The Master of the Nine Swords gripped one sword firmly in his right hand, while the other hovered in midair, controlled by his formidable sword technique.
A sharp, ominous ring echoed as the sword in the air twisted, aiming directly at Muhwi.
“Let’s see…”
As the Master of the Nine Swords murmured, the airborne sword shot towards Muhwi like an arrow. Yet, Muhwi remained calm, not even drawing the sword at his waist.
Just as the sword was about to pierce between Muhwi’s eyes, a plum blossom sword surged from behind him, shattering the air with its force.
Clang!
A profound resonance erupted in the sky as the two swords clashed, vibrating fiercely as they pushed against each other.
“To witness such a clash of sword techniques… it’s like a dream.”
“I’m glad I came to the World Swordsmanship Tournament.”
The spectators, all skilled swordsmen, watched in awe, unable to tear their eyes away from the spectacle. The mastery of controlling a sword with one’s mind was a level every swordsman aspired to reach.
The Master of the Nine Swords eyed Muhwi, who held his sword with a relaxed grip, with a glint of admiration.
“Has he already reached the level of the Heart Sword? Such rapid progress… truly a monster.”
Boom!
As the airborne swords clashed again, releasing a fierce shockwave, the Master of the Nine Swords extended his own sword.
Muhwi deftly parried the attack aimed at his heart, sliding his sword along the blade to deflect it. Sparks flew as the swords scraped against each other.
The Master of the Nine Swords twisted his wrist, blocking the thrust with the flat of his blade, and smoothly redirected his attack towards Muhwi’s neck.
Muhwi dodged, shifting his weight to spin and slash horizontally with his sword.
The Master of the Nine Swords, unfazed by his missed strike, continued his assault, drawing a circle with his sword to target Muhwi’s waist.
Both swordsmen spun simultaneously, unleashing powerful, weighty strikes at each other.
Crash!
The ground beneath their feet caved in from the force of their clash, sending shockwaves through the arena. The impact was so intense that many spectators coughed up blood and turned pale.
“Ugh!”
The onlookers retreated, raising their internal energy to protect themselves from the deadly duel.
The clash of masters was a life-threatening spectacle even for those merely watching.
In the sky, the two airborne swords continued their fierce battle, each releasing bursts of sword energy like fireworks.
“Truly… a magnificent sight.”
Muwha murmured, and Mujin nodded in agreement.
“Watch closely, everyone. Even if you can’t reach the level of the Grandmaster, you must strive towards it.”
The disciples nodded, their eyes fixed on the duel.
“Of course, Brother Mujin.”
“Such a distant goal makes the pursuit worthwhile.”
“Ah, but if I can’t keep up, it just drains my energy…”
At Musang’s words, the disciples glanced at him, some with stern looks.
“Just kidding… just kidding. No need to glare at me like that.”
The disciples refocused on the duel.
A crimson flame, like something from the depths of hell, surged across the stage. It was the sword energy of the Master of the Nine Swords, who had mastered the extreme yang energy.
As his sword swept the ground, it left a trail of fire, and when it slashed upwards, it scorched the air, creating a shimmering haze.
The Master of the Nine Swords unleashed a massive, fiery attack, its maw wide open towards Muhwi.
Ghostly Flame of the Demon’s Mouth.
The intense heat threatened to consume Muhwi, but the protective aura surrounding him held firm.
Muhwi countered with a massive plum blossom technique, blocking the attack.
In that moment, the Master of the Nine Swords suddenly appeared through his own attack, splitting the plum blossom in two.
Boom!
He closed the distance with a swift step, slashing vertically.
Muhwi had anticipated this.
He had been watching the intricate dance of attacks, noting how they centered around the upper and lower sections.
The Master of the Nine Swords, obscured by the blazing sword energy, had aimed for the unguarded middle.
Muhwi’s sword, which had been low, shot up diagonally, deflecting the incoming strike with precision.
Crash!
The Master of the Nine Swords’ face tightened as he watched his sword veer off course.
Muhwi seized the moment, his sword glowing a deep purple as he bent his knees and leaned forward.
He unleashed a devastating strike, slicing through the air with such force that even the shimmering haze split apart.
Sword Breaker.
