Chapter 215 |
One of them definitely has an unorthodox sect’s vibe.
Though his face appeared to be in his late thirties, his features were refined and carried dignity.
…Is he really… a successor?
It was confusing to see someone with an older face among the young contestants.
Just by his aura, he was at least a Peak Realm master.
Usually, martial artists’ ranks were classified as Third-rate, Second-rate, First-rate, Peak Realm, Transcendent Realm, and Transformation Realm, so most successors of that age would be Peak Realm masters.
At least that aging swordsman doesn’t seem particularly exceptional.
To be considered a genius among successors of that age, one would need to have entered the Transcendent Realm.
In the current martial world, if asked to name those who had officially reached such a realm, it would probably be Blood Whip Queen Tang Ah and Azure Dragon Sword Namgoong Woon.
Even now, enthusiasts argue about who is stronger between Blood Whip Queen and Azure Dragon Sword.
It doesn’t help that they happen to travel together.
In truth, Namgoong Woon was being one-sidedly pushed around due to circumstances between the two families’ elders.
Well, I’m on drugs anyway…
Jin Cheonhee thought this while turning his attention to the other person.
The other one gave off a strange feeling. He was a strikingly handsome young master wearing plain blue martial arts clothes.
Though he also carried a sword at his waist and looked like a swordsman, his qi didn’t feel wicked…
Strangely gives off a Taoist vibe?
Taoism and Buddhism were the martial world’s two main religions, and countless sects had branched from them.
While the Nine Orthodox Sects were considered the strongest sects encompassing both Taoism and Buddhism, there were always those who possessed what could be called divine techniques and profound learning, even if their influence was weaker.
Even the Flicking Heaven-Penetrating FingerI’m using originated from the Quanzhen Sect.
To Jin Cheonhee’s eyes, it was difficult to measure the exact martial prowess of the blue-robed handsome young master before him.
Is he artificially concealing his realm?
Like grains of sand on a beach, countless martial arts existed in this world.
Among them were techniques that could hide one’s qi and conceal one’s realm, even without being at a higher level than the observer.
Weren’t those usually learned by protagonist-like guys from mysterious sects? That’s the standard trope in martial arts novels.
The martial arts uncle spent 3 seconds wondering if this guy was protagonist material or not.
Don’t the standard tropes always hold true?
While thinking this, both the aging swordsman and the handsome youth looked at Jin Cheonhee.
“……”
A competitive spirit could be glimpsed in their eyes.
Seems they’ve noticed me too.
Though not as quick as Jin Cheonhee using the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique, they seemed to have roughly finished their assessment based on the qi emanating from him.
Meanwhile, the officiating warrior struck a gong.
Jiiiing!
“Cheon Yi-mun of the Azure Arrow Sect[1]! Jin Cheonhee of the White Dragon Medical Pavilion! Du Gahwi of the Assassin Sword Tower! Jo Jeon of the White Sword Sec[2]t! Hu Yun of the Monkey Fist Sect[3]! Geum Jeonsang of the Golden Pagoda Sect[4]! Bu Muheon of the Lotus Flow Sword Sect[5]! Let the preliminaries begin!”
Waaaaaah!
Cheers erupted from the audience seats. Enough to make one’s ears ring.
Being preliminaries, they didn’t introduce themselves or exchange names, instead having the announcer declare their sects and names all at once.
Wow… seeing this in person is quite moving…
In the middle of a scene he’d only read about in novels.
Standing in a place he’d only imagined and vaguely yearned for. That feeling left a peculiar impression carved in his heart.
However, there was no time to dwell long on such emotions.
“Hmph!”
Du Gahwi of the Assassin Sword Tower. The aging swordsman immediately extended his sword toward another person.
His target was Jo Jeon of the White Sword Sect!
Jo Jeon, an ordinary-looking youth of about twenty, responded with his sword, befitting his sect’s name.
Kaang!
At the same time, Bu Muheon of the Lotus Flow Sword Sect attacked Hu Yun of the Monkey Fist Sect with a gracefully curving sword.
Geum Jeonsang of the Golden Pagoda Sect, a muscular giant nearly eight chi tall, attacked the blue-robed handsome youth, Cheon Yi-mun of the Azure Arrow Sect.
In other words…
All six except Jin Cheonhee were launching martial arts at each other!
What… why are you all fighting among yourselves and leaving me out?
Should he jump in?
Should he provoke them with some taunts to get them to face him?
While Jin Cheonhee’s pupils trembled, something surprising happened.
“Kuaak!”
In one strike, Du Gahwi cut Jo Jeon’s shoulder. His sword was too fast – Jo Jeon was already bleeding before he could properly respond.
The same went for Cheon Yi-mun of the Azure Arrow Sect.
He very lightly deflected a punch thrown by the giant muscular Geum Jeonsang, then slipped inside his guard and struck with his palm.
Pung!
In the instant it took to hear a sound like a leather drum being struck, Geum Jeonsang’s large body flew up and fell outside the stage.
“Jo Jeon eliminated! Geum Jeonsang eliminated!”
Oh… Du Gahwi uses swift sword techniques. Cheon Yi-mun uses soft fist and internal weight techniques? As expected… those two are the strongest. Both seem to have kept the injuries within three weeks of treatment. No need for long stays in the ER, the acupuncture department can handle it.
With the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique and Medical Mind Technique combined, Jin Cheonhee’s observation skills had improved.
In other words, his diagnostic abilities had improved too.
