Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 363

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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 363
Yang Hwi and his group disembarked from the boat.
Though he had already paid the fare, bringing Namgung Cheon-yeong all the way to Seojang felt awkward.
‘No matter how I think about it, I can’t have the Family Head follow me to Seojang.’
Neung-o was also a sect leader, but he was an exception.
In any case, an exception.
He had been an exception for quite some time now.
“Because of you, Cheon-yeong, I’ve lost several gold coins. You better make it up to me, alright?”
“But I didn’t ask to get off either…”
Namgung Cheon-yeong wore an aggrieved expression.
“Anyway, let’s stay in this area for a while and have a training period.”
It worked out well.
I wanted to research the Seon-dan technique and spend some time settling down somewhere anyway.
‘I was planning to do it on the way to Seojang, but I might as well stay here to teach this fellow Namgung Cheon-yeong.’
Of course, I couldn’t stay near the harbor.
When practicing martial arts, loud booms would echo everywhere.
Setting aside the trouble it would cause, people from the family might come looking.
I was, in a sense, a fugitive.
“Therefore, Chu Dal, go get some money.”
“Huh? After you just said all that?”
“Just enough to buy a manor in a quiet village nearby. Go extort it from the Black Blade Gang or whoever—just bring it back. You’re good at finding these things.”
I sent Chu Dal off with a kick to his rear, and about half an hour later.
“I’ve brought it.”
Everyone stared at Chu Dal in astonishment.
Yang Hwi spoke on behalf of the group.
“I didn’t know you could be this fast…?”
“Who do you think I am? I’m the current successor of the Divine Blade Lineage, am I not?”

* * *
A secluded manor in a small village with a population of roughly three hundred.
Yang Hwi and Namgung Cheon-yeong faced each other and drew their swords.
“Let me see your skills before I teach you properly.”
They were once fellow participants who clashed during the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
But now the gap in martial prowess was stark.
Namgung Cheon-yeong tightened his lips and nodded.
‘I came to learn, so I’ll approach this as a disciple would. For the future of the Main Residence.’
“I’ll make the first move, Baek Hyeong.”
Clang, clang-clang!
The Boundless Spear Heaven Sword Technique shone brilliantly.
He was only displaying the forms, yet it was beautiful enough.
But.
“What are you doing? Not using your qi? Come at me properly.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s expression grew grave.
“But… Baek Hyeong. You…”
Namgung Cheon-yeong couldn’t finish his words.
Why was this guy like this?
‘Ah, right. I never told him that losing my martial arts was a lie.’
This had become awkward.
I cautiously gauged Neung-o’s reaction.
Unlike that Adu fellow who followed along happily, Neung-o had pursued me with the intention of protecting me since I’d lost my martial arts.
‘Well, forget it.’
The moment I suddenly drew sword qi from my blade, everyone’s eyes widened.
“B-b-b-Baek Hyeong. Sword qi…?”
“Baek Dou! Could it be you’ve recovered your inner strength in the meantime! Hahahaha, congratulations!”
Hmm. Neung-o, despite his reputation as a Taoist, didn’t seem to consider the possibility that losing my martial arts was a lie.
“Neung Hyeong. About that…”
A true opportunist must always be quick-witted.
I suddenly dropped to my knees.
“It was a lie! I apologize!”
“….”
“….”
“….”
“I didn’t want the family’s interests to be seized… hehe.”
For the record, Neung-o was the one who had comforted me with the most genuine sincerity among the group.
Neung-o quietly drew his sword.
“Namgung Dou. Would you yield your turn to me?”
“Gladly.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong stepped aside smoothly, and Neung-o moved forward.
Yang Hwi could only laugh awkwardly.
‘This is getting out of hand.’

