Chapter 1008
For an entire day, Seo Jin-ha immersed himself in ceaseless meditation without a moment of sleep.
Having lived alternating between the identities of Bu Eun-seol and Seon-u Jin until now, he needed time to readjust to his true self.
"I am neither Bu Eun-seol nor Seon-u Jin."
Originally, Seo Jin-ha's True Void Absolute Art had been a Poison Art.
The Poison Art of Hell Blood Citadel did not inflict any adverse effects on the body, even when one became a Poison Person.
Without needing to consume vast amounts of poison, one could cultivate and wield toxic energy like internal energy, ascending step by step toward the realm of the Saint Among Poisons.
But in mastering the martial arts to become Bu Eun-seol's shadow, his Poison Art could no longer progress.
"Truthfully, I wanted to become a swordsman."
Seo Jin-ha gazed at the distant sky.
"Like my father."
Though his father had never met a proper master, he had steadily refined the Drunken Cloud Sword Art, a second-rate Sword Studies, until he eventually reached a level where he could face Peak Realm masters.
Yet by chance, he ended up in a duel against Gu Ja-un, a Righteous Faction swordsman, and suffered damage to his kneecap.
No—not damage. It had been deliberately removed through underhanded means.
Gu Ja-un, sensing that Seo Mu-woong's martial talent was extraordinary, had intentionally excised his kneecap after defeating him.
With his kneecap gone, Seo Mu-woong struggled to stand up, sit down, or even run.
Every movement brought excruciating pain and inflammation.
In the end, he retired from the Martial World and opened a small martial arts school in a village.
Knowing this, Seo Jin-ha had wanted to fulfill his father's unrealized dream—
To dominate the Martial World with a single sword.
"Only the chosen can trample the Martial World with sword and blade."
Those were the words Jeok Ya-hon, the vice fortress lord of Hell-Blood Citadel, had spoken when selecting Seo Jin-ha as the Ten Demonic Heir.
Since childhood, Seo Jin-ha had tirelessly honed his sword techniques, yet even Bu Eun-seol—who had never properly trained in martial arts—had swiftly caught up to his skill.
From that moment, Seo Jin-ha had understood.
Jeok Ya-hon's words had not been wrong.
"I truly have no talent for the sword."
No matter how hard he trained, his limits remained starkly clear.
Back when Bu Eun-seol had taught him the Formless Heavenly Flow, his achievements in Sword Studies hadn't been far from his own.
But now, with time's passage... the gap between them had grown as vast as heaven and earth.
"No matter how much I strive, I'll never become a master who shakes the world with a sword."
The reason swords had become the primary weapon of the strong wasn't because of their power or any special advantage.
A sword was weaker than a blade, shorter in reach than a spear.
It paled in destructive force compared to heavy weapons like axes or hammers.
It couldn't match the freedom and versatility of whips or staff techniques, nor did it offer the sturdiness of a shield.
Yet the world's strongest still chose the sword for one reason alone:
If one possessed exceptional talent—
A single sword could embody the strengths of countless other weapons.
Moreover, upon reaching higher realms, one could even transcend the inherent limitations of the sword itself.
This was why peerless masters always wielded swords—or fought barehanded.
"But I will take my revenge with the sword."
Seo Jin-ha looked at the sword hanging at his waist.
"With my father's Drunken Cloud Sword Art."
He didn't need to shake the world.
His father had wanted him to take up the sword... so he would wield it for vengeance.
"My father had talent, but he learned martial arts too late and never met a proper master."
His father had only stumbled upon the Gathering Swords Sect's secret manual by chance in his late teens, finally learning internal energy and sword techniques.
"Yet even so, he defeated masters a step above him."
Combat was not a hierarchy of martial prowess.
In a fight to the death—
One could lose to an opponent a step below or triumph over a master standing higher.
No matter the method, so long as the enemy died and he survived, it was enough.
And if he was prepared for mutual destruction? He could face even foes several levels above him.
Another ten days passed.
In that time, he had steadied his turbulent heart and refined his sword techniques to a satisfactory degree.
But the truth remained unchanged.
No amount of sword training would let him defeat Yeop Jeokhwa. Even if he trained here for ten years, the result would be the same.
"In the end, there's no choice but mutual destruction."
He had known from the start.
That this was the only way.
The large wooden chest prepared in the thatched cottage was for mastering the legendary self-destructive sword technique of the Martial World—
The Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique, a forbidden Sword Studies that guaranteed mutual annihilation.
But he would leave no regrets behind.
He decided to polish his Sword Studies once more—without regrets.
Click.
Seo Jin-ha opened the wooden chest.
Inside, densely packed, were small sword-shaped weapons dyed crimson.
He lifted the chest and stepped outside the thatched cottage.
The sky was clear, and a pleasant breeze blew from somewhere. Winter had passed unnoticed, and spring had arrived.
