Chapter 359: Three-Breath Duel (1)

When Namgung Yoo tried to step forward, Yong Hwarin grabbed her wrist.

“Ayu, leave it to me.”

Namgung Yoo looked at Hwarin and nodded.

“Ah, that’s right, Hwarin is here. Yes, if it’s you, you could slam that bastard to the ground. Could you do that for me?”

“Alright. I’ll slam him to the ground.”

Yong Hwarin replied and walked forward.

“Ah, it’s the Heavenly Sword Hero!”

“That’s right, they say that Pang Sohyeop of Byeongmundo and Yong Sohyeop, the Heavenly Sword Hero, are close friends, and in the end, he steps out.”

“Who will win?”

All around, people discussed the two as they speculated on the outcome of the duel.

San Bi grinned wide enough to bare his teeth.

‘You’ve taken the bait, finally.’

San Bi had provoked the duel that could have ended with Pang Giyok because his real intention was to use it as an excuse to crush the orthodox prodigies completely.

And Yong Hwarin was one of them.

Especially after Old Man Man passed away, his resentment toward Yong Hwarin only deepened.

‘Did you think I would just have a simple duel with you?’

San Bi already had a plan in place to thoroughly destroy Yong Hwarin.

“If you want to fight on someone else’s behalf, you should wager something of equal value, don’t you think? What will you put up? If you lose, you’ll also become my slave. Accept that, and I’ll take the duel.”

Yong Hwarin chuckled faintly.

“Fine, I’ll accept that proposal.”

“And one more thing. If you agree to this as well, I’ll accept your challenge. Otherwise, I’ll enslave Pang Giyok.”

There was no choice. Right now, they had no choice but to accept whatever San Bi demanded.

“Say it.”

“You must not attack for three breaths of time.”

It was such an outrageous demand that the gathered martial artists all began murmuring.

It was no different from telling Yong Hwarin to forfeit the duel outright.

Pang Giyok spoke.

“Hwarin, don’t accept that proposal. I’d rather become his slave than let you agree to something like that.”

To concede three breaths against an expert like San Bi was far too dangerous.

But then Yong Hwarin went even further.

“Instead, strike me for three breaths. If my feet leave the ground even a single step during that time, I’ll consider it your victory.”

“What?”

San Bi laughed in disbelief.

“Wahahahaha!”

After laughing heartily for some time, he suddenly stopped and released killing intent.

“If you take even one step, it’ll be my victory?”

“That’s right.”

“You’ve underestimated me. Fine! I’ll accept that proposal!”

At Yong Hwarin’s outrageous words, Pang Giyok, Mo Biyoung, and Jong Seok all turned pale.

Namgung Yoo shouted at Yong Hwarin.

“Hwarin! Are you insane? Why would you agree to something like that!”

Yong Hwarin smiled gently.

“Trust me.”

In his calm voice, not a trace of unease could be found.

“Haah, this is insane.”

Namgung Yoo let out a long sigh.

“Hmph, utterly insane. Do you really think you can stay still for three breaths? Even Pang Giyok, who always boasted so much, ended up in that state, and yet you dare to keep up appearances.”

Go Jin muttered from the back.

At that, Namgung Yoo shot him a glare.

“Instead of cheering for someone who stepped out for a friend, all you do is badmouth him. Have you ever risked your life for a friend? No, have you ever even fought for a friend?”

When Namgung Yoo snapped sharply, Go Jin nearly retorted in anger, but then, realizing she was a woman, he quickly turned his head away.

At least he had a conviction never to quarrel physically with women.

“I’m worried about our Lord.”

“Trust in the Small Sect Leader.”

When Jong Seok fidgeted anxiously, Mo Biyoung tried to reassure him.

“Of course I trust in our Lord. But that San Bi isn’t someone to take lightly. To concede three breaths? And worse, to say that even a single step would mean defeat? It’s ridiculous.”

Mo Biyoung spoke again.

“Our Small Sect Leader may sometimes seem reckless, but every action is calculated. He’s not someone who moves thoughtlessly.”

“That’s not it. He only stepped out because a friend was in danger. What calculation could there be?”

Mo Biyoung answered.

“Think about it carefully. If he were someone who acted thoughtlessly, he would have stepped out when Shangguan Mijong was in danger. But he didn’t. He only stepped out now because he has confidence in himself.”

Hearing Mo Biyoung’s words, it seemed reasonable.

“Then that’s a relief. Either way, if our Small Sect Leader is in danger, I’ll step forward. Keep that in mind.”

Of course, if such a situation came to pass, Mo Biyoung fully intended to step in herself.

But even so, Mo Biyoung trusted the cunning Small Sect Leader more than anyone else.

Yong Hwarin stood in a relaxed stance. At a glance, it seemed far too full of openings.

“You’ll regret your decision!”

San Bi sneered and raised his hand.

“Wait! If I endure three breaths, you must allow me one breath to attack.”

“Not just one breath, I’ll give you three as well.”

San Bi readily agreed, confident that he could topple Yong Hwarin within three breaths.

Since this wasn’t an exchange of attacks but rather one side attacking unilaterally, the other would be forced to retreat just to avoid it.

“And if you don’t retreat even a single step as you claimed, I’ll call you elder brother.”

Yong Hwarin replied nonchalantly.

“Not bad, to hear the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult call me brother.”

The two faced each other in silence, with only the sound of the mountain wind blowing.

The onlookers all closed their mouths and fixed their gazes on the two.

They knew very well.

This duel carried great meaning.

The duel between Yong Hwarin, the Heavenly Sword Hero rising as a powerhouse of the orthodox sects, and San Bi, the Young Cult Leader of the Sacred Heaven Cult of the Three Demonic Heavens, wielder of the Nine-Serpent Sabre, was not just any duel. Even those who weren’t martial artists could see it was a battle of pride between the orthodox and the demonic path.

Yong Hwarin wrapped his body with the energy of the Immovable Mountain and raised his Protective Qi.

San Bi, intending to shatter Yong Hwarin’s Protective Qi, gathered the Black Steel Ink Cloud.

The Black Steel Ink Cloud was one of the Nine-Serpent Sabre’s three ultimate techniques.

Since he had been given three breaths to attack, he decided to respond with one of the Nine-Serpent Sabre’s three ultimate techniques.

From his blade, a black energy rose like smoke, condensing into a circular form.

“Qi Manifestation!”

“So that’s how masters of their level can manifest qi!”

The martial artists exclaimed in awe at the sight of qi manifestation.

Even if he was a demonic cultivator, to reach the realm of qi manifestation proved how much arduous cultivation he had endured.

“But qi manifestation comes in levels. To be effective, you need multiple formations, yet the Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader only has one.”

As if to mock those words, San Bi sent forth the manifested qi.

Yong Hwarin had expected a powerful strike, but he hadn’t thought San Bi would open with qi manifestation.

Seeing that, Go Jin muttered.

“At that level, even I could block it.”

To that, Mok Yang of Qingcheng Sect replied.

“To this disciple’s eyes, it is no ordinary qi. If San Bi isn’t a fool, he wouldn’t waste one of his three breaths on a mere probing strike.”

“Hmph, we’ll see.”

As Go Jin grumbled, Mak Yun of Kunlun Sect shook his head at his narrow-mindedness.

Even though it was a time when they should be wishing for the Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader to lose, he was still busy finding fault with Yong Hwarin, with future conflicts in mind.

‘Senior Brother Go Jin is truly far from becoming a master.’

Jeong Hang of Shaolin, Wun Mang of Wudang, Cheong Mong of Mount Hua, and Myung Ok Sunja of Emei all watched San Bi’s strike and pondered how they themselves would block it if they were in Yong Hwarin’s place.

The Black Steel Ink Cloud’s manifested qi struck Yong Hwarin’s chest.

The crowd expected a tremendous explosion, but the Black Steel Ink Cloud defied all expectations.

Upon colliding with Yong Hwarin’s Protective Qi, it unraveled like smoke, wrapping around his body.

“Look at that!”

Someone cried out in surprise.

The smoke-like black energy cut down nearby trees.

Small branches were sliced clean, and thick trunks were left with marks as though chopped by an axe.

“Could anyone withstand such power?”

What they had thought was merely a black mist revealed terrifying strength, leaving the crowd speechless.

As the black energy dissipated, Yong Hwarin’s Protective Qi had vanished.

He had expended it completely to block the Black Steel Ink Cloud.

“Incredible. You’re the first to withstand the Black Steel Ink Cloud without suffering injury.”

“What an honor.”

Yong Hwarin replied coolly, making San Bi’s face twist with irritation.

No matter what he said, the man made it sound infuriating.

“This time, you’ll need to be careful.”

Breaking his Protective Qi with the Black Steel Ink Cloud had been San Bi’s plan.

Of course, Yong Hwarin could form Protective Qi again, but it would inevitably be weaker than before.

San Bi responded with the Dark Heaven Swallowing Sun.

The Dark Heaven Swallowing Sun was akin to the Nine-Serpent Sabre’s own Sword Unification.

“Let’s see if you can endure without dodging.”

Stamping his foot, San Bi’s body became a straight line as he launched himself at Yong Hwarin.

Merging with his blade, San Bi’s force spread out ten jang in every direction.

That was how much qi he was releasing.

“Can he block that?”

The crowd looked at Yong Hwarin with worried faces.

“That’s dangerous.”

Even they could see the dire situation.

In battle, one was meant to dodge and counter. To take such a powerful strike head-on — no matter how skilled — was impossible to endure.

Yong Hwarin thrust the White Tiger Demon-Subduing Sword toward the oncoming San Bi.

As San Bi entered Sword Unification, Yong Hwarin also immersed himself into Sword Unification.

‘Now, let’s see whose Sword Unification is stronger — yours or mine.’

The power of four gaps’ worth of cultivation, amplified through the Tai Chi Dantian, poured into the White Tiger Demon-Subduing Sword, making it roar with sword cries.

“Oh! A clash of Sword Unifications? Today we are witnessing a rare sight indeed.”

For ordinary martial artists, even a lifetime of training would not bring them to the realm of Sword Unification.

San Bi sneered inwardly as Yong Hwarin thrust his sword.

‘Even if you block my strike, the impact will force you back.’

Even if uninjured, the shockwave alone would send him stumbling backward.

Clang!

Their swords clashed, and unlike before, a deafening explosion rang out.

Flap flap flap!

The surrounding birds, startled, shot into the sky.

Even the martial artists nearby staggered backward under the force of the shockwave.

The sheer clash of their power blasted people back.

But San Bi’s body was hurled straight into the air and crashed down five jang away.

Meanwhile, Yong Hwarin only swayed like a bamboo stalk, without retreating a single step.

“Hoh!”

“Amazing!”

“Unbelievable!”

Exclamations burst out all around. Even though they themselves had been pushed back by the aftershock from afar, Yong Hwarin hadn’t budged an inch.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep