Swish!

The dark energy unleashed by Elder Sa was effortlessly split apart, dissipating into the shadows. In that fleeting moment, Elder Sa found an opening to draw his sword, aiming to slice through Mu-hui’s chest with the same force as his own energy.

But the tip of Elder Sa’s sword trembled slightly.

It was due to the overwhelming presence of the plum blossom sword aura that filled the surroundings. The red and white lights enveloped him, making it feel as though he stood in a different realm.

The mystical path traced by the plum blossom sword conjured a small paradise around Elder Sa.

‘How is this possible…’

For a master of Elder Sa’s caliber, drawing a sword required no more than the blink of an eye divided five times. Yet, he couldn’t fathom extending a web of sword techniques as intricate as Mu-hui’s, which covered even his rear.

The subtle scent of plum blossoms that had crept up in the darkness was as elusive as Mu-hui’s movements. Elder Sa found this fragrance more chilling than any scent of blood he had ever encountered.

The plum blossom scent enveloped Elder Sa, followed by a cascade of red and white petals. The fragments of sword aura glimmering in the darkness were exquisitely refined. Before he knew it, Elder Sa was entranced by the plum blossom sword aura.

Clang!

Elder Oh stepped in front of Elder Sa, deflecting Mu-hui’s strikes with a series of swift techniques. As the plum blossom sword aura, which had been coiling into a sphere, wavered, Elder Oh shouted.

“Elder Sa!”

Snapping back to his senses, Elder Sa joined Elder Oh in their combined assault. He slashed through the three strands of sword energy targeting Elder Oh’s knees and launched a direct strike at Mu-hui’s shoulder.

Naturally, the flow of battle led Elder Sa and Elder Oh to join forces against Mu-hui. Yet, the elders found themselves bewildered.

“Old men, shouldn’t you at least act your age?”

Mu-hui’s eyes sparkled as he grinned, even as the elders coordinated their attack.

Swish!

Mu-hui’s right foot traced a semicircle forward, causing the trajectory of the plum blossom sword to intertwine in the air. By the time they realized they had missed his strike, blood was already gushing from a torn arm.

When Elder Oh’s thigh was slashed, Elder Sa quickly thrust his sword to intercept the plum blossom sword aimed at Elder Oh’s core and solar plexus.

Thunk!

Barely deflecting the attack, Elder Sa felt the shock reverberate through his sword, causing his beard to twitch. Despite their combined efforts, it was Mu-hui who seized the momentum, driving them back like a storm.

Moreover, it seemed as if Mu-hui had a perfect understanding of Elder Sa’s Shadow Sword Technique and Elder Oh’s Windfall Sword Technique, precisely disrupting their sequence of moves.

Clang!

Gritting his teeth, Elder Sa swept his sword downward. He feigned a diagonal slash at the lower section, then abruptly surged upward with six strikes aimed at the knees. In contrast, Mu-hui merely flicked his sword with ease.

Amazingly, Elder Sa’s techniques lost their force, while Mu-hui flipped in mid-air, launching a crescent-shaped sword aura. Elder Sa, who had blocked the three streams of plum blossom sword aura, was pushed back, leaving a long trail on the ground.

“Ugh.”

The Shadow Wisdom Grove technique he had just executed lost its power in an instant, pierced by two precise thrusts.

‘Is this even possible?’

He knew the Sword Demon of Mount Hua had made a significant impact at the Six Harmonies Sword Assembly and had defeated the Canal Sword Dragon. Even if the Six Dragons had surpassed the level of the younger generation, they couldn’t defy the limits of time.

Yet, the monster before him shattered those conventional standards with ease. Despite facing a superior opponent in a joint attack, Mu-hui remained calm and composed, reading the flow of battle with remarkable skill.

What baffled him most was the heavy, profound experience imbued in Mu-hui’s sword. No matter how talented, such depth couldn’t be achieved through talent alone.

‘It’s like facing a master who has reversed the flow of time.’

Elder Sa chastised himself for such absurd thoughts and cleared his mind. Meanwhile, dozens of sword shadows branched out from the tip of the plum blossom sword.

The sight of the sword shadows multiplying rapidly was like witnessing a sudden bloom of flowers in spring.

“Haap!”

As the red trails blossomed in the air, the two elders let out a battle cry they hadn’t used in ages, thrusting their swords with all their might.

Despite their full-force shout, Mu-hui deftly slipped between the two elders.

“Come on, give it your all. We didn’t come all this way through the night dew just to die here.”

Mu-hui’s voice was cool, laced with a hint of laughter. At the tip of his sword, a single plum blossom bud began to bloom. The beauty of the plum blossom conjured by the sword was unmatched, yet the two elders felt a chill run down their spines instead of admiration.

