Chapter 189
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
Five streaks of Shadow Strikes spread outward, sealing not only Hyeok So-jin's face but all possible escape routes around him.
"Tch."
With no other choice, Hyeok So-jin leaped into the air, evading the cascading shadows.
But Black Impermanence's specialty was unpredictable chain attacks at close range.
The moment Hyeok So-jin landed, razor-sharp claws rose like a storm as the demonic claw technique surged forth.
Swish! Shatter!
The claw tips aimed for his eyes, then in an instant, Black Impermanence sprang mid-air to pierce his Hundred Meetings Acupoint.
Then, landing like lightning, he targeted Hyeok So-jin's lower abdomen.
"Good!"
As Black Impermanence gained the upper hand with his relentless chain attacks between air and ground, Hyeok So-jin stopped dodging. Instead, he raised his internal power and launched a counterattack.
With his left hand, he unleashed the Dark Heaven Demon Dragon Palm, dispersing the force of the Black Force Demon Claw, while his right hand brandished the Myriad Thunder Blood Sword, thrusting toward Black Impermanence's neck and lower belly.
In the span of a few dozen exchanges, Black Impermanence staggered back in shock.
'This bastard...?'
Black Impermanence's eyes widened.
As a master from the Blood Gate, he was deeply familiar with Demonic Path Martial Arts.
He instantly recognized that the techniques Hyeok So-jin wielded were not Orthodox Martial Arts—but the lost forbidden arts of the Demonic Path, the Absolute Transmission Demonic Arts.
"You're not from the righteous factions."
"Let's skip the unnecessary chatter."
"What did you say?"
Instead of answering, Hyeok So-jin twisted the treasured sword in his right hand and summoned Divine-Rending Demonic Qi.
A violent violet radiance erupted from his entire body.
"In battle, you must burn everything away!"
As the fight between Hyeok So-jin and Black Impermanence intensified—
Bu Eun-seol, who had been observing the Suspicious Madman, slowly reached behind his back.
Srrrk—
The Ink Sword slid from its scabbard, its resonance ringing out as an icy chill spread in all directions.
"I'll handle that one. You all deal with the pale ghost over there."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, not only Jegal Seo-un but also Moyong Gyeong and the Hwangbo brothers blinked in disbelief.
—What the hell is this guy saying?
The Suspicious Madman—a deranged murderer who posed as a doctor, dissecting young victims.
Contrary to rumors, his strength neared the Transcendent Realm.
He even surpassed the martial aura of the Black and White Impermanence duo. And yet, this man intended to face him alone?
"You bastard!"
At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted as Black Impermanence's Black Force Demon Claw tore through the air.
Yet Hyeok So-jin, shrouded in violet light, began dismantling each claw strike with deliberate ease, as if mocking his opponent.
Shudder—
For an instant, Jegal Seo-un and his party trembled.
The sight was unbelievable.
Hyeok So-jin—was he actually a Transcendent Realm master capable of fighting Black Impermanence alone?
—We can win!
If Hyeok So-jin could display such overwhelming martial prowess, then Bu Eun-seol must have reached a similarly formidable level.
The moment that thought struck them, courage surged through Jegal Seo-un's group, and their frozen bodies slowly began to move.
"Haaap!"
Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong was the first to strike.
Twisting his fist forward, a fist energy like a falling sky crashed toward White Impermanence's face.
"Cute, just like your looks."
White Impermanence dodged the punch with ease, licking his lips with a red tongue as he eyed the Hwangbo brothers.
"I'll play with you two extra nicely before killing you."
"Don't mock us!"
Enraged, the Hwangbo brothers unleashed their fist techniques simultaneously.
A colossal mountain-like force descended as if the heavens themselves were collapsing.
The Heavenly King Three Fists—the signature technique of the Hwangbo Family, renowned for dominating the martial world—unfolded before them.
"We'll assist as well!"
Bolstered by their courage, Jegal Seo-un and Moyong Gyeong drew their Six Harmonies Fan and treasured sword, respectively.
"Hohoho."
Even as the four Peak Masters poured out their combined assault, White Impermanence merely laughed, spinning his body in a leisurely circle.
In an instant, white afterimages scattered in all directions, disorienting their vision.
One of White Impermanence's signature techniques—the Hundred-Dance Demon Play—had begun.
Swish-swish-swish!
Like fluttering paper, White Impermanence's shadows multiplied into dozens.
The prodigies who had charged at him now found themselves surrounded by his illusions.
"Damn it!"
The Hwangbo brothers unleashed the Heavenly King Three Fists in rapid succession, yet not a single strike touched even the hem of White Impermanence's robes.
"Is this bastard a ghost?!" Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong shouted.
Jegal Seo-un's eyes flashed as he yelled back, "Not a ghost! He's using reverse-direction movement to leave afterimages—a footwork technique akin to illusion arts!"
