Bu Eunseol could not immediately grasp Master Iron’s words back then.
Forget the Nangyang Pavilion’s combat style and martial arts to win?
The Nangyang Pavilion’s tactics involved discerning the enemy’s martial profundities mid-battle, using them to dismantle the foe’s arts or land a decisive strike.
The stronger the enemy, the stronger one became, gaining insights unattainable in ordinary training.
It was the ideal combat method for a warrior.
Yet he was told to utterly forget those tactics and martial essences?
‘If I can’t grasp the meaning right away, I have no choice but to fight differently from usual.’
With this resolve, facing Pang Ryun, Bu Eunseol tried everything he had never done before—verbal provocations to unsettle the mind, and more.
Of course, these were also bait to gauge the enemy’s full power and martial experience.
Whoosh!
Irritated, Pang Ryun swung the Black Blood Demon Saber immediately.
The surroundings darkened as a colossal blade energy, capable of cleaving heaven and earth, rained down on Bu Eunseol’s head.
Flash!
With no time to dodge, Bu Eunseol instinctively unleashed the Supreme Heavenly Flow Form.
Swish.
But the sword energy created by Waning Moon, Dawn Star and Caged Bird Yearning for Clouds couldn’t even resist Pang Ryun’s blade energy and vanished instantly. Bu Eunseol unleashed sword moves in rapid succession, but they never even touched Pang Ryun’s body.
‘So this is what it means to inflict despair.’
Every martial artist has their signature ultimate technique, through which they seek victory. But if that cherished ultimate utterly fails? If the unleashed martial art becomes completely useless?
Not only would mental calm and confidence shatter, but irreparable despair would follow.
‘I feel no despair.’ But Bu Eunseol was different.
He trained in martial arts not for fame or victory, but for revenge, and had never felt pride in his skills. Always pressed for time, he had never separately practiced or researched martial arts.
Thus, Bu Eunseol always craved real combat. And battles with experts a level above him.
Only bloody duels with superiors… offered the chance to advance his martial arts in one leap.
With this mindset in every fight, it wasn’t that his techniques failed—it was being endlessly cornered, yet he felt no despair.
Swish!
Bu Eunseol spun the Ice Soul Sword like a windmill, unleashing sword arts continuously, but Black Blood Blade Energy still annihilated every martial art Bu Eunseol deployed, burrowing into his body.
‘No Nangyang Pavilion martial arts.’
Flash!
Bu Eunseol consecutively unleashed the Unmatched Thunderbolt Form and Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder learned from Cheon Ungwang.
Thanks to greatly advanced swordsmanship, Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder changed direction four times in mid-air. Moreover, fully mastering Unmatched Thunderbolt Form, he blended the profundity of slow sword into this extreme-speed killing sword form, freely controlling speed.
If Pang Ryun practiced ordinary martial arts, this single move would have killed him. Or sent him fleeing in panic.
“You’ve learned miscellaneous martial arts.” But Pang Ryun wore a relaxed expression, swinging the Black Blood Demon Saber to block the variations of Unmatched Thunderbolt Form and Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder.
Sizzle.
Moreover, the terror of Black Blood Blade Energy wasn’t limited to nullifying martial power.
Each time its sharp blade energy grazed Bu Eunseol’s skin, vicious energy invaded, consuming internal true energy.
Internal true energy belonged not to the body but to the realm of heart cultivation.
Thus, it diminished even the fighting spirit, which could be called the domain of the mind.
‘No wonder Master Iron was concerned.’
A demonic art that nullified all martial arts and eroded not only internal energy but mental serenity.
Black Blood Blade Energy.
It transcended the framework of martial arts, bestowing perfect despair and fear upon the enemy.
“Your mouth runs well, but your martial arts are pathetic.”
Each graze from Black Blood Blade Energy slowed Bu Eunseol’s movements and dulled his eyes.
Seeing this, Pang Ryun smiled triumphantly.
No matter how exceptional the expert, constant exposure to Black Blood Blade Energy rendered them as helpless as a sick chicken.
Swish! Swish-swish-swish-swish!
But something strange happened.
