Chapter 718: Divine Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

Hoo-woong-!

With a dull resonance, the blade cuts through the air.

Though its speed might be slower than a sword’s, the pressure emanating from its wide volume and durability is like Mount Tai.

What if the level of the person wielding it surpassed the Hwa-gyeong realm?

The polearm’s drawback of being heavy transforms into an advantage as destructive power wraps around it.

Ku-woooong—!!!

The Polearm King’s blade strikes down at the ground.

Kwa-jik-! Cracks spread across the hard floor, and fragments flew.

Even as a simple swing, it possessed immense destructive power.

The offensive isn’t over with this.

“Hoo-uk!”

A short breath sound.

Based on this, the Polearm King’s body spins.

Black Blade Wind Forest (Heukdo Pungnim).

Simultaneously with a half-turn rotation, thick blade energy (Do-gang) burst forth from the polearm.

Kwa-ga-ga-gak-!!

Boasting overwhelming might, the blade energy sweeps the surroundings.

It was a sight that made one’s jaw drop just looking at it. True to a martial art focused on destructive power, it was truly immense strength, but…

“Look at that…!”

“What in the world is that….”

The spectators seemed too busy swallowing their surprise rather than reacting with amazement.

Was everyone surprised by the Polearm King’s imposing presence? No, it wasn’t that.

Quite the opposite.

All the spectators were unable to close their mouths as they looked at the Polearm King’s opponent.

The Polearm King’s opponent was Tu Long (Fighting Dragon).

He is a late-blooming disciple known as a blood relative of the Seoan Family and a successor of the Hegemon King.

Normally, it was expected that he wouldn’t even be able to brush past the Polearm King, let alone face him, and would lose.

Even if he was a successor of the Hegemon King.

This was the common thought of all the spectators, yet…

“The Polearm King has such a fierce aura…”

“This is unbelievable.”

Everyone was watching the situation unfolding before them as if they were dreaming.

It couldn’t be helped.

“He hasn’t moved even a single step? Does that make any sense?”

The martial arts stage, turned into chaos by the Polearm King’s offense.

In that messy place, there was one spot that remained unharmed.

It was precisely where Tu Long stood.

Since the martial arts match began.

Tu Long had taken his stance and hadn’t moved even once.

He was solely standing in one spot, blocking the Polearm King’s attacks.

Or rather.

Should I even call that ‘blocking’?

‘He’s deflecting it.’

He doesn’t just block; he deflects.

He deflects the Polearm King’s movements, shifts away the blade energy, and doesn’t allow approach.

The only change was that he had released the hands clasped behind his back.

Tu Long was restraining everything the Polearm King threw at him.

Standing still as a stone.

‘…What a monstrous old man.’

Seeing that, I let out a gasp.

Beyond admiration, only shock remained.

It was simply absurd just to watch.

Could I have done it? I examined it objectively, but…

‘Impossible.’

The answer came immediately.

I couldn’t. At least, not the current me.

Dodging might be possible, but doing it ‘in place’ is absolutely impossible.

And yet, judging by cultivation level alone, the Hegemon King, who was lower than me, was doing it effortlessly.

‘He’s truly a crazy human.’

I had also opened my Mind’s Eye (Sim-an), but…

I couldn’t do something like that.

Even if I could predict the movements, deflecting them without moving is another matter entirely.

Of course, it’s not that he doesn’t block at all.

He blocks what needs blocking, but the Hegemon King turns situations that require blocking into situations that can be deflected.

“Kkeu-deuk!”

The Polearm King’s polearm is imbued with energy.

Even as blade energy, its size was considerable.

It seemed he intended to swing it right in front of him and sweep everything away.

Seeing that, the Hegemon King moved.

He slightly extended his hand and slipped into a gap within the energy.

At that moment.

Tung-!

“…!”

The Polearm King’s sword path changed, and the energy grazed the Hegemon King’s head.

The people showed looks of confusion on their faces, unsure of what had happened.

Did the Polearm King make a mistake? Naturally, no.

Tu Long had simply diverted the path.

‘This is ridiculous.’

It sounds simple and easy, but…

This is absolutely not a simple matter.

Seeing it with the Mind’s Eye made it even clearer.

The Polearm King unleashed a heavy aura, as if to live up to his name, and accordingly, numerous paths of internal energy poured out.

A power that could potentially cause a fatal injury with just a graze.

