Sizzle.
In that interval, another surge of Black Divine Artifact’s radiance grazed his forearm.
That ray was not mere light—it was akin to a condensed mass of ultra-high-temperature true qi. The moment it touched flesh, it scorched skin tissue and seemed intent on melting meridians into ruin.
‘No matter how powerful Black Divine Artifact may be…’ As Bu Eunseol gazed down at the wound on his forearm, a strange thought flashed through his mind. ‘How can such light be emitted spontaneously like that?’
How could metal attached to a human body unleash such intense radiance on its own?
Could it be that, like the Ancient Sword Forest, they were drawing on human life force at the root to wield Black Divine Artifact?
‘That makes no sense.’
Tang Pae, afflicted by that strange illness, had been in a severely weakened state, and he was already advanced in years.
Even if his body were fully restored, if Black Divine Artifact drew fundamentally from life force—he would exhaust it after only a few uses and die.
“In the end, this is all you amount to.”
At that moment, Geum Cheon-gun shook his head with an expression of lost interest.
“You only know how to scurry away like a rat. It seems you have no real skill to speak of.” He sneered coldly.
“I should finish this quickly.”
The light flowing from the metal in Geum Cheon-gun’s grasp grew steadily more intense.
He appeared to be fiercely condensing what had been single bursts into one overwhelming strike meant to melt Bu Eunseol’s meridians in an instant.
But gathering power for that decisive blow was a mistake.
Because right now, Bu Eunseol had activated the Nangyang Heart Eye.
A state in which, upon reaching the extreme boundary, one could instantly penetrate the principles of all phenomena in the universe and even comprehend the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.
‘I found it.’
The moment the ceaseless killing ray paused to gather strength, Geum Cheon-gun’s movements became visible.
Bu Eunseol’s pupils, suffused with the Nangyang Heart Eye, sparkled.
Just before gathering power, Geum Cheon-gun’s gaze had unconsciously lifted toward the sky.
From that brief glance alone—from merely seeing the shape of the weapon—Bu Eunseol instantly grasped the clue to how this Black Divine Artifact operated.
‘It draws on moonlight to unleash the killing ray.’
When condensing radiance, his gaze had turned instinctively toward the full moon hanging in the sky.
In other words, the Black Divine Artifact possessed mirror-like properties and the killing ray could only be emitted when moonlight was present.
Paht!
Bu Eunseol leaped into the air.
Then he began swinging the Silent Tiger Soul Sword like a madman.
Shashashasha!
But the sword qi did not pour toward Geum Cheon-gun—
It poured toward the trees surrounding them.
Crack crack crack.
The severed trees rose into the air, forming the shape of a gigantic umbrella above Geum Cheon-gun’s head.
Using the very principle of the Ten Fingers Eternal Return that Tang Pae had displayed earlier, Bu Eunseol was ceaselessly manipulating the wooden fragments to block any moonlight from reaching Geum Cheon-gun.
Ziiing.
The mirror that had been pouring intense radiance began to dim rapidly.
This Black Divine Artifact was exactly like the martial art of the Moon Shadow Demon Venerable, said to be invincible beneath the moon—it drew its power by utilizing moonlight.
“You bastard!”
With the weakness of his Black Divine Artifact exposed, Geum Cheon-gun roared in fury and tried to destroy the wooden fragments Bu Eunseol had created.
But no matter how many rays he fired, it was futile.
Bu Eunseol was using the Ten Fingers Eternal Return’s principle to endlessly rotate the pieces of wood.
Clang. Clang.
In the end, deprived of moonlight, the light vanished from Geum Cheon-gun’s body.
The diamond-hard physique returned to ordinary flesh.
‘Now.’
Swoosh.
Crimson light erupted from Bu Eunseol’s Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
The supreme swift-killing form that captured the perfect instant of death and severed the enemy’s breath in one stroke, the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form, was unleashed.
In that instant, Geum Cheon-gun’s eyes widened.
The entire world seemed filled with blood, and he could visually perceive his own neck being severed.
Psssh!
