Shing!
As Hyeok Sojin’s onslaught intensified, Bu Eunseol finally drew his black sword. Hyeok Sojin’s martial arts grew stronger with each move, making it impossible to evade with Swift Beyond Shadow alone.
Clang! Clatter!
The metallic clash of swords rang out as the black sword and Hyeok Sojin’s blade collided repeatedly. Bu Eunseol calmly countered each of Hyeok Sojin’s relentless attacks.
“Ha… ha…” Hyeok Sojin panted.
No matter how fiercely he attacked, it was futile. The more he pressed, the more exhausted he became, while Bu Eunseol stood like an unshakable fortress, responding with composure.
“Are you boasting about knowing so many techniques?” Bu Eunseol asked.
Whoosh.
Each time Bu Eunseol spun his black sword fiercely, Hyeok Sojin’s sword strikes were deflected powerlessly.
“Instead of flashy displays of various techniques, it’s better to master one technique and adapt it skillfully.” Hearing this, Hyeok Sojin ceased the palm techniques he was using with his left hand, focusing solely on alternating between the Ten Thousand Thunder Blood Sword and the Dragon-Slaying Demon Sword Technique.
Though less powerful than his dual-handed assault, his moves became far more precise and stable.
‘He’s quick to learn,’ Bu Eunseol thought, nodding as he observed. ‘No wonder he’s called a genius.’
With just a single piece of advice, Hyeok Sojin immediately grasped and adapted. Once he set a goal and began to strive, his innate talent shone through unmistakably.
“Your adaptability is good, but it lacks depth,” Bu Eunseol said, lightly wielding his sword like a willow branch, deflecting Hyeok Sojin’s attacks. “If you can’t synthesize the martial knowledge in your mind, only remember what’s useful. I can see you mentally selecting your moves before executing them.”
Clang!
When Bu Eunseol infused true energy into his black sword and swung powerfully, Hyeok Sojin was pushed back three jang (about 9 meters).
“Ugh,” Hyeok Sojin groaned hoarsely, staggering.
Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice, “That’s enough for today.”
“Just… a little more,” Hyeok Sojin pleaded.
“With those legs?” Bu Eunseol asked.
Hyeok Sojin’s legs, trembling from exhaustion, gave way beneath him. Having neglected physical conditioning for so long, he lacked even basic stamina.
“One more time!” Hyeok Sojin shouted, driven by stubbornness, raising his sword again.
A sharp glint flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Flash!
A zigzag bolt of lightning streaked through the air, and in an instant, the black sword rested at Hyeok Sojin’s throat.
He had unleashed the Unmatched Thunderbolt.
Trickle.
Though the sword’s tip didn’t touch him, Hyeok Sojin’s skin was sliced, and blood flowed.
“One last lesson,” Bu Eunseol said, his sword still at Hyeok Sojin’s throat, his voice cold. “Composure.” With a solemn expression, he continued, “In a fight where a single inch decides life or death, losing your composure is like fighting with both hands tied.”
“…”
“Don’t forget. Without calmness, no matter how great your skills, you’ll never win a fight.”
Clank.
Sheathing his sword, Bu Eunseol turned away coldly without looking back.
Feeling both enlightenment and shame, Hyeok Sojin let out a deep sigh. “Why did I waste my time…” Muttering to himself, he shook his head. “There’s no time even for complaints.”
Regret was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
Even if it meant cutting sleep or eating time, he had to make up for the years he’d squandered.
***
Thereafter, Bu Eunseol and Hyeok Sojin’s battles continued relentlessly.
As the fierce clashes persisted, Hyeok Sojin grew calmer and more composed. His moves became increasingly concise, with unnecessary actions gradually disappearing.
“If you can’t synthesize martial knowledge, remember only what’s useful!” Taking Bu Eunseol’s advice to heart, Hyeok Sojin began sorting through the over three hundred demonic techniques in his mind.
Synthesizing the strengths of multiple arts was still beyond him. After much deliberation, he selected a few techniques suited to his temperament and began mastering them deeply.
These were the Ten Great Demonic Arts:
Mysterious Roar Demon Finger
Dark Heaven Demon Dragon Palm
Demon Twilight Hell Fist
Ten Thousand Thunder Blood Sword
Dark Blood Blaze Palm
Dragon-Slaying Demon Sword Technique
Soul-Annihilating Hand
Soul-Destroying Sword Technique
Lute Flash Hand
Ice Soul Phantom Killing Sword
For someone of ordinary talent, mastering even one of these demonic arts in a lifetime would be a feat. But for Hyeok Sojin, these were carefully chosen from the over three hundred demonic techniques he knew.
