Chapter 94

The initiation ceremony strictly adhered to the principle of a fair one-on-one martial duel.

Even though they swarmed in, there was no need to fight all of them. Did they really think they could gang up on someone during an initiation ceremony?

Oh, the sacred laws of the martial world have fallen to the ground! After lamenting, martial artists from the Martial Alliance, who had drawn their mighty energy from their dantian, were everywhere in Luoyang, ready to mete out justice.

While Cheok Mu-hong and Geumshin were engaged in their duel, the martial artists who had gathered to conduct the initiation ceremony fiercely competed among themselves to secure their turns.

“This is Luoyang. The Martial Village, Luoyang. We can’t let some random nobodies who don’t even know where they came from run wild here.”

“Even wanderers have their own code. Those who disrespect their seniors… we need to teach them a lesson.”

“That’s why only those confident in winning should step forward!”

The words of the female wanderer, though spoken in irritation, resonated with everyone present.

If only they had used Whispering Transmission, but since they couldn’t send it to multiple people at once, their discussions were overheard without fail. They thought they were being cautious, even using tricks like subtle speech techniques, but that only showed how much they underestimated Namgung Woo.

‘I knew from the moment they mentioned Late Blooming Prodigy. They’re even more careless than I thought.’

If this is the average level of Luoyang, known as the Martial Village, it’s somewhat disappointing.

Late Blooming Prodigy? Not everyone who reaches the peak in their 20s is the same.

Those who surpass the peak before even establishing themselves are no longer Late Blooming Prodigies but are recognized as supreme martial artists.

If even Transcendent Peak masters are like that, then Namgung Woo, who has reached the realm of a Peerless Master, being called a Late Blooming Prodigy is an insult, not an honor.

Knowing the martial world’s dynamics better than anyone, Paeng Ha-ryeong eagerly requested Namgung Woo.

“Please, let me go next.”

Originally, Paeng Ha-ryeong wanted to go from the start. But before she could speak, Namgung Woo had already sent Geumshin, so she missed her chance.

People were watching. She couldn’t ask Namgung Woo to change his command and send her instead.

Paeng Ha-ryeong had no intention of missing her chance a second time.

“Alright. The second one is yours, Ha-ryeong.”

“Yes! Trust me!”

Namgung Woo thought Paeng Ha-ryeong wasn’t just cute but also quite cunning. She probably didn’t use Whispering Transmission because she wanted to ensure she would be sent out next.

“Next is Do-hee, right?”

“I know the Paeng Family’s Do-hee. We fought together at the Ghost Gate Sealing Battle last year. She was at the early stages of the peak. She might have grown during the Unmong Great War, but she’s probably still at the mid-level.”

“Don’t underestimate her as just an ordinary Late Blooming Prodigy. She’s been through nearly a month of war. Consider her experienced in real combat.”

“Don’t worry. I know.”

They proceeded to assign opponents.

Who would face Paeng Ha-ryeong, who would face the Yang Brothers, and who would face Myorin.

Like a game of chess, they strategized their matchups, but their plans crumbled miserably.

“What! How can someone so young have such internal energy?!”

The one who confidently stepped forward to face Paeng Ha-ryeong was shocked by the energy threads she unleashed and admitted defeat.

“Ugh… the difference in sword techniques…”

The one who faced Yang Jeong, despite having superior internal energy, was overwhelmed by the Thirteen Thunder Swords’ counterattack and lost his sword.

“Ah! This duel is so dirty!”

Yang Kwae’s opponent, who charged in from the start, couldn’t even showcase his skills due to Yang Kwae’s relentless aggression, refusing to give up the initiative.

“It’s sorcery! Sorcery!”

Myorin’s opponent, unfamiliar with sorcery, was easily defeated and kept repeating that it was just cheap tricks.

Five duels. All victories went to Changcheon Pavilion. Not a single one was won.

‘They might have been big shots in their hometowns, but the Martial Village, Luoyang, is on a whole different level. The world is vast, and you’re still just small fish.’ The purpose of Luoyang’s initiation ceremony was rendered meaningless.

As this happened, the confidence of those who had boldly gathered began to waver.

Geumshin, on the verge of Transcendent Peak, Paeng Ha-ryeong, closely following Geumshin, and Myorin, skilled in both sorcery and martial arts, were understandable.

Geumshin even put up a fierce fight against Cheok Mu-hong. That was decent for an initiation ceremony.

