Chapter 438
Chapter 438
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 438
Chapter Title: The Thunder God's Misunderstanding
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened, unable to hide his shock.
*'Does this mean the Three Realms organization within the Martial Alliance is controlling even the Four Gods?'*
The Seven Kings were masters who not only possessed outstanding martial arts but also wielded immense influence in the martial world.
The King of Beggars was the Grand Elder of the Beggars' Sect, a man who held the Orthodox Faction's intelligence network in the palm of his hand.
The Wandering King roamed the martial world alone his entire life, yet righteous heroes of the Orthodox Faction who revered him flocked to him like clouds.
Furthermore, the Illusory King, Sa Ok-cheong, had elevated illusions and mind-control techniques, long considered dark arts, to the level of true martial studies.
Through his Secret Art of Spirit Summoning, he became the grandmaster of the Illusory Arts.
But the Four Gods are different.
They are born with bodies capable of wielding the mystical powers passed down through generations of the martial world.
They are supreme masters, born with factions that revere that power already in their grasp.
In other words, if the Seven Kings are self-made masters… the Four Gods are the scions of wealthy families who inherited immense legacies from their ancestors.
However, the current Thunder God, Lei Bi-hon, was a man who had not only failed to protect that immense legacy but had also brought ruin upon his house.
He was known to wield the most powerful Thunder Spirit Energy among all the past masters of the Thunder Spirit Sect.
But it was said that his power was so overwhelming it drove him mad, and as a result, he was known as a lunatic who wandered the martial world alone.
To think that this very Lei Bi-hon would suddenly appear at the edge of Yunnan, and in pursuit of Xiao Yao, no less.
*Crackle.*
While Bu Eun-seol was lost in thought, azure bolts of lightning had already surrounded him.
*'Think later.'*
Bu Eun-seol raised his internal energy.
Lei Bi-hon’s Divine Thunder Annihilation Bolt, infused with formidable Thunder Spirit Energy, was said to be capable of turning any living thing into a charcoal husk in an instant.
Not only that, but it could also transform into various shapes, meaning a moment's distraction could result in one's body being instantly incinerated.
"So that's a refusal."
Realizing that Bu Eun-seol was raising his energy, Lei Bi-hon's eyes flashed.
"Then die."
*'I'll use Mu-ae-ja's martial arts as much as possible.'*
Victory lies in the first strike.
Before Lei Bi-hon could attack, Bu Eun-seol threw his daggers.
*Flash!*
Two daggers flew in succession, aiming for Lei Bi-hon's brow and lower abdomen.
"Hmph."
With a snort, two streaks of white flame shot out, knocking the daggers to the ground.
But that was exactly what Bu Eun-seol had intended.
*Flash!*
A streak of light had already embedded itself in Lei Bi-hon's brow.
He had aimed for the brief moment when the Divine Thunder Bolt was unleashed and withdrawn, instantly delivering a life-reaping strike.
*Crackle.*
However, the dagger that reached his brow stopped in mid-air, sparking with white flames.
Because he was cloaked in formidable Thunder Spirit Energy, metal weapons couldn't even touch his body.
"Indeed, skills worthy of an Emissary."
*'Emissary?'*
*Whoosh.*
In that time, white lightning bolts wrapped around his left and right sides like a net.
Bu Eun-seol tried to use his movement technique to escape its range, but…
*Crackle.*
Another net of lightning blocked Bu Eun-seol's path of retreat.
The movement technique from Mu-ae-ja's manual was not fast enough to outpace Lei Bi-hon's Divine Thunder Annihilation Bolt.
"Now, die."
"Wait."
Sensing something, Bu Eun-seol spoke in a clear voice.
"Don't tell me you think I am an Emissary of the Three Realms?"
Lei Bi-hon scoffed and shouted.
"That's right. All Emissaries of the Three Realms must die!"
At that moment, the bolts of lightning that had gathered around them instantly engulfed Bu Eun-seol's body.
*Swoosh.*
With no way to dodge, Bu Eun-seol used his Qi-Piercing technique to evade the nets of lightning pouring in from both sides.
"Kill."
In an instant, the white lightning had transformed into a sharp spear, piercing through Bu Eun-seol's body as he hung in mid-air.
Moreover, it wasn't shot at him.
It was as if it had appeared spontaneously, right before his eyes.
*Voom!*
But the white lightning spear stopped mid-air, entangled in a current of jet-black energy.
At the moment of life and death, Bu Eun-seol had unleashed his Ruyi True Arts, ensnaring the spear made of the Divine Thunder Bolt.
*Thud.*
Landing on the ground, Bu Eun-seol said with a grave expression.
"Brother Lei. I am not an Emissary of the Three Realms."
It was not Seonu Jin's clear voice, but Bu Eun-seol's cold, level tone.
"Brother Lei? Huhu. Hahahaha!"
Seeing Bu Eun-seol's complete change in demeanor and aura, Lei Bi-hon roared with laughter.
"Right. If a master like you isn't an Emissary, then who is?"
*Crackle.*
Behind the Thunder God, hundreds of blades forged from the Divine Thunder Bolt materialized.
There were so many that they looked like a constantly shifting white wave.
"It seems talking is useless."
As Bu Eun-seol shook his head,
"Hahaha! That's right! What need is there for words with one of the Three Realms' lackeys!"
With a laugh, Lei Bi-hon unleashed the hundreds of flashing blades toward Bu Eun-seol.
He had unleashed hundreds of Divine Thunder Bolts at once, each one said to make a body explode on contact.
*'This can't be called a martial art.'*
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he watched the torrent of Divine Thunder Bolts.
What Lei Bi-hon was using was not a martial art.
He was simply trying to obliterate Bu Eun-seol's body in one fell swoop with Divine Thunder Bolts, accompanied by the mystical power of Thunder Spirit Energy.
*'I have to completely abandon Seonu Jin's identity!'*
Mu-ae-ja's martial arts manual contained no method to block that cascading torrent of Divine Thunder Bolts.
In the end, Bu Eun-seol decided to unleash his true power.
*Voom.*
A black wave of true power spread from his eyes, creating a wall of true energy that began to block the incoming Divine Thunder Bolts.
*Rumble! Crackle!*
Hundreds of Divine Thunder Bolts continuously crashed against the thick wall of true energy created by the Ruyi True Arts.
As the immense powers clashed, azure flames scattered in all directions.
A storm erupted, powerful enough to seemingly collapse the entire world.
Thunder Spirit Energy could annihilate anything, regardless of one's level of internal energy.
But Bu Eun-seol's internal energy was equivalent to five hundred years' worth.
When he poured that formidable power into the Ruyi True Arts for defense…
Even the Divine Thunder Annihilation Bolt, the very essence of Thunder Spirit Energy, could not penetrate that wall of true energy.
"That martial art. I knew it. Hahaha!"
Suddenly, the Thunder God let out a smile filled with madness and ecstasy.
"You were the one!"
*Zap!*
In an instant, the Thunder God had rushed before Bu Eun-seol and drawn a shimmering blue sword.
*Flash!*
The spot where Bu Eun-seol had been standing was instantly scorched black.
The ultimate sword art of the Thunder Spirit Sect, the Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style, had been unleashed.
*Rumble! Flash!*
With every swing of the sword, the sound of thunder echoed and white lightning flashed.
The thunder was so loud it felt like his eardrums would burst, making it impossible to predict the sword's path.
This was an effect of the Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style, designed to completely neutralize the heightened senses of masters who relied on their hearing to perceive many things.
*Schwing! Clang, clang, clang!*
To stop Lei Bi-hon's overwhelming thunderous assault, Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to counter the Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style with his iron sword.
*Sizzle!*
As he did, white smoke began to rise from his body.
