Chapter 51
Xian Zhu, who had been feeling Mu Hwi’s internal energy with her entire body, slightly narrowed her eyes and then burst into laughter.
“Disciple Mu Hwi is indeed different.”
Xian Zhu’s hand, which had been flicking the tassel of the sword with her finger, now pointed towards the sword’s edge.
‘The twins are interesting.’
Mu Hwi, seeing the light in Xian Zhu’s eyes, gripped the Plum Blossom Sword.
While her twin sister, Xian Mei, is calmly settled and exuded a cold aura from her eyes, Xian Zhu in front of him is pouring out a suffocating heat.
It wasn’t just a desire for victory or a competitive spirit; it felt like a will that aimed beyond that.
What is she aiming for?
“Here I come!”
Contrary to her cheerful shout, Xian Zhu’s sword immediately aimed to split Mu Hwi’s head. Mu Hwi watched this with curiosity.
Throughout the martial arts competition so far, all the initial attacks had been made by the Hwasan Sect disciples.
The martial arts they had learned greatly influenced the disciples.
The Jongnam Sect disciples preferred to firmly establish their own territory rather than launch an initial attack.
But Xian Zhu is the only one who first kicked off the ground and swung her sword.
Mu Hwi, who had unfolded the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, pushed Xian Zhu’s sword outward with the back of his hand.
Clang!
There is a sound of metal clashing as the sword and back of his hand met.
The force behind the sword was quite heavy, forcing Mu Hwi to draw more internal energy.
With this single sword strike, Mu Hwi realized.
‘Her talent is different from the other Jongnam Sect disciples.’
The smile on Mu Hwi’s lips deepened.
“Huh? How strange!”
Even though her move had been easily deflected, Xian Zhu didn’t panic and retrieved her sword.
Ting!
At the same time, Xian Zhu raised her fingers and shot out three streams of wind energy in succession to block Mu Hwi’s approach.
Mu Hwi, who had enveloped the wind energy with his hand shadow, immediately thrust the Plum Blossom Sword towards Xian Zhu’s forehead.
Xian Zhu calmly received Mu Hwi’s sword and began to expand the sword domain of the Thirty-Six Swords of the World.
‘She’s familiar with offense and defense.’
Mu Hwi, with his eyes wide open, swung his sword horizontally, aiming for Xian Zhu’s shoulder.
Xian Zhu slightly pulled her upper body back and drew a short arc with her sword to deflect the attack.
As Xian Zhu suddenly extended her waist forward, the extended sword gained momentum.
Swish!
A golden line was drawn straight, followed by two, then five sword strikes in rapid succession.
A golden sword strike that marked eight directions in one breath. It was as if it didn’t allow anything to exist in the direction the sword extended.
Thus, Xian Zhu’s Thirty-Six Swords of the World began to dominate the area.
The sword techniques of the Thirty-Six Swords of the World were majestic, and the power behind the sword couldn’t be underestimated.
The unending techniques flowed like a grand river, similar to the continuous flow of the Wudang sword technique.
Yet, none of it was biased, and the distinct characteristics of the sword technique didn’t show, making it truly a sword of the middle path.
‘Impressive.’
Amidst the dazzling golden sword light, Mu Hwi leaped in without hesitation.
Unlike Xian Zhu’s sword, Mu Hwi’s sword displayed extreme speed, racing through the air. The Plum Blossom Sword crossing the void appeared faintly white.
Red and white dots began to form on the golden sword aura of the Thirty-Six Swords of the World.
These dots instantly spread out in all directions like branches.
The wrist holding the Plum Blossom Sword was roughly flicked.
Plum Flow Reaches Heaven
When the Plum Blossom Sword trembled once, dozens of changes occurred at its tip.
The Plum Flow Reaches Heaven technique forcibly twisted and turned Xian Zhu’s sword aura, filling the gaps with Plum Blossom Sword energy.
The wildly fluttering Plum Blossom Sword energy gradually eroded Xian Zhu’s defenses. Xian Zhu’s eyes accurately pierced through these changes.
‘Changes are happening in an instant. I can’t give him any room to swing his sword.’
Xian Zhu didn’t retreat even as the petals covered her surroundings.
Instead, she stepped forward with the Big Dipper Sky River Step, calmly cutting off each Plum Blossom Sword technique one by one.
Even though Mu Hwi had collapsed his sword aura in one breath, Xian Zhu calmly extended her sword.
Xian Zhu’s burning eyes didn’t miss a single movement of Mu Hwi.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Even as Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu fiercely clashed swords, they continued to lock eyes. Each time, Xian Zhu smiled with her eyes.
‘This girl…’
As the Plum Blossom Sword energy poured out like petals swept by the wind, Xian Zhu stepped back while cutting the sword energy short.
Despite the pressure of the Plum Blossom Sword energy rushing like a flood, Xian Zhu maintained her blazing eyes and calm demeanor.
Whoosh!
Xian Zhu swung her sword neither too fast nor too slow, with just the right amount of force, steadily dominating the sword domain.
As if she were still at the center of the world.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu’s swords clashed incessantly.
