The day of the Jeongmu Tournament finals.
The area around the arena was teeming with people. Not only were the martial artists who had attended the tournament throughout present, but figures from both the righteous and unorthodox sects, who had previously stayed out of sight, filled the spectator stands one by one.
While curiosity about who would claim the Yeongsasin Sword, said to cleave even souls, was rife, the real draw was the unique figure who had reached the finals.
Bu Eunseol.
A young man who had never made a name for himself before. This unknown prodigy had defeated renowned masters one after another, wielding a variety of sword techniques.
What’s more, the fact that those sword techniques were not his true ultimate skills had begun to draw the attention of the martial world.
—What exactly is his true technique?
The answer would surely be revealed in this final match. Because his opponent in the finals was none other than Yang Myeong, a master from Hell's Blood Fortress.
—No matter how great his background is, he’ll have no choice but to reveal his ultimate technique against Yang Myeong!
The martial artists were filled with anticipation. It wasn’t about whether Bu Eunseol would win. They were curious about how Yang Myeong would deal with him and when Bu Eunseol would finally unveil his true ultimate technique.
“Let the final match begin!” At Cho Mucheon’s shout, a tremendous roar of cheers erupted from the stands.
The final match of the Jeongmu Tournament, which would resolve the martial world’s curiosity, had begun.
Step, step.
As Bu Eunseol ascended the arena stairs,
“Here is Bu Eunseol, the young master who, like a comet, has risen to the finals, defeating countless masters in consecutive victories!” Perhaps because it was the final match, Cho Mucheon gave a longer introduction than usual.
Swish.
On the opposite side, a figure ascended the arena with cloud-like movement techniques.
It was none other than Yang Myeong, the Blood Ghost Hall Leader.
“The Venomous Hand Flying Demon, Yang Myeong, the great warrior renowned throughout Guizhou!” Perhaps pricked by conscience, Cho Mucheon omitted Yang Myeong’s title as the leader of Hell's Blood Fortress in his introduction.
“Hmph.” Yang Myeong gazed at Bu Eunseol, standing tall with a calm expression, his eyes glinting. “Impressive stance.”
Despite knowing Bu Eunseol was a Ten Demon Warrior of Nangyang, he feigned ignorance and said,
“You seem like a disciple of a renowned master. Do your best.” It was an unwritten rule among the Ten Demonic Sects to avoid clashing with one another whenever possible.
If Bu Eunseol’s identity as a Nangyang disciple were revealed, Yang Myeong would be unable to fight him. Thus, he planned to kill him while pretending not to know his true identity.
“Let the match begin!”
Ziiing!
With the loud ring of a gong, Cho Mucheon hurriedly retreated. Yang Myeong’s signature technique was the Venomous Demon Soul-Chasing Finger. This finger technique was powerful enough to leave marks on steel, and, more importantly, it carried venom within the strikes themselves.
Lingering too close could result in unintended poisoning.
“Take the first move.” Yang Myeong gestured arrogantly with his hand. “Once this hall leader makes a move, you won’t have a single chance to attack.”
Having experienced the terror of Hell's Blood Fortress’s venom arts on Hell Island, Bu Eunseol wasted no time. As soon as Yang Myeong finished speaking, he drew his longsword and thrust it toward Yang Myeong’s throat.
Clang!
But the swift strike was deflected with a spark. Yang Myeong had blocked the rapid sword with a single finger.
“Child’s play.” At Yang Myeong’s taunt, Bu Eunseol didn’t respond, swinging his sword again.
With a slicing sound, the deflected sword shifted in midair, falling slowly like snowflakes toward Yang Myeong’s head.
“A heavy sword this time?” Yang Myeong sneered as he watched the slowly descending sword shadows.
“You deliberately slowed it down to make me counter. Fine.” Curling his middle finger, he flicked it outward.
Ping!
With a sharp sound, the finger wind shot out and collided with Bu Eunseol’s heavy sword.
Boom! Boom!
The clash of the heavy sword and finger wind produced explosive sounds like bursting leather. Standing calmly, Yang Myeong neutralized the heavy sword strikes, each carrying hundreds of pounds of force, with a single finger.
Boom!
As he deflected the final strike, Yang Myeong smirked at Bu Eunseol.
“Are you done with your tricks?” Bu Eunseol lowered his stance, gripping his sword tightly.
Yang Myeong was a master on a different level from anyone he had faced before. A single moment of carelessness could invite a lightning-fast strike.
“Arrogant brat.” Yang Myeong bared his fangs in a grin as he stared at the silent Bu Eunseol. “Let me show you why they call me the Venomous Hand Flying Demon.”
Whoosh!
Yang Myeong’s body seemed to blur and vanish, reappearing three yards in front of Bu Eunseol.
Hiss.
At the same time, black mist rose from his fingers, and his nails began to turn black. He was about to unleash his true ultimate technique, the Venomous Demon Soul-Chasing Finger.
“Take this!”
Shiiik!
With a sound like a venomous snake’s hiss, three black lines shot toward the vital points on Bu Eunseol’s chest.
Clang!
Deflecting the finger wind with his sword, the blade glowed red-hot.
“Where are you looking?” Yang Myeong, now behind Bu Eunseol, swung his blackened hand.
Pop.
But Bu Eunseol’s reflexes, honed by the Beast Way, were extraordinary. Dodging Yang Myeong’s hand strike like lightning, Bu Eunseol leaped like a carp and unleashed a flurry of sword techniques.
It was the defensive technique of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect, Formless Mystery.
“Hmph.” Seeing no openings in the precise sword forms of Formless Mystery, Yang Myeong now blackened the nails of all five fingers. “Soul-Chasing Five Claws!”
Shaaa!