Blood sprayed from Geum Cheon-gun’s throat in an instant.
Had the form missed?
His neck remained attached.
Crack.
Then something astonishing occurred.
The face of Geum Cheon-gun, wounded at the throat, began to widen again, transforming back into the fuller, healthier visage of Tang Pae.
The consciousness of Geum Cheon-gun had vanished, and Tang Pae had regained control of his mind.
“How…?” Tang Pae looked down at his body and hands in shock. “If one relinquishes control of consciousness, there should be no way to reclaim it.”
“The Meteor Chasing the Moon Form I unleashed first shows the form of death to the eyes.” Bu Eunseol answered calmly. “Geum Cheon-gun’s consciousness, having savored death, must have dissipated.”
The Meteor Chasing the Moon Form.
It was so supremely swift that it paradoxically appeared slow, allowing one to visually savor the instant of death.
This terrifying sword form’s ability made Geum Cheon-gun mistakenly believe his neck had already been severed, causing him to lose control to Tang Pae once more.
“I see.”
Tang Pae nodded, and Bu Eunseol extended his hand.
“Now unfold it to your heart’s content.”
Click.
Bu Eunseol sheathed the Silent Tiger Soul Sword and said,
“The martial art you have perfected, Family Head.”
With the power of Black Divine Artifact broken, Tang Pae’s body was once again losing life force.
Bu Eunseol had deliberately unleashed the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form not only to plunge Geum Cheon-gun’s consciousness into death and awaken Tang Pae, but also to grant him the opportunity to display the martial art he had spent his entire life creating.
“Is there really any need?” Tang Pae shook his head. “This body will return to earth soon anyway.”
Facing death, he seemed to feel that all his past efforts had been in vain.
“You must display it.”
Bu Eunseol spoke firmly.
“Only then can my friend learn your great teachings.”
“What do you mean…?”
When Tang Pae turned his head, a dark shadow slowly emerged.
It was Tang Gon.
“Yes… that’s right.”
Tang Pae had momentarily forgotten.
Even while constantly clashing with Geum Cheon-gun’s consciousness, why he had sent Bu Eunseol the invitation to come to the Thousand Poisons Forest.
Why he had arranged for Bu Eunseol and Tang Gon to reunite here.
It was all to pass on the martial purification he had achieved to the two of them.
“You’ve become quite quick.”
Tang Pae looked at Tang Gon and spoke coldly.
“In the past, you were always slow.”
Ever since his previous encounter with Bu Eunseol, Tang Gon had begun breaking away from old patterns, gaining realizations, and his martial arts had advanced dramatically.
His wisdom and powers of observation had also grown immensely—he was no longer the same person.
He had realized that Bu Eunseol’s meeting with Tang Pae was no coincidence.
When Bu Eunseol declined a drinking session citing fatigue, Tang Gon instinctively sensed that something had happened between the Family Head and Bu Eunseol, so he had deliberately pretended to be heavily intoxicated and left, only to secretly follow Bu Eunseol’s trail.
“Family Head, it’s all right now.”
Tang Gon spoke with desperate earnestness.
“Our clan possesses many excellent medicines. We can surely find a way to treat you.”
“Enough.” Tang Pae shook his head. “I have already lived far longer than the lifespan heaven granted me.”
With a lonely expression, he gazed at the distant sky.
“The only regret is that, for hundreds of years, our clan’s secret techniques made no progress… and I tried to improve them all alone.”
Turning to Tang Gon, Tang Pae smiled brightly.
“But you, and your children after you, will carry on that will… There was no need for me to stubbornly try to complete it by myself.”
Only now did Tang Pae truly realize.
Tang Gon possessed far greater talent than he had ever imagined.
Had they researched together, he could have perfected the martial art much faster.
But because he had been so absorbed in martial research, he had failed to spend much time with Tang Gon.
“Family Head.”
“Watch carefully. I will impart my final teaching to you.”
Tang Gon shook his head. “Martial arts don’t matter. I only wish for you to recover and regain your health.”
“Silence!”
Tang Pae spoke in a grave voice.
