Chapter 314: The Two Giants of the Unorthodox Faction

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The streets of Rongsa, one of the renowned great cities of the Hunan region.

Befitting a waterfront city on the giant Dongting Lake, famous for its beautiful scenery in all four seasons, its streets were swarming with vacationers like ants.

But suddenly, the crowd on the main road split left and right.

Following that, cheers and exclamations burst from the masses.

There was one reason.

The leader of this place’s most famous martial sect had appeared.

He was a middle-aged man in white attire.

Whenever he took a step, his clothing – embroidered with countless lines resembling lightning – and his beard draped down below his chest swayed gently.

But the intangible aura surrounding his body was heavy as a great boulder.

It was an unapproachable dignity.

An appearance that evoked the incarnation of a thunder god, perhaps.

In the current Jianghu, there was only one martial sect whose members wore such attire.

Thunder Lightning Sect.

The foremost Orthodox faction of Rongsa, furthermore one of the preeminent sword schools within the Hunan region.

That’s right.

Thunder Lightning Sect’s Sect Master, Thunder Cloud Sword Duke, had appeared.

Along with Mount Heng Sect Leader White Cloud Sword Duke Taoist Cheon Mu, his martial fame – as one who competed for the highest position among the Five Martial Absolutes of Hunan – had risen even higher since the Sun Moon Demon Cult battle.

The masses’ enthusiastic reaction amply demonstrated that.

Wei Ji-am acknowledged the people shouting here and there with eye greetings as he proceeded along the road.

How far had he walked like that?

Suddenly he stopped and soon entered a small inn visible to one side.

Being on the outskirts away from the city center, it was a place relatively less crowded with people.

No sooner had Wei Ji-am entered than a man in his fifties seated at a window table gestured.

“Over here.”

A swordsman wearing loose martial attire made of blue silk.

Two characters representing his identity and position were embedded on his left chest.

Azure Heaven.

He was Azure Heaven Sword Sect Master Azure Prodigy Sword Master, one of the warriors at the Five Martial Absolutes of Hunan rank and the father of Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo.

It was a pre-arranged meeting.

Wei Ji-am immediately went to that table, took a seat, and greeted him.

“You’ve already arrived. Have you been waiting long?”

“Ho ho. Not at all, I just arrived.”

Seol Hu-yong replied with a smile and tilted a bottle of wine he had ordered in advance.

Wei Ji-am, watching him, casually asked.

“Hmm, you seem like you’re in a particularly good mood?”

“Yes. I suppose it showed too much. Actually… I received a letter from Sect Master Cheol the day before yesterday. He wrote that my boy would soon be earning his keep.”

“I see, I understand now. Pan-gyo must have accompanied them too. Going there.”

“That’s right.”

“I’m quite envious. I don’t have a formal disciple yet…”

“That’s understandable. Ho ho. Isn’t the essence of Thunder Light Boundless Sea Mind Technique famously difficult?”

“Hmm, yes it is. Unless one is an exceptionally outstanding martial talent, it’s tricky to learn.”

“Yes, so don’t be too anxious and wait. I rather envy Sect Master Wei. Even without a direct disciple, Thunder Lightning Sect has outstanding swordsmen in abundance… especially the Thunder Court Sword Squad is practically equivalent to each being a direct disciple. I’m not just saying that. Their formidable martial prowess has already been amply proven through the Sun Moon Demon Cult battle.”

Indeed, the reputation of Thunder Court Sword Squad under Thunder Lightning Sect was effectively counted as the foremost among elite units of Orthodox and Unorthodox factions in the Hunan region.

Moreover, having recently fought brilliantly against Sun Moon Demon Cult, their fighting strength reputation and martial fame had risen another level.

Wei Ji-am responded quietly with a smiling face.

“Hoot, thank you for saying so. But my standards have risen lately, so I’m not satisfied. I’m thinking of putting even more effort into raising our fighting strength.”

“Oh ho ho! Not satisfied… probably because of White Peak Sword Sect, right? Precisely, the guest talents Sect Master Cheol has cultivated…”

“Your son is among them, so I can only be envious. Anyway, I felt a lot through that battle. That I too mustn’t be content with my current position. Oh, did you obtain that?”

