"Isn't she going to take the promotion test later?"
Lazy Flame Dragon remarked indifferently.
From the moment the duel had begun, he had been lounging around lazily.
As he chewed on poppy seeds, he attracted the disapproving gazes of the Tianzhu Sect masters, but he merely smacked his lips with a nonchalant expression.
His shadowed eyes alternated between scanning Jung Yeonshin's condition and Shin So-bin's techniques.
"Since this duel concerns the health of the squad leader, if she loses here, she'll have to be buried, as per the tradition of the Radiant Demon Squad."
Lazy Flame Dragon murmured with a shuddering expression.
Heon Wonchang, standing beside him, couldn't hide his shock.
"Infinite Blossom Fist! The Shin Clan junior has been sharpening her blade and training! To unleash the Formidable Wall technique at such a rapid pace... her refined energy waves are bursting forth at a speed far surpassing before."
"The Radiant Demon Squad only takes on missions dealing with the upper echelons of Murim, but if you're talking about Desolate Fortress' white-rank, it's not easy to find an opponent among those who wield the sword in all of the world."
"That much..."
"In this vast land, think about how many lowly bandits and martial artists with shallow achievements there are. The people of Desolate Fortress, who only take missions to cut off specific targets, can't truly grasp the reality of it. When Murim warriors travel the world's scenic places, all they do is borrow fine horses from the courier stations and gallop ahead."
Lazy Flame Dragon spoke in an indifferent tone.
Since donning his blue long robe, he had stopped showing respect to most of his peers.
There were no senior warriors of equal rank who would enforce etiquette on a young master swordsman gradually approaching death.
The esteemed noble of the Solar Divine Meridian.
Whenever he was about to indulge in debauchery under the influence of poppy seeds and alcohol, even the senior blue-robed warriors would retreat first.
Heon Wonchang glanced down at him and spoke.
"The opponent isn't some minor sect. This is the Tianzhu Sect, a prestigious clan that possesses one of the Five Great Martial Arts of the World. The Moonlight Piercing Art—surely the Hwangbo Clan has investigated it?"
"The problem isn't the martial art, but the martial artist. They say this secluded sect distances itself from outside influences, but how much experience do they have with real combat speed? White Cat has been roaming Shaanxi, drenched in blood, all the while chanting, 'Our leader, our leader.'"
"Lower your voice! There are too many sharp ears around here..."
Heon Wonchang nervously tightened his throat as he glanced around.
Chung Myung's fellow disciple had been taken down by White Cat, Shin So-bin, in an instant.
Yet the energy wave sweeping through the valley remained undisturbed.
Countless figures, young and old, stood with graceful composure beneath towering ancient trees, exuding a serene but unyielding presence.
The unique energy pulses of the Tianzhu Sect rippled like a gentle breeze, causing the foliage to rustle softly as if dancing.
The noble martial masters exchanged glances or subtly parted their lips, appearing to discuss the techniques they had just witnessed through silent transmission.
The martial artists of the Tianzhu Sect carried away the unconscious Jung Namsong.
Soon after, the Sect Leader, Chung Bohwa, spoke.
Looking past Shin So-bin, who calmly lowered her hand, she fixed her gaze on Lazy Flame Dragon.
"You are correct. Namsong has never faced a duel of life and death."
"Hmph."
"Since Chung Su's departure, we have strictly forbidden outside excursions. The shadow warriors entrenched in this Heavenly Pillar Mountain are so elusive that they have clashed even with the leaders of Desolate Fortress. If by some rare chance, a peerless swordsman of purple rank arrives, they vanish without a trace. It was an unavoidable measure. Regardless... this was a valuable lesson for Namsong as well."
Chung Bohwa turned his gaze toward Jung Yeonshin.
"You have raised an excellent successor. Living in a different time from our clan has made her shine even more."
"For her, it must have felt like a long time."
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader responded calmly.
From behind, Shin So-bin exaggeratedly shrugged her shoulders.
Chung Bohwa chuckled.
"I have broadened my insight with that one move. A rare and formidable technique. The meticulous control over every muscle in the body, the courageous footwork pushing forward, the concentrated energy wave gathered into a single direct strike... The intention to end the battle swiftly is evident. Truly desperate. No—given your nature, I suspect a certain courtesy was embedded in that technique."
Shin So-bin had fought in the duel, but she spoke to Jung Yeonshin.
It was inevitable, Jung Yeonshin was the creator of the martial art.
"The poppy-seed addict over there called it Infinite Blossom Fist?"
Chung Bohwa inquired. Her deep eyes resembled a tranquil lake.
Encased in a serene aura, she stared at Jung Yeonshin with the Sight Arts of a noble clan, as if piercing through all of existence.
The answer came not from Jung Yeonshin, but from between them.
"It's the second technique, Formidable Wall."
A small figure blocked their line of sight—Shin So-bin.
She squared her shoulders. Her disheveled hair, scattered by the energy waves she had released, cascaded down like a dark veil.
