—Bu Eunseol, a Ten Demonic Successor of the Wolf Fang Pavilion, has overwhelmed the Masters of the Great Righteousness!
The Long Sword Manor Incident, a pivotal event in the martial arts world, shook the foundations of the prevailing belief that the Ten Demonic Successors were a mere step below the esteemed Masters of the Great Righteousness.
This incident occurred when a single Ten Demonic Successor, hailing from the formidable Wolf Fang Pavilion, emerged victorious against three Masters of the Great Righteousness. The Ten Demonic Successor’s triumph was even more remarkable as he managed to crush the combined attack of Han Seong, a Master of the Great Righteousness from Long Sword Manor, and Cheong Cho-hyeon, a Master of the Great Righteousness from the Emei Sect.
—Does that make sense? It must be a false rumor.
Most Murim warriors did not believe it when they first heard the news.
No matter how great the martial arts of a Ten Demonic Successor were, the Masters of the Great Righteousness were uniformly young experts who had reached the Transcendence Realm. It was impossible for one person to face two of them alone.
—The Eighteen Arhats of Shaolin and the Seven Sons of Wudang have moved to find the Ten Demonic Successor of the Wolf Fang Pavilion.
However, experts from Shaolin and Wudang, the leaders of the Orthodox factions, had descended into the Gangho searching for the Ten Demonic Successor of the Wolf Fang Pavilion. This move by Shaolin and Wudang was essentially proof that the events at Long Sword Manor were all true.
—They are trying to restore the fallen prestige of the Nine Great Sects and One Faction!
A situation where a Ten Demonic Successor of the Wolf Fang Pavilion had triumphed over the majority of experts from the Nine Great Sects and One Faction.
Unable to tolerate this, Shaolin and Wudang had moved to exact revenge.
However, since the Long Sword Manor incident, the Ten Demonic Successor of the Wolf Fang Pavilion had not revealed himself in the Murim.
***
Wolf Fang Pavilion, Iron Palm Peak.
A man sat neatly at the edge of a sheer cliff.
Through his lustrous black hair, a sharp nose and smooth jawline were visible. Were it not for his thick eyebrows, his features were beautiful enough to be mistaken for a peerless beauty. It was Bu Eunseol.
“You look like a transcendent immortal.”
Just then, a scholar clad in fluttering blue robes approached from behind. He was a middle-aged man exuding an aura of immortality and languid eyes. Peering into his clear pupils, he appeared as an idler devoid of any concern. However, beneath his seemingly carefree demeanor lay a terrifying figure capable of overthrowing the Murim. This was Dan Cheong, the Deputy Pavilion Master of the Wolf Fang Pavilion.
“Deputy Pavilion Master.”
As Bu Eunseol stood and bowed, Dan Cheong grinned.
“Were you circulating energy?”
“No.”
Having risen, Bu Eunseol’s eyes held a faint haze of delusion.
Dan Cheong spoke calmly, staring intently into those eyes, “You must have been reminiscing about him.”
“I was not.”
Though he denied it, the hazy light still lingered in Bu Eunseol’s gaze.
“Is your body fully recovered now?”
“It is.”
Having vanquished the Masters of the Great Righteousness, Bu Eunseol promptly returned to the Wolf Fang Pavilion. Part of his purpose was to safely recuperate and recover from his severe internal injuries. However, his primary reason for returning was to inquire about the peculiar symptom he had noticed repeatedly. This bizarre phenomenon involved an increase in his internal energy whenever he sustained an injury.
Upon his return, Bu Eunseol discovered that Hyeol Geum-gang had already departed from the Wolf Fang Pavilion. He inquired about their whereabouts, but even the Wind and Cloud Squad expressed their inability to provide any information.
“I haven’t even repaid his kindness yet; I didn’t know he would leave so soon.”
Bu Eunseol had learned martial arts from various experts. But the ones he inwardly considered his true masters were Sa Woo and Hyeol Geum-gang. That was why he never forgot to climb Iron Palm Peak whenever he returned to the Wolf Fang Pavilion.
Internal Energy Cultivation Art.
It was the foundation of a martial artist and a lighthouse guiding the way in a vast ocean.
