Chapter 459
Chapter 459
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 459
Chapter Title: An Orchestrated Ambush
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Leaving Yeogyeong at once, the Apex Unit moved swiftly out of Guizhou and reached the Hong River, on the border of Honam.
Although they were returning with nothing to show for their efforts, the steps of the Apex Unit were light.
The events in Yeogyeong had once again demonstrated the Apex Unit's intelligence-gathering capabilities and foresight to the high command.
And they had a premonition that they would continue to be valued as an intelligence unit.
*Whoosh.*
As light as their hearts, the members of the Apex Unit moved in perfect formation, their movement techniques swift and precise.
No matter that they were a unit of the Martial Alliance, this was still the land of Guizhou.
It was a place where the Demonic Martial World, including Hell's Blood Fortress, held sway, so they had to leave quickly.
“……!”
But Bu Eun-seol, leading from the front, suddenly halted his movement technique.
With a grave expression, he scanned his surroundings and spoke to his men.
“Assume the Heavenly Bulwark Sword Formation.”
The Heavenly Bulwark Sword Formation was a defensive sword formation of the Martial Alliance, deployed when the enemy vastly outnumbered them.
Without a moment's hesitation at Bu Eun-seol's command, the unit members drew their swords and immediately formed up.
*Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!*
In that moment, hidden weapons began to rain down from all directions like a storm.
But the formation was already perfectly established. The downpour of weapons was effortlessly deflected by the light swings of the Apex Unit members' swords.
*Rustle, rustle, rustle.*
When the hidden weapons proved ineffective, black shadows emerged from the bushes, encircling the Apex Unit.
They wore masks, and their eyes, glinting with a sickly yellow light, were visible even from a distance.
They were the Poison Fiends of Hell's Blood Fortress.
“The Phantom Dawn Hall of Hell's Blood Fortress, I presume.”
Bu Eun-seol, observing the eyes of the encircling Poison Fiends, questioned the one who appeared to be their leader.
“This unit has no particular grudge with Hell's Blood Fortress.”
At that, the Phantom Dawn Hall Master, Ak Gu-cheon, glared with his dark eyes and said.
“Because you fools stirred up the factions of Guizhou, our fortress’s sphere of influence has weakened even further.”
Although Dan So-ok had claimed the area around the Red Water River, that was, strictly speaking, the territory of the Demonic Palace.
Hell's Blood Fortress had trusted the Demonic Palace's negotiations and waited, only to have their influence in the Yeogyeong region snatched from under their noses.
For Hell's Blood Fortress, this was an utterly humiliating situation.
Detecting a lone Grade 2 unit of the Martial Alliance returning just in time, the Phantom Dawn Hall intended to unleash all their accumulated fury.
“How reckless. Acting this way will put the Demonic Palace in a difficult position.”
“We’ll just handle it cleanly, without a trace, just like last time.”
“Last time……”
Bu Eun-seol finally realized something.
“So it was the Phantom Dawn Hall that murdered the Iron Plaque Unit Leader, No Dok-cheong.”
“Hehehe. You’re quick on the uptake.”
Ak Gu-cheon looked up at the distant sky with a resentful expression.
“After the Fortress Lord stepped down, our influence has been endlessly shrinking.”
Hell's Blood Fortress, one of the Ten Demonic Sects that ruled Guizhou.
But because of the Demonic Palace's heir, their power had diminished, and they had been on a constant decline.
Ak Gu-cheon could no longer tolerate it.
Yet, he couldn't just attack the Martial Soul Lord, who was like the rising sun.
In the end, to vent his pent-up frustration, he had roamed Guizhou, secretly killing any members of the Orthodox Faction he found.
Among them was the Iron Plaque Unit Leader, No Dok-cheong.
“As soon as our fortress’s influence began to wane, the Martial Alliance started sending spies one by one, as if they were waiting for it. It was like they were mocking us.”
Ak Gu-cheon said, grinding his teeth.
“So I killed them one by one, whenever I saw them.”
As he continued, a dark killing intent gleamed in his eyes.
“Last time, I couldn't dispose of the body perfectly because of some meddlers, but this time……”
But then, Ak Gu-cheon’s expression turned strange.
The Grade 2 unit leader, who should have been trembling in fear, instead had a smile playing on his lips.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, nothing. Just that I’ve caught a bigger fish than I expected.”
Bu Eun-seol's final plan.
It was to cause a disturbance and intentionally leak the Apex Unit's return route to the intelligence network of Hell's Blood Fortress.
Gongson Dan-gyeong was a woman of such outstanding wisdom that she was known as the 'Wise Star'.
To completely erase her suspicions, a simple method wouldn't suffice.
The Apex Unit had to be attacked by Hell's Blood Fortress.
Only that method… would allow them to completely escape the suspicion of being spies for the Demonic Path.
But in the process, he had unexpectedly uncovered the true culprit behind the murder of the Iron Plaque Unit Leader.
For Bu Eun-seol, it was as if he had looked up to yawn and a ripe persimmon had fallen right into his mouth.
“You madman.”
Ak Gu-cheon scoffed as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
“Do you think we killed No Dok-cheong as a group?”
“Seeing as you operate independently without heeding your superiors… you must not only be highly trusted but also possess considerable skill.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded nonchalantly.
“You were confident you could annihilate a unit of my level without leaving a single one alive?”
“That’s right.”
Ak Gu-cheon wore a smile thick with killing intent.
“In my eyes, you are nothing more than corpses that still hold a bit of warmth.”
And without hesitation, he commanded his subordinates.
“Kill them.”
*Fwip! Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!*
Simultaneously, another volley of poisoned weapons rained down on Bu Eun-seol and the Apex Unit.
Despite being masters of powerful poison arts, they deliberately continued to shower them with poisoned weapons.
It was because not a single one could be allowed to escape.
Their plan was to surround them, shower them with weapons to ensure they were poisoned, and then unleash their potent poison arts to finish them off in one fell swoop.
“What are those bastards?”
But Ak Gu-cheon's expression turned bizarre.
Weren't all the Apex Unit members who were holding the formation wrapping their faces in drab cloths?
It was the kind of cloth mask vagrants often used to protect their noses and mouths from poison.
Moreover, they seemed to have taken a powerful antidote beforehand, as they were largely unaffected even when grazed by the poisoned weapons.
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes grew cold as he swung his iron sword, deflecting the incoming weapons.
‘This battle will leave the unit members severely injured. But through it, they will grow stronger.’
What Bu Eun-seol had his unit prepare beforehand was none other than a potent antidote and masks to block the poison.
‘If they survive this ambush.’
Bu Eun-seol had planned to not only clear Gongson Dan-gyeong's suspicions but also to greatly advance the Apex Unit's development.
The Apex Unit was not meant to be a simple intelligence unit, but a multi-purpose force skilled in combat as well.
And for them to become truly strong, they had to constantly develop and grow through life-or-death battles.
“Ugh.”
Meanwhile, as the poisoned weapons continued to pour down relentlessly, groans began to escape from the lips of the Apex Unit members.
Despite taking a powerful antidote and wearing masks to protect their noses and mouths, they couldn't completely block the poisoned weapons unleashed by the Phantom Dawn Hall.
“They’ll start falling soon.”
Ak Gu-cheon, noticing that the movements of the unit members in formation had slowed, commanded his subordinates.
“Those bastards are already poisoned. Keep showering them with weapons for about half an hour, and once their movements slow, immediately take their heads and dispose of the bodies.”
The Apex Unit members drew their respective weapons and attacked the encircling Poison Fiends of the Phantom Dawn Hall who were unleashing the weapons.
But their opponents moved nimbly, maintaining their distance while relentlessly showering them with projectiles.
If this continued, not a single member of the Apex Unit would survive.
*Click. Shiiing!*
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol sheathed his iron sword, only to draw it again with great force.
*Fwoosh!*
A brilliant flash of light erupted, shredding the incoming weapons like paper.
Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword.
A sword art containing the lifelong enlightenment of Muaeja, with profound sword principles embedded in every move.
Muaeja was known as a master of flying daggers and the Art of Grafting, but his true specialty was the sword.
However, his skill with daggers was so exceptional that he could dispatch enemies with ease, rarely needing to use the Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword.
Bu Eun-seol had planned to use this opportunity to perform Muaeja’s Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword and, to some extent, build his martial renown as Seon-u Jin.
“I will break a path. Maintain the formation and follow me!”
*Swoosh!*
As he executed the second form of the Iron Sword, Enveloping Dragon Horn, the hidden weapons from the Phantom Dawn Hall were shredded like paper.
Seizing the opportunity, Bu Eun-seol closed in on the Poison Fiends and unleashed a continuous chain of sword techniques.
*Flash! Whoosh!*
The power of the Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword wasn't overwhelming, but the techniques were incredibly precise.
It unerringly struck the vital points of the charging Poison Fiends.
With Bu Eun-seol’s prowess breaking one side of the encirclement, the unit members could more easily fend off the rain of weapons.
“Impressive for a Grade 2 unit.”
Ak Gu-cheon, observing the battle, nodded his head as if surprised.
“They call themselves an intelligence unit… but their skills are on par with a dedicated sword unit.”
But that admiration was merely a flicker of surprise. It wouldn't turn the tide of battle.
The number of Poison Fiends in his Phantom Dawn Hall was more than three times that of the mere twenty members of the Apex Unit.
Moreover, the Poison Fiends’ bodies were as hard as steel, and their sense of pain was dulled.
They could continue to unleash poison arts or hurl weapons regardless of whether their vital points were struck or their arms were severed.
This was not a level that a Grade 2 unit could possibly withstand.
*Flash! Flash!*
Amidst the chaos, the only one making a significant impact was Bu Eun-seol.
Every time he executed his sword art, a flash of light would erupt, cutting down the Poison Fiends left and right.
“Get that one first.”
Ak Gu-cheon pointed at Bu Eun-seol, who was moving freely through the battlefield, unaffected by the weapons and poison.
He realized that the Apex Unit was holding on only because Bu Eun-seol was constantly deflecting the barrage and breaking the encirclement.
‘Excellent.’
As all the attacks turned towards him, Bu Eun-seol actually smiled.
With the Poison Fiends circling and focusing their weapons on him, the pressure on the Apex Unit eased considerably.
Thanks to this, the beleaguered unit members could finally catch their breath.
‘This bastard?’
Watching this, Ak Gu-cheon’s eyes flashed.
Wasn't this young man's martial skill far beyond that of a Grade 2 unit leader?
‘I need to deal with him quickly.’
Ak Gu-cheon stealthily used his movement technique, approaching Bu Eun-seol from behind as he was engrossed in his swordplay.
*Crack.*
At the same time, his hands turned pitch black. He was about to unleash a powerful poison art.
“Die!”
Ak Gu-cheon immediately swung his poison-laden palm at Bu Eun-seol's back.
*Boom!*
“Ugh.”
But with the explosion, a groan erupted from an unexpected source.
It came not from Bu Eun-seol, who had been struck in the back, but from Ak Gu-cheon, who had launched the surprise attack.
“To think his body is this hard.”
His hand, charged with the Poison-Stained Toxic Hand Art, could shatter a boulder in a single blow.
But when he struck Bu Eun-seol’s back, his own palm swelled up instead.
“He must have trained in an external art like the Iron Shirt Skill.”
Ak Gu-cheon, completely unaware that Bu Eun-seol's entire body was enveloped in a powerful protective aura, mistakenly believed he had simply mastered an external art that hardened the body.
“Good!”
Ak Gu-cheon spread his hands to the sides and gathered his energy.
*Woooong!*
A low hum vibrated through the air as black poison energy billowed from his palms, soon coalescing into a sphere of poison essence.
Once the poison essence formed a perfect sphere, Ak Gu-cheon immediately launched it at Bu Eun-seol.
*Whoosh!*
Twisting his body to dodge the sphere, Bu Eun-seol extended his left hand.
*Flash!*
With a brilliant gleam, a sharp dagger shot toward Ak Gu-cheon’s throat. Or rather, it should have.
*Clang!*
But upon reaching his throat, the dagger made a metallic sound and fell to the ground.
Simultaneously, the skin where the dagger had touched turned black.
“So you’ve mastered the Poisonous Steel Demonic Art.”
Seeing the blackened skin, Bu Eun-seol realized that Ak Gu-cheon had mastered the same Poisonous Steel Demonic Art that Yang Myeong, the Blood Fiend Hall Master, had used in the past martial tournament.
“Hahaha. How dare you compare the likes of Yang Myeong to me.”
Ak Gu-cheon once again formed a sphere of poison essence in his palm and threw it at Bu Eun-seol.
Not only could he spread the Poisonous Steel Demonic Art throughout his body to make it incredibly durable, but he could also materialize the poison of the art into spheres of poison essence and hurl them like hidden weapons.
*Swoosh! Hiss!*
As the two continued their exchange, the Poison Fiends of the Phantom Dawn Hall avoided interfering, instead focusing their attacks on the Apex Unit members who were struggling to maintain their formation.
‘Truly, Hell's Blood Fortress.’
As Ak Gu-cheon continuously hurled spheres of poison essence like hidden weapons, Bu Eun-seol was inwardly amazed.
It wasn't a praise for Ak Gu-cheon’s martial prowess, but an admiration for the poison arts of Hell's Blood Fortress.
‘To think a single poison art can be varied in so many ways.’
Until now, he had clashed with masters from Hell's Blood Fortress several times.
But he had never felt their poison arts were particularly remarkable.
That was because his body was overflowing with internal energy, preventing any poison from invading.
But now, deliberately lowering his martial prowess and internal energy to impersonate Seon-u Jin… he could feel the exceptional nature of Hell's Blood Fortress's poison arts, something he hadn't noticed before, and understood why they proudly belonged to the Ten Demonic Sects.
The poison arts of Hell's Blood Fortress were not only diverse but could also be adapted into unique poison techniques according to an individual's disposition.
Therefore, unless one reached a level like Bu Eun-seol, who did not fear poison, the poison arts of Hell's Blood Fortress would always hold the upper hand against the people of the martial world.
*Fwoosh! Psh-psh-psh!*
As Ak Gu-cheon, with his body impervious to blades, spread poison in all directions and pressured Bu Eun-seol,
“Ugh.”
Groans began to escape from the lips of the Apex Unit members.
As the fight between Bu Eun-seol and Ak Gu-cheon dragged on, they no longer had the means to withstand the Poison Fiends of the Phantom Dawn Hall.
“Keuk.”
Eventually, several members succumbed to the poison, groaning as they collapsed.
The highly skilled Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do stepped forward, deflecting the rain of poisoned weapons to protect their comrades.
But it seemed even they wouldn't last much longer.
‘They must endure.’
However, Bu Eun-seol did not cut down the Poison Fiends to save his men. He only offered minimal support, occasionally throwing a dagger to slow their assault.
His men had not yet managed to fuse their bodies and spirits in this life-or-death struggle.
“You’re holding out quite well!”
Meanwhile, Ak Gu-cheon continued to pressure Bu Eun-seol, relentlessly sending palm strikes filled with poison.
Bu Eun-seol used the Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword to strike vital points and slash at limbs… but Ak Gu-cheon, cloaked in the Poisonous Steel Demonic Art, endured without flinching.
‘How should I deal with him?’
Bu Eun-seol pondered for a moment.
Ak Gu-cheon's Poisonous Steel Demonic Art was like a Diamond Indestructible Body, impervious to weapons.
Of course, he could easily cut through it by imbuing his blade with immense internal energy or by using a vacuum art like the True Art of Will.
But his current identity was Seon-u Jin.
He could not, under any circumstances, display martial arts or internal energy that he couldn't explain.
Doing so would not dispel suspicion but would only invite more.
‘In that case, I’ll have to raise Seon-u Jin’s reputation and martial prowess a little more than planned.’
If Seon-u Jin continued to be perceived as a weak individual, it would create significant obstacles in carrying out future missions.
Bu Eun-seol’s initial plan was to establish Seon-u Jin's prowess as having just crossed the threshold of the Transcendent Realm and to gain a small bit of martial renown for defeating a Hall Master of Hell's Blood Fortress in a desperate battle. But he had changed his mind.
He would use this opportunity to inform the Martial Alliance that the man known as Seon-u Jin had reached the mature stage of the Transcendent Realm, possessing a level of martial skill that stood out even among the rising generation.
‘Then I’ll have to modify the Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword.’
Muaeja’s Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword were precise, but they didn't include any devastating killing techniques.
That was because he could kill most opponents simply by throwing his daggers.
Therefore, the Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword were merely an expression of his enlightenment in the form of a sword art.
Since he had rarely used it in actual combat, it was composed of moves ill-suited for the fierce, bloody exchanges of a desperate battle.
“Die!”
Ak Gu-cheon once again hurled a sphere of poison essence at Bu Eun-seol's brow.
It was a lightning-fast move, but in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes, it looked like a stone flying in slow motion.
‘It looks just like a round ball.’
Looking at the sphere, Bu Eun-seol subconsciously executed the principles of the Art of Grafting through his swordplay.
*Whirl!*
The sphere of poison essence, instead of striking Bu Eun-seol, was caught and balanced on his iron sword like a ball.
*Whoosh.*
The poison essence only held its shape; it was not a solid object.
But when Bu Eun-seol used the principles of the Art of Grafting to place it on his sword, it began to spin endlessly, its properties changing as if he had used the principle of Redirecting a Thousand Pounds with Four Ounces.
*Swwwish—!*
Bu Eun-seol unconsciously sent the furiously spinning poison essence back toward Ak Gu-cheon.
*Thwack!*
Something astounding happened.
The sphere of poison essence pierced through Ak Gu-cheon’s body, which even the Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword could not penetrate.
“Keuk.”
It must have been quite painful, as Ak Gu-cheon groaned and staggered back.
By receiving the poison sphere and returning it at high speed, as if using the Neutralizing Force of Taichi… not only did the soft nature of the poison essence harden, but its power was also magnified several times over.
‘So it can be used like this.’
A strange thought occurred to Bu Eun-seol.
Muaeja’s Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword, which contained his lifelong enlightenment, and Muaeja’s Art of Grafting, which could effortlessly deflect any external force.
When the principles of these two martial arts were combined, a counter-attack was created that was both natural and immensely powerful.
‘Sinsanja.’
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
The manual that Sinsanja had given him was not the original written by Muaeja.
It was a new creation, a reinvention of Muaeja's martial arts, designed to form a naturally flowing counter-attack.
It was designed so that the man known as Seon-u Jin could become a renowned master in the martial world.
So that with this identity, he could occupy a key position in the Martial Alliance.
But why? Why had Sinsanja created this fictional character, Seon-u Jin… and given him the martial arts and potential status to stand tall in the Orthodox Martial World?