Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 261

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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 261
For warriors, equanimity is paramount; for cultivators, the refinement of unwavering resolve is essential.
In that sense, Hyeon Geom was a warrior and cultivator drawn with perfect precision.
Ever since his entire family was slaughtered by bandits in his childhood, he had never allowed raw emotion to surface on his face, not for a single moment.
“Hyeon Geom. I understand your pain. But you must not let your emotions spill outward. Contain them within. Let them rot into nourishment, burn them into kindling.”
My master’s teachings became the creed by which I lived.
There was no use in displaying emotions outwardly; they had to become strength from within.
But now.
Hyeon Geom found himself unable to conceal the emotions rising to his face.
Shock at the audacity of such a technique.
Fury at the mockery evident in the intent behind the action.
And finally… admiration upon witnessing skill refined enough to translate intention into execution flawlessly.
“What do you think? If we’re talking about grafting techniques, I’m not inferior anywhere. Our Baek Family’s methods may pale beside the Shaman’s, but they’re quite serviceable, wouldn’t you say?”
“…Indeed.”
As the exchange of sword strikes momentarily ceased, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Didn’t that feel similar to the Taeguk Hyeon Dragon just now?”
“I saw it the same way. It felt like Gaecheon Geomryong was employing the principle of using weakness to overcome strength.”
“Astounding…! To use the Shaman’s own specialty against the Shaman himself and seize the advantage…!”
It was similar to how a swordsman had discarded his blade and defeated a fist master using the master’s own fist principles.
The Shaman’s disciples below wore expressions heavy with humiliation.
-It seems we must end this without restraint, Hyeon Geom.
-Gaecheon Geomryong has crossed the line.
A thread of transmission echoed into my ears.
It was not the Taeguk Sword Master, but the voice of Mudang Headmaster.
‘Headmaster. Do you trust in the person you’ve observed for so long, or have you simply failed to perceive it?’
Either way, I could understand it.
Though the Mudang Headmaster’s realm surpassed mine, a higher realm did not grant complete insight into the advantages and disadvantages of victory or defeat.
If it did, warriors would have swept every gambling table clean.
Moreover, perceiving an opponent’s martial subtleties and intent was not something that came merely from reaching a higher realm.
The eye for seeing such things often correlated more with innate talent than with the martial arts one possessed.
‘Harmony and discord… using weakness to overcome strength, yet entirely different from the Shaman’s method.’
The Shaman’s principle of using weakness to overcome strength derives its subtlety from twisting the opponent’s force.
In other words, the focus lies in redirecting the direction of force to make it one’s own.
This was, in fact, the only realistic way to achieve grafting techniques.
That much was certain.
‘The force, the energy… it simply vanishes.’
When a sword strikes a smooth steel sphere, it slides away unless the strike lands at the precise center.
This is the Shaman’s grafting technique.
The Baek Family’s method was, by comparison, as if striking a haystack rather than wood or steel with a sword.
No matter how forcefully one struck, all the power was absorbed, leaving only a hollow, deflating sensation.
‘If experience and vital force are disappearing, then I can’t understand why Gaecheon Geomryong’s sword grows stronger… Absorption. Yes, that’s it. Rather than making it my own by changing direction, he’s absorbing and embracing it.’
Absorbing the opponent’s vital force?
This was a demonic technique of the Siphoning Star Method variety, considered sinful in the Baek Family’s martial world.
‘If he were walking down a corrupted path…’
Since I didn’t sense any particular demonic energy or evil intent, I would have ignored it in the past.
However, for Hyeon Geom, Gaecheon Geomryong was no longer a stranger.
He was someone I needed to pay attention to.
The reason was simple.
‘Seolha. The man she holds dear. Moreover, a warrior whom my Master watches with keen interest.’
Suddenly, laughter escaped me.
Since I resolved to become a Taoist pursuing mutual benefit and mutual growth, I had never harbored feelings for a woman.
Yet why did Jegal Seol-ha, from the moment I first saw her, become etched upon my heart like a brand?
‘The reason… is hardly necessary to seek when she is a woman of such beauty.’
My laughter deepened. I never thought I would fall for a woman’s appearance, yet here it was happening.
I could only laugh.
With such thoughts, Hyeon Geom paused the exchange of blows momentarily.
‘If he’s truly using the Siphoning Star Method techniques so openly, then given his nature, there must certainly be an excuse.’
Hyeon Geom asked the question despite knowing this.
“I’m curious about the subtlety of your sword technique. It feels as though you’re absorbing my experience and inner force.”
