Chapter 732: Falling Dragon (Falling Dragon)

Jijijijik.

Jjeojeok-!!

A tearing sound echoes from the void.

An alien energy began to spread in all directions, affecting its surroundings.

It looked as if the energy itself was screaming.

Kkigigigik–!!

As Gu Yangcheon took steps, the energy grew denser.

Was it killing intent or fighting spirit? Whatever the energy’s true nature, it was incredibly rough.

It’s suffocating.

Just brushing against the energy felt like my skin was tearing.

It’s too alien to be energy emanating from a human.

“Ho ho.”

Maehwaseon Dohwa, watching this from the pavilion, couldn’t hide his wry chuckle.

“…That child.”

Jjeojeok. While harboring surprise, a sound echoed from the pavilion.

It seemed a crack had begun to form somewhere.

Fortunately, a protective barrier was immediately erected around it.

Familiar energy. Sensing this, Mahwaseon glanced somewhere.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“…”

The current master of the erected barrier.

It was Geomje.

He was in the pavilion.

More precisely, he stood beside the Alliance Leader, regulating the energy.

Gugugugung-!

Vibrations echoed beyond the barrier.

Just below the Three Venerables. This was a barrier erected by Geomje, who was called top-tier among the Ten Great Masters.

Even that barrier was being swept away by the energy, causing it to vibrate.

‘…How bizarre.’

Maehwaseon gazed at the martial arts stage with a subtle look.

What is this overwhelming fighting spirit?

‘I expected it to become the eye of a storm.’

I had confirmed the child’s value long ago.

I was convinced that the confirmed ember would quickly grow and grow, becoming a blazing fire before long, but

‘It has become the storm itself, not just its eye.’

This is unexpected.

Maehwaseon checked his own hands.

The fingertips holding onto something were trembling slightly, and tiny beads of cold sweat had formed on his palms.

His body had tensed up.

Interlocking with the fighting spirit emanating from that child, it was involuntarily heating up.

“Ho ho ho…”

How on earth did that child come to possess such power?

Maehwaseon looked beyond the martial arts stage he was observing. He spotted someone watching from afar.

‘Is this the form you created?’

The handsome young man with black hair and a gentle appearance.

He was now a youth called Turyong, but in Mahwaseon’s memory, he was known by another name.

‘Or perhaps…. it’s a flame the child ignited themselves.’

No one could answer that question.

From the first time I saw him, he was a child with a strange aura.

At an age when he should have been happy, his eyes were dead.

He was a child harboring a blood-stained sword in his heart.

I wondered how he could possess such a sword,

I feel a much sharper sword now.

Moreover.

‘It’s a different sword than before.’

Something seemed to have changed significantly.

Sensing the energy, Mahwaseon took a breath.

Hwa-ah-ak.

Slightly donning a battle aura around his body brought a sense of relief.

The overwhelming presence remained; the energy continued to leak out ceaselessly.

The scenery changes.

The view was altering due to the erupting energy.

Maehwaseon sensed this and surveyed his surroundings.

Everyone, sweating coldly, stared at the martial arts stage with looks of shock.

This is on a different level than when he was Turyong.

Back then, I felt the wall of a martial artist.

This time.

‘There isn’t even time to feel the wall.’

It was something so bizarre that it could only be described that way.

Gu Yangcheon’s form was just like that.

Especially.

The Sword Immortal in the very center, watching the martial arts stage without even breathing.

Maehwaseon frowned, looking at him.

Amidst the dizzying energy, the Sword Immortal’s expression was blank.

Is he maintaining his composure even seeing this? Others might see it that way, but

‘Sword Immortal.’

Maehwaseon knew.

That expression was far from one of calm.

What could he be thinking to wear such an expression?

Just as Mahwaseon pondered this question.

Kwaaaaaaaa–!!

“…!”

“Hut!”

Those nearby reacted to the explosive sound that erupted.

Something pierced through the surrounding energy and shot up into the void.

What is that?

Although the situation was sudden, its identity was immediately clear.

Kwang-! Kkwang-!

Impacts erupted continuously, as if trying to expel the energy.

A clear Buddhist energy contained within.

“Uaaaaa-!”

It was Shinryong.

*****************

Kkakeugeugeuk—!!

Energy pours down.

‘Huk… heok.’

At the center of the pressure pouring down from all sides.

Energies filled with the intent to crush.

Facing the pouring disaster, Shinryong moved his body somehow.

‘What is this.’

Pang-!

The energy burst forth from the instinctively unleashed Baekbosinkwon.

‘What is this.’

Pang-! Pang-! He swung his fists without stopping.

His dantian continued to drain energy, but this wasn’t the time to worry about that.

‘I’m scared.’

Fear rose up to his throat.

The energy emanating from him was creating terror.

Hwik-! Kuaa-!!

