The Plum Blossom Sword Technique was a good sword technique, but it fell short of being an Absolute Sword Art.
To be precise, through Cheonhwi's eyes, it was a truly regrettable sword technique.
The first half consisted of twelve stances, and the latter half twelve stances.
It was a sword technique composed of a total of twenty-four stances, and had been famous since ancient times as the sword technique that contributed to the Huashan Sect's Plum Blossom Swordsmen vanquishing the Sa-ma.
Furthermore, the Sword Brilliance (Jianhua) and Sword Fragrance (Jianxiang) that were said to manifest from the sword upon reaching the pinnacle drew even more people's attention, making its name widely known throughout the Jianghu.
It was to the extent that even he, who had once been the Cult Lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult located in the Heavenly Mountains, knew of it.
'No, now I know the Plum Blossom Sword Technique better than anyone else.'
Cheonhwi's eyes shimmered brilliantly.
He was confident that he knew the Plum Blossom Sword Technique's intensity as well as its flaws better than anyone else in the current Huashan Sect.
'I experienced the Plum Blossom Sword Technique against that Malko Dosa who was called the Plum Blossom Divine Sword, and now I am even learning it.'
He recalled the Plum Blossom Sword Technique in detail.
A soft, yet fierce sword technique.
It embodied the logic and principles befitting its reputation as the pinnacle of Illusionary Sword (Huanjian).
However.
'Even back then, its limits were clear.'
It was insufficient to be called an Absolute Sword Art.
Of course, it was an outstanding sword technique, but calling the Plum Blossom Sword Technique an Absolute Sword Art?
That was preposterous.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Absolute Sword Arts like the Heavenly Demon Supreme Sword (Tianmo Zhizun Jian) or the Heaven-Descent Blood Dragon Sword Art (Tianjiang Xuelong Jianfa), or Wudang's Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword (Taiji Huijian), or the Purple Dawn Sword Formula (Zixia Jianjue) wielded by Malko Dosa, and so on.
Compared to those Absolute Sword Arts, the Plum Blossom Sword Technique was a regrettable sword technique lacking by just a hair.
That exact extent was the evaluation of himself, who was the Cult Lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Absolute Heavenly Demon.
'That is why I changed it.'
Cheonhwi recalled a month ago.
The time when he was performing the sword dance.
The moment he comprehended the logic of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique and danced the sword dance, he attained enlightenment of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
And its shortcomings as well.
The soft Illusionary Sword contained within the Plum Blossom Sword Technique was quite fierce and sharp.
But that was it; the reason it could not become an Absolute Sword Art clearly existed.
The moment he realized that, he devoted most of his time to transforming the Plum Blossom Sword Technique into a sword art comparable to an Absolute Sword Art.
At the very least, it had to be on the level of an Absolute Sword Art to be worthy of being the sword technique he learned.
'It took a little time, but...'
Cheonhwi's eyes grew heavy.
While transforming the Plum Blossom Sword Technique like that, the twenty-four stances gradually decreased until they became seven stances.
Into those seven stances, after infusing the essence of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, he added his own Hegemony (Ba) to create a new sword technique.
The Seven Absolute Plum Blossom Sword (Qijue Meihua Jian).
Hwiiiiing—
Along with the storm that instantly swept across Dorimpyeong, a dense plum blossom fragrance enveloped the area.
"……!"
"What the—!"
Including Gangun, who took a direct hit from the fierce wind, the crowd lost their senses.
In particular, Gangun couldn't withstand the wind that increasingly pushed him back and was blown away.
Roll, roll—
Rolling on the ground for about three zhang, he hurriedly planted his two hands and raised his body.
"Ugh!"
However, as if unable to dispel the shock, he let out a short groan. Afterward, he hastily gasped for the breath that had been choked off.
"Gasp, gasp."
Panting heavily, he calmed his startled heart and stared at Cheonhwi.
'W-What just happened?'
Cheonhwi looked disdainfully at Gangun, who had been blown away after failing to withstand the internal energy mixed with his aura.
'Unable to withstand even this, rolling on the floor as if struck by the Supreme Heavenly Demon Energy (Zhizun Tianmo Li).'
Since it was a sparring match he was already doing.
He intended to properly vent his anger.
In the exact way Gangun wanted.
But the opponent was far too weak.
'Tsk, I should just end it.'
Swish—
After raising his sword, Cheonhwi pointed it straight at Gangun, who was frozen stiff.
It was a very light action, but...
'T-What is this!'
Gangun found it hard to come to his senses.
The moment the sword pointed at him, the small-looking Cheonhwi appeared massive.
As Gangun grew increasingly pale from the pressure following that magnified presence—
Swish—
The sword held in Cheonhwi's hand moved.
Hwaaak!
Countless flowers bloomed from the sword.
Beautiful plum blossoms bearing the hue of the sunset.
"……!"
The crowd, seeing the plum blossoms blooming from Cheonhwi's sword in that instant, was enveloped in shock.
What is Sword Brilliance?
It was known as something that could only be displayed by properly comprehending the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
Yet Cheonhwi, who was merely fourteen years old, was blooming Sword Brilliance, so their shock was only natural.
"A-At such a young age..."
"To already bloom Sword Brilliance!"
Just as everyone was expressing their bewilderment—
Springing up!
The Huashan Sect's Sect Leader and the high-ranking elders, upon seeing the sword technique Cheonhwi was wielding right now, had sprung up from their seats.
"……!"
"What was that just now!"
They were also surprised to see the Sword Brilliance.
However, what was horrifying them even more was Cheonhwi's sword technique.
"W-What kind of sword stance is that?"
"How can such a sword stance produce Sword Brilliance..."
"Plum Blossom Falling (Meihua Luoluo)? No, it's too sharp to be Plum Blossom Falling. Then is it Plum Shadow Forming River (Meiying Zaohe)...?"
