The Forward Blade Master, having read the letter sent by Mu Hui, set out immediately but was cautious not to reveal himself too soon.

For three days, he circled the area around Hanya Mountain, wary of any traps or ambushes.

It was only logical that the promising young talent of the Huashan Sect wouldn’t be left alone without protection.

Yet, to his surprise, the Forward Blade Master’s assumptions were completely off. Discovering that Mu Hui was indeed alone, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of doubt.

“What kind of confidence is this?”

He had heard of the reputation of the Huashan Sword Demon, but he couldn’t shake the thought that Mu Hui was still just a young talent.

Even elders of the Nine Schools didn’t intimidate him, so why should a young up-and-comer?

The Forward Blade Master could only chuckle dryly.

“Overreaching to build a reputation, I see.”

As he let out a low laugh, a formidable aura began to seep from his body like smoke.

The Taihe Wuling Heart Technique.

Once considered one of the top three supreme martial arts in the martial world, it now revealed its noble form.

As he fully engaged the Taihe Wuling Heart Technique, his internal energy materialized into a misty form, swirling around him.

The concentration and release of his energy transitioned so naturally that the mist began to slowly engulf the surroundings.

“The purity of this energy is astounding. No wonder it’s compared to the Yijing.”

While Mu Hui marveled at the Taihe Wuling Heart Technique, the mist around him subtly quivered.

Using the Void Shadow Step, the Forward Blade Master moved as stealthily as the spreading mist, suddenly appearing before Mu Hui.

In an instant, he closed the distance and thrust his sword at Mu Hui’s brow.

The Taihe Heavenly Thunder Sword flashed. The descending white light was like a bolt of lightning.

Clang!

The sharp metallic sound made the Forward Blade Master’s eyes narrow.

The Plum Blossom Sword had intercepted the Taihe Heavenly Thunder Sword’s strike head-on.

“Oh? You blocked my swift sword at this range?”

Mu Hui didn’t stop at merely blocking the attack. As his wrist and elbow moved, the tip of the Plum Blossom Sword began to writhe like a snake.

The flexible sword technique climbed up the Forward Blade Master’s blade, targeting his right hand that gripped the sword.

“Hmph!”

The Forward Blade Master tightened his grip and swung his sword upward with force.

Clang!

The two swords disengaged, and as the Forward Blade Master’s sword rose high, it came down again, aiming to cleave Mu Hui in two.

Swish!

The tip of the Plum Blossom Sword traced an arc, scattering purple petals. Each time the Forward Blade Master’s sword cut through the air, the empty space was filled with the white mist.

Clang! Clang!

The purple dusk and white mist enveloped the surroundings.

Each clash of the two swords sounded like metal shattering.

True to its name, the Forward Blade Master’s swift sword was as fast and sharp as lightning, tearing through every petal without missing a single one.

“They say he defeated two elders of Wudang and then scattered the Seven Swords of Wudang.”

The Forward Blade Master’s prowess far exceeded expectations.

He seemed to be on the verge of reaching the transcendent realm, needing only a catalyst or realization.

A stronger opponent than anticipated.

Yet, Mu Hui’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes gleaming with a mix of anticipation and clarity.

A duel with a strong opponent was always welcome.

The Sword Demon had grown stronger by repeatedly crossing the line of life and death.

Standing on that line, feeling the recoil of the sword, the Sword Demon’s heart beat more vigorously than ever.

It was the same now.

Mu Hui’s eyes gleamed with greed as he took a step forward.

His eyes, like those of a predator, searched the Forward Blade Master for something to seize.

“Good.”

As Mu Hui let out a deep laugh, the Forward Blade Master’s gaze darkened.

“A young talent at the peak of perfection… Is that even possible?”

Realizing Mu Hui’s level through their exchanges, the Forward Blade Master’s expression grew serious.

He no longer underestimated Mu Hui as a mere young talent and began to draw out his full strength.

It was the right choice.

In an instant, as the Forward Blade Master took a step back, dozens of plum blossoms bloomed before his eyes.

Brilliantly shining purple plum blossoms.

The view was filled with dazzling purple, and through the small gaps between the blossoms, violet petals poured endlessly.

The surroundings were resplendent in purple.

The air was thick with the scent of swords.

It was as if they had fallen into a dreamlike paradise.

“Truly a beautiful sight.”

The Forward Blade Master’s eyes glinted coldly as he took in the scene.

No need to drag this out. End it quickly.

His sword, imbued with white energy, was aimed at the plum blossoms.

“Do you know? Behind that beauty lies the sacrifice of the Forward.”

