Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Chapter 280:

Nogangho

“Try blocking this too!”

Namgung Muguk shouted heartily and unleashed the Emperor’s Sword Form without hesitation.

The immense energy pressure weighing down on the area hindered Hyeok Jin-gang’s movements.

Simultaneously, the infinitely condensed energy on Namgung Muguk’s sword ignited into a brilliant flame.

The moment Namgung Muguk’s sword ring flew towards Hyeok Jin-gang.

Clang!

Hyeok Jin-gang also sent out numerous fragments of his Sword Breaking Energy.

The countless fragments of energy were engulfed and melted by the flames of the sword ring.

It was a scene akin to moths being drawn to a flame.

While the fragments of energy he had sent melted away, Hyeok Jin-gang once again infused his Unyielding Will with energy.

Then, he swung his Unyielding Will towards Namgung Muguk’s slightly weakened sword ring.

Bang!!!

A massive explosion, incomparable to before, occurred, and although Hyeok Jin-gang’s energy encasing his Unyielding Will melted away upon contact with the sword ring...

“Hoo.”

Hyeok Jin-gang, pushed back about three paces, lightly steadied his breath and corrected his posture.

This was thanks to weakening the sword ring’s power with the initial fragments of sword energy and the subsequent strength of the Unyielding Will.@@@@

Even though the sword ring’s power was weakened, any ordinary sword would not have withstood it. The rigidity of the Unyielding Will made such a reckless attempt possible.

‘As expected. What a bizarre weapon.’

As a seasoned swordsman who had faced countless battles, Namgung Muguk calculated the flow of the battle in his mind.

To defeat Hyeok Jin-gang, he either had to avoid the Unyielding Will and directly stab him or deliver a powerful strike that could overcome the sturdy Unyielding Will.

Logically, choosing the former would be wise.

If there was a significant difference in the level of their weapons, clashing them directly would be a bad move.

However, to avoid clashing weapons, he would have to either use the principle of deflecting the opponent’s strength like the willow or strike faster than the opponent’s defense. RÅNꝋbΕṥ

But, neither the principles of speed nor deflection existed in the martial path Namgung Muguk had built up.

Of course, he possessed the ability to utilize these principles as he had already reached a high level.

‘If the opponent’s strength is strong, I just need to press down with even greater strength.’

That was not Namgung Muguk’s path.

Giving up the martial path he had built up until the age of ninety was akin to denying his entire life.

Bang!!!

He continued to fight straightforwardly, or perhaps foolishly, wielding only his heavy and strong sword.

Clang!

Hyeok Jin-gang’s Sword Breaking Energy flew towards him again, dominating the front.

Bang!!

As he struck the incoming Sword Breaking Energy, a loud noise erupted.

Bang!!

The Sword Breaking Energy that he did not strike hit the ground, exploding the area as if a thunderbolt had struck.

Amidst this, Namgung Muguk executed his footwork, quickly closing in on Hyeok Jin-gang and exchanging moves using the Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship.

Bang!

Every time the energies of the two men collided, explosions occurred, and the surroundings changed with each clash, as their battle surpassed human limits.

The intense energy waves and fragments generated by the clash of the two men made it impossible for any of the martial artists watching the life-and-death duel to intervene easily.

Although Hyeok Jin-gang, who was blocking Namgung Muguk’s simple yet efficient attacks, seemed expressionless, he was actually gritting his teeth hard.

Namgung Muguk’s heavy sword was ‘real.’

Even though he was enduring its power with the rigidity of the Unyielding Will, his hands holding the Unyielding Will were still human.

Each time he exchanged moves with Namgung Muguk, a tingling pain surged from his hands.

‘Hoo. That crazy old man seems to have consumed quite a few miraculous elixirs.’

Although Hyeok Jin-gang had also taken a few miraculous elixirs with the support of Shinchun, it was nothing compared to the Taesang patriarch of the Namgung Family, one of the Five Great Families of the world.

Hyeok Jin-gang was enduring Namgung Muguk’s onslaught, counterattacking with his Sword Breaking Energy from time to time, and gauging the remaining internal energy between them.

He planned to withdraw and let his subordinates finish the job once the opponent was exhausted.

Namgung Muguk was also aware of Hyeok Jin-gang’s thoughts. Nevertheless, he didn’t care about that.

No, Namgung Muguk had completely focused on the current life-and-death battle, disregarding such trivialities.

He had only one concern.

How could he break that Unyielding Will?

What was the most powerful sword technique that could shatter that absurd weapon, the Unyielding Will?

Ironically, the deeper he delved into this thought, only one thing came to mind.

It was the final punch shown by Hyun-gwang.

The punch that had instantly extinguished the sword ring he had unleashed with all his might.

