The Return of the Sword God Chapter 120 : Yama King vs Sword God. -02

Chapter 120: Yama King vs Sword God. -02

The martial art that only the Namgung Family Head could learn, and the sword art worthy of being discussed as the greatest under heaven, was precisely the Emperor’s Sword Form.

It would not have been an exaggeration to say that the Namgung Family had been created because of the Emperor’s Sword Form; it was undoubtedly a supre art of extraordinary caliber.

However, it was not as though there were no sword arts that could rival it.

Wooooong!

The Shaolin Temple’s Dharma Three Swords was likewise more than deserving of being called an absolute sword art.

And just as important as the martial art itself was the person who had mastered it.

“Mm!”

Namgung Ho’s eyes widened like lanterns.

The mont Ban Hojin raised his montum, cracks began forming within the domain he controlled.

He had not even swung his sword.

He had rely let it hang loosely and raised his montum.

Sahaaat!

And yet his sword domain was splitting apart.

From exactly where Ban Hojin was standing.

Namgung Ho could not believe it.

‘He’s splitting the Emperor’s Sword Form?’

Namgung Ho was well aware that Ban Hojin had mastered the Dharma Three Swords, Shaolin Temple’s secret and sole sword art.

He also knew that it was so difficult to master that its lineage had not properly continued.

But even so, the current situation was unreal.

No matter how much of a genius he might be, this was impossible.

‘This cannot be.’

Even if he had surpassed the level of the later-generation experts, this still made no sense.

So Namgung Ho decided to confirm it.

Was what he was seeing true ability, or was Ban Hojin rely soone whose sword montum was exceptional?

Though rare, there were occasionally those whose sword montum far exceeded their true skill. Namgung Ho considered that Ban Hojin might be such a case.

Swoosh.

To confirm it, Namgung Ho slowly pushed his sword forward.

Maintaining the upper stance, he thrust it toward Ban Hojin.

However, though it was slow, it was not sothing to take lightly.

As it advanced, the oppressive pressure flowing from the blade grew stronger.

‘Prove it. Your skill.’

Those who were sensitive to feeling and handling true energy often showed strength in sword montum.

Conversely, they tended to be lacking in the technical aspects of handling the sword.

Namgung Ho wondered which type Ban Hojin was.

Realistically speaking, it would be natural for him to fall behind in technique or finesse, so Namgung Ho did not take his eyes off Ban Hojin as he slowly pressed his sword forward.

Swoosh.

Namgung Ho’s sword pressed in—slow, yet certain.

It was a sword that blocked any possibility of evasion, leaving no choice but to receive it head-on.

This single strike embodied the path he had forged and the Sword Dao he had cultivated his entire life.

Though he might not be the greatest under heaven, it was a blade more than worthy of the title Sword Hero of his generation. Facing that sword, Ban Hojin also unfolded the Dharma Three Swords.

‘I had been personally curious. We have fought together before, but we have never crossed swords.’

Ban Hojin had also wanted to cross blades with Namgung Ho.

It was just that he had not liked the manner of it.

Rather than requesting a respectful spar, Namgung Ho had maintained a coercive attitude from beginning to end, which was why Ban Hojin had responded crookedly.

Yet at the sa ti, he could understand why Namgung Ho acted this way.

They were not of similar age—Ban Hojin was even the sa age as his son, Namgung Gwang.

Naturally, from Namgung Ho’s perspective, he could only look down on Ban Hojin.

Not only in terms of seniority, but because Namgung Ho was the current Head of the Namgung Family.

‘So first, I should show him. That I am not to be taken lightly.’

Ban Hojin grinned.

After consuming the spiritual dicine, he had wanted to properly loosen up at least once.

Training alone had its limits, and to maintain his real-combat sense, sparring with a strong opponent was periodically necessary.

Thus, Ban Hojin decided to make full use of this spar.

Jjeoeoeong!

Though not a single strand of sword energy had coiled around it, Namgung Ho’s blade carried imnse inner power.

