“Haaa…”
The moment the declaration of victory rang out, Moyong Yeon-hwa collapsed on the spot. Combined with the sweat pouring down like rain, she didn’t hesitate to get covered in fragments of strong Qi as she unleashed her attacks, resulting in blood shed from various wounds.
“Sister!”
Chan-gyeong rushed over to support Moyong Yeon-hwa.
Moyong Seo also patted her shoulder.
“I’ve seen your choice well.”
Feeling the mixture of joy and concern in the eyes of Moyong Seo and Moyong Chan-gyeong, Moyong Yeon-hwa finally realized she had done it and relaxed, leaning against Chan-gyeong.
“Please take care of the finishing touches…”
“Of course. Keep watching closely.”
Moyong Seo said with a cheerful smile.
“One day, I will show you the path you must take.”
“…Yes.”
With Chan-gyeong’s support, Moyong Yeon-hwa retreated from the open area, leaving only Moyong Seo behind. Seeing this, Moyong Jin-gyeong also stepped into the open space.
As the two faced each other, both the direct line and branch clans held their breath.
Sssshhhh!
Chhhhrrrr!
The awe of the two, who understood the truths of victory, quickly seized the surrounding space as they began a battle of strength.
“You’ve improved a lot, Jin-gyeong.”
“Did you really think you would forever be stronger than me?”
“I certainly didn’t expect you to make this choice.”
With Moyong Seo’s meaningful words, Moyong Jin-gyeong chuckled. Moyong Seo sighed deeply at Jin-gyeong’s manner.
“It’s not too late even now. Why not change your mind?”
“Not too late?”
The laughter vanished from Moyong Jin-gyeong’s face.
“You are late. Very late.”
At that moment, Moyong Jin-gyeong readied his aggressive stance.
“I will show you exactly how late you are, with my body.”
With those words, Moyong Jin-gyeong dashed forward. Moyong Seo sighed at Jin-gyeong’s actions and drew his sword.
In an instant, he closed the distance and extended his serpentine hands to entangle Moyong Seo’s sword.
The moment Moyong Jin-gyeong’s hands touched Moyong Seo’s sword, it began to spin.
Like a leaf fluttering in the wind, Moyong Seo’s blade moved gracefully, while Moyong Jin-gyeong swayed in rhythm with this motion.
The Extreme Transformation Blade!
Without ever being caught, Moyong Seo’s movements danced like leaves rustling in the wind, and Jin-gyeong’s serpent-like hands began to move with even more agility.
With movements reminiscent of a snake slithering through grass to hunt, everyone watching the duel gasped in awe at the sight, transcending beyond who was friend or foe.
It was truly a contest of martial arts, testing the depths of their practiced techniques.
Moyong Jin-gyeong, intent on wrapping his sword, went after Moyong Seo, who gracefully avoided his attacks.
Eventually, Jin-gyeong’s strike cornered Moyong Seo.
And at that moment.
Moyong Seo’s swordwork transformed. The fluid dance of twisting like a willow that had been evading Jin-gyeong’s strikes abruptly became as firm and strong as solid rock.
Boom!
“Ugh!”
Jin-gyeong, taken aback by the sudden change, found himself forced to shift from offense to defense but couldn’t keep up.
Whoosh!
Moyong Seo transitioned into the Blade of Absolute Defense, striking a counter while Jin-gyeong unleashed a fierce offensive technique in response.
Boom!
They clashed without yielding an inch, and in the midst of their exchange, Moyong Seo once again transitioned into the Extreme Transformation Blade, deflecting Jin-gyeong’s major attack.
As if predicting that choice, Jin-gyeong changed his attack and followed up.
The rapid-fire exchanges of techniques were dizzying for spectators.
It was difficult to discern who had the upper hand amidst the chaotic exchanges.
Watching this chaotic turbulence, Moyong Yeon-hwa felt her growth.
Wasn’t it said that we see as much as we know?
In the intricate entanglements, Moyong Yeon-hwa began to read the flow.
‘Uncle said he would show me the path I must take.’
Until now, she thought the Moyong Clan’s martial arts were passive.
The Blade of Absolute Defense and the Extreme Transformation Blade,
Offense to counter defense; Defense to counter offense.
Choosing options to gain the advantage based on the opponent was the very reason to cultivate the duality of martial arts.
That’s why, in the moment of realization, Moyong Yeon-hwa chose to strengthen only the Blade of Absolute Defense.
