Chapter 200: A Wondrous Existence

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“WOOOW…!”

Everyone let out exclamations in unison and stuck out their tongues.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s boast that he would accept any fight that came, making each of their hearts pound.

A faint smile formed at the corner of Wei Ta-gong’s mouth.

‘A hundred or a thousand…? Ha. He’s serious.’

Setting aside personal martial might, it was a bold spirit.

At that moment, the voice of one figure who was positioned somewhere resonated with internal power.

-I will tell the martial world comrades gathered here the truth. Behind today’s duel, in fact, the Sword Seal Sect’s sins were hidden.

At that, the crowd’s gazes concentrated in one direction all at once.

The owner of that voice was none other than Immortal Muhyeon, Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect.

Wei Ta-gong, who had stopped in his tracks drawn by the voice, turned his head and hardened his gaze.

‘Sins?’

As the crowd’s attention focused like that, Immortal Muhyeon spoke again clearly using internal power.

-Recently, Sect Leader So of the Sword Seal Sect mobilized his forces to try to kidnap family members and disciples of the White Peak Sword Sect, and even planned torture and murder. We have already secured witnesses and evidence. Furthermore, the evil acts of the Black Forest Hall, which was incorporated under the Sword Seal Sect, are also included in the crimes.

Exclamations mixed with sighs of shock were heard here and there.

Immortal Muhyeon paused briefly and opened his mouth again.

-That is why this life-or-death duel gathering was arranged today. The catalyst was rumors related to the Ghost Shadow Sword Art.

At that, Wei Ta-gong asked with a voice also carrying internal power.

-Hmm, are you saying Sect Leader So coveted the Ghost Shadow Sword Art?

Immortal Muhyeon nodded and responded.

-Sect Leader So was the very person who killed Thousand-Kill Sword Ghost Eum Ryun, the original owner of the Ghost Shadow Sword Art, in the past.

Then he revealed even the secret history tangled with a love affair.

The crowd murmured again with shocked faces.

“Ha… He really was a persistent and cruel person.”

“To have accepted a life-or-death duel in order to completely sever the lineage of the Ghost Shadow Sword Art…”

“Wow, so… The ultimate goal was to eradicate the surviving blood.”

Gazes pouring toward the Sword Seal Sect group from the crowd.

There was no way it was a lie.

Who was the person who had brought up this story?

Wasn’t he Immortal Muhyeon, the Ten Ultimate Martial Saint, revered by all as an outstanding sage of the Taoist martial world, and the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect among the Nine Great Sects, which were called the center of the orthodox faction?

It was a perfectly natural reaction to feel trust transcending orthodox and unorthodox toward such an existence, comparable to a white crane soaring among clouds, who together with the current abbot of Shaolin Temple with its thousand-year history and tradition was famed as a figure of benevolent character and high virtue.

As if proving that, Wei Ta-gong, the representative of the unorthodox faction, let out a cold voice.

“TSK, the alias Severing Finger Sword Venerable is wasted on him.”

That’s right.

The unorthodox faction also has its dignity.

It’s unavoidable that the nature of martial arts leads to the reputation of being heterodox, but types like that So Cheon-ak belonged not simply to ‘unorthodox’ but to the category of ‘wicked tyranny.’

At that moment, a statement by Taoist White Cloud Sword Duke Cheon Mu, the unparalleled Taoist who was the Mount Heng Sect Leader, added to the credibility.

“Adding to Sect Leader Muhyeon’s words… This body also stakes my sect’s honor and affirms that everything is true, and the detailed circumstances related to the Sword Seal Sect’s evil acts will all be learned through future government announcements and official documents.”

Amid the murmuring of the countless crowd, Wei Ta-gong wore another faint smile.

‘Ohh, the government’s involvement… The matter has grown. Then the Sword Seal Sect’s fate ends here.’

If the government was determined to reveal the crimes and swing the hammer of punishment, a single martial world force could not endure it.

A martial sect that had lost its leader and executives would naturally weaken and regress, and in the worst case, would undergo closure procedures.

Soon Wei Ta-gong posed a meaningful question.

“Sect Leader Muhyeon. The reason for bringing up that story at this moment… Is it a warning not to exchange blows with Cheol Ryu-heun anymore?”

“No, Palace Lord Wei.”

“Then…”

“Everything is Sect Leader Cheol’s will, so do as you please. I only hope this becomes a field where we compete purely with strength.”

“Ha. Of course. Don’t think of me in the same light as the Sword Seal Sect Leader. I stepped forward simply because I’m curious about his power.”

