Chapter 96
Power Evaluation (3)
Standing at the forefront of the Great Yan Sword Formation, Namgung Jun looked ahead.
Seonghong Hall's Resonant Symphony Formation.
Just as multiple instruments combined to create a melody and form a single musical composition, sound-based martial arts grew stronger as the number of practitioners increased.
The Resonant Symphony Formation was a formation designed to elevate that characteristic of sound arts to its absolute limit.
Particularly when the entire Seonghong Hall deployed the complete formation rather than smaller squads, its power in group combat was often said to rival the strongest among the Ten Halls.
The sounds of the guqin, dongxiao flute, bamboo clappers, bronze cymbals, and octagonal drums erupted simultaneously.
The different tones produced by each instrument merged together before even half a breath had passed.
The harmony of the Five Tones and Six Pitches generated a tremendous wave of sound-based qi that shook the very air.
KWWWWAAAAAA!
For an instant, everyone's ears felt numb.
Then an oppressive force descended as though a fragment of a typhoon had fallen from the heavens.
The entire Great Yan Sword Formation was pushed backward.
The surrounding atmosphere itself seemed to be driving Heavenly Sword Hall away.
At this rate, they would not only fail to close the distance—they risked being picked apart from afar by the sound waves.
To break through the dozens of layers of sound qi surging like waves in every direction, a single decisive sword strike was needed.
That is my role.
A deep azure sword wind surged from the Eternal Truth Sword.
Perhaps because the sound-wave qi had completely seized control of the atmosphere, the sword wind of the Heavenly Wind Sword Art initially looked as fragile as a candle flame before a storm.
Yet the instability lasted only a moment.
The sword wind grew steadily larger, wrapping itself firmly around the blade.
Even the air feels heavy.
The muscles in Namgung Jun's forearm bulged visibly as he swung the Eternal Truth Sword.
CRACK!
The blade carved through the air with tremendous force.
Again and again, it crushed and shattered the invisible walls of sound qi pressing toward them.
Oh? Breaking through the Resonant Symphony Formation's sound waves alone? Even with the support of the Great Yan Sword Formation, that shouldn't be easy.
Watching Namgung Jun's movements, the Hall Master of Seonghong Hall became intrigued.
BOOM!
Stamping down with martial footwork, Namgung Jun unleashed three successive forms of the Heavenly Wind Sword Art.
At last, he tore open a temporary gap in the sound-wave assault and created a path leading directly to Seonghong Hall.
Having opened a breathing space for the Great Yan Sword Formation, he raised his voice.
"Heavy Momentum!"
At his command, the Heavenly Sword Hall members stomped down fiercely.
KUUUNG!
As all the swordsmen stamped their feet simultaneously, the sound-wave qi surrounding the formation was forced backward.
The crushing pressure weighing upon their bodies lightened.
Immediately, Heavenly Sword Hall charged forward.
Seeing the Great Yan Sword Formation closing in, the Seonghong Hall standard-bearer's lips moved rapidly.
A command transmitted through voice transmission.
At once, Seonghong Hall's melody changed.
The previously calm tune became increasingly urgent and rapid.
Sharp, ear-piercing notes began appearing throughout the composition.
Countless blades of sound swept toward the front of the Great Yan Sword Formation.
The sharpened sound-wave qi flashed from every direction, dazzling the eyes.
Yet the Great Yan Sword Formation never retreated.
Its structure shifted once more.
This time, swift sword techniques erupted from within the formation.
Namgung Jun had altered the formation's command structure through voice transmission.
Using both spoken commands and transmitted messages interchangeably, he directed the formation.
His goal was to sow confusion within Seonghong Hall.
JJEOJEOJEONG!
Standing at the forefront, Namgung Jun deflected dozens of incoming sound-wave attacks and shouted:
"Compress the internal-energy flow more densely!"
The alternating waves of pressure and cutting force were dangerous enough.
But the hidden sounds continuously targeting the swordsmen's internal organs were an even greater threat.
The united qi of the Great Yan Sword Formation protected the Heavenly Sword Hall members.
However, if the formation's execution faltered even slightly, those attacks would instantly exploit the opening.
It was a simple question.
Endure—or break through.
The old Great Yan Sword Formation would have been broken or driven back.
Feeling the concentrated sound-wave qi vibrating up through his greatsword, Gong Jun-am became certain.
The current us can absolutely break through the Resonant Symphony Formation.
The Great Yan Sword Formation became a single sword.
It tore through the waves of sound qi and cut straight across the Grand Training Grounds.
Seonghong Hall flinched and began moving backward to widen the distance.
But the Great Yan Sword Formation was faster.
Because Seonghong Hall was maintaining a large-scale sound formation, its movement speed was naturally limited.
