“What do you mean?”
“The fist technique you’re using.”
The old man spoke with a contented smile.
“Isn’t that the fist of this heaven?”
‘This heaven?’
In that instant, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
The Seven Fist Demon Forms and the Azure Heaven Seven Forms—they were merely divided into the demonic path and the righteous faction. Their roots were the same.
‘Then does that mean both the Seven Fist Demon Forms and the Azure Heaven Seven Forms originated from that old man’s sect?’
In Nangyang Pavilion, no secret manual called the Seven Fist Demon Forms has ever been passed down. Yet Do Myeong, the boss of Dongpyoseorang and a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion, called the Seven Fist Demon Forms the martial learning of Nangyang Pavilion and personally handed the secret manual to him.
If so, the true origin of the Seven Fist Demon Forms had always lain in another sect, and Nangyang Pavilion, upon learning this, may have excluded it from orthodox martial learning.
“If it’s this heaven…”
At that moment, Gongsun Dankyung uttered unexpected words.
“Could it be that you are one of the eight Incheon—the Eight Human Heavens—subordinates of the True Demon?”
“Hoo.”
At those words the old man’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.
“You know about this heaven?”
Hearing the reply, Gongsun Dankyung’s pupils grew hazy.
“The legend was true.”
Having finally grasped the old man’s identity, she murmured in a low voice.
“That’s why you were searching for the Heavenly Mechanism Star.”
When she had been kidnapped by the Jungson Family, she had once secretly entered their secret vault. There she had read a book containing legends secretly transmitted throughout the martial world.
In the martial world there existed a True Demon—an absolute evil who carried memories from past lives and reincarnates endlessly. The Baekri of the legendary Three Families had striven ceaselessly to destroy him, yet ultimately failed and could only seal him away.
And that the True Demon, for the sake of his revival, had left behind fifteen subordinates: three servants known as the Three Attendants, and beneath them the Four Divine Heavens and the Eight Human Heavens.
The Heavenly Mechanism Star, which could analyze present flows and predict future events, naturally knew of the True Demon’s existence and would attempt to stop him; therefore, from the standpoint of the Eight Human Heavens, it would be the very first target that had to be eliminated.
“How do you know about this heaven?”
To the old man’s question, Gongsun Dankyung pressed her lips tightly shut.
After pondering for a long while, the old man seemed to realize something and smiled faintly.
“Hehehe. Could it be that you were one of the children kidnapped by the Jungson Family who actually survived?”
Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes widened.
How could this old man know that the Jungson Family had kidnapped children?
‘I wasn’t the only survivor.’
Moreover, he had said “one of the children who survived.” That meant, besides herself and Yeon Hwa, there might be yet another child who had lived.
“Chief Inspector. What on earth is this old man saying?” Bu Eunseol asked, utterly unable to guess the old man’s identity.
Gongsun Dankyung exhaled a turbid breath and answered.
“The True Demon.”
“The True Demon?”
“An evil said to have existed since primordial times—reincarnating again and again while retaining memories of past lives.”
Gongsun Dankyung pointed at the old man.
“And that old man is one of the True Demon’s fifteen subordinates.”
“Hehehe.” The old man nodded, laughing. “That’s right. This old man is none other than the Fist Man.”
This giant elder was the Fist Man—one of the Eight Human Heavens beneath the Three Attendants and Four Divine Heavens.
“The Jungson Family bastards are truly something. Even informing a mere consumable in such detail about the existence of this heaven.”
Gongsun Dankyung answered, as though a thought had struck her.
“I simply read the secret manual that the Jungson Family revered like a sacred relic… together with someone else.”
The “someone else” was none other than Chu So. He had discovered the entrance to the Jungson Family’s secret vault, informed her as well, and the two of them had secretly entered together to read the book there.
The memory of being with Chu So at that time was an unforgettable recollection she would carry for the rest of her life.
“Someone… huh.”
The old man’s eyes flashed.
“Later I’ll have to raze the entire Jungson Family to the ground.”
‘The Incheon have no connection to the Jungson Family.’
Gongsun Dankyung had deliberately spoken as if someone inside the Jungson Family had cooperated so she could read the manual. Upon hearing those words the old man had immediately shown hostility toward the Jungson Family. From that she had discerned that the Incheon and the Jungson Family were entirely separate.
“The conversation has grown long.”
The Fist Man glanced at the sparkle in Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes and nodded faintly.
“You’ve all finished preparing to die, haven’t you?”
