The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 56 - The Competition (4)

The beginning was identical in its aspect to their previous duel.

The two swordsmen, drawing their swords toward each other at the same time.

The two streaks of sword-light that were drawn met and overlapped into one.

Would it be broken this time as well?

Or would he receive it and counterattack?

The first form of the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash left a blue, lingering trace on the floor of the training ground.

‘Younger Brother, you’ve gotten even faster.’

Baek Ri-cheong let out his admiration as he watched the fierce sword path being drawn from Namgung Jun’s hand.

However, Namgung Jun was not the only one who had grown.

Baek Ri-cheong laid his sword flat and parried it horizontally.

It was the optimal sword path that would allow the power laden in the blade to be properly displayed.

The signature skill of the annihilated Baek Ri Clan.

The Centurion Sword Style.

The refined form, unique to a prestigious family, resolutely blocked the sword strike that was charging straight forward from the front.

GONG!

With the first exchange of blades, the stone floor shook and spewed out dust.

While their swords, which were extended out diagonally to both sides, were trembling, a faint arc was drawn on the lips of the two swordsmen.

A sharp aura that sliced the air.

A shock that was plunged in, riding along the body of the sword.

They could know it without having to speak to each other.

Just how much they had developed since their first duel.

The two swordsmen showed satisfied smiles.

It was thanks to having directly confirmed each other’s accomplishment, which had grown like a ceaseless streak of light.

Baek Ri-cheong was the first to pull his sword back and assume his starting stance.

“Younger Brother. I can finally show you my sword properly.”

“Come.”

Namgung Jun also firmed his stance at the same time as he answered.

GONG!

The swords of the two swordsmen, which had been separated for a moment, clashed once again. With an even more ferocious spirit.

At the clash of their swords, an aura that rose up like a wildfire played with the hems of the two swordsmen’s pants.

While Baek Ri-cheong’s sword maintained a constant flow, Namgung Jun’s sword gradually became faster and heavier.

Despite this, the Great Young Master of the Baek Ri Clan was not easily pushed back.

Though his Sword Speed and Sword Power, the two elements, fell behind compared to Namgung Jun’s, the finer points of his forms that held his center were exquisite.

Namgung Jun nodded his head as he saw the form of Baek Ri-cheong, who had parried five successive slashing strikes.

‘The power of a prestigious house.’

The sublimity of the forms, which had been polished and passed down through the ages, supported Baek Ri-cheong’s sword.

Baek Ri-cheong, who had naturally pushed aside the blue sword strike that was driving in, once again swung his sword up.

The forms of the Centurion Sword Style, which were being deployed calmly, tried to push Namgung Jun back.

But Namgung Jun did not easily give him the combat distance. On the contrary, he naturally poured out a single move of the Heavenly Wind Sword Style and presented a heavy pressure.

C-CRACK!

Fine cracks were etched into the floor, centered on the two feet of Baek Ri-cheong as he received Namgung Jun’s heavy sword strike.

‘Truly heavy.’

Baek Ri-cheong did not yield to Namgung Jun’s sword power.

Naturally twisting his waist and hips, he unfolded the form of River Wing.

The sword, which drew a half-circle as he spun, naturally let the pouring sword wind flow behind him.

CRAAASH!

Though the explosive sound of the sword wind that had passed behind him shattering a wall could be heard, Baek Ri-cheong could only powerfully kick off his feet.

“Haaaah!”

A kiai, which Baek Ri-cheong, who had fought dozens of duels while conducting the competition, was letting out for the first time.

However, Namgung Jun merely brought his sword to an upper stance.

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

The silhouettes of the two swordsmen repeatedly clashed and separated, and sparks scattered like flower petals.

Dozens of exchanges passed in an instant.

At the sword-wind that arose every time their swords collided, the sleeves of the two swordsmen were roughly tossed about.

A sharp aura that would make one tingle just by touching it filled the atmosphere, but the two swordsmen showed no signs of retreating.

Even in the middle of all that, the sword forms of the two swordsmen did not waver in the slightest.

On the contrary, their combat distance gradually narrowed, and they clashed even more fiercely.

As if to keenly feel each other’s swords.

Thump!

Powerful stomps that erupted in succession fiercely beat upon the floor of the training ground. The rising cloud of dust was shattered to pieces by the fiercely distorting sword strikes.

“Heup!”

Along with a savage sound of tearing air, Baek Ri-cheong’s vision was instantly dyed a refreshing cool.

