Bu Eunseol arrived at Hainan.
The Thousand Poisons Sect.
He had obtained information that this once-gloriously powerful poison sect had been rebuilt on Wunin Island in Hainan.
To an ordinary martial artist, the revival of the Thousand Poisons Sect would probably have been dismissed as nonsense. But Bu Eunseol had witnessed countless sects utterly eradicated by the Three Realms up until now being perfectly restored one after another.
Thus, even if something far greater than the Thousand Poisons Sect had been rebuilt here, it would not be particularly surprising.
‘If the Thousand Poisons Sect has truly been rebuilt, they will be hiding with extreme secrecy.’
Bu Eunseol began searching Wunin Island one by one himself.
In truth, finding an uninhabited island suitable for establishing a sect was not particularly difficult.
The bare minimum condition for survival was simply locating an island with accessible water.
“This has to be the place.”
Finally, Bu Eunseol discovered an uninhabited island that seemed plausible for the Thousand Poisons Sect—one with underground water veins and a small spring flowing.
He immediately began a thorough investigation of the surrounding area.
He searched for a long while, yet no trace of human presence could be found anywhere.
“If the Thousand Poisons Sect has been rebuilt, it would surely be on a considerable scale. Could they really hide so perfectly?”
Bu Eunseol stroked his chin.
In truth, rumors spread by mercenaries were generally unreliable.
Yet the reason Bu Eunseol trusted Black Leopard’s words was because every mercenary under his command was an outstanding master who had reached the pinnacle in their respective field.
Especially the poison expert.
The fact that he had pinpointed the reconstruction of the Thousand Poisons Sect so precisely meant it could not possibly be baseless gossip.
“It’s not mere empty rumor.”
Bu Eunseol paused his movement for a moment and calmly pondered.
If the Thousand Poisons Sect had been revived by some faction… why had they rebuilt the Thousand Poisons Sect? For what purpose had they resurrected a long-forgotten poison sect?
‘Poison Pool. Poison Abyss.’
The Thousand Poisons Sect had been the paramount school among poison sects.
Above all, by creating pools like the Poison Pool—filled with extreme poisons—they had nurtured exceptional poison masters.
If someone had revived the Thousand Poisons Sect, they would surely have needed the Poison Pool, which was the sect’s pride and its very essence.
‘A Poison Pool, huh.’
There was no suitable location near where Bu Eunseol was standing to create a Poison Pool.
Raising his Void Heart Command, Bu Eunseol began meticulously examining the ruined areas one by one.
‘A place suitable for a Poison Pool.’
When he had first heard that the Thousand Poisons Sect had been rebuilt on this remote uninhabited island in Hainan, he had simply thought they had found an extremely secretive base inaccessible to outsiders.
But thinking back now, that made no sense.
Why deliberately establish a sect on such an isolated island far from the mainland?
Compared to building on the mainland, it would be far more difficult and costly—why choose such a place on purpose?
‘Which means…’
After sinking into deep contemplation for a long while, Bu Eunseol’s eyes finally flashed.
The fact that the Thousand Poisons Sect—famous for its Poison Pool—had deliberately chosen this remote island for reconstruction suggested that this uninhabited island was either filled with the toxic substances needed to create a Poison Pool… or perhaps already contained a naturally formed Poison Pool.
Purrt.
Unfolding his movement technique, Bu Eunseol began scouring the island thoroughly, searching for any pond-like body of water.
“This must be it.”
And finally, deep within the forest, he discovered an enormous pond.
In fact, he had already checked this place earlier. The water was so clear and transparent that it could never be called a Poison Pool.
“As expected.”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
A pond standing still in the forest should naturally have slightly murky water.
Yet this massive pond was so clear that one could see straight to the bottom even from nearby.
A naturally formed pond could never be this transparent.
Wuuung.
Bu Eunseol raised his inner force.
With a soft plop, a single droplet of water from the pond fell onto his palm.
Sssss.