Bu Eunseol, who had been swinging his sword with a listless expression, suddenly recovered energy and fighting spirit, launching vigorous attacks once more.
‘This guy?’
Whoosh!
Sensing the anomaly, Pang Ryun spread Black Blood Blade Energy wider and stronger.
The waves of true energy and fighting spirit flowing from Bu Eunseol visibly diminished.
But,
Tremble. Crackle!
Faint transparent light and purple-tinged light rose from Bu Eunseol’s body.
He had recovered energy and fighting spirit again?
It was like watching an unkillable jiangshi* that revived no matter how many times it died.
*Chinese hopping vampire
Bu Eunseol felt the strangeness too.
‘This is…’
It turned out that each time Black Blood Blade Energy grazed him, refreshing and tingling energies alternated surging within.
His Crystal Water Energy and Thunder Spirit Energy activated like mad,
Nullifying Black Blood Blade Energy.
The Four Divine Energies.
When two mysterious energies embodying nature’s power combined, they rendered the heinous energy no one had ever resisted utterly useless in an instant.
“Now it’s a proper contest.” Bu Eunseol smiled, alternating between transparent and purple lights.
When Black Blood Blade Energy, which rapidly depleted enemy fighting spirit and true energy regardless of martial level, was proved ineffective, they could now decide victory with true martial arts.
“Amazing.” Pang Ryun paused his attack, tilting his head. “To think a martial art exists that can block Black Blood Blade Energy.”
In truth, the Dual Divine Energies were not martial arts but nature’s power. But unaware Bu Eunseol possessed them, Pang Ryun smiled confidently.
“You don’t think merely blocking Black Blood Blade Energy means victory, do you?”
“…”
“Heh heh heh. Hardly. Until now, I swung the Black Blood Demon Saber casually because Black Blood Blade Energy alone could win easily.” He raised the Black Blood Demon Saber with a delighted expression.
“But now, I’ll freely unleash the profound moves of Black Blood Blade Art!”
Shhhhk!
A bizarre wind howl piercing the hall stabbed Bu Eunseol’s ears.
At the same time, Pang Ryun’s figure vanished.
Hundreds of sharp lines drew across the air, pouring toward Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Papapapapa!
They poured too fast to dodge.
Hum!
Bu Eunseol exerted full power, unleashing Wishful True Binding to create a true energy shield before him.
Clang!
But the hundreds of lines also contained Black Blood Blade Energy, shattering Wishful True Binding’s shield in an instant.
Yet Bu Eunseol seized the gap to use Swift Beyond Shadow, evading the hundreds of lines.
Slash!
The hall floor where he stood was etched with chaotic lines from hundreds of blade energies.
It was truly the fastest blade art he had ever seen.
“Ho, you evaded the first move of Gale Swift Blade.”
It was Black Blood Blade Art’s first form, Gale Swift Blade.
“Try evading again.” With those words, Pang Ryun vanished once more, and hundreds of blade energies began drawing lines.
‘It seems chaotic, but it targets three points…’
Bu Eunseol instantly grasped the profundity of Pang Ryun’s Gale Swift Blade Form and created a corresponding counter-form.
Hum! Hum!
When the sharp moves of the two masters intertwined in mid-air, blinding radiance spread everywhere.
Flash!
But ultimately, a single sharp gleam grazed Bu Eunseol’s shoulder.
Drip.
Blood flowed from his shoulder, but Pang Ryun smiled faintly.
“Not bad.”
“Have you only mastered one blade form?”
“Heh heh heh. Say that after countering Gale Swift Blade Form.”
Slash!
Pang Ryun’s figure vanished again, and hundreds of sharp lines enveloped Bu Eunseol’s body.
‘The profundity of ultimate speed…’ Bu Eunseol tried once more to grasp Gale Swift Blade Form’s profundity and break the move.
‘What am I doing?’
Then he snapped awake.
Seeking martial profundities and weaknesses in the enemy’s moves—that was the essence and characteristic tactic of Nangyang Pavilion martial arts.
If he considered Master Iron’s advice, it was absolutely something he should not do.
Spurt!
The sharp blade energy already covered Bu Eunseol’s body, wounding his left forearm again.