Seol Hu-yong knew well what that meant.

“Yes. I went alone yesterday. The process was painful, but the result was satisfying.”

“Hoot, it was the same for me. It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but I cried out in pain like a child.”

What the two were vaguely referring to was in fact the martial arts achievement related to the fortunate location Cheol Ryu-heun had told them about.

“The more one knows him, the more amazing he is. Like a divine being sent from heaven to prevent an age of chaos…”

“Yes. I agree. For me… I can’t even guess where his limits might be.”

Quiet gazes passing between them.

From that point, the two exchanged cups in silence.

They were conversing through intimate Sound Transmission.

Thus the two had a close discussion about the matters Cheol Ryu-heun had recently requested.

That task didn’t apply only to Azure Heaven Sword Sect and Thunder Lightning Sect.

It was a bipartisan plan that had obtained consent from Orthodox and Unorthodox factions in the Hunan region including Mount Heng Sect, Dark Hall, Jackal Wolf Blade Sect, Soaring Swallow Sword Sect, and Falling Star Sword Sect.

When the long conversation concluded.

JORRUREUK-

Wei Ji-am, having poured wine, spoke with a meaningful gaze.

“Oh, by the way, have you heard that story? They say the two giants of the Unorthodox faction have moved.”

“Pardon? Who are those two?”

“The Iron Blood Martial Alliance Leader and the Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord.”

“Ah…!”

Seol Hu-yong let out a brief exclamation.

The two people Wei Ji-am had just mentioned were transcendent warriors evaluated as being in name and reality at the pinnacle of the current Northern Unorthodox Jianghu.

“So you didn’t know yet. Well, I only learned today myself.”

“You mean those two have departed for the Shiwan Mountains?”

At that, Wei Ji-am nodded and spoke again while stroking his wine cup.

“It’s the ripple effect of the rumor related to the Divine Martial Sword.”

“Even though they already possess Ten Great Heavenly Weapons, they covet the Divine Martial Sword.”

“Human greed has no end after all. On one hand, I understand those two’s feelings. Perhaps we too…”

Wei Ji-am trailed off, but Seol Hu-yong guessed the rest.

If Cheol Ryu-heun hadn’t told them it was the enemy’s luring tactic, they too might have coveted the Divine Martial Sword.

That made sense.

The Heavenly Demon, Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, Martial Immortal, Blood God – most of the greatest of each era had conquered all under heaven while possessing the Divine Martial Sword.

That’s why it had long been called the foremost of the Ten Great Heavenly Weapons.

Who could easily resist that temptation?

Even if it was an insubstantial rumor.

But at that moment, two martial artists quietly entered the inn.

Middle-aged swordsmen who appeared similar in age to Wei Ji-am and Seol Hu-yong.

With their appearance, the atmosphere felt like it grew heavier.

In the meantime.

“Huh?”

“Those two are…!”

“Right? They’re them, right?”

“Seems so. Looking at those clothes…”

“Wow…!”

“What kind of day is today? As if the Five Martial Absolutes of Hunan sitting over there weren’t enough, now those two as well…”

The hall began to stir.

Everyone had recognized the two martial artists’ identities.

Of course, Wei Ji-am and Seol Hu-yong too.

“How coincidental.”

“Indeed. Speak of the tiger and he appears…”

The identity of the two who had appeared in the inn was Iron Blood Martial Alliance Leader Sword Wheel Crown Prince Gwi Je-shin and Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord Beop-yeol.

The two soon found an empty table and took their seats.

Iron Blood Martial Alliance Leader Sword Wheel Crown Prince Gwi Je-shin’s appearance was dignified.

Strong features and a jet-black beard, and a height as tall as a pole.

He had the bearing of a dragon among men.

The two characters “Iron Blood” magnificently embroidered on his splendid silver robe, together with his inherently stately aura, gave a dignified impression.

He didn’t seem like an ordinary person made of flesh and blood.

He had an air of cold sternness as if stabbing him wouldn’t affect him at all, permeating his entire body.

On the opposite side, Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord Beop-yeol’s impression was also intense.

His features were frightening, like a fierce beast with a mouthful of meat and blood.