Tu Long plunged into that flow without hesitation, disrupting the Polearm King’s movements in an instant.

Confidence was overflowing.

‘I absolutely cannot fail.’ Without such belief, one couldn’t do such a thing.

What’s more, doing such a thing while standing with both feet perfectly together?

‘He told me to fight cautiously, but…’

Who is he lecturing when he’s doing things like that so brazenly?

Even thinking that, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

‘Ha.’

I had just thought the martial arts festival was damn boring.

I had to focus my gaze to capture every single movement of the Hegemon King.

‘This old man… he’s doing this on purpose.’

I already knew the Hegemon King’s intention.

Even while performing brief movements, he was showing his intent to me.

[Watch this.]

It felt as if he were showing me the path I needed to take. The Hegemon King’s appearance was exactly like that.

I wouldn’t miss even a moment’s breath.

As I watched the match with that mindset.

-Watch carefully.

As if he had been waiting for this, the Hegemon King sent me a telepathic message.

-It’s a good teaching material, after all.

Simultaneously with the telepathic message.

Seuk.

The Hegemon King’s stationary foot moved.

One step.

Tuk-.

The Hegemon King’s toes advanced and touched the ground.

At that moment.

Tu-woong-!

“…!!!”

Suddenly, the Polearm King’s body floated into the air.

---

Lucky.

That’s what everyone said about Peng Zhou.

Peng Zhou, born into the Ha-buk Peng Family, was lucky.

Being born as the clan head’s child was one thing.

And it was also because the clan head at the time, Peng Tae-u, loved his wife so dearly.

He loved her so much that even though his wife was frail and only gave birth to Peng Zhou, he didn’t take any concubines.

Thanks to that, there was no need for the clan head succession battles that siblings fought in other families.

From birth, the position of Young Clan Head was secured.

Seeing that, other elders and martial artists would say to Peng Zhou.

That he was lucky.

Peng Zhou knew that while this sounded nice, it was by no means a compliment.

It implied that he lacked talent but obtained his position through sheer luck.

Because he knew the meaning hidden within those words.

Therefore, hearing those words countless times…

As a child, Peng Zhou couldn’t help but develop resentment.

Decades passed living buried in inferiority.

As expected, the lucky Peng Zhou ascended to the position of clan head.

He inherited the title of Polearm King, and although he was poorly regarded among the past Six Seats,

he was by no means someone who should lose to a mere late-blooming disciple.

He had lived thinking just that, but…

Ku-woong-!

“Kuhuk!”

Peng Zhou let out a groan from the intense pain piercing his body.

Enduring it, he summoned his energy.

His shattered protective energy enveloped his body, but…

Kwa-deu-deuk-!

The barrier he barely managed to raise was immediately broken again.

However, this was anticipated. Giving up energy, Peng Zhou turned his body.

He intended to use the recoil to continue his offense, but…

Kwak-!

“…!”

In an instant, his knees bent, and his movements faltered.

A foot that appeared out of nowhere pressed down on his joints.

Tung-! Ku-kung-!

His lower body collapsed, leaving his upper body exposed.

Two punches grazed that exposed area.

First, the sound was heard.

Ku-woooong-!!

“Keo-heok!”

The intense pain came afterward.

One blow to the chest.

Two blows to the abdomen.

The Polearm King’s body twisted with the impact.

The attacks didn’t stop.

Force was applied to the foot pressing his knee joint.

He tried to endure it somehow, but he couldn’t stop his bending leg.

His lower body sank further.

His upper body drew closer to the opponent.

Ppa-ak-!

His head was turned.

Kwa-ang-!

His upper body shook violently from a blow to the ribs.

His bones felt chilled to the core.

“Kkeu-eu-geuk–!”

Swallowing his groan, the Polearm King put force into his toes.

If he collapsed further, recovery would be impossible.

Thinking so, he desperately held on.

He shot his gaze past his turned head.

Fists kept coming towards him.

Seeing that, the Polearm King put strength into his arm.

Instantly, the polearm turned black.

Black Iron (Heukcheol).

It is one of the Ha-buk Peng Family’s secret techniques.

Normally, this power couldn’t be used with such movements, but now wasn’t the time to be picky.

He had to create distance from Tu Long somehow.

With only that thought, he swung the polearm.

“Tsk.”

Seeing that, Tu Long clicked his tongue briefly.

Was it because of the unexpected situation? If so, the emotion was too blatant.

