Chapter 90
Deficiency (4)
Dozens of streaks of light came hurtling down from the sky.
Trailing long tails of radiance behind them, they descended like miniature meteors.
Swoooosh!
Having reached the apex of their flight high above, they now fell in sweeping arcs, their momentum anything but ordinary.
Moreover, distinct waves of qi spread outward from each arrow, causing countless ripples to appear throughout the air.
Even after the arrows passed, the disturbances they left behind remained clearly visible.
That alone was enough to reveal that these were no ordinary arrows.
Archery martial arts!
The qi radiating from the shafts and the sharp arrow intent concentrated around the arrowheads—
This was an arrow attack that could not be taken lightly.
Furthermore, the arrows resonated with one another as they formed a formation in flight, amplifying their qi even further.
This was not an attack intended to strike individuals.
It was a large-scale ultimate technique designed to overturn an entire battlefield.
The intent to wipe out everything in this area was unmistakable.
Did the Sun Moon Demonic Cult have archers like this?
At this moment, only by unleashing the sword winds of the Heavenly Wind Sword Art at full power could he hope to deflect the incoming volley.
There was no time to spare.
Just as Namgung Jun raised his sword and a powerful sword wind surged upward—
“It’s fine, my disciple.”
His master's voice from behind him was calm.
Only after hearing Lee Seha's relaxed reassurance did Namgung Jun notice something strange.
The trajectories of those arrows...
The dozens of attacks descending like streaks of light were aimed precisely at the Sun Moon Demonic Cult members.
KWA-GA-GA-GANG!
Dozens of cultists who received the impacts head-on exploded instantly.
Arms and legs were torn apart and sent flying through the air.
Others were struck directly by arrows that punched massive holes through their bodies, causing blood to pour out.
The ground itself overturned as rocks and dirt exploded in all directions.
Those fortunate enough to survive the barrage looked around in panic.
“What is this?! From where?!”
“That arrow attack! Could it be—?!”
Before they could even finish searching for the source, a second rain of arrows descended.
This time there were only half as many arrows.
However, the qi contained within each one was far more concentrated.
If the previous volley had targeted a broad area, these arrows appeared to be hunting individuals.
Rather than emphasizing range and destructive power, they focused on precision.
The refined control of qi was obvious.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The arrows pouring in from afar pierced the heads and hearts of the Sun Moon Demonic Cult members with perfect accuracy.
Despite Lee Seha and Namgung Jun standing nearby, not a single arrow landed anywhere close to them.
The distance between them and the cultists was only about ten paces, yet master and disciple remained completely untroubled.
“My disciple hasn't seen this before, has he?”
“Hm?”
“It’s the martial arts of Changcheon Society’s bowmen.”
KWA-GA-GA-GANG!
No sooner had Lee Seha finished speaking than a yellow-brown streak of light slammed into the battlefield ahead.
“Argh!”
“A surprise attack like this?!”
Even the Myung Cult Guards who commanded the ordinary cultists fared no better.
After barely knocking aside two or three arrows, they were struck down by the next wave and killed.
The Sun Moon Demonic Cult members were utterly helpless.
It was inevitable.
The trajectories changed completely with every volley, making it nearly impossible to determine where the attacks were originating from.
Attempting to hide behind trees or rocks was equally futile.
The incoming arrows simply pierced through or shattered the cover.
BOOOOM!
Amid the rising dust clouds and flying stone fragments, Lee Seha's voice drifted through the chaos.
It was the name of the archery martial art unleashing the continuous barrage.
Sinking Wing Chasing Rain Bow.
“Gaaah!”
“Run!”
Some cultists attempted to flee, but escaping the range of the archery art was a hopeless endeavor.
Dozens of arrows continued to rain from the heavens without pause, drawing straight trajectories and intercepting every cultist who scattered in different directions.
At this point, there was no need for Namgung Jun or Lee Seha to intervene.
The cultists who had intended to use the Bright Whale Demonic Art and drag master and disciple down with them died without even getting the chance.
