Chapter 348
Chapter 348
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 348
Chapter Title: The Phantom King
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‘Is she going to suck her blood?’
Watching the scene, Yu Cheong-rim bit his lip and reached into his robes.
No matter how hard he tried to clear his head, a fog seemed to cloud his vision, and his body felt sluggish, as if in a dream.
‘This, at least.’
What he pulled from his robes was a small tube.
It was the Firework Demon Flame Bomb he had used to escape the encirclement of Baek Un-saeng and the Murim Alliance warriors.
‘Please!’
Just as he managed to twist the end of the tube with his fingers,
“A useless gesture.”
With that bizarre voice, the Black and White Witch was suddenly right in front of him.
‘She wasn't even looking this way. How…?’
The moment the astonished Yu Cheong-rim’s eyes widened, the Black and White Witch slowly reached out and grabbed his fingers.
*Sizzle.*
As her fingertips touched him, flames erupted from Yu Cheong-rim's five fingers.
At the same time, he felt a pain as if his bones and blood vessels were melting away.
‘Ugh…’
Just as Yu Cheong-rim was about to let out a pained groan,
*CRACKLE!*
With a sound like thunder, an immense fist energy began to fall from the sky.
“Hmph.”
The sight was like a giant meteor descending to the earth.
The Black and White Witch, who had scoffed at the descending fist energy, instantly moved a dozen yards away.
*BOOM!*
Simultaneously, the ground where she had stood was torn apart, and dust flew in all directions.
*Thud.*
At the same time, a large shadow landed in front of Yu Cheong-rim from the air.
It was So Ok-rim.
“Gah, you—!”
So Ok-rim strode forward and raised her fist toward Yu Cheong-rim.
“You disloyal brat. I went out of my way to secure an escape route for you, and you couldn't even wait a second before bolting?”
“So… Lady So.”
“Why are you looking at me like that? Are your eyes closing on their own just thinking about the beating you’re about to get?”
Not realizing Yu Cheong-rim’s confused state, she thrust her fist at him a few more times before waving her hand dismissively.
“Fine. I’ll deal with you later.”
Cracking her knuckles, So Ok-rim turned to face the Black and White Witch.
“Just how many times are you going to mess with me?”
“…”
“Ugh, what’s with all that hair? Move it aside. Let me see your face.”
The Black and White Witch stared intently at So Ok-rim, then slowly curled her lips into a smile.
In that instant, the whole world seemed to be dyed in black, and strange energies felt like they were forcing their way into So Ok-rim’s mind.
“What are you staring at? You little…”
So Ok-rim’s expression turned strange as she raised a hand and started to approach the Black and White Witch.
Her head spun, and something in her stomach that induced nausea constantly surged up her throat.
“You’re trying everything, aren’t you? Spreading poison now?”
Although the Black and White Witch hadn’t made a single move, she had secretly released a potent hallucinogenic poison to confuse So Ok-rim’s mind.
*Hiss.*
Instantly deploying the Poison Gathering Arts to expel the toxin, So Ok-rim cracked her knuckles.
“Are you ready to be knocked down?”
And in a single breath, she threw a punch at the Black and White Witch.
“Eat this!”
***
A short while before So Ok-rim unleashed her fist technique on the Black and White Witch.
Bu Eun-seol was using his movement technique, heading toward the southeastern forest where Yu Cheong-rim and So Ok-rim were.
—Let’s go separately, with a bit of a time gap.
Bu Eun-seol had suddenly made a strange suggestion to So Ok-rim.
It was because something had clicked in his mind.
—Fine by me.
Seeing the look in his eyes, she knew he had a plan and nodded.
Then she had set off first, following Yu Cheong-rim’s tracks.
‘Something’s strange.’
Bu Eun-seol’s gaze lowered as he observed the direction So Ok-rim had gone.
His mind was currently filled with an inexplicable sense of unease.
‘The Black and White Witch wouldn't be able to use a cloning technique.’
