Chapter 976: There's No Way Not To Believe It (Part 1)

The phrase "the sound of a river flowing" is actually somewhat awkward. Streams make noise as they flow, but few can hear the sound of a deep river. A river just flows quietly.

But the people on Plum Blossom Island at this moment, without a doubt, heard the sound of a river flowing. It was a sound that resembled a certain rhythm created when waves met waves.

The profound silence had settled on this island to such an extent.

Even seeing it with their own eyes, they couldn't believe it.

A third-class disciple of Mount Hua. A young swordsman who had just crossed into adulthood was pushing around the Black Dragon King, who had established an absolute position in the Murim world

If one calmly observed, the extent of the injuries of the two were not significantly different. Of course, Black Dragon King's body was torn and punctured all over. But considering his massive body and toughness, these injuries couldn't be considered fatal.

On the other hand, Chung Myung's injuries were limited to one hand, but that hand was almost unusable. The back of the hand had been torn almost to the bone, and the palm was so messed up it looked as if it had been chewed on.

If someone were to arrive here now and examine the two, it would be difficult to answer who had the upper hand.

However, as much as those who have watched this contest from the beginning until now with their own eyes, no one would dare to call this match a "draw."

A profound sense of disquiet gripped them. In the face of the scene where common sense was collapsing, no one could do anything but remain silent.

"…."

Namgung Myung, who was about to say something, couldn't bring himself to speak and closed his mouth. It was because it was impossible to express his current feelings in any words.

He suddenly looked down at his own hand. Cold sweat was pouring down his palm.

'Who the hell is he....'

It was incomprehensible. No, it might be terrifying.

Namgung Myung's swordplay was clearly well-calculated. Namgung Myung also had the Namgung surname. As the direct descendant of the family, who had never lost the position of the best sword family in the world, he could understand it immediately.

How much effort and dedication were contained in just one swing that seemed like nothing.

No, even if he didn't have the Namgung surname, anyone who wielded a sword could not help but know.

But could all of this spectacle be explained by just that effort? No matter how much one honed oneself, sharpened oneself to the extreme, could a person fight like that?

'Impossible.'

This wasn't something that can be learned. It wasn't a kind of thing that was possible with determination.

That person named Chung Myung was fundamentally different. He didn't know what exactly made him like that, but just watching him swing his sword sent shivers down his spine. It made his jaw tremble and gave him a cold, eerie feeling.

Then it happened.

"That damned human... "

"Tsk."

An irritated voice came from the Five Swords standing next to him. No, it would be more accurate to say that they were more angry than irritated. 

But a while later, a bizarre sight unfolded. Chung Myung, who had captivated Namgung Myung to the point where he couldn't even breathe, was tearing apart his own clothes.

Cheeeee!

Chung Myung used the torn clothes to clumsily bandage his left hand, all while in the midst of fighting.

"Tsk."

It was originally impossible for someone to check their own injuries while fighting with all their might. Even if you heard that not getting hurt was more important than killing the enemy, you would never find time to check your injuries during a fight.

But right now, he was clumsily using the torn clothes as makeshift bandages for his hand. It was because of the threatening gazes that seemed like they might kill him.

'Damn bastards.'

Baek Cheon, Jo Gol, Yoon Jong had opened their eyes, and Yoo Iseol, while her expression remained unchanged, seemed ready to pounce and strangle Chung Myung at any moment. Especially the face of Tang Soso, who was releasing killing intent from behind, was so terrifying that one couldn't even bear to look at it.

Chung myung chuckled as he adjusted his injured hand.

He was so frightened by those eyes that he took the time to tend to his injuries in the midst of battle. If the Tang Bo had seen them, he might have foamed at the mouth and fainted.

Squish.

Pulling his pants up to his waist, Chung Myung spat out the sand sticking to his lips and adjusted his sword. And even now, he was grinning as if it was absurd.

At the right moment, Black Dragon King stood up with his massive body.

His lips, where he seemed to be barely holding back his anger, were dripping with blood. His unsealed sword trembled.

"This... "

For a moment, Black Dragon King's entire body exuded a frenzied energy.

The overwhelming power of this aura was enough for several of the pirates to faint and fall everywhere. The disciples of Mount Hua were also bewildered by the astonishing aura.

"You little rat!"

The Black Dragon King's gaze was filled with bloodshot eyes. What did all this mean?

He acknowledged his speed. However, none of the injuries he suffered from fighting that damn bastard were due to his 'skill'. It was a result of his determination to push through without taking care of his injuries and his unbelievable resourcefulness, all created by that lunatic's madness.

Although he was swearing on the outside, his face was tinged with extreme caution.

'That guy is incredibly used to battle.'

No, in fact, the word "incredibly" was inadequate to express everything he had experienced a moment ago. Even he, who had always despised learning, felt that the words he could find to describe the madness and venom at this moment were inadequate.

A typical warrior waits for an opponent's opening. An exceptional warrior uses their own strength to create openings in the opponent.

However, that guy didn't just stay at that level. He was at the level where he forcibly twisted and turned an opening, plunging his nails and fangs into it and tearing open the wounds.