She judged that surrendering the initiative to the opponent would eventually lead to being ensnared by the Blood Sect’s martial arts.
‘That’s not all there is.’
But now, what Moyong Seo demonstrated was different.
The complex exchange intensified, and while it was impossible to determine who had the advantage, the one creating the flow was clearly Moyong Seo.
Although Jin-gyeong had the initiative to act first, it was Moyong Seo regulating the current, a paradoxical situation.
“Ugh!”
Realizing the precariousness of his situation, Jin-gyeong launched an even stronger attack with intricate maneuvers, but he couldn’t shift the flow.
Moyong Yeon-hwa began to see the fierce movement of the two differently.
“…Creating a situation where I must take the upper hand enforces the opponent’s choices.”
The more extreme the martial technique, the clearer the opponent’s approach becomes.
Thus, Moyong Seo had anticipated the moves that Jin-gyeong would take.
He might have even considered the counterattacks to let loose.
It might seem like Jin-gyeong was freely unleashing techniques, but to Moyong Yeon-hwa, he no longer appeared free.
As the level of the martial arts deepened, the massive barrier surrounding their duel came into view for her.
The cycle Moyong Seo had woven.
Jin-gyeong was trapped within it.
Bang! Boom!
The continuously exchanged tactics maintained an intense standoff as the two engaged in battle, much to the admiration of the branch clans.
“The Master of the Faction’s achievements are remarkable.”
“Merely mastering new martial arts in a tight timeframe is indeed impressive.”
“No matter how much mastery he showed, how could he develop so rapidly in such a short time?”
“Hmmm. I will need to personally ask him after the duel.”
While the branch clans marveled at Moyong Jin-gyeong’s explosive growth, they also harbored doubts about whether such rapid improvement could be achieved merely through training.
As if to conclude the branches’ thoughts, the tightly held contest began to shift ever so slightly.
By the end of this long fight, the one seizing the advantage was Moyong Seo.
Unlike Jin-gyeong, whose power was rapidly dissipating, Moyong Seo maintained a stable momentum.
Boom!!
“Ugh!”
After receiving the Blade of Absolute Defense, Jin-gyeong stumbled back. On his hand was a deep wound.
A clear sign that he was exhausted to the point of not being able to protect himself properly with his strong Qi.
Seeing that, Moyong Seo spoke up.
“How about we call it here?”
“Ugh!”
Moyong Seo was also fatigued from the prolonged duel. The droplets of sweat streaming down his face and his soaked martial robe hinted at his exhaustion.
Yet the Qi enveloping Moyong Seo’s sword still gleamed brightly.
The faces of Moyong Yeon-hwa and Chan-gyeong brightened, while the expressions of the branch clans fell. The difference in stamina was now so significant that it made further contention meaningless.
“…Ugh…heh.”
Moyong Jin-gyeong burst into laughter.
“I admit defeat.”
“Hahaha… I acknowledge it. To push me this far is truly remarkable. Yet you’ve compelled me to use my trump card!”
Moyong Seo’s expression hardened.
In an instant, Jin-gyeong’s momentum swelled.
This wasn’t good.
The more one’s skill increased, the less effective awakening one’s latent potential through an explosive technique would become. Once reaching the Hwa-gyeong, it became difficult to amplify one’s combat ability.
Hwa-gyeong was the stage where one explored all internal powers and turned to external forces.
Unless using innate vital energy, it was unlikely one would put their life on the line in a duel.
Thus, the only way to swell one’s Qi like this was one method.
‘Is it the Blood Sect’s forbidden technique?!’
Moyong Seo’s thoughts became crowded.
According to Ho Cheon-an’s information, the elder, Moyong Wi-ji, who battled with Yeon-hwa, also had learned some secret arts from the Blood Sect.
Yet, Moyong Wi-ji chose to forfeit rather than using that unknown technique against Yeon-hwa.
Given that, one could infer that the technique carried great danger or exposed a connection to the Blood Sect publicly.
Should they really let then Jin-gyeong use the Blood Sect’s techniques?
If that technique revealed a connection to the Blood Sect, he could gauge the reactions of the branches.
Just then, as those thoughts crossed his mind.
“Stop this!”
Moyong Yeon-hwa shouted.
“Why would you reach for such dangerous power? If it’s a problem surrounding the faction, the main clan will assist!”
“Hahaha…what a ridiculous notion.”
“I am sincere! It was only after coming here that I realized the issue with the faction! The gaze of the world! The recognition of your efforts! The grievances accumulated over a long time! I’ve just understood! So…!”
