Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 290

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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 290
Four days before the attack on Payang Lake.
A hawk descended upon the reed fields along the riverbank.
“Commander. The water bases stationed at Payang Lake are being conquered one after another.”
Sim Su-chimrang, the commander of the Water Ghost Sect dispatched to kill the Baek Family Heir and acquire the Geom Seon’s Ultimate Technique, quietly lifted his head.
“How much progress?”
“Approximately forty percent… By the time we arrive, I estimate it will be around fifty percent.”
Sim Su-chimrang’s assessment was brief.
“A madman.”
Laughter erupted immediately.
“Indeed. This Baek Do’s successor is acting without any restraint whatsoever.”
“Il-ik-chae. Does he dare assume the position of Family Head? He deserves a thorough beating.”
All the Water Ghosts shared the same assessment.
Baek Yang-hwi, the Heir of the Gae-cheon Baek Family, was absolutely mad.
For Yang Hwi, who had become a mercenary at Seo Seong-saeng’s suggestion, it was an unfair evaluation.
However, only Sim Su-chimrang’s thoughts diverged slightly.
“A madman meets one of two ends. Either he remains foolish and dull, or he becomes an existence that no one in this world can follow.”
….
“To devour half of Payang Lake in merely a month? This is like the ancient tale of unstoppable momentum.”
….
“Seon’s command has not failed this time either. Baek Yang-hwi—that one is worthy of my direct intervention.”
Sim Su-chimrang. A wolf in deep waters that draws everything toward itself, not in shallow fields.
He was one of the ten commanders of the Water Ghost Sect.
For the Water Ghost Sect, composed of at least Transcendent Masters, the qualification of commander was singular.
The ten strongest.
In other words, those who had transcended and were overwhelmingly stronger than other Water Ghosts.
“Nine of you accompanying me—I thought it excessive to capture six successors of a renowned lineage. I believed my role was to strike down the young Jeom Chang Jang-mun who achieved the impossible.”
“Your words are correct, Commander.”
“We shall ensure you need not intervene directly.”
“Please trust in your subordinates.”
Otherwise called the Transcendent Realm or the Realm of Intent—the Highest Realm.
Having surpassed human limits and transformed into beings who inscribe the image of humanity between heaven and earth, these Highest Realm Masters possessed premonitions that humans could not attain.
‘Though Jeom Chang’s Sa-il achieved the miracle of one success among a thousand attempts, he cannot be a match for a Highest Realm Master who does not lower his guard.’
Then why was competitive spirit already surging?
Why did tingling dance at his fingertips, making him want to grip his spear?
“Why is it? My opponent seems destined to be the Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong.”
The greatest talent of this era. People called him one who, if unbroken, would surely become the Greatest Under Heaven.
Sim Su-chimrang was also a talent worth counting on his fingers, and he had safely reached the Highest Realm.
Yet neither past nor future could he ever touch the Greatest Under Heaven.
Not even once had he heard anything similar.
Thus, naturally.
A single desire bloomed within me.
‘What would it feel like to crush the future Greatest Under Heaven… Ah, I see.’
I understood the reason for this competitive fervor and exhilaration.
It was the desire to trample upon a sapling destined to become a towering tree.
Though it had grown quite well and become a young tree ahead of schedule, it remained nothing more than something I could crush beneath a single step.
“Payang Lake is one of the key strategic points. I cannot simply hand it over so pathetically.”
“Indeed. Yuihang Lake, located near the Baek Family Head’s residence, is not directly connected to the Yangtze River.”
When we previously raided the Baek Family’s main stronghold, we had intended swift and decisive plunder, so there was no need to concern ourselves with strategic chokepoints. But now it was different.
The Baek Family had attempted to play the tiger again, and those foolish Shamans and Namgung were backing them up.
“Swift and decisive—kill Jeil-ryong and suppress his entire faction.”
Excluding Sim Su-chimrang, all nine members of the Water Ghost Sect possessed martial prowess ranging from First Disciple of major sects to Elder rank.
