Seven Blood Tear Forms.
The feared blade that brought death to all things.
The unrivaled grandmaster of martial arts, Bu Eunseol, had fallen into despair and grief, yet he had sublimated his desperate struggle to sever an inescapable fate into the pinnacle of martial arts.
A single streak of sword energy, born from frustration and agony, spread outward carrying his fierce sorrow.
Paa! Zzzzt!
Every time the purple sword energy accompanied by Thunder Spirit Energy burst forth, the blood spirits that lunged at him like ghosts turned into black powder and scattered in all directions. They did not regenerate, even through their Mixed Demonic Magic Energy.
‘So in the end, even this Mixed Demonic Magic Energy originates from human emotions, just like the manifestation techniques of the Baekri clan.’
In the past, the origins of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars’ martial arts were expressed through human emotions.
—And Mixed Demonic Magic Energy was the same.
It was not a divine power... but an extremely human ability that gave shape to primal human instincts.
Paa! Zzzzzzt.
The blood spirits were reduced to powder and scattered across the sky by the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
Sluuurp.
Once again, red vein-like patterns began spreading across the ground like a spiderweb. At their ends, a pool of crimson liquid had gathered.
Bu Eunseol instinctively realized that this was the true body of Gakyung, who was using Mixed Demonic Magic Energy.
“I ask you this.”
Bu Eunseol spoke in an extremely low voice.
“What is your purpose in targeting the successors of the Essence Three Realms?”
[Go to hell.]
Gakyung spat out a curse. As if sensing her own death, only a heartbeat-like vibration continued to spread from within the red liquid.
“Fine. I’ll uncover it myself.”
Kwaaaang! Zzzzzzt.
Bu Eunseol poured out pure Thunder Spirit Energy and instantly incinerated the pooled liquid.
[Kyaaaaaaa!]
A long, agonized scream echoed.
Thus, Gakyung—the figure from the Blood God Heaven who had led the Valley of Immortals and lured the young talents—vanished completely and met her end.
“I need to investigate this quickly.”
Although he had used a reverse disguise in the darkness, the cold light in Bu Eunseol’s eyes could not be hidden.
But at that moment—
Shaaak!
A sharp sound rang out as a keen flash of light shot from somewhere.
Spin.
Bu Eunseol fiercely rotated his body in an instant.
The sharp light grazed his cheek and shot back into the distant sky.
Whoosh.
At the same time, a shadow dressed in red slowly approached Bu Eunseol from the front.
It wore a mask with only eyes and a mouth drawn on it, dyed in blood-red. The figure looked like a ghost crudely painted with arms—an eerie sight.
‘Blood God Heaven Lord? No.’
It displayed tremendous presence, but the atmosphere felt somewhat lighter and sharper than what one would expect from the Lord of the Four Divine Heavens.
The masked man looked at Bu Eunseol’s face and spoke in a low voice.
“The successor of the Essence Three Realms who sneaked in this time…”
He glanced around and shrugged.
“Quite impressive. I’m very much looking forward to this.”
Thanks to the sorrowful emotions infused into it, the Seven Blood Tear Forms had left no traces this time.
Moreover, since the masked man had arrived late, he had no idea of Bu Eunseol’s true identity.
“Who are you?”
When Bu Eunseol asked, the masked man replied in a low voice.
“I am the Valley Lord, Mukhyeol. My role is to collect the blood of you lot.”
“Then are you the Blood God Heaven Lord?”
“Heaven Lord?”
The Valley of Immortals Lord chuckled lowly and shook his head.
“How could this humble Valley Lord dare…”
‘So the Four Divine Heavens are a vast alliance.’
The Martial God Heavenly Lord had been waiting alone for death on Ghost Island, and the Dark Divine Heaven Lord he had seen before only commanded subordinates he had created with his own power. They did not seem to build any particular forces or organizations.
But the Blood God Heaven appeared to have a large number of affiliated subordinates and a clearly defined hierarchy.
“Let’s see…”
The Valley of Immortals Lord, who called himself Mukhyeol, raised his left palm toward his chest.
Whirl.
The flash of light that had grazed Bu Eunseol’s cheek earlier stopped in his palm. It took the form of a blade made of blood.
