Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
Five streams of claw shadows spread out in all directions, not only aiming for Hyeok So-jin’s face but also sealing off his escape route.
“Kugh.”
Having no choice, Hyeok So-jin leaped into the air to dodge the pouring claw shadows. But the Black Impermanence’s specialty was continuous attacks unpredictable at close range. As soon as Hyeok So-jin landed, he raised his sharp nails and unleashed a claw technique like a gale.
Whoosh! Swish!
The claw tips aimed for the eyes, then suddenly leaped mid-air to pierce the acupoint on the top of the head. Then, landing like lightning, he aimed for Hyeok So-jin’s groin.
“Good!”
As the Black Impermanence took the upper hand with continuous attacks connecting air and ground, Hyeok So-jin stopped dodging and raised his internal energy to counterattack. With his left hand, he neutralized the force of the Black Force Demon Claw using the Dark Heavens Demonic Dragon Palm, and with his right hand, he unfolded the Ten Thousand Lightning Blood Sword, stabbing toward the Black Impermanence’s neck and lower abdomen.
In an instant, after about forty exchanges of close combat, the Black Impermanence was greatly surprised and retreated.
This bastard?
The Black Impermanence opened his eyes wide. As an expert from the Blood Sect, he was very well-versed in Demonic Arts. Realizing that the martial arts Hyeok So-jin was pouring out were not Orthodox but secret Demonic Arts, he glared fiercely.
“You are not from the Orthodox Path.”
“Let’s dispense with unnecessary conversation.”
“What?”
Instead of answering, Hyeok So-jin twisted the treasured sword in his right hand and raised his Divine Splitting Demonic Energy. At that, a violet radiance erupted fiercely from his entire body.
“Because when fighting, one must burn everything away!”
Just as the fight between Hyeok So-jin and the Black Impermanence began to heat up…
Bu Eunseol, looking down at the Mad Physician, slowly reached his hand behind his back.
Shing.
As the Dark Sword left its sheath, a sword cry rang out, and a chilling cold spread in all directions.
“I will take this one, so you handle that pale ghost.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, not only Zhuge Seo-woon but also Moyong Gyeong and the Hwangbo brothers blinked their eyes.
—What on earth is that person saying?
The Mad Physician of the Soul, a maniacal murderer who pretended to be a doctor and dissected young people. Contrary to what was known, his skills were approaching the Transcendence Realm. He even surpassed the aura of the Black and White Impermanence who appeared later. Yet he intended to face him alone?
“You bastaaard!”
At that moment, with a thunderous shout, the Black Force Demon Claw of the Black Impermanence was seen embroidering the void. Then, Hyeok So-jin, wrapped in violet radiance, began to unravel the techniques of the Black Force Demon Claw one by one as if showing off.
Tremble.
In an instant, Zhuge Seo-woon and his group trembled.
It was an unbelievable sight. Hyeok So-jin. To think he was a Transcendence Realm expert capable of competing alone against the Black Impermanence?
—We can win!
Since Hyeok So-jin was displaying such formidable martial prowess, Bu Eunseol must have reached a significant level as well. As that thought occurred, courage welled up in Zhuge Seo-woon and his group, and their frozen bodies began to move slowly.
“Ha-ap!”
The first to launch an attack was Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong. As he twisted his fist and extended it forward, a fist force like the sky falling poured toward the White Impermanence’s face.
“Doing cute things just like you look.”
Lightly dodging the punch, the White Impermanence moistened his lips with a red tongue and looked at the Hwangbo brothers.
“I will kill you after cherishing you especially well.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Enraged, the Hwangbo brothers unleashed their fist techniques simultaneously this time. A mighty fist force poured down as if a giant mountain were falling whole from the sky. The Heavenly King Three Fists of the Hwangbo Clan, which dominated the world, was unfolded.
“We will help too!”
Encouraged by that sight, Zhuge Seo-woon and Moyong Gyeong drew their Six Harmonies Fan and treasured sword respectively.
“Hohoho.”
Even though four peak experts were pouring out a combined attack, the White Impermanence laughed leisurely and spun his body round and round. A white shadow spread in all directions, dazzling their eyes. One of the White Impermanence’s specialties, the Hundred Dance Demonic Play, was unfolded.
Rustle, rustle.
With the sound of paper fluttering, the White Impermanence’s shadow multiplied into dozens. He rather surrounded the four geniuses rushing at him with those multiplied shadows.
“Eek.”
The Hwangbo brothers unfolded the Heavenly King Three Fists continuously, but they didn’t even touch the hem of the White Impermanence’s clothes, which had multiplied into dozens.
“Is that person a ghost!”
At Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong’s shout, Zhuge Seo-woon shouted with flashing eyes.
“Not a ghost, but he leaves afterimages through reverse positioning, unfolding a footwork akin to illusion arts!”
