“Ah, I see. The old masters of the Muon School are still alive, and they’ve aligned themselves with an unknown faction. Fascinating.”

Baekyu chuckled wryly as he glanced at the two martial arts manuals from the Jeonjin School that Muhwi had brought back. The sight of them left a bitter taste, knowing the danger Muhwi had faced to obtain them.

“It’s surprising that these manuals have been preserved so well, considering the Jeonjin School was destroyed long ago.”

“We should probably hand them over to the Martial Alliance’s library during the upcoming inauguration ceremony.”

“You think that’s the best course of action?”

“Yes. Leaving them at Mount Hua might attract unwanted attention.”

Having read the ‘Tae Dae Cheon Gyeong’ five times on the way back, Muhwi had already committed it to memory, so the fate of the manuals didn’t concern him much. Baekyu seemed to share his sentiment, nodding without giving the manuals another glance.

“Let’s do that.”

Setting the manuals aside, Baekyu turned to Muhwi. “We’ve received a letter from the Martial Alliance. The inauguration ceremony will be held soon, along with several events.”

Muhwi nodded. The ceremony wasn’t just a celebration of the Alliance’s founding; it was also a display of its power, making it quite significant.

“They’ve sent invitations for the competitions to be held during the ceremony. Do you have a preference between the Cheonryong and Cheonmu tournaments?”

Both tournaments were about testing martial skills, but they had different entry requirements. The Cheonmu Tournament was open to all, while the Cheonryong Tournament was restricted to advanced practitioners.

“Hmm…”

Muhwi was tempted to enter both, as there was nothing more thrilling than experiencing various martial arts and meeting different martial artists. But since that wasn’t possible, he had to choose one.

‘For a bit of fun, the Cheonmu Tournament might be the better choice.’

As he pondered, a thought struck him, and he asked Baekyu, “What are the prizes for winning each tournament?”

“The prizes are sponsored by the Shaolin Temple. The Cheonmu Tournament offers the Great Elixir, while the Cheonryong Tournament offers the Summoning Elixir.”

“The Great Elixir?”

Muhwi couldn’t help but be surprised. While the Summoning Elixir was a rare and valuable medicine, there were similar alternatives available. The Great Elixir, however, was legendary, said to revive even those on the brink of death. It was so precious that making one Great Elixir was akin to making five Summoning Elixirs.

The fact that the Shaolin Temple was willing to part with such a treasure for the Martial Alliance spoke volumes about its importance. Muhwi was taken aback by the Shaolin abbot’s generosity.

“I doubt the Shaolin has many of those left.”

“I heard they only have one left now.”

“That’s quite a decision. Impressive.”

“It shows how crucial the Martial Alliance is. With factions like the Sadocheon, Paewangseong, and the White-Faced Demon involved, the Alliance’s role is more vital than ever.”

Muhwi nodded, considering Baekyu’s words. “Is the Sadocheon still quiet?”

“They’re keeping an eye on the Seven Stars, but there’s been no movement.”

“Given their history, they might try to disrupt the ceremony.”

“The Martial Alliance is wary of that. They’re known for causing trouble without any pretext.”

The Sadocheon often acted without concern for justification, simply to disrupt the affairs of the righteous factions. Whenever conflicts arose, it was usually the Sadocheon that ignited the spark.

Baekyu seemed worried, but Muhwi saw it differently. If the Martial Alliance could fend off or counter any interference from the Seven Stars, it would solidify its reputation in the martial world.

‘This could turn out to be quite an interesting event.’

***

The vertical slash of Mucheol’s sword was precise and powerful, its weight and speed perfectly channeled into the Plum Blossom Sword. The fierce strike seemed to split the air itself as it aimed for Mujin’s head.

Clang!

Instead of meeting it head-on, Mujin deflected the blade with the side of his sword, trying to redirect its path. However, the force was so great that his sword bent under the pressure.

“Ugh.”

The tremendous recoil threatened to disarm him, but Mujin skillfully absorbed the shock, his sword snapping back like a whip. As he parried Mucheol’s descending blade, he sidestepped with a swift movement.

Whoosh!

Mucheol’s sword, which seemed destined to shatter the ground, arced gracefully upward. It was a feat not easily achieved with a heavy sword, but Mucheol’s mastery allowed him to change its trajectory smoothly, thanks to his deep understanding of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

The Iron Plum Sword Technique wasn’t just about raw power; it was a blend of elegance and variety, showcasing a more intricate and diverse swordplay.

Thud!

Mucheol shifted his weight forward, launching himself at Mujin with the momentum of his sword and body.

Slash!

Before him, dozens of sword shadows and plum blossom auras unfolded. Each time Mujin’s sword cut through the air, Mucheol’s vision was obscured by flashes of red and white.

Hidden among the petals and shadows, Mujin was barely visible. Yet, despite the dazzling display, Mucheol advanced steadily, his sword imbued with strength.

Crash!

With a single, powerful strike, Mucheol’s sword shattered the illusion, revealing Mujin’s form amidst the chaos. The sheer force of the blow drew a short gasp from Mujin.

‘Allowing even one strike could be disastrous.’

Unfazed, Mujin thrust his sword forward, aiming for the opening left by Mucheol’s large movement.

Tap!

Mujin’s nimble footwork propelled him forward, closing the distance between them. The freedom of movement granted by the Plum Blossom Step allowed him to approach Mucheol swiftly.

While most would wield the Plum Blossom Sword with one hand, Mucheol’s heavier sword required both. Thus, closing the gap where a heavy sword couldn’t be swung effectively was to Mujin’s advantage.