“Good. And when these series of duels are finished, there is one matter to convey.”

“A matter to convey…?”

“I will tell everyone when it’s over. It’s something very important. If this old Taoist may add, because of that content, the two factions may develop into at least a cooperative relationship if not unity. Even if only temporarily.”

At Immortal Muhyeon’s words, Wei Ta-gong sank his gaze.

‘What? A cooperative… Relationship?’

Doubt and curiosity seeped into his mind and chest.

It seemed some great intention was hidden.

In a moment.

Cheol Ryu-heun, having gone to stand at the center of the wide open area at some point, shrugged his shoulders expressionlessly.

“Who’s first?”

Wei Ta-gong, reacting immediately, answered while releasing a solemn fierce energy.

“I will. If you defeat me here, I will treat and address you as a peer sect Leader. I promise.”

“That will happen anyway. My seniority is actually high, you see. As high as that sky.”

“How arrogant… But somehow I like it.”

Just as Wei Ta-gong fiercely flashed his eyes and took a few steps forward, one person’s sharp shout struck his ears.

“Palace Lord Wei! Didn’t you say earlier it was my turn!”

It was Hungry Wolf Blade Demon Jinjo Jeok-je.

Before anyone could stop him, he was dashing toward Cheol Ryu-heun fast as a wolf.

PAPAPAPAPA-

The curved saber in his right hand, his treasured blade Blue Wolf, was full of killing intent.

Wei Ta-gong stopped his steps and quietly gazed at Jinjo Jeok-je’s back, receding ahead past him.

‘It’s futile. But as a martial artist, I understand.’

Suddenly, an explosive sound burst.

PAPANG!

Jinjo Jeok-je, who had been compressing the distance, increased his speed of movement by bursting massive energy through his yongcheon points.

Fierce Wolf Steps.

Like a wolf about to bite prey’s neck, the movement advancing in a zigzag pattern had a chilling quality.

With a gap of four or five paces, the Blue Wolf Blade crossed the air.

SHUAAAAAAAAA-!

Heavy perfected-level internal power was loaded.

Jagged energy sprouted from the long blade body.

A blue blade baring its teeth like a wolf.

Simultaneously.

KKAAAAAAAANG- KWAWOOOOWUNG-!

The Ganjiang Sword collided with the Blue Wolf Blade coming at its master’s side.

Jinjo Jeok-je retreated about two zhang while wobbling from the tremendous repelling force.

‘URK!’

His wrist and forearm stung.

Indeed, it was terrifying and marvellous sword power.

It felt as if the ultimate move of Flying Wolf Blade Technique, the supreme bladework that had earned him the alias Hungry Wolf Blade Demon, had bounced off from hitting a thick iron wall.

Such a gap – how surprising.

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun rapidly came crashing into his field of vision.

‘HURP!’

Jinjo Jeok-je swallowed his breath and swung Blue Wolf Blade chaotically.

CHAECHAENG, CHAECHAENG, CHAECHAENG, CHAECHAENG… PEOPHENG, PEOPHENG, PEOPHENG, PEOPHENG…!

Before Cheol Ryu-heun’s sword attacks rushing in successively like a crossbow, Jinjo Jeok-je was pushed backward again, his upper body wobbling.

Seeing that, Wei Ta-gong’s pupils widened greatly.

‘So fast like that…!’

A fist clenched despite himself.

The interval at which power was released was at an incomprehensible level.

That’s right.

It was a linking speed of a truly different dimension.

The connection of sword moves was of an extent where even the word ‘instant’ was insufficient to describe.

It was cultivation that destroyed common sense.

It was strange that his acupoints and meridians didn’t rupture despite using sword moves loaded with massive power so rapidly like that.

In a moment.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWA-!

As if a pure white mountain was collapsing and rushing forward, it swallowed the blue beast.

PEOHEOEONG-!

With an enormous explosion, Jinjo Jeok-je’s body was swept by white flow and flew three zhang back before being driven KUNG into the ground.

Ultimate move, Mountain Road.

“GURGH…”

Jinjo Jeok-je, having let out a pained groan, finally vomited blood.

SPLASH.

The energy blood in his body ran wild like wild horses.

From the effect of receiving Cheol Ryu-heun’s tremendous sword power.

Having crashed into him like this, he now understood.

The meaning of what Cheol Ryu-heun had said.

-I will show you. The gap in power that cannot be closed even if you live for eternity.

‘He’s fearsome. Really… Is he not tired?’

