Whoosh!
Each time Bu Eunseol unleashed the Reverse-Extreme Technique with his inner power, a grinding clank echoed as the statues were pushed back. His immense inner force was shoving the iron-clad statues, firmly anchored to the ground, backward.
Whoosh!
The statues lined up behind him swung their greatswords, targeting his back.
Swish.
Bu Eunseol’s form blurred, as if shrouded in a faint mist. He had begun using the supreme movement technique, Phantom Speed, which allowed him to shift directions in place.
Swish! Whoosh!
Using Phantom Speed to change positions and the Reverse-Extreme Technique to push back the statues, Bu Eunseol was breaking through the Twenty-Four Heavenly General Formations with a simple yet powerful strategy.
“Remarkable inner power,” Namgung Sea muttered, watching in disbelief. “To relentlessly unleash such forceful Reverse-Extreme Techniques at his age? What sect’s master is he?”
Her gaze fixed on Black Leopard, who stammered under her intense scrutiny, “M-my young master… he’s wandered the martial world, learning techniques from various sources…”
“Learned from various sources?” Namgung Sea nearly burst out laughing at the absurdity.
Bu Eunseol’s inner power, capable of pushing back ten-thousand-pound iron statues, was a level even the direct disciples of the Shaolin Abbot could hardly achieve. And yet, he learned it by wandering and picking up skills?
“There must be complicated circumstances,” she said, chuckling and letting it pass.
Meanwhile, the Young Palace Master, who had been silently observing, spoke softly, “We should stop the formation.” Her serious gaze locked onto Bu Eunseol. “No matter how strong his inner power, expending it like this will deplete it and drive him to qi deviation.”
“He seems fine so far,” Namgung Sea replied.
The Young Palace Master shook her head. “The Twenty-Four Heavenly General Formations grow stronger toward the end. He might manage now, but from the midpoint, it’ll be tough.”
Her prediction was accurate. As Bu Eunseol reached about two-thirds of the way, his steps slowed, and the statues ceased to budge, as if his energy had run dry.
“Huff, huff.” Sweat dripped from his face as he paused.
Namgung Sea, watching closely, furrowed her brow. “Shall we stop it?”
“It seems necessary,” the Young Palace Master agreed.
As Namgung Sea moved to insert the token to halt the formation, Black Leopard quickly stepped in. “Not yet!”
Namgung Sea frowned at his interruption. “If we don’t stop now, your master will exhaust his inner power and suffer irreversible internal injuries.”
“No, look closely,” Black Leopard insisted.
“What?”
“His expression. He’s not someone who’d collapse from depleted energy.”
At Black Leopard’s words, Namgung Sea and the Young Palace Master peered at Bu Eunseol’s eyes. His sweat-So-aked hair obscured his face, but his gaze sparkled, and a faint smile played on his lips.
“Still, it’s too risky,” Namgung Sea said, clicking her tongue. “Expressions can be fueled by stubbornness. A martial artist proves himself with actions and skill—”
Her words cut off. Bu Eunseol had unleashed another powerful punch, pushing the statues back once more.
“He recovered in that short time?” Namgung Sea’s eyes widened in disbelief, pausing with the token in hand.
He’s…
Bu Eunseol’s usually cold, stoic eyes now burned with fervor, as if he were enjoying the challenge.
A true martial artist.
A true martial artist finds joy in crises and hardships, seeing them not as obstacles but as stepping stones to surpass their limits.
“Fine,” Namgung Sea said, lowering the token. “Let’s watch a bit longer.”
“Thank you,” Black Leopard replied.
By now, Bu Eunseol had pushed the statues back and reached the chamber’s edge, just one step from the exit. But his energy seemed completely drained, unable to use the Reverse-Extreme Technique further.
Was relying solely on inner power too much?
Breathing heavily, he pondered. Only a sliver of energy remained—one chance to unleash a single technique.
