Boom!
In that interval, Bu Eunseol was struck by yet another palm force.
Hiss!
White smoke rose from Bu Eunseol’s body as he was pushed back about a zhang.
The terrifying palm force of the Demon-Subduing Dragon-Trapping Palm had shattered his protective true qi, and sharp streams of inner energy had pierced into his meridians.
Whoosh!
But the Ban-Geuk Method activated immediately, beginning to expel the vicious true qi that had infiltrated his meridians.
Watching this, the Heavenly Deity nodded.
[Your inner energy is truly remarkable.]
The Heavenly Deity shifted his stance once more.
This time, nine streaks of palm force—so swift they could not be detected—burrowed into Bu Eunseol’s body.
It was the Nine Dragons Subduing Demons Technique of the Heavenly Thunder Divine Lord, who had dominated the martial world three hundred years ago.
Boom boom boom!
Bu Eunseol changed direction ninety-nine times on the spot, evading all nine palm forces completely yet the grazing palm forces suddenly exploded like gunpowder, and the aftermath wounded his meridians once again.
Seizing the opportunity, the Heavenly Deity unleashed more extinct demonic arts and transcendent secret techniques lost to the martial world.
These were overwhelming martial arts that Bu Eunseol could neither grasp their subtlety in a single exchange nor fully block.
‘This man knows me far too well.’
Because he had deeply mastered the martial arts of Nangyang Pavilion, whenever a new martial subtlety appeared, he instinctively analyzed and assessed it. As the Heavenly Deity lavishly poured out profound martial arts unknown to the current martial world, Bu Eunseol unconsciously began evaluating their subtleties.
It was natural for a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion, but in a life-and-death battle against an expert like the Heavenly Deity, it was something he absolutely should not do.
[You seem to have realized it now.]
The Heavenly Deity wore a mocking smile.
[But it will not be as easy as you think. Especially for someone like you, who has engraved martial arts deeply into both mind and body.]
He was right.
Bu Eunseol had tried to ignore the martial arts the Heavenly Deity unleashed and focus on countering, but as brilliant martial subtleties poured out with every move, all his senses instinctively began assessing them.
This created a subtle division of focus, inevitably exposing vulnerabilities.
It was truly an ingenious method devised specifically to counter a martial arts maniac like Bu Eunseol.
[Death is finally coming into view.]
“Hahaha.”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol burst into laughter.
His expression was filled with such joy and delight that the Heavenly Deity felt irritated.
[Why are you laughing?]
“Not only distinguishing the high and low of martial arts, but grasping the characteristics and nature of the enemy’s arts… and turning their strengths into weaknesses instead.”
Bu Eunseol wore an admiring expression and raised his thumb.
“As expected of the Heavenly Deity. I have learned something.”
Clapping his hands, Bu Eunseol smiled at the Heavenly Deity.
“As repayment for teaching me the principles of martial arts… from now on, I shall face you with those very subtleties.”
[Madman.]
The Heavenly Deity sneered.
To master the secret of eternal life, he had learned countless demonic and secret arts scattered throughout the martial world.
In terms of martial principles, mastering a variety of outstanding secret arts could never become a weakness.
Whooosh. Crack.
Meanwhile, Bu Eunseol’s hair turned silver, and pure white energy swirled fiercely around his fists.
He had raised the Heavenly Glacial Secret once more.
[Pointless.]
Whoosh!
The Heavenly Deity used the Crimson-Azure Demonic Qi to scatter a mist-like energy over Bu Eunseol’s body.
Slash!
But Bu Eunseol employed the Great Ice Seal to absorb the Crimson-Azure Demonic Qi into his body and closed the distance with the Heavenly Deity again.
Rumble!
In that instant, white lightning surged, and Bu Eunseol’s hands appeared to multiply into dozens.
It was the fist art of the Fist King, Seok Chi-haeng.
He had applied the Water Cloud Void Form from the Azure Heaven Seven Forms.
Whoosh! Whooosh!
Every time Bu Eunseol unleashed his fist art, dozens of hand shadows poured forth.
The Heavenly Deity mixed the Heaven's Reversal Technique and Demon-Subduing Dragon-Trapping Palm to deflect them in a single motion.
The moment he redirected the onslaught, the enemy would inevitably expose a vulnerability.
The Heavenly Deity, with ideal martial subtlety, responded perfectly and prepared to counter Bu Eunseol.
