“The Captain is truly unbeatable.”
Tae Muryong and every warrior of the Supreme Branch looked at Bu Eunseol with warm, proud smiles.
They were overwhelmingly proud to be subordinates of such an outstanding commander—proud to be members of the Supreme Branch.
‘The Captain will surely rise to the very top.’
The warriors now firmly believed it.
Bu Eunseol would one day stand at the pinnacle of the Martial Alliance. If that were to happen, they too would have to possess ability worthy of standing beside him.
“Let’s follow the Captain and keep restoring!”
Morale soaring, the warriors shouted loudly and fell in line.
Just as they reformed ranks and prepared to move to the next village,
Hummm.
A low vibration spread from Bu Eunseol’s chest.
It was the jet-black Demon-Killer Sword hidden inside his robes, trembling softly.
He turned his head.
Far in the distance, a column of Martial Alliance warriors was marching in perfect order.
It was the first-grade Golden Horse Corps and the third-grade Iron Thread Corps following behind them.
Since third-grade corps could not operate independently, the Iron Thread Corps was currently under the Golden Horse Corps’s command.
‘This is…’ Bu Eunseol, carrying the jet-black Demon-Killer Sword, felt a strange sensation.
It was neither the Golden Horse Corps Master nor the Iron Thread Corps Master.
The energy making the demonic sword resonate was coming from the waist of an unremarkable warrior standing at the very rear of the Iron Thread column.
Bu Eunseol sharpened his vision and stared at the Iron Thread warrior.
The man was extremely thin, his features utterly ordinary, and a shabby iron sword hung at his belt. Yet the demonic aura was not rising from that iron sword—it was seeping from somewhere near his waist.
He was clearly concealing a short demonic dagger very similar to Bu Eunseol’s own.
Step, step.
As the Golden Horse Corps drew nearer, the jet-black Demon-Killer Sword hidden against Bu Eunseol’s chest hummed even lower.
Bu Eunseol ignored the sword’s cry and ordered the Supreme Branch to clear the path.
“Captain Seon.”
“Corps Master Yeo.”
“You have worked hard.”
“Not at all. Please continue your good work.”
After exchanging light greetings with Yeo Su-gi, leader of the Golden Horse Corps, the man led his warriors slowly past the Supreme Branch.
And just as the Iron Thread column was passing Bu Eunseol,
Whoosh!
A razor-sharp wind surged from the body of the warrior at the very back and brushed against Bu Eunseol.
It was killing intent identical to that of a beast tearing into its prey.
He curled the corner of his mouth.
When their eyes met, the warrior gave a faint smile. Yet his pupils burned crimson, and he flicked his tongue like a predator that had found its meal.
The meaning was clear.
―See you alone soon.
That Iron Thread warrior had marked Bu Eunseol as prey.
‘A mere third-grade Corps warrior possesses a Demon-Killer Sword?’
Bu Eunseol could not comprehend it.
For a low-ranking member of the Iron Thread Corps to possess a demonic sword meant that anyone—no matter if beggar or official—could obtain one as long as they possessed the Void Spirit Physique.
‘Interesting.’ Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes faintly.
He wanted to find out exactly what ability this demonic sword possessed that allowed a mere third-grade warrior to treat a first-grade Captain of the Martial Alliance like prey.
Bu Eunseol moved to yet another village and continued the restoration work.
When deep night finally fell, the warriors of the Supreme Branch were sleeping in an abandoned house. The roof was so full of holes it barely kept out the dew, but none of them cared—they were dead asleep.
After days of relentless restoration work, they could not recover their stamina without sleeping deeply. Yet not one of them complained; they threw themselves into the labor with all their heart and soul.
All so the name Seon Woojin would spread even wider throughout the martial world.
Moonlight poured bright and clear over the night.
Swish.
After confirming every warrior was asleep, Bu Eunseol quietly left the shelter.
He gazed at the distant moon, then silently unfolded his lightness skill and slipped out of the village.
‘There can be only one place.’
The Iron Thread warrior had treated Bu Eunseol as prey and he would have guessed that Bu Eunseol would not avoid the challenge. Therefore, at the hour when all warriors slept, he would be waiting in the one place nearby where swords could be freely crossed without restraint.
Rumble…
Deep in the forest lay a valley with a roaring waterfall.
The endless crash of falling water would perfectly mask the clash of weapons.
Bu Eunseol arrived near the waterfall with a single leap of lightness skill and drew the jet-black Demon-Killer Sword.
‘After tonight, I should stop carrying it openly.’
Each Demon-Killer Sword has different abilities. Someone might sense the demonic aura first and launch a surprise attack, or he could be assaulted anywhere, anytime.
