Bu Eunseol and Woo Gang were exchanging moves ceaselessly at such close range that their faces nearly touched.

Pa-pa-pa-pat!

As time passed, Woo Gang’s face gradually contorted while unfolding his fist technique. Although the Jade Breaking Fist was an outstanding supreme art, compared to the Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist that dominated the world, it was merely a complicated and distracting fist technique. Forcibly defending against the fist power of the Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist, which poured out power freely, his moves and internal power were scattering repeatedly.

“Fine!”

Instantly, a faint light lingered on Woo Gang’s fist. Unable to match Bu Eunseol’s fist technique with skill and moves, he intended to suppress that momentum with internal power.

Boom!

As fist collided with fist, shockwaves spread out like concentric circles. Simultaneously, Woo Gang was pushed back a full three steps, but Bu Eunseol stood tall like a heavenly general descended from the sky.

“……!”

The eyes of Woo Gang watching that sight were wrapped in shock.

To think his internal energy is at this level.

With the help of Elders, he had consumed countless spiritual elixirs good for the body since childhood. Was that all? Until reaching his forties, he had trained his internal energy without missing a single day. Because of that, he had prided himself on always standing above masters of the same generation in internal energy… yet to be pushed back by a mere greenhorn.

“I admit that both your fist technique and internal energy are a step above.”

A sharp light lingered in Woo Gang’s eyes as he looked at Bu Eunseol.

“Prepare the formation.”

Clack.

At his shout, the Beggar’s Clan disciples all drew their long staffs and surrounded Bu Eunseol.

“Draw your sword. You cannot face this formation with fist techniques alone.”

At Woo Gang’s advice, Bu Eunseol spoke with an expressionless face. “I will draw it when the time comes.”

“Are you also a Ten Demonic Successor?”

Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow at the unexpected question. After a moment, when no answer came, Woo Gang continued, “Our sect has always upheld the Way of Chivalry and Righteousness. Even if you’re a seed of the Demonic Path, we should at least recover your corpse.” He scanned Bu Eunseol up and down before speaking again, “State your sect. I’ll send your corpse there intact.”

“No need to worry.” Bu Eunseol spoke with eyes that didn’t shake a bit. “If I lose, leave my body as it is so beasts can tear it apart.”

Bu Eunseol had no attachment or lingering regret for life. Consequently, the fate of his corpse didn’t matter to him. All that mattered was moving forward. That was all he had to do.

But Woo Gang looked at Bu Eunseol with strange eyes. “You don’t believe you will lose.”

“You talk too much.”

When Bu Eunseol made a disgusted expression, Woo Gang twitched his thick eyebrows. And without a word, he took a step and joined the formation line.

Wooooong.

In that instant, with a low vibration, intense energy surged from the bodies of the five disciples, including Woo Gang. It was a vibration and momentum unseen in ordinary formations.

It’s not the Dog Beating Formation.

Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.

The Beggar’s Clan possesses the Dog Beating Formation, a unique Murim skill said to rival the Shaolin One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation. However, unfolding the Dog Beating Formation requires thirty-six people. In essence, the masters of the Dog-Killing Maneuver were actually unfolding another formation of the Beggar’s Clan.

I’ll know once we clash.

Bu Eunseol lightly extended a single punch, pouring out the fist power of Initial Manifestation of the Demonic Fist.

“Hap!”

At that, the four Beggar’s Clan disciples surrounding Bu Eunseol swung their long staffs, lightly dissipating the fist power.

Rat-a-tat-tat.

And stabbing their staffs with low postures as if using the Ground Blade Art, they persistently targeted Bu Eunseol’s lower body.

Is this the power of the formation?

No opponent had ever managed to lightly unravel the fist power of Initial Manifestation of the Demonic Fist and counterattack immediately. However, Bu Eunseol noticed a peculiar energy surge whenever they stepped in specific directions or unfolded staff techniques.

Chi-chi-chi-chik.

From Bu Eunseol’s fist, which deftly dodged the long staffs with agile footwork, a radiant flash once more erupted.

Pa-pat!

In that instant, five streaks of sharp fist power surged toward Woo Gang and the Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples from various angles and directions. It was the exquisite skill of Thunderflash Disorientation Strike, the second form of the Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist.

Thud. Flutter.

