Chapter 263: Emergence of the Divine Dragon

Although the match ended with an unexpected incident, determining the victor hardly required solemn judgment.

Throughout Qing's lapse into a state of selflessness, Gongson Yoye had absorbed the full brunt of those techniques with all her might, getting thoroughly beaten like a dog in the process.

It was a desperate effort, considerate of Qing, allowing her enlightenment to continue uninterrupted.

That final move. Each of the tens of thousands of flower petals that filled the surroundings and scattered about was, in truth, a vicious blade capable of piercing human flesh and bone with nonchalant ease.

If Qing had unleashed that storm with killing intent, Gongson Yoye would likely have become finely minced meat.

The reason the floating martial stage collapsed was simple: the series of unusually fierce bouts had bruised and cracked the wood itself, leaving it riddled with accumulated fatigue.

Added to that, Gongson Yoye's sword energy, stretching out like her Ruyi Bang, carved gashes into the structure, followed by the extensive slashing of the Sword Force petals.

Eventually, unable to bear its own weight, a single point buckled, triggering a chain reaction—Crash! The Murim Alliance's event plans—Crash! The recovery of the floating stage construction costs—Crash, crash, crash!

And Qing? Glug, glug, gulp, gulp.

Why the eighth form of the Dugu Jiujian, Myriad Transformations, had popped out subconsciously, she couldn't fathom.

Perhaps the vision of the Celestial Martial Emperor at the Absolute Sword Wall had been too impactful, or maybe she had unconsciously put on a proper display of bravado beyond the wall, or perhaps, as all her True Qi surged forth at once, her subconscious had resolved it into a single grand move capable of being unleashed simultaneously to protect her blood vessels. It was impossible to know.

However, the Celestial Martial Emperor was a peerless master who, though born human, did not die as one—an immortal.

She had dared to mimic the enlightenment such a master had attained only in his later years, a realm of staggering height.

It's said that even a sparrow tears its crotch trying to follow a stork, so it was only natural for the insignificant Ximen Qing to face a system-wide shutdown of her muscles through extreme exhaustion.

Even to someone ignorant of martial arts, it was a breathtaking spectacle unlikely to be witnessed again in a lifetime. Yet, to those well-versed in martial arts, it was an even more astonishing, wondrous stroke. It was a perfect example of the saying, "The more you know, the more you see."

However, there was something slightly peculiar.

The yellow in the five-colored Sword Force was the golden light of Buddhism mixed with Daoist energy; the blue was the incomparably clear, pure True Qi of Daoism.

As for the others—well, the obscenely lustful red True Qi could still be considered part of the ancient Daoist tradition of Immortality Arts focused on harmony and nurturing life.

But the white and black… looking closely, especially the black, it was clearly a concentration of the world's most heinous Demonic Qi, filled with such hideous malice.

Yet, it was impossible for one person to possess such an abundance of various True Qis to the point of forming Sword Force. So, perhaps the Celestial Martial Emperor had devised it through some strange transformation?

Since it was called Myriad Transformations, couldn't the nature of the True Qi also change? Truly, the Celestial Martial Emperor! Truly, our Senior!

That was roughly the flow of thought.

Only Ximen Surin, listening quietly, struggled to conceal her utter bewilderment.

Thus, Perfected Master Yuha inquired.

"Youngest Junior Sister. Was that not Myriad Transformations, the move of our senior, the Celestial Martial Emperor?"

"Uh, um. I think so," Qing replied vaguely, having no memory of performing the Dugu Jiujian anyway.

"It was truly a god-like stroke. A blade hidden within beauty… such is the spirit of Mount Hua, so that must have been the meaning left by the Celestial Martial Emperor. Hmm. But, you say you don't remember?" Perfected Master Yuha asked.

"Yes. It seems I am still far too lacking to reach the martial arts of the Celestial Martial Emperor."

"Well, you've only just stepped into the Transcendent Realm, what can you do?" Perfected Master Yuha comforted her. "Don't worry too much about it, just walk your path slowly, without haste."

At that, Qing glanced at the bundle of paper and the fine brush held tightly in Mount Hua Sect Leader Perfected Master Yuha hand. Wasn't Grandpa Perfected Master Yuha the one who was worried and hasty? The moment he saw Qing, he had asked if she could possibly provide commentary on the technique form.

Feeling her gaze, Perfected Master Yuha subtly extended what he held towards Qing.

"Ahem, that's not it. I heard you have a hobby in calligraphy, so I brought this as a token of gratitude. To have witnessed the teachings of the Absolute Sword Wall with my own eyes before dying, what a great gift this is."

For such a gift, the paper was white, bright, and elegantly patterned—the finest of the finest. In contrast, the brush wasn't particularly high-quality, looking like it had been picked up on sight.

