Chapter 113

No rules.
No discipline.
Has there ever been a martial arts tournament like this in history?
Like the annual sword family convention held in Anhui, tournaments of the later generations are not uncommon. However, most of the tournaments held throughout the Zhongyuan, as well as in each region, were restricted to those who were either late-stage masters or had reached a certain level of mastery.
The reason for this is rather simple. It’s because they can’t break out of the mold of competition.
It was because I couldn’t break out of the mold, and I had to protect the name of my sect even in the midst of a clumsy victory or an ambiguous defeat.
Especially with the current rules of the Fengyun Branch.
“……Bastard.”
He stuck out his tongue and glared at the man who had devised this nasty trick. The Grand Duke of the Southern Palace shrugged his shoulders and smirked, as if he could feel the stare.
“Unframed, it’s like you’re scolding us.”
The K’un-Lun Adept snorted and turned his head away.
“No scolding. He just wants to mess with us. Why didn’t he do this before?”
“Use your mind.”
Hearing Kwangseung’s exclamation, Ki Sungja turned his face away and smiled.
“This, that, and the other is all for this occasion, isn’t it?”
The others were divided as to how the young man from the Southern Palace had come up with this idea.
“It’s right, it’s right.”
Huang Bozhong, the patriarch of the Huang Clan and lord of the Five Great Clans, burst out laughing.
“This is what a thunderbolt sword is made of. You’re truly unbeatable.”
Huang Bozhong’s expression sank and he frowned.
“Jia Zhu, why are you defending it? Even if you pretend, it’s obvious that you’ll cause trouble here.”
“You think it’s trouble?”
“Otherwise, why would I make you go through all this trouble?”
As Huang Bo Gyeom said, only three candidates must be chosen, and without the restrictions of clan or sect, it becomes much more difficult.
It’s also difficult to send out the best of the best while trying to win at a gathering for unity.
Or, if you realize that you’re going to lose, you can pick and choose the right people to tarnish the cause.
Neither choice was easy, as it would tarnish the family name.
This situation was difficult. If it were the latter, he wouldn’t be in such a quandary.
“You’re foolish, Zhao.”
Huang Bozhong shook his head, adding that that was not his intention.
“I’m telling you to take this competition seriously.”
“……what.”
“Since we are gathered here for the sake of unity, the Thunder Sword Castle is saying that you shouldn’t use your head, but rather your heart.”
Heartfelt.
A heart that is wholehearted.
When you come to the Pungwoonjihoe, do so without any calculation, without any profit or loss.
If you do, thousands of comrades will recognize it, and we will recognize it as we move forward together.
If you are concerned about the past, do your best now and make choices that will not sully the name of your family and sect.
Thus spoke he.
At Huang Bozhong’s words, Huang Boqiong’s gaze drifted to the corner of the room, where stood the Grand Duke, who had only just passed the terms of the agreement and was considered a child of the Southern Palace.
It had only been two years since he had bumped into him.
“……You’ve grown so big.”
The Grand Duke, who was considered so small.
He had already become a giant.
* * *
It only took a day and a half for each family and sect to send out three people for the Fengyun Branch. The Namgung family, for example, was simple.
“Namgung Ban, Namgung Hyuk, Namgung Gal.”
The three named were the First, Second, and Third Dukes of the Southern Palace.
“No, Gao Zhu, this makes no sense, the ones who represent the Southern Palace should be the ones to step forward!”
“That’s right. Even the Ten Elders of the Southern Palace are not the only ones who are widely known to others, and if they were, we would be able to promote the Southern Palace much better!”
These were the elders of the Southern Palace. I didn’t need to ask who was who.
“Enough.”
Nangong Mu Bai, the patriarch of the Southern Palace and the representative of the Southern Palace, shook his head at the others’ protests. He dismissed the elders’ words as if they weren’t true.
“Don’t you realize that you shouldn’t go into this tournament with such a mindset, and that there’s no point in looking out for your own interests in the name of the Southern Palace.”
At those words, the first elder, Nangong Yue, also stepped forward, echoing Nangong Mu Baek’s words.
“Your words are right. It’s only right that we choose a representative for the current era of the Southern Palace. Winning is not everything.”
The elders grinded their teeth, but the elders concluded that they would not be able to fight to the death if they continued to be stubborn.
Seeing this, the patriarch of the Southern Palace sighed lightly, then spoke up.
“The three of you are the current Late Elders of the Southern Palace, and you have made a name for yourselves in the Great Lake. It’s hard to represent the three of them, who have been dealing directly with Green Forest, Jiang Jiang, and Da Meng since the time of the Late Exponent.”
At those words, Nangong Yue nodded, while Second Elder Nangong Bone and Fourth Elder Nangongun shook their heads. They were two elders who were already far outside the power of the Nangong Clan.
Once, they had their eyes on the title of Grand Elder,
who wanted to decide the next head of the Southern Palace family and become the center of power.
