Hwasan Sect’s Genius Swordsman Chapter 87

Chapter 87

The moment Musang’s right arm, holding the Plum Blossom Sword, moved up and down, a chaotic sword trajectory, difficult to read, shot out.

Swish!

The sword wind that flew horizontally was split into five pieces by Musang’s Plum Blossom Sword, which continued to pierce through the air effortlessly.

The sword energy swayed like a salmon, up and down, before transforming into dozens of sword shadows.

“Gasp!”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

The late-stage foundation level disciple of Shaolin, who had sent the sword wind toward Musang, gasped in shock and quickly leaned his body to the side. But by then, Musang’s wrist had already twisted slightly.

The sword shadows, as if alive, drew arcs and surrounded the Shaolin disciple.

“Stop!”

As the judge intervened, Musang sheathed his Plum Blossom Sword as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“The winner! Hwasan Sect’s Musang!”

Musang didn’t gloat over his victory. Instead, he walked over to the Shaolin disciple, his opponent, and paid his respects.

“It was a good match.”

“Thank you for showing mercy.”

After exchanging greetings, Musang descended from the sparring platform, his lips and shoulders trembling slightly.

‘So far, so good.’

The Martial Alliance’s founding ceremony had begun, and the first event to take place was the Heavenly Dragon Competition.

This Heavily Dragon Competition held special significance as it was the first competition hosted by the Martial Alliance, a major coalition of orthodox sects. Thanks to the unprecedented number of prizes, the number of participants far exceeded expectations.

After two days of preliminaries, the main tournament was finally underway today.

“Petals are scattering everywhere.”

“Some of them are even blooming plum blossoms. It must be the Hwasan Four Flowers.”

“I heard that when Hwasan Sect’s swordsmen release their sword energy, it emits the scent of plum blossoms. It’s true!”

A significant number of spectators watching the Heavenly Dragon Competition had their eyes fixed on the Hwasan Sect disciples.

It was only natural. The Hwasan Sect’s unique, dazzling sword techniques and the plum blossom-like sword energy were captivating.

Add to that the sword scent spreading in all directions.

Moreover, the number of Hwasan Sect disciples on the sparring platforms was higher than that of other prestigious sects, so no matter where you looked, you could see at least one Hwasan Sect disciple.

“Oh, isn’t that Mujin? After defeating a Cheongseong disciple, he’s now taking down a Gongdong sect disciple.”

“The Hwasan Four Flowers aren’t the only ones with a reputation. I’m more interested in the other nameless disciples.”

At the words of a renowned martial artist, those around him nodded in agreement.

The Hwasan Sect disciples participating in the Heavenly Dragon Competition weren’t just strong because of the Hwasan Four Flowers. Even the unknown disciples were formidable.

If the seasoned martial artists, who had seen countless talents, acknowledged this, it was clear that the Hwasan Sect’s average achievement among its disciples was the highest.

As if to prove this, even as the main tournament progressed, the Hwasan Sect disciples had the most survivors.

“Sect Leader. We need to stay vigilant.”

“You’re right. Seeing Hwasan rise like this makes me anxious. What are our disciples even doing?”

As the leaders of Wudang Sect, Yunzhong Zhenren, and the Namgung Family Head, Namgung Heo, joked with each other, Baek Yu simply smiled and stroked his beard.

‘Has there ever been a day as proud as this since I became the Sect Leader?’

If he sharpened his senses a bit more, he could even hear the voices from the spectator seats. The audience was mainly talking about the Hwasan Sect.

Everywhere he looked, petals were scattering, and plum blossoms fluttered from the disciples’ sleeves. The sight was incredibly proud.

‘I knew the kids were working hard, but compared to the late-stage foundation level disciples of other sects, the difference is clear.’

The main competition had started in the morning, and now the sun was at its zenith.

Yet, none of the second-generation disciples had been eliminated from the competition.

“Impressive.”

Moreover, all the second-generation disciples active on the stage were wielding Plum Blossom Swords, making them even more admirable.

‘They’ve really put in the effort. Mu Hwi.’

Baek Yu momentarily turned his gaze to Mu Hwi, who was seated in the tent next to the sparring platform, where the late-stage foundation level disciples were waiting.

Seeing Mu Hwi constantly moving his lips, it seemed he was reviewing the matches with his disciples and giving them guidance.

As Baek Yu watched this scene with a pleased expression, Mu Hwi suddenly turned his head sharply. Following Mu Hwi’s gaze, Baek Yu’s eyes shifted.

Swish!

At the end of Mu Hwi and Baek Yu’s gaze, a blue sword energy was pouring down. The endless surge of sword energy was like the waves of the ocean.

“Ugh.”

Muryun let out a short groan as his sword split endlessly, drawing dozens of sword shadows. However, he couldn’t stop the momentum of the flowing energy.

The petals floating in the air were swept away by the surging blue sword energy, gradually disappearing.