"Ah, perfect weather for embedding Broken Swords."
Gazing at the distant sky, Seo Jin-ha reached into the chest and pulled out one of the crimson sword-shaped weapons—the Broken Swords.
Thunk.
Then, one by one, he began embedding them into his own acupoints.
Because he was a Poison Person who had mastered the Hell Blood Citadel's Poison Art—
If he used a technique like the Dragon-Subduing Soul-Expelling Blast, he could devastate dozens of yards around him.
But that alone wouldn't be enough to kill Yeop Jeokhwa completely.
Which was why he intended to simultaneously unleash the Forbidden Annihilation Art, the Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique—by embedding one hundred and eight weapons into his body.
"With this method, even someone as formidable as Yeop Jeokhwa won't be able to stop me."
Seo Jin-ha continued driving the Broken Swords into his acupoints without pause.
At one point, he had even considered endlessly polishing his Sword Studies here until his martial prowess advanced.
But after mastering the Drunken Cloud Sword Art this time—
He had realized that killing Yeop Jeokhwa with the sword alone would take at least ten more years.
"Of course, ten years isn't necessarily a long time."
Even though he had already uncovered the identity and location of the assassin, the thought of refining his martial arts for ten years was unbearably grueling.
That was why Seo Jin-ha had chosen to master a self-destructive forbidden art—one that would allow him to kill Yeop Jeokhwa in a short time and descend into hell alongside him.
"Ghk—"
Each time he embedded a Broken Sword, his mind grew hazy, and his vision blurred.
The Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique was an extreme and sinister art that defied common sense.
It required at least five sixty-year measure worth of Internal Energy to perform—and even then, the technique involved embedding and detonating tiny, bean-sized weapons within one's own acupoints.
In short, it was a self-destructive forbidden art that required a master of such caliber that they could dominate an entire region—sacrificing their life in the process.
Thus, it was only natural that the Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique had rarely appeared in the history of the martial world.
"Ugh—"
Normally, one would use pain-numbing drugs when practicing this technique.
But Seo Jin-ha didn't hesitate—he embedded the Broken Swords into his acupoints while fully conscious.
"Hah... hah..."
Blood dripped from his entire body as he continued, and a crimson resentment flickered in his pupils.
Just one more sword—and the Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique would be complete.
Once that happened, he would be fully prepared to kill Yeop Jeokhwa.
Swish.
Just as he was about to embed the final sword into his dantian—
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the Broken Sword in his hand shot upward into the air.
Crack—!
Simultaneously, it shattered into powdery fragments, scattering into nothingness.
Seo Jin-ha stood frozen.
The Broken Swords were forged from Dark Gold and Blood Jade, taking six months to craft.
Moreover, if all one hundred and eight weren't embedded consecutively within a quarter of an hour, the Great Art would fail instantly.
And now, one had been destroyed.
To attempt the Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique again, he would need at least six more months.
"Who's there?!"
He had fought countless battles, had even begun stepping into the threshold of the Extreme Heaven Realm—a new-generation master.
Yet here he stood, dumbfounded, his weapon snatched away by someone who hadn't even revealed themselves.
Just who could wield such a terrifying Divine Skill?
BOOM!
At that moment, a thunderous roar echoed as a figure clad in black descended from the sky like a celestial being.
"Bu Eun-seol?"
Seo Jin-ha's lips parted in shock.
The one who had stolen and shattered his Broken Sword was none other than Bu Eun-seol.
'His martial prowess has advanced even further in this short time.'
Bu Eun-seol had arrived here long after destroying the Broken Sword.
Meaning, not only had he witnessed Seo Jin-ha embedding the weapons from several li away—
He had also used his Internal Power to shatter the sword in Seo Jin-ha's hand from that distance.
To Seo Jin-ha, such a Divine Skill felt like something only a mythical immortal could perform.
"How did you—"
Seo Jin-ha couldn't finish his sentence.
Because the gaze from those crimson eyes was filled with unbridled fury.
"Your Demon Leave is over."
"What?"
Seo Jin-ha forced out a dry laugh.
"It hasn't even been a full month yet."
"I ended it by my authority."
Bu Eun-seol stared straight at him, his voice solemn.
"You've been caught exploiting the Death Soul Squad's intelligence network for personal use over an extended period."
"You're a harsh superior."
Seo Jin-ha shook his head.
"But this time, I can't compromise."
Unlike his usual demeanor, Seo Jin-ha's eyes were filled with endless desolation and silence.
"I've already made my decision."
"Even if you unleash the Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique, you won't be able to kill the White Sword Sect Leader."
"So you knew everything before coming here."
Seo Jin-ha wore a bitter expression.
"I did think it was impossible to deceive you completely from the start."
