The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 100

Chapter 100
Chapter 100. The ‘Third’ Trial of the Hell Regular Exam (3)

Who holds ultimate authority over the contemporary murim?

Mentioning this query instantly brings the Murim Alliance to everyone’s mind.

Over the course of the last few centuries, the Jianghu had restructured itself with the Murim Alliance at its core, allowing the martial world’s restoration to flourish upon that very base. Wherever imperial jurisdiction failed to extend, the Murim Alliance stretched its influence instead. Consequently, the common populace placed greater faith in the Alliance than in the secular authorities.

In that case, who truly commands the Murim Alliance itself?

In general terms, one would look toward the Nine Sects and One Gang under the umbrella of the Righteous Path Association, alongside the Five Great Clans revolving around the Orthodox Path Association.

While the Twelve Peak Citadels held considerable weight, they remained a developing faction in comparison to those two monolithic powers, meaning they can be left out of this discussion.

In terms of sheer military might, the Orthodox Path Association fell short when measured against the Righteous Path Association, largely due to the overwhelming dominance exerted by the two massive pillars residing within the Righteous Path Association.

The Buddhist sanctuary of Shaolin Temple.

The Daoist sanctuary of Wudang Sect.

These two colossi did not merely stand at the apex of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Murim Alliance; rather, it would be perfectly accurate to claim they embodied the entirety of the murim.

For this reason, provoking the Wudang Sect and Shaolin Temple was essentially equivalent to declaring war on the whole of the martial world.

“For what reason would a powerhouse like Wudang deliberately target Young Master Jin and the Taeul Sect as though they had planned it all along?”

If someone desperately sought a justification, they might highlight the incidents that transpired upon the Demon Spirit Plateau, but could those events truly be blamed on me?

It was Yong So-ah who ran away to preserve his own life within the Soul-Destroying Formation, whereas I ended up dragged into that dangerous boundary while attempting to halt his escape.

Therefore, it was completely expected that the individuals who observed that horrific disaster and barely escaped with their lives would unanimously condemn Yong So-ah, irrespective of whether they belonged to the Black or White paths.

Frankly, had Yong So-ah been an ordinary pupil of the Diancang Sect, every single person who made it out alive from the Demon Spirit Plateau would have converged upon Diancang, launching a massive, multi-day demonstration to force the surrender of the culprit.

The reality that the entire matter dissolved silently without any major repercussions, and that the public backlash against him remained subdued, served as a stark demonstration of Wudang’s immense clout.

“Even if they were overshadowed by the brilliance of Yong So-ah, rumors suggest that the martial prowess of the Hyeon generation pupils vastly outstrips that of their contemporaries. Should they harbor ill intent toward the Taeul Sect, stepping away from the test might be a viable alternative.”

Upon reviewing the pairings for the third trial, the remaining members of the Taeul Sect were left completely stunned. Meanwhile, Murong Jae-hwa, who had risen early at dawn to select a challenger, immediately departed to voice his outrage directly to the Wudang Sect, declaring that he refused to tolerate such ridiculous and unfair oppression.

“Choosing to abandon the third trial means risking complete failure in the examination.”

Merely holding a Third Trial Token indicated that a participant possessed exceptional martial capabilities, immense wealth, and a powerful clan behind them.

Wresting Trial Tokens away from competitors of that caliber was bound to be a formidable task.

Furthermore, even if one succeeded in capturing a token, a strategy was needed to evade the inevitable horde of hunters that would follow.

To make matters worse, certain individuals kept their Trial Tokens separated from their physical persons.

Ultimately, when framing the dilemma as either “Should I be the one on the run from the start, or should I be the one running after snatching an opponent’s Trial Token?” it became apparent that the first option was considerably less troublesome.

“Huu…….”

Because of this dilemma, Lady Namgung Seon-hwa and Lady Seong Mo-ran were fretting intensely over our prospects before they could even finalize their own match selections.

Clack.

