More than twenty people moved as a group, yet there was neither the sound of footsteps nor any trace of their presence. Only the occasional rustle of clothing could be heard. The appearances of the experts dispatched from the Ten Demonic Sects were highly varied. There were young men, elderly and middle-aged individuals, and even women of striking beauty. Their expressions were uniformly serene, as if they were out for a casual stroll, but their eyes occasionally gleamed with a sharp, lightning-like intensity.
“Then we shall proceed as decided during the meeting.” As soon as Baek Jeoncheon finished speaking,
Swish.
Among the experts of the Ten Demonic Sects, a gaunt man, skeletal in appearance with a long spear slung over his shoulder, stepped forward.
“I am Bulsa of the Death Command Sect.” In that moment, the eyes of the youths widened in shock.
This emaciated man was the foremost expert of the Death Command Sect, known for claiming two lives with a single thrust of his spear. He was Bulsa, the deputy leader of the Death Command Sect, infamously called the Reaper of the Northern Plains. Bulsa scanned the youths briefly before speaking in a flat tone.
“Yeong Mun-ho. Step forward.” From among the youths, a tall young man with angular features strode forward confidently. “Will you become an heir of the Death Command Sect?”
“Me… are you speaking to me?” The youth, Yeong Mun-ho, wore a bewildered expression.
He was a disciple of the Extreme Blade Sect and had trained exclusively in blade techniques thus far. Moreover, he had consistently honed his skills at the martial hall of the Blood Flame Blade Sect in Hell’s Blade.
“I’ve only trained in blade techniques and never learned spear techniques. That’s why I chose the martial hall of the Blood Flame Blade Sect…”
“You were born with the qualities to master the Death Command Spear.” Bulsa looked down at Yeong Mun-ho and spoke in a sinister tone. “You trained in blade techniques despite having a physique and talent optimized for spear techniques. That’s why, despite your exceptional foundation, you failed to achieve greatness.”
The experts from the Ten Demonic Sects dispatched to Hell’s Blade had already analyzed the data on the instructors and assassins, pre-selecting suitable heirs.
“I…” Still unable to hide his confusion, Yeong Mun-ho looked up as Bulsa spoke again.
“You may refuse if you wish.” After taking a deep breath, Yeong Mun-ho’s eyes flashed with determination.
“I will go to the Death Command Sect.”
“Good. Take this boy.” Bulsa spoke lowly to the assassin, then left the Eternal Pavilion without lingering, as if his business was concluded.
“Tch, tch. What’s the rush?” Breaking the heavy silence in the Eternal Pavilion was an elderly man with a warm, approachable demeanor. “This old man is Jeok Yahon, the deputy leader of Hell’s Blood Fortress.” In that instant, the air inside the Eternal Pavilion seemed to surge with suffocating heat.
To think that Jeok Yahon, the Ten Thousand Poison Master, who could poison and kill every living being within thirty paces with a single wave of his hand, was this kindly-looking old man?
“Let’s see now.” As Jeok Yahon extended his finger, the youths flinched.
With a slight smirk, he suddenly pointed at the youth standing next to Bu Eunseol.
It was Seo Jin-ha.
“Will you become an heir of Hell’s Blood Fortress?”
At that moment, Seo Jin-ha’s eyebrows trembled. Known as a prodigy of the sword since he first wielded one, Seo Jin-ha had assumed he would naturally become an heir of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect upon passing the third trial.
‘Not the Blood Flame Blade Sect, but Hell Blood Fortress, which produces poison masters?’
“The most terrifying poison in the world is a venomous heart.” Looking at Seo Jin-ha’s hardened face, Jeok Yahon smiled faintly. “Before the third trial even began, you planned to use a girl in this fortress’s martial hall to kill all the other trainees, didn’t you?” Seo Jin-ha’s body jolted.
That was a secret known only to Eun Seol-ryeong, a disciple of the Five Poisons Sect. How did Jeok Yahon know?