Her composed and efficient posture, exuding the distinct air of a Lightning Genius' lineage, demonstrated her exceptional comprehension of martial arts.
Jung Yeonshin looked at her back and closed his mouth.
A strange feeling washed over him.
He was witnessing something that would remain long after he left this world.
Beyond mere connections and gravestones, there was something more.
It was an incredibly significant moment.
He realized, through Shin So-bin, just how much he was leaving behind.
'Will the martial arts I leave behind be passed down like this?'
It was said that created techniques are transmitted to later generations in various ways.
Those recorded in books are called secret manuals, while those imbued with the spirit of martial arts are passed down from mouth to mouth.
A martial lineage, those who share martial arts more valuable than blood itself through the founder's intent.
He could almost see it.
How many would study the words he had hastily scribbled in his mind?
How many would train using the mnemonic verses he had left behind?
Just the thought of it filled his heart.
He wished the name "Lightning Genius" would be carried forward longer than anyone else in the world.
'No, the Jung Clan Movement Arts are just my personal journal...'
Jung Yeonshin's eyes widened in sudden realization.
"Formidable Wall. I see."
Chung Bohwa's aged eyes creased slightly.
"I now understand the essence of this footwork. The intent is to conclude the fight in a short exchange. Squad leader Jung must be a grandmaster of swift duels."
"He's not just skilled in short battles."
Shin So-bin raised her voice slightly as she placed her hands on her hips.
Chung Bohwa smiled kindly.
"Regardless, the completion of that single technique leaves no room for debate. We have clearly lost. However... next time will be different. There is one among us who has honed their sword through countless battles against the Dark Night War."
The moment she finished speaking—
Step.
A swordswoman clad in white martial robes stepped forward from the ranks of the Tianzhu Sect.
Her sharpened aura resembled a divine sword, and she appeared to be around thirty.
"I am Gi Geomhyang, a native of this village. I have mastered the Heavenly Dao Sword of the Tianzhu Sect."
Her face was slightly flushed, a sign of overflowing inner energy.
The sharp radiance in her eyes caused the air around her face to ripple slightly, her energy wave was fundamentally different from that of the defeated Jung Namsong.
Lazy Flame Dragon whistled.
"So they won't let us through that easily, huh?"
The moment Jung Yeonshin asked, Heon Wonchang and Gi Geomhyang's swords clashed.
Jjeojeojeojeojeong!
The surrounding foliage was instantly engulfed in a hazy glow of swordlight. Even the two swordsmen were obscured by the countless trajectories unraveling around them.
Soon, faint flashes of white light began to flicker from Gi Geomhyang's side.
As the dazzling white swordlight gradually thickened and raged in all directions, the aftermath of their collision surged toward Jung Yeonshin as well.
The vibration struck his skin like a tangled mass of silk threads, brushing over his garments with a faint rustling sensation.
"Unnecessarily flashy."
Lazy Flame Dragon strolled backward at a leisurely pace.
Then, leaning sideways against the palanquin wall of the Divine Sword Order's leader, he spoke again.
"The leaders of the Tianzhu Sect have traditionally practiced both sorcery and martial arts together. It wouldn't be strange if they constantly carried some sort of formation-based technique. With how secretive this sect is, there's no way they revealed all their techniques when they were once a massive force on the battlefield. Either way, it's no wonder their sword techniques are compared to those of the Nine Great Sects. The Radiant Arts Secret is being tested today. The outcome will surely be reported back to our main headquarters."
"I see."
Jung Yeonshin nodded calmly.
On the other side, Chung Bohwa was watching the duel between the two swordsmen with keen interest.
She had said she wished to broaden her knowledge with martial arts that did not exist in the Central Plains, and it seemed she was scrutinizing even the battles of juniors without missing a detail.
Her gaze meticulously followed the structure and form of the energy wave produced by the Radiant Demon Squad leader's technique, deeply intrigued.
Saaaak! Jjeojeojeong!
This was a battle at the level of Desolate Fortress' blue-ranked warriors. A realm rarely encountered in Murim. In the blink of an eye, dozens of exchanges had already passed.
For masters, time moved differently. The trajectories of their sword strikes entangled and unraveled continuously, generating tremendous energy fluctuations.
'One hundred thirty, one hundred fifty-four techniques…'
Jung Yeonshin took in the unfolding Heavenly Dao Sword of Gi Geomhyang.
Her sword movements flowed as if carried by the wind itself. Compared to the energy wave coursing through her grip, the speed of her blade was exceptionally swift.
It was evident when she thrust toward Heon Wonchang's solar plexus. Her blade cut through the white energy radiating from his sword imbued with the Radiant Arts Secret.
It was as if her sword had merged with the luminous breeze emanating from the technique, making its trajectory eerily mystical.
Heon Wonchang lifted his sword in an upward slash.
Jjeoeong! Puhwaak—!
Suddenly, a shockwave exploded from his chest.
A burst of sword wind swept up his garments, and blood sprayed into the air.
For an instant, a deep blue radiance flickered across Jung Yeonshin's vision.
