The Primordial Golden Needle used by the Needle King was renowned only by name.
Its appearance, size, or shape was not widely known.
But now, it was clear that among the Primordial Golden Needles, there existed ones as thin as a hair and shorter than the width of a finger.
‘There are various types, then.’ Bu Eunseol gave a bitter smile.
The Primordial Golden Needle that Jongri Sahyeon held was thinner and shorter than the Rain Hair Needle, known as the smallest among hidden weapons.
He could never have imagined that such a needle was concealed in the palm that patted his shoulder.
“What are you talking about so suddenly?” As Bu Eunseol played innocent, Jongri Sahyeon spoke in a low voice.
“This Primordial Fine Rain Needle is so thin and delicate that it can penetrate pores, reacting even to the true qi flowing within the body.” Jongri Sahyeon’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Bu Eunseol. “And it won’t even pierce the skin of a master with over sixty years of internal energy.”
True to his title as the Needle King, Jongri Sahyeon had sensed Bu Eunseol’s immense internal energy with a single needle. It was an unexpected situation for anyone to predict, but Bu Eunseol remained remarkably calm.
“What is your true identity?” For someone so young to possess over sixty years of internal energy, their fame and appearance should surely be widely known.
It was unthinkable that someone with such an unfamiliar face and name could exist.
“I’m sorry, Elder.” Bu Eunseol clasped his hands respectfully, wearing a troubled expression. “Due to my master’s orders, I cannot reveal my sect. I humbly ask for your understanding.”
“Is that so? Well, that’s possible.” Jongri Sahyeon nodded with a hint of regret and said, “But it is a strict rule of this household not to admit those whose identities are unclear. You should leave.”
“Grandfather.” Unable to stand by, Jongri Sayu stepped forward, but he responded with a stern gaze.
“You rascal. Are you now trying to change the rules of our house?”
“I understand. However, I have one thing to ask, Elder.”
“What is it?”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath and said,
“I heard that forty years ago, in Huangzhou Prefecture, you fought the Seven-Finger Demon Blade, Bu Zhanyang.”
“And?” With a grave expression, Bu Eunseol continued, “I would like to hear the details of that encounter.”
Jongri Sahyeon wore a puzzled expression. Why was this young man asking about a great demonic figure who vanished long ago?
“You’re curious about what happened between me and the Seven-Finger Demon Blade forty years ago? Why?” After a moment of hesitation, Bu Eunseol put on a pained expression.
“I am searching for his whereabouts.”
“Hm.” Jongri Sahyeon let out a soft hum.
In the past, countless masters had been killed by the Seven-Finger Demon Blade, Bu Zhanyang.
‘Perhaps his parents or master were killed by him.’ Assuming Bu Eunseol’s kin or master had been slain by the Seven-Finger Demon Blade, Jongri Sahyeon shook his head.
“That is a personal matter of mine. I have no intention of sharing it with an outsider.” Sighing, Jongri Sahyeon waved his hand. “Now, go back.”
“Elder.” Bu Eunseol clasped his hands respectfully and said confidently, “How about a wager with you, then?”
“A wager?”
“I’ve heard that with a single needle, you can perform the Body-Striking Technique with unparalleled internal energy.” Bu Eunseol gazed at Jongri Sahyeon with confident eyes. “If you can push me back even a single step with your internal energy, I will leave quietly.”
He spoke again with conviction.
“But if you cannot push me back, you will share that story with me. How does that sound?”
“Have I grown so old that I’m hearing things?” Jongri Sahyeon nearly burst out laughing in disbelief. “Young man, learn to distinguish between confidence and recklessness.”
The Needle King was known among the Seven Kings of the martial world for having the deepest internal energy and exceptional martial arts. Yet a young man barely past twenty was challenging him to an internal energy contest?
Wasn’t that tantamount to suicide?
“Young Master Baek.” Unable to watch, Jongri Sayu approached Bu Eunseol and shook her head. “My grandfather does not forgive such provocations.”
The Needle King, Jongri Sahyeon.
He was a man who deeply despised young martial artists.
Ever since it became known that the Primordial Golden Needle could unblock the Conception Vessel… tens of thousands of young people had come, either groveling or boldly challenging him.
And among them were those, like Bu Eunseol, who provoked him with wagers.
Jongri Sahyeon had never let such challengers off lightly.
“There was someone in the past who tried the same tactic as you.” Jongri Sahyeon looked at Bu Eunseol with a contemptuous expression. “He challenged me to an internal energy contest, deliberately sustaining a critical internal injury.”
