Seong Ryun recognized the identity of the gray-clothed man at a glance.

“A Ten Demonic Successor of the White Demon Monastery, I presume.”

At Seong Ryun’s question, the gray-clothed man, Yoo Woon-ryong, nodded.

“And you must be Seong Ryun of the Beggar’s Clan.”

“Correct.”

Blinking, Seong Ryun harbored a sneer. “How absurd. The Ten Demonic Successor of the White Demon Monastery, who was said to have fled with his tail between his legs after losing to Pyeong Seo-woon, is now challenging me?”

As expected of a master from the Beggar’s Clan, he was disturbing Yoo Woon-ryong’s composure with his eloquence.

“Heh heh heh.”

In the past, he would have flown into a rage and attacked first. But Yoo Woon-ryong, having returned alive from death, was no longer the arrogant Ten Demonic Successor who put emotions first.

“The important thing is that I survived that fight.”

At Yoo Woon-ryong’s words, Seong Ryun erased his smile.

To have survived a life-and-death battle with a Master of Great Righteousness. That experience would bring tremendous benefits to a martial artist. If so, his skills would have improved dramatically in the meantime.

“I see. So you are qualified to compete with this body.”

Looking down at his hands, Seong Ryun spread one arm with a relaxed appearance.

“Attack first.”

Yoo Woon-ryong gripped the White Demon Whip with a grave expression. Seong Ryun’s relaxation and sense of superiority did not come from arrogance. He realized that it was because he possessed skills commensurate with that confidence.

They are all monsters.

As he spat out the word monster, Bu Eunseol’s face suddenly came to mind. He looked handsome enough to remind one of a peerless beauty, but inside that body, a monster of unknown form seemed to be crouching.

Compared to that guy, this one is nothing.

Yoo Woon-ryong’s final goal was to be the successor of the Demonic Palace.

To achieve that goal, he absolutely had to overcome this trial and defeat even Bu Eunseol.

Flap.

But then, accompanied by the sound of tearing air, five shadows descended from the sky behind Seong Ryun.

Although they wore ragged clothes, an energy like Mount Tai dwelt in their bodies, and bluish long staffs were tied at their waists.

They were masters of the Dog-Killing Maneuver.

“Stand back, Junior Brother.” Woo Gang, the Leader of the Dog-Killing Maneuver organized this time, stepped in front of Seong Ryun and spoke, “We will handle that fellow.”

Seong Ryun shook his head with a relaxed expression. “It is fine. I can handle him sufficiently.”

“I know. But aren’t those called Ten Demonic Successors devilish people who inherited the cruel martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects?” Woo Gang shook his head with a serious expression. “You are the person who will lead our Clan in the future. If you were to get injured…”

His words did not continue to the end.

Chi-chi-chi-chik.

Because a man carrying a rusty sword on his back appeared from the air with a strange sound of tearing air. It was Bu Eunseol.

“You are?”

At Woo Gang’s question, Bu Eunseol threw a punch toward Woo Gang without a second thought. Although he seemed to extend it lightly, storm-like fist power poured out.

In the end, Woo Gang and the four Maneuver Disciples had to hastily retreat.

“Who are you!” Woo Gang shouted.

Bu Eunseol responded coldly, “None of your business.”

Woo Gang, momentarily confused, glanced alternately at Yoo Woon-ryong and Bu Eunseol, a sneer tugging at his lips. “Did you intend to strike one person with two?”

“That must have been your plan,” Bu Eunseol retorted.

Woo Gang, with a shameless expression, continued, “Junior Brother Seong is the Green Bamboo Beggar who will be responsible for the Beggar’s Clan in the future. There’s no need for him to exchange blows with demonic seeds like you.”

“Do beggars discriminate against people?” Bu Eunseol sneered.

Despite his sneer, Woo Gang’s eyes remained unchanged. “Let’s call it specialness according to status.”

“Specialness, huh,” Bu Eunseol said, slowly extending his right fist. A faint light lingered on his fist, and as powerful internal energy swirled, the flow of True Energy became visible to the eye. “See if there’s any specialness after death.”

As killing intent rose thickly from Bu Eunseol’s body, Woo Gang shouted, “Strike!” At that, the Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples behind him stepped forward, as if waiting, and unfolded fist techniques.

Swish!

Simultaneously, fist wind erupted from four directions, digging in as if to break Bu Eunseol’s bones. It was the Jade Breaking Fist, the advanced fist art of the Beggar’s Clan, said to split jade stones with a light punch.

Boom!

