Chapter 63 – Overcoming the Wall

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Looking at the Cloud-Summoning Shoes, a dharma treasure specialized in short-distance high-speed movement, Jin So-myeong focused on the match again.

‘Formations. They are certainly powerful.’

The rogue cultivator who fell into Baek Yu-geon’s formation could not escape, just like a drowning person.

He struggled, even causing his spiritual power to run wild, but there was no unexpected turn. The match ended just like that.

‘It will be difficult if the first attack does not work.’

He returned to the waiting room while simulating in his head how he would unravel the battle.

How long did he wait?

Thanks to the quickly passing time, the next match arrived.

Stepping onto the stage that had become familiar before he knew it, he faced Baek Yu-geon.

What kind of personality would the chief disciple of the renowned Rank 3 formation master have?

He was curious deep down, but he found out very easily.

“For a sword cultivator like you to be born in our Source Light Sea. It is a grand fortune for our humanity. However…”

Baek Yu-geon, who smiled brightly enough to show his teeth, expressed regret.

“It is a pity that your cultivation period seems short. I hope it will be a better match when we meet next time.”

“…Next time?”

To discuss the next time when the match had not even started.

He wondered if he was provoking him, but that was not it.

Baek Yu-geon was serious. There was no trace of mockery in his expression at all; rather, he was favorable.

He simply believed in earnest that this battle was already as good as over…

“Haha.”

In truth, he had already achieved his goal.

Even if he lost here, it was confirmed that he could go to the Soul Washing Land. It meant there was no need to overexert himself.

However,

that did not become a reason to give up.

Simultaneously with the start of the match,

he triggered his dantian. He poured all of his explosively soaring spiritual power into the Cloud-Summoning Shoes.

Whoosh!

The intense heat that returned along his meridians became red clouds.

And,

with just a single blink of an eye, the distance between the two vanished.

Within the world that had slowed down due to extreme concentration,

the opponent’s pupils dilated. He felt he knew what the gradually opening mouth and the rising eyebrow said.

Somewhere between interest and surprise.

Looking at that, he unfolded the Swift Sword Stance, which had been completely engraved into his body through tens of thousands of repetitions.

Shring…

The cool friction sound that tickled his ears was pleasant to hear. The blade passing through the scabbard was felt clearly.

A split second.

The sword, which was nothing more than a cold lump of iron, was enveloped in a haze.

Filled with sharp energy, it moved alone in the world that had not just slowed down, but stopped.

It aimed for the opponent’s fully exposed neck and…

touched.

A red line appeared on the pure white neck.

Baek Yu-geon, whose eyes widened, suddenly shouted “Ohh!” and began to clap.

“Indeed! It is a tremendous speed! The ones who faced you were not incompetent! However…”

Whoosh!

The figure, which moved even after its neck was slashed, turned into flames. It divided into twelve fireballs and scattered in all directions.

– Regrettably, you are still only in the early Foundation Establishment stage!

He ignored the voice transmission that rang in his head.

Narrowing his eyes, he concentrated. One of the twelve scattered flames must be the real one.

He had to chase it and slash it.

At that moment,

the scenery of the arena changed suddenly. The simple rectangular stage disappeared, and a volcanic area bubbling with lava appeared.

At the heat that scorched his skin, he realized what had happened.

‘An illusion!’

It was a Divine Sense attack. It twisted his senses based on the vast Divine Sense that had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Buzz!

He immediately retrieved all his Divine Sense. He had already learned how to respond when Divine Sense was lacking in the Red Cloud Secret Realm.

A thirty-meter radius.

He compressed his Divine Sense and firmly took control of the surroundings.

Deflecting all the Divine Sense attacks that distorted cognition, he set his senses straight.

Just when the acrid volcano scattered like smoke and returned to the ordinary stage,

“A sword cultivator… they are certainly powerful beings. However, it is not that they have no weaknesses. Sword cultivators are too simple.”

At the calm voice, he intuitively knew. That it was already too late.

The flames that had split into twelve and scattered in all directions flared up, turned into pillars covered in talismans, and were driven into the floor.

In the short gap while he responded to the Divine Sense attack, the formation had been activated!

“Even a sharp sword only has meaning when it reaches.”

Boom!

Jin So-myeong, enveloped in red clouds, kicked off the ground. He moved to escape the formation that had just been activated.

The Cloud-Summoning Shoes, the Wind Control Art, and even the Rising Dragon Steps.

He unfolded all of his movement techniques simultaneously except for the Lightning Escape Art, but strangely, he could not escape.