“…”
“In the shallow calculation that if he suffered an irreversible injury, I would treat him with the Primordial Golden Needle.” Jongri Sahyeon spoke with a solemn expression. “But I never treated him. Because performing the Primordial Golden Needle consumes ten years’ worth of internal energy. Do you understand?”
“Even if it costs my life, that won’t happen.” Bu Eunseol spoke clearly. “Or, please tell me about that incident.”
“No choice, then.” Realizing Bu Eunseol’s resolve was firm, Jongri Sahyeon sighed. “Don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
He immediately summoned his internal energy and pushed against Bu Eunseol.
The level was about one hundred fifty years’ worth. Even if Bu Eunseol had over sixty years of internal energy, it was enough to push him back instantly.
‘What?’ But Bu Eunseol stood rooted to the ground like a stake. He didn’t even seem to be using his internal energy.
‘His internal energy exceeds sixty years.’
To reach sixty years of internal energy at such a young age. That proved he was an exceptional disciple from a major righteous or demonic sect or clan.
‘Which sect produced such a disciple?’
“Impressive confidence, indeed.” Narrowing his eyes and staring at Bu Eunseol, Jongri Sahyeon exclaimed with admiration and said sternly, “But you’ll soon regret this.”
Unlike his cold tone, he gradually increased his internal energy in stages. If he unleashed his full internal energy abruptly… Bu Eunseol’s meridians could burst, or he could sustain irreversible internal injuries.
‘The Nine Deaths Squad’ intelligence was accurate.’
The Needle King was known for his stern character and ruthless hand.
But according to the Nine Deaths Squad’ intelligence, contrary to his reputation, he was generous and compassionate.
—“He only seems stern on the outside, but he’s actually kind.”
Jongri Sayu’s words suddenly came to mind.
If Jongri Sahyeon were a heartless man without blood or tears, she would have desperately tried to stop this contest. She couldn’t bear to watch the man she had feelings for have his meridians burst before her eyes.
But knowing he wouldn’t strike ruthlessly, she silently observed.
‘Is this what makes the Seven Kings different?’
The righteous figures Bu Eunseol had encountered so far were stubborn and selfish.
But the righteous figures among the Seven Kings.
The Bullet King, Bukgung Ryeong, from the Martial Emperor’s Vault, the Palm King, Yuk Jangcheon, from the Martial Alliance, and now even the Needle King before him…
Contrary to their reputations, their characters weren’t so bad.
‘The Primordial Golden Needle technique was probably used tirelessly.’
Jongri Sahyeon likely hid his kind and compassionate nature behind a stern facade. He surely couldn’t stand by and watch people die or suffer injuries. As Bu Eunseol was lost in these thoughts, Jongri Sahyeon was inwardly astonished.
‘I thought his internal energy was just over sixty years.’ By now, the internal energy he was unleashing exceeded one hundred eighty years.
Yet Bu Eunseol didn’t budge an inch?
‘Could his internal energy exceed one hundred eighty years?’ One hundred eighty years of internal energy was close to the limit for young martial artists.
Yet Bu Eunseol wore a relaxed expression?
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from Jongri Sahyeon’s body. At the same time, white waves of true qi flowing from him enveloped Bu Eunseol’s body.
He was finally unleashing his full internal energy.
Rumble.
The garden was swept by a storm of true qi from the two masters, and the ground was upturned. If Jongri Sahyeon’s residence weren’t in such a secluded place, the people in the estate would have thought an earthquake had struck.
‘No way.’ Jongri Sayu, pushed back to the end of the moon gate by the storm of true qi, gasped. ‘Young Master Baek’s internal energy is on par with Grandfather’s?’
Jongri Sahyeon, who had lived as a physician his entire life and studied the effects and absorption of countless elixirs. His internal energy was said to be among the top of the Seven Kings.
Yet a young man in his twenties was holding his own in an internal energy contest?
‘Could he be…?’ A rumor floating in the martial world crossed Jongri Sahyeon’s mind.
A prodigy of the demonic path who joined the Seven Kings at a young age. Not only possessing profound wisdom but also ruthless, sparing no one who stood in his way…
The rumor about the next-generation Demon Emperor.
Though a grand master of the righteous path, he held no great hatred or prejudice against the demonic path. But he had no desire to build ties with the successor of the Demon Emperor.
‘But this energy… it’s not of the demonic path.’ Jongri Sahyeon’s expression changed.
As demonic internal energy techniques grew stronger, their true qi became sharp like a blade. But Bu Eunseol’s internal energy grew softer and stickier, didn’t it?
