At the heart of Majeon stood a grand training arena, capable of hosting over three hundred warriors performing martial demonstrations simultaneously.
In the past, the Ten Demon Successors Tournament had begun here.
Countless prodigies, carrying dreams of glory, had entered this place only to shed blood and perish.
“This is it,” Shim Wol said, pointing to the stairs leading up to the grand arena as he guided Bu Eunseol. “Climb the arena, and those awaiting you will be there, Young Master Bu.”
Nodding and about to step forward, Bu Eunseol suddenly asked, “What is the relationship between Majeon and the Ten Demonic Sects?”
“The relationship, you say…” Shim Wol began.
“Do masters from the Ten Demonic Sects reside in Majeon?” Bu Eunseol clarified.
Shim Wol blinked for a moment before answering, “Of course. It’s no exaggeration to say that most key positions in Majeon are held by masters from the Ten Demonic Sects.”
“Then are they members of the Ten Demonic Sects or Majeon?”
Catching the crux of the question, Shim Wol’s eyes gleamed. “For now, they’re considered part of Majeon. Once they take up a position here, they can no longer involve themselves in their original sect’s affairs.”
“I see,” Bu Eunseol said, narrowing his eyes.
He instinctively understood that his fate would hinge on whether those administering the five-move test were part of the Demon Sect or dispatched from individual sects. ‘If the one testing me is a master sent directly from White Horse Temple… my chances of survival are slim.’
Shim Wol clasped his hands together. “Then, I wish you luck, Young Master Bu.” Bu Eunseol nodded and slowly ascended the stairs to the grand arena.
Step by step…
As he neared the arena, memories of that day flooded back—the chaos, the boys and girls who died tragically, and how he alone had survived.
‘Survive today as well.’
Tap.
Upon reaching the arena, he saw a small platform with a table, where four people sat side by side.
“Ahem,” coughed an elderly man standing in the center, addressing Bu Eunseol. “Are you the Ten Demon Warrior from Nangyang Pavilion?”
The old man was gaunt and unassuming, but his eyes radiated an aura that could overwhelm anyone.
“I am Bu Eunseol, a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion,” Bu Eunseol replied, bowing respectfully with clasped hands.
The old man nodded. “I am Gok Kyobong, residing in the back chambers of the Elder Hall, a part of the Demon Sect. I’m here to oversee the test you’ll face today.”
Though he introduced himself as a mere old man from the back chambers, he was once known as the “Thunderous Blood Hand,” a legendary master who had struck terror across the Yangguang martial world. Unaware of this, Bu Eunseol simply bowed politely.
Gok Kyobong gestured to a middle-aged man on his left. “This is Yu Unseong, the leader of the Shadow Corps in the Demon sect.”
Yu Unseong wore a sword at his waist, longer by three inches and narrower by half an inch than a standard longsword—a clear mark of a Hwa Wu Sword Sect master.
“Lord Yu,” Bu Eunseol said, bowing.
Yu Unseong merely gazed at him coldly.
“This is Neung Gak, the leader of the Demon sect’s Hyunhyeon Hall, also from Nangyang Pavilion like you,” Gok Kyobong continued.
At his gesture, a refined man in scholar’s robes offered a gentle smile.
“Lord Neung,” Bu Eunseol greeted.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Neung Gak said, smiling warmly. “Your reputation precedes you even here.”
He nodded with admiration. “Our sect has truly found a remarkable disciple.”
“And this is Go Gunpyeong, the leader of Majeon’s Black Dragon Corps,” Gok Kyobong said, pointing to the man at the far end.
A gleaming whip, seemingly crafted from crushed diamond, hung at Go Gunpyeong’s waist—a master from White Horse Temple.
“Lord Go,” Bu Eunseol said, bowing.
Go Gunpyeong didn’t even glance at him, remaining seated.
