Chapter 1011
"So, what are you going to do now?"
Seo Jin-ha shrugged his shoulders as he spoke.
"Surely you didn't modify the Drunken Cloud Sword Art into Advanced Sword Studies, did you?"
"Of course not."
"Well, Basic Sword Studies are valuable precisely because they are basic."
Seo Jin-ha wore an expression of regret.
Just as the True Martial Scripture has distinct stages, martial arts also possess clear tiers and limitations.
Thus, attempting to refine a martial technique that contains only the rudimentary principles of martial studies into a powerful form—
—is no different from completely dismantling its foundation and recreating an entirely new martial discipline.
That is why it is often wiser to simply learn another advanced martial art instead.
"That goes without saying."
Bu Eun-seol replied indifferently.
"If you disrupt the principles of an already perfected martial art just to alter its power or form... what you'll end up with is a clumsy, half-baked technique that fails on all fronts."
"Is that so?"
Seo Jin-ha smiled bitterly.
"But I couldn't accept that. So I struggled even harder."
What he had dreamed of since childhood—
—was shattering the tiers and limits established by martial artists with his own hands.
Just like Bu Eun-seol was doing now.
"I know what kind of ambition drives you."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"From now on, practice Sweeping a Thousand Armies ten thousand times a day—as slowly and meticulously as possible."
"What?"
Sweeping a Thousand Armies was a basic stance found not only in the Drunken Cloud Sword Art but in nearly all third-rate sword disciplines.
Its name was grandiose, but in reality—
—it was nothing more than a simple horizontal slash.
A foundational movement so basic it could hardly even be called a proper Sword Stroke.
And yet, he was being told to practice it ten thousand times a day—with care?
"Are you joking?"
"If you think it's as easy as a joke, I can raise it to twenty thousand."
In truth, Seo Jin-ha's assumption was wrong.
Bu Eun-seol already knew of a swordsman who had once defeated Advanced Sword Studies using Basic Sword Studies.
By mastering only the core principles of the Fire Rain Sword—Perceiving the Flow to Control Battle and Recognizing Opportunity to Seize Victory —
—that swordsman had claimed victory in the Fire Rain Sword Sect's secret sword tournament, where only the most renowned swordsmen gathered.
That man was Jin Gak.
"I think I understand what you mean..."
After pondering deeply, Seo Jin-ha shook his head.
"But this kind of training is meaningless for me. I've already spent ten years diligently honing the Drunken Cloud Sword Art. My sword foundation is more solid than anyone's."
Seo Jin-ha assumed Bu Eun-seol was making him retrain his basics to reinforce his sword studies.
"I didn't say Basic Sword Studies. I said practice Sweeping a Thousand Armies—ten thousand times, with care."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"It's not."
Bu Eun-seol turned away.
"If you can't feel the difference, you'll never win against the White Sword Sect's leader."
"What did you say?"
"If you don't understand, just do it."
Bu Eun-seol slowly turned his body.
"Ten thousand times. As slowly as possible."
"Slowly?"
Seo Jin-ha asked, but Bu Eun-seol left without another word.
"What in the world..."
Seo Jin-ha stared blankly at the sword at his waist.
Though he couldn't grasp the meaning, Bu Eun-seol had never spoken nonsense before.
If he said so, there was no choice but to trust him.
The Drunken Cloud Sword Art consisted of twelve basic stances, each containing the foundational principles of swordplay.
It was a second-rate sword discipline, common throughout the martial world.
Yet even in the Drunken Cloud Sword Art, there was no stance like Sweeping a Thousand Armies.
Because it wasn't a Sword Stroke—just a simple horizontal slash.
To give such a basic movement a grandiose name like "Sweeping a Thousand Armies" —
—was, in truth, almost mocking.
Swish! Swiiish!
In the clearing before the Thatched Cottage, Seo Jin-ha tirelessly practiced the Sweeping a Thousand Armies stance.
Normally, sword stances were meant to be executed swiftly.