Right then, the entrance swung open, and Murong Jae-hwa stepped inside, breathing heavily with undisguised rage.

Unsurprisingly, we ceased our discussion instantly and turned our attention toward Murong Jae-hwa.

“My suspicions were correct.”

“What suspicions?”

“Just as I thought, they lacked any legitimate justification. They claimed they needed to interrogate us regarding the whereabouts of their missing Junior Brother, but the timeline completely falls apart, doesn’t it?”

Reflecting on the situation, there wasn’t much point in feeling genuinely victimized. Given that the Wudang Sect commanded a massive number of followers, it made perfect sense for them to distribute their ranks across the four examinations situated nationwide, just as it was logical for them to hunt for the least threatening adversary available in the third trial.

However, when that supposedly vulnerable opponent turned out to be the exact individual who had tarnished their organization’s reputation, they gained an even stronger incentive to crush him.

“Right, I anticipated that. You need to focus on heading back out and locking in your own challenger first.”

At the end of the day, Murong Jae-hwa was an applicant himself. Although I appreciated his willingness to act in my stead, he couldn’t afford to compromise his own testing process.

“I have already made my choice, as a matter of fact.”

“Oh? Didn’t you visit the Wudang Sect encampment?”

“I did. But because they were completely deaf to logic, I declared that I would personally set a precedent for them on your behalf before returning.”

“…….”

●Third Trial Matchup

Wudang Sect’s Hyeon Gun vs. Murong Clan’s Murong Jae-hwa

“With the way things are going, shouldn’t we just initiate him as a Lay Disciple of our Taeul Sect?”

Geum-pyo muttered this remark while observing Murong Jae-hwa, whose fury easily eclipsed that of the genuine Taeul Sect members.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. If we went that far, wouldn’t Elder Sword-Breaker either pulverize the Taeul Sect completely or permanently cripple Jae-hwa’s legs?”

Since he wouldn’t dare tear the sole heir of his primary household to pieces, abandoning the Taeul Sect to destruction seemed the far more probable outcome. Would we be secure enough once Cheon-gi’s Mechanism Formation reached full completion?

Throughout my past incarnation, Murong Jae-hwa had similarly been blocked from pursuing his true destiny due to Sword-Breaker’s suffocating control.

Was the burden placed upon the solitary male expected to sustain the main ancestral lineage not inherently sorrowful?

“Regardless, we intend to pull out of the third trial.”

“What?”

Following Geum-pyo’s bizarre and unexpected proclamation, both Eun-ho and Dong-ryong gestured their agreement simultaneously.

“What kind of ridiculous claim is that?”

“Facing a challenge head-on is fine, but above all else, we need to ensure that at least one representative from the Taeul Sect successfully gains admission to Murim Academy for the very first time, don’t you think?”

“…….”

Confused by Geum-pyo’s logic, I cocked my head in bewilderment, only for him to mirror the exact same gesture right back at me.

“If we suffer needless injuries during these individual combats, we won’t be in any condition to assist you when the Great Journey begins, Senior Brother. You certainly weren’t planning to undertake that path entirely by yourself, right?”

“Eh?”

Exasperated by my lack of comprehension, Geum-pyo thudded his fist against his chest and cried out, “Honestly, what strategy do we even possess to survive against the elite martial artists of the Wudang Sect!”

This bordered closely on open defiance, did it not? Raising his voice so recklessly toward an Eldest Senior Brother whose position was as lofty as the skies?

“Geum-pyo…… Ganz.”

“Yes!!!”

“Your volume is getting a bit excessive, wouldn’t you say?”

“Uh…… doesn’t seem like it to me?”

To be fair, their apprehension was entirely justified. The sheer terror inspired by Wudang sword experts was undeniable.

Setting aside the sophistication and precision of their lethal routines, they occupied a completely different league based strictly on internal energy cultivation.

It made one wonder if Azure Stone Milk was mixed into the mountain springs of Wudang Mountain, or if Ten-Thousand-Year Heshouwu was served to them daily; by the time their pupils hit their twenties, their baseline internal reserves typically bypassed half a cycle.

And that benchmark represented merely the standard average. For the chosen representatives entering the Murim Regular Exam, their capacities were bound to be far greater.

Specifically, that obnoxious fellow Hyeon Su who had locked his sights on me was a prodigious figure who, during my earlier existence, secured the absolute highest marks in this specific Regular Exam cycle and eventually earned a place in the prestigious Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.

While the brilliant light of Yong So-ah’s unmatched talent left the rest of the Hyeon generation looking somewhat mediocre by comparison, analyzing them individually revealed that every single one of them possessed the caliber to etch their names permanently into murim records.

Through basic estimation, the combined efforts of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers would be strictly required just to hold their ground against a single Wudang swordsman.

Yet, the officials of the Murim Alliance would never tolerate an excuse like, “Since our internal foundations are weaker, the three of us will fight as one!” If they blindly entered the ring under these hostile circumstances, their existing animosity ensured they risked receiving devastating wounds that would ruin their chances for the Great Journey.

“Naturally, we know you don’t strictly require our presence to clear this trial, Senior Brother. Even so, wouldn’t having our backing be far better than navigating it completely unaccompanied?”

“Geum-pyo…….”

“Yes.”

“I shall pardon this outburst just this single time.”

“Hehe…… understood!”

Amusingly, Geum-pyo began massaging his palms together while flashing an overly submissive grin.

Witnessing his elder sibling’s antics, Eun-ho let out a heavy sigh.

“Are you asking us to never back down, even against a hopeless wall? If that is your command, we will gladly throw ourselves into the fray. It’s just that from a broader perspective, we believed staying intact alongside our Eldest Senior Brother was the superior strategy.”

Dong-ryong offered a sequence of rapid nods while tightly clutching the Firmament Sword to his chest.

“Why does your initial premise focus entirely on defeat?”

“…….”

“Are you unaware that the ‘spirit’ within the sacred triad of essence, Qi, and spirit rejects any form of self-doubt?”

The trio of Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers collectively inclined their heads at a matching angle simultaneously.

“Tsk, tsk. Memorizing rote combat manuals isn’t everything. Lacking a profound comprehension of universal laws will leave you perpetually confined inside your self-imposed boundaries.”

“Can a profound comprehension of universal laws magically bridge a massive disparity in internal energy cultivation?”

Such blatant skepticism while his grand Eldest Senior Brother was imparting wisdom!

Eun-ho, that rascal, must have had his mind corrupted by the insidious Demonic Qi of the Dark Soul-Severing Unit.

“Geum-pyo.”

“Right here!”

“Aaaagh!”

Having his throat briefly gripped by Geum-pyo, Eun-ho winced uncomfortably while massaging his sore neck.

I carried on with my explanation.

“The exact second you start focusing on how to prevent a loss, you have already allowed the seed of failure to take root in your mind.”

“What should we do instead?”

“Your entire focus must be dedicated to uncovering the path to victory; only then will the solution present itself.”

“A method to achieve victory?”

“Analyze the situation deeply. The answers are much closer than you realize.”

Logically speaking, it was completely unfeasible for any low-ranking Taeul Sect follower to overcome a master from the Wudang Sect.

Yet, by exploiting the unique parameters of an official match—shifting the objective away from slaying or breaking the adversary and focusing entirely on securing the Trial Token—alternative strategies became viable.

Besides, wasn’t the leader of these troublemakers none other than a Third-Rate Warrior who possessed full knowledge of the Shattering Forms corresponding to the Nine Sects and One Gang?

The sole hitch was that my expertise was restricted to the specific Shattering Form intended for the Wudang Sect’s Taiji Sword, which actually simplified our tactical objective perfectly.

If they merely cast their minds back to my engagement with Namgung San, the underlying concept would become immediately clear to them.

“……Ah!”

Following an extended period of intense contemplation, Eun-ho’s expression shifted as a sudden epiphany struck him.

“Did you finally grasp it?”

“Is it possible…… that you have joined some strange cult? You know, the kind where sheer belief alters reality……?”

“…….”

“To think I am reduced to such measures.”

Word had reached him that Il-gak from the Shaolin faction had managed to collect three First Trial Tokens along with two Second Trial Tokens.

While that fell short of the five First Trial Tokens and two Second Trial Tokens that Hyeon Su had initially set out to acquire, under the prevailing circumstances, a wave of jealousy toward Il-gak washed over him.

Northern Reverence Shaolin.

Southern Veneration Wudang.

The general public frequently referred to the twin titans of the martial world in this manner, yet the true balance of power had long since tipped decidedly in Wudang’s favor.

Was this reality not starkly demonstrated by the choice to establish the Murim Alliance’s main command center within Hubei Province under Wudang’s shadow, rather than inside Henan Province near Shaolin’s grounds?

Ordinary folk, easily captivated by shallow narratives, loved the thrill of an ongoing rivalry and insisted that Wudang required a proper challenger. Looking at it through a lens of traditional nostalgia, Shaolin fit the bill, so there was no need to take offense when uninformed observers lumped Shaolin and Wudang together.

Nonetheless, even the entity perched at the absolute peak was required to validate its standing.

The instant Henan Province was declared the venue for this particular Murim Regular Exam, Hyeon Su welcomed the opportunity to humiliate Shaolin and reconfirm Wudang’s absolute supremacy across the Jianghu.

“Yet, to find ourselves dealing with the Taeul Sect instead.”

Having secured a single First Trial Token, his intention had been to raid another prominent outpost to seize his subsequent First Trial Token.

Recalling how Yong So-ah, the legendary Eldest Senior Brother of the prior testing group, had gained entry to Murim Academy by shattering historical benchmarks, Hyeon Su felt fully motivated to eclipse both Il-gak and that monumental record.

Instead, Hyeon Su’s original trajectory ground to a halt. The sect’s leadership secured and provided Spiritual Medicine, promptly ordering the relocation of Hyeon Su and his fellow disciples straight to Nanyue.

“It was unavoidable, wasn’t it? We normally pay no heed to the chatter of the uneducated masses, but they had the audacity to bring up our Eldest Senior Brother directly.”

These words came from Tae Myeong, who was also facing disruptions in his testing schedule.

Just as he observed, the rumors swirling through the secular world had grown too loud for a proud entity like the Wudang Sect to disregard.

“Hmph! Such an absurd and unearned moniker. Black Flame Dragon, how ridiculous.”

From the moment Eldest Senior Brother Hyeoncheong was bestowed the title Yong So-ah during his own Murim Regular Exam, that identity stood as a monument to Wudang’s supreme capability and the ultimate source of pride for every follower of the Wudang Sect.

Even a title like Small Buddha faded into insignificance, resembling a faint star dwarfed by the brilliant sun that was Yong So-ah.

Despite this, unruly elements from the Black Path had dragged out some obscure student from the insignificant Taeul Sect, plastered the moniker “Black Flame Dragon” onto him, and dared to draw comparisons to Yong So-ah.

Granted, a degree of confusion clearly existed, given that even within certain Orthodox Path factions, derogatory remarks about Yong So-ah surfaced occasionally, though he paid such gossip little mind.

If their Senior Brother Hyeoncheong felt compelled to make that specific call on the Demon Spirit Plateau, it stood to reason that his actions represented the absolute best possible choice available in that crisis.

“Even so, with Elder Sword-Breaker personally vouching for it, does this not imply that the legendary techniques of the Taeul Sword Emperor have truly resurfaced?”

“Since when has that old man ever acted normally? He undoubtedly took some dubious, unverified martial styles for his own bizarre purposes and slapped the label of the Taeul Sword Emperor’s martial arts onto them.”

Had the Henan Daoist Monastery Master himself not remarked that no testing cycle in memory had been as chaotic and compromised as this current Murim Regular Exam?

An endless stream of strange occurrences and wild gossip seemed to unfold daily. One only had to look at the fact that Jin So-un, who was supposed to be escorted under the supervision of Taejeong, had somehow made his way to Nanyue entirely unaccompanied.

“Regardless, I find myself wishing that specific rumor holds weight.”

“Ah, you mean that particular piece of news?”

The claim that he was in possession of nine First Trial Tokens and seven Second Trial Tokens?

Should that prove accurate, securing the number one rank for admission into Murim Academy over Il-gak wasn’t completely far-fetched. Naturally, such wild data strained all credibility.

“Senior Brother, the hour has arrived.”

The opening match of the day belonged to Hyeon Gun, who was the junior-most member of their group.

Because the Taeul Sect fielded a mere four contenders, Hyeon Su had intended to locate a more appropriate challenger for him, but Murong Jae-hwa had unexpectedly charged in, worked himself into a fury, and demanded an immediate pairing.

“There is no need for concern. Although the Murong Clan’s Heaven-Earth Wave-Splitting Sword is recognized as an Ultimate Art, Murong Jae-hwa’s mastery is nowhere near the level of the Smiling Iron Sword’s.”

“Apprehension is the last thing on my mind.”

Within the central training grounds, a massive crowd consisting of nervous candidates, supportive companions, and curious spectators had assembled.

Shortly after the Wudang Sect contingent marched into the arena, the representative of the Taeul Sect arrived alongside his entourage.

“What an odd spectacle.”

Murong Jae-hwa remained visibly consumed by rage, whereas Jin So-un and Dong-ryong from the Taeul Sect appeared entirely unbothered. Conversely, both Geum-pyo and Eun-ho seemed utterly exhausted, looking as if they hadn’t caught a single moment of rest.

“With an attitude like that, they might as well just surrender the match right now.”

“Maintain your focus until the final blow is struck.”

Hyeon Su offered that caution aloud, though he secretly scoffed at the opposition.

This was the inevitable reality. Simply stepping up against Wudang subjected an adversary to a crushing psychological burden.

“Commence!”

Following the official’s command, both Hyeon Gun and Murong Jae-hwa assumed their opening martial postures.

Hyeon Gun displayed Wudang’s signature technique, the Taiji Sword, whereas Murong Jae-hwa executed the signature style of the Murong Clan, the Heaven-Earth Wave-Splitting Sword.

Given that the legendary title Wind Earl Sword-Breaker originated from mastery of the Heaven-Earth Wave-Splitting Sword, the style itself commanded immense respect; however, its true efficacy always rested upon the individual wielding it.

“The match is already decided.”

A minute quiver shook the point of Murong Jae-hwa’s blade as he settled into his stance.

The instability was subtle enough to evade the untrained eye, but an expert who had realized the state of Sword and Self as One could instantly detect the flaw.

Since the Heaven-Earth Wave-Splitting Sword required blending two contradictory forces—Weight and Speed—into a single coherent form, its true lethality remained locked until the practitioner achieved a high degree of personal insight.

In contrast, the Taiji Sword relied on the core dualities governing existence, Yin and Yang, allowing a practitioner to steadily cultivate deep understanding through persistent dedication over time, even without profound innate genius.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Just as expected, as the exchange crossed the mark of thirty exchanges, Murong Jae-hwa’s coordination began to collapse.

Alternating seamlessly between the elements of Yin and Yang, Hyeon Gun thoroughly disrupted Murong Jae-hwa’s attempts to establish any rhythmic offense.

The challenger’s initial expression of pure rage gave way to deep bewilderment, eventually melting into a look of sheer despair, as if he were on the verge of tears.

Failing to outmaneuver the Taiji Sword through sheer Speed or shatter its defense via pure Weight, Murong Jae-hwa found himself entirely dominated by the interlocking steel until the opponent’s blade came to rest right against his throat.

“Halt! Candidate Murong Jae-hwa! Do you wish to proceed?”

“Huu, huu, huu, huu.”

Had he simply selected an appropriate adversary and engaged in a balanced match, he would have cleared the third trial without issue.

Blindly provoking a superior combatant from the Wudang faction exposed a severe lack of the rational discipline expected of a true martial artist.

Ultimately, the bitter regret stemming from such a reckless decision could only manifest as intense self-reproach.

“State your intent! Are you continuing?”

“I…… yield.”

As Murong Jae-hwa bowed his head in defeat, the surrounding crowd erupted into murmurs of deep respect.

Even though Wudang’s absolute elite techniques hadn’t truly been unleashed, the audience was awed by witnessing a mere glimpse of their martial standard.

Such was the unparalleled status that Wudang enjoyed throughout the Jianghu.

“The subsequent contest features Wudang’s Hyeon Su against the Taeul Sect’s Jin So-un!”

The announcement of Hyeon Su’s name triggered an even greater roar from the spectators.

While his reputation had been somewhat obscured by the shadow of Yong So-ah, he was nonetheless renowned for wielding internal cultivation and technical skill that defied his youth. Known as the Wudang Little Dragon, Hyeon Su had already amassed a full cycle of internal energy by the age of twenty.

“Senior Brother Hyeon Su, rumors indicate that the updated style of the Taeul Sect integrates elements of the Illusion Sword and the Variation Sword.”

Hearing Tae Myeong’s report, Hyeon Su let out an open smirk.

“They boast of a grand transformation, yet it amounts to nothing more than simple tricks and misdirection? Take note of this principle: Deception cannot shake Taiji.”

“We shall keep that in mind!”

As he made his way onto the arena floor, Jin So-un was already waiting, clad entirely in jet-black attire from his uniform down to his blade.

“I commend you for choosing not to flee.”

“Flee? Who, me?”

Watching Jin So-un nonchalantly point a finger at his own chest, the serene focus Hyeon Su had gathered through his Dao Power instantly cracked, replaced by an intense urge to snap that insolent digit.

“In honor of your boldness, I shall allow you three free exchanges.”

Jin So-un simply cocked his head, seemingly perplexed that a bitter adversary would offer such a generous handicap.

“I am eager to witness the legendary techniques of the Taeul Sword Emperor that you claim to have mastered. Should this duel conclude before I even catch a glimpse of that famous style, wouldn’t it be a terrible letdown for everyone watching?”

Hyeon Su’s mockery drew a wave of collective laughter from the surrounding onlookers.

“““Ahahahahaha”””

Pausing to consider the matter, Jin So-un turned to address the supervising official, asking, “Is such an arrangement permitted?”

He kept that very same finger extended toward Hyeon Su, much to the latter’s irritation.

“If both sides agree, there is no issue.”

“Understood. You are absolutely certain about this, correct?”

“Strike whenever you are ready, with everything you……”

Before Hyeon Su could finish his sentence, Jin So-un’s dark robes suddenly expanded violently, as if under immense pressure.

Sensing the sudden eruption of a powerful Qi Wave, Hyeon Su felt a surge of dread. His instinct screamed of imminent danger, while his rational mind struggled to process the sudden shift, causing his reflexes to lock up momentarily in conflict.

Swoosh! The instant Jin So-un lashed out, clones of the Black Dragon Sword seemed to manifest in every conceivable angle.

The vanguard, the flanks, the rear, and even the air above were completely saturated with dark blades.

Intellectually, he recognized that these were mere phantoms and diversions, yet the sheer volume of threats rendered him incapable of identifying the genuine strike.

Completely forgetting his pledge to grant three free moves, Hyeon Su instinctively raised his weapon to execute the Taiji Sword. Yet, a frantic thought pierced his mind: ‘Which strike do I deflect first?’ The oncoming blades were simply overwhelming.