"By the way," Qing asked, "you said Myriad Transformations is the eighth form?"

"Yes. You said it was the eighth form, Myriad Transformations," Perfected Master Yuha confirmed.

"Kuhuhu, did you hear that?" Perfected Master Yuha addressed the others. "The eighth form, she says. Each of the Nine Great Sects has one form each, but hers is the eighth. You know what that means, right?"

"Ahem." "Hmm, hmm." "Keuhum."

The elders of the Nine Sects, who had gathered to offer their congratulations, let out uncomfortable coughs.

Typically, later forms in a sequence are more profound, difficult, and powerful. If Mount Hua Sect's form was the eighth, it implied it ranked above seven others below it.

"How can there be preceding forms or advanced applications when he depicted distinctly different enlightenments?" Chaegeon Jinin, the leader of the rival Wudang Sect, interjected critically. "A Daoist spouting such nonsense. This is why those Mount Hua bastards are called thick-headed."

"What did you say?" Perfected Master Yuha retorted. "Ha! As I see it, the form left at Wudang is precisely the first form. Wasn't that Tai Chi thing enlightenment obtained from the Jin family in the first place?"

"What does it matter if it's the first or the ninth form?" Chaegeon Jinin countered. "Childishly ranking things like that. If you're old, you should know how to be serious, instead of numbering things like a child. Tsk tsk."

For the record, though no one present knew it, the ninth form of the Dugu Jiujian resided with the Wudang Sect.

Chaegeon Jinin would likely later ponder deeply the meaning of the phrase 'the mouth is the source of misfortune.'

Just then, Venerable Monk Muhak reprimanded them.

"Enough. Aren't you ashamed, in front of your youngest Junior Sister?"

"Keuhum."

"No, Youngest Junior Sister is one thing, ugh. The Seniority is correct, however."

Indeed. Qing was, by Seniority, a direct disciple of Ximen Surin. Another direct disciple of Ximen Surin was Wang Zhuxi, the Heavenly Muted Sword, leader of the Divine Maiden Sect.

"Hmm. Come to think of it," Muhak mused, "didn't the child say she wanted to see the Absolute Sword Wall? Shaolin is nearby, so since it came up, let's go see it together. I also feel like seeing our Senior's traces after a long time."

"Ahem. Youngest Junior Sister, if you're heading back to the Divine Maiden Sect anyway, Mount Zhongnan is just a small detour, isn't it? You can stop by Mount Song first, then head over," one elder suggested.

"In that case, if you detour just a little further on the way, Mount Kongtong is also..." another added.

"Right. Stop by Mount Kongtong, then head down to Sichuan, see the Absolute Sword Walls of Qingcheng and Emei, and then take a boat back. That sounds good," a third chimed in.

"Then, while you're detouring, Diancang is..."

"Diancang? Are you trying to summon someone all the way to Yunnan?"

They were all clamoring for her to see their respective Absolute Sword Walls.

In truth, this gathering wasn't just to congratulate the new Divine Dragon and offer blessings, but rather convened for the purpose of urging her to visit the Absolute Sword Walls.

Never before had all the elders of the Nine Sects gathered in one place to offer blessings, not even for past champions, the Divine Dragons.

The proper etiquette was to visit each elder individually to pay respects and receive blessings. Anyone observing would click their tongues at these old folks acting so out of character.

Just like Chaegeon Jinin.

"What's the point of looking? Just putting pressure on the child. Holding onto a child who wants to go home," he grumbled. "Tsk tsk. Having just gained enlightenment, shouldn't she return and take some time to slowly organize her thoughts?"

The other Sect Leaders, or the Elders representing them, glared at Chaegeon Jinin.

For reference, the Wudang Sect was the Divine Maiden Sect's closest neighbor. Even traveling leisurely by carriage from the Divine Maiden Sect, it couldn't possibly take more than three days.

"Um. Child, Kunlun is... hmm. Right. Hmm," Cheonbija Jinin of Kunlun trailed off mid-sentence.

His conscience was too outstanding to ask her, human to human, to detour all the way to Kunlun.

But this was the insight of the great Celestial Martial Emperor.

It was also a great legacy, a gift left in return after he personally witnessed and reinterpreted the ultimate techniques of the Nine Great Sects.

Even Muhak, the current Greatest Under Heaven, felt something flicker vaguely when looking at the Absolute Sword Wall, something he seemed to grasp yet not quite, making the profound divine art unfathomably deep. What a precious gift from the heavens, then, was the martial talent capable of interpreting it!

"My Master actually told me that once I reached the Transcendent Realm, I should try to follow the teachings of the Celestial Martial Emperor," Qing spoke with a gentle smile. "I was planning to visit each of you anyway, so I'm very grateful for your warm welcome already."

