Chapter 31

Talented (3)

Soon, cheers erupted from a distance.

Even the seasoned experts who had trained in the Nine Sects usually maintained their composure, but not this time.

They were mostly young martial artists who had formed friendships with Jeong Yeonshin.

They seemed to be the main ones he had seen when protecting Jeong Hye.

"Your nickname is Seomun, right? It suits you very well."

"Lightning Sword Style. Just as I've heard."

"Truly a profound and splendid sword technique, and powerful."

"If you're Wei Wuhao, you must be one of the promising disciples that the Defeated Sword Sect raised with all their might...!"

A decisive battle lay ahead. Their teachers and even the elders remained silent.

With his morale soaring, Jeong Yeonshin's focus was entirely on the front.

'Defeated Sword Sect.'

The front was completely different. A small murmur arose.

Though not loud, they couldn't hide their perplexed expressions.

A disciple of the Wen Zhu had his head taken off in just two moves, and his opponent was of the same age.

"This is an impossible situation."

"How could Wu Hao not even resist...?"

"Kill them all."

The last words came from the mouth of the Defeated Sword Sect's leader.

A resounding voice that wouldn't tolerate a drop in morale swept across the audience plain, filled with immense energy.

"Jeong Xiaoxia!"

Xian Yuan Chang waved from a distance. Jeong Yeonshin smiled slightly and approached.

"Did you also have connections with the middle-aged experts of the Zhongnan Sect?"

"Is something the matter?"

"Two famous experts from Xian have come. They asked if you'd like to practice with them. They said it's an interesting training method."

Jeong Yeonshin recalled the martial artists who had come with Yeo Ilshin from the Jeong family manor.

They had nodded in agreement when Yeo Ilshin suggested Jeong Yeonshin join the Zhongnan Sect.

These were the experts who had helped collect the bodies from the Jeong family manor. He had seen them briefly during the first major battle.

"Are their nicknames Dangeom Sword and Wuling Fist?"

"Heh, Xiaoxia, you have quite a reputation. You won't die aimlessly in this desolate wilderness. The Sword Immortal treated you like a beloved grandson, and even the Huashan Sword Festival discussed you as a guest of the Huashan Sect..."

Xian Yuan Chang said with a look of envy.

Reflecting on it, this journey through the martial world was very different from his first outing.

He had formed many connections with the experts of the Nine Sects, who were rarely seen in the secular world.

"It's been a while since I've seen them."

Jeong Yeonshin took a leisurely step forward.

White clouds, glowing in the sunlight, approached gently.

This was how it was before the second major battle began.

* * *

Four days later. The Defeated Sword Sect, which they encountered again on the Guanzhong Plain, came out with their swords sharpened.

Just by looking at their formation, one could feel it.

Even in the evil sects, the expressions of so many martial artists were not usually so concealed.

"This won't be easy. The few old men from the council have all come out."

Zhongnan Sword Immortal spoke solemnly. Gouyang Xin slowly nodded.

"If we win here, it will be over."

"Take good care of the disciples, Miaohua."

"Yes, Elder."

Wei Miaohua's calm response was different from before.

Her pale face was now radiant.

It seemed she had shed her burdens, and a surging power could be felt from her entire body.

A righteous aura was burning brightly.

Thanks to his great contributions, Jeong Yeonshin's eyes met those of Wei Miaohua, who stood with him.

Wei Miaohua's lips curved upward.

"I wish you good fortune, Jeong Xiaoxia."

"I hope Sword Dragon remains safe."

Jeong Yeonshin replied calmly and turned his head.

It wasn't the time to worry about a martial artist more skilled than himself.

At that moment, Zhongnan Sword Immortal placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Be careful of the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword. He is the grandfather of Wei Wuhao, whom you killed."

"Is he the Defeated Sword Sect elder from last time?"

"Yes. I couldn't finish him off and had to face the council leader. Although his stance quickly crumbled, he seemed to be paying attention to you even as he received my sword."

"His position is higher than the Defeated Sword Sect leader, but on the battlefield, he's like your right arm. They often say that."

Wei Miaohua chimed in with a worried expression.

"Thank you for your concern."

As Jeong Yeonshin nodded, the second major battle began.

This time, there was no vanguard battle. The Defeated Sword Sect charged forward with overwhelming momentum, using their lightness skills.

The war between sects, which put their survival on the line, was different from the romanticized tales told by enthusiasts.

The battle for power, honor, and survival compressed the martial artists' perception of space and time in an instant.

Clang! Boom!

"Gather at the Shilv Pavilion! Form a sword formation here!"

"Aaah!"