As such, it was hard for them to let go of the tinge of expectation. They had been looking forward to it all their lives.
“Elder Two, and Elder Four, you’re not going to get off easy. I know you don’t realize it, but do you really want the Southern Palace to be half-assed?”
“A half-brother.
It is when someone is chosen to be the next head of the family, eliminating other competitors and ousting elders.
Even if they get the position they want.
You don’t know that you won’t be able to enjoy the power of the family as it is now.
The two elders both shook their heads and turned away at Yue Yue’s words.
“Think about it, and see if that’s really what you want. If not, look at those three people over there.”
Where Nangong Yue pointed, three people could be seen smiling at each other. It was none other than the three so-called Masters of the Southern Palace.
It was hard to believe that the Grand Duke of the Southern Palace, who had been considered an eyesore, could be so friendly with the other two dukes, laughing at them as he called them names.
As the Second Elder Namgungbon pushes the next Confucius, Namgunghyuk, into the next gazoo, we see the corners of his mouth twitch with a smile. The expression on Second Elder Nam Gung-bon’s face became strange.
Was this the same Confucius who could show such a bright side?
It was the same for the Fourth Elder, Namgungun. The Third Elder Namgunggal looked more natural and relaxed than ever.
The two elders’ minds were blown by the fact that both of them were far from competitive in their dealings with Grand Duke Nan Gongban, and that they simply didn’t care about the position of the next patriarch.
“I hope you realize that the attitude you’re displaying is destroying the relationships between others as well. This position is not everything, and if you truly help the future in front of you, think of how the Southern Palace could grow.”
Thump.
Thrilled.
The Grand Duke of the Southern Palace is considered one of the greatest geniuses of all time. Not only is he a household name in the strongholds, but he is also a household name in Anhui.
That’s not all. Not only the Grand Duke of the Southern Palace, but also the second duke, Namgung Hyuk, and the third duke, Namgung Gal, are also outstanding talents that can surpass the position of the head of the Southern Palace.
If the three of them could become the center of the Southern Palace Family as one, and the elders could unite to actively support them.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that you’ll become the first family in the entire heavens. If that happens, even if you don’t form a faction to support the next patriarch, you’ll be worth more than that, and you’ll be even more majestic.”
The two Elders coughed in disbelief at the story of the First Elder, Namgung Yeol, pouring oil on his burning chest to stoke the flames.
“……kerchhhhh.”
“What…….”
Before they could say anything more, the two elders walked away, leaving Namgung Yeol to smile.
They were elders she had known all her life. For such elders to become so docile meant that a change had already occurred in their hearts.
Gradually, little by little, the seed that had been planted would germinate and become a shield for the three young men in the Southern Palace.
The elders would be a difficult enemy, but a reliable ally.
Of the three who were chosen,
“Grand Duke of the Southern Palace, please prepare the Southern Palace class to compete!”
The Grand Duke representing the Southern Palace House signaled the beginning of the Fengyun Branch, the first day of the Martial Competition.
* * *
At that moment, a thundercloud formed, and the sky beneath it became as cloudy as a mist.
Pow!
The golden newcomer moved again and again, but the lightning bolt missed it, so it continued to chase the figure.
And then, the moment the gate stood still,
the thunderbolt flashed and fell, slicing off its head in one swift motion.
The Grand Duke of the Southern Palace smiled with conviction.
Kaaaang! Ka-ang! Kaaaang!
The body glowed with a dark golden light, and the blackness of the thunderbolt was not even a hint.
“Namu Amitabha.”
The Grand Duke of the Southern Palace laughed wryly at the sight of Gakmun chanting the incantation. He felt that this was indeed the Eighteen Eighty-Nine of Shaolin.
Haha, he had practiced for dozens of years longer than the Grand Duke of the Southern Palace and had more experience.
“You’ve reached the realm of the Golden Immortal, monk. It is truly amazing.”
The state he was demonstrating was that of being as hard as diamond, so hard that any spear or sword would be useless against it, and that it could not be broken by any sword or sword steel. His cultivation had reached such a high level that even after death, his body would not decay, so it was clear that his cultivation was truly exceptional.
With a benevolent smile, he recited the mantra once more and shook his head.
“The Southern Palace master who knows this and doesn’t feel threatened is even more outstanding. Namu Amitabha.”
“I’m flattered.”
At the Southern Palace Grand Duke’s modesty, Gakwun added.
“No one in the present, and no one who looks to the future, can match your Immortal Sword.”
Unseen,
The Grand Duke of the Southern Palace was a heroic figure who would rarely be seen in the world, and he was going to give it his all.
At the same time,
Quang! Quang, quang, quang, quang, quang!
Pillars of radiance rose from nine places simultaneously.
“Namu Amitabha Buddha.”
“Supreme Great Power.
Forgetting all my troubles, I raised my own power,
My whole body radiates with Buddha-light and fills the world with auspiciousness.
It was the manifestation of the Buddha.