Jeong Cheon did not hesitate.
Drinking such a thing was nothing to him.
If it meant becoming stronger.
If he could perfectly master this formidable technique, he would have willingly offered his soul to the devil himself.
From that day forward, Jeong Cheon began to gradually master two of the Seven Blood Tear Forms. Yet, he still couldn’t perfectly grasp the essence and techniques of the forms.
Ironically, it was because of this contradiction.
His inner strength, amplified several times over, and his steel-like endurance that never tired. And the influence of the drug that made even death feel indifferent. He should have savored the meaning of death without fear. Instead, his enhanced power, stamina, and spirit prevented him from fully mastering the technique.
‘I can perform the technique somehow, but it becomes a different form from its original essence.’ Though he had mastered it in his own way, it felt significantly inferior compared to what the outcast had demonstrated.
If so, he would never achieve a decisive victory against the heir of Majeon, whom he considered his rival and who shook the martial world.
‘I just need to try harder. More.’ Jeong Cheon increased his dosage of the Ignition Pill and consumed artificial inner elixirs and various drugs provided by them.
As a result, the power of his technique grew stronger, but his body deteriorated, and his spirit, once resolute, became numb beyond endurance.
“Ha ha ha! Hahaha!” Finally, Jeong Cheon completed his own version of the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
Leaving the Nine Valleys Mountain, he slaughtered not only the puppets but also the martial artists who came to this place. Not long ago, he had even defeated an old man who seemed to be the Bullet King with a single technique.
“Is it time to feast now?”
But then, an old man in a mask appeared.
He had come, as if by some ghostly instinct, knowing Jeong Cheon had completed the technique.
Clang!
But Jeong Cheon couldn’t defeat the old man. Within a dozen moves, he suffered a critical injury and collapsed to the ground.
“It’s no good after all.” The masked old man looked down at Jeong Cheon, curled up in a pool of blood, and muttered. “As expected, the Seven Blood Tear Forms cannot be mastered by mere martial talent alone. It requires someone whose spirit aligns with the Seven-Finger Demon Blade.”
He clicked his tongue, as if disappointed. “Tch, what a waste of time.”
The masked old man coldly addressed Jeong Cheon, who was curled up like an insect.
“You’re no longer useful, so we’ll use you as a test subject.”
Thereafter, Jeong Cheon was dragged away by their hands, bound in chains.
He was injected with all sorts of drugs and subjected to human experiments.
That was the last memory Jeong Cheon could recall.
***
Having finished his recollection, Jeong Cheon gave a bitter smile.
“That’s how it happened.” Bu Eunseol, who had listened to the entire story, had a glint of bloodlust in his eyes.
The Three Realms, the Three Realms, again and again.
They had used Jeong Cheon’s desire for strength, dragging a prodigious talent like him into an irreversible abyss. And in the end, they committed unspeakable, cruel experiments.
When the underground fortress of the Three Realms collapsed due to Bu Eunseol and Gongsun Dana, they abandoned Jeong Cheon, now a puppet, and fled.
“There’s no one to blame. In the end, it was my own misguided choice.”
“Brother Jeong.”
“From the start, I was someone who could never surpass you.”
Trickle.
Black blood began to flow from the corner of his mouth.
“I tried to master the Seven Blood Tear Forms to surpass you, but laughably, the true version was with you.” Jeong Cheon sighed as he spoke.
“So, you were the true heir of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade.”
Bu Eunseol nodded with a grave expression. “I obtained its essence by chance.”
“I see.” A deep, dark light lingered in Jeong Cheon’s eyes.
The person he so desperately wanted to surpass held the complete essence of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade. Even if he had perfectly mastered two forms, the victory he envisioned was never to be.
“Brother Jeong. Where did the outcast who taught you the technique go?”
Bu Eunseol had to find that outcast.
Only by finding him could he uncover the truth about Bu Zhanyang, the Seven-Finger Demon Blade.
“He didn’t specify his destination. But…” Jeong Cheon gave a faint smile.
“I could tell. He returned to the Heavenly Mountains.”
“The Heavenly Mountains.”
“Yes. The place where I was training was near the Heavenly Mountains… and his clothes were made of thick animal hides.”
If he was being pursued by a massive organization like the Three Realms? If he had nowhere left to escape…
The Heavenly Mountains, covered in eternal snow and vast beyond measure, would be an ideal place to hide.
“Brother Jeong, hold on. Let’s descend quickly and get you treated.”
Bu Eunseol placed his hand on Jeong Cheon’s life gate acupoint, channeling his inner energy. But Jeong Cheon shook his head, wearing a faint smile.
“It’s fine. I’m beyond saving, so don’t waste your precious energy.”
“Brother Jeong.”
