Chapter 713: Divine Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

Kwadeuk-!

Friction arises, and energy scatters.

The sight of the materialized energy shattering looked like fragments scattering.

Kkigigig-!!

Defensive energy clashes with defensive energy, and a rough sound echoes.

As if neither side would yield, it was fierce and rough, and paradoxically, even delicate.

Kung-! Kung-kung-!

Despite countless energies bursting forth like that, not a single bit of energy was wasted uselessly.

Each point had intent.

While seeming to be discarded lightly, intention permeated them.

Seogeok-!

The sword tip split the opponent’s energy.

A golden flash erupts, momentarily bathing in light.

Vision was obscured.

Immediately, Yuyeon rotates his body.

Hwiriric-!

Though vision was obscured, instinct remained alive.

By a minute difference, the sword tip grazed his shoulder.

Then, using the recoil, he immediately swings a fist.

Kung-! Pressure was applied to the dantian.

Weakening the energy, he converts it into his fist.

Hundred Steps Divine Fist.

Shaolin’s ultimate technique poured into the air.

Kugagagagang-!

“!”

Close.

It was too late to dodge. Wi Seol-ah frowned, gripping the hilt differently.

It couldn’t be dodged, nor could it be blocked.

If so, it had to be deflected.

Wi Seol-ah also retracted the energy around her body, wrapping it deeply around her sword.

Kkigigigigigig—!!!

The Hundred Steps Divine Fist, slightly deflected off the back of Wi Seol-ah’s sword, soared into the air.

Kuung-!

The rising wave seemed like it would pierce the heavens.

The overwhelming presence momentarily stole the audience’s attention, but.

The two on the martial stage immediately continued their stance.

Before they knew it, each had donned their defensive energy once more.

Then, flashes began to erupt continuously.

Kwang-! Kwang-kwang-! Kwang-!

For those who were not martial artists, only blurry afterimages and explosions remained.

Even though the fight was barely visible, it was clear even in such a situation.

That the martial bout between those two was of an incredible level.

“This is an unbelievable sight.”

“We can’t even see it properly.”

“…What in the world is happening…?”

The martial artists reacted with near astonishment.

At best, they were barely adults.

The level was unbelievably high for a martial bout performed by those who were considered young among the later generation disciples.

A life-or-death struggle fought seriously by experts of the top hundred level.

It was a martial bout of value rarely seen even at that level.

“Enlightenment from children’s fight.”

A somewhat absurd state.

As the martial artists were in confusion.

“Immediately… contact the Guild Leader.”

“We must recruit the successor of the Sword Saint.”

A newcomer to the martial world, still operating independently.

News about Wi Seol-ah, the Sword Saint’s successor and granddaughter, also began to spread rapidly.

Merely disciple-level.

Those who had casually judged it as a position obtained solely due to being his granddaughter snapped to attention.

That is not that level.

Perhaps…

“The Sword Saint’s return…”

The Gale Sword, who reigned over an era, leaving traces like a whirlwind.

The presence of someone who might have become the greatest under heaven appeared.

It was natural for everyone’s attention to be drawn by that alone.

Of course.

“Hoo…”

“…”

However, the two actually engaged in the martial bout were not paying attention to such things.

Seu-eu-eu-!

After finishing a round of battle, the two briefly widened the distance.

Heat permeated the air, and fragments scattered across the martial stage became dust, enveloping the surroundings.

Shoulders heave.

Immense movements passed in an instant, and as a result, their breathing had become rough.

“Hoo… Huk…”

Wrapping energy around himself, he calms his breathing.

At the same time, Wi Seol-ah glared at her opponent.

Dragon God (神龍) Yuyeon.

The youth called Shaolin’s hope was likewise looking at Wi Seol-ah.

Seeing that, Wi Seol-ah let out a shallow hum.

‘I’m being pushed back.’

She was being pushed back.

This was an objective assessment.

Wi Seol-ah was gradually feeling her strength falter.

Her sword felt a bit heavier, and the flowing sweat dampened her hair.

