Moonlight danced upon the surface of Yeonggyoho Lake as darkness fell.
Splash. Ripple.
A black shadow darted across the lake, stepping on the floating branches with rapid speed. It was Bu Eunseol, clad in worn martial robes.
Whoosh. Thud.
With each leap, faint afterimages of his feet scattered into the darkness. Though he seemed to move in a straight line, from a distance, his movements were unpredictable, crisscrossing the lake’s surface.
“That’s Master Gowol’s Extreme Speed Shadowless.” Baek Yeon, watching from afar, had a flicker of astonishment in his eyes. “Swift Beyond Shadow is a martial art of motion that even the most talented cannot master quickly…” Tilting his head, he muttered in disbelief.
“Don’t tell me he’s been obsessively training only in movement techniques since joining the sect.”
“No way.” Dan Cheong chuckled and shook his head. “He joined three months ago. And two months ago, he was training in inner energy techniques at Iron Staff peak.”
“Iron Staff peak, you say…”
“He’s learning the Ban-geuk Method from Blood Vajra.”
“The Ban-geuk Method?” As unbelievable information poured forth, Baek Yeon furrowed his brow. “Then the rumor that he mastered the Beast Way in just fifteen days on Hell Island…”
“It’s not a rumor—it’s true.” Recalling the leather pouch Sa Woo always carried, Dan Cheong gave a wry smile. “Thanks to drinking all of Sa Woo’s Extreme Heavenly Spirit Water, it seems his Extraordinary Nerve Network opened quickly.”
“Unbelievable.” Baek Yeon shook his head.
The Beast Way is less a martial art and more a realm of enlightenment. Even consuming the legendary Golden Spirit Immortal Fruit wouldn’t guarantee mastering it.
“Then all the rumors must be true.”
“What do you mean?” At Dan Cheong’s question, Baek Yeon spoke with a vacant gaze.
“The rumor that his exceptional talent led to the Ten Demon Successors being expanded from twelve to fourteen.”
“That’s true too. That’s why the former Head Instructor, Hyeok Ryeon, was disciplined and sent back to the demonic factions.” Dan Cheong couldn’t hide his pleased expression. “I had no great expectations, but thanks to the Ten Demon Successors tournament, our sect has gained an excellent successor.” He saw Bu Eunseol not just as a Ten Demon Successor but as a future leader of Nangyang.
“It’s not that simple.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Because of that boy, some serious trouble has arisen.”
“Trouble?” Pausing briefly, Baek Yeon abruptly changed the topic. “When will the Sect Leader finally end his seclusion?”
“Who knows.” Dan Cheong shrugged weakly. “Thanks to that, I’m stuck at Iron Staff Mountain handling all sorts of tedious tasks.”
“Hm.” After a moment of thought, Baek Yeon got to the point. “The Ten Demon Successors plan was pushed by the demonic factions, so the Ten Demonic Sects were full of complaints.” Dan Cheong immediately picked up the thread.
“Of course. Other sects have complex issues like factions. That’s why they select successors early to avoid disputes.” Unlike other sects, Nangyang had no need to designate warriors or successors.
Only the strongest—the absolute strongest—would become the next Sect Leader.
“So what’s the trouble?”
“In truth, aside from our sect, the other Ten Demonic Sects have long been selecting heirs to inherit their martial arts. When the Ten Demon Successors plan was announced, they were thrown into disarray.”
“That makes sense. But…” A sharp glint flashed in Dan Cheong’s long eyes. “The Ten Demon Successors plan was meant to create blades to cut down the great masters of the orthodox factions, wasn’t it?”
“You knew.” Baek Yeon nodded.
Currently, the balance of power between the orthodox and demonic factions was roughly six to four, favoring the orthodox. Moreover, since the Martial Alliance began training joint warriors called Great Masters, aiming to nurture the next generation of martial arts grandmasters, the demonic factions viewed them as thorns in their side.
“But some of the Ten Demonic Sects, unaware of the demonic faction leader’s intentions, had no choice but to make a decision.”
“A decision?”
“They sent the disciples they had chosen as heirs to participate in the Ten Demon Successors tournament.”
“Not a bad choice.” As Dan Cheong stroked his chin, Baek Yeon nodded. “If those heirs, trained for years in the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects and possessing top-tier talent, were placed anywhere, they’d be selected as Ten Demon Successors.”
