Chapter v16c11

“Everyone, back away thirty zhang!” Do-seong’s voice, amplified by his internal energy, boomed like thunder.

“Hurry!” His tone was urgent, leaving no room for hesitation.

“Do not take a single step within thirty zhang! If you do…” He paused, his gaze sharp and warning, “You might get caught in the sword’s domain and die!”

The sword’s domain, an area controlled by a swordsman’s Qi, was usually considered impressive if it extended a mere two or three zhang. But thirty zhang? What kind of terrifying sword Qi was this?

“Is thirty zhang enough?” The Sword Saint asked, as if even that distance wasn’t sufficient.

“It should be. She won’t go all out against a child with so many people watching. She has that much sense.” Do-seong replied.

Not going all out…? And they still needed to retreat thirty zhang?

“After that, you’re on your own.” Do-seong’s words were a stern reminder of the danger they were facing.

The crowd gulped, their eyes fixed on the scene, their bodies tense as drawn bowstrings. The air crackled with killing intent.

The pressure emanating from the center of the arena intensified, becoming almost unbearable to witness. It was an overwhelming display of power.

“What terrifying sword Qi. Even ten of me wouldn’t stand a chance.” Jang Hong said, his voice filled with awe. Hyo-ryong nodded in agreement, but he couldn’t resist correcting him.

“You’re off by an order of magnitude. It would take a hundred of you. And what a ghastly aura. Does living for over a hundred years turn you into a ghost?”

It was an inhuman power, a monstrous sword Qi that could only belong to a demon or a ghost. It made his blood run cold.

*Ryu-yeon, can you withstand this? Can you face this overwhelming power without losing your will to fight?*

Hyo-ryong watched his friend, his heart pounding. Bi Ryu-yeon had done many incredible things, but this seemed impossible. But Bi Ryu-yeon, oblivious to his friend’s concern, was calmly scratching the back of his head.

“I guess I can’t hold back anymore…” He muttered to himself. It was time to stop playing around. He had to take this seriously. His life was on the line.

“Ugh… I hate working hard…” It seemed like he was going to have to break a sweat. She was a monster, a legend of the Jianghu. If she lived any longer, she might become a ghost story. He couldn’t afford to be careless. His gaze hardened.

“The atmosphere has changed.”

It was subtle, but Bi Ryu-yeon’s Qi had shifted. It had been light and airy, like a gentle breeze, but now it felt heavy and oppressive, radiating an unsettling aura.

“Oh? Are you finally getting serious?” The Sword Empress asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

He smiled. “It seems so.”

She nodded.

*I’ve been waiting for this!* Jang Hong thought, his body tense, his eyes gleaming. His palms were slick with sweat.

*Ryu-yeon, even you can’t win this without revealing your true strength!*

He knew, from experience, that Bi Ryu-yeon wore four iron rings on his wrists and ankles. Every time he removed one, his power and skill increased dramatically. Those who didn’t know him dismissed him as a lucky fool, but Jang Hong, Hyo-ryong, and a few others knew better. But even they had never seen him remove all four rings.

*Damn secretive bastard!*

He was hiding too much. How could he be so secretive? It was frustrating. He had never revealed his true self. Jang Hong knew it instinctively. Whenever something happened, it was always over before he could even register it. But against her… against the Sword Empress… she would peel away his layers, one by one. He was counting on it.

His gaze darted back and forth between Bi Ryu-yeon’s wrists and ankles. They were there, the four black iron rings, like shackles, like a veil hiding a bride’s face.

*This time, you’ll have to remove all four rings!*

He had once asked Bi Ryu-yeon about the rings, but he had just smiled and evaded the question. But there was definitely something special about them.

Jang Hong focused all his senses on Bi Ryu-yeon.

*This time, I’ll uncover your true identity!*

It was a matter of pride. He couldn’t let this mystery remain unsolved after two years of observation.

*I’ll prove my worth!*

Clank, clank!

Two of the rings on Bi Ryu-yeon’s ankles snapped open, and the heavy iron weights fell to the ground.

Thud!

“He released them!”

But… Jang Hong’s excitement quickly turned to disappointment, then disbelief.

“Why? Why, Bi Ryu-yeon?!”

Hyo-ryong felt the same way.

