Boom!
Though swords clashed, no metallic sound rang out—only an explosion.
The Heavenly Sword was pushed back six steps.
“You only eat and train your internal energy?” Amazed by the sword’s power, the Heavenly Sword’s eyes widened. “Your internal energy exceeds four jia. What do you eat…?”
His words didn’t continue. A purple lightning bolt accompanied a sharp sword technique aimed at his neck again.
It was the Unmatched Thunderbolt.
“Such killing intent.” Though it pierced at an unavoidable angle and space, the Heavenly Sword calmly blocked it.
As the Sword Venerable’s disciple, he was well-versed in both righteous and demonic sword techniques. Anticipating Bu Eunseol’s murderous sword, he used the Dragon Pure Finger Sword to counter.
Boom! Boom!
Pushed back repeatedly, the Heavenly Sword perfectly blocked the Unmatched Thunderbolt.
Tauntingly, he said,
“A murderous sword fueled by rage and killing intent is powerful, but against someone like me, versed in swordsmanship, it’s like exposing your weaknesses!”
The Dragon Pure Finger Sword’s principle was subtle yet simple.
When a murderous sword is used, the killing intent reaches the target first.
The Sword Venerable created a subtle technique to counter such swords. Thus, the Heavenly Sword easily blocked Bu Eunseol’s Unmatched Thunderbolt, which even the demonic master Dong Yeorip couldn’t withstand.
“Now face my swordsmanship!”
Zing!
A low sword hum echoed from the Heavenly Sword’s greatsword.
Blinding white light enveloped the surroundings.
Countless sword techniques exist, all with form and technique.
But the Heavenly Sword’s technique was merely radiant light, without form or technique.
Clang!
With a metallic sound, the massive greatsword stopped before Bu Eunseol. He had blocked the formless, shadowless sword of pure light while standing still.
“You blocked my Formless Sword in one move. Impressive!”
Swish!
As the Unmatched Thunderbolt failed, Bu Eunseol instantly switched to the Supreme Heavenly Flow. the Heavenly Sword, with a relaxed expression, changed his swordsmanship to counter.
Pop! Pop!
Each time the Heavenly Sword’s light spread, Bu Eunseol’s black sword responded with fierce sonic booms. As the sword techniques of two peerless masters clashed, energy waves soared to the heavens.
Boom!
The energy from both grew stronger, whipping up whirlwinds, scattering dust, and tearing vegetation.
Swish!
the Heavenly Sword’s invisible swordsmanship transformed into tangible techniques.
Simultaneously, Bu Eunseol’s sword moves quickened. Realizing each other’s skill, they simultaneously altered their techniques, as if by agreement.
“Amazing! Truly amazing!” the Heavenly Sword swung his sword wildly, shouting in ecstasy. “You’re the first to block my swordsmanship so well!”
Clang! Clang!
The domineering demonic combat swordsmanship clashed with the righteous’ refined techniques at close range.
Though their swordsmanship was equal, their internal energy differed vastly.
The Heavenly Sword’s meridians, blessed with innate divine strength, were several times thicker and more resilient than average. Thus, his internal energy reached four jia, transcending his age.
But Bu Eunseol, at the fifth stage of the Ban-geuk Method, exceeded five jia. No matter how hard the Heavenly Sword tried, he couldn’t match Bu Eunseol’s internal energy.
“Pfft!” As their weapons clashed again, the Heavenly Sword spat blood onto the ground. “Damn! I can’t match your internal energy!”
Each clash sent Bu Eunseol’s immense energy into his meridians. But spitting out a bit of blood was all. Minor internal injuries were quickly healed by circulating his energy.
His recovery was monstrous.
“Nothing but internal energy?” Despite the Heavenly Sword’s taunt, Bu Eunseol’s eyes remained darkly sunken.
He hadn’t planned to outmaneuver with swordsmanship or exploit weaknesses. Through relentless clashing, he intended to damage the Heavenly Sword’s meridians and kill him painfully.
But seeing the Heavenly Sword recover quickly, his mind changed.
‘No need for that.’
His soul, filled with rage and killing intent, had entered the demonic path again. With limitless energy, he could behead the Heavenly Sword instantly using the Wishful True Binding.
‘Emotions are to be discarded.’
Wooong!
Hundreds of dark energy strands surged from behind him. Affection only brought pain and suffering. It was useless against an enemy he wanted to kill.
‘I’ll become a great demon who destroys everything.’ Bu Eunseol made his choice.
Like when he annihilated the Sahyang Clan, reflecting his will and killing intent instantly, wielding the power to shatter his enemy—the demonic path.
