Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 26: Martial Arts Tournament (4)

“The next match is between Deung Sa-jin and Lee Yuk-gyeong!”

The judge announced,

and below, a disciple who loved to chatter was loudly proclaiming.

“Here we have it folks, the Young Lightning Spirit Master Deung Sa-jin against our rising star! The Young Combat Master Lee Yuk-gyeong! A showdown between Young Master Deung, who commands lightning and thunder with his Lightning attribute techniques, and Lee Yuk-gyeong, who possesses the ability to counter magical arts! Young Master Deung, a strong contender for the championship, versus the unexpected dark horse, Young Combat Master Lee! How will this match unfold?”

The chatter-loving disciple was said to be a streetwise disciple raised under Master Seol Seo1, known for his love of storytelling like Master Seol Seo.

Indeed, his storytelling skills were quite good, and people enjoyed listening to him.

Like Master Seol Seo, the disciple who narrated the matches and buoyed the atmosphere showed excellent qualities of a host.

‘If he were born in Korea, he would have made a great MC. He tells stories in such an entertaining way. But since when did I become the Young Combat Master?’

Yuk-gyeong thought as he ascended the martial stage.

“Waaaah-!”

“Young Combat Master Lee Yuk-gyeong!”

“Win, win!”

Opposite him, Deung Sa-jin appeared on the martial stage with a confident demeanor and a handsome face reminiscent of a snake.

“Young Master Deung, I love you!”

“The Young Lightning Spirit Master will triumph!”

“Deung Sa-jin! Deung Sa-jin! Deung Sa-jin!”

Thus, the two stood facing each other.

Yuk-gyeong felt a chill down his spine from Deung Sa-jin’s serpentine gaze.

Deung Sa-jin was indeed skilled in using spell techniques.

Yuk-gyeong might find it difficult to interfere with the flow of Spiritual Qi. However, techniques at the Qi Condensation stage would be like a candle in the wind before Yuk-gyeong.

Yuk-gyeong steadied his mind and felt confident. Lightning Qi was still Spiritual Qi. There was no reason it wouldn’t follow Yuk-gyeong’s control.

Moreover, Yuk-gyeong was the owner of a Metal Spiritual Root.

Lightning is naturally drawn to metal! For some reason, Yuk-gyeong had a feeling that he could interfere more effectively with techniques using Lightning Qi.

Yuk-gyeong bowed towards the judge and then towards Deung Sa-jin before lightly stretching his body.

After breaking his spells, it’ll be time for martial arts. He needed to loosen up beforehand to fight well when the time came.

Standing opposite, Sa-jin bowed to the judge and said,

“I surrender. If I can’t use magical arts against this junior brother, there’s nothing I can do. I don’t know martial arts.”

With that, Deung Sa-jin spoke and left the stage with a calm smile.

The audience and the stage fell silent.

Deung Sa-jin, the Young Lightning Spirit Master, declared his surrender? Without even trying to fight? How anticlimactic is that?

The expressions of the elders watching were not particularly pleased either. It was not a good sight to see someone give up without even trying.

However, Sa-jin seemed resolute. Having already stepped off the stage, his defeat was confirmed regardless of whether he tried or not.

The judge, momentarily at a loss, glanced at the elders and then at the audience, hesitating before finally declaring.

“Yuk-gyeong wins! Yuk-gyeong advances to the finals!”

.

.

.

If you ask why the finals are being held so quickly, I would answer that it’s because there weren’t many participants at the Qi Condensation 8, 9-star level in the first place.

There are many at the Qi Condensation 8, 9-star level in the Dark Moon Sect, but most of them were either in seclusion for Foundation Establishment or traveling to gain enlightenment.

Thus, the number of Qi Condensation 8, 9-star participants in the martial arts tournament was small. Those who participated were either confident they could reach Foundation Establishment even in such a tournament or were slackers neglecting their training.

Yuk-gyeong’s final match opponent, Geum Mook, was someone who participated in events like martial arts tournaments and had the confidence to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

A swordsmanship genius, one with the qualities of a sword immortal, one who hears the voice of the sword, one who communes with the sword, and so on…

Could it be that he’s a sword pervert? Communicating, listening to voices, and even having sex with the sword…

Yuk-gyeong faced the rugged visage of Geum Mook, entertaining such pointless thoughts.

The firmly closed lips and clenched teeth seemed to reflect his stubbornness, and his protruding cheekbones and forehead shaped his impression like a single blade.

“Geum Mook! Geum Mook! Geum Mook!”

“Sword Immortal Geum Mook! Win!”

“Geum Mook is the best! Champion Geum Mook!”

The arena was filled with those betting on Geum Mook’s victory.

Yuk-gyeong was certainly a dark horse, a hidden talent. A rising star known for breaking magical arts and boasting martial arts skills, but Geum Mook was a sword master with the qualities of a sword immortal.

No matter how well Yuk-gyeong fought barehanded, could he really be a match for Geum Mook wielding a sword?

The already proven skills and qualities, and the stark difference in weapons between the two.

Clearly, Geum Mook was the top dog, and Yuk-gyeong was the underdog.

“Final match! Lee Yuk-gyeong and Geum Mook! Be careful not to let the match get too heated and remember you are both disciples of the same Dark Moon Sect. Match, begin!”

Clang!

A flash of light was drawn from Geum Mook’s waist. No, it wasn’t a flash of light. It was a sword. The draw was so swift it only appeared as a flash.

Geum Mook arrogantly flicked the tip of his sword and spoke to Yuk-gyeong, as if considering him.