*Can’t you feel it? Can’t you sense her power? How could you make such a mistake?*

Jang Hong was furious.

“Damn it! Why didn’t you release all four? Why? Are you that arrogant?”

*Arrogance? Or confidence?*

They would find out soon enough.

“My, what an interesting accessory!” The Sword Empress said, her eyes fixed on the rings. She could guess their purpose. It was impressive that he could move so well with those weights. But to wear them while fighting her… It was an insult.

“They’re not very interesting. Just annoying.” Bi Ryu-yeon replied casually.

“Are you ready now?”

“Yes, I’m ready. Come at me.”

“You’re certainly confident. Alright, dodge this, and I’ll give you the title of Sword Empress!”

The crowd gasped. It was an unbelievable offer. But Bi Ryu-yeon dismissed it.

“I don’t need it.”

“Why? It’s a title everyone desires.” She asked, puzzled.

“I’m a man! Not a woman. So I don’t need it. Give it to Yerin if you want to get rid of it. Or that one-eyed lady over there.”

“You have a sharp tongue. But they’re not ready yet. They need more training. It’s a shame you’re not a woman. I might have taken you as my disciple…”

She seemed genuinely disappointed. But Bi Ryu-yeon shook his head.

“I’m done being a disciple. I’ve decided to become a teacher.”

“A teacher… I have some experience in that field. It’s not a job for just anyone. You need skill.”

“Of course! I know that, even though many people seem to forget it.”

“Then let me test you!”

“Take your time! Give it your all!” Bi Ryu-yeon said, smiling, his Qi surging.

Despite her initial reservations, the Sword Empress was excited to finally use her new sword technique against a worthy opponent. She had never used it in a real battle before, afraid of killing her opponents.

The younger generation was too weak. They were like delicate flowers, wilting at the slightest touch.

They died too easily. She needed a worthy opponent, someone who could entertain her.

Her new sword technique was more about spectacle than practicality. It was designed to overwhelm her opponents with its sheer brilliance and complexity. It was a manifestation of her pride and her desire to show off. A master of her caliber could easily defeat her opponents with a single, swift strike. But she preferred something more elaborate. But that didn’t make it any less dangerous. It was still deadly, capable of killing with a single mistake.

The Frost Jade Spirit Sword’s New Ultimate Technique: Thousand Cuts of the Seabird in Flight

A sword technique born from a single-minded obsession was about to be unleashed upon the world. A technique that aimed to cut a thousand birds in flight. It was a technique of endless variations, a dance of speed and precision.

She leaped, closing the distance between them in an instant.

The crowd gasped. She seemed to split into six, each wielding a different sword aura. It was the only way to deal with birds flying in all directions.

A thousand sword Qi, emanating from the six Sword Empresses, converged on Bi Ryu-yeon. He was trapped, surrounded by a cage of blades, with nowhere to escape.

Everyone stared, their eyes wide with awe, eager to witness this incredible display of skill. Only Na Yerin closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight.

Sword Patterns

Five years ago, on an unnamed peak of Mount Emei.

Two figures, an old man and a young boy, stood in a clearing in front of a small hut, talking.

The old man, his white hair flowing down to his chest, was doing most of the talking, while the boy listened intently. They were discussing sword techniques.

“To decipher a sword technique, you must first grasp its overall pattern. There’s no such thing as a random movement. It’s just that you can’t see the pattern. It’s because everything in the world is connected by a single principle, but they interact with each other, creating endless variations. But a human arm can only bend inwards, unless it’s been specially trained, and a human has only two legs, and a human neck can’t rotate 360 degrees. These physical limitations restrict the movements of a sword. So how do you read an opponent’s movements?”

Bi Ryu-yeon shook his head, unable to answer his master’s question.

“By understanding sword patterns.”

“Sword patterns? What are those?”

“Sword patterns are the paths traced by a sword, the patterns it weaves in space. Every being in this world, living or non-living, emits and receives waves from the fundamental ground of existence. You can call them Qi waves, or just Qi, if you prefer. Every being, regardless of size or complexity, emits countless waves, and these waves intertwine, creating unimaginably beautiful patterns. This fundamental ground has many names: the Tao, the Principle, the Taiji, the Divine. But its characteristics are constant. It’s empty, yet infinitely deep, the source of all things. It’s boundless. It’s ever-changing. The world is built upon this ground. All movements, all Qi movements, occur on this ground. It’s the unmoving mover, the one without beginning or end. All beings originate from this one, and all beings return to this one. In other words, we live and move and have our being on this unmoving, eternal one. Sword patterns are the traces left by a sword on this ground. Do you understand?”