Her somewhat ragged breathing made her throat feel parched.

Despite the significant stamina consumption right after exchanging blows.

Yuyeon was in a relatively better condition.

Although his breathing was disturbed, it wasn’t severe.

He still seemed like a calm lake.

Seeing that, Wi Seol-ah examined her own sword.

Woo-woo-woo-woong.

The sword’s name was echoing.

However, she felt something foreign within that tremor.

She had taken a significant recoil when deflecting the Hundred Steps Divine Fist just before.

It wasn’t internal damage, but it was clearly a strain.

‘…’

A tingling sensation could be felt in her hand.

However, she didn’t show it.

Wi Seol-ah lifted her head and looked at Yuyeon again.

Only then did it feel somewhat real.

‘Strong.’

The opponent is strong.

He was much stronger than Wi Seol-ah had expected.

It felt like facing a heavy wall.

It might be a wall that couldn’t be cut even after dozens of strikes.

But.

‘So what?’

Wi Seol-ah’s expression was the same as before.

Nothing changes because of that.

If dozens don’t work, she’ll strike hundreds of times.

If that still doesn’t work, she just needs to keep striking until she can cut it.

That was the only thought from the beginning.

Woo-woo-woo-woong—!! The sword’s resonance emanating from the sword began to intensify.

She might not be able to win.

It didn’t matter nonetheless.

‘Just a little more.’

Wi Seol-ah’s eyes were gradually becoming unfocused.

It was an unknown sensation.

The strength that maintained her balance was slowly loosening.

The sword’s resonance grew deeper.

Seeing that, Yuyeon’s expression subtly furrowed.

‘What is it?’

He clearly felt he had the upper hand, yet.

Something about the atmosphere felt strange.

Even though he was winning, it didn’t feel like he was winning.

What should he call this strange feeling?

He didn’t know.

He raised his fist.

If he didn’t know, he could find out starting now.

Thinking thus, they moved their bodies, and.

Impact erupted onto the martial stage once more.

Kung-! Kurureung-!

A roar like crashing thunder.

It was much more intense than before, and also swift.

Feeling the flow of energy, Yuyeon aligned his body.

The increased speed wasn’t Yuyeon’s intention.

‘…She increased the speed.’

Because Wi Seol-ah’s side increased the intensity, Yuyeon was keeping up.

‘How?’

His tired body was nearing its limit, so why was she pushing herself like this?

Dodging the sword, Yuyeon pondered the question.

Swiing-!

“…!”

Sensing something from behind, Yuyeon kicked off the ground and leaped.

Then.

Swi-i-i-i-k–!!

A sword passed through the spot where Yuyeon had been.

Seeing that, Yuyeon’s eyes widened like saucers.

It wasn’t just a sword.

Sword Control (馭劍).

More precisely, it was something in the form of Sword Control.

Energy emitting a golden light, swimming through the air.

What is that?

Yuyeon momentarily held back his surprise, but.

Swi-i-i-i-k-!

“…Tch!”

Surprisingly, it wasn’t just one controlled sword.

Two more.

A total of three controlled swords thrust towards Yuyeon.

Of all places, it was the air.

It meant the position was difficult to dodge. Understanding this, Yuyeon immediately reached out.

Hundred Steps Divine Fist. He unleashed it into the air, propelling himself backward with the recoil.

Kwa-a-ang-!

Right after barely dodging the controlled swords, he landed on the ground.

However, the controlled swords continued to pursue, as if unwilling to let Yuyeon escape.

The controlled swords, leaving golden trails, relentlessly pursued.

Seeing that, someone whispered quietly.

“…Crescent Moon Sword Control!”

“It’s truly the Sword Saint’s martial art…!”

Crescent Moon Sword Control (月鮮馭劍).

It’s a martial art used based on the Sword Saint’s inner art, Moon Intent Heart Technique (月意心功).

The countless controlled swords wielded based on the inner art and the beautiful sword paths of Crescent Moon Sword Dance (月鮮舞劍) were also the Sword Saint’s identity.

