Chapter 30: The Reason for the Fight (5)

Shinmo's eyes widened.

'Amazing!'

She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She felt like pinching herself to make sure it was real.

'Such spirit...?!'

Lian Hozheng's three consecutive attacks.

Each attack was imbued with an invisible, overwhelming spirit.

It was a spirit in the truest sense. It wasn't the killing intent that harbors the will to kill, nor the fighting spirit that ignites the will to battle.

It was like the massive military spirit one could only feel from the charge of tens of thousands of troops across the wilderness.

Lian Hozheng's every strike was imbued with an overwhelming presence. Even the same attack felt different in weight.

"What? He's a brainless thug, isn't he?"

"Why is he so flustered?"

"Despite his overbearing aura, isn't Chuseong just nothing special?"

Murmurs from a few of the younger disciples reached her ears.

'Is it natural?'

To them, Chuseong's reaction must have seemed ridiculous. He blocked when he could clearly dodge, and panicked when he could have blocked.

But Shinmo understood.

'He must be overwhelmed.'

If she had felt that level of spirit, even up close, she would have felt a suffocating fear. That's why he couldn't respond properly or show his true skills.

'If I were Chuseong...?'

At that moment,

"Wow, amazing!"

Shinmo turned her head to the side.

Lian Zhiping was staring at Lian Hozheng as if entranced.

"Incredible... How can he have such qi?!"

Shinmo's eyes widened.

Yang Xun tilted his head.

"Qi?"

"Excuse me? D, didn't you feel it?"

"......What?"

"The qi that Brother just released! Well, I'm not sure if it's qi... but how could you not feel it?"

Yang Xun looked bewildered. Not only him, but all the Changying disciples had expressions of confusion.

Shinmo was shocked.

"Did you feel it?"

"Excuse me? Ah, yes! Of course! How could I not feel such an overwhelming... such an incredibly massive qi?"

It would be normal not to feel it.

Shinmo was as surprised by Lian Hozheng as she was by Lian Zhiping.

'He felt it? With Young Master's internal strength?'

Lian Zhiping's talent was said to be among the best in the Lian family's history.

Still, he was just a fifteen-year-old boy. He hadn't even tasted the true essence of martial arts, let alone blossomed.

And yet, this boy felt the spirit of a peak expert from such a distance?

'Incredible...'

What kind of terrifying senses must he have been born with to perceive the military spirit that only a high-level expert like herself could feel?

Shinmo alternated her gaze between Lian Zhiping and Lian Hozheng.

'They are both monsters.'

Lian Hozheng, a martial artist who radiates a spirit so powerful that even the peak expert Guangfeng Sword Shinmo felt fear.

Lian Zhiping, a fifteen-year-old genius who naturally felt a spirit that only a peak expert could perceive.

Shinmo couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.

"The future of the Lian family is indeed bright."

"Excuse me?"

"Ah, no, it's nothing."

Shinmo cleared her thoughts and turned her gaze back to the training ground.

The fight was about to begin in earnest.

* * *

Clang!

The long spear and the long sword clashed, emitting a harsh metallic sound.

'What?'

Her arm, which had swung the sword, was tingling. Normally, she would have followed up with another attack, but the brief pause prevented her from closing the distance.

And Lian Hozheng didn't miss that opportunity.

Whoosh! Clang!

Chuseong blocked sixteen spear strikes with a frenzied flurry of chaotic sword strikes.

This time was no different. The weight transmitted through the blade was so great that it shook her elbow and shoulder.

'What kind of strength is this?'

Clang!

The powerful sword strike was deflected.

She had tried to deflect the spear shaft with her wrist, but the spear, struck by the sword, was deflected with such force.

This wasn't about the quantity or quality of internal energy. It was clear that he was born with extraordinary physical strength. It was hard to believe that such strength could emanate from his slender body.

Lian Hozheng's attacks continued.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The spear strikes, piercing the air like venomous snakes, were vicious.

The attacks were so relentless that there was no room for evasion or counterattack. Chuseong instinctively unleashed her sword technique.

Clang! Squeal! Bang!

The spear blade, spear shaft, and sword blade intertwined, emitting a bone-chilling sound.

The sound spoke volumes. One strike and you were dead.

The clash of spear and sword spoke volumes. This was not a friendly sparring match.

The atmosphere on the training ground instantly turned deadly.

Thud! Clang!

Each step and weapon swing left no room for error.

The faces of the younger disciples, who had been skeptical of Chuseong's skills, now showed signs of unease.

'Too deadly?'

'Is someone going to get seriously hurt?'

'The problem isn't getting hurt... they might die!'

But no one tried to stop them.

No, they couldn't. The sound of clashing weapons and the deadly intent it carried dominated the entire outer courtyard.

A one-on-one battle where no one could intervene. The air was thick with the scent of a fierce battle, like the ancient generals of the Three Kingdoms era engaging in a duel.

Crack!

The spear blade embedded itself in the training ground floor.

It was a strike aimed at sweeping away the opponent's ankle. If Chuseong hadn't dodged, the match would have been over in three moves.

'Ah!'

Chuseong dodged to the left.

For the first time, a murderous intent flashed in her eyes.

'Just a kid, huh?'

Lian Hozheng's eyes sparkled. In that brief moment, he sensed the murderous intent emanating from Chuseong's body.

Whoosh.

The Bìlázhen Technique surged.

