‘There’s no need to match the rhythm of that ultimate move he’s unfolded.’
Bu Eunseol, whose focus had reached its peak, instantly grasped the principles behind the ultimate Dong Ri-cheok was deploying.
The Black Blood Heaven and Earth was an ultimate based on motion.
Thus, Bu Eunseol intended to maintain stillness and strike at the decisive moment.
Pafafapapa!
The instant the Black Blood Finger Force enveloped Bu Eunseol, a small point of light appeared in the void.
Charararang!
With a clear sword cry, a powerful mass of light surged up from where Bu Eunseol stood.
Simultaneously, that mass transformed into millions of light points, wrapping around Dong Ri-cheok’s body. The Supreme Heavenly Flow Eighth Form, which calculated every enemy attack and delivered a perfect counterstrike.
Lament of the River had been unfolded.
Tok. Tok....
As the halo of light faded, the dim grand hall reappeared.
“Impressive.” And before Bu Eunseol stood Dong Ri-cheok, clutching his throat. “Is this the prowess of Majeon’s successor?”
Pickled in an unknown drug, Dong Ri-cheok did not perish instantly despite the bloody line across his neck. He desperately gripped his throat in a bid to cling to life.
“If I’d had just a little more time, this alliance lord would have grown even stronger....” Dong Ri-cheok’s voice was thick as he said it.
Starting as a nameless bandit, he had become the lord of the Black Alliance with thirty thousand troops. But what he truly desired was a mighty martial art that could force the world’s strongest under his feet. To fulfill that ambition, he had endured the agony of his organs melting while pickling his body in drugs… yet against a master of transcendent arts, he was no more than a hundred moves’ worth.
Clang.
Bu Eunseol sheathed his sword and said calmly.
“Who is manipulating the Black Alliance?”
The Blood Poison Valley, which had threatened the Sichuan Tang Clan in the past, had also achieved rapid growth within a decade, much like the Black Alliance.
Such a feat was impossible without a backing force.
“Manipulating? Heh heh heh.” Dong Ri-cheok let out a low chuckle, still clutching his throat.
“Anyone born a warrior dreams of a certain glory.” The light was slowly fading from his sallow yellow eyes.
“…No regrets.”
Pshut! Tok.
In the end, blood gushed from the bloody line, his head separated, and he breathed his last.
“....” Bu Eunseol looked down at Dong Ri-cheok, who still held his own head.
Even in death, he clung desperately to his neck. It indirectly revealed how tenaciously he had gripped onto life.
Superior martial arts, honor, power....
Any martial artist would desperately crave such things. And there existed a force that manipulated warriors by exploiting those desires.
“Desire became shackles, it seems.” Gazing at the dead Dong Ri-cheok, Bu Eunseol murmured lowly.
It was perhaps a temptation no warrior could resist. But Bu Eunseol had entered the Kangho solely for revenge. Even now, striving to become Majeon’s successor, he gave no heed to anything beyond that goal.
Kkiiik.
As he exited the grand hall, Myo Cheonwoo and Yoo Unryong leaned against the wall, panting heavily. And before them lay the five division lords of the Black Alliance—once called the Five Generations of Slayer Gods—now cold corpses.
“Did you… handle it well?” Myo Cheonwoo, leaning against the wall, panted as he spoke. “Those mad bastards suddenly got stronger—who knows what they ate. I really thought we were done for this time.”
“I see.”
Then Yoo Unryong looked at Bu Eunseol and said.
“The Black Alliance Lord?”
“He’s inside.”
“Well done.”
“Now let’s go.” At Bu Eunseol’s words, Myo Cheonwoo naturally extended his hand.
“You worked hard. Can’t you give me a hand?” After staring for a long moment, Bu Eunseol extended his hand with a helpless expression.
Myo Cheonwoo grinned and grasped it, grunting as he pulled himself up.
“....” Yoo Unryong, also leaning against the wall, stared fixedly at Bu Eunseol.
But before Bu Eunseol could approach, Myo Cheonwoo swiftly moved in and extended his hand.