“What is this!”
The Master of the Nine Swords quickly withdrew his sword, twisting it to avoid the full brunt of the attack, sensing that his weapon would shatter otherwise.
Crash!
Despite his swift reaction, his sword broke. Instead of panicking, he launched a powerful palm strike.
The Flame Prison Palm, imbued with extreme yang energy, struck beneath Muhwi’s left collarbone.
Thud!
The sound of metal breaking and a heavy thud echoed almost simultaneously as both masters were pushed back.
Muhwi glanced down at his robe, now marked with a blackened handprint.
‘For an old man who’s been in seclusion, his instincts are sharp.’
Muhwi suppressed the invading yang energy with his own internal power.
The Master of the Nine Swords discarded his broken weapon, retrieving the sword he had been controlling with his mind.
“What was that technique you just used?”
“No need for you to know.”
“Arrogant.”
The Master of the Nine Swords chuckled, switching his grip on the sword.
“Once I defeat you, next will be Wudang and Namgung.”
The faces of the Namgung family head and the Wudang Seven Swords tensed slightly.
“I will surpass the Three Great Sword Schools and make ours the greatest in the world.”
“Save such talk for after you’ve won.”
As the Master of the Nine Swords’ eyes twitched with amusement, two swords soared from behind him.
Having seen enough of Muhwi’s skills, he unleashed his full strength.
This time, instead of clashing with the airborne swords, he aimed his sword energy directly at Muhwi.
Three blazing swords were poised menacingly at Muhwi, who stood firm with just two swords in hand.
“Hmm! So the Volcano Sword Saint can only manage two swords at best.”
“Looks like the tide might turn soon.”
Muhwi smirked at the murmurs of the swordsmen around him.
‘They have no idea.’
The art of wielding multiple swords wasn’t simply about increasing the number of weapons one could handle. Just as using dual weapons in martial arts didn’t inherently enhance one’s skills, the effectiveness of multiple swords depended on one’s inner strength, will, and how they were employed.
For the Volcano Sect’s sword techniques, known for their rapid changes and swift movements, using multiple swords could amplify their power. Conversely, the solitary sword style of the Dokgo Sword Technique, which focused on concentrating sword energy into a single strike, was more potent with just one sword.
‘This is doable.’
Muhwi could wield two swords like his opponent, Guyu Swordmaster, but he chose to respond with just one. He believed that even without using an additional sword, he could win by employing the technique of breaking through sword formations.
‘And I intend to learn everything I can from this.’
To truly understand and absorb another’s techniques, one had to engage directly and experience them over time.
The duel had already surpassed 150 exchanges. As Guyu Swordmaster began to show his full strength, the battle neared its climax. The arena and its surroundings had become a wasteland, forcing the spectators to retreat further back.
With a loud clash, the five swords began their chaotic dance. Sharp sounds of air being sliced filled the air, leaving deep scars in their wake. Muhwi’s robe was singed and torn in places, while Guyu Swordmaster’s garment was split down to his chest.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve faced such a formidable opponent.’
Guyu Swordmaster grinned as he lunged forward, with two other swords attacking from the sides and rear, as if three of him were attacking at once.
Muhwi was no different. He didn’t just face one sword with another; he synchronized his movements with his invisible partner, the Simmyung Sword, as if fighting alongside an unseen ally.
The Simmyung Sword trembled violently, sketching plum blossoms in the air. The blossoms of the “Plum Endures the Cold” technique blocked the surging waves of sword energy.
The Plum Blossom Sword deflected the sword aiming for Muhwi’s back, then followed the path of “Plum Fragrance Becomes a Stream,” piercing through space.
The sword, trailing a purple comet-like tail, shot forward. Guyu Swordmaster’s sword, wrapped in a fiery aura, descended like a waterfall.
With a fiery clash, a massive heatwave swept across the arena.
As the two swords soared high into the sky from the impact, Guyu Swordmaster swept his sword low, carving deep into the ground and raising a wall of sword energy.
The technique of the Flame Prison Wall.
But when the heavy wind of the Simmyung Sword flew in horizontally, the wall of sword energy split apart.
