Around the time the Demon Emperor was annihilating the Divine Might Corps, Bu Eunseol temporarily suspended all activity and moved steadily northward without pause.
Finally arriving in the Heilongjiang region, he immediately headed toward a certain village in Mohe.
This northernmost village was as frigid as the North Sea itself.
Above all, it was one of the few places where one could witness the aurora borealis—polar lights seen only in the extreme latitudes.
After witnessing the clash between the Demon Emperor and the Sword Venerable, Bu Eunseol had gained enormous insight.
However, the profound enlightenment the Sword Venerable had achieved regarding the Natural Sword could not be immediately digested, and even grasping the martial principles contained within it proved exceedingly difficult.
After much contemplation, Bu Eunseol sought out Mohe—a village of polar night and aurora—that bore an uncanny resemblance to the essence of the Natural Sword.
Here the sun did not rise, yet one could behold the mysterious and beautiful aurora, and that very scenery shared a direct affinity with the principles of the Natural Sword.
Settling in a place where no one else was present, Bu Eunseol began to contemplate the essence of the Natural Sword.
“The Sword Venerable is truly the foremost sword of the righteous path; through the Natural Sword he reached the ultimate pinnacle of the Formless Sword Way.” Muttering quietly, he shook his head with a regretful expression. “If only the Sword Venerable’s spirit had attained the state of ‘ascending high without distance, arriving without superior,’ without harboring even the slightest doubt in his heart…”
The Sword Venerable could have felled the Demon Emperor with a single strike of the Natural Sword.
But because of his unyielding determination to kill the Demon Emperor at all costs, even while unfolding the Natural Sword, he ultimately forgot its most profound mystery.
And the price he paid was death.
A full day passed.
Without moving even a muscle, Bu Eunseol gazed at the distant sky, endlessly analyzing the subtleties of the Natural Sword that the Sword Venerable had used against the Demon Emperor.
At last he realized the core essence of the Natural Sword:
Emptiness is precisely fullness; without clinging, one attains the Way.
In other words: “Only by emptying can one become truly full; only by letting go of everything can one reach the supreme Way.”
“In truth, shattering the spirit of someone who has reached such a realm is nearly impossible.”
Only then did he understand that the Sword Venerable’s defeat could not simply be explained by saying “he was consumed by rivalry and obsession with killing the Demon Emperor.”
“Trace-less, untraceable.”
Bu Eunseol let out a deep sigh.
“The reason the Demon Emperor was able to transform the Natural Sword into a sword that leaves no trace is because his spirit had completely shed all attachments… moving in perfect accordance with the natural order without leaving behind the slightest mark.”
The one who truly embodied the Way of Nature was not the Sword Venerable—it was the Demon Emperor.
No one could discern the motive, intention, or plan behind the Demon Emperor’s actions, precisely because that was the supremely natural power he wielded.
In contrast, it was the Sword Venerable who had acted in a manner incompatible with his own nature.
“I was merely an outsider, and that is why I could see this truth.” Bu Eunseol released another deep sigh. “If I were to fight the Demon Emperor right now, my head would be separated from my body within eight moves.”
He had been a spectator.
That was why he could perceive both the greatness of the Natural Sword achieved by the mighty warrior called the Sword Venerable and the fatal mistake he made.
If he himself had fought the Demon Emperor?
He wouldn’t even have been able to block the destructive waves the Demon Emperor radiated.
Perhaps, not in eight moves, but before he could even unleash a single martial technique, his head would already have fallen.
“Demon Emperor…”
Muttering lowly, Bu Eunseol clenched his fist tightly.
What made the Demon Emperor truly terrifying was not merely the martial prowess he had achieved.
With insight that pierced through all phenomena, he possessed an unbreakable power: the ability to instantly read and shatter an opponent’s spirit.
“He believes in himself completely.”
The Demon Emperor could trust his own judgment without the slightest trace of doubt and act on it immediately.
If an ordinary person needs half a moment to process information and make a judgment, the Demon Emperor could understand and decide faster than the snap of a finger.
That was why no matter how strong an opponent might be, regardless of their martial cultivation, they could not face him to begin with.
Kuuung.
Suddenly the ground trembled and the sky darkened.
At the same time, a shadow exuding momentum like Mount Tai appeared behind Bu Eunseol.
A giant of a man radiating domineering energy capable of crushing everything in the world in an instant.
It was the Human Demon, Ak Muryeong.
“Pavilion Lord.”
Startled, Bu Eunseol immediately clasped his hands together.
“What brings you here?”
