[Chapter 100]
Sigh.
How long had he been sitting there?
His clothes, dampened by dew and dried repeatedly, had become limp. His disheveled hair, damp with sweat, was a testament to the long hours he had spent in that very posture.
State of No-Mind (無我之境). For three whole days, Yeon Ji-Pyeong sat in meditation, his eyes tranquil as a still lake.
A faint smile graced Yeon Ji-Pyeong's lips.
Moments later, his expression contorted dramatically.
"It's over… Ouch, my legs!"
Releasing his crossed legs, Yeon Ji-Pyeong massaged them with groans of discomfort.
Humming sound.
As he hurriedly circulated his inner energy, a chilly white aura swiftly moved towards his stiff legs.
Flash!
A sharp energy surged through him like lightning.
This energy was different from the gentle Qi of the Green Shade. If the Green Shade Qi created a gentle verdant light, this energy boasted a cool, white aura, sharp as the Divine Sword.
Sharp yet pure and radiant, it seemed to guide Yeon Ji-Pyeong, the swordsman, on his path forward.
"Phew, that's better."
The energy that had released his legs now surged through his entire body.
His body, stiff as could be, relaxed in an instant. Though his joints still felt rusty, a few movements loosened them up quickly.
Yeon Ji-Pyeong brought his hands together in front of his chest, focusing his Qi.
Deep humming sound.
How much time has passed?
The Qi he expelled coalesced into a soft white glow.
Joy flickered across Yeon Ji-Pyeong's face.
"It worked, it's done!"
He had managed to release and precisely control his inner Qi, compressing and fixing it outside his body.
Such control over one's Qi was impossible without a deep understanding of inner energy, not something a sixteen-year-old could typically achieve.
An astonishingly clear and noble energy.
It was one of the Five Great Divine Arts of Yeon Clan, the Sword Extreme Thought Qi.
Whoosh!
He absorbed the energy he had created in front of him.
His body felt filled with Qi, bringing a spontaneous smile to his face.
"Hehehe."
Chuckling to himself, Yeon Ji-Pyeong quickly cleared his throat and crossed his arms.
"No, I can't be satisfied with just this."
He thought of his brother, Yeon Hojeong.
"Brother never settled for just achieving something."
His brother always aimed higher.
Truthfully, this wasn't in line with Yeon Ji-Pyeong's nature, at least not the Yeon Ji-Pyeong of now.
But as a martial artist, there was much to learn from his brother's attitude. If his efforts had brought him to his current position, he should solidify his foundation before aiming higher again.
Perhaps that was the destiny of all who lived in the martial world. To never neglect their daily practice in pursuit of greater strength and higher realms.
Yeon Ji-Pyeong drew his long sword from the corner of the training ground.
Swish.
"Ouch!"
The blade was still sharp, but it had lost some of its luster, a natural consequence of neglecting its care for a few days.
Yeon Ji-Pyeong quickly polished the blade, as if someone might see him.
Of course, a quick rub with his sleeve wouldn't restore its shine. Eventually, Yeon Ji-Pyeong stroked the sword with a sorry expression.
"I'm sorry, I'll give you a proper polish after my training."
It was the first real sword he had ever received. He had been wielding it for over a year now. It was special to him.
"Alright."
Yeon Ji-Pyeong lowered his stance and pointed his sword downward.
The smile that had filled his face turned into a look of indifference in an instant.
Whizz-Bang!
He dashed forward with a swift and lively step.
It was the Yeon Clan's secret technique, the Heavenly Net Divine Step. A peerless stepping technique that covered every inch of the ground like a net, his innate talent produced results beyond what he had learned.
Yeon Ji-Pyeong, having traversed the entire training ground with his fantastic footwork, finally swung his sword.
Swish-Boom!
A powerful force erupted from the tip of his sword.
Strong yet sharp. Yeon Ji-Pyeong swung his sword with terrifying speed, violently shaking the air in front of him.
His swordplay, wild yet swift, was the chaotic sword technique of the Iron Sword Great Connection.
'Huh?'
Swish.
Mid-swing, Yeon Ji-Pyeong suddenly straightened up.
'Something's different from before?'
He couldn't pinpoint what had changed, but it was undoubtedly different.
And because of that change, it seemed best not to continue with his sword technique for now.
"Hmm, I should focus on physical training."
Gurgle.
"…after I eat."
Swish!
"Cough! I need to take care of my sword too! So busy, so busy."
Yeon Ji-Pyeong hurriedly grabbed his sword and disappeared.
Shortly after, Yeon Wi and Yeon Hojeong appeared in the empty training ground.
Yeon Wi glanced at Yeon Hojeong.
"What do you think?"
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.
"When did that kid grow up like this?"
"Do you think he's doing quite well?"
"To say he's doing 'quite well' after seeing that? Who else could manifest such a sophisticated Sword Path (劍道) at Ji-Pyeong's age?"
Yeon Wi's eyes sparkled.
"Sword Path (劍道), huh? You do have an eye for talent."
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
"It's just a disparity caused by his body not being fully grown yet, but Ji-Pyeong's sword has already reached a certain level. However, if he had continued training as he was, the disparity between his Sword Principle (劍理) and his physical body could have led him astray on his Sword Path (劍路)."
"That could have been the case."
"But he realized that and stopped training. Just a few swings of his sword were enough for him to feel that his understanding had surpassed his physical training. It means he's fully aware of his own growth."
Yeon Hojeong couldn't help but admire his brother's talent anew.
'A genius who encompasses everything with his senses. Not even the Black Emperor City had such a prodigy.'
Although it was just a few swings, Yeon Hojeong could accurately gauge the path his brother's sword was on.
