Gurgle. Crack, crack.
Having reached the Poison-Saint Physique, Bu Eunseol’s body continuously emitted bone-grinding sounds as his skin and muscles rippled like waves.
Upon attaining the realm where he could absorb and detoxify any poison, every component of his physical body—bones, muscles, nerves—was subtly transforming.
Saaaa.
Finally, when Bu Eunseol opened his eyes, his skin had returned to a transparent, glossy state.
A transparent and eerie radiance lingered within them.
The Poison-Subduing Eyes—proof of having reached the Poison-Saint Physique—had awakened.
Moreover, even though he did not possess the Wind Spirit Physique, his body had transformed into one capable of wielding the most profound of the Four Divine Energies, the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi… though he was not yet aware of it.
“Ah.”
Bu Eunseol let out a soft exclamation.
He could feel the mysterious radiance flowing from his pupils.
‘This is inconvenient.’
Bu Eunseol suppressed the energy of the Poison-Subduing Eyes.
There was no need to let others know he had completed the Poison-Saint Physique.
Shuuuk.
Having dimmed the light in his eyes, Bu Eunseol once again gazed at the sleeping woman.
“Even after the poisonous qi was removed, there is no response… in fact, her pulse is growing even fainter.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.
Rather than improving, her vitality was steadily weakening compared to before the poison was removed.
“She was sustaining her life with the poisonous qi until now.”
The woman had maintained her life force thanks to the abundant poisonous qi accumulated within her body.
But the moment Bu Eunseol eradicated it all at once, the very source that had kept her alive vanished.
“Hold on.”
Vitality cannot be injected from outside; it must arise from within the body itself.
The will to live, a desperate longing, a fierce passion and struggle to survive even in despair…
Without these, the human body can never recover.
Yet the woman showed no such will.
Oooong.
Carefully lifting the lying woman into a seated position, Bu Eunseol placed his hand on her Life Gate acupoint.
Though almost no internal energy remained within him, he poured everything he had, ceaselessly and without pause.
“Open your eyes.”
But despite his efforts, the last traces of her vitality finally faded away, and with a soft thud, her arm fell limply.
She had become a cold corpse.
“I’m sorry.”
Bu Eunseol gently laid the woman’s body back into the crystal coffin.
“It seems my ability was insufficient, and I only caused unnecessary trouble.”
Bowing respectfully toward the sleeping woman, Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice.
“You must have been a disciple of Wind God Palace as well. I will make sure to inform the palace so your body can be properly retrieved.”
Then he removed his outer robe and covered her with it.
Though soiled, it was sufficient to conceal her body for the time being.
Looking around, Bu Eunseol noticed another door-like engraving on the opposite wall—one that could not be opened.
Shuuuk.
Once again using the wind-principle method, he passed through it as though brushing past, and finally a bright light appeared, revealing an upward-leading passageway.
***
In the training ground, the Wind-Cloud Qi that Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun had stored within their bodies was completely drained by the Golden Furnace’s power.
“Now it is time for you to die.”
Elder Hyang wore a satisfied smile as she watched the radiance flowing through the Golden Furnace.
Then she shouted to her disciples.
“Immediately behead the traitors who dared invade this palace.”
A woman carrying a large greatsword climbed onto the main training platform.
Judging by the way she held the sharply honed blade without even a scabbard, she appeared to be a professional executioner specialized in beheading criminals.
“Wait.”
Hyeok Sojin roared.
“Even criminals should be allowed their last words! Does Wind God Palace have no regard for propriety?”
When he looked around with a solemn expression, Elder Hyang reluctantly nodded.
“If you have final words, speak them.”
Hyeok Sojin hesitated, then spoke with a desperate look.
“…Please spare us.”
Elder Hyang’s face went blank.
But she soon realized he was stalling for time and shouted irritably.
“Cut their heads off now!”
Whoosh!
Just as the woman raised her greatsword to sever Hyeok Sojin’s neck in one stroke,
Clang.
A violet radiance burst from Hyeok Sojin’s body where the blade struck, followed by popping sounds.
He had unsealed the acupoints that had suppressed him.
Crash!
At the same time, not only the dark iron chains but also the Golden Furnace beneath them shattered.
Oooong.
White steam began billowing from above Hyeok Sojin’s head like a steamer.
He had long ago reached the realm of Five Qi Returning to Origin.
While staying at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, he had learned—through the internal cultivation secrets and taoist methods Bu Eunseol had recited—how to store internal energy separately.
Nevertheless, he had deliberately allowed himself to be subdued by Wind God Palace’s disciples.
Because Bu Eunseol would surely return.
Until his survival was confirmed, he had intentionally worn a pained expression and pretended to be suppressed.
But when Bu Eunseol did not return and they moved to kill him, he finally revealed his true strength.
Flash!
When Hyeok Sojin opened his eyes again, an indescribable divine radiance spread from his body.
He had instantly recovered his energy.
“How…?”
When Elder Hyang asked, Hyeok Sojin answered proudly.
“I have my ways.”
Just as he was about to unseal Zhuge Seoun’s acupoints,
Pop, pop.
Similar striking sounds began ringing from Zhuge Seoun’s body as well.
With a metallic clank, the chains binding him fell away lightly.
Like Hyeok Sojin, he too had long since unsealed his acupoints and loosened the chains.
“Our clan has a secret art that divides the flow of true energy in two, rendering any restraint ineffective.”
Astonishingly, Zhuge Seoun had also allowed himself to be subdued on purpose.
To see what Wind God Palace truly desired and how the situation would unfold.
“Hmm.”
Elder Hyang wore a troubled expression.
Needless to say, Zhuge Seoun was the young master of the Zhuge family, and Hyeok Sojin was already one of the new generation’s leading figures in the demonic path.
If those two truly resisted, even Wind God Palace’s forces would suffer heavy losses.
“No need to worry.”
At that moment a clear voice rang out.
Rumble, rumble.
Hundreds of black shadows began surrounding the main training ground.
Whoooong! Boom!
At the same time, a shadow shot down from the distant sky and landed on the ground at tremendous speed. The impact cracked the floor, yet the figure’s legs remained unscathed.
He had lightly leaped upward the instant he landed, dissipating the pressure so that only the ground suffered.
It was none other than Yong Hoe, the Heartless Shadow of the Returning to One Realm.
“You have impressive patience. To stay bound like that with a perfectly fine body until now.”
Yong Hoe’s appearance and aura had subtly changed.
A gentle breeze continuously swirled around him, and a relaxed, natural energy flowed outward.
“No way.”
Zhuge Seoun’s eyes flashed.
“You received the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi in the meantime.”
Yong Hoe laughed heartily.
“Thanks to you two, I obtained it easily.”
He raised the corner of his mouth.
“With two demonic path figures breaking in and committing atrocities, the Young Palace Lord naturally grew anxious, didn’t she?”
In collaboration with Elder Hyang,
Yong Hoe had pinned the deaths of the participants in the hidden chamber on Bu Eunseol and announced that Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun had confessed to being accomplices in the plot.
With the palace lord absent and such a crisis arising… the Young Palace Lord must have felt immense pressure.
In the end, disregarding proper procedure, she had performed a union ritual with Yong Hoe and shared the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi with him.
“Let me see it for myself!”
Zhuge Seoun unleashed lightning-like palm force toward Yong Hoe’s head.
The only way to break through such a large encirclement and survive was to take him hostage.
Whoosh!
But before Zhuge Seoun could subdue Yong Hoe, he was sent flying dozens of zhang backward.
It was as though an invisible fist had struck him.
“I told you—I already received the transmission.”
Yong Hoe stood with his hands behind his back, smiling.
Without making any movement, he had blown Zhuge Seoun away using Wind-Cloud Divine Qi.
Considering Zhuge Seoun’s martial level, sending him flying like a child should have been nearly impossible.
He had truly obtained the most profound of the Four Divine Energies—the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi.
“There is no need for Wind God Palace to deal with such small fry personally.”
When Yong Hoe raised his hand, black-clad figures descended behind him.
They wore masks, their eyes sharp and fierce. They looked less like martial artists and more like highly trained assassins.
“My forces will handle them.”
They were the Three Realms’ troops that had been secretly infiltrated into Wind God Palace as a precaution.
Now that Yong Hoe had received the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi and become the Young Palace Lord’s Great Duke, he revealed his true colors without hesitation.
“Have some fun with them!”
Ssshhh.
The Three Realms’ experts immediately formed a circular encirclement around Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun.
Judging by the energy flowing from each of them, every single one possessed transcendent martial prowess that would be difficult to face alone.
Bang!
At the same moment, waves of internal energy erupted from both Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun.
Kwaaa!
When Hyeok Sojin spread both hands, violet radiance branched out in multiple streams behind him.
The ultimate supreme art of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect Demon Twilight Hell Fist capable of shattering all power.
He had unleashed Divine Rift Demon Energy.
Yet before the Divine Rift Demon Energy could fully extend, the ranks of charging masked figures collapsed in an instant.
Zhuge Seoun had first executed the Zhuge family’s supreme technique, the Heavenly Fate Maze Formation.
Rumble.
Whether employing fist or sword, Zhuge family martial arts inherently contained mysterious formation circulation. As a result, the masked figures moved in erroneous directions and collided with one another.
“Scatter and strike!”
To counter the Zhuge family’s secret art Heavenly Fate Maze Formation, the masked figures dispersed in all directions and attacked chaotically.
“Impressive resilience. Even Heavenly Fate Maze Formation inflicts little damage.”
Boom!
But violet net-like radiance spread outward, and sharp beams of light pierced the masked figures’ vital acupoints.
Having discerned that their bodies were impervious to ordinary weapons, he transformed Divine Rift Demon Energy into spear-like points to shatter their thick physiques.
Pop, pop.
As masked figures fell, Zhuge Seoun once again spread his palm force wide.
Though their paths were entirely different, the two men were improvising perfect coordination, compensating for each other’s weaknesses.
Hyeok Sojin’s Divine Rift Demon Energy could not change forms as freely, but it possessed a far stickier, longer-lasting quality than Bu Eunseol’s Wishful True Binding.
Zhuge Seoun infused every move with the mysteries of Heavenly Fate Maze Formation and freely employed Reverse Star Chaos Heaven—a technique so difficult that even the most brilliant Zhuge masters rarely mastered it—reversing and dismantling the enemy’s movements in real time.
Rumble.
With their backs against each other, the two men unleashed their full power.
The masked figures lost direction, staggered, and fell helplessly as their vital points were struck.
When the unique mysteries of Zhuge martial arts combined with the supreme demonic study of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, the result was an unstoppable, seamless assault.
Psssh.
Yet wounds steadily increased on Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun’s bodies.
The masked figures they faced were none other than the elite forces of the Returning to One Realm—a power that restored and possessed the world’s most outstanding martial arts.
Two men alone could not possibly prevail against them.
After about the time it takes to burn one incense stick,
Boom!
With an explosion, the two were hurled into the wall at the edge of Wind God Palace’s training ground.
“Huu.”
Hyeok Sojin had pushed Divine Rift Demon Energy to its absolute limit; he no longer had the strength to lift even a finger.
He did not fear death, but he regretted not seeing Bu Eunseol one last time.
Zhuge Seoun’s internal energy was also exhausted; his dantian felt on the verge of tearing from pain.
Yet he too had fought with everything he had.
There was nothing left to long for, nothing left to regret.
“Hahaha. Are you ready to die?”
At Yong Hoe’s cold shout, Zhuge Seoun straightened his chest and declared loudly, “In this world, to have lived and played to the fullest is enough. What more could one ask for?”
Beside him, Hyeok Sojin laughed heartily and spoke to Zhuge Seoun.
“Brother Zhuge, it seems this is our grave.”
Then, looking up at the distant sky, he let out a deep sigh.
“Though we could not be born in the same hour, to die on the same day… this too is no ordinary bond.”
Having already transcended life and death, Hyeok Sojin could still jest even at the moment of death.
Hearing those words, Zhuge Seoun’s chest tightened, and heroic spirit surged to the heavens.
“I’ve never said this before, but…”
He brought forth the words he had kept buried in his heart.
“After dealing with the Mad Soul Physician, I came to admire Command Lord Bu and Brother Hyeok. But our paths diverged, so I never expressed it.”
“Brother Zhuge.”
“Let’s meet again in the afterlife and share a drink.”
The two men gazed firmly at each other, smiling with indomitable spirit.
“Agreed.”
Bang!
Hyeok Sojin gathered his last dregs of internal energy and unleashed Divine Rift Demon Energy to its maximum.
His body became completely shrouded in violet radiance.
Shuuuk!
Zhuge Seoun likewise raised his internal energy to the limit; dozens of afterimages formed around him.
He was preparing to execute the Zhuge family’s secret supreme art, Heavenly Mechanism Illumination Migration Skill.
“Haaap!”
Just as their final life-force-infused strikes were about to pour down upon the masked figures,
Kiiii.
Suddenly a strange metallic scraping sound rang from one side of the main training ground.
“…”
Silence fell for a long moment.
Then, with a rumble, the central floor of the training ground split open.
Slide.
From within emerged a grayish figure holding a rusted iron sword, slowly rising head first.
His clothes were covered in dust and blood; his entire body was riddled with wounds.
Yet between his long hair, the mysterious eyes shone so clearly they could be seen from ten li away.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“Brother Bu?”
In that instant Hyeok Sojin withdrew his Divine Rift Demon Energy and shouted.
“Brother Bu!”
He rushed forward and embraced Bu Eunseol, crying out, “What in the world happened?”
Bu Eunseol looked alternately at the wretched state of Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun, then at the masked figures surrounding them, and let out a sigh.
“You’ve suffered greatly.”
“What exactly happened?”
Bu Eunseol pointed at Yong Hoe, who stood with arms crossed behind the masked figures.
“That one pushed me into the trap below. So I broke through and came out.”
From afar, Yong Hoe and Elder Hyang—who had been watching Bu Eunseol return alive and unscathed—widened their eyes in shock.
—How is that bastard still alive?
The Wind God Passage they had forced him into was a death trap so densely packed that even past palace lords had not dared attempt to breach it.
Moreover, the exit had long been completely sealed so even the greatest master in the world could never emerge alive.
So how had this man—whose body was far from normal—emerged completely intact?
And how was there a mechanism installed in the training ground that even Wind God Palace’s disciples did not know about?
“Elder Hyang. What is going on?”
When Yong Hoe asked, Elder Hyang pondered for a long moment before nodding as she grasped the situation.
“Most likely… he discovered a mechanism connected to the Wind God Passage—one unknown even to this palace’s disciples. Great Duke.”
“Hmm.”
With a snort, Yong Hoe stared intently at Bu Eunseol’s wretched appearance.
‘He’s still not back to normal.’
Having mastered a secret art that allowed him to gauge an opponent’s internal energy waves with his eyes alone, he could tell Bu Eunseol’s internal energy remained depleted to the bottom.
“Pity. You struggled so hard to crawl out of the trap, only to return straight to hell.”
“Great Duke, is it.”
Bu Eunseol, looking at Yong Hoe, let out a deep sigh.
“So in the end you obtained the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi.”
“That’s why I said—why barge uninvited into someone else’s banquet?”
Yong Hoe clicked his tongue.
“If you had stayed quiet, you wouldn’t have had to die in a place like this.”
Swoosh.
When Yong Hoe raised his hand, the lined-up masked figures once again assumed combat readiness.
But at that moment Elder Hyang spoke in a low voice.
“Great Duke. Why not handle him personally?”
Though Yong Hoe held the title of Heartless Shadow in the Returning to One Realm, he was still relatively unknown in the martial world.