“Then you know well that the main clan cannot do anything.”
“The Master of the Faction..!”
Jin-gyeong’s intensity continued to rise. As he emanated energy more than double that at the start of the duel, Moyong Seo retreated to gain distance.
“Do you think the main clan is unaware of the problems currently facing the Shengsu Faction? Nonsense! You think they didn’t want to exert their strength while spouting frivolous principles?”
“I have no argument against that. However, that’s exactly why we came here! If there’s a problem, it’s to solve it! It’s not too late yet!”
“Hahahaha! It’s already too late!”
Moyong Jin-gyeong shouted in elation as the change within him stirred.
Having absorbed blood over nearly two years using the Great Law, he had accumulated the power of the Red Blood Rat in his body.
Yet, from the actual power amassed, less than a tenth could be used.
That mere tenth was enough for Jin-gyeong, at the forefront of the Hwa-gyeong, to compete on equal grounds with the renowned Moyong Seo, who represented the Moyong Clan.
If just a tenth gave him that much power…
As the Great Law was orchestrated, the dormant energy of the Red Blood Rat began to awaken.
Even without fully activating that energy, he felt strength flooding throughout his body. Not only was his empty Dantian quickly filled with energy, but his entire body’s Qi meridians were filled with the energy of the Red Blood Rat.
With overwhelming power, he could easily suppress even the vibrant Moyong Seo before him!
Moyong Jin-gyeong noticed that he was now forcing Moyong Seo to retreat, sensing the thrill within this heat.
The illusion of Moyong Seo, who had seemed an insurmountable wall until now, actually retreating.
Moreover, the branch clans surrounding him appeared stunned and aghast, while the elders rejoiced at this absolute might.
Even the dazed expression of Moyong Yeon-hwa, who moments ago had spouted lofty words.
Omnipotence!
Every scene that entered his vision spurred Moyong Jin-gyeong’s sense of omnipotence.
“Look! This power!”
Without hesitation, Moyong Jin-gyeong fully unleashed the Great Law.
The energy of the Red Blood Rat burst forth fully, filling him from his head to his toes.
And at that moment, as the true efficacy of the Great Law awakened, the transformations began.
“Ugh…!?”
Crack!
It all began with his hands.
Amidst the overwhelming heat of omnipotence that couldn’t evade the pain, he hurriedly looked down at his two hands.
His hands abruptly swelled as his nails grew at an alarming rate.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the transformed hands of Moyong Jin-gyeong. Before he could express his surprise…
Crack! Crash!
In an instant, his shoulders swelled. A lump appeared on Jin-gyeong’s shoulder that could rival the size of two human heads, indicating that his entire body inflated.
“Ugh!”
Moyong Jin-gyeong fell forward, trying to steady himself but the growth continued, inflating even more.
Like a severe case of shingles, blisters began to pop up rapidly, creating a horrifying sight. The lumps covering his face rendered him unable to scream any longer.
“What… What is this?!”
“Aah… no…!”
Everyone present was engulfed in shock. What on earth was happening right now?!
“What is happening?! What have you done?!”
The judge, Moyong Seok-jil, shouted to the elders. Those who had just regained their composure turned to him.
If anyone could explain the current situation, it would only be the elders who had trained alongside Jin-gyeong.
However.
The elders wore faces filled with heightened shock that surpassed any other presence in the area.
“This can’t be…! The Great Law!”
“This can’t be happening! This is impossible! Something must have gone wrong!”
Thud! Crackle!
Amidst this turmoil, the growth of the lumps covering Jin-gyeong’s body continued to escalate. Moyong Seo, closest to witnessing this shocking scene, suddenly thought.
Jin-gyeong’s body was changing and inflating.
Crack! Zip!
His shoes burst as razor-sharp claws emerged, and simultaneously, his feet elongated.
From a comically grotesque figure impossible to believe was human, hair began to sprout.
“Aah…”
Moyong Yeon-hwa stood entranced, watching the transformation.
Jin-gyeong’s face elongated, and a long tail sprouted from behind him. Even in a prone position, his height seemed well over eight feet.
The form was a jumbled mess, as if a child had carelessly sculpted it from clay, but it was unmistakably transforming.
A rat!
The Blood Sect had deployed this forbidden art on the seniors of the Shengsu Faction, using the entity known as the Iron Blood Rat.
The true nature of this forbidden art was an abominable sorcery that transformed a human into an entity.
