Chapter 253: The Time of the Freezing Wind (3)
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A cold wind roughly shook the collars of the two people.
Thud!
The Crazy Dragon Axe that struck the ground caused an intense vibration.
Murong Yu once again clicked his tongue at the intimidating aura the Crazy Dragon Axe gave off.
“I thought this when I saw it before, but for you to grip and wield such a weapon is truly amazing.”
“Once you get used to it, there’s nothing as good as this.”
“Did you say the weight exceeds eighty geun?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s like gripping and wielding a single person.”
The expression of Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been looking at Murong Yu with a smile, momentarily turned indifferent.
Hwoooooong.
A heavy wind pushed away the cold winter wind.
‘That’s it.’
Murong Yu felt the quality of the wind change in an instant.
It was a sharp yet heavy wind. Within that wind where broad-mindedness could be felt, the fangs of a wild beast were flashing.
“The martial art you learned, did you say it was the Four Gods Martial Arts?”
“That’s right.”
“It is a martial art I have never heard of.”
“Even though they are peerless absolute arts of ancient times, there are many martial arts that faded away without being able to make a name for themselves.”
“Well, that is true.”
Swish.
Murong Yu lowered his stance.
He hadn’t lowered it by much. He merely stooped his upper body slightly and pulled his left foot back about a step, and that was all.
Hwaaaa.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
‘He has changed.’
As his stance changed, his disposition also changed. The momentum that had been like a lofty scholar when standing still transformed into an aura as hard and cold as steel the moment he lowered his stance and placed his hand on his sword hilt.
That change in disposition was incredibly smooth. To the extent that it would have been difficult to notice if one hadn’t been paying attention.
‘He is different from me in many ways.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s change was so sudden that it was even flashy.
Like the weapon he used or his own inclination, the Four Gods Martial Arts also pressured the opponent with a fast and powerful momentum even before the fight broke out. Therefore, his martial arts also looked rough at first glance.
Murong Yu was different.
He was calm and gentle. Yet at the same time, his fierceness was second to none.
‘Murong Jun’s martial arts are not the Clan Head’s Learning. Even in my past life, and the martial arts he showed when faking my death this time, they were not the martial arts of the Murong Clan known to the world.’
A martial art that operated Lightning Qi was difficult to find even if one searched the entire Murim.
The martial art Murong Jun learned was exactly like that. It was a martial art that operated destructive Lightning Qi, producing a fast and mighty power like a flash of lightning.
‘In other words, now is the time to truly compete against the proper orthodox martial arts of the Murong Clan.’
The corners of Yeon Ho-jeong’s mouth rose.
‘This is fun.’
Even though he hadn’t drawn out his Vermilion Bird Qi, his heart was pounding.
It was a bout against the martial arts of the Murong Clan, and specifically the Clan Head’s Learning at that.
“Now, then.”
Yeon Ho-jeong stepped forward with his left foot.
“Shall we begin?”
“Anytime.”
Paaak!
As soon as he finished speaking, Yeon Ho-jeong charged forward.
Murong Yu’s eyes shook.
‘He’s fast! And…’
He is threatening.
He lunged like a wild beast that had locked onto its prey, yet overshadowing his immense speed, his expression was running at the extreme of indifference.
His two eyes were as transparent as those of a beast of prey. At that look in his eyes, Murong Yu felt goosebumps rise all over his body.
And before he knew it, Yeon Ho-jeong had reached a distance of one zhang in front of Murong Yu.
‘He’s here!’
Flash!
It was an advancing sword draw.
It was a sword draw of divine speed pulled out based on the powerful internal energy of the Heaven and Earth Eight Extremes Cultivation Method. The heavy Demon-Sweeping Greatsword cleaved the empty space faster than any fast sword.
It was then.
Kwaang!
An explosive shockwave erupted from beneath the feet of Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been approaching at a terrifying speed.
‘Evasion?!’
Saaaaak!
The sword strike unleashed by the draw simply cleaved the empty air.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had erupted a shockwave with a heavy foot stomp, had dodged Murong Yu’s sword strike and flown high into the air before he knew it.
From the very first move, it was a movement that transcended common sense. It was common sense to lightly exchange blows in this kind of sparring, yet not only had he dashed in with all his might, but he also avoided a head-on clash and soared into the sky.
‘Furthermore.’
Murong Yu raised his head.
‘It’s not an axe!’
Yeon Ho-jeong threw out his left palm.
Peo-eong!
Murong Yu’s stance lowered even further.
‘A terrifying palm technique!’
The sense of weight of the palm force pouring down on him was no joke. Even though it was clear he had unleashed it in a flurry, it was mighty enough that his bones would have broken if he hadn’t blocked it.
