“Did you think mere imitation would suffice!”
Gwa Cheok snarled, face twisted in displeasure.
He scrambled on all fours, creating dozens of shadows.
Whoosh!
One shadow shot forth like lightning.
But Bu Eunseol was no longer there.
Swish! Whoosh!
Bu Eunseol and Gwa Cheok moved chaotically like two beasts, clashing and separating repeatedly.
Spurt!
Finally, the outcome was decided.
Blood gushed from Gwa Cheok’s neck where he collided with Bu Eunseol.
“How do you know the opening move of the Cornered Beast?” Gwa Cheok clutched his throat and demanded. Bu Eunseol replied calmly.
“I know nothing of the sort.”
Gwa Cheok used the Wild Beast Style, imitating beastly movements.
But Bu Eunseol was different.
Not the Wild Beast Style—he had become a true beast.
A human imitating a beast versus a true beast.
The victor was obvious.
“You’ve reached the pinnacle of the Wild Beast Style.”
Thud.
Gwa Cheok finally collapsed from blood loss.
Grrr.
As Bu Eunseol felled Gwa Cheok in an instant, the brawling men around paused and glared at him. Sensing he was the strongest among them, they instinctively aimed to eliminate him first.
Only then could they win.
Whoosh!
Over a dozen remaining men charged Bu Eunseol.
They moved in unison like a pride of lions. Though formed impromptu, they attacked like a long-established pack.
Swish! Whoosh!
As the dozen reversed advances, scratches covered Bu Eunseol’s body.
But no fatal wounds.
Even if dozens of pups pounced, a lion remains unharmed. The more they attacked, the greater the pups’ losses.
Whoosh! Swish!
Bu Eunseol, as one beast, dispatched the chargers one by one.
The Wild Beast Style has no fixed forms.
It combines powerful physical movement and instinct to create new techniques moment by moment.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bu Eunseol's Wild Beast Style was fluid beyond anything the Wild Beast Palace disciples had seen.
Swift and agile like a leopard, cunning like a monkey.
Majestic like a lion, yet tenacious like a wolf.
—Oooooh.
The Wild Beast Palace disciples’ eyes widened in awe.
Bu Eunseol’s Wild Beast Style lacked flashy, pleasing motions. But every movement was razor-sharp, without waste—like a discarded blade.
Whenever he unleashed it, the Wild Beast Palace disciples couldn’t look away.
Thud. Thud.
The charging Wild Beast Palace disciples fell one by one, bleeding. The unharmed dared not approach, crouching motionless.
Sensing unbeatable prowess, they submitted naturally.
Tremble.
When no one dared challenge Bu Eunseol and only trembled,
—Waaaa!
Cheers erupted from all sides.
The Bare-Handed Battle winner was decided.
—Guhwi must have prepared for the tournament long ago.
The Wild Beast Palace elders exchanged glances.
They mistook Bu Eunseol for a subordinate Dae Guhwi had secretly trained for years.
Not unreasonable.
Bu Eunseol’s Wild Beast Style was perfection itself.
But in truth, it wasn’t the Wild Beast Style.
It was Nangyang Pavilion’s art of rapidly absorbing an enemy’s martial principles.
Combined with the Beast Way, which aligned with the Wild Beast Style’s core—it was the pure ‘slaughter instinct’ of a beast.
—Waaaa!
All the Wild Beast Palace members cheered, believing Bu Eunseol a veteran of the Wild Beast Style.
Only Lord Dae Gon’s eyes flashed, face stern.
—Winner, Seolso!
At Yong Mun-gyeok’s shout, Dae Guhwi raised a triumphant fist.
‘Yes!’
Even if the sudden Bu Eunseol won, it wouldn’t look ideal. Though outsiders were allowed, inviting one right before the Grand Wild Cultivation Ceremony invited suspicion.
But Bu Eunseol’s victory via the Wild Beast Style left no room for objection.
“How did this happen?” Dae Guhwi ran up and asked Bu Eunseol. “How does Master Seol know our palace's Wild Beast Style?”
“I once met an eccentric master and learned his similar arts.” Bu Eunseol brushed it off with a lie, but Dae Guhwi seemed convinced.
How he learned it didn’t matter.
Bu Eunseol’s win proved Dae Guhwi’s status.
He could maintain his successor position.
— The First Round of the Majestic Power Battle begins!
With the Bare-Handed Battle over, the Majestic Power Battle started immediately.
The Majestic Power Battle was divided into First and Second Rounds.
First Round: Participants entered the iron cage used in the Bare-Handed Battle one by one.
They had to demonstrate the Ten Thousand Beasts Art by controlling an animal.
Second Round: Enter a building filled with beasts.
Tame or subdue them and exit fastest.
Checking the First Round order, Yong Mun-gyeok shouted.
—Nae Bihon. Begin the First Round!
“Brother Thunder, be careful.”
Nae Bihon smirked at Bu Eunseol’s words. “Don’t worry. I’m well prepared.”
Creak.
Nae Bihon entered the cage and clenched his fist.
‘Bear? Or lion?’
