Seok Woohaeng bit his lip.
To think that Bu Eunseol, whom he considered his final rival, would suddenly appear here.
"Who are you?" At that moment, Guan Shitian stepped forward toward Bu Eunseol. "Judging by how you recklessly unleashed sword aura, you must be from the demonic path…"
"A Ten Demon Warrior of Nangyang." Cutting off Guan Shitian’s words, Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice. "I formally challenge you."
In an instant, the eyebrows of the Great Righteous Masters, including Guan Shitian, shot up. They hadn’t expected someone who appeared out of nowhere to issue a formal challenge right in front of them.
"Amusing. Is that something to say in this situation?" Qing Choxian, arms crossed, stared intently at Bu Eunseol. "Your comrades infiltrated Janggeom Mountain Manor, poisoned the guests, and attempted to assassinate the young master. And now you talk of a challenge?"
"They are not my comrades." Bu Eunseol cast a cold glance at Seok Woohaeng and Myo Cheon-woo.
"Merely rivals." Those were the same words Seok Woohaeng had said to Myo Cheon-woo.
Could Bu Eunseol have overheard that conversation?
"Interesting. I thought you’d be staging a desperate escape with your wounded comrades." Qing Choxian scoffed, her expression icy. "But you won’t slip out of this situation like a snake slithering over a wall with such words."
Pointing to Guan Shitian, Han Seong, Du Yue, and Kang Jung-ryang, Qing Choxian continued.
"If we set our minds to it, we could easily deal with all of you. So why should we accept your challenge?"
"Honor."
"What?"
"I’m offering you the true honor of overpowering a Ten Demon Warrior with martial prowess." Bu Eunseol’s eyes, visible through the mask, narrowed slightly. "Suppressing us with sheer numbers isn’t exactly something to boast about."
"Intriguing." Guan Shitian, who had been listening silently, stepped forward.
In truth, he had been inwardly dissatisfied with this situation. Not only did he dislike the idea of using overwhelming numbers to subdue a Ten Demon Warrior, but it also wasn’t a fair fight.
Bu Eunseol’s direct challenge sparked a surge of excitement in him.
"Are you confident you can win in a one-on-one fight?"
"Of course."
"Then let’s have a match." He stepped confidently toward Bu Eunseol.
Guan Shitian, having mastered the Tianshan Sect’s two supreme techniques—the Four-Sun Sword Technique and the Whirling Wind Flowing Sword Technique—was among the most skilled Great Righteous Masters. The Martial Alliance instructors didn’t even bother teaching him techniques to counter demonic martial arts.
"Brother." Qing Choxian stepped in front of him. "There’s no need to fight him."
"Don’t worry." Guan Shitian smiled and shook his head. "If I were the type to lose to a Ten Demon Warrior, I wouldn’t have stepped into the martial world."
"Brother." Despite knowing his martial prowess, Qing Choxian felt uneasy. "Let’s just subdue him together. He seems dangerous."
Bu Eunseol’s masked eyes were coldly calm, yet deep within, a fire seemed to burn. Anyone could tell he exuded the aura of an exceptional master.
"Don’t worry. He may have an impressive aura, but his skills are likely nothing special." Guan Shitian smiled lightly.
Bu Eunseol’s presence felt ordinary, and there was no trace of the energy fluctuations typical of a master.
‘He’s ominous.’ But Qing Choxian shook her head. No one with such eyes could be ordinary. She sensed a monster coiled within Bu Eunseol’s body.
"Fight together." Bu Eunseol pointed to the guests finishing their energy circulation and spoke calmly. "If you’re short on hands, feel free to ask those guests for help."
"Hahaha!" Guan Shitian laughed heartily and shook his head. "No need for such provocation. Once I accept a duel, no one else will interfere."
Looking at Han Seong, the Zhongnan, and Kongtong Taoists, he spoke solemnly.
"I will face this man in a formal duel. Do not interfere or disrupt it under any circumstances." The Zhongnan and Kongtong Taoists wore dissatisfied expressions but nodded reluctantly.