“Still, to be able to request a duel with the sword of the next supreme demon of the martial world… I’m truly fortunate.” With a trembling hand, he grasped Bu Eunseol’s.
“Yuyeon. That child will be alone now. I raised her from childhood, carrying her on my back.”
He was referring to Dam Yuyeon, the Crystal Hall Master of the Red Sky Veil and his junior sister.
“Brother Jeong!”
“Please… take care of her.”
Thud.
Jeong Cheon, still holding Bu Eunseol’s hand, passed away with a serene smile.
He was an exceptional martial artist and an optimistic soul. But after facing Bu Eunseol, whose martial spirit burned fiercely, his life changed completely.
He, too, pursued the martial path, aiming to achieve unrivaled prowess.
Yet, he fell into the temptation of the Three Realms and became their test subject.
But by the grace of heaven, his final destination was under the sword of Bu Eunseol, the young grandmaster of Majeon, whom he so desperately wished to surpass…
His end, at least, was not ignoble.
“Brother Jeong.”
Bu Eunseol carefully lifted his remains.
Dam Yuyeon, the Crystal Hall Master of the Red Sky Veil, loved Jeong Cheon.
Thus, it was only right to deliver his remains to her.
Rumble.
As he opened the door and stepped outside, a clear sky greeted him.
He had finally escaped the wretched underground facility of Mosan.
“Martial Soul Command Lord.” At that moment, Gongsun Dana spoke.
“Are you the heir of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade?”
It was a story that should never have been revealed. But Bu Eunseol instinctively knew he could trust Gongsun Dana.
Though he couldn’t pinpoint why.
“Since I obtained its essence, you could say so.”
“Is he doing well?”
A strange question.
Bu Eunseol shook his head with an odd expression.
“Didn’t he go missing over thirty years ago?”
“Then there must be another Seven-Finger Demon Blade active.”
“Another Seven-Finger Demon Blade? What do you mean?”
Gongsun Dana said with an embarrassed expression. “I overheard by chance, but our Palace Master and the Seven-Finger Demon Blade share a significant connection.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed.
The outcast who taught Jeong Cheon the Seven Blood Tear Forms was not the Seven-Finger Demon Blade himself.
That meant someone else had passed the technique to the outcast.
Could it be that the Seven-Finger Demon Blade was not only alive but also connected to the Divine Water Palace Master?
“Is he alive?”
“I don’t know. The Palace Master spoke of it as if it were a distant memory.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“I don’t know that either. I only overheard her talking with the Blue Family Lord.”
Bu Eunseol gazed at the distant sky.
It seemed he would have to visit the Divine Water Palace after all.
“Are you returning to the Divine Water Palace?”
“Yes.”
“Is it possible for a figure from the demonic path to visit there?” At Bu Eunseol’s words, Gongsun Dana nodded with a delighted expression.
“Of course. Our Palace Master doesn’t care about the distinctions of righteous or demonic and loves talented individuals. If she learns you’re the heir of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade, she’ll be thrilled.”
“Why would she be thrilled?”
“It doesn’t matter. The Palace Master said the true Seven-Finger Demon Blade was a highly righteous person.”
“The true Seven-Finger Demon Blade?”
Gongsun Dana said nonchalantly. “According to the Palace Master, there were several people acting as the Seven-Finger Demon Blade back then.”
“Several?” Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Didn’t this mean the Divine Water Palace Master knew quite a bit about the Seven-Finger Demon Blade?
“Yes. She said she secretly operated in the martial world in the past.”
This was new information.
The Divine Water Palace Master, known for rarely appearing in the martial world, had secretly roamed the martial realm and encountered multiple Seven-Finger Demon Blades? Why was such a fact unknown in the martial world?
‘The martial world is more complex than I thought.’
Bu Eunseol had believed sect leaders only concerned themselves with their sect’s affairs.
But in reality, they secretly schemed or assumed other identities…
Exerting influence, great and small, over the martial world.
“She said she encountered several people claiming to be the Seven-Finger Demon Blade. Well, it’s common in the martial world to borrow the names of great figures.” Gongsun Dana spoke casually. “For all I know, there are probably plenty of people out there using the name of the Martial Soul Command Lord.”
Bu Eunseol scratched his cheek and nodded.
He, too, had once used the revered name of the Golden True Dragon.
“Then I’ll definitely visit the Divine Water Palace later.”
For now, the priority was finding the outcast who taught Jeong Cheon, not the Divine Water Palace Master. But what Bu Eunseol didn’t know, even in his dreams, was that he would soon visit the Divine Water Palace to save someone…
“Take care until then, my lady.”
Bu Eunseol, uncharacteristically, gave a faint smile and bowed.
Gongsun Dana, too, smiled and clasped her hands together.
“I look forward to the Martial Soul Command Lord’s visit.”
