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“The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.”

My first move was the Absolute Slash Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, while Tuma’s first was the Blade Curtain. As my sword shot out like a beam of light, infused with my internal power, Tuma unfolded his Blade Curtain to block my attack. At the same time, flames and lightning erupted, signaling the start of battle.

Kiiying!

With my internal power at a world-shaking level, it seemed like Thunder Shadow Sword Technique would effortlessly slice through the center of Tuma’s Blade Curtain and reach his vital point. However, it appeared Tuma was aware of my internal power level, as he calmly evaded with his footwork, swiftly transforming the Blade Curtain into a counterattack.

Kuwang!

This, too, was a form of basic Technique. As I laid my sword flat to absorb the impact, I was pushed back slightly, leaving a distance of three paces between us once again. With the preliminary exploration of our respective abilities wrapped up, competitive spirits ignited in our eyes, and we slowly began to reveal our ultimate techniques to one another.

The Quick Phantom Strike of the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique burst forth. During my training with Jang Sam-bong’s insight, I felt like I’d broken through another barrier of speed, and it seemed effective even against the absolute expert Tuma. Sure enough, amidst the downpour of sword light bursting forth, Tuma appeared flustered, defending only the area around his body while retreating another three steps.

Ta’aat!

Tuma’s body soared into the air, elevated above one palm. In duels between experts, jumping into the air first would usually be a blunder unless you had extraordinary light body techniques, yet Tuma oddly positioned himself with his back facing me.

‘Is that Absolute Slash?’

It goes without saying, but the more peculiar the stance, the higher the likelihood it conceals a hidden technique. Just because his back was exposed didn’t mean I could just stab without regard—they’d fall into a trap. So, I halted my Quick Phantom Strike and used the Soul Removal Technique to dodge the attack range.

Sasa!

In an instant, our positions changed. I employed a solemn sword stance to block Tuma’s follow-up attack while simultaneously pressing him, yet Tuma began to aggressively counterattack.

Kwaarung!!

A thunderous sound erupted as our blades collided properly for the first time. When I noticed Tuma’s intent to deflect my attack to the side, I pushed even harder, forcing him to stumble back two steps, unable to withstand the gap in our internal power. As Tuma skillfully attempted to dodge with a turn, I relentlessly pursued him using the Soul Removal Technique.

Tuma’s sword aura exuded an overwhelming force. Unable to easily absorb this immense power, I used my own to redirect the force into the ground.

Kuwoong!

A cloud of dust rose between Tuma and me. Through that dust cloud, we were still glaring at one another. A brief lull followed, marking just over twenty seconds of exchanges.

“Oooooh…!!”

“Incredible!!”

I heard the crowd erupting with cheers. A proper exchange between peak experts was as artistic as a dance at its peak. Yet, knowing this spectacle stemmed from my internal shortcomings, I couldn’t feel pride. The more extreme the situation, the simpler it tended to become.

“……”

As Tuma and I faced off, he glanced at his sword. There were now two or three scars on the blade, some of the it chipped off. So, he leaped down under the sparring arena, plunged the old sword into the ground, and retrieved a new one from a nearby stand.

With a sigh, he remarked, “What’s this? How come I didn’t notice a guy like you until now?”

I forced a smile and replied, “Who would know the world is so vast?”

“Your swordplay is quite different from the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique or the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique I’ve heard about. Is this a new style?”

“Hmm…”

I felt conflicted by Tuma’s question, not because I didn’t know how to answer, but rather regarding the ambiguous state my current swordplay had reached. An arch-enemy of the Wind Spirit Sect would surely have an eye to discern whether the techniques of the Thunder God Lineage differed enough to classify as ‘another sword technique’.

‘Did the integration of Jang Sam-bong’s insights evolve the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique?’

I hadn’t realized this fact while sparring with the priests of the Thunder God Lineage. After a moment’s thought, I replied to Tuma’s question.

“Not quite. Just consider it an evolution of the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique.”

“Hehe… To improve an unschooled technique after merely half a century, the Thunder God Lineage must have been quite anxious.”

“If you’re going to talk smack, go ahead. Why catch up on things halfway?”

Though Tuma seemed dignified as a noted figure of the Heretical Sect, he didn’t throw around vicious insults or provocations. When I grumbled, Tuma smiled amiably and replied.

“Kruuhuh. Isn’t this a friendly spar? Don’t get too worked up.”

Before I could respond, Tuma took a deep breath and lunged at me. With a meticulously crafted breath that seemed aimed at luring me into a gap, I found myself startled and had to parry his sword flame.

‘Damn.’

This gap was Tuma piercing my psyche. Realizing that petty insults and awkward taunts wouldn’t faze me, he appeared to target an opening in my rhythm.

Buwoong!

Simultaneously, intangible energy gathered around Tuma’s sword, and I recognized this as an indication that he was about to employ the secrets of the Wind Spirit Sect. Moments later, Tuma swung his blade horizontally and shouted, “Blood Wind Slash!”

