“Hmm.”
Propped on the armrest with his chin, the man gazed down at Bu Eunseol and Nae Bihon with an intrigued expression.
“Interesting. So the Martial Soul Command Lord of Majeon and the Thunder God were in cahoots.” He nodded, as if finally piecing everything together.
“Clever—one stone, two birds with a single Five Tiger Blade. You seduced Pang Muncheon, toppled the clan, and came to kill this old man.”
“Why…”
Before beginning his vengeance, Nae Bihon asked one thing.
“Why did you kill my wife and son?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Or did the long years of madness make you forget?”
Flash!
A blinding white bolt crashed down above Pang Yeok’s head.
It was Nae Bihon unleashing Divine Thunder Annihilation in fury.
Yet Pang Yeok already stood tall before the grand chair, no longer seated.
Crackle, crumble.
The chair he had occupied collapsed into black charcoal.
Glancing back, Pang Yeok wore a faint smile.
“Your Thunder Spirit Energy has reached the pinnacle.”
“…”
“Tsk. Why didn’t you reach this realm sooner?” Clicking his tongue, Pang Yeok sighed regrettably at Nae Bihon.
“If you had… I would have extracted your spinal cord instead of your son’s.”
Crackle!
Nae Bihon’s pupils bleached white.
No need—or ability—to hold back any longer. He surged his Thunder Spirit Energy to the Twelfth Star, intent on incinerating Pang Yeok in one strike.
Then the unexpected happened.
Swish!
Suddenly, pitch-black blade energy poured like rain over Nae Bihon’s head.
It was the Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy of the Blade Emperor, which Pang Yeok had always wielded.
Yet Pang Yeok stood with hands clasped behind his back—how could such blade energy rain from above?
Crackle!
Nae Bihon instantly converted the rising Thunder Spirit Energy into Divine Thunder Annihilation, repelling the cascading Black Blood Blade Emperor Energy.
Tap.
At the same moment, another shadow descended beside Pang Yeok.
It was another Pang Yeok.
“As I thought.” Nae Bihon showed little surprise. “I considered twins. Otherwise, your actions until now make no sense.”
Hardly shocking.
In the black path or demonic clans, when twins were born, the elder inherited the house.
The younger became a shadow or the clan’s blade—common practice.
“Strange.” Bu Eunseol, watching the pair, spoke to them. “Can perfectly identical twins truly exist in this world?”
Even identical twins had minute differences.
But these Pang Yeoks were different.
From appearance—face, eyes, expression—to the subtle aura and exact level of internal energy.
They were flawless duplicates, not a hair’s breadth apart.
“Perfectly identical?” Nae Bihon muttered, sharpening his vision.
He lacked Bu Eunseol’s super-senses, but he had mastered Contemplative Retrovision, which traced past remnants like a mirror of the mind.
Hum.
Activating the technique, Nae Bihon was mildly surprised.
“You deliberately sculpted your faces. To make them identical.”
Under the spell, both Pang Yeoks’ faces showed traces of blade work—cosmetic alteration.
The scars were microscopic, perfectly healed, invisible to the eye. But Contemplative Retrovision revealed them clearly.
“Then there’s only one possibility.” Bu Eunseol regarded the twins. “To achieve a certain result… you deliberately molded appearance, speech, even personality… to be identical.”
“Heh heh heh. Impressive.” Pang Yeok burst into laughter. “There was a reason you survived clashing with our realm.”
He looked to his brother, Pang Ryun, who had descended from the air.
“Correct. We were born twins from the start.” Taking a deep breath, he spoke with nostalgic emotion. “And from childhood, the Infinite Realm invested immense resources and manpower to make our appearance and personality perfectly identical.”
“Why?”
“They wanted to test whether twins with identical thoughts and personalities would reach the same martial level.” Pang Yeok spoke as if it were someone else’s affair. “At the time, the Clan Leader had allied with our realm and was obsessed with body modification and enhancement research.”
Bu Eunseol and Nae Bihon’s eyes widened.
They had never heard of such experiments on twins, and he was casually spilling what should be their secrets.
“Your eyes gleam with curiosity. Shall I tell you?”
Pang Yeok recounted the old tale to Bu Eunseol and Nae Bihon.
***
Back then, Pang Clan Leader Pang Seong worried as the clan’s power waned day by day.
The clan’s ultimate art, Five Tiger Severing Gate Blade Technique, required innate divine strength and a special physique to master.
Pang Seong sought to improve and refine the blade art for easier, faster mastery.
But he reached one conclusion.