Both possessed peerless beauty and shared a disregard for appearances.
Thus, they could treat each other comfortably, and having faced great and small trials together… a small bond of friendship was budding.
***
Under a dazzlingly blue autumn sky, a vast snow-covered mountain range loomed.
The Heavenly Mountains.
Once home to the mysterious Heavenly Mountain Sect, its endless ranges were said to be dotted with the mystical White Clear Flower Essence Herb, which restored youth.
Covered year-round in eternal snow, with numerous strange caves… besides the Heavenly Mountain Sect, ascetics seeking enlightenment also came here. But as its spiritual energy waned, the mystical herbs vanished, and many caves collapsed.
No longer a place for habitation.
Now, only martial artists seeking the legend of the White Clear Flower Essence Herb or herb gatherers ventured here.
Swish.
Two shadows rapidly ascended the frozen Heavenly Mountains.
A young man in thin martial robes, undaunted by the bone-chilling cold, and a woman clad in white fur.
They were Bu Eunseol and Soyo.
The Three Realms possessed an intelligence network surpassing both righteous and demonic martial factions. If Bu Eunseol mobilized a large force, his movements and objectives would be exposed immediately.
Thus, he had called Soyo, who had been assigned to Seo Jinha, and the two ascended the Heavenly Mountains alone.
Of course, before that, he had stopped by the Red Sky Veil to respectfully deliver Jeong Cheon’s remains.
Dam Yuyeon couldn’t accept Jeong Cheon’s death. She mistakenly believed Bu Eunseol was responsible, as his body bore the marks of demonic sword techniques.
But Bu Eunseol didn’t explain.
Once Dam Yuyeon regained clarity, she would surely investigate and easily discover that Bu Eunseol wasn’t the culprit.
And while she was in such anguish… having someone to blame might ease her heart slightly.
‘If he knows the Seven Blood Tear Forms without being the Seven-Finger Demon Blade, he must be his disciple.’
Snapping out of his reverie, Bu Eunseol refocused on the task at hand.
On reflection, it was strange.
The Seven Blood Tear Forms were impossible for ordinary people to learn, their power considered unrivaled in the current era.
A martial artist’s ultimate technique is as precious as their life.
So why did the outcast give Jeong Cheon a manual containing such a technique?
What did he hope to achieve?
‘Moreover, the idea that there are multiple Seven-Finger Demon Blades.’
Did Bu Zhanyang, the Seven-Finger Demon Blade create a shadow to share everything, like Bu Eunseol and Seo Jinha?
Or did the Divine Water Palace Master merely encounter martial artists imitating his fame?
What was certain was that finding the outcast would reveal the Seven-Finger Demon Blade’s whereabouts or secrets.
“This place seems as good as any.” Soyo, running alongside, spoke up. “If you were being pursued by a large force.”
Bu Eunseol turned to look at Soyo.
Wearing black martial robes in a snow-covered mountain would make one stand out. Thus, he had acquired white fur clothing suitable for the snowy mountains.
Already petite and pale, Soyo, draped in white from head to toe, looked like a fairy born from snowflakes.
‘Soyo hasn’t experienced such things, has she?’
After meeting Gongsun Dana, Bu Eunseol had learned something.
That beauty could attract envy, jealousy, and discrimination from others.
“What?” Feeling Bu Eunseol’s gaze, Soyo blinked. “Is something on my face?”
“No, I was agreeing with you.” Bu Eunseol quickly averted his gaze and changed the subject. “In a place like this, even an army of tens of thousands would struggle to find you for long.”
The Heavenly Mountains, divided into South, North, and Central ranges, were vast and harsh, impossible to endure without exceptional martial skills. Even if the Three Realms held the entire martial world in its grasp, they couldn’t deploy enough forces to scour the vast Heavenly Mountains.
Even with tens of thousands of soldiers, finding a hidden figure would be impossible.
“But if someone intends to hide here long-term, it’s a great place.” Soyo looked at the snow-covered mountains and said calmly.
“That’s also disadvantageous for us.”
“Indeed.” Bu Eunseol nodded.
Finding a lone figure in these vast mountains with just two people was practically impossible.
Moreover, the outcast who taught Jeong Cheon had not only deeply mastered the Seven Blood Tear Forms, which even Bu Eunseol hadn’t fully perfected, but also evaded the Three Realms’ pursuit. His martial skills and cunning were likely exceptional, and he wouldn’t leave traces carelessly.
“Let’s rest for a bit.”
Seeing a cave in the distance, Bu Eunseol headed toward it.
“How do you plan to find him?”
When Soyo asked, Bu Eunseol replied. “He’s been relentlessly pursued for a long time. He’d likely choose a place where he could endure long-term and observe approaching threats.”
“Hmm.”
