The Cunning Treasure Hunter

The sun stood high in the sky, marking the peak of the day.

In one corner of the Arena, Marcus stood firm.

Across from him, at the opposite side, stood Jace.

A strained smile flickered across Marcus's face, twisted by tension.

Between him and Jace, the latter was undoubtedly stronger.

Of all the opponents he could face, why did it have to be the most troublesome one?

"I'll have to learn something from this, Senior Brother,"Jace smiled back, his expression confident and relaxed.

"Indeed, I'll make sure you learn well," he replied.

Both stepped forward, performing their respective sword stances.

The crowd murmured, unsettled by the distinct styles displayed by the two.

"That's not... the Elegant cherry Sword Technique, is it?"

"I've seen it before! That's the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword Style!"

"At his age? Truly, a rare talent from the Mount Suncrest Sect!"

Amidst the buzz, only Aiden and Vera watched the arena without concern.

Even Ethan and Noah, usually composed, sighed uneasily.

"Senior Brother Ethan, why do you look so troubled?" asked Vera.

"What do you think? I'm worried Senior Brother Marcus might lose to Jace!"

"You should have more faith in Senior Brother."

"Ugh, as if that's so easy..." Ethan groaned, and even Noah let out a distressed sigh.

Both had heard it before.

The Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword Style was formidable, yet to master it so young was rare.

Defeating someone adept with the Elegant cherry Sword Technique was no small feat.

But these two had already climbed to the top, defeating numerous Mount Suncrest disciples along the way—many of whom also wielded the Elegant cherry Sword Technique.

"Can the Elegant cherry Sword Technique really overcome the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword Style?"

"I'm not sure, Vera. Even I feel uneasy, just like Ethan..."

Vera nodded calmly, speaking as if to reassure them both.

"If it's Senior Brother, he will win."

"…Did you feed him something special?" Noah asked suspiciously.

"Nothing like that. I just showed him the first three moves of the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword Style."

At that, Ethan and Noah's eyes widened in shock.

The Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword Style was one of Mount Suncrest Sect's secret techniques, forbidden to outsiders.

"How did you… How could you possibly learn it?" Ethan stammered, glancing between Aiden and Vera.

With a faint smile, Aiden replied casually, "I didn't teach her, Ethan."

"It wasn't Master?!" This time, even Noah looked dumbfounded.

If not from their Master, where else could someone learn such a technique?

Just then, the sharp clash of swords rang out, breaking through the tension.

"I'll explain later," Vera cut them off, pointing toward the Arena.

It was a signal to focus on the fight instead of questions.

Reluctantly, the two turned their attention back to the duel.

If the Elegant cherry Sword Technique could indeed overcome the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword Style, they couldn't miss this chance to witness it firsthand.

Clang!

The sound of steel colliding echoed through the air as the two techniques clashed.

One side showcased a familiar sequence—the Elegant cherry Sword Technique.

The other wielded something rare yet incomplete—the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword Style.

To the audience's surprise, the two seemed evenly matched.

"…Huh?"

"Senior Brother is… holding his own?"

Both Ethan and Noah tilted their heads in confusion.

But for Marcus, it was anything but easy.

'Damn it, even with just three moves…!'

Though the technique was incomplete, it was formidable. Powerful, precise, and intricate.

Yet Jace had not fully mastered its potential. His execution lacked the profound essence that would elevate the style from merely strong to unparalleled.

The strikes he delivered were sharp and overwhelming but lacked the elusive mystery—the intangible quality that made a technique truly divine.

This flaw was what allowed Marcus to endure.

"Impressive, Senior Brother," Jace said leisurely, his voice almost taunting.

But Marcus had no time to respond.

If not for the preview of the first three moves shown to him earlier, he wouldn't have survived this long.

At least now, he could anticipate Jace's attacks and adapt.

In martial arts, understanding and internalizing the essence of a technique allows one to expand and evolve it further. But Jace had yet to reach that level.

By reading his movements, Marcus could predict the next strike.

Of course, Jace held the same advantage.

Both had honed their respective styles to the extreme.

When it came to raw talent and potential, Jace surpassed Marcus by a small margin.

Yet their familiarity with each other's techniques created a delicate balance—a clash of equals, for now.

After an exchange of blows that seemed as though it would never end, Jace was the first to step back.

"It seems it's time to end this," he said calmly.

"…Is that so," replied Marcus, her voice steady.

His sword hummed first.

It was a low yet auspicious sound—a Sword Cry.

But soon, Jace's blade echoed in kind.

Unlike Marcus's composed hum, his cry was rougher, fiercer, reverberating across the Arena.

Yet, Marcus's sword cry did not waver in the slightest.

