Originally, swordsmanship was created to strike down enemies.
Therefore, no matter how slowly one executes it, the forms cannot help but possess a certain degree of sharpness.
However, Bu Eunseol's sword forms were not only as sluggish as a crawling slug, but even the characteristic sharpness inherent in the forms had completely vanished. Rather than swordsmanship, it looked more like a qigong exercise performed by retired elderly men for their health.
Hwi-iii-ik, sak.
The Silent Tiger Soul Sword, which had been drawing slow circles, shot forward like an arrow. Finally, he performed the thirteenth form of the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms, Limitless Infinity.
Saaaa-ak.
Clack.
Sheathing the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, Bu Eunseol looked down at his hands.
Only six days had passed.
His hands had grown rough and were covered in scars, just as they were when he first learned swordsmanship.
‘I have no regrets.’
Every day—no, every single moment—he had risked his life to practice his martial arts. Yet, despite that, there was no perceived change. Rather, the aura emanating from his body had become far more ordinary than in the past.
If in the past he gave off the feeling of hiding greatness, now he looked like a farmer from a remote mountain village heading out to work in the fields.
The only things that had changed since entering this place were that breathing was no longer difficult, he could barely feel the crushing pressure, and the constant delusions and stray thoughts had all vanished. Furthermore, the only thing he had practiced during this time was the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms, which contained the Essence of Technical Methods, the foundation of his swordsmanship.
“I have neglected the basics for too long until now.”
While spending a day in meditation to adapt to the air and pressure of this place, Bu Eunseol pondered why he could not execute the Supreme Heavenly Flow or the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
Finally, he realized the reason.
It was because his martial foundations were too shallow.
His martial power had developed so rapidly that he had skipped all the basic processes he should have naturally undergone. Of course, this was because of his bone-shaving efforts, but it had resulted in subtle restrictions when it came to deeply mastering the Supreme Heavenly Flow, which contained all the mysteries of the Nangya Pavilion’s sword studies, or the Seven Blood Tear Forms, which could crush all existing forces in the world.
‘If I had mastered the Seven Blood Tear Forms or the Supreme Heavenly Flow to the Realm of Great Completion, I would have been able to execute them properly even in an environment hundreds of times more hellish than this.’
The Supreme Heavenly Flow and the Seven Blood Tear Forms were not yet in a completed state. Therefore, he could not freely control the speed of execution, and there were limits to expressing the inherent mysteries.
When he tried to force such transcendent martial arts under such immense pressure, he ended up suffering great internal injuries instead.
In fact, those secrets were only passed down to formal disciples of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect.
At that moment, the benevolent voice of Master Jingak suddenly echoed in his ears.
—My conscience was pricked, so I did not pass on the final two verses to you. Receive the remaining two sword secrets from the Sect Leader.
The relationship between the Hwa Wu Sword Sect and himself was extremely poor. Why, then, was Master Jingak confident that Sect Leader Weiji would pass down the Hwa Wu Sword secrets?
‘In that case, why not use this opportunity to practice the basics of the Hwa Wu Sword?’
In any case, what he lacked were martial foundations, and he had already resolved to solidify the substance and basics of his swordsmanship. Bu Eunseol chose not to develop the Seven Blood Tear Forms or the Supreme Heavenly Flow.
Instead, he chose the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms—the first swordsmanship he had ever learned, which Master Jingak had trained so thoroughly that he was recognized by the Profound Demon, Weiji Mu-a.
Bu Eunseol looked down at his hands. He did not know if this was the right choice. He had simply put in the best effort he could.
“It’s a shame, but I must go.”
Before he knew it, the wide-open door had only a palm-sized gap remaining. It had narrowed so much that even a head could not pass through; no martial artist, even one skilled in Bone-Contracting Arts, would dare dream of leaving.
But Bu Eunseol possessed the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi.
Jii-iii-ing.
As he raised his Wind-Cloud Divine Qi, his body instantly became transparent, and even the form of the Silent Tiger Soul Sword grew hazy.
‘It’s strange.’
He had merely practiced basic swordsmanship, yet even his Wind-Cloud Divine Qi had grown deeper.
Shu-uk.
Bu Eunseol passed through the gate of light in a single bound. Unlike when he entered, there were no restrictions when leaving. After passing through the long passage in an instant, a bright light finally appeared.
Pat!
“This is...”
Emerging from inside, Bu Eunseol wore a look of surprise. The large Jade Beads that should have been standing side by side had turned into dull, blackish stones, as if they had fulfilled their purpose, losing their white hue and luster.
Furthermore, wasn't there lush vegetation growing around them?
Even the faint light flowing from the entrance was slowly disappearing.
