Chapter 706: Divine Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

Unlike the trivial preliminaries, the main tournament of the Martial Arts Festival was a proper martial arts bout.

The spectator stands surrounded the area.

Within them, two large martial arts stages were set up.

Two pairs would fight at a time, and the winner would advance to the next round.

It was a truly simple and convenient system.

“Begin.”

At the referee’s low voice, the atmosphere immediately heated up.

“Hyaaaat!”

“Hup!”

Kuuung-!!

Ki clashed against ki, sending out shockwaves.

Waaaaah-!

With every surge of impact, the cheers intensified.

This was a battle between peak martial artists, the kind you couldn’t easily see anywhere else.

The spectators watched, seemingly mesmerized by the speed and power.

“…It’s intense right from the start.”

“Who did they say that man was? Muphong Ssanggdo (Twin Swords of Martial Wind)?”

A giant wielding a flail lunged forward ferociously, but the man with the twin swords calmly evaded.

Even someone unfamiliar with martial arts could see the effortless footwork.

“Muphong Ssanggdo? That’s a new alias to me…?”

“He’s someone gradually gaining fame in Hubei.”

Attention slowly turned towards the man with the twin swords.

“Impressive. To handle Daecheol Heuktae (Great Iron Black兌) so casually.”

The martial artist with the flail was a peak martial artist, a fairly well-known figure from the Sichuan region.

They say he often overwhelms opponents with overwhelming strength.

And yet, here he was, not only failing to subdue his opponent but being defeated so unremarkably.

The crowd watched the opponent with evident interest.

An individual not widely known.

Yet, he displayed unexpected strength.

This was the type of martial artist spectators favored most.

“Muphong Ssanggdo. I must remember that name.”

“He seems destined for greatness.”

One martial artist was beginning to make a name for himself.

It wouldn’t be long before the master known as Muphong Ssanggdo became recognized in everyone’s minds.

Ching-!

A deadly aura emanated from Muphong Ssanggdo’s sword.

“Kkuhk!”

Seeing that, Daecheol Heuktae hastily tried to swing his flail wildly, but-

“Too late.”

Muphong Ssanggdo had already closed the distance, his sword flashing.

Tak-! Hwiririk-!

The flail ultimately failed to reach Muphong Ssanggdo.

The chilling tip of the sword had already touched Daecheol Heuktae’s neck first.

“…Kkeuk…! Damn it!”

The giant, realizing the situation, trembled and relaxed his body.

The referee, witnessing this, raised a hand and declared:

“Match over. Victor, number sixteen.”

“That was a good match.”

“…Thank you for the lesson.”

The bout concluded with Muphong Ssanggdo’s victory, and the crowd let out sighs of disappointment.

Although another fight was still underway on the adjacent stage, it only meant that Muphong Ssanggdo’s performance had been that much more impressive.

“What a shame. I wanted to see more.”

“He’s advanced to the main tournament, surely he’ll show us more, right?”

“That’s right. My nephew is a top-tier martial artist, so I know a bit, and I don’t think he showed his full strength yet.”

Though it was questionable what relevance his nephew being a top-tier martial artist had, no one pointed it out.

“Indeed, it seems the sect prepared diligently. I didn’t expect such a feast on the very first day.”

“I didn’t have high expectations for the first day… but Muphong Ssanggdo, and that Junjeong Geom (Jade Correct Sword) we saw earlier. They’re unexpected bonuses, aren’t they?”

“To think there were so many great martial artists.”

The emergence of unknown gems.

Nothing could have stirred the hearts of the Central Plains’ people more.

Perhaps we were witnessing the makings of the next Central Plains’ Top Ten Masters.

Embarking on the history of martial arts together. With this dream, all the spectators focused their attention.

Just then.

“Next! Numbers seventeen and eighteen.”

New figures appeared where the previous two had left the stage.

One was a figure comparable in size to Daecheol Heuktae, and the other was a martial artist of a comparatively small and much leaner build.

Seeing the larger of the two, someone exclaimed loudly:

“P-Pungnim Witangwon!”

“What?!”

“Pungnim Witangwon?”

Pungnim Witangwon, Myung Cheongseok.

He was a direct disciple of the Gwangdong Clan and is currently hailed as a rising master.

It was said he was an exceptional martial artist who surpassed the peak stage before forty, reaching the perfected peak.

A handsome man with sun-kissed skin, masculine features, and a height nearing eight feet.

The women in the stands gazed at him, captivated by his rugged charm.

“I didn’t expect Pungnim Witangwon to appear so soon….”

“This is a stroke of luck.”

The men, too, let out sighs of admiration at the appearance of the renowned master.

“So, who’s his opponent? He looks young?”

“Not just young, he looks like a kid!”

“His opponent… Ah!”

The opponent was also somewhat known.

“So Yeomra. That young man is So Yeomra.”

“So Yeomra?”

At the mention of the name, people turned to look at the youth.

He had the appearance of someone barely past his coming-of-age, with fierce eyes.

Furthermore, he was clad in black from head to toe.

“If it’s So Yeomra… isn’t he the son of Ho-hyeop?”

“The one from the Dragon God Manor incident…?”

People seemed to vaguely recall, but the buzz wasn’t as loud compared to Pungnim Witangwon.

Even that must have changed considerably.

“Isn’t So Yeomra the young man who had a dispute with Yu Tan Geom?”

“That’s right. They say he exchanged blows with Yu Tan Geom.”

“…Wait, someone barely past coming-of-age exchanged blows with Yu Tan Geom?”

Yu Tan Geom, one of the Central Plains’ Top One Hundred Masters.

Rumors had spread just days ago that he and So Yeomra had clashed.

“Of course, Yu Tan Geom must have gone easy on him.”

While most assumed Yu Tan Geom had shown leniency, some held a different perspective.

