The subordinates of the Poison Saint were all poison users who practiced poison arts, and since Ajanta Caves was a place they frequently visited, it had become a famous landmark that no longer allowed visitors.
“So that was the case.”
After Bu Eunseol nodded, having grasped the entire situation, Ahwan spoke in a timid, creeping voice.
“That place has been a renowned landmark since long ago, but because the Poison Saint’s subordinates frequent it constantly, it became far too dangerous. That’s why I didn’t mention it to you from the beginning, Young Master.”
Feeling apologetic, she could not meet Bu Eunseol’s gaze and lowered her head.
“No matter how great your martial arts may be, you would not be able to withstand their poison arts.”
Although Bu Eunseol had not properly trained in poison arts, he had already entered the initial stage of the Poison Body Constitution. No matter how powerful Garama’s poison arts were, they could not poison him.
However, Ahwan, unaware of this fact, had desperately hoped that he would never go to Ajanta Caves.
“But now I know. I know that you, Young Master, are truly unrivaled under the heavens.”
In the Illusion Pond, Ahwan had witnessed Bu Eunseol’s true nature—not only his profound martial learning, but also his outstanding mental barriers and indomitable spirit. Only then did she believe he could easily overcome even Garama’s poison arts, and so she finally told him the story.
“I’m sorry for speaking of it so late.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head and smiled.
“Thanks to you, I’ve gained a major clue.”
If she had not told him this, he might have wandered around Napsageukseong without any leads at all.
“I’ll go take a look myself.”
“Yes.”
Ahwan clenched both hands tightly.
Since childhood, she had wandered Napsageukseong as a guide. It had been an extremely arduous and difficult life, so beyond merely surviving, he had never thought of anything else.
But after meeting Bu Eunseol and sharing a short adventure, she had gained beautiful appearance and power, and had also come to understand what first love was.
‘But I cannot tell him.’
The Wind Cloud Young Master was the benefactor who had brought glory to the tribe, and hhe would soon have to return to the Central Plains. As for herself, she had to become the saintess of the Yona tribe. They were fated never to be together.
“Then, I’m going.”
“Take care.”
Ahwan also smiled brightly and bowed politely, completely unaware that she would soon come to regret this decision.
***
Rumble!
Bu Eunseol left Napsageukseong and immediately headed toward Nagara City.
Thanks to the fortuitous encounter in the Illusion Pond, he had created the Endless Heavenly Light Art—a method that allowed him to unify the Three Divine Energies within his body.
When he unfolded it while executing his movement technique, he could truly run at the speed of light.
‘I must apply it to all martial arts.’
If he could apply the Endless Heavenly Light Art not only to movement techniques but also to sword arts and other martial skills, he would naturally be able to infuse the Three Divine Energies into his techniques without deliberately drawing them up.
‘First, let’s test how much the movement technique is enhanced.’
Chzzzzt. Boom!
When he unfolded the Endless Heavenly Light Art, even using only about forty percent of the Swift Beyond Shadow made his speed as fast as when he had previously used full power.
‘In terms of movement speed, I could even surpass the Demon Emperor.’
Until now, he had never felt any particular pride in his martial arts. But now he could be certain: as long as he used his movement technique, no one would be able to catch up to him.
Rumble! Crash!
As he doubled his movement technique, Bu Eunseol’s figure became a streak of meteor, slicing through the sky amid the sound of thunder.
If an ordinary person ran at this speed, their skin would tear and their blood vessels would burst. However, the principle of martial arts dictated that as one’s realm rose, the body would inevitably grow stronger as well. Especially upon reaching the Limitless Realm, one would obtain a steel-like body.
If Bu Eunseol had stepped into the Limitless Realm, he would have advanced while fully enduring the terrifying shockwaves with his steel-like physique. However, he had realized that the Limitless Realm was an extremely unnatural path, so he was forging his own way and entering a new realm.
His body was not yet as solid as steel, but the profound effects of the Endless Heavenly Light Art compensated for it, allowing him to cut through the air as he advanced.
‘This is the true value of the Endless Heavenly Light Art.’
When he unfolded the Endless Heavenly Light Art, the surrounding air flowed according to his will. Even while running at such speed, he could minimize collisions and resistance.