The scent began to waft.

The familiar scent of death that often lingered on the battlefield.

***

While Mu-hui kept the two elders occupied, others were engaged in their own battles. The Black Moon Squad, which had intended to incite chaos at the mountain villa and carry out a silent massacre with their secretive techniques, found themselves facing a formidable formation.

The Six Harmonies Sword Formation, composed of second-generation disciples and secular martial artists, surrounded the Black Moon Squad from five directions.

From atop the wall, the Lotus Sect Leader began directing the formations.

“Advance, one step!”

Boom!

As the Six Harmonies Sword Formation moved forward in unison, the Black Moon Squad at the center felt the pressure of their space closing in.

Though the Black Moon Squad was considered elite even among the many warriors of the Abyssal Sect, the encroaching formations from five directions naturally dispersed their strength.

Boom!

It wasn’t just the formations applying pressure. Warriors from the Mount Hua Sect, the Wushan Sect, and the Wuhou Sect, along with five from the Lotus Sect, were infiltrating the Black Moon Squad.

“Wi Se-heon!”

While others held back the Black Moon Squad, Mu-jin stood before Wi Se-heon, who was clutching his neck with one hand. Wi Se-heon, already bloodied, glared at Mu-jin with irritation.

“What do you want?”

Mu-jin, exuding a chilling aura, brought his plum blossom sword to the ready, his eyes like ice.

“I’m going to start with you and bring down the Abyssal Sect.”

Wi Se-heon tilted his head at Mu-jin’s low voice. Staring intently into Mu-jin’s eyes, he asked.

“Revenge, is it? I thought you were just a disciple of Mount Hua. Who are you?”

“The last survivor of the Yeonan Jin family.”

“Yeonan Jin family?”

Yeonan, located in the northern part of Shaanxi, was also where the main base of the Abyssal Sect was situated. Wi Se-heon, after a moment of staring at Mu-jin, burst into laughter.

“Ha! I’ve heard of it. A family that dared to stand tall and was wiped out.”

Wi Se-heon looked Mu-jin up and down, a smirk playing on his lips.

“And you ran to the Mount Hua Sect? For revenge?”

Ignoring Wi Se-heon’s words, Mu-jin launched a strike with his sword, the aura more intense than usual, as Mu-hui had seen before.

Thunk!

Though he aimed to slash Wi Se-heon’s chest, his sword was easily blocked by Wi Se-heon’s reverse grip.

Simultaneously, Wi Se-heon spun to his left, deflecting Mu-jin’s sword and extending his own in a counterattack.

As Mu-jin tilted his head to avoid the thrust aimed at his forehead, Wi Se-heon closed in, exploiting the shorter length of his sword compared to the plum blossom sword to his advantage.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Indeed, Wi Se-heon, one of the contenders for the position of the minor leader of the Ghost Sword Sect, displayed a sharp and formidable swordsmanship.

Having gained the upper hand, Wi Se-heon maintained a narrow distance, making it difficult for Mu-jin to wield his plum blossom sword effectively.

As Wi Se-heon delivered a series of short, stabbing strikes, vertical streaks of grayish-white sword aura flew towards Mu-jin’s vital points.

Mu-jin deflected eleven consecutive strikes, attempting to use the recoil to retreat, but Wi Se-heon anticipated this, already positioning himself behind Mu-jin.

‘So many places to stab.’

As Wi Se-heon prepared to thrust his sword into Mu-jin’s broad back, a red sword path descended vertically from above.

“Ugh!”

Startled, Wi Se-heon quickly twisted his wrist to deflect the strike aimed at his crown.

“They say the Mount Hua Sect’s sword is as sinister as the demonic sects, to think you’d strike backwards without looking.”

“This is the Six Harmonies of Mount Hua.”

“Hmph. Just a fancy name for swinging your sword backwards.”

As Wi Se-heon charged again, the plum blossom sword aimed at him shed red and white petals. Perhaps due to the intense killing intent clouding his mind, Mu-jin’s swordplay was more rigid and direct than usual.

The coiled plum blossom sword aura whirled and poured down, while Wi Se-heon slashed through it, trying to close the distance with Mu-jin.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The grayish-white sword aura and the plum blossom sword aura clashed repeatedly, scattering fragments of sword energy around them.

In the blink of an eye, forty exchanges passed, and as the gap between the two men narrowed, sharp sword lights flashed from both sides.

Blood spurted from Mu-jin’s shoulder, while a faint line of blood appeared on Wi Se-heon’s cheek.

“I’ve got the upper hand.”

A faint smile played on Wi Seheon’s lips as he confirmed his advantage in the recent exchange.