In the Murim, even if one had multiple masters, the one who taught the internal energy cultivation art was honored as the highest teacher.
Except for sleeping hours, they would stick together every day to help nurture internal energy, interpreting the mnemonics for such long hours that their mouths went dry, just so the disciple could barely grasp the basics.
In short, teaching an internal energy cultivation art was equivalent to devotedly raising a complete stranger’s infant.
And Hyeol Geum-gang had raised that infant into a young man possessing the highest level of internal energy in the Murim.
“He promised to teach the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art to a disciple of this Pavilion. It was merely an exchange condition, so you owe him nothing.”
“That is not true.”
“Not true?”
Bu Eunseol shook his head firmly. “Because the Elder did not teach me only the internal energy cultivation art.”
“What do you mean?”
After pondering for a moment, Bu Eunseol pointed to the lower part of the cliff where he had been sitting.
Characters were carved there with sharp finger wind.
—By the time you seek this old monk again, you will be feeling something strange in your body. But do not worry. It is a phenomenon occurring as the Primordial Essence True Energy I previously injected merges with your own true energy.
“Primordial Essence True Energy?”
Dan Cheong blinked as he read the carved words.
It detailed why Bu Eunseol’s internal power had increased rapidly and the reason his internal energy grew whenever he was injured.
“That Hyeol Geum-gang, did he inject Primordial Essence True Energy into you?”
“Yes. When my true energy went rampant while learning the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art, the Elder injected it unsparingly to heal me.”
Dan Cheong, with a grave expression, inquired, “May this Deputy Pavilion Master check your pulse?”
“Of course.”
As Bu Eunseol extended his arm, Dan Cheong tried to press his pulse gate with two fingers.
Thump.
But before he could even touch the pulse gate, a spring-like repulsive force arose in his hand, fiercely bouncing his fingers away.
Huh?
Feeling puzzled, Dan Cheong stared at Bu Eunseol. “I am merely checking your pulse, there is no need to be so guarded.”
“What do you mean?”
But something was strange. Bu Eunseol was blinking as if he hadn’t felt anything at all.
Don’t tell me… did he intentionally generate that repulsive force?
Flustered, Dan Cheong clenched his two fingers and forcefully grasped Bu Eunseol’s pulse gate.
This is it!
Focus vanished from Dan Cheong’s eyes as he assessed Bu Eunseol’s true energy circulation and internal power level.
To think this guy’s internal energy level was this high…
Dan Cheong’s tightly clamped teeth parted involuntarily.
Bu Eunseol’s internal energy level had far surpassed three gapja. Three gapja… three gapja, you say?
Although martial duels aren’t solely determined by internal energy levels, at this level, he wouldn’t be pushed back even in a contest of internal energy against the masters of the current era.
Hyeol Geum-gang has created a monster!
“Is something wrong?”
Dan Cheong, who had been gaping with wide eyes, coughed at Bu Eunseol’s question and fixed his expression. “It’s nothing. Your internal energy is considerable.”
“Thank you.”
Releasing his hand from the pulse gate, Dan Cheong muttered in a low voice, “Indeed, the only cultivation art in the entire Murim capable of injecting internal power into others is the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art.” Then, he glanced around Iron Palm Peak for a moment and spoke again, “It seems Hyeol Geum-gang has left you as his avatar.”
Dan Cheong was mistaken. He believed the internal energy level Bu Eunseol had achieved was entirely due to the Primordial Essence True Energy injected by Hyeol Geum-gang. If he had known that the majority of the Primordial Essence True Energy Hyeol Geum-gang had injected was still dormant deep within Bu Eunseol’s Eight Extraordinary Meridians, he would have jumped in surprise atop Iron Palm Peak.
Dan Cheong spoke with a worried expression, “But this isn’t entirely a good thing. If internal power increases rapidly through spiritual medicines or external help, several problems may arise.”
“What kind of problems?”
“What would happen if you gave a sharp precious sword to someone just starting to learn sword arts?”
Dan Cheong continued his explanation calmly.
“Internal energy cultivation is the same. If you cannot control the suddenly increased internal power, it can actually harm your body.”