“Even if he went easy, the fact that a late-bloomer exchanged blows with Yu Tan Geom proves his skill, doesn’t it?”

“That’s true. Just reaching the main tournament proves his worth.”

Although he had moved past being a late-bloomer by earning the alias So Yeomra,

he was still just a youth barely past coming-of-age in the eyes of many. He was still treated as a late-bloomer.

“Tsk… which makes it even more regrettable. He must have gotten this far by sheer luck…”

“And to face Pungnim Witangwon of all people….”

Pungnim Witangwon, who had surpassed the peak and reached the perfected peak.

He was a seasoned master, predicted to soon reach the Profound Realm and ascend to the ranks of the Top One Hundred Masters.

He was too great a wall for a youth barely past coming-of-age to face.

“It’ll be a valuable experience for that young man.”

“Of course. Sparring with a senior is said to be a great fortune for a junior. It’ll be a good gift for that youth.”

No one expected So Yeomra to win.

That’s how public perception works.

And so, the two stood facing each other.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“I’m ready.”

Pungnim Witangwon stated as he took his stance.

So Yeomra replied with a slight nod.

The referee frowned slightly at his attitude, but the bout came first.

“…Then, let us begin.”

He lowered his hand.

“Bout.”

He uttered the word, then raised his outstretched hand.

“Begin.”

The moment the referee spoke:

Kuuuuuuung-!!!

“…!”

“Hk?!”

An immense aura erupted from Pungnim Witangwon’s body.

Fighting Qi (Battle Aura).

A tangible, heavy, and rough battle aura began to dominate the surroundings.

“Kkuhk!”

Others engaged in bouts nearby flinched, their movements faltering.

Despite maintaining a considerable distance, the effect reached the other martial arts stages.

Immense pressure.

A profound energy that altered the very flow of air.

As cracks began to appear, originating from Pungnim Witangwon, someone in the stands shouted:

“H-H-Hwa-gyeong! Pungnim Witangwon is a Hwa-gyeong martial artist!”

That cry sent immense ripples through the crowd.

“Hwa-gyeong…? Weren’t they saying Pungnim Witangwon was at the perfected peak?”

“Was he hiding his strength…?”

No matter how you looked at it, that was the aura of a Hwa-gyeong level.

While ordinary people might not know, the martial artists mixed within the crowd quickly recognized it.

Pungnim Witangwon had concealed his true level.

He had entered the martial arts festival that way, revealing himself only from the main tournament onwards.

“N-no way… The birth of a new Hwa-gyeong martial artist.”

“To witness this with my own eyes…!”

The beginning of a new history.

Reaching Hwa-gyeong before the age of forty was more than enough to place him among the future Top Ten Masters.

Pungnim Witangwon’s value began to skyrocket.

Geugeugeugeuk-!

Pungnim Witangwon continued to raise his aura, assuming a stance.

He then looked at the youth before him and spoke:

“…I apologize.”

“Hm?”

At the giant’s words, the youth, Gu Yangcheon, tilted his head.

“Apologize for what?”

“I didn’t want to do this in front of a junior so much younger than myself, but I apologize that things have come to this.”

He had finally unleashed the strength he had held back.

It was to ensure he was firmly recognized by the sect.

As a result, everyone was looking at Pungnim Witangwon.

“Ah.”

Hearing that, Gu Yangcheon chuckled and replied:

“It’s fine. You don’t need to apologize for that. Actually, I’m grateful.”

“…”

Pungnim Witangwon chuckled lowly at Gu Yangcheon’s attitude.

Had he already given up after seeing my power?

Pungnim Witangwon felt a tinge of bitterness.

He had revealed his strength for fame, but it had to be in front of a much younger junior.

A sense of embarrassment washed over him.

But he had to endure.

‘I’m sorry.’

He hoped his own brilliance wouldn’t overshadow the young man.

Hoping he wouldn’t become a wall blocking the youth’s future efforts, he clenched his fist.

At the very least.

‘I must show my best strike.’

He decided to display the ultimate technique he had obtained by overcoming his own walls.

To show it to the many spectators, and simultaneously, to offer consolation to the youth under the guise of a lesson.

Pungnim Witangwon slowly gathered his energy.

“Hoooooow!”

Gugugugung-!

As the energy compressed, heat waves shimmered from Pungnim Witangwon’s body.

“Th-this level of energy…”

“Unbelievable…”

If things continued like this, Pungnim Witangwon would surely rise to become one of the Central Plains’ Top Ten Masters in the future.

It was said that if the Three Venerables ruled the heavens, they ruled the earth.

Beings of absolute superiority to martial artists.

The birth of a figure destined for such a position-

“Kkeok.”

Kung.

Those about to cheer erupted froze stiff.

“Huh…?”

“Wha…?”

It was understandable.

He knelt down.

Pungnim Witangwon, who had been unleashing such immense energy, suddenly knelt onto the martial arts stage.

That wasn’t all.

Seueueu.

Slowly, the giant’s body collapsed towards the floor.

Kuuung-!! It hit the ground with a loud thud.

“…”

“…Wh-what? Huh?”

Pungnim Witangwon had fallen.

The sound that had filled the stands moments before had vanished.

Only one sound echoed in the silence.

Ttuk-tuk.

The sound of small footsteps.

Someone was walking past the fallen Pungnim Witangwon.

It was Gu Yangcheon.

The youth, who had somehow appeared beside him, walked slowly back to his original position.

No one noticed.

The fact that Gu Yangcheon had been beside the collapsing Pungnim Witangwon.

Back in his original spot, Gu Yangcheon slowly bowed respectfully.

“That was a good match.”

He bowed his head towards the unconscious Pungnim Witangwon.

“…”

“…”

All that flowed from the spectator stands was complete silence.