Listening to the furious shout of the lead assassin, Bu Eunseol shrugged.
“You guys figured it out quickly.”
At that, the lead assassin’s eyes blazed with fury.
“Hand over the Boeun Coin quietly! Do that, and I’ll spare your life!”
Shing.
Instead of responding, Bu Eunseol drew his black sword.
“Hmph, if you want to die, then so be it…” The lead assassin, sneering, suddenly froze as his gaze landed on the black sword.
“The Yeongsasin Sword?”
In the martial world, there existed legendary divine swords, their wielders renowned through generations. The moment he recognized the Yeongsasin Sword, a terrifying thought flashed through the lead assassin’s mind.
Could this insolent man before him be the young grandmaster of the demonic path, someone never to be crossed?
‘No, it can’t be.’
Bu Eunseol possessed qualities that inevitably caused misunderstandings among martial artists. His refined appearance and delicate features, coupled with the complete absence of the natural aura of true energy that a martial master would exude, made him seem unremarkable. In short, until he revealed his true martial prowess, even lowlife thugs from the dark factions would scoff at his appearance and demeanor.
“This is something I’d have to deal with sooner or later. Let’s get started.”
At that moment, a red glint flared in Bu Eunseol’s eyes, and a formidable wave of true energy surged from his body. He had resolved to annihilate the assassins of the Hundred-Split Assassin Sect.
Rumble.
The overwhelming energy radiating from Bu Eunseol seemed to darken the sky, a heavy atmosphere settling over the surroundings. It was a commanding presence unlike anything seen from him before.
“The heir… of Majeon.”
The lead assassin, finally realizing Bu Eunseol’s true identity, spoke with a voice full of astonishment.
“You are the Martial Soul Command Lord.”
Muttering softly, the lead assassin, Darigon, clasped his hands together as if resigned. Though the Hundred-Split Assassin Sect was a formidable faction, its main base was in the Western Regions. There was no need to antagonize the heir of Majeon, who dominated the demonic path of the Central Plains.
“I am Darigon, the Master of Shadowless Killing from the Hundred-Split Assassin Sect,” he said, speaking fluently in the Central Plains’ language.
“…” Bu Eunseol stood silently, unmoved. Clearing his throat, Darigon continued.
“You have no enmity with our sect. Why, then, do you make yourself our enemy?” Darigon’s expression was polite, but his eyes gleamed with the sharpness of a blade. “If you make an enemy of our sect, it will bring you no benefit.”
It was widely known in the martial world that Bu Eunseol had not yet fully consolidated his position as Majeon’s heir. He was even at odds with several of the Ten Demonic Sects.
“If you become our enemy, it will harm your standing as the heir.” Darigon’s confident expression froze as Bu Eunseol’s lips parted.
“I have no intention of sparing vermin who would kill even children for money.”
A blood-red light, as if staining the world in crimson, poured from his eyes.
“Today, I’ll start with you. And step by step, I’ll eradicate the Hundred-Split Assassin Sect.”
Darigon’s expression changed. For the heir of Majeon to declare the destruction of their sect meant there was no room left for negotiation.
“What a pity.” Darigon’s narrow eyes sharpened like steel needles. “Then we’ll have to kill you all and bury you.”
Flash!
At that moment, a silver steel arrow shot past Darigon with a brilliant gleam.
“Argh!”
A piercing scream erupted. The arrow had struck the deputy assassin leader directing the formation from behind Darigon. Soyo had unleashed the sect’s secret technique, Dragon Fang, piercing the deputy’s forehead in a single strike.
“You wretch!” Darigon spat out a curse in rage. “You dare use our sect’s ultimate technique to kill your own comrades?!”
“There are no comrades among assassins,” Soyo said with cold eyes. “If you can’t kill, you die.”
“You…!” Darigon clenched his fists tightly, gripping his short bow. “You’ll pay for this…”
But his words were cut off. Bu Eunseol, soaring like a great eagle, began scattering sword strikes in all directions.
Swish!
The seemingly slow sword strokes transformed into sharp, piercing sounds, glowing with purple brilliance. It was the Unmatched Thunderbolt Form.