Due to the breathing technique taught by Bu Jan-yang, Bu Eunseol had built a foundation stronger than anyone else and had accumulated immense internal energy in his danjeon. Therefore, he was already at a level where he could delicately control his three cycles of internal power, but…
Dan Cheong was worrying about Bu Eunseol like a bank clerk teaching a nouveau riche lottery winner how to manage money.
“Please do not worry. I will work even harder.”
Even Hyeol Geum-gang, who had passed down the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art, had remained at the fifth stage. That alone was a level where he did not retreat an inch against the masters of the world. The stages beyond were truly unknown territory.
But Bu Eunseol felt his realm was insufficient and vowed to achieve more.
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Dan Cheong grinned. “Right. You should be able to do it.”
“But what brings you here in person?” Bu Eunseol asked cautiously, noticing the worry etched on Dan Cheong’s brows. “Did contact come from the Demonic Palace?”
Dan Cheong sighed deeply. “Yes. The Divine Demonic Emperor has finally broken his seclusion and emerged.”
Bu Eunseol wasn’t greatly surprised. He had already received a hint from the Wind and Cloud Squad Captain, and it had nothing to do with him anyway.
“It doesn’t matter. I have no intention of becoming a candidate for the Demonic Palace successor anyway.”
“What?” Dan Cheong wore a strange expression. “You’ve already killed three Masters of the Great Righteousness.”
“It wasn’t to become a candidate for the Demonic Palace successor.”
“Hoh,” Dan Cheong let out a strange exclamation. He found it commendable that Bu Eunseol had no ambition and considered the Wolf Fang Pavilion his home. But on the other hand, it was absurd. “The successor of the Demonic Palace is a position every Demonic practitioner dreams of. Do you have no ambition?”
“I am a disciple of the Wolf Fang Pavilion. Is that not enough?”
“Hahaha.”
At Bu Eunseol’s answer, Dan Cheong burst into hearty laughter. A pleased smile danced on his lips, as if he were watching a grandson’s antics. “If the Pavilion Master had heard that, he would have been delighted.” However, Dan Cheong soon shook his head with a serious expression, “First, to answer your statement, it is impossible.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you must become the successor of the Demonic Palace.”
It was an unexpected answer.
“Me?”
When Bu Eunseol appeared puzzled, Dan Cheong spoke with a solemn expression. “Yes, and there are three reasons for that.” He gazed at the distant sky for a moment before speaking heavily. “First, despite your youth, you have mastered the Pavilion’s practical combat martial arts in the most orthodox manner. Therefore, further training in martial arts techniques is futile.” Pausing briefly, he continued in a low voice. “Consequently, learning other martial arts from the experts of this Pavilion has become pointless.”
It was an accurate judgment.
The Supreme Heavenly Flow that Bu Eunseol mastered contained all the techniques of the world’s sword arts.
There was one reason.
In the past, Dan Cheong had taught Bu Eunseol all the variations of the world’s sword arts using a single sword move. Remarkably, Bu Eunseol mastered all those variations within a year. Not only that, but he further developed his sword arts based on those variations while engaging in battles against Murim experts. Consequently, there was no longer a need for Bu Eunseol to learn the martial arts of the Wolf Fang Pavilion’s experts.
“What is the second reason?”
“Isn’t your only goal to become stronger? To do that, learning the martial arts of the Divine Demonic Emperor will be a much faster path to strength than training in this Pavilion.”
“I haven’t even fully mastered the martial arts I’ve acquired yet,” Bu Eunseol shook his head. “I firmly believe that with just the martial arts of this Pavilion, I’ll become strong enough to become the Number One under the Heavens.”
Dan Cheong nodded inwardly. In fact, the Wolf Fang Pavilion had produced the Greatest Number One under the Heavens multiple times. However, only a few could fully comprehend those profound and unfathomable practical martial arts. If one mastered them perfectly, they could easily become the Number One under the Heavens.
“Of course, that is true. But isn’t that path just as difficult?”
“I will achieve it.”
“Well, perhaps you could. However, due to this third reason, you must visit the Demonic Palace.” Dan Cheong paused, his expression turning serious. “The Demonic Palace Master personally summoned you.”
This time, even Bu Eunseol couldn’t conceal his astonishment. “The Divine Demonic Emperor did?”