As a direct descendant of the Zhuge Clan, he was not only masterful in directional formations but also had an eye for formation movement. He instantly saw through that the afterimages of the Hundred Dance Demonic Play were a movement martial art incorporating the secrets of formation movement.
“If we attack different directions—North, South, East, West—simultaneously, the illusions will disappear!”
At Zhuge Seo-woon’s words, Moyong Gyeong and the Hwangbo brothers immediately unleashed sword and fist techniques in their respective directions. The dizzyingly moving shadows of the White Impermanence hesitated, and the afterimages began to vanish one by one.
‘Now!’
Finally capturing the White Impermanence’s gap, Zhuge Seo-woon deployed the Six Harmonies Fan Art with all his might.
Slash!
With the sound of sharp air tearing, the technique Wind Becomes Under grazed past the White Impermanence’s face like scattering leaves.
Drip, drip.
Red drops of blood flowed down the White Impermanence’s pale cheek, which looked as if powdered white.
“These bratty bastards.”
Looking at the drops of blood flowing down his cheek, a gruesome light poured from his eyes.
“As expected of the seeds of the Eight Great Families, you have quite a move.”
Red veins began to show in the White Impermanence’s white eyes. Simultaneously, white smoke rose from his entire body. The signature supreme art of the White Impermanence that once made the martial world tremble in fear. The strange poison art that melted the skin entirely with just a graze, the White Mist Smoke Wave, was unfolded.
“I will put you in a state where you can neither live nor die!”
***
“Let us begin slowly.”
As Bu Eunseol raised his Dark Sword to the middle stance and spoke, Gongsun Gu-reung wore a cold smile.
“Surprising. At merely that age…”
Chik!
Bu Eunseol had no intention of listening to his chatter. Immediately extending his sword and pouring out sword techniques, ink-black light rose like sparks and dug into Gongsun Gu-reung’s neck.
“Hmph.”
Snorting, Gongsun Gu-reung immediately unfolded a dizzying footwork to escape the offensive of the Dark Sword. At that, Bu Eunseol doubled his true energy and twisted the sword hilt.
Swish!
With a sharp sound of tearing air, the Dark Sword moved smoothly and agilely like a living creature, digging into Gongsun Gu-reung’s neck again. It was the transformative technique of the fourth form of Supreme Heavenly Flow, Caged Bird Yearning for Clouds.
“Ho-oh.”
Realizing he couldn’t perfectly dodge the pursuing Dark Sword, Gongsun Gu-reung reached for his waist.
Ching!
With a clear sound, an oddly shaped blade emitting a blue light was suddenly gripped in Gongsun Gu-reung’s hand. It was his unique weapon, the Ox Dismantling Blade.
“So that must be the Ox Dismantling Blade.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Gongsun Gu-reung laughed insidiously.
“You know well.”
Originally, the Ox Dismantling Blade is a knife used to separate the bones and flesh of an ox. However, Gongsun Gu-reung’s blade was crafted not for oxen, but to separate human flesh well. That blue blade held the blood of countless people he had brutally murdered while pretending to be a doctor until now.
“I will peel your flesh without pain, so yield your body obediently.”
Gongsun Gu-reung licked his lips while looking at Bu Eunseol’s disguised face.
“Because I hate to scratch skin as clean as a newborn baby’s!”
Swish-swish-swish!
Spinning the Ox Dismantling Blade in his hand, Gongsun Gu-reung deployed his blade art. Gongsun Gu-reung’s unique blade art, the Bone Penetrating Blade Art, created after dissecting countless people, was finally unfolded.
Tstststs.
Bu Eunseol immediately unfolded the Shadowless Supreme Speed, circling around Gongsun Gu-reung.
Slash!
However, as if unable to permit Bu Eunseol’s evasion, Gongsun Gu-reung greatly expanded the range of the Bone Penetrating Blade Art.
Chik-chik-chik!
The widely diffused sharp rays of light became round points of light and scattered in all directions, erasing the shadows Bu Eunseol created one by one.
Round points of light spreading from the tip of the Ox Dismantling Blade. That was Blade Aura, naturally created by Gongsun Gu-reung’s immense internal energy.
“…”
Bu Eunseol, dodging the points of light by unfolding the Shadowless Supreme Speed, narrowed his eyes. Until now, except for the battle with Yo Bul-beom, he hadn’t done things like injecting massive amounts of true energy into his weapon to create Sword Aura. The exquisite Supreme Heavenly Flow forms and the sharpness of the Dark Sword were enough to easily defeat countless enemies.
But Gongsun Gu-reung not only injected true energy generously into every move but poured out internal power with all his might as if he had infinite internal energy. This method was a unique tactic unseen in any enemies Bu Eunseol had faced until now.
Paaaa-at!
When Bu Eunseol dodged all the attacks, Gongsun Gu-reung changed tactics again. Instead of aiming for Bu Eunseol with the unleashed Blade Aura, he was spreading it in all directions to seal off escape routes.
Whoosh!
