Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 268

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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 268
“The Blood Sect harbors no intention of opposing the White Path martial world! Though we are called heterodox and dark, we are merely a gathering of the abandoned, seeking only peace! I swear this upon my honor as Sect Leader!”
A sect leader sent out as entertainment and justification for the Blood Sect Master’s amusement.
Knowing that purges awaited his return, he was desperately persuading the White Path’s inner circle.
Thanks to his desperation shining through, the atmosphere was rapidly shifting in his favor.
‘At this rate, I’d say the situation is completely in the bag.’
The tension eased, and a sigh escaped me.
I had confidently steered the situation as if everything were prepared, but… I had known the truth all along.
The previous argument was full of holes.
‘If the Sword Master had raised the peace of the common people as the righteous cause from the very beginning… I would have had no choice but to be dragged into the martial alliance without a word.’
Because I succeeded, it appeared plausible, and people were swayed by it.
‘Heaven’s fortune followed me. Wait, is the sky really helping me?’
If you’re going to help, do it generously.
Remember this for next time.
Coming from an uneducated assassin background, I don’t count minor assistance like getting a spoon in a game I’ve already set up as real help.
“Alliance Leader. On behalf of the Mo-yong Family, I must ask: what will you do about the Blood Sect’s peace proposal?”
“The Hwa-san Sect, one of the greatest victims of the Blood Sect Leader, must also be heard. While righteousness and justification matter, preventing the sacrifice of disciples is equally important.”
“If the Blood Sect has no plans to expand aggressively, would a righteous war against evil not result in greater losses than gains?”
Excluding the meaningless reputation of cooperation, a righteous war would yield the martial alliance two tangible benefits.
The elimination of the Blood Sect and removal of future threats.
And practical control over Guizhou and Hunan.
With the former gone, half the reason for a righteous war disappeared.
‘Half is enough to make this whole thing disappear.’
Not everyone desires territorial expansion.
Especially the firmly established great sects prioritize preservation over expansion.
With a few exceptions like Namgung or the Shaman sect.
‘At this rate, the martial alliance’s establishment would be as if it never happened? Time to add the finishing touch.’
The sect leader had already stepped forward as the dragon’s eye.
But a dragon has two eyes.
I had no intention of willingly surrendering the brightest position, the role of protagonist, to the sect leader.
“I must ask the great elder of the Shaman sect who presided over this Dragon-Phoenix Contest!”
I amplified my voice using inner energy as I shouted.
Then I immediately performed a respectful fist salute.
Naturally, all eyes in the hall converged on one place.
“Though some commotion occurred, the greatest dragon of this era has been born—surely you must grace the end of the contest!”
In short, I was demanding the championship prize.
It was rather shameless for the one who had taken the greatest dragon position to speak it aloud himself.
‘When did I ever care about such things.’
“….”
The Taeguk Sword Master remained standing, looking down upon everyone.
A long silence stretched on. After a moment, a voice like a sigh continued.
“So it must be. Jeil-ryong Baek Yang-hwi, accept this honor.”
“Yes!”
The Taeguk Sword Master lifted his heels and descended through the air like an immortal, landing before Yang Hwi.
Watching the hem of his robe, embroidered with pine tree patterns, flutter in the wind, he truly appeared as if a celestial being had descended from the heavens.
‘Unexpected as it is… I need to be careful.’
Today, I had thwarted the will of the Taeguk Sword Master, one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
He would surely harbor resentment. From now on, I would need to evade and counter the interference of one of the absolute beings—one of only ten in all the realm.
‘There’s no helping it. For the sake of my family and the martial world, the establishment of the Martial Alliance had to be crushed.’
“Gaecheon… Jeil-ryong. Baek Yang-hwi.”
“I await your instruction!”
An ancient tome emerged from within the Taeguk Sword Master’s robe.
Though it seemed as if it might crumble at any moment, the aura it emanated was far from ordinary—one could recognize at a glance that it was a treasure of the martial world.
It was the Geom Seon-ji Gyeol, a record left behind by the legendary Geom Seon Yeo Dong-bin in his lifetime.
“As the great-grandson of Geom Seon Yeo Dong-bin and disciple of the Taeguk Geom Seon Jang Sam-bong, as the founder of the Shaman Sect and the current inheritor of the Geom Seon lineage, I commend your victory, Gaecheon Jeil-ryong Baek Yang-hwi.”
The Geom Seon-ji Gyeol floated gently through the air and flew toward Yang Hwi.
