Chapter 1085
Rumble.
At that moment, Jeong Jong-do and the unit members came pouring out of the tavern in a rush.
They, too, had heard the distant explosion.
"Vice Chief."
Seo Jin-ha spoke to Tae Mu-ryong with a grave expression.
"Take the unit members and retreat immediately. Now."
After all, the target was undoubtedly him.
His intention was to ensure the unit members returned safely before the battle escalated.
Then, Jeong Jong-do spoke up.
"Don't we have the Mind's Eye Mirror?"
The martial prowess of the Peak Realm Members, who had endured relentless training, had risen dramatically.
Since all of them had mastered the improved Mind's Eye Mirror to at least the Eighth-Star Attainment, even if a Master were to attack—
They were now at a level where they could protect themselves without issue.
"It's already too late."
Jeong Jong-do continued.
"If the killing intent has gotten this close, it means a Master of unimaginable strength has appeared. It's better for us unit members to gather and deploy the Mind's Eye Mirror together."
Seo Jin-ha nodded and pulled out a bamboo tube from his robe.
It was a signal flare for emergencies.
Piiii! Kwaaang!
The firework shot high into the sky, exploding with a deafening roar and scattering brilliant light in all directions.
Even if the nearby branch had been wiped out, other branches would receive this signal.
"Follow me."
Paaang!
Seo Jin-ha instantly activated his Lightness Art.
Staying here any longer would only bring destruction—not just to the tavern, but to the entire surrounding area.
Kwaaauuu!
In an instant, Seo Jin-ha had covered dozens of li, landing on a distant plain.
"Deploy the Mind's Eye Mirror at once."
At his command, the unit members swiftly arranged themselves in formation and retrieved talismans from their robes.
Their expressions were grim, tension thick in the air.
There was only one reason a Master of that caliber would charge toward them—
It was painfully obvious that their target was none other than Seo Jin-ha, disguised as Bu Eun-seol.
"Let's buy time by concealing ourselves and staying hidden as long as possible."
The Mind's Eye Mirror required all its users to synchronize their wills as part of the battle formation, making its deployment no easy feat.
"Begin."
Seo Jin-ha took the position of the Heavenly Origin and began directing the unit members. Within ten breaths, the Mind's Eye Mirror began to unfold.
Drip, drip.
As the Mind's Eye Mirror fully manifested, the surrounding scenery melted away, and Seo Jin-ha and the unit members vanished completely.
But then—
Grrrrumble.
The ground began to quake violently.
Kwaaang!
With a tremendous explosion, the interior of the Mind's Eye Mirror shook violently.
At the same time, a shadow burst into the space in an instant.
Crackle.
A towering figure wreathed in black flames stepped inside—a giant of a man wearing a bamboo hat.
The hat was pulled so low, and his face so tightly wrapped in bandages, that his features were impossible to discern.
Only his eyes were visible—lifeless, devoid of any spark.
No joy, no sorrow, no anger... not a single trace of emotion.
It was as if he were the very embodiment of slaughter, existing solely to kill.
Kwoong.
With just a single step, the earth trembled beneath him.
The Bamboo Hat Man's body, so muscular that the contours of his muscles were starkly visible, began scanning the Mind's Eye Mirror with emotionless eyes.
But Seo Jin-ha and the others had completely hidden themselves within the mirror's space, and with the Turtle Breath Grand Art active—
No trace of life or presence could be detected anywhere.
"......."
The Bamboo Hat Man's hollow eyes suddenly flashed with a chilling killing intent.
Kwaaang!
Without warning, he slammed a massive fist into the ground.
Kwoong, kwoong.
Each strike was as devastating as a siege hammer smashing through fortress walls.
With every impact, the space of the Mind's Eye Mirror convulsed violently, and the air itself screamed with explosive roars.
At this rate, the mirror itself would soon collapse.
Swoosh.
Then, from the darkness, a massive greatsword began forming silently behind the Bamboo Hat Man's back.
This was the Mind's Eye Mirror's domain—where the will of its users shaped reality.
Seo Jin-ha and the unit members had pooled their Mental Power—
Forging a blade of sheer willpower, sharp enough to split even Mount Tai in a single stroke.
Swish!