“Let’s begin,” Gok Kyobong said calmly, scanning the surroundings. “This matter was initiated at the request of White Horse Temple and the Hwa Wu Sword Sect. White Horse Temple wishes to evaluate the qualifications of a Ten Demon Warrior, while the Hwa Wu Sword Sect claims there was an unacceptable privilege.”
“It’s not a claim—it’s a fact,” Yu Unseong interjected. “This boy learned the Unmatched Thunderbolt Technique despite not being a disciple of our sect.”
Gok Kyobong shook his head. “Let’s not debate legitimacy today. If it must be done, so be it.” His words carried a subtle rebuke toward the Hwa Wu Sword Sect’s unreasonable stance.
“Let me ask once more,” Gok Kyobong said. “If he passes this test, will you agree not to impose sanctions for learning the Unmatched Thunderbolt Technique?”
“Yes,” Yu Unseong replied.
Gok Kyobong turned to Go Gunpyeong. “And you—will White Horse Temple refrain from holding this boy accountable if he passes?”
“Yes,” Go Gunpyeong answered decisively.
Gok Kyobong nodded. “Then let the test begin.”
Go Gunpyeong slowly stepped forward to the center of the arena.
“Five moves,” he said, addressing Bu Eunseol. “Withstand five moves, and it’s over.”
“Understood,” Bu Eunseol replied.
Go Gunpyeong took a deep breath.
Swish.
The White Horse Whip coiled around his arm like a living snake, demonstrating the realm of Heart-Wielded Whip, where the whip moved freely with his will.
“Draw your weapon,” Go Gunpyeong commanded.
“I’ll draw it when the time comes,” Bu Eunseol responded.
“Hm.” Recalling that Nangyang Pavilion’s martial arts didn’t rely heavily on weapons, Go Gunpyeong nodded. “Do as you wish.”
“Then, I humbly request your guidance,” Bu Eunseol said, bowing respectfully before lowering his stance.
Though his posture was impeccable, to Go Gunpyeong, it was merely the movement of a novice who hadn’t yet mastered ultimate techniques.
‘Tch.’ Looking at his whip, Go Gunpyeong sighed inwardly.
This test pitted a master against a beginner—a child against an adult, or perhaps an even greater gap.
‘What a pointless endeavor.’ As one of White Horse Temple’s top masters, Go Gunpyeong had been selected early to lead the Black Dragon Corps in the Demon Sect. ‘Even if it’s the master’s orders…’ He couldn’t suppress his frustration. A renowned master like himself, reduced to facing a mere novice in such a setting?
“Let’s begin,” Go Gunpyeong said, narrowing his eyes at Neung Gak, seated in the distance.
‘To preserve Nangyang Pavilion’s honor, I’ll let him survive four moves and sever his arms on the fifth.’ Originally, the White Horse Temple master’s orders were to take Bu Eunseol’s head. But for Go Gunpyeong, a high-ranking lord of the Demon Sect, killing an unknown novice would wound his pride too deeply.
‘Living without arms will be more agonizing than death. The master will understand.’ With his resolve set, Go Gunpyeong lightly extended his whip, initiating the first move. Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed.
‘Swift Sword Style?’
Whoosh.
A piercing sound accompanied something speeding toward his forehead.
‘Ugh!’ Twisting his body to evade, a sharp crack echoed as his cheek split open.
Blood gushed from the gash. Had he not learned the basics of practical martial arts from Dan Cheong, enabling him to predict movements, he wouldn’t have dodged at all.
“First move: White Demon Heart-Seizer,” Go Gunpyeong muttered, announcing the technique to keep track of the moves.
‘He’s got some foundation,’ Go Gunpyeong thought, nodding as he opened his palm, gripping the whip.
Snap!
The White Horse Whip transformed into five beams of light, lunging toward Bu Eunseol as if to ensnare him. ‘All feints!’ Bu Eunseol realized, having deeply mastered Beast Way. Sensing killing intent rising from the ground, he leaped backward.
Ping!
A single whip grazed the tip of his nose, embedding itself in the ground.