“Is that all you’ve got? You think you can bring down the Narakbu with such pitiful skills? You really don’t know your place, do you? Just like your bloodline.”

Mujin exhaled a hot breath at Wi Seheon’s mocking words. He knew it too, having faced Wi Seheon so far.

His swordsmanship was more rigid than usual, his mind floating with a thirst for revenge.

“This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.”

The tip of Mujin’s plum blossom sword lowered slightly, and the murderous aura that had been pouring from his body began to recede.

Mu Hui, who had been keeping an eye on his surroundings even while dealing with the two elders, smirked.

“Yes, there comes a time when you must solve things on your own and move forward.”

The first step in martial arts is stillness within motion.

While a steady stance is crucial when extending the sword, the mind must also be calm to imbue the sword with intent.

These two elements must become one, forming a deep-rooted stillness, which is the foundation of swordsmanship.

Mujin’s sword, now under control, began to come alive again.

The stiffness faded, and the once straightforward swordplay became vibrant and varied.

It was dazzling, mysterious, and profound.

Mujin’s sword, having mastered the Huashan sect’s techniques, truly came to life.

“Hmm?”

Wi Seheon’s eyes darted as he struggled to follow Mujin’s sword.

The movements, once clear, became difficult to track, and the sword energy, resembling scattered petals, moved chaotically, unsettling his focus.

“Suddenly!”

Wi Seheon couldn’t finish his sentence. He had to fend off the plum blossom sword energy descending upon him.

Seeing his sleeve sliced off, Wi Seheon’s eyes twitched.

For the first time, Wi Seheon, who had been trying to close the distance, began to retreat.

But like plum blossoms scattered by the wind, the sword energy was always around him, no matter where he stepped.

“Enough of this!”

Frustrated, Wi Seheon shouted, unleashing a barrage of sword energy to disperse the plum blossom sword energy.

Yet, the plum blossom sword energy only grew richer, and the scent of plum blossoms thickened.

At the heart of this intensifying fragrance, a single plum blossom, faint and small, began to bloom.

“Watch as I cover Narakbu with plum blossoms.”

For the first time, Mujin’s plum blossom sword was blooming.

***

Elder Oh’s right arm flew through the air.

“Ugh.”

Already deeply cut across his chest and thigh, Elder Oh was on the brink of death from blood loss, especially with his arm severed.

Grabbing his fallen sword with his left hand, Elder Oh looked at Elder Sa.

Elder Sa, bleeding from his side, nodded at Elder Oh’s intense gaze.

Elder Oh charged at Mu Hui, with Elder Sa close behind, his figure obscured by Elder Oh.

“They’re planning to sacrifice themselves.”

Seeing the death-defying look in Elder Oh’s eyes, Mu Hui quickly realized their intent.

Elder Oh would bind Mu Hui, giving Elder Sa a chance to strike.

There was a high chance they planned to stab or slash Mu Hui simultaneously.

“Hmm…”

Contemplating, Mu Hui steadied his sword. Meanwhile, a blade was flying straight at him.

Clang!

Elder Oh, having thrown his broken sword at Mu Hui, charged with his remaining left arm, unleashing his inner power through his body to activate the Iron Ghost Technique.

This would allow him to withstand the plum blossom sword energy for a moment.

“If I can grab the sword’s body as it cuts…”

Elder Sa, trusting that the moment Mu Hui’s sword was bound, he would strike precisely.

In Elder Oh’s eyes, the plum blossom sword descended diagonally. His pupils widened slightly.

The flow of air being sliced was distinctly different.

“Different?”

Elder Oh’s last thought was cut short as his body was cleaved in two, his upper half split diagonally.

The Iron Ghost Technique proved futile, as he was effortlessly cut down.

Mu Hui’s swordplay, different from before, was swift and decisive.

Through the gap left by the cleaved Elder Oh, Elder Sa’s shocked face appeared.

Whoosh!

The plum blossom sword, charged with the inner power of the Celestial Heart Technique, soared upward, tearing through the darkness diagonally.

“Damn!”

Elder Sa hastily raised his sword to block, but it was futile.

The plum blossom sword, stained red, sliced through the sword energy and Elder Sa’s body with ease.

Elder Sa, feeling the sword’s touch at the last moment, muttered.

“A middle sword?”

With a faint voice, the light in Elder Sa’s eyes faded as his body split in two.

“This should do.”

Having effortlessly dispatched the elders, Mu Hui nodded, looking at his blood-stained sword.

It was a test, and it exceeded expectations.

The Iron Plum Sword Technique, infused with the essence of the Plum Blossom Sword Art, was finally complete.

The End