He wore the appearance and tone of a kindly old man, yet throughout his entire body surged a powerful demonic energy so overwhelming that even the Blood Demon Jeok Bung would have conceded a move.
“Wait.”
At that moment Bu Eunseol stepped forward and asked.
“If the old man is the Fist Man, then among the True Demon’s subordinates… is the Inbiin also present?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Seeing them send Ghost Children and Ghosts to the martial world day after day, it seemed related.”
To Bu Eunseol’s question the Fist Man nodded refreshingly and smiled.
“Correct. The Inbiin also belongs to the Incheon.”
In that instant Bu Eunseol’s expression turned grim.
‘So that was it after all.’
Until now he had believed the name Inbiin was merely another title for the Demon Cult—even the Supreme Deity of the Infinite Realm had explained it that way. But in truth the Inbiin was nothing more than one of the eight lowest-ranking Incheon among the True Demon’s fifteen subordinates.
“Then why does the Inbiin periodically appear in the martial world to create Ghost Children and Ghosts?”
“That is none of your concern.”
The Fist Man looked down at Bu Eunseol and hummed.
“Do you know why this elder is answering your questions?”
“I do not.”
“This heavenly lord values connections greatly.”
The words sounded sincere; the Fist Man gazed at Bu Eunseol with genuinely favorable eyes.
“The fist learning of this heaven has ultimately taken root in the martial world. And you have proven it.”
“….”
“Since that is so, from now on this body may freely step forth into the martial world.”
He did not know the exact details, but it seemed that Bu Eunseol’s existence had broken some kind of prohibition.
“In any case, since there is no enmity between us, we shall take our leave.”
As Bu Eunseol turned to go, the Fist Man narrowed his eyes into crescents.
“That will not do.”
“Why not?”
“Did I not say so earlier?” The Fist Man looked at Gongsun Dankyung. “The Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits are all dangerous existences.”
The Fist Man smiled warmly.
“I cannot let slip such a fine opportunity.”
Then, in an exceedingly gentle voice, he said: “Leave her behind. Do so and I shall spare you.”
No man would flee after hearing such words.
The Fist Man looked at Bu Eunseol and spoke in a coaxing tone.
“You, of all people, should understand clearly. Even if you have entered the Limitless Realm, you cannot oppose this heavenly lord.”
Bu Eunseol remained silent.
The Fist Man’s words were neither threat nor arrogance. He truly possessed martial prowess so terrifying that complete victory could not be guaranteed.
“Generally, those who reach the Astonishing Realm at a young age do not make ordinary choices.”
The Fist Man spoke as though issuing an order.
“Decide at once.”
“Thank you.”
Bu Eunseol cupped his hands toward the Fist Man.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he exited Cheonsim Valley. He turned immediately, not even glancing at Gongsun Dankyung, and ran out.
“Hehehe.”
The Fist Man laughed wickedly as he gazed at Gongsun Dankyung.
“You have no luck with men.”
He slowly extended his hand.
The moment he exerted his inner power, Gongsun Dankyung’s head would burst and she would die.
Yet strangely, Gongsun Dankyung was smiling.
“What’s so amusing?”
“No. I simply think I have quite a lot of luck with men.”
“Luck with men, you say.”
As the Fist Man tilted his head in puzzlement, Gongsun Dankyung smiled.
“It is easy to refuse humiliation and shatter like jade. But enduring humiliation and planning for the future is exceedingly difficult.”
Gongsun Dankyung smiled as she looked at the spot where Bu Eunseol had vanished.
“There are almost none in the martial world who can display such courage.”
“Even if you say that, do you truly believe he will come to save you?”
“Of course not.”
Gongsun Dankyung gave a dry smile.
She had not been able to cultivate outstanding martial arts, yet she possessed the ability to gauge another’s capability.
“He knows as well. That there are few people in the martial world capable of killing you.”
“Then what courage did he show?”
“He definitely ran outside to avenge me.”
Gongsun Dankyung spoke with confidence.
“Because one must live in order to take revenge.”
She added one more sentence.
“A person with such courage will surely never forget today’s humiliation.”
“Hehehehe.”
The Fist Man burst into laughter.
“You do not fear death.”
He extended his thumb.
“This heavenly lord likes young and outstanding talents.”
Facing death, Gongsun Dankyung’s vital reactions were utterly calm.
And the Fist Man seemed greatly pleased by her detached attitude.
“If you had not corresponded to the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, I would have spared you.”
He shook his head with a regretful expression.
“But there is nothing that can be done.”
Boom.
The sky darkened and a vibration that shook the earth was felt.