Near the edge of the blade, a slight trace of the blood that had flowed from Bu Eunseol’s cheek remained.
Lick.
The Valley of Immortals Lord pressed his tongue to the blood on the blade. After a long moment of tilting his head, he spoke in a disappointed voice.
“Not one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars. You’re nothing at all.”
“One Hundred and Eight Stars?”
“You are not a successor of the Essence Three Realms.”
With that single sentence from the Valley of Immortals Lord, Bu Eunseol understood the entire situation.
‘So they were after the blood of the Essence Three Realms successors.’
To complete the martial arts of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars, one had to be born with the One Hundred and Eight Stars. Therefore, all successors of the Essence Three Realms belonged to the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
In the end, the Blood God Heaven’s purpose in using the name of the Essence Three Realms to lure young talents was to find those with the One Hundred and Eight Stars and obtain their blood.
“Why do you need the blood of the Essence Three Realms successors?”
In response to Bu Eunseol’s question, the Valley of Immortals Lord spoke as if it were obvious.
“Because they make excellent material for the New Bloodline.”
“I see.”
Finally, the secrets of the Valley of Immortals were all revealed.
They had scattered fragments of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars’ martial arts to capture young people born with the One Hundred and Eight Stars and turn them into material for the New Bloodline.
‘Wait.’
Bu Eunseol felt something strange. He already knew from Cheonchuk how the New Bloodline were created and what kind of facilities were required to make them.
If the Blood God Heaven was making the New Bloodline, they should have been under the command of the Three Attendants and built the necessary facilities. There was no need to slaughter or lure martial artists using the Blood God Heaven’s secrets.
‘A rebellion?’
Even the Inbiin Lord, who enjoyed the trust of the True Demon, was not fully loyal to him.
Bu Eunseol had found that point odd from the beginning.
The True Demon was an absolute being who could not even rebel; he was incapable of harboring any disloyal intentions. But it was only after going to Cheonchuk that he understood the secret.
“He lost his memories.”
That was why the subordinates, excluding the Three Attendants, were plotting their own schemes.
“Slaughtering people wholesale seems like they’re trying to fill their own pockets with this New Bloodline business.”
The Valley of Immortals Lord’s eyes behind the mask flashed with a sharp light.
“Who the hell are you?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Shouldn’t I at least carve your name on your tombstone?”
“I’m not going to die at the hands of the Blood God Heaven’s dog anyway.”
The Valley of Immortals Lord’s narrowed eyes grew even thinner as he frowned. He had finally sensed that Bu Eunseol was an extraordinary figure who had reached an extremely high realm of martial arts that could not be ignored.
“Someone as young as you with such outstanding martial arts has its own uses.”
The Valley of Immortals Lord’s voice now carried a strange resonance unlike before. Just hearing that one sentence made it feel as if his internal energy was scattering and his fighting spirit was vanishing.
It seemed he was using Mixed Demonic Magic Energy.
“Even if you’re not at the level of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, those who have learned the martial arts of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars make excellent tools.”
Tools.
The Valley of Immortals Lord did not answer Bu Eunseol’s question and instead flashed his eyes behind the mask.
‘You seem to be about that level too, so I’ll have to cook you properly.’
Looking straight into the Valley of Immortals Lord’s eyes, Bu Eunseol let out a deep sigh.
“The True Demon may not reveal himself, but he continues to inflict harm on the martial world without end.”
Compared to the Three Realms or the Three Families, the True Demon’s subordinates rarely showed themselves. Yet in reality, they lurked in the abyss and constantly harmed the martial world.
“Is it because the True Demon lost his memories?”
Bu Eunseol deliberately leaked information.
“So they’re lining their own pockets?”
The Valley of Immortals Lord’s expression changed instantly.
The fact that the True Demon was wandering the world after losing his memories, and that the Three Attendants were searching for him while researching the New Bloodline, was an absolute secret that no martial world inhabitant should know.
Among the True Demon’s subordinates, some strove to find and restore him, while others sought to reveal their dark ambitions during his absence. Just as with the Three Realms, rebellions among subordinates were not uncommon.
“You bastard… just who are you?”