Rumble! Ruuuumble!
But Bu Eunseol’s Water Cloud Void Form shifted into the Fist Demon Emergence Form.
Though called a shift, it was in fact changing the martial art mid-execution.
Thus, the Heavenly Deity’s perfect response became futile.
The situation was like a master of the flute and the zither meeting by chance and improvising a duet—only for the flute player to suddenly ruin the melody in a chaotic mess.
[Such tricks will not work.]
Realizing Bu Eunseol’s intent, the Heavenly Deity unleashed powerful martial arts regardless of what Bu Eunseol deployed.
But that was his second mistake.
Whoosh!
As if waiting for it, Bu Eunseol began wildly unleashing fist arts in close quarters with the Heavenly Deity.
Boom boom!
In the end, Bu Eunseol was struck by the Heavenly Deity’s palm and pushed back several steps.
The palm rivaled the power of an ultimate divine sword, yet astonishingly, Bu Eunseol only spat blood and suffered no significant damage.
[You bastard!]
Irritated, the Heavenly Deity unleashed the Demon-Subduing Dragon-Trapping Palm once more.
Not only did the moves change mid-execution, but the force accelerated, reaching power capable of shattering mountains and splitting rivers.
Yet Bu Eunseol did not retreat, pouring out hundreds of fist shadows.
Facing the Heavenly Deity, he had unconsciously combined the Seven Fist Demon Forms with the fist arts of Seok Chi-haeng, achieving yet another leap.
The Transcendent Seven Fist Demon Forms.
Rumble! Boooom!
The Demon-Subduing Dragon-Trapping Palm and the Transcendent Seven Fist Demon Forms.
As the fist and palm arts representing the righteous and demonic paths clashed, waves of true qi spread over twenty zhang, and explosive roars shook heaven and earth.
Crackle.
Whenever the Heavenly Deity landed a strike on Bu Eunseol’s body, strange vibrational waves emanated from him.
‘Extreme Yin and Extreme Yang.’
The Heavenly Deity narrowed his eyes. Now he saw that Bu Eunseol was unleashing his fist arts while channeling Extreme Yin and Yang energy.
It applied the subtlety of Heaven-Earth Split Strike from the Azure Heaven Seven Forms, which annihilated all martial arts.
By simultaneously harboring conflicting energies, even as he continually took the Heavenly Deity’s attacks, he could protect his meridians and reduce their power.
Whirl!
Bu Eunseol, channeling Extreme Yin and Yang, endlessly poured out the improved Transcendent Seven Fist Demon Forms.
Though circulating Extreme Yin and Yang within his body prevented him from infusing inner energy, reducing raw power, the profound moves allowed him to unleash dozens of fist shadows.
The Heavenly Deity continually struck his body with secret arts, yet Bu Eunseol, bloodied, kept charging relentlessly.
[Hmph!]
The Heavenly Deity snorted in annoyance.
Bu Eunseol’s persistent close-range fist arts were gradually landing on his body.
Though devoid of inner energy, the sheer physical force behind the fists could shatter boulders.
It posed no threat to his life, but the constant irritating contact soured his mood.
[So you planned to buy time this way!]
As the Heavenly Deity roared in anger, Bu Eunseol smiled.
“I have no intention of risking my life against a half-rotten corpse to decide victory.”
[You insolent…]
The Heavenly Deity’s face twisted.
Only then did he realize Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess had reached not the height of the Supreme Heavenly Realm, but a highly unique state.
Yet the Heavenly Deity did not panic and carefully observed Bu Eunseol’s martial arts.
Because he possessed a hidden trump card that could counter even a master of the Infinite Realm.
‘He refuses to deploy the vacuum and insists on this brawl.’
From the beginning, the Heavenly Deity had been certain of victory because he predicted Bu Eunseol’s vacuum possessed transcendent power beyond imagination.
To single-handedly dispose of Hyeok Ryeon-eung, the Dharma Demon Reverend, leaving no trace… that was only possible with martial arts of power rivaling the Infinite Realm.
Yet suddenly enduring potentially fatal injuries to engage in close-quarters brawling, fighting persistently like third-rate thugs in a street scuffle?
‘This fellow anticipated my hidden trump.’
The Heavenly Deity unleashing lost secret arts of the martial world had been to force Bu Eunseol into using powerful secret arts transcending martial prowess.
But that had been a mistake.