A green light flickered in his eyes, and thick veins bulged on the back of his hand gripping the spear.

Just as Chuseong was about to charge forward,

Whoosh!

Seizing the initiative, he took a step forward and attacked with a two-step spear strike. The movement was fluid, but the spear blade carried no mercy.

The unusual rhythm made it impossible to block or dodge. There was only one way to avoid this fierce spear technique.

"Ugh!"

Thud!

Chuseong rolled across the training ground floor.

Lian Hozheng's eyes sparkled.

Crack! Crack!

Lian Hozheng was merciless. He pursued Chuseong, who had rolled to dodge, and relentlessly stabbed with his spear, causing the training ground floor to tremble with each strike.

It was relentless and deadly. He attacked like a predator hunting its prey.

Chuseong felt like she was about to lose it.

Rolling to dodge, a technique known as "Lazy Donkey Roll," was humiliating, and she was furious that he didn't even give her a chance to get up.

She was angry. Her anger had reached its peak.

"Ugh! You bastard!"

Bang!

Chuseong's movements, as she charged forward, were unrefined. She moved like a wild animal, unable to contain her rage.

Thud!

Was it an unexpected movement? The spear blade tore her shoulder. But it wasn't a fatal wound.

'This guy! My turn!'

Chuseong's face, flushed with shame and anger.

'Die!'

Flash!

Chuseong's sword stabbed towards Lian Hozheng's throat.

"Ah! Brother?!"

"D, Dangerous!"

At the critical moment,

Bang!

A loud explosion sent Chuseong flying to the center of the training ground.

Blood spurted from Chuseong's mouth. She had suffered internal injuries from the tremendous force.

'What, what is this?'

Even Chuseong couldn't see what martial technique had been used.

As she desperately pushed herself up from the ground, she finally saw Lian Hozheng.

Whoosh!

It was truly fantastical.

It was hard to tell if it was an illusion or if qi was actually forming such a shape.

Not only Chuseong, but everyone present saw it.

Two translucent hexagonal patterns slowly swirling around Lian Hozheng's body.

They were large enough to cover his upper body, and something long and indistinguishable, like a snake or a dragon, was wriggling above his shoulders.

It was a mysterious sight.

The form itself was bizarre, yet no one found it strange or grotesque.

"Huff."

With Lian Hozheng's breath, the Xuanwu seemed to stir.

Chuseong's face contorted.

"What kind of black magic is this?!"

Whoosh!

Chuseong's eyes rolled back, and a vivid green light flickered on her extended sword.

It was the true essence of her training, the Chumingsan Jian (Three Life-Chasing Swords). She had never failed to take a life after using this technique.

Lian Hozheng's eyes emitted a cold light.

Boom!

With a step, the movement was different from before.

It was much slower and heavier, yet smooth and natural.

'...?'

Chuseong's eyes widened.

The sword, which had shot out like lightning, seemed to slow down.

No, it didn't just seem to slow down; it did slow down. The sword strike aimed at Lian Hozheng's heart even veered off course.

'What?!!'

Whoosh! Whoosh!

It felt like a cold wind was blowing, cutting through the flesh.

The dark northern wind, the Xuanwu qi, a fantastical wind welcoming the appearance of the water deity Xuanwu.

This fantastical wind infused Lian Hozheng's spear, beginning to carve the absolute defense technique of the Four Divine Martial Arts.

The Xuanwu stepping technique, Guizhufudong (Unmoving Pillar).

Following Guizhufudong, the iron technique of the Northern Sky, Beitian Shier Bi (Twelve Walls of the Northern Sky), revealed itself.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Ugh!"

Chuseong felt a shock that seemed to break her wrist.

The Chumingsan Jian was a linked technique, aiming at three vital points with three sword strikes. All three strikes were deflected.

Whoosh!

A white mist rose from the tip of the long spear, cutting through the heavy, dark wind.

Sizzle!

The rising mist swayed, lashing out with the Xuanwu qi.

The linked three techniques of Beitian Shier Bi, Sanzhong Guibi (Triple Turtle Wall), were displayed. Whether performed with bare hands or weapons, the power was consistent, making it a supreme technique.

Not only Beitian Shier Bi.

All the Four Divine Martial Arts were like this. They were invincible techniques and supreme skills, applicable with or without weapons.

Moreover,

The Xuanwu martial arts, while the ultimate in defense, could also be used offensively depending on the user.

Whoosh.

Lian Hozheng's stepping technique was unique.

The movements were small and slow, yet he had already reached Chuseong's face. It was the Guizhufudong technique.

"You bastard!!"

Bang!

Chuseong was tenacious. She swung her sword wildly, as if trying to tear her opponent apart.

Thud!

The left hand, which had not been holding the spear, now gripped the lower part of the spear.

And the attack began.

Crack!

"Ugh!"

Chuseong's wrist broke.

No one saw how it broke. Whether it was from the spear shaft or the flat of the spear blade, no one could see.

It didn't end there. No, Lian Hozheng's attack was just beginning.

Whoosh!

The long spear, over six feet long, began to sprout fangs like a beast, heavy with the weight of the deep sea.

It was the martial technique that had driven Chuseong back before he unleashed the Xuanwu, the Yeshou Qiangfa (Beast Spear Technique).

Lian Hozheng, wielding the beastly spear infused with Xuanwu qi, carried no mercy in his strikes.

The terrifying iron spear began to slash at Chuseong's body.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

"Ugh!"