Bu Eunseol did not answer. He no longer felt any value in continuing the conversation.
Whatever intentions the True Demon or his subordinates held, everything they did ultimately harmed innocent civilians and martial world people. Such evil could never be tolerated.
“I’ll make you suffer every kind of pain before killing you.”
The Valley of Immortals Lord shouted loudly while looking at Bu Eunseol.
“You’ll spill everything in your head. By then, even begging for your life will be useless!”
Deep shadows fell over his eyes, and blue ghostly light extended from the tips of his bony fingers. At the same time, the ground began to tremble.
It started as a faint vibration, but soon something enormous began writhing violently from deep underground.
Rumble.
The dry soil at the bottom of the valley trembled finely, and small stones began rolling about on their own. The entire earth seemed to take shallow breaths, as if a massive entity was stirring beneath the surface.
Crunch, crack, snap.
Chilling sounds spread in all directions.
Cracks began forming on the surfaces of the rocks inside the Valley of Immortals. Along with splitting noises, the moss-covered surfaces crumbled, and red openings resembling human flesh appeared everywhere.
Creak.
When the doors opened, martial artists in blood-red clothing poured out.
Hidden underground caves throughout the Valley of Immortals had been concealed by sorcery, and the forces of the Blood God Heaven had been waiting there.
Crunch.
Strangely, lumps of rock formed on the bodies of the emerging martial artists. Some had massively enlarged fists, while others sprouted sharp spear-like points. They transformed as if wearing armor and weapons made of stone.
Their movements were heavy, and with every step the ground shook as if it would collapse. What distinguished them from ordinary people was their skin, dyed blood-red.
“What an interesting technique.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, the Valley of Immortals Lord smirked.
“Interesting? That’s all?”
Crunch.
This time, the branches of the dead trees stretching toward the sky began writhing like living tentacles. Thick roots burst from the ground, clutching soil as they latched onto the martial artists’ bodies.
Crunch.
Hard, dry bark split open, and blue-green sap-like fluid flowed out. The stems twisted strangely, forming solid armor or sharp spear-like protrusions. Before long, some of the Blood God Heaven martial artists had become troops wearing wooden armor.
Sluuurp.
This time, even the soil and dust on the ground clumped together, writhing as they formed human shapes. Along with forms resembling the earth’s innards spilling out, they too became martial artists wearing earthen armor.
Drip, drip, drip.
Blood flowed endlessly from the bodies of the fully armed martial artists.
It was the power of blood that allowed them to fuse with rock, wood, and other materials.
“Blood God Heaven.”
Bu Eunseol finally realized.
“The Valley of Immortals itself was the Blood God Heaven.”
Martial artists armed with rock, wood, soil, and vines walked toward Bu Eunseol. Their numbers reached a full ten thousand. The sight was so vast that the enormous Valley of Immortals seemed completely filled with troops.
Grrrr.
They emitted beast-like growls.
“The Blood Divine warriors are harder than diamond and as agile as tigers.”
The Valley of Immortals Lord, floating in the air, smirked.
“Even if you have reached the Supreme Heavenly Realm, you will never survive this.”
Grandmasters or peerless demon lords who had reached the extreme of their profound arts could single-handedly destroy a sect. However, when a sect possessed a certain scale of forces and proper defenses, the story changed. martial world people could combine their strength organizationally through joint techniques and formations to build overwhelming defensive power.
That was why the strong preferred to establish sects and expand their forces and troops rather than pursuing solitary supremacy. Numerical superiority directly translated to power superiority for martial world people.
“This should be fun.”
A sun-like light blazed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Until now, he had always walked the martial world alone and had even defeated thousands of troops by himself. But could he single-handedly defeat the overwhelming force of ten thousand from the Four Divine Heavens?
“Kill him!”
With a thunderous command, the Blood Divine warriors moved in perfect unison.
Boom! Boom!
As if formation and defensive arts had been activated, four massive blood-red armored monstrosities appeared.
Kwaaang!
These monstrosities were not mere illusions.
Each one possessed terrifying power comparable to a supreme expert of the martial world.
Chzzt! Papapa!