The closer Heavenly Sword Hall approached, the greater the pressure became.
Gong Jun-am widened his eyes and roared.
"HAAAAAAAH!"
Starting with Gong Jun-am's shout, the charging swordsmen of Heavenly Sword Hall began raising their voices one after another.
And when their unified cry finally became louder than the melody of the Resonant Symphony Formation—
The overwhelming qi of the Great Yan Sword Formation smashed directly through the formation's sound waves.
It was like a crashing tide shattering itself against a colossal cliff.
BOOOOOOM!
A sound like a giant drum exploding filled the battlefield.
The sound-wave qi had failed to manifest properly.
"Hrk!"
"What is this?!"
"When did Heavenly Sword Hall become this strong?"
The Resonant Symphony Formation was not something that could be broken merely by closing the distance.
The closer an enemy came, the stronger its sound-wave influence became.
Moreover, it possessed countless techniques capable of blasting opponents away again.
Seonghong Hall's gradual retreat had not been born of fear.
Rather, they had hoped to provoke Heavenly Sword Hall into becoming impatient and rushing forward recklessly.
Just as they were about to unleash the ultimate technique of the Resonant Symphony Formation and force Heavenly Sword Hall to its knees—
The suddenly surging qi of the Great Yan Sword Formation completely disrupted their rhythm.
While Seonghong Hall was stunned by the unprecedented situation, countless sword strikes descended from Namgung Jun's blade like falling raindrops.
CRACK! CRACK!
The chaotic attacks of the Rainfall Sword Art shattered more than a dozen instruments.
The melody abruptly ceased.
In the next instant, the swordsmen of Heavenly Sword Hall surged forward.
Moving fluidly across the battlefield, they penetrated deep into Seonghong Hall's ranks.
Seonghong Hall fought back at close range.
But they were gradually being pushed back.
At this point, deploying the Resonant Symphony Formation was impossible.
Even if they managed to activate it, their own allies would be caught in its effects.
The Seonghong Hall standard-bearer removed the flute from her lips.
"We've lost."
As the outcome became clear, Lee Seha raised her chin as though the result had been inevitable.
Watching from afar, the Hall Master of Seonghong Hall shouted loudly:
"Heavenly Sword Hall Master! The Great Yan Sword Formation seems different. Am I right?"
Lee Seha answered proudly.
"My disciple improved it."
The Hall Master of Seonghong Hall looked at Namgung Jun with astonishment in his eyes.
"Again? Was it the Rising Star Sword?"
The other Hall Masters, who had been listening, joined the conversation.
"From what I could see, Namgung Jun properly adapted the body-cultivation methods he learned from our hall. It was quite gratifying to watch."
"There are many martial artists who grow stronger themselves, but few who make everyone around them stronger as well. Namgung Jun was born with the qualities of someone destined to stand above other martial artists."
Even as Iron Tower Hall Master Dan Jung-se and Geukmu Hall Master Ha Mu-jung praised him, Lee Seha's gaze remained fixed on Namgung Jun.
"Of course. Whose disciple do you think he is?"
Stretching lightly, Lee Seha spoke casually.
"Now all that's left is for me to do my part as a Hall Master."
At her muttered words, the expressions of the other Hall Masters grew more serious.
The Standard-Bearers' Match, Individual Competition, and Group Battle had all been important.
But the event carrying the greatest weight was still the Hall Masters' Tournament.
Compared to it, the later individual evaluations and merit bonuses had relatively little impact.
Even while the group battle continued, the Hall Masters quietly sharpened their qi.
Lee Seha seemed completely confident in Heavenly Sword Hall's victory and stopped watching altogether.
She simply sat down cross-legged and closed her eyes.
And Lee Seha's confidence proved justified.
***
The Hall Masters' Tournament
The Hall Masters' Tournament followed a single-elimination format based on random pairings.
The ten Hall Masters faced one another until only two remained.
Eventually, the tournament reached its final stage.
Geukmu Hall Master Ha Mu-jung defeated the Hall Master of Mukryun Hall.
Lee Seha overcame the Hall Master of Jongpa Hall.
At last, only two competitors remained:
The Hall Master of Heavenly Sword Hall and the Hall Master of Geukmu Hall.
"..."
Ha Mu-jung slowly uncrossed his arms and spoke.
"I heard you lost to the Hall Master of Jongpa Hall in the previous power evaluation. It seems you've properly avenged that defeat."
"I'm not planning to stop at revenge. Since I've come this far, I intend to claim the honor of being the strongest among the Ten Halls."
"An admirable spirit. But it won't be easy."
No referee oversaw the Hall Masters' battles.