“Exactly. It was also a chance for their heirs to prove their skills, so the tournament wasn’t entirely bad for them.” Baek Yeon pointed at Bu Eunseol, who was dashing across Yeonggyoho. “But because of that boy, their plans went awry.”
“Went awry…”
“Because of him, Kang Mu-ryun, the grandson of the White Horse Temple Sect Leader and his direct bloodline, lost his life.” Dan Cheong nodded, finally grasping the situation.
One of the heirs sent by the Ten Demonic Sects, a direct blood relative, had been killed by Bu Eunseol.
“They were overconfident.”
“Fortunately, the Third Trial was created with the approval of the Ten Demonic Sects, and even the Head Instructor didn’t know White Horse Temple’s grandson was participating.”
“It’s unfortunate to lose a grandson, but… it’s not something to blame others for.”
“There’s another problem.”
“What problem?”
“Hwa Wu Sword Sect is raising objections too.”
“Hwa Wu Sword Sect?” Instantly, Dan Cheong recalled what the Sword Demon, Wi Hyeokgun, had said at Hell’s Blade.
“Not only Master Jin but even Elder Dan praised him. And he even received Master Cheon’s ultimate technique?”
“Don’t tell me they’re nitpicking about the swordsmanship he learned…”
“Exactly.” Baek Yeon shook his head with a bitter expression. “They’ve requested sanctions from the demonic factions, claiming that someone who isn’t a disciple of Hwa Wu Sword Sect is practicing their advanced swordsmanship.”
“That’s nonsense. Wasn’t it agreed that the gates would allow free learning of the Ten Demonic Sects’ techniques?” Dan Cheong spoke in disbelief. “Besides, the Unmatched Thunderbolt Style isn’t Hwa Wu Sword Sect’s orthodox swordsmanship—it’s a killing sword created by Cheon Un-gwang.”
“The demonic factions explained as much, but the Hwa Wu Sword Sect—specifically, the Sword Demon Wi Hyeokgun—is strongly demanding sanctions.”
“Wi Hyeokgun… Is his heart so narrow?” Bu Eunseol had rejected Wi Hyeokgun’s offer to become a warrior of Hwa Wu Sword Sect.
Could he be holding a grudge over that?
“It’s not just about pride.” At Dan Cheong’s words, Baek Yeon shook his head. “Wi Hyeokgun reveres the Hwa Wu Sword Sect deeply. Even if it’s a branch technique created by Cheon Un-gwang, he won’t tolerate it being passed to a warrior of another sect.”
“That’s absurd. If he has a problem, he should take it up with Cheon Un-gwang, who taught the technique.”
“Cheon Un-gwang has already been stripped of his position as master and sentenced to face-the-wall punishment for arbitrarily passing down Hwa Wu Sword Sect’s secret techniques.” Dan Cheong gave a hollow smile.
“So they’ve punished the one who taught it, and now they want to punish the one who learned it?”
“Exactly.”
“So what are White Horse Temple and Hwa Wu Sword Sect demanding?”
“White Horse Temple wants to summon the boy to the demonic factions to test whether he’s truly qualified to be a Ten Demonic Warrior.”
“That ridiculous demand… It’s clearly Kang Yangcheon, the White Horse Temple Sect Leader, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Under the pretext of testing his qualifications, he intends to summon the boy to Nangyang and take revenge for his grandson.”
“And Hwa Wu Sword Sect?” After a brief pause, Baek Yeon narrowed his eyes and said, “They demand that the boy never wield a sword again, specifically the Unmatched Thunderbolt Style.”
“Hahaha!” Hearing the full story, Dan Cheong looked at the sky and burst into laughter. “Wi Hyeokgun. Has that young man gone senile? Demanding that a disciple of our sect never use a sword? Hahaha!” Abruptly stopping his laughter, Dan Cheong spoke in a cold tone.
“It’s not even worth listening to.”
“Vice-Sect Leader.”
“Reject both demands. Tell them to come to me if they have complaints.”
Whoosh.
At that moment, twelve afterimages poured from the air with a piercing sound.
Thud.
The twelve scattered afterimages merged into one, and a young man in martial robes appeared. It was Bu Eunseol.