"Guan Shitian of Tianshan." Stepping boldly toward Bu Eunseol, Guan Shitian smiled warmly. "Your name?"
"Nangyang Pavilion, Bu Eunseol."
"Bu Eunseol… Bu Eunseol, you say." Guan Shitian’s eyes clouded.
The only Bu Eunseol known in the martial world was the champion of the Dongpyoseorang Martial Conference, who had defeated the Blood Ghost Lord of the Hell Fortress.
‘The champion of the righteous martial conference, walking the path of the righteous sects, is a Ten Demon Warrior of Nangyang?’ He shook his head. ‘The Ten Demonic Sects don’t encroach on each other. If he’s a Ten Demon Warrior of Nangyang, he wouldn’t have killed the Blood Ghost Lord.’
"Very well. Let’s begin." As a righteous sect master, Guan Shitian extended his hand, and Bu Eunseol responded calmly.
"You strike first."
"You’re telling me to attack first?"
"Indeed." Bu Eunseol looked down at Guan Shitian with cold eyes.
"I don’t strike first against the weak."
Crack.
A murderous glint flashed in Guan Shitian’s eyes, which had been relaxed with a smile.
"You’re getting cocky."
Shing.
Drawing his longsword, Guan Shitian thrust it forward. A whirlwind surged, exposing Bu Eunseol’s vital points. But no sword aura or attack followed. It was the opening stance of the Whirling Wind Flowing Sword, the Battle-Opening Flow.
‘Arrogant.’ A glint of disdain flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes as he observed.
Performing an opening stance in a life-or-death battle to show courtesy to the opponent? From Guan Shitian’s perspective, it might be the dignified demeanor of a righteous sect member.
But to Bu Eunseol, trained in practical martial arts, it was nothing more than toying with one’s life.
Zing.
At that moment, a low vibration emanated from Bu Eunseol’s Black Blade, and sharp points of light began to scatter. Finally, the first form of the Supreme Heavenly Flow, Meteor Chasing the Moon, was unleashed.
Flash!
The countless points of light converged into a single beam, piercing toward Guan Shitian’s throat.
"Guh." Guan Shitian, sucking in a sharp breath, quickly deployed the Whirling Wind Flowing Sword to defend.
But before the Meteor Chasing the Moon’s sword aura could touch him, it shifted mid-air into another form. The points of light exploded like fireworks, transforming into dozens of cross-shaped sword flowers.
It was the third form of the Supreme Heavenly Flow, Waning Moon, Dawn Star.
"Urgh." Swift as lightning and unpredictable as a butterfly.
Unable to withstand the relentless sword strikes of the Supreme Heavenly Flow, blood sprayed from Guan Shitian’s shoulder.
"Urgh." Letting out a low groan, Guan Shitian retreated.
The flesh wound was manageable, but Bu Eunseol’s sword aura carried thirteen streams of inner energy. As the sword cut his skin, the overwhelming inner energy surged, threatening to melt his meridians.
‘Such a ridiculous mistake…’ To be injured after just two moves due to a moment’s carelessness?
Channeling his energy to barely repel the inner energy invading his meridians, Guan Shitian steeled himself and unleashed his sword technique.
Whoosh! Flash!
But Bu Eunseol’s sword strikes continued ceaselessly, flowing without end. Guan Shitian tried to counterattack, but Bu Eunseol’s Black Blade seemed to predict his every move, sealing his actions.
‘This man… he’s a master who surpasses me!’ Only then did Guan Shitian realize his error.
He had overestimated his own abilities and failed to gauge his opponent’s true strength. This led to a foolish loss of the initiative, landing him in an irreversible situation.
‘If this continues, only death awaits.’ If he remained on the defensive, it was clear as day that within forty moves, that sharp sword would pierce his throat.
Realizing he had no choice, Guan Shitian gritted his teeth and summoned his inner energy.
Boom!
A turquoise radiance spread from his body.
