“Huu.”
The grotesque figure, who had been making strange noises while staring at Bu Eunseol, suddenly stretched out his hand.
Kwaaaaa!
A crimson light three zhang high poured down toward Bu Eunseol.
Kwaang!
As Bu Eunseol swiftly dodged the light, the surrounding vegetation and ground were instantly flattened into a plain.
‘Dangerous.’
The Eight Emperors and Three Stars.
They were not merely the supreme masters from four hundred years ago. They were also the term for absolute beings who had founded new martial studies, effortlessly shattering the realms of martial arts that the martial artists of the time had established.
If the one that had emerged from that coffin was truly the Blood Emperor?
Even if Bu Eunseol gave his all, victory would remain uncertain.
Paat!
Bu Eunseol immediately scooped up Manwol in his arms and attempted to escape the area.
Fighting the Blood Emperor would be fine, but he could not risk her getting caught in the battle and injured.
Chwaak!
Perhaps sensing Bu Eunseol’s intent to flee, the grotesque figure spread its ten fingers.
In an instant, the surrounding thirty zhang was filled with crimson blood lines.
Blood Wall Mirroring Mist.
The heaven-shattering martial art of the Blood Emperor, which he had unleashed whenever facing powerful enemies in the past, now unfolded deep in the forest of Seoryeong Mountain after four hundred years.
‘Is he truly the Blood Emperor?’
Thump, thump, thump.
Bu Eunseol’s heart pounded fiercely.
The martial prowess of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars from four hundred years ago surpassed even the Four Gods and Seven Kings, approaching the level of the Three Demons and Three Venerables.
‘If he truly is the Blood Emperor, I must sever his head here and now.’
If not, the martial world would once again be filled with endless corpses drained of blood.
‘But…’
Considering the Blood Emperor’s characteristic terrifying martial might?
For Bu Eunseol, who could not yet claim to have reached any particular realm, the chances of defeating him were virtually nil.
“Fine.”
Bu Eunseol, who had been attempting to break through the Blood Wall Mirroring Mist and escape, suddenly unfolded lightning-like footwork and moved beneath a massive tree.
Wooong!
As he poured out intense inner energy, a large pit formed beneath his feet.
He placed the unconscious Manwol’s body into the pit and cut down the great tree to cover it.
It was a makeshift shelter so that the unconscious Manwol would not be harmed once the fight began.
‘I don’t know if this will work.’
If the Blood Emperor fought in earnest, the surrounding hundreds of zhang would be completely razed.
There was no guarantee Manwol would remain safe.
Step, step.
The Blood Emperor approached Bu Eunseol with the leisurely yet menacing gait of a predator that had found its prey.
‘I cannot drag this out.’
Sreung.
Drawing the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, Bu Eunseol raised his inner energy to its maximum.
Flash!
Yet before he could even begin his attack, a brilliant flash sparkled before his eyes.
The Blood Wall Mirroring Mist poured forth, too fast to predict its trajectory or even detect when it had been unleashed.
Hwirik!
Bu Eunseol swiftly kicked off the ground and leaped into the air.
Kwaaaaa!
The flash that passed beneath his legs transformed into a crimson wave that covered heaven and earth, destroying everything it grazed.
Sreung!
While still in mid-air, Bu Eunseol drew the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
At the same time, he continuously fired crescent-shaped sword energies toward the Blood Emperor.
By combining variations of the Heon Won Bright Sword with the Thirteen Iron Sword Forms, he unleashed dozens of sword energies.
“Kra-ha—!”
A fierce battle cry erupted from the Blood Emperor’s mouth as he swung both palms like lightning, creating a fan-shaped curtain of light.
Kwaaaaa!
The curtain of light unleashed by the Blood Emperor enveloped not only Bu Eunseol, who faced him directly, but the entire battle area within ten zhang.
Chiiik.
White smoke rose from Bu Eunseol’s body exposed to the curtain.
More than a handful of his blood had evaporated.
Taak!
Yet Bu Eunseol showed no fear and instead, he closed the distance and poured attacks onto the Blood Emperor.
Shwaeaek!
The countless sword energies pouring from the tip of his sword suddenly shot forward like sharp blades, piercing the curtain of light the Blood Emperor had created in an instant.
Chwaak!
At the same time, black true qi spread like a spiderweb from behind Bu Eunseol, wrapping around the Blood Emperor’s body.
He had simultaneously executed swordsmanship and the Wishful True Binding.
