Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 300

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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 300
The Namgung and Baek Families struck Lijiang to sever the Yangtze River Water Route Alliance’s influence over Anhui Province.
With Yeo Hyong-chae of the Great Lijiang Gorge annihilated, it was fair to say we had achieved more than half our objective.
Yet what meaning did it hold?
Namgung Il-geom, the Family Head of the Namgung Family, had become someone who could barely cross the Nine Heavens.
In other words, roughly thirty percent of the Namgung Family’s combat strength had been lost.
The weight and status a Family Head carried within a martial arts clan was immense beyond measure.
‘So the life of such a person rests in the palm of my hand.’
The Namgung Family—the very source of my resentment, the ones who ended my previous life just before I could achieve my dreams, my target for vengeance.
I still haven’t forgotten Chu Dal’s head, which was brought back in the hands of those who ambushed me.
‘So I cannot let you live, Family Head of the Namgung Family.’
But keeping you half-alive seems to fall within acceptable bounds, so let me extend this grace for now.
Whether it’s grace or not remains to be seen.
Whoooooosh—!
Hwa-cheon Seon-gi swept through every corner of Namgung Il-geom’s body.
The mutual destruction technique inflicted by Yeo Hyong-chae-ju. Traces of a force mingled with blood qi based on soul qi still lingered, moving and devastatingly destroying Namgung Il-geom’s internal and external being.
‘Formidable. Is it because of the intent imbued by a Transcendent Master?’
Intent concentrated and crystallized to the point of taking form—such intent itself carries ‘power’.
No matter how much Hwa-cheon Seon-gi counters soul qi and blood qi.
Erasing the qi of a Transcendent Master proved quite arduous.
‘It’s possible. With sufficient time. But Namgung Il-geom won’t survive that duration.’
So I too must elevate my methods further.
Fortunately, I’ve already obtained the means to do so.
Whoooooosh—!
Intent settles into Hwa-cheon Seon-gi.
Life-giving qi—when intent is added to qi, life is obtained.
The essence of life-giving qi is the manifestation of will.
To cut if one wishes to cut, to endure if one wishes to endure.
I infused such unwavering resolve.
So resolute and precise that it might even be mistaken for a manifest form.
And honed so keenly that it could sever manifestations without becoming one itself.
‘It’s possible.’
The intent of Yeo Hyong-chae-ju, a Transcendent Master who had spread her fearsome reputation across the entire Lijiang region, was erased.
What remained was only corrupted qi. Corrupted qi was merely sustenance for Seon-gi.
“The, the Family Head is improving!”
“His complexion is returning! The treatment of Bul-wol Pa-byeok-ryong is taking effect!”
I halted the destruction of his body caused by the qi’s turbulence.
Even that alone caused a marked improvement in Namgung Il-geom’s condition.
A Transcendent Master of such overwhelming strength that few rivals existed throughout the realm—naturally, the Undefeated Sword King.
However, there was one variable the Namgung Family’s retainers did not know of.
‘If I could just extract the Hwa-cheon Seon-gi, I’d be finished.’
Seon-gi is the force that guides everything toward its proper course.
A technique I had once wielded skillfully to elevate my body to the realm of perfection.
That same principle was now being applied to Namgung Il-geom.
‘Recovery is impossible. Even if he awakens, he won’t regain his martial prowess.’
For a Transcendent Master, intention matters more than inner qi—the upper dantian more than the lower dantian.
Yet one cannot maintain martial skill with a shattered dantian.
The foundation of mental imagery is living qi—channeling one’s will to breathe life into one’s energy.
With medical assistance and the application of Hwa-cheon Seon-gi, complete recovery might be possible.
But my treatment ends here.
‘I’ve saved him halfway. Now comes the waiting.’
I withdrew my energy, deliberately adopting a grave expression before deliberately reversing some of my blood qi.
A mouthful of blood spilled forth.
“Cough, cough. This Young Master has reached his limit with his current capacity.”
“What are you saying! Push yourself a little harder!”
I ignored the Han Elder’s outburst and turned my gaze toward Namgung Cheon-yeong.
Earlier, in the urgency, casual speech was acceptable, but now I needed to be more careful.
Though I had no intention of speaking formally, I chose Namgung Cheon-yeong as my conversation partner—someone of the same generation whom I’d been speaking casually with from the start.
‘As a bonus, I could also strengthen Namgung Cheon-yeong’s position.’
With the Family Head unconscious, the role of the Soga-joonim becomes critically important.
In many ways.
“Namgung Cheon-yeong. I believe I have fulfilled my agreement thoroughly, even at this level.”
I had participated in the Yangtze River Tournament after receiving the Baek Family’s support for the Namgung Family.
