Chapter 78

Competition (2)

"Where is the City Lord?"

"It's been a long time since I've seen him. It's been like that since before the competition was announced."

This was the seat of honor at the central training ground of the Imperial Phoenix City. The conversation was between the Elder Council Head and the former leader of the Divine Sword Corps.

The old man, dressed in purple, smiled. He was the Elder Council Head of the Imperial Phoenix City.

As he stroked his white beard that reached his chest, even his small gestures exuded a presence that was not inferior to that of the Martial Yan.

He said,

"Long? It's only been seven years, isn't it? You should pay more attention to your family. I heard there was quite a commotion."

"I just returned from a journey. Before that, I was his subordinate, after all. I couldn't act rashly..."

Martial Yan muttered with a fearsome expression.

The annex of the Imperial Phoenix Sect had been turned upside down. It was reported that Juyeon-jeong, the birth mother of Masin, had made contact with Seomae.

What might have been overlooked was now revealed, thanks to the chaos caused by the Martial Guangyi warriors.

"The commotion? You can't say he acted rashly. I was greatly disappointed. I thought he would elevate the Martial Family alongside Seong-ju."

"Can anyone defeat a smiling opponent? If his childhood and talent were perfect, there would be nothing more to ask for. Baek-girin has everything. He might have become the head of the Namgung Family if he didn't have an older brother. I don't know much about Seomae, though."

"Already..."

Martial Yan spoke again.

"Already, he might be on par with Baek-girin. Seomae has an unprecedented sense. The martial arts I created for the Great Ancestor would fit him perfectly. I can't even guess how much more he will grow."

The Elder Council Head smacked his lips dramatically.

"His facial expression can be improved. I'm considering taking him as a foster son. Or... my granddaughter has great talent."

"Pass through my sword."

"Then I'll have to take Baek-girin. However, why don't you take Seomae? It seems you haven't even tried to win him over with wealth."

"..."

"I can guess. You're afraid, aren't you? Afraid of going against the City Lord's wishes. Or perhaps, did the City Lord scold you? You would have done something long ago."

The Elder Council Head chuckled.

"..."

"Both of them! What a pitiful fate!"

Martial Yan did not respond.

His silence deepened the Elder Council Head's smile.

"You were commanding the Divine Sword Corps and ruling the martial world like a dream. Do you remember the day you planted the yellow flag on Tian Shan after exterminating the remnants of the Devil Sect? You were truly powerful then. There were few who could match you. How did you fall so low?"

"It's because the Martial Family's martial arts are far from orthodox."

The Elder Council Head's eyes widened slightly, as if surprised by the response.

"You've changed a bit."

He was right. Martial Yan was not the type to say such things.

The talent of his long-lost grandson dazzled him.

He assigned people to watch over him, using the family's experts as informants.

He personally observed Seomae's activities in the martial world but did not intervene.

Going against the City Lord's threats was almost like defying the heavens, even for Martial Yan.

Thus, he could not respond to the Blood Flame Sect's Seven Demon Knights' abduction. It was an absurd situation.

He received reports that, while the Namgungs were indifferent, Seomae could not get close to two of the Four Demons and dozens of swordsmen.

Martial Yan was furious with himself for not assigning high-level experts, but it was too late to be bound by such matters.

He felt relieved when the City Lord himself intervened, and the raw reports of his grandson's activities brought him heartache.

The galloping. It was nothing but galloping.

The boy ran without rest. Martial Yan felt his breath catch as he read the reports.

His actions seemed to be dedicated entirely to his achievements and martial arts, even fostering a noble spirit.

At some point, he realized that the Martial Yan of the Imperial Phoenix Sect was fading away.

Whenever he thought of the boy, it felt as if the years he spent as the leader of the Divine Sword Corps were rewinding.

It was a feeling he couldn't quite define.

He said,

"Decline? It's inevitable. What is easily built is easily destroyed. The peak period is not long. I have thought about it for a long time. The old masters of the Nine Great Families are enviable. I must think of another way. If this boy is to face the orthodox Namgung Family, even more so..."

* * *

The combination of the Devil Blood Technique and the Demon Extermination Blue River Technique.

It was a method he had refined over a long time while staying at the Blood Flame Sect's headquarters.

At this moment, he focused on precision and power. The sensation of using opposing powers was unique.

'Cold.'

His outstretched left hand felt numb. It was as if it were submerged in ice. The energy passing through the Neiguan point below his wrist was intense.

Amid the irregular waves generated by the Blood Technique, the Demon Extermination Blue River Technique surrounding his left hand revealed a dazzling light.

It was a blue light that pulsed like a heart.

The moment the blue light encircling his left hand surged, a loud noise erupted.

Boom!

A shockwave exploded in the air. The compressed air rushed down to his feet.

With a cloud of dust rising, Namgung Hwaseon's body was pushed back. The powerful recoil also forced Jeong Yeonshin to step back.

'I need to keep refining it.'

The power was undeniable. Even a high-level expert like Baek-girin was forced back seven steps, despite not being hit.

However, the problem was significant. The precision was lacking.

It was a very forced power deployment. If it couldn't deliver effective strikes, it was meaningless.

He needed to solve this before facing the Namgung Family.

For now, it was fine. His opponent was greatly flustered.

He took a step. It was a stance. He had already raised his intent in his lower dantian. Energy burst from the Yongquan point under his foot.

Whoosh!

As the wind swept past his ears, Namgung Hwaseon grew larger in his field of vision.