Since the identity of Seon Woojin could not freely display martial arts, carrying a demonic sword like this meant accepting that level of risk.
‘He has not come yet.’
Bu Eunseol waited for the Iron Thread warrior and gazed at the far sky. Countless stars twinkled in the night heavens, spilling beautiful light.
‘But something is strange.’
Several questions suddenly arose.
At the Heaven-Human Cult, demonic swords were awakened by offering sacrifices, and Bu Eunseol himself had obtained the slaughtering demonic sword there. Yet Wang Cheol and this Iron Thread warrior had not received theirs from the Sword Tomb—they had acquired them by chance while wandering the martial world.
‘Does that mean the Three Realms awakened the swords and scattered them across the martial world?’
It was possible.
Most of the demonic swords in the Sword Tomb had been empty shells.
But to find an unpredictable Void Spirit Physique, they scattered demonic swords throughout the entire martial world?
That was an absurd plan.
‘Or did they forge demonic swords that only a Void Spirit Physique can locate?’
Bu Eunseol pondered deeply, then shook his head.
If such technology existed, the martial world would long ago have mass-produced weapons tailored to every special physique.
Swoosh—
At that moment, accompanied by the sound of cutting air, a white silhouette landed lightly before him.
It was the very Iron Thread warrior whose eyes had met his earlier.
“As expected, you came.”
The warrior smiled leisurely and cupped his hands toward Bu Eunseol.
“Iron Thread Corps, Gok Jeong.”
“Seon Woojin.”
When Bu Eunseol returned the courtesy, Gok Jeong gave a faint, scornful smile.
“So that’s how it was.” It was a sneer dripping with contempt. “They packaged you grandly as the Dragon of the Upper Realm, but you’re nothing more than a fraud.”
“A fraud?”
“Heh heh heh. Don’t play dumb.” Gok Jeong curled his lips and snorted. “Did you not save the Commander and the Flame Wing Sword Corps warriors by borrowing the power of a demonic sword?”
He shook his head as though it were ridiculous. “How bold. To think you climbed to your current position by relying on a demonic sword’s power.”
Gok Jeong was utterly convinced that Bu Eunseol had earned all his merits through the demonic sword’s abilities.
From the perspective of ordinary Alliance warriors, it was an understandable misunderstanding.
A man who started as a third-grade Captain had become a first-grade Captain in less than a year.
‘He’s awfully relaxed.’
If Bu Eunseol had truly reached first-grade captain using only a demonic sword, that in itself would prove considerable ability.
Yet Gok Jeong treated him like prey already caught—completely at ease.
That could only mean Gok Jeong was that confident in his own martial arts.
‘I need to extract as much information as possible.’ Bu Eunseol forced a relaxed, non-hostile expression.
Killing the man would be fine, but first he had to obtain answers.
“Did an Emissary visit you?”
“An Emissary?” Gok Jeong’s eyes filled with genuine confusion. “What Emissary are you talking about?”
“I mean an Emissary of the Three Realms.”
“The Three Realms?” Gok Jeong frowned and muttered in a low voice. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
From that answer, Bu Eunseol understood clearly.
Possessing a demonic sword did not automatically bring an Emissary from the Three Realms to explain its secrets.
‘Then Wang Cheol must truly possess some extraordinary talent.’
The Emissary had said Wang Cheol possessed remarkable energy, which was why he had been told those things. Bu Eunseol had assumed it was a lie because he could not block even his own rudimentary aura, but it had actually been the truth?
‘Could it have been because of the aura I released in the warehouse…?’ While Bu Eunseol pondered, Gok Jeong spoke.
“No need for idle talk—let us begin.”
“Wait.” Bu Eunseol asked with a puzzled look. “Why do you want to fight me?”
“You ask strange questions.”
“I am genuinely curious.”
“Then why did you come here and wait for me?”
Bu Eunseol answered quickly. “I have never once clashed with another who possesses a demonic sword. That is why I came—out of curiosity.”
At those words, an utterly frigid light poured from Gok Jeong’s eyes.
“So that’s how you’ve survived until now.”
Swish.
He drew a small dagger from his waist.
Though called a demonic sword, it looked like any ordinary blade one might see anywhere.
Yet the moment the sword left its sheath,
Hummmmm.
The surrounding ten-odd zhang felt as though it had become a vacuum, and Gok Jeong’s entire presence changed completely.
He no longer felt like a mere warrior of a third-grade Corps—he radiated the pressure akin to an absolute master who had dominated the martial world for decades.
‘Is this another ability of the demonic sword?’
It was incomprehensible.
His aura had changed completely just by drawing the sword?
‘Or has he been hiding his true skill all this time because of his Void Spirit Physique?’
A Void Spirit Physique possesses outstanding talent in every field.
