Chapter 208: The Training of Two People (3)

Kagagagang!

Blue sword qi and dark red sword qi collided in midair.

As a result of their clash, the previously blue sky was distorted into a riot of colors before being shredded to pieces not long after.

“Whoa, that’s brutal….”

So Cheon shuddered as he gazed at the tearing sky.

Hundreds and thousands of streaks of sword qi appeared and disappeared in an instant.

It was the essence of the school of strategy—laying traps and feints in the gaps—quite unlike the demonic cult that put everything into a single strike.

Though its momentum was fierce, the beauty of the curves and straight lines devouring one another in accordance with principle was breathtaking to behold.

“Hmm, but it doesn’t really look like she has overwhelming firepower….”

The dark red flame was passionate and voracious, trying to devour everything.

In contrast, the mysterious movements of the Taiji sought to deflect all aggression and lead the opponent to self-destruction.

In terms of sheer firepower, it was actually Cheon Yura who was pushing Gwan Hyun into a corner.

“That’s right.”

“Eek!”

Responding to So Cheon’s murmured words was none other than the Heavenly Demon Founder, who had silently approached him.

“Firing off beams of destruction with brute strength might be enough to defeat idiots who rely solely on power. But it won’t work well against those who’ve reached the peak through refined technique.”

“But still, wouldn’t that be meaningless if you don’t have enough strength in the first place?”

Even among absolute masters, the disparity in internal energy rarely exceeded twice the amount.

That alone was incredible—but what So Cheon could sense from Gwan Hyun’s internal energy now was far beyond even that.

The Heavenly Demon Founder laughed heartily and nodded.

“Ha ha, of course. If this fight goes to the very end, that’ll become a factor.”

However—

“But such a formulaic strategy would never work on the master of the Heavenly Demonic Sword.”

In the Heavenly Demon Founder’s expression, So Cheon could catch a faint glimpse of pride.

“If it were simply a contest of power, he would never lose. That Taoist is using the best strategy available to him.”

“The best strategy?”

“Hmm, I don’t think he planned it deliberately, but his pride in the sword of his sect has led him to the right path.”

An enlightenment in the way of the sword.

Firepower, output, and even internal energy.

Right now, Gwan Hyun was overwhelming Cheon Yura in every category.

Yet he remained on the defensive, thoroughly receiving every one of her strikes.

“The Taiji of all things, embracing all phenomena. He’s trying to embody a different kind of truth through his sword than the one you hold.”

Flinch!

So Cheon’s face hardened.

It was about forty years ago that Gwan Hyun became one of the Three Generational Disciples of the Wudang Sect.

Taken in by a swordsman he encountered on a chivalric journey, Gwan Hyun entered the sect without yet being aware of his own roots.

– Are there only twenty new disciples this time?

Elders of Wudang, faces grim, covered their expressions as they stood before the ten disciples of the third generation, including Gwan Hyun.

– We have no choice, Elder Brother. Ever since ‘that incident,’ the number of people knocking on the doors of the main sect has dropped drastically. We should be grateful we even got twenty….

Considering that other orthodox sects recruited close to two hundred internal disciples on average, Wudang was practically in a state of collapse.

– Hah… What wrong has Wudang done for Heaven to punish us with such trials?

At the time of Gwan Hyun’s induction, Wudang was in a pitiful decline, having lost the glory of its past.

As a leading member of the Nine Great Sects and One Union, Wudang had once flourished. The reason for its current state was singular.

Roughly thirty years prior, a “Blood Night” incident occurred at the main sect that tore out the very foundation of the sect.

– That damned man who was expelled is now called the Dao Zun and is making a great name for herself in Murim!

One of the elders shouted, unable to contain his anger.

– The entire martial world mocks us, asking what we’re doing when someone like her came from our sect!

– Elder…

– I’ve wanted to settle things with that cursed woman so many times! If not for the former sect leader’s strict orders not to leak what happened back then!

– The children can hear you! Keep it down!