An archery martial art that never allows its target any distance to maneuver. Terrifying power.
As Namgung Jun took in the devastated battlefield before him—
Figures were rapidly approaching from the distance.
Each martial artist carried a curved saber at their waist and a longbow on their back.
They were the ones responsible for wiping out the cultists from long range without suffering a single casualty.
And on every sleeve was embroidered a cloud pattern.
Namgung Jun spoke a name he had only heard in rumors.
“Gwangsi Hall.”
Gwangsi Hall.
One of the ten halls that formed the military backbone of the Changcheon Society.
Every member was a master of archery martial arts, specializing in long-range support, assassination, and large-scale warfare.
“Heavenly Sword Hall Master, did this old man interfere unnecessarily?”
An elderly man stepped forward from among the Gwangsi Hall members, who had all halted simultaneously.
His beard was long and white, but the longbow slung across his back was what stood out most.
It was significantly larger than those carried by the other hall members, looking like a weapon that could not be wielded by just anyone.
“Not at all. You saved us a great deal of effort.”
“I'm glad to hear it. I was returning to the main headquarters when I sensed some vermin-like presences and came to investigate. I never expected to find familiar faces here.”
The large-framed old man, the Hall Master of Gwangsi Hall, turned his hawk-like gaze toward Namgung Jun.
His appearance, bearing, and finally the cloud embroidery on his sleeve.
The sharp-eyed hall master's expression gradually shifted into surprise.
“But I see an unfamiliar face as well. And who might this young man be?”
With a proud grin, Lee Seha lightly patted Namgung Jun on the shoulder.
“My disciple.”
“What? At your age, you've taken a disciple? People your age are still considered members of the younger generation.”
“What kind of narrow-minded thinking is that? If the connection is right and our hearts align, then I take a disciple.”
The Gwangsi Hall Master looked at Namgung Jun with curiosity.
“So it's true?”
“My master's words are correct.”
Namgung Jun cupped his hands in greeting.
“It is my first time meeting you. I am Namgung Jun of the Heavenly Sword Hall.”
“You don't even seem to have reached twenty, yet you've achieved this much? So Changcheon Society has produced a Divine Dragon.”
Accepting Namgung Jun's salute, the old man added,
“Our hall has been away on a long mission and is unfamiliar with recent events at headquarters. Please understand.”
“It is nothing. I am still merely a lacking member of the younger generation.”
Apparently pleased by Namgung Jun's respectful demeanor, the old man's smile deepened.
“Perhaps the Heavenly Sword Hall will reclaim its former glory in this upcoming strength evaluation.”
Lee Seha confidently lifted her chin.
“Everyone should prepare themselves. The Heavenly Sword Hall has become very strong.”
“Hm. Indeed, we'll need to keep a close eye on Heavenly Sword Hall. To think a rising talent like this was hidden among you.”
The Gwangsi Hall Master inspected Namgung Jun from head to toe and nodded in understanding.
Meanwhile, Namgung Jun could only look toward Lee Seha.
He had just heard something entirely new.
“Master. What is this strength evaluation?”
“I was planning to tell everyone after returning to headquarters and gathering all the hall members, but things turned out differently.”
Seeing Lee Seha's reaction, Namgung Jun realized the old man's words had been true.
“A strength evaluation. That sounds interesting.”
“You'll need to start preparing as soon as we return.”
“That is fine. Let us return quickly.”
***
Master and disciple joined up with Gwangsi Hall and traveled back to Huangshan.
Upon returning to headquarters, Namgung Jun headed directly to Lee Seha's office.
“Master, when does the strength evaluation begin?”
“The exact date hasn't been decided, but probably in three or four months.”
After calculating something in his head, Namgung Jun nodded.
“We have more preparation time than I expected.”
“Which means we'll have to train properly. The other halls will be preparing seriously as well.”
Lightning flickered within Lee Seha's blue, thunder-infused eyes.
Her determination to achieve an excellent result in the upcoming evaluation was obvious.