“Heh heh heh heh.” Pang Ryun let out a sinister laugh.
He was confident he could fell Bu Eunseol in one strike if he unleashed Black Blood Blade Art with full power consecutively. Yet he deliberately inflicted injuries one move at a time.
Only thus could despair reach its peak.
Even if Bu Eunseol survived his hands today, even if he advanced his martial arts multiple times later…
He would never dare challenge him again.
But strange.
Gazing at the falling blood, Bu Eunseol wore an expression of exhilaration and refreshment.
‘So that’s it.’ Only after taking another slash from Pang Ryun did he vaguely grasp what Wang Geol meant.
“The moves and patterns can’t be stolen from the start.”
What Pang Ryun held was not a real blade but the Black Blood Demon Saber, manifesting true energy like Wishful True Binding.
Thus, even if one grasped the martial profundity, the forms did not come consistently.
He could change trajectories mid-way freely with true energy.
“That’s a quick realization.” Pang Ryun exclaimed in admiration.
No one had grasped the Black Blood Demon Saber’s function this quickly before.
“But knowing that changes nothing,” Pang Ryun sneered. “The Black Blood Blade Art consists of thirty-two forms. If curious, counter them one by one as now.”
An ordinary warrior would have despaired at those words.
Gale Swift Blade Form was arguably the pinnacle blade move in the martial world.
Yet thirty-one comparable forms remained?
Moreover, generally, later moves in martial arts were more powerful…
From Bu Eunseol’s position, it was despairing.
“Use the Seven Blood Tear Forms.” Pang Ryun said casually. “Only the Seven Blood Tear Forms can oppose Black Blood Blade Art.”
He had demeaned the Seven Blood Tear Forms as mediocre, but his inner thoughts differed.
The five forms of the Seven Blood Tear Forms transmitted and memorized from the Infinite Realm were ultimate arts surpassing Black Blood Blade Art.
Pang Ryun was a blade Dao master who trained blade arts his whole life, plus he mastered the blade secrets of five the Seven Blood Tear Forms via the Infinite Realm.
If Bu Eunseol unleashed the remaining two forms?
He could obtain the complete the Seven Blood Tear Forms blade secrets through those move variations. His body burned inwardly.
“Not yet.”
Flash!
Brilliant cold starlight burst from the Ice Soul Sword in Bu Eunseol’s hand. Fast and sharp sword energy burrowed into Pang Ryun’s throat in an instant.
A move from the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form.
“Hmph, Nangyang Pavilion’s swift sword?”
Pang Ryun blocked Bu Eunseol’s sword move with a disappointed expression.
Flash!
But the sword move changed in mid-air, burrowing into his chest again.
A variation applying Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder.
“Good swordsmanship.” With admiration, Pang Ryun swung the Black Blood Demon Saber, blocking Bu Eunseol’s sword arts in one strike.
“But such swordsmanship is insuffi—” Pang Ryun’s confident smile twisted strangely.
Bu Eunseol changed his sword arts again, creating countless sword flowers?
“Crude swordplay.” Muttering low, Pang Ryun immediately raised internal energy. “I’ll shatter it now.”
Step.
Crouching low, he sent the Black Blood Demon Saber to his left hip. Like preparing a drawing technique.
Whoosh!
In that instant, an invisible massive vortex poured toward Bu Eunseol’s body.
As Bu Eunseol moved lightning-fast left to evade,
BOOM!
Predicting the evasion, Pang Ryun closed in instantly and swung the Black Blood Demon Saber.
Black Blood Blade Art, second form: Black Wind Purgatory.
Whoooosh!
As the vortex that seemed to flay flesh at close range enveloped Bu Eunseol,
Whoooosh!
A red airflow burst from Bu Eunseol’s left fist in the form of a ferocious dragon. He too had predicted Pang Ryun’s move and unleashed Thousand Hand Air Wave Form in advance.
BOOM!
When the sharp vortex and Thousand Hand Air Wave Form collided, a storm-like airflow shot skyward.
Flash!
Pang Ryun pierced through Thousand Hand Air Wave Form and slashed Bu Eunseol’s body.
