Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Dawn of the Late Bloomer
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From Cheonhwi's entire body, the inner energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art spread out, slowly encroaching upon the space.
"Impressive."
The Jongnam Sword Saint let out a gasp of admiration.
A presence utterly different from moments before.
Not only was it astonishing that such a young man possessed inner energy this vast and majestic, but he wielded it with complete freedom!
How could he not be amazed?
'My heart is racing.'
As if sensing the Jongnam Sword Saint's feelings...
Wooong—
The Jade Dew Sword let out a joyful cry.
'Haha, aren't you thrilled, old friend?'
A pleased smile curved the Jongnam Sword Saint's lips as he stroked the Jade Dew Sword.
After venturing into the martial world at the late age of seventy, he had clashed with countless masters.
Yet none of them could hold a candle to the young man before him.
"Well then, shall we begin?"
With a smile, he circulated his inner energy.
In that instant, the space around him was dyed pitch black. Simultaneously, his body sparkled like a star.
It was the manifestation of the Jongnam Sect's most aberrant and domineering protective art, the Galactic Heavenly Strong Divine Art.
Exuding a bizarre aura as if he were isolated from the rest of the world, he half-closed his eyes.
"This time, I'll strike first."
With those words, he kicked off the ground.
Boom!
Putting enough force to leave a foot-deep footprint in the earth, he shot forward like an arrow and swung his sword at Cheonhwi.
Cheonhwi raised his sword to meet it.
The two swords clashed.
Creeeeang!
The space between them warped, and heaven and earth began to wail.
Shockwaves radiated outward in all directions.
"Urk!"
"Are those even humans?!"
Taeguk Gunja and Cheon Ig-ae hurriedly circulated their inner energy against the successive blasts.
Even so, the shockwaves shook them to their cores, yet they couldn't tear their eyes away.
How could they?
These two had reached the supreme realm every martial artist dreamed of, and now they were clashing!
Meanwhile, the Jongnam Sword Saint poured his inner energy into unleashing the Thirty-Six Heavenly River Swords relentlessly.
Heavenly River Drooping Hook, Heavenly River Gazing Up, Heavenly River Pouring Down, and so on.
He executed every form of the Thirty-Six Heavenly River Swords, dominating all thirty-six directions.
Yet...
Kaang!
Cheonhwi shattered them head-on.
'...To think it's this domineering.'
The Jongnam Sword Saint swallowed his shock inwardly.
Despite unleashing countless forms, Cheonhwi hadn't retreated a single step.
On the contrary, he countered directly, smashing or deflecting them outright.
'The Thirty-Six Heavenly River Swords aren't enough.'
The Jongnam Sword Saint channeled inner energy into his feet.
Tap!
Unleashing the Galactic Shadow Flight Step, he closed the distance in an instant.
Swoosh—
He then raised the Jade Dew Sword high.
"Try blocking this one."
Before his voice even reached Cheonhwi, a razor-sharp sword light descended.
"Th-that madman!"
"The Ethereal Boundless Sword..."
Cheon Ig-ae and Taeguk Gunja cried out in horror.
It was a sword path they had witnessed only once.
Yet that single glimpse had seared it indelibly into their minds, deeper than any other in the world.
For when that Ethereal Boundless Sword was unleashed, an entire sect had vanished in the blink of an eye.
"That guy's exactly what the martial world needs right now—what the hell is he doing?!"
"Calm down."
"Calm down? You know the power of that Ethereal Boundless Sword better than anyone."
"Don't you trust the Sword Saint?"
Taeguk Gunja swallowed dryly.
"What are you plann—"
As he tried to defend the Jongnam Sword Saint...
Swoosh—
The Ethereal Boundless Sword unfolded.
"Planning what?!"
Cheon Ig-ae bellowed.
Once the Ethereal Boundless Sword was unleashed, the outcome was all but decided.
Death.
Meanwhile, facing the Ethereal Boundless Sword, Cheonhwi felt the world slowing down.
The falling snowflakes hung motionless in the air, and the blowing wind seemed utterly still, cloaked in silence.
But it wasn't time itself slowing.
The sword swinging toward him now...
It was simply too fast, making everything else appear sluggish.
'The pinnacle of speed.'
Cheonhwi calmly traced the Jade Dew Sword with his eyes.
Bathed in the Galactic Heavenly Strong Divine Art, the Jade Dew Sword blooming in that dark void seemed to recreate the world anew.
