Chapter 416
Chapter 416
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 416
Chapter Title: The Poison Saint's Awakening
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416.
*Crack!*
With a sound like the heavens and earth tearing apart, a storm of energy raged from the darkness, surging toward the assassins.
The ultimate art of the Martial Emperor, the Thirteen Nights Art, was unleashed.
*Spurt!*
Each time the razor-sharp energy sliced through the air, blood sprayed, and assassins began to fall like logs.
To Bu Eun-seol, against whom poison and hidden weapons were utterly useless, the assassins of Blood Evil were no different than stationary wooden dolls.
*Thud. Thud.*
It took less than half a quarter-hour to fell all fifty-some assassins.
*Drip, drip, drip.*
As the formation shattered, an ink-like liquid trickled down from the blackened sky, which slowly began to return to its original state.
*Swish!*
Even though the formation was broken, Bu Eun-seol’s assault did not stop.
*Swoooosh!*
As Bu Eun-seol became a streak of light, a relentless, sharp radiance poured from his body.
Every time his form, moving at extreme speed, brushed past the assassins, their heads were invariably separated from their bodies.
“Re-Retreat!”
As the assassins tried to escape the manor, a sharp aura like the tip of a spear flowed from Bu Eun-seol’s hands.
It suddenly formed a whirlwind, coalescing at his fingertips.
He had altered the nature of the Thirteen Nights Art, transforming its raging energy into a whirlwind.
*Whoooosh!*
Each time Bu Eun-seol, moving like lightning, extended his hand, a sharp vortex of energy that seemed to pierce the heavens passed through their bodies.
“Ugh!”
“Gah!”
It was a one-sided slaughter.
In less than half an hour, every assassin in the manor had become a cold corpse.
The only survivor was the Lord of Blood Evil, Jo Baek-san.
“A band of assassins overrated for their poison skills.”
Bu Eun-seol revealed himself and looked at Jo Baek-san with a disappointed expression.
He had actually held some small expectation on his way here.
An assassination squad capable of striking the Dang Clan directly should have possessed considerable skill, after all.
But when he lifted the lid, they were a common group of assassins, falling far short of his expectations.
*Tremble, tremble, tremble.*
For seventy years, Jo Baek-san had roamed the martial world, a seasoned assassin who had weathered every storm imaginable.
But he had never seen a master who could unleash such terrifying techniques with the exact same power, without a single shred of error, as the young man before him.
This was because a human’s killing intent was not infinite.
When you cut down a foe, your killing intent dulls accordingly.
No matter how outstanding the master, after unleashing so many killing moves, it was normal for their killing intent to diminish and their techniques to lose their edge.
But the young man—no, the monster—before him… even after cutting down over three hundred assassins, his killing intent had not dulled, nor had his techniques slowed.
*Step, step.*
As the monstrous young man of slaughter walked toward him,
*Drip.*
Jo Baek-san unknowingly pissed himself.
“Who are you?”
Bu Eun-seol did not answer Jo Baek-san’s question, merely looking down at him with crimson-tinged eyes.
At that moment, a name surfaced in Jo Baek-san’s mind.
The name of the heir of the Demonic Sanctum, the greatest young grandmaster of the Demonic Path.
“Could it be… the Martial Soul…”
*Slice!*
In that instant, a sharp wind gusted, and Jo Baek-san’s vision tilted.
The energy of the Thirteen Nights Art had sliced his neck at an angle.
*Spurt! Drip, drip.*
A red line was drawn diagonally across Jo Baek-san’s neck, and soon, his head rolled to the ground.
*Thud.*
As the head fell, the body also tumbled to the floor.
That was the death of Jo Baek-san, the Lord of Blood Evil, who had once driven the martial world into terror.
*Whoosh!*
Bu Eun-seol’s hair had turned white, and his eyes were turning blue.
He was converting all his Reversal True Qi into the Glacial River Art to instantly freeze the bodies of Jo Baek-san and the assassins.