The Thunder Spirit Energy contained in the Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style was seeping through the weapon and into Bu Eun-seol's meridians.
*'This iron sword won't do.'*
Fighting with this iron sword would only serve to amplify the power of the Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style.
*Voom!*
Bu Eun-seol once again used the Ruyi True Arts to face the onslaught of the Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style.
"Huuuh."
As the Ruyi True Arts was unleashed again, Lei Bi-hon's eyes burned red.
"Yes! Keep using that demonic martial art!"
Lei Bi-hon swung his sword like a madman, slashing at Bu Eun-seol.
*Cra-koom!*
The sword energy, formed from Thunder Spirit Energy, seemed to coalesce into a single mass as it poured down on Bu Eun-seol's body.
*'First, I need to analyze the sword style.'*
The Thunder God, Lei Bi-hon's, Thunder Spirit Energy was displaying a power far greater than any martial art Bu Eun-seol had ever learned.
But martial arts was not a simple contest of power.
Like the true successor of the Nangya Pavilion, he first sought to understand the characteristics of Lei Bi-hon's martial arts.
*Tssss.*
Immediately deploying the Extreme Speed, Shadowless Form, Bu Eun-seol spread his Ruyi True Arts like a spider's web to slow down the Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style.
"Hyaaaah! Yes! That technique!"
Every time he used the Ruyi True Arts, Lei Bi-hon roared like a madman, drool flying from his mouth.
*'Does he think the Ruyi True Arts... is a martial art of the Three Realms?'*
He had publicly used the Ruyi True Arts during his duel with the Heavenly Sword.
And all the masters of both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions had guessed it was the martial art of the Heavenly Demon Emperor.
So why was Lei Bi-hon suspecting the Ruyi True Arts to be a martial art of the Three Realms and having such a violent reaction?
*'Could it be... that?'*
The Ruyi True Arts that Bu Eun-seol was currently using was, strictly speaking, not the same as the Heavenly Demon Emperor's.
He had only entered a state of Qi Deviation once; he had always maintained a middle path.
Because of this, there were restrictions on his continuous use of the Ruyi True Arts, and its power was weakened to less than a tenth of its potential.
But at some point, he had stopped feeling his blood boil when he used the Ruyi True Arts.
That was after the energy of Prajna's Great Power had been infused into his body.
Since then, although its power was still weakened, his blood no longer boiled even after using the Ruyi True Arts three or four times.
*'Is he in a frenzy not just because of the Ruyi True Arts, but also because of the Prajna's Great Power contained within it?'*
That couldn't be.
The power of Prajna's Great Power did not manifest externally.
Then could it be that Lei Bi-hon was sensing the distinct color of the Orthodox Faction, emanating from the mix of Prajna's Great Power and the Ruyi True Arts?
To confirm, Bu Eun-seol twisted his left fist.
*Swoosh, swoosh!*
Simultaneously, he generated a strand of focused energy from his shoulder.
He had unleashed the Thirteen Nocturnes.
*Swoosh!*
The single strand of the Thirteen Nocturnes was instantly dissipated by the power of the Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style, but it created a small opening.
Bu Eun-seol did not miss the opportunity and moved his right hand in a blur.
He drew upon the power of Prajna's Great Power and unleashed the Thousand-Hand Buddha Palm.
*Pitter-patter!*
Hearing the sound of the dizzying palm strikes, the Thunder God's eyes widened.
"So you too are using the powers of both Orthodox and Unorthodox martial arts!"
Lei Bi-hon became even more frenzied, madly unleashing the Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style.
*'So that's it.'*
Bu Eun-seol's gaze deepened.
Judging by Lei Bi-hon's reaction, among the Emissaries of the Three Realms… there was someone who used a combination of Orthodox and Unorthodox martial arts.
"Stop dodging like a rat and fight me!"
Meanwhile, Lei Bi-hon chased Bu Eun-seol like a madman, swinging his sword.
His eyes were crazed, and most attacks that reached his body were simply annihilated by his Thunder Spirit Energy.
He was like an immortal monster, baring its teeth and sticking to him relentlessly.
*'So being one of the Four Gods doesn't necessarily mean one has mastered the subtleties of martial arts.'*
Thunder Spirit Energy was a formidable power that could not be easily blocked by internal energy or any martial technique.
Perhaps for that reason, Lei Bi-hon's techniques were merely ways to powerfully amplify his Thunder Spirit Energy.
They could not be considered superior martial arts.
*'He even falters every time he speaks.'*
Bu Eun-seol noticed that Lei Bi-hon's Thunder Spirit Energy wavered whenever he spoke and nodded to himself.
"You bastard…"
*'Now.'*
As Lei Bi-hon opened his mouth to speak, Bu Eun-seol seized the moment his Thunder Spirit Energy scattered and drew his iron sword.
*Schwing.*
*'I must eliminate that Thunder Spirit Energy in one blow.'*
*Pop.*
At the same time, hundreds of points of light appeared all over Bu Eun-seol's body.
It was the Doomsday Sword Art, which unleashed hundreds of sword orbs in a single strike. The third style of the Seven Styles of Blood and Tears.
Half-Life, Half-Death was unleashed.
*Fwoooosh!*
As the hundreds of sword orbs collided with Lei Bi-hon's Thunder Spirit Annihilation Style, the world was bleached white as if everything had been annihilated.
But then, something astonishing happened.
"Who do you think would get hit by such a slow sword style?"
Before Half-Life, Half-Death could be fully unleashed.
Lei Bi-hon had already closed the distance to Bu Eun-seol and was pulling the iron sword toward him like a magnet.
*Kra-jee-jee-jeek!*
Simultaneously, a power that no human body could contain unless one possessed a Thunder Spirit Body.
The most formidable power in all of heaven and earth.
Thunder Spirit Energy was pouring through the sword and into his meridians.
The Thunder God's martial arts were simplistic, incomparable to Bu Eun-seol's, which contained various techniques and a high understanding of martial principles.
But he possessed the immense power of Thunder Spirit Energy, which transcended even the principles of martial arts.
Lei Bi-hon was trying to incinerate Bu Eun-seol's body by pouring in the Thunder Spirit Energy, which could never be blocked by internal energy, all at once.
*Crack.*
A blue wave of true power flowed from Bu Eun-seol's body.
As the Thunder Spirit Energy threatened to burn his meridians, he had circulated the Glacier Flow Arts.
But at that moment, he felt his Dantian become empty, and a passage from the Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy, which he had seen on the stone wall of the Yeolha Divine Palace, came to mind.
—Know contentment, and you will not overfill.
The passage that suddenly came to mind was seared into his brain, and a thread of heat rose from his Dantian.
*'Know contentment, and you will not overfill.'*
The Yeolha energy contained in the Hwaryun Divine Elixir had been absorbed into Bu Eun-seol's body, but he had emptied it again.
Because he had shared all the Yeolha Sacred Energy with his thousand or so disciples.
—In the face of peril, the true Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy shall bloom.
But as the Thunder Spirit Energy tried to burn the meridians throughout his body, the passage of the Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy flashed through his mind.
*'In the face of peril, the Yeolha energy shall manifest…'*
*Fwoosh.*
At the same time, the Yeolha Sacred Energy, which had been completely depleted, began to restore itself with incredible force.
*FWOOOOSH!*
Standing at the crossroads of life and death, Bu Eun-seol was unconsciously circulating the Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy over and over.
The Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy.
This formidable martial art of the Yeolha Sacred Sovereign was so powerful and destructive…
It was designed to manifest not against the weak, but only when facing the strong.
And as the formidable Thunder Spirit Energy invaded Bu Eun-seol's body, the true Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy was finally manifesting once more.
*Flicker. Fwoosh.*
In that instant, a majestic flame erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body.