In one step, he closed a distance of five paces. The energy wave from his sword, the Imperial Phoenix Sword, rippled.

'Imperial Phoenix Sword Technique.'

The sword traces from Zhongnan Mountain had transcended into a unique martial art.

As he twisted his arm, the Imperial Phoenix Sword shot forward in a straight horizontal slash.

Swoosh!

It was blocked by a sharp white light. A clear energy wave clashed. It must have been the Changgong Wuai Sword Technique of the Namgung Family.

Their eyes met as their swords clashed. In Namgung Hwaseon's eyes, Jeong Yeonshin's face was reflected, and a colorless light flickered.

He seemed completely absorbed.

Thud.

Namgung Hwaseon's sword power intensified. He pushed with deep internal energy.

It was the moment when Baek-girin's superficial skills would turn into genuine ones. Overpowering an opponent with less internal energy.

Jeong Yeonshin's arm holding the Imperial Phoenix Sword trembled slightly.

He thought of the spirit pill he had received as a reward. He had deliberately not taken it.

He would meet countless people who had been fed spirit medicines since birth. Jeong Yeonshin was a third-rate martial artist by nature.

He would inevitably face situations where his strength was lacking. Blaming his internal energy every time would be futile.

It could be called eccentric. He aimed to surpass through experience and sensation.

"Hiss!"

He channeled energy into his abdominal muscles while twisting his waist.

The energy in his Zhishi point, which supported his spine, flared intensely.

Crack!

With his clothes fluttering, he spun on the spot. He deliberately lost the strength contest.

He gathered the energy from the Full Body Jing into his left fist. After the Imperial Phoenix Sword Technique, it was the Timeless Vortex Fist.

The spiral energy wave swept the ground and surged up, colliding with his fist. A gust of wind clung to the side of Namgung Hwaseon's blue robe.

A thud sounded. With one strike, Namgung Hwaseon spun and narrowly avoided Jeong Yeonshin.

It was the Unyielding Blue Stream Body Technique.

As he swirled in the energy wave, his blue robe instantly straightened.

'He responded the moment he sensed the spiral energy.'

Jeong Yeonshin felt the brief touch of the robe. It was shallow. It didn't affect his internal organs.

There was another. The sword light that flashed as their figures crossed grazed his thigh.

It stung slightly. They had exchanged a full blow.

Thud.

Namgung Hwaseon, who had observed Jeong Yeonshin's unique techniques, countered with another energy wave.

Jeong Yeonshin, anticipating the spot to step, adjusted his footwork to dodge.

Thud.

The boy advanced another step without hesitation. Energy waves spread from his feet.

The Second Step of the Illusory Wing. The colorless waves pushed back the energy waves from the Changgong Wuai Sword Technique.

It was a step he had gained while drinking with the Thunder Immortal, discussing the martial world.

The distance had closed again. He created a gap and broke through the momentum.

Whoosh!

He struck the Imperial Phoenix Sword with the Imperial Phoenix Sword Technique again. Namgung Hwaseon was also preparing a continuous attack.

The sword movement, descending in a diagonal line, was picturesque.

The moment the wind currents from the two Imperial Phoenix Swords clashed, the internal energy burst from the swords.

Swoosh!

A heavy recoil surged through his grip, numbing his senses. Jeong Yeonshin suppressed a groan.

He couldn't stop. The gap was narrow. This was a close-quarters battle.

The evasion and collision repeated endlessly.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Boom!

The Imperial Phoenix Sword Technique, the Illusory Wing, and the Timeless Vortex Fist's spiral-shield-fist.

Jeong Yeonshin unleashed all the martial arts he had created and mastered.

He turned this place into a training ground. Another form of practice.

Even when blood splattered and wounds opened from sword traces, he continued.

Namgung Hwaseon, who had observed Jeong Yeonshin's unique techniques, countered with terrifying precision. Jeong Yeonshin changed his technique on the spot and retaliated.

"..."

The audience gradually fell silent.

It was a duel between geniuses. They were testing each other's martial prowess.

The exchange of techniques was continuous, and their extraordinary qualities shone brightly.

The surrounding noise gradually faded.

"..."

"Truly remarkable."

Someone spoke. It was a whisper. Others agreed.

"Unseen techniques keep pouring out, and they don't fall behind the old techniques of the Eight Great Families."

"Baek-girin's skills are also astonishing. How can he wield such power so skillfully?"

"Masin of the Martial Guangyi... There's already talk of him being a Great Ancestor. He creates and refines martial arts."

"Does he counter the Eight Families' techniques with his unique skills? Even his energy seems insufficient. The techniques of famous sects grow stronger over time..."

Jeong Yeonshin heard nothing.

He was as absorbed as Namgung Hwaseon. They exchanged sensations, techniques, and martial arts principles.

It was the realm of a talent that shone like a meteor. He wished it could continue forever.

The unique techniques that originally fit him well seemed to seep into his entire body.

Whoosh!

The wind wrapping around his extended hand was gentle.

The energy wave from the Timeless Vortex Fist split Namgung Hwaseon's sword energy at the end of the Illusory Wing's steps.

The techniques kept refining, becoming more precise.

It was extremely enjoyable. The sensation of talents clashing and elevating each other was almost ecstatic.

A feeling of something awakening in his entire body. The anxiety of the past seven years, longing for a full moon, subsided.

He thought of it unconsciously. He had the spirit pill. He would soon meet the City Lord.

Soon.

The boy began to smile.