The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 105 The Flower That Defies Eternity

A brief silence filled the air.

Aiden smiled as he looked at Vera, while Jordan glanced between the two, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Wait, hold on. Aiden, are you already letting this child join?"

"Yes. She's already prepared in her heart," Aiden replied calmly.

"Wait a moment! It's not really my place to say, but she's just a child! Honestly, with her talent, she could abandon her revenge and live a completely different life in the MARTIAL WORLD…"

Vera closed her eyes briefly and then spoke with a clear, unwavering voice.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but…"

"…What?"

"I followed Master Aiden because he promised to help me thrust a blade into the Swordmaster's throat."

"What?"

"He promised to teach me martial arts and raise me so I could kill the Swordmaster," she emphasized, her voice unwavering.

She repeated herself firmly, her eyes locking onto Jordan.

For a moment, Jordan felt a chill run down his spine.

Her dark, hollow eyes were unnerving. Like others before him, he instinctively felt something ominous about her—a deep, inexplicable unease.

"…You," he began cautiously.

"I don't know if Master told you, but I am Celestial Blade Star."

"Celestial Blade Star, you say…"

"If I am destined to bring a bloodbath, then I will bring forth the bloodbath that I desire."

Jordan closed his eyes, pondering her words. Slowly, he nodded.

"If you are destined to bring bloodshed, then choosing your own bloodbath is a bold answer."

"Exactly," Vera affirmed with a calm nod.

Aiden nodded as well, his expression resolute.

However, Jordan still had questions lingering in his mind.

"So, Aiden, are your doubts resolved now?"

"I've heard all I need to know," Aiden replied.

"Then you can help clear up my questions as well." Jordan squinted, a sly grin on his face.

"Ask away." Aiden tilted his head slightly.

"What exactly have you taught her? As I said earlier, the moment her energy touched mine, it extinguished it entirely!"

"And yet, you still managed to win," Aiden pointed out.

"What does it matter if the water is cold when the fire has already burned everything to ashes?"

He referred to Vera's energy—although it was superior in nature, it was still insufficient in quantity.

For someone like Jordan, who was approaching the threshold of the Kingdom of Harmony Realm, such an observation was natural.

But Vera was already nearing the mid-stage of Supreme Mastery, absorbing the malice and killing intent around her to fuel her power.

Her ability allowed her to gain, in one battle, the amount of internal energy that would take others decades of cultivation to accumulate.

"It seems that Vera still has room for improvement," Jordan remarked.

"I will strive to improve," Vera replied without hesitation.

"…Are you planning to beat me up, kid?" Jordan asked, a mix of amusement and exasperation on his face.

Vera looked at him steadily before shaking her head.

"No. I don't intend to beat you up."

"Then?"

"If I can't surpass you, how could I possibly kill the Swordmaster?"

He couldn't argue with that logic.

With a heavy sigh, Jordan returned to the main topic.

"So, what exactly have you taught her?"

"I haven't taught her anything, Master Akrest," Aiden replied calmly.

"What? Kid, you tell me."

"Master Aiden didn't teach me anything," Vera confirmed.

It was true.

The Soul Harmony Realm, her most powerful technique, was a family heirloom. Alongside skills like Falling Blossom Sword and Cherry Blossom Descent Manual, it was a secret art passed down through Suncrest.

Vera had learned it from her father.

"My father taught me. He received it from Suncrest."

"…So, it's a martial art from Suncrest, then?"

"Yes. It's called the Soul Harmony Realm," she replied.

"'Crest' for twilight and 'Sun' for radiance… that doesn't sound like Suncrest?"

Vera nodded slowly and began to circulate her internal energy.

Deep within her core, a black dragon raced through her meridians.

"...Hoo."

As she exhaled deeply, her hollow, dark eyes began to glimmer like stars, and a chilling aura radiated from her body.

Her hair and sleeves billowed as a wave of killing intent surged around her.

"...What an interesting energy," Jordan muttered. "So, Aiden, what exactly is this?"

"When flowers bloom, they must fall. This is the precaution left behind by the Grandmaster of Suncrest, to prepare for a flower that does not wither."

"A martial art from Suncrest to cut down a flower that never falls? Then why was my energy…"

At that moment, Jordan's eyes widened as realization struck him.

He slapped his knee and exclaimed, "The flower isn't the key, is it?"

"Exactly," Vera confirmed with a nod.

She slowly calmed her internal energy, withdrawing the aura back into her core.

"The key isn't the flower… it's severing eternity," Jordan murmured in awe.

Finally, the questions that had plagued him were answered.

Not just the mystery of her energy, but many others as well.

"That's why you can endure and stand firm even in such dense demonic energy."

"That's correct."

"All martial arts in this world dream of eternity. Whether it's the skies of Akrest, the demonic Sect's Abyssal God, the northern seas of Northern Ice Palace, or even the reincarnation cycle of the Iron Fist Sect, they all seek to persist endlessly."

Jordan clicked his tongue.

Such insight revealed a flaw in nearly every transcendent martial art and divine technique.