“Come on. Grab my hand.”
“....”
Yoo Unryong, looking greatly offended, slapped Myo Cheonwoo’s hand away and stood up on his own.
***
—Chaeng! Taang!
Do Cheonlin and the Blood Flame Blade Sect’s experts desperately breached the Black Alliance’s defensive line.
And the Blood Martial Corps’s main forces aided them, straining to break through the final defensive line before the Black Lion Palace.
‘Just a bit more!’ Do Cheonlin’s face, wielding the Blood Flame Sword, bore an unprecedented urgency.
This annihilation of the Black Alliance was a mission crafted by uniting the lords of the Ten Demonic Sects to oust Bu Eunseol from the successor race.
A large-scale battle.
Only such a battle could render Bu Eunseol’s astonishing prowess and genius talents useless.
Do Cheonlin had long persuaded the Ten Demonic Sect Lords to move the Demon Emperor, even bribing the Blood Martial Corps Lord.
Yet to end up like this?
If he died, so be it—Do Cheonlin could never accept this outcome.
‘This won’t do!’ Do Cheonlin bit his lip.
The Black Alliance’s defensive line, clinging like water ghosts, showed no sign of crumbling. Moreover, having faced ten times their number for so long, the Blood Martial Corps was gradually tiring.
‘No choice but to take a gamble.’
Pat!
Raising his inner energy to full power, Do Cheonlin unleashed the Eagle Soaring Art. As he rose into the air above the enemy lines, hundreds of arrows rained down from the Black Alliance swordsmen.
Pafafapak!
Unfolding the Blood Flame Sword in midair to deflect all the arrows, Do Cheonlin leaped over the Black Alliance swordsmen in one breath and reached the front of the Black Lion Palace.
—Stop that bastard!
As he approached the Black Lion Palace, over a hundred Black Alliance swordsmen attacked Do Cheonlin. But he charged ahead, disregarding defense. He intended to enter the palace, even at the cost of wounds.
Paat!
The moment he leaped once more to finally reach the entrance,
Kkiiik.
Then, the massive gates of the Black Lion Palace opened on their own. And dozens of shadowy figures, drenched in blood, slowly walked out.
Bu Eunseol and the Death Shadow Corps members. And the Seven Sword Sect heirs.
“Bu Eunseol!” Do Cheonlin, eyes bulging, cried out lowly.
If he and the Death Shadow Corps emerged unscathed, the result was obvious without seeing it.
“The Death Shadow Captain has severed the Black Alliance Lord’s head!” Won Semun unleashed his inner energy and shouted loudly once more.
—The Death Shadow Captain has severed the Black Alliance Lord’s head!
That resounding voice echoed, vibrating the area around the Black Lion Palace and spreading in all directions. At that cry, the warriors on the battlefield halted their movements, and a hush fell for a time.
—Waaaaah!
A cheer that shook heaven and earth erupted.
To enter the Black Lion Palace, the Blood Martial Corps had to breach the Black Alliance’s solid defensive line, no matter what. But their line remained intact, and if the standoff dragged on, the Blood Martial Corps would suffer heavy losses.
—Thank goodness!
Relief flowed from the eyes of the cheering Blood Martial Corps members.
In truth, this Black Alliance annihilation was little more than a ploy to yield merit to Do Cheonlin. The commander, Blood Martial Corps Lord Jwa Dae-baek, should have studied tactics and strategy to collapse the Black Alliance while minimizing troop losses.
But he thought only of funneling merit to Do Cheonlin.
Even this assault had followed Do Cheonlin’s opinion, recklessly launching a total attack. As a result, the Blood Martial Corps was locked in a stubborn frontal battle against over ten times their number.
Just as their fatigue peaked while forcing through layer upon layer of defenses…
Bu Eunseol had charged into the Black Lion Palace in one go, severed the Black Alliance Lord’s head, and ended the fight. From the Blood Martial Corps members’ perspective, Bu Eunseol was truly a ray of light.
“You worked hard.”
Bu Eunseol nodded as he regarded Do Cheonlin, who had halted before the Black Lion Palace.