Among all past experts of Nangyang Pavilion, Bu Eunseol possessed unparalleled insight and analytical ability.
After only a few exchanges, he had completely predicted the Heavenly Deity’s techniques and ultimate secrets.
Thud thud thud!
Moreover, the Seven Fist Demon Forms which had been improved through fighting Seok Chi-haeng were perfectly optimized for brawling.
Gradually losing momentum, Bu Eunseol soon left the Heavenly Deity no openings to deploy martial arts, unleashing relentless chained attacks.
Boom! Boom!
Before long, Bu Eunseol landed eighty-eight fist strikes on the Heavenly Deity’s body.
Crack.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Deity’s skin began cracking like dry biscuits.
The effect of absorbing the Special Divine Ranks’ life force had worn off, and his flesh was gradually crumbling.
[Fine.]
As if resolving something, the Heavenly Deity untied the headband from his head.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and faint black entities began swirling around his body.
‘As expected, he had it.’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed as he gazed at the gem on the Heavenly Deity’s headband.
‘The Black Divine Flag.’
The reason the Heavenly Deity could unleash those absurd, sorcery-like bizarre great methods until now was precisely because his headband contained the Black Divine Flag.
“No chance.”
Bu Eunseol ceased channeling Extreme Yin and Yang, and released inner energy to unleash the Seven Fist Demon Forms.
Whirl!
Yet the fist art passed straight through the Heavenly Deity’s body.
Billow!
At the same moment, the Heavenly Deity’s flesh turned into black mist, rising into the sky and beginning to transform into a demonic form.
Using the power of the Black Divine Flag, he intended to obliterate Bu Eunseol and the entire area in one blow.
Hummm!
A massive wall formed around Bu Eunseol.
It was a mysterious technique similar to the one that had once blocked the Joyang region, impenetrable even to Bu Eunseol’s harmonization power.
Originally, the Black Divine Flag’s function was to instantly reflect the enemy’s unleashed martial arts, killing them in one strike when they deployed their final means.
But sensing that Bu Eunseol had seen through it, the Heavenly Deity changed tactics.
Fully unleashing the Black Divine Flag’s power to create a wall, he sought to annihilate everything inside at once.
[I shall leave not even a trace.]
Flaaare.
The Heavenly Deity’s demonic face staining the sky began pouring black flames toward Bu Eunseol.
He appeared truly god-like, yet to Bu Eunseol’s eyes, he was merely a human consumed by the Black Divine Flag’s function.
[Turn to dust and vanish!]
In that instant, the ground within thirty zhang turned completely black.
The Black Divine Flag sought to extinguish all life within thirty zhang.
Tap!
At that moment, Bu Eunseol unleashed Swift Beyond Shadow.
Blood trickled from his mouth, but he did not stop, leaping toward the Heavenly Deity’s face-like form darkening the sky.
Whooosh.
In that instant, from Bu Eunseol’s sword sheath, golden and crimson light poured out alongside mysterious patterns.
He had fully channeled all his power and the Divine Energies.
‘If it is for the sword Mother made me…’
Transforming into a crimson streak diving into the black mist, multicolored radiance bloomed from Bu Eunseol’s body.
‘Accept all my power!’
Crack!
Capable of destroying everything.
As he infused the Divine Energies and the power of righteous, demonic, and Buddhist energies within him, the Silent Tiger Soul Sword emitted sounds as if on the verge of shattering.
Hummm!
Brilliant light flashed along the blade, resounding with a great sword cry.
As if declaring it could endure.
“Haaah!”
Bu Eunseol soared into the clouds and swung the sword.
In that moment, countless days clashing with the Infinite Realm unfolded.
Those memories took the form of sharp thorns.
The past was already shaped… and no power can change it.
But the future is yet to come and can be altered depending on effort.
What Bu Eunseol sought to cut was neither the Heavenly Deity nor the Black Divine Flag… but the ongoing present, this time that seemed eternal.
“Heavenly……..Deity!”
And with all his strength, he swung the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
In that instant, something miraculous occurred.
Before his eyes stood an ordinary-looking old man.
It was the Heavenly Deity’s appearance before suffering energy deviation.
The Heavenly Deity that had covered the sky had somehow returned to fleshly form.
Hiss!
And the Heavenly Deity’s form was gradually changing.
Not a fully rotted corpse, but transforming into his intact appearance from the days of Ilmongja.
