Chapter 183
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Plum Blossom Sword Formation
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Seol Hwa-un's eyes gleamed.
‘A linked formation.’
What he had recently faced was the combined wall formation deployed by the Eighteen Battle Ghosts, but to be precise, it was more accurate to call it four linked squads rather than a true linked formation.
Since the four linked squads attacked in rotation, it was essentially a wheel formation.
‘Not a true linked formation.’
The Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor of his previous life had faced various linked formations.
Among them were Shaolin's One Hundred Eight Arhats Formation and Wudang's Taiji Sword Formation.
At that time, these two linked formations had been the strongest. Most other sects lacked even decent linked formations, and those that existed had negligible power.
‘In that sense, the One Hundred Eight Arhats Formation was truly impressive.’
With Shaolin's one hundred eight elite Arhats forming a single formation, its power went without saying.
‘Though the formation's synergistic effect was disappointing relative to the numbers.’
The mere fact that one hundred eight moved in perfect harmony to generate combined force held great significance.
‘Still, there were openings, so I broke it with great difficulty.’
The Taiji Sword Formation was a sword array deployed by thirty-six Wudang sword experts, and its oppressive presence fell short compared to the One Hundred Eight Arhats Formation.
But its rock-solid defense had not been easily shattered even by the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor's prowess.
If the One Hundred Eight Arhats Formation excelled at overwhelming foes with sheer force, the Taiji Sword Formation felt like an impregnable shield.
Recalling those past experiences, Seol Hwa-un spoke.
"Good. This will make for fine experience too."
A faint smile rose on the Plum Blossom Sword Expert's face.
"My thanks. And my respects to the Branch Lord's courage."
"Whether it's courage or confidence, we'll see."
Excluding those away on missions, fourteen Plum Blossom Sword Experts currently remained at Mount Hua, and all of them were gathered here.
As the Mount Hua Sect disciples cleared space, the twelve Plum Blossom Sword Experts took up positions in the training yard.
As they assumed their directional stances, Seol Hwa-un suddenly stepped right into the center.
The heart of any formation bore the brunt of its fiercest assaults.
In fact, drawing the enemy into the formation's core was often the key to victory when deploying a linked formation—yet here was Seol Hwa-un, walking straight in of his own accord.
"……!"
The Plum Blossom Sword Experts recoiled in surprise, but Seol Hwa-un said innocently,
"I need to be here to experience the real Plum Blossom Sword Formation, don't I?"
"......Don't regret it."
The Plum Blossom Sword Experts formed three squads of four apiece, with Seol Hwa-un standing squarely within their enclosing triangle.
The formation leader, a Plum Blossom Sword Expert, shouted,
"Deploy formation!"
At once, the Plum Blossom Sword Experts drew their Plum Blossom Pure Swords and began swift maneuvers.
Shoooosh!
Seol Hwa-un swiftly assessed the Plum Blossom Sword Formation.
‘Fundamentally shaped like the Nine Palaces, blended with the Four Directions.’
The aura surging from the sword formation bore down on Seol Hwa-un.
Tzzzzz!
Seol Hwa-un's eyebrows twitched.
‘......Far stronger than expected.’
The deluge of pressure even restricted Seol Hwa-un's freedom of movement.
‘This rivals the old Taiji Sword Formation!’
Only a third the manpower yet matching its might—this spoke volumes about the linked formation's superiority.
‘Did I underestimate it too much?’
He had stepped boldly to the center, confident from his prior feat of shattering the thirty-six-man Taiji Sword Formation, but now regret flickered.
‘Have they advanced this far?’
Two hundred years prior, Mount Hua had no noteworthy linked formation. Yet in the interim, they had devised this exceptional Plum Blossom Sword Formation.
‘The present murim is no pushover, indeed.’
All the while, the pressure kept mounting.
‘I can't just stand idle any longer. Let's try......’
Seol Hwa-un thrust out a light fist, unleashing fist wind.
Shuuuk!
Paaaang!
The fist wind vanished without trace upon striking the Plum Blossom Sword Formation.
‘Not even this?’
Seol Hwa-un's fists shone blinding white. Fist energy now cloaked his hands.
‘How about this?’
Kwaang!
Kugugugu!
An explosion rocked the formation—he felt it shudder. But the disruption lasted only an instant.
‘Remarkable. Even my fist energy is so casually repelled?’
Seol Hwa-un's fist energy outclassed ordinary sword or saber energy by leaps and bounds.
For it fused his consummate fist mastery with the Ice White Divine Art unique to him.
‘In that case......’
Yet the Plum Blossom Sword Formation offered no respite, pouring pressure while striking.
As Seol Hwa-un pondered his next move, sword energies erupted simultaneously from three directions.
Shushushuuk!
Thick, vivid streams brimming with heavy force targeted Seol Hwa-un's vital acupoints.
"......!"
Seol Hwa-un swiftly shifted with footwork, but the cramped space and blistering speed let him evade not all.
With no choice, he countered the chest-bound sword energy. His fist shot out like lightning to intercept.
Kwaaaaang!
‘Kuk!’
Creases formed between Seol Hwa-un's brows. His fist throbbed with pain like a drill's stab.
‘Even with Shadowless Fist Armor......’
Had the energy in his fist faltered even slightly, penetration would have been no surprise.
‘Incredible. The intensity feels like four striking one spot in unison!’
But that was merely the prelude.
Shushushushushushu!
Now six sword energies hurtled in.
‘Two or more are unavoidable.’
Seol Hwa-un resolved.
‘Then I'll smash them all.’
Elevating his Ice White Divine Art, he unleashed Broad Cold Fist twice in seamless succession—like a single fluid technique.
