Chapter 509
Chapter 509
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 509
Chapter Title: Improvisation in Combat
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Bu Eun-seol couldn't immediately grasp what the Iron Master had meant back then.
How could he win by forgetting the Nang-ya-gak's fighting style and martial arts?
The Nang-ya-gak's strategy was to grasp the intricacies of an enemy's techniques during battle and use that knowledge to dismantle their martial arts or deliver a decisive blow.
The stronger the enemy, the stronger one becomes, gaining insights that would be unattainable through normal training.
For a warrior, it was the most ideal way to fight.
And yet, he was told to forget that strategy and the very essence of his martial arts entirely?
—If I can't understand its meaning right away, then I have no choice but to fight in a way I never have before.
Having made this decision, as he faced Paeng-ryun, Bu Eun-seol began trying all sorts of tactics and actions he had never used before, such as verbally provoking him.
Of course, this too was a ploy to gauge his enemy's strength and martial proficiency.
*Fwoosh!*
Paeng-ryun, seemingly irritated, immediately swung the Black Blood Demonic Saber.
The world around them darkened as a colossal saber energy, powerful enough to split the heavens and the earth, descended upon Bu Eun-seol's head.
*Flash!*
With no time to dodge, the saber energy bore down on him, and Bu Eun-seol subconsciously unleashed the Peerless Heavenly Flow Style.
*Swoosh.*
But the sword energy he created with the Waning Moon, Morning Star Style and the Style of Playing with Mist and Clouds was instantly extinguished, unable to even contend with the torrent of saber energy Paeng-ryun had unleashed.
Bu Eun-seol unleashed more sword forms in quick succession, but they never even reached Paeng-ryun's body.
‘So this is what he meant by instilling despair.’
Every martial artist in the world had their own unique ultimate technique, which they relied on to achieve victory.
But what if that decisive technique was completely ineffective? What if the martial art they deployed was rendered utterly useless?
Not only would their spiritual tranquility and confidence be shattered, but they would also be overcome with an irrecoverable sense of despair.
‘I will not despair.’
But Bu Eun-seol was different.
He had learned martial arts not for honor or victory, but for revenge, and had never once felt pride in his skills.
He was even always pressed for time, unable to properly train or study his martial arts.
Therefore, Bu Eun-seol always thirsted for real combat. And he sought battles with masters a cut above himself.
Only a life-and-death struggle against a superior opponent… provided the opportunity to advance his martial arts in a single leap.
He had always entered battle with this mindset.
It wasn't that his ultimate techniques were ineffective; even if he were constantly pushed into a corner, he would never fall into despair.
*Swiiish!*
Bu Eun-seol spun his Ice Soul Sword like a windmill, continuously unfolding his swordsmanship.
But the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki still annihilated every technique he deployed and pressed in on his body.
‘I will not use the arts of my pavilion.’
*Flash!*
Bu Eun-seol consecutively executed the Peerless Thunderclap Style and the Nine Dragons Flash of Lightning Style, which he had learned from Cheon Un-gwang.
His swordsmanship had improved so much that the Nine Dragons Flash of Lightning Style changed direction four times in mid-air.
Not only that, but he had completely mastered the Peerless Thunderclap Style, freely controlling its speed by blending the principles of the Slow Sword into this supremely fast killing technique.
If Paeng-ryun had been using ordinary martial arts, he would have been killed by this one move. Or he would have fled with his tail between his legs.
“You’ve learned a motley collection of arts.”
But Paeng-ryun, with a relaxed expression, swung his Black Blood Demonic Saber and blocked the variations of the Peerless Thunderclap Style and the Nine Dragons Flash of Lightning Style.
*Chiii.*
Moreover, the terror of the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki wasn't limited to nullifying the power of martial arts.
Every time the sharp saber energy grazed Bu Eun-seol's skin, a vicious energy seeped in, consuming his internal true qi.
True qi belonged not to the physical body but to the realm of the mind's cultivation.
Consequently, it was even diminishing his fighting spirit, which also resided in the spiritual domain.
‘The Iron Master had good reason to be concerned.’
A sinister art that no martial technique could penetrate, one that eroded not only the inner power within the body but also the tranquility of the mind.
The Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki.
It possessed a power that transcended the boundaries of martial arts, inflicting absolute despair and terror upon its foe.
“For someone who runs his mouth so well, your skills are pathetic.”
Each time the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki grazed him, Bu Eun-seol’s movements grew sluggish, and his eyes became unfocused.
Seeing this, Paeng-ryun smiled with satisfaction.
No matter how skilled a master was, continuous exposure to the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki would leave them as helpless as a sick chicken.
*Swhish! Swish-swish-swish-swish!*
But then, something strange happened.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been wielding his sword with a listless expression, suddenly recovered his energy and fighting spirit and launched another powerful assault.
‘This bastard?’
*Fwoom!*
Sensing something was amiss, Paeng-ryun once again spread the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki wider and more powerfully.
The fluctuations of true qi flowing from Bu Eun-seol's body and his fighting spirit noticeably diminished.
However,
*Vrrr. Crackle!*
A transparent light and a purple-tinged light faintly surged from Bu Eun-seol's body.
And once again, his energy and fighting spirit were restored.
It was like watching a Jiangshi that rose again and again, no matter how many times it was struck down.
Bu Eun-seol felt the strangeness of it himself.
‘This is…’
He realized that every time the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki grazed him, a refreshing energy and a tingling energy would surge from his body in alternation.
It turned out that the Crystal Divine Ki and the Lightning Divine Ki within him were activating with a vengeance.
They were annihilating the energy of the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki.
The Four Divine Energies.
When two of these mysterious energies, which held the power of nature itself, combined…
They instantly neutralized the supremely malevolent energy that no one had ever been able to stand against.
“Now, this will be a proper fight.”
Bu Eun-seol, alternating between emitting a transparent and a purple light, smiled.
The Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki, which rapidly depleted an enemy's fighting spirit and true qi regardless of their martial level.
Now that this terrifying, otherworldly technique was ineffective, they could finally settle the score with true skill.
“Astonishing.”
Paeng-ryun paused his attack and tilted his head.
“To think a martial art capable of blocking the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki exists.”
In truth, the divine energies were not martial arts but the power of nature.
But Paeng-ryun, unaware that Bu Eun-seol had obtained these energies, wore a confident smile.
“You’re not foolish enough to think you can win just because you’ve blocked the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki, are you?”
“…”
“Hahaha. Not a chance. Until now, I could win easily with just the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki, so I was only swinging the Black Blood Demonic Saber half-heartedly.”
He then raised the Black Blood Demonic Saber with a pleased expression.
“But now, I can finally unleash the profound forms of the Dark Blood Saber Arts to my heart's content!”
*Shwiiiiiik!*
A bizarre, piercing sound that echoed through the grand hall assaulted Bu Eun-seol’s ears.
At the same time, Paeng-ryun vanished.
Hundreds of sharp lines were drawn in the air, pouring down toward Bu Eun-seol.
*Papapapapa!*
They came so fast that it was impossible to dodge.
*Ziiiing!*
Bu Eun-seol exerted his full power, using the As-You-Will True Art to create a shield of true qi before him.
*Craaang!*
But the hundreds of lines, seemingly imbued with the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki as well, instantly shattered the shield of the As-You-Will True Art.
However, Bu Eun-seol used that brief moment to execute the Ultimate Speed, Shadowless Form and evade the hundreds of lines.
*Chwaaaaaak!*
In his place, a chaotic mesh of lines carved by the hundreds of saber strikes was etched into the floor of the grand hall.
It was truly the fastest saber art he had ever seen.
“Hoh, you managed to dodge a form from the Mad Wind Swift Saber.”
It was the first form of the Dark Blood Saber Arts, the Mad Wind Swift Saber.
“Try dodging this one.”
With those words, Paeng-ryun vanished again, and hundreds of saber strikes began to etch the air like lines.
‘He seems to be swinging wildly, but he’s targeting three specific points…’
Bu Eun-seol instantly grasped the intricacies of Paeng-ryun's Mad Wind Swift Saber style and formulated a corresponding counter.
*Zing! Zing!*
As the sharp techniques of the two masters clashed in mid-air, a blinding light erupted in all directions.
*Paat!*
But in the end, a single, sharp glint of light grazed Bu Eun-seol’s shoulder.
*Drip.*
As blood trickled from his shoulder, Paeng-ryun smiled faintly.
“Not bad.”
“Have you only mastered the first form of your saber art?”
“Hahaha, let’s talk after you’ve managed to break through the Mad Wind Swift Saber style.”
*Chwaaaaaak!*
Once again, Paeng-ryun's form vanished, and hundreds of sharp lines descended upon Bu Eun-seol's body.
‘The essence of supreme speed…’
Bu Eun-seol once again tried to grasp the intricacies of the Mad Wind Swift Saber style and break through its forms.
‘What am I doing right now?’
Then, his mind cleared with a flash.
Finding the martial principles in an enemy's forms and identifying their weaknesses. That was the essence of the Nang-ya-gak's martial arts and its signature strategy.
Considering the Iron Master's advice, it was something he absolutely should not be doing.
*Pshht!*
The sharp saber energy had already enveloped Bu Eun-seol's body, wounding his left forearm yet again.
“Hehehehe.”
Paeng-ryun let out a sinister laugh.
He was confident that if he went all out and continuously unleashed the Dark Blood Saber Arts, he could defeat Bu Eun-seol in an instant.
Despite that, he was deliberately using one form at a time to inflict injuries.
This was the best way to drive his opponent to the peak of despair.
From this day forward, even if Bu Eun-seol survived his hand, and even if his skills were to improve many times over…
He would never dare to challenge him again.
But something was strange.
Bu Eun-seol, gazing at the dripping blood, wore an expression of exhilaration and relief.
‘So that’s what it was.’
Only after being struck once more by Paeng-ryun's blade did he begin to vaguely understand what Geol-wang had been trying to tell him.
“It was a saber art from which I couldn't steal the forms or principles in the first place.”
The weapon Paeng-ryun held was not a real sword, but the Black Blood Demonic Saber, a materialization of true qi, much like the As-You-Will True Art.
In other words, even if he grasped the martial principles, the forms wouldn't come at him in a fixed pattern.
He could change their trajectory at any time using his true qi.
“You learn quickly.”
Paeng-ryun uttered a word of admiration.
No one had ever figured out the function of the Black Blood Demonic Saber so quickly.
“But what changes now that you know?”
Paeng-ryun smirked.
“The Dark Blood Saber Arts consists of thirty-two forms in total. If you’re so inclined, try to dismantle them one by one, just like you’re doing now.”
Any ordinary warrior would have worn a look of despair at those words.
The Mad Wind Swift Saber style was arguably at the highest level of saber arts in the martial world.
And there were thirty-one more forms comparable to it?
Moreover, martial arts techniques generally grew more powerful in their later forms…
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, the situation was hopeless.
“Unleash the Seven Forms of Blood Tears.”
Paeng-ryun suggested nonchalantly.
“Only the Seven Forms of Blood Tears can stand against the Dark Blood Saber Arts.”
He had belittled the Seven Forms of Blood Tears, but his inner thoughts were different.
The five forms he had received from the Infinite World and memorized were a supreme technique whose power surpassed even the Dark Blood Saber Arts.
Paeng-ryun had dedicated his life to mastering the saber and was a master of the blade. Furthermore, he had comprehended the saber formulas of the five forms through the Infinite World.
What if Bu Eun-seol were to unleash the remaining two forms?
Through the variations in those forms, he would be able to obtain the complete saber formula of the Seven Forms of Blood Tears. He was inwardly burning with anticipation.
“Not yet.”
*Flash!*
A brilliant, cold star erupted from the Ice Soul Sword in Bu Eun-seol’s hand.
A swift and sharp sword energy instantly shot toward Paeng-ryun's neck.
It was a move from the Meteor-Chasing Moon Style.
“Hmph, the swift sword of the Nang-ya-gak.”
Paeng-ryun, with a disappointed look, blocked Bu Eun-seol's sword form.
*Flash!*
But the sword form changed in mid-air, once again aiming for his chest.
It was a variation applying the Nine Dragons Flash of Lightning Style.
“A fine sword art.”
With a sound of admiration, Paeng-ryun swung his Black Blood Demonic Saber and instantly blocked Bu Eun-seol’s swordsmanship.
“But this kind of swordsmanship isn’t enough…”
The confident smile on Paeng-ryun's face turned strange.
Bu Eun-seol was changing his swordsmanship again, creating countless sword blossoms.
“Such a crude sword technique.”
Muttering under his breath, Paeng-ryun immediately raised his internal energy.
“I’ll shatter it right now.”
*Shk.*
Lowering his stance, he brought the Black Blood Demonic Saber to his left hip, as if preparing for a drawing cut.
*Shwoook!*
At that moment, an invisible but massive vortex rushed toward Bu Eun-seol.
As Bu Eun-seol moved to his left like lightning to dodge it,
*Kwaang!*
Paeng-ryun, having anticipated his evasive maneuver, instantly closed the distance and swung the Black Blood Demonic Saber.
The second form of the Dark Blood Saber Arts, Black Wind Purgatory.
*Paaaaa!*
Just as the flesh-rending vortex was about to engulf Bu Eun-seol at point-blank range,
*Paaaa!*
A red current of energy erupted from Bu Eun-seol's left fist in the form of a ferocious dragon.
He, too, had anticipated Paeng-ryun’s technique and had already unleashed the Heavenly Beast's Destructive Roar Style.
*Kuuuu!*
As the sharp vortex and the Heavenly Beast's Destructive Roar Style collided, a tempestuous current of energy shot up into the air.
*Pat!*
In a flash, Paeng-ryun broke through the Heavenly Beast's Destructive Roar Style and slashed at Bu Eun-seol's body.
*Chwaak!*
With just a single swing, dozens of saber strikes enveloped Bu Eun-seol’s body.
It was an unexpected move that even Bu Eun-seol couldn't predict.
*Flicker! Flicker!*
Just then, Bu Eun-seol's Ice Soul Sword moved as if it were alive.
It created a circular sword screen, deflecting the incoming saber strikes one by one.
The spirit sword art of the Heavenly Sword Society, the Rhombus Sword Control Style, which reacted to killing intent, had been unleashed.
*Chichichik!*
As the Black Blood Demonic Saber, made of true qi, clashed with Bu Eun-seol's Ice Soul Sword, strange sparks began to fly.
*Pat!*
At that moment, a sharp saber wind grazed Bu Eun-seol's cheek.
*Paat.*
As Bu Eun-seol retreated, Paeng-ryun did not pursue him.
“Shall we make him start using his full power?”
*Fwoom!*
Paeng-ryun once again unleashed his saber art, pressing Bu Eun-seol.
As the exchange of offense and defense continued, the number of wounds on Bu Eun-seol’s body increased.
He occasionally came close to receiving a fatal wound, but he managed to narrowly avoid it by using the Ultimate Speed, Shadowless Form.
As the exchange of techniques continued, Bu Eun-seol realized two things.
‘He’s not using his full strength.’
He was likely holding back intentionally, to allow him to use the Seven Forms of Blood Tears.
‘And… since he’s using a saber art that’s impossible to dismantle, my only option is to counter with a sword art of the same level.’
The Saber Emperor's art, unleashed with the materialized true qi of the Black Blood Demonic Saber.
It was at a level where grasping its principles to counterattack or immediately deploying a counter-form was impossible.
This was why Geol-wang had told him not to use the Nang-ya-gak's tactics against a descendant of the Saber Emperor.
The warriors of the Nang-ya-gak learned the intricacies of their enemies' martial arts through battle and used that knowledge to advance their own skills.
But since that was impossible against the Saber Emperor’s art, he had been warned never to use the Nang-ya-gak’s tactics.
Finally understanding Paeng-ryun's intentions and the nature of the Dark Blood Saber Arts, Bu Eun-seol had a brilliant idea.
‘In that case, Paeng-ryun. What if I use him to develop the martial arts I’ve learned so far?’
Until now, he had never had the time to slowly practice his martial arts.
Therefore, he had always advanced his skills in the heat of battle against strong opponents.
And that was possible because…
He had always instantly grasped the intricacies of his enemy's martial arts, found their weaknesses, and seized victory.
‘The Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki is useless against me anyway. And he desperately wants me to use the Seven Forms of Blood Tears.’
Thanks to the divine energies within his body, the Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki was no longer a threat.
And Paeng-ryun was unwilling to cut him down easily, at least not until he unleashed the Seven Forms of Blood Tears.
Bu Eun-seol decided to use this to his advantage.
Instead of dismantling the enemy's martial arts and discerning its principles…
For the first time, he would face an enemy with the goal of advancing his own martial arts.
‘In that case, I’ll make him burn with anticipation!’
As Bu Eun-seol twisted the Ice Soul Sword in his grip, hundreds of sword rings materialized around him.
He had unleashed the first form of the Seven Forms of Blood Tears: Life's Genesis, Death's Return.
“Excellent!”
Paeng-ryun, seeing Bu Eun-seol use the Seven Forms of Blood Tears, cried out in joy and swung his Black Blood Demonic Saber.
*Kiiiiiii!*
With a sound like the wailing of a ghost, six massive strands of saber energy spread out like flower petals, erasing the sword rings.
It was the third form of the Dark Blood Saber Arts, the Six Sabers of Annihilation.
*Swish!*
The Six Sabers of Annihilation, after erasing all the sword rings, moved to swallow Bu Eun-seol’s body as if to tear it apart.
*Tststs.*
Bu Eun-seol, having anticipated that the form of Life's Genesis, Death's Return would be broken, constantly shifted his position in mid-air.
*Swaaak!*
Then, the form of the Six Sabers of Annihilation also began to follow his movements like a living creature.
*Chwaak!*
But in the end, it failed to keep up with his ninety-nine changes in position, and the saber energy dissipated.
*Swiish!*
Paeng-ryun switched his saber art again, slashing at Bu Eun-seol’s shoulder and back.
Blood splattered from his body once more, but it wasn't a fatal wound.
“You run like a rat.”
Despite Paeng-ryun's provocation, Bu Eun-seol calmly defended and attacked with composure.
‘Slowly… let’s take it slowly.’
Paeng-ryun had practiced the saber his entire life and had perfectly mastered the Saber Emperor's secret techniques.
His saber art was so outstanding and powerful that Bu Eun-seol could not hope to match it.
But he was deliberately prolonging the fight to completely steal the Seven Forms of Blood Tears.
Bu Eun-seol took advantage of that.
He mainly used the Peerless Heavenly Flow Style, but occasionally mixed in the second and third forms of the Seven Forms of Blood Tears, the Seeking Life in Death Style and the Half-Life, Half-Death Style.
It was to ensure Paeng-ryun wouldn't lose his thread of hope, to drag this battle out for as long as possible.
*Flash! Craang! Chiiik!*
Bu Eun-seol once again unleashed a barrage of attacks on Paeng-ryun, from the Waning Moon, Morning Star Style to the Form of Dust to Dust, Earth to Earth.
But the Peerless Heavenly Flow Style was completely ineffective against Paeng-ryun, and instead, he was met with sharp counterattacks.
In the past, he would have been shocked and flustered that not only his own swordsmanship but even the Seven Forms of Blood Tears were not working.
But this battle was a time to test and improve his martial arts. His mind, on the contrary, became calm and at ease.
‘It’s a shame, but I won’t be able to use Heaven's Lament in the first place.’
The Heaven's Lament Style was an absolute counterattack that aimed for the perfect moment to end an enemy's life.
It couldn't be used without identifying a precise weakness.
‘Now, what should I try next?’
As Bu Eun-seol twisted his Ice Soul Sword and took a deep breath,
—If you've begged and borrowed from here and there like a beggar, shouldn't you have the skill to mix it all up and make a meal of it!
Suddenly, Ak Mu-ryeong's roar echoed in his mind.
Bu Eun-seol had learned martial arts that had reached the pinnacle in their respective fields.
Therefore, aside from 'harmony', he could never develop or mix them.
‘No, there is one.’
There was one martial art that he could rapidly change and develop in a short period.
It was the Peerless Heavenly Flow Style, which he himself had created.
*Paaaaa!*
At that moment, hundreds of saber strikes began to fall from above his head.
Paeng-ryun, having found an opening, had unleashed the Demonic Wheel, Bewitching Land form.
Seeing the saber strikes raining down like a storm, Bu Eun-seol had a sudden realization.
‘Right, I should mix it up skillfully.’
Paeng-ryun, with his Dark Blood Saber Emperor's Ki, was impervious to true qi-based martial arts.
Arts of extreme yin or extreme yang, and even an outpouring of Lightning Divine Ki or Crystal Divine Ki, would likely be easily nullified.
But what if he mixed that power into his swordsmanship? Like all martial arts, the Peerless Heavenly Flow Style contained a balance of the energies of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements.
*Kuruung!*
In that instant, a thunderous sound suddenly erupted from the Ice Soul Sword.
*Crackle.*
Simultaneously, a purple-tinged lightning flashed, and a massive sword energy poured out in the form of a thunderbolt.
He had combined the Lightning Divine Ki with the Waning Moon, Morning Star Style, which possessed the attributes of wind and thunder.
*Flash! Flash!*
Instantly annihilating all the saber strikes, Bu Eun-seol unleashed a continuous barrage of sword forms at Paeng-ryun.
He had simply cloaked it in Lightning Divine Ki.
But every time he swung his sword, purple lightning spread out in all directions.
And wasn't the speed of the attack three times faster than the original Waning Moon, Morning Star Style?
*Kwaaang!*
An explosion erupted from the hall floor where the Waning Moon, Morning Star had struck.
*Kurururu.*
The floor of the grand hall began to shake as if an earthquake had struck.
‘He’s pouring all his internal energy into it to increase its power.’
The corners of Paeng-ryun’s lips curled up.
‘That means his swordsmanship will slow down.’
Seeing the sudden increase in the power of Bu Eun-seol's sword forms, he mistakenly believed he was using his full internal energy.
“Then how about this?”
Instantly closing the distance, Paeng-ryun’s Black Blood Demonic Saber condensed into a shorter form.
Simultaneously, he unleashed the Mad Wind Swift Saber style so fast it was invisible to the naked eye.
*Crackle.*
As Bu Eun-seol once again unleashed his swordsmanship accompanied by the Lightning Divine Ki, he instantly blocked the torrent of the Mad Wind Swift Saber.
‘Kuh.’
Despite blocking the forms, Bu Eun-seol inwardly cried out.
His arm felt like it was about to pop out of its socket due to the sword forms being unleashed so quickly, independent of his will.
*Zzzzzzzzt.*
Moreover, every time he used his swordsmanship, the Lightning Divine Ki coursing through his body surged like mad.
‘I don’t know anymore.’
As the uncontrollable Lightning Divine Ki surged, Bu Eun-seol began to swing his sword wildly, using its power.
*Paaaaaaa!*
Then, the wildly unleashed, high-speed sword forms transformed into what looked like a giant cloud, instantly enveloping Paeng-ryun’s body.