Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 386

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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 386
While targeting Dok-hwi-gong’s throat, Yang Hwi calculated the sword trajectory in a fraction of a moment.
‘The dual-sword pincer strike with both wings—a horizontal slash from left and right. Let’s see if you can block this.’
The black-and-white twin swords in my left hand. The Sunbaek-sin-geom in my right hand.
I infused both blades with Seonhwa-gang-gi, forming sword force.
The black-and-white twin swords, brimming with demonic qi, had become an unmistakable demon blade, yet there was no repulsion even when infusing Seonhwa-gang-gi based on Seon-gi.
‘So this is why it was my ancestor’s beloved sword.’
The Sword Spirit added to the function of Mukhpa, the handle.
The black-and-white twin swords’ function was to contain qi within themselves and aid in control.
Yet only now did I truly understand its function.
The black-and-white twin swords’ function was further enhanced specifically against demonic qi.
To the point where even opposing forces could be infused without collision.
-Kiiiiiii!
-Kiiiiiii!
“Your neck—right there, you bastard!”
Both blades aimed at Dok-hwi-gong’s throat from left and right.
Dok-hwi-gong raised his hand with an expressionless face.
Demonic qi that evoked moonlight glistening on delicate jade hands.
Wol-myeong-gi condensed and transformed into sword force.
Thus the collision of force against force unfolded.
Kwaaaang!
The black-and-white twin swords in my left hand were blocked by Dok-hwi-gong’s Wol-ha-so-su-ma-gong.
As expected, I was prepared to follow with a consecutive strike, but the Sunbaek-sin-geom in my right hand produced an unexpected result.
‘What? Why this reaction?’
The moment the Sunbaek-sin-geom’s Seonhwa-geom-gang made contact with Dok-hwi-gong’s Wol-myeong-gang-gi, a powerful explosion erupted.
Or rather, should I call it repulsion?
Because of that, Dok-hwi-gong was sent flying far away, and I couldn’t follow up with the calculated consecutive strike.
‘Well, the result isn’t bad.’
Both Gwangmyeong-cheon and Dok-hwi-gong were Sect Leaders of the Ilwol Myeong Sect.
They must surely have learned combined techniques capable of mutual reinforcement.
Creating maximum distance was definitely advantageous.
“That sword. It’s the Chilheuk Ma-geom, isn’t it.”
Dok-hwi-gong stood treading empty air, gazing at the Sunbaek-sin-geom.
Though the sudden explosion was unexpected, it seemed it hadn’t inflicted meaningful damage.
“Call it the Sunbaek-sin-geom. It’s a new name.”
“Indeed. A reversal of function has occurred.”
Ordinarily, demonic qi tends to be at a disadvantage against the clear and pure qi of Tang-ma-mel-sa—that is, the Inner Qi of Buddhism or Taoism.
But the Chilheuk Ma-geom was different.
The clearer the force it collided with, the more violently it would rampage and crush the opponent to death—a demon blade.
This was why the Chilheuk Ma-geom was called a legendary demon blade, and Dok-hwi-gong knew this fact well.
“How was that even possible?”
“I don’t know either, kid.”
I truly didn’t know. I had simply been trying to absorb qi through the Sunbaek-sin-geom without it breaking, when the sword suddenly transformed.
In any case, when my qi encountered opposing forces, it went berserk, didn’t it?
Moreover, the force was powerful enough to send Dok-hwi-gong flying backward.
‘I’ve gained another card to play.’
There was one sword technique that perfectly complemented the Sunbaek-sin-geom’s ability.
-Seolha, Shinpung!
-Yes!
Pung-sin-eung-hoe. Like a hawk riding the upper winds to soar high, I thrust the Sunbaek-sin-geom upward from below.
“That won’t work. Now that I know, I can counter it.”
The Moonlight Qi in Dok-hwi-gong’s hand deepened further.
His attitude suggested he could easily withstand the Sunbaek-sin-geom’s explosive force.
But then.
“Right, I suppose so.”