Thud!

Muryun barely managed to block the sword strike that came through the blue sword energy, but he lost his balance and rolled on the sparring platform floor.

Muryun tried to get up quickly, but a sword reflecting the sunlight was already at his throat.

“The winner! Hainan Sword Sect’s Seong Hwi!”

Mu Hwi took in Seong Hwi, who had easily defeated Muryun. Perhaps sensing Mu Hwi’s gaze, Seong Hwi ignored Muryun, who was glaring at him from the ground, and raised his head.

Seong Hwi was looking directly at Mu Hwi amidst the crowd.

At first glance, his gaze seemed calm, but beneath the surface, a rough storm was brewing.

After alternating his gaze between Mu Hwi and Muryun, Seong Hwi turned his back and descended from the sparring platform.

“They say he’s been defeating disciples from the Nine Sects one by one. He certainly has the skills for it.”

Mu Hwi muttered as he watched Seong Hwi’s retreating figure.

Seong Hwi had the skills to undertake the absurd journey of challenging the Nine Sects.

In fact, Seong Hwi had already defeated a Shaolin disciple.

Now, the remaining opponents in his Nine Sects challenge were Kunlun, Jongnam, and Hwasan. It seemed Seong Hwi intended to see the end of his Nine Sects journey through this Heavenly Dragon Competition.

“That man’s sword technique just now was the South Sea Breaking Sword of the Hainan Sword Sect.”

Mujin, standing beside Mu Hwi, was also looking at Seong Hwi’s back with wary eyes.

“Although it was a long time ago, this sect once produced the world’s greatest swordsman. Their martial arts are not inferior to those of the Nine Sects.”

“The fact that it’s a left-handed sword technique and the way it differs from Central Plains sword techniques in various aspects.”

“The form and development of the techniques are also different from Central Plains sword techniques. Late-stage foundation level disciples with little experience won’t be able to adapt to that unfamiliarity and will easily fall.”

The disciples around Mu Hwi and Mujin listened intently with serious expressions.

The fact that Hwasan’s sword techniques had been easily overwhelmed by Seong Hwi’s South Sea Breaking Sword was that shocking.

Boom!

A sudden explosion echoed.

“What’s that!”

The deafening roar, as if lightning had struck from the sky, was so loud that even the late-stage foundation level disciples sparring on other platforms turned their heads.

The cause of the explosion was the clash of a fist and a sword.

Woo Tae-gang and Mu-cheol had unleashed their strikes toward each other.

The two men, without dropping their fists and heavy swords, pushed against each other, engaging in a contest of strength.

Creak!

Woo Tae-gang’s fist, wrapped in the Mokshan Internal Energy, didn’t cut through but instead made a sound like scraping metal as it pushed against the Plum Blossom Sword.

“You’ve really gotten stronger, Mu-cheol. What kind of training did you do?”

Woo Tae-gang blinked his cow-like large eyes and asked.

When they met at the Hwahon Sect, Mu-cheol had struggled to block even the first fist of the Thousand Weight Iron Fist and had been pushed back several steps.

But now, he wasn’t retreating even a single step and was holding his ground against Woo Tae-gang’s fist.

Woo Tae-gang was genuinely surprised that Mu-cheol had closed the gap between them to this extent.

Thud!

Mu-cheol silently pushed back the fist and spun his Plum Blossom Sword, drawing a large semicircle. Woo Tae-gang exhaled deeply and pressed his fist against his side.

Woo Tae-gang’s gentle eyes narrowed slightly, and a thick fighting spirit began to emanate from him.

For the first time in this Heavenly Dragon Competition, Woo Tae-gang revealed his fighting spirit, recognizing Mu-cheol as an opponent he had to go all out against.

Boom! Crash!

The Thousand Weight Iron Fist and the Iron Plum Sword Technique clashed head-on. The two men shared the common trait of refusing to back down.

The sparring platform floor shattered under the fist strike, and debris flew up. The sword strike created a deep groove in the platform.

With each clash of sword and fist, the platform crumbled amidst loud explosions.

The spectators, as well as the renowned martial artists in the VIP seats, all turned their attention to the intense match.

“Is it because they’re young? They’re really going at it.”

“Haha. They won’t be able to use that platform for the next match.”

“The Hwasan disciple fighting on par with the Iron Mountain Fist King’s disciple is also impressive.”

A yellow fist energy gathered on Woo Tae-gang’s fists, while Mu-cheol’s Plum Blossom Sword turned red.

Woo Tae-gang tried to close the distance by charging into Mu-cheol’s range, just as he had done against Dokgo Yul. Mu-cheol used the ever-changing sword techniques of the Iron Plum Sword Technique to block him.

Bang!

A fist struck Mu-cheol’s chest, and a sword strike slashed Woo Tae-gang’s shoulder. The exchange of attacks between the two men momentarily paused.

