Bu Eunseol could not understand Hyeok Gong-baek’s words at once.
After thinking deeply for a long time, he opened his mouth cautiously. “How do you mean to wake your grandson?”
“My apologies. In my haste, I spoke of the conclusion first.” Hyeok Gong-baek chuckled softly, then spoke. “This old man has only one grandson. Since my son and his wife passed away first, that child is the only living descendant I have.” He sighed deeply and continued, “But that child has no interest in anything. He simply wastes his days gambling. Even though he is the next Area Master who will lead the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying in the future.”
Bu Eunseol, sensing something, asked, “Is your grandson perhaps the young man in blue robes with a languid expression?”
“Correct. That child is this old man’s grandson, Hyeok So-jin.”
The handsome man with an expression of utter annoyance. He was indeed Hyeok So-jin, the grandson of Illusion Demon Hyeok Gong-baek.
“This Area Master cannot live for a thousand or ten thousand years, can I? I wish that child would regain his passion for the Murim as soon as possible, but it is not easy.”
“I cannot understand. If he is your grandson, he should have learned martial arts more fiercely than anyone.”
Ten Demonic Sects, Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying.
This was the sanctuary of great demons who had swept the Murim, and also a treasure house of world-renowned demonic arts where all their supreme techniques lay dormant. Most of the secret manuals piled up in the Pavilion of Truth-Preserving of the Ten Thousand Demons of the Demonic Palace came from the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying.
“Moreover, if he is the next Area Master, he should have lived holding demonic art manuals since childhood.”
“There are two reasons.”
Hyeok Gong-baek wore a miserable expression.
“First, because my son and his wife died young. Their martial arts were great, but perhaps due to Heaven’s jealousy, they contracted a strange disease and died young. Since then, the child became cynical about everything.”
No matter how great the martial arts one mastered, one cannot overcome birth, aging, sickness, and death.
Having witnessed his parents’ death at such a young age, and seeing the old demons staying in the Peach Blossom Spring, he must have felt the futility of life.
Indeed, the Peach Blossom Spring is beautiful only in scenery. It’s filled with old people about to leave on a long journey.
Peach Blossom Spring, where old people facing the destination called death resided.
From the perspective of the young people left behind, it was no different from a funeral home where they had to handle affairs after death.
“The second reason is that the child’s aptitude is too genius-like.”
Sipping tea again, a proud smile appeared on Hyeok Gong-baek’s lips.
“By the time he was ten, he had already mastered about thirty percent of this Area Master’s True Body Supreme Arts.”
“I see.”
“Not only that, but he has put a significant portion of the exceptional demonic arts in this place into his head.”
Whatever else, to achieve thirty percent of the Illusion Demon’s supreme arts, said to overturn the heavens, at the age of ten.
He was certainly a tremendous martial arts genius.
“Geniuses who are too outstanding feel loneliness or emptiness quickly.”
When Bu Eunseol nodded, Hyeok Gong-baek said, “Since ten, that child completely lost interest in martial arts. Because he learns everything easily, he thinks there is no one better than him.”
“I see.”
“I’ve tried various methods until now, but it was useless. No one could turn that guy’s heart.”
Bu Eunseol, thinking deeply, sparkled his eyes. “There might be a way.”
“There is?”
“Yes.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“Does it matter what method is used?”
“Of course. If that child can escape lethargy and stretch out as a successor…” Hyeok Gong-baek spoke with force, “This old man will become your strength for life.”
Bu Eunseol nodded refreshingly. “Then please call your grandson to the training ground.”
Hyeok Gong-baek, pondering, sighed, “Surely, you intend to spar?” He laughed hollowly and shook his head. “Actually, the successor of the Infernal Blood Fortress who came the other day also requested a spar with that child.”
“Did such a thing happen?”
“Even that Infernal Blood Fortress successor couldn’t subdue So-jin. Of course, partly because he couldn’t use the true art called Poison Arts, but…”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes sparkled.
The orthodox successor of the Infernal Blood Fortress couldn’t subdue him, who idled like a playboy?
“The child is stronger than anyone. Even with martial arts learned superficially.”
Hyeok So-jin was not a Ten Demonic Successor but a prepared successor of the Ten Demonic Sects. He had read and learned all the demonic art manuals of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying since childhood and even inherited the Illusion Demon’s supreme arts. If he weren’t the successor of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying? He would have already been a powerful candidate for the Demonic Palace successor.
“That sounds interesting.”
“Hm?”
“Please call him to the training ground.”