Disappointment.

Such emotion was clearly visible in Tu Long’s eyes.

‘…What is this?’

Why was that young brat looking at him like that?

Bound anger consumed the Polearm King’s body.

He wanted to slice him up.

He wanted to decapitate that pathetic brat right then and there.

But.

Kwang-!

“…!”

The polearm shook as if it had been knocked away.

It was because Tu Long struck the flat of the blade, twisting its angle.

Kwa-jik.

The blade stuck into the ground. Peng Zhou immediately tried to pull it out, but…

Kkwak-!

“Kkuek!?”

Tu Long stepped on the back of the blade, fixing it in place. It wouldn’t budge. He needed to apply more force, but Tu Long didn’t wait for that.

He kicked Peng Zhou hard in the chest with his foot.

Tu-woong-!

“Keo-heok!”

Stunned by the impact, Peng Zhou lost his grip on the polearm and rolled on the ground a couple of times.

He tried to regain his posture and stabilize himself somehow.

Because he expected another attack to follow, but…

“…?”

Nothing happened.

Tu Long remained motionless where Peng Zhou’s polearm was stuck.

Seeing this, Peng Zhou frowned.

“Idiot.”

Tu Long spoke towards Peng Zhou.

“…What?”

Peng Zhou’s eyes widened upon hearing that.

What? Idiot?

Could he possibly be talking to me?

Peng Zhou was about to let out a hollow laugh at the unbelievable situation, but…

“The flow of energy is completely distorted, and all you can do is thrash about like that?”

Tu Long, seemingly having no intention of stopping, continued speaking to Peng Zhou.

“Black Iron (Heukcheol) requires advanced application of internal energy. Even the previous clan head used it while maintaining a proper stance, yet you dare try to change the form? You, who possess neither the qualification nor the ability, are truly despicable.”

“This guy…!”

Unable to hold back his words any longer, Peng Zhou gritted his teeth and got up.

“How dare you mention someone else in front of me!”

Not only did he mention the previous clan head in front of the current one, but he also spewed words at the Polearm King as if lecturing him.

This was not behavior expected from a mere late-blooming disciple.

“You… While your talent is surprisingly outstanding, are you trying to lecture me, the Polearm King?”

Even saying that, it wasn’t surprising.

He blocked all movements and moved as if playing with him.

Look.

Aren’t the spectators, who were even gasping moments ago, now only spitting out silence?

The battle between the Dragon God and the Crescent Moon Sword had unleashed intense scenes, but…

Tu Long and the Polearm King’s match lacked that.

A crude martial arts match, a fight solely based on martial arts with no secret techniques in sight.

This wasn’t because Peng Zhou couldn’t use flashy martial arts.

It was because Tu Long blocked everything, preventing him from using them.

‘How is that even possible?’

Even as anger flared, Peng Zhou’s eyes trembled with shock.

He was faster.

His strength was also vastly superior.

This was something he knew from their brief clash.

But he couldn’t catch him. Not only couldn’t catch him? He couldn’t even touch him.

It was a truly bizarre sensation.

What on earth was this situation?

Why was he being dominated by that guy?

As Peng Zhou lost his composure due to his crumbling pride.

“A lesson?”

Tu Long spoke towards him.

His voice clearly conveyed disdain.

“Me, teaching you?”

The upward curve of his lips was an obvious smirk.

“Why would I think of giving something so precious to someone like you?”

“…”!

“Know your place. You aren’t valuable enough to me for that.”

At those words, Peng Zhou almost lost his grip on reason.

Just then, Tu Long grabbed Peng Zhou’s stuck polearm and threw it.

Hwi-ri-rik Kwa-gak-!

The polearm, flying swiftly, stuck into the ground next to Peng Zhou.

“Pick it up. A warrior shouldn’t lose their beloved weapon.”

“Ha…!”

Seeing the polearm appear beside him, Peng Zhou’s face flushed red.

“You… Are you toying with me?”

“Hmm.”

Peng Zhou gritted his teeth fiercely. Seeing him, Tu Long nodded his head.

‘It’s too late.’

He judged inwardly.

That guy is too late.

Even after showing him so much, he still looks down on me.

The anger filling him isn’t cooling down; it’s burning even hotter. By the time that fire extinguishes, Peng Zhou’s mind will be completely incinerated.

It meant he was already broken and falling apart.

‘…Oh dear.’