What Yeon Ji-Pyeong had realized was the Sword of the Middle Way (中道).
In the realm of the sword, the path pursued by Yeon Woo's blade was also the path sought by his father. It was the Way of the Sword, an unbiased and righteous path.
"For a martial artist, the most crucial thing is to know what training to undertake from their current position to grow stronger. In this regard, Jihyung possesses a natural talent."
"He will become stronger faster than anyone, perhaps even surpassing me."
"However, my concern remains. As he grows rapidly, like other realms, martial arts become increasingly challenging. I've seen many geniuses crumble when they hit a wall for the first time."
Yeon Hojeong smiled, still gazing at the spot where Jihyung had vanished.
"Jihyung will do well. He won't stray off course like I did."
Yeon WI looked at Yeon Hojeong.
The elder son was smiling. There was nothing but pride and joy in his eyes as he watched his younger brother.
It was like the expression of a parent proud of their child's growth, genuinely welcoming his brother's progress.
A small smile also formed on Yeon WI's lips.
'You haven't gone astray either.'
A momentary deviation is possible, but Yeon Hojeong had overcome himself and grown so much.
Ultimately, Yeon Hojeong had grown straight and true, not straying from the path. The sight of the eldest, who had repented his mistakes and turned his eyes to the world, was more surprising than the youngest in some ways.
Yeon WI looked up at the sky.
Was it because the eldest had returned? Suddenly, he thought of his wife.
A warm light flickered briefly in his indifferent eyes.
'Thanks to your watchful eye, our children have grown up so upright.'
Yeon WI sincerely believed he had done nothing.
He thought that his wife, who had left earlier, must have given strength to their sons from heaven. That's why they had grown up so well.
But since he hadn't done anything for his children so far, he would give them everything he could now.
"Let's go up."
"Yes."
Father and son stood in the center of the training ground.
As soon as they stepped onto the training ground, their aura changed dramatically.
Yeon WI noticed the axe Yeon Hojeong was carrying.
"It has become quite rough."
Yeon Hojeong tapped the axe blade.
"It seems to need some attention. It's been damaged quite a bit from clashing with the noble houses."
"It doesn't seem to be just the blade."
"Yes. It's still okay, but there's also a problem with the shaft."
Yeon WI shook his head.
"No matter how great the aftermath of the martial arts collision, it's unlikely that such a significant weapon would be damaged so soon."
"Yes."
"It's proof that your inner strength is extremely powerful. An inherently strong temperament inevitably puts a strain on the body. If your control of inner strength had been perfect, it wouldn't have been damaged to this extent."
"I understand."
Suzaku, White Tiger, Black Tortoise.
He had acquired the three energies of the Four Symbols Martial Arts and had perfectly controlled each energy.
However, this meant there were no issues in handling the true energy. He hadn't set aside time to properly refine and polish the true energy itself. It would naturally refine itself.
But unless wielding a treasured weapon, any weapon in his hands would have a short lifespan.
"Let's go see Master Pyeon tomorrow."
"Understood."
Swoosh.
Yeon WI drew his sword.
It wasn't the practice sword he used to swing at Yeon Hojeong, but a three-and-a-half-foot-long iron longsword.
Yeon Hojeong's face hardened.
Whoosh.
A fearsome sword energy naturally rode the wind.
'He's serious.'
He hadn't drawn his beloved sword.
But it was serious. He wasn't here for a level-matched sparring match like before, but as the head of the Yeon family and a judge sword ranked among the elite.
"Unleash everything you've gained here today."
"Understood."
"I don't want to scratch my son's body. However, keep in mind that you might get hurt if you don't draw out your true strength."
Boom!
The training ground seemed to shake as a whole.
Tsst tsst tsst.
Yeon Hojeong, drawing out more power than ever with a powerful stance, lowered his axe to the bottom right.
Yeon WI's eyes sparkled.
'Incredible energy!'
From beneath the eldest's feet, a white energy rose like smoke.
The energy was surprisingly strong and cold. Such energy would be hard to find anywhere in the world.
The most aggressive energy of the Four Symbols Martial Arts. The Metal God of Gengyin, the ruler of the wind, the White Tiger, was roaring.
Whooooosh!
The wind that had been blowing from all directions gathered at the tip of Yeon Hojeong's axe.
Yeon Hojeong spoke.
Yeon WI could see the remnants of a white storm spreading from his son's open mouth.
"I still have much to learn…"
Whoosh!
Before the attack even began, he pressured his opponent with his presence.
The momentum of the White Tiger, based on the Wall Breaking True Energy, spread without end.
Crack crack crack!
The ground around where Yeon Hojeong stood broke away in a circle. The solid ground of the training ground couldn't withstand the pressure of the pouring energy.
Surprise appeared on Yeon WI's face.
'How can this be.'
It was a realm where just the pressure of energy could affect external objects.
He had doubted it, but indeed, his son's realm had reached a level where even the elders of the great sects would struggle to decide a match. And in just a few months!
"I will give it my all."
Kaboom!
It was a thoroughly combative stance.
Yeon Hojeong, empowered by a powerful stance, swung his axe with a storm-like momentum.
Boom!
He swung so powerfully that it seemed the steel rod would bend.
Surprisingly, the target was Yeon WI's collarbone. The intent to split the torso diagonally, treating the opponent not as a father but as just another martial artist, was evident.
In an instant, a strange excitement rose on Yeon WI's face.
This fighting spirit, this pressure.
As a swordsman, how long had it been since he felt such pressure? Now, as the head of the Yeon family, thinking of the words life and death, he felt a boiling will to fight rather than tension.
'Excellent!'
Yeon WI's sword moved like lightning.
The two weapons collided head-on.
Thunderous clash!
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