amaotonovel Chapter 198 : Chapter 198
Chapter 198 : Chapter 198
Chapter 198 - Was I Cut?
“Oooooooh!”
A battle between a dragon and a tiger.
If one were to describe the final match of the martial arts tournament, it would be just like that.
Biyoung’s sword was fast and nimble, while Jin Hwi’s Hundred Steps Divine Fist had a heavy and tenacious quality.
CLANG!
Biyoung’s blade and Jin Hwi’s fist repeatedly clash.
Normally, the fist should have been mangled, but there were no wounds on Jin Hwi’s hand.
Because a special energy was enveloping Jin Hwi’s entire body.
“What a strange thing. How can human skin withstand a sword blade?”
“That must be the Great Purity Prajna Zen Art, which only the masters of Shaolin can use!”
“The Great Purity Prajna Zen Art… isn’t that an internal energy cultivation method?”
“That's right. But they say if you master the Great Purity Prajna Zen Art to the third stage or higher, the internal energy in your body naturally flows out to protect you. It’s a kind of Body Protecting Aura.”
“So… you mean Jin Hwi has already reached that level?”
“Can't you tell just by watching? Unlike other martial artists, Jin Hwi has only faced his opponent's sword blade with his fist. It would be impossible if he hadn't learned the Great Purity Prajna Zen Art.”
“Wow…”
The spectators who heard the explanation had to feel dizzy.
The Hundred Steps Divine Fist and the Supreme Divine Art.
And on top of that, the Great Purity Prajna Zen Art.
These were martial arts that even the aged masters of Shaolin struggled to learn one of the three.
Yet he could already use all three.
It was truly a heavenly talent, as if he were living in a world of his own.
‘Shaolin’s future won’t be dark with just this one alone.’
Biyoung was also quite impressed by Jin Hwi’s talent.
Although his mood had soured watching the Murim Alliance's festival, he was feeling the pure fun of the match as he exchanged blows with Jin Hwi.
On the other hand, Jin Hwi’s expression was not so bright.
Gauging the opponent's skill while exchanging blows was one of Jin Hwi’s specialties.
Just like when he faced Jeong-i.
But he couldn't gauge the skill of the man in front of him at all.
‘It’s like fighting a phantom…!’
That was Jin Hwi’s honest feeling.
Jin Hwi, who had been exchanging blows for a while, swung his right arm rapidly as if he had made up his mind.
A movement much fiercer than the energy he had shown so far.
Biyoung instinctively realized that it was the ultimate technique of the Hundred Steps Divine Fist, the Great Heaven Guanyin Hand.
CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH!
A thousand fist shadows pour down on Biyoung.
It was the very same technique that had crushed the ultimate technique of the Diancang Sect's Flowery Chaotic Dance Sword used by Jeong-i, the Flower Thorn Siege Strike.
“Ah!”
The crowd gasped at the countless fist shadows.
It looked as if Biyoung’s body would be turned to pulp in an instant.
But contrary to the people's expressions, Biyoung’s face was composed, and he even seemed to have a sense of leisure.
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
Biyoung’s sword strikes each and every fist shadow.
Sparks flew in the air every time a fist shadow and the sword collided.
Several fist shadows disappeared in an instant, but there were still many shadows left.
Was he really going to face all one thousand fists?
It was when such a doubt arose in the hearts of the crowd.
FWIP!
Through the densely packed shadows of fists, Biyoung’s sharp, blue sword penetrated the space.
For the first time, a stir arose on Jin Hwi’s face.
CLANG!
An amazing thing happened.
The fist shadows that had been pouring down on Biyoung vanished as if they had never been there.
Jin Hwi’s right hand, which had been embroidering the air, was stopped in front of his chest, blocking Biyoung’s sword.
Biyoung’s simple sword strike had completely dismantled the Great Heaven Guanyin Hand.
“Hup!”
As if unwilling to admit the fact, Jin Hwi pushed the sword blade away with excessive force.
Biyoung leaped back without much resistance.
Jin Hwi, who had a vacant expression for a moment, soon collected himself.
“Young Hero, have you ever faced the Great Heaven Guanyin Hand before?”
Jin Hwi had no choice but to ask.
Because it was the first time in his life a swordsman had dismantled the Great Heaven Guanyin Hand so cleanly.
