Chapter 93

Intensive Training (3)

Seven weeks and seven nights remained until the evaluation of the Ten Halls of the Changcheon Society.

Boom!

Clang! Clang!

Bang!

The thunderous impacts of stamped footwork and the ringing clash of swords intertwined as densely as tangled vines.

Namgung Jun swept his gaze across the training grounds, taking in the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen sparring in every corner.

Their overall level has risen.

Through the Sword Foundation Art, they had strengthened their basic external cultivation and sword energy, and they had successfully raised the average mastery of the Great Yan Sword Art.

Even the swordsman with the lowest achievement had reached eighty percent mastery—a tremendous accomplishment.

Over the past two months, they had focused on strengthening individual ability through intensive training in the Sword Foundation Art and the Great Yan Sword Art. During the remaining month, they divided their time further and devoted considerable effort to training the Great Yan Sword Formation as well.

Perhaps because the Heavenly Sword Hall's mastery of the Great Yan Sword Art had risen across the board, the achievement and power of the Great Yan Sword Formation were increasing day by day as well.

The Heavenly Sword Hall was clearly growing stronger in both individual and group combat.

Rumble!

With everyone executing the Great Yan Sword Formation stomping down in unison and releasing their qi, the formation finally came to an end.

The members of the Heavenly Sword Hall immediately dropped to the ground where they stood, catching their breath and wiping away sweat.

"At this point, there's hardly anything left to improve in the Great Yan Sword Formation, is there? Even First Cloud and Second Cloud barely make mistakes anymore."

"The improved Great Yan Sword Formation has become astonishingly powerful. I think we'd have a good chance even against the Three Rivers."

Listening to the conversation, Heo Il uncorked the gourd at his waist and took a drink.

"Honestly, I thought it was already sufficient before... but it seems we truly had become complacent. To think our abilities could improve this much under Young Hero Namgung's guidance."

"Exactly! To be honest, I always thought the Great Yan Sword Art was just a foundational technique meant to support other martial arts. It feels like I've seen a completely new side of it."

Man Ye-won, standing beside Heo Il, eagerly chimed in.

"Your Great Wind Sword Art has definitely grown stronger. That's obvious, even though you've practically neglected it for the past three months."

When Gong Jun-am, who also practiced the heavy sword, stated this confidently, Man Ye-won puffed out her chest with pride.

As the swordsmen shared the results of their intensive training among themselves, they gradually turned their heads toward Namgung Jun.

Still watching them, Namgung Jun spoke quietly.

"Only now can it truly be called a single sword formation."

The Heavenly Sword Hall erupted into cheers.

Until now, Namgung Jun had never expressed satisfaction with the Great Yan Sword Formation.

He had always gently pointed out flaws, identifying each person's mistakes and areas for improvement while explaining how they could be corrected.

More than twenty days had passed like that, and this was the first time Namgung Jun had offered such simple, straightforward praise.

"I think that's the first compliment we've ever received from the youngest among us."

"If you're going to start, give us a few more while you're at it!"

"Being able to encourage your subordinates is a skill too."

Amid the uproar from the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen, Namgung Jun smiled.

"Praise arises naturally only when a person's actions and attitude are worthy of high regard. Once is enough."

The swordsmen laughed.

"Haha! Young Hero Namgung's way with words is becoming more refined."

"Namgung Jun is right. Wagging your tongue unnecessarily serves no purpose."

As Heo Il laughed, Gong Jun-am nodded heavily.

"I've never received praise in my life, though. Does that mean I wasn't worthy of it?"

Man Ye-won grabbed her head as if dizzy, prompting the nearby swordsmen to tease her.

"Well, you should've made a better first impression."

"I'm still amazed that the Elder Council Master's precious jewel has blended into the Heavenly Sword Hall so completely."

Namgung Jun laughed along as he listened to their banter, but suddenly raised his head.

He had sensed an aura outside the Heavenly Sword Hall pavilion—one that was both deeply familiar and strangely unfamiliar.

