Faaaa!
A golden light that seemed to purify all the darkness in the world turned into a giant wave and spread out. The Black Gods turned into a handful of ashes within the brilliant light and vanished.
Kkudeudeuk.
The Dark God Heavenly Lord poured out his Mixed Demonic Magic Energy with all his might to resist that light. However, it was useless.
A human body can instinctively distinguish what is beneficial, and if it is something helpful, accepts it naturally without any rejection. There was no exception to this rule, even for the Dark God Heavenly Lord.
The Dark God Heavenly Lord could not hide his inner bewilderment.
The Mixed Demonic Magic Energy, which could easily block even the Manifestation Divine Techniques of the Baekri Family, was completely helpless before the power Bu Eunseol was pouring out, diminishing without being able to put up any resistance.
Kkodeuk.
As the mysterious power seeped into his body, his connections with the Black Gods were severed one by one, and he reached a point where he could no longer restore his physical body.
Flash!
As he sensed the attribute of the energy continuously seeping in, a dark light surged from the eyes of the Dark God Heavenly Lord. “Natural Qi?”
What Bu Eunseol was pouring out was pure Natural Qi, which closely resembled the inherent life force of humans.
Jijijik.
When the connection with the Black Gods was completely severed, the strange vibration enveloping his body faded away like mist, and a hideous, blood-drenched person stood in that spot.
Black, scar-like wounds covered his entire body, making his appearance unrecognizable, and a pitch-black darkness filled his shadowed eyes. Black feathers were densely embedded from the nape of his neck along his spine, adding to the bizarre nature.
‘There is a possibility.’
Looking at that sight, Bu Eunseol nodded to himself. When he unleashed the energy of nature using the Three Divine Energies and the Martial Emperor’s art, he severed the ‘dominance’ over the Black Gods.
If it is this much with just the Three Divine Energies, what if he gathers all Four Divine Energies?
It would not be impossible to annihilate the mysterious powers and supernatural abilities possessed by the absolute experts.
Ppeudeudeuk.
Filled with rage, the Dark God Heavenly Lord broke the black spear he held in his hand into two pieces. The Four Divine Heaven Lords wield the authority of ‘dominance’ and are well-versed in all martial arts scattered throughout the martial world.
Even without supernatural powers, he was an absolute expert who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts. As if to prove this, the Dark God Heavenly Lord continuously swung his black spear, pouring out extremely profound techniques.
When Bu Eunseol easily evaded them, the spear shadows instantly blocked his path of retreat, and a sharp internal energy dug in as if it would slice his skin.
“Not bad.”
As the Dark God Heavenly Lord unleashed his profound martial arts, Bu Eunseol actually grew excited.
Hwiirik!
A sharp sound of tearing air, as if searching for a ghost, resounded from all directions. The spear technique grew increasingly fierce, completely sealing off the surrounding space, trapping Bu Eunseol inside a round sphere of spear shadows while pouring out sharp attacks.
However, the more that happened, the deeper Bu Eunseol’s gaze sank, and his brilliant light changed. Regaining composure in the midst of an extreme life-or-death struggle, and piercing through the flow of battle and the enemy’s techniques—was that not the very essence of real-combat martial arts?
The movement of a crow.
Every time the black spear beckoned for death, an illusion appeared before his eyes, as if a flock of dozens of crows was covering the sky.
The spear technique of the Dark God Heavenly Lord was as agile and swift as a beast catching its prey, displaying a bizarre trajectory whose path could not be predicted at all.
“Sight is meaningless.”
As he closed his eyes and raised the senses of the Beast Way to the absolute limit, the minute parting of the air and the trajectory and speed of the spear tip were clearly felt.
It was a terrifying spear technique that could not be broken through conventional methods. If so, he had to give up his flesh to take the enemy’s bone. The moment a microscopic opening appeared, the sharp spear blade dug right into the center of his body.
Twisting his body like lightning, Bu Eunseol let the spear slide under his armpit while simultaneously tightening his arm to firmly trap the shaft. The flesh of his flank tore like paper and blood flowed.
However, Bu Eunseol did not care and slammed the fist force of the Heavenly Glacial Secret directly into the Danjung acupoint of the Dark God Heavenly Lord.
The Dark God Heavenly Lord was thrown dozens of zhang away. Even though he was shrouded in a powerful protective internal energy, the fabric over his chest turned to powder and scattered, and a dark red lump of blood spilled heavily from his mouth.
Huu, huu.
Looking at Bu Eunseol’s red eyes burning with fighting spirit, completely uncaring of his ragged wounds, the Dark God Heavenly Lord suddenly remembered an existence that had handed him defeat in the past.
The madman who was obsessed with martial arts and eroded by demonic energy, the great demon who shook the world—the Human Demon, Ak Muryeong.