His two feet were pushed back little by little by the forms of the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash, which were vigorously piercing his entire body.

It was an extremely intuitive Swift Sword style.

A sword style like a lightning bolt, that charged forward without looking back and without any lingering attachments.

The corners of Baek Ri-cheong’s mouth rose slightly as he received the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash with his body.

‘Yes. So this was the kind of sword style it was.’

That time, his own skill had been insufficient, so he had not been able to experience it directly. But now was different.

Though the extremely savage slashing strikes were falling in a line like a streak of lightning, a sense of enjoyment, on the contrary, came first.

He received the Swift Sword that thrust straight for his chest head-on, and evaded the sword strike that bent in and rushed from the side by taking a backward step.

‘Incredible. Truly incredible.’

Baek Ri-cheong let out his admiration in succession as he looked at Namgung Jun, who was maintaining a firm posture.

Namgung Jun’s sword was peculiar, and yet sublime.

It was slowly chipping away at the solid defensive posture of the Centurion Sword Style.

Though the depth of the sword style called the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash was considerable in itself, what was truly frightening was Namgung Jun’s sharp eye.

As if he were not simply reading the forms of the sword style, but seeing right through the martial study itself.

‘Younger Brother is looking at a much more distant place.’

He had already observed him several times.

He had been in admiration then as well, but experiencing it directly, he felt it in a very different way.

If he were to look only at the sword strike before his eyes, he would absolutely not be able to believe that he was younger than himself.

Though there were also extraordinary parts in his Sword Power and Sword Speed, the most startling thing was the Sword Skill that was laden with an inexplicable number of years.

A boy who shot out immense sword strikes like a thunderbolt.

He was truly brilliant and wondrous.

‘I cannot yet display such a sword.’

But Baek Ri-cheong was not intimidated.

Because he too had faithfully built up the foundation of his sword.

Though it was not special, he prided himself on having forged a Sword Skill that would not be easily broken.

Vwoom!

The aura that Baek Ri-cheong was emitting became a tier sharper.

Namgung Jun saw Baek Ri-cheong’s eyes.

A firm will had seeped into the light of his eyes, and the sword path that was extending out became even more precise.

‘The Centurion Sword Style.’

An extremely orthodox sword style.

For that reason, though it was strong, a limit also existed.

In order to surpass this, one had to break away from the orbit they had defined for themselves.

‘Baek Ri-cheong. He is a talent worth counting. If he grows a little more, he will become a swordsman who can represent the Azure Sky Society.’

To Namgung Jun, the duel with Baek Ri-cheong was, without him realizing it, an occasion for giving a lesson.

Clang-clang-clang!

A translucent shockwave that erupted as their swords crossed pushed the two swordsmen to either side.

Though at a glance it looked like an even match, the reality was different.

Unlike Baek Ri-cheong, who had endured the shock with his body, Namgung Jun had completely crushed the after-effects of the clash with the finer points of the Empyrean Aegis.

The eyes of Baek Ri-cheong, who had felt this, widened as if in surprise.

As he felt the minute flow of the aura of the Empyrean Aegis at point-blank range, he could not help but have much to learn.

Namgung Jun did not stop here.

‘To rapidly enhance one’s accomplishment in a sword style like the Centurion Sword Style, the orthodox method is to beat it down with an Illusory Sword or a Shifting Sword.’

The sword form of Namgung Jun, who had primarily been deploying the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash and the Heavenly Wind Sword Style, changed completely.

The point where the tip of his sword sought to reach became deceptive, and his sword path became chaotically entangled.

The sword of Baek Ri-cheong, who was facing the sharply twisted sword strike that was like a thorny vine, hesitated slightly.

Every time that happened, Namgung Jun fiercely pushed him.

He was drawing out Baek Ri-cheong’s skill to its limit with his proficient swordplay.

‘Do not waver and protect your center. You must unfold the sword style you have learned in that way.’

The sword strike that extended as Namgung Jun’s body spun was also bent with a stoop. As if he were handling a limber, flexible sword.

To manifest the unique strengths of other weapons with artistry alone. It was a truly unbelievable talent.

SWOOOSH!

Countless splitting sword-shadows flickered along the rushing sword strike and at the same time, poured down chaotically in several directions like raindrops in a strong wind.

As his gaze fell upon the chaotic sword strike that was unfolded with an unfathomable sword path, Baek Ri-cheong’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘He can contain the finer points of the Illusory and the Shifting in his sword to this extent?’