Performing them slowly went against the essence of swordsmanship, preventing them from reaching full power.
This was especially true for simple stances like Sweeping a Thousand Armies—
—because no fool would stand still and wait to be hit by such a sluggish slash.
Swish. Swiiish.
Yet, without the slightest doubt, he practiced Sweeping a Thousand Armies with utmost care.
"Seo Jin-ha."
Just then, Myo Cheon-u, drenched in sweat after finishing his training, slowly approached.
Having taken Bu Eun-seol's advice, he had begun practicing methods to control his bodily reactions—
—and was now refining it further into training that regulated his physical reflexes.
But every time he descended from the cliffs, he saw Seo Jin-ha practicing Sweeping a Thousand Armies in front of the Thatched Cottage.
It was impossible not to find it bizarre.
"Why in the world are you doing that?"
Myo Cheon-u spoke with the gravest expression.
"I can guarantee—that kind of training won't strengthen your martial arts."
"Go away. Stop spouting nonsense."
When Seo Jin-ha glared at him with dagger-like eyes, Myo Cheon-u waved his hands dismissively.
"No, seriously. I've given up on practicing how to lie convincingly."
Then, with utmost sincerity, he added:
"Don't tell me you actually believe it? That some legendary tale about mastering a single martial form to enhance your martial studies?"
"No. I don't believe it."
"Then why are you doing it?"
Seo Jin-ha tightened his grip on the sword hilt and replied:
"What I believe in—is that guy."
He had known from the start.
That this training wouldn't enhance his martial arts.
Yet the reason he practiced Sweeping a Thousand Armies with such devotion was simple.
Because he trusted Bu Eun-seol.
"You... trust him?"
For a moment, Myo Cheon-u wore a dazed expression.
Then, sniffing, he gazed up at the distant sky.
"True. It was that very belief that brought us this far."
There had been a time when he dreamed of becoming the greatest under heaven.
He had even desired to ascend to the seat of the Number One of the Demonic Path, revered by a million demonic warriors.
But after meeting Bu Eun-seol, all their dreams had changed.
—I want to see just how far he can rise... from right beside him.
Bu Eun-seol was rewriting the history of the martial world, displaying an unprecedented rate of growth in martial arts.
Before long, he would undoubtedly surpass even the greatest of the present era and reach the pinnacle of all ages.
—Isn't every step he takes our dream as well?
Bu Eun-seol was realizing and accomplishing everything that martial artists had only ever imagined in their wildest dreams.
Before they knew it, they had come to wish for one thing—
To witness the conclusion of this long journey by his side, watching until the very end.
"My apologies. I spoke nonsense."
Myo Cheon-u waved his hand dismissively and turned away.
"Keep at it."
They had staked everything on Bu Eun-seol, becoming one in purpose.
Bu Eun-seol's dream was his own dream.
Seo Jin-ha's dream was his own dream.
That was why these strong-willed successors of their generation could gather together and advance toward the same goal.
Finally, three days had passed since Seo Jin-ha began refining Sweeping a Thousand Armies.
Since he had stepped into the threshold of the Extreme Heaven Realm, he should have been able to sense some degree of improvement in his martial prowess.
Yet nothing had changed.
Just as Myo Cheon-u had said—nothing had changed.
Still, Seo Jin-ha was not disappointed.
Rustle.
Then, Bu Eun-seol arrived, leading Yu Un-ryong, Myo Cheon-u, and Do Cheon-rin.
Seo Jin-ha observed them expressionlessly before asking,
"Has everyone finished their training?"
Though his face remained indifferent, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
What if there's still more training?
Surely, there must be another arrangement.
But Bu Eun-seol brought up something unexpected.
"From now on, we need to formulate a plan to defeat the White Sword Sect Leader."
"A plan?"
"He is a formidable opponent. Did you intend to improvise again?"
Seo Jin-ha scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"My entire plan was to train and grow stronger. It's not like we're mobilizing troops—there's no need for meticulous planning."