Why the hell is he getting hurt?
'If the energy of the Radiant Arts Secret had been just a little denser, he wouldn't have been hit. He's being overwhelmed in terms of internal power.'
Jung Yeonshin clenched his fist. The veins along his left forearm stood out distinctly beneath his sleeveless tunic.
The expressions of the martial masters from the Tianzhu Sect subtly changed.
Earlier, the Radiant Demon Squad's leader had offered a rare word of praise to the youngest disciple, Jung Namsong.
Their reaction now reflected how deeply they valued character—showing concern for their subordinates' injuries was a testament to their nature.
Chung Bohwa's eyes glimmered with insight.
"A gentle disposition, yet with powerful martial arts, and a humble character... This is exactly what the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown embodies."
And then—
Jjeoeong!
A powerful shockwave struck the air.
At the center of the valley, Heon Wonchang staggered backward.
His grip on the sword trembled like the fluttering wings of a moth, struggling to suppress an energy wave too immense to endure.
In contrast, Gi Geomhyang, who lowered her sword, remained poised and dignified.
Hwaaak.
The compressed air, trapped within the vortex of colliding energy waves, burst free with a fierce force.
The white trajectories that had veiled the clearing unraveled like strands of silk.
"Again… let's go again."
A suppressed voice slipped through Heon Wonchang's gritted teeth.
Gi Geomhyang shook her head.
"Your swordsmanship cannot reach me. Even if we duel ten times, you'd be lucky to win twice. You must know this yourself."
"I earnestly request a rematch. Our leader must bathe in that lake."
"Your swordplay was sharp enough to be unsettling. It is undoubtedly a style I have never encountered before. It is commendable that it could be compared, even slightly, to the true Heavenly Dao Sword of our sect. The village elders have surely taken note of this as well."
It was the defeat of the Sacred Warrior of Desolate Fortress, Heon Wonchang.
Losing in Murim was a common occurrence.
However, a failed mission for the Radiant Demon Squad was an entirely different matter.
It concerned not only the Divine Sword Order's leader but also the safety of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader himself.
The disheartened expression on Heon Wonchang's back was understandable.
The way his sword hand trembled—this time, in a different sense—revealed how much frustration he was suppressing.
And then—
"I can continue the duel. Are you my next opponent?"
Gi Geomhyang pointed her sword at Lazy Flame Dragon.
The fact that the Tianzhu Sect did not stop her showed how much they acknowledged her influence and skill.
It was a provocation the Radiant Demon Squad's leader had never experienced before.
Lazy Flame Dragon's lips twisted.
"Hey, Sacred Warrior."
"...."
"You restricted seventy percent of your internal power, didn't you? Your consciousness was attuned to your natural energy, so you couldn't fully utilize it."
Heon Wonchang did not respond. He only turned around and bowed his head toward Jung Yeonshin.
"I apologize, leader."
Jung Yeonshin wordlessly patted his shoulder.
"All this trouble, just for a bath."
Swish.
The loosely draped folds of a blue robe brushed past them. A thick stench of stale alcohol lingered in the air. His voice carried a lazy drawl.
"Watch closely, Sacred Warrior. This is how you use the Radiant Arts Secret."
"You intend to use the same technique? I've already seen it. Show me something else."
Gi Geomhyang furrowed her brows and flicked her sword once.
The residual energy clinging to her blade, sharp as an awl, dispersed into the grass with a whispering sound.
"You didn't even grasp the essence of it, and yet you talk…"
Lazy Flame Dragon swallowed the words he was about to say—ignorant country bumpkin.
With cold eyes, he rolled his neck from side to side, then gestured at Gi Geomhyang.
She said nothing more and raised her sword.
Aimed directly at Lazy Flame Dragon's brow, her middle stance was honed to such perfection that even the natural tremors of her arms were imperceptible.
The third and final duel of the test.
Hwaaaaak—!
Suddenly, a dim light enveloped Lazy Flame Dragon's entire body.
The natural energy of the Solar Divine Meridian unraveled into the structured energy flow of the Radiant Arts Secret.
The blazing intensity of the Blazing Solar Energy intertwined through the grass, weaving a tangled lattice across the ground.
But only for a moment.
The initial dim glow rapidly turned a stark, pure white.
In an instant, the thickening radiance rippled across his entire form like a billowing curtain.
The energy waves colliding against the air and crashing into each other built upon themselves, continuously accumulating power.
The more exchanges they had, the more the energy surged, spiraling on its own to magnify the impact.
It was an entirely unique trajectory.
Kwoooooooosh—!
"The essence of our Radiant Arts Secret is swift duels. Since we can't use the Radiant River technique, this is the only way."
His energy control resembled Jung Yeonshin's—astonishingly intuitive.
"What the…!"
Gi Geomhyang's eyes widened as she struck downward with her sword.
Lazy Flame Dragon's lips curled as the surrounding foliage turned to ash and scattered.
"Go take your bath, leader."
Flames flickered in his eyes.
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