Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 260

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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 260
The Heavenly Pressure of the Celestial Escape Sword Technique is a move that embodies the sky pressing down upon all things of the earth.
Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom divine technique variation: Cheon-ik Ap-bong.
Thousands of brilliantly white feathers.
Converging and gathering, a flock of feathers taking the form of wings shot downward.
A single technique, yet composed of thousands of strikes.
Against this, Hyeon Geom responded with.
“Nine Palaces Cloud Ladder.”
Fluid and graceful body movements like flowing water.
It was the movement of an immortal crossing a cloud ladder spanning nine directions.
‘The subtlety of the Gugung Sword combined with Jeyun-jong’s movement technique.’
As the simple name suggested, the Gugung Sword was one of the fundamental sword techniques of the Shaman.
Jeyun-jong was also known as the Shaman’s representative movement technique, though it was not the highest level of movement art.
In other words, Hyeon Geom was evading my absolute technique without any assistance from advanced martial arts.
‘This brat. He’s worthy of being called the Shaman’s greatest talent.’
An orphan with no background whatsoever, yet he became a disciple of the Taeguk Sword Master through talent alone.
Talent enough to surpass five generations and reach the same rank as the Shaman Headmaster.
Certainly impressive.
‘Does he want to show me that he can break my absolute technique with basic martial arts? This bastard, he’s quite serious.’
Well, that was limited to my right hand.
I raised the corner of my mouth and flicked my left sword.
In that instant, the feathers reversed direction. The downward movement gained new variations, and a sense of crisis settled over Hyeon Geom’s face.
Shhhhhhhhh!
The feathers embedded in the martial arena melted and vanished.
With a single drop of blood flowing from the shallow wound on his cheek, Hyeon Geom stared at Yang Hwi.
“That’s not Jeyun-jong—you’re using Jeyun-jong?”
“…”
Jeyun-jong, which means nine cloud ladders stretching out.
The Shaman’s representative movement technique, Jeyun-jong, transforms into Jeyun-jong when perfected.
The character for crossing, cloud, and heel.
True to its name, one achieves the supreme footwork capable of crossing even clouds themselves.
‘Where did this bastard learn to do the same thing I do.’
Hyeon Geom’s intention was obvious.
He was trying to turn the tables—the same trick of being right-handed while toying with an opponent using the left hand.
Though he failed.
“You saw it clearly, didn’t you?”
“…Yes. You’re not an opponent to be underestimated, one who would engage with different intentions.”
“Obviously.”
Murmurs echoed from the surrounding spectator seats.
“Huh, Gaecheon Geomryong is pushing back Taeguk Hyeon-ryong.”
“From the very first exchange, things are unfolding differently than expected.”
“I thought Gaecheon Geomryong would falter from his injury and be eliminated, but here we are.”
‘There’s real satisfaction in landing such a powerful strike from the opening move.’
Being underestimated as a weakling and then overwhelming the opponent with victory at the end can certainly deliver a greater shock.
But from this point forward, perfecting the title of Gaecheon Geomryong was far more important than the impact of a single blow.
An undisputed future greatest martial artist under heaven that everyone would have to acknowledge.
Only by establishing such a framework and image could I prevent the formation of the Martial Alliance.
‘And beyond that, I must defeat Hyeon Geom with an overwhelming gap in power.’
“I have a question, Gaecheon Geomryong. Your sword technique differs greatly from what is known of you.”
“You noticed that? Impressive. You’re right.”
“Have you acquired new martial arts?”
“Who knows.”
Before answering, I glanced toward the highest viewing platform.
The Taeguk Sword Master seated in the place of honor. His expression caught my eye.
Eyes widened to their fullest. An expression that seemed to say he couldn’t comprehend what he was witnessing.
Come to think of it, was this the first time the old master had witnessed the mysteries of the Cheondon Sword Technique?
-How did you ever learn that sword technique.
-You’re interfering with the match by sending voice transmission during combat.
I chuckled inwardly.
You must be dying of curiosity. Go ahead and ponder it.

