Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: The Lord of the Black Serpent
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‘So they used the Nu River to get in!’
*Grind.*
Do Cheon-rin, having grasped the situation, ground his teeth until they threatened to shatter.
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had completed every mission deemed impossible.
Do Cheon-rin was well aware of this and had remained constantly vigilant.
That was why he'd sent spies and messengers to report on Bu Eun-seol and the Shadow Spirit Squad's movements, but…
How on earth had they deceived everyone and instantly penetrated the heart of the Black Serpent Guild?
Furthermore, since the Nu River offered a direct route to the Serpent Sword Promontory, wasn't it one of the Black Serpent Guild's most heavily defended areas?
‘Could it be the Qinghai Seven Swords Sect?’
Do Cheon-rin quickly shook his head.
He had been carefully monitoring the Qinghai Seven Swords Sect's movements, just in case.
But their forces hadn't moved at all. Besides, didn't they operate only small merchant ships, not warships?
‘Don't tell me they broke through the coastal defenses with only the Shadow Spirit Squad?’
There was one thing Do Cheon-rin, known as the Scholar of Ten Perfections, had overlooked…
The martial prowess of the Shadow Spirit Squad.
He knew Bu Eun-seol was formidable, but he hadn't considered the Shadow Spirit Squad, composed of former members of the Mubon Squad, to be a particularly powerful force.
‘Was that my mistake?’
Do Cheon-rin bit his lip.
Only now did he realize that the martial skill of the squad members entering the Black Serpent Palace was mighty enough to rival a first-rate combat unit.
*CRASH!*
In that time, the Shadow Spirit Squad members had shattered the defensive line and immediately entered the Black Serpent Palace, where the guild's lord resided.
Watching this, Do Cheon-rin's eyes widened as if they would tear.
"No!"
Finally losing his composure, he unleashed his Blood Flame Saber Technique with all his might and charged forward.
He had to prevent Bu Eun-seol from taking the Black Serpent Guild Lord's head, no matter what.
***
As the Shadow Spirit Squad entered the Black Serpent Palace, the Black Serpent Guild members guarding it poured out like a flood.
"Won Se-mun! We have to get the Commander through first!"
At that moment, Wi Cheon-gyeong stepped forward, unleashing a torrent of hidden weapons.
The Blood Mist Corps would arrive soon.
Bu Eun-seol had to take the Black Serpent Guild Lord's head before they arrived.
"Shut up! I know!"
Won Se-mun shouted, generating a powerful sword wind to push back the Black Serpent members.
"Jo Nam-cheon! What are the guys from the Third Team doing?!"
Before he could even finish, the members of the Third Team, trained in the Black Venom Demonic Arts, charged forward from behind with all their strength, overwhelming the Black Serpent members.
While Jo Nam-cheon and the Third Team used their Black Venom Demonic Arts to clear a path, Wi Cheon-gyeong and the Second Team members spread out to the left and right, shattering the enemy's formation.
Once Won Se-mun and the First Team broke through the center, Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong followed, leading the Fourth and Fifth Teams in a relentless assault.
The remaining stragglers were left for the successors of the Qinghai Seven Swords Sect at the rear.
"Commander! We'll handle things here!"
Won Se-mun shouted, and Bu Eun-seol nodded, darting past his squad members and unleashing a swift movement technique.
Then, Jo Nam-cheon called out again.
"Brother Myo, Brother Yu, follow the Commander!"
Aside from Bu Eun-seol, Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong were the strongest martial artists.
"We'll take care of this side!"
"Don't get cocky. We're barely holding on here!"
Myo Cheon-u, who was unleashing a flurry of palm techniques, shouted back, and Jo Nam-cheon roared in response.
"You think that bandit leader is going to be alone? I said go, now!"
At his cry, Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong looked at each other.
The Shadow Spirit Squad members prioritized Bu Eun-seol's safety over their own.
If something happened to Bu Eun-seol, they would blame themselves forever.
"Fine!"
Yu Un-ryong was the first to break from the formation and chase after Bu Eun-seol. Myo Cheon-u immediately followed, activating his movement technique.
*Swish!*
Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong pressed deeper into the Black Serpent Palace with all their might.
As they neared the entrance to the main hall, five Black Serpent members wielding different weapons blocked their path.
They were the five Hall Masters of the Black Serpent Guild, known as the Five Killing Gods.
"The defensive line hasn't even been breached. How did these Demonic Cult bastards crawl all the way here?"