It was simply not visible to the naked eye.

Ban Hojin t that sword head-on.

With the tip of his own blade, he pushed away Namgung Ho’s sword tip.

“Huh!”

Though slow, Namgung Ho’s sword contained a weighty and overwhelming force.

The Emperor’s Sword Form embodied the ultimate principle of the heavy sword, yet Ban Hojin deflected it directly. Namgung Ho’s eyes widened like lanterns.

As the saying went, a master could discern an opponent’s level from a single strike.

From that clash alone, Namgung Ho realized sothing.

Ban Hojin was not a half-baked swordsman.

Sssaeak!

But it was too soon to be surprised.

Ban Hojin’s Dharma Three Swords was only just beginning.

Though he normally did not deliberately unfold the formal stances of the Dharma Three Swords, this ti was different.

To properly contend with Namgung Ho’s Emperor’s Sword Form, Ban Hojin consecutively unleashed the first and second swords of the Dharma Three Swords.

Kwaaagwang!

Like Namgung Ho, Ban Hojin’s blade bore no visible sword energy.

Yet each ti it collided with Namgung Ho’s sword, a thunderous explosion erupted.

Though unseen outwardly, the imnse inner power carried within caused the blasts.

Jjeoeong! Jjeong!

Compared to Ban Hojin’s dazzling sword strikes, Namgung Ho appeared relatively simple.

True to the Emperor’s Sword Form, which crushed opponents into submission with overwhelming force, his sword forms were not flashy.

But that did not an they were weak.

On the contrary, in his own way, Namgung Ho repelled all of Ban Hojin’s assaults.

Slowly yet surely, he thodically built up his sword domain and pressed Ban Hojin back.

As if, true to the na “Emperor,” he intended to force Ban Hojin to his knees.

Jjeoeoeok!

But Ban Hojin did not yield so easily.

As the invisible, formless sword wall pressed down on him, Ban Hojin shattered it with sheer force.

“Heh heh heh.”

At that sight, Namgung Ho let out a hollow laugh.

Even seeing it with his own eyes, he could not believe it.

Ban Hojin had not even gone all out.

It was clear he still had room to spare, and Namgung Ho’s expression grew serious.

“Then I wonder if you can block this as well.”

Wungwungwungwung!

As though everything until now had rely been a warm-up, Namgung Ho’s aura completely changed.

As if what had co before had rely been a test to gauge skill, now he held his sword as a martial artist and swordsman.

Perhaps because of that, not only the atmosphere but even his aura itself changed.

Moreover, a milky-white Sword Force began to gather along the Changcheon Sword.

Woooong!

At that sight, Ban Hojin ford a faint smile and likewise raised his Sword Force.

A dazzling golden Sword Force, at that.

And thus, the second round began.

Kkwaaang! Kkwagwang!

Namgung Ho’s sword strikes crashed down toward Ban Hojin with the force of crushing him to pulp.

Without feints or changing moves, he pressed down solely with brutal strength.

Yet what was interesting was that Ban Hojin was no different.

As if he had no intention of retreating, Ban Hojin did not move a single step from where he stood and t Namgung Ho’s blade head-on.

Jjeojeojeok!

As a result, the Training Grounds split apart in all directions with the two of them at the center.

The shockwaves from their collision tore the ground as it failed to withstand the impact.

Not only that, but each ti sword t sword, the walls surrounding the Training Grounds trembled.

They shook violently from the aftershocks.

‘Hah!’

But Namgung Ho had no ti to dwell on that.

Because Ban Hojin did not evade his sword and instead received it in full.

In truth, compared to him, Ban Hojin’s level of inner energy was nothing remarkable.

Their years of life were different, and the accumulated power they had built up could not help but differ. Yet even so, Ban Hojin displayed astonishing efficiency as he blocked his Sword Force.

‘Was the Three Dharma Swords truly at this level?’

And it was not only Ban Hojin that shocked him.

