Go Gunpyeong’s eyes widened, and countless specks of light seemed to pour forth from them. He was channeling his full inner energy.
“Fifth move…” As a fierce light blazed in his eyes, the White Horse Whip in his hand writhed like a living snake. “White Demon Spirit Serpent!”
Flash!
The whip, moving as if alive, lunged toward Bu Eunseol. It was the ultimate technique of the White Horse Whip, a deadly move that wouldn’t stop until it drew blood.
‘It’s not something I can dodge!’ Bu Eunseol instinctively realized. The slowly advancing whip technique was impossible to evade. He had to confront it head-on and block it. And if he failed, his head would be cleaved in two.
Shing.
Finally, Bu Eunseol drew the iron sword from his waist. He had two sword techniques at his disposal: the practical swordsmanship he had internalized while training with Sa Woo, and the Unmatched Thunderbolt Technique taught by Cheon Un-gwang.
Wooong!
A fierce blue light surged in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“Unmatched…” Sa Woo’s practical swordsmanship, specialized for defense and counterattacks, couldn’t block this lethal move. Thus, he prepared to unleash Cheon Un-gwang’s killing sword, the Unmatched Thunderbolt Technique.
Flutter.
As he summoned his inner energy, Bu Eunseol’s robes billowed. The iron sword, responding to his energy, twitched like a freshly caught fish.
“Thunderbolt!” With a thunderous shout equal to his move, Bu Eunseol slashed at the White Demon Spirit Serpent tearing through the air.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out.
“Pfft!” Spitting a spray of blood, Bu Eunseol was flung dozens of paces backward.
Though he had blocked the White Demon Spirit Serpent with all his might, the vast gap in their inner energy overwhelmed him.
Thud.
His body crashed to the edge of the arena with a dull sound. Go Gunpyeong’s energy had disrupted his qi and blood, displacing his organs. His wrist, which had held the sword, was dislocated and dangled limply, and he coughed up clumps of blood incessantly.
Stagger, stagger.
Yet, using the broken sword as a crutch, Bu Eunseol forced himself to stand, his fighting spirit undiminished.
‘That boy…’ Go Gunpyeong thought, his hair standing on end as he watched. ‘If I don’t eliminate him today, he’ll become a lifelong regret.’ Realizing Bu Eunseol could become a formidable enemy of White Horse Temple, he gritted his teeth and prepared another move.
“The test is over!” Neung Gak, who had been sitting calmly at the table, suddenly stood in front of Go Gunpyeong with a gentle smile. “Isn’t that right, Great Hero Go?” Go Gunpyeong was speechless, overwhelmed by the storm-like killing intent emanating from Neung Gak.
‘This guy…’
“If you don’t honor the agreement, our sect will have no reason to uphold its promises with Majeon,” Neung Gak said.
Gok Kyobong nodded. “The five-move agreement has been fulfilled…”
“Wait,” Yu Unseong interrupted, stepping forward. “That boy used our sect’s sword technique again.”
Pointing at Bu Eunseol with a displeased expression, Neung Gak smiled. “Was there an agreement that he couldn’t use the Unmatched Thunderbolt Technique in this test?”
“Hmph,” Yu Unseong muttered, unable to respond directly, and shifted to another grievance. “Is that boy a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion or our sect?”
“Of course, he’s a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion,” Neung Gak replied smoothly, like a cunning fox. “He merely inherited Great Hero Cheon’s insights by chance. Just look at that!” Neung Gak pointed at Bu Eunseol. “The Unmatched Thunderbolt Technique he used! If Great Hero Cheon saw it, he’d have clapped in delight.”
“Are you mocking our sect?” Yu Unseong snapped.
“Mocking? Perish the thought,” Neung Gak said with a grin, pointing at Go Gunpyeong. “Great Lord Go just performed the White Demon Commanding Strike, the pinnacle of White Horse Temple’s whip techniques. And this boy countered it with Great Hero Cheon’s technique, didn’t he?”
“So what?” Yu Unseong retorted.
“So what? Doesn’t this mean a branch technique of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect has surpassed White Horse Temple’s ultimate technique?” Neung Gak said, his words sharp as a scholar’s. “If word spreads that a Hwa Wu Sword branch technique bested White Horse Temple’s ultimate art, will the martial world admire the Hwa Wu Sword Sect or mock it?”
At that moment, both Yu Unseong and Go Gunpyeong’s expressions darkened. The two sects were closely allied, intending to eliminate Bu Eunseol, a thorn in their side. But instead, their ultimate techniques had clashed, with a clear winner emerging—a result neither sect desired.
“This is…” Go Gunpyeong stammered.
Yu Unseong said coldly, “This was a secretive test known only to a few in the sect. It must not leak to the outside.”
“Indeed,” Neung Gak said, approaching the staggering Bu Eunseol to support him. In a solemn voice, he declared, “Let me ask once more: will the agreement be honored?”
Gok Kyobong glanced at Yu Unseong and Go Gunpyeong before nodding. “Of course.”
