The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 253

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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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Chapter 253. Is That Really the Emperor Sword Form?

 

 

Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-rin faced each other.

A smile played at the corners of Namgung Ji-rin’s mouth.

It was mockery toward Namgung Ji-hu.

It was confidence in his own victory.

It was because he had such confidence that he had asked Father to arrange this martial duel.

Shing.

Namgung Ji-rin drew his sword first.

A famous sword crafted with the master craftsman’s utmost care.

Azure blade aura gleamed coldly.

Shing.

Namgung Ji-hu also drew his sword.

The sword he had commissioned from the blacksmith shop in Muchang.

It was an ordinary blue steel long sword.

There was no sharp blue blade aura, nor any special energy visible.

However, it had a feel that fit perfectly in Namgung Ji-hu’s hand.

Though he couldn’t be called a master craftsman, he was still someone who had made swords for a long time.

He had made a sword that fit Namgung Ji-hu’s hand perfectly.

The mockery on Namgung Ji-rin’s lips deepened as he looked at Namgung Ji-hu’s sword.

This fellow who calls himself the Grand Young Master of the Namgung Family Estate.

Such a cheap sword.

How shameful.

Today, in this place, he would prove that this bastard was unqualified to be not only Young Family Head but even Grand Young Master.

With that resolve, Namgung Ji-rin moved first.

Taking a step forward, he unleashed the first form of the Emperor Sword Form’s opening sequence.

Though some clumsy aspects remained, it was definitely the Emperor Sword Form.

“Ooh!”

Several direct descendants exclaimed in admiration at the sight.

He had only started training three or four months ago.

Yet he was already at such a level – it was amazing.

But what about Namgung Ji-hu?

The movement of his sword as he blocked the first form of the Emperor Sword Form was…

“That looks like the Great Flame Sword Technique?”

Someone tilted their head and muttered.

That was right.

In a martial duel where they were supposed to use only the Emperor Sword Form, suddenly the Great Flame Sword Technique appeared.

Several people frowned.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon also frowned.

However.

His mouth was smiling.

His mouth smiled as if pleased with Namgung Ji-hu’s appearance.

‘Of course. No matter how talented that fellow is, without someone to guide him…’

Namgung Hwa-hyeon was satisfied with that sight.

He was pleased that people were murmuring as they watched Namgung Ji-hu’s sword.

Who would have thought that Namgung Ji-rin’s half-baked Emperor Sword Form would be so pleasing to see.

Clang!

The first clash rang out with a loud sound.

Despite clashing with Namgung Ji-rin’s famous sword, Namgung Ji-hu’s ordinary blue steel long sword was unharmed.

“Weren’t you supposed to be using the Emperor Sword Form?”

Namgung Ji-rin also recognized that Namgung Ji-hu’s forms were the Great Flame Sword Technique.

That’s why he spoke with a sneer.

“It is the Emperor Sword Form.”

Namgung Ji-hu’s calm words.

However, at those words, Namgung Ji-rin’s mockery went beyond deepening to cover his entire face.

“Puhahaha! To think Namgung Ji-hu, called the greatest talent of the Namgung Family Estate, would make such pathetic excuses. The sun will rise in the west tomorrow. To bring out the Great Flame Sword Technique and insist it’s the Emperor Sword Form. Kahahaha.”

Namgung Ji-rin burst into loud laughter.

It didn’t matter that this was a place with honored guests and elders of the family.

Namgung Ji-hu.

As long as he could humiliate that bastard as much as possible, he didn’t care if he looked somewhat rude.

“Well then, let’s see you continue spouting such pathetic excuses!”

With those words, Namgung Ji-rin unleashed his second form and struck toward Namgung Ji-hu.

As expected, Namgung Ji-hu used the Great Flame Sword Technique.

Smirking as he avoided the predictable sword path and continued to unfold the Emperor Sword Form.

Namgung Ji-hu’s sword changed.

It was the Great Flame Sword Technique.

Definitely the Great Flame Sword Technique, yet…

The ocean spread before his eyes.

A tremendous tsunami sweeping through his entire body.

The sea was crashing down on Namgung Ji-rin.

Though he unleashed the Emperor Sword Form with all his might, his opponent reacted as if knowing exactly where his sword would go.

He gritted his teeth and moved his sword.

But with just a sword, he couldn’t pierce through the ocean before his eyes.

Looking at it this way.

It wasn’t the Great Flame Sword Technique.

Emperor Sword Form.

It was definitely the Emperor Sword Form.

How could this be happening…

He couldn’t believe it.

That bastard had only seen the Emperor Sword Form once.

Though the Family Head had given him a manuscript of the secret manual.

What could he have accomplished without anyone to guide him?

Yet this kind of Emperor Sword Form.

If his own Emperor Sword Form was merely at the level of imitating what he had learned.