Instead of the blade art, transforming the human body into a special constitution was the faster solution.
―To artificially create a Heavenly Martial Physique… and you achieved results. Splendid.
Somehow, the Infinite Realm’s Heavenly Deity learned of this and approached Pang Seong.
―I’ll lend you our realm’s power and martial knowledge. Research to your heart’s content.
Pang Seong took the hand and became the Pure Spirit Master of the Infinite Realm, continuing artificial Heavenly Martial Physique research.
But success seemed near yet constantly slipped away.
As time passed, he resorted to the forbidden—artificial body modification and enhancement.
―Waa, waa!
Then his pregnant wife gave birth to twins.
By then, Pang Seong was half-mad, obsessed with body modification.
―If twins… could we align not just bodies but thoughts and talent?
―Could we artificially control them?
―If possible, would martial talent be identical?
If this experiment succeeded?
He could discover what qualities and factors allowed warriors to quickly grasp or awaken martial arts.
And artificially control them—he was crazed with the idea.
Ultimately, Pang Seong sent both children to the Three Realms.
The result:
The Infinite Realm perfected the puppet and Bound Asura—capable of injecting tremendous vitality and martial energy—and produced a blade master who could learn the Blade Emperor’s peerless art, said to be impossible without innate blade talent.
***
Having told the tale, Pang Yeok smiled bitterly.
“I should have thrown Pang Muncheon into the Infinite Realm too.”
Pang Yeok saw himself as nothing but an artificially created test subject, born of his father’s obsession and madness. That’s why he never involved his son Pang Muncheon with the Three Realms or modified his body.
Perhaps that’s why?
When Pang Muncheon learned the truth, he never forgave his father and rebelled endlessly.
Escaping the Wall-Facing Cave, rallying the clan’s forces to revolt…
Pang Yeok regretted not raising him in the Three Realms from the start, molding him as thoroughly as himself.
“The Infinite Realm poured such effort just to create a Heavenly Martial Physique or whatever?” Bu Eunseol sneered.
Pang Yeok smirked.
“Hardly. That was merely the Clan Leader’s research. Our realm wanted something else.”
“What?”
Pang Yeok smiled cryptically and addressed Nae Bihon.
“Nae Bihon. You asked earlier why I killed your son.”
Nae Bihon’s eyes blazed but he said nothing.
Normally, even if flowers bloomed from Pang Yeok’s mouth or he revealed immortality secrets, Nae Bihon would strike instantly.
―Brother Nae. No matter how angry, endure and extract what they know first.
But from Pang Yeok’s appearance, Bu Eunseol had been sending voice transmissions.
―The Infinite Realm’s roots run deeper than imagination. We must determine if Pang Yeok is a mere pawn or the mastermind.
Recognizing the wisdom in Bu Eunseol’s advice, Nae Bihon was straining every ounce of patience.
“Our realm has long studied lucky ones like you.”
“Lucky ones?”
“Yes. Those born with Thunder Spirit Physique or Water Spirit Physique, able to wield nature’s vast power simply by existing.”
Something flashed through Bu Eunseol’s mind.
“That’s why you created artificial inner cores?”
“Exactly.”
Pang Yeok nodded faintly.
“The reason our realm began mass-producing artificial inner cores… was to artificially generate the Four Divine Energies.”
“Four Divine Energies…”
“Yes.” Pang Yeok looked down at Nae Bihon with fascinated eyes.
“They are the purest power in the world… and essential to our realm.”
Bu Eunseol spat. “So you massacred Brother Nae’s family to obtain the Four Divine Energies. You did it.”
“Correct.” Pang Yeok explained as if enlightening them. “Killing Nae Bihon’s family, attacking him at Great Hong Mountain—it was all this Supreme Elder.”
He smiled faintly, as if deliberately satisfying their curiosity.
“Then you two are not the Heavenly Deity.”
According to Do Songbaek, though uncertain, the Infinite Realm’s highest was likely the Heavenly Deity.
But one organization rarely had two heads.
Thus Bu Eunseol suspected Pang Yeok and Pang Ryun might be the current Heavenly Deity.
“Heh heh. You knew that much.” Pang Yeok stroked his chin. “We merely attained the rank of Blade Enlightenment Master. We dare not compare to the Heavenly Deity.”
Then, bored, he asked, “Any more questions?”
With that single line, Pang Yeok subtly revealed he was under someone’s direction, feeding Bu Eunseol and Nae Bihon answers.
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
He still had much to learn about the Three Realms.