“Could it be that this place was the Infinite Land?”
Only then could Bu Eunseol guess where he had been. That space hidden between the Jade Beads was none other than the Infinite Land, where the energy of all things in heaven and earth is said to dwell. It is told that when humans enter and exit the Infinite Land, changes occur in the surroundings that cannot be explained by natural phenomena. Just like now.
‘If so...’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed. In the end, the Returning to One Realm had intentionally revealed the Infinite Land to arrange for his martial power to increase.
‘Can the Three Realms detect the location where the Infinite Land occurs?’
The Infinite Land, where the energy of all things is concentrated and pooled, occurs in an extremely accidental manner. It does not last forever; due to the laws of nature seeking to return to a whole state, it eventually disappears slowly. Therefore, it is known that no one except a sage who can read the heavenly mechanisms can find it. Yet, the Returning to One Realm not only calculated the location of the Infinite Land but intentionally taught it to him?
“He wants me to become stronger.”
The reason he taught him the Infinite Land, which had been hidden by the Great Law of the Returning to One Realm, was simple.
“To use me.”
He could say for certain.
There was no way the Returning to One Realm would have done such a thing out of mere kindness. He was clearly plotting something and had deliberately raised Bu Eunseol's martial power to utilize him.
“He likely showed me this place because my current power did not meet his expectations.”
The Returning to One Realm, whom he had met previously, seemed greatly disappointed in his martial power. He likely used the fact that the Death Spirit Corps would track his movements to expose the Infinite Land, hoping he would augment his martial arts here.
“If only there had been a little more time.”
As he reached that thought, a deep sense of regret burst forth. If he could have trained just a little longer, he would have achieved a definitive breakthrough.
“Then, how strong are the Realm Lords?”
The masters of the Upper Realms likely know of places like the Infinite Land that are severed from the world. Of course, staying indefinitely in the Infinite Land wouldn't lead to endless progress, but they would have gained martial power beyond imagination in a short period. Just how strong were they?
“I will pull them down.”
Clenching his fist, a fighting spirit like the sun burned in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
A typical martial artist would have said, “I will catch up to them.” But Bu Eunseol had no desire to compete in martial power with the strong, nor a yearning to reach a higher state than he held now.
“It doesn't matter even if they have reached a god-like realm.”
Because he just had to pull them down. Bu Eunseol was not trying to go to the high place where they stood... he was trying to drag them down to where he stood.
Seu-eu-euk.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and black shadows began to gather around Bu Eunseol. They were ghost-like forms stained in blood.
‘Are these not the Blood Spirits and Blood Divine warriors I saw in the Valley of Immortals?’
Mureok-mureok.
Soon, a black mist rose. A giant old man, covering only his vital parts with white cloth, revealed himself.
It was Myeong Myeol, who had been killed by the Returning to One Realm.
“You aren’t surprised.”
Myeong Myeol tilted his head and looked down at Bu Eunseol.
“Did you know that this old man did not die?”
“I’ve been clashing with fake bodies all along.”
When Bu Eunseol fought him, he had caused an explosion by clashing Harmony with the Seven Blood Tear Forms, instantly blowing up Myeong Myeol’s arm.
At that time, the traces of the fallen arm were very similar to those of the Inbiin Lord, who possessed a fake body in the past.
Furthermore, no matter how the Returning to One Realm executed the Blood Tear Forms or how great his martial arts were, killing a Lord of the Four Divine Heavens in a single blow was too much.
Bu Eunseol had guessed that Myeong Myeol, knowing he would lose to the Returning to One Realm anyway, had abandoned his body and fled without hesitation.
“Were you practicing martial arts in this remote place?”
Myeong Myeol looked down at Bu Eunseol with a cold smile.
“No matter where you are, you cannot escape from this old man’s hands.”
‘The Returning to One Realm exposed me.’
Bu Eunseol let out a low sigh. No matter how great an information organization he operated, Myeong Myeol could not have found his tracks this quickly. It was clear that the Returning to One Realm had not only given him the chance to develop his martial power but had deliberately exposed his location to Myeong Myeol to measure and prove that increased power.
‘I suppose it can’t be helped.’
Whatever the intention, Myeong Myeol’s appearance was something Bu Eunseol also desired. They hadn't settled the score properly before. Strictly speaking, it was no different from his own defeat.
“Heh.”
As Bu Eunseol maintained a relaxed expression, Myeong Myeol let out a sigh of wonder. He thought that the moment Bu Eunseol discovered him, he would flee like crazy or face the battle with a tense face. Yet, wasn't he showing a completely calm attitude, as if he had just seen a neighborhood old man out for a stroll?
“It’s not a forced attitude.”
Myeong Myeol was puzzled.