Through the gap in the Flame Prison Wall, Guyu Swordmaster’s ultimate move surged toward Muhwi’s forehead. Seven intertwining sword strikes exuded a menacing aura.
The Seven Ghosts’ Riot.
As Muhwi deflected the strikes and shifted his stance mid-air, blood spurted from his shoulder.
‘Damn that smell.’
The extreme yang energy of the sword caused his flesh to burn, but Muhwi ignored the pain and pressed on with his attack.
He unleashed the techniques “Falling Plum Becomes Rain” and “Plum Fragrance Intoxicates the Butterfly” in quick succession.
Restricting Guyu Swordmaster’s movements, he mixed in the technique of breaking through sword formations, launching a relentless assault.
Plum blossoms rained down like a storm, and petals whirled like a frenzied dance, making it difficult for Guyu Swordmaster to respond to the overwhelming power of the strikes.
‘This swordsmanship rivals even the Emperor’s Sword Form of the Azure Sky Swordmaster. No, it might even surpass it.’
Feeling the strain in his grip, Guyu Swordmaster skillfully countered with dozens of variations. He met change with change.
Yet, the Volcano Sect’s sword techniques, with their bewildering array of moves and destructive power, posed a significant challenge even for a master of his caliber.
Amidst the hundreds of mesmerizing plum blossoms, a single deadly thorn lay hidden, ready to strike.
The Simmyung Sword, its black blade now shimmering with a radiant purple hue, followed the path of breaking through sword formations.
It slashed diagonally, tearing through Guyu Swordmaster’s variations, then descended vertically, shattering the sword at its end.
Even with his sword broken, Guyu Swordmaster’s eyes remained undaunted.
With a sharp whistle, a sword broke through the plum blossoms of “Plum Endures the Cold” from behind, targeting Muhwi’s back. Guyu Swordmaster grasped a flickering crimson intangible sword in his hand.
Faced with attacks from both front and back, Muhwi anticipated that the intangible sword would slice through the plum blossoms in the brief moment of their thirty-odd exchanges.
Without hesitation, Muhwi released the Simmyung Sword.
The Simmyung Sword, freed from Muhwi’s grasp, deflected the sword approaching from behind with a piercing sound.
In Muhwi’s now-empty hand, the purple glow of the setting sun stretched out, forming the shape of a sword.
Seeing the intangible sword Muhwi had conjured, Guyu Swordmaster’s eyes blazed with intensity.
“Senior, the honor of being the greatest sword sect in the world will be claimed by the Volcano Sect.”
“Try and take it!”
The two intangible swords met at a single point, merging together.
Instead of a loud explosion, a massive pressure and shockwave spread out, swallowing even the sound.
Simultaneously, the swords they had been wielding fell to the ground.
Both masters focused all their energy on the intangible swords.
Once more, the intangible swords clashed.
Guyu Swordmaster unleashed the ultimate move of the Ghostly Phantom Sword with his intangible sword, while Muhwi executed the technique he had developed.
The lesson from the Sword Sage on the eve of the duel with Guyu Swordmaster.
The path of sword intent is guided by one’s heart.
Muhwi, drawing on this insight, executed his technique.
Breaking through to seek the path.
The single-minded determination to surpass the Azure Sky Swordmaster.
The will to make the Guyu Sword Sect the greatest sword sect in the world.
With a single strike, Muhwi sought to realize the path the Sword Sage had spoken of.
Believing without doubt that at the end of this path lay the heart of the sword.
Muhwi’s sword cleaved through the blazing crimson flame of Guyu Swordmaster’s sword, splitting it in two.
As Guyu Swordmaster slowly released his grip, the halved intangible sword dissolved into the air.
“It’s broken. Was my seclusion in vain?”
“It wasn’t in vain. My desire was simply stronger.”
“I’ve pursued this my entire life. How did you become so strong?”
“Because it’s a promise I must keep…”
A promise Muhwi made to himself for the sake of his master.
Seeing Muhwi’s unblemished intangible sword, Guyu Swordmaster smiled bitterly.
The Lord of the Black Night Palace gazed into the flickering darkness before her.
“Master, you’ve arrived.”
As she bowed her head, Heukcheon, cloaked in shadows, stepped forward.
“What reason do you have for summoning me, my disciple?”