This way, no matter how skilled the master who examined the bodies, they would be unable to identify the traces of the martial arts used.
*Woong!*
A cerulean light flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes as he floated in the air.
Simultaneously, his white hair shot up toward the sky.
*Crack, crackle!*
The corpses strewn about the manor froze in an instant.
*Hoo.*
As Bu Eun-seol descended and retracted the Glacial River Art, his hair and eyes returned to their original colors.
“As I thought, the Dang Clan wasn’t the target.”
Bu Eun-seol’s brow furrowed as he gazed at the distant sky.
They had co-opted the Three Poisons Sect, who were on bad terms with the Dang Clan, to expand their forces and prepare for an all-out war.
They had also established a manor near the Dang Clan and secretly positioned assassins to assassinate Dang Pae.
Once all preparations were complete, they timed it with Dang Pae’s illness to visit the Dang Clan, threaten them, and prepare for battle.
This seemingly flawless plan had a fatal flaw.
Even if the plan had proceeded as intended, their forces were woefully insufficient to bring down the Dang Clan.
“Even if the Three Poisons Sect’s forces were ten times larger, they would only be at a level to achieve mutual destruction with the Dang Clan.”
If they had truly wanted to recruit a force capable of defeating the Dang Clan, they shouldn't have chosen the Three Poisons Sect of Yunnan.
They should have recruited a group like the Black Devil Sect, which had fought and won against numerous poison sects since its founding.
As for assassins, instead of Blood Evil, which primarily used poison, they should have hired the Ghost Face Syndicate, which was filled with top-tier assassins skilled in infiltration and martial arts.
But the Three Realms had deliberately spent immense time and resources to select the Three Poisons Sect and Blood Evil.
Forces that were both familiar to and insufficient against the Dang Clan.
‘I’ll find out soon enough.’
A bloody glint appeared in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
He had forced the Poison Devil Sect to retreat to Yunnan and completely cut off information around the Dang Clan Pagoda.
By now, the mastermind who knew all this and controlled the Three Poisons Sect should have arrived.
‘After the duel is over, I will see exactly who you are.’
The duel must have started by now, so there was no stopping it.
When all this was over, he would know the identity of the figures behind it.
*Fwoosh!*
Leaping into the air in a single bound, Bu Eun-seol headed back toward the Dang Clan.
* * *
*Shudder.*
Unable to completely block the torrent of Jang Song’s internal energy, Dang Gon’s body trembled like an aspen leaf.
And due to the infusion of the Thousand Poisons Blood Dance Art, his skin was gradually turning black.
Unable to handle the internal energy Jang Song was pouring out, Dang Gon had been poisoned by the toxic qi of the Thousand Poisons Blood Dance Art.
“It’s over.”
Seeing that Dang Gon could no longer even resist, Jang Song smiled.
“It was a fair duel, so you can’t blame anyone.”
Just as he was about to pour out his full power into the Thousand Poisons Blood Dance Art,
‘Wait, something’s not right.’
Jang Song finally sensed that something was amiss.
Come to think of it, Dang Gon’s body should have started melting down by now.
But despite being exposed to the Thousand Poisons Blood Dance Art for so long, he was still maintaining his stance and holding on.
*Hiss…*
Just then, the white steam rising from the poisoned Dang Gon’s body grew thicker, and suddenly, a golden current of energy swirled around his entire body.
*Murmur, murmur.*
As this unexpected situation unfolded, not only Jang Song but also the members of the Dang Clan watching the duel began to stir.
*He’s using the Yellow Essence Poison Furnace Qi?*
Some of the Dang Clan elders watching the duel gaped.
Dang Gon hadn’t just been pouring out the Poison Spirit Annihilation Qi.
He had been dispersing all his internal energy throughout the eight extraordinary meridians, instantly storing the external poison arts and internal energy in his dantian.
He had been using the ultimate secret art left by the Poison Saint, Dang Cheon-gun—the Yellow Essence Poison Furnace Qi.