Just before the Sunbaek-sin-geom reached Dok-hwi-gong.
I changed the target of my sword technique at close range.
The Sunbaek-sin-geom in my left hand—the demonic qi that had replaced the Seon qi was now burning pitch black.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t know about that?”
No matter how skilled I was, simultaneously wielding heterogeneous qi was impossible.
Even with both Seon qi and demonic qi stored in my dantian, simultaneous operation would be suicide.
However, the demonic qi stored in the Sunbaek-sin-geom was a different matter.
Kwaaaaaang!
Sword clashed against sword, and repulsion erupted.
I myself could not escape damage from this rampage.
But I had already devised a countermeasure.
‘Wuhua Daoxiao. Combined with Baiyingsihu.’
I controlled the explosive force using sword techniques from the heterogeneous qi grafting method based on yin techniques.
The redirected explosive force transformed into the Baiyingsihu technique centered on the Sunbaek-sin-geom and shot toward Dok-hwi-gong.
‘It connected.’
A wound appeared on Dok-hwi-gong’s neck.
The Baiyingsihu technique that pierced through his protective qi created a shallow but definite opening, from which dark energy flowed like liquid.
“You seemed so composed, yet you’re already wounded? The title of Sect Leader of the Ming Cult must be weeping.”
I masked my regret with mockery, but Dok-hwi-gong simply gazed at me quietly.
“Provocation is useless. The personality of the Yeok-cheon-hoe-hon-gang-si exists only to carry out its master’s commands.”
Tsk, I clicked my tongue.
‘So that’s why the Five Divine Generals of the Yeokcheon Singyeo in my past life were called inhuman monsters.’
No wonder that Gwangmyeong-cheon of the same faction showed no reaction either.
“I’ll make one final proposal. If you come with us quietly, you might be able to save your comrades’ lives.”
“Go eat candy, why don’t you?”
“There’s no helping it.”
Dok-hwi-gong’s gaze shifted beyond Yang Hwi.
It was toward Gwangmyeong-cheon, who was deflecting the relentless assault of Adu and Neung-o while exhaling flame-like Inner Qi.
“Gwangmyeong-cheon.”
“Understood.”
Gwangmyeong-cheon and Dok-hwi-gong swiftly closed the distance between them, unfolding their movements through the void.
Yet it was not merely distance that narrowed.
The two Sect Leaders extended their Inner Qi and spiritual intent toward each other with accelerating speed.
“Block them! Don’t let them connect!”
Alarm bells rang in my mind. I immediately unleashed a technique.
A choice of moves to sever the threads of extended spiritual intent—Wuudan Heart.
‘That insane bastard!’
Wuudan Heart failed to sever the threads of spiritual intent.
Instead, it pierced through Dok-hwi-gong’s protective Inner Qi and left a deep wound.
Dok-hwi-gong blocked with his body and reached out his hand.
On the opposite side, Gwangmyeong-cheon reached out his hand while accepting Neung-o’s technique, his sword shattering in the process.
And then, their hands touched.
“…Damn it.”
A flower bloomed.
Three exquisitely beautiful flowers.
The Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

* * *
It was merely a light contact, yet its significance was immense.
Sunlight Qi and Moonlight Qi. The same type of Qi, yet opposing forces.
They touched and merged into one.
Their intentions became unified, transforming into a vast mental image.
“Block it! With all your strength!”
Prajna Great Power, Hundred-Step Divine Fist, combined.
Secret technique: Formless Awakening Single Sweep.
Flying Immortal Jade Sound Single Path Law, One Strike Becomes Myriad Realms.
Prajna Great Power, Hundred-Step Divine Fist, combined.
Secret technique: Formless Awakening Single Sweep.
The ultimate techniques of three Transcendent Masters bearing the mental image of ascension.
Yet they could not stop the union of the two Sect Leaders.
Heaven-Covering Sword Path, First Path. Step by Step Treading Heaven!
My supreme ultimate technique, Step by Step Treading Heaven, could not pierce through the vast and powerful mental image woven by these two beings.