Even he could not get close to the opponent.

The ground stretched with every step he took. It felt as if Baek Yu-geon, who was visible right in front of him, was endlessly moving farther away.

“It is already too late. Since you fell into the Eternal Illusion Labyrinth Formation, it is impossible with your realm.”

It was literally as he said. Whichever direction he moved, the ground stretched long to hinder him.

To set up such a formation in a split second…

It was a skill worthy of the chief disciple of a formation master.

“Fellow Daoist. Act in moderation. Those shoes clearly look like they have severe side effects… do not suffer from internal injuries in vain and just give up.”

Give up?

Originally, he had intended to stop from the moment the first strike was blocked, but hearing those words, a crooked mind reared its head.

The words ‘I surrender’ simply could not come out of his mouth.

He wanted to delightfully slash Baek Yu-geon, who was looking down with his hands behind his back in the air as if everything were finished.

Doubtless, reality was not easy.

This was because the formation, which felt alive and breathing and grew constantly stronger even at this moment, blocked him.

Swish!

He tried scattering Sword Qi, but the result was the same. Due to the pressure of the formation, it could not go far and faded away.

‘…Both speed and the sharpness of the Sword Qi are lacking.’

If so, how should he break through it?

Even if the sharpness of the Sword Qi was unavoidable, the way to move faster was clear.

The Lightning Escape Art.

If it was the Lightning Escape Art, which was fast enough to be counted among all movement techniques in the world.

If it was that technique which moved by riding lightning, it might be able to break through this formation.

Just using lightning techniques still weighed on his mind.

Something uncommon naturally drew attention. It was bound to become the target of envy, jealousy, and greed.

Looking at Baek Yu-geon who was telling him to give up with a kind smile, he caressed the area of his dantian.

Instead of his natal cultivation method, the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, he felt the spiritual power flowing according to the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art.

‘…Since when did I hide my presence like this?’

Does behavior become a habit and eventually turn into nature?

Those words were exactly right. From some point, he had always concealed his appearance and could not even give his name properly.

Of course, it was not that there was no reason.

Since the world was harsh, it could not be helped. To survive, it was advantageous to keep a low profile and not reveal oneself.

That was wise behavior.

If surviving was the sole goal, that is.

“…”

Suddenly, the sword held in his hand felt heavy. He was not free due to all kinds of trivial worries.

Then,

how long must he hide? Until the day he stood tall as the number one under heaven, must he always conceal himself?

‘A sword cultivator…’

Why was it?

Suddenly, a single word he had heard in the past flashed by.

‘A sword cultivator must only look forward and advance. An act that appears foolish at a glance might be the only way to achieve the Great Dao…’

At the words spoken by the nameless Giant Sword Sect disciple he had met in the Red Cloud Secret Realm, he felt as if his head had been struck.

“Ah.”

What was right?

Which action was the correct answer could ultimately only be known at the end.

Luck and misfortune are like two sides of a coin, easily flipped even by a gentle breeze.

Even if it was a foolish act, so what? Everything was merely a secondary issue.

What was truly important…

was what his heart wanted.

While he was standing blankly, with even his sword hanging loosely,

– Agh! Jang Sam-bong! Somehow win just one more time! I bet my entire fortune on you advancing to the semifinals!

At the faintly heard earnest voice, he burst into a chuckle out of sheer absurdity.

Beyond the barrier, in the spectator seats, the familiar tournament receptionist was visible.

With disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes like a gambling addict, he was an eyesore.

‘What a funny guy. To think he really bet his entire fortune.’

Furthermore, he had clearly said he would make about the top ten, yet he was told to win once more. Just how greedy had he been.

It seemed his reason had been clouded after winning a few times in the beginning.

Just as he was holding back a chuckle,

“What is so funny? Could it be that you are mocking my goodwill?”

At Baek Yu-geon’s words, which were snapped as if offended, he slowly shook his head.

“No. It is just that I finally see it now.”

“…What?”

“Beyond the wall.”

The spiritual power soaring from his dantian raced through his meridians.

The moment he chose the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art instead of the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art he used for disguise,

a streak of lightning that had been asleep in his mind awakened.

Crackle…!

Due to the rapid transition of his cultivation method, uncontrolled lightning energy overflowed.

Along with the rumbling thunder, even a discharge phenomenon occurred in the air, but he did not hide it.

Since he had already decided, there was no hesitation.

“…Lightning techniques?”

Simultaneously with Baek Yu-geon’s expression turning grave,

Rumble!

the blade enveloped in light drew a single line.

