Clang!

The sharp sound of metal rang out as the iron barrier shattered into dozens of pieces. Mu-hwa’s eyes, piercing and cold, locked onto the Black Phoenix Dragon, whose stance faltered under the assault.

“How dare you!”

The Black Phoenix Dragon’s face flushed with anger as Mu-hwa’s fierce swordplay targeted seven vital points on his upper body simultaneously, forcing him back helplessly. Watching the scene unfold, Kang Tae-hyuk shook his head slightly.

“When we return to the main fortress, we’ll appoint a new sub-lord.”

“Yes, sir.”

The fortress of the Conqueror was not a place where one could rest easy after attaining a position. Kang Tae-hyuk had decided that the Black Phoenix Dragon was unfit to bear the title of sub-lord.

There was no shortage of candidates eager to claim the position, so it was of little concern.

‘Perhaps my standards have risen after seeing that one.’

Kang Tae-hyuk glanced at Mu-hwi before turning his attention back to the chaotic battlefield.

Mu-cheol had defeated the Red Demon Dragon, and Mu-hwa had bested the Black Phoenix Dragon. In comparison, Mu-jin was dealing with numerous lesser demons, yet his prowess stood out even among the likes of Baek Ri-sang and Seon-woon, who fought alongside him.

“I thought the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect were mere side characters without their Sword Saint, but I was wrong. The younger generation of the orthodox sects is stronger than reported.”

For the First King to acknowledge this meant he recognized the martial prowess of the Mount Hua Sect. Yet, there was a faint hint of killing intent in his voice.

As the strongest of the Seven Kings, the First King had eliminated countless threats to the Conqueror’s ambitions. Seeing the exceptional skills of these young orthodox warriors, it was only natural to consider nipping potential threats in the bud.

“Hmm.”

Kang Tae-hyuk watched the young orthodox warriors, who stood out even amidst the chaotic melee, with a subtle smile.

Boom!

The sword of Seong-hui, cutting through the attacks aimed at his shoulders, knees, and waist, surged with power. The Southern Sea Blue Wave Sword, moving as if alive, unleashed a massive wave of sword energy.

Swoosh!

Seong-hui swept through the demons with unmatched skill, while Mu-cheol and Mu-hwa repelled the dragons attacking from the sides, weakening the momentum of the Conqueror’s forces and the Four Heavenly Demons.

Yet, the demons of the Black Night Palace continued to wield their weapons with ferocity. Despite the relentless assault, the young orthodox warriors stood firm.

“Everyone, be cautious. The Black Night Palace is becoming more aggressive.”

“Hmph. It’s nothing compared to the Thunder Path of my family.”

In response to Seon-woon’s warning, Paeng Ho-yeon swung his sword, crackling with thunderous energy.

The young warriors of the Sojeong Association had honed their skills through rigorous training and real-world experience, volunteering for missions with the Martial Alliance. They were not mere flowers nurtured in a sheltered garden but had the potential to grow into mighty trees, deeply rooted and resilient.

‘They’re performing better than expected. While Je-gal Myeong’s leadership plays a part, they’re all showcasing their skills. Their improvement since the Celestial Dragon Tournament wasn’t exaggerated.’

Mu-hwi, observing the chaotic battle, unfolded his arms with satisfaction.

The young orthodox warriors were so impressive that they became the focus of concentrated attacks from all sides. Yet, they remained undaunted, displaying their martial prowess with confidence.

Seon-woon, weaving through the enemies, unleashed his techniques with a blend of power and grace, characteristic of the Wudang style.

Thus, the overall flow was a harmonious blend of softness and strength.

Bang! Bang!

With each strike from Seon-woon, the sound of multiple impacts echoed, a testament to the Wudang’s Tenfold Brocade technique, capable of delivering ten strikes in an instant.

Boom!

Paeng Ho-yeon widened the gap with a thunderous strike, allowing Mu-jin and Baek Ri-sang to advance.

“I heard your grandfather lost an arm to the Sword Saint of Mount Hua. Yet here you are, fighting alongside his disciples. Is this the shamelessness of the orthodox sects?”

The taunting words of a young demon from the Four Heavenly Demons were met with a cold smile from Baek Ri-sang.

The Baek Ri family had remained silent about the Sword King’s fate, as per his wishes, which they understood and accepted.

Baek Ri-sang recalled the words from his grandfather’s letter sent to the Martial Alliance.

-I’m sorry. I was foolish.

The letter contained his grandfather’s regrets, gratitude towards Mu-hwi, and apologies to Baek Ri-sang.

“What do you know? Disgusting.”

Baek Ri-sang’s grip on his sword tightened, the initial softness giving way to a fierce strike.

Clang!

The sword technique Baek Ri-sang displayed was not the Celestial Wing Sword of the Sword King but the Hundred Selections Sword Technique of the Baek Ri family.

It was a testament to his newfound path, guided by Mu-hwi’s advice, his own choices, and his grandfather’s letter.

Baek Ri-sang easily dispatched the taunting young demon and followed Mu-jin’s lead.

“Now, Mu-jin! Take the front!”

Responding swiftly to Je-gal Myeong’s real-time commands, the young warriors perfectly countered the oncoming attacks from all directions.

Slash!

The demons’ blades rushed towards Mu-jin, but they sliced through empty air.

No demon could match the speed of Mu-jin’s Shadow Step. His movements, like a plum blossom in the wind, were untouchable.

‘I won’t lose to my fellow disciples.’

The violet sword energy, infused with the internal power of the Purple Mist Technique, erased the encroaching demonic energy. In the cleared space, a net of sword strikes crisscrossed, showering the area with petals.

Falling Plum Blossoms.

The fluttering petals of sword energy left sharp marks on the demons, their brilliance shining through.

“Ugh!”

“How can there be so many petals?”

The rich scent of plum blossoms from the swords of Mu-jin, Mu-cheol, and Mu-hwa filled the valley, pushing aside the metallic tang of blood.

The eyes of the Black Night Palace Lord narrowed as he inhaled the fragrance of Mount Hua’s plum blossoms rising from the heart of his domain.

“These young warriors make others seem insignificant.”

Though the battle seemed to favor the alliance of the Martial Alliance, they were thoroughly dismantling the onslaught.

“Ugh!”

A demon, struck in the solar plexus by Seong-hui’s kick, collapsed with a groan.

In the center of the battlefield, only the young orthodox warriors stood, breathing heavily but standing tall, meeting the gazes directed at them.

Meanwhile, Seong-hui picked up a wooden box from the ground and looked up at the Black Night Palace Lord.

“Impressive. You fought with such vigor, yet no one died. In battles like these, casualties are inevitable, yet you held back.”

The Black Night Palace Lord’s gaze lingered on the injured young warriors writhing on the ground.

“Perhaps you had the luxury to spare lives, or maybe you chose not to kill unnecessarily. The future of the orthodox martial world looks bright. Don’t you agree, Conqueror Lord, Four Heavenly Demons Lord?”

No one responded, but the Black Night Palace Lord chuckled to himself, seemingly amused by his own words.

Watching the Black Night Palace Lord provoke the two leaders, Kang Ho-baek fiddled with the edge of his bamboo hat.

‘He’s up to something.’

* * *

After the skirmish ended, the central ground of the valley was stained with blood. Though there were no deaths, the number of injured was significant.

As the situation settled, the Black Night Palace Lord called out to Mu-hwi, who had been sitting quietly.

“Sword Saint of Mount Hua, are you ready?”

Mu-hwi nodded, and the Black Night Palace Lord turned slightly, looking into the darkness of the passageway behind him.

“Who will step forward?”

“If you permit, I will go.”

A heavy voice emerged from the shadows, and the Black Night Palace Lord nodded.