Once activated, the Great Heaven Guanyin Hand has no weaknesses.
Except for one thing.
If a few of the thousand fists disappear, a hair's breadth of a gap appears from then on.
It was easier said than done, in fact, it was close to impossible.
Because finding a breakthrough by striking only a few necessary points among a thousand fist shadows was a difficult task even for the peak masters of each sect.
But surprisingly, Biyoung had accomplished the entire process flawlessly.
As if he had memorized the method to counter the Great Heaven Guanyin Hand in advance.
“I told you, didn't I? I have a lot of experience.”
Experience.
Where could a young man who looked to be barely twenty have experienced the Great Heaven Guanyin Hand?
However.
To dismiss it as mere bravado or a lie, his response was flawlessly clean.
“Is that so?”
Although he was a man full of mysteries, one thing was certain.
Biyoung was a much stronger master than Jeong-i, whom he had faced earlier.
‘He must be an opponent I cannot defeat with ordinary means.’
Jin Hwi steeled himself inwardly.
The female swordsman named Jeong-i was strong enough to broaden his horizons, and Namgung Chu was also a master who required him to bring out the Supreme Divine Art.
Although he had won, he couldn't call it an easy victory.
But the opponent in front of him felt much more difficult than the previous two martial artists.
Because this man's strength was in an immeasurable, literally unknown territory.
“When do you plan to show everything you have, Young Hero?”
“When I feel like it?”
“Then, it will be from now on.”
Vrooom…
A viscous light begins to envelop Jin Hwi’s body.
It felt completely different from the Body Protecting Aura created by the Great Purity Prajna Zen Art.
A noble and sublime golden border.
A gasp escaped from someone’s mouth.
“The Supreme Divine Art!!”
Using the Supreme Divine Art meant that Jin Hwi was giving it his all.
The watching masters stared at the martial arts arena with their eyes wide open, as if not to miss a single moment.
WHOOSH!
Jin Hwi’s movements, clad in golden light, were completely different from before.
Looking at his speed and power, it was doubtful whether he was the same person.
Having confirmed Jin Hwi’s true intention, Biyoung adjusted his foot stance.
The unique movement technique of the Diancang Sect, which moves with the center of gravity on the balls of the feet.
It was the Vast Sky Eagle Body Method.
BANG!
A golden fist shadow grazes the spot where Biyoung’s side had been.
As soon as he confirms that Biyoung has dodged to the side, he throws a spinning kick without even changing his stance.
When Biyoung leans his upper body back to dodge, this time he flips his body upside down and unleashes a series of kicks.
As if he couldn't dodge this one, Biyoung thrust his sword forward to meet it.
BOOM!
A leg striking down from above, and a sword thrust out from an unbalanced stance.
From the look of it, it was common to see Jin Hwi as having the advantage.
However, the one who was actually thrown into the air was Jin Hwi.
“…?”
Jin Hwi simply could not understand the current situation.
His body, using the Supreme Divine Art, was several times faster than its normal speed.
Biyoung, who blocked all the continuously pouring attacks, felt like a mystery.
And another thing.
There was one more decisive factor that was flustering Jin Hwi.
‘The Supreme Energy isn’t working…?’
The golden energy of the Supreme Divine Art could only be used when the practitioner’s purity reached its peak.
Jin Hwi, who had grown up in Shaolin since he was a baby, had developed an immaculately clear internal energy under the good energy of Mount Song and the special care of his predecessors.
Conversely, it meant that a person with impure internal energy would helplessly crumble when faced with the Supreme Divine Art.
That was why the martial artists of Jianghu also called the Supreme Divine Art the martial art of exorcism.
Because it was a martial art that was like poison to the beings of the Unorthodox Faction who had learned sorcery or the groups of the Demonic Cult.
‘Of course, Young Hero Biyoung is not from the Unorthodox Faction, but…’
Was Namgung Chu defeated by Jin Hwi’s Supreme Grand Divine Energy because he was a member of the Unorthodox Faction?
The purity of internal energy is relative.
Compared to Jin Hwi, Namgung Chu’s internal energy had a hint of an impure corner.
That was why Namgung Chu’s ultimate technique, the Emperor's Brandishing Penetration Art, had melted away like snow in the Supreme Energy.