The moment the two opponents moved, the match began.
Ha Mu-jung and Lee Seha.
The two swordsmen drew their weapons simultaneously and charged.
JJEOJEOJEONG!
The ringing cries of colliding steel were accompanied by continuous explosions.
The stone floor of the Grand Training Grounds shattered, sending clouds of dirt soaring into the air.
"The Heavenly Sword Hall Master has become much stronger."
"To be honest, she nearly ranked among the top three even in the previous evaluation. She simply had poor matchups. Now she's grown even further."
"When you think about it, Lee Seha is still young among the later-generation experts. Rapid improvement at her age isn't surprising."
The Hall Masters watched with great interest.
KUUUNG!
Lee Seha alternated between the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art and the Floating Cloud Layered Wall Stance as she resisted the Geukmu Supreme Combat Art.
Whenever Ha Mu-jung unleashed a tyrannical frontal attack, she redirected it with the Floating Cloud Layered Wall Stance before exploiting openings with the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art.
Because the Hall Masters were fighting at full strength, even First and Second Cloud members struggled to follow the battle.
To them, it appeared as little more than flashes of light and fleeting shadows.
"Namgung Jun. Is Hall Master winning?"
After squinting as hard as she could, Man Ye-won finally gave up and asked.
Without taking his eyes off Lee Seha, Namgung Jun answered:
"For now, Master is at a disadvantage."
The Hall Master of Geukmu Hall was, by reputation, the strongest Hall Master among the Ten Halls.
Even Lee Seha could not challenge such an opponent easily.
Honestly, the fact that she's kept up this well is already remarkable.
But Namgung Jun knew his master better than anyone.
She would never be satisfied with merely this.
Did she gain something during her secluded cultivation?
His gaze never left her.
SWAAANG!
Lee Seha blocked a horizontal slash aimed at her shoulder.
The impact made her hips jolt slightly.
The attacks of the Geukmu Supreme Combat Art were that powerful.
But the difference isn't overwhelming.
Lee Seha stared at Ha Mu-jung as he continued unleashing overwhelming bursts of force.
Then she adjusted her grip and stepped forward directly.
She's taking him head-on? I thought she'd continue using the Floating Cloud Layered Wall Stance and wait for an opening.
A smile slowly appeared on Ha Mu-jung's face.
A junior was challenging him in a direct contest of power.
Refusing would be discourteous.
KWAAAAANG!
The moment they exchanged blows, Ha Mu-jung's eyes widened.
Only now did he realize how much Lee Seha had changed.
Her physique had become noticeably more robust.
It seemed she had also trained in the body-cultivation methods mentioned by the Iron Tower Hall Master.
More importantly...
Ha Mu-jung focused on the dozens of lightning arcs filling his vision.
He had faced the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art countless times before.
But what Lee Seha was displaying now was fundamentally different.
Did she reconstruct the techniques? Has she gained a new insight?
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art had become significantly stronger and sharper.
"Heavenly Sword Hall Master. Your Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Art has changed. Have you gained enlightenment?"
"I have. Though the beginning of that enlightenment came from my disciple."
Thinking of Namgung Jun, Ha Mu-jung's smile deepened.
"Now I'm starting to feel jealous."
***
After exchanging more than thirty moves, the two Hall Masters simultaneously retreated and released long breaths.
WHOOOOSH!
A violent gale erupted around the two supreme experts.
It was the unmistakable sign of a supreme technique about to be unleashed.
"Huh? Those idiots—!"
Startled, Man Hun sprang to his feet, intending to intervene.
But Ha Hu-seon stopped him.
"Let them continue. I don't think either of them will go so far as to seriously injure the other."
As Man Hun reluctantly sat back down, the two masters moved.
Twin flashes of light crossed the Grand Training Grounds in opposite directions.
"I've never seen that technique before."
"It's a supreme technique I completed during my secluded cultivation. What do you think?"
"Excellent."
Even after exchanging supreme techniques, neither Hall Master showed the slightest loss of composure.
The two observed one another, preparing to clash again.
Then—
"Enough."
Ha Hu-seon raised a hand.
"It is an exact draw. Continuing any further will only result in unnecessary injuries. It would be best to stop here."
At the Society Leader's command, both Hall Masters immediately sheathed their swords and bowed.
"The Ink Fragrance Division will account for the draw appropriately in the final scoring. Both of you displayed exceptional martial skill."
Under Ha Hu-seon's praise, the two Hall Masters stepped back.
The entire power evaluation had finally concluded.
Ha Hu-seon accepted a sheet of paper from Yun Gyeong-jong.
After examining its contents, he spoke:
"I will now announce the results of this power evaluation."
Silence settled over the Grand Training Grounds.