As Tuma’s sword flames soared, they suddenly split, leaving behind two afterimages. Since this was something typically impossible, I jerked back, narrowing my gaze on the shift. The afterimages proceeded to shatter further, gradually turning a deep red, imbued with a strange suffocating scent of blood.

‘Should I face it head-on?’

However, I felt instinctively that wasn’t the right move. Opting for caution, I sidestepped swiftly to dodge the trajectory of the Blood Wind Slash as it dispersed uselessly beside me. Tuma, with a frustrated expression, shouted out.

“Really? Isn’t that too fast?”

“What do you mean too fast? You’re just slow.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

I struggled to comprehend Tuma’s complaints. Just because I could see the Blood Wind Slash clearly didn’t mean I had a special sense of speed; I merely dodged by reading its trajectory. But soon, as I kept clashing with Tuma’s blade, I started to understand what he was getting at.

“……!!”

This is the might of the Soul Removal Technique!

Not only does it enhance speed and transformation, but it also exponentially increases momentary speed during clashes of basic techniques, allowing me the freedom to choose attack or dodge at will. When skilled, one could even create an afterimage by utilizing Thunder Shadow and manifest a derivative ultimate technique, but I was still far from that level of mastery.

‘So that’s why Jin So-cheong believed I could win!’

Setting swordsmanship aside, the considerable swiftness of my light body techniques against Tuma was a huge advantage. Especially in the deadly exchanges between techniques, being able to evade whenever I wanted gave me an edge over Tuma, relieving much of the pressure. Furthermore, without any disparity in internal power, I stood in an overwhelmingly advantageous position.

With that in mind, my strategy was simple. I would refrain from using the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique or Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique’s ultimate moves and instead bait Tuma into making empty strikes while exchanging techniques. While the ultimate techniques were powerful, they also left significant openings, making them poor choices in such a situation. Instead, I aimed to eliminate any counterattack opportunities by employing flexible, minimal-risk attacks.

Kakakang!

Kaang!

Tuma, seemingly seasoned from real combat, quickly caught on to my plan. He scowled and switched to a defensive stance, ready to counterattack. Recognizing that this was the utmost response he could muster, I focused and began to attack from all angles slowly.

I heard Tuma murmur anxiously to himself.

“To be catching up using intent is all I can manage…”

About a hundred and fifty seconds passed in this tense standoff when Tuma’s mental strength began to waver, and I spotted an opening. It seemed I could strike at his Bloodline Acupoint. However, the obviousness of that weakness made me hesitate.

‘A trap?’

I’d learned from Lee Kwang countless times that prominently displayed weaknesses often weren’t real weaknesses. In intense clashes amongst peak experts, such obvious openings would be deceiving, yet the urge to swiftly end this tedious back-and-forth surged within me.

“……!!”

Ultimately, I chose to fall back once more. Ignoring that weakness, it vanished as swiftly as a blink. Internally, I felt regret. But I persistently clashed swords with Tuma, searching for a moment when his stamina and mental strength would falter.

‘He’s really something. He’s been using both Baek Woong’s Formation and the Split Heart Technique simultaneously and holding up this well…’

Since earlier, Tuma had consistently employed Baek Woong’s Formation. Thus, I was fighting while the speed of my mysterious energy had significantly increased, and I was additionally operating the Split Heart Technique with the Soul Removal Technique. With the Thunder Clap aside, I was exerting respectable effort, yet I was still engaged in a balanced battle with Tuma. He truly deserved to be called the peak expert of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos.

Kaang!

Just then, after another hundred seconds or so passed, as our stagnant skirmish dragged on, I saw a more significant and rapid opening in Tuma’s waist than before. It was much tougher to seize and considerably faint compared to earlier, yet I believed with certainty that this was a genuine opening.

‘This is it!’

With a sharp sound, my sword was aimed at Tuma’s waist. Tuma appeared flustered, casting a defensive stance, but after two consecutive slashes, his momentum significantly faltered, and my blade coiled in like a snake toward his throat.

Tuma attempted a final desperate slash but missed as I evaded with the Soul Removal Technique. When Tuma’s blade light faded, my sword redirected toward the crown of his head, and he found himself with no method left to counter.

Swish!

I lifted my sword and asked, “Care to continue?”

Tuma, seemingly vexed, replied, “No… I’ve lost…”

Then the Elder from the Huashan Sect, who served as the judge, proclaimed from afar, [Thunder God Lineage, victory!]

The audience fell silent, as if cold water had been poured over them. It had been an intense contest, but this was still the home turf of the Wind Spirit Sect, and Tuma’s defeat was the defeat of the Wind Spirit Sect. Among the Huashan Sect disciples, a few seemed to itch to speak, yet the atmosphere kept them silent.

As I quietly sheathed my sword, Tuma let out a hollow chuckle.

“Haha… I thought I could murder you under the excuse of a mistake, but you’re not very Thunder God Lineage-like.”

I felt a twinge of guilt. The Thunder God Lineage has a notorious, ruthless nature, so even in a spar, it was common to use mistakes as justification to eliminate future threats. Even Lee Kwang encouraged this behavior.

‘Is it because he knows the characteristics of the Thunder God Lineage so well as my arch-enemy?’

