Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: The Elder's Killing Arts
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When Bu Eun-seol first encountered Gu Hong-cheong, the difference in their skills was like that of a newborn and an adult.
But thanks to his continuous development, that gap had narrowed considerably.
If Geol-wang was a robust adult fighting bare-handed, Bu Eun-seol was a youth wielding a sharp blade.
The Eighth Form of the Mu-sang-cheon-ryu and the Yeo-ui-jin-gyeol had become his trump cards, his sharp-edged blades.
“Show me your little tricks.”
Gu Hong-cheong, standing firmly in place, said coldly.
The long staff used by members of the Beggars' Sect was not tied to his waist.
His Dragon-Subduing Palm was the best in the Beggars' Sect, and with it, he had always been able to face the masters of the world with just his two hands.
*Shing.*
The moment the Muk-geom was revealed, the area around the Uhwa Terrace seemed to be instantly plunged into darkness.
“Hmph.”
Gu Hong-cheong’s eyes narrowed.
Unlike masters of the Transcendent Realm, masters of the Heaven-Reaching Realm do not determine victory or defeat by martial techniques alone.
The opponent’s height, stride, the type and length of their weapon. The distance, the direction of the sunlight…
They could acquire and analyze all information necessary for battle, predicting movements and techniques.
That was why, from the mere motion and aura of Bu Eun-seol drawing his sword, he could surmise the astonishing level of his internal energy.
“Were you counting on your internal energy?”
Gu Hong-cheong scoffed.
“But such things do not decide the outcome of a battle!”
*Rumble.*
In that instant, a massive palm suddenly appeared before Bu Eun-seol’s face.
It was the swiftest and most covert move of the Dragon-Subduing Palm, the Sudden Arrival.
*CRACK!*
As Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Geuk-sok-mu-yeong, a bottomless pit was carved into the spot where he had been standing.
It was a display of power that was hard to believe even after seeing it with one’s own eyes.
*Whoosh.*
Gu Hong-cheong lightly waved his hand once more.
A spiraling palm energy, like a horned dragon dancing in the water, shot toward Bu Eun-seol’s left.
It was the exquisite move of the Submerged Dragon, Do Not Act.
‘He can even omit the motions?’
To execute the fiercely powerful Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, vigorous stances were necessary.
But Gu Hong-cheong was accurately unleashing the Dragon-Subduing Palm with only slight movements.
It was proof that he could unleash any martial technique he desired, regardless of his posture.
In other words, this single move was enough to surmise that his martial prowess had reached the Heaven-Reaching Realm.
*BOOM!*
While Bu Eun-seol was lost in thought, a massive wave of palm energy surged forth in succession.
‘Good!’
Watching the Dragon-Subduing Palm, Bu Eun-seol drew upon his power.
*Whoooosh!*
A faint light flickered from his fist, then began to swirl into a ferocious brilliance.
He was about to counter the Dragon-Subduing Palm with the second form of the Gwon-ma-chil-sik, the Extreme Soul-Shaking Roar.
*BOOM!*
As the fist and palm energies collided with a ground-shaking roar, fierce waves of qi spread in all directions.
*Rumble, rumble.*
Dust billowed out everywhere, and as the wind blew it away, the surroundings became visible again.
Geol-wang stood tall, but Bu Eun-seol had been pushed back a step.
“Ho.”
Gu Hong-cheong’s lips formed a circle in surprise.
He had already surmised that Bu Eun-seol’s internal energy was no less than his own.
What surprised him was that Bu Eun-seol had so easily neutralized the sharp internal energy contained within the Dragon-Subduing Palm.
“So… even though his body was pushed back, he managed to block the Dragon-Subduing Palm's energy from penetrating his meridians.”
Gu Hong-cheong nodded and said.
“Indeed, a fellow with a trick up his sleeve. Worthy of challenging this elder alone!”
With a sharp cry, he created dozens of hand shadows this time and sent them pouring toward Bu Eun-seol.
It was the move from the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms that created the most hand shadows at once, the Shockwave Across a Hundred Li.
*Fwoosh.*
The dozens of hand shadows created a fan-like screen of light.
It looked similar to the Thousand-Hand Buddha Palm that Gwang-yeon had once used.
*Fwip!*
Bu Eun-seol did not confront the cascading palm energy; instead, he instantly used his movement technique to escape its range.
*Swish! Fwip-fwip-fwip!*
As Bu Eun-seol executed the Geuk-sok-mu-yeong, his body moved as if time had been sped up dozens of times, leaving only faint afterimages.
*BOOM!*
As palm strikes rained down in succession, Bu Eun-seol’s movement technique grew faster in response.
Unleashing the Geuk-sok-mu-yeong to its fullest without suppressing the sound of it tearing through the air, a clap of thunder echoed each time he cut through the void.
The Uhwa Terrace was vast, allowing Bu Eun-seol to use the Geuk-sok-mu-yeong to his heart's content.