“They say you are an expert between orthodox and unorthodox, but your actions are closer to the demonic path.”
“If you feel cornered, you should flee even now.”
Bu Eunseol wore a relaxed expression.
“I will absolutely not pursue you.”
In truth, he absolutely had to obtain a clue about the Infinite Land from the Dark God Heavenly Lord. However, if the Dark God Heavenly Lord made up his mind and ran away, tracking him would not be easy.
To eliminate that possibility, he was deliberately provoking his pride.
The enraged Dark God Heavenly Lord soared into the air like a giant bird.
The sound of flapping wings echoed, and suddenly Bu Eunseol’s extra-sensory perception vanished in an instant. The moment he instinctively threw his head back, a cold spear blade grazed past with terrifying speed. Although the connection to the Black Gods had been severed, the technique of commanding crows still remained, and he had used it to display a method that cut off extra-sensory perception.
“Evade this as well!”
Swish-sh-sh!
The torrent of light erupting from the tip of the spear transformed into a flood dragon tearing through the sky.
Paang!
Soon, it exploded like fireworks, and a shower of light arrows that covered the entire world poured down upon Bu Eunseol.
Flap, flap!
At the same time, the sound of flapping wings was heard once more, and his extra-sensory perception vanished in an instant yet again. Losing one’s extra-sensory perception during battle was a situation more dangerous than suffering a fatal wound.
Grin.
Instead, a smile spread across Bu Eunseol’s lips.
A clash of pure martial arts, rather than supernatural abilities or secret arts.
A life-or-death struggle upon a tightrope where one never knew when their life might end.
To him, who had advanced his martial arts through life-threatening battles, this kind of situation was like an immensely enjoyable game.
With all of his extra-sensory perception sealed, Bu Eunseol unleashed the Transcendent Seven Fist Demon Forms with lightning speed. As if the principles of heaven were circulating, the vortex of fist force enveloping his body deflected every single attack that could neither be seen nor felt. The explosive roars of the fist force and spear shadows colliding shook the sky.
When all of his attacks were blocked by a single fist technique, the Dark God Heavenly Lord roared savagely and moved his body like lightning.
Swish-sh-sh!
Before anyone knew it, his body split into two.
One was the true body, and the other was an illusion created by ultra-high-speed movement and the flock of crows.
An illusion as if hundreds of black feathers were scattering unfolded before his eyes, and a fatal attack tenaciously dug into Bu Eunseol’s weak point.
‘It looks like he is scattering attacks like a mad wind, but he is targeting only a single vital point.’
Kwaaaa!
The Swift Wind Whirling Orbit spread out from Bu Eunseol’s fist, managing the illusions of the chaotic spear shadows here and there. In an instant, it dug into the lower belly of the Dark God Heavenly Lord, who was completely hidden within the remnant images.
Cawww! Paa!
However, as an ominous crow’s cry arose, that decisive blow vanished as if melting away. At the same time, blood splattered on Bu Eunseol’s shoulder. Despite unleashing a decisive blow, the one who ultimately achieved a specific result was the Dark God Heavenly Lord.
“I can see your death.”
When blood finally burst from Bu Eunseol’s body, the Dark God Heavenly Lord let out a mad laugh.
“Huhahaha!”
However, he did not know even in his dreams that the profound martial arts he was displaying were actually becoming the catalyst that awakened Bu Eunseol. Within his mind, having already reached the realm of the Fist Demon, a new fist technique to break the martial arts of the Dark God Heavenly Lord was being drawn naturally.
Bu Eunseol lightly thrust out a single fist. It was a rapid strike that carried no internal energy.
Chak!
In the blink of an eye, that single fist broke through the strength of the spear and grazed the cheek of the Dark God Heavenly Lord.
Jureureuk.
As drops of blood flowed from his cheek, black mist spread out from the eyes of the furious Dark God Heavenly Lord. Separating the long spear and holding it in both hands, he poured out fierce spear strikes once more, like a crow tearing prey with its giant beak.
Jiik.
Bu Eunseol drew a large circle with his leg from his position, and as if deploying the Taichi Wisdom Sword, slowly extended a single fist.
One side was moving like crazy, pouring out attacks frantically, while the other side did not move even a single step, concentrating all his mind on defense. When viewed through the principles of martial arts, the victory and defeat were already no different from being decided.
As if to prove this, the momentum of the Dark God Spear Method gradually became dull, and Bu Eunseol’s fist force began to dominate the space.
Swish-sh-sh!
Sensing defeat, the Dark God Heavenly Lord drew up his internal energy with all his might. Suddenly, Bu Eunseol’s body shook slightly, and his fist technique unfolded half a beat late.
Heavenly Reverse Technique.
He had unleashed a orthodox palm strike that synchronized with the enemy’s heartbeat to create a weak point.
Chwaak!
