Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 239

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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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Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 239
Hyeon Geom, Namgung Cheon-yeong, Neung-o, Dang-gun, and so on.
The skilled masters had already formed an implicit understanding among themselves.
It was an atmosphere where no one felt compelled to directly challenge one another.
‘Since I just said something about burning competitive spirit from an even higher place, there’s no need to look suspicious about avoiding it.’
Namgung Cheon-yeong was the exception, though.
Did the boy think he could advance so easily?
“Namgung’s Spear of Heaven. Our main family’s Blade of Heaven. Wouldn’t it be interesting to test whose sword technique reigns supreme?”
Rather than respond, Namgung Cheon-yeong simply sent me a blank stare.
In the past, he would have bristled immediately and growled in defiance, but it seemed the previous humiliation had left quite an impact on him.
Indeed, shock therapy truly was the most effective method for making people mature.
“So, what will it be? Will you cross blades with me? Or will you pick an easier opponent from those I’ve suggested and take the safe route?”
If Namgung Cheon-yeong accepted my proposal, he would ultimately be playing into the Sword Master’s numbers game.
But that didn’t matter to me.
If it hadn’t been for Jin Yeong-jin, I would have chosen Namgung Cheon-yeong and charged straight ahead anyway.
‘Go ahead, choose. Either way works for me.’
Will you act like a man and have a satisfying match?
Or will you take the safe path, even if it means hearing mockery about avoiding the fight?
“…I will.”
Determination crystallized in Namgung Cheon-yeong’s eyes.
It was less about vengeance to repay past humiliation, and more about a resolve to set things right through his own strength.
But then.
Namgung Cheon-yeong, who was about to continue speaking, hesitated.
‘He must have received a transmission.’
The fact that he didn’t answer immediately suggested his own thoughts conflicted with whatever instruction he’d received through the transmission.
Well, the Namgung Family could bury everything that came before if Namgung Cheon-yeong simply became the First Dragon, so it was only natural.
Though I wondered if he realized it.
Among those present from the Namgung Family, there was no one with higher status than the Soga-joonim.
‘What choice will you make, Namgung Cheon-yeong?’
Namgung Cheon-yeong closed his eyes quietly, then opened them and let out a sigh.
“This Soga-joonim already has an opponent I’ve promised to face. I’ll look forward to another opportunity.”
He shrugged his shoulders and withdrew.
“Very well then.”
A puppet, a puppet indeed.
Whether you realize it now or not, you’ll have to understand it someday.
Whether the words you heard through transmission were advice directed at the Soga-joonim, or orders given to a well-honed blade.
“In that case, I have no choice but to accept Young Master Jin’s offer. Let’s have some fun.”
“Ah, understood.”
Jin Yeong-jin nodded, and after offering a smile, I surveyed the surroundings.
‘It feels like everything’s already been decided.’
I caught sight of several intriguing matchups.
What stood out most was Neung-o from the Jeomchang faction.
“Neung-o, disciple of the Great Jeomchang faction, requests a martial contest with Neung-wol, disciple of Jang Mun-in.”
Rather than quietly designating his opponent, Neung-o raised his voice to draw everyone’s attention.
His opponent, Neung-wol, was a disciple of Jang Mun-in Myeong-wol.
In other words, one of the tails of the Myeong Cult.
‘So Neung is finally stepping forward. I didn’t expect him to draw his blade so soon.’
A conversation from three years ago came to mind.
Neung-o had said he wanted to set the Jeomchang faction right through his own strength.
By tomorrow, the answer would be clear.
The Sa-il sword lineage that Neung-o inherited and the Fragmented Light sword lineage that originated from the Myeong Cult.
Which one would prove superior.
‘Though, I’m not sure if defeating Neung-wol alone will be enough to set the Jeomchang faction right, rather than defeating Myeong-wol himself. Well, Neung must have his own thoughts on this.’
Thus, all sixty-four matchups of the Gaecheon Geomryong Tournament were determined.

* * *
The sixty-four rounds of the Gaecheon Geomryong Tournament began the day right after the opening ceremony.
I volunteered to move my match up to the very first slot.
I planned to spar with Jin Yeong-jin beforehand and then watch the other matches with a clear mind.
“Both contestants, please ascend the martial stage!”
Following the Referee’s instruction, Yang Hwi and Jin Yeong-jin moved forward, bowing respectfully to each other.
“Hear this, fellow cultivators! Baek Yang-hwi of the Gaecheon Baek Family faces Jin Yeong-jin of the Bungsan Jin Family. A contest between two rising prodigies shall commence!”
Though the Referee called out hoping for a response, the onlookers’ reaction was lukewarm.
Word had spread from yesterday’s events that there was a stark difference in skill between the two.
After all, no one would find it thrilling to watch one overwhelmingly strong fighter suppress a weaker opponent.
‘They’ll all be quite surprised by what happens.’
Jin Yeong-jin’s expression was tense with anticipation.
“It is proper etiquette for a senior to yield the first move to a junior, but if the junior is stronger than the senior, an exception may be made. I shall go first, Baek Gong-ja.”