“Then let the Left Guardian step forward.”

“By your command.”

A massive figure emerged from the darkness, descending in a sweeping arc to the center of the battlefield.

Boom!

The Left Guardian made a dramatic entrance, though it seemed he could have landed silently if he wished.

He drew the large sword from his back and thrust it into the ground, shouting.

“Come down, Sword Saint of Mount Hua! I’ll teach you a lesson.”

At the Left Guardian’s roar, Mu-hwi smirked and leaped down. Unlike the Left Guardian’s heavy landing, Mu-hwi’s descent was as graceful as a butterfly.

Landing lightly with the Shadow Step, Mu-hwi adjusted the sleeves of his flowing plum blossom robe and looked at the Left Guardian.

“You think you can fix a habit no one else could?”

Mu-hwi watched with a sardonic smile as Jwa Ho-beop’s expression turned deadly serious. Gripping his sword tighter, Jwa Ho-beop shouted, “Master, may I kill this insolent fool?”

“That would be problematic. This is a celebration for our sect’s founding, after all. Show some restraint.”

“As you command!”

Mu-hwi scoffed, a smirk playing on his lips. “Insects.”

At that moment, Jwa Ho-beop unleashed his energy, enveloping Mu-hwi in a powerful aura.

Crack!

The energies of the two transcendent masters clashed violently.

The air trembled with the impact, sending dust and pebbles swirling around them. Dark energy, like a black current, surged and mingled with the aura emanating from Mu-hwi, spreading out and consuming the surroundings.

Each time their energies intertwined, shockwaves rippled outward, strong enough to make some cough up blood. Yet, the more seasoned martial artists managed to withstand the force, watching Mu-hwi’s back with awe.

The two masters were testing each other’s strength through their energy.

‘So, he’s a transcendent too. I suppose I should consider U Ho-beop one as well. Damn these demonic sects. How much power are they hiding?’

Mu-hwi’s eyes grew cold as he assessed Jwa Ho-beop’s energy.

One thing was clear: the Black Night Palace was not inferior to any of the three factions present.

Boom!

Jwa Ho-beop made the first move.

With a swift step, he drew his sword and slashed vertically, aiming to cleave Mu-hwi in two. But Mu-hwi’s sleeve was already fluttering in response.

With a graceful twist, Mu-hwi’s hand redirected the descending blade, altering its course just enough to avoid a direct hit.

The sword veered slightly to the left, causing Jwa Ho-beop’s brow to twitch as his wrist adjusted.

Swish!

The sword reversed direction, aiming for Mu-hwi’s waist, but Mu-hwi was already spinning in mid-air, moving in the opposite direction.

In that instant, as both the sword and Mu-hwi rotated, Mu-hwi used the flat of the blade as a foothold. He launched himself forward, his drawn sword slicing through the dark energy in a flash of violet light. The strike trembled momentarily before blossoming into a single plum blossom.

Jwa Ho-beop’s eyes widened at the attack coming straight for him.

Mu-hwi’s step on the sword was infused with explosive internal energy, causing the blade to shudder violently. Instead of moving the sword, Jwa Ho-beop countered with his left fist.

‘I’ve lost a move.’

Sword and fist crossed in mid-air.

Mu-hwi darted past Jwa Ho-beop, his plum blossom robe fluttering behind him.

Crack!

A single plum blossom bloomed in an instant, and Jwa Ho-beop crushed it with a swift motion. But his left hand was bloodied.

Mu-hwi’s unpredictable maneuver had caught Jwa Ho-beop off guard.

Realizing he had been outmaneuvered, Jwa Ho-beop’s eyes hardened.

‘To lose ground so easily.’

While Jwa Ho-beop’s left hand bore a deep cut, Mu-hwi remained unscathed, his plum blossom robe still fluttering gracefully.

Turning slowly, Mu-hwi faced Jwa Ho-beop with a smile.

“Are you sure it’s wise to hold back, as the master suggested?”