‘I need to confirm.’ As Jongri Sahyeon, with hands behind his back, flicked his fingers through the air, an intangible force touched Bu Eunseol’s pulse points. True to his title as the Needle King, he transformed his internal energy into needle-like precision, probing Bu Eunseol’s internal energy source.
‘The Muscle-changing Sutra?’ Jongri Sahyeon’s eyes widened as he secretly examined Bu Eunseol’s true qi flow.
Pure yet sticky true qi was stored not only in his dantian but also dispersed throughout his eight extraordinary meridians. Wasn’t this a phenomenon unique to the Muscle-changing Sutra, known as the supreme righteous technique?
‘That’s it, then?’
Shaolin’s secret arts were never taught to outsiders. With this single move, Bu Eunseol had essentially revealed his identity.
A smile spread across Jongri Sahyeon’s lips.
‘A Shaolin disciple.’ The Muscle-changing Sutra could only be learned with the abbot’s permission and a compelling reason.
Even the most talented disciples couldn’t learn it without a connection to it.
‘But…’ As a seasoned martial artist, the Needle King was cautious.
He noticed the exceptional divine sword hanging behind Bu Eunseol and sensed a faint domineering aura emanating from him.
‘Shaolin has no sword-based martial arts.’
Shaolin martial arts did not involve bladed weapons.
There was the Daruma Three Swords, but despite its name, it was closer to a short staff technique. Of course, lay disciples could carry weapons freely, but the essence of Shaolin martial arts lay in fist and palm techniques.
Ultimately, they relied on their hands as weapons.
‘Come to think of it, wasn’t there a technique similar to the Muscle-changing Sutra in the demonic path?’
Jongri Sahyeon recalled a disgraced monk from Tianlong Temple, the Blood Vajra, from long ago. Not only did he possess immense internal energy, but he used a technique so remarkable and robust that it could be mistaken for Shaolin’s Muscle-changing Sutra.
Hum.
After a long deliberation, Jongri Sahyeon abruptly withdrew his internal energy and said calmly,
“Let’s call this wager a draw.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head. “Then you admit you lost the wager?”
“I cannot admit that.” Jongri Sahyeon said calmly. “It was a one-sided wager, wasn’t it?”
“But…”
“That’s why I said it’s a draw.” Jongri Sahyeon narrowed his eyes and said, “If you want to hear the story, make another wager with me.”
Bu Eunseol thought deeply for a moment and nodded.
“Very well. Tell me.”
“Defeat three of my disciples in a sparring match.” Jongri Sahyeon smiled faintly. “Then I promise to tell you the details of that day.”
Internal energy sources could be ambiguous.
But martial arts clearly distinguished between righteous and demonic paths. Since their pursuits were entirely different, they couldn’t deceive the eyes of a grand master like Jongri Sahyeon.
“Agreed.”
Bu Eunseol nodded readily, and Jongri Sahyeon extended his hand.
“Then let’s not waste time and begin.”
* * *
There was no dedicated sparring ground within the estate.
The Needle King’s disciples didn’t set aside time for sparring or practice.
Instead, they honed their composure and agility while treating patients daily.
They also refined the Needle King’s secret techniques while performing advanced acupuncture on patients. Lacking a proper place for martial contests, Jongri Sahyeon led Bu Eunseol to the estate’s front courtyard, paved with blue stones.
There stood seven men with sharp, gleaming eyes.
As disciples personally trained by the Needle King, their internal energy and acupuncture skills were exceptional. Despite being informed of the situation, their confident expressions suggested they were quite skilled in martial arts as well.
“Youngest, step forward.” Jongri Sahyeon pointed to his youngest disciple, Im Gunbyeong.
Im Gunbyeong was agile and quick-witted.
He would be the best opponent to probe Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess.
“Elder.” Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “There’s no need to waste time. I’ll face all three at once.”
At that moment, the faces of the seven disciples, including Im Gunbyeong, darkened.
Jongri Sahyeon nodded.
“Such confidence.” He then addressed his disciples.
“Yun Gyeok, Cheon Woong. You two, join him.”
A large, older-looking man and a scrawny man with hollow eyes stepped forward.
They were the first disciple, Gong Yun Gyeok, and the third disciple, Ma Cheon Woong.
Both were prodigies who had mastered the Needle King’s secret technique, Golden Flow Essence, to the eighth level, with internal energy approaching one hundred eighty years.
‘If demonic martial arts emerge or he draws his sword… there’ll be no need for this contest.’ Jongri Sahyeon intended to confirm whether Bu Eunseol was of the demonic path through this sparring match.