From the very first move, it was a feint, and the attack following the feint was not his axe but a palm technique.
Only then did Murong Yu realize the nature of this fight.
This was not an ordinary spar, but a real fight reminiscent of actual combat.
Pabababak!
Yeon Ho-jeong naturally crossed over to Murong Yu’s rear.
Surprisingly, in the brief moment of crossing over to his rear, he extended three kick techniques. The sharpness of the kick techniques aiming for his vital acupoints even while his stance was broken had truly reached a divine skill.
Peopeopeong!
Murong Yu’s hand arts were also incredibly agile. He had struck away all of the three-stage kick techniques that were difficult to block.
Just by realizing the nature of the fight, his body’s reaction speed changed. If Yeon Ho-jeong wasn’t Yeon Ho-jeong for no reason, Murong Yu wasn’t Murong Yu for no reason either.
Kwang! Teo-eo-eong!
As soon as he landed on the ground, Yeon Ho-jeong advanced with elastic footwork.
Hwaaaaaak!
Neither their bodies nor their weapons had gotten closer, yet it felt as if his entire body from his collarbone to his side was being split open. It was a fearsome spirit, the killing intent of a wild beast.
Murong Yu swung the Demon-Sweeping Greatsword.
Jjeo-eo-eo-eo-eong!
The Crazy Dragon Axe’s shaft and the Demon-Sweeping Greatsword collided, spewing out a deafening roar that shook his eardrums.
‘It’s heavy!’
The shock left by a single clash was truly tremendous.
He almost dropped the Demon-Sweeping Sword momentarily. If he had poured even a little less internal energy into it, the webbing between his thumb and index finger would have been torn.
‘It’s not because of the axe’s weight! Younger Brother Yeon’s strength itself is on a different level!’
At that moment, Yeon Ho-jeong poured out fierce strikes like a storm.
Jjeojeojeojeojeojeong!
Murong Yu continuously retreated backwards and deployed a sword curtain.
The moment the delicate and gentle sword curtain touched the blade of the Crazy Dragon Axe, it was torn to shreds. Formless sword curtain disappearing while sparking embers; thick veins popped out on Murong Yu’s forehead.
‘Damn it!’
Kwareureureung!
The axe blade overturned the surface of the ground and came up from the bottom to the top.
It wasn’t a time to leisurely spectate, but truly, the movement of that axe was in a realm beyond comprehension. He couldn’t even guess how strong his physical power was and how deep his internal energy was for him to be able to wield a heavy weapon exceeding eighty geun like a fast sword.
Murong Yu forcefully struck his sword downwards.
Jjeo-eo-eo-eo-eong!
‘Keuk!’
Murong Yu’s body floated up into the empty air.
‘How terrifying!’
No matter how heavy the weapon was, it was a situation where it was struck upwards from below. He had countered it by striking down with a slash containing all his might, yet not only was he pushed back in strength, but his entire body floated into the air.
It was a martial art of monstrous strength created by advancing footwork.
Hwaaaaaak!
Finally, Murong Yu was able to see.
Flash! Flash!
The moment a pure white wind surrounded Yeon Ho-jeong’s entire body, his two eyes flashed a bright yellow like those of an actual tiger.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwaang!
It was the three-step advance of the White Tiger’s Sovereign Step.
Every time he took a step, it felt like heaven and earth were shaking. Each step was no different from a foot stomp in itself. Even though he was floating in the air, a shock as if his insides were being concussed was transmitted to him.
Keoheo-eo-eong!
The faint roar of a great tiger could be heard.
White Tiger Art, Sovereign Tiger’s Nine Thunderclaps opened its cruel maw.
Jjeojeojeojeojeong! Kwaang!
“Ugh!”
Murong Yu eventually leaked a groan.
‘Damn it!’
Were all the attacks up until now merely a warm-up?
He had only blocked one move of the Sovereign Tiger’s Nine Thunderclaps, yet he received a shock as if all the joints in his entire body were being dislocated.
It was a martial art so ferocious that merely facing it was a loss. It felt like if he blocked it wrong even slightly, he would immediately suffer internal injuries.
‘However.’
Murong Yu, who had retreated quite a distance backwards.
Hwoooooong.
The azure true qi lingering on the Demon-Sweeping Greatsword exuded a majestic energy wave.
The time it took to take a single breath; with that precious time, he was finally able to draw out the Murong Clan’s Clan Head’s Sword, the Heaven and Earth One Hundred and Eight Sword Resolutions.
Flash!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
He had closed a distance of three zhang with a single step of the White Tiger’s Sovereign Step, yet before he knew it, Murong Yu had approached faster than him.
The weapons of the two men collided head-on.
Jjeojeojeojeojeong! Kwareureureung!