But that raised yet another question.
How had someone with a Void Spirit Physique ended up as a lowly warrior in a third-grade Corps?
“Let us finish this quickly.” Crimson killing intent poured from Gok Jeong’s eyes.
Fwooosh!
Sword blossoms scattered like flower petals in all directions, instantly enveloping Bu Eunseol.
Tak.
Bu Eunseol immediately unfolded his footwork to evade, and—
Shshshk!
Every rock and tree touched by those petal-like sword blossoms was instantly riddled with holes.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened as he stared at the traces left on the stone and wood.
The sword art Gok Jeong had just displayed…
Was it not the Shape-Dividing Sword Art of In Ho-jeong, the master who shook the martial world two hundred years ago?
‘An illiterate swordsman left behind a sword manual?’
The Mute Swordsman, In Ho-jeong.
As a child he had been abandoned in the forest.
A swordsman of the Danseol Sect, In Baek-ryang, found the feral child and raised him.
Having lived too long like a beast, In Ho-jeong could neither read nor speak properly. Yet because he grew up among animals, he possessed beast-like senses and an extraordinary eye for observing nature.
Combining the Danseol Sect swordsmanship he learned from In Baek-ryang with the shapes of nature he observed, he created the Shape-Dividing Sword Art.
At first, the power of the Shape-Dividing Sword Art was disappointingly weak.
Then, when In Baek-ryang died of an unknown illness, In Ho-jeong wandered the martial world alone.
Unable to speak properly and still carrying the wild nature of a beast, he was despised and ridiculed by many in the martial world.
As the scorn grew worse, In Ho-jeong gradually turned cruel.
Once beast-like killing intent and brutality awakened within him, the Shape-Dividing Sword Art suddenly began displaying terrifying power.
It was a sword art created with the ferocity of a beast—its true might could only manifest when fueled by killing intent and savagery.
With a sword art none could withstand completed, he became a demon who freely committed murder and depravity. Eventually branded a public enemy of the martial world and hunted, he instead slaughtered every pursuer and vanished leisurely.
The Shape-Dividing Sword Art possessed such vicious, cruel power that even the greatest masters could not block it. After ravaging the martial world for years, In Ho-jeong was one day found dead in a remote mountain valley.
Countless martial artists examined the cause of death, yet no external wounds were found.
People said he had died by heavenly tribulation.
The Mute Swordsman In Ho-jeong—who for a brief time reigned invincible, shaking the martial world—had taken no disciples, and being illiterate, he left no manual.
Yet Gok Jeong was now using that very sword art?
Swaaaaeek!
Meanwhile, sword blossoms scattered around Bu Eunseol once more.
This time they took the form not of petals but of swaying reeds.
Because the Shape-Dividing Sword Art imitated shapes found in nature, most of its forms resembled common plants.
Paaht! PAAAAA!
Yet its power was anything but common.
Despite the gentle appearance of the sword blossoms, the might of the Shape-Dividing Sword Art was enough to tear apart heaven and earth.
Even a graze shredded Bu Eunseol’s robes, and the ground shook.
“Your movement art is quite fast.” Seeing Bu Eunseol completely evade the range of the Shape-Dividing Sword Art from the start, Gok Jeong gave a cold snort.
“Then let us try this.”
Chaaaaar!
With a swing of his dagger, circular sword blossoms bloomed endlessly in a six-jang radius.
He intended to surround Bu Eunseol with ceaseless sword blossoms, sealing all escape routes and forcing a head-on clash.
‘Good.’
Shuk.
Bu Eunseol drew his own jet-black Demon-Killer Sword without hesitation and unleashed the very first form of the Thirteen Iron Sword Forms, Grafting Flowers onto Jade.
Sasasak!
The Iron Sword Thirteen Forms of the Boundless Master specialized in counterattack. Thus, when used offensively like this, the sword paths were far too gentle—lacking any sharpness.
“Hmph, some pathetic sword art you’ve picked up somewhere.” Seeing how unthreatening Bu Eunseol’s swordsmanship appeared, Gok Jeong spoke leisurely. “No point dragging this out—let us end it in one strike.”
Sasak-sasak!
Gok Jeong shifted the Shape-Dividing Sword Art to parry Bu Eunseol’s move, then continuously created sword blossoms in the air.
Whirriririk!
The blossoms decorating the sky began to wrap around Bu Eunseol’s entire body like a net.
Countless sword blossoms coiled around him, and Gok Jeong smiled.
‘It is over.’
Whirik…
Yet suddenly a whirlwind erupted from Bu Eunseol’s body, and the dozens of sword blossoms that had swallowed him reversed direction—shooting back toward Gok Jeong.
He had executed the counterstroke of the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms, returning the opponent’s strikes.