“And when your plan failed, after the third trial began, you killed her first, didn’t you? To silence her and cover your tracks.”
“That’s not true.” Seo Jin-ha shook his head. “That plan was proposed by Eun Seol-ryeong, who approached me first. I merely went along with it. And when the third trial started, it was she who attacked me first.”
“Hohoho. I’m not blaming you. The ability to kill others without hesitation to achieve your goals is, in fact, commendable. It’s a disposition perfectly suited for mastering the poison arts of this fortress.” Jeok Yahon smiled with satisfaction. “As soon as you arrived at Hell’s Blade, you assessed the martial skills and traits of everyone here. And you took pleasure in eliminating the spies from the righteous factions who had infiltrated.”
Seo Jin-ha had only wanted to secretly eliminate the hypocritical spies from the righteous factions who were killing trainees. But in Jeok Yahon’s words, he was being portrayed as a bloodthirsty murderer who reveled in slaughter.
“To wield poison, one needs a venomous heart capable of killing anyone without hesitation. And a sharp mind.” Pausing briefly, Jeok Yahon smiled again. “You are the most suitable talent to become a poison master of Hell Blood Fortress.”
“I…”
“You think you have some talent with the sword? That level of skill won’t let you dominate the martial world. Only the chosen can shake the martial world with sword or blade.”
“The chosen…” At that moment, Seo Jin-ha’s gaze fell on the profile of Bu Eunseol.
What Seo Jin-ha had achieved through ten years of grueling effort, this boy had accomplished in a mere sixty days. It was something incomprehensible unless he was one chosen by the heavens.
‘To think I can’t reach the pinnacle of the sword?’ A life of defeat was not for him. After a long moment of contemplation, Seo Jin-ha bit his lip and nodded.
“I will go to Hell Blood Fortress.”
“Well decided.” Jeok Yahon bared his fangs in a ferocious grin.
Nodding to the assassin, he took Seo Jin-ha and vanished swiftly.
“Now it’s our turn.” At that moment, a man with eyes as cold and still as the glaciers of the North Sea stepped forward.
“I am Wi Hyeok-gun of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect.” The Sword Demon, Wi Hyeok-gun.
The current greatest swordsman of the demonic path and a disciple of the previous leader of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect, Shin Baek-cheong. The youths trembled lightly at the sight of this legendary swordsman, whose name resounded across the Central Plains, and at the moment when the heir of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect was to be announced.
—Who would become the heir of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect?
Being chosen by the Hwa Wu Sword Sect meant proving one possessed the greatest talent here and becoming the heir of the foremost sect of the demonic path.
“You.”
Wi Hyeok-gun’s finger pointed at the youth standing next to where Seo Jinha had stood. It was Bu Eunseol.
“You’re called Bu Eunseol, aren’t you?” As Wi Hyeok-gun stared at Bu Eunseol, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Congratulations.”
He didn’t even ask if Bu Eunseol would become an heir. It was a given. Becoming an heir of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect meant the highest likelihood of becoming the greatest master of the demonic path.
“Not only Sect Leader Jin but even Elder Dan praised you highly. And you’ve been taught the ultimate techniques of Sect Leader Cheon?”
“That is correct.” Wi Hyeok-gun looked at Bu Eunseol, his direct heir, with a warm gaze. “I look forward to your future achievements.”
“Thank you.”
“The swordsmanship of our sect is unfathomably profound. Train diligently.” With a faint smile, Wi Hyeok-gun turned lightly.
But suddenly, a low voice echoed from behind him.
“I will not go to the Hwa Wu Sword Sect.” At Bu Eunseol’s abrupt words, Wi Hyeok-gun’s steps halted.
“What did you just say?” The gentle tone Wi Hyeok-gun had maintained turned menacing. “Did I hear you wrong?”
