The Heavenly Flower Sword

The Divine Dragon Appearance Martial Contest ended in an unexpected incident, yet determining the victor required no strict judgment. While Seomun Cheong remained lost in a trance of no-self, Gongson Yoye had desperately met every technique with all her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strength, getting thrashed like a dog the entire time. It was a frantic, all-out effort to let Cheong continue her moment of enlightenment.

That final move. Among the thousands upon thousands of flower petals that filled the air and danced in every direction, one had actually been a vicious blade capable of piercing human flesh without resistance. Had Cheong unleashed it with true killing intent, Gongson Yoye would likely have been reduced to nothing but finely minced meat.

The floating stage’s collapse was simple enough to explain. The wood had already been battered and cracked from the string of matches far more intense than usual, its fatigue piled high. On top of that, Gongson Yoye’s sword qi—stretched long like her compliant rod—had left deep gashes, after which the flower petals of sword gang had savaged the structure across a wide area. Unable to bear its own weight any longer, a single breaking point triggered a chain reaction that brought the whole thing crashing down with a tremendous roar.

The Murim Alliance’s event plans collapsed along with it. The recovery of the stage’s construction costs collapsed even more spectacularly. And Seomun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Cheong was left floundering, gulping down water in desperate swallows.

Why the eighth stance of the Dokgo-gugeom, Thousand Changes Myriad Transformations, had burst out unconsciously, even she could not say. Perhaps the illusion of Mucheon-daeje at the Sword-Carving Cliff had left too deep an impression. Or maybe she had unconsciously shown off properly once she crossed that wall. It was equally possible that as all her true qi came rushing out at once, her unconscious had unleashed one massive technique to protect her meridians. The reason remained unknown.

Yet Mucheon-daeje was an immortal expert who had been born human but refused to die as one. To imitate the enlightenment such a supreme master had only left behind in his final years—to dare mimic a realm so profoundly high—was sheer presumption. A crow that tries to follow a stork will only tear its own crotch, after all. For the insignificant Seomun Cheong, suffering total muscular failure through extreme exhaustion was only natural.

To someone ignorant of martial arts, it was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. To those who truly understood martial arts, it was even more astonishing—an absolutely wondrous move. You see only as much as you know. That saying had never felt more true.

Still, one detail was rather strange. Among the five-colored sword gangs, the yellow carried the golden light of Buddhism blended with Daoist energy, while the blue was the purest, clearest true qi of the Daoist path. The rest could, at a stretch, still be explained. The shamelessly red true qi might be viewed as the immortal arts of the ancient Daoist tradition of harmonious nourishment. But the white and especially the black—upon closer inspection, that black was the concentrated essence of the world’s most hideous demonic energy, steeped in ugly malice.

Of course, no single person could possess so many different types of true qi in quantities rich enough to manifest sword gangs. Perhaps Mucheon-daeje had created it through some mysterious transformation. Since it was called Thousand Changes Myriad Transformations, maybe even the nature of true qi could change. As expected of Mucheon-daeje. As expected of the senior!

Such was the general flow of conversation.

Seomun Su-rin, listening quietly, struggled to hide her flustered expression.

Thus, when Yuha Jin-in asked, “Youngest junior sister. Was that not the Thousand Changes Myriad Transformations, Senior Mucheon-daeje’s move?”

“Uh… yes. It probably was.”

Since Seomun Cheong had no memory of unfolding the Dokgo-gugeom, she could only answer awkwardly.

“It was truly a god-like move. A blade concealed within beauty. If that is the spirit of Mount Hua, then what Senior Mucheon-daeje left behind must have carried that meaning. Hmm. But you truly don’t remember?”

“No. It seems I am still infinitely lacking to reach Senior Mucheon-daeje’s martial learning.”

“Well, you have only just stepped into the Transcendent realm. It cannot be helped. Do not worry too much. Walk slowly, without haste.”

Seomun Cheong’s gaze fell on the bundle of paper and fine brush that Mount Hua Sect Leader Yuha Jin-in clutched tightly in his hands. The moment he saw her, he had asked whether she could annotate the forms. Clearly the one who was anxious and impatient was Grandfather Yuha Jin-in himself.

Noticing her look, Yuha Jin-in awkwardly held the items out to her.

“Ahem. It is not that. I heard you have a hobby of writing, so I brought this as thanks. To witness the teachings of the Sword-Carving Cliff with your own eyes before death—what a tremendous gift that is.”

