Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Path to the World's Greatest Sect
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The Sect Leader was momentarily speechless.
'The world's greatest sect?'
It sounded utterly absurd.
Throughout the long history of the Mount Hua Sect, they had never once achieved such a thing.
Hyeoncheong was equally shocked, forgetting to watch the sparring match as he leaned in close.
"A-Are you saying our sect can become the world's greatest sect?"
If anyone else had said it, they would have laughed it off as nonsense, but since it was Cheonhwi, the two of them grew tense.
Cheonhwi twisted one corner of his mouth at the gazes focused on him.
"It's not impossible."
At Cheonhwi's words, the Sect Leader felt his heart pounding for a moment.
'If it's Cheonhwi, maybe...'
The Sect Leader forcibly suppressed the excitement rising to the top of his head and asked,
"How?"
"First and foremost, we need to make the position of Plum Blossom Sword Guard so appealing that everyone wants it."
"...The Plum Blossom Sword Guards are already what every disciple in the Mount Hua Sect desires."
"From what I've seen, they don't seem all that eager."
Cheonhwi met the Sect Leader's eyes.
"If they truly wanted it, wouldn't they have kept sparring relentlessly, even risking their lives?"
"That's..."
The Sect Leader swallowed the rest of his words.
"You're right. The number of disciples who want to become Plum Blossom Sword Guards has drastically decreased."
And in the end, he admitted it.
"So, what would you do?"
Cheonhwi grinned.
"I'd give them exclusive benefits that only Plum Blossom Sword Guards can receive."
"Benefits...?"
"Yes. For example, allowing them to roam outside freely, or being flexible with certain sect rules."
The Sect Leader's brow furrowed.
"That's nonsense. How can we give special privileges to just a few Taoists?"
"But wouldn't that make it even more effective?"
Before the Sect Leader could respond, Cheonhwi poured out the methods he had thought up like a waterfall.
"They're already scrambling for the mere honor of it. If we add benefits on top? Who wouldn't be tempted?"
Hyeoncheong, listening, nodded.
"It's certainly an appealing proposal. Lately, some disciples have even talked about wanting to go back home."
At Hyeoncheong's addition, the Sect Leader was momentarily intrigued but quickly regained his composure.
"But we can't do that. If our sect adopts such methods, what will the other sects think? They'll point fingers, saying our Taoists are blinded by privileges and vying for the positions."
"Why worry about what other sects think right now? Did those bastards help us when our sect was struggling?"
Cheonhwi snorted derisively.
"And that's exactly why we need more power, isn't it? Didn't those guys start reaching out again only after we crushed White Ghost Castle?"
At those words, the Sect Leader felt as if his head had been struck by a hammer, leaving him dazed.
It was true.
Until just recently, the Nine Great Sects had ignored the Mount Hua Sect.
"I think Cheonhwi's opinion is sound. No matter how much we value tradition, can tradition be preserved if our sect collapses?"
As Hyeoncheong sided with Cheonhwi, the Sect Leader's furrowed brow deepened in thought.
He stood at a crossroads.
Continue the Mount Hua Sect's traditions as they were.
Or follow Cheonhwi's words and forge new glory for the Mount Hua Sect.
The deliberation didn't last long.
"Very well. Let's give it some thought."
Having drawn a positive response from the Sect Leader, Cheonhwi smiled inwardly.
'Good, but if it ends here, it'll be a shame.'
So he continued with what else he had prepared.
"And there's something else I've thought of."
"There's more?"
The Sect Leader's expression grew complicated.
Anticipation mixed with worry.
What could it be?
"Speak."
"Open the Ten Thousand Scriptures Pavilion so that outer disciples and lay disciples can peruse some of it."
"That's impossible."
This time, the Sect Leader spoke firmly.
And understandably so, as they couldn't carelessly leak the Mount Hua Sect's martial arts to the outside.
"If martial arts with such a long history are revealed, we would have no face to show our ancestors."
"What about new martial arts?"
"New martial arts?"
Cheonhwi turned his gaze to Hyeoncheong.
"You have the new manuals I wrote, right?"
Hyeoncheong, grasping Cheonhwi's intent, curved the corners of his eyes.
"Haha, I've kept them separately."
"How many in total?"
"Roughly forty or fifty volumes."
At Hyeoncheong's words, the Sect Leader was stunned.
"F-Forty or fifty?!"
"That should be enough, right?"
"W-Will that be alright? If it's martial arts you created, we could just keep them in the Ten Thousand Scriptures Pavilion..."
"No. Just let anyone read them."
What kind of Ten Thousand Scriptures Pavilion is that?
'If we leave them there, they'll just gather dust forever. Better for anyone to read them.'
No matter how precious a martial arts manual is, if it's cherished to the point of being forgotten, it's as good as nonexistent.
"And that way, we can gather the lay disciples from outside, strengthen our bonds even more—killing two birds with one stone, right?"
At the irrefutable logic, the Sect Leader's eyes widened.
"...You've thought that far ahead too?"
"We took in new disciples this time, but we're still short, aren't we?"
The Sect Leader couldn't hold back his admiration.
'Haha, so Cheonhwi has been thinking about the Mount Hua Sect like this.'
The Sect Leader's expression brightened.
"Understood. I'll persuade them somehow."
As the Sect Leader spoke with resolve,
"Oh, right."
Cheonhwi spoke as if something had just occurred to him.
"I almost forgot something important."
At Cheonhwi's words, the two perked up their ears, wondering what proposal would come next.
