Bu Eunseol couldn’t hide his shock, his eyes wide.
‘Does this mean the Three Realms within the Martial Alliance are controlling even the Four Gods?’
The Seven Kings were not only exceptional in martial arts but also wielded immense influence in the martial world.
The Beggar King, the supreme elder of the Beggars’ Sect, held the orthodox sects’ intelligence network in his grasp.
The Bullet King wandered the martial world alone but was revered by countless orthodox heroes who followed him like clouds.
The Illusion King, Sa Okcheong, elevated illusion and mind-control techniques, once dismissed as sorcery, to the realm of martial arts, becoming a grandmaster of illusion through the Soul-Seizing Spirit Words.
But the Four Gods were different.
They were born with mysterious powers passed down through generations, commanding followers who revered those powers. While the Seven Kings were self-made masters, the Four Gods were heirs to vast legacies.
However, the current Thunder God, Nae Bihon, had squandered his vast inheritance. Known as the most powerful wielder of Thunder Divine Energy among the Thunder Spirit Sect’s leaders, his overwhelming power drove him to madness, earning him a reputation as a madman wandering the martial world alone.
Yet, here was Nae Bihon, at the edge of Yunnan, pursuing Soyo?
Zzt, zzt.
While Bu Eunseol was lost in thought, blue lightning bolts surrounded him.
‘Think later.’
He summoned his inner energy.
Nae Bihon’s Thunder Annihilation, imbued with mighty Thunder Divine Energy, was said to turn anything living into ash instantly. It could also transform into various forms, and a moment’s distraction could burn his body to cinders.
“You’re refusing.” Realizing Bu Eunseol was gathering his energy, Nae Bihon’s eyes flashed. “Then die.”
‘I’ll use Seon Woojin’s techniques as much as possible.’
Strike first, win first.
Before Nae Bihon could attack, Bu Eunseol launched two throwing daggers.
Flash!
The daggers aimed for Nae Bihon’s forehead and lower abdomen.
“Hmph.” With a scoff, two white sparks dropped the daggers to the ground.
But that was Bu Eunseol’s plan.
Flash!
Another dagger struck Nae Bihon’s forehead, timed perfectly as Thunder Annihilation was unleashed and retracted, aiming for a lethal strike.
Zzt.
But the dagger stopped mid-air, sparking white flames. Nae Bihon’s body, cloaked in potent Thunder Divine Energy, repelled metal weapons.
“Worthy of an Emissary's skill.”
‘Emissary?’
Swirl, swirl.
White lightning bolts wove around Bu Eunseol like a net.
He used his movement skill to escape, but—
Zzt, zzt.
Another net of lightning blocked his retreat.
Seon Woojin's’s secret movement techniques couldn’t outpace Nae Bihon’s Thunder Annihilation.
“Now die.”
“Wait.” Feeling something off, Bu Eunseol spoke clearly. “Are you saying you think I, a leader of the Martial Alliance, am a messenger of the Three Realms?”
Nae Bihon scoffed and shouted, “Yes. All Emissaries of the Three Realms must die!”
The lightning surrounding them enveloped Bu Eunseol’s body instantly.
Swish.
Unable to dodge, Bu Eunseol used his Ascending Cloud Technique to evade the net pouring from both sides.
“Kill.”
A white lightning bolt transformed into a sharp spear, piercing Bu Eunseol’s body mid-air.
It hadn’t been launched—it had appeared abruptly in the space before him.
Zing!
But the white lightning stopped, entangled in a black energy flow.
At the critical moment, Bu Eunseol had unleashed Wishful True Binding, ensnaring the spear made of Thunder Annihilation.
Thud.
Landing on the ground, Bu Eunseol said with a grave expression,
“Brother Thunder, I am not an Emissary of the Three Realms.”
It wasn’t Seon Woojin’s clear voice but Bu Eunseol’s cold, emotionless tone.
“Brother Thunder? Heh, haha!” Seeing Bu Eunseol’s changed demeanor and aura, Nae Bihon laughed heartily. “Really? If a master like you isn’t an Emissary, who is?”
Zzt, zzt.
Hundreds of blades made of Thunder Annihilation formed behind Nae Bihon, so numerous they resembled a ceaseless white wave.
“No reasoning with you.” As Bu Eunseol shook his head,
“Haha! Right! What need is there to talk to a Three Realms rat!”
With a laugh, Nae Bihon unleashed the hundreds of gleaming blades toward Bu Eunseol. Hundreds of Thunder Annihilation blades, capable of shredding a body on contact, poured forth.
‘This isn’t martial arts.’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed as he watched the onslaught.
Nae Bihon’s techniques weren’t martial arts. They were merely Thunder Annihilation, fueled by the mysterious Thunder Divine Energy, aimed at obliterating Bu Eunseol’s body.
‘I’m abandoning Seon Woojin’s identity!’
Seon Woojin's’s secret techniques had no means to counter the cascading Thunder Annihilation. Bu Eunseol resolved to use his true power.
Zing.
Black energy waves emanated from his eyes, forming a wall of energy that began blocking the incoming Thunder Annihilation.
