Above the sparring arena of Dorimpyeong.
Tianhui, standing alone on it, furrowed his brow.
'How did it come to this?'
He recalled the situation just a moment ago.
The Wuyue Assembly, which had been different from his expectations, ended in disappointment, and he was thinking of returning to Wanjing Pavilion to read martial arts manuals.
But suddenly, the Sect Leader called for him and ordered him to engage in a sparring match.
'He must have been in a hurry.'
He roughly grasped the Sect Leader's intentions.
Since he himself was once the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, he knew well what he was thinking.
A sparring match to avenge the humiliation of defeat.
Judging by the reactions around, it seemed to have worked.
The interest was greater than during the Wuyue Assembly.
'How annoying.'
Tianhui slowly scanned them.
Countless people from all directions were staring at him blankly.
The disciples of the Huashan Sect looked at him with anxious eyes, but the disciples of the other four sword sects looked at him with sneering or dumbfounded expressions.
It was perhaps only natural.
He was still a fourteen-year-old boy.
And such gazes were not limited to them.
The elders of the four sword sects, who ended up sitting in the honorary seats again as another sparring match was somehow held, were looking at each other and conversing quietly.
"Did the Huashan Sect have such a young First Disciple?"
When everyone shook their heads as if they had no idea in response to Chiyuzi's question.
"Ah!"
Gaojingzi, an elder of the North Hengshan Sect, let out a short exclamation as if he had remembered something.
"Do you know about it?"
At Wuyingzi's urging, Gaojingzi nodded and whispered very quietly.
"You know, right? The rumor that the Plum Blossom Sword Hero (Meihua Jianxia) took a newborn baby as his disciple. I remember that child's Daoist name was Tianhui."
"Plum Blossom Sword Hero...!"
"His disciple, the Plum Blossom Sword Hero?"
In an instant, everyone's eyes changed.
Plum Blossom Sword Hero was a moniker firmly etched in their minds.
In the past, he had appeared like a comet at the Wuyue Assembly, displayed overwhelming skill, and was even known as the talent to lead the Huashan Sect.
If only eight years ago, he and the Plum Blossom Sword Masters he led hadn't fallen victim to the attack of the Hundred Ghosts Castle, the prestige of the Huashan Sect would not have declined as it is now.
"Then that child is..."
"The disciple of the Plum Blossom Sword Hero."
The elders of the four sword sects grew tense.
He was a young child, but hearing that he was the disciple of the Plum Blossom Sword Hero, he looked different.
As they looked at Tianhui.
Tak.
Jiang Yun stepped up onto the sparring arena.
He, like Tianhui before him, was completely displeased with the current situation.
Actually, he knew.
That the Huashan Sect currently had no Plum Blossom Sword Masters and thus could not accept the proposal.
In other words, he had provoked them.
To disgracing the honor of the Huashan Sect and elevating his own reputation and that of the South Hengshan Sect.
But the situation turned strange.
Swish—
Jiang Yun stared at the boy in front of him.
A boy a full head shorter than himself.
The small, delicate-looking boy, who seemed to be around twelve or thirteen years old at a glance, was carrying a sword at his side that looked like it would touch the ground.
Jiang Yun, looking at the boy wondering if he could even hold a sword properly, narrowed his brow.
'To think they're telling me to deal with this brat in place of the Plum Blossom Sword Masters.'
"Haa."
Letting out a deep sigh, he shook his head.
'If only the Plum Blossom Sword Masters were my opponents, I would have at least gained some fame. Even if I win this sparring match, there's absolutely no benefit for me.'
Finishing his thoughts, he approached Tianhui. Although his mood was quite foul, he clasped his hands together and took a solemn bow.
Because the opponent's seniority was higher, even though he was much younger.
"I look forward to your guidance."
Swipe—
Tianhui glanced at that sight, then casually performed a fist-and-palm salute as if he were annoyed.
Jiang Yun's face crumpled at the sight.
'This brat...'
However, he soon forcefully smoothed his crumpled face and withdrew his salute.
Withdrawing with a smiling face, he muttered quietly in a voice full of irritation.
"I need to end this as quickly as possible."
A very quiet whisper.
However, Tianhui, whose hearing was more developed than others, heard that voice.
'Look at this guy?'
He twisted one corner of his mouth at Jiang Yun's tone, which completely looked down on him.