*WHOOOOM!*
With immense heat, it began to push back the surging Thunder Spirit Energy.
*Crackle. Sizzle.*
Thunder Spirit Energy was known to annihilate all other forms of energy.
Thus, it could instantly vaporize not only internal energy but also the Glacier Flow Arts.
But it could not annihilate the Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy, which contained a formidable energy of the extreme yang.
Because their properties were fundamentally very similar.
It was the same principle by which lightning could evaporate snow and water, but could not evaporate a raging fire.
"Ugh, ughhh!"
Lei Bi-hon began to let out pained groans.
Because of the Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy, his Thunder Spirit Energy had become ineffective.
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, Lei Bi-hon had suddenly become an ordinary martial artist.
As such, apart from the Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy, he could not withstand the immense level of internal energy now pouring into him.
"Uuuuugh!"
Lei Bi-hon, who had been pouring Thunder Spirit Energy through his sword, was now on the verge of having his meridians burst as formidable internal energy, along with the Yeolha Grand Supreme True Energy, surged back at him.
*'It's a pity, but.'*
Bu Eun-seol looked down at the agonized Lei Bi-hon, his eyes flashing.
Now that his identity had been exposed, he had no choice but to kill this man to silence him.
Otherwise, the identity of Seonu Jin, which he had painstakingly built, would be lost.
And he would lose his chance to find the villain who killed his grandfather.
*'I must be ruthless.'*
For a spy maintaining a dual identity, sentimentality is a luxury.
Just as Bu Eun-seol steeled his heart to burst the Thunder God's meridians,
"I am sorry…"
Tears of blood flowed from Lei Bi-hon's eyes.
"This father was inadequate, and could not stop the villain who cruelly killed you…"
*Drip.*
From Lei Bi-hon's empty eyes, tears of blood filled with bitter regret and rage streamed down.
Lei Bi-hon.
He had lost his child to the Three Realms, and because of that, his grudge against them reached the very heavens.
*Grit.*
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
How could he kill Lei Bi-hon, who was agonizing over his failure to avenge his child on the brink of death?
*'If I don't kill him, my identity as Seonu Jin could be exposed.'*
But Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
*'I came to the martial world to avenge my grandfather. Not to kill the innocent.'*
If he killed an innocent man for the sake of his grandfather's revenge,
How could he ever claim to have achieved a righteous vengeance?
*'I have no choice.'*
Bu Eun-seol let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
*'I will leave this matter to the heavens.'*
Bu Eun-seol was prepared for his identity as Seonu Jin to be exposed because of the Thunder God, and intended to let him live.
*Voom.*
Bu Eun-seol stopped the flow of internal energy he was pouring out.
A look of bewilderment filled Lei Bi-hon's empty eyes.
He should have been killed instantly by having his meridians burst. Why had he withdrawn his internal energy?
"Go."
As Lei Bi-hon staggered and fell, Bu Eun-seol turned away with a bitter expression.
"I'll say it again, I am not a member of the Three Realms. So if you seek revenge, find the right person."
An ordinary person would have been grateful to have their life spared.
But Lei Bi-hon looked insulted.
"Don't be ridiculous. A person who can use Star-Gathering Demonic Energy while also using the martial arts of the Orthodox Faction. Is there anyone else like that in the world?"
*'Star-Gathering Demonic Energy?'*
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
Star-Gathering Demonic Energy. The technique, also known as Star-Gathering Dark Energy, was the exclusive art of the Black Star, one of the Eight Wastelands, Three Stars.
Could it be that among the Emissaries of the Three Realms was a descendant of the Black Star, and that he had also mastered the martial arts of the Orthodox Faction?
Or could it be that the Heavenly Demon Emperor's Ruyi True Arts was a martial art modeled after the Star-Gathering Demonic Energy?
If not that, then…
*'Could it be that the Heavenly Demon Emperor is a descendant of the Black Star?'*