Primordial Vital Energy.
He was drawing on the fundamental force sustaining his life to overpower Bu Eunseol.
"Brother, no!" Qing Choxian shouted urgently, but it didn’t reach Guan Shitian’s ears.
Zing.
As the turquoise radiance transferred to his sword, its blade extended by a foot. Using Primordial Vital Energy, he created a tangible sword aura.
"Flowing World!" The power of the Whirling Wind Flowing Sword, amplified by Primordial Vital Energy, was like a mountain.
Pushing back all of Bu Eunseol’s sword strikes in one go, Guan Shitian switched to the Four-Sun Sword Technique.
"Archer Shooting the Sun!" A massive sword aura shot forth like an arrow from his sword, tracing a circular arc in the air.
It was an immense beam of light, impossible to evade.
Whoosh!
Bu Eunseol, staring at the sword aura, suddenly spun his Black Blade like a windmill. He began to chip away at the massive sword aura pressing down on him.
An absolute defensive stance, Bu Eunseol’s life-saving technique—a combination of the Radiant Sword Control and the Return to Origin of the Supreme Heavenly Flow.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
His spinning Black Blade, flashing with light, finally obliterated the Archer Shooting the Sun’s sword aura completely.
Flash!
At the same time, a deadly assassination sword strike sliced through the air toward Guan Shitian’s neck.
"No chance!" In a split second, Guan Shitian swung his longsword like lightning, creating dozens of sword flowers around his body.
Swish!
But Bu Eunseol’s Black Blade, like a salmon swimming upstream, pierced through the swarm of sword flowers and struck Guan Shitian’s side. It was the fourth form of the Supreme Heavenly Flow, Caged Bird Yearning for Clouds, a technique wielding sword aura freely.
Splatter!
As another wound appeared, a venomous glint flashed in Guan Shitian’s eyes.
‘I won’t let this guy die easily.’ Despite the sword aura piercing his side, Guan Shitian charged at Bu Eunseol.
Was he aiming for mutual destruction?
"…!" A spark of realization flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes as he struck Guan Shitian’s side.
Ching!
Even as his Black Blade cut into the side, the sound of metal being sliced rang out.
‘Armor?’ Only then did he notice that Guan Shitian was wearing silver-threaded armor beneath his clothes.
"Take this!" Seizing the moment, Guan Shitian feigned striking Bu Eunseol’s shoulder meridian while aiming his sword tip at his lower abdomen.
He intended to pierce Bu Eunseol’s lower dantian, completely crippling his martial arts. But this time, a spark of realization flashed in Guan Shitian’s eyes.
Clang!
His sword, aimed at Bu Eunseol’s lower abdomen, was suddenly drawn to Bu Eunseol’s Black Blade like a magnet. It was as if an invisible hand had pulled Guan Shitian’s longsword toward the Black Blade.
Slash.
At the same time, a strange cutting sound rang out.
The Black Blade had already deeply pierced Guan Shitian’s lower abdomen. Bu Eunseol had used Sword Momentum, redirecting Guan Shitian’s strike with the Unmatched Thunderbolt.
"Ughhh." Blood gushed from Guan Shitian’s mouth as his dantian was pierced.
His body began to tremble like a leaf. The immense inner energy stored in his dantian was leaking out.
"Ughhh… Aaaargh!" A harrowing scream echoed through Janggeom Mountain Manor.
The pain of losing inner energy was unimaginable. The intangible force that held the body together collapsed. It was as if the entire skeletal structure supporting the body shattered.
"Hrrrgh." As his inner energy completely dissipated, Guan Shitian burst into tears like a child.
His physique shrank slightly, and his once-radiant complexion turned ashen.
"Brother!" Qing Choxian rushed to support Guan Shitian.
But overwhelmed by pain, he foamed at the mouth and fainted.
"You… fiend! Why did you cripple his inner energy?!"
"I didn’t cripple it."
"What?" Shaking the blood from his Black Blade, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
"I merely returned his sword technique."
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