“You will soon become the Family Head of our house—how long will you continue to act like a child!”
Clench.
Tang Gon bowed his head and said nothing, merely clenching his fists tightly.
Seeing this, Tang Pae let out a deep sigh.
“I know you are a kind son. But our clan has stood tall in the martial world for hundreds of years, and we must continue to overcome hardships in the future.”
For the first time, Tang Pae looked at Tang Gon with a gentle, fatherly expression he had never shown before.
“Now it is you who must lead the Tang Clan.”
Drip.
Blood flowed from Tang Pae’s mouth—his life force had finally run dry.
“I kept you waiting too long.”
Turning his body, Tang Pae smiled toward Bu Eunseol.
“Now, shall we perform one final dance?”
“Family Head!”
Despite Tang Gon’s cry, Bu Eunseol silently lifted the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
Tang Pae intended to use his last life to impart realization to Tang Gon.
How could anyone stop him?
“Step back.”
“You—”
“And keep both eyes wide open.”
Bu Eunseol spoke in a heavy voice.
“Watch the martial art the Family Head has achieved.”
Tang Gon, about to speak, finally noticed the pain buried deep in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
He too was suffering.
Yet for Tang Gon’s sake, he willingly bore this pain on his back.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry.”
Swallowing tears, Tang Gon stepped back.
Raising his energy, Tang Pae spoke solemnly to Bu Eunseol.
“This technique is one that instantly elevates our clan’s Eight Great Secret Techniques—which had stagnated for so long—to the absolute pinnacle of the current martial world.”
Then he looked at Bu Eunseol with warm, affectionate eyes.
“So be careful.”
“Understood.”
Saaaa.
A natural current of qi flowed from Tang Pae’s body.
It contained the entire essence of the Tang Clan’s Eight Great Secret Techniques.
A current of qi meant to create the ultimate light capable of instantly silencing an enemy, just as seen in the blade art of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade.
“Hah!”
Tang Pae let out a great shout.
A single, extremely thin line appeared above his head.
It was a line that should have pierced straight through Bu Eunseol’s brow.
But Tang Pae had deliberately unfolded it in midair first—so Bu Eunseol could understand his technique.
‘So that’s how it was.’
Only now did Bu Eunseol fully comprehend what Tang Pae had witnessed in the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
—The Sixth Form: Death Without Regret.
Even in death, no lingering resentment remains…
What his grandfather had used to slay the Martial Alliance elders was the Seven Blood Tear Forms’ Sixth Form: Death Without Regret—a single line that contained the purest essence of blade arts scattered across the world.
Paht!
The line Tang Pae drew finally poured toward Bu Eunseol’s brow.
It carried the complete essence of the Tang Clan—inescapable, unstoppable.
Ziiing.
Yet that line failed to pierce Bu Eunseol’s brow.
Because six lines created by the Silent Tiger Soul Sword had already penetrated Tang Pae’s body.
In the end, for Tang Pae’s sake, Bu Eunseol had unleashed the same Seven Blood Tear Forms’ Sixth Form, Death Without Regret.
He could not turn away from the lifelong aspiration of this man who had run with all his heart to create a single line of light that could surpass his grandfather.
A man like this deserved to rest at the pinnacle of blade mastery under heaven.
“Yes… that’s how it was.” Tang Pae looked down at the faint sword qi piercing his body and nodded. “Back then, the Seven-Finger Demon Blade created ten strands of blade energy in a single move.”
Smiling sheepishly, he continued. “How was it? A bit awkward, wasn’t it?”
Bu Eunseol clasped his hands together and spoke solemnly.
“It was swift and majestic—befitting the martial arts that shake the world of the Tang Clan.”
“Hahaha.”
Tang Pae gazed at the distant sky and murmured softly.
“Though this Family Head created only a single line… Tang Gon, and the bloodline of our Tang Clan after him, will one day create a great radiance that illuminates the entire martial world.”
“It will surely come to pass.”
Smiling, Bu Eunseol bowed deeply in respect.
