Shudder!
At that moment, Bu Eunseol’s black sword trembled, creating a circular glow.
As a life-threatening technique closed in, the Tortoise-Shaped Sword Technique instinctively activated.
Clang! Clatter!
Blocking the Fourth Sword Sage’s lethal technique, Bu Eunseol’s black sword perfectly countered the techniques of the other three.
Whoosh!
The Four Sword Sages, momentarily stunned by the technique’s power, retreated simultaneously.
“Remarkable swordsmanship.” The First Sword Sage nodded with slightly surprised eyes. “The most perfect defensive technique I’ve ever seen.”
Raising his sword to a middle stance, he declared, “But no matter how many such feats you perform, flaws will eventually show.”
It was an ultimatum.
“This time, your throat will be cut.”
Click.
Sheathing his black sword, Bu Eunseol looked at the First Sword Sage calmly and said, “Try it.”
His blood-soaked eyes seemed to emit a white chill.
“I’ll show you how futile your actions are.” The air in the chamber froze instantly. They realized his words weren’t mere confidence.
“Hah hah hah.” The First Sword Sage let out an incredulous laugh. “Are you saying you’ve already broken the Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique?”
“There’s nothing to break.” Bu Eunseol spoke coldly. “It was never a perfect sword technique to begin with.”
The eyes of all Four Sword Sages changed.
They had spent half their lives striving to create a perfect sword technique. Yet Bu Eunseol dismissed their efforts and achievements with a single sentence.
“The Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique isn’t perfect?”
“You’ll see when you try.”
“Fine.”
Whoosh!
The three Sword Sages deployed their techniques in sequence. With their combined efforts, they could easily block all of Bu Eunseol’s techniques. And when the Fourth Sword Sage seized an opportunity to exploit a flaw, Bu Eunseol would inevitably fall.
Clang! Clang!
Bu Eunseol and the three Sword Sages clashed fiercely at close range. The Fourth Sword Sage, yet to act, closely observed Bu Eunseol’s techniques.
‘Now!’ Spotting a flaw, the Fourth Sword Sage lunged at Bu Eunseol’s side.
Swish!
Bu Eunseol’s sword technique suddenly changed.
He swung erratically, as if drunk, then abruptly halted with bizarre movements. The three Sword Sages, and even the attacking Fourth, froze in confusion.
‘Did he deliberately conceal his techniques?’
The First Sword Sage shouted inwardly in shock.
At the pinnacle of swordsmanship, one could conceal techniques while embedding profound sword intent. Had Bu Eunseol’s swordsmanship reached a divine level, concealing techniques and unleashing unpredictable strikes?
Swish!
Then, Bu Eunseol’s erratic swings changed again. Like lightning, his swift and precise sword technique shifted, wrapping around the Second Sword Sage’s forearm like a whip.
“Don’t be fooled!” The Second Sword Sage, struck on the forearm, let out a short groan and shouted. “He observed us using techniques in sequence, disrupted the Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique with erratic strikes, and then seized the moment to unleash a killing technique!”
The other Sword Sages couldn’t hide their astonishment. They hadn’t imagined Bu Eunseol could disrupt their technique this way.
“I thought it was some grand swordsmanship, but it’s just exploiting the principles of Formless Victory?” The First Sword Sage, pushing Bu Eunseol back with a powerful strike, sneered. “Do you think such a cheap trick will work repeatedly?”
“Not at all.” Bu Eunseol gave a cold smile. “I used the principles of Formless Victory only to show you how hollow your dreams are.”
“What?”
“Try again.” Bu Eunseol looked down at the First Sword Sage coldly. “It’ll be the last sword technique you perform in this world.”
It was the grim reaper’s final warning.
But the Four Sword Sages smirked, believing Bu Eunseol was bluffing.
“If you could break our Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique, you would’ve done so already.” The First Sword Sage sneered coldly and signaled to the others. “No need to be swayed by his words.”
He raised his sword casually.
As if on cue, the Four Sword Sages unleashed their techniques simultaneously.
Whoosh!
Their combined assault seemed to tear apart heaven and earth. The Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique struck from four directions. As a flawless technique exploiting an enemy’s weaknesses, it couldn’t be countered, forcing retreat.
Shing.
But Bu Eunseol didn’t retreat, staring calmly at their techniques.