It was a paradox of time.
Bu Eunseol had not cut the Heavenly Deity… but the healthy Ilmongja of the past.
Tap.
Landing back on the ground, before Bu Eunseol stood the Heavenly Deity with an intact body.
“Hah.”
Feeling his existence fading, the Heavenly Deity spoke aloud.
Even after decades, standing in his past healthy body was unbelievable, yet meeting death because of it was equally strange.
“You reversed the time of my flesh and killed this lord?” The Heavenly Deity—no, Ilmongja—wore a hollow smile and nodded.
“Then you were the real one.”
Bu Eunseol frowned.
He had thought the Heavenly Deity, like Hyeok Ryeon-eung, would surely claim he was the son of Baekri Muha.
But suddenly calling him the real one?
What did that mean?
“You still have not realized your fate.”
Ilmongja laughed heartily.
“You are the Heaven-Dark Star.”
“What does that mean?” Bu Eunseol frowned deeply.
Him, the Heaven-Dark Star? Was that not the existence said to bring ruin to the world?
“Heh heh heh. Hahaha!” Ilmongja gazed at the distant sky and laughed as if exhilarated. “All the plans have gone awry. How satisfying!”
The Heavenly Deity burst into mad laughter.
“All your calculations were wrong!”
Psssh.
At the same time, his body scattered into dust in all directions.
Due to the power Bu Eunseol had unleashed, his flesh was destroyed beyond further fragmentation.
“Due to my arrogance, this realm finally vanishes…”
From the beginning, he had predicted Bu Eunseol could never topple the Infinite Realm no matter what. Believing he would easily win even in a one-on-one duel, he had not sought aid from the other Three Realms or the Supreme Emperor.
Thus, both the Infinite Realm’s main base and secret ground had collapsed.
“But I have no regrets.”
Turning to dust, the Heavenly Deity smiled faintly.
“I shall enjoy watching the world’s annihilation from hell.”
Psssh.
With those final words, Ilmongja completely turned to dust and scattered.
That was the final end of the Infinite Realm's Heavenly Deity, known as the Medicine Immortal Ilmongja.
“I am the Heaven-Dark Star…”
Bu Eunseol gazed down at his hands.
He had no intention of annihilating the martial world or harming the common folk. So why call him the Heaven-Dark Star?
—The Baekri family could manifest the mental world into reality with mysterious power. And that is…
‘The Heaven-Dark Star.’
Recalling Yangseol Rin’s words, Bu Eunseol fell to his knees, planting the Silent Tiger Soul Sword into the ground.
“I was the one who would annihilate the martial world… that Heaven-Dark Star.”
His eyes lost focus.
He had no interest in the martial world’s situation or safety.
He had only sought to avenge his grandfather and family.
Yet looking back, he had habitually said things like:
—If it is a world protected by sacrificing the many for the few… would it not be better for such a world to vanish?
“I…”
Bu Eunseol clutched his forehead.
In retrospect, he had always unconsciously thought that way.
The Martial Alliance, Majeon, the Three Realms, the Three Families—all places that should be destroyed.
If the world was sustained at the cost of someone’s sacrifice, it deserved to vanish.
“Could all my actions… be leading the world to ruin?”
Nausea rose within him.
The Three Realms raised the banner of protecting the martial world while sacrificing innocent people, under the conviction of protecting the many through the sacrifice of the few.
Could their delusion be right, and his choices instead leading the martial world to annihilation?
“No.”
Bu Eunseol gazed at the distant sky and clenched his fist tightly.
“There is no fate.”
That was his grandfather’s teaching.
—With ceaseless effort, humans can develop without limit and forge their own path.
“And I do not believe truths handed down by others.”
That was the truth the Demon Emperor had taught him.
The most important truths should never be heard from another’s mouth.
Rising once more, Bu Eunseol gripped the Silent Tiger Soul Sword’s hilt tightly.
Even if he were the Heaven-Dark Star…
Even if born with such a fate…
He had the confidence to change it.
“I will never submit to something like fate.”
Clack.
Sheathing the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, Bu Eunseol took a deep breath while gazing at the distant sky.
Now was not the time to be consumed by talk of the Heaven-Dark Star or the Hundred Eight Stars.
There was still work to be done.
“It is time to finish this.”
Bu Eunseol looked toward the distant sky.
With the Heavenly Deity dead, all that remained was the final cleanup.
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