Assuming a martial stance, Jin Yeong-jin stomped his foot and charged forward.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Intense footwork and the domineering consecutive strikes that followed.
The Bungsan Ten Consecutive Strikes—the family’s secret martial art, capable of shattering mountains with a single fist.
‘Impressive technique.’
Still, the gap was far too wide. If I truly tried to suppress him, it would be easier than dealing with the Hyeol Sa-ryeon Sect Leader.
‘Let me play with you for a bit, Jin Gong-ja.’
The clash of fist and blade. The moment our energies collided, Jin Yeong-jin’s eyes widened in astonishment.
The scattering fragments of energy were breathtakingly brilliant.
I had deliberately guided it that way.
-Jin Gong-ja. This will be the finest experience of your life. I’ll make sure you never regret choosing me as your opponent.
‘I’ll make certain of it.’
Clang! Clang-clang! Clang!
I could have dodged. I could have exploited the openings.
But I didn’t.
I deliberately met each move of the Bungsan Ten-Chain Martial Art head-on, and with every collision came a violent impact that sent shockwaves rippling outward.
Fragments of qi scattered through the air, refracting light into a beautiful, shimmering display.
“Ooooooh!”
“I wasn’t expecting much, but this is more entertaining than I thought!”
Hearing the crowd’s cheers, Jin Yeong-jin finally understood my intention.
‘Baek Gong-ja. You’re creating the finest stage and the best conclusion for me.’
I had swallowed my pride and asked to learn a technique from him.
I had genuinely intended to learn. Even if I lost immediately, I believed I would gain far more.
But I never expected him to consider my circumstances to this extent.
-Follow the flow. Your martial arts seem to depend most on the rhythm of your consecutive strikes. Think of my sword strikes as wooden training dummies and match them accordingly.
Yang Hwi transmitted his voice, yet outwardly showed no sign of teaching whatsoever.
Following his transmitted instructions, the path of movement became crystal clear in my mind.
-In such a brief moment, you grasped the essence of the Bungsan Ten-Chain Martial Art? And so thoroughly that you understood how to teach it?
It was truly remarkable talent. Almost unbelievable for someone barely in their twenties.
-Ah. If it’s the work of a martial scholar, I’ve done it enough to be tired of it. I’m confident in teaching.
Just look at Baek Heon-so—in my previous life at this age, he was third-rate, yet I elevated him to the peak.
Not even twenty, yet at the peak? It sounds easy to say, but by pure martial standards, he ranks among the very best of all late-stage experts under heaven.
-It may sound arrogant, but I take pride in being unmatched under heaven at explaining a genius’s talent in ways that ordinary people can understand.
The Gaecheon Bak-pal-geom and Hwa-cheon-i-won-gong. Both divine techniques were born from my painstaking efforts.
“So let’s truly enjoy this! A spirited bout!”
Jin Yeong-jin felt an ambitious fervor rising from deep within.
“Gladly! Hahahaha!”
One hundred seconds passed.
I discovered one of Jin Yeong-jin’s fatal weaknesses and made him realize it himself.
Two hundred seconds passed.
I made him aware of efficiency in the rhythm of his consecutive strikes and naturally guided the coordination between his footwork and stepping techniques.
Three hundred seconds passed.
Jin Yeong-jin’s footwork and leg techniques had grown at least thirty percent stronger, and I met every attack with exhilarating counterstrikes, providing the spectators with a magnificent display.
And four hundred seconds.
The lengthy match came to an end.
“A fine bout, Jin Gong-ja.”
“Baek Gong-ja, I learned much.”
With fist salute and sword salute, we bowed respectfully to each other once more.
In that moment, thunderous cheers erupted.
“Waaaaaaah!”
“Of course a match is entertaining, but this is the first time I’ve watched with my heart pounding!”
“Gaecheon Geomryong! Gaecheon Geomryong! Gaecheon Geomryong!”
“Thanks to you two heroes, we got quite a show!”
“I’ve long known Gaecheon Geomryong was exceptional, but Bungsan Jin Family has a hidden dragon too!”
“Bungsan Gwonryong! Bungsan Gwonryong! Bungsan Gwonryong! Bungsan Gwonryong!”
Jin Yeong-jin gazed at the crowd with an expression of utter satisfaction.
Perhaps this moment would become the most brilliant of his entire life.
A reputation as great as the thunderous cheers would surely follow.
He had transformed from a nameless contestant eliminated upon entering the True Dragon Tournament into Bungsan Gwonryong Jin Yeong-jin, who had delivered the finest match even in defeat.
All of this was the result of choosing Yang Hwi.
‘I thought I would lose quietly and withdraw… Thank you, Baek Gong-ja.’
Yang Hwi, catching the emotion in his gaze, subtly raised the corners of his mouth and nodded in acknowledgment.
‘No need for thanks. I’ve achieved my own goals as well.’
Thanks to this, I had escaped the Taeguk Sword Master’s control, and moreover, gained the ability to disrupt the entire bracket.