'I'm already in a bad mood, so this worked out perfectly.'
It was exactly the moment he needed to vent his anger.
He had come because it was the Wuyue Assembly, a grand gathering of the Five Great Sword Sects, but what he ended up seeing was children bickering and fighting.
There was no proper martial arts, nor was it even fierce.
'If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have even come here to watch.'
That alone was annoying enough.
Now he was in a position to even spar with a brat who's still wet behind the ears.
He had no choice but to accept it due to the Sect Leader's order, but because of that, his mood could only get worse.
Thud— Thud—
Walking with different thoughts, the two stood facing each other at a distance of five zhang.
As they stared at each other for a moment.
Shring—
Jiang Yun drew his sword first.
The pure white White Lotus Sword sparkled in the sunlight, and intense internal energy was loaded onto the blade.
As Jiang Yun looked at his sword for a moment.
Tat!
He forcefully kicked the ground.
His figure soared into the sky.
With no intention of holding back against his opponent, he instantly raised his internal qi, executed the Cangyun Miliu Steps, and closed the distance.
The distance of five zhang was closed in an instant.
'I'll end it in one strike.'
With that thought, he glared at Tianhui.
He was standing still, seemingly unaware that he had moved.
Swiftly, he swung his sword wide toward his completely exposed shoulder.
Shreaaak!
The wind split, and internal energy erupted.
Feiyun Chaofeng (Flying Cloud Surpassing Wind).
The sword technique he was most confident in among the Fengyun Jianfa (Wind and Cloud Sword Art) he had learned was swung.
Just as the Feiyun Chaofeng was about to touch Tianhui's defenseless shoulder.
Clang!
"Gasp!"
Jiang Yun's expression, having sucked in a startled breath, stiffened.
He didn't know when the opponent had drawn his sword, but he had easily blocked his Feiyun Chaofeng.
'How...'
His pupils trembled slightly.
Not only drawing the sword, but it was entirely unseen when he had swung it.
The moment cold sweat ran down his forehead.
Tat!
He gathered his senses and hastily retreated.
It wasn't just Jiang Yun who was surprised.
The crowd watching the first exchange unfold in the sparring arena also expressed their surprise.
In particular, the most surprised were none other than the disciples of the Huashan Sect.
"D-Did he block it?"
"Phew, thank goodness."
"But how did he block it?"
They had been holding their breath in anxiety.
Although the sparring match between Tianhui and Jiang Yun was established by the Sect Leader's order, they didn't think Tianhui would win.
Even looking at it now, the difference could be felt.
Jiang Yun was dominating the sparring arena, exuding immense internal energy, whereas Tianhui was only emitting a very faint aura.
Like a rabbit in front of a tiger.
"Please let the next attack pass safely like this one..."
"Amitabha."
As they put their hands together while looking at the sparring arena with sorrowful expressions.
"How did he block it?"
"Senior brother's Fengyun Sword Art...!"
The disciples of the South Hengshan Sect flinched in surprise.
Jiang Yun was the one who showed unrivaled skill among the Second Disciples.
But seeing his sword technique blocked by a young boy, it was natural for bewilderment to rise.
At that time, one of the Second Disciples burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, Senior Brother Jiang Yun must have gone easy because his opponent is young."
Come to think of it, those words seemed right. Otherwise, it was hard to understand the current situation.
"Hahaha, really, Senior Brother."
"It must have been a fluke."
As the disciples of the South Hengshan Sect felt relieved one by one and began to watch calmly again.
Trickle—
Jiang Yun wiped the sweat flowing down his forehead.
Contrary to the thoughts of the South Hengshan Sect disciples, he had not gone easy.
Rather, he had put his full strength into it.
To end it in one strike.
'But how did he block it?'
Swallowing his breath, he looked at Tianhui.
The still young boy was holding a longsword with small, delicate hands.
Without any aura or internal energy.
'...Was it a fluke?'
Thinking this, he narrowed his eyes.
It made no sense unless it was a fluke.
'There is no second fluke.'
Jiang Yun raised his internal qi.
The internal energy of the Qingming Xingong (Clear Brightness Heart Art), which he had trained since childhood, enveloped him.
Hwaaak!
His gaze, imbued with internal energy, shone sharply.