He happened to be in a low crouch, poised to leap, So from afar, it looked as if he were about to kneel to Bu Eunseol.
“Bu Eunseol....” Do Cheonlin, looking up at him, twisted his face as if vomiting blood. “How did you get here?”
“By boat.”
“By boat....” Despair flowed from Do Cheonlin’s eyes.
Bu Eunseol had not only deceived him but also the Black Alliance’s vigilance, breaking through the Nujiang River estuary.
‘Everything is over.’ This Black Alliance annihilation was an absolute opportunity forcibly leveraged from the Ten Demonic Sect Lords’ support. But not only had it failed to topple Bu Eunseol—it had instead solidified his successor position… leaving Do Cheonlin with no further chances.
—Waaaaah!
The successive cheers from the Blood Martial Corps rang in Do Cheonlin’s ears like the roars of demons dragging him into hell’s abyss.
Lowering his head, Do Cheonlin finally closed his eyes slowly.
***
The Blood Martial Corps, with a mere three thousand troops, annihilated the Black Alliance that dominated the Qinghai and severed the head of its lord, Dong Ri-cheok.
As a result, Majeon’s prestige pierced the heavens.
And at its center was the Death Shadow Leader, Bu Eunseol.
Leading the Death Shadow Corps alone, leaving the three thousand troops behind, he had pierced straight to the Black Lion Palace where the Black Alliance Lord resided.
That legendary tale grew and grew with embellishments…
Until later, rumors spread absurdly that Bu Eunseol had ridden a single steed like a demon horse, shattered the Black Alliance, and beheaded its lord.
—He’s been selected as successor.
At this point, all forces in Majeon had no choice but to acknowledge Bu Eunseol ascending to the successor position.
Even the Ten Demonic Sects could not deny it.
For all demonic path denizens took it for granted that Bu Eunseol would become Majeon’s successor.
Bu Eunseol, the legitimate heir of Nangyang Pavilion and a Majeon successor candidate. He was backed not by the Ten Demonic Sects, but by the support of the entire demonic path.
Yet, unexpectedly, trouble arose from an unlikely place.
—Our clan cannot accept this.
Do Mu-cheok, the Blood Flame Blade Sect Leader, refused to acknowledge a fact accepted by the entire martial world.
And he personally visited the Demon Emperor with such a proposal.
—Open the Seven Blood Dragon Gates.
The Seven Blood Dragon Gates.
In the past, to select the finest young talents from each sect, the Ten Demonic Sects had established seven gates in Majeon.
Trap mechanisms and formation breaking, improvisation, body techniques, military tactics, mental fortitude, and wisdom…
They created gates to test abilities in seven distinct fields, and victory went to the one who passed them quickest.
—Whenever successor candidates were evenly matched, we’ve always settled it with the Seven Blood Dragon Gates, haven’t we?
Bu Eunseol’s prowess was already well-known.
But Do Cheonlin’s had yet to be proven. And Majeon’s successor must excel not just in martial arts but in all fields. In essence, Do Mu-cheok insisted that Do Cheonlin—the Ten Perfections Scholar, proficient in every domain—surpassed Bu Eunseol as successor.
—Let the Death Shadow Captain decide.
The Demon Emperor granted Bu Eunseol the choice.
And Bu Eunseol, as if it were natural, said.
—I’ll enter the Seven Blood Dragon Gates.
At that, everyone in Majeon nodded in admiration.
—He’s already Majeon’s successor!
Even the captains who viewed him unfavorably. Even the division heads who scorned him for lacking a base…
They all felt the grandeur of Bu Eunseol, who shunned no trial or challenge.
The Seven Blood Dragon Gates opened, but they intuited he would become Majeon’s successor.
—Begin.
The Demon Emperor wasted no time.
The moment deliberations ended, he immediately sent Bu Eunseol and Do Cheonlin into the gates.
***
The Seven Blood Dragon Gates.
It was installed near the stone mountain connected to Majeon’s North Gate.