Namgung Ji-hu’s Emperor Sword Form was already Namgung Ji-hu’s own.

No matter how great the difference in talent.

How could this be possible?

“Uaaahhh!!!!”

Releasing a battle cry filled with resentment, Namgung Ji-rin forcibly unleashed his third form.

Drawing up all the internal energy in his body.

He swung his sword with killing intent to kill that bastard Namgung Ji-hu.

The sword flying toward Namgung Ji-hu’s neck.

Namgung Ji-hu continued his sword path with a calm expression.

This time it was the Azure Sky Unhindered Sword, not the Great Flame Sword Technique.

No, it appeared so but was the Emperor Sword Form.

The sky unfolding before his eyes.

And the distant blue sword aura rising from the sword.

Sword aura.

No, wait!?!

Sword aura?!?

How!

How could sword aura appear on that cheap sword…

An absolutely unbelievable sight unfolded before his eyes.

A blue sword aura that perfectly resembled the sky.

A sword path of endless variations that perfectly resembled the sky.

Slash.

It cut straight through Namgung Ji-rin’s sword, sliced through the front of his robes, then stopped before his throat.

Namgung Ji-rin looked down at Namgung Ji-hu’s sword with vacant eyes.

The sword aura was still glowing.

If it had been just one inch longer, it would have cut the skin of his throat.

“…”

Silence descended.

Not a single sound could be heard in the vast banquet hall.

It had to be so.

The sight Namgung Ji-hu had shown was enough to erase all sound.

Namgung Ji-hu was nineteen years old this year.

A young man who hadn’t even reached his coming of age yet.

And sword aura was manifesting on that young man’s sword.

To reach the pinnacle realm before even coming of age.

It was shock beyond astonishment.

Something that destroyed common sense.

That’s why no one could make any word or sound.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s eyes widened.

His mouth hung open and froze that way.

He had witnessed something impossible right before his eyes.

Though he was said to have outstanding talent, this exceeded all limits.

Even that damned bastard wasn’t to this degree.

No, if that bastard had been born into the direct line and received the family’s support, would he have shown such a sight?

“Heh, heh heh heh. Sword aura, the pinnacle realm indeed. Today I’ve truly broadened my horizons. To reach such a realm at barely coming of age. Truly befitting the Namgung Family. Heh heh heh.”

Then hearty laughter broke the silence.

It was Gongsun Mu-oe.

Was that the signal?

One by one, people came to their senses.

“Incredible.”

“Magnificent indeed. As expected of Ji-hu.”

“Of course, naturally so.”

“The Emperor Sword Form was tremendous too, wasn’t it? At first I mistook it for the Great Flame Sword Technique… But it wasn’t. To see the sea, to see the sky. I’ve never seen such an Emperor Sword Form before. Heh heh heh.”

Praise erupted from all directions.

Namgung Ji-hu sheathed his sword, gave a cupped fist salute, and returned to his seat.

Namgung Ji-rin, who had been frozen and unable to do anything until then.

Even though the sword before his throat had disappeared, his whole body trembled.

The chilling blade aura of the sword aura he had felt on his skin.

That had been real.

He had dismissed it as a cheap long sword, but the terrifying qi energy emanating from the sword aura formed on it was…

He barely managed to calm his trembling.

People’s gazes were still reaching Namgung Ji-rin as well.

He was showing a pathetic sight.

He bit his lips tightly, bowed his waist, then tried to return to his seat.

As he took his first step.

Stagger.

His legs lost strength and his steps were unsteady as if walking underwater.

Moving his trembling legs, he barely managed to return to his seat.

Perhaps it was fortunate he didn’t wet his pants.

Namgung Ji-rin’s face turned bright red with humiliation.

He bit his lips tightly, bowed his waist, and returned to his seat.

Cold eyes directed at such a Namgung Ji-rin.

It was his father, Namgung Hwa-yeong.

He had asked so confidently, only to show such a pathetic sight.

Perhaps thanks to Namgung Ji-hu’s appearance that exceeded imagination.

The atmosphere of the banquet hall ripened even more.

In that pleasant atmosphere.

Only Namgung Hwa-hyeon was suppressing his anger inside.

To show such a sight before all these people.

Even looking at the current situation, there was no doubt that Namgung Ji-hu would be the one to display the Emperor Sword Form most magnificently on the day he had set.

In the end, he would have to seat Namgung Ji-hu as Young Family Head.

A mere branch bloodline couldn’t become Young Family Head.

Then his thoughts suddenly turned to the Emperor Sword Form that Namgung Ji-hu had displayed.

The Emperor Sword Form.

It wasn’t something he had taught.

“Namgung Ji-hu.”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s stern voice echoed through the banquet hall.

The banquet hall grew quiet again at his call.

“Yes. Father.”

“This is a public occasion.”

“Yes. Family Head.”

At Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s correction, Namgung Ji-hu changed his form of address.