Masters of transcendent perfection who had grasped two or more of the three enlightenments.
“To demonstrate our might, hmm. It would be best to kill everyone except those who surrendered without backbone and the disciples of Shaolin.”
Dang-gun of the Dang Sect. Jegal Seol-ha of the Jegal Family. Jeom Chang Jang-mun Neung-o.
The affiliated sects of these three late-stage masters had all declared war against the Yangtze River Water Route Alliance.
Thus, they must be killed without mercy and offered as sacrifices to demonstrate Seon’s severity.
But that was not all.
“If the greatest talent of this generation in Baek Do is torn to shreds by the Water Route Alliance, I wonder what reaction those abominable Baek Do people will show.”
Whoosh—a wind blew from somewhere. The bonfire was extinguished.
All around fell into darkness, and ten shadows melted into the water.
Thus four days passed.
“Brilliant Piercing Cannon! Fire!”
Witnessing the strange cannon displayed by those calling themselves Il-ik-chae, Sim Su-chimrang realized his thoughts had been correct.
“They must be killed. No—they must be captured and made to confess everything.”
“Understood.”
“Understood.”
“Understood.”
The Brilliant Piercing Cannon—a weapon with power befitting its name.
For mercenaries, having underwater combat sealed off meant more than half their fighting strength was bound.
It must be eliminated.
If that weapon spread throughout all of Baek Do, the Yangtze River Water Route Alliance’s strength would be reduced to less than half.

* * *
Imagine two packs of wolves roaming the mountains and fields, fighting over a single wild boar.
Then who emerges victorious?
The answer is simple: whichever pack has a spirit beast as its alpha.
When multiple martial artists engage in battle, the presence of a master is much the same.
‘I must separate him from the others.’
A Thousand Winds, Complete Heart in One Moment!
One step. That’s all it took for me to reach the Highest Realm Master of the Water Ghost Sect.
‘First, I’ll thrust and push him back… no!’
A sudden chill ran through me, and instead of my right hand’s sword, I thrust forward with my left hand’s qi blade.
Then it was caught.
Condensed and made tangible—a mere mass of energy.
Even my qi blade, which possessed the enlightenment of Vivid Life Force and could pierce through anything.
It was caught.
“Quite a forceful will you possess. Yet it remains within the bounds of humanity.”
So that’s why I felt that chill.
With that thought, I dissolved my qi blade.
Then came a low kick—my instep struck his knee joint, but he didn’t budge an inch.
“You don’t seem foolish enough not to understand its futility.”
Right, this is what a Highest Realm Master truly is.
I twisted my lips into a smile.
“There’s a saying I’m rather fond of.”
“What might that be?”
“Bending my knee was merely to gain momentum!”
The reason I deliberately aimed that low kick.
It was to lower my stance and drive my blade into the water’s surface.
Hawk’s Cry Resonates with Vibration, Water Union!
Vibrations erupted from beneath the water’s surface.
While I couldn’t harm a Highest Realm Master directly, it was more than enough to disturb the water he stood upon.
‘Now, let’s see which direction he chooses.’
I launched my body toward his rear.
The fusion of mastered Void Grasping and lightness kung fu—what people call Water Surface Flight.
Even as I bounded across the turbulent water, I kept my gaze fixed on him from behind.
“Your tricks are quite impressive. This might actually be entertaining.”
His voice carried a hint of amusement.
At the same moment, nine waves of qi erupted from him.
‘He sent a sound transmission to his subordinates? Ah, so it’s my side he’s targeting.’
If he intended to annihilate us quickly, he would have doubled his approach whether we fled or not.
This way, I could safely increase the distance between us.
“Yes, let’s have some real fun! Come and follow me!”
“Your true intentions are transparent. Still, I’ll humor you.”
This bastard thinks his nine subordinates are more than enough to handle the rest of my group.
Objectively speaking, it was true, so as Yang Hwi, I had no choice but to trust my companions.
“The distance seems sufficiently opened now. Thanks for that, you mercenary bastard.”