As different fist powers, impossible to dodge, poured down, the Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples repeatedly gathered like a flower bud and scattered again, swinging their long staffs. Using a unique yet perfect joint attack technique, they dissipated Bu Eunseol’s fist power once more.

Whirrr!

This time, the Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples began to counterattack. While swinging their long staffs, they occasionally unleashed fist techniques with one hand. Observing their attacks, which swung without a single gap, Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed.

The martial arts of the Beggar’s Clan were more diverse than I had imagined.

The fist techniques they used were all different, each requiring a unique posture. With countless disciples, the martial arts passed down seemed to be developing in diverse ways.

Whisper! Pa-pa-pa-pat!

Bu Eunseol, having exchanged moves for a short while, about thirty seconds, retreated for a moment.

The formation was profound, but those unfolding it were not flawless.

The formation was profound and could not be broken in a short time, but the disciples unfolding it each displayed martial arts with strong individuality. Because of that, Bu Eunseol could clearly see into the openings of the moves they unfolded.

Just as Bu Eunseol, leisurely examining their methods, was about to unfold a fist technique—

Swish! Pa-pat!

A sharp sound of tearing air and a dull impact sound echoed from afar.

Bu Eunseol could instantly recognize it as the sound made when the White Demon Whip struck the ground.

Yoo Woon-ryong.

There’s no move in the White Demon Whip Art that strikes the ground. It’s likely Yoo Woon-ryong’s strike was futile, meaning the tide of battle was turning against him as time went on. As expected, it was impossible. The martial arts of the Masters of Great Righteousness had already transcended the Transcendence Realm. To defeat them, one had to surpass not only their martial arts techniques by a level but also their unwavering spirit.

Bu Eunseol, having his mind faltering for a moment, his center of balance was disturbed. Woo Gang, discovering it immediately, shouted, “Boiling Sound Startling Dog!”

Pa-pat!

At that, the masters of the Dog-Killing Maneuver swinging long staffs all jumped into mid-air.

Watching that sight, Bu Eunseol frowned in disbelief.

To catch a good opportunity and use such a move…

Since humans cannot stay floating in the air like birds, a big opening is revealed when descending. Therefore, jumping into the air during a fierce battle is the most taboo action in actual combat.

Clang!

But an unexpected situation occurred. The Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples who jumped into the air suddenly clashed their long staffs violently against each other.

Screeeech!

In that instant, the surface of the long staffs broke, revealing silver metal inside. Simultaneously, a sharp and loud metallic sound dug sharply into the ears. That metallic sound was a sharp and bizarre noise that seemed to dig into the skull.

Ugh.

The senses of Bu Eunseol, who had learned the Way of the Beast, were several times sharper than even outstanding martial arts masters. The moment he heard the metallic sound, it felt as if a dagger were stuck in his ears, and the world seemed to turn white.

Thud.

Not missing that opportunity, the Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples landed from mid-air and struck Bu Eunseol’s body.

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!

Hit repeatedly by long staffs, Bu Eunseol was pushed back continuously.

“Heh heh heh.” Looking at Bu Eunseol, whose clothes were torn like rags after being hit by long staffs, Woo Gang harbored a triumphant smile. “No matter how great a master, if caught in the Boiling Sound Startling Dog technique, this happens.”

“A dog startled by a loud noise, huh.”

Bu Eunseol smirked instead. “A move fit for beggars.”

“Heh heh heh. Do you know a dog’s weakness?” Woo Gang spoke with a confident expression. “A dog’s weakness is its nose. Striking it is good, but spraying vinegar on the nose is even more painful. Because they possess an excellent sense of smell.”

Harboring a smile once more, Woo Gang said, “You people of the Demonic Path generally use martial arts that amplify senses. I heard the Wolf Fang Pavilion is like that, and the Palace of Annihilation or Extreme Assassination Pavilion also has such things.”

“Are you that proud of using dirty tricks?”

“Heh heh heh. As you said, we are beggars. It would be funny for beggars to use only clean methods,” Woo Gang said, smiling brightly. “Since it is a method created to deal with demonic seeds like you, it is bound to be even more special.”

“A method to deal with demonic seeds.”

In that instant, Bu Eunseol had a guess. “So the technique called Boiling Sound Startling Dog was a countermeasure to Demonic Martial Arts passed down to the Beggar’s Clan’s Master of Great Righteousness by the Martial Righteous Alliance.”

“Hoh, you knew?”