“Your basic stamina is lacking.” To keep up with a master like Bu Eunseol in prolonged combat, he needed the endurance and tenacity of a camel.
To build stamina, Hyeok Sojin increased his food intake and ran through forests in his spare time. Instead of sleeping, he meditated, and during meals, he studied martial technique manuals in his mind.
On the tenth day, at last:
Clang!
With a clear metallic sound, Bu Eunseol’s black sword and Hyeok Sojin’s blade clashed in the air. Their swords stuck together like magnets, and a powerful wave of energy rippled outward in concentric circles.
They had entered an inner energy duel.
Crack.
Veins bulged on Hyeok Sojin’s forehead.
“Ugh…” No matter how hard he pushed, Bu Eunseol’s dense inner energy didn’t budge, pressing against him relentlessly.
“You didn’t anticipate that closing the distance could lead to an inner energy duel?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“Urk,” Hyeok Sojin gasped.
When Bu Eunseol spoke during the inner energy clash, Hyeok Sojin was so startled that his energy faltered. At that moment, as a sharp stream of Bu Eunseol’s inner energy threatened to invade his meridians—
Whoosh.
With a sound like air escaping, Hyeok Sojin’s body lightened. Bu Eunseol had withdrawn his inner energy in an instant, absorbing Hyeok Sojin’s energy in the process.
Sss.
White steam rose from Bu Eunseol’s body as he absorbed Hyeok Sojin’s sharp inner energy. Yet he stood as calmly as if brushed by a breeze.
“Ha… ha…” Hyeok Sojin panted, his expression twisting.
Despite ten days of grueling effort, he hadn’t inflicted the slightest harm on Bu Eunseol.
“I lose,” he said, his head lowered, his face darkened.
He had trained his martial arts and stamina to the limit for ten days, yet he couldn’t even touch Bu Eunseol.
The despair was indescribable.
“As promised, I’ll give up on the martial journey,” Hyeok Sojin said, swallowing his bitterness with a faint smile. “Your skills are the best among the Ten Demonic Sect successors. You’ll surely become Majeon’s heir.”
As he turned with a wry smile, Bu Eunseol’s low voice called out, “I’ll allow you to travel with me.”
“What? I lost the bet,” Hyeok Sojin said.
“The bet’s outcome never mattered,” Bu Eunseol replied.
Hyeok Sojin’s eyebrows twitched as he turned back. “I don’t need pity.”
“It’s not pity,” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “I’m repaying a debt.”
“A debt?” Hyeok Sojin asked.
“Thanks to you, I’ve gained a clearer understanding of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s demonic techniques’ practical applications. I’m merely settling that debt.”
“What nonsense is that?” Hyeok Sojin said.
“You were too busy idling to notice,” Bu Eunseol said, as Hyeok Sojin furrowed his brow. “I’ve also learned a significant portion of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s demonic techniques. That’s why I’ve been able to counter your attacks so easily.”
“You learned our sect’s techniques?” Hyeok Sojin asked.
“Yes. While staying in Peach Blossom Paradise, the demonic masters there taught me their arts,” Bu Eunseol said.
“Those old men taught you our techniques?” Hyeok Sojin asked incredulously.
Instead of answering, a faint smile appeared on Bu Eunseol’s lips. “But I only learned the principles or observed demonstrations. I haven’t fully mastered them.”
Hyeok Sojin’s sharp eyebrows twitched as he finally understood. “So, in other words, I’ve been your teacher for those techniques.”
“Exactly,” Bu Eunseol said.
“Hah,” Hyeok Sojin let out a hollow laugh, his expression dazed.
The reason Bu Eunseol had countered his attacks so effortlessly wasn’t due to an overwhelming gap in skill but because he already knew Hyeok Sojin’s techniques inside out. Their battles had essentially been a lesson in practical applications for Bu Eunseol.
“No wonder,” Hyeok Sojin said, sighing with both relief and resignation. “I thought the gap between us was like heaven and earth.” Laughing heartily, he brushed off his hands and said, “Fine. Since you’ve earned Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s support, learning some of our techniques won’t change anything.”
With a serious expression, he added, “I look forward to our martial journey together.”