Several elders tried to calm the raging elder.

At the time, Gwan Hyun, still just a child, couldn’t understand what those elders were so angry about.

Only after officially becoming an internal disciple and learning the history of Wudang did he start to grasp a vague sense of the truth.

– Ancestor Jin Ryeong….

– Hey! Don’t use the term ‘ancestor’ for that traitorous criminal!

Jin Ryeong.

A female disciple about five generations senior to Gwan Hyun. She was once considered a prime candidate to become the next leader of Wudang.

She had even reached the Transformation Realm during her time as a first-generation disciple—a feat so exceptional that the leadership of Wudang had placed immense expectations on her.

So much so that, when she reached the Transformation Realm, they ignored her generational rank and promoted her directly to elder.

But she betrayed those expectations.

– Fifteen elders, thirty first-generation disciples, and forty former senior members… It was a nightmarish massacre.

Jin Ryeong slaughtered what amounted to nearly sixty percent of Wudang’s strength and left the sect.

Even if she was a Transformation Realm master, the scale of the massacre seemed unimaginable.

Why Wudang hadn’t issued a pursuit and kill order against her was something Gwan Hyun couldn’t understand, even in hindsight.

Nor why her existence and the entire incident had been so thoroughly concealed.

“You are the future of Wudang. You must revive the sect.”

Every time the elders faced the third-generation disciples, they would say the same thing.

And fortunately, Gwan Hyun had talent.

Although many martial techniques were lost due to the Blood Night, Wudang’s lineage had not been completely severed.

Having inherited that lineage, Gwan Hyun rose to become the senior disciple of the Guan branch, achieving accomplishments beyond the sect’s expectations.

“I must revive the sect.”

That single sentence became the absolute commandment of Gwan Hyun’s life.

That’s why, barely past his coming-of-age, he began taking on external missions, making a name for himself throughout Murim.

Even after awakening to his “essence” and joining the Heaven-Defying Society, that didn’t change.

For him, even the Heaven-Defying Society, which pulled strings behind the scenes of Murim, was nothing more than a tool for the sect’s revival.

The man who defeated not only the Blood Sect that once terrorized Murim but also countless heretical sects and rogue elements was called by the people:

“The Taiji Sword Lord.”

“It’s the Taiji Sword Lord!”

The Taiji Sword Lord, Gwan Hyun.

He rose to one of the Eight Seats of the martial world as a Transformation Realm master at a young age.

Wudang’s leader and elders shed tears as they passed the position of Sect Leader to him.

Once Gwan Hyun became Sect Leader, the world unanimously declared that Wudang had finally returned to glory.

But Gwan Hyun could not be satisfied.

The nemesis and archrival of his sect…

The Dao Zun Jin Ryeong, who deserved to be executed a thousand times over, was now being called one of the Three Supremes of the Central Plains, under the name of “Dao Zun.”

And then, one day—

“Wudang is once again committing a grave mistake.”

Dao Zun Jin Ryeong appeared suddenly before Gwan Hyun.

“So it’s you. The sect’s archenemy, Jin Ryeong!”

By generational seniority, she was not just her great senior—she was far beyond even a grandmaster’s generation.

Still, Gwan Hyun didn’t hesitate to name her aloud and reveal his open hostility.

Puffing on a long pipe, Dao Zun muttered softly with a pitiful gaze.

“So much blood was shed in the hope of turning everything back, and yet their influence still casts its shadow over the underbelly of Murim…”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“You know better than anyone, don’t you? You, who entered the Wudang Sect as a planted spy.”

Flinch!

At those words, Gwan Hyun’s expression froze.

But he quickly snarled and barked back fiercely.

“Don’t talk rubbish. My loyalty is to the sect and my senior brothers.”

“Yes, I figured as much based on the path you’ve walked so far. That’s precisely why I haven’t killed you yet.”

“What, what did you say?!”

Driven mad by rage, Gwan Hyun lunged at Dao Zun.

