Chapter 65
Chapter 65: Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven
Paaaang!
Deflecting the abrupt ambush with a flick of his blade, Yanghwi immediately whipped his head toward the origin of the strike.
Though his eyes met only a dense screen of tangled branches and thick undergrowth, his keen qi sense had already locked onto the presence concealed just behind the foliage.
“Junior Sister. What in the world are you doing springing an ambush like this?”
No verbal reply came; instead, a melodious strum resonated through the clearing.
Chara-rang!
Swinging his sword in a swift arc, he neutralized the surge of qi riding the acoustic ripple.
Paaaang!
“Are you really planning to keep attacking without uttering a single word?”
Only then did Zhuge Seolha step out from behind the thicket.
“It has been a long time, Senior Brother.”
Her countenance was fully unveiled, revealed with confident grace.
Between the vibrant vitality in her complexion and the poised aura radiating around her, she seemed like an entirely different person compared to their last meeting.
“Indeed, it has been quite a while. Still, greeted with a surprise assault before even saying hello? Really?”
“It was Master’s explicit command.”
With a mischievous flick of her tongue, Zhuge Seolha brushed her fingers across the strings of the pipa cradled in her arms.
Chara-rang!
Rather than meeting it with cold steel this time, he sprang sideways to clear the path.
A cloud of grit and pulverized earth erupted from the ground where his feet had rested only an instant prior.
He let out an appreciative whistle.
“Remarkable progress for barely six months, wouldn’t you say?”
Projecting lethal force across open air was an impossible feat for anyone lingering in an ordinary realm.
Typically, an aspiring martial artist had to attain that profound breakthrough where intent and qi fuse into one before they could ever hope to manifest external waves of force.
Yet Zhuge Seolha was cleanly projecting distant strikes simply by weaving internal qi into the notes of her pipa.
“My master is numbered among the Ten Paragons Under Heaven, after all. Even so, I have only recently crossed into the realm of striking sound.”
Chara-rang!
Granted, the breadth and scale of her strikes remained somewhat constrained.
Just as Yanghwi was preparing to speak again after lightly bouncing back to dodge the striking sound, a subsequent note tore through the air.
Chara-rang!
“Whoa!”
A second acoustic blast rushed straight toward Yanghwi while his momentum held him suspended mid-leap.
Left with no choice, he swept his blade upward to parry the burst of energy.
Paaaang!
“You can already fire those back-to-back without pause?”
Channeling internal energy through vibrating cords was notoriously demanding.
He had committed to the jump under the reasonable belief that the delay between successive notes could not possibly be so brief, yet she had completely overturned his calculation.
“I didn’t waste a single moment of training while you were away, Senior Brother.”
Even leaving the grand reputation of the Sound Empress aside, Zhuge Seolha’s innate talent was genuinely breathtaking.
Among all traditional martial systems and weapon arts, sound techniques were notorious for possessing the steepest, most punishing learning curve of all.
Lacing pure qi into resonant waves was inherently contrary to simple circulation.
Yet she had already attained this degree of finesse.
Still, she is far from ready to topple me.
Considering her claim of carrying out orders, it was obvious that the Sound Empress wanted to pit the two disciples against one another to evaluate how their respective cultivation had developed.
In all likelihood, the Sound Empress intended to demonstrate that remaining under her direct, attentive instruction was the sole pathway toward explosive progress.
A pity for her expectations, Honored Teacher, but I have already stepped into the second-rate realm.
Even so, having her pupil initiate a sudden sneak attack just to trigger an impromptu duel was undeniably cheeky.
If you wish to see where we stand, Honored Teacher, allow me to settle this without delay.
“I can hardly just stand here taking hits all day. My turn, Junior Sister.”
Against an adversary wielding sound techniques, closing the separation between them was the absolute priority.
Since acoustic resonance enabled long-range suppression, its tactical strengths and weaknesses mirrored those of throwing daggers or archery.