A world existing solely for the Jade Dew Sword.
"But in the end, it's just an illusion."
Cheonhwi channeled his inner energy into his sword.
In that moment, thread-like strands of qi extended from the blade, transforming into plum blossoms that fully bloomed.
Swoosh—
He raised his sword.
The plum blossoms around him vanished one by one.
Until only a single bloom remained.
Cheonhwi slowly brought his sword down toward that last plum blossom like a monk striking a bell.
The instant the blossom was severed...
Shuuu—
The world was consumed by darkness.
Seven Ultimate Plum Blossom Sword.
Sixth Form: Dark Fragrance Unfrozen Flower.
The Jongnam Sword Saint's eyes narrowed as he unleashed the Ethereal Boundless Sword.
'It's gone.'
Cheonhwi had been right in front of him moments ago.
But the moment that sudden plum blossom was cut by his sword, the world went dark.
He had lost sight of Cheonhwi.
Not just Cheonhwi.
He had lost everything.
His momentum, his senses, his very perceptions.
He felt utterly detached from the world, as if he alone had been severed from it.
And in that moment, he caught it.
A single thread of plum blossom fragrance.
Whoooosh—
A faint breeze swept through.
Cheonhwi and the Jongnam Sword Saint stood facing each other just as before.
But their appearances had changed.
Their robes were torn in places, and their disheveled hair whipped fiercely in the wind.
Time passed in that stance for a moment.
Drip—
Blood trickled down Cheonhwi's cheek.
"Blood... It's been a while."
Cheonhwi wiped it away and looked ahead.
"Worthy of a Sword Saint, after all."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a line of blood appeared on the Jongnam Sword Saint's cheek.
A bead of blood welled up, trickled down his face, and dripped from his chin.
Plip.
It spread into the snow on the ground.
"Haha. This is a first for me."
The Jongnam Sword Saint laughed heartily.
"Nothing has ever withstood the Ethereal Boundless Sword..."
Cheonhwi chuckled softly.
"That's because it wasn't up against me."
The Jongnam Sword Saint's smile deepened at Cheonhwi's bold words.
But it faded just as quickly.
He wiped the smile away and asked,
"Do you recognize the form?"
"Dark Fragrance Unfrozen Flower."
"Dark Fragrance... Unfrozen..."
The Jongnam Sword Saint closed and opened his eyes.
The plum blossom blooming in the darkness and that single thread of fragrance flashed in his mind, then vanished.
As did the sword halted midway...
'When speed reaches its peak, it becomes slowness, and when slowness peaks, it becomes stillness.'
He nodded and said,
"A fitting name."
"What's the name of your form?"
"Ethereal Boundless Sword."
"Doesn't suit it."
"Haha, I think so too."
The Jongnam Sword Saint burst into laughter.
Who would imagine a speed sword from a name like Ethereal Boundless Sword?
As the two entered a brief lull, Cheon Ig-ae and Taeguk Gunja were aghast.
"He clashed head-on with the Ethereal Boundless Sword?!"
"What was that form just now? Does Mount Hua Sect have a sword art like that?"
They weren't confident they could survive the Ethereal Boundless Sword themselves.
Yet this young man not only withstood it but wounded the Jongnam Sword Saint.
"...What do you think?"
Cheon Ig-ae asked Taeguk Gunja.
"Connected to 'them'?"
"..."
Taeguk Gunja fell silent.
That level of skill at such a young age.
It was possible.
But...
"There was no Mount Hua among those connected to 'them'."
"Then what the hell?"
Cheon Ig-ae furrowed his brow.
"Mount Hua doesn't have masters capable of Body Transformation either... Does that mean a dragon rose from a shallow stream?"
As Cheon Ig-ae stared piercingly at Cheonhwi, trying to size him up...
"Shall we go again?"
Cheonhwi raised his sword once more.
"Before that, I have one proposal."
"What is it?"
"How about we exchange ultimate techniques?"
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
Ultimate techniques...
Meaning absolutes.
Cheonhwi's eyes gleamed as he said,
"But only if you'll show me the real deal."
"Haha, no need to worry about that."
The Jongnam Sword Saint smiled and raised his sword.
"I'll show you the proper one."
His eyes sank deeply.
Unlike his words, no presence or aura emanated from him.
It was as if he had simply raised his sword.