For such grand words, the paper was of the highest possible quality, white and bright with a serene pattern. The brush, by contrast, was nothing special, clearly something he had simply picked up on the spot.

“By the way, the Thousand Changes Myriad Transformations is the eighth stance?”

“Yes. He called it the eighth stance, Thousand Changes Myriad Transformations.”

“Kuhuhu. Did you hear that? The eighth stance, she says. Each of the Nine Great Sects has one stance, yet here we have eight. Do you understand what that means?”

“Ahem.”

“Hmm. Hmm.”

“Cough.”

The elders of the Nine Sects who had come to offer congratulations all let out uncomfortable coughs in unison.

Originally, the later a stance appeared in a set, the more profound, difficult, and powerful it became. If Mount Hua’s technique was the eighth stance, it implied one above it and seven below.

“He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠described entirely different enlightenments, yet where is the preceding stance and where is the deepened application? That Taoist fellow only speaks frivolous nonsense. This is why people call the Mount Hua bunch horse-nosed.”

Chaegeon Jin-in of the Wudang Sect, their longtime rival, immediately picked a fight.

“What? Ha. From what I saw, the stance left behind at Wudang is exactly one stance. Wasn’t that Taiji comprehension obtained from the Jing family in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the first place?”

“What does one stance matter, or nine? Childishly ranking them like that. At your age you should know to be dignified instead of counting like a child. Tsk tsk.”

For reference, none present knew it, but the ninth stance of the Dokgo-gugeom was indeed at the Wudang Sect. Chaegeon Jin-in would later have plenty of time to ponder the true meaning of the phrase “the mouth is the root of disaster.”

Abbot Muhak rebuked them.

“Enough. Are you not ashamed to behave this way in front of your youngest junior sister?”

“Ahem.”

“No, what do you mean youngest junior sister… ugh. The hierarchy is what it is, but still.”

Indeed. In terms of seniority, Seomun Cheong was the direct disciple of Seomun Su-rin. Another direct disciple of Seomun Su-rin was Wang Juhee, Sect Leader of the Sinnyeo Sect and bearer of the title Heaven-Fleeing Sword.

“Hmm. Now that I think about it, didn’t the child say she wished to see the Sword-Carving Cliff? Shaolin is right nearby. Since the topic has come up, let us go see it together. It has been a long time. I too would like to view Senior’s traces again.”

“Ahem. Youngest junior sister, since you are returning to the Sinnyeo Sect anyway, a small detour would take you past Jongnam Mountain, no? You can stop by Songshan on the way.”

“Then if we detour just a little more, we could also visit the Kongdong Mountains.”

“Yes. After Kongdong, descend to Sichuan, view the Sword-Carving Cliffs of Qingcheng and Emei, then take a boat back. That would be perfect.”

“While we are at it, Jeomchang…”

“Jeomchang? Are you trying to drag a person all the way to Yunnan?”

They were in an uproar, each insisting she visit their own sect’s Sword-Carving Cliff.

In truth, this gathering was never about congratulating the new Divine Dragon or offering kind words. They had assembled solely to recommend their respective cliffs. Never before had all the elders of the Nine Great Sects gathered in one place to offer congratulations even to past winners and Divine Dragons.

The proper etiquette was to visit each elder individually, greet them, and receive their blessings. Anyone watching would have clicked their tongues and muttered that the old folks were being utterly shameless.

Exactly as Chaegeon Jin-in was doing now.

“What, do you think she will understand anything just by looking? You are only burdening a child. Holding onto a kid who wants to go home. Tsk tsk. She has only just attained enlightenment. Should she not return and take time to organize her thoughts slowly?”

The other sect leaders and acting elders glared at him. For reference, the Wudang Sect was the Sinnyeo Sect’s closest neighbor. Even taking a carriage and touring as slowly and leisurely as possible, the journey would take no more than three days.

“Hmm. Child, Kunlun is… hmm. Yes. Hmm.”

Cheonbi-ja Jin-in of Kunlun began to speak but stopped. Even he possessed too much conscience to suggest stopping by Kunlun as well.

Yet it was the insight of Senior Mucheon-daeje. Moreover, it was a priceless legacy left as a reward after he had observed the secret techniques of the Nine Great Sects and reinterpreted them. Even the current First Under Heaven, Abbot Muhak, found the Sword-Carving Cliff ambiguous—something flickering at the edge of understanding, a profound divine art whose realm could not be measured. For a genius to have interpreted it was a gift from the heavens.