* * *
Four days later.
Yang Hwi and Namgung Cheon-yeong stood facing each other once more.
“Some matters delayed things by four days, but regardless, we begin again. Come.”
“I’ll engage, Baek Hyeong.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong drew forth an azure sword aura and charged forward.
Yang Hwi did not retreat a single step, receiving and deflecting the offensive.
Sent flying several zhang away, Namgung Cheon-yeong reversed his rebound force through the mysteries of the Four Directions Heaven Technique, charging forward even faster.
‘Hmm, this time he’s infused it with Willpower Qi.’
Energy accumulating, sword aura manifests.
Willpower Qi woven into the blade itself, celestial aura emerges.
Not quite reaching true celestial aura, yet energy and willpower were fused together in a manner resembling it.
‘Quite impressive. Not content with merely touching the wall, he’s knocking upon it earnestly.’
I could sense it clearly.
Namgung Cheon-yeong had reached the pinnacle of perfection and was knocking upon the door of transcendence.
At barely past the age of twenty.
‘I’ve felt it since my past life—a true genius is indeed a genius.’
That’s why he earned the title of Namgung’s First Sword once he passed thirty.
This one would reach transcendence by at least thirty years of age.
‘Conversely, that’s precisely why he sought me out.’
Frustrated by the wall blocking his path.
Desperate to break through quickly, he even bowed his head to one he once considered a rival.
He’s grown considerably.
*Ching!*
I lightly deflected the blade infused with sword aura and Willpower Qi, creating distance.
“That’s enough. I’ve seen your capabilities.”
“Huff. Huff.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong exhaled roughly.
Meanwhile, Yang Hwi had not drawn a single labored breath.
“Now I truly cannot match you.”
“You never could match me, boy.”
“….”
Namgung Cheon-yeong clamped his mouth shut, his expression crestfallen.
This fellow makes one feel apologetic.
But Yang Hwi was the type who knew how to spit while smiling.
“A mere perfected cultivator serving as Family Head of the Five Great Families—it’s absurd. Apply yourself, you wretch.”
“…That’s precisely why I followed Baek Hyeong. It’s said that during your recent battle with Seon, you elevated several to transcendence. Is this true?”
“Yes. It’s true. If you learn from me a little, you’ll surpass it in no time.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong thrust his sword forward with a face full of resolve.
“I won’t ask for your favor empty-handed, Baek Hyeong. If you bestow this grace upon me, I swear by the Namgung name that I shall never forget it.”
“Is that so? I was planning to teach you freely, but if you insist on paying a price…”
“Eh?”
“Let me think—what was the usual asking price for a Transcendent Master’s body?”
Namgung Cheon-yeong hastily waved his hands in denial.
He had made a preemptive move thinking this could never happen, but the response came back entirely contrary to his expectations.
“N-no, thank you! I’m truly grateful, Baek Hyeong!”
Yang Hwi watched his flustered form with an expressionless face before responding.
‘Well, if Namgung Cheon-yeong becomes stronger while being favorable to me, managing the Namgung Family will become easier.’
“Namgung Cheon-yeong. Do you know there are two paths to reaching Transcendence?”
“…I’ve heard. There is Ascension and Heavenly Ascension, they say.”
This bastard knows about this? I only told a select few people about this.
So the Main Residence has been listening very carefully, haven’t they?
“In that sense, consider it fortunate that you came to me before breaking through the wall. I shall elevate you through Heavenly Ascension.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong possesses more than enough qualifications to achieve Heavenly Ascension.
Even I, Yang Hwi, who prides myself on unparalleled talent under heaven, cannot help but acknowledge it.
And yet, I’m going to personally teach and elevate through Heavenly Ascension the very man I fought to the death against in my past life.
‘How ironic. And yet, how entertaining.’
“The sword technique I’m about to teach you is called the Emperor’s Sword Form.”
“A form, not a method, principle, or technique, Hyeong?”
“Correct. There isn’t even an incantation. It would be better if you create one yourself. All I will show you is the Form and the Intent.”
In my past life, my spiritual sensitivity was never acute enough to read the flow of qi within another’s meridians.
Perhaps it was because I had experienced Qi Deviation once before.
Still, with that bastard’s talent, he should grasp it on his own.
If he can’t, then that’s where it ends.
“Heaven is the existence that looks down upon all things on earth. Therefore, Emperor. Behold—the Emperor’s Sword.”
In that instant, Namgung Cheon-yeong could not help but shudder.
Yang Hwi, who had been firm yet free-flowing, suddenly transformed his sword intent in a single moment.
A sword that was heavy, overwhelming all things.
Dominion and Weight.
A sword principle perfectly suited to the Namgung Family.
*Ssssssshhhhh—!*
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s pupils became transparent. He concentrated utterly, burning every aspect of the sword into his eyes.
The sword’s shadow reflected in his pupils like mirrors.
Heavy, yet beautiful.
Sharp, yet dignified.
‘Where on earth did Baek Hyeong learn such a sword….’
The Baek Family’s sword was of the stream—represented by the imagery of feathers and hawks.
What I’m showing you now is worlds apart from that sword.
The Imperial Sword Form. This sword was… more suited to Namgung than any other.
As if born from the Namgung Family itself.
“Phew. Replicating it exactly is quite difficult. But you saw it properly, yes?”
I unfolded it myself, having reached the pinnacle of transcendence and gazing toward even greater heights.
This meant I had captured both the form and the essence of the sword properly.
I would need to create the corresponding method of channeling energy and the secret incantations that embodied the sword’s essence myself.
“Again. Show me once more, please.”
“Very well.”
Without hesitation, I recreated the Imperial Sword Form.
In those intervals, Yang Hwi noticed Namgung Cheon-yeong’s fingers twitching.
‘So a genius truly is a genius.’
Those twitches were becoming increasingly similar each time.
It seemed the time I would need to spend here for Namgung Cheon-yeong would be far shorter than anticipated.
This way, I’ve wasted money renting the manor for nothing.
“Again. Just once more. Baek Hyeong.”
The third time.
Unlike before, Namgung Cheon-yeong drew his own sword and watched me.
The Namgung Family’s distinctive heavy broadsword.
The twitching of his fingers transformed into trembling at the sword’s tip.
“Again. Just one more time.”
The fourth time.
The fifth time.
The sixth time.
That entire day, I demonstrated the Imperial Sword Form to Namgung Cheon-yeong without reservation.