At last the Fist Man was exerting his power, intending to burst Gongsun Dankyung’s body in a single strike.
The instant his overwhelming energy poured toward her—
Rumble.
Suddenly the entire Cheonsim Valley began to tremble.
At the same time, huge boulders started raining down upon the Fist Man.
“What is this?”
Frowning, the Fist Man waved his hand.
The boulders pouring from above instantly turned to powder and scattered.
Yet strange events continued.
The ground beneath the Fist Man’s feet began to sparkle, then abruptly transformed into a vast, bottomless pit.
Rumble.
The Fist Man vanished instantly into the black pit, and immediately afterward countless boulders—too many to count—began filling the hole he had fallen into.
Boom.
When the rain of boulders finally ceased, the place where the Fist Man had stood had become one enormous rock mountain.
Whoosh.
At the same moment, a white shadow appeared once more before Gongsun Dankyung at the entrance of Cheonsim Valley.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“Lord Seon.”
Gongsun Dankyung was greatly startled.
How could Bu Eunseol wield such power?
Had he truly reached the Limitless Realm and attained a level where he could shake the earth and alter the terrain itself?
“Didn’t I tell you earlier?” Bu Eunseol wore a calm expression. “The formations laid here were meant to test the martial learning of those who enter. And….”
He smiled and continued. “They are arranged so that the overlapping formations can be controlled from the entrance passage.”
Bu Eunseol had recalled the formations installed at the Cheonsim Valley entrance passage, rushed there, and manipulated the formations spread throughout the entire valley—creating a massive pit beneath the Fist Man and causing boulders to fall endlessly.
Rumble!
But at that moment a tremendous vibration erupted from inside the rock mountain where the Fist Man was buried.
Kwaaaa!
At the same time an enormous, truly terrifying energy pierced straight through the rock mountain and soared into the sky.
Even buried beneath millions of geun of rock in a location with over a hundred overlapping formations, he was attempting to break free in a single burst.
“There is no time so, excuse me.”
There was not a moment to spare.
Bu Eunseol lifted Gongsun Dankyung in his arms and unleashed his movement technique in one breath.
Shwaaak!
Kwa-rung!
In an instant he escaped Cheonsim Valley and raced toward Seongdo.
Yet soon his superhuman senses began ringing alarms.
‘No.’
The Fist Man’s skill had reached a realm beyond estimation.
Fleeing alone might have been possible, but carrying her while using movement technique meant he would eventually be caught.
Tap.
Bu Eunseol immediately halted his movement technique and descended into a certain forest.
“Chief Inspector, do you trust me?”
Understanding his meaning, Gongsun Dankyung shook her head.
“Let’s escape together.”
“No. We will eventually be caught.”
“We cannot face him.”
“I know.” Bu Eunseol spoke firmly. “Therefore at least one of us must survive, must we not?”
Gongsun Dankyung shook her head.
“Then Lord Seon must survive.”
She declared resolutely.
“Only then can you avenge this chief.”
Bu Eunseol smiled.
“I will not die.”
With a single motion he struck all three hundred sixty acupoints on Gongsun Dankyung’s body.
Instantly her body stiffened and her eyes closed.
He had activated the Ghost Eating Great Law, turning her physical body into a perfect state of suspended animation.
“Rest for a moment.”
Uwoong.
This time Bu Eunseol used the Body Toughening Technique, momentarily transforming Gongsun Dankyung’s body into something as hard as diamond.
Crack crack crack.
Then he began burying her body directly into the ground.
Just as the Human Demon had once done to him, he intended to hide her perfectly within nature.
‘That fellow may be able to sense the Chief Inspector’s energy.’
Realizing this, Bu Eunseol paused, took out the Boundary Prosperity Jade from his bosom, and placed it inside Gongsun Dankyung’s clothing.
‘This should keep her safe.’
Kukuku.
Once more he used his inner power to erase every trace of the burial, then immediately unfolded the Land Flight Technique.
He meant to leave the area at once and ensure Gongsun Dankyung’s safety.
Whoosh!
Paaa!
Bu Eunseol had dashed more than ten li in a single breath when—Boom!
With a sudden explosion he fell to the ground like a bird with broken wings.
An energy of such vast range that it blackened the sky poured down from somewhere and struck his body.
Rumble.
Bu Eunseol, having fallen to the ground, scattered dust in all directions and created a large crater.
Boom.
Then a giant shadow descended to the ground before the crater.
It was the Fist Man.