Yanghwi surged forward, instantly closing the distance with the Vessel Thousand Steps.
Chara-ra-rang!
At that very moment, another striking sound tore toward him, carrying a wave of qi twice or thrice more vicious than the initial volleys.
Yanghwi noted Zhuge Seolha gliding backward in an effort to maintain their separation.
Her footwork, though not yet fully mastered, unmistakably exhibited the foundational principles of One Step One Thousand.
Hoping to compel me to evade so she can reset the distance, is she?
Regrettably, I have no intention of yielding the flow of combat.
Yanghwi’s sword trembled violently, emitting a sharp hum akin to the buzzing of bee wings.
Hundred and Eight Heaven-Splitting Swords, First Form.
Arrow Feathers Pierce Rock.
A focused, single-point thrust drove straight into the heart of the incoming striking sound.
The micro-vibrations coursing along the steel clashed violently with the oncoming sound wave, disintegrating it into harmless ripples.
“Ah!”
Before Zhuge Seolha could even finish her soft cry of dismay, Yanghwi had already crossed the remaining gap to stand directly before her.
Taking in her wide-eyed, flustered face, he wore an easy grin and delivered a light, teasing flick to her forehead.
“You have come a long way, Junior Sister.”
“…Ugh. I never imagined I’d be subdued this effortlessly.”
Zhuge Seolha puffed her cheeks out, visibly sulking.
Fsshhhhh!
A sudden draft swept across the clearing, and within the span of a single breath, the Sound Empress coalesced out of thin air.
“This young hero never fails to catch one off guard.”
“This unworthy disciple greets Honored Teacher.”
The Sound Empress appraised Yanghwi from head to toe as he offered a formal, respectful cupped-fist salute.
Even as he registered an intangible current of qi sweeping through his meridians in tandem with her assessing gaze, Yanghwi maintained a steady stance and made no effort to resist.
“It is truly startling. Given Seolha’s rapid improvement, I presumed she would at least be able to contest you on equal footing.”
In all honesty, Zhuge Seolha’s speed of advancement was staggering.
It was entirely reasonable for the Sound Empress to have harbored such confidence.
Indeed, had he not carried the accumulated memories and insights of his previous incarnation, he very well might have suffered a defeat here.
Well, seeing as she was the Soul-Stealing Demon Empress who drenched the world in slaughter in my past life, this level of genius is only natural.
Considering she had achieved that terrible power while warped by the backlash of twisted arts, she would inevitably scale even greater heights in this life under the proper tutelage of one of the Ten Paragons Under Heaven.
Of course, I intend to stay ahead of her indefinitely.
“I am her senior brother, after all. How disgraceful would it be if I fell short against my junior sister?”
Watching Yanghwi offer his insolent grin, the Sound Empress could only shake her head.
“Such logic holds true only when both disciples drink from the exact same fountain of knowledge.”
Her calm voice carried the profound self-assurance natural to one of the Ten Paragons Under Heaven.
It was an undeniable truth.
“It is truly bewildering. Without a dedicated master guiding your every breath, how could you have advanced at such a frightening pace? To think you have already reached the second-rate realm.”
Zhuge Seolha’s eyes stretched wide in shock.
“The second-rate realm? But Senior Brother is the same age as me… wait, only a single year older…”
“Stepping into the second-rate realm at your tender age without receiving guidance from a renowned master. Your martial talent is genuinely praiseworthy.”
“Did you not covet this disciple’s extraordinary gifts so dearly, Honored Teacher? This is the bare minimum I must show.”
“Your sharp tongue remains just as bold as ever. Moreover… hm?”
The Sound Empress’s eyes narrowed with sudden focus.
Yanghwi felt the invisible stream of qi she had projected tighten, converging directly upon his dantian.
“This resonance. Young hero. What exactly did you consume?”
She had caught the presence of the immortal core.
