Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 69

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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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Episode 69
The moment Kang Mujin launched into the air, Namgung Geom immediately pushed off with equal urgency.
Both men leapt toward the center line between their formations, extending their blades toward each other.
Crack-crack-crack!
As Kang Mujin’s blade stretched forward, a fierce torrent of Qi surged up like the turbulent waters of the Changang River, taking the shape of a water dragon.
The Blade Qi of the water dragon rushed toward Namgung Geom with savage force.
The Water Dragon Ten Thousand Wave Blade.
It was the signature technique of the Water Dragon King, master of the Changang Waterway Alliance, now manifested through his son Kang Mujin’s blade.
The oppressive weight of the water dragon’s Blade Qi shook the very air around them.
Behind their lines, the warriors of the Namgung Clan watching from a distance felt their expressions stiffen.
Even from a distance, they could sense that the force contained in Kang Mujin’s Blade Qi was no ordinary matter.
Yet Namgung Geom’s face remained composed even as the water dragon’s Blade Qi pressed down upon the air around him with overwhelming weight.
He extended his own blade toward the water dragon’s assault.
Boom-crack!
From the Ice Dragon Sword poured forth a crystalline wind of frozen Sword Qi, layer upon layer, coalescing into a single form.
It was none other than an ice dragon.
Against the Blade Qi of the water dragon, he had countered with the Sword Qi of an ice dragon.
The water dragon’s Blade Qi and the ice dragon’s Sword Qi surged toward each other with ferocious intensity.
Boom!
The two colossal forces collided, and the ice dragon and water dragon tangled together.
Crack-boom-crack!
The biting cold emanating from the ice dragon sought to freeze the water dragon solid.
But the water dragon’s power was overwhelming.
In a single motion, it pierced through the cold and swallowed the ice dragon whole.
Unable to withstand the water dragon’s force, the ice dragon shattered.
The water dragon did not pause there, crashing down upon Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom hastily raised a wall of ice to block its advance.
Boom!
As the water dragon struck the ice wall, it shattered like glass.
The impact sent Namgung Geom’s figure tumbling backward through the air.
But he quickly flipped his body mid-flight and landed gracefully back at his formation’s prow.
Kang Mujin, too, completed one final strike before retreating to the opposite formation.
Landing at the prow of the Water Dragon’s line, Kang Mujin spoke with undisguised admiration.
“I didn’t believe the rumors that the eldest grandson of the Namgung Clan reached the True Martial Realm at such a tender age—but clearly it was no exaggeration.”
After exchanging just one clash with Namgung Geom, Kang Mujin had taken his true measure.
Namgung Geom’s Inner Power cultivation was not the only thing remarkable.
His blade carried enlightenment that transcended even the True Martial Realm.
It was not some hollow attainment artificially inflated through Spirit Elixirs—this was genuine realization.
Namgung Geom’s age made such an accomplishment seem almost impossible to fathom.
“Your excellence too matches all that is said, Lord Kang.”
Namgung Geom’s admiration was equally sincere.
Kang Mujin’s single blade had torn apart the ice dragon—constructed from layered frozen Sword Winds—and then shattered the ice wall that followed.
Even with the amplification of cold Qi channeled through the Ice Dragon Sword’s inherent properties, he had been unable to withstand that single strike.
Within Kang Mujin’s blade dwelled the torrential force of the Changang River itself.
That immense power could wear down the hardest cliffs into sand.
A force that could break anything, a dominating current that could ultimately consume all—such was the majesty of the Changang River.
This was not something that Inner Power alone could manifest.
It required profound understanding and enlightenment of the Way—a realm of cultivation achievable only through both.
Namgung Geom recalled the rumors circulating throughout the martial world concerning Kang Mujin.
Tales that he possessed talent surpassing even his father the Water Dragon King, and that when he reached the Absolute Realm, the Changang Waterway Alliance would stand shoulder to shoulder with Sipae-ryeon—such was the world’s assessment.
He had dismissed it as mere exaggeration born of idle gossip, but now, facing Kang Mujin’s blade directly, he understood there was no exaggeration at all.
If, while the Water Dragon King still stood strong, Kang Mujin were to set foot in the Absolute Realm as well—
The Changang Waterway Alliance would become a power that few could dare to challenge.
Kang Mujin let out a quiet laugh.
