Crack!
A storm of devastating energy tore through the darkness, sweeping toward the assassins as the heavens themselves seemed to split apart.
The supreme technique of the Martial Emperor, the Thirteen Guiding Energies, was unleashed.
Spurt!
Each time the razor-sharp energy sliced through the air, blood sprayed, and assassins fell like logs. To Bu Eunseol, immune to their poison and hidden weapons, the Blood Fiend Sect’s assassins were no more than wooden dolls.
Thud. Thud.
In less than half a ke (about seven minutes), all fifty assassins were down.
Swish!
Even as the formation shattered, Bu Eunseol’s assault didn’t stop. His body became a streak of light, radiating relentless, razor-sharp energy. Each time he passed an assassin, their head was severed from their body.
"Retreat!" the assassins cried, attempting to flee the manor.
But from Bu Eunseol’s hands, a spear-like energy surged, coalescing into a whirlwind at his fingertips. By altering the nature of the Thirteen Guiding Energies, he transformed the raging energy into a tornado-like force.
Whoosh!
As Bu Eunseol, moving like lightning, extended his hand, the piercing energy tore through the assassins’ bodies like a whirlwind punching holes in the sky.
"Argh!"
"Urk!"
It was a one-sided slaughter.
In less than a quarter of an hour, every assassin in the manor lay dead, except for one: Jo Baeksan, the Blood Fiend Lord.
"A sect overhyped because of its poison techniques," Bu Eunseol said, looking at Jo Baeksan with a disappointed expression.
He had come here with some expectations. An assassination squad bold enough to target the Tang Clan directly should have impressive skills. But upon lifting the lid, they were nothing more than a run-of-the-mill assassin group, far below his expectations.
Shiver shiver shiver.
Jo Baeksan, a seasoned assassin who had roamed the martial world for seventy years, had seen all manner of trials. Yet he had never encountered a master who could unleash such terrifying techniques with such precision and unrelenting power.
Human killing intent wasn’t infinite. Each kill dulled it, and even the greatest masters would see their techniques weaken after expending so much energy. But this young man—no, this monster—had cut down nearly three hundred assassins without his killing intent or techniques faltering in the slightest.
Step step.
As the monstrous youth approached, Jo Baeksan, without realizing it, wet himself.
"Who... are you?" he stammered.
Bu Eunseol didn’t answer, merely gazing down at him with crimson eyes.
In that moment, a name flashed through Jo Baeksan’s mind: the heir of Majeon, the martial world’s greatest young grandmaster.
"Could it be... Martial Soul C-?"
Swish!
A sharp gust of wind cut through, and Jo Baeksan’s vision tilted. The energy of the Thirteen Guiding Energies had sliced his neck diagonally.
Spurt! Thud thud.
A red line appeared across Jo Baeksan’s neck, and his head rolled to the ground, followed by his body. Thus ended the life of Jo Baeksan, the Blood Fiend Lord, who had once terrorized the martial world.
Whoosh!
Bu Eunseol’s hair turned white, and his eyes glowed blue as he converted all his Extreme Yin Energy into the Heavenly Glacial Secret Technique, freezing the bodies of Jo Baeksan and the assassins instantly. This way, no master could identify the martial traces left behind.
Hum!
A blue light flashed from Bu Eunseol’s eyes as he floated in the air, his white hair soaring skyward.
Crack crack crack!
The bodies strewn across the manor froze solid in an instant.
Whoosh.
As Bu Eunseol descended and withdrew the Heavenly Glacial Secret Technique, his hair and eyes returned to normal.
"The Tang Clan wasn’t their true target," he muttered, his brow furrowing as he gazed at the distant sky.
The Three Realms had bolstered the Three Poison Sect, expanding their forces for an all-out war. They had built a manor near the Tang Clan and stationed assassins to target Tang Pae. When all preparations were complete, they timed their visit to coincide with Tang Pae’s illness, threatening the Tang Clan and preparing for battle.
Yet, this seemingly flawless plan had a fatal flaw: the forces they had gathered were woefully inadequate to topple the Tang Clan.