“I will not go to the Hwa Wu Sword Sect.” As Bu Eunseol’s resolute voice rang out again, a blizzard seemed to sweep through the Eternal Pavilion. “You’re refusing to become an heir of our sect?”
“I heard earlier that refusal is an option.” Wi Hyeok-gun genuinely doubted his ears.
Step.
As he walked toward Bu Eunseol, an intangible aura emanated from his eyes. In that moment, Bu Eunseol felt as if his skin was being torn into hundreds, thousands of pieces.
The Formless Aura.
A presence wielded only by supreme grandmasters who overlooked the martial world was being unleashed.
“…” As this unprecedented situation unfolded, the eyes of the youths, Baek Jeoncheon, and even the assassins in the Eternal Pavilion wavered.
After a long silence, Wi Hyeok-gun spoke again.
“Is there somewhere else you wish to go?”
“Yes.”
“Haha…” Wi Hyeok-gun, who had let out a low chuckle, suddenly burst into wild laughter. “Hahahahaha!”
The youths staggered under the weight of his laughter, imbued with immense internal energy. Though his vision blurred with dizziness, Bu Eunseol stood firm, keeping his eyes open.
Stop.
Ceasing his laughter, Wi Hyeok-gun asked in a voice as cold as frost.
“Fine. Where do you wish to go?”
“I…” After a brief deep breath, Bu Eunseol spoke with strength from his core.
“I will go to Nangyang Pavilion.” As Bu Eunseol’s voice resounded through the Eternal Pavilion, a man with disheveled hair and a heavy sword strapped near his waist lit up with interest.
He was Dan Cheong, the deputy leader of Nangyang Pavilion.
“You wish to come to our pavilion?” Bu Eunseol nodded at Dan Cheong’s question. “Yes.”
Dan Cheong, who had been standing in a daze, gave a peculiar smile.
“To refuse becoming an heir of the Hwa Wu Sword, called the foremost sect of the demonic path, and come to our pavilion…” Letting out a languid, long breath, Dan Cheong stared at Bu Eunseol’s face.
Within those coldly still eyes, flames seemed to blaze fiercely.
‘Fine eyes.’ Eyes that could unsettle even the calm mind of a seasoned monk. Just by looking, they caused a slight crack in Dan Cheong’s immovable heart.
‘Well, if even Sa Woo, that lazy fellow, praised him so highly…’ The swordsmanship of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect could only be mastered by a prodigy chosen by the heavens. But the martial arts of Nangyang Pavilion could only be learned by those who could survive hundreds, thousands of battles.
“Will you not regret it?” At Dan Cheong’s words, Bu Eunseol spoke with unwavering eyes.
“I don’t even have time for regret.” It was the unadulterated truth.
Since Bu Zhanyang’s horrific death, he had never indulged in such a luxurious emotion as regret.
“No time for regret, you say…” In that moment, Dan Cheong’s eyes narrowed.
Truly, from head to toe, he was a prodigy to his liking.
“A bold fellow.” Then, a chilling voice that seemed to freeze the entire Eternal Pavilion rang out. It was the voice of the Sword Demon, Wi Hyeok-gun.
“Our sect chose you, and you dare say you’ll go to Nangyang Pavilion?” At the same time, the formless aura rising from his body surged toward Bu Eunseol like raging waves. “Do you intend to insult our sect?” As the faint gleam in Wi Hyeok-gun’s eyes intensified,
Drip.
Blood trickled from Bu Eunseol’s mouth, accompanied by the crushing pain of his organs being compressed.
‘This is… the greatest sword of the demonic path.’ In the demonic path, the title of Sword Demon is given to the most exceptional swordsman of each generation. And Wi Hyeok-gun was regarded as the most formidable among all Sword Demons in history. In his anger, he had inflicted internal injuries on Bu Eunseol with his aura alone.
“Brother Wi.”
At that moment, Dan Cheong stepped in front of Bu Eunseol with a languid voice.
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