Jeong Yeonshin realized he was already in the midst of intense combat, unleashing the Lightning Sword Style.

The smell of blood became familiar. How many had he cut down in the midst of the high-level experts' overwhelming aura from all directions?

"No need for long words!"

An old man, looking like he had just emerged from a fierce battle, with tattered clothes, exuded an incredible aura.

Zhongnan Sword Immortal's advice was correct. The Defeated Sword Sect elder, Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword, approached with piercing eyes.

"Do all evil sects lack shame?"

"I'll teach you a lesson."

Jeong Yeonshin instinctively knew. In a chaotic battle, provocation was the most effective means.

Despite being a senior expert with immense experience, the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword moved like a lion stalking its prey, intoxicated by his own martial prowess.

His vision was completely narrowed.

The sounds of Xian Yuan Chang and Zhongnan Sect experts rushing to his aid from both sides were felt.

He raised his internal energy to its limit.

Clang!

The sword force he barely dodged was immense. The ground cracked with a loud thud, even though the blade didn't touch it.

The techniques of a major sect's elder-level expert seemed endless, and the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword continued to unleash his palm techniques.

Jeong Yeonshin used the Whirlwind Steps, brushing past his side.

"This brat?"

Crack!

The moment the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword's eyebrows twitched, he was sent flying by a palm strike.

An incredible force exploded from his abdominal muscles.

He couldn't even muster his internal energy in an instant, let alone use a high-level technique.

Jeong Yeonshin's eyes widened.

'Jeong Family Donggong!'

The small, activated Zhongdan Field assisted his internal energy.

The supreme Donggong energy surged through the shock.

He instantly neutralized the overwhelming force that was about to spread throughout his body and recovered.

In the meantime, Wei Miaohua, Wuling Fist, and Dangeom Sword had blocked the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword.

The image of four senior experts from the upper ranks engaging in combat was reflected in Jeong Yeonshin's eyes.

In an instant, his upper Zhongdan Field flared up, and he began to memorize every move of the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword.

'He's enraged. Easy to grasp.'

He could see how the sword was held, how the muscles moved when the sword force was applied.

He didn't stop there but delved into every subtlety.

From the footwork to the small habits in his body movements when he unleashed his energy.

The Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword, who seemed to be losing, used a mutual destruction technique.

He gave his left arm to Wei Miaohua's sword and struck her abdomen.

Wuling Fist and Dangeom Sword were also knocked down by his right-hand sword strike.

The old man's appearance was battered. He had become a one-armed swordsman, and his mouth was filled with dark red blood, indicating severe internal injuries.

Still, the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword was a renowned elder of the Defeated Sword Sect.

"Haah!"

Xian Yuan Chang rushed in and was thrown back pitifully. What had offended him?

As the sword from his true form was about to sever Xian Yuan Chang's head, Jeong Yeonshin was already standing to the side of the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword.

"I've been waiting for you!"

A sinister smile appeared on the old man's lips. The sword technique changed abruptly.

An incredible fast sword emerged from his wrinkled hands.

Just as the sword strike, which seemed to come from all directions, was about to reach Jeong Yeonshin's body.

'I can feel it.'

This wasn't a sword technique visible through his eye technique. This was in the realm of foresight.

His head felt like it was burning. It was as if the sun had fallen into his upper Zhongdan Field, unleashing a scorching energy.

He calculated all the techniques of the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword he had seen so far. He entrusted everything to his talent and good fortune.

He believed that the single move, the one strike from this position, would be exactly as he had anticipated.

He had already mapped out the sword path to counter it.

The Rihwang Sword in his hand extended like a flowing river.

It was a technique known in the martial world as "Pahui" (Destruction).

The bright sunlight was deflected by the sword blade, and the white trajectory flowed past the Nalcha's sword, slicing through the old man's neck.

Pfft!

"..."

Amidst the swirling energy and wind on the battlefield, the place where Jeong Yeonshin stood was calm.

He took in the sight of the Defeated Sword Sect leader engaging in a fierce battle with Sword Master Gouyang Xin.

He had heard that Gouyang Xin was at a disadvantage, but now it was different. The leader was clearly looking at him.

For the first time, confusion appeared on the Defeated Sword Sect leader's face as Jeong Yeonshin grabbed the corpse's hair.

"Defeated Sword Sect leader. I said I would take your arm."

He raised the head of the Eight Fiendish Nalcha Sword high, infusing his voice with energy.

The two sects' experts turned their heads in the direction of the resounding voice, and their movements gradually came to a halt.

Jeong Yeonshin asked calmly.

"Is this also your arm?"