
“The Ice Art I’ve cultivated proved remarkably compatible with it.”
“They say a Divine Artifact has a destined owner—it seems that wisdom holds true.”
“It was only because you granted me permission to enter the White Sword Hall.”
Namgung Pae shook his head.
“I granted it because you had earned the qualification. You needn’t thank me for that.”
“Still, I’m grateful.”
“Let me offer one word of caution: you must not rely too heavily on the Bing Long Sword.”
Namgung Pae spoke out of concern that Namgung Geom might attribute the blade’s power to his own strength.
Even as he thought it unlikely, given all he knew of Namgung Geom thus far, caution made him offer the reminder anyway.
“Rest assured, sir. I won’t neglect my training by relying on the sword.”
Namgung Geom understood well that the Bing Long Sword’s power was not his own.
In the martial world, the only thing one could trust was one’s own cultivation.
Obtaining the Bing Long Sword would not make Namgung Geom complacent.
Nor would he slacken in his training.
“Then that’s settled. Let’s head down.”
Namgung Geom followed behind Namgung Pae.
Namgung Pae, who had been walking ahead, paused mid-step.
“Now that I think of it, I haven’t offered my congratulations. Well done on obtaining the Bing Long Sword.”
Namgung Pae spoke as though the thought had only just struck him.
“Thank you.”
“And tomorrow I’ll be making an announcement before the elders regarding the Young Master Selection Tournament. I expect you to attend.”
“Understood.”
With that, Namgung Pae and Namgung Geom left the forbidden chamber.
* * *
The Patriarch Hall of the Namgung Clan.
The elders of the Namgung Clan had gathered.
To the left sat the Great Elder and the other elders; to the right, the Division Leaders of the Three Divisions and the Section Chiefs of the Four Divisions.
Namgung Geom occupied a seat as well—positioned just below the Division Leaders of the Three Divisions.
The elders and Section Chiefs turned their gaze toward Namgung Geom.
That he held a place here at all was surprising, but what truly astonished them was his martial prowess.
They were the greatest masters of the Namgung Clan, and they perceived his realm at a glance.
At first they thought their eyes had deceived them, but watching the reactions of the other elders, they realized they had seen true.
They found his realm difficult to believe.
Yet Namgung Geom’s realm was genuine.
As the elders gathered in the Patriarch Hall marveled at Namgung Geom’s realm,
Namgung Pae opened his mouth.
“The reason I have summoned you elders today is to make an important announcement.”
At Namgung Pae’s words, all eyes fixed upon him.
“We will hold the Young Master Selection Tournament next Autumn Festival.”
The elders gathered in the Patriarch Hall were startled by Namgung Pae’s announcement.
They had repeatedly urged him to hasten the selection of the Young Master whenever opportunity presented itself.
But Namgung Pae had remained unmoved.
He had not accelerated the selection.
Yet now he had suddenly announced the Young Master Selection Tournament.
“A wise decision for the stability of the clan.”
“Though somewhat overdue, we are grateful you are moving forward with it now.”
“We offer our thanks for your judicious decision, Patriarch.”
The elders and Section Chiefs received the announcement of the Young Master Selection Tournament warmly.
Amid this, Namgung Baek, Section Chief of the Changryong Division, posed a question.
“Will only the Division Leaders of the Three Divisions participate in the Young Master Selection Tournament?”
Namgung Baek asked his question and cast a sidelong glance toward Namgung Geom.
Officially, the Namgung Clan had three candidates for Young Master.
The Division Leaders of the Three Divisions.
Namgung Baek believed Namgung Geom was more than worthy of being among the Young Master candidates.
Had Namgung Geom not yet reached the True Martial Realm, he would not have entertained such a thought.
But now that he had attained that realm, he was entirely fit to be a candidate.
The other elders, too, turned their attention to whether Namgung Geom would be a candidate.
All eyes fixed upon Namgung Pae’s mouth.
And Namgung Pae began to speak.
“The Master of the Namgung Sword Division will also participate in the Young Master Selection Tournament.”
Namgung Bing Long
Author |
Baek Wol Geom
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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