When he first saw it, the village seemed nothing but peaceful.
But upon returning to Nangyang, the scenery Bu Eunseol gazed upon was entirely different.
Dragon Pond and Tiger Den.
Now it appeared as a pond where dragons lurked and a cave where tigers crouched.
The old man sitting at the street stall had piercing eyes and a chilling aura emanating from his entire being. The man carrying cabbages, the youth hauling firewood… they were all fearsome masters rarely seen even in the martial world.
What has changed is myself.
Standing at the entrance of Nangyang, sweeping his gaze over the interior, Bu Eunseol let out a deep sigh.
In the span of a year, nothing about Nangyang had changed. It was only because he had faced countless martial artists and gained vast experience in the martial world that he could now truly gauge the strength of Nangyang’s members.
“Master Iron.” Returning to his quarters within Nangyang, Bu Eunseol clasped his hands toward Wang Geol, the master blacksmith standing before the forge. “It’s been a while.” Wang Geol, sensing the completely transformed aura of Bu Eunseol, nodded.
“You’ve made significant progress.”
“Thanks to the path you opened for me, Master Iron.”
“Opened a path, you say…” Wang Geol let out an uncharacteristic chuckle. “Pushing you into a death trap is now called opening a path, it seems.”
It sounded like a joke, but it was the truth.
Bu Eunseol had sought a place to hone his practical martial arts, and Wang Geol had shown him the way. The only catch was that the place was a battlefield where survival was never guaranteed.
“Calling it a death trap doesn’t do justice to how valuable that time was.”
“Not only your martial arts but your eloquence has improved as well.” Wang Geol narrowed his eyes and said, “Once you’ve unpacked, head to the training ground behind Clear Breeze Pavilion.”
Nangyang’s training ground.
A place surrounded by bamboo groves and reed fields, where the masters of Nangyang engaged in sparring that mimicked real combat. It was there that Bu Eunseol had learned the basics of practical martial arts from Dan Cheong.
“The Vice-Sect Leader instructed you to go there upon your arrival.”
“Understood.”
As Bu Eunseol gave another bow and turned to leave, Wang Geol said, “Welcome back.”
Welcome back. Those words brought an endless sense of relief and tranquility to a person. As Wang Geol’s low voice lingered in his ears, Bu Eunseol’s eyes blurred.
“Thank you.”
Whooosh. A desolate wind swept through the yellowed reeds.
You’re late.
Entering the training ground behind Clear Breeze Pavilion, Bu Eunseol stood tall in the middle of the reed field.
“...!” His vacant gaze, fixed on the distant sky, suddenly sharpened.
Step, step.
As he slowly turned, a towering man covered in muscle strode through the reeds. His face, chiseled like a rock, bore a massive broadsword slung over his shoulder. His steps were heavy, like a lion stalking its prey.
It was none other than So Jeon, the Great Leader of the Changsin Corps.
“Corps Leader So.” Bu Eunseol clasped his hands, but So Jeon immediately extended his broadsword.
“Draw your sword.”
“My sword?”
“We’ve delayed your test quite a bit due to various circumstances.” Looking down at Bu Eunseol, So Jeon grinned, revealing long canines. “Shall we get started?”
“Now?” Bu Eunseol asked, shaking his head. “I’ve only just returned to Nangyang today.”
“And what of it?” So Jeon snorted. “Do you think the battles in the martial world wait for your mood or situation?”
His words pierced like a dagger. Tightening his loosened resolve, Bu Eunseol gripped his sword hilt.
“Hmph.” A powerful aura erupted from So Jeon, who had his broadsword slung over his shoulder.
Heavenly Tyrant Sword Momentum.
The peerless blade technique that exuded overwhelming power just by holding the stance.
It’s on a different level. Bu Eunseol had also diligently practiced Heavenly Tyrant Sword Momentum.
But facing So Jeon’s execution of it now, he realized the gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth. The sheer pressure pouring out made it nearly impossible to even draw his sword.
Shing. Drawing his sword, Bu Eunseol suddenly lunged at So Jeon’s neck with lightning speed.
I must overwhelm him in one strike to break through the Blade Mastery!
So Jeon was an unparalleled master whom Bu Eunseol couldn’t face head-on. Even a surprise attack with full force might not last long.
Tremble.
His sword tip quivered slightly as his strike split into four, aiming for the vital points on So Jeon’s chest.
Hum, hum.
But the four streams veered off in random directions before reaching So Jeon’s body. The pressure of Heavenly Tyrant Sword Momentum had distorted his sword path. Seizing the opportunity, So Jeon swung his broadsword.
Whoosh!
With a sound that tore through the air, the broadsword sliced horizontally toward Bu Eunseol’s waist.
Clang.
Sparks flew in all directions as a metallic clash rang out. Bu Eunseol had raised his sword vertically to block So Jeon’s broadsword.
“Ho.” So Jeon raised an eyebrow as Bu Eunseol deflected his strike. “The Heavy Sword Technique.” So Jeon’s broadsword carried the force of ten thousand pounds.
A normal block would have shattered the longsword. Bu Eunseol had used the Heavy Sword Technique to push the broadsword aside.
“Block the Sword Momentum again!”
Whoosh.
So Jeon’s broadsword traced a semicircle in the air, aiming to split Bu Eunseol’s head. At that moment, an overwhelming pressure, like a mountain pressing down, forced Bu Eunseol to crouch low.
