Chapter 060
The martial contest was fierce. The Dragon Gate Gathering was another arena for proving oneself. Moreover, the winners of this Dragon Gate Gathering would be granted the title of Dragon and Phoenix. Among the thirteen elite young martial artists known as the Thirteen Elites in the current Murim world, none had titles prefixed with divine beasts like dragon or phoenix. Baek Sugyeong found this rather strange. Those without the names of divine dragon or phoenix competing to be the best among the Thirteen Elites? It was a curious notion. At least, readers familiar with Korean martial arts novels would have felt that way.
"As expected of the Peng Clan!"
"Powerful but straightforward!"
"Such a domineering style!"
With a heavy boom, fragments of the shattered arena scattered into the air. It was a powerful strike that could only be described as excessive. Even though he wasn't using the Peng Clan's signature heavy blade but rather executing blade techniques with a slender long sword, each strike carried tremendous weight.
"Heavy" wasn't sufficient to describe it. The blade technique of the Peng Clan, one of the Eight Great Clans known for their unique blade arts, displayed a destructive power beyond mere heaviness — truly befitting the term "domineering."
Boom!
Once again, fragments of the arena scattered in all directions as another downward strike landed.
"But he can't land a single hit!"
"As expected of the Namgung Clan!"
Amidst the flying wooden splinters, a figure left blurry afterimages as it shifted away. Rather than bothering to block the long sword that was tearing up the arena floor, the figure avoided it with a single step. Evidence that the trajectory had been read perfectly.
No matter what people said about the Peng Clan's blade techniques being simple, fundamentally, the Peng Clan's blade art was a domineering style that overwhelmed opponents with overwhelming momentum combined with footwork. Seeing Namgung Somin easily shrug off the pressure of his aura and retreat, the Peng Clan martial artist bit his lip.
'Though my mastery of the "Tiger Monarch Steps" may be lacking... could she really be completely unaffected by it?!'
The Tiger Monarch Steps was the pinnacle of the Peng Clan's footwork. To be precise, it was a footwork technique specialized in binding and pressuring opponents with momentum, similar to the Demon Lord Steps — considered the strongest footwork of the demonic path since the Old Murim era.
Of course, the Demon Lord Steps was said to completely subjugate people, but that was merely a legend from the Old Murim. Even so, to easily brush off the pressure of the Tiger Monarch Steps...
"Haah!"
His advancing step instantly closed the gap between them, transforming into the divine technique of the Tiger Leap Gorge. Blade energy clearly spread from his raised long sword.
The rainbow-like blade energy transformed into a storm, swirling around Namgung Somin with oppressive force. From the Mist Flowing Blade came the Wild Wind Blade. The blade energy that had been striking the air like scattered water droplets suddenly changed form, sweeping across the arena like a storm.
A combination technique flowing from the Wild Wind Blade technique to the Mist Flowing style — the Wild Wind Mist Flowing Blade combination.
"Whirling Wild Mountain Slash!"
A slashing attack that tore the air to shreds poured down toward Namgung Somin.
Namgung Somin, who had been holding her sword lowered, gripped it properly and narrowed her eyes. The Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Art circulated through her entire body. As internal energy rushed through her body into her sword, golden-yellow sword energy sprouted from her blade like leaves budding from a tree in spring.
A simple downward sword strike.
The moment the Peng Clan martial artist saw it, he was seized by an inexplicable sense of dissonance.
"What...?"
With a belated shock, the blade energy of his Whirling Wild Mountain Slash shattered like glass and scattered in all directions.
Whoosh.
The blade energy of the Whirling Wild Mountain Slash was caught in the gale centered around Namgung Somin and dispersed in all directions. Her sword was still pointing toward the ground.
With proud, composed eyes, Namgung Somin looked at the Peng Clan martial artist.
"Is this all?"
At those words, the Peng Clan martial artist's molars ground together as if they might break.
Crunch.
"Namgung Clan...! I'd heard you were arrogant, but this exceeds the rumors!"