That immortal core had been embedded within Yanghwi’s dantian from the beginning, but during their previous encounter, it had been minuscule and faint.
Because of its dormant state back then, the Sound Empress had only sensed an unusually pristine, ethereal air surrounding him.
This presents an ideal opportunity. As one belonging to the Ten Paragons Under Heaven, she might hold the answers I lack.
“I chanced upon a miraculous opportunity while attending to clan affairs.”
Yanghwi recounted how he had inherited the legacy left behind by the Greatest Under Heaven, believed to be the legendary Sword Immortal Lü Dongbin.
“That is how it transpired. After swallowing the elixir, an entity resembling an inner core solidified within me.”
“Hmph. The legacy of the Sword Immortal…”
Lightly resting her fingers against her cheek as she sank into contemplation, the Sound Empress soon broke the silence.
“Reflecting upon the nature of the energy I perceive, your account seems entirely credible. At the very least, it shows no sign of causing harm to your body.”
“Do you perhaps possess knowledge concerning the Sword Immortal?”
“Among the founding figures and ancestral masters of our sect, there was indeed an elder who shared a deep destiny with the Sword Immortal.”
Because the Sacred Sound Jade Spirit Gate similarly walked the celestial path toward immortality, such an ancient tie was only natural.
“Whether he was the very first to do so is beyond my knowledge, but the Sword Immortal was undeniably an existence who achieved ascension to immortality.”
“Ascension to immortality is not merely a myth, but a reality that can truly be attained?”
To Yanghwi’s astonished inquiry, the Sound Empress offered a simple nod.
“Just as no tree can rise into the sky without deep roots, the same principle governs ancient rumors and profound legends.”
“Does that imply the immortal realm and the Jade Emperor genuinely exist as well?”
“I cannot grant you a definitive answer on that. Nevertheless, this universe is far too vast and unfathomable to be measured solely by the limited vision of mortal eyes.”
Fixing her distant gaze upon the boundless sky for a brief moment, the Sound Empress continued.
“If this is truly a legacy bequeathed by the Sword Immortal, nothing that emerges from it should come as a surprise. You stated that your internal energy acquired the innate trait to suppress and dismantle unorthodox sorcery, correct?”
“Yes, exactly so.”
Nullifying the Heartless Art. Banishing the malevolent specters summoned by Ghost Slave Hundred Demons.
Neither feat would have been within his reach during his past life.
“Mere mortals cannot dare to decipher the design of heaven. I cannot comprehend it. Truly, I cannot fathom it. Even I have so very far left to journey.”
The Sound Empress spoke in riddles. Even to Yanghwi, armed with the accumulated experiences of an entire past life, her words felt like chasing phantom mist across the sky.
Nevertheless, Yanghwi chose not to interrogate her further.
The sheer, unfathomable aura radiating from the Sound Empress commanded such restraint.
“In any case, if your words hold true, it poses no danger. However, standing as your master, I cannot simply leave such a matter unmonitored. I must examine it thoroughly.”
“This disciple extends his gratitude, Honored Teacher.”
With a small nod, the Sound Empress raised her hands, effortlessly lifting both Yanghwi and Zhuge Seolha into the air.
Drifting off the earth on a cushion of invisible, formless qi, Yanghwi blinked in open surprise.
“Honored Teacher?”
“We are proceeding to my abode.”
“I have become reasonably fleet of foot on my own, you know…”
“Even so, compared to your master, your pace is no different from that of a crawling tortoise.”
A subtle smile graced the Sound Empress’s lips. A fierce gale whipped around them, the surrounding landscape blurred into a streak of colors, and in the next heartbeat, a pristine, quietly built residence materialized before their eyes.
“Young hero. Do you need a moment to wash away the fatigue of your journey?”
“No, Honored Teacher.”
“Good. Then I shall begin your instruction without delay.”
It appeared she had zero desire to indulge in leisurely pleasantries between mentor and student.
