Chapter 78
The day of the final match dawned. The finalists Baek Cheon-Sang and Byeok Cheol-Gun headed to the arena early to prepare for their match. Despite being much more expensive than the quarterfinals and semifinals, the tickets had been sold out. While the place was filled with people looking forward to the finals, the overseers, Great Monk Gong Seon and Jeong Ryeo-Gun, were seated next to the podium.
“Who do you think will be the victor?” Ryeo-Gun asked Great Monk Gong Seon, who was sitting next to her.
“I’m not sure. I find that difficult to determine since both finalists have yet to give it their all. What do you think, Patriarch Jeong?”
“The same goes for me, considering they’re both clearly outstanding. It wouldn’t be strange for either of them to win.”
“Their skills have certainly exceeded my expectations. Not just them, either. The excellent skills of the other patriarchs who participated in this tournament surprised me as well.”
“I agree. Through this event, I discovered that murim had underestimated the power of the Ten Clans of Zhejiang. The Zhejiang Martial Alliance could even have a significant influence over murim’s domain in the future.”
“Considering a faction of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect has resurfaced, the Zhejiang Martial Alliance’s power will be a great help to murim.”
“On that note, have there been any new revelations about the Nine Celestial Demons Sect’s location?”
“The Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families have formed a joint investigation team to investigate this but are yet to find any clear evidence.”
“Won’t the Nine Celestial Demons Sect become more secretive because of the Great Sima Family incident?”
“Most likely, but all evil deeds will eventually be discovered and their tails bound to be revealed if it becomes too long, don’t you think so? They can’t hide their true colors forever.”
“If you ever need help from our sect, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I will be more than happy to lend a hand.”
“Alright.”
While the two overseers were talking, the host came up to the arena and heightened the mood of the final match with his eloquent words. As per scheduled, he then called Cheon-Sang and Cheol-Gun up on stage. The two headed up amid the audience’s cheers and applause. Cheon-Sang and Cheol-Gun sparked a war of nerves to keep each other in check and from getting a head start.
The host ensured they were fully aware of the match’s rules. Afterward, he rang the gong, signaling the official beginning of the final match.
Cheon-Sang and Cheol-Gun charged at each other as if they had planned to do so from the start. As soon as their swords clashed, a strong shockwave formed along with an ear-splitting boom.
Both combatants were pushed back, but they simultaneously charged at each other again. With another clash of their swords, they unleashed a sonic blast. The two fighting each other with pure strength riled up the audience and caused them to passionately cheer for the intense sword exchanges. Cheol-Gun frowned at Cheon-Sang’s swordsmanship, which he couldn’t push back using his own swordsmanship at all. The destructive power of the Byeok Sword Manor’s swordsmanship, the Air-Splitting Sword Art, was recognized by others. The Baek Sword Sect’s swordsmanship, which was based on the sword’s variability, could never have blocked it.
However, even after several clashes, Cheon-Sang didn’t lose ground at all. Cheol-Gun knew beforehand that Cheon-Sang’s swordsmanship was different from the one he was familiar with, but he didn’t expect that it would be able to exert enough power to stand against the Air-Splitting Sword Art’s power. The problem was that Cheon-Sang’s swordsmanship was based on variability, not destructive power. If the aspect of variability was added to Cheon-Sang’s swordsmanship, which he couldn’t overpower, Cheol-Gun would be at a disadvantage. He had to end the match before Cheon-Sang could begin to seriously incorporate the aspect of variability into his swordsmanship.
Cheol-Gun mustered his internal energy with all his strength. Along with a heavy sword shadow, a blue sword-shaped aura soared from his weapon—vajra qi. It served as proof that he had reached the Absolute Realm. However, the aura’s form wasn’t clear since Cheol-Gun had yet to completely enter it.
Nevertheless, despite its imperfect state, it was still vajra qi. Cheol-Gun swung his sword, believing that even Cheon-Sang would be helpless before his vajra qi. His sword dropped through the space and violently struck Cheon-Sang. Cheon-Sang immediately activated the Heavenly Sea Convection Step in response and escaped from it. Cheol-Gun chased after Cheon-Sang, launching another attack as the latter retreated from a distance.
Cheol-Gun thought Cheon-Sang would use his movement art to evade this time, too. However, his expectations were off the mark. Rather than evading, Cheon-Sang thrust his sword, which had a stronger and clearer form of vajra qi than that of Cheol-Gun’s. Its size and shape proved that Cheon-Sang had completely advanced into the Absolute Realm. Cheol-Gun felt shocked and in disbelief despite witnessing the sight himself. Cheon-Sang was a full-fledged Absolute Realm master unlike him, who was barely in the Absolute Realm.
A question flashed in Cheol-Gun’s mind. How could a nobody like Cheon-Sang advance to the Absolute Realm? That certainly seemed impossible unless someone had helped him. Of course, it was possible that he obtained miraculous enlightenment, but only those born with great luck could have such an encounter. Cheol-Gun doubted Cheon-Sang had such great luck. Something else was definitely in the works.