Despite his body being smaller than his own, Namgung Jun’s body came across as grand and massive.

And as he did, he suddenly felt something was strange.

It seemed as if they were an even match, yet Namgung Jun was overflowing with leisure. It did not seem to be his innate disposition, but that there was a clear reason for it.

‘As if a master of a much higher rank is engaging in a guidance duel.’

Baek Ri-cheong, who had been contemplating for a moment, deliberately showed an opening. But Namgung Jun did not take the bait.

On the contrary, as if to tell him to focus properly, he created a sword wind of the Heavenly Wind Sword Style from the front.

KWAAAAAANG!

“Kuk!”

Baek Ri-cheong had to be pushed back five steps, even though he had instantaneously raised his sword straight up.

If he had made a mistake, his hand would have been torn open.

SWOOSH!

The sword of Namgung Jun, which was cutting through the air, was aimed precisely at Baek Ri-cheong’s solar plexus.

The eyes of Baek Ri-cheong, who saw this, widened.

An overwhelming sense of intimidation rose up to about his knees.

A sharp sound of tearing air.

A shock that flowed through the body of the blade.

A numbing aura.

All of it was formed into one and maximized Namgung Jun’s presence.

‘Am I still unable to surpass him?’

But Baek Ri-cheong showed a smile.

He felt a sense of powerlessness, and at the same time, a thrill.

Though he had been initiated into the Azure Sky Society, his revenge against the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult was distant, and he had many shortcomings when it came to rebuilding his annihilated family.

In the middle of that, to have met a comrade who was younger than himself and was already striding ahead was, on the contrary, something to be thankful for.

For he would be able to use Namgung Jun as a rival, or as a touchstone, and extend himself even further forward.

‘For that reason, I…!’

Baek Ri-cheong imbued a single sword strike with the resolve he had reaffirmed while looking at Namgung Jun.

VROOOOM!

A Sword Qi, which had soared up in a pure white color centered on the body of his blade, flapped powerfully like a pair of wings.

The Centurion Sword Style.

The White Wing.

The Sword Qi, which had stretched out long to the left and right, powerfully cut through the atmosphere as if flapping its wings and rushed in toward both of Namgung Jun’s flanks at the same time.

One of the ultimate skills of the Centurion Sword Style.

The best form that the current Baek Ri-cheong could unfold.

‘Magnificent.’

Namgung Jun, who had been carefully watching the Sword Qi that had stretched out long diagonally on both sides of the dueling stage, nodded his head.

There was nothing to find fault with, from the sharp aura of the Sword Qi, to its structure, to the circulation of the aura. On top of that was his composure and judgment in unfolding an appropriate ultimate skill without overdoing it.

Namgung Jun readjusted his grip on his hilt.

Because he was a talent who possessed a righteous will, he wished to give Baek Ri-cheong a slight push on his back.

Vwoom!

A cerulean Sword Qi that was flowing along the body of his sword writhed violently like lightning.

Namgung Jun, who had drawn up his Sword Qi, held his sword in a middle stance.

And then, he displayed it.

The point that Baek Ri-cheong should aim for in the future.

The single sword strike that Baek Ri-cheong must one day display.

The blade, laid horizontally as it charged straight forward.

Following the fluid sword path, the atmosphere split wide open.

No, it was correct to say that it had scattered up and down, as if fleeing from the sword.

The extremely simple and refined sword strike rushed forward horizontally and tore the Sword Qi of the White Wing, which had been stirring on both sides, into two streaks.

KWAAAANG!

Because he had laden it with his remaining power without holding back, the recoil from his ultimate skill being dismantled was also extreme.

Baek Ri-cheong could not properly control his sword and had to take several steps backward in succession.

A momentary silence.

Baek Ri-cheong could only look at his own sword with a blank face.

Then, only after a long while, did he look at Namgung Jun.

“That sword path just now was?”

“I merely unfolded the optimal sword path.”

“The optimal…”

The sword path that Namgung Jun had shown would not erase itself from Baek Ri-cheong’s mind.

The shimmering, halo-like image that flickered before his eyes gave him the conviction that he would have to pursue this sword path in his training from now on.

‘As if I have seen another path for the Centurion Sword Style.’

Baek Ri-cheong muttered Namgung Jun’s words to himself several times and then bowed his head.

“Younger Brother. I have lost.”

Baek Ri-cheong’s concession of defeat meant the end of the competition.

And the Clouds in this place realized.

That the true Number One Rising Star of the Azure Sky had been decided.