It seemed none of the others had noticed it yet.

"..."

A faint smile appeared on Namgung Jun's lips as he unfolded his legs from meditation.

As he slowly rose to his feet, the other members of the Heavenly Sword Hall stood as well.

"It seems everyone is still hungry for praise."

Shifting his gaze toward the rear of the hall, Namgung Jun continued.

"Why don't we ask that person what they think of the Heavenly Sword Hall's current state?"

Only then did the members turn their heads.

A woman came into view.

Her black palace robes, already dark to begin with, appeared even darker than usual.

The color had faded, and dust had accumulated all over them from the rigors of relentless training.

Yet the blue light shining from her eyes through her windblown hair had become even sharper and loftier.

Holding a single sword in her hand, the woman entered the Heavenly Sword Hall pavilion. Her gaze swept across all the swordsmen before finally settling on Namgung Jun.

"The Heavenly Sword Hall."

That was all she said.

Yet somehow, the swordsmen understood the meaning behind those words and slowly began drawing their swords.

The sounds of blades leaving their scabbards echoed throughout the hall.

Namgung Jun likewise placed a hand upon his sword hilt.

"Progress."

A firm command tinged with slight approval.

Boom!

The qi of the Heavenly Sword Hall gathered together as one.

The Great Yan Sword Formation unfolded.

"I suppose I should see whether you've spent the last three months slacking off or not."

At the woman's words, the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen immediately fired back with responses of their own.

"That goes for the Hall Master as well."

"If you take it too lightly, you'll end up suffering for it."

"Come at us, Hall Master."

Hearing the confident voices of the Heavenly Sword Hall members, the woman standing opposite them, Lee Seha, slowly drew her sword.

"It's been a while since we've met. Let's exchange greetings."

The Hall Master of the Heavenly Sword Hall charged toward them.

It was a match to confirm the results of the past three months and to catch up through crossed blades.

The noise within the Heavenly Sword Hall continued long after the sun had set.

***

The day of the power evaluation.

The Heavenly Sword Hall headed toward the Grand Training Grounds in the center of the main fortress.

Remarkable.

Namgung Jun slightly lifted his bamboo hat and raised his gaze.

Even before reaching the Grand Training Grounds, he could already sense an overwhelming density of qi.

The Ten Halls of the Changcheon Society.

Ten martial divisions scattered throughout the jianghu, hunting down demonic and unorthodox forces while pursuing righteousness, were gathering in one place.

Naturally, it was a highly anticipated occasion.

Namgung Jun looked at the thick wooden pole he held with both hands.

It was not an ordinary pole, but the staff bearing the Heavenly Sword Hall's banner.

Namgung Jun had become the standard-bearer of the Heavenly Sword Hall.

In other words, he was now the undisputed second-in-command of the Heavenly Sword Hall.

Not a single person had opposed his appointment.

On the contrary, some of the senior members had recommended him as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

It was recognition not merely of his strength, but of his ability to lead the Heavenly Sword Hall in the Hall Master's stead during a crisis.

"Jun."

"Yes, Master?"

Without taking her eyes off the Grand Training Grounds, Lee Seha spoke.

Namgung Jun smiled as he looked at her slender yet dependable back.

"As if I'd be nervous."

"Keep your shoulders squared. The other halls won't sit quietly and watch us plant our banner."

"That sounds entertaining."

As they chatted casually, the Heavenly Sword Hall arrived at the Grand Training Grounds.

The arena was vast enough to accommodate several hundred people with ease.

The Ten Halls had already taken their positions in a circular formation around the grounds.

Geukmu Hall, Iron Tower Hall, Flying Divine Hall...

He spotted halls belonging to the Three Pillars, as well as others he had only heard about by name.

Since all nine other positions were already occupied, it appeared that the Heavenly Sword Hall had arrived last.

Because of that, the eyes of the other nine halls immediately focused on them.