Bu Eunseol sliced through space like lightning as he swung the Demon-Killer Sword toward the Blood Divine warriors. Every time the sword cut through the air, the Blood Divine warriors fell like bundles of straw. However, they soon created barriers of light generated by their formation.
In that gap, the armored monstrosities completely surrounded Bu Eunseol and began pouring fierce attacks on him.
Boom! Boom!
Every time they struck, the ground shook violently amid ear-splitting explosions. To make matters worse, a strange blood-red mist rose from the ground, consuming the mixed energies within his body.
Rooooar!
From the sky, endless troops poured down like a waterfall, covering Bu Eunseol. The meat walls built by the Blood Divine warriors became a massive labyrinth in themselves, disrupting his sense of direction and amplifying the chaos.
Flash!
The Demon-Killer Sword relentlessly poured out swift sword energy. But the armored monstrosities clung to him like leeches and launched attacks, while solid barriers built by sorcery stood before the Blood Divine warriors, blocking most of his strikes.
Bang!
In the end, Bu Eunseol raised the Endless Heavenly Light Art and instantly shattered the barrier in front of the Blood Divine warriors.
Whiiiiiish!
The Blood Divine warriors behind the barrier immediately used their own bodies as projectiles and rushed toward Bu Eunseol.
Though the Blood Divine warriors were said to be harder than diamond, they turned to powder and scattered the moment they touched the Demon-Killer Sword infused with the power of the Endless Heavenly Light Art. Even if they somehow avoided the attacks, they were helplessly repelled by the protective energy surrounding Bu Eunseol’s body.
Fwoooosh! Kraaaang! Shaaaa!
The Demon-Killer Sword, containing the energy of the Three Divine Energies, sometimes exploded like thunder, sometimes howled like a blade wind, or roared like raging currents.
‘So this is true battlefield combat in the martial world.’
Most of his battles until now had been short, decisive duels where he analyzed the opponent’s martial arts and settled the outcome quickly. But upon entering the main base of the Blood God Heaven, he was now engaged in a desperate, large-scale, prolonged battle unlike anything he had experienced before.
Huff… Huff…
Rough breaths escaped Bu Eunseol’s mouth. In a one-against-many fight, a drop in stamina or concentration would immediately lead to fatal injury. The formations and sorcery unleashed by ten thousand troops were essentially like facing an endless stream of enemies. If the battle continued this way, Bu Eunseol would inevitably be the one to fall.
‘I must deal with that man first.’
While continuously pouring out massive cross-shaped sword energy to handle the Blood Divine warriors, Bu Eunseol glared at the Valley of Immortals Lord floating in the air. However, the armored monstrosities and Blood Divine warriors kept swarming him, making it difficult to find an opening.
He poured energy into the Demon-Killer Sword once more and spun it at high speed, turning the Blood Divine warriors into scattering powder. After a fierce exchange that lasted for a moment—
‘Now!’
He finally caught a fleeting chance to launch an attack at the Valley of Immortals Lord floating in the air.
Tap!
He leaped high into the sky, aiming to sever the Valley of Immortals Lord’s neck in one strike. But thanks to the formation’s power, the Blood Divine warriors had already detected Bu Eunseol’s ascent and thousands of troops rose into the sky ahead of him.
The sight of Blood Divine warriors pouring down like rain from the air was like countless swarms of insects charging endlessly.
As he continuously cut down the falling warriors, the blade of the Demon-Killer Sword gradually began glowing red-hot. Although he sliced them as easily as insects, their bodies were actually harder than diamond. Because of that, even the sturdy Demon-Killer Sword was heating up like burning coal.
‘Even if my identity is revealed, it can’t be helped.’
Giiiiing.
A five-colored radiance flowed from Bu Eunseol’s body. He was preparing to align his internal energies and release them all at once.
‘I must strike him directly.’
“Are you preparing a decisive blow?”
The Valley of Immortals Lord laughed upon seeing the momentum spreading from Bu Eunseol’s body.
“No matter what you try, you cannot approach me.”
Fwoooosh.
At some point, the armored monstrosities that had been on the ground were now guarding the area around the Valley of Immortals Lord.
‘Even better!’
Those armored monstrosities moved at extremely high speeds and easily evaded most attacks, making them difficult to deal with.
Tap!