Bu Eunseol’s biological response was truly in a relaxed and leisurely state.
“Something has changed.”
He was a man who had stirred the martial world for a long time and faced its strongest experts. Sensing that Bu Eunseol’s aura had changed, he tilted his head.
“Have you been practicing some kind of sorcery in the meantime?”
It was impossible to become strong so suddenly in such a short time. Furthermore, standing in a comfortable posture, Bu Eunseol was like a Taoist priest; an empty, serene energy was flowing from his entire body.
“I should deal with those red things first.”
Bu Eunseol frowned as he looked at the Blood Divine warriors surrounding the area.
“If those things are left behind, it might cause harm to the common people for no reason.”
Myeong Myeol burst into laughter as if it were absurd.
“You, right now...”
His face, which was about to continue with ridicule, froze cold. The Blood Divine warriors surrounding Bu Eunseol were scattering like dust. Before he knew it, the Silent Tiger Soul Sword was in Bu Eunseol’s hand.
Myeong Myeol doubted his own eyes.
Even if one deployed Infinite Reversal Power, they could not deceive his Dharma Eyes. When on earth had he drawn his sword and attacked the Blood Divine warriors?
“I see you’ve gained some skill in the meantime.”
Swallowing his surprise, Myeong Myeol stepped forward. His appearance—skin like a blackened old tree and only his lower parts covered in cloth—was still bizarre and hideous.
“Go ahead and show me your little tricks.”
As Myeong Myeol reached out, terrifying internal force began to manifest.
Thinking that Bu Eunseol would launch a powerful attack, he intended to execute an opening move to preemptively occupy the attack path so he could completely block any strike.
Sak.
However, an unexpected situation occurred.
Before he knew it, Bu Eunseol’s Silent Tiger Soul Sword, which had instantly narrowed a distance of nearly five jang, was stabbing toward his vital point. Myeong Myeol let out a short cry and leaned back.
But the single sword strike Bu Eunseol thrust out contained numerous follow-up moves. Every time the Silent Tiger Soul Sword lightly cut through the air, Myeong Myeol had no choice but to keep being pushed back. He instinctively felt that even though they were simple sword forms, he would not be safe if they hit.
Originally, a situation where one is pushed back because they cannot block a form only happened in battles between martial artists who had not reached the Transcendental Peak. How could a supreme expert who could even offset Infinite Reversal Power retreat to avoid a mere sword?
“Is this also Infinite Reversal Power?”
Myeong Myeol, throwing out leisurely words as if to show off, tried to fire his internal force again. But every time he reached out to execute an opening move, the Silent Tiger Soul Sword unfailingly popped out from the air as if to cut his fingers.
“Fine, then.”
No matter what martial arts the boy used, he just had to blow him away in one go. Myeong Myeol raised his merit and threw a palm strike intended to blow away the entire area where Bu Eunseol stood.
Or rather, he should have thrown it.
Chi-ik.
Before he knew it, wasn't a blackened straight sword instantly piercing his palm? He had thrust the Silent Tiger Soul Sword just as Myeong Myeol was about to unleash his palm force.
“Hmph!”
Myeong Myeol was forced to withdraw his hand. Otherwise, he would be the one putting his palm against the sword blade.
“You are doing bizarre things!”
Annoyed, Myeong Myeol narrowed the distance with Bu Eunseol, intending to pour out destructive power and crush his body at once. But Bu Eunseol appeared around him like a ghost, and every time Myeong Myeol tried to attack, wasn't the blackened blade piercing a vital spot?
“You keep getting in my way!”
Myeong Myeol, who had reached the Infinite Realm, had also attained the Blood Essence Vajra Body, making him impervious to blades. Thus, he intended to take Bu Eunseol’s sword hit on purpose and, in exchange, simultaneously fire a palm strike that could destroy his body.
As the Silent Tiger Soul Sword touched his shoulder, a metallic sound that shook heaven and earth rang out. At the same time, Myeong Myeol received a shock so great that his vision swayed. He was merely stabbed once near the shoulder, but the internal force within him scattered and his Blood Essence Vajra Body was broken.
“You brat!”
As the incomprehensible situation continued, Myeong Myeol swung both hands like a windmill. He spread his true Infinite Reversal Power method, which he had kept hidden until now.
Infinite Reversal Power that swallows Infinite Reversal Power. This was the secret art that had killed the Lord of the Divine Heavens, a transcendent technique that only he in the world could execute.
Ah...
But the method did not work.
No, it wasn't even deployed.
This youngster was not using Infinite Reversal Power. He was simply pouring out swordsmanship. Even then, it was based on the basic principles of sword skills that everyone knows.
Ji-ing.
