“Myeong Cheon of the Wudang Sect!”“Dang Mun of the Tang Clan of Sichuan!”The two called names stepped onto the stage.“Unexpected. I thought Wudang’s Lone Sword would show.”“You know my senior brother?”“I do. More than know—we’re close. We’ve sparred now and then. I lost every time, though.”At Dang Mun’s blunt confession, Myeong Cheon looked flustered.“What? Hearing I lost suddenly makes me look easy?”“N–no. You’re just… very honest.”“It’s the truth. So I came excited for today.”“I’ll do my utmost.”At Myeong Cheon’s vow to give his all, Dang Mun grinned.“Count on it.”“I ask for your guidance.”When their exchange ended, the referee asked:“Have you said your piece?”“Yes.”“Good. Then get ready.”The two widened the distance and took their stances. The referee shouted:“Begin!”With the referee’s booming voice, Dang Mun smiled at Myeong Cheon.“Well then, let’s see what you’ve got.”Whooom—Using his favored weapon—the fan—he sent a gust of wind.And Myeong Cheon’s body slid back like a feather on that wind.Seeing it, Dang Mun chuckled.“Cloud-Ladder Vault, eh? At your age, to have even that down… No wonder they sent you to the Divine Dragon Tournament. You’re a prodigy, aren’t you?”“I’m not.”“Sure you aren’t.”Dang Mun tightened his grip on the fan.“You know who the Wudang Sect serves, don’t you?”“Yes.”“Look west by northwest.”Why?Myeong Cheon turned his head that way.“You see?”“Yes!”His expression turned solemn.He had spotted Yeon Woo Jin in the stands.“We can’t disappoint him, can we?”“No.”Whooom—A tremendous force surged up from Myeong Cheon’s body.The spectators felt the pressure and gasped.“Woah!”“Incredible! No wonder Wudang sent him instead of the Wudang Lone Sword.”It wasn’t only the crowd that was startled.The heads of the Mount Hua Sect, Gongdong Sect, Zhongnan Sect, and the Shaolin Temple all jolted.“Well now! That presence.”“How does he have such a powerful, ferocious aura at that age?”“Astonishing.”Eyes turned toward the head of the Wudang Sect.Feeling those gazes, Venerable White Cloud smiled.Then Gwangpung Shinga spoke.“To think that Wudang’s ‘problem child’ got that strong.”At that, the Mount Hua head asked,“You know the boy?”“Of course I do. Think I wouldn’t be up on Nine Schools and One Gang news? He was rumored to be Wudang’s craziest brat. I’d heard he had fits. Is he better now?”To Gwangpung Shinga’s question, the Wudang head replied with a smile,“Thanks to the one who watched over him.”The Mount Hua head took “the one” to mean the Primordial Lord of Heaven.But Gwangpung Shinga had someone else in mind.“I see. If that person watched over him, that explains it.”Nodding as if it all made sense, he turned back to the stage.The heads of Mount Hua, Gongdong, Zhongnan, and Shaolin looked puzzled.Why drop it there?“Don’t stop there—so did the fits clear up and that’s why he grew strong? Or was he always that strong?”“He was always strong. When his illness cleared, he could finally use the great power in his body without hindrance.”“Great power?”“He has the Azure Dragon Physique.”“Gasp!”“Amitabha!”Everyone wore shocked faces.Most of all, the Mount Hua head.Azure Dragon Physique?An Ho sprang to mind.An Ho’s body was the Six-Yang Divine Body.Another physique that existed only in legend.Heaven-granted, and brilliant besides.A genius among geniuses who grasped the essence the moment he learned.And on top of that talent, he worked hard.So in this Divine Dragon Tournament, An Ho’s victory had seemed a given.But the Azure Dragon Physique?So the final will likely be against Wudang.Even so, he didn’t imagine An Ho would lose.Least of all to Wudang.Mount Hua and Wudang, though both under the Nine Schools and One Gang, were symbiotic rivals.The Mount Hua head glanced at An Ho.Seeing him watch the match with unusual seriousness, he felt relieved.Good. Better this way. If he’d met him blind, it could’ve gone wrong; now that he knows, he’ll fight in earnest.An Ho, unaware his sect head was watching, focused on the match.Impressive. The level this time is truly high. I absolutely can’t take anyone lightly.He watched every step Myeong Cheon and Dang Mun took.Their battle was tremendous.Where were such talents even coming from?An Ho reflected once more on his own past conceit.Thoom—Whooom—Shockwaves from their clashes washed over An Ho, tossing his hair.The fiercer the two moved, the hotter the stands burned.Fists clenched, breath held, everyone watched their duel.“Huff—huff— You’re really something.”“Huff! Thank you. You’re incredible yourself, big brother.”“I should be. Do you know how long I trained to get here?”At Dang Mun’s words, Myeong Cheon grinned.At that smile, Dang Mun said,“Cute… but I’m running out of capital. Time to wrap this up.”“All right.”He acted unfazed, but Dang Mun was exhausted.His internal strength was nearly spent.This would be his last attack.Vmmmm—Wind rose from Dang Mun’s fan.Sensing danger, Myeong Cheon swiftly raised his sword to prepare.“This is a first for you. Consider it an honor.”“Thank you.”Hearing Myeong Cheon’s tense reply, Dang Mun laughed.