Chapter 128: Wudang’s True Appearance (4)

Originally, for the establishment of a proper spar, matching the level is essential.

It is a truth I cannot not know since I just defeated Mudam, the genius who will stand at the forefront of the Great War of Righteousness and Evil as the future Azure Dragon Squad Captain, in one strike a while ago.

The reason Mudam was defeated by me in one strike was not because his training was insufficient, nor because there was inadequacy in Wudang’s martial learning.

It should be correct to say it was because the level of martial arts I have achieved was high enough to not allow comparison with Mudam.

Since Sword Emperor Wuji releasing his Will means he finally showed his complete level, I must take out what I possess without hiding even a single speck.

If I do not do so, just as Mudam collapsed to me in one move, I might also collapse to the Sword Emperor in one move.

Of course, since the difference in generation rank is extreme, even if I collapse helplessly before the Sword Emperor’s Will, it wouldn’t be called a flaw, but it was because I didn’t want to do so.

Although it would be an emotion not wrong to call competitive spirit, it would be more correct to call it the praiseworthy heart of a successor wanting to protect the honor of Grandmaster Healing Sage.

“This one will also go properly.”

Rumble—

Unprecedented immense power, which would be difficult to simply name materialization, quite different from internal energy, arose in me too.

It was the power of which I grasped a fragment only after reaching the Fifth Stage: Union and Five Qis Courting the Origin, materializing and manifesting in me.

Since I have the experience of operating it with full power when killing the Yin Blood Divine Demon, it is right to view it as a Will more refined than then.

“Heot.”

The Sword Emperor laughed in vain.

Although he was the Sword Emperor who told me to take out everything, it was because even he didn’t know that the place I reached was this level.

In reality, my current realm has reached a height where it would be right to say it is impossible considering my age.

Since it is a power I achieved overcoming the crossroads of life and death, I can be proud of myself.

“Did you bastard also achieve Rejuvenation or something?”

“Absolutely not.”

If we weigh it, I did regress, but since it is different from Rejuvenation, it was not a lie.

“Block it comfortably. No matter what happens, you won’t die.”

Behind those words that looked irresponsible at a glance, the Sword Emperor’s Will pounced on me.

Chwa-chwa-chwa-chwat—

The fact I learned from my Emperor Breaker and experienced personally was the fact that the image of the Will is different for each person.

Didn’t Grandmaster Emperor Breaker say that that intactness, that uniqueness is exactly the essence of Will?

Originally, competing in martial arts starts from seeing the opponent intactly, so my eye technique responding to the Will captured the Sword Emperor’s Will intactly.

‘……Willow leaf?’

The Will originating from the Sword Emperor and rushing towards me had the shape of lush willow leaves.

Although I had witnessed various Wills before, Sword Emperor Wuji’s had particularly auspicious energy among them.

Whoosh—

Since I cannot just be appreciating it, I countered by loading Will onto the gripped Formless Sword.

It would be just a swing, but since Will is loaded, it could not be called just a swing.

The Will I emitted would be right to be called a slash that cuts everything, cutting off even the soul.

But…….

Rustle—

The slash of Will, which was confident to cut everything, could not do so.

The Sword Emperor’s Will did not resist the slash but just lay its body down.

That wasn’t the end.

Rustle—

The Sword Emperor’s Will began to wrap around my Formless Sword loaded with Will as if it were vines.

As if using my sword made of formlessness as a support, the Sword Emperor’s Will rushed towards me even more heatedly.

“Heup!”

I hurriedly raised Body Protection Energy.

I said earlier that the Will of a barrier is exactly Body Protection Energy.

The moment it is with Will, it is a supreme technique that differs in level from the Body Protection Energy of masters of the State of Harmony who just emit internal energy. It is right to call it truly perfect protection.

Although it might not yet reach the Rebound Energy unfolded by the Heavenly Demon in the past, which returned the shock to the attacker, it should be enough to offset most attacks.

Clang-clang-clang—!

But that was also useless.

“……!”

Because all those countless leaves I thought were willow leaves were swords.

The swaying that clearly evaded my slash dug into the Body Protection Energy sharply as if it had become a soft sword (flexible sword) before I knew it.

Trudge.

Thousands of blade edges bound the Body Protection Energy and my body simultaneously, and finally, the Sword Emperor moved his steps towards me.

“It is a realization this Daoist grasped only in my later years. It would be right to call it the extreme of Softness Overcoming Hardness.”

Only then could I know for sure.