The Forward Blade Master’s arm blurred and then vanished. In that moment, dozens of lightning bolts erupted.

Taihe Ten Thousand Thunder.

Whoosh!

The lightning tore through the air, violently shredding the blooming plum blossoms.

Even after that, the sword strikes, undiminished in power, continued to pierce through Mu Hui’s body.

Thanks to the Plum Blossom Mountain and the Shadow Step, Mu Hui managed to evade, though his robe was torn in several places.

He avoided a fatal wound, but the Forward Blade Master’s sword was indeed fierce.

“Did he survive that?”

The Forward Blade Master was inwardly surprised that his ultimate move, intended to kill, had left Mu Hui relatively unscathed.

Boom!

Watching Mu Hui charge forward, the Forward Blade Master let out a dry laugh.

Despite realizing the gap in their abilities, Mu Hui was the one closing the distance. His judgment defied common sense.

The internal energy swirling in the Yongcheon Blood created a strange vortex. With it, Mu Hui’s entire body began to spin.

With each rotation, droplets of blood scattered from Mu Hui’s body.

The continuous onslaught of spinning sword strikes met with the Forward Blade Master’s unyielding defense.

Amidst the sword shadows that filled his vision, the hand shadows and force of the Plum Blossom Mountain emerged.

As he deflected a sword aimed at his knee, the Forward Blade Master swung his left hand, unleashing the subtle force of the Hanxu Qingyou Palm.

Crack!

With a sound like a drum bursting, the two men simultaneously widened the distance, only to close it again and clash swords.

They didn’t stop for a moment, continuously cutting into each other.

The thunderous clash of the two masters’ swords now sounded almost like a melody.

In terms of pure skill, the Forward Blade Master was several steps ahead of Mu Hui.

But Mu Hui had the experience of a past life to bridge that gap.

With each new wound on his body, Mu Hui’s sword grew sharper and more precise.

It was as if he was watching the Sword Demon of his past life overlap with his current self.

“Why are you smiling?”

Even now, Mu Hui had received two sword wounds on his collarbone and forearm. Despite knowing he was at a disadvantage, his smile only deepened.

What on earth was making him smile?

Flash!

Displeased by Mu Hui’s smiling face, the Forward Blade Master gritted his teeth and thrust his sword.

Breaking through the myriad changes Mu Hui had initiated, he unleashed five swift sword strikes in succession.

At that moment, Mu Hui didn’t miss the slight opening created by the Forward Blade Master’s larger movement. Spreading his shoulders wide, Mu Hui swung his sword diagonally.

Riding the momentum, petals floated up alongside the Plum Blossom Sword.

Slash!

Blood spurted from Mu Hui’s waist, but at the same time, the Forward Blade Master’s side was stained red.

“Damn it, to be struck by a mere youngster’s sword!”

Startled, the Forward Blade Master instinctively took a step back, while Mu Hui advanced two steps, closing the gap.

Trailing behind him were the purple petals. The petals of sword energy swirling around Mu Hui, as if guarding him, were a constant irritation to the Forward Blade Master.

Reflecting his agitation, the lightning he summoned lashed out in all directions without restraint.

Boom!

Mu Hui’s Plum Blossom Sword and Plum Blossom Mountain began to gain momentum. Yet, the Forward Blade Master’s Taihe Heavenly Thunder Sword was not easily subdued.

“There’s something familiar about it.”

While the martial arts of the Forward Sect were indeed exceptional, the techniques were imbued with a deep-seated ferocity, likely due to the Forward Blade Master’s own nature.

Though Mu Hui was seeing the Taihe Heavenly Thunder Sword for the first time, he instinctively knew it differed from its original form.

It felt similar to the swordsmanship the Sword Demon of his past life had honed and refined.

Having no master, the Forward Blade Master must have learned martial arts on his own, with countless battles and adversaries as his teachers.

Thus, the swordsmanship had evolved.

Like the Sword Demon of his past life, the Taihe Heavenly Thunder Sword was a culmination of the Forward Blade Master’s lifelong journey.

Therefore, Mu Hui kept his eyes wide open, determined to absorb everything about the Taihe Heavenly Thunder Sword.

A martial artist of this caliber, having honed his swordsmanship over a lifetime, surely had something to offer.

“How dare you!”

As Mu Hui attempted to close the distance again, the Forward Blade Master’s eyes filled with bloodlust.

The sword of Jeon Jin-gwae, already renowned for its lightning speed, had become even faster.

His blade, which always sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, now moved in silence.

Clang!