But Cheonhwi could feel it.
This stance meant the Jongnam Sword Saint was fully prepared.
True enough, his presence gradually faded until, despite standing right there, no trace of him could be felt.
The Jongnam Sword Saint slowly began to blend and melt into the world itself.
Then his mouth opened.
"Do you know? Everyone praises me as the Jongnam Sword Saint now, but back then, I was such a dullard I couldn't even dream of entering the martial world because I hadn't properly learned any martial arts."
It was an abrupt statement.
Yet Cheonhwi instinctively knew this story was tied to the absolute technique he was about to unleash.
"I couldn't wield sword qi properly until I was past forty."
The Jongnam Sword Saint smiled faintly.
A smile so ephemeral it seemed about to vanish.
"But even a dullard like me had an enlightenment. Thanks to that, I reached this realm at such a late age."
The Jongnam Sword Saint met Cheonhwi's eyes.
"And what I'm about to show is my personal sword form, born from that enlightenment."
"Now that's something to look forward to."
Cheonhwi meant it.
His own sword form?
His heart raced.
The Jongnam Sword Saint was the greatest master he had ever faced in this life.
A sword form created from such a man's enlightenment?
How could he not be excited!
It wouldn't be an ordinary one, surely.
Cheonhwi's eyes sparkled in anticipation as he raised his sword.
"The form is named..."
A low voice flowed from the Jongnam Sword Saint's mouth as his sword began to glow.
"Late Bloomer Ushers the Dawn."
With that, he swung downward.
So serene and tranquil.
As if defenselessly inviting the blade, drawing it across himself.
If he swung now, the Jade Dew Sword seemed fragile enough to shatter effortlessly.
But that was merely the surface.
'Worthy of calling it an absolute.'
Cheonhwi half-closed his eyes.
The moment that deceptively simple downward stroke extended, his body screamed warnings to dodge.
Then the Jongnam Sword Saint took a step forward.
Just one step.
But in that instant...
Kuuung!
An intense pressure crushed down on Cheonhwi.
Looking up at the Jade Dew Sword's razor edge, Cheonhwi raised his own sword.
'Yes, this is what I wanted.'
A smile leaked between his lips.
From the sword in his hand, an indescribable flow arose, gently embracing Cheonhwi and his surroundings.
As if enveloping everything.
Finally, his sword surged upward toward the descending Jade Dew Sword.
Seven Ultimate Plum Blossom Sword, Seventh Form.
Eternal World Myriad Miles Fragrance.
An enchanting plum blossom scent swirled fiercely.
Whirrrl—
Even Cheon Ig-ae and Taeguk Gunja, standing far off, caught the fragrance.
It was so intoxicating that their eyes glazed over for a moment.
Enough to make them forget the clash entirely.
The Jongnam Sword Saint felt the plum blossom scent as well.
And more than that.
As Cheonhwi swung, he witnessed an inexpressible momentum.
'Excellent.'
The Jongnam Sword Saint smiled wrinkledly.
'Let's go, old friend.'
Infusing power into the Jade Dew Sword...
Late Bloomer Ushers the Dawn pierced precisely toward the momentum Cheonhwi unleashed.
Creeeang!
At the sound of bronze shattering, Cheon Ig-ae and Taeguk Gunja snapped back to reality.
"Wh-what was that?!"
"More importantly, what's the result?"
They turned their gazes.
Before their eyes unfolded the outcome of the two absolute techniques colliding.
Drip, drip.
Fresh blood fell downward.
Cheonhwi glanced at his left arm, where blood beaded through his torn sleeve, then looked up and spoke.
"That's a draw."
"Haha, a draw..."
The Jongnam Sword Saint wiped the blood trickling from his lips and nodded.
He then sheathed the Jade Dew Sword.
"But it's a bit regrettable."
His gaze fixed on the other sword strapped to Cheonhwi's side.
"I wanted to draw that sword no matter what."
"Want to go again?"
Cheonhwi offered, raising his sword.
"No, that's enough."
The Jongnam Sword Saint shook his head in refusal.
"In this state, we can't properly demonstrate our arts."
"Tch, fair enough."
Cheonhwi swallowed his regret and sheathed his sword.
"Then we'll continue next time."
"Next time..."
Hearing those familiar words again, a faint smile spread across the Jongnam Sword Saint's lips.
"In that case, I look forward to the day we meet again."