But Nae Bihon’s patience was surely at its limit.
They came for Nae Bihon’s vengeance, not to mine Infinite Realm intelligence.
So Bu Eunseol asked one final question.
“Then the one I met at Cheonsan was the younger brother?”
Pang Ryun, not Pang Yeok, snorted and grinned sinisterly.
“Correct.”
“Perfect.”
Shing.
Bu Eunseol instantly drew the Ice Soul Sword.
“Let us finish our unfinished duel.”
“Heh heh heh.” Pang Ryun laughed as if absurd. “You fled like a coward before. Learned some new ultimate technique in the meantime?”
Pang Yeok and Pang Ryun.
Both had mastered the unfathomable, transcendent Blade Emperor arts.
And easily defeated Bu Eunseol and Nae Bihon respectively.
“You won’t escape now that you’re here.”
Rumble.
As Pang Ryun finished speaking, a mechanical sound echoed, and the entrance door sealed shut.
“This place will be your grave.”
Whoosh!
Dark blade energy surged from Pang Ryun’s hand.
The Blade Emperor’s art.
He drew the Black Blood Demon Saber once more.
“Come this way. Just the two of us.” Pang Ryun beckoned, pointing to another door connected to the hall.
It led to another grand chamber nearly identical to this one.
Likely Pang Yeok’s hall and Pang Ryun’s were separate.
“Very well.”
Step, step.
Meanwhile, Nae Bihon advanced toward Pang Yeok.
He was the one who killed his family; Pang Ryun killed the Southern Sky Great Hero.
No more questions, no more words to hear.
Vengeance began now.
Crackle.
His hair turned white as Thunder Spirit Energy billowed endlessly from his body.
“Just to obtain the Four Divine Energies… for such a paltry reason…”
Nae Bihon muttered low, extending his hand.
“You cracked open a child’s skull, extracted his spinal cord, and conducted every manner of experiment!”
BOOM-CRACK!
In that instant, pure white Divine Thunder Annihilation swirled in a ring around Pang Yeok, swallowing him in a flash.
Whoosh!
A demonic cackle-like wind howl erupted; the Divine Thunder Annihilation encircling Pang Yeok vanished entirely.
He had drawn the Black Blood Demon Saber and unleashed Black Blood Blade Emperor Energy.
“Impressive.” Pang Yeok curled his lips in admiration. “Now you’re using proper martial arts.”
In the past, Nae Bihon only bombarded with infinite Thunder Spirit Energy via Divine Thunder Annihilation. But cured of madness and fully rational, he now wielded the profound mysteries of Thunder Spirit Gate without reserve.
Swish! Crackle!
Pang Yeok’s blade arts and Nae Bihon’s Divine Thunder Annihilation clashed endlessly in mid-air. It was as if a black-stained demon god and a white-stained thunder god collided with all their might over life and death.
“Surprisingly, the power isn’t overwhelming. You’d be stronger charging blindly with rage.”
Despite Pang Yeok’s taunt, Nae Bihon smiled coldly and poured forth Divine Thunder Annihilation.
They extended like exquisite sword forms, varying in speed and shape.
He had overcome countless setbacks and trials for this vengeance. Knowing he could not win if he lost reason, he constantly steadied his mind and executed his arts.
“Hmm.” In the other hall, Pang Ryun extended a hand toward Bu Eunseol.
“Show me your tricks.”
Hummm.
The true secret of the Blade Emperor, the Black Blood Demon Saber—a true energy sword capable of manifesting Black Blood Blade Emperor Energy.
It rang like a real blade in Pang Ryun’s hand.
“I’ll yield three moves.”
He treated the world-renowned Bu Eunseol like a child.
The Blade Emperor wielded the most mysterious power among the Eight Emperors and Three Stars. Especially the blade energy from the Black Blood Demon Saber annihilated the very power of all martial arts.
No matter how profound the art, it could not manifest proper might before Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy.
“If you’re going to, use the Seven-Finger Demon Blade arts.” Pang Ryun spun the Black Blood Demon Saber.
“After three moves, your head may fall before you can.”
“You know Seven Blood Tear Forms well?”
The nameless elder who died at Blood Shaolin said the Three Realms stole five forms of Seven Blood Tear Forms and Pang Yeok and Pang Ryun likely mastered them.
They had also attained the Blade Emperor’s peerless arts, unmatched in blade Dao.
“Heh heh. To your eyes, Seven Blood Tear Forms may seem profound blade studies, but to this old man, they’re merely passable.”
