The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign – Chapter 72

The Jeongmu Tournament was progressing steadily.

Bu Eunseol easily dispatched his next opponent, Hong Kisan, the Soul-Stealing Sword. Though a master of deadly swordsmanship from the demonic sects, Hong Kisan was far inferior to Bu Eunseol’s Unmatched Thunderbolt technique.

Now, the quarterfinals loomed. The remaining competitors were all renowned figures in the martial world.

Yeongsasin Sword.

Throughout the martial world’s history, there were legendary swords passed down through generations, and those who wielded them gained fame alongside their blades. With Yeongsasin Sword offered as the prize, even veteran masters, indifferent to fame and fortune, had flocked to the tournament.

“Your next opponent… this is a headache,” Black Leopard said, rubbing his forehead as he stood beside Bu Eunseol, looking at the bracket. “It’s Seomun Kyung, one of the favorites to win, from the Seomun Sect.”

The Seomun Sect.

Alongside the Sichuan Tang Sect, the Seomun Sect, masters of mechanical formations, was a place martial artists avoided.

They employed bizarre illusion techniques and transformation arts that martial prowess alone couldn’t counter. Moreover, if you made an enemy of them, the Sect would send its members to relentlessly seek revenge.

But something was odd. For the Seomun Sect, renowned for its mechanical formations, to participate in the Jeongmu Tournament?

“Though not yet known in the martial world, Seomun Kyung is a prodigy of the sword,” Black Leopard explained. “From childhood, his exceptional talent in swordsmanship was so great they assigned him a dedicated swordsmanship master.”

“A sword prodigy unknown to the martial world,” Bu Eunseol said, a smile curling his lips as he gazed at the bracket. “This will be interesting.”

He had grown bored fighting renowned masters. But to face an unknown prodigy, and a direct descendant of the Seomun Sect no less? How could he not be thrilled?

“Heh heh,” Black Leopard chuckled.

Bu Eunseol, always stoic, came alive at the prospect of a fight, his eyes sparkling and a gentle breeze-like smile crossing his face. To an onlooker, he might seem like a man about to meet his lover.

“Young master… you really love fighting, don’t you?” Black Leopard said.

“It’s not about loving it or not,” Bu Eunseol replied, his eyes gleaming as the corners of his mouth lifted. “It’s just the way of the martial world.”

“Y-Yes, of course,” Black Leopard stammered, his lips twitching into a smile.

It seemed the one in for a headache wasn’t Bu Eunseol, but Seomun Kyung.

On the day of the match.

As the quarterfinals approached, the spectator stands were packed with even more martial artists. In truth, this was the real start of the Jeongmu Tournament.

“Today’s match is Bu Eunseol, Young Master Bu, versus Seomun Kyung, Young Master Seomun!” Cho Mucheon announced.

At his call, a slender figure slowly ascended to the arena. Pale as death and gaunt to the point of pity, the tall young man in a yellow robe looked like a scarecrow draped in a sack. It was Seomun Kyung, the third son of the Seomun Sect’s leader.

—Ooh!

The martial artists in the stands gasped as they watched Seomun Kyung’s movement technique. Without moving his feet, he glided up the steps like a boat cutting through water.

‘An impressive movement technique.’

Seomun Kyung’s technique was not only unique but also eerily reminiscent of demonic sect movement arts in its strangeness. Standing tall on the arena, Seomun Kyung stared intently at Bu Eunseol.

His dilated pupils radiated an eerie aura, and his body seemed to shimmer like a heat haze. Seeing Seomun Kyung’s ghostly presence, Bu Eunseol’s lips curled into a delighted smile. Judging by his aura, Seomun Kyung would wield a swordsmanship unlike anything Bu Eunseol had ever faced.

“Let the match begin!” Cho Mucheon shouted.

Seomun Kyung slowly drew the sword at his waist. Though it was a sharp, treasured blade pulled from a metal sheath, it made no sound—not even a faint shing.

The revealed sword was an oddity, its blade unusually narrow and about five feet long.