Before long, the sun set and night fell.
After running at full speed for three whole days, Bu Eunseol stopped for a moment when he saw the city in the distance. No matter how profound his martial arts were, he was still a human who needed to eat and sleep. Moreover, since this was his first attempt at applying the Three Divine Energies to his movement technique, he felt considerable fatigue.
‘This is nice about being outside the Central Plains.’
If he had been in the Central Plains, regardless of whether he appeared as Seolso or Seon Woojin, he would never have dared to casually enter a crowded inn in a bustling city like this. The constant threat of the abyss forces, who could strike at any moment, and the unpredictable clashes with high-level experts would have prevented it.
But here, since no one knew him, he could comfortably enter any city or imperial capital.
Buzzing chatter.
The marketplace was as colorful as if various hues of light were dancing. The shouts of merchants and the laughter of customers eating blended together, ringing in the ears. The thick aroma of spices filled the air from somewhere, and the streets were packed with cotton fabrics, spices, jewels, and handicrafts—exotic items rarely seen in the Central Plains that caught the eye.
Bu Eunseol entered the largest inn, the one most frequented by travelers.
As soon as he stepped inside, a waiter quickly rushed out to greet him.
“……!”
However, the waiter looked Bu Eunseol up and down, then made a greatly shocked expression and began chattering noisily.
“I am a person from the Central Plains.”
When Bu Eunseol spoke in the Han language, the waiter made a blank face, then suddenly burst into loud laughter and pointed at his face, as if he had heard a very funny joke.
“What is he saying?”
When Bu Eunseol’s expression hardened, the waiter waved both hands and politely guided him to a seat.
Bu Eunseol looked around, then gestured with his hands and feet while asking the waiter.
“What can one eat here?”
The waiter scratched his head as if troubled. He could not understand the Han language at all.
“Hmm.”
Although they could not communicate with words, in this world, nothing was impossible with money. Bu Eunseol took out silver and pointed at the food and alcohol that other people were eating and drinking.
“Give me that food and alcohol as well.”
The waiter, holding the silver, smiled brightly, his eyebrows flying up, and ran to the kitchen, quickly bringing out the food.
“It’s sour.”
The alcohol sold here had such a strong acidity that it tasted far worse than the drink the Bayura tribe had offered him before.
“Is it easy to find alcohol that suits one’s taste outside the Central Plains?”
As he muttered quietly and drank for a while, he felt something strange. When he looked around, every person inside the inn was staring at him intently. Moreover, a few people were whispering in low voices while repeatedly looking him up and down.
‘They are not looking at me.’
After analyzing their gazes for a long time, Bu Eunseol finally realized that everyone in the inn was staring at the clothes he was wearing.
‘Bayura tribe?’
Because his original clothes had been completely torn and tattered in the Illusion Pond, he had borrowed and worn a set of Bayura tribe clothing.
The fact that everyone was staring fixedly at his clothes meant…
“Waiter.”
Bu Eunseol called the waiter. He pointed at the large chunks of silver in his bosom and then at his own clothes. When the waiter kept trying to take only the silver, Bu Eunseol held it in his hand and continued pointing at his clothes.
Only then did the waiter nod and run off somewhere. Soon he returned with a young man wearing shabby clothes. Judging by his appearance and expression, he seemed to be a guide who dealt with travelers, just like Ahwan.
The waiter pointed at the young man and chattered, so Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Can you understand what I’m saying?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Tell me why those people are whispering while looking at my clothes.”
The young man tilted his head, then asked various questions to the people in the inn in the local language. He then returned, scratched his head, and said,
“It’s because you are wearing the clothes of the Bayura tribe, sir.”
“Is that strange?”
“Not exactly. They say it’s strange that while the Elephant King’s great army has gone to attack the holy lands of the Four Holy Clans, a member of the Bayura tribe is leisurely drinking here…”
“Elephant King?”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Why would the Elephant King attack the lands where the Four Holy Clans resided?
—Tell him to come find me in person.
Suddenly, the warning he had once given to the disciples of the Elephant King came to mind. Could it be that the experts of the Elephant Sect, having heard those words, had tracked his movements in the meantime and attacked the Bayura tribe?
‘The Elephant King’s intelligence network cannot be that capable.’
The time Bu Eunseol had spent with the Bayura tribe was only half a day when he asked them to retrieve the sacred object, and another half day during the festival. Moreover, if they had accurately tracked his movements, they should have sent pursuers after him instead of dispatching a great army to Samana Valley where the Bayura tribe lived.
But sending a great army meant they intended to annihilate the Four Holy Clans themselves.
Why on earth would he do such a thing?
‘The sacred object.’
In that instant, Bu Eunseol understood everything.
Since the Four Holy Clans were in Napsageukseong, the Elephant King must have also heard the legends about that sacred object. He would have planted spies in the tribe to constantly monitor the situation. Then, a person called the Wind Cloud Young Master suddenly appeared and was reported to be searching for the sacred object. Upon hearing that he had actually obtained it, they must have immediately reported to the Elephant King.
Clack.
Bu Eunseol placed two pieces of silver on the table, then—
Boom!
He unleashed his movement technique with full power.
‘Three days have already passed since they left the holy land.’
Since the Elephant Sect was in Napsageukseong, they would have already arrived there quickly. Even if he left now, they were probably already under attack.
Hoooooo.
Bu Eunseol raised the Endless Heavenly Light Art to full power and combined the Three Divine Energies with the Swift Beyond Shadow.
“Elephant King!”
With a world-shaking explosion, his figure became a streak of light, slicing through the empty air.
“If you touch them, you will die!”
***
Samana Valley was being dyed with blood.
Corpses of the dead were piled up like mountains, and screams and battle cries mixed with roaring flames shook the sky.
The warriors of the Four Holy Clans had formed defensive lines and fought against the experts of the Elephant Sect without retreating even an inch. However, only a very small number of people had yet regained their power through the sacred object. Most of the tribespeople had not yet undergone the ritual to regain their strength, so they could not possibly stand against the overwhelmingly skilled experts of the Elephant Sect.
Nevertheless, the warriors of the Four Holy Clans fought bravely with spears and shields. All of them had sprinkled a liquid made from ground red sand on their faces and wore beast fangs around their necks—marks that only warriors who did not fear death could bear.
Even so, dark red blood flowed like a river, and the tribal warriors fell one by one, becoming cold corpses.
—Bwooooo!
With the sound of a horn, the experts of the Elephant Sect advanced, pushing the defensive line of the Four Holy Clans with enormous elephant-shaped shields at the forefront.
The only fortunate thing was that the shamans of the Four Holy Clans, who could still use curse-like powers, were restricting the enemies’ movements from a distance with their spells. Additionally, the saintess candidate Ahwan, who could freely use the power of the Yona tribe after completely breaking the curse, and a few tribal heroes who had released their power, were continuously eliminating enemies from the front lines. Thanks to this, they were somehow holding the defensive line.
Shoooooo. Paaaaa!
Ahwan floated in the air, continuously moving both arms. Each time she did so, hundreds of transparent arms shot out and pierced the bodies of the Elephant Sect experts.
Her power, which was extremely similar to the Crystal Divine Energy and could change form in various ways like the Wishful True Binding, dug into the vital points of the charging enemies and instantly brought them down.
“So that is the power of the sacred object.”
From afar, an armored giant sitting on a high palanquin muttered lowly while watching the scene. Even while observing the horrific scene of slaughter, he simply rested his chin on his hand with an interested expression.
He was none other than the son of the Elephant King, Sangdo Yumong.
“Indeed, it is worth the Four Holy Clans risking their lives to obtain.”
After watching the battle for a long time, Sangdo Yumong stared intently at Ahwan, who was performing brilliantly at the front. Not only was she breathtakingly beautiful, but the way she fought while emitting a mysterious light made her look exactly like a divine maiden descended from the heavens.
“Not bad.”
Sangdo Yumong looked at one of his subordinates prostrating below the palanquin—a man wearing a red mask. He was Ban Nipa, the most trusted confidant of Sangdo Yumong and the White Elephant Pavilion Master of the Elephant Sect.
“Bring her to me. Strip her completely so that I can appreciate her body.”
At Sangdo Yumong’s command, Ban Nipa respectfully saluted, then—
Bang!