Mu Hwi’s sword invaded, and Xian Zhu’s sword defended. The exchange of offense and defense continues.
Clang!
Actions like stepping back to catch their breath were unnecessary for the two swordsmen. They used that time to strike once more.
“Ugh…”
“The two swords don’t seem to want to separate.”
They clashed so much that the three elders watching the martial arts competition thought the two swords were stuck together.
Every time the Plum Blossom Sword drew unpredictable trajectories, the Plum Blossom Sword energy followed.
Red and white petals filled their vision.
The beauty was so overwhelming that Xian Zhu tried even harder to block the attacks.
As previously announced, Mu Hwi relentlessly pushed Xian Zhu.
Mu Hwi, using the Phantom Mirage Step, disappeared from Xian Zhu’s sight in an instant.
The Plum Blossom Sword energy swirling around the vertically held Plum Blossom Sword poured down onto Xian Zhu’s head.
Cold Plum Flash Fall
It wasn’t just a simple descent; the trajectory of the Plum Blossom Sword energy varied like it was swept by the wind.
The Plum Blossom Sword energy shot out as dozens of light beams.
“How beautiful, disciple Mu Hwi.”
An astonishing sight that would make even a skilled martial artist give up on blocking. Xian Zhu, with a smile, unfolded the Thirty-Six Swords of the World as usual.
In her unwavering demeanor, one could glimpse the figure of a Taoist who tirelessly practiced to follow the path.
The World Looks Up
Xian Zhu, who had jumped from her standing position, sprayed a dense golden sword energy and extended her sword widely. The dense sword energy seemed to raise a wide wall in the void.
The falling Cold Plum Flash Fall and the rising The World Looks Up clashed in the void.
Boom!
The impact pushed both Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu back.
Clang!
As if by agreement, both launched themselves at each other, exchanging sword strikes.
The two swords clashed in mid-air, roughly trembling and pushing each other away.
As Mu Hwi suddenly unleashed the Plum Blossom Scattering Hand, Xian Zhu quickly extended her left hand to counter.
But seeing the Plum Blossom Scattering Hand, which caused as many dazzling changes as the sword techniques, Xian Zhu decisively created distance.
Seeing this, Mu Hwi nodded.
‘Good judgment.’
Mu Hwi immediately flew forward, closing the distance. This time, both the Plum Blossom Sword Technique and the Plum Blossom Scattering Hand raged simultaneously.
Mu Hwi’s relentless attacks, like endless flying petals from the mountains.
Despite the storm of red and white sword energy and tension filling her vision, the fire in Xian Zhu’s eyes didn’t extinguish.
Instead, it grew hotter and larger.
‘Disciple Mu Hwi, you’re the strongest among the late-stage foundation level disciples I’ve seen so far.’
The corners of Xian Zhu’s mouth slowly curled up.
Xian Zhu, like a small boat navigating through rough waves, kept moving forward unwaveringly.
Relying on the sail and oar named the Thirty-Six Swords of the World.
Clang!
Mu Hwi, who had blocked Xian Zhu’s sword thrusting towards his chest, stepped forward. This narrowed Xian Zhu’s world.
Before they knew it, they had exchanged over seventy moves.
Xian Zhu extended her sword to block the direction Mu Hwi had broken through. In response, the Plum Blossom Sword also flashed and shot out.
Clang!
Exchanging sword strikes like this, Mu Hwi could be certain while looking at Xian Zhu.
‘The Jongnam Sect will produce a Sword Queen.’
The title of Sword Queen, which hadn’t appeared in the martial arts world for nearly two hundred years. The talent worthy of that title is right in front of Mu Hwi.
If it weren’t for Mu Hwi, Xian Zhu would naturally be the protagonist of this Six Harmonies Sword Assembly.
“Disciple Xian Zhu, wouldn’t you like to see the plum blossoms bloom through the sword?”
Xian Zhu’s red lips curved softly.
“I would like to. I wonder what kind of plum blossoms disciple Mu Hwi will bloom.”
As if by agreement, Mu Hwi’s Plum Blossom Sword sped up, and swept Xian Zhu sword horizontally.
Whoosh!
The Plum Blossom Sword emitted a clear sword cry.
The slowly moving Plum Blossom Sword. Yet, red and white afterimages remained along its trajectory.
While the disciples watching focused on Mu Hwi’s Plum Blossom Sword, only Xian Zhu maximized her internal energy and brought her sword to the center.
‘It’s not that it looks slow. It’s that my eyes can’t keep up with the sword.’
Xian Zhu’s heart raced.
Seeing the Plum Blossom Sword’s movements, she realized.
Disciple Mu Hwi still had a few tricks hidden.
‘What kind of sword is hidden beneath that surface.’
The desire to see that sword manifested as a brilliant golden sword energy in Xian Zhu’s sword.
As if showing she had reached the peak of maturity, Xian Zhu’s sword energy formed a clear shape while exuding a deep color.
Crackle!
The sword thrusting towards the center suddenly spread out like a fan to both sides.