Then Myeong Myeol created a red sword in one hand.
Using supernatural power, he intended to pour out numerous attacks in advance and then concentrate them to inflict massive damage when the energies collided—a secret technique. It was the same method used by the masked man with the chain-sickle, his subordinate, to find out Bu Eunseol’s Infinite Reversal Power back in the Valley of Immortals.
Woo-yong.
This method was close to an absolute technique that could never be avoided. Eventually, the Silent Tiger Soul Sword was about to collide as if being sucked into the blood sword.
But in the meantime, Bu Eunseol briefly floated in the air and created leg shadows. He had executed the Nangyang Pavilion’s leg technique, the Iron Leg Flying Kick.
No matter how fast a leg technique was executed, it was never faster than a hand. But when Bu Eunseol unleashed it, not only was it as rapid as a fast sword, but wasn't the surroundings completely filled with dark leg shadows?
Wang-pang-pang!
As the palm technique and leg technique collided, explosions rang out. He had blocked the destructive martial art Myeong Myeol poured out with a mere leg technique.
‘Ordinary? No.’
A leg technique that poured out twenty-six shadows in one move could no longer be an ordinary leg technique.
Paaaa!
Then, another bizarre thing happened. The Iron Leg Flying Kick he had just executed was pouring down like rain again. This time, there were as many as forty-eight leg shadows.
Pang!
With an explosion, Myeong Myeol, unable to withstand the pressure of Bu Eunseol’s leg technique, finally retreated.
“The leg shadows were a trick.”
The pouring leg shadows were just numbers; what actually touched the body was a single, definitive kick.
“Have you learned some miscellaneous skills in the meantime?”
Myeong Myeol wore a sneer. “Well, Nangyang Pavilion martial arts do involve learning all sorts of things.”
“Are you proud of copying your subordinate’s martial arts?”
“Fufufu, it’s the opposite. I am the one who taught him this method.”
“Fine. Try it.”
Bu Eunseol raised the Silent Tiger Soul Sword to a mid-level stance and spoke calmly.
“The clashing of weapons.”
“Good.”
As Bu Eunseol fell for the provocation, Myeong Myeol cheered inwardly and swung his blood sword. Unlike the masked man who possessed the power of the Hundred and Eight Stars, the clashing of weapons he used was based on Mixed Demonic Magic Energy, so it was not affected by any force. Even if the boy used Infinite Reversal Power or a mysterious method, he could absorb it through Devouring; in the end, it was this youngster who would fall.
Pamat!
In the meantime, Bu Eunseol produced a straight sword strike. Some were soft and some were sharp, looking like profound techniques, but in reality, they were extremely simple and honest sword forms that served as the basis of swordsmanship.
He had executed the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms.
Jje-eong!
With an explosion, Bu Eunseol’s weapon collided with Myeong Myeol’s blood sword. Or rather, it should have.
But the explosion only erupted from Myeong Myeol’s weapon. The Silent Tiger Soul Sword leisurely pierced through that collision and dug into Myeong Myeol’s neck.
“What?”
Greatly shocked, Myeong Myeol leaned his neck back and retreated. His martial arts and movement techniques were so great that he could move dozens of jang in a single breath. Despite that, he could not shake off Bu Eunseol, who followed him like a ghost. It wasn't because his movement was faster, but because the sword form had already sealed off the retreat path.
Pu-syut!
Because the sword form cutting off the retreat path shifted too quickly, Myeong Myeol ended up being stabbed in the back.
“Aaaaagh!”
Myeong Myeol let out a painful scream and retreated. It felt like a light prick, but it was as painful as if his spine had been gouged out.
Thick veins stood out on his forehead as he endured the pain. A martial artist is never stabbed in the back unless they are fleeing ignominiously; other than that, being stabbed during a fierce battle only happens when the gap in martial power is as vast as heaven and earth. How could such a thing happen?
“Ultimate Transcendence?”
Realizing something, Myeong Myeol gasped with wide eyes. The leg and sword techniques Bu Eunseol executed were nothing grand. On the contrary, they were simple forms containing ordinary techniques.
But they were ‘perfect moves’ that achieved an absolute balance and harmony, such that no grandmaster in the martial world could find a flaw. Because there were no flaws and he had reached the state of Ultimate Transcendence—the ultimate condition—one could never block or avoid them.
“How can this be!”
Myeong Myeol, enraged, roared at the top of his lungs. “What kind of nonsense is this!”
He shouted like a madman. “I can’t believe it! This makes no sense—!”
Until just a short while ago, he was an opponent who was bothersome but could be killed without difficulty if Myeong Myeol exerted his proper strength.
How could he have reached a state that surpassed him in just a few days?
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