“I haven’t even shown you anything proper yet, and you’re already full of admiration.”
The first exchange had been merely a testing of distance.
The true battle began with the second clash.
“From the second round on, you’d do well to be careful.”
With that warning, Kang Mujin kicked off from his formation’s prow and soared upward.
Namgung Geom did not hesitate, launching himself toward Kang Mujin without delay.
Violent waves erupted from Kang Mujin’s blade, forming the shape of a water dragon.
It flew straight toward Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom felt as though the mighty Changang River itself was rushing down upon him.
The oppressive force was of an entirely different caliber than the first move he had just unleashed.
Namgung Geom did not retreat. He extended the Ice Dragon Sword.
From the Ice Dragon Sword, a whirling, frigid sword wind surged upward.
It was the Ice White Spiral—the Heaven Wind Spiral from the Heaven Wind Infinite Sword Method, fused with the Bing-gong.
But there was not just one Ice White Spiral.
Ice White Spirals poured ceaselessly from the Ice Dragon Sword in rapid succession, weaving together to form a towering cyclone of dragons.
The Heaven Wind Dragon Fist.
The supreme pinnacle of the Heaven Wind Infinite Sword Method.
The might of the Heaven Wind Dragon Fist unleashed through the Ice Dragon Sword was powerful enough to overturn the Changang itself.
‘This man is truly insane.’
Kang Mujin stared in shock at the Heaven Wind Dragon Fist Namgung Geom had deployed.
He had been astonished when he saw the first move, but compared to this second technique, that was nothing at all.
Yet he could not afford to stand frozen in amazement.
Kang Mujin poured more force into the blade qi of his water dragon.
A deafening roar erupted!
The water dragon bellowed savagely as it tore through the swirling ice wind.
A massive collision shook the air!
The ice wind whirlwind wrapped around the water dragon, releasing a torrent of freezing cold.
The ice wind sought simultaneously to freeze and shatter the dragon.
But the Changang flows steadfast and eternal—it does not freeze.
The azure water dragon pierced through the cold Qi emanating from the ice wind whirlwind.
The entire vortex was torn asunder with a thunderous explosion!
The ice wind whirlwind was ripped apart and detonated.
The azure water dragon, too, was caught in the blast and shattered.
Both Namgung Geom and Kang Mujin were hurled backward simultaneously, each returning to their respective positions.
“Hah-ha-ha! Truly a worthy opponent. Then face my third and final move.”
Kang Mujin had encountered many martial artists throughout his life, but few had earned his genuine respect.
Yet Namgung Geom was far from insufficient as his opponent.
If anything, it was Kang Mujin himself who was falling short.
For the first time since he had emerged into the martial world, Kang Mujin had met an opponent worthy of recognition.
How could he not be exhilarated?
As a courtesy to the opponent he had acknowledged, Kang Mujin unleashed his most powerful technique.
The moment Kang Mujin extended his blade, a terrifying aura erupted forth.
For an instant, it seemed as though the waters of the Changang were being drawn into his sword.
But that was no illusion.
The water Qi of the Changang coalesced into his blade, forming the massive shape of a water dragon.
Kang Mujin leaped from the bow of the water dragon vessel and soared into the air.
Then he brought his blade down toward Namgung Geom.
The water dragon descended in the wake of Kang Mujin’s strike.
From that dragon, a tremendous wave of the Changang surged forth.
Within it lay the accumulated ten thousand li of momentum gathered from the river’s upper reaches to its lower course.
The Ten Thousand Li Raging Waves.
The ultimate secret of the Water Dragon Ten Thousand Wave Blade.
The torrential rapids of the Changang—fierce enough to reduce solid cliffs to powder in an instant—crashed down astride the dragon.
A single blade descending with the force to shatter heaven and earth.
Namgung Geom felt his breath catch in his throat beneath that tremendous pressure.
‘Does he mean to kill me?’
Yet Namgung Geom sensed no murderous intent in Kang Mujin’s blade.
Only the pure desire to overcome his opponent—a competitive spirit—radiated from it.
‘Then I must not lose. Not by any means.’
This was no contest for Namgung Geom alone.
The honor of the Namgung Clan hung in the balance.
Namgung Geom drew upon the most formidable technique he possessed.
A deafening crash tore through the air!