"The conditions to consider are just different. Even in one-on-one combat, you must fight meticulously and strategically."
Truthfully, Seo Jin-ha already knew that.
But renowned martial artists were generally well-documented—
Their dispositions, temperaments, combat styles, and secret techniques were widely known.
Thus, they seldom fought with the same level of planning as commanding an army.
Especially in solo duels, preparing multiple tactics in advance was often seen as somewhat cowardly in the eyes of the Righteous Faction.
Because plotting such things and laying hidden traps was the work of assassins.
"From now on, you must decide clearly."
As if peering into Seo Jin-ha's heart, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"Are you seeking revenge? Or are you trying to shake off the inferiority complex in your heart?"
Seo Jin-ha's expression went blank.
Inferiority complex.
That word perfectly captured the state of his mind—a kind of wound he hadn't even realized he carried.
His father, Seo Mu-woong, had been the head of a martial hall that taught second-rate sword techniques, and the foundation of his own martial arts was likewise rooted in second-rate swordsmanship—the Drunken Cloud Sword Art.
—I want to resolve my father's regrets.
His father had never been ashamed of mastering the Drunken Cloud Sword Art and had proudly considered himself a disciple of the Gathering Swords Sect until the end.
Though Seo Jin-ha had chosen the Demonic Path for revenge—
Since those who killed his father, and even Yeop Jeokhwa, had also come from the Demonic Path—
He had never wanted to become a demonic warrior who pursued tyranny without regard for means.
Yet before he knew it, he too had become someone who would do anything for vengeance.
Hadn't he been ready to slaughter the children before the trials on Hell Island even began?
But by staying beside Bu Eun-seol—who maintained the Middle Path and did what was right no matter the circumstances—
He had gradually returned to his original nature.
And deep down, he had always wanted to walk the same Righteous Path as his father.
"No matter what you decide, it doesn't matter to me."
Bu Eun-seol stared straight at Seo Jin-ha.
"I never had any of the prejudices that martial artists hold about the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths."
Still, Seo Jin-ha couldn't bring himself to speak easily.
He had remained in the Demonic Path while despising it.
The reason he had liked Bu Eun-seol—
The reason he had become his subordinate without hesitation—
Was because Bu Eun-seol was not a demonic warrior, but closer to a righteous martial artist who walked only the correct path.
"So it was true after all."
Do Cheon-rin, who had been watching, let out a deep sigh.
"That kid... he wanted to walk the righteous path."
If even analyzing an enemy's abilities and formulating a battle plan in advance felt repulsive to him—
Then in essence, his convictions were no different from those of the Renowned Heroes of the righteous faction—
Those who wouldn't resort to even the slightest trickery.
"I..."
Seo Jin-ha had nothing to say and lowered his head.
But then, Myo Cheon-u suddenly burst into laughter.
"What's wrong with walking the righteous path?"
"Huh?"
"We already have a Lord here who's called a righteous man despite being in the Demonic Path."
Myo Cheon-u grinned and pointed at Do Cheon-rin with both hands.
"And we even have a group leader from the Demonic Path Ten Gates commanding drifters who walk between the Orthodox and Unorthodox!"
Do Cheon-rin's face flushed red.
But those words weren't wrong.
The moment he had joined Bu Eun-seol's ranks—
He, too, had long since thrown away any distinction between the Orthodox and Unorthodox.
"My apologies. I kept troubling you with my concerns."
Seo Jin-ha bowed his head, having attained a great realization.
"It seems I've been mistaken all along."
Bu Eun-seol, too, was someone who lived for revenge—just like him.
He cared nothing for the distinction between the Righteous Faction or the Demonic Path.
What mattered was not what was right or wrong, but walking the path he believed to be right.
And so, he too had to make his decision.
What path would he walk? What convictions would guide his steps from now on?
"Bu Eun-seol. To be honest, I only followed you at first for revenge."
Seo Jin-ha spoke frankly.
"If your intelligence network was completed, I was certain I'd find the murderer who killed my father."