Chung Myung pulled the fabric he had wrapped around his hand with his teeth and approached the Black Dragon King.

Even his footsteps were intimidating.

He clenched his teeth.

There was no rabbit that approached a tiger first. At least the fact that he could approach first during a battle was a clear sign of superiority.

The Black Dragon King's high and mighty pride was about to be torn to pieces, but instead of cursing and shouting as he usually did, he slowly aimed his scimitar forward.

His movement was infinitely cautious.

It symbolized his acknowledgment. He recognized the young swordsman in front of him as a formidable opponent, worth risking his life to fight.

No matter how strong a strongman is, they can't be a strongman from the beginning. He also wasn't a strongman from the beginning but had survived in the midst of stronger opponents to come this far.

Instead of violently storming through the surroundings, the storm-like deadly intent began to flow through him like a blade.

The corners of Cheongmyeong's mouth twitched dryly.

"Now it's finally worth trying."

"Don't get ahead of yourself. Kid..."

The Black Dragon King's words didn't continue. It was as if someone had cut off his speech. He couldn't bring himself to call that crazy Taoist "kid."

"Tsk."

The Black Dragon King's lips pursed, and his eyes darkened.

He knew.

The outcome justifies everything. If the opponent was strong, the praise that would return to the Black Dragon King would also be elevated.

So...

The Black Dragon King's foot slowly pushed the sand as he controlled his breath. With each breath, his sword naturally moved up and down.

His eyes, which had been wild like a charging boar, gradually transformed into the eyes of a warrior.

Chwack!

As his foot struck the ground, the Black Dragon King's black aura shot forward like an illusion. The swirling sand rose into the air, and the Black Dragon King's body reached Chung Myung in an instant.

Hwi-yuk!

A rapid thrust followed.

It wasn't just an attack using his long sword. It was a thrust that maximized the advantages of his scimitar, longer than any spear. Before the first thrust had even reached its limit, the dozens of shadowy afterimages from the sword were poured toward Chung Myung's entire body.

Chung Myung quickly retreated. However, in that moment, the shadows created by the Black Dragon King's thrust extended even further and pursued him.

"Hup!"

With a brief shout, Chung Myung extended his sword towards a point in the air like a venomous snake.

Ka-kang!

His sword accurately pierced the space between the blades, and Chung Myung deflected the incoming attacks to the left and right. It was at that moment that he created a gap, just as he attempted to send his sword flying.

Hwi-ing!

With a sound like a whistle, the space created by Chung Myung allowed the Black Dragon King's sword to rush like a beam of light. Chung Myung instantly twisted his hand to hold the sword vertically.

Ka-a-a-a-a-a-a!

The clash of blades resounded in the air as Chung Myung's body was thrown backward. In that moment, the Black Dragon King adjusted his sword.

Kwaang!

As his foot struck the ground like it would shatter, the raised sword was thrust fiercely into the air.

Kwaaaaaaa!

The sword's edge emanated a brilliant scarlet light. It was like a waterfall of sword energy pouring out from the tip of the sword, as if someone had drawn a line across the sky with an enormous brush!

In the face of the sword energy that could shatter him to pieces, Chung Myung twisted his body in mid-air and drew his sword behind him.

"Huahhh!"

As Chung Myung's sword was whirled like a whip, a crimson crescent-shaped sword energy burst from the tip of the sword. The dim red glow of the sword energy collided head-on with the brilliant sword energy gushing forth from the sword's edge.

Kwa-a-a-a-a-a-a-ng!

At the moment when these two forces collided, a tremendous explosion of energy in the sky occurred, accompanied by an enormous roar as if a cannon had been fired.

Kwung!

At that moment, the Black Dragon King's sword tip, covered in brilliant sword energy, swept over. The sword energy that had expanded in an instant condensed and condensed again into a single line. Then, it immediately began to revolve fiercely around the sword.

"Hooooo!"

The Black Dragon King let out a thunderous shout that seemed to split his throat. With his rising energy, his scimitar rapidly spun into the black sword energy.

Paa-a-a-a-a-a-a-ng!

He swung his sword down as if it would split the heavens apart. The sword's hardness, the Dao Gang (刀剛), extended from the sword, drawing nine rough and wild lines in the sky.

The Nine Dragons' Charge!

It looked as if nine enormous black dragons were flying towards Chung Myung. Witnessing this awe-inspiring spectacle, screams erupted from the mouths of the Mount Hua Sect's disciples for the first time.

"Chung Myung!"

However, at that moment, a red dot appeared in the sky. In a world with a watery blue sky and a vividly green river, a red flower bloomed like a cloud.

An explosive blossoming.

From dozens to hundreds and even thousands, countless plum blossoms flourished in the sky, forming a massive wall. In an instant, the world turned red as if the sunset was spreading across the bright blue sky.

Soon, the nine dragons intertwined and collided head-on with the red plum blossom wall.

Kwa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ng!

With a huge explosion that sounded as if a mountain was collapsing, red and black sword energy exploded and scattered like firecrackers.