The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 54 The Weight of the Firmament

Why was the King's Sword Technique considered a superior martial art compared to the Boundless Sky Sword?

It was because the Akrest Clan's vision of an emperor, the figure they deemed worthy to stand above the heavens, was one who transcended human limitations.

Humans cannot ascend beyond the heavens.

Thus, to the Akrest Clan, an emperor was not merely a ruler but a transcendent being—a superhuman.

The King's Sword Technique was a martial art designed for such beings.

It was meant for the chosen few, those who had the right to rule over humanity and rise above all others.

It was an innate privilege, passed down through bloodlines.

It was nobility, a birthright, and an extraordinary talent.

Theron had believed this his entire life.

That he was born with the bloodline and qualifications of an emperor.

That while mortals ruled the mundane world as emperors, it was his family's destiny to rule over the martial realm, the alternate world of this vast land.

"...Show me, then."

Theron bit his lower lip bitterly.

Outside the tent, the atmosphere was chaotic.

The announcer's booming voice introduced him and Vera to the crowd, his words echoing far and wide.

Finally, when the formalities concluded, thunderous applause erupted.

It was time to step onto the stage.

"Can you win?"

Ethan grinned, patting Vera on the back.

Her small frame staggered, prompting Marcus to flick Ethan on the forehead.

"Control your strength, Ethan."

"You didn't hold back just now, Senior Brother!"

"Well, you're sturdy, aren't you?"

Vera straightened her posture and adjusted her attire.

She took hold of the Falling Blossom Sword, which had been resting against the wall.

"Yes, Senior Brother."

"Hmm?"

"I can win."

Barring any major surprises, her confidence was justified.

The Jade Elixir hadn't been a massive boost for her.

A martial artist of her level, already a Supreme Expert, wouldn't break through major walls due to a single pill.

However, the slight increase in her internal energy provided her with an edge—a single additional move she could unleash in a critical moment.

It was an opportunity, a small advantage.

"Then, I'll be off now."

Vera bowed to Aiden and her senior brothers before turning to leave.

The roaring applause and cheers from the crowd.

The relentless announcements from the boisterous emcee.

All of it felt distant.

Her attention was focused solely on Theron, who was already on the stage.

'...The Emperor's Sky.'

The aura of a person wasn't always proportional to their martial achievements.

In that sense, Theron exuded an overwhelming presence.

While she still didn't feel like she would lose...

'I have to defeat him. I must.'

If she couldn't overcome the Young Lord, what right did she have to challenge the Sword Sovereign, or even dream of reaching the Transcendence Realm?

How could she ever hope to decapitate the Heavenly Demon and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest masters of the martial world?

With a steadying breath, Vera ascended the arena.

"Well, Vera, you've arrived?"

"Yes. It's good to see you again."

"Alright... As promised, I'll show you."

Theron drew his sword.

A blade forged with a small amount of celestial steel, a treasured weapon bestowed by the imperial family.

It was a rare and exceptional sword, nearly impossible to find elsewhere in the world.

"The sky of an emperor."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Vera unsheathed her own blade.

Its black blade shimmered with vibrant, iridescent hues, and the constellations of the 28 Mansions stretched across it like a shimmering Milky Way.

The Falling Blossom Sword.

As she aimed the sword at him, her cold, empty eyes sparkled faintly like distant stars.

"May you prove to be different."

It was a clear provocation, one laced with emotion.

The spectators erupted in excitement, rising from their seats in a frenzy of cheers.

Only Marcus looked on with a bitter expression.

He knew that fire in Vera's eyes was because of him.

Though she seemed empty, cold, and distant, she was simply someone who had lost a deep connection.

In truth, it meant she was still searching for something to hold onto.

Now, her anger burned on behalf of her senior brother, who had once been humiliated.

He felt both grateful and guilty.

But that was Marcus's perspective.

To Theron, it meant nothing.

His lips curled into a smirk as his internal energy surged, his eyes gleaming with an intense blue light.

"Then, of course. Let's begin."

"Come."

There was no need for formalities.

No asking who would yield the first move.

From the beginning, it was clear.

The stronger one here was Vera.

It was absurd for teenagers to discuss seniority in the martial world.

Boom!

The ground shook as Theron launched himself forward, his speed so great it seemed like a streak of light cutting through the air.

It was a full-force attack, committing everything to a single strike.

Vera was half a breath slower.

Not because she missed her timing, but because she chose to react later.