Although the internal energy of Namgung Chu, the direct descendant of the Five Great Families, was also quite pure, it could not be compared to Jin Hwi’s.
‘Then the remaining conclusion is…’
Surprisingly, the only answer was that Biyoung’s internal energy was as clear and noble as his own, which was using the Supreme Divine Art.
Did that make sense?
Judging by his words and actions, that guy seemed like he could rival not just the Unorthodox Faction but even the Heavenly Demon.
Thud.
Was it because he wanted to deny that fact?
Jin Hwi assumed a half-palm stance.
Biyoung looked at him and gave a wry smile.
You.
You seem to be in a hurry.
WHOOSH!
A golden wave soon pours out from the body in the half-palm stance towards Biyoung.
“The Supreme Grand Divine Energy!”
It was the ultimate technique of the Supreme Divine Art that had shattered Namgung Chu in a single blow.
Biyoung, who was well aware of its power, filled his sword with the internal energy of his entire body.
Sizzle…!!
The green-glowing Sword Aura made the eyes of the watching crowd sting.
The golden wave, which seemed to swallow even Mount Tai, reached right in front of Biyoung’s nose.
Biyoung, who was watching the Supreme Grand Divine Energy with calm eyes, suddenly spun his body rapidly.
The technique of the Sun-Shooting Sword Art that sucks in everything around it.
It was the Shooting Rotation Reversing Shift.
The blue Sword Aura, drawn along with his body, begins to suck in the golden wave.
The rushing energy creates a new flow along Biyoung’s sword path.
Surprisingly, the energy of the Supreme Grand Divine Energy was in perfect sync with Biyoung’s sword.
“!”
Great astonishment appeared in Jin Hwi’s deep eyes.
To think he would even block the Supreme Grand Divine Energy, following the Supreme Energy.
But, Jin Hwi soon clenched his teeth.
This was not the time to be discouraged just because the Supreme Grand Divine Energy was blocked.
Wasn't the Shooting Rotation Reversing Shift before him the technique that the abbot had taught him in advance?
As he saw it, the weakness of the Shooting Rotation Reversing Shift was revealed at this very moment.
Right now, when he was busy controlling the Supreme Grand Divine Energy.
WHOOSH!
Jin Hwi’s figure flew towards Biyoung like an arrow.
His intention was to add another blow before Biyoung could counter with the Shooting Rotation Reversing Shift.
All the blood and qi in his body were twisted from using additional internal energy right after using the Supreme Grand Divine Energy.
Jin Hwi felt like he wanted to vomit blood, but he gritted his teeth.
He could not miss the golden opportunity the abbot had told him about.
Vrooom…….
However.
The moment he looked at Biyoung’s body.
Jin Hwi could instinctively feel that something was terribly wrong.
‘It’s black…?!’
The energy that had been shimmering with golden light had now turned pitch black.
The energy rapidly shrank in form, and then it was all sucked into Biyoung’s sword.
Hummm…….
A sound like a bee’s hum comes from Biyoung’s sword.
In the brief moment he was rushing towards Biyoung using the Supreme Divine Art.
Too much had changed.
Instead of launching the Shooting Rotation Reversing Shift, Biyoung was preparing a completely different move.
Squeeze.
Biyoung’s posture, with his body coiled like a spring, looked like a single bullet itself.
Biyoung’s shimmering black sword was ominous enough to shake Jin Hwi’s firm heart to its core.
Soon, before Jin Hwi’s leap was even finished, Biyoung’s figure flickered.
WHOOSH!
Slice!
A hot sensation is felt on the left side of his neck.
That was all Jin Hwi felt.
The Supreme Grand Divine Energy he had launched, the Supreme Energy that had been enveloping his body, and Biyoung’s Shooting Rotation Reversing Shift were all gone.
Jin Hwi couldn't even find Biyoung’s figure.
The only thing he could confirm was the stream of blood flowing down his own neck.
“Was I… cut?”
Jin Hwi muttered to himself with a dumbfounded expression.
The very technique that, once activated, even a spirit could not perceive.
The greatest technique of the Diancang Sect, which had been passed down like a legend in the martial world, had just been unleashed here.
“Soul-Stealing… without Awareness…!”
The one who had once roamed the battlefield with the World's Fastest Sword.
A voice like a groan escaped from Gwangyo’s mouth.