He had instantly shattered the rock mountain and, while Bu Eunseol was using Land Flight Technique, had launched a cannon-like fist power that sent him crashing to the earth.
“Even if you possess the skill to fly through the sky, you cannot escape this body’s hands.”
Crackle crackle crackle.
Yet from within the thick rising dust, sparks bloomed, and soon a gray shadow walked out before the Fist Man.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“Hoo.”
The Fist Man let out an admiring exclamation as he watched Bu Eunseol emerge imposingly, true-energy sparks flying.
“Now I see… your internal energy surpasses five hundred years. For a young fellow, your internal energy alone has reached the pinnacle of the world.”
Boom.
At the same time an enormous fist power poured toward Bu Eunseol.
Its range spanned a full ten zhang—far beyond what any ordinary martial artist could possibly evade.
Whoosh.
But Bu Eunseol moved like lightning and avoided the mountain-like fist power in a single breath.
With powerful internal energy and the ultimate speed without shadow, he covered more than twenty zhang in an instant.
“Where is she?”
“Find her if you can.”
“Hmm.”
The Fist Man finally clenched his fist.
He had realized that Bu Eunseol’s martial arts were extraordinarily high; ordinary attacks would not fell him.
“It seems like the Limitless Realm, yet something feels off.”
Light flowed from the Fist Man’s fist.
Bu Eunseol instinctively sensed it.
That was the final form of the Seven Fist Demon Forms—a supreme fist technique that did not exist in the present martial world—was now fully prepared.
‘I must survive no matter what.’
Thump thump thump.
Bu Eunseol’s heart felt as if it would burst as he stared at the Fist Man.
He had exchanged blows with Limitless Realm experts before, yet he had never engaged in a true life-or-death battle.
Those great masters who had reached the pinnacle of martial learning possessed immense pride so no matter how outstanding Bu Eunseol’s martial arts were, they had never regarded him as a genuine life-or-death opponent.
But the Fist Man was sincerely attempting to kill him.
The time had come to wage a life-or-death battle against him.
Ziiing.
A strike that decided life and death poured from the Fist Man’s fist.
Its power shone brilliantly and contained a domineering energy capable of tearing the sky apart.
‘This is the true Seven Fist Demon Forms.’
It was a single ray of light that transcended time and space—an absolutely unavoidable strike.
Bu Eunseol charged forward to clash with the fist power, but—
Kwaang!
With an explosion he was hurled more than ten zhang away.
‘Ugh.’
With a single strike his energy channels were overturned and hot blood surged to his mouth. He even lost his center and tumbled disgracefully.
The Fist Man—a subordinate of the True Demon—was displaying the martial prowess of the strongest in the martial world, exactly as Bu Eunseol had expected.
“Hoo.”
The Fist Man nodded in surprise that Bu Eunseol had received his attack with only light internal injuries.
“Take this as well.”
The Fist Man’s body shone brilliantly as his fist gathered energy like the sun itself.
Paaa!
There was no visible first move. Lightning that seemed to tear the sky flashed, then slammed down directly above Bu Eunseol’s head.
“Haaap!”
With no time to dodge, Bu Eunseol unleashed the Thousand Hands Sky Breaking Style to block the fist power.
Bang! Bang!
With thunderous roars Bu Eunseol’s body was once again hurled more than ten zhang away.
“This will be fun.”
In that instant countless fist shadows began forming from the Fist Man’s fist.
The number increased explosively and soon hundreds of fist shadows spread around his body like fireworks.
“Block this as well.”
The Fist Man unfolded a ghost-like movement technique and poured fist shadows endlessly toward the bouncing Bu Eunseol. Each form contained infinite power and every time fist power erupted, the sky split and the ground collapsed.
Kwaang! Kwaang!
Before long the Fist Man was employing a new fist technique never before seen in the martial world.
It was the latter three forms of the Seven Fist Demon Forms.
‘These are the latter three forms of the Seven Fist Demon Forms.’
While being beaten senseless, Bu Eunseol began engraving each explosive fist shadow into his eyes one by one.
Infinite Beginning, Infinite End. Literally without start or end, unborn and undying, immeasurable and boundless—showing the ultimate pinnacle of endlessly circulating fist techniques.
Ziiing, burrr.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes, now a sickly yellow, trembled so rapidly they were almost invisible.
Through the Nangyang Heart Eye he was individually deciphering the profound mysteries of the fist technique—sharp rays of light that pierced even instants imperceptible to ordinary sight—and the changes in the first moves of the fist shadows that dyed heaven and earth pure white.
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