“Your tongue is indeed as short as I’ve heard.”
“It’s just so entertaining watching bastards like you rush in trying to cut it off.”
“Ha! Let’s exchange names then. I am called Sim Su-chimrang.”
“Ah, so you’re a washed-up dog after all?”
The interest that had been lingering on Sim Su-chimrang’s face shifted to irritation.
“Everyone from Baek Do’s group says the same thing when they hear my epithet. Do you know what became of them?”
“Probably got executed by your master or something.”
“Sharp. I turned every last one of them into water ghosts. Now it seems to be your turn.”
He grinned brazenly and drew a pitch-black sword hilt from his robes.
If I’d known it would come to this, I would’ve tested the Muk Pa against those Suchae bastards even if it wasn’t necessary.
My first test with a Transcendent Master is a life-or-death battle.
‘Please be worth something, you bastard.’
When I first grasped the Muk Pa and poured my energy into it, I discovered one thing.
The Muk Pa is a half-sword without a blade, yet it becomes a complete sword by using the energy blade as its edge.
“Hey, washed-up dog. How long have you been at the Transcendent Realm?”
“An interesting question. If I reached it four days ago, would you have any chance against me?”
Yang Hwi’s response was brief and clear.
“None.”
If one had reached the Peak Realm, no matter how recently, I was confident I could defeat them.
This was true even though I myself hadn’t yet mastered all three enlightenments of the Peak Realm.
It was possible because I possessed the enlightenment and experience from my past life.
But.
The Transcendent Realm is different. One cannot fathom the level of a warrior who has transcended humanity.
“You wanted to see my skills, didn’t you?”
“Indeed. To toy with the future greatest under heaven—what a rare experience that would be.”
I closed my eyes. Then opened them again.
A brilliant light flashed across Yang Hwi’s pupils.
“Neung-o of Jeomchang, a man of the Peak Realm, once killed a Transcendent Master.”
“Do you believe you can do the same? Spare me. Even if I watch your performance, I won’t let my guard down.”
Sim Su-chimrang was right.
Even Neung-o couldn’t have defeated a Transcendent Master who remained vigilant.
Yet even if Neung-o is counted among the greatest talents under heaven, he is not the greatest talent.
“If I’m to be the greatest talent under heaven, shouldn’t I display something even more exceptional? So won’t you give me time to show you? The talent of the future greatest under heaven.”
“Hmm. So you’re trying to buy time. If you entertain me, I’ll indulge you.”
Entertainment? It will be entertaining enough.
If the heart I harbor, if that pillar continues to hold.
I could only be astonished, transcending mere delight.
“Let me be clear beforehand. Today, I will achieve Transcendence.”
Sim Su-chimrang’s eyes widened.
Soon, displeasure kindled within those pupils.
“How arrogant. I see your martial path—the embodiment of unity between warrior and divine, the integration of essence, energy, and spirit. You claim to pierce through your limits with the awl honed through them, attaining three stages of enlightenment in a single day?”
“When a man faces a dog drained of water, shouldn’t he gain at least that much?”
“…Before I indulge in amusement, I must administer punishment.”
A harpoon that swept in a circle, aimed directly forward.
Then the master of the Transcendent Realm declared:
“Sink into the depths. Flounder in the terror of drowning. It will surely be pathetic—fitting to soothe my irritation.”
The water surface beneath Yang Hwi’s feet suddenly collapsed.
It was not a transformation caused by the flow of qi.
By Sim Su-chimrang’s will alone, the very waters of the lake itself had sunk away.
‘A battle of mental imagery for the first time. Writhe about like a drowned ant.’
But.
Sim Su-chimrang’s expectation shattered like thin ice.
-Screeeee!
-Screeeee!
With the cries of hawks crossing paths, it was cut.
The sunken water surface surged back, filling once more.
“Does that provide enough amusement now?”
Yang Hwi, who had unleashed two streams of sword qi, laughed with a smirk.
“Even if I cannot carve mental imagery, I can still dismantle it—even now.”

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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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