Only the sound of Mu-hui parrying the strikes echoed through the air. Yet, some attacks slipped through, leaving Mu-hui with a growing number of wounds.

The summit of Hanya Mountain, once painted in shades of purple and white, was now tinged with red.

Despite this, Mu-hui’s eyes and smile grew sharper, while Jeon Jin-gwae’s gaze began to tremble.

Jeon Jin-gwae quickly tilted his head back.

In that instant, Mu-hui’s plum blossom sword sliced through the air, missing by a hair’s breadth.

“His speed is increasing. Could he be…?”

Mu-hui’s grip, the relaxation of his shoulders, back, and waist, the width and angle of his stance—all these elements were in constant flux. Jeon Jin-gwae noticed that some of these movements resembled his own style.

“You think you can steal my technique?”

Jeon Jin-gwae roared, unleashing a powerful strike. It collided with Mu-hui’s slightly delayed counterattack.

Slash!

Jeon Jin-gwae’s sleeve tore, revealing a long cut from wrist to elbow.

He stared at the wound in disbelief.

“Is this how it’s done? I think I’ve got the hang of it.”

“What?”

Mu-hui’s tattered robe fluttered stylishly, his stance subtly altered.

He had blended Jeon Jin-gwae’s form into his own swift swordplay.

“Masters of this level of speed are rare. I’ve learned more than I expected, old man.”

Mu-hui’s mind rapidly processed the subtle movements of Jeon Jin-gwae’s sword, the form and style of the Taihe Heavenly Thunder Sword.

As he absorbed Jeon Jin-gwae’s techniques, Mu-hui’s understanding of the swift sword deepened, leading to a chain of insights into the sword marks left by the legendary swordsman Gongdo.

With this newfound understanding, Mu-hui launched himself at Jeon Jin-gwae, who was crouching to attack.

Suddenly, the seven strikes of the plum blossom sword vanished mid-air. Jeon Jin-gwae’s brow furrowed in confusion.

Swoosh!

A surprise attack struck Jeon Jin-gwae’s side.

A plum blossom bloomed, not slowly as before, but with twice the speed.

The rotating strike tore into Jeon Jin-gwae’s side, not cutting but grinding, leaving a gruesome wound.

Jeon Jin-gwae spat blood.

The Plum Blossom Path.

Mu-hui’s new technique was finally complete. As he neared the culmination of his new sword style, a smile crept onto his lips.

“Ha!”

Jeon Jin-gwae staggered, blood spraying from his body as he charged at Mu-hui.

Mu-hui sensed the intense energy focused in Jeon Jin-gwae’s left palm, his eyes filled with a deadly resolve.

“A suicide attack?”

Jeon Jin-gwae’s intent was clear: to lock blades and unleash his full strength in a final blow.

But Mu-hui had no intention of playing along. The blade of his plum blossom sword began to glow a deep purple.

With a heavy swing, he unleashed a powerful strike.

Crash!

In a sudden display of the Iron Plum Sword technique, Jeon Jin-gwae’s sword snapped, and his right arm flew into the air.

Thud!

The plum blossom sword pierced Jeon Jin-gwae’s heart, yet he continued to advance, screaming defiantly.

Despite the sword embedded in his heart, he did not stop.

For reasons unknown, Jeon Jin-gwae was desperate. He closed the distance by five steps, aiming his left palm at Mu-hui’s head.

Mu-hui’s eyes narrowed.

Though the plum blossom sword was lodged in Jeon Jin-gwae’s body, it posed no problem.

Without hesitation, Mu-hui released the sword buried deep in Jeon Jin-gwae’s chest.

At the same time, he executed a swift retreat using the Shadow Step technique.

Unable to pursue due to his severe injuries, Jeon Jin-gwae could only watch Mu-hui with hollow eyes.

“What, did you expect me to play along? Why would I engage in a battle of strength with an old man?”

Mu-hui looked at Jeon Jin-gwae’s face, which was losing its vitality.

“Why the pitiful look? Those who died by your hand must have felt even more wronged.”

“Grrk.”

Jeon Jin-gwae’s body trembled violently before he slowly toppled over, leaving only a gurgling sound as his final words.

Mu-hui carefully retrieved the plum blossom sword from Jeon Jin-gwae’s lifeless chest.

As he gazed at the fallen body, Mu-hui’s eyes narrowed.

Something had fallen from Jeon Jin-gwae’s robes as he collapsed.

Mu-hui picked it up to find a thick manual in his hands.

“Quite substantial.”

He flipped it over to read the title, his eyes narrowing as he did.

The End