Though Mujin had been keeping his distance, he suddenly closed in, but Mucheol remained calm. He had studied how to handle such situations by observing countless sparring matches between his senior and Dokgoyul.

‘I think I’m starting to understand!’

Swish!

Mucheol’s sword cut through the air, descending upon Mujin with precision. Mujin twisted his body to evade, but the sword, bending in an unusual arc, pursued him relentlessly.

As the sharp edge closed in, Mujin calmly drew his sword to his chest. In an instant, seven sword shadows bloomed, encircling Mucheol’s blade.

Clang! Clang!

Watching the fierce exchange between Mujin and Mucheol, Muhwi nodded in satisfaction.

‘Now that he’s found his direction, his growth is rapid.’

Though he hadn’t fallen into a state of inner turmoil, Mucheol had been stuck, unable to find his path for a long time. During that time, Mujin and Muhwa had grown significantly, leaving Mucheol behind.

But now, having broken through, Mucheol was once again on par with Mujin, thanks to his relentless training and contemplation during his stagnation. The results of his perseverance were now manifesting in explosive growth.

Mucheol’s steadfastness and determination were finally paying off.

‘It seems he’s surpassed the fourth stage of the Iron Plum Sword Technique. He might even be able to bloom the plum blossoms soon.’

The plum blossoms of the Iron Plum Sword Technique, unique to Mucheol, were something Muhwi eagerly anticipated.

As he watched the sparring match, more disciples gathered around Muhwi.

“Senior Brother, I have a question. My progress with the Plum Blossom Sword Technique has stalled.”

“Senior Brother! I can’t grasp the basics of the Plum Blossom Strike.”

With the Martial Alliance’s inauguration approaching, the disciples were more motivated than ever in their training. The upcoming Cheonryong Tournament, celebrating the Alliance’s founding, promised to be grand, possibly the largest in the past two decades.

With nearly all the prominent advanced practitioners from the righteous factions expected to participate, it was likely to become a stage for testing their martial prowess. Inspired by the event, the disciples were striving to elevate their skills, eager to see where they stood among the best.

Opportunities to witness such events firsthand were rare. The Martial Alliance had prepared something to further ignite the competitive spirit of the young disciples.

“They seem to be working harder now than when I was in charge.”

“Of course, senior brother! They say if you make it into the top thirty-two at the Celestial Dragon Tournament, you get a special elixir!”

Mu-hwa exclaimed, clenching his fists in excitement, and the other disciples wore similar expressions.

Typically, only three young disciples would receive prizes at most tournaments, but the Celestial Dragon Tournament was different. The Martial Alliance seemed intent on showcasing its power, offering an unprecedented number of rewards.

This was possible because the tournament was a massive gathering of all the righteous sects, including the Nine Great Schools and the Three Great Families.

Even the Mount Hua Sect had sent a special elixir to the Martial Alliance as a prize for this tournament.

“Mu-hwa, you should let others have a chance. Didn’t you already get an elixir during your last journey in the martial world?”

“Heh, what are you talking about? I’m not satisfied with just that.”

Mu-sang, taken aback by Mu-hwa’s fiery determination, turned to Mu-ho beside him.

“But what if we end up facing each other in the tournament? What do we do then?”

“Simple. The one who stands last moves up.”

Mu-ho replied with a grin, and Mu-ryun, who had been listening, added seriously.

“Even if we face each other, there should be no holding back or giving way. That would be disgraceful.”

Mu-sang turned away, slightly sulking at his senior brothers’ reactions.

“Looks like I’ll have to earn the elixir on my own.”

He could only hope fervently that he wouldn’t have to face his senior brothers, especially the formidable Hua Mountain disciples. Meeting them would almost certainly mean defeat and losing the elixir.

“Hmm… an elixir…”

Mu-hwi, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, finally spoke up.

“For those who make it into the top fifty of this tournament, I’ll see if I can get some elixirs from the Celestial Trading Company.”

“Really?”

“Senior brother, didn’t we all get elixirs last time? Won’t they be upset if we ask again?”

Mu-san voiced his concern, but Mu-hwi just chuckled.

“Even though the elixirs we received were quite valuable, they were nothing compared to the wealth of the Celestial Trading Company. Besides, they were the ones who offered to invest first, so there’s no reason for them to complain.”

“As expected of senior brother. You’re not fazed by dealing with the Celestial Trading Company.”

Mu-hwi’s confidence brought smiles to the other disciples’ faces.

Even if they didn’t place in the top ranks of the Celestial Dragon Tournament, the hope of receiving another elixir spurred them on.

“But if you don’t make it into the top fifty, don’t even think about returning to Mount Hua. I’ll personally show you what hell is like.”

“What?”

“…”

The training ground, which had been buzzing with excitement, fell silent at Mu-hwi’s words.

Mu-hwi’s smile stretched to his ears, but the disciples’ smiles had long since faded.

“Of course.”

“Senior brother wouldn’t just let us off easy…”

“Come on! We can make it into the top fifty. Let’s go! We can do this!”

The promise of elixirs seemed to outweigh the threat of grueling training.

The disciples quickly regained their energy, grabbing their plum blossom swords and scattering across the training ground.

Mu-hwi watched them closely as they practiced, the petals of the plum blossoms falling in time with their movements, signaling the approach of the Martial Alliance’s grand opening ceremony.

“I’ll personally show you what hell is like.” End

“I challenge the Sea Sword.”