*How does he know that!*
The Yellow Essence Poison Furnace Qi often resulted in death during the learning process.
Thus, it was not included in the Eight Great Secret Arts of the Dang Clan and remained a purely theoretical martial art.
But Dang Gon had been practicing it all this time?
*Hiss-s-s-s!*
In that moment, with a fierce current of energy, the Thousand Poisons Blood Dance Art that had been absorbed into Dang Gon’s body was poured back into Jang Song.
Because all the poison qi he had absorbed was released at once, the toxic mist was several times more powerful than what Jang Song had unleashed.
“Ugh…”
At that moment, black veins began to bulge all over Jang Song’s body.
With Dang Gon’s internal energy and the Thousand Poisons Blood Dance Art being injected from the outside in such a short time, he felt an agony as if his meridians were about to burst.
“Im… possible.”
But Jang Song’s resilience was not to be underestimated.
Just as his meridians were about to rupture, he used his Primordial Essence True Qi to block Dang Gon’s internal energy and the surging power of the Thousand Poisons Blood Dance Art.
*Smirk.*
A smile touched Dang Gon’s lips.
“I was wondering when you’d use your Primordial Essence True Qi.”
*Woooong.*
As Jang Song’s Primordial Essence True Qi pushed in, the golden glow from Dang Gon’s body intensified.
This was because the final secret to completing the Yellow Essence Poison Furnace Qi was to have a master of over three sixty-year cycles of cultivation pour their Primordial Essence True Qi into him to clear his blood vessels.
*Woong, woong, woong!*
Dang Gon once again focused Jang Song’s surging energy into his dantian.
The accumulated power then soared up his Du Mai vessel along his spine like a raging tempest.
*Zzzing.*
A strange radiance flowed from Dang Gon’s body as he broke through his blocked meridians with Jang Song’s power.
Immediately after Bu Eun-seol left, he had continuously ingested the Dang Clan’s poisons to master poison arts.
He even absorbed poison while cultivating, merging it with his own true qi.
The Poison Saint Body.
The highest realm for a poison user, where one could create any poison from within their own body without storing it, and remain immune to all poisons.
That was the state he had been aiming to reach.
*Impossible.*
The members of the Dang Clan let out a collective gasp as a strange radiance spread across Dang Gon’s skin.
The glow flowing through his body—it was a sign that he had reached the initial stage of the Poison Saint Body.
The stage where the entire body carries poison.
*Crack.*
Jang Song’s hair, which had been pouring out poison energy, turned white, and his body began to buckle.
He had exhausted all his Primordial Essence True Qi and could no longer block the poison qi and internal energy pouring from Dang Gon.
“Fine! I’m joining in!”
As the situation turned critical, Hyeong Geuk suddenly leaped onto the dueling stage and spread his arms.
*Fwoosh!*
A hundred projectiles shot into the sky at once, then rained down toward Dang Gon’s body.
It was as if tens of thousands of stars were falling from the cosmos to the earth.
He had unleashed the signature hidden weapon art of the Poison Bee Sect, the Six Harmonies Myriad Darts, layering the technique upon itself.
*No!*
The members of the Dang Clan were beside themselves.
Not only was the number of projectiles beyond imagination, but Dang Gon was still in the middle of suppressing Jang Song.
There was no way he could evade such a hidden weapon technique.
“A fine technique.”
But Dang Gon calmly continued to pour out his internal energy while watching the rain of projectiles.
He closed his eyes for a moment, then suddenly thrust out his right arm with all his might.
*Flash!*
Simultaneously, a brilliant light, like a meteor, shot out from his sleeve.
The ultimate hidden weapon technique of the Eight Great Secret Arts of the Dang Clan, said to pierce an enemy’s throat with a single move.
The One Hand Life Snatcher was unleashed.
*Clatter, clatter.*
Then, something incredible happened.
Dang Gon had only thrown a single dagger.