Then he lowered his head.
"When you proposed the Shadow role, I accepted without hesitation—not for your sake, but... because I calculated that I could obtain the True Void you mastered and gain access to the intelligence network you commanded."
Seo Jin-ha wore an apologetic expression.
"Everything was a calculation. I'm sorry."
"You always tend to blame yourself too much."
Yu Un-ryong, who had been silently listening until now, spoke up.
"Who in this world doesn't weigh gains and losses?"
"But—"
"And if you were truly a calculating person, you would never have risked your life playing the role of someone else's Shadow."
Yu Un-ryong shrugged his shoulders.
"We're the same. Deep down, we each had our own reasons for joining under his command... but before we knew it, we ended up like this."
They, too, had their own motives.
But staying by Bu Eun-seol's side, they had unknowingly begun to resemble him.
And before they realized it, they had come to follow him with genuine devotion.
"Right. That's how it was."
Seo Jin-ha nodded.
Bu Eun-seol had never forced anyone to follow him.
Those around him had simply begun to follow him naturally.
And so, now, Seo Jin-ha had to be honest as well.
"I sought revenge, and I also genuinely wanted to help you. I wanted to inherit my father's legacy, but I also always wanted to be like you."
Finally organizing his thoughts, Seo Jin-ha spoke.
"But now, I've firmly decided on the path I must take."
Taking a deep breath, he continued.
"This time, like my father—like a Renowned Hero of the Righteous Faction—I will take my revenge honorably. And after that..."
His voice was more serious and fervent than ever.
"I will cast aside the shackles of being a martial artist and devote everything I have to following you."
In short, Seo Jin-ha would remain a Righteous Faction member only until he had taken his revenge honorably.
Once his vengeance was complete—
He would not only break down the boundaries between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths like Bu Eun-seol, but would also pledge to serve as his vassal and subordinate for life.
"I'm not someone who can stay in the martial world for long."
"If you become a merchant, I'll pick up an abacus. If you become a beggar, I'll carry a begging bowl."
It was a rough but utterly sincere oath of loyalty.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been about to say something, shook his head and changed the subject.
"At any rate, if that's how you feel, then we'll have to conduct your final training in the Righteous Faction's way."
Bu Eun-seol looked at Yu Un-ryong, Myo Cheon-u, and Do Cheon-rin.
"From now on, you will begin sparring with one another."
Then, in a low voice, he added:
"The duration is six days. During that time, give it your all—use every ounce of your strength to defeat each other."
They had all recently achieved their Breakthroughs, enhancing their martial prowess.
Now, they were so evenly matched that none could clearly claim superiority over the others.
Through these sparring sessions, they would grow even stronger in a short time.
After that, Seo Jin-ha began sparring in turns with Myo Cheon-u, Yu Un-ryong, and Do Cheon-rin.
As the matches continued, he came to realize something astonishing.
Practicing Sweeping a Thousand Armies ten thousand times had not increased his martial power—
But it had allowed him to execute his sword techniques with newfound stability.
Since childhood, he had stubbornly clung to the habit of trying to wield the Drunken Cloud Sword Art with as much force as possible.
No matter what sword technique he practiced or refined, he never adhered to the original Sword Strokes.
Instead, he constantly modified them—trying to make them more powerful, more intricate, more unpredictable.
But now, by executing Sweeping a Thousand Armies slowly and mastering a single Martial Form in its orthodox manner—
He could finally focus on the inherent subtleties of the Sword Strokes themselves.
Though performing them in their orthodox form didn't make them more powerful or flashy than his modified versions—
They became as solid as a fortress, free of gaps, and utterly stable.
So this is why he made me practice Sweeping a Thousand Armies.
If he had kept practicing more complex Sword Strokes—
—How can I make this stronger?
—How can I change this to make it better?
Such thoughts would have endlessly filled his mind.
But the Martial Form of Sweeping a Thousand Armies—a simple slashing motion—was so straightforward and concise that it left no room for distracting thoughts.
