The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 131

Chapter 131
Chapter 131. The Black Flame Dragon Who Proves Himself

“Oh…….”

As the individual observed Jegal So-myeong with a flicker of astonishment in his gaze, Jegal So-myeong offered a silent shake of his head.

“Am I correct? Your allegiance lies with the Alliance Leader’s Hall?”

“What leads you to such a deduction?”

The Swift Sword typically appeared to be the pinnacle of streamlined motion, yet in reality, it operated on a completely contradictory principle.

To bridge the narrowest gap with maximum velocity, it engaged a vast network of musculature, and to unleash force with sudden violence, the execution inherently expanded. It sacrificed streamlined efficiency purely to gain speed.

In stark opposition, this individual’s execution remained compact, entirely devoid of superfluous motion.

Consequently, despite not being a Swift Sword technique, it conveyed an impression of unexpected swiftness.

This attribute extended far beyond his swordsmanship alone.

Even though his footsteps produced scarcely a whisper against the stone, he bridged the distance between us within a heartbeat during every stride.

Only two categories of individuals within the martial world exhibited these precise traits.

‘An assassin, or a Shadow Warrior.’

It was highly improbable that Jegal So-myeong would enlist an assassin, which naturally meant this man was a Shadow Warrior.

Furthermore, though it required a keen eye to detect, when he executed a sword technique of unidentified origin, his shifting weight and angles mirrored those of White-Bearded Divine Sword Hyeok Mu-gang.

The inevitable deduction was that he served as a Shadow Warrior under the jurisdiction of the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

“Since you withhold your own confirmation, it is hardly fair that I should be the sole provider of information.”

The individual gave a brief nod in response to my words.

“A fair point. Shall we proceed, then?”

“No, hold on a moment…….”

My intention had been to secure a brief respite to formulate a countermeasure, but the individual appeared slightly slighted by the delay and instantly reignited the contest.

Behaving as though keeping his true nature concealed was no longer a priority, his maneuvers grew broader and far more aggressive, escalating the lethality of the exchange.

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, SWISH.

In the brief span it took for the individual to chain three rapid forms, I was forced back eight paces, and superficial lacerations marked both of my forearms.

This occurred despite my absolute focus on guarding with the Twin Heaven Sword Formula.

“You show little leniency toward a younger peer who deserves encouragement.”

“You stand far too tall to play the role of an endearing youngster. Your counterattacks are similarly fierce.”

The individual remarked on this while adjusting the displaced fabric of his outer garment.

“Do you intend to engage in this contest with genuine focus?”

“Can you not perceive that I am exerting every ounce of my desperation?”

“I am referring to something beyond intellectual maneuvering. As a true disciple of martial arts, should you not validate your standing through pure, unadulterated power?”

At those words, a spark of agitation began to ignite within me as well.

It was not a sense of grievance over being forced into a combat trial without context.

Rather, it was the raw thirst for competition against an exceptional adversary that resides within the soul of every warrior.

Reflecting on how frequently I had overwhelmed my rivals using the Shattering Form until this moment, I came to realize that I had never truly tested the absolute boundaries of my own standard capability.

‘Perhaps I should view this encounter as an ideal testing ground.’

Furthermore, my adversary occupied a domain significantly advanced beyond my own, operating as a Shadow Warrior utilizing a sword style whose roots remained hidden.

He was quite possibly the most magnificent partner available to gauge the true depth of my cultivation.

“Very well, I shall apply myself with absolute seriousness.”

“Hearing you utter those words brings a fresh wave of irritation. Does that imply your previous efforts were merely halfhearted?”

“Is it not standard strategy within a confrontation to fracture the focus of one’s opponent?”

I summoned the internal reserves of the Taeul True Scripture and unleashed the Great Heaven Sword Art across the surrounding space.

The phantom projections of the Black Dragon Sword swarmed the two-jang perimeter separating myself from the individual.

“Are you oblivious to the fact that an Illusion Sword of this nature holds no sway over an adept of my caliber?”

“This happens to be the legacy of the renowned Taeul Sword Emperor. I would find it deeply insulting if you equated it with common martial styles.”

Following that, I wove the intricate patterns of the Minor Heaven Sword Art directly into the existing phantom projections of the Great Heaven Sword Art.

This was distinct from the unified execution of the Twin Heaven Sword Formula; it was a tactical separation of both arts deployed simultaneously to plunge the adversary into an even deeper state of disorientation.

“!”

For the very first instance, the individual’s composure cracked, and he rapidly deployed his weapon in a wide, sweeping arc resembling an unfolding fan.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG—!

As the Minor Heaven Sword Art interwoven with the Great Heaven Sword Art was systematically intercepted, I launched the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist utilizing my left hand.

The fist projections, amplified by the presence of the Flying Dragon Claw, manifested in a multitude that rivaled the phantom strikes of the Great Heaven Sword Art, homing directly in on the individual’s vital points.

WHIRL.

Having neutralized the pressure of the Minor Heaven Sword Art, the individual executed a swift double spin of his torso, completely diffusing the momentum of the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist by employing the Bow-Body Bullet Shadow technique.

Anticipating this exact resolution, I instantly activated the Taeul Eighty-Thousand Divine Steps to close the distance once more.

Behaving as though he foresaw my rapid advance, he drove a fist forward, exhibiting a motion entirely devoid of waste that emphasized maximum mechanical advantage, mirroring his approach to the sword.

TAP.

“Hm?”

I intercepted his incoming forearm, applying the redirection mechanics of Lotus to force him toward the earth.

Yet, just before his spine could impact the dirt, he extricated himself from my grasp using the fluid inversion of the Iron Bridge method, lashing out with his blade once more.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG—!

I utilized the agile movements of the Taeul Eighty-Thousand Divine Steps to evade the weapon driving aggressively toward my vital centers, widening the gap between us back to two jangs.

“…….”

The individual lowered his gaze to his own hand, seemingly evaluating the tactical reversal he had just endured, before speaking.

“The discipline you practice is quite fascinating. Does this also originate from the hidden legacy of the Taeul Sword Emperor?”

“I have accumulated various techniques from a multitude of sources during my journey.”

“Is that so? This engagement grows increasingly captivating.”

The individual murmured this while casually shifting his weapon through the air.

The moment my eyes fell upon his blade, I found myself entirely at a loss for words.

“…….”

“What causes your hesitation?”

“Is that not true Sword Qi enveloping your blade?”

“It is indeed. Is there an issue?”

“What do you mean, is there an issue? This is a non-lethal sparring match. What justifies the invocation of Sword Qi?”

“My desire is simply to discover the true extent of your capabilities.”

Before the individual’s sentence had fully registered, he released three distinct arcs of condensed Sword Qi.

In comparison to standard manifestations of Sword Qi, each projectile was scarcely larger than the palm of a hand, yet the underlying concentration of force was profoundly intense.

Furthermore, because they advanced concurrently toward three separate vital sectors, formulating an ideal defensive reaction proved impossible.

THUD, THUD, THUD.

The flooring of the sparring area, constructed from dense stone blocks, was deeply gouged, sending dark remnants of soil erupting outward into the atmosphere.

“Is it deemed acceptable to inflict such structural harm upon the property of the Murim Alliance?”

“Oh, it appears you possess ample stamina to spare.”

Seeming to draw further motivation from the exchange instead, the individual began discharging successions of Sword Qi with relentless momentum.

I attempted to press the Taeul Eighty-Thousand Divine Steps to its absolute threshold to deceive his senses with displaced phantoms, yet the individual seemed to anticipate my pathing, directing his Sword Qi precisely toward the coordinates of my intended retreat.

THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD—!

The expansive boundaries of the sparring courtyard were completely saturated by the onslaught of Sword Qi, and concluding that further evasion was entirely unfeasible, I suffused the Black Dragon Sword with my own Sword Qi and unleashed the Minor Heaven Sword Art.

BOOM, BOOM, KABOOM.

Each instance where I intercepted a compact fragment of his Sword Qi, the resulting resonance reverberated through my skeletal structure as though my entire frame had sustained a direct blow.

It indicated that the condensed internal energy within every separate projectile was immensely potent.

Barring the choice to draw upon the mystical reserves of the Azure Dragon Bracelet to contest him, allowing this stalemate to persist was entirely pointless.

TAP.

I pushed the velocity of the Taeul Eighty-Thousand Divine Steps to its ultimate capacity.

Aware that distributing my illusory manifestations too widely would allow him to identify the deception instantly, I compressed the distance between the phantoms as tightly as possible, drawing out his offensive energy.

“Oh…….”

Despite the soft utterance of appreciation that escaped him, the individual continued to scatter lethal tracks of Sword Qi, attempting to differentiate between my phantom images and my actual physical presence, while I navigated the incoming force by mere fractions of an inch during my forward surge.

The instant the two-jang separation dissolved into a proximity where a solitary slash could connect.

I swept the Black Dragon Sword forward, alive with Sword Qi, and unleased the full breadth of the Twin Heaven Sword Formula.

WHOOOOSH.

The individual observed the shimmering phantom blades with a visibly tensed expression.

With active Sword Qi now empowering the forms, distinguishing the illusory manifestations from the genuine weapon had become an incredibly difficult task.

My primary objective in compressing the distance had been to deprive him of the luxury of analytical thought.

BOOM, BOOM, KABOOM, BOOM.

Predictably, he discharged Sword Qi at several of the phantom projections, and the precise instant he identified them as false, the genuine steel made contact with his form.

SLASH.

The individual twisted his frame with desperate agility, narrowly escaping a catastrophic wound, yet he proved unable to prevent a shallow laceration from scoring across his chest.

Furthermore, nearly ten phantom blades and three genuine strikes concealed within the cluster still dominated his immediate perception.

Convinced that triumph was within my grasp, I unleashed the remaining momentum of the Twin Heaven Sword Formula.

SHRING.

In that exact microsecond, accompanied by the high-pitched resonance of a flexible metallic strip bending under tension, the components of the Twin Heaven Sword Formula were systematically intercepted one after another.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM.

A low grunt escaped me from the intense kinetic feedback traveling up the length of the Black Dragon Sword, forcing me back two steps.

Evaluating the sheer volume of my internal cultivation, which extended to three full cycles, alongside the superlative traits of the Taeul True Scripture, being driven backward signaled that my opponent was an absolute anomaly.

As I stabilized my disrupted internal circulation and cast my gaze upward, a weapon I had not previously observed was newly settled within his left grip.

It was a highly unconventional blade lacking both a handguard and a pommel, its grip and cutting edge integrated as a singular entity.

Knitting my brows together in deep dissatisfaction, I remarked,

“Is the deployment of a Soft Sword not a violation of our implicit terms?”

Observing that the binding around his midsection had vanished, it became evident that he typically utilized it as a functional sash, drawing it forth as an auxiliary weapon in critical moments.

I possessed knowledge that Guard Warriors occasionally favored such concealed armaments, but this marked my initial encounter with a Shadow Warrior of this tier utilizing the identical tactic.

“Consider the reality of the situation. I am neither your clan elder nor your martial instructor. From a technical standpoint, I function as your adversary at this present moment.”

“Very well. I shall engage you precisely as dictated by an adversarial encounter.”

I extended my left arm, launching the Flying Dragon Claw directly at him.

The individual swerved the incoming Flying Dragon Claw using the Soft Sword held in an inverted orientation, causing the projectile to lose its momentum and drift harmlessly past his form.

“Is this the extent of your capability……?”

Before his phrase could be completed, the Flying Dragon Claw, which had successfully anchored itself to the most substantial piece of fractured stone from the courtyard floor, was retracted with violence, launching the heavy masonry directly toward his position.

CRACK.

Concurrently, I dispatched three distinct Flying Swords into the air, while simultaneously pushing the Taeul Eighty-Thousand Divine Steps to its absolute limit, enveloping every spatial angle surrounding his position.

Following that, I spread the Great Heaven Sword Art outward like an opening fan.

SHRING, SHRING, SHRING, SHRING.

“What sort of technique is this…….”

KABOOM, BOOM! BOOM!

The individual wielded his weapons with frenetic intensity, and amidst the chaos, he scanned the surrounding perimeters to isolate my authentic form before thrusting his blade forward with unerring precision.

I utilized the acceleration mechanics inherent to the Minor Heaven Sword Art to intercept his incoming blade, then converted the kinetic feedback from the collision into momentum to leap back two paces, unleashing the Twin Heaven Sword Formula once more.

KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM!

Each instance where Sword Qi collided with opposing Sword Qi, the atmosphere reverberated with a deep DONG— DONG— sound akin to atmospheric electrical discharges, and the pulverized soil and debris lofted by the violent impacts enveloped the immediate sparring area in a dense screen, obscuring all visibility.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I directed the internal energy of the Taeul True Scripture and brought the Black Dragon Sword down toward his position within the obscuring particulate cloud.

THUD, THUD, THUD, THUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUD.

Miraculously, he successfully identified the authentic strikes interspersed among the phantom projections within the haze, but that represented the limit of his capability.

Against his posture, which had been reduced entirely to a desperate defensive stand, I unleashed the definitive technique of the Twin Heaven Sword Formula to bring the engagement to a decisive close.

[Twin Heaven Sword Formula]

[Ultimate Art: Twin Heavens Suppressing All under Heaven]

Before the particulate matter could settle, the entirety of the sparring courtyard was inundated with phantom blades, and within that cluster, no fewer than twenty genuine manifestations reinforced with Sword Qi descended to claim his life.

KABOOM! KABOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The deafening concussions resulting from the collision of Sword Qi detonated with such overwhelming force that my auditory senses were temporarily numbed, and in that precise instant, a profound disruption manifested.

——-!

————!

Accompanied by a colossal detonation that completely eclipsed every previous impact, the individual emerged from the center of the disruption, cleaving through the remaining shroud of dust.

“Haah, haah, haah, haah.”

As I struggled to regulate my respiration and stared at the individual, my expression darkened significantly.

Projecting from the tip of the man’s weapon was a manifestation of Sword Force extending the length of a human forearm.

“Haha…….”

Sword Force. Actual Sword Force……

Even Namgung San, who had suffered the deprivation of his younger sibling’s destined path, had never resorted to such a disproportionate measure.

Did my father or perhaps the ancient masters of my lineage inflict some unforgivable slight upon this individual in the past?

Otherwise, invoking Sword Force during a non-lethal evaluation was utterly preposterous.

“Fuck…….”

“Did you just utter profanity toward an elder of the martial community? What a fundamentally undisciplined junior.”

“Are you not acting in the capacity of an active adversary at this moment, rather than an elder of the martial community?”

Fundamentally, the theoretical framework of the Taeul True Scripture contained no methodology for generating Sword Force.

Furthermore, within the ranks of the Taeul Sect, not a single practitioner possessed the comprehension required to manifest Sword Force, meaning this encounter was effectively forcing me to confront the absolute ceiling of my current potential.

If I deliberately compressed my Sword Qi into a single point, I might manage to fashion an approximation that resembled it superficially, but it stood no realistic chance against an authentic manifestation of Sword Force.

I bit down on the inner lining of my cheek, focused my fragmented concentration, and launched myself off the stone.

“It appears you maintain the resolve to persist.”

“A chosen representative of the Murim Academy cannot simply retreat when faced with an active adversary!”

“Be that as it may, advancing in an identical fashion appears highly ill-advised.”

I funneled my remaining internal arts into the steel and deployed the Twin Heaven Sword Formula, yet the dozens of phantom arcs illustrating the air were instantly dissolved like simple mist by a solitary sweep of his weapon.

SHRING, SHRING, SHRING.

I initiated the Taeul Eighty-Thousand Divine Steps, projecting eight distinct phantoms, and dispersed my Flying Swords while rotating through all eight fundamental compass points surrounding his position.

The Flying Swords, saturated with dense Sword Qi, formed a compact canopy directly above his crown, yet his weapon effortlessly sheared the Flying Swords in half, letting the fragments clatter uselessly to the earth.

“With an effort of this caliber…….”

As he casually muttered those words, his eyes suddenly expanded to the width of a startled rabbit’s.

Is it true that once a practitioner ascends to such a lofty peak of mastery, they instinctively perceive the nature of an opponent’s impending strike?

He, who had previously maintained a stationary posture while manipulating his Sword Force in a demonstrative fashion, dropped his center of gravity and surged forward with the velocity of a released projectile.

In response, I unleashed the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven-Earth Sword Formula directly toward the individual’s face.

“This particular technique is…….”

Five separate manifestations of the Black Dragon Sword materialized in the vacant air.

The participants of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly had lacked the refinement to distinguish the nuances between the Twin Heaven Sword Formula and the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven-Earth Sword Formula, yet he appeared to decipher the shift instantaneously, his brow knitting together tightly.

dishonesty.
“…….”

The five manifestations of the Black Dragon Sword executed the Twin Heaven Sword Formula while suspended in midair, generating dozens of phantom projections alongside more than twenty authentic strikes.

BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM.

Concussions detonated in rapid succession resembling the pyrotechnics of a New Year festival, and the phantom blades decorating the air along with the physical forms generated by Ten Thousand Swords were obliterated in a heartbeat.

Nevertheless, the five core blades of the Ten Thousand Swords continued their trajectory toward the man.

The dimensions of the individual’s Sword Force expanded dramatically, amplifying until it mirrored the physical stature of a grown man.

If this ultimate effort failed to breach his defense, I possessed no further tactical recourse.

With a grim sense of finality, I discharged the remaining potential of the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven-Earth Sword Formula.

“Down with you!”

KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM, KABOOM!

The foundational floor of the training area was completely pulverized, and segments of soil surged upward like aquatic swells, dispersing dust into every quadrant.

The avian creatures nesting in the adjacent woodlands, terrified by the acoustic shockwave, scattered skyward simultaneously, and several clay tiles from the roofs of the nearby residential quarters dislodged and shattered on the ground.

“Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo.”

By virtue of expending my absolute maximum output, I had depleted the vast majority of my internal arts, which comprised three complete cycles, leaving my Dantian feeling entirely hollowed out.

As I struggled to stabilize my breathing and monitored the settling haze.

“……Haah, dammit.”

When the particulate cloud was dispersed by a singular current of air, the individual strode forth from the epicenter while smoothly sustaining his Sword Force.

“They labeled you the rising hope of the Black Path Murim, and your choice of vocabulary is precisely as unrefined as rumors suggested.”

Under normal circumstances, it was a provocative comment I would have answered by forcefully adjusting his jawline, but I possessed absolutely no physical reserve to formulate a retort.

“I concede the match.”

The moment I uttered those words and collapsed onto the earth, the individual regarded me silently for a brief interval before speaking.

“……I found the experience thoroughly engaging as well.”

Following that statement, the individual vanished from the vicinity instantly, as though merging directly into the terrain below.

I had harbored the impression that I conducted myself with considerable merit, yet perhaps none of my maneuvers had truly challenged that individual’s true capacity.

‘Evidently, the martial world remains vast, and hidden masters are plentiful.’

Following the commencement of my second lease on life, I believed I had applied myself with unyielding dedication, yet the profound sense of inadequacy I was forced to confront once more appeared to sap the remaining fragments of my resolve.

‘Even so, I ought to recognize that my progress has been substantial, shouldn’t I?’

As I attempted to comfort my own bruised pride while observing the devastated landscape of the training ground, Jegal So-myeong walked up to my position.

In ordinary times, I would have leaped up with the alacrity of a hound anticipating sustenance to display impeccable etiquette, but I possessed zero inclination to do so under these conditions.

Furthermore, the Grand Strategist appeared largely indifferent to my lack of formal protocol given the circumstances.

“Hmm…….”

After conducting a brief visual assessment of the destruction, Jegal So-myeong fixed his gaze on me with an inscrutable expression.

While I was privately mourning the realization that the Demon-Subduing Divine Wood was lost to me, Jegal So-myeong unhurriedly began to speak.

“Regarding your current situation.”

“……Speak.”

“Do you perhaps harbor an inclination to join the ranks of the Alliance Leader’s Hall?”

“…….”

Yet another proposition that lacked any apparent rationale.

Was it a defining characteristic of exceptional intellects to completely omit the preceding and proceeding context when engaging in dialogue?

For whatever reason, I could feel the store of admiration I had cultivated for him during my previous existence being eroded away in massive increments.