And Paeng Ha-ryeong and Myorin could be excused. Paeng Ha-ryeong could claim she couldn’t fight properly because of the intimidating reputation of the Hapbuk Paeng Family (ignoring that she clearly stated she was from Changcheon Pavilion), and Myorin could be criticized for winning through sorcery.

But losing to the Yang Brothers? There was no excuse for that. Were they careless? Did their opponents fight dirty? To gather here to conduct an initiation ceremony and then complain about not being proper wanderers—whose face are they trying to shame?

‘They’re the real deal… these guys are the real deal…’

‘So the rumors weren’t exaggerated…’

If even the members of Changcheon Pavilion are like this, then what about Namgung Woo, the Great Master and the subject of those seemingly exaggerated rumors…

As that thought crossed their minds, a belated fear arose. Those who had gathered to steal the fame of Changcheon Pavilion and Namgung Woo through the initiation ceremony began to quietly back away, glancing around nervously.

It was embarrassing, but it was better to retreat than to stubbornly persist. If they couldn’t even last a second against Namgung Woo’s initiation ceremony, there would be no greater shame.

If they ran away now, they’d face ridicule and scorn for a while. But if they stubbornly stayed and got humiliated in an instant, they wouldn’t be able to show their faces in Luoyang anymore.

“Ahem, we’ve already had our turn. It’s only fair to yield the next one.”

“Our side already sent Cheok Captain, why are you sending us?”

As they bickered among themselves, making excuses to avoid facing Namgung Woo, the fiery atmosphere quickly cooled.

The sight of them charging in confidently only to tuck their tails between their legs drew jeers from the onlookers.

Then, a man pushed through the crowd and stepped onto the training ground.

“How about a match with me, Great Master of Changcheon Pavilion?”

A blue martial robe with a long coat. On the chest, next to the character for “Alliance,” was the character for “Thunder.”

A direct subordinate force of the Martial Alliance, the Eight Positions Unit.

Among them, the Thunder Unit’s emblem and embroidery declared his affiliation.

In the Martial Alliance, the color of the robe distinguishes the unit, so there’s no need to write the unit’s name.

But the fact that the name was embroidered on the robe meant that this man represented the unit.

In other words.

“The Thunder Unit Leader?”

“Thunder Dragon Hero Deung Jong-yu…!”

“A Martial Alliance Unit Leader has stepped forward… this won’t end easily, step back!”

The Eight Unit Leaders, symbols of the Martial Alliance’s martial power.

Though above them are the Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders, they are the last line of defense for the Martial Alliance.

And while the Alliance Leader is another matter, the elders on the Council aren’t much different from the Unit Leaders. In terms of pure martial power, many even surpass the Unit Leaders.

Namgung Woo didn’t avoid Deung Jong-yu’s gaze on the training ground.

As Namgung Woo stepped onto the training ground, the onlookers’ excitement reignited, breaking the cold tension.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

Namgung Woo immediately understood Deung Jong-yu’s meaning.

“Martial artists who have mastered Thunder Qi are rare, aren’t they?”

“Indeed. You understand. I heard that the Five Yin Demon Emperor’s sword techniques are different from Thunder Qi, but it’s well-known that you’ve trained in high-level Thunder Qi martial arts. You must have taught those brothers as well.”

Many martial arts have attempted to harness lightning as their essence, to control Thunder Qi.

But Thunder Qi is notoriously difficult to control. Over 70% of attempts result in failed techniques, another 20% can barely control Thunder Qi but can’t fully utilize its power, and only about 10% can be considered proper Thunder Qi martial arts.

And even if one masters such martial arts, Thunder Qi is a force that can easily cripple the user if mishandled. Though there are rare cases of overcoming disabilities through Thunder Qi martial arts, they are exceptions.

For these reasons, few who master Thunder Qi martial arts reach the ranks of supreme martial artists.

Deung Jong-yu had never seen a Thunder Qi master superior to himself.

“I’d like to learn from you.”

“I’d be happy to oblige.”

Facing a renowned supreme martial artist of the Martial Alliance, Namgung Woo stood as a clear underdog.

Namgung Woo’s stance gradually resembled that of a Peerless Master.

Crack!

A flash of light erupted.

Which one? It was too fast for most to see, but the few witnesses thought it was simultaneous.

But those with advanced perception would add another testimony.

Namgung Woo was faster.

Right after the initial flash.

Boom!

With a deafening crash that shattered the training ground, the two figures disappeared, replaced by blue and platinum lightning flickering across the arena.