“Vice-Sect Leader.” Looking at Dan Cheong, Bu Eunseol clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
While practicing Extreme Speed Shadowless, he had sensed the two watching him. When Dan Cheong’s booming “Hahaha!” shook Yeonggyoho, he could no longer ignore it and approached.
“You’ve been taught Swift Beyond Shadow by Master Gowol.”
“Yes.”
“That’s cause for celebration.”
“Thank you.” As Bu Eunseol bowed at Dan Cheong’s words, Baek Yeon stepped forward.
“Are you the Ten Demon Successor of our sect?” Bu Eunseol paused briefly.
The middle-aged man before him not only wore strange attire but exuded an aura comparable to Dan Cheong’s.
“This is Baek Yeon, the leader of our sect’s Peongan Corps. Greet him.” At Dan Cheong’s words, Bu Eunseol bowed again.
“Bu Eunseol greets the Corps Leader.”
“Hm.” Nodding, Baek Yeon quickly scanned Bu Eunseol’s body.
‘His physique doesn’t seem extraordinary…’ But seeing the glint in his eyes, he nodded. ‘But those eyes… They embody the spirit of a true warrior.’
“You came at the right time.” As Baek Yeon prepared to relay the conversation, Dan Cheong shook his head.
“Corps Leader Baek, it’s not worth telling him. There’s no need to burden the boy.”
“I am a disciple of Nangyang.” Bu Eunseol spoke in a resolute voice. “I do not avoid fights that come to me.” Baek Yeon’s eyes widened slowly.
“You heard everything we said?”
“My apologies.”
“Your inner energy has already reached the Pinnacle of Mastery?” The distance between Yeonggyoho and this spot was at least a hundred jang.
To overhear a conversation while frantically performing movement techniques? Had Bu Eunseol’s inner energy already reached Blood Vajra’s level?
“This vast lake became my ears.” At Bu Eunseol’s reply, a sudden thought struck Baek Yeon.
“You applied the Heart-Eye Resonance technique of the Beast Way?”
Heart-Eye Resonance.
One of the Beast Way’s practical techniques, it amplifies superhuman senses by vibrating surrounding objects. Bu Eunseol had used the vast lake as a medium, eavesdropping on Dan Cheong and Baek Yeon while performing Swift Beyond Shadow.
“Yes.” At Bu Eunseol’s response, Baek Yeon’s eyes filled with astonishment.
“The Heart-Eye Resonance technique requires deep focus in a highly calm state. Yet you used it while performing a movement technique?”
“Since Master Gowol taught me that Swift Beyond Shadow requires changing directions mid-motion…”
“And?”
“Each time I stepped on the branches on the water, I followed the ripples spreading across the surface to channel the Beast Way.” Baek Yeon’s eyes lost focus.
“You channeled the Beast Way by following the ripples on the water?”
“Yes.” Unable to hide his astonishment, Baek Yeon glanced at Dan Cheong beside him. Dan Cheong spoke with a calm expression.
“That’s how this guy is. Whatever he learns, he always shocks the teacher.”
“…I see.” Only then did Baek Yeon understand Dan Cheong’s resolve.
“Reject both demands. Tell them to come to me if they have complaints.”
Bu Eunseol was a prodigy destined to bring Nangyang’s martial arts to full bloom. And Dan Cheong was willing to clash with not only White Horse Temple but even the Hwa Wu Sword Sect, the foremost of the demonic sects, to protect this once-in-a-millennium talent.
“I’ll take responsibility.” Bu Eunseol spoke with determination in his eyes. “I’ll go to the demonic factions, face their test, and stop using the sword. All of it, I’ll…”
“Hahaha, look at this reckless kid!” But Bu Eunseol’s words were cut off as Dan Cheong heavily patted his shoulder. “Bu Eunseol, you are already a disciple of our sect.”
“Vice-Sect Leader.”
“A disciple of our sect must never bow to external forces. Understand?” Dan Cheong interrupted with a solemn gaze. “Does our sect seem so weak that we’d let a kid like you bear such burdens?” With a faint smile, he spoke in a low voice.
“You don’t need to worry about such things. Just focus on mastering your martial arts.” But Baek Yeon stepped forward with an unexpected remark.
“Vice-Sect Leader, why not trust this boy?”
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