Only I Am A Reader
chapter-391

As soon as Geochin's small tack of 'diplomacy' failed, the two armies engaged each other starting with none other than their two leaders!

The Black Heaven Jade and the Lightning Dragon clashed for the very first time, but it was like they were destined to stand up to each other. No matter how many times they separated, they would find themselves held up against the other in a split second.

Geochin's intense speed made it easy for him to dodge. However, he had to briefly meet swords with his opponent in order to launch his attack. Unfortunately, Yeon's battle style was the exact counter to his.

Since his physical strength and Internal Energy could hardly hold up against someone an Unrestrained Martial Artist, his sword technique was a 'soft' one. He didn't rely on exerting strength towards his opponent.

Instead, Geochin would brush by his opponent's weapon, alluding him to put his weight into the strike before decisively pulling back his sword. Of course, an expert of this level would have enough skill and control over his body to avoid tumbling over, but…

A consistent battle of nerves like this was bound to end with one of the two sides showing an opening, and the Murim Lord made it so Geochin wouldn't fall into his own trap! However…

'She is troublesome.'

Aside from the emotional storm that Yeon had once sent Geochin into, she had also surprised him by perfectly countering his semi-feints. Even with the long list of Sect Masters and Family Heads that died to his sword, none of them showed that level of control!

The Sword King had tried everything, in particular, he tried keeping his strikes soft as well, he even went as far as to Geochin's sword rhythm, but all of that was to no avail.

Soft strikes could never decapitate a Transcendent like Geochin, and a battle of attrition wasn't in the Sword King's favor either. Despite his bloating Internal Energy and stamina reserves as an old Unrestrained, Geochin's consumed any of his reserves considering how little he put into every strike.

In the end, the Sword King had simply lost to the superior sword master, the Sword Emperor! With him on Geochin's side, using skills and experience to triumph was nothing but drivel.

'She is handling it too well.'

On the other hand, Yeon had actually perfectly matched the tricky execution of Geochin's skill that he learned only after letting Namgung Geon abuse his body for years. It was simply inconceivable!

<Indeed, she has too much experience for her age… I suppose the rumors about the Heavenly Demon's Inheritance were real>

Momentarily taking a hold of Geochin's body to push the situation forward a bit, the Sword Emperor precisely ascertained the level of the person standing before him. In this fight, his descendant wasn't the only one that was cheating.

'Heavenly Demon's… Inheritance?'

Namgung Geon took his time to explain what he had heard back in the days while the smooth stalemate continued, a newly assigned Heavenly Demon would not only receive a huge portion of their predecessor's energy, but they would also receive a fraction of all the past Heavenly Demon's experience!

Leading insights, early maturity… These were all just the icing on the cake! What truly mattered was the battle experience and instinct that was by generations of Heavenly Demons over centuries!

Naturally, just receiving something like this didn't mean that someone would become instantly better, as was the case with Geochin who took years to reach this peak even with the Murim Lord controlling his body.

However, it gave the foundation to become better at a much more accelerated rate, and Yeon was definitely not slacking during the last few months!

'We are more similar than I thought.'

Benefiting from these chaotic times, both of them had risen to helm the strongest organizations of Murim. Although one of them was self-built, it undoubtly deserved to be compared with the Heavenly Strength Society after it crushed the entirety of Murim in less than a year.

In addition, while Yeon wasn't a transmigrator like Geochin, both of their current identities were the result of a fusion between the future and the past, they were different from the rest of the world!

'Is it really not meant to be?'

In a way, everything pointed towards how destined their meeting was supposed to be, but there they were, fighting to the death in an attempt to decide the fate of the world…

'Maybe…'

Thanks to their peculiar existences, their exchange of moves looked like a piece of art where both sides already had everything planned. No one showed any openings, nor did it seem possible for one to appear.

As things proceeded, Geochin couldn't help remembering his past thoughts. His naive feelings of attraction made him believe that Yeon would be the one to understand him, but none of that turned out to be true.

He had given up on that part of the dream, no one would understand him, but there was still salvation for him in the form of grasping his dream. However…

'Things can change.'

Now that he wasn't exactly capable of finishing Yeon off, nor did he find it in his heart to push toward that, different thoughts emerged in Geochin's mind. He had no reason to kill the leader this time!

All he needed to and could do was to hold her off until his numerical advantage crushed his opponent, and seal her to officially end the Heavenly Strength Society's existence. Someone prideful like Yeon might resent him first, but once she saw the world that he had rebuilt…

She might come to understand him and his reasoning!

"Sure, you are holding on for now, but let's face it…"

Geochin let out a few discouraging words while his mind drifted into a fantasy of his creation. However, the momentary inner peace that he had just achieved didn't last a few seconds!

"One down!"

A loud cheer along with the first change on the battlefield quickly caught everyone's attention as a figure swiftly dashed to the very center where the battle of leaders was taking place…

"...I will take it from here!"

Someone had just crash-landed into their stalemate!