Martial Arts Ain't Anything Special

The one fortunate thing was that Namgung Changhwi had considerable expertise in strategy and tactics.

According to what he had learned previously, the Namgung Clan was quite famous for their formation mechanisms, and it seemed that they were all quite intelligent in such matters.

Truly befitting the Great Namgung Clan.

This made him wonder if the Namgung Clan, rather than the overglorified Shaolin, was the true pillar of the orthodox faction.

Make Namgung Great Again...!

Imagining himself holding a red flag in his mind, Seojun suggested.

“If attacking together is problematic, how about a quick strike-and-retreat with a small force? I’m pretty good at that.”

“Indeed...”

Even from his brief observation, Namgung Changhwi could see that Seojun’s martial arts specialized in mass slaughter.

On a battlefield like this with a large number of people clashing, his martial arts would truly shine.

“But will you be alright? Killing that many people could be mentally taxing. If you’re not careful, your state of mind could become distorted, leading to qi deviation.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve already sorted out my thoughts on this.”

Seojun’s eyes met his. Namgung Changhwi rubbed his goose-bumped arms, feeling somewhat uneasy at that straightforward gaze.

“Very well then. However, you must always be careful. Prioritize escaping safely over inflicting damage on the enemy.”

“Yes, sir. Monk, do you have any other opinions?”

Ji-baek put his palms together.

“Amitabha... I only continuously realize my own inadequacies.”

“Ah, I see.”

Though he wasn’t sure what that meant, he nodded anyway.

“Then first... I ask just in case, do you know about the Black Serpent martial artists?”

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“No? I don’t know anything, so please explain.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Changhwi nodded glumly and explained.

There were currently three identified Transcendent Realm experts.

Heuk-gwol of the Great Black Mountain Sect, Cheok Mukang of the Black Dragon Sect, and Baek Yeonha of the North Sea Ice Palace.

All three were martial artists from the Seven Malevolent Sects, and none of them were easy opponents.

“That reminds me, I didn’t even know who’s part of the Seven Malevolent Sects. Do you know?”

“Why wouldn’t you know that... Nevermind, I’ll explain.”

The Sama Clan, North Sea Ice Palace, Great Black Mountain Sect, Qilian Sect, Heaven Destroying Emperor Clan, Sword School Sect, and Black Dragon Sect.

These seven sects and clans together are called the Seven Malevolent Sects.

Why are clans also included under the term “sects”? This is related to past events, but the explanation would be too long, so he omitted it.

“Ah, I see.”

Seojun smiled brightly and hit his palm with his fist.

“So that’s the gist of it, right?”

Anyways, the opposing side had three Transcendent Realm martial artists. Since one was from the North Sea Ice Palace, it was effectively just two.

Cause as we all know, North Sea Ice Palace is trash.

If they played their cards right, they might be able to annihilate them rather than just hold out.

Seojun left the tent after hearing the details of his opponents’ main martial arts.

He headed where he felt Jang Geuk’s qi and found him talking with other martial artists in a quite decent atmosphere.

Namgung Clan martial artists, monks, beggars, and martial artists whose affiliations he couldn’t identify were all mixed together.

“Old man, let’s go do something.”

“Oh, My Lord! Do something? Has something happened?”

“We’re going to make something happen.”

“Oho, now that sounds interesting.”

Jang Geuk grinned and waved to the martial artists he had been talking with.

Just then, a beggar stepped forward.

“Could we come along too?”

“You?”

As Jang Geuk raised his eyebrows, the beggar nodded.

“Drunken Dog Beggar who died was family, even if he was a bit of an idiot. We should avenge him, shouldn’t we?”

“You’re a man, aren’t you?”

“Just a beggar, that’s all.”

“Haha! I like you even more!”

Jang Geuk looked at Seojun as if asking for his opinion, then he fell deep into thought.

Lure them in for a group attack? Four Transcendent Realm experts would have gathered and captured them if that were possible.

The core of this operation was to go for a quick strike and retreat, but was there a role for the Beggar’s Union members in that?

He couldn’t see any particular benefit even after racking his brain.

“I’m sorry, but that would be difficult.”

“No need to apologize. I understand completely. I’ll look for the next opportunity.”

The beggar smiled and offered the fist-palm salute, other martial artists following suit.

Seojun watched them for a moment, then returned the salute with a small smile.

“Let’s return alive.”

*As they walked, Seojun began a simple mission briefing for Jang Geuk.

“You understand, right? I go in, strike, and run like hell. You’re the reserve force in case something unexpected happens. That’s it. Simple, right?”

“Well, anything sounds easy when you put it in words.”

“Hey now, don’t be negative before we even start.”

Seojun chuckled as he surveyed the surroundings.

Northern Shanxi was a plateau region with wide-open views, not a particularly advantageous terrain for a surprise attack.

The falling snow blocking vision somewhat could be considered a blessing if anything.

“Haah...”

Seojun watched his breath mist in the air and caught a drifting snowflake. It quickly melted and disappeared in his palm.

He clicked his tongue for no particular reason, grumbling.

“When I get return back to the family home, I’ll have a snowball fight with Chunbong.”

“By then, she may have truly emerged from her seclusion.”

“I hope so.”

Surely her cheeks haven’t completely deflated, right?

Actually, he had made some arrangements.