“The Geom Seon-ji Gyeol is one of the few traces left behind by the Seonsa in his lifetime. It is a treasure counted among the greatest in all of history, so as Gaecheon Jeil-ryong, you must do your utmost in its stewardship.”
It was a moment laden with symbolism.
To draw a comparison, it was as if a disciple of another sect had inherited the Jade Buddha Palm of Shaolin.
It was a reward that the Taeguk Sword Master had set forth, believing that his own disciple Hyeon Geom would become the Jeil-ryong. His heart must be quite bitter now.
‘Geom-ong… what thoughts must be running through that old man’s mind?’
The Taeguk Sword Master was one whose emotions rarely showed upon his face.
Even now, he was sweeping his gaze across the assembly by moving only his eyes, yet his true thoughts remained inscrutable.
Was he disappointed in those who had moved contrary to his wishes?
‘Or perhaps anger? Or…’
My fingers touched the cover of the Geom Seon-ji Gyeol.
I grasped the tome with the corners of my mouth raised high.
That was the moment.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
“The light…!”
“What in the world!”
Light was pouring forth from the Geom Seon-ji Gyeol.
Or rather, it was more like a faintly glowing mist.
Or perhaps petals… it resembled the plum blossoms of Hwa-san that Yeo Dong-bin had studied in his lifetime.
‘Seon-gi is… responding.’
I too could not hide my astonishment.
That Seon-gi would react was one thing.
It had always responded whenever I obtained artifacts left behind by Yeo Dong-bin, such as the iron rings.
But now I felt a pull that was entirely unexpected.
‘Seong Cheol metal necklace.’
Seong Cheol (星鐵)—a metal obtained by destroying the Blood God’s Blood Sword.
Due to its unique properties, it proved remarkably effective when channeling dark energy, and I wore an identical necklace to the one I had crafted for Jegal Seol-ha.
Yet the necklace trembled in response to the light emanating from the Geom Seon’s Legacy.
‘What is this? Why is the Blood Sect’s sacred artifact reacting to Geom Seon’s inheritance?’
I glanced up at the sky.
The heavens, having emptied themselves of the downpour, gleamed with crystalline clarity.
‘What’s happening? You said the flow would proceed correctly, yet everything seems twisted.’
With such thoughts, I watched as the pages of the Geom Seon’s Legacy, which had unfurled of their own accord, rustled as they turned.
‘Hmm? The characters are….’
According to the Shaman’s proclamation, the Geom Seon’s Legacy contained no martial techniques whatsoever.
One might achieve enlightenment through the Zen dialogues within, but no actual legacy existed within its pages.
Yet now, the characters were changing.
‘From the looks of it, others can’t see this. Do you need to possess both Seon-gi and the Blood God’s Blood Sword to perceive it?’
From the first page to the last, the Geom Seon’s Legacy closed with a sharp snap.
The luminescence, like clouds or flower petals, faded away.
“….”
“….”
“….”
A heavy silence descended. There was only one reason—shock.
A disciple from an isolated martial family had achieved what no one in the Shaman sect had ever accomplished.
Everyone could only think one thing.
Had this generation’s greatest dragon received Geom Seon’s recognition?

* * *
Six months of the Dragon-Phoenix Struggle for Supremacy had come to an end.
Moreover, with the birth of a new supreme martial artist under heaven, a grand banquet should have been held without question.
Yet all scheduled events and celebrations were postponed for four days.
The first reason was to coordinate between the Blood Sect and the Martial Alliance, but the second reason stemmed from a single person alone.
“Sigh….”
The Taeguk Sword Master, bearing a weary expression unbecoming of his transcendent martial prowess, entered the guest chamber and closed the door behind him.
In that instant, a transformation occurred that only those who touched the heavens could perceive.
“From this moment forward, no sound within this chamber shall escape to the outside world.”
Inside the guest chamber sat Yeoilrakbul, Pacheon Eum Hu, and the Great Sea Dragon King, arranged in a circle.
Three of the Ten Transcendent Martial Artists of the realm had been waiting for one person.
That one person was also among the Ten Transcendent Martial Artists, so there was nothing unusual about it.
“First, I must ask, Donor. How has the matter of the Martial Alliance been decided?”
The Taeguk Sword Master’s wrinkles deepened.
“Since the Blood Sect desires peace, the martial artists of Baek Do would not wish to unite under an alliance.”
“By nature, humans seek strength to be free. A natural outcome indeed, hehehehe.”
Ultimately, the founding of the Martial Alliance fell through.
In other words, a single supreme martial artist had blocked the intentions of the Ten Transcendent Martial Artists.
Well, it wasn’t as though the Taeguk Sword Master gained nothing from this.