The shockwave that bounced off as the axe and sword collided overturned the surface of the ground and created terrible wounds on the surrounding trees.
Jjeo-eong! Jjeo-eo-eong! Jjeo-eo-eo-eong!
Murong Yu gritted his teeth.
With the sword move of Willow Qi Mutual Manifestation from the Heaven and Earth One Hundred and Eight Sword Resolutions, he offset the power of the Crazy Dragon Axe.
Just as he thought the Crazy Dragon Axe’s slash had actually weakened, this terrifying younger brother immediately gave up on his linked strikes and launched a one-hit-kill attack.
Kwaaang!
It was an incredibly heavy blow.
It was merely a simple axe strike chopping down from top to bottom, yet strangely, it couldn’t be dodged.
If it hadn’t been for his Heaven and Earth internal energy raised to the limit, the rare treasured sword, the Demon-Sweeping Greatsword crafted by a master craftsman with his soul poured into it, and Murong Yu’s thoroughly tempered body, it was a lethal power that would have split him apart exactly as it was.
That wasn’t all.
Jjeo-eo-eong! Kwaang! Peo-eo-eong!
While employing a one-hit-kill martial art with large and threatening movements, he changed his routine moment by moment, showcasing subtle variant moves.
The attacks themselves were overwhelming to defend against, but it was so confusing that it was difficult to even figure out where to defend in the first place.
It was an extraordinary attack that would make even a veteran of a hundred battles click his tongue. Whether he had made the martial moves completely his own, he extended palm techniques and kick techniques in between while employing the Sovereign Tiger’s Nine Thunderclaps to disrupt the five senses, and at the decisive moment, he chipped away at his opponent’s strength with destructive axe strikes.
‘He is amazing.’
Murong Yu was constantly pushed back.
Let alone counterattacking, even blocking it was overwhelming. The martial arts of Yeon Ho-jeong, who had resolved to fight a real match, was that amazing.
‘He said he wanted to see Heaven and Earth Martial Resolution, but he’s not even giving me the leeway to deploy it in the first place.’
He didn’t feel wronged. Rather, admiration arose for Yeon Ho-jeong’s combat skills.
‘A fighting genius… Furthermore, he is exquisitely targeting my weak points at every moment, so even if I try to catch my breath, I cannot.’
Jjeojeojeojeojeong!
The pitch-black shaft and the dragon-shaped axe blade danced in the empty air.
Accumulating shock; the sensation in his limbs was disappearing. It was incredibly fortunate that he didn’t have internal injuries, but even in his current state, enough shock had piled up for him to be bedridden for a full day.
Murong Yu closed his eyes.
Flash! Kwaaang!
The Crazy Dragon Axe embedded itself half a chi next to Murong Yu’s left foot.
“…Hmm.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes narrowed.
“You closed your eyes and relaxed your stance… What is it? Giving up?”
Murong Yu, who opened his eyes again, shook his head.
“Giving up or whatever, this is a complete loss by forfeit.”
“I thought you would counterattack somehow.”
“Younger Brother Yeon. Do those words come out of your mouth when you drove me into a corner without even giving me the leeway to defend, let alone counterattack?”
“I thought if I drove you into a corner on purpose, you would pull out some amazing move.”
“…I’m sorry for disappointing you.”
“What are you saying? I wasn’t disappointed. I just thought, Elder Brother is human too.”
“Hm?”
Jjeo-eok!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who pulled out the Crazy Dragon Axe from the ground, stroked his chin.
“You are definitely strong. The heaviness of the attack was naturally higher for me, but when it comes to momentary sharpness, you don’t fall behind me either, Elder Brother.”
“It really doesn’t sound like a compliment.”
“The speed during the initial approach was also top-notch. To be honest, I was truly surprised in that moment.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m serious. That’s why it’s a pity.”
“…?”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“You’ve climbed over the Wall of the Martial Arts´ End, but you haven’t consolidated your martial arts yet. That’s why you are unilaterally pushed onto the defensive even with such abilities.”
Murong Yu’s eyes shook.
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his body.
“I was going to drink more alcohol, but it seems you need some time to yourself, Elder Brother. Let’s see each other again later when we have time.”
“Y-Younger Brother Yeon!”
“Just know this. When a butterfly sheds its cocoon and spreads its wings, when a beast of prey catches its prey and is certain it has cut off its breath. Right then is the most dangerous moment.”
“…!”
“If you don’t properly consolidate what you have, you could rot at the entry point of the Wall of the Martial Arts´ End for years.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been striding away just like that, suddenly stopped his steps as if he remembered something.
“Elder Brother.”
“…Speak.”
“Murong Jun will return soon.”
“…!”
“Make sure to check carefully what he brings back with him.”