Elder Hyang wanted him to display the majesty of Wind God Palace’s Great Duke before all the disciples on this occasion.
“Excellent idea.”
Nodding, Yong Hoe stepped forward with a smile.
“Martial Soul Command Lord. You are evaluated as the foremost next-generation figure in the demonic path.”
“…”
“Do you have the courage to face this one alone?”
He had already discerned that Bu Eunseol had not fully recovered.
He intended to seize this chance to personally eliminate Bu Eunseol and claim his brilliant reputation for himself.
“Brother Bu would never bother with trash like you.”
At that moment Hyeok Sojin stepped forward, violet strong qi enveloping him.
“Brother Bu. Let me turn that bastard into pulp in one strike.”
Hyeok Sojin knew as well.
That Bu Eunseol had not yet recovered his body.
But Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“I’ll do it.”
“But Brother Bu, you…”
“It’s fine.”
Bu Eunseol spoke firmly.
“I still have enough strength left to cut off that one’s head.”
Then he looked alternately at Zhuge Seoun and nodded.
“You’ve suffered enough. Rest with him for a while.”
Zhuge Seoun wore a puzzled expression.
Even if Bu Eunseol defeated Yong Hoe, those numerous troops would never stand by idly.
A full-scale battle was inevitable anyway…
Yet Bu Eunseol was acting as though he could settle everything alone.
“Understood.”
At that moment Hyeok Sojin broke into a bright smile.
“Brother Zhuge. Let’s just watch.”
Bu Eunseol never spoke empty words or acted recklessly.
If he said he would cut off the head, then Yong Hoe’s head would surely be severed—and there would be no need for them to intervene.
“Agreed.”
Though still puzzled, Zhuge Seoun nodded.
It was not blind faith in Bu Eunseol being some “divine being” or similar talk.
He and Hyeok Sojin had already become friends who transcended life and death.
If Hyeok Sojin believed, then he too would believe.
Srrrng.
Drawing the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, Bu Eunseol slowly stepped forward.
Yong Hoe likewise walked forward slowly.
The two stopped about three zhang apart.
Fwooo.
The wind flowing from Yong Hoe’s body gradually grew fiercer.
It was as though the blowing wind reflected the state of his soul.
“I will show you why Wind-Cloud Divine Qi is invincible.”
Pop!
Though he had not yet launched any attack, red blood suddenly trickled from Bu Eunseol’s cheek.
A razor-sharp wind-like force had grazed him.
“Hmm.”
Even as blood dripped steadily from his cheek, Bu Eunseol stood with an impassive expression.
Then he gripped the Silent Tiger Soul Sword and executed his swordsmanship.
With almost no internal energy left, he could not use the Supreme Heavenly Flow, and his sword aura could barely extend one zhang.
Nevertheless, he did not hesitate to attack. It was sufficient power to strike Yong Hoe.
Slash, slash, slash!
Unleashing three consecutive strikes, mysterious techniques enveloped not only Yong Hoe’s lower body but his upper body and head in one fell swoop.
“Your swordsmanship is indeed impressive.”
Yong Hoe remained rooted in place and spread his palm.
A tremendous air current surged forth, instantly sending Bu Eunseol’s sword aura flying skyward.
Flash.
At the same moment, brilliant light erupted from Yong Hoe’s right hand.
Using that split-second opening, he unleashed razor-sharp Wind-Cloud Divine Qi like a swift sword.
Pop.
But Bu Eunseol had already anticipated the move and swiftly evaded.
Then something astonishing occurred.
At some point Yong Hoe stood behind Bu Eunseol, both hands raised.
He had used Wind-Cloud Divine Qi to move at ultra-high speed and circle behind.
“Die.”
Yong Hoe poured all his power into unleashing razor-sharp force.
Ssssk!
Yet his strike only sparked against the training ground floor and missed completely.
“What sorcery is this?”
Unable to contain his bewilderment, Yong Hoe roared.
He had clearly struck Bu Eunseol for certain… yet the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi passed futilely through his body.
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