"…Huh?" Jace's lips twisted into a frown.

This was unexpected. He was already at the cusp of breaking through the barrier to becoming a true master.

Standing at the very peak of first-rate martial artists.

And yet, was Marcus suggesting he was at the same level?

Just recently, he had barely been at the mid-level of first-rate warriors.

What revelation had she experienced to close the gap so quickly?

"…You're not the only one standing here, Jace," he said through labored breaths.

His body was battered, her momentum nearing its limits.

But his gaze… it was sharper than ever, gleaming with a brilliance he had never seen before.

This was not the Senior brother he once knew.

"Come," he said firmly.

"I'm coming," replied Jace, stepping forward.

He moved first. His sword curved elegantly, before thrusting forward in a straight line.

Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword Style, Second Form—

Unyielding Snow Cherry Branch.

It was an unstoppable strike, delicate yet sharp, like a cherry branch resisting the harshest snowstorm.

An ordinary technique could neither deflect nor block it.

The thrust was precise, flowing like a river but piercing like ice.

A clear superior form to the Elegant cherry Sword Technique's opening move, Flower Branch Greets the Sun.

Yet Marcus remained calm.

The blade before him was the same sword that had once bested his in practice—a weapon he had come to admire. he thought of the crimson cherry blossoms he had witnessed, dark as night, blooming in the midst of despair.

'A premature cherry blossom, yet bold in its bloom,' he thought.

Jace's blade had already formed the shape of several blossoming cherry flowers.

The audience gasped in awe.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each moment an eternity…

And then, Marcus finally made his move.

The Elegant cherry Sword Technique, Finishing Move—

Yearning Bloom.

It was the essence of a bud that had not yet fully blossomed.

But this time, it was different.

The Elegant cherry Sword fulfilled its longing, achieving its full bloom.

From the edge of his blade, five petals of cherry blossoms unfolded, tracing a vivid path in the air.

The Sword Cry intensified, filling the arena with a faint yet sharp cherry fragrance.

And at last, it bloomed.

A vibrant crimson cherry blossom, unmistakably formed by the Elegant cherry Sword Technique.

"A cherry blossom… from the Elegant cherry Sword again?!"

"Who are their masters?!"

"How did they achieve such depth in their foundational techniques?"

This was the second time a cherry blossom had emerged from the Elegant cherry Sword Technique, after Vera's earlier display.

Unlike the Nine Heavens cherry Blossom Sword Style, whose blossoms were a natural extension of its martial essence, the Elegant cherry Sword Technique required something more.

It could not rely solely on precision or mastery of forms.

A blossom from the Elegant cherry Sword was born from one's own enlightenment, a manifestation of the soul's resonance with the blade.

When Vera had achieved this feat, the audience had been transfixed by the color of her bloom.

But this was different.

This was a perfect crimson, the pure hue of Mount Suncrest's Scarlet cherry Blossom.

And as the seemingly eternal moment stretched to its climax, the two sword tips collided.

The clash of blades created a harmonious sound, a fleeting beauty that resonated through the air.

But the next instant, their weapons twisted against each other, each aiming for the opponent.

At that moment, Marcus caught a glimpse of Jace's gaze.

And he knew.

This was a Killing Strike.

A move meant to take his life.

"…You!" he exclaimed, twisting his blade desperately.

The sequence of their techniques shattered, and the two swords recoiled violently.

The greater impact was borne by Marcus.

Blood trickled down his fingers, his grip broken, his palm bleeding profusely.

Black blood also dripped from his lips.

In the end, he fell to his knees.

"…Kuhk."

"Why, Senior brother?" Jace asked, looking down at his with conflicted eyes.

Why had he not responded to a Killing Strike with one of his own?

All he had to do was tighten his grip and thrust his blade toward his neck.

"A Senior brother… would never use a Killing Strike against his Junior Brother," he replied weakly.

Jace's expression faltered.

He had unleashed the Killing Strike without hesitation, driven by instinct.

Without it, he had sensed he might lose.

His Elegant cherry Sword had grown deeper, more refined, and his mastery was now equal to his own.

He had needed to make a choice: win at all costs or accept defeat.

Marcus struggled to his feet, pressing his knees against the ground to stabilize himself.

His internal injuries were severe but not fatal. he would need at least a month to recover fully.

"The victory is yours, Jace," he said, his voice calm despite his condition.

"…Yes, Senior brother," he replied, his voice subdued.

The crowd watched in silence as the two shared their final words.

With slow, labored steps, Marcus descended from the Arena.

But before anyone else could move, Ethan and Noah rushed forward with their light-foot techniques, supporting him as he staggered.