“Yes. I heard the Grand Commander conveyed your story to the Demonic Palace Master.”
Darkness King Yeop Hyo-cheon, an expert belonging to the Four Gods and Seven Kings and the Grand Commander of the Demonic Palace, had only spoken briefly with Bu Eunseol. But why had he shared his story with the Divine Demonic Emperor?
As if to satisfy Bu Eunseol’s curiosity, Dan Cheong spoke, “Actually, the Ten Demonic Successors have already entertained the schemes of the Ten Demonic Sects’ successors enough with their actions. However, now that a talent who boldly broke through has emerged, it must be to prevent them from resorting to dirty tricks any longer.”
Bu Eunseol recalled Yeop Hyo-cheon’s grin in the darkness. Looking back, it seemed he had been orchestrating the entire situation on behalf of the Ten Demonic Successors.
“Since the Demonic Palace Master has broken seclusion, the Pavilion Master will likely do so soon as well. Therefore, it’s advisable to visit the Demonic Palace before that.”
“Why is that?”
“Because once the Pavilion Master breaks seclusion, he will never send you to the Demonic Palace Master.” Glancing at Bu Eunseol, Dan Cheong grinned. “This Deputy Pavilion Master hopes you meet the Demonic Palace Master, undergo various trials, and advance faster and stronger. However, the Pavilion Master harbors a sense of rivalry with the Demonic Palace Master.”
“Rivalry…”
Chewing on Dan Cheong’s words, Bu Eunseol asked with a puzzled expression, “Then the reason the Divine Demonic Emperor and the Pavilion Master entered closed-door training…”
“Yes, it’s time you knew.”
Dan Cheong paused for a moment, gazing at the distant sky, before speaking in a hushed tone. “The reason the Pavilion Master and the Demonic Palace Master engaged in closed-door training side by side… is because their battle was so fierce that it tore apart the heavens and the earth.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened as if struck on the back of the head.
The Wolf Fang Pavilion Master and the Divine Demonic Emperor fought each other?
The authority of the Twin Heavenly Emperors of Orthodox and Demonic, martial artists who had reached the pinnacle of their craft, was truly absolute. Even the esteemed Wolf Fang Pavilion Master, a peerless figure who surpassed those of the Three Demons and Three Venerables, was but a mere speck compared to the Divine Demonic Emperor, the Absolute Ruler of the Demonic Path. The difference between them was usually expressed as vast as heaven and earth.
“The Murim doesn’t know well, but the Demonic Palace Master and the Pavilion Master have competed in martial arts for a long time. The reason the Divine Demonic Emperor could rise to that throne is also because he constantly competed with the Pavilion Master.”
In that moment, Bu Eunseol’s heart pounded.
Did that mean the Wolf Fang Pavilion Master was an expert comparable to the Divine Demonic Emperor?
“Then… has the Pavilion Master also reached the pinnacle of the Limitless Realm?”
“No one has seen the duel between the two. How could this body dare to gauge the martial arts of the Pavilion Master or the Demonic Palace Master?”
In truth, Dan Cheong was a peerless expert who had reached the end of the Supreme Heavenly Realm and was on the verge of entering the Limitless Realm. Yet, he dared not fathom the martial realm of the Wolf Fang Pavilion Master or the Divine Demonic Emperor, who had reached the Supreme Realm, the limit of the Limitless Realm.
“However, even in the same Limitless Realm, there are differences depending on enlightenment. Moreover, isn’t there an unknown realm called the Heavenly Will Realm above that?”
Seeing Bu Eunseol’s eyes sparkling like a child’s, Dan Cheong smiled faintly.
“Anyway, there’s nothing more I can tell you. Captain Baek is also out in the Gangho for various matters…”
Hearing the news that the Divine Demonic Emperor was returning, Wind and Cloud Squad Captain Baek Yeon was traversing the Gangho and commanding the intelligence forces.
Since a figure who would change the landscape of the Orthodox and Demonic Murim had reappeared, he was closely monitoring the trends and flow of the Gangho.
“The Demonic Palace will send an envoy soon.”
Dan Cheong patted Bu Eunseol’s shoulder.
“Now, try challenging a new fate.”