As his quiet voice resonated, the onlookers gasped in unison.
“The Siphoning Star Method!”
“That demonic art that drains the opponent’s vital force and even steals their life essence to turn them into a husk?”
“How could such a technique be used in the Dragon-Phoenix Struggle for Supremacy!”
The commotion grew fierce, and even the senior figures in the upper seats could not ignore it.
An atmosphere had formed where an explanation could not simply be passed over.
Hyeon Geom gazed silently at Yang Hwi, and soon discovered it.
The corners of Yang Hwi’s mouth curved upward slightly.

* * *
The murmur of the crowd filled every direction. I couldn’t help but smile.
I grinned inwardly and thought to myself.
‘This is perfect.’
“Hyeon Geom. May we pause the match for a moment?”
“Very well.”
I sheathed my sword briefly, then performed a crisp bow gesture toward all four directions.
“Since I have unintentionally caused misunderstanding, I shall offer clarification.”
As the noise subsided, I sent a transmission to someone.
I needed permission before I could explain.
-Master, may I reveal that I am your lay disciple?
There was no real need to ask permission to announce one’s master.
But knowing that Eum Hu sought to confirm my path forward through the Yong-bong Gathering, I couldn’t reveal it arbitrarily.
-Go ahead, Namgung Cheon-yeong.
‘She’s more permissive than I expected?’
Perhaps I could push the boundaries a bit further.
At worst, I’d take a few strikes and be done with it.
-Since you’re revealing it anyway, why not do it with some flair? For instance….
As soon as I transmitted the thought that came to mind, a response arrived.
-Ah, you really….
I waited a moment, but no further transmission came.
…I’ll take that as permission and proceed.
She didn’t say not to, after all.
“I declare to the martial artists gathered here. The Gaecheon Sword Method’s Second Form, Uhwa Daeso, works by absorbing and reversing the opponent’s experience and the energy they release.”
The noise suddenly intensified.
“Isn’t that the Absorption Technique?”
“It’s just flowery words—it’s dark magic!”
Not only those with shallow martial arts, but even warriors excluding the masters raised their voices.
Well, looking at the principle alone, it was similar to the Absorption Technique.
But here’s the thing.
“That is not the case. The Absorption Technique steals the opponent’s inner power and innate qi, making them one’s own. Uhwa Daeso only absorbs the experience and inner force that the opponent releases.”
Despite my explanation, the crowd did not settle.
It escalated to the point where trash was being thrown onto the arena.
‘In other words, it’s about the optimal moment.’
“Uhwa Daeso merely utilizes the mysteries of sound technique to transform the quality of the opponent’s released power into something identical to my own. It is absolutely not dark magic.”
Sound technique. The moment this word was spoken, the authority to judge shifted to a single person.
An absolute being who transcended heaven through sound technique.
Cheonmu-sip-jon Pacheon Eumhu.
All eyes turned toward Eum Hu in the seat of honor.
Eum Hu gazed at me for a moment, then released a deep sigh.
“To be accused of sorcery for merely utilizing the subtleties of sound energy is a grave injustice. Would you not agree, Master?”
Master. Everyone understood without words who was being addressed.
“Master!”
“Gaecheon Geomryong… was a disciple of Cheonmu-sip-jon!”
“Wait! Eum Hu has not yet consented!”
The shock was perfectly calibrated. I drew my sword once more.
This time, however, my blade was aimed not at Hyeon Geom, but at Eum Hu.
“Ha-ap!”
A pristine crescent of sword energy sliced through the air toward Eum Hu.
Ordinarily, a swordsman at the threshold of perfection could not detach sword energy from the blade to send it flying—this was proof that I had mastered both Living Energy and Void Grasping.
“No!”
“How dare you!”
“Gaecheon Geomryong has lost his mind!”
Before the gasps could even fade, Eum Hu flicked her finger.
The crescent sword energy vanished.
More precisely, it transformed into a cascade of luminous particles that painted the sky.
And with it came a celestial melody.
Cha-ra-ra-rang!
It was like the music played by a heavenly maiden ascending through sound itself.
As the people listened to this melody that naturally lifted their spirits, they found themselves engulfed in gently falling particles of light.
“Everything Namgung Cheon-yeong said is the absolute truth.”
Cheonmu-sip-jon Pacheon Eumhu rose to her feet.
Unwilling to reveal the appearance of a fifteen-year-old girl, she remained completely covered in a grand robe, wearing a wide straw hat and thick cotton veil.
Yet she was undoubtedly one of only ten absolute beings in all the heavens and earth.