Thud, thud.
In an instant, the necks of five assassins standing at the front fell to the ground.
“Get back!” Caught off guard by the sudden assault, the assassins retreated swiftly, unleashing a barrage of Hundred-Split Arrows. No matter how skilled a master was, facing such a massive volley of arrows would leave them defenseless.
But what they hadn’t anticipated was that Bu Eunseol had been facing hordes of assassins wielding hidden weapons since the start of his journey through the martial world. He was an expert in one-against-many combat. Moreover, with his Beast Way, capable of detecting any attack in advance, Bu Eunseol was a veritable reaper to assassins.
Whoosh!
Countless Hundred-Split Arrows rained down, but Bu Eunseol, without even using his movement technique, calmly stood his ground, dodging them effortlessly. By sensing the flow of the wind and the sound of the arrows, he could precisely gauge their angle and speed.
Ping! Ping!
Meanwhile, Soyo’s steel arrows pierced the foreheads of the assassins one by one. She targeted the Hundred-Split Sect assassins but also disrupted their formation, breaking their rhythm to allow Bu Eunseol to fight more freely at close range.
Bu Eunseol, in turn, spread a wide sword barrier, significantly limiting the assassins’ attacks.
“Those bastards!”
Darigon bit his lip. The Hundred-Split Sect’s assassins relied on long-range weapons, their power growing exponentially with their numbers. But with two exceptional masters executing a flawless coordinated attack, the mysterious Hundred-Split Arrows failed to exert their full power.
Bu Eunseol and Soyo moved as one, without exchanging words or even glances, as if they had trained together their entire lives. Their close-range and long-range synergy was so perfect that not even a drop of water could slip through their defense.
“Fine!” Darigon, grinding his teeth, raised his left hand and spread his palm wide—a signal to his assassins.
Shaa!
The assassins, relentlessly firing Hundred-Split Arrows, widened their distance and suddenly began launching dark, ominous steel arrows at Bu Eunseol.
Soyo, who had been circling and firing her short bow, spoke in a low voice.
“Black Burst Explosive Arrows. I’ll handle them.”
From the name alone, Bu Eunseol could tell the arrows were packed with a massive amount of gunpowder.
Click.
Soyo swiftly pulled a silver arrow from her robes—one of the Hundred-Split Sect’s own Hundred-Split Arrows, which she hadn’t used until now.
Whoosh!
A single arrow transformed into over a hundred thin needles, colliding with the dozens of Black Burst Explosive Arrows.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions rang out as the Black Burst Arrows detonated in midair.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Soyo switched back to regular arrows, firing them in rapid succession. The arrows, initially flying straight, curved gracefully, striking the quivers of the assassins preparing to fire more Black Burst Arrows.
Kaboom!
The quivers exploded, engulfing over a dozen assassins in flames.
Divine Archer.
Soyo’s archery had reached the realm of the divine.
Shing!
As Soyo dealt with the assassins firing Black Burst Arrows, Bu Eunseol charged through the flames, unleashing his sword techniques.
“Get back!” The assassins, seeing Bu Eunseol close in, used their mist-like movement techniques to escape his attack range. But it was futile.
“Urgh!”
“Argh!”
Bu Eunseol’s Supreme Heavenly Flow had evolved through countless battles against formidable opponents. While he once relied on combining techniques for power, he now infused his swordsmanship with the profound principles of martial arts. Even simple strikes were unstoppable, each blow carrying immense internal energy that left the assassins incapacitated, even if only grazed.
Thud, thud.
In no time, over half of the eighty assassins lay dead.
“Grr…” Darigon gritted his teeth. The combined assault of Bu Eunseol and Soyo unleashed a force akin to a thunderstorm, threatening to wipe out his elite Blood Veil squad. “We’ll meet again! Even if I have to bring the entire sect’s elite assassins, I won’t let you two bastards live!”
Glaring at Bu Eunseol and Soyo, Darigon shouted.
“Retreat!”
Boom.
Suddenly, a deep vibration echoed from somewhere, so low and resonant it felt as if one’s heart was sinking to their feet.
Swish!
A net-like sword energy rained down from the sky, falling upon the assassins attempting to retreat.