“Begin.”
“Then.” Without hesitation, Bu Eunseol thrust out a fist.
It was the Mountain-Piercing Single Fist, similar to the Hundred Steps Divine Fist that Shaolin disciples used as a basic stance.
Boom!
As immense fist force surged, the three disciples, standing in a triangular formation, scattered in all directions, simultaneously launching twenty golden needles.
The Golden Flow Essence was a technique that fired tiny golden needles from different angles and with time delays. Its fearsome aspect was that these small needles, which couldn’t be infused with much internal energy, carried tremendous power,
And they targeted vital points of the body, where even a single hit could render one combat-incapacitated.
‘Even a Shaolin high monk would struggle to block the Golden Flow Essence from three disciples.’
As a smile began to form on Jongri Sahyeon’s lips,
Swish!
Suddenly, dozens of palm shadows appeared in the air, intercepting the incoming needles one by one.
“What is that…?” Jongri Sahyeon’s eyes widened as he observed Bu Eunseol’s palm technique. “The Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm?”
Among Shaolin’s seventy-two consummate arts, it was the most complex and energy-intensive supreme technique. Its unpredictable movement, like dozens of butterflies fluttering at once, was the essence of Shaolin’s palm techniques, unfolding brilliantly from Bu Eunseol’s hands.
The Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm was Shaolin’s greatest palm technique.
Its movements were so intricate and required such precise control of internal energy that young disciples couldn’t hope to master it. Yet this young man wielded it as if he had practiced it for decades, freely adjusting the number of palm shadows and manipulating his internal energy without hesitation.
‘He’s been fooled.’ Glancing at Jongri Sahyeon, whose jaw was practically dropping, a smile crept onto Bu Eunseol’s lips.
In truth, the Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm he was performing wasn’t authentic.
Bu Eunseol had faced both Kwang Yeon, Shaolin’s greatest prodigy, and Monk Honghyeon, wielding the Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm.
Thanks to learning the essence of righteous martial arts at the Martial Emperor’s Vault, he could perfectly mimic the principles and flow of righteous techniques. Unless one was a Shaolin disciple, no one could tell he was imitating Monk and Kwang Yeon’s Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm.
‘I’ll perfectly impersonate a Shaolin disciple!’
From the moment he decided to meet the Needle King, Bu Eunseol resolved to pose as a Shaolin lay disciple. Specifically, as the disciple taken in by Monk Honghyeon in his later years, a peerless prodigy of martial arts shrouded in mystery.
Known as the Golden True Dragon, Baek Museong.
As a disciple of one of the Three Venerables, Bu Eunseol didn’t need to suppress his prowess, and his immense internal energy could be explained.
‘As the Golden True Dragon, I’ll get the story.’
He couldn’t force the Needle King to speak.
But as Monk’s disciple, the Golden True Dragon Baek Museong, he was confident the Needle King would share the story, even if reluctantly.
“Ah!”
As the Golden Flow Essence was broken in an instant, the three disciples panicked. Bu Eunseol didn’t seize the opportunity and instead unleashed another wave of Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With explosive sounds, the three disciples who had fired the needles staggered back.
They managed to block the force with the retrieval technique of All Laws Return to One. But they couldn’t withstand Bu Eunseol’s dense internal energy and were pushed back.
“Use the Purple Clarity Net technique.” At Jongri Sahyeon’s words, the disciples drew out golden needles with both hands.
This time, they produced over eighty needles.
Realizing Bu Eunseol’s formidable prowess, they intended to use a technique specialized for attack.
Flash!
With a burst of golden light, two hundred forty needles vanished simultaneously. Bu Eunseol hesitated as he watched the disappearing light.
‘This is…’
The two hundred forty needles unleashed by the Needle King’s disciples. It was equivalent to unleashing two hundred forty different techniques.
At this level, he would need to use the Supreme Heavenly Flow, Wishful True Binding, or the Thirteen Guiding Energies to block them.
‘I need to dodge.’
Pop! Pop! Pop!
He quickly executed Swift Beyond Shadow, but several needles still struck his elbow and leg.
‘Hmm.’ Jongri Sahyeon, watching, let out an inward sigh of relief.
Even if Bu Eunseol was a Shaolin disciple, if word spread that three of the Needle King’s disciples lost in a joint attack?
It would be utterly humiliating.
Hum!
But something was off. A golden aura began emanating from Bu Eunseol’s body…
Ping!
The needles embedded in his body were repelled outward.
“What is that…?” Jongri Sahyeon’s eyes widened.
“The Prajna Great Power?”
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