In the end, Bu Eun-seol had perfectly understood Seo Jin-ha's tendencies and personality—and had tailored his training accordingly.
I was always trapped in the framework I created for myself...
The more Seo Jin-ha sparred, the more epiphanies he gained, and the faster his swordsmanship improved.
He had always believed that combat relied on quick reflexes, and that modifying Martial Forms made them stronger.
But fighting against Myo Cheon-u, Yu Un-ryong, and Do Cheon-rin made him realize the truth.
They always fought strategically—
And beneath their improvisational techniques lay a foundation of solid, stable Martial Arts.
I've never been able to let go of my inferiority complex.
Seo Jin-ha had always been proud of his father and dreamed of one day defeating powerful foes with the Drunken Cloud Sword Art.
Because of that, he had become obsessed with modifying Sword Strokes and improvisation—
And had developed an aversion to stable, orthodox Martial Arts.
Now is the real beginning.
He had always improvised strategies on the spot and had never executed orthodox Martial Forms properly.
But through these sparring sessions, he began to change.
He repeatedly practiced Martial Forms to build a foundation for his Martial Arts, analyzed his opponents' habits, and—
Began absorbing and mastering the tactics and strengths of Yu Un-ryong, Myo Cheon-u, and Do Cheon-rin.
Myo Cheon-u, having achieved his breakthrough, had become a ghost capable of regulating his biological responses—emitting palm energy that annihilated all things without leaving the slightest trace of presence.
Yu Un-ryong, who had always stubbornly adhered to flawlessly measured strategies, now wielded his martial arts with the instinctive ferocity of a beast drawn by the scent of blood.
Swish! Swish!
Do Cheon-rin, having coldly observed and analyzed his own strengths and weaknesses to perfection, had further refined his Blade Extremity Stance to its absolute limit—completing a defensive form that instantly returned a mountain-cleaving slash the moment an attack was unleashed.
And Seo Jin-ha, in order to oppose them—
In order to face the White Sword Sect Leader—
He had grasped all their strengths and weaknesses and devised tactics tailored to counter them.
Hiss! Crack!
In the blink of an eye, Yu Un-ryong's Ten-Section Staff pierced through pressure points like the fangs of a beast. The moment a weakness was detected, reflexes faster than light instinctively lashed out with the staff.
Whoosh!
In that same instant, an attack without the slightest trace came from the shadows—
Myo Cheon-u's Silver Flame Palm.
It was an attack so natural, like the simple act of inhaling and exhaling, that Seo Jin-ha was struck by the palm energy before he could even comprehend what had happened.
Boom!
The impact sent him flying through the air like a severed kite string.
Even if it hadn't been infused with internal power, the sheer force of the Silver Flame Palm was overwhelming—the shockwave alone threatened to pierce through his Body Protection True Qi.
'Attacks come without warning or prelude.'
Thud.
Seo Jin-ha, flung backward, landed right at Do Cheon-rin's feet.
The moment Myo Cheon-u's palm energy struck, he had deliberately allowed his body to be sent flying farther—intentionally closing the distance to Do Cheon-rin.
Slash!
Spotting Do Cheon-rin's opening, Seo Jin-ha, still lying on the ground, unleashed a lightning-fast single slash.
It was a Quick Sword Form, as if merging Myo Cheon-u's ghostly movements with Yu Un-ryong's beast-like ferocity.
Boom!
Yet once again, it was Seo Jin-ha who was sent flying back.
Do Cheon-rin had already predicted his attack entirely and countered instantly with his Blade Extremity Stance.
'If I can't perfectly foresee an enemy's techniques... then I must deliberately expose an opening, baiting an obvious attack to counter.'
Thump.
In the end, Seo Jin-ha collapsed flat on his back, unable to claim victory in today's sparring.
"Fast," Yu Un-ryong remarked, stretching out a hand toward him as he lay sprawled.
Whoosh.
"There's a difference between acknowledging your own weaknesses and learning from them... and refusing to acknowledge them while still learning."