"There's nothing special about it."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"As their superior, it's only natural that I should know everything about the subordinates who have entrusted me with their lives."
Bu Eun-seol didn't just know about Seo Jin-ha.
He was fully aware of the detailed backgrounds and circumstances of the Death Shadow War Unit's captains—including Yu Un-ryong and Myo Cheon-u—as well as every unit member under them.
If his subordinates were to falter?
Then he would have to fulfill the goals or regrets they couldn't achieve themselves.
That was precisely—
the absolute duty of a superior who held their subordinates' lives in his hands.
"Thanks for the words, but this is a personal matter. I don't intend to borrow anyone else's help."
"I won't lend it."
"Huh?"
"Do it yourself."
Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low voice.
"I was merely telling you that the Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique won't work."
If one reached a stable Extreme Heaven Realm—
they could process thoughts and movements five times faster than an ordinary martial artist.
But Seo Jin-ha was only just glimpsing the threshold of the Extreme Heaven Realm, so he wouldn't be able to divide time as finely as Yeop Jeokhwa.
Even if he used a method more vicious than the Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique, it would be useless.
"I already know. That there's a significant gap in thought and movement speed."
Seo Jin-ha spoke resolutely.
"I'll account for that when I make my move."
"It's not just thought and movement."
Bu Eun-seol opened his mouth composedly.
"Observation, intuition—all abilities are enhanced several times over. Moreover, the reason the Essence-Draining Sword is treated as a treasure of the martial world isn't just its sharpness, but its ability to detect an enemy's killing intent in advance."
In the end, even if Seo Jin-ha unleashed the Broken Sword Flying Shock Technique, the White Sword Sect Leader would likely sense it or evade it.
"Even so, it doesn't matter."
Seo Jin-ha shook his head.
"You know this well, but a fight to the death isn't simply a comparison of martial prowess."
Then he declared firmly—
"I don't need help. I will take revenge with my own hands, without fail."
If his only goal was to kill Yeop Jeokhwa?
He would have asked Bu Eun-seol for help long ago.
If that were the case, someone of Yeop Jeokhwa's level could be erased without a trace in an instant.
But Seo Jin-ha—
had not the slightest intention of fulfilling the vengeance he had longed for his entire life through another's hands.
"You've been misunderstanding something from the start. I told you—I ended your Demon Leave by my authority."
Bu Eun-seol said—
"Starting now, for the next fifteen days, you will undergo training as the Death Shadow War Unit's captain."
"What?"
Just as Seo Jin-ha opened his mouth in disbelief—
Whoosh! Hiss!
Suddenly, the sharp Sound of Breaking Air echoed from all directions.
At the same time, shadows descended from the sky one after another.
None other than Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong.
And Do Cheon-rin, the leader of the Rogue Vanguard from the Soulless Society.
"You guys—"
Seo Jin-ha's mouth fell open.
"Why are you here?"
They were once Ten Demonic Heirs who had fought life-and-death battles, now gathered as comrades under Bu Eun-seol as their focal point.
However, since each of them had strong individuality and personalities—
while they acknowledged one another, they weren't particularly close or friendly.
"Wow, living the high life, aren't you?"
Myo Cheon-u, who had been surveying the surroundings of the Thatched Cottage, shook his head at the piles of provisions stacked inside.
"Planning to play the recluse already?"
Yu Un-ryong picked up where he left off.
"Recluse? It's painfully obvious this is your first time in closed-door training."
He clicked his tongue as he looked at the stockpiled provisions.
"If you're going to seclude yourself in the mountains for long, you have to gather your own food, craft your own tools, and adapt to the environment."
Like the strategist he was, his words flowed smoothly.
"Relying on limited resources that will inevitably run out is just foolish."
Then Do Cheon-rin, who had been standing with his arms crossed, snorted.
"You've changed a bit since I saw you on Hell Island."
Just when it seemed like he might offer praise, his expression turned serious as he spat out harsh words.
"I thought you'd be composed and thoughtful as Bu Eun-seol's shadow, but you've got the face of a fool."
Seo Jin-ha wore a dazed expression.
What in the world were they all ganging up here to say?
"What's going on?"
Seo Jin-ha turned to Bu Eun-seol with a bewildered look.
"Did you gather the Ten Demonic Heirs here for some kind of meeting?"
"We'll all do it together."
"Revenge?"
"Training."
Bu Eun-seol spoke plainly.
"From now on, we'll grow stronger together."
Yu Un-ryong, Myo Cheon-u, Do Cheon-rin.
They had long since entered the Extreme Heaven Realm but had yet to reach a stable level.
Bu Eun-seol knew this—but until now, he had no way to help them.
From the moment one reaches the Extreme Heaven Realm, progress can only be made through personal enlightenment and insight.
Yet recently, thanks to entering the Land of the Ultimate Void, his martial prowess had skyrocketed.
Through the insights gained while training in the Fire Rain Sword there,
he had now reached a level where he could enhance the martial arts of prodigies like Seo Jin-ha.
During that time, he had also realized that Seo Jin-ha had been using his personal intelligence network solely for revenge.
He had discovered that Seo Jin-ha had prepared himself to stake his life on a Mutual Destruction strike against the White Sword Sect's leader.
Given the circumstances, Bu Eun-seol decided not only to help Seo Jin-ha,
but to take this opportunity to elevate the martial arts of Yu Un-ryong and the others as well—pushing them all at once into the stable reaches of the Extreme Heaven Realm.
Personality refers to the unique traits, attitudes, or behavioral patterns possessed by an individual or group,
distinct enough to set them apart from others as an inherent characteristic.
And this personality is shaped not only by innate temperament,
but also by acquired influences—experience, environment, education, and the like.
Bu Eun-seol had long valued this concept of personality.
He had also immediately discerned that the reason the martial artists of the Death Shadow War Unit—once called the Rootless Squad—had been disregarded and failed to secure a place in the Demon Hall
was precisely because of their intense and distinctive personalities.
And so, he believed they were not only strong now, but capable of growing even stronger.
A strong personality meant they had the potential to change and develop greatly based on their environment and experiences.
"......Yet when training in martial arts, one must discard all personality and individual traits."
However, when it came to martial arts training, that personality had to be killed off.
As an example, Bu Eun-seol had no concept of the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths, no sense of factional belonging,
nor any preconceptions or biases about martial arts itself.
To him, martial arts was merely a survival skill—something to be learned for revenge and to stay alive.
Ironically, it was precisely because of this perspective
that he could adapt swiftly to any situation and master martial arts at an astonishing pace.
In contrast, Seo Jin-ha, Yu Un-ryong, Myo Cheon-u, and Do Cheon-rin—
they all had stronger personalities than anyone else, and this was vividly reflected in their martial arts.
Just looking at their weapons alone—
Yu Un-ryong wielded the Ten-Section Staff, Myo Cheon-u dual rods, Do Cheon-rin a blade, while Seo Jin-ha's true specialty was Poison Art.
As for their temperaments—
Yu Un-ryong was meticulous, but to the point of overthinking everything.
Myo Cheon-u was bold and open-hearted, but far too straightforward.
Do Cheon-rin was versatile, yet cynical and colder than necessary.
Seo Jin-ha detested anything rigid or bound by convention, relying mostly on improvisation in battle.
"Of course, it's precisely because of those personalities that you've progressed as rapidly as you have."
Bu Eun-seol spoke decisively.
"But now, those very traits are becoming obstacles."
—All of you possess outstanding individuality.
That has carried you this far, but to ascend to greater heights, you must now temper that individuality.
That was what he was telling them.
—What the hell is he talking about?
At Bu Eun-seol's words, all four of them wore bitter expressions, swallowing dryly.
Truthfully, it was only because Bu Eun-seol had transcended generations, accumulating the True Martial Scripture at an inhuman pace,
while the four of them—none yet even thirty—had each stepped into the threshold of the Extreme Heaven Realm.
In other words, their rate of growth was in no way inferior to that of the current era's superlative martial experts.
"From now on, each of you will train in separate locations to compensate for your shortcomings."
Bu Eun-seol continued his explanation.
"To kill off your personalities—which are your greatest weaknesses."
His tone was calm, yet Seo Jin-ha and the others felt a chill run down their spines, gulping involuntarily.
Because the look in Bu Eun-seol's eyes—
was eerily reminiscent of the martial instructors on Hell Island who had mercilessly drilled new recruits in the past.
"Now then..."
A sinister, ferocious energy rose from his frost-laden gaze.
"We begin."
Gulp.
Yu Un-ryong and the others swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Because the blazing aura radiating from Bu Eun-seol's entire body was palpable, and his icy voice pierced their hearts like a sharp icicle.
Yet at the same time, their cheeks flushed red with excitement.
He was a disciple who had inherited the teachings and wisdom of the Greatest Saber Master of All Time, born with the dual bloodlines of the Baekri Clan and the True Demon's lineage—a new-generation grandmaster with unprecedented power and inner strength.
Just what would Bu Eun-seol teach them? And how extraordinary would it be?
Thump-thump.
Suppressing the pounding of their hearts, they clenched their fists tightly and stared at Bu Eun-seol.
Unable to imagine what was to come.
And even Bu Eun-seol himself did not yet realize—
that by elevating Seo Jin-ha's martial arts and aiding his revenge, he would uncover the hidden secrets of Langya Pavilion, as well as some of the mysteries surrounding the True Demon and the Three Attendants...
And that, afterward, he would personally bring down two of the Demonic Path Ten Gates—including the Fire Rain Sword Sect.