I can’t resist the pressure.
Even with the Heavy Sword Technique, it was nearly impossible to fully block the immense power in So Jeon’s broadsword.
I must yield to the force and adapt my swordsmanship. Through countless missions with the Nine Deaths Squad, Bu Eunseol had faced numerous battles.
Among them were masters like So Jeon, wielding immense inner energy and innate divine strength. Each time, Bu Eunseol didn’t resist their power but instead adapted his swordsmanship to their techniques. It was like a choreographed sword dance, moving in harmony with the opponent’s attacks.
This guy! So Jeon showed a hint of surprise.
As Bu Eunseol yielded to his power and defended fluidly, the pressure from Heavenly Tyrant Sword Momentum diminished significantly.
“You’ve gained quite a bit of real combat experience.” So Jeon’s eyes gleamed as he exclaimed. “But that alone won’t do!”
Finally, So Jeon abandoned Heavenly Tyrant Sword Momentum and began unleashing his own practical blade techniques.
These were Nangyang’s combat-oriented blade techniques, swift like the Unmatched Thunderbolt, targeting and destroying an opponent’s weaknesses.
I must counter. If he only defended against So Jeon’s domineering and cunning blade techniques, he’d eventually be overwhelmed or have his weaknesses exploited, with the blade piercing his body.
Whoosh!
As So Jeon’s broadsword unleashed lightning-like techniques, Bu Eunseol countered with full-force swordsmanship.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as the sword and broadsword clashed repeatedly.
Ugh.
Each clash sent a shock through Bu Eunseol’s grip, as if it were tearing apart. The power and inner energy in the broadsword surpassed his limits. But there was no more room to retreat.
I must endure!
Clang!
Channeling his full inner energy, Bu Eunseol deflected the broadsword and thrust his sword toward So Jeon’s armpit. It was the only flaw in So Jeon’s blade techniques.
“You discerned my blade technique’s weakness in that short time?” Even with his weakness targeted, So Jeon didn’t falter. Instead, he laughed heartily and altered his blade technique.
Whoosh!
Bu Eunseol swiftly adapted his swordsmanship in response. It wasn’t pure swordsmanship but a desperate struggle to counter So Jeon’s blade techniques.
“No one can match you in adaptability.” As Bu Eunseol kept pace with the explosive changes in his blade techniques, So Jeon, with a pleased expression, thrust his broadsword forward. “Good.”
Boom!
Unleashing immense pressure, So Jeon pushed Bu Eunseol back several yards and held his broadsword at mid-level.
“Block my final strike.”
Rumble.
As an enormous pressure enveloped him, So Jeon’s figure seemed to vanish into the darkness.
A killing strike? The murderous intent emanating from So Jeon felt like it was choking Bu Eunseol. He was about to unleash a killing strike capable of ending a life in an instant.
“You’d better give it your all. It might be the last thing you see in this life.” Raising his broadsword, So Jeon grinned, making a chilling jest.
Flash!
In that moment, Bu Eunseol saw only a streak of light. He had never imagined such a swift blade technique could be executed with a massive broadsword. Staring at the light, he felt as if he were plunging into endless darkness. He instinctively knew that failing to escape this would mean death.
“Hoo…” Summoning all his inner energy, Bu Eunseol swung his sword with all his might.
His sword instinctively traced a circular arc. Within that circle were all the insights he had gained, the lives of his enemies, and his own life—a strike imbued with his entire being.
Saaaa!
As Bu Eunseol completed the circle, a faint sound like waves accompanied the slow dissipation of the dark. In front of him stood So Jeon, holding his broadsword aloft, his face filled with astonishment.
“Huh.” So Jeon let out a deep sigh unconsciously. “Not only did you block the Blade Head Single Strike, but you broke it…” Stunned that Bu Eunseol had shattered his technique, So Jeon was momentarily speechless.
“What’s the name of that technique?”
“There is none.”
“None?”
As So Jeon raised an eyebrow, Bu Eunseol said quietly, “I simply moved in response to your technique to block it.”
“You moved in response to the technique? Hahaha!” Letting out a boisterous laugh, So Jeon abruptly stopped and said, “It’s been a while since a worthy disciple entered our sect.”
With a whoosh, he sheathed his broadsword behind his back and said, “You’ve passed the test.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head at So Jeon’s straightforward words.
“But it wasn’t a sword technique I intended to use.” It was merely a desperate struggle to survive. Even if asked to perform it again, he couldn’t—a fleeting, instinctive strike.
“That’s how it always begins.” Leaving that cryptic remark, So Jeon turned and left the training ground without hesitation.
I’m still far off. Bu Eunseol had taken pride in his martial arts. But even giving his all, he had only managed to counter one of So Jeon’s strikes.
If this were real combat, my head would already be on the ground. So Jeon had only used a single strike. In a real fight, the Blade Head Single Strike would have been followed by the Heaven-Collapsing Strike, tearing apart heaven and earth.
But there was one fact Bu Eunseol didn’t know…
In all of So Jeon’s tests, no one had ever blocked the Blade Head Single Strike.
“You had quite a bout!” At that moment, a middle-aged man in a blue robe stepped out from the scattered reeds.
His languid eyes and carefree demeanor belied the occasional glint of lightning in his gaze.
It was none other than Dan Cheong, the Vice-Sect Leader of Nangyang.
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