Five black lines arced toward Bu Eunseol’s arms, legs, and chest. Instead of blocking, Bu Eunseol swiftly used footwork to evade. Blocking would only allow Yang Myeong to target his back or sides with his ghostly movement techniques.
Swish.
Using Swift Beyond Shadow, Bu Eunseol changed directions thirty-two times in an instant, dodging all the finger winds and swinging his sword.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The sword and fingers clashed repeatedly. Bu Eunseol’s swordplay was lightning-fast, but Yang Myeong’s finger techniques, freely wielding all five fingers, were even faster.
“You thought close quarters would change things?” As Yang Myeong unleashed a barrage of finger techniques, Bu Eunseol was pushed back in the exchange.
‘I can’t use Sword Momentum.’
Bu Eunseol’s specialty was Sword Momentum, a technique that redirected an opponent’s attack and force.
But Yang Myeong’s finger winds were too light and agile compared to weapons, rendering Sword Momentum ineffective.
Thud!
Pouring immense internal energy into a push, Bu Eunseol forced Yang Myeong back and retreated, his brow furrowed. After just a dozen exchanges, his forehead was beaded with sweat, his expression grave.
“Heh, heh, heh. It’s starting to take effect, isn’t it?” Yang Myeong, not pursuing, looked at Bu Eunseol with a relaxed expression. “Even an ox would collapse after being exposed to this level of poison.”
The Venomous Demon Soul-Chasing Finger carried extreme toxins, filling a three-yard radius with poisonous mist the moment it was used. Having blocked finger winds at close range repeatedly, it would be strange if Bu Eunseol wasn’t poisoned.
Swish.
Suddenly, Bu Eunseol extended his left hand. Black liquid dripped from his blackened ring finger.
Gather Qi Flame.
It was a supreme technique that expelled toxins from the body by channeling powerful internal energy through the meridians.
“Gather Qi Flame. Your internal energy is impressive.” Yang Myeong nodded as if in admiration. “But Gather Qi Flame has a fatal flaw!”
Ping!
Suddenly, he unleashed seven streams of finger wind with both arms. The winds were not only swift but curved at angles impossible to dodge. Yang Myeong could use finger winds with both his right and left hands.
Clang, clang, clang!
As Bu Eunseol blocked the winds in succession, unlike before, he took a step back. Seeing this, Yang Myeong smirked.
“Gather Qi Flame rapidly depletes internal energy.” Nodding, he slowly raised both hands. “If that’s all you’ve got, you’re dead.”
Hiss.
All ten of Yang Myeong’s fingernails turned black. He was preparing to unleash the full power of the Twelve-Star Venomous Demon Soul-Chasing Finger.
Swish.
Bu Eunseol raised his longsword, fully channeling the Beast Way. Even blocking the seven streams of finger wind had been precarious. Adding three more would bring unimaginable speed and variation.
Chiiik!
With a sound like kindling catching fire, ten streams of finger wind shot forth.
Whirrr. The winds didn’t travel straight but curved widely in arcs.
Not only were their speed and directions varied, but the ten streams of finger wind, infused with extreme toxins, covered nearly ten yards, leaving Bu Eunseol no choice but to counter with strength and skill unless he left the arena.
Thud!
At that moment, Bu Eunseol kicked off the arena floor and leaped high into the air.
“Hah, futile.” Yang Myeong sneered, moving his fingers, and the black streams of finger wind chased Bu Eunseol into the sky.
The Venomous Demon Soul-Chasing Finger could not only shoot concentrated energy from the fingers but also move in any direction like long threads.
—Oh no!
Gasps erupted from the spectators. Bu Eunseol’s body was midair, moments from being skewered by the pursuing Venomous Demon Soul-Chasing Finger.
Shing!
A metallic sound rang out from behind Bu Eunseol.
He had drawn the assassin’s sword from his back, which he had not used until now.
“Haa!”
With a shout, Bu Eunseol unleashed Formless Mystery of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect with his left hand and the practical sword techniques of the Four Beasts, learned through the Beast Way, with his right.
Shaaa.
As he wielded different sword techniques with both hands, a faint barrier seemed to form around Bu Eunseol’s body.
Thud, thud!
The collision of finger winds and sword strikes produced an eerie resonance in the air. Bu Eunseol had perfectly blocked the Venomous Demon Soul-Chasing Finger in midair by wielding two distinct sword techniques.
—Waaaah!
Cheers erupted from the stands.
Some martial artists could use the Dual Hands Mutual Combat or Dual Mind Dual Use techniques. But masters who could flawlessly execute different sword techniques like Bu Eunseol were exceedingly rare.
Thud.
Landing unscathed, Bu Eunseol looked down at his assassin’s sword. Blocking the Venomous Demon Soul-Chasing Finger had chipped the blade and cracked its surface.
Thud.
Tossing the assassin’s sword to the ground, Yang Myeong raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve learned all sorts of mongrel techniques.” With a cold smile, he pointed at Bu Eunseol’s longsword. “No matter how many superior sword techniques you have, you can’t defeat this hall leader.”
Grinning confidently, Yang Myeong channeled his internal energy.
“Shall we end this?” Black mist rose, enveloping his body.
—It’s a poison art!
As the black mist spread across the arena, some spectators screamed and fled their seats. Hell's Blood Fortress’s poison arts were not only terrifying but notoriously difficult to cure.
Crack, crack.
An eerie sound of bones creaking emanated from Yang Myeong’s body, shrouded in the black mist. As the mist slowly dissipated, the spectators murmured in shock.
—What is that form…?
Emerging from the mist, Yang Myeong had transformed into a giant. His entire body was now tinged with a dark gray hue.
—It’s the Venomous Strength Body Art!
Someone in the stands shouted as they gazed at Yang Myeong’s massive form.
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