"Even if the Three Poison Sect’s forces grew tenfold, they’d only be capable of mutual destruction with the Tang Clan," Bu Eunseol mused.
To truly bring down the Tang Clan, they should have recruited a sect like the Black Demon Sect, which had a history of defeating numerous poison-based sects. And instead of the Blood Fiend Sect, which relied on poison, they should have hired elite assassins from the Ghost Mask Gang, skilled in infiltration and martial prowess.
Yet the Three Realms had chosen to invest immense time and resources in the Three Poison Sect and the Blood Fiend Sect—forces familiar to the Tang Clan and ultimately insufficient.
"I’ll find out soon enough," Bu Eunseol said, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes.
He had driven the Poison Demon Sect back to Yunnan and cut off all information around Tang Clan territory. By now, the mastermind behind the Three Poison Sect’s manipulation would likely have arrived.
"Once the duel is over, I’ll see exactly who you are."
The duel must have started by now, and it couldn’t be stopped. When it was all over, the true culprits would be revealed.
Whoosh!
Bu Eunseol leaped into the air, heading back to the Tang Clan.
***
Shiver shiver.
Tang Gon’s body trembled like a leaf as he struggled to fend off Jang Song’s overwhelming inner energy. His skin was turning black from the poison of the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique.
Unable to withstand Jang Song’s power, Tang Gon was succumbing to the poison.
"It’s over," Jang Song said, smirking as Tang Gon reached the point of no resistance. "This was a fair duel, so you have no one to blame."
Just as he prepared to unleash the full force of the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique—
'Wait, something’s off.'
Jang Song sensed something amiss. By now, Tang Gon’s body should have melted away under the poison’s effects. Yet, despite prolonged exposure, he was still standing, maintaining his stance.
Sssss.
White steam began to rise from Tang Gon’s poisoned body, growing thicker until a golden aura suddenly surged around him.
Buzz buzz.
The unexpected turn of events caused a stir not only in Jang Song but also among the Tang Clan members watching the duel.
"He’s using the Yellow Essence Poison Furnace Technique?"
Several Tang Clan elders gasped in shock.
Tang Gon hadn’t been relying solely on the Poison Spirit Absorption Technique. He had dispersed his inner energy across his eight extraordinary meridians, instantly storing external poison and inner energy in his dantian. This was the ultimate secret technique left by the Poison Sage Tang Cheongun, the Yellow Essence Poison Furnace Technique.
"How could he...!"
The Yellow Essence Poison Furnace Technique was so dangerous to practice that it often led to death, which was why it wasn’t included in the Tang Clan’s Eight Great Secret Arts and remained a theoretical martial art.
Yet Tang Gon had been diligently mastering it.
Sssss!
With a surge of intense energy, the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique that had been absorbed into Tang Gon’s body was expelled, rushing back toward Jang Song with several times the potency.
"Ughhh," Jang Song groaned as black veins bulged across his body. The sudden influx of Tang Gon’s inner energy and the amplified Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique caused his meridians to feel as though they would burst.
"No... way," Jang Song muttered, but his resilience was formidable.
As his meridians neared collapse, he unleashed the Circular True Energy Technique to block Tang Gon’s inner energy and the returning poison.
A faint smile curled on Tang Gon’s lips.
"I was wondering when you’d use the Circular True Energy Technique."
Wooong.
As Jang Song’s Circular True Energy surged, the golden light around Tang Gon intensified. The final key to mastering the Yellow Essence Poison Furnace Technique was to have a master with over three cycles of inner energy pierce the practitioner’s blood vessels with Circular True Energy.
Buzz buzz buzz!
Tang Gon condensed Jang Song’s incoming energy back into his dantian, where it surged through his poison meridian like a raging typhoon.
Zing.
A strange light radiated from Tang Gon’s body as he cleared his blocked meridians with Jang Song’s power. Since Bu Eunseol’s departure, Tang Gon had relentlessly consumed Tang Clan poisons and practiced poison arts, even inhaling toxins during meditation to merge them with his true energy.
