Kwa-deuk, kwa-deuk sounds came as the arena floor touching the cloud sea began breaking.
The sound of the arena floor, reinforced by formations, colliding with the Sea of Cloudy Sword Qi.
Normally, that stone floor would have been devastated like being ground in a blender.
Wow, our Cheon Woo. You really worked hard? This brother is honestly surprised.
Considering Cheon Woo’s age, this achievement was abnormal.
Though unclear whether he’d absorbed the Great Azure Divine Pill, this was certainly a realm that only those who’d surpassed their limits could grasp.
“I’ll go first, Brother.”
Even amid this, Cheon Woo didn’t let his guard down.
He was one of the few opponents who’d seen Jin Cheonhee’s true martial arts.
He knew he had neither the luxury nor the right to show mercy.
So he had to show his best first strike!
“Right.”
As the words ended, Cheon Woo stepped forward.
Simultaneously.
The cloud made of sword energy moved.
Kagak. Kagagagak!
While chilling sounds still came from the floor, it approached slowly yet not slowly at all.
That cotton candy mass itself is like a Force mass from Str Wrs. Just touching it would grind you like a crusher?
A slow but certain step.
This was the essence of attack and defense as one!
Sea of Cloudy Sword Qi existing only as a hemisphere in front. Weaknesses would be the sides and back? Then…
Heavenly Energy Mystifying Stride.
Just as Jin Cheonhee’s body seemed to flicker like a ghost, he circled widely toward Cheon Woo’s back.
But Cheon Woo also spun around, moving the Sea of Cloudy Sword Qi.
Oh… fast speed. Well, might be natural. I have to move almost fifty meters, but he just needs to turn his body. But using sword energy against the Sea of Cloudy Sword Qi isn’t optimal. When sword energies collide, the qi will react and explode. Then… I’ll have to cut through it.
Jin Cheonhee thought inwardly.
Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Arts she gave.
Those moves were in his mind.
Though he couldn’t use them directly without Heavenly Demon True Qi, some modification and application was possible.
Proper use would require repeated practice, but he’d grasped the essentials through the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique.
In other words, he could shamelessly cherry-pick just the martial arts needed for the Five Elements Divine Art.
Alright. Let’s try it.
This made something possible.
Swoosh.
Jin Cheonhee jumped back to the arena’s edge in one bound. Then immediately drew the Ice Clarity Sword.
It was strange.
Jin Cheonhee’s movements weren’t fast at all.
He just looked down at Cheon Woo gently, like a feather rising in the wind.
“It’s the Ice Clarity Sword! The one Divine Doctor White Dragon received from the Northern Sea Ice Palace!”
“Is this the first time Little White Dragon’s drawn his sword!”
The fact they could recognize and babble about this in an instant proved they must be martial artists.
Jin Cheonhee said:
“I should show you there’s heaven above heaven? Now, take this. This is my sword.”
Cheon Woo saw the smile on Jin Cheonhee’s lips.
Taiji Immortal-Destruction Sword.
Realm of Martial[1] – Heaven Earth Severing Immortal[2].
Cheon Woo’s spine tingled.
Grinding his teeth while feeling this chilling sensation.
Brother… you were this strong?
Cheon Woo didn’t know.
What fragment of Realm of Martial Jin Cheonhee had seen.
Plus, though suppressing it, he’d decomposed, absorbed, and reassembled the unparalleled arts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Arts.
The Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique’s power, observing the fights of masters who’d reached Realm of Martial’s end at Wudang, plus practical experience accumulated dancing on the boundary between life and death.
He’d comprehended part of the Realm of Martial that even masters at transformation realm’s edge could barely use.
A Realm of Martial move only those who’d mastered the Taiji Immortal-Destruction Sword and reached Realm of Martial could use.
Heaven Earth Severing Immortal.
Its power was just one thing.
It cuts anything.
This was why the Taiji Immortal-Destruction Sword was classified as a divine unparalleled sword art!
Chwaaaak!
The massive sword energy extended from the Ice Clarity Sword instantly split the Sea of Cloudy Sword Qi like parting the sea.
It cut through even the formation protecting the arena and split the floor.
Swoosh–!
“…”
Everyone momentarily lost words in shock.
To cut and scatter the Sea of Cloudy Sword Qi, and even cleanly cut the arena!
All could only watch dumbfounded at that brute strength.
Most shocked was Cheon Woo himself.
Wasn’t Brother just a transcendent expert? This is clearly the Realm of Martial level…?
Normally, qi colliding with qi should cause an explosion.
Cutting just what you want this cleanly should only be possible when one or maybe two realms higher than your opponent?
Jin Cheonhee returned the Ice Clarity Sword to its scabbard.
Swish!
As Jin Cheonhee sheathed his sword, Cheon Woo’s sword was cleanly cut in half.
Clank.
The cut half made a sound hitting the ground.
Complete defeat.
“…”
Cheon Woo searched for a while to understand what he’d experienced.
The Wudang’s Fist Emperor master had clearly said.
Originally, Little White Dragon still needed to grow more.
Then just how much more…
A bitter smile came.
Brother was someone who would never hurt him.
However, he’s just overwhelmingly strong.
“I’ve lost.”
“Victor, White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s Jin Cheonhee!”
Woaaaaaaah!
The crowd shouted like the arena would burst.
Jin Cheonhee stood on tiptoes to reach up and stroke his tall brother’s head.
“Good work, kid.”
Then added:
“Haven’t fully absorbed the Great Azure Divine Pill yet? You did quite well considering that.”