* * *
The Taeguk Sword Master’s face was remarkably composed.
For anyone without keen perception, it would appear perfectly calm.
Yet in truth, he was reeling in shock as if confronted with the incomprehensible.
‘How does that boy possess the mysteries of heaven…!’
The third successor of the Sword Immortal Lineage, the Taeguk Sword Master.
Needless to say, he knew better than anyone what the martial arts of Geom Seon Yeo Dong-bin and Taeguk Sword Immortal Jang Sam-bong were like.
‘Sambong Jin-in… even my master could not contain it, which led him to advance toward a new sword path. That sword is Cheondon. Yet how… how does a youth barely past his prime possess it…’
Geom Seon Yeo Dong-bin’s Cheondon Sword Technique.
Without question, it was something no human body could contain.
Even Sambong Jin-in, counted among the three greatest throughout all history, had never mastered it.
Truly, it was a sword that required the blessing of heaven itself.
It was at that moment of realization.
‘Could it be. Is that what it is.’
A memory from days ago surfaced.
The request from a disciple who had never asked for anything since being accepted.
Master. I wish to have a match with Gaecheon Geomryong.
If I thought purely of the objective, I should have refused the request.
From the Shaman’s position, Hyeon Geom had to become Jeil-ryong, and among the four advancing competitors, Okcheon of Hwasan was the most suitable opponent in the Taeguk Sword Master’s judgment.
‘Adu of Shaolin. Yang Hwi of the Baek Family.’
Okcheon of Hwasan would have been more than worthy of becoming Jeil-ryong had he participated in any previous or subsequent Dragon-Phoenix Struggle.
At his age, he was already approaching the true essence of the Plum Blossom Sword.
Considering the subtle mysteries that had been lost to time and never transmitted to him, it was talent that defied all reason.
But.
What truly baffled me was Adu of Shaolin and Yang Hwi of the Baek Family.
No matter that they were both disciples of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, their accomplishments were simply incomprehensible.
‘Yeoilrakbul. Pacheon Eumhu. Neither of them possess the character to sacrifice everything for raising disciples. And one is merely a lay disciple at that.’
The Taeguk Sword Master, however, was different.
Hyeon Geom was the fourth successor of the Geom Seon lineage before being a disciple, a child destined to shine in the light.
He elevated her to great heights by any means necessary.
He surely did so, yet how did the youths of Shaolin and the Baek Family reach the same level as his disciples?
‘That’s it… there is only one reason.’
The Shaman’s Way: Conditioned Arising.
Conditioned existence means the Sword Master’s vow not to follow the principles of unconditioned being.
Then what is unconditioned being?
Unconditioned Nature.
The natural principle of the world flowing without human intervention.
In other words, accepting all things according to Heaven’s will, according to the Mandate of Heaven.
‘Heaven itself… is bestowing its mandate upon those two.’
Adu of Shaolin. Yang Hwi of the Baek Family.
Why, why were those two
destined to flow toward Shaolin and the Baek Family instead of the Shaman sect?
Had either of them formed a connection with the Shaman sect,
they could have transformed and reshaped so very much.
‘Heaven, is this too your will… your Mandate?’
I forcibly cut off my wandering thoughts.
I focused once more on their duel.
‘Four beings destined to shine in the light. Even one would be excessive, yet there are four.’
Will all four shine in the light?
Will they inevitably become luminous?
‘Master, this unworthy disciple does not understand.’
Before my eyes, two beings destined to shine in the light clashed.
They held swords in their hands, their blades meeting in combat.
The predetermined existence.
The existence that sought to become.
The existence that was created.
Finally, the existence that was transformed.
The duel between two of them.
I wondered who the victor would be.
I had to take it all in with my eyes.
That was why I had accepted my disciple’s request.
‘The Shaman way teaches mutual benefit through mutual generation. Hyeon Geom, show us the path we must walk.’

* * *
After the exchange of the first move, the match proceeded with swords clashing directly against one another in rapid succession.
The Baek Family’s Gaecheon Geomryong. The Shaman’s Taeguk Hyeon Ryong.