“Keup.”

Clang-clang—

The Sword Emperor is subduing me right now.

Originally, victory in a competition can happen between equals, but the established theory is that complete subdual is difficult unless one is a level above.

I couldn’t lose so futilely.

“Hap!”

Whoosh—

I, who released the Body Protection Energy in an instant, clothed the sword with Will like a fleeting moment and shook off the willow leaves again.

And…….

“……I lost.”

I was defeated.

It would be right to evaluate it as a gap of one move.

My Will could not push away the Sword Emperor’s Will, and the Sword Emperor’s Will bound my body which released the Body Protection Energy.

The amazing point is that, whether the Sword Emperor’s words were indeed truth, the thousands of blade edges that tore apart even my Body Protection Energy only bound my body and inflicted absolutely no scars.

“Righteousness is robust, but there is no Image.”

The Sword Emperor, who smiled satisfactorily, only left me words difficult to understand.

* * *

I mentioned Cannot Do, Cannot See, Cannot Perceive sometime ago. Therefore, I don’t know what the spectators saw in our spar.

However, there will be no change in the fact that everyone here witnessed the Sword Emperor’s overwhelming victory.

“…….”

“…….”

Even though the conclusion was reached, everyone in the venue was silent.

It was because there was no gap for praise for the winner or consolation for the loser to intervene.

I guess it might be because even the dignity I, the loser, unfolded traversed a distant realm.

“It was enjoyable.”

The young man of the Weak Crown age, whom I considered having a mischievous expression, had become a giant.

“I gained a teaching.”

There was no error in the Sword Emperor’s words that he would give a teaching if I did my best.

Although I lost helplessly, it was clearly a move that gave me a great teaching.

If I trace the fragment of realization obtained today, I can surely reach a higher realm.

I know the fact that it is not right to look only at the Sixth Stage: Pacifying the World.

Only by diligently polishing myself and reaching the Sixth Stage can I place even that Heavenly Demon below and block the Great War of Righteousness and Evil.

But, the Sword Emperor shook his head.

“This is not a teaching.”

When I looked at the Sword Emperor with a questioning expression, he added.

“Wouldn’t just now be merely having a spar? Since I made a promise, I will give the teaching separately.”

“……Yes?”

“Do you dislike it?”

“There is no way I would dislike it.”

I don’t know the reason, but I know the fact that the Sword Emperor intends to give me many things.

Because I know the fact that originally martial arts are not transmitted to non-humans (outsiders), so teachings between other sects cannot happen easily.

My thoughts could not continue.

“Before that, since I liked your martial valor and spirit, it would be right for me to give more gifts. No, not a gift, but it would be right to say washing away one’s own mistake.”

It was because the Sword Emperor’s body, leaving words of unknown meaning, flew lightly through the air.

Thud.

The place the Sword Emperor arrived was in front of Cheon-am Jin-in who was acting as the referee.

“Cheon-am.”

“Yes, Martial Granduncle.”

The Daoist looking at fifty over forty bowed his head politely in front of the young man looking like Weak Crown, but that scene no longer looked strange.

Because Sword Emperor Wuji had proven his own greatness regardless of appearance.

Since Wuji Jin-in asked.

“Who made the match schedule?”

“Yes?”

Cheon-am Jin-in asked back.

“I mean the match schedule. Since I would have been secretly watching from the beginning, a curiosity arose.”

Just then, a young Daoist guarding Cheon-am Jin-in’s side stepped forward.

“I made it.”

Since determination was settled on that expression, the young Daoist must have fully guessed the reason Wuji Jin-in asked the question.

“You, were you Jinsu?”

“Yes, Grandmaster Elder. Thank you for remembering.”

“Since you are also a child of Wudang. It is a natural thing.”

Seeing that the deceased of the previous generation knows even the Daoist name of a second-generation disciple, I can guess the affection Sword Emperor Wuji holds for Wudang.

“Did you say you, Jinsu, made the match schedule?”

“It is so.”

Wuji Jin-in contemplated for a moment.

“Jinsu, step back.”

“Martial Uncle.”

Pushing Jinsu Jin-in back, Cheon-am Jin-in stepped forward again.

I don’t know if it’s just my feeling, but Cheon-am Jin-in stepping to the front again had a different appearance from before.

An intact Daoist of clear mirror and still water who shook off anguish was there.

His remarkably cleared eye light was proving that fact.

Since they said a Daoist’s growth is Sudden Enlightenment, maybe now is that moment for Cheon-am Jin-in.