As Bu Eunseol extended his fist, a streak of fist power surged forward, pushing away the Jade Breaking Fist that emanated from all directions. It was the exquisite fist power of the Initial Manifestation of the Demonic Fist.

Woo Gang’s eyes widened in astonishment as he witnessed this extraordinary sight. To block the Jade Breaking Fist unleashed by four people, one would need to exert at least equal force or execute four moves in succession. Yet, Bu Eunseol was effortlessly blocking the combined fist power of four people with a single punch, as if it were a mere magic trick.

To think there is such a fist technique.

The fist power Bu Eunseol poured out not only changed direction freely like materialized sword energy but also maintained its power to the end. It is a fist technique possible only when backed by immense internal energy.

Knowing that Bu Eunseol’s fist technique was bizarre and his internal energy was formidable, Woo Gang approached. “Stand back. I will deal with him!” Striding in front of Bu Eunseol, he unfolded his fist technique, swinging his two fists like windmills. As expected of a Maneuver Leader commanding the Dog-Killing Maneuver, the power of Woo Gang’s Jade Breaking Fist was completely different from what the four sect members had displayed.

Whish! Whirrr!

As fist technique clashed with fist technique, the distance narrowed further. Before they knew it, the two were exchanging moves at a distance where they could clearly see each other’s faces.

In fist techniques, Bu Eunseol was definitely a step above. However, Woo Gang was a master of fist techniques who had trained in the Jade Breaking Fist for thirty years. He was making up for the lack of power by using profound moves in the right places.

With Senior Brother Woo and four Maneuver Disciples, they won’t lose at the very least. Seong Ryun, watching Bu Eunseol and Woo Gang compete from afar, turned his head and spoke to Yoo Woon-ryong. “Then, shall we move locations a bit?”

At Seong Ryun’s words, Yoo Woon-ryong harbored a smile full of killing intent. Finally, he could have a one-on-one duel with him.

“Good.”

As Seong Ryun soared into the sky, Yoo Woon-ryong followed immediately. Soon, the two men, transformed into two streaks of light, passed Yongli Gorge and reached a reed field. Discovering the reed field pouring with moonlight, Seong Ryun stopped his light footwork.

“This place looks good.”

Yoo Woon-ryong walked forward slowly. And coming about twenty steps closer, he stopped. The attack range of a typical whip is within three jang (approx. 10 meters). But the White Demon Whip can extend up to six jang and can be used short like a long sword if desired. Knowing that well, Seong Ryun noticed that this distance of twenty steps was Yoo Woon-ryong’s preferred distance.

He means that around here is the distance he enjoys using.

Ping!

Accompanied by the sound of tearing wind, a white whip like a white snake dug toward Seong Ryun’s forehead. If he had been an ordinary master, his forehead would have been pierced by this single move.

Pat!

But Seong Ryun’s reflexes were like lightning.

Immediately turning his body to dodge the White Demon Whip, he drew a circle with one hand. It was the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, the two great supreme arts of the Beggar’s Clan along with the Dog Beating Stick Technique.

As powerful palm force poured out, Yoo Woon-ryong immediately retrieved the White Demon Whip and spun it like a top.

The Dragon Subduing Palm, which can be called the essence of External Martial Arts, becomes stronger the more it is met head-on.

Yoo Woon-ryong was circling Seong Ryun’s body, dissipating the palm force and looking for an opportunity.

“Was the whip technique of the White Demon Whip originally this passive!”

Seong Ryun laughed boisterously and poured out palm force continuously with both hands. But this palm technique, poured out like a joke, was the move of Riding the Six Dragons in Time, the heaviest and most profound among the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

“Hap.”

As Yoo Woon-ryong, spitting out a short shout, waved his hand, the White Demon Whip suddenly scattered into three branches and clashed against the palm force.

Flutter!

Dissipating the palm force in an instant with the sound of tearing wind, Yoo Woon-ryong retreated another jang in a single breath.

As Seong Ryun’s palm technique was fiercer and sharper than expected, it was an intention to utilize the advantage of the whip by keeping distance.

“Retreating is useless.”

Whistling, Seong Ryun shook his double palms dizzily once more. In that instant, dust rose thickly from all directions, and invisible palm force poured out like arrows. It was the exquisite move Treading Frost, Ice Arrives of the Dragon Subduing Palm.

“Hmph.”

Snorting shortly, Yoo Woon-ryong unfolded footwork and retreated again. He anticipated that while he dissipated the palm technique and counterattacked, Seong Ryun would narrow the distance again.