How am I supposed to win against that?

Crushed by the energy, nothing came to mind.

Should I run away now? If I could, I would want to right now.

Ttubeok.

“…Hut.”

Footsteps could be heard.

Shinryong’s body stiffened.

Ttubeok.

Where is it? Where are those footsteps coming from?

From where, exactly…!

“What did you do, brat, to lose your senses already?”

“…!”

Right beside me.

Shinryong reacted to the voice coming from his left ear, but

Kwadeuk-!

“Kkeok….”

The impact was felt from the right.

Udeuk! Kuuung-!!

Simultaneously with the sensation of bones crushing, his body was flung away.

His body flew rapidly.

In the moment his senses blurred from the pain, Shinryong unleashed his energy.

Kwageugeugeuk—!!

He forcibly planted his feet on the ground, creating friction.

Kkigigik-!!

His flying body barely stopped.

“Heok… heok…”

By the time he realized it, he had stopped at the edge of the martial arts stage.

That meant he had been sent flying this far from the center.

Ukssin-!

“Kkeueu…!!”

Shinryong curled up, clutching his right side.

That was the spot where he had just taken the impact.

His bones were cracked, and the wound on his chest reopened.

Jureureuk.

He could feel blood flowing from the reopened wound.

It was immense pain.

Just as he was barely enduring the pain, gritting his teeth.

“That wasn’t bad.”

Once again, a voice came from Shinryong’s side.

“Although you were caught in the feint, you covered both sides with your internal energy just in case. That’s what saved you just now.”

The voice explaining the recent exchange.

Even while listening, Shinryong was already moving.

“However, if you hadn’t been caught by the feint in the first place, you would have focused your energy to a single point to minimize damage. What’s the point of just raising your cultivation level? You lack experience like this.”

Baekbosinkwon.

The Shaolin secret technique erupted once more.

Being at such close range, it would surely inflict damage.

Shinryong thought so, but.

Kwang-!

Before Shinryong could even fully extend his arm, something pierced the surface of his fist.

It was Gu Yangcheon’s fist.

He was countering his fist with his own fist.

‘Unbelievable…!’

Baekbosinkwon is the most offensive martial art among Shaolin techniques.

It’s a technique that gathers and violently releases energy, so attempting to counter it at such close range could break one’s fist.

Is he trying to die? Shinryong briefly thought, but.

Ujik-! Paaang–!!

“Kkeuk…!”

It was Shinryong’s fist that was sent flying back instead.

An immense shock ran up his wrist.

It was certain. Due to the damage just sustained, his right fist was now unusable.

“Baekbosinkwon… it’s a powerful technique. But did you know? It’s not a technique that strengthens the fist itself.”

Kuung-!

“Khlk!”

A knee struck his solar plexus.

As Shinryong let out a groan, blood spurted out.

“It’s a technique whose main power comes from releasing internally frictionized energy at the fist’s tip. That makes close combat easier to handle. Do you know why?”

Ppaak-! He was hit in the face with a fist, his cheek turning.

“Because you just break it before it can properly detonate.”

It was absurd.

To block it by striking before it explodes? How could one perceive that split-second timing?

Moreover, if it failed and the fist technique detonated, the opponent would be the one taking the hit.

It wasn’t a method one could attempt while disregarding such risks.

He wanted to find fault with that logic, but.

“If you turn left, you should anticipate bouncing off the recoil. You tried to endure it. Are you an idiot?”

Kung-! He was hit in the joint, forcing his knee down.

“By trying not to bend the joint you were hit on, the force distribution was ruined. Will Buddha himself help you up from a collapsed stance?”

Before his knee could hit the ground, Gu Yangcheon’s palm struck Shinryong’s jaw.

Shinryong’s chin shot up towards the sky.

“Geueue…!”

Because of that, while his vision was directed skyward.

Hwareureureuk–!!

The sound of flames could be heard.

“If you don’t behave properly, you’ll die.”

A chilling warning.

Shinryong lowered his head and looked at Gu Yangcheon.

A blue sphere had formed above his palm.

Ah, that’s really dangerous…

Uung-!

“Namu Amitabha–“

Kwaaaaaang—!!

Heat exploded, scattering flames in all directions.

“Kyaaak–!!”

“Uaak!”

The immense range caused screams to be heard even from the spectator stands.

Fortunately, there were no casualties.

Subtly swirling plum blossoms enveloped the surroundings, forming a barrier.

Tududuk.

The thick smoke dissipated.

Rather than scattering, it was swept away by Gu Yangcheon’s touch and vanished instantly on the martial arts stage.

The heat remained, unquenched, scorching the martial arts stage.

And at the center of it all.

“Heok… heok…”

Shinryong was breathing raggedly.

Uuung–!!

While channeling Hwangagangram upon his body.