“Eum Hu. I find myself unable to let this go. Would you not give me your disciple?”
Eum Hu flatly refused.
“No.”
The Great Sea Dragon King, who always yielded one step when treated coldly, did not back down this time.
“Stop your greed when you already have a direct disciple. It is I who can guide that child faster and to greater heights.”
“That is….”
As Eum Hu’s words trailed off after being struck at her weak point, Lakbul interjected with irritating timing.
“By that logic, Baek Donor should become a disciple of Geom-ong Donor. You are both swordsmen, after all, hehehehe.”
“Lakbul, do you have no shame? Are you saying you took a child who has already received the Heavenly Mandate as your disciple?”
“Hehehehe. What do you think, Geom-ong Donor?”
Three gazes converged upon the Sword Master.
The Sword Master said nothing.
“When he received the Geom Seon’s Resolution. That light.”
“The Heavenly Mandate was passed on… how vexingly so.”
“Hehehehe, my disciple chosen by the Heavenly Mandate!”
“Great Sea Dragon King! Silence that mouth. I will consider any further words as reckless talk.”
Suddenly, the Great Sea Dragon King’s expression grew solemn.
“Eum Hu. Unlike you, I am desperate and determined. So I will not let this slip away. Even if… I must accept defeat. Let us discuss this matter between the two of us later. In any case, it seems heaven has finally revealed its will. Let us all deliberate on this matter together.”
The Ten Transcendent Martial Artists.
Those who, through the absence of martial technique, had touched the heavens themselves.
They shared one common characteristic.
One who touches the heavens learns to commune with them.
“Do all that humans can and await heaven’s will… The destiny we have long awaited has descended, so we must answer its call.”
The Cheonmu-sip-jon is commonly understood to mean the ten greatest masters under heaven, but the truth was different.
Those who had carved their own path to touch the heavens through their martial way and thus knew that heaven’s mandate truly existed.
They were the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
A concept somewhat different from the understanding spread among the common people.
“Humans cannot escape heaven’s net no matter what they do. Not unless they become an awl sharp enough to pierce even the heavens themselves.”
“That is the limit of fate between heaven and earth.”
“To help, to hinder, or to turn away. It must be one of these three.”
“I will help. Because it is the right thing to do.”
“Not because he is your precious disciple?”
Yongwang-do threw out a light jest.
Contrary to expectations, Eum Hu nodded readily.
“Yes. Because he is a disciple I cherish.”
“And since I too am a future disciple, I shall help as much as I can. It will be difficult, but that much I must bear, hehehehe.”
Now only two remained: Lakbul and the Taeguk Sword Master.
“Hehehehe, this humble monk has no intention of interfering.”
“Hmm. That is indeed Shaolin’s way.”
“Always speaking of following the flow while withdrawing your hand.”
Despite Eum Hu’s criticism, Lakbul merely laughed.
“If heaven’s mandate is truly received, it will flow as it must whether we help or not. That is following the current.”
Finally, only the Taeguk Sword Master had not given his answer.
“Geom-ong. There is none here who does not know your will. Yet you too must make your decision.”
Contrary to all expectations, the Taeguk Sword Master neither fell silent nor deliberated.
He spoke his will at once.
“This old man shall merely walk the path.”
The way of shamans: non-action and mutual flourishing.
If heaven’s will is non-action and natural spontaneity, then even through human effort we shall achieve mutual flourishing.
“Are you saying you will hinder it?”
“No. How could humans hinder heaven’s will? I shall simply do my best.”
The Taeguk Sword Master’s gaze turned toward the ceiling.
Perhaps he was gazing at the heavens beyond it.
“I shall walk the path. And I must watch. How that child who obtained the Sword Immortal’s Resolve will transform.”
The Taeguk Sword Master gazed intently at the heavens beyond the ceiling and pondered.
The First Dragon of the Open Heaven would transform.
A divine artifact that metamorphoses existence and opens the path to immortal ascension.
Such was the Sword Immortal’s Resolve.
‘How curious. A path that none, not even I, could ever see unfold before you.’
And at that very moment, as the Cheonmu-sip-jon continued their agreement regarding Yang Hwi…
“Aaaaagh!”
I jolted upright from the bed where I’d been studying the Geom Seon Scripture, scratching my head in frustration.
“Damn it, this cursed book! What a worthless pile of junk! It glowed and shimmered, yet contains nothing useful! A noisy empty cart, that’s what this is!”
What good are characters if I can’t understand them?
Whether it’s ancient script or something else entirely, I can’t read a single word of it!

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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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