“There are no eyes on a sword,” Seomun Kyung said in a somber voice.

Bu Eunseol nodded calmly. “I agree.” At his nonchalant response, Seomun Kyung’s eyes sharpened.

“Hmph.” With a snort, Seomun Kyung swiftly swung his strange sword.

Swish.

As the blade cut through the air, a chilling cold swept in, and a gust of wind coiled around Bu Eunseol’s body.

—What kind of swordsmanship is that?

The spectators murmured. With a single light swing, sword winds blew from all directions. Each time Seomun Kyung’s sword sliced through the air, a frigid chill poured forth, and the sky seemed to darken.

‘This isn’t righteous sect swordsmanship.’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed as he effortlessly dodged the cascading sword strikes. Seomun Kyung’s swordsmanship was not only deeply sinister but also unpredictable in its paths.

Whoosh.

Using the superhuman senses of the Beast Way, Bu Eunseol evaded the sword blossoms created by the strange sword. But each time he dodged, Seomun Kyung’s blade trembled lightly, shifting its strikes like a living creature.

“Good,” Bu Eunseol said, drawing his sword like lightning to block the strange blade.

Sectg!

With a sharp metallic clash, Seomun Kyung stepped back.

“Your inner energy is impressive,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

From the force felt through his hand, he could tell Bu Eunseol’s inner energy surpassed his own.

“Hmph.” With a low snort, Seomun Kyung changed his swordsmanship.

This time, he employed a ghostly movement technique, circling Bu Eunseol while rapidly thrusting his sword.

Pop, pop, pop!

Each thrust was like hundreds of needles raining down. Instead of blocking with his sword, Bu Eunseol moved nimbly, dodging the sharp strikes one by one.

Swish, swish. Pop!

Seomun Kyung’s strikes grazed past, missing by a hair’s breadth. As he watched Bu Eunseol’s elusive movements, a dark glint flickered in Seomun Kyung’s eyes.

Buzz!

His sword strikes shifted again. The needle-like precision spread wide, then suddenly poured down like rain from above.

‘Hwa Wu Sword?’

Bu Eunseol raised an eyebrow. The technique Seomun Kyung had just used was strikingly similar to the defensive form Formless Mystery of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect, adapted into an offensive strike.

“Did you have a Hwa Wu Sword Sect master among your teachers?” Bu Eunseol asked with a faint smile, swinging his longsword upward.

Whoosh! Sword strikes, nearly identical to Seomun Kyung’s, rained down from above.

Bu Eunseol had unleashed the Formless Mystery of the Hwawoo Sword.

Seomun Kyung froze, his movements halting as he spoke.

“Which sword sect are you from?” Bu Eunseol didn’t answer, merely staring into Seomun Kyung’s eyes.

Offended by his attitude, a sinister light gleamed in Seomun Kyung’s pupils.

“You’re getting cocky too soon.”

Swish.

With a low voice, Seomun Kyung’s entire form began to blur.

Slash!

With a sound of slicing air, a sharp sword stabbed toward Bu Eunseol’s forehead. Was it the extreme speed of his movement technique? Despite the distance of three and a half jang (about ten meters), it felt as if the swordsmanship was unleashed right in front of him.

Rustle.

Bu Eunseol swiftly dodged, but a few strands of his hair were severed by the sharp blade.

‘Fast…’ Before his inward exclamation could finish—

Pop, pop, pop!

Seomun Kyung’s sword strikes shifted once more. Though Bu Eunseol retreated to create distance, Seomun Kyung’s ghostly swordsmanship seemed to unfold right before his eyes.

‘Strange.’ A spark lit in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.

It wasn’t merely the speed of his movement technique. Each time Seomun Kyung unleashed a strike, he seemed to break the constraints of space, closing the distance instantly.

‘In that case.’ Bu Eunseol leaned into the cascading sword strikes.

Flash!