This was despite the fact that the Divine Dragon Immortal, one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, had once made me cough blood.
The reason was simple.
‘Damn it, they’ve filled each other’s deficiencies.’
A pierced heart and middle dantian.
A severed neck and upper dantian.
By weaving together the Inner Qi of the lower dantian—the Sunlight Qi and Moonlight Qi—the upper dantians also achieved harmony.
Moreover, what this union signified was.
“Brother… a flower has bloomed….”
Seolha, a disciple of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, and I had witnessed this phenomenon several times before.
‘Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown… evidence of the Flower Realm.’
In the past, Gwangmyeong-cheon and Dok-hwi-gong, who were powerhouses of the Cheonmu-sip-jon caliber, had become Yeok-cheon-hoe-hon-gang-si after death, losing their former realm.
Yet through this union, they had manifested the realm of the Flower Realm.
‘If this is the case, I can’t drive my sword through them, damn it.’
It was said that I had once hunted Seon, a member of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, but at that time Seon had been severely wounded from a life-or-death battle with the Taeguk Sword Master.
Even if the two of them formed one Flower Realm, it was incomparable to facing the two Sect Leaders without major injuries.
“I make the offer again.”
“Mortal body, if you follow us, we guarantee the lives of your companions.”
I could not speak as carelessly as before.
Even with four Transcendent Masters, we could not handle a single member of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
‘The opening of the three dantians, no, their union. The power obtained through it….’
The Transcendent Realm, that is, the Mental Image Realm, is the stage where one carves one’s mental image drawn from martial arts into heaven and earth.
Then what of the Flower Realm?
The stage where one imposes one’s mental image upon heaven and earth.
To put it simply, it was like the difference between sword energy and inner force.
‘I cannot win against this.’
No technique of sword energy can sever Kangqi, no matter what method I employ.
Before Kangqi, my sword energy is nothing but a firefly beneath the sun.
Because I possessed superior perception and martial prowess above all others, I could understand this truth.
I could never win.
Never. It was impossible.
My opponent had become such an existence.
An absolute being. One who deserved to be called thus.
“I shall take you away half-dead.”
“Accept the consequences of your choice.”
A colossal mental image stirred to life.
A radiant sun, yet the light it emitted was moonlight.
It was a bizarre and terrifying mental image.
-Neung Hyeong! Target the Macheonyangwang Sword Method at the center!
In the same instant as the telepathic transmission, Yang Hwi also swung both blades.
An offensive with the Macheonyangwang Sword Method as the primary force, supported by the Wolha Seosu Magong.
I intended to shave away the moonlight.
I had to create some way to defend against this, no matter what.
‘Bobo Dapcheon!’
The Shwaecheon Divine Condor shrieked and spread its wings.
Dapcheon, the first of its abilities.
The ultimate technique of Bobo Dapcheon that stemmed from it.
‘It must reach. I will shave it away!’
Desperate will transformed into intention in an instant.
The form drawn by intention honed through willpower—that was the mental image inscribed upon heaven and earth.
But.
If will could transcend all things, then limits would never exist in this world.
“It is futile.”
“Flesh and blood, merely touching it does not mean you can overcome it.”
Hwagyeong was also called the Realm of Absoluteness.
The mental image of the Ssanggyo Sect Leader was worthy of such a name.
A sun that emitted moonlight—a single strike born from such a mental image.
Slow, yet utterly inescapable.
“An overwhelming gap.”
“Do you feel it?”
‘Damn it!’
The Shwaecheon Divine Condor spread all ten pairs of wings.
I unleashed the first path of the Gaecheon Sword Path, along with every ultimate technique I had created thus far.
Moreover, Neung-o and Seolha also honed their intentions with desperate will and unfolded their mental images.
“…!”
Yet it was all for naught.
Divine Wind. Seolha’s wind could no longer sustain its wings.
Flowing Time. Neung-o became an arrow, yet the Transcendent Master’s realm could not be loosed from such a bowstring.