The moment the water touched his palm, white smoke rose and the droplet evaporated instantly.
Because the toxicity was so extreme, before it could even be absorbed into his hand, the Ban-Geuk Method automatically activated and burned away the poison.
“Truly vicious.”
Since the Ban-Geuk Method overflowed within Bu Eunseol’s body, ordinary poisons could not even approach him.
Yet even after burning the poison, a fishy stench accompanied an endlessly rising nausea that churned in his stomach.
“With this level of toxicity, it certainly qualifies as a Poison Pool.”
As Bu Eunseol—having sensed that this transparent liquid was an extreme poison—gazed into the pond once more,
Splash.
Suddenly the pond began to surge violently.
It was as though something deep within had moved.
Splash, splash.
The surging grew increasingly intense, as if the water were rising.
Sensing something strange, Bu Eunseol focused his vision on the transparent pond.
Swiik!
Abruptly, something pitch-black and razor-sharp pierced toward his brow.
It was so sudden and impossibly swift that even Bu Eunseol could not evade it.
Grab.
In the end, with lightning reflexes, he seized whatever it was that had nearly embedded itself in his brow.
Drip, drip, drip.
Blood dripped from his palm—skin that not even ordinary blades could scratch.
What he held was the tail of an animal—extremely pointed like a spearhead, covered in jagged blade-like protrusions.
Whiiik!
The moment he grabbed it, the tail thrashed violently.
When Bu Eunseol released it, with a slashing sound, the tail withdrew back into the pond.
Bubble bubble.
For a moment the pond bubbled like boiling water…
Splash!
With the sound of water being parted, a massive, pitch-black shadow slowly rose above the surface.
It had a dragon-like head, skin gleaming like black metal, and a single golden horn protruding.
Its body resembled an enormous crocodile, yet five long, spear-like tails wriggled like snakes—an utterly bizarre creature.
“The Obsidian Single-Horn Flood Dragon?”
Bu Eunseol’s mouth fell open.
A legendary spirit beast said to live for ten thousand years—the Obsidian Single-Horn Flood Dragon—had suddenly appeared in this pond?
Moreover, it was said that only after ten years would a single scale turn black, yet its entire body was pitch-black, suggesting it had lived for at least thousands of years.
‘Could the reason they rebuilt the Thousand Poisons Sect be because of this flood dragon?’
But there was no time for deep thought.
Splash!
Believing Bu Eunseol had invaded its pond, the Obsidian Single-Horn Flood Dragon began attacking him with its five sharp, elongated tails.
‘So fast.’
Bu Eunseol unfolded his movement technique to evade, yet the movements of the Single-Horn Flood Dragon—also called the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon—were truly like lightning.
It even spun its long tails rapidly around him in circles, completely sealing off his escape routes.
Crack.
When the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon saw Bu Eunseol leisurely dodging its attacks, it suddenly opened its massive jaws wide.
Saaaa.
It began spewing pitch-black poisonous mist.
‘Kugh.’
Bu Eunseol inwardly groaned.
The poisonous mist was so virulent that merely inhaling it would cause immediate unconsciousness.
Had he been an ordinary martial artist, this single move would already have sent him across the three rivers of death.
“A mere beast.”
Murderous intent flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
If such a demonic creature appeared in the heart of the Central Plains instead of this uninhabited island, it would cause a catastrophe of bloodshed.
Flash!
In that instant, blood-red light flared in his pupils.
Boom!
With an explosive sound, the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon was blasted back into the pond.
He had used the First Fist Demon Form.
—Kiii!
Reappearing, the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon let out a furious shriek.
At the same time, it spewed poisonous mist once more.
“If you spew poison again, you will truly die.”
Bu Eunseol warned calmly from within the mist. The spirit-possessing Poison-Horn Flood Dragon faltered and retreated in visible confusion.
Its poison could fell an elephant in one breath, yet this mere human was enduring its poisonous mist unscathed.
—Kiiii.
As though its pride had been wounded, sharp light gleamed from the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon’s pitch-black eyes.