In that gap, the sharp spear tip broke through the defense and dug an inch into Bu Eunseol’s chest.
But it was a trap.
The Dark God Heavenly Lord was also hit cleanly by a fist strike and flew back toward the rock wall. Thanks to his internal force exceeding ten jia, a method like the Heavenly Reverse Technique did not work on him, but Bu Eunseol had deliberately revealed a weak point.
Jeobuk, jeobuk.
Uncaring of the wound on his chest, Bu Eunseol slowly approached the Dark God Heavenly Lord. Having gained another realization within the battle, his Heavenly Palm Barrier Form was now completely overwhelming the spear method of the Dark God Heavenly Lord.
At that moment, the Dark God Heavenly Lord opened his mouth out of habit. However, this kind of leisure was only possible when the opponent was lower in skill than oneself.
The act of opening one’s mouth in front of a formidable enemy dealing with life and death was no different from revealing a fatal weak point oneself.
‘It is now.’
If Bu Eunseol had intended to strike down the Dark God Heavenly Lord by unleashing vacuum martial arts, he would have severed his neck within ten moves. The method he used to command the Black Gods was similar to the Rebelling Net, and the spear method he displayed closely resembled the Illusion Dream Spear.
Despite this, the reason he prolonged the offense and defense the entire time was to capture the moment he could purify the body of the Dark God Heavenly Lord, which was dominated by the Mixed Demonic Magic Energy, through the Endless Heavenly Light Art once more. Only then would he be able to obtain information.
Bu Eunseol’s figure vanished, and he drove a fist glowing with five-colored light into the body of the Dark God Heavenly Lord.
It was not a destructive blow.
It was an imperial fist containing the true secret of the Martial Emperor and the pure Natural Qi, which could restore a bizarrely changed body back to its original form.
“Keo-eok!”
A giant lump of blood spilled heavily from the mouth of the Dark God Heavenly Lord. Rather than a lump of blood, it was like a giant egg dyed red. Looking closely, wriggling blood vessels, yellowish fluid, and crow feathers that had not yet fully grown were tangled together.
‘As expected.’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.
The Dark God Heavenly Lord had not connected with the Black Gods through Mixed Demonic Magic Energy, but like a bizarre sorcery of the battlefield, had swallowed a parasite concentrated with the malice of crows.
Kkudeudeuk.
The body of the Dark God Heavenly Lord, who had vomited the lump of blood, was gradually changing. His body, which had been covered in black scars, turned into the proper shape of a human before long. And that changed face was extremely familiar.
“Yi Neungso?”
Bu Eunseol widened his eyes. The identity of the Dark God Heavenly Lord, finally revealed, was none other than the expert famous for a spear method that resembled a divine art: the Spear Saint, Yi Neungso.
‘Jongbaek... I wondered why he knelt before the retinue of the True Demon...’
He had thought that people like the Four Divine Heaven Lords and the Eight Human Heaven Lords were born as retinues of the True Demon from the very beginning, or had attained that realm by refining peerless martial arts or magic items.
But the truth was different.
The retinues of the True Demon selected outstanding experts who dominated the martial world and performed a grand ritual to bestow Mixed Demonic Magic Energy or supernatural abilities, allowing them to rise to such positions.
“In the end, were the retinues of the True Demon just phantoms chasing power?”
Just as the disciple of the Nangyang Pavilion, Jongbaek, had done in the past, Yi Neungso also could not be satisfied with the name of Spear Saint and had knelt before the source of power called the True Demon.
“Did you not know?”
The Dark God Heavenly Lord, no, Yi Neungso, twisted the corner of his mouth and wore a strange expression. “The one who can use the secret of the Baekri Martial Arts?”
“What do you mean?”
“That secret of handling Natural Qi—when used by the Baekri Martial Arts, is it not the Primordial Energy of the Six Heavenly Secrets?”
These were shocking words. Since he was of the bloodline of the Baekri Family, he thought his father would naturally have used the power of the Baekri Family, but he had been using the Primordial Energy of the Six Heavenly Secrets, which pursued a Natural Qi extremely similar to the Four Divine Energies.
‘Then father also mixed various powers while traveling the martial world.’
The father in his memory could handle perfect Natural Qi. Despite that, there must have been a specific reason why he deliberately used the Primordial Energy.
Ujeok, ujeojeok.
At that moment, all the energy drained from Yi Neungso’s body. Then, he showed a clear gaze unlike before. However, because of that, his physical body was slowly collapsing, just like Jongbaek in the past.
As his body changed, Yi Neungso only then realized that the power Bu Eunseol used belonged to the Four Divine Energies, and he nodded.
“Yes, I see.”
Yi Neungso exclaimed as if he had realized something. “The Martial Soul Society Leader was indeed the Martial Soul Command Lord who claimed to be the grandson of Bu Zhanyang.”