The sword slashed down without hesitation, aiming to cleave through the Bamboo Hat Man's spine.
Screeeech!
But in a flash, the man twisted his body, deflecting the blade with his forearm as sparks of crimson flame erupted.
His arm was like diamond—even the sword forged from the Mind's Eye Mirror's power couldn't leave a single scratch.
Thud.
Then, something unexpected happened.
The Bamboo Hat Man swiftly plunged both hands into the hole where the sword had manifested.
Crrrrack!
With a burst of force from Bamboo Hat Man, the pitch-black space split apart, forming a massive fissure.
Kiiiiing—
His eyes flashed with a blinding white light as he exerted even greater strength, forcibly widening the gap.
Riiiiip—
Then, the very space where the greatsword had manifested began to tear apart like thick fabric, slowly unraveling.
Crrrrunch—
Within the shredded rift, crimson inner walls convulsed and writhed like living flesh.
Inside, pillars of light stood in a circular formation, arranged like a ring.
And within those pillars of light sat the Peak Realm Members—the very power source of the Mind's Eye Mirror.
This was the safest stronghold within the Mind's Eye Mirror, the fortress of the Abyss.
Yet, in the process of manifesting the colossal sword, the space had been momentarily exposed—
And Bamboo Hat Man seized that instant, plunging his hands in and tearing the space apart with sheer brute force.
Thud. Thud.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the ruptured space, striding toward the Peak Realm Members encased within the pillars of light.
BOOM!
Then, he struck one with his fist.
GRRRUMBLE—
The bodies of the Peak Realm Members inside violently shook.
The pillars of light, concentrated with the Mind's Eye Mirror's power, normally wouldn't flinch under ordinary attacks.
But Bamboo Hat Man's strength defied all reason—each punch sent massive tremors through the pillars.
Crrrreeak—
When the pillars refused to shatter easily, he began wrenching them apart with raw strength.
At this rate, the Peak Realm Members inside would soon be torn to pieces by his hands.
FLASH!
Then, a blinding white light erupted from the darkness, and a figure clad in blue robes descended before Bamboo Hat Man.
It was Seo Jin-ha, disguised as Seon-u Jin.
"Haaahp!"
He unleashed the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan stance he had learned from Bu Eun-seol.
SWOOSH!
Dozens of sword energies rained down like a storm, slashing at Bamboo Hat Man's body—
Sssss! Sssssk!
Once again, sparks burst from his forearms.
Not only did he perfectly block the attacks with just his arms—
His skin had surpassed even the Impervious to Blades state, rendering the sword strikes utterly ineffective.
'Stronger.'
Fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip!
This time, hundreds of needle-like sword energies shot toward Bamboo Hat Man all at once.
Seo Jin-ha, who had once plotted revenge against the White Sword Sect's leader, had trained under Bu Eun-seol, reaching the Extreme Heaven Realm in full maturity.
And to properly fulfill the role of Seon-u Jin—
He had elevated Thirteenfold Qi Induction and Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan—techniques that could be considered Seon-u Jin's True Body Supreme Art—to the Eighth-Star Attainment.
Moreover, this was the Mindscape—
A place where one could surpass the constraints of reality and wield superhuman power.
The level of Sword Studies Seo Jin-ha displayed now surpassed even Bu Eun-seol's real-world capabilities.
Ssss! Sssssk!
Crimson sparks flew as blood sprayed from the sword strikes grazing his forearms—but that was all.
"It's not working."
Even after being struck by hundreds of sword energies, he only suffered shallow scratches.
'This is impossible.'
The power of the Mind's Eye Mirror simply wasn't effective against Bamboo Hat Man.
Sensing something, Seo Jin-ha—
Fwip!
Instantly retreated, then scrutinized Bamboo Hat Man carefully.
'This—'
No emotion flickered in Bamboo Hat Man's eyes.
'A Soulless One...?'
Bamboo Hat Man wasn't a master who had reached the state of emotionless transcendence—he was like a Soulless One, completely devoid of all feeling.
Precisely because he was a Soulless One, with no emotions whatsoever—
He had effortlessly breached the Mind's Eye Mirror, a construct formed by the combined power of the Peak Realm Members.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Meanwhile, Bamboo Hat Man began his relentless assault.