The Three Dharma Swords he unfolded also struck him with surprise.

He had heard it was extraordinary, but to see that it did not fall far behind the Emperor’s Sword Form—Namgung Ho was truly taken aback.

Yet the greatest shock of all was Ban Hojin himself.

Sssaeaeak!

Like him, Ban Hojin’s sword forms contained no feints or changing moves.

He wielded the sword purely through technique and skill alone.

And that level was comparable to his—or perhaps even slightly higher.

Even as they exchanged offense and defense, Namgung Ho could scarcely believe it.

‘In physical ability, I am inferior.’

Their physiques were not much different.

Yet there was a clear gap in physical capability.

Namgung Ho still possessed the body of his pri, but it could not compare to Ban Hojin, who was only twenty-one.

The explosive strength and stamina born of youth were not sothing Namgung Ho could catch up to.

Seugeuk.

Though he overwhelmingly surpassed him in inner energy, Ban Hojin astonishingly received the Emperor’s Sword Form with extre efficiency.

Not only that, he succeeded in striking first.

It was but a small cut, yet what mattered was that Ban Hojin’s blade had sliced through his clothing.

Kkaang! Kkagagakang!

Moreover, as ti passed, Ban Hojin grew accustod to the Emperor’s Sword Form.

anwhile, Namgung Ho had yet to grow accustod to the Three Dharma Swords.

As though he had predicted the sword path, Ban Hojin surged in half a beat faster and blocked the route first. At that, an involuntary chuckle escaped Namgung Ho.

At the sa ti, he felt fear.

Aside from inner power, at least in terms of swordsmanship, Ban Hojin surpassed him in every aspect.

The mont he realized that, Namgung Ho could no longer regard Ban Hojin as one of the Rising Juniors.

Paaat!

The instant his thoughts changed, his aura shifted once more.

Not as a senior of the Jianghu, but as the Yama King standing before Ban Hojin.

Kugugugung!

Though he had rely drawn up his inner power, the ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.

Centered on Namgung Ho where he stood.

At the sa ti, the air itself changed.

Within a fixed radius around Namgung Ho, not a single breeze stirred.

“Let us begin again. From now on, properly.”

“Now it seems worth crossing swords.”

“Hahahaha!”

Even after revealing himself as the Yama King, one of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven and one of the Murim Ten Kings, Ban Hojin remained spirited.

There was no way he could fail to sense his realm.

Yet strangely, rather than feeling displeased, Namgung Ho felt intrigued.

He wondered what kind of figure Ban Hojin would reveal.

“Then shall we truly contend in earnest?”

A smile curved at the corner of Ban Hojin’s lips.

In truth, everything until now had been no more than a prelude.

Sword Force had raged relentlessly, and even invisible formless force had stord about, yet up to this point it could still be called a fight between humans.

But now it was different.

The Transcendent Realm was also called the Transcending-Human Realm, and the reason was clear.

It was because one wielded power far beyond what could reasonably be called human.

Huaaaang!

To confront the power of the Transcendent Realm, one had to ascend to that sa realm.

It was not for nothing that the Transcendent Realm was called the Transcending-Human Realm.

It was nad so because it possessed power that ordinary humans could never oppose.

And Ban Hojin revealed that power as well.

“Huh!”

At the savage, massive pressure of qi that poured out centered on Ban Hojin, Namgung Ho’s eyes widened as far as they possibly could.

Even the strength he had displayed thus far had been comparable to the Elders of the Five Great Families.

Yet when he revealed the power of the Transcendent Realm as well, Namgung Ho’s mouth fell open in addition to his widened eyes.

He could not suppress his shock.

“This ti, I will go first.”

Toward Namgung Ho, who stood motionless like a stone statue, Ban Hojin swung his sword.

It was the One Cut, Two Halves stance, known not only to third-rate martial artists of the Jianghu but even to children.

But even the sa stance differed vastly in power depending on who executed it.

Ban Hojin demonstrated that fact now.

Sssuaaang!