The statues lack killing intent, so Radiant Sword Control won’t work. Then, the Supreme Heavenly Flow…
With his ink-black sword, capable of cutting iron like tofu, the Supreme Heavenly Flow could topple the statues in one strike. But using his sword would reveal his true identity.
No choice. Resolving himself, Bu Eunseol summoned every ounce of his remaining energy.
Boom!
A gust of wind swirled around him, and faint specks of light began to shimmer across his body.
Clank, grind.
As if determined to block his final step, the statues let out a grating roar and encircled him.
This punch will decide it!
In this critical moment, Bu Eunseol chose not the Supreme Heavenly Flow but the fist technique of the Demon Fist.
If the supreme fist technique of Nangyang was as powerful as the Supreme Heavenly Flow, it would suffice.
Demon Fist Seven Forms… Second Form! Drawing a wide arc with both hands, a fierce glint shot from Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Extreme Lightning Chaos! The powerful gust from his punch split into five whirlwinds, sweeping past the encircling statues.
…
Silence fell over the chamber. Panting, Bu Eunseol moved forward as if nothing had happened.
Whoosh!
The statues surrounding him swung their greatswords at his head.
“Young master!” Black Leopard shouted urgently, but Bu Eunseol continued walking calmly, as if deaf to the cry.
Crackle…
The greatswords aimed at his head disintegrated into dust. The force of Extreme Lightning Chaos had reduced them to powder.
“What…?” Namgung Sea and the Young Palace Master, along with Black Leopard, stood speechless.
The martial world held countless fist techniques, but none had ever heard of one that could pulverize tempered iron.
“A master of an extraordinary fist technique,” Namgung Sea muttered softly.
Step, step.
As Bu Eunseol passed through the chamber’s exit, a rumble echoed. The floor flipped, and the towering statues sank into it. He had finally conquered the Twenty-Four Heavenly General Formations, a feat no one had accomplished since its creation.
“Young master!” Black Leopard rushed to Bu Eunseol, shouting, “Congratulations!”
Bouncing like an excited puppy, Black Leopard prompted a quiet response from Bu Eunseol. “You were right.”
“Sir?”
“You don’t need combat alone to advance your martial arts.”
Breaking through the formations, Bu Eunseol had poured out his full inner power for the first time and used the second form of the Demon Fist Seven Forms, previously only studied in manuals, in actual combat.
For an ordinary martial artist, attempting an untested technique in a life-or-death situation would be unthinkable. But Bu Eunseol turned the crisis into an opportunity, executing a perfect technique with extreme focus.
“I’m glad my words helped,” Black Leopard said, genuinely delighted.
He knew that despite Bu Eunseol’s cold and assertive demeanor, he was open to others’ advice. If he listened to his attendant, he’d likely heed anyone’s counsel.
“Now we can claim the Divine Origin Pearl,” Black Leopard said, grinning.
Namgung Sea shook her head. “I promised you could take the test, not that you’d receive the pearl.”
“What do you mean?” Black Leopard asked, eyes wide.
“This formation was set by the Palace Master herself to test whether someone is worthy of receiving the pearl from the Young Palace Master.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed. “So, whether I get the pearl depends on the Young Palace Master’s decision?”
“Exactly,” Namgung Sea replied.
Then, something strange happened.
Crack.
With a sound like snapping bones, Bu Eunseol’s facial skin began to writhe like a living snake.
My inner power is drained.
The drawback of the Bone-Shifting Disguise Technique was its constant consumption of inner power. Having exhausted his energy in the formation, the technique unraveled, revealing his true face.
“That face…” Namgung Sea’s gaze sharpened.
Bu Eunseol quickly covered his face with his sleeve.
Crack, grind.
Forcing his depleted energy, he reapplied the disguise technique, but Namgung Sea’s keen eyes had already caught a glimpse.
To think he’s such a handsome man. Her eyes wavered like ripples. For a brief moment, Bu Eunseol’s true face was a vision of unparalleled beauty, like a painting come to life.