“Junior Brother, I use a sword, so if you have a weapon, bring it out.”

“I don’t use any weapons, Senior Brother. I mainly use my fists and feet, so there’s no need to worry.”

“If that’s easier for you, go ahead. Don’t think of me as being too harsh. Competitions are inherently cold-hearted, aren’t they?”

“Please don’t resent this junior brother either, Senior Brother. I can’t hold back just because I’m facing you.”

“Haha, how arrogant.”

Geum Mook clenched his teeth invisibly.

Geum Mook didn’t even know that there was a disciple named Lee Yuk-gyeong. The fact that he didn’t even know of his existence meant that he was a disciple of no significance.

How dare an unknown disciple speak arrogantly to him, Geum Mook?

Geum Mook couldn’t help but feel infuriated.

He had always lived a life of being revered and respected. Even when he lived in the secular world, he grew up being cared for by servants, as the Geum family of Manho was considered one of the wealthiest. After entering the Dark Moon Sect, he was revered for his talent in swordsmanship and trained with admiration.

The appearance of such an arrogant junior was a refreshing shock to him.

So Geum Mook pretended to be subtly enraged.

Pretend, just as it sounds.

Geum Mook wasn’t angry at all. It was just a bit of a shock. But Geum Mook’s feigned anger was for the sake of psychological warfare.

By acting angry, the opponent would think, ‘Ah, Geum Mook has lost his composure in rage,’ and believe they had gained the upper hand in the psychological battle. It was a sophisticated psychological strategy to use that thought against them.

‘They say he’ll break through my magical arts. Let’s see him try.’

“Here I come, be careful not to get hurt!”

Haap!

Geum Mook held a sword in one hand and formed a sword seal with the other while chanting a spell.

It was Geum Mook’s unique spell, the Heavenfire Golden Sword Spell!

Golden blades, imbued with enhanced Yang Qi, rose around Geum Mook. The sharp aura emanating from the blades seemed capable of cutting through anything.

“Go!”

The golden sword blade in Geum Mook’s hand surged toward Yuk-gyeong!

At that moment, Yuk-gyeong spread his hand, aiming at the blade.

He could feel the flow of the Spiritual Qi.

The twist of the Heaven and Earth Qi forming the blade was captured directly by Yuk-gyeong’s senses. It was as if it was transparently revealed under his hand, tempting him like a naked woman.

Yeah, this Yuk-gyeong can’t just leave a naked woman (Spiritual Qi) alone.

Crunch!

Under Yuk-gyeong’s touch, the Heaven and Earth Qi twisted violently, shattering Geum Mook’s golden blade.

And the moment he twisted and broke Geum Mook’s technique, Yuk-gyeong realized.

That the opponent, Geum Mook, was at the Qi Condensation Great Perfection stage! He had reached the end of Qi Condensation 9-Star.

The flow of the Spiritual Qi was quite solid, a level of magical art that couldn’t be used unless one was at that level.

‘Half a step to Foundation Establishment. Just half a step left to the Foundation Establishment stage. A disciple on the verge of Foundation Establishment… A fitting opponent for the finals.’

No matter how close to Foundation Establishment he may be, in front of Yuk-gyeong, Qi Condensation was still Qi Condensation.

If he were to use a spell technique, Yuk-gyeong was ready to break it immediately.

“Ugh…”

A thin line of blood appeared at the corner of Geum Mook’s mouth.

He suffered a minor backlash due to Yuk-gyeong’s technique disruption.

Even a very simple technique could be quite painful if there was a backlash.

Geum Mook knew Yuk-gyeong would break his spell technique, so he deliberately used it weakly. He could have projected the golden blade more clearly, but he did not.

‘Indeed, the elders were right when they said that if you can’t create an internal technique upon reaching Foundation Establishment, you can only use half-baked techniques. If it’s a technique that can be broken by a mere Qi Condensation disciple, it can only be called a half-baked technique.’

Being half a step from Foundation Establishment, Geum Mook had heard a lot.

Geum Mook realized that Qi Condensation level techniques were half-baked spells that could be broken with just a breath from higher-level cultivators.

However, what puzzled Geum Mook was how Yuk-gyeong, who wasn’t even at the Foundation Establishment level, could break a Qi Condensation technique.

Normally, among Qi Condensation cultivators, this so-called weakness of being half-baked wouldn’t exist. Because Qi Condensation cultivators don’t have the power to suppress each other’s techniques.

‘Whatever. For now, I just need to win the duel.’

Swoosh!

A sound rang from Geum Mook’s sword. The sword, filled with Metallic Spiritual Qi, trembled.

“Don’t blame me for being ruthless, as the sword has no eyes!”

Whoosh!

As Geum Mook swung his sword, the sound of the wind being sliced was chilling. Yuk-gyeong narrowly dodged the trajectory of the sword and punched towards Geum Mook.

Bang!

Geum Mook twisted his body to avoid Yuk-gyeong’s attack, but Yuk-gyeong’s fist followed him persistently.

It was as if he knew exactly where Geum Mook would move.

The fist was fierce. But then!

Jing!

The sword suddenly rang! This was not Geum Mook’s intention.

Geum Mook did not know, but Yuk-gyeong’s Metal Spiritual Root was resonating with the Metallic Qi. Yuk-gyeong stimulated his Spiritual Root to control the Metallic Qi while continuing to attack Geum Mook.

Geum Mook leapt back entirely. Using his power had left him breathless, but escaping the position was the priority now.

‘The sword…won’t listen to me…!’

TL/N: ‘Seol Seo’ can actually be translated as Storytelling ↩️