The first time he felt this unease was when he and So Ok-rim had first started chasing the Black and White Witch.
As the two pursued her at high speed, the witch’s body had suddenly split in two and vanished.
Splitting one’s body in two was absolutely impossible.
However, the martial world had various unique methods and arts that could be called sorcery.
So, at first, he had only considered the possibility that she had used a unique technique.
But when they briefly clashed with her, the sense of unease grew too large to ignore.
Her severed hair being absorbed into her body. And her incredibly fast movements, which he couldn't even detect despite having activated the Beast Dao.
Most of all, hadn't she eluded him and So Ok-rim and vanished right before their eyes?
That was by no means a level of martial prowess that could be shown within the bounds of the Transcendent Heaven Realm.
‘If the Black and White Witch’s martial prowess had broken through the Transcendent Heaven Realm, she could have cut down me and So Ok-rim in an instant without needing to flee.’
What if the Black and White Witch was a peerless master who had reached the Martial Zenith Realm?
She wouldn't have needed to flee like this; with a flick of her finger, she could have struck him and So Ok-rim down in an instant.
But despite demonstrating enough overwhelming power to toy with them, the Black and White Witch chose to run.
The only conclusion was that her actual martial skill was lower than what she displayed.
‘She showed me a hallucination, then.’
After a moment of thought, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
What if everything the Black and White Witch had done so far was a hallucination, more vivid than reality?
That would mean she had cast a powerful mesmerism just by meeting his gaze.
‘That can’t be right.’
There was only one person in the martial world who had reached such a high level in the art of mesmerism.
Besides, wasn't he a dignified man, not a woman?
If nothing else, the body of the Black and White Witch, pouring out powerful energy into the air as if playing a stringed instrument, was undeniably a woman's body.
‘I’ll know once I face her.’
After about half a quarter-hour had passed, Bu Eun-seol once again soared into the air.
And in a single burst, he shot off toward the southeast, the direction So Ok-rim had disappeared.
***
“Dammit!”
Wiping the thick beads of sweat from her forehead, So Ok-rim wore a frustrated expression.
“This witch’s martial arts surpass mine?”
Unleashing her powerful fist technique once more, she let out a roar like a thunderclap.
“That’s ridiculous!”
*BOOM!*
The force of her fist spread out over a radius of several dozen yards, flawlessly surrounding the Black and White Witch’s body.
But once again, the fist energy passed harmlessly through the witch’s body.
“Alright!”
*Crack.*
An intense light gathered in her two fists.
She was about to use the final fist art of the Saintly Emperor, the Severing the Milky Way Form, which destroyed everything in its path.
“If you can block this, I’ll admit I’ve lost…”
But as she drew up her internal energy to its maximum, a flash went through So Ok-rim’s mind.
‘There’s no scent?’
She was born with an exceptionally keen sense of smell.
Moreover, when she drew upon the Severing the Milky Way Form, all the air within a dozen-yard radius would pour into her palms.
Because of this, whenever she used the technique, she could always smell the subtle body odor of her enemy.
But even though the Black and White Witch stood right before her, she couldn't smell a thing.
‘So that’s what it was!’
Only then did So Ok-rim realize that everything she was seeing was an illusion.
She quickly stopped the Severing the Milky Way Form and glared at the Black and White Witch.
She was clearly standing right in front of her, but her body scent could be faintly detected from another direction.
This meant what she was seeing was an illusion, and the real witch was watching her from somewhere else.
‘An illusion I can’t even perceive…’
So Ok-rim bit her lip.
There was only one way to break such a terrifying mesmerism.
“Fine!”
Having finally made a decision, So Ok-rim shouted loudly.
And she punched herself in the face with all her might.
*THWACK!*
With a tremendous impact, one of So Ok-rim’s cheeks swelled up enormously.
“Ptui.”
As she spat out blood, a brilliant light returned to her hazy eyes.
At the same time, she could see the real Black and White Witch watching her from a dozen yards away.