Jin Cheonhee crudely decomposing using Five Elements True Qi was strange—normally you should slowly dissolve and absorb it in your dantian over time.
“You can become stronger.”
At his brother’s voice, Cheon Woo looked at Jin Cheonhee with a complex expression.
That brief glimpse of martial arts his brother showed remained imprinted on his retina, refusing to fade.
“When I complete the absorption, let’s cross swords again, Brother.”
“Sure.”
Jin Cheonhee’s Round of 8 victory!
Coming down from the arena, his eyes met the watching Wudang’s Fist Emperor.
Arms crossed, he spoke disapprovingly:
“Is that all? You could have done more.”
“Indeed. No more.”
“Used it in another strange way.”
“Hahaha.”
What could that mean?
Cheon Woo couldn’t understand, but one thing was certain.
Jin Cheonhee had drawn his sword against Cheon Woo.
Not to knock him unconscious by striking like against Cheon Yi-mun before.
He drew it for a true fight.
Acknowledging Cheon Woo as that strong an opponent.
But he felt this wasn’t Jin Cheonhee’s maximum power.
***
Semifinals.
Sama Hyeon and Jin Cheonhee. Yeo Ha-ryoon and Hwangbo Mu-ah.
Now it’s Sama Hyeon.
Jin Cheonhee steeled himself.
This time you’ll at least get a bump on your head, Sama Hyeon!
Thanks to the Wudang’s Fist Emperor, he roughly knew Wudang’s martial arts, but knew little about the Heaven-Changing Sword Infinity Arts[3] Sama Hyeon learned.
So his countermeasures would be lacking.
Don’t worry. This brother will end it without breaking bones.
Jin Cheonhee looked at his brother with shining eyes.
The referee called:
“Hao Sect Golden Blood Chamber’s Sama Hyeon versus White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s Jin Cheonhee! Begin!”
Jin Cheonhee’s body slid leaving afterimages. Sama Hyeon saw sword energy gathering on the Ice Clarity Sword.
Sama Hyeon quickly shouted:
“Ah~ I surrender!”
Huh?
Jin Cheonhee staggered.
Sama Hyeon shouted:
“I said surrender, surrender! Brother! Are you going to hit such a weak brother?”
“Why won’t you fight to the end as a martial artist?”
“If we fight seriously, one of us will get badly hurt, so I’ll just swallow my pride.”
Hooh, this is an unexpected answer.
Plus, he didn’t say “lose” but that one of them would get hurt.
Whether it’s bluffing or he has a trump card is unknown. But one thing’s certain.
Sama Hyeon doesn’t seem quite like a person of Gangho…?
He’d noticed at the Golden Blood Chamber.
[You, sworn brother of mine? Are you okay?]
[Better than one of us spitting blood. Besides, what can you do when I insist on calling you brother?]
Right. Then there’s no way to stop it.
Sama Hyeon said:
[Besides, if Brother wins, it all becomes meaningless anyway.]
…Can he beat Yeo Ha-ryoon?
Looking at the adjacent arena, Yeo Ha-ryoon subdued Hwangbo Mu-ah in just three exchanges.
Though he’d gained martial enlightenment, his opponent was the Heavenly-Killing Star protagonist.
That he ended it without bloodshed was even more frightening.
Sama Hyeon clenched his fist.
[Brother, you must win! Cheering for our brother~ Fighting fighting!]
Seeing Sama Hyeon acting cute so brightly, a chilling thought suddenly struck.
Come to think of it, Sama Hyeon is the only one who’s never shown his true ability in matches?
Even Yeo Ha-ryoon fought properly when he had to.
Only Sama Hyeon enjoyed this situation like a game. Even Jin Cheonhee’s previous provocation only made him pretend to be angry, not truly.
[Are you planning to face Yeo Ha-ryoon outside the arena?]
His brother had noticed.
That he had no intention of showing his final card until the end.
Sama Hyeon answered shamelessly:
[I have no regrets toward anyone, Brother~ I’m just watching to see what kind of person he is.]
He would never reveal his cards until then.
Rather, he’d gauge Yeo Ha-ryoon’s ability watching his battle with Jin Cheonhee.
The cold profit calculation was somewhat frightening, but Sama Hyeon added:
[Brother is my benefactor. Better I lose than one of us getting hurt~]
Drugging with sleeping medicine is fine though?
That was Sama Hyeon’s way too.
***
Before the finals, the White Dragon Medical Pavilion emergency center was festive.
“Heavens, patients reduced this much!”
“I finally slept seven hours for the first time!”
“I ate three meals!”
A miracle happened.
The emergency room that would normally be full of patients needing treatment, under treatment, and needing hospitalization after treatment was running somewhat humanely.
Two patients who’d slashed each other over grievances were brought in, but for some reason neither had fought seriously.
“They say it’s because of rumors you’ll meet Little White Dragon if you get hurt here.”
“Me? Why me?”
“Hmm… perhaps because of your declaration to safely knock people unconscious and deliver them home before they get hurt.”
Why? What? Isn’t that good? Said he’d protect their health.
Somehow felt wronged.
“Master’s realm must be several moves higher than mine, so why specifically me?”
“The closer mountain always looks bigger.”
Don’t understand.
“Entrusting one’s body to someone overwhelmingly stronger and somewhat… by common sense… hard to understand… isn’t easy.”
Master used roundabout words for “crazy person.”
“Perhaps they’re overlapping thoughts with Blood Saint Old Monster…”
“That’s different. He’s a moving natural disaster. You’re a natural disaster they’ll meet if they get hurt.”
“…”
Is it really different?
Somehow felt a strong premonition his title would change as chills ran down his neck.