“Then, Elder Gok, please confirm it once more,” Neung Gak urged.
“Hmm,” Gok Kyobong said, clearing his throat before proclaiming loudly, “As of today, Bu Eunseol, disciple of Nangyang Pavilion, is reaffirmed as a Ten Demon Warrior. The restriction against using the sword is also lifted.”
“Thank you,” Neung Gak said, bowing respectfully before turning to Bu Eunseol. “You did well.”
In a warm, gentle tone, he added, “As a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion, you showed not a shred of shame.”
“…” Bu Eunseol, eyes wide, couldn’t respond. His organs were displaced, his qi and blood in chaos, yet he stood tall with all his strength until the test concluded.
With a proud smile, Neung Gak said, “It’s all over now. You can collapse.”
As soon as he spoke, thud—Bu Eunseol fainted in Neung Gak’s arms.
***
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
The sound of birds woke Bu Eunseol, his eyes snapping open.
“...!” Sitting up quickly, he found himself on a soft bed covered with blankets. The room was adorned with luxurious furnishings.
‘Where am I?’ Rising slowly from the bed, Bu Eunseol felt a wave of dizziness.
“Ugh,” he groaned, clutching his temples.
His body felt drained of blood, his muscles screaming with every movement, as if he’d been beaten with a club for three days and nights. ‘I was definitely…’ Bu Eunseol frowned, trying to recall. No matter how he searched his memory, all he could remember was facing Go Gunpyeong’s final move with the Unmatched Thunderbolt Technique.
‘I sustained a severe injury then.’ Feeling his poor condition, Bu Eunseol instinctively began circulating his energy.
Wooong.
As he did, he sensed an odd tremor, something unusual.
‘What’s this?’ Using the Ban-geuk Method to channel energy from his dantian to his limbs, he noticed several strands of energy moving within his body.
‘This is why I felt pain.’ The weakness and throbbing muscles were due to powerful energy forming in his body while he was unconscious.
—Your dantian now holds inner energy that would take a martial artist over a decade to cultivate.
Suddenly, he recalled words spoken when he first encountered Blood Vajra at Iron Staff Peak.
—Moreover, it’s pure energy. If your latent acupoints are activated, your power will surge instantly.
‘My latent acupoints have been activated!’ Bu Eunseol realized. The White Horse Whip techniques had repeatedly disrupted his qi and blood, and in the process of healing through the Ban-geuk Method, his latent acupoints had awakened.
Whooosh.
As his energy circulation reached its peak, white mist rose from his forehead.
Flash!
Channeling energy from his Heavenly Gate to his Central Extreme acupoints, Bu Eunseol opened his eyes, their gleam restored as if he’d never been injured.
Shine.
Millions of red specks danced in his eyes. Ban-geuk Fire Light—a phenomenon that appeared upon reaching the third level of the Ban-geuk Method.
Creak.
The door opened, and a woman in elegant attire entered, carrying a tray with a teacup.
“Oh?” she exclaimed, eyes widening upon seeing Bu Eunseol sitting up. “You’re awake.”
Approaching cautiously, she asked, “How do you feel?”
“Where am I?” Bu Eunseol asked.
She placed the tray on the table. “This is the Demon Gathering Pavilion.”
“Demon Gathering Pavilion?”
“It’s where the Elder Sect Leader resides.”
‘The Elder Sect Leader?’ Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow. If the goal was to treat him, the Medicine King Hall would have sufficed. Why had he been brought to the residence of the Elder Sect Leader?
“How long have I been here?” he asked.
“Today marks the third day,” she replied.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes wavered like ripples. He thought he’d only been unconscious briefly, but three days had passed.
After a moment of silence, he asked, “And you are…?”
“I am Jin Seol, serving the Elder Sect Leader,” she said.
Her demeanor and speech were too refined for a mere servant, and her bearing exuded nobility. Even her eyes gleamed with the sharpness of someone trained in inner energy. ‘She doesn’t seem like an ordinary servant,’ Bu Eunseol thought. Those serving Majeon’s leaders were all talented martial artists, especially someone attending a figure like the Elder Sect Leader, who held a high position. But ignorant of martial world customs, Bu Eunseol mistook her for a common maid.
“Do you have something to say?” Jin Seol asked, bowing slightly.
“Why am I here?” Bu Eunseol pressed.
“I was only told to care for you well, young master,” she replied.
‘I see,’ Bu Eunseol thought, narrowing his eyes as he pieced together the situation. ‘The test was known only to a few within Majeon.’ Gok Kyobong, who oversaw the test, was from the Elder Hall. The test was likely orchestrated by the Elder Hall, and when Bu Eunseol was injured, they had secretly brought him here for treatment.
“Lady Jin,” an older woman’s voice called from outside. “The Elder wishes for the young master to be brought to the inner hall.”
Jin Seol replied softly, “Understood.” Turning to Bu Eunseol, she said respectfully, “Please follow me.”
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“To where the Elder Sect Leader awaits,” she answered quietly.
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