But amazingly, that one dagger knocked all one hundred projectiles to the ground.
One Blade Darkens the Heavens.
The pinnacle of dagger arts, said to darken the night sky with a single move.
One of the Eight Great Secret Arts of the Dang Clan was once again displayed by Dang Gon’s hand.
“…”
Silence fell over the arena.
Hyeong Geuk, who had unleashed the hidden weapons, was frozen in place, unable to move.
Jang Song had suffered severe internal injuries from the poison and internal energy Dang Gon had unleashed and was on the verge of death.
*Thump.*
Finally pushing Jang Song away, Dang Gon stood tall and looked at Hyeong Geuk.
“Do you wish to continue?”
Right now, Dang Gon could kill both Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk in an instant.
But he didn’t. He had now perfected a martial art that could crush the likes of the Three Poisons Sect at any time.
Hyeong Geuk’s face was stiff, and he couldn’t say a word. Jang Song could only gasp for breath.
His face flushing red and pale, Hyeong Geuk supported Jang Song’s body and bowed his head.
“We have lost.”
Then, they fled the training ground as if escaping.
*“Waaaaaah!”*
The members of the Dang Clan erupted in cheers.
Dang Gon, who had never shown much promise and was thought to have no particular talent.
Who would have thought he would display such outstanding martial prowess?
‘Brother has finally achieved greatness.’
Watching from a distance, Dang Cheong showed a proud smile.
In truth, the only person in the Dang Clan who knew of Dang Gon’s bone-grinding efforts was Dang Cheong.
After sending Bu Eun-seol away, Dang Gon had not spent a single day without risking his life in training.
It wasn’t just to cultivate his abilities as the next clan lord.
It was because he had a great desire to stand beside his friend as soon as possible.
And through this duel, Dang Gon was finally able to get closer to his goal.
From an unremarkable junior.
He had perfected a martial prowess so immense that he could stand shoulder to shoulder with the lords of the Eight Great Families.
‘As expected…’
Bu Eun-seol, who had secretly dealt with Blood Evil and returned to the Dang Clan.
He nodded as he watched Dang Gon, surrounded by cheers.
He had known from the start that Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk were disguised as formidable masters. The reason he could leave the Dang Clan with a calm heart.
It was because he had already sensed that Dang Gon’s martial prowess had improved tremendously, and that this duel would be the catalyst for his breakthrough.
‘He’s finally broken through.’
Dang Gon, who had undergone harsh training until now, had already reached the limits of what his body could endure.
And when the duel finally provided the catalyst for his breakthrough, he had leaped to his desired goal in a single bound.
‘But.’
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
While he was glad that Dang Gon’s martial prowess had improved so greatly… he was certain that this was all a well-written script.
*“Waaaaaah!”*
Amidst the cheers flowing from within the Dang Clan, Bu Eun-seol felt a sense of confusion.
The Three Realms had given the Dang Clan, and Dang Gon, a trial they could endure.
They had caused Dang Gon’s talent to blossom in an instant, awakening his martial prowess and guiding him to a higher realm.
‘Why?’
This event was completely different from the conspiracies he had experienced so far. What could it possibly mean?
Why did they make Dang Gon awaken?
Why did they give the Dang Clan a trial, only to use an event like this to foster unity within the clan?
What in the world did the Three Realms want?
Just then, Bu Eun-seol’s eyes met with Dang Gon’s on the dueling stage.
Quickly collecting his thoughts, he walked onto the stage and cupped his hands to Dang Gon.
“Congratulations, Young Lord.”
Bu Eun-seol approached Dang Gon and cupped his hands.
“Since the matter has been resolved smoothly, we will take our leave.”
“You’re leaving right now?”
“Yes.”
Dang Gon looked disappointed.
“You’ve worked hard.”
He then respectfully cupped his hands.
“And thank you.”
Just then, Dang Seong, who had run to Dang Gon’s side, scoffed.