‘He’s planning to use Formless Victory again.’ Smirks appeared on the Four Sword Sages’ faces. They thought he’d change techniques abruptly at the moment of contact, countering as before.
‘It’s useless. No matter how you deploy your techniques, ours adapt into a perfect counter.’
The First Sword Sage’s lips curled triumphantly.
The Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique grew stronger as the enemy’s techniques improved. No matter how Bu Eunseol attacked, they could instantly respond with a perfected technique.
Slash!
As their swords were about to pierce Bu Eunseol,
Hum!
A dark glow emanated from his entire body, enveloping their swords.
The Wishful True Binding.
The supreme technique that could manifest immense true energy in any form was unleashed once more.
Thud.
The four longswords touched Bu Eunseol’s body but only lightly pierced his skin due to the Wishful True Binding.
“Is this your perfect technique?”
The Four Sword Sages’ faces turned ashen.
By enveloping their techniques with the Wishful True Binding instead of countering, Bu Eunseol had rendered the Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique futile.
The Four Sword Sages froze.
How could this happen?
Flash!
Bu Eunseol’s black sword traced consecutive circular arcs in the air.
Clatter.
Four hands fell to the ground, severed at the wrists, still gripping their swords.
Spurt!
Blood gushed from the Four Sword Sages’ severed wrists. But they didn’t attempt to stop the bleeding, staring wide-eyed.
—The Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique was a hollow dream?
Their gazes were empty.
They had devoted their lives to creating a perfect sword technique.
They had crafted the Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique, where four masters compensated for each other’s flaws, instantly identifying and countering weaknesses.
They had trained for another decade in a lightless stone chamber to perfect it. Yet it was a hollow technique, shattered in an instant by this young master?
What had they been doing for those ten years?
“How…” The First Sword Sage muttered hollowly, looking up. “The Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique could break any swordsmanship, adapting to stronger enemy techniques with even stronger counters. Yet…”
Bu Eunseol cut off his ramblings.
“Your Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique is merely four people patching each other’s flaws. It’s not a perfect technique to begin with.” He spoke calmly. “Moreover, while your swordsmanship is advanced, your spiritual cultivation is pathetic.”
“Spiritual cultivation…”
“When the Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique was broken, didn’t you act like empty shells?” The Four Sword Sages flinched, recalling that moment. “Your pride in creating a perfect technique, and your despair when it was broken, failing to maintain a calm spirit—that’s why you lost.”
A realization flashed through their minds.
Their swordsmanship had been superior from the start. If they had fought tenaciously, Bu Eunseol would’ve struggled significantly. But their confidence and arrogance in creating a perfect technique overwhelmed them.
When Bu Eunseol’s Wishful True Binding thwarted it, despair and helplessness struck.
A single broken technique didn’t mean defeat.
But their despair and powerlessness at the technique’s failure froze them momentarily. Bu Eunseol seized that moment, severing their wrists in one stroke.
“You created a remarkable technique but lacked the practical experience and cultivation to match.”
The First Sword Sage sighed deeply, staring into the void. “Meeting a true sword master rendered a decade of study futile in a single morning.”
The Four Sword Sages looked ashamed.
Bu Eunseol’s body was ravaged by their techniques, barely intact. Yet he didn’t fear or despair, ultimately breaking their swordsmanship.
“We were too obsessed with a perfect technique.” The First Sword Sage muttered weakly, blood trickling from his mouth as he collapsed.
Thud. Thud.
The other Sword Sages followed, blood at their lips.
Despair.
They were old, lacking the energy to create superior techniques. With no hope left, they severed their heart meridians, taking their own lives.
“…” Bu Eunseol, watching them, turned away impassively.
Great martial artists trained their disciples not only physically but also mentally, subjecting them to trials. At higher realms, spiritual cultivation and enlightenment were more crucial than martial prowess. Bu Eunseol had built profound spiritual cultivation through corpse games, training, and Bu Zhanyang’s teachings.
But the Four Sword Sages had likely walked a smooth path their entire lives.
When they hit their first wall and despaired, they created the Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique. Filled with pride in their perfect technique, they were devastated when it was broken. Aged and lacking the mental fortitude to wield it tenaciously, they were destined to lose.
‘Such is the life of a martial artist.’ No matter how desperately one strives, meeting a superior master leads to defeat or death.