From his blade exploded an aura that seemed to freeze heaven and earth itself.
Spear Sky Ice Heaven!
From his sword, the frozen sky opened, and all space was consumed by the cold Qi of ice and frost.
And in that instant, it consumed the Water Dragon.
The Water Dragon, which had been raining down to cover the heavens, collided with the Ice Heaven that Namgung Geom had unleashed.
Crash—! Rumble-rumble-rumble!
When the torrential rapids of the Changang River, bearing the force of ten thousand li, collided with the sky of ice, columns of spray rose dozens of zhang high in all directions.
“Ugh!”
A strangled groan escaped Namgung Geom’s lips.
It was a single blow that carried the overwhelming weight born of the Changang’s currents undiminished.
The Ice Heaven trembled as if it might shatter, and the ferocious impact crashed through Namgung Geom’s entire body.
For a moment the Ice Heaven nearly broke, but Namgung Geom endured it through superhuman force of will.
The Water Dragon did not relent, thrashing about to destroy the Ice Heaven.
Crack-crack! Crash-boom!
The sky of ice seemed as though it would collapse at any moment beneath the Water Dragon’s overwhelming power.
Yet no matter how unstoppable the Changang’s currents, beneath the heavens they were ultimately nothing more than a single stream of water.
“Impossible!”
Namgung Geom deployed Heaven Earth Freezing from the Ice White Divine Skill, amplifying the cold Qi of the Ice Heaven even further.
Following the Ice Dragon Sword, the cold Qi of the Ice Heaven—amplified by Heaven Earth Freezing—became powerful enough to freeze all things in an instant.
The fierce cold Qi of the Ice Heaven engulfed the raging Water Dragon.
Crack-crack-crack-crack—!!
In that moment, the cold Qi of the Ice Heaven consumed the Water Dragon.
The Water Dragon, which had been striking so terrifyingly, froze solid in the cold Qi of the Ice Heaven.
“This is madness!”
Kang Mujin gasped in shock and poured all his Inner Power into his blade.
His Inner Power coursed through the blade and breathed strength back into the Water Dragon.
Roooar!
The Water Dragon, trapped in ice, made one final desperate struggle, but only froze deeper beneath the cold Qi pouring from the Ice Heaven.
Crack! Splinter-splinter—!
Crash—!
Unable to withstand the overwhelming cold Qi of the Ice Heaven, the frozen Water Dragon shattered under the pressure.
And shards of ice scattered in all directions.
Kang Mujin hastily swung his blade to deflect the ice fragments flying toward him.
Using that recoil, he retreated toward the bow of the Water Dragon Ship.
Namgung Geom, having shattered the Water Dragon of the Ten Thousand Li Raging Waves, did not pursue Kang Mujin but returned to the front line using the Heaven Wind Divine Method.
“To shatter the Ten Thousand Li Raging Waves through pure force—I can scarcely believe it.”
Kang Mujin spoke as if bewildered.
He had intended to completely overwhelm Namgung Geom through their three-second confrontation.
In doing so, he meant to establish the pride of the Changang Waterway Alliance.
Instead, far from establishing his pride, he had only brought shame upon himself.
“Had you unsheathed your blade with intent to kill me, I could not have stopped it.”
Namgung Geom shook his head as he spoke.
Had this been a life-and-death battle, it would have been difficult for Namgung Geom to defend against Kang Mujin’s blade.
But in a Martial Combat, even when fighting with full strength, one could not help but consider the opponent’s safety.
An attack without the will to kill could only be weaker than one that carried such intent.
Even so, Namgung Geom had barely managed to stop it by giving everything he had.
Had Kang Mujin truly sought to kill him, he would never have been able to defend.
“Enough. There’s no need for such excuses. The fact that you withstood my three seconds is all that matters.”
Kang Mujin cleanly acknowledged his own defeat.
“Then you will honor your promise and grant my conditions?”
“Have no fear. I don’t go back on my word.”
Kang Mujin spoke with hearty candor.
Namgung Geom found that he rather liked Kang Mujin.
Then Kang Mujin made a proposal.
“Won’t you share a cup of wine with me?”
Namgung Geom could feel the good faith in Kang Mujin’s offer.
He let out a quiet laugh and replied.
“My throat was parched—you’ve come at the right moment.”
Namgung Ice Dragon
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White Moon Sword
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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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