Humans, being mortal and finite, dream of the infinite and eternal. Martial arts are the means by which they strive to transcend their limits.

But the Soul Harmony Realm rejected that notion entirely.

The martial art that kills infinity, eternity, immortality, and indestructibility.

"…I understand now. Is that all?" Jordan asked.

"There are two more things I received from my father," Vera replied, unfastening the Falling Blossom Sword from her waist and holding it in her arms.

"This is the Falling Blossom Sword, and the other is the Cherry Blossom Descent Manual, which only those who have mastered the Soul Harmony Realm can learn."

"It makes sense. A martial art must match its internal energy technique. Without proper techniques, even the strongest energy is useless," Jordan acknowledged.

"That's correct."

The Nine Thousand Cherry Blossom Sword, though powerful, wasn't perfectly suited for the Soul Harmony Realm.

Yet, since both originated from Suncrest, they complemented each other enough to bring out the sutra's full potential through the blade.

But what if the martial art was specifically crafted for the sutra?

Jordan fell silent again, his mind racing.

If the synergy was perfect…

This girl might be able to defeat even martial artists far above her level, depending on their affinities.

"That's quite the cheat, isn't it?" he muttered with a chuckle, though his tone carried no resentment—only amusement.

"Is it?" Vera asked, looking up at him curiously.

Seeing her expression, Jordan laughed again—a laugh filled with the joy of someone who had discovered a way to outsmart his enemies.

"And to top it off, I hear that Theron has already been 'taken down,'" he remarked with a sly grin.

'Taken down.'

The words made Vera press her lips together tightly.

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It was true she had defeated Theron …

But was it accurate to say she had 'taken him down'?

She had won without much difficulty, but...

Before she could respond, Aiden stepped in. He knew that Vera wasn't used to such casual, almost vulgar phrasing.

"He was thoroughly defeated. Absolutely crushed," Aiden stated with a laugh.

"…Master?" Vera looked at him incredulously.

"Did he even manage to graze your clothes?"

After a brief moment of thought, Vera shook her head.

At that, Jordan burst into hearty laughter once more.

"So, he didn't even touch your clothes?"

"He didn't even leave a scratch. Isn't that impressive, Master Jordan?" Aiden chimed in.

"I can't deny it. It's quite a satisfying thought," Jordan admitted with a grin.

"You seem rather pleased," Vera observed, her curiosity piqued.

Jordan shrugged. "Didn't I tell you? I'm an illegitimate child—cast aside by my own family. Do you think an outcast like me would harbor fond feelings for my clan?"

"…Not usually," Vera replied with a nod.

Jordan rose from his seat, brushing himself off.

"Well, I should get going now. Aiden, you're heading to the Everstone Clan, aren't you?"

"I should," Aiden replied.

"Two meetings with Aria Everstone in such a short time, huh?" Jordan snorted softly before offering, "Want me to give her a heads-up that you're coming?"

"That would be appreciated."

"It's no trouble. Well then, until next time."

With that, Jordan opened the door and stepped outside.

The sun had already dipped below the horizon, leaving only stars and a crescent moon in the darkened sky.

He picked up the conical hat he had left by the door, adjusted his shoes, and stood tall once more. Aiden and Vera followed him out.

"There's no need to see me off," Jordan said, waving a hand dismissively.

"I'm just planning to escort Vera back to Blooming Peak Pavilion," Aiden replied with a chuckle.

Jordan smirked and waved his hand again before disappearing into the shadows of the night, his figure swallowed by the darkness.

"Master, when will we leave for the Everstone Clan?" Vera asked after a moment.

"I thought I'd give us a little time. You need to recover from your journey. How about next week?"

"I'll prepare myself," Vera responded.

"Good. For now, let's head back to Blooming Peak Pavilion. It's late, and you need rest," Aiden said with a faint smile.

Vera blinked. Honestly, it was no longer a question of who was escorting whom.

In terms of raw power, Vera had already surpassed Aiden.

Still, the world wasn't ruled by mere strength or swordsmanship alone—a lesson she had learned well.

"Thank you, Master," she said.

"You should be thankful. I'm going out of my way to accompany you when it's hardly necessary," Aiden teased, his tone light.

Caught off guard, Vera stiffened awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

To agree would seem disrespectful to her master, but to deny it would also be inaccurate.

"Well… uh… that is to say…" she stammered.

"I should tease you more often," Aiden said with a chuckle.

"…Master," she protested weakly.

"If you didn't want to be teased, you should've become the master instead, Vera," he joked, the corners of his lips lifting in amusement.

His pride as a martial artist and even a hint of jealousy toward his disciple's rapid growth lingered in his heart.

But as a teacher, Aiden felt only joy at her progress—not just as a sword meant to strike down the Swordmaster, but as a person.

'Was this how Grandmaster Thorne and Master Damien felt when they taught me?' he wondered.

Even left to grow on her own, Vera had already reached the early stages of Supreme Mastery at her young age.

At that moment, a figure stepped into their path, blocking the way to Blooming Peak Pavilion.

Under the faint moonlight, they could see the figure's left arm wrapped in bandages.

It was Aetheris.