Chapter 260: Emergence of the Divine Dragon

A Divine Dragon refers to a dragon that has ended its long life as an imugi[^(Lesser dragon in Korean mythology, said to become a true dragon after accumulating power/wisdom.)] and newly ascended to the heavens. It is also an expression of reverence for the brilliant divinity of the Hidden Dragon Tournament's champion.

The problem was that, throughout long years, no woman had ever won. Naturally, the debate started there.

Originally, a dragon referred to a man, while a woman was called a Phoenix. Isn't that why the Successors of the Orthodox Murim are called the Dragon-Phoenix?

Therefore, shouldn't the title for the Divine Maiden Sect disciple be Divine Phoenix, not Divine Dragon?

Then, someone nearby would object.

Or, birds of a feather flock together, so after one table reached a dramatic consensus—"Right, Divine Phoenix fits, indeed."—an objection would fly from the neighboring table listening in.

No matter how you look at it, doesn't Divine Phoenix sound a bit lame? There's never been such a lame moniker as Divine Phoenix in the history of the martial arts world.

Then, opinions would split again.

The correct female equivalent to Divine Dragon should be a young phoenix, a Phoenix Chick.

What does gender matter to a martial artist? Following the long tradition, calling her Divine Dragon is correct.

Thus, there wasn't a single spot in Kaifeng city free from arguments.

However, one opinion everyone agreed on was the prediction that the Divine Maiden Sect disciple would win.

Didn't she defeat Shaolin to get here in the first place?

The martial prowess of the Gong Clan woman, who fought a high-level match against the Jade Qilin, was also surprising.

But Qing is a Swordsman who defeated Shaolin with her fists.

Wielding a weapon is inherently much stronger than not wielding one. This was basic common sense that even a newborn child understood coming out of its mother's womb.

However, the fact that she defeated Shaolin, which boasts the greatest fist techniques under heaven, with her fists—isn't that proof her swordsmanship is even more accomplished? So they reasoned.

So everyone was in an uproar, trying to coin a plausible moniker.

One might scoff, "Why bother giving a nickname to someone like that?" but if someone crafted an excellent word that resonated with everyone, it could become widely used as an unofficial moniker.

Weren't there plenty of martial artists who acquired multiple nicknames this way?

If the moniker one created became widely used unofficially, it would be a source of pride to pass down for generations. The people of the Central Plains, who were serious about their bragging rights, wouldn't miss this chance.

She's supposed to be such a beautiful woman, how about Xishi Sword? Xishi Sword? That sounds totally lame. Then Divine Xishi Sword? Do we really need to stick Xishi in there? I think Three-Headed Divine Dragon is good. Three-Headed Divine Dragon? How can a dragon have three heads? Ah. Right. Three heads. Then it should be Three-Headed Phoenix Chick, why use dragon? I understand perfectly, but wouldn't a dragon or phoenix with three heads just be a monster?

Since she's a new beauty, shouldn't she become one of the Six Flowers of Murim? Then she should be called Divine Dragon Sword Flower. Then wouldn't there be two Sword Flowers? Then Divine Dragon Divine Flower? Hmm. You should just shut up and listen instead of trying to make nicknames.

<Read at Celestial Pavilion>

However, the approaches to the nicknames were heading in a direction that would have considerably enraged Ximen Surin had she heard them.

There was no praise for her divine skill, only talk about her being beautiful or having large breasts. Deep down, the rotten underlying mentality in the martial arts world was, "What use is a strong woman anyway?"

Thus, on the day of the final match, as Qing elegantly soared up and lightly landed, a torrent of cheers poured down on her.

The volume was far louder than when the Shaolin disciple had appeared; it was truly the greatest roar on earth, as if heaven and earth were trembling.

Qing used her transcendent Hearing Ability to catch a few things being said. Hmm. What the hell?

Three-Headed Beauty Phoenix... Hmm. Gotta remember which bastard said that.

Papae Divine Maiden? They're really going crazy.

Flower pig beauty?[^(Hwasi (花猪) literally 'flower pig', a term of endearment in some contexts but derived from 'pig' as an insult for large-breasted women. Ga-in means beauty.)] Calling me a pig?

Papae meant "top wave" and referred to a woman with large breasts. Qing had heard it quite a bit during her beggar days.

In the Central Plains, large breasts were considered a flaw, so it wasn't a positive term; it was closer to "cow" or similar insults.

In truth, even in Qing's homeland, it hadn't been long since large-breasted women started being called cows.

Across East and West, the derogatory term for a large-breasted woman is "pig." It's a term with roots. And since large-breasted women were looked down upon in the Central Plains, it became "pig bitch."

