Chapter 76
Chapter 76
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Meteor Chasing the Moon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Poison Hardening Body Art. A secret technique that uses poison to enhance physical abilities, usable only by Poison Humans who carry potent toxins in their blood.
Just then, Bu Eun-seol’s sword transformed into a streak of light, aiming for Yang Myeong’s neck.
*Clang!*
But with a loud metallic ring, the longsword was deflected. It was as if he had struck a solid block of iron.
*Vmmm.*
As Bu Eun-seol stared at his faintly trembling longsword, he suddenly recalled what Seo Jin-ha had told him last night.
"The poison arts of the Hell Blood Fortress number in the tens of thousands. They combine thousands of deadly poisons to create their own unique techniques."
Seo Jin-ha had continued, looking at Bu Eun-seol’s profile.
"Furthermore, while Yang Myeong is known for his Poison Demon Chasing Soul Finger, his true ultimate technique is something else entirely. It's the Poison Hardening Demonic Art."
The Poison Hardening Demonic Art.
One of the strongest Poison Hardening Body Arts of the Hell Blood Fortress. Despite its exceptional power, the only ones who have mastered it are Yang Myeong and his subordinates, the Blood Demons.
Mastering the Poison Hardening Demonic Art requires not only a long and excruciating training process, but it also renders the user incapable of wielding weapons.
This is because their body, including their hands and feet, becomes as hard as steel, dulling their senses.
"So that's why he only used Finger Wind."
Bu Eun-seol finally understood why Yang Myeong had insisted on using only the Poison Demon Chasing Soul Finger instead of the sword on his back.
"Do you know of my Poison Hardening Demonic Art?"
"Only that it cripples you, making you unable to use weapons for the rest of your life."
"Hehehe. It merely dulls the senses in my fingertips."
Yang Myeong revealed his yellowish teeth as he laughed.
"In return, I gain an indestructible body capable of withstanding any attack."
*Thwack.*
Bu Eun-seol suddenly leaped into the air with agility and slashed at Yang Myeong’s ear.
*Clang!*
Despite infusing his blade with a great deal of true energy, he couldn't even cut an ear, and only a metallic sound rang out.
"That tickles."
Yang Myeong flicked his finger, and a force like a cannonball shot toward Bu Eun-seol's chest.
*Crack!*
With another metallic ring, Bu Eun-seol was pushed back to the edge of the stage.
Even though he had blocked the Finger Wind with his sword, he hadn't been able to completely offset its pressure.
"Are you running out of strength?!"
Yang Myeong spread his arms and lunged at Bu Eun-seol.
*Clang! Clang!*
Bu Eun-seol unleashed a series of sword forms, but he only managed to cut Yang Myeong's clothes, leaving not even a scratch on his body.
"Hehehe."
Yang Myeong had become a giant, but his movements were even more agile.
The Poison Hardening Demonic Art not only hardened his entire body but also amplified his physical strength several times over.
He had become a truly nightmarish being, possessing an indestructible body that exuded poison and relentlessly pursued its target.
*Boom!*
As sword and fist clashed, Bu Eun-seol was once again pushed back.
"Take this!"
*Whoooosh!*
When there was distance between them, a cannon-like Finger Wind rained down.
When he closed in, the indestructible Yang Myeong attacked with his sharpened nails.
*Bang!*
Just then, Bu Eun-seol was struck by the Finger Wind and thrown to the edge of the stage.
He tried to get up quickly, but his limbs felt heavy, as if paralyzed.
"Hmph."
The poisonous aura emanating from Yang Myeong, who had activated his Poison Hardening Demonic Art, grew thicker.
He was using his internal energy to temporarily suppress the poison, but at this rate, he would collapse before he could even use the Art of Gathering Poison.
「Hehehe. Is this all a Sip-ma-jeon-in from Nang-ya-gak is capable of?」
Yang Myeong paused his attack and sent a telepathic message.
「The price for interfering with my business is death.」
*Thud, thud.*
As Yang Myeong slowly walked toward the kneeling Bu Eun-seol, a black, poisonous mist flowed from his ten fingers.
"Die."
With a series of thrumming sounds, black Finger Winds shot out from his ten fingers.
They didn't fly straight at Bu Eun-seol but curved gently, forming a shape like a giant flower bud, before raining down on his head.
It was the ultimate technique of the Poison Demon Chasing Soul Finger Art, the Ten Finger Poison Demon Lines.
*Fsh-fsh-fsh-fsh-fsh!*
The torrent of black Finger Wind enveloped Bu Eun-seol's body and shattered the blue stone tiles of the stage.
*Whoosh.*
As the dust and stone powder that had billowed up were blown away by the wind, a gray figure could be seen standing within. It was Bu Eun-seol.
"..."
Most of his clothes were torn, and bloodstains were visible here and there, but fortunately, he was not seriously injured.
Even while poisoned and unable to move properly, he had maximized the senses of the Beast's Path and used Extreme Speed Shadowless to evade the Finger Wind.
"Oh? You dodged it."
Yang Myeong nodded his head in admiration.
"Then I'll just have to tear you apart myself."
And he walked forward deliberately, revealing his black fingernails.
Bu Eun-seol watched him in silence.
The symptoms of poisoning were already severe, and his internal energy was on the verge of depletion.
Moreover, no matter how many times he slashed at Yang Myeong, he couldn't inflict a single wound.
"..."
Bu Eun-seol, as if having made a decision, sheathed his sword.
*Click.*
Seeing this, Yang Myeong sneered.
"Are you trying to surrender?"
He wanted to tear him to pieces, but Bu Eun-seol's identity was a Sip-ma-jeon-in of Nang-ya-gak.
If he killed someone who was surrendering, even if he claimed he didn't know the man was a Sip-ma-jeon-in, Nang-ya-gak would not stand by idly.
"Not at all."
Bu Eun-seol wiped a drop of blood from his forehead and said calmly.
"Let's continue."
"Hehehe."
Yang Myeong wore a cruel smile.
"Fine. I certainly gave you a chance."
Having gone this far, he would have an answer even if the master of Nang-ya-gak questioned him.
Yang Myeong gathered a great deal of energy in his fingernails.
"Be careful!"
As he said this, he unleashed the ultimate technique of the Poison Demon Chasing Soul Finger, the Single Leaf Shatters Mountains.
*Fwoosh!*
Black lines, like a net, completely enveloped Bu Eun-seol’s body.
The slightest touch from those web-like afterimages would shatter Bu Eun-seol's body into pieces.
‘With this old iron sword, there is only one form I can use.’
*Shhhiing.*
As he drew his sword again, millions of faint points of light seemed to rise from beneath his feet.
The First Form of Mu-sang-cheon-ryu.
Meteor Chasing the Moon was unleashed.
*Flash!*
It was a brilliant yet fleeting radiance.
*Krrr-ack!*
Those lights instantly tore apart the massive net Yang Myeong had created. At the same time, the points of light that had been on Bu Eun-seol's body appeared all over Yang Myeong.
*Fshaaaaa!*
The millions of light points seemed to illuminate the entire world like fireworks, then were sucked into Yang Myeong's right hand, which was in the middle of unleashing the Single Leaf Shatters Mountains.
"..."
For a while, silence descended upon the stage.
Bu Eun-seol's sword was already pointing at the ground. And Yang Myeong stood frozen in the posture of his attack.
—Ah!
As the sword light vanished, the martial artists in the audience rubbed their eyes as if waking from a dream.
After seeing the strange sword art and the points of light that Bu Eun-seol had unleashed, their memories of the moment had vanished, leaving only a vague impression in their minds.
—What just happened?
—What kind of sword art was that?
—Did he even do anything just now?
The spectators looked at the faces of the people next to them.
It seemed Bu Eun-seol had performed some kind of sword art, but there was no way of knowing what it was.
Only a few exceptional masters in the audience could guess that Bu Eun-seol had unleashed dozens of sword forms in a single instant.
*Tink, tink, tink.*
Just then, the sound of metal fragments falling echoed.
Bu Eun-seol's sword had shattered into web-like pieces and fallen to the floor.
—Bu Eun-seol has lost!
The martial artists in the stands all exclaimed.
There was only one reason for a swordsman's blade to shatter: when it could not withstand the power of an opponent's attack.
"Hmph."
Yang Myeong, who had lowered his outstretched hand, slowly opened his mouth.
"What was that sword art?"
"It is a sword art that incorporates all my insights."
"Insights?"
"That is correct."
"Insights" was a word that only the grandmasters of peerless martial arts could mention.
Yang Myeong was about to say something but closed his mouth again. He seemed to have failed to find the right words.
*Crrrack.*
Just then, the sound of bones breaking came from somewhere.
*Crrrunch.*
The sound gradually grew louder.
At the same time, web-like cracks began to appear on Yang Myeong's fingers, which had been like steel, and spread to the back of his hand.
*Drip, drip.*
Dark red blood dripped from Yang Myeong's fingers and the back of his hand onto the stage floor.
—Yang Myeong is injured too!
Someone shouted, but most of the martial artists shook their heads.
For Yang Myeong, who had mastered the Poison Hardening Demonic Art, bleeding from his hand was a minor injury. Bu Eun-seol, whose sword was broken, had clearly lost.
"Hmph."
But Yang Myeong's eyes were wavering like ripples on water.
In truth, the flesh wound on his hand was nothing.
However, the two streams of internal energy that had poured from Bu Eun-seol's sword had shattered the bones in his right fingers.
In other words, half the power of the Poison Demon Chasing Soul Finger, which he had painstakingly cultivated for decades, was gone.
"Young Master Bu, Great Warrior Yang."
As the silent standoff continued, Cho Mun-cheon, who was in a corner of the stage, called out cautiously.
"Will you continue the tournament?"
To which Bu Eun-seol replied coldly.
"That is for him to decide."
Yang Myeong raised an eyebrow.
Bu Eun-seol couldn't possibly be unaware of the state of his shattered hand. Why would he say such a thing?
‘Is he saying he doesn't want to become my enemy?’
Just then, Bu Eun-seol's cold telepathic message reached him.
「I'm ending it like this not because you're a member of the Ten Demonic Gates.」
Bu Eun-seol recalled his parting with Seo Jin-ha and sent the cold telepathic message.
「He told me not to kill you during the tournament if I could help it. That is the only reason.」
—May I say something?
At that time, just before they parted, Seo Jin-ha had made a request of Bu Eun-seol.
It was, ‘If possible, don't kill Yang Myeong during the tournament.’
‘These rat-like bastards...’
Filled with rage, Yang Myeong looked down at his right arm.
The web-like sword forms and internal energy unleashed by Bu Eun-seol had severed all the nerves and muscles and shattered the bones.
Even if Cheok San-rim, the Mad Doctor said to have the greatest medical skills in the world, were to come, he wouldn't be able to restore it to its original state.
*Grind.*
He was a master who knew how to assess a situation. He sensed that even if he grit his teeth and fought now, only defeat awaited him.
"Let's stop here."
Leaving behind those brief words, Yang Myeong used a movement technique and immediately left the stage, disappearing beyond the plaza.
"..."
Silence once again fell upon the stage.
Yang Myeong, the master of the Blood Demon Hall, was a man who had always rampaged through the martial world, showing a venomous side. For him to show such generosity?
"Uh..."
Faced with this unexpected situation, Cho Mun-cheon stammered.
In any case, since Yang Myeong had forfeited the match, the result was clear.
"The winner of the Martial Arts Tournament is Bu Eun-seol, Young Master Bu!"
—Waaaaaah!
At that moment, a tremendous roar erupted from the audience.
Until now, the tournament champions had always been masters of great renown. This tournament, in particular, had drawn an unprecedented number of famous masters.
Yet, an unknown rookie, Bu Eun-seol, had defeated the master from the Hell Blood Fortress, Yang Myeong, to claim victory!
But the martial artists did not know.
That the name of this young rookie, which began here in Guizhou, would soon spread throughout the world.