There is no need to match his rhythm.
Bu Eunseol, his concentration sharpened to a razor’s edge, deconstructed the martial principles of Dongri Jeok’s technique in a single glance.
Black Blood under the Heavens. It was an ultimate technique predicated entirely on chaotic movement. Therefore, Bu Eunseol chose the path of absolute stillness, waiting for the decisive fraction of a second.
Thwip-thwip-thwip!
The moment the Black Blood Finger Force coiled around him like a net of vipers, a solitary point of light floated into the air.
Shing!
With the clear, resonating cry of a blade, a powerful mass of luminosity erupted from where Bu Eunseol stood. In an instant, the mass fractured into millions of starlike points, enveloping Dongri Jeok’s body in a cage of brilliance.
Supreme Heavenly Flow, Eighth Form: Lamentation by the River.
It was the technique that calculated every trajectory of an enemy’s assault to deliver the perfect counterstrike.
Thump. Thump…
As the halo of light dissipated, the gloom of the hall returned.
“Impressive.”
Standing before Bu Eunseol, Dongri Jeok clutched his own neck.
“Is this the martial prowess of the Demonic Palace successor?”
Dongri Jeok, his body pickled in unknown alchemical stimulants, did not die instantly, even though a red line had been drawn precisely across his throat. He held his neck together with desperate force, his will to live defying the mechanics of death.
“If I had just a little more time, I would have become stronger…”
Dongri Jeok’s voice was saturated with deep regret and agony.
He had started as a nameless bandit and clawed his way up to become the leader of the Dark Union, commanding thirty thousand troops. But what he truly coveted was personal might—martial arts powerful enough to make the Murim masters kneel at his feet.
To achieve that desire, he had endured the torture of his organs melting, preserving his flesh in toxic drugs. Yet, in the end, he was not even an enemy who could last a hundred moves against a true master.
Click.
Sheathing his sword, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “Who is controlling the Dark Union?”
The Blood Poison Valley, which had threatened the Sichuan Tang Family in the past, had achieved rapid growth in ten years, mirroring the Dark Union. Such expansion was impossible without a massive backing force.
“Controlling? Hehehe.”
Clutching his severed neck, Dongri Jeok leaked a low, wet laugh. “Anyone born as a martial artist has glory they wish to achieve.”
The light was slowly fading from his sickly yellow eyes.
“…I have no regrets.”
Spurt! Thud.
Blood finally burst from the red line, and his head separated from his shoulders, tumbling to the floor.
“…”
Bu Eunseol looked down at the corpse. Even after the breath had stopped, the hands twitched, making a motion as if trying to reattach the head with sheer tenacity.
He could feel it indirectly—the obsession this man had held for life. Outstanding martial arts, fame, power… any martial artist would desperately desire such things. And somewhere in the shadows, there was a force manipulating them by exploiting those very desires.
“Desire became a shackle.”
Looking at the fallen Dongri Jeok, Bu Eunseol muttered low.
Perhaps it was a temptation no ordinary martial artist could refuse. But Bu Eunseol had stepped into the Gangho solely for revenge. Even now, as he strove to become the Demonic Palace successor, he gave no glance to anything other than that singular goal.
Creak.
Walking out of the hall, he found Myo Cheon-woo and Yoo Woon-ryong leaning against the wall, gasping for breath. Before them lay the five Hall Masters of the Dark Union—the so-called Five Killing Gods—now reduced to cold meat.
“Did you… do it well?”
Slumping against the stone, Myo Cheon-woo spoke between wheezing breaths. “Those crazy bastards suddenly got stronger, like they ate something. I really almost died this time.”
“I see.”
At that moment, Yoo Woon-ryong looked at Bu Eunseol. “The Union Leader?”
“He is inside.”
“Well done.”
“Let us go now.”
At Bu Eunseol’s command, Myo Cheon-woo extended his hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “I worked hard, you know. Can’t you give me a hand?”