He leaped toward the sky where the Valley of Immortals Lord was once again. Blood Divine warriors began raining down like a downpour.
Thud, thud, thud.
But because Harmony was already wrapped around Bu Eunseol’s body, he was able to pierce through the falling warriors and ascend.
Finally, when he saw the Valley of Immortals Lord protected by the armored monstrosities—
Giiiiing.
Tens of millions of light crystals began rising from the Demon-Killer Sword. He was about to unleash Harmony once again.
“Haaap!”
With a spirited shout—
Flash!
A brilliant light instantly covered the sky.
Harmony that annihilated everything it touched poured forth, causing even the blood-red warriors that had dyed the sky and the armored monstrosities guarding him to vanish completely.
Ziiii.
However, the Valley of Immortals Lord did not disappear. Smoke rose from his entire body. In the end, he had endured Harmony.
“What kind of martial art is this…?”
But because of the Harmony, his mask had vanished, revealing the Valley of Immortals Lord’s bare face—rough, uneven skin with hideous features.
Thud.
He landed on the ground and looked down at his own two hands.
“How did the Mixed Demonic Magic Energy disappear?”
‘It only broke the Mixed Demonic Magic Energy.’
Bu Eunseol made a regretful expression.
In the past, not only Yuk Jangcheon who had received the power of the Baekri clan, but also the white-clad man who had been Baekri’s subordinate had withstood the power of Harmony, yet afterward they could no longer use their manifestation techniques.
And now, the Valley of Immortals Lord as well—upon exposure to Harmony, the Mixed Demonic Magic Energy within his body had been sealed.
Giii, uuuung.
The movements of the Blood Divine warriors became chaotic and their formation completely fell apart. They had been moving in perfect unison under the Valley of Immortals Lord’s Mixed Demonic Magic Energy.
Swish! Papapapat!
Bu Eunseol finally unleashed the Supreme Heavenly Flow toward the Valley of Immortals Lord. The Blood Divine warriors tried to block once more, but without their formation and sorcery, they were no longer a significant threat.
Slash! Fwoooooooo!
The Blood Divine warriors that had filled the Valley of Immortals began falling like bundles of straw. Bu Eunseol moved as fast as light, unleashing the Waning Moon, Dawn Star and scattering massive cross-shaped sword energy in all directions.
Shuuuush! Psssh.
Unpleasant cutting and bursting sounds continued to spread.
After a moment passed, a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood lay behind.
The places Bu Eunseol’s sword swept through were piled high with mountains of corpses and oceans of blood.
One against ten thousand.
He had overcome that overwhelming difference and cut down every single Blood Divine warrior.
“You…”
The Valley of Immortals Lord, who had recognized the Supreme Heavenly Flow, could not hide his shock.
That guy called the Martial Soul Command Lord possessed the ability to single-handedly annihilate the great army of the Four Divine Heavens.
Moreover, human killing intent was not infinite. No matter how many people one cut down, even a madman would eventually reach their limit and naturally stop the slaughter.
Yet this man had slaughtered ten thousand Blood God Heaven troops without the slightest hesitation.
A Death God.
He was a being who transcended the category of humans—King Yama himself.
“Now it’s my turn to ask.”
Bu Eunseol said calmly.
“Explain properly what you are doing here.”
Slice.
At that moment, the Valley of Immortals Lord’s head suddenly fell off, and a fountain of bright red blood spurted up.
Fwoooooosh!
However, it was not an attack from Bu Eunseol.
Step. Step.
At the same time, the sound of slow footsteps came from behind.
When Bu Eunseol turned his head, he saw the face of an old man who seemed well over a head taller than him. The old man wore no clothes; only his head and vital areas were wrapped tightly in white cloth. He had an abnormally large face and eyes, a prominent nose and mouth, and a wide, eerie smile.
It looked like a naked evil spirit one might encounter in a nightmare.
“That thing has completely disgraced this Heaven.”
“Blood God Heaven Lord… is it you?”
“This old one is called Myeong Myeol.”
“Myeong Myeol?”
When Bu Eunseol asked,
“There is no Heaven Lord in this Heaven.”
The old man revealed teeth as large as door planks and laughed.
“Because... this old one killed him.”
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