Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Poison-Strengthened Body Art
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The day of the Jeongmu Tournament finals.
The area around the dueling stage was a veritable sea of people. Not only were the martial artists who had been attending the tournament present, but figures from both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions who had remained unseen until now began to fill the spectator seats.
While they were curious to see who would become the master of the Yeong-sa-sin-geom, a sword said to cleave even souls, they were primarily here to see the unique individual who had reached the finals.
Bu Eun-seol.
A young man who had never been active in the martial world until now. This unknown rookie had used a variety of sword arts to defeat one renowned master after another.
Moreover, the fact that these sword arts were not his true, ultimate techniques was what had begun to draw the attention of the martial world.
—What could his true art possibly be?
They were certain to find the answer in this final match.
Because his opponent was none other than Yang Myeong, a master from the Hell Blood Fortress.
—No matter how great his internal energy, he won't be able to hold back from revealing his true art against Yang Myeong!
The martial artists were filled with anticipation.
It wasn't for Bu Eun-seol's victory. They were curious to see how Yang Myeong would deal with him, and when Bu Eun-seol would finally unveil his true techniques.
“We will now begin the final match!”
At Cho Mun-cheon's cry, a tremendous roar erupted from the spectator seats.
The final match of the Jeongmu Tournament, which would finally satisfy the curiosity of the martial world, had begun.
Step. Step.
As Bu Eun-seol climbed the stairs to the dueling stage,
“Appearing like a comet, he has claimed victory after victory against numerous masters to reach the finals! This is Bu Eun-seol, Young Master Bu!”
Perhaps because it was the finals, Cho Mun-cheon was giving a longer introduction than usual.
Swoosh.
Then, from the opposite side, a figure ascended the stage with a movement technique as light as a cloud.
It was the Blood Demon Hall Lord, Yang Myeong.
“Renowned throughout the Guizhou area, the Poison Hand Flying Demon, Yang Myeong, Great Master Yang!”
As if pricked by his conscience, Cho Mun-cheon conveniently omitted Yang Myeong's title as a Hall Lord of the Hell Blood Fortress in his introduction.
“Hmph.”
Yang Myeong stared at the stoic Bu Eun-seol, his eyes glinting.
“Your posture is good.”
He spoke, feigning ignorance, despite knowing that Bu Eun-seol was one of the Sip-ma-jeon-in from Nang-ya-gak.
“You seem to be the disciple of a famous master. Do your best.”
It was an unwritten rule among the Ten Demonic Sects to avoid conflict with one another whenever possible.
If Bu Eun-seol were revealed to be a disciple of Nang-ya-gak, Yang Myeong could not fight him. That was why he intended to feign ignorance of Bu Eun-seol's identity and beat him to death.
“Then let the match begin!”
Gong!
With the sound of a large gong, Cho Mun-cheon hastily retreated.
Yang Myeong's signature technique was the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger.
This finger art was powerful enough to leave a mark on solid steel, and more importantly, the technique itself was imbued with poison.
Linger nearby, and you could be poisoned without even realizing it.
“You may attack first.”
Yang Myeong gestured with a flick of his hand, an arrogant expression on his face.
“Once I, the Hall Lord, make my move, you won't get a single chance to attack.”
Bu Eun-seol had already experienced the terrifying nature of the Hell Blood Fortress's poison arts firsthand on Hell Island.
The moment Yang Myeong finished speaking, Bu Eun-seol drew his longsword and thrust it at his throat.
Clang!
But the swift sword was deflected, sending sparks flying.
Yang Myeong had deflected the flurry of swift strikes with a single outstretched finger.
“Child’s play.”
Bu Eun-seol didn't respond to Yang Myeong's taunt, simply swinging his sword again.
With a soft swish, the deflected swift sword strikes transformed in mid-air, descending slowly upon Yang Myeong's head like snowflakes.
“Heavy sword this time, is it?”
Yang Myeong scoffed as he watched the slowly falling sword images.
“You slowed it down deliberately to make me block it. Fine.”
He slowly curled his middle finger, then flicked it out.
Ping!
With a loud whoosh, a gust of finger wind shot from his middle finger and collided with Bu Eun-seol's heavy sword strikes.
Boom! Boom!
As the heavy sword and the finger wind met, a series of booming sounds, like bursting leather, echoed out.
Standing leisurely, Yang Myeong neutralized the heavy sword strikes, each carrying hundreds of pounds of force, one by one with a single finger.
Boom!
After dealing with the final move, Yang Myeong smirked at Bu Eun-seol.
“Are you done with your little tricks?”
Bu Eun-seol lowered his stance, sword in hand.
Yang Myeong was a master on a completely different level from anyone he had faced so far. A moment's carelessness could unleash a torrent of lightning-fast moves.
“Arrogant brat.”
Watching the silent Bu Eun-seol, Yang Myeong smiled, baring his fangs.
“Let me show you why this Hall Lord is called the Poison Hand Flying Demon.”
Whoosh!
Yang Myeong's body blurred, and in the next instant, he stood tall three *zhang* in front of Bu Eun-seol.
Sssss.
Simultaneously, a black mist began to rise from his fingers, and his fingernails started to turn black.
He was about to unleash his true ultimate art, the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger.
“Take this!”
Shhhhiik!
With a hiss like a viper's cry, three black streaks shot toward the major acupoints on Bu Eun-seol's chest.
Taaang!
As he deflected the finger wind with his sword, the blade of the longsword glowed red-hot.
“Where are you looking?”
Yang Myeong, having appeared behind him in an instant, swung his blackened hand.
Flick.
But Bu Eun-seol's reflexes, honed by the Ya-su-do, were also extraordinary.
Ducking like lightning to evade Yang Myeong's hand-blade, Bu Eun-seol leaped up like a carp and began to unleash his sword techniques.
It was the defensive technique of the Hwau Sword Sect, Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon.
“Hmph.”
Seeing that the Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon's sword moves were precise and left no openings, Yang Myeong blackened the nails of all five fingers this time.
“Soul-Chasing Five Claws!”
Chwaaak!
Five black lines curved through the air, streaking toward Bu Eun-seol's arms, legs, and chest.
This time, instead of blocking the finger wind, he quickly executed a footwork technique to evade the attack. He knew that the moment he tried to block, Yang Myeong would use his ghostly movement technique to strike from behind or the side.
Ssssss.
Using the Geuk-sok-mu-yeong, Bu Eun-seol changed his position thirty-two times in an instant, dodging all the finger winds as he swung his sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sword and fingers clashed repeatedly.
Bu Eun-seol's swordsmanship was fast, but Yang Myeong's finger art, utilizing all five fingers freely, was even faster.
“Did you think it would be different up close?”
As Yang Myeong unleashed his finger techniques in succession, Bu Eun-seol found himself being pushed back in the exchange of moves.
‘I can't use the Sword Reversal Stance.’
Bu Eun-seol's specialty was the Cheon-pae Sword Reversal Stance, which redirected an opponent's attacks and the flow of their power.
However, Yang Myeong's finger wind was too light and agile compared to a weapon, rendering the Sword Reversal Stance's techniques ineffective.
Thwack!
Pouring his internal energy into a push to force Yang Myeong back, Bu Eun-seol retreated, his brow furrowed.
They had only exchanged a dozen moves, yet his forehead was beaded with sweat, and his expression was grim.
“Hahaha. It seems to be taking effect now.”
Yang Myeong didn't pursue Bu Eun-seol, watching him with a relaxed expression.
“Enough exposure to this poison aura would bring down an ox.”
The Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger contained a potent toxin, and the moment it was used, the area within three *zhang* would be filled with a poisonous aura.
Since Bu Eun-seol had blocked the close-range finger winds repeatedly, it would be strange if he wasn't poisoned.
Ssk.
But then, Bu Eun-seol suddenly held out his left hand.
Black liquid dripped from his ring finger, which had turned completely black.
Qi-Guiding Poison Concentration.
It was a supreme level of internal art that used the powerful true qi flowing through his body to expel the poison to a single point.
“Qi-Guiding Poison Concentration. Your internal energy is quite profound.”
Yang Myeong nodded his head as if impressed.
“But even that technique has a fatal flaw!”
Piiing!
He suddenly used both arms to unleash seven streams of finger wind. The streams were not only incredibly fast but also curved at unavoidable angles.
Yang Myeong could use his finger wind with his left hand as well as his right.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
After deflecting the successive streams of finger wind, unlike before, Bu Eun-seol had taken a step back.
Seeing this, Yang Myeong let out a smirk.
“Qi-Guiding Poison Concentration rapidly consumes one's internal energy.”
With a nod, he slowly raised both hands.
“If what you’ve shown me is all you have… then you die now.”
Ssssss.
The nails on all ten of Yang Myeong's fingers turned jet black.
He was about to use the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger at his absolute full power.
Ssssk.
Bu Eun-seol raised his longsword, drawing upon the full power of the Ya-su-do.
He had barely managed to block the seven streams of finger wind just now. If three more streams were added, the variation and speed would be beyond imagination.
Chiiik!
With a sound like a flint striking steel, ten strands of finger wind shot forth.
Whirrrrr.
The finger winds didn't travel in a straight line, but curved and arced widely.
Ten strands of the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger, each with its own speed and trajectory, each carrying a deadly poison.
Their range was nearly ten *zhang*, so unless he left the stage, he had no choice but to block them with strength and skill.
Thwack!
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol kicked off the stage and leaped high into the air.
“Heh heh, not a chance.”
Yang Myeong scoffed, and with a flick of his fingers, the black streams of finger wind shot up into the air after Bu Eun-seol.
Yang Myeong's Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger could not only shoot out concentrated energy from his fingertips but also control its path as if it were on a long string.
—Oh no!
Gasps of astonishment erupted from the martial artists in the crowd.
Bu Eun-seol was suspended in mid-air, about to be skewered like a kebab by the pursuing Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger.
Shing!
Just then, a metallic ring echoed from behind Bu Eun-seol's back.
He had drawn the assassin's sword from his back, which he had not used until now.
“Haaap!”
Bu Eun-seol let out a sharp cry. With his left hand, he performed the Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon of the Hwau Sword, and with his right, he unleashed the practical swordsmanship of Sa-u, which he had mastered while learning the Ya-su-do.
Shwaaaaa.
As he executed two different sword forms with both hands, a faint barrier seemed to form around his body.
Thump! Thump!
As the finger winds and sword moves collided, a strange resonance spread through the air.
By performing two different sword forms with both hands, Bu Eun-seol had perfectly blocked the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger in mid-air.
—Wooooah!
A roar of amazement flowed from the spectator seats.
Among the masters of the martial world, there are some who can use both hands to perform different techniques simultaneously, a skill requiring a divided mind.
But a master who could perform a feat like perfectly executing two entirely different sword arts, as Bu Eun-seol had just done, was extremely rare.
Thud.
Landing from the air without a scratch, Bu Eun-seol looked down at the assassin's sword.
Merely blocking the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger had chipped its edge and cracked the blade.
Clink.
As Bu Eun-seol tossed the assassin's sword to the ground, Yang Myeong raised an eyebrow.
“So you’ve learned all sorts of mismatched skills.”
With a cold smile, he pointed at Bu Eun-seol's longsword.
“No matter how many outstanding sword arts you possess, you will never defeat this Hall Lord.”
Smiling confidently, Yang Myeong began to draw up his internal energy.
“Shall we start wrapping this up?”
Then, a black mist began to rise, enveloping his body.
—It's a poison art!
As the black mist gradually spread across the dueling stage, some martial artists in the audience screamed and fled their seats.
The poison arts of the Hell Blood Fortress masters were not only terrifying but their antidotes were also extremely difficult to obtain.
Crack. Crackle.
From within the black mist obscuring Yang Myeong's body, a strange sound of cracking bones echoed out.
When the black mist finally began to clear, the martial artists in the crowd started to murmur.
—What in the world is that…?
The Yang Myeong who emerged from the mist had become a giant. Not only that, but the skin all over his body had turned a dark gray.
—It's the Poison-Strengthened Body Art!
Someone in the crowd, staring at the giant-sized Yang Myeong, shouted.