Chapter 373: Yong Hwarin’s Martial Accomplishment (1)

It was late at night.

Inside the Hall of Assembly, the high command had gathered, struggling to decide which talents would face the successors of the Three Demonic Heavens in tomorrow’s duel.

Each sect fought heatedly, demanding to send their disciples.

Reverend Mang Wu sat with his eyes closed, showing no sign of stopping them.

Finally, Namgung Bi struck the table with his hand and spoke.

“If we lose tomorrow, have you considered how severe the repercussions will be? This is not the time to send disciples merely for your own sect’s honor. The duel must be fought by true prodigies who can win. If we are defeated, even if we form the Hundred Justice Alliance, the world will only mock us. Do you think the martial world will believe in our banner of eradicating the Demonic Path when we cannot even defeat the successors of the Three Demonic Heavens?”

“Then tell me, where can such a talent be found?”

Dojang Oh Uk, who had been insisting that Taoist Mak Yun be chosen, immediately retorted to Namgung Bi’s words.

“Namgung senior, frankly speaking, who among the younger generation can surpass the disciples of the Nine Great Sects?”

Namgung Bi smiled faintly.

“Then why does Dojang Oh Uk refuse to mention Young Master Yong, whom you yourself admitted defeat to?”

“T-that… this duel carries the honor of the Nine Great Sects…”

“And do you think this concerns only the pride of the Nine Great Sects? This concerns the honor of the entire orthodox Murim.”

“Hmm! Hmph!”

Even in this situation, there were still elders who clung to the belief that the Nine Great Sects were supreme.

Namgung Bi spoke firmly.

“If Yong Hwarin of the Heavenly Central Sect steps forward, there is at least a high chance of victory.”

When the Twelve Great Clans, including the Jaegal Clan, the Peng Clan, and the Tang Clan, gave their support, the Nine Great Sects had no choice but to yield.

“Very well. Let us send Yong Hwarin.”

After much fierce debate, they compromised by also nominating Myung Ok Sunja of the Emei Sect to preserve the Nine Great Sects’ pride.

“The problem lies in the third duelist. None can compare to those two.”

At that point, the Zhongnan Sect, Qingcheng Sect, Diancang Sect, and others insisted that their disciples must be chosen, leading to a heated quarrel.

But Reverend Mang Wu silenced the fervent debate.

“This old monk has a candidate in mind. If that benefactor joins, at the very least, they will not lose.”

“Oh! If it is the Abbot’s judgment, none shall object.”

Dojang Oh Uk, believing that Shaolin would nominate one of its disciples, welcomed the statement.

“That person is…”

Reverend Mang Wu gazed at the gathered leaders in the Hall of Assembly and opened his mouth.

The room fell silent as though their tongues had been bound.

“To say that he is stronger than our own Seo Seong is unacceptable.”

Breaking the silence, Dojang Su Ryang of the Qingcheng Sect spoke, but Reverend Mang Wu answered calmly.

“In this old monk’s eyes, among the prodigies gathered here, the one strongest after Yong benefactor is precisely that person.”

“Hmm!”

If he argued further, it would be tantamount to insulting Shaolin itself. Dojang Su Ryang swallowed his words and sat down.

To doubt the Abbot’s judgment was to doubt Shaolin.

“I too saw it that way.”

When Namgung Bi voiced his agreement, others began to follow.

“To subdue the Demonic Path’s warriors with demonic arts—such a display would indeed carry deep meaning.”

“What about sending the disciple of Lady of Mount Lu?”

One person brought up Priestess Saenghui, but she was too old to be considered a prodigy of the younger generation.

She had already passed thirty. To call her a young prodigy was a stretch.

“Even if she wins, people will nitpick about her age. We must send someone so undeniable that no one can object.”

Thus, an unexpected figure was chosen as the third duelist.

Of course, the Nine Great Sects were displeased, but under the firm stance of Reverend Mang Wu and the Twelve Great Clans, they could not resist.

The successors of the Three Demonic Heavens entered Shaolin at the promised hour for the duel.

Dozens of their warriors followed behind them.

“Have you decided who will face us in the duel?”

Reverend Mang Wu nodded.

“Step forward, duelists.”

At his words, three people slowly descended the steps.

“Hmm!”

So Yonghwa swallowed a sigh. None of the three were the ones they had anticipated.

‘They discovered our plan and removed Jeong Hang, Wun Mang, and Cheong Mong. That means our plan to kill them with the Explosive Phosphorus Pellet is ruined.’

As So Yonghwa’s face twisted, Moon Wu spoke to him.

“Brother So, do not be so disheartened. Even if our plan is disrupted, things still favor us. Besides, did you not expect they might suspect something already?”

Among the duelists, one was, of course, Myung Ok Sunja of the Emei Sect.

The next was Yong Hwarin.

This much was expected.

Aside from the prodigies of the Three Great Sects, Yong Hwarin was the only viable choice.

But the last person was truly unexpected.

It was none other than Jong Seok.

Reverend Mang Wu turned to Moon Wu and declared,

“This duel shall be fought in a winning-streak format. If you object, we may switch to a tally-of-wins format instead.”

Moon Wu smiled faintly at that.

It was exactly what they had intended to demand.

‘So, they are relying on Yong Hwarin alone, and thus want a winning-streak duel. But do they think our three cannot handle just one man? Our plan is already set.’

Yong Hwarin or not, the plan had originally been devised for facing Shaolin’s Jeong Hang, but it made no difference even if the opponent was Yong Hwarin.

The plan was that among the three, one would sacrifice themselves completely to perish together with the strongest opponent.