“Your martial arts are quite impressive.”
The Black and White Witch spoke in an eerie voice.
“It’s surprising enough that you detected you were caught in my illusion, but to harm yourself to break free…”
Admiration was laced in the bizarre voice that was neither male nor female.
Also, by referring to herself as ‘this old one,’ it could be inferred that she was older than she appeared, and her internal energy was just as profound.
“I have made countless enemies die within my illusions, but there has never been one who tried to awaken through such a crude method as you.”
The Black and White Witch readily admitted her technique was an ‘illusion.’
That meant she was either confident So Ok-rim would never be able to break free from the illusion… or she was confident she could kill her even if she did.
“So it was that after all.”
Just then, a low voice echoed from a distant, large tree.
*Whoosh.*
With a sound of cutting air, a gray shadow landed in front of the Black and White Witch.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
“I had my suspicions, but to think you really are the Black and White Witch.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Phantom King.”
Bu Eun-seol said in a cold voice.
“I don’t know why one of the Seven Kings of the Death God is engaging in such bizarre acts.”
The Phantom King, Sa Ok-cheong.
He was the master who had most recently acquired that title among the Seven Kings of the Death God.
In terms of age, he was similar to Gu Hong-cheong and should have been included among the Ten Demonic Masters.
However, he rarely showed himself in the martial world, and because he primarily used mesmerism, he could not be properly evaluated.
But twenty years ago, he used his mesmerism to make all the Orthodox Faction’s renowned heroes, who were gathered at the Flying Heaven Hero Bridge, destroy themselves.
At the same time, he single-handedly struck down the Sword King, Danmok Cheon-seung, who was there, and finally ascended to the rank of the Seven Kings of the Death God.
‘If it’s the Phantom King, this is going to be a headache.’
Listening to the conversation between Bu Eun-seol and the Phantom King, So Ok-rim frowned.
The Phantom King’s art of mesmerism had reached a truly unprecedented level.
It was known that he didn’t just show simple illusions; even after waking, one couldn't distinguish between reality and fantasy… and he could control the mind to weaken one's internal energy or even physical abilities.
“This old one is the Phantom King?”
Returning to an eerie female voice, the Black and White Witch scoffed.
“Is he not a dignified man?”
“A man, yes, but also a woman.”
Bu Eun-seol looked at the Black and White Witch with a relaxed expression.
“You are intersex, are you not?”
Intersex.
Also called half-yin, half-yang, they possess both female and male energies.
An intersex person not only has both male and female reproductive organs but also has the distinct appearance of either a man or a woman.
Therefore, unless they undressed or revealed it themselves, no one would know they were intersex.
“What nonsense is this?”
The Black and White Witch’s voice became as thin as a young girl’s.
The coquettish air flowing from her entire body became even more bewitching, and the lines of her body, reflected in the moonlight, became fuller.
“Do I look intersex to you?”
“An intersex person possesses all the qualities of both man and woman.”
Bu Eun-seol showed a confident smile.
“At first, I thought you were simply a woman who was formerly a courtesan. The coquettishness unique to former courtesans isn't something that can be imitated in an instant.”
Then he spoke in a low voice.
“But a master who was a former courtesan has periodically thrown the martial world into chaos, and despite numerous masters tracking her, her identity, name, and even martial arts have not been revealed? No matter how capable she is, wouldn’t that be difficult?”
Pausing for a moment, a torch-like glint appeared in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
“You insisted on such a bizarre outfit to be called a witch in the first place to emphasize that you were female. If you change your gender entirely, tracking becomes impossible.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“You probably lived as a child courtesan from a young age, living as a woman for a certain period. Then you realized you were intersex and have been living freely, changing your gender at will, haven't you?”
A moment of silence fell.
“A clever one, but foolish at the same time.”
Finally, the Black and White Witch—no, the Phantom King, Sa Ok-cheong—nodded, acknowledging his words.
“If you knew this body was the Phantom King, you should have run away quickly. Why are you staring at me with your eyes wide open?”