“What are you talking about?”
“There is no need to feign ignorance. This old man will die soon anyway.” Yi Neungso smiled faintly. “Not as a retinue of the True Demon, but as the Spear Saint, Yi Neungso.”
“Does it mean you lose your ego when you become a retinue of the True Demon?”
“You become unable to go against his will. You cannot do anything to become the Lord, nor can you disobey that intent.”
Only now were the secrets regarding the retinues of the True Demon unraveling one by one. Because the retinues of the True Demon were not raised but rather had the intent of the True Demon overwritten onto existing experts, their minds were naturally suppressed as well, and they could absolutely never perform actions harmful to the True Demon.
“Do you know Baekri Muha?”
These words were still a denial of him being Bu Eunseol. Even this conversation could be transmitted to the True Demon or other retinues through the crows.
“The period Baekri Muha active in the martial world was extremely short. Even so, the retinues had no choice but to track him.” Yi Neungso spoke surprising words. “Because he tried to kill Bu Zhanyang.”
“He tried to kill grandfather?” Bu Eunseol wore a confused expression. “For what reason?”
“Bu Zhanyang possessed the chain of reincarnation.”
Bu Eunseol felt a pain as if the back of his head was tearing apart. As he staggered and stepped back, Yi Neungso smiled faintly.
“Did you think that the Absolute Demonic Blade Project, to birth the number one person of the demonic path from the orthodox path, would be accomplished just because a few leaders of the orthodox Alliance gathered their intent?” He brought up another shocking statement. “From the start, the Absolute Demonic Blade Project was a study on whether a human could contain the chain of reincarnation, a transcendent power that only a god or demon can contain.”
“Nonsense.”
“You should know, shouldn’t you?” Yi Neungso spoke calmly. “If they simply intended to produce the number one person of the demonic path...” He continued while looking straight into Bu Eunseol’s eyes. “Would there be a need to select those with the best abilities and physical bodies to birth a martial lineage that breaks through human limits?”
Bu Eunseol’s vision turned hazy. “Are you saying the True Demon planned everything?”
Yi Neungso shook his head. “The Lord has no interest whatsoever in the matters of the martial world from the very beginning.”
“Then who?”
“While there are those who follow the Lord, there are also retinues or bloodlines who try to surpass the Lord.” Yi Neungso let out a deep sigh. “Also, while there are those who are wary of the development of the martial world, there are also those who are curious about how far it can develop.”
Bu Eunseol wore a miserable expression. “Then, in the end, the former Alliance Leader Cheol Muhon and the Buddha Venerable were merely puppets controlled by the retinues of the True Demon?”
“Rather than puppets, it would be better to see it as their desires aligning.” Yi Neungso shook his head. “Because they were all people with grand ambitions.”
Bu Eunseol nodded. Even if he did not know about Cheol Muhon, an old fox like the Buddha Venerable could never have failed to notice the Absolute Demonic Blade Project.
“In the end, is it not the True Demon that disrupts the martial world, but the Three Attendants or his bloodline?”
“I cannot know for certain,” Yi Neungso said. “Because the Three Attendants cannot actively involve themselves in the matters of the martial world.”
When Bu Eunseol was about to open his mouth to speak further, he cut him off. “However, they can help the twisted desires of the martial artists.”
‘To directly produce the number one person of the demonic path and dominate the demonic path itself.’
That was a long-standing desire that the orthodox people had held for a long time.
The forces of the demonic path had already grown to rival the forces of the orthodox path, and for hundreds of years, outstanding figures were consistently being produced only from the demonic path. If the demonic path martial world gained dominance, they knew all too well what state the orthodox path would fall into.
In the end, Cheol Muhon and the Buddha Venerable, unable to shake off that fear, tried to control the demonic path and could not ultimately refuse that secret temptation.
“The Seven-Finger Demon Blade is dead,” Bu Eunseol said. “Then, did the person who killed him take the chain of reincarnation?”
The chain of reincarnation is like a divine authority that humans cannot touch. Since it would not have been destroyed just because his grandfather died, there was a high probability that someone took it.
“I do not know that. However...” Yi Neungso took a deep breath. “If you want to take charge of the subsequent situation, go to the Stone Gate of Zhongshan.”
“The Stone Gate Village.”
“That is right.” A matchlessly solemn light flowed from his eyes. “Because it was there that the Seven-Finger Demon Blade and Baekri Muha clashed.”
Dudeuk.
Because he clenched his fists so tightly, his fingernails were digging into his palms. In a remote village whose name he had never even heard in his life, his grandfather and father had fought a duel that felt like destiny.
“Why?”
He had merely cleansed the Mixed Demonic Magic Energy. Why was he suddenly telling him such important information?
Spitting black blood from his mouth, Yi Neungso curled the corners of his lips. “I was Number Thirty-Six.”
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