“Have you been disguising yourself?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I saw you hiding your true appearance earlier.”
“You must be mistaken.” Unable to find traces of the disguise under his restored facade, Namgung Sea narrowed her eyes. I’ll uncover the truth later.
Having fully restored his disguise, Bu Eunseol approached the veiled Young Palace Master. “Have you decided?”
“What?”
“About the Divine Origin Pearl.”
“I…” The Young Palace Master gazed at him through her veil, then lowered her eyes. “Do you… want it that badly?”
“Yes.”
At his firm response, she bowed her head and said softly, “But I don’t even know who you are… or your name.”
True, they wouldn’t give a palace treasure to a stranger.
Though it felt odd, Bu Eunseol replied calmly, “I’m Seolso.”
“Seolso… I see. May I ask your sect?”
“I’m a mercenary of the Red Sky Veil.”
“A mercenary… I understand.”
“Will you give me the Divine Origin Pearl?”
At his direct question, the Young Palace Master hesitated, lowering her head. Namgung Sea approached and whispered, “Young Palace Master, give it to him.”
“What?”
“Give him the pearl, now.”
“But…” Seeing hesitation in the Young Palace Master’s veiled eyes, Namgung Sea spoke with conviction, “Trust me. You won’t regret it.”
“No regrets?”
“None.” Unlike before, Namgung Sea’s eyes burned like a volcano. “Have I ever spoken nonsense?” Her gaze was like a predator poised to seize its prey. “Trust me just this once. You won’t regret it.”
Her voice brimmed with certainty and inexplicable anticipation. After a moment of stunned silence, the Young Palace Master nodded lightly.
“…Alright.” Lowering her head again, she looked at Bu Eunseol and said softly, “You risked your life to pass the formation…”
She retrieved a small wooden box from her robe. Opening it carefully, she revealed a softly glowing red pearl—the Divine Origin Pearl.
“Here it is.”
As she offered the box, Bu Eunseol reached out and took it calmly. “Thank you.”
As he tucked the pearl into his robe, Namgung Sea beamed, clasping her hands. “Congratulations, Young Palace Master!”
The Young Palace Master turned, blushing beneath her veil. “I’ll return first. Please escort Seolso to the guest quarters with care.”
“Understood. I’ll inform the Palace Master of this news soon.”
The Palace Master?
A chill ran down Bu Eunseol’s spine, a rare sensation since entering the martial world. His intuition was slowly becoming reality.
“Then I’ll take my leave,” Bu Eunseol said, turning to go.
Namgung Sea smiled brightly. “What’s the rush?”
“I need to return to the Red Sky Veil.”
“Stay a bit longer. We’re practically family now.”
“What does that mean?”
At his question, Namgung Sea flashed her white teeth, her eyes crinkling. “Rest in the guest quarters for now. I’ll inform the Palace Master and return.”
Namgung Sea, usually cold and composed, now looked at Bu Eunseol with a warmth surpassing even her affection for her nephew, Namgung Un.
“I thought the Palace Master was being unreasonable, but to think a Young Master like you was hidden among us!” she said, giving a thumbs-up before swiftly departing.
Sensing something amiss, Bu Eunseol glanced at Black Leopard, who understood and quickly approached a maid. “May I ask something?”
The maid turned, and Black Leopard asked with a serious expression, “Why did the Hall Master call my young master ‘family’?”
The maid lowered her head, flustered. “I don’t understand.”
“No, I mean, didn’t she say, ‘We’re practically family now’?”
“Well… since Seolso will become the Young Palace Master’s husband, it’s not wrong.”
“What?” Black Leopard jumped as if he’d seen a ghost. “Husband? What does that mean? Why my young master?”
“The Divine Origin Pearl is a betrothal gift for the Young Palace Master’s future husband.”
“The pearl… is a betrothal gift?”
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