Hwiryuryuryu!
The Blood Emperor lightly waved his right hand, and the sharp true qi of the Wishful True Binding instantly dissipated.
Kwarung!
But as if he had anticipated that the Blood Emperor would easily dispel the Wishful True Binding, Bu Eunseol immediately extended his left fist, unleashing a sharp fist wind.
It was the Water Cloud Void Form of the Azure Heaven Seven Forms, mastered thanks to Fist King Seok Chi-haeng.
Kwaaaaa!
The fist force, spinning like a whirlwind, pierced through the protective true qi surrounding the Blood Emperor’s body and dug into him.
Paang!
Exposed to the fierce qi attack, the Blood Emperor seemed to double his power and the crimson aura flowing from his entire body grew even denser.
The Azure Heaven Seven Forms were of a level that even Fist King Seok Chi-haeng would struggle to block head-on.
Its might shook heaven and earth.
Kwang!
With an explosive roar, the Blood Emperor was pushed straight back about five zhang.
Hwiiiiing.
When the fierce wind blew and the swirling dust finally cleared,
Kwaaaaa!
A crimson radiance poured toward Bu Eunseol’s face.
In that interval, the Blood Emperor had pierced through the dust and closed in, unleashing a palm force brimming with Blood Emperor Qi.
Shwaeaek!
With no room to dodge, Bu Eunseol spun the Silent Tiger Soul Sword like a windmill in place.
He was attempting to redirect the Blood Emperor Qi’s energy by executing Grafting Flowers onto Jade.
Tssssss.
But the moment Grafting Flowers onto Jade unfolded, the purely rigid yang Blood Emperor Qi suddenly transformed into soft yin energy.
Kwaaaa!
That soft and gentle yin energy instantly escaped the force of Grafting Flowers onto Jade and burrowed into Bu Eunseol’s body.
It was truly an exquisite move.
Chiiiiiik.
Struck by the yin-soft palm force, Bu Eunseol was pushed five zhang away, white smoke rising from his entire body.
Even though the formidable Ban-Geuk Method of five hundred years’ mastery protected his body, he could not prevent the evaporation of blood caused by the Blood Emperor Qi.
‘The longer this drags on, the worse it gets.’
Clank.
Bu Eunseol raised his sword to the center.
At the same time, endlessly deep darkness began to rise around his body.
Even if the Blood Emperor from four hundred years ago had returned to life, this was the absolute sword art that could send him straight to hell in a single strike.
He was preparing to unleash the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
“Kat!”
But at that moment, something unexpected happened.
The instant he attempted to execute the Seven Blood Tear Forms, the Blood Emperor had somehow circled behind him and unleashed a palm force.
‘Damn it.’
Bu Eunseol inwardly cried out.
The Seven Blood Tear Forms were among the most renowned sword arts in the long history of the martial world.
They possessed mysterious power capable of delivering perfect death to any opponent.
Yet this sword art had one flaw: only those whose heart and spirit were perfectly aligned with Bu Zhanyang could wield it.
Bu Eunseol possessed a temperament that could almost be called Bu Zhanyang’s avatar but because he was still young, he had not yet reached the same profound spiritual state that Bu Zhanyang had attained in his prime.
Thus, while not quite reaching ‘Harmony,’ even when executing the Seven Blood Tear Forms, he required a brief moment to align the sword art with his spirit.
That moment was extremely fleeting.
Yet the Blood Emperor had instantly exploited that gap, delivering a blow Bu Eunseol could not evade.
Kwang!
With an explosive roar, Bu Eunseol was struck by the Blood Emperor’s palm force and flung more than ten zhang outward.
Kuuung.
Only after crashing into a massive ancient tree could he control the rebounding force.
Chiiii.
As Bu Eunseol straightened his body once more, white smoke continued to rise endlessly from him.
The Blood Emperor’s palm force still could not pierce his protective true qi, but the Blood Emperor Qi contained within it could not be blocked.
Regardless of physical impact, it was instantly evaporating his blood.
“Heh heh.”
Seeing Bu Eunseol’s face grow pale, the Blood Emperor let out a satisfied sinister laugh.
From this single blow, Bu Eunseol had lost roughly thirty percent of his blood.
That amount was approximately five hop (900 ml).
As that much blood evaporated in an instant, his blood vessels constricted, and his consciousness gradually blurred.
“Huu. Huu.”
Bu Eunseol gasped for breath.
The Blood Emperor before him was not merely a revived phantom from four hundred years ago.