"Keep the number of Plum Blossom Sword Guards as is. Then create a position called Regular Sword Guards under them, and have them challenge the Plum Blossom Sword Guards every year to vie for spots."
Cheonhwi's idea was simple.
Why had the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult grown so strong?
Competition.
The competitive structure born from the doctrine of the strong dominating the weak had made the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult the world's greatest sect, so they should adopt that process.
However, hearing this, the Sect Leader and Hyeoncheong flinched.
Didn't it sound more like something from the unorthodox sects than the orthodox ones?
"Hm..."
"A battle royale? That's..."
The two let out low hums and looked at Cheonhwi.
It was an absurd method.
But at the same time, it appealed to them.
After all, if they gave benefits to the Plum Blossom Sword Guards and their numbers kept increasing, it would only give them headaches.
But by fixing the numbers and having annual challenges, they could show that becoming a Plum Blossom Sword Guard was no easy feat.
As the two pondered the clear pros and cons,
"What kind of nonsense is this now?"
A voice came from the side.
"A battle royale?"
Cheonhwi, already aware of Cheonhyang approaching, opened his mouth.
"Just as you heard."
"Pfft, haha! For real?"
Cheonhyang burst into laughter.
"Junior brother, seriously. What kind of ridiculous talk is this? The Plum Blossom Sword Guards can already make a name for themselves as is."
"From my view, it's insufficient..."
Cheonhwi paused mid-sentence and grinned.
"Ah! Could it be you're lacking confidence? Makes sense. If the number of Plum Blossom Sword Guards decreases, your spot might be in danger too."
Cheonhyang's expression subtly hardened.
"...Is that a provocation, junior brother?"
Cheonhyang lifted her chin as she spoke.
"Fine. Want to settle it with a spar? Whether you're right or I am. You sounded so confident."
Cheonhyang smirked.
She said that, but she didn't think Cheonhwi would accept the spar.
Yet.
"Sure."
Cheonhwi stood up.
"For real?"
Cheonhyang's eyes widened in surprise.
"Cheonhwi."
"Hwi-ya."
The startled Hyeoncheong and Sect Leader tried to stop him, but Cheonhwi was already moving.
"Let's go."
Cheonhwi lightly kicked off the ground.
Cheonhyang's eyes sparkled in astonishment at the lightfoot skill that crossed ten zhang in an instant.
"Ch-Cheonhwi Martial Uncle?"
"Cheonhwi Junior Brother...?"
"What? Martial Uncle Cheonhwi?"
Meanwhile, the Plum Blossom Sword Guards and second-generation disciples gasped at Cheonhwi's sudden appearance.
"Kek!"
"Guh! Why is Martial Uncle Cheonhwi..."
Tears welled up in their eyes.
Some even convulsed.
Especially the first-generation disciples among the Plum Blossom Sword Guards—their reactions were incomparable to the second-generation ones.
"I-It’s here! The culprit who taught the Transformation Qi Art to the Martial Training Pavilion Lord."
"The nightmare of the Three Disaster Sword Art... Ugh!"
"We've suffered so much because of him."
A dark, gloomy aura emanated from their muttering bodies.
Seeing this, Cheonhyang panicked.
'Why are they acting like that?'
Cheonhwi was a jewel cherished by everyone in the Mount Hua Sect.
But now?
Most of the disciples were having fits at the sight of him.
As if facing something they should fear and avoid.
While she was flustered,
"Are you going to spar?"
The Sect Leader addressed her.
"Yes."
"Is that alright?"
"Worried?"
Cheonhyang rolled up her sleeve, revealing her arm muscles, to the Sect Leader who looked at her with slight concern.
"Don't worry. I'll go easy on him."
"No, what I'm worried about is..."
As the Sect Leader tried to say more,
"Not coming?"
Cheonhwi's voice rang out.
Cheonhyang immediately stomped the ground.
"I'll head over first."
Landing lightly on the training ground, she spoke to Cheonhwi.
"I heard you learned martial arts from Martial Ancestor Hyeondo, and your lightfoot skill is impressive."
"Is it? It was nothing special."
Cheonhyang smirked.
From her perspective, having never seen Cheonhwi's skills, his confident attitude probably seemed arrogant.
"Then, I'll yield the first move."
Cheonhyang said softly, placing both hands on her waist and mouthing,
"Come at me first."
At her words,
"N-No, Senior Sister."
"Senior Sister! Yielding the first move is..."
Jeokgeom and Seollan, watching from afar, snapped to attention and tried to intervene.
But,
"Sounds good."
Cheonhwi answered first, twisting the corner of his eye.
And then circulated the Plum Blossom Divine Art.
Whoosh!
Vast pure energy emanated from him, exploding in dazzling radiance.
"...Huh?!"
Only then did Cheonhyang sense something amiss and circulate her internal energy.
"Hup!"
Forgetting her promise to yield the first move, she swung her sword with full force.
Plum Blossom Falling Shadow!
The fastest quick sword from the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art bloomed in her hand.
Clang!
Cheonhwi's sword, drawn in an instant, shattered the Plum Blossom Falling Shadow and sent her sword flying skyward.
Cheonhyang looked up at the sky with a dazed expression. Her sword, released from her hand, soared through the air.
For a brief moment as she watched.
Thud.
The sword stabbed into the ground before her.
Cheonhyang alternated her trembling gaze between the sword and her empty hand.
'My full-power Plum Blossom Falling Shadow...'
Her hand still trembled from the shock.
"H-How...?"
Cheonhwi grinned at Cheonhyang, who looked up at him in disbelief.
"My victory, right?"