Finally eliminating the afterimages Bu Eunseol created, Gongsun Gu-reung dug into close range. Simultaneously, the sharp Ox Dismantling Blade aimed for Bu Eunseol’s head as if splitting firewood.
Swish!
As the sharp attack came in, Bu Eunseol rather stopped moving and stared intently at the blade splitting toward his head.
Just as the blue blade was about to split his head—
Clang!
With a metallic sound, the sword and blade collided, and a tremendous wave of energy spread in all directions. Bu Eunseol, who had been standing still, had parried the Ox Dismantling Blade.
Chiii-iik.
At that, Gongsun Gu-reung retreated five steps and exhaled a turbid breath. Even though he possessed internal energy powerful enough to create Blade Aura, he dared not match Bu Eunseol’s internal power.
“Heh heh.”
Pushed far back, Gongsun Gu-reung inhaled deeply and adjusted his internal breathing. He easily shook off Bu Eunseol’s Polarity Reversal True Energy that had been transmitted through the weapon and dug into the meridians of his wrist.
“Your internal energy is certainly something.”
Even knowing that Bu Eunseol’s level of internal energy was tremendous, Gongsun Gu-reung’s momentum did not drop at all. He had fought countless fierce battles until now, and among them were many with great internal energy. From his perspective, victory or defeat had never been decided by the level of internal energy.
“Shall we play again!”
Unfolding dizzying movement techniques again, Gongsun Gu-reung began to unfold the Bone Penetrating Blade Art rapidly.
Kwa-kwa-kwa!
The Bone Penetrating Blade Art, pouring out continuously like a tsunami, seemed to unfold dozens of moves as a single mass.
Flash!
In that instant, the Dark Sword burst with brilliant light, cutting the connecting point and stabbing in at super speed. Discovering the gap where blade move connected to blade move, Bu Eunseol unfolded the Meteor Chasing the Moon form to stab Gongsun Gu-reung’s neck.
Slash!
However, the Meteor Chasing the Moon grazed his neck by a hair’s breadth. Before the Dark Sword burst with brilliant light, he had predicted the fast sword would pour out by watching the movement of Bu Eunseol’s shoulder.
He predicted the action by watching the movement.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes, having read Gongsun Gu-reung’s method, became grave.
Gongsun Gu-reung, who had dissected human bodies all along. Like Bu Eunseol, he possessed the ability to predict the opponent’s actions through muscle movement.
Whirrr.
At that moment, a violent storm of true energy swirled in Bu Eunseol’s left fist, suddenly creating five streaks of lightning fire.
Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist, Second Move. Thunderflash Disorienting Strike.
Suppressing his movement to the extreme, Bu Eunseol poured five streams of powerful fist force near Gongsun Gu-reung’s flank.
Bang! Roll.
Judging that he couldn’t dodge the fist force, Gongsun Gu-reung threw his body to the ground.
“Your martial arts…”
Gongsun Gu-reung’s expression, which had been relaxed all along, slowly stiffened. Bu Eunseol’s martial arts were not of the Orthodox lineage, but of the Demonic lineage. He realized they were supreme-grade arts that had reached the highest level.
“You are not a mongrel of the Eight Great Families!”
Springing up again, Gongsun Gu-reung—
Scatter!
—threw soil he had grabbed from the ground toward the approaching Bu Eunseol.
“Heh heh heh.”
As Bu Eunseol lightly dodged the dust and stabbed from the side…
“Ptui!”
This time, he suddenly spat phlegm. Sharp needles were hidden inside the spit, digging into Bu Eunseol’s eyes with a flash. As befitting a crazy murderer, he not only didn’t hesitate to roll on the ground but also had no qualms about using dirty hidden weapons.
Whoosh!
As Bu Eunseol lightly dodged the hidden weapons, Gongsun Gu-reung, having widened the distance in the meantime, laughed gloomily.
“Demonic or Orthodox, it doesn’t matter. As long as I peel off the skin. Heh heh heh.”
“…”
Bu Eunseol stopped attacking for a moment and looked down at Gongsun Gu-reung. He had fought numerous strong enemies until now, but no opponent had dodged the Supreme Heavenly Flow and the Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist so easily. Furthermore, because he predicted moves in advance through muscle movement, inflicting a fatal wound was tricky.
Gongsun Gu-reung was a new type of strong enemy Bu Eunseol had never experienced before.
As expected.
Bu Eunseol wore a smile.
Gongsun Gu-reung’s true martial arts might be below his own, but his skill in managing combat was a step above. In other words, his skill was at a similar level to the Captain of the Soul Scorching Squad he fought previously.
I can see the wall I must break to break through the Transcendence Realm.
Experts who have rolled in the martial world for a long time have their own seasoned experience and combat management style that can overcome martial proficiency levels.
The match with Gongsun Gu-reung.
Through a match where his life was at stake, Bu Eunseol intended to confirm once again the place he needed to ascend to.