The Evil Sword, No Gon, leader of the Five Killing Gods, said with a glint in his eyes.
"Don't tell me they came by boat?"
"Bu Eun-seol."
At that moment, Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong stepped forward.
"We'll take care of them. You go on ahead."
Bu Eun-seol hesitated for a moment.
The Five Killing Gods were masters of the Transcendent Realm who had long made a name for themselves in the Murim.
Even if Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong's skills had risen dramatically of late, it would be an extremely dangerous fight.
"There's no time to hesitate!"
Yu Un-ryong shouted.
"That bastard Do Cheon-rin will be here soon. Are you going to let all the squad's hard work go to waste?!"
Hearing this, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
*Vmmm!*
Bu Eun-seol gathered his internal energy and shot out his left hand in a single motion.
Threads of internal energy, like a spider's web, poured out, pushing the Five Killing Gods who were blocking the hall to the sides.
"What is this?!"
Startled, they drew their weapons and prepared to fight back.
But Bu Eun-seol had already slipped through the gap with a movement technique as fast as lightning.
*Clang.*
He vanished into the main hall in an instant.
"After him!"
Just as the Five Killing Gods urgently tried to enter the hall,
*Thud.*
Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong blocked the doorway and let out a thunderous roar.
"You will not take another step forward!"
***
*Swish!*
Having entered the depths of the main hall in a single breath, Bu Eun-seol felt a strange sensation.
Inside the main hall, Bu Eun-seol sensed a peculiar atmosphere and a strange fragrance tickling his nose.
‘Human Flower?’
The inside of the hall was filled with the same unique scent that had emanated from the secret underground building he had infiltrated with Yu Hwa-ryeong.
Why would such a fragrance be coming from the residence of the lord who ruled the Black Serpent Guild?
*Step, step.*
Sensing something was amiss, Bu Eun-seol slowly walked deeper into the hall.
In the center of the hall stood a shield-shaped sculpture symbolizing the Black Serpent Guild, and leaning against it was a figure dressed in black.
His long, disheveled hair was splayed out, and a long sword was fastened to his waist.
It was Dongri Jeok, once known as the Black Death, the leader of the bandit group that had terrorized the great desert, and now the lord of the Black Serpent Guild.
"How unexpected."
Dongri Jeok, still leaning against the sculpture, tilted his head as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"I expected the Demonic Cult's forces to swarm me. To think you'd come in all alone."
Bu Eun-seol was looking not at Dongri Jeok's face, but at his fingers.
His fingers were stained black, a result of mastering a unique finger art called the Black Blood Finger Force.
The Black Blood Finger Force could be used like a claw technique or to project finger winds.
It was also said that upon reaching the Grand Prime realm, one could use their fingers like a sword.
Dongri Jeok's fingers were entirely stained black… He had clearly reached the Grand Prime realm, capable of using the Finger Sword.
"So that's how it is."
Dongri Jeok looked at Bu Eun-seol and nodded as if he understood something.
"You must be one of the candidates for the Demonic Cult's succession."
As if he'd figured everything out, he chuckled and said.
"My head is the key to that succession, after all."
Bu Eun-seol wore a surprised expression.
It wasn't because Dongri Jeok knew the Demonic Cult's internal affairs so well. Spies could be planted anywhere.
Rather, it was because Dongri Jeok, the lord of the Black Serpent Guild, was known to be an incredibly cruel killing demon.
But now, his gaze was solemn, and he exuded an aura like that of a Righteous Sect master.
"You've reached the pinnacle of the demonic path."
Bu Eun-seol, staring intently at Dongri Jeok, spoke calmly.
"That's why your killing intent has vanished."
"Hahaha. Around my sixtieth birthday, the killing intent in my body suddenly disappeared."
Dongri Jeok said with a grin.
"After that, I lost interest in killing people myself and focused on expanding my power."
"Was it that regrettable?"
Bu Eun-seol clicked his tongue, his eyes filled with contempt.
"So much so that you had to pickle your entire body in drugs just to stay alive."
"Hoh, you're sharp."
Dongri Jeok maintained the appearance of a man just past his coming-of-age.
It was unlikely he had reached the Martial Apex realm and achieved rejuvenation.
Moreover, while his features were those of a young man, his body carried the scent that emanated from the place where Human Flowers were cultivated…
He was clearly clinging to his youth through some grotesque method.