That is what Wi Seol-ah is currently displaying.

While the Sword Saint in his prime was known to handle forty controlled swords.

What Wi Seol-ah demonstrated was, at best, only three.

Yet, just seeing it made the audience start to get excited.

“Truly the Sword Saint’s successor.”

“…To think they’d start pushing the Dragon God this hard. Could that young lady also be at the Hua Jing realm?”

“If not Hua Jing, then what? No matter how I look at it, this isn’t the skill a peak martial artist would show.”

“Hua Jing at that age…? What is this generation even…!”

Swi-i-ing-!

The controlled swords attacked nimbly.

Dodging these here and there, Yuyeon shifted his gaze.

Wi Seol-ah was waving her hand with a slightly furrowed expression.

Seeing this, Yuyeon thought.

‘Is she unable to move when using Sword Control?’

He reached a conclusion.

He kicked the ground once more. There wasn’t much time to think.

This time, not the air, but head-on.

With his feet strongly wrapped in energy, he immediately charged towards Wi Seol-ah.

Swiing-! Two controlled swords pursued from behind, and one thrust in from the front.

Yuyeon saw that and reached out.

Kwak-! He grabbed the front controlled sword.

Chwa-ak-! Piercing through the energy, his palm tore open.

Though pain arose, he ignored it.

Woojik-! Grabbing it firmly, he shattered the controlled sword and charged forward.

Speed such that the pursuing controlled swords couldn’t keep up.

In an instant, Yuyeon arrived in front of Wi Seol-ah.

At that moment.

Seureung.

“…!?”

Wi Seol-ah moved her sword as if she had been waiting.

He expanded his senses to confirm.

The controlled swords were still coming.

Only seeing that did he realize.

‘A feint…!’

A feint designed from the start to lure him here.

Yuyeon realized this belatedly, but.

It was already too late.

Chwa-ak-!

“Kkeuk!”

Wi Seol-ah’s sword cut Yuyeon’s upper body.

Blood splattered.

He quickly widened the distance.

Ttuk-! Ttuk-!

Blood flowed down his chest.

Yuyeon grimaced in pain.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a deep cut.

“Huk…!”

Wrapping energy around his body, he stopped the bleeding.

Seeing his injured state, the referee’s eyes widened as he approached.

Seeing that, Yuyeon calmly uttered.

“…I can manage. I’m okay.”

“…”

Hearing this, the referee stepped back again.

Woo-woong.

The controlled swords leisurely flew through the air, circling Wi Seol-ah.

Energy gathered between two swords, creating another sword.

The controlled sword Yuyeon had destroyed earlier reappeared.

‘…Difficult.’

The speed had increased, and the appearance of controlled swords made approaching difficult.

Was she hiding her strength?

Yuyeon looked at Wi Seol-ah with tired eyes.

‘…What is it?’

Then, he sensed something strange.

The woman’s eyes seemed inadvertently hazy.

‘No way.’

Yuyeon realized Wi Seol-ah’s current state.

State of Selflessness (無我之境).

It referred to a martial artist entering enlightenment; that woman now seemed to have reached the State of Selflessness.

‘Did she reach enlightenment while fighting?’

It was an absurd thing.

How could she gain enlightenment in a fight like this?

‘If something goes wrong in that state, she’ll suffer Qi deviation.’

Even if it was regrettable, it would be right to abandon enlightenment during a martial bout.

Knowing that, that woman was attempting it nonetheless.

‘…Did she think I would wait?’

Did she judge that Yuyeon would yield?

No, Yuyeon thought that wasn’t the case.

That woman simply didn’t care.

It seemed to mean that it didn’t matter if she fought while in the State of Selflessness.

“….”

Kkuuk.

She didn’t think she was being ignored, but she didn’t feel entirely good about it.

The blood no longer flowed.

Facing the dazed Wi Seol-ah, Yuyeon changed his stance.

“Seu-eu….”

Calming his breath, he emitted energy differently.