Indeed, up until just moments ago, I had been debating whether I should kill Tuma or not. But with eyes and ears watching, I refrained.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Either way, you’ve won. A fearsome newcomer has emerged in Jianghu…”

Tuma sighed and exited the sparring arena, his back drooped.

Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I stepped down from the sparring arena where Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong awaited me. Jin So-cheong beamed brightly as she clapped my back cheerfully.

“Master did well! You really pulled off quite the feat!”

Lee Kwang, though not grinning, spoke approvingly.

“You did very well. I especially liked your judicious judgment.”

“So the initial opening wasn’t a trap after all?”

Lee Kwang, arms crossed, responded.

“Correct. If you had aimed for the initial weakness in the Bloodline Acupoint, you would have been caught in the counter of the Wind Spirit’s Reverse Blood Blade and faced great losses. It was a trap Tuma deliberately created.”

“And the second weakness…”

“That was a subtle weakness that appeared after you spent your mental and physical energy during the clash. Conversely, had you attacked that weakness, you and Tuma would have engaged in a long stalemate. Of course, your internal power is much higher, so you would’ve ultimately won, but it wouldn’t have looked good.”

“I see…”

While I was processing Lee Kwang’s analysis in my mind, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“With this, you’ve toppled one of the current top-tier experts in Jianghu. How does it feel?”

“Er…”

I blinked. Now that I thought about it, Tuma was an unrivaled expert of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos, dominating the Heretical Martial World, and I’d taken him down in a one-on-one duel. Since I didn’t respond, Lee Kwang chuckled softly.

“You probably feel nothing special.”

“Yes, to be honest, that’s true.”

“That’s because you’re well aware of the existence of those ‘Beyond Heaven’. And that humility will greatly aid your growth going forward.”

“I’ll keep your words in mind.”

“Anyway, good job.”

“Thanks.”

As I walked over to the waiting area, I wore a wry smile.

Beyond Heaven!

I had proven to myself that I could defeat a top-tier expert in Jianghu by overcoming Tuma, yet I knew countless experts of that level existed in the world. The Master of the White Lotus Sect, the Three Sovereigns’ Dharma Guardians, and the likes of Lee Kwang, Jin So-cheong, or potential transcendents dwelling within the White Lotus Sect! I had realized early on that the martial world was far more formidable beneath the surface, making it hard to rejoice simply for defeating Tuma.

When would I join their ranks?

‘I can’t be satisfied with this. If I don’t delve further into Jang Sam-bong’s practices and refine the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage…’

As I mentally reaffirmed my resolve, I heard the Elder from the Huashan Sect call out.

[Next contender, please come forth!]

I figured Jin So-cheong would step up next. After all, the opposition would surely send out the Azure Dragon Sword’s Yong Junil, making it the appropriate arrangement. I was engrossed in analyzing Jin So-cheong’s martial prowess.

But – it was not to be.

From the Wind Spirit Sect, their Dharma Guardian Cheon Woo-jin stepped forward. And as if he expected it, Lee Kwang poised his spear, stepping onto the sparring arena.

“……?!”

In an instant, the strongest masters of their respective sects were entering the second round!

I was completely caught off guard, my expression one of shock as I turned to Jin So-cheong. “Older Brother! What’s going on…”

“Don’t panic, my disciple. This is only the natural order of things,” Jin So-cheong replied, his gaze fixed on the sparring arena.

He continued, “There’s a great deal at stake in this contest. We cannot afford to lose. The Wind Spirit Sect originally harbored animosities toward the Thunder God Lineage, and if the Thunder God Lineage is absorbed back into the White Lotus Sect, soon they’d lose their place entirely. Likewise, having only five or ten years to explore the Ultimate Technique makes a huge difference for us.”

“……”

“To place victory or defeat in the hands of the captain would be absurd. It has to be their claim to make.”

I shot a quick glance at Jin So-cheong as he suppressed a laugh.

“Disciple, you were just thinking about how to use me as a sacrifice, weren’t you?”

“Me? Ah… not quite…”

“Of course, that could be an option, but it’s something my dignity as a master simply won’t allow.”

Jin So-cheong gazed at Cheon Woo-jin in the sparring arena.

“My master has long aspired to defeat that one—even since half a century ago, he has trained without rest.”

“……”

I began to understand.

By simply having Jin So-cheong clash against Cheon Woo-jin, it was likely that in the final bout, Lee Kwang would have a strong chance of defeating Yong Junil. However, by rejecting this sensible approach, Lee Kwang had chosen to engage against Cheon Woo-jin based on matters of pride. Simultaneously, I suspected he wished to ascertain the true prowess of a Dharma Guardian.

With concern in my voice, I asked, “Will he be able to win?”

Though my question was irreverent toward my master, I felt I had no choice. I knew all too well how formidable Cheon Woo-jin as a Dharma Guardian was, so the odds of Lee Kwang winning didn’t seem high. Jin So-cheong answered.

“Normally, it would be.”

“Normally?”

“You’ll see.”

Jin So-cheong grinned.

“Watch how the Soul Removal Technique and insights you passed to me have been refined.”

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