Clack.
With a sharp metallic snap, Yo Bul-beom combined the segments of the long lance strapped to his back, instantly forming a spear that exceeded one jang and three cheok in length. Although his Soul Scorching Spear appeared identical to those wielded by his subordinates, the power contained within was in a league of its own.
Whooooosh!
As Yo Bul-beom swung the massive shaft with ferocity, a vacuum of empty space was carved out around him. He swept the area with the shaft and thrust the tip into openings with lethal precision; the spear’s offense would fan out like the ribs of a folding fan, only to converge into a single point of light the moment a weakness was exposed.
Every time Yo Bul-beom moved his hands, the profound techniques of the Soul Scorching Jade Blood Spear were unleashed.
“Kuh-uk!”
“Aaaagh!”
Screams erupted as the guests of Momentless Fleet and the Hundred Flower Ladies were struck down without fail, sustaining heavy injuries.
Traversing the battlefield with unbridled dominance, he pushed aside the enemies blocking his path and finally closed the distance to where Bu Eunseol stood.
Swish!
Accompanied by the sound of tearing wind, the Soul Scorching Spear seemed to stretch like taffy. The sharp tip burrowed through a gap in the chaotic melee where a dozen people were tangled, aiming viciously for the back of Bu Eunseol, who was in the midst of a frantic exchange.
Ching!
With a resonant metallic ring, Bu Eunseol’s Dark Sword moved on its own accord, circling behind his back to lightly deflect the incoming spear tip. It was a sublime harmony of the Mastery Radiance Sword Control and the Way of the Beast.
“Hmph, the Way of the Beast, is it?”
Realizing that a surprise attack was meaningless against Bu Eunseol’s heightened senses, Yo Bul-beom spun his spear.
Papapapa!
Holding the rotating spear shaft horizontally to create a whirlwind, he pushed away the Hundred Flower Ladies surrounding Bu Eunseol, clearing a wide arena for the two to clash.
“Take this!”
Yo Bul-beom leaped into mid-air with a thunderous shout, and in response, Bu Eunseol raised his Dark Sword high as if to show it off.
Paaaaaaah!
Amidst flashing lights, dozens of spear shadows painted afterimages in the air, coiling around Bu Eunseol’s body. What was truly astonishing was that the pouring spear shadows not only fell at different intervals but some even paused in mid-air, defying momentum.
‘This is the Soul Scorching Spear Art.’
The terror of Evil Spirit Sect’s spear arts lay in their ability to sustain the energy gathered on the spear, which was sharp as sword Qi, in the air for a set duration.
Rumors claimed that masters who had deeply cultivated the Soul Scorching Spear could maintain that ferocious energy for over half a gak.
Tstststs!
In that instant, sword Qi resembling brilliant rays of rain soared into the void from the Dark Sword in Bu Eunseol’s hand, embroidering the sky. It was the fourth form of the Supreme Heavenly Flow: Caged Bird Yearning for Clouds, a technique that allowed the free manipulation of unleashed sword Qi.
Charararang!
The sword Qi decorating the sky erased the pouring spear shadows with calculated time delays. However, in that brief window, Yo Bul-beom, having landed on the ground, thrust his spear shaft straight toward Bu Eunseol. Just as Bu Eunseol moved to defend, the digging spear tip suddenly vanished.
As the target disappeared, the Dark Sword hesitated in the air for a fraction of a second.
Slash!
With a sharp sound slicing through the air, a pointed spear tip materialized, thrusting toward Bu Eunseol’s Adam’s apple.
It was the wondrous technique of the Soul Scorching Jade Blood Spear known as Small Voice in Mid-Heaven.
Spurt!
Blood splattered from Bu Eunseol’s neck as he dodged by a hair’s breadth.
Impressive.
Bu Eunseol let out an internal exclamation of admiration. There hadn’t even been time to unfold the Shadowless Supreme Speed; if not for the super-senses of the Way of the Beast, his throat would have been pierced by that single move.
“You have good luck!”
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, Yo Bul-beom’s spear shaft bent like a bow, lashing out horizontally at Bu Eunseol’s body. However, Bu Eunseol had already activated the Shadowless Supreme Speed, slipping out of the spear’s range.
“How long will you keep running!”
Yo Bul-beom swung his spear again, sealing off all of Bu Eunseol’s retreat paths and directional options. In the interim, ten more spear shadows formed in the air; above, the delayed spear shadows poured down, while below, Yo Bul-beom stood wielding his spear in all directions.
I cannot break this immediately.
Utilizing the Shadowless Supreme Speed, Bu Eunseol shifted through eighty-nine positions while remaining in place. He attempted to identify Yo Bul-beom’s weaknesses while evading the offensive, but the antagonist’s spear art was so profound that it could not be dismantled in a short time.
Flash!
Suddenly, the techniques Yo Bul-beom was pouring out shifted once more. Instead of honest thrusts, he began to unleash feint attacks in all directions.
He is proficient even in using feints.
Unable to instantly distinguish between the illusions and the real attacks, Bu Eunseol was forced to retreat repeatedly.
