Chapter 637: The Star of the Festival

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The duel stage lay in ruins.

The two bladesmen, who had clashed so ferociously that it looked like a fight to the death, had finally settled the score. Only the victor remained standing.

However, that victor, Hyonwon Kang, was gazing down at the blood-soaked Peng Sahyuk sprawled at his feet with an odd smile.

Baek Suryong said, "Shame on you!"

““......””

Bizarrely, no cheers erupted. The spectators, who had always showered the winner with thunderous applause, gulped nervously in the tense silence. Some whispered to their neighbors as if they had just witnessed something they shouldn’t have.

“No way...”

“I-Is he dead?”

There were only four of them, yet they exuded enough pressure to immobilize the entire Blood Cult, which had come to wage war on the world.

“The stage literally just split in two...”

“And he’s smiling after doing that to his opponent.”

The pools of blood and the stage cleaved in two testified to a battle rivaling a duel to the death. The fight was so brutal that many of the spectators, who had watched with bated breath, mistakenly believed Peng Sahyuk was dead.

“That last strike...”

This was the Apostles’ unanimous conclusion.

“I thought no prodigy could ever compare to the Sword Wonder...”

“Is it the Azure Dragon Academy again?”

The Heavenly Martial Principal, who had patiently waited for his turn through the former world’s greatest bladesman’s review, smiled brightly.

Even the masters, including the Heavenly Martial Principal who was supposed to announce the results, sat in silence. Some were lost in the afterglow, while others muttered to themselves in a daze.

Their serious expressions only fueled the audience’s confusion.

Suddenly, as the cherry on top, Hyonwon Kang nudged Peng Sahyuk’s limp body with his foot.

“Yo! You dead?” he teased playfully, smirking devilishly.

Unfortunately, the dead-silent arena was the perfect environment for his voice to be heard. Several orthodox martial artists who were short on insight yet overflowing with a sense of justice shot up from their seats in indignation.

Baek Suryong said, "Shame on you!"

“What an outrageous villain!”

“Stop this at once! How dare you desecrate the dead...!”

The Heavenly Martial Principal, who had patiently waited for his turn through the former world’s greatest bladesman’s review, smiled brightly.

“Not only did you kill a man in a friendly tournament, you have the gall to insult him without a shred of remorse!?”

“What a wicked little bastard!”

Hyonwon Kang, who had been too absorbed in his duel with Peng Sahyuk to notice the mood, finally looked around in bewilderment. “W-What? Who’s dead? This guy’s alive and kicking! Hey, Peng Sahyuk! Get the hell up, quick!”

He kicked the unconscious Peng Sahyuk a few more times for good measure, fanning the jianghu’s outrage even further.

I meant that your Heaven-Defying Divine Art is nothing but a half-assed sham.

Just as someone was about to suggest declaring the little villain a public enemy of the murim...

“Ugh...” Peng Sahyuk groaned, barely regaining consciousness.

The Heavenly Martial Principal finally stepped forward to settle the commotion, ending the interval that was awkward for many and unfair for one person in particular. “I declare Hyonwon Kang, third-year student at the Azure Dragon Academy, the winner!”

With that announcement, the last Heavenly Martial Academy student competing in the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament was eliminated. Nevertheless, there was no hint of disappointment on the Principal’s face.

Unfortunately, the dead-silent arena was the perfect environment for his voice to be heard. Several orthodox martial artists who were short on insight yet overflowing with a sense of justice shot up from their seats in indignation.

““WAAAAAH!””

Applause and congratulations for the winner poured in belatedly. Since the crowd’s excitement had already fizzled out, though, their cheers sounded oddly forced.

Hyonwon Kang grumbled sullenly, “Why do things always turn out this way for me? When Wiji Cheon won, the cheering nearly blew the whole damn city away.”

“Because you’re an idiot,” Peng Sahyuk snickered, hastily descending the stage. “Everything you do turns out like this.”

Left alone in the limelight, Hyonwon Kang pouted as he bowed to the audience, hands clasped in gratitude.

“MAGNIFICENT!” a thunderous voice rang out, so loud that it was hard to believe it contained no inner qi.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!

The world’s greatest bladesman, So Jigwang, had risen from his seat and was clapping enthusiastically. Paying no mind to the countless gazes turning his way, he launched into a detailed review of the match.

“Amazing! Incredible! Both boys showed bladesmanship so outstanding that it’s hard to believe they’re mere teenagers! The Hebei Peng Clan’s Five Tiger Demolition Blade is mighty and brimming with power. The Hyonwon Clan’s Asura Blood Heaven Blade, on the other hand, is rough and ferocious yet precise. Anyone who carries a blade in their heart must have learned a great deal from watching these two duel today. Of course, praising their martial achievements alone would not do them justice. I must also praise the spirit these two young bladesmen showed and their fearlessness in the face of injury. After all, a true bladesman only grows by facing his opponent’s attacks head-on...” So Jigwang paused, swept his gaze over the audience gaping at him like fools, and clicked his tongue. “Let every young martial artist in the world learn from these two! It’s not too late to throw away your random miscellaneous weapons and take up the blade... B-B-Bow Phantom?”

There were only four of them, yet they exuded enough pressure to immobilize the entire Blood Cult, which had come to wage war on the world.

The Soul Hunting Bow Phantom quietly appeared beside So Jigwang and whispered something in his ear. No one heard what was said, but everyone saw So Jigwang’s face sour immediately afterward.

“...Ahem! You, the Hyonwon boy over there, come visit the Black Snake Alliance sometime.”

Leaving Hyonwon Kang with one last piece of advice, So Jigwang meekly let the Soul Hunting Bow Phantom lead him back to the Unorthodox Alliance’s seating zone.

The Heavenly Martial Principal, who had patiently waited for his turn through the former world’s greatest bladesman’s review, smiled brightly. “Student Hyonwon Kang, please don’t leave the stage just yet. Wait a moment.”

Namgung Su shook his head in disdain. The ones who are seeing this have disappointed him.

“...Why?”

Instead of answering, the Heavenly Martial Principal turned and surveyed the stands. His gaze soon came to rest on one spot.

I meant that your Heaven-Defying Divine Art is nothing but a half-assed sham.

His voice, imbued with inner qi, rang out across the arena. “The two prodigies who will compete in the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament final have been confirmed! Student Wiji Cheon, could you come up to the stage?”

“Yes!” Wiji Cheon, who had been meditating to treat his internal injuries, rose from his seat and nodded. His complexion had improved considerably.

Moments later, Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon stood side by side on a platform so badly damaged that it could hardly be called a stage anymore.

The spectators cheered and applauded as they took in the sight of the two Azure Dragon Academy finalists before them.

The spectators cheered and applauded as they took in the sight of the two Azure Dragon Academy finalists before them.

The two boys looked at each other and smirked before bowing to the audience.

“Those kids...”

“Wiji Cheon and Hyonwon Kang are really...”

“...fighting for the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament championship...”

There were only four of them, yet they exuded enough pressure to immobilize the entire Blood Cult, which had come to wage war on the world.

All of the students and instructors at the Azure Dragon Academy were overcome with indescribable emotion. Some sniffled, unable to hold back their tears, while others beamed with pride and clapped as loudly as humanly possible.

The people watching them from the stands felt a strange stirring in their hearts as well.

“So the final duel of the Heavenly Martial Festival belongs to the Azure Dragon Academy.”

“Only the final duel? It’s no exaggeration to say that Azure Dragon Academy students stole the show in every single competition these past seven days.”

The spectators cheered and applauded as they took in the sight of the two Azure Dragon Academy finalists before them.