It glared at Bu Eunseol for a long while, seemingly desperate to kill this human but unable to find a way.
Then, as though having made up its mind, it opened its jaws wide.
Flash!
At the same moment, a round object shot toward Bu Eunseol’s brow.
In its rage, the flood dragon had fired its own inner core at him.
Grab.
Though the speed was lightning-fast, Bu Eunseol calmly tilted his head slightly to evade.
Yet the inner core—moving as though performing sword control—curved around to strike the back of his head?
An inner core was the crystallized accumulation of spiritual energy within long-lived spirit beasts.
Containing concentrated power, being struck by it would be fatal.
Grab.
But without even turning, Bu Eunseol caught the inner core in one hand.
Sssssss.
Then something unexpected happened.
The moment he grasped the inner core, white smoke rose as the deadly poison began absorbing through his palm into his skin.
Stagger.
A sudden rush of poison made Bu Eunseol dizzy.
Drip drip.
Moreover, the poison absorbed so quickly that his entire skin turned pitch-black in an instant.
“Hmm.”
Bu Eunseol groaned as his whole body darkened.
The extreme poison contained within the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon’s inner core was so potent that even the Ban-Geuk Method could not fully block it.
As he staggered dizzily,
Boom!
In that moment, the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon struck his body full-force with its tail.
Kuuung.
With an explosive roar, dozens of zhang away a boulder shattered as Bu Eunseol crashed into it.
Sss sss sss.
Having felled the formidable foe, the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon approached with triumphant steps, leaning against the rock where Bu Eunseol lay collapsed.
Crack.
It opened its massive jaws wide, intending to swallow Bu Eunseol’s head in one bite.
Flash!
But Bu Eunseol’s eyes snapped open in an instant.
Grab.
He seized the upper and lower fangs of the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon that sought to devour his skull.
Creak creak.
Though the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon strained with all its might to swallow his head, it could not overcome his terrifying grip strength.
Whiiik!
Unable to swallow his head, it stabbed at Bu Eunseol’s shoulder with its long tail.
Puuuk.
Its five sharp tails pierced into his body.
Though his thick inner force prevented full penetration, he still suffered no light wounds.
But as the tails moved, the force with which the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon tried to swallow his head momentarily weakened.
“Haaap.”
Bu Eunseol exerted every ounce of strength to pry open the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon’s jaws.
Crunch crunch. Crack.
With grotesque tearing sounds of flesh, the flood dragon’s jaws were ripped apart top and bottom.
Kuuung. Kuuung.
Writhing in agony, the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon realized it could not defeat Bu Eunseol and hurriedly tried to retreat back into the pond.
But with its mouth already torn and having lost its inner core—the source of its life— after writhing in pain for a long while on its way to the pond, the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon finally collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
“Haa… haa…”
Struggling to his feet, Bu Eunseol breathed heavily.
The battle against a flood dragon that had lived for thousands of years had been more intense and perilous than any fight he had ever experienced.
Moreover, the inner core of the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon was truly the world’s most extreme poison.
Even now, his skin—having absorbed the core—remained pitch-black, and with every breath, deadly exhalation spread like mist.
If this continued, he himself would succumb to poisoning and die.
“Huu… huu…”
As the poison energy rose, even breathing became difficult.
Bu Eunseol sat down heavily on the spot and assumed the lotus position.
He began circulating his energy, attempting to somehow expel the poison.
Wuuuung.
In a trance-like state of circulation, the formulas of the Ban-Geuk Mind Method taught to him by Blood Vajra endlessly surfaced in Bu Eunseol’s mind.
Every inner force cultivation method in the world contained secrets to expel or detoxify poisons.
But the Ban-Geuk Mind Method had none of those.
Because “Ban-Geuk” meant reversing or breaking all that had been created—while at the same time embracing and encompassing everything.
Wuuung.
As his circulation reached its peak, his body—still in lotus position—rose nearly a zhang into the air, and a majestic golden light emanated from his entire form.