"I, the lord of this guild, united scattered bands of thieves to create the Black Serpent Guild, a force that surpasses any other in the Murim."
Dongri Jeok didn't deny it, a smile playing on his lips.
"Now that I've just achieved this great work, wouldn't it be a pity to just watch it all as a withered old man?"
"In that case, was it the Eastern Depot that backed the Black Serpent Guild, allowing it to grow its power?"
"The Eastern Depot? Hahaha."
Dongri Jeok laughed heartily and shook his head.
"I see now that you know nothing at all."
He stared at Bu Eun-seol and slowly approached.
And then he said something profound.
"Then again, as a successor of the Demonic Cult, it's only natural you wouldn't know."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Dongri Jeok said, raising a finger from which a black haze shimmered.
"Because King Yama will tell you the rest of the story."
*Step, step.*
Dongri Jeok's aura was slightly different from the Demonic Path masters he had fought before.
He didn't reveal much killing intent, instead exuding a gentle aura, as if he were teaching a lesson.
‘It's a similar situation to Gu Ju-hon.’
Normally, the martial arts of Dongri Jeok, the Black Serpent Guild Lord, would be no match for Bu Eun-seol, who had stepped into the Profound Heaven Realm.
But the grotesque and unique drug created from Human Flowers could instantly elevate one's physical body and even their martial realm.
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol had an absurd thought.
What would happen if an absolute master like the Demonic Heavenly Emperor took that drug?
‘The effect probably only works up to the Transcendent Realm.’
To step into the Profound Heaven Realm meant to have reached the limits of the physical body.
In other words, without achieving a higher level of enlightenment, one couldn't hope for even an inch of progress, no matter how many drugs or elixirs they consumed.
*Chik!*
In that instant, a sharp force shot toward the space between Bu Eun-seol's eyebrows.
It was a stealthy finger force, without form or sound.
Yet, he was able to hear a faint sound thanks to the ability of his Beastly Senses, which could even detect the flow of air.
*Tsssts.*
As Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Extreme Speed Shadowless technique, his form blurred.
At the same time, he unhesitatingly deployed the Formless Heavenly Flow.
*Flash!*
Along with a brilliant light, a sharp, swift sword strike shot toward Dongri Jeok's brow. No, it should have.
*Chiiik!*
He had somehow predicted the trajectory of the Formless Heavenly Flow and used his Black Blood Finger Force to halt the sword technique's advance.
‘Swordless Defeats Sword?’
Dongri Jeok had used his Black Blood Finger Force to execute the principle of Swordless Defeats Sword, the art of subduing an armed opponent without a weapon.
‘Interesting.’
Back on Hell Island, when Bu Eun-seol had reached the advanced hall of the Hwau Sword Sect, Dan Cheon-yang had ordered him to perform Swordless Defeats Sword.
But at the time, he had no deep knowledge of swordsmanship.
In the end, he had expressed the concept by using his Beastly Senses to snatch Dan Cheon-yang's sword.
‘But it's different now.’
Bu Eun-seol spun his Ink Sword and gripped it in a reverse hold.
Then, he channeled true energy into his index and middle fingers, aiming simultaneously for Dongri Jeok's neck and lower abdomen.
*Shwiik!*
As a sharp, blade-like force poured out and struck at his openings, Dongri Jeok was forced to halt his attack and retreat a few steps.
"Your martial arts are quite something."
Dongri Jeok exclaimed in admiration.
The highest level of Swordless Defeats Sword was to be able to execute sword techniques without any restriction, with or without a sword.
Bu Eun-seol had not only demonstrated a power comparable to using a sword with his bare fingers… but his timing and direction were also exquisite.
He was overwhelming Dongri Jeok in both internal energy and the depth of his swordsmanship.
"Then let's get serious."
Realizing that Bu Eun-seol's prowess surpassed his own, a sallow yellow energy began to flow from Dongri Jeok's eyes.
It was clear he was enhancing his martial arts not only with Human Flowers, but also with some other grand technique or drug.
‘So he's different from Gu Ju-hon.’
Unlike Gu Ju-hon, Dongri Jeok not only possessed a clear mind, but Bu Eun-seol also couldn't sense any separate space where he stored vital essence and elixirs.
*Kwarururung!*
In that time, Dongri Jeok used his Black Blood Finger Force to slash at Bu Eun-seol's neck.
Unlike before, a faint sound of thunder echoed, and the Black Blood Finger Force had become distinct enough to be visible to the naked eye.