“I shall make this clear now. The Gaecheon Geomryong of the Baek Family is my disciple, Cheonmu-sip-jon Pacheon Eumhu. As I contributed to the creation of Wuhwa Great Technique, those who call Wuhwa Great Technique sorcery should consider me a heretic as well.”
“….”
“….”
“….”
The declaration was shocking, yet no gasps erupted.
It was too overwhelming—a revelation that transcended astonishment and bordered on terror.
“How quiet it’s become. Problem solved! Let us have another round, Hyeon Geom.”
I raised my sword.
“We have enjoyed swordplay enough. From now on, let us test our martial paths against one another.”
I had achieved what I came for.
It was time to end this duel.
“Baek Yang-hwi, Gaecheon Geomryong of the Baek Family. I shall employ the Gaecheon-bak-pal-geom, Second Form. I advance.”
“Hyeon Geom, Taeguk Hyeonryong of the Mudang School. I shall employ the Taeguk Hye Sword. Come.”
‘Oho, so you have mastered the Taeguk Hye Sword? Truly worthy of the Geom-ong’s disciple.’
According to legend—no, according to the tales of old—this was the supreme sword technique that Taeguk Sword Master Jang Sam-bong transmitted to his disciple, the Geom-ong.
Regardless of one’s qualifications by distribution standards, it is a sword method so profound that only warriors of the ascending realm could even hope to master it.
‘This is the level of challenge I need to enjoy myself.’
In my past life, I broke Namgung’s Emperor Sword Form with the Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom that I created myself.
In this life, I should break the Shaman’s Taeguk Wisdom Sword.
-Kiiiiiaaaaaa!
With the resonant cry of a hawk echoing through the air, I pushed off the ground.
The Gi-cheon Step, created directly from Eum Hu’s One-Step Thousand-Mile technique.
Closing the distance in a single stride with nothing but exhilaration, I swung my blade.
Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom, White Hawk Shoots the Lake!
A thrust as if a white hawk were diving into the lake.
Hyeon Geom’s sword tip traced a circle in the empty air.
The circle that began as two expanded to six.
A transformation born from the circle.
The circle split into two. Yet it remained one.
In other words, one yet two.
It was the Taeguk.
Taeguk Wisdom Sword, Six-Layered Taeguk Wisdom Sword.
Taeguk circles arranged in a line.
My left-hand sword only managed to pierce through the third circle.
‘When touching the Taeguk, the momentum and power naturally diminish.’
A sword worthy of being ranked supreme among the Shaman’s techniques of Flowing Strength Subduing Rigidity.
But.
“You didn’t forget your right hand, did you?”
Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom, Second Form, Both Wings Folding Slash.
A pair of wings—two blades—closing the distance and cutting the enemy like scissors.
Originally a sword technique wielded with one blade using the subtlety of exhilaration.
But with two swords, why bother with that?
Instead of the subtlety of exhilaration, I infused it with solidity.
So that even the Wisdom Sword’s Taeguk could be cleanly severed.
“Ugh…!”
Hyeon Geom’s eyes widened and teeth clenched.
Immediately, a new technique burst forth.
Taeguk Wisdom Sword, Distant Circle Wisdom Sword!
Circle gave birth to circle. Countless circles overlapped, expanded, and advanced endlessly.
The sword technique was neutralized, and I retreated to avoid the aftermath.
‘That technique… what I’m sensing from it… well, let me just finish this.’
I felt something instinctively, but I decided to think about it later.
Now was the time to approach decisively and demonstrate overwhelming victory.
If I took my time, the momentum would fade.
‘It’s excessive for Hyeon Geom, but let me make it as spectacular as possible.’
The ultimate technique that had even left a mark on Cheonma’s formidable energy.
Two blades sang with the cry of a hawk.
-Kiiiiiiiiiii!
-Kiiiiiiiiiii!
Gaecheon Sword Technique, Twin Hundred Eight Transformations of Heaven.
One stroke’s metamorphosis, twin wings command the world!
My right blade and left sword transformed into pristine white wings.
Countless feathers danced under the command of my will, devouring every circle drawn by Hyeon Geom’s sword.
‘The final moment of combat is always that.’
I launched myself forward with explosive speed.
Why close the distance when it wasn’t necessary?
Simple.
“My victory, Hyeon Geom.”
I declared victory with my blade pressed against his throat.
Hyeon Geom silently lowered his gaze, staring at the sword edge.
It was the moment his sword fell from his hand.
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaa!”
The surroundings erupted in deafening roars.

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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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