***
By now, they were close enough to reach Affectionate Blossom Sect in ten days with full-speed movement techniques.
But Bu Eunseol and Hyeok Sojin didn’t rush, opting to rent a carriage instead. They wanted to refine their martial arts through sparring during the journey to Affectionate Blossom Sect.
By day, they rode the carriage to hasten their travel. At dusk, they stopped to camp. In secluded areas, they sparred through the night or studied martial technique manuals. During this time, Hyeok Sojin fully adopted Bu Eunseol’s demeanor and habits.
He studied martial techniques even while eating, forgoing sleep to meditate, and filled every moment—down to his breathing—with efforts to advance his martial arts. After about a month, Hyeok Sojin’s martial progress was astonishing. His Divine Rift Demon Energy broke through to sixty percent mastery, and he could hold his own in sparring with Bu Eunseol to some extent.
“We’ve reached Guilin,” Hyeok Sojin said, stepping out of the carriage and nodding as he gazed at the endless mountain ranges stretching like a folding screen.
Guilin’s scenery is the finest under heaven. Guilin, meaning “the place where cassia trees bloom vibrantly.” Here lay Affectionate Blossom Sect, one of the Ten Demonic Sects.
Bu Eunseol had visited Guilin once before to investigate the identity of the Gong Twin Demons, who managed the Yueyang Nine Deaths Branch.
“Hm,” Bu Eunseol muttered, hastening his steps as if to shake off bitter memories. “Let’s go,” he said.
Traveling by boat along the river, they could see Guilin’s landscape of thousands of karst peaks. Limestone, weak to water, easily forms caves, so countless peculiar caverns hid within those mountains.
Affectionate Blossom Sect.
Originally, it was formed by the merger of the Forked Maiden Sect, masters of mind-control techniques, and the Palace of Bliss, which specialized in studying the Way of Essence Absorption, drawing vitality from men. Both sects shared the use of feminine secret arts and complemented each other’s martial techniques. Their union elevated their secret arts to a higher realm, making Affectionate Blossom Sect one of the ten pillars supporting the demonic path.
“Fascinating,” Hyeok Sojin exclaimed as they entered the massive cave entrance riddled with holes.
Affectionate Blossom Sect’s entrance, situated in a secret location, was unique—it required passing through a water-filled cave.
“Let’s go in,” Bu Eunseol said, taking the lead.
The water-filled cave was adorned with glowing stones like luminous pearls, creating a mystical atmosphere.
‘Incredible. There are artifacts repelling water,’ Bu Eunseol thought, unable to hide his amazement. Transparent stones installed throughout the cave prevented water from flooding the passage. Thus, despite the cave being filled with water, they could enter without getting wet.
“Hm,” Bu Eunseol murmured.
At the cave’s end, beyond the transparent water, numerous shimmering pavilions came into view. Reflecting the sunlight, the pavilions’ exteriors sparkled in vibrant colors, evoking a fairy-tale palace.
“Extravagant,” Bu Eunseol remarked, clicking his tongue at the opulent pavilions visible beyond the water. “To cover them entirely with such expensive silver shadow stones.”
“Not exactly extravagant,” Hyeok Sojin said with a calm smile. “When it comes to wealth, this place is the richest in the demonic path.”
Affectionate Blossom Sect was the successor to the Palace of Bliss, which once dominated all courtesans in the world. Through operating pleasure houses and gathering information, the Palace of Bliss amassed immense wealth—rumored to be enough to buy half the world.
“I wasn’t talking about the buildings, but the formations,” Bu Eunseol clarified.
Beyond their appearance, every structure before the palace was covered with mechanisms to thwart enemy intrusions.
“I wonder if it’s necessary to spend this much,” Bu Eunseol said.
Even the flowers, trees, and rocks in front of the palace were intricate devices for powerful formations.
“Isn’t it only natural?” Hyeok Sojin said. “It may be one of the Ten Demonic Sects now, but in the past, countless factions tried to swallow Affectionate Blossom Sect.”
“Hm,” Bu Eunseol nodded in agreement.
Unlike righteous feminine sects, demonic feminine sects had always been stepping stones for the strong. Yet Affectionate Blossom Sect had become one of the ten pillars of the demonic path, its strength immeasurable.
Grind.
As Bu Eunseol and Hyeok Sojin stood before the palace gate, the sound of rolling stone echoed, and the massive gate opened on its own.
Before their eyes, an unexpected scene unfolded.
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