Bu Eunseol stared at him for a moment, then extended his hand as if he had no choice. Myo Cheon-woo grinned, grabbed it, and groaned as he hauled himself upright.
“…”
Yoo Woon-ryong, leaning against the wall, was also staring intently at Bu Eunseol. But before Bu Eunseol could move, Myo Cheon-woo quickly approached and offered his own hand.
“Here. Take my hand.”
“…”
Looking greatly offended, Yoo Woon-ryong slapped Myo Cheon-woo’s hand away and stood up by himself.
***
Clang! Tang!
Do Cheon-rin and the masters of the Blood-Stained Blade Clan were desperately hammering against the Dark Union’s defensive line. The main force of the Blood Mist Squad struggled to aid them, trying to shatter the final formation spread before the Black Lion Palace.
Just a little more!
Impatience hung heavy on Do Cheon-rin’s face as he swung his Blood-Stained Blade.
This annihilation of the Dark Union was a mission crafted by combining forces with the leaders of the Ten Demonic Sects, specifically designed to remove Bu Eunseol from the succession race. A large-scale battle. Only the chaos of war could render Bu Eunseol’s individual prowess and genius talent useless.
Do Cheon-rin had persuaded the leaders early on to move the Divine Demonic Emperor and had even recruited the Blood Mist Squad Captain.
But for it to end like this?
He would rather die. Do Cheon-rin could absolutely not accept this result.
It cannot go on like this.
He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.
The defensive line of the Dark Union clung tenaciously like water ghosts, showing no sign of collapse. Furthermore, having fought forces ten times their size for hours, the Blood Mist Squad was visibly exhausting its reserves.
I have no choice but to gamble.
Paaat!
Drawing up his internal energy to its absolute limit, Do Cheon-rin deployed Soaring with Qi. As he rose into the air, the Dark Union bandits poured hundreds of arrows toward him.
Thwip-thwip-thwip!
Unfolding his Blood-Stained Blade to deflect the iron rain in mid-air, Do Cheon-rin vaulted over the bandits in a single breath, landing directly in front of the Black Lion Palace.
“Stop that bastard!”
Over a hundred bandits swarmed to attack him. But Do Cheon-rin charged forward, disregarding defense entirely. Even if he took wounds, he intended to breach the Black Lion Palace first.
Swoosh!
Just as he leaped once more, his hand reaching for the entrance—
Creeeeak.
The massive gates of the Black Lion Palace groaned and opened by themselves.
Dozens of shadows, drenched in gore, walked out slowly. Bu Eunseol, the Deathly Shadow Squad members, and the successors of the Seven Sword Sects of Qinghai.
“Bu Eunseol!”
Do Cheon-rin, eyes wide, shouted the name.
If he and the Deathly Shadow Squad were walking out unscathed, the result was obvious without even looking inside.
“The Deathly Shadow Squad Captain has beheaded the Dark Union Leader!”
Won Se-mun shouted, projecting his voice with internal energy.
“The Deathly Shadow Squad Captain has beheaded the Dark Union Leader!”
The thunderous proclamation echoed around the Black Lion Palace and spread in all directions. At that shout, the martial artists on the battlefield froze. Silence flowed over the carnage for a long moment.
“Waaaaaaah!”
A roar shaking heaven and earth erupted.
For the Blood Mist Squad to enter the Black Lion Palace, they had to break through the solid defensive line one way or another. But that line was still intact, and if the standoff had continued, the Squad would have suffered catastrophic damage.
“Thank goodness!”
Relief flowed from the eyes of the shouting Blood Mist Squad members.
In truth, this campaign was a ploy to push merit onto Do Cheon-rin. The squad captain, Jwa Dae-baek, should have utilized tactics to destroy the Dark Union while minimizing casualties. instead, he had launched a forced total offensive following Do Cheon-rin’s ambitious plan.