Slash!
As the sword energy reached the ground, its range expanded to thirty yards.
Splatter!
Blood sprayed from the assassins caught in the sword energy’s net. Only about ten, including Darigon, escaped its range. The rest were sliced into dozens of pieces, rolling across the ground.
Thud.
A massive figure landed from the sky. As it rose, it seemed to block out the moon in the night sky. It wasn’t a human but a colossal being, as if descended to devour the world.
Step, step.
As the figure approached, a middle-aged man with a towering physique emerged. His build was like a bear’s, his waist long and lean like a tiger’s. An aura capable of overwhelming mountains emanated from him, his eyes blazing like torches, exuding an oppressive presence that made bones tremble.
“Why are vermin from the Western Regions causing trouble in the Central Plains?”
A deep, resonant voice, like that of the King of Hell, shook the forest.
“You…” Recognizing the man, Darigon’s eyes widened in shock.
“Heavenly King.”
Darigon trembled as if he’d seen a ghost. Heavenly King Jo Cheonwang, the Imperial Dragon Sword, one of the seven pillars upholding the Martial Alliance, had appeared before him.
“I merely came to the Central Plains to deal with a traitor,” Darigon said, his voice quivering.
Though Bu Eunseol was the next ruler of the demonic path, he couldn’t yet command Majeon’s full forces at will. But King Jo was one of the supreme masters of the righteous factions, holding the Martial Alliance’s Martial Heaven Corps in his grip. Crossing him could bring the full might of the Martial Alliance down upon the Hundred-Split Assassin Sect.
“I have no intention of making an enemy of Leader Jo.” Despite losing dozens of his men to Jo’s hand, Darigon spoke subserviently. “I’ll leave quietly.”
“Hmph.” King Jo snorted softly. “Don’t loiter in the Central Plains from now on.”
‘We’ll see. I’ll show you the true power of our sect.’ But that was only a thought.
“Understood.” Darigon bowed obsequiously and fled with his remaining assassins.
“It’s been a while.” As the Hundred-Split Sect assassins departed, King Jo looked down at Bu Eunseol with a murderous smile. “Now that you’ve ripened, it seems the time has come to feast.”
In the past, King Jo had vowed to take revenge once Bu Eunseol’s fame and martial prowess grew worthy of his attention. And now, he declared that time had arrived.
“Were those the Martial Alliance’s assassins?” Bu Eunseol asked.
King Jo frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been sending assassins after me, haven’t you? Forcing me to avoid cities and villages.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” King Jo said in a low voice. “All I ordered my men to do was track your movements and find the right moment for a duel.”
Bu Eunseol fell into deep thought. If that was true, it meant the Martial Alliance had sent assassins after him without King Jo’s knowledge, despite knowing he intended to face Bu Eunseol himself.
‘He’s a man who values honor and justice, even delaying his son’s revenge. He wouldn’t lie.’
King Jo had watched Bu Eunseol’s duel with the Heavenly Sword and deemed him far inferior. Considering their difference in status, attacking Bu Eunseol would be like bullying a child, so he had postponed his revenge. A true righteous martial artist, he wouldn’t stoop to petty tactics like sending assassins to observe or weaken Bu Eunseol.
‘So that’s how the Martial Alliance operates.’
Bu Eunseol nodded faintly. It made sense. The shadowy forces manipulating even the disciples of the Three Demons must have their agents embedded in the Martial Alliance’s leadership.
‘The Secret Flower Garden Master was one of their pawns.’
In the past, Bu Eunseol had infiltrated the Martial Alliance and, alongside Enforcement King Jongjeong Yak, eliminated the Secret Flower Garden Master, a spy controlled by those shadowy forces. But it was unlikely they’d rely on just one agent. Like Majeon, the Martial Alliance was likely riddled with their operatives.
“Let’s begin.” King Jo drew the sword at his waist. A tremendous aura soared to the heavens, making the air feel as heavy as lead.
“Will that barbarian girl join you?” King Jo asked.
Bu Eunseol turned to Soyo.
“This is my fight. Leave.” Soyo met his gaze without responding. Her eyes, usually cold, now held a mix of emotions—chief among them, deep concern.