“Second move: White Demon Spirit Descent,” Go Gunpyeong murmured, nodding inwardly as Bu Eunseol deftly dodged.
‘He’s definitely mastered Beast Way.’ Seeing Bu Eunseol evade the second move with ease, Go Gunpyeong’s eyebrow twitched.
‘Let’s push him a bit.’ He opened his hand, revealing his palm.
“You’d better be careful now,” he said softly, confident Bu Eunseol couldn’t dodge this time. “Third move: White Demon Chaos Shadow.”
Saaaaaaa.
Bu Eunseol felt as if hundreds of whip shadows rained down from the sky. No matter how closely he observed, he couldn’t distinguish real from illusion. ‘If I can’t discern them, I must evade them all.’ Facing an endless barrage of whip shadows writhing like hundreds of snakes, Bu Eunseol summoned his full inner energy.
Swish.
A faint mist seemed to rise from his footsteps, and his body blurred. Hundreds of whip strands passed through him as a storm-like roar filled the arena.
Boom!
When the tempest of whip shadows cleared, the arena was pristine.
“Not bad,” Go Gunpyeong said, unable to hide his surprise.
He had expected Bu Eunseol to sustain serious injuries, even if he dodged White Demon Chaos Shadow. Yet, aside from his tattered clothes, Bu Eunseol stood unscathed.
“Huff, huff,” Bu Eunseol panted, having pushed his inner energy to its limits and used Extreme Speed Shadowless, a technique he wasn’t yet adept at, for the first time in combat.
‘If he’d followed that move with another…’ Sweat poured down his forehead like rain. ‘I’d have been gravely injured instantly.’ Having only reached the third level of Swift Beyond Shadow, Bu Eunseol’s ability to evade White Demon Chaos Shadow stemmed from two factors: Go Gunpyeong hadn’t used his full strength, and he paused after the first strike.
‘This won’t do. Standard moves won’t suffice,’ Go Gunpyeong thought, equally shocked. Bu Eunseol’s skill exceeded expectations. If he let the fourth move pass carelessly, he might fail to sever his arms.
‘No choice, then.’ Go Gunpyeong slowly raised his arm.
“Fourth move: White Demon Heart Strike.”
Wooosh.
An immense aura surged outward. For the first time, Bu Eunseol’s expression changed.
‘I can’t read the move.’ Despite learning the basics of practical martial arts from Dan Cheong, which allowed him to predict techniques, he couldn’t sense any hint of attack in Go Gunpyeong’s stance.
‘If I can’t detect the attack, I’ll die!’ In this moment of crisis, Bu Eunseol recalled the manual Nangyang Single Turn from the archive.
—Beast Way is not omnipotent. Relying solely on senses is the act of a beast. A true martial artist must “think” more. Amplify senses only when necessary…
Recalling the teaching, Bu Eunseol closed his eyes and unleashed the full extent of Beast Way’s sensory capabilities.
Flash.
His eyes snapped open. In that instant, he saw a vision of a sharp whip shadow piercing his body.
Crack!
The whip struck the ground where he’d stood, as Bu Eunseol instinctively stepped back. ‘He dodged White Demon Heart Strike?’ Go Gunpyeong’s eyes widened like saucers.
White Demon Heart Strike was a rare, hidden killing move, transforming an illusionary sword technique into a whip strike, known to few even in White Horse Temple. How could a novice, barely trained in martial arts, evade it?
‘So that’s it.’ Only then did Go Gunpyeong understand why the Hwa Wu Sword Sect had joined White Horse Temple’s vendetta against the master’s grandson.
They feared a prodigy of such extraordinary martial talent inheriting Nangyang Pavilion’s legacy.
‘A threat must be eliminated early.’ Having witnessed Bu Eunseol’s potential firsthand, Go Gunpyeong’s body seemed to blaze with hundreds of fiery strands.
He resolved not to sever Bu Eunseol’s arms but to take his life.