Rumble! Zzt, zzt!
Hundreds of Thunder Annihilation blades collided with the thick energy wall created by Wishful True Binding, sending blue sparks flying and a storm-like force threatening to collapse the world.
Thunder Divine Energy could annihilate anything, regardless of inner energy level. But Bu Eunseol’s five hundred years of inner energy, poured into Wishful True Binding, held firm. Even Thunder Annihilation, the pinnacle of Thunder Divine Energy, couldn’t penetrate the energy wall.
“That technique. I knew it. Hahaha!”
Suddenly, Nae Bihon grinned with madness and glee.
“You’re that guy!”
Zzt!
Nae Bihon rushed to Bu Eunseol, drawing a blue sword.
Flash!
The spot where Bu Eunseol stood blackened.
The Thunder Spirit Sect’s ultimate sword art, Thunder Spirit Annihilation, was unleashed.
Rumble! Flash!
Each sword swing brought thunderclaps and white lightning. The deafening sound seemed to tear eardrums, making it impossible to predict the sword’s path. This was Thunder Spirit Annihilation’s ability, neutralizing the heightened senses of masters who relied on hearing.
Clang! Clang, clang!
To counter Nae Bihon’s relentless Thunder Equalization attacks, Bu Eunseol had no choice but to meet Thunder Spirit Annihilation with his iron sword.
Sss.
White smoke began rising from his body. The Thunder Divine Energy in Thunder Spirit Annihilation was infiltrating his meridians through the weapon.
‘This iron sword won’t do.’
Using the iron sword only amplified Thunder Spirit Annihilation’s power.
Zing!
Bu Eunseol unleashed Wishful True Binding again to counter the onslaught.
“Hmph.” As Wishful True Binding reappeared, Nae Bihon’s eyes burned red.
“Yes! Keep using that demonic technique!”
Nae Bihon swung his sword like a madman, slashing at Bu Eunseol.
Rumble!
The sword energy, formed by Thunder Divine Energy, poured onto Bu Eunseol like a single mass.
‘Analyze his swordsmanship first.’
Nae Bihon’s Thunder Divine Energy was more powerful than any technique Bu Eunseol had mastered. But martial arts weren’t about raw power. As the heir of Nangyang, he sought to understand Nae Bihon’s techniques.
Swish.
Bu Eunseol used Swift Beyond Shadow to spread Wishful True Binding like a spider’s web, slowing Thunder Spirit Annihilation.
“Haa! That’s it!”
Each time he used Wishful True Binding, Nae Bihon roared like a madman, saliva dripping.
‘Does he think Wishful True Binding is a Three Realms technique?’
Bu Eunseol had publicly used Wishful True Binding against Heavenly Sword. All orthodox and demonic masters recognized it as the Demon Emperor’s technique. So why did Nae Bihon suspect it was a Three Realms technique and react so violently?
‘Could it be…?’
The Wishful True Binding Bu Eunseol used wasn’t strictly the Demon Emperor’s. He had only briefly entered demonic guidance once and maintained neutrality. Thus, Wishful True Binding had limitations and was significantly weaker. But since the infusion of Great Prajna Power, he could use it multiple times without his energy channels surging.
‘Is he going mad because of Wishful True Binding mixed with Great Prajna Power?’
That couldn’t be.
Great Prajna Power wasn’t externally visible. Was Nae Bihon detecting the orthodox essence mixed with Wishful True Binding?
To confirm, Bu Eunseol twisted his left fist.
Swish, swish!
A strand of energy erupted near his shoulder.
He unleashed the Thirteen Guiding Energies.
Swish!
The strand was instantly erased by Thunder Spirit Annihilation’s power, but it created a small gap. Seizing the moment, Bu Eunseol rapidly moved his right hand, unleashing Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm with Great Prajna Power.
Flutter!
Hearing the chaotic palm technique, Nae Bihon’s eyes widened.
“You’re using both orthodox and demonic techniques alternately!”
Nae Bihon grew even more frenzied, unleashing Thunder Spirit Annihilation wildly.
‘So that’s it.’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes deepened.
From Nae Bihon’s reaction, it seemed some Three Realms Emissaries mixed orthodox and demonic techniques.
“Don’t dodge like a rat, face me!”
Nae Bihon pursued Bu Eunseol like a madman, swinging his sword. His eyes were crazed, and most attacks were nullified by Thunder Divine Energy, making him seem like an immortal monster.
‘The Four Gods aren’t about the intricacy of martial arts.’
Thunder Divine Energy was an unstoppable force, impervious to inner energy or techniques. Nae Bihon’s methods merely amplified this power, not sophisticated martial arts.
‘He even falters when he speaks.’ Noticing that Nae Bihon’s Thunder Divine Energy dispersed when he spoke, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“You…”
‘Now!’
Catching the moment Nae Bihon spoke, dispersing his energy, Bu Eunseol drew his iron sword.
Clang.
‘I need to neutralize his Thunder Divine Energy in one strike.’
Pop.
Hundreds of light points rose from Bu Eunseol’s body.
The Seven Blood Tear Forms, Third Form: Half-Life, Half-Death, unleashed hundreds of sword rings in a single strike.