As a result, the Blood Mist Squad had been forced into an honest frontal war against a numerically superior enemy. Just as their fatigue reached its peak, Bu Eunseol had infiltrated the palace, severed the head of the snake, and ended the war.
To the soldiers of the Blood Mist Squad, Bu Eunseol was truly a ray of salvation.
“You worked hard.”
Bu Eunseol nodded, looking at Do Cheon-rin, who had frozen in front of the steps. As he happened to be in a low posture prepared to leap, from a distance, it looked as if he were kneeling before Bu Eunseol.
“Bu Eunseol…”
Do Cheon-rin’s expression twisted as if he had vomited blood. “How did you get here?”
“I came by boat.”
“By boat…”
Despair flooded Do Cheon-rin’s eyes.
Bu Eunseol had deceived not only him but also the eyes of the Dark Union, breaking through the Wrathful River coast.
Everything is over.
This annihilation of the Dark Union was a golden opportunity created by leveraging the Ten Demonic Clan leaders. But far from overthrowing Bu Eunseol, it had solidified his position as successor. Do Cheon-rin had no more cards to play.
“Waaaaah!”
The continuous cheers of the Blood Mist Squad sounded to Do Cheon-rin like the roar of demons dragging him into the abyss of hell. Dropping his head, he slowly closed his eyes.
***
The Blood Mist Squad had annihilated the Dark Union dominating Qinghai with only three thousand troops, and the Union Leader Dongri Jeok had been beheaded. Because of this, the prestige of the Demonic Palace pierced the sky.
And at the center was the Deathly Shadow Squad Captain, Bu Eunseol.
Bu Eunseol, who left the main army behind to lead his squad alone, breaking through the Black Lion Palace in a single breath. Stories embellished that legendary anecdote until rumors spread that Bu Eunseol had rushed in single-handedly to destroy the Union—a rumor no one could easily dismiss.
The successor is decided.
At this point, all forces of the Demonic Palace had no choice but to acknowledge Bu Eunseol’s ascension. Even the Ten Demonic Sects had to bow to reality. The orthodox successor of Wolf Fang Pavilion and the primary candidate: Bu Eunseol. He was receiving the support of the entire Demonic Path.
But an unexpected event occurred in an unexpected place.
“My family cannot acknowledge it.”
Do Mu-jeok, the Lord of the Blood-Stained Blade Clan, refused to accept the fact that the entire Murim acknowledged. He went directly to the Divine Demonic Emperor and made a proposal.
“Please open the Seven Gates of the Blood Dragon.”
The Seven Gates of the Blood Dragon.
These were seven trials installed in the Demonic Palace by the Ten Demonic Sects in the past to determine the best rising star of each sect.
Breaking mechanisms and formations, improvisation, movement techniques, weaponry skills, mental strength, and finally, wisdom. They created gates to judge abilities in seven different fields, and victory was decided by speed.
“Haven’t we always decided the winner with the Seven Gates of the Blood Dragon when successor candidates were evenly matched?”
It was well known that Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess was supreme. But Do Mu-jeok argued that the successor must be proficient in all fields, not just killing. He insisted that Do Cheon-rin, known as the “Ten Perfections Scholar” and proficient in every discipline, was the superior candidate.
“Let the Deathly Shadow Squad Captain decide.”
The Divine Demonic Emperor gave the choice to Bu Eunseol.
Bu Eunseol answered as if it were natural. “I will enter the Seven Gates of the Blood Dragon.”
At that, all figures of the Demonic Palace nodded in admiration.
He is already the successor.
The commanders who didn’t look favorably upon him, and the high-ranking leaders who ignored him for lacking a political base, all realized the great dignity of Bu Eunseol, who avoided no challenge.
The Seven Gates were opened, but everyone intuited the result.
“Begin.”
The Divine Demonic Emperor did not waste time. As soon as the discussion ended, he ordered Bu Eunseol and Do Cheon-rin to the gates.