“Are you really going to do it?”
“The result will be different this time.”
Bu Eunseol, flashing sharp lightning in his eyes, approached Hyeok Gong-baek and spoke in a low voice.
“Instead, please make me one promise.”
***
The training ground of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying was installed in an empty lot far away from the main mountain, neither in the Peach Blossom Spring nor the palace fortress.
Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying, strictly guarding countless varieties of demonic art manuals.
Therefore, warriors belonging here could easily access demonic arts, and an atmosphere of fiercely learning them was established.
—What’s the use of learning martial arts? Life is much more enjoyable just drinking and gambling.
But as the next Area Master and successor, Hyeok So-jin, was addicted to gambling and alcohol, the young warriors of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying were naturally swept up in that attitude.
“Hmm.”
Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Grand Training Ground.
Hyeok Gong-baek and Pung Yeo-ryang stood on one side.
And in the center, a young man in blue robes was rubbing his eyes and yawning.
It was the Illusion Demon’s grandson, Hyeok So-jin.
And opposite him stood a warrior with long hair fluttering, a sword on his back. It was Bu Eunseol.
“You’re doing something useless.” Hyeok So-jin looked at Bu Eunseol with bored eyes. “I heard you entered as a Ten Demonic Successor and were luckily recognized as the successor of Wolf Fang Pavilion.”
His voice was tinged with subtle contempt.
But Bu Eunseol nodded with a calm expression.
“That is correct.”
“Then, I think it would be better to live according to your station.”
Bu Eunseol grinned, unlike his usual demeanor. “Right words,” he said. “So, I intend to teach you how to live according to your station.”
Flash.
In that instant, purple light rippled in Hyeok So-jin’s eyes.
He definitely inherited Elder Illusion Demon’s internal power.
The purple radiance occasionally seen in Hyeok Gong-baek’s eyes was clearly embedded in Hyeok So-jin’s eyes as well.
In the meantime, perhaps regaining his cool, Hyeok So-jin’s blazing eyes became clear again. “Regrettably, I decline. This body isn’t hot-blooded enough to mix hands with others for no reason.”
“Are you afraid of defeat?”
“Not at all. What if I win, and what if I lose?”
Desolation filled So-jin’s quiet eyes looking at the distant sky.
“The remaining years, living or dying seems distant…”
Unless it was an old man weary of life.
It was too pessimistic (for words coming from a young man who had just passed the age of twenty.
An age to reveal bright and brilliant vitality.
Hyeok So-jin seemed to have let go of even the will to live in a distant place, like an old man facing twilight.
“Then let’s make a bet.”
At Bu Eunseol’s proposal, life returned to Hyeok So-jin’s eyes. Whatever else, gambling was the only pleasure he enjoyed.
“A bet sounds good. What bet?”
“Three moves.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“Receive three moves of fist techniques. If you can receive them without dodging, I will consider it my loss.”
“Not sword techniques, but receive just three moves of fist techniques?”
Hyeok So-jin, looking at him with an expression asking what nonsense this was, smiled low.
“So if I win? What do I get?”
“Anything. I will do whatever I can.”
“Heh heh heh, you must not have gambled before. You shouldn’t say such things lightly.”
“Will you accept?”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Hyeok So-jin shrugged. “If I lose?”
“As proposed. You just have to fight me seriously.”
“Is there a need to go that far? Even if I lose, I just have to spar once, right?”
Then red blood light rose in Bu Eunseol’s eyes. “Not spar, I said fight.”
Fight. Perhaps that meant a duel risking lives.
“Heh heh heh. Hahahaha.”
Hyeok So-jin, who had been laughing for a while, suddenly smiled coldly. “What an arrogant gentleman,” he said. Purple light rippled in his eyes once more. “Do you know who I am?”
“I know too well,” Bu Eunseol replied with a faint smile. “A frog in a well.”
Crack.
As if exerting internal power, the floor of the training ground where Hyeok So-jin stood sank. “Heh heh heh.” For the first time, Hyeok So-jin, who always wore a bored expression, showed lively eyes. “Good. I accept.”
Simultaneously, intense energy rose from his body.
The orthodox successor of one of the Ten Demonic Sects.
Born with the best root and bone, purifying qi and blood with spiritual medicines and secret prescriptions, and even receiving Sutra of Changing Tendons and Washing Marrow to change the body structure suitable for martial arts. From the time they start walking, the best experts and warriors of the Demonic Path teach them martial arts with all their might. The orthodox successors of the Ten Demonic Sects raised that way have uniformly reached a mighty realm.