And after a clash fierce enough to level an entire mountain—

He was utterly defeated, unable to penetrate Dao Zun’s All-Encompassing Taiji.

Dao Zun addressed the back of the battered and broken Gwan Hyun.

“Your Wisdom Sword’s destructive power may be the greatest in the world, but it’s not enough to face the Sword that Slays the Heavens.”

“…What nonsense are you spouting.”

“I’m saying the Wisdom Sword alone is insufficient. If you become obsessed with destructive power and forget the fundamental mystery of embracing all things, Wudang will collapse completely this time.”

“What…? Didn’t you yourself sever the lineage of the All-Encompassing Taiji?”

At that, Dao Zun smirked in amusement.

“You think the essence of all things can be upheld by a few mantras? It’s one of the great principles that make up the universe. Even without the mantras, the principle itself doesn’t vanish.”

“……”

“In any case…”

Dao Zun straightened the back she had been slightly bending.

“There are two reasons I’m letting you live. First, there’s still a chance Wudang may rise again. And second, your level of power may prove necessary in the future.”

“What… what do you mean?”

“The fragment of the Demon has lost its purpose and cannot ascend to the heavens. If left alone, it will bring catastrophe upon the world.”

A trace of irritation flickered across Dao Zun’s face.

“The monster of Ten Thousand Mountains, who ought to be stepping in, is too busy raising a successor. And that mad monk has gone blind with vengeance. So I must keep moving.”

Puff…

Placing the pipe back in her mouth, she said to Gwan Hyun:

“We will meet again. Until then, keep cultivating.”

“Next time… I won’t let it end like this.”

With hatred burning in his eyes, Gwan Hyun shouted after Dao Zun’s retreating figure.

“I will become the Sword Supreme! I’ll prove that Wudang’s sword is the best under the heavens and repay today’s humiliation!”

Dao Zun glanced back slightly and smiled.

“I look forward to it.”

Taiji energy condensed on Gwan Hyun’s sword.

Even if he had transformed into a monster, his sword had not forsaken Wudang’s Dao.

“I don’t need your ‘All-Encompassing’ whatever! Wudang today is the strongest!”

Taiji Wisdom Sword – Crossing the Dual Principles

Beads shaped like magatama, symbols of yin and yang, spiraled along Gwan Hyun’s blade.

Each one of them contained power that transcended ordinary qi compression.

The fact that he had now unsheathed his Wisdom Sword meant he had shifted from stubborn defense to an all-out offense.

The flow of energy gathering around him was on a different level from the Wisdom Sword once wielded by former First-Generation Disciple Jeon Mu.

Seeing that, Cheon Yura’s spirits flared, and she shouted:

“In that case, I’ll show something worthy of it too!”

The single sword she had once unleashed, which had been so pitifully broken by the Heavenly Demon Founder in a single second—

Back then, she hadn’t even named her sword technique.

But now, after considerable contemplation and internal struggle, the situation was different.

‘This technique… isn’t something I created alone.’

It was strength influenced by a comrade she had fought alongside…

By a bond formed standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

Cheerfully, she merged twelve flying swords into one.

But more than simply merging them, she infused her own will into the weapon and inscribed meaning into it.

It was still rudimentary, but—

It was undoubtedly a process known as the tempering of will and intent.

Heaven-Slaying Demonic Sword – Combined Form.

“Bright Net Swor.”

Her previously dark red sword qi, in an instant, turned to a dual shade of black and white.

It was not a crude fusion of mismatched energies, but a symbolic representation of sun and moon, guided by the forge of intent.

Strangely, its outward appearance closely resembled Gwan Hyun’s Crossing of Dual Principles, executed at full strength.

Upon seeing it, the Heavenly Demon Founder murmured softly.

“They may look similar, but their essence is surely different.”

And just before the two swords collided—

“Sun and Moon… and Taiji.”

With a satisfied smile, the Heavenly Demon Founder said—

“Excellent…”

A hemispherical explosion erupted, obliterating the entire area.

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