“No matter how vast the Heavenly Mountains are, there aren’t many places meeting those conditions. We’ll quickly scout such locations first.”
“The pursuers must have already tried that.”
“Of course. But I have a special tracking technique. No matter how old, I can find traces thoroughly.” Bu Eunseol said confidently. “By carefully distinguishing those traces, we might find him.”
But Soyo’s expression was odd.
Wasn’t there a hint of pity and sympathy in her eyes?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It seems tough.”
“What do you mean?”
With a compassionate gaze, Soyo said. “You’ve never lived an easy day. Always calculating, anticipating every possibility… living like that.”
“Isn’t that normal?” Bu Eunseol countered, as if it were strange. “Every martial artist lives like that. The martial world is where those who anticipate and calculate more survive.”
Instead of replying, Soyo looked at him with an affectionate gaze.
Her eyes seemed to pat Bu Eunseol’s head with an invisible hand.
Perhaps because she was older, she always seemed to feel the need to protect him.
Jingle. Jingle.
Suddenly, a faint bell sound echoed from somewhere.
Bu Eunseol and Soyo exchanged glances, instantly suppressing their presence.
The bell sound grew closer, heading directly toward them.
Jingle.
As the sound became clearer, shadows appeared on the ridge.
Their eyes were black, and they staggered as if drunk. From a distance, they looked like boneless figures moving in a group.
They were puppets created by the Three Realms.
“They’ve thought of an interesting method.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
Puppets were immune to cold and heat, with endurance several times that of ordinary people. In the vast Heavenly Mountains, releasing hordes of blood-craving puppets would make it easy to find a hidden target.
“And they’ve even devised a way to quickly detect anomalies.”
Bells hung at the waists of the puppets, ringing with their movements. As long as they moved slowly before finding an enemy, the bells would ring steadily. But upon spotting an enemy, their rapid movements would cause the bells to ring frantically.
By releasing hordes of puppets, they had devised a way to easily flush out a hidden target.
“I’ll handle them.” As Soyo stepped forward, Bu Eunseol nodded.
She was finally roaming the martial world openly, so it was only right to give her a chance to stretch her skills.
Twang!
Soyo drew her short bow and fired arrows at the puppets.
Swish!
As the arrows flew, the puppets quickly tried to swing their broadswords.
Whoosh.
But the arrows vanished.
At the same time,
Thud!
Arrows were embedded in the backs of their heads. It seemed like a single shot, but it was actually a double shot using the Revolving Technique.
Jingle. Jingle.
The puppets with arrows in their heads collapsed. Those unharmed showed little reaction.
Jingle jingle jingle!
Then, as if spotting Soyo, they suddenly charged at tremendous speed.
Roar!
The puppets closed the distance in an instant, swinging their massive broadswords at Soyo. Their techniques were simplistic and posed little threat, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming.
Pop!
As the puppets charged, Soyo leaped into the air, firing arrows in succession.
Twang twang!
The arrows didn’t hit their bodies but embedded in the ground around them. The puppets let out eerie grins, raising their broadswords, waiting for Soyo to land.
But something unexpected happened.
Whip! Whiplash!
Sharp wires shot out from the embedded arrows, slicing through the puppets’ legs in one stroke.
As the creatures lost balance with their ankles severed,
Slash.
Landing on the ground, Soyo drew a dagger and swiftly beheaded them like lightning.
“An intriguing combat style.” Bu Eunseol let out an exclamation of admiration.
The Hundred-Split Assassin Sect was renowned for crafting diverse and unique arrows.
Soyo, a top assassin of the sect, had inherited their techniques.
While training as a deputy leader of the Death Spirit Corps, she developed arrows with various functions.
And now, she was using these unique arrows as needed.
Jingle. Jingle. Jingle.
But then, loud bell sounds echoed from the surroundings again.
Though Soyo had quickly dispatched the puppets, the ringing bells had attracted more.
Jingle jingle jingle!
Another group of puppets charged at Soyo.
Boom!
Before Soyo could fire her bow again, a red whirlwind grazed her, sending the attacking puppets flying dozens of yards away.
Bu Eunseol had used the Soul-Destroying Chain Technique.
“Soyo, no need to deal with them one by one. They’ve released quite a number.”
Boom boom boom!
Bu Eunseol unleashed the Seven Fist Demon Forms in succession, sending the charging creatures into a distant cave. The Three Realms’ manipulators likely wanted to erase traces of the battle to avoid detection.
To pursue the outcast smoothly, they needed to evade their attention discreetly.
“Let’s move again.”
“Alright.”
As Bu Eunseol and Soyo prepared to move,
“Hey!”
An irritated shout echoed from inside the cave.
Boom!
The creatures sent into the cave were flung back out, shattered into pieces.
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