Doing the same obvious thing.
Contempt arose in Hyeok So-jin’s eyes looking at Bu Eunseol. In fact, he knew. What favor his grandfather Hyeok Gong-baek had asked the successor of the Infernal Blood Fortress.
Probably telling me to get stimulated by seeing his great martial arts.
The successor of the Infernal Blood Fortress also requested a spar. And stimulated Hyeok So-jin by displaying dazzling martial arts.
But that was all.
When Hyeok So-jin remained unfazed by the provocations and responded defensively, the successor of the Infernal Blood Fortress was left with no choice but to concede. He was unwilling to harm the orthodox successor within the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying. However, witnessing Bu Eunseol repeat the same behavior was simply laughable.
“Start whenever.”
Hyeok So-jin spoke with a sneer.
“Mr. Stray Dog of Wolf Fang Pavilion.”
Despite the insulting words, Bu Eunseol’s eyes were sunken calmly. “First move.”
Leaving a short remark, Bu Eunseol immediately extended a powerful punch. It was the Initial Manifestation of the Demonic Fist form unleashed with three parts internal power.
Just as the fist power of Initial Manifestation of the Demonic Fist, deployed silently and formlessly, was digging into Hyeok So-jin’s chest…
Boom!
Suddenly, with a fierce tearing sound, the fist power split into two, fiercely digging into Hyeok So-jin’s both sides. This was a feat of Using Qi to Borrow Power, a technique possible only in the Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist.
“Heh.”
But Hyeok So-jin wasn’t particularly surprised and shook his shoulders lightly.
Whirrr.
Then, strange power surged from his entire body, pushing the fist power of Initial Manifestation of the Demonic Fist digging into his sides obliquely away.
“Great fist technique.”
As Hyeok So-jin laughed, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Second move.”
Rumble! Crash!
This time, with the sound of thunder, five streaks of sharp fist power wrapped around Hyeok So-jin’s body at unavoidable angles. It was the second move of the Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist, Thunderflash Disorientation Strike.
“Hup.”
As sharp yet light-fast fist power dug in, Hyeok So-jin waved both arms quickly with a slightly surprised expression. Then, faint purple light poured from his hands, and the five streaks of fist power clumped into one…
Whirrr.
The fist power passed over his head.
It was a form resembling the deflection of force in Taiji Fist.
“Is it Divine Splitting Demonic Energy?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Hyeok So-jin nodded.
Divine Splitting Demonic Energy.
This was closer to a Internal Cultivation Art like Shaolin’s Prajna Great Ability or the Ming Cult’s Great Shift of Heaven and Earth than a martial art.
A world-shocking demonic art that changes the flow of external force pouring from the enemy using the mighty Divine Splitting Demonic Energy of the whole body.
It is known that upon reaching the highest realm, one can return any martial art or force to the opponent as is.
And Hyeok So-jin was using a tactic of lightly shedding pouring attacks while wrapping his whole body in Divine Splitting Demonic Energy.
“Wake up from your vain dream.”
Hyeok So-jin, grasping Bu Eunseol’s intentions, spoke confidently.
“No matter what you do, you won’t be able to break the Divine Splitting Demonic Energy wrapped around my body.”
Even at three parts mastery, Divine Splitting Demonic Energy was sticky like glue and tough like ox tendon.
It could never be broken without using True Energy.
“We’ll see.”
As soon as he finished speaking, red light soared from Bu Eunseol’s body.
Boom!
As another explosion burst out, those points of light became crimson beams soaring into the sky.
Watching that terrifying sight, Hyeok So-jin smiled derisively instead.
Hmph, trying to scare me with internal power. Surely he doesn’t mean to really kill me…
Crack.
At that moment, as the sound of bones rang from Bu Eunseol’s body, the red points of light that had soared into the sky were absorbed into his right hand.
Vwoom…
Extreme Reversal Crimson Radiance shot up from the eyes of Bu Eunseol, who drew a circle in the air.
Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist, Fourth Move, Heavenly Palm of the Empty Wave.
The world-shocking supreme art said to destroy everything blocking the way was unleashed.
“W-wait. Surely…!”
Before Hyeok So-jin’s shout could finish,
Kuaaaah!
With an explosion that seemed to tear heaven and earth apart, red light poured from his left fist.
It was the power of Heaven Breaking itself, destroying everything between heaven and earth.
In Hyeok So-jin’s eyes watching the pouring Heavenly Palm of the Empty Wave form, it seemed as if a giant sun was shining.