Moreover, his hair was peculiarly reddish.

It was the effect of having achieved Solar Sword Castle’s unique supreme internal power mental technique to the extreme.

A large sun-shaped pattern was emblazoned in the center of his red clothes, matching his hair color.

Before they knew it, a strange silence had descended.

With Wei Ji-am and Seol Hu-yong joined by Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol, tension hung in the air.

They even belonged to different camps – Orthodox and Unorthodox.

Moreover, their tables were very close, only three paces apart.

So that kind of atmosphere naturally formed.

Gwi Je-shin, having finished a simple order, turned his gaze.

“It’s been quite a long while. Sect Master Wei, Sect Master Seol.”

Wei Ji-am and Seol Hu-yong, meeting his gaze, replied courteously.

“Indeed. About three years.”

“What brings you here?”

Beop-yeol replied with a grin.

“You must have already guessed.”

Following that, Gwi Je-shin’s soft voice was heard.

“We’re on our way to the Shiwan Mountains to obtain the Divine Martial Sword.”

Wei Ji-am quietly emptied his cup and asked again.

“But… have you decided to combine forces?”

At that, Gwi Je-shin wore a faint smile.

“Hoo, only until we find it.”

That meant they might fight after finding the Divine Martial Sword.

In other words, it was traveling together as a temporary partnership.

Finding it comes first, and they’d think about fighting later…

It was indeed an idea befitting figures from Unorthodox factions.

At that moment, Gwi Je-shin changed the topic with a meaningful expression.

“I heard the combined Orthodox-Unorthodox forces annihilated Sun Moon Demon Cult… I’m quite disappointed I couldn’t participate.”

“It couldn’t be helped. We conducted the operation urgently and secretly, centered on our region.”

“I’ll ask without beating around the bush. The series of rumors about Sect Master Cheol… are they all true?”

Wei Ji-am answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Yes. There is not the slightest exaggeration in the circulating talk. You’ll have to see it yourself to truly realize. Honestly, I think he is the true owner of the title Martial God. Not the first of Hunan, but the first of the Jianghu…”

Hearing those words, Gwi Je-shin was slightly surprised inwardly.

‘My.’

For him, who ruled this place, to speak to such an extent.

The prestige of the name Thunder Cloud Sword Duke was exceptional.

He was one who competed for the top among the Five Martial Absolutes.

As one of Hunan’s Two Dukes, his martial prowess level was unparalleled.

Though grouped together at the Five Martial Absolutes tier, in truth the Two Dukes’ power was at a considerably different level, easily surpassing the other three.

Furthermore, this year Wei Ji-am had even defeated Giant Roc Saber Gate Master Great Saber Kun Yuk Geum-gang, an Unorthodox warrior among the Six Ultimate Stars of Hubei.

But.

For him to directly offer such high praise, saying he thought Cheol Ryu-heun was the Jianghu’s foremost Martial God – it aroused strong curiosity and competitive spirit.

He too, called by the epithet Sword Wheel Crown Prince, was a warrior.

He prided himself on being at the top tier across all of Northern Jianghu, encompassing both Unorthodox and Orthodox.

So the fighting spirit in his heart was only natural.

At that moment.

Beop-yeol next to him spoke with a displeased expression.

“I can’t readily believe it until we exchange techniques. Let me ask. Do you think he is above even the current Shaolin Temple Abbot?”

He normally thought that the only worthy rival as the foremost master within the Orthodox camp was Shaolin Temple’s Dharma Master Won-gong.

JORRUREUK-

Wei Ji-am filled his cup, then once again answered firmly without hesitation.

“Of course.”

Following that, Seol Hu-yong beside him added his voice.

“I don’t mean to belittle your dignified epithet and reputation as Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord, but… handling Sect Master Cheol’s martial prowess would be difficult even for you.”

At those words, Beop-yeol flashed his eyes and asked.

“Difficult even for me?”

“That’s right.”

“Then in Sect Master Seol’s thinking, who exactly is Sect Master Cheol’s worthy rival?”

“Just one… person comes to mind. The current Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate.”

“…!”

“At minimum, only someone of that level could handle Sect Master Cheol’s martial prowess.”