He flew through the air in an instant toward where Ahwan was.
Yona tribe warriors tried to block him midway, but their necks were pierced through by his long spear in the blink of an eye, and they died.
Boom!
Finally reaching Ahwan, Ban Nipa wildly swung his long spear. Cannonball-like spear energy poured out endlessly.
Whirrrrr!
Ahwan also continuously waved her arms as if playing a sitar. The spear energy instantly vanished, and sharp tentacle-shaped power dug into Ban Nipa’s body.
Thud.
However, Ban Nipa was clad in powerful external martial arts, so Ahwan’s power could not pierce his body.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In the meantime, Ban Nipa unleashed another thirty consecutive spear rings. Each spear ring contained mysterious techniques—some poured out slowly, others like lightning. Not only did they perfectly block her retreat, but because he continuously closed the distance while executing his spear technique, Ahwan had no choice but to retreat repeatedly and face him one-on-one.
Ziiing! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dozens of invisible transparent hands and axe-blade-sharp spear rings constantly clashed in the air.
In terms of pure ability, Ahwan had the advantage. Not only could she freely change the form of her power, she could easily block even strong rings. However, Ban Nipa’s spear technique contained all the profound principles of the Elephant Sect’s martial arts, and because he had mastered the Eight Iron Arts, ordinary attacks could not even scratch him.
Moreover, he was a veteran expert who had led many battles to victory. Against Ahwan, who was unaccustomed to fighting, he used clever tactics and continuously pushed her back.
“Kuh.”
A groan escaped Ahwan’s lips. If things continued like this, she would eventually collapse with a hole in her throat.
Swish!
But something was strange. Even though he had clearly spotted a moment where he could deliver a fatal blow, Ban Nipa tore off a handful of cloth from her shoulder instead of striking her vital point.
“Ugh.”
When Ahwan staggered and her movements dulled, Ban Nipa did not miss the opportunity. He closed in and began a chaotic melee, constantly swinging his spear shaft.
Slash. Slash. Slash.
Ban Nipa was not trying to kill Ahwan. Instead, he seemed to be deliberately tearing off her clothes with the tip of his spear, as if trying to strip her completely.
“Haaap!”
Feeling humiliated, Ahwan spread both arms and tried to pour out her full power. However, in close combat, making large movements while filled with rage was one of the greatest taboos during battle.
Bang!
In the end, Ahwan failed to block the palm force Ban Nipa extended with his left hand and was struck in the shoulder, collapsing.
Drip.
Ahwan quickly got up, but blood still flowed from her mouth. Until now, she had never experienced a battle where blood flowed and flesh tore like this. If she had not learned from Bu Eunseol how to freely transform the power of the Yona tribe… even if she could exert several times more power than now, she would not have been able to block Ban Nipa’s three consecutive moves.
“Your skin is white and smooth.”
Seeing the fear rising in Ahwan’s eyes, Ban Nipa stopped moving and let out a sinister laugh.
“If you take off your clothes yourself, I won’t attack you anymore.”
“Nonsense!”
When Ahwan tried to unleash her power again,
Stab.
A sharp long spear had already dug into the area near her left shoulder.
“Ugh…”
If she had been a martial artist of the Central Plains, she would have immediately used the opening of the stopped attack near her shoulder to close the distance and execute a technique like the Cunning Dragon Heart-Seizing Method, kicking his lower abdomen.
But she, who had never fought in her life, completely froze from fear and pain without realizing it.
Grab.
In the meantime, Ban Nipa seized the collar near Ahwan’s nape. If he applied force now, her clothes would be torn to shreds, revealing her naked body.
“Haaap!”
At that moment, Ahwan let out a battle cry. Everything until now had been her ruse. Knowing that Ban Nipa possessed great martial arts and did not consider her a real opponent, looking down on her, she had aimed to take advantage of his carelessness and drive a transparent hand shaped into a sharp form into his throat.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Red blood fell from near Ban Nipa’s neck. However, he had moved his neck slightly to avoid the attack, so only a piece of flesh had been torn.
“The sacred object is indeed impressive.”
Ban Nipa looked at Ahwan and curled his lips.