Glaring at Tianhui as if declaring he wouldn't be careless anymore, he stepped forward with his left foot.
The Cangyun Miliu Steps unfolded once again.
Cutting through the wind, he gripped his sword even tighter and slashed toward Tianhui's defenseless flank.
Shreaaak!
Just as the sword was about to reach him.
"...!"
Jiang Yun was horrified.
Tianhui, who had turned his head at some point, had his two eyes piercing through him.
'My movements...'
Smirk—
Instantly, the corners of Tianhui's mouth went up.
Flash!
Along with a flash of light, a bolt of lightning bloomed.
The two swords collided in the middle, and in that state, they began a contest of strength.
'T-the Feifeng Zhanjian (Flying Wind Slashing Sword) is blocked like this?'
When the panicked Jiang Yun tried to apply more force to his sword to pressure him.
"You said you wanted to see the Plum Blossom Sword Art, right?"
A chilling voice struck his ears.
Immediately after, a strong force was loaded onto the sword.
Twang!
His body bounced backward.
"What in the world..."
Jiang Yun murmured blankly.
The internal energy felt just now.
Although the amount of internal qi was very small, it contained an immense repulsive force.
'It wasn't a fluke...'
His face stiffened slightly.
But soon, he shook his head.
He finally realized why the Sect Leader had sent out this young boy.
Strength entered the hand gripping his sword.
'So they are the Huashan Sect for nothing.'
Tianhui let out a slight chuckle as he watched Jiang Yun, who was now taking a proper stance with a tense expression, unlike before.
After that, he drew up the Meihua Divine Art.
Hwaaaak!
The internal qi of the Meihua Divine Art, which he had been holding back, spread throughout his body, exuding a subtle aura in all directions.
A completely changed aura and atmosphere.
Those watching the sparring match were shocked.
"T-That kind of aura..."
"Such astonishing martial prowess at such a young age."
Everyone couldn't hold back their admiration.
The aura and presence shown now.
It was a domineering and overwhelming energy, completely contrary to Tianhui's appearance.
"Has he been hiding his skills all along?"
"The Sect Leader didn't request a sparring match for nothing!"
The mood of the crowd gradually changed.
The anxious eyes of the Huashan Sect disciples sparkled with anticipation, while the disciples of the South Hengshan Sect were trembling slightly.
"With this kind of aura..."
"Don't tell me Senior Brother Jiang Yun..."
And Tiangao, who was watching the sparring match along with them, also opened his eyes wide.
"It wasn't a coincidence."
Tianhui was reflected in his pupils.
He thought his eye for watching sparring matches was extraordinary, but he hadn't known Tianhui possessed such outstanding martial arts skills.
Even now, the amount of Tianhui's internal qi he felt was quite small.
However, the aura and presence Tianhui exuded were so overwhelming that they rendered his low internal qi volume meaningless.
To the point of overwhelming Jiang Yun, who must have trained for at least ten years.
While thinking like that.
'Is that even possible?'
A doubt arose.
For someone who knew Tianhui well, it was hard to understand the current situation at all.
He knew he had learned martial arts.
But it was an absurdly fast growth rate.
'Do the people watching the sparring match here right now know? That Tianhui, who is exuding such an overwhelming aura, has only been learning martial arts for barely a month.'
Thinking this, Tiangao swallowed the saliva that had gathered in his mouth. When he looked at Tianhui with trembling eyes afterward.
Whoosh!
Tianhui's figure sank straight down.
"...!"
Jiang Yun, who lost sight of Tianhui's figure for an instant, glared with both eyes wide open.
Tianhui, who had suddenly disappeared, appeared right in front of his nose, looking at him.
"Hah!"
He quickly let out a ki shout and swung his sword, ready to counterattack at any time.
A sword technique swung with all his might.
However, the sword did not reach Tianhui.
Because Tianhui, who had drawn his sword at some point, was lightly deflecting the sword Jiang Yun had swung.
Tianhui, who had deflected Jiang Yun's swung sword with the technique of Yihua Jiemu (Shifting Flowers and Connecting Trees), whispered quietly.
"Watch closely. Because this is the Plum Blossom Sword Art."
As soon as that low voice ended.
Huuwuung!
A massive wind blew.
The red plum blossoms falling with the sunset mixed with the wind Tianhui had created, and began to swallow the heaven and earth.