“Was what you displayed in the martial duel just now truly the Emperor Sword Form?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon looked at Namgung Ji-hu who answered firmly.

No, he glared at him.

At the sudden change in atmosphere, people quietly watched the father and son.

“What I taught you wasn’t like that, was it?”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s question.

The atmosphere grew coldly subdued at his chilly voice.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon boldly saying it was different from what he taught.

He had only demonstrated the first half of the Emperor Sword Form once before Namgung Ji-hu.

Could that be called teaching?

“I studied and learned it myself by reading the secret manual.”

Namgung Ji-hu calmly faced Namgung Hwa-hyeon and answered.

He had asked if it was different from what was taught, but the answer was that he learned it himself.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s eyebrows twitched.

“Why did you learn it differently from what was taught? No, is that truly the Emperor Sword Form? Haven’t you fallen into heretical ways?”

It was an interrogation.

No, he was driving him toward being branded a heretic.

Behavior that naturally made one frown.

Now tension settled over the banquet hall.

To think the Family Head would show such behavior when the Valley Master of Seonyu Valley was attending as an honored guest.

“Emperor Sword Form is, as its name suggests, a form, not a law. There is not just one mold that exists. I have simply found a path that suits me better.”

“How dare you! How dare a wretch like you deny the sword form passed down from our ancestors!”

An angry roar burst from Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s mouth as if he had caught something to criticize.

“You may have won in the martial duel, but it was Ji-rin who displayed the proper sword form!”

These were words denying Namgung Ji-hu’s Emperor Sword Form.

At those words, the people of the Namgung Family were thrown into confusion.

Had they not clearly witnessed it?

The sea and sky drawn by Namgung Ji-hu’s Emperor Sword Form.

To say that the Emperor Sword Form that showed such a tremendous spectacle was the wrong path.

They could not easily accept it.

However, those who didn’t know the Emperor Sword Form tilted their heads while looking at Namgung Ji-hu with suspicious eyes.

It was because the Family Head had mentioned heresy.

Namgung Ji-hu bit his lips and clenched his fists tightly.

Ha Mu-baek had said it would be resolved by showing a stronger Emperor Sword Form.

But this man called the Family Head was showing an attitude that he would not acknowledge any Emperor Sword Form different from his own.

“Family Head. My thoughts are somewhat different.”

The one who stepped forward then.

It was Namgung Hwa-u.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s sharp gaze turned toward Namgung Hwa-u.

“This is not a place for you to step forward.”

“No. I too must interfere as someone who has learned the first half of the Emperor Sword Form.”

With that, Namgung Hwa-u walked step by step toward the center of the banquet hall.

Shing.

He slowly drew his sword.

And then, without saying a word, he moved his sword and displayed the Emperor Sword Form.

“What are you doing!”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s angry roar burst out.

However, Namgung Hwa-u paid no heed and only moved his sword.

“Stop that bastard!”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s command.

However, no one moved rashly.

They had no choice.

Namgung Hwa-u’s sword was imbued with sword aura as sharp as frost.

They could not easily approach.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon gritted his teeth and glared at Namgung Hwa-u.

Meanwhile.

Namgung Hwa-u completed displaying the entire first half of the Emperor Sword Form.

He too did not know the second half.

As a direct lineage member, he could only learn up to the first half.

“How was the young master’s Emperor Sword Form? Family Head. No, elder brother. Was it the same as elder brother’s Emperor Sword Form? Was it different?”

A question directed at Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

However, it was also a question directed at those present in this place.

People did not know Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s Emperor Sword Form.

However, they had seen the Emperor Sword Form that Namgung Ji-rin displayed. Since Namgung Hwa-hyeon had said that was correct, they could compare it to that.

It was different.

Namgung Hwa-u’s Emperor Sword Form rather resembled Namgung Ji-hu’s more closely.

“Elder brother. Father said that elder brother’s Emperor Sword Form is an Emperor Sword Form, and my Emperor Sword Form is also an Emperor Sword Form. But why do you say Ji-hu’s Emperor Sword Form is wrong? Are you denying Father’s words?”

Namgung Hwa-u’s question.

Crack.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon gritted his teeth.

That bastard who should be stuck around the Alliance Leader at the Jeongcheon Alliance suddenly returned to the main estate.

And now such interference.

“Father also said that sword forms are forms, not laws, so finding the strongest form is the task of our Namgung Family.”

Namgung Hwa-u’s words continued.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon could neither affirm nor deny his words.

If he affirmed his words, it would mean denying himself.

If he denied his words, it would mean denying his late father.

“Shut up! This is not a place for you to step forward!”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon burst out in angry roar.

However, Namgung Hwa-u didn’t even blink.

The reason he stepped forward like this was none other.

Now the atmosphere had ripened.

He had to unleash it here.

It was time to take the first step toward becoming the Family Head himself.

—————
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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