“To think that merely accepting the power of the sacred object could wound the body of this pavilion master, who has trained the Eight Iron Arts up to the third level.”
Ahwan simply looked at Ban Nipa with a calm expression. She was not afraid of death. After all, she had been prepared for it from the moment the battle began.
But now that death was right before her eyes, she felt an indescribable regret and anguish.
Wind Cloud Young Master.
She should have told him about the feelings that made her heart race. She should have told him that for the first time in her life, she had fallen in love with someone. She should have at least said she would abandon everything and follow him…
Because she lacked courage, fearing rejection, she had been unable to convey her heart.
“The Young Master ordered me to strip you and bring you to him.”
At that moment, Ban Nipa looked at the fallen Ahwan’s face and swallowed his saliva.
“If there had been no such order, I would have made you my concubine. What a shame.”
As the White Elephant Pavilion Master of the Elephant Sect, he had freely taken any woman he liked by force. Even in this battle situation, his lust had not faded.
Swish swish swish.
Mid-sentence, he shot out lightning-like finger winds. Noticing that Ahwan was about to commit suicide immediately, he instantly sealed her acupoints.
“Without my permission, you cannot even die.”
Drip.
Tears flowed from Ahwan’s eyes. She had thought that now that the sacred object had been found and the tribe’s curse lifted, only the prosperity of the Four Holy Clans remained.
But the Elephant King’s forces had charged in as if waiting for this moment and begun a massacre.
‘Wind Cloud Young Master…’
Ahwan closed her eyes. All that remained now was a life of humiliation and the destruction of her tribe. There was no longer any hope.
Grab.
Finally, the moment Ban Nipa tried to tear her clothes apart with both hands—
Rumble.
Multicolored lightning began to strike from the distant sky.
Rumble.
Along with the sound of thunder, the multicolored lightning flashed once more in the far sky.
Hoooooo.
At the same time, a pure white meteor drawing a holy arc appeared in the dark night sky, then—
Whoosh!
It suddenly began descending precisely toward where Ahwan was.
Ban Nipa was greatly startled and hurriedly retreated more than ten zhang away.
Boom!
With a loud explosion, thick dust rose in all directions.
Step. Step. Step.
A man wearing Bayura tribe clothing adorned with feather-like decorations finally revealed himself.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“Young Master.”
With her acupoints sealed, Ahwan shed tears of joy. How had he, who had gone to Nagara City, returned here? Could this be a dream?
Swish.
Bu Eunseol immediately reached out and released her sealed acupoints.
“Ahwan.”
Seeing her miserable appearance, bloodlust surged in his eyes.
To tear the clothes of a girl who had not even become an adult yet?
Swish.
At that moment, Ban Nipa, who had retreated more than ten zhang, frowned and asked Bu Eunseol in the Han language, “Who the hell are you?”
He had noticed that although Bu Eunseol wore Bayura tribe clothing, he was of Han descent.
“How dare you interfere with our sect’s affairs…”
But his words did not continue. The overwhelming energy flowing from Bu Eunseol’s body was pressing down on him.
“Your inner energy is impressive.”
Despite the tremendous pressure pouring down, Ban Nipa endured it and shouted proudly,
“The Eight Iron Arts of our sect is invincible!”
The external arts of the Elephant Sect were the best in Cheonchuk, and Ban Nipa, as the White Elephant Hall Master, had trained the Eight Iron Arts—which consisted of eight levels—up to the third level. Even at the fourth level, it was comparable to Shaolin’s Diamond Indestructible Body, so once the divine art was activated, the body could never be destroyed.
Twitch.
However, the eyes of Ban Nipa, who had been standing with a calm expression, suddenly widened. He realized that the reason he felt such tremendous pressure was not because it was trying to crush his body, but because a strange vibration and extreme heat were spreading from inside his body.
“Wh-What is this?”
At Ban Nipa’s words, Bu Eunseol, with bloodlust spreading in his eyes, gave a cold smile.
“What else? I’m roasting you from the inside.”
Yeolha Great True Energy.
He had not been using his inner energy to simply press down on him. Instead, he was unleashing the supreme ultimate technique of the Yeolha Holy Palace, burning the man’s tough body from within.
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