Despite his outwardly dull appearance, his Martial Arts embodied All Phenomena Return to Void, Mystery Beyond Mortal Comprehension—
A profound and unfathomable principle, capable of reducing even a mountain to dust.
'This makes no sense.'
Seo Jin-ha wiped the sweat from his brow.
Those subjected to special Great Arts that artificially suppress emotions or intellect—like Soulless Ones—
Exhibit overwhelming combat prowess because they feel no fear, pain, or hesitation.
But by the same token, their martial capabilities are inherently limited.
Without the freedom of thought, there are boundaries to how they can wield and adapt their Martial Arts.
'Yet, despite clearly having lost all reason—'
Bamboo Hat Man fought like a master of improvisation, instantly identifying Seo Jin-ha's openings and striking with pinpoint precision.
'Do I have to reveal my full hand?'
He wasn't just limited to Seon-u Jin's Martial Arts—he could also wield the Martial Soul Lord's true techniques,
And even the Poison Art of Hell-Blood Saint, mastered during his time as the Ten Demonic Heir.
If he used every last trump card—could he truly match Bamboo Hat Man in a decisive battle?
"No, that can't be."
A Soulless One devoid of emotion wouldn't have single-handedly annihilated the intelligence network in the vicinity only to track down and pursue Seon-u Jin's traces.
There must be someone controlling the Soulless One from somewhere—perhaps even peering into the Mind's Eye Mirror from within.
'Even if it kills me, I can't expose that Seon-u Jin is a fake.'
Thud, thud. Boom, boom, boom.
Meanwhile, the Bamboo Hat Man began charging recklessly toward Seo Jin-ha.
Swish!
Activating his Movement Technique, Seo Jin-ha circled rapidly around the Bamboo Hat Man, yet inexplicably, the distance between them kept shrinking.
The Bamboo Hat Man wasn't just blindly charging—he was employing a method similar to the Zhuge Family's Defensive Formation, subtly warping Seo Jin-ha's trajectory and drawing him closer.
'A Soulless One can do something like this?'
Deploying a formation while executing martial arts wasn't particularly difficult for someone with a sharp mind.
But that was only when the user was on the offensive.
To lay down a Defensive Formation that could restrict the movements of an enemy freely evading required—
Not just intelligence, but the insight to read an opponent's psychology and the ability to calculate countless variables simultaneously.
Because the formation had to be adjusted in real-time to the ever-changing situation.
To summarize the Bamboo Hat Man's abilities in short:
—A Soulless One who feels no emotion, obeys only commands, yet possesses a genius intellect and adaptability.
It sent chills down his spine.
If such a Soulless One existed in the world?
The entire landscape of the current Murim would be completely overturned.
Crash!
Finally ensnared by the formation, Seo Jin-ha—
Failed to fully evade the Bamboo Hat Man's strike and crossed his arms to block it head-on.
"Guh!"
Even as he deployed his Protective Astral Energy—
And diverted the force with the subtlety of Deflect Flowers and Receive Jade, he was still sent skidding back nearly twenty paces.
Worse, his entire body burned as if his bones had been shattered.
Seo Jin-ha quickly steadied his stance to counterattack, but the Bamboo Hat Man moved even faster.
Whoosh!
With a violent Sound of Breaking Air, a massive fist hurtled toward his face.
For an instant, the world seemed to freeze.
'I can't dodge.'
Just as he prepared to deploy his Protective Astral Energy once more to deflect the blow—
BOOM!
A deafening tremor, like the tolling of a colossal bell, sent the Bamboo Hat Man's massive frame flying back dozens of feet.
Thud.
Simultaneously, twenty shadows descended beside Seo Jin-ha.
The Peak Realm Members, who had been concealed within pillars of light.
"It seems the Great Leader is struggling alone," said Tae Mu-ryong, drawing his sword with solemn resolve.
"We'll fight together."
Seo Jin-ha nodded without refusal.
The Mind's Eye Mirror didn't work on the Bamboo Hat Man to begin with.
That meant they had no choice but to face him head-on with everything they had.
"Release the Mind's Eye Mirror."
Shhh—
At his command, the members immediately dispelled the Mind's Eye Mirror.
