Chapter 08

A heavy silence settled over the guest hall at Namgung Cheon’s words.

Gwak San unconsciously swallowed.

He had not come to find fault, nor to discuss some other matter.

This was a pure challenge from one martial artist to another.

A declaration that he had come merely to test his martial prowess—a statement as arrogant as it was straightforward.

Irritation surged within him.

No matter that this young man was a direct descendant of the Namgung Clan, Gwak San was the master of a sect and a peak expert who had weathered countless hardships.

To be treated as nothing more than a test subject by a youth barely past his coming-of-age made his blood boil.

Still, Gwak San suppressed his emotions and focused on the more pressing issue.

His opponent was a direct heir of the greatest sword clan under heaven.

A single mistake could drag his entire sect into disaster.

Speaking calmly as the leader of a martial sect, he asked,

“Before we discuss a duel, there is one thing I must clarify. Is this challenge your personal decision, Young Master, or does it carry the will of the Namgung Clan?”

Namgung Cheon answered without the slightest hesitation.

“It is my own will alone. It has nothing to do with the Namgung Clan.”

Gwak San’s gaze deepened.

“Then I shall take it that neither side will hold the other responsible for any unfortunate outcome that may arise from this duel.”

For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Namgung Cheon’s face.

“Of course.”

The moment he heard that answer, the final chain binding Gwak San fell away.

What remained was a pure contest between martial artists.

Only then did the emotion buried deep within his heart rise to the surface.

Gwak San looked directly into his opponent’s eyes.

There was only one thing reflected there—a pure desire to break his blade.

In that case…

A hearty smile finally spread across Gwak San’s lips.

He no longer saw the Third Young Master of the Namgung Clan before him.

He saw only another martial artist.

“Very well!”

His booming voice echoed through the hall.

“If this is truly your personal wish, Young Master, then how could I refuse? In the name of the Thunderbolt Blade Sect, I shall gladly accept your challenge.”

Gwak San intended to approach this duel with complete sincerity.

“When and where would you like to hold it?”

Traditionally, a formal duel would be arranged in advance, with witnesses gathered and the date publicly announced.

But Namgung Cheon’s answer mocked such conventions.

“Is there any need to delay?”

A faint smile hung on his lips.

“Right here. Right now. In the Thunderbolt Blade Sect.”

Confidence dripped from his voice.

Gwak San said nothing further.

Words were unnecessary.

Martial artists proved themselves with their weapons.

“…Then let us proceed to the training grounds.”

The two men silently left the guest hall.

News that the Third Young Master of the Namgung Clan had challenged the master of the Thunderbolt Blade Sect spread through the sect like wildfire.

By the time they reached the training grounds, disciples had gathered in droves to witness the duel.

Their faces were filled with tension—and confidence that their sect master would defeat the Namgung heir.

If that happened, the Thunderbolt Blade Sect’s reputation would spread throughout Anhui Province.

With everyone’s expectations fixed upon them, the two men took their places at the center of the arena.

Countless disciples surrounded the training grounds.

Namgung Cheon could feel their hostility and wariness, but paid them no mind.

Compared to the murderous intent of tens of thousands he had faced in his previous life, this was little more than childish sulking.

His gaze remained fixed on only one person.

Gwak San.

A Peak Realm expert.

The aura flowing from Gwak San was impressively heavy.

It carried the pure, fierce sharpness found only in those who had devoted their lives to a single weapon.

He was a suitable first opponent.

“Draw your sword, Young Master.”

Gwak San drew the massive saber at his waist.

Fighting spirit blazed in his eyes.

Namgung Cheon liked that look.

Even against a young noble infamous for being worthless, Gwak San showed no sign of carelessness.

Good.

Namgung Cheon’s hand moved to the sword at his waist.

Shing—

A clear and elegant ring echoed as a blue blade emerged.

Changcheon.

The treasured sword of Namgung Cheong, the former clan head and the man once known as the Sword King.

After decades of slumber, the divine weapon had finally found a new master.

Bathed in sunlight, the blue blade radiated a brilliant yet chilling glow.

The pure and upright aura flowing from it was overwhelming enough to inspire awe in all who witnessed it.

Gwak San unconsciously swallowed.

A sword capable of releasing such pressure merely by being unsheathed…

The chill running down his spine only ignited his fighting spirit further.

“A magnificent sword.”

Murmuring his admiration, Gwak San tightened his grip on his saber.

Though his opponent’s presence far exceeded expectations, the pride he had cultivated through a lifetime with the blade remained unshaken.

As the elder, he offered courtesy.

“I’ll yield the first move. Come.”

However—

“There is no need.”

Gwak San’s eyebrow twitched.

He immediately abandoned the thought of giving way.

“…You will regret that.”

The moment those words left his mouth, he moved.

Boom!

With a powerful stomp, Gwak San shot forward.

Despite his large frame, his speed was astonishing.

In an instant, the massive saber descended.

The first form of the Thunderbolt Blade Art:

Thunderbolt Splitting Mountain.

As its name suggested, the blade carried enough force to collapse a mountain.

It came crashing toward Namgung Cheon’s head.

But—

Too slow.

Namgung Cheon casually twisted his body and redirected the attack.

His movements were smooth and fluid like flowing water.

BOOM!

The saber slammed into the ground behind him, leaving deep cracks in the stone floor.

Gwak San’s expression hardened.

He had not underestimated his opponent, but he never imagined his opening strike would be avoided so effortlessly.

“Hah!”

With a short shout, Gwak San launched another attack.

Then another.

And another.

The second form.

Severing Wind, Cutting Steel.

The third form.