Jinjo Jeok-je, having wiped the blood from his mouth, barely raised his body upright.

TREMBLE TREMBLE.

The hand gripping the Blue Wolf Blade was convulsing.

He had intuited.

Defeat.

Honestly, there was nothing more he could do.

Yes, having endured this much should be enough.

“I’ve lost. No… I’ve lost, Sect Leader Cheol.”

Thus Jinjo Jeok-je, sheathing Blue Wolf Blade, accepted his defeat.

Cheol Ryu-heun nodded lightly and angled his sword downward.

“It was a wise choice. Displaying perfected-level internal power from the start.”

The other party had changed his speech, so he responded with changed speech too.

Soon, Jinjo Jeok-je moved away with several people’s support.

PAPAK-!

One figure with an extraordinary presence appeared suddenly at one zhang distance as if switching places.

“Sect Leader Cheol, I request your teaching!”

It was Jade Qilin Yeo Yong-jeo, the youngest powerhouse among the Six Extremes of Hubei, Golden Spear Fortress Lord.

When Cheol Ryu-heun with nonchalant eyes sent a chin gesture.

TEOEONG-!

Yeo Yong-jeo kicked off the ground and forcefully thrust his golden spear forward.

HUWOOOOWOONG!

Heavy power swirled.

The widespread energy of spear tip accompanied by charging and spinning – it was Drifting Wind Piercing Lock Spear, the peak shattering technique within the Golden Shadow Spear Technique.

KWAKWANG-!

Following the thunderous roar, Yeo Yong-jeo retreated as if sliding and let out a short scream.

“UWOOK!”

By Cheol Ryu-heun’s defensive sword technique that had overwhelmed the momentum of Drifting Wind Piercing Lock Spear.

Sword Curtain.

Exclamations burst out here and there.

‘Impressive!’

Yeo Yong-jeo, having inwardly admired, poured out all the offensive techniques within Golden Shadow Spear Technique in succession while operating perfected-level internal power.

KWANG- KWAKWANG- KWAKWAKWANG- KWAKWANG-!

Each offense had perfected-level internal power loaded, making the ground and air vibrate.

However, the circular sword energy curtain that Cheol Ryu-heun’s Ganjiang Sword had created was simply solid.

In an instant.

JJEOEOEOEOENG- KWAAAAAAAANG-!

Metallic sounds and explosive sounds echoed across the vast land.

Yeo Yong-jeo’s form flew more than five zhang and collided with a KUNG! sound with the ground.

“KEOHEO!”

Struck by a heavy single sword from Cheol Ryu-heun, who had bored into his embrace at rapid speed like a dragon roaming the sea.

If it had struck his torso instead of the iron spear shaft, a large hole would have opened immediately.

Wei Ta-gong’s face standing in the distance was dyed with a light of shock.

“Th-that is…!”

The sword move Cheol Ryu-heun had just displayed was the transcendent technique of the supreme master who had dominated the previous-generation martial world, which he had seen just once thirty-some years ago.

Brilliant Dragon Roaming Heaven.

Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon Paehon’s ultimate move from the final style of Four Dragon Sword Styles.

He hadn’t seen wrong.

He was certain.

That it was the Brilliant Dragon Roaming Heaven.

The proof was that some older masters among those gathered were also revealing similarly shocked expressions.

Yeo Yong-jeo, having suffered internal injury, realized it was the end and declared defeat while deeply bowing his head.

“I simply have no means to handle this, Sect Leader Cheol.”

Right at that moment.

-There will be no more yielding!

A grand resonant voice rang loudly, vibrating the space.

It was Wei Ta-gong.

It was a warning that he was stepping forward, so don’t interfere.

STEP BY STEP…

Following his path as he walked neither slowly nor quickly, the ground split JJEOJEOJEOK ceaselessly.

That’s right.

He had already operated maximum internal power.

Wei Ta-gong, having drawn his sword and narrowed the distance, asked in a clear voice while flashing his eyes.

“Just now – was that the Four Dragon Sword Styles?”

At that, everyone greatly stirred.

“URK! Four Dragon Sword Styles?”

“Isn’t that… Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon’s sword study?”

“Wait, then what he showed at the end…!”

Amid the surprise the unexpected words brought.

SWISH.

Cheol Ryu-heun swept back his hair and tossed out a dry voice.

“Yes. It’s Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon’s sword study.”

The moment Wei Ta-gong’s gaze wavered upon confirming the fact, Cheol Ryu-heun delivered yet another great shock.

“This time, I’ll face you with the sword study of the Evil Emperor.”