Namgung Cheon-yeong nodded with a grave expression.
“I acknowledge it. We ourselves could not have improved Father’s condition to this extent.”
“My blood qi has reversed, so I need to regulate my breathing.”
“I’ll have the Sang-dan-jeon stand guard.”
I crossed my legs and began the Small Heavenly Circulation.
In truth, I was in quite good condition, so there was no need to proceed to the Large Heavenly Circulation, which would leave me vulnerable to external attacks.
-Seolha. How do the people look?
-Brother? Transmitting your voice while cultivating?
-Why so surprised? Haven’t I shown you all sorts of tricks before? Haven’t I transmitted my voice while cultivating before?
-Now that you mention it, perhaps I have? My memory’s fuzzy. Anyway, they look quite serious.
-Anyone whose expression reveals scheming thoughts?
It was an abrupt question, but Jegal Seol-ha was sharp when it came to reading people.
-Of course there are plenty. For a family as prominent as the Namgung Family, how many would truly accept the Family Head’s injury as their own?
-Remember each one.
-Understood.
After finishing the transmission, I began the true purpose of the unnecessary cultivation I had started.
Settling my consciousness calmly, I read in the qi from all directions.
More precisely, the gossamer threads of aura that the Namgung Family members exuded.
‘There are none who carry demonic or vengeful qi…’
The reason Yeo Hyong-chae-ju had committed everything to a standoff with the Namgung Family Head.
No matter how I thought about it, the only way to devour the Namgung Family whole was to use the spies I’d planted in advance.
So there were no spies at this location, was that it?
No, I couldn’t jump to conclusions.
There might be spies who hadn’t accepted demonic or vengeful qi.
Which was it, then?
‘…Namgung Cheon-hu.’
He’d gone so far as to reveal himself and announce his affiliation with the Blood Sect just to deliver a warning.
There was no need to ponder his purpose.
He was surely thinking only of becoming the Namgung Family Head.
Evidence? I had one certainty.
‘The will I sensed from him.’
Twisted and stagnant though it had become, his resolve was unshakeable.
So Namgung Cheon-hu would indeed seek to become the Namgung Family Head.
Even in his current state, tainted by demonic influence.
Then….
‘I’ll watch and see. Then I’ll know.’

* * *
The Baek Family and Namgung Family’s suppression of Yeo Hyong-chae created tremendous repercussions in two respects.
First, the Baek Family.
“Have you heard the rumors? The Gae-cheon Baek Family pulled off something extraordinary!”
“They marched directly against Yeo Hyong-chae, who dominated the Yegang, and drowned the henchmen wholesale, I hear?”
“Excellent! Not content with producing the Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong, they’ve proven the family’s own strength is sufficient to earn recognition as one of the Five Great Families!”
“Baek Do’s future is truly bright. It’s a place worth watching.”
Meanwhile, the world’s rumors about the Namgung Family were utterly dismal.
“The Namgung Family Head has been unconscious for a month now.”
“That’s not all. In the past month, the Baek Family has destroyed three of Suchae’s bases. Meanwhile, the Namgung Family has accomplished nothing.”
“The Swordsman who maintained an undefeated record except for one loss to the Great Sea Dragon King, the Peng Family’s Elder—and yet he merely fought to a draw with Dae Ryeol-il-hong.”
“Though Dae Ryeol-il-hong was counted among the hundred greatest masters under heaven, it cannot be denied that he was merely a dying struggle of a minor figure.”
“To think the Namgung Family Head was merely this capable.”
The Namgung Family found itself in a dilemma with no good options.
With the Family Head incapacitated, there was no time to concern themselves with war against the Yangtze River Alliance.
Yet simultaneously, they could not withdraw simply because the Family Head had fallen.
“I’m curious about the Namgung Family’s choice. Will they steadfastly walk the path where righteousness and vengeance converge as one, even in their chaos?”
“Or will they choose self-preservation and retreat?”
Should they choose the latter, the Namgung Family might lose their position among the Five Great Families.
For the title of one of the Five Great Families of the realm was not determined by bloodline alone.
To be counted among the five great families representing Baek Do, one had to prove their righteousness and capability.
“The Namgung Family has made far too many mistakes over the past several years. Their prestige has fallen considerably.”
“The Namgung Family, which has maintained its position among the Five Great Families for centuries, may actually lose that name. I’m genuinely curious how this will unfold.”
Moreover, a brilliant new star was rising to replace the Namgung Family.
Though the Gae-cheon Baek Family had held their position for merely a year or two, everyone expected them to eventually become a family representing all under heaven.
“Elder. A decision is necessary in this situation.”