And he chose the Demon Emperor’s Emotion-Severing Secret.
—“Don’t blame yourself.”
But then, Yeong Munho’s final words echoed in his mind.
—“The life of a martial artist bearing a sword is like that.”
Yeong Munho smiled until his last breath.
Perhaps he felt that even after a quiet death, peace followed.
—“Seol-ah… this is your grandfather’s final wish.”
His grandfather, dying in agony, desperately wished for Bu Eunseol’s peaceful life.
If he chose to become a great demon, destroying everything in defiance? Could his grandfather in the afterlife close his eyes in peace? Wouldn’t Yeong Munho blame himself for causing this?
“Ugh…” As conflicting emotions clashed endlessly, Bu Eunseol’s eyes darkened.
He had entered a heart demon state.
But at that moment,
Zing.
Immense power surged through his meridians, dissipating the dark energy within.
It was the power of the Great Prajna Power.
Wooong!
The Great Prajna Power, flowing through his meridians, felt like a warm hand soothing his back. As if his grandfather were urging him not to become a demon who destroys the world.
Whoosh.
In that moment, the dark energy rising from Bu Eunseol vanished completely.
His darkened eyes returned to clarity.
“What are you doing?” the Heavenly Sword, seeing the energy waves shift multiple times, realized Bu Eunseol had entered a heart demon state. Yet suddenly, majestic golden light burst from his body, and he emerged from it instantly.
“Not only immense internal energy, but a bit crazy too?” the Heavenly Sword smirked. “First time I’ve seen someone enter and escape a heart demon during a fight.”
Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol raised his black sword. Free from the heart demon, he no longer relied on the demonic path, intending to calmly wield his true skill.
Flash!
He unleashed the Supreme Heavenly Flow again.
But something was odd.
His sword techniques were executed too straightforwardly.
Moreover, he didn’t use techniques like Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin, Ashes of Body and Mind, or Lament of the River, reserved for strong foes.
Seeing Bu Eunseol’s techniques grow simpler and calmer, the Heavenly Sword grinned and said,
“If that’s all, it’s boring.” He shifted his Ten Thousand Forms Single Technique, swinging his greatsword up, down, left, and right.
Each time, Bu Eunseol’s Supreme Heavenly Flow was blocked.
The Supreme Heavenly Flow, refined from all of Nangyang’s sword techniques, was a practical sword art.
It grew stronger against stronger foes, adapting accordingly. Thus, it was an incomplete art, evolving through combat. But the Heavenly Sword’s Ten Thousand Forms Single Technique, created by the Sword Venerable in his later years, was near perfection.
The incomplete Supreme Heavenly Flow couldn’t yet match it.
“You must want to cut me to pieces, but demonic sword arts won’t do.”
Click.
the Heavenly Sword suddenly gripped his greatsword’s handle with both hands and split it. The greatsword divided into two, one in each hand.
Its bulk was because it was two swords combined.
“Plenty of time, so let’s have more fun!”
Swish!
As he wildly swung both swords, cold light streams began encircling the area. Hundreds of sword shadows pierced at Bu Eunseol’s vital points.
Slash!
At that moment, web-like materialized energy from Bu Eunseol’s left hand pierced through the sword shadows, targeting the Heavenly Sword’s body.
“No chance!” As the materialized energy attacked, the Heavenly Sword smiled and altered his technique.
Boom!
A sharp gust blew from his greatsword,
Clang!
Moonlit sword aura poured out, deflecting the energy strands back toward Bu Eunseol. The energy from the Wishful True Binding had near-sword-aura destructive power.
Yet the Heavenly Sword not only deflected them with his greatsword but redirected them back.
“How’s that!” the Heavenly Sword shouted confidently. “This is our sect’s technique, Ten Thousand Forms Single Technique!”
Ten Thousand Forms Single Technique.
Created by the Sword Venerable in his later years, it encompassed all righteous sword techniques…
Its power and techniques varied entirely based on the user’s enlightenment, internal energy, and weapon. Though the materialized energy curved back, Bu Eunseol calmly retracted the Wishful True Binding without surprise.
Swish!
Seizing the moment, the Heavenly Sword charged forward, stirring whirlwinds.
Clang! Thud!
Like waves, he advanced and retreated, pouring fiercely like a storm, then softening.
The Ten Thousand Forms Single Technique encompassed all natural changes, preempting Bu Eunseol’s counterattacks by seizing position and space.
Slash!
As his technique was blocked, Bu Eunseol unleashed the Wishful True Binding again.