“You rat-like bastard. I will seal off all your escape routes!”
Seeing Bu Eun-seol dodge and weave, Gu Hong-cheong changed his palm technique once again.
*Fwoooosh!*
An innumerable number of hand shadows poured out in all directions, beginning to erase the spaces where Bu Eun-seol could escape, one by one.
On the surface, it looked like a light shower of palm energy, but in reality, each strike carried enough power to demolish a pavilion in an instant.
Not only that, but the range of the palm force was so wide that even if Bu Eun-seol dodged the strikes, sharp internal energy would graze his body, shaking his meridians.
If this continued, Bu Eun-seol’s meridians would eventually be torn apart.
*Shing!*
Halting his movement, Bu Eun-seol finally drew the Muk-geom.
*Swish!*
He then unleashed a flurry of chaotic sword techniques toward the incoming palm energy.
It was the Myeol-hon-geom-beop, the supreme sword art of Heaven-Sundering, Earth-Annihilating.
“A chaotic sword art.”
When Bu Eun-seol drew his sword and fought back, Gu Hong-cheong smiled and closed the distance.
*Clang-clang-clang!*
Sword and hands intertwined in a chaotic mix.
Gu Hong-cheong unleashed dozens of Dragon-Subduing Palms in a complex pattern, yet his energy did not scatter.
His internal energy was unimaginably deep and thick.
“Keuk.”
As Gu Hong-cheong approached at extremely close range and unleashed his palm energy, Bu Eun-seol executed a sword technique.
Simultaneously, he shot out a sharp finger wind from his left hand. It was the Hyeon-hyo-ma-ji, a favorite of Hyeok So-jin.
“So this is the extent of your martial arts!”
Gu Hong-cheong laughed heartily and leisurely deployed his palm energy.
‘Strong internal energy, but nothing special.’
He had wanted a one-on-one duel, so I cautiously deployed my skills, thinking he might have something amazing…
But now that we’ve crossed hands, he’s no different from any other rising star from the Ten Sects of the Demonic Path.
“I suppose it’s time to end this.”
As Gu Hong-cheong rapidly unleashed hand shadows, Bu Eun-seol’s movements became disordered, and an opening was immediately exposed.
Masters who have reached the Heaven-Reaching Realm can predict most of the martial techniques of those in lower realms.
*Flick!*
As Gu Hong-cheong instantly exposed an opening and closed the distance, Bu Eun-seol switched his martial art mid-move.
He changed the Hyeon-hyo-ma-ji from his left hand to the Ma-ha-myeong-ok-gwon. He switched the technique of the Myeol-hon-geom-beop to the Man-roe-hyeol-geom.
*Fwip-fwip-fwip!*
Because Bu Eun-seol had constantly trained with Hyeok So-jin, he could execute the demonic arts of Heaven-Sundering, Earth-Annihilating as steadily as if he had practiced them for decades.
Not only that, but he was also mixing in the ultimate demonic arts taught to him directly by the demonic beings of Do-won-hyang.
‘He knows I’m predicting his moves, so he’s using a variety of martial arts.’
A peculiar light flickered in the eyes of Gu Hong-cheong, who had been stealthily closing in like a predator that had found its prey.
Changing martial arts mid-move was by no means an easy feat.
Furthermore, Bu Eun-seol was using the principle of covering weaknesses with strengths, alternating between demonic arts to patch their flaws.
It was a unique linked-attack strategy that even Gu Hong-cheong, who had roamed the martial world for decades, had rarely seen.
“Interesting. The subtleties of martial arts should be met with the subtleties of martial arts.”
As Bu Eun-seol bought time by unleashing a variety of demonic arts as one, Gu Hong-cheong grew even more excited.
“Open your eyes wide and watch. My martial arts!”
*Swoosh.*
With a sound like rushing wind, Gu Hong-cheong instantly withdrew the powerful palm energy capable of pushing mountains.
*Chwa-ra-rak!*
He then unleashed a web-like palm energy that wrapped around Bu Eun-seol’s body.
*BOOM! BOOM!*
Every time Gu Hong-cheong’s hands danced in the air like butterflies, large craters formed around Bu Eun-seol.
Each time, Bu Eun-seol tried to counter by mixing various demonic arts, but he never once managed to execute a full technique.
Just as he was about to gather his power and strike back, Gu Hong-cheong would instantly withdraw his palm energy.
‘He’s even grasping the flow of true qi in my body.’
To execute a sword art, one must fiercely draw upon their internal energy, causing new power to surge throughout the body.
Gu Hong-cheong was cutting off Bu Eun-seol’s movements and power just as he was about to exert his strength, preventing him from unleashing the full potential of his martial arts.
‘Is it still unreachable?’
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
Even among disciples of the same sect, it is difficult to discern the flow of another's true qi.