Shaolin’s inner art, Muscle Tendon Classic, circulated energy rapidly.

Yellowish haze began to rise around Yuyeon’s body.

Immense energy enveloped Yuyeon’s body, taking on a form like armor.

Muscle Tendon Classic’s ultimate technique.

Yellow Elegance Strong Armor (黃雅强襤).

Shaolin’s ultimate technique descended upon Yuyeon’s body.

“…Huh…!”

“How could they…!”

Those who saw Yuyeon’s state, especially the older ones, reacted with particular surprise.

Over the past few decades.

The generation before the current Shaolin Abbot, Cheonan.

After the previous Abbot, Venerable Monk Gyeongseng (敬僧㘞).

It was a Shaolin ultimate technique that no one had succeeded in using.

The energy wrapped around him like armor possessed defensive power akin to the legendary Indestructible Vajra Body.

His yellow-clad fist was said to crush Mount Tai with a single blow.

Geugeuk… Geuguk…!!

Cracks appeared beneath Yuyeon’s feet, clad in energy.

It looked like something heavy was pressing down and shattering it.

Everyone trembled at the overwhelming presence, but.

‘I have to finish this.’

Yuyeon’s condition, clad in this, was not entirely good.

Yellow Elegance Strong Armor is a power that doesn’t yet fit the vessel.

Only because he reached the Hua Jing realm could he barely imitate it.

Just wearing it and enduring it felt like an overload.

‘At best, ten seconds.’

The moment the count exceeds ten, it collapses.

The immense energy consumption would empty his dantian, or before that, his body would fail, causing him to lose consciousness.

It was that dangerous a martial art.

Yet, how did Yuyeon use it?

‘I must finish it.’

It was to end this martial bout somehow.

Dragging it out would be meaningless. It was also frightening.

‘That woman is growing even at this moment.’

She’s stronger than when I first faced her.

And that will only become more true as time passes.

She is undoubtedly an unbelievable existence.

“Hoo.”

Yuyeon took his stance and inhaled.

Seeing that, Wi Seol-ah moved her hand with calm eyes.

“…Hm?”

Yuyeon’s eyes widened as he saw that.

It was because as Wi Seol-ah moved her sword, the controlled swords circling nearby dispersed.

The energy of the controlled swords scattered in the air, and then.

They began to gather into her sword.

“…!”

The energy imbued the blade with color.

Then, the surroundings were bathed in golden light as if emitting luminescence.

Hwa-a-a-ak-!

‘…’

Despite squinting at the light, Yuyeon thought.

I see.

Even having reached the State of Selflessness, she was showing her intent.

It seemed that woman was trying to accommodate him this time.

Amidst the boiling fighting spirit, a strange gratitude and an unknown emotion arose.

A worthy opponent met for the first time.

That was a unique feeling for Yuyeon.

Suddenly, he felt a sense of ease.

Was it an illusion?

The energy weaving Yellow Elegance Strong Armor seemed to have grown slightly stronger.

If things continued like this, could he reach the place he aimed for?

Uttering such vague sentiments.

“…”

“…”

The two moved.

Yuyeon slammed not his fist, but his palm, not forward, but onto the ground.

Buddha’s Palm (如來神掌).

Ku-woo-woo-woo-woong—!!!

Impact erupted onto the martial stage, and a massive crack burst forth.

Woo-woo-woo-woong—!!!!

Energy gathered in the air and descended upon Wi Seol-ah.

Energy shaped like a palm.

It possessed a size large enough to cover the entire martial stage.

Such an attack fell rapidly.

Simultaneously.

Seureureung.

Wi Seol-ah also slashed her sword down with a crisp movement.

A neat and delicate movement.

The sword drew a semicircle, creating afterimages in the air.

Crescent Moon Sword Crescent Slash (月鮮匕圓斬).

Gu-woo-woo-woo-woo–!!

A large crescent moon born from the sword advanced to slash the Buddha’s palm.

Soon, the two martial arts clashed.

Woong-!

Along with a small vibration.