The Wild Beast Palace would prefer a disciple over an outsider to win. Since Bu Eunseol already took the Bare-Handed Battle, they’d make it impossible for Nae Bihon.
Perhaps a ferocious beast from the start to crush him instantly.
Rattle.
The opposite cage door opened.
But no animal appeared.
Nae Bihon scanned puzzledly; Bu Eunseol shouted.
“Brother Thunder. Under your feet.”
Nae Bihon looked down and widened his eyes.
That small black shadow.
It was a tiny mouse.
“Oh.” Dae Guhwi, watching from afar, was dumbfounded.
He expected a difficult, untamable beast.
They wouldn’t want outsiders sweeping both events after the Bare-Handed Battle.
But a tiny mouse?
It was impossible without perfect Ten Thousand Beasts.
“Master Nae can’t handle this.” Dae Guhwi looked regretful.
He had achieved his goal, so no great disappointment.
But without Nae Bihon winning the Majestic Power Battle, the Field of Divine Spirits might be denied.
“It’ll be fine.” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “Brother Nae will surely ease that mouse’s guard and tame it.”
“Master Nae taming a mouse?” Dae Guhwi couldn’t comprehend.
Without perfect Ten Thousand Beasts, small animals couldn’t be tamed.
Mice hate light and avoid humans extremely.
But as Bu Eunseol sat leisurely, Dae Guhwi sat too.
“…” Nae Bihon in the cage simply gazed at the mouse.
Even with Thunder Divine Energy restored, taming a mouse was impossible.
Yet a relaxed smile played on his lips.
“Come.” He extended his hand and called boldly.
“Here, boy!”
—Hahaha!
The Wild Beast Palace disciples watching burst into laughter.
Ten Thousand Beasts commands all beasts with emanating aura, not words.
Yet he extended a hand and spoke?
Not the Wild Beast Palace’s Ten Thousand Beasts at all.
Squeak.
But something strange happened.
The mouse looked at Nae Bihon and happily climbed his shoulder.
A mouse that should flee from humans.
Squeak squeak.
It nuzzled affectionately into his palm.
Like begging to be petted.
—Could he converse with animals like our founding ancestor?
The Wild Beast Palace disciples were stunned.
Taming a mouse with words, not the Ten Thousand Beasts’ power?
—Nae Bihon, First Round passed!
With no choice but to acknowledge, the Wild Beast Palace disciples cheered.
“What on earth?” Dae Guhwi approached, mixed shock and joy. Nae Bihon smiled lowly.
“Didn’t I say humans and animals are the same?”
Bu Eunseol glanced around with a subtle smile and whispered to Nae Bihon. “Brother Thunder, rest inside until the Second Round.”
“Will do.”
Nae Bihon entered Dae Guhwi’s tent with Bu Eunseol. He checked the surroundings and wiped his hands clean.
“What’s that?” Only then did Dae Guhwi notice water and powder on Nae Bihon’s hands.
“No way.”
He gaped.
Slight water and fine powder—made from various foods no animal dislikes.
“Master Seol. How?”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly. “Brother Thunder used a little trick to pass the First Round.”
“But that doesn’t make sense.” Dae Guhwi shook his head. “If he held such powder, the scent would be detected.”
The Wild Beast Palace disciples have beast-like senses, noses keen as dogs.
Carrying scented powder would be exposed.
“They couldn’t smell it.” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “We froze then dried it to remove the scent.”
When Dae Guhwi explained the Majestic Power Battle, Nae Bihon asked Bu Eunseol.
—Can we get ice here?
Of course—Bu Eunseol mastered the Heavenly Glacial Secret of eternal ice.
Per Nae Bihon’s request, various foods were pulverized, mixed with water, frozen via Heavenly Glacial Secret, then dried.
Before the tournament, Nae Bihon had gripped it, his body heat melted the food powder on his hands, taming the animal.
Even dog-nosed Wild Beast Palace disciples couldn’t smell frozen-dried, scentless powder from dozens of jang away.
“I figured they’d send small animals.” Dae Guhwi’s eyes widened at Nae Bihon’s mutter.
“How?”
“Because it's the hardest.” Nae Bihon said calmly. “I predicted an untamable small beast from the start. Hence the trick.”
Free of madness, Nae Bihon was a strategist rivaling Bu Eunseol.
—The Majestic Power Battle, Second Round begins!
Yong Mun-gyeok’s shout rang outside.
The Second Round, Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts, began.
The Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts.
A gateway containing all the dangerous beasts of the Palace.
To exit, one must fully tame and control every animal inside. Otherwise, beasts attack at each section.
Killing is forbidden, but subduing by force is allowed.
But without inner energy, it was just bare-handed combat.
The Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts crowns the fastest to exit. Fighting beasts bare-handed wastes endless time. Thus, the perfect Ten Thousand Beasts wins the Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts.
—Nae Bihon! Enter!
Last was Nae Bihon.
Fastest prior record: one sikin, by Heuk Cheonsang—subordinate of fourth successor Dae Yuja, with Ten Thousand Beasts at eight stars.
“Food won’t work here.”