But Gu Hong-cheong was predicting not only Bu Eun-seol’s internal energy circulation but also the flow of his blood, just by watching his movements, and unleashing his palm energy accordingly.
The Heaven-Reaching Realm.
This realm, where a human's martial arts are said to reach the heavens, even enhances one's speed of thought and cognitive abilities.
In other words, he was employing a new battle strategy that an ordinary martial artist could not even attempt.
*Fwip!*
Finally, a Dragon-Subduing Palm found an opening and struck a vital point on Bu Eun-seol’s chest.
‘I can’t dodge it.’
The timing and angle were utterly impossible to avoid.
Bu Eun-seol quickly executed the Am-cheon-ma-ryong-jang to block the Dragon-Subduing Palm.
*CRACK!*
At that moment, with a loud explosion, Bu Eun-seol’s body was pushed back three more steps.
“Ptui.”
When he spat, a clot of blood the size of a pebble fell to the ground.
This single blow had inflicted a significant internal injury on Bu Eun-seol.
“Hehehe. I can see your death.”
Despite Gu Hong-cheong’s cry, Bu Eun-seol’s gaze did not waver.
‘I knew it wouldn’t be easy. But…’
To contend with a master of the Heaven-Reaching Realm, he needed at least five years.
But he had no intention of slowly honing his skills over that time to face Gu Hong-cheong.
The moment he met the Heavenly Demon, he had decided not to climb the stairs built by others.
‘I must avenge the Pung-un Squad members who died in my place.’
In five years, the skin of the buried Pung-un Squad members would begin to decay.
Bu Eun-seol had resolved to execute Geol-wang before their bodies began to decompose, leaving only bones.
“You’re an impressive one. To endure this much.”
As Bu Eun-seol, who seemed on the verge of collapse, stood up again like a roly-poly toy, a light of admiration appeared in Gu Hong-cheong’s eyes.
“In all my life, I have never seen such a reckless fool as you.”
Pausing his attack, Gu Hong-cheong asked with a puzzled expression.
“With that level of skill and talent, you could have reached the perfected stage of the Heaven-Reaching Realm within five years. Why did you attempt something so reckless?”
*Ssk.*
Wiping the blood from his lips, Bu Eun-seol gripped the Muk-geom again and said.
“An old man over a hundred could drop dead at any moment, you know.”
“What did you say?”
“They said you were one of the Seven Kings of the Death God, so I thought you’d possess some incredible martial art…”
Bu Eun-seol straightened his body, looked at Gu Hong-cheong, and grinned.
“But all you've managed to do is make me spit up a bit of blood.”
“Hehehe… Hahahaha!”
Gu Hong-cheong suddenly burst into a wild laugh, letting out a cry of admiration.
“Good, very good! To challenge this elder alone, you need that kind of nerve!”
Baring his yellowed teeth, he chuckled and said.
“From now on, I will unleash the killing arts that contain the insights of my entire life.”
The martial art that had elevated Gu Hong-cheong to the position of one of the Seven Kings of the Death God was not the Dragon-Subduing Palm.
It was the twenty-four moves of the Gu-hwa-seom-su, which he created to instantly sever the lifelines of his enemies.
It was a hand technique that not only compensated for the inherent weakness of the Beggars' Sect's arts—their single-minded focus on fierce power—but also allowed him to fully express the immense killing intent within him.
With this powerful hand technique, he earned the reputation as the best in the Beggars' Sect…
And it was because he created this technique, filled with killing intent, that he was excluded as a candidate for the Sect Leader position.
*Crack, crack.*
The bones in Gu Hong-cheong’s body cracked, and a brilliant light erupted from his eyes.
“Take this!”
With a battle cry like the roar of a beast, a sharp hand aura became millions of points of light and rained down on Bu Eun-seol’s body.
Gu Hong-cheong’s signature ultimate technique, the Gu-hwa-seom-su, was finally unleashed.
*Fwoooosh!*
The sharp hand aura, transformed into hundreds of shadows, was pouring down, blocking all of Bu Eun-seol’s movements.
It was on a level that he could not possibly block with the demonic arts of Heaven-Sundering, Earth-Annihilating that he had learned.
‘Now!’
*Woooong!*
A faint golden light surged from Bu Eun-seol’s body, wrapping around the hundreds of cascading hand shadows.
He had finally unleashed the Yeo-ui-jin-gyeol.
*Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!*
But in that instant, the Gu-hwa-seom-su poured down like a tidal wave, enveloping Bu Eun-seol’s body.
*FLASH!*
At that moment, a sharp light shot up into the sky for a fleeting instant.
The light suddenly exploded like a firework, turning into millions of points of light that rained down upon Gu Hong-cheong’s head.
The Eighth Form of the Mu-sang-cheon-ryu.
The ultimate counterattack form that comprehends all the changes unleashed by the enemy to deliver an absolutely inescapable counter.
The Cheon-sang-ji-tan was finally unleashed.