But even after a moment, he couldn’t unleash his sword techniques.
Yeop Hyocheon’s mere stance seemed to uphold the heavens and press down the earth.
Perfect Stance.
A flawless posture and formidable aura, capable of countering any technique. If Bu Eunseol moved to attack, he’d expose his vulnerabilities instantly.
His breath caught.
Each attempt to unleash a sword technique conjured visions of his throat being severed.
‘If this continues, I’ll suffer internal injuries and admit defeat before drawing my sword.’ Deep breaths brought no air into his lungs.
Yeop Hyocheon’s aura seemed to vacuum the space around Bu Eunseol.
Clang.
Bu Eunseol drew his sword. As he prepared to unleash the Supreme Heavenly Flow—
‘…!’ A strange premonition hit.
If he used the sword technique, an invisible blade would arc toward his throat. Worse, a palm strike would crush his chest, the sensation vivid.
‘An illusion? No.’ His thoughts were prolonged, but his actions were lightning-fast.
Abandoning the sword technique, Bu Eunseol unleashed the Extreme Lightning Chaos of the Seven Demonic Fists, releasing five bursts of fist energy forward. Simultaneously, he leaped into the air, unleashing ninety sword strikes. He countered the premonition with precise techniques.
Boom!
His fist energy and sword strikes merged, enveloping the entire training ground where Yeop Hyocheon stood.
“Hoh,” Yeop Hyocheon let out a short exclamation.
Pop!
His figure vanished from the training ground. The arena was bathed in bright sunlight, with no place to hide.
Tap.
Landing, Bu Eunseol pushed his Beast Way senses to their limit.
‘He’s gone.’ Yeop Hyocheon was nowhere on the training ground, as if he’d evaporated. ‘Not in darkness… but even under sunlight, I can’t find him.’
Bu Eunseol was stunned.
Yeop Hyocheon, the Dark King, was said to shine in darkness. Yet Bu Eunseol couldn’t detect him even under the midday sun.
Swish.
Yeop Hyocheon reappeared before Bu Eunseol, standing in the same posture, as if he’d never moved.
“Hm, you’ve indeed stepped into the entry of the Supreme Heaven Realm,” Yeop Hyocheon said, a strange smile on his lips. “You anticipated my moves and countered with the appropriate techniques.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression froze, as if struck.
Had Yeop Hyocheon truly intended to slit his throat and crush his chest?
“You’ve broken free from traditional forms, pursuing extreme practicality,” Yeop Hyocheon said, tilting his head, ignoring Bu Eunseol’s expression. “But not enough to face Bukgung Ryeong.”
He seemed to have gauged Bu Eunseol’s level with a single exchange.
“No, let’s draw out more,” Yeop Hyocheon said.
Pop!
Before finishing, he vanished again.
Bu Eunseol felt as if his body were splitting in two. A blade-like energy had pierced to within inches of his face.
High-Speed Movement.
Yeop Hyocheon moved invisibly fast, concealing his presence while unleashing sharp force.
‘The Bullet King’s Inner Bullet Technique?’ Bu Eunseol was shocked. Yeop Hyocheon had perfectly replicated Bukgung Ryeong’s technique.
Zzt!
Unleashing Swift Beyond Shadow, Bu Eunseol’s form blurred like mist. A razor-sharp force grazed his left temple.
Pop!
Though he dodged perfectly, his skin split, and blood splattered.
“Impressive. Such movement could evade one of Bukgung Ryeong’s strikes,” Yeop Hyocheon said, reappearing with a grin.
He had mimicked the Inner Bullet Technique to test Bu Eunseol’s evasion.
“Now, let’s examine how you faced the Bullet King,” Yeop Hyocheon said, his eyes blazing.
As he waved his arms, immense palm energy poured out.
Shoo, shoo, shoo!
The stationary palm energy filled the training ground like an impervious barrier, mimicking the Bullet King’s exclusive technique, Nine Flower Flashing Hand.
‘Is he versed in all martial techniques?’ The Dark King, ruler of darkness, was astonishingly replicating Bukgung Ryeong and the Bullet King’s techniques near-perfectly.
‘Or has he fought them?’ As the thought crossed Bu Eunseol’s mind—
Boom!
The stationary palm energy surged like a tidal wave, engulfing him. Though not fast, it was more refined and voluminous than Gu Hong-cheong’s Nine Flower Flashing Hand.
‘I can’t dodge.’
Zing!
A brilliant gleam flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
His tangible energy, cloaked in dark hues, clashed with the sharp palm energy, creating a violent shockwave.
Boom!
A storm erupted, sending shockwaves in all directions.
Whoosh.
As the gust subsided, Bu Eunseol and Yeop Hyocheon stood facing each other.
Hiss.
Steam rose from Bu Eunseol’s body, as if he were in a sauna, after using the Wishful True Binding. Since breaking through his meridians with Ak Muryeong’s Illusion Upon Illusion, his blood no longer boiled as intensely. But Yeop Hyocheon’s palm energy was so powerful that even one use of the Wishful True Binding shook his vital energy.
“So that’s it,” Yeop Hyocheon said, nodding, having grasped how Bu Eunseol countered the Bullet King. “The technique passed down by the Demon Emperor was your trump card. But…”
An enigmatic gleam flickered in his eyes. “That’s not all, is it?”
Bu Eunseol looked puzzled.
Yeop Hyocheon’s aura now carried a faint killing intent. The familiar smile and gaze had vanished.
Tap!
With a short leap, Yeop Hyocheon disappeared, and blood spurted from Bu Eunseol’s neck. Had he not reflexively tilted his head, his carotid artery would have been severed.