The Prajna Great Power, which had only manifested in moments of crisis until now, was activated to detoxify the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon’s inner core and began fully merging with his true innate energy.
Wuuuung.
Slowly descending back to the ground, Bu Eunseol saw the golden light emanating from his body gradually fade as his pitch-black skin slowly returned to its original white.
He had not burned away the poison energy of the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon’s inner core.
Through the Ban-Geuk Mind Method’s natural property of embracing all things, he had converted both the poison energy and spiritual energy contained within the inner core into Ban-Geuk Method energy.
Shuuu. Shuuu.
The Poison-Horn Flood Dragon was a spirit beast that had lived for over a thousand years.
Its inner core was the very embodiment of the world’s most vicious poison.
Even those who had trained in poison arts their entire lives could not absorb it in a short time; they would need a full thousand days of cultivation to absorb even a portion of its energy.
Yet Bu Eunseol had instantly converted the core’s power into Ban-Geuk Method energy.
Thus, even without training in poison arts, he was able to instantly accept the core’s poison energy into his body.
Shuu, shuuu.
Endless light flowed from Bu Eunseol’s body as the inner core’s poison energy began storing in his dantian in the form of Ban-Geuk energy.
While he continued circulating without pause, hundreds of shadows rushed toward the Poison Pool.
They were the descendants of the Thousand Poisons Sect who had been hiding on this uninhabited island.
Having heard the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon’s cries and sensed something had gone terribly wrong, they had come running.
“This can’t be!”
Among the hundreds of sect members, the young man at the very front opened his mouth wide.
It was Jo Seungji, the young sect leader of the rebuilt Thousand Poisons Sect.
“The Poison-Horn Flood Dragon!”
Jo Seungji clutched his head at the sight of the dead flood dragon.
The Obsidian Poison-Horn Flood Dragon was the very reason the Thousand Poisons Sect had been rebuilt—and a heavenly treasure entrusted to them by some faction.
Only the Poison Pool created through the secret arts of the Thousand Poisons Sect could sustain such a creature.
“Young Sect Leader! It seems that bastard has even stolen the inner core!”
At that moment, a man beside him shouted.
They had discovered the inner core missing from the flood dragon’s corpse.
“Could he be absorbing the inner core right now?”
Jo Seungji shook his head.
Could this man be an extraordinary poison arts master who had learned they were raising the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon, deliberately come here, and seized the inner core?
“No!”
With a thunderous shout, Jo Seungji unleashed palm force toward Bu Eunseol’s back.
Boom!
“Ugh!”
Jo Seungji clutched his own palm and screamed.
“How is his body this hard?”
His palm was swollen and bruised.
He was a poison master with a body impervious to all poisons.
Yet from the striking palm, an extreme poison he could not detoxify was gradually infiltrating his meridians?
“Use weapons!”
At Jo Seungji’s command, the Thousand Poisons Sect members drew their poison swords and charged, stabbing at Bu Eunseol’s body.
Yet something bizarre occurred.
Even while in trance-like circulation, his skin was utterly impervious to blades—as though he were manifesting the Indestructible Diamond Body.
“I’ll do it myself!”
Jo Seungji drew a sharp treasured sword from his robes.
It was a supreme ancient treasured sword passed down through generations of the Thousand Poisons Sect—sharp enough to rival the Ice Soul Sword, and coated thickly with the world’s most vicious poison, Blood Jade Venom.
Crack!
Gripping the treasured sword with full strength, Jo Seungji struck at Bu Eunseol’s neck.
Yet instead of severing the neck, only dull thuds rang out.
Crack! Crack!
Even as he struck with all his might repeatedly, the blade—capable of slicing metal like tofu—became damaged instead.
“Is this bastard a ghost?!”
Meanwhile, Bu Eunseol—who had been circulating his mind method in trance—was gradually beginning to feel pain.
‘The energy is too overwhelming.’