***
Seven Gates of the Blood Dragon.
It was installed near the Stone Mountain connected to the Northern Gate of the Demonic Palace.
The First Gate tested mechanism breaking. The Second, formation breaking. The Third, improvisation. The Fourth, the excellence of movement techniques. The Fifth, weaponry skills. The Sixth, mental fortitude. And finally, the Seventh Gate tested wisdom.
Each gate contained lethal traps; failure meant death. To pass, one had to possess outstanding talent and ability in all fields—martial arts, wisdom, guts, and mental strength.
From that perspective, the terrain was quite favorable to Do Cheon-rin.
Ten Perfections Scholar.
He had displayed genius talent in all fields, including scholarship and the arts. That point shone brightly in the Seven Gates of the Blood Dragon. No matter what difficult problems blocked his way, he solved them in a single breath.
This time, I can win!
Rumble.
Entering the Fourth Gate, a confident smile bloomed on Do Cheon-rin’s lips.
He was the successor of the Blood-Stained Blade Clan, raised from birth to rule the Demonic Palace. He hadn’t focused only on the sword; he had cultivated the abilities to become a leader capable of ruling a million demonic practitioners—economics, politics, religion, and strategy.
But…
Suddenly, the image of Bu Eunseol crouching inside the boat to Hell Island flashed through his mind.
I thought he was just a weird guy in monk robes.
When he first saw Bu Eunseol on that boat, his heart had been greatly shaken. Clearly, there was nothing superior about the boy compared to himself. But strangely, curiosity and fear had arisen.
“Become my comrade.”
Since then, Do Cheon-rin had constantly tried to conciliate and control Bu Eunseol. He didn’t need much. Just once. If Bu Eunseol accepted his proposal just once, that would be enough.
Once a human receives sweet help, they cannot cut it off.
Do Cheon-rin could guarantee it. The moment Bu Eunseol accepted the proposal, he could keep him under his thumb forever.
But regrettably, Bu Eunseol never accepted. He walked the thorny path without hesitation. At the time, Do Cheon-rin didn’t understand such behavior, but now he knew.
Ultimately, Bu Eunseol’s choice was right. The difficult, hard path… was the shortcut to arrive fastest.
“But I will definitely win.”
Do Cheon-rin clenched his fist tight.
Now, the position of Demonic Palace successor wasn’t important. If he won this match. If he could defeat Bu Eunseol just once… he felt he would have no regrets.
Ten Perfections Scholar Do Cheon-rin.
Like Seok Woo-haeng in the past, he too was longing to put the figure named Bu Eunseol beneath his feet, even just once.
Thud. Thud.
As he entered deep into the Fourth Gate—
Rumble!
Suddenly, the walls began to collapse from all sides.
The Fourth Gate was the trial of speed. One had to be faster than the collapse itself. One had to pass through here literally as fast as light.
Swoosh!
Do Cheon-rin’s shadow, wrapped in a layer of lightning, cut through the crumbling passage.
I will smash all these trials and surpass you!
Now, Do Cheon-rin decided not to look for an easy way. Like Bu Eunseol, he intended to crash forward with everything he had, smashing the obstacles to pieces with full power.
Since birth, he had utilized every resource available. Bu Eunseol would never be able to keep up with him.
The Fifth Gate, the Sixth Gate, and finally the Seventh Gate…
Do Cheon-rin, expending his full power, finally broke through.
Rumble.
As the final stone gate ground open and he stepped out, the exit came into view.
Thud. Thud.
Walking into the wide clearing, he scanned the area.
I won!
No matter where he looked, there were no traces of anyone having exited before him. Just in case, he checked dozens of times, but the clearing was empty.
Do Cheon-rin walked out, his face radiant with joy.
“Bu Eunseol!”
In his ecstasy, Do Cheon-rin clenched his two fists and shouted at the empty air.
“In the end, you could not surpass me!”