Then again, such blunt efficiency was entirely in character for the Sound Empress.
“Understood!”
“Reflecting on it now, this marks the first occasion I am formally imparting direct instruction to you.”
When he paused to consider it, she was entirely right.
In those earlier days, he had secretly gleaned and developed One Step One Thousand through his own observation.
Of course, that had only been feasible because the Sound Empress had deliberately permitted him to watch her movements.
“Let me pose this question. What manner of martial knowledge do you seek to obtain from me—from the Wave-Piercing Sound Empress, one of the Ten Paragons Under Heaven?”
“I shall humbly and gratefully receive whatever wisdom my teacher deigns to grant.”
The Sound Empress shook her head in mild disapproval.
Behaving with such solemn gravity while bearing the delicate countenance of a young maiden of fourteen or fifteen years lent her an undeniably endearing air on the surface.
“You are not permitted to inherit the core martial arts of our sect. Even the personal instruction I can offer you must adhere to strict limits. Thus, I prefer to teach you what you truly desire.”
“…”
Weighing her words, Yanghwi closed his eyes to look inward.
In his previous life, he had climbed all the way to the apex realm entirely through independent study, wandering the chaotic world without a mentor to correct his course.
Inevitably, flaws had lingered within his foundation.
Though he had managed to forge a discipline worthy of standing among divine arts, it lacked the profound, time-tested heritage found within the great orthodox sects.
Stated plainly, there was still untapped potential to refine his swordsmanship into an even loftier realm.
This is an exceptional chance to mend my deficiencies.
Moreover, he could receive direct counsel pinpointing the exact blind spots in his sword path.
After all, the mentor standing before him was none other than the Wave-Piercing Sound Empress, one of the Ten Paragons Under Heaven.
“Honored Teacher. May this disciple draw his sword?”
“You have my leave.”
Unsheathing his blade, Yanghwi began to move his body with deliberate intention.
Just as he had once synchronized each strike to the measured chiming in the Hall of Sound within the Five Halls of Proper Sound, he unrolled the forms of the Hundred and Eight Heaven-Splitting Swords before the Sound Empress as if performing a seamless sword dance.
“This is the sword art this crude disciple has cultivated. I reverently implore my teacher to expose its weaknesses and grant the means to correct them.”
True to her stature among the Ten Paragons Under Heaven, the Sound Empress saw through the core essence of the Hundred and Eight Heaven-Splitting Swords in an instant.
“Weight and speed. It is a sword art that reconciles two entirely contradictory principles within the same breath. Truly, it is more than worthy of being hailed as a divine art.”
“I am unworthy of such generous praise.”
“Hm? I was complimenting the creation itself, not you, young hero.”
That sword art is my own creation, though.
Unable to voice the thought aloud, he merely smiled, silently savoring the quiet swell of pride within his chest.
Meanwhile, the Sound Empress continued her critique.
“It easily warrants being called an apex martial art—an ultimate technique. Yet that is precisely where its horizon terminates.”
Praise followed immediately by cold dissection.
Having the ceiling of his life’s work laid bare so bluntly stung his pride just a bit.
Then again, seeing as I conceived it while standing at the apex realm, it is only natural that it contains nothing reaching beyond that boundary.
“Yet that does not signify you are barred from progressing further. How fascinating. A sword that manifests sound purely through the harmony of speed and mass.”
She was speaking of the Bee Wing Sound that hummed into existence whenever the initial sequence of forms was condensed into a single, unified strike.
“I harbored no thought of teaching the mechanics of sound to a young hero devoted to the way of the sword… but seeing this, the circumstances take an entirely different turn.”
A flicker of genuine intrigue danced across the Sound Empress’s face.
“Young hero. As your master, this is my command. Over the next three days, you are to craft a melody of your own making.”
A look of total and utter stupefaction washed over Yanghwi’s features.
“Pardon me?”
You expect me to suddenly sit down and compose music?!
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