“Cheon-yeong is young and inexperienced—he cannot lead us.”
The senior members of the Namgung Family understood this situation and the world’s perception all too well.
Thus they gathered before Elder Namgung Yeon-ha.
The uncle of Family Head Namgung Il-geom and the sole direct descendant who survived the previous succession war.
“Elder. Please, make a decision.”
“A decision…!”
It had been merely a month since Family Head Namgung Il-geom fell into unconsciousness, and it was determined that even if he awakened, his recovery as a warrior was impossible.
“Hmm. I understand your intentions, but the Family Head still lives. How can I commit such disloyalty?”
“Please prioritize the greater good! This is a decision for the family!”
“Yet the Young Master lives and breathes, and his will for vengeance remains unshaken, does it not?”
“The Young Master is still too young and inexperienced to lead the greater Namgung. For vengeance itself, we must wage war against the Changjiang Water Route Alliance. The Namgung requires a strong leader!”
Under normal circumstances, Namgung Cheon-yeong would naturally have served as acting Family Head.
Such was the law of the greater Namgung.
But now was wartime. There was justification.
It was an excuse for those who had been holding their breath, waiting for their chance, to make their move.
“….”
A farce unfolding. Only one Elder among them watched from a distance, observing the spectacle.
In silence alone.
Elder Namgung Sa-geom. Namgung Il-geom’s younger brother and right hand.
He who had been the true second-in-command of the Namgung Family all this time.
‘The martial world is… a place where those without power are cast aside.’
Though he had learned this painfully before, he learned it anew.
It was the fundamental reason he had supported his older brother Namgung Il-geom instead of entering the succession war himself.
Not a single senior member supported Namgung Sa-geom, the Family Head’s brother.
Unlike Namgung Yeon-ha, a Transcendent Master, Namgung Sa-geom was merely an ordinary person who had not even reached the pinnacle realm.
Suddenly, words he had once heard invaded his mind.
“Elder Namgung Sa-geom. Forgive my bluntness, but… there exists a world of warriors that those below the pinnacle cannot comprehend.”
Words spoken by a mere late-stage expert, nothing more than a young master from a minor family.
Yet that boy had become known as the Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong and the Unwaning Crescent Dragon, now virtually certain to be the greatest under heaven.
Despite uttering words that deserved death for speaking so to an Elder of the Namgung.
The martial world was such a place.
A realm of the strong where those without power earned no respect.
Then it happened.
“Elder Namgung Sa-geom. A letter has arrived.”
“A letter? From whom?”
Namgung Sa-geom’s eyes widened as he tore open the letter the servant had delivered.
It was written in a cipher code exclusive to the direct bloodline of the Namgung Family—known only to the Family Head, the Soga-joonim, and himself, the Family Head’s right hand.

* * *
A night when the brilliantly luminous full moon hung in the sky.
On a hillside near Hefei, where if one rose on their toes, the main estate of the Namgung Family would barely come into view.
“Uncle.”
Namgung Sa-geom flinched and turned around.
His nephew, who had changed greatly in recent times, now stood behind him.
“Namgung… Cheon-hu.”
“I no longer ask to be called Soga-joonim.”
“Your position has been stripped, so you are no longer Soga-joonim, nor are you my nephew, are you?”
Namgung Cheon-hu possessed an extraordinarily proud spirit and had shown an attachment bordering on obsession toward his status as Soga-joonim.
Namgung Sa-geom, speaking in the manner of a strategist to probe his opponent, had uttered such words, but soon he realized his mistake.
For Namgung Cheon-hu showed no emotional turbulence whatsoever—instead, he laughed with ease.
“Is that so? Heh heh. Then I too have no reason to address you as uncle. Namgung Sa-geom. I sent this letter because I have something to tell you.”
“…Something to tell me?”
“You are likely thinking of walking the path to maintain your position as second-in-command.”
“….”
It was a truth he could not deny.
Namgung Sa-geom had intended to support Namgung Cheon-yeong, the Soga-joonim, and manipulate him from behind while he served as acting Family Head.
Just as he had done until now, following the design he and his elder brother, Namgung Il-geom the Family Head, had drawn together.
“I congratulate you. Another path unfolds before you. It means you have reached a crossroads.”
Namgung Cheon-hu extended his hand.
From it rose a surge of qi. And a vision.
Heaven.
The Heaven that Namgung Sa-geom had so desperately yearned for was contained within Namgung Cheon-hu’s palm.
Namgung Sa-geom himself felt as though he could grasp it at any moment.
“Why not become the Family Head of the Namgung Family, Namgung Sa-geom?”
Namgung Sa-geom reached out his hand as if entranced.

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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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