Knowing this, Bu Eunseol didn’t cling to life, training daily to his utmost. Since he didn’t know when or where he’d close his eyes, he lived each moment without regret.
Drip, drip.
Bu Eunseol’s robes, soaked in blood, had become a bloodied garment. Yet he straightened his back and moved forward. No trial could bend him.
He arrived at the iron gate.
‘Seo Jinha.’ Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
He had seen through their schemes.
No matter what lay ahead, he mustn’t despair or falter.
If his spirit broke, his martial prowess wouldn’t advance an inch…
Or, consumed by rage, he might lose his humanity, becoming a bloodthirsty demon.
‘But…’ Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
Though cold by nature, Bu Zhanyang’s care had nurtured a burning emotion deep within him. If not for that, he wouldn’t have dedicated his life to vengeance.
‘I’m afraid.’ Bu Eunseol was honestly terrified.
Afraid that hope would vanish before his eyes. Afraid that despair and rage would sweep away his emotions to an unreachable place…
Boom.
Opening the thick iron gate, a massive tremor seemed to echo in his mind.
Seo Jinha was there.
Chained to the stone chamber’s wall, his body, except his face, was dyed red. Flesh peeled from his body littered the floor chaotically.
“Impressive.”
A middle-aged man stood before him, holding a razor-like blade, as if used by monks for shaving.
“Death-Cutting Razor?”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the blade, and the man nodded.
“Heh heh, sharp eyes.” Smiling faintly, the man nodded.
“Indeed. I am Dong Yeorip.”
Death-Cutting Razor, Dong Yeorip.
One of the Ten Demonic Heroes, the greatest of the previous generation’s demonic masters, and the martial world’s foremost torturer. Famous for torturing people to death with his Death-Cutting Razor, he earned the nickname Death by Torture.
Though over eighty, his profound internal energy maintained a middle-aged appearance.
“To reach here unscathed against the Four Sword Sages is remarkable.” Behind Dong Yeorip stood a dozen martial artists, standing rigidly. “But these are different. They’re my personally trained disciples, long fed with elixirs.”
Their eyes were vacant.
Dong Yeorip’s cruel nature had turned even his disciples into Bound Asuras through drugs. But Bu Eunseol didn’t spare them a glance.
His gaze was fixed on Seo Jinha, hanging motionless, his skin peeled away.
“Did you torture him?”
“Yes.” Dong Yeorip spoke calmly.
“From his fingers to his hands and chest… three hundred fifty-five cuts, thinly slicing his body.”
“…”
“Around the hundredth cut, he passed out. I woke him intermittently, fed him gruel when he was exhausted, and continued.”
He was an expert in torture.
He knew how to shatter not only the body but also the mind. His words were meant to engulf Bu Eunseol’s calm spirit in rage.
Rage could sometimes unleash great power.
But for someone of Bu Eunseol’s high martial prowess, it was a cumbersome obstacle.
“Seo Jinha.” Bu Eunseol cautiously called his name.
No response.
His eyes wavered like ripples.
The image of his grandfather dying miserably overlapped with Seo Jinha’s form.
Shudder.
As Bu Eunseol trembled with rage, Dong Yeorip smiled with satisfaction.
“Let me warn you.” He smirked cruelly. “Laugh during the torture. It’s my rule not to cut the throat of someone laughing.”
Bu Eunseol lowered his head.
“Why did you torture him?”
“There might be information we don’t know.” Dong Yeorip shrugged. “As a leader of the Cheonsal, his resilience was impressive.”
Raising the corner of his mouth, he continued, aiming to further shatter Bu Eunseol’s mind.
“I’ve tortured countless people over decades.”
Dong Yeorip tapped Seo Jinha’s body.
It was like a butcher weighing slaughtered meat.
Drip, drip.
Blood and unremoved flesh fell to the floor.
“I’ve never failed to extract a single word…”
His words didn’t finish.
With a violet lightning flash, blood sprayed from the necks of the Bound Asuras standing beside Dong Yeorip.
“When…” Dong Yeorip, staring at the blood on his cheek, widened his eyes.
A master at the Extreme Heaven Realm, yet he hadn’t seen Bu Eunseol’s technique?
“You’re not worth keeping alive.”
Bloodlust flared in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
His voice was the final murmur of a grim reaper before inscribing a name in the book of death.
damn that last line was cold