A delayed move, a principle of strength overcoming force, unfolded from her blade in a sublime arc.

When Theron's sword, charged like thunder, clashed with Vera's Falling Blossom Sword, it wasn't a collision.

No, it was not a collision.

Instead of the deafening crash one would expect, the only sound was that of blades gliding against each other.

Shrrrrring—!

The trajectory of her sword flowed like a meandering river, elegantly redirecting the force of the strike.

Theron's attack faltered, drawn along the curving arc of Vera's blade.

'...Ridiculous!'

He was astounded.

A strike this powerful should have been impossible to counter so smoothly.

Even prodigies of the Celestial Sword Sect, who mastered the Ethereal Blade, would fail to achieve such finesse.

His sword was helplessly led astray, and in the next instant, the tip of his blade slammed into the ground.

Boom!

Even though it wasn't fully infused with his internal energy, the force was enough to create a crater in the arena floor.

The impact sent both Theron and Vera briefly into the air, their hair swaying as they locked eyes.

In that suspended moment, both analyzed and captured the other's movements in painstaking detail.

This time, Vera moved first.

Her sword, having just deflected Theron's thrust, continued its elegant trajectory like a swirling vortex.

Her slender wrist twisted as though performing an acrobat's routine,

and her blade's path shimmered like a butterfly's wing.

Before landing, she seamlessly adjusted her posture as if she were painting a masterpiece.

The Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword, First Form: Blossoming Spring.

The form began with an upward slash, like the blossoming of flowers greeting spring.

Using the principle of strength overcoming rigidity, she had pressed Theron's thrust downward, embedding his blade into the ground.

As her blade gracefully swept upward, the move reached its perfect conclusion.

In comparison, Theron's sword remained stuck in the ground, burdened by lingering force.

The faint scent of cherry blossoms filled the air, as if black cherry petals had momentarily enveloped the stage.

The Falling Blossom Sword, radiating brilliant sword light, rose in an arc as delicate as a crescent moon.

"...Hahhh!"

Instinctively, Theron gripped his sword with both hands,

his left hand anchoring the hilt while his right became the pivot.

He forcefully overcame the momentum of his blade, pulling it back just in time to block Vera's strike.

The effort came at a steep price.

Theron was hurled backward, his body flying as quickly as he had charged forward earlier.

He quickly regained his composure, stabbing his sword into the ground to avoid being thrown out of bounds.

"Hah..."

As he steadied himself, he infused his sword with energy, creating a faint sword light.

Yet even that seemed dull compared to the pure brilliance emanating from Vera's blade.

Had her feet been firmly planted on the ground during their clash, even his sword planted in the earth might not have saved him from defeat.

Still, the mid-air collision had also pushed Vera backward.

She landed lightly just beyond the crater, her posture as composed as if she were simply taking a leisurely step.

The audience fell silent.

Then, as the realization dawned, a wave of cheers and roars erupted across the arena.

With that single exchange, it became clear who was the superior martial artist.

Theron didn't bother glancing at Ebon.

His father's lack of talent meant nothing to him.

He was the one recognized by their Grandfather, the Sword Sovereign, as the true successor.

There was no way he would allow himself to be humiliated here.

At the very least...

Yes, at the very least, he had to hold his own.

"So this is the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword," Theron muttered, raising his blade high.

A sword pointed toward the heavens.

It was an audacious display, as if he believed his blade could encompass and command the entire sky.

This was the stance of the Boundless Sky Sword.

"This is the weight of the Blue Sky."

The Boundless Sky Sword, First Form: Sky Crushing Descent.

The sword seemed to embody the vastness of the blue sky, pressing down with crushing weight.

He gripped the hilt tightly with both hands, channeling his momentum.

But the distance was too great, and Theron had not yet reached the realm of Sword energy.

Vera immediately discerned his intent.

'...He's inviting me forward. He wants me to confront him head-on.'

This wasn't just a sparring match; it was a battle of pride between sects.

Refusing to step forward would be akin to admitting she couldn't break his technique.

While Vera cared little for such notions of pride, she had made a promise.

Between the Nine Heavens and the Blue Sky, which would prove higher?

"I will bear that weight."

Her steps were light as she pushed off the ground.

No thunderous sounds accompanied her movements.

Instead, each step carried the subtle grace of a dragon cutting through clouds.

Her acceleration blurred into a single line of sword light.

With a calm and deliberate motion, she thrust her blade forward.

The same scenario as before, but this time reversed.

And this time, Vera had calculated everything.