“Here it comes! Raging Gale Heaven-Explosion Fan!”Kuwaaaa—A storm burst from Dang Mun’s fan and filled the stage in an instant.The storm compressed at once into a single point, forming a massive wedge.The wedge of wind slammed straight down at Myeong Cheon.KWA-KWA-KWANG—The destructive ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) force was enough to split half the bluestone arena.As it struck, smaller vortices scattered in every direction.Those whirlwinds were no different from bundles of astral force—being hit could mean grievous injury or death.Clangg—Myeong Cheon flicked the onrushing vortices aside, angling them off as if nudging them away.KWA-KWA-KWANG—The deflected whirlwinds exploded outward from his sword face.Batting the vortices away as he advanced, Myeong Cheon closed on Dang Mun.The moment he did, Dang Mun smiled in triumph and scattered hidden weapons.Cast into the air, the projectiles turned toward Myeong Cheon and began to pour down like a squall.Each tiny blade carried terrifying force.“Heaven-Filling Flower Rain!”Dang Mun’s absolute secret art unfolded.But Myeong Cheon moved faster.He brushed right past Dang Mun.When he slowly lowered his sword, Dang Mun’s body collapsed.Thud—Myeong Cheon darted to the fallen man and checked him.Feeling breath, he let out a sigh of relief.The referee came, checked Dang Mun’s state, then thrust Myeong Cheon’s hand high.“Myeong Cheon of the Wudang Sect, victory!”With his win declared, a roar erupted from the stands.“Woooaaah! The best!”“Of everything today, that was the best!”“Hahaha! Magnificent!”Myeong Cheon’s blade had carried the very essence of Wudang:The mystery of Taiji.His sword was the Taiji Insight Sword.Startled, the Mount Hua head shot to his feet.Beside him, the heads of the Gongdong Sect, Zhongnan Sect, and the Shaolin Temple wore dazed looks.“Heaven-Filling Flower Rain and the Taiji Insight Sword? Aren’t those… arts that should be in Martial Deity Heaven?”“They are.”“They are indeed.”“Then how?”“What do you mean how? Did you learn the Twenty-Four Forms Plum-Blossom Sword Art because its manual just happened to be here?”They had nothing to say.“R-right.”The Mount Hua head sat back down.Then the Wudang head spoke softly.“Once the Divine Dragon Tournament ends, there will be good news.”What did that mean?“Thank you for saying so.”He took it as a casual blessing and let it pass. ****“Seon Woo Baek of Shincheon Manor!”“Bae Won of the Lion Iron-Fist Gate!”At Shincheon Manor’s name, the stands erupted again.“Waaaah!”“Shincheon Manor!”“This tournament’s a joy—so many new faces!”“Exactly!”As all the cheering went to Seon Woo Baek, Bae Won’s mood soured.He clenched his fists, vowing to smash that face with his Lion Invincible Fist.“Pleased to meet you.”“Hmph!”Bae Won only snorted, refusing even a reply.“Begin!”At the signal, Bae Won charged before his opponent could even take a ready stance.“Lion Linked-Rings Fist!”Tupapapak—His intent to wreck Seon Woo Baek in one rush was palpable.A sudden blitz like this could rattle most—but Seon Woo Baek stayed calm.He’d lived through this scenario too many times.Yeon Woo Jin had said it:Attacks can come anytime, anywhere. Always be ready.For Seon Woo Baek, that readiness had become habit.Like flowing water, he parried the incoming blows.The moment he saw an opening—“Heaven-Shaking Tiger Prime Palm!”Slaaash—“Ghak!”A precise strike sank into the abdomen.Thud-thud-thud—Bae Won flew back, tumbled, and skidded across the floor.He sprang up, face flushed beet-red.“You little son of—!”Papapak—He kicked off and charged again at Seon Woo Baek.“Lion Roaring-Thunder Fist!”Watching the excited rush, Seon Woo Baek shook his head and slipped the blow.There were so many openings he almost felt guilty striking them.Thump—But his body reacted to the opening on its own.He’d trained himself to attack the moment he found a gap—without a heartbeat of hesitation.“Khrrk!”As Bae Won reeled, Seon Woo Baek’s body reacted again.“Heaven-Filling Supreme Primordial Wave.”Jjjeong—Bae Won’s body bent like a bow, then shot away and crashed into a corner.Thud-thud-thud—He didn’t get up.The referee sprinted over to check him, then motioned for a stretcher and strode to Seon Woo Baek, lifting his hand high.“Seon Woo Baek of Shincheon Manor, victory!”The match had ended far too easily.Silence fell over the stands.Then the cheers burst out.“The best!”“Khahaha! I’m putting everything on you!”“Ride this straight to the final!”“Seon Woo Baek! Seon Woo Baek!”Listening to the chants with a light heart, Seon Woo Baek stepped down.Meanwhile, the master of the Lion Iron-Fist Gate stared hollowly at his son’s all-too-easy defeat.“That damned brat. How many times did I tell you—don’t look down on opponents! Focus!”Irritation flared.“Just wait till we’re back.”He swore to fix that rotten mindset first.By contrast, two people who knew who Seon Woo Baek really was—Hwa Sogwang and Sa Se Hwang—nodded.As expected.He was Yeon Woo Jin’s personal disciple.Of course he was strong.—All we can do is hope our kids avoid them as long as possible.—Exactly. If they meet… our kids will only suffer. ****Most of the round-of-32 winners were decided; only the last match remained.“Tak Mu Gyeol of the Blood Demon Gate!”“Wi Cheol Ho of the One Origin Gate!”Tak Mu Gyeol licked his lips and eyed Wi Cheol Ho.How had that scrawny-looking guy made it this far?How should he carve him up?Smacking his lips, he raked his gaze over Wi Cheol Ho’s body.His epithet was Ruthless Evil Fist.His martial art, the Eight Ruthless Evils, twisted joints and muscles until the opponent couldn’t fight.Once joints popped, most people lost the will to battle and rolled in agony.You think experts feel no pain?Experts are human.They might endure, but pain would strip their attacks of any true force.

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