He perfectly reproduced the martial studies the original had possessed.
If he were exposed to the Blood Emperor Qi even once more?
He would lose more than forty percent of his blood, and Bu Eunseol could die instantly.
‘Only one chance.’
In truth, Bu Eunseol had several methods to deal with him.
He could alternately unleash devastating martial arts to raze the entire area, overwhelm him in one go, then seize the opening to use the Seven Blood Tear Forms again—or even execute Harmony.
But fearing that Manwol, hidden underground, might be harmed, he had continuously employed only swordsmanship instead of destructive techniques.
Moreover, unable to immediately counter the Blood Emperor Qi, he had lost much blood, and his concentration was waning…
In his current state, he had only one possible attack left.
If that failed, only death remained.
‘No preparatory movements.’
The most powerful martial arts Bu Eunseol could unleash were ‘Harmony’ and the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
Needless to say, the Seven Blood Tear Forms required time, and Harmony required even longer.
If he stopped moving to gather Harmony?
The Blood Emperor would never miss that fleeting opening and would immediately fire Blood Emperor Qi.
In short, what Bu Eunseol needed now was a martial art that could be executed instantly and possessed power surpassing Blood Emperor Qi.
Taat!
At that moment, the Blood Emperor began circling Bu Eunseol at lightning speed with his massive frame.
‘Oh no.’
Bu Eunseol inwardly cursed.
As if reading his mind, the Blood Emperor was moving ceaselessly so that no matter what martial art Bu Eunseol attempted, he could avoid fatal injury and counter with Blood Emperor Qi.
Clank.
Bu Eunseol sheathed the Silent Tiger Soul Sword again and took a deep breath.
Only one choice remained.
Either abandon Manwol’s safety and fight with full power, or flee.
‘I’ll try it.’
Jiiing.
Suddenly, a yellowish light flowed from Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Nangyang Heart Eye. He had chosen a third option.
“Kaaat!”
The Blood Emperor, who had been moving dizzily, now appeared as dozens of shadows encircling Bu Eunseol.
Sensing that Bu Eunseol was about to deliver a fatal strike, he intended to fire Blood Emperor Qi first.
Paat!
Yet at that moment, something unexpected occurred.
The Blood Emperor, who had been moving chaotically to deliver his decisive blow, suddenly froze as if struck in the lower abdomen, standing motionless with his head bowed.
Feeling something strange, Bu Eunseol turned his head.
There, Manwol—whom he had hidden in the pit—had regained consciousness and was extending both arms toward the Blood Emperor, pouring out a mysterious power.
‘Now.’
Seizing the perfect moment, Bu Eunseol instantly unfolded the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form without a second thought.
Sreung!
Just as he was about to sever the neck,
Hwaaaak!
Suddenly, crimson energy surged from the Blood Emperor’s body.
In that life-or-death instant, he had spread the Blood Emperor Secret Soul Qi like mist, blocking Bu Eunseol’s attack.
Pat!
Because of the Blood Emperor Secret Soul Qi, the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form failed to properly sever the neck, leaving only a deep sword wound.
Chiik!
Meanwhile, Bu Eunseol staggered once more.
Fortunately, unlike the Blood Wall Mirroring Mist, the Blood Emperor Secret Soul Qi contained little Blood Emperor Qi.
Thus the blood evaporation was minimal, yet Bu Eunseol still felt dizziness.
“Huh hu!”
At that moment, the Blood Emperor extended his hand again.
Crimson walls immediately wrapped around Bu Eunseol’s body. He was attempting to unleash Blood Wall Mirroring Mist in one breath to evaporate his blood.
Udeuk.
Yet something was wrong.
The Blood Wall Mirroring Mist did not form, and the Blood Emperor simply glared menacingly at Bu Eunseol.
“You must dodge.”
At that moment, a low, cold voice rang in his ear.
Simultaneously, the face of a beauty with eyes as beautiful as carved blue gems entered his vision.
It was Manwol.
A faint light flowed from her body, causing the surrounding Blood Wall Mirroring Mist to blur.
The Blood Emperor’s movements had momentarily stopped.
It seemed she had exerted some kind of power.
“I can’t hold it much longer.”
“What do you mean?”
“That man isn’t the real Heavenly Fierce Star. They forcibly clothed him in the power of the Heavenly Fierce Star.”
“Heavenly Fierce Star.”
Bu Eunseol understood her words immediately.