But "flower pig" was different.

It was the most intimate, or rather, the most cringe-inducingly affectionate expression Central Plains people used for their lovers.

It implied affection despite the large breasts. The term flower pig-beauty was steeped in the humor of the Central Plains people.

What fucking bullshit humor.

Of course, not everyone was singing songs about breasts.

Mountain-Uprooting, Earth-Overturning.

Xiang Yu Fairy... Hmm. Can the word 'fairy' even normally follow 'Xiang Yu'?

Apparently, the monstrous strength she displayed grabbing the Shaolin monk's wrist and throwing him had left a deep impression.

Greatest Beauty Under Heaven is a bit much. There are so many pretty people in the world, how embarrassing.

Sword Queen Beauty... Are they already calling me Sword Queen...?

The cheers directed solely at her made her insides tingle. Hmm. This isn't so bad after all.

Still, everyone needs to calm down a bit.

Qing raised her hand to quiet the spectators.

When Gongson Yoye appeared next, the cheers weren't as loud, which made things quite awkward again.

Still, it seemed she had acquired a cool moniker: Xuanyuan Maiden. What the—why does that actually sound plausible?

"Young Lady Ximen. You haven't forgotten my request, have you?" Gongson Yoye asked.

"Yeah. I'm still not sure, but... with sincerity," Qing replied.

She had pondered it hard all yesterday and today, but honestly, she still didn't quite get it.

Does fighting with the intent to kill count as sincerity?

"Then."

Gongson Yoye gave a slight bow and raised the longsword held firmly in both hands.

A massive sword shadow descended, a thick shadow bisecting Qing's face vertically. Enormous Sword Energy, splitting the sky in two, soared endlessly upwards, expanding magnificently.

The immense power contained within made Qing clench her teeth.

So this is it. The real Emperor Xuanyuan's Sword that consumes the True Source.

As if in response, Sword Energy flared from Qing's sword at maximum output. The Sword Threads swelled, not just condensing but expanding like a greatsword—Qing's special Sword Energy Transcendence.

Gongson Yoye's sword, stretched to one zhang(3.3m≈11'9) in height, clashed violently with Qing's wide greatsword of Sword Energy with a loud KWANG!

A strong pressure, unlike anything felt from a simple Taishan Presses the Peak form, pushed against her.

Thump-thump. The pulsing Sword Energy.

The mighty power drawn by burning life itself.

Ha. I really am... completely hopeless.

Truthfully, she had been underestimating Gongson Yoye, thinking she would win anyway, and now she was being pushed back hard in just one move.

Wait, isn't that totally cheating?

How can a sword stretch? If she swings a one-zhang sword, what kind of range does that attack even have?

A longer sword means longer reach.

And since the radius swung from the center is greater, the speed at its tip is like a ray of light, rushing forward not as a line but painting a plane.

Is this how a martial artist feels facing a swordsman? I need to close the distance, but how?

As if the first exchange was just a taste, a sword strike followed, cutting horizontally and occupying space itself.

Massless Sword Energy doesn't rebound even when blocked; it just pushes steadily, applying pressure.

Gongson Yoye's Sword Energy was the color of emperors, a noble hue dyed with precious pigments somewhere between red and purple.

Qing pushed the straight Sword Energy upwards to block it, taking a step. Kssshhh! With a strange sound of Sword Energies grating against each other, sparks scattered in all directions, forming a straight line along the sword's surface back towards Gongson Yoye.

Then suddenly, the pressure on her sword vanished. Gongson Yoye's sword had shrunk; the Sword Energy shortened, breaking the contact.

Qing's sword, which had been pushing forcefully, sliced through empty air. Her body, which had been leaning into the force, staggered.

Gongson Yoye's sword transformed from a line into a point.

It was a thrust aimed straight at Qing.

Though whether simply extending Sword Energy like that could be called a thrust was debatable.

Qing was startled.

Iron Plate Bridge? No. She could angle it down.

The distance was still considerable, leaving Gongson Yoye's sword completely free. Even just lowering it after the thrust could be a fatal blow, slicing vertically through the Iron Plate Bridge.

Qing threw herself forward as if diving into water.

She rolled twice on the ground and sprang up, only for the extended Sword Energy to chase after her again.

Powerful True Qi surged from Qing's Yongcheon acupoint—the vital point located between the two bones at the ball of the foot.

Tap, tap, tap! Qing's stride lengthened significantly as she drew a large circle, her gaze fixed unwavering on Gongson Yoye.

Qing swirled, gradually closing the distance towards Gongson Yoye at the center.

Gongson Yoye's Sword Energy, which had been spinning after Qing, vanished.