Yet the Heavenly Sword Hall calmly took its place, radiating a proud and chilling presence.

"Disciple."

"Yes, Master."

Namgung Jun stepped forward carrying the Heavenly Sword Hall's banner.

Just as he was about to plant it—

Whoosh!

A violent gale surged from all directions.

More precisely, it was the pressure unleashed by the standard-bearers of the other nine halls.

Originally, Gong Jun-am had served as the Heavenly Sword Hall's standard-bearer.

Naturally, everyone was curious about the new one.

The standard-bearers who had taken an interest in Namgung Jun released their qi simultaneously.

Six separate waves of pressure came crashing toward him.

Only the Geukmu Hall, Iron Tower Hall, and Mukryun Hall refrained from acting.

Looking at the qi converging upon him from every direction, Namgung Jun smiled.

Raising his eyes, he looked at the words Heavenly Sword embroidered in black thread upon a blue background.

This is only the beginning. Let's keep it light.

Namgung Jun recalled the martial principles he had focused on during the past three months.

Unlike the other swordsmen, he had trained to fuse four different sword paths into the Great Yan Sword Art.

All so that a single sword strike could contain every principle.

Crackle!

Dense lightning qi wrapped around his entire body like a flowing robe.

The six waves of pressure were just about to reach him.

If he simply stood there, he himself would suffer no harm.

But the banner representing the Heavenly Sword Hall would undoubtedly be torn apart.

Hummm!

Qi erupted from both of Namgung Jun's hands gripping the banner pole.

BOOOOM!

A thunderous explosion tore through the air.

The six incoming waves of qi were blasted back at once.

At the same moment, the banner staff bearing the Heavenly Sword Hall's flag plunged deep into the ground.

KUUUUNG!

The instant the pole struck the earth, a second shockwave erupted and swept outward in six directions.

"Ugh!"

"Hmph!"

The six standard-bearers who had attempted to suppress him were forced to circulate their internal energy to resist.

Silence soon descended over the Grand Training Grounds.

Only the most senior members among the Ten Halls whispered quietly to one another.

"If I didn't see wrong just now, I saw multiple martial principles within a single move."

"I saw the same thing."

"That's the Heavenly Sword Hall's new standard-bearer, the Rising Star Sword, isn't it?"

"To replace the Great Wall Sword... Has the Heavenly Sword Hall undergone some major change?"

Those were the reactions of people seeing Namgung Jun for the first time, or who had only heard vague rumors about him.

Brother Namgung... you've grown even stronger.

Baek Ri-cheong, standing among the Geukmu Hall ranks, smiled.

Meanwhile, the Hall Masters of Mukryun Hall and Jongpa Hall watched Namgung Jun with meaningful gazes.

Just as everyone's attention in the Grand Training Grounds focused on him—

"WAHAHAHA! Is everyone here?!"

A voice filled the entire arena.

It sounded as though thousands of people were shouting at once.

The sheer force of spirit behind it was overwhelming.

Turning toward the source of the booming voice, they saw a middle-aged man standing with his right fist raised high and his mouth opened wide.

Beside him fluttered a banner bearing the character Seonghong 

So that's Seonghong Hall.

Seonghong Hall.

A martial division whose members specialized in sound-based martial arts, wielding various musical instruments.

When it came to large-scale group battles, they were said to rival even Geukmu Hall.

"There are quite a few familiar faces! And plenty I don't recognize!"

The middle-aged man swept his gaze across the Ten Halls before raising his voice again.

"I am the Hall Master of Seonghong Hall!"

Namgung Jun's eyes narrowed slightly at the voice that made his ears ring.

He isn't using any internal energy at all.

And yet his voice was this loud.

It was absurdly powerful.

Namgung Jun couldn't even imagine how much force it would carry if internal energy were added to it.

While everyone else frowned and covered their ears, the Seonghong Hall Master paid them no mind and shouted toward the sky.

"Let us begin our power evaluation!"