It was a tribute and reverence offered once more to the Family Head who had advanced the martial arts of the Sichuan Tang Clan to terrifying heights.
“And I have learned well, Family Head.”
Tang Pae had deliberately unfolded the line slowly, so that Bu Eunseol could receive the profound principles of the Tang Clan secret techniques contained within that line of death.
It was his gratitude toward Bu Eunseol, who had become his final opponent to make sure that he could unfold a martial art free of regret before death.
“Take this.”
Tang Pae took a single bead from his robes and offered it.
“It is a bead I obtained by chance. No matter how much I investigated, I could never determine what it truly is.”
The bead was very small and shone with transparent clarity.
“But it was important enough that a Emissary of the Clear River Realm seized control of our clan just to obtain it—so it must possess considerable utility.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol finally understand the last reason the Clear River Realm had gone to such lengths to control the Tang Clan.
They had wanted this bead that Tang Pae had secretly acquired.
Yet Tang Pae had kept it hidden until the very end—and passed it to Bu Eunseol.
The reason he had willingly become their puppet.
It was to transmit the martial purification he had achieved to Tang Gon, and to entrust this bead to Bu Eunseol.
Because he believed that Bu Eunseol would one day surely bring down the Clear River Realm.
“Thank you.”
In that moment, Bu Eunseol’s ears perked up.
Tang Pae had sent him a transmission.
It carefully revealed the identity of the Clear River Realm Emissary who had set this trap.
If Tang Gon knew, he would lose his reason and rush headlong into revenge.
“…Understood.”
Bu Eunseol bowed once more to Tang Gon in deep respect.
Then he turned and nodded to Tang Gon.
“Family Head!”
Tang Gon rushed forward to support Tang Pae but Tang Pae waved him off and stood straight.
“No need. Who do you think this Family Head would lean on?”
“Family Head…”
“Did you clearly witness the end of the Tang Clan secret techniques?”
At Tang Pae’s grave question, Tang Gon nodded.
“Yes.”
“Well done.”
Tang Pae said calmly.
“Now your father must set out on a long journey.”
“Family Head…”
“In the past, I would have admonished you to lead our clan well, but…”
Drawing his gaze from the distant sky, he looked at Tang Gon with love.
“As time passed and I reflected, things like the clan’s resurgence or prosperity… they don’t hold much meaning.”
Tang Pae stroked Tang Gon’s head.
“From now on, cherish our clan more and look after the people around you well.”
The harsh father Tang Pae, who had always demanded strength from his children, was only now, at the threshold of death, telling Tang Gon the importance of family love.
“And this… is the last gift your father gives you.”
Tang Pae took a very small cloth bundle from his robes and offered it to Tang Gon.
Inside was a small piece of candy.
Though it had shattered in the aftermath of battle, Tang Pae held it like a treasure and presented it.
“When you were young, because you secretly ate candy instead of practicing martial arts… I scolded you so harshly.”
“Family Head.”
“It weighed on my heart, so I bought more candy afterward… but I never found the courage to give it to you.”
Tang Pae smiled shyly.
For so long he had wanted to apologize to the son he loved, yet he could not bring himself to do it.
In the end, he had carried that candy with him like a talisman for many years.
“I’m sorry for back then.”
Stagger.
Tang Pae swayed—he could no longer stand.
“Family Head!”
Hot tears poured from Tang Gon’s eyes.
“Father! Father!”
And for the first time in his life, he cried out the word he had never dared to use.
“Father!”
“Don’t cry.”
Tang Pae smiled faintly.
“You are now the proud Family Head of our house.”
His smile was peaceful.
The little snot-nosed child had grown into such a dependable man who could firmly support his body.
Why hadn’t he embraced him warmly sooner?
“Gon-ah.”
Tang Pae spread both arms and embraced Tang Gon.
“Be happy.”
Slowly.
And then he gently closed his eyes.
This was the final moment of Tang Pae.
An unparalleled master who had shaken the martial world with immense fame for so long, and the one who had raised the Sichuan Tang Clan to the second rank among the Eight Great Families.
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