The moment Seomun Kyung’s strange sword drew a red line of blood across Bu Eunseol’s cheek—

‘It’s not a movement technique—it’s footwork.’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes locked onto Seomun Kyung’s feet. Astonishingly, even while wielding his swordsmanship, Seomun Kyung was constantly shifting his foot positions.

Pop, pop!

Seizing the moment, Seomun Kyung spotted a flaw and unleashed sword shadows to both of Bu Eunseol’s flanks.

Swish!

As the sharp blade aimed for his sides, Bu Eunseol’s form blurred, passing through the strikes as if they weren’t there.

Swift Beyond Shadow.

A supreme movement technique that allowed him to shift positions dozens of times in a single breath was finally unleashed.

Rip.

But as Seomun Kyung shifted his strikes again, Bu Eunseol’s robe near his side tore slightly. For the first time since mastering Swift Beyond Shadow, he failed to completely evade a strike.

“It wasn’t footwork or a movement technique,” Bu Eunseol said, a smile spreading across his face.

He had instantly discerned not only the nature of Seomun Kyung’s bizarre swordsmanship but also his level of skill.

“It was a formation.” Seomun Kyung, his strange sword resting near his shoulder, curled his lips slightly.

“You’ve got sharp eyes.” Lowering his sword to the ground, he adopted a confident expression.

“By properly utilizing the flow of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, one can transcend the limits of space.” Remarkably, Seomun Kyung was simultaneously employing the Seomun Sect’s mechanical formation footwork while wielding his swordsmanship.

“Transcending the limits of space…” Bu Eunseol said, shaking his head with a disappointed expression. “Is that the limit of a non-sword Sect?”

“What did you say?”

“You’ve dressed up your sword with useless tricks.”

“Heh heh heh,” Seomun Kyung sneered, glancing at Bu Eunseol’s torn robe. “Resorting to bravado because you’re cornered?”

“Cornered?” Bu Eunseol chuckled. “I haven’t attacked yet.” Seomun Kyung’s cold smile vanished.

Come to think of it, Bu Eunseol had only defended, not once launching an attack. As if he wanted to closely observe Seomun Kyung’s swordsmanship.

“You wanted to study my swordsmanship?” Seomun Kyung asked, his eyes blazing with a chilling purple light as he glared at Bu Eunseol.

“I’ll give you a show.” Raising his sword horizontally near his cheek, he said in a low voice, “And a tour of hell to boot!”

Swish!

In an instant, Seomun Kyung’s strange sword stabbed toward Bu Eunseol’s throat. The distance between them was three and a half jang. Using footwork derived from the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation, Seomun Kyung had closed the gap in an instant.

Sectg!

But the strange sword advanced no further, blocked by Bu Eunseol’s longsword. Matching Seomun Kyung’s move, Bu Eunseol had raised his sword to parry.

“This kind of attack won’t get you near hell,” Bu Eunseol said.

“Don’t get cocky just because you blocked one strike!” Seomun Kyung shouted, moving his feet dizzyingly as he unleashed his swordsmanship.

His sharp, strange sword appeared unpredictably from impossible angles, but Bu Eunseol defended leisurely, as if he had predicted every path.

Sectg! Sectg! Sectg!

Seomun Kyung poured out his ghostly swordsmanship in rapid succession, but Bu Eunseol stood his ground, blocking each strike with his sword.

—Hahaha!

Laughter suddenly erupted from the solemn spectator stands. Seomun Kyung was swinging his sword with all his might, while Bu Eunseol blocked the attacks with an expression of boredom.

The scene was like watching a comical opera.

“You bastard!” Seomun Kyung roared, his strange sword suddenly appearing above Bu Eunseol’s head.

But Bu Eunseol, as if he had anticipated it, didn’t even look up, raising his longsword to block the attack.

“Is that all?” Bu Eunseol said, his face etched with deep disappointment. “They called you a hidden sword prodigy… but you should’ve stayed hidden.”

“You!” Seomun Kyung, enraged, slammed his sword into the ground. “Where did you steal our Sect’s Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation from?”

“What are you talking about?” Bu Eunseol asked.

“Don’t play dumb!”