His qi and blood felt as though they would tear apart and his internal organs grew uncomfortable.
Converting the overflowing, colossal energy of the inner core into inner force had pushed his body to the verge of exploding.
Ten jiazi.
Before he knew it, Bu Eunseol had reached the absolute limit of inner force a human body could contain.
‘It’s difficult to fully contain it in my body.’
The inner force flowing through him now was not naturally cultivated energy but an immense external force injected from the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon’s inner core.
He already possessed an absurd surplus of inner force, and now another uncontrollable flood surged within him.
Like a dam breaking and causing a deluge, terrifying power rampaged uncontrollably through his body, causing it to swell and his qi and blood to tear.
Boom!
At that moment, a refreshing strike suddenly landed on his back.
The violent dragon-like energy churning through his qi and blood began to calm slightly.
Thud thud. Clang clang.
Then dozens of sharp blades stabbed precisely into his acupoints across his body.
‘This feels… relieving.’
As the sharp objects evenly pierced his acupoints, the energy that had threatened to burst his body stabilized, and his blood circulation flowed smoothly—as though receiving a full meridian-pushing and acupoint-passing treatment.
Because the Thousand Poisons Sect members were attacking wildly, the stagnant flow of qi within him began circulating rapidly.
‘If only they would stab or strike a little harder.’
As though hearing Bu Eunseol’s wish, Jo Seungji began striking his neck vigorously with the treasured sword.
Boom! Boom!
Each time the sword struck, great vibrations accompanied it, and Bu Eunseol felt his body growing lighter, his blood circulation gradually returning to normal.
‘This energy is still too much to handle, so I’ll convert it into an inner core form for now.’
Though spoken of as ten jiazi, due to the inner core’s power, Bu Eunseol’s inner force had already far surpassed ten jiazi.
It was power no human body could possibly contain.
Thus, to reduce the overflowing inner force within him, he converted the true energy gained from the Poison-Horn Flood Dragon into an inner core and stored it in his dantian.
Flash.
Finally completing circulation, an auspicious aura spread from his body as it gently floated more than ten zhang into the air.
Sssss.
Slowly opening his eyes and descending from midair, Bu Eunseol saw Jo Seungji holding the treasured sword and hundreds of Thousand Poisons Sect members.
‘When did such a crowd gather?’
Rumble rumble.
As Bu Eunseol descended, the Thousand Poisons Sect members once again drew their weapons and began striking him.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread, as they say.
Despite having floated nearly ten zhang upward during circulation, they paid it no mind and attacked again.
Ting. Ping.
Yet no matter how fiercely they struck, their weapons could not even pierce his skin—merely tearing his clothes.
“Enough.”
Bu Eunseol spoke lowly and waved his hand.
He had come here not to fight the Thousand Poisons Sect, but to seek their counsel and learn the method to detoxify the Three Corpse Worm.
Paaa!
Yet something strange happened.
With a light wave of his hand, a storm-like energy suddenly spread, knocking the charging Thousand Poisons Sect members down in droves.
The overflowing true energy he had not yet stored as an inner core had been released outward through his hand.
“No way!”
But at that moment, a brave sect member charged and stabbed fiercely at Bu Eunseol’s lower abdomen.
Precisely where the dantian lay.
Puuuk.
The sharp poison sword pressed against his dantian.
Kwaaaang!
With an ear-splitting explosion, another wave of true energy radiated in all directions.
Kurrrrr.
Moreover, the wave was not mere energy ripple—it materialized like the Wishful True Binding and spread instantly.
Thud thud thud.
Most of the Thousand Poisons Sect members flung back by the aftermath suffered severe injuries—broken ribs or limbs—while those still standing had their bodies melting or skin turning pitch-black.
He had not even raised his inner force, yet a wave of true energy akin to protective qi had swept them away.
“You…”
Jo Seungji’s eyes bulged wide.
The overwhelming qi emanating from Bu Eunseol’s body—was it not the poison energy that only those who had achieved the Poison Body realm could manifest?
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