"Well. Rather than exhausting yourself wielding a blade that cannot reach me, wouldn't surrendering better preserve your strength?"
The gazes of Namgung Somin and the Peng Clan martial artist clashed. This was a battle of pride.
A fight between the Namgung Clan, which had long reigned as one of the Eight Great Clans, and the Hebei Peng Clan, the only one among the Eight Great Clans to have made its name through blade techniques.
Blade versus sword.
Naturally, they could only see each other as rivals.
Because these were the weapons most commonly wielded throughout the world.
"Haah!"
Internal energy coursed through his entire body, leaping like a fierce tiger, and his hands gripping the long sword danced as if running along a string.
A strangely swift slash where his arms and wrists seemed to move independently.
Blindingly fast blade strikes rained down like a downpour toward Namgung Somin, tearing through the air with terrifying speed.
The Mist Flowing Blade, one of the Peng Clan's secret techniques.
Avoiding the blade strikes that flew at her as if to shred her entire body with flowing footwork, Namgung Somin's golden eyes gleamed with light.
Thud.
A heavy step pressed down on the arena.
The imperial dignity manifested from the Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Art.
The Emperor's Step.
"Ugh?!"
The blade energy of the Mist Flowing Blade was instantly erased as if washed away.
Realizing that his technique had been completely suppressed by the shock wave of the Emperor's Step, the Peng Clan martial artist quickly flipped his body and swung his blade again.
A heavy slash following light footwork.
Befitting a clan that made its name through blade techniques, his transitions between techniques were swift.
It was commendable that he switched back to heavy blade techniques when his attempt to pin down his opponent with swift blade techniques failed.
However.
His opponent was Namgung Somin.
'His transitions are quick, but...'
The Peng Clan's blade techniques weren't meant to be used by switching between different styles like this.
The swift blade lacked sharpness, and the heavy blade seemed weighty but had no substance.
He had focused on the form of martial arts without properly understanding their principles.
His shallow understanding, as if he had only skimmed the surface, was evident.
He lacked the fundamentals, the foundation as a martial artist.
Namgung Somin's gaze naturally grew cold.
'His basics are lacking. The Peng Clan couldn't possibly be this mediocre.'
For someone from a renowned clan — the only one among the Eight Great Clans to have made its name through blade techniques — to be at this level.
Hiding her discomfort, Namgung Somin swung her sword.
As the sword tip and blade edge collided, a shattering sound like breaking glass spread in all directions.
After lightly deflecting the Peng Clan martial artist's blade, Namgung Somin took a step.
This time, she didn't stop at just stepping.
As the Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Art rose, the Emperor's Step advanced.
A shock wave that easily tore through the heavy momentum of the Peng Clan martial artist's blade energy shot out from Namgung Somin's front.
"Ah...!"
The descending long sword was deflected by the shock wave.
Seeing her opponent's form falter as his blade energy rapidly weakened, Namgung Somin's eyes narrowed.
"Your foundation is lacking."
Being a woman was no excuse.
Since practicing martial arts somewhat offset the inherent weaknesses of being female, it couldn't be used as an excuse.
Women are weak?
That might be true for those who haven't practiced martial arts, but for those who have, such notions become distant.
So the current display from the Peng Clan martial artist simply meant insufficient training.
It was the typical appearance of those who had coasted by on their family name alone.
'How disappointing.'
The people she had seen at the "Wudang Sword Hero" weren't like this.
They were strong.
And persistent.
Whether men or women, they constantly made Namgung Somin contemplate what true martial arts really meant.
What are martial arts?
At least, she could be certain that what the Peng Clan martial artist before her was showing was far from the ultimate form of martial arts.
Namgung Somin once again took the Emperor's Step.
A heavy shock wave arose, pushing the air as if to lash at the Peng Clan martial artist again.
"Kuk...!"
He hastily swung her blade to dispel the shock wave of the Emperor's Step, but that was only momentary.
As Namgung Somin advanced with the Emperor's Step, her sword strike came down like a guillotine on the blade.