Without entering the demonic path, it posed little threat to a master like the Heavenly Sword. But as if testing something, Bu Eunseol varied the technique’s form, relentlessly pressuring the Heavenly Sword.
“Hahaha! Is that all?” Each time, the Heavenly Sword laughed heartily, using the Ten Thousand Forms Single Technique to deflect the materialized energy back.
‘So that’s it.’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.
The materialized energy from the Wishful True Binding was a temporary ‘force.’
It could be destroyed or dissipated but wasn’t flexible. Yet the Heavenly Sword, using the subtle principles of the Ten Thousand Forms Single Technique, altered its nature to be flexible.
‘Qi.’ Bu Eunseol finally understood the Heavenly Sword’s method.
Unlike the Fire Venerable, who could alter martial principles, the Heavenly Sword could change the Wishful True Binding’s nature with his technique’s ability.
‘Not only monstrous recovery but also the ability to counter the Wishful True Binding with swordsmanship…’
Coldly assessing the Heavenly Sword’s abilities, Bu Eunseol began calming his soul. To use the Thirteen Guiding Energies, the ultimate righteous art, he needed the Tranquil Awakening to amplify power through extreme emotions.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As sharp air currents flowed from his body,
Rustle!
With sonic booms, dozens of black shadows descended from the distant sky.
It was the Nine Deaths Squad.
“My Lord!” Hearing the Henan branch leader’s message, they mobilized all available Nine Deaths Squad and Demon Emperor Henan branch masters to Seven Swords Ridge.
“Tch, interrupters.” Seeing the Nine Deaths Squad descend, the Heavenly Sword halted his attack and retreated dozens of zhang.
Their intervention would instantly tip the balance.
“Let’s fight again next time!” the Heavenly Sword leaped into the air.
“I won’t let you escape.” Normally, Bu Eunseol would have let him go to kill him alone.
But he couldn’t forgive the man who brutally killed Yeong Munho. If possible, he wanted to mobilize not just the Nine Deaths Squad but all the Demon Emperor’s forces.
Swish!
Bu Eunseol used Swift Beyond Shadow to pursue. Realizing the chase, the Heavenly Sword doubled his energy, using his full movement technique.
Boom!
Thunder roared as the Heavenly Sword’s aerial speed doubled. But Bu Eunseol’s technique was among the martial world’s best. the Heavenly Sword couldn’t shake him.
Swish!
As Bu Eunseol caught up, the Heavenly Sword veered sharply right, stopping before a temple deep in the mountains.
Tap!
As Bu Eunseol landed, ready to attack,
“No!” With an urgent cry, a figure descended from the sky. It was Mu Heon.
“You must leave now.” Mu Heon, drenched in sweat and trembling from exerting his full technique, said, “Soon, the Martial Alliance’s former leaders and elders of the Nine Great Sects will meet at this Gyedeok Temple.”
the Heavenly Sword, standing before the temple gate, smacked his lips regretfully.
“You’ve got a good intelligence network. I only heard about this meeting by chance.” Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed.
At first glance, the Heavenly Sword seemed like a thoughtless brute.
But unlike his appearance, he was meticulous. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known such a place for contingencies.
“Hahaha, what now?” Unaware that Bu Eunseol had fully grasped his skill and personality, the Heavenly Sword teased playfully. “Gonna keep pushing here?”
“Is that the Sword Venerable’s teaching, to meticulously slip away? Or is it the righteous path’s typical group tactic?”
“Hahaha, are you saying the righteous path shouldn’t survive by cowardly means?” Despite Bu Eunseol’s taunt, the Heavenly Sword smiled. “I’ll use any method to survive.”
His eyes burned with madness to eradicate the demonic path.
“Survive, and keep surviving… to wipe out not just you but all demonic scum. Only then can the martial world’s righteousness be restored.” the Heavenly Sword believed any method was justified to destroy the demonic path.
Staring at him, Bu Eunseol’s eyes blazed red. His gaze spoke clearer than any vow or action.
For Yeong Munho’s revenge.
He would eliminate him.
“That won’t happen.”
“Won’t happen?” With a solemn expression, Bu Eunseol said, “Because you’ll die by my hand soon.”
“I look forward to it.” the Heavenly Sword smiled calmly. “Today was just a light skirmish.”
He knew.
Bu Eunseol hadn’t used his full strength. But neither had the Heavenly Sword shown everything.
“…” But the Heavenly Sword’s cheerful expression stiffened slightly.
Bu Eunseol, staring at him, had a faint smirk. Like the grim reaper’s smile before delivering death.
“I’m leaving.”
Speaking briefly to Mu Heon, Bu Eunseol used his movement technique to depart.