He had no time to think, however. A stronger and more outstanding vajra qi than he was capable of was heading toward him. There was no room for him to escape, and even if there were, it would be too late now. Cheol-Gun clenched his teeth and blocked Cheon-Sang’s sword. Along with a thunderous sound, an incomparably tremendous shock wave violently hit Cheol-Gun. Cheon-Sang’s vajra qi smashed and scattered his.
‘Ugh.’
Cheol-Gun quickly stepped back, swallowing a groan under the pressure and pain that enveloped him. Not wasting his momentum, Cheon-Sang dashed toward Cheol-Gun and released a few rays of moonlight sword qi at him. If this was a life-and-death battle, Cheon-Sang would have ended it by using vajra qi again, but it was just a spar. Cheol-Gun urgently swung his sword at the incoming fan-shaped moonlight sword qi. Cheol-Gun’s vajra qi shattered the moonlight sword qi before it could land.
However, Cheon-Sang’s offense did not end there. He positioned himself behind Cheol-Gun using the Heavenly Sea Convection Step, then released his moonlight sword qi again. Without so much as a moment to catch his breath, Cheol-Gun blocked the moonlight sword qi with his sword. However, Cheon-Sang was just starting. He activated the Heavenly Sea Convection Step to maneuver around Cheol-Gun while constantly unleashing a chaotic barrage of moonlight sword qi.
Cheol-Gun continuously used vajra qi to defend. If he didn’t block the space itself by spreading his vajra qi, it would’ve been difficult for him to defend against the recklessly approaching moonlight sword qi. He did his best to find a chance to counterattack, but he couldn’t even dream of it due to Cheon-Sang’s relentless assault. To make matters worse, his internal energy began to hit rock bottom due to his constant use of vajra qi.
Cheol-Gun knew that the match was basically over. In truth, if Cheon-Sang had attacked with vajra qi, Cheol-Gun would have had no way to block it. Under the current circumstances, it was better to admit defeat. If he dragged on the match at this point, he knew he would only look more pathetic. Nevertheless, Cheol-Gun could not easily admit defeat. He felt too mortified to give up the position of the Zhejiang Martial Alliance Leader. However, he had no other choice. If he kept going and Cheon-Sang made up his mind to launch a big attack, he could be seriously injured for no reason.
“Stop! I lost.”
Cheol-Gun stepped back and admitted his defeat. At his declaration, Cheon-Sang stopped swinging his sword and looked at the host.
“Do you admit defeat, Byeok Sword Manor’s patriarch?” The host asked for clarification.
“I do.” Cheol-Gun nodded.
“The Byeok Sword Manor’s patriarch has admitted defeat. Patriarch Baek Cheon-Sang of the Baek Sword Sect is the winner of the martial arts tournament! Congratulations!”
At the host’s declaration, the audience congratulated Cheon-Sang with enthusiastic applause. Meanwhile, Cheol-Gun, who admitted defeat, could not get rid of his suspicions about the process of how Cheon-Sang became an Absolute Realm master. Eventually, an assumption crossed his mind.
Was Baek Cheon-Sang perhaps related to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect? It was just a vague doubt with no evidence to back his claim. However, Cheol-Gun did not want to lose the Alliance Leader position to Cheon-Sang just like this, so he could not let his assumption go to waste, no matter how vague.
“Wait a moment! I have something to say!” Cheol-Gun shouted.
The host calmed the audience down and looked at Cheol-Gun in response.
“What is it?”
“First and foremost, congratulations on your victory, Patriarch Baek. However, to be honest, I have doubts about the process you had to go through for you to reach your current realm. With all due respect, may I ask for an explanation?”
“It’s hard for me to understand what you just said, Patriarch Byeok. What do you doubt about my level of cultivation?”
“Everyone must be aware that the Great Sima Family, based in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, was discovered to be a disguised force of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. I’ve also heard that the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families are investigating the sects that have shown rapid growth recently to root out the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. For those reasons, I think Patriarch Baek should be investigated as well. I am by no means trying to frame you, Patriarch Baek. However, as the Zhejiang Martial Alliance Leader, I would like for you to prove the legitimacy of the alliance by showing that you are truly and perfectly qualified for it.”
The audience began to make a commotion upon hearing Cheol-Gun’s words. The overseers at the seats of honor on the podium and the other patriarchs’ expressions became serious.
“As Patriarch Byeok said, the Zhejiang Martial Alliance Leader is a position that should not have a speck of suspicion. As such, I am willing to be investigated.”
Cheon-Sang hated that Cheol-Gun associated him with the Nine Celestial Demons Sect despite the lack of evidence. However, as Cheol-Gun said, there had to be people who had doubts about his cultivation level. Hence, he took this as an opportunity to get rid of all suspicions. He had no qualms about being investigated because he had nothing to do with the Nine Celestial Demons Sect anyway.