In the end, Bu Eun-seol had not only understood Seo Jin-ha's inferiority complex—
Not only his longing for his father and his burning desire for swordsmanship—
But had also devised a training method to ensure Seo Jin-ha could kill the White Sword Sect Leader, Yeop Jeokhwa.
By inducing breakthroughs in all three of them—
And by forcing Seo Jin-ha to absorb and refine all three of their combat styles.
"Yeah, even I get chills sometimes."
Crack.
Seo Jin-ha groaned as he took Yu Un-ryong's hand and staggered back to his feet.
Seeing this, Myo Cheon-u asked, "Calling it quits?"
Seo Jin-ha shook his head and raised his sword to mid-stance once more.
"No. We only have one day left."
Bu Eun-seol had said they would spar for six days.
Now, only one remained.
Within that time, Seo Jin-ha had to forge the skill to kill Yeop Jeokhwa—fair and square, with pure swordsmanship.
Deep within the infamous rugged peaks of Heavenly Net Mountain —
A valley surrounded by sheer cliffs, where the Thousand-Ren Precipice loomed like a blade cutting through the sky.
Below the precipice, a thick mist shrouded the abyss, obscuring whatever lay beneath—
And from its depths, a sharp, ominous wind howled like the whispers of a Death God.
Huuuu...
As the sun began to set, five figures stood atop the sheer cliff.
Their builds were imposing, yet their faces were utterly ordinary—
For they wore Human Skin Masks: Bu Eun-seol, Seo Jin-ha, and the others.
"Wear these before entering."
Before infiltrating the White Sword Sect, Yu Un-ryong had distributed the masks he had prepared in advance.
"Disguise techniques consume internal energy. For short-term concealment, nothing beats a Human Skin Mask."
Techniques like the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art had the drawback of constantly draining one-tenth of the user's internal energy.
For temporary disguises—especially before a battle—
It was far more practical to use masks or veils.
"The only way into the White Sword Sect is through a hidden passage within these cliffs," Yu Un-ryong said, pointing toward the distant precipice opposite them.
"But the passage is invisible—undetectable even with extrasensory perception. Only those permitted by the White Sword Sect can enter."
At his words, the gazes of Seo Jin-ha and the others turned icy.
Bu Eun-seol, having reached the Supreme Origin Realm, went without saying—
But Seo Jin-ha, Yu Un-ryong, Myo Cheon-u, and Do Cheon-rin—
Each of them possessed martial prowess sufficient to annihilate minor factions single-handedly.
And now, all five of them had gathered here—
To utterly exterminate the White Sword Sect.
"You guys... really have to come along? Aren't you busy?" Seo Jin-ha asked awkwardly, glancing at his companions.
"Are you deaf?"
Ignoring his hesitant expression, they remained unmoved—
Their eyes sharp as axes, glaring into the thick mist with ruthless intent.
This matter was neither a factional conflict nor an assigned mission—
It was purely Seo Jin-ha's personal vengeance.
And yet—
Bu Eun-seol, the grandmaster of peerless martial arts, who fought the world's mightiest experts without retreating.
Yu Un-ryong, the genius of Mystic Calculation Strategy, successor to Baek Jeon-cheon of the Myriad Learning Society, and creator of the Ten-Section Staff.
Myo Cheon-u, the battle prodigy who crushed powerful foes barehanded, creator of the Silver Flame Palm capable of melting iron.
Do Cheon-rin, the prodigy of the Bloodflame Blade Family, once designated as the next leader of the Demon Hall—
All of them had come.
Now leading the Rogue Vanguard, wielding the Blade Extremity Stance that transcends swords and sabers—Do Cheon-rin, who chills the hearts of all martial heroes under heaven.
With these rising masters representing the Demonic Path, these young powerhouses all stepping forth to crush the White Sword Sect...
What had begun as Seo Jin-ha's personal vendetta could no longer be called such—it had spiraled into a cataclysmic event, one that would shake the very foundations of the martial world's power structure.