Chapter 95

Power Evaluation (2)

Namgung Jun felt the vast, vigorous internal energy surging powerfully through every meridian in his body.

Two different cultivation arts coursed through his blood vessels with majestic force, but the dominant one was the Azure King's Dominating Momentum Art.

This was the first time he had relied primarily on the Azure King's Dominating Momentum Art rather than the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.

Yet his control of internal energy was utterly natural.

Azure sword qi spread freely from the blade, shimmering around it like drifting wisps of light.

Namgung Jun reflected upon the intensive training of the past three months.

"It was no easy task. These weren't shallow principles, but profound paths that each delved deeply into their own domain. To contain them all within a single sword..."

As he taught the Great Yan Sword Art to the Heavenly Sword Hall in greater depth, he himself had been able to explore it anew.

Despite already surpassing major mastery and approaching absolute perfection, the depth of the principles contained within the Great Yan Sword Art still seemed boundless.

Each new insight into the sword art revealed an even broader horizon of understanding.

And gradually, certainty took root within him.

The martial path he had chosen to walk in this life—

Its starting point was undoubtedly the Great Yan Sword Art.

Even with the memories of his previous life as the Sword Emperor, the path of the sword remained distant and immeasurable.

It was too vast to take in at a glance.

So vast that its end could not be seen.

Or perhaps...

Did such a path even possess an end?

Like the endless autumn sky stretching beyond all boundaries.

The inner demon that had once loomed before him like a wall became, instead, a source of enlightenment.

If it is vast and endless, then my sword may become the same.

Namgung Jun fully released the insights he had accumulated over the past three months.

It was not yet a complete sword art.

There were no formal formulas, no established forms or techniques.

It was simply a raw mass of enlightenment.

To fully utilize it would require much deeper contemplation and many more realizations.

But if those insights could be condensed into a single strike, they could certainly serve as a supreme technique capable of changing the tide in an instant.

"Azure Firmament Horizon."

Namgung Jun quietly spoke the name of that incomplete fragment of enlightenment.

The Eternal Truth Sword swept through the air as though drawing a horizon across the heavens.

Countless azure sword strikes erupted in its wake.

For an instant, it seemed as though a vast blue mist exploded outward from Namgung Jun and the Changcheon Banner.

The attack expanded in every direction.

Its range was so immense that it simultaneously engulfed all the standard-bearers battling throughout the arena.

"Hmm!"

"What is this?!"

The torrent of sword strikes that suddenly swept over them was overwhelmingly broad in scope.

The startled standard-bearers made their decisions in an instant and immediately circulated their internal energy.

There was no time to escape.

Each of them unleashed their strongest techniques.

Though they had never seen such a sword attack before, the moment they faced it, instinct warned them.

If they held back even slightly, they would suffer catastrophic losses.

Various forms of qi shook the air throughout the arena.

The Divine Fan Art of Singi Hall.

The Twin Dancing Blades of Cheongmyeong Hall.

The Heavenly Fate Rending Hand Stance of Mukryun Hall.

Supreme techniques from the Ten Halls erupted in every direction, each asserting its presence.

Yet none of them could push back the endless tide of azure sword strikes.

At best, they could only endure and prevent themselves from being swept away.

KWAAAAAANG!

The expression of the Geukmu Hall standard-bearer twisted as he unleashed the ultimate technique of the Geukmu Supreme Combat Art.

His straight blade split through the azure sword strikes, yet shook so violently it seemed ready to shatter.

What in the world is this?

The nature of the incoming attacks was completely chaotic.

Heavy sword.

Fast sword.

Soft sword.

Illusion sword.

Countless sword principles were mixed together, pouring forth relentlessly as they greedily expanded their territory.

The Geukmu Supreme Combat Art is being overwhelmed?

Disbelief filled his face as he poured even more internal energy into his technique.

There were only a handful of martial arts capable of matching the Geukmu Supreme Combat Art head-on.

Among the Ten Halls, only the Jongpa Hall's Mighty Shattering Axe Art qualified.