Gradually, the darkened surroundings regained their original colors.
"Unity of Hearts and Strength Formation!"
At Seo Jin-ha's shout—
Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do positioned themselves diagonally behind him, while the remaining members lined up in formation at his back.
From above, their arrangement resembled a massive arrow.
RUMBLE!
Meanwhile, the Bamboo Hat Man lunged at Seo Jin-ha at blinding speed.
CRASH!
Seo Jin-ha effortlessly blocked the fist and retaliated with a vicious strike to the Bamboo Hat Man's face.
Sent flying into a cliff dozens of feet away—
Rumble.
The Bamboo Hat Man rose unscathed from the shattered rocks as if completely unharmed.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Then, charging forward like a madman, he unleashed a barrage of punches incomparably fiercer than before.
"Hmph."
Seo Jin-ha smirked and tilted his sword upward.
BOOM!
A fist strike that could pulverize mountains surged through his blade and grazed his entire body.
Unity of Hearts and Strength Formation.
A battle formation that explosively concentrated the strength and inner energy of every member behind the vanguard into a single warrior—
Allowing them to wield overwhelming power akin to a Master of the Martial Extreme Realm.
Easier said than done—it required complete unity of intent and will, with not the slightest discord among the formation's participants.
Otherwise, the formation would collapse before completion.
But between Seo Jin-ha and the Peak Realm Members existed unshakable trust and solidarity—
Allowing this miraculous formation to take shape as naturally as breathing.
Click.
Seo Jin-ha, now imbued with the full power of all twenty Peak Realm Members—
"Come at me again."
—snapped his fingers with absolute confidence.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Bamboo Hat Man charged forth once more, shaking the earth as he unleashed another devastating punch.
Flash!
As if he had been waiting for it, Seo Jin-ha swung down with all his might onto the Bamboo Hat Man's outstretched fist.
Swipe!
The sword blade sank halfway into the Bamboo Hat Man's fist—a fist that had remained unscathed by any attack until now.
Drip, drip.
Thick streams of blood oozed out like molten taffy. But it still wasn't a deep wound.
Whoooosh!
In an instant, a blinding white light erupted from the Bamboo Hat Man's fists, and he began swinging his arms like massive windmill blades.
A storm of fist force, capable of cleaving mountains with just a glancing blow, poured forth.
BOOOOM!
Seo Jin-ha, standing with his sword held behind his back, remained motionless at the eye of the storm.
Flash!
With effortless grace, he unleashed dozens of sword energies, adapting the principles of Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Each clash between sword energy and fist force released eerie bursts of sound, forcing the Bamboo Hat Man's massive frame to stagger back step by step.
'Even with the Unity of Hearts and Strength Formation, we're only evenly matched.'
In theory, the Unity of Hearts and Strength Formation could combine the power of a hundred men—but in reality, merging even ten people's strength was difficult.
Binding countless minds into a single will was a feat bordering on the miraculous.
But Seo Jin-ha and the Peak Realm Members—
Through years of shared hardship, they had forged an unshakable trust, allowing their spirits to unite as one.
Yet despite perfectly concentrating the power of twenty men, they still couldn't bring down this single Bamboo Hat Man.
[Hoo!]
The Bamboo Hat Man's white eyes flashed as he let out a short, guttural cry.
In that instant, his target abruptly shifted—
Not Seo Jin-ha at the front, but the Peak Realm Members at the formation's flank.
"Not a chance!"
Seo Jin-ha's body instantly reappeared, blocking the Bamboo Hat Man's path.
This was eerily similar to the time Bu Eun-seol had faced the Yellow-Robed Agents wielding Imperial Court Martial Arts.
Back then, the agents had maintained an unbreakable formation, while Bu Eun-seol relentlessly targeted their flanks to disrupt their cohesion.
[Huuu!]
Perhaps realizing that breaking through the Unity of Hearts and Strength Formation head-on was impossible—
The Bamboo Hat Man stretched both arms wide and unleashed a crushing wave of pressure.
CRACKLE—SHHHH!
The force arced around Seo Jin-ha, slamming into the members behind him.
Grit—
Under the weight of that sky-splitting pressure, the members clenched their teeth.
Not a single groan escaped them.
They feared that even a whisper of pain might shake Seo Jin-ha's focus.
Shhhlick!
Alongside the mountain-crushing pressure, razor-sharp wind blades shot forth.
In moments, the members' legs were drenched in blood, and the formation's alignment wavered by a hair's breadth.
Just like that, the formation's power weakened slightly.
KWA-BOOOM!
The Bamboo Hat Man didn't miss the opening.
He surged into the gap and began swinging his cauldron-lid-sized fists.
CRUNCH! CRACK!
Yet the formation held.
The members endured—muscles tearing, bones twisting—clinging on desperately.
"HAAAP!"
Seo Jin-ha seized the moment to counterattack.
His Drunken Cloud Sword Art, a Second-Rate sword style, had glimpsed the threshold of Ultimate Transcendence through his past training with Bu Eun-seol.
'This is the best I can do right now!'
Flash! Flash!
Amplified by the Unity of Hearts and Strength Formation and elevated to the realm of Ultimate Transcendence, the Drunken Cloud Sword unleashed power rivaling even the Fire Rain Sword.
BOOM! CRASH!
Even the Bamboo Hat Man couldn't recklessly take the blows head-on and began retreating.
But something was off.
Despite spotting openings, he didn't counterattack.
Instead, he focused solely on defense—studying the sword art with meticulous scrutiny.
Then, after seven and a half minutes—
The Bamboo Hat Man suddenly formed a finger sword and executed a stance strikingly similar to Seo Jin-ha's Drunken Cloud Sword Art.
He had stolen the essence of the technique mid-battle.
'No way.'
A chill ran down Seo Jin-ha's spine.
The secret to grasping an opponent's martial arts mid-combat, exploiting their flaws to counter—
Wasn't that the Martial Arts Replication of Langya Pavilion?
Snap! Snap!
The Bamboo Hat Man continued mimicking the Drunken Cloud Sword Art with his finger sword.
Clumsy at first, but with each passing second, his movements refined, his Sword Intent sharpening.
'I'll test it.'
Seo Jin-ha immediately sheathed his sword and—
Swiish! Swiish!
Nine razor-sharp streams of energy coiled around him.
Thanks to the Unity of Hearts and Strength Formation, the Thirteenfold Qi Induction had reached an unprecedented level of precision and power.
SCREEEECH!
Struck by the Thirteenfold Qi Induction, the Bamboo Hat Man's body sparked with flames before thick blood seeped out.
No matter how Impervious to Blades his body was—
He couldn't remain unscathed against the Thirteenfold Qi Induction, a pinnacle of Orthodox Martial Arts purification.
Swiish! Swiish!
Each time Seo Jin-ha unleashed it, the Bamboo Hat Man fell back, suppressing his counterattacks.
He was observing, dissecting—striving to steal the secrets of the technique.
'It's certain.'
He could be sure of it now.
That Bamboo Hat Man was either a master from Langya Pavilion, or someone who had deeply mastered Langya Pavilion's martial techniques.
Tchik—Tchiiik—
Even as he thought this, the Thirteenfold Qi Induction's force relentlessly exploited Bamboo Hat Man's openings.
An ordinary martial artist would have lost their head dozens of times by now.
Flowing Force into Mist, Reversing Strength into Emptiness.
But Bamboo Hat Man employed a subtle principle—letting even the fiercest attacks slip past like mist.
The Thirteenfold Qi Induction's strikes, capable of shattering mountains, passed by him like a fleeting breeze.
Tchiiiik—
And when it came to fatal blows, he blocked them with his arms, as unbreakable as Vajra Indestructibility.
'If this continues...'
Seo Jin-ha bit his lip.
'Not only will he steal the secrets of the Thirteenfold Qi Induction, but every last one of the Peak Realm Members will be slaughtered.'
Bamboo Hat Man's arms were truly invincible.
No attack could breach them, and his regenerative ability surpassed human limits.
As things stood, Seo Jin-ha had no means of shattering even one of that monster's arms.
Whoooosh—Tssssss—
Having already discerned the formation's weak points, Bamboo Hat Man spread his arms again, unleashing a bizarre gale that disrupted their ranks.
By adapting the principles of the Thirteenfold Qi Induction—
Without even attacking Seo Jin-ha directly—
He had found an efficient martial principle to collapse the formation's flank and dismantle it entirely.
BOOM! BOOM!
The unit's formation finally began to crumble.
Just before the Unity of Hearts and Strength Formation shattered—
"HAAAAAAH!"
Seo Jin-ha detonated all his internal power and recklessly charged at Bamboo Hat Man.
If the formation broke, the unit members would never survive. His only thought was to buy time, even if it meant sacrificing himself.
THWACK!
As if reading his mind, Bamboo Hat Man caught Seo Jin-ha's blade barehanded in an instant.
Then, a massive fist sank deep into his abdomen.
CRACK!
Sent flying backward, Seo Jin-ha—
"Not... a chance!"
—rushed forward again, fearing Bamboo Hat Man would target the others.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Seo Jin-ha's every move was anticipated, and Bamboo Hat Man toyed with him, striking at leisure.
His face was split open, blood spraying from his mouth like a fountain, yet he refused to retreat.
"Unit Leader!"
"Disperse the formation!"
The unit members' desperate cries erupted.
The Unity of Hearts and Strength Formation could not be undone by its participants—only by Seo Jin-ha, who commanded it from the Heavenly Origin position.
Unless he released it or died.
"No."
Seo Jin-ha muttered through swollen, half-shut eyes.
"Not yet."
BAM!
Then, Bamboo Hat Man's fist crashed into his exposed flank.
GUOOONG—
Clenching his fists, his body trembled violently like a great bell.
Even reinforced by the Great Art, he couldn't hold out much longer.
Zzzzziiing—
As if annoyed by Seo Jin-ha's stubbornness, Bamboo Hat Man unfurled a fist gleaming with an eerie, pitch-black sheen.
Zzzzziiing!
A razor-sharp aura rose like a blade.
Bamboo Hat Man didn't attack immediately—he simply stared down at Seo Jin-ha.
As if saying, "Let's see if you still won't die like this."
"Fine. Come at me."
Already resigned to death, Seo Jin-ha sent a low Voice Transmission.
[Gather your strength. I'll release the formation soon.]
He twisted his grip on his sword.
[Scatter the moment it breaks. That way, at least some of you can escape.]
KIIIIING—
A golden light erupted from Seo Jin-ha's body, flinging the unit members free from the formation's hold.
RUMBLE—
But instead of fleeing, they rushed to his side—some supporting him, others blocking Bamboo Hat Man.
"Idiots. Why didn't you run?"
Seo Jin-ha's bloodied face twisted as he spoke. Tae Mu-ryong answered solemnly.
"Didn't we swear to die together, on the same day, at the same hour?"
"That oath wasn't to me—it was to him."
"No."
Jeong Jong-do cut in firmly.
"Don't you remember? We made the same vow before you, Unit Leader."
In the past, when Seo Jin-ha was acting as Seon-u Jin in Bu Eun-seol's place—
The Peak Realm Members had raised their cups and sworn once more in his presence.
To die together, on the same day.
"We've known your true identity since then."
The unit members shouted in unison.
"That's why we swore our loyalty to you as well!"
At their cries, Seo Jin-ha let out a deep sigh.
At first, their excessive devotion had seemed foolish.
—Was there really a need for such blind loyalty?
But—
—Unit Leader, the Three Realms' movements are unusual.
Without being ordered, they had stayed up nights compiling intelligence, tracking movements, anticipating dangers—all for Bu Eun-seol's sake.
It was nothing short of sincerity.
—Was it because of them?
That Bu Eun-seol had been able to perfectly conceal his actions as Seon-u Jin.
That their plans had succeeded without fail.
All of it was thanks to the unseen efforts of the Peak Realm Members.
—They were family.
Only then did Seo Jin-ha belatedly understand their hearts.
They hadn't pledged loyalty to Bu Eun-seol.
They had simply... treated him like family. Worried for him like family.
'And me too.'
A faint smile touched Seo Jin-ha's lips.
The Peak Realm Members had embraced not just Bu Eun-seol—but even him, who fought alongside them at the risk of his life—as family.
If they were with family—
Then death wasn't a parting.
Just one final journey, taken together.
No regrets. No fear.