Daoist Cheon-am met eyes with his sect nephew Jinsu.

“I said long ago that I take responsibility for everything.”

“……But.”

“Please do not make me ashamed anymore.”

“……I am sorry, Martial Uncle.”

Jinsu Jin-in tried to protest something, but checking Cheon-am Jin-in’s firm expression, he closed his mouth and stepped back one step.

The intact Daoist opened his mouth confidently while not letting go of respect for his Martial Granduncle.

“Martial Granduncle, this Martial Scripture Pavilion Lord Cheon-am made the match schedule.”

“Right. That would be correct.”

Wuji Jin-in, who nodded, asked.

“Cheon-am.”

“Yes.”

“Was there Dao in that place?”

“……No.”

“Then, why did you do that?”

When he asked again, Cheon-am knelt.

“Disciple was stained by the delusion and empty name of the secular world and deviated from the Dao.”

“You knew.”

“……I realized only now.”

“That is enough.”

Wuji Jin-in continued his words.

“I will forgive you, but there is a need to receive the world’s forgiveness too. It would be right to face the wall (Wall-Facing), so how many years would be good?”

Wall-Facing.

Cultivation or punishment. It was a method lacking nothing to be called either.

It would be right to say it is a truly Daoist method, as it is a way to reflect on oneself to repent for one’s sins and use it as nourishment for development, rather than simply replacing sin with flogging.

Moreover, since they said the suffering of Wall-Facing lightly exceeds flogging, there would be no reason for the audience to have complaints.

Cheon-am Jin-in answered without hesitation.

“I will do three years.”

Since Grandmaster Bodhidharma of Shaolin left a legend that will remain long in the history of Jianghu with Wall-Facing for Nine Years, three years was never a short time.

It also meant the weight of the sin Cheon-am Jin-in himself thought was that great.

“Being harsh to oneself would also not be the Dao, so one year will be sufficient.”

“Thank you, Martial Granduncle.”

“From today, Cheon-am shall enter Wall-Facing. And Jinsu.”

“Yes.”

“Your sin of trying to deceive the Grandmaster can be called deceiving one’s master and destroying ancestors.”

“I will receive the punishment sweetly.”

Jinsu Jin-in knelt without hesitation.

“However, it is considered that there was Dao in your conduct. Therefore, your punishment will be replaced by you filling Cheon-am’s place for one year. Make full preparations so there are no problems when Cheon-am returns.”

“Yes, Grandmaster Elder.”

Just then, a Daoist stood in front of Wuji Jin-in with urgent movement art.

It was Wudang’s Sect Leader Taecheong Jin-in, who had left the seat leaving only a congratulatory address.

“Martial Uncle, for what matter did you come out to the secular world?”

“Sect Leader.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle.”

“The Sect Leader’s fault is also great.”

The standard of the deceased did not evade the Sect Leader of his own sect either.

“……I have no face.”

Originally, position should be seen as hierarchy, but because in the Nine Sects generation rank precedes all parts, there was no unreasonableness in Wuji’s action.

Nevertheless, Wuji was a Daoist who knew the right path.

“Since the sect’s hierarchy is strict, an old man in the back room cannot reprimand the Sect Leader. However, I will believe you will do well in the future. The name of Wudang is not that light.”

“I am sorry, Martial Uncle.”

Although Wuji Jin-in disciplined Cheon-am firmly, he did not forget the appearance of upholding Sect Leader Taecheong Jin-in’s prestige in a public place.

Evaluating personally, it would be right to say indeed the potential of a famous sect.

“The Sect Leader of the Great Wudang should not lower his head. Do not mind the old body and see to your work.”

“……Yes.”

Wuji Jin-in’s gaze, glancing at Taecheong Jin-in, turned to the martial artists surrounding the training ground.

The master of the previous generation who scolded even the Sect Leader of the Great Wudang did not take a fist and palm salute towards the fellow Daoists of the Jianghu but bowed his head.

“Wudang showed an insufficient appearance.”

Even though he did not load internal energy in his voice, his voice was reaching everyone’s ears intactly.

“Since I will apologize in my name, I request the fellow Daoists of the Jianghu to overlook our sect’s circumstances just once. I request like this.”

Saying so, Wuji Jin-in bowed his head repeatedly.

Generation rank, martial power, status.

Whatever was weighed, Wuji was the first in this place, yet there was no hesitation in his action of bowing his waist.

In that figure, I saw the true appearance of the famous Wudang.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep