Chapter 465
Chapter 465
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 465
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Companion
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Rumble, rumble.
A sudden killing intent, as if the world was darkening, washed over the area. The ground around the forest began to heave.
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol's heightened senses sounded a subtle alarm.
Rumble.
At the same time, from the sunken earth, black shadows began to rise one by one, revealing themselves.
They were Soul-Lost Ones with blood-red eyes.
*So that's it.*
Bu Eun-seol finally understood why the strange stench continued to spread even after the spell cast over the forest had been broken.
It turned out the Soul-Lost Ones had been sleeping in burrows dug throughout the forest.
Unlike ordinary humans, the Soul-Lost Ones showed no signs of life.
By simply remaining motionless in their slumber, they could completely conceal their presence, as if practicing a deep concealment art.
Boom!
Just then, a boom echoed, and a transparent light flashed in the distance.
The old woman from the Divine Water Palace who had gone ahead had begun to deal with the Soul-Lost Ones appearing in the forest.
"Kaaah!"
The Soul-Lost Ones on Mount Gugok were slightly different from the ones he had seen before.
Not only their eyes, but their skin also had a reddish hue, and they had long, bizarre fingernails split into two.
Their movements were also unpredictably fast and agile, like those of a beast.
However, the old woman's martial arts were on a level that prevented the Soul-Lost Ones from even getting close.
Not only was a spherical, water-droplet-like protective energy materialized around her body,
Thump! Thump!
but she was also firing droplets of water from the gourd at her waist like cannonballs.
At times, she unleashed the water in the form of a vortex, felling the Soul-Lost Ones.
*So she doesn't possess a Water Spirit Body like the Palace Lord of the Divine Water Palace.*
Neung-gyeong, the Water God among the Seven God-Kings, was known to be able to perform his martial arts using the moisture in the air, without needing an external water source.
The old woman's martial arts were formidable, but it seemed she wasn't born with a Water Spirit Body, as she continuously used the water from her gourd.
*Even so, it's as if she has no restrictions.*
Water can be found anywhere easily.
In other words, even without a Water Spirit Body, the disciples of the Divine Water Palace could use the Divine Water Arts at any time.
And because of this advantage, they were regarded as having the greatest military strength among the Seven Great Hidden Palaces.
Fwoooosh!
After instantly eliminating all the Soul-Lost Ones, the old woman turned to Bu Eun-seol, who had followed her, and smiled coldly.
"There are no heads left for you to take."
The heads of the fallen Soul-Lost Ones were all gone.
It seemed she had deliberately used her Divine Water Arts to obliterate only their heads, preventing Bu Eun-seol from cutting them off and taking them.
*She looks to be around ninety, yet she acts as childishly as a kid.*
Swallowing a laugh, Bu Eun-seol bent down and began to carefully examine the details of the Soul-Lost Ones.
The Four Gods rarely showed themselves in the martial world, and opportunities to witness their ultimate techniques were just as rare.
He intended to take this chance to observe the characteristics of the Divine Water Palace's martial arts.
"Hmph."
Seeing Bu Eun-seol examining the Soul-Lost Ones, the old woman assumed he was looking for an intact head to take. She smiled coldly and left.
*So this is the Divine Water Arts.*
Regardless, Bu Eun-seol carefully studied the wounds left on the corpses of the Soul-Lost Ones.
He had thought it was a simple technique of killing enemies by flicking water at them.
But the Divine Water Arts had completely changed the properties of the water droplets.
Instead of light droplets, there were traces as if heavy water had been shot.
Their shapes were also not droplets, but various other forms.
*Not only can it make ordinary water as heavy as heavy water, but it can also shape it into various forms...*
Bu Eun-seol couldn't help but be impressed.
For generations, the Four Gods had displayed immense power in the martial world, possessing unique abilities that couldn't be achieved through martial arts alone.
This, like the martial arts of the Eight Desolations and Three Stars, could be called a martial art that transcended the boundaries of martial realms.
*The martial world is vast.*
The martial world is vast, and full of extraordinary people.
While some wish to make a name for themselves and seek honor, others live in obscurity, hiding their abilities.
There are cases where someone with a great reputation is actually unremarkable...
And cases where someone who hasn't made a name for themselves actually possesses incredible skill.
*The martial arts of the Divine Water Palace are far more formidable than what is known in the martial world.*
Bu Eun-seol was the type to trust what he saw with his own eyes, not rumors.
And only after examining the traces of the old woman's techniques did he realize that the martial arts of the Divine Water Palace were far fiercer and more powerful than was known.
Rumble.
Although the old woman had dealt with quite a few Soul-Lost Ones, they continued to break through the ground and appear.
"Quite a lot of them."
Watching the Soul-Lost Ones slowly rise, Bu Eun-seol threw a light punch.
Thud!
With a low vibration, a Soul-Lost One fell flat on its back.
But didn't it immediately jump back up and start moving again?
Even though he had barely infused any internal energy, the blow had enough power to shatter a boulder in a single strike.
No matter that they were Soul-Lost Ones, they still had bodies of flesh and blood. How could they maintain such durable bodies?
"Kaaah!"
The Soul-Lost Ones, which had now surrounded him as if besieging the forest, shrieked and rushed at Bu Eun-seol.
*Hmph.*
This time, Bu Eun-seol used the internal energy of the Three Stars and launched a series of punches.
Boom! Boom!
With explosive sounds, the Soul-Lost Ones turned into red masses and were sent flying in all directions.
"Kaaa! Keee!"
But even some distance ahead, the shrieks of the Soul-Lost Ones continued unabated.
Judging by the continuous screams, it seemed the number of Soul-Lost Ones the old woman was fighting was far greater than here.
*She could be in danger.*
Ziiiing!
In that moment, dozens of strands of true energy shot out from Bu Eun-seol's body like a spider's web.
Thud, thud, thud.
Simultaneously, the heads of the charging Soul-Lost Ones were instantly severed, and their bodies collapsed to the ground.
He had unleashed the True Art of As-You-Will to eliminate them in an instant.
Swish.
Using his movement technique, Bu Eun-seol rushed forward and climbed up the mountain for a while.
When he finally reached Daemoryeong, where the Mount Mao Sect was said to have once been, he saw the old woman surrounded by Soul-Lost Ones in a wide clearing.
There were about a hundred of them.
Despite being surrounded by enough forces to cover the small clearing, the old woman was not flustered.
Thump! Fwoooosh!
Each time she unleashed droplets imbued with the Divine Water Arts, the Soul-Lost Ones were sent flying like kites with their strings cut.
But their numbers were too great.
Even after a quarter of an hour, the number of Soul-Lost Ones surrounding the forest had not decreased.
This was because these Soul-Lost Ones had bodies as hard as steel.
No matter how powerful the water droplets shot with the Divine Water Arts were, they couldn't kill them instantly... so she was gradually being pushed onto the defensive.
*I suppose I have no choice.*
As Bu Eun-seol drew his sword to help the surrounded old woman,
"I don't need it!"
The old woman spotted the approaching Bu Eun-seol and scoffed coldly.
And as she raised her hand,
Whoooosh!
the water in her gourd began to swirl and shoot upwards, taking on a deep blue color like the sea.
Ruuuumble!
The swirling water formed a sphere and then began to radiate outwards.
Fwoooosh!
The transparent streams of water she unleashed rotated continuously, mixed with a blue hue.
It created a scene as if a blue dragon was tearing through the air, biting at the Soul-Lost Ones.
Thud. Thud.
The last of the charging Soul-Lost Ones fell to the ground, headless.
The old woman had single-handedly defeated over a hundred of the steel-hard Soul-Lost Ones.
*The martial arts of the Divine Water Palace are quite diverse.*
Bu Eun-seol was impressed as he watched the technique the old woman used.
Water has no form.
The martial arts of the Divine Water Palace allowed the user to manifest the Divine Water Arts in various ways.
In other words, no matter what enemy appeared, they could adapt the Divine Water Arts accordingly... it was like wielding a weapon that could change into a thousand different forms at will.
"Do you have a death wish?"
The old woman looked at Bu Eun-seol with an annoyed expression.
"You were lucky to escape with your life. You should have gone back. Why do you keep following me?"
"Your martial arts are incredible."
"Hmm?"
Bu Eun-seol said in a voice full of admiration.
"Thanks to you, Elder, my eyes have been opened."
At his praise, the frowning old woman flinched.
"Well, that's just how the martial arts of my palace are."
Though she said that, her eyes shone with a triumphant gleam.
*She has such an innocent personality.*
Bu Eun-seol found himself liking the old woman, who, despite looking to be around ninety, had the attitude and eyes of a pure child.
"And I'm not following you, Elder. I'm just doing what I need to do."
Bu Eun-seol said, calmly accepting the eccentric old woman's temper.
"Did you come here to deal with the Soul-Lost Ones, Elder?"
"That's right."
The old woman looked around with a rather proud expression and said.
"When the Soul-Lost Ones appeared on Mount Gugok, I heard that not only the common people but also martial artists like you, trying to earn a few coins, were dying horribly. So I came to wipe them out myself."
"I see. But why did you come alone?"
Judging by her martial arts and her age,
the old woman undoubtedly held a high position in the Divine Water Palace.
So why would she come to this desolate Mount Gugok alone to deal with the Soul-Lost Ones?
"Well, you could say I came to gain experience in the martial world."
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol frowned.
Given her age, it was obvious she had more than enough experience in the martial world to last a lifetime.
Did she still feel she was lacking and needed more experience at her age?
"That's not it..."
As if realizing she had misspoken, the old woman paused for a moment, then said calmly.
"I was in seclusion for a long time, so I haven't been able to get any fresh air."
"Is that so."
"Now that it's all over, I should be heading back."
"Then, please have a safe journey back."
The old woman's appearance was grotesque, and her personality and way of speaking were utterly eccentric.
But because Bu Eun-seol had been polite from beginning to end, the old woman seemed to have taken a slight interest in him.
"Why aren't you leaving? Is it because the Soul-Lost Ones have no heads?"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes crinkled as he shook his head.
"That's not it. It's just..."
Just then, as he took a step, a glint appeared in his eyes.
He had detected a subtle mechanism through the sole of his foot.
*So it's another one of these.*
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol immediately activated the Thousand-Pound Weight technique.
Thud.
The spot where he stood sank into a flat square,
Clank, clank.
and with the sound of moving chains, the floor lowered, and a huge iron door formed from the ground opposite him.
Someone had secretly built mechanisms all around Daemoryeong.
Ruuuumble.
When the iron door finally opened, a long passage appeared, like a black maw gaping open.
"What's that."
The old woman, who had been watching, gaped.
To think such an amazing mechanism was hidden in this desolate Daemoryeong.
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol's gaze deepened as he looked at the passage that gaped like a black mouth.
*It's similar.*
The secret passage before him had a similar structure to the underground city in Sichuan that he had investigated with Yu Hwa-ryeong in the past.
That meant this place was also an experimental site created by the Three Realms.
*Does that mean the man with the greatsword is also a member of the Three Realms?*
A chill ran down his spine.
If so, it would mean the Three Realms already knew about the Seven Forms of the Blood Tear and were studying the martial arts of the Seven-Branched Demonic Path.
Ziiiing.
Bu Eun-seol immediately used the Mind-Reading Art.
Looking around the passage, he could clearly see signs of people coming and going.
This meant there was a high probability that the man with the greatsword was here.
"What in the world is this."
The old woman asked.
"Don't tell me this is the place where they create the Soul-Lost Ones."
"It seems likely."
"Hmm."
"You should go back, Elder."
Bu Eun-seol said with a serious expression.
"A place like this is not something an ordinary martial artist can handle."
And without hesitation, he walked inside.
"You insolent whelp."
The old woman followed, shouting coldly.
"The one who's just been watching all this time dares to talk about handling things?"
"If you want to come in, bring the disciples of the Divine Water Palace with you."
"Just because you found one mechanism like a mole, do you think you have the right to lecture me?"
"Elder."
"You're the one who should go back."
A blue energy swirled in the old woman's eyes.
"You could get yourself killed poking around fearlessly."
Then she walked past Bu Eun-seol and straight into the passage.
"Hmph."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head as if he had no choice.
And he slowly walked into the open passage.
The inside of the passage was damp and dark, and a stench similar to the one that had covered the forest of Mount Gugok was rising.
The old woman walking ahead smelled the stench and spoke as if she remembered something.
"It seems the remnants of the Hellish Blood Star are here again."
Bu Eun-seol had struck at the Great Cloud Forest, but most of the martial world mistakenly believed that the Hellish Blood Star had created the Soul-Lost Ones.
The Hellish Blood Star had only provided various potent poisons, but the vast majority of martial artists had no way of knowing that the Three Realms were behind the Great Cloud Forest.
They mistakenly believed the Hellish Blood Star was behind the Great Cloud Forest.
*They reap what they sow.*
Bu Eun-seol walked deeper inside, silently observing the passage.
When he finally reached the end of the passage, he saw a very thick iron door.
The old woman didn't open it herself, instead staring intently at Bu Eun-seol.
*She wants me to open it.*
Bu Eun-seol opened the iron door without hesitation.
As the door opened with a grinding sound, an unexpected scene was revealed.
"Another passage?"
The old woman also looked bewildered.
Opening the iron door revealed a wide, dark passage like a mine shaft, stretching endlessly.
However, its width and height were considerable, enough for a hundred people to walk comfortably without forming ranks.
After walking for a long time, another iron door appeared in the distance.
Bu Eun-seol walked up without hesitation and examined the iron door carefully.
Unlike the previous one, this iron door was extremely heavy and thick, as if designed to imprison something ferocious.
*How strange.*
His gaze deepened as he looked around.
This mine shaft was studded here and there with Seven-Colored Luminous Pearls that illuminated the surroundings.
No matter how wealthy the Three Realms were, there was no reason to embed expensive Seven-Colored Luminous Pearls in this shabby place.
This meant there was likely a special reason why oil lamps couldn't be used in this passage.
"Elder."
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
"If we go any further, there will be no chance to turn back."
"You're more talkative than I thought."
Annoyed, the old woman reached out to open the door herself.
Click.
But as the old woman approached the door, a very small, faint metallic sound echoed.
*A mechanism?*
Bu Eun-seol reached out a hand and said.
"Be careful. I think there's a mechanism ahead."
"I wouldn't have come if I was afraid of some mechanism."
The moment the old woman nonchalantly opened the door and tried to step inside,
Clank.
suddenly, gleaming orbs descended from the ceiling.
At the same time, a pressure that felt like it would crush his entire body poured down. It was the Pressure Stones, the same kind installed in the Martial Emperor's Treasury.
"Hmph."
Unflustered by the immense pressure, the old woman raised her internal energy.
A spherical blue light then flowed out around her and began to deflect the crushing pressure.
She was using the Divine Water Arts to create a diagonally curved wall to divert the pressure at an angle.
*What a convenient method.*
Bu Eun-seol was inwardly impressed.
The Divine Water Arts of the Divine Water Palace could change not only the form of water but also harden its properties.
She was easily deflecting the power of the Pressure Stones, which had given even the great Tan-wang a hard time.
"How crude."
Just as the old woman was about to take another step,
Skitter, skitter.
with a bizarre sound, shadows from the other side began to blacken the floor.
They were a new type of Soul-Lost One.
"What in the world are those."
The old woman cried out in disbelief.
The Soul-Lost Ones crawling on the floor were covered in a yellow slime, and their limbs were abnormally long.
From a distance, they looked like spiders with human heads approaching.
"Ugh."
Seeing them, the old woman let out a groan.
In terms of grotesqueness, the old woman's own appearance was quite something.
But at the appearance of these bizarre Soul-Lost Ones, she was horrified.
"I hate spiders!"
Half out of her mind, the old woman screamed and unleashed her Divine Water Arts.
Fwoooosh!
But with her concentration shattered and her control lost, her martial art failed to display its original power.
"Kaaah!"
Moreover, the Soul-Lost Ones that didn't fall even after being hit by the Divine Water Arts roared, their bodies dripping with yellow fluid,
Skitter, skitter.
and began to crawl up the walls with their long limbs in bizarre movements.
"Aaaah!"
When the yellow fluid finally splattered onto her, the old woman lost her mind and began to frantically unleash her Divine Water Arts.
Due to the influence of the Pressure Stones, her movements grew slower, and the crawling Soul-Lost Ones were soon right in front of her.
Swish!
Finally, one of the Soul-Lost Ones seized an opportunity, slipped through an opening, and leaped at the old woman's face.
Whoosh!
Just as its razor-sharp claws were about to touch the old woman's neck,
Shing.
a clear sword cry echoed through the mine shaft.
Swish-swish-swish!
Simultaneously, a torrent of sword energy shot up into the air, shattering the Pressure Stones on the ceiling,
Shreeek! Papapapapa!
and then an uncountable number of lightning-fast sword strikes rained down upon the bodies of the crawling Soul-Lost Ones.
Thud, thud, thud. Keck!
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
The Pressure Stones on the ceiling turned to dust and fell to the ground.
Dozens of charging Soul-Lost Ones were turned into bloody pulp with a single scream.
Click.
Bu Eun-seol sheathed his Ice Soul Sword again.
"..."
The old woman stood there with a blank expression.
It wasn't a look of gratitude, but one of utter shock.
Because when Bu Eun-seol used his lightning-fast swordplay to deal with the surrounding Soul-Lost Ones... the yellow slime had splattered all over her.
"Aaaaaah!"
The old woman shrieked, jumped, and poured all the water from her gourd over herself.
Splish, splash.
The water in the gourd was practically the only weapon the old woman had in this underground mine shaft.
"Get a hold of yourself!"
As Bu Eun-seol snatched the gourd away and shouted, the old woman finally stopped and her eyes widened.
But she had already poured out all the water from the gourd.
"Why were you so panicked?"
The old woman shook her head with a dazed look.
"I... hate spiders."
Then, after shuddering for a long while, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed backward.
Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his bewilderment.
Wasn't this kind of behavior something you'd expect from a teenage girl, not an old woman?