If that happened, the other two would have no real enemy left to contend with.

“The one who first admits defeat or collapses to the ground will be declared the loser. As this is a friendly duel, both sides are asked to refrain from excessive force.”

Reverend Mang Wu spoke, then turned to look at Myung Ok Sunja.

Myung Ok was a prodigy the Emei Sect had raised with utmost care.

As she stepped forward, the first to appear opposite her was So Yonghwa, the Little Valley Lord of Dark Echo Valley.

Since this duel was tied directly to the fate of Murim, Myung Ok could not help but feel tense.

“My art is the Void Spirit Yin Flow Grand Art. What weapon will you be using, Sunja?”

Myung Ok saluted with clasped hands and answered.

“My martial arts are the Demon-Subduing Wisdom Sword and the Nine Forms of the Great Golden Summit. I will be using the sword.”

At those words, gasps of admiration spread through the crowd.

Though Shaolin had the Seventy-Two Arts, the style best known to represent Shaolin was the Hundred Steps Divine Fist. Similarly, Wudang’s representative art was Tai Chi, and Mount Hua’s was the Plum Blossom Sword.

But while those were advanced martial arts, they were not the pinnacle of each sect.

What astonished the martial artists present was that Myung Ok had mastered the Nine Forms of the Great Golden Summit and the Demon-Subduing Wisdom Sword, both of which represented the highest-level martial arts of the Emei Sect.

If she had perfected both, her skills were by no means inferior to Jeong Hang, Wun Mang, or Cheong Mong.

Those three, watching from the side, felt bitter regret that because they had ingested the Explosive Phosphorus Pellet, they could not participate in the duel.

Originally, this duel was supposed to be their chance to make their names known and announce themselves to Murim. To have to hand that opportunity to someone else left them deeply resentful.

When Myung Ok stepped forward gracefully, the martial artists of the Nine Great Sects placed high hopes on her.

They believed Myung Ok was the strongest of the three selected and hoped she could defeat all opponents in place of Yong Hwarin and Jong Seok.

That would uphold the dignity of the Nine Great Sects.

So Yonghwa, seeing Myung Ok raise her sword, received a sword from his subordinate.

Yong Hwarin, having once fought So Yonghwa, could roughly anticipate the outcome.

At his side, Mo Biyoung asked,

“Who do you think will win?”

“You’ll see if you watch. Instructor Mo, pay attention. See how the victory or defeat is decided.”

At Yong Hwarin’s words, Mo Biyoung focused on the duel.

The two calmed their breathing, then like lightning, they rushed in and swung their swords.

“Oh!”

“Waaah!”

The sword of Myung Ok shone with pure intent, showing that she had brought the Demon-Subduing Wisdom Sword to its peak.

‘As expected of Myung Ok Sunja! Passing the Triple Union Formation set up by the Three Swords Beyond the Heavens was no coincidence.’

Her attacks were dazzling and powerful, yet So Yonghwa blocked them all.

From the start, Myung Ok had no intention of prolonging the duel.

She was deliberately exchanging techniques to lull her opponent into complacency, then planned to crush her with the newly gained Nascent Qi.

Seeing So Yonghwa fall perfectly into her rhythm, Myung Ok smiled faintly.

‘Benefactor, your journey in the Hundred Martial Challenges of Murim ends here.’

With a confident smile, she shifted into the Nine Forms of the Great Golden Summit and infused sword qi.

So Yonghwa also raised his sword qi to match her.

Then, Myung Ok released all of her true qi, erupting with Nascent Qi in an instant.

Boom!

The martial artists in the crowd, expecting mere sword qi, gasped in shock as blue energy surged and extended from Myung Ok’s sword.

“Oh! Nascent Qi!”

So Yonghwa’s face tightened in urgency as his sword qi clashed against it.

Seeing this, Myung Ok felt victory was certain.

But at the moment she unleashed her Nascent Qi, So Yonghwa twisted his body to the right and slipped away.

Normally, to evade Nascent Qi after it was already released was impossible.

The speed of Nascent Qi far exceeded human movement.

Myung Ok never imagined her Nascent Qi would be avoided, and she faltered for a brief moment.

That instant of hesitation proved a fatal mistake.

In the meantime, So Yonghwa’s sword had already reached her nape.

If it had been a real battle, Myung Ok’s head would have fallen to the ground.

“Ah!”

“Mm!”

The crowd, seeing this, let out deflated sighs as their excitement died.

Even after unleashing Nascent Qi, Myung Ok had lost.

And to make it worse, her opponent had fought using nothing beyond sword qi. The shock was tremendous.

“What happened?”

Mo Biyoung asked, and Yong Hwarin answered with a stern face.

“Myung Ok Sunja is truly a great expert. To wield Nascent Qi already is proof enough. But she merely displayed her martial arts, while So Yonghwa exploited her weakness. The Void Spirit Yin Flow Grand Art discerns the opponent’s qi flow. He already read that Myung Ok would unleash Nascent Qi and moved accordingly. If she had understood So Yonghwa’s art, she would not have fought in such a way. She should have concealed her qi flow instead. But because of her high attainment, she underestimated her opponent’s martial art.”

“Ah.”

The surrounding martial artists nodded one after another at Yong Hwarin’s evaluation.

“Myung Ok should have realized why So Yonghwa uses three different weapons. He reads the opponent’s qi flow and selects the fitting weapon accordingly. If she had truly understood him, she would not have lost so helplessly. She was too careless.”

“It was not carelessness, it was arrogance.”

From behind, Jaegal Yohye interjected.

At some point, the prodigies of the Twelve Great Clans had all gathered around Yong Hwarin.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep