Chapter 17

Yang Jeong, who was about to state the price according to his brother’s request, was caught off guard by the unexpected immediate answer and shut his mouth with a clack.

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ve learned a lot in many ways, so let’s call it even.”

“Even… I don’t know what that means, but it’s probably something similar, right?”

“I won’t forget this matter.”

They had already seen enough of their martial arts.

Namgung Woo, recalling the secret formulas of Thousand Miles Courtyard Steps and Heavenly Wind Body Technique in his mind, began to channel the Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy through the six meridians of his lower body.

“Then, let’s go.”

The Thunder Qi flowing down through the Lesser Yin Meridian gathered at the Yongquan acupoint, and with a thunderous roar, Namgung Woo’s body shot forward. It was the first step of the Heavenly Wind Body Technique’s Wind Thunder Step.

Namgung Woo, using the Heavenly Wind Body Technique to propel himself and starting to run with the lightness skill of Thousand Miles Courtyard Steps, was already far ahead. The Yang Brothers, who were dazedly watching his back, only regained their senses after a couple of breaths and started chasing after him.

‘How is he using Thunder Qi like that…’

“Crazy! He’s too fast…!”

The Yang Brothers, clearly imprinting the use of Thunder Qi shown by Namgung Woo in their minds, desperately chased after him, cramming all their internal energy into their lower bodies.

Meanwhile, Namgung Woo spread his energy sense and carefully observed what was happening over there.

For some reason, the number of surrounding ghostly spirits had drastically decreased, so there was no longer any need to worry about the Yang Brothers. And according to Namgung Woo’s speculation, the reason seemed to be to block the visitor who had reached the Ghost Gate.

‘I’ll catch one of them.’

Two massive collections of evil energy, unmoving as if guarding the Ghost Gate.

The energy waves of Paeng Mu-ho and Paeng Ha-ryeong, which Namgung Woo remembered, were tightly confronting them.

‘But it would be difficult to face one alone.’

Glancing.

Namgung Woo subtly turned his eyes to look behind him. Azure Tranquility Eyes didn’t particularly expand his field of vision. Although his eyesight was good, it was impossible to detect the blind spot behind his head.

His energy sense told him that the brothers were following safely, but Namgung Woo, who hadn’t yet fully accustomed himself to superhuman senses, unconsciously confirmed their presence visually.

‘Impressive. They’re following right away, albeit clumsily.’

This is how Thunder Qi is handled.

As Namgung Woo demonstrated, the two brothers were desperately trying to imitate him and incorporate it into their Protective Divine Technique.

Even though they might trip over their own feet, they were managing to follow well.

‘I can increase the speed a bit more.’

Namgung Woo drew another strand of internal energy from his Lower Dantian and sent it down through his meridians.

And Namgung Woo arrived just in time.

At the moment when Paeng Ha-ryeong and Paeng Mu-ho barely managed to take down one of the evil energy collections.

At the same time, just before the remaining one poured its vengeful thoughts upon them.

Namgung Woo landed in front of the Ghost Gate.

Thud!

Instead of drawing the sword he had sheathed, Namgung Woo extended his fist.

A punch that countered the attack of something resembling a ghostly spirit but with a different level of strength.

The fist energy of the Exploding Thunder Divine Fist’s Descending Thunder Cannon pushed something back.

‘Quite…?’

A tingling vibration rising through his hand.

A smile spread across Namgung Woo’s lips.

This is it. This recoil.

Even though his posture wasn’t perfect, it had withstood the Thunder Qi imbued with Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy.

“You are…?”

Paeng Mu-ho, who looked relatively more intact, let out a voice at the appearance of the intruder who had seemingly fallen from the sky.

Namgung Woo didn’t look back. Instead, he drew his sword and moved forward.

“Be careful!”

The moment Paeng Mu-ho shouted, an invisible slash flew towards Namgung Woo.

Screech!

The moment Namgung Woo’s sword, imbued with Sword Energy, blocked the slash, a ghostly scream echoed.

Surprisingly, the slash from the massive ghostly spirit, which seemed to have grown larger, didn’t shatter against the Sword Energy and pressed down on Namgung Woo.

But this alone couldn’t make Namgung Woo step back.

“Hup!”

Utilizing the technique of Thousand Pounds Push with the footwork of Infinite Steps, Namgung Woo exploded his Sword Energy.

Whoosh-

The intangible slash scattered along with the Sword Energy. At the same time, a sinister energy brushed past Namgung Woo’s clothes.

Although they had only exchanged a single move, Namgung Woo intuitively knew. This monster had surpassed the level of a Peak Master.

The energy it held was greater than that of Paeng Mu-ho or Hwang Moo-tak behind him, and the slash that withstood Sword Energy was enough to cut down a Peak Master.

“Young man! This is not an opponent you can face alone! We must wait for the Iga Clan leader and the martial artists of our Paeng Family to gather!”

Paeng Mu-ho shouted at Namgung Woo as he stood up. Although his internal energy was almost exhausted, he still had enough strength to swing his sword a couple more times.

Judging from the sword strike just now, this young man must be at least a fully matured Peak Master like Paeng Ha-ryeong.

Moreover, even setting aside Namgung Woo’s martial prowess, he was someone who had to be protected simply because he held secrets that even Paeng Mu-ho and Paeng Ha-ryeong couldn’t uncover.

‘He’s not an old master who has rejuvenated…’

Paeng Mu-ho knew of an old master who had rejuvenated. He had seen him. And those who rejuvenate leave traces. No matter how young their bodies become, their spirits remain old, leaving an aura of an old man that they can’t hide.

But Namgung Woo had none of that. Look at that aggressive demeanor burning with fighting spirit! How could that be an old master who had rejuvenated? He’s just a young martial artist who’s excited to be out in the martial world.

“It’s alright. I can handle this alone.”

But Namgung Woo stopped Paeng Mu-ho from joining.

And he began to recall, one by one, the initial moves of the sword techniques he had been holding back, taking a preparatory stance.

‘I’ve done the Ten Iron Sword Techniques. This time, let’s use a higher-level sword technique.’

Namgung Woo knew many sword techniques.

If he didn’t strictly follow the concept of the Namgung Family, he could use more than ten sword techniques.

But this time, he had already decided on the sword technique he wanted to use.

‘Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords.’

A sword technique that harmonizes so well with Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy that they could be considered a pair.

The fact that he had been using Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy from his Lower Dantian instead of the Celestial Bow Divine Energy from his Middle Dantian could be seen as groundwork for bringing out this sword technique.

The sword technique that Namgung Woo had mainly used in Chasing Deer Murim, now came to life in his hands in the real world, not the virtual one.

Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords, Third Form.

Dry Thunderfall.

A lightning bolt fell from the clear sky.

By the time Yang Kwae and Yang Jeong reached the front of the Ghost Gate, which had turned into a battlefield, Namgung Woo had already executed Dry Thunderfall and three more sword moves.

The brothers, who appeared with ragged breaths, almost screamed when they saw Namgung Woo fighting but managed to hold it back.

“Soul-Stealing Ghost Phantom…! Young hero! This is on a completely different level from ordinary ghostly spirits! You must retreat!”

The one who responded to Yang Jeong’s shout was not Namgung Woo but the man standing behind him, as if guarding someone.

“Twin Blades of the Mountain Wolf, you’ve followed too?”

The expectation in Paeng Mu-ho’s voice disappeared as soon as he saw their condition.

“Hey! Little brothers! That’s an upper-tier ghostly spirit! It grows by devouring human flesh and souls! No matter how strong you are, that’s dangerous!!”

“The lowest is blue. The stronger ones are even classified as black… Why is this one red…?”

The Yang Brothers muttered as if half out of their minds.

Although their combined skills could rival a Peak Master, there was a huge difference between fighting humans and fighting otherworldly monsters.

Monsters that can’t be harmed without Sword Energy are a wall that can’t be overcome with just skill.

“Young hero! You must retreat!”

“That’s right, little brother! We know you’re much stronger than we thought, but that thing is really dangerous! Let’s retreat first. Once the Paeng Family’s masters gather, then we can fight!”

Although he didn’t answer, Namgung Woo’s ears heard all their words.

‘Is that so?’

So this is a blue-tier monster.

Then what about the white and black-tier Ghost Gates, which are said to be even stronger?

Perhaps Namgung Woo himself didn’t come here through the Ghost Gate like them?

With some leisure, distracting thoughts crept in again.

It’s a bit disappointing, but it’s better to end it here. I’ve roughly confirmed what I wanted. It seems too much to unleash all thirteen moves of the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords here.

What’s more important now is to end this battle without casualties and check the Ghost Gate.

‘For that, Sword Energy alone won’t be enough.’

Having reconfirmed the strong defense that even repelled Sword Energy-imbued slashes, Namgung Woo stepped back using the retreating step of Infinite Steps.

And he adjusted his grip on the sword.

From one hand to two hands.

He consciously summoned the internal energy he had been drawing instinctively, following the flow and feeling.

In response to its master’s call, the vast internal energy sleeping in the Dantian answered.

Hum-

The sword began to hum.

Hearing the familiar sword hum, he infused his heightened emotions into the sword.

Immediately after.

Through Namgung Woo’s fingertips, the lightning that should have been in the sky occurred on the ground.

The Soul-Stealing Ghost Phantom, a blue-tier entity that appeared from the red-tier Ghost Gate.

Above that incomprehensible phenomenon.

A new incomprehensibility was being layered.

“That is…”

Sword Aura.

Aura Energy.

The evidence of human will and aspirations reaching the heavens.

The energy of starlight began to emit a radiant halo around Namgung Woo’s sword.