Yet when he glanced over, the Jongpa Hall standard-bearer was being pushed back just as helplessly.

At first glance it resembles the Great Yan Sword Art, but what kind of technique is this?

The thought ended there.

Unable to endure any longer, he was struck head-on and hurled away.

Gradually, the immense sea of sword qi filling the Grand Training Grounds dissipated.

Silence descended.

The condition of the standard-bearers was a spectacle.

Most were kneeling or staggering.

Some had been knocked flat onto the ground.

Only Namgung Jun remained standing.

He steadied his ragged breathing and slowly sheathed his sword.

Turning around, he grasped the Changcheon Banner with both hands.

"It seems time is up."

Man Hun, who had been staring at Namgung Jun with wide eyes, finally nodded.

"...Indeed! I confirm that Namgung Jun, standard-bearer of the Heavenly Sword Hall, is the final possessor of the Changcheon Banner!"

Yet even after the declaration, the arena remained quiet.

It was not because anyone disputed his victory.

Rather, everyone was still stunned by the final sword technique he had displayed.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Zhuge Muran, the Hall Master of Singi Hall, finally spoke on behalf of the others.

"Namgung Jun. Was that final attack a supreme technique? Or was it an entirely new sword art?"

At the question, every gaze in the arena turned toward Namgung Jun.

Everyone wanted the answer.

The scale was too vast to be merely a single technique.

Yet it was too unrefined and chaotic to be called a complete sword art.

Namgung Jun lightly ran a hand over his scabbard and considered for a moment before answering.

"I merely expressed my realization and contemplation through the sword. At present, it is neither a supreme technique nor a sword art."

The answer sounded vague.

But the Hall Masters and senior figures of the Changcheon Society nearly gasped aloud.

Such a concrete manifestation of enlightenment!

If properly refined, it truly could become a complete sword art.

I can't even imagine what kind of sword art it will eventually become.

Meanwhile, the standard-bearers slowly rose to their feet after recovering their breath.

They stared blankly at Namgung Jun before glancing around at one another.

Soon, laughter began to break out.

The sight of all of them in such miserable condition was simply too ridiculous.

Especially because they had been defeated by a junior much younger than themselves.

"I've learned a lesson today. That certainly wasn't the outcome I expected."

"When you've refined it further, show it to us again. I won't remain idle either."

"It was an excellent match."

As the nine standard-bearers offered respectful salutes, Namgung Jun returned the gesture.

Through the Standard-Bearers' Match, the name Namgung Jun became firmly known throughout all Ten Halls.

As soon as the Standard-Bearers' Match concluded, the individual matches began.

Each hall selected one First Cloud member, along with two Second Cloud and two Third Cloud members.

A total of five Cloud members from each hall entered the individual competition.

The format was straightforward sparring.

Without a fixed bracket, each hall faced every other hall in sequence, earning points for each overall victory against another hall.

However, the number of points awarded varied depending on the result.

For example, a record of four victories and one defeat would earn four points.

A narrow result of three victories and two defeats would earn only three points.

Because the score depended on the margin of victory, the individual matches became even more fiercely contested.

"Waaaah!"

"No way! The entire outcome has been reversed!"

Hearing the cheers from afar, Namgung Jun turned his head.

It appeared that Seonghong Hall, which had been at a disadvantage, had managed to turn the tables against Singi Hall.

The individual matches are nearly over.

The sequential bouts were reaching their conclusion.

Once the match currently taking place on the arena ended, the individual competition would be finished.

Namgung Jun focused once more on the battle before him.

KWAAAAANG!

The arena shook violently.

A duel between Heavenly Sword Hall and Geukmu Hall was underway.

It was already the fifth match.

Man Ye-won and Heo Il had won their bouts, but two other Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen had lost.

The outcome of this fifth match would determine the final result.

Many Cloud members from other halls had gathered around the arena where Heavenly Sword Hall and Geukmu Hall were facing off.

"To think Heavenly Sword Hall has become this strong."

"It's the first time I've seen Geukmu Hall at a disadvantage."