Ku-woo-woo-woo-woong—!!!!

An immense explosion erupted.

The impact was severe, as if an earthquake had occurred.

With this much power, it was a situation where perhaps even the audience seats could be caught up, starting with the martial stage.

“…W-What the…!”

Startled by the impact, the referee hastily surveyed the audience seats.

“…Huh?”

Surprisingly, this much impact had no effect whatsoever on the audience seats.

The reason was a barrier.

A barrier of blue light, unfurled unnoticed, surrounded the area, preventing it from being swept up in the explosion.

What is that?

The referee questioned it, but the barrier soon disappeared as if it had finished its role.

Sa-a-a-a-a–!!

Only dust filled the martial stage after the explosion vanished.

The watching audience held their breath.

The silence had begun when Yuyeon used Yellow Elegance Strong Armor.

As time passed, the dust gradually subsided.

Seu-eu….

Yuyeon and Wi Seol-ah stood on the martial stage.

Has it not ended yet?

As everyone was looking at the two.

“Cough.”

Someone spat out blood.

It was Yuyeon.

Tutuk-! The blood spat onto the floor poured out.

Yuyeon clutched his chest and knelt on one knee.

“Heok… Keok…”

As if his limit was imminent, he panted continuously.

Seeing this, the referee quickly approached him.

It seemed Yuyeon had lost.

“The winner…!”

Just as the referee was about to mention Wi Seol-ah’s victory.

Teolseok-!

This time, movement was felt from Wi Seol-ah’s side. As the referee looked.

She had collapsed onto the martial stage, seemingly having lost consciousness.

Chaeng.

The sword she held also fell to the ground.

It was Yuyeon who was holding onto his consciousness on the martial stage.

“Uh…”

The referee, who had frozen for a moment in involuntary panic.

However, he soon grasped the situation and shouted.

“N-Number two hundred nine. Winner!”

The Dragon God seized victory.

And so, shortly after Yuyeon’s number was called and victory was confirmed.

Uwa-a-a-a-a–!!!

A huge cheer erupted from the audience seats.

“Huk… Huk…”

Yuyeon nodded wearily at the cheers pouring into his ears.

I won.

I actually won.

Due to the wound on his chest, his consciousness grew increasingly hazy.

Yet, the fervor rose.

It wouldn’t matter if he lost consciousness like this.

Yuyeon was barely catching his breath, suppressing a smile, when.

Woong.

“…?”

Suddenly, he saw Wi Seol-ah’s body float into the air. Was he seeing illusions from losing too much blood?

He doubted it for a moment, but it wasn’t an illusion.

Wi Seol-ah was definitely floating up.

Not high, but low.

While everyone was cheering, Wi Seol-ah floated slightly and began to move.

Those rushing to bring a stretcher and the medics had to pause.

Then, Wi Seol-ah flew through the air and landed in someone’s embrace.

Yuyeon flinched upon recognizing the person.

So Yeom-ra.

Below the martial stage, So Yeom-ra was holding Wi Seol-ah.

He held the unconscious Wi Seol-ah and stroked her head.

So Yeom-ra, who had been gazing at her calmly, soon turned his head and met Yuyeon’s eyes.

His eyes held thoughts unknown.

They seemed coolly indifferent, yet felt intensely heated.

Although everyone was cheering, Yuyeon, meeting his gaze, heard nothing.

At that moment.

-Sorry.

So Yeom-ra’s telepathic message reached his ears.

-I apologize. You’re the real deal.

What did he mean?

Yuyeon couldn’t even ask for clarification.

He was too exhausted even to send a telepathic message.

-I look forward to it.

Having finished speaking, So Yeom-ra, holding Wi Seol-ah, turned and walked away.

“Ah…”

Watching him, Yuyeon finally reached his limit and collapsed, losing consciousness.

History would later say.

This was perhaps the beginning.

The point when the stars called meteors began to bloom, and the Central Plains truly started to change.

That day was this day.

It was the beginning of a day countless people would speak of.