Yo Bul-beom was a master of the Transcendence Realm who had led the Soul Scorching Squad and rampaged through the Gangho for over twenty years. He had instantly seen through Bu Eunseol’s intention to analyze the changes in the spear art while dodging, and consequently, he improvised changes to his techniques, unfolding a chaotic and profound spear dance.
“To think Brother Bu is being pushed back.”
Hyeok So-jin, having blown away the rushing unit members with his Divine Splitting Demonic Energy, frowned deeply.
The only saving grace was that while Bu Eunseol and Yo Bul-beom fought, the battle between the forces of Momentless Fleet and the Soul Scorching Squad had been largely settled. The guests, particularly Jeong Ri, possessed formidable martial prowess; their arts, closer to the Orthodox Path than the Demonic, easily suppressed the specific evil Qi of the Soul Scorching Jade Blood Spear.
However, the battle between the leaders, Bu Eunseol and Yo Bul-beom, was flowing unfavorably.
‘The techniques of that Soul Scorching Spear are not at a level that can be analyzed during combat,’ Bu Eunseol assessed the situation coldly.
Until now, to further develop his martial arts, he had focused on seeing through the opponent’s techniques, finding gaps, and then counterattacking. But Yo Bul-beom’s skill was not only a cut above, but his combat management was also masterful. Furthermore, because he dominated the space Bu Eunseol needed to move in with his long spear exceeding one jang and three cheok, even the Shadowless Supreme Speed could not provide perfect evasion.
Slash!
Once again, the sharp spear tip grazed Bu Eunseol’s cheek, drawing blood.
—Do not think with your head!
At that moment, the solemn voice of Sa Wu, who had taught him the Way of the Beast while swinging a sword on Hell Island, echoed in his ears.
—If you try to analyze the technique and then dodge, you will be too late.
Sa Wu, who had pierced Bu Eunseol’s cheek with a sharp sword back then, shouted again in his memory.
—The moment the attack begins, you must react immediately!
Bu Eunseol’s eyes burned hot like charcoal embers.
Have I been arrogant all this time?
The combat style of finding a weakness and then striking is, in reality, only possible when one’s skill is vastly superior to the enemy’s. All this time, Bu Eunseol had relied on the ancient movement technique, Shadowless Supreme Speed, and his superior super-senses to dodge attacks and find gaps. However, his mastery of the footwork was not yet perfect, hovering around the seven-star level.
Yo Bul-beom, rich in battlefield experience and adept at using feints, hid his weaknesses and preempted the positioning, driving Bu Eunseol into a corner.
“This is the end!”
Having discovered a gap in Bu Eunseol’s defense, Yo Bul-beom unleashed thirty-two shadows. These spear shadows not only had time delays but changed trajectory abruptly; even with the Shadowless Supreme Speed, perfect evasion was impossible.
If I cannot dodge, I will break it!
Paaang!
A violent explosion of true energy erupted from Bu Eunseol’s body as he raised his internal energy to full power. Simultaneously, an ink-black radiance swirled furiously around the Dark Sword.
Zuuuung!
Suddenly, a pitch-black form of light materialized from the Dark Sword and soared into the void.
It was Sword Aura.
Vibrate.
The Dark Sword began to tremble, and the pitch-black Sword Aura began to erase the pouring spear shadows. It was an absolute defense combining the Mastery Radiance Sword Control and the Returning the Spirit to Origin.
Kwa-ang!
Though it was a clash of weapons, an explosion loud enough to tear the sky rang out.
The Sword Aura created by Bu Eunseol was entirely different from the standard type that merely preserved the weapon’s shape; the pitch-black energy stretched and shrank like a rubber band, and its destructive power was incomparable to ordinary Sword Aura.
Rumble!
As the circular Sword Aura grazed the ground, a pitch-black hole of unfathomable depth was gouged out.
‘T-This bastard?’
Bu Eunseol abandoned the stance of observing techniques defensively. Instead, he poured out techniques using his internal energy without reserve, resulting in a continuous barrage of Heaven-Collapsing Strikes. Yo Bul-beom, daring not to clash his Soul Scorching Spear against the Dark Sword directly, was forced to retreat repeatedly.
Ching!
Eventually, the moment came when he had no choice but to clash weapons for defense.
When the Dark Sword and the spear tip finally collided—
Chii-iik.
Pushed back twenty paces, Yo Bul-beom glared, retrieving his spear shaft.
“Are you saying your internal energy… surpasses that of this Captain?”
Having reached the Fifth Stage of the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art, Bu Eunseol’s internal energy was potent enough not to be pushed back by anyone. He simply hadn’t used purely internal force to suppress an enemy like this before. But when Yo Bul-beom’s techniques proved endlessly variable, he generated Sword Aura with overwhelming power to simply crush the techniques themselves.
“You talk too much.”
Bu Eunseol gave him no time, extending the Dark Sword without hesitation. As the man who had been defensive all along suddenly unfolded aggressive techniques, Yo Bul-beom began to panic.
Boom! Kwa-rururung!
As the Sword Aura grazed the ground again, it was no longer just an explosion but the sound of thunder itself. Every time the pitch-black energy brushed past him, Yo Bul-beom’s face stiffened.