“Yeo Hwan-jin told me. That the Masters of Great Righteousness were each taught one secret method to break Demonic Martial Arts.”

“Yeo Hwan-jin?”

In that instant, Woo Gang’s expression changed bizarrely.

“Then do you mean you are the Ten Demonic Successor who killed him?”

“That is correct.”

“Heh heh heh… Hahahaha!”

Woo Gang laughed boisterously and nodded. “I’ve caught a big fish I didn’t even expect!” Woo Gang nodded with a satisfied expression. “Since I’ve dealt with two Ten Demonic Successors in one stroke, Junior Brother will be able to become the Young Clan Leader without problems.”

“Dealt with?”

“Don’t pretend to be relaxed.” When Bu Eunseol flashed his eyes, Woo Gang harbored a sneer. “As long as you were hit by the Desireless Staff Art, your heart meridians are shaken, and you won’t even be able to move your body.”

When Woo Gang deployed the staff art, he poured out powerful internal energy. Since the young man in front of him was hit helplessly by that attack, he was convinced Bu Eunseol suffered internal injuries.

Staring at Woo Gang, Bu Eunseol muttered as if to himself, “Then why don’t you act immediately?” before continuing, “Or are you scared?”

Bu Eunseol’s excessively serene expression made Woo Gang snort, finding it absurd. “Are you feigning calmness, or are you simply admitting defeat?” Woo Gang raised his long staff, a triumphant smile gracing his face.

“You are out of luck.”

Woo Gang’s eyes, approaching slowly, burned hot with excitement. Although he volunteered to help Seong Ryun, he had established the merit of catching a Ten Demonic Successor with his own hands.

“Farewell.”

Woo Gang’s Desireless Staff Art, unfolded again, embroidered the air like a butterfly fluttering. He intended to crush Bu Eunseol’s head in a single breath by unfolding his unique move, Cleanse the Self, Seek Nothing.

“……!”

Woo Gang felt something peculiar. In Bu Eunseol’s eyes, as the long staff poured toward him, a divine light flickered. That was never the appearance of someone who had suffered severe internal injuries.

Oh no!

He felt something was wrong, but it was a situation where he couldn’t withdraw the move already poured out.

Shing!

In that instant, a sword cry shaking heaven and earth rang out. Simultaneously, a dark cloud from Bu Eunseol’s back wrapped around Woo Gang’s body. It was like the flow of great nature that could neither be dodged nor blocked.

Slash.

With a chilling sound, a thin blood line was drawn on the neck of Woo Gang, who was striking down with the long staff. The extremely fast killing sword, Peerless Thunderbolt Form, had been unfolded.

“How…”

Woo Gang’s blurring eyes were full of disbelief.

How could Bu Eunseol, whose heart meridians should have been shaken by the Desireless Staff Art, unfold a fast sword in perfect condition?

“Because I didn’t suffer internal injuries.”

The mighty Physique Protection True Energy was flowing through the entire body of Bu Eunseol, who had reached the fourth stage of the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art. And it was protecting Bu Eunseol’s body at all times, twenty-four hours (twelve shichen) a day. But Woo Gang, who hadn’t expected that point at all, was convinced of victory just by hitting with the staff art.

Thump.

The severed head, having lost its owner, fell to the floor in vain.

“Maneuver Leader!”

Only then coming to their senses, the four Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples swung their long staffs and attacked Bu Eunseol. And that was nothing more than good prey for the Dark Sword starving for blood.

Swooooosh!

Ink-black sword energy spread out like the ribs of a fan, then transformed into cross-shaped sword energy, wrapping around the Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples. The exquisite skill of the third form of Supreme Heavenly Flow, Morning Star of the Waning Moon, had been unfolded.

“Hiyaaa!”

Watching the pouring cross sword energy, the Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples, wrapped in fear, swung their long staffs madly. That appearance was like a fight where black light and blue-green light occupied space against each other. In the end, victory and defeat are decided by which side occupies more space. And the result was… the victory of the Dark Sword, which dyed all space black.

Paaah!

Blood spray scattered in the air, and fresh blood sprinkled from the bodies of the Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples.

Thud.

Having dealt with all the Dog-Killing Maneuver disciples, Bu Eunseol soared into the night sky with all his might.

Yoo Woon-ryong!

His destination was the reed field where Yoo Woon-ryong and Seong Ryun were fighting.