* * *
Yang Hwi, Seolha, Neung-o, and Chu Dal stood side by side with their mouths agape, staring at the sight before them.
Neung-o in particular bore a faint hint of grievance beneath his astonishment.
“Why… so easily….”
Yang Hwi, feeling oddly apologetic, turned his head slightly away from Neung-o.
‘It’s because I passed on to him the realm and enlightenment he would have reached in the future… I’m sorry, Neung-o….’
One truth I discovered while teaching Namgung Cheon-yeong.
The Emperor’s Sword Form bore a striking resemblance to the swordsmanship Namgung Cheon-yeong pursued.
In other words, it was highly likely that in my past life, it was Namgung Cheon-yeong who obtained the first stance of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique and created the Emperor’s Sword Form.
I had wondered if it might be the work of Namgung Pae, the Family Head at that time, but it seemed Namgung Cheon-yeong was the one after all.
The sight before my eyes was proof of that.
‘I didn’t expect him to break through the barrier so quickly. And it’s not even transcendence through enlightenment, but actual ascension.’
Well, I had filled in the lacking parts with pieces that fit perfectly.
Namgung Cheon-yeong floated in mid-air with his eyes closed.
Crackling sounds emanated from his entire body, and dead skin scattered in all directions.
Soon the light subsided and Namgung Cheon-yeong’s feet touched the ground.
Namgung Cheon-yeong slowly opened his eyes, their brilliance flashing as he emanated the presence of an emperor.
“Baek Hyeong….”
Namgung Cheon-yeong slowly performed the fist salute.
With gratitude and respect deeper than ever before.
“Thank you. The Namgung Family will never forget this debt. I swear it as Family Head.”
He had no choice but to feel this way.
He had come seeking enlightenment to reach the Transcendent Realm, yet I had given him the Emperor’s Sword Form itself.
The Emperor’s Sword Form—the very technique I had heard was born in the Namgung Family in my past life as the greatest sword technique under heaven.
“You’re grateful?”
“Of course. I will surely repay this debt.”
“Then repay it right now.”
“Right now…? How…?”
“I’ve somehow ended up unable to return to the Main Residence. But I’ve started so many things that I need help with.”
Yang Hwi grinned.
Namgung Cheon-yeong could not help but feel uneasy at that smile.
Every time Yang Hwi smiled like that, chaos ensued.
“I have a favor to ask. Go to Mu-han, Namgung Cheon-yeong.”

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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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