Ak Muryeong gave a cold snort and said nothing.
He walked some distance away, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed blankly at the aurora beautifully adorning the sky.
Seeing this, Bu Eunseol understood.
‘The Pavilion Lord has also come here to comprehend the principles of the Natural Sword.’
For some reason, a chuckle escaped him.
The ultimate pinnacle of the Nangyang Pavilion’s martial arts lay in unraveling and absorbing an opponent’s techniques to reach the apex of martial study.
Of course, if he had merely wanted to digest the insights gained from the battle between two supreme Sect Leaders, Ak Muryeong could have contemplated the Natural Sword through meditation alone.
But to create new martial arts based on those profound principles, he too needed to find a landscape that closely resembled the essence of the Natural Sword.
In the end, Ak Muryeong judged that the aurora unfolding in this polar region bore a striking similarity to the principles of the Natural Sword and just like Bu Eunseol, he had come to this northernmost village in Mohe.
The reason such a coincidence occurred was that both men had mastered the Nangyang Heart Eye side by side, allowing them to interpret the supreme principles of martial arts by analogy with nature.
‘But I have not yet reached the same realm as the Pavilion Lord.’
While Ak Muryeong contemplated the aurora with wide-open eyes, rapidly comprehending the principles of the Natural Sword and creating new martial arts, Bu Eunseol merely savored the martial realms of the Demon Emperor and the Sword Venerable while looking at the aurora.
He had not yet succeeded in inventing new martial arts from its mysteries.
‘I have no choice but to strive in my own way.’
Bu Eunseol plopped down right there.
Since he had not reached Ak Muryeong’s level, he stopped gazing at nature, sat in meditation once more to unravel the principles of martial arts, and attempted to forge something new.
‘The Pavilion Lord will surely understand.’
Crossing his legs in full lotus, Bu Eunseol closed his eyes and entered an endlessly deep and profound meditation.
“…”
The two martial artists, master and disciple, sat far apart from each other, each unraveling the principles of martial arts in his own manner.
The light of the aurora was mystical, its profundity boundless.
The same thought passed through the minds of both Bu Eunseol and Ak Muryeong:
Those multicolored radiances were born when something emitted from the sun collided with particles in the void.
In other words, it was precisely because of collision that they displayed such varied colors.
—Then, couldn’t an unexpected martial secret be naturally born from collision with an enemy?
The Sword Venerable had embodied the mysterious principles of nature—just like the aurora—directly into his sword, creating the absolute sword art called the Natural Sword.
But Ak Muryeong, who had reached the pinnacle of practical combat martial arts, and Bu Eunseol, who had inherited the vision of the Nangyang Pavilion, focused instead on the very principle by which the aurora was generated.
They began researching ways to use the shockwave produced by clashing with an enemy’s powerful martial art, either to counter the opponent’s technique or to directly utilize that shockwave itself to bring the enemy down.
Two days passed.
Flash!
Ak Muryeong abruptly opened his closed eyes and began carving something into the ground with his finger.
Sizzle, sizzle.
It was a brand-new technique that did not exist in any previous martial art. One that used the power poured out by a powerful enemy to strike back with that very strength.
While gazing at the aurora and applying the mysteries of the Sword Venerable’s Natural Sword, Ak Muryeong had created an entirely new martial art.
“…”
Ak Muryeong looked at Bu Eunseol, who was still lost in a trance-like state of meditation.
Twitch.
For a moment, Ak Muryeong’s thick eyebrows twitched.
‘He intends to master the newly created martial art through meditation alone?’
Comprehending and inventing martial principles could be done through meditation.
But acquiring a newly invented martial art required forming shapes and postures—it was nearly impossible to fully master it merely by contemplating it in one’s mind.
Yet Bu Eunseol was trying to instantly invent and master a new secret technique entirely within his head?
Even Ak Muryeong—the one who aspired to stand above the world—had to draw numerous lines on the ground to complete his martial art.
But this one intended to master it with eyes closed, purely through internal realization?
‘This brat…’
Ak Muryeong’s eyes flashed.
Moreover, Bu Eunseol was not simply meditating.
While unraveling the mysteries of the Natural Sword, his body had completely merged with nature.
If Ak Muryeong had not found him before he entered this meditation, he would never have sensed Bu Eunseol’s presence until he saw him with his own eyes.
‘Hrm.’
Ak Muryeong looked down at the characters and diagrams he had engraved on the ground.
If Bu Eunseol saw them, he would instantly grasp the mysteries of the Natural Sword and gain tremendous enlightenment.