Boom!
As the sword rings collided with Nae Bihon’s Thunder Annihilation, the world turned white, as if everything had perished.
But something astonishing happened.
“Think someone would fall for such a slow sword technique?”
Before Half-Life, Half-Death fully unfolded, Nae Bihon closed in, pulling Bu Eunseol’s iron sword like a magnet.
Crackle!
The immense power of Thunder Divine Energy, which only a Thunder Spirit Body could wield, poured through the sword into Bu Eunseol’s meridians.
Nae Bihon’s techniques were simplistic, lacking the depth of Bu Eunseol’s martial arts. But his overwhelming Thunder Divine Energy surpassed martial principles.
He aimed to burn Bu Eunseol’s body by unleashing Thunder Divine Energy, which no inner energy could block.
Crackle.
Blue energy waves flowed from Bu Eunseol’s body.
As Thunder Divine Energy threatened to burn his meridians, he summoned the Heavenly Glacial Secret.
But at that moment, his dantian felt empty, and a passage from Yeolha Great True Energy, seen on the stone wall of Yeolha Holy Palace, flashed in his mind.
Knowing contentment, one does not overfill.
The words embedded in his mind, and a surge of heat rose from his dantian.
‘Knowing contentment, one does not overfill.’
The Yeolha Sacred Aura in the Fire Ring Divine Flute had been absorbed into his body but was emptied when he distributed it to a thousand disciples.
In the midst of peril, the true Yeolha Great True Energy shall bloom.
As Thunder Divine Energy threatened to burn his meridians, the passage from Yeolha Great True Energy flashed through his mind.
‘In peril, the Yeolha aura shall manifest…’
Whoosh.
The Yeolha Sacred Aura, thought to be gone, surged back with tremendous force.
Roar!
Majestic flames erupted from Bu Eunseol’s body.
Boom!
With immense heat, it began repelling the incoming Thunder Divine Energy.
Zzt, zzt.
Thunder Divine Energy was said to annihilate all forces, evaporating even Heavenly Glacial Secret instantly. But it couldn’t destroy Yeolha Great True Energy, imbued with extreme yang energy, due to their similar natures. Lightning could evaporate snow and water but not a blazing fire.
“Ugh, ugh!” Nae Bihon began groaning in pain.
The Yeolha Great True Energy rendered his Thunder Divine Energy ineffective. To Bu Eunseol, Nae Bihon was now like an ordinary martial artist. Unable to withstand Bu Eunseol’s vast inner energy, separate from Yeolha Great True Energy, Nae Bihon faltered.
“Ughhh!”
As he poured Thunder Divine Energy through the sword, Nae Bihon’s meridians were on the verge of bursting under the onslaught of Yeolha Great True Energy and Bu Eunseol’s immense inner energy.
‘A pity.’
Looking down at the suffering Nae Bihon, Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed.
His identity exposed, he had no choice but to kill Nae Bihon to silence him. Otherwise, his Seon Woojin alias and his quest to find his grandfather’s killer would be lost.
‘I must be ruthless.’
For a double agent, compassion was a luxury.
As Bu Eunseol steeled himself to destroy Nae Bihon’s meridians,
“I’m sorry…” Blood tears streamed from Nae Bihon’s eyes. “This inadequate father couldn’t stop the fiend who cruelly killed you…”
Trickle.
Blood tears filled with bitter regret and rage flowed from Nae Bihon’s empty eyes.
Nae Bihon had lost his child to the Three Realms, and his hatred for them reached the heavens.
Crunch.
Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
How could he kill Nae Bihon, suffering over his failure to avenge his child?
‘If I don’t kill him, Seon Woojin’s identity could be exposed.’
But Bu Eunseol shook his head.
‘I entered the martial world to avenge my grandfather, not to kill the innocent.’
If he killed an innocent for his grandfather’s revenge, how could he call it honorable?
‘No choice.’
Bu Eunseol sighed deeply and shook his head.
‘I’ll leave it to fate.’
He resolved to spare Nae Bihon, accepting the risk that Seon Woojin’s identity might be exposed.
Hum.
Bu Eunseol halted the flow of his inner energy.
Nae Bihon’s empty eyes filled with confusion. Why would someone who could destroy his meridians stop?
“Go.” As Nae Bihon staggered and collapsed, Bu Eunseol turned with a bitter expression. “I’ll say it again: I’m not part of the Three Realms. If you seek revenge, find the right person.”
An ordinary person would have been grateful to escape death. But Nae Bihon’s face showed humiliation.
“Don’t mock me. Someone who uses Star-Gathering Demonic Energy and orthodox techniques—does such a person exist elsewhere?”
‘Star-Gathering Demonic Energy?’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Star-Gathering Demonic Energy, also known as Star-Gathering Dark Energy, was the exclusive technique of Black Star, one of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars.
Could there be a Black Star heir among the Three Realms’ Emissaries, also trained in orthodox techniques? Or was the Demon Emperor’s Wishful True Binding modeled after Star-Gathering Demonic Energy?
Or perhaps…
‘Is the Demon Emperor a Black Star heir?’
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