“I can handle this investigation. Is that alright?”
“No one would doubt the investigation’s results of the Shaolin Temple’s Great Monk Gong Seon.”
“I’ll leave it to you, then.”
When Cheol-Gun and Cheon-Sang agreed to let Great Monk Gong Seon helm the investigation, Gong Seon immediately headed up to the arena to examine Cheon-Sang’s energy and confirm whether he was wearing a Demon Seal Ring. As he did, Gong Seon was amazed by Cheon-Sang’s confident and vigorous aura. Considering the energy Cheon-Sang contained, he was likely unrelated to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. Nevertheless, his internal energy could not be obtained from the Baek Sword Sect. To clear all suspicions raised by Cheol-Gun, he’d have to reveal its origin.
“Patriarch Baek’s internal energy is clearly not related in any way to the internal energy of demonic sects such as the Nine Celestial Demon Sect. However, it is also true that getting internal energy of your level with the Baek Sword Sect’s ability, which is widely known in murim, is difficult. Although this is something that no one can force, if you would like to completely prove your innocence, it would be better to reveal the origin of your internal energy, Patriarch Baek.”
“By right, that information is difficult to disclose to the public. However, I will do so anyway since no one should doubt the Zhejiang Martial Alliance Leader’s credibility. As Great Monk Gong Seon had determined, my internal energy does not originate from the Baek Sword Sect. That does not mean that it is part of the demonic sect. The internal energy that I amassed and cultivated is the Heavenly Sea God Sect’s internal energy cultivation method, Heavenly Sea Goliath Cultivation.”
“Do you mean the sect founded by the Heavenly Seafarer, a martial artist who made a name for himself in murim over a hundred years ago?” Great Monk Gong Seon asked, surprised.
“That’s right. The Heavenly Seafarer made a secret cave to protect murim from the Nine Celestial Demons Sect and the other Three Greatest Demonic Sects. There, he left everything he had come to possess throughout his entire life. Our sect happened to discover the secret cave left behind by the Heavenly Seafarer and obtained the Heavenly Seafarer’s martial arts.”
“Hoho, it is fortunate that the martial legacy of the Heavenly Seafarer, who had achieved many accomplishments as one of murim’s Ten Wonders, lives on. Considering you have inherited his legacy, the Baek Sword Sect’s role will be very important in the future. I pray that your sect will be of great help to murim.”
“I will do my best to protect murim. That’s why I plan to begin with fending off the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, as willed by the Heavenly Seafarer’s legacy.”
“As everyone heard, the Baek Sword Sect has nothing to do with the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. They reached their current status by inheriting the martial legacy of the Heavenly Seafarer, a previous member of the Ten Wonders. I declare the Baek Sword Sect’s martial arts trustworthy.”
The audience applauded and cheered at Great Monk Gong Seon’s declaration. With the suspicions of the patriarchs about Cheon-Sang’s cultivation having been resolved as well, they acknowledged him. However, Cheol-Gun remained suspicious.
“You merely claim that you inherited the martial legacy of the Heavenly Seafarer, Patriarch Baek. You will have to prove that you’re not lying.”
The expressions of the other leaders turned sour when Cheol-Gun kept persisting. From their perspective, Cheol-Gun was being unreasonable because the Alliance Leader position was snatched.
“I’m not sure about that. I don’t know if anyone will recognize it even if I demonstrate the martial arts of the Heavenly Sea God Sect here. Hence, Patriarch Byeok won’t believe that it is the Heavenly Sea God Sect’s martial arts, and you will once again ask me to prove myself. With all due respect, you just don’t want to acknowledge me as the Zhejiang Martial Alliance Leader, do you?” Cheon-Sang retorted, no longer able to hold himself back against Cheol-Gun’s remarks that repeatedly questioned him.
“If you lost fair and square, then accept it!”
“Stop being petty!”
After Cheon-Sang responded, shouts of criticism toward Cheol-Gun were heard from all over the audience seats. Cheol-Gun’s face turned purple at the crowd’s criticisms. No one here would listen to him anymore. The moment Great Monk Gong Seon revealed that Cheon-Sang’s martial arts were not related to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect and Cheon-Sang revealed that he inherited the Heavenly Sea God Sect’s martial arts, most of the people’s doubts disappeared. At the very least, not a single person believed that Cheon-Sang was related to the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. In this situation, there was nothing more that Cheol-Gun could do.
“Ehem, I went overboard. I am only acting like this because I care about the Zhejiang Martial Alliance. I ask for your understanding, Patriarch Baek.”
“I understand very well that you care about the Zhejiang Martial Alliance, Patriarch Byeok. However, as comrades and members of the Zhejiang Martial Alliance, you will need to have faith rather than doubt.”
“I will keep your advice in mind, Patriarch Baek.”
At Cheon-Sang’s advice filled with hidden meaning, Cheol-Gun forced an answer and left the stage.
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