Swish.
But suddenly he stretched out his palm and erased them all.
‘You’ll reach your own conclusion in your own way.’
Ak Muryeong knew very well how outstanding Bu Eunseol’s aptitude was.
If he saw what Ak Muryeong had left behind, he would certainly enter a higher martial realm much faster.
But that would be Ak Muryeong’s enlightenment—not Bu Eunseol’s.
Even if it took longer… even if it required more time…
He believed Bu Eunseol would surely achieve a greater and higher realization than himself.
That was why he deliberately erased it all.
Swoosh.
After gazing at Bu Eunseol in meditation, Ak Muryeong turned away.
Having once again comprehended new martial principles from the Sword Venerable’s Natural Sword and created a new secret technique, he intended to leave this place without regret.
But then, as if something occurred to him, he turned back and raised his energy.
Kurrrrr.
Rocks from all around rose and covered Bu Eunseol’s body, soon forming a small cairn of stone.
Bu Eunseol had already become one with nature and emitted no detectable aura whatsoever.
While perfect assimilation with nature was ideal, if someone appeared and launched a surprise attack in such a state, he would be completely defenseless.
By covering him with this stone mound, no one would be able to find him.
Swoosh.
As Ak Muryeong turned to leave, the sky suddenly began to brighten.
The polar night phenomenon should have kept endless darkness reigning—how could daylight suddenly appear?
“Infinite Reversal.”
Ak Muryeong murmured in a low voice.
As far as he knew, only one person could ignore even the laws of nature to such a degree.
“Sado Muryeong.”
A yellowish gleam flashed in Ak Muryeong’s eyes.
“Have you come here because you wish to die?”
Shuuu.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than points of light converged in front of him, finally coalescing into human form.
Yet that form was endlessly dark and even beneath the bright sun it cast no shadow.
Swoosh.
As the figure took one step forward, an old man who could be seen anywhere instantly revealed himself.
He appeared ordinary, yet in reality he was the most terrifying person in the world.
The Demon Emperor.
The supreme master of the Demonic Path, the great demon who stood alone above the world, appeared before Ak Muryeong.
Shuuuu.
When the Demon Emperor fully manifested in human form, the sky once again fell into darkness.
But this darkness was completely different from before. It was thick, alien, and viscous.
“Hmm.”
The Demon Emperor glanced at Ak Muryeong like an old man out for a stroll and spoke calmly.
“You must have been the first to see through this seat’s injury. Why did you not challenge me?”
Whenever the Demon Emperor was not in seclusion, Ak Muryeong would frequently appear to spar with him.
No—he came with genuine intent to kill.
He too disliked the Demon Emperor and always harbored thoughts of taking his life at any moment.
So why, knowing full well that the Demon Emperor had suffered grave injuries, had Ak Muryeong not attacked?
“A man should be a man. If you can cut down your enemy, you should be willing to discard petty pride without hesitation.”
“Hmph.”
Ak Muryeong snorted and turned away with an uninterested expression, as if to say with his body: “It’s my decision.”
“Then how about this?”
As Ak Muryeong turned, the Demon Emperor made an utterly shocking proposal.
“This seat shall challenge you instead.”
Kwaaang!
In an instant, an explosive sound rang out as tremendous energy surged from Ak Muryeong’s body.
“Are you serious?”
Turning his head, Ak Muryeong’s eyes blazed with yellowish light.
The Demon Emperor’s injury was absolutely real and severe.
If he acted now?
It was not entirely impossible for Ak Muryeong to kill the Demon Emperor in a single strike.
Jeok Bung, Weiji Mu-a, and even the Buddha Venerable knew of the Demon Emperor’s injury, yet none of them had challenged him.
They were all Sect Leaders who had reached the absolute peak a human could attain.
The righteous Buddha Venerable possessed vast magnanimity; the demonic Weiji Mu-a and Jeok Bung possessed pride as immovable as Mount Tai.
But Ak Muryeong was different.
Like the Sword Venerable, his supreme goal was to defeat the Demon Emperor.
He was a great demon who would use any means necessary without hesitation if it meant felling his enemy.
—Would he truly let such a golden opportunity slip away?
The Demon Emperor knew this all too well—that was why he had come looking for Ak Muryeong.
“Are you trying to drive in a wedge so that I can never defeat you again?”
Realizing something, Ak Muryeong’s lips curved upward.
“Are you afraid of this pavilion leader?”
He had already seen through the Demon Emperor’s true intention.
Right now Ak Muryeong was in the midst of ascending to the Transcendent Extreme Realm, gradually stepping beyond the boundary of the Infinite Realm.