“You have a cautious personality.”

Seong Ryun knew that Yoo Woon-ryong was hiding his skills and looking for weaknesses in the palm technique.

“Or has the whip technique of the White Demon Monastery changed?”

The terrifying point of the White Demon Whip Art is not just that it escapes the limitations of the weapon called a whip. The problem is that the White Demon Whip Art, unfolded with every move, preempts all the opponent’s space and does not allow counterattacks. But Yoo Woon-ryong was rather retreating while constantly defending, quite the opposite.

“I know your intention, but I should end this soon!”

Crack.

As if drawing up internal power with all his might, the sound of bones rang out from Seong Ryun’s body. He intended to unfold Overreaching Dragon Has Regret, the highlight of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and the move showing the most powerful might.

Thump!

Accompanied by the sound of flexible bamboo bending and straightening, powerful palm force drawing a circle poured onto Yoo Woon-ryong’s body.

Flash!

At that moment, light flashed in Yoo Woon-ryong’s eyes. Simultaneously, his body shot out like an arrow and clashed against the palm force.

Whirrr!

Surprisingly, when the move of Overreaching Dragon Has Regret hit his body, didn’t it rather slide past his body as if slipping?

“No?”

Seong Ryun let out an urgent sound. Between Yoo Woon-ryong’s torn clothes, the White Demon Whip was wrapped around his body.

Like a hidden treasure armor, Yoo Woon-ryong had wrapped the white White Demon Whip around his entire body. This was exactly the Whip Guarding Armor technique, possible only by mastering the White Demon Internal Arts, the supreme cultivation art of the White Demon Monastery.

Paaah!

Flustered, Seong Ryun fired three palms in succession.

Although Dragon Subduing Palms sharp as axes poured out continuously, they still bounced off as if slipping when they touched Yoo Woon-ryong’s body. By mastering this Whip Guarding Armor, he had been able to survive even after being hit by the Seven Injuries Palm Force of Pyeong Seo-woon, the Master of Great Righteousness of the Kongtong Sect.

Ping! Clatter!

From Yoo Woon-ryong’s body, which had broken through Seong Ryun’s attack and approached close range, hundreds of whip shadows poured out like rain. The white whip shadows, covering the whole world and pouring down, swallowed Seong Ryun like an avalanche.

Rumble!

As the thick dust scattered, the figure of Seong Ryun crouching low was visible there. His body, hit by the Whip Guarding Armor technique, was torn and bruised in places.

“So it was this kind of tactic… unique.”

“Don’t act relaxed!”

Seizing the momentum, Yoo Woon-ryong rotated his body in the opposite direction once more. Then, the White Demon Whip clung to his body again, and simultaneously, he sprinkled hundreds of whip shadows. It was a move modifying the Whip Guarding Armor.

“If you unwound the whip, you have to wind it again. I already expected such a move!”

Intense light was leaking from Seong Ryun’s right hand. Simultaneously, he set his left palm like a blade and thrust it into the whip shadows.

Slash!

As if parting water, the storm of whips split, and Yoo Woon-ryong’s figure inside was visible. Because Seong Ryun hadn’t poured out all the power of the Dragon Subduing Palm, his hand had become hard as if he had learned the Heavenly Big Dipper Hand.

“Farewell.”

Simultaneously, five palm shadows were being created in his right hand. It was the move Above and Below Impermanence, not well known in the Murim.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hit five times in succession, Yoo Woon-ryong was pushed back five steps. Although the Whip Guarding Armor protected his body, it could not block the five streaks of internal power Seong Ryun poured out.

Drip.

Red fresh blood flowed down his tightly closed lips. He had been hit by only a single blow, yet he suffered severe internal injuries as if his heart meridians were severed.

“Quite impressive skill, but you cannot beat me with such methods.”

Seong Ryun’s Dragon Subduing Palm was close to a counter to Yoo Woon-ryong’s White Demon Whip Art. Moreover, due to the severe gap in martial arts, Seong Ryun had already seen through Yoo Woon-ryong’s decisive means.

“Ugh.”

Seong Ryun approached Yoo Woon-ryong, who was kneeling on one knee with a solemn expression. Yoo Woon-ryong attempted to quickly raise his body and swing the White Demon Whip. However, Seong Ryun’s internal power shook his energy channels, rendering him immobile as if his numbing acupoints were suppressed.

Seong Ryun extended his palm with a solemn expression.

“This is the end!”

And without hesitation, he swung toward Yoo Woon-ryong’s head.