The Cunning Treasure Hunter

It is said that enlightenment comes to everyone at its own time, yet when it comes to the  Mount Suncrest Sect, the one tipped to reach the peak first among the three great disciples was none other than a child who had always been first in line.

"To think a master would try to snatch their disciple's student…" Marcus muttered under his breath.

Aiden smirked and ruffled the young man's hair with a faint chuckle. "Senior Aetheris has always been lacking in refinement."

"Did you mean to say he lacked propriety?"

Lacking propriety implies a lack of formalities—a subtle jab. Lacking refinement, on the other hand, was outright insulting.

Aiden laughed heartily and patted Marcus on the shoulder. "Consider it a slip of the tongue, my disciple."

"Ah…"

That so-called 'slip' brought laughter to Marcus, Ethan, and Noah alike. Even Vera couldn't help but join in the mirth.

It was a laugh they hadn't shared in a long time—so long, in fact, that none could recall the last time they had.

The dwelling of Aiden was a modest thatched cottage, unassuming and humble. But here, the scene was starkly different.

This was the office of Magnus, the "Cherry Blossom Sword Master," heir to the sect and its foremost disciple.

Before his desk knelt Aetheris, trembling with his head bowed low.

"So, you failed to bring them back?"

"I-I could not overpower them, Master…"

Bang!

The ebony desk before Magnus split cleanly in two under the force of his palm.

"How will you explain this failure to the Sect Leader?"

"I am deeply sorry…"

Magnus grabbed his hair in frustration. The Mount Suncrest Sect's Leader, Gideon, was no ordinary elder. An outwardly rational and affable old man, he concealed his true nature as a ruthless demon beneath the surface.

In the current Nine Great Sects, Mount Suncrest ranked third.

First was the Northern Iron Fist Sect, second was the Southern Celestial Sword Sect. Despite their illustrious reputation, Mount Suncrest could not surpass these two.

For Gideon, this was intolerable.

The Celestial Sword Sect was revered as the pinnacle of Taoist martial arts, its Ethereal Blade a technique unmatched under heaven. The Iron Fist Sect, apex of Buddhist martial arts, boasted the equally unparalleled Buddha's Palm.

But the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword of Mount Suncrest? While it was an extraordinary art, it fell short of achieving the title of "absolute." At least, that was how Gideon saw it.

"We need something beyond the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword."

The Celestial Sword Sect's arts began with the Three-Element Sword, progressing to the Seven-Star Sword, then the Ethereal Blade, and for the truly gifted, the Ethereal Supreme Sword. Similarly, the Iron Fist Sect's path led from the Enlightened Fist to the Hundred Step Divine Fist, then the Enlightened Divine Fist, and finally to the Buddha's Palm.

But Mount Suncrest?

Their techniques began with the Soaring Youth Sword, advanced to the Elegant Cherry Sword, and culminated in the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword. And that… was it.

Or so it was thought.

"Beyond the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword, there exists the Grand Cherry Blossom Sword."

At that moment, the door creaked open, and Gideon himself entered the room. The Sect Leader of Mount Suncrest, a peerless master who had perfected the secret Purple Mist Divine Art passed down solely to the Sect Leaders.

The oppressive aura radiating from Gideon filled the room, forcing both Magnus and Aetheris to break out in cold sweat.

"I hear you failed to retrieve that child," said Gideon.

Aetheris pressed his forehead to the floor, unable to utter a single word under the sheer weight of the man's presence.

"The child has achieved the Great Heaven Circuit, an undeniable sign of reaching the peak."

Gideon paid no heed to Aetheris's pale face as he turned his attention to Magnus.

"The practitioner of the Grand Cherry Blossom Sword must be ours."

"Understood, Master."

Gideon's voice grew icy. "Do you know what my life has been, Magnus? A life in the shadow of others."

His white eyebrows framed eyes ablaze with obsession and madness. His immense inner strength seemed to distort the air itself, pinning them in place.

"The former Sect Leader, Thorne, cast aside the position as if it were worthless, leaving it to me. Even within the Martial Unity, the Sword Master the leader favors the Celestial Sword Sect and Iron Fist Sect over us. And the other Sect Leaders? They mock me."

As he rested the tip of his sheathed sword against the floor, the stone tiles of the office cracked under the pressure.

"The second-rate of Mount Suncrest, a lucky elder who stumbled into the Sect Leader's seat…"

"Master…"

"Are the plans for Jace and Dylan proceeding as expected?" Gideon asked in a low tone.

By this time, Aetheris had fainted, leaving Magnus to answer.

"Yes, Master. Since their initiation, both have undergone Bone-Cleansing Rituals monthly without fail."

The Bone-Cleansing Rituals was a grueling process meant to forcibly transform the body into one suitable for peak martial arts. The pain was said to rival the agony of tearing muscles and breaking bones apart.

"Continue. One of them will inherit the Grand Cherry Blossom Sword. As for that girl…"

"What do you intend to do, Master?"

"There is no place in Mount Suncrest for blossoms that refuse to face me."