They were engulfed in confusion.
The stances of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique Cheonhwi was showing were new stances they were seeing for the first time in their lives.
Listing the stances like that, they shook their heads one by one and murmured.
"It is not a stance of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique."
"B-But it is the Plum Blossom Sword Technique."
"What in the world is this bizarre..."
Their eyes shook greatly.
Judging by the blooming of Sword Brilliance just now, it was definitely their sect's Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
However, it was not the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
A contradictory statement.
Yet other than that, they could not properly explain the sword technique Cheonhwi was displaying.
While they were panicking—
'Hehe, to think he modified the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.'
Hyeondo looked with pleasure at Cheonhwi, who was blooming Sword Brilliance on the sparring ground.
Unlike the other high-ranking elders of the Huashan Sect, he was comprehending the current situation.
Of course, he was surprised as well.
Since he had modified the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
And even more concisely and powerfully than the original Plum Blossom Sword Technique, in his eyes.
If it were his past self, he would have raged, asking what nonsensical talk this was, but now he accepted it right away.
'Because it's Cheonhwi.'
It was understandable, considering how many absurd situations he had encountered while training with Cheonhwi over the past month.
As he recalled the extraordinary things Cheonhwi had done during that one month—
[Did you know?]
A voice transmission carrying a flustered tone was heard.
Turning his head toward the seat of honor, the Sect Leader was looking at him.
He looked calm on the outside, but Hyeondo, who had known him for a long time, knew.
That he was quite shocked.
He immediately used voice transmission.
[I didn't know either.]
[Hehe. How amazing, how wondrous.]
The Sect Leader exclaimed in admiration.
He was just as bewildered, but his joy far exceeded that.
Then, he watched Cheonhwi with shining eyes. Cheonhwi's overwhelming talent was a blessing bestowed upon the current Huashan Sect.
'The Heavenly Venerable is watching over our sect.'
Thinking like that, the corners of his mouth rose sky-high.
It was a bit audacious of him not to inform him, the Sect Leader, that he had modified the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, but his delight far outweighed that.
Just as everyone was looking at Cheonhwi with eyes full of admiration and shock—
Sweep—
Cheonhwi's aura changed abruptly.
The sword that had been blooming plum blossoms pointed to the sky instead of Gangun, and it spewed out immense internal energy, swallowing the training ground.
In an instant, the wind at Dorimpyeong stopped.
On the sparring ground, which had become as silent as if time had stopped, Gangun, who was shuddering from the pressure crushing his entire body, clenched his teeth.
'I can't lose!'
Power entered his eyes.
How much grueling training had he endured, and how many sword techniques had he learned, all for this very day?
Soon, he gripped his sword with both hands.
Then, he poured all of the internal energy of the Clear Bright Heart Art into the sword.
Instantly, energy condensed on the sword.
Faint, but unmistakable Sword Qi.
Gangun, who had barely produced Sword Qi by pouring out all his inner qi, glared at Cheonhwi.
At the same time, he overcame the pressure and took a large step forward with his left foot.
"Haap!"
Spitting out a mighty shout, he raised his sword high and swung it toward Cheonhwi.
The ultimate stance of the Wind and Cloud Sword Art.
The sword stance that summons the wind and clouds.
It was the manifestation of Wind and Cloud Emerging (Fengyun Zhaoxian).
'It's Sword Qi.'
Cheonhwi was lukewarm about the Wind and Cloud Emerging that Gangun had unleashed with all his heart.
Sword Qi was proof of reaching the first-rate level, but to him, it was something utterly trivial that he had always seen.
Swish—
With an indifferent expression, Cheonhwi flowed internal energy into the hand holding his sword.
In an instant, thread-like thin energy stretched out from the blade in multiple strands, then transformed into plum blossoms and bloomed fully.
Watching the Sword Brilliance blooming around him, Cheonhwi raised his sword high.
Hwiiing—
The moment the sword pointed to the sky, the wind that had stopped blew again.
Soon, in the gentle breeze, the plum blossoms blooming from Cheonhwi's sword began to dance.
Slaaash!
The sword slashed downward.
The first stance of the Seven Absolute Plum Blossom Sword.
Wind Heaven Plum Blossom Dance (Fengtian Meihua Wu).
Plum blossoms covered the sky.
Soon, the moment a single plum blossom collided with the Wind and Cloud Emerging that Gangun was unleashing with all his might—
Flash!
An intense light burst out, and the plum blossoms that had filled the sparring ground vanished in an instant.
As if the clash that had just occurred was all an illusion.
"……."
Silence flowed through Dorimpyeong.
There was no sound, no aftershock.
On the training ground, Gangun and Cheonhwi could be seen standing and facing each other.
The tip of Gangun's sword was extended toward Cheonhwi's Adam's apple.
And unlike that, Cheonhwi's sword was already drawn back.
At first glance, it looked like a situation of Gangun's victory.
But at that moment.
Crack—
A crack appeared on Gangun's sword.
Following that, the ominous sound grew louder, and eventually, the sword shattered into pieces.
Clatter—
The sword fragments falling to the ground.
Gangun stared at the sword whose blade had disappeared with a devastated expression.
It was merely a single plum blossom.
Only that single one collided, yet the Wind and Cloud Emerging, which he had performed with all his might, collapsed helplessly, and the sword was utterly destroyed.
Swipe—
Looking at Gangun, who had lost his spirit, Cheonhwi turned his body without delay.
After that, he slowly descended from the sparring ground.
Step— Step—
Footsteps ringing in the silence.
Just in time, red plum blossoms fell like rain, softly settling around him and his surroundings as he left the sparring ground.
As if signaling the beginning of the new Huashan Sect.