The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 125 Blood and cherry Blossoms

That very boulder was being shaved away, pulverized into dust, by a storm of crimson cherry blossoms.

And from within the newly opened cavern—

The stench of blood came pouring out.

The Secluded Training Hall was in ruins.

A thick stench of blood permeated the air, mingling with the overwhelming fragrance of cherry blossoms so dense it made one's mind dizzy.

And within that butchered battlefield—

A bloodied corpse spewed crimson mist into the air before collapsing to the side.

THUD—!

From the sound alone, it was not Vera.

A closer look revealed the identity of the headless body—

Dark Emperor.

Before him—

Vera stood, leaning weakly against her sword, its blade buried in the ground.

The overwhelming stench of blood emanated from the decapitated corpse.

From its severed limbs.

"...Boundless Fragrance of cherry Blossoms."

Great Master Thorne muttered softly.

That child had executed the Supreme Stroke of the Nine Heavens cherry Blossom Sword.

A technique only permitted to Kingdom of Harmony masters who had mastered Sword Energy.

A technique that could only be unleashed by an absolute grandmaster.

The Weight of Victory

"Vera."

"Yes... Grandmaster ..."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

She knew the Sword Saint of her sect was calling for her—

She remembered the voice that once patted her back when she hiccupped as a child—

And yet...

She could not even properly respond.

Great Master Thorne approached her slowly.

As if even the wind created by the fluttering of his robes might disturb her.

An overwhelmingly careful approach.@@@@

When the others tried to follow, he raised a hand—

A silent command to stay back.

From Vera's lips, blackened clotted blood dripped.

The cavern had been completely torn apart by her Boundless Fragrance of cherry Blossoms

Except for one spot.

Where Edwin, Clear Peace, and Caleb lay unconscious.

She had spared that single area.

That mercy had cost her more injuries.

Her body, wrecked from expending all her Innate True energy—

"...Are you alright?"

"If I was going to die anyway..."

"Don't speak. I'm here now."

Vera nodded weakly—

And then—

She collapsed.

Great Master Thorne caught her gently.

Carefully securing the Falling Blossom Sword in its scabbard,

He lifted her small, frail body and carried her outside.

A Shattered Blade

"...Vera!"

Aidens eyes widened.

He never thought she could defeat Dark Emperor.

But more than that—

He never imagined she would go so far as to burn her Innate True energy.

"Why... why did you go that far...?"

Aria's voice trembled.

Even Madam Vivian was speechless.

She had once declared herself to be Reverse Heaven Unity's blade.

She had sworn to be the sword that would cut down Sword Sovereign.

And yet...

"If I die... it's all meaningless."

Vera whispered faintly.

Aiden and Aria collapsed where they stood.

Great Master Thorne looked down at Aiden for a moment, then sighed and shook his head.

"Put your worries aside."

"But, Grandmaster, she burned her Innate True energy. If it's this severe..."

Almost everything.

At this point, it was no longer about being a martial artist.

It was about whether she could even survive as a human being.

But his Grandmaster seemed to have a plan.

"You never lose an argument, huh?"

Just as their farewell was about to end—

A figure approached at blinding speed.

As if stepping upon the sky itself.

The sleeves of a pristine white robe fluttered as they descended.

Jordan narrowed his eyes, observing the figure.

His hand instinctively reached for his sword—

Then stopped.

"That is...?"

"Looks like Mount Mount Suncrest Sect robes."

Pure white, with a red embroidery on the left chest.

Though the symbol wasn't entirely clear—

It was unmistakably the uniform of Mount Suncrest Sect.

More importantly—

That incredible lightness skill.

It was like watching someone walk upon clouds.

As the figure drew closer, their identity became unmistakable.

Among the One Sovereign, Three Masters, and Seven Lords—

The Sword Saint of Mount Suncrest, Great Master Thorne.

"Immortal Pharmacist!!!"

"Hey! This old fool is just shouting my name in the open?!"

Great Master Thorne, sixty-two years old.

Immortal Pharmacist, seventy-seven years old.

But they had long since abandoned formality.

Both were veterans of Martial World

One had ascended through medicine.

The other had ascended through the sword.

Tap.

Great Master Thorne landed before the cave.

For the first time in his life—

Immortal Pharmacist saw sweat on the Sword Saint's forehead.

"...You're actually sweating? From running?"

"That's not important right now."

Thorn revealed the small figure cradled in his arms.

Vera was already drenched in cold sweat.

Her breathing was faint, barely audible.

Her lips had turned pale violet.

Her cheeks—ashen and devoid of color.

Immortal Pharmacist immediately understood.

The Sword Saint had brought him a patient.

A patient who needed saving.

And Immortal Pharmacist never refused Great Master Thorne.

"Lay her down. I need to assess the situation—"

Great Master Thorne cut him off.

An unprecedented act.

When it came to medicine, when it came to healing—

Immortal Pharmacist was without equal.

"There's no need."

"What?"

"She has completely exhausted her Innate True energy."

"I came to you... because you might be the only one who can fix this."

For the first time,

Immortal Pharmacist's expression paled.

Not because it was impossible.

But because...

It was bad timing.

"You restored shattered cores before. You've reattached severed tendons."

"Yes, yes. I can reconnect tendons whenever I please."

Immortal Pharmacist gestured behind him.

At a blackened silver cauldron, flames licking at its surface—

Fueled by century-old ginseng.

"But the Supreme Harmony Elixir "

"Cannot be rushed."

"I started brewing it twelve years ago—"

"And it still needs several more months before it's complete."

A Race Against Time

A battle won—

But a life hanging by a thread.

Could the Immortal Pharmacist defy time itself?

Or would the Celestial Blade Star be extinguished before her destiny was fulfilled?

The answer—

Lay in the final embers of the cauldron's flame.