In that instant, his eyes burned red, and a cloud-like haze rose from them.
But Bu Eun-seol scoffed and said,
“Just because one's eyes are open doesn't mean they are seeing.”
*Shing.*
Drawing the Dark Sword, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Meteor Over Moon Form, thrusting swiftly at his neck.
“Ho.”
Slightly surprised, Sa Ok-cheong stepped back.
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes had lost their focus. Noticing this, Sa Ok-cheong nodded.
“I see. You pressed the Seung-eup acupoint to temporarily blind yourself.”
Bu Eun-seol had trained in the Beast Dao while having his Seung-eup acupoint pressed, and he had now reached the highest stage, Gongsim Tongnyeong.
Therefore, even if he were blind, he would feel no inconvenience.
In reality, he couldn't see anything, but he moved more naturally than if his eyes were open.
“Huhu. Hahahaha!”
Sa Ok-cheong burst into laughter with a bizarre voice that was neither male nor female and nodded.
“You’ve used your head quite well. But you’ve picked the wrong opponent.”
He scoffed and said with a casual laugh.
“If one could avoid my mesmerism by blinding themselves, how could this old one be called the Phantom King?”
The moment he finished speaking, Bu Eun-seol caught a sour scent.
At the same time, a strange ringing echoed in his head, feeling as if it were shaking his brain.
“Your internal energy should be slowly hitting rock bottom by now.”
As he said that, the internal energy stored in Bu Eun-seol’s dantian began to disappear as if it were being drained.
The Empty Spirit Soul-Stealing Secret Words.
The highest realm of mesmerism, which allowed one to control the mind with voice alone, had been unleashed.
Furthermore, having discerned that Bu Eun-seol's internal energy and martial skill were formidable, Sa Ok-cheong had simultaneously deployed a potent fragrant poison that induced intense hallucinations with a single whiff.
He was casting a powerful suggestion using the Intoxicating Illusion Odor.
“Heavy shackles are bound to your legs. That is why you cannot move nimbly.”
*Thump.*
As Sa Ok-cheong’s voice reached him, Bu Eun-seol’s ankles felt constrained.
At the same time, he felt as if heavy shackles were attached to his legs, making it difficult to move.
Although no such thing had happened, Bu Eun-seol’s body was feeling as if it had actually occurred.
*Clank.*
But Bu Eun-seol gripped the Dark Sword with an unconcerned expression.
“Are you done now?”
Calmly raising the Dark Sword, Bu Eun-seol said in a low voice.
“If you’re done with your illusions, hurry up and attack. Waiting is boring.”
“Huhu. Hahahaha!”
Sa Ok-cheong burst into a wild laugh with a dumbfounded expression.
*Halt.*
He stopped laughing and said in a sinister voice.
“You must be dying to die.”
*Whoosh!*
Raising his sharp fingernails, Sa Ok-cheong became hundreds of shadows, circling Bu Eun-seol.
Even if one hadn't pressed their Seung-eup acupoint, it would have been impossible to be certain which was real and which was false.
Finally, at the moment a claw shadow, arcing in from an unseen angle, dug into Bu Eun-seol’s neck,
*CLANG!*
The Dark Sword swung by Bu Eun-seol instantly deflected Sa Ok-cheong’s claw shadow.
“Pathetic. Is this the level of the Seven Kings of the Death God?”
For a moment, Sa Ok-cheong wore a surprised expression.
Bu Eun-seol was blind, and his internal energy had been reduced to less than eighty percent.
On top of that, he was under the suggestion that heavy shackles were attached to both his legs.
So how could he break the first move of his Shadow-Shattering Body-Staining Art in an instant?
‘Don’t tell me this brat’s internal energy exceeds five cycles?’
The maximum amount one could lower internal energy by subduing the mind with the Empty Spirit Soul-Stealing Secret Words was about eighty percent.
If one tried to forcefully lower it further with suggestion, the body would sense that there was no issue with the internal energy and the hypnosis would immediately break.