“If this is your limit…” Yeop Hyocheon said, reappearing, his eyes gleaming with white-hot killing intent. “You’d be better off dead now.”
His voice was deep and grim, like a reaper.
‘He’s serious.’ Bu Eunseol knew.
Yeop Hyocheon wasn’t merely showing killing intent. He genuinely meant to kill him.
Pop!
Without sound or trace, blood spurted from Bu Eunseol’s shoulder.
This was no spar.
Yeop Hyocheon targeted vital points, where a single hit could be fatal. He was using lethal techniques to kill Bu Eunseol.
Pop, pop, pop!
Invisible gleams poured forth, striking at unavoidable speeds and angles.
Tremble.
In this critical moment, his dark sword quivered, and a circular sword aura enveloped Bu Eunseol.
Clang, clang, clang!
He deflected the intangible forces with his sword tip. As Yeop Hyocheon unleashed lethal techniques, Radiant Sword Control activated instinctively.
“This isn’t the Nangyang Pavilion’s technique,” Yeop Hyocheon’s voice echoed softly. “It doesn’t react to techniques… but to intent.”
Precisely, Radiant Sword Control reacted to killing intent. Yeop Hyocheon had faintly grasped its essence in a glance.
“Interesting,” he said, reappearing.
Whoosh!
He closed the distance with terrifying speed, materializing his intangible techniques.
‘Retreat, and I die!’ Failing to block this tangible attack meant instant death. Bu Eunseol faced Yeop Hyocheon head-on, refusing to retreat.
Swish! Tap!
Their paths clashed and parted repeatedly.
But Bu Eunseol couldn’t fully block Yeop Hyocheon’s rapid attacks, sustaining more wounds.
Pop! Slash!
Each graze of Yeop Hyocheon’s sharp force drew blood.
He closed and widened the distance at invisible speeds, exploiting Bu Eunseol’s openings. Bu Eunseol had to maintain distance with movement techniques while counterattacking.
But deploying techniques while moving was suited for one-against-many battles.
Unfamiliar with this approach, Bu Eunseol’s techniques faltered, while Yeop Hyocheon’s grew more refined. He fought as if wielding the strength of many, simultaneously using movement and techniques.
Zing!
A sharp force shot toward Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
No room to dodge.
Hum!
A golden aura swirled around his face, forming a mask-like shield that deflected the force.
Unable to evade, he used the Wishful True Binding again.
‘Urgh.’ Using it abruptly caused his blood to boil and a dark cloud to spread in his mind. ‘I can’t rely on the Wishful True Binding.’
Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
Without the Emotion-Severing Secret, the Wishful True Binding could harm his vital energy and spirit, risking mental corruption. Though exceptional, it was an imperfect technique with inherent dangers.
Zzt!
As hesitation crept into his spirit, his Swift Beyond Shadow slowed subtly.
Zing! Zing!
Yeop Hyocheon seized the chance, unleashing another high-speed attack.
He wasn’t sparring.
If Bu Eunseol blocked one attack, he used a higher-level technique; if that was blocked, an even stronger one.
‘I must feel it!’ Sensing danger again, Bu Eunseol pushed his Beast Way to its peak.
He faintly sensed the invisible attacks.
Instinctively, he moved to use the familiar Meteor Chasing the Moon Technique.
‘The Meteor Chasing the Moon Technique won’t do.’
No choice.
He used the Wishful True Binding again, materializing his energy.
‘If it’s come to this…’
The Martial Emperor’s Tranquil Awakening flashed through his mind.
Boom!
As hesitation caused both techniques to merge, something strange happened. An unknown force emanated from his dark sword, pushing Yeop Hyocheon’s approaching form backward.
‘What happened?’ His sword still held the energy of the Wishful True Binding, yet it unleashed a powerful force.
‘I see.’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed like sunlight, grasping a vital clue.
A moment’s hesitation had fused the Wishful True Binding and Martial Emperor’s Tranquil Awakening.
‘Then there’s no need to sever emotions… nor to become overly compassionate, is there?’
Human nature is often defined singularly.
But a cold, emotionless person may show kindness to a stranger.
Conversely, a gentle person can be cold or cynical at times.
The human mind isn’t fixed; it shifts like flowing water, ever-changing.
Emotion-Severing Secret.
Martial Emperor’s Tranquil Awakening.
Both were created by great masters of the righteous and demonic paths.
But for someone with Bu Eunseol’s complex spirit, they were ill-suited.
Swish!
Casting aside his turmoil, Bu Eunseol’s mind quickened, and his Beast Way senses sharpened.
Whoosh!
He began to sense Yeop Hyocheon’s previously undetectable presence and movements. Sensing even invisible traces—the peak of the Beast Way, Void Heart Command.
‘This is…?’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened as he discerned Yeop Hyocheon’s actions.
Astonishingly, he was using different techniques with each part of his body.
His left leg executed a movement technique, his right leg the Blood Jade Soaring Kick. His left hand used the Thunder Shaking Heaven Hand, his right the Formless Palm Technique.
Yeop Hyocheon’s method was strikingly similar to the Thirteen Guiding Energies.
Had he also entered the Martial Emperor’s Hidden Vault? Or had he reached the same realization as the Martial Emperor, creating this technique? Or did his perfect bodily control allow him to freely wield various supreme techniques?
“This must be your full strength,” Yeop Hyocheon’s cold voice rang out.
Seeing Bu Eunseol’s confused gaze, he assumed despair.
“But it’s lacking,” he said, his voice tinged with regret and lethal intent.
He intended to unleash his final killing technique.
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