Though he’d need to check their pulse with diagnostic qi for complete accuracy, he could now see exactly how attacks landed, how much force was used…
How much external martial arts the ones who were hit had trained, whether they used falling techniques, and so on, naturally making his diagnoses more accurate.
In other words, he had gained experience as a martial world physician.
However, he was still far from his master who could instantly tell whether Lord Zhu Wang Ya was feigning illness or not.
Should I jump in or not?
It was indeed rude for a third party to interfere in combat between martial artists. But did that apply to preliminary battle royales?
Probably doesn’t apply… though there were martial arts novels where people shouted ‘Coward!’ for jumping into a battle royale…
This varied between different modern martial arts novel versions too.
His master would laugh if he heard this. His disciple knew obscure knowledge yet was confused about such basics.
Let’s jump in if it looks like fatal injuries are about to happen.
Professor Jin prioritized the ER after all.
While watching the fight between Bu Muheon of the Lotus Flow Sword Sect and Hu Yun of the Monkey Fist Sect, this battle was quite intense unlike the others.
Bu Muheon was a tall, thin man who attacked by moving his flexible sword like a snake, and it was quite entertaining to watch.
Meanwhile, Hu Yun, a woman, deflected the blade and continued her attacks while swinging her arms like a monkey.
Monkey Fist Sect, I see. Must be a martial art imitating monkey movements. Quite wild.
Moreover, the Monkey Fist Sect specialized in external martial arts.
Flexible sword versus external arts. Both were slightly below Peak Realm level.
In this situation, the match would end without major injuries.
Professor Jin felt pleased.
A good match.
While watching with relief at feeling somewhat at ease…
He saw Cheon Yi-mun and Du Gahwi slowly approaching him.
Perhaps because the fight between the others was clearly between those weaker than themselves.
Neither seemed interested in interfering in that fight.
“I am Du Gahwi of the Assassin Sword Tower. Little White Dragon Jin Cheonhee, I’ve heard of your nameless reputation – they say you easily suppressed the orthodox sects’ hypocrites. Today you shall become sacrifice to my sword.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Cheon Yi-mun .”
This unorthodox sect brother(?) gives a unorthodox sect-like greeting. But what’s with this Cheon Yi-mun ? Never seen him in novels… never heard of the Azure Arrow Sect either.
Jin Cheonhee smiled gently.
“Pleased to meet you both. So, which of you will be facing me? I don’t mind if you both come at once…”
Jin Cheonhee threw out a taunt with a smiling face.
“I’ll go first.”
When Du Gahwi stepped forward, Cheon Yi-mun quietly stepped back.
Well… for someone from the unorthodox sect, his careless bearing seems quite arrogant. Or am I being greatly underestimated…?
At least it seems the local custom is to fight one-on-one even in a battle royale. Good thing I didn’t jump in.
Besides, they say stick to one well. Since he’s digging two wells – medical arts and martial arts – he must be being underestimated.
They must think his reputation was exaggerated by those he had treated.
“Then… I’m coming.”
Du Gahwi approached quickly with his sword drawn.
In just two steps, he had already reached Jin Cheonhee’s throat.
However, because he secretly underestimated his opponent, he didn’t know that Jin Cheonhee had already accelerated his thoughts with the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique before he took his first step.
Just as his sword touched the throat, a qi bullet deflected the blade.
Tang!
Where did that come from…?
Was it Cheon Yi-mun interfering? In that moment of confusion, a second qi bullet struck him.
Paak!
Striking his shoulder to disrupt his stance.
Flicking Heaven-Penetrating Finger.
Jin Cheonhee-style Applied Consecutive Bullets.
Five Elements Qi Bullets–!
Five consecutive pellets flew simultaneously, striking his wrist, chest, and legs.
Pupupuk!
Through dizzied vision, he saw that Jin Cheonhee hadn’t drawn his sword.
Instead, he had made him airborne using only pellet techniques!
Not yet. Not over yet!
He prepared to immediately pounce on Jin Cheonhee after using a falling technique.
At that moment, what came from Jin Cheonhee’s hand was a single explosion from his index finger.
Flicking Heaven-Penetrating Finger.
Jin Cheonhee-style Combo Explosive Bullet[6]).
Weakened Lure Pellet[7]–!
Unlike other pellet techniques, using explosive pellets wrongly could result in receiving Child’s Magic Staff in the Central Plains.
So not only did he use qi bullets, he added water element to reduce the power once more.
Kaang!
The pellet exploded, completely blowing away the sword blade infused with sword qi. Simultaneously, his already airborne body flew again.
“Ring out!”
At that moment, he saw Jin Cheonhee’s lips moving slightly.
Hmm, that level should be treatable with just wound-healing medicine.
He briefly doubted his eyes.
What kind of insanity…!
Kwang!
He landed outside the ring using a falling technique.
Though eliminated, he felt no shame because he realized his opponent wasn’t a martial artist, but a monster wearing the disguise of one.
Just what had I faced?
Waaaaaah!
“Did you see that!? He made someone float in the air.”
“What did he do? Why did that person fly?”
The audience cheered at Jin Cheonhee’s overwhelming martial power. But they didn’t know what he had experienced.
Only Cheon Yi-mun remained.
“I acknowledge your reputation was no empty talk.”
Sword qi rose from Cheon Yi-mun ‘s sword like heat haze, then appeared to ripple as thin as thread.
Sword Thread[8]!
A Transcendent Realm master?! Amazing!
Indeed, plain blue martial arts clothes, mysterious sect vibes, and a handsome youth!
The martial arts novel tropes are still alive!