The First Gate began with trap mechanism dismantling, the Second with formation breaking. The Third tested improvisation, the Fourth measured body technique prowess… The Fifth tested military tactics, the Sixth mental fortitude, and finally, the Seventh wisdom.
And each gate was rigged with deadly traps that claimed lives upon failure.
In short, passing required exceptional qualities and abilities in all fields: martial arts, wisdom, courage, mental strength, and more.
In that regard, the Seven Blood Dragon Gates were quite advantageous for Do Cheonlin.
The Ten Perfection Scholar.
He had earned that moniker by displaying genius aptitude not just in martial arts but in scholarship, arts, and all domains.
Thud thud.
Bu Eunseol and Do Cheonlin stood side by side before the massive stone gate engraved with the twin dragons contending emblem.
Srrrrung.
As the stone gate opened, the two entered without hesitation.
From now on, the first to breach all seven gates and reach the exit would win.
***
The moniker Ten Perfection Scholar was far from undeserved.
Do Cheonlin’s abilities were truly genius-level.
He displayed outstanding aptitude in martial arts and every field, shining brightly in the Seven Blood Dragon Gates. No matter the difficulties blocking his path, he solved them in one breath and broke through.
‘This time, I can win!’
Rumble.
As Do Cheonlin entered the Fourth Gate, a confident smile bloomed on his lips.
He was the Blood Flame Blade Sect’s heir, raised from the start as Majeon’s successor candidate. Not fixating solely on martial arts, he had cultivated abilities in economics, politics, religion, military science…
All to become the leader capable of ruling a million demonic path denizens.
‘But....’
Suddenly, the image of Bu Eunseol, huddled in the boat on Hell Island, flashed through his mind.
‘I thought he was just a weird guy in monk robes.’ When he first saw Bu Eunseol in the boat, his heart had shaken greatly.
Clearly, he had no superior points.
Yet strangely, curiosity and fear arose.
—Become my comrade.
Afterward, Do Cheonlin ceaselessly tried to persuade and manipulate Bu Eunseol.
He needed little.
Just once. If he accepted his proposal even once, that would suffice.
—Once a person tastes sweet aid, they can’t break free from it.
Do Cheonlin was certain.
The moment Bu Eunseol accepted, he could keep him under his wing forever. But regrettably, Bu Eunseol never once accepted his proposals.
And he walked the thorny path without hesitation. At the time, such actions baffled him, but now he clearly understood.
That Bu Eunseol’s choices had been right in the end.
That the difficult, arduous path he chose… was the shortest route to the goal.
“But I will win for sure.” Do Cheonlin clenched his fist.
Majeon's successor position no longer mattered. If he won this bout. If he could just once defeat Bu Eunseol…
Even without becoming successor, he’d have no regrets.
Do Cheonlin, the transcendent genius.
Like Seo Woohaeng in the past, he too yearned to place Bu Eunseol—the man—under his feet, just once.
Thud thud.
As he delved deep into the Fourth Gate,
Kwarung!
Suddenly, everything around him was collapsing.
The Fourth Gate tested body techniques. He had to pass through faster than the collapse—like light itself.
Shwaak!
Do Cheonlin’s shadow, cloaked in a layer of electric light, swiftly cleaved through the crumbling passage.
‘I’ll shatter all these trials and surpass you!’ Now, Do Cheonlin resolved not to seek easy paths.
Like Bu Eunseol, he would clash with all he had and shatter them to pieces. From birth, he had always given his all. Bu Eunseol could never have kept up.
The Fifth Gate, Sixth Gate, and finally the Seventh Gate…
Do Cheonlin, pouring full effort, finally breached the Seventh Gate.
Kurrung.
The stone gate opened, and stepping out, the exit finally came into view.
Thud thud.
Emerging outside, a wide clearing appeared.
‘I won!’ No matter how he looked, no trace of anyone exiting first. Even after checking dozens of times, the same.
With a face full of ecstasy, Do Cheonlin stepped out.
“Bu Eunseol!” In joy, Do Cheonlin clenched his fists and shouted.
“In the end, you couldn’t surpass me!”
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