He was not only a direct descendant of the Jegal Family, well-versed in directional formations, but also had considerable expertise in formation tactics.
He had instantly discerned that the afterimages of the Hundred-Dance Demon Play were part of the Body-Locomotion Martial Art, which incorporated formation principles.
"If we attack all four directions—east, west, south, and north—simultaneously, the illusions should vanish!"
At Jegal Seo-un's words, Moyong Gyeong and the Hwangbo brothers immediately unleashed their sword and fist techniques in their respective directions.
The dizzying movements of Baek Mu-sang's shadows faltered, and the lingering afterimages began disappearing one by one.
Now's the chance!
Finally seizing the opening, Jegal Seo-un deployed the Six Harmonies Fan Art with all his might.
Swish!
With the sharp sound of cutting air, the opening move of Wind Lies Below swept past Baek Mu-sang's face like fluttering leaves.
Drip, drip.
Crimson droplets of blood trickled down Baek Mu-sang's chalk-white cheek, as if painted with powder.
"You little brats."
A sinister gleam spilled from his eyes as he stared at the blood running down his cheek.
"As expected of the scions of the Eight Great Families—you've got some skill."
Red veins began creeping into the whites of Baek Mu-sang's eyes.
At the same time, white mist rose from his entire body.
The True Body Supreme Art of Baek Mu-sang, which had once terrorized the Murim.
The Strange Venom Art, White Mist Continuous Waves—a technique that could melt skin off with the slightest touch—was now unfolding.
"I'll make sure you're neither dead nor alive!"
"Shall we begin?"
As Bu Eun-seol spoke, raising the Ink Sword to mid-stance, Gongson Gu-reung curled his lips into a cold smile.
"Impressive. At such a young age—"
Snap!
Bu Eun-seol had no intention of indulging his chatter.
He immediately extended his sword, unleashing a flurry of sword strokes. Dark light bloomed like sparks as the Ink Sword drove toward Gongson Gu-reung's throat.
"Hmph."
Snorting, Gongson Gu-reung chaotically unfolded his footwork, barely evading the Ink Sword's assault.
Bu Eun-seol amplified his True Qi and twisted the hilt.
Hiss!
With the sharp Sound of Breaking Air, the Ink Sword moved with the fluid grace of a living creature, once again seeking Gongson Gu-reung's throat.
It was the transformed opening move of the Fourth Form of Formless Heavenly Flow, Caged Bird Longing for Clouds.
"Oh-ho."
Realizing he couldn't completely evade the pursuing blade, Gongson Gu-reung reached for his waist.
Shing!
With a clear metallic ring, a grotesque, bluish blade—the Grotesque Blade—appeared in his hand.
His signature weapon, the Ox-Dismembering Saber.
"So that's the Ox-Dismembering Saber."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Gongson Gu-reung grinned darkly.
"You're well-informed."
Originally, the Ox-Dismembering Saber was a blade used to separate flesh from bone—but Gongson Gu-reung's version was crafted not for cattle, but for human skinning.
That bluish blade was steeped in the blood of countless victims he had butchered while masquerading as a physician.
"I'll flay you cleanly, without pain. Just surrender yourself quietly."
Gongson Gu-reung licked his lips as he studied Bu Eun-seol's disguised face.
"I'd hate to mar such pristine skin—like a newborn's!"
Swish-swish-swish!
Spinning the Ox-Dismembering Saber in his hand, Gongson Gu-reung unleashed his saber technique.
The Bone-Piercing Saber Method, his signature method refined through the dissection of countless victims, was finally unveiled.
Tzzt-tzzt-tzzt!
Bu Eun-seol immediately activated Swift Shadowless, circling Gongson Gu-reung in rapid spirals.
Slash!
But Gongson Gu-reung, unwilling to let him escape, expanded the range of his Blade Stance to its limits.
Snick-snick-snick!
The razor-sharp light expanded into circular beams, scattering in all directions and erasing Bu Eun-seol's afterimages one by one.
The circular light radiating from the saber's edge—
It was the Saber Aura naturally formed by Gongson Gu-reung's overwhelming Internal Power.
"..."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he weaved through the beams with Swift Shadowless.
Until now, except for his battle with Yo Bul-beom, he had never poured True Qi into his weapon to manifest a Sword Aura.
The exquisite techniques of Formless Heavenly Flow and the sheer sharpness of the Ink Sword had been enough to effortlessly defeat countless enemies.
But Gongson Gu-reung not only infused True Qi into every single stroke—he unleashed his full power as if he possessed limitless Internal Power.
This was a unique combat style unlike any Bu Eun-seol had faced before.
Whoosh!
As Bu Eun-seol evaded every single attack, Gongson Gu-reung shifted his tactics once more.
Instead of targeting Bu Eun-seol with his projected saber aura, he dispersed it in all directions, sealing off any escape routes.