At that, the elders of the Nine Sects experienced a profound realization, accompanied by a sharp twinge in their hearts.

So this is why they say you should raise daughters!

Behind the stage introducing the new Divine Dragon. The term "new Divine Dragon" might sound a bit redundant since "Divine Dragon" itself means the new dragon, but as Divine Dragon itself is a proper noun signifying the tournament champion, it wasn't a significant issue.

Yoye abruptly grabbed Qing's hand.

"Young Lady Ximen. Congratulations."

"Mm. How are you, Yoye?" Qing asked. "Are you alright? Did you overdo it? I heard things got a bit rough when I was... uh... swinging my sword in a trance. How's your body?"

Indeed, a thick, dark bruise was visible on Gongson Yoye's left hand where it held Qing's.

"Please don't feel sorry," Gongson Yoye smiled brightly. "Actually, seeing Young Lady Ximen's sword allowed me to grasp the key to the Transcendent Realm myself. If anything, I should be the one thanking you."

She continued, "And above all, it was such an enjoyable time. If I could do it again, I feel like I could do anything. It feels like such a joyful moment might never come again in my remaining life."

"Uh, um. Could you please not talk like you don't have long to live?" Qing said worriedly. "How's your body? Your Innate True Qi? Did you use too much? Can you tell how much your lifespan decreased? This won't do. I'll give you a Great Restoration Pill-"

"I appreciate your concern," Yoye interrupted gently. "But I also took elixirs and rested well. Did you think I'd approach a matter concerning my clan's long-cherished wish without any preparation? I've taken various types of elixirs that nourish the body and True Source Qi, so please don't worry anymore."

"Hmm. Various types?" Qing pressed. "What did you take? Can you say? If you're just saying that because you feel burdened about receiving a Great Restoration Pill, I really won't let it slide."

"First, the Great Clarity Pill, two Lesser Restoration Pills, then the Kunlun Immortal Pill, the Great Yang Heavenly Pill, the Spirit Star Energy Pill, the Yin-Nourishing Body Protection Pill, and even the Qi-Gathering Internal Yang Pill—I took them all reliably," Yoye listed. "You've heard of these precious elixirs at least once, right? The energy from the undigested elixirs already fills my entire body, so if I were to take a Great Restoration Pill now, all my blood vessels might just burst, you know?"

"Ah."

Startled, Qing secretly tucked the Great Restoration Pill she had hidden under her sleeve back into its box.

She had planned to seize a moment of carelessness and pop it into Yoye's mouth, but it seemed that attempt might have led to planning a funeral instead.

Qing reflected a little.

Gongson Yoye wasn't some pitiful tragic heroine abused by her family and locked away in a training ground, forced only to swing a sword.

Her clan was likely doing their best for her as well.

Just hearing the stream of names of formidable-sounding elixirs made that clear.

But… I haven't heard of those names before…

Since there's a Great Restoration Pill, I guess there's a Lesser Restoration Pill. Hmm. The rest… I don't know. They must be good.

<Read at Celestial Pavilion>

When her name was finally called and she stepped outside, she understood what it meant for a sound too loud to be heard not by the ears, but by the body.

This time, no one restrained the cheers, and the fierce roar continued until everyone's throats were hoarse.

Of course, there were still grating nicknames like "Three-Headed Beauty" or "Absolute Flower Pig," but she was satisfied that some cool-sounding words were mixed in here and there.

She'd heard Divine Sword of Crescent Moon before. Celestial Fairy? Hmm, doesn't that sound a bit like a shaman?

Greatest Beauty Under Heaven? Hey, that's going too far. Besides, what use is my beauty? Others should be beautiful.

Sword Phoenix? The feel is a bit off.

Vermilion Bird Divine Maiden? What's that now?

There were countless attempts to nickname Qing, but unfortunately, the fairest method of all, majority rule, was not achieved.

Because Venerable Monk Muhak, with the weight of the Greatest Under Heaven, crushed them all.

Perfected Master Yuha lamented, "I thought of it first," but if he felt wronged, he should have become the Greatest Under Heaven.

Separately, Perfected Master Yuha did acknowledge it.

A three-character moniker was far rarer than a four-character one, and its rarity gave it more authority.

Above all, he liked how the new moniker shared the character 'Hwa' (華) from Mount Hua (華山), emphasizing the connection.

And so, the current Greatest Under Heaven bestowed a moniker upon the talent most likely to be the next Greatest Under Heaven.

Cheonhwageom (天華劍).

Heavenly Flower Sword.

The most beautiful sword beneath the heavens.

(T/N) If anyones lost, write in the comments and I'll provide some context!

Also! Qing's the Heavenly Flower Sword?! HHAA 💓😭🎀