Xian Zhu’s sword strikes, piercing twelve directions in one move, continued endlessly.
Following this, the golden sword energy filling the twelve directions endlessly pushed towards Mu Hwi.
The Hwasan Sect disciples watching this widened their eyes.
‘That…’
‘Someone our age can wield such a sword…’
The grand flow, like a river, made one doubt if even the martial arts master could oppose it.
The majestic waves filling the world tried to swallow Mu Hwi.
The World’s Surging Waves
The waves of sword energy poured out powerfully without obstruction.
The waves completely covered the twelve directions, making it impossible for anything to invade.
“Huh.”
Seeing Xian Zhu excellently execute the Thirty-Six Swords of the World’s ultimate technique, which was difficult to perform at her age, Mu Hwi smiled.
Instead of retreating, Mu Hwi boldly stepped forward. The sleeves embroidered with plum blossoms fluttered vigorously from bottom to top.
Whoosh!
Splitting the center of the majestic waves, the Plum Blossom Sword rose without hesitation. This made Xian Zhu panic for the first time.
‘He’s piercing through the technique’s essence and cutting it.’
Mu Hwi’s sword strike split the World’s Surging Waves, and red and white light seeped through.
Swish!
Petals rotated above the golden waves, and a cluster of plum blossoms bloomed. This was just the beginning.
Like ink spreading on white paper, countless radiant plum blossoms bloomed and spread over the golden sword energy.
Amidst this, red and white sword energy petals scattered like butterflies.
As Xian Zhu hurriedly extended her sword to strengthen her grip, her vision was already filled with plum blossoms.
“Ah.”
The refreshing scent lingering at the tip of her nose.
Xian Zhu couldn’t think of executing her sword technique, completely captivated by the vibrant plum blossoms.
Plum Shadows Fill the Sky.
The waves that had filled the martial arts stage had quieted, and a field of plum blossoms covered it.
Xian Zhu didn’t blink her eyelids. As if she didn’t want to miss this red spectacle even for a moment.
“Is that child really a second-generation disciple?”
“Hahaha, even I’m surprised.”
Not only the third and second-generation disciples but also the elders and first-generation disciples watching from the seats were astonished.
‘How…’
Baek Yu, gripping the armrest of his chair, felt his strength drain.
Mastering the Plum Blossom Sword Technique didn’t necessarily mean one could make plum blossoms bloom.
But Mu Hwi had bloomed plum blossoms, and not just one, but dozens effortlessly.
Considering the time Mu Hwi had spent learning the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, it wasn’t just a matter of talent but truly astonishing.
“For a late-stage foundation level disciple to create even one plum blossom is surprising, but to bloom so many like that? What exactly has the Hwasan Sect nurtured?”
Hong Xian, sitting beside him, asked in astonishment, but Baek Yu couldn’t find the words to respond.
***
“Your martial arts competition has taught not only the disciples but also us a lot. Therefore, it’s only right that you receive the elixirs.”
At Baek Yu’s words, all the disciples participating in the Six Harmonies Sword Assembly nodded.
Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu each received an elixir.
Mu Hwi, looking at the Snake Poison Pill in his hand, raised the corner of his mouth.
“The Human-Shaped Ginseng can be consumed later, but the Snake Poison Pill is dangerous due to its poison, so it’s better to take it while we’re here.”
At Hong Xian’s words, Mu Hwi bowed his head.
There would be no problem even if he circulated his energy alone, but there was no need to refuse Hong Xian’s kindness.
“Then I’ll take it right away.”
Mu Hwi, sitting cross-legged, opened the box and immediately poured the Snake Poison Pill into his mouth.
As the Snake Poison Pill dissolved into his bloodstream, a vicious poison energy instantly spread throughout his veins.
But the internal energy of the Heavenly Containment Heart Technique, surging from his dantian, instantly seized the poison energy.
Thus, the poison energy, unable to move under the pressure of the Heavenly Containment Heart Technique, began to circulate through his entire bloodstream under its guidance.
The poison energy gradually weakened and merged into the internal energy of the Heavenly Containment Heart Technique.
‘What’s this?’
Mu Hwi’s eyebrows twitched as he circulated his energy.
Mu Hwi had a habit from his past life of spreading his energy sense as widely as possible while circulating his energy.
This was to quickly respond to any unforeseen variables while in a defenseless state during energy circulation.
Even though the elders of Hwasan and Jongnam Sects were guarding him, he spread his energy sense out of habit, and an unfamiliar presence was detected.
It wasn’t just Mu Hwi.
Baek Yu and Hong Xian, who had opened their eyes wide, turned their heads, and the elders sensed the anomaly one by one.
A red flag visible through the trees.
Two swordsmen cut down the trees on both sides with a single stroke, and the flag bearer forcefully planted the flag into the ground.
Thud!
As the wind blew, the fluttering red flag had the character for ‘Paewangseong’ embroidered in black thread.
The Paewangseong (Overlord Castle) Flag was fluttering over the mountain.
< Jongnam Sect will produce a Sword Queen. > End
< You’re comfortable with me in front, right? >
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