Whoosh!
Finally, Gongson Gu-reung closed the distance, erasing the afterimages Bu Eun-seol had left behind.
At the same time, the razor-sharp Ox-Dismembering Saber aimed to split Bu Eun-seol's skull like firewood.
Swish!
Faced with the lethal strike, Bu Eun-seol halted his movements entirely and stared fixedly at the descending blade.
Just as the cold steel was about to cleave his head in two—
Clang!
A metallic clash erupted as sword met saber, sending an enormous qi wave rippling outward.
Bu Eun-seol, standing motionless, had intercepted the Ox-Dismembering Saber.
Screech—
Gongson Gu-reung staggered back five steps, exhaling a ragged breath.
Despite possessing internal energy potent enough to manifest a sword aura, he couldn't hope to match Bu Eun-seol's sheer power.
"Heh heh."
Regaining his footing, Gongson Gu-reung inhaled deeply, adjusting his internal breathing.
With practiced ease, he expelled the Reverse Polarity True Qi that had been surging through his wrist meridians from the weapon's impact.
"Your internal energy is something else."
Though fully aware of Bu Eun-seol's overwhelming strength, Gongson Gu-reung's momentum didn't waver in the slightest.
He had weathered countless battles—many against opponents with formidable internal energy.
In his experience, victory had never been decided by raw power alone.
"Let's play again!"
Gongson Gu-reung blurred into motion, weaving an erratic movement technique as he unleashed the Bone-Piercing Saber Method in rapid succession.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The relentless barrage of saber strikes resembled a tidal wave, as if dozens of techniques had been compressed into a single, crushing onslaught.
Flash!
At that moment, the Ink Sword erupted with dazzling light, severing the linked strikes before thrusting forward at blinding speed.
Bu Eun-seol had spotted the gap between saber strokes and executed Meteor Chasing Moon, aiming straight for Gongson Gu-reung's throat.
Shatter!
Yet the technique barely grazed past his neck, missing by a hair's breadth.
Gongson Gu-reung had predicted the attack—reading the shift in Bu Eun-seol's shoulder before the Ink Sword even flared.
'He predicted my movements by reading my muscles.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes darkened with understanding.
Gongson Gu-reung, who had spent years dissecting human bodies, possessed the same ability as him—to anticipate an opponent's actions through muscle tension.
Whiiir!
Suddenly, a violent storm of true qi spiraled from Bu Eun-seol's left fist before coalescing into five streaks of lightning.
Fist Demon Seven Forms, Second Form: Extreme Lightning Confusion.
Suppressing his movements to the extreme, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the five devastating fist energies toward Gongson Gu-reung's flank.
Burst! Thud!
Realizing evasion was impossible, Gongson Gu-reung hurled himself to the ground.
"Your martial arts..."
The ever-composed expression on Gongson Gu-reung's face slowly hardened.
He had just realized—Bu Eun-seol's techniques weren't of the Righteous Faction, but of the Demonic Path.
And not just any demonic arts—these were Supreme-grade Absolute Arts, the pinnacle of their kind.
"You're no stray dog of the Eight Great Families!"
Springing back to his feet, Gongson Gu-reung—
Swish!
—flung a handful of dirt snatched from the ground straight at Bu Eun-seol's face.
"Heh heh heh."
As Bu Eun-seol sidestepped the dust with ease and thrust from the side—
"Ptui!"
Gongson Gu-reung suddenly spat a mouthful of phlegm—concealing a needle that shot toward Bu Eun-seol's eye like a flash of light.
True to his deranged nature, he had no qualms about rolling in the dirt or resorting to filthy hidden weapons.
Flick!
Bu Eun-seol narrowly avoided the projectile, but Gongson Gu-reung had already widened the gap, grinning eerily.
"Demonic or righteous, it doesn't matter to me. All I need is your skin. Heh heh heh."
"..."
Bu Eun-seol paused briefly, staring down at Gongson Gu-reung.
He had faced countless formidable foes, but none had so effortlessly dodged both the Formless Heavenly Flow and the Fist Demon Seven Forms.
Moreover, his ability to predict techniques through muscle movement made landing a decisive blow incredibly difficult.
Gongson Gu-reung was an entirely new breed of opponent—one Bu Eun-seol had never encountered before.
'Just as I thought.'
A faint smile touched Bu Eun-seol's lips.
Though Gongson Gu-reung's martial foundation might be inferior, his combat mastery surpassed his own.
In other words, his skill was on par with the Soul-Flame Corps Commander he had fought before.
'I see the wall I must break through to reach Transcendence.'
Veterans who had roamed the murim for decades possessed a refined battle sense—a way of war that could overcome even superior martial prowess.
This life-or-death struggle with Gongson Gu-reung—
Bu Eun-seol intended to use it to reaffirm the heights he must ascend to.