The Poison Sage Body—the ultimate state of a poison master, capable of generating all poisons within the body without storing them and immune to any toxin.
Tang Gon had been striving to reach this state.
"Unbelievable!"
The Tang Clan members gasped as a strange light spread from Tang Gon’s skin, signaling he had reached the initial stage of the Poison Sage Body, the State of Full-Body Poison.
Crack.
Jang Song’s hair turned white, and his body began to buckle. Having exhausted his Circular True Energy, he could no longer withstand Tang Gon’s poison and inner energy.
"Alright! I’ll join the fight!" Hyeong Geuk shouted, leaping onto the platform and spreading his arms as the situation turned dire.
Whoosh!
Over a hundred throwing knives shot into the sky, raining down on Tang Gon like countless stars falling from the cosmos. This was the Six Harmonies Full Barrage, a signature hidden weapon technique of the Poison Bee Sect, layered for maximum effect.
"No!"
The Tang Clan members cried out in despair. The sheer number of projectiles was unimaginable, and Tang Gon was still engaged with Jang Song, leaving him no chance to dodge.
"A fine technique," Tang Gon said calmly, continuing to channel his inner energy as he observed the onslaught.
Closing his eyes briefly, he thrust out his right arm with force.
Flash!
A radiant light, like a meteor, shot from his sleeve.
It was the One-Strike Life-Seizing Technique, the pinnacle of the Tang Clan’s Eight Great Secret Arts, capable of piercing an enemy’s throat with a single blow.
Clatter.
An astonishing sight followed. Tang Gon had launched only one throwing knife, yet it miraculously knocked all hundred-plus projectiles to the ground.
The One Blade Darkens the Sky—the ultimate refinement of throwing knife techniques and another of the Tang Clan’s Eight Great Secret Arts, unleashed by Tang Gon’s hand.
Silence fell over the arena.
Hyeong Geuk, frozen in place, couldn’t move as he unleashed his barrage. Jang Song, gravely injured by Tang Gon’s poison and inner energy, was barely breathing.
Thud.
Pushing Jang Song aside, Tang Gon stood tall and faced Hyeong Geuk.
"Care to continue?"
Tang Gon could have killed both Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk in an instant but chose not to. He had perfected a martial art capable of crushing the Three Poison Sect at any time.
Hyeong Geuk, his face pale, said nothing. Jang Song could only gasp for breath. His face flushed with rage, Hyeong Geuk supported Jang Song and bowed his head.
"We’ve lost."
With that, they fled the training grounds.
"Waaaah!"
The Tang Clan members erupted in cheers. Tang Gon, long considered unremarkable, had displayed extraordinary prowess.
'Brother has finally achieved greatness,' Tang Cheong thought, watching from a distance with a proud smile.
She was the only one in the Tang Clan who knew the bone-grinding effort Tang Gon had put in. After parting with Bu Eunseol, he hadn’t gone a single day without risking his life in training—not only to become a worthy Tang Clan leader but also to stand side by side with his dear friend as soon as possible.
Through this duel, Tang Gon had finally neared his goal, transforming from an overlooked young talent into a master whose prowess rivaled the leaders of the eight great families.
'As expected...'
Having discreetly dealt with the Blood Fiend Sect and returned to the Tang Clan, Bu Eunseol nodded as he observed Tang Gon amidst the cheers.
He had known Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk had become formidable masters, yet he had left the Tang Clan calmly. This was because he was aware of Tang Gon’s tremendous progress and had foreseen that this duel would be the catalyst for his breakthrough.
'He’s finally transcended.'
Through relentless training, Tang Gon had reached the limits of physical refinement. This duel had provided the opportunity for his breakthrough, propelling him to his desired realm in one leap.
'But...'
Bu Eunseol shook his head. While Tang Gon’s remarkable progress was cause for joy, he was convinced this was all part of a carefully orchestrated script.
Amidst the cheers echoing through the Tang Clan, Bu Eunseol felt a growing sense of unease.
The Three Realms had given the Tang Clan and Tang Gon a trial they could endure, awakening Tang Gon’s talent and elevating his martial prowess to new heights.