When creating the New Blue Cloud Divine Art, he completely removed the Fairy Art, and perhaps that, combined with Chunbong’s mental image, might maintain her chubby cheeks.

Of course, it was just wishful thinking. These things don’t always go as you want.

“Ah, old man, wait here.”

“Huh? Weren’t we going together?”

“I’m just going to fire off one shot and run. If the fight intensifies, please come help.”

“Understood. I’ll do that.”

Seojun left Jang Geuk behind and stomped the ground. Not a single footprint remained in the lightly accumulated snow.

Jang Geuk’s eyes lit up seeing this.

The realm of Walking Without Snow Traces. Though it wasn’t particularly impressive for someone capable of water walking.

I don’t know why, but I’m not too worried.

He figured someone as inhuman as his lord wouldn’t be in danger under normal circumstances.

*Seojun moved quietly with his qi detection spread wide.

By applying the Sword Form of the Emperor, he achieved such a vast field of vision that almost nothing could escape his sight.

Simultaneously, he recalled the movements of the assassins.

I’ve seen them often enough.

Replicating the movements of those night visitors who came whenever they felt like it, he gently placed that mental image over his flowing inner qi.

Swoosh—

Seojun’s presence faded. It wasn’t proper Shadow Concealment, but it seemed sufficient for now.

Then, suddenly, the wind blew. Snowflakes scattered, hitting his face. He pulled up his collar to cover his face.

Soon, as Black Serpent martial artists appeared in his qi detection, Seojun stopped moving.

What to do...

His deliberation was brief. If there was a martial art suited for targeting large numbers, it was obvious.

Primordial Sun-Moon Art.

Right now, a wider range was needed more than the principle of focus.

Suddenly, his thoughts turned to the sword his father-in-law had shown him. The vast sky. Yet, getting hit meant certain death.

How did he incorporate the principle of focus while slashing such an absurd range?

With this thought, he stomped the ground forcefully.

Seojun’s figure soared high.

From high in the sky, he looked down at the white world, bringing his hands together and dancing with the falling snow.

Whoosh!

A taiji formed between his palms. It seemed to be quite stable since he had used it so often lately.

That wasn’t important right now.

What was important now was the sky, the snowfall. What else?

Absentmindedly, he recalled the sutra of the Sword Form of the Emperor. At the same time, he also recalled the sutra of the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword.

The Yellow Cloud Divine Sword, which even his father-in-law couldn’t properly execute a single form of. So he couldn’t help but wonder: was his understanding correct?

The question was brief. He simply yielded to the sky, the snowfall, and the gravity pulling his body down to earth.

Snow, huh.

He impulsively used the Blue Cloud Divine Art instead of the Yellow Cloud Divine Art along with Snow Plum. The blooming snow flowers blended with the Primordial Sun-Moon Art, gradually permeating the chaotic sphere.

So, I just need to bring this sky down to that earth.

Primordial Sun-Moon Art - Snow Heaven.

WHOOSH──────────

The sphere left Seojun’s hands and touched the ground, spreading.

It rapidly expanded, and within it the snowflakes—fragments of sword qi.

The pure white sky Seojun had created instantly turned crimson red.

“Aaaagh...!!”

“A-Attack...!”

“Urgh...! Save me...!”

It was a horrific sight. The Snow Plum scattered in all directions with the explosion of the Primordial Sun-Moon Art, claiming their lives all too easily.

Not only the people outside, but even the poorly built structures were torn apart, killing countless people.

Seojun immediately steadied his wavering expression and kicked the air. If he escaped now, the operation would be a success.

“Catch him!”

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy. The sorcery the enemies had prepared at their base activated.

Rumble!

The ground rose in countless hexagonal pillars, rushing towards Seojun.

His eyes quickly scanned the sorcery.

I see.

Sorcery. He didn’t know the complex theory, but in the end, it was about creating phenomena through qi.

It was like magic in a way, but different from qi arts.

The process seemed somewhat complex, making it difficult to copy after a mere glance when he had no basic knowledge of it.

However, interfering with it was possible.

Tap—

Seojun placed his palm on a rising pillar and suddenly flipped his hand. The pillars flying towards him all reversed in the opposite direction.

Boom!

Black Serpent martial artists hit by the reflected sorcery died in droves again.

Seojun gained a small insight.

Hmm, the Five Elements.

Though he didn’t know the intricacies, it seemed to be sorcery using the Five Elements. There must be some complex process involved, but that was typically meant to compensate for the lack of ability.

This is too easy, isn’t it? Why even go to such lengths?

Even without understanding the theory, the feel of it was all he needed.

He unleashed the sorcery he had grasped through a single interference.

Five Elements, Earth, Release.

Rumble!

The earth surged upward. Countless pillars descended upon a martial artist chasing him.

Slice!

They were all cut down. A martial artist who jumped on the fragments of the shattered ground saw Seojun. No,

A blind man?

His eyes were covered with a black cloth.

In Seojun’s qi detection, the flow of surrounding qi was captured. A very subtle vibration. He immediately understood.

So he senses the world through qi instead of his eyes.

Seojun’s lips stretched into a grin.

Evidently a Transcendent Realm martial artist Namgung Changhwi hadn’t mentioned, but that was actually welcome.

“You shouldn’t try to play around with anything qi in front of me.”

Snap!

As Seojun flicked his finger, the blind man’s movements instantly froze.