It was somewhat strange to think that both were masters capable of unleashing sword energy in torrents, carving through several zhang of space in all directions.
“Do you have something on your mind?”
“Well, you know. A match is only fun when you’re actually swinging the blade.”
“Destroying everything with sword energy is entertaining to watch, but to really feel like a proper fight, you need the ring of steel clashing.”
Clang! Clang-clang! Clang!
The exchange of sword moves was so fierce that the wide arena seemed to shrink.
As for who held the advantage in the fight—it was evenly matched.
However, the pattern showed Gaecheon Geomryong attacking and Taeguk Hyeon Ryong defending.
“Hmm… is Taeguk Hyeon Ryong being pushed into a defensive position?”
“Tsk! Don’t you know the characteristics of Shaman sword techniques? Harmonizing yin and yang! Using the opponent’s attacks through the subtle principle of yielding to overcome strength!”
“Ah, that’s right.”
This was the conversation of ordinary people with little martial knowledge, while the warriors among the spectators discussed it differently.
“Father. It seems my brother is at a disadvantage.”
Baek Heon-so’s expression grew anxious, but Baek Moo-ryang remained composed.
“So, how do you read it?”
“Yes. Considering my brother’s temperament, he should have landed a strike by now. Isn’t that right, Chu Dal?”
Chu Dal, who had been watching the arena for a moment, shook his head.
“No. I think my brother has the advantage.”
“What? Why?”
“His expression. If my brother thought his attacks were being blocked and he was losing, he’d already be cursing and scratching away, desperately trying to turn things around.”
“….”
It was a valid point, and there was no refuting it.
At the same time, Baek Heon-so felt as though he had lost somehow.
Despite being Yang Hwi’s younger brother, he felt that Chu Dal understood Yang Hwi better.
‘From now on, I need to observe my brother more persistently. Chu Dal, you bastard! Next time, I’ll know him better!’
A kind of positive jealousy, one might say.
…Though neither of them were truly blood brothers.
“Father. What is your assessment?”
“Hmm.”
Even as they exchanged a few words, dozens of sword strikes were traded on the arena.
Baek Moo-ryang turned his head slightly.
“Seolha, I’m curious what you think.”
Jegal Seol-ha was watching the match alongside the Baek Family members rather than sitting in the seat of honor prepared for the Jegal Family.
“Elder Brother seems to have the advantage.”
Baek Moo-ryang nodded in agreement.
He was thinking the same thing.
Suddenly, he became curious about Jegal Seol-ha’s reasoning.
“What’s the reason?”
‘The Shaman’s unique technique of yielding to overcome strength isn’t manifesting properly. It’s because the power contained in Yang Hwi’s blade is too fierce.’
He thought a similar explanation would come as her answer.
But Jegal Seol-ha’s response was more concise.
“He’s also gripping the sword with his left hand.”
“Hmm?”
Yang Hwi was using both the sword transformed from his left hand and the blade in his right hand.
But gripping the sword with his left hand?
Immediately, Baek Moo-ryang’s face showed a flicker of unease.
Following his expression, Jegal Seol-ha continued speaking.
“He’s setting up the groundwork to unveil something spectacular. That much is obvious.”
Jegal Seol-ha’s conjecture proved exactly correct.
After unleashing an exceptionally powerful sword strike,
Yang Hwi, propelled backward by the recoil, rested his blade across his shoulder.
“Listen, Hyeon Geom. From now on, let’s reverse it. Come at me.”
Hyeon Geom silently raised his sword vertically.
The blade positioned precisely at the center of his body.
Once again, sword met sword.
All the onlookers expected the sharp clang of collision to ring out.
“….”
No sound of impact echoed.
Moreover, the pattern of sword exchange had transformed completely.
Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom’s Second Secret, Feathered Transformation of Great and Small.
Baek Family’s Gaecheon Geomryong against the Shaman’s Taeguk Hyeon-ryong.
He was displaying the supreme ascension of yielding to overcome strength and the subtlety of harmonizing yin and yang.

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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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