“My master told me that once I reached the Transcendent realm, I should seek to inherit Senior Mucheon-daeje’s teachings. I was already planning to visit, so I am truly grateful that you are all welcoming me so warmly.”

Seomun Cheong smiled brightly as she spoke.

The elders of the Nine Sects felt a sudden pang in their hearts and gained a great enlightenment.

So this is why one must raise a daughter!

----

Behind the stage where the new Divine Dragon was introduced. The term “new Divine Dragon” was slightly awkward since Divine Dragon already implied a new dragon, but because the title itself had become synonymous with the winner of the martial contest, the expression posed no real problem.

Gongson Yoye suddenly seized Cheong’s hand.

“Seomun Sojeo. Congratulations.”

“Hmm. How are you, Yoye? Was it too much? I heard I went a bit wild with the sword while in that trance. Are you all right?”

Sure enough, a thick, dark bruise was visible on the back of Gongson Yoye’s left hand where it had met Cheong’s.

“Please do not apologize. In truth, I also caught a clue to the Transcendent realm by watching your sword, Seomun Sojeo. If anything, I should be the one thanking you.”

Gongson Yoye smiled softly.

“And above all, it was an incredibly enjoyable time. If I could experience that again, it feels as though I could do anything. As if such a joyful moment will never come again in the rest of my life.”

“Uh, um. Could you stop talking like someone who doesn’t have long to live? How is your body? Your innate qi? Did you use too much? Can you tell how much lifespan you lost? This won’t do. I’ll give you a Great Recovery Pill—”

“I am grateful for your concern, but I have already taken spiritual medicines and rested properly. Would I have gone into an affair involving my family’s long-cherished wish without any preparation? I consumed every variety of spiritual medicine that protects the body and origin, so please worry no further.”

“Hmm. Every variety? What exactly did you take? Can you tell me? If you are just saying that because you feel burdened about accepting the Great Recovery Pill, I really won’t let it go.”

“First the Great Purity Pill, two Small Return Pills, the Kunlun Immortal Pill, the Supreme Yang Heaven Pill, the Spirit Star Qi Pill, the Purple Yin Body-Protecting Speed Qi Pill, and the Caiqi Nourishing Yang Pill. They are all precious spiritual medicines you must have heard of at least once, correct? The undigested energy from those medicines already fills my entire body. If I were to take the Great Recovery Pill now, all my meridians might burst like firecrackers.”

“Ah.”

Cheong flinched and secretly slipped the Great Recovery Pill she had hidden in her sleeve back into its box. She had planned to toss it into the girl’s mouth the moment her guard dropped, but that would have nearly caused a catastrophe instead.

She reflected on her actions a little. Gongson Yoye was not some tragic protagonist who had suffered abuse from her family and been locked away in a training hall swinging a sword. Her family must have done everything possible for her. Just hearing the terrifying names of the spiritual medicines that rolled off the girl’s tongue was proof enough.

But… I’ve never heard of most of those. I know about the Small Return Pill because of the Great Recovery Pill. Um. The rest… I have no idea. They must be good stuff.

When her name was finally called and she stepped outside, she understood what it meant for a sound too loud to be heard not with the ears but with the entire body. This time no one restrained the cheers. The fierce applause continued without end until everyone’s voices grew hoarse.

Of course, there were still annoying titles mixed in—Three-Headed Beauty, Absolute Flower, and the like—but cool-sounding ones were sprinkled throughout, which was satisfying. She had heard of Moonlit Divine Sword before. Divine Immortal Maiden… well, didn’t that sound a bit like a shaman? World’s Greatest Beauty? Ugh, that was going too far. And what was the point of her being pretty? It was other people who needed to be beautiful.

Sword Phoenix felt slightly off. Vermilion Bird Divine Maiden? What was that even supposed to mean?

There had been countless attempts to give Cheong an epithet, but unfortunately the world’s fairest method—majority vote—had not been allowed. That was because Abbot Muhak had crushed every suggestion beneath the overwhelming weight of the First Under Heaven.

Yuha Jin-in sighed that he had named her first, but if he felt it was unfair, he should have become the First Under Heaven himself.

Separately, even Yuha Jin-in acknowledged the result. A three-character title carried far more prestige and authority than a four-character one. Above all, he liked that the new epithet shared the “Hwa” character with Mount Hua, emphasizing their connection.

Thus the current First Under Heaven had bestowed and gifted that title to the most likely candidate to become the next First Under Heaven.

Cheonhwa-geom. The most beautiful sword under heaven.