“No!” Bi Ryu-yeon said flatly, as if to say that it wasn’t his fault for not understanding, but his master’s fault for not explaining it properly.

“That’s not fair! You can’t expect me to understand that! You need to give me a more concrete example. Excessive metaphors and symbolism hinder understanding.”

“Sigh… I was a fool to try to teach you this. Anyway! I’ll put it simply. There’s something called sword patterns. Understand them. Then you’ll be able to see the beginning and end of a sword technique. Then you can dodge it without resisting its flow. That’s it. Do you understand now?”

Bi Ryu-yeon nodded.

“That’s much simpler. But how do I understand sword patterns?”

His master smiled.

“With your body!”

Five Flying Thunder Daggers materialized in his hand, their blades crackling with lightning.

Click!

The five blades unfolded like tiger claws, gleaming with a predatory light. Their edges were as sharp and cold as frost.

“Let’s start with five, shall we?” His master said, his smile unwavering. Bi Ryu-yeon shuddered.

*Damn it! Here we go again.*

He had never seen his master’s smile without feeling a sense of dread.

Everyone thought Bi Ryu-yeon would be torn to shreds by the Sword Empress’s storm of sword Qi. Her technique was so intricate, so inescapable, that it seemed like there was no way out. But Bi Ryu-yeon knew better than anyone how to move, how to dodge, in the face of countless variations. That was what he had been doing every day on the mountain.

The Flying Thunder Daggers’ movement technique was designed to evade the daggers’ own attacks. It was a shield against the ultimate spear. And to face the strongest spear, the shield had to be the strongest shield. That was how the Phoenix Dance, the Flying Thunder Sect’s unique movement technique, was born.

‘Change with the times, follow the Tao!’ True change is like this. Don’t resist, surrender to the flow of the Tao. Because it’s formless, it can take on any form. If you don’t resist the flow of change, your clothes won’t get wet even if you walk through the rain. Think carefully about this ultimate technique.’

His master’s words echoed in his ears. It had been a hellish training regimen. But he had survived. He wouldn’t die here, no matter how fierce the storm of sword Qi was. He didn’t believe there was a martial art more complex and unpredictable than the Flying Thunder Daggers.

His eyes snapped open.

The Flying Thunder Daggers’ Unique Movement Technique: Phoenix Dance, Secret Ultimate Technique: Walking Through Rain Without Getting Wet

His body moved, fluid and graceful, like a leaf drifting on a stream.

A torrent of sword Qi rained down on him, but it couldn’t touch him. He didn’t resist, he flowed with it, becoming one with the attack.

Walking Through Rain Without Getting Wet, a legendary technique said to be attainable only by those who had mastered the Phoenix Dance. It was a technique that allowed one to move through a storm of blades unscathed.

He had already deciphered the sword patterns of her technique, and his body was in harmony with its flow. No matter how fierce her attacks were, they couldn’t harm him.

‘It would be easier to just walk through the rain.’

That was what he had said when he first learned this technique. And as always, he had been rewarded with a painful bump on his head. But it had been worth it. The name he had come up with was much better! His master had no taste.

“Amazing! Such broad and deep vision at such a young age.” The Sword Saint said, his voice filled with excitement. He had never seen a movement technique like this before. It was like magic.

“I can’t believe it! No, I don’t believe it! He actually did it…” Do-seong exclaimed, equally astonished.

“But we have to admit it. Reality is reality. To see through the Sword Empress’s intricate sword patterns so perfectly! What level has he reached at such a young age? What kind of training did he receive? Who is his master?”

“He’s at least reached the level of Broad Vision.”

“He might even have reached the level of Heart’s Eye.”

“Impossible! He couldn’t have reached that level at his age!”

“I don’t know. I’m skeptical too. But we have to trust our own experiences, our own eyes, more than our preconceived notions.”

“Anyway, this means the duel…”

“He wins!”

A miracle had just occurred in a valley on the southern peak of Mount Hua.