'Why?'
This scheme was unlike any plot he had encountered before. What did it mean? Why awaken Tang Gon? Why impose a trial on the Tang Clan only to orchestrate its unity through this event? What did the Three Realms truly want?
At that moment, Bu Eunseol’s gaze met Tang Gon’s on the combat platform. Quickly composing himself, he stepped onto the platform and clasped his hands toward Tang Gon.
"Congratulations, Young Master," he said. "Since the matter has been resolved smoothly, we will take our leave."
"You’re leaving now?" Tang Gon asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Yes," Bu Eunseol replied.
"You’ve worked hard," Tang Gon said, clasping his hands respectfully. "And thank you."
Tang Seong, rushing to Tang Gon’s side, scoffed. "Thank him? What did he do? He didn’t even watch the duel—"
"He was guarding the inner courtyard, just in case," Tang Cheong interjected, her eyes sparkling. "And he patrolled the Tang Clan territory to prepare for any contingencies, right?"
Bu Eunseol felt a chill. Had Tang Cheong secretly tracked his movements? Could she have recognized him?
'No, that’s impossible.'
He had thoroughly concealed his presence. She had likely sent subordinates to monitor him. The incident at Bixia Manor had been handled discreetly, with no signs of life within a hundred paces.
"I merely checked the surroundings as a precaution," Bu Eunseol said calmly, clasping his hands toward Tang Gon and Tang Cheong. "I’ll take my leave."
As he turned, Tae Muryong and the elite team, having returned from the inner courtyard, followed him.
"What a mysterious figure," Tang Cheong said, her eyes gleaming as she watched Bu Eunseol depart.
Tang Gon gave her a peculiar look but soon nodded with a faint smile. "Indeed."
He caught Tang Cheong gazing at the departing elite team with a wistful expression and smiled faintly.
'It seems Cheong has noticed something. That’s worrying.'
Tang Cheong possessed a range of mysterious abilities even Tang Gon didn’t fully understand. Moreover, her stubborn and tenacious nature meant she never let go of something she desired.
'I hope he escapes her grasp unscathed,' Tang Gon thought, watching Bu Eunseol’s retreating figure. 'Just wait a little longer. I’ll soon stand by your side.'
During his inner energy clash with Jang Song, Tang Gon had a sudden realization: Seon Woojin was Bu Eunseol.
'He used Yin-Yang Energy...'
As Jang Song’s sharp energy pierced his meridians, Tang Gon recalled their time fighting together in Blood Poison Valley. Back then, Bu Eunseol had used a unique shield-like technique to defeat poison-wielding enemies with a sword technique infused with immense inner energy, laced with powerful Yin-Yang Energy.
The energy Seon Woojin had infused in the training chamber also contained Yin-Yang Energy, strikingly similar to what Bu Eunseol had used in Blood Poison Valley.
'It was you.'
In the vast martial world, it was unthinkable for another young master to wield Yin-Yang Energy with such mastery. Tang Gon realized, belatedly, that Seon Woojin was the dear friend he had longed to see even in his dreams.
'Wait just a little longer. The main clan is just beginning to rise.'
Tang Gon had only just achieved greatness and hadn’t yet fully consolidated his control over the Tang Clan or formed an elite direct force. But now that the clan had witnessed and acknowledged his abilities, it would rally around him and grow stronger.
When that happened, he could stand shoulder to shoulder with Bu Eunseol and be a true ally in times of need.
'I don’t know why you became a Martial Alliance leader,' Tang Gon thought.
If he were an ordinary person, he might have grown suspicious or probed into why the heir of Majeon had taken on the role of a Martial Alliance leader. But to Tang Gon, such details were irrelevant.
Bu Eunseol remained a friend worth more than life itself. His relentless pursuit of strength was driven by concern for Bu Eunseol, who repeatedly clashed with the ten demonic sect leaders.
And Bu Eunseol, understanding his heart, had come to the Tang Clan’s aid in its time of crisis, concealing his true identity to help as best he could.
Before their deep friendship, the divide between Majeon and the Righteous Path was no obstacle at all.
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