Slash!
A single swing yet dozens of blade energies wrapped Bu Eunseol’s body.
An unpredictable sudden move even for Bu Eunseol.
Hop, hop, hop!
Then the Ice Soul Sword moved as if alive.
Creating a round sword barrier, it deflected the pouring blade energies one by one.
The Thousand Swords Society’s energy sword study reacting to killing intent, Radiant Sword Control was unleashed.
Sizzle-sizzle!
When the true energy-formed Black Blood Demon Saber clashed with Bu Eunseol’s Ice Soul Sword, bizarre sparks began spreading.
Flash!
Then, a sharp blade wind grazed Bu Eunseol’s cheek.
Flash.
As Bu Eunseol retreated, Pang Ryun did not pursue.
“Shall I make you exert full power now?”
Whoosh!
Pang Ryun unleashed blade arts again, pressing Bu Eunseol. As exchanges continued, wounds increased on Bu Eunseol’s body.
He nearly took fatal blows at times but barely evaded with Swift Beyond Shadow.
As move exchanges persisted, Bu Eunseol realized two things.
‘He’s not using full power.’ Likely deliberately slowing to allow the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
‘And… since he uses blade arts impossible to counter, I can only oppose with sword studies of equal level.’
The Blade Emperor’s blade arts unleashed with true energy-manifested Black Blood Demon Saber. Grasping martial principles to counter or instantly deploying dismantling forms was impossible.
Wang Geol advised against using Nangyang Pavilion tactics against a Blade Emperor descendant.
Nangyang Pavilion warriors advanced their martial arts by discerning enemy profundities in battle. But since Blade Emperor blade arts made that impossible, he strictly warned against Nangyang Pavilion tactics.
Finally grasping Pang Ryun’s intent and Black Blood Blade Art’s characteristics, Bu Eunseol had an ingenious idea.
‘Then, Pang Ryun. Why not use him to advance the martial arts I’ve learned so far?’
He had never had time to slowly refine martial arts.
Thus, he always advanced them in battles with superiors.
And that was possible because he instantly grasped enemy martial profundities, found weaknesses, and seized victory.
‘The Black Blood Blade Energy is useless anyway. And he desperately wants me to use the Seven Blood Tear Forms.’
Thanks to the Dual Divine Energies within, Black Blood Blade Energy was no longer threatening, and Pang Ryun would not easily cut him down until he unleashed the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
Bu Eunseol decided to use this—not to dismantle enemy martial arts and discern profundities…
But for the first time, to advance his own martial arts while facing the enemy.
‘Then let’s heat things up!’ Twisting the Ice Soul Sword in his grip, hundreds of sword rings floated around Bu Eunseol.
The Seven Blood Tear Forms, first form: Life Lodges, Death Returns form.
“Good!” Pang Ryun cheered as Bu Eunseol used the Seven Blood Tear Forms, swinging the Black Blood Demon Saber.
KeeEEE!
With a noise like a ghost’s wail, six massive blade energies spread like flower buds, erasing the sword rings.
Black Blood Blade Art, third form: Six Blades Absolute Severance.
Slash!
Six Blades Absolute Severance erased all sword rings and swallowed Bu Eunseol as if to tear his body.
Sizzle.
Predicting Life Lodges, Death Returns’ form would break, Bu Eunseol continuously shifted positions in mid-air.
Swish!
Then Six Blades Absolute Severance’s move also began following his movements like a living thing.
Slash!
But ultimately failing to follow ninety-nine changes, the blade energy vanished.
Swish!
Pang Ryun switched blade arts again, slashing Bu Eunseol’s shoulder and back.
Blood spurted from his body again, but not fatal.
“You flee well like a rat.” Despite Pang Ryun’s taunt, Bu Eunseol defended calmly and attacked composedly.
‘Slowly… let’s do this.’
Pang Ryun trained blade arts his entire life and perfectly mastered the Blade Emperor’s secret arts. His blade arts were outstanding and powerful beyond Bu Eunseol’s reach.
But to perfectly steal the Seven Blood Tear Forms, he deliberately prolonged the fight with Bu Eunseol.