The Dark Sword contained not only overwhelming brute force but was also infused with two distinct streams of internal energy.
Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art.
The ancient internal cultivation art said to be able to interfere with the creation and destruction of all things when reached to the extreme. In the past, when Bu Eunseol infused internal energy into a weapon, thirteen streams of sharp, needle-like force would pour out. But as his power deepened and became purer, the refined Yin and Yang energies, akin to the power of Great Nature itself, were unleashed.
‘I cannot just dodge blindly!’
Zuuuung!
Eventually, Yo Bul-beom created Spear Aura to counter Bu Eunseol’s Sword Aura.
Thud! Rumble!
Every time the Dark Sword and the Soul Scorching Spear collided in the air, Yo Bul-beom’s face turned rapidly pale. With each clash of weapons, his internal organs were being shaken by the two powerful streams of internal energy pouring into him.
“This bastard!”
Yo Bul-beom tried desperately to keep his distance and avoid direct collisions, but Bu Eunseol moved like a phantom, circling him and sealing off his retreat. Even when the Soul Scorching Spear luckily escaped the range of the Dark Sword, Bu Eunseol used a powerful suction force to pull the weapon back in.
‘The Peng Clan has a blade art that destroys the body through the clashing of weapons.’
Bu Eunseol was mimicking the Five Tiger Pack’s Gate-Severing Blades of Peng Ak, who had tried to break bones through weapon impacts on Hell Island.
“Ugh!”
After forty continuous clashes, Yo Bul-beom, unable to withstand the overwhelming internal energy, finally vomited blood.
“Ugh…”
Dropping to one knee, Yo Bul-beom groaned. The two powerful streams of internal energy had practically melted and severed his meridians, leaving him unable to move a single step.
“Such internal energy…”
Yo Bul-beom trembled violently.
A martial artist’s tactics are varied. One can fight with weapons, or disrupt the mind through sharp conversation. And, like this, there is the method of crushing the opponent using overwhelming internal energy.
“Brother Bu.”
At that moment, Hyeok So-jin approached Bu Eunseol’s side.
The battle was settled.
The Soul Scorching Squad, numbering some three hundred, was scattered and broken; more than half the force had collapsed under the attacks of the Momentless Fleet disciples and guests. Furthermore, with their leader Yo Bul-beom defeated, the remaining members ceased resistance and signaled surrender.
“Amazing, Brother Bu. To subdue the notoriously illustrious Captain of the Soul Scorching Squad single-handedly.”
Bu Eunseol was looking down at Yo Bul-beom. The murderous intent shimmering in his eyes caused Hyeok So-jin to pause momentarily.
“Subdue?”
A blood-red light surfaced in Bu Eunseol’s eyes as he spoke.
“Brother Bu. Surely not…”
Realizing Bu Eunseol’s intention, Hyeok So-jin waved his hand urgently.
“If you kill him, you will make an enemy of Evil Spirit Sect as well.”
When Bu Eunseol did not answer, Hyeok So-jin swallowed dryly.
“Aren’t you already on bad terms with the Infernal Blood Fortress and the White Demon Monastery? There is no need to add Evil Spirit Sect to that list.”
“Bad terms… indeed.”
In truth, Bu Eunseol had always harbored a question in his heart: Why does the Divine Demonic Emperor demand the blood of fellow practitioners of the Demonic Path under the pretext of selecting a successor?
If it were to test the qualifications of a successor, there are various methods. If it were for solidarity, fighting a common enemy like the Orthodox Factions would suffice. If he wanted to compare martial potential, a tournament would be enough. Yet, the Divine Demonic Emperor demanded constant conflict and blood between the Demonic sects.
“So that was it.”
Finally, after defeating Yo Bul-beom, Bu Eunseol could guess the reason.
“There is no way we could be on good terms.”
With a cold smile, he looked down at Yo Bul-beom.
“Because the coalition known as the Demonic Palace cannot exist without shedding blood.”
He finally understood everything.
The fight for the successor to lead the coalition called the Demonic Palace meant that anyone who was not an ally was an enemy. There was no such thing as neutrality, and those who showed hostility had to be thoroughly subjugated.
“I will show you what happens when you touch me from now on.”
In an instant, the look in Yo Bul-beom’s eyes changed. He had roamed the Gangho for decades as the Captain of the Soul Scorching Squad, his name synonymous with terror.
To think he would meet his end at the hands of the successor of Wolf Fang Pavilion?
“I will not borrow your hand.”
Wiping the blood from his mouth, Yo Bul-beom staggered as he slowly stood up. Gripping his Soul Scorching Spear, he straightened his body and drew up his internal energy, intending to sever his own heart meridians to take his own life.
Flash!
However, that attempt did not succeed. Before he could sever his heart meridians with internal energy, Bu Eunseol slashed Yo Bul-beom’s carotid artery in a single stroke.
Spurt!
With a spray of blood, Yo Bul-beom’s eyes widened, and then—
Thud.
He fell just like a cut log.
That was the end of Yo Bul-beom, the Captain of the Soul Scorching Squad, who had scourged the martial world for decades.