The mental image of a Transcendent Master was powerless before the Twin Sect Leaders, who had become one and embodied the realm of Harmonious Enlightenment.
“Yang Hwi! Get behind me!”
A single cry. While everyone else attempted to block the Twin Sect Leaders’ mental image through offense, Adu-man was preparing his defense.
“Haaaaah! Vajra Immovable! Indestructible Divine Body!”
The temple arts of Shaolin, originating from the Reverse Muscle Sutra, excelled in all aspects, but among them, one principle was undoubtedly defense.
Golden light blazed forth. Adu’s entire body seemed to burn.
Kuaaaaaaaaaang…!
Adu’s mental image did not break even against the Harmonious Enlightenment mental image.
Yet while he protected those dear to him, he could not protect himself.
“Bad… people… I hate…”
Rather than catch the falling Adu, Yang Hwi and Neung-o launched themselves forward simultaneously.
They could not miss the opening after the offense, the precious opportunity Adu had created.
“Futile.”
“A gap is only an opportunity for those who can seize it.”
The sun blazed bright and moonlight took tangible form.
“…!”
Neung-o was sent flying silently backward.
“Kuh, hack!”
Yang Hwi, embedded a zhang deep into the rocky mountain, coughed blood with his breath.
‘Seonran…’
Impossible. The internal injuries were far too severe.
My energy had spiraled beyond control, and weaving Seonran itself was impossible.
Given some time, I could have corrected the turbulent interior.
But the Twin Sect Leaders would never allow it.
“I make one final proposal.”
“You can still stop now. O flesh, follow in our wake.”
Now, there was no path forward.
“…Is that truly so? If you subdue me and make your move, I will find a way to end myself no matter what.”
Seolha immediately objected.
“Brother! You can’t!”
I understood. Yet there was no choice.
Whether Adu, Seolha, and Neung-o died and were dragged away, or simply went willingly, only one of these two fates awaited.

* * *
The moment Neung-o’s eyes opened, I thrust my sword forward.
My body reacted to the sight and memories from just before losing consciousness.
“Hiiiek!”
I barely stopped the blade. Standing before me was not the Twin Sect Leaders, but Chu Dal.
“What happened, Chu Dal?”
“You flew here on your own. Perhaps….”
Only then did I realize I was inside the central chamber.
“Was it you?”
The Dalai Lama trapped within the statue nodded.
“Indeed. I pulled you in with the Void Grasping technique.”
There was no time to ask why. I immediately checked my condition and hurled my body toward the exit.
Or rather, I tried to.
“Kill me.”
A single phrase that seized my feet.
“What are you thinking? I cannot fathom this at all.”
The Dalai Lama welcomed Yang Hwi’s group and willingly offered his own legacy.
Thus Yang Hwi absorbed the demonic qi of dozens of demons, and as if on cue, the Twin Sect Leaders of the Ilwol Myeonggyeo appeared.
“Dalai Lama. What exactly do you want?”
The old man’s response was extremely brief.
“You’ll understand if you kill me.”
“….”
“Kill me.”
I resolved to live as an arrow that had been shot.
My decision came swiftly.
“Gack, cough…!”
A sword piercing through the heart.
The Dalai Lama smiled even as he coughed blood.
“I will be reborn. Within thirty years at most. Resolve this within that time. Tell the Arranger… to kill Honeum….”
Did the Dalai Lama willingly succumb to the demonic path?
Or was he forced by the Cheonma?
I do not know.
It was never my concern to begin with.
“I shall.”
“Thank… you. I grant you the Wondrous Metal Body….”
At that moment, the statue composed of irregular metal fragments moved toward me.
“Strength… for you….”
The light faded from the Dalai Lama’s eyes.
Simultaneously, the statue’s transformation ceased.
“….”
Neung-o gazed silently down at his left arm.
A steel prosthetic forged from interlocking metal fragments.
The man who had lost his arm now possessed the legacy of the greatest master under heaven.

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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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