‘Or perhaps the drug has been improved since then.’
What if Dongri Jeok could still move even after suffering a fatal wound, like Gu Ju-hon?
This fight would become much more difficult than anticipated.
*Swish-swish-swish-swish!*
Evading the Black Blood Finger Force, Bu Eun-seol swiftly swung his Ink Sword, generating dozens of sword energies.
And those sword energies flew toward Dongri Jeok's body with a time lag.
It was the exquisite technique of Controlling the Misty Clouds.
"Hmph."
Dongri Jeok dodged the sword energies pouring in one by one and, on the contrary, closed the distance to Bu Eun-seol.
And he began to execute his Finger Sword technique, pouring the Black Blood Finger Force from all five fingers.
*Chik! Chik!*
The Finger Sword created from the Black Blood Finger Force could freely control its sharp energy, just like a treasured sword.
Whenever Bu Eun-seol tried to cut the Finger Sword with his Ink Sword, Dongri Jeok would instantly release the energy and then thrust again.
Nevertheless, he couldn't withstand Bu Eun-seol's internal energy and swordsmanship, and was repeatedly pushed back.
‘He's specialized in tactics for fighting stronger opponents.’
Bu Eun-seol felt a strange sensation.
He had always faced opponents stronger than himself, overwhelming them with superior tactics and improvisation.
But now, the situation was completely reversed.
Bu Eun-seol was a cut above in both internal energy and martial arts, while Dongri Jeok was unraveling his attacks one by one with various techniques and improvisation.
‘So this is what it's like.’
As Bu Eun-seol fought fiercely with Dongri Jeok, a sense of leisure blossomed in a corner of his mind.
It wasn't arrogance, but a natural reaction.
Having reached the early stages of the Profound Heaven Realm, he could predict all of Dongri Jeok's movements and techniques.
Therefore, there was no need to attack with all his might, and a sense of ease naturally formed in his mind.
‘I must stay on guard.’
An ordinary martial artist would have thought it an easy victory and continued to fight leisurely.
But Bu Eun-seol had never once been optimistic about victory.
He always put his life on the line and fought with all his strength.
*Chiiiing!*
Seeing not a single opening or waver in Bu Eun-seol's swordsmanship, the look in Dongri Jeok's eyes changed.
"Your martial arts are truly incredible!"
Dongri Jeok let out a cry of admiration.
*Hwiririk.*
After retreating in a single breath, he suddenly ground his teeth.
‘Poison? No.’
With a *click*, he swallowed something, and his eyes turned a sallow yellow.
At the same time, his pupils elongated into triangles like a reptile's, and the veins all over his body began to bulge.
‘I see. There are stages.’
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand everything.
That drug, which explosively augmented one's physical abilities and internal energy using human vital essence and elixirs…
Its effects varied depending on the number of doses and the amount consumed. It was clear that the more concentrated it became, the more it gnawed away at one's very soul.
*Paaat!*
Once again enhanced, Dongri Jeok's Black Blood Finger Force shot toward Bu Eun-seol's body.
Not only did his original skill surpass Gu Ju-hon's, but his mind was also still intact.
Therefore, by continuously consuming the drug, he had become a martial artist capable of facing Bu Eun-seol.
‘Good.’
As Dongri Jeok grew stronger, Bu Eun-seol's concentration paradoxically increased.
The more attacks he received, the more his body and spirit merged into one, and the power of his swordsmanship grew even stronger.
The stronger the enemy, the stronger I become.
That was the essence of the Nang-ya-gak's martial arts… and Bu Eun-seol's specialty, developing his skills through life-or-death struggles.
"Die!"
After the close-quarters battle continued for more than a quarter of an hour, Dongri Jeok, sensing his disadvantage, let out a great roar and began to move rapidly.
*Chik-chik-chik-chik!*
As if using a cloning technique, he transformed into four shadows, gathered the Black Blood Finger Force in all ten of his fingers, and surrounded Bu Eun-seol.
He had unleashed his ultimate and final technique, Black Blood Under Heaven.
‘Is it a trap?’
A strange light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
The two were still in the middle of a fierce exchange; it wasn't the right time to launch a decisive blow.
So why would he muster all his energy in this situation to unleash his final technique?
*Swish!*
Just as the ultimate move of Black Blood Under Heaven stirred up a whirlwind and was about to engulf Bu Eun-seol, something strange happened.
*Thud.*
Suddenly, Bu Eun-seol stopped moving and stood completely still.