Shattering Rivers, Splitting Heaven.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The techniques of the Thunderbolt Blade Art exploded forth like a raging storm.

Each swing of his saber tore through the air with shrill screams.

The atmosphere itself seemed to split apart as blade qi scattered in every direction, carving deep scars across the arena.

“Waaah!”

The disciples watching couldn’t help but cheer.

Their sect master’s saber art possessed the majesty to dominate the world.

Yet the man standing at the center of those attacks remained utterly calm.

Namgung Cheon dodged every strike with the smallest possible movements.

Half a step to the right.

A slight shift to the left.

Again and again, Gwak San’s saber sliced through empty air.

It was as though Namgung Cheon could see every move before it happened.

“This… this is impossible…”

A gasp escaped Gwak San’s lips.

Clang!

Their weapons finally collided.

A deafening metallic crash rang out.

The moment their blades met, a tremendous force traveled through his saber and numbed his entire arm.

Even his internal energy was overwhelmingly inferior.

Everything he had built through a lifetime of effort was being completely denied by this young man.

That realization shattered his composure.

Sweat beaded across his forehead.

His breathing grew ragged.

The precision of his techniques vanished.

Only instinct remained.

Only the desperate desire to defeat his opponent.

Namgung Cheon watched calmly.

Is that all?

His opponent’s techniques had completely fallen apart, revealing countless openings.

He could have ended the duel at any moment.

But he didn’t.

Even the movement of an ant could offer a lesson.

The Thunderbolt Blade Art…

Powerful.

Direct.

A blade style devoted entirely to destructive force.

Its strengths.

Its weaknesses.

The flow of its qi.

Every change and transition.

Namgung Cheon observed it all.

And the moment he fully understood everything—

“UAAAAAH!”

Gwak San unleashed every ounce of his remaining internal energy.

The final form of the Thunderbolt Blade Art.

Myriad Thunder Under Heaven.

Blade qi erupted from all directions like dozens of lightning bolts descending simultaneously.

It was an ultimate technique with nowhere to dodge and nowhere to block.

Yet Namgung Cheon faced it without changing expression.

Tap.

He took a single step into the storm.

And then—

Slash!

He swung his sword once.

Only once.

The movement was neither fast nor flashy.

But contained within it was the will of the Heavenly Demon—

The will to destroy all things and stand above them.

KWAAAAAANG!

Blue sword qi tore through the storm of blade qi head-on.

“…!”

Shock filled Gwak San’s eyes.

His ultimate technique had been shattered so effortlessly.

And in the next instant—

A cold sensation brushed against his neck.

At some point, Namgung Cheon’s sword tip had already reached his throat.

As the icy blade touched his skin, every hair on his body stood on end.

A single drop of blood trickled down his neck.

Had even a little more force been applied, his head would already have separated from his body.

The cheers and roaring sounds that had filled the arena vanished.

Silence.

Only Gwak San’s heavy breathing echoed through the training grounds.

Namgung Cheon looked at him wordlessly.

There was no joy of victory.

No mockery toward the defeated.

Only calm indifference.

Thunk. Clang.

The saber slipped from Gwak San’s powerless hand.

Slowly, he spoke.

“…I have lost.”

Namgung Cheon withdrew his sword.

“It was a good match.”

Shick.

After sheathing Changcheon, he turned and began walking away.

There was nothing left for him here.

Then a hurried voice called out behind him.

“Please wait, Young Master!”

Namgung Cheon stopped and looked back.

Gwak San approached him and, without hesitation, dropped to one knee.

For a Peak Realm expert and sect master, it was an incredibly humiliating posture.

The surrounding disciples stared in disbelief.

But Gwak San paid them no attention.

With a solemn expression, he said,

“After witnessing your sword today, I realized I have been nothing more than a frog in a well.”

His voice trembled.

Not with humiliation.

But with a pure longing to reach a higher realm.

“Please grant me your guidance.”

A heavy silence fell over the arena once more.

Namgung Cheon looked down at the kneeling man.

His gaze remained calm, though a trace of interest appeared within it.

A man capable of abandoning his pride and bowing before true strength.

Such people were easy to handle.

Throw them a scrap of food, and they would become loyal hounds willing to bark and bite for their master.

He may prove useful.

Having reached his conclusion, Namgung Cheon spoke.

“Guidance, you say.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“I have no intention of teaching you.”

Disappointment flashed across Gwak San’s face.

Then Namgung Cheon continued.

“However, I can offer something in return for your sincerity.”

Gwak San looked up in surprise.

Namgung Cheon’s voice pierced his ears.

“If you’re too rigid, you only end up breaking. You are obsessed with cutting, and because of that, you fail to see what should be allowed to flow past.”

“…!”

It felt as though a hammer had struck his head.

With a single sentence, Namgung Cheon had identified the very obstacle that had trapped him for years.

The thrill of enlightenment surged through Gwak San’s entire body.

Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon turned and walked away without a trace of hesitation.

Snapping back to his senses, Gwak San shouted toward the retreating figure.

“Thank you, Young Master! I will never forget this kindness for as long as I live!”

His booming voice echoed across the arena.

Yet Namgung Cheon never looked back.

Gwak San lowered his forehead to the ground in a deep bow, filled with genuine gratitude.

He remained that way until Namgung Cheon’s figure disappeared completely from sight.

As Namgung Cheon left the Thunderbolt Blade Sect, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Gwak San.

The man’s attitude resonated somewhat with the path he pursued.

But that was all.

I’ve merely crossed the first mountain.

His gaze lifted toward the vast sky stretching above Anhui Province.

This is only the beginning.

Until every strong warrior beneath that sky knelt before him—

He would never stop his struggle.