But Mu-cheol simply wiped the blood flowing from his mouth, and Woo Tae-gang endured the internal shock through his Mokshan Internal Energy.

The two men silently stared at each other and then stepped forward again.

Whoosh!

‘It’s completely different from before. At the Hwahon Sect, it felt like he was just pouring strength into Hwasan’s sword techniques.’

The Plum Blossom Sword, creating a heavy sound as it cut through the air, restricted Woo Tae-gang’s movements.

The Plum Blossom Sword, which didn’t suit the heavy sword, poured out a variety of sword techniques, limiting the directions Woo Tae-gang could choose.

Woo Tae-gang twisted his shoulder to dodge the descending sword strike by a hair’s breadth, and his thigh swelled.

Not missing this, Mu-cheol immediately stepped back using the Dark Scent Flutter movement technique.

The tense exchange of attacks was interrupted, and the match turned into a chase.

The Dark Scent Flutter movement was incredibly free, but the sparring platform’s space was limited.

On the other hand, Woo Tae-gang, who was accustomed to such chases, gradually caught up to Mu-cheol with explosive bursts of speed.

‘Huff.’

Mu-cheol felt the flow of the match getting tangled and consciously steadied his breathing.

But Woo Tae-gang’s large hand, like a pot lid, was getting closer.

‘This isn’t enough.’

The power of the heavy sword and the diverse changes based on the Six Harmonies. The Iron Plum Sword Technique harmonized these two into one.

Mu-cheol had succeeded in bringing out both aspects simultaneously, but he hadn’t yet harmonized them into a single sword strike.

When he fully unleashed the heavy sword’s power, the sword techniques became simpler. When he needed variety, he had to reduce the heavy sword’s power.

Whoosh!

Woo Tae-gang’s fist surged forward, tearing through the air.

Mu-cheol’s vision was filled with Woo Tae-gang’s fist.

The current fist strike, extended from the optimal distance Mu-cheol had given up, would unleash its maximum power.

With his center of gravity shifted backward to create distance, Mu-cheol clearly wouldn’t be able to block it properly.

‘Mu-cheol, you’ve completed all your preparations.’

Mu Hwi watched Mu-cheol stepping back with his arms crossed.

Mu-cheol had completed all the preparations to walk the path toward mastering the Iron Plum Sword Technique.

Now, all that remained was to take that first step.

The heavy sword and Hwasan’s sword.

The Iron Plum Sword Technique embodied both identities simultaneously.

To master the Iron Plum Sword Technique, he had to perfectly embody these two identities in his sword.

Simply alternating between them wasn’t enough.

When Mu Hwi’s gaze shifted to Mu-cheol’s Plum Blossom Sword, a change began to occur on the blade, which had turned red.

The internal energy of the Heavenly Containment Heart Technique, which had been heavily layered on the sword according to the heavy sword’s principles, began to unravel like a thread.

Whoosh!

Yet, the sword strikes Mu-cheol unleashed didn’t lose their power and displayed their full might.

The internal energy of the Heavenly Containment Heart Technique, which had been layered and then scattered, fluttered in all directions in the form of petals.

Compared to ordinary Plum Blossom Sword energy, these petals were much thicker and larger. They resembled pieces of metal more than petals.

Clang! Clang!

The petals of the Iron Plum Sword Technique, pouring down like hidden weapons, struck Woo Tae-gang’s entire body, creating metallic sounds.

For a moment, Woo Tae-gang’s feet stopped in place.

He had seen countless Plum Blossom Sword energies from other Hwasan Sect disciples, but Mu-cheol, who was executing the Iron Plum Sword Technique, had never released petals before.

His instincts warned him of danger, but Woo Tae-gang bent his thighs and leaned forward, charging ahead.

Boom!

As he stepped forward, Woo Tae-gang’s entire body shot forward like an arrow. His body crouched, and the explosive power condensed into a single fist.

In front of Woo Tae-gang, a single plum blossom bloomed.

But this plum blossom was completely different from those of other Hwasan Sect disciples.

It was as if five plum blossoms had merged into one, creating a massive bloom.

It wasn’t as dazzling or radiant as other plum blossoms.

But the thick petals, as if dozens of petals had been layered together, stood firm like an impenetrable fortress.

“The Iron Plum Sword Technique’s plum blossom. Another plum blossom has bloomed in Hwasan.”

A plum blossom that only Mu-cheol could bloom.

Mu Hwi raised the corner of his mouth as he watched Mu-cheol’s Iron Plum.

Crash!

Even as Woo Tae-gang’s full-powered fist struck, the Iron Plum blooming in the center of the sparring platform didn’t budge an inch.

Just like Mu-cheol’s back, which had carried the Iron Plum Sword Technique all this time.

< Mu-cheol, you’ve completed all your preparations. > End

< Are you going to challenge me? I’m looking forward to it. >