Bu Eunseol used this.
Mainly using Supreme Heavenly Flow Form, occasionally mixing the Seven Blood Tear Forms’ second and third forms, Seeking Life in Death Form and Half-Life Half-Death form Form.
To keep him from losing hope. To prolong this battle.
Flash! Clang! Sizzle!
Bu Eunseol poured out martial arts from Waning Moon, Dawn Star to Annihilation Finger Form at Pang Ryun again and again.
But the Supreme Heavenly Flow Form was completely ineffective against Pang Ryun, only inviting sharp counters.
In the past, he would have been shocked and flustered that not only his sword arts but the Seven Blood Tear Forms failed. But this battle was time to inspect and advance martial arts.
His mind grew relaxed and comfortable.
‘Regrettably, the Heavenly Lament Finger can’t be used from the start.’
The Heavenly Lament Finger Form was an absolute counter aiming for the perfect instant to sever the enemy’s breath.
It couldn’t be unleashed without pinpointing an exact weakness.
‘Now, what to try next.’
As Bu Eunseol twisted the Ice Soul Sword and took a deep breath,
―If you’ve gathered scraps like a beggar, shouldn’t you have the skill to blend them together?
Suddenly, Ak Muryeong’s scolding flashed through his mind.
Bu Eunseol had learned martial arts, reaching the pinnacle in each field.
Thus, except for ‘Harmony,’ he could never advance or mix them.
‘No, there is one.’
There was one martial art he could rapidly change and advance in a short time.
The Supreme Heavenly Flow Form he created himself.
Whoooosh!
Then hundreds of blade energies began falling over Bu Eunseol’s head.
Pang Ryun, spotting a weakness, unleashed the Demon Wheel Bewitching Ground Form.
Seeing the blade energies falling like rain, Bu Eunseol had a flashing insight.
‘Yes, blend them together.’
Pang Ryun with Black Blood Blade Energy nullified true energy martial arts.
Extreme yin, extreme yang arts, of course—even pouring Crystal Water Energy or Thunder Spirit Energy would be easily nullified.
But what if he mixed those powers into sword arts? Like all martial arts, Supreme Heavenly Flow Form evenly contained yin-yang energy and five elements energy.
Rumble!
Suddenly, thunder roared from the Ice Soul Sword.
Crackle.
At the same time, purple lightning flashed, and massive sword energy poured in the form of lightning.
He combined Thunder Spirit Energy with Waning Moon, Dawn Star, which had wind-thunder attributes.
Flash! Flash!
Instantly annihilating all blade energies, Bu Eunseol poured sword moves at Pang Ryun consecutively.
Merely enveloping Thunder Spirit Energy.
Yet each sword swing spread purple thunder energy everywhere.
And wasn’t it three times faster than the original Waning Moon, Dawn Star’s release speed?
BOOM!
An explosion erupted from the hall floor grazed by Waning Moon, Dawn Star,
Rumble.
The hall floor began shaking like an earthquake.
‘He’s pouring full internal energy to increase power.’ Pang Ryun curled his lips. ‘Then the sword arts will slow.’
Mistaking the suddenly increased power of Bu Eunseol’s sword moves for using full internal energy.
“Then how about this?” Closing the distance instantly, Pang Ryun’s Black Blood Demon Saber condensed briefly.
At the same time, he unleashed Gale Swift Blade Form too fast to see.
Crackle.
As Bu Eunseol unleashed sword arts accompanied by Thunder Spirit Energy again, he blocked the pouring Gale Swift Blade in an instant.
‘Ugh.’ Despite blocking the sword moves, Bu Eunseol inwardly exclaimed.
His arm felt like it would fall off from the sword moves unfolding rapidly beyond his will.
Crackle-crackle.
Moreover, each time he unleashed sword arts, the Thunder Spirit Energy coursing through his body surged madly.
‘I don’t know anymore.’ As uncontrollable Thunder Spirit Energy surged, Bu Eunseol began swinging the sword wildly using that power.
Whoooosh!
Suddenly, the wildly pouring fast sword moves transformed like a massive cloud, instantly enveloping Pang Ryun’s body.