She intended to restore the Heavenly Sword Hall's former status as one of the Three Great Halls.
Seeing this, Namgung Jun took a manual from his robes.
The reason he had come to the office in person was to hand this over.
“Master, I believe this manual will greatly help Heavenly Sword Hall.”
“What kind of manual is it?”
“A training method I developed based on the external martial arts I learned from Iron Tower Hall. It can refine a swordsman's body to an even higher level. I also referenced various other external arts.”
Lee Seha examined the manual titled Sword Foundation Art and her eyes widened.
“You created this by yourself?”
The contents were far more extensive and sophisticated than she had expected.
Even a brief glance was enough to tell that this was no ordinary manual.
“I completed it quite some time ago, but I've continued refining it. I believe the time has finally come to use it.”
“With a manual like this, we can definitely raise the overall strength of Heavenly Sword Hall.”
Lee Seha's eyes sparkled as she eagerly continued reading through the Sword Foundation Art.
“I should study this diligently myself. So there was a way to train like this.”
Already, she had begun memorizing the cultivation formulas.
Watching her with a faint smile, Namgung Jun continued.
“And I heard that during the strength evaluation, the hall masters also engage in martial matches.”
“That's right. Since it's an evaluation of each hall's strength, the hall master's personal combat ability is naturally included.”
“In that case, how about entering secluded cultivation for a while?”
“Secluded cultivation?”
Still reading the manual while conversing, Lee Seha finally looked up.
Namgung Jun continued naturally.
“Please don't worry about the hall members. I'll train them properly.”
“Teaching others is much harder than it sounds. It's frustrating, exhausting, and demanding. Are you really sure?”
“Yes. With three months of secluded cultivation, Master should be able to achieve significant progress. Leave the hall members to me.”
Lee Seha could not answer immediately.
Leaving the hall members alone before the evaluation genuinely worried her.
Then Namgung Jun strengthened her resolve.
“Master. Please trust this disciple.”
After studying him quietly for a moment, Lee Seha nodded.
“I'll trust you.”
***
Lee Seha entered secluded cultivation.
Since it was obviously to prepare for the strength evaluation, the hall members intended to devote themselves to their own training as well.
However, Namgung Jun gathered everyone together.
“Master has entrusted me with authority. I will oversee all training for the strength evaluation.”
The hall members' eyes widened.
With the hall master absent, they had assumed training would proceed independently.
“First, I want everyone to focus on this manual.”
Calling over the First Clouds and several others, Namgung Jun distributed multiple copied volumes of the Sword Foundation Art.
“What is this?”
“An external training method? Interesting.”
The swordsmen browsed through the manuals with curiosity.
In particular, the Three Clouds members quickly became serious.
Such a manual exists?
This isn't an ordinary training method.
No wonder the Hall Master entered secluded cultivation immediately.
When they learned that Namgung Jun himself had created the Sword Foundation Art, they looked at him with admiration.
“Through the Sword Foundation Art, we'll strengthen your bodies and temper each person's swordsmanship.”
“Temper swordsmanship? Mere advice won't be enough for that. You're planning to do it through sparring matches, aren't you, Young Hero Namgung?”
Having guessed Namgung Jun's intentions, Heo Il winked and explained on his behalf.
Namgung Jun nodded.
“However.”
His gaze swept across the gathered swordsmen.
“I will personally supervise every single spar.”
The hall members' eyes widened once more.
They had assumed the higher-ranked swordsmen would simply instruct the lower-ranked members.
But Namgung Jun had something entirely different in mind.
He intended to personally observe, adjust, and refine the swordsmanship of every swordsman present.
This was the key to significantly increasing the hall's strength within the limited period of three months.
It was a task that would be impossible without extraordinary dedication and stamina.
“Can you really do it?”
Gong Junam, who had been silently listening, finally asked.
Grasping the hilt of his sword with complete confidence, Namgung Jun replied,
“Of course. Everyone should prepare themselves.”
Thus began the Heavenly Sword Hall's training program for the upcoming strength evaluation.