The moment a split second was divided and divided.

The blade containing Sword Qi arrived. Up to an inch in front of the opponent’s forehead.

“…!”

It was fast. To the extent that even the formation could not block it.

Changing his mind changed everything.

He was filled with vitality all over his body, as if released from shackles. The sword that had felt heavy felt rather like it was lighting up the path ahead.

He realized instinctively. That he had shattered the wall blocked by the River and Cloud Sword Art and taken one step further.

Screech!

An energy barrier was generated from the hero’s headband on Baek Yu-geon’s forehead.

The barrier, which was clearly a Rank 2 highest-grade defensive dharma treasure, blocked the sword, but it could not hold out for long.

This was because the Sword Qi, which had become incomparably sharper than before, even pierced the energy barrier.

“Ugh!”

However, a small gap was created. Baek Yu-geon, whose eyes widened, retreated as if bouncing away and swung his hand like a windmill.

Boom!

A powerful pillar of fire soared to block the path, but it was all visible.

Where and how he should slash to dismantle this spell.

Slash!

He slashed the delicate spiral structure made of spiritual power with a single strike.

The Sword Qi that had surpassed the wall made that possible.

“What!”

As if unable to believe the fire pillar that vanished in vain, Baek Yu-geon, who grit his teeth, formed a complicated hand seal.

A flock of firebirds the size of a palm flew in as if conducting a bombing raid, but the response was the same.

He sliced them all with the sword coated in Sword Qi.

No splendid spell could withstand a single sword enveloped in a haze.

Rumble!

Becoming one with the lightning, he kept pressing the attack.

He poured offensive strikes on Baek Yu-geon, from whom doubt, shock, and composure had completely vanished.

He had absolutely no intention of giving time to the formation master. He did not miss the single opportunity stemming from the opponent’s carelessness.

How many more times did he wield the sword?

“Ah!”

Ending with a sigh mixed with all sorts of emotions.

Baek Yu-geon, enveloped in light, was teleported off the stage.

Silence.

When people see a shocking sight, they freeze tight.

At this moment, all the spectators became of one mind and could not open their mouths.

How many seconds did he enjoy the silence that tickled his heart?

– Th-Thunderclap Swordsman! A sword cultivator who handles lightning has appeared!

– The rumors were true!

– Baek Yu-geon lost…? W-Wait, then what about my spirit stones?

– Aaargh! I won! I won!! Waaaaah!!

Along with beast-like roars with unclear pronunciation, shouts poured down.

Although a bitter smile emerged at the burdensomely enthusiastic cheers, there was no regret.

If it had not been for this choice today, the River and Cloud Sword Art reaching the mastery stage would have truly been in the distant future.

Clack!

Jin So-myeong, who sheathed his sword slowly, turned his gaze slightly.

– Jang Sam-bong! Thank you! Thank you so much! With these spirit stones, I can go to the brothel first… Hehe!

Meeting eyes with the receptionist who was laughing as if he had lost his mind after winning the gamble, he said,

“Hey.”

– Huh? M-Me?

“My name is Jin So-myeong. Not Jang Sam-bong.”

***

The top floor of the tournament grounds.

The room where the Golden Core cultivators gathered was dyed in silence.

The powerful existences ruling the entire city could not take their eyes off the match unfolding between the Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Ha.”

“Amazing. He mastered both the sword and lightning techniques, yet not one is lacking.”

The moment Jin So-myeong ended up winning after pushing Baek Yu-geon to the brink.

Everyone’s gaze shifted slightly.

Toward Hyeon Jin-ja, the Rank 3 formation master famous for never losing his dignity, and Baek Yu-geon’s master.

“…”

One second? Or a shorter time than that.

Hyeon Jin-ja, who had been frozen as if broken, flinched slightly and then smiled gently.

“Why is everyone looking at me like that? Did I not say from the beginning that I had my disciple enter to teach him how wide the world is? Rather, it turned out well.”

“Hum… are you all right?”

“Yes? What about? I am fine. Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. Defeat is valuable. If one can learn, it is much better than victory—”

Just when Hyeon Jin-ja was speaking rapidly without taking a breath,

Thud!

the Golden Core sword cultivator who rose so roughly that his chair fell over began to stride forward.

“…? Gwang-myeong. Where are you going all of a sudden?”

Even at someone’s question, the steps of the Golden Core sword cultivator did not stop. He merely retorted shortly.

“I am going to take a disciple.”

“W-Wait! The tournament is currently ongoing?”

“That is not important.”