“Thank him? What did he do? He didn’t even watch the duel…”
“He was guarding the inner courtyard, just in case.”
At that moment, Dang Cheong interjected, her eyes twinkling.
“And the Grand Commander patrolled the area around the Dang Clan Pagoda to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. Right?”
A chill ran down Bu Eun-seol’s spine.
Dang Cheong had been secretly tracking his movements. Could she have recognized him again?
‘No, that’s impossible.’
He had definitely gotten rid of the scent.
She probably just had her subordinates confirm his whereabouts.
He had handled the matter at Byeokha Manor secretly, and there had been no presence within a hundred paces.
“I was just looking around, just in case.”
Bu Eun-seol calmly cupped his hands to Dang Gon and Dang Cheong.
“Then, we will be going.”
He turned, and the members of the Zenith Division who had returned from the inner courtyard followed him.
“He’s quite a mysterious person, isn’t he?”
Dang Cheong’s eyes sparkled as she watched Bu Eun-seol leave.
Dang Gon wore a peculiar expression. But he soon gave a faint smile and nodded.
“He is.”
Dang Gon smiled faintly as he saw Dang Cheong watching the departing Zenith Division with a wistful gaze.
‘It seems Cheong has noticed too. This is worrying.’
Dang Cheong possessed various mysterious abilities, some of which even Dang Gon didn’t fully understand.
Not only that, she had a stubborn and persistent personality, never having failed to get what she wanted.
‘I can only hope he manages to get away before she sinks her hooks into him.’
He then muttered inwardly as he watched Bu Eun-seol’s retreating back.
‘In any case, just wait a little longer. Soon, I’ll be able to stand by your side.’
While he was in the midst of his internal energy contest with Jang Song.
Dang Gon had a sudden realization.
That Seon U-jin was none other than Bu Eun-seol.
*He used yin-yang energy…*
As Jang Song’s sharp internal energy pierced his meridians, he recalled the time he had attacked the Blood Poison Valley with Bu Eun-seol.
Back then, Bu Eun-seol had used a sword art filled with immense internal energy to instantly defeat the poison men armed with unique shields.
At that time, Bu Eun-seol’s internal energy contained a vast amount of yin-yang qi.
And the true qi that Seon U-jin had injected into him in the training room also contained yin-yang true qi…
He had realized that it had a very similar energy vibration to the true qi Bu Eun-seol had displayed at the Blood Poison Valley.
*It was you.*
As vast as the martial world was, it was impossible for there to be another person at such a young age who used a similar energy vibration to Bu Eun-seol…
Someone who had mastered an internal energy art that could freely handle powerful yin-yang qi.
He had belatedly realized… that Seon U-jin was the friend he had longed to see even in his dreams.
‘Just wait a little longer. The main family has only just begun to spread its wings.’
Dang Gon had only just achieved his great accomplishment. He had neither completely taken control of the Dang Clan.
Nor had he established an elite unit directly under his command.
But now that all the members of the Dang Clan had witnessed and acknowledged his abilities…
From now on, the Dang Clan would rally firmly around him and develop even further.
And when that happened?
He would be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Bu Eun-seol… and when he was in trouble, he would surely be able to lend him strength.
‘Though I don’t know why you became a Grand Commander of the Martial Alliance.’
If Dang Gon had been an ordinary person.
The mere fact that the heir of the Demonic Sanctum had become a Grand Commander of the Martial Alliance would have made him deeply suspicious and prompted him to investigate the truth.
But to Dang Gon, such facts were irrelevant.
Bu Eun-seol was still the friend he would trade his life for.
The reason he had wanted to get stronger so quickly was because he was worried about Bu Eun-seol’s path, clashing with one Demonic Sect Master after another.
And Bu Eun-seol, as if understanding his heart, had done his best to help in secret when the Dang Clan faced a crisis.
Before the fervent friendship of these two men.
The irreconcilable paths of the Demonic Sect and the Orthodox Alliance were no obstacle at all.