"Between this and the Standard-Bearers' Match... the Three Pillars might change this year."

Various voices echoed around them.

Yet the martial artists of Heavenly Sword Hall and Geukmu Hall remained silent, focusing entirely on the duel.

BOOOOM!

Another deafening explosion erupted as the arena trembled.

It was the result of Gong Jun-am's greatsword colliding head-on with the massive saber of a Geukmu Hall martial artist.

The two fighters compared strength in a single devastating clash before simultaneously stepping backward.

"Haa..."

The Geukmu Hall martial artist let out a sigh and planted his saber into the arena floor.

"I lost. Not only did I fail to break through your defense, I tore open my own palms."

Blood streamed from his hands as he released the saber.

Gong Jun-am lowered his greatsword and cupped his fists.

"Senior Kang. It was a fine match."

"Great Wall Sword, how have you become this strong? You were already formidable before, but not to this extent."

"It's thanks to our hall's standard-bearer. I've learned a great deal."

At Gong Jun-am's simple response, not only the Geukmu Hall martial artist but everyone present turned toward Namgung Jun.

"I see."

The Geukmu Hall martial artist nodded before stepping down from the arena.

The referee immediately raised his arm.

"Victory for Heavenly Sword Hall! Three points awarded!"

At the announcement, cheers erupted not only from Heavenly Sword Hall but from many others as well.

No hall had managed to defeat Geukmu Hall in the individual competition.

Mukryun Hall and Flying Divine Hall had come close, forcing hard-fought contests, but both ultimately lost in the final match.

Yet Heavenly Sword Hall—despite not being one of the Three Pillars—had handed Geukmu Hall its first defeat.

Everyone celebrated Heavenly Sword Hall's success as though it were their own achievement.

"Our disciple. You've trained your hall members well."

"The group battle still remains, doesn't it?"

"Even so, I know what I've seen. Heavenly Sword Hall's strength has risen dramatically. Perhaps my disciple is more suited to the Hall Master position than this master."

Namgung Jun quietly shook his head.

At that moment, the five Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen who had completed their matches approached.

"Namgung Jun! What do you think? I defeated every Second Cloud member from every hall!"

"If I hadn't replenished my wine midway through... things could have gotten dangerous. My hands are still shaking."

Listening to Man Ye-won and Heo Il, Namgung Jun turned toward Gong Jun-am.

"Senior Gong. You worked hard."

"Hm. It was nothing."

"Your mastery of the heavy sword has increased. It was obvious."

Gong Jun-am merely nodded quietly.

While Namgung Jun praised the five participants, the group battle began.

The Group Battle.

As the name implied, it was a clash involving every hall member except the Hall Masters.

"Jun. I'll be watching."

"Don't worry, Master."

As Lee Seha stepped back, Namgung Jun looked over the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen.

"Let's go."

Led by Namgung Jun, Heavenly Sword Hall stepped into the center of the Grand Training Grounds.

Their first opponent was already waiting.

Seonghong Hall.

The members of Seonghong Hall each carried different musical instruments.

A woman standing at the center of their formation waved at Namgung Jun.

She was the same standard-bearer he had fought earlier.

"Junior Namgung. It won't be easy this time."

"Is that so?"

Namgung Jun offered no further response.

The surrounding Cloud members watched the standoff with interest.

"Heavenly Sword Hall has been on a tremendous rise, but I'm not sure about this one."

"When Seonghong Hall fights while maintaining its formation, its power ranks among the very best of the Ten Halls. Even Jongpa Hall and Geukmu Hall treat them with caution."

"How Heavenly Sword Hall chooses to approach Seonghong Hall will decide this battle."

As the members of the Ten Halls watched with keen interest, Namgung Jun spoke quietly.

"Formation."

The moment the Great Yan Sword Formation unfolded, waves of sound-infused qi erupted simultaneously from Seonghong Hall.

"Junior Namgung. Seonghong Hall has never once failed to claim final victory in the group battles."

Layer upon layer of overlapping sound-wave qi began to probe and test the Great Yan Sword Formation.