If, in this situation, he failed once again to defeat the injured Demon Emperor?
The despair of never being able to win would be etched into his spirit for the rest of his life.
Even if he reached the Heavenly Will Realm, or even higher…. he would have to give up forever on the thought of defeating the Demon Emperor.
“Who knows.”
The Demon Emperor smiled faintly.
“Well? Does it tempt you?”
Hwarrrrr.
Flames like the sun blazed in Ak Muryeong’s eyes.
Once the Demon Emperor had provoked him, the outcome was already decided.
Until now, he had never once avoided a challenge.
“The time to put an end to things has simply arrived a little earlier than expected.”
Yellowish radiance exploded from Ak Muryeong’s eyes.
Right here, right now—he intended to settle life and death with the Demon Emperor.
But as he looked at the Demon Emperor, something seemed to occur to Ak Muryeong. Baring his fangs, he grinned.
“Have you reached your limit?”
“…”
“Or is it that you can no longer improve any further?”
If he still had confidence that he could endlessly develop his martial arts, the Demon Emperor would never have sought to settle things with Ak Muryeong in such a manner.
But because he had reached his limit, he was now eliminating one by one those who might become obstacles.
“How disappointing.”
The Demon Emperor smiled faintly.
“This seat merely came because it would be a shame to miss such a fine opportunity.”
Then he uttered terrifying words.
“It seems this may be the last chance for me to fight like a human… that’s all.”
Had he already entered the Heavenly Will Realm?
Right now, the Demon Emperor was saying that the time left for him to fight as a human was running out.
He was confident that he would soon reach a divine realm no one had ever attained.
“Huhuhuhuhu.”
But unexpectedly, Ak Muryeong burst into mocking laughter.
“Those are words that might work on a third-rate like the Sword Venerable.”
He strode boldly toward the Demon Emperor.
“Don’t think you can toy with the hearts of every human in the world as you please.”
Instead of answering, the Demon Emperor gave a gentle smile.
Seeing that smile, Ak Muryeong let out a confident, vicious laugh.
“Caught off guard because it didn’t go according to plan?”
“It’s starting to get boring.”
As the Demon Emperor put on a bored expression, black heat haze began rising from Ak Muryeong’s body.
No more conversation was necessary.
Whether the Demon Emperor had done this out of wariness toward Ak Muryeong’s growth, or whether he truly stood on the verge of Heaven-Earth Unity and wanted to take Ak Muryeong’s head as a memento of his injured state…
The answer would soon be revealed.
Uuuung.
The energy pouring from Ak Muryeong pushed back the darkness created by the Demon Emperor, and thick fog began to rise within dozens of meters around them.
He had unfolded Illusion Upon Illusion to unleash his Limitless Power.
Just as the forces of two supreme Sect Leaders were about to collide—
Kwaaang!
With a sudden explosion, a nearby boulder shattered.
Crackle.
At the same time, an immense wave of true qi swept through, and from within it emerged a gray-clad man.
He wore the drowsy expression of someone who had just awoken from a long sleep.
It was none other than Bu Eunseol, who had been meditating inside.
“…”
For an instant, the light in the Demon Emperor’s eyes changed slightly.
Never before had any living being within three hundred meters escaped his detection.
He had even sensed Bu Eunseol’s presence that Ak Muryeong had concealed during the victory celebration.
But this time he could not detect the aura at all.
Because Bu Eunseol, while comprehending the mysteries of the Natural Sword through the aurora, had achieved perfect unity with nature.
“Huhuhu.”
Ak Muryeong looked at the Demon Emperor and laughed.
He had seen through the fact that, for the first time, the Demon Emperor had failed to detect something and was shocked.
“Hahahaha!”
Bursting into roaring laughter until he was gasping for breath, Ak Muryeong shook his head.
“You were blabbering about having reached the Heavenly Will Realm, yet you couldn’t even sense this youngster’s presence?”
As Ak Muryeong sneered, the Demon Emperor chuckled softly and smiled faintly.
“So he has wrapped himself in the Great Natural Qi…”
He was the sky of the Demonic Path, the supreme master of demons who shattered all human predictions and could reverse every law of the world.
He possessed the ability to turn any crisis back into opportunity.
“Just the right timing.”
Looking at Bu Eunseol, the Demon Emperor nodded.
“With both martial brothers standing side by side, the result should be even more entertaining.”
A hair-thin smile curved his lips as white lightning flashed through his eyes.
“Come at me together—the both of you.”
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