The very thing he couldn’t reach and that had made him go into seclusion.

Unable to accept this fact, Namgung Muguk assumed the Emperor’s Sword Form again.

It might be stubbornness.

But to Namgung Muguk, who believed denying what he had built up throughout his life meant losing the purpose of living, it didn’t matter.

While dominating the area with immense energy, Namgung Muguk overlapped his internal energy onto his sword, creating a sword ring once more, but in a different manner.

Instead of simply sending out the sword ring, he held the sword bearing the sword ring and charged towards Hyeok Jin-gang.

Clang!!

Predictably, Hyeok Jin-gang unleashed his Sword Breaking Energy, sending numerous fragments of energy.

Namgung Muguk advanced, burning the fragments of energy with his sword ring.

Hundreds of demonic sect martial artists surrounded Namgung Muguk from all directions, putting him in a situation of utter isolation and danger.

Namgung Muguk, lost in the art of the sword, continued to swing his sword without rest.

Swish.

“Ugh...”

Screech!

“Arghhh!”

How many had he killed in this trance-like state?

‘Why...?’

Namgung Muguk felt a strange sensation.

His sword, which should have split his opponents in two, was moving slower than he intended.

It wasn’t because the world seemed to slow down due to extreme concentration.

Unbeknownst to him, his body, now nearly ninety years old, had reached its limit.

Crack.

Unable to accept his aging and slowing body, the cost was severe.

Unlike the previous superficial wounds, this time, he suffered a fatal wound to his side.

“Namgung Sword Emperor is exhausted!”

“That head is mine! Move aside!”

“Kill him!”

Looking at the enemies rushing from all sides, Namgung Muguk ironically thought of the Heavenly Demon.

The man who had been defeated by the combined attack of dozens of righteous martial artists despite possessing unparalleled power.

And so, Namgung Muguk laughed.

“Hehehe. Heavenly Demon. It seems I have finally surpassed you.”

Before he grew too old to wield a sword, he burned his last flame.

Before dying in vain, he managed to defeat Hyeok Jin-gang and claim the title of the strongest under heaven.

He had succeeded in creating a sword strike as powerful as Hyun-gwang’s final punch.

“This should be considered a splendid life for a martial artist, shouldn’t it?”

The old swordsman, his body covered in blood and his hair disheveled, laughed heartily as he swung his sword.

As if he would never swing a sword again, as if he would leave no regrets.

How long did he swing his sword endlessly?

When he could no longer muster the energy to even lift a finger...

“Protect the Grand Elder!”

Through his now blurry vision, Namgung Muguk saw the flag of the Namgung Family fluttering.

* * *

The Azure Sky Team, which had left the Namgung Family to rescue Namgung Muguk, returned.

Carrying a single coffin.

“......”

Silence enveloped the Namgung Family.

Approaching the coffin at the front gate of the family was the head, Namgung Chang-hwi.

“Are you satisfied now, Father?”

Looking at the resting body of Namgung Muguk in the coffin, Namgung Chang-hwi muttered to himself.

For some reason, Namgung Chang-hwi thought he saw a smile on Namgung Muguk’s lips.

“Family head.”

The leader of the Azure Sky Team approached Namgung Chang-hwi and handed over a piece of cloth.

“This is the last will and legacy of the Grand Elder.”

Written on it, in Namgung Muguk’s blood, were a few words he had penned just before closing his eyes for the last time.

“The Grand Elder said this is the final essence of the Emperor’s Sword Form.”

In his dying moments, he had left behind the insights he gained from his life-and-death battle with Hyeok Jin-gang.

“Did he say anything else?”

“He said the Namgung sword is the best under heaven.”

Namgung Chang-hwi closed his eyes tightly at the words of the Azure Sky Team leader, and then, instead of shedding tears, he abruptly walked away with fierce determination.

“Young Master, follow me.”

He led his son, Namgung Jin-cheon, to the hall of the family head.

Namgung Jin-cheon’s eyes were bloodshot.

His lifelong idol, his grandfather, had passed away.

As the young master of the Namgung Family, he struggled not to cry, but he couldn’t stop his eyes from reddening.

“Father?”

Confused about why his father was heading there, Namgung Jin-cheon asked in a puzzled tone.

Instead of answering, Namgung Chang-hwi drew the treasured Azure Sky Sword.

Swish!

Suddenly, Namgung Chang-hwi swung the sword, cutting down the plaque hanging above the entrance that read, “Best Sword Family Under Heaven.”

Handing one of the split pieces to his son, Namgung Chang-hwi said,

“Place this on your grandfather’s tombstone.”

Namgung Jin-cheon bowed his head, looking at the plaque piece his father had given him.

On the split plaque, only four characters remained.

[Best in the world]

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