What a shame.

The ‘shame’ here doesn’t refer to Peng Zhou.

‘I revealed everything to my disciple, calling him a good teaching material…’

I thought he’d be a bit better than this.

Seeing him like this, I can only feel regret.

‘Perhaps I’ve grown dull with age.’

Maybe because of that, I made a mistake.

I thought he’d be better, but he was far more pathetic than that.

At this point, the young monk from Shaolin, the Dragon God, might seem better.

He might have superior skills, but something that has lost its value is nothing but trash.

To the Hegemon King, Peng Zhou was exactly that.

‘Should I have controlled myself more?’

To fail in controlling my strength after checking twice.

I wonder what would have happened if I had hit him less severely.

Also.

-If perhaps there’s an opportunity… I implore you to look upon my son at least once, senior.

The previous Peng family head, sometime ago.

Peng Tae-u’s words came to mind, bothering me.

‘I had forgotten about that.’

Words I wouldn’t have even listened to normally.

It was because I liked Peng Tae-u that I had kept them, albeit barely.

No, since I had forgotten them until now, I can’t really say I kept them.

‘Annoying.’

There are no other feelings.

There’s no need to feel sorry.

There’s nothing I can do about the fact that his son is incompetent.

“Hmm.”

What should I do?

As Bi Ui-jin pondered for a moment.

Gu-geu-geu-geu-geuk—!!

Peng Zhou gripped his polearm, got up, and began to gather his energy.

The polearm, dyed black.

Using Black Iron (Heukcheol), he generated black heat haze around him.

“I’ll kill you. I will kill you.”

Killing intent dominated the martial arts stage.

It was truly vicious killing intent.

No matter how incompetent, Peng Zhou was a martial artist ranked above the Hundred Great Masters.

As he gathered killing intent and internal energy, the vibration deepened endlessly.

It was clearly a dangerous state.

The Hegemon King merely watched it all unfold.

He even thought it was for the better.

‘I had to show them something. This is good.’

If I did nothing, I felt like they might look at me sideways.

This way seems fine.

‘The Unrivaled Twin Peaks of the world actually looking over someone’s reaction.’

And looking over the reaction of the disciple I’m raising, no less.

It felt strange. Not bad, but rather unexpected.

This feeling must stem from the fact that the disciple is that valuable.

Seuk.

The Hegemon King slightly spread his hands and pushed them forward.

It was a hand movement as if grabbing an invisible ball, but…

As the Hegemon King made that motion.

Gu-woong….

A slight breeze rose from beneath the Hegemon King’s feet.

His hair fluttered, and energy began to gather towards the Hegemon King’s hands.

Seeing that, Peng Zhou seemed to have finished his preparations, breathing raggedly.

Peng Zhou’s polearm had already surpassed Black Iron, forming an immense blade energy.

Black Iron Great Silent Steel (Heukcheol Daemukgang).

It was a Peng family secret technique passed down for centuries.

It was a martial art capable of annihilating not only the opponent but also the surroundings with highly compressed blade energy.

Peng Zhou gathered and condensed all his internal energy with the sole intent of erasing Tu Long.

A power filled with the Polearm King’s aura.

The onlookers trembled at its overwhelming presence.

They instinctively knew how dangerous that attack was.

“Hu… Hu-eu-eu…!”

It was difficult even to withstand his own energy, and Peng Zhou’s breathing grew increasingly ragged.

Soon, he began swinging the polearm with trembling hands.

Shiiiii-ing.

Disaster cut through the air.

As the energy grazed the air, a chi-ee-ik-! sound erupted, followed by smoke.

The compressed internal energy was erupting, unable to withstand the power.

It poured down.

It looked like a pillar falling towards Tu Long, but…

Tu Long’s expression showed no trace of fear.

He was solely focused on completing the sphere.

And when it was finally completed.

“Done.”

He smiled with satisfaction, looking at the gray sphere in his hand.

Just then.

Peng Zhou’s attack had already reached right before Tu Long’s face.

Just before the blade energy was about to fall on his crown.

Tu Long crushed the sphere as if lightly clapping his hands.

Jjak!

Tu-a Pa-cheon-mu (Fighting Fang Sky-Breaking Martial Art).

His Fifth Form.

Sky-Breaking (Pa-cheon).

Kwa-geu-geu-geu-geu-geuk—!!!

The sky collapsed with the Hegemon King’s clap.