As Pang Yeok’s shadow roaming the martial world, Pang Ryun had done much.
Thus his blade arts’ purity surpassed Pang Yeok’s, and he craved stronger opponents.
Finally mastering the Blade Emperor’s arts, Pang Ryun desired to clash with Seven-Finger Demon Blade. But in the martial world, the Infinite Realm forbade it, and later, Bu Zhanyang vanished, preventing the duel.
While handling Infinite Realm affairs, he discovered practitioners of Seven-Finger Demon Blade in the martial world.
Unrelated to realm business, he eliminated them one by one.
It gave incomparable pleasure and thrill.
But one, Gwanhai Geum, he could not kill easily.
His blade arts were outstanding; he had reinterpreted Seven Blood Tear Forms uniquely.
Strong enough to rival Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy.
During pursuit and combat, the Infinite Realm transmitted Seven Blood Tear Forms’ blade secrets.
Not complete, but enough to no longer fear Gwanhai Geum’s version.
Yet realizing he was no match, Gwanhai Geum avoided direct confrontation, repeating flight and skirmishes.
In the end, he faced Pang Ryun openly, but was not as strong as expected.
But now, the one who mastered the complete Seven Blood Tear Forms stood before him—Pang Ryun could not hide his excitement.
Finally, he could compare perfect Seven-Finger Demon Blade arts with his own.
“Three moves? Excellent.” Bu Eunseol sheathed the Ice Soul Sword and extended his hand.
Crackle-crack.
Transparent energy surged; Pang Ryun’s body froze instantly.
Clang!
Pang Ryun immediately circulated internal energy, shattering the ice.
“What is this nonsense?” The cold of Heavenly Glacial Secret was so intense that even after shattering the ice with internal energy, water dripped from his nose.
“Didn’t you yield three moves?”
“Use blade arts.”
“That’s my choice.”
This time Bu Eunseol opened his right hand.
Whoosh!
Scorching heat poured forth, beginning to cook Pang Ryun’s organs. He unleashed the Yeolha Great True Energy.
FWOOOM!
Fearing he’d become charcoal, Pang Ryun spun the Black Blood Demon Saber like a windmill, blocking the sun-like extreme yang energy.
‘As expected. No matter the form, all true energy-based martial arts are nullified by Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy.’
That meant not only the Heavenly Glacial Secret and Ban-Geuk Method, but also the Wishful True Binding and Thirteen Guiding Energies were useless.
The only way to defeat Pang Ryun was direct strikes or cutting with a weapon.
Clap, clap, clap.
Hiding his thoughts, Bu Eunseol clapped naturally and nodded.
“Indeed, they say Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy annihilates any power. Impressive.”
Despite the praise, Pang Ryun’s face twisted.
He expected blade arts, yet Bu Eunseol toyed with him using bizarre extreme yin and yang energies?
“One last move.”
Living as Pang Yeok’s shadow his whole life, yet a grandmaster of Blade Emperor arts.
Even furious, he intended to keep his promise.
“Very well.”
Click.
Bu Eunseol fully sheathed the Ice Soul Sword and extended both hands.
Whooosh!
Tremendous power swirled from his palms. His greatest strength.
Harmony.
Whoosh!
Pang Ryun’s eyes bulged.
If given time to gather such power, even Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy could not block it—he sensed instinctively.
Whoosh!
He instantly swung the Black Blood Demon Saber to sever Bu Eunseol’s body.
Shhhk!
But the blade energy sliced empty air.
Bu Eunseol had anticipated it and used Swift Beyond Shadow.
“Can’t even keep your word, petty man?” Bu Eunseol had not developed Harmony enough for real combat.
Aligning and gathering all internal power required considerable time but when Pang Ryun yielded three moves, Bu Eunseol immediately unleashed it, forcing him to break his promise.
“When will a narrow-minded man like you reach the realm of Blade Dao?”
Pang Ryun glared silently.
In truth, yielding three moves was advanced psychological warfare.
If the enemy attacked with full power for three moves yet failed to inflict fatal damage?
The martial gap felt vast, and psychologically crushing.
But Bu Eunseol shattered that tactic with Harmony—winning the momentum battle.
“I heard you were taciturn, but you talk quite a lot.”
“You still believe marital world rumors at your age?”
Bu Eunseol was indeed different from usual.
He was faithfully following Master Wang Geol’s advice from their past duel with a Blade Emperor descendant.
―Forget your sect’s combat style and martial arts. Then you can win.
Wang Geol had given this counsel when Bu Eunseol said he would fight a Blade Emperor descendant.