As if telling her to stop spinning and come forward, Gongson Yoye lightly touched the sword tip to the ground, leaning on it like a cane.

Qing answered the call.

Phantom Step, the peerless movement technique that was almost everything to the Divine Thief, unfolded. In Qing's vision, Gongson Yoye's entire body instantly expanded to fill her view, showing only the upper half.

Just as Qing was about to unleash a form of the Divine Maiden Sword—

Suddenly, she felt a strange flow in the air against her face and the skin of her hands. Qing slammed her heel onto the sparring stage—KWANG! A crude stomp that shattered the ground, sending wood splinters flying. Qing's body straightened and launched backward.

And from high in the air, she saw a coarse net enveloping Gongson Yoye. The trajectory drawn by the Sword Energy covered all directions, unfolding into the shape of a net.

Wow. Awakening Divine Art. This thing actually works.

But what in the world is that?

Martial arts, beyond a certain level, reach a point of touching upon ideology. It's a miracle that transcends simply swinging a sword—fast, slow, strong, soft—and brings the individually defined sword of the mind out into the world.

Qing didn't know the name of Gongson Yoye's form, but if she had to give it one, it would be something like Sure-Kill Instantaneous Wild Flurry.

However, each of those strikes was a powerful blow pushed to the extreme, channeling immense force into speed, embodying the subtleties of Weight that enveloped all directions.

The net of Sword Energy, blooming like a rose in all directions with a Chwajajak sound, vanished without a trace as if it had never been there.

Gongson Yoye smiled faintly and spoke.

"Young Lady Ximen. You won't be able to just bully your way through like you did with Monk Wolbong. That, frankly, wasn't martial arts, was it? You merely overwhelmed him with innate strength and senses. Please don't do that. Show me your sincerity?"

"I... I don't really know what that sincerity is," Qing replied hesitantly. "Everything I've learned... they're all martial arts for slaughter. Does using my Killing Sword count as sincerity?"

"Well. I wouldn't know," Gongson Yoye said. "Young Lady Ximen must have her own martial path."

"My martial path."

A sword is a tool for cutting.

Isn't that true even looking back at human history? Or maybe a ritual tool? Or a symbol of power?

Is there really any depth worth calling 'study' in that?

"Now. It's my turn to attack," Yoye declared.

Tang! The sound of her stomping step was sharp.

Gongson Yoye's speed was extraordinary.

It was completely different from the speed seen in previous matches; it must be the firepower generated by burning her Innate True Qi.

The longer this drags on, the more of her True Source she'll consume. Right, it seems better to end this quickly, even if I have to use the Killing Sword.

Qing's aura shifted entirely.

Her left hand pushed out smoothly—Deeeng—the solemn sound of a great temple bell echoed. But the result was brutal. A giant handprint of the Buddha was stamped firmly onto the hard wooden floor of the sparring stage.

Instantly, the watching Shaolin Martial Monks leaped to their feet, chanting "Buddha Palm" in unison.

But as if anticipating it, Gongson Yoye had already slipped under Qing's attack.

Damn, she could get even faster!

Qing's sword tip shot towards Gongson Yoye's neck. But the back of a hand pushed the sword's surface away—Gongson Yoye's left hand wasn't idle either.

Qing twisted her sword, as if to slash the hand daring to touch her blade. But an auspiciously colored internal energy flared—Pang!—with a small explosion, Qing's sword flew far away.

Gongson Yoye turned her blade outwards, raised it high, and swung the pommel like a hammer towards Qing's temple.

In that instant, Qing's eyes flashed.

Kkwareung! With the sound of lightning, the sunset-colored True Qi of the Zhu Xiang Heart Cleanse Mirror sparked. Ppak! With a harsh sound of bone being struck, Gongson Yoye's shoulder was violently shoved back.

It was the protective lightning of the Purple Lightning Demonic Art, one of the Ten Great Demonic Arts under Heaven.

Hmm. Thought it might work. It really does.

It was thanks to her senses being keenly honed by the Awakening Divine Art's power. The flow of the atmosphere felt sharper against her skin than usual, leading her to judge that controlling even the Purple Lightning Demonic Art might be possible.

Well, even if I couldn't control it, I would've just hit somewhere else, but hitting the shoulder I aimed for feels pretty good.

But is it okay to just use this freely?

Ah, screw it. She asked for sincerity.

Master said I just need to insist.

It's not purple, it's sunset-colored. I can just insist it's the Zhu Xiang Demonic Art—no, Demonic Arts won't do—something like Zhu Xiang Lightning Divine Art, right?

Qing grinned fiercely.