‘Cold Wind Three Strikes!’
Kwakwakwakwakwaang!!
Deafening blasts echoed in rapid train.
Incredibly, Seol Hwa-un pulverized those ferocious sword energies entirely with Broad Cold Fist.
A world apart from his prior display, attesting to the profundity of his deepened realm.
The Plum Blossom Sword Experts upholding the formation could only gape in shock.
‘All our sword energies, blocked by mere two fists?’
The Plum Blossom Sword Formation loosed volleys anew, but each fell to Seol Hwa-un's fists.
‘Then......’
Tzzzzz!
The Plum Blossom Sword Formation shifted.
‘The pressure's eased?’
Something had undeniably changed.
‘Ditching mobility limits for some gambit?’
In that instant, one of the formation's three axes narrowed on Seol Hwa-un.
‘Hm?’
Fully encircled, Seol Hwa-un had no retreat.
An ominous foreboding gripped him.
‘Can't let that slide.’
Fist energy on Seol Hwa-un's fist sharpened into defined shape.
Fist gang.
Kwaaang!
Kwaaaang!
His gang-sheathed fist hammered the axis—it reeled violently. Yet it held, unbreached.
‘Harder......’
Suddenly, sword energy lanced from behind.
Shuaak!
"......!"
Seol Hwa-un whirled to parry.
Kwaang!
Undeniably weaker than before.
‘All the more disquieting.’
Meanwhile, the axis pressed closer.
Seol Hwa-un halted it anew with fist gang, but probing sword energies from the other axes left him no choice.
Ere long, the axis loomed at arm's reach.
‘Too close. Must repel......’
Then, myriad sword peaks erupted from the axis.
Shushushushushushuk!
Like a hedgehog bristling every quill in a flash.
"......!"
Seol Hwa-un reflexively danced Qiankun Shadowless Step.
Paaat!
It saved him from peril, but their multitude prevented full evasion.
Paat! Pat!
In the end, blades grazed his left shoulder and right, drawing blood.
‘That was close.’
Yet the crisis endured. Startled by his Qiankun Shadowless Step, they swiftly recomposed.
Tzzzzz!
Another axis closed in—this one different.
"......"
Seol Hwa-un's gaze sharpened.
‘I see. The formation links axes, channeling internal energy via void true force.’
Hence the bolstered defense to defy fist gang, and the burst of countless sword peaks.
‘Then there's a counter.’
Tzzzzz.
Yet another axis advanced.
"......"
Seol Hwa-un backed away as if fearing the oncoming axis, then abruptly pivoted and lunged at the rear one.
"......!"
As the Plum Blossom Sword Experts faltered in confusion, Seol Hwa-un drove forth his fist gang-sheathed fist.
‘Wave Heaven True Fist!’
Kwaaaaaaaaang!!
A cataclysmic roar quaked the training yard. Overwhelmed by Wave Heaven True Fist's might, the axis's Plum Blossom Sword Experts scattered in all directions.
"Uwaaak!"
"Ack!"
With one of three axes shattered, the Plum Blossom Sword Formation inevitably unraveled.
"No way......"
The remaining two axes' Plum Blossom Sword Experts froze, staring at Seol Hwa-un in utter disbelief.
Never had they dreamed their Plum Blossom Sword Formation would yield to a late-stage disciple shy of thirty.
‘So this is the North Heavenly Dragon......!’
Seol Hwa-un said calmly.
"A superb sword formation. Only, the second phase overly concentrates power in one axis—a flaw. Remedy that, and it'll be peerless."
Seol Hwa-un offered them a fist salute.
"A fine experience."
"......"
Shaking off shock, the Plum Blossom Sword Experts returned salutes laced with reverence.
Seol Hwa-un glanced about and added,
"I'll remain at the guest hall today. Sparring requests—make them now. Tomorrow onward, all refused."
"......!"
Mount Hua Sect disciples, after a moment's hesitation, surged forward.
"North Heaven Branch Lord, I request a match!"
"Me first......"
"I'm first, punk!"
"Senior brother, mind the order!"
Even after witnessing him fell the Plum Blossom Sword Lord and dismantle the Plum Blossom Sword Formation, the Mount Hua Sect disciples' zeal burned undimmed.
Yu Gong-seon, watching, shook his head wryly.
"Remarkable disciples, truly."
The North Dragon Brigade Leader beside him nodded assent.
"A rare chance to cross hands with the North Heavenly Dragon—no wonder their desperation."
"Indeed. This spirit fuels Mount Hua's current glory."
Yu Gong-seon wore a worried look.
"But will the Branch Lord hold up? Facing the Plum Blossom Sword Lord and Formation both......"
"He'll manage. Martial arts aside, his stamina rivals heaven's best."
They had paused only upon reaching Mount Hua, but throughout his Martial Alliance stay, Seol Hwa-un had unfailingly dueled the North Dragon Brigade one-on-one at midnight.
Even as all collapsed in exhaustion, Seol Hwa-un alone stood tall. Afterward, he guided Jin Pyo in solo training.
‘Does he even sleep properly......’
Effort incarnate.
‘Heaven-blessed genius, yet so assiduous—how not to revere you, Branch Lord.’
Thenceforth, myriad requests prolonged spars into the late hours.
Only the belated Mount Hua Sect elder's scolding halted them.
The Mount Hua Sect elder apologized to Seol Hwa-un.
"My apologies, North Heaven Branch Lord. Our disciples going this far......"
"No matter. An enjoyable bout, in its way."
Composed on the surface, Seol Hwa-un inwardly tired of the Mount Hua Sect disciples somewhat.
"Simply relay to the Sect Leader: I've earned my keep aplenty—no more."