Boom!
A powerful strike that made the arena sink in.
"Ooooh!"
"That is the Strong Sword of the Namgung Clan!"
As people said, the Namgung Clan's sword style was indeed the Strong Sword.
Of course, it wasn't that swift sword and heavy sword techniques didn't exist within the Namgung Clan's sword arts, but the mainstream sword technique of the Namgung Clan was definitely the Strong Sword.
While the Sky-Piercing Unhindered Sword Technique was a mix of swift and flowing sword styles.
The Namgung Clan's sword technique, supported by the Emperor's Step, primarily embraced a ferocity that rivaled the domineering blade techniques of the Hebei Peng Clan.
If the domineering blade bound and crushed opponents with momentum, the Strong Sword simply crushed them regardless of whether they defended or not.
"Kuk!"
Her posture nearly collapsed as she staggered.
After barely withstanding Namgung Somin's sword strike, the Peng Clan martial artist delivered a kick to push her away and regained his stance with footwork.
But creating distance was useless.
Having already gained the initiative, Namgung Somin had no intention of letting her go.
Instantly catching up to the Peng Clan martial artist, Namgung Somin's posture lowered almost to the ground.
Simultaneously, the internal energy she had condensed rushed along her arm, and golden lightning surged upward.
Golden sword light rising as if defying the heavens.
The Peng Clan martial artist narrowly avoided it and retreated to regain his posture, but.
That was a feint.
"You let your guard down."
When had she gotten behind?
Namgung Somin's sword was already resting on his shoulder.
"H-how...?"
"Even when regaining your composure, you shouldn't have taken your eyes off your opponent."
Exposing one's shoulder meant defeat in a martial contest.
In the martial world, if this had been a life-or-death battle rather than a contest, it would have cost her life.
The Peng Clan martial artist lowered her head.
"...I've lost."
"The winner, Jade Sword Flower Namgung Somin!!"
Along with the announcement of Namgung Somin's victory, thunderous cheers erupted.
"Namgung! Namgung! Namgung!"
"The Peng Clan fought well too!"
"So strong! Is this the Namgung Clan!"
"The future of the martial world is bright!"
Leaving behind the voices of the crowd praising her.
Namgung Somin descended from the arena.
...
Despite the rather intense contest, not a single drop of sweat formed on Namgung Somin's face.
It was natural, given the considerable gap between her and her opponent that made exertion unnecessary.
As she came down from the arena, Baek Sugyeong and So Ssanga greeted her.
Namgung Somin's face turned slightly red upon seeing Baek Sugyeong.
"T-Teacher."
"I enjoyed watching your contest, Lady Namgung."
"That level... I wonder if it wasn't too mundane for your eyes, Teacher."
"It was excellent."
Namgung Somin couldn't hide her embarrassment at Baek Sugyeong's praise.
Looking at her, Baek Sugyeong smiled.
"It was a contest that pleased the eye."
Unlike what he had seen at the Murim Alliance, the contest proceeded at a fairly slow pace, so Baek Sugyeong had no trouble watching it.
Perhaps his eyes had become somewhat more discerning from his experience at the Murim Alliance.
Baek Sugyeong said:
"The Strong Sword of the Namgung Clan and the Domineering Blade of the Hebei Peng Clan are similar yet different. I understand there are subtle differences, and I'm glad I could see them directly."
"Did it inspire your work?"
At Namgung Somin's words, Baek Sugyeong nodded.
"Of course."
"Then I'm glad."
"You were impressive, Lady Namgung."
"Thank you, Guild Leader So."
Namgung Somin and So Ssanga exchanged smiles as they conversed.
Baek Sugyeong folded the notebook where he had jotted down the characteristics of the Peng Clan and Namgung Clan's martial arts while watching the contest and tucked it into his chest.
"We should go watch Lady Gal's contest."
"I'll accompany you, Teacher."
As Baek Sugyeong moved, Namgung Somin naturally fell in step beside him.