Since everyone had witnessed how Jin Yeong-jin was treated, a considerable number of contestants would likely vote for me in the next round.
“The next match is Adu of Shaolin against Kunlun’s….”
The matches continued.
Several winners were decided, and an equal number of losers left the stage.
The protagonist of the next match was Neung-o.
“Neung-o of Jeomchang, and likewise Neung-wol of Jeomchang. Both contestants, take the arena!”
I examined the faces of Jeomchang’s senior disciples.
Including Jang Mun-in Myeong-wol, everyone’s expression was relaxed.
After all, this was a match between Neung-o, who had no time to train while handling all manner of menial tasks, and a direct disciple of the main sect who had received every support available.
It was only natural they were confident in victory.
‘They’ve even mastered the Bright Qi Technique.’
As I heightened my qi perception, a foul stench emanated from them.
Though they had corrected it somewhat and the demonic qi’s characteristic reversal was much diminished, I could not fail to recognize it.
Even if it seemed like an unusual constitution, the distinctive feeling of the Bright Sect’s Bright Qi Technique was unmistakable.
‘Myeong-wol… that bastard definitely came from the Bright Sect. And that Neung-wol and the other disciples are also learning the Bright Qi Technique alongside the Fragmentary Light Sword Method. I wonder how this will unfold.’
If Neung-o loses here, I’ll need to take separate measures against Jeomchang.
That would be quite troublesome.
But….
‘For some reason, I’m not worried at all.’
And the result was as expected.
Shing!
“Ugh…!”
One strike. In other words, a single second. Neung-o’s sword pierced through Neung-wol’s right chest.
No matter how much the Sa-il Sword Method pursues one-strike-certain-kill, this was remarkable.
‘That Neung-wol doesn’t seem like someone who would be inferior anywhere in terms of talent either. Neung-o’s skills have grown tremendously.’
It seemed the Jeomchang disciples couldn’t believe the result either.
Looking at several disciples who had shot to their feet with gaping mouths.
Jang Mun-in Myeong-wol’s face had turned rigid.
“The victory goes to Nong-o Daoist!”
With the outcome decided, both competitors should have descended from the arena.
But instead of moving away, Nong-o turned toward the upper seats and straightened his posture.
Then came his sudden cry.
“I, Nong-o, a disciple of Jeomchang School, make a request of Jeomchang’s Jang Mun-in.”
Nong-o’s unexpected action made Myeong-wol respond curtly.
“What is it you wish to say?”
“I have defeated Neung-wol.”
“And?”
“Have you not always said that Bunguang’s sword is superior to Sa-il’s, and therefore Jeomchang must learn Bunguang? You were wrong.”
Yang Hwi couldn’t help but marvel.
‘I thought defeating one disciple wouldn’t change much, but to attempt such a bold move all at once…’
“As a disciple who has inherited the true essence and lineage of Jeomchang’s sword from Jeomchang’s greatest swordsman, I speak now.”
He stood alone against Jeomchang, one of the Nine Schools.
Yet there was not a shred of hesitation in Nong-o.
“Defile Jeomchang no further with Bunguang’s martial lineage.”
The senior members of the Nine Schools and Five Great Families seated in the upper section.
And countless spectators around them.
All were seized by tremendous shock.
What Nong-o had just said was a grave crime against the sect.
It was an offense worthy of having one’s dantian sealed and meridians severed.
But.
Nong-o went even further.
“If you wish to punish me, come down here. Face the last disciple of Sa-il, and administer punishment with Bunguang.”
‘Wow! This is truly something to admire.’
Even knowing that Myeong-wol came from the Myeong School.
I never expected he would challenge the Jang Mun-in to a duel.
Moreover, Myeong-wol’s martial prowess was several levels above Nong-o’s.
It was natural, given that he held the position of Jang Mun-in of one of the Nine Schools.
It was a direct assault. A true swordsman following Sa-il’s teachings, I thought.
Nong-o was the genuine successor to the Sa-il sword lineage.
“…Very well. As Jang Mun-in, I shall put an end to the Sa-il sword lineage through punishment.”
Myeong-wol threw himself into the air and slowly descended onto the arena.
“Listen well, disciple Nong-o. You have forgotten your station as a mere disciple and brought shame upon our sect. Furthermore, you have committed the grave crime of defying the sect. Therefore, I pronounce upon you the sentence of death.”
Nong-o silently leveled his sword.
A stance like an arrow released from its bow.
The vast difference in martial prowess was not even a consideration—such was his resolve.
‘Remarkable. Truly… remarkable. If Myeong-wol were to die, Jeomchang could certainly be restored in one stroke, but… to actually intend to kill the Jang Mun-in.’
Perhaps this was what the Way of Shooting the Sun truly meant.
The human heart that seeks to shoot down the sun itself.
The path walked by such a person.
Without realizing it, I lifted my gaze toward the heavens.
A single white point embedded in the azure sky.
The sun.
Could a mere human truly strike down the sun with an arrow?
I felt as though I would learn the answer today.
Whoooosh!
An arrow aimed at Jeomchang was released.

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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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