Swaaaaeek!
The returned strikes carried several times the power of Gok Jeong’s original technique.
“An unusual sword art.” But Gok Jeong showed no panic, meeting the returning strikes head-on.
The Shape-Dividing Sword Art could not only manifest natural forms—it also contained the principle of birth and death found in nature, allowing him to produce sword blossoms without exhaustion.
“Let us see how far you can return them back!”
With a thunderous shout, Gok Jeong poured out strikes without end.
Swaek! Swaaaaeek!
Bu Eunseol’s returning strikes and Gok Jeong’s onslaught clashed endlessly.
The Shape-Dividing Sword Art could create blossoms without limit, while the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms spun the enemy’s power and sent it back ceaselessly.
“Hmm.” Bu Eunseol let out a short grunt.
When straight strikes poured down endlessly and curved returning strikes met them, the curved returns were inevitably one beat slower.
‘The limit of Seon Woojin.’
Bu Eunseol had far too many martial arts he could use as disposable tools, but Seon Woojin still lacked a primary sword art worthy of the name.
Fortunately, the variant of the Heon Won Bright Sword he had recently acquired was comparable to the Seven Blood Tear Forms, but it was incomplete and carried the drawback of severe backlash due to its overwhelming power.
‘Nothing I can do about it yet.’
In truth, this was a natural limitation deliberately set by the Divine Mountain Sage.
If a character who had fallen from the sky suddenly displayed overwhelming martial arts, the identity of Seon Woojin could never remain perfect. The Divine Mountain Sage had crafted Seon Woojin’s growth path so that even if he became a mighty figure capable of shaking the Martial Alliance, there would be no backlash.
Pat-pat-pat!
In the end, the piercing sword blossoms began drawing blood from Bu Eunseol’s body.
Even a graze from the Shape-Dividing Sword Art tore flesh, and the sharp sword force burrowed into his meridians.
BOOM!
When the jet-black Demon-Killer Sword finally clashed directly with a sword blossom of the Shape-Dividing Sword Art, Bu Eunseol was pushed back a full zhang amid a thunderous explosion.
“It took too long!”
Seizing the moment Bu Eunseol’s stance broke, Gok Jeong unleashed his killing move: Returning Yellow, Turning Green.
Pararararat!
Hundreds of sword blossoms scattered like autumn leaves in the wind, filling every direction.
As sword qi dense enough to blot out the blue sky rained down, time itself seemed to stop for Bu Eunseol.
‘It’s similar.’
In that instant, the variant of the Heon Won Bright Sword flashed through his mind.
No matter how gorgeous and endless the Shape-Dividing Sword Art’s strikes were, they could not compare to the transformations of the Bright Sword.
‘But do I really need to use such a sword art?’
Bu Eunseol realized he had been too bound by orthodox swordsmanship.
That feeling stemmed from the gap between his original demonic sword mastery—the Supreme Heavenly Flow—and the orthodox sword arts he still had not mastered.
‘Who cares if it’s orthodox or demonic?’
Pat! PAAAAA…
Bu Eunseol swung wildly, almost randomly, and every strike of the Shape-Dividing Sword Art vanished as though washed away.
It was like a sudden shower stopping and the sky clearing in an instant, sunlight pouring down.
Unconsciously, he had executed something that was neither orthodox nor demonic swordsmanship.
“You bastard!” Seeing his attack erased by that bizarre swordplay, Gok Jeong’s eyes widened in fury. “You were hiding yet another sword!”
He abruptly drew a second dagger from his robes.
“But so do I!”
Flash!
The moment he swung the second dagger, a transparent shadow charged straight at Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
In truth it was an invisible illusion—detected only through his beast-like sense.
It looked as though the invisible sword qi had taken human form and was rushing him.
‘This is…?’
Pat!
Bu Eunseol swiftly dodged the shape, and the ancient tree beside him was cleaved cleanly in two.
Yet the sword qi did not vanish—it turned and charged again.
Shockingly, Gok Jeong had created sword qi that pursued Bu Eunseol endlessly like a living creature.
“How do you like it?” Gok Jeong laughed confidently. “How long can you keep dodging?”
Bu Eunseol danced through the air with his movement art, evading the attacks while still speaking leisurely.
“So that’s it.” He looked utterly unperturbed. “Each demonic sword grants a different ability, and you want to steal mine.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol understand why Gok Jeong had targeted him.
Every demonic sword bestowed a unique, extraordinary ability.
And those with a Void Spirit Physique could wield all of those abilities simultaneously.
In other words, obtaining even one more demonic sword was equivalent to gaining another supreme secret manual…
For any martial artist who wished to grow stronger, it was a temptation impossible to resist.