Nae Bihon grinned and entered the Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts without hesitation.
Dae Guhwi looked worriedly at Bu Eunseol.
“Will he be okay?”
Beasts in the Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts wouldn't tame to food; they’d see Nae Bihon as prey.
“Of course.” Bu Eunseol nodded firmly.
Nae Bihon was no ordinary man. Even powerless, he’d clear the Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts safely.
And if his memories came back during that time, he could defeat Blade Emperor’s descendant sooner.
***
The Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts' interior was a long metal corridor.
Faint night-luminous pearls embedded in walls allowed some visibility.
“Beasts at every path.”
Wide enough for dozens to pass simultaneously.
Hidden beasts would emerge as one walked.
Clang!
Opposite side rang with metal; a cage door opened, revealing a massive shadow.
A house-sized, starving giant bear.
Bloodshot eyes, drooling at Nae Bihon.
Clearly a man-eating bear.
Rustle rustle.
The bear approached slowly, feigning disinterest. But thick killing intent emanated, its movements full of cautiousness.
Planning to pounce the moment an opening appeared.
Tap!
Nae Bihon closed the distance first and struck the bear’s head.
Boom!
The bear leaped back in shock.
Even without Thunder Divine Energy, he was the Thunder God who dominated the martial world.
Years of physical training made him strong enough to defeat thousands of men, even without his memories.
Thus, he instantly closed and struck the bear's skull.
—Rooaar!
Enraged, the bear charged madly.
Nae Bihon swung again—useless.
The bear's fur and hide neared three cun thick. Even monstrous bare-handed strength couldn’t fell it without inner energy.
—Grrraah!
Claws raked Nae Bihon, drawing blood as the bear grew frenzied.
Should he continue fighting?
“Ugh.” Nae Bihon dodged nimbly but couldn’t counter.
Claws tore his body and blood flowed everywhere.
“Hoo.” Battling the bear, Nae Bihon’s eyes changed.
Though memory-less, facing death awakened the Thunder God inside him.
Stand.
The bear halted mid-attack.
It now felt overwhelming killing intent and presence from Nae Bihon.
Crackle.
Faint lightning discharged from his body.
Life in peril, the last strand of Thunder Divine Energy gathered in his hands.
‘Once.’ Nae Bihon gazed at his glowing white hands.
Instinct told him.
He had one chance to use this Thunder Divine Energy.
Without stopping the bear, exiting the Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts impossible.
‘Then there’s a way.’ Nae Bihon’s eyes flashed.
He strode toward the bear.
“Here we are.”
His hand touched not the bear but the metal floor. Faint mechanism sounds suggested beast-holding devices nearby.
“Hap!” He roared like thunder.
Thunder Divine Energy poured into the metal floor, not the bear.
Crackle. Boom!
The bear before him collapsed.
Ruuuumble.
Simultaneously, collapsing sounds echoed everywhere. All the beasts in the metal Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts fainted at once.
“Ugh…” Nae Bihon’s body tingled unbearably but he stayed conscious.
Clank.
Stepping forward, a small door opened beside the path with mechanism sounds.
Inside, beasts lay as if dead.
The Gate’s metal floor conducted the Thunder Divine Energy, stunning all waiting beasts.
Clang.
Nae Bihon finally emerged.
—Waaaaa!
Cheers erupted everywhere.
Clearing the Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts in under one gak?
The best record in the Majestic Power Battle history?
“Winner! Nae Bihon!”
—Waaaaa!
Cheers exploded again.
An upset.
Dae Guhwi, unable to use the Power of the Wild, had slipped in succession; and few followed his lead.
Always without proper subordinates, he was to fade quietly after this Grand Wild Cultivation Ceremony.
Yet he produced two grand winners.
—Waaaaa!
Cheers continued for a while.
Likely blessing Dae Guhwi’s promising future.
The Wild Beast Palace, central area, Dae Gon’s quarters.
Unlike typical halls, the Lord’s residence resembled a massive tent. Large carpets covered the floor, where beasts roamed and rested freely.
Befitting a Beast-wielding Lord, Dae Gon shunned ornate buildings and instead lived in a grand tent with his beasts.
The Wild Beast Palace Lord Dae Gon.
Charcoal-dark skin, over eight cheok tall, and built like five sturdy men side-by-side.
His eyes were clear and sharp, yet his expression was gentle.
Like a highly intelligent beast transformed into man.
Before him stood Dae Guhwi, Bu Eunseol, and Nae Bihon who were summoned to be personally commended for winning the Grand Wild Cultivation Ceremony with their leader Dae Guhwi.
Rustle.
A pair of beastly eyes passed by Dae Guhwi and stopped at Bu Eunseol.
At that moment, the light in Dae Gon's eyes grew even darker.
As their gazes met in the air, dark clouds seemed to rise up inside the tent.
“My Lord!” Dae Guhwi, unable to bear the suffocating air, stepped before Dae Gon.
“Please hear me first.” He spoke urgently.
Dae Gon’s emotions were unreadable - a peerless master who perfected the Beast Way.
A flick of his finger could end a life instantly.
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