Yet, the internal energy Bu Eun-seol projected from his sword felt like it surpassed a full cycle, didn’t it?
As Bu Eun-seol’s internal energy and martial arts surpassed his imagination, a strange light blazed in Sa Ok-cheong’s eyes.
In that moment, the name of the greatest rising star of the Demonic Path, who had ascended to the seat of the Seven Kings of the Death God at a young age, came to his mind.
“You’re Bu Eun-seol!”
The successor of the Demonic Progenitor, Bu Eun-seol.
Realizing that the young man before him was that powerful new-generation grandmaster, he burst into a delighted laugh instead.
“Excellent! This is excellent!”
He let out a bizarre laugh and nodded repeatedly.
“If I take your head, they will accept this old one again!”
A peculiar light flickered in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
The Phantom King had not shown himself in the martial world for a long time. Yet he was speaking as if he had belonged to some group for a long time?
“Die!”
Sa Ok-cheong shot a finger wind at Bu Eun-seol with a voice full of glee.
Excluding his secret mesmerism arts, his true skills were the Blood Spirit Soul-Guiding Finger, which could pierce through a large tree in an instant, and the Yin Dew Binding Hand.
The Blood Spirit Soul-Guiding Finger boasted power comparable to the Bullet King's internal energy projectiles at long range, and the Yin Dew Binding Hand, used at close range, was on par with Shaolin's Dragon Claw Hand.
In other words, even without using mesmerism, Sa Ok-cheong's martial prowess was more than enough to be one of the Seven Kings of the Death God.
*Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!*
Dozens of sharp lines dug into Bu Eun-seol’s vitals.
The Soul-Guiding Finger was so fast and its energy so thin, like a strand of hair, that it was impossible to defend against.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
In that moment, two sharp streams of sword energy erupted from Bu Eun-seol’s body to counter the Soul-Guiding Finger.
The ultimate secret art of the Martial Emperor, the Thirteen Nocturnes, was unleashed.
*Patter, patter, patter.*
Unlike the True Art of Wish Fulfillment, the Thirteen Nocturnes did not require immense internal energy.
Not only that, but every move contained all the profoundness of Orthodox Faction martial arts.
Bu Eun-seol predicted all the trajectories of the Soul-Guiding Finger and unleashed the Thirteen Nocturnes, deflecting the steel-piercing finger attacks at an angle.
“Incredible!”
Sa Ok-cheong let out a cry of admiration and closed the distance.
He thought he was just skilled with the sword.
To think he could unleash such a profound martial art?
“But this is as far as you go.”
Sa Ok-cheong’s lips curled up.
Overpowering an enemy with the profoundness of martial arts was only possible at the Pinnacle Realm.
At that level, even without internal energy, one could defeat an enemy with the profoundness of their moves.
But from the Transcendent Heaven Realm, it was different.
Because masters of the Transcendent Heaven Realm displayed a powerful martial might that transcended the power derived from the profoundness of their moves.
Without comparable internal energy, one could not continue the exchange.
“The difference in internal energy can never be bridged.”
As Sa Ok-cheong raised one hand, a massive shockwave, large enough to block out the sun, flashed in the air.
As Bu Eun-seol tried to overcome the difference in strength with the profoundness of his martial arts, he intended to shatter it with pure internal energy in an instant.
“Die.”
For a moment, time seemed to stop, and then a giant sphere was already pouring down before Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
It was a sudden attack that exploited the gap in internal energy, and it was too fast to have time to dodge.
Just as the sphere, surrounded by light, was about to engulf Bu Eun-seol’s entire body,
*BOOM!*
With a tremendous explosion, a giant flame of true energy spread out for dozens of yards, soaring into the sky.
Simultaneously, with a gust of wind, the dust cleared, revealing a burly figure.
“Kugh.”
With a choked groan, a large shadow now stood in front of Bu Eun-seol with its arms spread wide.
It was So Ok-rim.