He also understood how the Returning to One Realm could restore the bodies and powers of past experts.
The One Hundred and Eight Stars.
They had once again found individuals possessing the unique abilities or powers bestowed by heaven and engraved the same martial arts into those bodies once more.
“Hurry.”
‘No choice.’
Taat.
In the end, Bu Eunseol followed Manwol and escaped outward.
Kwaaaaa.
Soon, crimson radiance closely pursued Bu Eunseol and Manwol.
The Blood Emperor was rapidly giving chase.
‘Her footwork won’t be enough.’
“Pardon my rudeness.”
Tak.
Bu Eunseol hurriedly scooped up the running Manwol.
At the same time, he unleashed Swift Beyond Shadow to its fullest,
Kwarung! Flash!
Thunder Spirit Energy naturally manifested, turning him into a streak of lightning that crossed the sky.
Kwaaaaa.
Having completely escaped the Seoryeong Mountain area through the open life gate, Bu Eunseol continued unfolding his footwork without pause.
Only after sensing that the Blood Emperor was no longer pursuing did Bu Eunseol land on a cliff deep within some mountain.
Taak.
Carefully setting Manwol down, Bu Eunseol spoke with an apologetic expression.
“I committed a rudeness. The situation being what it was…”
Stagger.
As he continued speaking, dizziness struck him.
He had exhausted both inner energy and mental strength facing a powerful enemy like the Blood Emperor, and lost much blood as well.
Escaping the entire Seoryeong Mountain area at full speed in that state…
His body had reached its limit.
If he were an ordinary martial artist, Bu Eunseol would already have breathed his last and be wandering the nine heavens.
Thud.
Bu Eunseol collapsed at the entrance of a cave and assumed a cross-legged posture.
“I must rest here for a while…”
His vision darkened.
He immediately swallowed one Potential Demon Divine Pill from his bosom and said,
“You should leave this place first.”
Then he began circulating his energy at once.
Saaaa.
Perhaps due to the lack of blood?
The moment he began circulation, the Crystal Divine Art activated on its own.
A comfortable sensation as if submerged in water washed over him, and Bu Eunseol immediately fell into deep meditation.
How much time had passed?
Bu Eunseol, who had been continuously circulating energy in a state of no-self, slowly began regaining consciousness.
‘That was close.’
As long as he was not unconscious, his super-senses always detected the surroundings.
But this time, he had fallen into complete meditative absorption as if unconscious.
If enemies had swarmed in that state?
Or if wild beasts had appeared and attacked?
Bu Eunseol would have died without knowing why.
“You haven’t left yet?”
When Bu Eunseol opened his eyes, he saw Manwol standing opposite him.
“There are many wild beasts in a place like this.”
At her calm words, Bu Eunseol felt gratitude.
Manwol had stood guard beside him during his circulation, lest anything go wrong.
“I am grateful for your consideration, Lady Manwol.”
“It was merely repaying a debt.”
Manwol’s voice was clear and delicate, like a songstress singing a melody.
“Now we owe each other nothing.”
As Manwol turned to leave, Bu Eunseol immediately called out to her.
“Wait.”
When she turned her head, Bu Eunseol approached and asked,
“Were you also a person of the Jungson family?”
Manwol had displayed a mysterious power to halt even the Blood Emperor’s movements. Moreover, she had seen through the Blood Emperor’s star sign, leading him to guess she had a close connection to the Jungson family.
“What do you mean?”
But Manwol wore a bewildered expression.
“The Jungson family?”
“You weren’t from the Jungson family?”
“Did you not see just now? Those people were experts of the Returning to One Realm.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Bu Eunseol felt awkward, unsure where to begin explaining.
“Before I met you, I clashed with a person from the Jungson family. He could control corpses and claimed he could absorb the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.”
Manwol blinked her large eyes.
Only then did she realize that Bu Eunseol knew nothing—not even her own identity.
“I am not from the Jungson family.”
“Then which faction do you belong to?”
“Later.”
Manwol whispered softly with her small, reddened lips.
“I’ll tell you later.”
Her expression looked as though she was enduring pain and suffering.
Seeing that, Bu Eunseol could no longer ask about her identity.
“Understood.”
He immediately changed the subject.
“Then why exactly did the Returning to One Realm kidnap you? From what I saw, it seemed they intended to offer you as a sacrifice for creating that demonic creature.”
“I wasn’t a sacrifice.”
Manwol gave a shocking answer.
“From the very beginning, I created those things.”
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