Whoosh.
Despite her gaze, Soyo swiftly executed her movement technique, vanishing into the air.
Watching her leave, King Jo spoke in a low voice.
“I’ll let you have the first move.” His voice dripped with thick killing intent. “If I attack first, this duel will be over too quickly.”
To King Jo, Bu Eunseol was the sworn enemy who killed his only son. Yet, in this long-awaited moment of revenge, he maintained a calm demeanor.
‘That’s a stance worth learning.’ Keeping composure in the face of a hated enemy was no easy feat. Even with a life-threatening adversary before him, Bu Eunseol was seeking lessons.
“No need.”
Shing.
As Bu Eunseol drew his black sword, the surrounding air seemed to ignite with heat.
“You attack first.”
A swordsman’s duel begins with momentum. Bu Eunseol unleashed a fierce aura to counter King Jo’s overwhelming presence.
King Jo’s moniker, the Imperial Dragon Sword, referred to both his cherished blade and the sword technique he had created. The name wasn’t his own invention. Countless masters who faced him praised it as a technique resembling a dragon descending from the heavens.
“Very well.”
Before he finished speaking, King Jo’s Imperial Dragon Sword was already cleaving toward Bu Eunseol’s head. The distance between them had been three yards, but King Jo closed it in an instant, their noses nearly touching.
‘The Beast Way didn’t detect it?’
The Beast Way, which sensed even the flow of air, always allowed Bu Eunseol to anticipate an opponent’s movements. Yet, despite staring directly at King Jo, he hadn’t sensed his approach.
Clang!
With a clear metallic ring, Bu Eunseol’s brow furrowed. The moment his black sword clashed with the Imperial Dragon Sword, his insides churned, and his heart felt as if it had dropped to his feet. It wasn’t a matter of internal energy. The pressure and vibration from the Imperial Dragon Sword had struck his body directly.
‘He’s using sword momentum.’
King Jo’s swordsmanship was extraordinary, wielding a force so powerful it was nearly unbearable for a human body. Bu Eunseol bit his lip. He could block the sword techniques, but the intangible sword force was unstoppable. Every clash would shake his body, risking severe internal injuries.
“Impressive. In terms of internal energy alone, you surpass me.” After their swords clashed, King Jo’s eyes gleamed with surprise. “Even consuming elixirs like meals wouldn’t achieve this.”
Before finishing his words, King Jo closed the distance again. Bu Eunseol had no time to use his movement technique and was forced to block with his black sword.
Clang!
Another clash, and Bu Eunseol’s brow furrowed again. Though his internal energy was superior, the sword force from the Imperial Dragon Sword shook his insides once more.
‘A new technique.’ Bu Eunseol had fought countless masters and experienced various sword techniques, but he had never encountered a method that used sword force like a gust to shake an opponent’s body and cause internal injuries.
‘He must know my Supreme Heavenly Flow and Wishful True Binding well.’
King Jo had closely observed Bu Eunseol’s duel with the Heavenly Sword, likely analyzing his techniques in detail.
Swish!
King Jo’s Imperial Dragon Sword twisted at an intricate angle, inducing a clash while unleashing another wave of sword force.
Zing!
Suddenly, a strange vibration emanated from Bu Eunseol’s black sword, tearing through the incoming sword force like paper. Using the principles of the Myriad Phenomena Sword Style and Shifting Heaven's Force, he had transformed the intangible sword force into something tangible.
“You’ve stolen the Sword Venerable’s techniques,” King Jo remarked, unsurprised by Bu Eunseol’s use of Myriad Phenomena Sword Style.
“Let’s play differently this time.”
King Jo’s decades of experience in the martial world and mastery of swordsmanship far surpassed Bu Eunseol’s. As Bu Eunseol neutralized the sword force, King Jo shifted his technique again.
Clang!
Their swords clashed once more, but even without sword force, Bu Eunseol frowned.
‘He’s predicting my sword changes?’
An unbelievable event unfolded. Every time Bu Eunseol attempted a sword technique, King Jo predicted its variations, interrupting it before it could fully manifest.
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